Biological invasions alter ecosystems by disrupting ecological processes that can degrade biodiversity, harm human health, and cause massive economic burdens. Existing frameworks to classify the ecological impacts either miss many types of impact or conflate mechanisms (causes) with the impacts themselves (consequences). We propose a comprehensive typology of 19 types of ecological impact across six levels of ecological organisation. This allows more accurate diagnosis of the cause of impact and can help triage management options to tackle each impact–mechanism combination. We integrated the typology with broad ecological concepts such as energy, mass, and information flow and storage. By highlighting cascading effects across multiple levels, this typology provides a clearer framework for documenting, and communicating invasion impacts, thereby improving management and research.

Biological invasions alter ecosystems by disrupting ecological processes that can degrade biodiversity, harm human health, and cause massive economic burdens. Existing frameworks to classify the ecological impacts either miss many types of impact or conflate mechanisms (causes) with the impacts themselves (consequences). We propose a comprehensive typology of 19 types of ecological impact across six levels of ecological organisation. This allows more accurate diagnosis of the cause of impact and can help triage management options to tackle each impact–mechanism combination. We integrated the typology with broad ecological concepts such as energy, mass, and information flow and storage. By highlighting cascading effects across multiple levels, this typology provides a clearer framework for documenting, and communicating invasion impacts, thereby improving management and research.

Hydroelectric power generation is one of many ways in which electricity can be generated. In 2009, the three most heavily used sources for generating electricity were coal, natural gas and oil. These sources not only release emissions that are harmful to the environment, they are resources that are quickly running out. Therefore, different ways of generating power will need to be explored. Hydroelectric power works to harvest the inherent energy of moving water. Hydropower on a small-scale is one of the most cost-effective energy technologies to be considered for rural electrification in less developed countries. It is also the main prospect for future hydro developments in Europe. Small hydro technology is extremely robust and is also one of the most environmentally benign energy technologies available. The development of hydro-electricity in the 20th century was usually associated with the building of large dams. Hundreds of massive barriers of concrete, rock and earth were placed across river valleys worldwide to create huge artificial lakes. To this end, this work proposes a case study of a hydroelectric power plant of a dam in Portugal "Foz do tua dam" which is mainly separated in 3 parts. The first part presents the state of the art where we explain the hydroelectric plant. The second part introduces the manual operation of the different types of energy. And the last part is a simulation on CFD software.

The enzyme B-glucosidade hydrolyses the isoflavone glucosides developing aglycones, which are compounds with anticancer effects, that are also related with the astringency observed in soybean flavor. Due to the importance of this enzyme, a study was carried out to determine B-glucosidade activity in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) cultivars with different contents of isoflavone glucosides (enzyme substrate). The enzyme activity was determined in 51 soybean cultivars sowed in Londrina (latitude 23S), in Parana State, Brazil, and in the cultivar IAS 5 from soybean production regions of different Brazilian states. Among the cultivars, a range of variability of 176.1 to 96.3 units of enzyme activity (cultivars IAC-2 and Embrapa 2, respectively) was observed. A significant variability among cultivars could suggest genetic differences. In the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul, the cultivar IAS 5 presented similar average of B-glucosidase activity: 132.1, 131.9 and 132.5 units, respectively. Among locations in the states, the cultivar IAS 5 presented a variability for enzyme activity from 138.8 to 124.8 units, which were statistically different. In spite of statistics, the numerical values were not too different to assume that environmental conditions affected enzyme activit. A non-significative correlation for isoflavone glucoside concentrations and enzyme activity was observed among cultivars.

Iodine is a trace element that is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormone. Both chronic iodine deficiency and iodine excess have been associated with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of follicular cells, attributed to excessive secretion of TSH. This may be associated to thyroid cancer risk, particularly in women. Experimental studies have documented thyroid cancer induction by elevation of endogenous TSH, although in a small number of animals. Iodine deficiency associated with carcinogenic agents and chemical mutagens will result in a higher incidence of thyroid malignancy. Inadequate low iodine intake will result in increased TSH stimulation, increased thyroid cell responsiveness to TSH, increased thyroid cell EGF-induced proliferation, decreased TGFbeta 1 production and increased angiogenesis, all phenomena related to promotion of tumor growth. Epidemiological studies associating iodine intake and thyroid cancer led to controversial and conflicting results. There is no doubt that introduction of universal iodine prophylaxis in population previously in chronic iodine-deficiency leads to a changing pattern of more prevalent papillary thyroid cancer and declining of follicular thyroid cancer. Also anaplastic thyroid cancer is practically not seen after years of iodine supplementation. Iodine excess has also been indicated as a possible nutritional factor in the prevalence of differentiated thyroid cancer in Iceland, Hawaii and, more recently, in China. In conclusion: available evidence from animal experiments, epidemiological studies and iodine prophylaxis has demonstrated a shift towards a rise in papillary carcinoma, but no clear relationship between overall thyroid cancer incidence and iodine intake.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the third most produced worldwide cereal. In Brazil more than half of the consumed wheat is imported. The species has hexaploid genome, which gives good adaptation to different environmental conditions and tolerance to abiotic stresses. Among the main factors that cause stress can be highlighted the problem of drought and soil salinity. Water deficit is the low availability of water to plants, affecting their growth and development caused death when drastic. The salinity is the high salt concentrations in the soil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of 14 wheat genotypes when subjected to salt stress and water deficit during the germination phase. To simulate the salt stress were used three solutions with different NaCl concentrations (44.83, 89.66 and 134.49mM NaCl) and a control treatment, pure water. To water deficit were used three solutions with different concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 plus pure water control treatment, providing four different osmotic potentials (0.0, -0.2, -0.4 and -0.6MPa). Germination, first count of germination, speed of germination index, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, shoot length and root length were reduced due to the increase of NaCl concentration and osmotic potential more negative. The Marfim genotype was shown to be more tolerant to salt stress and also the stress by water deficit. The CSR test is a potential indicator for identification of genotypes tolerant to salt stress and water deficit. The test GERM is a potential indicator to identify genotypes tolerant to water stress.

A monitorização do comportamento dinâmico de estruturas é uma forma eficaz de despistar a ocorrência de alguma alteração desse comportamento e, desta forma, dispor de uma avaliação contínua da integridade estrutural. O elevado volume de informação gerado por um sistema de monitorização dinâmica torna necessário o desenvolvimento de algoritmos que realizem de forma automática o processamento dessa informação, extraindo os parâmetros modais da estrutura. O presente trabalho pretende contribuir para uma mais eficiente automatização da identificação dinâmica de estruturas, através do desenvolvimento de um algoritmo para esse efeito e da sua aplicação aos dados provenientes do sistema de monitorização dinâmica da ponte de São João, procurando-se também caracterizar a influência dos efeitos das variações ambientais nas suas caraterísticas dinâmicas. Para este efeito, efetuou-se uma revisão bibliográfica, da qual resulta uma síntese dos conceitos associados à identificação modal de estruturas, bem como os ensaiosrealizados in situ para a caraterização do comportamento dinâmico de estruturas. Referem-se, também, de uma forma geral, alguns dos métodos utilizados no processamento dos valores experimentais para a extração das caraterísticas dinâmicas de estruturas, tanto no domínio da frequência como no domínio do tempo. Elaborou-se uma rotina em MatLab, aplicando o método básico no domínio da frequência, como forma de realizar a caraterização dinâmica da estrutura em análise, que foi validada através da aplicação a uma estrutura de pequenas dimensões. Descreve-se a Ponte de São João, bem como do seu sistema de monitorização da integridade estrutural. A ponte é utilizada como caso de estudo para aplicação do método de identificação modal implementado em MatLab. Descreve-se também o ensaio de vibração ambiental realizado nesta obra de arte, cujos resultados foram tratados através do recurso a um programa comercial. Foi implementado um modelo numérico da ponte, tendo em vista a simulação do seu comportamento dinâmico, cujos resultados são comparados com os provenientes do ensaio de vibração ambiental. Apresenta-se a evolução dos parâmetros modais da ponte ao longo de cinco meses, analisando-se os fatores, nomeadamente ambientais, que influenciam essa evolução. Por último, é efetuada uma avaliação dos resultados obtidos e são apontadas algumas perspetivas de desenvolvimentos futuros.