Water Resources Availability, Quality, and Cost in Northeastern Illinois

This report summarizes studies of the water resources of northeastern Illinois, a 3700–square–mile area including Cook, Du Page, Kane, McHenry, Lake, and Will Counties. Water resources consist of Lake Michigan water, surface water, and groundwater. Because the use of Lake Michigan water is limited by the U.S. Supreme Court and deep sandstone groundwater resources are being overdeveloped, future water shortages are expected. All available water resources in addition to Lake Michigan were estimated by township and compared with projected future water demands for 1980–2010 to determine the amount and location of deficits. Alternative sources to meet the specific shortages were studied and compared, where possible, by cost. Extensive water quality data also were summarized. Water shortages, depending on resource use schemes, in the area may approach 200 million gallons per day by the year 2000. Feasible plans for meeting these needs are described as a guide to allocation of Lake Michigan water and future planning for water resources.publishedpeer reviewedOpe

Formative Assessment of ARM-U: A Modular Intervention for Decreasing Risk Behaviors Among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Methamphetamine-Using MSM

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine is a major contributor to HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM). Recent studies show that up to one-third of methamphetamine-using MSM (MUMSM) inject the drug. We developed a behavioral intervention for MUMSM to decrease unprotected anal intercourse and increase awareness of parenteral HIV transmission risk. This 6-session (3 in-person, 3 by telephone) modular intervention was designed to be tailored to participants' HIV (+/-) and injection drug user ([IDU] yes/no) status. We present results of formative research used to evaluate the content and to assess feasibility and acceptability of this individual-level HIV risk-reduction intervention. SETTING: HIV research clinic in a high MSM and methamphetamine prevalence neighborhood. PROJECT: Avoiding Risks from Methamphetamine-Use (ARM-U) is a brief toolbox intervention that allows counselors to select modules that suit a client's individual risk profile and intervention needs employing motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral theory. We evaluated the format and content of the intervention through focus groups and pre-testing of the entire intervention using volunteers from the target population stratified into four groups (HIV+/IDU, HIV-/IDU, HIV+/non-IDU, HIV-/non-IDU). Four individuals in each stratum were recruited to undergo the intervention and complete a satisfaction survey at the end of each in-person session. RESULTS: In total, 25 MUMSM attended one of five focus groups. Participants thought all proposed intervention topics were important and could aid in reducing sexual risk behaviors among MUMSM. However, the neurocognitive effects of methamphetamine were reported to be a barrier to practicing safer sex, condom use negotiation or HIV status disclosure. Fifteen (94%) of 16 participants completed all 6 sessions and the satisfaction survey. On average, participants felt the intervention was useful for MUMSM, made them contemplate and move toward behavior change, and would recommend the program to their peers. LESSONS LEARNED: Based on our formative research, we revised the ARM-U intervention to emphasize pre-planning to avoid combining methamphetamine use and sex or develop strategies to avoid sex risk following methamphetamine use. We also increased emphasis on referrals for care and other requested services. Future efficacy trials are needed to evaluate the intervention's ability to reduce HIV-associated risk behaviors

Recommendations to reduce inequalities for LGBT people facing advanced illness : ACCESSCare national qualitative interview study

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans (LGBT) people have higher risk of certain life-limiting illnesses and unmet needs in advanced illness and bereavement. ACCESSCare is the first national study to examine in depth the experiences of LGBT people facing advanced illness. AIM: To explore health-care experiences of LGBT people facing advanced illness to elicit views regarding sharing identity (sexual orientation/gender history), accessing services, discrimination/exclusion and best-practice examples. DESIGN: Semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews analysed using thematic analysis. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: In total, 40 LGBT people from across the United Kingdom facing advanced illness: cancer ( n = 21), non-cancer ( n = 16) and both a cancer and a non-cancer conditions ( n = 3). RESULTS: In total, five main themes emerged: (1) person-centred care needs that may require additional/different consideration for LGBT people (including different social support structures and additional legal concerns), (2) service level or interactional (created in the consultation) barriers/stressors (including heteronormative assumptions and homophobic/transphobic behaviours), (3) invisible barriers/stressors (including the historical context of pathology/criminalisation, fears and experiences of discrimination) and (4) service level or interactional facilitators (including acknowledging and including partners in critical discussions). These all shape (5) individuals' preferences for disclosing identity. Prior experiences of discrimination or violence, in response to disclosure, were carried into future care interactions and heightened with the frailty of advanced illness. CONCLUSION: Despite recent legislative change, experiences of discrimination and exclusion in health care persist for LGBT people. Ten recommendations, for health-care professionals and services/institutions, are made from the data. These are simple, low cost and offer potential gains in access to, and outcomes of, care for LGBT people.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Greater Risk for HIV Infection of Black Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Critical Literature Review

HIV rates are disproportionately higher for Black men who have sex with men (MSM) than for other MSM. We reviewed the literature to examine 12 hypotheses that might explain this disparity. We found that high rates of HIV infection for Black MSM were partly attributable to a high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases that facilitate HIV transmission and to undetected or late diagnosis of HIV infection; they were not attributable to a higher frequency of risky sexual behavior, nongay identity, or sexual nondisclosure, or to reported use of alcohol or illicit substances. Evidence was insufficient to evaluate the remaining hypotheses. Future studies must address these hypotheses to provide additional explanations for the greater prevalence of HIV infection among Black MSM

Assessing the state of research data publication in hydrology: A perspective from the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Incorporated

Many have argued that datasets resulting from scientific research should be part of the scholarly record as first class research products. Data sharing mandates from funding agencies and scientific journal publishers along with calls from the scientific community to better support transparency and reproducibility of scientific research have increased demand for tools and support for publishing datasets. Hydrology domain‐specific data publication services have been developed alongside more general purpose and even commercial data repositories. Prominent among these are the Hydrologic Information System (HIS) and HydroShare repositories developed by the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI). More broadly, however, multiple organizations have been involved in the practice of data publication in the hydrology domain, each having different roles that have shaped data publication and reuse. Bibliographic and archival approaches to data publication have been advanced, but both have limitations with respect to hydrologic data. Specific recommendations for improving data publication infrastructure, support, and practices to move beyond existing limitations and enable more effective data publication in support of scientific research in the hydrology domain include: improving support for journal article‐based data access and data citation, considering the workflow for data publication, enhancing support for reproducible science, encouraging publication of curated reference data collections, advancing interoperability standards for sharing data and metadata among repositories, developing partnerships with university libraries offering data services, and developing more specific data management plans. While presented in the context of CUAHSI’s data repositories and experience, these recommendations are broadly applicable to other domains.This article is categorized under:Science of Water > MethodsDepiction of an actual workflow from the HydroShare data and model repository demonstrating new capabilities for collaborative data publication that have been shaped by multiple years of experience in providing data publication services for the hydrology community.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154948/1/wat21422_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154948/2/wat21422.pd

Associations between substance use, sexual risk taking and HIV treatment adherence among homeless people living with HIV

Prior research suggests that the interconnections between substance use, HIV risk and lack of adherence to HIV medications are especially strong among homeless individuals. Thus, study of these interconnections warrants public health attention. The objectives of this paper are to describe patterns of alcohol and drug use, associations between substance use and participation in high-risk sex, and associations between substance use and adherence to HIV treatment regimens among a sample of 602 homeless or unstably housed HIV-seropositive individuals who are part of a housing-based intervention - the Housing and Health Study. Participants experienced high levels of substance use. Significant associations were found between substance use and adherence to HIV treatment medications, and between substance use and high-risk sexual practices within the entire group. Group analyses by sexual orientation/gender show that the association between substance use and treatment adherence is found primarily among heterosexual males whereas the relationship between several drugs and high-risk sexual practices is strongest among gay and bisexual men. Health professionals working with HIV-seropositive individuals should routinely ascertain housing status and screen for substance use and risky sex