Aquatic Invasive Species as Hazards on Water Resources and Ecosystems in Texas

Water losses due to invasive species cost Texas hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water per year, water unavailable for instream flows, irrigation and other human uses. Innovative, proactive ecological research and public and policy awareness and education initiatives are instrumental to preventing further invasions and managing existing exotic species impacts in Texas aquatic ecosystems

Effects of burial on leaf litter quality, microbial conditioning and palatability to three shredder taxa

1. Heterotrophic microorganisms are crucial for mineralising leaf litter and rendering it more palatable to leaf-shredding invertebrates. A substantial part of leaf litter entering running waters may be buried in the streambed and thus be exposed to the constraining conditions prevailing in the hyporheic zone. The fate of this buried organic matter and particularly the role of microbial conditioning in this habitat remain largely unexplored. 2. The aim of this study was to determine how the location of leaf litter within the streambed (i.e. at the surface or buried), as well as the leaf litter burial history, may affect the leaf-associated aquatic hyphomycete communities and therefore leaf consumption by invertebrate detritivores. We tested the hypotheses that (i) burial of leaf litter would result in lower decomposition rates associated with changes in microbial assemblages compared with leaf litter at the surface and (ii) altered microbial conditioning of buried leaf litter would lead to decreased quality and palatability to their consumers, translating into lower growth rates of detritivores. 3. These hypotheses were tested experimentally in a second-order stream where leaf-associated microbial communities, as well as leaf litter decomposition rates, elemental composition and toughness, were compared across controlled treatments differing by their location within the streambed. We examined the effects of the diverse conditioning treatments on decaying leaf palatability to consumers through feeding trials on three shredder taxa including a freshwater amphipod, of which we also determined the growth rate. 4. Microbial leaf litter decomposition, fungal biomass and sporulation rates were reduced when leaf litter was buried in the hyporheic zone. While the total species richness of fungal assemblages was similar among treatments, the composition of fungal assemblages was affected by leaf litter burial in sediment. 5. Leaf litter burial markedly affected the food quality (especially P content) of leaf material, probably due to the changes in microbial conditioning. Leaf litter palatability to shredders was highest for leaves exposed at the sediment surface and tended to be negatively related to leaf litter toughness and C⁄P ratio. In addition, burial of leaf litter led to lower amphipod growth rates, which were positively correlated with leaf litter P content. 6. These results emphasise the importance of leaf colonisation by aquatic fungi in the hyporheic zone of headwater streams, where fungal conditioning of leaf litter appears particularly critical for nutrient and energy transfer to higher trophic levels

Acid growth: an ongoing trip.

Since its first formulation almost 50 years ago, acid growth has had a chequered past complicated by utilization of diverse species and organs for testing alongside necessary but coarse methodology. Within the past 25 years, we have gained new insights into the molecular mechanisms behind the transduction of the signal auxin into the reality of an apoplastic pH shift as well as the effect on cell wall mechanics and the biochemical players within the wall contributing to the resultant growth. In this review, we begin by discussing the historical work and its complications, move on to the modern work and its addition to acid growth, which we finally summarize in an updated model which includes new postulations and questions

What is the relationship between relational security, attachment, ward incidents and treatment outcomes on forensic psychiatric wards?

A systematic literature review summarizes what is known about the relationships between attachment, relational security and therapeutic relationships. A paucity of research with forensic populations is noted. Consequently the empirical research paper explores more systematically the relationships between these variables on forensic psychiatric wards. Suggestions for staff and service development are presented. No relationships were found between relational security and service users’ attachment to the service and between relational security and risk events and treatment outcomes. Additional analyses revealed that relational security and ward atmosphere were moderately correlated. A large positive correlation was found between patients’ attachment to the service and ward atmosphere, and a moderate, negative, relationship was found between patients’ attachment to the service and risk incidents Multiple regression revealed that relational security and ward atmosphere significantly predicted patients’ attachment to the service. More robust research is needed to investigate the relationships between attachment, relational security, risk incidents and treatment outcomes on forensic psychiatric wards. An argument is made for promoting stronger therapeutic relationships between staff and service users so that forensic wards can become closer to secure bases which might help clients to overcome past interpersonal traumas and develop safer ways to relate interpersonally

Ação rescisória e valoração da prova:: A violação a normas jurídicas probatórias como causa para a rescisão de julgados

The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate the suitability of motion to relief a judgment, based on art. 966, item V, of the CPC/15, in the face of final and unappealable decisions that have valued the evidence in an illegal manner, violating the rules and principles that apply to this activity. To this end, it will be shown that the activity of evaluating evidence is not entirely free, but is governed and guided by legal rules and principles. When these rules and principles are violated, it will be demonstrated that it is possible to objectively assess the existence of a flaw in the assessment of evidence. This is relevant in order to set limits on the suitability of the rescission action, so as to avoid its abusive use. In summary, the proposed thesis is based on the following ideas: (a) the CPC/15, by providing for motions to relief a judgment to be brought against decisions that have manifestly violated a legal rule, has expanded the suitability of motions to relief a judgment; (b) in the current legal philosophy paradigm, there is a dissociability between text and rule, and the use of the method of concretization of the law is required over subsumption; (c) the legal rule is the product of the interpretation of normative statements in the light of the facts; (d) a flawed fixation on the factual premise implies a flawed application of the law; (e) there are rules and principles that affect the activity of evaluating evidence, and it is possible to assess whether or not they have been violated; (f) the judge does not have freedom or discretion to decide, including on the evaluation of evidence, and is always limited by the law.Lo scopo di questa tesi è quello di dimostrare l'adeguatezza di un'azione di revocazione della sentenza civile, basata sull'articolo 966, punto V, del CPC/15 (Codice di Procedura Civile brasiliano), a fronte di decisioni passate in giudicato, che abbiano valutato l'insieme delle prove in modo illegale, violando le regole e i principi che riguardano questa attività. A tal fine, verrà dimostrato che l'attività di valutazione delle prove non è totalmente libera, essendo regolata/guidata/condizionata da norme e principi giuridici. Quando tali regole e principi vengono violati, dimostreremo che è possibile confrontare oggettivamente l'esistenza di un vizio nella valutazione delle prove. Ciò è assolutamente pertinente al fine di porre limiti alla portata della revocazione della sentenza, in modo da impedirne l'uso abusivo. In sintesi, la tesi proposta si basa sulle seguenti idee: (a) il CPC/15, prevedendo l'applicazione della revocazione di sentenza a fronte di decisioni che hanno manifestamente violato una norma giuridica, ha ampliato la portata della revocazione di sentenza; (b) nell'attuale  paradigma giusfilosofico c'è dissociabilità tra testo e norma, ed è necessario utilizzare il metodo della concretizzazione della legge a scapito della sussunzione; (c) la norma giuridica  è il prodotto dell'interpretazione di affermazioni normative alla luce dei fatti, (d) una scarsa fissazione sulla premessa di base implica un'errata applicazione della legge; (e) esistono regole e principi applicabili all'attività di valutazione delle prove, ed è possibile valutare se sono state violate o no; (f) il giudice non ha la libertà o la discrezionalità di decidere, perfino sulla valutazione delle prove, ed è sempre limitato dalla legge.O objetivo desta Tese é demonstrar o cabimento de ação rescisória, com fundamento no art. 966, inc. V, do CPC/15, em face de decisões transitadas em julgado que tenham valorado o conjunto probatório de forma ilegal, violando regras e princípios incidentes sobre essa atividade. Para isso será demonstrado que a atividade de valoração da prova não é totalmente livre, sendo regrada/guiada/condicionada por regras e princípios jurídicos. Quando tais regras e princípios são violados, demonstraremos que é possível aferir de forma objetiva a existência de vício na valoração da prova. Isso é absolutamente relevante para fixar limites ao cabimento da ação rescisória, de modo a evitar o seu uso abusivo. Em síntese, a tese proposta se apoia nas seguintes ideias: (a) o CPC/15, ao prever o cabimento de ação rescisória em face de decisões que tenham violado manifestamente norma jurídica, ampliou o cabimento da ação rescisória; (b no atual paradigma jusfilosófico há dissociabilidade entre texto e norma e se impõe a utilização do método de concretização do direito em detrimento da subsunção; (c) a de que a norma jurídica é o produto da interpretação dos enunciados normativos à luz dos fatos, (d) uma má fixação na premissa fática implica na má aplicação do direito; (e) existem regras e princípios incidentes sobre a atividade de valoração da prova, sendo possível aferir se elas foram, ou não, violadas; (f) o juiz não tem liberdade ou discricionariedade para decidir, inclusive sobre a valoração das provas, estando sempre limitado pela lei

Ação rescisória e valoração da prova: a violação a normas jurídicas probatórias como causa para a rescisão de julgados

Divulgação dos SUMÁRIOS das obras recentemente incorporadas ao acervo da Biblioteca Ministro Oscar Saraiva do STJ. Em respeito à Lei de Direitos Autorais, não disponibilizamos a obra na íntegra.Localização na estante: 347.922.6(81) A783

Two microcrustaceans affect microbial and macroinvertebrate-driven litter breakdown

1. Leaf litter degradation in fresh waters is a fundamental ecosystem process performed by a wide array of decomposers. The meiofauna is an important component of aquatic heterotrophic assemblages, which can provide a trophic link between plant detritus and associated microbial and macroinvertebrate communities, but their contribution to leaf breakdown remains poorly understood. 2. We hypothesised that, through their feeding activity, microcrustaceans influence the structure of fungal assemblages and consequently microbially mediated litter breakdown. Litter-associated microcrustaceans were predicted to change the pathways of energy transfer in the food web according to the positive (e.g. complementarity) or negative (e.g. predation) interactions with macroinvertebrate detritivore taxa. 3. We evaluated experimentally in the laboratory, over 6 and 13 days, the potential contribution of two freshwater microcrustaceans (a cladoceran and a copepod) to litter breakdown in the presence of microfungi (aquatic hyphomycetes), with and without macroinvertebrate detritivores (a trichopteran and a gammarid amphipod). 4. The presence of microcrustaceans enhanced leaf mass loss by 62 and 22% in treatments with fungi or trichopteran alone, respectively, while no significant effect was observed for treatments with the amphipod. Microcrustaceans strongly increased the production of fine particulate organic matter, particularly in treatments with fungi alone (+637%). The leaf consumption rate by the amphipod significantly decreased ( 61%) at 13 days in the presence of microcrustaceans, likely due to predation on cladocerans. 5. Our study supports the potential role of microcrustaceans in the detrital food web of streams and rivers. Interestingly, microcrustaceans may interact with microbial and macroinvertebrate decomposers in either positive or negative ways. Therefore, microcrustaceans add complexity to detrital food webs by increasing vertical diversity and modulating biotic interactions with important consequences for carbon and energy transfers in stream ecosystems

Leaf-associated fungal diversity in acidified streams: insights from combining traditional and molecular approaches

We combined microscopic and molecular methods to investigate fungal assemblages on alder leaf litter exposed in the benthic and hyporheic zones of five streams across a gradient of increasing acidification for 4 weeks. The results showed that acidification and elevated Al concentrations strongly depressed sporulating aquatic hyphomycetes diversity in both zones of streams, while fungal diversity assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) appeared unaffected. Clone library analyses revealed that fungal communities on leaves were dominated by members of Ascomycetes and to a lesser extent by Basidiomycetes and Chytridiomycetes. An important contribution of terrestrial fungi was observed in both zones of the most acidified stream and in the hyporheic zone of the reference circumneutral stream. The highest leaf breakdown rate was observed in the circumneutral stream and occurred in the presence of both the highest diversity of sporulating aquatic hyphomycetes and the highest contribution to clone libraries of sequences affiliated with aquatic hypho- mycetes. Both methods underline the major role played by aquatic hyphomycetes in leaf decom- position process. Our findings also bring out new highlights on the identity of leaf-associated fungal communities and their responses to anthropogenic alteration of running water ecosystems

Programmable Multi-Responsive Nanocellulose-Based Hydrogels With Embodied Logic

Programmable materials are desirable for a variety of functional applications that range from biomedical devices, actuators and soft robots to adaptive surfaces and deployable structures. However, current smart materials are often designed to respond to single stimuli (like temperature, humidity, or light). Here, a novel multi-stimuli-responsive composite is fabricated using direct ink writing (DIW) to enable programmability in both space and time and computation of logic operations. The composite hydrogels consist of double-network matrices of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) or poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and sodium alginate (SA) and are reinforced by a high content of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) (14 wt%) and nanofibers (CNF) (1 wt%). These composites exhibit a simultaneously tunable response to external stimuli, such as temperature, pH, and ion concentration, enabling precise control over their swelling and shrinking behavior, shape, and mechanical properties over time. Bilayer hydrogel actuators are designed to display bidirectional bending in response to various stimuli scenarios. Finally, to leverage the multi-responsiveness and programmability of this new composite, Boolean algebra concepts are used to design and execute NOT, YES, OR, and AND logic gates, paving the way for self-actuating materials with embodied logic.</p

Elevated aluminium concentration in acidified headwater streams lowers aquatic hyphomycete diversity and impairs leaf-litter breakdown.

Aquatic hyphomycetes play an essential role in the decomposition of allochthonous organic matter which is a fundamental process driving the functioning of forested headwater streams. We studied the effect of anthropogenic acidification on aquatic hyphomycetes associated with decaying leaves of Fagus sylvatica in six forested headwater streams (pH range, 4.3-7.1). Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed marked differences in aquatic hyphomycete assemblages between acidified and reference streams. We found strong relationships between aquatic hyphomycete richness and mean Al concentration (r = -0.998, p < 0.0001) and mean pH (r = 0.962, p < 0.002), meaning that fungal diversity was severely depleted in acidified streams. By contrast, mean fungal biomass was not related to acidity. Leaf breakdown rate was drastically reduced under acidic conditions raising the issue of whether the functioning of headwater ecosystems could be impaired by a loss of aquatic hyphomycete species