Novel disturbances can increase the vulnerability of pine flatwoods to exotic species such as Caesar’s weed (Urena lobata), a plant that has invaded many ecosystems. To understand Caesar’s weed response to disturbance, a factorial field manipulation was used to quantify invasion success. Influence of feral swine (Sus scrofa) on the presence of seeds in the area was analyzed. The effect of heat on Caesar’s weed germination was also quantified. A winter fire and mechanical soil disturbance had no statistical effect on the spread of Caesar’s weed. However, in feral swine disturbed soils Caesar’s weed was more likely to be husked and experience less competition from seeds of other species. Low levels of seed heating increased germination. This data can provide information about the influences of fire and soil disturbances on the spread of Caesar’s weed, as well as how fire intensity levels can affect the spread of invasive Caesar’s weed. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Invasive colonial tunicates pose substantial economic threat to the shellfish aquaculture industry, but their population dynamics and ecological impacts are highly variable and region-specific. This thesis contributes to our regional understanding of two such tunicates in Oregon. The first chapter explores the population dynamics of Didemnum vexillum, one of Oregon’s top 100 most dangerous invasive species, at an oyster farm. From May 2011 to 2016 the population fluctuated extensively, though did not exhibit any net growth over the study period. In the second chapter, I demonstrate that Botrylloides violaceus had no impact on the growth, condition, or organic composition of oysters and mussels grown in a simulation of longline aquaculture. Together, these studies paint a cautiously positive outlook for the shellfish aquaculture industry in Oregon. This thesis includes previously unpublished co-authored material.

The main technology currently used in diabetic care, monitors blood glucose and involves an invasive “fingerstick” step. However, low patient compliance and non-continuous glucose monitoring imply poor management of diabetes through this technology, which could lead to adverse and potentially life threatening conditions. In this context, non-invasive glucose sensing appears as an alternative that can bring a change in the prevention and management of the diabetic condition, promising to eliminate patient resistance towards more frequent monitoring and, hence, considerably improving diabetic’s control over glycaemia. However, no non-invasive technology has yet succeeded on the market over the long term. The research field is therefore open to innovative and performant non-invasive technologies. This thesis presents the development of a non-invasive biosensor which as a core principle accesses individual, privileged glucose pathways in the skin (such as hair follicles), allowing the extraction of glucose directly from the interstitial fluid, via reverse iontophoresis (RI). The transdermally extracted glucose is then electrochemically detected in a small size sensor with very high sensitivity. A fully developed technology based on this principle will not require fingerpricking and would thus eliminate users’ main barrier to glucose monitoring. The developed sensor is enzymatic (using glucose oxidase), which electrochemically detects the produced H2O2; while the electrode material is graphene produced by Chemical Vapour Deposition, a promising carbon nanomaterial platform for biofunctionalisation and biosensing. The sensor is a miniature one (typically of 9 mm2 area, containing 24 μL of gel encasing the enzyme), with demonstrated performance parameters that are highly competitive (sensitivity of 2.89 μA.mM-1.cm-2 and limit of detection down to 1 μM), with high specificity towards glucose. The combination of this sensor with glucose extraction by reverse iontophoresis was then validated (with proportionality between subdermal and extracted glucose concentrations demonstrated); as well as enhanced extraction through targeting of hair follicles with the miniature device. The electrochemical determination of glucose concentration was further confirmed by 1H quantitative-NMR detection of glucose. Finally, several such sensors were integrated in a multiplex configuration, and independent sensing, with no cross-talk was demonstrated. The steps demonstrated and implemented so far are proof-of-concept of a highly promising non-invasive, transdermal, future technology for diabetic care.

This thesis investigates the impact of two invasive ecosystem engineers on the river banks. Invasive species generate significant global environmental and economic costs and represent a particularly potent threat to freshwater ecosystems. Ecosystem engineers are organisms that modify their physical habitat. Therefore this thesis will explore the interaction of these two types of species and their impacts on the example of the impact of signal crayfish and Himalayan balsam The obtained results indicate that there are few avenues through which invasive ecosystem engineers can influence river bank processes. While many uncertainties remain, due to the intrinsic complexity of river ecosystems, a multitude of anthropogenic stressors that they are increasingly subjected to and a wide array of ecosystem services that rivers provide to people, it is important to consider the role of invasive ecosystem engineers in river management practices. on river banks. The work included analyses and development of conceptual models for the understanding of invasive ecosystem engineers, followed by four research chapters aimed at answering specific questions. A study of signal crayfish impact is primarily focused on the impact of burrows that crayfish dig as shelter and their influence on riverbank erosion. The interaction between habitat characteristics, the occurrence of burrows and erosion is analysed on three different levels of spatial scale: bank section in reach, reach in the catchment and bank section in the catchment. Bank section in reach survey (Chapter 4) focused on a reach heavily impacted by crayfish burrowing on the River Windrush, UK, in order to study the maximum effect of burrowing. Also, smaller spatial extent enabled detailed study of three sets of variables as well as an assessment of the impact that signal crayfish population density has on burrowing. Reach in catchment spatial scale expanded the survey to cover 103 river reaches in the Thames catchment and was based on a combination of habitat information from publicly available online data sets, primarily the River Habitat Survey database and rapid field surveys that recorded burrows and erosion. Bank section in catchment-scale was based on the same 103 sites, but the main focus of field observations were ten metres long bank sections for which habitat, burrows and erosion information were collected. Overall, burrowed banks were more likely to be characterised by cohesive bank material, steeper bank profiles with large areas of bare bank face, often on outer bend locations and were associated with bank profiles with signs of erosion. There were indications that signal crayfish burrowing is contributing to the river bank erosion, but no conclusive results have been made. Study of the impact of the Himalayan balsam was undertaken on eight sites at the River Brenta in Italy and it was focused on three main aspects. Firstly it was established that extent of Himalayan balsam domination over native vegetation varies widely depending on the habitat conditions and native plants encountered. Secondly, it was established that there are no conclusive differences in the extent of erosion and deposition on transects covered by native vegetation and Himalayan balsam. Thirdly, measurement of traits of individual plants showed significant differences in traits of individual plants that are known to have consequences for river bank erosion and deposition.

This thesis examines results of a survey conducted in the Southwestern United States focusing on attitudes towards invasive plants, public preferences for information sources and willingness to volunteer in invasive plant management. This research demonstrates that the public is interested in the problem and control of invasive plants. In a broad context there is agreement among respondents that invasive plants pose a threat to the environment and control efforts, including the use of herbicides, should be allowed to occur. Given the differences between general and specific attitudes towards invasive plants, it is suggested education and awareness programs be designed to fit specific rather than general attitudes. The interested public reflected in this research desires more information about invasive plant species and their control, and prefers to receive it through brochures and pamphlets. The study revealed a small subsection of the overall population that was capable and willing to assist in volunteer efforts existing in the Western United States. Recreation, farm and grassroots environmental organizations are recommended as being potential sources of volunteers and participants in invasive plant control.

In dieser Studie wurden Daten zur minimalinvasiven dorsalen Versorgung instabiler Frakturen der thorakolumbalen Wirbelsäule in Kombination mit Kyphoplastie erhoben. Das Patientenkollektiv umfasst 64 Patienten, welche im Zeitraum von 6/2009 bis 5/2011 an 67 Frakturen versorgt wurden. Das Durchschnittsalter bei Operation betrug 71,3 ± 8,9 Jahre. Es wurden hierzu die mono- und bisegmentalen Grund-Deckplatten-Winkel präoperativ, postoperativ sowie an drei Nachuntersuchungszeitpunkten (6w, 3–6m, >9m) bestimmt. Weiterhin wurden mittels der Visuellen-Analog-Skala die Beschwerden vor dem Unfall und unmittelbar vor der Operation retrospektiv erhoben. Das funktionelle Ergebnis wurde am dritten Nachuntersuchungszeitpunkt mittels der VAS-Pain und des VAS-Wirbelsäulenscores der Arbeitsgemeinschaft „Wirbelsäule“ der DGU ermittelt. Außerdem wurde nach einer regelmäßigen Schmerzmitteleinnahme zu den Zeitpunkten „vor dem Unfall“, „direkt nach dem Unfall“ und „zurzeit“ gefragt. Es konnten in anderen Studien schon einige Vorteile der minimalinvasiven dorsalen Stabilisierung hinsichtlich eines geringeren Blutverlustes, eines geringeren Gewebetraumas mit weniger postoperativer Schmerzen, einer besseren postoperativen Muskelfunktion, eines besseren kosmetischen Ergebnisses, schnellerer Mobilisierung sowie geringeren operativen Komplikationen gezeigt werden. Bisher gibt es aber keine Langzeitdaten, welche die funktionellen Ergebnisse und die Wiederaufrichtung oder den Korrekturverlust einer minimalinvasiven dorsalen Instrumentierung mit zeitgleicher Kyphoplastie von traumatischen Frakturen der thorakalen und lumbalen Wirbelsäule beschreiben. Hierbei konnten zu einem offen operierten Vergleichskollektiv keine signifikanten Unterschiede bzgl. der Wiederaufrichtung (5.2 ± 5.2 Grad perkutan vs. 6.4 ± 3.3 Grad offen, GDW bisegmental ermittelt) und des Korrekturverlustes des Grund-Deckplatten-Winkels gefunden werden (5.2 ± 5.6 Grad perkutan vs. 6.1 ± 2.4 Grad offen bei 3. NU, GDW bisegmental ermittelt). Signifikante Unterschiede ergaben sich aber bei den funktionellen Ergebnissen (VAS-Wirbelsäulenscore der Arbeitsgemeinschaft „Wirbelsäule“ der DGU) zugunsten des minimalinvasiv versorgten Kollektivs zum Zeitpunkt der dritten Nachuntersuchung. / Between 06/2009 and 05/2011 a total of 64 patients (age ⌀ 71.3 ± 8.9 y) with 67 instrumented fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine have been included in this study. A combination of kyphoplasty and minimal invasive posterior instrumentation was carried out in all cases. The mono- and/or bisegmental endplate angle were measured preop., immediately postop., after 6w, 3-6m and >9m. The pain visual analogue scale (pain VAS) and regular analgesia requirement were determined pre- and postop., the VAS spine score, pain VAS and regular analgesia requirement also >9m. A lot of advantages of the minimal invasive posterior instrumentation have been reported in previous studies (reduction of blood loss, faster rehabilitation, less muscle atrophy, less postoperative pain, better cosmetic results) but there are no long term results concerning the functional outcome, the restoration of the sagittal profile and the loss of correction. There was no significant difference between this group (kyphoplasty + minimal invasive posterior instrumentation) in comparison to a kyphoplasty + classic open procedure group in the aspects of radiographic results. The average correction of the sagittal profile was 5.2 ± 5.2° (open procedure: 6.4 ± 3.3°). The mean loss of correction was 5.2 ± 5.6° after >9m (open procedure: 6.1 ± 2.4°). However, the minimally invasive group was found to have a significantly better functional outcome after > 9m (VAS spine score: minimal invasive 74.2 ± 19.5 vs. open procedure 57.9 ± 7.9).

In einer ständig älter werdenden Bevölkerung, in der auch die Senioren einen unverändert hohen Anspruch an ihre Lebensqualität aufrechterhalten, kommt dem Ersatz verschlissener Gelenke und hier besonders der Hüftendoprothetik eine ständig wachsende Bedeutung zu. Ausgehend von den Erfolgen der minimal-invasiven Chirurgie in anderen chirurgischen Disziplinen entwickelte sich dieser Zweig seit Beginn des Jahrtausendes auch in der Hüftchirurgie: 2005 stellte Rachbauer eine minimal-invasive Variante des seit 1887 bekannten anterioren Zugangs zur Hüfttotalendoprothesenimplantation vor. Zum kurzfristigen postoperativen Intervall existieren bereits zahlreiche Studien. Hier zeigt der anteriore Zugang entscheidende Vorteile im Vergleich zu anderen Zugängen. Hervorzuheben sind ein geringeres postoperatives Schmerzausmaß, eine kürzere stationäre Liegedauer und eine schnellere Rehabiliation. Ein gravierender Nachteil des anterioren Zugangs besteht darin, dass er aufgrund des schmalen Operationskanals eine hohe Qualifikation des Operateurs erfordert und mit einer anfänglich erhöhten Komplikationsrate vergesellschaftet sein kann. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die Resultate des minimal-invasiven anterioren Zugangs in einem mittelfristigen postoperativen Intervall mit den Resultaten des lateralen Zugangs, den man als eine weithin etablierte konventionelle Methode betrachten kann, zu vergleichen. Untersucht wurden 85 über einen minimal-invasiven anterioren Zugang implantierte primäre Hüfttotalendoprothesen nach durchschnittlich 3,7 Jahren post operationem, denen 86 Fälle mit einem lateralen Zugang nach durchschnittlich 5,5 Jahren entgegengestellt wurden. Beide Gruppen unterschieden sich nicht signifikant in Alter und Geschlechterverteilung. Der signifikante Unterschied der Nachuntersuchungsintervalle ist ohne Relevanz, da sich sich beide Gruppen in einer komplikationsarmen postoperativen Phase befinden, die in etwa vom 2. bis zum 10. Postoperativen Jahr geht. Die Gruppen wurden in Funktion (HHS), Aktivität (UCLA activity score), Schmerzen (abgeleitet aus dem HHS), Komplikationsraten und Gesundheitsempfinden (SF-36) miteinander verglichen. Die vorliegende Arbeit kam zu den folgenden Ergebnissen über den mittelfristigen Zeitraum: Die Unterschiede in der Funktion waren marginal, die HHS-Durchschnittswerte in beiden Gruppen waren exzellent und nicht signifikant unterschiedlich. Ebenso zeigten beide Gruppen gleichwertige Ergebnisse im subjektiven Gesundheitsempfinden (SF-36). Ein weiteres wichtiges Erfolgskriterium war die Frage nach der durch die Operation erreichten Aktivität. Hier fand sich eine Diskrepanz zwischen UCLA und TWB. Der UCLA ist zur Aktivitätsmessung weit verbreitet. Im UCLA zeigten sich die Patienten der lateralen Gruppe aktiver. Der TWB ergab gleiche Aktivität in beiden Gruppen. Nach dem eingehenden Vergleich beider Fragebögen, kamen wir in dieser Arbeit jedoch zu der Auffassung, dass der UCLA zwar als ein schnell erhebbarer Test für den klinischen Alltag praktisch ist, der wesentlich aufwendigere TWB aber zuverlässigere Ergebnisse liefert. Die Komplikationsraten waren in beiden Gruppen gering. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, eine der erfassten Komplikationen zu erleiden, betrug 10,7% für den minimal-invasiven und 10,5% für den klassischen Zugang. Um aber nicht nur die Quantität, sondern auch die Qualität der aufgetretenen Komplikationen erfassen zu können, wurde in dieser Arbeit der Komplikationsindex eingeführt, der die registrierten Komplikationen in Gruppen verschiedener Schweregrade unterteilt. Eine schwere Komplikation floss mit 10 Punkten, eine mittlere mit 5 und eine leichte Komplikation mit einem Punkt in den Komplikationsindex ein. Der anteriore Zugang zeigte so mit insgesamt 26 Punkten einen deutlich geringeren Komplikationsindex als der laterale mit insgesamt 60 Punkten. Dem entsprach eine Reoperationsrate von 1,2% unter den anterioren Patienten im Vergleich zu 3,3% bei den lateralen. Die Schaft- und die Pfannenüberlebensrate lag in beiden Gruppen bei 100%. Zusammenfassend zeigt die vorliegende Arbeit, dass der anteriore Zugang viele Vorteile gegenüber dem lateralen Zugang aufweist. Die entscheidenden Unterschiede finden sich im kurzfristigen postoperativen Zeitraum. Zu einem mittelfristigen Zeitpunkt erzielen beide Zugänge gleichwertige Ergebnisse. Welche langfristigen Resultate das noch relativ junge Verfahren des minimal-invasiven anterioren Zugangs hervorbringen wird, muss durch künftige prospektiv randomisierte Studien großer Fallzahlen belegt werden. / In an aging society in which senior citizens expect to maintain a high quality of living the replacement of arthrotic joints and especially hip arthroplasty becomes more and more important. Influenced by the success in other surgical disciplines minimally invasive methods have been developing in hip surgery since the turn of the millennium. This dissertation aimed to compare the results of the minimally-invasive approach as introduced by Rachbauer in 2005 to the lateral approach described by Bauer. We compared 86 total hip implants 3,7 years after implantation via an anterior approach to 86 implants 5,5 years after implantation via a lateral approach. Both groups were similar in mean age and distribution of the sexes. The lengths of the postoperative intervals were significantly different, nevertheless both groups were in a postoperative phase that shows little complication rates and ranges from the second until the tenth postoperative year. The difference was therefore regarded as irrelevant. Both groups were surveyed in function (HHS), activity (UCLA activity score, TWB), pain (derived from HHS), complication rates and individual health perception (SF-36). Existing studies have shown good short term postoperative results for the anterior approach in comparision to classical approaches. Ist main advantages are lower postoperative pain, shorter length of stationary stay and shorter duration of rehabilitation. A major disadvantage oft he anterior approach is the requirement of a high skill set by the surgeon that can be linked to an initially higher probability of complications. This clinical trial found the following midterm results: There was no difference in Function and health perception between the groups. Both groups had excellent results in the HHS and similar results in the SF-36. The activity displayed by the UCLA activity score was significantly higher in the lateral group. On the contrary the TWB showed the same amount of steps in both groups. Facing this discrepancy we examined the two questionnaires and concluded that the UCLA activity score is a quickly assessable and therefore clinically easily usable questionnaire. The TWB on the other hand is considerably more difficult to assess and is very time consuming. However it is a better measurement to mirror a patient´s activity than the UCLA. Therefore we considered both groups as equal in activity. The overall complication rate was the same in both groups: 10,5% in the lateral and 10,7% in the anterior group. However there was a difference in the severity of the registered complications. In order to take in account both quantity as well as quality, we divided the registered complications into three complication groups: serious, medium and light. The complication index was then calculated by awarding 10 points to a serious, 5 to a medium and 1 point to a light complication. In this system the anterior groups gathered 26 points, whereas the lateral group had a considerably higher complication index of 60. The reoperation rate was 1,2% in the anterior group as compared to 3,3% in the lateral. The survival rate of the femoral and the acetabular components in both groups was 100%. In conclusion this clinical trial showed great advantages of the anterior approach when compared to the lateral. The deciding differences are found in the short term postoperative interval. The midterm results are similar for both approaches. It is yet to be shown what the long term results of the relatively young method of the minimally-invasive anterior approach will be. Randomised prospective clinical trials of large case numbers will have to be conducted.

The problem of invasive alien species (IAS) is recognized as the second most serious threat to loss of biodiversity after habitat destruction. It is a problem largely created by humans as they transport and introduce species, deliberately and accidentally, from one part of the globe to another. The pressures exerted on biodiversity by international trade are one of the most serious aspects of the IAS problem. Although states are under obligations in international environmental law to prevent the entry of, and control, those alien species that threaten biodiversity, to date state practice has often been found wanting. In particular, quarantine regulation, which can be a state??s first line of defence against IAS, is mainly used by states to protect their farming and agricultural product sectors rather than biodiversity at large. The reasons for this include lack of domestic resources and lack of guidance at the international level. However, even if states were to expand the purview of quarantine, the question arises whether they would be able to use quarantine regulation to protect biodiversity from IAS while simultaneously fulfilling their international trade law obligations. This study seeks to answer this question by examining international environmental law and international trade law in their application to quarantine regulation. In doing so, the study identifies many areas of conflict. The different policies that underpin environmental and trade regimes mean that environmental concepts, such as the precautionary principle and the ecosystem approach, are difficult to apply within the international trade law regime. A way of achieving a more harmonized international response to the problem of IAS is suggested by incorporating environmental considerations into the international standards used by states to design and implement domestic quarantine measures. To facilitate the practical implementation of international standards the study further recommends appropriate financial and institutional capacity building mechanisms.

The problem of invasive alien species (IAS) is recognized as the second most serious threat to loss of biodiversity after habitat destruction. It is a problem largely created by humans as they transport and introduce species, deliberately and accidentally, from one part of the globe to another. The pressures exerted on biodiversity by international trade are one of the most serious aspects of the IAS problem. Although states are under obligations in international environmental law to prevent the entry of, and control, those alien species that threaten biodiversity, to date state practice has often been found wanting. In particular, quarantine regulation, which can be a state??s first line of defence against IAS, is mainly used by states to protect their farming and agricultural product sectors rather than biodiversity at large. The reasons for this include lack of domestic resources and lack of guidance at the international level. However, even if states were to expand the purview of quarantine, the question arises whether they would be able to use quarantine regulation to protect biodiversity from IAS while simultaneously fulfilling their international trade law obligations. This study seeks to answer this question by examining international environmental law and international trade law in their application to quarantine regulation. In doing so, the study identifies many areas of conflict. The different policies that underpin environmental and trade regimes mean that environmental concepts, such as the precautionary principle and the ecosystem approach, are difficult to apply within the international trade law regime. A way of achieving a more harmonized international response to the problem of IAS is suggested by incorporating environmental considerations into the international standards used by states to design and implement domestic quarantine measures. To facilitate the practical implementation of international standards the study further recommends appropriate financial and institutional capacity building mechanisms.

The problem of invasive alien species (IAS) is recognized as the second most serious threat to loss of biodiversity after habitat destruction. It is a problem largely created by humans as they transport and introduce species, deliberately and accidentally, from one part of the globe to another. The pressures exerted on biodiversity by international trade are one of the most serious aspects of the IAS problem. Although states are under obligations in international environmental law to prevent the entry of, and control, those alien species that threaten biodiversity, to date state practice has often been found wanting. In particular, quarantine regulation, which can be a state??s first line of defence against IAS, is mainly used by states to protect their farming and agricultural product sectors rather than biodiversity at large. The reasons for this include lack of domestic resources and lack of guidance at the international level. However, even if states were to expand the purview of quarantine, the question arises whether they would be able to use quarantine regulation to protect biodiversity from IAS while simultaneously fulfilling their international trade law obligations. This study seeks to answer this question by examining international environmental law and international trade law in their application to quarantine regulation. In doing so, the study identifies many areas of conflict. The different policies that underpin environmental and trade regimes mean that environmental concepts, such as the precautionary principle and the ecosystem approach, are difficult to apply within the international trade law regime. A way of achieving a more harmonized international response to the problem of IAS is suggested by incorporating environmental considerations into the international standards used by states to design and implement domestic quarantine measures. To facilitate the practical implementation of international standards the study further recommends appropriate financial and institutional capacity building mechanisms.