The calculation of neutron capture gamma-ray yields for space shielding applications

The application of nuclear models to the calculation of neutron capture and inelastic scattering gamma yields is discussed. The gamma ray cascade model describes the cascade process in terms of parameters which either: (1) embody statistical assumptions regarding electric and magnetic multipole transition strengths, level densities, and spin and parity distributions or (2) are fixed by experiment such as measured energies, spin and parity values, and transition probabilities for low lying states

Near-field angular distributions of high velocity ions for low-power hall thrusters

Experimental angular distributions of high-energy primary ions in the near-field region of a small Hall thruster between 50-200 mm downstream of the thruster exit plane at a range of centerline angles have been determined using a highly-collimated, energy-selective diagnostic probe. The measurements reveal a wide angular distribution of ions exiting the thruster channel and the formation of a strong, axially-directed jet of ions along the thruster centerline. Comparisons are made to other experimental determinations as applicable

Chemical Identification of the Radioelements Produced from Carbon and Boron by Deuteron Bombardment

Chemical experiments were made on the radioactive substances resulting from the bombardment of carbon and boron by deuterons. Carbon is shown to yield an isotope of nitrogen and boron an isotope of carbon. The nitrogen so formed has a half-life of 10.5 minutes while that found by Curie and Joliot on bombardment of boron with alpha-particles has a half-life of 14 minutes. These facts are discussed

Adoption Laws of Ohio: A Critical and Comparative Study

Adoption has been defined as The act by which the relations of paternity and affiliation are recognized as legally existing between persons not so related. \u27 However, the result of adoption is the creation of a status, that of parent and child, and not of a contractual obligation. In this respect it is similar to marriage. A study of adoption perforce requires an examination of the practice and the law involved in the placement of children for adoption, the termination of the rights and obligation of the natural parents, the procedures of adoption in the courts and the legal effect of the adoptive status as it affects the child and the adopting parents

Stockmanship Education and Evaluation

This dissertation documents two separate works. The first is an evaluation of WVU SFMS/SOIDC Large Animal Module and the second is the development and use of the Stockman’s Scorecard. The WVU SFMS/SOIDC Large Animal Module provides foundational information on food animal husbandry and veterinary procedures to SOF Combat Medic candidates. A quasi-experimental design was used to determine if the module content resulted in an increase in food animal production knowledge for the participants. Seventy-five percent of the subjects had no previous livestock exposure and only seven percent had previously participated in 4-H or FFA. Matched pair analysis determined that the average improvement of scores, pre-test versus post-test, was significantly greater for those that attended the module (18.5 vs. 0.9). Knowledge of food animal production can assist SOF medics in establishing rapport with indigenous population while on mission. An animal’s action, or inaction, is the direct result of a stockman’s action or inaction. The Stockman’s Scorecard is a novel observation instrument that has been developed to measure the quality of beef cattle stockmanship. Specific handler actions have been weighted based on their perceived negative relationship to cattle stress from handling. The purpose of Chapters II and III of this paper is to 1) establish the validity and reliability of the Stockman’s Scorecard as a tool for the quantitative measurement of beef cattle stockmanship, 2) document the initial use of the scorecard in a beef cattle feedlot setting, and 3) provide further support to its validity by establishing an association with other quantitative and qualitative means of evaluating stockmanship. Face validity for the scorecard was established by a panel of experts. Reliability was determined by pilot testing at three Mid-West feedlot facilities. Trained observers evaluated 19 stockmen using the card and their scores were analyzed using a split-half methodology to calculate a Spearman-Brown coefficient. The instrument constructs were found to be exemplary (Robinson, Shaver, & Wrightsman, 1991) with a coefficient of 0.76 exceeding the threshold of 0.30 for inter-item correlations. To determine the intra-rater reliability, three observers were shown six videos of individuals moving a group of steers from their home pen to the working chute. The observers scored each handler using the scorecard and final scores were used to calculate an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) using SPSS (v 25). The observers exhibited a high level of agreement with and ICC = 0.66 which can be classified as good intra-rater reliability. The Scorecard was used at 45 beef feedlots in Texas between March 2018 and April 2019. Eighty-four stockman were observed, and the average score received was an 84.5 (Std Dev = 14.73, range = 20-100). The most frequent mistakes observed were: fills crowd pen/tub over half full (n=39), slow to remove pressure (n=29), uses unnecessary noise (n=25), stands in front and taps rear (n=24), and fails to regulate animal flow through a pinch point (n=22). A strong negative association (ρ = -0.51) was found between the points deducted from the Noise and Physical Contact theme of the Scorecard and the number of animals touched with an electric prod from the BQA Feedyard Assessment. Moderate negative associations were found between the Scorecard final score and the number of animals that vocalize in the chute prior to procedures (ρ = -0.31). Those stockmen that scored above average on the Scorecard were qualitatively observed to be calm and quiet while working with the cattle (Kappa = 0.44). The qualitative disposition of cattle had little effect on the final score of stockmen using the Scorecard (Kappa = 0.17). The use of the Scorecard in a feedlot setting has demonstrated that as stockman scores decrease, there is an increase in the number of negative actions towards cattle and a negative behavioral response of the cattle themselves. Establishment of an association between a stockman’s score using the Stockman’s Scorecard and the animal-based observations from the BQA Feedyard Assessment further strengthens the validity of the Stockman’s Scorecard as a tool to measure the quality of beef cattle stockmanship. The Scorecard has application as a tool to identify specific stockmanship deficiencies in order to target stockmanship training

X ray sensitive area detection device

A radiation sensitive area detection device is disclosed which comprises a phosphor-containing film capable of receiving and storing an image formed by a pattern of incoming x rays, UV, or other radiation falling on the film. The device is capable of fluorescing in response to stimulation by a light source in a manner directly proportional to the stored radiation pattern. The device includes: (1) a light source capable of projecting light or other appropriate electromagnetic wave on the film so as to cause it to fluoresce; (2) a means to focus the fluoresced light coming from the phosphor-containing film after light stimulation; and (3) at least one charged coupled detector or other detecting element capable of receiving and digitizing the pattern of fluoresced light coming from the phosphor-containing film. The device will be able to generate superior x ray images of high resolution from a crystal or other sample and will be particularly advantageous in that instantaneous near-real-time images of rapidly deteriorating samples can be obtained. Furthermore, the device can be made compact and sturdy, thus capable of carrying out x ray or other radiation imaging under a variety of conditions, including those experienced in space

Comparative Genomics of 9 Novel Paenibacillus Larvae Bacteriophages

American Foulbrood Disease, caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, is one of the most destructive diseases of the honeybee, Apis mellifera. Our group recently published the sequences of 9 new phages with the ability to infect and lyse P. larvae. Here, we characterize the genomes of these P. larvae phages, compare them to each other and to other sequenced P. larvae phages, and putatively identify protein function. The phage genomes are 38–45 kb in size and contain 68–86 genes, most of which appear to be unique to P. larvae phages. We classify P. larvae phages into 2 main clusters and one singleton based on nucleotide sequence identity. Three of the new phages show sequence similarity to other sequenced P. larvae phages, while the remaining 6 do not. We identified functions for roughly half of the P. larvae phage proteins, including structural, assembly, host lysis, DNA replication/metabolism, regulatory, and host-related functions. Structural and assembly proteins are highly conserved among our phages and are located at the start of the genome. DNA replication/metabolism, regulatory, and host-related proteins are located in the middle and end of the genome, and are not conserved, with many of these genes found in some of our phages but not others. All nine phages code for a conserved N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase. Comparative analysis showed the phages use the “cohesive ends with 30 overhang” DNA packaging strategy. This work is the first in-depth study of P. larvae phage genomics, and serves as a marker for future work in this area