Trends and Insights from Transportation Congestion Pricing Policy Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Toll-based congestion pricing (CP) policies are increasingly implemented globally for alleviating road traffic congestion. Several interconnected factors affecting or induced by CP implementation include air quality/emissions, travel time, and road user safety. We sought to examine and characterize research output and patterns across several domains (e.g., health, policy acceptability) surrounding toll-based CP policies, in order to identify where research has focused and where gaps exist. We conducted a structured review and identified 2333 relevant publications, using semi-supervised and machine learning strategies combined with manual review. Annual publication counts peaked in 2015 (n = 122). Themes identified from title and abstract terms included policy implementation characteristics, advanced transportation modeling methods and approaches, and public perception and acceptability. Authorship networks indicated a lack of interdisciplinary research. Country analyses identified the US, China, and the UK as the most frequently represented countries, and underrepresentation from low-income countries. Findings indicate that research focused on specific road user types (e.g., pedestrians) and safety impacts, and equity considerations were relatively sparse compared to other topics (e.g., policy economics, public perception). Additional research on these critical topics is necessary to ensure that such policies are designed to promote positive and equitable effects on road user health and safety

HIV and Substance Use in Latin America: A Scoping Review

This scoping review aims to explore the interplay between substance use (SU) and HIV in Latin America (LA). Database searches yielded 3481 references; 196 were included. HIV prevalence among people who used substances (PWUS) ranged from 2.8–15.2%. SU definitions were variable throughout studies, and thus data were not easily comparable. In 2019, only 2% of new HIV infections were attributed to injection drug use (IDU) in LA. Factors associated with HIV among PWUS included being female, IDU and homelessness, and PWUS were likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, start antiretroviral treatment late, have poor adherence, have treatment failure, be lost to follow-up, have comorbidities, and experience higher mortality rates and lower quality of life, as has been reported in PLWH with SU in other regions. Five intervention studies were identified, and only one was effective at reducing HIV incidence in PWUS. Interventions in other regions have varying success depending on context-specific characteristics, highlighting the need to conduct more research in the LA region. Though progress has been made in establishing SU as a major concern in people living with HIV (PLWH), much more is yet to be done to reduce the burden of HIV and SU in LA

Family-based psychosocial interventions for adult Latino patients with cancer and their caregivers: A systematic review

Objective This review aimed to systematically examine the characteristics and outcomes of family-based psychosocial interventions offered to adult Latino patients with cancer and their caregivers. Methods We searched six databases from their inception dates through June 2022. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they (1) targeted both adult Latino patients diagnosed with cancer and their adult caregivers or reported subgroup analyses of Latino patients and caregivers; (2) included family-based psychosocial interventions; (3) used randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental designs; and (4) were published in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Members of our multidisciplinary team assessed the risk of bias in the reviewed studies using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool. Results Our database searches yielded five studies. The studies were conducted in the U.S. and Brazil. Three studies were RCTs, and two used quasi-experimental designs. The sample sizes ranged from 18 to 230 patient-caregiver dyads. These studies culturally adapted the intervention contents and implementation methods and involved bilingual interventionists. The interventions had beneficial effects on multiple aspects of psychosocial outcomes for both patients and caregivers. We also identified methodological limitations in the reviewed studies. Conclusions Findings from this systematic review help deepen our understanding of family-based psychosocial interventions for Latinos affected by cancer. The small number of psychosocial interventions focused on adult Latino cancer patients and their caregivers is concerning, considering that Latino populations are disproportionally burdened by cancer. Future research needs to design and evaluate culturally-appropriate interventions to support Latino patients and families who cope with cancer. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=274993, identifier CRD42021274993

Review: Human Dimensions of Ecological Restoration: Integrating Science, Nature, and Culture

Book Review: Human Dimensions of Ecological Restoration: Integrating Science, Nature, and Cultur

Review: Human Dimensions of Ecological Restoration: Integrating Science, Nature, and Culture

Book Review: Human Dimensions of Ecological Restoration: Integrating Science, Nature, and Cultur

The Last Refuge of the Mt. Graham Red Squirrel: Ecology of Endangerment

This is a book review and there is no abstract

Mapping definitions, measures and methodologies of assessing police violence in the health literature: a scoping review protocol

Introduction Police violence is a growing public health issue in the USA. Emerging evidence suggests that negative police encounters are associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. There is a critical need to examine the relationship between police violence and health disparities. However, the lack of consensus on a conceptual and operational definition of police violence is a limitation in scientific investigations on police violence and its health impacts. Here, we present the protocol for a scoping review that maps definitions, measures and methodologies of assessing police violence in the health literature.Methods and analysis We will comprehensively search PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and APA PsycInfo databases. We will use the following string of key terms separated with the Boolean operator ‘or’: ‘police violence’, ‘police brutality’, ‘police use of force’, ‘law enforcement violence’, ‘law enforcement brutality’, ‘law enforcement use of force’ and ‘legal intervention’. An English language limit will be applied. We will include studies published in English or that have an English language abstract available. Eligible studies will include: (1) a definition of police violence and/or (2) a measurement of police violence.Ethics and dissemination This scoping review does not require ethical approval. The findings of this review will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and at conferences

We Built It, They All Came, Now What?

Background: Liaison librarians are often victims of their own successes. They strive to create embeddedness, and find there are not enough hours to accommodate all those who seek them out. Most liaisons are cognizant of the need to approach their roles strategically, but can find it difficult to carve aside the time needed to plan an approach that allows allow them to reach the largest number of their programs in the most effective way possible. This session will address how librarians at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Health Sciences Library (HSL) have strategized to create effective and streamlined liaison programs. Description: UNC HSL liaison librarians have employed several approaches for greater efficiency: engagement with faculty to create more streamlined research assignments, curriculum mapping with skill scaffolding, team delivered drop-in “search clinics” for large classes, online assistance via Zoom, expanded subject guides, and team collaboration on instruction and research assistance. Librarians have also looked at tiered service models to reach the maximum number of users. When possible, class assignments are handled by targeted instruction, while masters papers, dissertations, and systematic reviews are handled with a combination of targeted instruction and consultations. Citation management and baseline reference questions are often answered by research assistants, and RAs have also been trained to offer classes in using citation management and Covidence classes. By requesting more embeddedness in classes with research assignments, librarian consultation time is available to assist those with more complex individualized research needs

Trends and Insights from Transportation Congestion Pricing Policy Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Toll-based congestion pricing (CP) policies are increasingly implemented globally for alleviating road traffic congestion. Several interconnected factors affecting or induced by CP implementation include air quality/emissions, travel time, and road user safety. We sought to examine and characterize research output and patterns across several domains (e.g., health, policy acceptability) surrounding toll-based CP policies, in order to identify where research has focused and where gaps exist. We conducted a structured review and identified 2333 relevant publications, using semi-supervised and machine learning strategies combined with manual review. Annual publication counts peaked in 2015 (n = 122). Themes identified from title and abstract terms included policy implementation characteristics, advanced transportation modeling methods and approaches, and public perception and acceptability. Authorship networks indicated a lack of interdisciplinary research. Country analyses identified the US, China, and the UK as the most frequently represented countries, and underrepresentation from low-income countries. Findings indicate that research focused on specific road user types (e.g., pedestrians) and safety impacts, and equity considerations were relatively sparse compared to other topics (e.g., policy economics, public perception). Additional research on these critical topics is necessary to ensure that such policies are designed to promote positive and equitable effects on road user health and safety

HIV and Substance Use in Latin America: A Scoping Review

This scoping review aims to explore the interplay between substance use (SU) and HIV in Latin America (LA). Database searches yielded 3481 references; 196 were included. HIV prevalence among people who used substances (PWUS) ranged from 2.8–15.2%. SU definitions were variable throughout studies, and thus data were not easily comparable. In 2019, only 2% of new HIV infections were attributed to injection drug use (IDU) in LA. Factors associated with HIV among PWUS included being female, IDU and homelessness, and PWUS were likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, start antiretroviral treatment late, have poor adherence, have treatment failure, be lost to follow-up, have comorbidities, and experience higher mortality rates and lower quality of life, as has been reported in PLWH with SU in other regions. Five intervention studies were identified, and only one was effective at reducing HIV incidence in PWUS. Interventions in other regions have varying success depending on context-specific characteristics, highlighting the need to conduct more research in the LA region. Though progress has been made in establishing SU as a major concern in people living with HIV (PLWH), much more is yet to be done to reduce the burden of HIV and SU in LA