Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Untapped regional integration potential: A global frontier analysis

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a novel approach to estimate untapped regional integration potential across geographical subregions of the world. We first construct an empirical production possibility frontier for regional integration outcomes based on two composite indices capturing enabling factors and achieved levels of regional integration outcomes across various domains. We then use non-parametric frontier analysis to rate the performance of subregions in terms of integration relative to their estimated potential. The obtained efficiency scores allow us to quantify and compare the empirical magnitudes of untapped integration potential across individual subregions. Our results suggest that, globally, subregional integration levels are currently at 60 percent of the estimated potential on average. Furthermore, there is large variation in integration outcomes, and subregions with large untapped integration potential are spread across all parts of the world. We also demonstrate how, from a policy perspective, the proposed method can be used for assessing achievements in targeting subregions with certain needs and characteristics, and guiding decisions about types of interventions that future programs aimed at fostering higher integration should prioritize in each subregion.
Current Management of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

lesions, historically detected after hemorrhage or seizures. With widespread use of neuroimaging nowadays, AVMs are increasingly diagnosed incidentally or after minor neurologic symptoms without hemorrhage. Thus, after fortuitous discovery of an otherwise asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic AVM, the treating physician is faced with the dilemma of submitting the patient to the risk of invasive treatment or submitting the patient to the small, defi nite risk of hemorrhage by leaving the AVM untreated. In this article, we review the current literature on the natural history of unruptured AVMs, the results of the ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformation) study, and the risks of current invasive treatment, and then provide our suggested treatment algorithm in such cases. Outcome After First Hemorrhage and Factors Predictive of Rupture When considering the risks of invasive treatment versus natural history, it is important to understand the clinical outcomes of patients after fi rst hemorrhage (the principal risk of conservative management). Single-center studies have reported that 72% of patients with AVM-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (AVM-ICH) experience good functional outcome [modifi ed Rankin Scale (mRS) score <2], and the AVM-ICH case fatality rate is 11% at 1 month. Outcomes in patients with AVM-ICH are more favorable than those in patients who suffer spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. However, recent population-based studies have demonstrated that the prognosis after AVM-ICH may not be as benign as some single-center studies had suggested, although it is better than that associated with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. In a Scottish, cooperative study (the Scottish Intracranial Vascular Malformation Study ([SIVMS]), 40% of patients who had a fi rst-ever hemorrhage from AVM rupture were dead or dependent (mRS score >3) at 1 year; and the case fatality rate was 11% at 1 month and 13% at 2 years. Case fatality was also age dependent,
Diagnostic and therapeutic studies on chronic diarrhea in dairy animals

The study was conducted to determine the etiology of chronic diarrhea in dairy animals. Seven causes of chronic diarrhea were established in dairy cattle and buffaloes. Balantidiasis in 37.6 per cent, dietary diarrhea in 9.9 per cent, chronic salmonellosis in 6.9 per cent cases of chronic diarrhea, secondary copper deficiency and amphistomiasis in 6.9 per cent, clinical Johne‘s disease in 3.9 per cent and chronic peritonitis in 2.97 per cent of dairy animals, manifest chronic diarrhea. The precise diagnosis could not be established in 24.50 per cent of animals. Lymphosarcoma was confirmed in one of the dairy cattle. Body condition score was associated to the etiology of chronic diarrhea. B. coli infected cattle and buffalo revealed cysts in 32.3 per cent cases while 5 per cent positive cases revealed both cysts and trophozoites. Mean cyst count was 2.73±0.91 hpf in diarrheic animals compared to 0.11±0.447 hpf in healthy animals. Clinical Johne‘s disease was confirmed in four animals. Hematological changes revealed anemia and neutrophilia with morphological changes suggestive of regenerative to degenerative left shift. High plasma phosphorus, hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia was seen in clinical Johne‘s disease. Salmonella isolates showed higher in-vitro sensitivity to enrofloxacin (87%), ciprofloxacin (87%), gentamicin (75%), and tetracycline (66.7 %) and were resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin. Mean cyst count reduction from 2.41±1.16 to 0.11±. 33 was observed in oral metronidazole treated group where as reduction of mean cyst count from 2.73±0.918 to 0.18±0.44 in intravenous metronidazole treated group. Recovery rate with oral and intravenous metronidazole was 42.1 and 63.1 per cent respectively. Recovery results in significant decrease in eiosionphil count and increase in total plasma protein in both oral and intravenous treatment groups. Complete recovery response approaches 60 per cent in balantidiasis affected adult dairy animals. Balantidiasis was the major cause of chronic diarrhea and intravenous administration of metronidazole was more effective than oral metronidazole.
USO DE SUBSTÂNCIAS PSICOATIVAS, ALTERAÇÕES VOCAIS E QUALIDADE DE VIDA EM USUÁRIOS DE DROGAS LÍCITAS E ILÍCITAS Substance use, vocal changes and quality of life in licit and illicit drug users

OBJETIVOS:investigar a qualidade de vida e voz, alem das principais alteracoes perceptivo-auditivas e as medidas acusticas jitter, shimmer e Glottal Noise Excitation em usuarios de substâncias psicoativas licitas e/ou ilicitas que buscaram um centro de tratamento para dependencia quimica.METODOS:estudo transversal. Os participantes responderam aos questionarios de Mensuracao de Qualidade de Vida em Voze World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Bref. Alem disso foi realizado, um registro vocal da vogal /a/ e de uma contagem de numeros de 1 a 20. Os registros vocais foram avaliados por meio da escala GRBAS-I (G - grau global da disfonia, R - rugosidade, B - soprosidade, A - astenia, S - tensao) e a analise acustica (jitter, shimmer, Glottal noise excitation) pelo software VoxMetria.RESULTADOS:avaliaram-se 29 protocolos e registros de voz; na amostra, 19 (65,5%) eram homens; a idade media da amostra foi de 37,8 anos. Os escores de ambos os questionarios nao apresentaram diferencas entre os usuarios de drogas licitas e os de drogas ilicitas. Na analise perceptiva por meio da GRBAS-I, eles mostraram predominância de alteracoes discretas e moderadas nos itens grau geral da disfonia, rugosidade e instabilidade para usuarias de drogas ilicitas. A medida acustica jitter e o shimmerestavam alterados para homens e mulheres, e o desvio padrao da frequencia fundamental tambem estava alterado.CONCLUSAO:alteracoes de qualidade de vida e voz foram identificadas em ambos os usuarios. A maioria dos usuarios apresentou alteracoes nas medidas de jittere shimmer.Usuarios de drogas ilicitas apresentaram mais alteracoes de Glottal Noise Excitation e desvio padrao da frequencia fundamental.
Perforated Gastric Metastasis From Neglected Breast Cancer: A Case Report

Gastric perforation from metastatic breast cancer is a rare complication that is difficult to treat. Herein, we report a case of an 81-year-old female patient with neglected invasive lobular breast cancer causing gastric perforation due to metastasis. She underwent palliative surgical intervention with partial gastric resection. After 6 months, she is doing well. J Med Cases. 2017;8(6):200-202 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2838w
Soil erosion risk assessment in the Umzintlava catchment (T32E), Eastern Cape, South Africa, using RUSLE and random forest algorithm

ABSTRACT The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), based on remotely sensed data, is an important tool for assessing erosion prone areas and serves as a guide towards soil conservation efforts. Besides being a crucial data source from which RUSLE parameters can be derived, remotely sensed data can also be used independently to delineate erosion features. This study aims to assess soil erosion risk in the Umzintlava catchment using two independent methods, i.e. RUSLE and Random Forest (RF), and explore the relationship between soil loss and erosion factors as represented by different RUSLE parameters. To achieve this, rainfall, soil, digital elevation, and satellite data were used. The results indicate that a considerable portion (>90%) of the catchment area is of ‘very low’ to ‘low’ erosion risk, while the remainder suffers ‘moderate’ to ‘extremely high’ erosion risk. Among erosion factors, the LS-factor (slope length and steepness) showed strong correlation with soil erosion (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.954). This suggests that areas with steep slopes are the most vulnerable to hillslope erosion, whereas gully erosion is prominent in areas with gentle to nearly flat slopes. The integration of RUSLE-derived soil loss and RF-derived erosion features successfully delineated the spatial patterns of soil erosion across the Umzintlava catchment, providing useful information on erosion risk at least costs. This information is instrumental in targeted management interventions to combat soil erosion within the catchment.
Knowledge of Nurses about Prevention of Patient Fall Risk in Inpatient Room of Private Hospital in Medan

Fall risk is an increase in susceptibility to falls, it can cause physical harm. Falls is an incident that causes a person suddenly lie downor accidentally sprawl on the floor. Providing safety to the patient is very important, and to realize patient’s safety especially to reduce injury from the effect of fall risk, the first step required is prevention based of knowledge. The study design was descriptive with Proportional random sampling technique. Research purposes to determine the level of nurses knowledge about prevention the risk of patients fall. An instrument used in this study is a questionnaire. The Population in this study were nurse workers in inpatient ward of Private Hospital in Medan. Samples were 150 nurse workers. The result showed that 57.3% respondents belong to the category of good level knowledge. The results of this study can be an input for the hospital to improving nurse knowledge through the procurement of seminars on prevention of risk patients fall.
Socially Assistive Robots for Older Adults and People with Autism: An Overview

Over one billion people in the world suffer from some form of disability. Nevertheless, according to the World Health Organization, people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to deficiencies in services, such as health care, rehabilitation, support, and assistance. In this sense, recent technological developments can mitigate these deficiencies, offering less-expensive assistive systems to meet users’ needs. This paper reviews and summarizes the research efforts toward the development of these kinds of systems, focusing on two social groups: older adults and children with autism.
Assessing malaria treatment and control at peer facilities in Malawi.

In Malawi a country of 10 million people 90 percent live in rural areas. Because malaria is transmitted by a mosquito vector rural communities are particularly affected. The Secretary of Health recently announced that on average Malawians spend at least $35 every year on malaria a significant amount where per capita income is below $200. A 1994 study found that overall direct expenditure on treatment of malaria among very low income household members surveyed was 28 percent of their annual income. Not only the poor but also the young carry a disproportionate share of the burden of malaria. At least 40 percent of all deaths of children under the age of two in Malawi result from malaria. To improve service delivery and quality for malaria the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) began the Blantyre Integrated Malaria Initiative (BIMI) in 1996 to pilot test methods in malaria prevention and treatment for pregnant women and children under five years of age. Blantyre a largely urban district with a population of nearly 500000 was chosen as the launch site for the initiative. The BIMI built on prior malaria control work in the country and on new national malaria guidelines developed by the MOHP’s National Malaria Control Programme as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) algorithm for management of the ill child. The treatment standards had been disseminated to all providers in 1993 in the form of the Malawi National Malaria Guidelines the Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines and the Malawi Prescribers Companion. In January 1996 an advisory committee was formed to guide BIMI efforts. The committee was comprised of Blantyre’s District Health Management Team (DHMT) representatives from the National Malaria Control Committee the Regional Health Office the central teaching hospital’s Pediatric Malaria Research Project a private obstetrician and a staff member from Quality Assurance Project (QAP). The committee decided to carry out a baseline quality assessment of malaria services to get the information needed to design BIMI. Because the data would be used to plan changes for the district facilities the committee felt this was an excellent opportunity to build ownership of the assessment among facility staff. Thus staff from all district facilities participated in the training for implementation and the assessment. The 26 facilities covered by the assessment included 17 MOHP health clinics and dispensaries five local government maternities one private hospital and three mission facilities. (excerpt)
Does Operating Risk Affect Portfolio Risk? Evidence from Insurers' Securities Holding

This study empirically examines, in the setting of insurance companies, the hypothesis that investors facing more operating risk may behave as if they were more risk averse in investment decisions. Specifically, we study how operating risk from underwriting insurance policies affects insurers' risk taking behavior in their portfolio investments. We find that insurers with higher volatilities in underwriting incomes and cash flows are more conservative in their financial investment risk taking – they have lower credit risk exposure in their bond investments, as well as lower portfolio weights on risky bonds and equities. Further, insurers' portfolio risk exposure is sensitive to the risk of permanent underwriting income shocks but insensitive to the risk of transitory shocks. Transitory operating risk, however, is significantly related to portfolio risk when insurers face tight financing constraints. Our findings suggest a substitutive effect of operating risk on investment decisions by financial institutions.
POISSON MODELS WITH DYNAMIC RANDOM EFFECTS AND NONNEGATIVE CREDIBILITIES PER PERIOD

This paper provides a toolbox for the credibility analysis of frequency risks, with allowance for the seniority of claims and of risk exposure. We use Poisson models with dynamic and second-order stationary random effects that ensure nonnegative credibilities per period. We specify classes of autocovariance functions that are compatible with positive random effects and that entail nonnegative credibilities regardless of the risk exposure. Random effects with nonnegative generalized partial autocorrelations are shown to imply nonnegative credibilities. This holds for ARFIMA(0, d, 0) models. The AR(p) time series that ensure nonnegative credibilities are specified from their precision matrices. The compatibility of these semiparametric models with log-Gaussian random effects is verified. Gaussian sequences with ARFIMA(0, d, 0) specifications, which are then exponentiated entrywise, provide positive random effects that also imply nonnegative credibilities. Dynamic random effects applied to Poisson distributions are retained as products of two uncorrelated and positive components: the first is time-invariant, whereas the autocovariance function of the second vanishes at infinity and ensures nonnegative credibilities. The limit credibility is related to the three levels for the length of the memory in the random effects. The limit credibility is less than one in the short memory case, and a formula is provided.
Behavioral Interventions for Weight Management in Overweight and Obese Adolescents: A Comparison Between a Motivation-based Educational Program and Conventional Dietary Counseling

Objectives This study aimed to compare the effects of a three-month motivation-based educational program and conventional dietary counseling on body composition and relevant outcomes among overweight and Obese adolescents. Methods A total of 115 overweight and obese adolescents (46% boys) were randomly assigned to either a motivation-based program or a conventional dietary counseling. The assessments were conducted at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after intervention. Results Mean age and body mass index (BMI) Z-score were 14.5 ± 1.2 and 2.42 ± 0.62, respectively. Considering time trend analysis, the two groups achieved significant improvements in BMI Z-score, wrist and waist circumferences, body composition indices, and HRQoL total scores after a one-year follow-up. Wrist circumference and the HRQoL reported by parents revealed significant differences between the study groups in favor of the motivation-based program. Conclusions Although both programs could improve anthropometric indices and HRQoL over time, the motivation-based program was more effective in reducing adolescents’ wrist circumference and improving HRQoL, as the parents reported.
Renal Artery Stenosis: The Challenging in Diagnosis and Therapy

Hypertension is still the most prevalent of non-communicable diseases in Indonesia. Renovascular hypertension is one type of secondary hypertension. It is commonly caused by the presence of renal artery stenosis (RAS). Whereas, atherosclerosis (ARAS) and fibromuscular disease (FMD) are the most common causes of RAS. Early diagnosis is necessary because it has the potential to be cured by eliminating stenosis of the renal artery. However, the signs and symptoms of renovascular hypertension are not specific. The supporting examination to diagnose RAS is also expensive. So, screening in the population at risk is needed. The examinations to prove the presence of RAS are arteriography, captopril renogram, renal ultrasonography, renal Doppler ultrasonography, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and computed angiographic tomography (CTA). Until now, three therapeutic modalities can be selected in the management of renovascular hypertension; pharmacological therapy, surgical intervention, percutaneous intervention angioplasty with and without stenting. This narrative review summarizes the literature focused on the diagnosis and therapy of RAS.
Opportunities and Challenges: School Guidance Counsellors’ Perceptions of Counselling Students Online

School guidance counsellors worldwide seek ways of providing appropriate professional assistance to all students. While young people integrate online technology into their daily lives and go online for information and to communicate with each other, school counsellors in Australia are not offering online support to students. This cross-sectional study reported on the reluctance of school counsellors to offer online counselling and the reasons for this. A survey was developed focusing on the intention to offer online counselling based on indicative factors favouring the use of this initiative. 210 school guidance counsellors completed the survey online, which showed that there is conditional support for the introduction of online counselling into the school setting. Counsellors indicated that they would use online counselling if students accepted its use in the school setting though they question how genuine students would be in its use. Most respondents reported a lack of confidence in understanding the ethical and legal implications of online counselling. However, the majority of participants were prepared to undertake further professional development in this mode of counselling. Additionally, they sought confirmation of the effectiveness of counselling students online before committing themselves to it. The implications for school guidance practice are discussed.
Gaseous, PM2.5 mass, and speciated emission factors from laboratory chamber peat combustion

Abstract. Peat fuels representing four biomes of boreal (western Russia and Siberia), temperate (northern Alaska, USA), subtropical (northern and southern Florida, USA), and tropical (Borneo, Malaysia) regions were burned in a laboratory chamber to determine gas and particle emission factors (EFs). Tests with 25 % fuel moisture were conducted with predominant smoldering combustion conditions (average modified combustion efficiency (MCE) =0.82±0.08). Average fuel-based EFCO2 (carbon dioxide) are highest (1400 ± 38 g kg−1) and lowest (1073 ± 63 g kg−1) for the Alaskan and Russian peats, respectively. EFCO (carbon monoxide) and EFCH4 (methane) are ∼12 %–15 % and ∼0.3 %–0.9 % of EFCO2, in the range of 157–171 and 3–10 g kg−1, respectively. EFs for nitrogen species are at the same magnitude as EFCH4, with an average of 5.6 ± 4.8 and 4.7 ± 3.1 g kg−1 for EFNH3 (ammonia) and EFHCN (hydrogen cyanide); 1.9±1.1 g kg−1 for EFNOx (nitrogen oxides); and 2.4±1.4 and 2.0 ± 0.7 g kg−1 for EFNOy (total reactive nitrogen) and EFN2O (nitrous oxide). An oxidation flow reactor (OFR) was used to simulate atmospheric aging times of ∼2 and ∼7 d to compare fresh (upstream) and aged (downstream) emissions. Filter-based EFPM2.5 varied by > 4-fold (14–61 g kg−1) without appreciable changes between fresh and aged emissions. The majority of EFPM2.5 consists of EFOC (organic carbon), with EFOC ∕ EFPM2.5 ratios in the range of 52 %–98 % for fresh emissions and ∼14 %–23 % degradation after aging. Reductions of EFOC (∼7–9 g kg−1) after aging are most apparent for boreal peats, with the largest degradation in low-temperature OC1 that evolves at < 140 ∘C, indicating the loss of high-vapor-pressure semivolatile organic compounds upon aging. The highest EFLevoglucosan is found for Russian peat (∼16 g kg−1), with ∼35 %–50 % degradation after aging. EFs for water-soluble OC (EFWSOC) account for ∼20 %–62 % of fresh EFOC. The majority (> 95 %) of the total emitted carbon is in the gas phase, with 54 %–75 % CO2, followed by 8 %–30 % CO. Nitrogen in the measured species explains 24 %–52 % of the consumed fuel nitrogen, with an average of 35 ± 11 %, consistent with past studies that report ∼1/3 to 2∕3 of the fuel nitrogen measured in biomass smoke. The majority (> 99 %) of the total emitted nitrogen is in the gas phase, with an average of 16.7 % as NH3 and 9.5 % as HCN. N2O and NOy constituted 5.7 % and 2.9 % of consumed fuel nitrogen. EFs from this study can be used to refine current emission inventories.