Assessing Variability among Quartering Sites in Virginia

The definition of what constitutes a Virginia slave quarter based on archaeological evidence is evolving. In the 1970s and 1980s, archaeologists developed an informal set of criteria that equated subfloor pits and the presence of Africanisms with structures occupied by enslaved people, and these criteria are still widely used. The accumulation of an archaeological and architectural data set of more than 170 Virginian quartering sites over the past 40 years has demonstrated that these sites vary across time and space, has underscored the problematic nature of site definition based on a checklist approach to ethnic or racial criteria, and has highlighted the challenges of inter-site comparison. We compare three quarters dating to the Revolutionary War and Post-Revolutionary periods. Our comparison underscores significant differences, as well as similarities, that existed between them and raises analytical challenges. Understanding variability and exploring alternative methods for site interpretation are important goals for the future. Employing analyses such as minimum vessel counts, assessments of richness, and abundance indices for artifacts, along with soil chemistry, ethnobotanical data, and landscape organization to understand historical landscapes, may prove to be more reliable methods of identifying quarters than relying on the presence or absence of certain features or artifact types

Catalysis study for space shuttle vehicle thermal protection systems

Experimental results on the problem of reducing aerodynamic heating on space shuttle orbiter surfaces are presented. Data include: (1) development of a laboratory flow reactor technique for measuring gamma sub O and gamma sub N on candidate materials at surfaces, T sub w, in the nominal range 1000 to 2000, (2) measurements of gamma sub O and gamma sub N above 1000 K for both the glass coating of a reusable surface insulation material and the siliconized surface of a reinforced pyrolyzed plastic material, (3) measurement of the ablation behavior of the coated RPP material at T sub w is greater than or equal to 2150 K, (4) X-ray photoelectron spectral studies of the chemical constituents on these surfaces before and after dissociated gas exposure, (5) scanning electron micrograph examination of as-received and reacted specimens, and (6) development and exploitation of a method of predicting the aerodynamic heating consquences of these gamma sub O(T sub w) and gamma sub N(T sub w) measurements for critical locations on a radiation cooled orbiter vehicle

Exercising Our Brains, Muscles and Cells to Fight the Ageing Process

Life expectancy is increasing, but the time spent in good health (health-span) is not keeping pace, with implications for health, social care, and pensions resulting in estimated costs more than doubling by 2050. Thus, understanding the many factors that contribute to healthy ageing versus frailty, and potential things we can do to promote healthy ageing is important. For example, how does stress, being physically inactive and poor dietary practices affect our body, leading to unhealthy ageing? As part of the 2015 Pint of Science series, researchers interested in brain health, muscle function and the immune system from the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham, UK discussed the effects that ageing itself and stress, physical activity and nutrition can have on our health and wellbeing. The objective of our presentation was to question the lifestyle that we lead and discuss realistic alternatives to incorporate healthy activity, such a exercise, into our lifestyles to improve our healthy ageing. Here, we summarise this presentation and illustrate the effectiveness of physical activity for ageing healthily

Survey sequencing and radiation hybrid mapping to construct comparative maps.

In MURPHY WJ (ed.) Phylogenomics, Humana Press. (Methods in Molecular Biology, 422)International audienceRadiation hybrid (RH) mapping has become one of the most well-established techniques for economically and efficiently navigating genomes of interest. The success of the technique relies on random chromosome breakage of a target genome, which is then captured by recipient cells missing a preselected marker. Selection for hybrid cells that have DNA fragments bearing the marker of choice, plus a random set of DNA fragments from the initial irradiation, generates a set of cell lines that recapitulates the genome of the target organism several-fold. Markers or genes of interest are analyzed by PCR using DNA isolated from each cell line. Statistical tools are applied to determine both the linear order of markers on each chromosome, and the confidence of each placement. The resolution of the resulting map relies on many factors, most notably the degree of breakage from the initial radiation as well as the number of hybrid clones and mean retention value.A high-resolution RH map of a genome derived from low pass or survey sequencing (coverage from 1 to 2 times) can provide essentially the same comparative data on gene order that is derived from high-coverage (greater than x7) genome sequencing. When combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization, RH maps are complete and ordered blueprints for each chromosome. They give information about the relative order and spacing of genes and markers, and allow investigators to move between target and reference genomes, such as those of mouse or human, with ease although the approach is not limited to mammal genomes

Design, analysis and test verification of advanced encapsulation systems, phase 2 program results

Optical, electrical isolation, thermal structural, structural deflection, and thermal tests are reported. The utility of the optical, series capacitance, and structural deflection models was verified

Combustion instability response with asymmetric pressure disturbances

Combustion stability in rocket engines affected by pressure disturbance

The Association Between an Established Chief Experience Officer Role and Hospital Patient Experience Scores

The healthcare industry is currently reacting to multiple stakeholders demanding improvements to the patient experience. Some healthcare organizations are implementing new management structures, i.e., the role of Chief Experience Officer (CXO). This study statistically reviewed descriptors associated with hospitals that have and have not created and filled the role of CXO and, more importantly, measured the association between the CXO role and results of patients’ perceptions of their experience of care as measured by publicly reported Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) results. This study was conducted utilizing data gather on hospitals in three states, California, Florida, and New York. The results of the study yield insight into the organization characteristics of hospitals and the market factors associated with those hospitals that have filled the CXO role. Hospitals with a formal CXO role are larger, more likely to be for profit, and operate in metro areas of these states with higher per capita income. In addition, hospitals that have a formal CXO role are also more likely to have higher HCAHPS scores as determined by the patient recommendation question as well as the hospital overall rating question included in the HCAHPS survey

Higher Algebraic Structures and Quantization

We derive (quasi-)quantum groups in 2+1 dimensional topological field theory directly from the classical action and the path integral. Detailed computations are carried out for the Chern-Simons theory with finite gauge group. The principles behind our computations are presumably more general. We extend the classical action in a d+1 dimensional topological theory to manifolds of dimension less than d+1. We then ``construct'' a generalized path integral which in d+1 dimensions reduces to the standard one and in d dimensions reproduces the quantum Hilbert space. In a 2+1 dimensional topological theory the path integral over the circle is the category of representations of a quasi-quantum group. In this paper we only consider finite theories, in which the generalized path integral reduces to a finite sum. New ideas are needed to extend beyond the finite theories treated here.Comment: 62 pages + 16 figures (revised version). In this revision we make some small corrections and clarification

Road safety management capacity review

Introduction Study Context Following on from the government’s manifesto to an annual reduction in road deaths and injuries, the British Road Safety Statement 2015 (BRSS) set out the government’s commitment to invest further in continuing road safety activity, and to conduct a Road Safety Management Capacity Review (RSMCR). A RSMCR is a strategic assessment, benchmarking and capacity building tool, originally developed by the World Bank's Global Road Safety Facility, to guide investments and assist countries in strengthening road safety management. It is recommended for use by the OECD/International Transport Forum and the World Road Association as a first step in further developing and extending effective Safe System investment strategies, plans and projects in all countries and contexts. In May 2017, the DfT commissioned a RSMCR to benchmark and understand the current status of institutional delivery of road safety in Britain, and to identify practical and actionable opportunities for strengthening joint working, local innovation, and efficiency on a national and local basis. Safe System The overarching theme of the BRSS is the government’s adoption of the recommended Safe System approach to preventing death and serious injuries in road collisions. Its application is cited as a key national priority in the UK. While building on current practice, some re-alignment in national road safety focus and activity will be necessary over time. Safe System implementation towards zero deaths and serious injuries is a long-term project and is in different stages of development in different countries and jurisdictions. Safe System comprises both an explicit goal and strategy. The long-term Safe System goal is for the ultimate prevention of deaths and serious injuries, through incremental targeted improvements within a specified safety performance framework. The Safe System strategy aims for a more forgiving road system that takes human fallibility and vulnerability into account. The road traffic system is planned, designed, operated and used such that people are protected from death and serious injury in road collisions. Aims and Objectives of the Review The overarching aim of the RSMCR is to identify practical and actionable opportunities for strengthening joint working, local innovation, and efficiency on a national and local basis. In particular the RSMCR seeks to understand the current status of institutional delivery of road safety in Britain by: Examining national, regional and local structures, responsibilities, accountabilities, relationships and coordination; Examining whether management effort and resources at all levels are being targeted effectively at designing, and enabling or delivering evidence-based interventions and initiatives that can have the greatest impact in preventing and reducing the number of road users killed and seriously injured; Assessing the current road safety delivery landscape against the Safe System road safety management assessment framework and determining whether there is an imbalance in resource effort for each element and at each level (national, regional and local); Investigating how institutional capacity can be cost-effectively strengthened, within the context of the BRSS, to deliver a Safe System approach to road safety; and Identifying areas and means for improved joint working, local innovation and efficiency