Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping the center of government in Latin America and the Caribbean: a typology

Abstract Over two decades ago, Bardach (1998, p. 4) highlighted a core problem of public administration: “Agencies cooperate? Of course not! ” One of the solutions identified by scholars and practitioners has been the center of government (CoG), that is, organizations created by elected officials to facilitate inter-ministerial cooperation for the design and implementation of priority policies. Originally developed in European parliamentary systems or at Franklin Roosevelt’s presidential center in the United States, the CoG has recently gained momentum in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) after a collective effort between the IDB and the OECD. This paper maps the historical path and most recent institutional design of CoG organizations in 27 LAC countries as of 2020. The outcome of an exhaustive data collection process is a typology with five dimensions and 15 ideal types that help scholars and practitioners to better understand how and why these organizations have now been widely adopted in the region.
Assessing Older Adults’ Decision-Making Capacity for Independent Living: Practice Tensions and Complexities

Decision-making capacity (DMC) is a salient issue due to increasing ageing populations and associated dementia-related diseases. Legislative and policy developments emphasise older adults’ rights to participate in decision-making. Fifty-two occupational therapists working with older adults from a range of practice settings in Ireland participated in focus groups to discuss their contribution to multidisciplinary assessments of older adult’s DMC for independent living. Findings indicate lack of shared understanding of DMC and conflicting philosophies of practice and highlight the need for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. Findings also highlight that older people are often excluded from care-planning, and independent living options are determined by availability of community services rather than their preferences. Future research will attempt to inform practice in assessing and supporting older adults’ DMC for independent living.
A Rare Case of Hepatic Vanishing Bile Duct Syndrome Occurring after Combination Therapy with Nivolumab and Cabozantinib in a Patient with Renal Carcinoma

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) significantly improve the outcomes of patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC); however, high-grade toxicities can occur, particularly during combination therapy. Herein, we report a patient with advanced metastatic ccRCC, who developed grade 4 cholestasis during combined therapy with nivolumab and cabozantinib. After the exclusion of common disorders associated with cholestasis and a failure of corticosteroids (CS), a liver biopsy was performed that demonstrated severe ductopenia. Consequently, a diagnosis of vanishing bile duct syndrome related to TKI and ICI administration was made, resulting in CS discontinuation and ursodeoxycholic acid administration. After a 7-month follow-up, liver tests had returned to normal values. Immunological studies revealed that our patient had developed robust T-cells and macrophages infiltrates in his lung metastasis, as well as in skin and liver tissues at the onset of toxicities. At the same time, peripheral blood immunophenotyping revealed significant changes in T-cell subsets, suggesting their potential role in the pathophysiology of the disease.
Effects of Different Mulches and Fertilizers under Two Irrigation Methods on Garlic Yield and Soil Properties

ABSTRACT Successive use of sand on the soil surface during garlic planting process facilitates clove sprouting and prevents soil crust formation. However, this process has led to the destruction and damage of the soil structure and texture in the East Azerbaijan province, northwest of Iran. In this study, the effects of different organic mulches and irrigation methods on soil properties and garlic yield were investigated. Experiments were conducted based on the split-plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of two surface and drip irrigation methods, while seven types of mulches (straw 1.5 kg m−2, cow manure in two quantities of 2 kg m−2 and 4 kg m−2, sand in two quantities of 4 kg m−2 and 8 kg m−2, poultry manure 1.5 kg m−2, polyethylene mulch) and no mulch as a control treatment were used. The use of poultry and cow manures increased the average yield of garlic to 18.51 and 20.92 ton ha−1, respectively, as compared to the sand mulch case (11.5 ton ha−1). The results of this study showed that the use of cow manure and poultry manure can increase soil fertility and better garlic yield. Moreover, the use of drip irrigation method instead of surface irrigation method, besides maintaining soil characteristics and consuming fewer water levels, was increased the average yield of garlic from 14.19 to 16.67 ton ha−1.
Methods to enhance the quality of bi-level origin–destination matrix adjustment process

ABSTRACT The quality of Origin–Destination matrix (OD) estimation depends on number of factors including the selection of appropriate upper-level function of bi-level formulation, constraints to the OD flows, and suitable solution algorithm. Addressing these aspects, the study first explored different upper-level formulations using two types of traffic information: traffic counts and sub-path flows. Second, it investigated the effects of OD constraints on the quality of solution. Third, it proposed modified genetic algorithm (MGA) to address the computational limitations of traditional genetic algorithm (GA). The study findings were as follows: a) Using symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE) to match traffic counts showed greater improvements in the OD quality; b) The estimates improved as more number of OD pairs were known to have a-priori knowledge about their flows with higher confidence levels; c) The MGA approach outperformed GA in terms of computational efficiency, and gradient descent (GD) in terms of solution quality.
Patterns of finasteride and dutasteride use in the prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial cohort: effects of socio-demographic factors and a black box warning

Background: Five-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), specifically finasteride and dutasteride, have been shown to significantly reduce prostate cancer incidence. However, these agents were also associated with a significant increase in the detection of high-grade prostate cancer leading to an FDA black box warning in 2011. Little is known about the effect of this warning on the subsequent use of these 5-ARIs. The purpose of this analysis was to assess use patterns of finasteride and dutasteride before and after the black box warning. Methods: This cohort study evaluated men enrolled in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) screening trial who had ≥12 months of Medicare Part D coverage from 2008 to 2015, and had not been diagnosed with prostate cancer through 2007. Sociodemographic factors and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) status were ascertained from follow-up questionnaires, while medication use was ascertained from linkage to Medicare Part D claims data. Results: Of 14,833 eligible men, 88.7% identified as non-Hispanic white, 1.7% as African-American, 5.2% as Asian/Pacific Islander and 1.7% as Hispanic. The median age was 72 years; 41.8% reported a BPH diagnosis. Only 13.6% and 4% of the population took finasteride or dutasteride, respectively, at any time from 2008 to 2015. During this period, finasteride use significantly increased from 3.6% to 9.7% and was highest among men with BPH; dutasteride use remained low and decreased from 2.8% to 1.9%. Conclusions: Finasteride use significantly increased after the FDA’s 2011 black box warning, while dutasteride use remained low and steady throughout the study period.
Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Grapevine Virus D in Tunisia

The prevalence and the genetic diversity of grapevine virus D (GVD) isolates from rootstocks, wine and table grape varieties grown in Tunisia were studied. RT-PCR assays performed on the coat protein gene (CP) showed the presence of GVD in 31.5% of the 403 samples tested. The highest rate of infection was found in table grapes (56.5%), followed by autochthonous table grapes (24.1%), wine grapes (20.8%) and rootstocks (12.5%). Sequences and phylogenetic analyses of the partial CP genes 14 GVD isolates showed nucleotide identities that ranged from 84% to 99%. The Tunisian GVD-isolates segregated in 3 phylogenetic groups together with international isolates reported in GenBank. The present study extends our knowledge of the presence of GVD in Tunisian vines and on its genetic diversity, which is useful for developing broad-spectrum molecular diagnostics (RT-PCR) capable of detecting the different isolates infecting vines.
Factors affecting future travel intentions: awareness, image, past visitation and risk perception

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of destination awareness, cognitive and affective image, risk perception and past visitation on the intention to visit a tourist destination (a medium-sized city) in the next 12 months. Design/methodology/approach Partial least squares structural equation modeling was adopted to examine the data collected from 714 domestic holidaymakers. Findings Results demonstrate that awareness, cognitive and affective image, past visitation, perceived risk of traveling and perceived risk in international versus domestic travel are key factors; safety concerns enhance the cognitive image and perceived safety of the destination, but increase the perceived risk of traveling; and perceived social risk increases the perceived risk of traveling. Research limitations/implications Data collection from only one country limits the generalizability of the conclusions. Practical implications Conclusions allow gaining new insights regarding communication strategies in general, during and post-pandemic times. Originality/value Using a consolidated and empirical approach, this study provides a better understanding of the role of perceived risk and its effects on cognitive and affective image and travel intention. For instance, to the best of the author’s knowledge, it is the first study to consider the effects of social risk in the pandemic context. It also offers insights into the mediating effect of destination image and the moderating effects of perceived risk and past visitation.
A Systematic Review of Online Learning during COVID 19: Students’ Motivation, Task Engagement and Acceptance

The COVID 19 pandemic has forced the education sector to switch to online learning. To make the transition a success, there is a need to understand students’ perception towards online learning and design a learning experience around it. Thus, the aim of this paper is to identify students’ perceptions towards online learning in terms of motivation, task engagement and acceptance. The systematic literature review method was used to search for relevant papers and synthesize the findings. 40 articles from the year 2020 obtained from Google Scholar. It is found that the most used method in studying students’ perception is the quantitative method and students’ acceptance was the most discussed topic. It is also found that the primary factors influencing motivation and acceptance are sense of ownership and accessibility respectively. In terms of task engagement, only half of the findings reveal that students are engaged in online learning. In summary, the three main constructs are important items that should be taken into consideration when teaching an online course to ensure the success of the course. Through this systematic review, future research can identify and explore different areas and perspectives on this topic.
Enhanced edge detection using SR-guided threshold maneuvering and window mapping: Handling broken edges and noisy structures in Canny Edges

Preserving edges in a noisy environment is a challenging task as even some of the latest end-to-end deep learning (DL) algorithms continue to struggle in achieving high pixel-level accuracy. As the Canny Edge Detector (CED) continues to be one of the most popular edge detection operators, this paper presents an enhanced CED using Stochastic Resonance (SR) guided threshold maneuvering and window mapping, which takes the same input parameter set as that of the conventional Canny but produces the edge map with better-connected edges and reduced noise. The SR-based analysis informs the steps that should be followed to enhance the performance of the classical CED. We also propose a new measure for efficient edge detection; a unique, efficient way of edge content extraction and its combination for various channels; and a framework to handle repercussions of the randomness of the noise. Since the proposed solution comes in the form of a modular patch-based framework, it can be easily incorporated into other algorithm developments. Qualitative and quantitative results are presented along with the BSDS500 & BIPED benchmarking to showcase the proposed algorithm’s effectiveness. On BIPED benchmarking, our algorithm gives the human-level performance (F1 score .79), which is appreciable considering that it is a non-DL–based algorithm.
The impact of Industry 4.0 on the relationship between TPM and maintenance performance

PurposeIn this paper, the authors examine the impact of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies on the relationship between total productive maintenance (TPM) practices and maintenance performance.Design/methodology/approachData collection was carried out through a multinational survey with 318 respondents from different manufacturing companies located in 15 countries. Multivariate data techniques were applied to analyze the collected data. Diffusion of innovations theory (DIT) was the adopted theoretical lens for our research.FindingsThe authors’ findings indicate that I4.0 technologies that aim to process information to support decision-making and action-taking directly affect maintenance performance. Technologies oriented to sensing and communicating data among machines, people, and products seem to moderate the relationship between TPM practices and maintenance performance. However, the extent of such moderation varies according to the practices involved, sometimes leading to negative effects.Originality/valueWith the advances of I4.0, there is an expectation that several maintenance practices and performance may be affected. Our study provides empirical evidence of these relationships, unveiling the role of I4.0 for maintenance performance improvement.
Characteristics of the first 1119 SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant cases, in Marseille, France, November−December 2021

One thousand one hundred and nineteen cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) Omicron variant cases have been diagnosed at the Institut Hospitalo‐Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France, between November 28, 2021, and December 31, 2021. Among the 825 patients with known vaccination status, 383 (46.4%) were vaccinated, of whom 91.9% had received at least two doses of the vaccine. Interestingly, 26.3% of cases developed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection within 21 days following the last dose of vaccine suggesting possible early production of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 facilitating antibodies. Twenty‐one patients have been hospitalized, one patient required intensive care, and another patient who received a vaccine booster dose died.
Determinants of Hypertension amongst Rice Farmers in West Java, Indonesia

The hypertension rate in Indonesia has increased significantly in the past five years, but there is limited information about the hypertension risk of farmers. Our study assesses the prevalence of hypertension in this population and examines the proportional risk of various work environment and lifestyle factors among farmers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in high and low heat stress agriculture areas of West Java, Indonesia. There were 354 male farmers aged 25 to 73 years old who participated in the study. We measured blood pressure and used a questionnaire on self-reported use of anti-hypertension drugs or diagnosis by a medical professional to define hypertension. We assessed occupational factors including farming methods, heat stress and pesticide use, and personal factors including obesity, food intake, smoking status, alcohol consumption. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate factors potentially associated with prevalence of hypertension. Forty-six percent of farmers experience hypertension. Farming in a location with higher heat stress (WBGT) was significantly associated with increased risk of hypertension (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 1.95). Farmers who used pesticide sprayers had an increased risk of hypertension (aPR 1.90, 95% CI 0.93, 3.87). No personal/lifestyle characteristics were significantly associated with hypertension, although ever smoking and ever consuming alcohol had an increased prevalence of hypertension. This study shows the importance of work environmental factors in the prevalence of hypertension and the necessity of public health education, identification and treatment of this “silent killer” among Indonesian farmers.
The resource‐based view, stakeholder capitalism, ESG, and sustainable competitive advantage: The firm's embeddedness into ecology, society, and governance

The main research question of the study is this: Is the firm embedded into ecology, society, and governance (ESG), or vice versa? Using the resource-based view as a theoretical lens, and stakeholder capitalism as a paradigm anchored in the Dashgupat Review , we demonstrate in a panel data over 26 years that at the firm level, the relationship between sustained competitive advantage and the ESG footprint is concave shaped, and the impact inequality multiple gaps of the ESG footprint are 4.75 times the providing capacity of the natural and business environment. To solve the common method variance, endogeneity, and unobserved heterogeneity, system GMM is used as a method in a dataset of US manufacturing firms from 1992 to 2019. At the end, we argue that extant attributes of a resource base for sustained competitive advantage have an inherent flaw anchored in the resource-based view, as they ignore the “ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) friendliness ” attribute of a resource. Managers need to rethink the objective of their firms if they want to survive in the new ESG-friendly economy with stakeholder supremacy.
Machine Translation: Friend or Foe in the Language Classroom?

Machine translation (MT) provides a seemingly accelerated alternative way to communicate in the target language (L2). A convenient service to the public, MT renders a potential disservice to language learners. In this pedagogically focused article, we show concrete and detailed examples of how language instructors can turn MT and other electronic tools such as translation memories, grammar- and spell-checkers, or mapping tools into virtual assistants to empower students to use them responsibly. Two classroom interventions, one at a large public research university on the West coast and the second one at a medium-sized public university in the Midwest, aimed to develop students’ awareness of the language learning process, while introducing them to various online tools that can help them communicate better in L2 without blindly using MT. The interventions were designed for intermediate level students. The first group of students were part of an advanced composition course who were shown limitations of MT and alternative editorial tools in L2, while the second group was part of an introductory literature course in which students were introduced to reasoning maps, such as mind, concept, and argument maps, to assist them with L2 communication. The main takeaways from these interventions were the need to readjust the students’ attitudes as much as the instructors’ mindsets if we want to make MT an ally. Shifting focus from accuracy to comprehensibility changes the stakes in L2 communication as the production of meaning becomes an exercise in student agency and leads to the satisfaction of being able to communicate spontaneously in the target language.
REQUIREMENTS FOR RELIABLE PREDICTIVE PAVEMENT MODELS

The general requirements for reliable pavement prediction models are presented. Performance models are essential for efficient management of pavements. Experience has shown that they can best be derived from a data base of in-service pavements. The major requirements of a reliable model for predicting performance, herein defined as serviceability index and distress occurrence over time, are (a) an adequate data base built from in-service pavements, (b) the inclusion of all variables (including mechanistic variables) that significantly affect performance, and (c) an adequate functional form of the model that considers shape, nonlinearities, and interactions; meets boundary conditions; and provides reasonable sensitivity of variables. The model must also meet statistical criteria for precision (e.g., error of prediction, R squared and regression coefficients). (Author)
Inhibition and Calendar Age Explain Variance in Game Performance of Youth Soccer Athletes

The assessment of core executive functions (EFs; i.e., inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility) has often been presented as a diagnostic tool for evaluating cognitive functions in recent publications. For example, EFs are essential in soccer because players must quickly adapt, change strategies, and inhibit responses in rapidly changing game situations. Previous research has shown relations between (subjectively rated) game performance and the EFs of soccer players. Nevertheless, the previous studies’ samples were heterogeneous in their performance level (experts vs. amateurs), and the ratings were rather unsystematic (no validated rating protocol). Therefore, the current study aimed to predict soccer players’ game performance (i.e., systematically rated by coaches) with the help of EF performance. Therefore, we assessed the game performance (small-sided game, Game Performance Assessment Instrument [GPAI]) and EFs (inhibition: flanker task; working memory: 3-back task; cognitive flexibility: number-letter task) of 94 male soccer players (12–19 years old) from Germany’s highest competitive level. Multiple regression model results indicate that inhibition (i.e., flanker effect) and calendar age explain ~18% of players’ game performance variance. Results have to be interpreted with regard to the age-dependency of game performance and EFs. In conclusion, even though the results are based on a cross-sectional study, it appears that calendar age needs to be considered when assessing EFs.