Prioritising Emergency Bridgeworks Assessment under Military Consideration using an Enhanced Fuzzy Weighted Average Approach

Prioritising emergency bridgeworks assessment has been a key to winning battles in combat circumstances because of soldier safety, attack or defence tactics, and logistic supply ability. However, an imprecise or vague satisfaction level of importance of criteria may also affect the prioritising evaluation of bridgeworks under military consideration. In this paper, the fuzzy set theory is employed to treat this aspect. With linguistic variables, fuzzy numbers and an enhanced fuzzy weighted average approach will be used. The proposed approach is used to investigate an example to illustrate its applications in emergency bridgeworks assessment. The approach is shown to be useful and effective. In order to make computing and ranking results easier and to increase recruiting productivity, a computer-based decision support system has been developed, which may help the commander make decisions more efficiently.Defence Science Journal, 2010, 60(4), pp.451-461, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.48

Regional Variation in Attitude of Mental Health Professionals Towards Tackling Illicit Drug-use and Drug-related Disorders

This study sought to assess the attitudes of Mental Health Professionals (MHPs) towards tackling illicit drug use and drug-related disorders in Nigeria and to explore regional variations in attitude. Based on the validated Substance Abuse Attitude Survey (SAAS), a quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted in a randomized sample of 292 MHPs practicing in neuropsychiatric hospitals and mental health departments of teaching hospitals from four geopolitical zones of Nigeria. A response rate of 81.1% was achieved. MHPs tended towards non-permissive, moralistic and stereotypic spectrum and exhibited distinctly defined attitude towards their professional role. The Kruskal-Wallis analysis established significant regional variation in the attitude of multidisciplinary MHPs, H (3)=18.727, p< .0001 reflecting a stochastic domination across the region; therefore a step-down follow-up analysis was conducted. This analysis revealed that the distribution of attitude total-score varies significantly between the South-south and the Southwestern region (p< .0001), the northeastern and southwestern region of the country (p< .028).  A holistic approach towards standardization of drug treatment and care that takes into consideration possible regional variation in attitudes of MHPs should be implemented to foster the reintegration and rehabilitation of drug-using populations into the mainstream society

Regional Variation in Attitude of Mental Health Professionals Towards Tackling Illicit Drug-use and Drug-related Disorders

This study sought to assess the attitudes of Mental Health Professionals (MHPs) towards tackling illicit drug use and drug-related disorders in Nigeria and to explore regional variations in attitude. Based on the validated Substance Abuse Attitude Survey (SAAS), a quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted in a randomized sample of 292 MHPs practicing in neuropsychiatric hospitals and mental health departments of teaching hospitals from four geopolitical zones of Nigeria. A response rate of 81.1% was achieved. MHPs tended towards non-permissive, moralistic and stereotypic spectrum and exhibited distinctly defined attitude towards their professional role. The Kruskal-Wallis analysis established significant regional variation in the attitude of multidisciplinary MHPs, H (3)=18.727, p\u3c .0001 reflecting a stochastic domination across the region; therefore a step-down follow-up analysis was conducted. This analysis revealed that the distribution of attitude total-score varies significantly between the South- south and the Southwestern region (p\u3c .0001), the northeastern and southwestern region of the country (p\u3c .028). A holistic approach towards standardization of drug treatment and care that takes into consideration possible regional variation in attitudes of MHPs should be implemented to foster the reintegration and rehabilitation of drug-using populations into the mainstream society. Citation: Akinola, Olubusayo & Kuo, Wen-Hung & Oswald, John & Obisesan, Olawunmi. (2017). Regional Variation in Attitude of Mental Health Professionals Towards Tackling Illicit Drug-use and Drug-related Disorders. International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS). Volume 6. Page 172~182. DOIL 10.11591/ijphs.v6i2.6574

High-Mobility Pentacene-Based Thin-Film Transistors With a Solution-Processed Barium Titanate Insulator

Abstract—Pentacene-based organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) with solution-processed barium titanate (Ba1.2Ti0.8O3) as a gate insulator are demonstrated. The electrical properties of pentacene-based TFTs show a high field-effect mobility of 8.85 cm2 · V−1 · s−1, a low threshold voltage of −1.89 V, and a low subthreshold slope swing of 310 mV/decade. The chemical composition and binding energy of solution-processed barium titanate thin films are analyzed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The matching surface energy on the surface of the barium titanate thin film is 43.12 mJ · m−2, which leads to Stranski–Krastanov mode growth, and thus, high mobility is exhibited in pentacene-based TFTs. Index Terms—Barium titanate, high field-effect mobility, high permittivity, organic thin-filmtransistor (OTFT), solution process

Effects of natto extract on endothelial injury in a rat model

Vascular endothelial damage has been found to be associated with thrombus formation, which is considered to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A diet of natto leads to a low prevalence of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of natto extract on vascular endothelia damage with exposure to laser irradiation. Endothelial damage both in vitro and in vivo was induced by irradiation of rose bengal using a DPSS green laser. Cell viability was determined by MTS assay, and the intimal thickening was verified by a histological approach. The antioxidant content of natto extract was determined for the free radical scavenging activity. Endothelial cells were injured in the presence of rose bengal irradiated in a dose-dependent manner. Natto extract exhibits high levels of antioxidant activity compared with purified natto kinase. Apoptosis of laser-injured endothelial cells was significantly reduced in the presence of natto extract. Both the natto extract and natto kinase suppressed intimal thickening in rats with endothelial injury. The present findings suggest that natto extract suppresses vessel thickening as a synergic effect attributed to its antioxidant and anti-apoptosis properties

Safety and Efficacy of Tien-Hsien Liquid Practical in Patients with Refractory Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, Phase IIa Trial

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Tien-Hsien Liquid Practical (THL-P), a Chinese herbal mixture, in patients with refractory metastatic breast cancer, we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase IIa pilot trial. Patients were randomly assigned to either receive THL-P or matching placebo and followed up every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was changes in the global health status/quality of life (GHS/QOL) scale. The secondary endpoints were changes in functional and symptom scales, immunomodulating effects, and adverse events. Sixty-three patients were enrolled between June 2009 and June 2011. The intent-to-treat population included 28 patients in the THL-P group and 11 patients in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo group, the THL-P group had significant improvement from baseline to last visit in GHS/QOL (41.7 versus −33.3; P < 0.05), CD3, CD4/CD8, CD19, CD16+56 positive cells (P < 0.05), and higher levels of physical, role, emotional, and cognitive functioning, as well as decreased fatigue and systemic side effects. Treatment-related adverse events were mild constipation and localized itching, and no serious adverse events were reported. THL-P appears to be a safe alternative adjuvant treatment for patients with refractory metastatic breast cancer, as it effectively improves QOL and palliates cancer-related symptoms