Channeled whelks (Busycotypus canaliculatus) are fished along the eastern US coast using traps typically baited with pieces of female horseshoe crabs (HSC; Limulus polyphemus). However, the use of HSC as bait, particularly females, is controversial because they are already heavily fished because their blood contains a substance that the biomedical industry uses to manufacture a test for pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, the goals of this study were to: 1) develop a cost-effective alternative bait that does not rely on HSCs and 2) determine whether whelk are more attracted to female HSC pieces than male HSC pieces. Seventeen different baits were tested in a total of 209 laboratory bait trials over a total of 5496 h. Whelk attraction to bait was measured by using time-lapse video to quantify the amount of time a whelk interacted with a bait bag containing one of the baits. While whelks were attracted to many of the alternative baits tested, those containing surf clam and green crab parts, were the most attractive. One such alternative bait composed of green crabs and clam bellies (60 GC/40 CBel Mix) resulted in greater whelk interaction than female HSC Prosoma did over a 24 hr period (mean ± SEM whelk interaction time: 60 GC/40 CBel Mix, 9.31 ± 0.52 hrs; female HSC Prosoma, 8.4 ± 4.6 hrs). We also found that male HSC pieces were as attractive to whelks as female HSC pieces, indicating that it may be possible to reduce fishing pressure on female HSCs to aid in conservation of the species. Field testing of these alternative baits is currently underway to determine whether these laboratory findings successfully translate to commercial fishing operations.

Research on the sensory biology and behaviour of the European green shore crab (herein, green crab), Carcinus maenas, has a long history. For the purposes of this chapter, sensory biology includes functional neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and behavioural responses to internal and external sensory stimuli with a focus on proximate mechanisms. We begin this review with an overview of the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous system including the external sensory appendages within the context of brachyuran crustaceans. This is then followed by a discussion of each of the major sensory modalities that have been the target of at least some active research on C. maenas and related species. For example, a relatively large volume of research has been directed towards increasing our understanding of chemical signalling and chemoreception in C. maenas. Other sensory systems, such as vision and photoreception, have not received as much recent attention in C. maenas and are therefore discussed in the context of other decapod crustaceans. We conclude the chapter with several key examples describing the role of sensory biology on specific behaviours including circatidal and circadian rhythmicity, learning and memory, and the effect of anthropogenic and environmental stressors on sensory systems. Several suggestions and directions are also provided as potential areas for future studies.

We developed a new method for quantifying the attractiveness of bait in traps used for crustacean fisheries by using accelerometers in bait containers to assess the amount of time animals spend interacting with the baits. We validated our approach in the laboratory by using time-lapse video recordings to verify that the accelerometry data accurately reflected when, and how much, American lobsters (Homarus americanus) interacted with bait. We then conducted a field experiment comparing traps baited with traditional herring, crushed green crabs (Carcinus maenas), or an inert control. We found that during 48-h trap sets, the number of minutes in which the accelerometers recorded movements of the bait bags was correlated with lobster catch. Although the traps baited with herring did not catch significantly more lobsters than traps baited with crushed green crabs, the accelerometer data revealed differences in bait attractiveness over time. Lobsters interacted less with the green crab bait on the second day of the set, while no such decline was observed with the herring bait. This technique is inexpensive, easy to use, and the data obtained can be more rapidly analyzed than the video data traditionally used for these types of studies, making it well suited for future work on bait choice and attractiveness.

This empirical study examined undergraduate college students’ perceptions about HyFlex/hybrid courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 305 students (73 male, 234 female) completed an online survey that assessed technological strategies, instructional strategies, and perceptions about HyFlex classes. Students indicated that most of their classes during the Spring 2021 semester were a mix of in-person and online, and professors used Google Meet for classes, and the learning management system (LMS) for assignments, syllabi, and rubrics. Student perceptions about their HyFlex classes indicated that they felt challenged in their classes and that course materials were available to them “during” and “after” class. Students also felt a lack of “connection” with other students in the class and were unsure if HyFlex improved their learning. Some of the aspects students liked about the HyFlex model included the “freedom to choose whether to attend in-person or virtually” (66.9%) and “flexibility to view lectures at my own pace” (55.4%), while aspects of the HyFlex model they did not like included “technology issues” (67.5%) and “not enough interaction with my classmates” (60.7%). Two open-ended questions generated comment themes with students indicating the need for classroom flexibility, classroom engagement, instructor communication, leveraging technology, and minimizing distractions.

Wastewater surveillance offers a rapid evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a community. We describe how a community group, the Yarmouth Wastewater Testing Team (YWTT), in Yarmouth, Maine, (population 8,990) utilized an asset-based community design framework to organize and manage a program to monitor SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations. From September 22, 2020 through June 8, 2021, the YWTT disseminated weekly reports of the wastewater results and reported COVID-19 cases within the Yarmouth postal code. After high and increasing SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations, the YWTT issued two community advisories to encourage extra care to reduce exposure. Correlations between SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations and COVID-19 cases were stronger the week after sampling, and the average of the COVID-19 cases during the week of sampling and the following week, indicating that surveillance provided advance notice of cases. A 10% increase in SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations was associated with a 13.29% increase in the average number of weekly reported cases of COVID-19 during the week of sampling and the following week (R2 = 0.42; p < 0.001). Adjusting for viral recovery (December 21, 2020 through June 8, 2021), improved R2 from 0.60 to 0.68. Wastewater surveillance was an effective tool for the YWTT to quickly respond to viral transmission.

This study examined prevalence, body location, and type of injuries reported by Masters Field Hockey players competing in the 2018 Masters and Grand Masters Field Hockey World Cups. There were 465 participants (284 females and 181 males) from 21 countries, ranging in age from 35 to 76 years. Participants completed The Health and Well-being of Masters Field Hockey Athletes Survey, which included injury type and location. The lower leg was the most common injury location and muscle strain the most common type of injury. Significant differences were found between females and males in upper extremity injuries and contusions.

We aimed to compare statistical techniques estimating the association between SARS-CoV-2 RNA in untreated wastewater and sludge and reported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations (copies/mL) were measured from 24-h composite samples of wastewater in Massachusetts (MA) (daily; 8/19/2020-1/19/2021) and Maine (ME) (weekly; 9/1/2020-3/2/2021) and sludge samples in Connecticut (CT) (daily; 3/1/2020-6/1/2020). We fit linear, generalized additive with a cubic regression spline (GAM), Poisson, and negative binomial models to estimate the association between SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration and reported COVID-19 cases. The models that fit the data best were linear [adjusted R2=0.85 (MA), 0.16 (CT), 0.63 (ME); root-mean-square error (RMSE)=0.41 (MA), 1.14 (CT), 0.99 (ME)), GAM (adjusted R2=0.86 (MA), 0.16 (CT) 0.65 (ME); RMSE=0.39 (MA), 1.14 (CT), 0.97 (ME)], and Poisson [pseudo R2=0.84 (MA), 0.21 (CT), 0.52 (ME); RMSE=0.39 (MA), 0.67 (CT), 0.79 (ME)]. Linear, GAM, and Poisson models outperformed negative binomial models when relating SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater or sludge to reported COVID-19 cases.

This study examined the relationship between digital distractions, mindfulness, and academic performance with undergraduate college students. A total of 199 students completed surveys that examined digital distractions and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (Baer et al., 2006). The results indicated that 96.5% of participants had a digital device near them when studying, and 94.0% used a digital device to help them study. The major purpose for using a digital device in the classroom was to check the time on their phone (91.0%) and text someone (88.9%). Some reasons for using a digital device for non-classroom purposes included to fight boredom (39.2%) and to stay connected with others (25.1%). Participants who had fewer digital distractions tended to be more mindful and a significant positive relationship (r = .192, p &lt;; .05) was obtained between overall mindfulness and academic performance.