Browse publications by year: 2017

The Effects of Passive Cigarette Smoke Exposure on the Survival of the Reverse Sural Fasciocutaneous Flap

Sadagatullah AN, Halim AS, Bathusha MS, Ramachandran AK

J Hand Microsurg, 2017 Dec;9(3):120-125.
PMID: 29302135 DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1605354

Background The possibility of a person who had undergone surgery to be exposed to the ill effects of cigarette smoke is high, more so if the person lives with a smoker. With increasing popularity of reverse sural fasciocutaneous flaps, a surgeon may have to manage a person who lives with a smoker or is exposed to cigarette smoke. A clear understanding of the effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on reverse sural fasciocutaneous flaps is necessary. This study was performed to establish a clearer understanding of the effects of smoking on reverse sural fasciocutaneous flaps and evidence for preoperative patient counseling about smoking and smoke exposure. Objective The study investigated effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on the survival of the reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap. Methods This was an experimental observational study conducted at the Laboratory for Animal Research Unit in the Health Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia. Twelve adult White New Zealand rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) were divided into two groups of six. All 12 rabbits had a 2.5- × 2.5-cm reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap raised on both its hind limbs. The group exposed to cigarette smoke underwent 4 weeks of smoke exposure for 2 hours daily prior to surgery. This was then continued until analysis of the results. The control group had no intervention. All flaps were analyzed on the seventh postoperative day, after tracing on transparent plastic sheets with the necrotic area marked followed by 2D planimetry done on a grid paper. The flaps were assessed on the total flap area and survival area percentage. It was recorded as mean ± SD. The presence or absence of infection and hematoma was also noted. Results Twelve flaps were analyzed in each group. Total mean flap area and survival area percentage of the control group were 120.33 ± 31.03 mm 2 and 80.12 ± 15.75%, respectively, whereas in the cigarette smoke-exposed group, it was 121.83 ± 17.93 mm 2 and 62.04 ± 34.01%, respectively. The control group had two infections and one hematoma, and the smoking-exposed group had six infections and nine hematomas. The comparison between the groups was made in terms of total flap area, survival percentage, presence of infection, and hematoma for which the p values were 0.886, 0.115, 0.083, and 0.003, respectively. The differences between right and left hind limbs were also analyzed ( p = 0.414). Conclusion There was no statistical difference in the results from the right and left hind limbs. There was no statistical difference in the survival of reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap between the control and smoking-exposed groups.

MeSH terms: Humans; Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
Coarsening Dynamics of an Isotropic Ferromagnetic Superfluid

Williamson LA, Blakie PB

Phys Rev Lett, 2017 Dec 22;119(25):255301.
PMID: 29303307 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.255301

In zero magnetic field the ground-state manifold of a ferromagnetic spin-1 condensate is SO(3) and exhibits Z_{2} vortices as topological defects. We investigate the phase-ordering dynamics of this system after being quenched into this ferromagnetic phase from a zero-temperature unmagnetized phase. Following the quench, we observe the ordering of both magnetic and gauge domains. We find that these domains grow diffusively, i.e., with domain size L(t)∼t^{1/2}, and exhibit dynamic scale invariance. The coarsening dynamics progresses as Z_{2} vortices annihilate; however, we find that at finite energy a number of these vortices persist in small clumps without influencing magnetic or gauge order. We consider the influence of a small nonzero magnetic field, which reduces the ground-state symmetry, and show that this sets a critical length scale such that when the domains reach this size the system dynamically transitions in order parameter and scaling behavior from an isotropic to an anisotropic ferromagnetic superfluid.

MeSH terms: Diffusion; Temperature; Anisotropy; Magnets; Magnetic Fields
Fulltext Hybrid genetic algorithm in the Hopfield network for logic satisfiability problem

Mohd Shareduwan Mohd Kasihmuddin, Mohd Asyraf Mansor, Saratha Sathasivam

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):139-152.
MyJurnal

In this study, a hybrid approach that employs Hopfield neural network and a genetic algorithm in
doing k-SAT problems was proposed. The Hopfield neural network was used to minimise logical
inconsistency in interpreting logic clauses or programme. Hybrid optimisation made use of the global
convergence advantage of the genetic algorithm to deal with learning complexity in the Hopfield
network. The simulation incorporated with genetic algorithm and exhaustive search method with different
k-Satisfiability (k-SAT) problems, namely, the Horn-Satisfiability (HORN-SAT), 2-Satisfiability (2-SAT)
and 3-Satisfiability (3-SAT) will be developed by using Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Express Software.
The performance of both searching techniques was evaluated based on global minima ratio, hamming
distance and computation time. Simulated results suggested that the genetic algorithm outperformed
exhaustive search in doing k-SAT logic programming in the Hopfield network.
Fulltext Diabetes knowledge, attitudes, self-management, and quality of life among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus – a comparison between Australia- and Malaysia-based samples

Kueh YC, Morris T, Ismail AAS

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):121-138.
MyJurnal

The present study aimed to examine the levels of diabetes knowledge, attitudes, self-management and quality of life (QoL) between two countries with different cultural and language backgrounds. Data collection was conducted in two hospitals in Melbourne, Australia, and a hospital in Kelantan, Malaysia. Participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were asked to complete four questionnaires, measuring diabetes knowledge, attitudes, self-management, and QoL. The differences between the samples were
examined using chi-square and independent samples t-tests. The variables of gender and type of treatment (using insulin or not using insulin for treatment) based on groups were analysed using one-way ANOVA. All analyses were conducted using SPSS 22.0. The results highlighted some similarities and differences between the Australia-based sample and the Malaysia-based sample. In general, the Australia-based participants scored significantly higher in diabetes knowledge and reported more regular self-management of T2DM in exercise, blood glucose testing and foot care. The Australia-based sample also scored higher on attitudes compared to the Malaysia-based participants. On the other hand, Malaysia-based participants reported a lower level of impacts of T2DM on QoL. There was no significant difference between self-management of T2DM in terms of diet and satisfaction as an aspect of QoL related to living with diabetes between the two samples. The present study highlighted the levels of diabetes knowledge, attitudes, self-management, and QoL among Australia-based and Malaysia-based people with T2DM.
Study site: Alfred Hospital and Western Hospital, Australia; Diabetes Health Clinic, Hospital
Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia

MeSH terms: Adult; Australia; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*; Hospitals, University; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Quality of Life*; Self Care*
Fulltext A comparative study of the behaviour of treated and untreated tyre crumb mortar with oil palm fruit fibre addition

Farah N.A. Abd. Aziz, Sani M.B., Noor Azline M.N., Jaafar M.S.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):101-120.
MyJurnal

An incorporation of waste tyre particles in concrete has been established to produce a green concrete.
However, despite its advantages, strength reduction is an obvious handicap. To improve the strength,
pre-treatments of the waste tyre particles and addition of Oil Palm Fruit Fibre (OPFF) were chosen and
reported in this study. The addition of OPFF was to influence the internal structure in order to improve
shrinkage and other strength properties. Performance of the composites in compressive, split tensile and
flexural strengths, as well as shrinkage and microstructure were observed. Results showed better behaviour
of the treated tyre crumb mortar rather compared to the untreated tyre, with the replacement of up to 40%
by volume of the treated tyre crumb particles and 0.5- 1.0% OPFF addition by mass of cement content.
Fulltext Wireless sensor network and internet of things (IoT) solution in agriculture

Zulkifli, C.Z., Noor, N.N.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):91-100.
MyJurnal

This paper presents the technology of Active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Wireless Mesh
Sensor Network (WMSN) that will be used in agriculture. In this paper, ZigBee technology platform is
applied in 2.45 GHz and active RFID to sustain the WSN by developing a fully automated IoT solution
in agriculture for irrigation system. The system includes a plurality of sensor nodes installed in a crop
field sending an ID, which are embedded sensor and WSN that work on ZigBee 2.4 GHz platform. The
ID was sent to act as a signal of soil in dry condition of a specific area to a reader at base station. The
pump stations will use information from base station to sprinkling water in the specific area of the dry
state automatically. The automatic control system is very practical in agriculture but most of it is based
on schedule and timer regardless of soil condition and temperature. Therefore, wireless automated
irrigation system for efficient water use and production is proposed.
Fulltext Modified Kohonen network algorithm for selection of the initial centres of Gustafson-Kessel algorithm in credit scoring

Sameer, F., Abu Bakar, M.R.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):77-90.
MyJurnal

Credit risk assessment has become an important topic in financial risk administration. Fuzzy clustering
analysis has been applied in credit scoring. Gustafson-Kessel (GK) algorithm has been utilised to cluster
creditworthy customers as against non-creditworthy ones. A good clustering analysis implemented by
good Initial Centres of clusters should be selected. To overcome this problem of Gustafson-Kessel (GK)
algorithm, we proposed a modified version of Kohonen Network (KN) algorithm to select the initial
centres. Utilising similar degree between points to get similarity density, and then by means of maximum
density points selecting; the modified Kohonen Network method generate clustering initial centres to get
more reasonable clustering results. The comparative was conducted using three credit scoring datasets:
Australian, German and Taiwan. Internal and external indexes of validity clustering are computed and
the proposed method was found to have the best performance in these three data sets.
Fulltext A novel adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system based classification model for heart disease prediction

Abdu Masanawa Sagir, Saratha Sathasivam

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):43-56.
MyJurnal

Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is among the most efficient classification and prediction
modelling techniques used to develop accurate relationship between input and output parameters in
different processes. This paper reports the design and evaluation of the classification performances of
two discrete Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System models, ANFIS Matlab’s built-in model (ANFIS_
LSGD) and a newly ANFIS model with Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm (ANFIS_LSLM). Major steps
were performed, which included classification using grid partitioning method, the ANFIS trained with
least square estimates and backpropagation gradient descent method, as well as the ANFIS trained with
Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm using finite difference technique for computation of a Jacobian matrix.
The proposed ANFIS_LSLM model predicts the degree of patient’s heart disease with better, reliable
and more accurate results. This is due to its new feature of index membership function that determines
the unique membership functions in an ANFIS structure, which indexes them into a row-wise vector. In
addition, an attempt was also done to specify the effectiveness of the model’s performance measuring
accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. A comparison of the two models in terms of training and testing
with the Statlog-Cleveland Heart Disease dataset have also been done.
Fulltext A combined analytical method for optimal location and sizing of distributed generation considering voltage stability and power loss in a power distribution system

Maryam Mirzaei, Jasronita Jasni, Hashim Hizam, Noor Izzri Abdol Wahab, Ehsan Moazami

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):29-42.
MyJurnal

In this paper, a multi-objective analytical method to evaluate the impacts of optimal location and sizing
of distributed generation is presented. This method is based on an analysis of the exact loss formula and
continuous power flow in a radial distribution system. Based on two methods of analysis, power loss
and weakest voltage buses and lines are calculated and then the optimal size of distributed generation
is determined. After that, by considering the minimum power losses and the maximisation of voltage
stability, the proposed index determines and ranks positions to decide the optimal distributed generation
location in the system. This method allows us to find the best places and size to connect a number of
distributed generation units by optimising the objective functions. The simulation results were obtained
using a 33-bus radial distribution system to determine the location and size of the distributed generation
units. The results show the effectiveness of voltage profile improvement, loading factor improvement
and power loss reduction. Further, the problems of a single objective function and the placement of the
distributed generation unit using analytical methods are solved by the proposed approach.
Fulltext Analysis of energy consumption in pineapple cultivation in Malaysia: a case study

Nazri, A.M., Pebrian, D.E.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):17-28.
MyJurnal

Pineapple (Ananas Comosus), which has been identified as high-value non-seasonal tropic fruit, is one
of the top five fruits in Malaysia that shows a promising demand in the local and export markets. The
current study was conducted to analyse the efficiency energy inputs used in every activity involved in the
process of pineapple production. The study also aimed to contribute in initiating a database for energy
used in producing pineapples in Malaysia, which would hopefully become a guideline for applications
in related policies in pineapple plantations. Data were collected based on direct field observations at a
pineapple plantation under the management of Koperasi Serbaguna Anak-Anak Selangor Bhd. (KOSAS
Bhd.) at Kg. Kundang in Selangor, Malaysia. Oral interviews were also carried out to gather any relevant
information. The highest energy input used in pineapple production is fertiliser, contributing to 45.65%
from the total energy equivalents used in the production. Fuel is the second highest energy source with
a segment of 20.21% of the total energy, followed by planting material, agrochemicals, human labour
and machine at 17.33%, 12.76%, 3.34 % and 0.69%, respectively. The ratio of energy output/inputs in
pineapple production in the study area was 3.56. Conclusively, it means the energy input is effectively
used in the pineapple production in the study area since the energy output/inputs ratio is greater than 1.
Involvement of machinery in the pineapple cultivation practices in Malaysia is recommended since it
reduces human drudgery and optimises farm’s capability to do work more efficiently and also to offset
the labour shortage problem.
Fulltext Analysis on the effect of shop floor parameters on the effectiveness of preventive maintenance through discrete event simulation

Kamaruddin, S., Sheng, L.W., Basri, E.I.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(1):1-16.
MyJurnal

Preventive maintenance (PM) is a predetermined task that constitutes any maintenance actions performed
before the quantity or quality of product equipment deteriorates. PM is primarily aimed at protecting assets,
improving system reliability, and decreasing system downtime. Recently, the implementation of PM is
becoming more challenging due to the increase in complexity of manufacturing systems. A case study on
the effect of different parameters from a maintenance perspective on industrial shop floor performance is
presented. The parameters include number of technicians, number of operations in each machine before
maintenance actions, and volume of parts ordered by customers. This present research demonstrates the
application of WITNESS simulation software to develop shop floor simulation model and the use of
analysis of variance (ANOVA) to measure the significance of such parameters on performance.
Fulltext Barrier, weakness and utilization of pre-pregnancy clinic services

Rahman M, Rahim NA, Arif MT

Arch Public Health, 2017;75:67.
PMID: 29299310 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-017-0236-2

Background: Despite being one of the plausible measures towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), various issues pertaining to pre-pregnancy clinic (PPC) services still need to be pondered upon. Based on this view, an attempt was made to identify and understand the barriers and weaknesses of current utilisation of pre-pregnancy care services, since its establishment and implementation in Sarawak from the year 2011.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in selected health care facilities throughout Sarawak. A multistage cluster sampling technique was followed to select the health facilities. An unstructured open-ended questionnaire was administered as a part of quantitative data analysis. The open-ended questions were administered to get the in-depth perceived views and current practice of utilisation of pre-pregnancy clinic services. A total of 553 clients from nine selected health care facilities gave their feedback. The results of the study were narrated in textual form and a thematic analysis was done manually.
Results: The identified themes for perceived barriers for utilisation of pre-pregnancy care were perception, attitude and acceptance of PPC services, socio-economic issues, services and client factors. The perceived weaknesses of the services are listed under two main themes: working environment and service factors, whereas, the strength of services produced three thematic areas which are preparation for pregnancy, prevention of mortality and morbidity and comprehensive services.
Conclusions: Though there is ample evidence that pre-pregnancy services are beneficial for maternal health and wellbeing, various issues still need to be addressed for the improvement of the quality of services. Lack of awareness among clients, socio-economic barriers, lack of resources, organisational barriers and perceptions towards family planning issues are some of the issues which need to be addressed. Nonetheless, promotional and health educational activities are important keys; in ensuring the sustainability of the services.
Fulltext Osimertinib as first-line treatment of EGFR mutant advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Liam CK

Transl Lung Cancer Res, 2017 Dec;6(Suppl 1):S62-S66.
PMID: 29299414 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr.2017.10.10
Fulltext Validation of the trauma mortality prediction scores from a Malaysian population

Tan JH, Tan HCL, Noh NAM, Mohamad Y, Alwi RI

Burns Trauma, 2017;5:37.
PMID: 29299483 DOI: 10.1186/s41038-017-0102-z

Background: Well-known trauma mortality prediction scores such as New Injury Severity Score (NISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) have been externally validated from high-income countries with established trauma databases. However, these scores were never used in Malaysian population. In this current study, we attempted to validate these scoring systems using our regional trauma surgery database.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of the regional Malaysian Trauma Surgery Database was performed over a period of 3 years from May 2011 to April 2014. NISS, RTS, Major Trauma Outcome Study (MTOS)-TRISS, and National Trauma Database (NTrD)-TRISS scores were recorded and calculated. Individual scoring system's performance in predicting trauma mortality was compared by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve. Youden index and associated optimal cutoff values for each scoring system was calculated to predict mortality. The corresponding positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the cutoff values were calculated.
Results: A total of 2208 trauma patients (2004 blunt and 204 penetrating injuries) with mean age of 36 (SD = 16) years were included. There were 239 deaths with a corresponding mortality rate of 10.8%. The AUC calculated for the NISS, RTS, MTOS-TRISS, and NTrD-TRISS were 0.878, 0.802, 0.812, and 0.848, respectively. The NISS score with a cutoff value of 24, sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 74.3%, outperformed the rest (p
Fulltext Comparison of ASE with in-cell cleanup and the QuEChERS sample preparation methods for the analysis of pesticide residues in tea

Abdul Kadir, H., Abas, F., Mediani, A., Ismail, I.S., Lajis, N.H.

International Food Research Journal, 2017;24(1):26-267.
MyJurnal

The aim of the present work was to compare and choose the best method to extract incurred
pesticide residues from green tea. Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) with in-cell cleanup
and the quick, easy, cheap, effective rugged and safe (QuEChERS) methods were tested on
green tea samples with incurred beta-endosulfan pesticide. The extracts were analyzed by
GC-MS/MS and the recovery and the precision of both methods were compared. The average
recovery using ASE with the in-cell cleanup method was in the range of 89 to 92% which is
better than that obtained using a QuEChERS method. Both the ASE with in-cell cleanup and
the QuEChERS methods provided good precision with RSDs in the range of 12 to 15% and
17 to 18%, respectively. This finding indicates that the ASE method with the in-cell cleanup is
more suitable for the accurate determination of pesticides incurred in tea.
A high-performance protocol for extraction of microplastics in fish

Karami A, Golieskardi A, Choo CK, Romano N, Ho YB, Salamatinia B

Sci Total Environ, 2017 Feb 01;578:485-494.
PMID: 27836345 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.213

So far, several classes of digesting solutions have been employed to extract microplastics (MPs) from biological matrices. However, the performance of digesting solutions across different temperatures has never been systematically investigated. In the first phase of the present study, we measured the efficiency of different oxidative agents (NaClO or H2O2), bases (NaOH or KOH), and acids [HCl or HNO3; concentrated and diluted (5%)] in digesting fish tissues at room temperature (RT, 25°C), 40, 50, or 60°C. In the second phase, the treatments that were efficient in digesting the biological materials (>95%) were evaluated for their compatibility with eight major plastic polymers (assessed through recovery rate, Raman spectroscopy analysis, and morphological changes). Among the tested solutions, NaClO, NaOH, and diluted acids did not result in a satisfactory digestion efficiency at any of the temperatures. The H2O2 treatment at 50°C efficiently digested the biological materials, although it decreased the recovery rate of nylon-6 (NY6) and nylon-66 (NY66) and altered the colour of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fragments. Similarly, concentrated HCl and HNO3 treatments at RT fully digested the fish tissues, but also fully dissolved NY6 and NY66, and reduced the recovery rate of most or all of the polymers, respectively. Potassium hydroxide solution fully eliminated the biological matrices at all temperatures. However, at 50 and 60°C, it degraded PET, reduced the recovery rate of PET and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and changed the colour of NY66. According to our results, treating biological materials with a 10% KOH solution and incubating at 40°C was both time and cost-effective, efficient in digesting biological materials, and had no impact on the integrity of the plastic polymers. Furthermore, coupling this treatment with NaI extraction created a promising protocol to isolate MPs from whole fish samples.

MeSH terms: Acids/chemistry; Alkalies/chemistry; Animals; Fishes*; Chemical Fractionation/methods*; Plastics/isolation & purification*; Polyethylene Terephthalates; Polyvinyl Chloride; Oxidants/chemistry
Bio-waste corn-cob cellulose supported poly(hydroxamic acid) copper complex for Huisgen reaction: Waste to wealth approach

Mandal BH, Rahman ML, Yusoff MM, Chong KF, Sarkar SM

Carbohydr Polym, 2017 Jan 20;156:175-181.
PMID: 27842811 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.09.021

Corn-cob cellulose supported poly(hydroxamic acid) Cu(II) complex was prepared by the surface modification of waste corn-cob cellulose through graft copolymerization and subsequent hydroximation. The complex was characterized by IR, UV, FESEM, TEM, XPS, EDX and ICP-AES analyses. The complex has been found to be an efficient catalyst for 1,3-dipolar Huisgen cycloaddition (CuAAC) of aryl/alkyl azides with a variety of alkynes as well as one-pot three-components reaction in the presence of sodium ascorbate to give the corresponding cycloaddition products in up to 96% yield and high turn over number (TON 18,600) and turn over frequency (TOF 930h-1) were achieved. The complex was easy to recover from the reaction mixture and reused six times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.

MeSH terms: Alkynes; Azides; Catalysis; Cellulose/chemistry*; Copper/chemistry*; Zea mays/chemistry*; Hydroxamic Acids/chemistry*
Properties of cellulose nanocrystals from oil palm trunk isolated by total chlorine free method

Lamaming J, Hashim R, Leh CP, Sulaiman O

Carbohydr Polym, 2017 Jan 20;156:409-416.
PMID: 27842840 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.09.053

Cellulose nanocrystals were isolated from oil palm trunk by total chlorine free method. The samples were either water pre-hydrolyzed or non-water pre-hydrolyzed, subjected to soda pulping, acidified and ozone bleached. Cellulose and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) physical, chemical, thermal properties, and crystallinity index were investigated by composition analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. Water pre-hydrolysis reduced lignin (<0.5%) and increased holocellulose (99.6%) of ozone-bleached cellulose. Water pre-hydrolyzed cellulose exhibited surface fibrillation and peeling off after acid hydrolysis process compared to non-fibrillated of non-water pre-hydrolyzed cellulose. Water pre-hydrolysis improved final CNC crystallinity (up to 75%) compared to CNC without water pre-hydrolysis crystallinity (69%). Cellulose degradation was found to occur during ozone bleaching stage but CNC showed an increase in crystallinity after acid hydrolysis. Thus, oil palm trunk CNC can be potentially applied in pharmaceutical, food, medical and nanocomposites.

MeSH terms: Cellulose/isolation & purification*; Cellulose/chemistry*; Hydrolysis; Water/chemistry; Plant Stems/chemistry*; Arecaceae/chemistry*; Nanoparticles/chemistry*
Robust stabilization of underactuated nonlinear systems: A fast terminal sliding mode approach

Khan Q, Akmeliawati R, Bhatti AI, Khan MA

ISA Trans, 2017 Jan;66:241-248.
PMID: 27884392 DOI: 10.1016/j.isatra.2016.10.017

This paper presents a fast terminal sliding mode based control design strategy for a class of uncertain underactuated nonlinear systems. Strategically, this development encompasses those electro-mechanical underactuated systems which can be transformed into the so-called regular form. The novelty of the proposed technique lies in the hierarchical development of a fast terminal sliding attractor design for the considered class. Having established sliding mode along the designed manifold, the close loop dynamics become finite time stable which, consequently, result in high precision. In addition, the adverse effects of the chattering phenomenon are reduced via strong reachability condition and the robustness of the system against uncertainties is confirmed theoretically. A simulation as well as experimental study of an inverted pendulum is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed technique.

MeSH terms: Iatrogenic Disease; Nonlinear Dynamics; Uncertainty; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for Alzheimer's disease management: Technical, industrial, and clinical challenges

Wen MM, El-Salamouni NS, El-Refaie WM, Hazzah HA, Ali MM, Tosi G, et al.

J Control Release, 2017 01 10;245:95-107.
PMID: 27889394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.11.025

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with high prevalence in the rapidly growing elderly population in the developing world. The currently FDA approved drugs for the management of symptomatology of AD are marketed mainly as conventional oral medications. Due to their gastrointestinal side effects and lack of brain targeting, these drugs and dosage regiments hinder patient compliance and lead to treatment discontinuation. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (NTDDS) administered by different routes can be considered as promising tools to improve patient compliance and achieve better therapeutic outcomes. Despite extensive research, literature screening revealed that clinical activities involving NTDDS application in research for AD are lagging compared to NTDDS for other diseases such as cancers. The industrial perspectives, processability, and cost/benefit ratio of using NTDDS for AD treatment are usually overlooked. Moreover, active and passive immunization against AD are by far the mostly studied alternative AD therapies because conventional oral drug therapy is not yielding satisfactorily results. NTDDS of approved drugs appear promising to transform this research from 'paper to clinic' and raise hope for AD sufferers and their caretakers. This review summarizes the recent studies conducted on NTDDS for AD treatment, with a primary focus on the industrial perspectives and processability. Additionally, it highlights the ongoing clinical trials for AD management.

MeSH terms: Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy*; Alzheimer Disease/etiology; Animals; Humans; Drug Delivery Systems*; Nanotechnology

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