An improved double-toroidal spectrometer for gas phase (e,2e) studies

A new spectrometer is described for measuring the momentum distributions of scattered electrons arising from electron-atom and electron-molecule ionization experiments. It incorporates and builds on elements from a number of previous designs, namely, a source of polarized electrons and two high-efficiency electrostatic electron energy analyzers. The analyzers each comprise a seven-element retarding-electrostatic lens system, four toroidal-sector electrodes, and a fast position-and-time-sensitive two-dimensional delay-line detector. Results are presented for the electron-impact-induced ionization of helium and the elastic scattering of electrons from argon and helium which demonstrate that high levels of momentum resolution and data-collection efficiency are achieved. Problematic aspects regarding variations in collection efficiency over the accepted momentum phase space are addressed and a methodology for their correction presented. Principles behind the present design and previous designs for electrostatic analyzers based around electrodes of toroidal-sector geometry are discussed and a framework is provided for optimizing future devices.The assistance of the AustralianGerman Research Cooperation Scheme and the Australian Research Council through Grant No. DP0452553 and a 1998 ARC RIEF grant is gratefully acknowledged

Farm Injury Related Deaths in Australia 2003-2006

Background Agriculture remains a significant industry in Australia, however the potential for death and serious injury for those working, living or visiting farms is known to be high. Method This report draws on the available data from the National Coroners Information System for the period 2003-06. All closed coronial cases that have involved a non-intentional farm injury death are included in the assessment. Results There were a total of 326 non-intentional injury deaths on Australian farms from 2003-06. Major findings were: • Continued reduction in the overall number of deaths (mean 82 per year) • Continued reduction in the rates of death for farms (5.9 per 10,000 agricultural establishments) • Continued reduction in the rates of death for individuals working in agriculture (10.9 deaths per 100,000) • There was an even distribution between work related and non-work related deaths • Males accounted for 87% of all deaths • Tractors, quad bikes and farm utilities continue to be the leading cause of adult (> 15 years) deaths • Those older than 55 years accounted for 40% of all deaths • Children (< 15 years) accounted for 17% (n=55) of all deaths, with those under 5 years being involved in more than half the cases • Farm dams and other water bodies (n=25) continue to be the single largest cause of child (< 15 years) deaths • For children (<15 years), riding or being a passenger on a quad bike (n=7) is the second leading agent of injury death • Overall, 34% (n=19) of all child fatalities involved farm visitors. Conclusions Although further cases for the years 2005 and 2006 will be added to this data once the coroner has closed these cases, this is not expected to add dramatically to the case numbers. Hence, even with these additional cases, the steady improvements in industry performance in reducing death rates will be evident. This review has identified common agents of non-intentional injury death for both adults and children. Significantly, for all of these agents there are already well known and highly effective solutions that can be used to further reduce the burden of non-intentional injury. To continue and fast-track improvement in agriculture’s performance, there is a need to improve the adoption of health and safety systems and the evidence-based solutions that already exist. Future interventions should target these priority areas to allow for further significant reductions in farm related deaths

Quad Bike Related Deaths and Injuries Australia 2011 Media Monitors Report

This report provides a summary of uad bike related deaths and serious injuries reported in the media throughout 201

Measuring eccentricity in binary black hole inspirals with gravitational waves

When binary black holes form in the field, it is expected that their orbits typically circularize before coalescence. In galactic nuclei and globular clusters, binary black holes can form dynamically. Recent results suggest that $\approx5\%$ of mergers in globular clusters result from three-body interactions. These three-body interactions are expected to induce significant orbital eccentricity $\gtrsim 0.1$ when they enter the Advanced LIGO band at a gravitational-wave frequency of 10 Hz. Measurements of binary black hole eccentricity therefore provide a means for determining whether or not dynamic formation is the primary channel for producing binary black hole mergers. We present a framework for performing Bayesian parameter estimation on gravitational-wave observations of black hole inspirals. Using this framework, and employing the non-spinning, inspiral-only EccentricFD waveform approximant, we determine the minimum detectable eccentricity for an event with masses and distance similar to GW150914. At design sensitivity, we find that the current generation of advanced observatories will be sensitive to orbital eccentricities of $\gtrsim0.05$ at a gravitational-wave frequency of 10 Hz, demonstrating that existing detectors can use eccentricity to distinguish between circular field binaries and globular cluster triples. We compare this result to eccentricity distributions predicted to result from three black hole binary formation channels, showing that measurements of eccentricity could be used to infer the population properties of binary black holes.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 2 table

Quad Bike Related Deaths and Injuries - Australia 2010: Media Monitors Report

This brief report looking at media coverage of quad bike related deaths and injuries in Australia throughout 2010 indicates that there were at least nine deaths and 43 serious injuries. This is almost certainly an underestimate as not all incidents are reported in the media. Rollover events were responsible for 50% of the deaths and 36% of serious injuries.Core funding for the Centre is derived from the Hunter New England Local Health Networ

Herbicide damage to sensitive crops

"Over the past several decades in Missouri and other states, the greatest and most widespread uses of herbicides have been in the production of row-crops and forages and in the clearing of brush for pasture improvement."--First page.John Lower and Larry Lockshin (Department of Horticulture) and L.E. Anderson (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture)New 5/84/10