Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Will Formula-Based Funding and Decentralized Management Improve School Level Resources in Sri Lanka?

Using the experience of the Educational Quality Inputs (EQI) Scheme in Sri Lanka, the paper examines the distributional aspects of formula-based funding and efficiency of decentralized management of education funds in a developing country setting. The study finds that the EQI fund distribution is largely pro-poor, with the exception of expenditure at the collegial level. The study finds that allocating more funds to more disadvantaged schools alone is insufficient to reduce disparities as the inability of schools to fullly utilize the funds holds back progress. The study findings support the hypothesis that qualified principals, adequate levels of human and physical resources, and state-level monitoring and support is needed for the success of education management at the school level. The study highlights the need to better use information collected from the schools on the EQI scheme to simplify and improve its implementation and effectiveness.
Contraction Mapping Theory and Approach to LMI-Based Stability Criteria of T-S Fuzzy Impulsive Time-Delays Integrodifferential Equations

In this paper, Banach fixed point theorem is employed to derive LMI-based exponential stability of impulsive Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy integrodifferential equations, originated from Cohen-Grossberg Neural Networks (CGNNs). As far as we know, Banach fixed point theorem is rarely employed to derive LMI criteria for T-S fuzzy CGNNs, and this inspires our present work. It is worth mentioning that the conditions on the behavior functions are weaker than those of existing results, and the formulated contraction mapping and fixed point technique are different from those of previous literature. Even a corollary of our main result improves one of existing main results due to extending linear function to nonlinear function. Besides, the LMI-based criteria are programmable for computer MATLAB LMI toolbox. Moreover, an analytical table and a numerical example are presented to illustrate the advantage, feasibility, and effectiveness of the proposed methods.
A Measurement Model of the Determinants of Financial Exclusion among Muslim Micro-entrepreneurs in Ilorin, Nigeria

This study investigated the various factors that impede both the access to and use of the requisite financial resources for entrepreneurial development in Ilorin, Nigeria. Data was collected via a survey questionnaire administered on Muslim micro-entrepreneurs in the study area. A measurement model using the structural equation modelling approach was adopted. The paper concluded that both the voluntary and involuntary financial exclusion factors significantly account for financial exclusion among the respondents. However, voluntary exclusion signals a relatively serious problem. This is because it is a reflection of lack of use, rather than lack of access to financial services by the Muslim poor. In this regard, religious consideration as well as debt phobia as a reflection of the presence of Islam in the area had statistically significant factor loadings. Recommendations were also offered.
History-Adjusted Marginal Structural Models: Optimal Treatment Strategies

Much of clinical medicine involves choosing a future treatment plan that is expected to optimize a patient’s long-term outcome, and modifying this treatment plan over time in response to changes in patient characteristics. However, dynamic treatment regimens, or decision rules for altering treatment in response to time-varying covariates, are rarely estimated based on observational data. In a companion paper, we introduced a generalization of Marginal Structural Models, named History-Adjusted Marginal Structural Models, that estimate modification of causal effects by time-varying covariates. Here, we illustrate how HistoryAdjusted Marginal Structural Models can be used to identify a specific type of optimal dynamic treatment regimen. Estimation and interpretation of this dynamic treatment regimen are illustrated using an example drawn from the treatment of HIV infection using antiretroviral drugs.
Shaping the GeV-spectra of bright blazars

The non-thermal spectra of jetted active galactic nuclei show a variety of shapes in their low- and high energy components. In some of the brightest Fermi-LAT blazars, prominent spectral breaks at a few GeV have been regularly detected, which is inconsistent with conventional cooling effects. We study the effects of continuous time-dependent injection of electrons into the jet with differing rates, durations, locations, and power-law spectral indices, and evaluate its impact on the ambient emitting particle spectrum at a given snapshot time in the framework of a leptonic blazar emission model. The emitting electron spectrum is calculated by Compton cooling the continuously injected electrons, where target photons are assumed to be provided by the accretion disk and broad line region. We calculate the non-thermal photon spectra produced by inverse Compton scattering of these external target radiation fields using the full Compton cross-section in the head-on approximation. By means of a comprehensive parameter study we present the resulting ambient electron and photon spectra, and discuss the influence of each injection parameter. Varying the injection parameters has a notable influence on the spectral shapes, which can be used to set constraints on the injection scenarios. We apply our model to the flare state spectral energy distribution of 3C454.3, and to the FSRQ PKS1510-089. For both sources we show two different model fits, corresponding to different injection scenarios. In all four injection scenarios impulsive particle injection is disfavored. Our model aims towards bridging jet emission with acceleration models using a phenomenological approach. Blazar spectral data can be analyzed with this model to constrain injection parameters, in addition to the conventional parameter values of steady-state emission models, if sufficient broad multifrequency coverage is provided.
Clinical Features and Outcomes Associated with Angioedema in the Emergency Department

Introduction Angioedema represents self-limited, localized swelling of submucosal or subcutaneous tissues. While the underlying etiology may be undeterminable in the emergent setting, nonhistaminergic and histaminergic angioedema respond differently to therapeutic interventions, with implications for empiric treatment. Clinical features and outcome differences among nonhistaminergic vs histaminergic angioedema patients in the emergency department (ED) are poorly characterized. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes among ED patients with angioedema by suspected etiology. Methods This was a 10-year retrospective study of adult ED patients with angioedema, using data abstracted from the electronic health record. We evaluated univariable associations of select clinical features with etiology and used them to develop a multivariable logistic regression model for nonhistaminergic vs histaminergic angioedema. Results Among 450 adult angioedema patients, the mean +/− standard deviation age was 57 +/− 18 years, and 264 (59%) were female. Among patients, 30% had suspected nonhistaminergic angioedema, 30% had suspected histaminergic angioedema, and 40% were of unknown etiology. As compared to histaminergic angioedema, nonhistaminergic angioedema was associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or use of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) (odds ratio [OR] [60.9]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 23.16–160.14) and time of onset one hour or more prior to ED arrival (OR [5.91]; 95% CI,1.87–18.70) and was inversely associated with urticaria (OR [0.05]; 95% CI, 0.02–0.15), dyspnea (OR [0.23]; 95% CI, 0.08–0.67), and periorbital or lip edema (OR [0.25]; 95% CI, 0.08–0.79 and OR [0.32]; 95% CI, 0.13–0.79, respectively). Conclusion As compared to histaminergic angioedema, patients with nonhistaminergic angioedema were more likely to present one hour or more after symptom onset and take ACEI or ARB medications, and were less likely to have urticaria, dyspnea, or periorbital or lip angioedema. Identification of characteristics associated with the etiology of angioedema may assist providers in more rapidly initiating targeted therapies.
1 ASSESSING LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION COURSE IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM

A landscape construction course that incorporates a variety of student centered teaching methods including case studies, small group projects and tutorials were created to help students further their problem solving, decision making and critical thinking skills. By incorporating principles from Bloom's Taxonomy in the course, students will move from lower to higher order thinking skills and gain knowledge and understanding within a given tutorials across the topics taught during the semester. Thus, the aim of this paper is to illustrate how Landscape Architectural educators could teach landscape construction course and assess the students learning outcome in sustainable development of the built environment. First, the paper will present the important role of landscape profession in sustainable construction solutions in built environment industry. Then this paper will state the profile of Landscape Construction course, its concept and how the assessment is being done in the education of landscape architecture professionals in the Faculty of Built Environment, Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University College (KLMUC), as a case-study. The findings showed that Landscape Construction teaching is different from other course, i.e. an appreciation and understand towards art, science and engineering.
High serum neurofilament light chain normalizes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for MS

Objective To evaluate neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in serum and CSF of patients with aggressive MS pre- and post-treatment with immunoablation followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (IAHSCT) and examine associations with clinical and MRI outcomes. Methods Paired serum and CSF in addition to MRI and clinical measures were collected on 23 patients with MS at baseline and 1 and 3 years post-IAHSCT. An additional 33 sera and CSF pairs were taken from noninflammatory neurologic controls. NfL levels were quantitated using the Simoa platform (Quanterix). Results Baseline MS NfL levels were significantly elevated relative to controls in serum (p = 0.001) and CSF (p = 0.001). Following IAHSCT, high pretreatment NfL levels significantly reduced in serum (p = 0.0023) and CSF (p = 0.0068) and were not significantly different from controls. Serum and CSF NfL levels highly correlated (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001). Baseline NfL levels were associated with worse pretreatment disease measures (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS], relapses, MRI lesions, and MR spectroscopy (MRS) N-acetylaspartate/creatine). Elevated baseline NfL levels were associated with persistently worse indices of disease burden post-IAHSCT (sustained EDSS progression, cognition, quality of life, T1 and T2 lesion volumes, MRS, and brain atrophy). Conclusion These data substantiate that serum and CSF NfL levels reflect disease severity and treatment response in patients with MS and may therefore be a useful biomarker. Baseline serum levels associated with markers of pretreatment disease severity and post-treatment outcomes. Classification of evidence This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with aggressive MS, serum NfL levels are associated with disease severity.
Commentary 70 th Anniversary Collection for the Microbiology Society : Microbiology

I was honoured when asked to curate this collection, but accepted with some trepidation. As the tagline states, Microbiology (Journal of General Microbiology prior to 1994) has been ‘publishing high-quality research since 1947’: capturing the breadth and depth of the journal’s contribution to microbiology in this short opinion piece is nigh impossible. I chose to steer a personal course through the journal archive and highlight some personal favourites here. Such an approach is by its nature highly selective and a function of my own predilections; I apologize upfront for the many outstanding contributions that I could not mention due to space limitations. I hope, however, to remind readers of the seminal work published in Microbiology over the years and perhaps to shine a light on some forgotten gems.
Multiple Drug Use Disorder in Homeless People with Severe Mental Illness

Rafael Fernández García-Andrade1,2,3,4*, Beatriz Serván Rendón Luna2, Miriam Manuela Tenorio2, Virginia Vidal Martínez5, Julia Sevilla Llewellyn Jones2, Elena Medina Téllez de Meneses1,6 and Blanca Reneses Prieto2,3,4 1Department of Psychiatry, Mental Health Street Team of Madrid’s Programme for the Psychiatric Care of the Homeless Mentally Ill, Spain 2Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health of the Clínico San Carlos Hospital, Spain 3Department of Psychiatry, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Spain 4Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Spain 5Department of Psychiatry, Alcorcón University Hospital Foundation, Spain 6Department of Psychiatry, La Paz University Hospital, Spain.
Design and development of a deployable self-inflating adaptive membrane

Space structures nowadays are often designed to serve just one objective during their mission life, examples include truss structures that are used as support structures, solar sails for propulsion or antennas for communication. Each and every single one of these structures is optimized to serve just their distinct purpose and are more or less useless for the rest of the mission and therefore dead weight. By developing a smart structure that can change its shape and therefore adapt to different mission requirements in a single structure, the flexibility of the spacecraft can be increased by greatly decreasing the mass of the entire system. This paper will introduce such an adaptive structure called the Self-inflating Adaptive Membrane (SAM) concept which is being developed at the Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory of the University of Strathclyde. An idea presented in this paper is to adapt these basic changeable elements from nature’s heliotropism. Heliotropism describes a movement of a plant towards the sun during a day; the movement is initiated by turgor pressure change between adjacent cells. The shape change of the global structure can be significant by adding up these local changes induced by local elements, for example the cell’s length. To imitate the turgor pressure change between the motor cells in plants to space structures, piezoelectric micro pumps are added between two neighboring cells. A passive inflation technique is used for deploying the membrane at its destination in space. The trapped air in the spheres will inflate the spheres when subjected to vacuum, therefore no pump or secondary active deployment methods are needed. The paper will present the idea behind the adaption of nature’s heliotropism principle to space structures. The feasibility of the residual air inflation method is verified by LS-DYNA simulations and prototype bench tests under vacuum conditions. Additionally, manufacturing techniques and folding patterns are presented to optimize the actual bench test structure and to minimize the required storage volume. It is shown that through a bio-inspired concept, a high ratio of adaptability of the membrane can be obtained. The paper concludes with the design of a technology demonstrator for a sounding rocket experiment to be launched in March 2013 from the Swedish launch side Esrange.
Surgical outcome of 60 operated patients with acute extradural hematomas based on the preoperative glasgow coma scale

Aim and Objective: This study aims to evaluate the outcome of the patients operated for acute extradural hematoma (EDH). Patients and Methods: Sixty consecutive cases of acute EDH were treated at medical college hospital to assess the outcome of the patients based on their Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), radiological assessment, and pupil size. The patients were monitored of their GCS, pupillary size, and vitals. The Glasgow outcome scale was used to evaluate patient outcome at the discharge from the hospital and after 3 months. Observation and Results: Sixty patients constituting 56 males and 4 females were the part of the study. The mean age of the patients was 23.21 years (range: 2–47 years). On an average, the patients were operated around 9.91 h after the trauma (ranging 2–24 h). Out of sixty patients, 25, 17, and 18 patients had GCS of mild, moderate, and severe groups. Prompt surgery with better care obtained us with mortality 1.6%, morbidity 21.7%, and complete recovery in 83% patients. Conclusion: We may conclude in our study that presurgical clinical findings such as sensorium of patient and pupillary status were an important indicator for surgical outcome. In most of the cases, the outcome was favorable with progressive recovery.
An Euler‐genus approach to the calculation of the crosscap‐number polynomial

In 1994, J. Chen, J. Gross, and R. Rieper demonstrated how to use the rank of Mohar's overlap matrix to calculate the crosscap‐number distribution, that is, the distribution of the embeddings of a graph in the nonorientable surfaces. That has ever since been by far the most frequent way that these distributions have been calculated. This article introduces a way to calculate the Euler‐genus polynomial of a graph, which combines the orientable and the nonorientable embeddings, without using the overlap matrix. The crosscap‐number polynomial for the nonorientable embeddings is then easily calculated from the Euler‐genus polynomial and the genus polynomial.
Banking crises : A review

This review surveys the theoretical and empirical literature on the causes and consequences of banking crises, and summarizes the lessons learned from policy interventions to resolve banking crises. Despite their different origins, banking crises display similar patterns. Their causes lie in unsustainable macroeconomic policies, market failures, regulatory distortions, and government interference in the allocation of capital; they are frequently characterized by boom-bust cycles in credit and asset prices; and they are generally resolved through large-scale government intervention. When not handled effectively and swiftly, banking crises tend to impose enormous costs to society by curtailing the flow of credit to the real economy. The article concludes with a review of proposals to enhance financial stability in an increasingly integrated financial system, which include making banking regulation more macroprudential—focusing on the cycle and systemic risk rather than the risk of individual banks—and improving market discipline by limiting explicit and implicit government insurance of bank liabilities.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF REGIONAL TRADE ENLARGEMENT IN EAST ASIA ON LAOS' TRADE

Using an unbalanced panel dataset of bilateral trade flows from 1992-2009, we assess the potential impacts of the formation of ASEAN+3 and ASEAN+6 free trade areas (FTAs) on Laos' trade. We find that bilateral trade flows between Laos and its trade partners are positively related to the sum of bilateral gross domestic product (GDP) and the degree of similarity in GDP size between Laos and the partner, and inversely related to relative factor endowment differences, transportation costs, and import tariff rates. Our simulation results show that Laos stands to gain from the formation of ASEAN+3 and ASEAN+6 FTAs if tariff barriers are gradually decreased. However, such examples of regional integration could harm Laos' economy if all tariff barriers were completely removed due to Laos' lack of competitiveness.
IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSIT ROUTING ALGORITHM FOR FINDING THE SHORTEST K-PATH

Abstract. Most of the existing public transit routing algorithms were developed on the basis of graph theory. Recently, algorithms are being developed that can compute for O-D public transit paths by using timetable information only, not using network structure consisting of nodes and links. The timetable-based public transit routing algorithm produces one shortest path to destination, using departure time and arrival time by stop. But it has limitations in reflecting additional factors, such as transfer penalty and alternative path selection, in the process of path calculation. In addition, since public transit passengers tend to choose one among various alternative paths, it is necessary to calculate multiple paths rather than a single path as in the existing methods. Therefore, this study proposes an improved RAPTOR algorithm that can consider transfer penalty and produce multiple paths, while it is based on RAPTOR, the existing timetable-based public transit routing algorithm. The transfer penalty was applied at the point of transfer, and differently according to transfer types. As a result of analyzing computed paths of the algorithms before and after improvement, it was found that computed paths with the improved RAPTOR algorithm proposed by this study were more similar to Seoul public transit passengers' actual travel paths than computed paths by the existing RAPTOR alone.
Coping with healthcare costs for chronic illness in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic literature review

Background Experiencing illness in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) can incur very high out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for healthcare and, while the existing literature typically focuses on levels of expenditure, it rarely examines what happens when households do not have the necessary money. Some will adopt one or more ‘coping strategies’, such as borrowing money, perhaps at exorbitant interest rates, or selling assets, some necessary for their future income, with detrimental long-term effects. This is particularly relevant for chronic illnesses that require consistent, long-term OOP payments. We systematically review the literature on strategies for financing OOP costs of chronic illnesses in LMICs, their correlates and their impacts on households. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EconLit, EMBASE, Global Health and Scopus on 22 October 2018 for literature published on or after 1 January 2000. We included qualitative or quantitative studies describing at least one coping strategy for chronic illness OOP payments in a LMIC context. Our narrative review follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines. Results Forty-seven papers were included. Studies identified coping strategies for chronic illness costs that are not traditionally addressed in financial risk protection research (eg, taking children out of school, sending them to work, reducing expenditure on food or education, quitting work to give care). Twenty studies reported socioeconomic or other correlates of coping strategies, with poorer households and those with more advanced disease more vulnerable to detrimental strategies. Only six studies (three cross-sectional and three qualitative) included evidence of impacts of coping strategies on households, including increased labour to repay debts and discontinuing treatment. Conclusions Monitoring of financial risk protection provides an incomplete picture if it fails to capture the effect of coping strategies. This will require qualitative and longitudinal research to understand the long-term effects, especially those associated with chronic illness in LMICs.