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- Zamora, Juan Carlos, et al.
(author)
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Considerations and consequences of allowing DNA sequence data as types of fungal taxa
- 2018
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In: IMA Fungus. - : INT MYCOLOGICAL ASSOC. - 2210-6340 .- 2210-6359. ; 9:1, s. 167-185
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.
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| 2. |
- Estanqueiro, Ana, et al.
(author)
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DLR use for optimization of network design withvery large wind (and VRE) penetration
- 2018
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Due to the stochastic nature of wind and clouds,the integration of wind and PV generation in the powersystem poses serious challenges to the long-term planning oftransmission systems. Grid reinforcements always involverelevant direct costs while the average load factor of the windand solar PV dedicated transmission lines is usually low.Additionally, in very windy sites, the same high windresource that produces large amounts of wind generation andmay congest the transmission lines transporting it to distantconsumption centres may also have a beneficial effect inincreasing the transmission capacity of those lines. In fact, theoccurrence of wind not only contributes to the loading of theconnecting line, but also increases the line capacity, via theconvective cooling of the cables - one of the main heattransfer mechanisms in conductor heat balance; in otherwords, higher winds speeds contribute to faster cooling ofconductor and therefore higher conductor’s capacitypotential. In this paper the existing methodologies tocharacterize those thermal effects in electrical cables - usuallyreferred as dynamic line rating (DLR) - are applied to severalIEA Task 25 countries case studies to characterize thetechnical value of the dynamic operation of thermallycongested lines, as well as its potential economic benefits.
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| 3. |
- Schriever, Valentin A., et al.
(author)
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Development of an International Odor Identification Test for Children : The Universal Sniff Test
- 2018
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In: The Journal of Pediatrics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3476 .- 1097-6833. ; 198, s. 265-272
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectiveTo assess olfactory function in children and to create and validate an odor identification test to diagnose olfactory dysfunction in children, which we called the Universal Sniff (U-Sniff) test.Study designThis is a multicenter study involving 19 countries. The U-Sniff test was developed in 3 phases including 1760 children age 5-7 years. Phase 1: identification of potentially recognizable odors; phase 2: selection of odorants for the odor identification test; and phase 3: evaluation of the test and acquisition of normative data. Test-retest reliability was evaluated in a subgroup of children (n = 27), and the test was validated using children with congenital anosmia (n = 14). Results Twelve odors were familiar to children and, therefore, included in the U-Sniff test. Children scored a mean +/- SD of 9.88 +/- 1.80 points out of 12. Normative data was obtained and reported for each country. The U-Sniff test demonstrated a high test-retest reliability (r(27) = 0.83, P < .001) and enabled discrimination between normosmia and children with congenital anosmia with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 86%.ConclusionsThe U-Sniff is a valid and reliable method of testing olfaction in children and can be used internationally.
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