Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation on Symptoms Following Trigger Points; A Controlled Pilot Study

Introduction: Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a common disorder of musculoskeletal system. About one third of the people with musculoskeletal disorders have been diagnosed as having MPS. It is a painful condition caused by trigger points. A variety of treatment approaches are used to cure MPS and its associated disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effects of single session Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation (IMES) through dry needling on pain and Range Of Motion (ROM) following trigger points in upper trapezius. Material and Methods: Sixteen volunteers with active trigger points in upper trapezius were randomly divided into two groups: 1) the IMES treatment group (8 females) and 2) placebo group (8 females). In the IMES group, trigger points of the affected side were injected through dry needling, then a burst current (2 Hz) was applied on the muscle while the electrical stimulation steadily increases to form a pain free contraction for the patient. In placebo group, the procedure was exactly the same but there was no applied electrical stimulation through dry needling. Pain sensation by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and cervical flexion ROM were measured before treatment, immediately after treatment and one week later by another blinded researcher. Results: VAS scores showed improvement in both groups at the end of the treatment session and also one week later. There was no significant difference between the groups; IMES and placebo in terms of the VAS after treatment session. However, the pain scores were substantially decreased in the IMES group one week after the intervention. The ROMs were significantly lower in placebo group one week after treatment. There was no significant correlation between improvement and duration of symptoms. Conclusion: Both IMES and placebo methods might be effective in relieving symptoms of patients with the MPS in upper trapezius; however, patients following the IMES treatment showed higher level of improvement during one week after the intervention. Further relevant studies with higher number of volunteers and different treatment protocols are necessary to get high quality evidence.
Analysis of Centroid Cluster in X-Means Clustering in Data Classification: Power Absorb Oxygen

: On gardens city of Medan, there are type different trees. On every tree have power absorbency oxygen and work issue oxygen every day. It will be grouping the tree data that issued oxygen with use X-Means method on Clustering algorithm. Then in research, an analysis to centroid that is point data center inside process grouping, then need to a n analysis centroid in determining gift value early to process the beginning of clustering. So that data was used as point center cluster on process X-Means clustering algorithm.
Relocatable Energy Storage Systems for Congestion Management

The rapid growth of rooftop solar, and on the rise technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, is leading to congestion problems in low voltage distribution networks. If not dealt with, the congestion will prevent the installation of further units limiting the pace of the energy transition. Energy Storage Systems (ESS) are often seen as the technology with a high potential for congestion reduction. In this paper, we propose to use Relocatable Energy Storage System (RESS) fleet, to physically move the ESS throughout the distribution grid in an effort to alleviate congestion. The proposed method consists of two parts. First, a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) is created to minimise the amount of RESS used and penalise displacement. Second, an algorithm with a Minimum Cost Maximum Matching objective is used to determine the dispatch of each individual RESS. The results on a CIGRE test system show the benefits of this method compared to stationary placed ESS in the grid.
Complex Permittivity Measurement of Artificial Tissue Emulating Material Using Open-Ended Coaxial Probe

In this paper, we present a complex permittivity measurement technique for artificial tissue emulating (ATE) materials. Recently, ATE materials have gained increasing attention due to their importance on the in-vitro testing for implantable biomedical devices. They are in semi-solid state and have frequency dependent dielectric properties, thus a broadband characterization technique is called for to measure their permittivity. The target frequency range of the proposed broadband technique is 0.5 – 6 GHz and is based on an open-ended coaxial probe (OECP). Different from the commercial OECP techniques, the in-house built OECP system employs simpler calibration steps which eliminate the need of short-standard measurement often producing errors. The equivalent circuit analysis shows that the short-standard measurement can be substituted by the open-standard measurement with the opposite polarity. The validity of the proposed technique was demonstrated by measuring the complex permittivity of ATE materials for brain in-vitro testing.
Independence in Financial Audit Engagements. The Case of Romanian Banks

For the external audit to ensure the credibility of the financial statements, it is a mandatory and vital requirement to maintain the independence in audit engagements. In practice, when performing the audit engagements there are various threats to independence, such as the non-audit services, the financial dependence of the auditor on its client, and the familiarity between client and auditor. The risk they pose to independence may be diminished through the rotation policy of the partner and audit firm. The rotation (voluntary or compulsory of the partner or audit firm) generates, according to the professional literature, both advantages and disadvantages, the legal practices and regulations being different from one country to another. Although the Romanian legislation does not require the rotation within the audit engagements, we believe that adopting these practices is an indication of maintaining independence and conducting a quality audit. Starting from this aspect, our research aims at the rotation practices of the banking institutions operating on the Romanian market. The results show that most banks adopt their own rotation policy of the partner and audit firm. This research may be useful to interest-holders within the banking system, as well as to the regulatory bodies in Romania.
The Evaluation of Škoda Auto a.s. Prosperity with the usage of the Modificated Magic Quadrangle Method

The graphical method of magic quadrangle is the method used at a macroeconomics level to assess the national economy. This method is based on the assumption of achieving the four main goals of the economic policy which are defined as the GDP growth rate, balanced payments in current accounts, optimal inflation rate and optimal unemployment rate. When constructing the “Magic Quadrangle” appropriate for the level of a company as a macroeconomics subject on the supply side, the standard macroeconomics magnitudes were replaced, so that, the chosen indicators evaluate equally the four main areas mentioned above: the growth of earnings before taxes, the share of sales abroad from the total revenues, the revenues for the real volume unit of production and the demand for production in the number of workers. The graphical method of the magic quadrangle applied at a microeconomic level can work for the management of the company as a supportive indicator of its financial “health“. The key factor in applying this method is the option of suitable indicators for setting up their optimal (final) figures. Considering the variability of individual microeconomic subjects, it is necessary to have an individual approach to those mentioned above.
Design of wearable textile antenna for low back radiation

ABSTRACT In this paper, the back radiation incident on-body tissue due to wearable antennas is investigated. The research is directed toward reducing the “Main lobe to back lobe power ratio” for the wearable antennas. The radiated power of the wearable antenna is being increased to achieve communication over longer distances. It is important to keep the back radiation well below the SAR for human safety. The paper presents a representative case of an antenna operating at 2.45 GHz (ISM band) and illustrates design improvisations to reduce the back radiation. The experimental results are substantiated by computing the SAR impact with two “human body tissue models” for human upper arm (humerus) and the back. The results are compared with advanced techniques like EBG.
Modeling and validation of L-asparaginase enzyme, an anticancer agent using the tools of computational biology

Background: The L-Asparaginase is a medically important drug. The L-Asparaginase enzyme, an anticancer agent produced by microorganisms is used for the treatment of patients suffering from lymphoma and leukemia. The LAsparaginase is economical and its administration is easy when compared to other commercial drugs available in market. Many microbes have been reported to produce the L-Asparaginase. Methods: In the present work the sequence of L-Asparaginase enzyme protein was obtained from the Universal Protein Resource (UNIPROT) server. The sequence of L-Asparaginase was used to generate 3-D model of LAsparaginase in SWISS MODEL server. The constructed L-Asparaginase model was verified using Ramachandran Plot in PROCHECK server. Results: The FASTA format of L-Asparaginase enzyme of Bacillus subtilis strain 168 was retrieved from UNIPROT server. The FASTA format of L-Asparaginase was submitted to SWISS MODEL and its three-dimensional structural model was developed based on relevant template model. The model structure of L-Asparaginase was validated in PROCHECK server using Ramachandran Plot. The Ramachandran Plot of L-Asparaginase model inferred the reliability of L-Asparaginase structure model developed in SWISS MODEL server. Conclusions: In the present study computational tools were exploited to develop and validate a potent anticancer drug, L-Asparaginase. Further the modeled L-Asparaginase enzyme protein can be improved using advanced bioinformatics tools and the same improved enzyme can be produced by improving the L-Asparaginase producing microbial strains by site-directed mutagenesis in the corresponding gene.
Analysis of Different Respiratory and Blood Gas Parameters to Optimize Brain Tissue Oxygen Tension (PtiO2) in Patients with Acute Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

The various parameters from multimodal monitoring, including PtiO2, were collected retrospectively in a series of 6 patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. All data were recorded in a computer software and evaluated the correlations between PtiO2 and various respiratory and blood gas parameters using linear regression and multiple regression analysis. Moreover, in 2 of 6 patients, we also performed concurrently hemodynamic monitoring and analyzed the correlations between PtiO2 and some hemodynamic parameters. The results showed a variety of positive and negative correlations between PtiO2 and various parameters which were found significantly. In addition, from the multiple regression analysis using stepwise method, PtiO2 value might be predicted by 4 parameters; namely, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), serum bicarbonate (HCO3), oxygen saturation (O2sat) and hemoglobin (Hb).
Stress management and health promotion intervention program for police forces

Police are exposed to considerable amounts of stress while undertaking their work; confronting not only a plethora of stress factors common to the field of work, but also frequently experienced violence, aggression, environmental stressors and traumatic events, thus leading to poor physical and mental health. This study aims to expand evidence on the role of stress management in police forces. The study concerns a randomized control trial in a sample of police officers (N = 54) randomly separated into intervention and control groups. The intervention group (N = 27) underwent Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention (PSAI), a novel 8-week non-pharmaceutical self-referring intervention, whereas the control group completed self-reported questionnaires that were used pre- and post-intervention in both groups. The majority of participants were males in their mid-30s, with tertiary education, married, and had been working in police forces for more than a decade; more than half were shift workers. Statistical analyses revealed beneficial changes in the intervention group for the variables anger in, negative affect, cognitive speed and verbal memory compared with the control group. We aspire to the introduction of PSAI as a method that have beneficial effects on police stress, cognitive amelioration and management of negative feelings and anger.
Effects of scent lure on camera trap detections vary across mammalian predator and prey species

Camera traps are a unique survey tool used to monitor a wide variety of mammal species. Camera trap (CT) data can be used to estimate animal distribution, density, and behaviour. Attractants, such as scent lures, are often used in an effort to increase CT detections; however, the degree which the effects of attractants vary across species is not well understood. We investigated the effects of scent lure on mammal detections by comparing detection rates between 404 lured and 440 unlured CT stations sampled in Alberta, Canada over 120 day survey periods between February and August in 2015 and 2016. We used zero-inflated negative binomial generalized linear mixed models to test the effect of lure on detection rates for a) all mammals, b) six functional groups (all predator species, all prey, large carnivores, small carnivores, small mammals, ungulates), and c) four varied species of management interest (fisher, Pekania pennanti; gray wolf, Canis lupus; moose, Alces alces; and Richardson’s ground squirrel; Urocitellus richardsonii). Mammals were detected at 800 of the 844 CTs, with nearly equal numbers of total detections at CTs with (7110) and without (7530) lure, and variable effects of lure on groups and individual species. Scent lure significantly increased detections of predators as a group, including large and small carnivore sub-groups and fisher specifically, but not of gray wolf. There was no effect of scent lure on detections of prey species, including the small mammal and ungulate sub-groups and moose and Richardson’s ground squirrel specifically. We recommend that researchers explicitly consider the variable effects of scent lure on CT detections across species when designing, interpreting, or comparing multi-species surveys. Additional research is needed to further quantify variation in species responses to scent lures and other attractants, and to elucidate the effect of attractants on community-level inferences from camera trap surveys.
Effective shear augmented dispersion of solutes during nanoparticle assisted drug delivery in a microvessel

The characteristics of shear augmented dispersion of solutes in blood flow are associated with conventional drug delivery systems. We investigate the dispersion characteristics of nanovectors due to the drug delivery procedure in a microvessel. The dispersion characteristics is based on the Taylor’s theory of shear dispersion where both molecular diffusion and convection take place. The rotation and aggregation nature of the red blood cells cause a two-phase flow nature at the microvessel for small radius of 50 μm which is modeled as yield-stress-based Herschel–Bulkley fluid. While the fluid of the no-particles zone at the peripheral region is considered as Newtonian fluid. Blood (mainly plasma) flow through the peripheral layer is documented by Darcy–Brinkman model. The permeability of the inner surface of the microvessel is subjected to a slip condition at the surface. It is observed that the slip constant, power-law index of Herschel–Bulkley fluid, rheological parameter, pressure gradient, yield stress and nanoparticle volume fraction are significantly related with velocity and dispersion coefficient. It is observed that yield stress and power-law index increase the velocity as well as effective dispersion coefficient at the plug region, while the permeability of the peripheral layer restricts the total effective dispersion coefficient.
A cohort study of factors influencing breastfeeding in regional Western Australia

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 7 LIST OF INCLUDED PUBLICATIONS . 9 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS . 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS . 13 LIST OF FIGURES . 15 LIST OF TABLES . 16 Chapter 1 Introduction . 17 1.1 Statement of the Problem . 17 1.2 Study Aims and Objectives . 17 1.3 Study Design . 18 1.4 Definition of Terms . 19 1.5 Abbreviations . 20 1.6 Significance of the Study . 21 1.7 Limitations of the Study . 22 1.8 Organisation of Thesis . 22 Chapter 2 Literature Review . 25 2.
Our Children, Our Impact: Analyzing Student Stressors and the Impacts on Academic Achievement Outcomes for Students at Community Partnership Schools

Violence, substance abuse, homelessness, physical and mental abuse, neglect, medical concerns, secondary caregiving, and hunger are all challenging obstacles that can alter the life of a student. Social environments play a larger role than previously accepted in typical and atypical development. While learning requires a biological base, it can be greatly diminished and increased by social conditions (Haight & Taylor, 2013). Stressful environments with a lack of quality caregiving, chronic toxic stress, and genetics can lead to neurological compromise (McEwen & Gianaros, 2010). The stress of living in poverty, can affect brain development. Eric Jensen (2009) examines the ways in which poverty harms children, families, and communities across the United States and demonstrates pro-social frameworks that schools can utilize to improve the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students. This research study aims to shed light on Community Schools as an answer to narrowing the achievement gap by mitigating students' external environmental stressors. Survey and interview research were conducted with the school’s administration, staff, and community partners to explore the specific stressors faced by students, families, and the community, and their ability to meet the community’s needs with supportive services to ensure student success. Schools are understood to be institutions where inequality is reproduced and, simultaneously, where opportunity is produced (Downey & Condron, 2016). Across the United States several school districts designated schools to become a part of the community effort to act as a hub for local partners and community resources and to provide an environment for students and families to thrive. The setting of this single site case study takes place in Western Pennsylvania, in a local kindergarten to fifth grade Community Partnership School (CPS) that in the 2018-2019 school year held the largest number of students about 500 in Western Pennsylvania. This CPS is in a historically rich African American community, plagued by poverty with gentrification on the horizon. With the understanding that no two communities are the same, this CPS seeks to aid students and families with services that address poverty, adequate health care, exposure to violence and crime, exposure to drugs, abuse/neglect, and hunger/nutrition.
Interoperability enhancement of IoT devices using open web standards in a smart farming use case

Since its first appearance the Internet of Things has been subject to constant evolution, development and change. Now it has stepped out of its infancy with billions of devices embedded in the world wide web. However, IoT providers mostly define their own data formats and protocols and there is still a lack of a common standard that connects these devices in an interoperable manner. There are several organisations dedicated to developing common standards for IoT devices and research is focusing on defining an effective standard to be used by embedded devices. Unsurprisingly, IoT has also found its way into the spatial web and into environmental monitoring and sensing platforms connected over the web by wireless sensor networks are now a common way to monitor natural phenomena. This study compares three open Web Standards in the use case of SEnviro for Agriculture, a full stack IoT for monitoring vineyards. The interoperability potential of the OGC’s Sensor Observation Service and SensorThings API are evaluated by integrating Web Standard implementations for each standard and contrasting their qualitative and quantitative traits. In a further step the Mozilla Corporation’s Web Thing API was implemented and evaluated in an environmental monitoring and Smart Farming context. The results of the study show that the SensorThings API proves to be the most adequate Web Standard for SEnviro and IoT applications for environmental monitoring and Smart Farming in terms of interoperability. It outperforms the contesting Web Standards in terms of flexibility and scalability, which strongly impacts on developer and user experience.
Interacting roles of lateral and medial Orbitofrontal cortex in decision-making and learning : A system-level computational model

In the context of flexible and adaptive animal behavior, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is found to be one of the crucial regions in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) influencing the downstream processes of decision-making and learning in the sub-cortical regions. Although OFC has been implicated to be important in a variety of related behavioral processes, the exact mechanisms are unclear, through which the OFC encodes or processes information related to decision-making and learning. Here, we propose a systems-level view of the OFC, positioning it at the nexus of sub-cortical systems and other prefrontal regions. Particularly we focus on one of the most recent implications of neuroscientific evidences regarding the OFC - possible functional dissociation between two of its sub-regions : lateral and medial. We present a system-level computational model of decision-making and learning involving the two sub-regions taking into account their individual roles as commonly implicated in neuroscientific studies. We emphasize on the role of the interactions between the sub-regions within the OFC as well as the role of other sub-cortical structures which form a network with them. We leverage well-known computational architecture of thalamo-cortical basal ganglia loops, accounting for recent experimental findings on monkeys with lateral and medial OFC lesions, performing a 3-arm bandit task. First we replicate the seemingly dissociate effects of lesions to lateral and medial OFC during decision-making as a function of value-difference of the presented options. Further we demonstrate and argue that such an effect is not necessarily due to the dissociate roles of both the subregions, but rather a result of complex temporal dynamics between the interacting networks in which they are involved. Author summary We first highlight the role of the Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) in value-based decision making and goal-directed behavior in primates. We establish the position of OFC at the intersection of cortical mechanisms and thalamo-basal ganglial circuits. In order to understand possible mechanisms through which the OFC exerts emotional control over behavior, among several other possibilities, we consider the case of dissociate roles of two of its topographical subregions - lateral and medial parts of OFC. We gather predominant roles of each of these sub-regions as suggested by numerous experimental evidences in the form of a system-level computational model that is based on existing neuronal architectures. We argue that besides possible dissociation, there could be possible interaction of these sub-regions within themselves and through other sub-cortical structures, in distinct mechanisms of choice and learning. The computational framework described accounts for experimental data and can be extended to more comprehensive detail of representations required to understand the processes of decision-making, learning and the role of OFC and subsequently the regions of prefrontal cortex in general.