Differentiating multi-MeV, multi-ion spectra with CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors.

The development of high intensity petawatt lasers has created new possibilities for ion acceleration and nuclear fusion using solid targets. In such laser-matter interaction, multiple ion species are accelerated with broad spectra up to hundreds of MeV. To measure ion yields and for species identification, CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors are frequently used. However, these detectors are limited in their applicability for multi-ion spectra differentiation as standard image recognition algorithms can lead to a misinterpretation of data, there is no unique relation between track diameter and particle energy, and there are overlapping pit diameter relationships for multiple particle species. In this report, we address these issues by first developing an algorithm to overcome user bias during image processing. Second, we use calibration of the detector response for protons, carbon and helium ions (alpha particles) from 0.1 to above 10 MeV and measurements of statistical energy loss fluctuations in a forward-fitting procedure utilizing multiple, differently filtered CR-39, altogether enabling high-sensitivity, multi-species particle spectroscopy. To validate this capability, we show that inferred CR-39 spectra match Thomson parabola ion spectrometer data from the same experiment. Filtered CR-39 spectrometers were used to detect, within a background of ~ 2 × 1011 sr-1 J-1 protons and carbons, (1.3 ± 0.7) × 108 sr-1 J-1 alpha particles from laser-driven proton-boron fusion reactions.

The relationship between psychopathology, eating disorder diagnosis, and clinical outcome at 10-year follow-up in anorexia nervosa.

General psychopathology as measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), eating disorder diagnostic status (DSM-III-R), and clinical outcome were compared in a sample of 59 women 10 years after their hospital treatment for anorexia nervosa. There was a substantial and orderly relationship between severity of eating disorder symptomatology and severity of comorbid general psychopathology at follow-up evaluation. Those who had no eating disorder at follow-up displayed essentially no general psychopathology on the MMPI. Persons still suffering from a severe eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia nervosa) showed clinically significant levels of comorbid general psychopathology, and had significantly higher mean scores than the no eating disorder diagnosis group on seven MMPI clinical scales. Little general psychopathology was displayed by persons receiving a NOS eating disorder diagnosis at follow-up. Their mean MMPI profile was intermediate between those for the no diagnosis and severe eating disorder groups, but closer to that for the no diagnosis group. Rank order correlations were significant between levels of eating disorder symptom severity and all relevant MMPI clinical scales. Severity of psychopathology on the MMPI was also related to ratings of global outcome assessed by two approaches to categorizing outcome in anorexia nervosa.

Parameters of auditory feedback.

Adult speakers participated in three feedback conditions: Lombard, sidetone amplification, and delayed auditory feedback (DAF). All the procedures affected vocal intensity significantly, but only DAF caused changes in syllable rate. The three conditions did not provide equivalent data. Performance on any one of the feedback procedures was not predictive of performance on the others. Generalizations concerning auditory feedback must, therefore, take account of the particular method used and the parameter of speech studied.