Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Visual Acuity and Automated Perimetry Findings in Patients With Neuromyelitis Optica or Multiple Sclerosis After Single or Multiple Attacks of Optic Neuritis

Objective: To review the clinical characteristics of patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and to compare their visual outcome with those of patients with optic neuritis (ON) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Thirty-three patients with NMO underwent neuro-ophthalmic evaluation, including automated perimetry along with 30 patients with MS. Visual function in both groups was compared overall and specifically for eyes after a single episode of ON. Results: Visual function and average visual field (VF) mean deviation were significantly worse in eyes of patients with NMO. After a single episode of ON, the VF was normal in only 2 of 36 eyes of patients with NMO compared to 17 of 35 eyes with MS (P < 0.001). The statistical analysis indicated that after a single episode of ON, the odds ratio for having NMO was 6.0 (confidence interval [CI]: 1.6–21.9) when VF mean deviation was worse than -20.0 dB while the odds ratio for having MS was 16.0 (CI: 3.6–68.7) when better than -3.0 dB. Conclusion: Visual outcome was significantly worse in NMO than in MS. After a single episode of ON, suspicion of NMO should be raised in the presence of severe residual VF deficit with automated perimetry and lowered in the case of complete VF recovery.
The Impact of School-Based Financial Education on High School Students and their Teachers : Experimental Evidence from Peru

Using data from a randomized controlled trial in 300 public high schools in Peru, this paper studies the potential of school-based financial education programs for youth. The intervention improves students’ and teachers’ financial knowledge by 0.14 SD and 0.32 SD, respectively. The impact of the intervention also extends to socioemotional traits and behavior, as sizable positive impacts on self-control and consumption habits among students are identified. Teachers in the treatment group become more impulsive and risk averse, and they are more likely to save (9 percentage points) and to save formally (14 percentage points).
Withholding antibiotic treatment in pneumonia patients with dementia: a quantitative observational study.

BACKGROUND Pneumonia is a life-threatening disease in nursing home patients with dementia. Physicians and families face choices about whether to withhold antibiotics when patients are expected to die soon or when treatment may be burdensome. However, little information exists on what factors influence this complex decision-making process. OBJECTIVE To identify factors associated with decisions on whether to withhold curative antibiotic treatment in patients with dementia who have pneumonia. METHODS We performed an observational cohort study with 3-month monitoring for cure and death. Patients with pneumonia (N = 706) were enrolled in nursing home units for patients with dementia from all over the Netherlands (61 nursing homes). Characteristics of patients, physicians, and facilities were related to the outcome of withholding antibiotic treatment. RESULTS In 23% of the patients, antibiotic treatment was withheld. The other patients received antibiotics with palliative (8%) or curative (69%) intent. Compared with the patients who received antibiotics with curative intent, patients in whom antibiotic treatment was withheld had more severe dementia, had more severe pneumonia, had lower food and fluid intake, and were more often dehydrated. In addition, withholding antibiotics occurred more often in the summer and in patients with an initial episode of pneumonia. Characteristics of facilities and physicians were unrelated to the decision. However, considerable variation occurred in how patient age, aspiration, and history of pneumonia were related to decision making by individual physicians. CONCLUSIONS In the Netherlands, antibiotic treatment is commonly withheld in pneumonia patients with severe dementia who are especially frail. Understanding the circumstances in which this occurs can illuminate the international discussion of appropriate dementia care.
Influence of Contractors’ Financial Capacity on Performance of Road Construction in Kakamega County

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of contractors’ financial capacity on performance of road construction projects in Kakamega County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were: To establish the influence of contractors’ financial capacity on performance of road construction. The study adopted descriptive survey design and the sample size of 135 (102 contractors and 33 supervising engineers) were obtained from a population of 203 employees using the Yamane (1967) formula. Stratified random sampling was applied in selecting the respondents. Data was collected through questionnaires and interview schedule and was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and thematic were applied to analyze data. Descriptive statistics utilized mean and standard deviation. Content validity was used to test validity and was subjected to scrutiny by the research supervisor and discussing with lecturers. Test-retest was used to establish the level of reliability of the research tools by administering questionnaires were administered to a sample of 10 respondents (7 road contractors and 3 supervising engineers) through dividing the sample randomly into halves in different occasions. Cronbach’s Alpha was used to test reliability which revealed that the alpha coefficient of 0.754; hence reliable. Tables were used to present qualitative data while themes were used present qualitative data. Inferential statistics was used to explore the nexus between the independent variable and the dependent variables. To ensure that project financing does not affect successful completion and performance of road construction project the researcher recommended that enough finances should be set aside for the project before it commences. Highly qualified and experienced road contractors with a relevant experience and technical skills should be hired to implement road projects. In order to increase job-site productivity, it is beneficial to select equipment with the proper characteristics and a size most suitable for the work conditions at a construction site. Road contractors should frequently hold site meetings to help in timely completion of road projects. Road contractors should regularly attend training to enable them to acquire problem solving skills and techniques so as to improve quality management of road projects.
Industry 4.0: New Challenges and Opportunities for the Labour Market

The introductory article to the special issue “Labour Market in the Context of Technological Transformations” presents an overall picture of the latest technological trends altogether referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), their impact on the changing structure of the labour market, the demand for prospective skills, as well as emerging policy challenges. The author concludes that ensuring the resilience, adaptability and efficiency of labour markets are therefore not only a matter of addressing the skills needs of the Next Production Revolution, but also a prerequisite to social stability and cohesion.
Managing menopause: Current therapeutic options for vasomotor symptoms

enopause is an inevitable part of every woman’s life. Currently, 42 million women in the United States are over the age of 50 years and potentially menopausal. With the aging of the population, this number is expected to grow to 52 million by the year 2010. Physician familiarity with treatment options for symptoms associated with menopause will be a necessity. The definition of menopause is the permanent cessation of menses following the loss of ovarian activity. Menopause is a clinical diagnosis. In female patients in their mid-40s to mid50s, a lack of menses for 12 months confirms the diagnosis. Most often, menses do not end abruptly but rather become irregular (shortened cycles, skipped cycles, spotting) for 2 to 5 years preceding the menopause. This interval is known as the perimenopause. Managing Menopause: Current Therapeutic Options for Vasomotor Symptoms
"What else could he have done?" Creating false answers in child witnesses by inviting speculation.

In 2 experiments (N = 111 children), a suggestive technique for interviewing child witnesses called "inviting speculation" was examined. Children were presented with atypical actions for common objects in a clown show. One week later, the children were asked to speculate (e.g., "What else could he have done with the knife? ") in a between-subjects design on all or none of the items (Experiment 1) and in a within-subjects design on part of the items (Experiment 2), thereby getting highly probable speculations (e.g., "to cut"). After a 3-week delay, the experimenters found more highly probable but not more other false answers for the experimental items (Experiment 2). After a 5-6-month delay, the rate of (unspecified) false answers increased compared with the baseline (Experiments 1 and 2). The short-term effect is explained by a speculation-as-misinformation assumption, whereas the long-term effect is explained by the use of a metastrategy.
Temporal bisection in children.

Children aged 3, 5, and 8 years received training on a temporal bisection task, with standard short and long durations being presented as visual stimuli lasting 1 and 4 s or 2 and 8 s. Nonstandard comparison stimuli were spaced linearly between the standards. Psychophysical functions showed increasing proportions of "long" responses (responses appropriate to the long standard) with increasing stimulus duration, but were flatter in the younger children than in the 8-year-olds. Bisection points (the stimulus duration giving rise to 50% "long" responses) were close to the arithmetic mean of the short and long standards in most conditions. Statistical analyses and results from different theoretical models of the data all suggested that temporal sensitivity was higher in the 8-year-olds than in the younger groups, even when the possibility of random responding was controlled for.
MANIFOLDLY CONSTRAINED MONTE CARLO OPTIMIZATION AND UNCERTAINTY ESTIMATION FOR AN OPERATIONAL HYDROLOGIC FORECAST MODEL

River forecasts have two broad uncertainty classes: errors associated with meteorological forecasts, and those associated with the hydrologic model. We developed a technology (dubbed Absynthe) to address the latter error class in a practical and defensible way. The technique merges the proven, Monte Carlo-based Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) concept for model parameter identification with: (i) multiple performance goals defined by operational and physical considerations, including matching daily, seasonal, and annual flows as well as snowpack, as expressed via individual behavioural criteria and a net likelihood function; (ii) several moving (rank-based) constraints to assure non-pathological parameter sets, containing values that are physically plausible not only for each parameter individually but also collectively; and (iii) a hard constraint on snow-free elevation bands to force the surface meteorological component of the watershed model toward correct solutions. The result is an ensemble of parameter sets reflecting model uncertainty as captured in a loosely Bayesian framework. BC Hydro will combine these with ensemble NWP weather forecasts to generate uncertainty estimates for operational hydroelectric reservoir inflow forecasts.
Working Capital Management And Profitability:, Evidence From Jordanian Mining And Extraction Industry Sector

This paper sought to ascertain the existence of the relationship between the working capital management components )cash conversion cycle, receivables collection period, inventory conversion period, and the payment period) and corporate's profitability in the presence of two control variables (corporate's size and debt ratio), in the mining and extraction industry sector of the Jordanian economy. The study sample consists of 9 ASE listed corporations in this sector over a period of 17 years from 2000 to 2016, resulting in 153 firm-year observations. The study employed four model specifications in order to test the postulated hypotheses. Pearson’s correlation and Panel data methodology employed. The results from the random effect model are prolific enough to depict that there is a strong negative relationship between the components of the working capital management and the corporate's profitability. Similarly, there is a negative relationship between the debt ratio and the profitability of the firm. Finally, a positive relationship is observed between the corporate's size and profitability. The practical implications of this study are that the corporation manager in mining and extraction Industry Corporation must consider the importance of shortening length of working capital management and its components (especially inventory) to a minimum level in formulating their policies, in order to operate efficiently and effectively because the length of WCM is closely and significantly related to corporation profitability.
Organized interests and foreign-educated professionals: The case of the associations for physicians and nurses in Sweden

The role and importance of employee organizations (i.e., unions) on policies concerning international migration have been studied extensively for decades. However, we know very little about the strategies of the organized interests of health care professionals. This paper will contribute to previous research, both internationally and in the Swedish context, on issues concerning the (re-)action of professional organizations towards migration reforms that might endanger the profession's control over their segment of the labor market. Through a study of the associations representing the two largest licensed health care professions in Sweden – physicians and nurses – the study investigates if, and how, they try to limit the competition in the labor market against reforms that are promoting increased mobility and international migration. The conclusions are mixed, suggesting that the long-term goals of professional associations are more important than strategies that might reduce the competition of foreign-educated practitioners in the short run.
"Low-Income Men and Fathers' Influences on Children?"

Fathers represent an important resource for children, ideally investing the time, money and emotional support that contribute to healthy child development. Over the past four decades, two important—and related—changes have occurred within the post-industrial family, reflecting shifts in family gender roles as well as the division of household labor and market work. First, mothers are increasingly likely to be employed outside of the home, and second, fathers’ roles have expanded from primarily that of a “breadwinner,” who provides economic support, to include more caregiving. As noted in the prior chapter by Berger and Langton, fathering today often includes nurturing and caregiving; engaging in leisure and play activities; providing the child’s mother with emotional or practical support; providing moral guidance and discipline; ensuring the safety of the child; taking responsibility for coordinating the child’s care and activities; and connecting the child to his extended family, community members and other resources (Cabrera, Tamis-LeMonda, Bradley, Hofferth, and Lamb 2000; Marsiglio, Amato, Day, and Lamb 2000; Palkovitz 2002). With the broadening of paternal roles, there has been growing attention to how fathers affect children. Early research focused on the consequences of fathers’ absence for children’s wellbeing. More recent studies have focused on how father involvement may be associated with children’s wellbeing.
Determinant Quality Of Regional And Financial Statements (Study On Local Government Regency Of Lombok Timur)

This paper aims to test and evince from some previous researches : the influence of the SAP Application, the Regional Financial Information System and the Reconciliation of the Quality of Regional Financial Statements. This is an explanatory research with purposive sampling method of interpretation. Data analyzed method. Analyzed with SmartPLS 3.0, the results of this test showed that the Application of SAP and Regional Financial Information System has a positive and significant impact on the Quality of Regional Financial Reports. While different results show that Reconciliation is not significant affect the quality of financial statements. The results of these trials will then be re-examined in subsequent research with larger samples and Determinants of the quality of wider regional financial statements and their implications for decision making.
Repeatability and agreement of five imaging systems for measuring anterior segment parameters in healthy eyes

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the repeatability and agreement of five imaging devices, namely, the Pentacam (Oculus), Sirius (CSO), Orbscan IIz (Bausch and Lomb), Corvis (Oculus), and ultrasound pachymetry (UP, Tomey) in measuring steep keratometry (sKm), flat keratometry (fKm), central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) in healthy individuals. Design: This was prospective, comparative study. Subjects: Forty-six healthy Indian patients. Materials and Methods: Forty-six eyes of 46 healthy participants underwent three consecutive scans on each device by a single examiner. Within-subject standard deviation, test–retest repeatability (TRT), and coefficient of variation (COV) for assessing repeatability and Bland–Altman plots for the agreement between the mean measurements of each machine were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures: The repeatability and agreement between the five devices for the measurements of sKm, fKm, CCT, TCT, and ACD. Results: The TRT of sKm measurements ranged between 0.23 diopter (D) (with Pentacam) and 0.83 D (with Orbscan). The same of fKm, TCT, ACD, and CCT measurements ranged between 0.28 D (with Pentacam) and 0.74 D (with Sirius), 7.78 μm (Sirius) and 19.81 μm (Orbscan), 0.05 mm (Orbscan) and 0.07 (Sirius), and 7.36 μm (Sirius) and 18.02 μm (Orbscan), respectively. The TRT of sKm and fKm measurements with Pentacam was significantly lower than those with Orbscan and Sirius. The TRT of TCT measurement with Sirius was significantly lower than that with Pentacam (4.53 μm) and Orbscan (7.15 μm). There were statistically significant differences in the mean measurements of all parameters between the devices. The 95% limit of agreement on the Bland–Altman analysis was wide for the measurement pairs with all the devices. Significant proportional bias in the agreement was detected for TCT measurements with all the device pairs and for the ACD measurements between Sirius and Pentacam. Conclusions: The repeatability estimates of sKm, fKm, TCT, ACD, and CCT measurements with Pentacam, Orbscan, Sirius, Corvis, and UP in Indian eyes were good. However, the differences in the measurements between the devices were statistically significant and the same cannot be used interchangeably for anterior segments measurements.
Sponsees: the silent side of sponsorship research

To date the vast majority of sponsorship research has focused on the perspective of sponsors. The purpose of this paper is to use this research to identify factors that sponsored institutions and organizations (sponsees) should be cognizant of before entering into a sponsorship arrangement, and to propose a research agenda based on these factors. ,The authors leverage sponsorship research that has been published in business journals with an impact factor above 0.5 (Reuters, 2015). ,This paper argues that sponsees should be aware of the benefits that sponsorship brings to sponsors so that they can better appeal to potential sponsors. A sponsee also needs to be aware of the impact a sponsorship partnership may have on its own brand, image, and equity. ,This is a conceptual paper grounded in the literature that aims to stimulate further research in the domain of sponsorship and provide deeper understanding for sponsees. Empirical research addressing the research questions posed is required. ,In a holistic manner, this literature review offers insights into factors that sponsees should consider before entering a sponsorship relationship. ,Previous research in the sponsorship domain has focused primarily on dyadic sponsors. This paper considers sponsorship from the sponsee’s perspective.
An aggregation-removal model for the formation and size determination of post-synaptic scaffold domains

The formation and stability of synapses are key questions in neuroscience. Post-synaptic domains have been classically conceived as resulting from local insertion and turnover of proteins at the synapse. However, insertion is likely to occur outside the post-synaptic domains and advances in single-molecule imaging have shown that proteins diffuse in the plane of the membrane prior to their accumulation at synapses. We quantitatively investigated this scenario using computer simulations and mathematical analysis, taking for definiteness the specific case of inhibitory synapse components, i.e., the glycine receptor (GlyR) and the associated gephyrin scaffolding protein. The observed domain sizes of scaffold clusters can be explained by a dynamic balance between the aggregation of gephyrin proteins diffusing while bound to GlyR and their turnover at the neuron membrane. We also predict the existence of extrasynaptic clusters with a characteristic size distribution that significantly contribute to the size fluctuations of synaptic domains. New super-resolution data for gephyrin proteins established the existence of extrasynaptic clusters the sizes of which are consistent with the model predictions in a range of model parameters. At a general level, our results highlight aggregation with removal as a non-equilibrium phase separation which produces structures of tunable size.
Obesity in patients with major depression is related to bipolarity and mixed features: evidence from the BRIDGE‐II‐Mix study

The Bipolar Disorders: Improving Diagnosis, Guidance and Education (BRIDGE)‐II‐Mix study aimed to estimate the frequency of mixed states in patients with a major depressive episode (MDE) according to different definitions. The present post‐hoc analysis evaluated the association between obesity and the presence of mixed features and bipolarity.
Model Selection with BIC and ICL Criteria for Binned Data Clustering by Bin-EM-CEM Algorithms

Several clustering approaches are adapted to binned data in order to accelerate the clustering process or to deal with data of limited precision. Bin-EM-CEM algorithms of fourteen parsimonious Gaussian mixture models are developed. Each model performs differently according to its specific feature. Without knowing any information of the data, a criterion is considered to select the best model in order to obtain a good result. In this article, BIC and ICL criteria are adapted to binned data clustering to choose the bin-EM-CEM algorithm of the right model as well as the number of clusters. By different experiments on simulated data and real data, the performance of BIC and ICL criteria in model selection for binned data clustering are studied and compared on different aspects.
Re-Thinking the CSP-CFP Linkage: Analyzing the Mechanisms Involved in Translating Socially-Responsible Behavior to Financial Performance

In this paper, we re-examine the notion that socially-responsible behavior by firms will lead to increased financial performance. By identifying the underlying processes, institutional settings and actors involved, we present a framework that is more attentive to the multiplicity and conditionality of the mechanisms operating in the often-tenuous connection between firms’ social behavior and financial performance. Building and expanding upon existing analyses of the CSP-CFP linkage, our model helps explain the mixed results from a wide range of empirical studies which examine this link. It also provides a novel theoretical account to help guide future research that is more attentive to conditionalities and contextual contingencies.