4,975 research outputs found

    Relative ranges of mating and dispersal modulate Allee thresholds in sessile species

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    Sessile organisms, including plants and benthic macrofauna, are often restricted in the ranges over which they are able to reproduce and disperse. This leads to spatial patterning within populations, causing the effective population density around each individual to depart from the average across its range. This has important implications for population dynamics, in particular the minimum density at which populations are able to maintain positive growth (the Allee threshold). Here we compare the population dynamics of species with three syndromes — spatially restricted mating, dispersal or both — against a null model of a species with no spatial limitations. First we demonstrate mathematically that the population density at which Allee effects occur systematically shifts in each case. Next we use individual-based models representing three exemplar species to simulate the implications for the Allee threshold of each within a fixed area. In the case where mating occurs over long ranges but dispersal is restricted (e.g. the wind-pollinated silver fir, Abies alba Mill.), there is a negligible impact on the Allee threshold. When mating is also spatially restricted (e.g. the dipterocarp tree Shorea curtisii Dyer ex King), the Allee threshold reduces, unless high death rates prevent the stabilisation of aggregations. This occurs because offspring remain within the range of potential mating partners. Finally we consider a case in which mating is short-ranged, and dispersal effectively unrestricted, but in which individuals choose to locate themselves in the vicinity of conspecifics (e.g. acorn barnacles, Semibalanus balanoides). This has the effect of maintaining clustering in the face of high dispersal, reducing the Allee threshold, and compensating for the apparent cost of short-range mating. Incorporating information on ranges of mating and dispersal can lead to more effective models for the management of populations at low density, in particular the identification of species with syndromes which make them vulnerable to Allee effects. Most notably, mechanisms which increase the degree of clustering in populations increase both their resilience and persistence when finding a mate is the greatest challenge faced by a sessile organism

    Formation of Clay-Rich Layers at The Slip Surface of Slope Instabilities: The Role of Groundwater

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    Some landslides around the world that have low-angle failure planes show exceptionally poor mechanical properties. In some cases, an extraordinarily pure clay layer has been detected on the rupture surface. In this work, a complex landslide, the so-called Diezma landslide, is investigated in a low-to moderate-relief region of Southeast Spain. In this landslide, movement was concentrated on several surfaces that developed on a centimeter-thick layer of smectite (montmorillonite-beidellite) clay-rich level. Since these clayey levels have a very low permeability, high plasticity, and low friction angle, they control the stability of the entire slide mass. Specifically, the triggering factor of this landslide seems to be linked to the infiltration of water from a karstic aquifer located in the head area. The circulation of water through old failure planes could have promoted the active hydrolysis of marly soils to produce new smectite clay minerals. Here, by using geophysical, mineralogical, and geochemical modelling methods, we reveal that the formation and dissolution of carbonates, sulfates, and clay minerals in the Diezma landslide could explain the elevated concentrations of highly plastic secondary clays in its slip surface. This study may help in the understanding of landslides that show secondary clay layers coinciding to their low-angle failure planes.This study was supported by the research projects PID2019-107138RB-I00 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and P18-RT-3632 funded by the Junta de Andalucí

    A quantum chemistry approach to the electro-oxidation of CO adsorbed on Rh (111) cluster surfaces

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    A molecular-orbital interpretation of the electro-oxidation of CO adsorbed on Rh(111) single-crystal clusters in the presence of H2O is described. Calculations were based on the atom super-position and electron delocalization method. Different stabilization energies for ensembles of the type [Me]N(CO)n(OH)m for M = Rh or Pt are given. The stability of possible CO adsorbate configurations on Rh(111) surfaces depends on the applied electric potential in a way which is directly comparable with the one reported previously for CO adsorbates on Pt(111). Only linearly bonded CO adsorbates appear to be involved in the electrochemical CO oxidative interaction with H2O molecules on both Rh(111) and Pt(111).Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

    A quantum chemistry description of carbon monoxide and water absorbates on single-crystal rhodium and platinum clusters

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    Extended Hückel molecular-orbital calculations of CO and HO adsorbed ensembles on single-crystal Pt and Rh clusters are presented. The energy ranges related to the stability of adsorbed ensembles of the type (Me)N(CO)n(OH)m, where Me stands for Rh(100), Rh(111), Pt(100) and Pt(111), were calculated for various coordination geometries and applied potential conditions. A stability inversion potential was found for each ensemble. A correlation was obtained between the stability inversion potentials resulting from the different adsorbed ensembles and the potentials of the current peaks related to the voltammetric oxidation of CO adsorbates on Pt and Rh resulting from comparable potential perturbation conditions.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

    Semi-empirical calculations of the vibrational frequency of carbon monoxide adsorbed on noble metal single-crystal surfaces

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    In this work we perform a theoretical analysis of the shift of the observed IR reflection—absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) band of CO adsorbed on Pt(111), Rh(111) and Pt(100) single crystals as a function of both the degree of CO surface coverage and the electric potential applied at either the metal—vacuum or the metal—solution interface. The wavefunctions obtained using a modified extended Hückel molecular orbital (EHMO) method are used to predict the vibrational frequency data. The Pt(110), Rh(111) and Pt(111) single crystals are modelled by bilayer clusters of 25 and 22 atoms respectively. A theoretical description of the observed IRRAS shift is analysed by means of a population analysis of CO molecular orbitals, which confirms the donation—back-donation model.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

    Potential for reuse of tungsten mining waste-rock in technical-artistic value added products

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    Mining and quarrying activities in Europe generate approximately 55% of total industrial wastes, according to a recent Eurostat report. Most of these wastes are directly dumped on land or deposited in landfill sites. The first solution may lead to negative environmental impacts on land (removal of vegetation, deforestation, land slope changes and increased risk of erosion), water (pollutant transport through surface runoff, soil infiltration and contamination of water resources), may lead to the contamination of agricultural goods and may impose risks on human health. In Portugal, about 20% of industrial waste produced originates from mines and quarries, particularly from Panasqueira mining, one of the largest tungsten mines in the world. Currently, Panasqueira mining generates almost 100 tonnes of waste-rock, per day. Such waste-rock have accumulated over a number of years into very large heaps and it is desirable to seek new economic solutions that can contribute towards their reuse. In this context, this work discusses the potential for reuse of waste-rock piles of Panasqueira tungsten mine, which may be a case statement to be followed. The proposed solution described in this paper consists in developing innovative polymer-based composite materials, obtained from non-contaminated waste-rock tailings. Such materials must have suitable properties for technical-artistic value added applications, such as conservation, restoration and/or rehabilitation of historic monuments, sculptures, decorative and architectural intervention, or simply as materials for building revetments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Isolation and properties of a pure bacterial strain capable of fluorobenzene degradation as sole carbon and energy source

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    A pure bacterial strain capable of aerobic biodegradation of fluorobenzene (FB) as the sole carbon and energy source was isolated by selective enrichment from sediments collected from a polluted site. 16S rRNA and fatty acid analyses support that strain F11 belongs to a novel genus within the a-2 subgroup of the Proteobacteria, possibly within a new clade related to the order Rhizobiales. In batch cultures, growth of strain F11 on FB led to stoichiometric release of fluoride ion. Maximum experimental growth rate of 0.04 h-1 was obtained at FB concentration of 0.4 mM. Growth kinetics were described by the Luong model. An inhibitory effect with increasing FB concentrations was observed, with no growth occurring at concentrations higher than 3.9 mM. Strain F11 was shown to be able to use a range of other organic compounds, including other fluorinated compounds such as 2-fluorobenzoate, 4-fluorobenzoate and 4-fluorophenol. To our knowledge, this is the first time biodegradation of FB, as the sole carbon and energy source, by a pure bacterium has been reported

    Biomedical applications of human cathelicidin

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    [Excerpt] Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are good candidates to treat burn wounds, a major cause of morbidity, impaired life quality and resources consumption in developed countries. Tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, represents the second world’s deadliest infectious disease, affecting around 9 million people worldwide in 2013. Of those, about 1.1 million died from the disease. The potential of cathelicin, a human AMP, in the treatment of mycobacteriosis and wound regeneration was assessed in pre-clinical trials. (...

    Relationships between Kováts Retention Indices and Molecular Descriptors of 1-(2-Hydroxy)-3-Arylpropane-1,3-Diones

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    Experimental and theoretical results for retention index of a set of 20 beta-diketones are given. The quantitative structure-chromatographic retention relationships (QSRR) theory is employed and six molecular descriptors are chosen to compute the fitting polynomials. Multiple regression analysis yields satisfactory results when one resorts to several variables equations, instead of computing just one-variable formulae. Average absolute deviations from experimental results are rather low, which seems to point out the suitability of the present approach

    Antimicrobial enzyme immobilization in bacterial cellulose

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    This work studied the physical immobilization of laccase on bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) aiming to identify the enzyme antibacterial properties suitable for wound dressings. The pH optimum and activation energy of free laccase depends on the substrate employed. The Michaelis-Menten constant for the immobilized laccase was found to be almost double of that of the free enzyme. However, the specific activities of immobilized and free laccase are similar suggesting that entrapped laccase on BNC maintain some flexibility and favour substrate accessibility. The results clearly show the antimicrobial effect of laccase and cytotoxicity acceptable for wound dressing applications.A. Zille acknowledges funding from FCT within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145- FEDER-007136 and UID/CTM/00264.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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