Cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among adults in Georgia, USA, August-December 2020

Background: Reported COVID-19 cases underestimate the true number of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Data on all infections, including asymptomatic infection, are needed to guide state testing and prevention programs. To minimize biases in estimates from seroprevalence surveys and reported cases, we conducted a state-wide probability survey of Georgia households and estimated cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections adjusted for antibody waning. Methods: From August to December 2020, we mailed kits to self-collect specimens (nasal swabs and blood spots) to a random sample of Georgia addresses. One randomly-selected adult household member completed a survey and returned specimens for virus and antibody testing. We estimated cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections adjusted for waning antibodies, reported fraction, and infection fatality ratio (IFR). Differences in seropositivity among demographic, geographic and clinical subgroups were explored with weighted prevalence ratios (PR). Results: Among 1,370 Georgia adult participants, adjusted cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 was 16.1% (95% credible interval (CrI): 13.5-19.2%) as of November 16, 2020. The reported fraction was 26.6% and IFR was 0.78%. Non-Hispanic Black (PR: 2.03, CI 1.0, 4.1) and Hispanic adults (PR: 1.98, CI 0.74, 5.31) were more likely than non-Hispanic White adults to be seropositive. Seropositivity in metropolitan Atlanta's Fulton and DeKalb counties was similar to seropositivity elsewhere in Georgia (7.8% vs. 8.8%). Conclusions: As of mid-November 2020, one in 6 adults in Georgia had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. The scope of the COVID-19 epidemic in Georgia is likely substantially underestimated by reported cases.

Using Integrative Implementation Theory to Understand New Jersey's 2015 Opt-Out Movement

Background/Context In the spring of 2015, about 135,000 New Jersey students—almost 20% of the test-eligible children—did not take the state's test. Opposition of this magnitude directly contradicted a central stipulation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), which required states to test 95% of their eligible students to receive federal education funding. This article examines what happened in New Jersey in 2015 to produce such a large change in the implementation of state testing policy. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study In this article, I use Richard Matland's integrative policy implementation theory to explain the circumstances that produced such a large change in the enactment of New Jersey testing policy in 2015. More specifically, I focus on two research questions: (1) What were the major national, state, and local factors that contributed to parent and student opt-out decisions in New Jersey in 2015? (2) How does integrative implementation theory help us to understand the different circumstances contributing to the opt-out movement in New Jersey in 2015? Population/Participants/Subjects The article is based upon extensive document review and 33 interviews with New Jersey state policymakers, professional education association representatives, advocacy group leaders, school administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Intervention/Program/Practice: Since the 1990s, testing has become an increasingly important function of state education policy. High-stakes state testing policies were further expanded under the NCLB, which required states to test 95% of their eligible students to receive streams of federal education funding. The opt-out movement across the nation in 2015 was a major departure from this well-established policy. Research Design This study employs qualitative interpretive research to examine how multiple actors at different levels of the New Jersey education system understood and interpreted the 2015 opt-out movement. Using Matland's ambiguity-conflict model of policy implementation I interpret the interactions between the policy design and local implementers’ beliefs and goals. Findings/Results The findings illuminate the shifting national, state, and local factors that contributed to district opt-out rates as well as variation across school levels and districts with different socioeconomic conditions. The combination of increased federal press on states, New Jersey's fast timelines for new standards and assessment adoption even as it ratcheted up accountability, and inconsistent state policy signals all contributed to backlash from teachers, community members, and anti-testing advocates. These factors illuminate many of the changing circumstances in New Jersey that fueled the dramatic opt-out movement in 2015. Conclusions/Recommendations While Matland's integrative implementation model helps to explain the dynamics of the 2015 New Jersey opt-out movement, it does not account for additional contributing factors including changes over time, dynamics at different system levels, and consideration of a broader range of actors beyond policymakers and policy targets. Incorporating these factors can help make integrative implementation theories even more robust.

Study of elements of spring camelina technology in the forest-steppe of the Central Chernozem region

Abstact. Varieties of spring ginger included in the State Register of breeding achievements and recommended for the Central Chernozem region, cultivated in the conditions of the forest-steppe of the Lipetsk region, form different yields of oilseeds in specific production conditions. The purpose of the research was to identify the most adaptive high-yielding varieties of spring ginger, suitable for cultivation in the forest-steppe conditions of the Central Chernozem region and providing high productivity. Research methods. When studying varieties according to the main economic characteristics, the method of competitive variety testing was used in accordance with the requirements of the state testing methodology and the field experience methodology of B. A. Dospekhov. Results. Spring ginger is a precocious crop with a growing season in the context of the studied varieties: Omich – 84 days, Ekaterininskiy – 79 days and Yubilyar – 75 days. The height of the varieties ranged from 59.3 to 67.8 cm. The Omich variety was short, and the Jubilee variety was the tallest. The maximum number of pods was observed in the Ekaterininskiy variety – 49.5 pieces per plant. Among the studied varieties of spring ginger, according to the complex of positive signs, the Ekaterininskiy variety stood out, which has a higher yield (1.52 t/ha without fertilizers and 1.88 t/ha against the background of N90P60K90), and the highest oil productivity (684 kg/ha without fertilizer and 833 kg/ha against the background of N90P60K90). The Omich variety had a high oil content of seeds (48%), but it was inferior to other varieties in terms of oil collection. The Yubilyar variety provided the highest yield of crude protein from 1 ha. Scientific novelty. For the first time on leached chernozem in the conditions of a typical forest-steppe of the Central Chernozem region, a comparative study of new-generation spring ginger varieties by a complex of economically useful characteristics was carried out and the genotypes most adapted for this region were determined.

Impact Damage Detection in Laminate and Honeycomb CFRPs using Lamb Wave Ultrasonic Sensing

The paper presents the results on application of Lamb waves based technique for impact damage detection and severity identification. The PZT network operates in the round-robin mode changing the actuator and sensor roles of the transducers in order to detect the response of the system in the presence of damage. The monitoring is performed via the analysis of three parameters: change of the amplitude (dA), change of the energy (dP) and cross-correlation (NCC) of the signals in baseline and damaged state. Testing of laminate CFRPs shows that the damage location is estimated with an error of 5–15 mm, while the computed Damage index is linearly dependent on the applied impact energy. For honeycomb CFRPs the NCC parameter do not provide accurate results, however, other parameters allow identification within the 5–20 mm error and reflect accurate data on the severity of the damage.

Диагностика ударных повреждений монолитных и сотовых углепластиков с помощью ультразвуковых волн Лэмба

The paper presents the results on Lamb waves based technique for impact damage detection and severity identification. The PZT network operates in the round-robin mode changing the actuator and sensor roles of the transducers in order to detect the response of the system in the presence of damage. The monitoring is performed via the analysis of three parameters: change of the amplitude (dA), change of the energy (dP) and cross-correlation (NCC) of the signals in baseline and damaged state. Testing of laminate CFRPs shows that the damage location is estimated within the 5–15 mm error, while the computed Damage index linearly is dependent on the applied impact energy. For honeycomb CFRPs the NCC parameter do not provide accurate results, however, the other parameters allow identification within the 5–20 mm error and reflect accurate data on the severity of the damage.

Formation of grain quality of new varieties of spring soft wheat in the middle volga region

Relevance. The article presents the results of studying the formation of grain quality indicators in varieties of competitive testing of spring soft wheat. The purpose of the research is to study local new varieties of spring soft wheat according to the most important quality indicators for the middle Volga region and to identify varieties that consistently form high grain quality for further breeding and seed production.Materials and methods of researches. The object of research was 36 varieties of spring soft wheat of competitive testing, created in the Volga Scientific Research Institute of Selection and Seed-Growing named after P.N. Konstantinov. The study of varieties was carried out according to the Methodology of the state variety testing of agricultural crops (1985). Grain quality indicators were determined according to current standards.Results. The greatest variability over the years was observed in the indicators of grain vitreous (CV = 5.40–10.0%), protein content (CV = 3.75–10.48%) and gluten content (CV = 7.62–10.20%), that is, in indicators that depend on growing conditions. As a result of a comprehensive assessment of varieties, valuable sources are identified that annually form high-quality grain. These are the Kinelskaya 59, Kinelskaya niva, Kinelskaya 2010, Kinelskaya yubileynaya varieties included in the register, the Kinelskaya Zarya variety undergoing State testing, and the new promising lines Erythrospermum 3898, Erythrospermum 4112, Erythrospermum 4171, Erythrospermum 5289, Lutescens 6029. The varieties that were selected during the study are recommended for use in breeding programs for creating high — quality forms for contrasting weather conditions, zoned varieties — for wide use in commodity production, new lines-for preparation and transfer to State testing

Interactive Robot for Playing Russian Checkers

Human–robot interaction in board games is a rapidly developing field of robotics. This paper presents a robot capable of playing Russian checkers designed for entertaining, training, and research purposes. Its control program is based on a novel unsupervised self-learning algorithm inspired by AlphaZero and represents the first successful attempt of using this approach in the checkers game. The main engineering challenge in mechanics is to develop a board state acquisition system non-sensitive to lighting conditions, which is achieved by rejecting computer vision and utilizing magnetic sensors instead. An original robot face is designed to endow the robot an ability to express its attributed emotional state. Testing the robot at open-air multiday exhibitions shows the robustness of the design to difficult exploitation conditions and the high interest of visitors to the robot.