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Maternal infection has emerged as an important environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Animal model systems of maternal immune activation (MIA) suggest that the maternal immune response plays a significant role in the neurodevelopment and behavioral outcomes of offspring. Extracellular free water is a measure of freely diffusing water in the brain that may be associated with neuroinflammation and impacted by MIA. The present study evaluates the brain diffusion characteristics of male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) born to MIA-exposed dams (n = 14) treated with a modified form of the viral mimic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid at the end of the first trimester. Control dams received saline injections at the end of the first trimester (n = 10) or were untreated (n = 4). Offspring underwent diffusion MRI scans at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 45 months of age. Offspring born to MIA-exposed dams showed significantly increased extracellular free water in cingulate cortex gray matter starting as early as 6 months of age and persisting through 45 months. Additionally, offspring gray matter free water in this region was significantly correlated with the magnitude of the maternal IL-6 response in the MIA-exposed dams. These findings provide strong evidence for the construct validity of the NHP MIA model as a system of relevance for investigations of the pathophysiology of human neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. Elevated free water in individuals exposed to immune activation in utero could represent an early marker of a perturbed or vulnerable neurodevelopmental trajectory.

The U.S. Coast Guard has an opportunity to plot the path to determine service-specific uses for the expanding field of data science, identify a strategy and driving mechanisms, and begin laying out a plan. This Perspective outlines the role that data science can play in decisionmaking processes and provides a selected set of key questions and sensitivities for the Coast Guard to consider in developing its future usage of data science.

This Perspective describes several ways in which the U.S. Coast Guard can effectively recruit and retain its future workforce by providing greater transparency in personnel management practices. The work was inspired by the emphasis on transparency at a 2019 Coast Guard Evergreen V workshop called Workforce 2040, at which participants discussed emerging and potential future challenges to Coast Guard operations.

This report examines how well the processes and timeline for generating ready forces from the Army reserve component (RC) units align with a need for rapid deployment to a future major conflict overseas. The report focuses on how the dynamics of the mobilization process for Army RC units can, or should, affect decisionmaking about force mix, as well as how policy and resourcing decisions can either enhance or inhibit mobilization.

This paper explores the sexual regulation and the social construction of sexual norms for men and women in the period of 1880 to 1920 in Canada. At this time, sexuality was closely tied with reputation, character, and morality, which required strict regulation of behaviour. With the growth of urban centers, social norms were tested, resulting in what I call an "early dating culture," which was mistaken as "occasional prostitution." I argue that as “proper” societal norms were tested by the effects of urbanization, there emerged an early dating culture that challenged notions of morality in relation to acceptable and unacceptable public displays of heterosexuality.

This instructor guide provides content for leading Hazing Prevention and Response: Training for Military Leaders, an adaptable, interactive class to help with hazing prevention and response efforts. The class defines hazing, gives examples of hazing in a military context, and summarizes several hazing misconceptions. It also describes hazing-related policies and discusses strategies for leaders to help prevent and respond effectively to hazing.

This chartbook updates previous versions with more recent data on the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions (2008–2014) and associated health care utilization and spending. It also analyzes functional and other limitations for those with multiple chronic conditions.

The transition from military service to the civilian world can be very challenging, particularly for young veterans with no prior civilian work experience and those with injuries or disabilities. As part of their duty to care for the men and women who have served the country in uniform-as well as to promote strong member recruitment in the future-the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seek to monitor and improve the education and employment opportunities and the health and well-being of military veterans and reservists. Over the past decade, RAND has proactively pursued a program of research addressing veterans' transitions to the civilian labor market. This document compiles RANDs body of work on this topic and highlights the breadth of topics RAND has studied. It distills more than a decades worth of research on many facets of veteran life into a set of ten questions and answers gleaned from this work.

The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 addressed the need for access to timely, high-quality health care for veterans. Section 201 of the legislation called for an independent assessment of various aspects of veterans' health care. The RAND Corporation was tasked with an assessment of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) current and projected health care capabilities and resources. An examination of data from a variety of sources, along with a survey of VA medical facility leaders, revealed the breadth and depth of VA resources and capabilities: fiscal resources, workforce and human resources, physical infrastructure, interorganizational relationships, and information resources. The assessment identified barriers to the effective use of these resources and capabilities. Analysis of data on access to VA care and the quality of that care showed that almost all veterans live within 40 miles of a VA health facility, but fewer have access to VA specialty care. Veterans usually receive care within 14 days of their desired appointment date, but wait times vary considerably across VA facilities. VA has long played a national leadership role in measuring the quality of health care. The assessment showed that VA health care quality was as good or better on most measures compared with other health systems, but quality performance lagged at some VA facilities. VA will require more resources and capabilities to meet a projected increase in veterans' demand for VA care over the next five years. Options for increasing capacity include accelerated hiring, full nurse practice authority, and expanded use of telehealth.