Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tulula Wetlands Mitigation Bank

North Carotina. W etland losses associated with transportation projects have historically been mitigated by creating or restoring small wetlands near the project on a caseby-case basis. Increasingly, wetland losses are being mitigated by the creation of larger "banks" of restored or natural wetlands that are protected from future disturbance. These mitigation banks provide a way of consolidating funds and other resources acquired to compensate for the loss of wetlands, facilitating advanced planning and enhancing the monitoring and evaluation of mitigation projects (Short, 1988). The Tulula Wetlands Mitigation Bank was created to compensate for losses resulting from highway projects in western North Carolina, particularly in the 1,158,430-acre Little Tennessee River basin located in Macon, Swain, Graham, Jackson, Clay, and Transylvania Counties. Large wetlands are uncommon in this region, and in the past a piecemeal approach was used to mitigate for highway projects. Affected areas were replaced with small wetlands, with little regard to the overall quality of the surrounding landscape. Tulula is an ideal site for a mitigation bank due to its relatively large size (235 acres) and need for largescale restoration. The Tulula Wetlands Mitigation Bank is located in Graham County, in the floodplain of Tulula Creek, 3 miles west of Topton, at an elevation ranging from 2,575 to 2,624 feet (Figure 1). It is characterized by a relatively large, level floodplain along Tulula Creek, bordered by forested uplands and infrequent seepage communities on adjacent slopes. The floodplain includes scattered, small depressions where Sphagnum spp. accumulate. These "boggy" areas led to the classification of the site as a swamp forest-bog complex, a rare coramunity type in the mountains of North Carolina (Weakley and Schafale, 1994). The term "bog" is a misnomer for the depressional areas, since they receive groundwater inputs from surrounding mineral soils and support vegetation more characteristic of minerotrophic than ombrotrophic conditions (Moorhead and Rossell, 1998). We will refer to these areas as fens. Until the mid-1980s Tulula was part of the Nantahala National Forest and owned by the U.S. Forest Service. At that time, Tulula was considered to have regional significance due to the scattered depressional fens located throughout the floodplain of Tulula Creek. The dominant floodplain canopy trees were red maple (Acer rubrum) and white pine (Pinus strobus). A survey of bogs in western North Carolina highlighted Tulula as the last wetland complex of its type in this part of the state (Gaddy, 1981). In 1984 Charles Roe, who was then director of the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, recommended that the site be protected and registered as a Natural Heritage Area (Roe, 1984). Stressing that the site represented an important refuge for wetland species, he cautioned that any water level manipulations or timber cutting would adversely affect the wetlands. The U.S. Forest Service traded Tulula to a group of developers who planned to build a golf course that would fuel economic growth in Graham County. During
Relationship between the composition of fats and oils and their oxidative stability at different temperatures, determined using the Oxipres apparatus

The oxidative stability of 12 edible fats and oils was determined at three different temperatures (80, 100, and 120°C) using the Oxipres apparatus, and compared with their characteristics (peroxide value, fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity determined by the DPPH method and tocopherol content). Using a simple correlation analysis, oleic acid content was found to correlate most strongly with the oxidative stability of the analysed fats and oils (p < 0.01). Highly reliable models (p < 0.00001), defined the induction period as a function of the oleic/linoleic acid ratio, antioxidant capacity and peroxide value, were obtained by multivariate linear regression analysis at each of the three temperatures. In additional experiment, the effect of temperature on the induction period of sunflower oil, pork lard and extra virgin olive oil was studied in detail within the temperature range of 80–130°C. It was found that the logarithm of the induction period decreased linearly with increasing temperature (p < 0.01). However, the induction period of the different fats and oils decreased with temperature to a varying degree, i.e., the ratio between the induction periods of these fats and oils was affected by the temperature. Practical applications: Analyses to determine the oxidative stability of fats and oils are frequently required by food manufacturers, who use this information for the quality control of raw materials and, in particular, the selection of suitable fats or oils for food production. However, only a relatively small number of analytical laboratories are able to determine and interpret results obtained for the oxidative stability of fats and oils. On the other hand, determination of the composition of edible fats and oils (fatty acid composition, tocopherol content and other parameters) are routinely performed analyses. The ability to predict the oxidative stability of fats and oils from these commonly determined parameters can assist the selection and quality control of suitable raw materials for food manufacturers. The oxidative stability of selected edible fats and oils is determined at different temperatures using the Oxipres apparatus, and compare with their characteristics. Highly reliable models defined the induction period as a function of the oleic/linoleic acid ratio, antioxidant capacity and peroxide value, are obtained by multivariate linear regression analysis at each of the three temperatures.
Effect of Temperature towards RNA Concentration: Quantitative Investigation with Spectrophotometer

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a thermodynamically unstable molecule. The way RNA samples are preserved is critical to maintain maximum yield and quality, therefore it is useful for molecular analysis such as real time- PCR. There are many contradictions and variations regarding the temperature for RNA storage. The aim of this study is to find the ideal temperature to store RNA among -80o C, -20o C and 4oC by determining changes in RNA concentration over two weeks of storage time. The liver of eight rats was divided into three groups, weighing from 25-26 μg. Samples were homogenized, isolated and stored in -80oC, -20oC and 4oC freezers. Absorbance was measured with spectrophotometry at 260 and 280 nm to determine the concentration of RNA. There was no significant difference in the concentration of RNA samples stored in all temperatures after two weeks, both experimentally and statistically (Kruskal-Wallis, -80oC p=0.949; -20oC p=0.885; 4oC p=0.935). In conclusion, RNA can be stored in -80oC, -20oC and 4oC for two weeks without quantity reduction. Longer duration of study and RNA quality analysis is recommended to check for RNA degradation. Normal 0 false false false IN X-NONE X-NONE
A phylogeny of kingfishers reveals an Indomalayan origin and elevated rates of diversification on oceanic islands

Kingfishers are the most species‐rich family in the avian order, Coraciiformes. Their modern distribution is largely pantropical; however, global species diversity is unevenly distributed. For example, 19 of the 114 kingfisher species occur in New Guinea, whereas only six species occur in the entire New World. This disparity in diversity suggests regions with high species richness could represent the ancestral range of the family. Furthermore, some clades of kingfishers (Ceyx, Todiramphus) are thought to be the product of rapid insular radiations. Here, we investigated the biogeographical history and speciation dynamics of the Alcedinidae using a fully sampled molecular phylogeny.
Utilisation possibility of Enterococcus faecalis isolates from neonate's faeces for production of fermented sausages as starter cultures

Summary This study aimed at assessing the utilisation possibility of Enterococcus faecalis as starter cultures for production of fermented sausages. The E. faecalis isolates isolated from faeces samples of 5-day-old healthy newborn babies, identified by 16SrDNA sequencing and free from virulence determinants as proven by genomic sequencing, were used for fermented sausages production as starter culture. Six treatments (four inoculated with four different E. faecalis isolates, one with commercial starter culture and one control) were prepared. The inoculation with E. faecalis showed a stronger acidification compared with the control. The treatments with E. faecalis showed significantly higher flavour and acceptability scores in comparison with the control or commercial starter culture. Both of commercial starter culture and E. faecalis were positive with tyramine. Apart from the amine production, the inoculation with E. faecalis generally improved the acidifying activity and flavour of the products, suggesting their application potentials in fermented sausages production as starter cultures.
''Arming'' of Tumor Antigen-Specific CTL Antigen Cross-Presentation and Effective Tumor Progression Despite Efficient Tumor

To determine whether APC function or “arming” of CTL for lytic function are the points at which Ags from a nonimmunogenic tumor fail to induce an effective immune response, we established a murine tumor model that expressed intracellular OVA and selected a clone (cOVA-9) that remained susceptible to lysis by speciﬁc CD8 1 T cells throughout tumor growth. Viable cOVA-9 tumor cells grew in normal mice at a rate similar to the parental tumor, and vaccination with irradiated cOVA-9 cells did not induce protection against itself or the parental line, conﬁrming its nonimmunogenic status. In vivo evaluation during tumor growth demonstrated persisting tumor Ag cross-presentation accompanied by the generation of potent, speciﬁc CTL which were detectable when tumors were barely palpable. Despite the presence of highly active CTL in the tumor-draining lymph nodes, there was no apparent lysis of tumor-associated APC. These data show that tumor-draining APC are not dysfunctional with regard to two crucial processes, in vivo tumor Ag cross-presentation and speciﬁc CTL arming, and that failure to prevent tumor growth is not in the induction phase, but in the effector phase and occurs within the tumor itself before the tumor matrix is established. The Journal of Immunology, 2001, 166: 5557–5566.
The dynamics of sexual reproduction and ephippia production of Daphnia in reservoirs

Tato prace se zaměřila na dynamiku sexualni reprodukce drobneho vodniho korýse, perloocky rodu Daphnia. V přiznivých podminkach se perloocky množi klonalně, avsak sexualni reprodukce může být indukovana změnami v prostředi. Přesmyk k sexualni reprodukci byl studovan z caso-prostoroveho hlediska s ohledem na vznik sexualnich stadii, jejich výskyt a genetickou strukturu. Dale bylo sledovano sexualni potomstvo, jeho výskyt, distribuce v nadrži a vliv povodni. V praci je diskutovana role sexualni reprodukce v trvalých populacich perloocek.
The first 50 years of the North American Breeding Bird Survey

ABSTRACT The vision of Chandler (Chan) S. Robbins for a continental-scale omnibus survey of breeding birds led to the development of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Chan was uniquely suited to develop the BBS. His position as a government scientist had given him experience with designing and implementing continental-scale surveys, his research background made him an effective advocate of the need for a survey to monitor pesticide effects on birds, and his prominence in the birding community gave him connections to infrastructure—a network of qualified volunteer birders who could conduct roadside surveys with standardized point counts. Having started in the eastern United States and the Atlantic provinces of Canada in 1966, the BBS now provides population change information for ∼546 species in the continental United States and Canada, and recently initiated routes in Mexico promise to greatly expand the areas and species covered by the survey. Although survey protocols have remained unchanged for 50 years, the BBS remains relevant in a changing world. Several papers that follow in this Special Section of The Condor: Ornithological Advances review how the BBS has been applied to conservation assessments, especially in combination with other large-scale survey data. A critical feature of the BBS program is an active research program into field and analytical methods to enhance the quality of the count data and to control for factors that influence detectability. Papers in the Special Section also present advances in BBS analyses that improve the utility of this expanding and sometimes controversial survey. In this Perspective, we introduce the Special Section by reviewing the history of the BBS, describing current analyses, and providing summary trend results for all species, highlighting 3 groups of conservation concern: grassland-breeding birds, aridland-breeding birds, and aerial insectivorous birds.
A study of the Levantine and Pontic Harpacticoida (Crustacea, Copepoda)

INTRODUCTION Though both are parts of the Mediterranean basin, the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea form distinct units from both the hydrographic and the biological points of view. The Levantine basin — delimited by the Anatolian peninsula, the Syrio-Israelian shores and the Egyptian littoral — is the main basin of the eastern Mediterranean. We studied the Harpacticoida along the Israel coasts. Also we used the data of Brian (1927, 1928) from the Dodecanese, of Gurney (1927) from the Suez Canal zone, and of Steuer (1948) from Alexandria, in order to obtain a comprehensive survey of the levantine Harpacticoida. In the Black Sea we studied the Harpacticoida of the Rumanian shores and a few samples from the Bulgarian shores and from the pre-bosphoric zone. From our work and the data from the Russian shores (Czerniavski, 1868; Sovinski, 1904; Borutzki, 1960; Mordukhai-Boltovskoi, 1960, etc.), from the Bulgarian shores (Chichkov, 1921 ; Klie, 1937; Caspers, 1951 ; Valkanov, 1957) and other data from the Rumanian shores (Jakubisiak, 1938a, 1938b; Serban, 1959; Marcus, 1960, etc.) we are able to give a general survey of the fauna of the northwestern part of this sea — the most interesting from the biological point of view. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the Harpacticoida of the Anatolian coast of the Black Sea and almost nothing about the Caucasian shores. There are some data from the Sea of Marmara, thanks to the study of Noodt (1955b), but we have no data from the Aegean Sea. In the zoogeographical analysis and the ecological considerations we referred mainly to the thoroughly studied northern European seas and to
Reproductive performance of female Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) fed diets with different digestible energy levels

This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets containing different levels of digestible energy (DE). The fish were housed in 15 fiberglass tanks (500 L) in a recirculating system at an average temperature of 27.5 °C. The treatments consisted of five diets with increasing levels of DE (3,200; 3,400; 3,600; 3,800; and 4,000 kcal/kg). The levels of DE did not significantly influence the final weight or the hepatosomatic, gonadosomatic, and visceral fat indices. The absolute fecundity was influenced by the treatments, for which the highest values were observed from the 3,600 kcal/kg DE level and upward. The proximate composition of the fish also had a significant effect on the variables crude protein, ether extract, and ash; the fish fed diets with higher levels of DE exhibited the lowest body protein content, while the accumulation of ether extract exhibited the opposite response. A level of 3,600 kcal/kg of digestible energy should be used in diets with 380 g/kg crude protein and a starch/lipid ratio of 1.33 for female Nile tilapia.
Spruce Trees Growth and Forest Landscape Depending on Microstational Factors and Ecological Conditions

Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) is an important forest tree species in Romania, occupying approximately 24% of the total forest area. Due to its variable temperament, the spruce is generally considered a semi-shadow species. Through the research carried out in Valea Ierii (N-W of Romania), the response of spruce was evaluated according to different microstational conditions (e.g. exposure, altitude, density etc.), in nine sample plots, each of them with a surface of 500 m2, on a total area of 10 hectares. There were noted interaction responses to several ecological factors. Results showed that the trees with South-West exposure and at an altitude of 1,200-1,370 m have accumulated the largest amount of biomass, showing significant differences from the trees exposed on North-East plots and at altitudes comprised between 1,170-1,380 m. Behavioural differences regarding growth and biomass accumulation capacity was statistically ascribed to slope exposition, which was therefore considered as principal factor regulating landscape function of the forest, with a strong ecological impact. In the whole set of populations, the response function varied considerably within the S-W expositional plots compared to the N-E plots exposition, but without significant differences related to trees density and altitudinal level. Because all stands under study were pure, composed of even-aged spruce trees, differences may be related to a range of habitats as geosystem and/or geofacies levels, respectively altitudinal forest, exposition, density and other local conditions. The superior growth of the trees on the S-W exposition slope was explained due to the young stage of the spruce, and the trees preference until this age for sunny and more dried conditions. Probably, in the next years, the trees’ evolution will confirm that the spruce prefer low temperatures, low insolation inside the forest, high and permanent humidity. Further spatio-temporal analysis will be useful for reliable hypothesis to be inferred as functions of the forest, but also landscaping, depending of the trees’ age and ecological conditions.
Fatty acid composition of milk from Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, Simmental and Alpine Grey cows predicted by mid-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the sources of variation of milk fatty acids (FA) routinely predicted by mid-infrared spectroscopy in Holstein-Friesian (HF), Brown Swiss (BS), Simmental (SI) and Alpine Grey (AG) cattle breeds. A linear mixed model was used to analyse the data which included 153,801 individual milk samples from 14,301 cows. Fixed effects included in the model were breed, month of sampling, year of sampling, stage of lactation, parity and first order interactions between them, and random effects were herd nested within breed, cow nested within breed and the residual error. Milk of AG cows exhibited the lowest content of saturated FA and the greatest content of unsaturated FA, whereas milk of BS had an opposite pattern. Holstein-Friesian and SI were intermediate between AG and BS breeds for all the FA except for total C18:1, which was the greatest in HF. Saturated FA, C14:0 and C16:0 increased from calving until 120 days in milk, whereas unsaturated FA and C18:1 decreased. First parity cows produced milk with lower concentration of de novo FA than multiparous animals. The greatest content of unsaturated FA and C18:1 was observed in summer, whereas saturated FA, C14:0, C16:0 and C18:0 decreased in summer and increased in winter. The differences in milk FA profile among breeds are useful for genetic selection and for feeding strategies.
Bilateral corneal dermoids and eyelid malformation in a colt – a case report

A 4-month-old colt was presented to the Department and Clinic of Equine Medicine, University of Veterinary Science, Hungary for the evaluation of chronic bilateral mucopurulent discharge and mild blepharospasm. On ophthalmic examination, pigmented skin with long hairs located ventrotemporally on both corneas, a cluster of aberrant long hairs protruding from both caruncles and medial canthi, and a duplicated inferior eyelid of the left eye were identified. Surgical excision of limbic dermoids on both eyes and blepharoplasty appeared curative at the 6-month post-operative follow-up. This case report describes unusually located bilateral limbic dermoids in a horse. In addition, the dermoid on the left eye was accompanied by eyelid malformation. This unique combination of ocular congenital lesions has not been described in a horse so far. Blepharoplasty, cornea, horse, superficial keratectomy Choristomas are congenital lesions representing normal tissue in an abnormal location. Ocular examples of choristomas are epibulbar dermoid, ectopic lacrimal gland or episcleral osseous choristoma (Mansour et al. 1989). Ocular dermoids are non-progressive, unilateral or bilateral lesions consisting of epithelial and dermis-like components on the cornea, limbus, conjunctiva or the third eyelid (Cook 2007; Clode and Matthews 2011). They are found in all species and known to be inherited in Hereford cattle and occasionally familial in humans (Barkyoumb and Leipold 1984; Mansour et al. 1989; Maggs 2008). Ocular dermoids in horses have been reported in a group of related Quarter Horses in association with iridal hypoplasia and cataracts, in a Standardbred colt with no other ocular abnormality, and as a third eyelid dermoid in a Gypsy Vanner gelding causing chronic recurrent corneal ulcers (McLaughlin 1983; Joyce et al. 1990; Greenberg et al. 2012). To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report describing bilateral dermoids combined with an eyelid malformation in a horse.
Genotypic variation in nutritive and bioactive composition of foxtail millet

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) genotypes with red and yellow colour of grain bran were examined and compared for their content of nutritive components, fatty acids and phenolic compounds profile. Moreover, the antioxidant properties were investigated using three different methods. Foxtail millet genotypes contained 14.2% of protein, 5.0% of fat and 4.3% of soluble sugars, on average. Linoleic acid was the most abundant unsaturated fatty acid and palmitic acid was the most abundant saturated fatty acid. Four hydroxybenzoic acids (gallic, protocatechuic, vanillic and syringic acid) and two hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic and p-coumaric acid) were identified and quantified. All genotypes exhibited effective inhibition of free radicals. Nevertheless, ferrous ion chelating activity was weak. Antioxidant properties of foxtail millet genotypes were closely associated with the presence of phenolics. A relationship between intensity of grain colour and antioxidant properties as well as phenolic compounds content, was observed. We can conclude that the content of evaluated parameters varied among foxtail millet genotypes, therefore their assessment and selection is desirable in order to cultivate crops and produce foods with advanced nutritional and antioxidant properties.