Human mobility patterns are associated with experienced partisan segregation in US metropolitan areas.

Partisan sorting in residential environments is an enduring feature of contemporary American politics, but little research has examined partisan segregation individuals experience in activity spaces through their daily activities. Relying on advances in spatial computation and global positioning system data on everyday mobility flows collected from smartphones, we measure experienced partisan segregation in two ways: place-level partisan segregation based on the partisan composition of its daily visitors and community-level experienced partisan segregation based on the segregation level of places visited by its residents. We find that partisan segregation experienced in places varies across different geographic areas, location types, and time periods. Moreover, partisan segregation is distinct from experienced segregation by race and income. We also find that partisan segregation individuals experience is relatively lower when they visit places beyond their residential areas, but partisan segregation in residential space and activity space is strongly correlated. Residents living in predominantly black, liberal, low-income, non-immigrant, more public transit-dependent, and central city communities tend to experience a higher level of partisan segregation.

Heterogeneous returns to college over the life course.

College graduates earn higher wages than high school graduates by age 30. Among women, the advantages of a college degree decline somewhat as they age, although they are still substantial at age 50; for men, the advantage of a college degree grows throughout the life cycle. Most previous research on returns to higher education has focused on income at a single point in time or averaged over multiple years; our contribution is to study how returns vary by age. We also document how these patterns vary by the propensity of graduating from college. We find modest wage returns for mid-propensity college graduates, but large returns for low-propensity and, for men, high-propensity college graduates. Our results rely on propensity score­based matching combined with multilevel growth curve models applied to data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort.

Genetic Characterization of a Novel HIV-1 Second-Generation Recombinant Form (CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC) Identified in Yan'an City, China.

Owing to co-epidemic of CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC in China, increasing numbers of the second-generation recombinants between them have been identified especially among sexual population. In this study, we identified a unique CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC recombinants from a male HIV-1 positive individual (18YA004) infected by heterosexual contact in Yan'an city, Shaanxi province. The near full-length genome analyses showed 18YA004 was divided into six fragments by five breakpoints located in the pol, vpr, vpu, and nef gene, respectively. Three CRF01_AE segments (segments I, III, and V) were all clustered within the cluster 4a lineage, exclusively circulating among MSM in the northern China. Coupled with our previous finding of CRF01_AE/C recombinant in Yan'an city, the emergence of CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC strain further suggested coexistence of multiple HIV-1 genotypes here. Therefore, it is necessary to continue monitoring the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 among high-risk groups to obtain a better understanding of the genetic complexity and transmission of HIV-1 in this region.

Genetic Characteristics of Three Unique Recombinant Forms of HIV-1 in Yunnan, China.

To explore the molecular epidemiological status of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Yunnan, China, three HIV-1 near full-length genomes were amplified and sequenced from plasma samples that were collected from Burmese patients newly diagnosed with HIV-1 in Dehong Prefecture in Yunnan Province in 2017. Phylogenetic and bootscanning analyses revealed that all the sequences might be HIV-1 second-generation recombinant forms of circulating recombinant forms (CRF07_BC and CRF83_cpx) and unique recombinant forms. One of the sequences contained six CRF01_AE fragments, five subtype C fragments, and two subtype B fragments, which were separated by 12 breakpoints. These results revealed that the second-generation recombination of HIV-1 within different strains is still ongoing in Dehong, China. Systematic surveys and immediate interventions are urgently needed to prevent the formation of increasingly complex HIV-1 recombinant forms.

The Genetic Diversity of HIV-1 Within Antiretroviral-Naive Outpatients in Ganzhou, China.

To explore the molecular epidemiological status of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Ganzhou, China, eight HIV-1-positive outpatients were recruited from July 5 to 21, 2018. Six HIV-1 near-full-length sequences were amplified and sequenced from the plasma samples that were collected before the patients' antiretroviral treatments. Phylogenetic and bootscan analyses revealed that one of the sequences was CRF01_AE, one was CRF55_01B, and two were CRF07_BC. Notably, one of the sequences was a unique recombinant form, and one of them was a second-generation recombinant form of CRF07_BC and subtype C. These results revealed that multiple HIV-1 subtypes are circulating in Ganzhou, China. Systematic surveys with large sample sizes are urgently needed to explore the exact molecular epidemiological characteristics and to trace the origins of HIV-1 in Ganzhou, China.

Identification of a Novel HIV-1 Unique CRF01_AE/C Recombinant in Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province.

A wide variety of HIV-1 recombinants are constantly discovered in China. Comprehensively monitoring the genetic diversity of HIV-1 is very essential for understanding the molecular epidemiology and controlling the spread of the HIV-1 epidemic. In this study, we presented a novel HIV-1 unique CRF01_AE/C recombinant (19YA001) isolated from a female patient infected HIV-1 through heterosexual transmission in Yan'an city, Shaanxi province. The near full-length genome analyses showed 19YA001 was divided into two CRF01_AE and one C segments by two breakpoints observed in the vif/vpr region. To date, this is the first report revealing the characteristic of HIV-1 subtype in Yan'an city. And this unique recombinant strain might imply that the genetic diversity of HIV-1 in Yan'an city is complex. However, the sample size is too small. Further larger studies of HIV-1 molecular epidemiology are urgently needed to provide a better understanding of HIV-1 diversity and transmission in this region.

Educational Variations in Cohort Trends in the Black-White Earnings Gap Among Men: Evidence From Administrative Earnings Data.

Despite efforts to improve the labor market situation of African Americans, the racial earnings gap has endured in the United States. Most prior studies on racial inequality have considered its cross-sectional or period patterns. This study adopts a demographic perspective to examine the evolution of earnings trajectories among white and black men across cohorts in the United States. Using more than 40 years of longitudinal earnings records from the U.S. Social Security Administration matched to the Survey of Income and Program Participation, our analyses reveal that the cohort trends in the racial earnings gap follow quite different patterns by education. Race continues to be a salient dimension of economic inequality over the life course and across cohorts, particularly at the top and the bottom of the educational distribution. Although the narrowing of the racial gap among high school graduates is in itself a positive development, it unfortunately derives primarily from the deteriorating economic position for whites without a college degree rather than an improvement in economic standing of their black counterparts.

Americans overestimate the intergenerational persistence in income ranks.

Recent research suggests that intergenerational income mobility has remained low and stable in America, but popular discourse routinely assumes that Americans are optimistic about mobility prospects in society. Examining these 2 seemingly contradictory observations requires a careful measurement of the public's perceptions of mobility. Unlike most previous work that measures perceptions about mobility outcomes for the overall population or certain subgroups, we propose a survey instrument that emphasizes the variation in perceived mobility prospects for hypothetical children across parent income ranks. Based on this survey instrument, we derive the perceived relationship between the income ranks of parents and children, which can then be compared against the actual rank-rank relationship reported by empirical work based on tax data. We fielded this instrument in a general population survey experiment (n = 3,077). Our results suggest that Americans overestimate the intergenerational persistence in income ranks. They overestimate economic prospects for children from rich families and underestimate economic prospects for those from poor families.

Chemical speciation and risk assessment of cadmium in soils around a typical coal mining area of China.

The distribution characteristics of Cadmium (Cd) fractions in soils around a coal mining area of Huaibei coalfield were investigated, with the aim to assess its ecological risk. The total Cd concentrations in soils ranged from 0.05 to 0.87 mg/kg. The high percentage of phyto-available Cd (58%) when redox or base-acid equilibria changed. Soil pH was found to be a crucial factor affecting soil Cd fraction, and carbonate-bound Cd can be significantly affected by both organic matter and pH of soils. The static ecological evaluation models, including potential ecological risk index (PERI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and risk assessment code (RAC), revealed a moderate soil Cd contamination and prensented high Cd exposure risk in studied soils. However, the dynamic evaluation of Cd risk, determined using a delayed geochemical hazard (DGH), suggested that our studied soils can be classified as median-risk with a mean probability of 24.79% for Cd DGH. These results provide a better assessment for the risk development of Cd contamination in coal mining areas.

A simulation study of the role of cohort forces in mortality patterns.

This study uses the micro-simulation method to investigate the role of cohort forces in age-dependent mortality pattern. We test the micro mechanisms for cohort evolution and mortality selection, and how these two biological and demographic forces may interact with epidemiologic transition to shape the cohort age-dependence of mortality pattern in both early- and later-transition countries. We show that cohort evolution is due to the declining rate of mortality acceleration at the individual level, which is associated with lower initial mortality rates but not smaller variance of frailty distribution in later birth cohorts. The steeper slope of mortality acceleration at the population level among later birth cohorts is due to mortality selection mechanism associated with smaller variance of frailty distribution but not lower initial mortality rates. These two forces jointly shape the non-crossover cohort age-dependence of mortality pattern regardless of the differential mechanisms of epidemiologic transition in early- and later-transition countries.

Association between income trajectories in childhood and psychiatric disorder: a Swedish population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Childhood family income variation is an understudied aspect of households' economic context that may have distinct consequences for children. We identified trajectories of childhood family income over a 12-year period, and examined associations between these trajectories and later psychiatric disorders, among individuals born in Sweden between 1987 and 1991 (n=534 294). METHODS: We used annual income data between the ages of 3-14 years and identified 5 trajectories (2 high-income upward, 1 downward and 2 low-income upward trajectories). Psychiatric disorders in the follow-up period after age 15 were defined from International Classification of Disease (ICD)-codes in a nationwide patient register. Multiadjusted risks for all psychiatric disorders, as well as for specific psychiatric diagnoses, were calculated as HRs with 95% CIs. RESULTS: Of the 5 identified income trajectories, the constant low and the downward trajectories were particularly associated with later psychiatric disorder. Children with these trajectories had increased risks for psychiatric disorder, including mood, anxiety, psychotic disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The association remained, even after adjusting for important variables including parental psychiatric disorder. In contrast, the relationship was reversed for eating disorders, for which children in higher income trajectories had elevated risks. CONCLUSIONS: Findings show that children growing up in a household characterised by low or decreasing family income have an increased risk for psychiatric disorder. Continued work is needed to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in psychiatric disorders. Policies and interventions for psychiatric disorders should consider the socioeconomic background of the family as an important risk or protective factor.

Highly Efficient and Selective Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction by Iron and Cobalt Quaterpyridine Complexes.

The design of highly efficient and selective photocatalytic systems for CO2 reduction that are based on nonexpensive materials is a great challenge for chemists. The photocatalytic reduction of CO2 by [Co(qpy)(OH2)2](2+) (1) (qpy = 2,2':6',2″:6″,2‴-quaterpyridine) and [Fe(qpy)(OH2)2](2+) (2) have been investigated. With Ru(bpy)3(2+) as the photosensitizer and 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole as the sacrificial reductant in CH3CN/triethanolamine solution under visible-light excitation (blue light-emitting diode), a turnover number (TON) for CO as high as 2660 with 98% selectivity can be achieved for the cobalt catalyst. In the case of the iron catalyst, the TON was >3000 with up to 95% selectivity. More significantly, when Ru(bpy)3(2+) was replaced by the organic dye sensitizer purpurin, TONs of 790 and 1365 were achieved in N,N-dimethylformamide for the cobalt and iron catalysts, respectively.

Assortative mating without assortative preference.

Assortative mating--marriage of a man and a woman with similar social characteristics--is a commonly observed phenomenon. In the existing literature in both sociology and economics, this phenomenon has mainly been attributed to individuals' conscious preferences for assortative mating. In this paper, we show that patterns of assortative mating may arise from another structural source even if individuals do not have assortative preferences or possess complementary attributes: dynamic processes of marriages in a closed system. For a given cohort of youth in a finite population, as the percentage of married persons increases, unmarried persons who newly enter marriage are systematically different from those who married earlier, giving rise to the phenomenon of assortative mating. We use microsimulation methods to illustrate this dynamic process, using first the conventional deterministic Gale-Shapley model, then a probabilistic Gale-Shapley model, and then two versions of the encounter mating model.

The environmental geochemistry of trace elements and naturally radionuclides in a coal gangue brick-making plant.

An investigation focused on the transformation and distribution behaviors of trace elements and natural radionuclides around a coal gangue brick plant was conducted. Simultaneous sampling of coal gangue, brick, fly ash and flue gas were implemented. Soil, soybean and earthworm samples around the brick plant were also collected for comprehensive ecological assessment. During the firing process, trace elements were released and redistributed in the brick, fly ash and the flue gas. Elements can be divided into two groups according to their releasing characteristics, high volatile elements (release ratio higher than 30%) are represented by Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se and Sn, which emitted mainly in flue gas that would travel and deposit at the northeast and southwest direction around the brick plant. Cadmium, Ni and Pb are bio-accumulated in the soybean grown on the study area, which indicates potential health impacts in case of human consumption. The high activity of natural radionuclides in the atmosphere around the plant as well as in the made-up bricks will increase the health risk of respiratory system.

Thermochemical and trace element behavior of coal gangue, agricultural biomass and their blends during co-combustion.

The thermal decomposition behavior of coal gangue, peanut shell, wheat straw and their blends during combustion were determined via thermogravimetric analysis. The coal gangue/agricultural biomass blends were prepared in four weight ratios and oxidized under dynamic conditions from room temperature to 1000 °C by various heating rates. Kinetic models were carried out to evaluate the thermal reactivity. The overall mass balance was performed to assess the partition behavior of coal gangue, peanut shell and their blends during combustion in a fixed bed reactor. The decomposition processes of agricultural biomass included evaporation, release of volatile matter and combustion as well as char oxidation. The thermal reactivity of coal gangue could be improved through the addition of agricultural biomass in suitable proportion and subsequent appropriate heating rate during combustion. In combination with the heating value and base/acid ratio limitations, a blending ratio of 30% agricultural biomass is conservatively selected as optimum blending.

Structural effect of size on interracial friendship.

Social contexts exert structural effects on individuals' social relationships, including interracial friendships. In this study, we posit that, net of group composition, total context size has a distinct effect on interracial friendship. Under the assumptions of (i) maximization of preference in choosing a friend, (ii) multidimensionality of preference, and (iii) preference for same-race friends, we conducted analyses using microsimulation that yielded three main findings. First, increased context size decreases the likelihood of forming an interracial friendship. Second, the size effect increases with the number of preference dimensions. Third, the size effect is diluted by noise, i.e., the random component affecting friendship formation. Analysis of actual friendship data among 4,745 American high school students yielded results consistent with the main conclusion that increased context size promotes racial segregation and discourages interracial friendship.

The US stock market leads the federal funds rate and treasury bond yields.

Using a recently introduced method to quantify the time-varying lead-lag dependencies between pairs of economic time series (the thermal optimal path method), we test two fundamental tenets of the theory of fixed income: (i) the stock market variations and the yield changes should be anti-correlated; (ii) the change in central bank rates, as a proxy of the monetary policy of the central bank, should be a predictor of the future stock market direction. Using both monthly and weekly data, we found very similar lead-lag dependence between the S&P 500 stock market index and the yields of bonds inside two groups: bond yields of short-term maturities (Federal funds rate (FFR), 3M, 6M, 1Y, 2Y, and 3Y) and bond yields of long-term maturities (5Y, 7Y, 10Y, and 20Y). In all cases, we observe the opposite of (i) and (ii). First, the stock market and yields move in the same direction. Second, the stock market leads the yields, including especially the FFR. Moreover, we find that the short-term yields in the first group lead the long-term yields in the second group before the financial crisis that started in mid-2007 and the inverse relationship holds afterwards. These results suggest that the Federal Reserve is increasingly mindful of the stock market behavior, seen as key to the recovery and health of the economy. Long-term investors seem also to have been more reactive and mindful of the signals provided by the financial stock markets than the Federal Reserve itself after the start of the financial crisis. The lead of the S&P 500 stock market index over the bond yields of all maturities is confirmed by the traditional lagged cross-correlation analysis.