Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salt stress impacts on seed germination and seedling growth of Brassica napus L .

Crop plant germination and growth adversely affected through salt stress. Canola seed germination and seedling growth in saline condition was evaluated in a laboratory experiment. In sterilized petri plates seeds of two canola varieties (Bulbul 2000 and Rainbow) were sown. Saline condition was employed through sodium chloride solutions (50 mM, 75 mM, 100 mM, 125 mM and 150 mM) and distilled water control was sustained for comparison. Canola seed germination and seedling growth related attribute data were recorded. Results show that canola varieties were statistically significant (P<0.005) responses to saline conditions. Sodium chloride concentration gradual increase reduces canola seed final germination percentage, germination index, mean daily germination and seedling vigor index in both varieties. However, the high salt level (100, 125, 150 mm) significantly reduces germination parameters of seeds of Bulbul 2000. High salt levels significantly affect the root length, shoot length, fresh, and dry weight and total chlorophyll content. Rainbow show better germination and seedling growth in high salt levels. Therefore, they possibly will tolerate moderate levels of salt.
Value co-creation in the B 2 C context An investigation of retailers ’ and customers

Problem: In today’s business markets companies are faced with new challenges occurring from globalization, new technologies, deregulation, blurring borders between industries, and outsourcing which change the competitive environment in the market. To deal with these challenges organizations are forced to look for new and innovative ways to differentiate themselves from competitors and to satisfy customers’ demands for more customized products and services. Additionally, nowadays customers strive for fulfilling their needs by being more active. Value co-creation, the collaboration between companies and customers, is as a solution of current interest to cope with these challenges. Due to the close linkage between retailers and customers, value co-creation is of high interest for this part of the SC. Hence, this thesis focuses on the retailercustomer context and co-creation in terms of co-designing of bikes. Purpose: The purpose of this Master of Science thesis is to investigate how and why retailers and customers co-create value. Therefore, retailers’ and customers’ potential motivators, the interaction between them and the actors’ potential outcomes are explored. Method: This thesis conducts an exploratory and qualitative investigation of three case companies; Bike by Me, myownbike, and 718 Cyclery. The empirical material is gathered from interviews with the CEOs of the three companies, the retailers’ customers, and potential customers. The findings have been analyzed using a framework developed based on existing literature, stated in the frame of reference, which is improved by this thesis’ findings. Conclusions: Customers and retailers co-create value due to different potential motivators and outcomes. Retailers are motivated by aspects such as increases in competitive advantage, differentiation, customer loyalty, and better understanding of new needs. Customers’ motivators are amongst others the product itself, individuality, and enjoyment. As retailers’ outcomes increased efficiency and effectiveness, new customer acquisition, and the establishment of long-term relationships are identified. Customers’ outcomes are high customer satisfaction, new knowledge, convenience, and financial aspects. Actions between retailers and customers in value co-creation are identified through a learning phase and an innovation phase. The retailer participates through providing information, the platform for co-creation, and suggestions and assistance. The customers collaborate in terms of designing the product, expression of desires and experiences, feedback, and WOM in interaction with other customers.
Imitation Learning from an Improving Supervisor

Most on-policy imitation algorithms, such as DAgger, are designed for learning with a fixed supervisor. However, there are many settings in which the supervisor improves during policy learning, such as when the supervisor is a human performing a novel task or an improving algorithmic controller. We consider learning from an “improving supervisor” and derive a bound on the static-regret of online gradient descent when a converging supervisor policy is used. We present an on-policy imitation learning algorithm, Follow the Improving Teacher (FIT), which uses a deep model-based reinforcement learning (deep MBRL) algorithm to provide the sample complexity benefits of model-based methods but enable faster training and evaluation via distillation into a reactive controller. We evaluate FIT with experiments on the Reacher and Pusher MuJoCo domains using the deep MBRL algorithm, PETS, as the improving supervisor. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to formally consider the setting of an improving supervisor in on-policy imitation learning.
Complex 3 D Mapping in a Young Adult with D-TGA , Atrial Tachycardia , and Limited Venous Access : A Case Report

Continuing advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cardiac abnormalities have translated into a rapidly expanding population of adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD). Of those infants born with cardiovascular anomalies, approximately 85% will survive into adulthood, and current conservative estimates put the number of US adult CHD patients at 800,000. Arrhythmias complicate the care of many of these patients and serve as a major source of morbidity. Compounding this arrhythmia burden is the increased prevalence of systemic venous anomalies that make access for ablation therapies more difficult. Lastly, the need for repeat procedures, often at relatively young ages, places the patients at higher risk for the long-term negative sequelae of radiation exposure. We present the case of a 19-year-old male whose clinical presentation is a summation of these compounding cardiac concerns: he is an adult CHD patient with repaired dextro transposition of the great arteries (DTGA), supraventricular arrhythmias, and extensive venous abnormalities that complicated access to ablation therapy. The application of cryothermal ablative techniques, unique venous access methods, and threedimensional (3D) NavX mapping system (St. Jude, Minneapolis, MN) helped to overcome these medical challenges and enhanced the positive clinical outcome that was observed.
Structural modeling of pinna-related transfer functions

This paper faces the general problem of modeling pinnarelated transfer functions (PRTFs) for 3-D sound rendering. Following a structural modus operandi, we exploit an algorithm for the decomposition of PRTFs into ear resonances and frequency notches due to reflections over pinna cavities in order to deliver a method to extract the frequencies of the most important spectral notches. Ray-tracing analysis reveals a convincing correspondence between extracted frequencies and pinna cavities of a bunch of subjects. We then propose a model for PRTF synthesis which allows to control separately the evolution of resonances and spectral notches through the design of two distinct filter blocks. The resulting model is suitable for future integration into a structural head-related transfer function model, and for parametrization over anthropometrical measurements of a wide range of subjects.
Detection of Genetic Modified Feed Component

There are growing concerns over the possibility of transfer genetically modified sequences from genetically modified feed component (GM feed) to animals and their products, moreover, affect these sequences on animal and human health. This study was implemented to detect P35S in modified feed by using PCR technique by detecting presence P35S promoter, which responsible for the regulation of gene expression for most of the transgenic genes. Thirty eight feed samples were collected from different sources of Baghdad markets, which have been used for feeding livestock, comprise 21 coarse mixes feed, 13 pelleted feed, and 4 expanded feed. Genomic DNA was extracted by using two methods, CTAB method and Wizard kit. In order to verify the presence (P35S) in feed samples, a pair of primer for 35S promoter was used. The results of the present study showed that 58% of tested samples contained promoter P35S this means presence genetically modified feed in the Baghdad market.
Challenges of hotel outsourcing in Ghana : A transaction cost perspective

Outsourcing is one of the many business strategies adopted by hotels due to the many opportunities that it provides. These opportunities notwithstanding, there are teething challenges with outsourcing. This study sought to find out from hotel managers in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana some of the challenges they face with outsourcing from a transaction cost perspective. Eight in-depth interviews were conducted in six hotels that outsourced. After capturing and transcribing data, a three-tier coding system was employed to group responses under thematic networks. The global themes that emerged within and across cases were inductively analysed. It was realised that poor quality of outsourced staff, lack of product knowledge by hoteliers, monopolistic tendencies by a few outsourcers, lack of commitment on the part of outsourced staff and cost involved in outsourcing were some of the challenges faced by the hotels in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana.
Design of automatic control system based on unified timed hybrid Petri net 1 Israel

A practical problem in automation systems modeling is the choice between a fully hybrid approach and the fluidization of some parts conserving the general discrete event approach. This paper explores the approach based on specific hybrid parts into a discrete event system using a unified Petri nets environment called GHENeSys (General Hierarchical Enhanced Net System), which follows the ISO/IEC 15909 standard and includes extensions such as hierarchy and time concepts. Then, a design method based on GHENeSys Timed Hybrid Petri Net (GTHPN) technique is proposed to model these hybrid parts. GHENeSys subnets are associated with macroplaces and help to control combinatorial explosion and has extended arcs to guarantee the GTHPN applicability to practical cases. All resulting models of the approach proposed could also benefit from an easier conversion to PLC programs in IEC 61131 representation. A case study is presented for producing constructive blocks showing the advantages of the current proposition.
Evaluation of antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts of thyme and black pepper against pathogens and probiotics

Recent studies show great opportunities in food industry for antimicrobial activity of plant extracts on some pathogenic microorganisms. Plant extracts are used in food processing technologies as natural additives substituting synthetic products. The aim of this research subject was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts of thyme and black pepper against food associated bacteria and some probiotics. Results showed that the concentrations of 3% and 4% aqueous extracts of both tested plants demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. On the other hand, Salmonella typhi and Bacillus cereus showed a resistance for all tested concentrations of both aqueous extracts of thyme and black pepper. Aqueous extracts of both tested plants did not affect the cultures of tested probiotics in concentrations up to 10%. Based on these findings, aqueous extracts of thyme and black pepper may be used as natural antibacterial preservatives to reclaim the shelf life of food, as well as pharmaceutical and natural plant based products.
Prospective randomized controlled study on the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 and amoxicillin-clavulanate or the combination on the gut microbiota of healthy volunteers

Citation Kabbani, Toufic A. , Kumar Pallav, Scot E. Dowd, Javier VillafuerteGalvez, Rohini R. Vanga, Natalia E. Castillo, Joshua Hansen, Melinda Dennis, Daniel A. Leffler, and Ciarán P. Kelly. 2017. “Prospective randomized controlled study on the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 and amoxicillin-clavulanate or the combination on the gut microbiota of healthy volunteers. ” Gut Microbes 8 (1): 17-32. doi:10.1080/19490976.2016. 1267890. http:// dx.doi. org/10.1080/19490976.2016. 1267890.
The relationship between waist circumference and macronutrient intake in patients with type 2 diabetes in Tehran

Food choices and the importance of the availability of energy dense foods and its impact on obesity especially abdominal obesity are also greatly considerable. The aim of this study was to measure association between waist circumference (WC) as an indicator of abdominal obesity and macronutrient intake in patients with type 2 of diabetes in Tehran. In a cross-sectional study, 724 patients with diabetes were selected from several diabetic centers and The Iranian Nutrition Society. Waist circumference was measured by tape meter. The validated food frequency questionnaire was completed by each patient. Nutritional data analysis was conducted by software N3 and the statistical software SPSS version 18. The average WC was 92.31± 10.59 that 84.1% of women and 66.1% men had abdominal obesity. Based on standards, abdominal obesity is defined as WC of respectively above and equal 80 and 90 cm in women and men. The mean dietary daily intake carbohydrate, protein and fat were 328 ± 96.9, 86.6 ± 26 and 98.22 ± 36.8, respectively. A positive association was found between WC and energy, adjusted carbohydrate and absolute and adjusted fat intake in women. Totally dietary variables showed correlation with WC. A significant direct correlation was seen between the obesity prevalence and high intake of carbohydrate and fat diets. Therefore in order to control and prevent abdominal obesity and related chronic diseases especially in type 2 diabetic patients it's important to avoid high Kcal also high fat or carbohydrate diet.
1 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRICITY DEMAND AND SUPPLY INTERACTIONS 1

A dynamic, structural asymmetric vector-error correction model is used to identify and estimate the demand and the supply functions for hourly, day-ahead electricity wholesale markets. The analysis provides new insights on a well-established but unresolved aspect concerning the extent of demand elasticity to price. We argue that the conventional meanreverting, stationarity assumption for electricity prices raises subtle issues of specification and must be carefully evaluated. We present evidence for adopting a non-stationary specification in the short-window, high-frequency context, and thereby estimate a cointegrating system. This allows us to distinguish between long run and short run effects, and to estimate an errorcorrection term embedded in a simultaneous equation model. We show that, whilst demand appears to be inelastic in the short run, the quantity traded on the market reacts significantly to previous disequilibria in the supply curve through an asymmetric error-correction mechanism, and does in fact adjust to positive changes in the price level, but not to negative ones. JEL classification: C32, Q41, L94
Meanings and Connotations of ‘ Mental Imagery ’ Mental imagery

Mental imagery (varieties of which are sometimes colloquially referred to as "visualizing," "seeing in the mind's eye," "hearing in the head," "imagining the feel of," etc.) is quasi-perceptual experience; it resembles perceptual experience, but occurs in the absence of the appropriate external stimuli. It is also generally understood to bear intentionality (i.e., mental images are always images of something or other), and thereby to function as a form of mental representation. Traditionally, visual mental imagery, the most discussed variety, was thought to be caused by the presence of picture-like representations (mental images) in the mind, soul, or brain, but this is no longer universally accepted.
A Broader Understanding of the Ethics of Listening: Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Media Studies and the Ethical Listening Subject

This article recognizes the importance of traditional, empirical research on listening but questions whether that research is adequate to ground a theory of ethical listening. By focusing on listening as an activity and cognitive process, that research undermines our recognition of listening's role as a practice in the ethical constitution of the subject. This essay looks at philosophical history (e.g., Foucault, 1997), cultural studies of sound (e.g., Schafer, 1977, revised 1994; Corbin, 2003; Smith, 2001) and of music (e.g., Adorno, 2001; Wong, 2001; Botstein, 1992) and media and communication texts (e.g., Finucane & Horavath, 2000) to articulate the ways that listening structures our subjectivity and yields limited agency to the individual in constituting our own ethical being. That research in listening is used to refine Ratcliffe's metaphorical model for Rhetorical Listening with reference to the empirical experiences of the ear. The essay closes by generating five key choices we all make in ethical listening, choices that are the basis for evaluating the ethics of our communicative practice: the choice to listen individually, the choice to listen selectively, the choice not to listen, the choice to listen together, and only then the choice to listen to each other.
Immigration and the ‘socio-cultural divide’ An inquiry into the nature of the immigration issue in contemporary Western Europe

In contemporary Western Europe, new parties have emerged that aim to mobilize on the immigration issue. The dominant view about this issue is that it is embedded in a sociocultural dimension of party competition, which is orthogonal to a socio-economic dimension. In this paper, we question this assertion, testing it both at the supply and the demand side of the electoral market. On the basis of positions of parties and voters in 15 political systems, the immigration issue is found to be neither integrated in a socio-cultural dimension nor orthogonal to a socioeconomic dimension. By contrast, the issue is linked to both a traditional economic dimension and the left-right divide. These findings offer additional evidence for explanations of the electoral performance of anti-immigration parties on the basis of party and voter positions in terms of left and right while casting doubts on claims that contemporary Western European party competition is two-dimensional.
Reframing translated news for target readers: a narrative account of news translation in Snowden’s discourses

ABSTRACT This article studies some of the framing strategies mentioned in extant literature in the Chinese and English versions of news reports on the Edward Snowden case. It analyses a bilingual corpus of 47 news texts in each language. Both the English and Chinese data were collected from Chinese state-owned news agencies. The research results show that even though the news agency that produced the translated news shares the same ideology as the news organization that provided the Chinese news, the translated narratives of the incident were often reframed. We argue that the possible factors that affect the reframing of the narrative include the target readership, the political situation and the political position of the news agency. We also argue that applying a narrative account may help to better explore stance variation in sensitive news translation.
Rajaji National Park in Uttaranchal , India

I grew up among Muslims that are mystical, eclectic and wonderfully integrated with the plurality of South Asian religions. Muslims arrived in India as Traders, Warriors and Sufis. Sometimes the Sufis came in the garb of Warriors because this was the quickest way of entry into the Subcontinent. The form and the spirit of Islam remain immensely well adapted to South Asian religiosity centering on the cult of personages perceived to be intimate with God and hence, recognized as the saints, both in the sense of being near God and possessing knowledge and power from God to speak words of wisdom and perform miracles.
Influence of Row Spacing, Herbicide Technology, and Tillage on Fiber Quality and Economic Returns

Agricultural producers are faced with a range of conditions that influence their profitability, from weather variability to weed, insect, and disease pressure. Adoption of new production methods to address these conditions can produce higher or lower yields, as well as differing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fiber quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of row spacing, herbicide technology, and tillage on fiber quality attributes, quality price difference, ginning percentage, and net returns above variable treatment costs (NR) using data from a field experiment conducted in Alabama from 2004 to 2006. Treatments included nontransgenic, glyphosate-tolerant, and glufosinate-tolerant cotton varieties; conservation tillage and conventional tillage; and standard row (102-cm) and narrow row (38-cm) spacing. Ordered multinomial mixed logit models were used to evaluate fiber quality attributes, quality price difference, and ginning percentage, and a linear mixed model was use to evaluate NR. Fiber quality attributes were most commonly impacted by variety and tillage. Across all fiber quality attributes, nontransgenic and glufosinate-tolerant varieties had a higher probability of producing premium cotton than the glyphosate-tolerant variety due to premiums from micronaire, strength, and uniformity values. Conservation tillage systems had a higher probability of higher values for color grade, staple, and uniformity. Glyphosate-tolerant cotton and cotton grown in a conventional tillage system were more likely to have higher ginning percentages. Spacing and variety were influential in determining NR. These results indicate the importance of considering, not only seed cotton yield, but also fiber quality and ginning percentage when making production decisions.
Energy Efficient with Collision Free MAC Protocol for Wireless Sensor Network

In modern networks, a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is distributed far and wide to monitor physical or environmental situations. In WSNs, the Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol is greatly affected in energy consumption of sensor nodes by controlling the node radio functionalities. Many MAC protocols have been successfully designed towards the prime objective of energy efficiency. However, the classical layered protocols are mostly based on the existing solutions, which lead to significant overhead. This paper mainly contributes towards developing MAC protocol that considers energy consumption, packet delay, packet delivery, traffic adaptability, and many others for nodes in wireless networks. The simulation results and analysis illustrate that the proposed MAC protocol outperforms the contention-based and scheduling-based MAC protocols in terms of packet delivery ratio, network lifetime, delivery delay to the BS and energy consumption for various traffic loads in the network.