Cr and Ni simultaneous phytotoxicity and mutagenicity assay

For genotoxicity study simultaneous phytotoxicity and mutagenicity assay with Vicia sativa L. var. Klára was used. For phytotoxicity the following rank orders of growth inhibition can be arranged: for roots: Ni(II) > Cr(VI) > Cr(III); for shoots: Ni(II) > Cr(VI) ≥ Cr (III). For mutagenicity assay root tips of V. sativa were used and chromosome aberrations were determined at least in 500-anatelophases. All tested metals exerted in V. sativa a significant increase of chromosomal aberration rate in applied concentrations. Maximum of aberrations invoked Cr(VI) and the rank order of aberrations fall was: Cr(VI) > Ni(II) > Cr(III). Genotoxic effects of metals were determined by analysis of micronuclei frequency in the pollen tetrads of Tradescantia plants. None of tested metal significantly stimulated micronuclei frequency and genotoxic effect was decreased in order: Cr(VI) ≥ Ni(II) > Cr(III).

Free ranking vs. rank-choosing: New insights on the conjunction fallacy

It has been consistently shown that when asked to rank options, people often make fallacious judgements. Furthermore, such fallacies can be sensitive to presentation mode. In the first study, we explored a novel type of ranking presentation, namely, choosing between two rank orders of options. To enable a direct comparison of fallacy rates between free ranking and the new presentation mode, we calculated the frequencies of the two presented rank orders in a free ranking condition. Our analysis shows that people choose the non-fallacious rank order significantly more when asked to choose between two rank orders as compared to freely ranking the possible options. In a second study, we explored whether an agent presenting the rankings to choose from has an effect. To alleviate social biases we used videos of social robots as the presenting agents. We show that rank orders presented by social agents significantly reduce the fallacy rates, compared to rank orders presented without an agent. We discuss the results in view of social decision making theories, wherein a ranking presentation by a social agent is comparable to a consultation with another person regarding free ranking. Our results suggest that fallacious decision making can be mitigated by a social agent presenting rankings to choose from.

Are Rank Orders Mentally Represented by Spatial Arrays?

The present contribution argues that transitive reasoning, as exemplified in paradigms of linear order construction in mental space, is associated with spatial effects. Starting from robust findings from the early 70s, research so far has widely discussed the symbolic distance effect (SDE). This effect shows that after studying pairs of relations, e.g., “A > B,” “B > C,” and “D > E,” participants are more correct, and faster in correct responding, the wider the “distance” between two elements within the chain A > B > C > D > E. The SDE has often been given spatial interpretations, but alternatively, non-spatial models of the effect are also viable on the empirical basis so far, which means the question about spatial contributions to the construction of analog representations of rank orders is still open. We suggest here that laterality effects can add the necessary additional information to support the idea of spatial processes. We introduce anchoring effects in terms of showing response advantages for congruent versus incongruent pairings of presentation location on a screen on the one hand, and the hypothetical spatial arrangement of the order in mental space, on the other hand. We report pertinent findings and discuss anchoring paradigms with respect to their internal validity as well as their being rooted in basic mechanisms of trained reading/writing direction.

Rankings analysis with the Pareto method

Rankings compare the performance of organizations. In many cases, rankings provide a good assessment of successful or-ganizations. However, rankings often generate controversy and debate since they support the making decisions. A ranking is a weighted linear combination of indicators, and the weights assigned to each of the indicators can lead to different rank orders. In most cases, rankings are used as a tool to support making decisions, such as resource allocation; therefore, these decisions can be affected by the assignment of such weights. In this article, we analyze the behavior of a ranking and the weights; simulations are used to calculate the change in the order of the equally weighted ranking and of the randomly weighted ranking. In this regard, we present a discussion and ranking design alternatives.

Usefulness of Artificial Membrane, Strat-M®, in the Assessment of Drug Permeation from Complex Vehicles in Finite Dose Conditions

The ban on the use of animals in testing cosmetic products has led to the development of animal-free in vitro methods. Strat-M® is an artificial membrane engineered to mimic human skin and is recommended as a replacement for skin. However, its usefulness in the assessment of the permeation of cosmetics in in-use conditions remains unverified. No data have been published on its comparative performance with the membrane of choice, porcine skin. The comparative permeability characteristics of Strat-M® and porcine skin were investigated using Franz diffusion cells. Caffeine (CF) and rhododendrol (RD) in complex vehicles with varying concentrations of polyols were applied as finite and infinite doses. Good rank orders of permeation from finite dose experiments were observed for RD. High correlations were observed in RD permeation between Strat-M® and porcine skin under finite and infinite dose conditions, whereas only finite dose conditions for CF were associated with good correlations. Permeation from formulations with high polyol content and residual formulations was enhanced due to the disruption of the integrity of the Strat-M® barrier. The usefulness of Strat-M® in the assessment of dermal permeation may be limited to finite dose conditions and not applicable to infinite dose conditions or formulations applied in layers.

Rank orders and signed interactions in evolutionary biology

Rank orders have been studied in evolutionary biology for almost a hundred years. Constraints on the order in which mutations accumulate are known from cancer drug treatment, and order constraints for species invasions are important in ecology. However, current theory on rank orders in biology is somewhat fragmented. Here, we show how our previous work on inferring genetic interactions from comparative fitness data (Crona et al., 2017) is related to an influential approach to rank orders based on sign epistasis. Our approach depends on order perturbations that indicate interactions. We apply our results to malaria parasites and find that order perturbations beyond sign epistasis are prevalent in the antimalarial drug-resistance landscape. This finding agrees with the observation that reversed evolution back to the ancestral type is difficult. Another application concerns the adaptation of bacteria to a methanol environment.

Lessons from the Past? A Survey of Finnish Forest Utilisation from the Mid-Eighteenth Century to the Present

This article looks for guidelines on how regions depending on natural resources could meet future challenges. We do this by seeking past regularities through a survey of the long-run development of the use and discussion of timber and other forest-related natural resources in Finland, from slash-and-burn cultivation in the eighteenth century to present day bioeconomy. The uses and rank orders of the forests have changed several times over the centuries, often quite rapidly, especially compared to the rotation period of forests. To anticipate this uncertainty, we need to keep as many eggs and baskets as possible. Regarding forests, that could mean using many tree species and protecting biodiversity in general. The bioeconomy concept seems to encompass all the conflicting goals set for the utilisation of Finnish natural resources over the last two and a half centuries. In contrast to the single perspectives of earlier periods, however, it tries to take them all in simultaneously.