Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carbon allocation in forest ecosystem - case studies from young pine stands

Alokácia uhlíka v lesnom ekosystéme - prípadové štúdie z mladých borových porastov V príspevku sú uvedené výsledky zo stanovenia uhlíkových zásob v lesných ekosystémoch na príklade mladých borových porastov. Stromová biomasa na experimentálnych plochách bola stanovená po jednotlivých komponentoch (korene, kmeň, vetvy a asimilačný aparát) s využitím meraných dát a alometrických rovníc. Na základe priamych meraní sa vypočítalo množstvo biomasy prízemnej vegetácie a opadu. Okrem toho bola stanovená aj zásoba pôdneho uhlíka. Celkové zásoby uhlíka boli vyjadrené v tonách na hektár Carbon allocation in forest ecosystem - case studies from young pine stands The paper presents the results of carbon stock estimation in forest ecosystems on example of young Scotch pine stands. The tree biomass was measured on the sites and calculated by compartment (roots, stem, branches, and foliages) from the measured data using allometric functions. Amount of biomass for under storey vegetation and litter production were estimated using measured data. The amount of soil carbon was also estimated and total carbon fixed in the aforementioned compartments was expressed in tons per hectare.
LES RACES D'ANIMAUX ELEVES EN MAUIRITANIE

Mauritania is a major livestock country with a population of 1 050 000 camels, l 200 000 cattle and 8 500 000 small ruminants. There is also an important population of equines. While the herd/flock structures and zootechnical statistics of the animal sector are not well 1
Land Condition in the Tropical Tallgrass Pasture Lands. 1. Effects on Herbage Production.

A quantitative condition index based on vegetation (botanical composition and basal area of perennial grasses) and soil characteristics (erodibility, nutrient status and availability, partitioning of rainfall into infiltration and run-off) was developed for tropical tallgrass pastures near Charters Towers (north-east Queensland) and Katherine (Northern Territory). Herbage growth and the responses of individual species at 10 sites over two growing seasons were related to the index. At all sites there were significant linear relationships between herbage growth and condition index although the values differed between sites. Annual grasses increased and most perennial grasses decreased as condition declined but Bothriochloa pertusa and Bothriochloa ewartiana were most abundant at intermediate condition levels. The response of Chrysopogon fallax varied widely between sites. The lower herbage production on poor condition sites will result in lower carrying capacity.
Metabolism, Critical Oxygen Tension, and Habitat Selection in Darters (Etheostoma)

Six species of darters (Etheostoma) were studied in the field and laboratory to relate respiration to habitat selection. The species ranged in habitat preference from a fast—water form (Etheostoma rufilineatum) to a slow—water form (Etheostoma fusiforme). Field measurements showed that winter O_2 tensions were not limiting the distribution of the darters when these tensions were compared with the critical O_2 determinations made in the laboratory at a low temperature (10 degrees C). However, summertime ambient O_2 levels were as low as 3.3 ppm [= 7.33 kilopascals or 55 mm Hg], a level that was 1.0—1.7 ppm below the wintertime critical O_2 tension (P_c) of several of these species. The fishes compensated for this by lowering P_c in the summer. This finding is contrary to previously reported results on the relationship between P_c and temperature. While not all darters selected habitats such that the downward shift of P_c in the summer was of ecological consequence, this was the case in 1 of the slow—water stream forms (E. boschungi) which inhabits waters in the summer that would be uninhabitable without such a shift in P_c. Additionally, one of the darters that typifies fast—water habitats (E. rufilineatum) had a P_c of 6.1 ppm [= 14.0 kilopascals or 105 mm Hg), which prevented it from occupying slow waters in the summertime. However, such respiratory exclusion from available habitats is not the case in the other stream forms studied (Etheostoma flabellare, Etheostoma squamiceps, and Etheostoma duryi), nor do these other stream forms occupy waters as slow as they are capable of on the basis of respiratory abilities. Therefore, a limited tolerance to low O_2 levels at summertime temperatures is not the general cause of the preference of Etheostoma for streams, although this is the case in some specific instances. In addition, the stillwater from (E. fusiforme) does not have any respiratory advantage over many of the stream forms in terms of a low metabolic rate or low P_c. However, darters as a group do show a rather low metabolic rate when compared to freshwater fishes in general.
Foraging behaviour of chick‐rearing rhinoceros auklets Cerorhinca monocerata at Teuri Island, Japan, determined by acceleration‐depth recording micro data loggers

Flight and diving activity of rhinoceros auklets Cerorhinca monocerata breeding on Teuri Island, Japan, were monitored during the summers 1999 and 2000 using miniaturized time-depth and acceleration recorders. Birds made 14.5 dive bouts per day of on average 15.4 min duration, which consisted of on average 16.2 dives of 12.1 m depth and 42.7 s duration. Birds made 13.8 ± 7.3 flight bouts per day, which lasted on average 11.5±4.5 min. Daily total flight duration was 2.7 ± 1.7 h (range 54 s-5.1 h) and the mean potential foraging range was estimated to be 87 km (maximum 164 km). Most birds stayed at the colony or rested on the water surface during the night. Rhinoceros auklets dived more actively in early morning and in late afternoon than during mid-day. Compared to results from studies of time allocation in other alcids species, rhinoceros auklets spent longer time flying (3.3 hd -1 ) and resting on water (13.1 hd -1 ), and less time diving (3.1 hd -1 ) and staying at the colony (4.4 hd -1 ). These foraging patterns are probably related to the nest attendance pattern of rhinoceros auklets, i.e. leaving the colony early in the morning, staying at sea all the day and returning to the colony in the evening to provision their chicks.
Development of tusks and associated structures in Mesoplodon bidens (Cetaceae, Mammalia)

This study examined the development of the tusks and associated skeletal structures in a series of 18 specimens of Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) from Scotland. The relative position of the tusks along the length of the mandible was found to move from 23% of mandible length from the anterior extremity in the smallest animal to around 37% in adults, due to a lengthening of the symphyseal region. A previously undescribed sexual dimorphism was noted, a bony abutment, or ossicular dental support, situated directly posterior to the erupted tusks of adult males. Ontogenetic changes associated with male maturity include an increase in tusk length, an increase in the length of the alveolus, a high level of wear on tusks, an increase in the depth of the mandible posterior to the alveolus, an increased level of mesorostral ossification and an overall thickening of the rostrum and the symphyseal region of the mandible. The tusks are presumed to be used in intraspecific aggressive interactions and the ossicular dental support may counteract backward and outward forces on them as they cut through an opponents flesh, while the thickening of the rostrum and mandible may reduce the risk of damage when the two animals make contact.
Hepatic Circulation: Physiology and Pathophysiology

The Hepatic circulation is unique among vascular beds. The most obvious unique features include the dual vascular supply; the mechanism of intrinsic regulation of the hepatic artery (the hepatic arterial buffer response); the fact that portal blood flow, supplying two thirds of liver blood flow, is not controlled directly by the liver; the fact that 20% of the cardiac output rushes through the most vascularized organ in the body, driven by a pressure gradient of only a few millimeters of mercury; the extremely distensible capacitance and venous resistance sites; the unidirectional acinar blood flow that regulates parenchymal cell metabolic specialization; and the high concentration of macrophagic (Kupffer) cells filtering the blood. The liver is the only organ reported to have regional blood flow monitored by the autonomic nervous system. This mechanism, when dysfunctional, accounts for the hepatorenal syndrome and offers a mechanistic therapeutic target to treat this syndrome. The trigger for liver regeneration is dependent on hepatic hemodynamics so that chronic liver blood flow regulates liver cell mass. In severe liver disease, the whole body circulation is reorganized, by forming portacaval shunts, to accommodate the increased intrahepatic venous resistance. These shunts protect the venous drainage of the splanchnic organs but lead to loss of major regulatory roles of the liver. The development of knowledge of the hepatic vasculature is presented from a historical perspective with modern concepts summarized based on the perspective of the author’s four decades of devotion to this most marvelous of organs.
Early seedling growth of Pinus sylvestris after sowing with a mixture of stand and orchard seed in dense spacings

Effects on early seedling growth of seeding stand and orchard seed of Pinus sylvestris L. in different mixtures (100, 75, 50, 25, and 0% of orchard seed) at 4-cm target spacing were quantified in one nursery and one field experiment during a 2- and 5-year period, respectively. In the field experiment, 50% mixtures at 8- and 12-cm target spacing were also studied. Seedlings from orchard seeds (OS) had in general higher growth rate than seedlings from stand seed (SS). In the nursery experiment, OS were 25% taller, had 41% larger above-soil biomass, and 18% larger root biomass than SS after 2 years when sown separately. However, root/shoot ratio was 26% less and the slenderness value (height/diameter ratio) was 11% greater for OS in comparison with SS. Stand seed in high competition, compared with low competition (mixture 75% vs. mixture 0%), were 11% taller, had 15% greater slenderness value, and 25% less root biomass after 2 years. OS had 9% greater slender value in mixture 100% compared with the 25% mixtu.
Edible Bilayer Films from Zein and Grain Sorghum Wax or Carnauba Wax

Tensile strength, elongation at break (E), water vapor permeability, and Hunter L, a, and b color values of single-layer zein films and bilayer zein/lipid films were determined. Zein films were cast from heated (60 °C) aqueous ethanol solutions and were plasticized with glycerin and polyethylene glycol. Bilayer films were prepared by coating dried zein films with either medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, laboratory-extracted sorghum wax (SW)/MCT oil, or commercially refined carnauba wax (CW)/MCT oil. SW/oil or CW/oil weight ratio in the lipid layer of wax/MCT oil mixtures was 1:25.3, 1:11.5, or 1:7.4. Application of a lipid layer significantly decreased water vapor permeability of zein films from 9.07 to as low as 0.115 g/mm–1/m2/h–1/k–1Pa. Mean tensile strength values of zein films (1.05 MPa) and zein/lipid films (0.82 to 1.54 MPa) did not differ appreciably. The lipid coating plasticized zein films as evidenced by greater E values for bilayer films (153.1–167.9%) than single layer films (130.2%). The lipid layer significantly reduced +b (less yellowness) and L (increased opacity) Hunter color values of zein films. At 1:11.5 and 1:7.4 wax/oil ratios in the lipid layer, films with sorghum wax were more opaque (lower L values) and less yellow (lower +b values) than films with carnauba wax. Sorghum and refined carnauba wax appeared equally effective in improving water vapor barrier properties of zein films. Use as an ingredient in edible and/or biodegradable films and coatings can provide an outlet for sorghum wax.
Isolation of lactic acid bacteria from Lighvan cheese, a semihard cheese made from raw sheep milk in Iran

The lactic acid bacteria contributing to Lighvan cheese ripening during the different stages of production were investigated. Isolated strains from different culture media were identified phenotypically to species and subspecies level. In total, 413 strains were isolated from raw milk, 1-day-old cheese and fully ripened cheese. The most abundant species belonged to Enterococcus faecium (87 isolates), Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (68 isolates), Enterococcus faecalis (55 isolates) and Lactobacillus plantarum (48 isolates). E. faecium, Lc. lactis and Lb. plantarum were the predominantly isolated strains from ripened cheese. Therefore, they may contribute considerably to the aroma and flavour development of Lighvan cheese.
Sexual maturation in triploid rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

This paper compares some morphological and endocrinological characteristics of diploid and triploid rainbow trout. Significant differences were found between diploid and triploid females in GSI, condition factor, gut weight, liver weight and percentage dress-out, and between diploid and triploid males in GSI, condition factor and gut weight. Diploid females had large, well-developed ovaries containing yolk-filled secondary oocytes whereas the triploids had only string-like ovaries containing nests of oogonia. No primary oocytes were present. All the diploid males produced copious quantities of milt but it was possible to express a thin, watery milt containing motile spermatozoa from only two of the 12 triploid males. Testes weights in triploids were similar to those of diploids but, while the diploid testes were packed with spermatozoa, those of the triploids consisted mainly of spermatocytes and spermatids with few spermatozoa present. Measurements of the heads of spermatozoa revealed that those from triploids were larger and had a wider size range than those from diploids. Levels of testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone in triploid and diploid males were not significantly different. However, levels of testosterone and 17β-oestradiol in diploid females were considerably higher than those of triploid females.
Increasing Shelf-Life of Fresh Chicken Meat by Using Chlorination

Abstract REPORTS in the literature generally agree that the spoilage of chicken meat is due to bacterial growth on the surface of the bird. Therefore, anything which tends to increase or decrease the bacterial population will affect shelf-life adversely or beneficially, respectively. Sanitation in the processing plant is recognized as a “must” in decreasing bacterial populations which is necessary if satisfactory shelf-life is to be obtained with fresh cut-up poultry meat. Chlorine has long been accepted as a suitable means for reducing bacterial growth in water. High concentrations of chlorine are used for disinfecting equipment. With this history of using chlorine for controlling bacterial growth the application of chorinated water in poultry processing plants resulted. The purpose of this study was to determine how much increase in shelf-life could be obtained by using chlorinated water for cooling birds and for rinsing birds just prior to packaging. The effects of inplant chlorination …
Factors Influencing the Nutritional Status Among Children of 6–11 Years of Age: A Case Study from an Indian Megacity

Abstract The present study was aimed to assess the effect of socio-demographic, economic and dietary factors on nutritional status among children of 6–11 years of age in an urban megacity of India. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 251 urban children living in slums, non-slums and squatters of North Kolkata. The study reveals that prevalence of underweight was much higher among children of squatters (66.7%), whereas a significant proportion of children belonged to non-slums were found overweight (23.7%). Although the prevalence of both underweight and overweight was more among girls (16.8% and 34.5%), stunting was found marginally higher among boys (18.9%) than girls (17.7%). The risk of being malnourished increases significantly with increasing number of own siblings, low educational status of mother, improper food intake, etc. Multi-pronged strategies are required to implement comprehensive nutrition–education programme for improving dietary habits among children.
Estimating the Effects of Scientific Study on Two Butterfly Populations

Two populations of the butterfly Euphydryas editha were repeatedly sampled for scientific study over a period of 22 yr. Bootstrap simulation models indicate that the effects of this perturbation on expected population sizes are not statistically detectable at any time during or after the period of sampling because of the large variance of yearly rates of population growth. However, the models indicate that sampling increased the chances of extinction for the two populations. The estimated amount of this increase depends on whether the populations are assumed to be density-independent or weakly density-dependent.
Fructo‐oligosaccharide content and fructosyltransferase activity during growth of onion bulbs

The accumulation of fructo-oligosaccharides and the activities of fructosyltransferase (sucrose:sucrose 1 F -fructosyltransferase (SST), 1 F -fructosyltransferase (1 F -FT) and 6 G -fructosyltransferase (6 G -FT)) in the bulbs of three onion cultivars were investigated from June to September 1993. The total fructo-oligosaccharide content increased from June until August, then decreased in September, except in one cultivar. The levels of neokestose and its related tetrasaccharides(1 F ,6 G -di-β-D-fructofuranosyl sucrose and 6 G (1-β-D-fructofuranosyl)2sucrose) were higher than those of 1-kestose and nystose throughout growth. The activities of 6 G -FT, 1 g -FT and SST were high in June and July, then decreased; SST activity was very low in September. The activity ratios of 6 G -FT to 1 F -FT varied between 1.86 and 2.65 over the growth period. Two trisaccharides, three tetrasaccharides and four pentasaccharides were identified, together with a mixture of hexa- and heptasaccharides, all of which were synthesized in vitro from 0.1 M sucrose by an enzyme preparation of onion bulbs harvested in August. Octa- and nonasaccharides other than the saccharides formed from sucrose were also synthesized from 0.1 M 1-kestose or 0.1 M neokestose. All the saccharides produced from sucrose, 1-kestose or neokestose by the crude enzyme prepared from onion bulbs were identical to the saccharides occurring naturally in onion bulbs.
Reduction in fruit fly (Tephritidae: Dacinae) populations in their endemic rainforest habitat by frugivorous vertebrates

The reduction in larval populations of Dacus cacuminatus (Hering) and D. halfordiae (Tryon) by frugivorous vertebrates feeding on their major host fruits was studied in an endemic rainforest habitat in south-east Queensland. Throughout the spring and summer season, 66% of Solanum mauritianum Scop. fruit (D. cacuminatus host) was eaten by Macropygia phasianella (Temminck), the brown pigeon; this increased to 77% during the fruit fly's breeding season (November-January). The peak feeding time of the birds, the breeding season of the flies, and the peak fruiting season of the plants all coincided. Parasitism of D. cacuminatus by Hymenoptera, Biosteres kraussi (Fullaway) and B. oophilus (Fullaway), never exceeded 16-17%. Rodents consumed larvae in 78% of fallen fruit of Planchonella australis (R. Br.) Pierre (D. halfordiae host). It is proposed that frugivorous predators are the major natural enemies of larvae of tropical Tephritidae in their endemic habitat.
Development of novel N-(6-methanesulfonyl-benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(4-substituted-piperazin-1-yl)-propionamides with cholinesterase inhibition, anti-β-amyloid aggregation, neuroprotection and cognition enhancing properties for the therapy of Alzheimer's disease

A novel series of benzothiazole–piperazine hybrids were rationally designed, synthesized, and evaluated as multifunctional ligands against Alzheimer's disease (AD). The synthesized hybrid molecules illustrated modest to strong inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Aβ1-42 aggregation. Compound 12 emerged as the most potent hybrid molecule exhibiting balanced functions with effective, uncompetitive and selective inhibition against AChE (IC50 = 2.31 μM), good copper chelation, Aβ1-42 aggregation inhibition (53.30%) and disaggregation activities. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and TEM analysis also validate the Aβ fibril inhibition ability of this compound. Furthermore, this compound has also shown low toxicity and is capable of impeding loss of cell viability elicited by H2O2 neurotoxicity in SHSY-5Y cells. Notably, compound 12 significantly improved cognition and spatial memory against scopolamine-induced memory deficit in a mouse model. Hence, our results corroborate the multifunctional nature of novel hybrid molecule 12 against AD and it may be a suitable lead for further development as an effective therapeutic agent for therapy in the future.
Effects of spring feeding on body condition of captive-reared ring-necked pheasants in Great Britain.

In Great Britain, the captive rearing and release of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) during summer to supplement wild stocks for shooting is widespread, but breeding success of surviving females the following spring is poor. We hypothesized that reduced body condition as caused by low availability of natural food during spring and cessation of supplemental feeding in late winter may affect subsequent breeding success. On an estate in southern England, we provided wheat grain on 3 l-km 2 plots from March to June, while pheasants on 3 other l-km 2 plots foraged solely on natural foods. We switched treatments during the second year. We collected hen pheasants from each plot during February and April. Fat reserves of hen pheasants collected in April from food-supplemented plots were maintained at their February levels (76.9 ± 8.0 g; x ± SE), but fat reserves of birds collected from unsupplemented plots were reduced by >50% of their Febmary levels (34.7 ± 6.9 g; P = 0.01). Body mass, muscle sizes, ceca, and small intestine length were more affected by date than supplemental feeding. We suggest that low food availability and poor spring diet as a result of modern agriculture may affect hen body condition and productivity of pheasants in Great Britain.
Analyses of the Sauger Fishery with Simulated Effects of a Minimum Size Limit in the Tennessee River of Alabama

Abstract Saugers Stizostedion canadense were collected in winter and early spring of 1993–1994 and 1994–1995 to describe population characteristics and exploitation rates in the tailraces of Guntersville, Wheeler, and Wilson dams along the Tennessee River in Alabama. Population modeling simulated the response of the fishery to the effectiveness of a newly imposed 356-mm (total length, TL) minimum size limit. The sauger populations in these three tailraces consisted primarily of fish age 2 and younger that were less than 400 mm long. Total annual mortality between age-1 and age-2 fish was high, based on catch rates of specific year-classes, and ranged from 64% to 83%. Age-1 and age-2 saugers averaged about 270 and 350 mm total length (TL) respectively, and from our observations, sauger anglers routinely harvested fish at age 1. Unadjusted (not corrected for tag nonreporting) exploitation rates over the 2-year period ranged from 16% to 30% at the three tailraces and averaged 24%. However, the two methods us.