A How-To Guide for Incorporating a Nonprofit Organization

Forming a nonprofit can be a daunting task and is a detailed operation. It involves a great deal of paperwork, time, effort and devotion by its founders, founding board and initial stakeholders. However, the satisfaction of contributing to an organization and being part of a change movement can be extremely rewarding. Hopefully this booklet has provided you with information to consider in the beginning phases in the life of a nonprofit organization and has helped to familiarize you with the process and requirements involved in both the incorporation and obtaining tax-exempt status. While this booklet does not address every detail, it is designed to guide you through the legal and procedural hoops and over the hurdles of incorporating as a nonprofit

Study of wavelength-shifting chemicals for use in large-scale water Cherenkov detectors

Cherenkov detectors employ various methods to maximize light collection at the photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). These generally involve the use of highly reflective materials lining the interior of the detector, reflective materials around the PMTs, or wavelength-shifting sheets around the PMTs. Recently, the use of water-soluble wavelength-shifters has been explored to increase the measurable light yield of Cherenkov radiation in water. These wave-shifting chemicals are capable of absorbing light in the ultravoilet and re-emitting the light in a range detectable by PMTs. Using a 250 L water Cherenkov detector, we have characterized the increase in light yield from three compounds in water: 4-Methylumbelliferone, Carbostyril-124, and Amino-G Salt. We report the gain in PMT response at a concentration of 1 ppm as: 1.88 $\pm$ 0.02 for 4-Methylumbelliferone, stable to within 0.5% over 50 days, 1.37 $\pm$ 0.03 for Carbostyril-124, and 1.20 $\pm$ 0.02 for Amino-G Salt. The response of 4-Methylumbelliferone was modeled, resulting in a simulated gain within 9% of the experimental gain at 1 ppm concentration. Finally, we report an increase in neutron detection performance of a large-scale (3.5 kL) gadolinium-doped water Cherenkov detector at a 4-Methylumbelliferone concentration of 1 ppm.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods

Towards energy resolution at the statistical limit from a negative ion time projection chamber

We make a proof-of-principle demonstration that improved energy resolution can be obtained in a negative-ion time projection chamber, by individually counting each electron produced by ionizing radiation.Comment: Submitted to Nucl. Instr. Meth.

A comparison of soil and corn kernel Aspergillus flavus populations: evidence for niche specialization

Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that infects peanuts, cotton, corn and tree nuts. Aspergillus flavus is a major problem globally due to the production of acutely toxic and carcinogenic aflatoxins. Louisiana climatic conditions lead to annual threats of corn aflatoxin contamination. The purpose of this study was to determine the specific ability of different strains of A. flavus to infect corn. Five soil samples and 10 corn ears were collected from each of seven corn fields throughout Louisiana. In addition, Francis Deville of Monsanto Company collected 7, 6, 2, and 4 soil samples and corn ears from four additional fields in Louisiana. Six hundred twelve and 255 A. flavus colonies were isolated from the corn and soil samples, respectively. Isolates were characterized by vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs), sclerotia size, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production, mating type and 8 simple sequence repeat loci polymorphisms. Eighty-eight percent of corn isolates belonged to two VCGs, whereas only 5% of soil isolates belonged to the same two VCGs. Ninety-five percent of corn isolates did not produce any sclerotia, whereas 56% and 41% of soil isolates produced small and large sclerotia, respectively. The mean AFB1 production on rice for corn kernel isolates was 2314 ± 7455 ppb and 10248 ± 11430 ppb for the soil isolates. Ninety-six percent of corn isolates were in the Mat1-2 mating type whereas only 52% of soil isolates were Mat1-2. SSR fingerprints revealed 26 haplotypes in the corn sample isolates and 78 in the soil sample isolates. All characteristics differed significantly between the soil and the corn kernel populations. Differences between the corn and soil populations indicate that not all soil isolates are as capable of infecting corn and that some isolates have become specialized to infect corn. Further understanding of virulence of A. flavus is important for the development of a better biocontrol against toxigenic A. flavus and possibly more resistant hybrids of corn

Priority Between Morgagee and Creditor of Mortgagor in an Unrecorded Chattle Mortgage

The interpretation of this statute by the Washington Supreme Court has not always been uniform or certain. In determining the priority of the respective claims of a mortgagee under a defective mortgage and of a creditor of the mortgagor, several questions may be raised which can not be answered with certainty as the law stands today