Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biochemical Characterization of Lipase Produced by Bacillus spp. Isolated from Soil and Oil Effluent

The aim of the present work was to isolate Bacillus spp. With high lipase activity; to characterize the isolates using both biochemical and molecular methods; to produce lipase using Bacillus isolates and to study the biochemical and biophysical characteristics of the produced lipase. Sixty five Bacillus isolates were isolated from soil 20 isolates from guar field soil (G), 15 isolates from Abusabein field soil (B), 15 isolates from sun flower field soil (S) and 15 isolates from oil effluent (O). Lipase producing isolates were screened; a Chromogenic plate’s method was used. Enzyme activity was quantitatively assayed. Lipase production under submerged fermentation (SMF) conditions using a production medium that contained metal salts, Tween-20 and olive oil as substrate at different period 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, the optimum pH, temperature for lipase activity was determinated and kinetics as well. The isolates showed the highest lipase activity which was identified as Bacillus sp. The optimum pH, temperature, thermostability and kinetic of the produced enzymes were found in three isolates G14, O1 and B10 with the highest enzyme activity and best stability. The isolates G14, O1 and B10 revealed the highest lipase activity of 63.4, 41.2 and 28.3 U/ml, respectively. The results showed optimum pH of the lipase activity from isolates G14, O1 and B10 8.0, 6.0 and 6.0 and the optimum temperature 40, 60 and 75˚C, respectively. Lipase enzymes from isolates O1 and B10 were found to be more thermostable after incubation time for 120 min at 90˚C. The Vmax and Km values of lipase for isolates G14, OI and B10 were 17.6, 135 and 24.4 μmole∙min𕒵 and 1.3, 1.6 and 0.681 mM, respectively. According to these results Bacillus spp. with high lipase activity and thermostability can be used to promote food, pharmaceuticals, paper, detergents agrochemicals industries and pollution control in Sudan.
Historical Perspectives of a Program for Gifted and Talented Students

A retrospective historical study of a 40-year gifted and talented program in a large urban school system was conducted between 2015 and 2019. Current and former program administrators completed personal interviews and surveys concerning the program’s services, challenges, improvements, and impacts. Relevant student enrollment data, program artifacts, evaluation reports, newspaper accounts, and curricular documents were examined to supplement the supervisors’ analyses. A description was provided of the consequences of a United States Middle District Court-ordered consent decree desegregation agreement associated with the policies upon student recruitment, identification, placement, curricular enhancements, and program settings within the gifted and talented program. The study also presents an account of the evolution of a gifted and talented program and its effect upon students, teachers, school system administrators, and the greater community. Important historical perspectives regarding the gifted and talented program’s development, policy changes, and influences are summarized.
Atomic Hydrogen Activated TiO2 Nanocluster: DFT Calculations

The reduction of TiO2 nanoparticle through interaction with H atom and characterization of resulting defect species with O2 molecule adsorption were investigated by DFT calculations in a molecular cluster approach. The isolated cluster Ti8O16 was used as a nanoparticle model. It was found that interaction between atomic hydrogen and every oxygen atom in Ti8O16 has the following features: (1) formation of stable OH group, (2) low activation energy of the process, and (3) appearance of reduced Ti3+ ion together with one corresponding d-type singly occupied level in the cluster’s “band gap”. Molecular hydrogen, in contrast with its atomic form, weakly interacts only with Ti atoms. Simulation of O2 adsorption on each Ti3+ ion of reduced Ti8O16H clusters shows the following: (1) formation of stable molecular O2– species, (2) the process has no any energetic barrier, and (3) disappearance of Ti3+ defect center and corresponding d-type singly occupied level. The obtained results agree well with general experimen.
Effect of microbubble generator operating parameters on oxygen transfer efficiency in water

AbstractThis study utilized multistage orifice microbubble generator to investigate dissolved oxygen (DO) formation characteristics and to increase its efficiency, by considering saturator pressure, water supply, and gas flow rates as the main operating factors. The effect of changing the parameters was described in terms of dissolution performance using volumetric mass transfer rate, which is very important element for aerator design and scale-up. Pressure values from 1 to 6 atm were taken for the analysis. To improve the oxygen transfer efficiency of the multistage orifice, the internal supply line was controlled to circulate the bubbles water up to 300% cycling. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient was limited below 0.01 per min for air; however, the value varied from 0.10 to 0.13 per min for oxygen at 4.5 L/min flow rate, showing increasing pattern with pressure. The transfer characteristic was doubled, with circulating ratio applied, because circulation could multiply the number of microbubbles.
Some new studies on intermolecular interaction of C3-Ar complex

Abstract Theoretical studies of the intermolecular potential energy surfaces (PESs), the intermolecular vibrational states and the wavefunctions for the C3-Ar complex have been performed at the CCSD(T) level with four different basis sets,. Each PES can be characterized by two symmetrical T-shaped global minimum at ɵ = 75° and ɵ = 105°, a saddle point between them at ɵ = 90°, and two collinear saddle points at ɵ = 0° and ɵ = 180°. Moreover, we also calculated the intermolecular vibrational frequencies and the average structural parameters of the ground vibrational states for the C3-Ar complex. The vdw bending and stretching frequencies are calculated to be 8.682 and 34.511 cm-1, which are in agreement with the experimental results and a more accurate result was determined for the bending mode. Studies show that the larger the basis set is used, the more accurately the results are calculated. Graphical Abstract
Genetic homozygosity as a marker of smoking dependency

The aim of our study was to evaluate the morphogenetic variability as a marker of smoking dependency in adult smokers versus controls and to investigate the presence and the degree of morphogenetic variability difference between male and female smokers versus same gender controls. The cross-sectional study evaluated 241 smokers and 185 nonsmoker individuals as controls. We analyzed 17 homozygous recessive characteristics (HRC). There was a significant difference in the individual variations of 17 HRCs between the controls and smokers (? 2=61.400, p<0.001; for females ? 2=79.440, p<0.001; for males ? 2=84.972, p<0.001). The mean values of HRCs significantly differed between smokers and controls (MV? SEM(Controls) -4.79? 0.13, MV? SEM(Smokers) -5.70? 0.12; p<0.001). For males, presence of 6/17 (35.29% genetic homozygosity) HRCs (OR=6.12) was to the certain degree predictor for smoking dependency. Higher degree of genetic homozygosity, changed variability and male gender, might be some among potential numerous factors that could have impact on smoking development and dependence.
Ammonia and Fermentation Treatment of Cymbopogon nardus L. Waste as a Substitution of Grass: Effect on Nutritional Profile and Ruminal in vitro Digestibility

| The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ammonia and fermentation treatment on Cymbopogon nardus L. waste as a substitute for Pennisetum purpureum grass on the nutritional profile and macronutrient digestibility under in vitro conditions. Seven rations (3 replications) were formed CN0 (100% P. purpureum), ACN1 (25% ammoniated C. nardus + 75% P. purpureum), ACN2 (50% ammoniated C. nardus + 50% P. purpureum), ACN3 (100% ammoniated C. nardus), FCN1 (25% fermented C. nardus + 75% P. purpureum), FCN2 (50% fermented C. nardus + 50% P. purpureum), and FCN3 (100% fermented C. nardus). A completely randomized design was used in this study and data integration was done using analysis of variance with posthoc Tukey’s test. The results obtained show that the nutritional profiles of ACN1 and FCN1 were slightly different from CN0. In vitro digestibility (%) of dry matter (IVDMD) and organic matter (IVOMD) after 48 h of incubation showed high significant differences (P < 0.001) among the treatments. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between CN0, ACN1 and FCN1 on digestibility of CP (IVCPD), NDF (IVNDFD), ADF (IVADFD) and cellulose (IVCLD). In conclusion, ammonia and fermentation treatment on C. nardus waste can be utilized as a substitute for P. purpureum at a level of 25% in a ruminant ration.
The Problem of Infinite Regress: A Process-Tracing Exercise

How can social scientists uncover the root causes of contemporary outcomes? Many scholars have assumed that the problem of infinite regress poses a central impediment to this endeavor. However, there have been few attempts to clearly conceptualize infinite regress or confirm this assumption. This article undertakes the challenge. Using examples from four historically-oriented books on diverse subjects – modern Hindu-Muslim riots in India, Italian governance, federalism, and early European democracy – I use process-tracing and sequence elaboration to regress and weigh causes back through time. This exercise yields three findings. First, antecedent conditions in all cases are ‘contextualizing’ and not ‘diminishing’ causes. Second, causal chains often become convoluted. And lastly, mechanisms become tenuous the further back in time causes are situated. Scholars are advised that diagramming causal chains and using sequence elaboration are concrete steps to help avoid spurious relationships and locate the deepest causes of a given outcome.
“Is it possible that people are so irresponsible?”: Tabloid news framing of the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia

Starting from the observation that the COVID-19 pandemic is a socio-cultural and health phenomenon, in this paper we analyse the tabloid news framing of the pandemic in Serbia. Our study examines a month-long period following the first identified case, during which the government introduced preventative measures deemed to be some of the strictest in the world. Applying a news framing analysis to front page news of the three tabloid newspapers Alo, Informer, and Kurir (N = 387), our study identifies nine frames employed in the media reporting about the pandemic. Supplementing the framing analysis with an examination of the narrative roles of heroes, victims and villains in which different social actors are placed, we add to the nuanced understanding of the socio-cultural frames of reference in pandemic reporting. Our analysis establishes that the most prominent frames in the tabloid news stories on COVID-19 in Serbia are prevention and human-interest frames. It shows that the attribution of responsibility frame is used to present citizens as villains who undermine successful state measures, while China and Russia are portrayed as the heroes in the fight against are virus.
A new green switchable hydrophobic–hydrophilic transition dispersive solid–liquid microextraction of selenium in water samples

A novel switchable hydrophobic–hydrophilic transition dispersive solid–liquid microextraction (SHT-DSLME) method has been used for the first time as a dispersive/extractive method for the removal of total selenium from real samples. Tetraethylenepentamine modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-TEPA) were synthesized and employed as an adsorbent for the removal and analysis of total inorganic selenium by SHT-DSLME coupled with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). In this study, the hydrophobic–hydrophilic transition of MWCNTs-TEPA was achieved by exposing them to a green, inexpensive, non-hazardous and non-accumulating antisolvent trigger: CO2. The switching phenomena of functionalized MWCNTs from hydrophobic to hydrophilic were confirmed using FTIR spectrophotometry and SEM measurements. Under optimized experimental conditions, the enhancement factor (EF) and limit of detection (LOD) were found to be 72 and 0.015 μg L−1, respectively for selenium. Validation of the developed method was carried out by selenium determination using water for trace elements (TM-28.3) as a certified reference material and the results were found to be in good agreement with the certified values. The proposed novel method was then successfully applied for the determination of selenium in real water samples.
Informality and Firm Performance in Myanmar

Abstract Using a unique panel survey of enterprises, we examine the relationship between four categories of formalization and firm productivity. We carry out one- and two-step productivity estimations whose robustness we check with matching and doubly robust estimators. The only formalization category that appears to be significantly associated with productivity is tax formalization, i.e. a firm’s decision to pay taxes. This positive association only holds for firms that were already more productive and bigger before formalizing than other informal firms. The reason for the insignificance of the remaining three categories is likely to be the insignificant association between formalization and potential benefits of formalization, such as more access to credit, employees, and investments. High taxes and fees linked to formalization seem to outweigh the few to non-existent intermediate benefits of formalization.
Potassium‐Induced Effect on the Structure and Chemical Activity of the CuxO/Cu(1 1 1) (x ≤ 2) Surface: A Combined Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Density Functional Theory Study

Potassium (K) plays an essential role to promote catalytic reactions in many established industrial catalytic processes. Here, we report a combined study using STM and DFT to understand the effect of the deposition of K on the atomic and electronic structures as well as chemical activities of CuxO/Cu(1 1 1) (x≤2). The DFT calculations show a pseudomorphic growth of K on CuxO/Cu(1 1 1) up to 0.19 monolayer (ML) of coverage, in which K binds the surface by a strong ionic interaction with chemisorbed oxygen and relatively weak electrostatic interactions with Cu ions, the lower and upper oxygen atoms on the CuxO rings. The simulated STM pattern based on the DFT results agrees well with the experimental observations. The deposited K has a great impact on the surface electronic structure of CuxO/Cu(1 1 1), which induces a significant reduction in the work function and leads to a strong electron polarization on the surface. The promotion of K on the surface binding properties is selective and varies depending on the nature of the adsorbates. According to our results, K has little effect on surface acidity but it enhances the surface basicity significantly. Consequently, the presence of K does not help CO adsorption on CuxO/Cu(1 1 1) but is able to accelerate the activation of CO2. Such a promotion depends strongly on the combinations from both geometric and electronic effects. Our results highlight the origin of the promoting effect of alkali metals in the design of catalysts for complex reactions.
Pre- and post-operative effects of statin on experimentally induced kidney chronic disease in Wistar rats

Background: Statins are selective competitive inhibitors to Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes the initial phase of cholesterol biosynthesis. Statins have hypolipemiant action and pleiotropic effects that may include nephroprotection. The aim of the present study is to analyze preand postoperative effects of statin on experimentally induced kidney chronic disease (KCD) in rats. Method: Forty Wistar male rats were pre-operatively randomized. To Group 1 (n=15), statin was orally administered for ten days pre-operatively, and for fifteen days after 5/6 nephrectomy. Rats of Group 2 (n=15) just received statin post-operatively. Rats of Group 3 (sham, n=10) were just submitted to surgery. Urine and blood samples were collected to analyze serum urea, serum creatinine and proteinuria at three different moments of the experiment. Rats that survived after an observational period of thirty days (n=34) were submitted to ex-vivo excision of the remnant kidneys. Histopathologic analysis was performed by using three stains (hematoxilineeosine, Gomori tricromium and periodic-acid Shiffer) and four standard indexes (glomerulosclerosis, mesangiolysis, tubulointerstitial and vascular damage indexes). Results: Statin treated groups presented lower means of urea in postoperative period. Group 2 had the lesser urea means. Statin induced proteinuria in healthy rats prior to nephrectomy. Proteinuria decreased after ten days after surgery in both statin treated groups. Group 2 showed lower mesangiolysis and tubulointerstitial damage scores when compared to other groups. Conclusion: Use of statin slowed KCD progression in this animal experimentation model. *Correspondence to: Fernando Meyer, Department of Urology and Master Program on Surgery, Catholic University of Parana (PUC/PR), Brazil, Tel: 554130150303; E-mail: fmeyer@urocentro.com
Migrant workers play a key role in HIV-1 strain diversity in Bangladesh

Introduction: Bangladesh is a low prevalence country for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and genotyping data is limited which is incomplete and mainly subtype C based on gag gene. In the present paper, we characterized HIV-1 strains obtained from individuals attending three HIV testing and counseling (HTC) centers from different geographic regions in Bangladesh comprehensively based on three genes. Material and methods: A total of 40 HIV-positive blood specimens with demographic and migration history were available from individuals who attended HTC centers during 2005-2007. DNA was extracted from whole blood and sequenced using primers specific for gag, pol, and env region of HIV genome. Results: Sub-type C was the most predominant strain (45%) followed by G-related recombinants (35%). Other genotypes were A1 (5%), B (2.5%), CRF16_A2D (7.5%), and unique recombinant form (5%). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the origins of these strains varied and most of them might have been imported from the Middle East on a regular basis by migrant workers. Conclusions: This is the first study to describe comprehensive characterization of Bangladeshi HIV-1 strains. Adapted intervention programs relating to appropriate counseling and provision of information relating to risk of transmission of HIV need to aim at returnee migrant workers.
Artificial neural network and genetic algorithm for modeling and optimization of photocatalytic removal of aquatic dye by g-C3N4/N-TiO2 nanoparticles

Herein, we report the modification of nitrogen-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) photocatalytic activity with graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C3N4). Also, the photo-degradation performance of Reactive Orange 122 (RO122) was investigated under visible light irradiation. The UV-vis spectrophotometer revealed that the absorption edge of nanocomposite was shifted to the lower energy, as compared with only N-TiO2 nanoparticles. The visible light induced the photocatalytic activity of N-TiO2/gC3N4 nanoparticles; they were significantly increased by combining N-TiO2 with g-C3N4 nanosheets. The effects of some key factors including pH, dye concentration, catalyst dosage, and reaction time on the photocatalysis removal process of RO122 were also evaluated. Artificial neural network model hybridized with the genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) strategy was proposed to model and optimize the photocatalytic degradation of RO122 in a batch system. The results showed that the photocatalytic process could be well predicted by ANN, using 4:20:1 topology. The genetic algorithm was also utilized to optimize the model conditions of the input parameters. The ANN-GA method was capable of effectively modeling and optimizing the photocatalytic efficiency of the prepared N-TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite under visible light.
A Molecular Picture of the Adsorption of Glycine in Mesoporous Silica through NMR Experiments Combined with DFT-D Calculations

The adsorption behavior of the amino acid glycine in mesoporous silica has been investigated using a combination of quantum chemical calculations and NMR spectroscopy experiments. Glycine adsorption on two representative sites of an amorphous silica surface, vicinal silanols and a silanol nest, was investigated by DFT-D. The effect of water coadsorption on the energetics of adsorption and NMR shifts was characterized. It was found that the silanol nest is a more favorable site for glycine adsorption due to a local increased H-bond density. Co-adsorption with water is also favored, especially a water molecule between a SiOH and the ammonium moiety. NMR chemical shifts computed on these models fall into the observed 13C and 15N experimental range, suggesting that the presence of different energetically comparable adsorption configurations cannot be excluded.
A penalty trust region method for nonnegative matrix factorization

Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) is to decompose a nonnegative matrix into the product of two smaller nonnegative matrices. It is one of the popular ways for dimension reduction in data processing. In this paper, we firstly reduce the dimension of the original matrix by using the orthogonal matrices U and V gotten from the stochastic SVD decomposition, and then based the framework of alternating nonnegative least squares, we adopt penalty trust region algorithms to construct a new method for NMF. Numerical experiments results demonstrate the high performance of the algorithm.
Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis spp. in Meat and Meat Products in Qena, Upper Egypt

| Sarcocystis is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that can be transmitted through the ingestion of undercooked/ raw meat contaminated with mature cysts containing bradyzoites. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of sarcocystosis in imported and processed meat products for first time in Qena province, Egypt. A total of 140 specimens of Brazilian imported frozen beef, beef burger, sausage, luncheon, minced meat, kofta (meat balls) and pastrami (20 for each) were collected from several markets in Qena. Specimens were examined macroscopically, by naked eyes, and microscopically, via peptic digestion technique, for detecting Sarcocystis . The identification of Sarcocystis spp. was done by the use of PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene as well as sequencing of the obtained nucleotides. Our result showed that 58.57% of specimens had Sarcocystis by pepsin digestion technique, while no macroscopic cysts could be detected. The infection rate was 90.0% in imported meat, 75.0% in minced meat, 65.0% in beef burger, 60.0% in luncheon, 55.0% in kofta, 45.0% in sausage, and 20.0% in pastrami. The recovered Sarcocystis species were identified as S. cruzi, S. hominis, S. hirsuta and S. fusiformis . The current work revealed that the high prevalence of microsarcocys-tosis in imported and processed meat products reflects the potential role of dogs, definitive hosts, rather than cats in the transmission of Sarcocystis spp. in Qena. Interestingly, S. hominis has a zoonotic importance and could be identified in pastrami. Moreover, it is highly recommended that hygienic measures should be applied during meat processing and the consumption of undercooked meat products should be avoided.