Who\u27s Left Out: Characteristics of Households in Economic Need Not Receiving Public Support

The American welfare state is often referred to as a social safety net, yet many in economic need do not receive public benefits. This article examines the characteristics of low-income households in the United States that do not participate in any of several public cash or near-cash support programs. Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) 2008 panel—a representative sample of U.S. households—households below the federal poverty threshold but not participating in any of eleven different income support programs were identified. Over a third (38.02%) of households in poverty did not receive any assistance from the examined programs. Non-participating households differ from program participating households in such areas as racial and ethnic demographics, educational attainment, number and age of children, household employment status, and financial resources

Chemical Hazard in FRP Pleasure boats' Manufacturing

The work aims to discuss measures to reduce risks associated with the workers’ exposure to harmful chemical agents in FRP manufacturing processes. Data on workers’ exposure were collected directly on the site plant of a manufacturer of fiberglass pleasure boats. Work focuses on various stages of progressive study: I) study of the molding manufacturing process, workplace, structures, tools, materials and plants in the company; II) statistical study of the use of Personal Protective Equipment; III) environmental and personal sampling campaign. The study phase I is preliminary to the following. It allowed us to identify, for each operators category, the risk factors to which each category is most exposed. Styrene and other VOCs are the main chemical risk factor on which attention has been paid for resins and gelcoat workers. The phase study II about the use of PPE leads to define evolution models in the use of PPE in relationship with room temperature and referring to Behaviour-Based Safety techniques to increase the percentage of use of PPE. The phase study III leads to define what the critical exposure moments are for workers, specially the processes when resin or gelcoat are sprayed. From this stage, intervention proposals arise measured to reduce risks

Modelling the species jump: towards assessing the risk of human infection from novel avian influenzas

The scientific understanding of the driving factors behind zoonotic and pandemic influenzas is hampered by complex interactions between viruses, animal hosts and humans. This complexity makes identifying influenza viruses of high zoonotic or pandemic risk, before they emerge from animal populations, extremely difficult and uncertain. As a first step towards assessing zoonotic risk of Influenza, we demonstrate a risk assessment framework to assess the relative likelihood of influenza A viruses, circulating in animal populations, making the species jump into humans. The intention is that such a risk assessment framework could assist decisionmakers to compare multiple influenza viruses for zoonotic potential and hence to develop appropriate strain-specific control measures. It also provides a first step towards showing proof of principle for an eventual pandemic risk model. We show that the spatial and temporal epidemiology is as important in assessing the risk of an influenza A species jump as understanding the innate molecular capability of the virus.We also demonstrate data deficiencies that need to be addressed in order to consistently combine both epidemiological and molecular virology data into a risk assessment framework

The Grand Tour of Mercantilism: Lord Fauconberg’s Italian Mission (1669–1671)

This is the final version. Available on open access from Oxford University Press via the DOI in this recordThe extraordinary mission of Lord Fauconberg to some of the Italian states in 1669–1671 took place at a pivotal moment in early modern diplomatic relations, and is a most evocative case-study of the relationship between Restoration England and Europe in the last decades of the seventeenth century. This article will provide a close analysis of the mission and its protagonists, aiming to re-evaluate English diplomacy through cross-referencing English and Italian documentary evidence, but with a special attention to the Italian side of the story. By analysing how the Republic of Venice and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany—the major Italian trade partners of England––perceived and interpreted English trade policy, it provides an original analysis of Caroline diplomacy and trade in the early Restoration era.British AcademyLeverhulme Trus

Investigation of the impact of additive manufacturing techniques on the acoustic performance of a coiled-up resonator

Acoustic metamaterials (AMMs) offer innovative solutions for physics and engineering problems, allowing lighter, multiphysics, and sustainable systems. They are usually studied analytically or numerically and then tested on prototypes. For this reason, additive manufacturing (AM) techniques are a popular way of quickly realising AMMs' innovative geometrical designs. However, AM parameters are often standardised without considering the specific issues of each AMM geometrical shape, leading to a possible mismatch between the analytical (or numerical) and experimental results. In this study, a simple AMM-a coiled-up resonator-has been produced with different AM technologies [fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), and selective laser melting and materials (polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, resin, flexible resin, and stainless steel). The sound absorption performance of these samples has been measured in two research labs in Italy and compared with the analytical and numerical calculations. This permitted the identification of the best combinations of AM technologies, their setup, and materials matching the expected results. The SLA/resin combination performed better overall; however, cheaper and more easily manageable samples made with FDM and polyethylene terephthalate glycol can achieve the same acoustic performance through the optimal AM printing setup. It is expected that this methodology could also be replicated for other AMMs

Impact of rigid gas-permeable contact lens extended wear on corneal epithelial barrier function.

PurposeTo measure the effect of hypoxia and eye closure on epithelial permeability to fluorescein (P(dc)) during rigid lens extended wear (EW).MethodsCentral corneal thickness (CT) and P(dc) were measured in 42 subjects with an optical pachometer and automated scanning fluorophotometer, respectively. All subjects had been successfully wearing rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses on a 6-night EW regimen, and each individual was randomized to wear either medium- or high-oxygen-permeable (Dk) RGP lenses (two types of siloxane-fluorocarbon polymer lenses with Dk of 49 and 92). CT and P(dc) measurements were performed at an afternoon visit (baseline) and were repeated in the morning after 8 hours of overnight wear. Subjects slept with a patch over the right eye. The patch was not removed until immediately before the morning measurement.ResultsThe mean overnight swelling response for subjects in the medium-Dk group was greater than that in the high-Dk group. Results of a paired t-test indicate that the eye wearing the medium-Dk lens with a patch overnight had a significant increase in epithelial permeability. Results of mixed-effect models suggest that eye closure and lens-induced hypoxia are significant factors in altering P(dc).ConclusionsThe results indicate that corneal epithelial permeability increases with hypoxic dose and that epithelial barrier function is impaired by overnight rigid lens wear

Tribological properties of room temperature fluorinated graphite heat-treated under fluorine atmosphere

This work is concerned with the study of the tribologic properties of room temperature fluorinated graphite heat-treated under fluorine atmosphere. The fluorinated compounds all present good intrinsic friction properties (friction coefficient in the range 0.05–0.09). The tribologic performances are optimized if the materials present remaining graphitic domains (influenced by the presence of intercalated fluorinated species) whereas the perfluorinated compounds, where the fluorocarbon layers are corrugated (armchair configuration of the saturated carbon rings) present higher friction coefficients. Raman analyses reveal that the friction process induces severe changes in the materials structure especially the partial re-building of graphitic domains in the case of perfluorinated compounds which explains the improvement of μ during the friction tests for these last materials

End-to-end approach to flexible and sustainable commercial spaceflight initiatives: Evaluation of operational scenarios, safety aspects, spaceports and associated economic elements

Multiple initiatives are going on today, aimed at developing new technologies for commercial exploitation of space. The potential benefits of widening up the access to space to a broader users community affect different applications ranging from space tourism to microgravity experimentation to astronauts and pilots training; moreover, in the new space economy users communities may include parties that do not traditionally operate in the space business but can take advantage of microgravity exploitation as an opportunity to carry out experimental activities with potential more significant outcome. The present paper initially approaches commercial access to space by evaluating different mission concepts, technologies and platforms such as suborbital spaceflight, orbital spaceflight, air launch and deployment of small satellites. In order to select the most promising alternative, trade off methodologies, making use of safety, cost and complexity as figures of merit are suggested for the specific case of the suborbital flight. Moreover, the paper describes the outcome of simplified mission simulations, encompassing both suborbital vehicle as well as satellite air launch trajectories predictions. The trajectories simulations can also provide useful inputs to the vehicle design and performance analysis and are instrumental to planning air space operations after lift off from the launch site, as well as to assess logistics and operational aspects. Thus, simulations of really operating environment provide the link to the Spaceport selection process aiming at defining an adequate operating base and a set of proper ground infrastructures that efficiently support in integrated fashion the execution of the planned activities with the selected platforms. An integrated end-to-end approach is also described, that basing upon the specific users' needs identifies the appropriate platform and delivers the associated service matching the relevant goals. The paper finally discusses some economic and organizational aspects for developing a sustainable commercial spaceflight initiative. Ideas for next activities are drawn too, mainly focusing on trajectory validation simulation with real data coming from the initial test campaigns

Innovative time-based separation procedures for civil RPAS integration

Purpose: This paper aims to suggest feasible solutions to overcome the problem of unmanned aerial vehicles integration within the existing airspace. Design/methodology/approach: It envisages innovative time-based separation procedures that will enhance the integration in the future air traffic management (ATM) system of next generation of large remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS). 4D navigation and dynamic mobile area concepts, both proposed in the framework of Single European Sky ATM Research program, are brought together to hypothesize innovative time-based separation procedures aiming at promoting integration of RPAS in the future ATM system. Findings: Benefits of proposed procedures, mainly evaluated in terms of volume reduction of segregated airspace, are quantitatively analyzed on the basis of realistic operational scenarios focusing on monitoring activities in both nominal and emergency conditions. Eventually, the major limits of time-based separation for RPAS are investigated. Practical implications: The implementation of the envisaged procedures will be a key enabler in RPAS integration in future ATM integration. Originality/value: In the current ATM scenario, separation of RPAS from air traffic is ensured by segregating a large amount of airspace areas with fixed dimensions, dramatically limiting the activities of these vehicles