In this dissertation, proton, two proton, and emission from the 14O + a interactions were studied with the modified thick target inverse kinematics approach. The radioactive beam was obtained by using resonances in the 14N(p, n)14O reaction. The 14O was > 99% pure. By using a beam analysis system, the contaminant-tobeam ratio was suppressed further to the 10−4 level. This makes the 14O beam at TAMU one of the best available. For the 14O(a, 2p) interaction, it was found that the resonance excited states in 18Ne are populated, and most of them decay sequentially to the ground state of 16O, i.e. 18Ne* ! 17F* + p ! 16O + p + p. Two proton events corresponding to the excited state of 18Ne*(8.45MeV), were found to have strong 2p correlation, which is the fingerprint of 2He-decay. Several models were used to explain this decay process, and evidence suggests that this state decays by 2He-emission. By measuring the Time-Of-Flight for protons through the thick target, the location of 14O(, p) reactions occurring at different places in the helium gas target were identified. With this information, we were able to measure a spectrum of protons corresponding to the population of 17F particle stable states in the 14O(a, p)17F reaction. This method provides a new way to measure astrophysically important reactions which involve radioactive nuclei and a particles. By analyzing elastic scattering of 14O and 14C on 4He, a-cluster states in 18Ne* and 18O* were found. Some a-cluster states in 18Ne* were found for the first time.

The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence, causes, and reversibility of leukoencephalopathies demonstrating confluent areas of restricted diffusion on magnetic resonant imaging (DWI+LE). We hypothesized DWI+LE would have a low incidence, and be primarily caused by toxic exposures. We performed a logic sentence based search of the Yale-New Haven MRI database to select for reports indicating restricted diffusion within the cerebral white matter. We examined patients neuroimaging studies and medical record. We identified a total of 35 cases of DWI+LE, which resulted in an overall incidence of 0.2% over the five-year period queried. The medical conditions associated with DWI+LE were as follows: toxic exposure (7), hypoxia with concurrent trauma (7), hypoxia with concurrent toxic exposure (4), hypoxia with concurrent metabolic derangements (4), seizure with concurrent metabolic derangements (2), metabolic derangements (2), antiepileptic therapy (2), hypoxia (1), trauma (1), and unknown (5). The most favorable outcomes were seen in patients with intrathecal methotrexate toxicity, while patients with hypoxia without a lucid interval fared worst. We concluded that DWI+ LE are rare, their etiology diverse, and its reversibility dependant upon the type and severity of the insult.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 291-335).

Thesis (M.S. in chemical engineering)--Washington State University, December 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Jan. 21, 2010). "Department of Chemical Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-31).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Rolla, 1993. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed January 25, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 150-155).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-135).

Thesis (D. Eng.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-111).

Thesis (M.S.)--Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003. / John Oshinski, Committee Member; Paul Benkeser, Committee Member; Xiaoping Hu, Committee Chair. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-47).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: Dept. of Radiology. Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Bibliography: leaves 117-124.