Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The GestureTek virtual reality system in rehabilitation: a scoping review

Abstract Purpose: To identify, to map out and to appraise research examining GestureTek virtual reality (VR) use for physical and cognitive rehabilitation and to highlight areas for future research. Method: Scoping review methodology was used to systematically and comprehensively search the academic and grey literature for GestureTek-specific research. Consensus was achieved following two reviewers’ independent inclusion screening, data extraction and appraisal. Results: Forty-four studies evaluated the utility and efficacy of the IREX, GX, VMall and Meal Maker software for rehabilitation across a range of populations, with few adverse events reported. Stroke and cerebral palsy research dominated, while geriatrics was largely overlooked. Efficacy research provided support for balance, mobility, upper extremity, cognitive, fitness and daily living skills outcomes for specific populations with effect sizes ranging from 0.19 to 3.34. Nevertheless, few strong quality or high-level studies are available, and no clear guidelines on optimal treatment characteristics exist. Outcomes of primary interest were at ICF body function and activity levels; evaluation of transfer of training across ICF levels is needed. Conclusions: This literature provides preliminary evidence for the technology’s efficacy for rehabilitation. Identified research gaps relate to study quality and design, treatment characteristics, populations and outcomes of interest, including transfer across ICF levels. Implications for Rehabilitation There is limited high-level evidence to support the use of the GestureTek virtual reality system for rehabilitation. Moderate to strong quality evidence exists primarily for the stroke and cerebral palsy populations, and primarily for balance, mobility and upper extremity outcomes. A lack of consistent outcome measures in this body of literature has created “silos” of research that cannot be quantitatively combined using a meta-analytic strategy.
Intention to Experience Local Cuisine in a Travel Destination: The Modified Theory of Reasoned Action

This article proposes a modified theory of reasoned action model in which past behavior was added to the original theory of reasoned action model. Using the proposed model, this study investigated the interdependence between attitudinal and normative components and also examined the model’s ability to predict tourist behavioral intentions to try local cuisine in a hypothetical situation. A structural equation analysis showed that the model had strong predictive ability for tourist intentions to experience local cuisine. Attitude and past behavior were significant predictors of tourist behavioral intentions. In addition, the interdependence between attitudinal and normative components were partly supported. Implications of the findings are discussed as well.
The Drivers of Credit Default Swap Prices: Evidence from Selected Emerging Market Countries

In this study, we empirically investigate the relationship between credit default swap (CDS) spreads and financial market indicators belonging to bond, equity, and foreign exchange markets for the selected emerging market countries. This study has several findings. The empirical results suggest that the CDS spreads have a cointegrating relationship with the remaining financial market indicators for the whole sample. Another finding that deserves particular attention is that in the long run, the CDS spread is negatively related with the CDS market uncertainties. We argue that this negative relationship indicates low liquidity in the elevated uncertainty, which decreases CDS prices. The time-varying effects of each variable on the CDS spread are in line with the results obtained from the cointegration analyses. These findings have several implications for investors and policymakers in emerging market countries.
MACROECONOMIC VOLATILITY AND STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON FINNISH DATA

The relationship is analysed between conditional stock market volatility and macroeconomic volatility using monthly data for Finland from 1920 to 1991. Conditional monthly volatility is measured as simple weighted moving averages, and also obtained from GARCH estimations. The results are surprisingly strong as compared to those on US data. Significant results are obtained from stock market volatility as a predictor for macroeconomic volatility, as well as the converse. Tests of the joint and simultaneous explanatory power of the macroeconomic volatilities indicate that between one-sixth to above two-thirds of the changes in aggregate stock volatility might be related to macroeconomic volatility. Some evidence of a negative relationship between stock market volatility and trading volume growth was also detected. This result could either be interpreted as an effect of idiosyncratic demand shifts cancelling out as the thickness of the market is increasing, or as a sign of volume growth being some proxy for the level of economic activity.
The antecedents of customer‐contact employees’ empowerment

Data from 517 service workers in 14 retail banks show positive and significant association between four empowerment antecedents (including trust, incentives, information and knowledge) and empowerment of customer‐contact employees. Particularly, the findings in this research suggest that trust, communication, knowledge and skills of customer‐contact employees may have a direct and strong impact on the empowerment of service employees. Empowerment antecedents (trust, incentives, communication, and knowledge) of customer‐contact employees accounted for significant variation in the levels of empowerment among customer‐contact employees in the banking industry. Implications for future research and for management practice are discussed.
The Accessory Sec Protein Asp2 Modulates GlcNAc Deposition onto the Serine-Rich Repeat Glycoprotein GspB

ABSTRACT The accessory Sec system is a specialized transport system that exports serine-rich repeat (SRR) glycoproteins of Gram-positive bacteria. This system contains two homologues of the general secretory (Sec) pathway (SecA2 and SecY2) and several other essential proteins (Asp1 to Asp5) that share no homology to proteins of known function. In Streptococcus gordonii, Asp2 is required for the transport of the SRR adhesin GspB, but its role in export is unknown. Tertiary structure predictions suggest that the carboxyl terminus of Asp2 resembles the catalytic region of numerous enzymes that function through a Ser-Asp-His catalytic triad. Sequence alignment of all Asp2 homologues identified a highly conserved pentapeptide motif (Gly-X-Ser362-X-Gly) typical of most Ser-Asp-His catalytic triads, where Ser forms the reactive residue. Site-directed mutagenesis of residues comprising the predicted catalytic triad of Asp2 of S. gordonii had no effect upon GspB transport but did result in a marked change in the electrophoretic mobility of the protein. Lectin-binding studies and monosaccharide content analysis of this altered glycoform revealed an increase in glucosamine deposition. Random mutagenesis of the Asp2 region containing this catalytic domain also disrupted GspB transport. Collectively, our findings suggest that Asp2 is a bifunctional protein that is essential for both GspB transport and correct glycosylation. The catalytic domain may be responsible for controlling the glycosylation of GspB, while other surrounding regions are functionally required for glycoprotein transport.
The Impact of Tourism on Residential Experience in Central-eastern Europe: The Development of a New Legitimation Crisis in the Czech Republic

This paper argues that rapid and unfettered commercial tourism development in the historic core of Prague is playing a major role in the transformation of its social, spatial and cultural characteristics, changes which are encapsulating residential experience. Whilst recognising the potential positive economic benefits of tourism, we argue that the inherent pressures of commercialisation and touristification are creating new tensions which, if not addressed, are likely to contribute significantly to the creation of a new legitimation crisis in the Czech Republic, one epitomised by an inability to establish universal support for neo-liberal capitalist accumulation as a sustainable path for political and economic reform. Although largely impressionistic in method, this exposition seeks to offer, with the aid of comparative analyses of other European cities, observations which provide insights that may benefit a broader empirical investigation and debate on residential experience, one that is enhanced by the interdisciplinary links between housing and tourism. More specifically, it explores the complex interrelationship between residential experience and tourism, arguing that the former illuminates a deeper understanding of the power relationships driving developmental processes-in this case, tourist-driven regeneration. In their determination to achieve compatibility with neo-liberal accumulation regimes, the post-communist governments of the Czech Republic appear to be neglecting, at the macro level, the broader social and environmental objectives of minimising social exclusion and protecting the nation's cultural heritage. It is too early to assess whether the new administration has recognised the need to realign policies closer to the traditional Czech value of political consensus. However, despite the creation of a distinct planning system within Prague, which recognises the emergence of a new 'income elite' alongside the 'socially weak', state-driven political and economic policies appear to be exacerbating these new social cleavages and creating the incipient signs of a 'clone city'. We suggest the need for an alternative vision of 'capitalism', one that enables the inclusion of a broad range of interests in decision-making, if Havel's dream of a 'civil society' is to be realised.
Interventions to increase seasonal influenza vaccine coverage in healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis

ABSTRACT Influenza vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs), but coverage is often low. We reviewed studies evaluating interventions to increase seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in HCWs, including a meta-regression analysis to quantify the effect of each component. Fourty-six eligible studies were identified. Domains conferring a high risk of bias were identified in most studies. Mandatory vaccination was the most effective intervention component (Risk Ratio of being unvaccinated [RRunvacc] = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.08–0.45), followed by “soft” mandates such as declination statements (RRunvacc = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.45–0.92), increased awareness (RRunvacc = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71–0.97) and increased access (RRunvacc = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.78–1.00). For incentives the difference was not significant, while for education no effect was observed. Heterogeneity was substantial (τ2 = 0.083). These results indicate that effective alternatives to mandatory HCWs influenza vaccination do exist, and need to be further explored in future studies.
The Effect of Options on Coordination

In some coordination problems, an agent's payoff depends on what other agents will do in the future. This paper studies how constraints on the timing of actions affect equilbrium in those problems. While the possibility of waiting longer for others' actions helps agents to coordinate in the good equilibrium, the option of delaying one's actions harms coordination. In a symmetric case, the risk-dominant equilibrium of the corresponding one-shot game is selected.
Factors Affecting Online Tourism Group Buying and the Moderating Role of Loyalty

Online group buying has become increasingly prevalent, and people frequently shop on group buying (GB) sites. This study examines the relationships among transaction cost advantage, preview, trust, satisfaction, and repurchase intention within online tourism GB environments. To investigate differences in the constructs between the high and low emotional loyalty (EL) groups, this study draws on the moderating role of EL. The results reveal that transaction cost advantage, preview, and trust significantly and positively affect satisfaction, which, in turn, influences repurchase intention. The high-EL group shows stronger relationships between preview and satisfaction and between satisfaction and repurchase intention than the low-EL group. The low-EL group shows stronger relationships between transaction cost advantage and satisfaction and between trust and satisfaction than the high-EL group. The findings have implications for tourism academics and the tourism industry.
Computerized image analysis of nuclear shape as a prognostic factor for prostatic cancer

Computer assisted image analysis was used to determine quantitative and reproducible nuclear morphology of 17 totally excised pathological specimens from stage B‐2 prostatic cancer in an attempt to correlate histopathological analysis with clinical prognosis for the individual patient. We describe a nuclear roundness factor that correlates with the clinical outcome of the individual patient. This nuclear shape factor appears to identify prostatic tumors with a high metastatic potential from tumors that are less aggressive. Quantitative nuclear image analysis, its accuracy, and reproducibility are described and discussed. This technique may provide the pathologist with a valuable tool for analyzing prostatic cancer cells in a quantitative manner, thereby contributing precise information to the urologist relevant to the prognosis of the individual patient.
How do small rural food-processing firms compete?A resource-based approach to competitive strategies

The study was concerned with the competitive strategies of small food-processing firms in rural Finland and their ability to achieve and maintain a competitively advantaged position in relation to larger food companies in the dynamic and mature food market. Competitive strategies were approached from the resource-based view (RBV) that emphasises internal firm factors as sources of competitive advantage and long-term success. As strategic choices, differentiation was specifically considered. The main objective was to explain the relationships between resources, competitive advantage and firm success. To understand the ambiguous nature of the resources in the small-scale food production context, the study introduced a distinction between strategic resources and basic resources and the strategic relationship between them. The empirical part of the study was based on quantitative analyses of the survey data collected from 238 small (less than 20 persons), food-processing firms in rural Finland. The sample firms represented different branches of the food industry and 39% of them operated in connection with a farm. The linkage between resources, competitive advantage and firm success was investigated by means of cluster analysis, mean comparisons and LISREL modelling. The results demonstrated that there are some typical features relating to small-scale food production in Finland. The results also revealed that small-scale, rural food processing firms do not constitute a homogenous group of their own, but that different strategies among small firms can be identified as well. The analyses proved that a linkage between resources, competitive advantage and firm success can be identified, which is consistent with resource-based logic. However, according to the findings, following a particular strategy does not automatically ensure that a firm will achieve success. The analysis also showed that strategic resources and basic resources are strongly interlinked and that the relationship between basic resources and success was, however, considerably stronger than the link between strategic resources and success. The study concludes that resource deployment  in terms of both strategic resources and basic resources  should be balanced in order for a small food-processing firm to have the opportunity to establish a relatively favourable position in the market. Based on the results, theoretical, methodological and managerial implications are suggested and ideas for the further research are provided. ;
The Influence of Organizational Justice and Job Satisfaction on Organizational Commitment in Portugal’s Hotel Industry

A survey of employees at four- and five-star hotels in the north of Portugal found that employees who feel they are treated fairly may develop higher levels of job satisfaction, and, in turn, higher levels of organizational commitment. A key variable in this context is the influence of employees’ perceptions of workplace fairness. The study tested three forms of organizational justice—distributive justice, interactional justice, and procedural justice—as they influence three types of organizational commitment: affective commitment, continuance commitment, and normative commitment. Of the three types of justice, procedural justice is related to all organizational commitment components, distributive justice is not related to any of them, and interactional justice is not related to affective commitment, and is actually negatively related to normative and continuance commitment. The study also tested the relationship of job satisfaction with the other variables. The results indicate tha job satisfaction significantly influences affective and normative commitment, while distributive justice and interactional justice do in fact influence job satisfaction.
Experimental tests of host–virus coevolution in natural killer yeast strains

Fungi may carry cytoplasmic viruses that encode anticompetitor toxins. These so‐called killer viruses may provide competitive benefits to their host, but also incur metabolic costs associated with viral replication, toxin production and immunity. Mechanisms responsible for the stable maintenance of these endosymbionts are insufficiently understood. Here, we test whether co‐adaptation of host and killer virus underlies their stable maintenance in seven natural and one laboratory strain of the genus Saccharomyces. We employ cross‐transfection of killer viruses, all encoding the K1‐type toxin, to test predictions from host–virus co‐adaptation. These tests support local adaptation of hosts and/or their killer viruses. First, new host–virus combinations have strongly reduced killing ability against a standard sensitive strain when compared with re‐constructed native combinations. Second, viruses are more likely to be lost from new than from original hosts upon repeated bottlenecking or the application of stressful conditions. Third, host fitness is increased after the re‐introduction of native viruses, but decreased after the introduction of new viruses. Finally, rather than a trade‐off, original combinations show a positive correlation between killing ability and fitness. Together, these results suggest that natural yeast killer strains and their viruses have co‐adapted, allowing the transition from a parasitic to a mutualistic symbiosis.
Discourse prosody and its application to speech synthesis

This paper reveals the correlations between discourse structure and acoustic parameters and presents a method of manipulating discourse prosody in relation to discourse structure to improve the naturalness of synthesis speech. The text material included 1229 passages. The texts were annotated using Rhetorical Structure Theory. Prosody measurements were extracted from the corresponding speech annotation and then the statistic analysis were conducted. The results showed that: 1) segments at higher hierarchical level were preceded with longer pause durations; 2) segments bearing nucleus possessed longer average duration than satellites did. To test if rhetorical structure would benefit synthesized speech prosody, 15 passages were synthesized with discourse features implemented. The evaluation results indicated that the modified synthesis speech excelled the baseline system by 0.1 MOS point, suggesting that implementing prosodic features into synthesized speech would improve overall prosody.
Bandwidth-efficient underwater data broadcasting

This paper proposes an adaptive push system that operates efficiently in the high-latency environment of underwater acoustic wireless networks. Using a simple technique, the proposed system efficiently utilizes the scarce bandwidth resource of the underwater acoustic environment. Simulation results show superior performance of the proposed system compared to adaptations of existing terrestrial push systems. Moreover, they show that the efficient utilization of bandwidth, its performance can be improved up to 17%.
Late Life Function and Disability Instrument in African American Women: Function Component

Obesity, age, and comorbidity can lead to limitations in physical function, especially in middle aged, community-dwelling, African American women. To determine the clinical implications of limitations in physical function, instruments that assess physical function need to be tested in this population. The purpose of the authors in this secondary analysis was to report the internal consistency and validity of the Physical Function component of the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument in middle-aged, community-dwelling, African American women. In 2006, 126 community-dwelling African American women completed the Physical Function component, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and the 6 Minute Walk Test at baseline. Results indicated Cronbach's alphas were excellent (all >.92) for the Physical Function component and the three subscales. The Physical Function component correlated directly with the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (r = .37, p < .01) and the 6 Minute Walk Test (r = .36, p < .01) but was inversely correlated with age (r = −.42, p < .01) and comorbidity (r = −.35, p < .01). However, obesity was not correlated (r = −.11, p > .05). A three-factor structure of the Physical Function component was confirmed. Thus, the Physical Function component was a reliable and valid measure to screen African American women who were at risk for function limitations. Future recommendations are discussed.
Is Government Expenditure Volatility Harmful for Growth? A Cross-Country Analysis

The aim of the paper is to analyse the relationship between government expenditure volatility and long-run growth. Using cross-country panel data from 1970 to 2000, the paper finds that countries with higher government expenditure business-cycle volatility have lower growth, even after controlling for other country-specific growth correlates such as investment, government expenditure, human capital, population growth and output volatility. This relation is robust to different measures of business cycles. Moreover, considering different subsamples, the paper finds that while government volatility significantly affects long-run growth for developing countries, it has a small effect for OECD countries.
A U.S. Regional Model of Feeder Steer-Heifer Price Differentials

U.S. feeder cattle markets discriminate among a wide variety of animal characteristics such as weight, sex, breed, grade, and age. In recent years, concern has been expressed that price premiums paid for steers over heifers no longer reflect estimated differences in their feedlot performance or carcass value [2,8]. Another question is whether observed regional differences in steer-heifer price differentials are justified. The sources of feeder price differentials by sex are investigated and variations in these differentials across time and space dimensions are analyzed. The results provide preliminary evidence on the efficiency with which feeder markets establish price spreads.