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Microgeographic units of analysis have moved to the center of criminological inquiry. This Element brings together leading crime-and-place scholars to identify promising areas for future study. Section 1 introduces the Element and the importance of focusing on the future of studies of crime and place. Section 2 examines the development of hot-spots policing and the importance of focusing on its impact on communities. It also looks at how 'pracademics' can advance the science and practice of place-based policing. Section 3 focuses on place managers as prevention agents and examines how city government can influence crime at place. It further contends that rural communities need to become a key focus of crime-and-place scholarship. Section 4 emphasizes the importance of the connection of health, crime, and place. It also argues for the importance of expanding the methodological tools of crime and place to include careful ethnographic and qualitative research.
The prenatal and early-life periods pose a crucial neurodevelopmental window whereby disruptions to the intestinal microbiota and the developing brain may have adverse impacts. As antibiotics affect the human intestinal microbiome, it follows that early-life antibiotic exposure may be associated with later-life psychiatric or neurocognitive outcomes.
Aims
To explore the association between early-life (in utero and early childhood (age 0–2 years)) antibiotic exposure and the subsequent risk of psychiatric and neurocognitive outcomes.
Method
A search was conducted using Medline, PsychINFO and Excerpta Medica databases on 20 November 2023. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and certainty was assessed using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) certainty assessment.
Results
Thirty studies were included (n = 7 047 853 participants). Associations were observed between in utero antibiotic exposure and later development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (odds ratio 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02–1.16) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (odds ratio 1.19, 95% CI: 1.11–1.27) and early-childhood exposure and later development of ASD (odds ratio 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01–1.40), ADHD (odds ratio 1.33, 95% CI: 1.20–1.48) and major depressive disorder (MDD) (odds ratio 1.29, 95% CI: 1.04–1.60). However, studies that used sibling control groups showed no significant association between early-life exposure and ASD or ADHD. No studies in MDD used sibling controls. Using the GRADE certainty assessment, all meta-analyses but one were rated very low certainty, largely owing to methodological and statistical heterogeneity.
Conclusions
While there was weak evidence for associations between antibiotic use in early-life and later neurodevelopmental outcomes, these were attenuated in sibling-controlled subgroup analyses. Thus, associations may be explained by genetic and familial confounding, and studies failing to utilise sibling-control groups must be interpreted with caution. PROSPERO ID: CRD42022304128
To evaluate the impact of receptive vocabulary versus years of education on neuropsychological performance of Black and White older adults.
Method:
A community-based prospectively enrolled cohort (n = 1,007; 130 Black, 877 White) in the Emory Healthy Brain Study were administered the NIH Toolbox Picture Vocabulary Test and neuropsychological measures. Group differences were evaluated with age, sex, and education or age, sex, and Toolbox Vocabulary scores as covariates to determine whether performance differences between Black versus White participants were attenuated or eliminated.
Results:
With vocabulary as a covariate, the main effect of race was no longer significant for the MoCA, Phonemic Fluency, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Rey Complex Figure Test immediate and delayed recall. Although still significantly different between groups, the effect sizes for Animal Fluency, Trails B-A, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and Rey Copy were attenuated, with the greatest reductions occurring for the Multilingual Naming Test and Judgment of Line Orientation.
Conclusions:
Findings support the value of using receptive vocabulary as a proxy for premorbid ability level when comparing the cognitive performance of Black and White older adults. The results extend investigations using measures of single word reading to encompass measures assessing word meaning.
The unsteady flow physics of wind-turbine wakes under dynamic forcing conditions are critical to the modelling and control of wind farms for optimal power density. Unsteady forcing in the streamwise direction may be generated by unsteady inflow conditions in the atmospheric boundary layer, dynamic induction control of the turbine or streamwise surge motions of a floating offshore wind turbine due to floating-platform oscillations. This study seeks to identify the dominant flow mechanisms in unsteady wakes forced by a periodic upstream inflow condition. A theoretical framework for the problem is derived, which describes travelling-wave undulations in the wake radius and streamwise velocity. These dynamics encourage the aggregation of tip vortices into large structures that are advected along in the wake. Flow measurements in the wake of a periodically surging turbine were obtained in an optically accessible towing-tank facility, with an average diameter-based Reynolds number of 300 000 and with surge-velocity amplitudes of up to 40 % of the mean inflow velocity. Qualitative agreement between trends in the measurements and model predictions is observed, supporting the validity of the theoretical analyses. The experiments also demonstrate large enhancements in the recovery of the wake relative to the steady-flow case, with wake-length reductions of up to 46.5 % and improvements in the available power at 10 diameters downstream of up to 15.7 %. These results provide fundamental insights into the dynamics of unsteady wakes and serve as additional evidence that unsteady fluid mechanics can be leveraged to increase the power density of wind farms.
Early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services improve outcomes for young people, but approximately 30% disengage.
Aims
To test whether a new motivational engagement intervention would prolong engagement and whether it was cost-effective.
Method
We conducted a multicentre, single-blind, parallel-group, cluster randomised controlled trial involving 20 EIP teams at five UK National Health Service (NHS) sites. Teams were randomised using permuted blocks stratified by NHS trust. Participants were all young people (aged 14–35 years) presenting with a first episode of psychosis between May 2019 and July 2020 (N = 1027). We compared the novel Early Youth Engagement (EYE-2) intervention plus standardised EIP (sEIP) with sEIP alone. The primary outcome was time to disengagement over 12–26 months. Economic outcomes were mental health costs, societal costs and socio-occupational outcomes over 12 months. Assessors were masked to treatment allocation for primary disengagement and cost-effectiveness outcomes. Analysis followed intention-to-treat principles. The trial was registered at ISRCTN51629746.
Results
Disengagement was low at 15.9% overall in standardised stand-alone services. The adjusted hazard ratio for EYE-2 + sEIP (n = 652) versus sEIP alone (n = 375) was 1.07 (95% CI 0.76–1.49; P = 0.713). The health economic evaluation indicated lower mental healthcare costs linked to reductions in unplanned mental healthcare with no compromise of clinical outcomes, as well as some evidence for lower societal costs and more days in education, training, employment and stable accommodation in the EYE-2 group.
Conclusions
We found no evidence that EYE-2 increased time to disengagement, but there was some evidence for its cost-effectiveness. This is the largest study to date reporting positive engagement, health and cost outcomes in a total EIP population sample. Limitations included high loss to follow-up for secondary outcomes and low completion of societal and socio-occupational data. COVID-19 affected fidelity and implementation. Future engagement research should target engagement to those in greatest need, including in-patients and those with socio-occupational goals.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we rapidly implemented a plasma coordination center, within two months, to support transfusion for two outpatient randomized controlled trials. The center design was based on an investigational drug services model and a Food and Drug Administration-compliant database to manage blood product inventory and trial safety.
Methods:
A core investigational team adapted a cloud-based platform to randomize patient assignments and track inventory distribution of control plasma and high-titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma of different blood groups from 29 donor collection centers directly to blood banks serving 26 transfusion sites.
Results:
We performed 1,351 transfusions in 16 months. The transparency of the digital inventory at each site was critical to facilitate qualification, randomization, and overnight shipments of blood group-compatible plasma for transfusions into trial participants. While inventory challenges were heightened with COVID-19 convalescent plasma, the cloud-based system, and the flexible approach of the plasma coordination center staff across the blood bank network enabled decentralized procurement and distribution of investigational products to maintain inventory thresholds and overcome local supply chain restraints at the sites.
Conclusion:
The rapid creation of a plasma coordination center for outpatient transfusions is infrequent in the academic setting. Distributing more than 3,100 plasma units to blood banks charged with managing investigational inventory across the U.S. in a decentralized manner posed operational and regulatory challenges while providing opportunities for the plasma coordination center to contribute to research of global importance. This program can serve as a template in subsequent public health emergencies.
The extent to which the oro-faecal route contributes to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is not established.
We systematically reviewed the evidence on the presence of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in faeces and other gastrointestinal sources by examining studies that used viral culture to investigate the presence of replication-competent virus in these samples. We conducted searches in the WHO COVID-19 Database, LitCovid, medRxiv, and Google Scholar for SARS-CoV-2 using keywords and associated synonyms, with a search date up to 28 November 2023.
We included 13 studies involving 229 COVID-19 subjects – providing 308 faecal or rectal swab SARS-CoV2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive samples tested with viral culture. The methods used for viral culture across the studies were heterogeneous. Three studies (two cohorts and one case series) reported observing replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) and whole-genome sequencing, and qPCR including appropriate cycle threshold changes. Overall, six (1.9%) of 308 faecal samples subjected to cell culture showed replication-competent virus. One study found replication-competent samples from one immunocompromised patient. No studies were identified demonstrating direct evidence of oro-faecal transmission to humans.
Our review found a relatively low frequency of replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 in faecal and other gastrointestinal sources. Although it is biologically plausible, more research is needed using standardized cell culture methods, control groups, adequate follow-up, and robust epidemiologic methods, including whether secondary infections occurred, to determine the role of the oro-faecal route in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Motor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative condition that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss of the ability to move, speak, swallow and breathe. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an acceptance-based behavioural therapy that may be particularly beneficial for people living with MND (plwMND). This qualitative study aimed to explore plwMND’s experiences of receiving adapted ACT, tailored to their specific needs, and therapists’ experiences of delivering it.
Method:
Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with plwMND who had received up to eight 1:1 sessions of adapted ACT and therapists who had delivered it within an uncontrolled feasibility study. Interviews explored experiences of ACT and how it could be optimised for plwMND. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using framework analysis.
Results:
Participants were 14 plwMND and 11 therapists. Data were coded into four over-arching themes: (i) an appropriate tool to navigate the disease course; (ii) the value of therapy outweighing the challenges; (iii) relevance to the individual; and (iv) involving others. These themes highlighted that ACT was perceived to be acceptable by plwMND and therapists, and many participants reported or anticipated beneficial outcomes in the future, despite some therapeutic challenges. They also highlighted how individual factors can influence experiences of ACT, and the potential benefit of involving others in therapy.
Conclusions:
Qualitative data supported the acceptability of ACT for plwMND. Future research and clinical practice should address expectations and personal relevance of ACT to optimise its delivery to plwMND.
Key learning aims
(1) To understand the views of people living with motor neuron disease (plwMND) and therapists on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for people living with this condition.
(2) To understand the facilitators of and barriers to ACT for plwMND.
(3) To learn whether ACT that has been tailored to meet the specific needs of plwMND needs to be further adapted to potentially increase its acceptability to this population.
In schizophrenia (SZ), impairments in cognitive functions, such as working memory, have been associated with alterations in certain types of inhibitory neurons that utilize the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). For example, GABA neurons that express parvalbumin (PV) or somatostatin (SST) have more prominent gene expression alterations than those that express vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). In bipolar disorder (BD) and major depression (MD), which exhibit similar, but less severe, cognitive impairments than SZ, alterations of transcript levels in GABA neurons have also been reported. However, the extent to which GABA neuron subtype-selective transcripts in the DLPFC are affected, and the relative magnitudes of the diagnosis-associated effects, have not been directly compared across SZ, BD, and MD in the same study.
Methods
We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to examine levels of GABA neuron subtype-selective transcripts (PV, potassium voltage-gated channel modifier subfamily-S member-3, SST, VIP, and calretinin mRNAs), as well as the pan-GABA neuron marker 67 kDa glutamate decarboxylase mRNA, in DLPFC total gray matter of 160 individuals, including those with SZ, BD, or MD and unaffected comparison (UC) individuals.
Results
Relative to UC individuals, individuals with SZ exhibited large deficits in levels of all transcripts except for calretinin mRNA, whereas individuals with BD or MD showed a marked deficit only for PV or SST mRNAs, respectively.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that broader and more severe alterations in DLPFC GABA neurons might contribute to the greater cognitive impairments in SZ relative to BD and MD.
We study the Cauchy problem on the real line for the nonlocal Fisher-KPP equation in one spatial dimension,
\begin{equation*} u_t = D u_{xx} + u(1-\phi *u), \end{equation*}
where $\phi *u$ is a spatial convolution with the top hat kernel, $\phi (y) \equiv H\left (\frac{1}{4}-y^2\right )$. After observing that the problem is globally well-posed, we demonstrate that positive, spatially periodic solutions bifurcate from the spatially uniform steady state solution $u=1$ as the diffusivity, $D$, decreases through $\Delta _1 \approx 0.00297$ (the exact value is determined in Section 3). We explicitly construct these spatially periodic solutions as uniformly valid asymptotic approximations for $D \ll 1$, over one wavelength, via the method of matched asymptotic expansions. These consist, at leading order, of regularly spaced, compactly supported regions with width of $O(1)$ where $u=O(1)$, separated by regions where $u$ is exponentially small at leading order as $D \to 0^+$. From numerical solutions, we find that for $D \geq \Delta _1$, permanent form travelling waves, with minimum wavespeed, $2 \sqrt{D}$, are generated, whilst for $0 \lt D \lt \Delta _1$, the wavefronts generated separate the regions where $u=0$ from a region where a steady periodic solution is created via a distinct periodic shedding mechanism acting immediately to the rear of the advancing front, with this mechanism becoming more pronounced with decreasing $D$. The structure of these transitional travelling wave forms is examined in some detail.
In order to study the structure and temperature distribution within high-mass star-forming clumps, we employed the Australia Telescope Compact Array to image the $\mathrm{NH}_3$ (J,K) = (1,1) through (6,6) and the (2,1) inversion transitions, the $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$$6_{16}$-$5_{23}$ maser line at 22.23508 GHz, several $\mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{OH}$ lines and hydrogen and helium recombination lines. In addition, 22- and 24-GHz radio continuum emission was also imaged.
The $\mathrm{NH}_3$ lines probe the optical depth and gas temperature of compact structures within the clumps. The $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$ maser pinpoints the location of shocked gas associated with star formation. The recombination lines and the continuum emission trace the ionised gas associated with hot OB stars. The paper describes the data and presents sample images and spectra towards select clumps. The technique for estimating gas temperature from $\mathrm{NH}_3$ line ratios is described. The data show widespread hyperfine intensity anomalies in the $\mathrm{NH}_3$ (1,1) images, an indicator of non-LTE $\mathrm{NH}_3$ excitation. We also identify several new $\mathrm{NH}_3$ (3,3) masers associated with shocked gas. Towards AGAL328.809+00.632, the $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$$6_{16}$-$5_{23}$ line, normally seen as a maser, is instead seen as a thermally excited absorption feature against a strong background continuum. The data products are described in detail.
An increasing number of consumers are expressing concerns about the quality, nutrient content, and safety of the meet products they purchase, alongside animal welfare and the environmental footprint of production systems. Various studies show that grassland-based systems can produce a healthier meat product. In this context, livestock farmers are actively pursuing improvements in their systems focus on sustainability, with regenerative livestock farming emerging as a prominent approach. Most research has focused on showing the differences in the quality of meat comparing pastoral systems and those fed concentrates under controlled environments. However, there are no studies in Chile that evaluate the quality of beef derived from different pastoral systems, particularly those consider adequate data and products sourced directly from livestock sector. This study explores three beef production systems commonly used in southern Chile (conventional, free grazing, and regenerative), evaluating their impact on carcass characteristics, meat quality attributes, and nutritional components. The results show some variations in carcass weight and yield, with free grazing showing better results. Deviations in meat color were observed, with conventional meat being more red and yellow while regenerative meat was less bright. Subcutaneous fat color and water retention capacity were influenced by diet and production methods. Although lipid oxidation showed no differences, 100% grazing-based systems exhibited lower values, suggesting a higher intake of antioxidants. The research highlights the nutritional superiority of beef from grasslands, characterized by a lower intramuscular fat content and higher values of minerals, such as selenium. The complex multifactorial interaction of pastoral systems is also highlighted, impacting the carcass and meat quality. A holistic approach is essential in future research to generate and assess healthy beef.
Introduction: The organizational readiness for change assessment survey (ORCA) is a tool to assess a site’s readiness for implementation and identify barriers to change. As the “Kicking CAUTI” antibiotic stewardship intervention rolled out on a national scale, we administered ORCA surveys to participating sites to capture baseline actionable information about differences among sites, to inform implementation. Methods: ORCA surveys were distributed by email to prescribing providers, nurses, pharmacists, infection preventionists, and quality managers at 40 participating VA Hospitals. VA hospital sites who submitted three or more surveys and their complexity level (measured as Level 1 (highest)-3) were included in the analysis. The highest complexity level facilities are those with the largest patient volume/risk, teaching and research, along with the largest number of physician specialists and contain at least five ICUs. Mean Likert scores were calculated for each of the 7 ORCA subscales on a scale of 1-5 (5 highest), and the mean of the 7 subscales was the overall ORCA score for a site. Non-parametric testing was performed comparing overall ORCA and each subscale based on complexity. Results: Among the participating sites, 30/40 (75%) completed at least three surveys, with a total of 202 surveys included for analysis, with 82% of surveys coming from higher complexity centers (Level 1). The highest ranked ORCA domain was the evidence subscale (measures perceived strength of evidence), mean 4.2, (SD 0.7). The lowest ranked ORCA domain across sites was resources (available to facilitate implementation), mean 3.3 (SD 0.9). Higher complexity centers had a significantly higher overall ORCA score than lower complexity centers (Level 1 or 2 vs. Level 3, p= 0.02). This difference was driven by the subscales evidence (p < 0 .01), leadership (p =0.05), measurement (p= 0.06), and resources (p=0.07) all being higher in the higher complexity facilities (Figure 1). Two of the categories (leadership and measurement) pertain to an organization’s leaders ability to create an environment for change to occur as well as promoting team building. Conclusions: The lowest scoring ORCA domain across all sites was the respondents’ perception of resources (staff, training) available for achieving change. Perceived resources were also lower in lower complexity sites, implying that medical centers of lower complexity may have higher barriers when implementing an antimicrobial stewardship intervention. This finding highlights the benefit of a national stewardship campaign that provides support to lower complexity medical centers that may not otherwise receive targeted training and support for their efforts.
Disclosure: Barbara Trautner: Stock: Abbvie--sold in December 2023; Abbott Laboratories--sold in December 2023; -Bristol Myers Squibb--sold in December 2023; Pfizer--sold in December 2023; Consultant--Phiogen--consultant. Contracted research through NIAID for STRIVE trial, currently testing Shionogi product; Contracted research--Peptilogics; Contracted research—Genentech
There is a relative lack of research, targeted models and tools to manage beaches in estuaries and bays (BEBs). Many estuaries and bays have been highly modified and urbanised, for example port developments and coastal revetments. This paper outlines the complications and opportunities for conserving and managing BEBs in modified estuaries. To do this, we focus on eight diverse case studies from North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia combined with the broader global literature. Our key findings are as follows: (1) BEBs are diverse and exist under a great variety of tide and wave conditions that differentiate them from open-coast beaches; (2) BEBs often lack statutory protection and many have already been sacrificed to development; (3) BEBs lack specific management tools and are often managed using tools developed for open-coast beaches; and (4) BEBs have the potential to become important in “nature-based” management solutions. We set the future research agenda for BEBs, which should include broadening research to include greater diversity of BEBs than in the past, standardising monitoring techniques, including the development of global databases using citizen science and developing specific management tools for BEBs. We must recognise BEBs as unique coastal features and develop the required fundamental knowledge and tools to effectively manage them, so they can continue providing their unique ecosystem services.
Patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are at increased risk for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of oral vancomycin prophylaxis (OVP) for CDI in HSCT patients.
Design:
Single-center, retrospective cohort.
Setting:
Tertiary care academic medical center in New Jersey.
Patients:
Patients ≥18 years old during admission for the HSCT were included. Patients who were admitted <72 hours or who had an active CDI prior to HSCT day 0 were excluded.
Methods:
Medical records of patients admitted between January 2015 and August 2022 to undergo an allogeneic or autologous HSCT were reviewed. The primary end point was the incidence of in-hospital CDI. Secondary end points included the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) bloodstream infections, VRE isolated from any clinical culture, gram-negative bloodstream infections, hospital survival, and hospital length of stay. Exploratory end points, including 1-year survival, relapse, and incidence of graft-versus-host disease, were also collected.
Results:
A total of 156 HSCT patients were included. There was 1 case of CDI (1 of 81, 1.23%) in the OVP group compared to 8 CDI cases (8 of 75, 10.67%) in the no OVP group (P = .0147). There were no significant (P > .05) between-group differences in incidence of gram-negative bloodstream infections, hospital survival, and length of stay. There were zero clinical cultures positive for VRE.
Conclusions:
In-hospital incidence of CDI in HSCT patients was significantly decreased with OVP. Randomized controlled trials are needed in this high-risk population to assess the efficacy and risks of OVP for CDI.