An Evaluation of the Emerald Shiner (Notropis atherinoides) as a Bioindicator of Urban Water Pollution in the Upper Niagara River

Using fishes as bioindicator species can be an effective method for detecting poor water quality in aquatic ecosystems. In the Niagara River, the emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides) is a keystone species that is sensitive to ecosystem degradation and, therefore, fills the bioindicator role. Like other model bioindicators, emerald shiners are abundant and, when exposed to a persistent disturbance, exhibit individual signs of stress before the onset of population decline. This research evaluated the health of emerald shiners captured from the upper Niagara River, which is at times inundated with untreated sewage from combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Water samples were taken biweekly from seven sites in the upper Niagara River and one site in Lake Erie, to determine Escherichia coli’s most probable number (MPN)/100 mL from May-October 2016. Emerald shiners were captured from riverine sites and given an overall health score using the Health Assessment Index (HAI), which incorporates nine physiological parameters, plus their condition factor and liver bacterial infection. Most water samples were below the Environmental Protection Agency criteria for E. coli MPN in a class A stream. However, 35% of fish were positive for internal liver infection. Fulton’s condition factor for emerald shiners reflected measured signs of severe stress such as hemorrhaging and high parasite loads. The most stressed fish were captured in the eastern branch of the river, which is highly urbanized and includes the cities of Buffalo, NY and Tonawanda, NY which produce high CSO effluent. In comparison, the emeralds shiners in the western branch of the river, which is less developed along both the USA and Canadian shorelines, had overall better health markers. These results provide supporting evidence that emerald shiners are exhibiting immunological stress and current water pollution levels are stressing the shiner population in the river, despite compliance with EPA regulations for E. coli input. The future of this keystone species and the health of the ecosystem hinge on solving the issue of the excessive anthropogenic contamination in the Niagara River

Academic attainment and special educational needs in extremely preterm children at 11 years of age : the EPICure Study

Aim: To assess academic attainment and special educational needs (SEN) in extremely preterm (EP) children in middle childhood. Methods: Of 307 EP (=25 weeks) survivors born in the UK and Ireland in 1995, 219 (71%) were re-assessed at 11 years, with a comparison group of 153 classmates born at term, using standardised tests of cognitive ability and academic attainment and teacher reports of school performance and special educational needs (SEN). Multiple imputation was used to correct for selective dropout. Results: EP children had significantly lower scores than classmates for cognitive ability (-20 points; 95%CI: -23,-17), reading (-18 points; -22,-15) and mathematics (-27 points; -31,-23). Twenty-nine (13%) EP children attended special school. In mainstream schools, 105 (57%) EP children had SEN (OR: 10; 6, 18) and 103 (55%) required SEN resource provision (OR: 10; 5, 18). Teachers rated 50% of EP children with attainment below the average range compared with 5% of classmates (OR: 18; CI: 8, 41). EP children who are entered for mainstream education an academic year early due to preterm birth had similar academic attainment but required more SEN support (OR: 2; 1.1,3.8). Conclusions: EP survivors remain at high risk for learning impairments and poor academic attainment in middle childhood. A significant proportion require full-time specialist education and over half of those attending mainstream schools require additional health or educational resources in order to access the national curriculum. The prevalence and impact of SEN is likely to increase as these children approach the transition to secondary school. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chewing gum modifies state-anxiety and alertness under conditions of social stress

Objectives: The finding that chewing gum can moderate state-anxiety under conditions of acute stress¹ has proved difficult to replicate.2,4 The present study examines the extent to which chewing gum can moderate state-anxiety under conditions of acute social stress. Method: In a between-participants design, 36 participants completed a task comprising a mock job interview (a variation on the Trier Social Stress Task3, which included a mental arithmetic component) whilst either chewing gum or without gum. Self-rated measures of mood and anxiety were taken at baseline, after a 10-minute presentation preparation stage, after the 10-minute presentation, and following a 5-minute recovery stage. Results: Post-presentation measures reflected increased state-anxiety and decrease self-rated calmness and contentedness. Chewing gum attenuated the rise in state-anxiety whilst increasing self-rated alertness. Chewing gum did not affect contentedness or calmness. Conclusions: The findings indicate that chewing gum can act to reduce anxiety under conditions of acute social stress: a finding consistent with Scholey et al.1 Furthermore, the data add to the growing body of literature demonstrating that chewing gum can increase alertness.1,2,4,

Writing the unreadable untext: a collaborative autoethnography of #rhizo14

No abstract available

Parent-to-parent support for parents with children who are deaf or hard of hearing: A conceptual framework

Background: Parent-to-parent support for parents with children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) is identified as an important component of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs for children with hearing loss

Perceptions of Well-Being Among Rural Nebraskans

Nebraska’s economy has been relatively stable during the past year. However, some rural areas continue to be economically challenged. How do rural Nebraskans perceive their quality of life? Do their perceptions differ by community size, the region in which they live, or their occupation? This report details 2,482 responses to the 2006 Nebraska Rural Poll, the eleventh annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions regarding their individual well-being. Trends for these questions are examined by comparing data from the ten previous polls to this year’s results. In addition, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged: • More rural Nebraskans report being satisfied with their job opportunities this year as compared to previous years. After reaching a low of 34 percent in 2004, the proportion satisfied with their job opportunities increased to 42 percent this year (the highest proportion in all 11 years). (page 5) • Persons with the highest household incomes are more likely than persons with lower incomes to feel they are better off compared to five years ago, are better off compared to their parents when they were their age, and will be better off ten years from now. For example, 52 percent of respondents with household incomes of $60,000 or more think they will be better off ten years from now. However, only 22 percent of respondents with household incomes under$20,000 believe they will be better off ten years from now. (page 6) • More rural Nebraskans believe people are powerless to control their own lives this year as compared to past years. The proportion that either strongly agree or agree with the statement that people are powerless to control their own lives each year has averaged about 34 percent. The proportion agreeing with the statement increased slightly, to 38 percent this year, which matches the highest proportion in the 11 years of the Poll (1997 and 1999 were the other two years). (page 4) • Persons with lower education levels are more likely than persons with more education to believe that people are powerless to control their own lives. Forty-six percent of persons with a high school diploma or less education agree that people are powerless to control their own lives. However, only 25 percent of persons with a four-year college degree share this opinion. (page 9) • Rural Nebraskans continue to be generally positive about their current situation. Except in 2003, each year the proportion of rural Nebraskans that say they are better off than they were five years ago has been greater than the proportion saying they are worse off than they were five years ago. Approximately 36 percent each year have reported that they were better off than they were five years ago. This year, 35 percent believe they are better off then they were five years ago and 21 percent think they are worse off. (page 2) • Similarly, rural Nebraskans continue to be generally positive about their future. The proportion that say they will be better off ten years from now has always been greater than the proportion saying they will be worse off ten years from now (although the two were virtually identical in 1996). The proportion stating they will be better off ten years from now has generally remained about 36 percent. This year, the proportion was 34 percent. Twenty-one percent believe they will be worse off ten years from now. (page 3) • Following trends in previous years, rural Nebraskans are most satisfied with their marriage, family, friends, religion/spirituality and the outdoors. They continue to be less satisfied with job opportunities, current income level and financial security during retirement. (page 5

Chewing gum moderates multi-task induced shifts in stress, mood, and alertness: A re-examination

The finding that chewing gum can moderate stress and mood changes following a multi-task cognitive stressor (Scholey, Haskell, Robertson, Kennedy, Milne, and Wetherell, 2009) was re-examined. In a repeated measures cross-over design, thirty participants completed a 20-minute multi-tasking stressor on consecutive days, both with and without chewing gum. Both prior to and post stressor, participants provided salivary cortisol samples and self-rated measures of stress, state anxiety, calmness, contentedness, and alertness. Contrary to Scholey et al. (2009), chewing gum failed to attenuate both salivary cortisol levels and the increase in self-rated stress. Self-rated anxiety, calmness, and contentedness were not impacted by chewing gum. This suggests that the stress effects reported by Scholey et al. may be constrained by particular features of that study (e.g. morning testing). However, consistent with Scholey et al. (2009), chewing gum was shown to increase alertness following the stressor. The mechanisms underpinning heightened alertness are unclear; however, such increases may be linked to greater cerebral activity following the chewing of gum (Fang Li, Lu, Gong, and Yew, 2005)

Why do doctored images distort memory?

Doctored images can cause people to believe in and remember experiences that never occurred, yet the underlying mechanism(s) responsible are not well understood. How does compelling false evidence distort autobiographical memory? Subjects were filmed observing and copying a Research Assistant performing simple actions, then they returned 2 days later for a memory test. Before taking the test, subjects viewed video-clips of simple actions, including actions that they neither observed nor performed earlier. We varied the format of the video-clips between-subjects to tap into the source-monitoring mechanisms responsible for the ‘doctored-evidence effect.’ The distribution of belief and memory distortions across conditions suggests that at least two mechanisms are involved: doctored images create an illusion of familiarity, and also enhance the perceived credibility of false suggestions. These findings offer insight into how external evidence influences source-monitoring

Optimal scales to observe habitat dynamics: A coral reef example

A new technique to estimate the characteristic length scales (CLSs) of real ecological systems provides an objective means to identify the optimal scale(s) of observation to best detect underlying dynamical trends. Application of the technique to natural systems has focused on identifying appropriate scales to measure the dynamics of species as descriptors of community and ecosystem dynamics. However, ecosystem monitoring is often based not on assessing single species, but on species assemblages, functional groups, or habitat types. We asked whether the concept of CLSs based on dynamic interactions among species could be extended to examine interactions among habitat types and thus to identify optimal scales for observing habitat dynamics. A time series of three spatial maps of benthic habitats on a Caribbean coral reef was constructed from aerial photographs, Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) images, and IKONOS satellite images, providing the short time sequence required for this technique. We estimated the CLS based on the dynamics of three distinct habitat types: dense stands of seagrass, sparse stands of seagrass, and Montastrea patch reefs. Despite notable differences in the areal extent of and relative change in these habitats over the 21-year observation period, analyses based on each habitat type indicated a similar CLS of similar to 300 m. We interpret the consistency of CLSs among habitats to indicate that the dynamics of the three habitat types are linked. The results are encouraging, and they indicate that CLS techniques can be used to identify the appropriate scale at which to monitor ecosystem trends on the basis of the dynamics of only one of a disparate suite of habitat types

Energy Use and Concerns of Rural Nebraskans

Energy prices have steadily increased during the past year. Rural residents are now faced with higher costs to drive and heat and cool their homes. Given these conditions, how much of a problem have rising energy costs been for rural Nebraskans? What are their opinions on future energy sources? What changes have they made or do they plan to make due to the price increases? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 2,496 responses to the 2008 Nebraska Rural Poll, the thirteenth annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about energy. For all questions, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged: • Most rural Nebraskans report that rising energy costs have been a somewhat serious problem or a very serious problem for themselves and their family lately. Forty-one percent of rural Nebraskans say rising energy costs have been a very serious problem and 43 percent report it has been a somewhat serious problem. Only one percent say the rising costs have not been a problem at all and 14 percent indicate it has been not too serious a problem. (page 2) • Persons with the lowest household incomes are more likely than persons with higher incomes to report that rising energy prices have been a very serious problem. Fifty-three percent of persons with household incomes under $20,000 say rising energy costs have been a very serious problem, compared to 32 percent of persons with household incomes of$60,000 or more. (page 3) • Many rural Nebraskans have made changes in household spending, driving patterns and household energy use as a result of recent energy price increases. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans have done the following items as a result of the recent energy price increases: cut back on luxury household spending (94%), reduced the heat or air conditioning use in your home (91%), cut back how much you drive (91%), attempted to use household appliances more efficiently (89%), cut back on necessary household spending (88%), acquired more goods and services locally (80%), and changed your vacation plans by shortening or postponing the trip (75%). (page 8) • Many rural Nebraskans have also made driving behavior changes as a result of the recent energy price increases. Two-thirds (67%) of rural Nebraskans have driven their most fuel-efficient vehicle more often as a result of the recent energy price increases. Another nine percent are considering this change. Eleven percent of rural Nebraskans have converted to E-85 gasoline and an additional 14 percent are considering making this switch. Only three percent of rural Nebraskans have purchased a hybrid vehicle but 17 percent are considering this type of purchase. (page 11) • Rural Nebraskans are divided in their opinions about whether or not sufficient energy supplies exist or if new technologies and alternative energy sources will help maintain energy supplies. Just under one-half (44%) of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree that there are sufficient oil and natural gas supplies around the world to meet U.S. needs for the foreseeable future. Thirty-eight percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. Similarly, just under one-half (47%) agree or strongly agree that “even if oil and natural gas supplies do decline, new technologies and alternative energy sources will ensure Americans maintain their current standard of living.” Thirty-two percent disagree or strongly disagree. (page 3) • Most rural Nebraskans think the environment should be protected, even if this means some energy supplies are not available for use. Over one-half (57%) agree or strongly agree with this statement. Seventeen percent disagree or strongly disagree with that statement. Approximately one-quarter (26%) neither agree nor disagree with the statement. (page 3) • Most rural Nebraskans believe that Americans should reduce their energy consumption to prevent an energy crisis and that more should be done to develop renewable energy. Seventy-seven percent of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree with the following statement: Americans must change their lifestyles to reduce energy consumption to avoid the onset of an energy “crisis” in the U.S. Only 10 percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. The majority (91%) of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree that “more should be done to develop renewable energy, such as ethanol, biodiesel or wind energy.” Only three percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement. (pages 3 and 4) • The vast majority of rural Nebraskans also believe we are too dependent on foreign oil sources. Ninety-three percent of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree with that statement, while only three percent disagree or strongly disagree. (page 4) • Most rural Nebraskans see renewable sources as being important energy sources for the next generation. A larger proportion of rural Nebraskans rated wind and solar energy as being important compared to the fossil fuels of oil and natural gas. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans rate the following energy sources as being important for the next generation: wind energy (89%), solar energy (89%), oil (87%), natural gas (84%), ethanol from other sources (81%), ethanol from corn (79%), and biodiesel (76%). (page 5) • Most rural Nebraskans rate electricity and unleaded gasoline as being very important or somewhat important to their household. Ninety-seven percent of rural Nebraskans say electricity is important to their household and 95 percent rate unleaded gasoline as important to their household. (page 7