Social Impacts of the American Red Cross (ARC) Disaster Interventions: A Scoping Review.

The American Red Cross (ARC) self-reports post-disaster efforts annually, potentially biased for public image. The lack of formal reviews of ARC interventions' social impacts further exacerbates the issue. This scoping review aims to address both issues by summarizing and evaluating the social impact of ARC's national disaster interventions. As a secondary objective, this review will also provide important information to guide ARC and other organizations in truly fulfilling their missions. The inclusion criteria involve participants of all age groups, marginalized communities, displaced individuals, and ARC disaster responders. Opinionated statements, except for anecdotes, were excluded. This review involves all United States (US) areas that have been affected by disasters and required assistance from ARC. With no search limits, all evidence was searched on PubMed from July to August 2023. Two stages of screening were conducted by two independent reviewers: title/abstract screening and full-text screening. During each stage, each paper underwent a quality assessment. Disagreements in each stage were resolved before proceeding to the next stage. Through 22 academic papers, the review outlines key themes in ARC comprehensive interventions on disaster preparedness and on-site disaster interventions. However, research gaps were found in ARC recovery interventions, especially their impact on evacuees. This investigation found that ARC makes general efforts to address the needs of communities they assist before, during, and after disasters. Because the results suggest that ARC is moving in the correct direction in reducing the nationwide harm disasters cause, ARC's social impact on studied populations is mostly positive.

Supporting Stabilization: A Qualitative Evaluation of a Pilot Program to Integrate Personal Caregiving Services Into Housing Settings.

Three organizations in Clark County, WA, partnered together to implement a pilot program to expand access to personal caregiving services in the homeless crisis response system. The aim of this study is to describe staff and clients' experiences of the program and its impact on clients' daily living activities, health and wellbeing, and housing stability. Using a qualitative descriptive design, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 clients and 5 pilot staff, representing 4 housing service providers. Interviews were analyzed descriptively to examine staff and clients' perspectives and experiences with the personal care services pilot program. Caregivers helped clients establish routines, find companionship, and connect to health and social services both logistically and socioemotionally, supporting clients' stabilization and reducing barriers to healthcare. Hiring and retaining caregivers remained difficult due to the challenging nature of the work. Staff interviews highlight the need for additional supports to better retain caregivers. Findings from the evaluation have important implications for addressing the needs of individuals exiting homelessness and suggest that personal caregivers can play an important role in supporting the stabilization process. However, employing strategies such as training and increasing wages and benefits that support the needs of the caregiving workforce is essential to sustain this type of service delivery model.

Human transmission and outbreaks of feline-like G6 rotavirus revealed with whole-genome analysis of G6P[9] feline rotavirus.

Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are generally highly species-specific; however, some strains infect across species. Feline RVAs sporadically infect humans, causing gastroenteritis. In 2012 and 2013, rectal swab samples were collected from 61 asymptomatic shelter cats at a public health center in Mie Prefecture, Japan, to investigate the presence of RVA and any association with human infections. The analysis identified G6P[9] strains in three cats and G3P[9] strains in two cats, although no feline RVA sequence data were available for the former. A whole-genome analysis of these G6P[9] strains identified the genotype constellation G6-P[9]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T3-E3-H3. The nucleotide identity among these G6P[9] strains exceeded 99.5% across all 11 gene segments, indicating the circulation of this G6P[9] strain among cats. Notably, strain RVA/Human-wt/JPN/KF17/2010/G6P[9], previously detected in a 3-year-old child with gastroenteritis, shares high nucleotide identity (>98%) with Mie20120017f, the representative G6P[9] strain in this study, across all 11 gene segments, confirming feline RVA infection and symptomatic presentation in this child. The VP7 gene of strain Mie20120017f also shares high nucleotide identity with other sporadically reported G6 RVA strains in humans. This suggests that feline-origin G6 strains as the probable source of these sporadic G6 RVA strains causing gastroenteritis in humans globally. Moreover, a feline-like human G6P[8] strain circulating in Brazil in 2022 was identified, emphasizing the importance of ongoing surveillance to monitor potential global human outbreaks of RVA.

Conspecific and heterospecific cueing in shelter choices of Blaptica dubia cockroaches.

Background: Like many cockroaches, Argentinian wood roaches, Blaptica dubia, prefer darker shelters over lighter shelters. In three experiments, we asked whether chemical cues from other roaches might influence shelter choice, a process known as conspecific or heterospecific cueing, depending on whether the cues come from an individual of the same or a different species, respectively. Methods: Each experiment involved trials with focal B. dubia cockroaches in testing arenas containing plastic shelters of varying levels of darkness, with filter paper under each shelter acting as a carrier for chemical cues. In Experiment 1, we tested female and male B. dubia cockroaches with two shelters matched for darkness but differing in cues (conspecific vs. none). The shelter with no cue contained a blank filter paper as a control. In Experiment 2 (conspecific cueing) and Experiment 3 (heterospecific cueing), we tested B. dubia cockroach choices for lighter or darker shelters with filter papers containing chemical cues of other roaches or no chemical cues. For the conspecific cueing study of Experiment 2, we used chemical cues from other B. dubia cockroaches. In contrast, for the heterospecific cueing study of Experiment 3, we used chemical cues from a different species, the death's head cockroach, Blaberus craniifer. Results: In Experiment 1, B. dubia cockroaches overwhelmingly preferred shelters with conspecific chemical cues over darkness-matched shelters without cues. In Experiments 2 and 3, they strongly preferred darker shelters, especially when chemical cues were present. Additionally, they were more likely to be under the lighter shelter when chemical cues were present there. These results reveal that the public information B. dubia cockroaches gain from chemical cues-including those from other species-can drive shelter choices in this species.

Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: The experiences of animal rescue staff and volunteers.

There has been a paucity of research into the experiences of animal rescue staff and volunteers during COVID-19. The aim of this qualitative research was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on companion animal rescue organisations and their staff and volunteers, and to develop a set of recommendations on how to reduce the risk to companion animal welfare during a crisis. Descriptive thematic analysis was used to explore the experiences of staff and volunteers from 28 animal rescue organisations, most of which were based in the UK. Other surveyed countries included Germany, the Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, the USA and Australia. We identify three key themes that reflect the challenges faced by pet rescue organisations during the pandemic: (1) impact on animals; (2) impact on identity; and (3) impact on organisational processes. Key recommendations include the promotion of co-operation and modifications within the sector, the need to understand, and change, detrimental pet-owner behaviours, and the need to clarify the identity of animal rescue organisations within the Government. Both positive and negative outcomes were experienced by animal rescue organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings should be considered for future crises and indeed the everyday operating procedures of companion animal rescue organisations.

Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia conorii Infections in Shelter Dogs: Seropositivity and Implications for Public Health.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to gain insight into the epidemiology of canine ehrlichiosis and rickettsiosis in northern Portugal. Specific IgG antibodies to Ehrlichia canis were analysed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and antibodies to Rickettsia conorii were analysed using a commercial indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). A total of 113 dogs from two different shelters were sampled, and seroprevalence values of 0.9% (95% confidence (CI): 0.2-4.8%) for E. canis and 9.7 (95% CI: 5.5-16.6%) for R. conorii were found. Multiple logistic regression investigated risk factors for seropositivity. The odds ratios (ORs) of R. conorii seropositivity were higher for female dogs (OR = 6.429; 95% CI: 1.201-34.407). Dogs seropositive for co-infection (E. canis + R. conorii) were more frequently observed among females (OR = 7.606; CI 95%: 1.478-39.132) and in Shelter 2 (OR = 18.229; 95% CI: 2.190-151.756). These findings show that shelter dogs in northern Portugal are exposed to E. canis and R. conorii, which can affect both canines and humans. It is imperative to adopt a One Health approach to educate the public about the hazards of canine zoonoses and develop legislation and procedures to control their spread and preserve public health.

HealthySMS Text Messaging System Adjunct to Adolescent Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Context of COVID-19 (Let's Text!): Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

BACKGROUND: The widespread occurrence and devastating impact of adolescent depression warrant health service research focused on feasible and acceptable digital health tools to supplement evidence-based intervention (EBI) efforts, particularly in the context of shelter-in-place guidelines disrupting youth socialization and service use in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the promise of SMS text message interventions to enhance EBI engagement, our team developed the HealthySMS system as an adjunct to one of the most empirically supported interventions for adolescent depression: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group services. The system sends daily SMS text messages requesting responses assessing mood, thoughts, and activities; weekly attendance reminder messages; daily tips about adherence (eg, a prompt for activity completion); and personalized responses based on participants' texts. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of HealthySMS in a real-world setting and explore potential mechanisms of change in EBI engagement, before evaluating the system's impact on adolescents' group CBT engagement and, ultimately, depression outcomes. METHODS: Over the course of 2020, we invited all 20 adolescents receiving CBT group services for depression at an outpatient psychiatry clinic to enroll in our HealthySMS study; ultimately, 17 (85%) adolescents agreed to participate. We tracked participant initiation and engagement with the HealthySMS system as well as the content of SMS text message responses to HealthySMS. We also invited each participant to engage in a semistructured interview to gather additional qualitative inputs on the system. RESULTS: All (n=17, 100%) research participants invited agreed to receive HealthySMS messages, and 94% (16/17) of the participants maintained use during the first month without opting out. We uncovered meaningful qualitative themes regarding the feasibility and acceptability of HealthySMS, as well as its potential impact on EBI engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results of this pilot study suggest that HealthySMS adjunct to adolescent CBT group depression services is feasible and acceptable, as evidenced by high rates of HealthySMS initiation and low rates of dropout, as well as meaningful themes uncovered from participants' qualitative feedback. In addition, the findings provide evidence regarding iterative improvements to the HealthySMS system and research protocol, as well as potential mechanisms of change for enhanced EBI engagement and, ultimately, adolescent depression outcomes, which can be used in future effectiveness research.

Examining second-stage shelters: insights into housing instability and tailored support for IPV survivors.

BACKGROUND: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) exposes women and children to a wide range of challenges across housing, employment, social connections, and child well-being and is a public health issue. IPV survivors are at heightened risk of housing insecurity and homelessness. Emergency shelters have historically offered respite and support, but the emergence of second-stage shelters provides longer-term solutions. Despite their significance, there has been a lack of comprehensive research on second-stage shelters. This study focuses on understanding the needs of IPV survivors accessing second-stage shelters, aiming to illuminate unexplored aspects of support. To examine the current published peer-reviewed literature and gray literature on second-stage shelters, a scoping review was conducted. METHODS: This scoping review used the method suggested by Arksey & O'Malley (2005) and considered all studies that focused on women who had experienced IPV and were accessing transitional housing/second-stage shelters. RESULTS: Sixteen articles, mainly from the USA and published between 1985 and 2022, were included in the analysis. The findings highlighted themes of (1) a safe(r) place, with the subtheme of 'gated' communities, and (2) programming and services, with the subtheme of does one size fit all? and (3) insider support, with subthemes of paid insider support and peer insider support. CONCLUSIONS: Housing instability was evident, and the need for multiple and individualized tailored options of programming and support along with housing security was identified. Second-stage housing policy and practice implications are addressed which illuminate unexplored aspects of support.

Large outbreak of typhoid fever on a river cruise ship used as accommodation for asylum seekers, the Netherlands, 2022.

On 6 April 2022, the Public Health Service of Kennemerland, the Netherlands, was notified about an outbreak of fever and abdominal complaints on a retired river cruise ship, used as shelter for asylum seekers. The diagnosis typhoid fever was confirmed on 7 April. An extensive outbreak investigation was performed. Within 47 days, 72 typhoid fever cases were identified among asylum seekers (n = 52) and staff (n = 20), of which 25 were hospitalised. All recovered after treatment. Consumption of food and tap water on the ship was associated with developing typhoid fever. The freshwater and wastewater tanks shared a common wall with severe corrosion and perforations, enabling wastewater to leak into the freshwater tank at high filling levels. Salmonella Typhi was cultured from the wastewater tank, matching the patient isolates. In the freshwater tank, Salmonella species DNA was detected by PCR, suggesting the presence of the bacterium and supporting the conclusion of contaminated freshwater as the probable source of the outbreak. Outbreaks of uncommon infections may occur if persons from endemic countries are accommodated in crowded conditions. Especially when accommodating migrants on ships, strict supervision on water quality and technical installations are indispensable to guarantee the health and safety of the residents.

Pyrantel resistance in canine hookworms in Queensland, Australia.

Hookworms are the most common intestinal nematode parasites of dogs in Australia. The control of these parasites relies mostly on regular deworming with anthelmintics, with pyrantel-based dewormers being a relatively low cost and readily-available option for dog owners. Pyrantel resistance in canine hookworms in Australia was first reported in 2007, however pyrantel-based dewormers are still used against hookworm infection in dogs across Australia. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of pyrantel against hookworms infecting dogs housed in a shelter facility in Southeast Queensland which receives rescued or surrendered animals from greyhound rescue centres and dog shelters across this region. A total of 10 dogs were examined using the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). There was no reduction in FEC in any of the dogs following pyrantel treatment, with drug efficacies ranging from -0.9% to -283.3%. Given that these dogs originated from various sites across Southeast Queensland, the present study suggests that pyrantel resistance is widespread in this region, and hence this anthelmintic may not be a useful option for treatment of hookworm infections in dogs.

What characteristics of dogs help them stay shorter in shelters? Evidence from a polish animal shelter.

Staying in animal shelters can be stressful for dogs because of exposure to noise, unfamiliar environment, and social separation. Consequently, the wellbeing of sheltered dogs could be improved through reduction of length of stay in a shelter (LOS). To help inform the development of interventions aimed at LOS reduction, we analyze dogs' characteristics affecting their LOS. We use econometric modeling to identify the characteristics's influence by simultaneously controlling for multiple factors. We use data from Poland's largest animal shelter (11805 observations from the years 2000-2020). We compare two modeling approaches: a Cox survival model, commonly used in animal welfare studies, and an accelerated failure time model, theoretically better fitted to studying time-dependent factors but not yet applied in the context of LOS. We conclude that the latter approach is preferable for studying factors affecting LOS. Male sex, mixed-breed, dark fur, large size, and older age appear to be associated with longer time to adoption for dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first econometric examination of factors affecting LOS in a country in Central and Eastern Europe.

A Field Study of Carbon Monoxide Levels in Snow Caves During Short-Term Stove Use.

INTRODUCTION: While the use of camping stoves in poorly ventilated areas is discouraged, the need to address dehydration challenges in harsh arctic conditions has led to their unconventional use inside snow caves for snow melting, subjecting occupants to unknown carbon monoxide (CO) levels. This study, located at sea level in northeastern Greenland, aimed to assess CO levels and dynamics during short cooking sessions in newly constructed emergency snow caves. METHODS: In 5 snow caves, constructed according to the same design principles by 4 different individuals, a single MSR Whisperlite multifuel burner, primed with ethanol and burning white gas, was used to melt snow. CO concentrations were monitored every minute until all the snow in a 5-L pot was converted to water and CO levels returned to below 10 ppm. RESULTS: A total of 16 experiments conducted showed that the priming phase generated the highest CO peaks, with a maximum of 120 ppm. Time-weighted averages ranged from 14 ppm to 67 ppm, with trial durations of 15 to 21 min. A single trial with a dirty burner resulted in up to a 10-fold increase in CO levels. CONCLUSIONS: While single, short cooking sessions of less than 10 min burn time in newly constructed snow caves may be tolerated under specific conditions, the study highlighted substantial variation between caves and the importance of using clean burners, emphasizing the need for further research to gain a comprehensive understanding of CO exposure dynamics in snow caves.

"I don't think of it as a shelter. I say I'm going home": a qualitative evaluation of a low-threshold shelter for women who use drugs.

BACKGROUND: In 2021-2022, encampments in a downtown Boston neighborhood reached record heights, increasing the visibility of drug use and homelessness in the city. In response, the city planned a "sweep" (i.e., eradication of encampments) and requested support from social services and medical providers to pilot low-threshold shelters. Low-threshold shelters reduce barriers to staying in traditional congregate shelters with more flexible regulations, longer-term bed assignments, and secured storage for contraband (e.g., drugs, weapons) instead of forced disposal. One homeless service provider opened a harm reduction-focused shelter for women who use drugs. This report describes the low-threshold shelter design and program evaluation. METHODS: This program evaluation had two primary aims: (1) to examine guests' beliefs about shelter policies and practices; and (2) to understand the staff's experiences working in a low-threshold model. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 16 guests and 12 staff members during the summer 2022. Interviews were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Guests expressed overwhelming approval for the shelter's policies, which they stated supported their autonomy, dignity, and safety. They emphasized the staff's willingness to build relationships, thus demonstrating true commitment to the guests. Guests highlighted the value of daytime access to the shelter, as it granted them autonomy over their time, reduced their substance use, and helped them build relationships with staff and other guests. The co-directors and staff designed the shelter quickly and without US models for reference; they turned to international literature, local harm reduction health care providers, and women living in encampments for guidance on the shelter policies. The staff were passionate and committed to the health and stability of the guests. Most staff found value in the low-threshold model, though some were challenged by it, believing it enabled drug use and did not require the guests to "get better." CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation indicates the value of low-threshold, harm reduction shelters as alternatives to traditional models. While these shelters do not mitigate the need for overarching housing reform, they are important measures to meet the needs of women experiencing unsheltered homelessness who face intersectional oppression.

Substance use care innovations during COVID-19: barriers and facilitators to the provision of safer supply at a toronto COVID-19 isolation and recovery site.

BACKGROUND: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an urgent need to establish isolation spaces for people experiencing homelessness who were exposed to or had COVID-19. In response, community agencies and the City of Toronto opened COVID-19 isolation and recovery sites (CIRS) in March 2020. We sought to examine the provision of comprehensive substance use services offered to clients on-site to facilitate isolation, particularly the uptake of safer supply prescribing (prescription of pharmaceutical opioids and/or stimulants) as part of a spectrum of comprehensive harm reduction and addiction treatment interventions. METHODS: We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 25 clients and 25 staff (including peer, harm reduction, nursing and medical team members) from the CIRS in April-July 2021. Iterative and thematic analytic methods were used to identify key themes that emerged in the interview discussions. RESULTS: At the time of implementation of the CIRS, the provision of a safer supply of opioids and stimulants was a novel and somewhat controversial practice. Prescribed safer supply was integrated to address the high risk of overdose among clients needing to isolate due to COVID-19. The impact of responding to on-site overdoses and presence of harm reduction and peer teams helped clinical staff overcome hesitation to prescribing safer supply. Site-specific clinical guidance and substance use specialist consults were crucial tools in building capacity to provide safer supply. Staff members had varied perspectives on what constitutes 'evidence-based' practice in a rapidly changing, crisis situation. CONCLUSION: The urgency involved in intervening during a crisis enabled the adoption of prescribed safer supply, meeting the needs of people who use substances and assisting them to complete isolation periods, while also expanding what constitutes acceptable goals in the care of people who use drugs to include harm reduction approaches.

Benefits of a health advocacy intervention intended to improve self-efficacy for self-care in residents of a homeless shelter.

Despite a great need for healthcare, unhoused individuals encounter significant barriers to utilizing public healthcare systems. Given the inequities in access to healthcare, accompanied by disabilities and health risks associated with homelessness, self-efficacy for self-care is particularly critical. As a primary purpose of this article, we describe a self-care intervention (Health Advocacy Behavioral Activation), which was implemented within a long-standing participatory community action research project for homeless shelters, and report evidence of the intervention's effectiveness in enhancing self-efficacy for self-care. Participants included 62 residents of the St. Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter for Men (Dayton, Ohio). Shelter residents with disabilities and those without disability benefited approximately equally from the intervention and both showed statistically significant pre- to post-intervention improvements in self-efficacy for self-care. Recommendations for future research examining the effectiveness of the intervention are provided. As a secondary (supplementary) purpose, we report preliminary evidence of psychometric validation for a new instrument (Scale of Self-Efficacy for Self-Care), which was developed in service of our primary purpose (i.e., to examine the effects of intervention on self-efficacy for self-care) because a literature search did not identify an appropriate measure. Because this new instrument fills a void in the literature, we anticipate that it will be useful in practice and research, and so we delineate research recommendations for additional psychometric validation of this measure. Because of the barriers that unhoused people encounter with regard to access to healthcare in the community, self-care interventions provided (and evaluated) on-site (e.g., in homeless shelters) are necessary.

How staying in a gymnasium affects sleep and bed climate in children.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the relationship between sleep, ambient climate, and bed climate in school-aged children during a one-night stay in a simulated shelter in a gymnasium to demonstrate the effect of ambient climate, and bed climate on sleep. METHODS: We obtained measurements during a one-night stay in a school gymnasium (C), days before C (BC), on the day after (A1), and on the second day after C (A2) in 13 healthy school-aged children during summer. Sleep was evaluated using an actigraph, and the temperature and humidity of the bedrooms in the participants' homes and in the gymnasium were monitored for 3 days before and after C. The bed climate of the chest and foot areas was measured for two nights before and after C. The participants were asked to report on their subjective sleep estimations and thermal sensations two nights before and after C. RESULTS: The ambient temperature in C was significantly higher than that in BC at the initial 180 min, while it significantly decreased compared to A1 and A2 in the last 100 min. The ambient humidity was significantly higher in both C and BC compared to A1 and A2. The sleep efficiency index decreased significantly in C (43±4.8%) compared to other conditions. Sleep time was significantly shorter in C than in other conditions during the initial 195 min. The increase in the bed climate temperature of the chest area in C was significantly delayed compared to that in the other conditions, around the initial 30 min after the lights were off. Subjective estimation revealed that in C, 85% of the participants were out of their sleeping bag at sleep onset, and their sleep was disturbed by heat (77%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the disturbed sleep patterns observed with children in a simulated shelter may be related to a delayed increase in bed climate temperature in the chest area. This delayed increase could be related to the children not entering the sleeping bag and a delayed chest skin temperature increase during the sleep onset period.

Where are the links? Using a causal loop diagram to assess interactions in healthcare coordination for youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) suffer from poorer physical and mental health outcomes than stably housed youth. Additionally, YEH are forced to navigate fragmented health and social service systems on their own, where they often get lost between systems when transitioning or post-discharge. Inevitably, YEH require support with health system navigation and healthcare coordination. The aim of this study is to understand interactions within and between the emergency youth shelter (EYS) and health systems that affect healthcare coordination for YEH in Toronto, Canada, and how these interactions can be targeted to improve healthcare coordination for YEH. METHODS: This study is part of a larger qualitative case study informed by the framework for transformative systems change. To understand interactions in healthcare coordination for YEH within and between the EYS and health systems, we developed a causal loop diagram (CLD) using in-depth interview data from 24 key informants at various levels of both systems. Open and focused codes developed during analysis using Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory methodology were re-analysed to identify key variables, and links between them to create the CLD. The CLD was then validated by six stakeholders through a stakeholder forum. RESULTS: The CLD illustrates six balancing and one reinforcing feedback loop in current healthcare coordination efforts within the EYS and health systems, respectively. Increasing EYS funding, building human resource capacity, strengthening inter and intra-systemic communication channels, and establishing strategic partnerships and formal referral pathways were identified among several other variables to be targeted to spiral positive change in healthcare coordination for YEH both within and between the EYS and health systems. CONCLUSIONS: The CLD provides a conceptual overview of the independent and integrated systems through which decision-makers can prioritize and guide interventions to strengthen healthcare coordination within and between the EYS and health systems. Overall, our research findings suggest that key variables such as streamlining communication and improving staff-youth relationships be prioritized, as each of these acts interdependently and influences YEH's access, quality and coordination of healthcare.

Did the association between alcohol outlet density and crime change during COVID shelter-in-place orders?

INTRODUCTION: We investigated whether greater concentrations of on- and off-sale alcohol outlets were associated with crime and whether this association was moderated by COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders (SIP) that restricted on-premises consumption of alcohol. METHODS: Crimes (2019-2020) and addresses of licenced alcohol outlets in a medium-sized California city were geocoded within census block groups (N = 61). On- and off-sale alcohol outlet density was calculated as licenced outlets/2.59 km2 (1 square mile). Multilevel negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between alcohol outlet density and crime, and possible moderating effects of SIP, controlling for block group demographic characteristics and density of other retail businesses. RESULTS: On-sale outlet density was positively associated with total crimes and Part 2 crimes, while off-sale outlet density was inversely associated with total crime and Part 2 crimes. Overall, SIP was not significantly associated with crime, but moderated the associations of on-sale density with total crime and Part 1 crimes such that reductions in crime during SIP were observed in higher density areas. The association of off-sale outlets with crime was not moderated by SIP policies. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: On-sale outlet density, but not off-sale density, appears to be associated with increased crime. The results further indicate that restrictions in hours and service imposed by SIP policies reduced crime in high on-sale outlet density areas. These findings reinforce the importance of regulating alcohol outlet density and hours of service, especially for on-sale outlets, as a crime reduction strategy.

Living in an Intimate Partner Violence Shelter During a Pandemic: Perspectives from Advocates and Survivors.

PURPOSE: With state-wide quarantine policies during the COVID-19 pandemic like those implemented in the state of Texas, intimate partner violence (IPV) shelter staff were forced to incorporate new safety measures to keep survivors and advocates safe. To understand the impact of these adaptations fully, authors interviewed shelter staff and residents to capture both of their experiences living and working in the same shelter during the height of the coronavirus pandemic (summer 2020) to understand how changes in policy and procedure in shelters impacted survivors and advocates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological design was utilized to collect and analyze data from 10 staff and 10 survivors to develop both a textual and a structural description of participant experiences living in an IPV shelter. RESULTS: The current study captured the survivors' and advocates' perspectives related to the 1) vacillating views of shelter social distancing and quarantine policies, 2) shelter occupancy and staffing unpredictability, 3) the broader challenges related to environmental stressors and 4) mobility challenges. DISCUSSION: Results of this study highlight factors related to interpersonal relationships within the shelter and structural factors of shelter which contributed to stress for participants. CONCLUSION: The coronavirus is continuing to present challenges for shelters. Implications can be drawn from provider and client experiences that can inform policies and procedures for future health crises, including the need to mitigate environmental stress and transportation challenges, as well as considerations for maintaining social support should social distancing be necessary in future epidemics.

Belowground niche partitioning is maintained under extreme drought.

Belowground niche partitioning presents a key mechanism for maintaining species coexistence and diversity. Its importance is currently reinforced by climate change that alters soil hydrological conditions. However, experimental tests examining the magnitude of its change under climate change are scarce. We combined measurements of oxygen stable isotopes to infer plant water-uptake depths and extreme drought manipulation in grasslands. Belowground niche partitioning was evidenced by different water-uptake depths of co-occurring species under ambient and extreme drought conditions despite an increased overlap among species due to a shift to shallower soil layers under drought. A co-occurrence of contrasting strategies related to the change of species water-uptake depth distribution was likely to be key for species to maintain some extent of belowground niche partitioning and could contribute to stabilizing coexistence under drought. Our results suggest that belowground niche partitioning could mitigate negative effects on diversity imposed by extreme drought under future climate.