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Maintaining healthful, safe, and productive work environments for workers in correctional settings is a matter of deep consequence to the workers themselves, the institutions they serve, the incarcerated individuals with whom they share space, and inevitably, to our wider community. We hypothesized that an examination of the academic literature would reveal opportunities for an improved approach to research in these settings.We performed a scoping literature review using search terms related to the occupational and environmental health of workers in correctional environments, limited to studies performed in the United States.A total of 942 studies underwent title and abstract screening, 342 underwent full-text review, and 147 underwent data extraction by a single reviewer. The results revealed a body of literature that tends strongly toward analyses of stress and burnout of correctional staff, largely based on self-reported data from cross-sectional surveys. Those studies related to physical health were predominantly represented by topics of infectious disease. There were few or no studies examining exposures or outcomes related to diagnosable mental health conditions, musculoskeletal injury, environmental hazards, medical or mental health staff, immigration detention settings, or regarding incarcerated workers. There were very few studies that were experimental, longitudinal, or based on objective data.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has promulgated a research strategy for correctional officers that should guide future research for all workers in correctional settings, but realization of these goals will rely upon multidisciplinary collaboration, specific grants to engage researchers, and an improved understanding of the barriers inherent to correctional research, all while maintaining rigorous protection for incarcerated persons as an especially vulnerable population.

Introduction European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were first introduced to the United States in the late 1800s. It is believed that the starlings were imported from Europe and released in New York City’s Central Park so that all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s works would inhabit the new country. For the next 50 years, the starling population grew exponentially; by 1942, starlings had spread to the West Coast. Starlings are not considered migratory and remain in the same general area year round; however, some may migrate several hundred miles. During much of the year, the inconspicuous starlings disperse into small flocks and feed on seeds, fruits, and insects. During winter months, starlings form flocks of several hundred up to 750,000 birds that share feeding and roosting sites. These large flocks prefer to roost in coniferous trees, which provide protection from wind and adverse weather conditions. Previous research has documented that a 3-oz starling consumes nearly 2 lb of feed in a 30-day period. Commercial feedlots have been infested with large populations of starlings during winter months. The attraction to feedlots is due to open feed bunks that provide a convenient source of feed. Currently, there are limited means for controlling starlings in feedlots. The objective of our experiment was to compare susceptibility of different rations to depredation by starlings.

During times of heavy infestations by birds, feedlots can have 25 to 30% increases in feed usage, thereby resulting in large economic losses. Because starlings, blackbirds, grackles, and other avian pests normally feed during daylight hours, we hypothesized that feeding cattle at night would minimize feed contamination and feed loss due to bird infestation. Crossbred beef heifers (n=96; 770 lb) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding at night on performance and carcass characteristics. Heifers were fed for 107 days during the months of November to March, when large bird populations were observed. Feed was delivered once daily at approximately 10:00 a.m. for heifers with continuous access to feed and 30 minutes before dusk for heifers that had access to feed only at night. Feed calls for heifers fed at night were managed so that no feed remained in the bunk at dawn, whereas the control heifers were allowed ad libitum access to feed. Daily feed deliveries per animal (21.51 vs. 18.15 lb for heifers fed continuously or only at night, respectively) were decreased by 16% (P

Confinement cattle-feeding operations have been associated with large populations of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) during the winter months. Starlings can eat nearly 1 kg each of feed per month (Besser et al. 1968). In the first of our 2 studies, we evaluated feed selection and feed depredation by starlings using 5 concentrate-based cattle finishing diets. Four diets evaluated were in traditional meal-type form, and 1 diet was an extruded pellet. We placed rations into a section of the feed trough that we made accessible to starlings but not to cattle. Of the original 13.6 kg of steam-flaked corn and alfalfa hay ration placed into the feed trough at 0750 hours, only 1.9 kg (P < 0.05) of residual feed was recovered after starlings returned to their evening roost. Starlings preferentially selected steam-flaked corn (i.e., starch), thereby concentrating the crude protein and crude fiber fractions (P < 0.04) in residual feed. We observed similar trends for feed disappearance for the other meal-type rations. However, crude protein content was similar (P ≥ 0.10) between fresh and residual feed for dry-rolled corn and alfalfa hay diet and for steam-flaked corn and corn silage diet. Quantity and chemical composition between the fresh and residual extruded pellets were similar (P ≥ 0.57). In Experiment 2, the amount of feed delivered increased 36% for cattle (n = 13) that were fed traditional meal-type ration compared to cattle (n = 13) that were fed extruded pellets during a period of severe starling infestation. Following seasonal dispersal of starlings in early March, feed deliveries of traditional meal-type ration decreased to prestarling levels, while feed deliveries of extruded pellets remained unchanged. Starlings consumed 2,327 kg of feed from troughs with a total value of $563 throughout a period of 47 days, increasing daily cost of production by approximately $0.92 per feedlot animal.

Reports indicate that only 15%-20% of women 50 years of age and older have had a mammogram. To promote screening mammography, the San Diego County Unit of the American Cancer Society sponsored a community-wide program that featured (1) discounted mammograms through participating clinics, (2) program promotion through television news, and (3) availability of a phone bank for obtaining referrals for mammography. Pre- and postintervention random sample phone surveys indicated that women’s intentions to obtain a mammogram increased significantly after the media campaign, particularly in those aware of the program. Women’s intentions after the media campaign predicted mammography compliance in the following year. A total of 3,102 women received mammograms directly through the program, with a “suspicious finding” rate of 4%. Participant satisfaction with the program was high.