Neutron therapy of cancer

Reports relate applications of neutrons to the problem of cancer therapy. The biochemical and biophysical aspects of fast-neutron therapy, neutron-capture and neutron-conversion therapy with intermediate-range neutrons are presented. Also included is a computer program for neutron-gamma radiobiology

Formation of porous surface layers in reaction bonded silicon nitride during processing

An effort was undertaken to determine if the formation of the generally observed layer of large porosity adjacent to the as-nitride surfaces of reaction bonded silicon nitrides could be prevented during processing. Isostatically pressed test bars were prepared from wet vibratory milled Si powder. Sintering and nitriding were each done under three different conditions:(1) bars directly exposed to the furnance atmosphere; (2) bars packed in Si powder; (3) bars packed in Si3N4 powder. Packing the bars in either Si of Si3N4 powder during sintering retarded formation of the layer of large porosity. Only packing the bars in Si prevented formation of the layer during nitridation. The strongest bars (316 MPa) were those sintered in Si and nitrided in Si3N4 despite their having a layer of large surface porosity; failure initiated at very large pores and inclusions. The alpha/beta ratio was found to be directly proportional to the oxygen content; a possible explanation for this relationship is discussed

Sub-femtosecond electron bunches created by direct laser acceleration in a laser wakefield accelerator with ionization injection

In this work, we will show through three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations that direct laser acceleration in laser a wakefield accelerator can generate sub-femtosecond electron bunches. Two simulations were done with two laser pulse durations, such that the shortest laser pulse occupies only a fraction of the first bubble, whereas the longer pulse fills the entire first bubble. In the latter case, as the trapped electrons moved forward and interacted with the high intensity region of the laser pulse, micro-bunching occurred naturally, producing 0.5 fs electron bunches. This is not observed in the short pulse simulation.Comment: AAC 201

Reaction bonded silicon nitride prepared from wet attrition-milled silicon

Silicon powder wet milled in heptane was dried, compacted into test bar shape, helium-sintered, and then reaction bonded in nitrogen-4 volume percent hydrogen. As-nitrided bend strengths averaged approximately 290 MPa at both room temperature and 1400 C. Fracture initiation appeared to be associated with subsurface flaws in high strength specimens and both subsurface and surface flaws in low strength specimens

Nitridation of silicon

Silicon powders with three levels of impurities, principally Fe, were sintered in He or H2. Non-densifying mechanisms of material transport were dominant in all cases. High purity Si showed coarsening in He while particle growth was suppressed in H2. Lower purity powder coarsened in both He and H2. The same three Si powders and Si /111/ single crystal wafers were nitrided in both N2 and N2/H2 atmospheres. Hydrogen increased the degree of nitridation of all three powders and the alpha/beta ratio of the lower purity powder. Some Si3N4 whiskers and open channels through the surface nitride layer were observed in the presence of Fe, correlating with the nitridation-enhancing effects of Fe. Thermodynamic calculations showed that when SiO2 is present on the Si, addition of H2 to the nitriding atmosphere decreases the amount of SiO2 and increases the partial pressure of Si-containing vapor species, that is, Si and SiO. Large amounts of NH3 and SiH4 were also predicted to form

The H II Region/PDR Connection: Self-Consistent Calculations of Physical Conditions in Star-Forming Regions

We have performed a series of calculations designed to reproduce infrared diagnostics used to determine physical conditions in star forming regions. We self-consistently calculate the thermal and chemical structure of an H II region and photodissociation region (PDR) that are in pressure equilibrium. This differs from previous work, which used separate calculations for each gas phase. Our calculations span a wide range of stellar temperatures, gas densities, and ionization parameters. We describe improvements made to the spectral synthesis code Cloudy that made these calculations possible. These include the addition of a molecular network with ~1000 reactions involving 68 molecular species and improved treatment of the grain physics. Data from the Spitzer First Look Survey, along with other archives, are used to derive important physical characteristics of the H II region and PDR. These include stellar temperatures, electron densities, ionization parameters, UV radiation flux, and PDR density. Finally, we calculate the contribution of the H II region to PDR emission line diagnostics, which allows for a more accurate determination of physical conditions in the PDR.Comment: 60 pages, 35 figures, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal. Version with full resolution is available at http://www.pa.uky.edu/~nicholas/hii_pdr_high_res.pd

Electrochemical characterization of systems for secondary battery application Second quarterly report, Aug. - Oct. 1966

Multisweep cyclic voltammetry for electrochemical characterization of systems for secondary battery applicatio

Inhibitory control as a mediator of bidirectional effects between early oppositional behavior and maternal depression.

Maternal depression is an established risk factor for child conduct problems, but relatively few studies have tested whether children's behavioral problems exacerbate mothers' depression or whether other child behavioral characteristics (e.g., self-regulation) may mediate bidirectional effects between maternal depression and child disruptive behavior. This longitudinal study examined the parallel growth of maternal depressive symptoms and child oppositional behavior from ages 2 to 5; the magnitude and timing of their bidirectional effects; and whether child inhibitory control, a temperament-based self-regulatory mechanism, mediated effects between maternal depression and child oppositionality. A randomized control trial of 731 at-risk families assessed children annually from ages 2 to 5. Transactional models demonstrated positive and bidirectional associations between mothers' depressive symptoms and children's oppositional behavior from ages 2 to 3, with a less consistent pattern of reciprocal relations up to age 5. Mediation of indirect mother-child effects and child evocative effects depended on the rater of children's inhibitory control. Findings are discussed in regard to how child evocative effects and self-regulatory mechanisms may clarify the transmission of psychopathology within families

How the nursing associate role is viewed by different stakeholders: a qualitative research study

Background: The nursing associate role was created following a review by Health Education England in 2015 that examined nurse education and training so that capacity and improvements could be made to the provision of care in England. Objective: To explore different stakeholder perspectives of how the nursing associate role has been embedded within local healthcare practice. Design: The study was designed to explore and evaluate the role of the nursing associate in practice from the perspectives of those stakeholders who have experience of working with the nursing associate. Setting(s): Online semi-structured interviews. Participants: 9 stakeholder participants who had direct contact with the nursing associate or trainee nursing associate in the practice setting. Methods: A mixed-methods qualitative approach was used, which included a creative methodological approach in the form of photo-elicitation and semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experience of participants. Results: Analysis revealed 2 superordinate themes: (1) the contribution of the nursing associate; (2) real-work perspectives of the role. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that the role was important to the provision of care, but that there were challenges related to communication, support and education provision throughout the organisations