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Overall benthic macroinvertebrate biodiversity, along with laternulid density, was higher closer to mangroves but relative infaunal invertebrate dominance increased along a transect that transcended a hummock closer to the mangrove forest, across an open sand fl at, and terminated in another isolated humMock farther from the fringing forest. A population of the anomalodesmatan bivalve Laternula truncata (Lamarck, 1818) was examined in a mangrove sand fl at in Kungkrabaen Bay, Thailand, to determine population size, cohort distribution, and basic relationships with sediment and infaunal macroinvertebrate biodiversity. Relatively high densities of L. truncata were found in muddy sands, often deeply buried in or close to tangled rootlet mats of the mangrove trees Avicennia alba Blume, 1827, and A. marina (Forsskal) Vierhapper, 1907, along isolated mangrove hummocks. They were less common in open areas of the mangrove fl at. This population of L. truncata was relatively evenly distributed across size classes, minus the smallest sizes, suggesting continuous recruitment with a possible loss of recent recruits or recruitment. Overall benthic macroinvertebrate biodiversity, along with laternulid density, was higher closer to mangroves but relative infaunal invertebrate dominance increased along a transect that transcended a hummock closer to the mangrove forest, across an open sand fl at, and terminated in another isolated hummock farther from the fringing forest. A nearby population of L. cf. corrugata (Reeve, 1863) inhabited a distinctly different habitat. Laternula cf. corrugata was shallowly buried and dwelt in the mangrove forest proper among different species of mangroves and in sandier sediments. Behavioural observations of both laternulids indicated that both were capable of reburying, with smaller specimens more rapidly, albeit still slowly, succeeding in full re-entry into the sediment. Larger specimens of L. truncata were incapable of reburial. Morphological, ecological, and behavioural distinctions between L. truncata and L. cf. corrugata are considered in light of their habitat differences, confusion within laternulid systematics, and diffi culty in resolving the taxonomy of the latter species.

Barbour's Pond is a 4.45-ha pond located in Garrett Mountain Reservation in Passaic County in northern New Jersey, one of the most densely populated regions in the United States. Despite its small size and surrounding urban sprawl, the shallow waters of this pond hold 18 species of molluscs. Monthly samples from March 2004 through March 2006 found the highest diversity in December 2004, and in January, June, and July 2005. Additional samples were taken in April 2007 and May 2010 to spot-check relative diversity years after the original sampling period. Total molluscan abundance was greatest in July and November 2004, possibly reflecting new late spring and autumn cohorts. Univariate statistics demonstrate that this pond has a temporally stable and diverse malacofauna. Analysis, of basic environmental parameters including temperature and pH, however, showed little correlation with molluscan diversity over time, underscoring the stable yet complex nature of biodiversity of this small urban pond.

Temperature is a determinant environmental variable in metabolic rates of organisms ultimately influencing important physiological and behavioural features. Stressful conditions such as increasing temperature, particularly within high ranges occurring in the summer, have been suggested to induce flotation behaviour in Corbicula fluminea which may be important in dispersal of this invasive species. However, there has been no experimental evidence supporting this hypothesis. It was already proven that C. fluminea drift is supported by a mucilaginous drogue line produced by mucocytes present in the ctenidia. Detailed microscopic examination of changes in these cells and quantification of clam flotation following one, two and three weeks of exposure to 22, 25 and 30°C was carried out so that the effects of increasing water temperatures in dispersal patterns could be discussed. Results show that changes in temperature triggered an acceleration of the mucocytes production and stimulated flotation behaviour, especially following one week of exposure. Dilution of these effects occurred following longer exposure periods. It is possible that these bivalves perceive changing temperature as a stress and respond accordingly in the short-term, and then acclimate to the new environmental conditions. The response patterns suggest that increasing water temperatures could stimulate C. fluminea population expansion.

The Asian isopod Ianiropsis serricaudis is now well established in fouling communities, often associated with introduced ascidians, throughout the Northern Hemisphere but has gone largely unnoticed because of its diminutive size (typically less than 3 mm in length) and the difficulties of identifying small peracarid crustaceans. Known locations include the northeastern Pacific (Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, and Monterey Bay), the northwestern Atlantic (from the Gulf of Maine to Barnegat Bay, NJ), and the northeastern Atlantic (England and the Netherlands). We predict that this species is widespread along North America and European coasts, and may already be introduced to cold temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere as well.

The anomalodesmatan family Laternulidae represents a group of bivalves with a very few well-known taxa and many more poorly known taxa. Laternula rostrata (G. B. Sowerby, 1839) and L. anatina (Linnaeus, 1758) occur in close proximity to each other in and along the margins of mangroves of Kungkrabaen Bay, Thailand. Laternula rostrata resides in soft to sandy sediments often within the interstices of mangrove roots located in more open portions of the mangrove mud flat. Laternula anatina lives deeper in the mangrove in more protected environs. Laternula anatina is a smaller bivalve that has a variable shell outline, sometimes a wrinkled shell appearance, thicker periostracum, and frequently extensive umbonal erosion. Both species have high concentrations of external shell spinules anteriorly and closer to the umbos (i.e., in juvenile shell) reflecting functionality in retaining an infaunal position. The larger L. rostrata is thinner shelled and more fragile; has more distinct and longer shell spinules composed of flattened lathes; a glossy external appearance; a longer umbonal slit; and a deeper pallial sinus. Additionally, L. rostrata has a saddle-shaped lithodesma; a lithodesma is absent in L. anatina as is typical of most laternulids. Shell microstructure of both is prismatonacreous, typical of the group, but the prismatic layer is thin and appears truncated into small blocky and/or granular columns in transitional zones. The bulk of the shell is tightly packed sheet nacre. The growth lines in L. rostrata, more pronounced but fewer in number than in L. anatina, appear as shallow rolling “hills” in both the shell and chondrophore. The differences in shell microstructure in these two species are specific to the taxa but based on different habitats and burrowing depths, albeit within the confines of a tropical mangal, could represent biomineralization events that reflect environmental adaptations. Variations in the thickness of the microstructural shell layers of four species of laternulids is compared and we speculate on possible functional and/or environmental relevance of these differences.

Diphenhydramine HCl (DH) and caffeine are commonly detected contaminants in waterways and drinking water nationwide (U.S.A.) and yet little is known of their influence on the development of aquatic molluscs. The antihistamine diphenhydramine blocks the chemical effects of histamine by inhibiting the re-uptake of serotonin (5-HT). Caffeine can influence the regulation of calcium (Ca2 ) and neurotransmitters, such as 5- HT, by inhibiting the re-uptake of adenosine. Serotonin receptor-mediated signaling is key during embryonic development in the freshwater snail Helisoma trivolvis (Say 1816). Embryonic development rates of H. trivolvis depend upon external conditions such as oxygen concentration and temperature. We examine the effects of diphenhydramine (DH) and caffeine on development and reproductive potential of this common aquatic snail. Concentrations of DH at 40.0, 50.0 and 60.0 µM affect the in-capsule embryonic development and hatching rate. Caffeine at 40.0, 50.0 and 60.0 µM show no influence to the hatching rates; however, these caffeine concentrations influence the in-capsule embryonic rotation rate. Eight-month observations of adult H. trivolvis reproductive activities show no influence in number of egg masses deposited when exposed to test concentrations of DH or caffeine.

The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market has become an increasingly important vehicle for alternative investment for equity investors. While existing research examining the cross-section of REIT returns usually employs standard risk factors in the in-sample models, it can only show the ex-post performance of REIT portfolios. The goal of our paper is to examine the ex-ante performance of REIT portfolios (i.e., the ability of investors to earn abnormal returns in real time). We employ the out-of-sample methodology of Cooper, Gutierrez, and Marcum (2005), and show that ex-ante performance of REIT portfolios is rather weak. For about half of our 19-year sample over the period of 1999 to 2017, the portfolio performances of REITs chosen ex-ante do not beat the performances of the FTSE-NAREIT or the CRSP Equal-Weighted index. After adjusting for transaction costs, the REIT portfolios significantly further underperform their benchmarks. Overall, our findings suggest that the market is relatively efficient in the REIT sector, and it is difficult for investors to devise trading strategies that improve the ex-ante performance of REIT portfolios, based on standard risk factors.

Nearly every biography of Mary Tudor mentions her acquisition of the Kingdom of Naples and the Spanish kingdoms through her marriage to Philip Habsburg, later Philip II of Spain, but they say little about her role as queen consort, primarily because she failed to control the narrative of her reign. She made little effort to patronize writers, disperse her symbols, send images of herself, use masculine terminology like her grandmother Isabel of Castile, or involve herself in the governance of her Mediterranean kingdoms. Her real and symbolic absence in the south, and the presence of Doña Juana, Philip’s sister and the capable regent of the Spanish kingdoms in his absence, led to her marginalization. This has had long-lasting consequences for the historiography of her reign, as historians have generally confined themselves to studying her in her English context using the gendered language of early Spanish writers while omitting her entirely from Naples.

Experienced senior living leaders (SLLs) report the impact of spirituality and religious practice on SLL role adaptation and continuation. The sample included 18 SLLs in 18 skilled care settings representing public, non-profit, and for-profit types of incorporation, with oversampling of for-profit facilities. The average years of SLL experience was 24 years. In-depth interviews were examined through a thematic analysis approach using Excel software. Seventy-eight percent described how a higher power, religious beliefs, and faith practices were associated with their role. Their narratives revealed three major themes: Frame (calling and pre-dispositional spiritual beliefs and religious practices), Role Performance (how spirituality informed SLL administrative practice), and Benefits (perceived rewards of adherence to spiritual beliefs and practices). Further analysis of the three themes produced codes that added greater specification for each theme. Implications provided for normalizing the spirituality and work-life intersect and infusing ethical integration of spirituality and work-life in SLL educational programs.

Purpose This study examined the association between hearing status (i.e., adolescents with and without hearing loss) and physical activity and sports participation. Secondarily, we explored the association between physical activity and sports participation and psychosocial outcomes among adolescents with hearing loss. Methods Analyses included 29,034 adolescents (52.1% male, 13.8 ± 2.3 (M ± SD) years) from the combined 2018–2019 National Survey of Children's Health. Adolescents were grouped by hearing status. Adjusted logistic regression models assessed physical activity level (i.e., 0, 1–3, 4–6, and 7 days/week) and sports participation (i.e., participation in sports within the past 12 months) by hearing status. Secondary analyses examined associations between physical activity and sports participation with psychosocial outcomes among adolescents with hearing loss adjusting for relevant confounders. Results Relative to their hearing peers, adolescents with hearing loss (n = 359) were 40% [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.60; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44, 0.81], 43% [AOR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.41, 0.80], and 33% [AOR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47, 0.95] less likely to engage in 1–3 days/week of physical activity, 4–6 days/week of physical activity, and meet physical activity guidelines, respectively. Further, adolescents with hearing loss were 31% [AOR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.55, 0.85] less likely to participate in sports. Sports participation, but not physical activity, was associated with a significant reduction in the likelihood of experiencing adverse psychosocial outcomes among adolescents with hearing loss (p's < .05). Discussion Sports participation, but not physical activity, was associated with attenuated likelihood of experiencing adverse psychosocial outcomes in adolescents with hearing loss, suggesting unique characteristics of sports participation confer protection of psychosocial health. Increasing access to and reducing barriers to engagement in sports should be prioritized to improve psychosocial health in adolescents with hearing loss.

Background:  The emphasis on disciplinary and preventive approaches to combating academic misconduct does little to foster student professional identity and core nursing value formation. Problem:  There is a need for pedagogy designed to navigate moral decision-making within ambiguous areas of practice as nursing students integrate personal and professional values while becoming a nurse. Approach:  Rest's theory of moral development offers a framework for constructing purposeful affective learning activities that operationalize moral sensitivity, judgment, motivation, and character, whereas Krathwohl's theory provides a means to identify affective learning objectives. Offering prelicensure nursing students an opportunity to discuss, reflect on, and consider actions and consequences associated with academic and practice-based situations forms the basis for this affective learning module that fosters connections between academic and professional behaviors of integrity. Conclusion:  Rest's theoretical model provides a viable structured approach to moral development. Curriculum designed to engage moral decision-making offers an innovative approach to cultivating student integrity.

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, Connecticut December 2021 Abstract: In order to properly assess current ecological conditions, we need long-term ecological data. Historical ecology focuses on that long term, including the need to synthesize data from diverse sources. In the Long Island Sound, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been collecting data for both scientific and recreational purposes for decades, but the format of the recreational data (narrative) is not suitable for scientific analysis. This project is to collate and annotate game fish occurrence data from the Fishing Report newsletters put out by DEEP every week during the fishing season and the DEEP Trophy Fish annual reports, over a 12-year period. Species, location, and measurement data (as available) have been compiled into a data set, with geolocation coordinates added for the identifiable locations. This thesis consists of the machine-readable dataset, the protocol for collating this data, and an assessment of the suitability of the data for different kinds of analysis. The dataset will be published openly for reuse, reanalysis, and collaborative additions.

Dataset of gamefish occurrences as compiled from the Connecticut Fishing Report (2006-2018) and Trophy Fish Report (2009-2018), both published by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Compiled as thesis project by Rebecca Hedreen for a Masters of Science in Biology from Southern Connecticut State University, with advisor Dr. Sean Grace.

Transformation has become a prevailing and desirable concept in blue economy literature. In parallel, researchers have been considering ways to effectively engage stakeholders to support just transformational agendas. Globally, coastal communities are already being affected by the inevitable impacts of climate change and changes to the blue economy. These pressures present complex contexts for coastal zone stakeholder engagement. In this paper, I argue that taking a systems integration approach to interacting with stakeholders is needed to support just transformational change. Assessing stakeholder systems and their relationship to coastal resources is imperative for understanding dynamics that may promote or hinder just transformation. Taking an adaptive management approach to working alongside stakeholders through transitional processes, thus building capacity, is needed to generate momentum toward just transformational change. Lastly, I explain how applications of the subsidiarity principle in integrating stakeholder systems can support a just transformational process and can inform more durable transformational outcomes.

We report the first multi-differential measurements of strange hadrons of K−, ϕ and Ξ− yields as well as the ratios of ϕ/K− and ϕ/Ξ− in Au+Au collisions at sNN=3 GeV with the STAR experiment fixed target configuration at RHIC. The ϕ mesons and Ξ− hyperons are measured through hadronic decay channels, ϕ→K+K− and Ξ−→Λπ−. Collision centrality and rapidity dependence of the transverse momentum spectra for these strange hadrons are presented. The 4π yields and ratios are compared to thermal model and hadronic transport model predictions. At this collision energy, thermal model with grand canonical ensemble (GCE) under-predicts the ϕ/K− and ϕ/Ξ− ratios while the result of canonical ensemble (CE) calculations reproduce ϕ/K−, with the correlation length rc∼2.7 fm, and ϕ/Ξ−, rc∼4.2 fm, for the 0-10% central collisions. Hadronic transport models including high mass resonance decays could also describe the ratios. While thermal calculations with GCE work well for strangeness production in high energy collisions, the change to CE at 3 GeV implies a rather different medium property at high baryon density.

The purpose of this article is to explore the intersectionality of autism and sociocultural factors as well as discuss the complexities associated with appropriate assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. Based on a review of the literature, the authors present a brief history of the emergence of the term autism and highlight factors that have contributed to current concerns about failures to appropriately recognize autism within diverse populations. Referencing extant research as well as professional practice standards, this article examines aspects of autism and intersectionality, and explores some of the associated challenges related to assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. Further, the authors reflect on the critical importance of carefully considering all aspects of a child's identity when engaging in autism assessment and intervention within the school setting. School-based practitioners are provided with guidance for addressing the needs of diverse populations of students with autism.

This study demonstrates the application of affinity propagation as a data-driven approach to identifying and mapping typologies of place along the urban-rural continuum. The authors characterize Zip Code Tabulation Areas using demographic, economic, land cover, and accessibility to transportation infrastructure, which results in 22 clusters, 15 of which have a major rural component. The spatial pattern of these clusters varies, reflecting the heterogeneity in U.S. rurality. Rural is not a single concept that can be simply defined by population density. By comparing three economic indicators before and after the global financial crisis of 2007 to 2012, the authors find that the degree of economic recovery is captured by rural typologies. They compare both the methodological results and analysis of socioeconomic resilience to two of the most used threshold-based regional typologies, one developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service and one used by the American Communities Project.