In this dissertation work, a computer simulation model based on the Geant4 simulation package has been designed and developed to study the energy deposition and track structures of cosmic muons and their secondary electrons in tissue-like materials. The particle interactions in a cubic water volume were first simulated. To analyze the energy deposition and tracks in small structures, with the intention of studying the energy localization in nanometric structures such as DNA, the chamber was sliced in three dimentions. Validation studies have been performed by comparing the results with experimental, theoretical, and other simulation results to test the accuracy of the simulation model. A human body phantom in sea-level muon environment was modeled to measure the yearly dose to a human from cosmic muons. The yearly dose in this phantom is about 22 millirems. This is close to the accepted value for the yearly dose from cosmic radiation at sea level. Shielding cosmic muons with a concrete slab from 0 to 2 meters increased the dose received by the body. This dissertation presents an extensive study on the interactions of secondary electrons created by muons in water.

<p>Simulation means running a model of a system with suitable input and observing the corresponding output. Real-time environment simulation is a special kind of simulation used to simulate a control system's environment in real-time. This is done to test the control system before it is used in its real environment. In this project, computer simulation of a certain kind of environments, called track-based systems, is studied and a general model for track-based systems is developed. In this model, track layouts are represented by graphs, which is a flexible and extensible representation and a method for visualizing these layouts is presented. The model also includes representation of switches, sensors, and trains. In addition, a configurable prototype simulator is designed and implemented for a model railroad system. The experience gained in this project is documented in the report and is presented as guidelines for developing simulators for track-based systems.</p>

<p>Railway track and ground vibrations are considered, with anemphasis on methods of mitigation ("countermeasures"), forapplication to wayside disturbance problems.</p><p>Original field measurements from two sites in Sweden, aswell as borrowed measurements from Norway, provide vibrationresults at many points on the track, on and underneath theground surface, for a variety of trains, both with and withoutcountermeasures in-place.</p><p>Infinite periodic system theory is the basis of track-onlyand track-ground interaction models presented. The repeatingelement includes the sleeper, pad-fastener, rail, and either alocally-reacting ballast or a continuous ballast-soilwaveguide. The track-only model is even refined for nonlinearand high-frequency cases. The models are suitable for studyingcountermeasures in the track, or in the foundation(soil-stabilization). This latter countermeasure is shown to beeffective at low frequencies (of geotechnical interest), butsometimes counterproductive at audible frequencies (disturbanceproblems).</p><p>An analytical model for hard seismic screens is alsopresented, to complement the treatment of ground vibrationcountermeasures; this is based on physical approximations whichare favored by "high" (i.e, audible)frequencies and softsoils. Notably, experimentally observed resonant behavior isexplained.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>ground vibration, vibration screen, trackvibration, railway vibration</p>

The following report is an examination of consumer tracking and profiling in the United States. The paper presents perspectives on the current discussion surrounding regulation of consumer tracking. It begins with an explanation of the evolution of tracking technologies and tracking prevention tools. This is followed by a discussion of the outcomes of self-regulatory initiatives, as well as existing regulatory efforts from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and standardization initiatives from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This background information is used to examine “specialty consumer reporting agency” Web sites, information brokers that exist solely to create profiles about individuals and sell these profiles online. This research presents a content analysis of privacy policies for 29 of these Web sites. Specifically, the content analysis focuses on the legal language they use in their presentation of Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) disclaimers, the listed sources of their information, and their instructions for users to correct or remove their information. The conclusion from the findings is that many of these Web sites are engaging in deceptive practices as defined by the FTC. As a solution, the FTC could enforce FCRA requirements on these Web sites by requiring that consumers be able to access this information, dispute inaccurate information, understand how their information is gathered and used, and opt out of having a profile completely. The FTC also can create a centralized Web site where specialty consumer reporting agencies identify themselves to consumers, describe how they collect and use consumer data, and detail the access rights and other choices they provide with respect to the consumer data they maintain. Finally, the paper concludes with a summary of online privacy initiatives in the European Union, and an explanation of the requirements of United States compliance with these policies when taking part in the European marketplace. / text

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) final project is to develop a business plan and care model for implementing a fast track area (FTA) in a rural emergency department (ED). The short term goal for this project is to create a business plan and the long term goals are to create a new care model to decrease wait times and lengths of stay, as well as increasing patient satisfaction in a rural emergency department. This project will provide background knowledge pertaining to ED overcrowding, identification of key stakeholders and justification for a fast track area with definitions of pertinent terminology used throughout the project. This business plan will incorporate data collection and results from Platte County Memorial Hospital in Wheatland, Wyoming. Limitations to and proposals for future research will be addressed at the end of the project.

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This study was performed at Thomas Arena in Strängnäs, Sweden. The reason ofthe study was to see how to perform an enhancement in the orientatabilitybetween the entrance and the locker rooms. By looking at how the environmentinteract with the users when it comes to orientatability, the study should give agreater understanding in how the entrance should be evolved to enhance theorientatability. A qualitative study was performed, where observations andinterviews studies was used to collect the data. By the result you could see that theenvironment between the entrance en the looker rooms was hard to understand,and was affecting the users in their orientation. With the support of literature,earlier research and the results that the empiricism showed a draft was made, werespatial elements clarified the orientatability. / Denna studie är gjord vid Thomas Arena i Strängnäs. Syftet har varit attundersöka hur man kan öka orienterbarheten mellan entrén och sporthallensomklädningsrum. Genom att se hur miljön påverkar användarnas möjlighet attnavigera sig ges en större förståelse för hur entrén bör utformas för att stödjaderas orientering. En kvalitativ studie har gjorts där observation- ochintervjustudier använts för insamling av data. I resultatet kunde man konstatera attmiljön mellan entrén och sporthallens omklädningsrum är svårbegriplig ochpåverkar användarnas möjligheter att orientera sig. Med stöd av litteratur ochtidigare forskning och de resultat empirin visat på har ett förslag tagits fram, därolika rumsliga element tydliggör orienterbarheten.

Railway track ballast fouling is an ongoing issue without a clear understanding regarding either the cause for generation or the source of the fouling materials. This study was conducted to determine what physical processes are likely causing ballast fouling, where in the track sub-structure fouling material is concentrating, and what factors affect the severity of ballast fouling. A field investigation on a CN railway track was conducted in Joliette, QC during undercutting maintenance operations. Data for in-situ ballast, sub-ballast, and subgrade samples were gathered from a series of trenches excavated through the track embankment. The geotechnical and mineralogical characteristics of a selected set of ballast samples were gathered through a regime of laboratory testing. Grain size distribution data for the select samples was collected from sieve and hydrometer testing. Three sets of LA abrasion tests were conducted on both in-situ and freshly quarried ballast rock to determine the degradation characteristics of the various ballast types. The petrographic analysis of the sample types was conducted using bulk hand sample characterization, thin-section analysis, and X-Ray Diffraction Analysis. The petrographic, grain size, and LA abrasion combined analysis indicated that ballast fouling was primarily caused through degradation of the ballast. The fouling material within the ballast pores was sourced to the abraded pieces of ballast that had degraded over time through XRD and grain size distribution analysis. It was found with statistical confidence that ballast layers with harder, structureless rock types have less fouling material form within the ballast void spaces compared to ballast rock types that are soft on the Mohs hardness scale or have planes of weakness due to structural factors. Analysis of the grain size data also showed that ballast fouling was generally concentrated within the section of the ballast layer directly underlying the steel rail, within the topmost parts of the ballast layers. Overall it was recommended that the effects of chemical degradation on ballast rock types and the historical operational duration of ballast be incorporated into future ballast fouling studies. / Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-27 10:01:46.141

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