Desistance in the Transition to Adulthood: The Roles of Marriage, Military, and Gender

Research is needed on desistance from crime using samples of males and females. Through the use of three waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data which represents a diverse and contemporary sample, this thesis investigates the effects of social bonds including marriage and military enlistment on desistance from delinquency. Analyses use survey adjusted Ordinary Least Squares Regression and Logistic Regression change score models. Analyses are first conducted on the combined sample, and then similarities and differences in social bonds on changes in delinquency are examined across gender sub-samples. Drawing on Sampson and Laub‘s Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control, I examine whether the social bonds found in marriage and military involvement decrease delinquency over time. My results revealed that in the whole sample, marriage lead to desistance but military enlistment did not. When analyzed by gender, marriage was significantly related to desistance in males, not females, and that difference was found to be significant. In addition, military enlistment was found to lead to females desisting from crime, but it was not associated with male desistance. This thesis extended Sampson and Laub‘s theory in that it found marriage decreases delinquency in males from a contemporary sample. However, Sampson and Laub theorized military decreasing delinquency as well. My thesis did not support that. In future research, the effects of military enlistment on desistance should be studied in a larger sample. In addition, the mechanisms in a marital relationship that lead to desistance should be investigated

Intervención para la redefinición modelo de negocios de Crillo

Nos encontramos en una sindemia que engloba las pandemias del cambio climático, la obesidad y la desnutrición (Gobierno de México, 2021). Se calcula que el 26% de la zona seca de la tierra se dedica a cultivar pasturas para el ganado, y del total de tierras cultivables, un 33 % se utiliza para producir cosechas para la ganadería. Este tipo de actividad representa el 18% de las emisiones de efecto invernadero, por tanto, incrementar espacios para la agricultura repercutirá directamente en el cambio climático (Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura, 2013). La entomofagia es el consumo de insectos como alimento por los seres humanos. La proteína de grillo contiene los 9 aminoácidos esenciales, vitamina B12, hierro, calcio, fibra y otras vitaminas y minerales. Mejora la salud intestinal y reduce la inflamación (Stull, 2018) y tiene un porcentaje de asimilación mayor al 90% (Hoffman & Falvo, 2004). La empresa Crillo se fundó en 2017 dedicada inicialmente a la cría y comercialización de grillos como alimento para consumo humano centrado en la sustentabilidad. En abril 2020 los socios deciden replantearse el enfoque de la organización e intentar acercarse al consumidor final con un producto terminado. Esto presenta un cambio radical en la arquitectura de su modelo de negocios ya que, al enfocarse en producto terminado, cambia el mercado y el cliente potencial evolucionando de un business to business (B2B) a business to consumer (B2C). Este trabajo de obtención de grado (TOG) consiste en intervenir el modelo de negocios de la empresa Crillo. Los objetivos de la intervención son los siguientes: a) Analizar el modelo de negocios adaptado a la nueva realidad de la empresa, enfocándose en obtener una comercialización exitosa del producto validado, b) Validar el modelo de negocios y realizar las modificaciones adecuadas para cumplir los objetivos estratégicos empresariales y c) Realizar una revisión y proponer una nueva estructura organizacional que se adapte a las necesidades del nuevo modelo de negocios. Para lograr el cumplimiento de los objetivos se utilizó la metodología de Desarrollo de Clientes (Customer Development) de Steve Blank (Blank, 2014), centrándose el lado derecho del lienzo de modelo de negocio Business Model Canvas (Osterwalder, 2010): el análisis de la oferta, los usuarios y su conexión con la propuesta de valor, los canales de comunicación y distribución, y los procesos de retroalimentación con los clientes. Para la industria de la entomofagia, se identificó un nuevo mercado con el arquetipo de cliente de mamá holista multitask que encuentra valor en una bebida de chocolate en polvo adicionado con proteína de grillo. Se concluye que los productos adicionados con proteína de grillo aportan a combatir la sindemia de la obesidad, desnutrición y cambio climático. Para aportar valor al cliente, deben formularse productos centrados en la nutrición, la facilidad de consumo y de buen sabor. Crillo debe reconstruirse siguiendo los siete pasos puente entre el Customer Creation y el Company Building enunciados en este TOG.ITESO, A.C

Qualitative focus group study investigating experiences of accessing and engaging with social care services: perspectives of carers from diverse ethnic groups caring for stroke survivors

OBJECTIVES: Informal carers, often family members, play a vital role in supporting stroke survivors with post-stroke disability. As populations age, numbers of carers overall and those from minority ethnic groups in particular, are rising. Carers from all ethnic groups, but especially those from black and minority ethnic groups frequently fail to access support services, making understanding their experiences important. The study therefore explored the experiences of carers of stroke survivors aged 45+ years from 5 ethnic groups in accessing and receiving social care services after hospital discharge. DESIGN: This qualitative study used 7 recorded focus groups with informal carers of stroke survivors. Data were analysed thematically focusing on similarities and differences between ethnic groups. SETTING: Carers were recruited from voluntary sector organisations supporting carers, stroke survivors and black and minority ethnic groups in the UK. PARTICIPANTS: 41 carers from 5 ethnic groups (Asian Indian, Asian Pakistani, black African, black Caribbean, white British) participated in the focus groups. RESULTS: Several interconnected themes were identified including: the service gap between hospital discharge and home; carers as the best person to care and cultural aspects of caring and using services. Many themes were common to all the included ethnic groups but some related to specific groups. CONCLUSIONS: Across ethnic groups there were many similarities in the experiences of people caring for stroke survivors with complex, long-term care needs. Accessing services demands effort and persistence on carers' part. If carers believe services are unsatisfactory or that they, rather than formal services, should be providing support for stroke survivors, they are unlikely to persist in their efforts. Cultural and language differences add to the challenges black and minority ethnic group carers face

Astro2020 Science White Paper: The Local Relics of of Supermassive Black Hole Seeds

We have compelling evidence for stellar-mass black holes (BHs) of ~5-80 M_sun that form through the death of massive stars. We also have compelling evidence for so-called supermassive BHs (10^5-10^10 M_sun) that are predominantly found in the centers of galaxies. We have very good reason to believe there must be BHs with masses in the gap between these ranges: the first ~10^9 M_sun BHs are observed only hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang, and all theoretically viable paths to making supermassive BHs require a stage of "intermediate" mass. However, no BHs have yet been reliably detected in the 100-10}^5 M_sun mass range. Uncovering these intermediate-mass BHs of 10^3-10^5 M_sun is within reach in the coming decade. In this white paper we highlight the crucial role that 30-m class telescopes will play in dynamically detecting intermediate-mass black holes, should they exist.Comment: Science White Paper Submitted for the Astro2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysic

‘Dignity and respect’: An example of service user leadership and co‐production in mental health research

This paper explores the methodological aspects of a user‐led study investigating mental health service user experiences of targeted violence and abuse (often called 'hate crime'). 'Keeping Control' was a 16‐month qualitative study, undertaken in the context of adult safeguarding reforms in England. By collecting data on service user concepts and experiences, the research sought to address a gap in research and practice knowledge relating to targeted violence, abuse and hostility against people with mental health problems. In this paper, we discuss the significance of the design and methodology used for this study, with a particular focus on the interviews with service users. The research was both user‐led and carried out in collaboration with practitioners and academics, a form of research co‐production. Our aim is to inform researchers, practitioners and policymakers about the value of user leadership in co‐productive research with practitioners, particularly for a highly sensitive and potentially distressing topic

Interleukin-1β Maturation Triggers Its Relocation to the Plasma Membrane for Gasdermin-D-Dependent and -Independent Secretion

IL-1β requires processing by caspase-1 to generate the active, pro-inflammatory cytokine. Acute IL-1β secretion from inflammasome-activated macrophages requires caspase-1-dependent GSDMD cleavage, which also induces pyroptosis. Mechanisms of IL-1β secretion by pyroptotic and non-pyroptotic cells, and the precise functions of caspase-1 and GSDMD therein, are unresolved. Here, we show that, while efficient early secretion of endogenous IL-1β from primary non-pyroptotic myeloid cells in vitro requires GSDMD, later IL-1β release in vitro and in vivo proceeds independently of GSDMD. IL-1β maturation is sufficient for slow, caspase-1/GSDMD-independent secretion of ectopic IL-1β from resting, non-pyroptotic macrophages, but the speed of IL-1β release is boosted by inflammasome activation, via caspase-1 and GSDMD. IL-1β cleavage induces IL-1β enrichment at PIP2-enriched plasma membrane ruffles, and this is a prerequisite for IL-1β secretion and is mediated by a polybasic motif within the cytokine. We thus reveal a mechanism in which maturation-induced IL-1β trafficking facilitates its unconventional secretion

Characteristics and pathways of long-stay patients in high and medium secure settings in England : a secondary publication from a large mixed-methods study

Background: Many patients experience extended stays within forensic care, but the characteristics of long-stay patients are poorly understood. Aims: To describe the characteristics of long-stay patients in high and medium secure settings in England. Method: Detailed file reviews provided clinical, offending and risk data for a large representative sample of 401 forensic patients from 2 of the 3 high secure settings and from 23 of the 57 medium secure settings in England on 1 April 2013. The threshold for long-stay status was defined as 5 years in medium secure care or 10 years in high secure care, or 15 years in a combination of high and medium secure settings. Results: 22% of patients in high security and 18% in medium security met the definition for ‘long-stay’, with 20% staying longer than 20 years. Of the long-stay sample, 58% were violent offenders (22% both sexual and violent), 27% had been convicted for violent or sexual offences whilst in an institutional setting, and 26% had committed a serious assault on staff in the last 5 years. The most prevalent diagnosis was schizophrenia (60%) followed by personality disorder (47%, predominantly antisocial and borderline types); 16% were categorised as having an intellectual disability. Overall, 7% of the long-stay sample had never been convicted of any offence, and 16.5% had no index offence prompting admission. Although some significant differences were found between the high and medium secure samples, there were more similarities than contrasts between these two levels of security. The treatment pathways of these long-stay patients involved multiple moves between settings. An unsuccessful referral to a setting of lower security was recorded over the last 5 years for 33% of the sample. Conclusions: Long-stay patients accounted for one fifth of the forensic inpatient population in England in this representative sample. A significant proportion of this group remain unsettled. High levels of personality pathology and the risk of assaults on staff and others within the care setting are likely to impact on treatment and management. Further research into the treatment pathways of longer stay patients is warranted to understand the complex trajectories of this group

Characteristics and pathways of long-stay patients in high and medium secure settings in England; a secondary publication from a large mixed-methods study

Background: Many patients experience extended stays within forensic care, but the characteristics of long-stay patients are poorly understood. Aims: To describe the characteristics of long-stay patients in high and medium secure settings in England. Method: Detailed file reviews provided clinical, offending and risk data for a large representative sample of 401 forensic patients from 2 of the 3 high secure settings and from 23 of the 57 medium secure settings in England on 1 April 2013. The threshold for long-stay status was defined as 5 years in medium secure care or 10 years in high secure care, or 15 years in a combination of high and medium secure settings. Results: 22% of patients in high security and 18% in medium security met the definition for “long-stay,” with 20% staying longer than 20 years. Of the long-stay sample, 58% were violent offenders (22% both sexual and violent), 27% had been convicted for violent or sexual offences whilst in an institutional setting, and 26% had committed a serious assault on staff in the last 5 years. The most prevalent diagnosis was schizophrenia (60%) followed by personality disorder (47%, predominantly antisocial and borderline types); 16% were categorised as having an intellectual disability. Overall, 7% of the long-stay sample had never been convicted of any offence, and 16.5% had no index offence prompting admission. Although some significant differences were found between the high and medium secure samples, there were more similarities than contrasts between these two levels of security. The treatment pathways of these long-stay patients involved multiple moves between settings. An unsuccessful referral to a setting of lower security was recorded over the last 5 years for 33% of the sample. Conclusions: Long-stay patients accounted for one fifth of the forensic inpatient population in England in this representative sample. A significant proportion of this group remain unsettled. High levels of personality pathology and the risk of assaults on staff and others within the care setting are likely to impact on treatment and management. Further research into the treatment pathways of longer stay patients is warranted to understand the complex trajectories of this group

Ancient Lowland Maya neighborhoods: Average Nearest Neighbor analysis and kernel density models, environments, and urban scale

Many humans live in large, complex political centers, composed of multi-scalar communities including neighborhoods and districts. Both today and in the past, neighborhoods form a fundamental part of cities and are defined by their spatial, architectural, and material elements. Neighborhoods existed in ancient centers of various scales, and multiple methods have been employed to identify ancient neighborhoods in archaeological contexts. However, the use of different methods for neighborhood identification within the same spatiotemporal setting results in challenges for comparisons within and between ancient societies. Here, we focus on using a single method—combining Average Nearest Neighbor (ANN) and Kernel Density (KD) analyses of household groups—to identify potential neighborhoods based on clusters of households at 23 ancient centers across the Maya Lowlands. While a one-size-fits all model does not work for neighborhood identification everywhere, the ANN/KD method provides quantifiable data on the clustering of ancient households, which can be linked to environmental zones and urban scale. We found that centers in river valleys exhibited greater household clustering compared to centers in upland and escarpment environments. Settlement patterns on flat plains were more dispersed, with little discrete spatial clustering of households. Furthermore, we categorized the ancient Maya centers into discrete urban scales, finding that larger centers had greater variation in household spacing compared to medium-sized and smaller centers. Many larger political centers possess heterogeneity in household clustering between their civic-ceremonial cores, immediate hinterlands, and far peripheries. Smaller centers exhibit greater household clustering compared to larger ones. This paper quantitatively assesses household clustering among nearly two dozen centers across the Maya Lowlands, linking environment and urban scale to settlement patterns. The findings are applicable to ancient societies and modern cities alike; understanding how humans form multi-scalar social groupings, such as neighborhoods, is fundamental to human experience and social organization