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Patterns of late Holocene and historical extinctions on Madagascar
No full textAround 1000 years ago, Madagascar experienced the collapse of populations of large vertebrates that ultimately resulted in many species going extinct. The factors that led to this collapse appear to have differed regionally, but in some ways, key processes were similar across the island. This review evaluates four hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the loss of large vertebrates on Madagascar: Overkill, aridification, synergy, and subsistence shift. We explore regional differences in the paths to extinction and the significance of a prolonged extinction window across the island. The data suggest that people who arrived early and depended on hunting, fishing, and foraging had little effect on Madagascar\u27s large endemic vertebrates. Megafaunal decline was triggered initially by aridification in the driest bioclimatic zone, and by the arrival of farmers and herders in the wetter bioclimatic zones. Ultimately, it was the expansion of agropastoralism across both wet and dry regions that drove large endemic vertebrates to extinction everywhere
Source to sink in precolonial Jamaica: Tracing geochemistry and mineralogy from the rocks to the pots in understanding White Marl pottery production and exchange
No full textWhite Marl is the largest, most intensively inhabited late-precolonial site documented to date for Jamaica. Its size and structural organization suggests that it functioned as a major sociopolitical/economic hub among the increasingly complex chiefdoms in the Greater Antilles. The White Marl artifact assemblage is dominated by massive quantities of ceramics. To address the origin(s) of materials from which White Marl pottery was produced, geochemical and petrographic analyses were conducted on samples of ceramics and nearby sediments. Geochemical and petrographic data were used to constrain the provenance of the pottery using a source-to-sink model. We show that the sediments in the Rio Cobre adjacent to the site originated from the nearby Above Rocks Inlier and that most of the pottery was sourced from these sediments (two geochemical pottery groups). A third pottery group has a distinctive geochemistry from a location outside of the Rio Cobre drainage. Thin sections demonstrate that a recipe of 60% clay and 40% temper was consistently followed in pottery manufacture. Multielement plots are used to distinguish sources and principal component analyses to characterize and link sediments to pottery groups. Integrating geochemical and petrographic analyses of raw sediment and pottery samples in a source-to-sink framework is a powerful way to reconstruct ceramic production strategies and trade-and-exchange networks
Male victims, experiences with seeking help from domestic violence agencies over time and across western English-speaking countries
No full textBackground: Male victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) represent a substantial but overlooked portion of IPV victims. Access to domestic violence (DV) services remains a challenge, particularly when agencies primarily serve female victims. This study examines male IPV victims’ experiences with mainstream and specialized DV agencies across four English-speaking regions: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom/Ireland, and Australia/New Zealand. Methods: Two samples of male IPV victims from Western English-speaking countries/regions were recruited: one consisting of self-identified male IPV victims (n = 594) and the other of male IPV victims from crowdsourcing sample (n = 1380). Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire, and among other issues, reported on their help-seeking from DV agencies, specific experiences with DV agencies, and perceived helpfulness of the DV agencies’ services. Results: Men from the victims sample were significantly more likely to seek help compared to male IPV victims from the crowdsourcing sample. Specialized DV agencies were rated as more helpful than mainstream agencies. USA respondents reported the most positive experiences, while those from other regions, particularly Canada and the UK/Ireland, reported negative encounters. Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for improved, gender-inclusive training and resources within mainstream DV agencies, as well as increased support and expansion of specialized services for male IPV victims. Policymakers and service providers must address the systematic gaps in support to ensure male victims are recognized and effectively helped across all regions
Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Scale (MSCS): A brief psychometrically robust metric of patient-reported cognitive difficulty
No full textBackground: Existing metrics of patient-reported cognitive difficulties in multiple sclerosis (MS) are lengthy, lack psychometric rigor, and/or fail to query prevalent expressive language deficits. Objective: Develop a brief psychometrically robust metric of patient-reported cognitive deficits that includes language items; the Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Scale (MSCS). Method: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on 20 Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) items plus five newly developed language questions in a large MS sample and matched respondents without neurologic disease. Independent confirmatory principal components analysis (PCA) assessed EFA factor structure. Reliability of the new scale and subscales, and relationships with objective cognitive impairment and cognitive change, were assessed. Results: EFA in patients (n = 502) and controls (n = 350), item analyses, and confirmatory PCA in an independent sample (n = 361 patients; 150 controls) supported construction of an eight-item scale with four two-item subscales: Executive/Speed, Working Memory, Expressive Language, and Episodic Memory. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were excellent for the total MSCS (α = 0.93, ICC = 0.95) and good for each subscale (α’s:0.83–0.87; ICCs: 0.86–0.92). MSCS showed medium-size links to cross-sectional objective cognitive impairment (η2 =.06) and cognitive change over time (η2 =.07); the traditional PDQ did not (η2s = 0.01 and 0.02). Conclusion: The brief MSCS is a psychometrically robust, reliable, and valid metric of patient-reported cognitive deficits in MS that holds promise for improving assessment of MS cognitive dysfunction
Disease burden attributable to intimate partner violence against females and sexual violence against children in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
No full textBackground
Violence against women and against children are human rights violations with lasting harms to survivors and societies at large. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence against children (SVAC) are two major forms of such abuse. Despite their wide-reaching effects on individual and community health, these risk factors have not been adequately prioritised as key drivers of global health burden. Comprehensive x§and reliable estimates of the comparative health burden of IPV and SVAC are urgently needed to inform investments in prevention and support for survivors at both national and global levels. Methods
We estimated the prevalence and attributable burden of IPV among females and SVAC among males and females for 204 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2023, as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2023. We searched several global databases for data on self-reported exposure to IPV and SVAC and undertook a systematic review to identify the health outcomes associated with each of these risk factors. We modelled IPV and SVAC prevalence using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, applying data adjustments to account for measurement heterogeneity. We employed burden-of-proof methodology to estimate relative risks for outcomes associated with IPV and SVAC. These estimates informed the calculation of population attributable fractions, which were then used to quantify disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to each risk factor. Findings
Globally, in 2023, we estimated that 608 million (95% uncertainty interval 518–724) females aged 15 years and older had ever been exposed to IPV, and 1·01 billion (0·764–1·48) individuals aged 15 years and older had experienced sexual violence during childhood. 18·5 million (8·74–30·0) DALYs were attributed to IPV among females and 32·2 million (16·4–52·5) DALYs were attributed to SVAC among males and females in 2023. IPV and SVAC were among the top contributors to the global disease burden in 2023, particularly among females aged 15–49 years, ranking as the fourth and fifth leading risk factors, respectively, for DALYs in this group. Among the eight health outcomes found to be associated with IPV, anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder were the leading causes of IPV-attributed DALYs, accounting for 5·43 million (–1·25 to 14·6) and 3·96 million (1·71 to 6·92) DALYs in 2023, respectively. SVAC was associated with 14 health outcomes, including mental health disorder, substance use disorder, and chronic and infectious disease outcomes. Self-harm and schizophrenia were the leading causes of SVAC-attributed burden, with SVAC accounting for 6·71 million (2·00 to 12·7) DALYs due to self-harm and 4·15 million (–1·92 to 13·1) DALYs due to schizophrenia in 2023. Interpretation
IPV and SVAC are substantial contributors to global health burden, and their health consequences span a variety of individual health outcomes. Importantly, mental health disorders account for the greatest share of disease burden among survivors. Investing in prevention of these avoidable risk factors has the potential to avert millions of DALYs and considerable premature mortality each year. Our findings represent strong evidence for global and national leaders to elevate IPV and SVAC among public health priorities. Sustained investments are needed to prevent IPV and SVAC and to implement interventions focused on supporting the complex social and health needs of survivors
Psychiatric-Mental Health Guidelines for Advanced Practice Nurses
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/all_books/1689/thumbnail.jp
Boy Whose Head was Filled with Stars
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_picturebook_gallery/1009/thumbnail.jp
Igniting the Spark: Activating Your Creative Mind
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/all_books/1742/thumbnail.jp
Raising Loving Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Help Your Kids Connect
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/all_books/1741/thumbnail.jp
Transformative Urban Governance: Integrating Sustainability, Predictive Analytics, and Interagency Collaboration
No full textAs environmental challenges intensify globally, the role of municipalities in driving sustainable development and resource management has become more critical than ever. This dissertation explores the important role of municipal sustainability practices and interagency collaboration in advancing effective environmental management within New Jersey municipalities. Recognizing the importance of municipal actions in addressing pressing environmental challenges, this study highlights the need for innovative frameworks to support resource-constrained local governments in meeting sustainability goals. Additionally, the research emphasizes the importance of capacity building and re-fragmentation, enabling municipalities to restructure operational frameworks for greater efficiency and adaptability. Existing literature provides limited analysis on the predictive factors that influence municipal sustainability, particularly regarding the effectiveness of collaborative governance models, leaving a gap in understanding how municipalities can best align resources and strategies to improve sustainability outcomes. The primary objective of this study is to identify significant predictors of municipal sustainability and assess the potential of collaborative models, such as Shared Service Agreements (SSAs) and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), to enhance local environmental performance. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative regression analysis with qualitative case studies to assess predictors, as well as the capacity of SSAs to facilitate resource-sharing pooling among municipalities, and the role of BIDs in aligning business interests with sustainability goals to support resilient urban development. Key findings reveal that the presence of volunteer-driven sustainability groups, targeted environmental funds, and local political engagement significantly contribute to municipal sustainability outcomes. Moreover, the analysis demonstrates that municipalities leveraging SSAs experience measurable improvements in resource allocation efficiency and policy execution, suggesting that collaborative governance models can mitigate common barriers to sustainability in smaller or under-resourced communities. Capacity building efforts, such as developing institutional expertise and employing interagency collaboration, further enhance these outcomes by equipping municipalities to effectively respond to evolving challenges. The implications of this study extend to policymakers and municipal leaders, emphasizing the value of both strategic predictor identification and collaborative frameworks in fostering urban resilience. These findings support the development of targeted policies and funding initiatives that empower municipalities to prioritize sustainability efforts and maximize resource use through interagency cooperation. Future research should further examine the adaptability of these models across diverse socio-political landscapes, with a focus on optimizing sustainable urban governance at the local level