Este trabalho apresenta os resultados da aplicação da metodologia de inspeção não intrusiva (INI) em equipamentos do sistema de dessulfurização de gás numa plataforma petrolífera, com o auxílio da inspeção baseada em risco utilizando a norma API RP 581. A inspeção não intrusiva é aplicada tendo como fundamentos as guias de inspeção, como a DNV-RP-G103, que reúne informações de como executar e justificar o seu uso, a fim de garantir a segurança das instalações, eliminando a necessidade de uma parada do equipamento para a realização da inspeção. Contudo nem todos os equipamentos puderam ser inspecionados por esta metodologia, devido a limitações operacionais e/ou construtivas. O trabalho conclui que a inspeção não intrusiva pode ser aplicada à inspeção de equipamentos sem prejuízo ao mapa de risco do equipamento ou da unidade, e naqueles onde não é possível à utilização somente da metodologia, a mesma poderá ser aplicada em conjunto com a inspeção convencional fornecendo informações importantes sobre o estado do equipamento, melhorando assim a confiabilidade do planejamento da parada de manutenção e uma redução dos custos envolvidos. / This paper presents the results of applying the methodology of non-intrusive inspection (INI) in electrical system flue gas desulphurization an oil rig, with the help of riskbased inspection using the API RP 581. The non-intrusive inspection is implemented with the guides as the foundations of inspection, such as DNV-RP-G103, which gathers information on how to make and justify its use, to ensure the safety of installations, eliminating the need for a parade equipment to perform the inspection. However not all equipment could be inspected by this method, due to operational limitations and / or constructive. The paper concludes that the non-intrusive inspection can be applied to inspection of equipment subject to the risk map of the equipment or unit, and those where it is not possible to use only the methodology, it may be applied along with conventional inspection providing important information on the status of the equipment, thereby improving the reliability of planning maintenance shutdown and lower costs.

Submitted by Francine Silva (francine.silva@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-06-23T14:11:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Daiane Valente.pdf: 1062508 bytes, checksum: c859e0c99def78cdd42b20b323c13691 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Dias (vanessa.dias@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-06-25T21:25:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Daiane Valente.pdf: 1062508 bytes, checksum: c859e0c99def78cdd42b20b323c13691 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-25T21:25:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Daiane Valente.pdf: 1062508 bytes, checksum: c859e0c99def78cdd42b20b323c13691 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Poa annua L. é a única espécie invasora de plantas com flores que obteve sucesso reprodutivo na Antártica, constituindo uma ameaça para as espécies nativas desse ecossistema. A hipótese da origem e colonização dessa gramínea nesse ambiente extremo é a de que as plantas pioneiras teriam vindo da Polônia, porém não é descartada a possibilidade de mútiplos eventos de introdução e diferentes fontes de distribuição. A disponibilidade de dados de sequências expressas (EST) tem facilitado o desenvolvimento de marcadores microssatélites (SSR) que podem ser utilizados como ferramentas para estudos populacionais em diferentes níveis, fluxo gênico, níveis de parentesco e informações sobre padrões filogeográficos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi desenvolver marcadores microssatélites a partir de sequências de regiões expressas da família Poaceae, testar o potencial de transferência em P. annua e utilizar esses marcadores para análise filogeográfica de P. annua, a fim de esclarecer a origem e colonização dessa espécie na Antártica. A prospecção de marcadores microssatélites foi desenvolvida com ferramentas de bioinformática, através de análises in sílico SSR em banco de dados EST para família Poaceae, disponíveis no Genbank (NCBI). Foram utilizados os programas CAP3 e SSRLocator para prospecção dos marcadores microssatélites. Uma pesquisa de Termos Gene Ontology (GO) foi realizada no banco de dados de sequências ESTs para avaliar associações entre locus SSR e processos biológicos, componentes celulares e função molecular de genes conhecidos, utilizando os programas Blast2GO e Revigo. O teste de transferência dos primers e análise molecular de P. annua foram conduzidos através da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR). Foram prospectadas uma lista de 568 pares de primers, destes foram sintetizados 28 marcadores microssatélites para a transferência em P. annua. 68% dos marcadores EST-SSR tiveram potencial de transferência para esta espécie. A análise sugere que as amostras da Antártica são diferentes das amostras do Chile, Brasil, Irlanda e Argentina. Além disso, foram encontrados 613 transcritos divididos em 302 famílias gênicas. Com esta análise, foi possível desenvolver ferramentas moleculares para a análise genética com P. annua e outras espécies de gramíneas, mapear os motivos mais frequentes e funções dos genes em cada locus SSR, e sugerir que os diásporos de P. annua encontrados na Antártica podem ter vindos de fontes distintas das populações da America do Sul. / Poa annua L. is the only invasive species of flowering plants that reached reproductive success in Antarctica, posing a threat to native species of this ecosystem.The hypothesis of the origin and colonization of grass in this extreme environment is the pioneer plants would have come from Poland, but it is not ruled out event of multiple introduction and different sources of distribution. Recent increase in the availability of expressed sequence data (EST) has facilitated the development of microsatellite markers (SSR) can be used as tools for population studies at different levels, gene flow, relationship of levels and patterns phylogeographical information. The objective of this study was to develop microsatellite markers from expressed sequence regions of the Poaceae family, test the potential transfer in P. annua and use these markers for phylogeographic analysis of P. annua in order to clarify the origin and colonization of this species in Antarctica. The prospect of microsatellite markers was developed with bioinformatics tools, through an analysis in silico SSR in EST database to Poaceae family, available in Genbank (NCBI). Were used the CAP3 and SSRLocator programs for prospecting of microsatellite markers. A Search terms Gene Ontology (GO) were performed in ESTs sequences database to evaluate associations between SSR locus and biological processes, cellular components and molecular function of known genes, using the Blast2GO and Revigo programs. The transfer test of primers and molecular analysis of P. annua was conducted by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Were prospected a list of 568 primer pairs, these were synthesized 28 microsatellite markers for the transfer in P. annua. 68% of EST-SSR markers have potential transfer for this species. The analysis suggests that the samples from Antarctica are different from samples from Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Ireland. In addition, they found 613 transcripts divided into 302 genic families. With this analysis, it was possible to develop molecular tools for genetic analysis with P. annua and other grass species, mapping the most frequent motifs and functions of genes in each SSR locus, and suggest that the introduction of P. annua found in Antarctica may have come from sources other than South American populations.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2018-01-26T16:05:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Sebasti?o Nunes da Rosa Filho.pdf: 2091591 bytes, checksum: f35a1bfbdc5bdd66764178c67ffba67b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-26T16:05:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Sebasti?o Nunes da Rosa Filho.pdf: 2091591 bytes, checksum: f35a1bfbdc5bdd66764178c67ffba67b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-30 / CAPES / Industrial tomato production is hampered by weed occurrence, which may reduce productivity through competition, affect the efficiency of products applied to crops and host commercially important diseases and pathogens. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and management of weeds in industrial tomato cropping systems in the Cerrado of Goi?s. In Chapter One, the viable seed bank was evaluated in areas with different weed management systems. The evaluation was made in two conventional tillage areas (CT); two with no-till (NT) and four with no-till and reduced soil preparation (RSP). The most frequent weeds were Conyza bonariensis, Cenchrus echinatus, Ipomoea aristolochiaefolia, Leonotis nepetifolia, Spermacoce latif?lia, Senna obtusifolia, Nicandra physaloides, Euphorbia heterophylla, Gnaphalium spp., Brachiaria plantaginea, Zea mays, Bidens pilosa, Macroptilium spp., , Solanum lycopersicum (tiguera), Commelina benghalensis and Sida rhombifolia. Among the soil preparation systems, reduced preparation (RSP) resulted in two species with higher germination: Phyllanthus tenellus and Oxaliss pp. Conventional tillage (CT) resulted in six species with the highest plant emergence number ? Ageratum conyzoides, Coronopus didymus, Portulaca oleracea, Eragrostis pilosa, Digitaria horizontalis and Solanum americanum. In Chapter Two, different systems of weed management in tomato crops for industrial processing under center-pivot irrigation were evaluated. The applied treatments were combinations between harrowing and chemical management with glyphosate, s-metolachlor, sulfentrazone and metribuzin-based products at different application periods. The variables plant population and ?Brix were not influenced by the treatments. There was statistical difference within the production components: twenty-fruit mass, yield per plant and productivity. Highest productivity was observed in the following treatments: a) harrowing thirty days after transplant (DAT), application of glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1), metribuzin (480 g ha-1) and s-metolaclhor (1,200 g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (83.39 t ha-1); harrowing on the 30th DAT, glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1) and s-metolachlor (1,200 g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (74.75 t ha-1); c) harrowing on the thirtieth DAT, glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1) on the 14th DAT and sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (73.06 t ha-1); d) harrowing on the 30th DAT, glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1) on the 14th DAT and s-metolachlor (1,200 g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (71.83 t ha-1) and; e) harrowing on the 30 DAT, glyphosate (1,080 g ha-1) and sulfentrazone (100g ha-1) on the seventh DAT (71.75 t ha.-1).With the ?no weeding? and ?harrowing-only? treatments, there was reduction of 63.82% and 69.29% in fruit productivity, respectively, compared to the weeded sample. The conclusion is that the applications of sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) or s-metolachlor (1,200 g ha-1) in weed management systems using glyphosate revealed potential alternatives for industrial tomato production in Goi?s. / O cultivo de tomateiro industrial ? prejudicado pela ocorr?ncia de plantas daninhas que podem reduzir a produtividade por competi??o, afetar a efici?ncia de produtos aplicados nas lavouras e serem hospedeiras de pragas e pat?genos de import?ncia comercial. Com isso, este trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar a ocorr?ncia e o manejo de plantas daninhas em sistemas de cultivo de tomateiro industrial no Cerrado goiano. No primeiro cap?tulo, avaliou-se o banco de sementes vi?veis de ?reas com diferentes sistemas de manejo de plantas daninhas. As avalia??es foram feitas em duas ?reas de plantio convencional (PC), duas de plantio direto (PD) e quatro de plantio direto modificado com preparo reduzido do solo (PPR). As esp?cies de plantas daninhas mais frequentes foram Conyza bonariensis, Cenchrus echinatus, Ipomoea aristolochiaefolia, Leonotis nepetifolia, Spermacoce latif?lia, Senna obtusifolia, Nicandra physaloides, Euphorbia heterophylla, Gnaphalium spp., Brachiaria plantaginea, Zea mays, Bidens pilosa, Macroptilium spp., Solanum lycopersicum(tiguera), Commelina benghalensis, Sida rhombifolia. Entre os sistemas de preparo do solo, o preparo reduzido (PPR) apresentou duas esp?cies entre as de maior germina??o, a esp?cie Phyllanthus tenellus e a Oxalis spp. O plantio convencional (PC) apresentou tr?s esp?cies com maior n?meros de plantas emergidas, sendo Eleusine indica, Digitaria horizontalis e Amaranthus hybridus. O plantio direto (PD) teve seis esp?cies com maior emerg?ncia em compara??o aos outros manejos de solo, sendo Ageratum conyzoides, Coronopus didymus, Portulaca oleracea, Eragrostis pilosa, Digitaria horizontalis e a Solanum americanum. No segundo cap?tulo, objetivou-se avaliar diferentes sistemas de manejo de plantas daninhas na cultura do tomateiro para processamento industrial em parte de lavoura comercial sob piv? central. Os tratamentos utilizados foram combina??es entre o uso da gradagem e manejo qu?mico com produtos ? base de glyphosate, s-metolachlor, sulfentrazone e metribuzin em diferentes ?pocas de aplica??o. As vari?veis popula??o de plantas e ?Brix n?o foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos. Houve diferen?as estat?sticas para os componentes de produ??o: massa de vinte frutos, produ??o por planta e produtividade. As maiores produtividades foram observadas nos seguintes tratamentos: a) gradagem aos trinta dias antes do transplantio (DAT), aplica??o de glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1), metribuzin (480 g ha-1) e de s-metolaclhor (1.200 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (83,39 t ha-1); b) gradagem aos 30 DAT, glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1) e s-metolachlor (1.200 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (74,75 t ha-1);c) gradagem aos trinta DAT, glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1) aos 14 DAT e sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (73,06 t ha-1); d) gradagem aos 30 DAT, glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1) aos 14 DAT e s-metolachlor (1.200 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (71,83 t ha-1) e ; e) gradagem aos 30 DAT, glyphosate (1.080 g ha-1) e sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) aos sete DAT (71,75 t ha.-1). Nos tratamentos ?sem capina? e ?apenas gradagem?, houve redu??o de 63,82% e 69,29% na produtividade de frutos, respectivamente, em rela??o ? testemunha capinada. Conclui-se que as aplica??es de sulfentrazone (100 g ha-1) ou s-metolachlor (1.200 g ha-1), em sistemas de manejo de plantas daninhas contendo glyphosate, se revelaram alternativas potenciais na cultura do tomateiro industrial em Goi?s.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T14:38:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacaovandjore pronta.pdf: 1244176 bytes, checksum: 0acde300276a806250001806ca1faae2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Invasive alien species can interfere with the development of native species for the production and release of chemicals in the environment, a phenomenon known as allelopathy. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the allelopathic potential and oxidative stress on seeds and Cucumis sativus seedlings when submitted to aqueous extracts of Leucaena leucocephala. Therefore, we evaluated the germination behavior, early growth and activity of antioxidant enzymes in different soaking time of seeds and target species of seedlings. The results indicated that there was interference from L. leucocephala extracts on the germination of variables, speed index and average germination time, decreased length of root and shoot growth stimulus. Regarding enzymatic activity, it was found high activity of catalase enzyme after 24 hours of soaking seeds, and low activity in the seedlings after 168 hours of soaking. As for the peroxidase enzyme, there was low activity in seeds and high activity in the C. sativus seedlings. They were also investigated the effect of aqueous extracts in the laboratory and powdered extracts, in a greenhouse, Leucaena leucocephala and Hovenia dulcis on the germination and early development of native species Mimosa bimucronata and Peltophorum dubium. Both extracts revealed allelopathic potential on seed germination and initial growth of M. bimucronata. No negative interference of extracts from the donor species on the germination of P. dubium, however, seedlings subjected to L. leucocephala extract had interference in the initial development, and the elongation of the radicle more sensitive to the effects of the extracts. Regarding the effects of the extract powder on the development of the species, it was found that there was no interference in the growth variables for the species M. bimucronata, however, to P. dubium, extracts promoted difference in the height of the seedlings field conditions. According to the methodology used and the results obtained, it observed that the allelopathic effects observed in the laboratory were more significant, suggesting that in a controlled environment, with little variation of environmental factors, the action of allelochemicals interfere more actively on seed germination and seedling development of the recipient species. / As espécies exóticas invasoras podem interferir no desenvolvimento de espécies nativas pela produção e liberação de compostos químicos no ambiente, fenômeno conhecido como alelopatia. Desta forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar o potencial alelopático e estresse oxidativo sobre sementes e plântulas de Cucumis sativus quando submetidas ao extrato aquoso de Leucaena leucocephala. Para tanto, foram avaliados o comportamento germinativo, crescimento inicial e atividade de enzimas antioxidantes em diferentes tempos de embebição das sementes e plântulas da espécie-alvo. Os resultados indicaram que houve interferência dos extratos de L. leucocephala sobre as variáveis de germinação, índice de velocidade e tempo médio de germinação, diminuição do comprimento de raiz e estímulo de crescimento de parte aérea. Em relação a atividade enzimática, foi verificada alta atividade da enzima catalase, após 24h da embebição das sementes, e baixa atividade nas plântulas, após 168h de embebição. Já para a enzima peroxidase, observou-se baixa atividade nas sementes e alta atividade nas plântulas de C. sativus. Também foram investigados o efeito dos extratos aquosos, em laboratório, e extratos em pó, em casa de vegetação, de Leucaena leucocephala e Hovenia dulcis, sobre a germinação e desenvolvimento inicial das espécies nativas Mimosa bimucronata e Peltophorum dubium. Ambos os extratos evidenciaram potencialidades alelopáticas na germinação das sementes e no crescimento inicial de M. bimucronata. Não foram observadas interferências negativas dos extratos das espécies doadoras sobre o processo germinativo de P. dubium, entretanto, plântulas submetidas ao extrato de L. leucocephala tiveram interferência no desenvolvimento inicial, sendo o alongamento da radícula mais sensível aos efeitos dos extratos. Em relação aos efeitos do extrato em pó sobre o desenvolvimento das espécies, constatou-se que não houve interferência nas variáveis de crescimento analisadas para a espécie M. bimucronata, entretanto, para P. dubium, os extratos promoveram diferença sobre a altura das mudas em condições de campo. De acordo com a metodologia adotada e os resultados obtidos, foi possível verificar que os efeitos alelopáticos observados em laboratório foram mais significativos, sugerindo que em ambiente controlado, com pouca variação de fatores ambientais, a ação dos aleloquímicos interferem mais ativamente sobre a germinação de sementes e o desenvolvimento_de_plântulas_das_espécies_receptoras

The objective of this study is to compare two non-invasive thermometer technologies in pregnant women admitted for labor at the Family Birthing Center in Johnson City Medical Center. A total of 50 patients were recruited in the study. Temperature measurements using the oral 3M® Tempa.Dot and the Exergen 5000 Temporal Artery Thermometer (TAT) were obtained by trained personnel. These recordings were obtained once upon admission, at 2-hour intervals until delivery (to a maximal time of 20 hours), 1 hour before and after epidural placement, and 2 hours after vaginal delivery. The temperatures readings were then compared over all time points, and at each time point using SPSS and Student paired t-test. Trends of temperature changes in labor between both thermometers were also evaluated. We noted that over all time points, the skin temperature was 0.38°F higher than the oral temperature. This difference was statistically significant as well (98.19°F ±0.681 vs. 97.81°F ±0.750, p

Objective: To review the place in therapy of isavuconazole, the active metabolite of isavuconazonium sulfate, via a review of the available literature on drug chemistry, spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile and trials assessing clinical efficacy and safety. Methods: Relevant data, original research articles and reviews, were gathered primarily through the use of a PubMed database search. The search was conducted without date restrictions in order to collect both historical and recent data regarding isavuconazole. Key findings: Isavuconazole is a triazole currently approved not only for use in invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis but also has demonstrable activity against Candida species and other common fungal pathogens. This drug has features which make it more clinically appealing compared to other azoles with similar indications. In specific, isavuconazole does not require a cyclodextrin vehicle due to its water solubility, and at present, does not require therapeutic drug monitoring. Moreover, isavuconazole has displayed improved safety and tolerability compared to voriconazole. Available data from Phase III clinical trials shows isavuconazole to be a possible therapeutic option to currently available therapies for which it is approved; however, clinical conclusions should be reserved until results have been published and more data from clinical use is reported. Conclusions: Isavuconazole is a new triazole with broad‐spectrum antifungal activity including invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis.

abstract: Minimally invasive surgery is a surgical technique that is known for its reduced patient recovery time. It is a surgical procedure done by using long reached tools and an endoscopic camera to operate on the body though small incisions made near the point of operation while viewing the live camera feed on a nearby display screen. Multiple camera views are used in various industries such as surveillance and professional gaming to allow users a spatial awareness advantage as to what is happening in the 3D space that is presented to them on 2D displays. The concept has not effectively broken into the medical industry yet. This thesis tests a multi-view camera system in which three cameras are inserted into a laparoscopic surgical training box along with two surgical instruments, to determine the system impact on spatial cognition, perceived cognitive workload, and the overall time needed to complete the task, compared to one camera viewing the traditional set up. The task is a non-medical task and is one of five typically used to train surgeons’ motor skills when initially learning minimally invasive surgical procedures. The task is a peg transfer and will be conducted by 30 people who are randomly assigned to one of two conditions; one display and three displays. The results indicated that when three displays were present the overall time initially using them to complete a task was slower; the task was perceived to be completed more easily and with less strain; and participants had a slightly higher performance rate. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Human Systems Engineering 2019

Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery is used to perform intricate surgical tasks through small incisions using long, slender instruments. The miniaturization of these instruments is advantageous to both surgeon and patient because smaller instruments reduce trauma to surrounding tissue, decrease patient recovery times, and can be used in confined spaces otherwise inaccessible using larger instruments. However, miniaturization of existing designs is limited by friction between moving parts, the volume occupied by the end effector, and manufacturing and assembly constraints. The objective of this work is to develop and analyze concepts that can be used in robot-assisted needlescopic surgery. The concepts are intended for instrument shafts no larger than 3 mm in diameter. An ideal concept is one with large ranges of wrist and gripping motion. Concepts should also minimize friction and swept volume while maintaining a focus on manufacturability and ease of assembly. Multiple concepts were generated and evaluated using a tree classification scheme, proof-of-concept prototypes, and simplified mathematical models. Three unique concepts were further developed and tested—the Split CORE Grips, the Inverted Flexure Grips, and the Crossed Cylinders Wrist. The two grip concepts are instruments that incorporate one rotational degree of freedom and one gripping degree of freedom. The wrist concept incorporates two rotational degrees of freedom and could be coupled with a single DOF grip mechanism to form a functional instrument. In addition to concept development, a variety of fabrication techniques were investigated to better understand the challenges that arise when designing and fabricating devices at the 3 mm scale. To augment existing techniques, a novel fabrication technique was developed which uses layers of lithographically patterned carbon nanotube (CNT) composite material to form a 3D part. This method was used to prototype some of the designs at a 1:1 size scale.

With increasing life expectancy and global population of older adults, preserving cog- nitive function throughout life represents a growing priority. Numerous approaches to cognitive enhancement exist, but few have scientific merit. Among the most preva- lent – and commercialized – approaches are cognitive training (“brain training”) and non-invasive brain stimulation through electric currents applied at the surface of the scalp. The present dissertation describes a collection of work contextualizing the appeal of these cognitive enhancement methods and addressing some of the most pervasive limitations of research in this field thus far. One largely ignored issue in cognitive intervention research pertains to people’s expectations of programs and their relationship with intervention outcomes. In a series of initial studies, we developed and validated the Expectation Assessment Scale (EAS), a tool created to measure as well as prime expectations of outcomes in the context of cognitive enhancement interventions. In our first two studies, we probed expectations of cognitive training or non-invasive brain stimulation in over 1,000 young, middle-aged, and older adults. Ratings on the EAS suggested that older adults may have particularly high expectations of cognitive training, but that expectations can be primed to increase or decrease – at least in hypothetical scenarios. We used these data to assess the psychometric properties of the EAS with item-response theory, and confirmed its internal consistency. Next, we incorporated the EAS into two cognitive enhancement trials, one in- vestigating a computerized cognitive training intervention in nearly 100 older adults and another examining non-invasive brain stimulation in nearly 100 young adults. Both trials had a double-blind balanced-placebo design in which participants were assigned to the intervention or control condition, and then subdivided to receive ei- ther high or low expectation priming (i.e., primed to have high or low expectations of the program’s effectiveness). Although expectation ratings replicated our previous findings, results from these trials suggest little, if any, effect of either expectations or the intervention on performance outcomes. We nevertheless found that participants enjoyed their assigned program and that those who received high expectation prim- ing tended to report a more positive experience. Our findings put into question the effectiveness of such interventions and support the need for more rigorous trials of cognitive enhancement.

Nonnative species that cause damage to ecosystems to which they are introduced are considered in-vasive. Restoration of the original ecosystem after an invasive population has established is expensive and difficult but more likely to succeed when invasions are discovered early. Containment efforts to prevent the spread of known invasions also benefit from earlier knowledge of invaded sites. Environ-mental DNA (eDNA) techniques are emerging as a tool that can identify invasive species at a distinctly earlier time point than traditional methods of detection. I collected water samples from eight sites not known to be invaded by the freshwater New Zealand mud snail (NZMS). After filtering these samples to collect eDNA, I used a species-specific probe with qPCR to identify NZMS eDNA. I found evidence for NZMS invasion at five of the eight sites, with later physical confirmation of mud snails at one of these sites. This study is the first example of successful application of eDNA to detect new invasions of the freshwater New Zealand mud snail, setting the stage for further monitoring of at-risk sites to de-tect and control new invasions of this destructive snail.