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Challenging Conventional Paradigms in Applied Sports Biomechanics Research

Glazier PS, Mehdizadeh S

Sports Med, 2019 Feb;49(2):171-176.
PMID: 30511347 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-018-1030-1

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of, and highlights issues with, conventional paradigms in applied sports biomechanics research and comments on their capacity to optimise techniques of individual athletes. In empirical studies, group-based analyses often mask variability between athletes and only permit probabilistic 'in general' or 'on average' statements that may not be applicable to specific athletes. In individual-based analyses, performance parameters typically exhibit a small range and a flat response over iterative performance trials, making establishing associations between performance parameters and the performance criterion problematic. In theoretical studies, computer simulation modelling putatively enables athlete-specific optimum techniques to be identified, but given each athlete's unique intrinsic dynamics, it is far from certain that these optimum techniques will be attainable, particularly under the often intense psychological pressures of competition, irrespective of the volume of practice undertaken. Sports biomechanists and coaching practitioners are advised to be more circumspect with regard to interpreting the results of applied sports biomechanics research and have greater awareness of their assumptions and limitations, as inappropriate interpretation of results may have adverse consequences for performance and injury.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Fabrication of silicon oxide nanodot arrays by scanning probe lithography

Hutagalung SD, Darsono T, Khatijah A. Yaacob

Sains Malaysiana, 2008;37.

Atomic force microscopes (AFM) as one of the scanning probe microscopy (spm) modes have become useful tools, not only for observing surface morphology and nanostructure topography but also for fabrication of various nanostructures itself. In this work, silicon oxide (SiOx) patterns were formed on Si(100) surface by means of AFM anodization, where a non-contact mode used to oxidize Si wafer at the nanoscale size. The oxide patterns could serve as masks for the chemical etching of Si surface in alkaline solution in order to create the Si nanodots. A special attention is paid to finding relations between the size of dots and operational parameters as tip bias voltage and tip writing speed Dot arrays with 10 nm high and less than 50 nm in diameter have been successfully fabricated. The ability to control oxidation and scanning speed can be utilized in fabrication of complex nanostructures and make scanning probe lithography (SPL) as a very promising lithographic technique in nanoelectronic devices, nanophotonics and other high-tech areas.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Fulltext Explicating gender disparity in wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic

Looi KH

BMC Public Health, 2022 Dec 05;22(1):2273.
PMID: 36471303 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14630-7

BACKGROUND: The available evidence suggests that women were more likely to wear face masks as a precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few studies have explicated this gender disparity in wearing face masks. This study investigates associations of demographic factors with wearing face masks in Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic, then explicates gender disparity in wearing face masks from the lens of the Protection Motivation Theory.
METHODS: The first part of this study employed a structured online survey of 708 Malaysian adult participants. Data collected were quantitatively analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression. The second part of this study was conducted among 28 women to better understand gender disparity in protection motivations from the perspectives of women.
RESULTS: Gender has the strongest positive association with wearing face masks (p-value < .001), followed by age (p-value = .028). The Protection Motivation Theory adequately explicated the gender disparity in wearing face masks. Additionally, women were motivated to wear face masks beyond protection from the SARS-CoV-2.
CONCLUSION: Understanding the underlying motivations for wearing face masks informs design of gender-based public health messages to increase compliance with public health regulations and reduce morbidity and mortality for present and future public health crises.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Impact of face mask microplastics pollution on the aquatic environment and aquaculture organisms

Jimoh JO, Rahmah S, Mazelan S, Jalilah M, Olasunkanmi JB, Lim LS, et al.

Environ Pollut, 2023 Jan 15;317:120769.
PMID: 36455766 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120769

Microplastic pollution in our environment, especially water bodies is an emerging threat to food security and human health. Inevitably, the outbreak of Covid-19 has necessitated the constant use of face masks made from polymers such as polypropylene, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, or polyester which eventually will disintegrate into microplastic particles. They can be broken down into microplastics by the weathering action of UV radiation from the sun, heat, or ocean wave-current and precipitate in natural environments. The global adoption of face masks as a preventive measure to curb the spread of Covid-19 has made the safe management of wastes from it cumbersome. Microplastics gain access into aquaculture facilities through water sources and food including planktons. The negative impacts of microplastics on aquaculture cannot be overemphasized. The impacts includes low growth rates of animals, hindered reproductive functions, neurotoxicity, low feeding habit, oxidative stress, reduced metabolic rate, and increased mortality rate among aquatic organisms. With these, there is every tendency of microplastic pollution to negatively impact fish production through aquaculture if the menace is not curbed. It is therefore recommended that biodegradable materials rather than plastics to be considered in the production of face mask while recycle of already produced ones should be encouraged to reduce waste.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Fulltext Facile Approaches of Polymeric Face Masks Reuse and Reinforcements for Micro-Aerosol Droplets and Viruses Filtration: A Review

Wibisono Y, Fadila CR, Saiful S, Bilad MR

Polymers (Basel), 2020 Oct 28;12(11).
PMID: 33126730 DOI: 10.3390/polym12112516

Since the widespread of severe acute respiratory syndrome of coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease, the utilization of face masks has become omnipresent all over the world. Face masks are believed to contribute to an adequate protection against respiratory infections spread through micro-droplets among the infected person to non-infected others. However, due to the very high demands of face masks, especially the N95-type mask typically worn by medical workers, the public faces a shortage of face masks. Many papers have been published recently that focus on developing new and facile techniques to reuse and reinforce commercially available face masks. For instance, the N95 mask uses a polymer-based (membrane) filter inside, and the filter membrane can be replaced if needed. Another polymer sputtering technique by using a simple cotton candy machine could provide a cheap and robust solution for face mask fabrication. This review discuss the novel approaches of face mask reuse and reinforcement specifically by using membrane-based technology. Tuning the polymeric properties of face masks to enhance filterability and virus inactivity is crucial for future investigation.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Complexity in financial asset returns: Evidence from the compass rose

Batten JA, Lucey BM, Peat M

Chaos, 2018 Dec;28(12):123109.
PMID: 30599539 DOI: 10.1063/1.5029226

The compass rose pattern in financial data may indicate the presence of a nonlinear, possibly chaotic, data generating mechanism. The analysis of three key financial asset and denoised returns, gold, the Great British Pound/US dollar spot exchange rate, and the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index, reveals that over four equivalent subperiods, from 1996 to 2015, the compass rose pattern changes. This finding provides an opportunity to establish how noise affects financial time series. We conclude that the compass rose pattern is unlikely the product of an underlying nonlinear structure, since there is evidence of nonlinearity in all time periods, even those where the compass rose pattern is not evident. Therefore, the compass rose patterns, seen in the denoised data, suggest that the presence of noise masks the underlying dynamics of the asset returns.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Fulltext Knowledge and practice of medical students of the usage of personal protective equipment: a comparison of two cohorts of students at the International Medical University

Thiruselvi Subramaniam, Rosalind Chi Neo Loo

International e-Journal of Science, Medicine & Education, 2015;9(2):25-31.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Standard precautions in health care is the essence of medical practice encompassing the safety of patients and health care workers including medical students. Barriers to the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) exist across the world but identification of areas of weaknesses and appropriate remedies will reduce them. This study assesses knowledge and use of PPE among fourth year students after a period of educational interventions.
Objective: To evaluate appropriate use, awareness and knowledge about PPE among fourth year students after interventions.
Method: A cross- sectional study where forty year 4 students (Group B) were randomly observed and later asked to answer a questionnaire. Students had undergone interventions to improve PPE use, which included lectures and video sessions during each posting. Results were compared with a previous group (Group A). Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to analyse the data.
Results: There was statistically significant improvement in the use of PPE like wearing and removing mask during invasive procedures (p < 0.001) and hand-washing before and after a non- invasive task (p < 0.001) . Comparison of Groups A and B on the results of the questionnaire for ‘Questions in which more than 10% students answered incorrectly’, showed that there was improvement in Group B in all the questions, some being statistically significant with p value=0.01.
Conclusion: An overall improvement in the use of the PPE and knowledge was noted. Sometimes, students’ attitude and personality may be a challenge and these students may defy changes, but this can be overcome if the strategies are embedded in the curriculum and taught from as early as the first semester.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Nanoscale patterning by AFM lithography and its application on the fabrication of silicon nanowire devices

Hutagalung SD, Kam CL, Darsono T

Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:267-272.

Many techniques have been applied to fabricate nanostructures via top-down approach such as electron beam lithography. However, most of the techniques are very complicated and involves many process steps, high cost operation as well as the use of hazardous chemicals. Meanwhile, atomic force microscopy (AFM) lithography is a simple technique which is considered maskless and involves only an average cost and less complexity. In AFM lithography, the movement of a probe tip can be controlled to create nanoscale patterns on sample surface. For silicon nanowire (SiNW) fabrication, a conductive tip was operated in non-contact AFM mode to grow nanoscale oxide patterns on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer surface based on local anodic oxidation (LAO) mechanism. The patterned structure was etched through two steps of wet etching processes. First, the TMAH was used as the etchant solution for Si removing. In the second step, diluted HF was used to remove oxide mask in order to produce a completed SiNW based devices. A SiNW based device which is formed by a nanowire channel, source and drain pads with lateral gate structures can be fabricated by well controlling the lithography process (applied tip voltage and writing speed) as well as the etching processes.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Fulltext Eye-masks and earplugs compared to headband in nulliparas on increasing spontaneous vaginal delivery: a randomized trial

Hong JGS, Vimaladevi A, Razif NA, Omar SZ, Tan PC

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 2023 May 24;23(1):378.
PMID: 37226087 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05685-4

BACKGROUND: A majority of pregnant women experience sleep disruption during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. Lack of sleep is associated with preterm birth, prolonged labor and higher cesarean section rate. Six or less hours of night sleep in the last month of pregnancy is associated with a higher rate of caesarean births. Eye-masks and earplugs compared to headband improve night sleep by 30 or more minutes. We sought to evaluate eye-mask and earplugs compared to sham/placebo headbands on spontaneous vaginal delivery.
METHODS: This randomized trial was conducted from December 2019-June 2020. 234 nulliparas, 34-36 weeks' gestation with self-reported night sleep

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Fulltext Community practices of face mask use and associated knowledge and attitude in a Malaysian town during the COVID-19 pandemic

Jalaluddin HA, Burud IAS, Yew RPC, Loh XT, Tan QGJ, Nathan N, et al.

Ghana Med J, 2023 Jun;57(2):102-111.
PMID: 38504755 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v57i2.4

OBJECTIVES: Among the vital measures to effectively curb the incidence of COVID-19 is the use of face masks. Little is known about what people understand and how they perceive and use face masks. This study aimed to determine the community's knowledge, attitude, and practice on the correct use of face masks.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.
SETTING: The study was carried out in Seremban 2, Malaysia using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from validated questionnaires of two previous studies.
PARTICIPANTS: Through opportunistic sampling, three hundred and ninety-two literate adults (above 18) residing in Seremban 2, Malaysia, participated in this study.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were assessed among the participants.
RESULTS: Three hundred seventy (94.4%) respondents demonstrated satisfactory knowledge. A satisfactory attitude score was achieved by 349 (89%) respondents, while 281 (71.7%) achieved a satisfactory practice score. Better knowledge was significantly associated with college or university education (p=0.028). Female gender (p=0.011) and college or university education (p=0.043) were significantly associated with better practice (p<0.05). Significant but weak to fair correlations between knowledge, attitude and practice were observed.
CONCLUSION: Overall, there was satisfactory knowledge, attitude, and practice of face mask use among the Seremban 2 adult population in Malaysia. However, future public health education targeted toward the use of face masks requires more emphasis on proper usage and disposal to translate good knowledge into a good attitude and practice of face mask use to ensure the effectiveness in curbing the spread of infection.
FUNDING: None declared.

Matched MeSH terms: Masks
Fulltext Comparison between LMA-Classic and AMBU AuraOnce laryngeal mask airway in patients undergoing elective general anaesthesia with positive pressure ventilation

Suzanna AB, Liu CY, Rozaidi SW, Ooi JS

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Oct;66(4):304-7.
PMID: 22299547

The LMA-Classic laryngeal mask airway (Classic LMA) is an autoclavable and reusable laryngeal mask airway with strong evidence supporting its efficacy and safety. Due to the concern of infection risk particularly of prion disease, various single-use laryngeal mask devices were developed. The Ambu AuraOnce LMA (Ambu LMA) is a single use disposable laryngeal mask airway with special design that conforms better to the anatomy of the airway.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks*
Fulltext A comparison between Laryngeal Tube Suction II Airway and Proseal Laryngeal Mask Airway in laparascopic surgery

Esa K, Azarinah I, Muhammad M, Helmi MA, Jaafar MZ

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Aug;66(3):182-6.
PMID: 22111436

This was a prospective randomized study comparing the ease of insertion, haemodynamic changes, quality of airway seal, oxygenation and ventilation parameters and complications between Laryngeal Tube Suction II (LTS II) with Proseal Laryngeal Mask Airway (PLMA), both are supraglottic airway incorporated with gastric passage. Fifty-four ASA I and II patients were randomly allocated to receive either LTS II or PLMA. Both devices provided a secure airway even under conditions of elevated intra-abdominal pressure up to 17 mmHg. In this study, there were no differences concerning ease of insertion, haemodynamic changes, quality of airway seal, oxygenation and ventilation parameters and complications between LTS II and PLMA.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks*
Fulltext Nitrous oxide pollution in the operating room. A comparison of two modes of ventilation

Noorddin Y, Raha AR, Jaafar MZ, Rozaidi SH, Muraly S, Marlizan MY

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Jun;62(2):127-9.
PMID: 18705444 MyJurnal

The use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as an alternative to the endotracheal tube (ETT) is becoming more popular in the practice of anesthesia. It is undeniable that this device has numerous advantages over endotracheal tube, however it does not provide an airtight seal between the airway and atmospheric gases. This may lead to pollution of the operating room environment with nitrous oxide. One hundreds adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia were divided into two groups. The airway in Group I was maintained with LMA with spontaneous ventilation and ETT with intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) was used for Group II. The result demonstrated that the ETT group recorded concentrations of nitrous oxide that were well above the NIOSH recommended eight hour time weighted average of 25ppm throughout the duration of surgery when compared to patients using LMA.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks*
The Proseal laryngeal mask airway in children: a comparison between two insertion techniques

Teoh CY, Lim FS

Paediatr Anaesth, 2008 Feb;18(2):119-24.
PMID: 18184242 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2007.02385.x

The Proseal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) is a relatively new supraglottic airway device with a drain tube to minimize the risk of gastric insufflation and aspiration. We compared introducer tool (IT) and gum elastic bougie (GEB)-guided techniques for insertion of the Proseal LMA in children.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks/adverse effects*
Randomised crossover comparison of the Ambu AuraOnce Laryngeal Mask with the LMA Classic laryngeal mask airway in paralysed anaesthetised patients

Shariffuddin II, Wang CY

Anaesthesia, 2008 Jan;63(1):82-5.
PMID: 18086075

We compared the performance of the Ambu AuraOnce Laryngeal Mask with that of the LMA Classic laryngeal mask airway during controlled anaesthesia. Forty patients requiring intermittent positive pressure ventilation were studied using a randomised crossover design. The mean (SD) oropharyngeal leak pressure for the Ambu device (19 (7.5) cmH2O) was significantly greater than for the LMA Classic (15 (5.2) cmH2O; p = 0.004), and the number of attempts for successful insertions was significantly less (39 (50%) vs 45 (56%), respectively; p = 0.02). There was one failure to obtain a patent airway with the Ambu Laryngeal Mask and none with the LMA Classic. Insertion of the Ambu Laryngeal Mask required more manipulations to achieve a patent airway than did the LMA Classic (6 (15%) vs 1 (2.5%), respectively; p = 0.045), but the time taken for insertion was similar between the two groups. The incidence of trauma, grade of fibreoptic view, peak airway pressure and quality of ventilation during maintenance of anaesthesia were similar in both groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks*
Fulltext Comparison of the ease of insertion of the laryngeal tube VBM and laryngeal mask airway during manual in-line neck stabilization

Noor Zairul M, Khairul Faizi A, Norzalina E

Med J Malaysia, 2006 Jun;61(2):157-61.
PMID: 16898305

The purpose of this study is to assess whether the newly developed laryngeal tube (LT) VBM is easy, simple to use and able to provide adequate ventilation and oxygenation to a patient with an unstable neck who required airway management. We compared the LT to the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as alternative airway management tool in adult patient with unstable neck who underwent intubation with manual in-line neck stabilization. A randomized single-blinded prospective study was conducted involving a total of 40 ASA I and II premedicated patients who were divided into two groups with 20 patients for each group; either LT or LMA group for airway management during elective surgery. After preoxygenation, anaesthesia was induced and neuromuscular blockade was produced with intravenous drugs. The LT or LMA was inserted after neuromuscular blockade was confirmed using a peripheral nerve stimulator (TOF 1). A size 3, 4 or 5 LT OR a size 3 or 4 LMA was inserted while the patient's head and neck were being stabilized by an assistant who held the sides of the neck and the mastoid processes (manual in-line stabilization). If it was not possible to ventilate the lungs, or if endotrachial carbon dioxide (ETCO2) and/or chest movement did not indicate a patent airway, the LT or LMA was removed. After three failed attempts, the study was terminated and the airway was secured in the most suitable manner determined by the anaesthetist. There was a statistically significant difference for both groups in the time required for successful insertion (time required for LT was 24.8 +/- 7.7 seconds and LMA was 36.1+/-17.3 seconds) (p= 0.01). There was no statistical differences (p>0.05) in number of attempts needed to achieve a patent airway although we were able to achieve a clear airway in all patients in LT group at the first attempt compared with 85% in LMA group. successful insertion rate was 100% for both groups. We conclude that the LT is easier to insert and is a suitable alternative to the LMA for airway management when the patient's head and neck are stabilized by manual in-line method.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks*
The use of modified VBM laryngeal tube compared to Laryngeal Mask Airway during spontaneous ventilation

Chiu CL, Murugasu J, Chan L

Anaesth Intensive Care, 2003 Apr;31(2):187-92.
PMID: 12712784

We have compared the use of the laryngeal mask airway with the new modified laryngeal tube in a prospective randomized controlled study. Sixty ASA 1 or 2 patients, aged 18 to 65 years, scheduled for elective surgery and breathing spontaneously under general anaesthesia, were studied. After preoxygenation, anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl and propofol. The patients were randomized to receive either a laryngeal mask airway or a laryngeal tube. Anaesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and isoflurane. We recorded the speed and the ease of insertion, the number of attempts needed to successfully secure the airway and intraoperative complications, such as partial airway obstruction needing airway manipulation. The airway devices were removed with the patients fully awake at the end of surgery. Systolic arterial blood pressure, heart rate and end-tidal CO2 were recorded at various time intervals. Postoperative complications were recorded. We found that the incidence of partial airway obstruction needing intraoperative airway manipulation was higher with the laryngeal tube than with the laryngeal mask airway. We conclude that during spontaneous ventilation the modified laryngeal tube is not as reliable in providing a satisfactory airway and we consider it is not a suitable alternative to the laryngeal mask airway.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks*
Fulltext Unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy after the use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) Protector

Tham LY, Beh ZY, Shariffuddin II, Wang CY

Korean J Anesthesiol, 2019 12;72(6):606-609.
PMID: 31304693 DOI: 10.4097/kja.d.18.00354

BACKGROUND: The laryngeal mask airway (LMAⓇ) ProtectorTM (Teleflex Medical Co., Ireland) is the latest innovation in the second generation of LMA devices. One distinguishing feature of this device is its integrated, color-coded cuff pressure indicator (Cuff PilotTM technology) which enables continuous cuff pressure monitoring and allows adjustments when necessary; this ensures patient safety due to better monitoring.
CASE: We report a case of postoperative unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy after uncomplicated use of the LMA Protector. To the best of our knowledge, this could be the second reported case.
CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates that anesthetists need to routinely measure cuff pressure and that the Cuff PilotTM technology is not a panacea for potential cranial nerve injury after airway manipulation.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks/adverse effects*
Fulltext Compliance of the Gulf Cooperation Council airlines with COVID-19 mitigation measures

Alshahrani NZ, Alshahrani SM, Alshahrani AM, Leggat PA, Rashid H

J Travel Med, 2021 02 23;28(2).
PMID: 33146380 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa205
Matched MeSH terms: Masks/statistics & numerical data
Fulltext Comparison of the Baska mask and the i-gel supraglottic airway devices in patients undergoing elective surgery

Kumar Sinasamy T, Nazaruddin Wan Hassan WM, Hardy Mohamad Zaini R, Seevaunnamtum P, Ab Mukmin L

Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther, 2020;52(5):383-388.
PMID: 33327696 DOI: 10.5114/ait.2020.101407

INTRODUCTION: The Baska mask and i-gel are two new types of second-generation supraglottic airway devices. The aim of this study was to compare these two devices in terms of quality of insertion, quality of ventilation and post-insertion complications.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 80 adult patients who were scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomised to two groups: Group BM: Baska mask (n = 40) and Group IG: i-gel (n = 40). The assessment focused on ease of insertion, number of attempts, insertion time, number of corrective manoeuvres, oropharyngeal leak pressure, tidal volume, peak airway pressure (PAP) and post-insertion complications.
RESULTS: Group IG showed a significantly shorter median insertion time (13.3 [interquartile range, IQR 7.8] vs. 17.0 [IQR 9.6] s; P < 0.001), a higher percentage in the 'very easy' ease of insertion category (62.5% vs. 10.0%; P < 0.001), a higher percentage in the no corrective manoeuvre category (92.5% vs. 72.5%; P = 0.003) and a higher percentage in the no post-operative throat pain category (67.5% vs. 32.5%; P = 0.011) than Group BM. However, Group BM showed a significantly higher generated PAP than Group IG (12.7 [1.8] and 11.5 [2.2] cm H2O, respectively; P = 0.010). There were no significant differences in other parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: The i-gel was better than the Baska mask in terms of ease of insertion, speed of insertion, fewer corrective manoeuvres and less post-operative throat pain. However, the Baska mask had a better cuff seal, as shown by a higher generated PAP.

Matched MeSH terms: Laryngeal Masks*

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