A Call To Arms: The Militarization of Natural Disasters in the United States

Natural disasters are an expected and uncontrolled part of history, and will continue and possibly worsen in the future. The humanitarian focus that has characterized disaster response throughout the years is changing, as is the way the federal government responds to large-scale natural disasters. In recent years, the primary concern in responding to these catastrophes has shifted from the well-being of citizens to the security and safety of the area impacted. Security and crime have become a main focus, with the military increasingly gaining a more prominent role in relief efforts. This thesis will provide evidence that the militarization of disaster response in the United States is a real phenomenon through a case study of Hurricane Katrina, and will delve into why the military has been used less as a support to civilian authorities and more as first responders. One of the key theories used as explanation is late modernity, which focuses on risk aversion and maintaining security. By focusing on policing the streets after a natural disaster, reporting on looting and crime, and keeping citizens in a controlled environment, our expectations after a natural disaster strikes have gone from lending a helping hand to ensuring surveillance and uncertainty about crime are the predominant focus

Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors

Background Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and nonfatal suicide attempts, which occur far more frequently, are a major source of disability and social and economic burden. Both have substantial genetic etiology, which is partially shared and partially distinct from that of related psychiatric disorders. Methods We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 29,782 suicide attempt (SA) cases and 519,961 controls in the International Suicide Genetics Consortium (ISGC). The GWAS of SA was conditioned on psychiatric disorders using GWAS summary statistics via multitrait-based conditional and joint analysis, to remove genetic effects on SA mediated by psychiatric disorders. We investigated the shared and divergent genetic architectures of SA, psychiatric disorders, and other known risk factors. Results Two loci reached genome-wide significance for SA: the major histocompatibility complex and an intergenic locus on chromosome 7, the latter of which remained associated with SA after conditioning on psychiatric disorders and replicated in an independent cohort from the Million Veteran Program. This locus has been implicated in risk-taking behavior, smoking, and insomnia. SA showed strong genetic correlation with psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, and also with smoking, pain, risk-taking behavior, sleep disturbances, lower educational attainment, reproductive traits, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer general health. After conditioning on psychiatric disorders, the genetic correlations between SA and psychiatric disorders decreased, whereas those with nonpsychiatric traits remained largely unchanged. Conclusions Our results identify a risk locus that contributes more strongly to SA than other phenotypes and suggest a shared underlying biology between SA and known risk factors that is not mediated by psychiatric disorders.Peer reviewe

Impact of Diabetes in the Friedreich Ataxia Clinical Outcome Measures Study

Objective Friedreich ataxia (FA) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder caused by GAA triplet repeat expansions or point mutations in the FXN gene. FA is associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study assessed the age-specific prevalence of FA-associated DM and its impact on neurologic outcomes. Research Design and Methods Participants were 811 individuals with FA from 12 international sites in a prospective natural history study (FA Clinical Outcome Measures Study, FACOMS). Physical function was assessed, using validated instruments. Multivariable regression analyses examined the independent association of DM with outcomes. Results Mean age of participants was 30.1 years (SD 15.3, range: 7–82), 50% were female, and 94% were non-Hispanic white. 9% (42/459) of adults and 3% (10/352) of children had DM. Individuals with FA-associated DM were older (P \u3c 0.001), had longer GAA repeat length on the least affected FXN allele (P = 0.037), and more severe FA (P = 0.0001). Of individuals with DM, 65% (34/52) were taking insulin. Even after accounting statistically for both age and GAA repeat length, DM was independently associated with greater FA symptom burden (P = 0.010), reduced capacity to perform activities of daily living (P = 0.021), and a decrease of 0.33 SDs on a composite performance measure (95% CI: −0.56–0.11, P = 0.004); the relative impact of DM was most apparent in younger individuals. Conclusion DM-associated FA has an independent adverse impact on well-being in affected individuals, particularly at younger ages. In future, evidence-based approaches for identification and management of FA-related DM may improve both health and function

Impact of Diabetes in the Friedreich Ataxia Clinical Outcome Measures Study

Objective Friedreich ataxia (FA) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder caused by GAA triplet repeat expansions or point mutations in the FXN gene. FA is associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study assessed the age-specific prevalence of FA-associated DM and its impact on neurologic outcomes. Research Design and Methods Participants were 811 individuals with FA from 12 international sites in a prospective natural history study (FA Clinical Outcome Measures Study, FACOMS). Physical function was assessed, using validated instruments. Multivariable regression analyses examined the independent association of DM with outcomes. Results Mean age of participants was 30.1 years (SD 15.3, range: 7–82), 50% were female, and 94% were non-Hispanic white. 9% (42/459) of adults and 3% (10/352) of children had DM. Individuals with FA-associated DM were older (P \u3c 0.001), had longer GAA repeat length on the least affected FXN allele (P = 0.037), and more severe FA (P = 0.0001). Of individuals with DM, 65% (34/52) were taking insulin. Even after accounting statistically for both age and GAA repeat length, DM was independently associated with greater FA symptom burden (P = 0.010), reduced capacity to perform activities of daily living (P = 0.021), and a decrease of 0.33 SDs on a composite performance measure (95% CI: −0.56–0.11, P = 0.004); the relative impact of DM was most apparent in younger individuals. Conclusion DM-associated FA has an independent adverse impact on well-being in affected individuals, particularly at younger ages. In future, evidence-based approaches for identification and management of FA-related DM may improve both health and function

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of interferon-γ 1b in Friedreich Ataxia.

OBJECTIVE: In vitro, in vivo, and open-label studies suggest that interferon gamma (IFN-γ 1b) may improve clinical features in Friedreich Ataxia through an increase in frataxin levels. The present study evaluates the efficacy and safety of IFN-γ 1b in the treatment of Friedreich Ataxia through a double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: Ninety-two subjects with FRDA between 10 and 25 years of age were enrolled. Subjects received either IFN-γ 1b or placebo for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was the modified Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (mFARS). RESULTS: No difference was noted between the groups after 6 months of treatment in the mFARS or secondary outcome measures. No change was noted in buccal cell or whole blood frataxin levels. However, during an open-label extension period, subjects had a more stable course than expected based on natural history data. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides no direct evidence for a beneficial effect of IFN-γ1b in FRDA. The modest stabilization compared to natural history data leaves open the possibility that longer studies may demonstrate benefit

Body Mass Index and Height in the Friedreich Ataxia Clinical Outcome Measures Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Body mass index (BMI) and height are important indices of health. We tested the association between these outcomes and clinical characteristics in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), a progressive neuromuscular disorder. METHODS: Participants (N = 961) were enrolled in a prospective natural history study (Friedreich Ataxia Clinical Outcome Measure Study). Age- and sex-specific BMI and height Z-scores were calculated using CDC 2000 references for participants younger than 18 years. For adults aged 18 years or older, height Z-scores were also calculated, and absolute BMI was reported. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses tested the associations between exposures, covariates, and BMI or height measured at the baseline visit. In children, the superimposition by translation and rotation analysis method was used to compare linear growth trajectories between FRDA and a healthy reference cohort, the Bone Mineral Density in Childhood Study (n = 1,535 used for analysis). RESULTS: Median age at the baseline was 20 years (IQR, 13-33 years); 49% (n = 475) were women. A substantial proportion of children (17%) were underweight (BMI-Z < fifth percentile), and female sex was associated with lower BMI-Z (β = -0.34, p < 0.05). In adults, older age was associated with higher BMI (β = 0.09, p < 0.05). Regarding height, in children, older age (β -0.06, p < 0.05) and worse modified Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (mFARS) scores (β = -1.05 for fourth quartile vs first quartile, p < 0.01) were associated with shorter stature. In girls, the magnitude of the pubertal growth spurt was less, and in boys, the pubertal growth spurt occurred later (p < 0.001 for both) than in a healthy reference cohort. In adults, in unadjusted analyses, both earlier age of FRDA symptom onset (=0.09, p < 0.05) and longer guanine-adenine-adenine repeat length (shorter of the 2 GAA repeats, β = -0.12, p < 0.01) were associated with shorter stature. Both adults and children with higher mFARS scores and/or who were nonambulatory were less likely to have height and weight measurements recorded at clinical visits. DISCUSSION: FRDA affects both weight gain and linear growth. These insights will inform assessments of affected individuals in both research and clinical settings

Social and moral psychology of COVID-19 across 69 countries

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all domains of human life, including the economic and social fabric of societies. One of the central strategies for managing public health throughout the pandemic has been through persuasive messaging and collective behavior change. To help scholars better understand the social and moral psychology behind public health behavior, we present a dataset comprising of 51,404 individuals from 69 countries. This dataset was collected for the International Collaboration on Social Moral Psychology of COVID-19 project (ICSMP COVID-19). This social science survey invited participants around the world to complete a series of individual differences and public health attitudes about COVID-19 during an early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (between April and June 2020). The survey included seven broad categories of questions: COVID-19 beliefs and compliance behaviours; identity and social attitudes; ideology; health and well-being; moral beliefs and motivation; personality traits; and demographic variables. We report both raw and cleaned data, along with all survey materials, data visualisations, and psychometric evaluations of key variables

Social and moral psychology of COVID-19 across 69 countries

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all domains of human life, including the economic and social fabric of societies. One of the central strategies for managing public health throughout the pandemic has been through persuasive messaging and collective behaviour change. To help scholars better understand the social and moral psychology behind public health behaviour, we present a dataset comprising of 51,404 individuals from 69 countries. This dataset was collected for the International Collaboration on Social & Moral Psychology of COVID-19 project (ICSMP COVID-19). This social science survey invited participants around the world to complete a series of moral and psychological measures and public health attitudes about COVID-19 during an early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (between April and June 2020). The survey included seven broad categories of questions: COVID-19 beliefs and compliance behaviours; identity and social attitudes; ideology; health and well-being; moral beliefs and motivation; personality traits; and demographic variables. We report both raw and cleaned data, along with all survey materials, data visualisations, and psychometric evaluations of key variables