Annual Trends Among the Unsheltered in Three Los Angeles Neighborhoods: The Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey (LA LEADS) 2023 Annual Report.

Since fall 2021, the authors of this study have conducted regular enumerations of the unsheltered populations in three Los Angeles neighborhoods known for having high concentrations of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness: Hollywood, Skid Row, and Venice. In addition to counts, the authors have conducted surveys of unsheltered residents in these same neighborhoods to better understand the characteristics, experiences, and needs of these populations. The results of the first year of this study, known as the Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey (LA LEADS), were presented in a report published by RAND in 2023.

Identifying predictors of adverse outcomes after termination of seclusion in psychiatric intensive care units.

Background: Seclusion is a restrictive practice that many healthcare services are trying to reduce. Previous studies have sought to identify predictors of seclusion initiation, but few have investigated factors associated with adverse outcomes after seclusion termination.

Aims: To assess the factors that predict an adverse outcome within 24 h of seclusion termination.

A randomized controlled trial of a brief motivational interviewing-based group intervention for emerging adults experiencing homelessness: 24-month effects on alcohol use.

Objective: Despite rates of alcohol misuse being higher among emerging adults experiencing homelessness compared to those who are stably housed, there are few brief evidence-based risk reduction programs for this population that focus on alcohol use and assess outcomes for more than 1 year. This study examines alcohol outcomes from a 24-month evaluation of AWARE, a brief motivational interviewing-based group risk reduction intervention for emerging adults experiencing homelessness.

Method: In a cluster randomized crossover trial, 18- to 25- year-olds received AWARE ( = 132) or standard care ( = 144) at one of three drop-in centers serving young people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.

The association between housing stability and perceived quality of life among emerging adults with a history of homelessness.

Many cities across the United States are experiencing homelessness at crisis levels, including rises in the numbers of unhoused emerging adults (18-25). Emerging adults experiencing homelessness may be at higher risk of experiencing negative outcomes, given that being unhoused increases risk for a variety of behaviors. To better understand the current living circumstances of emerging adults with a history of homelessness, as well as their perceptions about associations between housing stability and quality of life (QOL), we conducted 30 semi-structured in-depth interviews with individuals recruited from drop-in centers for youth experiencing homelessness.

Sociodemographic and Behavioral Risk Correlates of PrEP Interest and Use Among Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles.

Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) are at elevated risk for HIV compared to their stably housed peers. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective at preventing HIV infection, yet YAEH have been largely overlooked in PrEP efforts to date despite YAEH reporting high overall interest in PrEP. We assessed individual, social, and structural variables associated with PrEP interest and use among a sample of 195 YAEH (ages 18-25) recruited from drop-in centers across Los Angeles County who met criteria for HIV risk.

A randomized controlled trial of a brief motivational interviewing-based group intervention for emerging adults experiencing homelessness: 12-Month effects on substance use and sexual risk behavior.

Introduction: Few brief evidence-based risk reduction programs for emerging adults experiencing homelessness focus on the interrelated problems of substance use and sexual risk behavior. This study examines outcomes from a 12-month evaluation of AWARE, a brief Motivational Interviewing (MI)-based group risk reduction intervention for this population.

Methods: In a cluster randomized crossover trial, N = 276 18-25-year-olds received AWARE or usual care at drop-in centers serving homeless youth in Los Angeles County.

Human consumption of large herbivore digesta and its implications for foraging theory.

Vegetal matter undergoing digestion in herbivores' stomachs and intestines, digesta, can be an important source of dietary carbohydrates for human foragers. Digesta significantly increases large herbivores' total caloric yield and broadens their nutritional profile to include three key macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) in amounts sufficient to sustain small foraging groups for multiple days without supplementation. Ethnographic reports of routine digesta consumption are limited to high latitudes, but the practice may have had a wider distribution prehistorically.

Neutrophil-Derived Myeloperoxidase and Hypochlorous Acid Critically Contribute to 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acid Increases that Drive Postischemic Angiogenesis.

Compensatory angiogenesis is an important adaptation for recovery from critical ischemia. We recently identified 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) as a novel contributor of ischemia-induced angiogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms by which ischemia promotes 20-HETE increases that drive angiogenesis are unknown.

Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of a Novel Fluoroprobe for Live Human Islet Cell Imaging of Serotonin 5-HT Receptor.

Mounting evidence suggests that the serotonin system serves in signal transmission to regulate insulin secretion in pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Among the 5-HT receptor subtype found in pancreatic islets, serotonin receptor 1A (5-HT ) demonstrates a unique ability to inhibit β-cell insulin secretion. We report the design, synthesis, and characterization of two novel fluorescent probes for the 5-HT receptor.

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates and Attitudes Among Young Adults With Recent Experiences of Homelessness.

Purpose: This study provides information on COVID-19 vaccination and attitudes among young adults with recent experiences of homelessness.

Methods: Participants (n = 134) from a clinical trial of a risk reduction program for youth experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles completed survey items about COVID-19 vaccinations between March and October 2021.

Results: A total of 29% of respondents were vaccinated, and 50% were not interested in getting vaccinated.

Behavioral Health and Service Usage During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Emerging Adults Currently or Recently Experiencing Homelessness.

Purpose: This study provides information on how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is affecting emerging adults currently or recently homeless in terms of engagement in protective behaviors, mental health, substance use, and access to services.

Methods: Ninety participants in an ongoing clinical trial of a risk reduction program for homeless, aged 18-25 years, were administered items about COVID-19 between April 10 and July 9, 2020.

Results: Most participants reported engaging in COVID-19 protective behaviors.

Study protocol for a group-based motivational interviewing brief intervention to reduce substance use and sexual risk behavior among young adults experiencing homelessness.

Background: Young people experiencing homelessness have alarmingly high rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, which is associated with sexual risk behaviors such as unprotected sex, trading sex, and sex with multiple casual partners. Few risk reduction programs for this population have been developed and rigorously evaluated, particularly those that address both of these interrelated behaviors, use a collaborative and non-judgmental approach, and are feasible to deliver in settings where homeless young people seek services. This paper describes the protocol of a study evaluating a four-session Motivational Interviewing (MI)-based group risk reduction intervention for this population.

Recruitment and Retention of Homeless Youth in a Substance Use and HIV-risk Reduction Program.

Conducting intervention studies with homeless populations can be difficult, particularly in terms of retaining participants across multiple sessions and locating them for subsequent follow-up assessments. Homeless youth are even more challenging to engage due to substance use, mental health problems, wariness of authority figures, and frequent relocations. This article describes methods used to successfully recruit a sample of 200 homeless youth from two drop-in centers in Los Angeles, engage them in a four-session substance use and sexual risk reduction program (79% of youth attended multiple sessions), and retain 91% of the full sample at a three-month follow-up assessment.

Current and potential roles of archaeology in the development of cultural evolutionary theory.

Archaeology has much to contribute to the study of cultural evolution. Empirical data at archaeological timescales are uniquely well suited to tracking rates of cultural change, detecting phylogenetic signals among groups of artefacts, and recognizing long-run effects of distinct cultural transmission mechanisms. Nonetheless, these are still relatively infrequent subjects of archaeological analysis and archaeology's potential to help advance our understanding of cultural evolution has thus far been largely unrealized.

The acute effects of baobab fruit ( Adansonia digitata) on satiety in healthy adults.

Background: The baobab fruit is high in both dietary fibre and polyphenols and therefore may increase satiety. The aim of the study was to measure the effects of baobab fruit extract on satiety.

Methods: The study was conducted on 20 healthy participants.

Pattern of burns in child abuse.

Cases of burns from child abuse are low because of under-reporting, low index of suspicion, or lack of verity proof. Although the reported incidence of child abuse by burns is 4 to 39 per cent, less than one-half are substantiated. We retrospectively reviewed all burns in children less than 6 years old admitted to our burn center within an 8-year period (1997-2003).

Telephone administered cognitive behaviour therapy for treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder: randomised controlled non-inferiority trial.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy delivered by telephone with the same therapy given face to face in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Design: Randomised controlled non-inferiority trial.

Setting: Two psychology outpatient departments in the United Kingdom.