Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Entry screening of immigrants in the Netherlands for latent tuberculosis : a cost-effectiveness analysis

Background: Elimination of tuberculosis in countries with high immigration and low tuberculosis incidence rates will not be possible without targeted screening of newly arriving immigrants. The objective of this study was to establish the cost-effectiveness of entry screening strategies for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and to compare these with the current screening (chest X-ray) and with no screening at all. Methods and Findings: We developed a Markov compartmental cohort model and estimated the costs (healthcare perspective) and effects (quality adjusted life years[QALYs]) over a 20 year analytic horizon for four cohorts of 10,000 immigrants stratified by TB incidence in country of origin, 50/100,000 population, 100/100,000, 150/100,000, 350/100,000. LTBI screening included testing by tuberculin skin test (TST), by QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube assay (QFT-GIT), or in a two-step strategy (TST followed by QFT-GIT if positive [≥10 mm]). CXR screening was offered to all detected with LTBI. Preventive therapy was offered to those who were detected with LTBI but were free of tuberculosis disease. Screening for LTBI was more cost-effective than screening all for active TB by CXR. Screening with the two-step strategy was most cost-effective in all cohorts, except in the 350/100,000 cohort were screening with the TST was most cost-effective. Screening for LTBI became more cost-effective if the incidence in the country of origin increased; it cost €71,000, €53,000, €50,000 and €43,000 per QALY gained for immigrants coming from countries with an incidence of 50/100,000, 100/100,000, 150/100,000 and 350/100,000, respectively. Conclusions: Screening newly arriving immigrants for LTBI either by TST or QFT-GIT would considerably increase the cost-effectiveness of the immigrant screening program, especially in those coming from countries with an incidence of at least 100/100,000 population.
Derivation of optimum winding thickness for duty cycle modulated current waveshapes

Increased switching frequencies in magnetic components have resulted in renewed attention to the problem of proximity effect losses in layered transformer windings. The ideal situation is to design at the point of minimum AC winding resistance. This paper provides a unified approach which gives exact AC resistance formulas for pulsed, rectangular and triangular waveforms, with variable duty cycle. In every case an approximation to the AC resistance versus layer thickness curve is derived and the optimum point can be found with a simple calculation involving the number of harmonics (related to rise time), the duty cycle and the number of layers. This process yields a result that is at least as accurate as reading the point from a generated graph (without the considerable effort involved in generating the graph),.
A cross-cultural study of the rhythm in English and Japanese popular music

The aim of this study is to investigate the linguistic impact on rhythm in music. It has been shown that the composer’s native language exerts an influence on the music composed [10] using the normalized Pairwise Variability Index [5]. Our project aims at finding more evidence for the linguistic impact on musical rhythms in various kinds of music and language. In this study we apply the same index to analyze popular music with English and Japanese lyrics composed by Japanese composers to investigate an influence of the language of the lyrics on musical rhythm. Results showed a slight but significant tendency which supports the prediction that musical rhythm reflects certain aspects of the characteristics of the language of the lyrics.
The Challenges of Integrating Tourism into Canadian and Australian Coastal Zone and Management

This article discusses the challenges of integrating tourism into Canadian and Australian coastal zone management. Comparisons are drawn between coastal and marine tourism resources in Australia and Canada. The resources considered include the cruise ship industry, recreational boating, fishing, sea kayaking, SCUBA diving and marine wildlife tourism. In the introduction, some of the problems of definition and data are addressed. Tourism is described as an industry, but unlike many traditional industries, the tourism arena consists of a myriad of players and sectors. After the comparison of tourism resources in both countries, the power and politics associated with managing user conflicts in marine areas in British Columbia and Australia are discussed. The third part of the article looks at the challenges of environmental management for coastal and marine tourism; specifically, the article focuses on issues arising from the creation of marine protected areas and the development of sustainable whale watching operations. The authors conclude with two case studies, the cruise industry in Pacific Canada and the recreational fishing industry in Australia.
Physical methods for soil disinfestation in intensive agriculture: old methods and new approaches.

Physical soil disinfestation is worldwide mainly applied in protected cropping systems or in small-scale intensive field crops. Continuous cropping of monocultures or different host plants for the same pest or pathogen often leads to heavily infested soils which forces growers to disinfest the soil thoroughly. The oldest method is steam sterilization which is applied for more than a century. In the 1970s hot water treatment of soils was developed in Japan. Hot water is applied to the soil surface to raise soil temperatures to lethal levels. Since the 1980s inundation became a new method in the Netherlands and is applied in bulb cultures. This so-called flooding of soils creates anaerobic soil conditions in which toxic compounds like greenhouse gases are produced. A new approach in soil disinfestation in the current century is hot air treatment which is developed in Israel. The method is based on blowing extremely hot air into soil particles which are thrown above soil surface into a heat chamber by a rotary spading device. In the Netherlands renewed interest has started in radiation of soil with micro waves. Radiation of soil or other substrates has been studied for decades. The mechanism is that the heat produced by radiation is lethal to pathogens and pests. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) with incorporation of fresh organic matter in soil is a method developed in the Netherlands. A new and promising Dutch development in ASD is the application of defined products. Advantages and disadvantages of all methods are presented in this paper.
A Distinctive Method of Eliminating Out-Band Instability in Cascaded Active Device System Based on Narrow-Band Attenuation

A distinctive connection method in cascaded RF/MW active device system achieving both stability and low gain loss is presented. Unlike traditional methods (isolator and attenuator), the proposed solution introduces an appropriate length of transmission line to change the input impedance at the out-band instable frequency point and uses a narrow-band termination to absorb the instable power without deteriorating in-band signal. Moreover, the reason that instability often occurs in the cascaded system is analysed with S-parameters, and it turns out to be a kind of out-band instability. The solution is verified by an adjustable circuit example whose insertion loss is below 0.3 dB.
Properties of Recycled High Density Polyethylene (RHDPE)/Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Blends: The Effect of Blends Composition and Compatibilisers

Recycled high density polyethylene (RHDPE)/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blends with different blend compositions and compatibilisers were prepared by using melt blending technique in Brabender Plasticorder at temperature 160°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm for 10 min. The compatibilisation of RHDPE/EVA blends were enhanced by the addition of 6 phr of polyethylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAH) and caprolactam-maleic anhydride (CL-MAH) as compatibilisers. The tensile properties, swelling behaviour, morphology and infrared spectroscopy analysis were studied. The tensile properties and morphology analysis showed that RHDPE/EVA blends became softer with the increasing EVA content. The results also revealed that there was good compatibility between RHDPE/EVA blends with addition of PE-g-MAH and CL-MAH lead to improvement in tensile properties and swelling behaviour of the blends compared to RHDPE/EVA blends without the presence of compatibilisers. SEM morphology displayed better interfacial adhesion due to good dispersion and interaction between RHDPE and EVA phases into each other caused by the compatibilisation effect of PE-gMAH and CL-MAH. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the structure of the polymer blend with the addition of CL-MAH and PE-g-MAH as compatibilisers.
Assessment of Useful Life of Lubricants Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Vector Projection Approach (VPA)

Problem statement: In general, engine oil is usually changed as defin ed by car or lubricant manufacturers, which is according to mileage. However, it was found from past researches that, at the predefined mileage or timeframe, most lubricant is still acceptably usable and efficient. Approach: This research aimed to calculate useful life of lubrican t in order to reach its maximum usefulness. The method of study began by collecting data that indic ates deterioration of lubricant by increasing milea ge which includes total base number, viscosity, iron a nd flash point. Then the data was analyzed by means of Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP). These variables were used to construct a model for calculating appropriate useful life of lubricant by using vecto r projection approach. It was found from this study that the defined mileage for changing lubricant, wh ich is generally at 5,000 km, is not appropriate. Results: Results of the study suggest that the most appropr iate mileage for change of lubricant is at 12,000 km. Conclusion: It could be concluded that collection of data abou t characteristics of lubricant and use of model for calculating useful life of lub ricant can define appropriate interval change of lubricant.
Passive Testing of Cognitive Function in Epileptic Children Unwilling or Unable to Cooperate: Comprehensive Summary of Non-Invasive Neurophysiological Approaches

Epilepsy surgery is a potentially curative option for children with intractable epilepsy. In order to avoid postsurgical deficits in language and cognitive functioning, the mapping of these brain functions must be performed. Neurophysiological techniques, such as Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) are non-invasive procedures that can be used to attain this goal. However, they often fail when used to perform functional mapping in uncooperative patients who are unwilling, or unable to communicate or follow the commands. Therefore, there is a need for cognitive function mapping procedures that can be performed without active patient’s participation. The aim of this paper is to integrate and organize currently existing body of knowledge regarding passive testing of information processing and cognitive functioning in pediatric epilepsy patients. It is the first attempt to present a cohesive summary of literature regarding this topic. We will summarize results from currently available passive paradigms for neurophysiological assessment. There are a number of paradigms that could be used for passive evaluation of cognitive function in children with epilepsy. Examples include odd-ball paradigms eliciting Mismatch Negativity (MMN) and P3a responses, continuous word recognition paradigm, and story listening paradigms. In addition, resting state connectivity analysis with correlation to the cognitive testing/behavioral data can be used. Importantly, the majority of these paradigms can be performed during sedation.
Floorplan Priors for Joint Camera Pose and Room Layout Estimation

We present a novel approach to reconstruct large or featureless scenes. Our method jointly estimates camera poses and a room layout from a set of partial reconstructions due to camera tracking interruptions when scanning a large or featureless scene. Unlike the existing methods relying on feature point matching to localize the camera, we exploit the 3D "box" structure of a typical room layout that meets the Manhattan World property. We first estimate a local layout for each partial scan separately and then combine these local layouts to form a globally aligned layout with loop closure. We validate our method quantitatively and qualitatively on real and synthetic scenes of various sizes and complexities. The evaluations and comparisons show superior effectiveness and accuracy of our method.
Patterns and Causes of Disparities in Health

The health of the U.S. population has improved markedly over time. Average life expectancy at birth increased by 30 years in the last century, from 47 in 1900 to 77 in 2000 (National Center for Health Statistics 2003). Yet different social groups in the United States continue to experience dramatically varying levels of health. For example, the life expectancy of Asian American women in Bergen County, New Jersey, is 97.7 years, while that of American Indian men in a cluster of counties in South Dakota is 56.6 years (Murray et al. 1998). This 41-year difference in life expectancy indicates that some social groups have health experiences reminiscent of the nineteenth century while others enjoy twenty-first-century health status. Sentiment is growing in many quarters that such large disparities in health are unacceptable. This chapter provides an overview of social disparities in health in the United States. It begins by outlining the complex social forces that combine to produce variations in health. It then considers the patterns of racial/ethnic differences in health and shows how these must be understood in the context of the heterogeneity of those groups, and the even larger disparities by socioeconomic status (SES) and gender. The chapter concludes by focusing on the opportunities and challenges for reducing social disparities in health in the United States.
A Study of Effects of Different Surface Modifications of MWCNTs on their Adsorption Capacity of Benzene and Toluene

Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) surfaces were serially modified by the annealing treatment under Helium flow at 1000oC, the nitric acid treatment and again the annealing treatment under same conditions and their maximum adsorption capacities for benzene and toluene were measured and analyzed. The unmodified and modified MWCNTs werecharacterized by Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy techniques and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area measurements. The results revealed that the nitric acid treatment leads to form the functional groups and defects on the MWCNTs surfaces and increase their specific surface areas while the annealing treatments remove the functional groups and defects and therefore improve the structural integrity of the MWCNTs and enhance the p-p ­interaction between the MWCNTs and the toluene/benzene. According to the measurements of the maximum adsorption capacities, both acid and annealing treatments increased the adsorption capacity of the MWCNTs for both the benzene and toluene. It can be finally concluded that the adsorption capacity of the carbon nanotubes for the aromatic organic adsorbates such as benzene and toluene not only depends on their specific surface area but also is influenced by the structural integrity of the carbon nanotubes.
Marine reserves increase the abundance and size of blue cod and rock lobster

Size and abundance data were compiled and collated for blue cod Parapercis colias and rock lobster Jasus edwardsii from New Zealand marine reserve (MR) studies for a meta-analysis to test the null hypotheses that reserve status does not affect the size or abundance of either species. Calculation of meta-analysis effect sizes revealed that significant differences in effect size existed among studies, meaning that the biological response to MR status of both species in terms of their changes in size and/or abundance differed significantly among the MRs. Analysis revealed that blue cod were bigger inside compared with outside MRs in 9 of 10 studies and were more abundant inside MRs in 8 of 11 studies, and that rock lobster were bigger inside the MRs in 12 of 13 studies and more abundant inside the MRs in 11 of 14 studies. These findings indicate that MR protection can result in more and bigger individuals soon after the establishment of the MR (mean of 6.5 yr for blue cod, 8.5 yr for rock lobster) despite small sample sizes of studies (≤10 for blue cod, ≤14 for rock lobster). Focused comparison tests did not reveal any relationship between rock lobster or blue cod size or abundance and either age or area of MRs. Our results demonstrate that no-take MRs are valuable conservation tools for species such as blue cod and rock lobster (and probably also for other exploited species with similar life history characteristics and habitat requirements) and that statistically detectable conser- vation benefits are apparent after only a few years of protection.
A B-spline collocation method for solving fractional diffusion and fractional diffusion-wave equations

Abstract In this paper, we have considered the fractional diffusion and fractional diffusion- wave equations in which the time derivative is a fractional derivative in the Caputo form and have obtained their numerical solutions by collocation method using cubic B-spline base functions. In the solution process, for the fractional diffusion equation L1 discretizaton formula of the fractional derivative is applied, and for the fractional diffusion-wave equation L2 discretizaton formula of the fractional derivative is applied. Accuracy of the proposed method is discussed by computing the error norms L2 and L∞ . A stability analysis of the approximation obtained by the scheme shows that the method is unconditionally stable.
Preparation of Biomagnetism Composite Material for Medical Applications

The colloidal non-aqueous precipitation method was used to prepare a biocompatible magnetic ceramic–polymer composite [Hydroxyapatite/ Polyvinylachohol (HAP/PVA)] for medical applications. The starting materials used for preparing hydroxyapatite (HAP) were calcium nitrate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate, while the biodegradable polyvinylachohol (PVA) and nanosized iron oxide particles ( γ -Fe2O3) were used to generate a biocompatible magnetic gel film. The results showed that the specimens of composite containing up to 30wt% hydroxyapatite didn’t explore any of phase separation; further the incorporated of the ferrite enhanced the affectivity and the stability of the composite. The surface morphology and magnetic properties of the gel films were studied and the magnetization measurements were carried out at 5-300Ko. it showed that no remnant magnetization at 300 Ko, but at 5 Ko hysteretic loop was observed leading to confirm that the superparamagnetic nature of the nanosized maghemite particles didn’t affect in presence of the polymer and its behavior considered as superparamagn etic material.
The Effects of the Structural Variables of the Iranian Industries on the Social Cost: The SCP Approach

This paper studies the effects of the structural variables of the Iranian industries sector on the welfare cost using to the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) theory. In other words, we investigate the role of structural components and their effects on the size of the welfare cost in Iran's industry sector. We have used the Leibenstein's model to calculate the deadweight loss and then the panel data model has been used to quantify the model. Leibenstein believed that in many cases the monopolistic industries operate inefficiently due to being on the margin of safety. So in addition to the welfare triangle, the costs of the inefficiency of monopolistic industries should be also considered as the welfare cost. Our results demonstrate that there is a direct relationship between the welfare cost and all of the parameters of the model (barriers to entry, market concentration, economies of scale, state ownership share and firm size).
Antibacterial Activity of Green Tea Leaves

In recent years it has been turned the attention from chemotherapeutic agents that to focus on green pharmacy which may be due to immediate action and metabolism. According to World Health Organization (WHO) report, traditional medicine systems serve the health need of about 80% of the world’s population (WHO, 2013). Traditional system of medicine is being followed in preparing novel drug products from medicinally important plants. The increasing concentration of drugs towards green pharmacy may be due to emergence of antibiotic resistance organisms, side effects and economic concern too. The alarming situation on the steady increase of antibiotic resistance microorganisms throughout the world, which resulted increased illness followed by deaths (Levy, 2002) and highlighting the search for a novel antimicrobial agents (Stepanovic et al., 2003).
A Review on Probiotic Dairy Products as Functional Foods Reported from Iran

In recent years, the consumption and importance of functional foods have increased. Functional foods have therapeutic effects beside their nutritional importance. Probiotic foods and enriched dairy products are among the most important functional foods, especially because of their health promoting effects. Therefore many studies have been published around the presence and the role of probiotics and their viability in dairy food such as yogurt, cheese and ice cream. The focus of this article is to review the application of probiotic microorganisms in dairy products and methods for increasing their viability in dairy food products from Iran.
On the Perseverance of Discrimination and the Effectiveness of Affirmative Action

Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody (Jane Austen in Mans eld Park, ch. 1, 1814). Although nowadays women do have access to education, the odds are not as favourable to women as Ms. Austen probably would have hoped for, 200 years after she wrote Mans eld Park. In 2012 a little over one percent of the CEOs of the Fortune 500 Companies was black and merely four percent was female1. In that same year in the European Union, females accounted for only two and a half percent of the CEO positions2. In the UK currently one out of twelve members of the supreme court is female3. Discrimination is prohibited by law and frowned upon by most. Then why does this clear segregation at the top exist? Following Milgrom and Oster (1987), a labour market with persistent job discrimination cannot hold. Basic economic theory predicts that if a certain group of people is discriminated by some (or even most) employers, the underpaid and underemployed group will be hired by the other non-discriminating employers. Those employers seek the highest pro ts and are attracted by the low wages of the discriminated group. The labour demand for the discriminated group will grow and by consequence their wages will rise. However, empirical evidence shows di¤erent results. Although many have shed their light on this complex subject, no explanation has been accepted unanimously by economists. This paper addresses this well discussed issue from a new point of view in order to seek the answer to the question why segregation in the labour market is a persistent phenomenon.