Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bio-Control of Chamomile Powdery Mildew Using Cyanobacteria and Some Antagonistic Microorganisms

ield experiments were carried out under natural infection in the Experimental Farm of Sids Agricultural Research Station, Agric. Res. Center, Beni-Sweif governorate to evaluate the potentiality of Bacillus subtilis , Pseudomonas fluorescens , Trichoderma harzianum and cyanobacteria ( Spirulina platensis ) alone or in mixture to control powdery mildew on chamomile and its productivity using two application methods: soaking the seedling roots before transplanting + foliar spray and foliar spray only. Generally, all the tested bioagents were effective in reduction the disease incidence and severity leading to a significant increase in fresh and dry weights of the blossoms as well as essential oil percent and oil yield compared with the control treatment. Soaking the chamomile seedling roots and spraying the leaves with suspensions for bioagents tested were the most effective in reducing the disease incidence and severity than spraying the leaves by the suspensions only. Mixing the cyanobacteria ( S. platensis ) with the fungal and bacterial antagonistics was more effective compared to each treatment separately. The highest efficacy was obtained from plots received mixed treatment of S. platensis + P. fluorescens in addition to the fungicide Topas 100 EC. Furthermore, all the treatments showed significant increases in the defence-related enzymes, peroxidase (PO) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) as compared with the untreated control. Spirulina platensis significantly enhanced the growth of T. harzianum and did not show any inhibitory effect against bacterial growth as well as significantly increased the number of bacterial colony forming units (cfu) of B. subtilis and P. fluorescens which significantly improved the microbial status in the rhizosphere of chamomile plants. evaluate control powdery mildew on chamomile and its effect on the productivity using two application methods: seedling roots soaking foliar spray under field
Factors Influencing the Adoption and Effective Use of Creativity Techniques in Business Settings: An Exploratory Study

Abstract: Using creativity techniques is a common way to promote innovation in engineering; however, little is known about the factors influencing the adoption and use of creativity techniques by individuals. This study explores this topic through interviews with four professionals who are knowledgeable and experienced in using creativity techniques in the real business world. Factors influencing the adoption and effective use of creativity techniques are identified. These factors should be managed for better innovation outcomes, while some factors lead to research questions that deserve further investigation.
Da fusão Antárctica/Brahma à fusão com a Interbrew: uma análise da trajetória econômico-financeira e estratégica da AmBev

AmBev rapidly became a well managed company, one of the most admired in Brazil and on the continent. This was in less than five years after its structure in July of 1999 with the controversial merger between Antarctica and Brahma, the two main competitors in the beverage industry. This prominence was the result of modern and efficient management focused on short term results and control shared by the top executives of both Antarctica and Brahma. An analysis was made of the financial, economic and strategic progress of AmBev from the beginning up to the merger with Interbrew, using the Theory of Mergers and Acquisitions. After this merger both participants will undergo significant changes as will the national and international beverage segments where they enjoyed first and second places in the beer segment of several countries in addition to participating in complementary world markets.
The Efficacy and Safety of Revefenacin for the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review

Background Revefenacin (REV) is a novel once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) in the treatment of moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This systematic review incorporating a dose-response meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of REV. Methods PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP database, and Wanfang database were searched from their inception to April 2020. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which evaluated the efficacy and safety of REV in COPD patients. Two reviewers independently performed study screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Outcomes consisted of the mean change in trough Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) from baseline, adverse events (AEs), and serious adverse events (SAEs). A dose-response meta-analysis using the robust error meta-regression method was conducted. We used Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the quality of evidence. Results Nine RCTs (3,121 participants) were included in this systematic review. The meta-analyses indicated that 175 μg/day REV could significantly improve the trough FEV1 (MD=143.67, 95%CI: 129.67 to 157.68; I2=96%; 809 participants; studies=4; low quality) without increasing the risk of AEs (OR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.81 to 1.18; I2=34%; 2,286 participants; studies=7; low quality) or SAEs (OR=0.89, 95%CI: 0.55 to 1.46; I2=0%; 2,318 participants; studies=7; very low quality) compared to placebo. Furthermore, the effect of REV in increasing trough FEV1 was dose-dependent with an effective threshold of 88 μg/day (R2 = 0.7017). Nevertheless, only very low-quality to low-quality evidence showed that REV at a dose of 175 μg/day was inferior to tiotropium regarding the long-term efficacy, and its safety profile was not superior to tiotropium or ipratropium. Conclusion Current evidence shows that REV is a promising option for the treatment of moderate to very severe COPD. Due to most evidence graded as low quality, further studies are required to compare the efficacy, long-term safety and cost-effectiveness between REV and other LAMAs in different populations. Clinical Trial Registration: [PROSPERO], identifier [CRD42020182793]
Development and Implementation of In-House Pharmacogenomic Testing Program at a Major Academic Health System

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) studies how a person’s genes affect the response to medications and is quickly becoming a significant part of precision medicine. The clinical application of PGx principles has consistently been cited as a major opportunity for improving therapeutic outcomes. Several recent studies have demonstrated that most individuals (> 90%) harbor PGx variants that would be clinically actionable if prescribed a medication relevant to that gene. In multiple well-conducted studies, the results of PGx testing have been shown to guide therapy choice and dosing modifications which improve treatment efficacy and reduce the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Although the value of PGx testing is evident, its successful implementation in a clinical setting presents a number of challenges to molecular diagnostic laboratories, healthcare systems, providers and patients. Different molecular methods can be applied to identify PGx variants and the design of the assay is therefore extremely important. Once the genotyping results are available the biggest technical challenge lies in turning this complex genetic information into phenotypes and actionable recommendations that a busy clinician can effectively utilize to provide better medical care, in a cost-effective, efficient and reliable manner. In this paper we describe a successful and highly collaborative implementation of the PGx testing program at the University of Minnesota and MHealth Fairview Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory and selected Pharmacies and Clinics. We offer detailed descriptions of the necessary components of the pharmacogenomic testing implementation, the development and technical validation of the in-house SNP based multiplex PCR based assay targeting 20 genes and 48 SNPs as well as a separate CYP2D6 copy number assay along with the process of PGx report design, results of the provider and pharmacists usability studies, and the development of the software tool for genotype-phenotype translation and gene-phenotype-drug CPIC-based recommendations. Finally, we outline the process of developing the clinical workflow that connects the providers with the PGx experts within the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory and the Pharmacy.
Advanced Maternal Age And Rise In Caesarean Sections In New South Wales Hospitals - A Review Of The Evidence

Caesarean section rates are on a global rise and Australia’s rates rank highly in comparison with other developed countries. However, this increase has not been accompanied with improved maternal or neonatal outcomes. Concurrently, there has been a trend towards delayed motherhood reflected by a rise in pregnancies in the 35 and over age group. This study aimed to investigate the rising trend in caesarean sections in New South Wales (NSW), Australia’s most populous state, and outline the potential contributing factors to this rise. Evidence from this review suggests that although caesarean sections rates and the percentage of mothers aged 35 and above have risen in NSW, there is lack of accurate knowledge about the strength of association between these two trends. Despite this rise in caesarean sections, stillbirths have not decreased, older mothers do not necessarily have an increased risk of small for gestational age infant, and there is lack of association between dystociarelated caesarean sections and maternal age.
A Boundary Lubrication Friction Model Sensitive to Detailed Engine Oil Formulation in an Automotive Cam/Follower Interface

Theoretical studies have shown that in severe operating conditions, valve train friction losses are significant and have an adverse effect on fuel efficiency. However, recent studies have shown that existing valve train friction models do not reliably predict friction in boundary and mixed lubrication conditions and are not sensitive to lubricant chemistry. In these conditions, the friction losses depend on the tribological performance of tribofilms formed as a result of surface–lubricant additive interactions. In this study, key tribological parameters were extracted from a direct acting tappet type Ford Zetec SE (Sigma) valve train, and controlled experiments were performed in a block-on-ring tribometer under conditions representative of boundary lubrication in a cam and follower contact. Friction was recorded for the tribofilms formed by molybdenum dithiocarbamate (MoDTC), zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), detergent (calcium sulfonate), and dispersant (polyisobutylene succinimide) additives in an ester-containing synthetic polyalphaolefin (PAO) base oil on AISI E52100 steel components. A multiple linear regression technique was used to obtain a friction model in boundary lubrication from the friction data taken from the block-on-ring tribometer tests. The model was developed empirically as a function of the ZDDP, MoDTC, detergent, and dispersant concentration in the oil and the temperature and sliding speed. The resulting friction model is sensitive to lubricant chemistry in boundary lubrication. The tribofilm friction model showed sensitivity to the ZDDP–MoDTC, MoDTC–dispersant, MoDTC–speed, ZDDP–temperature, detergent–temperature, and detergent–speed interactions. Friction decreases with an increase in the temperature for all ZDDP/MoDTC ratios, and oils containing detergent and dispersant showed high friction due to antagonistic interactions between MoDTC–detergent and MoDTC–dispersant additive combinations.
The role of aerobic activity on refuse temperature rise, I. Landfill experimental study

The temperature field in a landfill situated in the south of France has been characterized and analysed. Sixty-four probes, measuring temperature and gas composition, were placed directly in municipal solid waste during the filling of a 200 000-m 3 cell and the spatial and temporal temperature variations recorded. The average temperature increase was about 20°C. It occurred within the first 20 days. The thermal properties of the waste (conductivity and diffusivity) were measured with a thermal shock probe. A heat balance shows the predominant role of oxygen diffusion and aerobic reactions in the rising temperature.
Sewerage network modelling in Latvia, use of InfoWorks CS and Storm Water Management Model 5 in Liepaja city

The existing partially combined sewerage system in the city of Liepaja, Latvia, is in a poor structural condition and hydraulic overloading causes flooding and pollution. As part of a wider project to upgrade water services in the city, supported by the European Union (EU) cohesion fund (CF), a mathematical model of the system was constructed and verified. In determining appropriate software for use, two key objectives had to be considered: (i) fast model construction to allow upgrading works to be designed and implemented within the timeframe given in the EU Financing Agreement and (ii) provision of an affordable design and assessment tool for future use by the water company. To meet these objectives, InfoWorks CS software was used for model building and verification and the model was subsequently exported to freely available Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) 5. The predictive results of the two models were compared with validate the SWMM5 model.
A Diagnostic Analysis of the Kennedy Space Center LDAR Network. 1; Data Characteristics

An analytic framework is developed in which to analyze climatological VHF (66 MHz) radiation measurements taken by the Kennedy Space Center Lightning Detection and Ranging (LDAR) network. A 19 month noise-filtered sample of LDAR observations is examined using this framework. It is found that the climatological impulsive VHF source density as observed by LDAR falls off ∼10 dB every 71 km of ground range away from the network centroid (a 31 km e-folding scale). The underlying vertical distribution of impulsive VHF sources is approximately normally distributed with a mean altitude of 9 km and a standard deviation of 2.7 km; this implies that the loss of below-horizon sources has a negligible effect on column-integrated source densities within a 200 km ground range. At medium to far ranges, location errors are primarily radial and have a slightly asymmetric distribution whose standard deviation increases as r2. Error moments estimated from observed lightning are significantly higher than those from aircraft-based signal generator or analytic estimates. LDAR bulk flash detection efficiency is predicted to be above 90% to 94–113 km range from the network centroid and to fall below 10% at ranges greater than 200–240 km.
Evaluating the in vivo immune response to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in naive and vaccinated calves

In these studies, an implant device was developed to detect vaccination-induced, cell-mediated immunity in the subcutaneous tissue of calves. The long-term, future aim of these combined studies is to use the implant device to efficiently screen novel Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) vaccine candidates. This in vivo screening test would rapidly and inexpensively provide knowledge of a vaccine’s efficacy in the host species; vaccine candidates exhibiting evidence of efficacy could then be selected for more extensive vaccine challenge studies. A better understanding of in vivo cell-mediated immunity in response to MAP immunization is essential for the development of a novel vaccine screening test. In all of the studies presented, Mycopar® vaccinated bull calves were compared to unvaccinated, control calves. Our first specific aim was based on a proof-of-concept study that focused on the development of a platform for in vivo detection of cell-mediated immunity in cattle. The results of the study showed that MAP-specific in vivo measurements can be achieved with the use of our designed implant device. Histological analysis revealed a lack of cellular infiltrate in naïve calves as well as the vaccinated calf not challenged with the MAP antigen, purified protein derivative-johnin (PPD-J). This demonstrated antigen-dependent immune cell recruitment into the collagen of the implant and illustrated the collagen’s capacity for cellular migration. IFNwas only detected in the antigen-containing implants that were placed in vaccinated calves. IL-10 did not exhibit antigen or vaccine-dependent trends. In a longitudinal analysis, the implants were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postvaccination. IFNlevels in the MAP antigen-containing implants placed in vaccinated calves were significantly higher than the implants retrieved from naïve cattle at weeks 4
Innovativeness in British and French construction: the evidence from Transmanche-Link

This paper addresses the ‘innovativeness’ (the extent to which the design of the organization facilitates or inhibits innovation) of French and British project organizations. Following a review of the literature on organization design and innovativeness, data from a comparative organizational assessment of the British and French approaches to managing the Channel Tunnel construction project by Transmanche-Link are presented. These show that the British approach could well have less capacity for innovation than the French. The available evidence on the relative levels of innovation on the two sides of the Channel Tunnel are reviewed, showing that the predicted effects are found.
Forecasting Demand and Measuring Price Elasticity

The basic tools of economics and statistics are applied to water-demand forecasting and price-elasticity measurement by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, Oakland, Calif. Little expertise is required to produce good forecasting results with time-series models, which can also yield meaningful elasticity estimates if price increases are significant and the data are sufficiently disaggregated. Pooled time-series and cross-sectional models are more demanding in their structure and data requirements but often provide better estimates of the impact of price variables than simple time-series analyses.
New improvements in accurate measurement of synchronously sampled AC signals

A digital algorithm design approach, based on the use of a dual-slope ADC, is described in this paper. The main advantage of this approach is the determination of all electric values in an electric utility signal by the same algorithm. The algorithm has a high accuracy and regular structure. Measurements of voltage and current are made in successive periods by a stroboscopic technique (synchronous undersampling). The assumed stationarity of the electric utility signal is validated by measurements with an experimental set-up, consisting of a fast high precision sigma-delta ADC. The necessary synchronization is achieved by software measurements of the frequency of the measured signal. Assuming stationarity of the observed system (electric utility), in the stated one-second interval, it is proved that precise digital processing can be achieved without using a sample-and-hold circuit. The suggested measuring system was simulated, practically realized, and tested. Obtained results confirmed completely the starting postulates. Processing precision of 0.01% was achieved.
Factors Affecting Mother’s Adherence towards Cerebral Palsy Home Exercise Program among Children at Hebron and Bethlehem, Palestine

The incidence of cerebral palsy is significantly growing in children, especially among specific spasticity C.P children at south west bank (Hebron and Bethlehem) areas in Palestine. This serious health concern disrupts the active daily living (ADL) among C.P children and affects the lives of their families, both socially as well as economically. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with mother’s adherence towards cerebral palsy home exercise program among children at Hebron and Bethlehem city. We did a clinical trial among the cerebral palsy children at Al- Caritas hospital and Al- Ihsan rehabilitation centre. The study participants were children with cerebral palsy (mild to moderate spasticity) followed up at Al-Ihsan rehabilitation centre in Hebron city and Al-Caritas hospital in Bethlehem city. The calculated sample size was48 participants. Data were collected at two different time periods, one at baseline right before implementing the rehabilitation program and another at six-month’ time interval after the intervention was carried out. Our results indicated that there was no significant association between mother’s age and adherence towards home exercise program (p=0.946). Furthermore, there were no significant differences among mothers’ adherence to rehabilitation program in relation to socioeconomic status (p= 0.415), work (p= 0.704) and their level of education (p= 0.265). This study deduced that all mothers with C.P children were strongly committed towards the implementation f home exercise program regardless of their age, work, education level and financial background.
Against the Grain: Elite Consensus, Press Independence and the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War

ABSTRACT This study examines the political and news discourse that surrounded the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War. We use this as a case study to engage the broader scholarly debate over the process and conditions under which U.S. news coverage aligns with, or exhibits independence from, the views expressed by government officials. Specifically, we systematically analyze White House, congressional and U.S. news discourse throughout the war. We find that officials consistently invoked the narrative that the United States should, for both moral and strategic reasons, support Israel. Nonetheless, news coverage in the New York Times and CNN did not reflect the level of consensus that existed among these officials. Instead, journalists exercised considerable independence, routinely identifying and amplifying dissenting opinion, especially from foreign sources, that challenged the dominant narrative expressed by U.S. officials.
Elevation of BSF-2 Level in Serum of Patients with Hepatitis B Virus

Background: Hepatitis B is the main infection of the injured liver for humans. Inflammation of the liver is caused by hepatitis viruses may lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The B-cell stimulatory factor 2 (BSF-2) is one of the cytokines that affect the regulation and differentiation of the human immune response. Objective: this report aims to estimate the BSF-2, GPT, and GOT levels in patients’ serum with different stages of hepatitis B compared with healthy control. Methods: This study assessed 52 patients presumably with acute and chronic cases who have HBsAg positive. BSF-2 was detected using ELISA assay. Biochemical parameters were determined using kits of an automated analyzer. SPSS version-16 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Acute hepatitis B patients had shown elevation in BSF-2 level more than of chronic hepatitis B. GPT and GOT levels elevated in the acute hepatitis group more than of the chronic hepatitis group. We reported a significant value between BSF-2, GOT, and GPT levels. We didn’t score an association between patient’s age and cases groups of hepatitis. Conclusion: our data confirmed increasing of BSF-2 levels with the increase of GOT level more than GPT level with acute hepatitis B. BSF-2, GPT and GOT levels are varied in different courses of acute and chronic HBV. We surmised that the elevation of BSF-2 levels designates liver injury of patients with acute HBV.