Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed 137-acre Grantwood Park, Harris County, Texas

Stone Point Services completed a cultural resources survey for a proposed 55-hectare (137-acre) county park in Cypress, Texas. The study area consists of an irregularly shaped former subdivision located southwest of Grant Road in Cypress, Texas. The project area is primarily wooded with mature oaks and pines mixed with a few ornamental trees and is bounded to the northwest by Cypress Creek. Field investigations were conducted between July 27 and July 28, 2017. Survey methods included a pedestrian archaeological survey with shovel testing. In total, 117 shovel tests were excavated within the survey area, representing one shovel test per 1.2-acres, with most shovel tests located along Cypress Creek. Shovel tests were placed in areas with the least disturbance or where cultural deposits were most likely to be identified. Much of this area consists of a subdivision setting with houses that were demolished due to flooding in 2016. As such, significant disturbance was noted over much of the area. Soils noted across the survey area, when not disturbed, included mostly gray loam away from Cypress Creek and sand deposits over loam near Cypress Creek. The entire area is subject to periodic flooding. No archaeological sites or historic standing structures were recorded during the survey. Survey methods conducted at the proposed park site meet or exceed methods recommended by the Texas Historical Commission and the Council of Texas Archeologists for surveys of 200-acres or less

S06RS SGR No. 2 (Football Team)

A RESOLUTION To Honor the Louisiana State University 2005 Football Team and Head Coach Les Mile

Improving the run time of the decomposition algorithm for fault tolerant Clos interconnection networks through swap re-ordering

Clos interconnection networks, used in data networks and computing systems, can contain extra switches to be used in faulty conditions. The speed of such fault tolerant Clos interconnection networks is improved through the use these switches in no-fault situations. The network can be represented by a matrix, which is then decomposed using an algorithm, and the switch settings are thus assigned. The original decomposition algorithm consisted of four element swaps in the following order: wild swap, simple swap, next simple swap, and successive swap. However, by re-arranging these swaps with the simple swap first, followed by the next simple and successive swaps with the wild swap coming either before or after the next simple, the number of total swaps needed to fully decompose the matrix is significantly reduced

FSM Restores Activity to Trapezius for 67 y.o. Male

One session of frequency specific microcurrent (FSM) restored voluntary function and muscle definition for a 67 y. o. male DIY enthusiast after 18 mos of disuse.https://soar.usa.edu/casmfall2018/1002/thumbnail.jp

The Pathway to Net Zero Energy Buildings: A Practical Practitioner Guide

Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) are being constructed throughout the United States, promoting construction practices that achieve more than the minimum energy performance required to meet current codes and demonstrating their financial feasibility. The practicality of these technologies have been proven, in many cases, to improve energy efficiencies, and to provide buildings with capabilities to produce the energy levels necessary to sustain the building operation systems while maintaining comfort and minimizing the financial payback period of the investment. Broadly, these strategies include changes in site selection, water efficiencies, reducing energy consumption, and utilizing environmentally benign materials. This paper presents a detailed review of existing and developing technologies and their effectiveness in replacing conventional design and building strategies at all levels of the design and construction process. In addition, this work provides a user-friendly road map to assist practitioners in planning and implementing the energy reduction strategies necessary to move toward achieving energy efficiency, improving the indoor air quality and constructing buildings zero energy ready. Strategies for implementing energy efficiency measures in low-cost, budget-restrained conditions are also described

A Panel Data Analysis Of The Craft Brewing Industry And North Carolina Driving Rates

This paper reviews the history of academic literature relating to the economic effects of drunk driving and applies these theories and methods to a panel dataset of drunk driving rates across the North Carolina counties over fourteen years from 2001 to 2014. Findings suggest that even when controlling for demographic and macroeconomic variables, the increase in craft breweries has a statistically significant effect on the amount of drunk driving throughout the state. My study uses four different models to analyze this effect, including a fixed effects model that controls for county and time fixed effect

The feasibility and efficacy of a positive psychology group for community stroke survivors and carers.

Psychological distress is common for both survivors and carers following a stroke, but the evidence base for psychological interventions is limited. This study investigated the feasibility and efficacy of an interactive group-based Positive Psychotherapy [PP] intervention for stroke survivors and carers. PP is an approach that focuses on individuals’ strengths and engagement in life with the aim of improving their psychological wellbeing. This study is comprised of two parts (1a and 1b), within which changes in psychological wellbeing and psychological distress were the main outcomes investigated. Study 1a: stroke survivors and carers (n=48) were randomly assigned to the five-week PP group or waiting-list control. Study 1b: stroke survivors and carers (n = 20) were assigned to the PP group only. All participants completed measures of psychological wellbeing (SWEMWBS), psychological distress (HADS), multidimensional wellbeing (PERMA-P) and daily functioning (FAI) at three time points (baseline, 5, 10 weeks post-baseline). Statistical analyses were conducted to examine changes in mean scores across time. Supplementary qualitative feedback regarding the PP intervention was collected via a focus group (n=10). Study 1a participants reported significant improvements in daily functioning following attendance at the PP group. Increases in psychological and multidimensional wellbeing were reported following attendance at the PP groups; however these changes were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the PP intervention was feasible to deliver. A full-scale trial, with the recommended improvements made, is required to further investigate the efficacy of the PP intervention regarding psychological wellbeing and daily functional amongst community-based stroke survivors and carers

Human emotional response to energy visualisations

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2012 Elsevier B.V.Past research has found that frequent energy usage feedback is an important factor in reducing home energy consumption, and that the sensory appeal and cognitive relevance of the feedback are key components of user engagement with energy systems. The visual design of the information interface is important not just due to its role in communicating data of cognitive relevance, but also because the choice of information type and format is important towards achieving interactive Hebbian learning. The objective of the current research study was to investigate the possible effect of image format on the human emotional response to scenes of energy systems, and to evaluate whether any gender related differences in emotional response occurred. An automated PC-based test was developed which utilised five visual image formats (Optical Gray-Scale, Optical Coloured, Optical Augmented, Infrared Gray-Scale and Infrared Blue-Red) and nine home energy scenes (hot water boiler, radiator, water faucet, kitchen oven, tea kettle, toaster, electrical connector, laptop computer and tea mug). The emotional response of the participant was measured in the automated test by means of a Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) which provided symbolic graphical representations of the human body under various degrees of emotional response, and associated Likert format rating scales for the valence and activation level of the emotional response. Comparison of the results obtained for the different visual scenes suggests that the greatest level of human emotional activation was achieved by the Infrared Blue-Red (thermal image) format, and that, generally, coloured images provided higher levels of emotional activation than gray-scale images. The increased activation achieved by the infrared images suggests attention capturing potential due to novelty, or due to the direct link to heat and energy, or both. Significant differences in emotional response (both activation and valence) were found to occur as a function of gender. The current results provide first guidance which a designer can use when choosing image spectrum and colours to represent energy systems on the displays of thermostats, smart meters and the energy devices. Relevance to industry - The current results provide first guidance which a designer can use when choosing image spectrum and colours to represent energy systems on the displays of thermostats, smart meters and the energy devices. Such design guidance is currently lacking internationally but is of increasing importance due to the expansion of digital devices, internet services and the upcoming internet-of-things

Energy efficiency campaign for residential housing at the Fort Lewis army installation

In FY1999, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory conducted an energy efficiency campaign for residential housing at the Fort Lewis Army Installation near Tacoma, Washington. Preliminary weather-corrected calculations show energy savings of 10{percent} from FY98 for energy use in family housing. This exceeded the project's goal of 3{percent}. The work was funded by the U.S. DOEs Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The project adapted FEMP's national ``You Have the Power Campaign'' at the local level, tailoring it to the military culture. The applied research project was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of tailored, research-based strategies to promote energy conservation in military family housing. In contrast to many energy efficiency efforts, the campaign focused entirely on actions residents could take in their own homes, as opposed to technology or housing upgrades. Behavioral change was targeted because residents do not pay their own utility bills; thus other motivations must drive personal energy conservation. This campaign augments ongoing energy savings from housing upgrades carried out by Fort Lewis. The campaign ran from September 1998 through August 1999. The campaign strategy was developed based on findings from previous research and on input from residents and officials at Fort Lewis. Energy use, corrected to account for weather differences, was compared with the previous year's use. Survey responses from 377 of Fort Lewis residents of occupied housing showed that the campaign was moderately effective in promoting behavior change. Of those who were aware of the campaign, almost all said they were now doing one or more energy-efficient things that they had not done before. Most people were motivated by the desire to do the right thing and to set a good example for their children. They were less motivated by other factors

A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Child-Centered Therapy for Child Anxiety Disorders

This study compared individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a supportive child-centered therapy (CCT) for child anxiety disorders on rates of treatment response and recovery at posttreatment and 1-year follow-up, as well as on real-world measures of emotional functioning. Youth (N = 133; ages 9–14) with anxiety disorders (generalized, separation, and/or social anxiety) were randomized using a 2:1 ratio to CBT (n = 90) or CCT (n = 43), which served as an active comparison. Treatment response and recovery at posttreatment and 1-year follow-up were assessed by Independent Evaluators, and youth completed ecological momentary assessment of daily emotions throughout treatment. The majority of youth in both CBT and CCT were classified as treatment responders (71.1% for CBT, 55.8% for CCT), but youth treated with CBT were significantly more likely to fully recover, no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for any of the targeted anxiety disorders and no longer showing residual symptoms (66.7% for CBT vs. 46.5% for CCT). Youth treated with CBT also reported significantly lower negative emotions associated with recent negative events experienced in daily life during the latter stages of treatment relative to youth treated with CCT. Furthermore, a significantly higher percentage of youth treated with CBT compared to CCT were in recovery at 1-year follow-up (82.2% for CBT vs. 65.1% for CCT). These findings indicate potential benefits of CBT above and beyond supportive therapy on the breadth, generalizability, and durability of treatment-related gains