International workshop on next generation gamma-ray source

A workshop on The Next Generation Gamma-Ray Source sponsored by the Office of Nuclear Physics at the Department of Energy, was held November 17-19, 2016 in Bethesda, Maryland. The goals of the workshop were to identify basic and applied research opportunities at the frontiers of nuclear physics that would be made possible by the beam capabilities of an advanced laser Compton beam facility. To anchor the scientific vision to realistically achievable beam specifications using proven technologies, the workshop brought together experts in the fields of electron accelerators, lasers, and optics to examine the technical options for achieving the beam specifications required by the most compelling parts of the proposed research programs. An international assembly of participants included current and prospective γ-ray beam users, accelerator and light-source physicists, and federal agency program managers. Sessions were organized to foster interactions between the beam users and facility developers, allowing for information sharing and mutual feedback between the two groups. The workshop findings and recommendations are summarized in this whitepaper

International workshop on next generation gamma-ray source

A workshop on The Next Generation Gamma-Ray Source sponsored by the Office of Nuclear Physics at the Department of Energy, was held November 17-19, 2016 in Bethesda, Maryland. The goals of the workshop were to identify basic and applied research opportunities at the frontiers of nuclear physics that would be made possible by the beam capabilities of an advanced laser Compton beam facility. To anchor the scientific vision to realistically achievable beam specifications using proven technologies, the workshop brought together experts in the fields of electron accelerators, lasers, and optics to examine the technical options for achieving the beam specifications required by the most compelling parts of the proposed research programs. An international assembly of participants included current and prospective γ-ray beam users, accelerator and light-source physicists, and federal agency program managers. Sessions were organized to foster interactions between the beam users and facility developers, allowing for information sharing and mutual feedback between the two groups. The workshop findings and recommendations are summarized in this whitepaper

Thermal conductivity, diffusivity and expansion of Avery Island salt at pressure and temperature

Preliminary data on the thermal properties of a coarse-grained rock salt from Avery Island, Louisiana, indicates that hydrostatic pressure to 50 MPa has little effect on the thermal conductivity, diffusivity and linear expansion at temperatures from 300 to 573 K. The measurements were made in a new apparatus under conditions of true hydrostatic loading. At room temperature and effective confining pressure increasing from 10 to 50 MPa, thermal conductivity and diffusivity are constant at roughly 7W/mK and 3.6 x 10/sup -6/ m/sup 2//s, respectively. At 50 MPa and temperature increasing from 300 to 573K, both conductivity and diffusivity drop by a factor of 2. Thermal linear expansion at 0 MPa matches that at 50 MPa, increasing from roughly 4.2 x 10/sup -5//K at 300 K to 5.5 x 10/sup -5/ at 573 K. The lack of a pressure effect on all three properties is confirmed by previous work. Simple models of microcracking suggest that among common geological materials the lack of pressure dependence is unique to rock salt

Stability of common biochemistry analytes in equine blood stored at room temperature

Reasons for performing study: Time delays between collection of blood samples and biochemical analysis of equine blood are unavoidably common in equine practice. The effect that delays may have on the accuracy of results of blood biochemical analyses is not well established. Hypothesis: Delays in processing of blood of up to 72 h results in alterations in. measured levels of common biochemical analytes that are of potential clinical relevance. Separation of serum prior to storage is protective against the effects of time delays. Methods: Samples of clotted blood, separated serum and oxalate fluoride plasma from 20 horses were stored and analysed at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. Graphical exploration of each analyte was undertaken. General linear models with fixed effects were fitted for the whole blood data. The mean bias and 95% limits of agreement were calculated, using bootstrapped data, to assess agreement between pairs of samples analysed at 0 h and other time points. Bland-Altman plots were used to explore general trends in the data. Paired t tests were used to compare the results from whole blood and separated serum. Results: Delays in processing equine blood resulted in significant increases in measured concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, total bile acids and magnesium. A significant decrease in concentration was identified for glucose (serum and oxalate fluoride preserved plasma). Separation of serum immediately following clot formation resulted in nonsignificant increases in accuracy for some analytes. Conclusions and practical significance: Delays in processing of blood samples may result in biochemical changes of clinical relevance in individual cases; however, in the majority of cases, where delays are only a few days and a number of analytes are assessed concurrently, delays are unlikely to have an effect on the interpretation of results. Separation of serum following clot formation is of limited benefit. Clinical samples in which a delay in processing has occurred may be interpreted with reference to the data presente