Development of a SQUID magnetometry system for cryogenic neutron electric dipole moment experiment

A measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) could hold the key to understanding why the visible universe is the way it is: why matter should predominate over antimatter. As a charge-parity violating (CPV) quantity, an nEDM could provide an insight into new mechanisms that address this baryon asymmetry. The motivation for an improved sensitivity to an nEDM is to find it to be non-zero at a level consistent with certain beyond the Standard Model theories that predict new sources of CPV, or to establish a new limit that constrains them. CryoEDM is an experiment that sought to better the current limit of $|d_n| < 2.9 \times 10^{-26}\,e\,$cm by an order of magnitude. It is designed to measure the nEDM via the Ramsey Method of Separated Oscillatory Fields, in which it is critical that the magnetic field remains stable throughout. A way of accurately tracking the magnetic fields, moreover at a temperature $\sim 0.5\,$K, is crucial for CryoEDM, and for future cryogenic projects. This thesis presents work focussing on the development of a 12-SQUID magnetometry system for CryoEDM, that enables the magnetic field to be monitored to a precision of $0.1\,$pT. A major component of its infrastructure is the superconducting capillary shields, which screen the input lines of the SQUIDs from the pick up of spurious magnetic fields that will perturb a SQUID's measurement. These are shown to have a transverse shielding factor of $> 1 \times 10^{7}$, which is a few orders of magnitude greater than the calculated requirement. Efforts to characterise the shielding of the SQUID chips themselves are also discussed. The use of Cryoperm for shields reveals a tension between improved SQUID noise and worse neutron statistics. Investigations show that without it, SQUIDs have an elevated noise when cooled in a substantial magnetic field; with it, magnetostatic simulations suggest that it is detrimental to the polarisation of neutrons in transport. The findings suggest that with proper consideration, it is possible to reach a compromise between the two behaviours. Computational work to develop a simulation of SQUID data is detailed, which is based on the Laplace equation for the magnetic scalar potential. These data are ultimately used in the development of a linear regression technique to determine the volume-averaged magnetic field in the neutron cells. This proves highly effective in determining the fields within the $0.1\,$pT requirement under certain conditions

Infusing Technology: A Study of the Influence of Professional Development on How Teachers Use Technology

This study examined whether a quality professional development course, Infusing Technology, influenced the use of technology by elementary and middle school teachers in West Virginia. Infusing Technology was designed to help school-based team learning communities use technology in their instruction while engaging students in critical thinking, reasoning, and problem solving skills. This mixed-method study used the LoTi Digital-Age Survey, aligned with the National Educational Technology Standards, to collect quantitative data on levels of technology innovation, levels of personal computer use, and levels of current instructional practices. Participants in the Infusing Technology course completed the survey before the summer institute and after they had time to implement the content learned and focus groups were conducted following survey analysis. This allowed for pre-post comparison to determine the participants‘ progress integrating technology. This study found that Infusing Technology did not significantly change participants‘ LoTi Levels from pre to post based on the evaluation of the LoTi DigitalAge Survey. Focus group interviews supported these conclusions. Infusing Technology did appear to significantly increase participants‘ levels of personal computer use from pre to post based on the evaluation of the LoTi Digital-Age Survey. Focus group interviews supported these conclusions. Infusing Technology did appear to significantly increased participants‘ levels of current instructional practices from pre to post based on the evaluation of the LoTi Digital-Age Survey. Focus group interviews supported these conclusions. ualitative data from focus group interviews of participants identified constraints in the LoTi survey and focus group interviews, such as: (a) a lack of time to learn, practice, plan, and use technology with students, (b) lack of sufficient technology assistance, (c) equipment failure, (d) access to technology, (e) lack of technology knowledge or expertise for substitute teachers, and (f) other priorities (e.g., statewide testing, new textbook adoptions). Participants identified enablers in the LoTi Digital-Age Survey and focus group interviews, such as: (a) technology support from other classroom teachers, computer teachers, and school district specialists, (b) technology support from Infusing Technology mentors and presenters, (c) funding for new technology tools, and (d) motivation to use technology from administration endorsement

Nuevas Vistas

With the new database system in place, the electronic resources page is much easier to update and maintain. In addition, the tagging system has allowed users to find the resources they need in a more efficient manner. Future plans include using the new electronic resources database to create self generating subject guides for different departments within the division of health sciences

Seabasing and joint expeditionary logistics

Student Integrated ProjectIncludes supplementary material. Executive Summary and Presentation.Recent conflicts such as Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom highlight the logistics difficulties the United States faces by relying on foreign access and infrastructure and large supply stockpiles ashore to support expeditionary operations. The Navy's transformational vision for the future, Sea Power 21, involves Seabasing as a way to address these difficulties by projecting and sustaining joint forces globally from the sea. This study analyzes logistics flow to, within and from a Sea Base to an objective, and the architectures and systems needed to rapidly deploy and sustain a brigade-size force. Utilizing the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), this study incorporates a systems engineering framework to examine current systems, programs of record and proposed systems out to the year 2025. Several capability gaps that hamper a brigade-size force from seizing the initiative anywhere in the world within a 10-day period point to a need for dedicated lift assets, such as high-speed surface ships or lighter-than-air ships, to facilitate the rapid formation of the Sea Base. Additionally, the study identifies the need for large-payload/high-speed or load-once/direct-to- objective connector capabilities to minimize the number of at-sea transfers required to employ such a force from the Sea Base in 10 hrs. With these gaps addressed, the Joint Expeditionary Brigade is supportable from the Sea Base.http://archive.org/details/seabasingndjoint109456918N

Nuevas Vistas

With the new database system in place the electronic resources page is much easier to update and maintain. In addition the tagging system has allowed users to find the resources they need in a more efficient manner. Future plans include using the new electronic resources database to create self generating subject guides for different departments within the division of health sciences

Monitoring magnetotelluric signals with multiple underground SQUID magnetometers.

session posterInternational audienc

X Chromosome–Inactivation Patterns of 1,005 Phenotypically Unaffected Females

X-chromosome inactivation is widely believed to be random in early female development and to result in a mosaic distribution of cells, approximately half with the paternally derived X chromosome inactive and half with the maternally derived X chromosome inactive. Significant departures from such a random pattern are hallmarks of a variety of clinical states, including being carriers for severe X-linked diseases or X-chromosome cytogenetic abnormalities. To evaluate the significance of skewed patterns of X inactivation, we examined patterns of X inactivation in a population of >1,000 phenotypically unaffected females. The data demonstrate that only a very small proportion of unaffected females show significantly skewed inactivation, especially during the neonatal period. By comparison with this data set, the degree of skewed inactivation in a given individual can now be quantified and evaluated for its potential clinical significance

Applications of minimally invasive multimodal telemetry for continuous monitoring of brain function and intracranial pressure in macaques with acute viral encephalitis.

Alphaviruses such as Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) are arboviruses that can cause severe zoonotic disease in humans. Both VEEV and EEEV are highly infectious when aerosolized and can be used as biological weapons. Vaccines and therapeutics are urgently needed, but efficacy determination requires animal models. The cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) provides a relevant model of human disease, but questions remain whether vaccines or therapeutics can mitigate CNS infection or disease in this model. The documentation of alphavirus encephalitis in animals relies on traditional physiological biomarkers and behavioral/neurological observations by veterinary staff; quantitative measurements such as electroencephalography (EEG) and intracranial pressure (ICP) can recapitulate underlying encephalitic processes. We detail a telemetry implantation method suitable for continuous monitoring of both EEG and ICP in awake macaques, as well as methods for collection and analysis of such data. We sought to evaluate whether changes in EEG/ICP suggestive of CNS penetration by virus would be seen after aerosol exposure of naïve macaques to VEEV IC INH9813 or EEEV V105 strains compared to mock-infection in a cohort of twelve adult cynomolgus macaques. Data collection ran continuously from at least four days preceding aerosol exposure and up to 50 days thereafter. EEG signals were processed into frequency spectrum bands (delta: [0.4 - 4Hz); theta: [4 - 8Hz); alpha: [8-12Hz); beta: [12-30] Hz) and assessed for viral encephalitis-associated changes against robust background circadian variation while ICP data was assessed for signal fidelity, circadian variability, and for meaningful differences during encephalitis. Results indicated differences in delta, alpha, and beta band magnitude in infected macaques, disrupted circadian rhythm, and proportional increases in ICP in response to alphavirus infection. This novel enhancement of the cynomolgus macaque model offers utility for timely determination of onset, severity, and resolution of encephalitic disease and for the evaluation of vaccine and therapeutic candidates

SQUID magnetometers: a tool for ultrasensitive measurements embedded in a controlled network environment

National audienc