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

An Estimation Theory Approach to Detection and Ranging of Obscured Targets in 3-D LADAR Data

The purpose of this research is to develop an algorithm to detect obscured images in 3-D LADAR data. The real data used for this research was gathered using a FLASH LADAR system under development at AFRL/SNJM. The system transmits light with a wavelength of 1.55 micrometers and produces 20 128 X 128 temporally resolved images from the return pulse separated by less than 2 nanoseconds in time. New algorithms for estimating the range to a target in 3-D FLASH LADAR data were developed. Results from processing real data are presented and compared to the traditional correlation receiver for extracting ranges to the target. This research shows that the algorithms presented are capable of distinguishing two surfaces separated by only 40 inches using real data

Restoration of Brine Water Impacted Soils Using Halophytes and Soil Disturbances in West Texas

Contamination from brine water alters soil chemistry and capability. This includes lower infiltration rates and a change in the amount of essential nutrients available for plant growth. This study took place on a 15.7 hectare “kill zone”. Six halophyte species were planted to evaluate their ability to grow and remediate salt at the site. The species in this study include Inland saltgrass (Distichlis spicatas), Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), Common and Giant Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), Giant sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii), and Four-winged saltbush (Atriplex canescens Soil compaction exceeded 2068 kPa at the surface. Ripping and furrowing transects were established to improve soil structure. Alkali sacaton exhibited the lowest mortality rates. Four-winged saltbush produced the highest amount of biomass. Soil compaction was generally not affected my treatments or plant type. All species except for Inland saltgrass showed a moderate ability to survive

Reflections on Litigating Holocaust Stolen Art Cases

In this Article we have attempted to provide an overview of the Nazi-looted art cases in their historical context. We have based the discussion on our knowledge and experience in litigating art law cases, particularly cases involving Nazi art looting, post-war restitution, and recent developments in art law. Any discussion of the legal implications of crimes committed by Nazi authorities during the Holocaust must begin with an obvious disclaimer. While bringing cases to recover artwork stolen by Nazi authorities is self-evidently a worthy pursuit, and while our firm is very proud to be intensively involved in this effort, we cannot even imagine the extent of the atrocities suffered by our clients\u27 ancestors (and our own) as a result of the high crimes committed against them. It is nonetheless humbly gratifying to work in this area of the law and to think that, in some small way, we are bringing comfort to the victims and their families. In the case of Mrs. Altmann, a vibrant and fascinating 89-year-old woman who vividly recalls the specific location in her uncle and aunt\u27s residence of each Klimt masterpiece she is seeking to recover, this sense of personal gratification is particularly high

Cardiac mass in glucocorticoid-hypertensive rats with and without circulating adrenaline

There is evidence that catecholamines may promote the development of cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension. To test the hypothesis that adrenaline directly determines left ventricular mass, normotensive Wistar rats were made adrenaline-deficient by adrenalectomy and hypertensive by administration of glucocorticoid. Blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight of the adrenalectomised group were not significantly different from a glucocorticoid treated control group with intact adrenals. Heart weight was significantly lower in the adrenalectomised rats, but this difference disappeared when heart weight was adjusted for body weight. It appears therefore that the presence or absence of adrenaline does not significantly affect cardiac mass in the presence of hypertension in this animal mode

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

Probe Project Status and Accomplishments - Year Two

The Probe project has established a facility for storage- and network-related research, development and testing. With sites at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), Probe is investigating local-area or wide-area distributed storage issues ranging from data mining to optimizing retrieval operations from tape devices. Probe has completed its second full year of operation. In this document we will describe the status of the project as of December 31, 2001. This year we will structure this document by category of work, rather than by project status. We will present sections describing Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computation (SciDAC) projects, network research and research on data mining and distributed cluster analysis. Another section will describe data-transfer application development and testing and other types of hardware- and software-related testing and development activities. We will then describe the work undertaken for presentation at the SC2001 conference. The final section will summarize this year's publications. Individual projects described in this document have used some Probe resource--equipment, software, staff or funding. By describing these projects we do not imply that the work should be entirely credited to Probe, although we do assert that Probe's existence and assistance provided benefit to the work. The Probe project is funded by the Mathematical, Information, and Computer Sciences (MICS) department of the Advanced Scientific Computing Research office, Office of Science, Department of Energy