Assessment of Scale-Loss to Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar L.) Smolts from Passage Through an Archimedean Screw Turbine

The potential for external damage to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts from passage through an Archimedean screw turbine was tested with controlled field trials at two turbine speeds. Change in external condition of smolts was measured by grading photographs of individual fish for scale-loss before and after the tests. Results were compared between turbine-passed and control smolts. There were no significant differences in proportions of fish with new scale-loss between treatment and control smolts. New scale-loss of between 4 and 30% was seen in 7.46% of turbine-passed smolts, exceeding the prevalence in control smolts by 2.46%. Of these, 1.49% had minor scale-loss of 5-9%. Minor scale-loss was more prevalent for both groups at the faster turbine speed, although differences between treatment and control groups were more apparent at the slower speed

Interactions between migrating salmonids and low-head hydropower schemes

The redevelopment of existing riverine barriers with modern hydropower turbines is becoming increasingly prevalent on main stem rivers with valuable stocks of migratory salmonids. This is a concern because these fish rely on longitudinal connectivity to complete their lifecycles, and modifications for hydropower could jeopardize that connectivity by obstructing or injuring migrating fish. In order to exploit very low head hydropower potential, novel turbine types are emerging. The Archimedean screw hydropower turbine is one such technology which is becoming increasingly popular for low-head applications. However the impact of these turbines on fish movements remains largely untested. This thesis aims to provide much needed evidence on the effects that these turbines and schemes may have on migrating salmonids. Fixed radio and passive integrated transponder receivers were used to track the downstream movements of wild migrating juvenile salmonids through a low-head Archimedean screw hydropower scheme. Atlantic salmon smolts were found to pass through the alternative routes of the turbine and main river channel in proportion to flow through these channels. Passage times were generally fast through both routes (median = 17.6, range = 5.1-905.6 minutes over the 350m scheme extent, for radio tagged fish), and longer passage times were associated with daytime presence in both routes. The majority of PIT tagged Atlantic salmon and sea trout smolts that passed through the 100 m long turbine channel, did so in under 27 minutes (median = 6.8 minutes), whilst a few fish had much longer passage times, associated with daytime presence. There were no differences in onward survival (measured as distance survived downstream) between turbine passed and non-turbine passed migrants. Atlantic salmon smolts were passed through an Archimedean screw turbine to test for harmful effects from the turbine, with comparison to equivalently handled non-turbine passed smolts. There was no evidence of visible damage aside from low to moderate scale loss, which was not significantly associated with turbine passage. Blood chemistry parameters were used to test for subtle turbine-induced damage. This novel application of these techniques did not yield conclusive results, but serves as a useful precedent for future studies. Radio and PIT telemetry equipment were used to investigate the movements of upstream migrating adult salmonids at three separate low-head hydropower schemes which may act as obstacles to migration. These schemes each had distinct configurations and flow management regimes. Movements within, and progression beyond these schemes varied substantially between sites, and in some cases were related to flow management parameters. Whilst not conclusive, the results suggest that scheme configuration and the management of flows influence the time that fish spend at such schemes, and the proportion of fish that ascend beyond them. With the global shift towards renewable energy generation, the exploitation of running water for hydropower is likely to become increasingly pervasive. The results of these studies provide valuable information for the informed and ecologically sustainable development of low-head hydropower schemes

Session E9: Migration of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) at Low-Head Archimedean Screw Hydropower Schemes

Abstract: There has been a rapid increase in development of small-scale hydropower schemes across Europe. Such schemes may impact upon migratory fish populations through modification of migration pathways. There is a clear need for scientific evidence to inform guidelines for the design, placement and management of small-scale hydropower schemes for the protection of migratory fish. The proliferation of the Archimedean screw turbine (AST) for lowhead applications is concerning because although these turbines are purported to cause negligible damage to fish passing through them, the available data is limited. The studies presented assess the impacts of low-head AST hydropower schemes on migrating populations of anadromous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Scotland. Smolts were tracked through an AST hydropower scheme on the river Don using radio tags and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Smolt movements through alternative passage routes were observed using an array of fixed loggers at the hydro scheme. The proportion of radio tagged fish which passed through the turbine was 27% (7/26). The majority of PIT tagged smolts passed through the turbine channel within 27 minutes. Passage behaviour is considered in the context of the scheme’s operation and environmental conditions. Adult fish were tracked using radio and PIT tags at three AST hydropower schemes with distinctive designs and operational regimes: on the middle reaches of the river Don, the upper reaches of the Don, and on the Ettrick water. A mixture of fine-scale radio detection zones and PIT antennas was used to investigate attraction to the competing flows at each of the turbine and fish pass or depleted stretch outflows, and the efficiency and efficacy of the fish pass. Behaviours at these regions are related to the turbine operation, scheme layout and the resulting hydrodynamics at the regions of interest

Formation of Uniaxial Molecular Films by Liquid-Crystal Imprinting in a Magnetic Field

Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to study molecular order in monolayer organic films formed by solution-phase growth from thermotropic liquid crystal solvents. The films develop macroscopically uniaxial alignment, with adlayer orientation controlled by an external magnetic field through interactions mediated by the liquid crystal. Results are presented for two films deposited from nematic and smectic- A solvents, along with a discussion of the alignment mechanism

The Pine Needle, vol 5, no 3 (aka Scare)

Libraries and archives collect materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. As a result, materials such as those presented here may reflect sexist, misogynistic, abusive, racist, or discriminatory attitudes or actions that some may find disturbing, harmful, or difficult to view. Both a humor and literary magazine, The Pine Needle was a University of Maine student periodical that began publication in the fall of 1946, the first post-World War II semester that saw GIs returning to campus. Unlike past UMaine student publications, The Needle celebrated the sexualization of co-eds and the use of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol by students. Outrage expressed by older alumni resulted stricter oversight of the magazine beginning in 1947. By 1949, the first wave of World War II GI\u27s were graduating and the restless, rebellious tone of The Needle began to shift as the threat of the Korean War loomed. The The Pine Needle for spring 1951 is a parody issue titled Scare. Mrs. Fleur Cowles, editor of the short-lived but celebrated magazine Flair, is acknowledged as an inspiration. The cover illustration is a pen-and-ink drawing of a magnifying glass, the center of which is a die-cut hole. A glimpse of the page-two illustration appears to be the shapely outline of a nude woman\u27s torso. Opening the magazine reveals the distorted drawing of a basset hound by Len Keenan

Vertebrate centromeres in mitosis are functionally bipartite structures stabilized by cohesin

Centromeres are scaffolds for the assembly of kinetochores that ensure chromosome segregation during cell division. How vertebrate centromeres obtain a three-dimensional structure to accomplish their primary function is unclear. Using super-resolution imaging, capture-C, and polymer modeling, we show that vertebrate centromeres are partitioned by condensins into two subdomains during mitosis. The bipartite structure is found in human, mouse, and chicken cells and is therefore a fundamental feature of vertebrate centromeres. Super-resolution imaging and electron tomography reveal that bipartite centromeres assemble bipartite kinetochores, with each subdomain binding a distinct microtubule bundle. Cohesin links the centromere subdomains, limiting their separation in response to spindle forces and avoiding merotelic kinetochore-spindle attachments. Lagging chromosomes during cancer cell divisions frequently have merotelic attachments in which the centromere subdomains are separated and bioriented. Our work reveals a fundamental aspect of vertebrate centromere biology with implications for understanding the mechanisms that guarantee faithful chromosome segregation

Session E9: Migration of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) at Low-Head Archimedean Screw Hydropower Schemes

Abstract: There has been a rapid increase in development of small-scale hydropower schemes across Europe. Such schemes may impact upon migratory fish populations through modification of migration pathways. There is a clear need for scientific evidence to inform guidelines for the design, placement and management of small-scale hydropower schemes for the protection of migratory fish. The proliferation of the Archimedean screw turbine (AST) for lowhead applications is concerning because although these turbines are purported to cause negligible damage to fish passing through them, the available data is limited. The studies presented assess the impacts of low-head AST hydropower schemes on migrating populations of anadromous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Scotland. Smolts were tracked through an AST hydropower scheme on the river Don using radio tags and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Smolt movements through alternative passage routes were observed using an array of fixed loggers at the hydro scheme. The proportion of radio tagged fish which passed through the turbine was 27% (7/26). The majority of PIT tagged smolts passed through the turbine channel within 27 minutes. Passage behaviour is considered in the context of the scheme’s operation and environmental conditions. Adult fish were tracked using radio and PIT tags at three AST hydropower schemes with distinctive designs and operational regimes: on the middle reaches of the river Don, the upper reaches of the Don, and on the Ettrick water. A mixture of fine-scale radio detection zones and PIT antennas was used to investigate attraction to the competing flows at each of the turbine and fish pass or depleted stretch outflows, and the efficiency and efficacy of the fish pass. Behaviours at these regions are related to the turbine operation, scheme layout and the resulting hydrodynamics at the regions of interest

Establishing an Entertainment Engineering Curriculum

A new, multidisciplinary program in Entertainment Engineering and Design is being established at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The name of the program could be defined in a number of ways because few programs of this type exist and the field is so broad. Our emphasis is on the application of technology to enhance the entertainment value of live shows and rides. Steps being taken to establish this program are outlined, starting with an undergraduate minor and moving to an undergraduate major. The role of entertainment-based businesses in the development of this new program is also described

Engineering for the Spectacle

A design revolution is taking place in entertainment, and technology is playing a major role. Just as computer graphics have enhanced movies and video games, live entertainment, too, is showcasing spectacles requiring ever-more-sophisticated technical effects. Nowhere has this trend been more evident than in Las Vegas, the live-entertainment capital of the world. While the casino hotels look to gaming to furnish a significant part of their income, they realize that more is required to get the customer in the door. The major casino hotels vie to furnish special entertainment experiences. Treasure Island has the Sirens of the TI pirate ship battle on Buccaneer Bay. The Mirage is known for a volcano that sports a piña colada aroma. The Sahara has its very fast induction-driven roller coaster. The Lagoon Show at the Bellagio, where the fountains perform almost unbelievable gyrations and the jets reach extreme heights, is world-famous. Mandalay Bay has a high-tech aquarium in its Shark Reef. Cirque du Soleil\u27s O show at the Bellagio and the Celine Dion show at Caesars are characterized by special technical support and computer control

Modelling the effect of temperature variation on the seasonal dynamics of Ixodes ricinus tick populations

Seasonal variation in temperature is known to drive annual patterns of tick activity and can influence the dynamics of tick-borne diseases. An age-structured model of the dynamics of Ixodes ricinus populations was developed to explore how changes in average temperature and different levels of temperature variability affect seasonal patterns of tick activity and the transmission of tick-borne diseases. The model produced seasonal patterns of tick emergence that are consistent with those observed throughout Great Britain. Varying average temperature across a continuous spectrum produced a systematic pattern in the times of peak emergence of questing ticks which depends on cumulative temperature over the year. Examination of the effects of between-year stochastic temperature variation on this pattern indicated that peak emergence times are more strongly affected by temperature stochasticity at certain levels of average temperature. Finally the model was extended to give a simple representation of the dynamics of a tick-borne disease. A threshold level of annual cumulative temperature was identified at which disease persistence is sensitive to stochastic temperature variation. In conclusion, the effect of changing patterns of temperature variation on the dynamics of I. ricinus ticks and the diseases they transmit may depend on the cumulative temperature over the year and will therefore vary across different locations. The results also indicate that diapause mechanisms have an important influence on seasonal patterns of tick activity and require further study. (C) 2011 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved