Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Factors Contributing To Dust Emissions In Clark County, Nevada Quarterly Progress Report: Period Ending April 15, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Dust Emissions from Public Lands

• Search for post-doctoral scholar underway
• Modification to task agreement currently being drafted.

Design Concepts And Process Analysis For Transmuter Fuel Manufacturing: Quarterly Progress Report #6, Kamalakar Alluri, Georg F. Mauer

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

Project Milestones

• Completed a systematic study seeking to arrive at an optimized plant configuration, using value engineering techniques in January 2006.

• Vision-based robot serving and automated plant safety monitoring is currently in progress.

Effect Of Silicon Content On The Corrosion Resistance And Radiation-Induced Embrittlement Of Materials For Advanced Heavy Liquid Metal Nuclear Systems: Quarterly Progress Report (November 2005 – January 2006), Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

This task is intended to study the effect of Si content not only on the corrosion resistance but also on the radiation-induced embrittlement of martensitic stainless steels. The susceptibility of these alloys with different Si content to stress corrosion cracking, general corrosion and localized corrosion will be evaluated in the molten LBE and aqueous environments of different pH values using state-of-the-art testing techniques. Testing in the aqueous media is intended to develop baseline data for comparison purpose. Radiation-induced embrittlement of these alloys will initially be studied by irradiating the test specimens with bremmstrahlung gamma radiation from 20-40 MeV electron beams …

Colorado College State Of The Rockies Report Card, Walter E. Hecox, Bryan Hurlbutt, Caitlin O'Brady

Publications (SD)

Welcome to Colorado College’s third State of the Rockies Report Card. Building upon a strong start in 2004 and continuing through 2005, the Rockies Project this year provides a fresh look at key challenges to this beautiful but fragile region. This Report Card and the companion April 2006 State of the Rockies Conference are significant outreach activities of Colorado College: Vision 2010, an agenda to strengthen our college and our engagement in the region.

Unlv Magazine, Carol C. Harter, Joe Cockrell, Tony Allen, Regina Bacolas, Lori Bachand, Jennifer Lawson, Bret C. Birdsong, Steve Parker, Erin O'Donnell, Jennifer Robison

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

Inside Unlv, Diane Russell, Shane Bevell, Carol C. Harter, Cate Weeks, Mamie Peers, Regina Vaccari

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Clarifying The Role Of Self-Efficacy And Metacognition As Indicators Of Learning: Construct Development And Test, Trevor T. Moores, Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, Deborah K. Smith

Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology Faculty Research

We propose extending our understanding of self-efficacy by comparing self-efficacy with a related construct called metacognition. Metacognition involves the monitoring and control of one's thought processes and is often related, as is self-efficacy, to performance on a task. We develop an instrument that attempts to measure both self-efficacy and metacognition with respect to one's performance on a test covering declarative and procedural knowledge (knowing that, and knowing how) of DFDs and ERDs. With data collected from a sample of 124 students, we use partial least squares (PLS) to show that self-efficacy and metacognition are distinct yet related constructs. While self-efficacy …

Cooperative Conservation: Increasing Capacity Through Community Partnerships -- Interagency Volunteer Program & Cooperative Conservation Program: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Get Outdoors Nevada

• Interagency volunteer database now contains 2,211 records, reflecting 404 new volunteer records this quarter, a 22% increase over last quarter.
• Website activity decreased, recording an average of 35,798 hits per month, with an average of 3,337 pages viewed per month.
• Volunteer events were successfully executed in Sloan Canyon NCA, Spring Mountains NRA, and Lake Mead NRA.
• Interagency training was delivered to 70 volunteers.

Interagency Science And Research: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Interagency Science and Research Strategy

• Interim (Phase I) Science and Research Strategy under development, with target
  completion by early May 2006.
• Interagency Science and Research Team meetings conducted approximately every two weeks
• Team extensively reviewed and approved plans, invitees, and timeline for two
  Ecosystem Health Assessment (Vital Signs) workshops scheduled for May and
  August 2006.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Sensitive Wildlife Species Monitoring And Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Wildlife Monitoring

• Research Assistant Professor hired to oversee NPS wildlife monitoring programs and serve as overall program coordinator for UNLV monitoring programs at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
• Final report completed for 2004-2005 desert tortoise monitoring project.
• Final report completed for 2004-2005 relict leopard frog management.
• Recommendations for vegetation management research to improve relict leopard frog habitats at North Shore springs made to NPS Management Team
• Breeding surveys for relict leopard frog and egg collections for head-starting program completed.
• Final report completed of 2004-2005 monitoring efforts on peregrine falcons.
• Final report completed on 2004-2005 bald eagle monitoring.
• Bald eagle survey for 2006 …

Take Pride In America In Southern Nevada: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Anti-littering Programs

• A community-based roundtable met three times this quarter to suggest goals and objectives for the anti-litter strategic plan.

• Project Manager Doug Joslin is representing the public lands on a Clark County Recycling Advisory Committee, which met twice this quarter.

• Four public service announcements were produced by UNLV students, with one selected by the team for use in the Southern Nevada messaging campaign.

• The Clint Eastwood Take Pride in America PSA aired 74 times in January 2006 and was viewed by 116,802 people.

• The interagency team has begun arrangements for paper recycling in partnership with the …

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv January 1 Through March 31, 2006, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects, activities and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Theoretical Modeling Of Protective Oxide Layer Growth In Non-Isothermal Lead-Alloys Coolant Systems: Quarterly Progress Report (01/01/06- 03/31/06), Yitung Chen

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Research highlights:

• A cellular automaton model using method of global restructuring on the growth and corrosion during the formation of the passive layer has been developed.

• A stochastic model, which combines the surface growth and internal oxidation, has been developed to explain the oxidation mechanism of steels in liquid lead alloys.

• Two conference papers have been accepted and will be presented in 2006 International Congress on the Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP '06).

Development Of Integrated Process Simulation System Model For Spent Fuel Treatment Facility (Sftf) Design: Quarterly Progress Report January 1-March 31, 2006, Yitung Chen, Sean Hsieh

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The UNLV developed TRPSEMPro software package can access engineering modeling software, ASPEN Plus through its own interface. The new interface eliminates the user interaction with the complex ASPEN Plus package and also provides input and output results for analysis purpose. The current interface will keep improving on collecting multiple scenario runs and database population.

Two separation processes, acid and plutonium separations, are near completion. The unit operations were finished while some sensitive chemical data for certain species are unknown. Graduate student, Matthew Hodges, continues on finishing those processes using dummy values for those restricted variables. Once the processes complete, researchers …

Red Rock Desert Learning Center Core Group Meeting: March 21, 2006, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Introductions & Announcements (5 min.)
2. Approval of Minutes from January 17, 2006 Meeting (5 min.)
3. Update on Project Schedule – Michael Reiland (10 min.)
   A. Utilities
   B. Water Line
   C. Operator RFP
   D. NEPA
4. Report on Value Analysis Workshops – Michael Reiland / Line & Space
   (10 min.)
   A. Cost Estimates/Inflation
5. Curriculum Update – Jeanne Klockow (10 min.)
6. Standing Reports (10 min.)
   A. Line and Space – Les Wallach
   B. BLM Capital Improvements – Michael Reiland
7. Committee Reports (5 min.)
   A. Building Committee
   B. Design Oversight
   C. Educational Programs
   D. Fund-raising and Partnerships
   E. NEPA
   F. Operations
   G. Other Uses …

Presentation To Green Valley Rotary Club March 16, 2006, Public Lands Institute, Nancy Flagg

Presentations (PLI)

The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands.

In collaboration with federal, state, and non-profit partners, we are:

• creating new knowledge
• advancing technology
• improving education
• engaging the public to enhance public lands stewardship.

Public Lands, Public Lands Institute

Presentations (PLI)

The Public Lands Institute is fully engaged in strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands.

Combined Radiation Detection Methods For Assay Of Higher Actinides In Separations Processes: Quarterly Progress Report: January-March 2006, Denis Beller, Warnick Kernan

Safeguards Campaign (TRP)

Monitoring of higher actinides (HA--includes neptunium, plutonium, americium, and curium) during the separation of used nuclear fuel has been identified as a critical research area in the U.S. Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI). Recycling of used fuel by chemically separating it into uranium, fission products, and HA would be the first step in this new fuel cycle. The Material Protection, Accounting, and Control (MPAC) are necessary for materials accounting, criticality monitoring, and assurance of proliferation resistance. The objective of the MPAC project is to develop technology to detect and accurately measure quantities of higher actinides in used fuel assemblies and …

Neutron Multiplicity Measurements For The Afci Program Final Quarterly Progress Report January-March 2006, Denis Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

This project was developed to test a Russian-built Neutron Multiplicity Detector System (NMDS) for measuring neutrons generated in a central target by a variety of accelerators. To assist in experiment design and evaluation, we use the most advanced high-energy radiation transport code, MCNPX, to model experiments. Experimental results are compared to computational predictions and discrepancies are investigated. Initial plans were to conduct experiments using a 70-MeV proton cyclotron at the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at the University of California at Davis and/or a 20 to 40 MeV electron linac (linear accelerator) at the Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) at Idaho State University …

Reactor Physics Studies For The Afci Race Project: Reactor-Accelerator Coupling Experiments Project: Quarterly Progress Report January-March 2006, Denis Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

In the RACE Project of the U.S. Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), a series of accelerator driven subcritical systems (ADSS) experiments is being conducted at the Idaho State University’s Idaho Accelerator Center (ISU-IAC) and at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, and will be conducted at the Texas A&M University. In these experiments electron accelerators are used to induce bremsstrahlung photon-neutron reactions in heavy-metal targets; this source of 10¹⁰ to 10¹³ n/s initiates fission reactions in the subcritical systems. These systems include a compact, transportable assembly at ISU and TRIGA reactors at UT-Austin and Texas A&M. These …

The Electrochemical Separation Of Curium And Americium: Quaterly Report January - March, 2006, David W. Hatchett, Kenneth Czerwinski

Separations Campaign (TRP)

This research report outlines the current status and progress associated with the electrochemical separation of Curium and Americium. For two and a half years, research has been actively performed on this project, and is currently on schedule for the proposed timelines.

Progress:

• The electrochemical characterization of Ce and Eu complexed with EDTA, NTA, and Citrate has been completed.

• Synthesis of the polymer substrate and the chelating ligand is underway. Approximately 50 grams of disulfide has been produced to produce the chelating thiol group required for the last set of studies.

• Gold substrates have been prepared to perform …

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Quarterly Report, January 2006 To March 2006, Kiel Steven Holliday, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This project will examine inert matrix fuels containing ZrO₂ and MgO as the inert matrix, with the relative amount of MgO varied from 30% to 70% in ZrO₂. Reactor physics calculations will be used to examine suitable quantities of burnable poisons from the candidate elements Gd, Er, or Hf with reactor grade Pu providing the fissile component, with up to 10% of ²³⁹Pu. Ceramics will be synthesized and characterized based on the reactor physics results. The solubility of the fuel ceramics, in reactor conditions, reprocessing conditions, and repository conditions, will be investigated in a manner to …

Crystal Structure And Nano Structure Of Oxide-And Nitride Transmutation Fuel – Refinement Of Transmutation Fuel Processing For Surrogate And Radioactive Fuel Systems: Quarterly Report, January 2006 To March 2006, Chinthaka Silva

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

Transmutation-related research work at the National Laboratories, e.g. Los Alamos National Laboratory, is focused on mono-nitride ceramic fuel forms, and consists of closely coordinated “hot” actinide and “cold” inert and surrogate fuels work. Matrix and surrogate materials work involves three major components: (1) fuel matrix synthesis and fabrication, (2) fuel performance, and (3) fuel materials modeling. The synthesis and fabrication component supports basic material studies, as well as actinide fuel fabrication work through fuel fabrication process development.

This project, task 28, supports the TRP program by delivering structural data on surrogate and radioactive fuels. Crystal structure and nanostructures of the …

Long-Term Mechanical Behavior Of Yucca Mountain Tuff And Its Variability, Jaak J.K. Daemen, Lumin Ma, Guohua Zhao

Publications (YM)

The study of the long term mechanical behavior of Yucca Mountain tuffs is important for several reasons. Long term stability of excavations will affect accessibility (e.g. for inspection purposes), and retrievability. Long term instabilities may induce loading of drip shields and/or emplaced waste, thus affecting drip shield and/or waste package corrosion. Failure of excavations will affect airflow, may affect water flow, and may affect temperature distributions. The long term mechanical behavior of “hard” rocks remains an elusive topic, loaded with uncertainties. A variety of approaches have been used to improve the understanding of this complex subject, but it is doubtful …

Synthesis And Properties Of Metallic Technetium And Technetium - Zirconium Alloys As A Radioactive Storage Waste Form To Stabilize The Technetium Waste Stream Of The Urex+1 Process, Frederic Poineau, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Waste Forms Campaign (TRP)

In the AFCI program the UREX+1 process is proposed as one of the most promising technique to separate TRU (transuranic elements) form LWR spent nuclear fuel in the years to come. The application of UREX+1 results in good separation of the 5f-transuranics from the 4f-lanthanides, reduced waste volumes by eliminating the uranium content, and reduced waste package costs. Technetium-99 will be separated together with uranium and iodine within the first process steps. After the separation of uranium, technetium and iodine must be immobilized by their incorporation in a suitable waste storage form. Based on recent activities within the AFCI community, …

Education In The Environment: A Hands-On Student Research And Outdoor Learning Experience: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending February 28, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Reports (PLI Education)

During the past three-months, the focus of the university’s efforts has included the following highlights:

• The 2006 Our Places Tell Stories Conference for place-based educators was held on the UNLV campus, January 24-27, 2006. Attendance totaled 120 participants, who rated the overall content and arrangements at 3.59 on a 4.00 scale.
• Forever Earth was scheduled 22 days in the past three months, benefiting more than 200 individuals.
• A $3,000 donation was received for the Forever Earth program.
• The Year 2 Schedule of Events for the Discover Mojave Outdoor World program is on track for delivering 29 total events, a 190% …

Results Of Chemical Analyses For Alcove 8/ Niche 3 Tracer Studies, Jeanette Daniels, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This is the final report detailing the analyses performed under ORD-FY04-011 "Chemical Analyses for Alcove 8/Niche 3 Tracer Studies," The work was performed under The University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Cooperative Agreement DE-FC28-04RW12232, This task provided method development and analytical support for the Alcove 8/Niche 3 Tracer Studies in the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF). Concentrations of tracers as well as major anions and cations were reported for samples provided by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the US Geological Survey (USGS). Samples were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and …

Red Rock Desert Learning Center Core Group Meeting: February 21, 2006, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

Meeting cancelled

1. Introductions & Announcements (5 min.)
2. Approval of Minutes from January 17, 2006 Meeting (5 min.)
3. Update on Project Schedule – Michael Reiland (10 min.)
   A. Utilities
   B. Water Line
   C. Operator RFP
   D. NEPA
4. Report on Value Analysis Workshops – Michael Reiland / Line & Space
   (10 min.)
5. Curriculum Update – Jeanne Klockow (10 min.)
6. Standing Reports (10 min.)
   A. BLM Capital Improvements – Michael Reiland
   B. Community Outreach – LaNelda Rolley
7. Committee Reports (5 min.)
   A. Building Committee
   B. Design Oversight
   C. Educational Programs
   D. Fund-raising and Partnerships
   E. NEPA
   F. Operations
   G. Other Uses
   H. Wild …

Assessment Of An Outdoor Recreation And Education Program, Daphne Sewing, Jeanne A. Klockow, Public Lands Institute

Presentations (DM)

• Introduce economically disadvantaged urban youth, ages 8-12, to outdoor recreation and education.
• Foster a belief that outdoor recreation plays an important and positive role in the health and fitness of America’s youth.

Determining The Redox Properties Of Yucca Mountain-Related Groundwater Using Trace Element Speciation For Predicting The Mobility Of Nuclear Waste, James Cizdziel, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

The objective of this task is to determine the principal oxidation state (redox) species of select elements in samples of groundwater in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain (YM), which is being evaluated as a site for geologic storage of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste. Samples to be analyzed include, but are not limited to, groundwater from wells of the Nye County Early Warning Drilling Program. Elements to be studied include arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V), tungsten (W), rhenium (Re), and uranium (U). The …