Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insecticidal activities of diketopiperazines of Nomuraea rileyi entomopathogenic fungus

Entomopathogenic fungi are fungal organisms extensively used in various parts of the world as biopesticides against insect pests that cause important economic damage. Various secondary metabolites produced by these fungi have many potential biological activities. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the insecticidal activity of extracts and pure compounds from Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson entomopathogenic fungi against Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera), Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera) and Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera), three insect pests that generate serious economic losses in the northwest of Argentina. Diketopiperazines were extracted from the culture free supernatant of the media with ethyl acetate. Antifeedant properties were detected in all extracts under dietary choice conditions (300 ug/ g of diet). The maximum antifeedant activity was noted in cycles (Pro-Val) (86.02) and cycle (Pro-Phe) (73.47), while the rest of the extracts and metabolites exhibited varying degrees of moderate or less toxic effects. The maximum oviposition deterrence against C. capitata (55.86%) was recorded with cycle (Pro-Phe) at a 50 µm/cm2 dose. Culture medium extracts supplemented with insect remains and all pure compounds showed repellent action against T. castaneum. The main repellency was observed in phenylacetic acid and cycle (Pro-Val) with RI values of 42 and 41% respectively. The present study would suggest the possible utilization of entomopathogenic fungal metabolites as an effective agent for controlling insect pests that cause important economic losses.
The uplift capacity of horizontal plate anchors in spatially variable clay using sparse polynomial chaos expansions

As the offshore energy industry moves towards deepwater installations, plate anchors are increasingly used to moor floating production facilities. The ultimate holding capacity of a plate anchor in undrained clay has been widely investigated in scenarios where the undrained shear strength is a deterministic parameter, uniform or linearly increasing across the soil mass. However, it has been shown that bearing capacity of footings can be overestimated if spatial variability is not taken into account. In this paper, a least angle regression-based sparse polynomial chaos expansion is used to efficiently study the uplift capacity of horizontal plate anchors in spatially variable clay represented by a highdimensional random field. The coefficients of the expansion are obtained from a set of finite element analyses and a range of anchor embedment ratios are modelled to investigate both shallow and deep anchor behaviour. The limiting cases of an attached and vented anchor, where the anchor is either fixed to or separable from the soil, are also considered. It is found that the probability of failure of vented anchors reduces with embedment depth due to a decrease in the variability of anchor capacity as shear planes lengthen. In the attached case, the probability of failure is dependent upon whether the anchor fails by a shallow or deep mechanism.
Current Account Imbalances in the Euro Area

The dispersion in current account balances among countries in the euro area has widened markedly over the past decade-and-a-half, and especially since 1999. We decompose current account positions for euro area countries into intra-euro-area balances and extra-euro-area balances and examine the determinants of these balances. Regarding intra-euro-area balances, we present evidence that capital tends to flow from high-income euro area economies to low-income euro area economies. These flows have increased since the creation of the single currency in Europe. We construct a novel data set regarding extra-euro-area balances. The data set contains, for the euro area and the most important member economies, exports and imports to and from the 10 respective most important trade partners outside the euro area. This allows us to study the determinants of the extra-euro current account and its interaction with intra-euro area trade balances. We estimate a model of the trade balance of the euro area and individual euro-area countries with the rest of the world. We find that a real appreciation of the euro against the currencies of its main trading partners appears to have a substantial effect on the euro area’s net exports in the long run, though the immediate effect is small. Our estimates for individual countries suggest that the adjustment to a real appreciation of the euro would not be equally distributed across euro-area countries. In particular, Germany would bear the largest share of the adjustment, while the other large euro-area economies would be relatively unaffected. Finally, we find that the introduction of the euro seems to have changed the dynamics of trade balance adjustment in three of the larger euro-area economies.
Evolution of the Diatoms: VIII. Re-Examination of the SSU-Rrna Gene Using Multiple Outgroups and a Cladistic Analysis of Valve Features

The resolution of the SSU rRNA gene for phylogenetic analysis in the diatoms has been evaluated by Theriot et al. who claimed that the SSU rRNA gene could not be used to resolve the monophyly of the three diatoms classes described by Medlin and Kaczmarska. Although they used both only bolidomonads and heterokonts as outgroups, they did not explore outgroups further away than the heterokonts. In this study, the use of the multiple outgroups inside and outside the heterokonts with the rRNA gene for recovering the three monophyletic clades at the class level is evaluated. Trees with multiple outgroups ranging from only bolidophytes to Bacteria and Archea were analyzed with Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses and two data sets were recovered with the classes being monophyletic. Other data sets were analyzed with non-weighted and weighted maximum parsimony. The latter reduced the number of clades and lengthened branch lengths between the clades. One data set using a weighted analysis recovered the three classes as monophyletic. Taking only bolidophytes as the only outgroup never produced monophyletic clades. Multiple outgroups including many heterokonts and certain members of the crown group radiation recovered monophyletic clades. The three classes can be defined by clear morphological differences primarily based on auxospore ontogeny and envelope structure, the presence or absence of a structure (tube process or sternum) associated with the annulus and the presence of the cribrum in those genera with loculate areolae. A cladistic analysis of some of these features is presented and recovers the three classes.
No Exit! : The logic of defensive shareholder activism

This paper examines the issue of what motivates shareholder activism. The standard explanation portrays shareholder activism as a response to poor corporate performance, but the empirical literature provides inconclusive support, indicating the need for alternative or complementary explanations. This paper contributes to the literature by showing, with the help of a case study, that shareholder activism can also be a response to increasing costs for exiting the investment, making outside shareholders increasingly exposed to expropriation risks. Significant expropriation risk can antecede a defensive type of shareholder activism characterized by intensified monitoring and reactive intervention to fend off expropriation attempts, which differs from the standard explanation in both motivation and outcome.
Study of Ceramic Membrane from Naturally Occurring-Kaolin Clays for Microfiltration Applications

The focus of this work is to assess the quality of porous membranes prepared from naturally occurring kaolin clays and to evaluate the performance of tubular ceramic membranes treating integrated raw effluents from seafood industry. This material has been chosen due to its natural abundance, its non-toxicity, low cost and its valuable properties. The preparation and characterization of porous tubular ceramic membranes, using kaolin powder with and without corn starch as poreforming agent, were reported. SEM photographs indicated that the membrane surface was homogeneous. The effects of material compositions, additives and the relatively lower sintering temperature, ranging from 1100° to 1250°C, on porosity, average pore size, pore-size distribution and mechanical strength of membranes have been investigated. A correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties of membranes has been discussed. The performance of the novel ceramic membranes thus obtained was determined by evaluating both the water permeability and rejection. The obtained membrane was used to treat cuttlefish effluents generated from the conditioning seawater product industry which consumes a great amount of water. Cross-flow microfiltration was performed then, in order to reduce the turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD).
Systematics of sphagnum frogs of the genus Philoria (Anura : Myobatrachidae) in eastern Australia, with the description of two new species

Analyses of allozyme and mitochondrial nucleotide sequence variation in Philoria from northeastern NSW and southeastern Queensland revealed that there are more species than the three that are currently recognized. In addition to the three species presently recognized P. kundagungan, P. loveridgei, and P. sphagnicolus, another two species P. pughi n.sp. and P. richmondensis n.sp. were recognized under the evolutionary species concept. All species are allopatric. Each of the five species had two or more fixed genetic differences with all other species. Additionally, each species possessed two or more unique allozyme characters (apomorphies). Each species had strongly supported reciprocally monophyletic mitochondrial haplotypes in comparison with each of the other species. Multivariate morphometric analysis was able to distinguish P. sphagnicolus from the remaining four northern taxa but was unsuccessful in reliably distinguishing the two new species. Mating call analysis identified two distinct call groups: P. sphagnicolus and the remaining species, the latter showing little discrimination between species. The distribution of Philoria in NSW and Queensland shows a strong association with high rainfall rainforest at mid to high altitudes (above 600 m elevation). The habitat of all species is remarkably similar, all are found predominantly in the headwaters of rainforest streams or soaks on the forest floor. All species lay their eggs in nests in the ground, where the larvae remain throughout their entire development until they emerge post metamorphosis. It was confirmed that nests where the embryos were at an early stage of development were of two types: foaming egg masses, and nests containing a non-foaming jelly substance. All species are limited in their distribution. In particular P. richmondensis is in need of special conservation consideration, as it is known from only three localities within a very small range. A number of populations in southeastern Queensland and northern NSW await molecular analysis to be identified with certainty.
Stigma and Discrimination among Perinatally HIV-Infected Adolescents Receiving HAART in Thailand

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related stigma and discrimination are important barriers to HIV prevention and treatment. There is scant data on this topic for children or adolescents born with HIV. A cross-sectional study was conducted among perinatally HIV-infected adolescents with access to highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. HAART is used to reduce HIV viral replication and consists of a combination of oral medications including nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). A standardized questionnaire and focus groups were used to assess HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the home, community, school, and healthcare settings. A total of 86 adolescents (median age: 13 years; range: 10-18.9; 55% females) participated in the study. Ninety-nine percent were on HAART. Sixty-two percent reported that they had to use their own drinking glass at home, and one-third reported that they had been teased. Approximately one-fourth reported that surrounding people had ended their friendship because they were infected with HIV. Ninety-seven percent of adolescents perceived stigma and 32% said that an HIV-infected person had no hope for the future. The initiation of HAART markedly decreased the physical manifestations of HIV and transformed HIV into a chronic disease for the adolescents. HIV-related stigma and discrimination were identified in all aspects of the adolescents’ lives, most commonly found in healthcare settings. Almost all adolescents perceived stigma and having to use their own drinking glass was the primary mode of discrimination. HAART appeared to markedly reduce stigma and discrimination. Peer-to-peer counseling, group meetings, and education of those comprising the support network around the HIV-infected adolescent may be ways that we can decrease the burden of HIV infection.
Ecological succession in two remnants of the Caatinga in the semi-arid tropics of Brazil

Ecological succession in two remnants of the Caatinga in the semi-arid tropics of Brazil). This study was conducted in two areas of the Caatinga with altitudinal gradients (in a mountain range), in the microregion of the Cariri Ori- ental Paraibano. It had the goal of characterizing the stages of ecological succession of the plant communities based on the classification of species into ecological groups and comparatively analyzed the phytosociological structure of the two areas, which are influenced by different levels of anthropization. The tree-shrub flora (with diameter ≥ 3 cm and height ≥ 1 m) of the Serra Inacio Pereira was represented by 1043 individuals, 17 families and 42 species and in Serra do Monte by 1264 individuals, 13 families and 29 species. The Shannon diversity index was 2.790 and 2.313 nats.individual -1 , respectively. Area I (Serra Inacio Pereira) had a higher diversity of families and species compared to Area II (Serra do Monte); the latter being more influenced by the process of anthropization. In Area I, the species of greatest ecological importance were Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem. and Sapium sp. In Area II, Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. , Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. and Croton son- derianus Muell. Arg. were the species with the highest importance values (IV). Area I appeared to be in an intermediate stage of succession, where the pioneer species were dominant over the early secondary species, along with late secondary species with high IV. In Area II, 70% of the individuals were pioneer species, characterizing the vegetation as being in the process of regeneration. Area I had heterogeneous vegetation, exhibiting a healthy state of conservation. However, Area II appeared to be homogeneous, demonstrating that the level of disturbance accounted for the differences between the two areas in floristic composition, structural formation and, as a consequence, stage of ecological succession.
Bank Loan Financing Decisions of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: The Significance of Owner/Managers¡¯ Behaviours

The objective of this study is to highlight the influence of entrepreneurs’ behaviour on the decisions to apply for bank loans. A mixed research methodology known as triangulation was employed in order to achieve the objective of the study. Data were sourced from a stratified randomly selected sample of 450 Cameroonian SMEs and analysed using logistic regression. The result of the study revealed that both control aversion and overconfidence behaviours of the owner/managers influence significantly the decisions of SMEs to apply for bank loans. From the result, it is found that behavioural finance theory explains the decisions of SMEs to seek for bank credits. Contrary to the predictions of the pecking order theory, managerial behaviours such as the fear to loss the control of the firm, and overconfidence provide explanations on the decisions of SMEs to seek for bank loans. For instance, the fact that debt does not entail any loss of business control urges SMEs to prefer debt than external equity.
Relations Between Working Memoryand Emergent Writing AmongPreschool-aged Children

The a uthors examined the nature of the working memory system that underlies age diffe rences of young, preschool-aged children. Measures of working memory, short-term memory, articulation speed, general intelligence, and writing were administered to 166 Canadian preschool-aged children aged 3 to 5 years. Findings generally support the hypothesis that age-related diffe rences in working memory capacity are a function of growth in a general executive as well as processing at lower levels. The r esults also showed that working memory predicted unique variance in name writing of preschoolers; however, this association was mediated by children’s age (experience) and lett er-copying skill. ISSN 1918-5227 Pages 33- 58
The Evolutionary Origin of Nervous Systems and Implications for Neural Computation

If neurones are the answer, then what was the question? Nervous systems are remarkably conserved throughout the animal kingdom. This conservation indicates that their core design and function features were established very early in their evolutionary history. It also indicates that all nervous systems solve the same fundamental task in essentially the same way, and have been doing so since their inception. Understanding when and why animals evolved nervous systems could help us identify that fundamental task. It could also provide context to help us determine how nervous systems solve that task so well. This thesis studies the evolutionary origins of nervous systems and the ecological conditions under which they evolved. It outlines fossil, ecological, and molecular evidence to argue that animals evolved nervous systems soon after they started eating each other, 550 million years ago. When animals started eating each other, they must have experienced a selection pressure to react to threats and opportunities in a precisely-timed manner. Nervous systems could have been one response to this selection pressure. This thesis then provides a quantitative ecological argument that, before animals started eating each other, they were forbidden from evolving neurones, but after, they were forced to either evolve neurones or be driven to extinction by a competitor that did. If predation was the question, then why are neurones the answer? This thesis argues that the first afferent sensory neurones were threshold detectors that produced spikes to alert animals of the proximity of other animals. Those spikes prompted a reaction, such as striking or fleeing, the instant that a state of the world became critical. Ancient animals would have found utility in devices that signalled as soon as the probability that a world state was critical exceeded some threshold. Extant neurones are well-adapted to solve these tasks; they produce an all-or-nothing spike when their membrane potential exceeds a threshold. Given that their core function features have hardly changed since their inception, they may still be functioning in an analogous manner. When animals evolved devices that spiked conditional on world states, it became possible for them to infer those states, given the spiking output of
Water Quality Deterioration in Artificial Lake: Their Impact and Sources

Seven sampling stations were identified to determine the status of water quality in Cempaka Lake, Bandar Baru Bangi within two sampling periods of June 2010 and August 2010. The objectives of the study are to identify and classify the current water quality in the lake. A total of twelve water quality parameters have been analyzed in-situ and ex-situ and classified under WQI and NWQS classifications, four parameters were analyzed using HYDROLAB meter DataSonde, eight parameters were analyzed under the standard of the HACH and APHA methods. The results are pH between 6.13 to 6.92, DO 1.63 to 4.94 mg/L, temperature 26.02 to 28.37 oC, conductivity of 94 to 213mS/cm, BOD 0.38 up to 2.4 mg/L, NH3-N 2.00 to 2.84 mg/L, phosphate 0.21 to 0.56 mg/L, sulphate 21 to 35 mg/L, COD 9.3 to 69 mg/L, TSS of 1.8 to 33.3 mg/L, oil and grease 5.7 to 11.8 mg/L and hardness 13.89 to 35.57 mg/L. Based on this classification, the water quality of Cempaka Lake was classified as Class II and III. The results are clearly shown that the majority of the water quality parameters in the study area are more polluted during the first sampling compared to the second sampling. Cempaka Lake has been contaminated due to residential activities, clinic centres, restaurants, petrol pump stations that release discharge into streams, rivers and eventually the lake become a brownish color and a smell of ammonia.
REDUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR HOMOLOGICAL CONJECTURES

Let A be a finite-dimensional^-algebra over an algebraicallyclosedfieldk. We denote by mod A the category of finitelygenerated left ^-modules. For an A-module AX we denote by pd^Z (resp.id^Z) the projective(resp.injective) dimension of X. With D=Homk(―, k) we denote the standard duality with respect to the ground field.Then AD{AA) isan injectivecogenerator formod A. To formulate some of the homological conjectures we need some more notation. Let AJcmod A be the fullsubcategory containing the finitelygenerated injective A-modules. Let Kb{AS) be the homotopy category of bounded complexes over AS. Let Db(A) be the derived category of bounded complexes over mod A. We consider Kb(AJ) as a fullsubcategory of Db(A). We define. KbUJV= {X(=-Db(A)＼Hom(I, X) = 0 for allI^Kb(AJ)}.
Eurosystem's Asset Purchases and Money Market Rates

Some Euro area money market rates have been standing below the deposit facility rate since 2015, which coincided with the start of the Eurosystem’s public sector purchase program (PSPP). In this paper, we explore empirically the interactions between the PSPP and short term secured money market rates (repo rates). We document different channels through which asset purchases may affect the various segments of the Euro area repo market. Using proprietary data from the PSPP purchases and transactions made on the repo market for specific securities (“special”), our results show that the PSPP has contributed to push down repo rate, in particular prior to January 2017. On average, purchasing 1% of a bond outstanding is associated with a decline in its repo rate of -0.78 bps.
Occurrence of Beta2 toxigenic Clostridium perfringens isolates with different toxin types in Iran

Clostridium perfringens is an important cause of enteric diseases in both human and animals. The bacteria produce several toxins which play key roles in the pathogenesis of diseases and are classified into five toxin types, on the basis of the differential production of Alpha, Beta, Epsilon and Iota toxins. In this study a single PCR assay was developed and used for detection of cpb2 gene to identify the Beta2 harboring isolates among different types of C. perfringens isolated from animal enteric diseases in Iran. It was found that cpb2 presents among C. perfringens isolates types A, B, C and D with 54.5% (6/11), 62% (13/21), 42.8% (6/14), 69.25% (9/13), respectively. Totally 34 of 59 (56.7%) isolates screened by PCR were cpb2positive. This is the first report of cpb2 positive isolates of C. perfringens causing enteric diseases of animals in Iran. Further studies to demonstrate the exact role of Beta2 toxin in pathogenesis of the bacterium is suggested.