29 research outputs found
INVESTMENT DECISION IN HUMAN CAPITAL AND MACROECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
To emphasize the importance and influence of human capital on economic growth of a country and also to base decisions on the need to invest in such type of capital, studies have been conducted and different models for analysis macroeconomic and demographic indicators have been used. We present the main indicators and dynamics of human capital, placed in the economic context of Romania, with reference, in bringing out statistics data, to an average period of time (between 1994-2008) characterized at macroeconomic level, both by recession and economic growth periods. There were also highlighted indicators and dynamics, both at national and individual level.human capital; indicators of human capital; dynamics of human capital; macroeconomic indicators; individual indicators
Multiple sclerosis and SARS-CoV-2 infection
Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie „Grigore T. Popa” Iași, România,
Clinica I Oftalmologie, Spitalul Clinic Județean de Urgență „Sf. Spiridon”, Iași, RomâniaSummary. We analyzed the case of a patient with multiple sclerosis associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The clinical appearance of the
ophthalmologist does not justify the decrease in AV, which is why it is recommended to perform an MRI in an emergency. The
patient accuses the decrease in visual acuity in the left eye. The appearance described is suggestive for multiple sclerosis. PCR
testing was positive. After 14 days PCR test was negative but the ophthalmological evolution was unfavorable. Intravenous
emergency treatment with Solumedrol was initiated for 5 days. The particularity of the case is due to the fulminant onset of
multiple sclerosis in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the unfavorable evolution in terms of AV, despite early treatment.Introducere. Pacientă, în vârstă de 16 ani, se
prezintă în Clinica I Oftalmologie a Spitalului „Sf.
Spiridon”, Iași, acuzând scăderea acuității vizuale
la ochiul stâng cu debut acut. Pacienta nu prezintă
alte antecedente personale patologice. AVOD=1
fc, AVOS= pmm., PIOAO=12mmHg. La examinarea
polului anterior, nu se constată elemente patologice.
La examinarea polului posterior, discul optic este
normal colorat, are contur net, C/D=0,1, artere și vene
cu calibru normal, maculă fără leziuni. Aspectul clinic
oftalmologic nu justifică scăderea AV, motiv pentru
care se recomandă efectuarea unui RMN în urgență.
Se identifică leziuni în hipersemnal T2 și FLAIR cu
restricție de difuzie localizată periventricular pe
partea dreaptă, în contrast cu cornul posterior al
ventriculului lateral drept cu diametru de 17/15 mm
și două în centri senzoriali, una mai mare de 9,6mm
parietal drept în substanța albă, periventricular,
talamic drept, 9,6 mm în medulla oblongata de 13
mm. Aspectul descris este sugestiv pentru scleroză
multiplă. Testarea PCR pentru SARS-CoV-2 a avut
rezultat pozitiv, pacienta fiind asimptomatică. S-a
format o echipă multidisciplinară alcătuită din oftalmologi,
neurologi și medici infecționiști și s-a inițiat
tratamentul în urgență intravenos cu Solumedrol
timp de 5 zile, continuat cu Medrol per os.
Evoluție. După 14 zile, testul PCR pentru SARSCoV-
2 s-a negativat, însă evoluția oftalmologică a
fost nefavorabilă. Pacienta se prezintă după 3 luni,
în urgență, acuzând percepția unui scotom central
la OD. AVOD=0,6, iar AVOS a rămas pmm. La RMN
leziunile au aspect staționar. După tratamentul intravenos
cu Solumedrol 3 zile și per os cu Medrol,
scotomul central de la OD se reduce în dimensiuni
și AVOD se îmbunătățește la 0,8 fcnc.
Discuții: Rămâne în discuție deschisă dacă
infecția cu SARS-CoV-2 la persoane nevaccinate
poate precipita debutul fulminant al unor patologii
în stare latentă.
Concluzii. Particularitatea cazului se datorează
debutului fulminant al sclerozei multiple în contextul
infecției cu SARS-CoV-2 și evoluției nefavorabile
din punct de vedere al AV, în ciuda tratamentului
instaurat precoce
Poverty, institutions and child health in post-communist rural Romania: A view from below
Romania\u27s high rates of child and infant mortality along with high rates of various infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and AIDS, cannot be explained by the mainstream theories on child health and survival, which posit that maternal education and immunization rates are the main determinants in influencing child health outcomes. In Romania, female adult literacy rate is 96,3 percent (2003, UNDP) and 98 percent of all children are immunized (World Bank Report, 2001). The alarming child health outcomes that Romania displays at present, the increase in poverty for large portions of the population (especially rural families with many children) and the decreasing provision of primary health services (in the rural areas in particular) and affordable medicine are the issues which motivate this research. In this study I examine the barriers experienced by the rural poor when they access health care for their children. I focus particularly on the institutional arrangements that have been inherited from the communist regime and show how formal and informal norms may adversely affect child health outcomes. Based on an extensive field research in Romania over the last 4 years, I examine the mechanisms through which factors such as household poverty, education, income, food consumption and nutrition, and access to health care services may affect child health and survival. My findings suggest that formal, and particularly informal norms imbedded in the Romanian health care system play a critical role in influencing the decisions poor households make with regard to their children\u27s health. This research suggests that greater efforts to redistribute health care resources and to reduce fraud and informal payments are required if modern maternal and child health care services are to reach the poor in rural areas. The policy solution I propose is to scale back the traditional national governance structures and complement these with community-based, multi-sectoral approaches to delivering child health services
An Analysis of the Correlation between Size and Performance of Private Pension Funds
Using present performance measures, we find that
inflation rate is barely covered by Romanian private pension funds
strategies. The paper looks at effects of scale on performance. This issue
is investigated empirically using data from Romanian private pension
funds. We find results consistent with prior literature in that size,
measured as total net assets, erodes performance. The highly regulated
Romanian private pension environment gives rise to various
interpretations for size detracting performance that do not sprout from
the “asymmetric information” theory. We explain the empirical results as
an effect of “perfect scaling”
An Analysis of the Correlation between Size and Performance of Private Pension Funds
Using present performance measures, we find that inflation rate is barely covered by Romanian private pension funds strategies. The paper looks at effects of scale on performance. This issue is investigated empirically using data from Romanian private pension funds. We find results consistent with prior literature in that size, measured as total net assets, erodes performance. The highly regulated Romanian private pension environment gives rise to various interpretations for size detracting performance that do not sprout from the “asymmetric information” theory. We explain the empirical results as an effect of “perfect scaling”.performance; scale; private pension market; panel data; perfect scaling.
Time to audit your AI algorithms
Undoubtedly, the use of algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms in particular, has numerous benefits. Fields such as finance, healthcare, automotive, education, and recruitment, to name a few, have demonstrated successful application of AI algorithms. Conversely, cases of bad algorithms abound and lead to lost revenue, discrimination, disinformation, or even bodily harm. Currently, we have surpassed the stage of just observing bad algorithms. New European regulations governing AI force organizations to manage the risks introduced by algorithms and convince the public about the proper functioning of algorithms. In this context, can algorithms be rigorously audited to build public trust and if yes, how? This article aims to answer these questions by building on an auditing framework for model risk management that controls for the novelty introduced by AI algorithms while connecting AI algorithm audit with internal audit terminology
Empowering Accounting with Artificial Intelligence
AI is entering the accounting profession. What should accountants do to get the most out of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their daily jobs? The Tilburg Winter Symposium and Research Camp, themed “Empowering Accounting with Artificial Intelligence,” brought practitioners and researchers together in a two-day event on this important topic. While the tasks and opportunities for AI are numerous, the conference’s overarching conversation suggests that the core of the accountant’s profession is likely to evolve rather than disappear. This evolution requires accountants to redefine their roles by focusing more on how AI can assist in strategic decision-making. Furthermore, participating experts recommend that accountants set up operational and organizational structures and manage stakeholder involvement when using AI, so that the right questions can be asked to ensure that AI can assist in improving corporate decisions
The effect of the Romanian pension market concentration on the magnitude of pension revenues
Pension valuation allows for the estimation of the
pension revenue that employees are entitled to receive after retirement.
The high level of concentration on the Romanian pension market affects
the pension revenue employees are entitled to receive after retirement in
that, on a long run, 20 – 30 years, the higher pension revenue is provided
by the bigger pension funds (with a market share over 30%). This study
explores the effect of pension market concentration on the magnitude of
the pension revenue by employing an agent based simulation technique
QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF THE TOFFEE WITH SWEETENERS AND DYE FROMWALNUT SEPTUM OR KERNEL’S PELLICLE
Reduction of “bad” carbohydrates in sweets is a complex issue, because carbohydrates provide important sensory, physical and textural properties of food. This research illustrated the possible use of the colorant Brown7 (0.6...1.0%) in combination with sucralose and isomalt for alerting the functional quality of toffee candies. Sensory and physicochemical properties, microbiological indicators and color parameters were analyzed for four samples of toffee. The combination of sweetener with anti-crystallizer and Brown7 significantly improves the color of toffees.It was established by HPLC that during thermal processing the Casuarictin from Brown 7 transforms into Ellagic acid. These transformations lead to an increase in the intensity of the brown color in the toffee. The addition of Brown 7 contributes to the decrease of titratable acidity from 0.28 ± 0.08 in the control to 0.21 ± 0.06 degrees of acidity in the sample which contain 1.0% dye. The chromatic parameters L*, a*, b* of the toffee sample with 0.6% Brown 7 content are the closest to the classic toffee parameters. Use of colorant in combination with sweetener illustrates a potential synergy of sensorial properties. This help to increase the intake of natural bioactive compounds and to decrease carbohydrates in sweets, promising health benefits