In utero exposure to threat of evictions and preterm birth: evidence from the United States

OBJECTIVE: To estimate county-level associations between in utero exposure to threatened evictions and preterm birth in the United States. DATA SOURCES: Complete birth records were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics (2009-2016). Threatened evictions were measured at the county level using eviction case filing data obtained from The Eviction Lab (2008-2016). Additional economic and demographic data were obtained from the United States Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using 7.3 million births from 1,633 counties. We defined threatened eviction exposures as the z-score of average case filings over the pregnancy and by trimester. Our primary outcome was an indicator for preterm birth (born < 37 completed weeks of gestation). Secondary outcomes included a continuous measure for gestational length, a continuous measure for birth weight, and an indicator for low birth weight (born < 2500 g). We estimated within-county associations controlling for individual- and time-varying county-level characteristics, state-of-residence-year-and-month-of-conception fixed effects, and a county-specific time trend. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION: We merged birth records with threatened eviction data at the county-month-year level using mother's county of residence at delivery and month-year of conception. We supplemented these data with information on county-level annual 18-and-over population, annual poverty rate, and monthly unemployment rate. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Increased levels of eviction case filings over a pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of prematurity and low birth weight. These associations appeared to be sensitive to exposure in the second and third trimesters. Associations with secondary outcomes and within various population subgroups were, in general, imprecisely estimated. CONCLUSIONS: Higher exposure to eviction case filings within counties, particularly in the latter stages of a pregnancy, was associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. Future research should identify the causal effect of threatened evictions on maternal and child health outcomes

Multi-diagnostic Investigations of the Equatorial and Low-latitude Ionospheric Electrodynamics and Their Impacts on Space-based Technologies

Thesis advisor: Prof. Michael J. NaughtonThesis advisor: Dr. Cesar E. ValladaresThe equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere of the Earth exhibits unique features on its structuring, coupling, and electrodynamics that offer the possibility to forecast the dynamics and fluctuations of ionospheric plasma densities at later times. The scientific understanding and forecasting of ionospheric plasma are necessary for several practical applications, such as for mitigating the adverse effects of space weather on communication, navigation, power grids, space mission, and for various scientific experiments and applications. The daytime equatorial electrojet (EEJ), equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), as well as nighttime equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) and plasma blobs are the most prominent low-latitude ionospheric phenomena. This dissertation focuses on the multi-diagnostic study of the mechanism, properties, abnormalities, and interrelationships of these phenomena to provide significant contributions to space weather communities from the ground- and space-based measurements. A strong longitudinal, seasonal, day-to-day variability and dependency between EEJ, ExB vertical plasma drift, and total electron content (TEC) in the EIA distribution are seen in the equatorial and low-latitude region. In general, the EEJ strength is stronger in the west coast of South America than in its east coast. The variability of the EEJ in the dayside ionosphere significantly affects the ionospheric electron density variation, dynamics of the peak height of F2-layer, and TEC distributions as the EEJ influences the vertical transport mechanism of the ionospheric plasma. The eastward electric field (EEF) and the neutral wind play a decisive role in controlling the actual configuration of the EIA. The trans-equatorial neutral wind profile calculated using data from the Second-generation, Optimized, Fabry-Perot Doppler Imager (SOFDI) located near the geomagnetic equator and a physics-based numerical model, LLIONS (Low-Latitude IONospheric Sector) give new perspectives on the effects of daytime meridional neutral winds on the consequent evolution of the asymmetry of the equatorial TEC anomalies during the afternoon onwards. The spatial configurations including the strength, shape, amplitude and latitudinal extension of the EIA crests are affected by the EEF associated with the EEJ under undisturbed conditions, whereas the meridional neutral winds play a significant role in the development of their asymmetric structure in the low-latitude ionosphere. Additionally, the SWARM satellite constellation and the ground-based LISN (Low-Latitude Ionospheric Sensor Network) data allow us to resolve the space-time ambiguity of past single-satellite studies and detect the drastic changes that EPBs and plasma blobs undergo on a short time scale. The coordinated quantitative analysis of a plasma density observation shows evidence of the association of plasma blobs with EPBs via an appropriate geomagnetic flux tube. Plasma blobs were initially associated with the EPBs and remained at the equatorial latitude right above the EPBs height, but later were pushed away from geomagnetic equator towards EIA latitudes by the EPB/ depleted flux tubes that grew in volume. Further, there exists a strong correlation between the noontime equatorial electrojet and the GPS-derived TEC distributions during the afternoon time period, caused by vertical E × B drift via the fountain effect. Nevertheless, only a minor correlation likely exists between the peak EEJ and the net postsunset ionospheric scintillation index (S4) greater than 0.2. This study not only searches for a mutual relationship between the midday, afternoon and nighttime ionospheric phenomena but also aims at providing a possible route to improve our space weather forecasting capability by predicting nighttime ionospheric irregularities based on midday measurements at the equatorial and low latitudes.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Physics

Теоретичні основи безпосереднього народовладдя

Розглядаються такі форми безпосереднього народовладдя, як мітинги, збори, демонстрації. Подано пропозиції щодо удосконалення чинного законодавства, яке регулює проведення зборів, мітингів, демонстрацій в Україні.Рассматриваются такие формы непосредственного народовластия, как митинги, собрания, демонстрации. Поданы предложения по совершенствованию действующего законодательства, регулирующего проведение собраний, митингов, демонстраций в Украине.Such forms of democracy as mass meeting, collections, demonstrations are examined in this article. Insufficiency of set problem was emphasized. Suggestions are given concerning current legislation improvement related to collections, mass meeting, demonstrations realization in Ukraine

Establishing Levels of Indications for Cataract Surgery: Combining Clinical and Questionnaire Data into a Measure of Cataract Impact

This article is made available with the permission of the publisher, Association for Research in Vision and OphthalmologyPurpose.: To develop a model for establishing indications for cataract surgery that incorporates clinical and questionnaire data on a single linear scale using Rasch analysis. Methods.: In this prospective study, 293 preoperative cataract surgery patients (mean age, 72.8 ± 10 years; age range, 33–98 years; 174 female, 119 male; 49% with ocular comorbidity) completed two questionnaires, and visual acuity was measured in each eye. A cataract impact model was developed using Rasch analysis incorporating questionnaire scores and visual acuity. Participants were ranked from 1 to 293 based on the order in which they presented (first in first out [FIFO]) and then were ranked based on the cataract impact model. The main outcome measure was the number of participants moving 49 (16.7% change) rank positions, which represented a likelihood to change priority category. Results.: The cataract impact model was unidimensional (fit statistics within 0.66–1.68) and had adequate precision (person separation of 2.58), and the components were well targeted to the population (0.05 logits between the mean item difficulty and person ability). Two hundred twenty-seven (77.5%) patients moved by at least 49 rank positions. Conclusions.: It is possible to combine clinical and questionnaire data and rank patients on a single linear scale. This approach modifies the ranking that occurs with the FIFO model and can be used for prioritizing patients for surgical intervention. More sophisticated models incorporating more clinical information may provide a better measure of the cataract impact latent trait

Reengineering the Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 Questionnaire with Rasch Analysis

This article is made available with the permission of the publisher, Association for Research in Vision and OphthalmologyPurpose.: To investigate, using Rasch analysis, whether the 15-item Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 (GQL-15) forms a valid scale and to optimize its psychometric properties. Methods.: One hundred eighteen glaucoma patients (mean age, 65.7 years) completed the German-version of the GQL-15. Rasch analysis was performed to assess category function (how respondents differentiated between the response options), measurement precision (discriminative ability), unidimensionality (whether items measure a single construct), targeting (whether items are of appropriate difficulty for the sample), and differential item functioning (whether comparable subgroups respond differently to an individual item). Where any of these attributes were outside acceptable ranges, steps were taken to improve the instrument. Results.: The five-response categories of the GQL-15 were well differentiated by respondents, as demonstrated by ordered and well-spaced category thresholds. The GQL-15 had an excellent measurement precision but demonstrated poor targeting of item difficulty to person ability and multidimensionality, indicating that it was measuring more than one construct. Removal of six misfitting items created a nine-item unidimensional instrument with good measurement precision and no differential item functioning but poor targeting. A new name, the Glaucoma Activity Limitation (GAL-9) questionnaire, is proposed for the short version, which better reflects the construct under measurement. Conclusions.: The GAL-9 has superior psychometric properties over the GQL-15. Its only limitation is poor targeting of item difficulty to person ability, which is an inevitable attribute of a vision-related activity limitation instrument for glaucoma patients, most of whom have only peripheral visual field defects and little difficulty with daily activities

Are Birth-preparedness Programmes Effective? Results From a Field Trial in Siraha District, Nepal

The birth-preparedness package (BPP) promotes active preparation and decision-making for births, including pregnancy/postpartum periods, by pregnant women and their families. This paper describes a district-wide field trial of the BPP implemented through the government health system in Siraha, Nepal, during 2003–2004. The aim of the field trial was to determine the effectiveness of the BPP to positively influence planning for births, household-level behaviours that affect the health of pregnant and postpartum women and their newborns, and their use of selected health services for maternal and newborn care. Community health workers promoted desired behaviours through inter-personal counselling with individuals and groups. Content of messages included maternal and newborn-danger signs and encouraged the use of healthcare services and preparation for emergencies. Thirty-cluster baseline and endline household surveys of mothers of infants aged less than one year were used for estimating the change in key outcome indicators. Fifty-four percent of respondents (n=162) were directly exposed to BPP materials while pregnant. A composite index of seven indicators that measure knowledge of respondents, use of health services, and preparation for emergencies increased from 33% at baseline to 54% at endline (p=0.001). Five key newborn practices increased by 19 to 29 percentage points from baseline to endline (p values ranged from 0.000 to 0.06). Certain key maternal health indicators, such as skilled birth attendance and use of emergency obstetric care, did not change. The BPP can positively influence knowledge and intermediate health outcomes, such as household practices and use of some health services. The BPP can be implemented by government health services with minimal outside assistance but should be comprehensively integrated into the safe motherhood programme rather than implemented as a separate intervention

Measurement of two independent phase-shifts using coupled parametric amplifiers

In this article, we demonstrate a scheme capable of two-phase measurement, i.e. the simultaneous measurement of the two phase-shifts occurring in two independent Mach-Zehnder interferometers using one intensity detector. Our scheme utilizes dark-state-enhanced coupled parametric amplifiers in an atomic medium to mix the multiple fields probing the various arms of the interferometers in parallel. The two phase-differences are then encoded in separate continuous-variable parameters in the spectral waveform of the parametrically amplified atom-radiated signal field, which can be directly decoupled in a single intensity measurement. Besides resolving two phase differences in parallel, this method can also be used to increase the channel capacity in optical and quantum communication by the simultaneous use of phase-modulation and amplitude-modulation.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

SmallSat Images Need Closed-Form Method for Atmospheric Correction (CMAC)

A new method to correct any satellite to surface reflectance is undergoing completion to be ready for commercial release in two years. The method applies a conceptual model based on observations of the change in reflectance caused by atmospheric transmission and uses only scene statistics to correct images in near real-time