The Question:
This element is 4.5 times heavier than air. This element is the most
significant (and unwanted) neutron absorber in nuclear reactors. The
element is emitted from some mineral springs. The planet Jupiter has an
abundance of this element in its atmosphere. The World Anti Doping Agency
(WADA) added this element to its list of prohibited substances. Which
element is being described?

The Answer:
The element is Xenon (Xe)! Xenon derives its name from the Greek word
"xenos" meaning 'foreign(er)', 'strange(r)', or 'guest'. Xenon has a huge
cross section for thermal neutrons and operates as a neutron absorber or
"poison" that can slow or stop the chain reaction after a period of
operation. This was discovered in the earliest nuclear reactors built by
the American Manhattan Project for plutonium production. Fortunately the
designers had made provisions in the design to increase the reactor's
reactivity (the number of neutrons per fission that go on to fission other
atoms of nuclear fuel). Xe reactor poisoning was a major factor in the
Chernobyl disaster. A shutdown or decrease of power of a reactor can result
in buildup of 135Xe, with reactor operation going into a condition known as
the iodine pit. Inhaling a xenon/oxygen mixture activates production of the
transcription factor HIF-1-alpha, which may lead to increased production of
erythropoietin. The latter hormone is known to increase red blood cell
production and athletic performance.


The winner of the quiz is  Leland Woodall and he will get the services
of Clumpy
and Kloumpios for the week.

The EQAB reviewed Doug's submission of "Stupidium" and unfortunately had to
disqualify his reponse. Detailed discussions with NASA failed to confirm
the information he provided. Additionally, a review of the global spectral
databases failed to show a spectral fingerprint for the "Stupidium"
element. EQAB is pursuing a possible connection of his half fraction
element and some government offices but that assessment has not been
completed.


So far Clumpy and Kloumpios have done the following:

Past Quiz winners/tasks:
Week 1 Ravinder Ajmani, Western Digital
Week 1 Ron Feyereisen, SigmaTron Intl.
Week 2 Louis Hart, Compunetics
Week 3 Mark Kostinovsky, Schlumberger Ltd.
Week 3 John Burke
Week 4 Drew Meyer, Benchmark Electronics
Week 5 No Winner - no correct responses!
Week 6 Bhanu Sood, NASA
Week 7 Keith Calhoun, Sopark Corp
Week 7 Ian Fox, Rolls Royce
Week 8 Leland Woodall
Week 8 David Bealer, SMT
Week 9 Tom Carroll, Boeing
Week 10 Louis Hart, Compunetics
Week 11 Tom Carroll, Boeing
Week 11 Scott Decker, UTAS
Week 12 Matthias Mansfeld, Mansfeld Elektronik PCB Design and Assembly
Week 13 No Quiz,
Week 14 Matthias Mansfeld, Mansfeld Elektronik PCB Design and Assembly
Week 15 Bhanu Sood, NASA
Week 16 John Maxwell
Week 17 Leland Woodall
Week 18 Leland Woodall
Week 19 Tom Carroll, Boeing
Week 20 Robert Kondner
Week 21 Tom Brendlinger, ClearMotion Inc.
Week 22 Carl Van Wormer, Cipher Engineering LCC
Week 23 Juliano Ribeiro, DATACOM
Week 24 Gerry Gagnon, FLIR Commercial Systems
Week 25 Graham Collins, Sunsel Systems
Week 26 Joyce Koo, IPC International
Week 26 Todd MacFadden, Bose
Week 27 Bhanu Sood, NASA
Week 28 Leland Woodall
Week 29 Mordechai Kirshenbaum
Week 30 Leland Woodall
Week 31 Leland Woodall
Week 32 Steve Gregory
Week 33 Leland Woodall
Week 34 Jerry Dengler, Pergamon Corp
Week 35 Frank Kimmey, VeriFone Inc
Week 36 Graham Collins, Sunsel Systems
Week 37 Richard "Dean" Stadem
Week 38 Leland Woodall
Week 38 Tom Carroll
Week 39 Matthias Mansfeld, Mansfeld Elektronik PCB Design and Assembly
Week 40 Leland Woodall
Week 41 Tom Carroll
Week 42 Matthias Mansfeld, Mansfeld Elektronik PCB Design and Assembly
Week 43 Joyce Koo
Week 44 Russell Kido, Practical Components
Week 45 Leland Woodall
Week 45 Frank Kimmey, VeriFone Inc
Week 46 Ian Fox, Rolls-Royce Control Systems
Week 47 Fred Cox, Bluering Stencils
Week 48 Tom Carroll, Boeing
Week 49 Todd MacFadden, Bose
Week 49 Leland Woodall
Week 50 Russell Kido, Practical Components
Week 51 Ravinder Ajmani, Western Digital
Week 52 Leland Woodall
Week 53 Scott Decker, UTAS
Week 54 Leland Woodall
Week 55  Tom Carroll, Boeing

Week 56  Mordechai Kirshenbaum
- I picked the boys from Ben Gurion Airport after a 24 hr delay. I shall
let them to overcome the Jet Lag, but  tomorrow they are going to work hard
at my labs. I hope they will enjoy their stay

Week 57  Steve Herring, Pennatronics Corp
- We have two new SPI's being installed and validated next week, so I'm
sure we can use the help. I hope they are brushed up on statistics and
Minitab, as a whole lot of number crunching will be going on!

Week 58 Leland Woodall
- The boys will be doing a round of golf tomorrow morning, yard work
tomorrow afternoon, and we'll all be eating grilled burgers tomorrow evening
while watching the Kansas race.  I want them to relax a bit before they
continue helping me perform more TS to IATF document conversion next week.

Week 59 Drew Meyer, Benchmark
-  Wow!  Simply amazing timing.  Our leader will be gone next week so we
will be two people doing the work of three.  The boys will be greatly
appreciated.  The good news for them is that we finally have some decent
weather here.  Will have to get them some time outside to enjoy it!

Week 60 Leland Woodall
- assisted with ????


I hope everyone has a awesome week! (no quiz next week due the US holiday
and I am whitewater kayaking so the boys are hauling my boat)

Dave Hillman
Rockwell Collins
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