Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Governance Practices and Competitive Advantage of Kenolkobil Company Limited, Kenya

The study assessed the role of corporate governance practices on competitive advantage: case of using KenolKobil Company Limited, Kenya. The study was guided by the following research objectives; to establish the influence of transparency on achievement of competitive advantage, to determine the influence of accountability on achievement of competitive advantage, to determine the influence of fairness on achievement of competitive advantage and to find out the influence of responsibility on achievement of competitive advantage. The research was conducted through survey research design. The target population was all the 156 employees based at KenolKobil Ltd head office. A stratified sampling technique was used to sample respondents as per departmental strength. The study then used simple random sampling technique to sample 100 respondents. The study used questionnaires. Qualitative data obtained from the open-ended items was analysed with similar answers grouped together according to the responses from homogenous themes. The quantitative data was analysed descriptively, by use of crosstabulations as well as by utilization of multiple regression. Quantitative data was computed with the aid of SPSS Version 21. The study concluded that transparency, accountability, fairness and responsibility have positive significant statistical influence on competitive strategy. The study recommends that the company should promote accountability, through honest and independent audit committee and independent board that can be able to offer checks and balances. The study recommends that the management should be responsible in inculcating ethical practices into the culture of the business, and these should be percolated to all levels of company so as to maintain excellent business practices overall. The study recommends that the company should participate actively in an ethical way by embracing code of conduct. The management should also cultivate and structure a corporate culture that supports all staff. This can be achieved by structuring a corporate culture in order to enhance employee responsibility.
Influence of Early Extubation Location on Outcomes Following Pediatric Cardiac Surgery*

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objectives: Early extubation following pediatric cardiac surgery is common, but debate exists whether location affects outcome, with some centers performing routine early extubations in the operating room (odds ratio) and others in the cardiac ICU. We aimed to define early extubation practice variation across hospitals and assess impact of location on hospital length-of-stay and other outcomes. Design: Secondary analysis of the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium registry. Setting: Twenty-eight Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium hospitals. Patients: Patients undergoing Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery mortality category 1–3 operations between August 2014 and February 2018. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: We defined early extubation as extubation less than 6 hours after postoperative admission. Hospitals were categorized based on the proportion of their early extubation patients who underwent an odds ratio extubation. Categories included low- (< 50% of early extubation, n = 12), medium- (50%–90%, n = 8), or high- (> 90%, n = 8) frequency odds ratio early extubation centers. The primary outcome of interest was postoperative hospital length-of-stay. We analyzed 16,594 operations (9,143 early extubation, 55%). Rates of early extubation ranged from 16% to 100% across hospitals. Odds ratio early extubation rates varied from 16% to 99%. Patient characteristics were similar across hospital odds ratio early extubation categories. Early extubation rates paralleled the hospital odds ratio early extubation rates—77% patients underwent early extubation at high-frequency odds ratio extubation centers compared with 39% at low-frequency odds ratio extubation centers (p < 0.001). High- and low-frequency odds ratio early extubation hospitals had similar length-of-stay, cardiac arrest rates, and low mortality. However, high-frequency odds ratio early extubation hospitals used more noninvasive ventilation than low-frequency hospitals (15% vs. 9%; p < 0.01), but had fewer extubation failures (3.6% vs. 4.5%; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Considerable variability exists in early extubation practices after low- and moderate-complexity pediatric cardiac surgery. In this patient population, hospital length-of-stay did not differ significantly between centers with different early extubation strategies based on location or frequency.
Molecular Characterization of Sequences of the Loci and Identification of Mutations Associated With Multidrug Resistance (MDR) in Clinical Isolates of M. Tuberculosis from Tuberculosis Patients of Chandigarh

India as a major hot-spot region for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection as identified by World Health Organization. The present study was conducted to characterize the sequences of the loci associated with multidrug resistance in clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis from Union Teritory, Chandigarh to identify the respective mutations. The loci selected were rpoB (rifampin), katG and the ribosomal binding site of inhA (isoniazid), gyrA and gyrB (ofloxacin), and rpsL and rrs (streptomycin). We found known as well as novel mutations at these loci. Few of the mutations at the rpoB locus could be correlated with the drug resistance levels exhibited by the M. tuberculosis isolates and occurred with frequencies different from those reported earlier. Missense mutations at codons 526 to 531 seemed to be crucial in conferring a high degree of resistance to rifampin. We identified a common Arg463Leu substitution in the katG locus and certain novel insertions and deletions. Mutations were also mapped in the ribosomal binding site of the inhA gene. A Ser95Thr substitution in the gyrA locus was the most common mutation observed in ofloxacin-resistant isolates. A few isolates showed other mutations in this locus. Seven streptomycin -resistant isolates had a silent mutation at the lysine residue at position 121. While certain mutations are widely present, pointing to the magnitude of the polymorphisms at these loci, others are not common, suggesting diversity in the multidrug - resistant M. tuberculosis strains prevalent in this region. Our results additionall y have implications for the development of methods for multidrug resistance detection and are also relevant in the shaping of future clinical treatment regimens and drug design strategies.
EFFECT OF SOMATIC CELL COUNT ON THE AMOUNT OF DAILY MILK YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MILK FROM COWS KEPT IN THE REGION OF SOUTHERN PODLASIE

The effect of somatic cell count on the amount of daily milk yield and chemical com - position of milk from 662 cows kept on 25 farms located in the region of southern Podlasie was analysed. A total of 5061 milk samples were evaluated. They were divided into four classes cor - responding to the content of somatic cells in 1 ml of milk: 1,000,000. It was found that, with an increase in the somatic cell count in 1 ml of milk, there was an increase in milk protein content from 3.36% to 3.54% and milk fat content from 4.02% to 4.16%, whereas the content of casein and dry matter in milk decreased from 2.56% to 2.45% and from 13.13% to 12.98%, respectively. Moreover, the percentage of casein in milk protein decreased from 76.2% to 69.2%. Also, milk yield was reduced, and the calculated losses in the milk yield resulting from an increase in the SCC were 10.6 to 17.3%.
Assessment of mycoflora and aflatoxin contamination of stored wheat grains

Pakistan exports wheat to many countries. Therefore, post-harvest activities for analyzing good quality of wheat in a scientific manner duly approved by ISO are prerequisite. To meet the challenges of competition in the foreign market, particularly from the long established export giants like USA, Canada, Australia and France this has become essential for all the wheat exporters to establish quality control system. In present study stored wheat grains were randomly sampled. Each sample was divided in to three portions for their complete survey of moisture status, fungal flora and aflatoxin contamination. The moisture content of all samples was found less than 12%. All these samples were found positive for fungal contamination when analyzed by plating under unsterilized and sterilized (with 1 % chlorox) conditions on moistened filter paper, Czepaks agar and Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus Agar medium (AFPA). A total number of 30 species of fungi viz., A. candidus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. parasiticus, A. niger, A. restrictus, A. sulphurus, A. sydowi, Alternaria alternata, A. brassicae, A. humicola, A. solani, Rhizopus oryzae, R. spp. , R. stolonifer, Acremonium spp. , Geotrichum candidum, Mucor heimalis, M. spp. , Cochliobolus lunatus, Fusarium spp. , F. culmorum, Rhizoctonia, Curvularia lunata, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium frequentus, Botrytus spp. , Nigrospora spp. , Humicola, Helminthosporium spp. were isolated. A. flavus and A parasiticus population ranged from 0 - 5.4 CFU/10 seeds and 0 - 5.0 CFU/ 10 seeds respectively. AFPA proved excellent in the isolation of A. flavus and A. parariticus strains. None of the samples was found aflatoxin contaminated when analyzed by ELIZA technique. The efficiency of ELIZA confirmed by the percent recovery of aflatoxin from positive and spiked controls and samples was found hundred percent.
Patch testing with purified and oxidized citronellol

Citronellol is a commonly used fragrance terpene included in fragrance mix II. As with many other fragrance terpenes, citronellol is susceptible to autoxidation. Citronellol hydroperoxides are formed in large amounts and are the only oxidation products identified as sensitizers in oxidized citronellol.
Association between periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis

Objective The objective of this study was to explore the association between periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods To identify eligible studies, the PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to 19 September 2019. Associations of periodontitis, and other periodontal parameters, with SLE were assessed. Results Ten studies involving 80,633 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled data showed a significant association between periodontitis and SLE (odds ratio=5.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.69–16.78, p = 0.004). In addition, SLE patients had a higher prevalence of bleeding on probing (mean difference = 0.03, 95% CI 0.00–0.06, p = 0.02) and higher mean clinical attachment loss (mean difference = 0.69, 95% CI 0.39–1.00, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between SLE and reference subjects in mean plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth or decayed, missing or filled teeth. Conclusions This study demonstrates a significant association between periodontitis and SLE, which indicates that avoidance of periodontitis by maintaining oral health may be a simple and economical way to prevent SLE.
The oldest sequenced fungal specimen

In science, it is easier to discover something than to find out if someone else discovered it before. For example, it is perhaps no surprise that, on average, each currently accepted fungus species has about 2 5 names (Hawksworth 1992). With the advent of DNA technology and the explosion of molecular systematics, mycologists may need to ascertain to what taxon a dried specimen preserved in a fungarium (the name commended for collections of dried fungi over the botanical ‘herbarium’; Spooner & Cannon 2010) belongs. This is especially so for namebearing types, where the inability to recover DNA from the specimens has meant that interpretative types, termed epitypes, have to be designated, as was done for the mid18th century lectotype of Lichen saxatilis, the basionym of Parmelia saxatilis, by Molina et al. (2004). This will be an ongoing problem to be addressed where cryptic speciation is involved, a phenomenon that is apparently not infrequent in macrolichens (Crespo & Lumbsch 2010). It was therefore encouraging to find that Redchenko et al. (2012) had been able to obtain ITS sequences from DNA recovered from a 151 year-old specimen of Caloplaca conversum collected in 1859. This, and other reports included in their paper of success with 19th and early 20th century material, indicates that mycologists should not be too quick to designate epitypes, but to first try and recover sequences from the already designated types where ample material exists. It would, of course, be irresponsible to destroy irreplaceable type material on the offchance that DNA might be obtained from it, especially as in many cases direct or microscopic study of the specimens enables them to be unequivocally recognized as the same as recently collected ones. However, in claiming that their sequencing of a 151 year-old specimen was a record for all members of kingdom Fungi, Redchenko et al. (2012) unfortunately appear to have overlooked the report of Larsson & Jacobsson (2004) detailing the recovery of the complete ITS region of the Sowerby type material of Agaricus cossus, the basionym of Hygrophorus cossus, in the fungarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (K), which had been collected 210 years earlier in 1794. This report indicates that success had been obtained with material 59 years older than that of Caloplaca conversum, and that the record for Fungi remains that of the Agaricus cossus type. The Caloplaca does, however, appear to be the oldest ascomycete fungus from which DNA has been successfully recovered. These results reinforce the value of fungaria as a source of fungal material that can be sequenced, as previously reported by, for example, Bruns et al. (1990) and Brock et al. (2009); neither of these studies was cited by Redchenko et al. (2012).
RESEARCH ARTICLE DIETARY ADMINISTRATION 0F SPIRULINA PLATENSIS AS PROBIOTICS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND HISTOPATHOLOGY IN BROILER CHICKS

Article History: Received 14, January, 2015 Received in revised form 23, January, 2015 Accepted 13, February, 2015 Published online 28, February, 2015 A trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementations of Spirulina platensis on broiler performance, and Histopathology. Eight hundred day-old Broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, consisting of eight replicates of 25 birds each. Commercial mash starter and finisher diets were supplemented with 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% of Spirulina platensis. The Body Weight Gain, Feed Conversion Ratio and Villi length, were significantly increased by the dietary inclusion of the 1% of Spirulina platensis as compared to the control fed broilers. In conclusion, 1% of Spirulina platensis supplementation significantly increased Body weight gain, decreased Feed Conversion Ratios and increases the villi height. The Spirulina platensis offers a good natural alternative to improve poultry production.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Associated Belgian Governmental Measures on Cancer Screening, Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 caused a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Unprecedented public health actions were introduced, including social distancing, travel restrictions and quarantine. The Belgian government announced a national emergency plan, thereby postponing all non-urgent medical consultations and operations. This report analyses the impact of these measures on cancer screening, through assessment of the workload of a laboratory for histopathology and cytopathology. Methods: Data on monthly numbers of histological and cytological samples, immunohistochemistry and molecular tests were extracted from the laboratory information management system. Results: The global histopathological and cytological workload was substantially reduced. The impact on oncology-related surgical procedures was rather limited. The anti-COVID-19 measures significantly diminished all screening-related samples, such as colon biopsies, breast biopsies and cervical cytology, and strongly reduced the number of samples related to “functional” pathology, such as thyroidectomies and gastric biopsies. Conclusions: Since many health care interventions are reflected in the workload of a pathology laboratory, this study enabled us to identify areas for “deconfinement” health care actions. Our findings indicate that various areas in medicine were affected, but the impact seemed largest for cancer screening. Health care professionals should assure that consultations related to cancer screening are postponed instead of cancelled.
Comparison of Different Irrigation Methods Based on the Parametric Evaluation Approach

The main objective of this research is to compare two different irrigation methods according to parametric evaluation system in the Field Plants Central Research Institute-Ikizce Research Farm's soils located in southern Ankara. Soil properties of the study area including texture, depth, EC, drainage, carbonate content and slope were derived from a detailed soil map scaled 1/5000. After analyzing and evaluating soil properties using geographic information system techniques, gravity and drop irrigation suitability maps were generated. Results showed that 13.1% of the study area was highly suitable for surface and gravity irrigation methods, whereas 51.2% of the study area was highly suitable for drop irrigation method. On the other hand, it was found that some land mapping units coded 3, 16, 18 and 19 are not suitable for both irrigation systems. As a result, drop type was suggested the best irrigation system for more than half of the study area soils due to soil and topographic conditions. This study indicates that the geographic information system (GIS) technique has an important role to determine suitability of the study area soils for both gravity and drop irrigation systems.
Strategies and tools for studying the metabolism and function of γ-aminobutyrate in plants. I. Pathway structure

g-Aminobutyrate (GABA) is a ubiquitous four-C, nonprotein, amino acid that has been linked to stress, signaling, and storage in plants. In this paper, we discuss analytical, enzyme-linked, and colorimetric methods for analyzing GABA and related metabolites, and review tracer evidence for the derivation of GABA from glutamate and its subsequent catabo- lism to succinic semialdehyde and either succinate or g-hydroxybutyrate. Also, we describe biochemical, complementation, bioinformatic, recombinant, and modelling strategies for identifying genes and investigating properties of the encoded pro- teins responsible for transport and metabolism of GABA. For Arabidopsis, evidence supports the involvement of a plasma membrane GABA transporter, a mitochondrial GABA permease, a cytosolic Ca 2+ /calmodulin- and pH-regulated cytosolic glutamate decarboxylase, a pyruvate- and glyoxylate-regulated mitochondrial GABA transaminase, a redox-regulated mito- chondrial succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, and redox-regulated glyoxylate/succinic semialdehyde reductases located in both cytosol and plastid, respectively. This simple biochemical model does not account for species and tissue differences in the isoform complement of GABA pathway enzymes or transcriptional control of the pathway. In a companion review, we provide a more integrated view of GABA metabolism and function.
Comprehensive genome analysis and comparisons of the swine pathogen, Chlamydia suis reveals unique ORFs and candidate host-specificity factors.

Chlamydia suis, a ubiquitous swine pathogen, has the potential for zoonotic transmission to humans and often encodes for resistance to the primary treatment antibiotic, tetracycline. Because of this emerging threat, comparative genomics for swine isolate R19 with inter- and intra-species genomes was performed. A 1.094Mb genome was determined through de novo assembly of Illumina high throughput sequencing reads. Annotation and subsystem analyses were conducted, revealing 986 putative genes (Chls_###) that are predominantly orthologs to other known Chlamydia genes. Subsequent comparative genomics revealed a high level of genomic synteny and overall sequence identity with other Chlamydia while 92 unique C. suis open reading frames were annotated. Direct comparison of Chlamydia-specific gene families that included the plasticity zone, inclusion membrane proteins, polymorphic membrane proteins, and the major outer membrane protein, demonstrated high gene content identity with C. trachomatis and C. muridarum. These comparisons also identified diverse components that potentially could contribute to host-specificity. This study constitutes the first genome-wide comparative analysis for C. suis, generating a fully annotated reference genome. These studies will enable focused efforts on factors that provide key species specificity and adaptation to cognate hosts that are attributed to chlamydial infections, including humans.
Clover nutrient ratios to monitor pasture yield responses to fertiliser nutrients

From earlier results of a limited number of trials, ratios of concentrations of phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and potassium (K) to nitrogen (N) in white clover have been developed as indicators of nutrient adequacy. For 98% of maximum yield, clover herbage ratios of 7.4 (100 × P/N), 5.0 (100 × S/N) and 0.43 (K/N) were required. Mean critical nutrient concentrations have been reported as 0.35% P, 0.28% S and 2.05% K from earlier research on sites at an early stage of pasture development. A series of mowing trials, measuring pasture yield responses to nil or a high rate of P (120 kg/ha), S (100 kg/ha) and K (300 kg/ha) were carried out at 8 sites throughout New Zealand in 1997/98. There were significant (P<0.05) clover or total pasture dry matter (DM) yield responses to P at 7 sites, S at one site, and K at 6 sites. The results indicated that the optimum clover nutrient ratios reported from earlier research are valid over a wide range of environments. Clover P/N and % P, and K/N and % K accurately assessed the effectiveness of P and K applications and were reliable indicators of a pasture yield response. Clover S/N and % S were equally accurate measures of the correction of a S deficiency at the one S-responsive site, but neither measure increased after S application at other nonresponsive sites. Clover S/N was more accurate than % S for indicating a DM response to S. A lower mean critical concentration of 0.24% S in clover would have been more appropriate for these well developed sites.