Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Allelopathic influences of the invasive Ailanthus altissima on a native and a non-native herb1,2

Abstract As a highly aggressive non-native invasive and an allelopathic species, Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) has the capacity to negatively affect native plant communities by suppressing resident species and altering competitive interactions. We examined effects of A. altissima on the establishment and growth of two herbaceous species common in invaded natural areas. Soil samples were collected from six replicate A. altissima-dominated stands and six control stands (no A. altissima present) in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley province of southwestern Virginia. Two target species, Verbesina occidentalis, native to the southeastern US, and Dipsacus fullonum, non-native and invasive throughout North America, were selected for their high germination success and contrasting native vs. invasive status. Germination and growth of target species were monitored in greenhouse flats for six weeks. We found severe reductions in all measured aspects of V. occidentalis when grown in Ailanthus versus control soils, including seed germination (P = 0.002), seedling height (P = 0.001), leaf production (P < 0.001), and root∶shoot ratio (P = 0.008). In contrast, Dipsacus fullonum appeared resistant to allelopathic effects, with no significant differences in germination or growth relative to soil type (P > 0.25 for all measures). Our results support the role of allelopathy in the invasive success of A. altissima and further suggest that A. altissima may differentially affect resident native versus non-native species, potentially facilitating the spread of other non-natives in the invaded community.
New Einstein Hybrid Aggregation Operators for Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets and Applications in Multi-Criteria Decision-Making

The fusion of multidimensional intuitionistic fuzzy information plays an important part in decision making processes under an intuitionistic fuzzy environment. In this chapter, it is observed that existing intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein hybrid aggregation operators do not follow the idempotency and boundedness. This leads to sometimes illogical and even absurd results to the decision maker. Hence, some new intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein hybrid aggregation operators such as the new intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein hybrid weighted averaging (IFEHWA) and the new intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein hybrid weighted geometric (IFEHWG) were developed. The new IFEHWA and IFEHWG operators can weigh the arguments as well as their ordered positions the same as the intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein hybrid aggregation operators do. Further, it is validated that the defined operators are idempotent, bounded, monotonic and commutative. Then, based on the developed approach, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) procedure is given. Finally, a numerical example is conducted to demonstrate the proposed method effectively.
“Terapias de Conversão”: Histórico da (Des)Patologização das Homossexualidades e Embates Jurídicos Contemporâneos

Resumo O presente artigo analisa alguns elementos concernentes ao embate atual no campo legal brasileiro em relação às “terapias de conversão”. É apresentado inicialmente um breve panorama da patologização das sexualidades dissidentes para, em seguida, descrever tal processo em relação às homossexualidades em específico. Na sequência, é feita uma descrição e análise histórica das terapias de reversão da orientação sexual, em especial nos EUA e no Brasil, seguida da discussão sobre as “terapias de conversão”, de base religiosa, e do enfrentamento de seus proponentes com os conselhos profissionais nestes mesmos países. Ao final, são analisados aspectos concernentes aos discursos presentes em Ação Popular recente contra a Resolução no 001/1999, do CFP, apontando-se alguns elementos para se pensar estratégias de enfrentamento da disseminação destas terapias. Dentre eles, destacam-se: a necessidade de desconstrução do argumento da liberdade individual, utilizado pelos defensores destas terapias; a problematização do uso da “ciência” como argumento central pelos conselhos de classe nesse embate jurídico, uma vez que tais práticas foram sustentadas historicamente por argumentos “científicos” de sua época; e a necessidade do debate se centralizar nas questões éticas que envolvem tais práticas a partir do conceito de laicidade, tendo em vista que os discursos jurídicos e científicos se mostraram em muitos momentos históricos inseparáveis das concepções de base religiosa.
MODIFIERS OF MUTATION-SELECTION BALANCE - GENERAL-APPROACH AND THE EVOLUTION OF MUTATION-RATES

A general approach is developed to estimate secondary selection at a modifier locus that influences some feature of a population under mutation-selection balance. The approach is based on the assumption that the properties of all available genotypes at this locus are similar. Then mutation-selection balance and weak associations between genotype distributions at selectable loci and the modifier locus are established rapidly. In contrast, changes of frequencies of the modifier genotypes are slow, and lead to only slow and small changes of the other features of the population. Thus, while these changes occur, the population remains in a state of quasi-equilibrium, where the mutation-selection balance and the associations between the selectable loci and the modifier locus are almost invariant. Selection at the modifier locus can be estimated by calculating quasiequilibrium values of these associations. This approach is developed for the situation where distributions of the number of mutations per genome within the individuals with a given modifier genotype are close to Gaussian. The results are used to study the evolution of the mutation rate. Because beneficial mutations are ignored, secondary selection at the modifier locus always diminishes the mutation rate. The coefficient of selection against an allele which increases the mutation rate by υ is approximately υδ 2 /[ U (2−ρ)] = υŝ, where υ is the genomic deleterious mutation rate, δ is the selection differential of the number of mutations per individual in units of the standard deviation of the distribution of this number in the population, ρ is the ratio of variances of the number of mutations after and before selection, and ŝ is the selection coefficient against a mutant allele in the quasiequilibrium population. However, the decline of the mutation rate can be counterbalanced by the cost of fidelity, which can lead to an evolutionary equilibrium mutation rate.
A database of single scattering properties for hydrometeors at microwave and sub-millimetre frequencies

Remote sensing observations of hydrometeors (ice or liquid water particles) at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengths provide important input to numerical weather forecasting through data assimilation and give insight to cloud processes that are relevant for climate prediction. The utilization of such measurements requires information on the single scattering properties (SSP), i.e., knowledge on how single hydrometeors scatter, absorb, and emit radiation. However, SSP are dependant on the particle orientation, shape, and size which in the case of ice hydrometeors are highly variable in nature. Furthermore, simulating the SSP of hydrometeors is challenging and computationally costly. These are the main challenges that this thesis aims to address. In the first study of this thesis, a new publicly available SSP database for randomly oriented ice hydrometeors was developed. In terms of covered frequencies, temperatures, sizes, and particle models it is the most extensive to date. Particle models include aggregates that were generated using a semi-realistic, stochastic aggregation simulator. The next study utilised the simulator for a more detailed investigation on the dependence of SSP upon aggregate characteristics. For instance, the size and aspect ratio of the constituent crystals were found to have a significant impact on the extinction and back-scattering cross-sections of the aggregates. The third study analysed the ability of the SSP database to reproduce a combination of real passive and active satellite observations, by the GPM (Global Precipitation Measurements) Microwave Imager (GMI) and the CloudSat Cloud Profiling Radar, in radiative transfer (RT) simulations. While the tested particle models could accurately reproduce the real observations, it was difficult to find a particle model that performed better than the others. However, complementary simulations show promise with respect to the upcoming Ice Cloud Imager. In the fourth study, SSP of ice particles that have a preference towards horizontal orientation were calculated and applied to passive RT simulations at 166 GHz. The characteristic polarization signals present in GMI observations of clouds were successfully reproduced by RT simulations. The final study provides SSP of non-spheroidal rain drops, accounting for the effect of aerodynamic pressure upon the drop shape. It was found that this effect can have a small, but non-negligible, impact on passive and active microwave observations.
New antimicrobials to target gut and food pathogens

There is a pressing need for the discovery of new antimicrobials to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria. The aim of this thesis was the discovery and characterisation of new bacteriocins from two sources, fermented foods and human faeces, testing the hypothesis that bacteria from the same niche will produce antimicrobials uniquely suited to act in this niche. Isolates from culture collections and new isolates from food and faecal samples were screened against a panel of pathogens responsible for food spoilage and human disease. Promising candidates were selected for genome sequencing, antimicrobial characterisation and biological study. The genome of Lactobacillus gasseri LM19 showed the presence of antimicrobial genes encoding, among others, a new bacteriocin, gassericin M. L. gasseri LM19 could survive and express its bacteriocin genes under colonic conditions. Its administration modulated the effects of Clostridium perfringens on the gut microbiota composition. Streptococcus agalactiae DPC7040 was previously shown to produce the natural variant nisin P. MALDI-ToF analysis confirmed that nisin P is three amino acids shorter than nisin A and that two lanthionine rings were absent in 50% of molecules. This structure impacted on its antimicrobial activity, which was weaker than that of nisin A and nisin H in faecal fermentations. Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from faecal samples were compared with skin isolates with respect to genomic and phenotypic traits. It was concluded that S. epidermidis has no specific genomic features to colonise different body sites but is likely to adapt its metabolism to the different conditions. Potential novel antimicrobials were found in Lactobacillus amylovorus and Lactobacillus crispatus isolates, which showed probiotic properties and interesting phenotypic differences between strains. Together, this work further demonstrates that fermented food and gut environments are valuable sources of new isolates, the study of which can yield new antimicrobials and give insights into bacterial ecology and evolution.
Especies indicadoras y estructura de praderas naturales de basalto con cargas contrastantes de ovinos

El ajuste de la carga animal es una medida de manejo muy importante en sistemas pastoriles, debido a que determina la relacion de la oferta de forraje con la demanda animal, y con ello afecta la productividad animal. Un experimento evaluo el efecto de 5,4 y 10,8 capones ha-1 en la estructura de praderas naturales sobre Litosoles negros y rojos de basalto en Uruguay. Se evaluo la disponibilidad y altura del forraje, composicion de especies y diversidad floristica y se identificaron especies indicadoras de los niveles de carga animal. El aumento de la carga animal disminuyo la oferta de forraje, pero no se detectaron cambios en la riqueza y diversidad de especies. La variable tipo de suelos explico la mayoria de las diferencias en la composicion botanica, mientras que la respuesta al incremento de la carga animal fue de menor magnitud. La respuesta de la vegetacion frente al incremento de la carga de animales fue diferente segun el tipo de suelo. En Litosoles negros el incremento de la carga provoco la sustitucion de gramineas perennes cespitosas de ciclo invernal por especies postradas, mientras que en Litosoles rojos este cambio fue menor. En los Litosoles negros, en los niveles de carga animal evaluados existen dos estados alternativos de la vegetacion caracterizados por la dominancia de gramineas cespitosas y postradas. En cambio, en los Litosoles rojos en ambas cargas dominaron especies postradas. Se identificaron 12 especies indicadoras de los niveles de carga animal, las cuales podrian ser utilizadas para evaluar la historia reciente de pastoreo. La evaluacion de estas especies facilitara el desarrollo de planes de manejo y monitoreo de praderas naturales de basalto.
Metabolism and interactions of pesticides in human and animal in vitro hepatic models

Risk assessment of chemicals needs reliable scientific information and one source of information is the characterization of the metabolic fate and toxicokinetics of a chemical. Metabolism is often the most important factor contributing to toxicokinetics. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are a superfamily of microsomal proteins playing a pivotal role in xenobiotic metabolism. In the present study, pesticides were used as representative xenobiotics since exposure to pesticides is a global challenge to risk assessment. Human and animal in vitro hepatic models were applied with the advantage of novel analytical techniques (LC/TOF-MS and LC/MS-MS) to elucidate the in vitro metabolism and interaction of selected pesticides. The results of these studies demonstrate that CYP enzymes catalyze the bioactivation of profenofos, diuron and carbosulfan into their more toxic metabolites desthiopropylprofenofos, Ndemethyldiuron and carbofuran, respectively. The suspected carcinogenic metabolite of metalaxyl, 2,6-dimethylaniline, was not detected. CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 activities may be important in determining the toxicity arising from exposure to profenofos and carbosulfan. Individuals with high CYP1A2 and CYP2C19 activities might be more susceptible to diuron toxicity. Qualitative results of in vitro metabolism were generally in agreement with the results obtained from the published in vivo data, at least for the active chemical moiety and major metabolites. Considerable differences in the quantities of the metabolites produced within the species, as well as in the ratios of the metabolites among the species, were observed. These findings illustrate that in vitro screening of qualitative and quantitative differences are needed to provide a firm basis for interspecies and in vitro-in vivo extrapolations. Based on our findings, in vitro-in vivo extrapolation based on the elucidation of the in vitro metabolic pattern of pesticides in human and animal hepatic models could be a good model for understanding and extending the results of pesticides metabolism studies to human health risk assessment.
Mitigating the threat of invasive marine species to Fiordland: New Zealand’s first pathway management plan

Multiple human-mediated pathways in the marine environment provide ample opportunities for new and potentially harmful species to spread into high-value natural areas. Often, these areas are remote and reactive measures to an invasion prove to be difficult, therefore a more precautionary and proactive approach is necessary. The Fiordland Marine Area (FMA) is largely unmodified and has a unique and productive underwater environment. Following an amendment in 2012 to the Biosecurity Act 1993 the Fiordland Marine Guardians and an inter-agency government group worked to develop and implement the Fiordland Marine Regional Pathway Management Plan (FMPP), whose overarching objective is to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive marine species to the FMA. The plan involves three key elements to manage invasive species vectors: (1) that vessel owners and operators hold a current Clean Vessel Pass for their vessel; (2) that the vessel meets clean vessel standards including hull biofouling, gear biofouling and residual seawater requirements; and (3) that owners and operators maintain and can present records on the steps taken to meet the clean vessel standards. The plan was made operative in 2017, and to date, uptake has generally been positive with only a small number of compliance issues. The adoption of this plan is largely due to an integrated iwi, community and agency management approach which has encouraged engagement and participation from the Fiordland stakeholders. The ongoing success of this programme will rely on the commitment from the partnering central and local government agencies to improve and refine the plan, and on a general elevation in the importance of marine biosecurity management nationwide. Ideally, the plan will significantly reduce the risk of further marine bioinvasions within the FMA.
Enhancement of the Surface Plasmon Polaritons Excitation Efficiency

Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPPs) are propagating excitations that arise from the coupling of light with collective oscillations of electrons on the metal surface. This paper describes a new approach for increasing the SPP excitation efficiency. Using a computational electromagnetics approach, potential techniques for reducing incident power reflectivity were investigated using the Kretschmann configuration. The effects of different parameters such as incident angle, metal thickness, and dielectric permittivity were tested and optimized to improve the efficiency of SPPs by minimizing reflectivity. An 30% increase in efficiency was obtained. In addition, the optical response of a thin metal film on a glass substrate was numerically examined in terms of SPP excitation. The dependency of the response on the incident angle, materials, and dimensions were demonstrated. This paper describes how an improvement in efficiency can improve the effectiveness of bio-sensing applications through the proper choice of layer dimensions and material permittivity of different layers. The relationship between incident angle and reflectivity for different permittivities can be used for bio-sensing applications such as blood glucose biosensors, etc.
Sport Advocacy: The Art of Persuasion and Its By-Products

Despite an increase of advocacy by established nongovernmental sport organizations, little is known about how advocacy is enacted and with what effects. Building conceptually on frame alignment theory and empirically on interview data from 19 Swedish Regional Sport Federations, this article investigates how advocates politicize sport to gain “insider status” and analyses the by-products of such efforts. This research demonstrates that the architecture of advocacy claims perpetuates a separation between organizations that “sell” sport from those that “produce” it. Framing also impels centralized authority because advocates safeguard their credibility as political actors by taking up a “leadership-position” vis-à-vis clubs. Advocacy frame alignment has further by-products insofar as they narrow advocates’ room for maneuver and become institutionalized over time.
A REVIEW OF THE GENUS ECHINOCOCCUSRUDOLPHI, I80!

During a recent investigation in Kenya, Echinococcus adults were obtained from 25 domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), three hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta), three wild hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus), and a jackal (Thos mesomelas) (Nelson and Rausch, 1963). In view of the occurrence of several species of Echir.JCOCCUS reported from South Africa by Cameron (1926) and by Ortlepp (1934, 1937), a detailed study was necessary before the specific status of the Kenya material could be determined. We were fortunate in having available reference material from various parts of the world. As a result of this study it is concluded that only three of the I I named species of Echinococcus can be distinguished by purely morphological criteria, six are regarded as synonyms of E. granulosus (Batsch, 1786), and the status of two is uncertain. In a previous appraisal, Rausch (1953) recognized the following species as valid; E. granulosus (Batsch, 1786), E. oligarthrus (Diesing, 1863), E. lycaontis Ortlepp, 1934, and E. felidis Ortlepp, 1937; also, the species later described as E. sibiricensis Rausch and Schiller, 1954, and subsequently found to be conspecific with E. multilocularis Leuckart, 1863. E. longimanubrius Cameron, 1926, and E. minimus Cameron, 1926, were listed by Rausch (1953) as species inquirendae, probably identical with E. granulosus. E. cameroni Ortlepp, 1934, was listed as a synonym of E. granulosus. The status of E. intermedius L6pez-Neyra and Soler, 1943, and E. ortleppi L6pez-Neyra and Soler, 1943, was not discussed. More recent studies indicate that some of these earlier conclusions were erroneous. Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786) This species has become widely distributed as a result of the extensive movement of domesticated animals. It is indigenous at high latitudes on the North American and Eurasian continents, where the life-cycle involves the wolf (Canis lupus) and various species of deer. A variable anatomy has been observed in both adults and larvae. Some of the variations recorded in the strobilar stage may have resulted from different methods of collection and preservation, and those in the larval stage are partly due to the effect of different host species. Among the possibly existing biological strains of E. granulosus only now being investigated, one, E. granulosus canadensis Cameron, 1960, has been named on the basis of its peculiar host-parasite relationships and possible serological differences. Measurements and morphological data for E. granulosus are summarized in Table 1. Further data are to be found in the comparative study of material from Kenya (Nelson and Rausch, 1963).
Are Subcutaneous Transmitters Better Than Intracoelomic? The Relevance of Reporting Methodology to Interpreting Results

Abstract Biologists rely on published scientific papers to increase their knowledge and to guide their future work. Papers comparing techniques can be especially influential when several options exist for accomplishing a task. In this paper, I use a recent publication comparing the effects on birds of several methods for attaching or implanting radio transmitters to illustrate the need for clear and accurate reporting of the techniques used. Because of deficiencies in methodology, in stating methodology, and in following cited methodology I argue that the conclusions drawn by the authors are not supportable.