Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector (open access)

Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector

This report presents an overview of the large and diverse sector of water infrastructure systems, describes security-related actions by the government and private sector since September 11, 2001, and discusses additional policy issues and responses, including congressional interest.
Date: May 26, 2009
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Time-dependent amplitude analysis of $B^0 \to K^0_S\pi^ pi^-$ (open access)

Time-dependent amplitude analysis of $B^0 \to K^0_S\pi^ pi^-$

In this paper we present results from a time-dependent amplitude analysis of the B{sup 0} {yields} K{sup 0}{sub s}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} decay. In Sec. II we describe the time-dependent DP formalism, and introduce the signal parameters that are extracted in the fit to data. In Sec. III we briefly describe the BABAR detector and the data set. In Sec. IV, we explain the selection requirements used to obtain the signal candidates and suppress backgrounds. In Sec. V we describe the fit method and the approach used to control experimental effects such as resolution. In Sec. VI we present the results of the fit, and extract parameters relevant to the contributing intermediate resonant states. In Sec. VII we discuss systematic uncertainties in the results, and finally we summarize the results in Sec. VIII.
Date: May 26, 2009
Creator: Aubert, B.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tolerance Study for the Echo-Enabled Harmonic Generation Free Electron Laser (open access)

Tolerance Study for the Echo-Enabled Harmonic Generation Free Electron Laser

The echo-enabled harmonic generation free electron laser (EEHG FEL) holds great promise in generation of coherent soft x-ray directly from a UV seed laser within one stage. The density modulation in the harmonic generation process is affected by the smearing effect caused by the fluctuations of energy and current along the beam, as well as the field error of the dispersive elements. In this paper we study the tolerance of the EEHG FEL on beam quality and field quality. The diffusion effect from incoherent synchrotron radiation (ISR) in the dispersion sections and the second modulator are also studied.
Date: May 26, 2009
Creator: Xiang, D. & Stupakov, G.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Transgenic Mouse Model of Chronic Beryllium Disease (open access)

Transgenic Mouse Model of Chronic Beryllium Disease

Animal models provide powerful tools for dissecting dose-response relationships and pathogenic mechanisms and for testing new treatment paradigms. Mechanistic research on beryllium exposure-disease relationships is severely limited by a general inability to develop a sufficient chronic beryllium disease animal model. Discovery of the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) - DPB1Glu69 genetic susceptibility component of chronic beryllium disease permitted the addition of this human beryllium antigen presentation molecule to an animal genome which may permit development of a better animal model for chronic beryllium disease. Using FVB/N inbred mice, Drs. Rubin and Zhu, successfully produced three strains of HLA-DPB1 Glu 69 transgenic mice. Each mouse strain contains a haplotype of the HLA-DPB1 Glu 69 gene that confers a different magnitude of odds ratio (OR) of risk for chronic beryllium disease: HLA-DPB1*0401 (OR = 0.2), HLA-DPB1*0201 (OR = 15), HLA-DPB1*1701 (OR = 240). In addition, Drs. Rubin and Zhu developed transgenic mice with the human CD4 gene to permit better transmission of signals between T cells and antigen presenting cells. This project has maintained the colonies of these transgenic mice and tested the functionality of the human transgenes.
Date: May 26, 2009
Creator: Gordon, Terry
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Undulator-Based Production of Polarized Positrons (open access)

Undulator-Based Production of Polarized Positrons

None
Date: May 26, 2009
Creator: Alexander, Gideon; Barley, John; Batygin, Yuri; Berridge, Steven; Bharadwaj, Vinod; Bower, Gary et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
The use of TI-208 gamma rays for safeguards, nondestructive-assay (NDA) measurements (open access)

The use of TI-208 gamma rays for safeguards, nondestructive-assay (NDA) measurements

This paper examines two cases where gamma rays from Tl-208, including the 2614keV gamma ray, were used to detect anomalies in waste material. In addition to the characterization of waste for waste acceptance, and compliance with environmental and transportation laws, there is a safeguards element as well. The more sophisticated method of NDA at Y-12 includes a means to detect shielded special nuclear material (SNM). Excess count rates in the 2614keV gamma ray from Tl-208 are an indication of potential shielded HEU in waste as well as other containers. The 2614keV gamma ray is easy to monitor routinely. When a large 2614keV peak is detected, further investigation can be conducted from the gamma spectrum. This paper describes this further investigation in two cases. In one case self-shielded HEU was detected. In the other case the Tl-208 gamma rays came from a piece of Th-232 metal.
Date: May 26, 2009
Creator: Oberer, R. B.; Chiang, L. G.; Norris, M. J.; Gunn, C. A. & Adaline, B. C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Terascale High-Fidelity Simulations of Turbulent Combustion with Detailed Chemistry: Spray Simulations (open access)

Terascale High-Fidelity Simulations of Turbulent Combustion with Detailed Chemistry: Spray Simulations

The Terascale High-Fidelity Simulations of Turbulent Combustion (TSTC) project is a multi-university collaborative effort to develop a high-fidelity turbulent reacting flow simulation capability utilizing terascale, massively parallel computer technology. The main paradigm of the approach is direct numerical simulation (DNS) featuring the highest temporal and spatial accuracy, allowing quantitative observations of the fine-scale physics found in turbulent reacting flows as well as providing a useful tool for development of sub-models needed in device-level simulations. Under this component of the TSTC program the simulation code named S3D, developed and shared with coworkers at Sandia National Laboratories, has been enhanced with new numerical algorithms and physical models to provide predictive capabilities for turbulent liquid fuel spray dynamics. Major accomplishments include improved fundamental understanding of mixing and auto-ignition in multi-phase turbulent reactant mixtures and turbulent fuel injection spray jets.
Date: April 26, 2009
Creator: Rutland, Christopher J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Advanced Dark Energy Physics Telescope (ADEPT) (open access)

Advanced Dark Energy Physics Telescope (ADEPT)

In 2006, we proposed to NASA a detailed concept study of ADEPT (the Advanced Dark Energy Physics Telescope), a potential space mission to reliably measure the time-evolution of dark energy by conducting the largest effective volume survey of the universe ever done. A peer-review panel of scientific, management, and technical experts reported back the highest possible 'excellent' rating for ADEPT. We have since made substantial advances in the scientific and technical maturity of the mission design. With this Department of Energy (DOE) award we were granted supplemental funding to support specific extended research items that were not included in the NASA proposal, many of which were intended to broadly advance future dark energy research, as laid out by the Dark Energy Task Force (DETF). The proposed work had three targets: (1) the adaptation of large-format infrared arrays to a 2 micron cut-off; (2) analytical research to improve the understanding of the dark energy figure-of- merit; and (3) extended studies of baryon acoustic oscillation systematic uncertainties. Since the actual award was only for {approx}10% of the proposed amount item (1) was dropped and item (2) work was severely restricted, consistent with the referee reviews of the proposal, although there was considerable …
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Bennett, Charles L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Annual Site Environmental Report for Calendar Year 2004 (open access)

Annual Site Environmental Report for Calendar Year 2004

This report provides the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the public with information on the level of radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants (if any) that are added to the environment as a result of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory's (PPPL) operations. The results of the 2004 environmental surveillance and monitoring program for PPPL's are presented and discussed. The report also summarizes environmental initiatives, assessments, and programs that were undertaken in 2004.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Finley, V.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Collins Fragmentation and the Single Transverse Spin Asymmetry (open access)

Collins Fragmentation and the Single Transverse Spin Asymmetry

We study the Collins mechanism for the single transverse spin asymmetry in the collinear factorization approach. The correspondent twist-three fragmentation function is identified. We show that the Collins function calculated in this approach is universal.We further examine its contribution to the single transverse spin asymmetry of semi-inclusive hadron production in deep inelastic scattering and demonstrate that the transverse momentum dependent and twist-three collinear approaches are consistent in the intermediate transverse momentum region where both apply.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Yuan, Feng & Zhou, Jian
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Acquisitions: Key Considerations for Planning Future Army Combat Systems (open access)

Defense Acquisitions: Key Considerations for Planning Future Army Combat Systems

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Future Combat System (FCS) program--which comprises 14 integrated weapon systems and an advanced information network--is the centerpiece of the Army's effort to transition to a lighter, more agile, and more capable combat force. The substantial technical challenges, the cost of the program, and the Army's acquisition strategy are among the reasons why the program is recognized as needing special oversight and review. This testimony is based on GAO's March 12, 2009 report and addresses knowledge gaps that will persist in the FCS program as Congress is asked to make significant funding commitments for development and production over the next several years."
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Management: Key Challenges Should be Addressed When Considering Changes to Missile Defense Agency's Roles and Missions (open access)

Defense Management: Key Challenges Should be Addressed When Considering Changes to Missile Defense Agency's Roles and Missions

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "To more quickly field ballistic missile defenses, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has been exempted from traditional Department of Defense (DOD) requirements development, acquisition, and oversight processes since its creation in 2002. Instead, MDA has unique roles and missions to develop and field weapon systems that address a variety of ballistic missile threats. To date, MDA has spent about $56 billion and plans to spend about $50 billion more through 2013 to develop an integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System. The system consists of a layered network of capabilities that includes defensive components such as sensors, radars, interceptors, and command and control. In reviews of DOD's approach to acquire, operate, and maintain ballistic missile defense systems, GAO has previously reported on several challenges that have stemmed from the broad flexibilities provided to MDA. This testimony summarizes the challenges facing DOD in acquiring and operating its ballistic missile defense systems and describes DOD's efforts to improve transparency and accountability. This statement is based primarily on previously issued GAO reports and testimonies. GAO also reviewed documents and interviewed key officials to update past work and identify DOD and MDA efforts to …
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Does the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Listing Provide More Protection of Polar Bear?: A Look at the Special Rules (open access)

Does the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Listing Provide More Protection of Polar Bear?: A Look at the Special Rules

This report looks at the regulations surrounding the polar bear, which has been protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) since 1972. The report discusses the protections, prohibitions, and special rules for polar bears as well as exceptions to the rules, habitat issues, recovery plans, and other issues regarding polar bear protections.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Alexander, Kristina
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations

This report provides an overview of Egyptian politics and current issues in U.S.-Egyptian relations. It briefly provides a political history of modern Egypt, an overview of its political institutions, and a discussion of the prospects for democratization in Egypt.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Register, Volume 74, Number 57, March 26, 2009, Pages 13055-13312 (open access)

Federal Register, Volume 74, Number 57, March 26, 2009, Pages 13055-13312

Daily publication of the U.S. Office of the Federal Register contains rules and regulations, proposed legislation and rule changes, and other notices, including "Presidential proclamations and Executive Orders, Federal agency documents having general applicability and legal effect, documents required to be published by act of Congress, and other Federal agency documents of public interest" (p. ii). Table of Contents starts on page iii.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: United States. Office of the Federal Register.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Human Subjects Research: Undercover Tests Show the Institutional Review Board System Is Vulnerable to Unethical Manipulation (open access)

Human Subjects Research: Undercover Tests Show the Institutional Review Board System Is Vulnerable to Unethical Manipulation

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Millions of Americans enroll in clinical studies of experimental drugs and medical devices each year. Many of these studies are meant to demonstrate that products are safe and effective. The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are responsible for overseeing aspects of a system of independent institutional review boards (IRB). IRBs review and monitor human subjects research, with the intended purpose of protecting the rights and welfare of the research subjects. GAO investigated three key aspects of the IRB system: (1) the process for establishing an IRB, (2) the process through which researchers wishing to apply for federal funding assure HHS their human subjects research activities follow ethical principles and federal regulations, and (3) the process that medical research companies follow to get approval for conducting research on human subjects. GAO investigated these three aspects of the IRB system by creating two fictitious companies (one IRB and one medical device company), phony company officials, counterfeit documents, and a fictitious medical device."
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy Study at the 222-S Laboratory Using Hot-Cell Glove Box Prototype System (open access)

Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy Study at the 222-S Laboratory Using Hot-Cell Glove Box Prototype System

This report describes the installation, testing and acceptance of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant procured laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (LA-ICP-AES) system for remotely analyzing high-level waste samples in a hot cell environment. The 2005-003; ATS MP 1027, Management Plan for Waste Treatment Plant Project Work Performed by Analytical Technical Services. The APD group at the 222-S laboratory demonstrated acceptable turnaround time (TAT) and provide sufficient data to assess sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the LA-ICP-AES method.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Lockrem, L. L.; Owens, J. W. & Seidel, C. M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Methadone-Associated Overdose Deaths: Factors Contributing to Increased Deaths and Efforts to Prevent Them (open access)

Methadone-Associated Overdose Deaths: Factors Contributing to Increased Deaths and Efforts to Prevent Them

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Prescription drug abuse is a growing public health problem. In particular, methadone-associated overdose deaths--those in which methadone may have caused or contributed to the death--have risen sharply. Before the late 1990s, methadone was used mainly to treat opioid addiction but has since been increasingly prescribed to manage pain. Taken too often, in too high a dose, or with other drugs or alcohol, methadone can cause serious side effects and death. Methadone-associated overdose deaths can occur under several different scenarios, including improper dosing levels by practitioners, misuse by patients who may combine methadone with other drugs, or abuse--using the drug for nontherapeutic purposes. This report examines the regulation of methadone, factors that have contributed to the increase in methadone-associated overdose deaths, and steps taken to prevent methadone-associated overdose deaths. GAO reviewed documents, laws and regulations, data, and research from relevant state and federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). GAO also interviewed federal officials, officials in five selected states, officials from professional associations and advocacy groups, and experts in pain management, addiction treatment, and forensic sciences."
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Overview of Recent U.S. Supreme Court Jurisprudence in Patent Law (open access)

An Overview of Recent U.S. Supreme Court Jurisprudence in Patent Law

None
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Panama: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations (open access)

Panama: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations

This report discusses the current political and economic conditions in the country of Panama, which has made notable political and economic progress since the 1989 U.S. military intervention that ousted the regime of General Manuel Noriega from power. The United States has close relations with Panama, stemming in large part from the extensive linkages developed when the canal was under U.S. control. This report describes the U.S.-Panama relationship at length, including trade relations.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Shock Ignitiion: A New Approach to High Gain/Yield Targets for the National Ignition Facility (open access)

Shock Ignitiion: A New Approach to High Gain/Yield Targets for the National Ignition Facility

None
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Perkins, L J; LaFortune, K N; Betti, R; Williams, W H; Miles, A R & Divol, L
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Silicon Carbide Ceramics for Compact Heat Exchangers (open access)

Silicon Carbide Ceramics for Compact Heat Exchangers

Silicon carbide (SiC) materials are prime candidates for high temperature heat exchangers for next generation nuclear reactors due to their refractory nature and high thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures. This research has focused on demonstrating the potential of liquid silicon infiltration (LSI) for making SiC to achieve this goal. The major advantage of this method over other ceramic processing techniques is the enhanced capability of making high dense, high purity SiC materials in complex net shapes. For successful formation of net shape SiC using LSI techniques, the carbon preform reactivity and pore structure must be controlled to allow the complete infiltration of the porous carbon structure which allows complete conversion of the carbon to SiC. We have established a procedure for achieving desirable carbon properties by using carbon precursors consisting of two readily available high purity organic materials, crystalline cellulose and phenolic resin. Phenolic resin yields a glassy carbon with low chemical reactivity and porosity while the cellulose carbon is highly reactive and porous. By adjusting the ratio of these two materials in the precursor mixtures, the properties of the carbons produced can be controlled. We have identified the most favorable carbon precursor composition to be a cellulose resin mass …
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Nagle, Dennis & Zhang, Dajie
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Small Business Tax Benefits: Overview and Economic Rationale (open access)

Small Business Tax Benefits: Overview and Economic Rationale

None
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Study of Turbulent Fluctuations Driven by the Electron Temperature Gradient in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (open access)

Study of Turbulent Fluctuations Driven by the Electron Temperature Gradient in the National Spherical Torus Experiment

Various theories and numerical simulations support the conjecture that the ubiquitous problem of anomalous electron transport in tokamaks may arise from a short-scale turbulence driven by the electron temperature gradient. To check whether this turbulence is present in plasmas of the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), measurements of turbulent fluctuations were performed with coherent scattering of electromagnetic waves. Results from plasmas heated by high harmonic fast waves (HHFW) show the existence of density fluctuations in the range of wave numbers k⊥ρe=0.1-0.4, corresponding to a turbulence scale length of the order of the collisionless skin depth. Experimental observations and agreement with numerical results from the linear gyro-kinetic GS2 code indicate that the observed turbulence is driven by the electron temperature gradient. These turbulent fluctuations were not observed at the location of an internal transport barrier driven by a negative magnetic shear.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Mazzucato, E.; Bell, R. E.; Ethier, S.; Hosea, J. C.; Kaye, S. M.; LeBlanc, B. P. et al.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library