Fractal Location and Anomalous Diffusion Dynamics for Oil Wells from the KY Geological Survey

Utilizing data available from the Kentucky Geonet (KYGeonet.ky.gov) the fossil fuel mining locations created by the Kentucky Geological Survey geo-locating oil and gas wells are mapped using ESRI ArcGIS in Kentucky single plain 1602 ft projection. This data was then exported into a spreadsheet showing latitude and longitude for each point to be used for modeling at different scales to determine the fractal dimension of the set. Following the porosity and diffusivity studies of Tarafdar and Roy1 we extract fractal dimensions of the fossil fuel mining locations and search for evidence of scaling laws for the set of deposits. The Levy index is used to determine a match to a statistical mechanically motivated generalized probability function for the wells. This probability distribution corresponds to a solution of a dynamical anomalous diffusion equation of fractional order that describes the Levy paths which can be solved in the diffusion limit by the Fox H function ansatz.Comment: : 8 pages, 3 figures, AIPG Conference Meeting, Grand Junction CO, Oct. 200

Non-Leaky Buckets: Optimal Redistributive Taxation and Agency Costs

Economists have generally argued that income redistribution comes at a cost in aggregate incomes. We provide a counter-example in a model where private information gives rise to incentive constraints. In the model, a wage tax creates the usual distortion in labor-leisure choices, but the grants that it finances reduce a distortion in investment in human capital. We prove that simple redistributive policies can yield Pareto improvements and increase aggregate incomes. Where higher education is beyond the reach of the poor, the wage tax- transfer policy is under most circumstances more effective than targeted credit taxes or subsidies in increasing over-all efficiency.

What type of cluster randomized trial for which setting?

The cluster randomized trial allows a randomized evaluation when it is either not possible to randomize the individual or randomizing individuals would put the trial at high risk of contamination across treatment arms. There are many variations of the cluster randomized design, including the parallel design with or without baseline measures, the cluster randomized cross-over design, the stepped-wedge cluster randomized design, and more recently-developed variants such as the batched stepped-wedge design and the staircase design. Once it has been clearly established that there is a need for cluster randomization, one ever important question is which form the cluster design should take. If a design in which time is split into multiple trial periods is to be adopted (e.g. as in a stepped-wedge), researchers must decide whether the same participants should be measured in multiple trial periods (cohort sampling); or if different participants should be measured in each period (continual recruitment or cross-sectional sampling). Here we outline the different possible options and weigh up the pros and cons of the different design choices, which revolve around statistical efficiency, study logistics and the assumptions required.</p

Who benefits from health insurance? : Uncovering heterogeneous policy impacts using causal machine learning.

To be able to target health policies more efficiently, policymakers require knowledge about which individuals benefit most from a particular programme. While traditional approaches for subgroup analyses are constrained only to consider a small number of arbitrarily set, pre-defined subgroups, recently proposed causal machine learning (CML) approaches help explore treatment-effect heterogeneity in a more flexible yet principled way. This paper illustrates one such approach – ‘causal forests’ – in evaluating the effect of mothers’ health insurance enrolment in Indonesia. Contrasting two health insurance schemes (subsidised and contributory) to no insurance, we find beneficial average impacts of enrolment in contributory health insurance on maternal health care utilisation and infant mortality. For subsidised health insurance, however, both effects were smaller and not statistically significant. The causal forest algorithm identified significant heterogeneity in the impacts of the contributory insurance scheme: disadvantaged mothers (i.e. with lower wealth quintiles, lower educated, or in rural areas) benefit the most in terms of increased health care utilisation. No significant heterogeneity was found for the subsidised scheme, even though this programme targeted vulnerable populations. Our study demonstrates the power of CML approaches to uncover the heterogeneity in programme impacts, hence providing policymakers with valuable information for programme design

Detomidine and butorphanol for standing sedation in a range of zoo-kept ungulate species

General anesthesia poses risks for larger zoo species, like cardiorespiratory depression, myopathy, and hyperthermia. In ruminants, ruminal bloat and regurgitation of rumen contents with potential aspiration pneumonia are added risks. Thus, the use of sedation to perform minor procedures is justified in zoo animals. A combination of detomidine and butorphanol has been routinely used in domestic animals. This drug combination, administered by remote intramuscular injection, can also be applied for standing sedation in a range of zoo animals, allowing a number of minor procedures. The combination was successfully administered in five species of nondomesticated equids (Przewalski horse [Equus ferus przewalskii; n = 1], onager [Equus hemionus onager; n = 4], kiang [Equus kiang; n = 3], Grevy's zebra [Equus grevyi; n = 4], and Somali wild ass [Equus africanus somaliensis; n = 7]), with a mean dose range of 0.10-0.17 mg/kg detomidine and 0.07-0.13 mg/kg butorphanol; the white (Ceratotherium simum simum; n = 12) and greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis; n = 4), with a mean dose of 0.015 mg/kg of both detomidine and butorphanol; and Asiatic elephant bulls (Elephas maximus; n = 2), with a mean dose of 0.018 mg/kg of both detomidine and butorphanol. In addition, the combination was successfully used for standing sedation in six species of artiodactylids: giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata; n = 3), western bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus; n = 2), wisent (Bison bonasus; n = 5), yak (Bos grunniens; n = 1), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis; n = 4) and Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus; n = 5). The mean dose range for artiodactylid species except bongo was 0.04-0.06 mg/kg detomidine and 0.03-0.06 mg/kg butorphanol. The dose in bongo, 0.15-0.20 mg/kg detomidine and 0.13-0.15 mg/kg butorphanol, was considerably higher. Times to first effect, approach, and recovery after antidote were short. The use of detomidine and butorphanol has been demonstrated to be a reliable, safe alternative to general anesthesia for a number of large ungulate species

Diagnosis of Spinocerebellar Ataxia in the West Indies

Background: Access to medical care in many regions is limited by socioeconomic status, at both the individual and the community level. This report describes the diagnostic process of a family residing on an underserved Caribbean island where routine neurological care is typically addressed by general practitioners, and genetic diagnosis is not available through regular medical channels. The diagnosis and management of neurodegenerative disorders is especially challenging in this setting. Case Report: We diagnosed a family with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) in an underdeveloped nation with limited access to genetic medicine and no full-time neurologist. Discussion: Molecular diagnosis of the SCAs can be challenging, even in developed countries. In the Caribbean, genetic testing is generally only available at a small number of academic centers. Diagnosis in this family was ultimately made by utilizing an international, pro bono, research-based collaborative process. Although access to appropriate resources, such as speech, physical, and occupational therapies, is limited on this island because of economic and geographical factors, the provision of a diagnosis appeared to be ultimately beneficial for this family. Identification of affected families highlights the need for access to genetic diagnosis in all communities, and can help direct resources where needed

Management strategies for flood protection in the lower Illinois River: phase II, real-time simulation of flooding with UNET model

"Prepared for the Office of Water Resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources"--Cover."December 2001.