Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Road infrastructure and economic growth in Mexico

Results from studies of the relationship between road infrastructure and regional economic growth have so far been inconclusive. This paper analyzes the effect of the availability of road infrastructure on regional production in Mexican municipalities. At a regional level, the extent of road availability in a municipality was determined using an Geographic Information System (gIS) and ordinary least squares analysis, which identified the existence of a positive relation between road density and production in municipal regions. It was shown that the most significant impact of roads on gross regional production is in the manufacturing and retail sectors, while roads have no significant impact on agriculture, livestock production, fishing, and mining. Toll-free roads in particular afford increased regional benefits in comparison to toll roads.
University of Groningen Novel forms of governance with high levels of civic self-reliance Ubels, Hiska

Population decline, welfare state reforms and austerity measures pressurise the liveability of rural areas in the Netherlands and call upon local governments and communities to adapt and renew their mode of governance. This paper reports on three Dutch experimental governance arrangements which are analysed through the lens of Evolutionary Governance Theory. The study focuses on how decision making roles change while these arrangements unfold and how the three municipalities institutionalise these changes in the course of time. The study produces three main conclusions. First, the readiness and preparedness of local governments to shift decision making roles with citizens proved to be of main influence on governance change. Second, local residents’ commitment importantly affected the progress of the experiments, while social cohesion and tangible outputs strongly influenced the extent and continuity of such commitment. Third, although the arrangements took place in the same period of time and above mentioned context, the level of institutionalisation of shifting roles between government and residents differed among the cases. Certain pathways of evolving decision making roles seem to be more stable than others. It is in this area that the extent of both formal and informal institutionalisation seems to play an important role. 2.
Effects of nicorandil on cardiac function and interleukin-10 and interleukin-17 levels in elderly patients with chronic heart failure

Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of nicorandil on cardiac function and interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-17 levels in elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Methods: This study prospectively analyzed 141 cases of chronic congestive heart failure in elderly patients, randomly divided into two groups. A total of 70 patients were treated with conventional therapy (control group), while 71 patients were treated with conventional therapy in combination with nicorandil (study group). Changes in New York Heart Association (NYHA) grades were used to evaluate therapeutic effects. Changes in cardiac function indicators, including creatinine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and plasma N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), and changes in serum IL-10 and IL-17 levels were measured before treatment and 3 months after treatment. Results: After treatment, the proportion of NYHA class 1 to class 4 patients in the control group was 10.00% (7 cases), 72.86% (51 cases), 17.14% (12 cases), and 0.00% (0 cases). The proportion of NYHA class 1 to class 4 patients in the study group was 25.35% (18 cases), 69.01% (49 cases), 5.63% (4 cases), and 0.00% (0 cases). Decreases in NYHA grades in the study group were more significant than those in the control group (P<0.05). Levels of CK-MB, LDH, and NT-proBNP, after treatment, in the 2 groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). However, serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, and NT-proBNP in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the 6-minute walking distance of the study group was also significantly longer than that of the control group. After treatment, IL-10 levels in the 2 groups were increased, to various degrees, compared to levels before treatment (P<0.05). IL-17 levels were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). However, serum IL-10 levels in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), while IL-17 levels were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis suggested that age, BMI, heart rate, ejection fraction, and NT-proBNP were independent risk factors for prognosis (P<0.05). Conclusion: Nicorandil provides better adjuvant therapy for treatment of elderly patients with chronic heart failure, improving heart function and reducing inflammation.
CCID_A_202884 295..301

Ilias G Petrou* Kheeldass Jugun* Eva Meia Rüegg Thomas Zilli Ali Modarressi Brigitte Pittet-Cuénod 1Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; 2Private Practice, Wellkin Hospital, Moka, Mauritius; 3Division of Radiation Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
A Metaphor Analysis of Mathematics Teacher Candidates’ Connotations about the Concept of Mathematics

In this study, the connotations of the concept of mathematics belong to the teacher candidates who have participated in the formation certificate program in different years were examined. In the study, 32 teacher candidates who graduated from the mathematics departments of the Faculty of Arts and Science in 2014-15 and 27 teacher candidates in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences who were studying in 3rd and 4th grades in 2017-18 participated. The research is qualitative research with phenomenological design. A questionnaire containing two open-ended questions to determine the connotations about the concept of mathematics and the causes of these connotations were given and the data were analyzed by content analysis method. The 150 connotations of teacher candidates were classified according to the categories determined in 8 different studies examined in the literature and these categories are classified within themselves then the themes of Definition, Description, and Emotion are determined. It was observed that teachers’ candidates emphasized mathematics as a model trying to understand life and its contents and as a necessary tool for life.
Farming in an uncertain and changing climate

Climate change already appears to be affecting Australia’s climate, with recent changes in temperature and rainfall consistent with those projected in the future. The likelihood of further, significant changes occurring in response to sustained growth in greenhouse gas emissions increases the need for a more coherent and urgent approach to the development of effective adaptive responses. Given the sensitivity of Australia’s agriculture to climatic variability and climate change, ensuring effective adaptation options are in place is of growing importance. There are many potential adaptation options available to incrementally change existing farming systems, often enhancements of existing climate risk management. These adaptations are likely to have substantial benefits under moderate climate change, but will diminish in effectiveness with growing severity of climatic change. Hence, more systemic changes in resource allocation may need considering, such as targeted diversification of production systems and livelihoods and a range of other technological and institutional responses. The high levels of uncertainty that accumulates across the information chain as we move from greenhouse emissions to regional climate change to triple-bottom-line outcomes will require an adaptive management framework for effective short-term responses underpinned by long-term scenario analyses to prepare a suite of appropriate technical options and supporting institutional arrangements. Engagement with decision-makers at all scales is needed to frame, inform and operate these activities if we are to adapt Australia’s farming systems, industries and regions to meet the challenges of an uncertain future.
The Health Impact of Caregiving

Informal care may substitute for formal long-term care that is often publicly funded or subsidized. The costs of informal caregiving are borne by the caregiver and may consist of worse health outcomes and, if the caregiver has not retired, worse labor market outcomes. We estimate the impact of providing informal care to one’s partner on the caregiver's health using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We exploit the panel structure of the data and use statistical matching to deal with selection bias and endogeneity. We find that in the short run caregiving has a substantial negative effect on the health of caregivers. These negative effects should be taken into account when comparing the costs and benefits of formal and informal care provision. These negative effects are potentially short-lived, however: we do not find any evidence that the health effects persist after 4 or 7 years. JEL codes: C21, I11, J14
The Development of the Critical Factor Index Method

This paper introduces the development of the critical factor index (CFI) method. The CFI is a management tool to support strategic decisions which is based on real-life expectations and experiences. After a comprehensive description of the method the current pitfalls will be explained by comparing the CFI to the newly developed BCFI (balanced critical factor index) formula. The findings will present break through innovations in terms of validity and reliability. The execution of the BCFI in the first case study approved the good performances of the testing phase. The benefits of a fast, comprehensive and reliable method to gather important information in order to make strategic decisions on a low cost level are self-evident and will most probably lead to a further increase of interest about the BCFI method.
Role of Computer Self Efficacy, Data Quality and Tops Support on Regional Management Information System and Quality of Financial Reports

This study aims to examine and analyze the influence of computer self-efficacy of the SIMDA implementation, the influence of data quality on the SIMDA implementation, the influence of tops support towards SIMDA implementation, the influence of computer self-efficacy to the quality of financial reports, the impact of data quality on the quality of financial reports, the influence of tops support to the quality of financial reports, and the influence of SIMDA implementation to the quality of financial reports. The research was conducted in Mataram, West Lombok regency and East Lombok. Data collected through survey questionnaires mailed and delivered by researcher to operators of SIMDA Financial Reports of each constituent each SKPD. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling approach using Partial Least Square. Research shows that computer self-efficacy has positive influence to SIMDA implementation, data quality has positive influence on SIMDA implementation, tops support does not have any impact on SIMDA implementation, computer self-efficacy does not have any impact on the quality of financial reports, the data quality has positive impact on the quality of financial reports, tops support does not have impact on the quality of financial reports, and the implementation of SIMDA has positive impact on the quality of financial reports. This research is expected to improve the quality of local government financial reports on the Lombok island to maximize the use of regional finances in the form of Regional Management Information System (SIMDA), computer self-efficacy, data quality and tops support.
EFFECT OF SCHOOL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ON PSYCHOSOCIAL WELLBEING BETWEEN PUPILS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

The study examined and compared the effect of school physical environment on psychosocial wellbeing between pupils in public and private primary schools. The target population was 260,459 comprising of head teachers, teachers and pupils in Kiambu County in Kenya. CausalComparative research design was employed. A sample size of 384 participants was drawn from the population using stratified, simple random and purposive sampling procedures. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics were used to establish differences between public and private schools in terms of availability of adequate and quality physical facilities and the resultant psychosocial wellbeing of pupils. The findings of the study revealed that there was a significant difference between private and public primary schools in terms of physical environment. Public schools had better school physical environment than private schools that positively impacted on psychosocial wellbeing of pupils. It was recommended that the Ministry of Education, parents and proprietors of primary schools need to invest in quality physical facilities for both public and private schools. This would foster appropriate socialization of pupils and create conducive emotional environment for psychosocial wellbeing of the pupils.
DETERMINANTS ACCOUNTABILITY OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES PERFORMANCE

Accountability of government agencies performance is an important as public needs to measure the district government agencies responsibility on resource management and the government agencies improvement on public sector management to create a good government governance. Lack of good from accountability of the government agencies performance in Indonesia to be a problem that needs serious attention in order to avoid inefficient use of budget. This study aims to examine and obtain empirical evidence about the effect of budget goal clarity, accounting control, reporting systems, and functional supervision on accountability of government agencies performance. Data used are primary by using questionnaires which distributed to 92 officials from echelon IV.A and IV.B which running one or more functions to preparation the financial reports, performance reports, planning and programming as well as the technical implementation of activities in agencies of West Sumbawa District government. The sampling technique using non-probability sampling by means purposive sampling. Data analysis using Partial Least Square (PLS). The result showed that accountability of government agencies performance affected by budget goal clarity, accounting control and functional supervision but not influenced by reporting systems. That is means, the budget goal which prepared more clearly, accounting control and functional supervision more effective will increase accountability of government agencies performance. The implications of this research leads on improved the accountability of government agencies performance can be realized through the establishment of a clear budget goals, improving the effectiveness of accounting control and internal functional supervision the local government.
Contribution of individual variables to the regression sum of squares

In applications of multiple regression, one of the most common goals is to measure the relative importance of each predictor variable. If the predictors are uncorrelated, quantification of relative importance is simple and unique. However, in practice, predictor variables are typically correlated and there is no unique measure of a predictor variable’s relative importance. Using a transformation to orthogonality, new measures are constructed for evaluating the contribution of individual variables to a regression sum of squares. The transformation yields an orthogonal approximation of the columns of the predictor scores matrix and it maximizes the sum of the covariances between the cross-product of individual regressors and the response variable and the cross-product of the transformed orthogonal regressors and the response variable. The new measures are compared with three previously proposed measures through examples and the properties of the measures are examined.
Perceived Teachers’ Awareness and Level of Competencies in Using Information and Communication Technology Facilities

The study investigated the perceived Teachers Awareness and Competencies of Information and Communication Technology Facilities. One research question and two hypotheses guided the study. The design of the study was descriptive survey. The population of the study was all NCE and Graduate secondary school teachers in Adamawa State. Two hundred and fourty eight teachers were selected using Krejcie and Morgan's table for determining sample size of a finite population. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire tagged Information and Communication Technology Competencies of Teachers Questionnaire (ICTCTQ) developed by the researchers. The instrument was validated by three academic staff of Science Education Department, Modibbo Adama University of Technology. The instrument was subjected to reliability test using Cronbach alpha, reliability coefficient of 0.89 was obtained. The instrument was administered by the researchers and was analysed using descriptive statistics and Man-witney U-test. The result of the study revealed that teachers have moderate awareness and competency about ICT facilities, the hypotheses revealed that there is no significant difference between NCE and graduate teachers about ICT facilities awareness and competency. Based on the result it was concluded that teachers have moderate level of ICT competencies and are moderately aware about ICT facilities for teaching. It was recommended that, ICT should be fully integrated into the curriculum for further educational developments. Teachers should also be encouraged to attend seminars/workshops as well as refresher courses in ICT.
Propofol protects human cardiac cells against chemical hypoxiainduced injury by regulating the JNK signaling pathways

Propofol is a widely used intravenous anesthetic shown to exert a cardioprotective role against oxidative stress and ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat cardiac H9c2 cells. However, the regulatory mechanisms and functions of propofol in human cardiomyocytes remain unknown. The present study chemically induced hypoxia with cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to mimic cardiomyocyte ischemic injury in human cardiac AC16 and HCM cells. To investigate its underlying mechanisms, propofol was added to the cells before the chemical hypoxia phase. The present results suggested that, in response to hypoxia, mitochondrial membrane potential was lost, and cardiomyocyte viability and superoxide dismutase levels decreased. However, the present results showed that reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels increased. The present results suggested that these effects were significantly reversed following propofol treatment. Additionally, the present results suggested that the protective effect of propofol against CoCl2-induced injury may be inhibited by the activation of the JNK signaling pathways. The present results indicated that propofol pre-treatment inhibited CoCl2-induced myocardial injury by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, which may be partially due to the activation of the JNK signaling pathways. Therefore, propofol may exert anti-oxidative effects in human cardiac cells. The present results suggested that propofol may be used as a treatment for oxidative stress-related cardiac disorders.
OPTH_A_215658 1853..1868

Brian J Nguyen William S Chen Allison J Chen Andrew Utt Emily Hill Ryan Apgar Daniel L Chao 1Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; 2University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA; 3Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; 4Aira Tech Corp, La Jolla, CA, USA; 5University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME, USA Purpose: To systematically evaluate the needs of low vision individuals through call data obtained through the Aira assistive technology system. Patients and methods: Aira (Aira Tech Corporation, La Jolla, CA, USA) is an on-demand assistive wearable technology designed for individuals with low vision. The user wears glasses with an integrated front-facing video camera that connects with a remote human agent who assists the user with the specified task. Call types, temporal characteristics, and duration of call were compared by gender and vision status (low vision, light perception, and blind). Chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, linear regression and Poisson regression analyses were performed. Results: 878 subscribers placed 10,022 total calls (4759 female, 5263 male) over 3 months. The most common categories were reading (35%), navigation (33%), and home management (16%). The distribution of categories (χ2=49.3, p<0.001), duration (t=−7.59, p<0.0001) and time of call (χ2=37.4, p<0.001) differed by gender. The distribution of categories (χ2=61, p<0.001), duration (F=13.7, p<0.0001), and time of call (χ2=36.9, p<0.001) differed by vision status. Blind [adjusted IRR=1.68 (95% CI: 1.56–1.79)] and light perception users [adjusted IRR=1.43 (95% CI: 1.32–1.53)] had increased usage compared to low vision users. Women had higher usage than men [adjusted IRR=1.09 (95% CI: 1.04–1.13)]. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale needs assessment of 878 low vision individuals over 10,022 calls. The most common categories were reading, navigation, and home management. Distribution of call types, duration, and time of call differed significantly by gender and vision status. Blind and light perception users had higher usage rates than those with low vision. Women had higher usage rates than men. This large-scale needs analysis of low vision individuals provides insight into utilization patterns across varying levels of vision loss and gender, which will guide future evolutions of assistive technology by tailoring future hardware and software upgrades.
Thermogram Breast Cancer Detection: A Comparative Study of Two Machine Learning Techniques

Breast cancer is considered one of the major threats for women’s health all over the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that 1 in every 12 women could be subject to a breast abnormality during her lifetime. To increase survival rates, it is found that it is very effective to early detect breast cancer. Mammography-based breast cancer screening is the leading technology to achieve this aim. However, it still can not deal with patients with dense breast nor with tumor size less than 2 mm. Thermography-based breast cancer approach can address these problems. In this paper, a thermogram-based breast cancer detection approach is proposed. This approach consists of four phases: (1) Image Pre-processing using homomorphic filtering, top-hat transform and adaptive histogram equalization, (2) ROI Segmentation using binary masking and K-mean clustering, (3) feature extraction using signature boundary, and (4) classification in which two classifiers, Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), were used and compared. The proposed approach is evaluated using the public dataset, DMR-IR. Various experiment scenarios (e.g., integration between geometrical feature extraction, and textural features extraction) were designed and evaluated using different measurements (i.e., accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity). The results showed that ELM-based results were better than MLP-based ones with more than 19%.