Computational Modeling of Radiation Interactions with Molecular Nitrogen

The ability to detect radiation through identifying secondary effects it has on its surrounding medium would extend the range at which detections could be made and would be a valuable asset to many industries. The development of such a detection instrument requires an accurate prediction of these secondary effects. This research aims to improve on existing modeling techniques and help provide a method for predicting results for an affected medium in the presence of radioactive materials. A review of radioactivity and the interactions mechanisms for emitted particles as well as a brief history of the Monte Carlo Method and its application to radiation transport are provided. Many software packages have been previously developed for the purposes of radiation transport modeling efforts. Geant4 was selected, implemented, and evaluated as a candidate for the inclusion of molecular interaction mechanisms. It was determined that Geant4 requires further customization to accurately account for the prediction of very low energy secondary electrons, and these interaction calculations must still be handled separately. Additionally, it was determined that the distance traveled by low energy secondary electrons is small enough to be considered negligible relative to the path length of the primary. This allowed for a transition away from performing a transport calculation to a separate approach for predicting the effect on the medium. Subsequently, the calculations for the newly developed Averaged Loss Method and its implementation are described. When compared to results obtained through a separate Monte Carlo simulation, the Averaged Loss Method is found to be successful and potential avenues for the further improvement of this method are outlined as well

A System for Measuring Radiation Induced Chemical Products in Atmospheric Gases Using Optical Detection Methods

This research is a part of an effort to characterize the chemical products generated by radiation interacting with atmosphere. One method of detecting ionizing radiation is to monitor the radiation induced products in the atmosphere around the source. This project explored the potential for using Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy to evaluate the presence of chemical products generated by the air-radiation interaction near an alpha radiation source. In particular, measurements of ozone concentration within a controlled atmosphere chamber as affected by radiation exposure were obtained. The first portion of this thesis provides brief reviews of ionizing radiation and ozone formation as well as an explanation of Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy and Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy. This is followed by a description of the optical and vacuum systems that were available and the modifications required to integrate the optical system into the vacuum chamber to achieve the ability to optically monitor the ozone levels in a controlled atmosphere. Both the ringdown data collection and the vacuum system control processes were automated using software developed throughout this project. A discussion of these programs is also included in this thesis. Finally, results are presented and discussed that verify the system is capable detecting a correlation between the presence of an absorbing species and exposure to ionizing radiation

Analyzing Self-similar and Fractal Properties of the C. Elegans Neural Network

The brain is one of the most studied and highly complex systems in the biological world. While much research has concentrated on studying the brain directly, our focus is the structure of the brain itself: at its core an interconnected network of nodes (neurons). A better understanding of the structural connectivity of the brain should elucidate some of its functional properties. In this paper we analyze the connectome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Consisting of only 302 neurons, it is one of the better-understood neural networks. Using a Laplacian Matrix of the 279-neuron “giant component” of the network, we use an eigenvalue counting function to look for fractal-like self similarity. This matrix representation is also used to plot visualizations of the neural network in eigenfunction coordinates. Small-world properties of the system are examined, including average path length and clustering coefficient. We test for localization of eigenfunctions, using graph energy and spacial variance on these functions. To better understand results, all calculations are also performed on random networks, branching trees, and known fractals, as well as fractals which have been “rewired” to have small-world properties. We propose algorithms for generating Laplacian matrices of each of these graphs

Mindful Meditation as an Intervention to Improve the Quality of Life in Patients with Parkinson\u27s Disease: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Background: One of the main aspects of Parkinson\u27s disease is its neuropathic degeneration and its destruction on the person\u27s mind and body connection. Mindful meditation is the practice of self -awareness and has been shown to cause a reduction in non-motor symptoms such as decreasing blood pressure, treating heart disease, relieving stress, and reducing chronic pain. These changes can lead to perceived improvement in the patient’s quality of life. If there is the possibility for psychological changes in the body, then there may be potential in using it to treat neuropathic degenerative diseases without the harmful side effects of pharmacologic interventions and invasive procedures. The purpose of this review is to look at the connection between mindfulness based interventions and its effect on the quality of life of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Methods: A systematic review was performed using 5 electronic databases which were Pedro, Google Scholar, CINAHL complete, Chronin library, and PubMed between August 28, 2019 to September 12, 2019 and from January 14 to February 9, 2020. The search terms used were Mindful meditation, Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s disease, Mindful Based Intervention, Quality of Life. Inclusion criteria for the search were specific focus on QoL changes in patients with PD, included a mindful based intervention, and utilized a quality of life standardized outcome measure/qualitative measures. Results: After all inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, seven articles remained and were reviewed. Of the 7 articles chosen for review, there was one pilot study (Cash 2015, ), two randomized control trial studies (Picket 2015, Advocat 2016), a mixed methods evaluation (Birtwell 2017), a qualitative analysis (Fitzpatrick 2010), an exploratory study (Dissanayaka 2016), and a Quasi experiment (Son, 2018). Conclusion: Mindfulness based interventions can benefit people who have Parkinson’s Disease with the reduction of the progression of non-motor symptoms. Short, daily interventions can be a more realistic and effective way to perform mindfulness as compared to long duration sessions due to fatigue and multiple other factors. Implications: Mindfulness based interventions can be used along with other treatments to help to reduce the progression of non-motor symptoms with patients who have Parkinson’s Disease. In some cases mindfulness based interventions can help to prolong the need for invasive procedures, while possibly improving the quality of life of patients who have Parkinson\u27s Disease. Key terms: Mindful meditation, Parkinson’s disease, Quality of life, mindfulness based interventions, PDhttps://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/research_posters2020/1075/thumbnail.jp

Design and Assembly of a Carbon Fiber Professional Scooter

After reviewing the current professional grade scooter market, it was concluded that there is a definite need for weight reduction. The current market consists of rigid aluminum and titanium structures. This design is made primarily of unidirectional carbon fiber in an epoxy resin system. The deck of the scooter will be made with a high density foam core. Using carbon fiber to replace metal will provide a substantial weight reduction in the final assembly. Testing will be done to ensure that the scooter meets all required safety and dimensional requirements.https://openriver.winona.edu/urc2019/1054/thumbnail.jp

A Soft Range Limited K-Nearest Neighbours Algorithm for Indoor Localization Enhancement

This paper proposes a soft range limited K nearest neighbours (SRL-KNN) localization fingerprinting algorithm. The conventional KNN determines the neighbours of a user by calculating and ranking the fingerprint distance measured at the unknown user location and the reference locations in the database. Different from that method, SRL-KNN scales the fingerprint distance by a range factor related to the physical distance between the user's previous position and the reference location in the database to reduce the spatial ambiguity in localization. Although utilizing the prior locations, SRL-KNN does not require knowledge of the exact moving speed and direction of the user. Moreover, to take into account of the temporal fluctuations of the received signal strength indicator (RSSI), RSSI histogram is incorporated into the distance calculation. Actual on-site experiments demonstrate that the new algorithm achieves an average localization error of $0.66$ m with $80\%$ of the errors under $0.89$ m, which outperforms conventional KNN algorithms by $45\%$ under the same test environment.Comment: Received signal strength indicator (RSSI), WiFi indoor localization, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), fingerprint-based localizatio

From Uranium Enrichment To Renewable Energy

The goal of this Science/Engineering visualization is to show how gigawatt quantities of renewable energy can be generated at former nuclear processing sites as they are repurposed into industrial scale electrical power generation stations. The breakthrough product of this research is the design of an integrated terrestrial solar/space energy receiving station that will produce “baseload” electricity 24 hours a day. This research focuses attention on a Cold War-era uranium enrichment facility located on 3,700 acres of land in a rural area of SE Ohio. This site is judged to be suitable for research leading to the first-ever combination ground-based and space-based solar energy production facility. Were this research to be successful in designing, constructing and testing a space solar power receiving antenna (rectenna) mated to the operational structures of a terrestrial photovoltaic farm, this facility (and others like it) could be transformed from an environmental hazard to a societal benefit. In the case of the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), it is projected that the site has the capability to produce as much renewable energy as it once consumed in the form of coal-produced electricity, when two plants were installed on the Ohio River to sustain its operation. Faculty Mentors Don Flournoy and Kyle Perkin

Global value perceptions : the legitimising functions of western representations of democracy

This paper argues that a fundamental antagonism between democracy and nondemocracy organises lay thinking on global issues. We review key findings of a long-standing experimental research programme that examined the "Democracy-as-value" hypothesis across a variety of political and social contexts. This hypothesis contends that democracy is an ideological belief system that provides value to democratic individuals, groups, and institutions and thereby grants legitimacy to their actions. Based on procedural justice theories and social representations theory, we contend that western lay perceivers associate democracy with procedural equality and individual autonomy, whereas nondemocracy is associated with ingroup hierarchy and conformity. We discuss how idealised representations of democracy justify global power arrangements and emphasise the paradoxical justification function of democratic values through which nondemocratic forms of social regulation based on physical force are legitimised with the very democratic norms that call for peaceful resolution of conflicts

Infections with Avian Pathogenic and Fecal Escherichia coli Strains Display Similar Lung Histopathology and Macrophage Apoptosis

The purpose of this study was to compare histopathological changes in the lungs of chickens infected with avian pathogenic (APEC) and avian fecal (Afecal) Escherichia coli strains, and to analyze how the interaction of the bacteria with avian macrophages relates to the outcome of the infection. Chickens were infected intratracheally with three APEC strains, MT78, IMT5155, and UEL17, and one non-pathogenic Afecal strain, IMT5104. The pathogenicity of the strains was assessed by isolating bacteria from lungs, kidneys, and spleens at 24 h post-infection (p.i.). Lungs were examined for histopathological changes at 12, 18, and 24 h p.i. Serial lung sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), terminal deoxynucleotidyl dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) for detection of apoptotic cells, and an anti-O2 antibody for detection of MT78 and IMT5155. UEL17 and IMT5104 did not cause systemic infections and the extents of lung colonization were two orders of magnitude lower than for the septicemic strains MT78 and IMT5155, yet all four strains caused the same extent of inflammation in the lungs. The inflammation was localized; there were some congested areas next to unaffected areas. Only the inflamed regions became labeled with anti-O2 antibody. TUNEL labeling revealed the presence of apoptotic cells at 12 h p.i in the inflamed regions only, and before any necrotic foci could be seen. The TUNEL-positive cells were very likely dying heterophils, as evidenced by the purulent inflammation. Some of the dying cells observed in avian lungs in situ may also be macrophages, since all four avian E. coli induced caspase 3/7 activation in monolayers of HD11 avian macrophages. In summary, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fecal strains of avian E. coli produce focal infections in the avian lung, and these are accompanied by inflammation and cell death in the infected areas