Linking Theory of Disruptive Technology with Nuclear Security: UAS as an Emerging and Disruptive Technology

Technology used in nuclear security allows for many practical applications for securing material while simultaneously providing malicious opportunities for adversaries to potentially steal or misuse the material. Fixed sites and various modes of transport for nuclear and other radioactive material all can benefit from the use of new technology in mitigating against these threats. One emerging technology in nuclear security that is rapidly growing is the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). UASs provide a different dimension of security compared to methods that are traditionally used because of the added aerial characteristics of these devices. These devices offer new detection, delay, and response measures as operations are conducted using an aerial method rather than more traditional ground methods. Because of the increased popularity, availability, and capabilities of UAS technology, these tools are shifting trends in technology and how it is applied to nuclear security. The theory of disruptive innovation as it pertains to nuclear security is introduced as a guideline for assessing UAS technology. Additionally, regulation gaps relating to use of UAS technology in fixed site and transport security will be addressed. UAS technology is creating security incidents at nuclear sites and a new method of assessing this threat is needed to help determine the overall impact this technology is having in nuclear security and assist in distributing resources. A combination of a new dimension of use, increasing trends and security incidents, and lack of regulations shows signs that UAS is becoming a disruptive technology used in the nuclear security field

Purification and characterization of ubiquitin-associated and free thiol protease inhibitors from dormant Artemia embryos.

Encysted embryos of the brine shrimp Artemia contain a mixture of thiol protease inhibitors (TPI\u27s) which appear to be important in the regulation of a cathepsin B-like protease. These TPI\u27s were subjected to gel filtration, anion exchange chromatography, two types of cation exchange procedures (fast protein liquid chromatography and CM-cellulose chromatography) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cation exchange chromatography of inhibitor preparations on a Mono S column fractionated six TPI peaks. Using HPLC to purify the proteins the TPI\u27s eluted between 39% and 41% acetonitrile from a C-18 column revealing considerable hydrophobicity of each inhibitor. SDS-urea PAGE of these protease inhibitors yielded a mixture of proteins with approximate molecular weights of 4.9 and 12.3 kDa. Amino acid sequence analysis of the major protein peak showed it to be identical to human ubiquitin (4.9 kDa). It appears that extracts from dormant Artemia embryos contain a mixture of free and ubiquitin-associated low molecular weight TPI\u27s; ubiquitin may be involved in the conformational modification of TPI\u27s in dormant Artemia embryos. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1990 .S677. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 30-03, page: 0748. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1990

Respiratory complications in the postanesthesia care unit: A review of pathophysiological mechanisms

Surgical, anesthetic and patient variables have been shown to impact pulmonary function in the postanesthesia period and contribute to complications in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), with pulmonary atelectasis a common finding in more than 80% of anesthetized individuals. This comprehensive review discusses the major mechanisms causing deterioration of gas exchange in the immediate postoperative period; differential diagnosis of arterial hypoxemia in the PACU; preventive measures and treatment strategies for atelectasis; and the role of continuous positive airway pressure in the PACU

Improvement of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Obese and Non-Obese Patients after the Duodenal Switch Operation

Introduction. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most important obesity-related comorbidities. This study was undertaken to characterise the effect of the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) in morbidly obese and nonmorbidly obese diabetic patients. Methods. Outcome of 74 obese diabetic patients after BPD-DS and 16 non-obese diabetic patients after BPD or gastric bypass surgery was evaluated. Insulin usage, HbA1c-levels, and index of HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistence) were measured. Results. A substantial fraction of patients is free of insulin and shows an improved insulin sensitivity early after the operation, another fraction gets free of insulin in a 12-month period after the operation and a small fraction of long-term insulin users will not get free of insulin but nevertheless shows an improved metabolic status (less insulin needed, normal HbA1c-levels). Conclusion. BPD-DS leads to an improvement of T2DM in obese and non-obese patients. Nevertheless, more data is needed to clarify indications and mechanisms of action and to adjust our operation techniques to the needs of non-obese diabetic patients

Influence of Sleeve Gastrectomy on NASH and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is present in up to 85% of adipose patients and may proceed to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). With insulin resistance and obesity being the main risk factors for NASH, the effect of isolated sleeve gastrectomy (ISG) on these parameters was examined. Methods. 236 patients underwent ISG with intraoperative liver biopsy from December 2002 to September 2009. Besides demographic data, pre-operative weight/BMI, HbA1c, AST, ALT, triglycerides, HDL and LDL levels were determined. Results. A significant correlation of NASH with higher HbA1c, AST and ALT and lower levels for HDL was observed (P < .05, <.0001, <.0001, <.01, resp.). Overall BMI decreased from 45.0 ± 6.8 to 29.7 ± 6.5 and 31.6 ± 4.4 kg/m2 at 1 and 3 years. An impaired weight loss was demonstrated for patients with NASH and patients with elevated HbA1c (plateau 28.08 kg/m2 versus 29.79 kg/m2 and 32.30 kg/m2 versus 28.79 kg/m2, resp.). Regarding NASH, a significant improvement of AST, ALT, triglyceride and HDL levels was shown (P < .0001 for all). A resolution of elevated HbA1c was observed in 21 of 23 patients. Summary. NASH patients showed a significant loss of body weight and amelioration of NASH status. ISG can be successfully performed in these patients and should be recommended for this subgroup

Effect of an electric field on superfluid helium scintillation produced by alpha-particle sources

We report a study of the intensity and time dependence of scintillation produced by weak alpha particle sources in superfluid helium in the presence of an electric field (0 - 45 kV/cm) in the temperature range of 0.2 K to 1.1 K at the saturated vapor pressure. Both the prompt and the delayed components of the scintillation exhibit a reduction in intensity with the application of an electric field. The reduction in the intensity of the prompt component is well approximated by a linear dependence on the electric field strength with a reduction of 15% at 45 kV/cm. When analyzed using the Kramers theory of columnar recombination, this electric field dependence leads to the conclusion that roughly 40% of the scintillation results from species formed from atoms originally promoted to excited states and 60% from excimers created by ionization and subsequent recombination with the charges initially having a cylindrical Gaussian distribution about the alpha track of 60 nm radius. The intensity of the delayed component of the scintillation has a stronger dependence on the electric field strength and on temperature. The implications of these data on the mechanisms affecting scintillation in liquid helium are discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 23 figure

Experimental Modelling of Local Heat Transfer Process for a Gas-liquid System in an Agitated Vessel with the System of A 315 – RT Impellers

The results of the experimental studies of the local heat transfer process for a gas-liquid system in the region of the cylindrical wall of baffled agitated vessel equipped with the system of A 315 (lower) – RT (upper) impellers are presented. Newtonian liquids of different physical properties and air were used as continuous and dispersed phases, respectively. Local heat transfer coefficients were measured using both thermal and electrochemical methods. Distributions of the heat transfer coefficients were described by means of equations (13) – (16) and (17) – (21), separately, for turbulent and transitional ranges of the fluid flow in the agitated vessel. These equations, concerning both coalescing and non-coalescing gas-liquid systems, have no equivalent in the open literature. Moreover, the results for the A 315 – RT impeller system were compared with our previous heat transfer data obtained using CD 6 – RT or RT – RT impeller systems. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Characterizing of a Mid-Latitude Ice-Rich Landing Site on Mars to Enable in Situ Habitability Studies

We suggest an ice-rich landing site at 188.5E 46.16N within Amazonis Planitia as a candidate location to support a Mars lander mission equipped to study past habitability and regions capable of preserving the physical and chemical signs of life and organic matter. Studies of the ice-rich subsurface on Mars are critical for several reasons. The subsurface environment provides protection from radiation to shield organic and biologic compounds from destruction. The ice-rich substrate is also ideal for preserving organic and biologic molecules and provides a source of H2O for biologic activity. Examination of martian ground ice can test several hypotheses such as: 1) whether ground ice supports habitable conditions, 2) that ground ice can preserve and accumulate organic compounds, and 3) that ice contains biomolecules evident of past or present biological activity on Mars. This Amazonis site, located near the successful Viking Lander 2, shows indirect evidence of subsurface ice (ubiquitous defined polygonal ground, gamma ray spectrometer hydrogen signature, and numerical modeling of ice stability) and direct evidence of exposed subsurface ice. This site also provides surface conditions favorable to a safe landing including no boulders, low rock density, minimal rough topography, and few craters

The Ames Vertical Gun Range

The Ames Vertical Gun Range (AVGR) is a national facility for conducting laboratory- scale investigations of high-speed impact processes. It provides a set of light-gas, powder, and compressed gas guns capable of accelerating projectiles to speeds up to 7 km s(exp -1). The AVGR has a unique capability to vary the angle between the projectile-launch and gravity vectors between 0 and 90 deg. The target resides in a large chamber (diameter approximately 2.5 m) that can be held at vacuum or filled with an experiment-specific atmosphere. The chamber provides a number of viewing ports and feed-throughs for data, power, and fluids. Impacts are observed via high-speed digital cameras along with investigation-specific instrumentation, such as spectrometers. Use of the range is available via grant proposals through any Planetary Science Research Program element of the NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) calls. Exploratory experiments (one to two days) are additionally possible in order to develop a new proposal

Ice Dragon: A Mission to Address Science and Human Exploration Objectives on Mars

We present a mission concept where a SpaceX Dragon capsule lands a payload on Mars that samples ground ice to search for evidence of life, assess hazards to future human missions, and demonstrate use of Martian resources