Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of log jams and exceptional flood events in mobilizing coarse particulate organic matter in a steep headwater stream

Abstract. Coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) fulfills important functions in the physical and ecological system of a stream. CPOM delivery to and export from the stream has implications for the stream's morphology and sediment transport capacity as well as the energy budget and food availability. Export rates of CPOM from mountain catchments have been observed to strongly increase with rising discharge, but the mechanism leading to this strong relationship is unclear. Here, we show that log jams in the Erlenbach, a steep headwater stream in the Swiss Prealps, are an effective barrier for the transport of CPOM pieces, and thus become sites of storage of large quantities of material over time. Exceptional discharge events with return periods exceeding 20 years play a dual role in CPOM transport in the Erlenbach. First, they appear to destroy existing log jams, releasing the stored material (wood and sediment). Second, they intensify channel–hillslope coupling, thereby recruiting new logs to the channel, around which new jams can form. This allows for the formulation of a new, fully episodic end-member in a four-end-member model of CPOM dynamics of steep mountain streams based on wood delivery and export.
Cytochrome P450 1A2 phenotyping for student laboratories

The purpose of this research is to impart basic knowledge about the cytochrome P450 metabolism of xenobiotics and its meaning for pharmaceutical and medical problems by means of experiment-led learning. The teaching approach includes anexperimental part and bibliographic investigations as well as a discussion of the obtained results. The experimental work describes two simple methods for phenotyping cytochrome P450 1A2 in humans by HPLC – UV measurement of caffeine and its main metabolite paraxanthine in urine and saliva.These simple and inexpensive methods are applicable to demonstrate the importance of cytochrome P450 enzymes concerning drug inefficacy, drug– drug interactions and adverse drug reactions. Two simple and fast HPLC – UV methods for phenotyping cytochrome P450 1A2 in humans are presented. Using these methods, probands can be classified into poor and fast metabolisers by the determination of the paraxanthine /caffeine ratio in saliva and urine. Since our HPLC methods are inexpensive and simple to carry out, the experiments are particularly suitable for pharmaceutical and medical student laboratories.
Salinity Stress Effect on Ion Uptake and Yield Attributes in Rice (Oryza Sativa) Cultivars

Rice is a moderately salt-sensitive crop species and soil salinity is the single most widespread soil toxicity problem facing rice production. Salinity affects nutritional status of rice plants. It may reduce crop yield due to its toxic effect to salt sensitive plant. The experiment was conducted to evaluate salinity tolerance level of three rice cultivars viz., MR219, Binashail and IR20. Salinity levels were 0.34 (control), 4.2 and 8.8 dS/m. Salinity stress was evaluated in terms of ion uptake in plant straw (leaves & stems) and yield attributes. Sodium ion increased with increasing salinity levels whereas reverse trend was observed in potassium and calcium ions content in straw. However, among the cultivars, MR219 contained less sodium ions in straw. Sodium content was the highest in IR20. The number of effective tillers/hill, number of filled grains/panicle, 1000-grain weight and harvest index decreased with increasing salinity levels whereas reverse trend was observed in case of non-effective tillers/hill and unfilled grains/panicle. MR219 showed the best performance in terms of yield and yield attributes up to 8.8 dS/m soil followed by Binashail. The yield and yield attributes of IR20 drastically decreased with the increase of soil salinity. MR219 was found tolerant, Binashail was moderately tolerant and IR20 was susceptible to imposed moderate salinity.
Relationships between backfat thickness and parameters of reproduction in the Czech Large White sows (short communication)

Abstract. Relationships between backfat thickness and litter performance for individual parities were analyzed on performance-test data under field conditions of 8,285 Large White sows from 39 farms. Backfat thickness measured by ultrasound was corrected for a live weight of 90 kg. Young gilts with a higher backfat thickness achieved higher litter performance and a higher number of litters. Litter size increased from the first until the fifth parity.
Factors Influencing the Loudness Discomfort Level

The LDL test is useful clinically. It is simple in technique and requires no special equipment: however, it is inherently more variable than other loudness tests and tends to be of little value in patients who are habitually exposed to intense noise.A laboratory study has shown the rise time of the audiometric pulses to be a critical factor in the LDL. A shorter time, namely of 15-25 msec, than at present standardised, would be beneficial not only for LDL measurements but also for Bekesy audiometry and cortical evoked response audiometry, without affecting tonal threshold measurements. Likewise an upper hearing level of 120dB instead of the more usual 110dB would be a useful feature in audiometers. Use of insert receivers to provide this extra 10dB is not recommended.The best technique for LDL testing is to present pulses of 0-5-1 sec duration and 2-3 sec interval in an ascending 5dB steps series until the loudness discomfort level is indicated.
Essential Oil from Nigella Sativa Seed Differentially Ameliorates Steroid Genesis, Cellular ATP and Prostate Functions in Anti-Psychotic Drug- Induced Testicular Damage of Rats

Haloperidol is basically employed in combating mental disorder but its usage is controlled because of its adverse effects in other tissues. This study investigates the differential effects of phenolic compounds from black seed oil on key markers linked to testicular dysfunctions induced by Haloperidol in rat model. The animals were divided into six groups (n=10). Group I was given distilled water while Group II received 15 mg/kg body weight of haloperidol via oral route. Group III, IV and V were pre, co and post-treated with the oil, respectively at therapeutic dose of 150 mg/kg body weight. Lastly, Group VI was treated with black seed oil at dose of 150 mg/kg body weight; for 14 days. The results revealed an increase in 5I-nucleotidase and PACP activities with concomitant decrease of Δ5-3β-HSD, Δ5-17β-HSD and LDH activities in rats induced with haloperidol, followed by systemic oxidative damage and adverse histopathological changes in germinal epithelial cells. Co-treatment is most efficacious in preventing haloperidolinduced testicular damage in rat; followed by post and pre-treatment, respectively.
An Investigation of the Impact of Tinnitus Perception on the Quality of Life

Purpose: the aim of this study is to assess the impact of tinnitus perception on the quality of life of tinnitus sufferer’s. Materials and methods: 34-tinnitus sufferers were recruited in this study with a wide range of hearing loss thresholds (HLT) and tinnitus severity status. Pure tone air conduction audiometry was performed to assess the hearing level of the participants in this study. Anxiety and depression were assessed in this study using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Tinnitus severity was assessed using tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and tinnitus functional index (TFI). Results: The impact of tinnitus perception on the quality of life was found higher in suffering group comparing to coping group. A significant positive correlation was found between the age of tinnitus subjects and their hearing loss thresholds (r=0.36, P=0.037). The TFI score was found significantly higher (P=0.007) in the unilateral tinnitus group compared to the bilateral tinnitus group. In TFI subscales ‘Intrusiveness’ scored the highest (58%), while Quality of Life scored the lowest 20%). A significant positive correlation was found between hearing loss and tinnitus duration (r=0.40, P=0.019). Also, the correlation between tinnitus severity and anxiety and depression was identified in this study. Conclusion: These findings revealed that tinnitus perception has negative impacts on the quality of life. Tinnitus laterality may seem to play a factor on the tinnitus severity.
Effect of Loop Length and Nozzle Type on Structural and Performance Properties of Single Jersey Knitted Fabrics

We studied the structural properties, bursting strength and pilling properties of single jersey knitted fabrics made from OE rotor spun yarns. Raw material of 100% cotton of the Urfa region of Turkey was specifically handled in the study. The yarns were produced with dif ferent nozzle types with a yarn of linear density of 19.67 tex. Five different ceramic nozzles were used in yarn production. These nozzle types are known as K4KK, K4KS, K6KF, K8KK & KSNX. Fabrics were produced by a 28 gauge 32 inch diameter circular knitting machine. The yarns were processed to single jersey knitted fabrics by adjusting the yarn loop length between 14 - 17 cm on the machine as they were the minimum and maximum values limited by the yarn type, machine and commercially accepted conditions. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of fabric density and nozzle type on the structural and performance properties of single jersey knitted fabrics investigated in both a grey and dyed state. In addition, results were interpreted statistically and regression equations obtained.
Electromagnetic heating as a way of cutting costo while saving energy: time evolution

In this review article, an electromagnetic heating time evolution is presented, stating a brief description of the main applications in some of the top fields regarding this technology and striving to indicate fields for further research in an area that becomes more important with each passing day. It was found that the food industry and that plasma related products are the most important branches of this technology, where a vast majority has focused on microwaves instead of using radiofrequency. Some other areas are also discussed and at the end possible future researches are outlined, such as a mixed heating dryer and a sulfur lamp.
Extreme Circumgalactic H i and C iii Absorption around the Most Massive, Quenched Galaxies

Luminous red galaxies (LRGs) are the most massive galaxies at z ∼ 0.5 and, by selection, have negligible star formation (SF). These objects have halo masses between those of L* galaxies, whose circumgalactic media (CGMs) are observed to have large masses of cold gas, and clusters of galaxies, which primarily contain hot gas. Here, we report detections of strong and extended metal (C iii 977) and H i lines in the CGM of two LRGs. The C iii lines have equivalent widths (EWs) of ∼1.8 and ∼1.2 Å, and velocity spreads of ∼796 and ∼1245 , exceeding all such measurements from local ∼L* galaxies (maximal C iii EWs ∼1 Å). The data demonstrate that a subset of halos hosting very massive, quenched galaxies contain significant complexes of cold gas. Possible scenarios to explain our observations include that the LRGs’ CGMs originate from past activity (e.g., SF or active galactic nuclei driven outflows) or from the CGMs of galaxies in overlapping subhalos. We favor the latter scenario, in which the properties of the CGMs are more tightly linked to the underlying dark matter halo than properties of the targeted galaxies (e.g., SF).
Problems in remote sensing of landscapes and habitats

Wildlife habitat mapping strongly supports applications in natural resource management, environmental conservation, impacts of anthropogenic activity, perturbed ecosystem restoration, species-at-risk recovery and species inventory. Remote sensing has long been identified as a feasible and effective technology for large-area habitat mapping. However, existing and future uncertainties in remote sensing will definitely have a significant effect on the relevant scientific research. This article attempts to identify the current challenges and opportunities in remote sensing for large-area wildlife habitat mapping, and accordingly provide possible solutions and directions for further research.
A New Era in Treatment of Non - Vital Primary Molars: One Year Follow-up Study

Background: Pulpectomy is a root canal procedure for pulp tissue that is irreversibly infected or necrotic due to caries or trauma. Aims: The aim of this study is to apply blood clot technique for non-vital deciduous molars. Clinical and radiographical evaluations were carried out after 6 and 12 months. Materials and Methods: Twenty non vital primary molars from twenty children were involved in this study. The root canals are disinfected using triple antibiotic paste. Resembling to blood clot techniques carried out for non vital immature permanent tooth, blood clot created in root canal by by over instrumentation, and put sterile cotton pellet at the canal orifice wait 15 min for blood to clot. MTA barrier placed over blood clot about over the root orifices. The tooth then is restored with a restoration that seals the tooth from microleakage. Clinical and radiographical Follow ups carried out after 6 and 12 months. Results: All of cases have shown good clinical outcomes good radiographic evidences of absence of apical radiolucency and no root resorption. Conclusions: The blood clot technique considered to be the easier method of regenerative endodontics that could be carried out for primary and permanent non vital teeth.
Discovering historical ecological data

Lack of appropriate historical data has seriously impeded research into the extent and effects of deforestation in arid lands, but the declassification of CORONA satellite images has now made it possible to study long-term changes in arboreal vegetation. The potential and limitations of such images for long-term vegetation studies are scrutinized in the light of this research. High-resolution images (ca. 2.7m) from 1965 are compared to field data (2003) of individually mapped wadi trees (Acacia tortilis and Balanites aegyptiaca) from 20 different sites in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Of trees mapped in 2003 (canopy area (CA) 46m) 70% was detected in the imagery. A spatial classification shows that between 9% and 55% of the population was concealed by landscape elements that reduce image contrast. The study indicates that 97% of the population mapped in 2003 was already present in 1965 and that trees grow slowly and are older than previously assumed. Pollarded trees were detected in the imagery, and the resultant reduction in CA may lead to misinterpretations in change analyses. CORONA images offer a spatial and temporal dimension for ecological information which other data sources cannot furnish at a comparable cost, coverage, resolution or accessibility. r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Inversion Common Polymorphism of the Williams Found Syndrome More Region Frequently Is a in Parents of Children With Williams Syndrome

Williams syndrome (WS) is a multisystem disorder caused by deletion of about 1.55 Mb of DNA (including 26 genes) on chromosome 7q11.23, a region predisposed to recombination due to its genomic structure. Deletion of the Williams syndrome chromosome region (WSCR) occurs sporadically. To better define chance for familial recurrence and to investigate the prevalence of genomic rearrangements of the region, 257 children with WS and their parents were studied. We determined deletion size in probands by metaphase FISH, parent-of-origin of the deleted chromosome by molecular genetic methods, and inversion status of the WSCR in both parents by interphase FISH. The frequency of WSCR inversion in the transmitting parent group was 24.9%. In contrast, the rate of inversion in the non-transmitting parent group (a reasonable estimate of the rate in the general population) was 5.8%. There were no significant gender differences with respect to parent-of-origin for the deleted chromosome or the incidence of the inversion polymorphism. There was no difference in the rate of spontaneous abortion for mothers heterozygous for the WSCR inversion relative to mothers without the inversion. We calculate that for a parent heterozygous for a WSCR inversion, the chance to have a child with WS is about 1 in 1,750, in contrast to the 1 in 9,500 chance for a parent without an inversion. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Baseline sensitivity of Botrytis elliptica to fludioxonil in Taiwan

Lee, M. L. * 2006. Baseline sensitivity of Botrytis elliptica to fludioxonil in Taiwan. Plant Prot. Bull. 48: 163 – 171 Fludioxonil, the new phenylpyrrole fungicide, was introduced to control the gray mold disease of floral crops in Taiwan since 1997. To establish the baseline sensitivity of Botrytis spp. to fludioxonil, five hundred and thirty six isolates of Botrytis elliptica, 32 isolates of B. tulipae, 84 isolates of B. gladiolorum and other 20 phytopathogenic fungi were tested during past years. Log value of fludioxonil concentration and inhibition ratio in each treatment were used as variables in simple linear regression analysis. Effective concentration for 50% inhibition (EC50) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of B. elliptica to fludioxonil were ranged from 0.002±0.001 to 0.048±0.025 mg/liter and 0.091±0.037 to 0.625±0.335 mg/liter, respectively. EC50 of B. tulipae and B. gladiolorum were 0.042±0.010 and 0.018±0.003 ~ 0.026±0.011 mg/liter, respectively. The results also showed that fludioxonil did not inhibit the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lilii, F. solani and Oomycetes, such as Phytophthora spp. , Pythium myriotylum, and Peronophythora litchii. EC50 of B. elliptica to fludioxonil detected before and after application of fludioxonil for 5 times at one-week intervals in the field trial were 0.006±0.009 and 0.003±0.002 mg/liter, respectively. The result showed that there was no significant difference after intensive application of fludioxonil in the field (p=0.0799, n=60).
Towards Sustainable But Still Adequate Pensions in the EU: Theory, Trends and Simulations

This report is a summary of the research project on the 'Adequacy and Sustainability of Old-Age Income Maintenance' (AIM). Thirteen institutes from across the EU have collaborated on the task of assessing the situation of today’s pensioners and providing insights into future trends and policy options for securing adequate income for EU pensioners.The AIM project produced several state-of-the-art additions to the debate on EU pension reforms. Among others, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research in the UK calculated cohort spending for a sample of European countries to show how much countries need to save to take care of future pensioners. The team led by the Belgian Federal Planning Bureau developed the first EU, multi-country, dynamic simulation model for pension expenditure called MIDAS. A group of research institutes led by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research provided a current map of the social exclusion of the elderly in the EU.The report starts with a discussion on what pensions we can consider adequate. Indicators of adequacy are proposed. Then, to determine the different pension mechanisms in existence in the EU and the prevalence of various kinds of schemes, the report provides an up-to-date classification of pension systems. This classification section is followed by an analysis of public opinion on pension reforms. While the public is generally in favor of the status quo, certain segments of the population fear and resist changes for diverse reasons.The bulk of the study entails a statistical description of the material situation of the elderly in the EU-15 and the new member states, simulations of assorted policy scenarios and discussions on incentives to retire or stay in the labor force. The broad conclusion of the report is that the pension incomes of future generations are under threat everywhere, mostly owing to demographic developments. Yet policy-makers have a range of reform options at their disposal that, when implemented with careful regard for the political and social context, can ensure adequate incomes of the elderly in the future.
Nutrient intake and milk yield and composition of Alpine lactating goats fed diets with different fiber levels

Fifty Alpine lactating does were used to evaluate the effects of feeding different levels of forage neutral detergent fiber (FNDF) on nutrient intake and milk yield and composition. Animals were housed individually and assigned to a completely randomized design with five treatments and ten replicates. A total mixed ration, containing Tifton-85 (Cynodon sp.) hay, ground corn, soybean meal and mineral mixture was fed ad libitum. The experimental diets contained 20, 27, 34, 41 or 48% of FNDF. As dietary FNDF increased, the intakes of DM, OM, CP, EE, TC, NSC and net energy (NE) decreased linearly. In addition, increasing dietary FNDF linearly increased intakes of NDF, FNDF and ADF. There was no effect of FNDF level on contents of milk fat and milk total solids. However, milk yield, fat-corrected milk and yield of total solids all decreased linearly. The efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy to milk yield reached a plateau at 35.4% of FNDF.
Are compound leaves an adaptation to seasonal drought or to rapid growth? Evidence from the Amazon rain forest

Aim To assess the hypotheses that compound leaves of trees in the Amazon forest are an adaptation to drought and/or rapid growth. Location Amazon rain forest, South America. Methods Genera from 137 permanent forest plots spread across Amazonia were classified into those with compound leaves and those with simple leaves. Metrics of compound leaf prevalence were then calculated for each plot and regression models that accounted for spatial autocorrelation were used to identify associations between climate variables and compound leaf structure. We also tested for associations between compound leaf structure and a variety of ecological variables related to life history and growth strategies, including wood density, annual increase in diameter and maximum height. Results One plant family, Fabaceae, accounts for 53% of compound-leaved individuals in the dataset, and has a geographical distribution strongly centred on north-east Amazonia. On exclusion of Fabaceae from the analysis we found no significant support for the seasonal drought hypothesis. However, we found evidence supporting the rapid growth hypothesis, with possession of compound leaves being associated with faster diameter growth rates and lower wood densities. Main conclusion This study provides evidence that possession of compound leaves constitutes one of a suite of traits and life-history strategies that promote rapid growth in rain forest trees. Our findings highlight the importance of carefully considering the geographical distribution of dominant taxa and spatial clustering of data points when inferring ecological causation from environment–trait associations.