Politiche di sostegno al settore agroindustriale in Piemonte: una valutazione controfattuale

Working Paper Ircres-CNR 01/2015. This paper aims at analysing the role played by the Rural Development Programme (RDP) in supporting the Piedmont (Italy) agro-food industry, i.e. that part of the agricultural production chain characterised by the highest added value. This is a first attempt to extend the previous in itinere evaluation to an ex-post quasi experimental counterfactual evaluation of the subsidies’ net impact. Since the agri-food industry is characterised by an extreme variety of firms, and having observed that the treated firms do not share the characteristics of the average population. The counterfactual group has been selected by adopting the coarsened exact matching technique, a quite recent imbalance-reducing matching method. The final results do suggest, above all, a stabilizing effect of the subsidy in a period characterized by a sever worldwide economic crisis. However, since results are quite uncertain, we expect that on-going further research (on the data-base, the model, and balance sheet indicators) will lead to stronger conclusion on the effectiveness of the policy. Nonetheless, this exercise already shows that the selected matching set and methodology, the chosen timing, and the quality of the available data do strongly influence the impact analysis. 

Use of Optical Coherence Tomography to Detect Retinal Nerve Fiber Loss in Children With Optic Pathway Glioma

Optic pathway glioma (OPG) presents in childhood and can cause significant morbidity and visual loss. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current imaging modality of choice for evaluation of OPG progression, but it is a relatively limited resource often requiring sedation in the pediatric age group. Additionally, OPG progression on MRI does not always correlate with clinical progression. As a result, several other modalities for evaluating OPG are being investigated, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), a readily available imaging technique in ophthalmic practice. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured using OCT and optic nerve function in children with OPG with and without neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1). A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify children diagnosed with OPG from 2001 to 2015 at a tertiary pediatric medical center. The correlation between OCT measurements and clinical visual parameters was statistically analyzed. Included were 23 children with imaging-confirmed OPG and spectral domain OCT: 10 with NF-1 (mean age at diagnosis 5.8 years) and 13 without (mean age at diagnosis 5.9 years). The glioma involved the chiasma-hypothalamus in 19 patients, optic nerve in 11, and optic tract in 7; more than one anatomic site was affected in 15. Symptoms were reported in 2 patients with NF-1 and most patients without NF-1. Visual field defects included monocular, bitemporal, nasal, and homonymous hemianopia. Initial mean RNFL was 85.4 μm in the NF-1 group and 65 μm in the non-NF-1 group. Visual acuity deteriorated in 1/10 patients and 5/13 patients, respectively. Repeated OCT showed continued RNFL thinning in 3 patients (5 eyes) in the NF-1 group and in 8 patients (11 eyes) in the non-NF-1 group, often associated with a decrease in optic nerve function. In conclusion, visual function in children with OPG is correlated with repeated OCT measurements and weakly with neuroimaging. Children without NF-1 are usually symptomatic and have a worse clinical outcome. These findings may have important implications when considering initiating, continuing or stopping chemotherapy for OPG. The application of OCT in the assessment of OPG and the correlation of the findings to clinical progression can have a significant impact on OPG patient management

Patient-reported outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients treated with secukinumab for 24 months in daily clinical practice

On behalf of the EuroSpA Scientific Committee, the authors acknowledge Novartis Pharma AG for supporting the EuroSpA collaboration.Peer reviewe

Training basic numerical skills in children with Down syndrome using the computerized game \u201cThe Number Race\u201d

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) present reduced basic numerical skills, which have a negative impact on everyday numeracy and mathematical learning. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of the adaptive (non-commercial) computerized game \u201cThe Number Race\u201d in improving basic numerical skills in children with DS. The experimental group (EG; N = 30, Mage-in-months 118, range 70\u2013149) completed a training playing with \u201cThe Number Race\u201d, whereas children in the control group (CG; N = 31, Mage-in-months 138, range 76\u2013207) worked with software aiming at improving their reading skills. The training lasted 10 weeks with two weekly sessions of 20\u201330 min each. We assessed both groups\u2019 numerical and reading skills before and immediately after the end of the training, as well as at a 3-months follow-up. We found weak evidence for post-training groups differences in terms of overall numeracy score. However, the EG displayed substantial improvements in specific numerical skills and in mental calculation, which were maintained over time, and no improvement in reading. Conversely, the CG showed improvements in their reading skills as well as in number skills but to a lesser extent compared to the EG. Overall, \u201cThe Number Race\u201d appears as a suitable tool to improve some aspects of numeracy in DS

Parent-based training of basic number skills in Down Syndrome children using an adaptive computer game

Background: Numeracy is an area of difficulty for children with Down syndrome (DS). It has been demonstrated that The Number Race, a non-commercial adaptive computer game designed to foster basic mathematical abilities, represents a promising instrument to enhance these skills in children with DS when delivered by an expert in a clinical setting. Aims: In the present study, we assessed the efficacy of The Number Race when administered at home by properly instructed and remotely supervised parents. Methods and procedures: Basic numerical skills were assessed before and after training, as well as at three-months follow-up. Performance of children with DS who worked at home with the parent (PG) was compared with that of children who received the training by an expert (EG). For both groups, the training lasted ten weeks, with two weekly sessions of 20 12 30 min. Outcomes and results: Results show that both groups improved across various measures of nu- merical proficiency, including the overall score of the numeracy assessment battery, while only the EG showed an improvement in a measure of mental calculation. The improvements were maintained three months after the end of the training. Conclusions and implications: These findings confirm the efficacy of The Number Race and extend it to an home-based setting, whereby parents administer the training with external supervision

Number estimation in Down syndrome: Cognition or experience?

Background The ability to place numbers on a visual “number line” is a hallmark of the understanding of numerical magnitude and it is a strong predictor of mathematical achievement. Aim We examined whether the performance in the number line estimation task is more driven by mental age or experience with numbers in a sample of Italian children with Down syndrome (DS). Method and procedure Sixty-three children with DS (Mmonths = 128.62, SD = 30.73) and sixty-three typically developing children (Mmonths = 54.98, SD = 6.34) matched one to one for mental age completed number line estimation tasks and other tests to assess their numerical knowledge. Outcomes and results No significant differences emerged between the two groups in terms of accuracy of positioning numbers on the 1–10 and 1–20 interval. In addition, the accuracy on the 1–10 interval was related to the ability to recognize numbers, while the accuracy on the 1–20 line was related to the ability to compare magnitudes. Conclusion and Implication Results suggest that in individuals with DS the linear mapping of numbers is driven by mental age, but the accuracy of positioning numbers is also shaped by the experience with symbolic numbers. Therefore, the improvement of numerical estimation abilities should be a target of intervention programs

STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN MINAWISATA DI TELUK SAWAI KABUPATEN MALUKU TENGAH

The waters of the bay are known among domestic and foreign tourists as a tourist destination. Various tourist objects and attractions that offer beautiful beaches, underwater diving, waterfalls and natural cave holes are in this region. With the increasing activity of tourism and local community activities, it is certain that in the next few years almost all of the land will be used for various development activities, so the need for efficient utilization of coastal and marine resources, especially the utilization of fisheries and tourism potentials by developing the concept of minawisata in the area. The research purpose was formulating the development strategy of minatourism in Sawai Bay. The study was conducted for 3 months from September to November 2020. The data collection used primary and secondary data as well as purposive sampling. The data analysis method SWOT and AHP. The results showed that The priority strategies for developing minatourism in Sawai Bay, Central Maluku Regency; Development of quality human resources in the community; Increasing public awareness around the Sawai Bay area of ​​the importance of protecting fisheries and marine environmental resources; Developing local community expertise to support minatourism activities; Increasing tourism facilities and infrastructure; Increase the promotion of online/offline minawisata; Increase cooperation between managers and investors; and Improve MCS (monitoring, controling, survellance) (0.0058)

Optic Coherent Tomography Shows Anatomical-Functional Correlation with Visual Function of Children with Optic Pathway Glioma (.pdf)

To describe long term follow-up of children with optic pathway glioma (OPG) and to investigate the anatomical-functional correlation between optic nerve function and nerve fiber layer thickness (NFL) as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT)

Parent-based training of basic number skills in children with Down syndrome using an adaptive computer game

Background Numeracy is an area of difficulty for children with Down Syndrome (DS). It has been demonstrated that “The Number Race”, a non-commercial adaptive computer game designed to foster basic mathematical abilities, represents a promising instrument to enhance these skills in children with DS when delivered by an expert in a clinical setting. Aims In the present study, we assessed the efficacy of the Number Race when administered at home by properly instructed and remotely supervised parents. Methods and Procedures Basic numerical skills were assessed before and after training, as well as at three-months follow-up. Performance of children with DS who worked at home with the parent (PG) was compared with that of children who received the training by an expert (EG). For both groups, the training lasted ten weeks, with two weekly sessions of 20-30 minutes. Outcomes and Results Results show that both groups improved across various measures of numerical proficiency, including the overall score of the numeracy assessment battery, while only the EG showed an improvement in a measure of mental calculation. The improvements were maintained three months after the end of the training. Conclusions and Implications These findings confirm the efficacy of The Number Race and extend it to a home-based setting, whereby parents administer the training with external supervision

Number estimation in Down syndrome: Cognition or experience?

Background: The ability to place numbers on a visual “number line” is a hallmark of the understanding of numerical magnitude and it is a strong predictor of mathematical achievement. Aim: We examined whether the performance in the number line estimation task is more driven by mental age or experience with numbers in a sample of Italian children with Down syndrome (DS). Method and procedure: Sixty-three children with DS (Mmonths = 128.62, SD = 30.73) and sixty-three typically developing children (Mmonths = 54.98, SD = 6.34) matched one to one for mental age completed number line estimation tasks and other tests to assess their numerical knowledge. Outcomes and results: No significant differences emerged between the two groups in terms of accuracy of positioning numbers on the 1–10 and 1–20 interval. In addition, the accuracy on the 1–10 interval was related to the ability to recognize numbers, while the accuracy on the 1–20 line was related to the ability to compare magnitudes. Conclusion and Implication: Results suggest that in individuals with DS the linear mapping of numbers is driven by mental age, but the accuracy of positioning numbers is also shaped by the experience with symbolic numbers. Therefore, the improvement of numerical estimation abilities should be a target of intervention programs.</p