Population structure and reproductive migration of land crabs on Grand Cayman Island.

Cardisoma guanhumi (white land crab) and Gecarcinus ruricola (black land crab) are found throughout Grand Cayman, and concern has been expressed regarding their possible declining populations and current distributions. The overall objective of this project was to gather biological data on C. guanhumi and G. ruricola, as well as document activity patterns for G. ruricola populations, to gain a better understanding of Grand Cayman's land crab population structure and reproductive migration patterns. Surveys occurred during the summers of 2016 and 2017 on Grand Cayman. The study area for G. ruricola was along a main highway in East End, while the study site for C. guanhumi took place at Barkers National Park, West Bay. A male-biased sex ratio was observed in the C. guanhumi population on Grand Cayman, specifically in the two larger carapace width size classes. Generally, C. guanhumi males reached a larger body size than females, which is a common trend in brachyuran crabs. Four color patterns were observed in C. guanhumi males and non-ovigerous females, while ovigerous females only displayed two of the patterns. The color patterns seem to be related to the development stage and maturity of the crab. Gecarcinus ruricola males also reach a larger maximum size than females, for all measured morphometrics on Grand Cayman. Similar to C. guanhumi, these growth differences are likely due to how each sex distributes their energy utilization. Overall, both sexes of G. ruricola on Grand Cayman are smaller in terms of body size than other populations in the Caribbean and it may be possible the populations on Grand Cayman reach sexual maturity at an earlier stage and smaller size than other geographic locations. The reproductive migration season for G. ruricola extends over three months on Grand Cayman, but the intensity of crab activity varies with time. In 2017, high roadside activity levels for G. ruricola shifted from inland to the coastal edge of Queen's Highway following the first migration peak in June. There were two mass migrations observed with each resulting in high numbers of crabs crossing the road and high roadkill numbers. Crabs were not randomly scattered along the highway; instead each sex showed a distinct clustering distribution which most likely resulted due to habitat changes from development. Ovigerous G. ruricola females exhibited randomness during the reproductive season nights, and those random nights of ovigerous female activity most likely coincided with spawning events. The number of roadkills generally reflected the migration intensity. Moonlight had a significant effect on the number of G. ruricola individuals on the road, specifically during the waning crescent moon phase, and rainfall enhanced overall activity on Grand Cayman. This project will provide government officials with baseline information and methodology they can use to monitor Cayman's land crab populations in the future. Lastly, this study will provide a greater overall understanding of land crabs and their reproductive migration

The Impact of Surfactant on the Transport of \u3ci\u3eToxoplasma gondii\u3c/i\u3e Oocysts Through Unsaturated Soil

Toxoplasma gondii is among the most prevalent parasites affecting warm-blooded animals, including humans. In humans, it poses health risks for immunocompromised populations and for fetuses including damage to the eyes brain and other organs. Humans may come in contact with T. gondii through the consumption of infected animal flesh or accidental contact with cat feces. Its life cycle includes numerous intermediate hosts and felids as the definitive host, which has allowed for its spread through nearly the entire world. T. gondii has been detected in open water, soil and animal feeds. Its transport has not been well studied to this point. Understanding of transport of T. gondii is necessitated by its presence in soils and human health risks. Surfactants may be introduced in agricultural settings through the application of reused water and sludge to fields, through environmental remediation or the use of pesticides that include surfactants. Surfactants may influence water flow and soil hydrology properties, impacting the flow of water and pathogens conveyed within it. The aim of this study is to assess the way the presence of surfactant influences the transport of T. gondii through soil. Continuous rainfall of a KCl solution was simulated on columns of sandy loam and loamy sand soils. Flow within the columns was vertical and gravity driven. Artificial rain on select columns contained an anionic surfactant, Aerosol 22. After steady state was reached, a pulse containing T. gondii oocysts and KBr as a tracer was applied. In those columns where Aerosol 22 was included in the rain, it was also present in the pulses. T. gondii and KBr breakthrough curves were created to characterize transport. Following cessation of the simulated rainfall, soil columns were cut to assess retention of the oocysts within the soil and concentrations of oocysts are given by depth. For both soil and leachate samples, T. gondii was quantified using qPCR. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were detected in all columns retained in porous media and in leachate. Surfactant was shown to enhance transport in all soil series studied

Epsilon-Near-Zero Al-Doped ZnO for Ultrafast Switching at Telecom Wavelengths: Outpacing the Traditional Amplitude-Bandwidth Trade-Off

Transparent conducting oxides have recently gained great attention as CMOS-compatible materials for applications in nanophotonics due to their low optical loss, metal-like behavior, versatile/tailorable optical properties, and established fabrication procedures. In particular, aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) is very attractive because its dielectric permittivity can be engineered over a broad range in the near infrared and infrared. However, despite all these beneficial features, the slow (> 100 ps) electron-hole recombination time typical of these compounds still represents a fundamental limitation impeding ultrafast optical modulation. Here we report the first epsilon-near-zero AZO thin films which simultaneously exhibit ultra-fast carrier dynamics (excitation and recombination time below 1 ps) and an outstanding reflectance modulation up to 40% for very low pump fluence levels (< 4 mJ/cm2) at the telecom wavelength of 1.3 {\mu}m. The unique properties of the demonstrated AZO thin films are the result of a low temperature fabrication procedure promoting oxygen vacancies and an ultra-high carrier concentration. As a proof-of-concept, an all-optical AZO-based plasmonic modulator achieving 3 dB modulation in 7.5 {\mu}m and operating at THz frequencies is numerically demonstrated. Our results overcome the traditional "modulation depth vs. speed" trade-off by at least an order of magnitude, placing AZO among the most promising compounds for tunable/switchable nanophotonics.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl

A conceptual model of the impact of including carers in museum programmes for people with dementia

This is the final version. Available on open access from SAGE Publications via the DOI in this recordBACKGROUND: Research has highlighted a need for more theoretical work in arts interventions, including the role of the dyad. This study aimed to test theories from a literature review on the impact of including carers in museum programmes for people with dementia, and develop a model which can be used in other programmes to consider the impact of including carers more broadly. METHODS: Using a realist evaluation approach, theory was developed through interviews and participant-observation at six museums in the UK. FINDINGS: The impacts of including carers fell into seven broad areas - caring responsibility, session function, controlling access, preventing engagement, comparisons and losses, long-term impact of in-the-moment activities, and reducing social isolation and opening up the museum. CONCLUSIONS: Including carers may have both unanticipated benefits and negative consequences, and greater attention is needed on how both carers and people with dementia can be supported in shared sessions. Carers should be viewed as participants of programmes, and can even be the main beneficiaries, even where the programme is ostensibly 'for' the person with dementia - it's not simply that carers are the enablers of, or barriers to, the impacts on the person with dementia.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)Dr & Mrs Darlington Trus

The impact of including carers in museum programmes for people with dementia: a realist review

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this recordBackground: “In the moment” museum programmes for people with dementia (PwD) are an increasingly popular way of supporting people to live well. Most programmes include carers, though it is not well understood what effects, if any, their inclusion has. This review aimed to understand how including carers in museum programmes impacts the PwD, the carer, and the relationship between them. Methods: A realist review of peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted to develop theory in answer to the research questions. Results: Twenty-three documents were included and 15 theory statements were developed within four themes: seeing the PwD in a new way, shared respite, excess disability, and reduced social isolation. Conclusions: As both positive and negative impacts were found, it is important to consider that programmes may not be beneficial for all dyads. The review offers recommendations to support positive outcomes for dyads, highlights gaps in the literature, and suggestions for further research.Dr & Mrs Darlington Charitable TrustNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR

An examination of health care utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic among women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

Background: Women undergoing treatment for breast cancer require frequent clinic visits for maintenance of therapy. With COVID-19 causing health care disruptions, it is important to learn about how this population’s access to health care has changed. This study compares self-reported health care utilization and changes in factors related to health care access among women treated at a cancer center in the mid-South US before and during the pandemic. Methods: Participants (N = 306) part of a longitudinal study to improve adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) adherence completed pre-intervention baseline surveys about their health care utilization prior to AET initiation. Questions about the impact of COVID-19 were added after the pandemic started assessing financial loss and factors related to care. Participants were categorized into three time periods based on the survey completion date: (1) pre-COVID (December 2018 to March 2020), (2) early COVID (April 2020 – December 2020), and later COVID (January 2021 to June 2021). Negative binomial regression analyses used to compare health care utilization at different phases of the pandemic controlling for patient characteristics. Results: Adjusted analyses indicated office visits declined from pre-COVID, with an adjusted average of 17.7 visits, to 12.1 visits during the early COVID period (p = 0.01) and 9.9 visits during the later COVID period (p < 0.01). Hospitalizations declined from an adjusted average 0.45 admissions during early COVID to 0.21 during later COVID, after vaccines became available (p = 0.05). Among COVID period participants, the proportion reporting changes/gaps in health insurance coverage increased from 9.5% participants during early-COVID to 14.8% in the later-COVID period (p = 0.05). The proportion reporting financial loss due to the pandemic was similar during both COVID periods (34.3% early- and 37.7% later-COVID, p = 0.72). The proportion of participants reporting delaying care or refilling prescriptions decreased from 15.2% in early-COVID to 4.9% in the later-COVID period (p = 0.04). Conclusion: COVID-19 caused disruptions to routine health care for women with breast cancer. Patients reported having fewer office visits at the start of the pandemic that continued to decrease even after vaccines were available. Fewer patients reported delaying in-person care as the pandemic progressed.National Cancer Institute ; Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute ; Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives, National Cancer Institute ; Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institut

Cross-sections for nuclide production in 56Fe target irradiated by 300, 500,750, 1000, 1500, and 2600 MeV protons compared with data on hydrogen target irradiation by 300, 500, 750, 1000, and 1500 MeV/nucleon 56Fe ions

Cross-sections for radioactive nuclide production in 56Fe(p,x) reactions at 300, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, and 2600 MeV were measured using the ITEP U-10 proton accelerator. In total, 221 independent and cumulative yields of products of half-lives from 6.6 min to 312 days have been obtained via the direct-spectrometry method. The measured data have been compared with the experimental data obtained elsewhere by the direct and inverse kinematics methods and with calculations by 15 codes, namely: MCNPX (INCL, CEM2k, BERTINI, ISABEL), LAHET (BERTINI, ISABEL), CEM03 (.01, .G1, .S1), LAQGSM03 (.01, .G1, >.S1), CASCADE-2004, LAHETO, and BRIEFF. Most of our data are in a good agreement with the inverse kinematics results and disprove the results of some earlier activation measurements that were quite different from the inverse kinematics measurements. The most significant calculation-to-experiment differences are observed in the yields of the A<30 light nuclei, indicating that further improvements in nuclear reaction models are needed, and pointing out as well to a necessity of more complete measurements of such reactions.Comment: 53 pages, 9 figures, 6 tables, only pdf file, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Controlling hybrid nonlinearities in transparent conducting oxides via two-colour excitation

Nanophotonics and metamaterials have revolutionised the way we think about optical space (epsilon, mu), enabling us to engineer the refractive index almost at will, to confine light to the smallest of the volumes, and to manipulate optical signals with extremely small footprints and energy requirements. Significant efforts are now devoted to finding suitable materials and strategies for the dynamic control of the optical properties. Transparent conductive oxides exhibit large ultrafast nonlinearities under both interband and intraband excitations. Here, we show that combining these two effects in aluminium-doped zinc oxide via a two colour laser field discloses new material functionalities. Owing to the independence of the two nonlinearities the ultrafast temporal dynamics of the material permittivity can be designed by acting on the amplitude and delay of the two fields. We demonstrate the potential applications of this novel degree of freedom by dynamically addressing the modulation bandwidth and optical spectral tuning of a probe optical pulse

The Lantern Vol. 7, No. 3, June 1939

• Commencement Sonnet • Largo Appassionato • More Sonnets to Earth • Vladimir • Abe Lincoln in Illinois • Dark Lives • Enter Mr. Smithingham II • A Character is Sketched • Sonnet • Out of the Dawn • Wistaria • Poem Without a Name • You Have Loved the Nighthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1018/thumbnail.jp