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The article presents the findings of the study by Mikhail Noginov of Norfolk State University in Virginia and his colleagues which examines whether nanoparticles might serve as nanometer-scale resonators working at visible wavelengths. The researchers use visible light to excite free electrons in hybrid nanoparticles and found that the vibrating electrons form oscillations called surface plasmons can support stimulated emission.

Coade stone has played a significant role in architectural and ornamental design since its inception in the early 18th century. It is well known that earlier, experimental, architectural stoneware products existed, but few of these have been studied in detail scientifically, and only one major analytical study of Coade stone has appeared in the literature. This paper presents a new spectroscopic analysis of Coade stone along with that of a newly discovered sample from Oxnead Hall in Norfolk where it known that Sir Clement Paston experimented with artificial stone in the late 16th century. The results demonstrate that it is possible to differentiate between the two variants on the basis of both the raw materials used and the different phases formed in their production processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of climate change have sparked policy responses at different governance levels. Studying the central adaptation policies and understanding the interactions and complexities of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders is essential in guiding policymakers at different levels of government to formulate policies and make investment decisions. With strategic and economic significance on the national level, Coastal Virginia has one of the highest rates of sea-level rise in the United States, instigating intensified and more frequent climate hazards such as flooding and storms. This paper strives to characterize the status of adaptation policymaking in this region through a novel keyword analysis method and a thematic analysis of interviews with the main adaptation decision-makers and stakeholders. We identify the central adaptation policies and programmes at the local, regional, state, and federal level, as well as the major relevant players. This provides a comprehensible narrative of adaptation policymaking, which could be exploited to further analyze governance gaps and adaptation challenges. The approach and methodologies of this research could be implemented in similar studies for other areas of the U.S. that are at high climate risk, possibly facilitating an informed national adaptation policy, long overdue by the federal government. The research is also relevant for other jurisdictions at risk of sea-level rise. Key policy insights Coastal adaptation policymaking in Virginia has been a bottom-up and fragmented process initiated by most affected localities, exhibiting the importance of local initiatives in higher-level adaptation policies. The long-lasting impacts of 100 Resilient cities and Dutch Dialogues in the City of Norfolk highlight the value of fostering cross-geographic coordination and capacity-building programmes, confirming the importance of informal policy networks in learning and innovation for adaptation. There is a vast difference among localities in adaptation planning and implementation, creating the need for coordinating state leadership. Adaptation policymaking in Virginia has been influenced by political cycles with priorities drastically altered by each administration change, introducing significant uncertainty for continuation of policies. National policies and programmes, such as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, can significantly affect local-level policies and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sometimes we come across objects that truly intrigue us. Not necessarily because they are great examples of art, or because they are made of precious materials, but because there is some other quality which captures our attention. One of these can be age. Just as age adds character to people's faces, the patina of an object or visible signs of damage and use instils an object with a certain 'charisma' or 'aura'. This paper examines in detail the so‐called grotesque torc, a neck‐ring dating to the Iron Age which has been extensively repaired. The repairs are crude and obvious, which gives the object its distinctive appearance. It is argued that these signs of age, inscribed onto the artefact through its life, imbued the torc with a timeless 'anachronic' quality: its visible age manifests a certain charisma or aura, helping facilitate a plural relationship with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the labor unrest that developed at the Norfolk Dry Dock in Virginia within the broader political context under former U.S. President Andrew Jackson's governance. The author argues that the Norfolk Dry Dock affair reflects differing views of race and labor. The market revolution and Jackson's political philosophy were the principal features of the labor unrest. The author thinks that the most salient feature of the Norfolk Dry Dock affair was the pivotal role of race.

The article reports on the fifty-second conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research held on May 15-18, 1997 in Norfolk, Virginia. The conference focused on the future of survey research on new methods of data collection, problems in maintaining response rates, and the latest methods for developing questionnaires. And there were many papers on that highly visible test of the accuracy of surveys related with the presidential elections. The session, entitled "Controversies in Pre-Election Polling," featured researchers C. Everett Ladd, Kathy Frankovic, Frank Newport, and John Zogby. Frank Newport, from the Gallup Organization, led off the session. He presented statistics on the margin of error in the presidential poll results going back to the 1940s. Several other sessions concerned the problems and impact of different modes of data collection. Two of these focused on the latest technology for doing surveys, the uses of the Internet for collecting data and disseminating the results. Two other sessions explored the impact of computer-assisted interviewing.

Introduction: Demand for urgent and emergency health care in England has grown over the last decade, for reasons that are not clear. Changes in population demographics may be a cause. This study investigated associations between individuals' characteristics (including socioeconomic deprivation and long term health conditions (LTC)) and the frequency of emergency department (ED) attendances, in the Norfolk and Waveney subregion of the East of England. Methods: The study population was people who were registered with 91 of 106 Norfolk and Waveney general practices during one year from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. Linked primary and secondary care and geographical data included each individual's sociodemographic characteristics, and number of ED attendances during the same year and, for some individuals, LTCs and number of general practice (GP) appointments. Associations between these factors and ED attendances were estimated using Poisson regression models. Results: 1,027,422 individuals were included of whom 57.4% had GP data on the presence or absence of LTC, and 43.1% had both LTC and general practitioner appointment data. In the total population ED attendances were more frequent in individuals aged under five years, (adjusted Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.23 to 1.28) compared to 15–35 years); living in more socioeconomically deprived areas (IRR 0.61 (0.60 to 0.63)) for least deprived compared to most deprived,and living closer to the nearest ED. Among individuals with LTC data, each additional LTC was also associated with increased ED attendances (IRR 1.16 (1.15 to 1.16)). Among individuals with LTC and GP appointment data, each additional GP appointment was also associated with increased ED attendances (IRR 1.03 (1.026 to 1.027)). Conclusions: In the Norfolk and Waveney population, ED attendance rates were higher for young children and individuals living in more deprived areas and closer to EDs. In individuals with LTC and GP appointment data, both factors were also associated with higher ED attendance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indication-specific optimum field-of-views (FOVs) have been assessed for CBCT scans of impacted maxillary canines and mandibular third molars, as 40∅ × 35 mm and 35∅ × 35 mm, respectively. The objective was to investigate possible changes in absorbed organs and effective doses, for these two imaging indications, performing CBCT examinations with optimum FOV sizes instead of commonly used FOVs. Additionally, radiation exposure-induced cancer risk was calculated for both imaging indications with optimum FOVs. An adult female head phantom (ATOM 702-D, CIRS, Norfolk, VA, USA) was scanned using Planmeca Viso G7 CBCT-device (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland). Scanning factors, different FOV sizes, dose-area product (DAP) values and anatomical FOV locations were used for Monte Carlo PCXMC-simulation and ImpactMC software. In the PCXMC- simulation, 10-year-old child and 30-year-old adult phantoms were used to estimating effective and absorbed organ doses. The effective dose varied from 58 µSv to 284 µSv for impacted maxillary canines, and from 38 µSv to 122 µSv for mandibular third molars, the lowest dose value for each corresponding to optimum FOV. Effective dose reduction between the optimum FOV and the smallest common FOV of 50∅ × 50 mm, maintaining other scanning factors constant, was 33% for impacted maxillary canines, and 45% for mandibular third molars. At all examinations, the highest absorbed organ doses were in salivary glands or in oral mucosa. Optimum FOVs, 40∅ × 35 mm for impacted maxillary canine and 35∅ × 35 mm for mandibular third molar, could decrease effective doses received by young patients, and improve radiation safety in these common CBCT imaging procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the approach taken to prepare Old Dominion University's undergraduate computer engineering curriculum for technology-based delivery. In order to improve on methods for student learning, technology is now being developed for use in both the classroom and for distance education. To accomplish this, the curriculum content is organized into learning modules that are more fine-grained 'chunks' of learning materials than a three-credit college course. By carefully designing these learning modules-ensuring, for example, well-defined learning objectives, a precedence relationship with other modules, assessment measures, and notational and structural consistency among modules - the modules can easily be reorganized to satisfy a variety of learning objectives. Once produced, a module can be used in a synchronous environment to support student learning in a traditional context, or be part of an asynchronous delivery system such as the Web. The key advantage of this modular structure lies in its flexibility. The investment made to produce the modules may now be recouped by using the modules in both on-campus and distance learning degree and non-degree activities, or by using the modules for performance support. Other advantages include the ability to easily update information in the curricula and the ability to use the best experts for a specific area. In this paper, this modular approach is described in more detail as applied to an undergraduate computer engineering programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two focus groups were conducted as part of a case study to reflect on dog park success in Norfolk, Virginia. One focus group included administrators from Norfolk Parks and Recreation dog park staff. The second focus group included member residents from neighborhood civic leagues or dog park associations. Two general guiding questions for the focus groups were: (a) What are the essential aspects of successful dog parks? and (b) What policies and procedures were developed for dog parks? Topical areas reflecting the first question included essential aspects of successful dog parks and the general benefits of dog parks. Topical areas reflecting the second question included the reasons why dog parks were established in Norfolk and the policies and procedures for establishing dog parks. City administrators and residents participating in the focus groups agreed overall about why dog parks were established in Norfolk--in response to a community need due to dense population, small yards, and apartment buildings. There was agreement between both groups regarding amenities that make dog parks successful--fencing, water, and shade; however, other amenities for success varied according to structural or functional aspects. Despite the similarities in the two focus group discussions about reasons for dog park establishment, the discussions diverged once researchers asked about policies related to the establishment and maintenance of dog parks. Residents expressed frustration with being charged with half of the establishment and upkeep of the dog park. The discussion followed frameworks of public engagement, power dynamics, and co-production/co-governance. Management implications include revisiting or adjusting policies related to dog park development (including fundraising), taking into consideration a highly transient population and its implications for dog park association leadership, consideration of a dog park liaison, and problems associated with unfenced dog parks. Norfolk dog parks were found to be highly successful and civic leaders noted Norfolk park administrators have been responsive to resident needs, and they were given an opportunity for feedback on the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the 1997 annual meeting of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) called into session by vice president and president-elect James Beniger on May 17, 1997 in Norfolk, Virginia. Beniger thanked the outgoing AAPOR Council and president Diane Colasanto for their efforts, particularly in pursuing the standards case and in publishing "Best Practices for Survey and Public Opinion Research" and "Survey Practices AAPOR Condemns." Incoming secretary-treasurer Mark Schutman reported that the organization appears to be in good financial shape but that it is likely to run a small deficit when the books are closed on June 30, 1997. He noted that it is not possible to estimate final income and expenses at this time, because the conference results are not yet included in the tallies. There were several reasons for the possible deficit. The Council authorized two additional expenditures this year. The AAPOR Secretariat computer was upgraded in a one-time expenditure. The Council also authorized adding a half-time position to the secretariat, an ongoing expense.

The article discusses the Norfolk Dry Dock Affair of 1830-1831, which was contemporaneous with Virginia's Nat Turner Rebellion of 1831. The Turner Rebellion caused hysteria throughout much of Virginia and touched the lives of a generation of Southerners, black and white. Analysis of the Norfolk dry dock affair offers general support for the argument that the Turner Rebellion occurred in an environment already riddled with latent tensions of class and authority. Starting with a conflict over the use of slaves between the managers of the dry dock project and migrant artisans who had moved to Portsmouth with their families for employment on public works, the dispute reached out to envelop relations between local mechanics and the project managers; between local political factions and between the district's mechanic and slave-owning populations. The particular knowledge that the author says he derives from his reading of the Norfolk dry dock affair is knowledge of the relationship between social structure and consciousness. Placed on the large stage of Virginia's politics at the time of the emancipation debate, the affair does indeed support the general contention for class division and tension. In microcosm, however, the affair also tells something about the construction of identity. In the case of the protesters, what the author finds most striking is the apparent dawning of awareness that their identity as artisans was relatively worthless and their consequent reformulation of their sense of self-worth and identity during the course of the dispute increasingly to stress their "whiteness."

Due to the various hazards of using synthetic chemical compounds in pharmaceutics, agriculture, and industry, scientists and researchers do their best to explore and assess new green natural compounds from natural resources with potent activity. The essential oil (EO) from the resin collected from Araucaria heterophylla Salisb. was extracted by the microwave technique and chemically characterized via GC-MS analysis. Furthermore, the extract EO was assessed for its antioxidant and phytotoxic activities. The EO has 33 compounds, mainly terpenes (98.23%), and the major compounds were α-pinene (62.57%), β-pinene (6.60%), germacrene D (5.88%), and β-caryophyllene (3.56%). The extracted EO showed substantial antioxidant activity, where it showed IC50 values of 142.42 and 118.03 mg L−1 for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. On the other hand, the EO revealed considerable phytotoxicity against the weed Chenopodium murale, where the EO showed IC50 values of 304.0, 230.1, and 147.1 mg L−1, for seed germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth, respectively. Moreover, the EO showed the same pattern of allelopathic inhibition against the weed Sonchus oleraceus, where it showed IC50 values of 295.7, 224.5, and 106.1 mg L−1, for seed germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth, respectively. The present study showed that the extraction technique affects the constituents of the EO, particularly the quantitative composition. The EO of A. heterophylla resin also revealed considerable antioxidant and phytotoxic activity against weeds. Therefore, it can be considered a promising natural resource that could be integrated into the weed management approach. However, further study is recommended for deep characterization of their authentic compounds and evaluation of their mode of action(s) on a wide spectrum of weeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast sea level rise (SLR) is causing a growing risk of flooding to coastal communities around the Chesapeake Bay (hereafter, CB or "the Bay"), but there are also significant differences in sea level variability and sea level rise rates within the bay that have not been fully investigated in the past. Therefore, monthly sea level records for 1975–2021 from eight tide gauge stations, from the upper bay at Baltimore, MD, to the lower bay at Norfolk, VA, are analyzed and compared. The results show significant spatial variations within the Bay over a wide range of time scales. The largest contribution to the seasonal variations of mean sea level in the Bay is from the annual (SA) and semiannual (SSA) tides, while the contribution from thermosteric changes is relatively smaller. The lower Bay has a ~ 5 cm smaller mean annual sea level range than the upper Bay and has a secondary minimum in mid-year due to a larger semiannual tide than the upper Bay which is dominated by the annual tide. Variations in sea level anomaly (after removing the mean seasonal cycle) show anticorrelation between the upper and lower bay. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) analysis reveals that variations with opposite phases at the two edges of the Bay appear mostly on decadal time scales that are linked with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Sea level trends vary along the Bay—linear SLR rates (4.5–6.1 mm y−1) increase from north to south, while sea level acceleration rates (all positive in the range 0.012–0.16 mm y−2) increase from south to north. The linear SLR pattern is driven by land subsidence rates, while the acceleration pattern suggests potential impacts from climate change signals that enter the mouth of the Bay in the southeast and amplified farther north by local dynamics. Monthly sea level projections until 2100, based on past trends and the seasonal cycle of each station, are compared with different SLR scenarios based on climate models. The results suggest that accounting for local sea level acceleration in projections can result in large differences in local future sea level rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beach is where the ancient, in the shape of diverse erratics, meets the present in the shape of corrosion, encrusting shells and invertebrate borings. Many of us have favourite beach walks, repeated whenever possible, and educating us in the common and rare clasts that might be encountered in such an ever‐changing environment. After over 12 years of patrolling the coast of north Norfolk, in eastern England, I found a common Chalk echinoid—so why am I excited? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-lying coastal cities across the world are vulnerable to the combined impact of rainfall and storm tide. However, existing approaches lack the ability to model the combined effect of these flood mechanisms, especially under climate change and sea level rise (SLR). Thus, to increase flood resilience of coastal cities, modeling techniques to improve the understanding and prediction of the combined effect of these flood hazards are critical. To address this need, this study presents a modeling system for assessing the combined flood impact on coastal cities under selected future climate scenarios that leverages ocean modeling with land surface modeling capable of resolving urban drainage infrastructure within the city. The modeling approach is demonstrated in quantifying the impact of possible future climate scenarios on transportation infrastructure within Norfolk, Virginia, USA. A series of combined storm events are modeled for current (2020) and projected future (2070) climate scenarios. The results show that pluvial flooding causes a larger interruption to the transportation network compared to tidal flooding under current climate conditions. By 2070, however, tidal flooding will be the dominant flooding mechanism with even nuisance flooding expected to happen daily due to SLR. In 2070, nuisance flooding is expected to cause a 4.6% total link close time (TLC), which is more than two times that of a 50-year storm surge (1.8% TLC) in 2020. The coupled flood model was compared with a widely used but physically simplistic bathtub method to assess the difference resulting from the more complex modeling presented in this study. The results show that the bathtub method overestimated the flooded area near the shoreline by 9.5% and 3.1% for a 10-year storm surge event in 2020 and 2070, respectively, but underestimated the flooded area in the inland region by 9.0% and 4.0% for the same events. The findings demonstrate the benefit of sophisticated modeling methods compared to more simplistic bathtub approaches, in climate adaptive planning and policy in coastal communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hand oedema is a common consequence of hand trauma or surgery. There are numerous methods to reduce hand oedema but lack high-quality evidence to support best practice. The primary objective of this pilot trial was to assess study feasibility when comparing treatments for subacute hand oedema after trauma. Methods: A parallel two-arm pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted in the hand therapy department at a regional hospital in Norfolk between October 2017 and July 2018. Patients were eligible if 18 years or over, referred to hand therapy with subacute hand oedema. Randomisation was on a 1:1 basis to treatment as usual (TAU) (compression, elevation and massage) or trial treatment (TT) (kinesiology tape, elevation and massage). One blinded assessor completed all assessments (prior to randomisation, 4 and 12 weeks later). Data on study feasibility, adherence and acceptability of treatments were collected. The primary outcome measure was hand volume (volumetry). Patient-rated severity (0–5 Likert scale), hand health profile of the Patient Evaluation Measure (PEM) and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) were also recorded. Results: Forty-five patients were screened for eligibility and 26 consented and were randomised with 13 patients in each treatment arm. Twelve participants were lost to follow-up leaving 7 participants in each group included in the analysis. Assessor blinding was maintained in 64% of participants (9/14). Total mean acceptability scores, out of 100, were higher for TAU (87.9) than TT (76.1). Health resource use results showed TT was marginally cheaper (~£2 per patient) than TAU. Individual adherence ranged between 39 and 100%, with higher levels of overall adherence seen in the TAU group. Four participants (28%) reported adverse effects (TT group n = 3, TAU group n = 1). Conclusion: This pilot trial has identified that modifications are required in order to make a full-scale trial feasible. They include a formal assessment of treatment fidelity, research staff assisting with screening and recruitment of participants and multiple blinded assessors at each study site. Whilst not designed as an efficacy trial, it should be acknowledged that the small sample size and high loss to follow-up meant very small numbers were included in the final analysis resulting in wide confidence intervals and therefore low precision in parameter estimates. Trial registration: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number: 94083271. Date of registration 16th August 2017. Trial funding: National Institute for Health Research Trainees Co-ordinating Centre (TCC); Grant Codes: CDRF-2014-05-064 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article gives notice of an important illuminated prayer roll linked to Bromholm Priory in Norfolk, a popular pilgrimage destination during the Middle Ages thanks to its miraculous relic of the Cross. Known hitherto only from its brief appearance on the market in the 1960s and 1970s, the roll has never before been closely examined or published in its entirety. Identification with John, bishop of Chalcedon, fixes a date for the roll between 1505 and 1535. It includes two images of the relic, and another with Christ nailed to the Cross. A fourth miniature shows the Three Nails to scale, the Crown of Thorns and the Five Wounds, and thus relates the Bromholm roll to Arma Christi rolls. Votive antiphons in Latin and English separate the illuminations, together with papal and episcopal indulgences and the amuletic Seven Gifts. The roll sheds new light on late medieval devotion, pilgrimage and the cult of the Cross at Bromholm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, political and social forces have strategically converged to directly influence the formulation and implementation of education policies that seek to equalize educational opportunities for members of minority groups. Such has been the case with school desegregation efforts. Since the 1954 Brown Decision, powerful interest groups have sought and secured the assistance of the courts in providing legal support in abandoning desegregation initiatives. Unfortunately, fifty years after Brown, legal scholars and social scientists continue to debate the merits of school desegregation mandates. As the debate intensifies, desegregation policies continue to be scrutinized and quietly dismantled. As we watch, the public schools resegregate, it is obvious that the promises of Brown have not been fulfilled. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the achievement gap between resegregated and desegregated schools in the city of Norfolk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1990s many school districts abandoned school desegregation initiatives and quietly resegregated the public schools. In 1986, the city of Norfolk ended mandated busing for desegregation and returned to neighborhood schools. This shift resulted in the creation of 11 schools that were more than 95 percent African American. After 17 years of resegregation, the achievement gap between resegregated schools and desegregated schools continues to exist.. The purpose of this paper is to examine the trends in the achievement gap between resegregated and desegregated schools in the Norfolk Public schools District. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the observations of cone penetration testing (CPT), in situ vane shear testing and undrained triaxial testing of underconsolidated marine clay in the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area (CIDMMA), Norfolk, VA. Comparison of vane shear measurements, taken during 1981–1983, to CPT measurements, taken during 1993, indicates a change in undrained shear strength. Both the vane shear and cone penetration resistances are lowest at the mid-heights of the clay layers and the excess pore water pressures are highest at the mid-height of the clay layers, indicating that the clay layer is underconsolidated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Climate change and sea level rise have increased the frequency and severity of flooding events in coastal communities. This study quantifies transportation impacts of recurring flooding using crowdsourced traffic and flood incident data. Agency-provided continuous count station traffic volume data at 12 locations is supplemented by crowd-sourced traffic data from location-based apps in Norfolk, Virginia, to assess the impacts of recurrent flooding on traffic flow. A random forest data predictive model utilizing roadway features, traffic flow characteristics, and hydrological data as inputs scales the spatial extent of traffic volume data from 12 to 7736 roadway segments. Modeling results suggest that between January 2017 and August 2018, City of Norfolk reported flood events reduced 24 h citywide vehicle-hours of travel (VHT) by 3%, on average. To examine the temporal and spatial variation of impacts, crowdsourced flood incident reports collected by navigation app Waze between August 2017 and August 2018 were also analyzed. Modeling results at the local scale show that on weekday afternoon and evening periods, flood-impacted areas experience a statistically significant 7% reduction in VHT and 12% reduction in vehicle-miles traveled, on average. These impacts vary across roadway types, with substantial decline in traffic volumes on freeways, while principal arterials experience increased traffic volumes during flood periods. Results suggest that analyzing recurring flooding at the local scale is more prudent as the impact is temporally and spatially heterogeneous. Furthermore, countermeasures to mitigate impacts require a dynamic strategy that can adapt to conditions across various time periods and at specific locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a fine timber moulded cornice in a front room of the building that was once the House of Industry at Gressenhall, Norfolk, while along the eastern wing of the building one can still see the architectural features of an elegant open arcade. Why were such features included on a structure built to keep the poor at work, where residents spent their days making sacks, spinning, and working in the farm fields that surrounded the institution? Creating a digital 3D model of the 1777 House of Industry has allowed us to peel back the historical residue of the post-1834 Poor Law Union workhouse and re-engage the building's architectural features in their original context. The resulting building's peculiarly elegant characteristics reflect the emerging ambitions and defensiveness characteristic of the newly constituted 'guardians of the poor' who constructed it, while its permeable walls indicate considerably lower barriers between the workhouse and the outside world than is generally thought. By applying an innovative, digital humanities methodology to a significant social history topic, this article argues that virtual modelling and traditional archival research can together shape a new approach to the history of the Old Poor Law's institutions for the poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic signal mast arm structures must be regularly inspected for cracking, bolt loosening, and other signs of deterioration. Due to large inventories, physical inspections and/or dedicated monitoring systems can be prohibitively time-consuming and expensive to implement at a large scale. However, the growing use of vision-based methods for structural monitoring applications introduces the possibility of leveraging video footage from existing traffic cameras for this purpose. The extraction of dynamic properties (i.e., natural frequencies and damping) from this footage could be employed in detecting possible signs of deterioration. This study presents a vision-based monitoring method which uses a single traffic camera to identify the modal properties of the supporting traffic signal mast arm. This was achieved via operational modal analysis on pixel displacements obtained from a traffic camera mounted on a traffic signal mast arm in Norfolk, VA, monitored during July, 2019. First, sub-pixel displacements were extracted frame-by-frame using weighted centroid tracking of pavement markings. Then, covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification (SSI-Cov) was employed to extract the mast arm fundamental frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes. For validation of the vision-based results, SSI-Cov was also applied to acceleration data recorded by two high-sensitivity accelerometers mounted on the structure. In total, the processing was carried out on four different videos and ten acceleration datasets. The vision-based method was able to reliably identify the fundamental frequencies of the structure (Δf < 0.005 Hz mean difference). The associated damping ratios were consistently overestimated but still close in structural terms (Δζ < 0.7% mean difference). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: AKCEA-TTR-LRx is a ligand-conjugated antisense (LICA) drug in development for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR), a fatal disease caused by mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. AKCEA-TTR-LRx shares the same nucleotide sequence as inotersen, an antisense medicine approved for use in hATTR polyneuropathy (hATTR-PN). Unlike inotersen, AKCEA-TTR-LRx is conjugated to a triantennary N-acetylgalactosamine moiety that supports receptor-mediated uptake by hepatocytes, the primary source of circulating TTR. This advanced design increases drug potency to allow for lower and less frequent dosing. The NEURO-TTRansform study will investigate whether AKCEA-TTR-LRx is safe and efficacious, with the aim of improving neurologic function and quality of life in hATTR-PN patients. Methods/Design: Approximately 140 adults with stage 1 (independent ambulation) or 2 (requires ambulatory support) hATTR-PN are anticipated to enroll in this multicenter, open-label, randomized, phase 3 study. Patients will be assigned 6:1 to AKCEA-TTR-LRx 45 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks or inotersen 300 mg once weekly until the prespecified week 35 interim efficacy analysis, after which patients receiving inotersen will receive AKCEA-TTR-LRx 45 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks. All patients will then receive AKCEA-TTR-LRx through the remainder of the study treatment period. The final efficacy analysis at week 66 will compare the AKCEA-TTR-LRx arm with the historical placebo arm from the phase 3 trial of inotersen (NEURO-TTR). The primary outcome measures are between-group differences in the change from baseline in serum TTR, modified Neuropathy Impairment Score + 7, and Norfolk Quality of Life—Diabetic Neuropathy questionnaire. Conclusion: NEURO-TTRansform is designed to determine whether targeted delivery of AKCEA-TTR-LRx to hepatocytes with lower and less frequent doses will translate into clinical and quality-of-life benefits for patients with hATTR-PN. Trial Registration: The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04136184) and EudraCT (2019-001698-10). Plain Language Summary: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with peripheral neuropathy (hATTR-PN for short) is a rare inherited condition. In hATTR-PN, a protein called transthyretin (TTR for short) builds up and damages nerves throughout the body. This neuropathy causes symptoms such as weakness, loss of sensation, and pain. Currently available medicines can slow disease progression, but researchers are looking for more effective treatments with fewer side effects. AKCEA-TTR-LRx is an investigational treatment for hATTR-PN. AKCEA-TTR-LRx prevents the liver from making TTR, reducing the amount that causes disease progression. It is similar to an existing treatment called inotersen, but designed for better delivery to the liver and is more potent. This article describes the NEURO-TTRansform study that will evaluate how effective AKCEA-TTR-LRx is for treating hATTR-PN. Around 140 adults with hATTR-PN from the USA, Canada, and Europe will be able to take part in this study. The study treatment period will be 85 weeks long. People will receive injections underneath the skin of either: AKCEA-TTR-LRx every 4 weeks, or Inotersen once a week for 35 weeks, followed by a switch to AKCEA-TTR-LRx every 4 weeks. People may continue to receive AKCEA-TTR-LRx after the study treatment period ends. In this study, researchers will compare results from people who received AKCEA-TTR-LRx to results from people who received no active ingredients (called placebo) in a similar study (called NEURO-TTR). Researchers will measure the differences in peoples': Neuropathy symptoms. Quality of life. TTR protein levels in the blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the struggle of a teacher in the implementation of teaching for understanding framework in classroom practice in Norfolk, Virginia. Advantages of the framework for organizing educational approaches for deepening student understanding; Account on the ATLAS Summer Workshop, funded by American schools on the development of teaching and learning; Elements of the framework.

Coastal climate adaptation public works, such as storm surge barriers and levees, are central elements of several current proposals to limit damages from coastal storms and sea‐level rise in the United States. Academic analysis of these public works projects is dominated by technocratic and engineering‐driven frameworks. However, social conflict, laws, political incentives, governance structures, and other political factors have played pivotal roles in determining the fate of government‐led coastal flood risk reduction efforts. Here, we review the ways in which politics has enabled or hindered the conception, design, and implementation of coastal risk reduction projects in the U.S. We draw from the literature in natural hazards, infrastructure, political science, and climate adaptation and give supporting examples. Overall, we find that (1) multiple floods are often needed to elicit earnest planning; (2) strong and continuous leadership from elected officials is necessary to advance projects; (3) stakeholder participation during the design stage has improved outcomes; (4) legal challenges to procedural and substantive shortcomings under environmental protection statutes present an enduring obstacle to implementing megastructure proposals. Plain Language Summary: Major U.S. cities like New York, Boston, Norfolk, and Houston are investigating the use of storm surge barriers, levees, and other coastal flood protection megaprojects to limit damages from coastal storms and sea‐level rise. Determining the feasibility of such public works projects is largely dominated by technocratic and engineering‐driven frameworks (for example, benefit‐cost analysis). However, experience with similar public infrastructure and natural hazard preparedness projects suggests that social conflict and politics have been crucial in their conception, design, and implementation. In this review, we highlight the role of interest mobilization, political leadership, stakeholder participation, and legal challenges as a result of environmental protection laws in both creating and overcoming political obstacles. Better understanding the social and political factors that enable or hinder the implementation of storm surge barriers, levees, and other coastal flood protection megaprojects could encourage strategies and policies that are less likely to result in deadlocks, delays, or failure, thus saving valuable time and planning resources. Key Points: Social conflict and politics are crucial factors in the conception, design, and implementation of coastal flood protection megaprojectsPolitical incentives can hinder efforts to add adaptation works to government agendasEnvironmental protection laws, siting issues, and fragmented decision‐making add complexity to implementation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating the adverse impacts caused by increasing flood risks in urban coastal communities requires effective flood prediction for prompt action. Typically, physics‐based 1‐D pipe/2‐D overland flow models are used to simulate urban pluvial flooding. Because these models require significant computational resources and have long run times, they are often unsuitable for real‐time flood prediction at a street scale. This study explores the potential of a machine learning method, Random Forest (RF), to serve as a surrogate model for urban flood predictions. The surrogate model was trained to relate topographic and environmental features to hourly water depths simulated by a high‐resolution 1‐D/2‐D physics‐based model at 16,914 road segments in the coastal city of Norfolk, Virginia, USA. Two training scenarios for the RF model were explored: (i) training on only the most flood‐prone street segments in the study area and (ii) training on all 16,914 street segments in the study area. The RF model yielded high predictive skill, especially for the scenario when the model was trained on only the most flood‐prone streets. The results also showed that the surrogate model reduced the computational run time of the physics‐based model by a factor of 3,000, making real‐time decision support more feasible compared to using the full physics‐based model. We concluded that machine learning surrogate models strategically trained on high‐resolution and high‐fidelity physics‐based models have the potential to significantly advance the ability to support decision making in real‐time flood management within urban communities. Key Points: Surrogate machine learning models were trained for flood prediction using a high‐resolution and high‐fidelity physics‐based modelThe surrogate model accurately emulated flooding depth and duration on streets simulated by the physics‐based modelA 3,000 times speedup was achieved with the surrogate model compared to the physics‐based model, making it attractive for real‐time decision support [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Hereditary transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis causes progressive polyneuropathy resulting from transthyretin (TTR) amyloid deposition throughout the body, including the peripheral nerves. The efficacy and safety of inotersen, an antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of TTR protein production, were demonstrated in the pivotal NEURO‐TTR study in patients with hATTR polyneuropathy. Here, the long‐term efficacy and safety of inotersen are assessed in an ongoing open‐label extension (OLE) study. Methods: Patients who completed NEURO‐TTR were eligible to enroll in the OLE (NCT02175004). Efficacy assessments included the modified Neuropathy Impairment Score plus seven neurophysiological tests composite score (mNIS + 7), the Norfolk Quality of Life – Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QOL‐DN) questionnaire total score and the Short‐Form 36 Health Survey (SF‐36) Physical Component Summary (PCS) score. Safety and tolerability were also assessed. Results: Overall, 97% (135/139) of patients who completed NEURO‐TTR enrolled in the OLE. Patients who received inotersen for 39 cumulative months in NEURO‐TTR and the OLE continued to show benefit; patients who switched from placebo to inotersen in the OLE demonstrated improvement or stabilization of neurological disease progression by mNIS + 7, Norfolk QOL‐DN and SF‐36 PCS. No new safety concerns were identified. There was no evidence of increased risk for grade 4 thrombocytopenia or severe renal events with increased duration of inotersen exposure. Conclusion: Inotersen slowed disease progression and reduced deterioration of quality of life in patients with hATTR polyneuropathy. Early treatment with inotersen resulted in greater long‐term disease stabilization than delayed initiation. Routine platelet and renal safety monitoring were effective; no new safety signals were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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