Reduced-order model to approximate response matrices for filter stack spectrometers.

We present a reduced-order model to calculate response matrices rapidly for filter stack spectrometers (FSSs). The reduced-order model allows response matrices to be built modularly from a set of pre-computed photon and electron transport and scattering calculations through various filter and detector materials. While these modular response matrices are not appropriate for high-fidelity analysis of experimental data, they encode sufficient physics to be used as a forward model in design optimization studies of FSSs, particularly for machine learning approaches that require sampling and testing a large number of FSS designs.

Robust unfolding of MeV x-ray spectra from filter stack spectrometer data.

We present an inversion method capable of robustly unfolding MeV x-ray spectra from filter stack spectrometer (FSS) data without requiring an a priori specification of a spectral shape or arbitrary termination of the algorithm. Our inversion method is based upon the perturbative minimization (PM) algorithm, which has previously been shown to be capable of unfolding x-ray transmission data, albeit for a limited regime in which the x-ray mass attenuation coefficient of the filter material increases monotonically with x-ray energy. Our inversion method improves upon the PM algorithm through regular smoothing of the candidate spectrum and by adding stochasticity to the search. With these additions, the inversion method does not require a physics model for an initial guess, fitting, or user-selected termination of the search. Instead, the only assumption made by the inversion method is that the x-ray spectrum should be near a smooth curve. Testing with synthetic data shows that the inversion method can successfully recover the primary large-scale features of MeV x-ray spectra, including the number of x-rays in energy bins of several-MeV widths to within 10%. Fine-scale features, however, are more difficult to recover accurately. Examples of unfolding experimental FSS data obtained at the Texas Petawatt Laser Facility and the OMEGA EP laser facility are also presented.

A reference database of forensic autosomal and gonosomal STR markers in the Tigray population of Ethiopia.

Allele frequencies of 21 autosomal STR markers (AmpF/STR GlobalFiler) and haplotype frequencies of 27 Y- and 12 X-STR markers (AmpF/STR YFiler Plus and Investigator Argus X-12, respectively) were investigated in the Tigray population of Ethiopia, representing the main population group in the Tigray regional state of Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. For autosomal STR allele frequencies, the average random match probability in the Tigray sample was 2.1 × 10-27. The average locus by locus FST distance calculated comparing autosomal STR allele frequencies from Tigray and from a broad regional reference dataset currently available for the Horn of Africa was 0.003. The Tigray male sample displayed high Y-STR diversity, with complete individualization of haplotypes using the AmpF/STR YFiler Plus panel. Analysis of molecular variance did not detect significant heterogeneity between Y-STR haplotypes observed in the present study and those previously reported in the literature for other Tigray population samples from Ethiopia and Eritrea. Study of the X-STR landscape in Tigray evidenced several distinctive features including: the molecular characterization of a novel null allele at locus DXS10146 with frequency > 1%; allele dependency between loci within linkage groups I and III; significant differences in haplotype distribution compared to other Horn of Africa populations, that should be taken into account in kinship analysis. The collected data can be used as a reference STR database by local forensic genetics services and in genetic identification procedures of victims of human trafficking in the Mediterranean Sea, which frequently involve individuals originating from the Horn of Africa.

Foot and mouth disease in the Borana pastoral system, southern Ethiopia and implications for livelihoods and international trade.

Participatory epidemiology (PE) was used on the Borana plateau of southern Ethiopia to understand pastoralist's perceptions of the clinical and epidemiological features of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle. Matrix scoring showed good agreement between informant groups on the clinical signs of acute and chronic FMD, and findings were cross-checked by clinical examination of cattle and assessment of previous clinical FMD at herd level by detection of antibody to non structural proteins of FMD virus. The positive predictive value of pastoralist's diagnosis of FMD at herd level was 93.1%. The annual age-specific incidence and mortality of acute FMD in 50 herds was estimated using proportional piling. The estimated mean incidence of acute FMD varied from in 18.5% in cattle less than two years of age to 14.0% in cattle three to four years of age. The estimated mean mortality due to acute FMD varied from 2.8% in cattle less than two years of age to 0.3% in cattle three of age or older. Pearson correlation coefficients for acute FMD by age group were -0.12 (p>0.05) for incidence and -0.59 (p<0.001) for mortality. Estimates of the annual incidence of chronic FMD varied from 0.2% in cattle less than two years of age to 1.8% in cattle three to four years of age. The Pearson correlation coefficient for the incidence of chronic FMD by age group was 0.47 (p<0.001). Outbreaks of FMD peaked in Borana cattle during the two dry seasons and were attributed to increased cattle movement to dry season grazing areas. The mean seroprevalence of FMD was estimated at 21% (n=920) and 55.2% of herds (n=116) tested seropositive. Serotyping of 120 seropositive samples indicated serotypes O (99.2%), A (95.8%), SAT 2 (80%) and C (67.5%). The endemic nature of FMD in Borana pastoral herds is discussed in terms of the direct household-level impact of the disease, and the increasing export of cattle and chilled beef from Ethiopia.