Ever notice how I get disqualified because Dave can't find corroborating
evidence?  I am starting to question Dave's literature research abilities.
I suspect he is using Yahoo.


Doug Pauls
Principal Materials and Process Engineer
Rockwell Collins

On Thu, May 24, 2018 at 1:25 PM, David Hillman <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>  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
> [log in to unmask]
>