Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the design of closed recapture experiments

We propose a method to plan the number of occasions of recapture experiments for population size estimation. We do so by fixing the smallest number of capture occasions so that the expected length of the profile confidence interval is less than or equal to a fixed threshold. In some cases, we solve the optimization problem in closed form. For more complex models we use numerical optimization. We detail models assuming homogeneous, time‐varying, subject‐specific capture probabilities, behavioral response to capture, and combining behavioral response with subject‐specific effects. The principle we propose can be extended to plan any other model specification. We formally show the validity of the approach by proving distributional convergence. We illustrate with simulations and challenging examples in epidemiology and ecology. We report that in many cases adding as few as two sampling occasions may substantially reduce the length of confidence intervals.
Coping with the Social Costs of 'Transition': Everyday Life in Post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, many Russian and Ukrainian households have experienced periods of economic marginalization. The role of this paper is to examine these social costs of transition, noting that official reporting underestimates the true scale of the problem, and the household responses to these costs.The discussions are based on both qualitative and quantitative research undertaken in numerous locations in Russia and Ukraine. One of the paper’s key arguments is that informal economic practices are crucial to many households and that a broad spectrum of coping tactics is employed.These tactics often reveal the unequal power relations that run through state – society and worker – employee relations and help detail the high levels of corruption that exist in post-Soviet societies. Furthermore, these tactics are entwined in the locations within which they take place and rely on high levels of social capital, ensuring that households would rather remain in their current location than migrate to cheaper regions.The paper concludes on a rather pessimistic note, arguing that, although Russian and Ukrainian households have ‘coped’ over the 20 years since the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the future poses new challenges.These include an ageing population, the increasing use of credit (default on which can lead to eviction) and the global recession, which leads to a decrease in opportunities in the informal sphere.
Cross-Sectional Comparison of an Automated Hybrid Capture 2 Assay and the Consensus GP5+/6+ PCR Method in a Population-Based Cervical Screening Program

ABSTRACT In this cross-sectional study, clinical performances of the hybrid capture 2 assay using an automated instrument (i.e., rapid capture system) (hc2-RCS) and the high-risk human papillomavirus GP5+/6+ PCR-enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test were compared using cervical scrape specimens from 8,132 women that participated in a population-based screening trial. The hc2-RCS test scored significantly more samples positive (6.8%) than the GP5+/6+ PCR-EIA (4.8%) (P < 0.0005). This could be attributed largely to a higher positivity rate by the hc2-RCS test for women with cytologically normal, borderline, or mild dyskaryosis. A receiver operator characteristics analysis of the semiquantitative hc2-RCS results in relation to different cytology categories revealed that these differences are owing to differences in assay thresholds. For women classified as having moderate dyskaryosis or worse who also had underlying histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or cervical cancer (≥CIN3), the hc2-RCS scored 97% (31/32) of samples positive, versus 91% (29/32) by GP5+/6+ PCR-EIA. However, this difference was not significant (P = 0.25). After increasing the hc2-RCS cutoff from 1.0 to 2.0 relative light units/cutoff value of the HPV16 calibrator (RLU/CO), no additional CIN3 lesions were missed by hc2-RCS, but the number of test-positive women with normal, borderline, or mild dyskaryosis was significantly decreased (P < 0.0005). However, at this RLU/CO, the difference in test positivity between hc2-RCS and the GP5+/6+ PCR-EIA was still significant (P = 0.02). The use of an RLU/CO value of 3.0 revealed no significant difference between hc2-RCS and GP5+/6+ PCR-EIA results, and equal numbers of smears classified as ≥CIN3 (i.e., 29/32) were detected by both methods. In summary, both assays perform very well for the detection of ≥CIN3 in a population-based cervical screening setting. However, adjustment of the hc2-RCS threshold to an RLU/CO value of 2.0 or 3.0 seems to produce an improved balance between the clinical sensitivity and specificity for ≥CIN3 in population-based cervical screening.
THE NORMATIVE ECONOMICS OF HEALTH CARE FINANCE AND PROVISION

Whereas in many countries the 'crisis' in medical care has been seen in terms of 'excess' spending on health services, in the UK it has been seen (at least by most of those who manage and work in the NHS) as a crisis of 'underfunding'. This has come about as the result of the government's successful attempts to restrain the rate of growth of real spending on the NHS, which in turn reflects the government's belief that its principal effective weapon against what it perceives to be inefficiency in the NHS is to challenge management (itself reformed and to some extent liberated) by systematic financial squeezes. The same concern has given rise to a host of proposals for reform of the NHS most of which involve a much greater role for private insurance, private finance of other kinds (such as out-of-pocket payments), and private provision of health care itself.
Assessing Cost-Effectiveness--Mental Health: introduction to the study and methods.

OBJECTIVE The Assessing Cost-Effectiveness - Mental Health (ACE-MH) study aims to assess from a health sector perspective, whether there are options for change that could improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Australia's current mental health services by directing available resources toward "best practice" cost-effective services. METHOD The use of standardized evaluation methods addresses the reservations expressed by many economists about the simplistic use of League Tables based on economic studies confounded by differences in methods, context and setting. The cost-effectiveness ratio for each intervention is calculated using economic and epidemiological data. This includes systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials for efficacy, the Australian Surveys of Mental Health and Wellbeing for current practice and a combination of trials and longitudinal studies for adherence. The cost-effectiveness ratios are presented as cost (A$) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) saved with a 95% uncertainty interval based on Monte Carlo simulation modelling. An assessment of interventions on "second filter" criteria ("equity", "strength of evidence", "feasibility" and "acceptability to stakeholders") allows broader concepts of 'benefit' to be taken into account, as well as factors that might influence policy judgements in addition to cost-effectiveness ratios. CONCLUSIONS The main limitation of the study is in the translation of the effect size from trials into a change in the DALY disability weight, which required the use of newly developed methods. While comparisons within disorders are valid, comparisons across disorders should be made with caution. A series of articles is planned to present the results.
Systematic review on pyrethroid toxicity with special reference to deltamethrin

Pyrethroids are synthetic organic compounds synthesized from chrysanthemum flowers that are used extensively as household and commercial insecticides. The keto-alocoholic esters of chrysanthemic and pyrethroic acid being lipophilic are responsible for its insecticidal properties. Pyrethroids are broadly classified into first and second generation pyrethroids. The first generation (Type 1) pyrethroids are less toxic to mammals than the second generation (Type II) pyrethroids. Mainly Type II pyrethroids cause paresthesia, which is characterized by transient burning/tingling/itching sensation of the exposed skin. Also, it has been suggested that some pyrethroids cause developmental neurotoxicity, but available evidence has been judged to be insufficient. While some pyrethroids have been shown to cause tumors in rodent models, the tumor induction does not appear to reflect a common carcinogenic endpoint for this particular subset of compounds. Deltamethrin is an alpha-cyano pyrethroid insecticide used extensively in pest control. Although initially thought to be least toxic, a number of recent reports showed its toxicity in mammalian and non-mammalian laboratory and wildlife animal species. The article sheds light on deltamethrin induced various toxicities during acute and chronic exposure in different species.
Two-dimensional and Doppler transesophageal echocardiographic delineation and flow characterization of anomalous coronary arteries in adults.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine the use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the identification and flow characterization of congenital coronary anomalies. BACKGROUND Congenital coronary anomalies in adults are rare but may cause serious cardiac complications. The use of TEE in evaluation of this entity has not been well defined. Very little is known regarding flow patterns in anomalous coronaries assessed by Doppler TEE. METHODS A total of 32 consecutive adult patients were studied using TEE to define the origin, course, and proximal flow pattern of suspected coronary anomalies. RESULTS Coronary anomalies identified using TEE included anomalous origin from the pulmonary trunk (n = 2), right sinus (n = 18), left sinus (n = 9), single coronary (n = 2), and left main coronary fistula (n = 1). Multiplane TEE performed in 20 cases simplified the delineation of more complex coronary anomalies. The origin was identified in all patients, proximal course delineated in 31, and proximal flow pattern characterized by pulsed Doppler in 23 of 32 patients. In 16 anomalous left main, left anterior descending, or left circumflex coronary arteries, an abnormal systolic flow pattern (ie, systolic/diastolic time-velocity integral ratio >1) occurred exclusively (P <.001) when the anomalous artery had an intermediate (100%; 5/5) versus anterior or posterior course (0%; 0/11) relative to the aortic and pulmonary artery trunks. A systolic flow pattern was also evident in 4 (80%) of 5 patients with an anomalous right coronary artery with an intermediate course. CONCLUSIONS TEE, particularly with a multiplane probe, has an important complementary role to coronary angiography in delineating the proximal course and pattern of flow in anomalous coronaries. Predominant systolic flow pattern in anatomically left proximal anomalous coronaries signifies an intermediate course between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk and may be clinically useful for risk stratification.
Tourism Mobilities and the Travel Glance: Experiences of Being on the Move

This article seeks to bring a cultural analysis of experiences of motorized - train and car - mobility into tourism studies. The tourist body senses landscapes as it is moved through them. First, it discusses how, in their early years, the train and the car were perceived as shocking speed machines that radically changed people's experiences of distance, movement, time and landscape and became discursively associated with various bodily pleasures and pains among different "movements" of tourists. It is argued that a contemporary pleasure of leisurely automobility is related to the car's flexibility and the imagined freedom and seduction of the road that together set in motion motorized flânerie . It focuses particularly upon the visual experience of mobility and asks what the implications of a mobility perspective are on how we can "think" touristic vision and landscape. It is argued that one effect of such mobility technologies is to change the nature of vision; they should be seen as simultaneous vision machines which facilitate and impose a specific viewing position, and, hence, way of seeing. Urry's notion of the "tourist gaze" (1990) has become paradigmatic in explaining touristic vision, but trains and cars provide a radically different viewing position and visual experience than the static photographic gaze: the travel glance. The mobile travel glance provides a visual "cinematic" experience of moving landscape images to the travelling yet corporally im mobile "armchair" spectator. Thus, the travel glance will be captured through the metaphor of cinema.
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN ZIMBABWE: LAW, POLICY AND PRACTICE

The increasing prominence of government in infrastructure construction and development and in the acquisition of public goods and services for public welfare provides a relevant opportunity to scrutinise public procurement laws and policies. In general, an efficient public procurement system enhances a government’s public welfare role, particularly in Africa where governments are the major drivers for economic development in society. Further, determining the nature of a public procurement system, through analysis of the legislative and policy framework, clearly illustrates the political commitment in the fight against corruption and in a government’s pursuit of important social and economic objectives. There is a particularly greater danger that the lack of a clear policy direction in this area, coupled with procurement laws that are difficult to enforce creates a breeding ground for corruption and establishes a system that lacks the necessary integrity. Further, there is the argument that inefficient and compromised public procurement frameworks are bound to create and regenerate corruption, misuse of public funds, poverty and consequently underdevelopment in general. In view of this, it is clear that effective public procurement regulation is a critical tool in public administration. This paper explores Zimbabwe’s public procurement law and policy, arguing that relevant laws and policies should, as a matter of principle, create a transparent procurement system that instills business confidence. The paper therefore underscores the importance of public procurement as a necessary instrument in public administration and public finance management in Zimbabwe, and its role in advancing the government’s social and economic objectives in general.
The Role of the Banker in Financing Medium-sized Firms in Belgium: Lender or Adviser?

This article analyses, on the basis of a field study, the role of banks in financing medium enterprises in Belgium. It shows that, like small firms, medium-sized businesses have a preference for self-financing. As far as external funding is concerned, debt is generally their main source. How ever, their low debt ratios indicate that, as compared to the large firms, these enterprises take less recourse to banks and, as a result, pay little attention to their financial function. The banker does not play an important role as an adviser either, except when the firm decides to raise funds through the stock market. The article calls for greater specialisation on the part of the banks so that they can avoid conflicts of interest arising out of the mismatch between their service priorities and the needs of their clientele.
Adherence to Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis Guidelines in New South Wales, Australia: Identifying Deficiencies and Regression Analysis of Contributing Factors.

BACKGROUND Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is frequently reported in the literature to be suboptimal, a finding having both clinical and public health implications. This study aimed to calculate rates and patterns of adherence to guidelines at two sites and identify extrinsic contributing factors. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted over two 12-mo periods during 2013-2014 at the metropolitan Blacktown Hospital and regional Lismore Base Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. A group of 400 patients undergoing abdominal general surgery was selected via simple random sampling (n = 200 per site). Medical records were reviewed, and prophylactic antibiotic regimens were compared with the Australian guideline, Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic (v. 14) with respect to drug choice, dosage, timing of administration, and duration of administration. RESULTS The overall rate of adherence to the guidelines was 16.5% at Blacktown Hospital and 19.5% at Lismore Base Hospital. At each site, prophylaxis was administered to more than 95% of patients and was inappropriately withheld in 4%. Drug choice was the most frequent error type, specifically involving inappropriate omission of metronidazole and use of newer-generation cephalosporins. Errors in the timing of administration also were frequent, with prophylaxis typically occurring excessively early. Logistic regression identified emergency surgery as independently associated with prophylactic errors in both the Blacktown Hospital (p < 0.001) and the Lismore Base Hospital cohorts (p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS Adherence to antibiotic prophylactic guidelines was poor at both the metropolitan and regional sites. Choice of antibiotic and timing of administration were identified as major error types. Consideration should be given to multidisciplinary involvement of anesthetists, implementation of focused interventions with an emphasis on emergency settings, and further research correlating antibiotic use with clinical significance.
The Role of Inter- and Intraindustry Trade in Technology Diffusion

Research shows that international trade is an important channel for the transfer of technology. Building on this evidence, this paper examines the effects of inter- and intraindustry trade on technology transfer. The paper develops and tests the hypothesis that intraindustry trade stimulates more technology transfer than interindustry trade because countries are likely to absorb foreign technologies more easily when their imports are from the same sectors as their production and export sectors. The results of empirical tests for 87 countries during 1970-93 support this hypothesis.
Measurement of Asian income elasticities for New Zealand exports : a cointegration approach

This paper estimates short and long run income elasticities of demand for New Zealand exports to several Asian countries. Export demand is modelled as a function of spending power using cointegration analysis. The results show that short run income elasticities for New Zealand exports vary from 0.7 (Singapore) to 3.3 (Japan). Long run income elasticities vary from 1.4 (Singapore) to 8.64 (Indonesia). In addition, the error-correction terms range from -0.32 (Indonesia) to -0.86 (Japan).
Body-mass-modified running economy and step length in elite male middle- and long-distance runners.

To minimize the influence of body mass on oxygen uptake (VO2) during running, submaximal and maximal VO2 should preferentially be expressed as ml.kg-0.75. min-1. In this study, the levels of such body-mass-modified running economy were investigated at different velocities in elite runners and related to step lengths and anthropometric measures. Twenty-six Swedish National Team middle- and long-distance runners performed submaximal (4 velocities) and maximal treadmill tests. In 17 runners repeated (2-4) tests were performed within 6 months. The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max; 214 vs 202 ml.kg-0.75.min-1) and running velocity at 4 mmol.l-1 blood lactate were higher in the long- (n = 12) than in the middle-distance group (n = 14). The oxygen uptake at 15 km.h-1 (VO2 15) was lower (129 vs 138 ml.kg-0.75.min-1, p < 0.01) and the VO2/velocity slope higher in the long-distance runners, with similar VO2 18 in the two groups. Step lengths at 18 (168 vs 173 cm) and 15 km.h-1 did not differ significantly between the groups, but the increase in step length per km.h-1 velocity raise was greater in the middle-distance runners. Step lengths at these velocities were positively related to body mass and stature, negatively to relative leg length. Stature and leg length were greater in runners displaying low VO2 15, whereas no corresponding difference was seen for VO2 18. The figures for running economy at 15 and 18 km.h-1 were poorly related to the concomitantly determined step lengths at the respective velocities. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Memory complaints and risk of cognitive impairment after nearly 2 decades among older women

Objectives: To investigate the association between subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and long-term risk of cognitive impairment in aging because most previous studies have followed individuals for only a few years. Methods: Participants were 1,107 cognitively normal, community-dwelling older women (aged 65 years and older at baseline) in a prospective study of aging. SMCs were assessed shortly after baseline and repeatedly over time with the yes/no question, “Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most? ” Cognitive status 18 years later (normal or impaired with mild cognitive impairment or dementia) was determined by an expert panel. Using logistic regression, we investigated the association between SMCs over time and risk of cognitive impairment, adjusting for demographics, baseline cognition, and characteristics that differed between those with and without SMCs. Results: At baseline, 8.0% of participants (n = 89) endorsed SMCs. Baseline SMCs were associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment 18 years later (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1–2.8). Results were unchanged after excluding participants with depression. The association between SMCs and cognitive impairment was greatest at the last SMC assessment time point (18 years before diagnosis: adjusted OR = 1.7 [1.1–2.9]; 14 years before diagnosis: adjusted OR = 1.6 [0.9–2.7]; 10 years before diagnosis: adjusted OR = 1.9 [1.1–3.1]; 4 years before diagnosis: adjusted OR = 3.0 [1.8–5.0]). Conclusions: SMCs are associated with cognitive impairment nearly 2 decades later among older women. SMCs may be a very early symptom of an insidious neurodegenerative disease process, such as Alzheimer disease.
RECURRENCE RATE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI IN PATIENTS WITH PEPTIC ULCER FIVE YEARS OR MORE AFTER SUCCESSFUL ERADICATION.

BACKGROUND Infection with Helicobacter pylori is highly prevalent worldwide, especially in developing countries. Its presence in the gastroduodenal mucosa is related with development of peptic ulcer and other illnesses. The eradication of H. pylori improves mucosal histology in patients with peptic ulcers. OBJECTIVE This study was aimed to verify if H. pylori recurrence occurs five years or more after confirmed eradication in patients with peptic ulcer. Moreover, we sought to determine the recurrence rate. METHODS Retrospective and longitudinal, this study was based on a sample of 201 patients from western Paraná, Brazil. The patients were diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease, in the period of 1990-2000, and followed for five years or more after successful H. pylori eradication. Patients with early recurrence - prior to five years after eradication - were excluded from the sample. RESULTS During an average follow-up of 8 years, 180 patients (89.55%) remained negative, and 21 (10.45%) became positive for H. pylori infection. New ulcers appeared in two-thirds of the patients with H. pylori recurrence. CONCLUSION The recurrence of H. pylori in patients with peptic ulcer can occur in the long-term - even if the infection had been successfully eradicated and the patients had remained free of recurrence in the first years of follow-up.