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Strength Training Biases Goal-Directed Aiming

Selvanayagam VS, Riek S, DE Rugy A, Carroll TJ

Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2016 09;48(9):1835-46.
PMID: 27116648 DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000956

PURPOSE: Goal-directed movements tend to resemble the characteristics of previously executed actions. Here we investigated whether a single bout of strength training, which typically involves stereotyped actions requiring strong neural drive, can bias subsequent aiming behavior toward the direction of trained forces.
METHODS: In experiment 1 (n = 10), we tested the direction of force exerted in an isometric aiming task before and after 40 repetitions of 2-s maximal-force ballistic contractions toward a single directional target. In experiment 2 (n = 12), each participant completed three training conditions in a counterbalanced crossover design. In two conditions, both the aiming task and the training were conducted in the same (neutral) forearm posture. In one of these conditions, the training involved weak forces to determine whether the level of neural drive during training influences the degree of bias. In the third condition, high-force training contractions were performed in a 90° pronated forearm posture, whereas the low-force aiming task was performed in a neutral forearm posture. This dissociated the extrinsic training direction from the pulling direction of the trained muscles during the aiming task.
RESULTS: In experiment 1, we found that aiming direction was biased toward the training direction across a large area of the work space (approximately ±135°; tested for 16 targets spaced 22.5° apart), whereas in experiment 2, we found systematic bias in aiming toward the training direction defined in extrinsic space, but only immediately after high-force contractions.
CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that bias effects of training involving strong neural drive generalize broadly to untrained movement directions and are expressed according to extrinsic rather than muscle-based coordinates.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals*
Fulltext Roles of metacognition and achievement goals in mathematical modeling competency: A structural equation modeling analysis

Hidayat R, Zulnaidi H, Syed Zamri SNA

PLoS One, 2018;13(11):e0206211.
PMID: 30399170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206211

This study investigates the relationship between metacognition and achievement goals which may influence mathematical modeling competency in students of mathematics education programs. The current study employs 538 students of mathematics education program; 483 (89.8%) of whom are male and 55 (10.2%) are aged from 18 years old to 22 years old. The study follows a correlational research design to investigate and measure the degree of relationship amongst mathematical modeling competencies, achievement goals and metacognition. Results indicate that achievement goals and metacognition positively influence mathematical modeling competency. Moreover, four metacognition dimensions including awareness, planning, cognitive strategy and self-checking are positive partial mediators because they increase the association between achievement goals and mathematical modeling competency. In conclusion, metacognition and achievement goals positively affect students' mathematical modeling competency.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals*
Landscape-scale benefits of protected areas for tropical biodiversity

Brodie JF, Mohd-Azlan J, Chen C, Wearn OR, Deith MCM, Ball JGC, et al.

Nature, 2023 Aug;620(7975):807-812.
PMID: 37612395 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06410-z

The United Nations recently agreed to major expansions of global protected areas (PAs) to slow biodiversity declines1. However, although reserves often reduce habitat loss, their efficacy at preserving animal diversity and their influence on biodiversity in surrounding unprotected areas remain unclear2-5. Unregulated hunting can empty PAs of large animals6, illegal tree felling can degrade habitat quality7, and parks can simply displace disturbances such as logging and hunting to unprotected areas of the landscape8 (a phenomenon called leakage). Alternatively, well-functioning PAs could enhance animal diversity within reserves as well as in nearby unprotected sites9 (an effect called spillover). Here we test whether PAs across mega-diverse Southeast Asia contribute to vertebrate conservation inside and outside their boundaries. Reserves increased all facets of bird diversity. Large reserves were also associated with substantially enhanced mammal diversity in the adjacent unprotected landscape. Rather than PAs generating leakage that deteriorated ecological conditions elsewhere, our results are consistent with PAs inducing spillover that benefits biodiversity in surrounding areas. These findings support the United Nations goal of achieving 30% PA coverage by 2030 by demonstrating that PAs are associated with higher vertebrate diversity both inside their boundaries and in the broader landscape.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals*
Synergistic effect of up-flow constructed wetland and microbial fuel cell for simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy recovery

Oon YL, Ong SA, Ho LN, Wong YS, Dahalan FA, Oon YS, et al.

Bioresour Technol, 2016 Mar;203:190-7.
PMID: 26724550 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.12.011

This study demonstrated a successful operation of up-flow constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (UFCW-MFC) in wastewater treatment and energy recovery. The goals of this study were to investigate the effect of circuit connection, organic loading rates, and electrode spacing on the performance of wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation. The average influent of COD, NO3(-) and NH4(+) were 624 mg/L, 142 mg/L, 40 mg/L, respectively and their removal efficiencies (1 day HRT) were 99%, 46%, and 96%, respectively. NO3(-) removal was relatively higher in the closed circuit system due to lower dissolved oxygen in the system. Despite larger electrode spacing, the voltage outputs from Anode 2 (A2) (30 cm) and Anode 3 (A3) (45 cm) were higher than from Anode 1 (A1) (15 cm) as a result of insufficient fuel supply to A1. The maximum power density and Coulombic efficiency were obtained at A2, which were 93 mW/m(3) and 1.42%, respectively.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext A comprehensive study of data collection schemes using mobile sinks in wireless sensor networks

Khan AW, Abdullah AH, Anisi MH, Bangash JI

Sensors (Basel), 2014 Feb 05;14(2):2510-48.
PMID: 24504107 DOI: 10.3390/s140202510

Recently sink mobility has been exploited in numerous schemes to prolong the lifetime of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Contrary to traditional WSNs where sensory data from sensor field is ultimately sent to a static sink, mobile sink-based approaches alleviate energy-holes issues thereby facilitating balanced energy consumption among nodes. In mobility scenarios, nodes need to keep track of the latest location of mobile sinks for data delivery. However, frequent propagation of sink topological updates undermines the energy conservation goal and therefore should be controlled. Furthermore, controlled propagation of sinks' topological updates affects the performance of routing strategies thereby increasing data delivery latency and reducing packet delivery ratios. This paper presents a taxonomy of various data collection/dissemination schemes that exploit sink mobility. Based on how sink mobility is exploited in the sensor field, we classify existing schemes into three classes, namely path constrained, path unconstrained, and controlled sink mobility-based schemes. We also organize existing schemes based on their primary goals and provide a comparative study to aid readers in selecting the appropriate scheme in accordance with their particular intended applications and network dynamics. Finally, we conclude our discussion with the identification of some unresolved issues in pursuit of data delivery to a mobile sink.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Re-conceptualizing free will for the 21st century: acting independently with a limited role for consciousness

Bonn GB

Front Psychol, 2013;4:920.
PMID: 24367349 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00920

This paper examines the concept of free will, or independent action, in light of recent research in psychology and neuroscience. Reviewing findings in memory, prospection, and mental simulation, as well as the neurological mechanisms underlying behavioral control, planning, and integration, it is suggested in accord with previous arguments (e.g., Wegner, 2003; Harris, 2012) that a folk conception of free will as entirely conscious control over behavior should be rejected. However, it is argued that, when taken together, these findings can also support an alternative conception of free will. The constructive nature of memory and an integrative "default network" provide the means for novel and creative combinations of information, such as the imagining of counterfactual scenarios and alternative courses of action. Considering recent findings of extensive functional connections between these systems and those that subsume motor control and goal maintenance, it is argued that individuals have the capability of producing novel ideas and translating them into actionable goals. Although most of these processes take place beneath conscious awareness, it is argued that they are unique to the individual and thus, can be considered a form of independent control over behavior, or free will.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Getting the most out of RNA-seq data analysis

Khang TF, Lau CY

PeerJ, 2015;3:e1360.
PMID: 26539333 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1360

Background. A common research goal in transcriptome projects is to find genes that are differentially expressed in different phenotype classes. Biologists might wish to validate such gene candidates experimentally, or use them for downstream systems biology analysis. Producing a coherent differential gene expression analysis from RNA-seq count data requires an understanding of how numerous sources of variation such as the replicate size, the hypothesized biological effect size, and the specific method for making differential expression calls interact. We believe an explicit demonstration of such interactions in real RNA-seq data sets is of practical interest to biologists. Results. Using two large public RNA-seq data sets-one representing strong, and another mild, biological effect size-we simulated different replicate size scenarios, and tested the performance of several commonly-used methods for calling differentially expressed genes in each of them. We found that, when biological effect size was mild, RNA-seq experiments should focus on experimental validation of differentially expressed gene candidates. Importantly, at least triplicates must be used, and the differentially expressed genes should be called using methods with high positive predictive value (PPV), such as NOISeq or GFOLD. In contrast, when biological effect size was strong, differentially expressed genes mined from unreplicated experiments using NOISeq, ASC and GFOLD had between 30 to 50% mean PPV, an increase of more than 30-fold compared to the cases of mild biological effect size. Among methods with good PPV performance, having triplicates or more substantially improved mean PPV to over 90% for GFOLD, 60% for DESeq2, 50% for NOISeq, and 30% for edgeR. At a replicate size of six, we found DESeq2 and edgeR to be reasonable methods for calling differentially expressed genes at systems level analysis, as their PPV and sensitivity trade-off were superior to the other methods'. Conclusion. When biological effect size is weak, systems level investigation is not possible using RNAseq data, and no meaningful result can be obtained in unreplicated experiments. Nonetheless, NOISeq or GFOLD may yield limited numbers of gene candidates with good validation potential, when triplicates or more are available. When biological effect size is strong, NOISeq and GFOLD are effective tools for detecting differentially expressed genes in unreplicated RNA-seq experiments for qPCR validation. When triplicates or more are available, GFOLD is a sharp tool for identifying high confidence differentially expressed genes for targeted qPCR validation; for downstream systems level analysis, combined results from DESeq2 and edgeR are useful.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext A Secure, Intelligent, and Smart-Sensing Approach for Industrial System Automation and Transmission over Unsecured Wireless Networks

Shahzad A, Lee M, Xiong NN, Jeong G, Lee YK, Choi JY, et al.

Sensors (Basel), 2016;16(3).
PMID: 26950129 DOI: 10.3390/s16030322

In Industrial systems, Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the pseudo-transport layer of the distributed network protocol (DNP3) performs the functions of the transport layer and network layer of the open systems interconnection (OSI) model. This study used a simulation design of water pumping system, in-which the network nodes are directly and wirelessly connected with sensors, and are monitored by the main controller, as part of the wireless SCADA system. This study also intends to focus on the security issues inherent in the pseudo-transport layer of the DNP3 protocol. During disassembly and reassembling processes, the pseudo-transport layer keeps track of the bytes sequence. However, no mechanism is available that can verify the message or maintain the integrity of the bytes in the bytes received/transmitted from/to the data link layer or in the send/respond from the main controller/sensors. To properly and sequentially keep track of the bytes, a mechanism is required that can perform verification while bytes are received/transmitted from/to the lower layer of the DNP3 protocol or the send/respond to/from field sensors. For security and byte verification purposes, a mechanism needs to be proposed for the pseudo-transport layer, by employing cryptography algorithm. A dynamic choice security buffer (SB) is designed and employed during the security development. To achieve the desired goals of the proposed study, a pseudo-transport layer stack model is designed using the DNP3 protocol open library and the security is deployed and tested, without changing the original design.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Mapping of the beta-thalassaemia carrier in Sabah: an initial step to strengthen the Thalassaemia Prevention Program in Malaysia

Asit Sena, Saidatul Norbaya Buang, Mohd Shahriel Md Daud, Soh Chin Li, Zaleha Sulaiman, Kaharnisah Mat Noor, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(104):13-13.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Thalassaemia is an autosomal recessive disorder affecting 5 percent of the Malaysian population. The state of Sabah has the highest number of transfusion dependent thalassaemia and β-thalassaemia carrier in Malay-sia. For Malaysia to be successful in the prevention of thalassaemia, Sabah needs to be focused on the preventive activities in areas with high prevalence of β-thalassaemia carriers. Thus, identifying the mapping of β-thalassaemia is crucial for planning for prevention activities. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of β-thalas-saemia by districts and ethnic groups in Sabah. Methods: This study used data from Form 4 Thalassaemia Screening Records in 2017. The data were cleaned and analysed using Excel spreadsheet to calculate for the national and state specific prevalence of β-thalassaemia carrier. Subsequently, the data was used for mapping of high-risk districts and ethnic groups in Sabah. Results: A total of 31,655 Form 4 students from 242 secondary schools were screened in Sa-bah in 2017 and 1150 (3.6%) were diagnosed as β-thalassemia carrier. The prevalence of β thalassaemia carrier was higher in the West Coast of Sabah which include Kota Marudi District (11.1%), Nabawan (9.0%), Tambunan (8%), Tongod (7.5%), Ranau (7.0%), Kota Belud (5.0%), Kudat (4.6%), Tenom (4.1%) and Tuaran (4.0%). In the East Coast of Sabah, there was only the Beluran District (5.0%) had prevalence that higher than the state average. β-thalassae-mia carriers were more likely to be of Dusun, Kadazan Dusun followed by Bajau, Murut and Rungus ethnic group. Conclusion: The distribution of β-thalassaemia carrier in Sabah was concentrated in the West Coast of Sabah and more common among the Dusun, Kadazan Dusun followed by Bajau, Murut and Rungus ethnic group. Thus, the thalassaemia prevention activities should be focuses in these areas and ethnic groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Absolute Photoabsorption Cross-Sections of Methanol for Terrestrial and Astrophysical Relevance

Lange E, Lozano AI, Jones NC, Hoffmann SV, Kumar S, Śmiałek MA, et al.

J Phys Chem A, 2020 Sep 30.
PMID: 32941031 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c06615

We investigate the methanol absorption spectrum in the range 5.5-10.8 eV to provide accurate and absolute cross-sections values. The main goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of methanol electronic-state spectroscopy by employing high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoabsorption measurements together with state-of-the-art quantum chemical calculation methods. The VUV spectrum reveals several new features that are not previously reported in literature, for n > 3 in the transitions (nsσ(a') ← (2a″)) (1A' ← X̃1A') and (nsσ, npσ, npσ', ndσ ← (7a')) (1A' ← X̃1A'), and with particular relevance to vibrational progressions of the CH3 rocking mode, v11'(a″), mode in the (3pπ(a″) ← (2a″)) (21A' ← X̃1A') absorption band at 8.318 eV. The measured absolute photoabsorption cross-sections have subsequently been used to calculate the photolysis lifetime of methanol in the Earth's atmosphere from the ground level up to the limit of the stratosphere (50 km altitude). This shows that solar photolysis plays a negligible role in the removal of methanol from the lower atmosphere compared with competing sink mechanisms. Torsional potential energy scans, as a function of the internal rotation angle for the ground and first Rydberg states, have also been calculated as part of this investigation.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Complex Chemical Data Classification and Discrimination Using Locality Preserving Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis

Aminu M, Ahmad NA

ACS Omega, 2020 Oct 20;5(41):26601-26610.
PMID: 33110988 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03362

Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) is a well-known technique for feature extraction and discriminant analysis in chemometrics. Despite its popularity, it has been observed that PLS-DA does not automatically lead to extraction of relevant features. Feature learning and extraction depends on how well the discriminant subspace is captured. In this paper, discriminant subspace learning of chemical data is discussed from the perspective of PLS-DA and a recent extension of PLS-DA, which is known as the locality preserving partial least squares discriminant analysis (LPPLS-DA). The objective is twofold: (a) to introduce the LPPLS-DA algorithm to the chemometrics community and (b) to demonstrate the superior discrimination capabilities of LPPLS-DA and how it can be a powerful alternative to PLS-DA. Four chemical data sets are used: three spectroscopic data sets and one that contains compositional data. Comparative performances are measured based on discrimination and classification of these data sets. To compare the classification performances, the data samples are projected onto the PLS-DA and LPPLS-DA subspaces, and classification of the projected samples into one of the different groups (classes) is done using the nearest-neighbor classifier. We also compare the two techniques in data visualization (discrimination) task. The ability of LPPLS-DA to group samples from the same class while at the same time maximizing the between-class separation is clearly shown in our results. In comparison with PLS-DA, separation of data in the projected LPPLS-DA subspace is more well defined.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Farming fish in the sea will not nourish the world

Belton B, Little DC, Zhang W, Edwards P, Skladany M, Thilsted SH

Nat Commun, 2020 11 16;11(1):5804.
PMID: 33199697 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19679-9

Recent literature on marine fish farming brands it as potentially compatible with sustainable resource use, conservation, and human nutrition goals, and aligns with the emerging policy discourse of 'blue growth'. We advance a two-pronged critique. First, contemporary narratives tend to overstate marine finfish aquaculture's potential to deliver food security and environmental sustainability. Second, they often align with efforts to enclose maritime space that could facilitate its allocation to extractive industries and conservation interests and exclude fishers. Policies and investments that seek to increase the availability and accessibility of affordable and sustainable farmed aquatic foods should focus on freshwater aquaculture.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Epitope-based vaccine as a universal vaccination strategy against Toxoplasma gondii infection: A mini-review

Hajissa K, Zakaria R, Suppian R, Mohamed Z

J Adv Vet Anim Res, 2019 Jun;6(2):174-182.
PMID: 31453188 DOI: 10.5455/javar.2019.f329

Despite the significant progress in the recent efforts toward developing an effective vaccine against toxoplasmosis, the search for new protective vaccination strategy still remains a challenge and elusive goal because it becomes the appropriate way to prevent the disease. Various experimental approaches in the past few years showed that developing a potential vaccine against the disease can be achievable. The combination of multi-epitopes expressing different stages of the parasite life cycle has become an optimal strategy for acquiring a potent, safe, and effective vaccine. Epitope-based vaccines have gained attention as alternative vaccine candidates due to their ability of inducing protective immune responses. This mini-review highlights the current status and the prospects of Toxoplasma gondii vaccine development along with the application of epitope-based vaccine in the future parasite immunization as a novel under development and evaluation strategy.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Teaching strategy: strength and limitation of teaching strategies for nursing education via lecture and simulation

Mardiana Mansor, Ayu Sulaini Jusoh, Lim, Chin Choon

Malaysian Journal of Medical Research, 2018;1(4):1-5.
MyJurnal

The purpose of this article is to discuss the strengths and limitations of two teaching strategies currently utilized
in Diploma in Nursing, in Malaysia. The diploma was started in 1994 with a 3 years duration of study. It also
requires certificates of qualification from the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA) and the Malaysian Board of
Nursing.
Teaching strategies of individual teachers differ according to their teaching styles and generalized lesson plans,
which include structures, instructional objectives, outlines of teaching and learning tactics, and other
accessories needed to implement the strategies. A strategy does not necessarily follow a single track all the
time, but changes according to the demands of the situations such as the age, level, needs, interests and abilities
of the students. Thus, strategy is a method that is more comprehensive. It is directional in nature and refers to
the goal oriented activities of the teacher. Hence, it resembles science rather than arts.
Lecture and simulation methods are the best teaching strategies for nursing students in Malaysia. The lecture
method allows clarification on difficult concepts, organizes thinking, and promotes problem solving attitudes,
whereas simulation provides students with the opportunity for proper social, emotional and intellectual
development. Moreover, students are highly motivated by educational simulation, for they enjoy the learning
process while participating in it.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Construction and analysis of protein-protein interaction network to identify the molecular mechanism in laryngeal cancer

Sarahani Harun, Nurulisa Zulkifle

Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:2933-2940.

Laryngeal cancer is the most common head and neck cancer in the world and its incidence is on the rise. However, the
molecular mechanism underlying laryngeal cancer pathogenesis is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to
develop a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for laryngeal cancer to predict the biological pathways that underlie
the molecular complexes in the network. Genes involved in laryngeal cancer were extracted from the OMIM database
and their interaction partners were identified via text and data mining using Agilent Literature Search, STRING and
GeneMANIA. PPI network was then integrated and visualised using Cytoscape ver3.6.0. Molecular complexes in the
network were predicted by MCODE plugin and functional enrichment analyses of the molecular complexes were performed
using BiNGO. 28 laryngeal cancer-related genes were present in the OMIM database. The PPI network associated with
laryngeal cancer contained 161 nodes, 661 edges and five molecular complexes. Some of the complexes were related to
the biological behaviour of cancer, providing the foundation for further understanding of the mechanism of laryngeal
cancer development and progression.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Smart Costing Kit: game based learning for cost and management accounting

Rafizan Abdul Razak, Eley Suzana Kasim, Dalila Daud

ESTEEM Academic Journal, 2019;15(2):1-10.
MyJurnal

Cost and management accounting courses are incorporated in the accounting syllabus for both accounting and non-accounting students. One of the challenges in teaching cost and management accounting to the nonaccounting students is the general fear of accounting subject. Notwithstanding, most of the students still viewed accounting as an interesting subject. Hence, the learning problem faced by students needs to be addressed in a fun yet beneficial way. As such, the objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of using the “Smart Costing Game” as a learning method to overcome this problem. The Smart Costing Game Kit was developed as a learning tool to enable students to correctly classify costs according to certain criteria and subsequently used the cost figures to compute total costs, profit and selling price. Four business settings are chosen consisting of bakery, restaurant, laundry and clinic. At the end of the game activities, the students are required to complete an online survey. Results from the survey demonstrated that the majority of the students agreed that the games were found to be more effective, motivating and engaging than traditional teaching. This implies that students have strong
preferences in the use of educational games that added value to the costing subject. These results support the inclusion of Smart Costing Game as a successful learning strategy in cost and management accounting courses for the non-accounting students.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Current updates and research on plant-based vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019

Uthaya Kumar A, Kadiresen K, Gan WC, Ling APK

Clin Exp Vaccine Res, 2021 Jan;10(1):13-23.
PMID: 33628750 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2021.10.1.13

The primary outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, causing pneumonia-like symptoms in patients named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had evolved into a global pandemic. COVID-19 has surpassed Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome in terms of rate and scale causing more than one million deaths. Development of an effective vaccine to fight against the spread of COVID-19 is the main goal of many countries around the world and plant-based vaccines are one of the available methods in vaccine developments. Plant-based vaccine has gained its reputation among researchers for its known effective manufacturing process and cost effectiveness. Many companies around the world are participating in the race to develop an effective vaccine by using the plant system. This review discusses different approaches used as well as highlights the challenges faced by various companies and research groups in developing the plant-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Sizing Optimization of Hybrid Photovoltaic-Wind-Battery System towards Zero Energy Building using Genetic Algorithm

Farhana Johar, Julies Bong Shu Ai, Fuaada Mohd Siam

MATEMATIKA, 2020;36(3):235-250.
MyJurnal

A new topic of Zero Energy Building (ZEB) is getting famous in research area
because of its goal of reaching zero carbon emission and low building cost. Renewable
energy system is one of the ideas to achieve the objective of ZEB. Genetic Algorithm (GA)
is widely used in many research areas due to its capability to escape from a local minimal
to obtain a better solution. In our study, GA is chosen in sizing optimization of the
number of photovoltaic, wind turbine and battery of a hybrid photovoltaic-wind-battery
system. The aim is to minimize the total annual cost (TAC) of the hybrid energy system
towards the low cost concept of ZEB. Two GA parameters, which are generation number
and population size, have been analysed and optimized in order to meet the minimum
TAC. The results show that the GA is efficient in minimizing cost function of a hybrid
photovoltaic-wind-battery system with its robustness property.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Ranking negative emissions technologies under uncertainty

Ng WY, Low CX, Putra ZA, Aviso KB, Promentilla MAB, Tan RR

Heliyon, 2020 Dec;6(12):e05730.
PMID: 33364497 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05730

Existing mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are inadequate to reach the target emission reductions set in the Paris Agreement. Hence, the deployment of negative emission technologies (NETs) is imperative. Given that there are multiple available NETs that need to be evaluated based on multiple criteria, there is a need for a systematic method for ranking and prioritizing them. Furthermore, the uncertainty in estimating the techno-economic performance levels of NETs is a major challenge. In this work, an integrated model of fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and interval-extended Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is proposed to address the multiple criteria, together with data uncertainties. The potential of NETs is assessed through the application of this hybrid decision model. Sensitivity analysis is also conducted to evaluate the robustness of the ranking generated. The result shows Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) as the most optimal alternative for achieving negative emission goals since it performed robustly in the different criteria considered. Meanwhile, energy requirement emerged as the most preferred or critical criterion in the deployment of NETs based on the decision-maker. This paper renders a new research perspective for evaluating the viability of NETs and extends the domains of the fuzzy AHP and interval-extended TOPSIS hybrid model.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Ultrasound guided paralaryngeal pressure versus cricoid pressure on the occlusion of esophagus: a crossover study

Lim SM, Ng BK, Wilson A, Cheong CC, Ng TY, Wang CY

J Clin Monit Comput, 2021 Jan 02.
PMID: 33387155 DOI: 10.1007/s10877-020-00623-7

The primary objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of cricoid pressure (CP) and paralaryngeal pressure (PLP) on occlusion of eccentric esophagus in patients under general anesthesia (GA). Secondary objectives include the prevalence of patients with central or eccentric esophagus both before and after GA, and the success rate of CP in occluding centrally located esophagus in patients post GA. Fifty-one ASA physical status I and II patients, undergoing GA for elective surgery were enrolled in this study. Ultrasonography imaging were performed to determine the position of the esophagus relative to the trachea: (i) before induction of GA, (ii) after GA before external CP maneuver, (iii) after GA with CP, and (iv) after GA with PLP. CP was applied to all patients whilst PLP via fingertip technique was only applied to patients with an eccentric esophagus. Among a total of 51 patients, 28 of them (55%) had eccentric esophagus pre GA, while this number increase to 33 (65%) after induction of GA. CP success rate was 100% in 18 patients with central esophagus post GA versus 27% in 33 patients with eccentric esophagus post GA (P<0.00001). Overall success rate for CP was 53%. In 33 patients with eccentric esophagus anatomy post GA, PLP success rate was 30% compared with 27% with CP (P=1.000). Ultrasound guided PLP fingertips technique was not effective in patients with an eccentrically located esophagus post GA. Ultrasound guided CP achieved 100% success rate in patients with a centrally located esophagus post GA.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals

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