Centering High Risk Pregnancies Interprofessionaly (CHRPI) to Reduce Racial Disparities in Pregnancy Outcomes

Background: Despite the steady rise in use of prenatal care, significant racial disparities exist in pregnancy-related outcomes. This calls for innovative prenatal care to improve pregnancy outcomes in racial minorities. CHRPI is an innovative prenatal care model designed to address risk factors and manageable conditions particularly prevalent in African Americans that threaten their course of pregnancy. Methods: CHRPI is an outpatient model (Fig. 1) that will accept pregnant moms with risk-factors outlined by the ACOG. They are initially evaluated by a Maternal Fetal Medicine physician where management is outlined. Then, patients are placed in groups of 4 according to their expected course of pregnancy, social, and medical needs. Between medical appointments, patients will attend sessions facilitated by a multidisciplinary team to receive education on nutrition, insulin management, alarming symptoms and more. Additionally, patients will have opportunity to address individual social and medical needs with licensed clinical social workers and mid-level providers outside of groups. Lastly, CHRPI’s care extends as far as 6 months postpartum to reassess newly diagnosed conditions or risk-factors to protect future pregnancies and establish primary care upon exiting the program. Results: Compared to traditional care of high-risk patients (Fig. 2), proposed CHRPI model is expected to decrease rate of maternal and infant mortality, pre-term birth, NICU admissions, and patient satisfaction. Conclusion: CHRPI aims to reduce racial disparities in maternal and infant mortalities associated with high-risk pregnancies by utilizing an innovative multidisciplinary group approach with significant emphasis on nutrition, education, and primary care to protect future pregnancies.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1100/thumbnail.jp

Probabilistic Description of Traffic Breakdowns

We analyze the characteristic features of traffic breakdown. To describe this phenomenon we apply to the probabilistic model regarding the jam emergence as the formation of a large car cluster on highway. In these terms the breakdown occurs through the formation of a certain critical nucleus in the metastable vehicle flow, which enables us to confine ourselves to one cluster model. We assume that, first, the growth of the car cluster is governed by attachment of cars to the cluster whose rate is mainly determined by the mean headway distance between the car in the vehicle flow and, may be, also by the headway distance in the cluster. Second, the cluster dissolution is determined by the car escape from the cluster whose rate depends on the cluster size directly. The latter is justified using the available experimental data for the correlation properties of the synchronized mode. We write the appropriate master equation converted then into the Fokker-Plank equation for the cluster distribution function and analyze the formation of the critical car cluster due to the climb over a certain potential barrier. The further cluster growth irreversibly gives rise to the jam formation. Numerical estimates of the obtained characteristics and the experimental data of the traffic breakdown are compared. In particular, we draw a conclusion that the characteristic intrinsic time scale of the breakdown phenomenon should be about one minute and explain the case why the traffic volume interval inside which traffic breakdown is observed is sufficiently wide.Comment: RevTeX 4, 14 pages, 10 figure

A schema for generic process tomography sensors

A schema is introduced that aims to facilitate the widespread exploitation of the science of process tomography (PT) that promises a unique multidimensional sensing opportunity. Although PT has been developed to an advanced state, applications have been laboratory or pilot-plant based, configured on an end-to-end basis, and limited typically to the formation of images that attempt to represent process contents. The schema facilitates the fusion of multidimensional internal process state data in terms of a model that yields directly usable process information, either for design model confirmation or for effective plant monitoring or control, here termed a reality visualization model (RVM). A generic view leads to a taxonomy of process types and their respective RVM. An illustrative example is included and a review of typical sensor system components is given

Effect of blast induced rock fragmentation and muckpile angle on excavator performance in surface mines

Purpose. A fit excavator in a surface mine gives a trouble free production. To maintain the condition and safety of an excavator, proper sizes of rock fragmentation and muckpile parameters are crucial besides its maintenance. Optimum size of fragmentation and muckpile shape parameters increases the production hours of an excavator so study was conducted to investigate the effect of blast induced rock fragmentation and muckpile angle on excavator performance. Methods. The study was conducted in two different surface coal mines namely A and B of India. Drilling, blasting and shovel-Dumper combination were used in mines for overburden removal and as well as coal production. The trial blasts were conducted in surface mines to investigate the effect of rock fragmentation and muckpile angle on excavator performance. Findings. The results obtained from this study indicate that the fragmentation size should be optimum with respect to bucket size of the excavator so that the excavator can load more material in less time. Also, muckpile should be loose, with proper muckpile angle. The results of this study show that the cycle time of the excavator is minimum at fragment size of 0.30 – 0.45 and 0.15 – 0.20 m for mine A and B respectively and muckpile angle in the range of 52 – 58 degree for both mine. Originality. This study is a field based study and the results are based on the data collected and analyzed. Similar type of studies have been done by few researchers though to improve the productivity of the mine for different conditions. The results are condition, machinery, method and mine specific. Practical implications. This study was conducted for surface coal mines but it is applicable for limestone and stone quarry also.Мета. Дослідження впливу вибухового руйнування породи і кута її навалу на продуктивність та безпеку роботи екскаватора. Методика. Дослідження проводилися на базі двох вугільних кар’єрів в Індії – А і В. У комплексі були використані технології буріння, підривання, риття та відвалоутворення для видалення порід розкриття та видобутку вугілля. У кар’єрах були проведені експериментальні вибухи для того, аби вивчити вплив вибухового руйнування породи і кута її навалу на продуктивність екскаватора. Результати. Встановлено, що ступінь подрібнення породи повинен бути оптимальним по відношенню до розміру ковша екскаватора для можливості завантаження більшої кількості породи за менший час. Також важливо, щоб навал мав оптимальний кут і був досить рихлим. В результаті даного дослідження з’ясувалося, що мінімальний час одного циклу роботи екскаватора відповідає наступному ступеню подрібнення: 0.30 – 0.45 м у кар’єрі А та 0.15 – 0.20 м у кар’єрі В, відповідно при куті навалу 52 – 58 градусів в обох кар’єрах. Наукова новизна. Для геотехнологічних умов відкритої розробки вугільних родовищ Індії виявлені нові закономірності зміни продуктивності видобутку від умов, механізмів та обладнання, методу виїмки та стану кар’єра. Практична значимість. Використання встановлених закономірностей дозволить оптимізувати технологічні параметри при проектуванні вибухових і видобувних робіт на кар’єрах з розробки різних видів корисних копалин (вугілля, будівельних матеріалів та ін.).Цель. Исследование влияния взрывного разрушения породы и угла ее навала на производительность и безопасность работы экскаватора. Методика. Исследования проводились на базе двух угольных карьеров в Индии – А и В. В комплексе были использованы технологии бурения, взрывания, рытья и отвалообразования для удаления вскрыши и добычи угля. В карьерах были произведены экспериментальные взрывы для того, чтобы изучить влияние взрывного разрушения породы и угла ее навала на производительность экскаватора. Результаты. Установлено, что степень измельчения породы должна быть оптимальной по отношению к размеру ковша экскаватора для возможности загрузки большего объема породы за меньшее время. Также важно, чтобы навал имел оптимальный угол и был достаточно рыхлым. В результате данного исследования выяснилось, что минимальное время одного цикла работы экскаватора соответствует следующей степени измельчения: 0.30 – 0.45 м в карьере А и 0.15 – 0.20 м в карьере В, соответственно при угле навала 52 – 58 градусов в обоих карьерах. Научная новизна. Для геотехнологических условий открытой разработки угольных месторождений Индии выявлены новые закономерности изменения производительности добычи от условий, механизмов и оборудования, метода выемки и состояния карьера. Практическая значимость. Использование установленных закономерностей позволит оптимизировать технологические параметры при проектировании взрывных и добычных работ на карьерах по разработке различных видов полезных ископаемых (угля, строительных материалов и др.).The author is indebted towards the excellent cooperation and support provided by the entire operational crew, staff and management of the BCCL and Shree Cement Ltd during collection of data for this study. Thanks to MOM, GOI, India for sponsoring projects “Development of eco-friendly blasting techniques

An evaluation of the artisanal fisheries resources of the Cross River State of Nigeria

The Cross River State (Nigeria) marine and freshwater artisanal capture fisheries are divided into 4 categories according to the type of resources being exploited. Schaefer's production model is applied to each of the fisheries to estimate the maximum sustainable yields (Ymax). The total potential yield for all the fisheries in natural waters is 178,650 tonnes/year. This potential is unlikely to be achieved as more fishermen are abandoning the occupation due to the scarcity of boats, outboard engines and nets. Even if the full potentials were realized the production would still be short of what the State should produce by about 30.5%. Investment opportunities which, if effected can help to narrow the gap between the available and the desired level of production are enumerate

Interpreting the Wide Scattering of Synchronized Traffic Data by Time Gap Statistics

Based on the statistical evaluation of experimental single-vehicle data, we propose a quantitative interpretation of the erratic scattering of flow-density data in synchronized traffic flows. A correlation analysis suggests that the dynamical flow-density data are well compatible with the so-called jam line characterizing fully developed traffic jams, if one takes into account the variation of their propagation speed due to the large variation of the netto time gaps (the inhomogeneity of traffic flow). The form of the time gap distribution depends not only on the density, but also on the measurement cross section: The most probable netto time gap in congested traffic flow upstream of a bottleneck is significantly increased compared to uncongested freeway sections. Moreover, we identify different power-law scaling laws for the relative variance of netto time gaps as a function of the sampling size. While the exponent is -1 in free traffic corresponding to statistically independent time gaps, the exponent is about -2/3 in congested traffic flow because of correlations between queued vehicles.Comment: For related publications see http://www.helbing.or

International capital flows and the returns to safe assets in the United States 2003-2007.

A broad array of domestic institutional factors –including problems with the originate-to-distribute model for mortgage loans, deteriorating lending standards, deficiencies in risk management, conflicting incentives for the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), and shortcomings of supervision and regulation– were the primary sources of the US housing boom and bust and the associated financial crisis. In addition, the extended rise in US house prices was likely also supported by long-term interest rates (including mortgage rates) that were surprisingly low, given the level of short-term rates and other macro fundamentals –a development that Greenspan (2005) dubbed a “conundrum.” The “global saving glut” (GSG) hypothesis (Bernanke, 2005 and 2007) argues that increased capital inflows to the United States from countries in which desired saving greatly exceeded desired investment –including Asian emerging markets and commodity exporters– were an important reason that US longer-term interest rates during this period were lower than expected. This essay investigates further the effects of capital inflows to the United States on US longer-term interest rates; however, we look beyond the overall size of the inflows emphasised by the GSG hypothesis to examine the implications for US yields of the portfolio preferences of foreign creditors. We present evidence that, in the spirit of Caballero and Krishnamurthy (2009), foreign investors during this period tended to prefer US assets perceived to be safe. In particular, foreign investors –especially the GSG countries–acquired a substantial share of the new issues of US Treasuries, Agency debt, and Agency-sponsored mortgage-backed securities. The downward pressure on yields exerted by inflows from the GSG countries was reinforced by the portfolio preferences of other foreign investors. We focus particularly on the case of Europe: although Europe did not run a large current account surplus as did the GSG countries, we show that it leveraged up its international balance sheet, issuing external liabilities to finance substantial purchases of apparently safe US “private label” mortgage-backed securities and other fixed-income products. The strong demand for apparently safe assets by both domestic and foreign investors not only served to reduce yields on these assets but also provided additional incentives for the US financial services industry to develop structured investment products that “transformed” risky loans into highly-rated securities. Our findings do not challenge the view that domestic factors, including those listed above, were the primary sources of the housing boom and bust in the United States. However, examining how changes in the pattern of international capital flows affected yields on US assets helps provide a deeper understanding of the origins and dynamics of the crisis.

Generic reality visualization modelling from process tomography sensor data in process design

The paper introduces a novel enabling step toward the widespread exploitation of the multi-dimensional process sensing offered by process tomography (PT) technology that has demonstrated a unique insight into many processes. Most current applications are laboratory or pilot-plant based. Generic system integration tools are proposed that deal systematically with PT data to accelerate the assessment and application of PT sensing, and hence deliver the large benefits expected to arise from large-scale exploitation of multi-dimensional sensing. Where multi-dimensional PT sensor data is available, a suite of enabling tools: reality visualisation modelling (RVM), are proposed as the complementary generic set of processing methods needed to take internal process state data, and yield directly usable process information, either for design model confirmation, or for effective plant control, or monitoring. A further step: Generic-RVM (GRVM) extends this concept through a generically defined process topology, complete with method and model set, to expedite mass-market application. The paper offers a practical illustration through a small pilot trial

Introduction: preliminary reflections on the legacy of Pierre Bourdieu

Book synopsis: Pierre Bourdieu is widely regarded as one of the most influential sociologists of his generation, and yet the reception of his work in different cultural contexts and academic disciplines has been varied and uneven. This volume maps out the legacy of Pierre Bourdieu in contemporary social and political thought from the standpoint of classical European sociology and from the broader perspective of transatlantic social science. It brings together contributions from prominent scholars in the field, providing a range of perspectives on the continuing relevance of Bourdieu’s oeuvre to substantive problems in social and political analysis