Developing Poultry Facility Type Information from USDA Agricultural Census Data for Use in Epidemiological and Economic Models (open access)

Developing Poultry Facility Type Information from USDA Agricultural Census Data for Use in Epidemiological and Economic Models

The epidemiological and economic modeling of poultry diseases requires knowing the size, location, and operational type of each poultry type operation within the US. At the present time, the only national database of poultry operations that is available to the general public is the USDA's 2002 Agricultural Census data, published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, herein referred to as the 'NASS data'. The NASS data provides census data at the county level on poultry operations for various operation types (i.e., layers, broilers, turkeys, ducks, geese). However, the number of farms and sizes of farms for the various types are not independent since some facilities have more than one type of operation. Furthermore, some data on the number of birds represents the number sold, which does not represent the number of birds present at any given time. In addition, any data tabulated by NASS that could identify numbers of birds or other data reported by an individual respondent is suppressed by NASS and coded with a 'D'. To be useful for epidemiological and economic modeling, the NASS data must be converted into a unique set of facility types (farms having similar operational characteristics). The unique set must not double count …
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Melius, C
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Analysis of Rayleigh-Taylor Instability: Statistics on Rising Bubbles and Falling Spikes (open access)

Analysis of Rayleigh-Taylor Instability: Statistics on Rising Bubbles and Falling Spikes

None
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Kamath, C; Gezahegne, A & Miller, P
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ferrenberg Swendsen Analysis of LLNL and NYBlue BG/L p4rhms Data (open access)

Ferrenberg Swendsen Analysis of LLNL and NYBlue BG/L p4rhms Data

These results are from the continuing Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics runs on BG/L. These results are from the Ferrenberg-Swendsen analysis [?] of the combined data from LLNL and NYBlue BG/L runs for 32{sup 3} x 8 runs with the p4rhmc v2.0 QMP-MPI.X (semi-optimized p4 code using qmp over mpi). The jobs include beta values ranging from 3.525 to 3.535 with an alternate analysis extending to 3.540. The NYBlue data sets are from 9k trajectories from Oct 2007, and the LLNL data are from two independent streams of {approx}5k each, taking from the July 2007 runs. The following outputs are produced by the fs-2+1-chiub.c program. All outputs have had checksums produced by addCks.pl and checked by the checkCks.pl perl script after scanning.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Soltz, R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
COMPARISON OF RESPONSE OF 9977 TEST PACKAGES TO ANALYTICAL RESULTS (open access)

COMPARISON OF RESPONSE OF 9977 TEST PACKAGES TO ANALYTICAL RESULTS

Each of the hypothetical accident test cases for the 9977 prototypes was included in the battery of finite element structural analyses performed for the package. Comparison of the experimental and analytical results provides a means of confirming that the analytical model correctly represents the physical behavior of the package. The ability of the analytical model to correctly predict the performance of the foam overpack material for the crush test is of particular interest. The dissipation of energy in the crushing process determines the deceleration of the package upon impact and the duration of the impact. In addition, if the analytical model correctly models the foam behavior, the predicted deformation of the package will match that measured on the test articles. This study compares the deformations of the test packages with the analytical predictions. In addition, the impact acceleration and impact duration for the test articles are compared with those predicted by the analyses.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Smith, A & Tsu-Te Wu, T
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Groundwater and Leachate Monitoring and Sampling at ERDF, CY 2006 (open access)

Groundwater and Leachate Monitoring and Sampling at ERDF, CY 2006

The purpose of this annual monitoring report is to evaluate the conditions of and identify trends for groundwater beneath the ERDF and to report leachate results in fulfillment of the requirements specified in the ERDF ROD.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Weiss, R. L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Planar Limit of Orientifold Field Theories and Emergent Center Symmetry (open access)

Planar Limit of Orientifold Field Theories and Emergent Center Symmetry

We consider orientifold field theories (i.e. SU(N) Yang-Mills theories with fermions in the two-index symmetric or antisymmetric representations) on R{sub 3} x S{sub 1} where the compact dimension can be either temporal or spatial. These theories are planar equivalent to supersymmetric Yang-Mills. The latter has Z{sub N} center symmetry. The famous Polyakov criterion establishing confinement-deconfinement phase transition as that from Z{sub N} symmetric to Z{sub N} broken phase applies. At the Lagrangian level the orientifold theories have at most a Z{sub 2} center. We discuss how the full Z{sub N} center symmetry dynamically emerges in the orientifold theories in the limit N {yields} {infinity}. In the confining phase the manifestation of this enhancement is the existence of stable k-strings in the large-N limit of the orientifold theories. These strings are identical to those of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories. We argue that critical temperatures (and other features) of the confinement-deconfinement phase transition are the same in the orientifold daughters and their supersymmetric parent up to 1/N corrections. We also discuss the Abelian and non-Abelian confining regimes of four-dimensional QCD-like theories.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Armoni, Adi; Shifman, Mikhail & Unsal, Mithat
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
14C/C measurements support Andreev's internode method to determine lichen growth rates in Cladina stygia (Fr.) Ahti (open access)

14C/C measurements support Andreev's internode method to determine lichen growth rates in Cladina stygia (Fr.) Ahti

Growth rates and the ability to date an organism can greatly contribute to understanding its population biology and community dynamics. 1n 1954, Andreev proposed a method to date Cladina, a fruticose lichen, using total thallus length and number of internodes. No research, however, has demonstrated the reliability of this technique or compared its estimates to those derived by other means. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of {sup 14}C/C ratios to determine lichen age and growth rate in Cladina stygia (Fr.) Ahti collected from northwestern Alaska, USA. The average growth rate using {sup 14}C/C ratios was 6.5 mm {center_dot} yr{sup -1}, which was not significantly different from growth rates derived by Andreev's internode method (average = 6.2 mm {center_dot} yr{sup -1}); thus, suggesting the reliability of Andreev's simple field method for dating lichens. In addition, we found lichen growth rates appeared to differ with geographic location, yet did not seem related to ambient temperature and total precipitation.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Holt, E. & Bench, G.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Measurement of the Parameter Kappa, and Reevaluation of Kappa for Small to Moderate Earthquakes at Seismic Stations in the Vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada (open access)

Measurement of the Parameter Kappa, and Reevaluation of Kappa for Small to Moderate Earthquakes at Seismic Stations in the Vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada

The parameter kappa was defined by Anderson and Hough (1984) to describe the high-frequency spectral roll-off of the strong motion seismic spectrum. In the work of Su et al., (1996) the numerical value of kappa estimated for sites near Yucca Mountain was small (~20 ms). The estimate obtained from these events has been applied through a rigorous methodology to develop design earthquake spectra with magnitude over 5.0. Smaller values of kappa lead to higher estimated ground motions in the methodology used by the Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) for Yucca Mountain. An increase of 10 ms in kappa could result in a substantial decrease in the high frequency level of the predicted ground motions. Any parameter that plays such a critical role deserves close examination. Here, we study kappa and its associated uncertainties. The data set used by Su et al (1996) consisted of 12 M 2.8 to 4.5 earthquakes recorded at temporary stations deployed after the June 1992 Little Skull Mountain earthquake. The kappa elements of that study were revisited by Anderson and Su (MOL.20071203.0134) and substantially confirmed. One weakness of those studies is the limited data used. Few of these stations were on tuff or on Yucca Mountain …
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Biasi, Glenn & Anderson, John G.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Application of the PSUADE tool for Sensitivity Analysis of an Engineering Simulation (open access)

Application of the PSUADE tool for Sensitivity Analysis of an Engineering Simulation

None
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Hsieh, H
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
EVALUATION OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF INSTALLED-IN-PLACE POLYURETHANE FOAM INSULATION BY EXPERIMENT AND ANALYSIS (open access)

EVALUATION OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF INSTALLED-IN-PLACE POLYURETHANE FOAM INSULATION BY EXPERIMENT AND ANALYSIS

In the thermal analysis of the 9977 package, it was found that calculated temperatures, determined using a typical thermal analysis code, did not match those measured in the experimental apparatus. The analysis indicated that the thermal resistance of the overpack in the experimental apparatus was less than that expected, based on manufacturer's reported value of thermal conductivity. To resolve this question, the thermal conductivity of the installed foam was evaluated from the experimental results, using a simplified analysis. This study confirmed that the thermal resistance of the experimental apparatus was lower than that which would result from the manufacturer's published values for thermal conductivity of the foam insulation. The test package was sectioned to obtain samples for measurement of material properties. In the course of the destructive examination a large uninsulated region was found at the bottom of the package, which accounted for the anomalous results. Subsequent measurement of thermal conductivity confirmed the manufacturer's published values. The study provides useful insight into the use of simplified, scoping calculations for evaluation of thermal performance of packages.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Smith, A; Bruce Hardy, B; Kurt Eberl, K & Nick Gupta, N
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
SAFETY IMPROVES DRAMATICALLY IN FLUOR HANFORD SOIL AND GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION PROJECT (open access)

SAFETY IMPROVES DRAMATICALLY IN FLUOR HANFORD SOIL AND GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION PROJECT

This paper describes dramatic improvements in the safety record of the Soil and Groundwater Remediation Project (SGRP) at the Hanford Site in southeast Washington state over the past four years. During a period of enormous growth in project work and scope, contractor Fluor Hanford reduced injuries, accidents, and other safety-related incidents and enhanced a safety culture that earned the SGRP Star Status in the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) in 2007. This paper outlines the complex and multi-faceted work of Fluor Hanford's SGRP and details the steps taken by the project's Field Operations and Safety organizations to improve safety. Holding field safety meetings and walkdowns, broadening safety inspections, organizing employee safety councils, intensively flowing down safety requirements to subcontractors, and adopting other methods to achieve remarkable improvement in safety are discussed. The roles of management, labor and subcontractors are detailed. Finally, SGRP's safety improvements are discussed within the context of overall safety enhancements made by Fluor Hanford in the company's 11 years of managing nuclear waste cleanup at the Hanford Site.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Gerber, M. S.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Measurement of the CKM Angles at BaBar And Belle (open access)

Measurement of the CKM Angles at BaBar And Belle

The primary goal of the BaBar and Belle experiments is to overconstrain the CKM Unitarity Triangle. Measurements of the angles of this triangle, known as {beta}, {alpha}, and {gamma} (or {phi}{sub 1}, {phi}{sub 2}, and {phi}{sub 3}) give insight into the Standard Model description of CP violation in the quark sector. BaBar and Belle have recorded almost 1 ab{sup -1} combined, and have measured {beta} to high precision. Measurements of {alpha} and {gamma} are less precise at present, but both experiments are rapidly accumulating data and developing new analysis techniques, and measurements of these angles will continue to provide useful constraints on the Standard Model description of CP violation in the years to come.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Barlow, Nick
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Radiolytically-induced novel materials and their application to waste processing (open access)

Radiolytically-induced novel materials and their application to waste processing

In the present NEER project we investigated two different types of gel materials with respect to potential applications in environmental remediation, including mixed waste generated from the nuclear fuel cycles. The materials under study were: (1) silica-polymer based aerogel composites into which specific metallic cations diffuse into and remain, and (2) polymer gels made of thermo-sensitive polymer networks, whose functional groups can be ''tailored'' to have a preferred affinity for specific cations, again diffusing into and remaining in the network under a volumetrically, contractive phase-transition. The molecular, diffusion of specific cations, including those of concern in low-level waste streams, into the gel materials studied here indicates that a scaled, engineered system can be designed so that it is passive; that is, minimal (human) intervention and risk would be involved in encapsulating LLW species. In addition, the gel materials hold potential significance in environmental remediation of and recovery of metallic cations identified in respective domains and physico-chemical processes. In brief, silica gels start as aqueous/liquid solutions of base catalyzed silica hydrogels and metal ions (targeted species), such as silver. The metal ions are reduced radiolytically and migrate through the solution to form clusters. Upon post-irradiation processing, aerogel monoliths, extremely lightweight but …
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Massimo Bertino, Akira Tokuhiro, Tadashi Tokuhiro
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Exclusive Hadronic Final States in E+ E- Interactions at BaBar (open access)

Exclusive Hadronic Final States in E+ E- Interactions at BaBar

The first observation of e{sup +}e{sup -} annihilation into states of positive C parity, {rho}{sup 0}{rho}{sup 0} and {phi}{phi}{sup 0} is reported. It is shown that these final states are produced through two-virtual-photon annihilation. this is based on the distributions of cos{theta}*, where {theta}* is the center-of-mass polar angle of {phi} or {rho}{sup 0}. The cross sections for the |cos{theta}*| < 0.8 are measured. In addition, the observation of another channel, e{sup +}e{sup -} {yields} {phi}{eta} near {radical}s = 10.58 Gev with a significance of 6.5{sigma} is discussed. The cross section of the later channel for |cos{theta}*| < 0.8 is measured, where {theta}* is the center-of-mass polar angle of {phi} meson.
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Saremi, Sepehr
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ignition on the National Ignition Facility (open access)

Ignition on the National Ignition Facility

None
Date: December 5, 2007
Creator: Moses, Edward
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library