bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exposure to tobacco secondhand smoke and its associated factors among non-smoking adults in smoking-restricted and non-restricted areas: findings from a nationwide study in Malaysia
Authors: Lim Kuang Hock , Teh Chien Huey , Nik Mohamed Mohamad Haniki , Pan Sayan , Ling Miaw Yn , Mohd Yusoff Muhammad Fadhli , Hassan Noraryana , Baharom Nizam , Dawam Netty Darwina , Ismail Norliana , Ghazali Sumarni Mohd , Cheong Kee Chee , Chong Kar Hon , Lim Hui Li 
Published: January 2018

ObjectivesSecondhand smoke (SHS) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aims of the paper are to assess SHS exposure among non-smoking adults in Malaysia attending various smoking-restricted and non-restricted public areas according to the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations (CTPR) as well as its relationship with various sociodemographic variables.DesignData were extracted from a cross-sectional study, the Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2011 which involved 3269 non-smokers in Malaysia. Data was obtained through face-to-face interviews using a validated pre-tested questionnaire. Factors associated with exposure to SHS were identified via multivariable analysis.ResultsThe study revealed that almost two-thirds of respondents were exposed to SHS in at least one public area in the past 1 month, with a significantly higher exposure among males (70.6%), those with higher educational attainment (81.4%) and higher income (quintile 1%–73.9%). Besides, the exposure to SHS was almost four times higher in non-restricted areas compared with restricted areas under the CTPR (81.9% vs 22.9). Multivariable analysis revealed that males and younger adults at non-restricted areas were more likely to be exposed to SHS while no significant associated factors of SHS exposure was observed in restricted areas.ConclusionsThe study revealed the prevalence of SHS exposure was higher among Malaysian adults. Although smoke-free laws offer protection to non-smokers from exposure to SHS, enforcement activities in restricted areas should be enhanced to ensure strict public abidance. In addition, legislation of restricted areas should also be extended to greatly reduce the SHS exposure among non-smokers in Malaysia.
Sociodemographic factors, level of physical activity and health-related quality of life in adults from the north-east of São Paulo, Brazil: a cross-sectional population study
Authors: Maciel Nicoly Machado , De Conti Marta Helena Souza , Simeão Sandra Fiorelli Almeida Penteado , Genebra Caio Vitor dos Santos , Corrente José Eduardo , De Vitta Alberto 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTo verify the association among sociodemographic variables, physical activity level and health-related quality of life in adults aged 20 years and over.MethodsPopulation-based study, with household sample by clusters. The dependent variables were the PCS and MCS scores of the instrument 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the independent variables were gathered in sociodemographic characteristics and the level of physical activity. Absolute and relative frequency distributions were used for categorical variables and bivariate analysis, using Student’s t-test and ANOVA and multivariate using non-conditional logistic regression.ResultsOf the 600 interviewees, the mean PCS score for men was 80.2 and for women 74.6, while for MCS, 83.8 (±16.9) and 76.5 (±23.3), for men and women, respectively. Women tend to report lower scores than men in all domains: men (OR=4.83) and women (OR=4.80) were older (OR=4.34) (OR=3.57) and sedentary women (OR=1.90) were associated with lower PCS scores, while older men (OR=3.96) and widowed and separated’ (OR=3.03) had lower MSC scores.ConclusionHRQoL was associated with advancing age and schooling, in both sexes, sedentary women and widowed and separated men.
Innovative STRoke Interactive Virtual thErapy (STRIVE) online platform for community-dwelling stroke survivors: a randomised controlled trial protocol
Authors: Johnson Liam , Bird Marie-Louise , Muthalib Makii , Teo Wei-Peng 
Published: January 2018

IntroductionThe STRoke Interactive Virtual thErapy (STRIVE) intervention provides community-dwelling stroke survivors access to individualised, remotely supervised progressive exercise training via an online platform. This trial aims to determine the clinical efficacy of the STRIVE intervention and its effect on brain activity in community-dwelling stroke survivors.Methods and analysisIn a multisite, assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial, 60 stroke survivors >3 months poststroke with mild-to-moderate upper extremity impairment will be recruited and equally randomised by location (Melbourne, Victoria or Launceston, Tasmania) to receive 8 weeks of virtual therapy (VT) at a local exercise training facility or usual care. Participants allocated to VT will perform 3–5 upper limb exercises individualised to their impairment severity and preference, while participants allocated to usual care will be asked to maintain their usual daily activities. The primary outcome measures will be upper limb motor function and impairment, which will be assessed using the Action Research Arm Test and Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer, respectively. Secondary outcome measures include upper extremity function and spasticity, as measured by the box and block test and Modified AshworthScale, respectively, and task-related changes in bilateral sensorimotor cortex haemodynamics during hand reaching and wrist extension movements as measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Quality of life will be measured using theEuro-Quality of Life-5 Dimension-5 LevelScale, and theMotor Activity Log-28will be used to measure use of the hemiparetic arm. All measures will be assessed at baseline and immediately postintervention.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee in May 2017 (No. 2017–087). The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presented at major international stroke meetings.Trial registration numberACTRN12617000745347; Pre-results.
Eradication of sarcoptic mange from a Belgian pig breeding farm with a combination of injectable and in‐feed ivermectin
Authors: Smets K. , Neirynck W. , Vercruysse J. 
Published: January 2018

Sarcoptes scabiei var suis was eradicated from a Belgian pig farm by using a combination of injections of ivermectin and ivermectin in the feed. The detection of mites in ear scrapings, and calculations of an average dermatitis score and a scratching index were used to evaluate the mange status of the pigs before and after the treatment. Before the treatment 28 per cent of ear scrapings offinishers were positive for the presence of mites, their average dermatitis score (ADS) was 0.92 and their scratching index was 2.0. There was a significant decrease in all three measurements during the year after the treatment, and one year after treatment, no mites were found in the ear scrapings; the ADS of the finishers was 0.31 and their scratching index was 0.16. Adult animals were negative for the presence of mites at all times, the ADS was below the cut‐off level before and after treatment, and the scratching index decreased after treatment. There was an economic improvement among the breeding sows and the fattening pigs. The feed consumption of the sows decreased by 5 per cent; rebreeding decreased by 4.55 per cent; average litter size increased by 0.33 live piglets born per litter and the farrowing index increased by 0.075 litters per sow per year. As a result, the production index increased by 1.34 more piglets weaned per sow per year. There was an immediate improvement in feed conversion during the five months after the treatment The costs of the treatment were recovered within 3.7 months.
Digital Fuzzy Current Mode Controlled Integrated PFC Converter with External Ramp Compensation
Authors: Subbarao Mopidevi , Babu Ch. Sai , Satyanarayana S. , Naidu P. Chandra Babu 
Published: January 2018

This paper propounded a novel method of design and realization of a digital fuzzy controlled buck integrated power factor correction (PFC) converter. It derives its advantages through the low buck capacitor voltage and single control switch (SW1), which leads to reduced complex control and price. Sub-harmonic oscillations generated in the peak current mode technique can be nullified by using the ramp signal, thereby improving the overall performance of the converter. The fuzzy logic controller (FLC) is robust and effective than the conventional linear controllers like P, PI, PID. In this paper, the digital fuzzy current mode controlled integrated PFC converter with external ramp compensation signal for 100 W load operating in the universal range of voltage (90[Formula: see text]V–265[Formula: see text]V), 50[Formula: see text]Hz has been designed and implemented using MATLAB/Simulink, verified in hardware using the TMS320F2812 digital processor board, and the results are found to be complying with international regulatory standards (IEC 6100-3-2 and IEEE 519-1992).
Character Actor
Authors: Tennent Hamish , Moore Dylan , Ju Wendy 
Published: January 2018

How might an actuated car seat become an expressive robot? To explore the possibilities of this novel interaction, we conducted a full design exploration from prototyping to validation, drawing on methods for embodied physical interaction design. First, we applied physical and digital puppeteering techniques to explore how a car seat can display emotional affect through movement with limited degrees of freedom in a semi-structured design workshop. Second, prototyped emotions were formalized with the Laban Effort framework and translated into computer animations. Third, we tested if lay users understood the expressions communicated by the animations in an online validation study on Amazon Mechanical Turk.
Participants generally agreed with our interpretation of six prototyped expressive states for the robot car seat (Neutral, Aggressive, Confident, Cool, Excited, and Quirky), and reported quantitative and qualitative reactions to each including perceived safety, which varied across conditions. Participants reported more implied cognition for higher valence expressions, and also were more likely to agree with our design intent. This specific case of physical interaction design and evaluation serves as a vignette for how to design and validate novel physical expressions in non-anthropomorphic robot interfaces.
Noninvasive neurophysiological mapping of the lower urinary tract in adult and aging rhesus macaques
Authors: Gad Parag N. , Kokikian Nelly , Christe Kari L. , Edgerton V. Reggie , Havton Leif A. 
Published: January 2018

The lower urinary tract (LUT) may be activated by spinal cord stimulation, but the physiological mapping characteristics of LUT activation with noninvasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) are not known. The effects of aging on the contractile properties of the detrusor are also not well understood. Therefore, TSCS was applied over the T10/T11 to L6/L7 spinous processes in adult ( n = 6) and aged ( n = 9) female rhesus macaques. A combination of urodynamic studies and electromyography recordings of the external urethral sphincter (EUS), external anal sphincter (EAS), and pelvic floor muscles was performed. Distinct functional maps were demonstrated for TSCS-evoked detrusor and urethral pressures and for the activation of the EUS, EAS, and pelvic floor muscles. The magnitude of responses for each peripheral target organ was dependent on TSCS location and strength. The strongest detrusor contraction was observed with TSCS at the L1/L2 site in adults and the L3/L4 site in aged subjects. TSCS-evoked bladder pressure at the L1/L2 site was significantly higher for the adults compared with the aged subjects ( P < 0.05). Cumulative normalized TSCS-evoked pressures, calculated for five consecutive sites between the T11/T12 and L3/L4 levels, were significantly lower for aged compared with adult subjects ( P < 0.05). The aged animals also showed a caudal shift for the TSCS site that generated the strongest detrusor contraction. We conclude that natural aging in rhesus macaques is associated with decreased detrusor contractility, a finding of significant translational research relevance as detrusor underactivity is a common occurrence with aging in humans. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) was used to map lower urinary tract function in adult and aged rhesus macaques. Aging was associated with decreased peak pressure responses to TSCS, reduced cumulative normalized evoked bladder pressure responses, and a caudal shift for the site generating the strongest TSCS-induced detrusor contraction. We demonstrate the utility of TSCS as a new diagnostic tool for detrusor contractility assessments and conclude that aging is associated with decreased detrusor contractility in primates.
DICER1 and Associated Conditions: Identification of At-risk Individuals and Recommended Surveillance Strategies
Authors: Schultz Kris Ann P. , Williams Gretchen M. , Kamihara Junne , Stewart Douglas R. , Harris Anne K. , Bauer Andrew J. , Turner Joyce , Shah Rachana , Schneider Katherine , Schneider Kami Wolfe , Carr Ann Garrity , Harney Laura A. , Baldinger Shari , Frazier A. Lindsay , Orbach Daniel , Schneider Dominik T. , Malkin David , Dehner Louis P. , Messinger Yoav H. , Hill D. Ashley 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
Pathogenic germline DICER1 variants cause a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome with a variety of manifestations. In addition to conferring increased cancer risks for pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) and ovarian sex cord–stromal tumors, particularly Sertoli–Leydig cell tumor, individuals with pathogenic germline DICER1 variants may also develop lung cysts, cystic nephroma, renal sarcoma and Wilms tumor, nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid, nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma, ciliary body medulloepithelioma, genitourinary embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, and brain tumors including pineoblastoma and pituitary blastoma. In May 2016, the International PPB Registry convened the inaugural International DICER1 Symposium to develop consensus testing and surveillance and treatment recommendations. Attendees from North America, Europe, and Russia provided expert representation from the disciplines of pediatric oncology, endocrinology, genetics, genetic counseling, radiology, pediatric surgery, pathology, and clinical research. Recommendations are provided for genetic testing; prenatal management; and surveillance for DICER1-associated pulmonary, renal, gynecologic, thyroid, ophthalmologic, otolaryngologic, and central nervous system tumors and gastrointestinal polyps. Risk for most DICER1-associated neoplasms is highest in early childhood and decreases in adulthood. Individual and caregiver education and judicious imaging-based surveillance are the primary recommended approaches. These testing and surveillance recommendations reflect a consensus of expert opinion and current literature. As DICER1 research expands, guidelines for screening and treatment will continue to be updated. Clin Cancer Res; 24(10); 2251–61. ©2018 AACR.
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in Patients with Portal Hypertension: Patency Depends on Coverage and Interventionalist’s Experience
Authors: Buechter Matthias , Manka Paul , Gerken Guido , Canbay Ali , Blomeyer Sandra , Wetter Axel , Altenbernd Jens , Kahraman Alisan , Theysohn Jens M. 
Published: January 2018

<b><i>Background and Aims:</i></b> Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the treatment of choice in decompensated portal hypertension. TIPS revision due to thrombosis or stenosis increases morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to investigate patient- and procedure-associated risk factors for TIPS-revision. <b><i>Patients and</i></b> <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively evaluated 189 patients who underwent the TIPS procedure. Only patients who required TIPS revision within 1 year (Group I, 34 patients) and patients who did not require re-intervention within the first year (Group II [control group], 54 patients) were included. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Out of 88 patients, the majority were male (69.3%) and mean age was 56 ± 11 years. Indications for TIPS were refractory ascites (68%), bleeding (24%), and Budd-Chiari syndrome (8%). The most frequent liver disease was alcohol-induced cirrhosis (60%). Forty-three patients (49%) received bare and 45 patients (51%) covered stents, thus resulting in reduction of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) from 19.0 to 9.0 mm Hg. When comparing patient- and procedure-related factors, the type of stent (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01) and interventionalist’s experience (number of performed TIPS implantations per year; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) were the only factors affecting the risk of re-intervention due to stent dysfunction, while age, gender, indication, Child-Pugh, and model of end-stage liver disease score, platelet count, pre- and post-HVPG, additional variceal embolization, stent diameter, and number of stents did not significantly differ. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Patients undergoing TIPS procedure should be surveilled closely for shunt dysfunction while covered stents and high-level experience are associated with increased ­patency.
Different Control Schemes for Sensor Less Vector Control of Induction Motor
Authors: Gangishetti Srinivas , Sandipamu Tarakalyani 
Published: January 2018

This paper deals with the design of different control schemes for sensorless vector control of induction motor.Induction motor is most widely used A.C. Motor but the major draw back is flux and torque cannot be controlled individually.This can be obtained by implementing sensorless vector control methods.The control strategy of induction motor is by different controllers like conventional control methods and artificial intelligence control methods.The conventional control methods are sensitive to parameter changes and will not be accurate. This paper proposes to design a controller to over come the above draw backs by using intelligent control techniques like fuzzy logic, artificial neutral networks (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA).The above conventional control methods are compared with intelligent control techniques. The simulation studies are carried out using Matlab/Simulink and the wave forms for speed, torque and voltage components for various controlles are plotted. Numerical analysis for speed and torque components considering parameters like peakover shoot and peak time are presented.
Performance Analysis of Modified SVPWM Strategies for Three Phase Cascaded Multi-level Inverter fed Induction Motor Drive
Authors: Bhukya Ravikumar , Kumar P. Satish 
Published: January 2018

<p>This paper presents new modified space vector pulse width modulation techniques (Phase disposition-Space vector pulse width modulation, Alternative Phase Opposition disposition- Space vector pulse width modulation and Phase Opposition disposition-Space vector pulse width modulation) are analyzed for three-phase cascaded multi-level inverter fed induction motor from the point of view of the Phase voltages, line voltage, stator current,speed,torque and Total harmonic distortion.in the proposed modified technique the reference signals are generated by adding offset voltage to the reference phase voltages.This modified SVPWM technique does not involve region indentification,sector identification for switching vector determination as are required in the conventional multi level SVPWM technique,it is also reduces the computation time compared to the conventional space vector PWM technique.The necessary calculations for generation of new modified SVPWM for the modulation strategies have presented in detail. It is observed that the modified SVPWM modulation ensures excellent, close to optimized pulse distribution results and THD is compared to for five-level, seven-level, nine-level and eleven-level Cascaded H-Bride Multi-level Inverter fed to Induction motor. Theoretical investigations were confirmed by the digital simulations using MATLAB/SIMULINK software.</p>
Performance Comparison of Fuzzy Logic and Proportional-integral for an Electronic Load Controller
Authors: Irfan Muhammad , Effendy Machmud , Alif Nur , Syafaah Lailis , Pakaya Ilham , Faruq Amrul 
Published: January 2018

Generally, Electronic Load Control (ELC) used in micro hydro power plant (MHPP) to controls the voltage between consumer load and a dummy load, still detects one parameter voltage or frequency generator only. Whereas in reality, any changes in the load on consumers, generator voltage and frequency also changed. When the consumer load down the electric current will be supplied to the dummy load, amounting to decrease in consumer load. When there is a transfer load, there will be distortion voltage and frequency, thus a special methods to reduce distortions by speeding up the process of transferring the electric load is needed. The proposed of this study is using fuzzy logic algorithm.To realize such a system, a comparison tool model of load control digital electronic fuzzy logic controller (FLC) and Proportional Integrator (PI) is required. This modeling using matlab program to simulate, the simulation result shows that the ELC based on fuzzy logic controller is better than conventional PI control, it seen from fast response to steady state condition.
Selective Harmonic Elimination Based on Newton-raphson Method for Cascaded H-bridge Multilevel Inverter
Authors: Abd Halim Wahidah , Tengku Azam Tengku Noor Ariana , Applasamy Komathi , Jidin Auzani 
Published: January 2018

<span lang="EN-US">Multilevel inverters are emerging as the new breed of power converter options for high power applications. They typically synthesis the staircase voltage waveform (from several dc sources) which reduced harmonic content. This paper presents a simple selective harmonic elimination (SHE) modulation for single-phase cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel inverter. The optimum switching angle of the transcendental equations describing the fundamental and harmonic components is solved by means of the Newton-Raphson (NR) method. The proposed SHE scheme is performed through simulation using MATLAB/Simulink. This simulation results are then verified through experiment using Altera DE0-Nano field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The proposed SHE is efficient in eliminating the lowest-order harmonics and producing a higher quality output waveform with a better harmonic profile. </span>
Design of an Improved MPPT Control of DFIG Wind Turbine under Unbalanced Grid Voltage using a Flux Sliding Mode Observer
Authors: Majdoub Youssef , Abbou Ahmed , Akherraz Mohamed , El Akhrif Rachid 
Published: January 2018

This study presents a control scheme of the electronic interface of a grid connected Variable Speed Wind Energy Generation System (VS-WEGS) based on a Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG). The efficiency of the wind energy is represented to according to the control strategy applied. Thus, in the case of unbalanced grid voltage, the negative sequence voltage causes additional strong oscillation at twice the grid frequency in the stator instantaneous active and reactive powers. The objective of this work is to present an enhanced MPPT controller uses backstepping approach implemented in both and reference frames rotating to keep a safe operation of DFIG during unbalanced grid voltage associated with regulating rotor flux, in order to estimate rotor flux, a nonlinear observer based on sliding mode is proposed in this work. Note that the conventional controllers (PI, PI-R …) are not provided satisfactory performance during unbalanced voltage dips. The validation of results has been performed through simulation studies on a 4 kW DFIG using Matlab/Simulink®.