19672 research outputs found
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A Biomechanical and Ease of Learning Comparison Study of Arthroscopic Sliding Knots
No full textIntroduction: This study aims to compare the biomechanical properties and ease of learning and tying of our novel knot (UM Knot) with other commonly used arthroscopic sliding knots. Materials and methods: The Duncan, HU, SMC, Pretzel, Nicky’s and square knots were selected for comparisons with UM knot. All knots were prepared with size 2 HiFi® suture by a single experienced surgeon and tested with cyclic loading and load to failure tests. The ease of learning was assessed objectively by recording the time to learn the first correct knot and the total number of knots completed in 5 min by surgeons and trainees. Results: The UM knot average failure load is significantly superior to the HU knot (p < 0.05) and comparable to Duncan, SMC, Pretzel and Nicky’s knots. According to the ease of learning assessment, UM, Duncan, SMC, Pretzel and Nicky’s knots took statistically less time to learn than the HU knot. Although not significant, the failure count due to slippage is fewer in UM knot compared with other knots. Conclusions: This study showed that UM knot is among the easiest knot to learn and tie, along with Duncan, SMC, Pretzel and Nicky’s knots. Their biomechanical properties are comparable and their loads to failure were superior to the HU knot. © 2020, Indian Orthopaedics Association
What Drives Private Savings in Malaysia?
No full textThis research attempts to reassess the long-run determinants of private savings in Malaysia using the cointegration and variance decomposition methods. This study covers annual data from 1980 to 2016. We find that private savings would increase together with the private disposable income, modified dependency ratio, and financial sector development. Results also reveal that the female–male sex ratio and macroeconomic uncertainty have a negative impact on private savings in Malaysia. Besides, the results show that disposable income, the sex ratio, financial sector development, and macroeconomic uncertainty are relatively more important than the other variables in determining Malaysia’s private savings. ©, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Taste, smell and food-related nausea and vomiting responses in hyperemesis gravidarum: A case-controlled study
No full textA case-controlled study was performed to evaluate taste and smell impairment, nausea or vomiting (NV) response to taste and smell and toleration to food texture, item and cooking method in hyperemesis gravidarum patients (HG) compared to gestation-matched controls from a university hospital and primary care clinic in Malaysia. Taste strips (4 base tastes), sniff sticks (16 selected smells) and a food-related questionnaire were used. 124 participants were recruited. Taste impairment was found in 13%(8/62) vs. 0%(0/62) P = 0.003 and the median for correct smell identification was 5[4–6] vs. 9[7–9] P < 0.001 in HG vs. controls. In HG, bitter was most likely (32%) and sweet taste least likely (5%) to provoke NV. In both arms, fish smell was most likely to provoke NV, 77% vs. 32% P < 0.001 and peppermint smell least likely 10% vs. 0% P = 0.012; NV response was significantly more likely for HG arm in 10/16 smells. In HG, worst and best NV responses to food-texture were pasty 69% and crunchy 26%; food-item, plain rice 71% and apple 16% and cooking-style, deep-frying 71% and steaming 55%. HG demonstrated taste and smell impairment and increased NV responses to many tastes and smells. Crunchy sweet uncooked food (apple or watermelon) maybe best tolerated in HG. © 2020, The Author(s)
Sentiment analysis approach towards public opinion on sensitive issues via social media: A way of crisis management control
No full textOnline media is one of the tools of public opinion formation where social media users immediately express their thoughts and perception towards an issue. The process of public opinion formation is described from the start of one's perception, and it depends on the cultural background, past experiences and values. These factors determined one's supporting or opposing an issue. The main objective of this study is to determine the correlations between sensitive issues with negative sentiment builds up among the public. This quantitative content analysis study investigated the influence and relevance of information sources on the distribution of public opinion. There were 4 parameters measured as independent variables, mainly independent sources, conventional sources to the dependent variable, public opinion. The monitoring bodies and regulators utilise the research results in handling sensitive issues in Malaysia. © 2020 Primrose Hall Publishing Group
Sensitivity Comparison of Refractive Index Transducer Optical Fiber Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Using Ag, Cu, and Bimetallic Ag–Cu Layer
No full textA single-mode optical fiber sensor uses surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with a bimetallic silver-copper (Ag-Cu) coating compared to a single layer of Ag and Cu itself. Bimetallic Ag-Cu sensors are constructed by simple fabrication on a side-polished optical fiber, followed by an electron beam evaporation of Ag and Cu films. For this investigation, the thickness of the single Ag layer was set to 30 nm and the single Cu layer was set to 30 nm; whereas for the bimetallic combined Ag-Cu layer the thickness of Ag was 7 nm and Cu 23 nm. The sensor performance was analyzed and compared experimentally and numerically using the COMSOL Multiphysics. A white light source was used with a broad optical bandwidth to provide a range of wavelengths to the optical fiber. The characteristics of the thin layers of Ag, Cu, and Ag-Cu as alcohol sensors were evaluated. We found that Cu was the most sensitive metallic layer compared to the Ag and the bimetallic Ag-Cu layers. For a 100% alcohol concentration, Cu showed a sensitivity of 425 nm/RIU followed by the bimetallic Ag-Cu layer with 108.33 nm/RIU, whereas the Ag layer was not detected. Interestingly, sensitivity reached saturation beyond the 20 nm thick layer of Ag. This shows that the Cu and the bimetallic Ag-Cu layers are suitable for an alcohol-based optical sensor. © 2020 by the authors
Improvement of electrical conductivity of PEMA film by incorporating EMITFSI and carbon based nanofiller
No full textThe electrical conductivity of dual inclusion of 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluorosulfonyl) imide ionic liquid and three allotropes of carbon based nanofillers (multiwalled carbon nanotube, graphene and graphite) in poly (ethyl methacrylate) films with thickness ranging from 100 to 250 μm has been investigated in the temperature range of 300–380 K. It is found that the electrical conductivity of film with 0.5 wt % multiwalled carbon nanotube has the highest ambient electrical conductivity of 4.9 × 10−6 Scm−1 which is five order of magnitude higher than pure poly (ethyl methacrylate) film. Moreover, the stability of the highest electrical conductivity is also found to be significantly improved for a longer period. From the investigated physicochemical properties, these improvements are likely can be explained by the aggregation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, the increase in electronic transport and the reduction in glass transition temperature which likely effect its ionic mobility. Consequently, these enhancements may lead to a promising improvement of its electrical properties for a stable near room temperature application. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
The structure elucidation of new mono-core dicationic salt-containing chlorosulfonate counterion: Raman study of a pure sample of chlorosulfonate anion in the solid and liquid state
No full textThis paper presents the design and synthesis of new ionic liquid containing dication of 1H,4H-piperazine-diium ring and two chlorosulfonate as counterions. The structure elucidation of new ionic organo-compound was performed by 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR, Raman, and mass spectrum. Then, the correct structure was elucidated by COSY which was supported by Raman study. IR and Raman spectra of liquid and solid-state of 1H,4H-piperazine-diium dichlorosulfonate are studied. Assignments are made for FTIR and Raman peaks, and our results are compared with previous reports in the literature. © 2020 Elsevier B.V
Isti‘mār Al-Arḍ: The concept of prosperity for the earth from Qur‘ānic perspective
No full textThis article tries to uncover the concept of prosperity of the earth which begins with verse 61 of Sūrat Hūd, then continues by connecting it with other verses in the Qur‟ān and the Ḥadīth. The concept contains a message or a strong signal, even a command that humans can prosper the earth as a form of environmental preservation by maintaining the balance of nature. The method used is the thematic tafsīr or al-tafsīr al-mawḍū'ī which sees the verses of the Qur‟ān as a unified meaning and confirms that in the Qur‟ān there are no verses that contradict the others. This article found that God created humans from the earth and God told them to manage and prosper it while banning it from spoiling it. The earth and all its contents are intended for the survival and comfort of human life. This article concludes that the damage that has ever happened on earth is a result of human activity itself that does not act as God commands. © 2020, Hampstead Psychological Associates. All rights reserved
Satisfaction evaluation model of high-level athletes management system in universities of Sichuan Province of China [Model evaluasi kepuasan sistem manajemen atlet tingkat tinggi di universitas Provinsi Sichuan Cina]
No full textThe purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire to measure satisfaction levels of Sichuan Province high-level athletes with their management systems using field investigation and mathematical statistics. Through the process of sorting and analyzing existing literature and in combination with the results of expert interviews, an ‘initial questionnaire’ consisting of 58 items and 6 dimensions was formed. As first steps, content validity and face validity of the questionnaire were tested. Then, SPSS 24 and Smart PLS 3 were used to carry out exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) respectively. After the unqualified items were deleted, a formal questionnaire comprising 49 items and 6 dimensions was ultimately formed. Reliability and validity tests demonstrated that the questionnaire had good internal consistency reliability and structural validity. By analyzing the structural model, it is found that the model has good prediction accuracy and prediction relevance, and the model fit is also good. Therefore, the evaluation model constructed in this study could be used as a tool for surveying satisfaction levels of Sichuan Province high-level athletes with their university management systems. © 2020, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta State University). All rights reserved
Quantitative Evaluation of Masticatory Performance with Two-Color Mixing Ability Test: Development of a New Digital Method
No full textPurpose: To develop a new digital method for color-mixing analysis and to evaluate the validity of this method for quantifying masticatory performance. Materials and Methods: Specimens of red-green (RG) chewing gum were prepared as a bicolor test food. A total of 300 specimens were masticated by 20 healthy volunteers for different numbers of mastication cycles (from 1 to 25). The boluses were flattened and scanned, and the digital images were analyzed using ImageJ software. Two parameters (spatial and value) of color mixing were measured, and multiple regression analysis was performed to estimate the number of mastication cycles. The estimated number of mastication cycles that the healthy reference cohort needed to achieve a certain degree of color mixing was proposed as the mastication index (MI). The validity of this method was assessed using Pearson correlation between the MI and concurrent measurements with ViewGum software (variance of hue) within a group of 10 healthy subjects and 10 complete denture wearers. Results: Independent samples t test showed a significant difference in MI between healthy subjects and denture wearers (P <.001). A significant correlation was observed between the MI and ViewGum outcomes (r =-0.95, P <.001). Conclusion: The new proposed method proved to be valid and has the potential for evaluating masticatory performance in both research and clinical settings. ©2020 by Quintessence Publishing Co Inc