Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure and distribution of palm tree species in Altingia excelsa planted forest in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Sadili A, Salamah A, Mirmanto E, Kartawinata K. 2024. Structure and distribution of palm tree species in Altingia excelsa planted forest in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 249-256. Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (GGPNP) is a conservation area consisted of natural forest and planted forest, including Altingia excelsa Noronha stands which were planted in 1925. As a result of secondary succession, various plants grow under Altingia excelsa stands, including palm tree species (Arecaceae). This research was conducted to determine the structure, population, and distribution patterns of palm trees in Altingia excelsa planted forest in Bodogol Resort, GGPNP. The data were collected by establishing a one-hectare plot divided into 100 subplots of 10 m × 10 m. Palm tree species with a Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) ? 3 cm were measured, and the tree heights were estimated. Data analysis included Relative Dominance (RDo), Relative Density (RDen), Relative Frequency (RF), Importance Value Index (IVI), Shannon Wiener Diversity Index (H'), Evenness Index (E), Index of Dispersion (ID), analysis of variance values (S2) and Chi-square analysis (Q). The study results recorded four species from three genera of Arecaceae which consisted of 171 trees with a total Basal Area (BA) of 0.63 m2/ha. Pinanga coronata (Blume ex Mart.) Blume was the most dominant palm tree species with IVI of 156.89%), followed by Pinanga sp. (IVI=72.04%), Caryota rumphiana Mart. (IVI=55.77%), and Arenga pinnata (Wurmb) Merr. (IVI=15.38%). In term of diameter class distribution, Pinanga coronata and Pinanga sp. were regenerating well. Spatial distribution patterns of Arenga pinnata, Caryota rumphiana, and Pinanga sp. were regular, while Pinanga coronata was clustered. Periodical studies in the future to determine the mortality and natality of the palm trees are recommended to understand the dynamics of vegetation succession.
Hygienic Practices of Vendors and Their Contribution to Coliform, Salmonella, and Shigella Bacteria of Raw Milk at Asella Town, Oromia, Ethiopia

Background Coliform, Salmonella, and Shigella are among the most encountered bacteria in raw milk. This study is aimed at determining the extent of coliform, Salmonella, and Shigella bacteria in raw milk and vendor hygiene practices at Asella town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, from March 1 to 30, 2022. Methods In this study, 210 milk vendors were included; each vendor provided a 50 ml sample of raw milk. Bacteria were isolated and identified using standard bacteriological techniques. Data were entered and analyzed using EPI info version 7 and SPSS version 22, respectively. A binary logistic regression model was applied to determine the factors associated with bacterial contamination of raw milk. Results The total contamination percentage of raw milk was 50 (23.8%) (95% CI: 18.1-29.5%). The predominant bacteria identified were coliform 43 (20.5%) followed by Salmonella species 7 (3.3%). Among coliforms, the predominant bacteria were Citrobacter species 15 (34.9%) followed by Enterobacter species 11 (25.6%), Escherichia coli and Serratia species each 6 (14%), and Klebsiella species 5 (11.6%). However, no Shigella was isolated in this study. Not having the habit of washing cow teats (p < 0.0001), the habit of washing teats with tap water (p < 0.0001), not having separate cloth during milking (p < 0.0001), not having a practice of testing milk for bacterial contamination (p = 0.027), and not having separate vending environment (p = 0.039) were significantly associated with bacterial contamination of raw milk. Conclusions The percentage of bacterial contamination of milk was found to be high. Participants without a habit of washing cow teats, a habit of washing milk utensils with only tap water, and not having separate vending environments were associated factors for bacterial contamination of raw milk. Milk vendors are advised to develop the habit of washing teats before milking, avoid washing teat/milk utensils only with tap water, and have a separate vending environment.
Deep learning-based control framework for dynamic contact processes in humanoid grasping

Humanoid grasping is a critical ability for anthropomorphic hand, and plays a significant role in the development of humanoid robots. In this article, we present a deep learning-based control framework for humanoid grasping, incorporating the dynamic contact process among the anthropomorphic hand, the object, and the environment. This method efficiently eliminates the constraints imposed by inaccessible grasping points on both the contact surface of the object and the table surface. To mimic human-like grasping movements, an underactuated anthropomorphic hand is utilized, which is designed based on human hand data. The utilization of hand gestures, rather than controlling each motor separately, has significantly decreased the control dimensionality. Additionally, a deep learning framework is used to select gestures and grasp actions. Our methodology, proven both in simulation and on real robot, exceeds the performance of static analysis-based methods, as measured by the standard grasp metric Q1. It expands the range of objects the system can handle, effectively grasping thin items such as cards on tables, a task beyond the capabilities of previous methodologies.
Respiratory Infection Triggering Severe Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background Data are scarce on respiratory infections during severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to investigate respiratory infection patterns in the intensive care unit (ICU) and identify variables associated with infection type and patient outcome. Methods A retrospective, single-centre cohort study. All patients admitted (2015–2021) to our ICU for severe acute exacerbation of COPD were included. Logistic multivariable regression analysis was performed to predict factors associated with infection and assess the association between infection and outcome. Results We included 473 patients: 288 (60.9%) had respiratory infection and 139 (29.4%) required invasive mechanical ventilation. Eighty-nine (30.9%) had viral, 81 (28.1%) bacterial, 34 (11.8%) mixed, and 84 (29.2%) undocumented infections. Forty-seven (9.9%) patients died in the ICU and 67 (14.2%) in hospital. Factors associated with respiratory infection were temperature (odds ratio [+1°C]=1.43, P=0.008) and blood neutrophils (1.07, P=0.002). Male sex (2.21, P=0.02) and blood neutrophils were associated with bacterial infection (1.06, P=0.04). In a multivariable analysis, pneumonia (cause-specific hazard=1.75, P=0.005), respiratory rate (1.17, P=0.04), arterial partial pressure of carbon-dioxide (1.08, P=0.04), and lactate (1.14, P=0.02) were associated with the need for invasive MV. Age (1.03, P=0.03), immunodeficiency (1.96, P=0.02), and altered performance status (1.78, P=0.002) were associated with hospital mortality. Conclusions Respiratory infections, 39.9% of which were bacterial, were the main cause of severe acute exacerbation of COPD. Body temperature and blood neutrophils were single markers of infection. Pneumonia was associated with the need for invasive mechanical ventilation but not with hospital mortality, as opposed to age, immunodeficiency, and altered performance status.
Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis in a Middle-Aged Man Presenting With Respiratory Failure: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is an autosomal recessive disease of the lung, characterized by diffuse deposits of intra-alveolar calcium phosphate microliths. It usually affects both sexes, presenting mostly in the second and third decades. The clinical course is highly variable, ranging from being asymptomatic to respiratory failure. PAM is usually diagnosed after careful clinical, radiological, and pathological evaluation, usually when patients present for other medical purposes. Here, a case of PAM in a middle-aged man presenting with acute-on-chronic hypoxemic respiratory failure is reported, with a review of the literature.
Evolutionary and Structural Analysis of PP16 in Viridiplantae

Members of the phloem protein 16 (PP16) gene family are induced by elicitors in rice and the corresponding proteins from cucurbits, which display RNA binding and intercellular transport activities, are accumulated in phloem sap. These proteins facilitate the movement of protein complexes through the phloem translocation flow and may be involved in the response to water deficit, among other functions. However, there is scant information regarding their function in other plants, including the identification of paralog genes in non-vascular plants and chlorophytes. In the present work, an evolutionary and structural analysis of the PP16 family in green plants (Viridiplantae) was carried out. Data mining in different databases indicated that PP16 likely originated from a larger gene present in an ancestral lineage that gave rise to chlorophytes and multicellular plants. This gene encodes a protein related to synaptotagmin, which is involved in vesicular transport in animal systems, although other members of this family play a role in lipid turnover in endomembranes and organelles. These proteins contain a membrane-binding C2 domain shared with PP16 proteins in vascular plants. In silico analysis of the predicted structure of the PP16 protein family identified several β-sheets, one α-helix, and intrinsically disordered regions. PP16 may have been originally involved in vesicular trafficking and/or membrane maintenance but specialized in long-distance signaling during the emergence of the plant vascular system.
Innovative Learning Strategies (Differentiated Learning Perspective on Merdeka Curriculum)

Innovative learning strategies are essential approaches in addressing global challenges and rapid technological developments in the era of the Merdeka Curriculum. From the perspective of differentiated learning, this approach views each learner as a unique individual with different needs, interests, and learning styles. This article discusses innovative learning strategies that can be applied in the context of the Merdeka Curriculum, with a focus on differentiated learning. Firstly, emphasis is placed on the use of technology as a learning tool. Utilizing online platforms, educational applications, and learning software can facilitate differentiation in presenting materials and adjusting the level of difficulty according to each student's abilities. Secondly, project-based approaches are integrated into learning to stimulate creativity and problem-solving. These projects can be tailored to the interests and talents of students, creating meaningful learning experiences. Furthermore, cooperative and collaborative learning strategies are implemented to enhance social interaction and student engagement. Through group cooperation, learners can support and understand each other's differences. The importance of formative assessment is also highlighted in this article. By providing regular feedback, teachers can understand the development of each student and devise appropriate differentiation strategies. In implementing these innovative learning strategies, the role of the teacher as a facilitator is crucial. Teachers need to have the skills to identify the individual needs of students, design challenging activities, and provide appropriate support. This article contributes to an understanding of how innovative learning in the perspective of differentiated learning can be integrated into the Merdeka Curriculum. By adopting these strategies, it is expected to create an inclusive, supportive, and stimulating learning environment that fosters the development of each student's potential.
Augmented Reality for Cultivating Computational Thinking Skills in Mathematics Completed with Literature Review, Bibliometrics, and Experiments for Students

The research problem centered around the need to enhance students' computational thinking (CT) ability, which is crucial for their success in the present and future. This study aims to examine the efficacy of Augmented Reality (AR) in improving the CT abilities of seventh-grade junior high school students. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design with a control group and an experimental group to meet the research aims. The control group was provided with conventional mathematical instruction through established teaching methods, while the experimental group was exposed to mathematics learning enhanced by AR media. The study involved 160 students from four junior high schools located in one of the cities in Indonesia. A five-question CT ability test was employed as the research instrument. The mean difference test was used to analyze the data and compare the performance of the control and experimental groups. The research findings indicated that the effective application of AR media significantly enhanced the CT skills of seventh-grade adolescents in middle school. The results aid in creating new teaching approaches and emphasize the possibilities of AR technology in math education.
Brief communication: Pancake ice floe size distribution during the winter expansion of the Antarctic marginal ice zone

Abstract. The size distribution of pancake ice floes is calculated from images acquired during a voyage to the Antarctic marginal ice zone in the winter expansion season. Results show that 50 % of the sea ice area is made up of floes with diameters of 2.3–4 m. The floe size distribution shows two distinct slopes on either side of the 2.3–4 m range, neither of which conforms to a power law. Following a relevant recent study, it is conjectured that the growth of pancakes from frazil forms the distribution of small floes (D<2.3 m), and welding of pancakes forms the distribution of large floes (D>4 m).
Differential change in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of loneliness, socialization, and mental well-being

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in mental health issues and psychological distress, disruption to work/studying conditions, and social isolation particularly among young adults. Changes in these factors are differentially associated with alcohol use. Moreover, the relationship between these factors are bidirectional and may have fluctuated throughout the different phases of the pandemic. However, studies focusing on young adults had conflicting results, short follow-up periods, and lacked comprehensive data to describe underlying mechanisms. Methods 1067 young adults participated in repetitive measures termed wave 4 (2021) of the Survey of Adolescent Life in Västmanland Cohort “SALVe” Cohort. Of these, 889 also completed pre-pandemic measurements termed wave 3 (2018). Participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to evaluate alcohol consumption and harmful use. Cross-sectional associations between perceived changes in alcohol use and shift in individual, mental health, and work environment factors were examined using Chi-square tests. Logistic regression was utilized to identify pre-pandemic predictors of harmful consumption during the pandemic. Results Harmful consumption decreased only in females following the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants who reported increased feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness were more likely to increase their alcohol use. Interestingly, the subgroup who felt less lonely and met their friends more often, as well as those who continued working/studying from their regular workplace also had an increased likelihood of higher consumption. Only pre-pandemic ADHD and delinquency symptoms predicted harmful alcohol consumption following the pandemic. Conclusion Females reduced harmful alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. While those who suffered the burden of social isolation and distress were more likely to increase their alcohol use, young adults who felt less lonely and met their friends more often also had a similar outcome. The relationship between loneliness and alcohol consumption among young adults is influenced by the social factors that may be facilitated by drinking.
The Dewatering of the Fucino Lake Did Not Promote the M7.1 1915 Fucino Earthquake: Insights From Numerical Simulations

The powerful M7.1 earthquake that devastated the Fucino Basin (Central Italy) in 1915 results to be the only (except for a M5.7 event in 1904) remarkable event to have occurred in that area, according to the 900‐year‐long record of the Italian Seismic Catalogue. Curiously, the 1915 event occurred only 38 years after the complete man‐induced dewatering of the largest lake of peninsular Italy, which formerly occupied the basin. Hence, we investigate on a possible relationship between the dewatering of the lake and the occurrence of the 1915 earthquake. We perform some numerical simulations in order to estimate the stress changes induced by the dewatering of the Fucino Lake and by the 1904 earthquake. We compute the stress changes on two different seismogenic sources selected among the ones proposed in the literature. Our main results support that (1) the dewatering process has reduced effects of the state of stress in the area before the 1915 earthquake, (2) the primary effect of the dewatering on both sources is a decrease of stresses that hampers the slip on the fault planes, and (3) the positive stress changes associated to the 1904 event would be too weak to influence the occurrence of the 1915 earthquake. We also suggest that the dewatering may have delayed by ~1.7 years the 1915 earthquake occurrence.
Lower Extremity Trauma: A Multidimensional Reconstructive Approach with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Background: Distal lower extremity reconstruction is challenging. This study aims to propose a protocol for the treatment of traumatic soft tissue defects. The key concept is to combine the surgical armamentarium of the reconstructive surgeon with the advantages provided by hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of 57 patients affected with unilateral or bilateral lower extremity trauma distal to the knee and involving soft tissues with no indication of immediate reconstruction between 2010 and 2021. Before the reconstructive procedure, all the patients underwent a stick swab procedure for the collection of microbiological samples and debridement. Patients were divided into two treatment groups and only one group underwent a combined therapeutic procedure with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was employed only if deemed necessary according to the defect’s depth and wound exudate. Surgical techniques, outcomes, and complications were discussed. Results: All patients achieved a complete recovery with no major complications and only minor complications observed. The study group treated with HBOT had a lower complication rate and lower percentages of minimal and partial graft loss compared with the same complications observed in the control group. No patients experienced HBOT-related complications. Significant reductions in the time to complete healing and the time from reconstruction to healing were found (p = 0.002 and p < 0.00001, respectively). Conclusions: A lower complication rate was observed in the group treated with HBOT. The administration of HBOT prior to soft tissue reconstruction significantly reduced the time to complete healing and the time interval from skin grafting to healing. However, prospective studies and randomized trials with larger cohorts should be designed to investigate the efficacy of HBOT for the treatment of lower extremity injuries with extensive soft tissue defects.
Staff perspectives on poor mental health in secondary school students: an increasing problem handled with insufficient resources

Introduction An increasing number of schools are recognizing the importance of addressing students' mental health based on the association with educational outcomes and long-term health. The school organization and the members of the school staff play important but, in several ways, challenging roles in this work. The purpose of this study was to explore views of staff from schools and school health services on mental ill health among students and their own role in detecting and managing it. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in a sparsely populated municipality in northern Sweden. In total, 40 participants from three secondary schools and the school health services participated either in focus groups or individual interviews. Participants were teachers, assistants, school nurses, school counselors and psychologists. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results The analysis revealed the main theme Student mental ill health: an increasing problem handled with insufficient resources and two subthemes, i.e., Uncertainty in interpreting students' signs of mental ill health and the need to clarify roles and establish a supportive organization. Conclusions It was concluded that school staff were uncertain regarding how to interpret signs of mental ill health among students and required better knowledge and more resources to help students with mental ill health. A clearer organization and consensus regarding support for students with mental ill health were also necessary in light of the division of responsibilities between school staff and the school health services.
The impact of distance learning on the attitudes of nursing students: An online survey study

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the transition to distance education in nursing education. However, Nursing students are not accustomed to learning through distance learning.This research aimed to determine the effect of distance education method on the attitudes of nursing students towards the profession during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was cross-sectional in design. Data were collected with an online survey about distance education and the nursing profession through Google Forms in November 2020 and June 2021 at the nursing department. The students' views on distance education were moderate (46.66±8.81), and their attitudes towards the nursing profession were good (86±13.86). There was no statistically significant relationship between scale scores. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of students' grade levels, graduating from a distance education institution before, taking courses through distance education before the COVID-19 pandemic and clinical practice before the pandemic, and their attitudes towards both distance education and the nursing profession. Our study shows that the distance learning method does not affect students' attitudes toward the nursing profession.