Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Whole-body Vibration on Muscle Tone, Function, and Quality of Life in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common nonprogressive neurological condition. One of the important signs of CP is the spasticity which can be treated by different methods. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is an example of these treatments. However, its efficacy needs to be accurately studied. This study investigates the effects of WBV on muscle tone, function, and quality of life in children with spastic CP. Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. We searched the literature using the following electronic databases: Scopus (via Science Direct), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (EBSCO), PubMed, and PEDro and included articles from the year of their inception up to September 2023. The included articles were randomized controlled trials that used WBV on patients with spastic CP in which the outcomes were spasticity, function, and quality of life. Two reviewers independently selected the included trials. The pooled mean differences (PMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the Rev Man software. Ten trials involving 206 CP patients were included in this meta-analysis. All trials were of fair to good methodological quality as per the PEDro scale. Five trials compared the effect of adding WBV to standard physical therapy compared to standard physical therapy alone on motor function measured by Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) with both domains D and E. The current meta-analysis showed that the standard physical therapy treatment was statistically significantly better than WBV plus standard physical therapy on both D values (z = 2.39, P = 0.02, PMD = 3.02, CI: 0.54, 5.49) and E values (z = 3.04, P = 0.002, PMD = 4.06, CI: 1.44, 6.68). Adding WBV to the standard physical therapy was not superior to standard physical therapy alone in favor of gross motor function in patients with CP. However, it remains imperative to conduct high-quality research examining the effectiveness of whole-body vibration on children diagnosed with spastic CP exhibiting motor dysfunction and evaluating its impact on their quality of life.
Biotope Mapping and Evaluation in Gangseo-Gu of Busan Metropolitan City

The purpose of this study is to identify land use types and to develop and evaluate biotope maps for Gangseo-Gu (ward) in Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea, using the Degree of Hemeroby. Hemeroby is a measurement concept or tool to assess the magnitude of human impact on ecosystems. Gangseo-Gu is the second largest Gu in Busan and is under strong development pressure. Before the field survey, biotopes were pre-classified based on digital maps, aerial photos and high-resolution satellite images. The method employed in biotope survey and mapping was adopted from the modified method used in Seoul, which carried out the first biotope mapping in Korea in 2000. In the field survey, a comprehensive biotope mapping method was used. The results showed that the total surface area of biotopes in Gangseo-gu was (42,655 acres) and there were 29 biotope types with 13,631 polygons. The ratio of urban or built-up area 22.6% and the remaining areas were forest and open spaces, of which 22.6% were actual forest areas and 35.6% were paddy fields and other field areas. The Hemeroby Index of Gangseo-gu was 54.7, which suggests that Gangseo-gu has not yet been developed extensively and needs a long-term conservation and coordinated development plan.
A review of the basal tyrannosauroids (Saurischia: Theropoda) of the Jurassic Period

The well supported clade Tyrannosauroidea represents one of the most basal coelurosaurian theropods. Given that current fossil records of earliest coelurosaur theropods are extremely scarce, basal-most tyrannosauroid materials are key to understanding the origin and diversification of coelurosaurs. Here, I present a brief overview of currently known basal tyrannosauroids of Jurassic age, discussing their systematics and distribution. The currently oldest known Jurassic tyrannosauroids are from Europe continent, possibly suggesting the European origin of the superfamily.
Thoracolumbar/Lumbar Degenerative Kyphosis—The Importance of Thoracolumbar Junction in Sagittal Alignment and Balance

Purpose: To conduct a more comprehensive study of sagittal alignment in patients with thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) degenerative kyphosis. Methods: A total of 133 consecutive patients from September 2016 to March 2019 with degenerative spinal kyphosis were enrolled. These patients were divided into different types according to sagittal alignment, including thoracolumbar junctional kyphosis (TLJK). Then, we divided the patients with TLJK into two groups: the Sagittal Balance group (C7-SVA < 50 mm) and the Sagittal Imbalance group (C7-SVA ≥ 50 mm). The sagittal parameters of each type or group were compared and correlation analysis was conducted. Results: Thoracolumbar/lumbar degenerative kyphosis consists of four types: Type I, lumbar kyphosis; Type II, degenerative flat back; Type III, thoracolumbar junctional kyphosis; and Type IV, global kyphosis. According to different sagittal alignments, Type III can further be divided into three subtypes: IIIA, with smooth kyphosis of thoracic and upper lumbar; IIIB, like a clasp knife, with a flat thoracic and lumbar angle; and IIIC, with bigger thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. The thoracolumbar kyphosis angle (°) of the three subtypes were −23.61 ± 5.37, −25.40 ± 7.71, and −40.01 ± 8.40, respectively. Lumbar lordosis was correlated with thoracic kyphosis (IIIA, r = −0.600, p = 0.005; IIIB, r = −0.312, p = 0.046; IIIC, r = −0.657, p = 0.015), and correlated with sacral slope (IIIA, r = 0.537, p = 0.015; IIIB, r = 0.654, p = 0.000; IIIC, r = 0.578, p = 0.039). All spinopelvic parameters were compared between the Sagittal Balance group and the Sagittal Imbalance group, and only the thoracolumbar kyphosis angle showed statistical difference (t = −2.247, p = 0.028). Conclusions: The common characteristics of thoracolumbar junctional kyphosis were found to be a bigger thoracolumbar junctional angle and vertex of kyphosis located in the thoracolumbar junction (T10-L2). Despite TLJK, a change in the thoracic angle was still important to maintain sagittal balance. The thoracolumbar junction plays an important role in sagittal alignment and balance.
Attitude of communities toward rural tourism development

The rapid development of the tourism industry has detrimental impacts to the environment especially in the depletion of natural resources and the degradation of the eco-system. Hence, the potential hostile responses expected from the local communities would negatively affect any rural tourism development, if equilibrium between benefits and negative effects of the development are not properly achieved. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the perceptions of rural tourism communities and their aspiration towards tourism development from five main environmental perspectives, namely destination environment, communities' satisfaction, environmental management practices, influence of environmental resources, and communities' attitudes at rural destinations in Malaysia. One hundred and eighty-two respondents comprising of residents of rural tourism in Malaysia took part voluntarily in this study. Interestingly, the findings revealed that local communities' satisfactions and influence of resources at the rural destinations were of the most concerned to the local communities with regards to their future aspirations towards tourism development.
Performance of rainfed Argentine rape (Brassica napus) under dates of sowing and row spacing in the mid-hills of north-western Himalayas

A 2-year field experiment conducted during the winterseasons of 1988-89 and 1989-90 indicated that sowing of Argentine rape (Bmvsica napus L.) under rainfed condition in October considerably increased productivity in mid-hills of north-western Himalayas. Sowing in November with daily mean temperature around 13.1C reduced the yield by 38% compared with the sowing in October with daily mean temperature of 16.1C. The intec-row spacing from 30 to 45 cm did not affect growth, yield attribuks and seed yield.
Cianobacterias y cianotoxinas en ecosistemas límnicos de Uruguay

Cyanobacterial blooms are a worldwide environmental problem. This phenomenon is typically associated with eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) and changes in hydrology. In this study we analysed the distribution of planktonic cyanobacteria in Uruguay and their toxins (microcystin, saxitoxin and cylindrospermopsin), working with a interagency team (OSE, DINAMA, IM, University of the Republic and IIBCE). A historical data base (n = 3061 for 64 ecosystems, years 1980-2014) was generated. Differences between lotic and lentic ecosystems were found in terms of chlorophyll a nutrient concentrations, usually indicating eutrophication. Two geo-referenced maps for the country were generated with cyanobacteria biomass indicators and the most relevant toxin (microcystin), according to risk levels suggested by the World Health Organization for recreational waters. The areas of greatest risk of exposure were the reservoirs of large rivers (Uruguay and Rio Negro) and Rio de la Plata beaches. In the second part of the study, up to 20 mg L -1 of microcystin was quantified in bloom (scum) samples, as well as the
Seasonal Changes in Nycthemeral Availability of Sympatric Temperate Mixed Forest Rodents: The Predators’ Perspective

(1) Background: Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) and Apodemus mice are of exceptional importance as prey for predators in temperate mixed forests. We hypothesized that overall prey availability would increase linearly with prey frequency, and that the daylight hours, which are considered particularly dangerous, would be used only during seasonal rodent population peaks and only in the twilight hours. (2) Methods: We conducted a two-year camera-trapping study in an inner alpine mixed forest and collected 19,138 1 min videos in 215 camera-trap nights. Prey availability was defined as the pseudo-replication-limited maximum number of the respective rodent taxon per 30 min period, summed per season. (3) Results: Overall prey availability increased with frequency, i.e., the maximum number of rodent individuals per camera-trap night. Seasonally, Apodemus mice were particularly available to predators in the summer and bank voles in the autumn after a tree mast year. In both cases, this was accompanied by a significant increase in diurnal availability. During the population peak of Apodemus mice, the nocturnal availability of bank voles decreased without a concurrent increase in absolute diurnal availability, even though the significant relative shift to diurnal activity superficially suggested this. Bank voles were active throughout the day, while Apodemus mice were nocturnal and (rarely) crepuscular. (4) Conclusions: Availability of rodents to predators, especially during daylight hours, was mainly dependent on their tree mast-induced increased frequencies. Bank voles likewise responded strongly to interspecific competition with the larger and aggressive Apodemus mice, which negatively affected availability to predators. At our seasonal level of evaluation, we conclude that nycthemeral availability of forest-dwelling rodents to generalist predators of temperate mixed forests is predominantly driven by bottom-up mechanisms.
Role of African–Eurasian plate setting in the felt areas of intermediate‐depth earthquakes: an investigation using crowdsourced data

Greek intermediate‐depth earthquakes, occurring in the subducted plate of the Hellenic Arc, are felt at greater distances than expected, reaching Italy in some cases. We study in detail macroseismic intensity data from intermediate‐depth Italian and Greek earthquakes collected from Internet users who felt the shaking in Italy. The huge amount of data allowed us to outline the felt/not‐felt limit and to find a correspondence between attenuation areas and the presence of asthenospheric material at shallow depths. We show that plate boundaries, known to produce the majority of earthquakes, are, in some specific cases, the boundaries of areas in which earthquakes are felt. The Ionian subducted lithosphere propagates seismic waves with low attenuation over large distances, whereas high‐attenuation zones in Italy, linked to asthenospheric upwelling, limit the propagation, as evidenced also by PGA values. We identify a typical pattern that can be used to recognize intermediate‐depth earthquakes, and to properly locate historical events.
From Text to Insights: NLP-Driven Classification of Infectious Diseases Based on Ecological Risk Factors

Numerous factors can affect the development of infectious diseases that emerge. While many are the result of natural procedures, such as the gradual emergence of viruses over time, certain ones are the result of human activity. Human activities form an integral part of our ecosystem, and especially the ecological aspect of human activities can encourage disease transmission. Additionally, Health ecologists examine changes in the biological, physical, social, and economic settings to understand how these alterations impact the mental and physical well-being of individuals. Hence, this research adopts a Framework-Based Method (FBM) in carrying out the task of classification of infectious diseases. The Framework-Based Method outlines all phases that this research follows to carry out the infectious disease classification process, providing a structured and reproducible approach. Results show that: XGB: Confusion matrix accuracy: 76%, Kappa: 73%, RF: Confusion matrix accuracy: 65%, Kappa: 60%, SVM: Confusion matrix accuracy: 63%, Kappa: 58%, ANN: Confusion matrix accuracy: 71%, Kappa: 67%, LDA: Confusion matrix accuracy: 76%, Kappa: 73%, GBM: Confusion matrix accuracy: 60%, Kappa: 53%, KNN: Confusion matrix accuracy: 43%, Kappa: 34%, and DT: Confusion matrix accuracy: 37%, Kappa: 29%. Furthermore, a Deep Learning model BERT was integrated with the best classification model XGBoots to create an interactive interface for users to carry out infectious disease classification. This integration enhances user experience and accessibility, contributing to the practical application of machine learning and Natural language processing in ecological disease classification
3-D-Printing and Reliability Evaluation of an Easy-to-Fabricate Position Sensing System for Printed Functional Wearable Assistive Devices

The aging population has increased the demand for advanced medical assistive devices with actuators and sensors to enhance independence in daily activities. However, the integration of sensors into rehabilitation devices in a direct and cost-effective manner remains a challenge. This study proposes a scalable linear encoder, fabricated using 3-D-printing technology. The encoder is a fully printed concept, including the electrical circuitry, and is benchmarked in a sensorized hand orthosis (sHO). It is constructed using two commercially available materials: one electrically conductive and one nonconductive. The encoder utilizes an encoder setup with a fixed scale and a sliding sensing head (SH). Encoder’s resolution and robustness are tested under various conditions, including actuation speeds, temperatures, printing repeatability, and fatigue. The results demonstrate the stable operation of the encoder, providing a resolution of 1.2 mm. The sHO incorporates three encoders with geometric shifts, along with a printed electrical circuit and inserted microcontroller for detecting finger flexion and movement direction. This setup further improves the resolution to 0.4 mm. The proposed linear encoder offers an effective and inexpensive approach for integrating sensors into medical assistive devices.
IMPLEMENTASI KEARIFAN LOKAL BATANG HARING MELALUI UPACARA RITUAL TIWAH YANG MEMBANGUN KEUNGGULAN KOMPETITIF DESTINASI PARIWISATA DI KALIMANTAN TENGAH

AbstrakPenelitian ini merupakan studi etnografi yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui dan menganalisis nilai-nilai yang terkandung dalam upacara ritual Tiwah sebagai implementasi dari kearifan lokal Batang Haring. Selain itu, mengkaji perannya sebagai implementasi strategi diferensiasi yang menciptakan produk daya tarik wisata yang memiliki keunikan sehingga dapat membangun keunggulan kompetitif destinasi pariwisata di Kalimantan Tengah. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan teknik triangulasi, yaitu penggabungan data observasi (partisipatif, terus terang, dan tersamar), wawancara (semi tersruktur, mendalam dan alamiah, serta dalam suasana yang tidak formal), serta dokumentasi. Data tersebut bersumber dari situasi sosial yang ada di Kalimantan Tengah melalui aktivitas kearifan lokal upacara ritual Tiwah yang dilakukan masyarakatnya. Data yang terkumpul, berupa catatan etnografi dari informan, dianalisis dengan menggunakan empat tahapan, yaitu analisis wawancara etnografi, analisis domain, analisis taksonomi, analisis komponen, serta penarikan kesimpulan guna menjawab tujuan penelitian. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa implementasi nilai-nilai kearifan lokal Batang Haring dalam upacara ritual Tiwah mampu menghasilkan sebuah keunikan yang berbeda, sehingga dapat dimanfaatkan dan dikembangkan sebagai daya tarik wisata berkonsep budaya. Berbagai artifak yang muncul melalui upacara ritual tersebut (sakral maupun propan) dapat dijadikan simbol keunikan Kalimantan Tengah. Keunikan dalam pelaksanaannya tidak hanya akan dapat menciptakan diferensiasi dengan daerah-daerah lainnya, tetapi juga akan mampu menjadi daya tarik bagi wisatawan karena menciptakan kesan kuat terhadap pelestarian budaya warisan leluhur yang penuh kedamaian. Diharapkan melalui pemanfaatan nilai-nilai kearifan lokal tersebut, selain sebagai bentuk pelestarian budaya, mampu mengembangkan destinasi pariwisata Kalimantan Tengah yang berkompetitif dan berkelanjutan.Kata kunci: Batang Haring; Dayak-Kaharingan; Kalimantan Tengah; Kearifan Lokal; Tiwah
Integrated Super Planar Inductor-Rectifier Design for EV Drive

Power Density and cost are the key design criteria for the modern power electronics unit in Electric Vehicles (EVs). EVs widely adopt inductive wireless charging technology, which contains the receiving coil and the AC-DC converter on the vehicle side. However, the vertical space on the chassis for charging electronics is very limited. Moreover, with a non-compact package comes a high damaging probability due to unpredictable road conditions, higher costs, and vehicle integration issues. This research presents the concept of distributed planar magnetics with the integrated rectifier hardware design for the vehicle side charging electronics by combining the concept of planar-distributed magnetics with the design space optimization research. A planar-distributed inductor module consisting of 16 EI cores with PCB-embedded windings was designed, modeled (using a novel high-fidelity model), and fabricated using the design space optimization technique, which resulted in a 66% increase in the power density. This research treated and solved the power density problem as an optimization problem considering every constraint involved and presented a thorough investigation from the design space utilization, power loss, loss and frequency relation along with the magnetostatic and electrostatic analysis perspective. It also provides a comparative study of various materials for the inductor fabrication keeping in view the automotive application environment. Moreover, a hybrid approach (metalcore and FR4) PCB was used instead of a regular FR4 PCB after an in-depth study and performance comparison.
Values and physical activity among sports science students in France and China: a transcultural analysis

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between values and physical activity in France (a Western European individualistic country) and in China (an East Asian collectivist country). Method Six hundred and twenty-seven sport science students in France (N = 308, Mage = 18.99, SD = 1.64) and China (N = 319, Mage = 20.44, SD = 1.09) completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire long version and the Portrait Values Questionnaire. Results In both France and China, moderated regression analysis revealed that hedonism positively/negatively predicted physical activity, while security-societal, security-personal, and conformity-rules values negatively predicted physical activity. In contrast, stimulation and universalism-nature values positively predicted physical activity only in France. In China, benevolence and benevolence-care positively predicted physical activity, while power dominance negatively predicted physical activity. Additionally, we found evidence of measurement invariance of the value questionnaire. Discussion and conclusion Our findings add to the literature by showing that the value–behavior link is partly the same across countries and partly different. Further, our findings show that for certain populations, the previously established hierarchy of human values does not replicate.
The Learning Region: Institutions, Innovation and Regional Renewal

The aim of this book is to present a much-needed conceptualization of ‘the learning region’. The editors scrutinize key concepts and issues surrounding this phenomenon, which are then discussed in the context of recent literature. This unique conceptualization of the learning region presents a state of the art exploration of theories. Leading scholars from across Europe, the USA and South Africa draw upon various disciplines to explain how regional actors perform regional learning.
Making quadratic functions interesting: Students teams-achievement division instructional strategy

Algebra plays a central role in school mathematics as it is a critical factor for success in mathematics courses such as calculus and geometry. This investigation aimed to establish the effectiveness of students teams-achievement division (STAD) strategy on students’ academic achievement in algebra, Lagos State, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental model was employed for the study, which lasted for six weeks. Two secondary schools were chosen randomly and divided into experimental and control groups. The sample comprised 136 students (61 students in control group and 75 students in experimental group) from Ikorodu City, Lagos State, Nigeria. The quadratic functions assessment test, four questions (each with four items) with appropriate validation, served as the tool for data collection. Reliability was attained using the test-re-test method, with Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis yielding a reliability index of 0.86. Three hypotheses were generated and analyzed using analysis of covariance at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that students exposed to STAD had enhanced performance in algebra. Likewise, gender did not impact the achievement of the participants in algebra. It was recommended that the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council arrange workshops, training, and seminars on incorporating learner-friendly instructional strategies such as STAD.