• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.201-207
• /
• 2007

Researchers have used a variety of methods to measure patterns of animal movement, including the use of spatial data (mapping the position of a moving animal at specified intervals) and direct estimation of travel path length by pacing under a moving animal or group. I collected movement data from five groups of siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) using two different methods concurrently to estimate the effects of the method of data collection on estimates of daily path length (DPL). Estimates of DPL produced from spatial data collected at 15-minute intervals were 12% lower than estimates of DPL produced by pacing under the traveling animal. The actual magnitude of the difference was correlated with the travel distance, but there was no correlation between the proportional difference and the travel distance. While the collection of spatial data is generally preferable, as spatial data permit additional analyses of patterns of movements in two or three dimensions, the relatively small difference between the DPL's produced using different methods suggests that pacing is an acceptable substitute where the collection of spatial data is impractical. I also subsampled the spatial data at increasing time intervals to assess the effect of sampling interval on the calculation of daily path lengths. Longer sampling intervals produced significantly shorter estimates of travel paths than shorter sampling intervals. These results suggest that spatial data should be collected at short time intervals wherever possible, and that sampling intervals should not exceed 30 minutes. Researchers should be cautious when comparing data generated using different methods.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.591-597
• /
• 2022

Objective: The sitting and standing are motions that correspond to the previous stage of rehabilitation to go to walking for daily life. The purpose of this study was to measure task times, path length of the center of pressure (COP) and activity on the vastus femoris muscle using surface electromyography (EMG) when standing up and sitting down. Design: One group cross-sectional design Methods: Fifteen elderly subjects (8 male, 7 female) participated. All subjects were tested three times according to four assist levels (non-assist, lower, middle, and maximal assist) using adjusts the length of spring at sit-to-stand and stand to sit on a chair. The task duration, and COP path length were recorded for the balance function on the Nintendo Wii fit board. The activity of the rectus femoris muscle was recorded on both legs using surface EMG. Results: The results showed that the task duration of the sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit were significantly increased compared to without assist (p<.05). The activation of the rectus femoris muscle more significantly decreased compared to without assistance at standing or sitting (p<.05). Conclusions: The assistive chair showed less quadriceps muscle activation during sitting and standing compared to without assistance. We suggest that our assist-standing chair can help with activities of daily living such as standing up and sitting down movements adjusting the spring length for control assist level by safely.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.135-139
• /
• 2002

By means of correlation analysis and path coefficient analysis, 18 characteristics of 325 conserved silkworm races were studied for the selecting efficiency on main silk quality characteristics. The result showed that selecting lines with heavier cocoon weight are beneficial to raise the weight of have. Choosing strains with higher cocoon shell percentage, longer filament length and better reelability percentage is good for increasing non-broken filament length. Selecting lines with medium daily weight of have produced in the fifth instar, medium cocoon shell percentage and simultaneously selecting heavier cocoon shell weight are favorable to promote reelability percentage. Choosing strains with heavier cocoon weight, higher cocoon shell percentage, heavier daily weight of bave produced in the fifth instar and heavier weight of bave but shorter filament length may hopefully breed out a race with thick filament size. And selecting strains with heavier weight of have and fine filament size are beneficial to increase filament length. Selecting lines with higher cocoon shell percentage and heavier weight of bave are favorable to raise raw silk percentage of cocoon. There are no significant direct or indirect correlation coefficient between viability and major characteristics of silk quality. It is, therefore, feasible to breed a silkworm race with excellent vitality and good silk quality as well.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.43-52
• /
• 2019

Background: The mid-term performance of clinical linear accelerator (LINAC) during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment period is not performed in clinical practice and usually replaced with one-time plan quality assurance (QA). In this research we aim to monitor daily reproducibility of VMAT delivery from tracking individual leaf movement error and dosimetric error to evaluate the mid-term quality of the machine used. Materials and Methods: First, multileaf collimator (MLC) information was imported into MATLAB program to determine which of the MLC leaves in the leaf bank had the maximum RMS position error (maxRMS). We estimated where the maximum positional errors (maxPE) of the chosen leaf occur along its path length and tracked its daily variations over the entire treatment period. Secondly, picture information of dosimetric error from portal dosimetry was imported into MATLAB where representative high gamma index region (HGR) was determined as HGR with length of > 1 cm and their centers were daily tracked. Results and Discussion: The maxPEs in the brain and tongue cases were distributed broader than in other cases, but all data were found located within ${\pm}0.5mm$. From first day to last day all of five cases show the similar visual pattern of HGRs and Centers of the longest HGRs remained within ${\pm}1mm$ of that in first day. These findings prove excellent mid-term performance of the LINAC used in VMAT treatments over a full course of treatment. Conclusion: Tracking the daily location changes of leaf movement and dosimetric error can be a good indicator of predicting the daily quality like stability and reproducibility of beam delivering in VMAT treatment.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.10-17
• /
• 2020

Objective: Hallux valgus (HV) is a common musculoskeletal deformity that is accompanied with pain and continues to decrease one's quality of life and ability to perform daily life activities by affecting gait and static stability. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the angle of HV (HVA) and to compare the one-legged stance and gait parameters in young adults with less HV and severe HV. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty young adults were divided into two groups, where HVA ≥15° (n=20) was defined as HV, and HVA <15° (n=20) was defined as normal. For balance ability, the center of pressure (COP) path, velocity, length of axis of the COP path, deviation of the x-axis and y-axis, and percentage of foot pressure were measured, and gait, the foot rotation angle, step length, percentage of each phase of the gait cycle, time change from the heel to forefoot, and maximum pressure of the forefoot and midfoot were measured. Results: Significant differences were found in sway length and time change from heel to forefoot during walking between the normal and HV groups (p<0.05). Most parameters were not associated with the HVA, but parameters such as length of axis and time to change from heel to forefoot were significantly associated with the HVA (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that most one-legged stance and gait parameters were not significantly affected by the HVA in young adults; therefore, future studies are needed in order to address other dynamic parameters and other methods of gait analysis for detecting clinically meaningful conditions.