The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been developing a nuclear waste disposal facility, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), located approximately 42 km east of Carlsbad, New Mexico. The WIPP is designed to demonstrate the safe disposal of transuranic wastes produced by the defense nuclear-weapons program. Pefiormance assessment analyses (U.S. DOE, 1996) indicate that human intrusion by inadvertent and intermittent drilling for resources provide the only credible mechanisms for significant releases of radionuclides horn the disposal system. These releases may occur by five mechanisms: (1) cuttings, (2) cavings, (3) spallings, (4) direct brine releases, and (5) long- term brine releases. The first four mechanisms could result in immediate release of contaminant to the accessible environment. For the last mechanisq migration pathways through the permeable layers of rock above the Salado are important, and major emphasis is placed on the Culebra Member of the ...
The evolution of these new ion-exchange resins hinges upon an understanding of the chemistry of actinide metal complexes as they exist in solution and when interacting with the cationic sites. Molecular modeling of electrostatic interactions between the metal complex and the cationic substrate is used to help visualize uptake mechanisms and, eventually, to predict optimized coordination sites. Thus, these new materials integrate the fields of ion-specific chelation and ion-exchange technology. Synthesized resins contain cationic sites designed to facilitate the uptake of plutonium nitrato complexes from high-nitrate solutions, and they exhibit distribution coefficients that are up to 10 times higher than those observed for commercial resins. Additionally, some new resins show surprisingly large Kd`s for anionic complexes of Am(III) and U(VI).
Full text of publication follows: Stable aqueous sulfur species are mainly sulfide (H{sub 2}S) and sulfate (SO{sub 4}{sup 2-}) ions. However, several sulfoxy-anions may be detected as metastable anions in natural environment, as typically thiosulfate (S{sub 2}O{sub 3}{sup 2-}) and sulfite (SO{sub 3}{sup 2-}) ions [1]. In natural systems, uranium speciation and migration are mainly governed by carbonate complexes in non reducing conditions. Whereas sulfate is already known as a complexing agent of actinides, data relating to U-SO{sub 3}{sup 2-} and U-S{sub 2}O{sub 3}{sup 2-} complexes have only been proposed for U(VI) [2], but are usually not included in thermodynamic databases [3]. Therefore, it appears to be relevant to determine complexation constants of actinides with sulfur ligands, for RN migration studies, concerning nuclear waste disposal as well as migration behaviour in the ...
The optical spectra of actinide ions in the compound AnCl_3 and doped into single crystal LaCl_3 were interpreted in terms of transitions within 5f"N configurations. Energy-level calculations were carried out using an effective operator Hamiltonian, the parameters of which were determined by fitting experimental data. Atomic and crystal-field matrices were diagonalized simultaneously assuming an approximate D_3_h site symmetry. The spectroscopic data were taken from the literature but in most cases supplemented by unpublished measurements in absorption and in fluorescence. Spectroscopic data for each ion were analyzed independently, then the model parameters were intercompared and in many cases adjusted such that in the final fitting process the principal interactions showed uniform trends in parameter values with increasing atomic number. Consistent with analyses of the spectra of lanthanide ions in both LaCl_3 and LaF_3, abrupt changes in magnitude of certain ...
The measurements of the nuclear decay of actinide isotopes and the evaluation of the radioactive properties of nuclide with the mass 242 is discussed in this paper.
The Department of Energy selected caustic-side solvent extraction (CSSX) as the preferred cesium-removal technology for SRS high-level waste. In the pretreatment step of the CSSX flowsheet, the incoming salt solution, which contains entrained sludge, is contacted with MST to adsorb strontium and selected actinides. An alternative approach replaces MST with the addition of sodium permanganate, strontium nitrate, and hydrogen peroxide. The pretreatment operation then filters the resulting slurry to remove the sludge and MST or manganese oxide and strontium carbonate solids. The filtrate receives further treatment in the solvent extraction system. SRTC personnel coordinated tests using a SpinTek rotary microfilter at the vendor location in FY01. These tests demonstrated a significant improvement - 2.5 to 6 times increase - in performance relative to the conventional cross-flow filter units. Rotary microfilter testing used a filter disk with nominal pore size of either ...
A prediction of delayed neutron yields for actinides which are important in the nuclear energy field is given. The prediction is based on a correlation related to a suggested cluster structure of the nucleus. (author).
Of some interest is the comparison between the actinide nuclide burning up (fission) rates such as americium 241, americium 242, curium 244, and neptunium 237, in the reactors with fast or thermal neutron spectra.
Of some interest is the comparison between the actinide nuclide burning up (fission) rates such as americium 241, americium 242, curium 244, and neptunium 237, in the reactors with fast or thermal neutron spectra.
The concept of preliminary transmutation of minor actinides before placement to the long-term storage is considered. The purpose of such preliminary transmutation before ultimate storage is to incinerate a part of actinides and to transform another part into new actinides providing low level of radiotoxicity accumulated in the storage. Modes of transmutation in reactors of PWR, PHWR (CANDU), and Superfenix types are compared. Among power reactors, heavy-water PHWR type reactor is most acceptable for preliminary transmutation. (author)
Several studies of facilitated communication have demonstrated that the facilitators were controlling and directing the typing, although they appeared to be unaware of doing so. Such results shift...Full Text Available
The deep water parts of the Moere and Southern Voering Basins are large frontier areas, which are considered to contain significant undiscovered hydrocarbon resources, within Cretaceous and Paleogene reservoirs. PGS Reservoir AS have evaluated the Cretaceous and Paleogene successions of the shallow and deep water areas offshore Mid-Norway using high-resolution sequence stratigraphic techniques. The successions have been subdivided into about 20 stratigraphic sequences. The results are: (1) A more acurate and higher resolution stratigraphy, (2) Greater constraints on basin palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeographic reconstructions, (4) Fully integrated sandstone fairway models, with increased ability to reservoir and seal quality and continuity, (5) In addition to several obvious giant domal traps, subtler yet significant structural and stratigraphic leads and prospects can be identified, (6) The timing, volume and phase of hydrocarbon generation may be estimated more accurately, to ...
Union Oil Company drilled four geothermal test wells in the Cove Fort-Sulphurdale KGRA between 1975 and 1979. A fairly complete suite of well logs were recorded for the three deeper holes, and these data are presented as composite well log plots in this report. The composite well log plots have facilitated the interpretation of limestone, dolomite, sandstone, quartz-monzonite, serpentine, and volcanic lithologies and the identification of numerous fractures. This has been especially helpful because of the extensive lost circulaton zones and poor cuttings recovery. Intraformational flow was identified by a fluid migration-temperature tracer log at depth in CFSU 31-33. Well log crossplots were computed to assist in lithologic identification and the determination of physical properties for specific depth intervals in a given hole. The presence of hydrous minerals sometimes results in neutron porosity somewhat higher than the true nonfracture ...
Expedited site characterization (ESC), developed by Argonne National Laboratory, is an interactive, integrated process emphasizing the use of existing data of sufficient quality, multiple complementary characterization methods, and on-site decision making to optimize environmental site investigations. The Argonne ESC is the basis for the provisional ESC standard guide of the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). QuickSite{sup SM} is the implementation package developed by Argonne to facilitate ESC of sites contaminated with hazardous wastes. At various sites, Argonne has successfully implemented QuickSite{sup SM} and demonstrated the technical superiority of the ESC process over traditional methodologies guided by statistics and random-sampling approaches. A key feature in the success of QuickSite{sup SM} investigations is achieving an understanding of the subsurface geologic and hydrogeologic controls and processes at a site before extensive sampling ...
This paper analyses Italian interregional migration flows. The approach taken is to decompose labour mobility flows into short distance and long distance migration and to model the effects of economic variables, social capital and quality of life variables, and amenity variables, on the mobility behaviour of individuals. We estimate these different types of migration flows using a negative binomial model, augmented with instruments to control for potential endogeneity issues. Our findings demonstrate that long distance migration reflects a disequilibrium model of migration whereas short distance migration largely reflects an equilibrium model of migration. As such, attempts to model interregional migration in general will be mis-specified as the simultaneously-operating underlying mobility...
We propose a combined migration velocity analysis and imaging method based on Kirchhoff integral migration and reverse time migration, using the residual curvature analysis and layer stripping strategy to build the velocity model. This method improves the image resolution of Kirchhoff integral migration and reduces the computations of the reverse time migration. It combines the advantages of efficiency and accuracy of the two migration methods. Its application in tunnel seismic prediction shows good results. Numerical experiments show that the imaging results of reverse time migration are better than the imaging results of Kirchhoff integral migration in many aspects of tunnel prediction. Field data show that this method has efficient computations and can establish a reasonable velocity model and a high quality imaging ...
Recommended nuclear decay data for specific actinides are important in fuel-cycle studies for thermal and fast reactors and inventory studies for safeguards. Therefore, a programme of work was initiated in 2005 to improve the actinide decay data library of the International Atomic Energy Agency through the efforts of a Coordinated Research Project (CRP). The proposed contents of the new database are described, including the agreement to include additional actinides and a significant number of natural decay chain radionuclides. This work is on-going, and is estimated for completion in 2009/10.
Actinides other than the main uranium or plutonium isotopes take a growing part in the different stages of the nuclear cycle. For the French nuclear power program based on the development of light water reactors and fast breeders, many evaluations of the secondary actinides build up are made for the both reactor types using mainly the existing reactor codes. The comparison of these foreseen compositions with experimental results allows to perform some adjustments of the neutronic data. The secondary actinide compositions are given for some typical fuels and their consequences on the nuclear cycle are discussed. An hypothetical burning of these wastes in fast reactors has been studied and the main conclusions are reported.
We combine data from the Latin American Migration Project and the Mexican Migration Project to estimate models predicting the likelihood of taking of first and later trips to the United States...Full Text Available
Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for migrated disc herniations is technically demanding due to the absence of the technical guideline. The purposes of this study were to propose a radiologic...Full Text Available
Three popular imaging methods were used to carry out seismic migration from the Alberta foothills: Kirchhoff integral, reverse-time and explicit finite-difference migration methods. The imaging comparisons of reverse-time, Kirchhoff and f-x post-stack depth migration leads to the following conclusions. All of the three migration methods can provide acceptable and well-imaged intermediate results on the simplest model. Post-stack migration was not very sensitive to the accuracy of the velocity field once a reliable structural stack was available. With respect to the imaging accuracy and calculation cost, the Kirchhoff migration method seemed to be superior to reverse-time and f-x migration algorithms because its results on different kinds of velocity cases were basically kept coherent and consistent with the velocity model given by Mobil. ...
Three popular imaging methods were used to carry out seismic migration from the Alberta foothills: Kirchhoff integral, reverse-time and explicit finite-difference migration methods. The imaging comparisons of reverse-time, Kirchhoff and f-x post-stack depth migration leads to the following conclusions. All of the three migration methods can provide acceptable and well-imaged intermediate results on the simplest model. Post-stack migration was not very sensitive to the accuracy of the velocity field once a reliable structural stack was available. With respect to the imaging accuracy and calculation cost, the Kirchhoff migration method seemed to be superior to reverse-time and f-x migration algorithms because its results on different kinds of velocity cases were basically kept coherent and consistent with the velocity model given by Mobil. ...
Migration-based methods have been recently proposed to improve the estimation of angle-dependent reflectivity in the presence of complex structures. An anisotropic prestack reverse-time migration is developed to estimate the reflectivity as function of the local illumination angle. This migration method generates four simultaneous images which corresponds to the in-depth (local) plane-wave response for PP, PS, SP and SS reflections, and can be used in a Zoeppritz-based elastic inversion scheme. (author)
Based on the wave equation theory, the authors use finite difference method to derive wave-field extrapolation formula, by which both wavefield modeling and migration can be made. The migration program VSP MIG that was developed using P-wave equation may be used to migrate both surface seismic data and VSP data. Besides, it may be applied to the migrations of P-wave data and P-SV wave data, in which case the original velocity model should be modified properly. The migrated image times for P-wave and P-SV wave respectively are absolutely equal. The migrations of upgoing P-wave and upgoing P-SV wave which have been separated can offer migrated P-wave section and migrated S-wave section. Thus, one can get more information than from simultaneous migration of P-wave and S-wave data.
The effects of the dopants, Mg{sup 2+}, Ca{sup 2+}, Sr{sup 2+}, Sc{sup 3+}, Yb{sup 3+}, Y{sup 3+}, Gd{sup 3+}, La{sup 3+}, Ti{sup 4+}, Zr{sup 4+}, and Nb{sup 5+}, on the grain boundary mobility of dense CeO{sub 2} have been investigated from 1,270 to 1,420 C. Parabolic grain growth has been observed in all instances. Together with atmospheric effects, the results support the mechanism of cation interstitial transport being the rate-limiting step. A strong solute drag effect has been demonstrated for diffusion-enhancing dopants such as Mg{sup 2+} and Ca{sup 2+}, which, at high concentrations, can nevertheless suppress grain boundary mobility. Severely undersized dopants (Mg, Sc, Ti, and Nb) have a tendency to markedly enhance grain boundary mobility, probably due to the large distortion of the surrounding lattice that apparently facilitates defect migration. Overall, the most effective grain growth inhibitor at 1.0% doping is Y{sup 3+}, while ...
We have previously shown that budded viruses of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) enter the cell cytoplasm but do not migrate into the nuclei of non-permissive Sf9 cells that support a high titer of Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) multiplication. Here we show, using the syncytium formation assay, that low-pH-triggered membrane fusion of BmNPV GP64 protein (Bm-GP64) is significantly lower than that of AcMNPV GP64 protein (Ac-GP64). Mutational analyses of GP64 proteins revealed that a single amino acid substitution between Ac-GP64 H155 and Bm-GP64 Y153 can have significant positive or negative effects on membrane fusion activity. Studies using bacmid-based GP64 recombinant AcMNPV harboring point-mutated ac-gp64 and bm-gp64 genes showed that Ac-GP64 H155Y and Bm-GP64 Y153H substitutions decreased and increased, respectively, the multiplication and cell-to-cell spread of progeny viruses. These results indicate that Ac-GP64 H155 ...
Development of evaluation technology of electrochemical reactions is very essential to understand chemical behavior of actinides and lanthanides in molten salt media in relation to the development of Pyrochemical process. The on-line electrochemical/spectroscopic measurement system is to produce electrochemical parameters and thermodynamic parameters of actinides and lanthanides in molten salts by using spectroscopic techniques such as UV-VIS absorption as well as electrochemical in-situ measurement techniques. The on-line electrochemical/spectroscopic measurement system can be applied to understand the chemical reactions and oxidation states of actinides and lanthanides in molten salts eventually for the Pyrochemical process
Mass distributions of fragments in the low-energy fission of nuclei from "1"8"7Ir to "2"1"3At have been analysed. This analysis has shown that shell effects in symmetric-mode fragment mass yields from the fission of pre-actinide nuclei could be described if one assumes the existence of two strongly deformed neutron shells in the arising fragments with neutron numbers N_1#approx#52 and N_2#approx#68. A new method has been proposed for quantitatively describing the mass distributions of the symmetric fission mode for pre-actinides with A#approx#180-220. (orig.)
This report provides a summary of theoretical and experimental studies of actinide spectra in condensed phases. Much of the work was accomplished at Argonne National Laboratory, but references to related investigations by others are included. Spectroscopic studies of the trivlent actinides are emphasized, as is the use of energy level parameters, evaluated from experimental data, to investigate systematic trends in electronic structure and other properties. Some reference is made to correlations with atomic spectra, as well as with spectra of the (II), (IV), and higher valence states. 207 refs., 39 figs., 38 tabs.
In recent years sufficient new spectra of actinides in their numerous valence states have been measured to encourage a broader scale analysis effort than was attempted in the past. Theoretical modelling in terms of effective operators has also undergone development. Well established electronic structure parameters for the trivalent actinides are being used as a basis for estimating parameters in other valence states and relationships to atomic spectra are being extended. Recent contributions to our understanding of the spectra of 4+ actinides have been particularly revealing and supportive of a developing general effort to progress beyond a preoccupation with modelling structure to consideration of the much broader area of structure-bonding relationships. We summarize here both the developments in modelling electronic structure and the interpretation of apparent trends in bonding. 60 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.
In recent years sufficient new spectra of actinides in their numerous valence states have been measured to encourage a broader scale analysis effort than was attempted in the past. Theoretical modelling in terms of effective operators has also undergone development. Well established electronic structure parameters for the trivalent actinides are being used as a basis for estimating parameters in other valence states and relationships to atomic spectra are being extended. Recent contributions to our understanding of the spectra of 4+ actinides have been particularly revealing and supportive of a developing general effort to progress beyond a preoccupation with modelling structure to consideration of the much broader area of structure-bonding relationships. We summarize here both the developments in modelling electronic structure and the interpretation of apparent trends in bonding. 60 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.
The electrochemical/spectroscopic integrated measurement system was designed and set up for spectro-electrochemical measurements of lanthanide and actinide ions in high temperature molten salt media. A compact electrochemical cell and electrode system was also developed for the minimization of reactants, and consequently minimization of radioactive waste generation. By applying these equipment, oxidation and reduction behavior of lanthanide and actinide ions in molten salt media have been made. Also, thermodynamic parameter values are determined by interpreting the results obtained from electrochemical measurements. Several lanthanide ions exhibited fluorescence properties in molten salt. Also, UV-VIS measurement provided the detailed information regarding the oxidation states of lanthanide and actinide ions in high temperature molten salt media
We have studied actinide burn-up in ICF reactor pellets; i.e., 14 MeV neutron fission of the very long-lived actinides that pose storage problems. A major advantage of pellet fuel region burn-up is safety: only milligrams of highly toxic and active material need to be present in the fusion chamber, whereas blanket burn-up requires the continued presence of tons of actinides in a small volume. The actinide data tables required for Monte Carlo calculations of the burn-up of /sup 241/Am and /sup 243/Am are discussed in connection with a study of the sensitivity to cross section uncertainties. More accurate and complete cross sections are required for realistic quantitative calculations.
The present compounds are useful as specific sequestering agents for actinide (IV) ions. Also described is a method for the 2,3-dihydroxybenzamidation of azaalkanes.
VSP reverse-time migration is a well adaptable wave equation migration method. Its control equation not only describes all-direction propagation of seismic wave but also removes interbed multiples. Clearbout's image principle is generalized to determine image conditions, real VSP data are used to determine boundary condition, and two way reflection-free wave equation is solved by making reverse-time extrapolation. In each step of extrapolation, the migration value at relevant image point is obtained by using the image condition. The complete migration of a seismic section is achieved when reverse-time extrapolation reaches the minimum image time. In this paper it is proved theoretically and practically that this method is applicable to any velocity variation and makes the migrated section have both good resolution and high S/N ratio. Besides, this method results in high ...
Three-dimensional seismic wavefields may be extrapolated in depth, one frequency at a time, by two-dimensional convolution with a circularly symmetric, frequency- and velocity-dependent filter. This depth extrapolation, performed for each frequency independently, lies at the heart of 3-D finite-difference depth migration. The computational efficiency of 3-D depth migration depends directly on the efficiency of this depth extrapolation. McClellan transformations provide an efficient method for both designing and implementing two-dimensional digital filters that have a particular form of symmetry, such as the circularly symmetric depth extrapolation filters used in 3-D depth migration. Given the coefficients of one-dimensional, frequency- and velocity-dependent filters used to accomplish 2-D depth migration, McClellan transformations lead to a simple and efficient algorithm for 3-D depth ...
VSP data are usually recorded in common-shot gather and contain less informations. It is difficult, therefore, to obtain good migration result by using conventional migration methods. Both inner interface reflections and interformational multiples can be removed by reverse-time migration with the use of two-way nonreflection wave equation: besides, boundary reflection in VSP can be eliminated using Clayton's absorption boundary condition. It is proved that reverse-time migration is able to improve migration quality. The imaging condition is still obtained by generalizing Claerbout's imaging principle and solving eikonal equation. This is a very practical wave equation migration method. This method is applicable to prestack VSP data, conventional multiple-offset shot gather and the simultaneous migration of VSP data and ...
Neuroblasts born in the adult subventricular zone (SVZ) migrate long distances in the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to the olfactory bulbs where they integrate into circuitry as functional interneurons....Full Text Available
ObjectiveAlthough endoscopic procedures for lumbar disc diseases have improved greatly, the postoperative outcomes for high grade inferior migrated discs are not satisfactory. Because...Full Text Available
The paper reviews the formation of minor actinides in light water and fast reactors, as well as the current status and recent improvements in the nuclear data for minor actinides, and compares recently evaluated data with experimental results. The paper also describes the qualification of nuclear data by post-irradiation analysis and integral measurements in fast critical assemblies. (author).
Sixteen actinide nuclei: U-234 and -236; Np-237; Pu-236, -237, -238, -242, and -244; Am-241, -242* and -243; and Cm-241, -242, -243, -244, and -248, have been evaluated for ENDF/B-V with particular attention given to the fast fission and capture cross sections. Seven nuclei have not appeared on ENDF/B before and major changes for previous ENDF/B files have been made.
British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) is currently operating its third generation of nuclear plant for the management of irradiated nuclear fuel. Development for the fourth generation plant must meet requirements for processing higher burn-up fuel with lower unit costs, lower environmental impact, better process control, and more flexible control of actinides. .
In view of the interest in the use of gamma irradiation to extend the storage life of pre-packaged foods a report is made on the effects of gamma radiation on the migration of Irganox 1076 and Irganox 1010, antioxidants present in food packaging plastics, into synthetic triglyceride fatty-food simulant HB307 and iso-octane. The extent of migration was assayed by h.p.l.c. techniques. Migration into HB307 and iso-octane decreased steadily as irradiation progressed suggesting that gamma irradiation of packaging materials helps to prevent the contamination of food by antioxidants in the packaging. (U.K.).
This paper presents a reverse time migration (RTM) method for the migration of shot records in tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) media. It is based on the tilted TI acoustic wave equation that was derived from the dispersion relation. The RTM is a full depth migration allowing for velocity to vary laterally as well as vertically and has no dip limitations. The wave equation is solved by a tenth-order finite difference scheme. Using 2D numerical models, we demonstrate that ignoring the tilt angle will introduce both lateral and vertical shifts in imaging. The shifts can be larger than 0.5 wavelength in the vertical direction and 1.5 wavelength in the lateral direction.
Migration of protoplanets inside an accretion disc of a forming star is the most probable scenario for planetary system formation according to current models. Unsolved problems exist, concerning migration times and mechanisms. We report here the results of a 2D hydrodynamic study within an SPH scheme, analysing migration of an Earth-like or a Jupiter-like planet inside an inviscid sub-Keplerian accretion disc, as a function of the initial specific angular momentum of the infalling accretion disc matter. Particle capture by the protoplanet causes a rapid migration, within a few orbits, for the Earth like planet, and about 104 orbits for the Jupiter like planets. The effect of a planet pseudo-atmosphere is also discussed.
A theoretical background of crosshole reflection imaging with pre stack, multi-mode reverse time migration has been investigated. The crosshole migration has been carried out by solving two-way scalar wave equation with finite difference approximation. The wave field extrapolation was performed backward in time, with the imaging condition applied at each extrapolation time step to create partial image of the reflector. The complete migrated image was obtained by adding all the partial images from each time step. With multi-component crosshole data available, it is possible to separate the recorded data into primary P- and S-wave field. Separating wave field before migration is helpful in enhancing migrated image quality since only one wave mode can be dealt at a time with the scalar wave equation. It is possible to migrate mixed-mode primary reflections(P-S and ...
Besides differentiation and apoptosis, cell migration is a basic process in brain development in which neural cells migrate several centimeters within the developing brain before reaching their proper positions and forming the right connections. For identifying signaling events that control neural migration and are therefore potential targets of chemicals to disturb normal brain development, we developed a human neurosphere-based migration assay based on normal human neural progenitor (NHNP) cells, in which the distance is measured that cells wander over time. Applying this assay, we investigated the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in the regulation of NHNP cell migration. Exposure to model substances like ethanol or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) revealed a correlation between ERK1/2 activation and cell migration. The ...
Underground injection, compared to other waste disposal methods, is considered to have the advantages of isolating wastes in a confined brine aquifer well below the horizon of human activity and underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). While most of injected wastes move laterally in the injection zone, posing a long-term concern to the human health and environment, a small amount can migrate upward to the upper aquifers, causing a greater threat to the quality of USDWs. Both the dual porosity and the single porosity models were used to investigate the migration of injected wastes through these hydrologic conduits. The results indicate that regional upward migration through an extensive confining formation is a slow process. Nevertheless, injected wastes can move upward rapidly through microannuli and channels in the cement sheath and spread over a distance in the upper aquifer. The wastes can also ...
The reversion time migration, as one of reflection seismic prospecting migration, reverse propagates a wave equation by reverse promoting the differential time, and conducts the migration. The method has such merits as no limit to the inclined angle of a reflection, correspondence to a complex topography etc. And, there is a finite difference time domain (FDTD) that uses the Maxwell equation as it is and makes a difference approximation in the methods differentiating and resolving electro-magnetic fields. It is also possible to apply the reverse time migration onto it. In this speech, using an explosive reflection face, a slope 2 layer structure and models of its reflection points are synthesized by a ground penetrating radar using the FDTD, and reverse time migration is conducted. As a result, it is clarified that the reverse time migration is valid for the ...
The production of oil by retorting shale and other hydrocarbonaceous and lignocellulosic solid materials is facilitated by retorting in the presence of steam and acetic acid.
The report considers experimental and theoretical works on studying the energy spectra of prompt neutrons emitted in spontaneous fission and neutron induced fission of Minor Actinides. It is noted that neutron spectra investigations were done for only a small number of such nuclei, most measurements, except those of Cf-252, having been carried out long ago by obsolete methods and imperfectapparatus. The works have no detailed description of experiments, analysis of errors, detailed numerical information about results of experiments. A conclusion is made that the available data do not come up to modern requirements. It is necessary to make new measurements of fission prompt neutron spectra of transuranium nuclides important for the objectives of working out a conception of minor actinides transmutation by means of special reactors. (author).
Mass distributions of fragments in the low-energy fission of nuclei from {sup 187}Ir to {sup 213}At have been analysed. This analysis has shown that shell effects in symmetric-mode fragment mass yields from the fission of pre-actinide nuclei could be described if one assumes the existence of two strongly deformed neutron shells in the arising fragments with neutron numbers N{sub 1}{approx}52 and N{sub 2}{approx}68. A new method has been proposed for quantitatively describing the mass distributions of the symmetric fission mode for pre-actinides with A{approx}180-220. (orig.) 28 refs.
Data and functions of the cell burnup calculation of the SRAC system were revised to improve mainly the accuracy of the burnup calculation of high conversion light water reactors (HCLWRs). New burnup chain models were developed in order to treat fission products (FPs) and actinide nuclides in detail. Group cross section library, SRACLIB-JENDL2, was generated based on JENDL-2 nuclear data file. In generating this library, emphasis was placed on FPs and actinides. Also revised were the data such as the average energy release per fission for various actinides. These improved data were verified by performing the burnup analysis of PWR spent fuels. Some new functions were added to the SRAC system for the convenience to yield macroscopic cross sections used in the core burnup process. (author).
Development of a number of original 3-D migration methods and algorithms is described. The computational efficiency of these algorithms is demonstrated by implementing them on vector and parallel supercomputers. Two-dimensional post-stack and pre-stack depth migration algorithms in the frequency - space domain using implicit finite difference method were also developed and implemented on a parallel computer, and adapted for applications that range from deep crustal imaging of seismic wavefields that involve wide ranging travel times and frequencies. All implicit finite difference migration algorithms were highly prallelized . The one pass 3-D post-stack depth migration algorithm was extensively used for imaging of seismic monitoring data from Cold Lake, Alberta. Experience shows that it provides the right trade-off between accuracy and computational efficiency. A new formulation of the 3-D reverse-time ...
Burnup calculations with SARC system were carried out to analyse the effects of plutonium build-up on criticality of MTR type research reactor PARR-1 using several WIMSD libraries based on evaluated nuclear data files ENDFB-VI.8, JEF-2.2, JEFF-3.1 and JENDL-3.2. For equilibrium core of the reactor, it was found that a net reactivity of more than 3.5 mk is induced due to build-up of plutonium isotopes during depletion. The plutonium credit amounts to 3% of the length of equilibrium cycle. From the analysis of actinide production in the core during burnup, it was observed that in most of the cases, the amounts of actinides obtained using various cross section libraries agree fairly with each other, however, significant differences were observed for {sup 238}Pu, {sup 241}Pu, {sup 242m}Am, {sup 243}Am, {sup 242}Cm and {sup 244}Cm for some libraries. The actinide chain analysis was conducted to investigate the reasons for the ...
An introduction to time-of-flight neutron spectroscopy is presented in the context of the study of magnetic materials. Examples are taken from the class of rare earth and actinide magnetic materials known as `strongly correlated electron` systems. (author) 11 figs., 24 refs.
This paper describes the problems and capabilities of highly enriched actinide isotopes production by electromagnetic separation in the S-2 mass separator of VNIIEF. Isotope enrichment characteristics for uranium, plutonium, americium and curium isotopes, used in different nuclear physics experiments, and isotope contamination for single and double separations are presented. The capabilities for highly enriched "2"4"4Pu and "2"4"8Cm production for nuclear accelerator experiments and other applications are described, some details of the current and future programmes are given and the transport packaging is described. (orig.).
Objective of the project is characterization of electrode reactions in molten salt by using metal oxides and silica-based electrode. The scope of project are characterization of metal oxide properties in molten salt and miniaturization of 3-electrode electrochemical test cell. Electrochemical micro-cell for actinide-LiCl-KCl molten salt was newly designed. Electroless and electrochemical deposition technique was applied to Mo coating on quartz tube. From the design of electrode and 3-electrode electrochemical cell suitable for the tests in molten salt electrolyte, so it is anticipated to get the information on the electrochemical behavior of metallic electrode in molten salt and to secure the information on oxidation/reduction behavior of actinide
Much of the current technology on 3D-prestack depth migration is based on the Kirchhoff method and the traveltime information needed for this purpose is obtained by the ray-theory approximation. The main motivation driving these options is to reduce computations but it can also have an adverse effect on the quality of results. Experience with real data indicates that the corresponding poststack data migrated by the reverse-time method often yields superior results. Considerable computational efficiency can be obtained by employing nonuniform coarse grid spacing during the reverse-time migration. We followed this strategy for developing a parallel scheme for doing 3D- prestack depth migration. However, we worked only on a small subset of shot gathers whose determined by the Quasi-Monte Carlo method. The results were indistinguishable from those obtained by using a much larger population of uniformly ...
One of the key issues in safety assessment of high-level nuclear waste disposal is evaluating the effects of uncertainty inherent in radionuclide migration parameter values. In this paper, radionuclide transport parameter values and error variances (uncertainties) from in-situ tracer experiments, carried out in a single fracture at the Aespoe Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL) in Sweden, are identified by solving the inverse problem in a framework of the maximum likelihood theory. From the results, it is found that the parameter value uncertainty caused by a conceptual model of radionuclide migration is greater than that caused by a fluctuation in the observed breakthrough curve data. (author)
Investigations were conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory to quantify the extent of migration of depleted uranium away from firing sites. Extensive sampling of air particles, soil, sediment, and water was conducted to establish the magnitude of uranium contamination throughout one watershed. The uranium source term was estimated, and mass balance calculations were performed to compare the percentage of migrated uranium with original expenditures. Mass balance calculations can be powerful in identification of the extent of waste migration and used as an aid in planning future waste investigations.
Cultures of chick skin fibroblasts were dissolved in solutions of sodium dodecyl sulphate, and their entire protein content was examined by gel electrophoresis. The most abundant species migrated in...Full Text Available
BackgroundA large and increasing part of the European population has a history of migration. Germany, for example, is home to about 15 million people with migrant background, which...Full Text Available
... that range from relatively low frequency strong ground motion modeling [Vidale et al., 1985] to high frequency reverse time migration of seismic ...
Diel vertial migrations of the marine dinoflagellates Gonyaulax polyedra Stein and Ceratium furca (Ehr.) Clap. et Lachm, were followed in a laboratory tube (2.02 m x 0.25 m) under a 12:12h light:dark cycle. The effects of temperature stratification, two levels of surface irradiance and nitrogen depletion on patterns of vertical migrations were examined. At temperatures between 22 to 26/sup 0/C with small temperature gradients, both species migrated at a rate of 0.7 to 1.0 mh/sup -1/. Steeper thermoclines (ca. 0.8/sup 0/C 0.1 m/sup -1/) with temperatures below ca. 20/sup 0/C caused a marked decrease in swimming speed which resulted in accumulations of cells in these thermocline regions. Under conditions of nutrient sufficiency both algae migrated into the surface layers at irradiance values of over 1000 ..mu..E m/sup -2/s/sup -1/. Increasing nitrogen depletion caused the downward ...
into the SiC interface to form of palladium silicides (PdSix) and the subsequent migration of elemental silicon to the surface from the SiC. Palladium silicides are ...
A three-dimensional (3-D) prestack reverse-time migration algorithm for common-source P-wave data from anisotropic media is developed and illustrated by application to synthetic data. Both extrapolation of the data and computation of the excitation-time imaging condition are implemented using a second-order finite-difference solution of the 3-D anisotropic scalar-wave equation. Poorly focused, distorted images are obtained if data from anisotropic media are migrated using isotropic extrapolation; well focused, clear images are obtained using anisotropic extrapolation. A priori estimation of the 3-D anisotropic velocity distribution is required. Zones of anomalous, directionally dependent reflectivity associated with anisotropic fracture zones are detectable in both the 3-D common-source data and the corresponding migrated images.
The covered self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) has been developed to overcome the problem of tissue ingrowth, However, stent migration is a well-known complication of covered...Full Text Available
Conceptual and factual advances in understanding neuronal migration in the past two decades have provided new insight into the pathogenesis of brain malformations at the cellular, molecular, and functional levels. Some of these results may have direct implications in understanding the consequences of ionizing radiation on the fetal central nervous system in utero. (orig.).
Elastic depth imaging of both P-wave and S-wave prestack seismic reflection data is formulated as a degraded form of Kirchhoff migration known as Wavepath Migration (WM). Applications to the SEG/EAGE salt model show that the method is sufficiently versatile anti relaitively inexpensive. It handles S-wave data with at least the same accuracy as Pwave data when local mode conversions are removed. WM also provides an understanding of multi-mode illumination.
This bibliography contains citations concerning the migration of food-packaging materials into foods. Plastic, glass, cardboard, metal, and ceramic containers are discussed. Techniques for analyzing packaging contamination are included. (Contains 90 citations fully indexed and including a title list.).
Using ab initio (SCF/6-31G) method, mechanisms of proton migrations in methaboric acid dimers have studied. It is shown that in all the dimers considered a cooperative transfer of protons occurs. The calculated values of activation barriers of cooperative proton transfer reactions in the dimers are equal to 28.6 kcal/mol.
Seventy male Wistar rats were the recipients of labeled small lymphocytes (1.5 X 10(7) each) collected from the peripheral blood of syngeneic donors. The migrating labeled lymphocytes were traced in...Full Text Available
3-D depth migration is one of the most active areas of research and development and it has been approached from different angles. An accurate algorithm which works in the space-frequency domain was introduced by Blacquiere et al. (1989). Unfortunately, it is computationally very expensive and not suitable for solving real-life 3-D migration problems. This led to the development of an alternative scheme (hale, 1990) which sacrifices some accuracy but is much more efficient. It is commonly referred to as the Hale-McClellan method. An alternative procedure known as reverse-time migration works in the space-time domain. It is based on the full wave equation and yields by far the most accurate results, but it requires extremely large computer resources. However, a series of new developments (Mufti et al, 1996) have made this algorithm a very practical tool even for migrating large exploration-scale 3-D real ...
BackgroundIncrease in the incidence of hyperuricemia associated with gout as well as hypertension, renal diseases and cardiovascular diseases has been a public health concern. We...Full Text Available
The chemiosmotic model of energy transduction offers a satisfying and widely confirmed understanding of the action of uncouplers on such processes as oxidative phosphorylation; the uncoupler, by facilitating...Full Text Available
The receptor-associated protein (RAP) is a molecular chaperone that binds tightly to certain newly synthesized LDL receptor family members in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and facilitates their delivery...Full Text Available
BackgroundCharacterizing and comparing the determinant of cotinine concentrations in different populations should facilitate a better understanding of smoking patterns and addiction....Full Text Available
Recent Reviews in Carcinogenesis is a service of the International Cancer Research Data Bank (ICRDB) Program of the National Cancer Institute, intended to facilitate and promote the exchange of information between cancer scientists. It contains abstracts ...
Background: The nail gun is a commonly utilized tool in carpentry and construction. When used properly with appropriate safety precautions, it can facilitate production and boost efficiency;...Full Text Available
... Society Physics Press Release 05-175Korea Joins International Computing Infrastructure ... connectivity with Korea in a ceremony last month. Facilitated by the Korea Institute for Science and ...
Summary 1.-Plant-plant interactions fluctuate between competition and facilitation depending upon ecological conditions and species traits. Facilitative interactions are expected to increase in frequency via associational defences with increasing consumer pressure. The ability of species to cope with competition and/or ecological stressors may alter the outcome of plant-plant interactions. 2.-We conducted a transplant experiment to determine if native and non-native grasses and forbs respond similarly to interactions with Juncus effusus L., an unpalatable benefactor species, along a grazing intensity gradient in two contrasting pasture types: intensively managed and semi-natural. We expected competitive taller, erect species (grasses) and non-natives to obtain stronger facilitative effects...
The biosynthesis of insect juvenile hormone (JH) and its neuroendocrine control are attractive targets for chemical control of insect pests and vectors of disease. To facilitate the molecular...Full Text Available
TiO{sub 2} is a vital material in several technologies including, photocatalysis, gas sensing, biomaterials and optical coatings. Among the several crystal structures of this oxide, rutile has the highest density and microhardness, the highest index of refraction and the highest temperature stability. The processing of dense polycrystalline materials often includes the addition of a liquid-forming phase at higher temperatures. This technique is known as liquid-phase sintering and has been studied extensively. Rutile boundaries containing an amorphous phase have been used to study boundary migration and grain-boundary grooving. Visible-light (VLM), scanning electron (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in addition to electron-backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and a focused-ion beam (FIB) tool were used to characterize boundary migration in rutile. EBSD analysis was carried out on a Philips XL30 FEG SEM equipped with a DigiView 1612 ...
Context: Our previous models of a giant planet migrating through an inner protoplanet/planetesimal disk find that the giant shepherds a portion of the material it encounters into interior orbits, whilst scattering the rest into external orbits. Scattering tends to dominate, leaving behind abundant material that can accrete into terrestrial planets. Aims: We add to the possible realism of our model by simulating type I migration forces which cause an inward drift, and strong eccentricity and inclination damping of protoplanetary bodies. This extra dissipation might be expected to enhance shepherding at the expense of scattering, possibly modifying our previous conclusions. Methods: We employ an N-body code that is linked to a viscous gas disk algorithm capable of simulating: gas accretion onto the central star; gap formation in the vicinity of the giant planet; type II migration of the giant planet; type I ...
A first-order one-way wave system has been created based on characteristic analysis of the acoustic wave system and optimization of the dispersion relation. The authors demonstrate that this system is equivalent to a third-order scalar partial-differential equation which, for a homogeneous medium, reduces to a form similar to the 45{degree} paraxial wave equation. This system describes accurately waves propagating in a 2D heterogeneous medium at angles up to 75{degree}. The one-way wave system representing downgoing waves is used for a modified reverse time migration method. As a wavefield extrapolator in migration, the downgoing wave system propagates the reflection events backwards to their reflectors without scattering at the discontinuities in the velocity model. Hence, images with amplitudes proportional to reflectivity can be obtained from this migration technique. They present examples of the application of the new ...
The standards mapping methods are limited by the lack of information between surface measures and wells profiles. The cross well seismic survey has proven being an effective high-resolution method for reservoirs characterization due its high frequency band. In this work, a 2-D finite differences algorithm for numerical cross well seismic simulation was developed, based in the approach of 2nd order for the time derivatives and 4th order for the space derivatives. In relation to the imaging techniques, it was introduced a reverse time migration method based in the solutions of the wave equation in time for cross well seismic data by the method of the finite differences exclusively. The results of reverse time migration has showed that layers with 90 cm thickness for P-waves could be visualized in migrated sections with excellent resolution. The high frequency cross well seismic data combined with reverse time ...
The release rate of a nuclide from a reactor or a radioactive waste disposal plant at the accident is not steady, but varies with time. The various parameters of a nuclide migration into environment vary also day after day, or with the seasons. In such cases, dynamic behavior of the nuclide in the environment must be taken into consideration. It is difficult for a mathematical model to involve all of mechanisms for the nuclide migration. The environment for evaluation of doses are usually divided into some of compartments in which a nuclide concentration is uniform. Time variations of the nuclide concentration in the compartment are described in simultaneous differential equations. The nuclide concentration can be solved as a time function, and the radiation doses, therefore, can be estimated as a time function. Generic analysis code for dynamic compartment model (GACOM) is developed for the nuclide migration and the ...
This report describes the progress of the Dutch RAS programme on `Recycling and Transmutation of Actinides and Fission Products` over the year 1995, which is the second year of the 4-year programme 1994-1997. An extensive listing of reports and publications from 1991 to 1995 is given. Highlights in 1995 were: -The completion of the European Strategy Study on Nuclear Waste Transmutation as a result of which the understanding of transmutation of plutonium, minor actinides and long-lived fission products in thermal and fast reactors has been increased significantly. Important ECN contributions were given on Am, {sup 99}Tc and {sup 129}I transmutation options. Follow-up contracts have been obtained for the study of 100% MOX cores and accelerator-based transmutation. - Important progress in the evaluation of CANDU reactors for burning very large amounts of transuranium mixtures in inert matrices. - The first RAS irradiation experiment in the HFR, in ...
We have successfully incorporated high surface area particles of titanate ion exchange materials (monosodium titanate and crystalline silicotitanate) with acceptable particle size distribution into porous and inert support membrane fibrils consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon(reg_sign)), polyethylene and cellulose materials. The resulting membrane sheets, under laboratory conditions, were used to evaluate the removal of surrogate radioactive materials for cesium-137 and strontium-90 from high caustic nuclear waste simulants. These membrane supports met the nominal requirement for nonchemical interaction with the embedded ion exchange materials and were porous enough to allow sufficient liquid flow. Some of this 47-mm size stamped out prototype titanium impregnated ion exchange membrane discs was found to remove more than 96% of dissolved cesium-133 and strontium-88 from a caustic nuclear waste salt simulants. Since in traditional ion exchange based column technology monosodium ...
In the framework of nuclear waste transmutation studies, the Mini-INCA project has been initiated at CEA/DSM with objectives to determine optimal conditions for transmutation and incineration of minor actinides (MA) in high intensity neutron fluxes. Our experimental tools based on alpha- and gamma-spectroscopy of the samples and the development of micro fission chambers could gather either microscopic information on nuclear reactions (total or partial cross sections for neutron capture and/or fission reactions) or macroscopic information on transmutation and incineration potentials. Neutron capture cross sections of selected actinides ({sup 241}Am, {sup 242}Am, {sup 242}Pu, {sup 237}Np) have already been measured at ILL, showing some discrepancies when compared to evaluated data libraries but in overall good agreement with recent data. The studies and possibilities offer by the MEGAPIE project to assess neutronic performances of a 1 MW ...
In the framework of nuclear waste transmutation studies, the Mini-INCA project has been initiated at CEA/DSM with objectives to determine optimal conditions for transmutation and incineration of minor actinides (MA) in high intensity neutron fluxes. Our experimental tools based on alpha- and gamma-spectroscopy of the samples and the development of micro fission chambers could gather either microscopic information on nuclear reactions (total or partial cross sections for neutron capture and/or fission reactions) or macroscopic information on transmutation and incineration potentials. Neutron capture cross sections of selected actinides ("2"4"1Am, "2"4"2Am, "2"4"2Pu, "2"3"7Np) have already been measured at ILL, showing some discrepancies when compared to evaluated data libraries but in overall good agreement with recent data. The studies and possibilities offer by the MEGAPIE project to assess neutronic performances of a 1 MW spallation target ...
Recently we have found that carbon nano-materials have ability to recognize softer actinides(III). In this presentation, separation of americium(III) from lanthanides(III) by chromatography with carbon nano-materials, such as carbon nano-tubes and graphite, has been investigated by batch adsorption experiments and chromatography. The separation factor (SF) between americium(III) and lanthanide(III) was about 2 in the range of pH from 1 to 4 by using carbon nano-tube, graphite and activated charcoal. The separation factor depended on the diameter of carbon nano-tubes. Smaller one, 3-20 nm diameter, showed the best selectivity for americium(III), which separation factor was about 2.0, although larger one, 40-70 nm, showed almost no selectivity. The same behavior has been observed by using graphite powder and activated charcoal although acid- or alkali pretreated activated charcoal which generally has acidic functional group on the edge of carbon exhibited ...
Conventional methods for removing metals from aqueous solutions include chemical precipitation, chemical oxidation or reduction, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, electrochemical treatment and evaporation. The removal of radionuclides from aqueous waste streams has largely relied on ion exchange methods which can be prohibitively costly given increasingly stringent regulatory effluent limits. The use of microbial cells as biosorbants for heavy metals offers a potential alternative to existing methods for decontamination or recovery of heavy metals from a variety of industrial waste streams and contaminated ground waters. The toxicity and the extreme and variable conditions present in many radionuclide containing waste streams may preclude the use of living microorganisms and favor the use of non-living biomass for the removal of actinides from these waste streams. In the work presented here, we have examined the biosorption of uranium by non-living, non-metabolizing ...
Food-grade PVC and PVDC/PVC films containing 28.3% dioctyladipate (DOA) and 5.0% acetyltributylcitrate (ATBC) plasticizers, respectively, were brought into contact with olive oil and were irradiated with {gamma}-radiation [{sup 60}Co] at doses equal to 4 kGy and 9 kGy corresponding to `cold pasteurization`. Irradiation was carried out at 8-10 C and samples were subsequently stored at 4-5 C. Contaminated oil samples were analysed for DOA and ATBC at intervals between 7 h and 97 h of contact, using an indirect GC method. Identical non-irradiated (control) samples were also analysed for DOA and ATBC content. Results showed no statistically significant differences in migrated amounts of DOA and ATBC between irradiated and non-irradiated samples. Neither were differences observed between samples irradiated at 4 kGy and 9 kGy. This was supported by identical IR spectra recorded for irradiated and non-irradiated samples and leads to the conclusion that at such ...
The most important aim of the title program is to investigate the possibility to convert long-lived actinides and mobile fission products in short-lived and stable isotopes by means of nuclear transmutation and recycling. First, an overview is given of the present situation regarding fission material waste, the origin of such waste in light water reactors and the options for interim and ultimate storage. Next, attention is paid to the aim of the the RAS program, the working method and the results so far of national and international research on the transmutation of actinides and fission products. Speculative expectations for the future are briefly outlined. The report also contains four appendices with technical aspects of the title subject: the RAS program of ECN, chemical aspects of reprocessing fission material, transmutation in fission reactors and in accelerators. 12 figs., 7 tabs., 4 appendices, 57 refs.
Simple hydroxamic acids are shown to be useful reagents for the separation of Np and Pu from U within simplified, single cycle Purex flowsheets. They are compatible with the use of centrifugal contactors and laboratory scale flowsheet trials with aceto-hydroxamic acid have demonstrated high actinide recoveries and decontamination factors on products for active feeds of up to 40 wt.% Pu. They therefore show many ideal characteristics for Pu and Np recovery within flowsheet options for actinide recovery in advanced fuel cycles. Furthermore, in order to optimise the routing of Np with the Pu product in advanced flowsheets, additional studies of Np extraction in the primary co-decontamination contactor, prior to U/Pu partition, have been undertaken, combining experiment, modelling and flowsheet tests. (author)
The behavior of Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, and other actinides, as well as Zr, on anion and cation exchangers in aqueous and water-ethanol solutions of sulfuric acid as a function of the various components of the solution has been investigated. It has been discovered that the presence of ethanol in sulfuric acid solutions causes an increase in the distribution coefficients both on cation exchangers and on anion exchangers. The possibility of the use of ion exchangers for the preconcentration and separation of transplutonium elements from U, Np, Pu, Zr, and other elements which form strong complexes with sulfate ions over a broad range of concentrations of sulfuric acid has been demonstrated.
Many important advances in the physics of strongly correlated electron systems have been driven by the development of new materials: for instance the filled skutterudites Formula Not Shown ( Formula Not Shown metal, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide; Formula Not Shown , Ru, or Os; Formula Not Shown , As, or Sb), certain lanthanide and actinide intermetallic compounds such as Formula Not Shown and Formula Not Shown ( Formula Not Shown , Rh, or Ir), and layered oxypnictides and related materials. These types of complex multinary d- and f-electron compounds have proven to be a vast reservoir of novel strongly correlated electron ground states and phenomena. In these materials, the occurrence of such a wide range of ground states and phenomena arises from a delicate interplay between com...
The mass asymmetry of fragments from nuclear fission of heavy nuclei is reviewed. While mass asymmetry is a common and well-known phenomenon for low-energy fission of the lighter actinides, more recent experiments have demonstrated that, for the heaviest actinides, the mass distribution switches to a symmetric one. On the other hand, it has been discovered that, though for fissioning nuclei with mass numbers A< or [approx]225 the mass distribution is basically symmetric, an asymmetric component is clearly to be identified for nuclei down to the Pb-region. In the absence of a generally accepted dynamical theory of fission, the above experimental findings are discussed in terms of static energy considerations. Triggered from the outset by the structure of the potential energy surface at the saddlepoint, the energy balance at the scission point between the available energy (Q-value) of the reaction and the Coulomb and deformation energy of the ...
The mass asymmetry of fragments from nuclear fission of heavy nuclei is reviewed. While mass asymmetry is a common and well-known phenomenon for low-energy fission of the lighter actinides, more recent experiments have demonstrated that, for the heaviest actinides, the mass distribution switches to a symmetric one. On the other hand, it has been discovered that, though for fissioning nuclei with mass numbers A< or #approx#225 the mass distribution is basically symmetric, an asymmetric component is clearly to be identified for nuclei down to the Pb-region. In the absence of a generally accepted dynamical theory of fission, the above experimental findings are discussed in terms of static energy considerations. Triggered from the outset by the structure of the potential energy surface at the saddlepoint, the energy balance at the scission point between the available energy (Q-value) of the reaction and the Coulomb and deformation energy of the ...
Dimensioning of actinides waste packages for long duration storage has to take into account helium production from natural decay and release rates from the material. For the latter, we propose here an improved method for the determination of the helium diffusion coefficient in britholite, to be used for minor actinides storage. This work is based on results we previously published using the classical three steps method: "3He implantation on a Van de Graaff facility, "3He profile determination analysing the protons resulting from the "3He(d,p)"4He reaction in a nuclear microprobe, evolution of the helium profile during annealings. Taking explicitly into account the incident deuterons energy stragglings allows us to show that the implanted helium profiles are bimodal, each component leading to a different helium diffusion coefficient.
In the electrorefining step of the pyrochemical process, actinide ions dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt are recovered as pure actinide metals at a cathode for a re-use as a nuclear fuel from the aspect of its nonproliferation of the nuclear fuel cycles. The lanthanide species dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt play an important role in an effective metal purification during the electrorefining step, so it is necessary to understand the chemical and physical behaviors of lanthanides in molten salt. The in situ spectroscopic measurement system and studies according to temperature changes are essential for better understandable information. To our knowledge, the absorption studies of lanthanides at high temperatures have been reported before, but the fluorescence studies of those at high temperature are not reported yet. We will discuss here the fluorescence behaviors of lanthanides in LiCl-KCl molten salt medium according to a ...
In the electrorefining step of the pyrochemical process, actinide ions dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt are recovered as pure actinide metals at a cathode for a re-use as a nuclear fuel from the aspect of its nonproliferation of the nuclear fuel cycles. The lanthanide species dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt play an important role in an effective metal purification during the electrorefining step, so it is necessary to understand the chemical and physical behaviors of lanthanides in molten salt. The in situ spectroscopic measurement system and studies according to temperature changes are essential for better understandable information. To our knowledge, the absorption studies of lanthanides at high temperatures have been reported before, but the fluorescence studies of those at high temperature are not reported yet. We will discuss here the fluorescence behaviors of lanthanides in LiCl-KCl molten salt medium according to a ...
A process for separation of actinides and technetium from reprocessing high level liquid waste has been developed, the CTH-process. The main parts are three consecutive solvent extraction cycles followed by an optional step for sorption on inorganic ion exchangers. The first extraction cycle removes and recovers uranium, neptunium, and plutonium by extraction with HDEHP. The second extraction cycle separates technetium and nitric acid from the waste using TBP. In the third extraction cycle Am and Cm are separated from the waste using HDEHP. The actinide free waste is then passed through inorganic ion exchangers to remove most of remaining radionuclides. The process has been tested on an authenic HLLW solution. A decontamination factor > 10/sup 5/ for alpha emitters was measured for the solvent extraction process and the sorption on inorganic ion exchangers gave a decontamination factor > 3x10/sup 4/ for beta emitters.
The American National Standard, `Nuclear Criticality Safety in Operations with Fissionable Materials Outside Reactors` ANSI/ANS-8.1- 1983 provides guidance for the nuclides [sup 233]U, [sup 235]U, and [sup 239]Pu These three nuclides are of primary interest in out-of-reactor criticality safety since they are the most commonly encountered in the vast majority of operations. However, some operations can involve nuclides other than `U, `U, and `Pu in sufficient quantities that their effect on criticality safety could be of concern. The American National Standard, `Nuclear Criticality Control of Special Actinide Elements` ANSI/ANS-8.`15-1983 (Ref 2), provides guidance for fifteen such nuclides.
A rapid combustion unit (Baird and Tatlock) incorporating a combustion chamber provided with baffle plates for complete combustion of the sample without the use of a catalyst has been assembled in a glove box for the determination of carbon and hydrogen in actinide complexes. The unit has been modified employing a movable electric furnace and a proportional temperature controller, for decomposition of the sample at desired heating rates. The set-up was standardised employing various reference materials such as benzoic acid, acetanilide, sulphanilamide and 1-chloro 2:4 dinitrobenzene and the standard deviation in the measurements evaluated. It has also been used successfully for the determination of carbon in uranium carbide and carbon and hydrogen in some uranyl-#beta#-diketone-amine N-oxide complexes and in plutonium(IV) oxalate. (auth.).
A rapid combustion unit (Baird and Tatlock) incorporating a combustion chamber provided with baffle plates for complete combustion of the sample without the use of a catalyst has been assembled in a glove box for the determination of carbon and hydrogen in actinide complexes. The unit has been modified employing a movable electric furnace and a proportional temperature controller, for decomposition of the sample at desired heating rates. The set-up was standardised employing various reference materials such as benzoic acid, acetanilide, sulphanilamide and 1-chloro 2:4 dinitrobenzene and the standard deviation in the measurements evaluated. It has also been used successfully for the determination of carbon in uranium carbide and carbon and hydrogen in some uranyl-#beta#-diketone-amine N-oxide complexes and in plutonium(IV) oxalate. (auth.).
A wavelet transformation is performed over each of the spatial coordinates of the scalar wave equation. This transformed equation is solved directly with a finite-difference scheme for both homogeneous and smooth inhomogeneous media. Wavefield extrapolation is performed completely in the spatial wavelet domain without transforming back into the space domain at each time step. The wavelet coefficients are extrapolated, rather than the wavefield itself. The numerical solution of the scalar wave equation in the spatial wavelet domain is closely related to the finite-difference method because of the compact support of the wavelet bases. Poststack reverse-time migration is implemented as an application. The resolution spaces of the wavelet transform provide a natural framework for multigrid analysis. Migrated images are constructed from various resolution spaces.
The variation of surface composition and sintering of the binary Pd{sub 7}Ag{sub 3} nanoparticles prepared by chemical reduction were studied. The composition of the as-prepared Pd{sub 7}Ag{sub 3} nanoparticles across the diameter is inhomogeneous due to different reduction potentials of Pd and Ag. Upon heating, Ag will migrate to the surface because of its lower surface energy. Surface modification results in variation of surface composition during the sintering process. Stearic acid acts as a grain growth inhibitor. The migration of Ag to the surface is suppressed and the sintering is retarded. Modification by polyethylene glycol leads to more migration of Ag atoms from the core to the surface. This makes the nanoparticles easier to sinter.
The variation of surface composition and sintering of the binary Pd_7Ag_3 nanoparticles prepared by chemical reduction were studied. The composition of the as-prepared Pd_7Ag_3 nanoparticles across the diameter is inhomogeneous due to different reduction potentials of Pd and Ag. Upon heating, Ag will migrate to the surface because of its lower surface energy. Surface modification results in variation of surface composition during the sintering process. Stearic acid acts as a grain growth inhibitor. The migration of Ag to the surface is suppressed and the sintering is retarded. Modification by polyethylene glycol leads to more migration of Ag atoms from the core to the surface. This makes the nanoparticles easier to sinter.
In this article, we present our consistent efforts to explore the dynamical pathways of the migration of electronic radiation by using ultrafast (picosecond/femtosecond time scales) F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. The ultrafast non-radiative energy migration from an intrinsic donor fluorophore (Tryptophan, Trp214) present in domain IIA of a transporter protein human serum albumin (HSA) to various non-covalently/covalently attached organic/inorganic chromophores including photoporphyrin IX (PPIX), polyoxovanadate [V15As6O42(H2O)]-6 clusters (denoted as V15) and CdS quantum dots (QDs) has been explored. We have also used other covalently/non-covalently attached extrinsic fluorogenic donors (NPA, ANS) in order to exploit the dynamics of resonance energy migration of an enz...
The Ludwig-Soret effect, the migration of a species due to a temperature gradient, has been extensively studied without a complete picture of its cause emerging. Here we investigate the dynamics of DNA and spherical particles sub jected to a thermal gradient using a combination of Brownian dynamics and the lattice Boltzmann method. We observe that the DNA molecules will migrate to colder regions of the channel, an observation also made in the experiments of Duhr, et al[1]. In fact, the thermal diffusion coefficient found agrees quantitatively with the experimental value. We also observe that the thermal diffusion coefficient decreases as the radius of the studied spherical particles increases. Furthermore, we observe that the thermal fluctuations-fluid momentum flux coupling induces a gradient in the stress which leads to thermal migration in both systems.
The space derivation term of a wave equation is accurately calculated using Fourier transform method, and the wave equation only relating to time derivative in time-space domain is derived. Solving this equation with the aid of central difference method brings the numerical recursion formula for forward modeling or reverse time migration of seismic wave field in the medium in which seismic velocity varies. The key to this method lies in introducing two auxiliary wave fields relating to velocity and spacial frequency of Fourier transform respectively after multi-dimensional Fourier transform respectively after multi-dimensional Fourier transform of space vector is made. Theoretically, this method is suitable to the forward modeling and migration of seismic wave field in complex area where seismic velocity and structure shape vary arbitrarily. Theoretical results proved this method satisfactory.
Polyethylene pipes and connections are being widely used in treated water distribution services. Migration of low molecular weight compounds from the polyethylene into the water can change its final quality. This paper is about the concentrations and identification of the migration compounds found in treated water after staying in contact with low and high-density polyethylene. Identification and quantification were carried out using CLSA (Closed Loop Stripping Analysis) extraction technique and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). (Author) 12 refs.
Hydrothermal systems typically consist of hot permeable rock which contains either liquid or liquid and saturated steam within the voids. These systems vent fluids at the surface through hot springs, fumaroles, mud pools, steaming ground and geysers. They are simultaneously recharged as meteoric water percolates through the surrounding rock or through the active injection of water at various geothermal reservoirs. In a number of geothermal reservoirs from which significant amounts of hot fluid have been extracted and passed through turbines, superheated regions of vapor have developed. As liquid migrates through a superheated region of a hydrothermal system, some of the liquid vaporizes at a migrating liquid-vapor interface. Using simple physical arguments, and analogue laboratory experiments we show that, under the influence of gravity, the liquid-vapor interface may become unstable and break up into fingers.
An improved method of generating angle-domain common-image gathers (ADCIGs) by VSP reverse time migration (RTM) is introduced in this paper. The formula which is used to compute the receiver wavefield for VSP RTM is modified by adding an amplitude correction term in order to conveniently output amplitude-preserved ADCIGs. Compared with the surface seismic data, VSP data contains much richer wavefields. However, the direct and downgoing waves can bring about serious imaging artifacts in ADCIGs, especially the direct wave. The feasibility and validity of this method is demonstrated by both numerical and real VSP data from western China. Thus, the ADCIGs from this method can provide reliable basic data for VSP migration velocity analysis, VSP AVO/AVA analysis, and inversion.
During development, multipotent neural precursors give rise to oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), which migrate and divide to produce additional OPCs. Near the end of embryogenesis and...Full Text Available
CD44, a transmembrane receptor for hyaluronic acid, is implicated in various adhesion-dependent cellular processes, including cell migration, tumor cell metastasis and invasion. Recent studies demonstrated that CD44 expressed in cancer cells can be proteolytically cleaved at the ectodomain by membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) to form soluble CD44 and that CD44 cleavage plays a critical role in cancer cell migration. Here, we show that transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b), a multifunctional cytokine involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and pathological processes, induces MT1-MMP expression in MDA-MB-435s cells. TGF-b-induced MT1-MMP expression was blocked by the specific extracellular regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibitor PD98059 and the specific pho...
AIM: To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on the differentiation of colonic lamina propria fibroblasts (CLPF) into myofibroblasts in vitro.METHODS:...Full Text Available
The interactions between biochemical processes and mechanical signaling play important roles during various cellular processes such as wound healing, embryogenesis, metastasis, and cell migration. While...Full Text Available
SummaryIn vivo tumor cell migration through integrin-dependent pathways is key to the metastatic behavior of malignant cells. Using quantitative in vivo...Full Text Available
The level of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) profoundly influences essential cell behaviors such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. The spatial and temporal pattern...Full Text Available
The aim of this study was to investigate the supposed vertical diel migration and the accompanying physiology of Beggiatoa bacteria from hypersaline microbial mats. We combined microsensor,...Full Text Available
Rapid changes in China over the past two decades have led to significant problems associated with population migration and changing social attitudes, including a growing sex industry and concurrent...Full Text Available
We present analytic and numerical results which illustrate the effects of Jupiter's accretion of nebular gas and the planet's radial migration on its Trojan companions. Initially, we approximate the system by the planar circular restricted three-body problem and assume small Trojan libration amplitudes. Employing an adiabatic invariant calculation, we show that Jupiter's thirty-fold growth from a $10 M_\\oplus$ core to its present mass causes the libration amplitudes of Trojan asteroids to shrink by a factor of about 2.5 to $\\sim 40%$ of their original size. The calculation also shows that Jupiter's radial migration has comparatively little effect on the Trojans; inward migration from 6.2 to 5.2 AU causes an increase in Trojan libration amplitudes of $\\sim4%$. In each case, the area enclosed by small tadpole orbits, if made dimensionless by using Jupiter's semimajor axis, is approximately conserved. Similar adiabatic ...
Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP, CD10) is a cell-surface enzyme expressed by prostatic epithelial cells that cleaves and inactivates neuropeptides implicated in the growth of androgen-independent prostate...Full Text Available
BackgroundSome breast cancer patients receiving anti-angiogenic treatment show increased metastases, possibly as a result of induced hypoxia. The effect of hypoxia on tumor cell...Full Text Available
In addition to regulating acid secretion, the gastric antral hormone gastrin regulates several important cellular processes in the gastric epithelium including proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion,...Full Text Available
Due to the improvement of algorithm and the advancement of calculation performance, the imaging by depth migration before stacking is being put into practice from the viewpoint of both calculation cost and accuracy. A lot of imaging examples have been already reported from the survey areas with complicated velocity structures, such as the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Effectiveness of the method has been confirmed. For imaging techniques in Japan National Oil Corporation and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., high-speed depth migration before stacking and high efficiency velocity structure estimation technique have been investigated. This paper describes necessary care to be taken when using depth focusing analysis (DFA) for correcting a velocity model, as an interim stage of case study. The results of depth migration before stacking using dip moveout (DMO) velocity were further inferior to the section obtained by ...
Deficient wound healing in diabetic patients is very frequent, but the cellular and molecular causes are poorly defined. In this study, we evaluate the hypothesis that high glucose concentrations inhibit...Full Text Available
This work reports the design of and experimentation with a topographically patterned cell culture substrate of variable local density and anisotropy as a facile and efficient platform to guide...Full Text Available
The destiny of the mitotically active cells of the subventricular zone (SVZ) in adult rodents is to migrate to the olfactory bulb, where they contribute to the replacement of granular and periglomerular...Full Text Available
Finite-difference acoustic-wave modeling and reverse-time depth migration based on the full wave equation are general approaches that can take into account arbitrary variations in velocity and density and can handle turning waves as well. However, conventional finite-difference methods for solving the acoustic- or elastic-wave equation suffer from numerical dispersion when too few samples per wavelength are used. The flux-corrected transport (FCT) algorithm, adapted from hydrodynamics, reduces the numerical dispersion in finite-difference wavefield continuation. The flux-correction procedure endeavors to incorporate diffusion into the wavefield continuation process only where needed to suppress the numerical dispersion. Incorporating the flux-correction procedure in conventional finite-difference modeling or reverse-time migration can provide finite-difference solutions with no numerical dispersion even for impulsive sources. The FCT ...
BackgroundThis paper is based on data gathered from a 2006 survey of 1,098 "street children" in Northern Tanzania. It examines the role that school may play in preventing the migration...Full Text Available
Photon migration provides sensitive tissue oximetry in which the optical pathlength is known. Phase array gives the precise location of a subnanomolar amount of hidden absorber in highly scattering medium. PMID:8079713
This report describes mathematical predictions for the migration of radionuclides from an emplaced radioactive waste container. The model assumes a spherical-equivalent waste solid surrounded by backfill but neglects the effect of decay heat. 7 refs., 2 tabs. (TEM)
Cells have an internal compass that enables them to move along shallow chemical gradients. As amoeboid cells migrate, signaling events such as Ras and PI3K activation occur spontaneously on pseudopodia....Full Text Available
With an objective to discuss applicability of resistivity imaging using electromagnetic migration to detection of underground cavity, an applicability test was carried out on calculation of a numerical model and measurement data. By using the numerical model, a calculation was performed on a hypothetical case that a cubic cavity with sides each at 40 m exists in a homogenous medium of 200 ohm-m, with the cavity top located 20 m below the ground surface. As a result, it was possible to structure in a very short calculation time an image of the cavity which cannot be identified by one-dimensional inverse analysis. In the case of this cavity, a center of the image was structured on its lower face. It was shown that a location to indicate the image must be changed according to difference in the measurement locations. In a test on data measured in an underground cavity in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, it was found that the result may vary largely depending ...
Stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative disorders require accurate delivery of the transplanted cells to the sites of damage. Numerous studies have established that fluid injections to the hippocampus...Full Text Available
The massive stars in the Galactic center inner arcsecond share analogous properties with the so-called Hot Jupiters. Most of these young stars have highly eccentric orbits, and were probably not formed in-situ. It has been proposed that these stars acquired their current orbits from the tidal disruption of compact massive binaries scattered toward the proximity of the central supermassive black hole. Assuming a binary star formed in a thin gaseous disk beyond 0.1 pc from the central object, we investigate the relevance of disk-satellite interactions to harden the binding energy of the binary, and to drive its inward migration. A massive, equal-mass binary star is found to become more tightly wound as it migrates inwards toward the central black hole. The migration timescale is very similar to that of a single-star satellite of the same mass. The binary's hardening is caused by the formation of spiral tails lagging the stars ...
The Gibbs energy of mixing in liquid phase and the Gibbs energy of formation of various compounds in a binary Pu-Cd system were re-optimized by applying both recent and earlier experimental data. Those of the binary Pu-Bi and U-Bi systems were newly optimized. The results were summarized in a database and applied to the preliminary prediction of multi-solute systems in liquid Cd or Bi solvent. (author)
Our work is towards mechanistically understanding interactions of unsaturated bacterial biofilms and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) with actinide metals and metal surrogates under vadose zone conditions. Because metal contaminants in the vadose zone co-occur with organic pollutants, some of our work has included experiments with organic pollutants.
A review of fission product yields and delayed neutron data for Np-237, Pu-242, Am-242m, Am-243, Cm-243 and Cm-245 has been undertaken. Gaps in understanding and inconsistencies in existing data were identified and priority areas for further experimental, theoretical and evaluation investigation detailed. (author)
A review of fission product yields and delayed neutron data for Np-237, Pu-242, Am-242m, Am-243, Cm-243 and Cm-245 has been undertaken. Gaps in understanding and inconsistencies in existing data were identified and priority areas for further experimental, theoretical and evaluation investigation detailed. (author)
The results of calculational comparative study into radiotoxicity and residual power release time dependences for spent uranium-plutonium and thorium-uranium nuclear fuels from the WWER-1000 reactors during ling- time (up to 300 thousand years) storage are discussed. It is shown that the total radiotoxicities for actinides from uranium, uranium-plutonium and thorium-uranium spent fuels at storage period begin amount to 5.2 x 10"1"4, 1.3 x 10"1"5 and 1.5 x 10"1"4 kg of water per 1 t of discharged fuel, respectively. Radiotoxicity of actinides in uranium-plutonium fuel is revealed to be by the factor of 2.5 greater than that for ordinary uranium fuel because of greater accumulation of "2"3"9Pu, "2"4"0Pu, "2"4"1Pu and "2"4"4Cm. Radiotoxicity of actinides for thorium-uranium fuel calculated taking into account "2"3"4U is estimated to be by the factor 3.5 smaller than that for uranium fuel. The residual power releases for ...
Crude N,N-dialkylcarbamoylmethylphosphonates and phosphine oxide extractants, and particularly crude dihexyl N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphonate and octylphenyl N,N-diisobutylcarbamoyl phosphine oxide, are purified by distilling the crude materials in a thin film evaporator. Preferably, the crude materials are reacted with concentrated hydrochloric acid and then with aqueous sodium hydroxide prior to distillation in the thin film evaporator to hydrolyze impurities contained in them. The purified extractants are useful for extracting actinides and lanthanides from liquid waste streams. (author).
Crude N,N-dialkylcarbamoylmethylphosphonates and phosphine oxide extractants, and particularly crude dihexyl N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphonate and octylphenyl N,N-diisobutylcarbamoyl phosphine oxide, are purified by distilling the crude materials in a thin film evaporator. Preferably, the crude materials are reacted with concentrated hydrochloric acid and then with aqueous sodium hydroxide prior to distillation in the thin film evaporator to hydrolyze impurities contained in them. The purified extractants are useful for extracting actinides and lanthanides from liquid waste streams. (author).
Nuclear magnetic resonance results are presented for a number of NaCl-type compounds and cubic Laves-phase type compounds of uranium, neptunium, and plutonium. Special emphasis is placed on the Knight shift and spin-lattice relaxation time measurements and their interpretation in terms of localized or itinerant pictures of the 5f electrons. (author).
Nuclear magnetic resonance results are presented for a number of NaCl-type compounds and cubic Laves-phase type compounds of uranium, neptunium, and plutonium. Special emphasis is placed on the Knight shift and spin-lattice relaxation time measurements and their interpretation in terms of localized or itinerant pictures of the 5Line integral electrons.
Over the past several years, the Livermore Forensic Science Center has conducted analyses of nuclear-related samples in conjunction with domestic and international criminal investigations. Law enforcement officials have sought conventional and nuclear-forensic analyses of questioned specimens that have typically consisted of miscellaneous metal species or actinide salts. The investigated activities have included nuclear smuggling and the proliferation of alleged fissionable materials, nonradioactive hoaxes such as 'Red Mercury', and the interdiction of illegal laboratories engaged in methamphetamine synthesis. (author)
This report discusses the following topics: Prompt fission neutron energy spectra for {sup 235}U and {sup 239}Pu; Two-parameter measurement of nuclear lifetimes; ``Black`` neutron detector; Data reduction techniques for neutron scattering experiments; Inelastic neutron scattering studies in {sup 197}Au; Elastic and inelastic scattering studies in {sup 239}Pu; and neutron induced defects in silicon dioxide MOS structures.
The kinetics of the reaction of zirconium phosphates with carbon tetrachloride in sodium and potassium chloride melt as well as the effect of temperature, gas flow, solubility and weight of the solid phase of the phosphate, and stirring of the melt on the chlorination rate has been studied. The kinetic parameters of the reaction (rate constants, activation energy, etc.) have been calculated.
This paper presents the results obtained in the gamma scanning of two fuel pins from the bent subassembly of the fast breeder test reactor (FBTR) using a segmented gamma scanning system employing segment correlation developed for the assay of glove box solid waste. In addition to the actinide profiles, the paper also discusses the fission products and clad activation product profiles and tries to correlate the experimental values of the latter with computed values. (author). 4 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
The electronic structure of UPd_3 has been determined by means of XPS and BIS experiments. The core level line shapes and the valence band spectra of occupied and empty states clearly reveal the localized character of the 5f electrons in this actinide compound. From these spectra their Coulomb correlation energy is found to be about 2 eV. (author).
Passage through dams is a major source of mortality of anadromous juvenile salmonids because some populations must negotiate up to eight dams in Columbia and Snake rivers. Dams cause direct mortality when fish pass through turbines, but dams may also cause indirect mortality by altering migration conditions in rivers. Forebays immediately upstream of dams have decreased the water velocity of rivers and may contribute substantially to the total migration delay of juvenile salmonids. Recently, Coutant (2001a) suggested that in addition to low water velocities, lack of natural turbulence may contribute to migration delay by causing fish to lose directional cues. Coutant (2001a) further hypothesized that restoring turbulence in dam forebays may reduce migration delay by providing directional cues that allow fish to find passage routes more quickly (Coutant 2001a). Although field experiments have yielded ...
This document outlines the major steps that must be taken by the Savannah River Site (SRS) to migrate the SRS information technology (IT) environment to the new architecture described in the Savannah River Site Computing Architecture. This document proposes an IT environment that is {open_quotes}...standards-based, data-driven, and workstation-oriented, with larger systems being utilized for the delivery of needed information to users in a client-server relationship.{close_quotes} Achieving this vision will require many substantial changes in the computing applications, systems, and supporting infrastructure at the site. This document consists of a set of roadmaps which provide explanations of the necessary changes for IT at the site and describes the milestones that must be completed to finish the migration.
A pre-stack migration algorithm for elastic waves in two-dimensional variable-velocity media is developed, implemented, and tested. The algorithm operates in the time-space domain and is based on reverse-time finite-difference extrapolation of elastic waves. The algorithm is explained and demonstrated in the context of imaging of elastic vertical seismic profile data, but is applicable to any source-recorder geometry. Synthetic test examples include a point diffractor, laterally homogeneous layers, and the flank of a salt dome.
Field experiments were conducted in the 30-km zone of Gomel's region of the Byelorussia to study factors aecting a biological radionuclide accessibility. A contamination density by radiocesium equaled 2,7-9,9 MBk/m"2, strontium 90 - 0,3-0,5 MBk/m"2 in 1991. A sowing of oats barley, lupin was carried out. It was shown that radionuclide accumulation by agricultural plants was determined basically by biological peculiarities of plants in greater degree than by the contamination density. It was shown that strontium 90 migration from the soil was more intensive than that of radiocesium. 8 tabs.
The surface composition and composition near the surface and properties of high-silica zeolites of the TsVK-1 type were studied by XPES, IRS, and low-temperature adsorption of N/sub 2/. It was found that changing the sequence of operations during preparation of the H form of the zeolites results in a different set of acid centers on their surface, caused by migration of cations into the bulk of the zeolites. Migration of elements is also observed during the catalytic reaction of conversion of ethanol.
The dual-media approach to contaminant transport modeling has emerged over the years as a clear improvement over the conventional Fickian advection-dispersion, or single-medium model, in an increasing number of settings. Recent application to the MADE-2 tracer test at Columbus Air Force Base has extended interest to field-scale plume migration in unconsolidated sediments. Subsequent application to tritium migration from the SRS F- and H-area seepage basins within this study also demonstrated improved transport predictions.
Self-expanding metallic stent insertion has been widely applied for the palliative treatment of malignant esophageal strictures. Although it is known as an easy, safe, and effective procedure, complications are well known and include things such as stent migration and esophageal stent occlusion caused by tumor in growth. However, metallic stent fractures have been rarely reported in the esophagus, especially for nitinol stents. We report a case of a stent fracture associated with migration in a patient with a malignant esophageal stricture near the gastroesophageal junction. It is highly probable that the stent fracture was due to chemical erosion of the stent caused by gastric juice
VSP data are usually acquired in order to obtain high-resolution images of complex structures in reservoirs and near boreholes. The authors present an elastic iterative migration scheme which has few limitations regarding the complexity of the geology, and where the macromodel for both P- and S-wave velocities is automatically improved and updated at each iteration. They avoid wavefield separation (up/down and P/S) and the simplifying assumptions of small dips underlying most such methods. The migration scheme is based on elastic inversion theory. The wavefield extrapolation is based on a high-order, coarse-grid, finite-difference solution to the elastic two-way wave equation. At each iteration, the macromodel is updated using a gradient method, in which the gradient is computed by correlation of forward-modelled fields with back-propagated residual fields. The first iteration of the migration scheme is equivalent to ...
Three blocks of non-welded tuff, one nominally one cubic foot (trial block) and the other two, nominally one cubic metre (1 m{sup 3}), were excavated from the Busted Butte Test Facility on the Nevada Test Site and transported to the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Whiteshell Laboratories in Pinawa, Manitoba. The trial block and one of the 1-m{sup 3} blocks were used for unsaturated flow experiments. The remaining 1-m{sup 3} block is being used for saturated flow experiments and will be reported on separately. After a vertical flow of synthetic transport solution was set up under unsaturated conditions, a suite of conservative and chemically reactive radionuclide tracers was injected at volumetric flow rates of 20 mL/hr in the trial block, and 10 mL/hr in the 1-m{sup 3} block. The duration of the migration experiment in the trial block was 87 days, while the migration experiment in the 1-m{sup 3} block was continuing after 600 days. Results ...
The behavior of proton transfer facilitated by a novel thiazole derivative, N-methyl-4-(4-phenoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-amine (MPPT), across the water/1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) interface was investigated electrochemically. The ionic partition diagram for MPPT was obtained from interpretation of the cyclic voltammograms. The apparent partition coefficient of MPPT was evaluated by the shaking-flask method under experimental conditions, while that for the protonated form of MPPT was calculated from its transfer potential obtained from the ionic partition diagram. It was suggested that the mechanism for transfer of MPPT across the water/1,2-DCE) interface depends on the pH of the aqueous phase. The parameters of the facilitated proton transfer across the water/1,2-DCE interface were evaluated as ...
Three blocks of non-welded tuff, one nominally one cubic foot (trial block) in volume and the other two, nominally one cubic meter (1 m3) in volume, were excavated from the Busted Butte Test Facility on the Nevada Test Site in 1999 and transported to the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Whiteshell Laboratories in Pinawa, Manitoba. The trial block and one of the 1-m3 blocks were used for radionuclide migration experiments under unsaturated conditions; the remaining 1-m3 block was used for similar migration experiments under saturated conditions. After a vertical flow of synthetic transport solution was set up under unsaturated conditions, a suite of conservative and chemically reactive radionuclide tracers was injected at volumetric flow rates of 20 mL/hr in the trial block, and 10 mL/hr in two locations on the upper surface of the 1-m3 block. These flow rates correspond to infiltration rates of about 120 cm/year and about 17 cm/year, ...
chipD is a web server that facilitates design of DNA oligonucleotide probes for high-density tiling arrays, which can be used in a number of genomic applications such as ChIP-chip or gene-expression...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe use of measurement tools is an essential part of good evidence-based practice; however, physiotherapists (PTs) are not always confident when selecting, administering,...Full Text Available
Replication of plus-strand RNA viruses depends on host factors that are recruited into viral replicase complexes. Previous studies showed that eukaryotic translation elongation factor (eEF1A) is one...Full Text Available
BackgroundProcessing of multimodal information is a critical capacity of the human brain, with classic studies showing bimodal stimulation either facilitating or interfering in perceptual...Full Text Available
Peripheral subunit binding domains (PSBDs) are integral parts of large multienzyme complexes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. PSBDs facilitate shuttling of prosthetic groups between different catalytic...Full Text Available
Surfactant protein A (SP-A), first identified as a component of the lung surfactant system, is now recognized to be an important contributor to host defence mechanisms. SP-A can facilitate phagocytosis...Full Text Available
The demand for cogeneration plants is growing worldwide. For the combination of electricity generation and heat extraction in power stations facilitates an excellent fuel exploitation and makes the operator of the plant independent from external energy suppliers. (orig.)
BackgroundThe study of bacterial species interactions in a mixed-species community can be facilitated by transcriptome analysis of one species in the community using cDNA microarray...Full Text Available
A general method is described to sequester peptides containing azides from complex peptide mixtures, aimed at facilitating mass spectrometric analysis to study different aspects of proteome...Full Text Available
Spectacular increases in the quantity of sequence data genome have facilitated major advances in eukaryotic comparative genomics. By exploiting homology with classical model organisms, this makes possible...Full Text Available
The widespread use of tobacco and alcohol among adolescents might be related to the ability of nicotine and ethanol to facilitate social interactions. To investigate the neurobehavioral mechanisms...Full Text Available
A new gadolinium chelating NIR fluorescent molecular probe increases T1 relaxivity of water protons, facilitating combined optical and magnetic resonance imaging.
The exposure of cells to several metal ions stabilizes HIF-1α protein. However, the molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. They may involve inhibition of hydroxylation by either...Full Text Available
The paper demonstrates several ways that medical language processing can be combined with emerging display technologies to facilitate the extraction of data from free-text patient documents. The techniques...Full Text Available
Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths, is the second largest animal order and includes numerous agricultural pests. To facilitate comparative genomics in Lepidoptera, we isolated BAC clones containing...Full Text Available
BackgroundDespite concerns that facilitating informed choice would decrease diabetes screening uptake, 'informed choice' invitations that increased knowledge did not affect attendance...Full Text Available
This paper describes Image Engine, an object-oriented, microcomputer-based, multimedia database designed to facilitate the storage and retrieval of digitized biomedical still images, video, and text...Full Text Available
For meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, seasonal differences exist in self-grooming and in odor preferences for conspecifics, two behaviors which facilitate sexual interactions...Full Text Available
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESNon-invasive longitudinal imaging of tumor vasculature could provide new insights into the development of solid tumors, facilitating efficient...Full Text Available
We analyze transport through conical channels due to the difference in particle concentration on the two sides of the membrane. Because of the detailed balance, fluxes of non-interacting particles...Full Text Available
The continuous addition of toluene as a solute of treated ballast water from oil tankers into a well-defined estuary facilitated the study of the dynamics of dissolved hydrocarbon metabolism in seawater....Full Text Available
DNA barcodes linked to genetic features greatly facilitate screening these features in pooled formats using microarray hybridization, and new tools are needed to design large sets of barcodes to allow...Full Text Available
Polypeptides exiting the ribosome must fold and assemble in the crowded environment of the cell. Chaperones and other protein homeostasis factors interact with newly translated polypeptides to facilitate...Full Text Available
Objective: The paper describes and evaluates the use of Clinical Digital Libraries Project (CDLP) digital library collections in terms of their facilitation of timely clinical information...Full Text Available
Psychopathic individuals are generally unresponsive to motivational and emotional cues that facilitate behavioral regulation. A putative mechanism for this deficiency is Gray’s (1971)...Full Text Available
Medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma belong to a group of neoplasms designated as primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs). Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) is a matrix-associated...Full Text Available
Gene expression from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones has been demonstrated to facilitate physiologically relevant levels compared to viral and nonviral cDNA vectors. BACs are large enough...Full Text Available
...6 Resource type: documents MmIT: Multimedia Information and Technology Group Group aiming to facilitate communication between CILIP members interested in multimedia developments in the library and information science field. Visits to places of interest like museums and archives are frequently organised, and an email discussion list ...
BackgroundWidespread availability of geographic information systems software has facilitated the use of disease mapping in academia, government and private sector. Maps that display...Full Text Available
BackgroundGenomics has substantially changed our approach to cancer research. Gene expression profiling, for example, has been utilized to delineate subtypes of cancer, and facilitated...Full Text Available
The aggregation substance (AS) of Enterococcus faecalis, encoded on sex pheromone plasmids, is a surface-bound glycoprotein that mediates aggregation between bacteria thereby facilitating...Full Text Available
Abs facilitate humoral immunity via the classical mechanisms of opsonization, complement activation, Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and toxin/viral neutralization. There is also evidence that some...Full Text Available
T-type calcium channels are responsible for generating low-threshold spikes that facilitate burst firing and neurotransmitter release in neurons. GnRH neurons exhibit burst firing, but the underlying...Full Text Available
The Accelerator Transmutation Waste System is under development at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The goal is to perform an independent verification of the feasibility of actinide and long-lived fission product burning in this system. The authors' work is divided into five tasks: (a) production of an actinide and long-lived fission product cross section library from JEF 2.2; (b) simulation using MCNP and KENO IV Monte Carlo codes, of the Accelerator Transmutation Waste System configurations existing in literature; (c) validation of HETC Monte Carlo code (production of spallation source); (d) validation of the cross sections by comparison of Keff and reaction rate results, calculated with MNCP and KENO IV, with experimental benchmarks and intercomparison between the authors' calculations of a PWR unit cell and the computations carried out with various codes and cross section libraries (NEACRP critically group data); and (e) simulation of ...
subsequent to its in-reactor dwell time, spent fuel still contains large amounts of materials that are recoverable, for value-added energy purposes (uranium, plutonium), together with fission products, and minor actinides, making up the residues from nuclear reactions. The treatment and recycling of spent nuclear fuel, as implemented in France, entail that such materials be chemically partitioned. The development of the process involved, and its deployment on an industrial scale stand as a high achievement of French science, and technology. Treatment and recycling allow both a satisfactory management of nuclear waste to be implemented, and substantial savings, in terms of fissile material. Bolstered of late as it has been, due to spectacularly skyrocketing uranium prices, this strategy is bound to become indispensable, with the advent of the next generation of fast reactors. This Monograph surveys the chemical process used for spent fuel treatment, and its ...
Simple hydroxamic acids have been shown to have useful applications in an Advanced Purex process for the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel. They are especially suited to the separation of neptunium (IV) from uranium (VI) by the selective formation of a hydrophilic complex with Np(IV). U(VI) extraction in to 30% tributyl phosphate is unaffected. However, they have also been shown to be very fast reducing agents for Np(VI). The timescales of the reduction have been defined under a range of typical Purex Process conditions although the accurate determination of the reaction kinetics was not possible due to the rapidity of the reaction. U(VI) was shown not to be reduced. Therefore, Np(VI) can be efficiently reductively stripped when solvent phase (30% tributyl phosphate in odourless kerosene) solutions of Np(VI) and U(VI) are contacted with aqueous phase hydroxamic acid solutions. The slow reduction of plutonium (IV) to Pu(III) has also been observed and this is apparently enhanced ...
Coordinated Research Project (CRP) was initiated in 2002 by IAEA to enable Member States in developing methodologies for reducing radio-toxic discharge to the environment from nuclear fuel cycle activities and in paving the way for sustainability of nuclear energy. In the past three Research Coordination Meetings (RCM), the following areas of research were examined upon: (1)Basic studies to compare dry partitioning process with aqueous partitioning process; (2)Defining proliferation resistance attributes of partitioning processes; (3) Advanced characterization methods for actinides for measuring the possible material holdup;( 4)Minimization of actinides losses in the waste fraction from the partitioning process;(5)Establishment of separation criteria of partitioning process to minimize environmental impact; and (6)Defining environmental impact associated with partitioning processes. The final TECDOC is currently being prepared to summarize the ...
We provide a numerically efficient procedure to perform LDA+Hubbard I calculations including self-consistency over the charge density in the FP-LAPW basis. The method is applied to Pu, Am, and PuAm and PuCe alloys. Our results for valence photoemission spectra (PES) agree with experimental data and with previous LDA+DMFT calculations. Analysis of the J=5/2 and J=7/2 contributions to the f-occupation supports the intermediate-coupling picture of f-states in heavy actinides. The electronic specific heat coefficient is calculated for PuAm and PuCe alloys in reasonable agreement with recent experiments. We show that Pu atoms keep their mixed-valence character in these alloys. Next, we study electronic and spectral properties of Pu-based superconductor PuCoGa_5 and obtain good agreement with experimental PES. Finally, we analyze surface effects. In Pu monolayer, we find substantial modification of PES due to 5f-electron localization consistent with experimental ...
Many important advances in the physics of strongly correlated electron systems have been driven by the development of new materials: for instance the filled skutterudites MT4X12 (M=alkali metal, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide; T=Fe, Ru, or Os; X=P, As, or Sb), certain lanthanide and actinide intermetallic compounds such as URu2-xRexSi2 and CeTIn5 (T=Co, Rh, or Ir), and layered oxypnictides and related materials. These types of complex multinary d- and f-electron compounds have proven to be a vast reservoir of novel strongly correlated electron ground states and phenomena. In these materials, the occurrence of such a wide range of ground states and phenomena arises from a delicate interplay between competing interactions that can be tuned by partial or complete substitution of one element for another, as well as the application of pressure, and magnetic fields, resulting in rich and complex electronic phase diagrams in the hyperspace of ...
Recently there has been much concern with the ability of plants to uptake heavy metals from their surroundings. With the development of instrumental techniques with low detection limits such as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), attention is shifting toward achieving faster and more elegant ways of oxidizing the organic material inherent in environmental samples. Closed-vessel microwave dissolution was compared with conventional methods for the determination of concentrations of cerium, samarium, europium, terbium, uranium and thorium in a series of samples from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and from fields in Idaho. The ICP-MS technique exhibited detection limits in parts-per-trillion and linear calibration plots over three orders of magnitude for the elements under study. The results obtained by using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a microwave digestion system for the analysis of reference materials showed close agreement with the ...
An x-ray fluorescence spectrometer was designed and fabricated which nondestructively determines the thickness of aluminum cladding at small suspected thin spots in the inner or outer surface of actinide reactor tubes. The analysis method is based on the difference in absorption of actinide L/sub #alpha#/ and L/sub #beta#/ fluorescent x-rays in passing through the cladding. Calibration plots of the logarithm of the L/sub #beta#//L/sub #alpha#/ x-ray intensity ratio versus cladding thickness are linear to at least 40 mils for U-Al, U_3O_8-Al, and PuO_2-Al substrates. Accuracy and precision of the experimentally determined cladding thickness and evaluated for both uranium and plutonium substrates. Experimental thickness data are reported for 618 quality assurance analyses on six Mark 41 PuO_2-Al target tubes. An x-ray fluorescence cladding thickness monitor operated with a computer-controlled fluoroscope holds considerable promise for quality ...
Uranium dendrites which were deposited at a solid cathode of an electrorefiner contained a certain amount of salts. These salts should be removed for the recovery of pure metal using a cathode processor. In the uranium deposits from the electrorefining process, there are actinide chlorides and rare earth chlorides in addition to uranium chloride in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt. The evaporation behaviors of the actinides and rare earth chlorides in the salts should be investigated for the removal of salts in the deposits. Experiments on the salt evaporation of rare earth chlorides in a LiCl-KCl eutectic salt were carried out. Though the vapor pressures of the rare earth chlorides were lower than those of the LiCl and KCl, the rare earth chlorides were co-evaporized with the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt. The Hertz-Langmuir relation was applied for this evaporation, and also the evaporation rates of the salt were obtained. The co-evaporation of the rare ...
The inverse susceptibilities of the monopnictides and monochalcogenides of the light rare earths plotted vs. temperature flatten off at high temperatures. This behaviour is well explained by van Vleck paramagnetism of the excited states of the multiplet. For almost all actinide pnictides and chalcogenides a similar flattening-off is observed. Since spin orbit coupling is much stronger than in the light rare earth compounds an analogous interpretation is not possible. Susceptibility curves for uranium compounds can be fitted by adding a temperature dependent enhanced Pauli paramagnetism to the Curie-Weiss term (modified Curie-Weiss law). The high temperature susceptibility behaviour of neptunium compounds is very similar to uranium compounds i.e. an appreciable deviation from the Curie-Weiss law is only visible for the chalcogenides. The plutonium chalcogenides show a temperature independent paramagnetism, which can be explained either by a model of mixed valency, ...
The results from a hot test, using authentic HLLW solution, of the CTH actinide separation process are reported. The process consists of three solvent extraction cycles for separation of actinides and technetium from reprocessing high level liquid waste, utilizing HDEHP, TBP, and HDEHP in sequence, and an optional step for sorption on inorganic ion exchangers of the fission product content in the process raffinate. In general the process worked according to predictions but a malfunctioning feed pump gave a 10% loss of Pu to one stream. The hot test indicating that U and Pu can be recovered with losses below 0.1% and Am, Cm with a loss below 0.2%. Np and Tc were difficult to follow because of the low activity of /sup 237/Np and because /sup 99/Tc is a pure beta emitter, but the results indicate that also these elements behaved according to predictions, i.e., that recoveries >= 99.8% for Np and >= 97% for Tc can be achieved. For the HLLW ...
The French strategy of high level radioactive aqueous waste management is an incorporation in glassy fission products containers. Therefore, nitric acid soluble organic reagents needed for minor actinides and lanthanides selective separation from fission product solutions have to be sufficiently removed to reach carbon concentrations compatible with calcinator working. Thus, the ability of reagents to be oxidized under concentration conditions with or without denitration becomes a criteria of selection and have been studied. Further, if not working, other operations like hot hydrogen peroxide oxidation, catalyzed or not, are investigated. Reagents involved in this work are mainly complexing products (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl) Ethylene-diamine-tri-acetic Acid), pH keeping reagents (carboxylic acids like citric, glycolic, tartaric and lactic acid) and alkaline species (Tetramethylammonium hydroxide). Behaviour of acetic acid, which is often the main degradation product, has ...
Magnetic coupling between two or more metal centers is an important facet of d- and f-block transition metal chemistry due to its implications in chemical bonding. With respect to actinide metals, magnetic coupling between polymetallic actinide centers is less well-known. Of the few documented examples, only one bimetallic uranium(V) complex, [(MeC{sub 5}H{sub 4}){sub 2}U]{sub 2}[{mu}-1,4-N{sub 2}C{sub 6}H{sub 4}] (1), has unequivocally demonstrated antiferromagnetic coupling. This complex employs a {pi}-conjugated 1,4-phenylenedimide ligand system which bridges the two f{sup 1}-metal centers and enables antiferromagentic coupling between unpaired f-e1ectrons residing in a {pi}-symmetry orbital. In this communication, we report the synthesis of a dimeric bis(imido) uranium(V) iodide complex and demonstrate with magnetic susceptibility measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations that the f{sup 1}-uranium centers display ...
In the radiochemical reprocessing of spent fuel from nuclear reactors, a considerable amount of liquid, solid, and gaseous waste is formed; this waste is potentially dangerous to humans and requires the development of special and complex technological techniques for its localization and reliable long-term storage. The most hazardous are liquid wastes of high specific activity - water-tailings solutions obtained in the first cycle of extraction after the removal of uranium and plutonium. These solutions contain more than 99.9% of all the other transuranic elements - isotopes of neptunium, americium, and curium. Where necessary, some fission products and actinides may be removed from wastes of high specific activity for subsequent use. The quantity, composition, and activity of these wastes varies within broad limits, depending on the type and power of the reactor, the initial nuclide composition of the fuel, and its specific energy yield, the regeneration ...
Amongst the minor actinides issued from the spent nuclear fuel, {sup 241}Am is present in high concentration and contributes significantly to the long-term radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. A major uncertainty was present in the transmutation chain of {sup 241}Am when irradiated by a high intensity thermal neutron flux. This uncertainty was brought about by the poor knowledge of the {sup 242gs}Am neutron capture cross section. A dedicated experiment has been performed at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, which gives a definitive experimental answer to this problem.
Amongst the minor actinides issued from the spent nuclear fuel, "2"4"1Am is present in high concentration and contributes significantly to the long-term radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. A major uncertainty was present in the transmutation chain of "2"4"1Am when irradiated by a high intensity thermal neutron flux. This uncertainty was brought about by the poor knowledge of the "2"4"2"g"sAm neutron capture cross section. A dedicated experiment has been performed at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, which gives a definitive experimental answer to this problem.
The oxidation of Cr(III) hydroxides, mixed Fe(III)-Cr(III) hydroxides, and specimens of spinel phases NiCr2O4 and Fe(Cr,Fe)2O4 have been investigated in alkaline suspensions under the action of air and pure oxygen (1-3 atm). The rate of reaction increases with increasing alkali concentration, temperature, and oxygen pressure. Pu(IV) fixed on chromium hydroxides is not oxidized by oxygen under these conditions but is retained in the precipitate.
Closure of nuclear fuel cycle is considered as a way to reduce the hazards of nuclear power industry waste. The potential and prospects of different technologies and installations including ADTT in solving this problem are discussed. A new relative criterion is proposed to assess the dangers of the waste. Equilibrium mode approximation is used in the estimates. It is shown that irretrievable losses of actinides do not depend on relative intensity of burning. Neutron economy of accelerator-driven blankets is considered and an expression is derived for transmutation value of 'external' neutrons. 8 refs., 2 tabs.
V.M. STRUTINSKY's semi-classical method is the most precise to determine the energy of the different states along the fission way. The double-humped fission barrier explains fission isomerism. V.M. STRUTINSKY's barrier explains the ''intermediate structure'' observed in the cross section under the threshold; it provides also the observed effect of ''vibrational resonances'' with an interpretation. Taking an asymmetry parameter in consideration, a triple-humped fission barrier seems to be essential now for the light actinides. There is still a microscopic fission barrier to be explained.
Full text: Climatic problems associated to the greenhouse effect have recently stimulated a renewed interest in nuclear energy production, and triggered new studies aimed at developing future generation systems that would address current major safety, proliferation and waste concerns. In particular a possible solution to the waste problem could come from transmutation of the highly radiotoxic nuclear waste in Accelerator Driven Systems or in Generation-IV fast nuclear reactors. The design and operation of the new systems require accurate cross-section data on a large number of isotopes, in particular plutonium, minor actinides, long-lived fission fragments and structural materials. An important contribution to the field is being provided since a few years by a new time of-flight facility operative at CERN, n_TOF. The main features of the neutron beam, in particular the wide energy spectrum, ranging from thermal energy to hundreds of MeV, the very high instantaneous ...
An in vitro system for studying Pu uptake by, and removal from, macrophages was developed to provide data for the actinide therapy program. We have shown that "2"3"9PuO_2 particle uptake in vitro resembles the process in vivo with respect to the intracellular localization of phagocytized particles. At the end of 7 days of culture of Pu-loaded cells, 54% of the cells were viable even though 71% of the cells in the culture initially contained enough "2"3"9PuO_2 to deliver more than 53 intracellular #alpha#-disintegrations.
This paper analyzes fission neutron multiplicity for the /sup 242m/Am(n,f) reaction. The fission neutron multiplicity, v bar, of /sup 242m/Am(n,f) was measured relative to that of /sup 235/U(n,f) using the neutron time-of-flight facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 100-MeV electron Linac. A comparison of the measured energy dependence of v-bar is made with semi-empirical models of neutron emission from the actinides. 22 refs.
The aim of this work is to understand the reasons for the selectivity shown in the complexation by unsaturated heteropolyanions (HPA) of actinides (An) which are oxidized to the number +IV. Different studies have been carried out, both in solution and in solid state, on P_2W_1_7O_6_1"1"0"- and its complexes with Zn"2"+, UO_2"2"+, Ce"4"+, Th"4"+ and U"4"+ to characterize the nature of the complexation site offered to the cation. Among the actinides(IV), the U"4"+ ion has been selected due to its singular spectroscopic and magnetic properties. An initial series of studies, in solution, using NMR"3"1P has thus enabled us to characterize these complexes and to compare them to those formed with the complexing agent PW_1_1O_3_9"8"-. This body of data allows to identify an identical complexation site for both ligands. An analysis of the NMR"3"1P spectrum of U(P_2W_1_7O_6_1)_2"1"6"- has shown a plane of symmetry passing through the ...
The neutron capture cross sections of "2"4"1Am and "2"4"3Am to the ground and isomeric states of "2"4"2Am and "2"4"4Am have been calculated using the Hauser-Feshbach statistical theory of nuclear reactions for energies from thermal to 2 MeV. The parameters for the calculations were obtained from recent data on ("2"4"1Am + n) and ("2"4"3Am + n) or, where necessary, from systematics of actinide nuclei. The calculated values are in good agreement with the sparse experimental data.
This standard is applicable to operations with the following: /sup 237/Np, /sup 238/Pu, /sup 240/Pu, /sup 241/Pu, /sup 242/Pu, /sup 241/Am, /sup 242m/Am, /sup 243/Am, /sup 243/Cm, /sup 244/Cm, /sup 245/Cm, /sup 247/Cm, /sup 249/Cf and /sup 251/Cf. Subcritical mass limits are presented for isolated fissionable units. The limits are not applicable to interacting units.
A two-cycle process using O{Phi}CMPO and HDEHP as extractants to achieve an alpha decontamination factor of HLLW greater than 10{sup 3} together with a reduction of the lanthanides/americium weight ratio by a factor of about 200 is considered. Experimentally measured distribution ratios have been employed as input data of a suitable computer code to define operating conditions and M/S stage numbers of a process flow-sheet able to meet the above-mentioned objectives.
The synovial and bone uptake of tracer in the knees of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was quantified using {sup 99}Tc{sup m}-hexamethyl propylene amine oxime-labelled leucocytes and {sup 99}Tc{sup m}-methylene diphosphonate (MDP), respectively. Significant neutrophil migration and MDP uptake occurred in the knees of patients with RA irrespective of the disease duration. In all but one patient neutrophil migration was reduced after intra-articular steroid injection. The change in MDP uptake after steroid injection was variable. There was a significant correlation between the percentage reduction in neutrophil migration and pain score, while the latter correlated poorly with the change in MDP uptake. The quantification of the neutrophil component of the inflammatory process is a sensitive index for monitoring RA activity and response to pharmacological interventions, while quantitative bone scintigraphy should not be ...
The synovial and bone uptake of tracer in the knees of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was quantified using "9"9Tc"m-hexamethyl propylene amine oxime-labelled leucocytes and "9"9Tc"m-methylene diphosphonate (MDP), respectively. Significant neutrophil migration and MDP uptake occurred in the knees of patients with RA irrespective of the disease duration. In all but one patient neutrophil migration was reduced after intra-articular steroid injection. The change in MDP uptake after steroid injection was variable. There was a significant correlation between the percentage reduction in neutrophil migration and pain score, while the latter correlated poorly with the change in MDP uptake. The quantification of the neutrophil component of the inflammatory process is a sensitive index for monitoring RA activity and response to pharmacological interventions, while quantitative bone scintigraphy should not be employed to ...
Various MLM-type (M, medium-chain fatty acids; L, long-chain fatty acids) structured triacylglycerols were produced in pilot- or small-scale packed-bed reactors by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis. The incorporation and acyl migration of octanoic acid were measured by gas chromatography and Grignard degradation, and ranged from 39.0 to 48.7% and 0.6 to 9.3%, respectively. Quantitation of triacylglycerol molecular species was performed by ammonia negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mass spectrometry (MS). The proportion of ACN (acyl carbon number) 34 species that contained one C-18 fatty acid and two C-8:0, in samples analyzed, varied from 12.5 to 23.2%. The selected regioisomers MLM and MML within the ACN 34 species group were quantified by NICI tandem MS (MS/MS) and were in the range of 97.1 to 98.4% and 1.6 to 2.9%, respectively. There was no correlation between the level of acyl migration during lipase-catalyzed esterification and the level ...
Current theories on planetary formation establish that giant planet formation should be contextual to their quick migration towards the central star due to the protoplanets-disc interactions on a timescale of the order of $10^5$ years, for objects of nearly 10 terrestrial masses. Such a timescale should be smaller by an order of magnitude than that of gas accretion onto the protoplanet during the hierarchical growing-up of protoplanets by collisions with other minor objects. These arguments have recently been analysed using N-body and/or fluid-dynamics codes or a mixing of them. In this work, inviscid 2D simulations are performed, using the SPH method, to study the migration of one protoplanet, to evaluate the effectiveness of the accretion disc in the protoplanet dragging towards the central star, as a function of the mass of the planet itself, of disc tangential kinematics and of the presence of a planet ``pseudo-atmosphere''. To this ...
We present our initial experience with a new biodegradable (BD) esophageal stent in two patients, one for a therapy-resistant benign esophageal stricture, and the other as a temporary measure during curative radiotherapy for oesophageal carcinoma. The BD stents need to be loaded into a conventional pull-back delivery system but are then placed in a standard fashion. Pre-dilatation should be avoided to reduce the risk of migration, however if migration occurs the stents can be left to dissolve in the stomach. The stents are radiolucent but easily identified on CT with minimal artefact and thus might even aid with radiotherapy planning. BD stents offer an exciting new strategy for therapy-resistant benign strictures as well as a supportive measure for oesophageal cancer undergoing non-surgical treatment. (orig.)
Several researchers have investigated morphological changes on the south-eastern Mediterranean coast during the late Holocene. However, very few of these studies include quantitative data covering the last 200?years. In this study, topographical maps, nautical charts and aerial photographs are used to estimate the shoreline migrations and beach?nearshore sand balance over the last 200?years in Haifa Bay, Israel, the northernmost final depositional sink of the Nile littoral cell. The findings reflect two main periods. During the first period, between 1799 and 1928, human intervention along the bay?s coast was negligible, a significant coastal expansion of ?50 to 150?m (averages of 0.4?1.2?m/year) was measured, and sand accumulation was estimated at ?70,000?m3 annually in the beach?nearshore...
Stage III and stage IV recovery have been investigated resistometrically following 6.1 MeV alpha-particle irradiation at 4.2 K. The activation energy associated with stage III shows a gradual increase from 0.35 +- 0.02 eV to 0.39 +- 0.02 eV. Stage IV (155 to 180 K) is associated with an activation energy of 0.46 +- 0.03 eV. The present results are compared with those obtained after electron and neutron irradiation. The stage III recovery kinetics are interpreted in terms of the Goesele-Seeger theory for interstitial migration in highly anisotropic hexagonal metals. Stage IV is ascribed to monovacancy migration. (author).
We present here a study based on the migration of protoplanets in an accretion disc of a forming star, as the mainly proposed scenario for the formation of planetary systems. Attention is here focused on the mutual interactions between two protoplanets, both embedded in the accretion disc, as a function of the protoplanets masses, their relative positions, the dynamic properties of the accretion disc particles. The study is performed through a 2D SPH code and preliminary results show an oscillation of the distance between the two protoplanets, together with a slow migration of the two planets towards the central star when two Jupiter-like planets are considered. Less correlated behaviour is observed when at least one of the two protoplanets has an Earth-like mass. The role played by the disc particles initial angular momentum is discussed.
The forward modelling and the prestack reverse time migration of seismic P-SV wave field was carried out in 2-D models of isotropic and anisotropic media which allow separation of P-SV and SH motion. The P-SV wave field can be described by a system of hyperbolic, first order differential equations in terms of particle velocity and stress. The system of five equations and five unknowns, namely horizontal (U) and vertical (V) velocity components, and three components of stress (T{sub xx}, T-z{sub z} and T{sub xz}) was solved numerically using second order space and forth order time finite differences operators. In order to attenuate numerical dispersion, a staggered grid was used. (author). 48 refs., 5 figs
We propose a new algorithm for two-dimensional magnetotelluric (MT) inversion. Our algorithm is an MT inversion based on the steepest descent method, borrowed from the backpropagation technique of seismic inversion or reverse time migration, introduced in the middle 1980s by Lailly and Tarantola. The steepest descent direction can be calculated efficiently by using the symmetry of numerical Green's function derived from a mixed finite element method proposed by Nedelec for Maxwell's equation, without calculating the Jacobian matrix explicitly. We construct three different objective functions by taking the logarithm of the complex apparent resistivity as introduced in the recent waveform inversion algorithm by Shin and Min. These objective functions can be naturally separated into amplitude inversion, phase inversion and simultaneous inversion. We demonstrate our algorithm by showing three inversion results for synthetic data.
The authors determined migration timing and abundance of juvenile spring chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and juvenile steelhead/rainbow trout O. mykiss from three populations in the Grande Ronde River basin. Based on migration timing and abundance, two distinct life-history strategies of juvenile spring chinook and O.mykiss could be distinguished. An early migrant group left upper rearing areas from July through January with a peak in the fall. A late migrant group descended from upper rearing areas from February through June with a peak in the spring.
The effect on human health of using food packaging made from recycled materials will depend on whether the elements will migrate into the food itself and at which levels that would be of concern. There is no EU directive for paper and board packaging, but guidelines on paper and board intended to come into contact with food are being developed in another forum. These do not propose limits for paper intended to come into contact with dry foods. However, for other foodstuffs, restriction limits in paper of 0.002 mg/dm"2 (Cd), 0.003 mg/dm"2 (Pb), and 0.002 mg/dm"2 (Hg) have been proposed. This paper describes a radiotracer method that has been applied to the determination of migration of trace elements from paper and board into real food samples.
Four interrelated projects are underway whose purpose is to migrate the LAMPF-PSR Accelerator Complex control systems to a system with a common set of hardware and software components. Project goals address problems in performance, maintenance and growth potential. Front-end hardware, operator interface hardware and software, computer systems, network systems and data system software are being simultaneously upgraded as part of these efforts. The efforts are being coordinated to provide for a smooth and timely migration to a client-sever model-based data acquisition and control system. An increased use of the distributed intelligence at both the front-end and operator interface is a key element of the projects. 2 refs., 2 figs.
Mesopelagic zooplankton may meet their nutritional and metabolic requirements in a number of ways including consumption of sinking particles, carnivory, and vertical migration. How these feeding modes change with depth or location, however, is poorly known. We analyzed fatty acid (FA) profiles to characterize zooplankton diet and large particle (>51?m) composition in the mesopelagic zone (base of euphotic zone ?1000m) at two contrasting time-series sites in the subarctic (station K2) and subtropical (station ALOHA) Pacific Ocean. Total FA concentration was 15.5 times higher in zooplankton tissue at K2, largely due to FA storage by seasonal vertical migrators such as Neocalanus and Eucalanus. FA biomarkers specific to herbivory implied a higher plant-derived food sou...
Erythroid differentiation regulator (Erdr1) was first discovered in mouse leukemia cell lines and functions as a stress-related survival factor. This study investigated whether Erdr1 regulates murine melanoma progression, as well as the mechanism involved in Erdr1-regulated metastasis. The expression of Erdr1 is negatively correlated with IL-18 expression, which has a pro-cancer effect in melanoma. To study the role of Erdr1 as an anti-cancer factor, cell migration, invasion, and proliferation were measured. Erdr1 overexpression markedly inhibited the level of cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in B16F10 cells in vitro. In addition, Erdr1 overexpression significantly suppressed melanoma lung colonization, metastasis, and tumor growth in vivo. To identify the factors involved in Er...
Ab initio planewave pseudopotential method is used to study carbon diffusion and pairing in crystalline silicon. The calculation is performed with a 40 Ry planewave cutoff and 2x2x2 special k-point sampling with a supercell of 64 atoms. It is found that substitutional carbon attracts interstitial Si forming a <001> C interstitial with a large binding energy of 1.45 eV. The interstitial carbon is mobile and can migrate with a migration energy of 0.5 eV. The interstitial carbon can bind further to another substitutional carbon forming a substitutional carbon-interstitutional carbon pair with a binding energy of 1.0 eV. This model is used to understand the effect of high C concentration on the transient enhanced diffusion in Si.
Current theories on planetary formation establish that massive objects accrete gaseous envelopes, becoming gaseous planets if the accretion process proceeds before the accretion disc dissolution. One of the unsolved problems is that the planet formation is contextual to their quick migration towards the central star, due to the protoplanets-disc interaction, on a timescale lower by an order of magnitude than that of gas accretion onto the protoplanet. These arguments have been recently broached using N-body and/or Eulerian fluid-dynamics codes, mainly in 2D, or a mixing of them. In this work, 2D simulations with a SPH code are performed, to study the migration of one protoplanet. The goal is to scrutinise the protoplanet dragging as a function of planet's mass.
We wanted to evaluate the usefulness of a new type of a complex expandable nitinol stent that was designed to reduce the stent's propensity to migration during the treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstructions. Two types of expandable nitinol stent were constructed by weaving a single thread of 0.2mm nitinol wire in a tubular configuration: an uncovered stent 18mm in diameter and a covered stent 16mm in diameter. Both ends of the covered stent were fabricated by coaxially inserting the covered stent into the tubular uncovered stent and then attaching the two stents together with using nylon monofilament. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the stent was placed in 29 consecutive patients (20 men and 9 women, mean age: 65 years) who were suffering with malignant gastric outlet obstruction (n=20), duodenal obstruction (n=6) or combined obstruction (n=3). Clinical improvement was assessed by comparing the food intake capacity before and after the procedure. The ...
In 1996, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the University of Washington completed the fourth year of a multi-year study to estimate survival of juvenile salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.) passing through dams and reservoirs on the Snake River. Actively migrating smolts were collected near the head of Lower Granite Reservoir and at Lower Granite Dam, tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and released to continue their downstream migration. Individual smolts were subsequently detected at PIT-tag detection facilities at Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental, McNary, John Day and Bonneville Dams. Survival estimates were calculated using the Single-Release (SR) and Paired-Release (PR) Models. Timing of releases of tagged hatchery steelhead (O. mykiss) from the head of Lower Granite Reservoir and yearling chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) from Lower Granite Dam in 1996 spanned the major portion of their juvenile ...
In view of the findings that several Kunitz-type protein inhibitors suppress tumor invasion and metastasis, the aim of the present study is to explore whether Bungarus multicinctus protease inhibitor-like protein-2 (PILP-2) and PILP-3 exhibit anti-tumor activity. Although approximately 28% of amino acid substitutions occurred between PILP-2 and PILP-3, molecular modeling suggested that PILP-2 and PILP-3 shared similar folded structures. Unlike PILP-2, PILP-3 showed a notable activity in abolishing migration and invasion of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. The ability of PILP-3 to inhibit matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) activity was higher than that of PILP-2. Pull-down assay revealed protein-protein interaction between PILP-3 and MMP-2. In contrast to mutation on N-terminal region, replacement of amino acids at C-terminus attenuated notably the ability of PILP-3 to inhibit cell invasion, cell migration and MMP-2 activity as well as the ...
Halide complexes of astatine cations At"+ and AtO"+ were prepared and their rate of migration was measured. The complexes are of the type AtX_2"- and AtOX_2"- (X = Cl"-, Br"-, I"-). The bromo complexes, AtBr_2"- and AtOBr_2"-, have a higher stability than the chloro complexes. The hydrolysis in weakly alkaline solution of AtX_2"- resulted At"-, and that of AtOX_2"- AtO_2"-. (author).
A new commercial cutting tool software package replaced an internally created legacy system. This report describes the issues that surfaced during the migration and installation of the commercial package and the solutions employed. The primary issues discussed are restructuring the data between two drastically different database schemas and the creation of individual component graphics.
Radionuclide techniques have commonly been used to assess ventriculovenous shunt function, cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, and for the diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid leaks. All of these techniques were utilized in this unusual case of retrograde migration of a ventriculoatrial catheter into the neck, with cutaneous fistulization and CSF leak. (orig.).
The docking protein p130Cas is a prominent Src substrate found in focal adhesions (FAs) and is implicated in regulating critical aspects of cell motility including FA disassembly and protrusion of the...Full Text Available
Nine-component vertical seismic profiling has been conducted at the UE-25 UZ No. 16 borehole at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, in support of investigation of the hydrologic significance of fault and fracture systems. A large data set from multi-component sources and receivers allows state-of-the-art advances in processing using polarization filtering and reverse time migration, for enhanced interpretation of geologic features.
Nine-component vertical seismic profiling has been conducted at the UE-25 UZ No. 16 borehole at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, in support of investigation of the hydrologic significance of fault and fracture systems. A large data set from multi-component sources and receivers allows state-of-the-art advances in processing using polarization filtering and reverse time migration, for enhanced interpretation of geologic features.
... The moorland landscape looks especially colourful in late summer, while spring is the perfect time to come and see migrant birds like redstarts,...Valley This is a delightful oak woodland to walk through - especially in spring and early summer when lots of migrating birds come to breed ... Fowlmere Fowlmere's reedbeds and pools are fed by natural chalk springs, and a chalk stream runs through the reserve. Special birds ... There are common woodland birds in spring and turtle doves in spring and summer. Haweswater If you want to see a golden ...
... In spring, the marshes are filled with the atmospheric calls of lapwings and redshanks, all breeding on one of the UK's ...Butley river and Ore estuary, Boyton Marshes attracts breeding wading birds in spring and ducks, geese and swans in winter. It's also ... The moorland landscape looks especially colourful in late summer, while spring is the perfect time to come and see migrant birds like redstarts,...Valley This is a delightful oak woodland to walk through - especially in spring and early summer when lots of migrating birds come to breed ...
Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration are key processes that occur in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis. In the present study, we designed locked nucleic...Full Text Available
Given the possibility of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza arriving in North America and monitoring programs that have been established to detect and track it, we review intercontinental movements...Full Text Available
Rotary screw traps, located at four sites in the Grande Ronde River basin, were used to characterize aspects of early life history exhibited by juvenile Onchorhychus mykiss during migration years 1995-99. The Lostine, Catherine Creek and upper Grande Ronde traps captured fish as they migrated out of spawning areas into valley rearing habitats. The Grande Ronde Valley trap captured fish as they left valley habitats downstream of Catherine Creek and upper Grande Ronde River rearing habitats. Dispersal downstream of spawning areas was most evident in fall and spring, but movement occurred during all seasons that the traps were fished. Seaward migration occurred primarily in spring when O. mykiss smolts left overwintering area located in both spawning area and valley habitats. Migration patterns exhibited by O. mykiss suggest that Grande Ronde Valley habitats are used for overwintering and should be ...
Computed tomographic findings in developmental brain anomalies are more easily classified when the system used is based on embryogenesis related to morphology. Analysis of computed tomographic findings in a series of 154 patients with brain anomalies (Chiari malformation not included) revealed that specific examples of abnormalities occurring in major stages of brain development may be recognized by computed tomography. This paper deals with a group of patients with abnormalities that reflect a disturbance in neuronal migration. (orig.).
A total of nine papers were presented at the course with the following titles: peat accumulation and coal basins; coal composition; coal quality; sedimentary environments of coal; generation, storage and migration of natural gas in coal bed reservoirs; geophysical log interpretation; the Ardley coal zone of central Alberta; stratigraphy and sedimentary environment of the Coalspur Formation; and the coal-bearing Luscar Group of western Alberta. All of these papers have been abstracted separately.
After a presentation of methods and tools for the basic and extensive characterization of polluted sites and the study of evolution and transfer of current organic pollutants in the ground, the example of the rehabilitation of an old Rhone-Poulenc site (at Chauny, France) polluted with metals and arsenic, is described: soil and aquifer diagnosis, risk analysis and determination of migration schemes
The object of this paper is to show how the profile of metal concentration in the soil near bone from archaeological sites can be used, along with the appropriate mathematical model, to extract transport parameters. These parameters can then be used to predict long-term migration rates of chemical species associated with the burial of hazardous wastes in similar environmental settings.
Defects are produced in zinc by 6.1 MeV #alpha#-particle irradiation at 4.2 K and the subsequent recovery between 4.2 and 22 K. No evidence is found for free migration of an interstitial in the temperature range investigated. The recovery spectra reveal a series of substages which are ascribed to recombination of close Frenkel pairs. (author).
With the advent of computer technology, researchers and instructors are attempting to devise computer support for effective collaborative technical writing. In this study, a computer-supported environment for collaborative technical writing was developed. This system (Process-Writing Wizard) provides process-oriented scaffolds and a synchronous online chat room to facilitate real-time collaborative writing practice. It allows multiple students to work synchronously on collaborative writing tasks via the Internet. It also helps develop collaborative writing strategies, such as creating team agendas, brainstorming, creating team outlines, and generating team articles. An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of the system on EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students? collaborativ...
An ion processing element employing composite media disposed in a porous substrate, for facilitating removal of selected chemical species from a fluid stream. The ion processing element includes a porous fibrous glass substrate impregnated by composite media having one or more active components supported by a matrix material of polyacrylonitrile. The active components are effective in removing, by various mechanisms, one or more constituents from a fluid stream passing through the ion processing element. Due to the porosity and large surface area of both the composite medium and the substrate in which it is disposed, a high degree of contact is achieved between the active component and the fluid stream being processed. Further, the porosity of the matrix material and the substrate facilitates use of the ion processing element in high volume applications where it is desired to effectively process a high volume flows.
In many species social behaviors are dependent on integration of chemosensory and hormonal cues. Many chemosensory stimuli are detected by the vomeronasal organ, which projects to many regions that contain steroid receptors, including the medial amygdala. In male hamsters, testosterone is known to acutely increase in response to chemosensory stimulation, and can facilitate sexual behavior by direct action within the medial amygdala. Conspecific stimuli activate the anterior (MeA) and posterior (MeP) medial amygdala, while heterospecific stimuli activate only MeA. Chemosensory stimuli with different social significance differentially activate the dorsal and ventral subdivisions of MeA and MeP. Therefore, it is likely that steroids differentially facilitate stimulation of the medial amygdala...
A methodology is proposed to facilitate the construction of gridded bathymetry data for the use of hydrodynamic models on the continental shelf. It relies on the carrying out of three successive tasks: (1) automatic selection of records of better quality among multiple sets of overlapping data; (2) elimination of data points located on land; and (3) taking into account the shoreline as bathymetric data. Algorithms are proposed to perform sorting of the records according to their quality as well as masking by the coastline. The suggested method facilitates the updating of bathymetry data and optimizes their use. It enables automatic execution of all the tasks and building of new digital bathymetry models in a few hours, without action from the operator. The method has been tested many times...
To evaluate the efficacy of newly designed covered and non-covered coated colorectal stents for colonic decompression. Twenty-six patients, (15 palliative cases and 11 preoperative) underwent treatment for the relief of colorectal obstruction using metallic stents positioned under fluoroscopic guidance. In 24 of the 26, primary colorectal carcinoma was diagnosed, and in the remaining two, recurrent colorectal carcinoma. Twenty-one patients were randomly selected to receive either a type A or type B stent; for the remaining five, type C was used. Type A, an uncovered nitinol wire stent, was lightly coated to ensure structural integrity. Type B (flare type) and C (shoulder type) stents were polyurethane covered and their diameter was 24 and 26mm, respectively. The rates of technical success, clinical success, and complications were analyzed using the chi-square test, and to analyse the mean period of patency, the Kaplan-Meier method was used. Thirty of 31 attempted placements in 26 ...
A preliminary database has been developed that will allow mineralogy and bulk-rock geochemical information to be managed under configuration control and facilitate electronic querying. The database is currently developed in Microsoft Access as a collection of tables, views, and entry forms. Each field and table has been described in a data dictionary.
Scyl1 is an evolutionarily conserved N-terminal protein kinase-like domain protein that plays a role in COP1-mediated retrograde protein trafficking in mammalian cells. Furthermore, loss of Scyl1 function...Full Text Available
Intimin facilitates intestinal colonization by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7; however, the importance of intimin binding to its translocated receptor (Tir) as opposed to...Full Text Available
Pumping is one of the means for storing vast quantities of energy. This article analyses its principles and ways of implementation with emphasis on its double aspect, e.g., on the one hand, off-peak power is transferred to the periods of heaviest load and is thus valorized, even when taking into account losses due to poor efficiency of operations in the pumping and turbine modes, and on the other hand, plants have great flexibility in operation, faciliting the permanent fitting of generation to demand.
A tiered communications architecture for managing network traffic in a distributed system. Communication between client or control computers and a plurality of hardware devices is administered by agent and monitor devices whose activities are coordinated to reduce the number of open channels or sockets. The communications architecture also improves the transparency and scalability of the distributed system by reducing network mapping dependence. The architecture is desirably implemented in a proton beam therapy system to provide flexible security policies which improve patent safety and facilitate system maintenance and development.
This device has and head-race pipe with an external part and a coaxial inner part. A measuring head is mounted movable between these 2 parts and has at least a thermocouple and a mobile grid for varying the section and the sodium flow to facilitate the impurities dissolution. This ensemble is completed by a longitudinal body containing the main parts of the indicator and surrounded by a thermal exchanger to cool the sodium.
The invention deals with a pumping plant for oil filled power cables. An air driven piston type pump is used as primary pump. A PLS (Programmable Logic control System) is used to control the oil flow to the cable(s). Improvements of the pump includes means for ensuring that the pump piston is operated also at low pressure and flow, and means for sealing off the piston rod to ensure maximum life of seals, to facilitate detection of possible leakages and to avoid contamination of the cable oil. 3 figs.
Norad commissioned Econ Poeyry to map teaching and research activities and capacity related to clean energy in selected Ethiopian universities. The mapping identified challenges and opportunities with the aim of facilitating future intervention by the Ethiopian Government and donors to help improve the energy sector development of the country. The report covered the government-owned universities of Bahir Dar, Mekelle, Jimma, Arba Minch and Addis Ababa. The mapping was based on a questionnaire and on interviews at each university. (Author)
ABSTRACT Extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model, this study postulates a model of online social support. The model is empirically tested using data from undergraduates in Taiwan regarding their usage of instant messaging (IM). The test results indicate that all model paths are significant, except that the path between online social support and facilitating conditions is insignificant. This study offers limitations and implications.
A cryostat is described that was developed for irradiating a number of small metal specimens with a high beamcurrent of heavy particles at liquid nitrogen temperature. The specimens, which are mounted on a block, are taken out of the cryostat after irradiation and subsequently annealed in a temperature bath. The progress of annealing is followed by measuring the change in electrical resistivity of the specimens in liquid helium. (auth)
This article investigates the societal conditions that might help the establishment of peer-to-peer modes of production. First, the context within which such a new model is emerging - the neoliberal knowledge-based-societies - is described, and its shortcomings unveiled; and second, a robust argument is provided for the moral legitimation of an alternative societal vision, including two structural policies that are likely to facilitate the establishment and further development of peer-to-peer practices.
Revisions at steam turbines should present a problem-free procedure due to the long use of these machines. Changes in the market result in difficulties during the inspection work. The shortage of qualified personnel and manufacturing capacities are the cause for these difficulties. Important procedures of revisions are described in detail in the VGB regulations. Direct contacts between the customers and the suppliers facilitate the expirations substantially. In the case of good planning and under consideration of the well-known regulations, a revision can be accomplished to the satisfaction of customers and suppliers.
DescriptionEnzymes are natural catalysts that are used increasingly to replace environmentally harmful chemicals and to achieve better catalytic selectivity during pulp and paper processing. The main objective of this project is to identify novel plant enzymes for deeper understanding of the process of fibre formation and for future improvement of the quality parameters of wood fibres. Specific modification of the fibre characteristics will facilitate their use as raw materials for the current pulp and pap [continued...
Describes the Indonesian system of education of Islamic schooling, secular education, and out-of-school education. The provision of 9-year universal basic education is planned by 2004. The national plan challenges the education system to facilitate the change in Indonesia's economic structure from an agriculturally based system to one more dependent on manufacturing and service industries. (SLD)
... 01, 2009 | Rate It Marine Technology Society https://www.mtsociety.org/home.aspx emphasizes the importance of marine technology as it applies to global issues, encourages marine technology education and facilitates the use of marine technology in managing marine resources Added: Mar. 11, 2010 |...
Response of control valves plays an important role in the dynamics of the flow system as a whole. Knowledge of its transfer function would facilitate analysis of the behaviour of the system. This paper presents the application of Levy's complex curve fitting method for determination of the transfer function of control valves used in Liquid Zone Control System of 540 MWe PHWR. (author)
In order to facilitate observations of low energy nuclear reactions, a new type recoil mass-separator together with a new gas-jet target system is being developed at the tandem accelerator facility in Kyushu University. The expected mass-resolving power of the separator is 220 for a solid angle of 10 msr and the practical thickness of the gas-jet target will exceed 0.1 atm#centre dot#cm for the light elements of H and He. (author).
For verification of cow fertility a /sup 3/H radioimmunoassay of progesterone in milk and blood plasma was developed. It is of high specificity and accuracy as well. Extraction of progesterone from milk was facilitated by application of alcohol. Suggested differences in milk and plasma progesterone levels between pregnant and nonpregnant cows could be revealed.
Computer tomography used in the diagnosis of tumours is described in the light of particularly great diagnostic difficulties in children. Computer tomography was applied in 12 cases. A high diagnostic value of this method was demonstrated, which makes possible a more accurate diagnosis of the position of the tumour, its size, and expanding tendency. The possibility of estimating healthy tissues and organs, and those with pathological changes on the basis of differences in their density with a detection threshold at 0.5% density difference facilitates not infrequently preoperative diagnosis raising the value of the method.
As a self-teaching tool, this illustrated guide facilitates home study of the complexities of thoracic CT's. Over 400 illustrations and accompanying copy are used to provide a basis for understanding the CT appearances of disease processes and a comparison of CT lookalikes. It updates new and interesting developments in the format of case presentations.
The Atlantic Wind Test Site was established in 1980 as a laboratory to facilitate the evaluation and demonstration of wind energy systems and equipment. This annual report describes its organization and management, facilities, major projects, and the outlook for the future. Major projects include wind diesel; AWTS-IREQ collaboration; remote community data acquisition; lagerwey test program; Alaska Energy Authority Project; public education; Atlantic Orient Corporation 15/50 Project; and the soft VAWT project.
A measurement of the magnetic form factor of a ferromagnetic actinide compound of UTe with circularly polarized X-rays is reported. The present geometrical configuration of the measurement gives a form factor of L(k)+0.3S(k), where L(k) and S(k) are the form factors of the orbital and the spin magnetic moment, respectively. We have combined the X-ray magnetic form factor with the neutron one which gives L(k)+2S(k) (G. Busch et al.: J. Phys. C 12 (1979) 1391), and have deduced L(k) and S(k) separately. The obtained profiles of L(k) and S(k) show that the orbital and the spin magnetic moments are spatially spread out more than those calculated for a free uranium ion. (author).
A measurement of the magnetic form factor of a ferromagnetic actinide compound of UTe with circularly polarized X-rays is reported. The present geometrical configuration of the measurement gives a form factor of L(k)+0.3S(k), where L(k) and S(k) are the form factors of the orbital and the spin magnetic moment, respectively. We have combined the X-ray magnetic form factor with the neutron one which gives L(k)+2S(k) (G. Busch et al.: J. Phys. C 12 (1979) 1391), and have deduced L(k) and S(k) separately. The obtained profiles of L(k) and S(k) show that the orbital and the spin magnetic moments are spatially spread out more than those calculated for a free uranium ion. (author).
Polymeric coated ferromagnetic carriers with an absorbed layer of octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) diluted by tributyl phosphate (TBP) are being evaluated for application in the separation and the recovery of low concentrations of americium, plutonium, and uranium from nuclear waste solutions. Due to their chemical nature, these extractants selectively complex americium and plutonium contaminants onto the particles and the complexed particles can be recovered from the solution using a magnet. Physical and chemical characterization of the extractant-absorbed particles were performed by gamma and liquid scintillation counting, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) micrograph, and other physical measurements. Plutonium, americium, and uranium separations have been performed at various HNO{sub 3} and HCl concentrations. Parameters were studied to determine the limitations and capacity of the process. The status of the chemistry and application of the process ...
The extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) has been investigated using mixtures of synthesized aromatic dithiophosphinic acids (R_2PSSH) and tributylphosphate (TBP), trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) or tributylphosphine oxide (TBPO) in toluene from nitric acid (0.01-1.5 mol l"-"1). There was no detectable extraction when R_2PSSHs were used alone as extractants for either Am(III) or Eu(III) (D_A_m_,_E_u<10"-"4) under the experimental conditions used in this study. High separation factors (D_A_m/D_E_u>20) with D_A_m>1 were achieved in the nitric acid range 0.1-1 moll"-"1 by means of a synergistic mixture of bischlorodithiophosphinic acid with TBP, TOPO or TBPO. (orig.)
In a systematic survey of ternary fission induced by thermal neutrons at the Lohengrin spectrometer of the ILL/Grenoble, the target nucleus {sup 249}Cf has recently been added to the list of actinides under study. Special emphasis was put on the search for the heaviest ternary particles. At the limit of detection (some 10{sup -9} per fission), the heaviest isotopes observed for {sup 249}Cf(n{sub th},f) are {sup 37}Si and {sup 37}S. Another rare process in low energy fission is quaternary fission. Here two light charged particles accompany the main fragments. The reaction {sup 233} U(n,f) has been studied at a cold neutron beam of the ILL. Two processess have to be disentangled: simultaneous and sequential quaternary fission. In the simultaneous decay the most probable combination of particles is ({alpha} + {alpha}) with a yield of {approx}10{sup -7}/fission.
A diffuse-reflectance capability for the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer at the Y-12 Plant Laboratory has been implemented. A sample cell with a 25 to 400/sup 0/C temperature-controlled sample stage and an ultrahigh-vacuum-to-atmospheric pressure gas-handling capability has been developed. Absorbance of light from the spectrometer beam, resulting from the beam being scattered from a powder sample, can be measured. This capability of detecting molecular species on and in powders is to be used to study chemisorption on actinide and rare-earth metals, alloys, and compounds. Cell design is described along with experiments demonstrating its performance in detecting moisture absorption on uranium oxide, moisture and carbon dioxide absorption on the lithium hydride/hydroxide system, and carbon dioxide absorption on potassium borohydride. 13 figures.
In this systematic examination of some of the spectroscopic properties of the f-elements we deal with both the trivalent lanthanides and actinides. We summarize the present status of our energy level calculations in single crystal matrices and in aqueous solution, and compare the predicted crystal-field structure in certain low-symmetry sites with that observed. Some interesting new structural insights are thereby gained. The state eigenvectors from these calculations are then used in part in reassessing and interpreting the intensities of transitions in aqueous solution via the Judd-Ofelt theory. The parameters of this theory derived from fitting experimental data are compared with those computed from model considerations. Finally, we discuss some recent contributions to the interpretation of excited state relaxation processes in aqueous solution. 79 references, 23 figures, 17 tables.
This document reports on the work done by the Separations Science and Technology Programs of the Chemical Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, in the period April-September 1992. This effort is mainly concerned with developing the TRUEX process for removing and concentrating actinides from acidic waste streams contaminated with transuranic (TRU) elements. The objectives of TRUEX processing are to recover valuable TRU elements and to lower disposal costs for the nonTRU waste product of the process. Two other projects are underway with the objective of developing (1) a membrane-assisted solvent extraction method for treating natural and process waters contaminated by volatile organic compounds and (2) evaporation technology for concentrating radioactive waste and product streams such as those generated by the TRUEX process.
Actinide recycling by partitioning and transmutation is considered as one of the most promising strategies to reduce the inventory of radioactive waste, thus contributing to make nuclear energy sustainable. To make advances beyond the current state of the art in pyrochemical separations processes, the Domain 2 (DM2) of ACSEPT has been built on considering a process approach based on system studied. Four work packages that represent the main steps of a process block diagram have been identified: head-end steps, core process development, and salt treatment for recycling and waste conditioning. The results obtained in this domain will be integrated in DM 3 (Process) in order to orientate the R and D studies of DM2 and to propose and validate flowsheets at the end of the project. The state of the art on pyrochemical separation within the European Community and the working program of ACSEPT in pyrometallurgy are presented in this work. (authors)
A collaborative experimental research program has been established between industry and university partners to evaluate the subcritical behavior of fresh and spent highly enriched fuel assemblies at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR). This proposed program will involve a series of subcritical measurements using the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed {sup 252}Cf source-driven noise technique. Measurements evaluating the subcritical behavior of simple arrays of fresh MURR assemblies will be performed for evaluating the spectral effects of materials typically found in shipping casks such as lead, steel, aluminum, and boron. Also, measurements will be performed on spent assemblies to characterize physics parameters which may be useful in determining the subcritical behavior of fuels for reactivity credit of actinide burnup and fission product poisoning.
Applications of molten salts technology to separation and synthesis of materials have been studied eagerly, which would develop new fields of materials science. Research Group for Actinides Science, Department of Materials Science, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), together with Reprocessing and Recycle Technology Division, Atomic Energy Society of Japan, organized the Workshop on Molten Salts Technology and Computer Simulation at Tokai Research Establishment, JAERI on July 18, 2001. In the workshop eleven lectures were made and lively discussions were there on the fundamentals and applications of the molten salts technology that covered the structure and basic properties of molten salts, the pyrochemical reprocessing technology and the relevant computer simulation. The 10 of the presented papers are indexed individually. (J.P.N.)
The determination of the oxidation state of ultra-trace elements in the environment, especially in the case of actinides, is of importance in many ways. Speciation techniques using radiation may comprise methods based on the detection of the nuclear and atomic radiations emitted in radioactive decay or methods using external sources of excitation. In the former instance, information can be obtained from the energy and intensity of radiation, but at present the partition method is still the most commonly used, although its reliability is questionable. Excitation with intense laser beams, as is currently being used for trace element analysis in photoacoustic and thermal lensing spectroscopic techniques, could conceivably be applied under suitable conditions to ultra-trace elements with a sensitivity approaching that of the radiochemical methods.
Since actinide mononitride has several superior thermal and neutronic properties, nitride fuel is considered as a candidate for future nuclear systems, such as advanced fast reactors and accelerator-driven system. Establishing reprocessing technology is one of key technologies for the development of nitride fuel cycle. In addition to general advantages of pyrochemical process, such as the potential for economy, radiation and proliferation resistance, recycling of N-15 in nitride fuel seems to be practical in comparison with conventional hydro-process. Following the electrochemical measurements of nitride fuel in LiCl-KCl molten salt, the experimental study on closing nitride fuel cycle has been carried out in JAEA by used of TRU nitride and burnup simulated nitride samples. Recent progress of the study is summarized in this paper.
The effect of a series of complexing and reducing agents on the extraction-chemical behavior of technetium as applied to extraction splitting of uranium and plutonium in the Purex process was examined. Kinetic parameters of the catalytic decomposition of N2H5NO3 under the action of Tc in the presence of these agents were evaluated. Variation of the ratio of the oxidized and reduced Tc species in the course of the process and in the hydrazine-free systems was determined. Reagents preventing oxidation of the reduced technetium and decomposition of N2H5NO3 in nitric acid solutions (acetohydroxamic acid, hydroxylamine, ascorbic acid, etc.), inhibiting the reduction of Tc with hydrazine nitrate (H2O2, HN3, etc.), and known as complexing agents toward quadrivalent actinides but indifferent to Tc...
Pyrochemical processing of nuclear fuels using molten salts has attracted much attention because of its potential to be applied for a future spent nuclear fuel management. In the pyrochemical processing, there are a number of steps to electro-refine and electro-win each element of lanthanides and actinides, commonly called trans-uranic elements (TRU). In order to materialize the pyrochemical processing in the nuclear power plant environments, qualitatively and quantitatively monitoring of each elements is necessary. Thus, we have undertaken to develop an on-line observing system of the TRU in LiCl-KCl molten salt media by using electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. In this work, the electrochemical and spectroscopic behaviors of europium as a proxy material for TRU were investigated simultaneously in the LiCl-KCl molten salt.
Pyrochemical processing of nuclear fuels using molten salts has attracted much attention because of its potential to be applied for a future spent nuclear fuel management. In the pyrochemical processing, there are a number of steps to electro-refine and electro-win each element of lanthanides and actinides, commonly called trans-uranic elements (TRU). In order to materialize the pyrochemical processing in the nuclear power plant environments, qualitatively and quantitatively monitoring of each elements is necessary. Thus, we have undertaken to develop an on-line observing system of the TRU in LiCl-KCl molten salt media by using electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. In this work, the electrochemical and spectroscopic behaviors of europium as a proxy material for TRU were investigated simultaneously in the LiCl-KCl molten salt
The incorporation of (a) Cs/Sr as simulated heat-generating isotopes contained in Purex reprocessing waste, (b) simulated actinides, and (c) simulated Purex waste in sodium zirconium phosphate (NZP) has been studied. The samples were prepared by sintering, by hot pressing and by hot isostatic pressing in metal bellows containers. The short-term chemical durability of the phosphate-based material containing Purex waste was within an order of magnitude of that for Synroc-C, as measured by 7-day MCC-1 tests at 90{degrees}C. The dissolution behavior showed evidence of re-precipitation phenomena, even after times as short as 28 days. Potential for improvement of NZP-based ceramics for HLW management is discussed. 19 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.
The aims of the present work were to investigate possible compatibility between sodium zirconium phosphate (NZP) and Synroc titanate phases, to prepare NZP-based waste forms by hot-pressing rather than sintering, and to investigate the incorporation in NZP of (a) Cs/Sr as simulated heat-generating nuclides; (b) simulated actinides; and (c) simulated Purex waste. The NZP samples were prepared by methods similar to those used for Synroc. The precursor NZP phase was formed from tetrabutyl zirconate Zr(OC{sub 4}H{sub 9}){sub 4}, sodium nitrate, and 85% orthophosphoric acid. Simulated waste nitrate solutions were then mixed with the liquid precursor. After stir drying of the precursor, calcination was carried out at 700{degree}C to remove nitrates and organics.
The z-phase, existing between 35% and 70% U in Pu, belongs to the high-density phases seen from the point of view of systematics of allotropic modifications of Pu metal. Despite the volume per actinide atom only slightly higher than for a-Pu, it magnetic susceptibility is much higher than for a-Pu and exceeds even the d-Pu value. Similarly, the Sommerfeld coefficient g>40mJ/mol Pu K2 exceeds the experimental d-Pu value. The data confirm that the volume is not the primary control parameter affecting the situation around the Fermi level of common Pu phases and they point against the traditional belief that they are essentially narrow 5f band systems. Electronic structure calculations suggest that the 5f states of Pu have slightly lower occupancy comparing with d-Pu. A tendency to the 5f loca...
Nuclear forensic science has become increasingly important for global nuclear security. However, many current laboratory analysis techniques are based on methods developed without the imperative for timely analysis that underlies the post-detonation forensics mission requirements. Current analysis of actinides, fission products, and fuel-specific materials requires time-consuming chemical separation coupled with nuclear counting or mass spectrometry. High-temperature gas-phase separations have been used in the past for the rapid separation of newly created elements/isotopes and as a basis for chemical classification of that element. We are assessing the utility of this method for rapid separation in the gas-phase to accelerate the separations of radioisotopes germane to post-detonation nuclear forensic investigations. The existing state of the art for thermo chromatographic separations, and its applicability to nuclear forensics, will be reviewed. (author)
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is the analytical technique of choice for the detection of long-lived radionuclides which cannot be practically analysed with decay counting or conventional mass spectrometry. The main use of AMS has been in the analysis of radiocarbon and other cosmogenic radionuclides for archaeological, geological and environmental applications. In addition, AMS has been recently applied in biomedicine to study exposure of human tissues to chemicals and biomolecules at attomole levels. There is also a world-wide effort to analyse rare nuclides of heavier masses, such as long-lived actinides, with important applications in safeguards and nuclear waste disposal. The use of AMS is limited by the expensive accelerator technology required and there are several attempts to develop smaller and cheaper AMS spectrometers. 5 refs.
An ionization chamber with fast timing properties was built at CERN for measuring fission cross-sections of minor actinides at the n(_)TOF neutron beam. The design of this new chamber and of the front-end electronics was optimized to match the innovative features of the n(_)TOF facility, in particular the high instantaneous neutron flux and low background. For the most radioactive isotopes, a special version of the chamber, designed according to the ISO2919 standards, was built in order to comply with the radioprotection requirements at CERN. The detector and front-end electronics are here described, together with the simulated and measured response to fission fragments and #alpha#-particles. The performances of the chamber during the first measurement campaign at n(_)TOF are presented, focusing in particular on the fast time response, the good background rejection capability, low-background and high detection efficiency.
Nuclear fuel cycle activities of the former Soviet Union (FSU) have resulted in massive contamination of the environment in western Siberia. We are developing three-dimensional numerical models of the hydrogeology and potential contaminant migration in the West Siberian Basin. Our long-term goal at Pacific Northwest Laboratory is to help determine future environmental and human impacts given the releases that have occurred to date and the current waste management practices. In FY 1993, our objectives were to (1) refine and implement the hydrogeologic conceptual models of the regional hydrogeology of western Siberia developed in FY 1992 and develop the detailed, spatially registered digital geologic and hydrologic databases to test them, (2) calibrate the computer implementation of the conceptual models developed in FY 1992, and (3) develop general geologic and hydrologic information and preliminary hydrogeologic conceptual models relevant to the more detailed ...
Lab scale mulch biofilm barriers were constructed and tested to evaluate their performance for preventing the migration of aqueous and surfactant solubilized PAHs. The spatial distribution of viable PAH degrader populations and resultant biofilm formation were also monitored to evaluate the performance of the biobarrier and the prolonged surfactant effect on the PAH degrading microorganism consortia in the biobarrier. Sorption and biodegradation of PAHs resulted in stable operation of the system for dissolved phenanthrene and pyrene during 150 days of experimentation. The nonionic surfactant could increase the solubility of phenanthrene and pyrene significantly. However, the biobarrier itself couldn't totally prevent the migration of micellar solubilized phenanthrene and pyrene. The presence of surfactant and the resultant highly increased phenanthrene or pyrene concentration didn't appear to cause toxic effects on the attached biofilm in the ...
We present a new computation of the linear tidal interaction of a protoplanetary core with a thin gaseous disc in which it is fully embedded. For the first time a discussion of the orbital evolution of cores with eccentricity (e) significantly larger than the gas-disc scale height to radius ratio (H/r) is given. We find that the direction of orbital migration reverses for e>1.1H/r. This occurs as a result of the orbital crossing of resonances in the disc that do not overlap the orbit when the eccentricity is very small. Simple expressions giving approximate fits to the eccentricity damping rate and the orbital migration rate are presented. We go on to calculate the rate of increase of the mean eccentricity for a system of protoplanetary cores due to dynamical relaxation. By equating the eccentricity damping time-scale with the dynamical relaxation time-scale we deduce that an equilibrium between eccentricity damping and excitation through ...
The Oklo natural fossil fission reactors in Gabon, Equatorial Africa, have been studied as a natural analogue for spent nuclear fuel in a geological environment. For these studies, it is important to know what has happened to these reactors since they formed. This review is focussed on existing geological and geochronological information concerning the Oklo reactors and the surrounding ore. A sequence of geological and geochemical events in the Oklo area, as described in the literature, is given. The data and the studies behind this established geochronology are discussed and evaluated. Of the regional geology, special attention is given to the dating of the Francevillian sediments, and the intrusion of a dolerite dyke swarm. The processes that led to the mineralisation at Oklo, the subsequent formation of the nuclear reactors and later migration of fission products are described. Further discussion concerns the studies of the dolerite dyke swarm, since this ...
The progress made during the first two years of a program to study the migration of grain boundaries in ceramic oxides is reported. The principal results of the program are concerned with the structure of grain boundaries in ..cap alpha..-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, although important new information has also been obtained on grain boundaries in spinels and both germanlum and silicon. Attention is focused on the basal twin boundary in ..cap alpha..-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ which had been identified as a model interface in early work. A series of new grain boundaries exemplified by the (11anti23) twin are also discussed briefly as is the rhombohedral twin interface. Earlier results on the first-order (..sigma..=3) twin in spinel have been extended with the development of models for the computer-simulation of high-resolution TEM images of these interfaces. A study of low-angle grain boundaries in spinel is giving new insight into the effect which the large size of the unit cell and ...
In this study, dissimilar welds between HP heat-resistant steel and Incoloy 800 were made with four different filler materials including: 309 stainless steel and nickel-based Inconel 82, 182 and 617. The microstructure of the base metals, weld metals and their interfaces were characterized by utilizing optical and scanning electron microscopy. Grain boundaries migration in the weld metals was studied. It was found that the migration of grain boundaries in the Inconel 82 weld metal was very extensive. Precipitates of TiC and M_2_3C_6 (M = Cr and Mo) in the Inconel 617 weld metal are identified. The necessary conditions for the formation of cracks close to the fusion line of the 309-HP joints are described. Furthermore unmixed zone near the fusion line between HP steel base metal and Inconel 82 weld metal is discussed. An epitaxial growth is characterized at the fusion line of the 309-Alloy 800 and Inconel 617-Alloy 800 joints.
Recent organic geochemical studies differ radically in their interpretation of the origin of the Gulf coast oils. However all studies since (and including) Thompson, et al. 1989, emphasize the considerable geographic variation in genetic oil types and are in generalized agreement as to the genetic oil types present and their spatial and stratigraphic relationships. In particular it is accepted that the Gulf rim (both north and south) is encircled by a ring of Mesozoic carbonate-sourced oils and that there is also at least one major deep water trend of carbonate-sourced oils in the northern Gulf. It is also generally agreed that many of the Gulf rim oils are of Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian age, though some, like the Sunniland oils of Florida, are of lower Cretaceous origin. Major disagreement still occurs over the sources of the Louisiana offshore oils and onshore Wilcox reservoired oils. One {open_quotes}school of thought{close_quotes} assigns all these oils to Mesozoic sources. The other ...
The origin of natural gas in the Japanese oil and gas fields are geochemically studied. Samples are taken from structural natural gas, surface gas seepage, water-dissolved natural gas and coal-field gas of the Japan Sea coast area. The origins of primary hydrocarbons are classified into bacteria gas and thermogenic gas, the latter being subclassified into gas in oil production zone with the per million deviation of the carbon isotope (/sup 13/C/sup 1/) of methane less than -35 and those gases with maturity higher than this. Surface gas seepage is subjected to migration and bacterial oxidation. Coal gas is similar to oil gas. The CO/sub 2/ concentration is 0 - 2% and /sup 13/CO/sub 2/ deviations from -30 - +30. The origin can be barely estimated from the isotopic composition because of the wide secondary change in the composition. The origin and migration of gas from the gas field of northern Niigata are not similar to those in the southern ...
Grout has been evaluated as a means of containing low-level radioactive waste for long-term disposal. Concerns about hydrogen and reactive gas generation in the Hanford Site grout disposal facility lead to the development of the G3 model, which has predicted buildup of radiolytically formed gases in the grout region and their migration to air-filled regions. The G3 model is a one-dimensional code that couples models of gas diffusion with two-phase gas and liquid flow. It was coupled to a compartment diffusion model and these models predicted the concentrations of hydrogen I nitrous oxide, and other gases in air-filled regions of the grout disposal facility. The results have served as the technical basis for safety studies. A unique finding of the G3 model was that a liquid return, or expulsion of unbound liquid from the grout region, could occur. This liquid return is driven by displacement caused by gas bubbles that form within the grout`s microstructure. Liquid ...
Enhanced superlattice disordering in nonstoichiometric AlAs/GaAs quantum wells exhibits weak temperature dependence because of the decay of the supersaturated concentration of group-III vacancies. We present a formalism for transient enhanced diffusion in nonstoichiometric materials with which we can extract migration enthalpies {ital H}{sub {ital m}} by assuming that the vacancy decay is thermally activated with an enthalpy {ital H}{sub {ital a}}. By analyzing the electroabsorption from the quantum-confined Stark effect for a set of isochronal and isothermal anneals, we extract a migration enthalpy {ital H}{sub {ital m}}=(1.8{plus_minus}0.2) eV for group-III vacancies, as well as an activation enthalpy {ital H}{sub {ital a}}=(0.7{plus_minus}0.2) eV for vacancy annihilation. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}
In culture migrating and interacting amoeboid cells can form nematic liquid crystal phases. A polar nematic liquid crystal is formed if the interaction has a polar symmetry. One type of white blood cells (granulocytes) form clusters where the cells are oriented towards the center. The core of such an orientational defect (disclination) is either a granulocyte forced to be in an isotropic state or another cell type like a monocyte. An apolar nematic liquid crystal is formed if the interaction has an apolar symmetry. Different cell types like human melanocytes (=pigment cells of the skin), human fibroblasts (=connective tissue cells), human osteoblasts (=bone cells), human adipocytes (= fat cells) etc., form an apolar nematic liquid crystal. The orientational elastic energy is derived and the orientational defects (disclination) of nematic liquid crystals are investigated. The existence of half-numbered disclinations show that the nematic phase has an apolar ...
The mobility of oxidized astatine in solutions H(Na)ClO/sub 4/ (..mu..=0.4M)-1.10/sup -4/M K/sub 2/Cr/sub 2/O/sub 7/ has been measured at 25 degC in the interval 0.63<=pH<=1.68. Under these conditions astatine migrates to the cathode only. The speeds of the migration depends upon the concentration of hydrogen ions in solutions are: pH 1.68 Usub(c)=1.17.10/sup -4/ cm/sup 2/ V/sup -1/ s/sup -1/; pH 0.63 Usub(c)=2.67.10/sup -4/ cm/sup 2/ V/sup -1/ s/sup -1/. The effect agrees with the opinion that the singly charged cation of astatine formed in acidic solutions is a strong aquacomplex ((H/sub 2/O)sub(x)At)/sup +/ (x=1-2) (protonated hypoastatic acid). Deprotonation constant of this cation is Ksub(dp)=0.032+-0.005. Specific properties of the astatine cation are given. They can be explained, probably, through the peculiarities of its structure. 14 refs.
The mobility of oxidized astatine in solutions H(Na)ClO_4 (#mu#=0.4M)-1.10"-"4M K_2Cr_2O_7 has been measured at 25 degC in the interval 0.63<=pH<=1.68. Under these conditions astatine migrates to the cathode only. The speeds of the migration depends upon the concentration of hydrogen ions in solutions are: pH 1.68 Usub(c)=1.17.10"-"4 cm"2 V"-"1 s"-"1; pH 0.63 Usub(c)=2.67.10"-"4 cm"2 V"-"1 s"-"1. The effect agrees with the opinion that the singly charged cation of astatine formed in acidic solutions is a strong aquacomplex [(H_2O)sub(x)At]"+ (x=1-2) (protonated hypoastatic acid). Deprotonation constant of this cation is Ksub(dp)=0.032+-0.005. Specific properties of the astatine cation are given. They can be explained, probably, through the peculiarities of its structure. (author).
Pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) chemicals are antitumor antibiotics inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis. An indole carboxylate-PBD hybrid with six-carbon spacer structure (IN6CPBD) has been previously demonstrated to induce melanoma cell apoptosis and reduce metastasis in mouse lungs. This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of the other hybrid compound with four-carbon spacer (IN4CPBD) and elucidating its anti-metastatic mechanism. Human melanoma A375 cells with IN4CPBD treatment underwent cytotoxicity and apoptosis-associated assays. Transwell migration assay, Western blotting, and ELISA were used for mechanistic study. IN4CPBD exhibited potent melanoma cytotoxicity through interrupting G1/S cell cycle progression, increasing DNA fragmentation and hypodipoidic DNA contents, a...
Plutonium and minor actinides produced as by-products of the UO_2 nuclear cycle could be considered as waste or energy source depending on the strategy selected in the nuclear energy programme. Considering Pu and Minor Actinides as a source, they can be burned in existing water reactor for diminishing the radiotoxicity of the spent fuel, it is necessary to use 'inactive' materials as matrix like ThO_2. ThO_2 matrix has demonstrated its Pu burning efficiency and higher corrosion resistance than UO_2. Uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel efficiency is low because the presence of U in MOX results in the creation of some new Pu under irradiation. The dissolution behaviour of irradiated (Th,Pu)O_2 pellets with burn-up of 38.8 MWd/kg Th has been studied in carbonated (20 mM HCO_3"-), deionised and granite ground water solution in a hot cell. The dissolution behaviour of Th, Pu, U and Np was studied in order to find out whether radionuclides ...
Many important advances in the physics of strongly correlated electron systems have been driven by the development of new materials: for instance the filled skutterudites MT{sub 4}X{sub 12} (M=alkali metal, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide; T=Fe, Ru, or Os; X=P, As, or Sb), certain lanthanide and actinide intermetallic compounds such as URu{sub 2-x}Re{sub x}Si{sub 2} and CeTIn{sub 5} (T=Co, Rh, or Ir), and layered oxypnictides and related materials. These types of complex multinary d- and f-electron compounds have proven to be a vast reservoir of novel strongly correlated electron ground states and phenomena. In these materials, the occurrence of such a wide range of ground states and phenomena arises from a delicate interplay between competing interactions that can be tuned by partial or complete substitution of one element for another, as well as the application of pressure, and magnetic fields, resulting in rich and complex electronic ...
Dissolved humic substances (humic and fulvic acids) occur in surface waters and groundwaters in concentrations ranging from less than 1 mg(C)/L to more than 100 mg(C)/L. Humic substances are strong complexing agents for many trace metals in the environment and are also capable of forming stable soluble complexes or chelates with radionuclides. Concentrations of humic materials as low as 1 mg(C)/L can produce a detectable increase in the mobility of some actinide elements by forming soluble complexes that inhibit sorption of the radionuclides onto rock materials. The stability of trace metal- or radionuclide-organic complexes is commonly measured by an empirically determined conditional stability constant (K'), which is based on the ratio of complexed metal (radionuclide) in solution to the product concentration of uncomplexed metal and humic complexant. Larger values of stability constants indicate greater complex stability. The stability of ...
The Phebus FP project in an international reactor safety project. Its main objective is to study the release, transport and retention of fission products in a severe accident of a Light Water Reactor (LWR). The FPT4 test was performed with a fuel debris bed geometry, to look at late phase core degradation and the releases of low volatile fission products and actinides. Post Test Analyses results indicate that releases of noble gases (Xe, Kr) and high-volatile fission products (Cs, I) were nearly complete and comparable to those obtained during Phebus tests performed with a fuel bundle geometry (FPT1, FPT2). Volatile fission products such as Mo, Te, Rb, Sb were released significantly as in previous tests. Ba integral release was greater than that observed during FPT1. Release of Ru was comparable to that observed during FPT1 and FPT2. As in other Phebus tests, the Ru distribution suggests Ru volatilization followed by fast redeposition in the fuelled section. The ...
Investigations of radionuclide metabolism and effects in various mammalian species revealed important similarities between animals and humans and between some animal species. These include skeletal deposition of radium and radiostrontium in bone volume; deposition on bone surfaces of plutonium and other actinides; liver deposition of actinides; induction of skeletal or liver malignancies by these radionuclides; induction of tooth and jaw abnormalities; mammary cancer induction by radium in humans and in the beagle; depression of circulating cells in blood; and induction of bone fractures. There are also inter-species differences that may not have been noted if multiple species (including humans) had not been studied. Some of these are more rapid excretion of radium in humans compared with most other mammals; induction by radium of eye melanomas in animals but not humans; rapid loss of deposited plutonium from liver in many species of mice and ...
Studies are made in this program to enhance our understanding of the role of 5f electrons in chemical bonding. Most of our studies on the macroscopic scale emphasize certain isotopes available from the National Transplutonium Production Program centered at HFIR/TRU -namely, _9_6"2"4"8Cm, _9_7"2"4"9Bk, _9_8"2"4"9Cf, _9_9"2"5"3Es, and _9_9"2"5"4Es. Particular classes of compounds, such as hydrides, chalcogenides, and pnictides are often selected for study on the basis of their utility in bringing out significant chemical differences between the lanthanides and the actinides. High temperature/high pressure experiments on actinide metals and compounds reveal characteristics about the degree of 5f electron localization as a function of atomic number in the series. Magnetic properties of metals and compounds are investigated using ultra-sensitive methods and hydration numbers of ions in solution are investigated by neutron scattering at HFIR. As a ...
The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) is proposing to develop a sodium-cooled fast-spectrum reactor (SFR) to transmute and consume actinides from discharged nuclear fuel. To meet performance objectives, new and advanced fuels and targets need to be developed. The fuels to be irradiated include metal and oxide mixed actinides (U-Np-Pu-Am-Cm); for the target concept, Am-Cm has been considered. A significant part of the development process is the irradiation of the fuel and cladding in a prototypic fast reactor environment to determine the performance under irradiation. Analysis results are presented in this paper for a fast-neutron irradiation facility design based on the large fast neutron flux available in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) combined with the use of a strongly-absorbing thermal neutron shield. Several designs were assessed; the preferred concept consists of a three-pin design with ...
A mathematical model of 137Cs migration in forest ecosystem is presented, which describes the behaviour of this radionuclide in the forest litter-soil system, trees, understory and forest animals. The model's parameters for different types of forest ecosystems are estimated and model's adequacy is tested through the use of independent experimental data. The sensitivity of the model's output variables is analyzed to variations in the most significant parameters. The differences in the seasonal and mean annual dynamics of 137Cs concentration in muscles of roe deers and mooses are shown to be defined by specific features of the diets of these animals and variations in 137Cs content in the main diet components. PMID:11402557
This is a review of recently published literature on surgery in tropical Africa. It presents the current state of surgical need and surgical practice on the continent. We discuss the enormous burden of surgical pathology (as far as it is known) and the access to and acceptability of surgery. We also describe the available facilities in terms of equipment and manpower. The study looked at the effects of the human immunodeficiency virus, the role of traditional healers, anesthesia, and the economics of surgery. Medical training and research are discussed, as are medical migration out of Africa and the concept of task shifting, where surgical procedures are performed by others when surgeons are not available. It closes with recommendations for involvement and action in this area of great glob...
This study was initiated to provide empirical data and analyses on the dam passage timing, travel rate, survival, and life history variation of fall Chinook salmon that are produced in the Clearwater River. The area of interest for this study focuses on the lower four miles of the Clearwater River and its confluence with the Snake River because this is an area where many fish delay their seaward migration. The goal of the project is to increase our understanding of the environmental and biological factors that affect juvenile life history of fall Chinook salmon in the Clearwater River. The following summaries are provided for each of the individual chapters in this report.
The relationship between short term relative sea-level oscillations and the reef, off-reef deposits geometry of an Upper Devonian third order sequence highstand of the Nisku Formation in west central Alberta was studied through the analysis of high resolution sequence stratigraphy. Hydrocarbon generation was reconstructed by total organic carbon values and migration patterns that were dependent on the geometry of three fourth order sequences. This stratigraphic reconstruction provided the key to recent hydrocarbon discoveries such as in the Brazeau southern reef margin.
Transient, greatly enhanced diffusion has been observed on annealing solid-phase-epitaxial (SPE) grown Si-Sb alloys. This is shown to be due to a high concentration of interstitials being trapped during SPE regrowth. The migration enthalpy, for diffusion of Sb by an interstitialcy mechanism was measured as 1.8 +/- 0.2 eV. The interstitials eventually condensed into loops, marking the end of the transient. In a SPE grown Si-Bi alloy a similar transient enhanced diffusion was observed, with an activation energy of 2.0 +/- 0.2 eV, but no loops formed. 8 figures, 7 references.
Transient, greatly enhanced diffusion has been observed on annealing solid-phase-epitaxial (SPE) grown Si-Sb alloys. This is shown to be due to a high concentration of interstitials being trapped during SPE regrowth. The migration enthalpy, for diffusion of Sb by an interstitialcy mechanism was measured as 1.8 +/- 0.2 eV. The interstitials eventually condensed into loops, marking the end of the transient. In a SPE grown Si-Bi alloy a similar transient enhanced diffusion was observed, with an activation energy of 2.0 +/- 0.2 eV, but no loops formed. 8 figures, 7 references.
This invention refers to the organic geochemistry and can be used in prospecting for oil and gas. The method includes taking samples of rocks, extracting from them the chloroform bitumoid and its thermal processing. In order to improve the accuracy, the equal quantities of bitumoid taken are exposed to gradual thermal treatment to temperatures exceeding the thresholds of thermal stability of sulfur-containing compounds, in each temperature interval, the content of hydrogen sulfide released in this case is revealed, and by its drastic increase at temperatures corresponding to the temperatures of the productive part of the section, a conclusion is drawn about the epigenetic nature of the bitumoid. The method makes it possible to improve the resolution of the bituminological prospecting for oil and gas.
The in-situ observation of dendritic growth in lithium/polymer electrolyte-LiTFSI/lithium battery cells shows that dendrites grow up with about the same rate as anion migration. Memory effects have been evidenced in cycling experiments and limit the dendrites length. An overall movement of the electrolyte due to variations of electrolyte concentration in the vicinity of the electrodes has been observed too. (J.S.) 13 refs.
Epitaxial thin films of nanotwinned face-centered cubic metals such as Cu possess an unprecedented combination of high hardness and high electrical conductivity due to the unique structure of nanometer-spaced coherent twin boundaries. Recent studies of in-situ nanoindentation in a transmission electron microscope have provided new insights on the deformation behavior of nanotwins that are reviewed here. In particular, two unit processes are highlighted: first, stress-induced migration of ?3 {112} incoherent twin boundary that leads to de-twinning of nanotwins; second, twinning dislocation can be multiplied at ?3 {111} coherent twin boundary.
The Uinta Basin is an important hydrocarbon producing area, with extensive resources of hydrocarbon, bitumen, and fossil fuels. Gilsonite, tar sands, oil shale and coal are found in abundance with the cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary rocks. The 25 papers include discussion on: leasing; thermal maturity of rocks and hydrocarbon deposits; influence of source rock type, thermal maturity and migration on composition and distribution of the natural gas; drilling; geology; structural evolution of gilsonite dykes; reclamation of coal mines; oil shale resources; and uranium mining.
We have investigated the formation and coarsening of Ga droplets on focused-ion-beam (FIB) irradiated GaAs surfaces. To separately examine formation and coarsening, Ga droplets were fabricated by Ga"+ FIB irradiation of GaAs substrates with and without pre-patterned holes. We determined the droplet growth rate and size distribution as a function of FIB energy following irradiation. The data suggest a droplet formation mechanism that involves Ga precipitation from a Ga-rich layer, followed by droplet coarsening via a combination of diffusion and Ostwald ripening or coalescence via droplet migration (dynamic coalescence).
Phytoplankton community was investigated in the cage culture area of Daya Bay during a diurnal cycle. Two rainfalls occurred during the course of the experiment and decreased the surface seawater salinity in the aquaculture area. A total of 38 species were identified, of which the dominant species included Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and Skeletonema costatum. Water stratification obstructed the vertical migration of dinoflagellates. Statistical analysis indicated that Synechococcus showed negative relationship with silicate and ammonia, which indicated that Synechococcus adapted to grow at oligotrophic environment. Phytoplankton community structure implied the risk of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. blooms in the aquaculture area of Daya Bay.
In the presented case study CRS processing was able to improve the overall data quality of the processed lines in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and imaging. The complex geology is causing serious problems in conventional NMO/DMO processing that were solved by CRS processing. Even a depth processing with velocities calculated from CRS attributes gives good results similar to those from PreSDM in terms of the velocity field. Data quality of poststack depth migrated CRS stacks is even better than the image from PreSDM. (orig.)
A synthesis of scientific knowledge about petroleum biodegradation linked to uranium mineralisation is firstly done. Then the genesis of Huemul Uranium ore deposit (Malargue Town, Mendoza Province) is discussed, where Uranium ore is linked only with one type of asphaltite (there are three other types) from an oil field close by. This asphaltite type would be an efficient natural geological barrier for Uranium migration and it could be linked to a particular kind of biodegradation. The authors think that the International Wonuc Conference would be a good opportunity to discuss a way for future investigations. (author)
The passive continental margin in the northern South China Sea is a weakly active area. It has been found to be favorable for large gas field development and also to be profitable for gas hydrate. The active faults, diapir structure, slump deposits, faults break of slopes, gas chimneys and sandstone of submarine fan, control the concentration of gas hydrate. Gas chimneys are widely distributed in the northern South China Sea. They supply the pathway for migration of deeper gas to gas hydrate stability zones especially in the basin of tectonic inactive zone. This paper discussed the geological structures of gas hydrate occurrence in gas fields and presented a detailed analysis of gas chimneys within the northern slope of the South China Sea. The paper described the geological setting of the Qiongdongnan Basin and provided information on the data description and processing. Two multichannel seismic (MCS) reflection profiles were used for the study. In order to ...
The aim of the thesis is to validate concepts used in hydrocarbon generation and migration models; the model considered is the Temispack model developed by IFP, and the validation is based on the investigation of the thermal and hydraulic evolution in various sedimentary basins. It is shown that, in general, the thermal history of sediments is influenced by external processes (sedimentation rates, lithology, climate changes, regional-scale groundwater circulations) which frequently overprint internal processes (variations of crustal/mantle heat flow). It is found that external processes can frequently explain past thermal events that were erroneously attributed to internal causes (tectonic-thermal events). The origin of over-pressures in young basins with high sedimentation rates is shown to be generally related to compaction disequilibrium. Shale permeability values calibrated against overpressure profiles are consistent with experimental constraints. Compaction ...
This paper reports about in-situ corrosion studies on selected materials for long-term resistant high-level waste (HLW) packagings acting as a barrier in a rock salt repository. The materials (Ti 99.8-Pd, Hastelloy C4 and five iron-base materials) were investigated in heated boreholes in the Asse salt mine under simulated HLW disposal conditions prevailing in normal operation of repository and in certain accident scenarios. The experiments under normal operating conditions were performed at temperatures of 120 deg. C to 210 deg. C (vertical temperature profile in the boreholes) without and with gamma irradiation (3#centre dot#10"2 Gy/h, Co-60 source) within the framework of the German/US Brine Migration Test. In these experiments only small amounts of migrated brine inclusions (NaCl-rich) from the rock salt were present as corrosion medium. In the experiments carried out under simulated accident conditions with intrusion of larger amounts of ...
Coiling or infusion of embolic materials into a wide necked aneurysm can be performed with stenting. The purpose of our study is to assess the technical feasibility of aneurysm treatment with glue embolization after stenting. We used four Wallstents for surgically repairing eight canine carotid aneurysms. After confirmation of the aneurysms on the angiogram, we introduced a 6-7 F guiding catheter in order to deploy the stents. After stenting, we passed a microcatheter into the aneurysm lumen through the stent mesh. 28% glue was slowly injected until the glue cast completely filled the lumen. We evaluated the passage of a microcatheter through the stent meshwork, formation of the glue cast and the stents' ability to protection for any leakage of glue. The follow-up angiogram was obtained for two dogs, one to three times until 8 weeks, and then we sacrificed the dogs and performed pathologic examinations. Stenting was successful in all cases except one in which the vessel was occluded ...
A general space- and energy-dependent formalism is developed in order to analyze zero-power neutron noise experiments in fast reactor systems. A generalized dispersion equation is combined with theoretical expressions for the experimentally measured power spectral density and variance-to-mean ratio which makes it possible to express these quantities in terms of a double moment of the Laplace and Fourier transformed Green's function of a slowing-down operator rather than those of the full Boltzmann operator. Several spatial approximations are analyzed in the context of the general formalism. In each case, the power spectral density and variance-to-mean ratio are written in terms of an appropriate fast reactor dispersion law for the medium which can be calculated from the solution to a simple slowing-down equation. The resultant expression for the power spectral density are analyzed for various combinations of neutron migration descriptions, slowing-down ...
During 1991 and 1992, we studied 92 wetlands, including open water (ponds) and emergent communities, created as a result of Wyoming Abandoned Mine Lands` (AML) reclamation efforts in northeast Wyoming. Through these activities, over 300 wetlands were filled, reclaimed, created, or otherwise modified. For mitigation purposes wetlands to be filled or modified were first evaluated using a Wetland Habitat Value (WHV) Model. Using the model, wetland losses were mitigated by increasing the WHV of some wetlands or by creating new wetlands elsewhere. We evaluated model performance in offsetting wetland loss and how well the model predicted waterfowl use. We also compared post-reclamation wetland sizes to those predicted by engineering plans and submitted for Section 404 permit approval. In our study, predicted WHVs were overestimated at 100% of the wetlands for which pre-reclamation WHVs were available (n8). The most commonly overestimated variables were size, fraction of emergent cover, ...
The author presents and analyzes three approaches to calculating explicit two-dimensional (2D) depth-extrapolation filters for all propagation modes (P, SV, and SH) in transversely isotropic media with vertical and tilted axis of symmetry. These extrapolation filters are used to do 2D poststack depth migration, and also, just as for isotropic media, these 2D filters are used in the McClellan transformation to do poststack 3D depth migration. Furthermore, the same explicit filters can also be used to do depth-extrapolation of prestack data. The explicit filters are derived by generalizations of three different approaches: the modified Taylor series, least-squares, and minimax methods initially developed for isotropic media. The examples here show that the least-squares and minimax methods produce filters with accurate extrapolation (measured in the ability to position steep reflectors) for a wider range of propagation angles than that obtained ...
High concentrations of Cs-137 were detected in the muscles of Walleye Pollack (Theragra chalcogramm) collected from Kitamiyamato banks (sampling on 25 Jul. 2000), Kamui area (16 Oct. 2000) and Niigata coasts (31 Jan. 2001). The concentrations were 0.35 #+-# 0.01, 0.41 #+-# 0.01, and 0.63 #+-# 0.02 Bq/kg-wet, respectively. The average concentration in our past investigations was about 0.25 #+-# 0.01 Bq/kg-wet. Samples from other areas, the coat of Kushiro (8 May 2001), North Tishima (13 Nov. 2000) and the Sea of Okhotsk (6 May 2001), had the average concentrations. There were no such high concentrations of Cs-137 in other fish species collected from Kitamiyamato banks, Kamui area, and Niigata coasts. Fish samples with high concentrations all make the migration in the north of Japan sea. These results would indicated that samples took in Cs-137 elements from sea-water or foods on the migration route. Cs-137 concentrations in muscles of walleye ...
The results of the 2006 investigation of contaminant sources at Navarre, Kansas, clearly demonstrate the following: {sm_bullet} Sources of carbon tetrachloride contamination were found on the Navarre Co-op property. These sources are the locations of the highest concentrations of carbon tetrachloride found in soil and groundwater at Navarre. The ongoing groundwater contamination at Navarre originates from these sources. {sm_bullet} The sources on the Co-op property are in locations where the Commodity Credit Corporation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (CCC/USDA) never conducted grain storage operations. {sm_bullet} No definitive sources of carbon tetrachloride were identified on the portion of the current Co-op property formerly used by the CCC/USDA. {sm_bullet} The source areas on the Co-op property are consistent with the locations of the most intense Co-op operations, both historically and at present. The Co-op historically stored carbon tetrachloride for retail sale and used ...
The Ohio State University Research Reactor (OSURR) is licensed to operate at a maximum power level of 500 kW. A pool-type reactor using flat-plate, low enriched fuel elements, the OSURR provides several experimental facilities including two 6-inch i.d. beam ports, a graphite thermal column, several graphite-isotope-irradiation elements, a pneumatic transfer system (Rabbit), various dry tubes, and a Central Irradiation Facility (CIF). The core arrangement and accessibility facilitates research programs involving material activation or core parameter studies. The OSURR control room is large enough to accommodate laboratory groups which can use control instrumentation for monitoring of experiments. The control instrumentation is relatively simple, without a large amount of duplication. This facilitates opportunities for hands-on experience in reactor operation by nuclear engineering students making reactor parameter measurements. For neutron ...
This paper was presented at the opening plenary session. As the end of the century approaches, environmental protection is one of the most significant global issues which will shape our energy path and economic development pattern. In face of environmental challenges, we will have to take into account environmental factors in the economic development process itself. This requires the pursuit of sustainable economic development, a process which may involve strengthened energy conservation, improved efficiency and switching to less carbon intensive energy sources. Energy inefficiency, technological scarcity and financial vulnerability in developing countries may best be resolved by changing their economic and market structures to facilitate relevant investments. However, effective reform of the energy industry in developing economies and economies in transition will also require international cooperation in terms of transfer of technology, capital, know-how and ...
We study a model for a protein searching for a target, using facilitated diffusion, on a DNA molecule confined in a finite volume. The model includes three distinct pathways for facilitated diffusion: (a) sliding - in which the protein diffuses along the contour of the DNA (b) jumping - where the protein travels between two sites along the DNA by three-dimensional diffusion, and finally (c) intersegmental transfer - which allows the protein to move from one site to another by transiently binding both at the same time. The typical search time is calculated using scaling arguments which are verified numerically. Our results suggest that the inclusion of intersegmental transfer (i) decreases the search time considerably (ii) makes the search time much more robust to variations in the parameters of the model and (iii) that the optimal search time occurs in a regime very different than that found for models which ignore intersegmental transfers. The ...
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is implementing an Internet-based process pilot called `Zephyr` to streamline engineering and commerce using the Internet. Major benefits have accrued by using Zephyr in facilitating industrial collaboration, speeding the engineering development cycle, reducing procurement time, and lowering overall costs. Programs at LLNL are potentializing the efficiencies introduced since implementing Zephyr. Zephyr`s pilot functionality is undergoing full integration with Business Systems, Finance, and Vendors to support major programs at the Laboratory.
We propose triplet superconductors, such as ruthenates, as prospective materials for qubit construction. The vectorial nature of the order parameter in triplet superconductors makes it conceptually easy to estimate the performance of the qubits. The Cooper condensate of pairs in triplet superconductors has all the attributes of Bose-Einstein condensates and should facilitate long decoherence times for these qubits, relative to other vectorial schemes for qubits, such as small ferromagnets. There are other benefits, which the superconducting state provides for requirements such as entanglement between qubits via the proximity effect, etc. We consider these benefits in detail, although our consideration is only preliminary and further experimental and theoretical research will undoubtedly introduce correctives.
The phase space beam analyzer is a measurement instrument that is applied in laser technology to perform analyses of the spatial and angular distribution of rays. We are interested in this instrument as a means to characterize non-coherent light sources. In this context, a closer look at the tolerances of this optical instrument was considered useful. Having a so-called quadrupole lens as a key element, the phase space beam analyzer is a device that features anamorphic optical properties. To describe these anamorphic properties, recurrence was made to a description by extended ray-transfer matrices. This formalism allows for an analysis of the alignment tolerances of the phase space beam analyzer and facilitates a study of the sensitivities of the instrument. The analysis is complemented using numerical ray tracing.
According to Schumpeter, the creative process of economic development can be divided into the stages of invention, innovation (commercialization) and imitation. Each stage is associated with specific skills. This paper examines whether Schumpeter?s assertion was correct, i.e. whether the invention and innovation stages should be undertaken by different agents. In addition, we examine whether there is a rationale for the Schumpeterian entrepreneur to include the inventor in the commercialization process. Combining the abilities of the entrepreneur and the inventor may serve to facilitate customer adaptation, strengthen knowledge transfers and reduce uncertainty, thereby expanding market opportunities. Based on a unique database covering Swedish patents granted to individuals and small firms...
Deregulation of the electric power industry in Alberta holds the prospect of providing greater choice for customers. One such option will be `green power` which is provided by renewable energy technologies. The energy produced would be without environmental impacts such as air emissions, water pollution, flooding, thermal emissions or waste by-products. Wind power, small scale hydro power, photovoltaics and biomass technologies have been termed as `green power`. The choices that customers make will not be focused on price alone. Market forces are emerging to demand reduction in emissions which will result in a market for `green energy` products and facilitate achieving goals for a sustainable future.
Surface doping of conjugated polymers is realized by depositing a thin layer of graphene oxide (GO) on top of the polymers. The high proton density and the unique 2D structure of GO facilitate the protonic surface doping of conjugated polymers to achieve high conductivities. This finding represents a new strategy for improving charge transport across the metal/conjugated polymer interface to achieve much improved performance in organic solar cells. (Copyright copyright 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Guidelines and ground rules followed in the development of requirements for the SPS are presented. Development planning objectives are specified in each of these areas, and evolutionary SPS program scenarios are described for the various concepts studied during the past one year contract. Program descriptions are presented as planning packages of technical tasks, and schedule phasing. Each package identifies the ground based technology effort that will facilitate SPS definitions, designs, development, and operations.
By treatment with beta or gamma rays, PTFE waste is converted to high-grade PTFE fine powder. High-molecular weight PTFE is degraded to low-molecular weight PTFE. Due to this the density, the degree of crystallinity, and the melt flow index are increased, which enhances the brittleness of the material. Irradiation of PTFE thus facilitates milling and makes the material pourable and free-flowing. Milled PTFE fine powder, lie PTFE plastic, combines temperature resistance, weather fastness, and chemical stability with good slip behaviour and antiadhesive properties. Areas of application for fine powder include additives for plastics, printing inks, nonstick coatings, and antifriction lacquers. (orig.).
Oral mucositis associated with head and neck radiotherapy can substantially hinder completion of cancer therapy. Alleviation of this often severe stomatitis can provide enhanced patient comfort and facilitate appropriate care. A double-blind format was used in a pilot project to measure, against a control rinse, the effectiveness of an oral rinse consisting of hydrocortisone, nystatin, tetracycline, and diphenhydramine in controlling radiation-related mucositis. A combination of clinical evaluation and patient responses to a questionnaire was used to judge the results of the topical medications. Patients using the experimental medication developed less mucositis than did patients in the control group.
Hydrogen piston engines can be simultaneously optimized for improved thermal efficiency and for extremely low emissions. Using these engines in constant-speed, constant-load systems such as series hybrid-electric automobiles or home cogeneration systems can result in significantly improved energy efficiency. For the same electrical energy produced, the emissions from such engines can be comparable to those from natural gas-fired steam power plants. These hydrogen-fueled high-efficiency, low-emission (HELE) engines are a mechanical equivalent of hydrogen fuel cells. HELE engines could facilitate the transition to a hydrogen fuel cell economy using near-term technology.
The achievement of governmental transformation through the use of electronically delivered services is a worthy goal that requires significant planning and research to achieve. In order to reach transformational paradigm shifts in governmental operation, it will first be necessary to understand and optimize present governmental e-Service provisions. Of these, the revenue function of taxation is paramount. This paper describes factors related to the use and acceptance by accounting professionals of information technology intended to facilitate electronic tax filing systems. Though tested in the context of governmental tax management systems in Turkey, our findings on the use and acceptance of e-Tax systems are relevant and applicable to a great number of nations and contexts as the ongoing ...
Microorganisms are ubiquitous in subsurface environments although their populations sizes and metabolic activities can vary considerably depending on energy and nutrient inputs. As a result of their metabolic activities and the chemical properties of their cell surfaces and the exopolymers they produce, microorganisms can directly or indirectly facilitate the biotransformation of radionuclides, thus altering their solubility and overall fate and transport in the environment. Although biosorption to cell surfaces and exopolymers can be an important factor modifying the solubility of some radionuclides under specific conditions, oxidation state is often considered the single most important factor controlling their speciation and, therefore, environmental behavior.
Staff exchanges, such as the one described in this report, are intended to facilitate communication and collaboration among scientists and engineers at DOE laboratories, in US industry, and academia. During the past 5 years, PNL has developed prototype instrumentation to automate the data collection required for electrochemical determination of corrosion rates and behavior of materials in various electrically conductive environments. The last version is labeled the Sentry 100 prototype corrosion data scanner. Applications include these in the pulp and paper industry and at hazardous waste sites.
The atlas presents sequences of MRI sections parallel to the orbito-meatal plane in children from birth through the age of sixteen years. Each child was studied horizontally and sagitally and three-dimensional brain images were reconstructed to facilitate accurate identification of sulci and gyri. The images show crucial aspects of brain development such as the constancy of the brain stem and primitive brain from birth onward; the development of the telencephalon, characterized by deepening of sulci and growth of the cerebral cortex surface; and the different stages of white matter myelinization.
... Removal of this layer facilitates the unreeling of cocoons into long strands of silk comparable to those derived from the domesticated mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori, B. mori). The research was funded in part by the SABIP ('Silks as biomimetic ideals for polymers) project, which has clinched a European Research Council (ERC) grant worth almost EUR 2.3 million under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Presented in the journal Biomacromolecules, the findings could lead to the development of new silk industries in ...
Resonant scattering of atoms with formation of the Feshbach resonance in the presence of a laser radiation coupling the levels of two bound atoms (a molecule) is considered. The laser field leads to a second resonance in scattering and broadening of resonances, which facilitates the possibility of experimental observation of asymmetry of the total scattering cross-section arising because of interference between resonant and potential scatterings. The effects associated with interference of the two channels of decay of a bound system of two atoms (a molecule) in the laser field are studied. An expression is obtained for the scattering length in collision of two cold atoms in the field of laser radiation.
The Knowledge Associates for Novel Intelligence (KANI) system provides a collection of automated 'associates' to actively support and participate in the information analysis task. In this paper, we describe the Information Integration Associate (IIA), which facilitates analyst interaction with underlying KANI reasoning and extraction associates and provides an interactive representation of the analytic process. We focus on features of the IIA that guide communication between the user and the KANI system in a way that ensures mutual understanding of the analytic task being performed, the capabilities of the system to assist the user, and the status of any reasoning and extraction conducted on behalf of the user by the KANI system.
This is the first report about a relevant and compiled information on the Mexican Energy Sector. It was realized in one volume by the University Energy Program of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and it comprises information for the period 1996-1997. In the chapter 1 there are presented the numbers of hydrocarbon reserves. Chapter 2 treats about production, events and its results. Likewise chapter 3 shows information about the typical Installations for petroleum, gas and electricity including through of the nuclear energy. In the chapter 4, named Energy Consumption, is presented a National energy balance for 1996 and, finally there are a sections about the prices, the rates and a glossary to facilitate its understanding. (Author)
The polymerization of vinyl pyrrolidinone on nylon 66, with the assistance of aqueous phenol and formic acid, was investigated by mutual and post irradiation procedures. Both solvents were found to greatly facilitate the polymerization with the post irradiation procedure, whereas neither presented any advantage with the mutual irradiation procedure. Tensile properties of the modified fibers were affected in similar ways by both the irradiation procedures and solvents in that the only notable changes were the somewhat higher extensions at yield and at break. The moisture regain values of the treated yarns and fabrics were increased up to three-fold. Surface morphology of the modified fibers was revealed by SEM.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is frequently used for relief of chronic benign pain resistant to conservative therapies. Clinical practice suggests, at least in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), the possibility that SCS significantly improves motor performances. We present here the case of a 41-years-old female patient with FBSS, who showed a clear improvement in muscle strength after SCS, persisting at 6-months follow-up. We speculate that the electrical stimulation of posterior columns could potentiate the caudal, segmental spinal reflexes resulting in a facilitation of motoneurons activation. PMID:16175150
A database has been compiled on human dietary intakes of trace elements by populations groups living in various countries. The main sources of information used were (1) publications in the open scientific literature, and (2) data submitted to the IAEA in response to a questionnaire. The database contains 1,758 intake values covering 35 elements and 47 countries. In this report the data are listed in various ways to facilitate identification of intake values for any specified country, element and population group. 4 refs, 5 tabs.
Lanthanide-ion doped oxide nanoparticles were functionalized for use as fluorescent biological labels. These nanoparticles are synthesized directly in water which facilitates their functionalization, and are very photostable without emission intermittency. Nanoparticles functionalized with guanidinium groups act as artificial toxins and specifically target sodium channels. They are individually detectable in cardiac myocytes, revealing a heterogeneous distribution of sodium channels. Functionalized oxide nanoparticles appear as a novel tool particularly well adapted to long-term single-molecule tracking.
Financing space solar power generation programmes has several inherent difficulties. Such large-scale projects are usually easily defined with an expected economic return, construction time, useful service life and defined management structure. As yet, solar power satellites for power generation possess none of these as the idea exists conceptually and the technology still needs to be developed. Methods for overcoming these uncertainties and securing financial backing are described. Venture capital could finance a research/marketing firm. US Government support through a cost plus short-term monopoly to facilitate private debt financing could provide an answer. (UK)
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to place all of the contributions to this special issue into a theoretical framework and to highlight the role that the so-called "information age mindset" has in the facilitation of employability skills. Design/methodology/approach - The paper discusses the major themes of this special issue. Findings - Undergraduate students do see the importance of technological innovation in the classroom but they see the development of experiential or work-based skills to be more important. Practical implications - Future curriculum design should consider the expectations and attitudes of the modern day undergraduate student to ensure that potential employability is maximised. Originality/value - The findings are placed into the wider context of the emerging fiel...
Five nomographs have been prepared that facilitate the estimation of cover thickness and cover material volume for the Uranium Mill Tailing Remedial Action Program. Key parameters determined include the cover thickness with either a surface radon flux or a boundary radon air concentration criterion and the total volume of cover material required for two different treatments of the edge slopes. Also included in the engineering guide are descriptions and representative values for the radon source term, the diffusion coefficients and the key meteorological parameters. 16 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.
The purpose of this study is to clarify the confusing nomenclature and pathogenesis of Developmental Facial Paralysis, and how it can be differentiated from other causes of facial paralysis present at birth. Differentiating developmental from traumatic facial paralysis noted at birth is important for determining prognosis, but also for medicolegal reasons. Given the dramatic presentation of this condition, accurate and reliable guidelines are necessary in order to facilitate early diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy, while providing support and counselling to the family. The 30 years experience of our center in the management of developmental facial paralysis is dependent upon a thorough understanding of facial nerve embryology, anatomy, nerve physiology, and an appreciation of well...
An improved method to design suitable compensating schemes for extra high voltage transmission lines is presented. The technique is general and effective and will greatly facilitate the design of the optimal compensation scheme for extra high voltage transmission lines. The technique is illustrated for a typical 500 kV system. The equations developed here for voltage maxima and minima along the transmission line eliminate the need for point-to-point computation of the voltage profile. The controversy existing in the literature over the problem of making a choice between pi and tee configurations has been removed and it is established with a mathematical proof that the tee configuration requires compensating elements of lower ratings.
Absorption with aqueous amine solvents is at present the most viable technology for CO{sub 2} capture. While this is a proven technology, efforts are ongoing to improve it in order to make it a more attractive technology for large scale use to reduce CO{sub 2} emissions. Finding solvents with better properties is one approach to improving the technology. In this thesis methods in computational chemistry are used to improve the understanding of the chemistry of CO{sub 2} absorption in amine-water systems. The work is also intended to provide models that can be used to predict the performance of new solvents. Such predictive models are intended to facilitate the screening for new solvents
The common envelope phase of binary star evolution plays a central role in many evolutionary pathways leading to the formation of compact objects in short period systems. Using three dimensional hydrodynamical computations, we review the major features of this evolutionary phase, focusing on the conditions that lead to the successful ejection of the envelope and, hence, survival of the system as a post common envelope binary. Future hydrodynamical calculations at high spatial resolution are required to delineate the regime in parameter space for which systems survive as compact binary systems from those for which the two components of the system merge into a single rapidly rotating star. Recent algorithmic developments will facilitate the attainment of this goal.
The Coal Corporation of Victoria's mission is to initiate, facilitate and co-ordinate brown coal-based developments, other than for electricity generation, to provide maximum long-term benefits to Victoria including new jobs, new technology, new investment and new products, within sound environmental parameters. The marketing of brown coal products is vigorously undertaken to provide the financial and business base for the Corporation. This report contains a review of the Corporation's activities and achievements during 1989/90.
The use of reversible pump/turbine sets in pumped storage has created a requirement for rapid reversibility. Softstart technology, based on static frequency converters (SFC) has evolved to such an extent that it is now the best choice for serving this purpose, both from a technical and from an economic point of view. The objective of our paper is to give the owners of pumped storage plants and those persons responsible for the selection, the operation or the maintenance of the electrical equipment the necessary insight into the SFC functions, features and all other application related aspects, to facilitate their decision making process. Case studies are included.
The first candidate rotavirus vaccine was a live attenuated oral vaccine made by the classical empirical method of serial passage of virus in tissue culture cells. Current tetravalent vaccine candidates that are in the final stages of efficacy testing in the United States were made by genetic reassortment. This article briefly highlights how advances in the basic understanding of the molecular biology of rotaviruses have facilitated vaccine development. New approaches for second-generation vaccines and improvements in vaccine efficacy based on further exploitation of the tools and knowledge of rotavirus molecular biology and pathogenesis are discussed. PMID:8752289
Double-contrast barium enema has a reduced sensitivity in patients with severe sigmoid diverticulosis. Therefore a carboxy methyl cellulose enema was employed after the conventional double-contrast examination in 15 patients with sigmoid diverticulosis. A significant increase in lumen diameter and a superior removal of barium residue from the diverticulas facilitated the interpretation of the sigmoid loops. Conclusion: The addition of methyl cellulose enema to double-contrast barium imaging improves diagnostic imaging in diverticulosis by expanding the lumen and emptying the diverticulas. (orig.).
Radiology departments often underestimate the importance of protecting medical data during transmission, including the precautions taken to ensure data protection. In teleradiology, transmitted as well as stored patient data have to be signed digitally according to the currently valid regulation (Roentgenverordnung, RoeV). The DICOM standard facilitates a digital signature. So far, medical image manufacturers only announced to support this security feature. We introduce a solution that extends the feature of digital signing to older modalities. (orig.)
Regular physical activity (PA) decreases the risk of several chronic diseases including some cancers, type II diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease; however, the majority of US adults are not meeting the recommended levels to experience these benefits. To address this public health concern, the underlying mechanisms for behavior change need to be understood, translated and disseminated into appropriately tailored interventions. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) provides a framework for both the conceptualization and the measurement of behavior change, as well as facilitating promotion strategies that are individualized and easily adapted. The purpose of this manuscript is to present the constructs of the TTM as they relate to PA behavior change. We begin with a brief synopsis of rec...
Recent rapid growth in mobile computing technologies enables telemedicine applications to operate on mobile devices. Our focus is on the design of an integrated electrocardiogram (ECG) beat detector on a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) platform for the health screening process. The ECG beat detector module will be supported by the PDA version of Personal Health Information Management System (PHIMS) and Facilitated Accurate Referral Management System (FARMS) through wireless network infrastructure as a home-based mobile cardiac monitoring solution. PMID:17282192
The purpose of this work was to establish a new binary data base by compiling the activity coefficients of plutonium and uranium at oxidation state +IV to better account for media effects in the liquid-liquid extraction operations implemented to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. Chapter 1: first reviews the basic thermodynamic concepts before describing the issues involved in acquiring binary data for the tetravalent actinides. The difficulties arise from two characteristics of this type of electrolyte: its radioactive properties (high specific activity requiring nuclearization of the experimental instrumentation) and its physicochemical properties (strong hydrolysis). After defining the notion of fictive binary data, an approach based on the thermodynamic concept of simple solutions is described in which the activity coefficient of an aqueous phase constituent is dependent on two parameters: the water activity of the system and the total concentration of dissolved ...
Assessment on the back end fuel cycle, in PEACER (Proliferation-resistant Environmental-friendly Accident-tolerant Continuable and Economical Reactor) that was designated as a new transmutation concept, was performed. Recovery system of uranium and TRU for PEACER is based on pyroprocessing. In the assessment of Long-Lived Fission Products (LLFP) wastes, initially {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs are dominant contributor nuclides until 30 years and especially {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs have the highest activity and decay heat than other LLFP. In this study, recovery of {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs is recommended for reducing of wastes loading. The acceptable decontamination factor is investigated by the toxicity of PEACER spent fuel. The acceptable decontamination factor is about 1.02E+05 for the actinides from PEACER spent fuel after 10 years cooling, 4.26E+05 after 100 years cooling, 1.97E+04 after 300 years cooling, 9.52E+03 after 1000 years cooling.
Assessment on the back end fuel cycle, in PEACER (Proliferation-resistant Environmental-friendly Accident-tolerant Continuable and Economical Reactor) that was designated as a new transmutation concept, was performed. Recovery system of uranium and TRU for PEACER is based on pyroprocessing. In the assessment of Long-Lived Fission Products (LLFP) wastes, initially "9"0Sr and "1"3"7Cs are dominant contributor nuclides until 30 years and especially "9"0Sr and "1"3"7Cs have the highest activity and decay heat than other LLFP. In this study, recovery of "9"0Sr and "1"3"7Cs is recommended for reducing of wastes loading. The acceptable decontamination factor is investigated by the toxicity of PEACER spent fuel. The acceptable decontamination factor is about 1.02E+05 for the actinides from PEACER spent fuel after 10 years cooling, 4.26E+05 after 100 years cooling, 1.97E+04 after 300 years cooling, 9.52E+03 after 1000 years cooling.
Assessment on the back end fuel cycle, in PEACER (Proliferation-resistant Environmental-friendly Accident-tolerant Continuable and Economical Reactor) that was designated as a new transmutation concept, was performed. Recovery system of uranium and TRU for PEACER is based on pyro-processing. In the assessment of long-lived fission products (LLFP) wastes, initially "9"0Sr and "1"3"7Cs are dominant contributor nuclides until 30 years and especially "9"0Sr and "1"3"7Cs have the highest activity and decay heat than other LLFP. In this study, recovery of "9"0Sr and "1"3"7Cs is recommended for reducing of wastes loading. The acceptable decontamination factor is investigated by the toxicity of PEACER spent fuel. The acceptable decontamination factor is about 1.02 E+05 for the actinides from PEACER spent fuel after 10 years cooling, 4.26 E+05 after 100 years cooling, 1.97 E+04 after 300 years cooling, 9.52 E+03 after 1000 years cooling. (authors)
The main goal of this paper is to present a methodology for calculating the radioactivity in the moderator and heat transport systems of Cernavoda NPP Unit 1, with the intention to improve the knowledge on the radionuclides inventories in the operational waste streams, and to aid the licensing process of new near surface repository. In the present paper we describe our methodology for estimating H-3 and C-14 production rates in the heavy-water moderator and heat transport systems using the capacity factors from 1997 to 2007 years. The radioactivity of the difficult-to-measure nuclides is predicted by scaling method using measured concentration in reference CANDU 6 reactor Gentilly-2. The difficult-to-measure radionuclides of primary interest in this study were those with long half-lives which have a significant role for post-closure safety assessment. The equation used to scale fission products (parents and daughters) is based on the equilibrium solution of the time dependent equation ...
This document reports on the work done by the Separations Science and Technology Programs of the Chemical Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, in the period April-September 1993. This effort is mainly concerned with developing the TRUEX process for removing and concentrating actinides from acidic waste streams contaminated with transuranic (TRU) elements. The objectives of TRUEX processing are to recover valuable TRU elements and to lower disposal costs for the nonTRU waste product of the process. Other projects are underway with the objective of developing (1) evaporation technology for concentrating radioactive waste and product streams such as those generated by the TRUEX process, (2) treatment schemes for liquid wastes stored or being generated at Argonne, (3) a process based on sorbing modified TRUEX solvent on magnetic beads to be used for separation of contaminants from radioactive and hazardous waste streams, and (4) a process that uses ...
A process is described for the selective oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide in about 90% or greater yield with a minimum of nitrogen or dinitrogen oxide (N/sub 2/O) as by-products, comprising: (1) contacting gaseous ammonia in an oxygen containing gas optionally with an inert gaseous diluent with a mixed metal perovskite catalyst of the general formula: ABO/sub 3/, wherein: A is selected from the alkali, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide metals or a mixture of these metals having a relatively large ionic, radius, and B is selected from an element or a combination of elements selected from Groups IB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, or VIII of the Periodic Table, wherein the perovskite phase of the catalyst has an equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen at 1000/sup 0/C of greater than about 10/sup -15/ bar; and (2) heating the reactants of step (1) at greater than about 500/sup 0/C under conditions of 10 to 100,000 hr/sup -1/ hourly space velocity.
A process is described for the selective oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide in about 90% or greater yield with a minimum of nitrogen or dinitrogen oxide (N/sub 2/O) as by-products, comprising: (1) contacting gaseous ammonia in an oxygen containing gas optionally with an inert gaseous diluent with a mixed metal perovskite catalyst of the general formula: ABO/sub 3/, wherein: A is selected from the alkali, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide metals or a mixture of these metals having a relatively large ionic, radius, and B is selected from an element or a combination of elements selected from Groups IB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, or VIII of the Periodic Table, wherein the perovskite phase of the catalyst has an equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen at 1000"0C of greater than about 10/sup -15/ bar; and (2) heating the reactants of step (1) at greater than about 500"0C under conditions of 10 to 100,000 hr/sup -1/ hourly space velocity.
The evaluated nuclear data given in JENDL-3.2 were compared with other evaluated data sets and available experimental data, for important minor actinides of {sup 242m}Am and {sup 243}Am, and fission product nuclides of {sup 99}Tc and {sup 140}Ce. Since problems were found as a result of the comparison, the data of JENDL-3.2 were improved for these nuclides. It was found that the evaluated data of Maslov et al. were superior to the others. They were adopted for {sup 242m}Am and {sup 243}Am after further improvements. For {sup 99}Tc and {sup 140}Ce, resonance parameters and optical model parameters were improved. The cross sections of these two nuclides in the smooth part were re-calculated. The present results were given in the neutron energy range from 10{sup -5} eV to 20 MeV in the ENDF-6 format, and adopted to JENDL-3.3. (author)
A technique of producing radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements (r.e.e.) and carrier free "2"4"2Am is suggested. The technique makes use of ''sandwich'' phthalocya=- nine complexes of r.e.e. and americium placed on sorbent. This is a new type of r.e.e. compounds and actinides (C_3_2H_1_6N_8)_2M (M is a metal ion) which are thermally, radiationally and chemically stable, dissolve well in some organic solvents and do not dissolve in water. Radiation and chemically stable activated carbon is used as a sorbent carrier. After irradiation the target is treated by a weakly acid solution or complex-former solution. Radioactive atoms formed due to (n, #gamma#)-reaction and desoleting the complex because of recoil transfer into the solution. When irradiating in the flux of 10"1"3 neutr./cm"2 x s for 1 hour it is possible to produce radioactive isotopes with the yield from 20 to 90%, for example "1"6"0Tb, "1"6"6Ho with enrichment factor > 100 and "2"4"2Am with ...
High resolution Monte-Carlo simulations show that the neutron spectrum, fuel burnup and fuel temperature feedback effect of a PWR core loaded with Thoria-based fuel (Th/Pu-O_2) do not significantly differ from the MOX fuelled one due to the similar neutronic characteristics of both fertile materials (Th-232, U-238). The core physics of this fuel variant is characterized by an enhanced moderator/void temperature coefficient (by factor 2.4) and high incineration rate for Pu (approx. 60 %). A PWR core loaded with the Molybdenum-based inert matrix fuel (IMF) - in contrast to MOX-, shows a harder spectrum, resulting in small temperature coefficients of reactivity and particularly in a higher fuel depletion rate as well as an enhanced TRU reduction performance. The incineration of Pu amounts to 46 % resulting, in turn, in generation of minor actinides of about 10 % of the total Pu consumption. The higher excess reactivity resulting from the initial Pu contents is ...
In-situ decontamination technologies were evaluated for their ability to: (1) reduce equipment contamination levels to allow either free release of the equipment or land disposal, (2) minimize residues generated by decontamination, and (3) generate residues that are compatible with existing disposal technologies. Six decontamination processes were selected. tested and compared to 4M nitric acid, a traditional decontamination agent: fluoroboric acid (HBF{sub 4}), nitric plus hydrofluoric acid, alkaline persulfate followed by citric acid plus oxalic acid, silver(II) plus sodium persulfate plus nitric acid, oxalic acid plus hydrogen peroxide plus hydrofluoric acid, and electropolishing using nitric acid electrolyte. The effectiveness of these solutions was tested using prepared 304 stainless steel couponds contaminated with uranium, plutonium, americium, or fission products. The decontamination factor for each of the solutions and tests conditions were determined; the results of these ...
The technology of minor actinide recycling in fast reactors has been discussed. In CEA, the feasibility study on Am once-through recycling in Phenix core with the moderated target subassemblies (S/As) has been performed. In this report, the evaluation of the heterogeneity effect on the moderated target S/As is described. It was evaluated by the calculation with the continuous energy Monte-Carlo code, MVP, because the accuracy of the deterministic method for the moderated target S/As is unknown. The reaction rates of four isotopes (Am-241, Am-242, Am242m and Am-243) calculated with the heterogeneous model and the homogeneous one were compared. These four isotopes play the important role in Am incineration. It is seen that the homogeneous model overestimates the reaction rates of Am-241 and Am-243 by 4 - 13%, and underestimates those of Am-242 and Am-242m by 13 - 23%. Further investigation made it clear that the overestimation of Am-241 and Am-243 reaction rates is ...
The electrometallurgical treatment process described in this paper builds on our experience in treating spent fuel from the Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR-II). The work is also to some degree, a spin-off from applying electrometallurgical treatment to spent fuel from the Hanford single pass reactors (SPRs) and fuel and flush salt from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) in treating EBR-II fuel, we recover the actinides from a uranium-zirconium fuel by electrorefining the uranium out of the chopped fuel. With SPR fuel, uranium is electrorefined out of the aluminum cladding. Both of these processes are conducted in a LiCl-KCl molten-salt electrolyte. In the case of the MSRE, which used a fluoride salt-based fuel, uranium in this salt is recovered through a series of electrochemical reductions. Recovering high-purity uranium from an aluminum-matrix fuel is more challenging than treating SPR or EBR-II fuel because the aluminum- matrix fuel is typically -90% ...
The partitioning of transuranium elements (TRUs) from high-level liquid waste (HLLW) through the use of pyrometallurgical technology has been underway since 1986, for the purpose of the improving the safety and public acceptance of the disposal of high-level vitrified waste. Prior to the pyrometallurgical partitioning process, the alkali metals can be separated at the denitration process for oxide conversion of HLLW, chlorination in a chloride salt bath can be used to effectively convert oxides to chlorides, and evaporated chlorides can be captured with high efficiency in another adopted chloride salt bath. The higher separation factors between actinides and rare earths are obtained in a LiCl-KCl/Bi system than in a LiCl-KCl/Cd system. Based on the results, we propose a practical process flow for partitioning TRUs from HLLW by pyrometallurgical technology. This process was demonstrated successfully using simulated purex waste. Each element of the TRUs was separated ...
In order to effectively recover uranium, rotation speed of solid cathode was examined, and effect of uranium concentration and current density on electrodeposition were confirmed. And the potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrorefining experiments were conducted. Element used in the experiments were Zr, Nd, La chlorides. The reduction potentials of chlorides metals on liquid Cd cathode were measured by cyclic voltammetry experiments. The electrowinning experiments were performed in order to recover small amounts of uranium in salt. Experimental set-up for the batch type reductive extraction experiments were developed and installed. On the base of experimental results of batch type, multi-stage extraction equipment was set-up, and optimum number of stage and recover yield were measured. In the oxidative extraction study is examine selective separation behavior of the rare earth metals from alloy composed of actinide and lanthanide metals to determine the effective ...
Development of the engineering technology basis of pyrometallurgical reprocessing is a key issue for industrialization. For development of the transport technologies of molten salt and liquid cadmium at around 500 deg. C, a salt transport test rig and a metal transport test rig were installed in Ar glove box. Function of centrifugal pump and 1/2'' declined tubing were confirmed with LiCl- KCl molten salt. The transport behavior of molten salt was found to follow that of water. Function of centrifugal pump, vacuum sucking and 1/2'' declined tubing were confirmed with liquid Cd. With employing the transport technologies, industrialization applicable electro-refiner was newly designed and engineering-scale model was fabricated in Ar glove box. The electro-refiner has semi-continuous liquid Cd cathode instead of conventional one used in small-scale tests. With using actinide-simulating elements, demonstration of industrial-scale throughput will be carried out in this ...
In the framework of the development of burnup calculation method for commercial fast reactors, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to clarify the dependence of fuel burnup characteristics on nuclear data libraries (NDLs). The following NDLs were compared: JEF-2.2, ENDF/B-VI Release 5, JENDL-3.2 and JENDL-3.3. The NDL-dependence of material balance for main heavy metal nuclides ("2"3"5U, "2"3"8U, "2"3"9Pu, "2"4"0Pu and "2"4"1Pu) was small, since the number densities at the end of one-cycle burnup did not change over 1 or 2% among the above-mentioned libraries. Relatively large differences were found for minor actinide nuclides, especially for "2"3"6U, "2"3"7Np, "2"4"2"mAm, "2"4"3Am and curium isotopes. The number densities for these nuclides after burning up showed remarkable NDL-dependence over 5% through 50%. A burnup sensitivity analysis system based on the generalized perturbation theory enabled us to find out quantitatively the causative nuclides and ...
The heavy dependence on nuclear power eventually raise the issues of an efficient utilization of uranium resources, which Korea presently imports from abroad, end of a spent fuel storage. From the viewpoint that sodium-cooled fast Reactors (SFRs) have the potential of an enhanced safety by utilizing inherent safety characteristics, trans-uranics (TRU) reduction and resolving the spent fuel storage problems through a proliferation-resistant actinide recycling. SFRs are sure to be most promising nuclear power operation. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has been developing SFR design technologies since 1997. And nowadays, the preliminary heat balance of the demonstration SFR is calculated. However, in order to verify design condition of the NSSS, it is necessary to set the heat balance and the conceptual design for BOP of the SFR as a part of the SFR design technique development business. Moreover, in order to confirm whether the heat balance can ...
In the present investigation the performance of digital data acquisition (DA) and analogue data acquisition (AA) systems are compared in neutron-induced fission experiments. The DA results are practically identical to the AA results in terms of angular-, energy- and mass-resolution, and both compare very well with literature data. However, major advantages were found with the digital techniques. DA allows for a very efficient #alpha#-particle pile-up correction. This is important when considering the accurate measurement of fission-fragment characteristics of highly #alpha#-active actinide isotopes relevant for the safe operation of Generation IV reactors and the successful reduction of long-lived radioactive nuclear waste. In case of a strong #alpha#-emitter, when applying the #alpha#-particle pile-up correction, the peak-to-valley ratio of the energy distribution was significantly improved. In addition, DA offers a very flexible expanded off-line analysis and ...
The Savannah River Site (SRS) is currently developing a new facility, the Actinide Packaging and Storage Facility (APSF), to process and store legacy materials from the United States nuclear stockpile. A variety of materials, with a variety of properties, packaging and handling/storage requirements, will be processed and stored at the facility. Since these materials are hazardous and radioactive, automation will be used to minimize worker exposure. Other benefits derived from automation of the facility include increased throughput capacity and enhanced security. The diversity of materials and packaging geometries to be handled poses challenges to the automation of facility processes. In addition, the nature of the materials to be processed underscores the need for safety, reliability and serviceability. The application of automation in this facility must, therefore, be accomplished in a rational and disciplined manner to satisfy the strict operational requirements ...
In this paper a computational analysis of 11 fuel samples (seven UO_2 and four MOX) with a burn-up ranging from 20 MWd/kgHM up to 121 MWd/kgHM (HM: Heavy Metal) is carried out with the depletion module of the lattice code CASMO-4E [Rhod01, Rhod01b] using the neutron data libraries ENDF/B-VI and JEF-2.2 and a pin cell model. In order to assess the accuracy of the model and the depletion calculation in the determination of the isotopic inventory after several irradiation cycles, the calculated results were compared to experimental data gathered from a chemical isotopic analysis of the fuel samples performed at the Hot Laboratory at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Switzerland. Selected results of this comparison, which includes 54 isotopes (17 actinides and 37 fission products), are presented here. (orig.)
The isostructural uranium monopnictides and monochalcogenides have become prototype systems in actinide research with respect to their unusual magnetic properties. We have investigated the origins in the electronic structure of the variation in magnetic behavior as the degree of 5f-electron localization changes from localized to itinerant on going up the pnictogen or chalcogen column, thus decreasing the U-U separation. We have applied a synthesis of: (1) A phenomenological theory of orbitally driven magnetic ordering which includes both the hybridization-induced and the RKKY exchange interactions on an equal footing, and (2) Ab initio electronic structure calculations, based on the linear-muffin-tin-orbital method, allowing a first-principles evaluation of the parameters entering the model Hamiltonian. We have investigated systematically characteristic trends and changes of the 5f-state resonance width, the hybridization potential, and the hybridization-induced ...
One option in establishing advanced technology for disposing of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is to remove TRU elements from HLW and then transform them into short-lived radionuclides. Tertiary pyridine-type anion exchange resin was investigated as a separation medium for spent fuel reprocessing using a HCl solution. Distribution coefficients of typical elements, along with uranium, were measured in the pyridine resin--HCl solution system, where HCl concentration was varied from 1 to 9 M. The results reveal: elements of the alkali metal, alkaline earth and lanthanide groups are not adsorbed, the adsorption patterns of the transition metals differ according to HCl concentration, and uranium is adsorbed in the high HCl concentration region. Furthermore, the present report describes the experimental results obtained for the adsorption behaviour of uranium, americium, curium and various lanthanide elements on tertiary pyridine-type anion exchange resin from MeOH-HCl mixed media and ...
The cross sections for /sup 250/Fm, /sup 244-246/Cf, /sup 242-244/Cm, and /sup 242/Am/sup g-italic/ produced by the /sup 12/C+ /sup 242/Pu and the /sup 16/O+ /sup 238/U reactions leading to the same compound nucleus of /sup 254/Fm have been measured by using radiochemical methods. The excitation functions show that the difference between the /sup 12/C+ /sup 242/Pu and the /sup 16/O+ /sup 238/U reactions can be attributed mainly to the Coulomb barriers. Our results were compared with others reported previously for /sup 22/Ne+ /sup 232/Th, /sup 12/C+ /sup 238/U, /sup 12/C+ /sup 240,241/Pu, /sup 13/C+ /sup 241/Pu, /sup 16/O+ /sup 233/U, and /sup 16/O+ /sup 242/Pu reaction systems, and support a mechanism involving transfer of ..cap alpha..-particle clusters (C,Be,He) from projectile to target for the production of Cf and Cm isotopes.
The cross sections for /sup 250/Fm, /sup 244-246/Cf, /sup 242-244/Cm, and /sup 242/Am/sup g/ produced by the /sup 12/C+ /sup 242/Pu and the /sup 16/O+ /sup 238/U reactions leading to the same compound nucleus of /sup 254/Fm have been measured by using radiochemical methods. The excitation functions show that the difference between the /sup 12/C+ /sup 242/Pu and the /sup 16/O+ /sup 238/U reactions can be attributed mainly to the Coulomb barriers. Our results were compared with others reported previously for /sup 22/Ne+ /sup 232/Th, /sup 12/C+ /sup 238/U, /sup 12/C+ /sup 240,241/Pu, /sup 13/C+ /sup 241/Pu, /sup 16/O+ /sup 233/U, and /sup 16/O+ /sup 242/Pu reaction systems, and support a mechanism involving transfer of #alpha#-particle clusters (C,Be,He) from projectile to target for the production of Cf and Cm isotopes.
A pretreatment flowsheet was tested for separating key radionuclide components from the sludge stored in one of the high level waste tanks (B-110) at the Hanford Site; this sludge resulted primarily from the bismuth phosphate process, which was one of the three major plutonium separation processes used at Handford. This test involved (1) washing with water, (2) caustic leaching, (3) acid dissolution, (4) separation of transuranic elements (TRUs) by extraction with octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide(CMPO), (5) separation of Sr by extraction with di-t-butylcyclohexano-18-crown-6, (6) separation of Cs from the acid-dissolved sludge solution by treatment with ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP), and (7) separation of Cs from the sludge wash and caustic leach solutions by ion exchange using a phenol-formaldehyde resin (CS-100). The results of the radionuclide separation steps indicated that the proposed flowsheet is a viable approach to pretreating the sludge stored in ...
The identification, and hence origin determination, of unknown nuclear material that might be found undeclared away from designated locations in the nuclear fuel cycle, is an important task in the frame of nuclear forensics. Material with forensic importance can be found at the microscopic level as particles in environmental samples indicating possible clandestine production of fissile material, and as bulky samples in the case of illicit trafficking of nuclear material. The objective of this work is to present, at a theoretical level, an isotopic finger-printing methodology which would determine the origin of unknown nuclear material with forensic importance. This is demonstrated for the case when the unknown nuclear material is spent nuclear fuel. The methodology is based on multivariate statistics, such as cluster and factor analysis, complemented by spent fuel isotopic composition simulations using the zero-dimensional depletion computer code ORIGEN2. A major source of error in the ...
Three phosphate based ceramics were studied for the immobilization of tri- and tetravalent actinides: britholites Ca{sub 9}Nd{sub 1-x}An{sub x} {sup IV}(PO{sub 4}){sub 5-x}(SiO{sub 4}){sub 1+x}F{sub 2}, monazites/brabantites Ln{sub 1-2x}{sup III}Ca{sub x}An{sub x}{sup IV}PO{sub 4} and Thorium Phosphate Diphosphate (TPD) Th{sub 4-x}An{sub x}{sup IV}(PO{sub 4}){sub 4}P{sub 2}O{sub 7}. For each material, the incorporation of Th, U(IV), or Ce(IV) in the structure was examined. This work was the early beginning of the incorporation of {sup 239}Pu and/or {sup 238}Pu in order to evaluate the effects of {alpha} -decay on these three crystallographic structures. The syntheses were carried out using dry chemistry methods, involving mechanical grinding then heating treatment (1100 deg C {<=} {theta} {<=} 1400 deg C). For britholites, we showed that the incorporation of thorium was complete for weight loading lower than 20 wt.% through the (Nd{sup 3+}, PO{sub ...
This work concerns the development of nuclear energy and nuclear waste management in particular. Two parts of this study can be distinguished. In the first part (theoretical), a thorium-plutonium fuel based on MOX and dedicated for PWR was investigated in order to transmute plutonium in a potentially low waste fuel cycle. It was shown that this type of fuel is not regenerative but could be used for a transition to the industrial thorium fuel cycle without building new reactors. Thanks to moderated neutron spectra and high loaded actinide mass in the core, U-233 is quickly created ({approx}300 kg/y) for a loss of about {approx}1200 kg of fissile plutonium. In the second part (experimental), we have developed and built a new reaction chamber to measure neutron cross sections of actinides by alpha-gamma spectroscopy. This experimental device (in principle transportable) was commissioned in the high flux reactor of ILL Grenoble. Neutron flux was ...
Spent nuclear wastes are inevitable issues to use nuclear power as a sustainable energy. Therefore, every country has their fuel cycles which are best for their environmental and/or political circumstances for the use of nuclear energy. These days agreements are made that spent nuclear fuels should be recycled to minimize waste volume and its toxicity all around the world. Republic of Korea also has a plan to recycle the spent nuclear fuels by using Gen-IV concept burner reactors and pyro-process plants. Not many options of national nuclear strategies are exist because Korea has too many people for its limited land space. KAERI already has been proposing a national fuel cycle concept called 'KIEP-21' that encompasses all the requirements of the advanced nuclear fuel cycle such as reduction of volume, toxicity, HLW heat load and so on. Authors suggest non-national fuel cycle concept called 'PyroGreen' for the sustainable nuclear energy system. PyroGreen is also comprised of ...
The formation, migration and agglomeration in silicon of fluorine-vacancy complexes have been monitored by single-detector Doppler broadening spectroscopy. After electronics engineers found that fluorine ion implantation effectively eliminated the transient-enhanced diffusion of dopants in the creation of ultra-shallow junctions, a vital step in the further miniaturization of device structures, positron beams have played a pivotal role in providing an insight into the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, being able to detect FV complexes in implanted and annealed samples. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry has provided complementary information on fluorine concentrations so that the nature of the F{sub m}V{sub n} complexes can be further assessed. New results on Si and SiGe structures are presented.
The X-ray storage phosphor CsBr:Eu2+ in form of needle image plates is believed to be a promising alternative to the granular BaFBr:Eu2+ with regard to PSL yield and spatial resolution. Unfortunately, CsBr:Eu2+ exhibits poor radiation hardness, which is caused by a migration of europium ions initiated by naturally existing defect centers like (Eu2+-VCs)-centers and X-ray generated MEu-centers. It will be shown that the formation of (Eu2+-O2?)-dipoles at the expense of (Eu2+-VCs)-dipoles, incorporated by thermal annealing in O2-containing and humid atmosphere, does not improve the radiation stability. There is, however, a strong improvement in the radiation hardness by codoping of CsBr:Eu2+ with lithium ions, which is accompanied by a complete suppression of the previously observed MEu-cent...
Selective formation of ZnO nanodots was accomplished by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on nanopatterned SiO_2/Si substrates. Self-organized ZnO nanodots were selectively formed in nanopatterned lines of Si created by etching of SiO_2 with focused ion beam (FIB), whereas any nanodots were hardly observed on the SiO_2 surface in the vicinity of the FIB-sputtered Si areas. The mechanism of the selective formation of ZnO nanodots on FIB-nanopatterned lines is mainly attributed to the effective migration of Zn adatoms diffusing on the SiO_2 surface into the Si lines followed by the nucleation at surface atomic steps and kinks created by Ga"+ ion sputtering. Cathodoluminescence measurements confirmed that the emission originated from the selectively grown ZnO nanodots.
The nickel-rich superalloys Alloy 600 and Alloy 800 have been corroded in mildly alkaline deuterated aqueous conditions typical of secondary coolant circuits in a nuclear power station. The oxide films and substrates of these alloys have been analysed by imaging SIMS depth profiling, which makes it possible to describe elemental distribution in all three dimensions. The measurement of the distribution of the secondary ions NiO[sup -], FeO[sup -] and CrO[sup -] appears useful for detailing the behaviour of nickel, iron and chromium within oxidized phases. The measurement of D[sup -] distribution outlines the extent of oxide hydration. For Alloy 800, evidence of sodium migration into the grain boundaries of the alloy substrate is found. For Alloy 600, no grain boundary sodium ingress can be identified under comparable corrosion conditions. (author).
The nickel-rich superalloys Alloy 600 and Alloy 800 have been corroded in mildly alkaline deuterated aqueous conditions typical of secondary coolant circuits in a nuclear power station. The oxide films and substrates of these alloys have been analysed by imaging SIMS depth profiling, which makes it possible to describe elemental distribution in all three dimensions. The measurement of the distribution of the secondary ions NiO"-, FeO"- and CrO"- appears useful for detailing the behaviour of nickel, iron and chromium within oxidized phases. The measurement of D"- distribution outlines the extent of oxide hydration. For Alloy 800, evidence of sodium migration into the grain boundaries of the alloy substrate is found. For Alloy 600, no grain boundary sodium ingress can be identified under comparable corrosion conditions. (author).
After the publication of the 2nd progress report of geological disposal of TRU waste in Japan, policy and general scheme of future study for the waste disposal in Japan was published by ANRE and JAEA. This annual report summarized aim and progress of individual problem, which was assigned into JAEA in the published policy and general scheme. The problems are as follows; characteristics of TRU waste and its geologic disposal, treatment and waste production, quality control and inspection methodology for waste, mechanical analysis of near-field, data acquisition and preparation on radionuclides migration, cementitious material transition, bentonite and rock alteration in alkaline solution, nitrate effect, performance assessment of the disposal system and decomposition of nitrate as an alternative technology. (author)
In mammals, primordial germ cells (PGCs) are generated in the extra-embryonic epiblast, and thereafter migrate into the developing gonads. Following the development of the gonads to the testes or ovaries, germ cells mature into sperms or eggs. In the present study, we report production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) that recognize PGCs. Extracts from E12.5 mouse embryonic gonads were immunized as an antigen, and hybridomas were generated using the rat medial iliac lymph node method. The hybridoma supernatants were screened by immunohistochemical analyses of E12.5 mouse embryonic sections. The antibody, referred to herein as MAb 5B5, provided strong signals on PGCs. Moreover, immunofluorescence analyses using a variety of the tissue sections of mouse embryos revealed th...
Abstract Introduction. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective procedure for the treatment of neuropathic extremity pain, with success rates approaching 70%. However, mechanical failures, including breakage and migration, can significantly limit the long-term effectiveness of SCS. A systematic analysis of surgical techniques was undertaken by a consensus group, coupled with extensive in vivo and in vitro biomechanical testing of system components. Methods. A computer model based on morphometric data was used to predict movement in a standard SCS system between an anchored lead and pulse generator placed in various locations. These displacements were then used to determine a realistic range of forces exerted on components of the SCS system. Laboratory fixtures were constructed to subj...
Several studies have shown that migratory birds play an important role in the ecology, circulation and dissemination of pathogenic organisms. In October 2006, a health status evaluation was performed on a large population of migratory birds passing through the territory of Ustica (Italy), an island located on the migration route of many species of birds to Africa, and various laboratory tests were conducted. In total, 218 faecal swabs and the internal organs of 21 subjects found dead in nets were collected for bacteriological and virological examination, including avian influenza and Newcastle disease. In addition, 19 pooled fresh faecal samples were collected for mycological examination. The bacteriological analysis produced 183 strains belonging to 28 different species of the Enterobacte...
A methodology and hypothetical case study are presented for incorporation of uncertainty and variability into calculations of human health risk appropriate for regional, or basin-scale, groundwater management problems. Uncertainty in well water concentration is introduced through complex contaminant migration patterns in the subsurface. Variability is considered in parameters related to individual behavior patterns and biological effects and to groundwater extraction and distribution networks. A joint uncertainty and variability (JUV) analysis is used to generate a two-dimensional distribution or risk surface that spans both transport uncertainty as well as individual variability. Cuts in this distributional surface (fractiles of variability and percentiles of uncertainty) are presented and discussed. Comparisons with alternative approaches based upon deterministic transport models are also made. In addition, important distinctions are made between the case where ...
The Alpine Foreland Basin is a minor oil and moderate gas province in central Europe. In the Austrian part of the Alpine Foreland Basin, oil and minor thermal gas are thought to be predominantly sourced from Lower Oligocene horizons (Schoneck and Eggerding formations). The source rocks are immature where the oil fields are located and enter the oil window at ca. 4 km depth beneath the Alpine nappes indicating long-distance lateral migration. Most important reservoirs are Upper Cretaceous and Eocene basal sandstones.Stable carbon isotope and biomarker ratios of oils from different reservoirs indicate compositional trends in W-E direction which reflect differences in source, depositional environment (facies), and maturity of potential source rocks. Thermal maturity parameters from oils of di...
This study provides a comprehensive description of the main morphological and histological events that take place during larval and post-larval development of Senegal sole Solea senegalensis in order to establish a reference for its normal developmental organogenesis. Five stages have been described. Before gill development at the onset of metamorphosis (eye migration process, stage 4c), the skin was the main site of gas and ion exchange, whereas during stages 3 and 4, the skin begins differentiating into the definitive juvenile structure. The timing of development of the endocrine system depends on each organ, the endocrine pancreas and thyroid gland being the first to differentiate (stages 2 and 3, respectively), followed by the interrenal tissue and stannius corpuscles that develop at m...
A method of modeling freeze-thaw cycles of naturally deposited snowpacks is presented. The model involves the Stefan condition as an independent governing equation on the exterior moving boundary to calculate snowpack thinning, flow of water through a variably saturated layered porous medium as described by the Richards equation, and heat conduction with a phase change. The heat conduction problem was treated in two ways. Local heat conduction between a snow grain and its surrounding water film was treated by using a simple energy balance. Global heat conduction with a phase change (the Stefan problem) was introduced to calculate the space-time temperature distribution. In order to handle multiple interior moving boundaries, a specific form of the enthalpy formulation was used for heat conduction with a phase change. Changing material properties were considered according to the calculated meltwater refreezing. 48 refs., 11 figs., 2 tabs.
The Mississippi Office of Geology has conducted field trials using the surface exploration techniques of geomicrobial, radiometrics, and free soil gas. The objective of these trials is to determine if Mississippi oil and gas fields have surface hydrocarbon expression resulting from vertical microseepage migration. Six fields have been surveyed ranging in depth from 3,330 ft to 18,500 ft. The fields differ in trapping styles and hydrocarbon type. The results so far indicate that these fields do have a surface expression and that geomicrobial analysis as well as radiometrics and free soil gas can detect hydrocarbon microseepage from pressurized reservoirs. All three exploration techniques located the reservoirs independent of depth, hydrocarbon type, or trapping style.
Radon migration in porous, earthen materials is characterized by diffusion in both the air and water components of the system as well as by the interaction of the radon between the air and water. The size distribution and configuration of the pore spaces and their moisture distributions are key parameters in determining the radon diffusion coefficient for the bulk material. A mathematical model is developed and presented for calculating radon diffusion coefficients solely from the moisture content and pore size distribution of a soil, reducing the need for resorting to radon diffusion measurements. The resulting diffusion coefficients increase with the median pore diameter of the soil and decrease with increasing widths of the pore size distribution. The calculated diffusion coefficients are suitable for use in simple homogeneous-medium diffusion expressions for predicting radon transport and compare well with measured diffusion coefficients and with empirical ...
The groundwater flow and transport model of the Faultless underground nuclear test conducted at the Central Nevada Test Area (CNTA) was accepted by the state regulator and the environmental remediation efforts at the site have progressed to the stages of model validation and long-term monitoring design. This report discusses the long-term monitoring strategy developed for CNTA. Subsurface monitoring is an expensive and time-consuming process, and the design approach should be based on a solid foundation. As such, a thorough literature review of monitoring network design is first presented. Monitoring well networks can be designed for a number of objectives including aquifer characterization, parameter estimation, compliance monitoring, detection monitoring, ambient monitoring, and research monitoring, to name a few. Design methodologies also range from simple hydrogeologic intuition-based tools to sophisticated statistical- and optimization-based tools. When designing the long-term ...
One third of the microstructure of glassy carbon (GC) consists of closed pores. Density measurements indicate that the total pore volume depends only on the heat treatment temperature and not on the heat treatment time, a characteristic of coarsening. The kinetics of coarsening of these pores on heat treatment has been investigated by analyzing the changes in specific surface area of the pores as determined by the small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique. A part of the surface area change is due to thermal expansion induced microcracking. Both the superposition method after correcting the thermal expansion induced surface area change and the curve fitting method give an activation energy of 64 +/- 10 kcal/mole. This value is compared with the activation energies of various rate processes in graphite. A model of coarsening of the pores based on a vacancy migration mechanism is proposed.
Background We developed a tissue-engineered biphasic cartilage bone substitute construct which has been shown to integrate with host cartilage and differs from autologous osteochondral transfer in which integration with host cartilage does not occur. Questions/purposes (1) Develop a reproducible in vitro model to study the mechanisms regulating tissue-engineered cartilage integration with host cartilage, (2) compare the integrative properties of tissue-engineered cartilage with autologous cartilage and (3) determine if chondrocytes from the in-vitro formed cartilage migrate across the integration site. Methods A biphasic construct was placed into host bovine osteochondral explant and cultured for up to 8 weeks (n?=?6 at each time point). Autologous osteochondral implants served as controls...
Objectives(1) Evaluate various insitu techniques for determination of the permeability of slurry walls and investigate the extent of material disturbance and fracturing during drilling and testing.~%~~%~(2) Perform laboratory tests of block samples obtained from the field testing site and compare the results with field measurements.~%~~%~(3) Investigate the mechanisms of drilling using a newly developed instrumented self-boring device and develop a theoretical framework for drilling mechanisms in soils.~% [continued...]DescriptionCement-bentonite and clay liner systems are used as components of containment systems by the environmental industry to control the migration of pollution. In the interest of public safety, following construction, there is a requirement to test these structures in orde to assess if they meet the design critetia. At present this is done only indirectly via laboratory testing on samples obtained from the ...
Numerous studies have shown that large, herbivorous waterfowl can reduce quantity of aquatic plants during the breeding or wintering season, but relatively few document herbivory effects at staging areas. This study was done to determine if feeding activities of tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus columbianus) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis) had a measurable additive influence on the amount of aquatic plants, primarily muskgrass (Chara vulgaris), wild celery (Vallisneria americana), and sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus), removed during the fall migration period at Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario. Exclosure experiments done in fall 1998 and 1999 showed that, as compared to ducks and abiotic factors, these two large herbivorous waterfowl did not have any additional impact on above or b...
Selenium 79 is a beta emitter produced from (235)U fission and is one of the long half-life radionuclides of interest in nuclear waste disposal problematic because of its potential migration capacity to the surface environment. Measurement of (79)Se is particularly difficult due to its low activity in waste matrices (about 10(-3)Bqg(-1)). A radiochemical procedure based on ion exchange separations was already described in a previous paper. This work presents different applications of the radiochemical separation to waste samples and an improvement of this procedure, including a selective extraction of selenium as diethylselenium in an organic solvent followed by a re-extraction in aqueous medium. This additional step allows the decontamination factor to be increased with the aim of counting (79)Se by liquid scintillation counting. PMID:19071740
This paper presents two imaging methods by using cross correlation. The one method images the subsurface by cross-correlation of the observed data and partial derivative seismograms calculated for a guessed model. The other method images the interface by use of cross-correlation of the virtual sources and the back propagated wave fields calculated from the observed data. Experimental tests show that both methods image subsurface interfaces well even if the guessed model is different from the true one. These imaging methods are reverse time migration that we perform cross-correlation as an imaging condition and have an advantage, as compared to conventional waveform inversion method, that images subsurface structure without iterative perturbation of the assumed model. (author). 18 refs., 15 figs.
The proposed active sites on the catalyst surface in heterogeneous propylene ammoxidation have been successfully modelled by structurally characterized pinacolato W(VI) tert-butylimido complexes. These compounds exist as an equilibrating mixture of amine-bis(imido) and imido-bis(amido) complexes, the position of this equilibrium is dependent on the electronic nature of the glycolate ligand. Both of the C-N bond-forming reactions proposed in recent studies by Grasselli et al. (1) have been reproduced using discrete Group VI d{sup 0} organoimido complexes under mild conditions suitable for detailed mechanistic studies. These reactions are: (1) oxidative trapping of radicals at molybdenum imido sites, and (2) migration of the allyl group from oxygen to an imido nitrogen atom.
The authors examined the effects of large escapements of sockeye salmon in to the Kenai River and into Red and Akalura Lakes on Kodiak Island. Estimated smolt numbers outmigrating from the Kenai River decreased from 30 million in 1989 to under 500,000 in 1992. Decreased overwintering survival of age-0 juvenile sockeye salmon rearing in Skilak and Kenai lakes is the major contributor to this decline. Preliminary examination of limnological data from Skilak and Kenai Lakes provided no obvious explanation for this major decline in winter survival of juvenile sockeye. Due to differences in diel vertical migration of zooplankton among glacial lakes on the Kenai Peninsula with varying planktivores levels, the authors hypothesize that behavioral changes of zooplankton induced by predation may be a major contributor to the juvenile sockeye decline.
An analysis system for the long-term mechanical behavior of barrier materials (MACBECE: Mechanical Analysis system considering Chemical transitions of BEntonite-based and CEment-based materials) was developed in order to improve the reliability of the evaluation of the hydraulic field which is one of the important environmental conditions in the safety assessment of the TRU waste disposal. MACBECE is the system that calculates the deformation of barrier materials using their chemical property changes as inputs, and subsequently calculates their hydraulic conductivity taking both their chemical property changes and deformation into consideration. By using MACBECE, the long-term deformation and the transition of hydraulic field for the round-type disposal cavities were evaluated, assuming some sets of chemical evolution data as input. Based on the analysis result, it is considered that the influence of the long-term deformation of the barrier materials on the nuclide ...
Evaluations were done to determine conditions that could permit nuclear criticality with fissile uranium in low-level waste (LLW) facilities and to estimate potential radiation exposures to personnel if there were such an accident. Simultaneous hydrogeochemical and nuclear criticality studies were done (1) to identity realistic scenarios for uranium migration and concentration increase at LLW disposal facilities, (2) to model groundwater transport of uranium and subsequent concentration via sorption or precipitation, (3) to evaluate the potential for nuclear criticality resulting from potential increases in uranium concentration over disposal limits, and (4) to estimate potential radiation exposures to personnel resulting from criticality consequences. This paper presents the details of the radiation exposure calculations relying on the conditions as determined from the preceding studies detailed in a cited reference.
Injections of fuel-grade ethanol (95% v/v ethanol, 5% v/v hydrocarbon mixture as a denaturant) near the water table were conducted in two-dimensional physical models tightly packed with fine sands under varying water-table conditions. As the fuel migrated in the porous media following injection, the denaturant phase separated leaving a residual Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) phase that occupied a region with a volume similar to that of an equal-sized spill of 100% LNAPL without ethanol. When the water table was raised, as may be expected following a catastrophic release that reaches groundwater, most of the ethanol-fuel mixture was mobilized and the vertical distribution of the generated LNAPL was increased. The lower boundary of the residual LNAPL was established during the initia...
We have investigated the diffusion of Sb in Si in the presence of defects injected by high-energy implantation of Si ions at room temperature. MeV ion implantation increases the concentrations of vacancies, which induce transient-enhanced diffusion of Sb deposited in Si. We observed a significant enhancement of Sb diffusion. Secondary ions mass spectroscopy has been performed on the implanted samples before and after annealing. Rutherford-backscattering spectrometry has been used to characterize the high-energy implantation damage. By fitting diffusion profiles to a linear diffusive model, information about atomic scale diffusion of Sb, i.e. the generation rate of mobile state Sb and its mean migration length were extracted.
We have investigated the diffusion of Sb in Si in the presence of defects injected by high-energy implantation of Si ions at room temperature. MeV ion implantation increases the concentrations of vacancies, which induce transient-enhanced diffusion of Sb deposited in Si. We observed a significant enhancement of Sb diffusion. Secondary ions mass spectroscopy has been performed on the implanted samples before and after annealing. Rutherford-backscattering spectrometry has been used to characterize the high-energy implantation damage. By fitting diffusion profiles to a linear diffusive model, information about atomic scale diffusion of Sb, i.e. the generation rate of mobile state Sb and its mean migration length were extracted.
The decrease and subsequent lack of recovery of the North American scaup population has increased concerns about contaminants acquired during migration. We collected 189 fall- and spring-migrant lesser (Aythya affinis) and greater scaup (A. marila) on the lower Great Lakes (LGL) to determine if organic contaminants and trace elements in scaup livers were increased and to evaluate sources of variation in selenium (Se) burdens. We found that all organic contaminants were below toxic levels. Of 18 trace elements, only Se was detected at increased (>10-ppm dry-mass) levels. Se in lesser scaup increased but remained constant in greater scaup throughout fall; levels were increased in 14% of lesser scaup and 46% of greater scaup. During spring, Se increased in lesser scaup but decreased slightly ...
As an integral part of DOE/GTD's Brine Injection Program, LBL is developing and demonstrating methods for: (1) designing and analyzing injection tests, (2) predicting and monitoring migration of injected fluids, and (3) optimizing field-wide injection and heat extraction operations in geothermal reservoirs. Computational and well test techniques are being developed (a) to detect and predict the movement of fluids of contrasting temperatures, phase compositions and chemistries in the injected formation, and (b) to characterize the associated physical and chemical processes occurring in the reservoir. LBL's theoretical and field-related brine injection activities in FY 1986 are described, and progress made during FY 1987 is discussed.
MINC stands for Multiple INteracting continua.'' It is an approximate method for modeling fluid and heat flow in fractured- porous media, developed by Pruess and Narasimhan (1982, 1985) at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. The method is applicable to flow processes in which an important aspect is the exchange of fluid, heat, or chemical species between fractures and unfractured rock. Examples include production and injection operations in fractured geothermal reservoirs, water-flooding, steamflooding, and other methods for enhanced oil recovery from fractured reservoirs, as well as chemical transport and contaminant migration in fractured rock. MINC can only be applied to media in which the fractures are sufficiently well connected so that a continuum treatment of flow in the fracture network can be made.
During FY1997, the JMTR was operated for 3 complete cycles (120th, 121st and 122nd cycles) and was utilized for the research and development programs on the technology of LWRs and fusion reactor, as well as for fundamental research of fuels and materials, and for radioisotope productions. The improvement of evaluation technique in a local neutron spectrum for irradiation utilization and development of capsule having the vertical migration, the reinstrumentation and loading mechanism have been carried out. Development of a new oxygen potential sensor for oxide fuel pellets has been done as an elemental technology of irradiation for high burn-up fuels. As for post irradiation examination, the techniques for measuring of crack length using an alternating current potential drop method and machining of miniaturized specimen by the remote handling have been developed. A research on the blanket materials and components for thermonuclear fusion reactor were also ...
The authors report an effort to determine the basis for the altered migration of seven inherited albumin variants detected by one-dimensional electrophoresis in population surveys involving tribal Amerindians and Japanese children. An amino acid substitution has thus far been determined for four of the variants. The randomness in the albumin polypeptide of these and the other sixteen independently ascertained amino acid substitutions of albumin and proalbumin thus far established was analyzed; the clustering of eight of these at two positions in the six-amino acid propeptide sequence seems noteworthy. By comparison with other proteins studied by electrophoresis, albumin exhibits average variability. It is a paradox that individuals who, for genetic reasons, lack albumin exhibit no obvious ill effects; yet, electrophoretic variants of albumin are no more numerous than are variants of proteins, the absence of which results in severe disease.
In the safety assessment of a high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal system, it is required to estimate radiological impacts on future human beings arising from potential radionuclide releases from a deep repository into the surface environment. In order to estimated the impacts, a biosphere model is developed by reasonably assuming radionuclide migration processes in the surface environment and relevant human lifestyles. It is important to modify the present biosphere models or to develop alternative biosphere models applying the biosphere models according to quality and quantify of the information acquired through the siting process for constructing the repository. In this study, alternative biosphere models were developed taking geosphere-biosphere interface of marine environment into account. Moreover, the flux to dose conversion factors calculated by these alternative biosphere models was compared with those by the present basic biosphere models. (author)
Abstract Recent work (Schawinski et al.) indicates that star-forming early-type galaxies residing in the blue cloud migrate rapidly to the red sequence within around a Gyr, passing through several phases of increasingly strong active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity in the process. We show that natural depletion of the cold gas reservoir through star formation (i.e. in the absence of any feedback from the AGN) induces a blue-to-red reddening rate that is several factors lower than that observed by Schawinski et al. This is because the gas depletion rate due to star formation alone is too slow, implying that another process needs to be invoked to remove cold gas from the system and accelerate the reddening rate. We develop a simple phenomenological model, in which a fraction of the AGN-s lum...
A Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR) system is developed to determine two-phase flow parameters for a vertical co-current two-phase flow channel with a hexagonal finned bundle. Image processing techniques are applied to visualize the two-phase flow, and procedures for measuring flow regime, cross-sectional averaged void fraction, time averaged void fraction, and void distribution for this complex geometry are discussed. The results show that the experimental flow regime map agrees well with an existing flow regime model for a hexagonal fined bundle. The hexagonal finned bundle is observed to significantly affect the void fraction, void migration, and void fluctuation along the axial flow channel.
The isotopic composition of Pd, Ag, Cd and Te has been measured by solid source mass spectrometry for four samples from reactor zones 2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7, and from four host rock samples external to the reactor zones from the Oklo mine site. The concentrations of these elements have also been determined in the eight samples using the stable isotope dilution technique. Cumulative fission yields have been derived from the reactor zone samples after correcting where necessary for the terrestrial component of the element concerned. It has been shown that fission-produced Pd and Te are retained almost in their entirety in the uraninite reactor zone samples, whereas a significant fraction of fission-produced Ag and Cd have migrated from the reactor zones. Fission product Cd is observed in the host rock samples, whereas no strong evidence of fission-produced Ag could be found. This the fission-produced Ag which has migrated from the reactor zones has ...
The study concerns 1984-1991. The wind park consists of 18 three-bladed 300 kW horizontal axis wind turbines of 35 meters height, and a rotor diameter of 30 meters, seven meteorological towers, and three cluster and control buildings. Aspects studied included disturbance of breeding, resting or feeding, and migrating birds, behavior of birds approaching the wind turbines during the day and night, and bird victims due to collision with the wind turbines and the meteorological towers. The flight behavior of birds approaching the wind park system during daylight is also dealt with. For at least a fifth of the observations it was noted whether the birds passing within 100 meters distance of a turbine showed a reaction or not. The proportion of the reactions was related to the wind park in operation or not in operation, and to the distance between the wind turbines, species, flight height, the passing distance, wind direction and wind force. Secondly the flight path of ...
To investigate the problems of the Hanaro stent (Solco Intermed, Seoul, Korea) when used in the palliative treatment of patients with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction. Between January 2000 and May 2001, the treatment of 46 patients with malignant biliary obstruction involved percutaneous placement of the Hanaro stent. Five patients encountered problems during removal of the stent's introduction system. The causes of obstruction were pancreatic carcinoma (n=2), cholangiocarcinoma (n=2), and gastric carcinoma with biliary invasion (n=1). In one patient, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and stent insertion were performed as a one-step procedure, while the others underwent conventional percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for at least two days prior to stent insertion. A self-expandable Hanaro stent, 8-10 mm in deameter and 50-100 mm in lengh, and made from a strand of nitinol wire, was used in all cases. Among the five patients who encountered problems, ...
The migration of gaseous radon through the soil is depending on the geology of the region and may vary locally because of occurrence of fractures in impermeable layers and existence of fractures and faults. To identify areas with elevated radon concentration in soil gas, it is very helpful to know the geological structure of the area under study and how the high permeability soils are situated in the overburden. Topography of the surface in the Krakow area is determined by exhumed structure of late Alpine foreland, dismembered into systems of several normal fault-bounded carbonate horsts, erosional monadocks and grabens, and partially filled with marine Miocene clays of Carpathian foredeep basin. Radon geofluid, generated partially in sub-Jurassic, U-rich crystalline basement, migrates vertically to surface through permeable, jointed, faulted and karstified Jurassic limestone. Under the cover the radon fluxes are channelled by adjacent list ric ...
A new three-dimensional (3D) acoustic modelling method was developed using a first-order hyperbolic wave system which was solved with explicit finite dfferences. The numerical solution of the 3D wave system provides a useful method for simulating evolution of a pressure field corresponding to compressional type waves. Existing two-dimensional (2D) elastic modelling algorithms were modified and fine-tuned for computationally efficient and realistic wave propagation simulations in complex structures. An original formulation of the 3D reverse time migration method was developed which is very accurate, does not suffer from unwanted evenescent energy, can image dips beyond 90{degree}, and does not generate multiple energy. Two case studies were performed that involved steam stimulation projects in the Cold Lake deposit. Simulations were performed during different phases of the steam stimulation process to examine the relation between reservoir properties and conditions ...
Geologic sequestration represents a promising strategy for isolating CO{sub 2} waste streams from the atmosphere. Successful implementation of this approach hinges on our ability to predict the relative effectiveness of subsurface CO{sub 2} migration and sequestration as a function of key target-formation and cap-rock properties, which will enable us to identify optimal sites and evaluate their long-term isolation performance. Quantifying this functional relationship requires a modeling capability that explicitly couples multiphase flow and kinetically controlled geochemical processes. We have developed a unique computational package that meets these criteria, and used it to model CO{sub 2} injection at Statoil's North-Sea Sleipner facility, the world's first saline-aquifer storage site. The package integrates a state-of-the-art reactive transport simulator (NUFT) with supporting geochemical software and databases (SUPCRT92). In our Sleipner ...
Recent investigations have identified elevated concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins) in marine sediments and wildlife of Queensland, Australia. While it has been demonstrated that the contamination is widespread and predominantly land-based, limited information exists on the pathways and fate of these compounds within the near-shore marine system. This environment supports unique and threatened species including green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Adult green turtles are predominantly herbivorous, feeding on seagrass and algae. Apart from initial migration to feeding grounds (at {proportional_to}10 years of age) and intermittent migrations to breeding grounds (at {proportional_to}30-50 years and thereafter), green turtles remain and feed within relatively small home ranges. Long life-span (50 years or more), near-shore feeding grounds and highly specialized food requirements render green turtles potentially vulnerable to ...
Plasma-deposited thin films prepared at room temperature, ranging from 46 to 250 A of PdAu on #approx#45-50 A Si-oxide and Si-oxynitride films grown on Si wafers were studied. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, and XPS depth profile techniques were used to characterize the thin films. A reactive interface involving Pd- and Au-silicides is formed, linking the thin film to the Si-oxide and Si-oxynitride films: a small fraction of Pd and Au atoms from PdAu migrate into the Si substrate, first penetrating the oxide layer, and the small fraction of Si atoms from the oxide layer migrate into the PdAu film and form a silicide interlayer consisting of a reactive interface made up of mixtures of Au- and Pd-silicides interspersed within the matrix of PdAu and substrate. The concentration profiles of these silicides have a maximum at the interface with decay on both sides. The density and the face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice ...
Biological marker maturity parameters were used to estimate the minimum HC generation temperatures of crude oils from Eastern Hungary. More than 50 oils and oil shows were analysed. Molecular- and homologous-ratios of biological marker compounds (triterpanes, steranes, mono- and triaromatic steroid hydrocarbons) were used as maturation parameters. The oils have at least five maturity stages, i.e. they have been generated under different thermal conditions. The highest reservoir temperature in each group was chosen as the best estimate of the groups' temperature just below the generation temperature, i.e. reservoirs of the group might be expected to be at shallower depths (lower temperatures) than those of the generation zone due to vertical migration into pools. For each maturation level, a threshold temperature range for genesis was inferred from reservoir temperatures; they are from 130-135{sup o}C for the least mature oils to 210-215{sup o}C for the ...
In multi-organisational contexts, scenario building has been used to engage stakeholders in a critical discussion on issues of mutual importance, and to gain their support with regards to possible future responses. A review of existing literature suggests that much has been written regarding the process of scenario development and the benefits of the process, but the detailed analysis of scenario building outcomes, which encompass a large number of issues and their complex interconnections, has not been made explicit for studying and enhancing understanding of a complex societal problem. This paper presents a systematic method for analysing such complex outcomes in order to facilitate reflective thinking on important issues within the wider context for policy development. The method was em...
The coastal ecosystem health assessment is a field of increasing importance. In this paper, a preliminary assessment of ecosystem health in Zhejiang coastal water zone was made, mainly based on remote sensing data and GIS technique. Its spatial and quantitative evaluation was facilitated by the progress of remote sensing and GIS technique development. Firstly, human activities, hydrology and ecosystem problems in the study area were discussed and analyzed. Secondly, from 4 aspects of human stress, physical, chemical and biological responses to anthropogenic activities and natural stress, several indicators such as water transparency (Secchi Disk Depth, SDD), suspended substance concentration, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, active phosphate, chlorophyll, harmful algae bloom, as well as distr...
Abstract Incomplete dispersion of aggregates is a well known difficulty when analyzing soil texture of Andosols, particularly if no fresh soil material is available. To facilitate such investigations, several dispersion procedures were carried out on air dried samples rich in short range order minerals, originating from selected Andosol profiles (S Mexico). As a result, we propose an improved method based on a sequential chemical treatment with K oxalate, NH4 oxalate, and oxalic acid that reliably removes cementing agents and allows for a stable dispersion of soil particles after addition of Na pyrophosphate. This method was proved to be well reproducible and highly reliable for routine grain size determinations. The potential error caused by the inherent risk of dissolving primary mineral...
Recent supply chain reengineering efforts have focused on integrating firms? production, inventory and replenishment activities with the help of communication networks. While communication networks and supply chain integration facilitate optimization of traditional supply chain functions, they also exacerbate the information security risk: communication networks propagate security breaches from one firm to another, and supply chain integration causes breach on one firm to affect other firms in the supply chain. We study the impact of network security vulnerability and supply chain integration on firms? incentives to invest in information security. We find that even though an increase in either the degree of network vulnerability or the degree of supply chain integration increases the secur...
Background: Quantifying HIV levels in mucosal secretions is essential to study compartmentalized expression of HIV and facilitate development of intervention strategies to prevent disease progression and transmission. Objectives: To develop a sensitive, reliable, and cost-effective technique to quantify HIV from blood and vaginal secretions that is compatible with efficient implementation in clinical research environments. Study design: A sensitive, reliable, internally-controlled real-time reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR assay, which uses the HIV-1 pol gene as a target (Hpol assay) was developed to quantify HIV levels in plasma and genital secretions, and compared to the widely used Roche Amplicor(TM) HIV-1 Monitor assay. In addition, a simplified method of sample collection and processing...
The manual provides design information for four groups of sediment control structures and treatments which are suitable for use on small areas in surface coal mining. A detailed design procedure is given for each group which will estimate the total amount of settleable solids from a small area with a sediment control structure or treatment for a specific design storm. A procedure is also given for estimating the mean annual sediment yield from a small area. Information on design, installation, maintenance and cost is given for each sediment control measure. Methods for determining the maximum allowable area for each sediment control measure and for design of combined sediment control systems are presented. The design procedures contain numerous nomographs, graphs, and worksheets to facilitate the use of the design procedure. The sediment control measures, design procedures, and materials in the manual are applicable to coal-bearing regions of the continental United ...
The manual provides design information for four groups of sediment control structures and treatments which are suitable for use on small areas in surface coal mining. A detailed design procedure is given for each group which will estimate the total amount of settleable solids from a small area with a sediment control structure or treatment for a specific design storm. A procedure is also given for estimating the mean annual sediment yield from a small area. Information on design, installation, maintenance and cost is given for each sediment control measure. Methods for determining the maximum allowable area for each sediment control measure and for design of combined sediment control systems are presented. The design procedures contain numerous nomographs, graphs, and worksheets to facilitate the use of the design procedure. The sediment control measures, design procedures, and materials in the manual are applicable to coal bearing regions of the continental Unted ...