Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Produção de lipase extraída de resíduos aquosos: cinética da atividade enzimática

Lipases are an important group of enzymes with various applications in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, besides having great interest for the treatment of effluents with high lipid content. The objective of this study was to isolate, characterize and select lipolytic bacteria that produce lipase from aqueous waste effluents and to study the enzymatic activity kinetics of the extract obtained via submerged fermentation. The results obtained are promising, being possible to isolate and characterize 23 lipase-producing microorganisms, mostly gram-positive bacteria, but after the fermentation step in a liquid medium, gram negative bacteria showed the highest enzymatic activity (56.72 U.L-1 for STP 2A` bacterium and 81.99 U.L-1 for R2B). In the enzymatic activity kinetic study with the selected bacterium (R2B), among the six variables (temperature, pH, minimal mineral medium, soybean oil, glucose and sodium nitrate), temperature was the one that most positively influenced the enzymatic activity, and the best results were obtained at 40°C. It was concluded that the enzyme extract obtained from environmental waste may be used to treat the effluent and contribute to reduce environmental impacts.
The risk of early infection following intra-articular corticosteroid injection following shoulder arthroplasty

Background There is little literature examining the association of corticosteroid injections into shoulders with a pre-existing arthroplasty. The aim of the current study was to determine the risk of early infection following intra-articular corticosteroid injection into a pre-existing shoulder arthroplasty. Methods The PearlDiver database was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with a pre-existing shoulder arthroplasty from 2007 to 2017. Patients with an ipsilateral shoulder corticosteroid injection in the postoperative period were identified. A control group of patients without an injection was matched 4:1 by age, gender, and postoperative timepoint. Periprosthetic infection within six months after the injection was then assessed and compared using a logistic regression analysis. Results Nine hundred and fifty-eight patients were identified who underwent a postoperative corticosteroid injection into a pre-existing shoulder arthroplasty and compared to 3832 control patients. After controlling for demographics, comorbidities, and procedure type, the rate of infection in patients who received a postoperative corticosteroid injection (1.77%) was significantly higher than control patients who did not receive an injection (0.91%) (OR 1.98 (95% CI 1.31–2.98), p = 0.0253). Conclusions There is a significant association between intra-articular shoulder corticosteroid injections in patients with pre-existing shoulder arthroplasties and prosthetic joint infection compared to matched controls without postoperative injections. Study Design Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Some Physical and Aerodynamic Properties of Soybean

Some physical and aerodynamic properties of soybean were determined in order to design processing equipment and facilities. In this study, some physical properties of soybean were evaluated as a function of moisture content in the range of 6.7-15.3% (db). At the 6.7% (db) moisture content the average length, width, thickness, unit mass, the geometric mean diameter, arithmetic mean diameter, sphericity, porosity, true and bulk density soybean were 7.41 mm, 5.34 mm, 4.50 mm, 121.76 g, 5.62 mm, 5.75 mm, 75.0, 51.0, 062.6 and 804.8 kg m-3, respectively. Corresponding values at 15.3% (db) moisture content were 9.57 mm, 6.75 mm, 5.17 mm, 23.65 g, 5.62 mm, 5.75 mm, 72.0%, 4.2%, 1086.4 and 689.3 kg m-3, respectively. In soybean, terminal velocity increased from 7.13 to 9.24 m sμ-1 and the coefficient of static friction increased linearly against all the tested surfaces as the moisture content increased
Effect of deep tillage and seedbed preparation on the growth and yield of wheat on a hard-setting soil

The preparation of a seedbed using either conventional cultivation (3 scarifyings) or deep tillage increased the vegetative and grain yield of a wheat crop (cv. Banks in 1983, and Quarrion in 1984) when compared with the direct drill technique of crop establishment on a hard-setting red duplex soil (Dr 2.62). Neither vegetative nor grain yield was increased by the inclusion of a deep tillage operation on the conventionally cultivated treatment prior to seedbed preparation with a scarifier. The poor seedling vigour of direct drilled plots was eliminated by deep tillage. However, the effect of deep tillage was short-lived. The importance of good soil physical condition during crop establishment was highlighted by the recompaction of the cultivated soil to bulk density and shear strength levels similar to those of the uncultivated plots in the latter part of the growing season. Because of the fragile nature of the soil, there were no residual benefits from the deep tillage operation on the undisturbed plots in the following season. Although cultivation had obvious benefits in enhancing seedling vigour on the hard-setting soil, the destruction of the soil's macroporosity reduced water infiltration down the soil profile. The adoption of conservation farming practices on hard-setting soils should initially involve reduced cultivation techniques to promote early seedling vigour. This cultivation should be timed to minimise the risks of soil erosion and recompaction. Further work is needed to identify the optimal cultivation techniques for these soils.
Strategies of aphidophagous predators: lessons for modelling insect predator–prey dynamics

Both theoretical and empirical evidence indicate that in systems where insect predators have longer developmental times than their prey the predators have little impact on the abundance of their prey. In assessing the ‘effectiveness’ of a predator for biological control one should take into account that selection maximizes predator fitness, not its effctiveness as a biocontrol agent. Therefore, predators that have a long developmental time relative to their prey are unlikely to be the best biocontrol agents. If these results can be generalized to other predator–prey systems, then it is clear that an understanding of predator–prey dynamics can only be achieved by studying predators.
Tax Incentives and the Location of FDI. Evidence from a Panel Data in Balkan Countries

This study aims to investigate the impact of taxation on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia), for the period 2005-2018. Using the empirical analysis method, we find that FDI net inflows are influenced by the tax regime of the host countries. Our empirical results suggest that a reduction in “corporate tax rate” and “total tax and contribution rate in % of profit”, would lead the increase in FDI net inflow in the Balkan countries. So, on the contrary, the higher the “corporate tax rate” and “total tax and contribution rate in % of profit”, are, the greater the reduced FDI net flow is. Our results also suggest that the increase of “real GDP rate” and “tax revenue in % of GDP” have a positive impact on the increase of FDI net inflow in the Balkan countries.
FinTech and household finance: a review of the empirical literature

PurposeThis paper reviews recent advances in the empirical literature of FinTech and household finance.Design/methodology/approachWe survey the effects of FinTech on three different aspects of household finance: payments, lending and portfolio decisions. Specifically, we examine the impact of digital payments, mobile money, FinTech lending, marketplace lending, robo-advising and crowd-funding.FindingsStudies suggest that FinTech has positively benefited households by increasing consumption and borrowing. This allows them to smoothen their consumption across time. Furthermore, there is an improvement in their portfolio diversification. Nonetheless, there is also evidence that certain households overconsume and borrow beyond their means.Originality/valueDespite the importance of this topic, there has been a lack of empirical evidence until recently. In this paper, we take stock of the empirical evidence in the literature through the lens of household finance
Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Using Justicia procumbense Leaf Extract and Their Application as an Antimicrobial Agent

Abstract Justicia procumbense leaf, stem and root samples were investigated by phytochemical analysis. Leaf and stem showed higher bioactive compounds compared to the root part. The current work comprises, the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesis using aqueous leaf extract of J. procumbense and to assess its effect on antimicrobial activity. Formed ZnO NPs were characterized by UV-vis, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM analysis. The UV-vis spectrum exhibited the absorption peak at 370 nm. The FT-IR results indicated leaf extract active biomolecules responsible for the formation ZnO NPs and it confirms band at 421 cm-1 corresponding to a weak Zn-O stretching. XRD result revealed the hexagonal wurtzite structure with the space group P63mc. The SEM image expresses spherical morphology with a range between 5 to 15 nm. Different concentration of synthesized ZnO NPs was tested against different bacterial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas auriginosa) and fungal (Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatous and A. flavus) strains by disk diffusion method. 10 mg concentration of ZnO NPs showed the best antimicrobial effect on all tested bacterial and fungal strains. The potential antimicrobial agents of ZnO NPs can be used for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Whereas, the plant leaf extract can be used for other nanoparticles synthesis.
Low Lethal Temperature for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Homoptera: Adelgidae)

The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, is not currently found in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant coldhardiness zones colder than 5a in New England. Cold winter temperatures may be a factor limiting the northern expansion of this pest. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the low lethal temperature of A. tsugae collected in January, February, and March 1997 from Holyoke, MA, located in plant coldhardiness zone 5a. Adelgids were exposed to temperatures of −20, −25, −30, −35, and −40°C for 2, 4, and 8 h. To correct for experimental mortality, comparisons in survival were made with untreated controls held at 0°C. For samples collected in January and February, a gradual decline in survival occurred as temperatures decreased. In March, differences in adelgid survival were not significant below −20°C. In this month, the percentage of live adelgids after cold treatment was ≤11% for −20°C and <2% for −25 and −30°C. In all months, no adelgids survived after exposure to −35 or −40°C. The minimum low temperature range for plant coldhardiness zone 4b, the next coldest zone north of the Mt. Tom infestation, is −28.9 to −31.6°C and further north in zone 4a it is −31.7 to −34.4°C. Therefore, the northerly spread and establishment of A. tsugae may be impeded or perhaps prevented by the cold climate of northern New England. However, our studies are laboratory based and may not completely reflect what occurs in nature and adelgids along the leading edge of the infestation may develop an ability to tolerate colder temperatures in the future.
Tracking diversity and evolutionary pathways of Lebanese oak taxa through plastome analyses

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to better understand the phylogeography and evolution of the Lebanese oaks and to assess the convergence between their morpho-ecological and molecular characteristics. We investigated DNA sequence variation in four plastid markers (TrnH-psbA, ycf1, trnK-matK and PetD) of the seven species (three sections) occurring in Lebanon: Q. calliprinos, Q. infectoria, Q. kotschyana, Q. cedrorum, Q. cerris, Q. look, and Q. ithaburensis, in addition to Q. libani and Q. cerris from Syria, and possible hybrids. Among the four markers, the TrnH-psbA and trnK-matK loci resulted in the best-resolved genealogies. Quercus calliprinos haplotypes clearly belong to the west Asian-eastern Mediterranean ‘WAHEA’ lineage. Sect. Cerris haplotypes are derived variants of the central Mediterranean ‘Cerris-Ilex’ lineage. Sect. Quercus haplotypes were less differentiated and in close connection with the Caucasian primary refugium of white oaks. Despite the low species-level resolution, a gradient in genetic diversity linked to the ecological plasticity of the sampled species was observed. A close relationship of Q. look with Q. cerris is confirmed. Quercus kotschyana seems an ancient stock of closely related and disjunct oak of sect. Quercus. Finally, our results confirm the relevance of the Levant region as an important biogeographical crossroad between continents, and its key role in stimulating diversification and preservation of ancient genepools. Important areas in Lebanon that should be taken into consideration in future conservation strategies are highlighted, to ensure a wider genetic potential of local oak species to face the current climate change.
How reverse merger firms raise capital in PIPEs: search costs and placement agent reputation

We examine the role of placement agents in private investments in public equity (PIPE) deals of firms that went public via a reverse merger (RM). We find that reputable placement agents with greater expertise (expert agents) help RM firms to complete their PIPE deals in a smaller number of financing rounds (closings) and raise funds from a larger base of private investors. In exchange for these benefits, RM firms advised by expert agents agree to more investor-friendly contract terms and pay higher cash compensation to their placement agents. Overall, our evidence indicates that, while expert PIPE agents use their superior networking capabilities to reduce the search costs of RM firms, they also exercise more bargaining power against RM firms compared to non-expert PIPE agents. Finally, compared to the PIPE offerings of IPO firms, the PIPE offerings of RM firms are more likely to involve deals with multiple closings and larger offer price discounts. This suggests that raising new capital in PIPEs entails significantly higher costs for RM firms than IPO firms.
Parents’ perceptions on physical activity for their children with autism spectrum disorders during the novel Coronavirus outbreak

Considering that parents are one of the key figures in their child’s participation in physical activity, it is extremely important to examine parents’ perceptions and experiences of physical activity in order to protect children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) from the inactive life during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and to include them in physical activities in the home environment. Although it is still a new subject, there is no research that addresses parents’ physical activity knowledge, needs and recommendations for the physical activity experiences of children with ASD during the COVID-19 outbreak, and offers solutions accordingly. Considering this gap in the literature, the aim of this qualitative study is to explore parents’ perceptions on physical activity for their children with ASD. Participants of the study were 10 parents with children with ASD, who participated in one-to-one semi-structured phone calls. Interview data were analyzed thematically. The analysis of the data revealed three main themes: 1) Possible benefits of physical activity during the COVID-19 outbreak, 2) Physical activity barriers during the COVID-19 outbreak, and 3) Recommendations for physical activity during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results revealed that parents thought that physical activities had a positive effect on the development areas of their children with ASD. It was determined that parents want to involve their children in physical activities in the home environment, but they have barriers that they need to overcome.
The effects of organizational justice dimensions on facets of job engagement

This study aims to examine the relationship between four dimensions of organizational justice (distributive, procedural, interpersonal and informational) and the three facets of job engagement (physical, cognitive and emotional). ,A cross-sectional approach was used to survey a sample of 281 professionals in information technology who resided in the southern part of India and varied on experience, age and gender. Data was analyzed by employing the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. ,The result emphasizes the individual role of each justice dimension on three job engagement facets, which suggests that all four dimensions of organizational justice have positive effects on physical, cognitive and emotional job engagement. ,The current study contributes to the literature by examining all three job engagement dimensions and provides evidence that distributive, procedural, interpersonal and informational justices are significant predictors of physical, cognitive and emotional job engagement.
Population structure of Armillaria species in managed Norway spruce stands in the Alps

Summary • The preferentially saprotrophic basidiomycete Armillaria cepistipes and the pathogenic Armillaria ostoyae occur sympatrically in many European forests. • The spatial population structure of both Armillaria species was investigated in three 1-ha plots established in managed Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests in the Swiss Alps (1400 m asl). A total of 740 Armillaria isolates, 296 from rhizomorphs in the soil and 444 from the stumps, were recovered and identified to species and genets (somatic incompatibility groups). • The incidence of A. cepistipes and A. ostoyae varied greatly among the plots. Two to six genets of each Armillaria species were identified and mapped in each plot. Genets of the same species overlapped rarely and only on the borders. Large spatial overlaps between A. cepistipes and A. ostoyae genets were observed in the plot with the highest incidence of fragmented genets. In five subplots (c. 0.1 ha) established along interspecific boundaries, overlaps were found in all three plots. • Our study suggests a strong intraspecific competition in both Armillaria species. Evidence for competition between the two species, as indicated by spatial mutual exclusion, was only observed on parts of the investigated area.
Comparison of two new methods for implementa BPSK modulator using FPGA

The design of electronic systems has become mainly dependent on FPGAs applications. This is due to the softness effectiveness progress by reconfigurable computing and reduced time to develop solutions for digital signal processing. In this article, we present the theoretical backgrounds of a BPSK modulation and hardware designs of the BPSK system, a firstly with the help of Matlab/Simulink reliant on the System Generator and a second with Xilinx ISE VERILOG Hardware Description Language. In order to show the differences between them, in terms of efficiency, duration of development and how many resources are used in FPGA. For the projected system, we have a tendency to aimed toward employing a moderately sized, low-value FPGA to implement the system. The Atlys development board by Digilent to configure develops, and run the system, based on a Xilinx Spartan-6 LX45 FPGA.
Susceptibility of Tree Seedlings to Biotic and Abiotic Hazards in the Understory of a Moist Tropical Forest in Panama

We evaluated temporal patterns of seedling survival of eight Neotropical tree species generated under multiple abiotic and biotic hazards (vertebrates, disease, litterfall) in the forest understory on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Seedlings were transplanted at first leaf expansion in low densities along a 6‐km transect and damage and mortality were recorded for 1 yr. We also planted and monitored small and large artificial seedlings to estimate physical disturbance regimes. During 0–2 mo after transplant, vertebrate consumers of reserve cotyledons caused high mortality of real seedlings, but little damage to artificial seedlings. On real seedlings after 2 mo, disease became an important agent of mortality, despite a decrease in overall mortality rates. Damage by litterfall remained relatively low during the 1‐yr study period. Survival ranks among species showed ontogenetic shifts over time, as species changed susceptibility to the mortality agents. Survival after 2 mo was positively correlated with stem toughness, not because species with tough stems were less likely to receive mechanical damage, but because they survived better after receiving mechanical damage. Within each transplant station, artificial seedlings were not good predictors of litterfall damage experienced by real seedlings. Forest‐wide litterfall damage level, however, was similar for both real and artificial seedlings (ca 10%/yr), a moderate level compared to other tropical forests. In conclusion, species traits including biomechanical traits interact to create complex temporal patterns of first year seedling survival, resulting in ontogenetic shifts that largely reflect changes in the relative importance of vertebrate consumers relative to other hazards.
Predicting postfire mortality of seven western conifers

We used data on 2356 trees from 43 prescribed fires in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington states to model postfire tree mortality. Data were combined for seven species of conifers to develop binary logistic regression models for predicting the probability of mortality. Probability of mortality increased with percentage of the crown killed, and decreased as bark thickness increased. Models are presented with and without species as a categorical variable. The models predicted well for trees burned in both slash fires and fires in natural fuels. The models are applicable for assessing fire-caused mortality both of individual trees and in mixed conifer stands of the Pacific Northwest.
Trends in performance of Turkish durum wheats derived from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in an irrigated West Asian and North African environment

Turkey is one of the most important durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var. durum Desf.) producers in West Asia and North Africa (WANA). There appears to have been a lack of progress in wheat yields in WANA over recent decades. Most of the modern cultivars grown in WANA are related to crosses produced by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). During 1999 and 2000, a chronological set of 11 cultivars related to CIMMYT crosses was evaluated using two irrigation regimes near Şanlıurfa, Turkey. Average yields ranged from 386 g/m2 (local cultivar, Karakılçık-33) to 614 g/m2 (Ege-88). When wheat cultivars were grown with irrigation until physiological maturity, cessation of irrigation near anthesis reduced average grain yields of all cultivars by 6·2–25·7%. Since the introduction of the first generation of CIMMYT cultivars in 1975, CIMMYT grain yields have increased by about 0·60% per year compared with that of Karakılçık-33. This rate increased up to 1·08% per year until 1988. No further progress in yield was measured for varieties released in the 1990s. The average rate was 0·76% per year. After the introduction of the CIMMYT cultivars, yield changes fitted better in a quadratic function. Compared with Karakılçık-33, the yield increases of CIMMYT cultivars have resulted from an increase in harvest index associated with reduced height and the development of more and heavier grains. Grain quality traits decreased with the introduction of the first CIMMYT cultivar but recovered slightly thereafter with no clear trend. The results are discussed with consideration of breeding priorities and specific WANA conditions.