Pavement Thickness Evaluation by GPR Survey in Idaho

In 1995 and 1996, the Idaho Transportation Department (lTD) conducted a series of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys as a nondestructive testing (NDT) method to evaluate the thickness of asphalt and Portland cement concrete (AC/PCC) pavements in Idaho. GPR surveys employed both air-coupled and combination air and ground coupled systems with their associated equipment and software. A total of 30 miles of AC/PCC pavements were evaluated by GPR surveys. The results obtained were correlated with the site-specific ground-truth data from borings. Knowledge of pavement layer thickness is needed to predict pavement performance, establish load carrying capacities and develop maintenance and rehabilitation priorities. In addition, for new construction, it is important to ensure that the thickness of materials being placed by the contractor is acceptably close to specification. Core sampling and test pits are destructive to the pavement system, expensive, time consuming and intrusive to traffic. The objective of the lTD study was to evaluate, compare and assess the ability of these two GPR systems to accurately measure the thickness of multiple pavement layers, and document the data nondestructively. This paper reviews the findings of these surveys and provides statistically based data for both AC and PCC pavements. The overall study has shown that reasonably accurate, dependable determination of pavement thickness can be achieved by using GPR survey for conditions encountered in Idaho

Superconducting Cosmc Strings and Primordial Magnetic Fields

We consider grand unified theories with superconducting cosmic strings and which admit the mechanism for generating primordial magnetic fields recently discussed by Vachaspati. We show that these models are severely constrained by cosmological arguments. Quite generically, either stable springs or vortons will form. Provided the mass per unit length of the strings is sufficiently large, these stable configurations will overclose the Universe.Comment: BROWN-HET-830, 14 pages, use phyzz

Sleep and physical activity patterns in adults and children with Bardet–Biedl syndrome

Abstract Background Overweight and obesity are common features of the rare disease Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS). Sleep and physical activity are behaviors that might impact overweight and obesity and thus may play a key role in the health and well-being of people with BBS. Objectively-measured sleep and physical activity patterns in people with BBS are not well known. We evaluated objectively-measured sleep and physical activity patterns in the largest cohort to date of people with BBS. Results Short sleep duration, assessed using wrist-worn accelerometers, was common in both children and adults with BBS. Only 7 (10%) of adults and 6 (8%) of children met age-specific sleep duration recommendations. Most adults 64 (90%) achieved recommended sleep efficiency. The majority of children 26 (67%) age 6–12 years achieved recommended sleep efficiency, but among children age 13–18, only 18 (47%). In both adults and children, sleep duration was significantly negatively correlated with duration of prolonged sedentary time. In children age 6–12 sleep duration was also significantly related to total activity score, children with lower sleep duration had lower total activity scores. Conclusions Insufficient sleep duration is very common in people with BBS. Prolonged sedentary time and short sleep duration are both potentially important health-related behaviors to target for intervention in people with BBS

The efficacy and safety of setmelanotide in individuals with Bardet-Biedl syndrome or Alström syndrome: Phase 3 trial design

Background: A phase 2 trial has suggested that treatment with the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist setmelanotide is associated with a decrease in hunger and weight-related outcomes in participants with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) and Alström syndrome. Here, we present the study design of an ongoing, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of setmelanotide for the treatment of obesity and hyperphagia in individuals with BBS or Alström syndrome (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03746522). Methods: It was initially planned that ~30 participants aged ≥6 years with a clinical diagnosis of BBS or Alström syndrome would be enrolled. Participants with obesity as defined by a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 (in those aged ≥16 years) or a weight >97th percentile (in those aged 6–15 years) are included. Participants are initially randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive setmelanotide or placebo for 14 weeks (period 1). Following period 1, all participants receive 38 weeks of open-label treatment with setmelanotide (period 2). In each treatment period, setmelanotide is administered at 3 mg once a day following completion of dose escalation. The primary endpoint is the proportion of participants aged ≥12 years achieving a clinically meaningful reduction from baseline (≥10%) in body weight after ~52 weeks (eg, following period 2). Safety and tolerability are assessed by frequency of adverse events. Conclusions: This pivotal trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of setmelanotide for the treatment of obesity and hyperphagia in individuals with BBS and Alström syndrome. Submission category: Study Design, Statistical Design, Study Protocols

Quality of life improvements following one year of setmelanotide in children and adult patients with Bardet–Biedl syndrome: phase 3 trial results

Abstract Background Bardet–Biedl syndrome is a rare genetic disease associated with hyperphagia and early-onset, severe obesity. There is limited evidence on how hyperphagia and obesity affect health-related quality of life in patients with Bardet–Biedl syndrome, and on how management of these symptoms may influence disease burden. This analysis evaluated changes in health-related quality of life in adults and children with Bardet–Biedl syndrome in a Phase 3 trial following 1 year of setmelanotide treatment (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03746522). Methods Patients with Bardet–Biedl syndrome and obesity received 52 weeks of treatment with setmelanotide and completed various self-reported health-related quality of life measures. Patients aged < 18 years or their caregiver completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL; meaningful improvement, 4.4-point change); adults aged ≥ 18 years completed the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lite (IWQOL-Lite; meaningful improvement range, 7.7–12-point change). Descriptive outcomes were reported in patients with data both at active treatment baseline and after 52 weeks of treatment. Results Twenty patients (< 18 years, n = 9; ≥ 18 years, n = 11) reported health-related quality of life at baseline and 52 weeks. For children and adolescents, PedsQL score mean change from baseline after 52 weeks was + 11.2; all patients with PedsQL impairment at baseline (n = 4) experienced clinically meaningful improvement. In adults, IWQOL-Lite score mean change from baseline was + 12.0. Of adults with IWQOL-Lite impairment at baseline (n = 8), 62.5% experienced clinically meaningful improvement. In adults, IWQOL-Lite score was significantly correlated with changes in percent body weight (P = 0.0037) and body mass index (P = 0.0098). Conclusions After 1 year of setmelanotide, patients reported clinically meaningful improvements across multiple health-related quality of life measures. This study highlights the need to address the impaired health-related quality of life in Bardet–Biedl syndrome, and supports utility of setmelanotide for reducing this burden. Trial Registration NCT03746522. Registered November 19, 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03746522

Transforming Consumer Health

The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is intended to transform the U.S. health care system. Its success will require the transformation of consumers ’ views about health and their willingness to participate in healthful behaviors. Focusing on three barriers to consumers ’ engagement in healthful behaviors, the authors review the research literature and suggest opportunities for further research. Using a social marketing perspective, they suggest actions for health care providers