Brief Note Discovery of a Rare Mayfly (Anepeorus Sp.) in the Ohio River

Author Institution: Department of Biological Sciences, Brodie Science Complex, University of Cincinnat

Plecoptera of the Ohio River: Community Composition and Species Phenologies of Nymphs Collected Near Cincinnati, Ohio

Author Institution: Department of Biological Sciences, University of CincinnatiCommunity composition of the nymphal stoneflies of the Ohio River was determined by sampling with artificial substrates at 5-week intervals from January-December, 1979, near Cincinnati, Ohio. Seven species were collected from this large river. Isoperla bilineata, Perlesta placida, and especially Taeniopteryx burksi were abundant at certain times of the year. Determinations of nymphal maturity, using body length measurements and wing development, coupled with the presence/absence of the various species in the samples, indicated that P. placida has a very short growth and maturation period. Taeniopteryx burksi and P. placida exhibited extended diapause periods in their life cycles. A comparison of the present-day stonefly composition in an Ohio River that has been modified by the placement of high-level dams, with that of the plecopteran composition in the early 1930s (low-level dams in place), showed no marked changes in community composition. Since the low-level dam navigation system was completed in the late 1920s, either the stonefly fauna has remained comparatively unaffected by damming, or any marked faunal changes had already taken place by the early 1930s as a consequence of the placement of the low-level dams

Smoking, dementia and cognitive decline in the elderly, a systematic review.

Background. Nicotine may aid reaction time, learning and memory, but smoking increases cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular risk factors have been linked to increased risk of dementia. A previous meta-analysis found that current smokers were at higher risk of subsequent dementia, Alzheimers disease, vascular dementia and cognitive decline. Methods. In order to update and examine this further a systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out using different search and inclusion criteria, database selection and more recent publications. Both reviews were restricted to those aged 65 and over. Results. The review reported here found a significantly increased risk of Alzheimers disease with current smoking and a likely but not significantly increased risk of vascular dementia, dementia unspecified and cognitive decline. Neither review found clear relationships with former smoking. Conclusion. Current smoking increases risk of Alzheimers disease and may increase risk of other dementias. This reinforces need for smoking cessation, particularly aged 65 and over. Nicotine alone needs further investigation. © 2008 Peters et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

The Palaeontology and Palaeoecology of the Upper Leintwardine and Lower Whitcliffe Formations, Upper Silurian, of Ludlow, England

The boundary of the Upper Leintwardine and Lower Whitcliffe Formations in the Upper Silurian (Ludfordian) of the Welsh Borderlands is examined in an attempt to explain the (sudden and gradual) faunal changes which occur. Faunal variations are both lateral and vertical. A transect across the depositional area from basin to shelf is examined in order to describe and explain lateral variations. Faunal abundances are examined using collections and information from published literature. Other aspects are considered e.g. biochemistry and geochemistry. Time and finance were found to be major limiting factors in this case, but there is some potential for future work in these disciplines. Faunal variations occur at this level independently of lithological or obvious environmental changes. Comparison with rocks of similar age in Gotland reveals an absence of such variations, and a greater abundance and diversity of fauna. This is largely due to palaeogeographic differences. The presence of phosphate deposits throughout the Welsh Borderlands succession is indicative of unstable and discontinuous deposition, possibly linked to sea level changes. The depositional environment at the Leintwardine-Whitcliffe boundary is considered to be one of soft medium-fine grained sediment covered by a layer of living, dead, and fragmented shells. This cover was probably patchy, with areas of free soft sediment providing ecospace for infauna. The disturbance of shell cover and living organisms was caused by larger organisms walking, feeding and burrowing. Storms and currents provided only minor disturbance. Algae occurred as floating masses and as rooted forests, possibly utilising large bivalve or brachiopod shells as substrate, and probably supporting small epiplanktonic brachiopods and bivalves. Distribution of species tends to be dominated by one or two main species (Shaleria ornatella. Protochonetes ludloviensis etc). Most shells were quickly colonised by bryozoa unless buried quickly. Some organisms supported epifauna during life. The disappearance of the dominant brachiopod Shaleria ornatella at the top of the Upper Leintwardine Formation is thought to be due to disease, selective predation, or changing current systems

Work 4.0 and the Identification of Complex Competence Sets

In our progressively more interconnected world, some people may be displaced from their traditional occupations by intelligent agents and smart machines. At the same time there may be a shortage of people skilled in the development of these technologies, and societal changes may see more people undertaking a succession of short-term project assignments. This is leading to studies of future competency requirements (called Work 4.0 in Europe) and the evolution of agile human resources management systems. A focus on mapping accessible individual competence sets is emerging, facilitated by the identification of associated information systems. In this paper we explore challenges in the identification of current and future competency requirements and in competency mapping to facilitate agile operations. We also introduce the concept of competency relationship mapping

A Systems Architecture and Advanced Sensors Application for Real-time Aircraft Structural Health Monitoring

Aircraft are being pushed beyond their original service life, increasing the potential for structural failures. A catastrophic in flight failure of an F-15 bulkhead and severe cracking in the C-130 Wing rainbow fitting are two recent examples that have caused major problems for the Air Force. Previous Aircraft Structural Health Monitoring Systems research primarily explored using a system during the ground maintenance phase. This research will explore a Real-Time Aircraft Structural Health Monitoring System (RTASHMS) that includes a ground phase as well as an in-flight phase. The RTASHMS will continuously analyze structural hot spots, detect critical structural damage or cracks and will alert pilots and maintainers of potential trouble before a catastrophic structural failure. Current sensor technology has limited the construction and use of a reliable aircraft structural health monitoring system. This research will compare the capabilities of current sensor technology with the capabilities of a new cutting edge sensor. The new sensor shows promise in advancing a reliable RTASHMS from theory to reality. This technology was validated in Aluminum Dog Bone specimens and Composite Lap Joint with nano-adhesives

Mechanisms by which circadian rhythm disruption may lead to cancer

Humans have evolved in a rhythmic environment and display daily (circadian) rhythms in physiology, metabolism and behaviour that are in synchrony with the solar day. Modern lifestyles have compromised the exposure to bright light during the day and dark nights, resulting in the desynchronisation of endogenously generated circadian rhythms from the external environment and loss of coordination between rhythms within the body. This has detrimental effects on physical and mental health, due to the misregulation and uncoupling of important cellular and physiological processes. Long-term shift workers who are exposed to bright light at night experience the greatest disruption of their circadian rhythms. Studies have shown an association between exposure to light at night, circadian rhythm disruption and an increased risk of cancer. Previous reviews have explored the relevance of light and melatonin in cancer, but here we explore the correlation of circadian rhythm disruption and cancer in terms of molecular mechanisms affecting circadian gene expression and melatonin secretion