Secure Occupancy: A New Framework for Analysing Security in Rental Housing

Unlike debates about security for owner occupiers which recognise that security is complex and multi-layered, security for renters is often presented as single dimensional and conflated with de jure security of tenure, deriving from a property rights perspective. This article proposes a broader concept of ‘secure occupancy’ to enable a more nuanced understanding of security for tenants. A new framework is developed to enable investigation of the dynamic interactions between legislation/regulation, housing market conditions, public policies and cultural norms around renting, which shape security of occupancy for tenants. The paper illustrates this approach, drawing on a study of the rental systems of nine developed countries, identifying key factors that appear to have a strong bearing on strengthening, and weakening, of security of occupancy for renter households. The article concludes that this approach has the potential to deepen understanding of security for renters and to stimulate new avenues for research.     

Efficient and accurate computation of eye diagrams and bit-error rates in a single-channel CRZ system

We use linearization to compute the noise evolution in a 10-Gb/s single-channel chirped return-to-zero (CRZ) system propagating over 6100 km, transmitting 32 bits. Linearization allows us to efficiently and accurately compute eye diagrams and bit error rates (BERs) without the use of Monte Carlo simulations. Phase jitter prevents the successful application of linearization unless it is removed, and we describe a method to separately remove it from each pulse in the signal. We show that the BER in our test system is dominated by the bit pattern that leads to the smallest eye opening in a noise-free simulation.     

In-situ observations of phase transformations in titanium

An in-situ laser-scanning confocal microscopy study has been undertaken on the phase transformations in highpurity titanium. Observations of the β-Ti to α-Ti were observed to proceed with a pronounced Widmanstätten plate morphology due to the large β-Ti grain size. An anomalous transformation was also observed, with the α-Ti growing with a defined ledge-like surface relief. The observed transformation morphologies are discussed with reference to the crystallography of the regions, analyzed using electron-backscatter diffraction.     

Thermodynamic activities and phase boundaries for the alloys of the solid solution of Co in Ni3Al

The vaporization of the alloy samples of the compositions (Ni₃Al)_1-x Co _x (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, or 0.15) was investigated at temperatures between 1326 to 1581 K by the use of Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry in order to obtain thermodynamic data for the solid solution γ′ phase of the type Ni₃Al. The partial pressures of Al, Co, and Ni were determined over the samples investigated. Excess chemical potentials at a temperature of 1473 K resulted for the components in the γ′ solubility range. New results on the phase boundaries of the γ′ solubility lobe were obtained by the analysis of quenched alloy samples and from the mass spectrometric studies. The results obtained are discussed with respect to the solubility behavior of Co in the γ′ phase.     

Holiday weight management by successful weight losers and normal weight individuals.

This study compared weight control strategies during the winter holidays among successful weight losers (SWL) in the National Weight Control Registry and normal weight individuals (NW) with no history of obesity. SWL (n = 178) had lost a mean of 34.9 kg and had kept ≥13.6 kg off for a mean of 5.9 years. NW (n = 101) had a body mass index of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2. More SWL than NW reported plans to be extremely strict in maintaining their usual dietary routine (27.3% vs. 0%) and exercise routine (59.1% vs. 14.3%) over the holidays. Main effects for group indicated that SWL maintained greater exercise, greater attention to weight and eating, greater stimulus control, and greater dietary restraint, both before and during the holidays. A Group × Time interaction indicated that, over the holidays, attention to weight and eating declined significantly more in SW than in NW. More SWL (38.9%) than NW (16.7%) gained ≥1 kg over the holidays, and this effect persisted 1 month later (28.3% and 10.7%, respectively). SWL worked harder than NW did to manage their weight, but they appeared more vulnerable to weight gain during the holidays. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gas enema for the reduction of intussusception: relationship between clinical signs and symptoms and outcome

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the extent to which the clinical features of intussusception can be used to predict successful outcome of gas enema and to determine whether the nonsurgical management of intussusception in children can be improved by refining the criteria used to select patients for gas enema. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Clinical data on 282 consecutive episodes of intussusception (255 patients) were collected prospectively from January 1987 to July 1991. Gas enema was performed in 273 episodes, in which the clinical signs and symptoms were studied by using logistic regression. Nine patients had primary surgery. RESULTS: Gas enema was successful in 216 (79%) of 273 enemas attempted. Fifty-seven patients had surgery after unsuccessful enema. Univariate analysis showed significant associations between successful enema and duration of signs and symptoms less than 12 hr, no rectal bleeding, absence of small-bowel obstruction, presence of a palpable mass, and normal hydration. Multivariate analysis showed that dehydration, small-bowel obstruction, and duration of signs and symptoms longer than 12 hr were significant predictors of unsuccessful enema; yet, in these groups the rate of success still justified attempted enema. Even in severe dehydration, the successful enema reduction rate was 31%. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that although the factors identified had some predictive value in determining the outcome of attempted enema reduction, they could not be used to indicate patients in whom enema reduction should not be attempted. All patients with intussusception should have a gas enema if the absolute contraindications to enema (i.e., peritonitis or perforation) are absent.     

Molecular and cytogenetic analyses of stably and unstably expressed transgene loci in tobacco

To study the influence of genomic context on transgene expression, we have determined the T-DNA structure, flanking DNA sequences, and chromosomal location of four independent transgene loci in tobacco. Two of these loci were stably expressed in the homozygous condition over many generations, whereas the other two loci became unstable after several generations of homozygosity. The stably expressed loci comprised relatively simple T-DNA arrangements that were flanked on at least one side by plant DNA containing AT-rich regions that bind to nuclear matrices in vitro. Of the unstably expressed loci, one consisted of multiple incomplete T-DNA copies, and the second contained a single intact T-DNA; in both cases, however, binary vector sequences were directly contiguous to a right T-DNA border. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated that the two stably expressed inserts were present in the vicinity of telomeres. The two unstably expressed inserts occupied intercalary and paracentromeric locations, respectively. Results on the stability of transgene expression in F1 progeny obtained by intercrossing the four lines and the sensitivity of the four transgene loci to inactivation in the presence of an unlinked "trans-silencing" locus are also presented. The findings are discussed in the context of repetitive DNA sequences and the allotetraploid nature of the tobacco genome.     

Quantitative and temporal analysis of effects of twospotted spider mite (acari: Tetranychidae) female sex pheromone on male guarding behavior

Responses of male twospotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticae (Koch), to female sex pheromone were described by a glass slide bioassay and computerized pathway digitizer. Pheromone was extracted from quiescent deutonymphs and fractionated by HPLC, and responses of guarding males to each fraction, all fractions combined, unfractionated extract, and a hexane control were bioassayed for 6 min. Mean angular velocities, linear velocities, percent time stationary, and distance from the 3-mm-diameter treatment circle were calculated for each mite at 20-sec intervals and these behavioral parameters regressed on time. Analysis of variance of regression-equation intercepts showed that no differences in initial male angular velocities were observed among treatments, but initial linear velocities were greater in response to all fractions combined and to extract than to individual fractions, and greater in response to individual fractions than to the control. Angular velocities decreased and linear velocities increased more rapidly in response to individual fractions than to all fractions combined and extract, while males turned preferentially in one direction and were stationary (no displacement) more often in response to all-fraction combinations than to individual fractions and the control. Significant differences were observed among the parameter values elicited by individual fractions, suggesting that active fractions differed qualitatively. The described changes in movement parameters show that maleT. urticae response to presence of pheromone occurs almost immediately, and that multiple pheromonal components are necessary to elicit maximum male response. The overall effect of pheromonal components was to decrease the rate at which males moved away from the treatment cycle, thereby causing male arrestment.     

Environmental Considerations for a Proposed Tolled Highway Project

As federal dollars available for highway projects are tightened and as demand for more highway capacity continues to increase, transportation officials seek more innovative financing methods. One of the more common methods has been to toll new highway projects. Recently, tollways also have been considered for existing, free-access roadways, i.e., nontolled, infrastructure segments. Transportation planners must consider that this so-called “innovative” financing technique, i.e., the decision to toll existing and new roadways, is subject to provisions of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). This renewed interest in tolling mandates that transportation planners revisit the requirements of NEPA, and in this context, its applicability to decisions to toll roads for financing of highway projects. NEPA requires that, prior to construction of a bridge or highway, the head of the federal agency that is committing funds to the project must evaluate the effect of the project on the human environment; the effect of the project on the habitat of an endangered species, which implicates provisions of the Endangered Species Act; the effect of the project on any historic properties in the vicinity of the project, which implicates provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act, and the effect of the project on minority or low-income-populations, called environmental justice, which implicates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In this paper, we analyze the requirements of NEPA as they relate to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The interrelation of the two acts now mandates that the transportation planner consider an environmental justice concept in planning for highway and bridge projects. The intent of this paper is to provide some guidance to transportation planners in light of the environmental justice issues implicated by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as they begin the planning stages for highway and bridge projects.