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Urbanization is commonly associated with biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation. However, urban environments often have greenspaces that can support wildlife populations, including rare species. The challenge for conservation planners working in these systems is identifying priority habitats and corridors for protection before they are lost. In a rapidly changing urban environment, this requires prompt decisions informed by accurate spatial information. Here, we combine several approaches to map habitat and assess connectivity for a diverse set of rare species in seven urban study areas across southern Michigan, USA. We incorporated multiple connectivity tools for a comprehensive appraisal of species‐habitat patterns across these urban landscapes. We observed distinct differences in connectivity by taxonomic group and site. The three turtle species (Blanding's, Eastern Box, and Spotted) consistently had more habitat predicted to be suitable per site than other evaluated species. This is promising for this at‐risk taxonomic group and allows conservation efforts to focus on mitigating threats such as road mortality. Grassland and prairie‐associated species (American Bumble Bee, Black and Gold Bumble Bee, and Henslow's Sparrow) had the least amount of habitat on a site‐by‐site basis. Kalamazoo and the northern Detroit sites had the highest levels of multi‐species connectivity across the entire study area based on the least cost paths. These connectivity results have direct applications in urban planning. Kalamazoo, one of the focal urban regions, has implemented a Natural Features Protection (NFP) plan to bolster natural area protections within the city. We compared our connectivity results to the NFP area and show where this plan will have an immediate positive impact and additional areas for potential consideration in future expansions of the protection network. Our results show that conservation opportunities exist within each of the assessed urban areas for maintaining rare species, a key benefit of this multi‐species and multi‐site approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends HIV screening at least annually among sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), but only half report being tested in the past year in the United States. As HIV self‐test kits are becoming more available around the United States via web and app‐based interventions, it is important to understand who is willing and able to order them. This analysis sought to better understand predictors of free HIV self‐test kit utilization among MSM in M‐cubed, an HIV prevention mobile app intervention trial in Atlanta, Detroit and New York City. Methods: We conducted an exploratory secondary analysis of self‐report and in‐app data collected from the intervention arm of the M‐Cubed study from 24 January 2018 to 31 October 2019. Behavioural, demographic and other potential predictors of HIV self‐test ordering were identified from Social Cognitive Theoretical underpinnings of the app, and from the literature. Significant predictor variables in bivariate analyses were considered for inclusion in the empiric multivariable model. Demographic variables chosen a priori were then added to a final model estimating adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR). Results: Over half of the 417 intervention participants ordered an HIV self‐test kit during the study. In bivariate analyses, ordering a kit was associated with HIV testing history, plans to get tested and reported likelihood of getting tested. In the final model, participants were more likely to order a kit if they reported plans to get tested in the next 3 months (aPR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.18–2.11) or had not tested for HIV in the past 3 months (aPR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13–1.70). There was no difference in HIV self‐test kit ordering by income, race/ethnicity or age. Conclusions: HIV testing is an important tool in ending the HIV epidemic and must be accessible and frequent for key populations. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of HIV self‐test kits in reaching populations with suboptimal testing rates and shows that self‐testing may supplement community‐based and clinical testing while helping overcome some of the structural barriers that limit access to annual HIV prevention services for MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) disrupted the food system motivating discussions about moving from a dependence on long food supply channels toward shorter local supply channels, including urban agriculture. This study examines two central questions regarding the adoption of urban agriculture practices at the household level during the COVID‐19 pandemic: whether the outbreak of the novel coronavirus elicited participation in urban agriculture (e.g., community growing and home growing) and what are the characteristics of individuals who participate. To answer these questions, we conducted two online surveys in Phoenix, AZ, and Detroit, MI. The first round occurred during 2017 and the second during the lock‐down in 2020. Using bivariate probit models, we find that (1) considerably fewer individuals participate in urban agriculture at community gardens compared to at‐home gardening; (2) participation overall is lower in 2020 compared to 2017; and (3) respondents in Detroit practice urban agriculture more than respondents in Phoenix. Across both cities, our results suggest that the continuity of individuals' participation in growing food at community gardens and home is fragile. Not all characteristics that determined who participated in community gardens before COVID‐19 are determining the likelihood to participate during the pandemic. In addition, growing food at home before COVID‐19 was practiced by larger households and employed respondents, yet, during the pandemic, we find that home‐growing was more likely when children were in the household and households were smaller and younger (Detroit), and younger and more educated (Phoenix). These findings suggest that many urban households' food‐growing practices may not yet be mainstream and that other barriers may exist that inhibit households' participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We reviewed our experience of surgery for epileptic spasms ( ES) with or without history of infantile spasms. Methods Data were reviewed from 65 (33 male) patients with ES who underwent surgery between 1993 and 2014; palliative cases were excluded. Results Mean age at surgery was 5.1 (range 0.2-19) years, with mean postsurgical follow-up of 45.3 (6-120) months. Mean number of anticonvulsants used preoperatively was 4.2 (2-8), which decreased to 1.2 (0-4) postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Total hemispherectomy was the most commonly performed surgery (n = 20), followed by subtotal hemispherectomy (n = 17), multilobar resection (n = 13), lobectomy (n = 7), tuberectomy (n = 6), and lobectomy + tuberectomy (n = 2), with International League Against Epilepsy ( ILAE) class I outcome in 20, 10, 7, 6, 3, and 0 patients, respectively (total 46/65 (71%); 22 off medication). Shorter duration of epilepsy (p = 0.022) and presence of magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) lesion (p = 0.026) were independently associated with class I outcome. Of 34 patients operated <3 years after seizure onset, 30 (88%) achieved class I outcome. Thirty-seven (79%) of 47 patients with lesional MRI had class-I outcome, whereas 9 (50%) of 18 with normal MRI had class I outcome. Positron emission tomography ( PET) scan was abnormal in almost all patients [61 (97%) of 63 with lateralizing/localizing findings in 56 (92%) of 61 patients, thus helping in surgical decision making and guiding subdural grid placements, particularly in patients with nonlesional MRI. Fifteen patients had postoperative complications, mostly minor. Significance Curative epilepsy surgery in ES patients, with or without history of infantile spasms, is best accomplished at an early age and in those patients with lesional abnormalities on MRI with electroencephalography ( EEG) concordance. Good outcomes can be achieved even when there is no MRI lesion but positive PET localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis was identified in 2002 as the cause of extensive ash ( Fraxinus spp.) decline and mortality in Detroit, Michigan, and has since killed millions of ash trees in the US and Canada. When discovered, it was not clear how long it had been present or at what location the invading colony started. We used dendrochronological methods to document the onset and progression of ash mortality and the spatio-temporal dynamics of the invasion. Reconstructing the progression of ash mortality serves as a proxy to draw inferences about the colonization and spread of emerald ash borer in North America. Location Southeastern Michigan, USA. Methods We collected increment cores from dead, declining or non-symptomatic ash trees on a systematic 4.8 × 4.8 or 2.4 × 2.4 km grid in 2004-2006. Geo-referenced samples were cross-dated to determine the earliest date emerald ash borer-killed trees in each location. Interpolated dates of ash mortality were analysed to determine rates and patterns of emerald ash borer spread across the 1.5 million ha study area. Results We identified a location in southeastern Michigan where ash trees were killed by emerald ash borer as early as 1997. Rates of ash mortality subsequently progressed at 3.84 km year−1 from 1998 to 2001 and then increased to 12.97 km year−1 from 2001 to 2003 as satellite colonies coalesced with the primary infestation. From 1998 to 2003, new satellites formed at a rate of 7.4 per year, with average jump distances of 24.5 km. Main conclusions Emerald ash borer was likely established in southeastern Michigan by at least the early to mid-1990s. Anthropogenic-aided stratified dispersal and the coalescence of satellite colonies with the primary population resulted in biphasic range expansion, rapidly expanding the footprint of the invasion. Our reconstruction of the emerald ash borer invasion demonstrates this invaders' remarkable capacity for population growth and spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]