Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Associated Factors among Health Care Workers in Kigali, Rwanda

Introduction Data are limited regarding tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection prevalence in Rwandan health facilities. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Kigali during 2010. We purposively selected the public referral hospital, both district hospitals, and randomly selected 7 of 17 health centers. School workers (SWs) from the nearest willing public schools served as a local reference group. We tested for latent TB infection (LTBI) using tuberculin skin testing (TST) and asked about past TB disease. We assessed risk of LTBI and past history of TB disease associated with hospital employment. Among HCWs, we assessed risk associated with facility type (district hospital, referral hospital, health center), work setting (inpatient, outpatient), and occupation. Results Age, gender, and HIV status was similar between the enrolled 1,131 HCWs and 381 SWs. LTBI was more prevalent among HCWs (62%) than SWs (39%). Adjusted odds of a positive TST result were 2.71 (95% CI 2.01–3.67) times greater among HCWs than SWs. Among HCWs, there was no detectable difference between prevalence of LTBI according to facility type, work setting, or occupation. Conclusion HCWs are at greater risk of LTBI, regardless of facility type, work setting, or occupation. The current status of TB infection control practices should be evaluated in the entire workforce in all Rwandan healthcare facilities.
A COMBINATION OF COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS, ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK AND SUPPORT VECTORS MACHINES MODEL TO PREDICT FLOW VARIABLES IN CURVED CHANNEL

This study show the combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and soft computing techniques to make viewpoint for two-phase flow modelling and accuracy evaluation of soft computing methods in the three-dimensional flow variables prediction in curved channels. Therefore, artificial neural network (ANN) and support vectors machines (SVM) models with CFD is designed to estimate velocity and flow depth variable in 60° sharp bend. Experimental results in 6 different flow discharges of 5, 7.8, 13.6, 19.1, 25.3 and 30.8 l/s to train and test, ANN and SVM models is used. The results of numerical models with experimental values are compared and the models accuracy is confirmed. The results evaluation show that all three models ANN, SVM and CFD perform well in flow velocity prediction, with correlation coefficient (R) of 0.952, o.806, and 0.680, and flow depth (R) of 0.999, 0.696, and 0.614 respectively. ANN model to predict both velocity and flow depth variables with mean absolute relative error (MARE) of 0.055 and 0.004 is the best model. Then SVM and CFD models with MARE of 0.069 and 0.089 in velocity prediction and in flow depth prediction CFD and SVM models with MARE of 0.007 and 0.011 are the best models, respectively.
Late stages of the evolution of A-type stars on the main sequence: comparison between observed chemical abundances and diffusion models for 8 Am stars of the Praesepe cluster

Aims. We aim to provide observational constraints on diffusion models that predict peculiar chemical abundances in the atmospheres of Am stars. We also intend to check if chemical peculiarities and slow rotation can be explained by the presence of a weak magnetic field. Methods. We have obtained high resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of eight previously-classified Am stars, two normal A-type stars and one Blue Straggler, considered to be members of the Praesepe cluster. For all of these stars we have determined fundamental parameters and photospheric abundances for a large number of chemical elements, with a higher precision than was ever obtained before for this cluster. For seven of these stars we also obtained spectra in circular polarization and applied the LSD technique to constrain the longitudinal magnetic field. Results. No magnetic field was detected in any of the analysed stars. HD 73666, a Blue Straggler previously considered as an Ap (Si) star, turns out to have the abundances of a normal A-type star. Am classification is not confirmed for HD 72942. For HD 73709 we have also calculated synthetic Aa photometry that is in good agreement with the observations. There is a generally good agreement between abundance predictions of diffusion models and values that we have obtained for the remaining Am stars. However, the observed Na and S abundances deviate from the predictions by 0.6 dex and ≥0.25 dex respectively. Li appears to be overabundant in three stars of our sample.
Strategic implementation of environmentally friendly innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia

This study aims to empirically test the influence of market orientation strategies, and value co-creation on green product innovation, and also to test the value co-creation and green product innovation on marketing performance in the context of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The study distributed questionnaires to 464 SMEsâ€™ entrepreneurs. By using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) as analytical tool, the results show that market orientation, value co-creation positively affect green product innovation in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition, the results of this study also show that value co-creation, and green product innovation have a positive effect on marketing performance.
Variation within and between Frankliniella Thrips Species in Host Plant Utilization

Abstract Anthophilous flower thrips in the genus Frankliniella (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) exploit ephemeral plant resources and therefore must be capable of successfully locating appropriate hosts on a repeated basis, yet little is known of interspecific and intraspecific variation in responses to host plant type and nutritional quality. Field trials were conducted over two seasons to determine if the abundance of males and females of three common Frankliniella species, F. occidentalis (Pergande), F. tritici (Fitch) and F. bispinosa (Morgan), their larvae, and a key predator, Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) were affected by host plant type and plant nutritional quality. Two host plants, pepper, Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae) and tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. that vary in suitability for these species were examined, and their nutritional quality was manipulated by applying three levels of nitrogen fertilization (101 kg/ha, 202 kg/ha, 404 kg/ha). F. occidentalis females were more abundant in pepper than in tomato, but males did not show a differential response. Both sexes of F. tritici and F. bispinosa were more abundant in tomato than in pepper. Larval thrips were more abundant in pepper than in tomato. Likewise, O. insidiosus females and nymphs were more abundant in pepper than in tomato. Only F. occidentalis females showed a distinct response to nitrogen fertilization, with abundance increasing with fertilization. These results show that host plant utilization patterns vary among Frankliniella spp. and should not be generalized from results of the intensively studied F. occidentalis. Given the different pest status of these species and their differential abundance in pepper and tomato, it is critical that scouting programs include species identifications for proper management.
Thresholds in the Finance-Growth Nexus: A Cross-Country Analysis

Thresholds of inflation, government size, trade openness, and per capita income for the finance-growth nexus are investigated using five-year averages of standard variables for 84 countries from 1965 to 2004. The results suggest that: (i) high inflation crowds out positive effects of financial depth on long-run growth, (ii) small government sizes hurt the finance-growth nexus in low-income countries, while large government sizes hurt high-income countries, (iii) low levels of trade openness are sufficient for finance-growth nexus in high-income countries, but low-income countries need higher levels of trade openness for similar magnitudes of the finance-growth nexus, and (iv) catch-up effects through the finance-growth nexus are higher for moderate per capita income levels.
An Evaluation of General “ Rules of Thumb ” in Amine Sweetening Unit Design and Operation

Many “rules of thumb” are widely used in the design and operation of amine sweetening units. These rules have been developed over the years and most engineers accept them even though many have little familiarity with how important they may or may not be. Few ask why we have these rules, how absolute they are, and whether the rules have any flexibility. In this paper, several of these rules are described and evaluated for their usefulness and necessity using parametric studies with a steady-state process simulator. The rules evaluated include the 5 C temperature approach in the absorber, the 0.12 kg/L specification for reboiler steam, the 99C lean/rich exchanger outlet temperature, and the regenerator pressure/reboiler temperature guideline. Although these four rules of thumb are excellent starting points, none of them represent optimum conditions for all cases and, depending on the situation, violating these rules could offer considerable advantages to process efficiency. Every situation is different and requires a thorough investigation as to whether changes to these set points are beneficial and whether these benefits offset any additional risks.
Laminar organization and contrast sensitivity of direction-selective cells in the striate cortex of the Old World monkey

The directional preference of neurons sampled from all layers of the striate cortex was determined using the responses to drifting grating stimuli of optimal spatial and temporal frequency. In addition, contrast sensitivity as a function of spatial frequency was measured and from the resulting spatial contrast sensitivity function the peak contrast sensitivity and optimal spatial frequency were obtained. The distribution of directionally selective cells showed a distinct laminar pattern. Upper layer 4 (4a, 4b, and 4c alpha) and layer 6 were the only cortical layers with neurons that showed a pronounced preference for the direction of stimulus motion. The directionally selective cells in these layers are among those with the highest contrast sensitivities but had optimal spatial frequencies that were confined to the low and middle range of the optimal spatial frequency distribution. These findings suggest that the directionally selective cells may fall into at least 2 distinct populations, which may be the first stages in the visual pathway that correspond to those channels, inferred from psychophysical experiments, that underlie the detection of movement.
Charcoal Reflectance Reveals Early Holocene Boreal Deciduous Forests Burned at High Intensities

Wildfire size, frequency, and severity are increasing in the Alaskan boreal forest in response to climate warming. One of the potential impacts of this changing fire regime is the alteration of successional trajectories, from black spruce to mixed stands dominated by aspen, a vegetation composition not experienced since the early Holocene. Such changes in vegetation composition may consequently alter the intensity of fires, influencing fire feedbacks to the ecosystem. Paleorecords document past wildfire-vegetation dynamics and as such, are imperative for our understanding of how these ecosystems will respond to future climate warming. For the first time, we have used reflectance measurements of macroscopic charcoal particles (>180μm) from an Alaskan lake-sediment record to estimate ancient charring temperatures (termed pyrolysis intensity). We demonstrate that pyrolysis intensity increased markedly from an interval of birch tundra 11 ky ago (mean 1.52%Ro; 485°C), to the expansion of trees on the landscape ∼10.5 ky ago, remaining high to the present (mean 3.54%Ro; 640°C) irrespective of stand composition. Despite differing flammabilities and adaptations to fire, the highest pyrolysis intensities derive from two intervals with distinct vegetation compositions. 1) the expansion of mixed aspen and spruce woodland at 10 cal. kyr BP, and 2) the establishment of black spruce, and the modern boreal forest at 4 cal. kyr BP. Based on our analysis, we infer that predicted expansion of deciduous trees into the boreal forest in the future could lead to high intensity, but low severity fires, potentially moderating future climate-fire feedbacks.
Improving the Performance of Failing Students by Overcoming Their Self-Serving Attributional Biases

The causal impact of attributions on academic performance was examined by changing low-scoring students' attributions regarding their poor performances. Initially, when students who were failing a college course identified the cause of the performance, they emphasized external, uncontrollable causes. Because these self-serving attributions could have perpetuated poor performance on subsequent examinations, students in the experimental condition were exposed to information that suggested that grades in college are caused by internal, controllable factors such as effort and motivation. As predicted, on subsequent tests and on the final examination, these students earned higher grades than control students who received no attributional information. These findings lend support to an attributional model of academic achievement and also suggest that educational interventions that shift attributions away from a self-serving pattern to a performance-facilitating pattern may improve academic outcomes.
Swamp rice production in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria: an imperative for rice value chain of the agricultural transformation agenda.

*Corresponding Author Email: denglekpasham@gmail.com Tel. :+ 2348034934468 The study examined the economics of swamp rice production in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State Nigeria as an imperative for rice value chain of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda. The specific objectives were to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, determine cost and returns of swamp rice production, determine the relationship between input and output used and to identify the constraints of swamp rice production. Primary data were collected from 120 swamp rice farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire using random sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and production function analysis. Results of the analysis revealed that majority of the respondents (93.3%) were males, 88.40 % were educated (35% primary education, 29.2 % secondary and 24.2% tertiary education ). Swamp rice production was profitable as revealed by a gross margin and net farm income of N91,604.01 and N88,986.01 per hectare. The production function analysis indicated that farm size, family labour, fertilizer and herbicide were significantly related with rice output. The major constraints to swamp rice production in the study area include high cost of labour, inadequate supply of input, high cost of fertilizer; pest and diseases, land tenure system, poor storage facilities and poor marketing. Recommendations to overcome the identified constraints were made in the study.
Recoverability Optimality Theory: Discourse Anaphora in a Bidirectional framework

In this work we explore the possibility of formalizing explanations based in the notion \deletion under recoverability": information should be omitted in expressions if that information can be recovered without being overtly expressed { e.g., from information already encoded in the state of the discourse. This style of explanation is dicult to formalize for many reasons, among them that the contradictory factors involved are not resolved in a simple, consistent way. Optimality Theory permits the conicts to be formally adjudicated, and allows the conicts to be resolved in dierent ways in dierent languages. We will present what to our knowledge is the rst formal theory of the cross-linguistics typology of discourse anaphora systems.
Study of Trust as an Organizational Contingency, Part II: Examining Four Dimensions of Trust in ELICIT Experimentation

Abstract : Extending the concept of trust as a contingency of organizational design based on ELICIT experimentation, we seek to explain further why certain configurations of trust and organizational type perform better than others. That is, we are interested in the factors that explain why an Edge organization with high levels of trust performs better than a Hierarchy organization with high levels of trust or an Edge organization with low levels of trust. We examine survey results from a questionnaire with four dimensions of trust -- reliability, openness, ability, and concern -- ministered following the ELICIT computer simulation. The aim is to identify which dimension(s) may be primary or secondary determinants of performance, and recommend how managers and team leaders might better create and sustain trust by focusing on particular dimensions of trust within a manager's given organizational context. This research further establishes trust as a contingency factor in organizations. We discuss the implications for both scholars of trust in organizations and practitioners and managers (particularly in the Defense arena) as a means to address trust issues and improve performance outcomes.
Influenza A(H1N1) Oseltamivir Resistant Viruses in the Netherlands During the Winter 2007/2008

Background: Antiviral susceptibility surveillance in the Netherlands was intensified after the first reports about the emergence of influenza A(H1N1) oseltamivir resistant viruses in Norway in January, 2008. Methods: Within the existing influenza surveillance an additional questionnaire study was performed to retrospectively assess possible risk factors and establish clinical outcome of all patients with influenza virus A(H1N1) positive specimens. To discriminate resistant and sensitive viruses, fifty percent inhibitory concentrations for the neuramidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir were determined in a neuraminidase inhibition assay. Mutations previously associated with resistance to neuramidase inhibitors and M2 blockers (amantadine and rimantadine) were searched for by nucleotide sequencing of neuraminidase and M2 genes respectively. Results: Among 171 patients infected with A(H1N1) viruses an overall prevalence of oseltamivir resistance of 27% (95% CI: 20-34%) was found. None of influenza A(H1N1) oseltamivir resistant viruses tested was resistant against amantadine or zanamivir. Patient characteristics, underlying conditions, influenza vaccination, symptoms, complications, and exposure to oseltamivir and other antivirals did not differ significantly between patients infected with resistant and sensitive A(H1N1) viruses. Conclusion: In 2007/2008 a large proportion of influenza A(H1N1) viruses resistant to oseltamivir was detected. There were no clinical differences between patients infected with resistant and sensitive A(H1N1) viruses. Continuous monitoring of the antiviral drug sensitivity profile of influenza viruses is justified, preferably using the existing sentinel surveillance, however, complemented with data from the more severe end of the clinical spectrum. In order to act timely on emergencies of public health importance we suggest setting up a surveillance system that can guarantee rapid access to the latter.
Developing managerial and digital competencies trough BIM technologies in construction industry

Information, knowledge and skills are in the current digital economy very important. The individual skills of managers in many cases represent a competitive advantage over other companies. Developing managerial and digital competencies represent one of the main conditions for success construction company. Nowadays, there are many ways of developing managerial and digital competencies. Progressive technology may be one way to achieve this. Building Information Modelling is a tool for supporting the management of construction projects in various fields. Paper discuses the issue of developing managerial and digital competencies through BIM technologies in construction industry. The main objective of the research and this paper is to confirm the statement that BIM technology supports better management in construction industry and that BIM technology develops managerial and digital competencies, it means that BIM improve their managerial and digital skills.
ICESat's new perspective on ice shelf rifts: The vertical dimension

The small footprint (∼70 m) and ∼172 m along‐track spacing of the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) provides unprecedented horizontal resolution for a satellite altimeter. This enables ICESat to map many previously unresolved features on ice shelves, such as crevasses, rifts, grounding zones and ice fronts. We present examples of ICESat‐derived elevation data showing topography over rifts on the Amery and Ross ice shelves, widths of rifts and as estimates of the thickness of mélange (a collection of ice and snow trapped inside the rifts). We show that mélange thickness remains constant over the ICESat data period and tends to be thicker in older rifts. We validate the ICESat‐derived mélange depth estimate with an in situ measurement on the Ross Ice Shelf.
Waddlia chondrophila, a Potential Agent of Human Fetal Death

We investigated the zoonotic potential of Waddlia chondrophila, a new Chlamydia-like abortigenic agent in ruminants. Anti-Waddlia antibody reactivity was tested by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Waddlia seroprevalence was higher in women who had had sporadic and recurrent miscarriages than in control women (p<0.001). Waddlia spp. may represent a cause of human fetal loss.
Comparison of reservoir linear operation rules using linear and dynamic programming

: Mathematical optimization techniques are used to study the operation and design of a single, multi-purpose reservoir system. Optimal monthly release policies are derived for Hoover Reservoir, located in Central Ohio, using chance-constrained linear programming and dynamic programming-regression methodologies. Important characteristics of the former approach are derived, discussed, and graphically illustrated using Hoover Reservoir as a case example. Simulation procedures are used to examine and compare the overall performance of the optimal monthly reservoir release policies derived under the two approaches. Results indicate that, for the mean detention time and the corresponding safe yield target water supply release under existing design of Hoover Reservoir, the dynamic programming policies produce lower average annual losses (as defined by a two-sided quadratic loss function) while achieving at least as high reliability levels when compared to policies derived under the chance-constrained linear programming method. In making this comparison, the reservoir release policies, although not identical, are assumed to be linear. This restricted form of the release policy is necessary to make the chance-constrained programming method mathematically tractable.
The Implications of Debt Heterogeneity for R&D Investment and Firm Performance

An assumption in prior research is that debt is homogeneous and provides inappropriate governance for R&D investments. We argue that debt is heterogeneous: although transactional debt does indeed impose strict contractual constraints that provide inappropriate governance for R&D investments, relational debt has very different characteristics that provide more appropriate governance. Using a sample of Japanese firms, we find that firms that align their debt structures with their R&D investments perform better than those that are misaligned. Furthermore, firms tend to align their debt structure with R&D investments, but only after deregulation permits relatively free access to various types of debt.