Reconsidering disadvantage in the United States: an application of social exclusion to 'big' American data

Poverty and disadvantage in the United States are commonly defined in terms of low income. Via this measure, in 2015, over 40 million people were deemed as poor. This definition and subsequent measurement neglect the multidimensional nature of the phenomena. It has been acknowledged that this reductionist measure is insufficient to capture many dimensions of hardship beyond the economic. However, there have been few attempts at quantifying multidimensional disadvantage in the United States. The aim of this thesis is to quantify multidimensional disadvantage by applying the concept of social exclusion to ‘big’ American data, the United States Census Bureau-produced American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) file for 2015 that contains over 2.3 million sample members. Social exclusion, as a concept, theoretically addresses many of the limitations of the official measure. In particular, it offers a multidimensional conceptualisation of disadvantage. This concept, however, is substantially under-researched in the United States. In order to apply the concept to a context in which it is rarely used, social exclusion is measured and defined based on the theoretically derived framework, the Bristol Social Exclusion Matrix (B-SEM). This framework identifies three interconnected domains of social exclusion: resources, participation and quality of life. The substantive and methodological objectives of this thesis are threefold: 1) to empirically derive the factors of disadvantage in the United States by applying B-SEM to indicators found within the ACS PUMS, 2) to assess the relationship between sociodemographic variables and the dimension(s) of disadvantage, and 3) to explore state-level variation in disadvantage across the United States. An exploratory factor analysis was used to empirically derive the factors of disadvantage in the United States. The results produced three distinct factors: ‘labour force participation,’ ‘economic security,’ and ‘marriage as a social resource.’ This highlights that disadvantage in the United States is indeed multidimensional, with income representing one component of one factor. Therefore, a focus on a lack of income is incomplete to fully understand disadvantage in the United States. Six ordinary least squares (OLS) multivariate regression models were used to analyse the relationships between the sociodemographic characteristics, age, race, gender, and citizenship status and intersectional characteristics (the intersection between gender and race). In the non-intersectional models, it was found that these characteristics explain more variation in the ‘labour force participation’ model, compared to the other two dimensions. In the intersectional model, however, over three times the variation is explained in the ‘economic security’ model, compared to the other two dimensions. The results highlight that different individuals do experience disadvantage differently, showcasing the importance of recognising and addressing multiple forms of disadvantage. Twelve multilevel models were used to assess if there was variation in the dimensions of disadvantage across the United States, if that variation held controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, and if the relationships between the individual characteristics and the dimensions of disadvantage varied across states. The models demonstrated that there was state level variation in each dimension of disadvantage across the United States and that variation persisted once individual characteristics were controlled for. In addition, it was found that the effect of gender varies significantly across states for each dimension of disadvantage. These results highlight the importance of context in understanding disadvantage and shed light on an important role the state plays in reducing and preventing disadvantage. These results have important implications for policies designed to alleviate disadvantage in the United States. In addition to expanding all income-based benefits at least to individuals who are 250% above the federal poverty line, state governments should promote the provision of health care to all members of their respective populations and provide incentives that encourage educational attainment

Unconventional field induced phases in a quantum magnet formed by free radical tetramers

We report experimental and theoretical studies on the magnetic and thermodynamic properties of NIT-2Py, a free radical-based organic magnet. From magnetization and specific heat measurements we establish the temperature versus magnetic field phase diagram which includes two Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) and an infrequent half magnetization plateau. Calculations based on density functional theory demonstrates that magnetically this system can be mapped to a quasi-two-dimensional structure of weakly coupled tetramers. Density matrix renormalization group calculations show the unusual characteristics of the BECs where the spins forming the low-field condensate are different than those participating in the high-field one.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure

Variation in Plasma Corticosterone in Migratory Songbirds: A Test of the Migration-Modulation Hypothesis

Physiological mechanisms underlying migration remain poorly understood, but recent attention has focused on the role of the glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (CORT) as a key endocrine regulator of migration. The migration-modulation hypothesis (MMH) proposes that baseline plasma CORT levels are elevated in migratory birds to facilitate hyperphagia and lipogenesis and that further elevation of CORT in response to acute stress is suppressed. Consequently, CORT may be a poor indicator of individual condition or environmental variation in migratory birds. We tested the MMH by measuring baseline and stress-induced CORT in common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) during fall migration over 2 consecutive years in the Revelstoke Reach drawdown zone, a migratory stopover site affected by local hydroelectric operations. Birds had low baseline CORT at initial capture (/mL) and then showed a robust stress response, with CORT increasing to ca. 50 ng/mL within 10-20 min. Our data therefore do not support the MMH. Baseline CORT did not vary with body mass, time of capture, Julian day, or year, suggesting that variable flooding regimes did not affect baseline CORT. Individual variation in the rate of increase in CORT was correlated with Julian day, being higher later in the migration period. Our data suggest that plasma CORT can be a useful metric in migration studies

Variation in plasma corticosterone in migratory songbirds: A test of the migration-modulation hypothesis

Physiological mechanisms underlying migration remain poorly understood, but recent attention has focused on the role of the glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (CORT) as a key endocrine regulator of migration. The migrationmodulation hypothesis (MMH) proposes that baseline plasma CORT levels are elevated in migratory birds to facilitate hyperphagia and lipogenesis and that further elevation of CORT in response to acute stress is suppressed. Consequently, CORT may be a poor indicator of individual condition or environmental variation in migratory birds. We tested the MMH by measuring baseline and stress-induced CORT in common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) during fall migration over 2 consecutive years in the Revelstoke Reach drawdown zone, a migratory stopover site affected by local hydroelectric operations. Birds had low baseline CORT at initial capture (!5 ng/mL) and then showed a robust stress response, with CORT increasing to ca. 50 ng/ mL within 10-20 min. Our data therefore do not support the MMH. Baseline CORT did not vary with body mass, time of capture, Julian day, or year, suggesting that variable flooding regimes did not affect baseline CORT. Individual variation in the rate of increase in CORT was correlated with Julian day, being higher later in the migration period. Our data suggest that plasma CORT can be a useful metric in migration studies

Water in Comets 71P/Clark and C/2004 B1 (LINEAR) with Spitzer

We present 5.5 to 7.6 micron spectra of comets 71P/Clark (2006 May 27.56 UT, r_h = 1.57 AU pre-perihelion) and C/2004 B1 (LINEAR) (2005 October 15.22 UT, r_h = 2.21 AU pre-perihelion and 2006 May 16.22 UT, r_h = 2.06 AU post-perihelion) obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. The nu_2 vibrational band of water is detected with a signal-to-noise ratio of 11 to 50. Fitting the spectra using a fluorescence model of water emission yields a water rotational temperature of < 18 K for 71P/Clark and approximately less than or equivalent to 14 +/- 2 K (pre-perihelion) and 23 +/- 4 K (post-perihelion) for C/2004 B1 (LINEAR). The water ortho-to-para ratio in C/2004 B1 (LINEAR) is measured to be 2.31 +/- 0.18, which corresponds to a spin temperature of 26^{+3}_{-2} K. Water production rates are derived. The agreement between the water model and the measurements is good, as previously found for Spitzer spectra of C/2003 K4 (LINEAR). The Spitzer spectra of these three comets do not show any evidence for emission from PAHs and carbonate minerals, in contrast to results reported for comets 9P/Tempel~1 and C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp).Comment: 16 pages, 1 table, 7 figures, ApJ accepted 200

The quasar-galaxy cross SDSS J1320+1644: A probable large-separation lensed quasar

We report the discovery of a pair of quasars at $z=1.487$, with a separation of 8\farcs585\pm0\farcs002. Subaru Telescope infrared imaging reveals the presence of an elliptical and a disk-like galaxy located almost symmetrically between the quasars, creating a cross-like configuration. Based on absorption lines in the quasar spectra and the colors of the galaxies, we estimate that both galaxies are located at redshift $z=0.899$. This, as well as the similarity of the quasar spectra, suggests that the system is a single quasar multiply imaged by a galaxy group or cluster acting as a gravitational lens, although the possibility of a binary quasar cannot be fully excluded. We show that the gravitational lensing hypothesis implies these galaxies are not isolated, but must be embedded in a dark matter halo of virial mass $\sim 4 \times 10^{14}\ h_{70}^{-1}\ {M}_\odot$ assuming an NFW model with a concentration parameter of $c_{vir}=6$, or a singular isothermal sphere profile with a velocity dispersion of $\sim 670$ km s$^{-1}$. We place constraints on the location of the dark matter halo, as well as the velocity dispersions of the galaxies. In addition, we discuss the influence of differential reddening, microlensing and intrinsic variability on the quasar spectra and broadband photometry.Comment: Published in The Astrophysical Journa

Draft Methodology for FAIR-by-Design Learning Materials

This document describes a methodology for FAIR-by-design production of learning materials based on the backward instructional process that is extended with additional activities focusing on the implementation of the FAIR guiding principles. A general discussion on important aspect of implementation such as granularity, scope, metadata schema, interoperability and publication in relevant repositories is provided together with a step by step six stage workflow and checklists that help implement the FAIR-by-design process. The outlined methodology will be used as a blueprint for a train-the-trainer course aiming to present the practical FAIR-by-design instructional design

NMR spectroscopy of native and in vitro tissues implicates polyADP ribose in biomineralization.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is useful to determine molecular structure in tissues grown in vitro only if their fidelity, relative to native tissue, can be established. Here, we use multidimensional NMR spectra of animal and in vitro model tissues as fingerprints of their respective molecular structures, allowing us to compare the intact tissues at atomic length scales. To obtain spectra from animal tissues, we developed a heavy mouse enriched by about 20% in the NMR-active isotopes carbon-13 and nitrogen-15. The resulting spectra allowed us to refine an in vitro model of developing bone and to probe its detailed structure. The identification of an unexpected molecule, poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose), that may be implicated in calcification of the bone matrix, illustrates the analytical power of this approach

Defining the identity and the niches of epithelial stem cells with highly pleiotropic multilineage potency in the human thymus

Thymus is necessary for lifelong immunological tolerance and immunity. It displays a distinctive epithelial complexity and undergoes age-dependent atrophy. Nonetheless, it also retains regenerative capacity, which, if harnessed appropriately, might permit rejuvenation of adaptive immunity. By characterizing cortical and medullary compartments in the human thymus at single-cell resolution, in this study we have defined specific epithelial populations, including those that share properties with bona fide stem cells (SCs) of lifelong regenerating epidermis. Thymic epithelial SCs display a distinctive transcriptional profile and phenotypic traits, including pleiotropic multilineage potency, to give rise to several cell types that were not previously considered to have shared origin. Using here identified SC markers, we have defined their cortical and medullary niches and shown that, in vitro, the cells display long-term clonal expansion and self-organizing capacity. These data substantively broaden our knowledge of SC biology and set a stage for tackling thymic atrophy and related disorders

Modelling carbonaceous aerosol from residential solid fuel burning with different assumptions for emissions

Evidence is accumulating that emissions of primary particulate matter (PM) from residential wood and coal combustion in the UK may be underestimated and/or spatially misclassified. In this study, different assumptions for the spatial distribution and total emission of PM from solid fuel (wood and coal) burning in the UK were tested using an atmospheric chemical transport model. Modelled concentrations of the PM components were compared with measurements from aerosol mass spectrometers at four sites in central and Greater London (ClearfLo campaign, 2012), as well as with measurements from the UK black carbon network. The two main alternative emission scenarios modelled were Base4x and combRedist. For Base4x, officially reported PM2.5 from the residential and other non-industrial combustion source sector were increased by a factor of four. For the combRedist experiment, half of the baseline emissions from this same source were redistributed by residential population density to simulate the effect of allocating some emissions to the smoke control areas (that are assumed in the national inventory to have no emissions from this source). The Base4x scenario yielded better daily and hourly correlations with measurements than the combRedist scenario for year-long comparisons of the solid fuel organic aerosol (SFOA) component at the two London sites. However, the latter scenario better captured mean measured concentrations across all four sites. A third experiment, Redist – all emissions redistributed linearly to population density, is also presented as an indicator of the maximum concentrations an assumption like this could yield. The modelled elemental carbon (EC) concentrations derived from the combRedist experiments also compared well with seasonal average concentrations of black carbon observed across the network of UK sites. Together, the two model scenario simulations of SFOA and EC suggest both that residential solid fuel emissions may be higher than inventory estimates and that the spatial distribution of residential solid fuel burning emissions, particularly in smoke control areas, needs re-evaluation. The model results also suggest the assumed temporal profiles for residential emissions may require review to place greater emphasis on evening (including “discretionary”) solid fuel burning