Identifying risks for male street gang affiliation: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

Gang violence has increased in recent years. Individuals are becoming gang affiliated younger, and many have suffered historic maltreatment. Subsequent exposure to violence can result in profound consequences, including acute psychological harm. This review aims to identify predictive risk factors for male street gang affiliation. A systematic literature search was conducted utilising PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Social Policy and Practice databases (from the databases’ inception to 03/04/15). From this search, n=244 peer-reviewed papers were included in an initial scoping review, and n=102 thereafter met criteria for a systematic review; a narrative synthesis follows. Gang members have typically faced numerous historic adversities across multiple domains; individual, family, peers, school and community. Cumulative factors generated an independent risk. The meta-narrative described an overarching failure to safeguard vulnerable individuals, with the motivation for gang affiliation hypothetically arising from an attempt to have their basic needs met. Clinical and research recommendations were made to inform early intervention policy and practice

An application of LIDAR to examine erosion in the southern Monterey Bay during the 1997-98 El Nino

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) was used in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to quantify coastal changes to beaches and dunes in the Southern Monterey Bay region and to qualitatively assess the erosional impact of large storms on coastal dune areas. LIDAR provides a rapid and accurate survey technique to measure topographic elevation. A LIDAR survey was performed in October 1997 and then a second survey in April 1998 to measure the erosion occurring during the 1997-1998 El Nino winter storm. Maximum dune erosion occurred in the vicinity of Fort Ord (13 m) and Marina (15 m), along with significant dune recession in Monterey and Sand City. Beach erosion was prevalent from Moss Landing to Monterey showing the seasonal beach loss. There was a large spatial variability all along the shoreline, with many numerous erosional "hot spots". LIDAR data provide a high-quality representation of the episodic erosion process in Southern Monterey Bay, and also offers useful environmental information to the warfighter in terms of detailed beach or landing zone characterizations.http://archive.org/details/anpplicationofli109456068Lieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited