Introduction: Many studies have revealed that exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) substantially increases the risk of smoking related diseases especially among the vulnerable groups, yet data on the ...location of SHS exposure among youth in Malaysia are still lacking. The study aims to describe the prevalence and factors associated with SHS exposure at home, outside the home, and inside the school among school-going adolescents in Malaysia. Methods: We derived the data from the TECMA study, which used a cross-sectional study design and multi-stage sampling method to obtain a representative sample of school-going adolescents aged 11 – 19 years in Malaysia in 2016. Data were collected through a self-administered approach using a pre-validated standard questionnaire. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to analyze the data, and results are presented as adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: SHS exposure for the past seven days was higher outside the home (51.2%; 95% CI: 49.2 – 53.2) compared to at home (37.8%; 95% CI: 35.8 – 39.9) while 27.3% (95% CI: 25.1 – 29.5) of school-going adolescents reported exposure to SHS inside the school in the past one month. In the regression analyses, older adolescents, those of Malay and Bumiputra Sarawak ethnicities, adolescents from rural areas and current smokers had higher likelihood of exposure to SHS at home, outside home and inside the school. Our study also found that adolescents who were current smokers had higher odds of being exposed to SHS at home (AOR=2.87; 95% CI: 2.57 – 3.21), outside the home (AOR=3.46; 95% CI: 3.05 – 3.92) and in the school (AOR=2.25; 95% CI: 2.01 – 2.51). Conclusions: Health promotion measures should target parents/guardians and household members to reduce SHS exposure among adolescents. In addition, smoke-free regulation should be fully enforced in school. Furthermore, more public places should be designated non-smoking areas to reduce SHS exposure and denormalize smoking behavior.
We present for the first time how a Bennet's doubler conditioning circuit can boost the electrical energy extracted from an electrostatic Kinetic Energy Harvester (e-KEH) based on triboelectricity, ...commonly called Tribo-Electric Nano-Generator (TENG). After 1000 charging cycles, the harvested power is increased by more than 2 orders of magnitude with the Bennet doubler compared to a half-wave diode bridge. The maximum energy extracted by a 3×3 cm2 device made of PFA and aluminum is no less than 4.6 μJ per tap through the Bennet's doubler circuit.
In this Letter, the authors introduce for the first time how a Bennet's doubler conditioning circuit will boost the extracted energy from an electrostatic kinetic energy harvester based on ...triboelectricity. With zero initial bias on all capacitors, after 1000 charging cycles, the harvested power is amplified by more than 2 orders of magnitude by the Bennet's doubler in comparison to a half-wave diode bridge. The harvested energy derived from a 3 × 3 cm2 device made of polymer PFA and aluminium is at least 4.6 μJ per tap with the Bennet's doubler conditioning circuit, and only 30 nJ per tap with the half-wave bridge.
A new analysis of a class E power amplifier is presented and a fully analytic design approach is developed. Using our analysis, all of the circuit currents and voltages and, hence, the power ...dissipation in each component is calculated as a function of a key design parameter, denoted by x . This parameter is the ratio of the resonance frequency of the shunt inductor and shunt capacitor to the operating frequency. We have shown that there is a limited continues range for this parameter, in which class E operation with realizable circuit is achieved. Three conventional design methods, namely infinite dc feed, parallel circuit, and even harmonic design methods are the special cases, corresponding to a certain value of x . Our analysis explains the power efficiency, the power capability, and other characteristics of the class E power amplifier circuit as a function of the parameter x . We have developed new design formulas that give the values of the circuit components for each value of x . These equations enable the designer to analytically optimize the circuit for a desired performance measure, such as power efficiency or power capability. To obtain the optimum design, the shunt inductor quality factor and the switch on-state resistance must be given. Then, one can find the value of x corresponding to the optimum value of the given performance measure. The analysis results show that the power efficiency is better a optimization measure than power capability. To assess the analysis results and to compare the new design method with the conventional methods, we have used the foundry design kit for STMicroelectronics 90-nm global-purpose CMOS process. For this purpose, we have designed four identical class E power amplifiers, one using the parallel-circuit method, another with the even-harmonic method, and two others with the proposed design method. One of the latter has been optimized for maximum power capability and the other for maximum power efficiency. The designed power amplifiers have been simulated in the foundry design kit and the simulation results prove the accuracy of the analysis and reveal the usefulness of our design method.
Thermal management of mass concrete can adversely impact a project's cost and schedule, both during planning and in execution. Nomograms are presented as aids to quickly identifying and making ...tradeoffs among promising thermal management options. First, the temperature of fresh concrete and a worst-case adiabatic temperature estimate is provided by a nomogram based on simple physical models. A subsequent nomogram accounts for the impact of size, shape, and environment and is based on a surrogate model generated from many three-dimensional (3-D) finite element simulations without postcooling. Finally, nomograms for postcooling are given, similarly founded on finite element-derived surrogate models, for two classes of cooling pipe layouts. The use of these nomograms, with an awareness of their estimated error, is discussed for the initial development of mass concrete thermal management plans. Keywords: mass concrete; nomograms; thermal management.
Inductor design is an important issue in millimeter-wave CMOS circuits. In these frequencies the required inductance is very small and hence special structure is required for inductors. The quality ...factor is the most important design parameter for these inductors, especially in CMOS process. To incorporate these inductors in circuit simulation, a simple lumped model is necessary. This work proposes a simple and accurate model, developed for design and optimization of such inductors. This model is based on quasi-transverse-electromagnetic-mode assumption. To increase the model accuracy we have separately modeled the short-end section of the inductor. Model parameters are calculated using reported analytic equations and some new empirical equations. Using this model we have designed and optimized a 250-pH inductor with different shield layers, for STMicroelectronics 90-nm digital CMOS process. The accuracy of the model parameters and the evaluation of the model has been carried out using 2-D and method-of-momentss electromagnetic solvers in Advanced Design System, with the substrate modeled using foundry design kit data.
A global upsurge in antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii requires supervised selection of biocides and disinfectants to avert nosocomial infections by reducing its spread. Moreover, ...inadequate and improper biocides have been reported as a contributing factor in antimicrobial resistance. Regardless of the manner of administration, a biocidal concentration that does not kill the target bacteria creates a stress response, propagating the resistance mechanisms. This is an essential aspect of the disinfection programme and the overall bio-contamination management plan. Knowing the mechanisms of action of biocides and resistance modalities may open new avenues to discover novel agents. This review describes the mechanisms of action of some biocides, resistance mechanisms, and approaches to study susceptibility/resistance to these agents.
The locus coeruleus noradrenergic (LC-NE) system is one of the first systems engaged following a stressful event. While numerous groups have demonstrated that LC-NE neurons are activated by many ...different stressors, the underlying neural circuitry and the role of this activity in generating stress-induced anxiety has not been elucidated. Using a combination of in vivo chemogenetics, optogenetics, and retrograde tracing, we determine that increased tonic activity of the LC-NE system is necessary and sufficient for stress-induced anxiety and aversion. Selective inhibition of LC-NE neurons during stress prevents subsequent anxiety-like behavior. Exogenously increasing tonic, but not phasic, activity of LC-NE neurons is alone sufficient for anxiety-like and aversive behavior. Furthermore, endogenous corticotropin-releasing hormone+ (CRH+) LC inputs from the amygdala increase tonic LC activity, inducing anxiety-like behaviors. These studies position the LC-NE system as a critical mediator of acute stress-induced anxiety and offer a potential intervention for preventing stress-related affective disorders.
•Inhibition of LC-NE neurons during stress prevents subsequent anxiety-like behavior•Increased tonic LC-NE neuronal activity promotes anxiety-like and aversive behavior•CRH+ CeA-LC projections increase LC-NE activity and promote anxiogenic responses•CRH+ CeA-LC-induced anxiety-like behavior is mediated by CRHR1 receptors
McCall et al. identify locus coeruleus (LC) neuronal activity as a critical mediator of stress-induced anxiety. Selective modulation of LC activity bidirectionally controls anxiety-like and aversive behaviors. Anatomical studies identify amygdalar CRH+ inputs that modulate LC activity and drive anxiety-like behavior.
Opioid dependence, a severe addictive disorder and major societal problem, has been demonstrated to be moderately heritable. We conducted a genome-wide association study in Comorbidity and Trauma ...Study data comparing opioid-dependent daily injectors (N=1167) with opioid misusers who never progressed to daily injection (N=161). The strongest associations, observed for CNIH3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were confirmed in two independent samples, the Yale-Penn genetic studies of opioid, cocaine and alcohol dependence and the Study of Addiction: Genetics and Environment, which both contain non-dependent opioid misusers and opioid-dependent individuals. Meta-analyses found five genome-wide significant CNIH3 SNPs. The A allele of rs10799590, the most highly associated SNP, was robustly protective (P=4.30E-9; odds ratio 0.64 (95% confidence interval 0.55-0.74)). Epigenetic annotation predicts that this SNP is functional in fetal brain. Neuroimaging data from the Duke Neurogenetics Study (N=312) provide evidence of this SNP's in vivo functionality; rs10799590 A allele carriers displayed significantly greater right amygdala habituation to threat-related facial expressions, a phenotype associated with resilience to psychopathology. Computational genetic analyses of physical dependence on morphine across 23 mouse strains yielded significant correlations for haplotypes in CNIH3 and functionally related genes. These convergent findings support CNIH3 involvement in the pathophysiology of opioid dependence, complementing prior studies implicating the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) glutamate system.
To compare the outcomes of conventional medical treatment vs combined medical treatment and amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in the management of patients with Roper-Hall grade IV ocular ...chemical injury.
Randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial.
Setting: Single tertiary referral hospital. Patients: Sixty eyes of 60 patients with Roper-Hall grade IV ocular chemical injury with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were enrolled in the study. Intervention: Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: Group 1 (30 eyes) received topical preservative-free lubricating gel and drops, chloramphenicol, betamethasone, homatropine, oral vitamin C, and doxycycline; Group 2 (30 eyes) received amniotic membrane transplant (AMT) on the entire ocular surface in addition to the medical treatment provided in Group 1. Outcome Measures: The main outcome measure was time to complete corneal epithelialization. Secondary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and neovascularization in the central 5 mm of the cornea.
Mean follow-up time was 20.3 ± 2.5 months (range 13-24 months). Corneal epithelial defects healed within 72.6 ± 30.4 (21-180) days in Group 1 vs 75.8 ± 29.8 (46-170) days in Group 2 (P = .610). Mean BCVA was 2.06 ± 0.67 (0.4-2.6) logMAR vs 2.06 ± 0.57 (1-2.9) logMAR in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .85). Group 1 developed more central corneal neovascularization (22 eyes; 73.3%) compared to Group 2 (16 eyes; 53.3%); however, it was not statistically significant (P = .108).
In comparison to conventional medical therapy, combined amniotic membrane transplantation and medical therapy does not accelerate corneal epithelialization or affect final visual acuity in severe chemical injuries.
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