Paleoecology and Sedimentation in Part of the Arctic Basin

In a basin with an ~10 million sq km area, the number of sediment cores taken is of the magnitude of 1/10,000 sq km, and most cores are <4 m long, providing little more than a 1 or 1-1/2 MY record. Progress in study of >300 cores from the T-3 drift is outlined; procedures are noted, as is the good record of the most recent major reversal of the earth's magnetic field left in 2-1/2 m (or longer) cores and of more magnetic events in cores longer than 3 m; this provides a basis for magnetic stratigraphic correlations with other parts of the world and determination of sedimentation rates. Progress in moisture content measurements, gross mineralogy, carbonate content and texture of the sediments and study of foraminifera and ice-rafted debris in sediments are still tenuous; the only sustained trend noted was toward less sinistral coiling specimens at the tops of cores which has been interpreted as indicating an ice-covered Arctic during most of the Pleistocene

Rising from Ashes or Dying Flash? The Mega Outburst of Small Comet 289P/Blanpain in 2013

Jupiter-family comet 289P/Blanpain was first discovered in 1819 and was then lost for ~200 years, only to be rediscovered in 2003 as a small, weakly active comet. The comet is associated with the Phoenicids, an otherwise minor meteor shower that produced significant outbursts in 1956 and 2014. The shower points to the existence of significant mass-loss events of P/Blanpain in recent history. P/Blanpain was recovered during an apparent large outburst in 2013 July at an appreciable heliocentric distance of 3.9 au, with brightness increase of 9 mag, making it one of the largest comet outbursts ever observed. Here we present an analysis of archival data taken by several telescopes. We find that the 2013 outburst has produced ~10^8 kg of dust, which accounts for a modest fraction (~1%) of the mass of P/Blanpain's nucleus as measured in 2004. Based on analysis of long-term light curve and modeling of coma morphology, we conclude that the 2013 outburst was most likely driven by the crystallization of amorphous water ice triggered by a spin-up disruption of the nucleus. A dust dynamical model shows that a small fraction of the dust ejecta will reach the Earth in 2036 and 2041, but are only expected to produce minor enhancements to the Phoenicid meteor shower. The 2013 outburst of P/Blanpain, though remarkable for a comet of small size, does not necessary imply a catastrophic disruption of the nucleus. The upcoming close encounter of P/Blanpain in 2020 January will provide an opportunity to examine the current state of the comet

The Effect of Sleep on Public Good Contributions and Punishment: Experimental Evidence

We investigate the effect of a full week of sleep restriction (SR) vs. well-restedness (WR) on contributions in a common public good experiment, the voluntary contributions mechanism (VCM). We examine the effect of sleep manipulation on decisions regarding both contributions and punishment of non-contributors. Actigraphy devices are used to confirm that our random assignment to sleep condition generates significant differences in objective nightly sleep duration and sleepiness. We find that when punishment is unavailable public good contributions do not differ by SR/WR assignment. When punishment is available, we find evidence that SR subjects contribute more than WR subjects, respond more to the availability of punishment than do WR subjects, and that the availability of punishment significantly increases the contributions of SR but not WR subjects. Yet SR subjects do not punish others more or less than WR subjects. Our main findings are robust when considering compliance and sample selection. However, some findings are not robust to an alternative but less objective sleep control measure that is based partly on participants’ self-identified optimal sleep levels

Construction Report FHWA Special Project 202, Break and Seat of Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement

This study is part of the FHWA sponsored Special Project 202, Break and Seat of Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement (SP-202). In addition to Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, and Louisiana are also participating in the project. The projects were constructed under the experimental design defined in the FHWA Document Special Project 202 Technical Resource Forum , June 6 and 7, 1989. Breaking patterns of 6, 18, and 30 inches, along with a control section which was not broken were used in each of the participating states. The only major problem which occurred during construction occurred in the inside lane of the 6-inch test section. In this section, settlement of the broken slab was observed, causing the roller to sink into the underlying dense graded aggregate and subgrade. Subsequently, an area approximately 100 feet long was excavated and backfilled with large stone and full depth asphaltic concrete. The remainder of the construction process and installation of the monitoring gauges and access boxes went very well. The gauges are working; i.e., horizontal movement is being detected during the observation periods. The data currently are limited due to the long-term nature of the project. No conclusions on the relative performance of each test section can be made. Once more data become available during the upcoming evaluation periods, relative performance between each section will be evaluated

2016 Maintenance Customer Survey

The Kentucky Transportation Center, with the assistance of the University of Kentucky’s Survey Research Center, administered a telephone survey to 1,221 licensed drivers throughout the state to gauge their opinion of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) maintenance activities. Survey respondents were distributed throughout KYTC’s 12 highway districts. The survey focused on five areas of highway maintenance: roadside features, pavement surfaces, shoulders, drainage and signs/markings. Respondents indicated they were most satisfied with the current maintenance of signs, guardrail, and striping. Pavement surfaces and potholes, and shoulders and roadway drainage, received the lowest rankings — given that the driving public is very attuned to the smoothness of roadways and readily detects problems, this result was expected. The survey also asked respondents about to specify what level of maintenance they desired for each category. Results for these questions were practically identical across the entire state, with respondents expressing a desire that roads and road features be maintained in very good to excellent condition. There were no differences between items relating to pavement surfaces or safety items. Researchers compared the 2016 survey results to the findings of a 2010 survey. There were few differences between the surveys, and in general the results mirrored each other very closely. New questions added in 2016 asked drivers about their primary sources of travel information. Drivers reported using smartphone apps to obtain travel directions and road conditions, but that traditional media outlets (e.g., television, radio) remain critical sources of information

Pavement Design Evaluations I-275 Boone and Kenton Counties MP 1.05-7.15

Interstate 275 in Boone and Kenton Counties (MP 1.05 - 7.15) has been in service for more than 20 years. The eastbound lanes from MP 1.05 - 4.07 was rehabilitated by rubblization of the existing continuously reinforced concrete pavement, the addition of an open-graded drainage layer and a 9-inch PCC overlay in 1991

Road Rater Correlation

In this study, a correlation has been conducted between the Model 400B and the Model 2000 Road Rater. Also contained in this study, is a study of the linearity of the Road Rater measurements. Information gained from this study will provide better understanding of Road Rater measurements