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No description available.

The extensive acidification of fresh waters across Europe and North America during the 20th century led to extensive and widespread loss of species, which fundamentally changed the structure of resident communities. While attempts to limit or halt acidifying emissions have been successful in reversing the chemical consequences of acidification, any corresponding biological recovery has been patchy at best. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate potential ecological constraints on this biological recovery, ranging from interactions between individuals to ecosystem-level processes, using a model stream system that has been extensively studied for over 40 years. I used a combination of long-term survey data and experiments, both in the field and the laboratory, to provide evidence that the lag in recovery of acidified aquatic communities is due to intrinsic resistance to re-colonisation by acid-sensitive species, as a result of both direct and indirect interactions between predators and prey. However, there is also evidence of recovery at an ecosystem level, with rates of microbial decomposition increasing – a key link in the transfer of energy to higher trophic levels, which could be facilitating population increases in large-bodied predators. These findings increase our understanding of the drivers which govern the structure and function of ecological networks in response to an important climatic stressor. This is especially relevant given the rapid industrialisation of countries such as India and China, which could well soon experience anthropogenic acidification on a significant scale.

The frequency-shift (FRESH) filter is a structure which exploits the spectral correlation of cyclostationary signals for removing interference and noise from a wanted signal. As most digital communication signals are cyclostationary, FRESH filtering offers certain advantages for interference rejection in a communications receiver. This thesis explores the operation and application of FRESH filters in practical interference scenarios. The theoretical background to cyclostationarity is clarified with graphical interpretations of what cyclostationarity is, and how a FRESH filter exploits it to remove interference. The effects of implementation in a sampled system are investigated, in filters which use baud rate related cyclostationarity, leading to efficiency improvements. The effects of varying the wanted signal pulse shape to enhance the cyclostationarity available to the FRESH filter are also investigated. A consistent approach to the interpretation of the FRESH filter's operation is used throughout, while evaluating the performance in a wide range of realistic channel conditions. VLF radio communication is proposed as one area where interference conditions are particularly suitable for the use of FRESH filtering. In cases of severe adjacent channel interference it is found that a FRESH filter can almost completely remove the interferer. The effects of its use with an impulse rejection technique are also investigated. Finally, blind adaptation of FRESH filters through exploitation of carrier related cyclostationarity is investigated. It is found that one existing method loses the advantage of FRESH filtering over time invariant linear filtering. An improvement is proposed to the latter which restores its performance to that of a trained FRESH filter, and also reveals that carrier related cyclostationarity can be exploited, in some cases, by a simpler method. J.

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Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) does not have a clinically useful indicator of malignancy, and it is often benign, except in 20% of cases. Even more important, it has a cure – removal of the affected breast. DCIS patients overwhelmingly elect for invasive therapies to escape that 20% malignant chance. Overtreatment such as this costs the patients, and it highlights the need for a DCIS model capable of distinguishing the 20% in need of treatment. Some labs have taken steps toward three-dimensional, complex, and biomimetic models of mammary tissues using a variety of endogenous and synthetic gels and 3D printing. We developed FRESH (Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels) as the first method capable of 3D printing highly biomimetic shapes from endogenous gels. Utilizing FRESH, we aim to rapid prototype models of mammary duct epithelia that are biomimetic, parametric, and capable of iterative evolution. First, we investigate the principles of 3D printers modified for extruding fluids and construct a comprehensive hardware and software platform for printing gelling fluids. Second, we apply the FRESH method to 3D print collagen and alginate hydrogels, demonstrating patency of printed vascular models, topological fidelity, and the synergistic combination of hydrogel properties in multi-material prints. Finally, we rapid prototype an epithelial monolayer by seeding a 3D printed collagen manifold, and we demonstrate maintenance of the tissue’s geometry across a week of culture. We provide evidence of fidelity in prints such as an epithelial tree printed at 200% scale using unmodified collagen type I, and we investigate the combination of hydrogel properties in multi-material prints by utilizing a second hydrogel (alginate) to reinforce and preserve the fidelity of this collagen tree during handling. Our approach utilizes faster (>40 mm/s), cheaper (

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No description available.

The lower Rappahannock River, a subestuary of the Chesapeake Bay, is affected by seasonal low dissolved oxygen events that are intermittent and vary in intensity. Overall, macrobenthic abundance and species number were low, decreasing towards the channel and upriver, where dissolved oxygen concentrations were lowest. Mortality of macrobenthos in early summer was attributed to hypoxia. Species abundances and number declined with the onset of hypoxia, and did not recover in the deep channel until the fall. Tolerance of macrobenthos to hypoxia appeared to be species-specific. Recruitment of hesionid polychaetes occurred in summer during normoxia, but mortality followed during hypoxia, suggesting that macrobenthic assemblages in affected areas may be largely structured by the relationship between the timing of low dissolved oxygen events and species life histories. Laboratory experiments with dominant polychaete species (Streblospio benedicti and Lomia medusa) were conducted to determine their tolerance and behavior to hypoxia, anoxia, and hydrogen sulfide. Under severe hypoxia, S. benedicti survived for two weeks without significant mortality at two experimental dissolved oxygen concentrations (14.5 and 7% air saturation). In anoxia, all worms died within 55 hrs. Larvae survived severe hypoxia without displaying behavioral ill effects for at least 4 days. The behavior of S. benedicti was modified; feeding and burrowing activities ceased, and worms came out of their tubes onto the sediment surface. L. medusa showed higher tolerance of anoxia, surviving up to 5 days. Survival under prolonged hypoxia was significantly reduced. The behavior of L. medusa was also modified by hypoxia and anoxia. Worms ceased feeding and protruded head and abdominal tip out of their tubes. Worm occurrences on the sediment surface at time of death were treatment-dependent. Survival of both species was not significantly reduced when worms were exposed to anoxia with moderate concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. These results are discussed in terms of species distributions, presence of hydrogen sulfide in sediment, and mechanisms of resistance to sulfide toxicity.

The gross structure of the ampullae of Lorenzini and its distribution on the body of 40 species of skates (Rajoidei) and 5 species of sharks (Galeomorphii) were compared in an attempt to investigate correlations within this system to feeding mechanisms. Three general lines of morphological change are observed. A larger proportion of the ampullary pores are associated with the ventral surface of the dorsoventrally flattened skates than the more conically shaped sharks. The relative proportion of ventral pores is significantly reduced on those species inhabiting aphotic waters. Secondly, the more piscivorous rajoids possess an array of ventral pores which covers the majority of the body surface whereas those species feeding predominantly on infaunal invertebrates exhibit a comparatively reduced pattern which are primarily concentrated around the mouth. The density of these pores on the adult is inversely related to the collective mobility of each species' prey items. Similarly, the relative density of pores on the sharks is reduced in both those species inhibiting pelagic waters and those exhibiting reduced prey selectivity. Lastly, the overall size of, and the number of alveoli associated with, each ampulla is directly related to the habitat depth of each skate species. The proposed effects of each of these modifications is discussed. The overall pore distribution appears compensatory for reduced visual input whereas relative densities (resolution) further reflect major differences in feeding strategies. Increased ampullary size and complexity suggest mechanisms for increased sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratios.