Seedling Emergence from Seed Banks in Ludwigia hexapetala-Invaded Wetlands: Implications for Restoration

Soil seed banks play a critical role in the maintenance of wetland plant communities and contribute to revegetation following disturbances. Analysis of the seed bank can therefore inform restoration planning and management. Emergence from seed banks may vary in response to hydrologic conditions and sediment disturbances. To assess the community-level impact of exotic Ludwigia hexapetala on soil seed banks, we compared differences in species composition of standing vegetation among invaded and non-invaded wetlands and the degree of similarity between vegetation and soil seed banks in northern California. To determine potential seed bank recruitment of L. hexapetala and associated plant species, we conducted a seedling emergence assay in response to inundation regime (drawdown vs. flooded) and sediment depth (surface vs. buried). Plant species richness, evenness, and Shannon’s H’ diversity were substantially lower in standing vegetation at L. hexapetala invaded sites as compared to non-invaded sites. Over 12 months, 69 plant taxa germinated from the seed banks, including L. hexapetala and several other exotic taxa. Seedling density varied among sites, being the highest (10,500 seedlings m−2) in surface sediments from non-invaded sites subjected to drawdown treatments. These results signal the need for invasive plant management strategies to deplete undesirable seed banks for restoration success

Abordaje de un mal rendimiento académico en estudiante universitaria: Estudio de caso único

El mal rendimiento académico es un problema ampliamente extendido entre la población universitaria y uno de los problemas más habituales junto a aquellos relacionados con la ansiedad y las técnicas de estudio. En el Gabinete de Psicología de la Universidad de Jaén tratamos a una estudiante cuyo motivo de consulta es la ansiedad ante los exámenes y el mal rendimiento. En relación a ello, se le aplican diferentes pruebas de evaluación: autorresgistro de hábitos de estudio diseñado desde este Gabinete, Inventario de Ansiedad Rasgo-Estado - STAI- (Spielberger, Gorsuch y Lushene, 1981), Adaptación española del Inventario para la Depresión de Beck—II (BDI-II) (Sanz y cols., 2005) y Cuestionario de Ansiedad ante los exámenes (Valero, 1997). Tras la corrección de dichas pruebas se elabora una intervención con el objetivo de mejorar los hábitos de estudio y, como actividad complementaria, disminuir los niveles de ansiedad. Las actividades que se desarrollan a lo largo de las sesiones son, en primer lugar, el aprendizaje de técnicas de respiración y relajación. Posteriormente, sesiones dedicadas a la adquisición de técnicas de estudio. Por un lado el aprendizaje de la gestión del tiempo, planificación y priorización de las actividades diarias académicas; por otra parte, el aprendizaje de tareas de síntesis de la información como son el subrayado o la elaboración de esquemas que faciliten la comprensión de la materia y el almacenamiento de tal información para su ulterior recuperación en situación de examen. Durante el período de intervención, la usuaria del servicio psicológico del gabinete sigue algunas de las recomendaciones por lo que consigue sutiles logros en planificación de tareas académicas aunque continúa mostrando dificultades en comprensión y síntesis de la información dando lugar a pobres resultados. Se recomienda a la usuaria continuar el entrenamiento en comprensión, tarea que excede de la competencia de este Gabinete de Psicología por lo que se da por concluida la intervención

Sedentary Time Accumulated in Bouts is Positively Associated with Disease Severity in Fibromyalgia: The Al-andalus Project

To examine the associations of prolonged sedentary time (ST) with disease severity in women with fibromyalgia, and to analyse the combined association of total ST and prolonged ST with the disease severity in this population. Women (n = 451; 51.3 +/- 7.6 years old) with fibromyalgia participated. Sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured using triaxial accelerometry and ST was processed into 30- and 60-min bouts. Dimensions of fibromyalgia (function, overall, symptoms) and the overall disease impact were assessed with the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). Body fat percentage was assessed using a bio-impedance analyser, and physical fitness was assessed with the Senior Fitness Tests Battery. Greater percentage of ST in 30-min bouts and 60-min bouts were associated with worse function, overall, symptoms and the overall impact of the disease (all, P 60-min bouts) presented lower overall impact compared to participants with high levels of total ST and prolonged ST (mean difference = 6.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.83 to 11.29, P = 0.002). Greater percentage of ST accumulated in 30- and 60-min bouts and a combination of high levels of total and prolonged ST are related to worse disease severity. Although unable to conclude on causality, results suggest it might be advisable to motivate women with fibromyalgia to break prolonged ST and reduce their total daily ST

Clouds in the atmospheres of extrasolar planets. II. Thermal emission spectra of Earth-like planets influenced by low and high-level clouds

We study the impact of multi-layered clouds (low-level water and high-level ice clouds) on the thermal emission spectra of Earth-like planets orbiting different types of stars. Clouds have an important influence on such planetary emission spectra due to their wavelength dependent absorption and scattering properties. We also investigate the influence of clouds on the ability to derive information about planetary surface temperatures from low-resolution spectra.Comment: accepted for publication in A&

What Produced the Ultraluminous Supernova Remnant in NGC 6946?

The ultraluminous supernova remnant (SNR) in NGC 6946 is the brightest known SNR in X-rays, ~1000 times brighter than Cas A. To probe the nature of this remnant and its progenitor, we have obtained high-dispersion optical echelle spectra. The echelle spectra detect H-alpha, [N II], and [O III] lines, and resolve these lines into a narrow (FWHM ~20--40 km/s) component from un-shocked material and a broad (FWHM ~250 km/s) component from shocked material. Both narrow and broad components have unusually high [N II]/H-alpha ratios, ~1. Using the echelle observation, archival HST images, and archival ROSAT X-ray observations, we conclude that the SNR was produced by a normal supernova, whose progenitor was a massive star, either a WN star or a luminous blue variable. The high luminosity of the remnant is caused by the supernova ejecta expanding into a dense, nitrogen-rich circumstellar nebula created by the progenitor.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures. To be published in The Astronomical Journal, March 200