Barriers to addressing HIV-Associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND): Community-based service provider perspectives

HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) is an emergent public health issue in developed countries. Consequently, people living with HIV who experience HAND will increasingly require support from community-based HIV service providers. The objective of our qualitative study was to identify barriers service providers face in addressing HAND among people living with HIV. Thirty-three providers from 22 AIDS service organizations across Ontario, Canada, were interviewed. Using thematic analysis, three types of barriers were identified: (a) personal/professional, (b) service access, and (c) systemic. This paper draws attention to HAND-related obstacles that service providers encounter in their work and presents options to overcome them.     

3D mesoporous structure assembled from monoclinic M-phase VO2 nanoflakes with enhanced thermochromic performance

Monoclinic M-phase VO₂ is a promising candidate for thermochromic materials due to its abrupt change in the near infrared (NIR) transmittance along with the metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) at a critical temperature ∼68 °C. However, low luminous transmittance (T_lum), poor solar energy modulation ability (ΔT_sol), and high phase transition temperature (T_c) can limit the application of VO₂ for smart windows. To overcome these limitations, 3D mesoporous structure can be employed in VO₂ films. Herein, 3D mesoporous structures assembled from monoclinic M-phase VO₂ nanoflakes with a pore size of about 2–10 nm were synthesized by a hydrothermal method using Ensete ventricosum fiber (EF) as a template followed by calcination at 450 °C. The prepared film exhibited excellent thermochromic performance with balanced T_lum = 67.3%, ΔT_sol = 12.5%, and lowering T_c to 63.15 °C. This is because the 3D mesoporous structure can offer the uniform dispersion of VO₂ nanoflakes in the film to enhance T_lum, ensure sufficient VO₂ nanoflakes in the film for high ΔT_sol and lower T_c. Therefore, this work can provide a green approach to synthesize 3D mesoporous structures assembled from monoclinic M-phase VO₂ nanoflakes and promote their application in smart windows.

Herein, 3D mesoporous structures assembled from monoclinic M-phase VO₂ nanoflakes were successfully synthesized for enhanced thermochromic performance.