Racial residential segregation, socioeconomic disparities, and the White-Black survival gap.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between racial residential segregation, a prominent manifestation of systemic racism, and the White-Black survival gap in a contemporary cohort of adults, and to assess the extent to which socioeconomic inequality explains this association.DesignThis was a cross sectional study of White and Black men and women aged 35-75 living in 102 large US Core Based Statistical Areas. The main outcome was the White-Black survival gap. We used 2009-2013 CDC mortality data for Black and White men and women to calculate age-, sex- and race adjusted White and Black mortality rates. We measured segregation using the Dissimilarity index, obtained from the Manhattan Institute. We used the 2009-2013 American Community Survey to define indicators of socioeconomic inequality. We estimated the CBSA-level White-Black gap in probability of survival using sequential linear regression models accounting for the CBSA dissimilarity index and race-specific socioeconomic indicators.ResultsBlack men and women had a 14% and 9% lower probability of survival from age 35 to 75 than their white counterparts. Residential segregation was strongly associated with the survival gap, and this relationship was partly, but not fully, explained by socioeconomic inequality. At the lowest observed level of segregation, and with the Black socioeconomic status (SES) assumed to be at the White SES level scenario, the survival gap is essentially eliminated.ConclusionWhite-Black differences in survival remain wide notwithstanding public health efforts to improve life expectancy and initiatives to reduce health disparities. Eliminating racial residential segregation and bringing Black socioeconomic status (SES) to White SES levels would eliminate the White-Black survival gap

The natural history of growth in patients with Hunter syndrome: Data from the Hunter Outcome Survey (HOS)

Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II) affects growth but the overall impact is poorly understood. This study investigated the natural history of growth and related parameters and their relationship with disease severity (as indicated by cognitive impairment). Natural history data from males followed prospectively in the Hunter Outcome Survey registry and not receiving growth hormone or enzyme replacement therapy, or before treatment start, were analysed (N=676; January 2014). Analysis of first-reported measurements showed short stature by 8years of age; median age-corrected standardized height score (z-score) in patients aged 8-12years was -3.1 (1st, 3rd quartile: -4.3, -1.7; n=68). Analysis of growth velocity using consecutive values found no pubertal growth spurt. Patients had large head circumference at all ages, and above average body weight and body mass index (BMI) during early childhood (median z-score in patients aged 2-4years, weight [n=271]: 1.7 [0.9, 2.4]; BMI [n=249]: 2.0 [1.1, 2.7]). Analysis of repeated measurements over time found greater BMI in those with cognitive impairment than those without, but no difference in height, weight or head circumference. Logistic regression modelling (data from all time points) found that increased BMI was associated with the presence of cognitive impairment (odds ratio [95% CI], 3.329 [2.313-4.791]), as were increased weight (2.365 [1.630-3.433]) and head circumference (1.749 [1.195-2.562]), but not reduced height. Unlike some other MPS disorders, there is no evidence at present for predicting disease severity in patients with Hunter syndrome based on changes in growth characteristics

The steady flow between reservoirs with different density and level through a contraction

This paper presents a complete analytical solution of steady gravity flow between two reservoirs connected by a channel of slowly varying breadth and containing fluids of different densities and levels. The hydrostatic approximation is used and dissipation is neglected. It is shown that seven different regimes are possible depending on the value of the parameter δ = γ/ε, which is the ratio of relative lighter and denser reservoir level difference, γ, to positive relative density difference, ε. The exact solution of the problem is obtained for all these regimes. If the level of the heavier fluid reservoir is higher than the level of lighter fluid reservoir, δ ≤ 0, then the denser fluid plunges under the lighter motionless fluid. If δ ≥ 1, the lighter fluid runs up on a wedge of the motionless denser fluid. If 0 \u3c δ \u3c 1, two-directional exchange flow occurs. The exact analytical expressions for layer discharges for the entire range of the parameters ε and δ are found and discussed. Wood\u27s (1970) experimental data with nonsmall ε are in good agreement with the theory. When ε → 0 an exchange regime exists as long as γ → 0 to keep their ratio between 0 and 1, 1 \u3e γ/ε \u3e 0. At this limit the existence of an exchange flow and the solution depend only on the ratio γ/ε, not the values of γ and ε individually, and the Boussinesq approximation can be used. Some examples of application of the theory to prediction of mass and volume transport through a contraction for steady and quasi-steady flows are given

John Mendelsohn: The Passing Paintings Brochure

Brochure for John Mendelsohn: The Passing Paintings at the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery, December 2, 2014 - February 27, 2015.https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/mendelsohn-ephemera/1000/thumbnail.jp

Mobilizing Public Markets to Finance Renewable Energy Projects: Insights from Expert Stakeholders

Financing renewable energy projects in the United States can be a complex, time consuming, and expensive process. Currently, most equity investment in new renewable power production facilities is supported by tax credits and accelerated depreciation benefits, and is constrained by the pool of potential investors that can fully use these tax benefits and are willing to engage in complex financial structures. For debt financing, non-government lending to renewables has largely been provided by foreign banks that may be under future lending constraints due to economic and regulatory conditions.To discuss these and other renewable energy financing challenges and to identify new sources of capital to the U.S. market, two roundtable discussions were held with renewable energy and financing experts in April 2012. This report summarizes the key messages of those discussions and is designed to provide insights to the U.S. market and inform the international conversation on renewable energy financing innovations

Validity of values for metabolic equivalents of task during submaximal all-extremity exercise and reliability of exercise responses in frail older adults

Background and Purpose. Physical therapists and rehabilitation professionals in hospital and long-term care centers are using all-extremity semirecumbent exercise machines in their treatment programs. This study was undertaken to investigate the concurrent validity of values for software-generated metabolic equivalents of task (MET) from an all-extremity semirecumbent exercise machine and directly measured values for MET from a portable metabolic unit across a range of submaximal exercise intensities. A second purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of oxygen consumption and heart rate responses in older adults between standardized sessions of submaximal all-extremity aerobic exercise. Subjects and Methods. The study participants were 18 older adults (mean age=82 years, SD=5; 3 women, 15 men) who were living in long-term care centers and who completed 2 test sessions of a standardized exercise protocol 1 week apart. The exercise protocol included a warm-up period, three 4-minute stages of exercise at incremental workload levels, and a cool-down period. The breath-by-breath metabolic data from the portable metabolic unit, heart rate, MET values from the exercise machine, Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion, and watts were recorded continuously throughout the exercise protocol. Results. The concurrent validity of the MET values from the exercise machine and the portable metabolic unit ranged from very good to excellent on both day 1 and day 2 (r=.85-.97). The test-retest reliability of subjects\u27 heart rate responses and MET values from the portable metabolic unit was moderate to high across submaximal exercise intensities (intraclass correlation coefficients [2,1]=.85-.91). Discussion and Conclusion. The exercise machine software-generated MET values were representative of directly measured oxygen consumption values across a range of submaximal intensities during all-extremity semirecumbent exercise in older adults with multisystem impairments. © 2008 American Physical Therapy Association

Section 1603 Treasury Grant Expiration. Industry Insight on Financing and Market Implications

In the wake of the 2008-2009 financial crises, tax equity investors largely withdrew from the market, resulting in stagnation of project development. In response, Congress established the Treasury grant program pursuant to Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (..Section..1603 Program) to offer a cash payment in lieu of a production and investment tax credit. This study addresses the likely project financing and market impacts from the expiration of the ..Section..1603 Program. The authors assembled an array of insights offered by financial executives active in the renewable energy (RE) market during conference panel discussions and in presentations, direct interviews, and email correspondences. This analysis found that the ..Section..1603 Program alleviated the need to monetize the tax credit incentives through specialized investors, helped lower the transaction and financing costs associated with renewable electricity projects, and generally supported an extensive build-out of renewable power generation capacity. With the expiration of the ..Section..1603 Program, smaller or less-established renewable power developers will have more difficulty attracting needed financial capital and completing their projects, development of projects relying on newer or 'innovative' technologies will likely slow as traditional tax equity investors are known to be highly averse to technology risk in the projects they fund, and, finally, projects relying on tax equity may be more expensive to develop due to higher transaction costs and potentially higher yields required to attract tax equity

Orbit Determination During Spacecraft Emergencies with Sparse Tracking Data - THEMIS and TDRS-3 Lessons Learned

This paper provides an overview of the lessons learned from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center s (GSFC) Flight Dynamics Facility s (FDF) support of the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) spacecraft emergency in February 2007, and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-3 (TDRS-3) spacecraft emergency in March 2006. A successful and timely recovery from both of these spacecraft emergencies depended on accurate knowledge of the orbit. Unfortunately, the combination of each spacecraft emergency with very little tracking data contributed to difficulties in estimating and predicting the orbit and delayed recovery efforts in both cases. In both the THEMIS and TDRS-3 spacecraft emergencies, numerous factors contributed to problems with obtaining nominal tracking data measurements. This paper details the various causative factors and challenges. This paper further enumerates lessons learned from FDF s recovery efforts involving the THEMIS and TDRS-3 spacecraft emergencies and scant tracking data, as well as recommendations for improvements and corrective actions. In addition, this paper describes the broad range of resources and complex navigation methods employed within the FDF for supporting critical navigation activities during all mission phases, including launch, early orbit, and on-orbit operations

Trajectory Design for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission, scheduled to be launched in 2017. TESS will travel in a highly eccentric orbit around Earth, with initial perigee radius near 17 Earth radii (Re) and apogee radius near 59 Re. The orbit period is near 2:1 resonance with the Moon, with apogee nearly 90 degrees out-of-phase with the Moon, in a configuration that has been shown to be operationally stable. TESS will execute phasing loops followed by a lunar flyby, with a final maneuver to achieve 2:1 resonance with the Moon. The goals of a resonant orbit with long-term stability, short eclipses and limited oscillations of perigee present significant challenges to the trajectory design. To rapidly assess launch opportunities, we adapted the Schematics Window Methodology (SWM76) launch window analysis tool to assess the TESS mission constraints. To understand the long-term dynamics of such a resonant orbit in the Earth-Moon system we employed Dynamical Systems Theory in the Circular Restricted 3-Body Problem (CR3BP). For precise trajectory analysis we use a high-fidelity model and multiple shooting in the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) to optimize the maneuver delta-V and meet mission constraints. Finally we describe how the techniques we have developed can be applied to missions with similar requirements. Keywords: resonant orbit, stability, lunar flyby, phasing loops, trajectory optimizatio