The Impact of Transit-Oriented Development on Social Capital

This paper focuses on the ability of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) to improve social capital and interactions within a community. The expectation is that TOD has a positive impact on the lifestyle and activities of individuals who reside, work, and frequent these locations, and that this can include increases in social capital. Using data from a survey of transit station locations in New Jersey, the authors examine how proximity to the station and various built environment variables are associated with different measures of social capital, derived from responses to survey questions. These questions inquire about respondents’ perceptions of their neighborhood as a place to live, sense of community, knowing their neighbors, trust, and whether their community is a good place to raise a child. The authors also include a question on volunteering in the community. These questions reflect various domains of social capital as established in the literature. Results generally do not support the hypothesis that social capital is associated with transit station proximity and TOD. Features of the built environment, proxied by population and employment density, are also not associated with increased social capital, and in some cases have a negative association. While there are some limited positive associations with some of the social capital variables, one of the strongest indicators is living in a detached family home

Improving Pathways to Transit for Persons with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities can achieve a greater degree of freedom when they have full access to a variety of transit modes, but this can only be achieved when the pathways to transit – the infrastructure and conditions in the built environment – allow full access to transit stops, stations, and vehicles. Since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, many transit agencies and governmental jurisdictions have made significant progress in this area. Policy initiatives, incremental enhancements, modifications, and other measures undertaken by transit agencies and their partners have significantly improved access to transit for persons with disabilities, others who rely on public transportation, and individuals who chose to utilize these services. This research study explores, through case study work, efforts that have been effective in improving pathways to transit. Interviews and site visits were conducted with five transit agencies, along with their partners, that are actively engaged in improving pathways to connect transit consumers – particularly people with disabilities – with transit stations and stops. These agencies are: Broward County Transit (Broward County, FL), Memphis Area Transit Authority (Memphis, TN), NJ TRANSIT (Newark and New Brunswick, NJ), Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Portland, OR), and Link Transit (Wenatchee, WA). Promising practices and/or lessons were identified through the case study analysis; these should be considered by any transit agency seeking to create improved access to its services for persons with disabilities

Variable bone fragility associated with an Amish COL1A2 variant and a knock-in mouse model

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heritable form of bone fragility typically associated with a dominant COL1A1 or COL1A2 mutation. Variable phenotype for OI patients with identical collagen mutations is well established, but phenotype variability is described using the qualitative Sillence classification. Patterning a new OI mouse model on a specific collagen mutation therefore has been hindered by the absence of an appropriate kindred with extensive quantitative phenotype data. We benefited from the large sibships of the Old Order Amish (OOA) to define a wide range of OI phenotypes in 64 individuals with the identical COL1A2 mutation. Stratification of carrier spine (L1–4) areal bone mineral density (aBMD) Z -scores demonstrated that 73% had moderate to severe disease (less than −2), 23% had mild disease (−1 to −2), and 4% were in the unaffected range (greater than −1). A line of knock-in mice was patterned on the OOA mutation. Bone phenotype was evaluated in four F 1 lines of knock-in mice that each shared approximately 50% of their genetic background. Consistent with the human pedigree, these mice had reduced body mass, aBMD, and bone strength. Whole-bone fracture susceptibility was influenced by individual genomic factors that were reflected in size, shape, and possibly bone metabolic regulation. The results indicate that the G610C OI (Amish) knock-in mouse is a novel translational model to identify modifying genes that influence phenotype and for testing potential therapies for OI. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral ResearchPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65040/1/90720_ftp.pd

Residential Property Values and New Jersey Transit Village Program

New Jersey municipalities, with the intention of intensifying development around rail stations and bus hubs. As one test of the effectiveness of this state effort, the appreciation in residential property values is investigated and compared with that in other municipalities in the state. Some limited positive evidence is found to support the New Jersey transit village designation. Econometric analysis of the change in average residential sales price over 9 years finds an association but cannot establish a causal effect. Case study analysis of selected New Jersey transit villages suggests that the forethought, commitment, and political will required to apply for transit village status may be what sparks municipal development rather than the designation itself. Since its inception in 1999, the New Jersey Transit Village Initiative was designed to encourage smart growth near transit stations. That is, it was intended to foster transportation-efficient community redevelopment and revitalization centered on transit facilities (rai

Residential property valuations near transit stations with transit-oriented development

Access to train stations is highly valued and this is reflected in the premium price of residential property near train stations. Transit-oriented development (TOD) and the amenities provided by mixed-use development may also provide value to consumers. The analysis presented here evaluates the median property valuations surrounding eight transit stations with TOD using residential property valuation data provided by Zillow™, an on-line real estate listing firm. A hedonic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between median block-group-level residential property valuations and the distance to the station with TOD and other stations with direct, non-stop access to New York City, while controlling for demographic and housing variables. Spatial econometric software and techniques are used to control for spatial autocorrelation. Results suggest that while the mixed-use development typically found with TOD is likely valued, proximity to stations with direct access to New York City leads to higher relative property valuations

Olanzapine Plus Samidorphan in Subjects with Schizophrenia and Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder: Rationale and Design for a Phase II, Double-Blind, Randomized Study

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common comorbidity in patients with schizophrenia. Although pharmacological options for the management of each disease exist separately, there is no agent approved for both. Moreover, studies conducted in this patient population, who face practical and social challenges as a consequence of being diagnosed with schizophrenia and comorbid AUD, are limited. Methods: We describe the design of a Phase II, double-blind, randomized trial to evaluate adult outpatients with schizophrenia and comorbid AUD receiving a combination of olanzapine plus samidorphan (OLZ+SAM; ALKS 3831), a novel entity currently under development for the treatment of schizophrenia. The combination drug formulation of OLZ+SAM is intended to provide the antipsychotic efficacy of OLZ while mitigating the weight gain and concomitant metabolic abnormalities commonly associated with OLZ alone. In considering this patient population, the novel primary efficacy endpoint is the time from randomization to the first event of exacerbation of disease symptoms (EEDS) based on the occurrence of any of eight prespecified events related to worsening of disease symptoms and/or AUD, as confirmed by a blinded independent adjudication committee. The rate and number of EEDS, improvement in drinking level, and the safety and tolerability of OLZ in combination with SAM will also be assessed. Discussion: A limited number of studies have been conducted in patients with schizophrenia and AUD, and the need for further research in this difficult-to-study population is well documented. This study is, to our knowledge, the largest and longest trial with a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled design. In addition to providing evidence for the development of OLZ+SAM (ALKS 3831) as a therapeutic option, the study aims to provide insights into the clinical management of subjects with schizophrenia and comorbid AUD. Trial registration: Clinical trials NCT02161718, registered May 2014; EudraCT Number: 2014-001211-39

Olanzapine Plus Samidorphan (ALKS 3831) in Schizophrenia and Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder: A Phase 2, Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common comorbidity of schizophrenia. No effective pharmacologic treatment is available for both disorders to date. METHODS: In a phase 2, double-blind study, patients with schizophrenia and AUD experiencing ≥ 10 drinking and ≥ 2 heavy-drinking days in the previous month and recent (≤ 6 mo) disease symptom exacerbation were recruited between June 2014 and March 2017. DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 criteria were used to assign the diagnoses of schizophrenia and AUD, respectively. After a 6-week lead-in period, 234 eligible patients were randomized (1:1) to olanzapine + 10 mg samidorphan tablets (OLZ/SAM) or olanzapine + placebo tablets (olanzapine) for 36-60 weeks of treatment. The primary outcome of time to the first event of exacerbation of disease symptoms (EEDS) was evaluated using the log rank test for treatment comparison, and the Cox proportional-hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratio. Safety was assessed as adverse events and laboratory measures. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between groups in the time to first EEDS (hazard ratio = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.53-1.56; P = .746). Patients treated with OLZ/SAM vs olanzapine had numerically lower rates in 6 of 8 criteria to evaluate EEDS. Change from baseline in percentage of heavy-drinking days during the double-blind treatment period was similar in OLZ/SAM- vs olanzapine-treated patients. OLZ/SAM was generally well tolerated with a safety profile similar to olanzapine. CONCLUSIONS: OLZ/SAM was not superior to olanzapine in the time to EEDS and was well tolerated in patients with schizophrenia and AUD. Further research is needed to identify effective treatments for this difficult-to-treat population. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02161718; EudraCT number: 2014-001211-39