Unemployment Duration, Schooling and Property Crime

It is well known that there is no consensus with respect to the relationship between unemployment and crime. As well, there is very little research on the linkages between crime and the educational experiences of young people. In this paper we show a very strong positive relationship between criminal activity and the extent of youth male long-term unemployment. We also show that criminal activity is negatively associated high school completions, and positively associated with high school non-completion rates. The analysis suggests that labour market and education policies have the potential to significantly reduce property crime. However, increased high school participation of the targeted group only decreases crime if it results in graduation. This suggests that the effectiveness of education policy is a critical influence on crime activity, a unique finding for the literature

Guidance for Restarting Inflammatory Bowel Disease Therapy in Patients Who Withheld Immunosuppressant Medications During COVID-19

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] are frequently treated with immunosuppressant medications. During the coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic, recommendations for IBD management have included that patients should stay on their immunosuppressant medications if they are not infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2], but to temporarily hold these medications if symptomatic with COVID-19 or asymptomatic but have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. As more IBD patients are infected globally, it is important to also understand how to manage IBD medications during convalescence while an individual with IBD is recovering from COVID-19. In this review, we address the differences between a test-based versus a symptoms-based strategy as related to COVID-19, and offer recommendations on when it is appropriate to consider restarting IBD therapy in patients testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 or with clinical symptoms consistent with COVID-19. In general, we recommend a symptoms-based approach, due to the current lack of confidence in the accuracy of available testing and the clinical significance of prolonged detection of virus via molecular testing

The Chandra Deep protocluster survey : evidence for an enhancement of AGN activity in the SSA22 protocluster at z = 3.09

We present results from a new ultra-deep ≈400 ks Chandra observation of the SSA22 protocluster at z = 3.09. We have studied the X-ray properties of 234 z ~ 3 Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs; protocluster and field) and 158 z = 3.09 Lyα Emitters (LAEs) in SSA22 to measure the influence of the high-density protocluster environment on the accretion activity of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in these UV-selected star-forming populations. We detect individually X-ray emission from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in six LBGs and five LAEs; due to small overlap between the LBG and LAE source population, ten of these sources are unique. At least six and potentially eight of these sources are members of the protocluster. These sources have rest-frame 8-32 keV luminosities in the range of L 8-32 keV = (3-50) ×1043 ergs s-1and an average observed-frame 2-8 keV to 0.5-2 keV band ratio (BR) of ≈0.8 (mean effective photon index of Γeff≈ 1.1), suggesting significant absorption columns of N H gsim 1022-1024 cm-2. We find that the fraction of LBGs and LAEs in the z = 3.09 protocluster harboring an AGN with L 8-32 keV gsim 3 × 1043 ergs s-1is 9.5+12.7 -6.1% and 5.1+6.8 -3.3%, respectively. These AGN fractions are somewhat larger (by a mean factor of 6.1+10.3 -3.6 significant at the ≈95% confidence level) than z ~ 3 sources found in lower-density "field" environments. Theoretical models imply that these results may be due to the presence of more actively growing and/or massive SMBHs in LBGs and LAEs within the protocluster compared to the field. Such a result is expected in a scenario where enhanced merger activity in the protocluster drives accelerated galaxy and SMBH growth at zgsim 2-3. Using Spitzer IRAC imaging we found that the fraction of IRAC-detected LBGs is significantly larger in the protocluster than in the field (by a factor of 3.0+2.0 -1.3). From these data, we constrained the median rest-frame H-band luminosity in the protocluster to be gsim 1.2-1.8 times larger than that for the field. When combined with our X-ray data, this suggests that both galaxies and SMBHs grew more rapidly in protocluster environments

Fabrication of high quality plan-view TEM specimens using the focused ion beam

We describe a technique using a focused ion beam instrument to fabricate high quality plan-view specimens for transmission electron microscopy studies. The technique is simple, site-specific and is capable of fabricating multiple large, >100 μm2 electron transparent windows within epitaxially-grown thin films. A film of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 is used to demonstrate the technique and its structural and functional properties are surveyed by high resolution imaging, electron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and Lorentz electron microscopy. The window is demonstrated to have good thickness uniformity and a low defect density that does not impair the film’s Curie temperature. The technique will enable the study of in–plane structural and functional properties of a variety of epitaxial thin film systems

Evaluating provision of psychological assessment and support in palliative care: A national survey of hospices in England

Objective: Psychological distress is common in palliative care patients. The 2004 National Institute of Healthcare and Excellence (NICE) guidance for supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer, which remains contemporary, recognised that access to psychological support was inconsistent and often inadequate. Their 4-tier model requires multidisciplinary psychological assessment at key points. Implicit is the need for improved training and support for staff and equity in service provision. This survey was designed to determine the levels of self-reported competence amongst healthcare staff in the psychological assessment and screening of patients in adult hospices in England and their awareness of the NICE guidelines. Methods: A short anonymised online questionnaire was sent to 164 hospices to determine perceptions of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on their own competence in screening and assessment of distress, provision of therapies and levels of training and supervision. Results: Responses were received from 140 HCPs in approximately thirty-eight hospices. Key findings included self-reported needs for training and supervision. Over a quarter of nurses (28.8%) and AHPs (27.8%) had no level 2 training, and only half of nurses, AHPs and physicians were aware of the NICE guidelines. Access to level 3 specialist psychological services was lacking and some HCPs felt unable to screen and assess patients for referral to specialist services. Conclusions: Consistent, standardised training in assessment of psychological needs is required to ensuring delivery of high-quality care for psychological needs. Areas for future development identified include essential communication skills and high-quality supervision for those delivering psychotherapeutic interventions

Exploring the performance of the spectrometer prisma in heavy zirconium and xenon mass regions

We present results from two recent runs which illustrate the performance of the PRISMA spectrometer in the proximity of the upper limit of its operational interval, namely 96Zr + 124Sn at Elab = 500 MeV and 136Xe + 208Pb at Elab = 930 MeV. In the latter run, the γ array CLARA also allowed us to identify previously unknown γ transitions in the nuclides 136Cs and 134I

Proposed low-energy absolute calibration of nuclear recoils in a dual-phase noble element TPC using D-D neutron scattering kinematics

We propose a new technique for the calibration of nuclear recoils in large noble element dual-phase time projection chambers used to search for WIMP dark matter in the local galactic halo. This technique provides an $\textit{in situ}$ measurement of the low-energy nuclear recoil response of the target media using the measured scattering angle between multiple neutron interactions within the detector volume. The low-energy reach and reduced systematics of this calibration have particular significance for the low-mass WIMP sensitivity of several leading dark matter experiments. Multiple strategies for improving this calibration technique are discussed, including the creation of a new type of quasi-monoenergetic 272 keV neutron source. We report results from a time-of-flight based measurement of the neutron energy spectrum produced by an Adelphi Technology, Inc. DD108 neutron generator, confirming its suitability for the proposed nuclear recoil calibration.Peer Reviewe