Use of steel and tantalum apparatus for molten Cd-Mg-Zn alloys

Steel and tantalum apparatus contains various ternary alloys of cadmium, zinc, and magnesium used in pyrochemical processes for the recovery of uranium-base reactor fuels. These materials exhibit good corrosion resistance at the high temperatures necessary for fuel separation in liquid metal-molten salt solvents

Study made of resistance of stainless steels to zinc-vapor corrosion

Study of the corrosion resistance of several stainless steels to zinc vapor revealed that some stainless steels could be employed for use in zinc processing equipment housings or vapor lines

Effects of Experience and Certification Level on Professional Development, Teacher Quality, and Increased Leadership Opportunities of NBCTs

The focus of this dissertation was to provide insight into the perceptions of Arkansas National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in regard to how the certification process impacted teaching and learning and overall student achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of experience and certification level on the perceptions of NBCTs in Arkansas concerning the quality of professional development earned, enhanced teacher quality, and increased leadership opportunities as a result of the National Board Certification process. An additional purpose of this study was to determine specifically how NBCTs perceived the certification process influenced student achievement within the classroom and school. The researcher conducted the study with 550 NBCTs in Arkansas. The participants represented the Northwestern, Southwestern, Central, Northeastern, and Southeastern regions of Arkansas. Within these five regions, the researcher used stratified random sampling to group the participants by level of certification, K-6 or 7-12, and years of experience. 3-10 or 11 or more. The researcher used a survey instrument to determine the effects of the certification process on the dependent variables, professional development, enhanced teacher quality, and increased leadership opportunities. The survey instrument included 33 items that asked teachers to indicate their beliefs regarding the impacts that the certification process had on each dependent variable. In addition, the instrument contained two qualitative items. The purpose of these items was to allow the researcher to gain specific examples regarding the impacts—within the classroom and school—of the certification process. The researcher piloted the survey instrument prior to the study to determine reliability and validity of the instrument. To address the three hypotheses, the researcher conducted a 2 x 2 factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA). The researcher used descriptive statistics to address the research questions concerning the beliefs of Arkansas NBCTs regarding impacts the certification process had on student achievement within the classroom and school. The results of this study showed no significant interaction between certification level and years of experience for the three hypotheses. However, survey results suggested that the certification process was a beneficial professional development that enhanced teacher quality and student achievement. Survey results indicated the certification process honed skills necessary to differentiate instruction, reflect upon teaching and learning, and use assessment data to improve instruction. In addition, participants reported that Certification improved student achievement within the classroom and school. However, participants demonstrated the belief that the certification process failed to increase leadership opportunities within the school

Two techniques enable sampling of filtered and unfiltered molten metals

Filtered samples of molten metals are obtained by filtering through a plug of porous material fitted in the end of a sample tube, and unfiltered samples are obtained by using a capillary-tube extension rod with a perforated bucket. With these methods there are no sampling errors or loss of liquid

Debris and micrometeorite impact measurements in the laboratory

A method was developed to simulate space debris in the laboratory. This method, which is an outgrowth of research in inertial confinement fusion (ICF), uses laser ablation to accelerate material. Using this method, single 60 micron aluminum spheres were accelerated to 15 km/sec and larger 500 micron aluminum spheres were accelerated to 2 km/sec. Also, many small (less than 10 micron diameter) irregularly shaped particles were accelerated to speeds of 100 km/sec

Enhancing Public Understanding of Water Resources Issues: A Community-Based Short-Course for the Pacific Northwest

A hands on 15-hour community based water quality and monitoring short-course was delivered to citizen groups at six locations in the Pacific Northwest in 2000. The University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Systems, USDA-CSREES, and the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI) partnered in design, development, and delivery. This short-course increased participant understanding, awareness of water issues, and improved water-monitoring skills. A 17-module guide and an evaluation model were developed. This learning experience dramatically improved learners\u27 understanding of complex water resource issues and prepared them to plan, monitor, and assess local water issues

A Work in Progress: The Lived Experiences of Black Male Undergraduates at One Predominantly White University

This exploratory study examines the lived academic and social experiences of current black male undergraduate students, including their perceived barriers and their strategies for persistence and achieving success. Study participants included black male undergraduate students at one predominantly white, four-year, public research university. Data collection methods included two focus group interviews with a purposeful sample of 12 undergraduate, black male students. Students reported that explicit and implicit messages of racial hatred have contributed to a general campus atmosphere of discomfort for black male students. The students described an environment where they continually encounter racial micro aggressions and prejudice. Students reported that persisting at Mid-South has been challenging for them. Nevertheless, they have persisted. Among their lessons learned is that networking is powerful; both inter- and intra-racial networking

U.S. Agricultural Commodity Organizations\u27 Use of Blogs as a Communications Tool

Current communications trends and social media have given individuals and organizations unprecedented opportunities to build relationships with audience members while introducing and encouraging new perspectives. One particular form of social media is blogging, which allows people to share a wider variety of information than other forms of social media. The purpose of this study was to explore how agricultural commodity organizations use blogs as a communication tool. The researchers purposively selected nine U.S. agricultural commodity groups that had an organizational blog and collected data through in-depth interviews. The findings indicated the organizations started blogging because blogs were the newest communication tool they could use to reach new and traditional audiences. The commodity organizations used some online analytics and mentions on other social media outlets to measure blog success, but they did not establish goals for their blog prior to the blog’s launch. The findings offer an understanding of how agricultural commodity organizations are utilizing blogs, which provides insight for others in the agricultural industry who may decide to use this technology