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IMPACT: This article presents novel analyses of the income sources of National Health Service (NHS) acute trusts in England. The results suggest that there are variations according to deprivation in the extent of private financial resources available to NHS institutions. They suggest a need to open up discussions about how best to mitigate spatial differences in the charitable and private patient income of NHS trusts, particularly if these sources of income grow in importance going forward. The article provides—for the first time—an analysis of spatial variation in the income sources of National Health Service (NHS) acute trusts in England. It shows that, compared to trusts serving less deprived communities, trusts serving more deprived communities receive a lower proportion of income from charitable sources; and that trusts serving deprived communities also receive a lower proportion of income from private patients. The study serves to provide evidence of spatial inequality in the private resources that support local public institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broken inversion symmetry at the ferromagnet (FM)/heavy‐metal (HM) interface leads to spin‐dependent degeneracy of the energy band, forming spin‐polarized surface states. As a result, the interface serves as an effective medium for converting spin accumulation into 2D charge current through the inverse Rashba–Edelstein effect. Exploring and assessing this spin‐to‐charge conversion (SCC) phenomenon at the FM/HM interface can offer a promising avenue to surpass the presumed limits of SCC in bulk HM layers. Spintronic heterostructures are utilized as a platform to measure the SCC experienced by photoexcited spin currents. Therefore, FM/HM heterostructures emitting terahertz electric field upon illumination by femtosecond laser pulses enable quantitative measure of the ultrafast SCC process. This results demonstrate a robust interfacial spin‐to‐charge conversion (iSCC) within a synthetic antiferromagnetic heterostructure, specifically for the NiFe/Ru/NiFe configuration, by isolating the SCC contribution originating from the interface and the bulk heavy‐metal (HM). Through the measurements of the emitted terahertz pulse, the iSCC at the NiFe/Ru interface is identified to be ≈27% of the strength as compared to SCC from the highest spin‐Hall conducting heavy‐metal, Pt. The results thus highlight the significance of interfacial engineering as a promising pathway for achieving efficient ultrafast spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective spin arrangements manifest diverse spin textures, encompassing ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, and chiral vortices. However, mapping these spin textures in ultrathin magnetic multilayers has remained elusive. A reconfigurable chiral spintronic terahertz emission method is introduced through investigations on a model system of synthetic antiferromagnet and the spin information of individual ferromagnet (FM) layers is extracted. Upon femtosecond photoexcitation of the synthetic antiferromagnet (FM1/Ru/FM2), the ferromagnets generate a pair of linearly polarized ultrafast spin currents, which, after relaxation at the FM/Ru interface, emit corresponding THz pulses. The Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interactions between the two FMs give rise to magnetic‐field‐controlled spin textures causing a spin relaxation imbalance at the interfaces and induce a phase shift between the orthogonal components of the emitted terahertz fields, consequently reconfiguring the polarization of the emitted terahertz field from linear to circular. This approach offers a novel means of investigating electronic and magnetic states in ultrathin spintronic heterostructures, low‐dimensional quantum materials, topological insulators, and Weyl semimetals. Furthermore, it enables the exploration of spin textures, including skyrmions, merons, and solitons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Understanding the spatial connectivity of elasmobranch populations is critical for regional fisheries management. The Blacktip Shark Carcharhinus limbatus is abundant in coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and important in recreational and commercial fisheries. Based on genetic and tagging studies, GoM Blacktip Sharks are currently managed under separate quotas between the eastern and western GoM (divided at 88°W), but no studies have used vertebral chemistry to assess the population structure of adult Blacktip Sharks. Methods: We compared vertebral elemental signatures (barium [Ba], magnesium [Mg], manganese [Mn], strontium [Sr], and zinc [Zn]) for the first year of life with last occupied habitats (vertebral edges) in Blacktip Sharks collected from the western (Texas and Louisiana) and eastern (Alabama and Florida) coastal waters of the northern GoM. Result: We found significant regional differences in Ba, Mg, Mn, and Sr vertebral edge signatures, suggesting ecological separation of Blacktip Sharks. Significant correlation between first‐year and edge signatures suggested a high degree of residency between life stages. Cross‐validated discriminant function analyses yielded highest regional classification accuracies when Florida sharks were grouped separately west of 88°W (90%), demonstrating the unique elemental signatures of eastern versus western GoM Blacktip Sharks under current management delineations. Conclusion: Combined, these findings demonstrate that trace element markers can distinguish regional populations of Blacktip Sharks and provide a complimentary approach in addition to genetics and physical tagging to support current stock management efforts. Impact statementStocks of Blacktip Sharks are managed under separate quotas in the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico. In this study, elemental signatures in mineralized vertebral cartilage of Blacktip Sharks confirm ecological population separation. Natural chemical tags in shark vertebrae offer an additional tool to characterize population connectivity and stock delineation for highly migratory shark species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impurity incorporation in host high spin-orbit coupling materials like platinum (Pt) has shown improved charge-to-spin conversion efficiency by modifying the up-spin and down-spin electrons trajectories via bending or skewing them in opposite directions. This enables efficient generation, manipulation, and transport of spin currents. In this study, we irradiated the Pt thin films with pulsed hot dense oxygen plasma in non-focus mode operation and analyzed the spin Hall angle of the oxygen plasma irradiated Pt films using spin torque ferromagnetic resonance (ST-FMR). Our results demonstrate a 2.4 times enhancement in the spin Hall angle after transient oxygen plasma treatment of Pt as compared to pristine Pt. This improvement might be because of the introduction of disorder and defects in the Pt lattice due to transient oxygen plasma processing, which enhanced the spin-orbit coupling and leads to more efficient charge-to-spin conversion without breaking the spin-orbit torque symmetries. Our findings offer a new method of dense plasma focus device-based modification of material for the development of advanced spintronic devices based on Pt and other heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validation of band pair deposition rates in elasmobranch vertebrae is essential for accurate age estimation using band pair counting techniques. We present a validation study of the vertebral band pair deposition rate for juvenile common thresher sharks Alopias vulpinus in the northeastern Pacific Ocean (NEPO) using tag and recapture with oxytetracycline (OTC) injection. A total of 14 juvenile A. vulpinus marked with OTC from 1998 through 2013 were recaptured with times at liberty ranging from 1.08 to 3.81 years with an average of 2.14 years (±0.97 years standard deviation, SD). Shark size ranged from 80 to 128 cm fork length (LF) at the time of OTC injection and from 112 to 168 cm LF for those measured at recapture. The slopes of the relationships between band pairs post OTC and years at liberty for each reader ranged from 0.84 to 0.95, slightly lower than the 1.0 slope expected from annual band pair formation. These findings preliminarily support previous age and growth assumptions based on a one band pair per year deposition rate. However, high variation in band pair deposition rates between samples, coupled with regression slopes falling just under one band pair per year, indicates that further investigation is needed to refine band pair deposition rate estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elemental composition of mineralized vertebral cartilage has proven useful for reconstructing the movement and environmental history of elasmobranchs. However, the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on vertebral chemistry have not been well explored, making meaningful interpretations of results difficult. This study quantified trace element incorporation along the corpus calcareum of 116 Round Stingray (Urobatis halleri) vertebrae and explored the influence of intrinsic (i.e., sex) and extrinsic (i.e., location and year) factors on vertebral edge chemical variations. We quantified eight element/Ca ratios (Li/Ca, Mg/Ca, Mn/Ca, Co/Ca, Cu/Ca, Zn/Ca, Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca) by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Behavioral sexual segregation by Round Stingrays explained differences found in Mn/Ca, Zn/Ca, Sr/Ca, and Ba/Ca ratios. Higher vertebral Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca in females likely originate from the use of salt marsh habitats as a refuge as well as higher reproductive hormone concentrations during gestation, respectively. Female and male Round Stingrays were also found to have an inverse relationship between Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca, likely due to environmental differences (e.g., temperature) between their sexually segregated habitats. This study demonstrates how multielement signatures in vertebral cartilage may improve understanding of habitat use and migration throughout life and advances the development of biomineral usage as an environmental proxy in elasmobranchs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐release mortality threatens shark populations already imperiled by overfishing, capture stress, and a changing climate. Few studies have quantified post‐release mortality for sharks captured in land‐based recreational fisheries. From 2018 to 2021, a land‐based shark post‐release mortality study was conducted and identified water temperature and species‐specific behavior as contributing factors to post‐release mortality. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effectiveness of disseminating the recommendation for best practices to recreational shark anglers and to determine if this information influenced angler behavior. Awareness of our post‐release mortality study influenced an angler's likely release behavior, with an increase in sharks landed in the water and corresponding decrease of sharks landed on dry sand. This study demonstrated direct evidence of conservation‐based changes in angler behavior following effective research communication and involvement of anglers in research. Outreach and engagement initiatives aimed at providing best handling practices to recreational anglers should be easily digestible, widely available, and an important component of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) are ubiquitous ecological tracers used to elucidate an organism's diet and habitat. However, the application of stable isotope ratios to reconstruct a consumer's ecology relies upon accurate rates for isotopic turnover at both a tissue and species-specific level. This study estimated isotope turnover rates and trophic discrimination factors in four different tissues (liver, digestive tissue, muscle, and skin) with variable metabolic activity in winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus using a controlled diet-switch experiment. Differences in half-lives were noted among the tissues and between the experimental diets for both δ15N and δ13C. The experimental diets of krill and mysis had variability in nutritional composition, resulting in similar turnovers in δ15N but slower turnovers in δ13C for fish fed krill. Turnovers in both δ15N and δ13C were strongly influenced by metabolism, with the contribution reaching up to 98%, as fish exhibited minimal overall growth. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of considering differences in the catabolic activity of tissue maintenance for fish exhibiting minimal growth, as well as differences in metabolic assimilation of dietary sources that vary in their protein and lipid contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inherent nonlinear magnetization dynamics in spintronic devices make them suitable candidates for neuromorphic hardware. Among spintronic devices, spin torque oscillators such as spin transfer torque oscillators and spin Hall oscillators have shown the capability to perform recognition tasks. In this paper, with the help of micromagnetic simulations, we model and demonstrate that the magnetization dynamics of a single spin Hall oscillator can be nonlinearly transformed by harnessing input pulse streams and can be utilized for classification tasks. The spin Hall oscillator utilizes the microwave spectral characteristics of its magnetization dynamics for processing a binary data input. The spectral change due to the nonlinear magnetization dynamics assists in real-time feature extraction and classification of 4-binary digit input patterns. The performance was tested for the classification of the standard MNIST handwritten digit data set and achieved an accuracy of 83.1% in a simple linear regression model. Our results suggest that modulating time-driven input data can generate diverse magnetization dynamics in the spin Hall oscillator that can be suitable for temporal or sequential information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus are ecologically and economically important apex predators throughout the global oceans. The eastern North Pacific Ocean contains several coastal nurseries for this species, where juveniles can forage and grow until venturing into offshore pelagic habitats, where seasonal migration and reproduction occurs. Opportunistically sampled vertebrae from both male and female juvenile Shortfin Mako (65.5-134.4 cm total length, neonate to age 2) were sourced from two distinct nurseries in the eastern North Pacific: the Southern California Bight (n = 12), USA, and Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno (n = 11), Mexico. Mineralized vertebral cartilage was analyzed to determine concentrations of selected elements (Li, Mg, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba, standardized to Ca) using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, targeting growth bands at specific life stages, including postparturition at the birth band and the recent life history of the individual at the vertebral edge. The elemental variation exhibited by these individuals over ~1 month of life before capture was explored by comparing recent vertebral concentrations, with Zn:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca concentrations significantly different between nurseries (Southern California Bight versus Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno). Element variability through ontogeny was detected, as Li:Ca, Mg:Ca, and Zn:Ca concentrations were significantly different between individual past and recent vertebral bands. These findings suggest that vertebral chemistry approaches may enhance understanding of nursery habitat sources of migratory sharks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferromagnet/nonmagnet (FM/NM) bilayer-based spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs)—a sub-class of spintronic oscillator devices—have promising potential toward realizing low-power physical reservoir computing systems because of their inherent nonlinearity and miniature form factor. However, most of the studies on SHNOs indicate that an external biasing magnetic field is necessary for their operation, creating a bottleneck for their practical implementation in designing small and compact RC hardware. In this report, using micromagnetic simulation, we demonstrate biasing field-free operation of a FM/NM bilayer-based SHNO by exploiting the magnetic anisotropy. Our results reveal that the magnetic anisotropy in the FM layer provides active control over the DC tunability of auto-oscillation frequency and the threshold value of current needed for sustained auto-oscillations. We show that the increase in uniaxial anisotropy substantially modifies the spatial profile of auto-oscillation and eventually leads to the reduction in the threshold current for auto-oscillation, which could be utilized to design low-power computing hardware using SHNO devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of catch and release fishing is common among anglers but has been shown to cause unintended mortalities in some species. Current post-release mortality estimates used in coastal shark stock assessments are typically derived from boat-based shark fisheries, which differ from shore-based operations that expose sharks to potentially more stressful environmental and handling conditions. Recreational post-release mortality rates in shore-based fisheries must be quantified to improve stock assessment models and to create guidelines that protect species from overexploitation. Here, we partnered with experienced anglers acting as citizen scientists to deploy pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags (PSAT, n = 22) and acceleration data loggers (ADLs, n = 22). on four commonly caught sharks including the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus, n = 11), bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas, n = 14), tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier, n = 6), and great hammerheads (Sphyrna mokarran, n = 2). Mortality occurred within minutes to hours post-release. If evidence of mortality occurred after normal diving behavior had been re-established for 10 days, then the mortality was considered natural and not related to the catch-and-release process. Post-release mortality estimates ranged from 0% for bull and tiger sharks to 45.5% for blacktip sharks. Of the two great hammerheads, one died within 30 minutes post-release while the other exhibited mortality characteristics 14 days after release. Moribund blacktip sharks experienced on average 3.4–4.9°C warmer water compared with survivors. Recovery periods were estimated for survivors of each species and were highly variable, differing based on duration of tag deployment. High variability in responses to capture and release between species demonstrates the need for species-specific assessments of post-release mortality in shore-based recreational fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the latest estimates, the Gulf of Maine is currently warming faster than 99% of the world's oceans. As a result, this region has become an ideal location for research into the effects that warming has on the historical fisheries that make up this ocean basin. Both white hake (Urophycis tenuis) and red hake (Urophycis chuss) are common Gulf of Maine groundfish species, distributed both inshore and offshore. While these two species are closely related phycid hakes, white hake stocks are recognized in the Gulf of Maine as rebuilding, while red hake are above target biomass levels. As a species commonly found throughout the Gulf of Maine that prefers cooler waters (4-12°C), we hypothesize the effects of climate change might influence stock behavior, such as changes in species distribution. We used generalized additive models (GAMs) to describe the relationship between hake abundance and environmental conditions using bottom temperature, bottom salinity, depth, and catch data contributed by the Maine Department of Marine Resources during their Maine - New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Surveys of the last 22 years (2000 - 2021). Our results reveal species-specific preferences for bottom temperature (white hake ~9 to ~13°C, red hake < 12°C) and depth (white hake ~55 to ~100m, red hake > ~65m), with no significant correlation to bottom salinity. Spatially over time, white hake abundance displayed a gradual center of gravity northward, while red hake rapidly increased inshore. Overall, these results highlight species-specific density changes in inshore distribution, consistent with previous studies, with considerable implications on future management strategies in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical control of photogenerated terahertz (THz) spin current pulses from a spintronic emitter has been at the forefront for the development of scalable, cost‐efficient, wideband optospintronic devices. Artificially combined ferroelectric and ferromagnet heterostructure provides the potential avenue to deterministically control the phase of THz spin current pulse through piezoelectric strain. Here, the electric field‐mediated piezoelectric strain control of photogenerated THz spin current pulse from a multiferroic spintronic emitter is demonstrated. The phase reversal of the THz spin current pulse is obtained from the combined effect of piezoelectric strain and a small magnetic field applied opposite to the initial magnetization of the ferromagnet. The piezoelectric strain‐controlled phase switching of THz spin current thus opens a door to develop efficient strain engineered scalable on‐chip THz spintronics devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding biological and environmental factors that influence movement behaviors and population connectivity of highly migratory fishes is essential for cooperative international management and conservation of exploited populations, like bluefin tuna. Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (PBT) spawn in the western Pacific Ocean and then juveniles disperse to foraging grounds across the North Pacific. Several techniques have been used to characterize the distribution and movement of PBT, but few methods can provide complete records across ontogeny from larvae to adult in individual fish. Here, otolith biominerals of large PBT collected from the western, eastern, and south Pacific Ocean, were analyzed for a suite of trace elements across calcified/proteinaceous growth zones to investigate patterns across ontogeny. Three element:Ca ratios, Li:Ca, Mg:Ca, and Mn:Ca displayed enrichment in the otolith core, then decreased to low stable levels after age 1–2 years. Thermal and metabolic physiologies, common diets, or ambient water chemistry likely influenced otolith crystallization, protein content, and elemental incorporation in early life. Although similar patterns were also exhibited for otolith Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca and Zn:Ca in the first year, variability in these elements differed significantly after age-2 and in the otolith edges by capture region, suggesting ocean-specific environmental factors or growth-related physiologies affected otolith mineralization across ontogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geochemical chronologies were constructed from otoliths of adult Pacific bluefin tuna (PBT) to investigate the timing of age-specific egress of juveniles from coastal nurseries in the East China Sea or Sea of Japan to offshore waters of the Pacific Ocean. Element:Ca chronologies were developed for otolith Li, Mg, Mn, Zn, Sr, and Ba, and our assessment focused on the section of the otolith corresponding to the age-0 to age-1 + interval. Next, we applied a common time-series approach to geochemical profiles to identify divergences presumably linked to inshore-offshore migrations. Conspicuous geochemical shifts were detected during the juvenile interval for Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, and Sr:Ca that were indicative of coastal-offshore transitions or egress generally occurring for individuals approximately 4–6 mo. old, with later departures (6 mo. or older) linked to overwintering being more limited. Changepoints in otolith Ba:Ca profiles were most common in the early age-1 period (ca. 12–16 mo.) and appear associated with entry into upwelling areas such as the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem following trans-Pacific migrations. Natal origin of PBT was also predicted using the early life portion of geochemical profile in relation to a baseline sample comprised of age-0 PBT from the two primary spawning areas in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan. Mixed-stock analysis indicated that the majority (66%) of adult PBT in our sample originated from the East China Sea, but individuals of Sea of Japan origin were also detected in the Ryukyu Archipelago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damping-like torque (DLT) arising from the spin Hall effect (SHE) in heavy metals and their alloys has been widely explored for applications in spin–orbit torque MRAM, auto-oscillations, spin waves, and domain wall motion. In conventional materials, the DLT efficiency is limited by intrinsic properties, while attaining strong spin–orbit coupling and higher spin-charge interconversion, with no compromise to electric properties, is the need of the hour. In this Letter, we report more than 3.5 times increase in DLT efficiency, θDL, of modified Pt-oxide by employing a better approach of low energy 20 keV O+ ion implantation. The highest fluence of O+ implantation (1 × 1017 ions cm−2) in Pt enhanced the DLT efficiency from 0.064 to 0.230 and improved the spin transmission for a smaller trade-off in the longitudinal resistivity ( ρ Pt to ρ Pt − Oxide) from 55.4 to 159.5 μΩ cm, respectively. The transverse spin Hall resistivity, ρ SH , is found to be proportional to the square of the longitudinal resistivity, i.e., ρ SH imp ∝ ρ imp 2 , implying that the enhanced SHE in O-implanted Pt is due to a side-jumping mechanism. Further, no break in the twofold as well as mirror symmetry of torques from the O-implanted Pt allows the use of spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance-based line shape analysis to quantify such torques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life histories of estuarine species are often adapted to the environmental variability they experience. However, estuaries are increasingly vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic changes, necessitating an understanding of how shifting conditions affect the survival, behaviour and population structure of estuarine-dependent animals. In this study we used data from fisheries-independent surveys collected across six estuaries with variable salinity regimes in Texas, USA, from 1975 to 2016 to investigate the role sources of freshwater inflow play in shaping juvenile bull shark Carcharhinus leucas size structure. High frequencies of co-occurrence with similarly sized conspecifics (59% of capture events) suggest bull sharks segregated within Texan estuaries based on body size. Bull shark sizes increased with distance to the nearest source of freshwater inflow, although effect sizes were small and access to freshwater habitats may be more important in shaping size-dependent distribution patterns. River mouths were disproportionately used by smaller juveniles (,90-cm total length, TL) and avoided by larger juveniles (.135 cm TL). However, the use of river mouths decreased in estuaries characterised by limited freshwater inflow and greater variability in salinities at river mouths, highlighting geographic differences in the functions these habitats provide as potential environmental and predator refugia. Young-ofthe- year (i.e. age-0) sharks also increased their use of river mouths throughout the 40-year study period, revealing the growing importance of river mouths as potential nursery habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of charitable organizations in an equitable and socially just manner is a long-standing policy concern in the United Kingdom and many other jurisdictions. Geographic variations are important as they are linked to potentially inequitable service provision and opportunities for participation in voluntary activities. This study links large-scale administrative data on charities registered in England and Wales with local authority-level measures of material deprivation for 5 U.K. census years (1971–2011). Count and spatial regression models show evidence of nonlinear associations between charity density and social need, and changes in the shape of this distribution over time. In general, charity density is highest in the least deprived local authorities but this varies across different types of organizations and census years. These results provide important new insights into the evolving relationship between charity density and social need, and demonstrate the value of adopting more advanced, longitudinal statistical approaches for studying this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precession trajectories during excitation of magnetization dynamics play an important role in determining spin wave propagation, emission power of spin torque oscillator, and spin current generated by spin pumping. However, comparatively little information has emerged on the effect of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) on dynamical magnetization trajectories. The effect of PMA on magnetization dynamics has become particularly important since the discovery of voltage control of magnetic anisotropy in CoFeB/MgO junctions. This motivates us to investigate the effect of PMA on dynamical magnetization trajectories of CoFeB thin films using micromagnetic simulations. The ellipticity of the trajectories is found to increase monotonically with PMA. On the other hand, the area of such elliptical trajectories, which determine the spin current generation, shows a non-monotonous change with respect to PMA. This area can be expected to be maximum for the case where ellipticity is ~0.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the stress responses of sharks to recreational catch and release fishing has important management and conservation implications. The blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus is a popular recreational species targeted throughout the western, central and eastern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) yet it is unclear what levels of physiological stress result from catch-release fishing practices with hook and line gear and if the stress levels result in post-release mortality. This study correlates physiological response to stress through blood chemistry analysis and examines post-release behaviour of adult blacktip sharks caught to determine post-release mortality rates. Release behaviour was determined by pop-up satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tags that record temperature, depth and light level data. To quantify physiological stress levels, blood samples were collected from 52 blacktip sharks and a suite of metabolic and osmotic markers were measured. Thirty-six of those blacktip sharks were also outfitted with a PSAT tag yielding time-at-large from 3 to 180 days. Of the 36 tags, 22 (61%) provided sufficient data to confirm post-release fate and 11 (31%) were recovered providing high-resolution data. Tag data suggests a post-release morality rate of 22.7% (95% confidence interval 7.8–45.4%), with mortality occurring within minutes (immediate mortality) to over 12 h post-release (delayed mortality). Compared to survivors, immediate mortalities exhibited significantly higher lactate (median 2.8 mmol/Lsurvivor vs 5.9 mmol/Limmediate mortality) and significantly lower hematocrit (median 24.4% survivor vs 14% immediate mortality) levels, but no difference was detected between survivors and delayed mortalities. Higher mortality in the western (30%) compared to the central (20%) Gulf may be due to shark handling. All PSATs from mortalities (N  = 5) were recovered, and archived data revealed evidence of tag ingestion by predators. Results suggest reduced fight time, decreased handling time and limited air exposure provide blacktip sharks the best survival chances after release by recreational anglers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine the forms, scale and role of community and voluntary support for community hospitals in England. Design A multimethods study. Quantitative analysis of Charity Commission data on levels of volunteering and voluntary income for charities supporting community hospitals. Nine qualitative case studies of community hospitals and their surrounding communities, including interviews and focus groups. Setting Community hospitals in England and their surrounding communities. Participants Charity Commission data for 245 community hospital Leagues of Friends. Interviews with staff (89), patients (60), carers (28), volunteers (35), community representatives (20), managers and commissioners (9). Focus groups with multidisciplinary teams (8 groups across nine sites, involving 43 respondents), volunteers (6 groups, 33 respondents) and community stakeholders (8 groups, 54 respondents). Results Communities support community hospitals through: human resources (average=24 volunteers a year per hospital); financial resources (median voluntary income = £15 632); practical resources through services and activities provided by voluntary and community groups; and intellectual resources (eg, consultation and coproduction). Communities provide valuable supplementary resources to the National Health Service, enhancing community hospital services, patient experience, staff morale and volunteer well-being. Such resources, however, vary in level and form from hospital to hospital and over time: voluntary income is on the decline, as is membership of League of Friends, and it can be hard to recruit regular, active volunteers. Conclusions Communities can be a significant resource for healthcare services, in ways which can enhance patient experience and service quality. Harnessing that resource, however, is not straight forward and there is a perception that it might be becoming more difficult questioning the extent to which it can be considered sustainable or ‘renewable’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have attributed various beneficial outcomes to the presence and density of the voluntary, third or non-profit sector in communities. One way in which the distribution of such organizations may benefit communities is through providing opportunities for volunteering. We hypothesize that the distribution of third-sector organizations has an influence, after controlling for relevant individual and area characteristics, on the likelihood of engaging in formal volunteering (defined as unpaid help given through, and to, third-sector organizations, rather than directly to individuals). Using administrative data from the Charity Commission, we classify organizations in terms of their geographical scale of operation. We then construct indicators of the distribution of charities, and their expenditures, for local authorities in England. We obtain data on volunteering by individuals from the Citizenship Survey and link this to administrative data contained in the Charity Commission register on the distribution of charities. We find that there is a positive relationship between the numbers of charities operating locally and the likelihood of volunteering. Other measures, however, including the distribution of charities operating either regionally or nationally, have no statistically significant effects. We find no relationship between a measure of the size of charities (the median expenditures of charities within local authorities) and the likelihood of volunteering. These findings are relevant beyond the UK to debates about the understanding of variations in voluntary action, and to discussions about the impact of the third sector upon communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As upper-level predators, sharks are important for maintaining marine food web structure, but populations are threatened by fishery exploitation. Sustainable management of shark populations requires improved understanding of migration patterns and population demographics, which has traditionally been sought through physical and/or electronic tagging studies. The application of natural tags such as elemental variations in mineralized band pairs of elasmobranch vertebrae cartilage could also reveal endogenous and exogenous processes experienced by sharks throughout their life histories. Here, elemental profiles were characterized in vertebrae encompassing complete life histories (birth-to-death) of shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), common thresher (Alopias vulpinus) and blue shark (Prionace glauca) of known tag and recapture locations in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. All sharkswere injected with oxytetracycline at initial capture, released and subsequently recaptured, with individual liberty times ranging from 215 days to 6 years. Vertebral band pairs forming over the liberty intervals were verified by counting the number of band pairs deposited since the oxytetracycline band. Regular oscillations in vertebrae manganese (Mn) content correspondedwell with the numberof validated band pairs, suggesting that Mn variation could be used to age sharks. Increases in vertebrae barium concentration were correlated with times when individuals occupied areas with high coastal upwelling indices, the timing and spatial intensity of which varied from year to year. Interspecific relationships were probably influenced by behavioural differences in horizontal and vertical habitat use, feeding habits and thermoregulatory physiology. These results indicate that vertebral sclerochronology has the potential to advance our knowledge of elasmobranch life history including age and growth estimation and environmental reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the situation of the English voluntary sector in relation to austerity-driven social policies. Existing characterisations are outlined and it is argued that the quantitative evidence used to represent the situation of these organisations to date has been partial because it relies too narrowly on financial resource input measures. We argue that the situation of these organisations needs to be conceptualised in a more holistic way and, to initiate a move in this direction, we identify and explicate two relevant dimensions: the perceived capacity of organisations to rely on volunteers for support (a non-financial resource input); and their perception of the effect of the policy climate in shaping their capacity to flourish, including their ability to perform multiple roles beyond service provision alone. We draw on an original mixed methods empirical study undertaken in England in 2015 to operationalise these dimensions, combining qualitative interviews with national ‘policy community’ members with a large scale on-line survey of social policy charities. We find a complex and variegated situation that, while acknowledging the fundamental importance of financial resource pressures, also points to the salience of the volunteering situation, and to the relevance of the challenging policy climate that these organisations have to navigate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting population- and ecosystem-level benefits of habitat restoration minimally requires an understanding of the link between the trophic ecology of a species and their use of a habitat. This study combined novel, non-lethal natural tracers of trophic ecology with acoustic tagging techniques to examine spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use of spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus on Half Moon Reef (HMR), a recently restored oyster reef in Matagorda Bay, Texas. Forty-one spotted seatrout (408 ± 25 mm total length) were captured at HMR, surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters, and monitored by an array of underwater listening stations from December 2015 to August 2016. Patterns of presence-absence on HMR were strongly influenced by water temperature, and to a lesser extent, salinity and tidal height. Overall, spotted seatrout residency to HMR was low, with fish being present on the reef 24% of days. When present, individual fish exhibited strong site-attachment to small portions of the reef. Residency to HMR increased significantly with size, while scale stable isotope analysis revealed fish exhibiting high residency to HMR occupied significantly smaller isotopic niches. If indeed smaller fish with decreased residency rely upon a wider range of prey items across multiple habitats than larger, more resident individuals, restored oyster reef habitat may be expected to primarily benefit larger spotted seatrout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing links between migration patterns and trophic dynamics is paramount to ecological studies investigating the functional role habitats provide to resident and transient species. Natural tags in fishes, such as otolith chemistry and tissue stable isotopes, can help reconstruct previous environmental and dietary histories, although these approaches are rarely combined. A novel multiproxy natural tag approach was developed to estimate immigration patterns of juvenile Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus, across contrasting salinity gradients in three subtropical estuaries of the western Gulf of Mexico. Juvenile young-of-year Atlantic croaker were collected along a latitudinal gradient that included positive, neutral, and negative estuaries, based on physicochemical (temperature, salinity, dissolved element) and isotopic (δ15N and δ13C) parameters. Otolith elemental chronologies of Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca were used to classify migratory types within each estuary, while tissue-specific isotope ratios revealed time since recent (liver~weeks) and longer term (muscle~months) diet shifts. Nitrogen isotopes in both liver and muscle tissues were highly correlated, suggesting tissue equilibrium and estuarine residence of at least 3 months, with geographic δ15N gradients reflecting the magnitude of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment within each estuary. Differences in isotopic equilibrium of muscle-liver δ13C values and variation in marginal edge otolith Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca suggested recent shifts in carbon source and habitat utilization, reflecting individualized movement across seascapes and connectivity of habitat mosaics. The multiproxy approach presented here identified diverse migration patterns and linked feeding and movement on regional (inter-estuary), local (intra-estuary), and individual scales to improve our understanding of habitat function across estuarine gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has recently been public discussion of the rewards available to senior staff in English and Welsh charities. However, that discussion is usually based on examples of individual salaries, or on unrepresentative and small subsets of the charity population. To provide a robust and informed basis for debate, we have conducted analyses of evidence on the payment of high salaries (defined as the numbers of people paid above £60,000 p.a., a reporting threshold used by the Charity Commission) in: (a) a representative sample of c.10,000 English and Welsh charities, and (b) surveys of individuals regarding comparative salary levels in different sectors of the economy. Overall, survey data show that the proportion of staff in receipt of high salaries is lower than average in the third sector than in other sectors. Information from charity annual accounts is used to demonstrate which charities are more likely than others to pay such salaries, and to relate the likelihood of paying high salaries to charity characteristics (income, location and subsector). We show that the distribution of high pay in the charitable sector is largely a function of the size and complexity of organisations, and is generally unrelated to subsector or income mix. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rationale: Application of vertebral chemistry in elasmobranchs has the potential to progress our understanding of individual migration patterns and population dynamics. However, the influence of handling artifacts such as sample cleaning and storage on vertebral chemistry is unclear and requires experimental investigation. Methods: Vertebrae centra from blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) were cleaned with bleach (NaOCl) for 5 minutes (min), 1 hour (h) and 24 (h) in a cleaning experiment and stored frozen, in 70% ethanol, and 10% formalin treatments for 20 days in a storage experiment. Element concentrations (Li, Na, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, Pb) were quantified in the outer edges of vertebrae centra using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and the [element:Ca] molar ratios were compared among treatments and individual sharks. Results: Bleach cleaning significantly increased [Na:Ca] and formalin storage decreased [Na:Ca] and [Mg:Ca], but ethanol storage did not affect any [element:Ca] ratios. Vertebrae edge [Sr:Ca], [Ba:Ca] and [Mn:Ca] varied among individual sharks, potentially reflecting different environments that they had previously inhabited. Conclusions: This study shows how archiving methods for vertebrae cartilage can affect primary element:Ca compositions. We demonstrate greatest element:Ca stabilities for vertebrae with limited bleach exposure that are either stored in ethanol or frozen, supporting the use of comparably archived sample sets in future elemental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Timely access to the right kind of support for people experiencing a mental health crisis can be problematic. The voluntary sector (VS) plays a key role in providing support and enabling access, but there is a knowledge gap concerning its contribution and interface with public services in mental health crisis care. This study aims to address this. Methods and analysis The study has three empirical elements: (1) a national survey of voluntary sector organisations (VSOs) in England and national stakeholder interviews to develop a typology of organisations and interventions provided by VSOs; (2) detailed mapping of VS services in two regions through interviews and extending the national survey; (3) four case studies, identified from the regional mapping, of VS mental health crisis services and their interface with National Health Service (NHS) and local authority services, at both a system and individual level. Data collection will involve interviews with commissioners; VSO and NHS or local authority providers; and focus groups with people who have experience of VSO crisis support, both service users and carers; and mapping the crisis trajectory of 10 service users in each study site through narrative interviews with service users and informal carers to understand the experience of VSO crisis care and its impact. Ethics and dissemination The University of Birmingham Humanities and Social Sciences Ethical Review Committee granted ethical approval (reference ERN_16-1183) for the national and regional elements of the study. Ethical review by the Health Research Authority will be required for the case study research once the sites have been identified from the first two elements of the study. A range of methods including a policy seminar, publication in academic journals and a tool kit for commissioners and practitioners will be produced to maximise the impact of the findings on policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationships between abundance of post-larval and juvenile carangid (jacks) fishes and physical oceanographic conditions were examined in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in 2011 with high freshwater input from the Mississippi River. Generalized additive models ( GAMs) were used to explore complex relationships between carangid abundance and physical oceanographic data of sea surface temperature ( SST), sea surface height anomaly ( SSHA) and salinity. The five most abundant carangid species collected were: Selene setapinnis (34%); Caranx crysos (30%); Caranx hippos (10%); Chloroscombrus chrysurus (9%) and Trachurus lathami (8%). Post-larval carangids (median standard length [ SL] = 10 mm) were less abundant during the spring and early summer, but more abundant during the late summer and fall, suggesting summer to fall spawning for most species. Juvenile carangid (median SL = 23 mm) abundance also increased between the mid-summer and early fall. Most species showed increased abundance at lower salinities and higher temperatures, suggesting entrainment of post-larval fishes or feeding aggregations of juveniles at frontal convergence zones between the expansive river plume and dynamic mesoscale eddy water masses. However, responses were species- and life-stage specific, which may indicate fine-scale habitat partitioning between species. Ordination methods also revealed higher carangid abundances at lower salinities for both post-larval and juvenile life stages, with species- and life-stage specific responses to SST and SSHA, further suggesting habitat separation between species. Results indicate strong links between physical oceanographic features and carangid distributions in the dynamic northern GoM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As top predators, sharks play important ecological roles in coastal marine ecosystems. Yet, environmental changes in many coastal regions are likely altering the composition of ecological communities, the interspecific interactions sharks have within coastal waters, and subsequently the ecological roles sharks play within these ecosystems. As such, understanding interactions among sharks, and how extrinsic factors shape these interactions, is important for predicting the consequences of future human impacts and environmental changes. Elucidating the contexts under which species co-occur and the implications of co-occurrence is an important step in developing such a predictive framework. Blacktip shark ( Carcharhinus limbatus) and bull shark ( Carcharhinus leucas) concentrations were quantified using long-term coastal gill net survey data across five bay systems in Texas. Relationships between co-occurrence, and environmental factors and shark sizes were examined within and across species. Co-occurrence of blacktip sharks and bull sharks varied spatially and temporally, with a significant increase in interspecific co-occurrence from the 1970s to 2010s, and a significant decrease in bull shark concentrations through time. Changes in environmental conditions, specifically increasing salinities, may have been responsible for increased blacktip and bull shark co-occurrence, and potential interspecific competition, which in turn may have led to decreased bull shark concentrations to reduce intraspecific competition. However, more refined questions are needed before predictive frameworks can be developed concerning the contexts under which co-occurrence is prevalent. Quantifying resource use among coastal sharks will help elucidate the drivers and implications of co-occurrence, and the potential for competitive interactions within and across species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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For decades, disruption of the bilateral symmetry of body structures has been related to underperformance and, hence, to fitness. In fish, this concept coupled with the claimed evidence for increased fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of pairs of hard structures, such as otoliths under conditions of stress, has led to the use of otolith FA (OFA) as a proxy for individual fitness and population success. Interpreting those significant differences in OFA in relation to stress-inducing environments and using them to identify suboptimal conditions for survival is especially appealing in the context of, for example, assessing climate change using historical otolith collections. Despite several works that give evidence to support the usefulness of OFA approach, we report on a number of unpublished and published datasets from a wide range of both, wild populations and experimental designs that show no correlation between OFA and any of the usual indicators of fitness or between OFA and expected stress gradients. Our results suggest that there may be a strong bias in the published literature towards positive relationships, despite the enormous importance of negative results for understanding the significance of OFA. These results might shed light on the interpretability of OFA in both laboratory and field studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative perceptions of anti-social behaviour have been shown by previous research to have harmful repercussions to both an individual’s mental and physical health as well as the neighbourhood’s long-term prospects. Studies in the USA have previously found that the location of alcohol supply points is associated with these negative perceptions, whereas recent, more qualitative and ethnographic research from the UK emphasises the heterogenous and contingent nature of attitudes and perceptions towards alcohol consumption patterns and behaviour. Using multilevel models applied to data from a national crime survey and geocoded data on pubs, bars and nightclubs, this paper focuses on the complex relationship between perceptions of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and the density of such establishments across England. The findings support the general link between unfavourable perceptions and density of outlets but also highlight the complexity of this association by showing that these relationships are dependent on other characteristics of the neighbourhood, namely deprivation and the proportion of young people in the neighbourhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace elements and stable isotopes are commonly used in chronologically formed biominerals as proxies of temperature and/or salinity in estuarine and marine environments. To accurately use the chemistry of biominerals as salinity proxies, understanding the consistency of dissolved element-salinity relationships across spatiotemporal scales is essential. We examined relationships between dissolved Ba:Ca, Sr:Ca, Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, δO, and salinity on regional, local, and seasonal scales in the lower portions of subtropical estuaries (salinities 15-42 ppt) of Texas, including locations where seasonal alternations between negative and positive estuaries can occur. Across all spatiotemporal scales, Ba:Ca displayed a negative linear relationship within the sampled salinity range and was elevated at sites furthest from the ocean and lowest at locations closest to the Gulf of Mexico. This pattern remained consistent as the neutral estuary switched from negative to positive after a rain event. On regional scales, δO displayed a positive linear relationship with salinity and was strongly related to evaporation rates. On local and seasonal scales, evaporation-enriched δO at upper enclosed estuarine sites and this pattern was consistent over time including periods of reverse estuary conditions. Dissolved Sr:Ca and Mg:Ca varied linearly with salinity on regional scales but displayed minimal variation across temporal scales within an estuary. High variability in dissolved Mn:Ca-salinity relations was found at all spatiotemporal scales, with localized episodic peaks of Mn:Ca possibly due to sediment disturbance. Although dissolved Ba:Ca and δO were not predictably related to salinity on local scales, consistent up-estuary enrichment and lower-estuary depletion make these two constituents reliable proxies for animal movements across the ocean-estuary gradient as recorded in chronologically formed biominerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient and resident habitat utilization patterns were described for juvenile striped bass Morone saxatilis in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, using otolith elemental chronologies. As fish grew and migrated across the sound and into river habitats, influences from the ambient environment became dominant on elemental patterns. Otolith Ba:Ca was the most reliable element to discern fish movement across the salinity gradients in Albemarle Sound. Resident fish displayed faster growth (mean ± standard deviation: 1.3 ± 0.23 mm/d) than transients (1.1 ± 0.22 mm/d), indicating that residents may have located high quality habitats and remained there, while transient fish expended energy searching for more optimal habitat. Faster growth rates (1.31 ± 0.22 mm/d) and only resident fish were found in the Pasquotank River, which may be an important nursery habitat for juvenile striped bass. Slow growth (1.19 ± 0.26 mm/d), and more transients (53 %) were found in traditional nursery areas in Batchelor Bay at the mouth of the Roanoke River, indicating that these habitats may not be supporting high growth, causing fish to move out of these areas. This study discerns fine scale movements of juvenile striped bass and identified resident and transient contingents by combining otolith microchemistry with daily increment analysis to investigate the consequences of migratory behavior on fish growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]