Population-based study of rare epilepsy incidence in a US urban population.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to estimate incidence of rare epilepsies and compare with literature. METHODS: We used electronic health record text search to identify children with 28 rare epilepsies in New York City (2010-2014). We estimated cumulative incidence and compared with literature. RESULTS: Eight of 28 rare epilepsies had five or more prior estimates, and our measurements were within the published range for all. The most common were infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (1 in 2920 live births), Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (1 in 9690), and seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (1 in 14 300). Fifteen of 28 had fewer than five prior estimates, and of these, we provided additional estimates for early infantile developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (1 in 32 700), epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures (1 in 34 100), Sturge-Weber syndrome plus seizures/epilepsy (1 in 40 900), epilepsy in infancy with migrating focal seizures (1 in 54 500), Aicardi syndrome plus seizures/epilepsy (1 in 71 600), hypothalamic hamartoma with seizures (1 in 225 000), and Rasmussen syndrome (1 in 450 000). Five of 28 rare epilepsies had no prior estimates, and of these, we provided a new estimate for developmental/epileptic encephalopathy with spike-and-wave activation in sleep and/or continuous spikes and waves during sleep (1 in 34 100). Data were limited for the remaining 12 rare epilepsies, which were all genetic epilepsies, including PCDH19, CDKL5, Alpers disease, SCN8A, KCNQ2, SCN2A, GLUT1 deficiency, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers, dup15q syndrome, ring chromosome 14, and ring chromosome 20. SIGNIFICANCE: We estimated the incidence of rare epilepsies using population-based electronic health record data and literature review. More research is needed to better estimate the incidence of genetic epilepsies with nonspecific clinical features. Electronic health records may be a valuable data source for studying rare epilepsies and other rare diseases, particularly as genetic testing becomes more widely adopted.

Determination of nurses' happiness, hope, future expectations, and the factors influencing them: a descriptive study that can guide policy development to prevent nurse migration.

BACKGROUND: The happiness and hopefulness of nurses are not only known that contribute to their emotional well-being but also professional creativity, improve the quality of nursing services and organizational performance. Therefore, knowing which factors affect nurses' mental well-being and future expectations can provide information for nursing workforce planning policies. This study was conducted to determination of Nurses' happiness, hope, and future expectations and the factors influencing them. METHOD: 326 nurses from 52 provinces of Turkey participated in this descriptive study. The data collection instruments included a Demographic Characteristics Form and questions from the Turkish Statistical Institute's Life Satisfaction Survey to assess overall happiness, hope, and expectation levels. The study data was collected using an e-survey prepared through Google Forms in line with the principle of voluntarism. In the study adhered to the EQUATOR checklist for descriptive studies. RESULTS: The average scores for overall happiness, hope, and future expectations among the participating nurses were found to be 2.34 ± 0.98, 2.22 ± 0.95, and 1.26 ± 0.54, respectively. It was determined that the levels of happiness, hope, and future expectations of nurses are influenced by satisfaction with income, income's ability to meet needs, and personal development over the last five years. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the overall happiness and hope levels of nurses are low, while their future expectations are at a moderate level. Satisfaction with income affects the happiness and hope levels of nurses. Three quarters of the nurses participating in the study want to work abroad. This situation may lead to a need for qualified nurses in the future.

Application of surface-modified functional packaging in food storage: A comprehensive review.

Innovations in food packaging systems could meet the evolving needs of the market; emerging concepts of non-migrating technologies reduce the negative migration of preservatives from packaging materials, extend shelf life, and improve food quality and safety. Non-migratory packaging activates the surface of inert materials through pretreatment to generate different active groups. The preservative is covalently grafted with the resin of the pretreated packaging substrate through the graft polymerization of the monomer and the coupling reaction of the polymer chain. The covalent link not only provides the required surface properties of the material for a long time but also retains the inherent properties of the polymer. This technique is applied to the processing for durable, stable, and easily controllable packaging widely. This article reviews the principles of various techniques for packaging materials, surface graft modification, and performance characterization of materials after grafting modification. Potential applications in the food industry and future research trends are also discussed.

Genomic Confirmation of Borrelia garinii, United States.

Lyme disease is a multisystem disorder primarily caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. However, B. garinii, which has been identified on islands off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, is a cause of Lyme disease in Eurasia. We report isolation and whole-genome nucleotide sequencing of a B. garinii isolate from a cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus) in South Carolina, USA. We identified a second B. garinii isolate from the same repository. Phylogenetic analysis does not associate these isolates with the previously described isolates of B. garinii from Canada.

Bi-allelic ADARB1 Variants Associated with Microcephaly, Intellectual Disability, and Seizures.

The RNA editing enzyme ADAR2 is essential for the recoding of brain transcripts. Impaired ADAR2 editing leads to early-onset epilepsy and premature death in a mouse model. Here, we report bi-allelic variants in ADARB1, the gene encoding ADAR2, in four unrelated individuals with microcephaly, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. In one individual, a homozygous variant in one of the double-stranded RNA-binding domains (dsRBDs) was identified. In the others, variants were situated in or around the deaminase domain. To evaluate the effects of these variants on ADAR2 enzymatic activity, we performed in vitro assays with recombinant proteins in HEK293T cells and ex vivo assays with fibroblasts derived from one of the individuals. We demonstrate that these ADAR2 variants lead to reduced editing activity on a known ADAR2 substrate. We also demonstrate that one variant leads to changes in splicing of ADARB1 transcript isoforms. These findings reinforce the importance of RNA editing in brain development and introduce ADARB1 as a genetic etiology in individuals with intellectual disability, microcephaly, and epilepsy.

A deficient MIF-CD74 signaling pathway may play an important role in immunotherapy-induced hyper-progressive disease.

BACKGROUND: With the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapies, a major breakthrough has been made in cancer treatment. However, instead of good results, some patients experienced a deterioration of their disease. This unexpected result is termed as hyper-progressive disease (HPD). The biology of HPD is currently not fully understood. METHODS: Isolation of CD3+ cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in healthy control, tumor patients receiving immunotherapy with or without immunotherapy-induced HPD, then conducted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). RESULTS: By analyzing scRNA-seq data, we identified 15 cell clusters. We observed developed-exhausted CD4+ T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) increasingly enriched in HPD group. Meanwhile, some effector T cells were decreased in HPD. The imbalance potentially contributes to the occurrence of HPD and poor clinical prognosis. In addition, we analyzed ligand-receptor interactions between subsets. The ligand-receptor interaction "CD74-MIF" was absent in HPD. However, in vitro experiment, we found that CD74 regulated effector function of effector CD8+ T cells. Overall, the article provides a primary study of immune profile in HPD.

Bidirectional tick transport by migratory birds of the African-Western Palearctic flyway over Turkish Thrace: observation of the current situation and future projection.

This study was carried out at a vital stopover site of migrating birds in the Turkish Thrace, European part of Turkey, on the Mediterranean/Black Sea Flyway. Ticks were collected from the birds captured in the four migration periods, i.e., autumn 2020, spring 2021, autumn 2021, and spring 2022, and identified morphologically. Throughout the study, 10,651 birds from 77 species were examined, and 671 belonging to 34 species were found infested. The infestation prevalence in total birds and the mean number of ticks per infested bird were 6.3% and 3.8 (range: 1-142), respectively. A total of 2573 ticks were collected with the following species distribution and numbers: Ixodes spp. 70 larvae, I. frontalis 1829 larvae, 337 nymphs, and 30 adults, I. acuminatus 16 nymphs and 42 adults, I. ricinus 39 larvae, 141 nymphs, and one adult, Hyalomma spp. seven larvae and 60 nymphs, and Haemaphysalis sp. one larva. Prevalence, intensity, and species distribution of the ticks in birds varied depending on the month, season, year, and species-specific migration phenology of the birds. The results show that precise determination of the tick-borne risk associated with migratory birds for a particular region necessarily requires long-term and comprehensive studies and indicates that anthropogenic climate change and habitat degradation can significantly differentiate the risk by influencing the migration phenology in birds and by making new regions suitable for the establishment of different ticks.

An incidental migrating intra-spinal bullet: the silent victim of celebratory gunfire.

BACKGROUND: Incidentally found intra-spinal bullets are extremely rare, and have never been reported in the literature. The aim of this study is to report a rare case of an asymptomatic migrating intra-spinal bullet, emphasizing the role of cultural context in history taking, and describing its surgical retrieval technique. CASE PRESENTATION: We discuss a case of a 10-years old boy with an incidentally discovered intra-spinal bullet opposite to the L5 vertebral level, who presented 3 months after the suspected initial insult. Following its migration to the L3/L4 level intraoperatively, the bullet was forced to spontaneously return to its preoperative position by reverse Trendelenburg Position, Valsalva maneuver and Intrathecal saline infusion, thus avoiding extending the previously performed laminectomy. CONCLUSION: The authors remind the readers that history is the cornerstone of the clinical practice, even in the most obscure cases. Many convoluted intra-operative situations could be resolved by utilizing basic anatomical and physiological principles.

Smart Inhibition Action of Amino Acid-Modified Layered Double Hydroxide and Its Application on Carbon Steel.

Surface impregnation of concrete structures with a migrating corrosion inhibitor is a promising and non-invasive technique for increasing the lifetime of existing structures that already show signs of corrosion attack. The main requirement for inhibitors is their ability to diffuse the rebar at a sufficient rate to protect steel. The use of smart nanocontainers such as layered double hydroxides (LDH) to store corrosion inhibitors significantly increases efficiency by providing an active protection from chloride-induced corrosion. The addition of LDH to reinforced mortar can also improve the compactness and mechanical properties of this matrix. Here, we report the synthesis of a magnesium-aluminum LDH storing glutamine amino acid as a green inhibitor (labeled as Mg-Al-Gln), which can be used as a migrating inhibitor on mortar specimens. The corrosion behavior of the specimens was determined via electrochemical techniques based on measurements of corrosion potential and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A cell containing a 3.5% NaCl solution was applied to the mortar surface to promote the corrosion of embedded rebars. The specimens treated with Mg-Al-Gln presented an improved corrosion protection performance, exhibiting an increase in polarization resistance (Rp) compared to the reference specimens without an inhibitor (NO INH). This effect is a consequence of a double mechanism of protection/stimuli-responsive release of glutamine and the removal of corrosive chloride species from the medium.

Non-adherence to antiretroviral treatment among migrating fishermen in western Kenya's islands: a rapid qualitative study.

Fishing communities in many Sub-Saharan African countries are a high-risk population group disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. The association of migration with HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa is well documented. Frequent mobility, high consumption of alcohol, multiple sexual partners, transactional and commercial sex, poor health infrastructure and limited access to health services are reported among the main factors shaping the HIV epidemic in fishing communities. Moreover, studies have been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa on adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) among fishers; however, non-adherence to ART remains poorly understood among migrating fishermen in the western Kenya islands. This qualitative study investigated factors contributing to non-adherence among fishermen in the western Kenya islands. This study utilised 51 in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions to highlight factors contributing to non-adherence to ART by mobile fishermen. Data were analysed using a contextualised thematic analysis. Results show that migration, alcohol consumption and ART sharing contributed to non-adherence. Adherence to ART is a powerful predictor of survival for individuals living with HIV and AIDS. The Kenyan government can use lessons from this study to target fishermen to achieve the UNAIDS 2025 recommendations on people-centred and context-specific service responses to AIDS as this would move Kenya closer to the 90% reduction in annual infections by 2030. This article contributes to a deeper understanding of how and why fishermen from the islands in western Kenya struggle to adhere to treatment even though they can access ARTs through the public health care system. Longitudinal studies should be conducted to explore how the factors associated with non-adherence correlate with other key health outcomes such as drug resistance.

SCN2A-related epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures: report of a variant with apparent gain- and loss-of-function effects.

SCN2A encodes a voltage-gated sodium channel (NaV1.2) expressed throughout the central nervous system in predominantly excitatory neurons. Pathogenic variants in SCN2A are associated with epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders. Genotype-phenotype correlations have been described, with loss-of-function variants typically being associated with neurodevelopmental delay and later-onset seizures, whereas gain-of-function variants more often result in early infantile-onset epilepsy. However, the true electrophysiological effects of most disease-causing SCN2A variants have yet to be characterized. We report an infant who presented with migrating focal seizures in the neonatal period. She was found to have a mosaic c.2635G>A, p.Gly879Arg variant in SCN2A. Voltage-clamp studies of the variant expressed on adult and neonatal NaV1.2 isoforms demonstrated a mixed gain and loss of function, with predominantly a loss-of-function effect with reduced cell surface expression and current density. Additional small electrophysiological alterations included a decrease in the voltage dependence of activation and an increase in the voltage dependence of inactivation. This finding of a predominantly loss-of-function effect was unexpected, as the infant's early epilepsy onset would have suggested a predominantly gain-of-function effect. This case illustrates that our understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations is still limited and highlights the complexity of the underlying electrophysiological effects of SCN2A variants.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Voltage-gated sodium channels play an important role in the central nervous system, mutations in which have been reported to be responsible for epilepsy. We report here an infant presenting with epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS) in the neonatal period with a mosaic c.2635G>A, resulting in a p.Gly879Arg missense mutation on the SCN2A gene encoding NaV1.2 sodium channels. Biophysical characterization of this variant revealed a mixture of gain- and loss-of-function effects.

Ion Migration in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells: Current Understanding and Perspectives.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite (OIHPs) solar cells are the most promising alternatives to traditional silicon solar cells, with a certified power conversion efficiency beyond 25%. However, the poor stability of OHIPs is one of the thorniest obstacles that hinder its commercial development. Among all the factors affecting stability, ion migration is prominent because it is unavoidable and intrinsic in OHIPs. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanism for ion migration and regulation strategies. Herein, the types of ions that may migrate in OHIPs are first discussed; afterward, the migrating channels are demonstrated. The effects of ion migration are further elaborated. While ion migration can facilitate the p-i-n structure in some cases, the current hysteresis and other adverse effects such as phase segregation in OHIPs attract widespread attention. Based on these, several recent strategies to suppress the ion migration are enumerated, including the introduction of alkali cations, organic additives, grain boundaries passivation, and employment of low-dimensional perovskites. Finally, the prospect for further modulating the ion migration and more stable perovskite solar cells is proposed.

ILAE classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes with onset in neonates and infants: Position statement by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions.

The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Task Force on Nosology and Definitions proposes a classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes in the neonate and infant with seizure onset up to 2 years of age. The incidence of epilepsy is high in this age group and epilepsy is frequently associated with significant comorbidities and mortality. The licensing of syndrome specific antiseizure medications following randomized controlled trials and the development of precision, gene-related therapies are two of the drivers defining the electroclinical phenotypes of syndromes with onset in infancy. The principal aim of this proposal, consistent with the 2017 ILAE Classification of the Epilepsies, is to support epilepsy diagnosis and emphasize the importance of classifying epilepsy in an individual both by syndrome and etiology. For each syndrome, we report epidemiology, clinical course, seizure types, electroencephalography (EEG), neuroimaging, genetics, and differential diagnosis. Syndromes are separated into self-limited syndromes, where there is likely to be spontaneous remission and developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, diseases where there is developmental impairment related to both the underlying etiology independent of epileptiform activity and the epileptic encephalopathy. The emerging class of etiology-specific epilepsy syndromes, where there is a specific etiology for the epilepsy that is associated with a clearly defined, relatively uniform, and distinct clinical phenotype in most affected individuals as well as consistent EEG, neuroimaging, and/or genetic correlates, is presented. The number of etiology-defined syndromes will continue to increase, and these newly described syndromes will in time be incorporated into this classification. The tables summarize mandatory features, cautionary alerts, and exclusionary features for the common syndromes. Guidance is given on the criteria for syndrome diagnosis in resource-limited regions where laboratory confirmation, including EEG, MRI, and genetic testing, might not be available.

KCNT1-related epilepsies and epileptic encephalopathies: phenotypic and mutational spectrum.

Variants in KCNT1, encoding a sodium-gated potassium channel (subfamily T member 1), have been associated with a spectrum of epilepsies and neurodevelopmental disorders. These range from familial autosomal dominant or sporadic sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy to epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS) and include developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of KCNT1 mutation-related epileptic disorders in 248 individuals, including 66 previously unpublished and 182 published cases, the largest cohort reported so far. Four phenotypic groups emerged from our analysis: (i) EIMFS (152 individuals, 33 previously unpublished); (ii) developmental and epileptic encephalopathies other than EIMFS (non-EIMFS developmental and epileptic encephalopathies) (37 individuals, 17 unpublished); (iii) autosomal dominant or sporadic sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (53 patients, 14 unpublished); and (iv) other phenotypes (six individuals, two unpublished). In our cohort of 66 new cases, the most common phenotypic features were: (i) in EIMFS, heterogeneity of seizure types, including epileptic spasms, epilepsy improvement over time, no epilepsy-related deaths; (ii) in non-EIMFS developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, possible onset with West syndrome, occurrence of atypical absences, possible evolution to developmental and epileptic encephalopathies with sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy features; one case of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy; (iii) in autosomal dominant or sporadic sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy, we observed a high prevalence of drug-resistance, although seizure frequency improved with age in some individuals, appearance of cognitive regression after seizure onset in all patients, no reported severe psychiatric disorders, although behavioural/psychiatric comorbidities were reported in ∼50% of the patients, sudden unexplained death in epilepsy in one individual; and (iv) other phenotypes in individuals with mutation of KCNT1 included temporal lobe epilepsy, and epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures and cognitive regression. Genotypic analysis of the whole cohort of 248 individuals showed only missense mutations and one inframe deletion in KCNT1. Although the KCNT1 mutations in affected individuals were seen to be distributed among the different domains of the KCNT1 protein, genotype-phenotype considerations showed many of the autosomal dominant or sporadic sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy-associated mutations to be clustered around the RCK2 domain in the C terminus, distal to the NADP domain. Mutations associated with EIMFS/non-EIMFS developmental and epileptic encephalopathies did not show a particular pattern of distribution in the KCNT1 protein. Recurrent KCNT1 mutations were seen to be associated with both severe and less severe phenotypes. Our study further defines and broadens the phenotypic and genotypic spectrums of KCNT1-related epileptic conditions and emphasizes the increasingly important role of this gene in the pathogenesis of early onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathies as well as of focal epilepsies, namely autosomal dominant or sporadic sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy.

Activation of ENS Circuits in Mouse Colon: Coordination in the Mouse Colonic Motor Complex as a Robust, Distributed Control System.

The characteristic motor patterns of the colon are coordinated by the enteric nervous system (ENS) and involve enterochromaffin (EC) cells, enteric glia, smooth muscle fibers, and interstitial cells. While the fundamental control mechanisms of colonic motor patterns are understood, greater complexity in the circuitry underlying motor patterns has been revealed by recent advances in the field. We review these recent advances and new findings from our laboratories that provide insights into how the ENS coordinates motor patterns in the isolated mouse colon. We contextualize these observations by describing the neuromuscular system underling the colonic motor complex (CMC) as a robust, distributed control system. Framing the colonic motor complex as a control system reveals a new perspective on the coordinated motor patterns in the colon. We test the control system by applying electrical stimulation in the isolated mouse colon to disrupt the coordination and propagation of the colonic motor complex.

Management of migrating intracranial bullet fragments in a 13-year-old female after firearm brain injury: technical and surgical nuances.

INTRODUCTION: We present the challenges and nuances of management in a rare case of multiple migrating intracranial fragments after pediatric gunshot wound to the head (GSWH). CASE PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old girl suffered left parietal GSWH, with new neurologic decline 3 days after initial debridement. Serial imaging showed the largest intracranial fragments had migrated into the left trigone, and descended further with head of bed (HOB) elevation. HOB was iteratively decreased, with concurrent intracranial pressure monitoring. After extubation, with an alert and stable neurologic exam, HOB was decreased to -15 degrees, allowing gravity-assisted migration of the fragments to an anatomically favorable position within the left occipital horn. The patient underwent occipital craniotomy for fragment retrieval on hospital day 27. Two large and >20 smaller fragments were retrieved using neuronavigation and intraoperative ultrasound. Forensics showed these to be .45 caliber handgun bullet fragments. The patient recovered well after 2-months of intensive inpatient rehabilitation. DISCUSSION: During new neurologic decline after GSWH, bullet migration must be considered and serial cranial imaging is requisite. Surgical retrieval of deep fragments requires judicious planning to minimize further injury. Tightly controlled HOB adjustments with gravity assistance for repositioning of fragments may have utility in optimizing anatomic favorability prior to surgery.

CT can identify characteristic features of hypaxial muscle abscesses in dogs due to presumed migrating vegetal foreign material as well as additional changes along the migratory tract in other anatomic regions.

Hypaxial muscle abscess is an important differential in dogs presenting for abdominal or back pain, lameness, and nonspecific signs like fever, lethargy, and hyporexia. It can occur concurrently with intrathoracic disease such as pyothorax secondary to migrating vegetal foreign material. Twelve dogs that underwent CT of the lumbar spine or abdomen and had a diagnosed hypaxial abscess on surgical and/or microbiological examination were included in this retrospective, descriptive case series. Computed tomography findings and findings from other imaging modalities employed were described. Eleven dogs were hunting breeds. Clinical signs included lethargy, fever, increased respiratory effort, and abdominal or back pain. Radiography and/or ultrasonography were employed during preliminary work up at clinician discretion and respectively revealed changes consistent with osteomyelitis in the cranial lumbar vertebrae and heterogenous, hypoechoic areas in the hypaxial musculature consistent with abscesses. Computed tomography findings included enlargement of hypaxial muscles with well-defined fluid attenuating noncontrast enhancing areas with a contrast-enhancing rim consistent with abscesses, periosteal reaction and lysis of vertebrae, and retroperitoneal effusion. Four of the 12 cases in this series had material identified and removed at surgery. The other eight cases were presumed to be the same disease process based on compatible signalment, imaging findings, and microbiological results. Migrating vegetal foreign bodies are a common problem at the authors' institution. Computed tomography provided expedient, thorough visualization of the relevant hypaxial lesions for diagnostic and surgical planning purposes and also characterized intrathoracic components of this disease.

Contrast-enhanced CT findings in a dog with a wood foreign body in the vertebral canal.

An 8-year-old Border collie was presented with progressive tetraparesis, 6 days after oropharyngeal trauma with a wooden stick. Contrast-enhanced CT of the head and the cervical spine showed heterogeneous enhancement of the soft tissues surrounding the C1 through C3 region, with extension into the ventral vertebral canal at this level. Two separate, small, foreign bodies were visible; one of which was located within the vertebral canal. Surgical exploration confirmed the presence of wooden foreign bodies within the para-vertebral soft tissues and within the vertebral canal. The dog was clinically normal 6 months postoperatively.

Continuity or change? How the onset of COVID-19 affected internal migration in Australia.

Despite anecdotal evidence of a COVID-19 induced decline in the intensity of interstate migration in Australia, population-level evidence is limited. The recent release of the 2020 wave of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey provides a unique opportunity to robustly assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level, direction, determinants, and reasons for migration in Australia. By applying a series of regression models to individual-level longitudinal microdata, and measuring migration at a range of spatial scales, this paper shows that COVID-19 has somewhat accelerated the long-term decline in the intensity of internal migration-particularly for residential mobility, short-distance migration, and migration due to employment and involuntary reasons. The socio-demographic determinants of migration have remained broadly stable, despite a slight increase in the deterring effect of duration of residence and a reduction in the impact of education. Finally, we show that the increase in net migration gains in regional areas is underpinned by a decrease in outflows. Juxtaposing these results with aggregate-level migration statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics from 2021, we conclude that the effect of COVID-19 on internal migration to date has been minimal and is likely to be short-lived. However, it may still be too soon to make a definitive judgement, as shifts in work patterns stemming from the pandemic may further transform the level, direction, and composition of internal migration.

A Brief Pastoral Topography for Migrating People.

Like God, humans are always on the move. Migrating people reflect the imago Dei of God the Earthroamer. Unlike God, humans do not always move with freedom as geopolitical forces, from societal disintegration to war and climate change, force migration. The experiences within migration reflect elements of a "personal knowledge" (Michael Polanyi). This essay recognizes that much of the migrating experience may escape verbalization, which not only impacts migrating people but also the scholars and researchers studying migration. Drawing on narratives in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the essay identifies seven pastoral-theological polarities to describe the migrating experience: Anticipation and disappointment; trouble and restoration; curse and blessing; at home and being a stranger; becoming and continuity of being; articulation and silence; and alone and in communitas. These themes are illuminated by pastoral-theological, cultural, psychological, and psychodynamic theories.