KoreaScience (Korea)

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The mechanisms controlling seed dormancy in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) have been characterized by proteomics using the dormant (D) accession Cvi originating from the Cape Verde...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mitsubishi is developing a new type of accumulator incorporating the technology of fluidics as one of the seeds for the improved safety of the newly constructed pressurized water reactor plants. This accumulator employs a vortex flow control device, called a vortex damper, as a fluidic device to simplify the safety systems. A fundamental experimental study with a one-fifth scale model and confirmation tests with a one-third scale model to develop the vortex damper have been carried out, and satisfactory results have been achieved. The results of the confirmation tests under the prototype pressure conditions agree well with the basic tests. The flow rate ratio can be 5 to 6. The pressure loss coefficient in the large flow rate period is 8. A cavitation factor is the main parameter of the flow rate coefficient.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this paper, we put forward a systematic method to analyze, control and evaluate the safety issues of medical robotics. We created a safety model that consists of three axes to analyze safety factors. Software and hardware are the two material axes. The third axis is the policy that controls all phases of design, production, testing and application of the robot system. The policy was defined as hazard identification and safety insurance control (HISIC) that includes seven principles: definitions and requirements, hazard identification, safety insurance control, safety critical limits, monitoring and control, verification and validation, system log and documentation. HISIC was implemented in the development of a robot for urological applications that was known as URObot. The URObot is a universal robot with different modules adaptable for 3D ultrasound ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

local peanut cultivars Giza 4 and Giza 5 were exposed to different doses ( 50,100,150,200,250 and 300 Gy)to Co "6"0 gamma ray source . all irradiated materials were cultivated to give the M_1 and M_2 generation , then high yielding mutants were selected from the M_2 generation and cultivated separately to give the M_3 generation. some yield component traits were measured for the three generations (M_1,M_2 and M_3) and M_3 families.variations observed in these traits were attributed to genetic factors. the M_3 selected mutants were artificially infected by aspergillus flavus L spores (aflatoxins-B1 and B2 groups-producer strain). aflatoxin concentrations were estimated and the analysis showed that aflatoxin concentrations in seeds of the M_3 selected mutants from cultivar Giza 4 were higher than those in seeds of the M3 mutants selected from cultivar Giza 5. however, the concentration of aflatoxin increased when the yield ( ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In recent years, the interest in the use of bacteria for biological control of plant-pathogenic fungi has increased. We studied the possible side effects of coating barley seeds with the antagonistic...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Polycrystalline silicon films have been grown from Si_2H_6 by low-pressure chemical vapour deposition at 800 K and in situ laser annealing (LA) on amorphous silicon seed layers deposited on a metallic Ti/Pd/Ag multilayer. The crystalline volume fraction in the seed layer was controlled by thermal annealing. According to the metal-induced crystallization effect, the presence of the metal induces a lower-temperature crystallization of silicon in the seed layers. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy data show that the formation of palladium silicides in the seed layer drives the growth of wire-like columns which are found to change morphology depending on the seed layer microstructure and LA parameters. It is suggested that superficial palladium was found to affect also the growth rate by enhancing the Si_2H_6 dissociation.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We analyzed the phenotypic variation of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruits from Mali to define the domestication potential of this species. 269 trees, selected from 10 provenances distributed along a rainfall gradient, were characterized. Five fruits were sampled from each tree. Total individual fruit weight was partitioned into shell, pulp, and seed weight. Ratios were calculated between pulp?+?seed and total weight, and between pulp and seed weight. For all the measured fruit traits, we detected significant differences between provenances, as well as between trees from the same provenance. Assuming that the measured traits are under genetic control, the latter facts indicate that there are considerable opportunities for tree selection on a local scale. However, candidate plus trees wi...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Ascochyta blight causes significant yield loss in pulse crops worldwide. Integrated disease management is essential to take advantage of cultivars with partial resistance to this disease. The most effective practices, established by decades of research, use a combination of disease-free seed, destruction or avoidance of inoculum sources, manipulation of sowing dates, seed and foliar fungicides, and cultivars with improved resistance. An understanding of the pathosystems and the inter-relationship between host, pathogen and the environment is essential to be able to make correct decisions for disease control without compromising the agronomic or economic ideal. For individual pathosystems, some components of the integrated management principles may need to be given greater consideration tha...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rice plants at different seed-developing stages were exposed to HTO vapor in an exposure box for 1 h during daytime and nighttime to investigate the levels of tissue free water {sup 3}H (TFWT) and organically bound {sup 3}H (OBT) in different plant parts. In the daytime experiment, TFWT concentrations in leaves at the end of exposure (h{sub 0}) were around 100% of the 1 hour mean HTO concentrations in air moisture whereas in the nighttime experiment, they were as low as 30{approx}40% of the air concentration. TFWT concentrations in both experiments decreased very rapidly in the beginning but much more slowly later and those at harvest were hundreds to hundred thousands times lower than those at h{sub 0}. OBT concentrations varied with time in different manners depending on plant parts and exposure times and differed between at h{sub 0} and at harvest by factors of less than 10 on the whole. Even during nighttime exposures, OBT was produced at ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Science.gov (United States)

TRACON controller, traffic flow manager, or pilot. .... separation violations to individual controller and ..... System, AGARD Meeting on Machine Intelligence ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The development of tough #alpha#-SiAlON with elongated grains in the last five years is summarized. This progress has been guided by the improved understanding of phase relations and nucleation/growth kinetics in SiAlON ceramics. Although most #alpha#-SiAlON compositions can be processed to contain some elongated grains, their microstructure, fracture toughness and R-curve behavior vary greatly. Such variability is due to the different phase stability of #alpha#-SiAlONs and the varying physical chemistry of the competing phases, including the transient/residual liquid. For this reason, microstructure control of #alpha#-SiAlON must pay close attention to the composition, starting powder and heating schedule. Seeding with single crystals of an appropriate #alpha#-SiAlON composition provides an attractive alternative that simplifies the task of microstructure control, since such seeds are thermodynamically ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The development of Callossobruchus chinensis (L.) in different packaging materials were conducted with gram and lentil seeds under control temperature. The highest population rise was recorded in laminated jute bags and the weight loss of gram increased with the increase of the number of insects. A doses of 0.1 kGy inhibit all metamorphic stages of the beetle. The use of appropriate packaging materials can reduce the risk of re infestation in the post-irradiated food items. 9 refs., 1 fig., 2 tables (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is associated with a dismal prognosis; however, curative resection may offer a chance of cure. Various factors should be considered in the surgical planning for curative resection. These factors include extent of bile duct involvement, relationship between portal vein and tumor involvement, diffuse hepato duodenal ligament infiltration, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, peritoneal seeding, and hepatic volume. Using high-quality volume data from multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) and adequate postprocessing images, radiologists can provide various types of information, imperative for curative resection of a hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This review illustrates the role of MDCT in the preoperative workup of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Background and AimsSeed quality may be compromised if seeds are harvested before natural dispersal (shedding). It has been shown previously that slow or delayed drying can increase...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a principal matrix molecule in many tissues, is present in high amounts in articular cartilage. HA contributes in unique ways to the physical behavior of the tissue, and has been shown to have beneficial effects on chondrocyte activity. The goal of this study was to incorporate graduated amounts of HA into type I collagen scaffolds for the control of chondrocyte-mediated contraction and chondrogenesis in vitro. The results demonstrated that the amount of contraction of HA/collagen scaffolds by adult canine articular chondrocytes increased with the HA content of the scaffolds. The greatest amount of chondrogenesis after two weeks was found in the scaffolds which had undergone the most contraction. HA can play a useful role in adjusting the mechanical behavior of tissue engineering scaffolds and chondrogenesis in chondrocyte-seeded scaffolds.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Many factors influence radon-222 influx and radon-daughter concentrations in underground uranium mines. A brief review of some of these factors is presented. Current radon-222 and radon-daughter control principles and practices for US underground uranium mine atmospheres are discussed and a brief review of the applicability of other possible control methods such as rock sealants, radon-222 removal, and radon-daughter removal is given.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Anadenathera macrocarpa, Schinus molle, Hymenaea courbaril, Cariniana legalis, Solidago microglossa and Stryphnodendron barbatiman, were collected ''in natura'' samples (leaves, flowers, barks and seeds) from different commercial suppliers. The pharmaco-active compounds in ethanolic extracts had been made by the Mato Grosso Federal University (UFMT). The energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectrometry was used for the elemental analysis in different parts of the plants and respective ethanolic extracts. The Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Rb, S, Sr and Zn concentrations were determined by the fundamental parameters method. Some specimens showed a similar inorganic profile for ''in natura'' and ethanolic extract samples and some ones showed a distinct inorganic profile. For example, the Anadenathera macrocarpa showed a similar concentration in Mg, P, Cu, Zn and Rb elements ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract The overstory of the jarrah forest is dominated by Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) with a smaller proportion of Marri (Corymbia calophylla). There are also several smaller tree species in the areas where Alcoa mines. Alcoa's restoration aims to restore all these species at densities similar to the unmined forest. This paper describes the establishment, survival, and growth of these trees with particular focus on Jarrah. Factors affecting the growth and form of Jarrah are also discussed. Establishment of Jarrah from seed in restored sites is variable (mean 10%), and once established, survival is high over two summer droughts (96%) and still high (mean 83%) after about a decade regardless of the presence of the Jarrah dieback disease Phytophthora cinnamomi. High establishment densitie...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Baobab fruit are harvested and used throughout Africa as an important source of food and are sold to generate income. Commercial use is increasing rapidly as derivatives of the fruit such as baobab seed oil and fruit pulp are being exported to Europe and North America. The cash derived from the sale of fruit support thousands of rural people. This study examines baobab fruit yields in an area being harvested for commercial use. It represents baobab populations and harvesting scenarios typically found in Southern Africa and is the first study in Africa to combine demographic and production data in determining baobab fruit yields. Fruit production was examined across five land-use types (nature reserves, rocky outcrops, plains, fields and villages) and over three consecutive years. Factors a...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundPolymorphisms in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene may influence EGFR production and/or activity, thereby modulating susceptibility to lung...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In 1999, the plasma parameters of reversed shear (RS) plasmas had been extended in 1) DT-equivalent fusion power gain Q_D_T"e"q - 0.5 (n_D(0)#tau#_ET_i(0) - 4x10"2"0 m"-"3#centre dot#keV#centre dot#s) for 0.8 s and 2) full non-inductive current drive with 80% of the bootstrap current fraction. Physics of the internal transport barriers (ITBs) in RS plasmas, including the energy transport and the formation of ITB, were extensively studied. A nearly full current drive (92% non-inductively) was obtained with negative ion based neutral beam (NNB) injection (360 keV, 3.4 MW) in a high #beta#_p H-mode plasma (I_p=1.5 MA, B_T=3.7 T, q_9_5=4.2) with high plasma performance (#beta#_N=2.4 and H_8_9=2.56). Rise in the central electron temperature (T_e - 9 keV) resulted in the current drive efficiency #eta#_C_D of NNB reached 1.3x10"1"9 A/W/m"2, the highest for the neutral beam current drive. As for the H-mode plasmas, decrease in the pedestal ion temperature due to strong gas was found cause ...

Science.gov (United States)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A nonlinear relationship between the time of accelerated aging of Lupine seeds and the indices of its survival as well as the single-strand DNA amount in cells from these seeds is established. The character of this relationship is essentially altered in chronically irradiated lupine seeds from the Chernobyl NPP exclusion zone and seems more complicated. The possible role of repair systems in these effects is discussed. The fact that chronic irradiation in low doses can modify the course of senescence in lupine seeds reflects its high biological efficiency comparing with acute irradiation.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Coherent x-ray production by a seeded free electron laser (FEL) is important for next generation synchrotron light sources. The authors examine the feasibility and features of FEL emission seeded by a high-order harmonic generation (HHG) of an infrared laser. In addition to the intrinsic FEL chirp, the longitudinal profile and spectral bandwidth of the HHG seed are modified significantly by the FEL interaction well before saturation. This smears out the original attosecond pulselet structure. The authors introduce criteria for this smearing effect on the pulselet and the stretching effect on the entire pulse. They discuss the noise issue in such a seeded FEL.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThere is no consensus as to the prognostic model for brachytherapy of tongue carcinoma. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic factors for local control based...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effect of asymmetric laser pulses on electron yield from a laser wakefield accelerator has been experimentally studied using > 10{sup 19} cm{sup -3} plasmas and a 10 TW, > 45 fs, Ti:Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} laser. Laser pulse shape was controlled through non-linear chirp with a grating pair compressor. Pulses (76 fs FWHM) with a steep rise and positive chirp were found to significantly enhance the electron yield compared to pulses with a gentle rise and negative chirp. Theory and simulation show that fast rising pulses can generate larger amplitude wakes that seed the growth of the self-modulation instability and that frequency chirp is of minimal importance for the experimental parameters.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A scheme for controlling multimanipulator systems is presented. The control objective is to coordinate the manipulators to perform parts-matching tasks such as screwing a nut onto a bolt. The task of moving a rigid object can be treated as a special case. Two secondary control objectives internal force control and load distribution can be accomplished within the structure of the control law. The internal force control mechanism keeps the internal forces on the object being manipulated at a desirable level. The load distribution mechanism distributes control effort to each manipulator according to a weighting factor. It is also shown that the control algorithm has a modular structure which facilitates its implementation on a multiprocessor computer. The scheme was tested on a planar scara type ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tunable output wavelength is an important character of a free electron laser (FEL). As generally understood, to alter the wavelength of a high-gain harmonic generation (HGHG) FEL laser, the seed laser must be tunable. A few-cycle, high intensity laser obtained by optical compression usually has pretty broad bandwidth in the spectral domain, which can be used as the seed laser of a HGHG and may open the possibility to approach a HGHG scheme with fully tunable wavelength. In this paper, a HGHG FEL seeded by a few-cycle laser is theoretically discussed and numerically investigated. A few-cycle seed laser significantly influences HGHG FEL performance, especially in output wavelength tuning. For a HGHG FEL seeded by a 4-cycle 786 nm laser, output wavelength tunability range up to 14.9% of the central wavelength 262 nm is observed by adjusting the resonant condition.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This report has been prepared in support of the industry effort to standardize nuclear plant designs. This document describes the Combustion Engineering, Inc. System 80+trademark Standard Design. This volume contain Chapter 18 -- Human Factors Engineering. Topics covered include: design team organization and responsibilities; design goals and design bases; design process and application to human factors engineering; functional task analysis; control room configuration; information presentation and panel layout evaluation; control and monitoring outside the main control room; and verification and validation.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Tocopherols (vitamin E) are lipophilic antioxidants synthesized by all plants and are particularly abundant in seeds. Despite cloning of the complete suite of tocopherol biosynthetic enzymes and successful...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Cytological observations were made on developing seeds of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. “Amsoy 71”) using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Transitions at 28-32°C in membranes of many kinds of seeds influence their germination and subsequent growth. Changes at 28-32°C in the rates of loss of endogenous amino acids from imbibed...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We show that the expression of an indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-modified protein from bean seed, IAP1, is correlated to the developmental period of rapid growth during seed development. Moreover, this...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

... chemical radiation effects decomposition extraction columns gamma radiation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Rice (Oryza sativa) seed storage proteins (SSPs) are synthesized and deposited in storage organelles in the endosperm during seed maturation as a nitrogen source for germinating seedlings....Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

Abstract Unrefined and refined black raspberry seed oils (RSOs) were examined for their lipid-modulating effects in male Syrian hamsters fed high-cholesterol (0.12% g/g), high-fat (9% g/g) diets. Hamsters fed the refined and the unrefined RSO diets had equivalently lower plasma total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in comparison with the atherogenic coconut oil diet. The unrefined RSO treatment group did not differ in liver total and esterified cholesterol from the coconut oil-fed control animals, but the refined RSO resulted in significantly elevated liver total and esterified cholesterol concentrations. The unrefined RSO diets significantly lowered plasma triglycerides (46%; P=.0126) in comparison with the coconut oil diet, whereas the refined RSO only tended to lower plasma triglyceride (29%; P=.1630). Liver triglyceride concentrations were lower in the unrefined (46%; P=.0002) and refined (36%; P=.0005) RSO-fed ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Background and purpose: To assess the effectiveness of radiotherapy in preventing tumour seeding after chest drain or pleural biopsy in patients with malignant mesothelioma and to determine, if tract metastases appear, whether they are tender or troublesome to patients. Patients and methods: Patients with a histological diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma and an invasive procedure within the preceding 21 days were stratified by age, performance status and treatment centre. Randomisation was performed between immediate drain site radiotherapy 21 Gy in three fractions (XRT arm) or best supportive care (BSC) with follow-up to 12 months. Patients were asked to complete questionnaires on treatment toxicity and on symptoms from any tract metastases detected. Results: Sixty-one patients were recruited from two centres between 1998 and 2004; 56 men, 5 women, median age 70. 31 were allocated to drain site radiotherapy. Seven patients developed tract metastases associated with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the process of backward Raman amplification (BRA), the leading layers of the seed laser pulse can shadow the rear layers, thus weakening the effective seeding power and affecting parameters of output pulses in BRA. We study this effect numerically and also analytically by approximating the pumped pulse by the ''*-pulse'' manifold of self-similar solutions. We determine how the pumped pulse projection moves within the *-pulse manifold, and describe quantitatively the effective seeding power evolution. Our results extend the quantitative theory of BRA to regimes where the effective seeding power varies substantially during the amplification. These results might be of broader interest, since the basic equations, are general equations for resonant 3-wave interactions.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Seed dispersal involves several complex stages that can be affected by multiple peripheral processes. Thus, a major dispersal event can be followed by secondary dispersal, which can reduce density-dependent mortality and consolidate the dispersal phase. But predation events can also follow, and predation of seeds in feces is particularly interesting because it can heavily alter the fate of seeds dispersed through vertebrate guts. Our review of 20 cases involving this kind of interaction found that research has chiefly been in tropical and subtropical areas (85% of cases), suggesting that it is a minor phenomenon at higher latitudes. However, the small size of both the seeds and predators involved may have caused this process to go unnoticed outside the tropics. We tested the presence of pr...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The present investigation was conducted at Ismaillia Research Station-Agricultural Research Center, Ismaillia Governorate, during the two successive seasons of 2000 and 2001. Two varieties of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L) namely Giza 4 and Giza 5 were treated with gamma ray doses; 10,15, 20, 25 Kr in order to induce genetic variability and to study the importance of the relative contribution of peanut yield components by employing some statistical procedures, i.e. simple correlation, multiple linear regression and stepwise regression analysis. The results showed that, there was significant positive correlation between seed yield/plant and no. of pods/plant, 100 seed weight, shelling percentage and pod yield/plant, and there was significant positive correlation between pod yield/plant and no of seed/plant,100 pod weight and 100 seed weight. The multiple linear regression analysis clearly showed that the ...

Science.gov (United States)

Skip to Content Cancer Control and Population Sciences Home Applied Research Home Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Home Diet Usual Dietary Intakes: Background The NCI Method Details of the NCI Method Food Intakes, US Population, 2001-04 Selected Intakes

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We have examined the association between cytokine, chemokine and growth factor concentrations with bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnant white and black women. A nested case-control analysis...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Study objectives:To verify the existence of a symptomatic form of restless legs syndrome (RLS) secondary to multiple sclerosis (MS) and to identify possible associated risk factors.Design:Prospective,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe zinc-finger transcription factor GLI3 is an important mediator of Sonic hedgehog signaling and crucial for patterning of many aspects of the vertebrate body plan. In...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Objectives To assess the effectiveness of calcium supplementation for improving bone mineral density in healthy children and to determine if any effect is modified by other factors and...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Cellular cholesterol homeostasis is controlled by sterol-regulated proteolysis of membrane-bound transcription factors called sterol-regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs). CPP32, a cysteine protease,...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It is very important to develop the design guidelines which can be applicable for Korean operators for the purpose of designing the KSNP more safely. The objective of this project is to provide the standards, guidelines and bases applicable for HF-010 through the within-subject experiment for obtaining Korean operators' population stereotype for direction-of-movement of controls associated with displays on the control panels. Through the survey of researches on display compatibility and the classification of types of displays and controls in the main control room of Uljin units 3 and 4, methods for an experiment on the stereotype were established. Experimental interface prototypes for a total of 108 combinations of display and control types were implemented. Experimental data collection and analysis system was built in association with the interface prototypes. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A field study (1993-96) assessed the benefits of applying unusually high rates of coal fly ash from power plants as a soil amendment to enhance water retention of soils without adversely affecting growth and marketability of the turf species, centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.) A Latin Square plot design was employed that included 0 (control, no fly ash applied), 280, 560 and 1120 MgHa {sup -1} application rates of unweathered precipitator fly ash. The fly ash was spread evenly over each plot area, rototilled, and allowed to weather under natural conditions for 8 months before seeding. High levels of soluble salts, indicated by the electrical conductivity of soil extracts, in tandem with an apparent phytotoxic effect from boron, apparently inhibited initial plant establishment as shown by substantially lower germination counts in treated soil. However, plant height and rooting depth were not adversely affected, as were the dry ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Effects of gamma irradiation on essential oils of five medicinal plants i.e. dried seeds of piper cubeba(cubeb), piper nigrum(black pepper), piper retrofractum, amomum cardamomum(cardamom) and myristica fragrans(mace), packed in low density polyethylene bag of 0.13 mm thickness have been investigated. After being irradiated at doses of 5 and 10 kGy, a part of the samples was analysed, and the rest were stored for six months at temperature of 30 +- 2 degC, and humidity ranging from 70 to 95%. The essential oil characteristics of control, irradiated and six month stored samples were analysed using infrared and ultraviolet spectrophotometers, HPLC, GLC and refractometer. Other parameters observed were moisture content and essential oil content of the samples. Results showed that irradiation up to a dose of 10 kGy do not give any significant effect on these parameters. Significant changes were only found in the essential oil content of piper ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Scattered radiation generated in patient and imaging system has to be considered when quality-assurance tests involve dose detection or image-quality estimations. Measurement of automatic-exposure control dose can be altered by backscattering from intensifying screens of more than 10% and the equipment transmission factor can be overestimated up to a factor of 10 when only primary radiation is used. The sensitivity of intensifying screens depends on the angle of incidence of the radiation and so primary and scattered radiation are detected differently. The quality-control aspects of anti-scatter grids are discussed. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Organizational risk indicators are proposed as a tool for risk control during operation of offshore installations, as a complement to QRA-based indicators. An organizational factor framework is developed based on a review of existing organizational factor frameworks, research on safety performance indicators, and previous work on QRA-based indicators. The results comprise a qualitative organizational model, proposed organizational risk indicators, and a quantification methodology for assessing the impact of the organization on risk. The risk indicators, when validated, will aid in a frequent control of the risk in the periods between the updating of the quantitative risk assessments.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This EPRI sponsored report describes factors that influence the selection of drives in process industry. These factors include economics, safety aspects, speed control and the plant steam balance. Since the economics play a key-role in the decision, this report provides a quick way of estimating the economics of replacing steam turbines with electric motors. The tools to carry out economic analyses have been provided in the form of graphs and nomographs for quick estimation.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Arf GTPases control vesicle formation from different intracellular membranes and are regulated by Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Outside of their conserved catalytic domains, known...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper describes the graphical simulation of a traffic environment. The environment includes streets leading to an intersection, the intersection, vehicle traffic, and signal lights in the intersection controlled by different methods. The simulation allows for the study of parameters affecting traffic environments and the study of different control strategies for traffic signal lights, including conventional, fuzzy, and adaptive control methods. Realistic traffic environments are simulated including a cross intersection, with one or more lanes of traffic in each direction, with and without turn lanes. Vehicle traffic patterns are a mixture of cars going straight and making right or left turns. The free velocities of vehicles follow a normal distribution with a mean of the ``posted`` speed limit. Actual velocities depend on such factors as the proximity and velocity of surrounding traffic, approaches ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Papers are presented under the session headings: research in mechanical fragmentation; rock characterization, remote sensing and interface detection; monitoring, data transmission and communications; tunnel boring machines; minewide monitoring and expert systems for ground control; machine guidance; shaft and raise boring; automation of drilling equipment; machine automation and control; new developments in mechanical miners; materials handling; innovative mining systems; general minewide monitoring and expert systems; ground support; human factors; and extraterrestrial mining.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The resulting emissions of the firing of ceramic products of all type are described, the factors are enumerated to diminish the emissions in the kilns and the technologies applied in the kilns to reduce these emissions while carrying out energy saving are described briefly. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Meningococcal disease is an infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Genetic factors contribute to host susceptibility and progression to disease, but the genes responsible for disease development are largely unknown. We report here a genome-wide association study for host susceptibility to meningococcal disease using 475 individuals with meningococcal disease (cases) and 4,703 population controls from the UK. We performed, in Western European and South European cohorts (consisting of 968 cases and 1,376 controls), two replication studies for the most significant SNPs. A cluster of complement factor SNPs replicated independently in both cohorts, including SNPs within complement factor H (CFH) (rs1065489 (p.936D

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

R and D of the robot control system was conducted in the following items: 1) integrated open control system, 2) remote control robot manipulation language, 3) human factor robot use built-in LAN system, 4) built-in actuator driver. In 1), there were some problems to be pointed out around the system, but the effectiveness was confirmed as system architecture of each verification item. In 2), development/design were made of RCML(R-Cube Manipulation Language) as a remote robot manipulation language, telecommunication protocol, and the experimental system, and the international standardization was targeted. In 3), the R and D was conducted of the realtime telecommunication protocol which clears the standards for the distributed control required for construction of human factor robot and the advanced realtime micro-controller, ULSI, which is the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nuclear generation operators are facing a challenging business environment at the beginning of the new millennium. Evolving changes in business context, competitive commercial pressures, and changes in technology have dictated recurring evaluation of operational practices and the adequacy of supporting tools, and the pursuit of opportunities for operational improvement. A key area of utility operations that has been impacted by these changes is the nuclear plant control centre. Changes to workspace layout, equipment provisions, staffing, and work organization are examples of some of the adjustments being introduced to improve operational and safety effectiveness. This paper discusses some of the key factors influencing these changes and identifies additional design principles for CANDU control centres that will enable new control centre designs and retrofits of existing control ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A robust adaptive Power System Stabilizer algorithm using a Generalized Multivariable Pole Shifting (GMPS) technique is presented in this paper. The algorithm handles systems with equal or unequal numbers of inputs and outputs, therefore both shaft speed as well as the generator power are used to derive the stabilizing control. The technique also provides a simple scheme of on-line self-searching pole shifting factor to meet the excitation control limits. The application of the proposed stabilizer to a simulated generator excitation control under a wide range of operating and disturbance conditions demonstrates that the new control strategy is superior to conventional Power System Stabilizer (PSS) and the widely accepted Minimum Variance Self-Tuning Controller (MVSTC).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper studies the pricing of variance swap derivatives with stochastic volatility by the control variate method. A closed form solution is derived for the approximate model with deterministic volatility, which plays the key role in the paper, and an efficient control variate technique is therefore proposed when the volatility obeys the log-normal process. By the analysis of moments for the underlying processes, the optimal volatility function in the approximate model is constructed. The numerical results show the high efficiency of our method; the results coincide with the theoretical results. The idea in the paper is also applicable for the valuation of other types of variance swap, options with stochastic volatility and other financial derivatives with multi-factor models.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The penetration depth and concentration distribution for vanadium ions with low energy implanted into the dry peanut seeds is determined by scanning electron microscope and X-ray energy dispersion spectrometer. The results show that the depth-concentration distribution is a Gaussian distribution with a long tail and the maximum penetration depth is about 13.6 #mu#m for V"+ with 200 keV in cotyledon of the peanut. The experimental result of the implanted V"+ range in the peanut seeds is compared with the calculating value of the TRIM95

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Textured silicon nitride (Si_3N_4) has been intensively studied over the past 15 years because of its use for achieving its superthermal and mechanical properties. In this review we present the fundamental aspects of the processing and anisotropic properties of textured Si_3N_4, with emphasis on the anisotropic and abnormal grain growth of #beta#-Si_3N_4, texture structure and texture analysis, processing methods and anisotropic properties. On the basis of the texturing mechanisms, the processing methods described in this article have been classified into two types: hot-working (HW) and templated grain growth (TGG). The HW method includes the hot-pressing, hot-forging and sinter-forging techniques, and the TGG method includes the cold-pressing, extrusion, tape-casting and strong magnetic field alignment techniques for #beta#-Si_3N_4 seed crystals. Each processing technique is thoroughly discussed in terms of theoretical models and experimental data, including the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The removal phenol and 2-chlorophenol using soybean seed-hulls in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was demonstrated. The performance of a stirred membrane reactor containing soluble purified SEP was compared with a batch stirred reactor containing raw soybean seed-hulls. The purified enzyme reactor proved to be ineffective while good results were obtained with the crude seed-hulls for the removal of phenol and 2-chlorophenol. A single batch reactor containing raw seed-hulls was effective in removing more than 98.5% of 2-chlorophenol (initially at 10000 ppm) in less than 15 min. The performance of these rectors is comparable to existing HRP-based technology. The stability of the soybean peroxidase (SBP) enzyme was also examined in the presence of detergents (SDS, Tween 20 and Triton X-100).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Seed priming technique has been known to improve germination and seedling emergence under different environment stresses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of seed priming in improving the seed germination and seedling vigor of Agropyron elongatum and Bromus inermis in response to five concentrations of the allelopathic extract of Thymus kotschyanus (0, 5%, 25%, 50% and 75%) under laboratory conditions. Pretreatments included gibberellic acid (250, 500 and 1000 ppm), potassium nitrate (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) and salicylic acid (100, 200 and 300 mg/L). This experiment was carried out as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with four replications. The results showed that seed germination, germination speed and seedling vigor were significan...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper reported on a study in which rapeseeds were separated into high quality seed for food oil and low quality seed for biofuels. A laboratory-scale oilseed screw press was then used to examine the effects of choke opening and seed preheating on the rapeseed pressing performance and the quality of food oil and biofuels oil. Oil recovery and chlorophyll content was found to increase as maximum pressure increased. In terms of pressing performance, the rapeseed heated by microwaves yielded more oil and chlorophyll than without heating. The NEB ratio of microwave heating press with an 8.0 mm choke opening was advantageous. Rapeseed oil extracted from low quality seeds was found to have a high acid value. The quality of oil extracted by oilseed screw press was found to be good and met the requirements of the Codex Alimentarius for edible oils.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

ABSTRACT We present evidence that differences in soil seedbank persistence among pioneer plants in the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica, are influenced by differences in seed chemical defense. We used extracted seed chemicals from Bocconia frutescens (Papaveraceae), Guettarda poasana (Rubiaceae), Phytolacca rivinoides (Phytolaccaceae), Urera elata (Urticaceae), Cecropia polyphlebia (Cecropiaceae), and Witheringia meiantha (Solanaceae) to assess seed chemical defense in two ways: (1) a plant pathogen inhibition assay using Pythium irregulare; and (2) a brine shrimp toxicity assay using Artemia salina. The combined performance of each species in the two assays positively correlated with seedbank persistence. In the pathogen assay, mycelium growth was reduced when Pythium was cultured o...

Science.gov (United States)

Seed dormancy is an adaptive mechanism and an important agronomic trait. Temperature during seed development strongly affects seed dormancy in wheat (Triticum aestivum) with lower temperatures producing higher levels of seed dormancy. To identify genes important for seed dormancy, we used a wheat microarray to analyze gene expression in embryos from mature seeds grown at lower and higher temperatures. We found that a wheat homolog of MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (MFT) was upregulated after physiological maturity in dormant seeds grown at the lower temperature. In situ hybridization analysis indicated that MFT was exclusively expressed in the scutellum and coleorhiza. Mapping analysis showed that MFT on chromosome 3A (MFT-3A) colocalized with the seed dormancy quantitative trait locus (QTL) QPhs.ocs-3A.1. MFT-3A expression ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The study was designed to determine the correlation between parenchymal lesions on MRI and depression. Thirty patients with depression satisfying the following criteria were selected: (1) 60 years or over at the time of MRI scanning, (2) no evidence of cerebrovascular disorder or dementia, and (3) no evidence of neurological findings such as extremity palsy. Seventy six patients with no history of psychiatric visits to a clinic served as controls. There was no significant difference in risk factors for cerebrovascular disorders, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease, between the depressive group and the control group. MRI manifestations were semiquantitatively scored according to the periventricular hyperintensity (PVH), white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and pons hyperintensity (PH). All of the PVH score, WMH score, and cerebral enlargement index correlated with age. Although there was no ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A multivariate adaptive power system stabilizer is proposed. The advantages of using coordinated governor and excitation control are discussed, and the problems associated with constant parameter power system stabilizers (CPSS) are highlighted. The proposed multi-input multi-output (MIMO) power system stabilizer can coordinate the governor and excitation control and can overcome the problems associated with CPSS in power system stabilization. Selective multivariable state modelling, identification and control methods are investigated and the MIMO least squares technique with variable forgetting factor is used for system identification, guaranteeing good parameter tracking after a disturbance. Two multivariable self-tuning algorithms are investigated, the generalized minimum variance control and pole-shifting control algorithms. The multivariable self-searching ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Metabolism of [¹⁴C]gibberellin (GA) A₁₂ (GA₁₂) and [¹⁴C]gibberellin A₁₂-aldehyde (GA₁₂-aldehyde) was examined in cotyledons and seed...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Protein bodies within the endosperm of castor bean (Ricinus communis L. cv. Hale) seeds arise from numerous small vacuoles which progressively become filled with storage protein, of...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Purpose The paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) gene encodes a transcription factor controlled by the WNT/Dvl/CTNNB1 and Hedgehog/TGFB pathways in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Although PITX2 is reportedly involved in various functions, including tissue development by controlling cell growth, its significance in CRC remains unclear. We report our findings regarding abnormal PITX2 expression in human CRC. Methods PITX2 expression was evaluated in 5 human CRC cell lines and 92 primary CRC samples. Cell growth was evaluated after inhibition of PITX2 expression or after exogenous introduction of PITX2. Results PITX2 expression was seen in all the five CRC cell lines. The study of tissue samples indicated that PITX2 expression was significantly higher in cancer...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This investigation of a brain cancer cluster in Missouri used two approaches to investigate associations with potential risk factors. In a case-control study in a rural town, we interviewed surrogates of cases and controls about potential risk factors. We found a statistically significant positive association of brain cancer with reported exposure to dental x-rays. Occupation was not associated with the cluster in the rural town. In a standardized proportional mortality study for the state of Missouri, we calculated the observed and expected proportion of brain cancers by occupation and industry in Missouri decedents. We found that motor vehicle manufacturers, beauty shop workers, managers and administrators, elementary school teachers, and hairdressers and cosmetologists had significantly elevated proportions of brain cancer. Brain tumors are inconsistently associated with occupation in the literature. ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The treatment of chronic pain conditions continue to present a challenge to the medical field. Physical therapy treatment needs to approach the management of chronic pain differently than the approach used to resolve acute pain. Patients with chronic pain often have many factors that have perpetuated the pain condition. These factors, as well as pain itself, influence their ability to reactivate and perform functional daily activities. Physical therapists can begin to address some of the factors, including fear and deconditioning, by building confidence and body awareness in a self-care model including a slow graduated reactivation program. There is evidence that patients with chronic pain conditions have altered motor control that may be influencing reoccurrences and possible flares of pa...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The contribution under consideration spans a wide curve from the first deadly accident of motorized aviation in the year 1908 up to newer tendencies of the so-called team resources management on observation points and control stations in order to pursue fundamental questions in man-machine systems. A continuous differentiation in the consideration of the factor human beings in complex technical systems is described. This is illustrated by the example of concepts for leadership, communication and decision making on observation points and control stations.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

High conductivity liquid waste, which is produced in nuclear power plants, is now processed with radwaste evaporator. The concentrated liquid waste in the evaporator is so highly radioactive and corrosive that the improvement on maintenability and reduction of exposure dose rate are desirable as well as high decontamination factor (DF). Fuji Electric constructed the improved experimental facility of evaporator and carried out an experiment to demonstrate DF, maintenability and controllability of system. As the results, DF, maintenability and controllability were proved to be excellent and its applicability to nuclear power plant was well established.

Science.gov (United States)

The health of professional bus drivers is a critical factor in their driving performance; any impairment may lead to undesired consequences. In an attempt to develop and prioritize health and wellness programs, this study investigates the factors significantly affecting the health conditions of professional bus drivers, as well as the strength of these factors. This study uses self-rated health as the examination measurement. This simple assessment is an inclusive measure of health status for judging health trajectory, and is highly associated with changes in functional ability, including perceived control over driving. This study evaluates driver responses of self-rated health with ordered response models that consider factors such as the driver reported health problems, physical and psychological conditions, demographic factors, driving experience, and working ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The hybrid squeeze-film damper bearing with active control is proposed in this paper and the lubricating with couple stress fluid is also taken into consideration. The pressure distribution and the dynamics of a rigid rotor supported by such bearing are studied. A PD (proportional-plus-derivative) controller is used to stabilize the rotor-bearing system. Numerical results show that, due to the nonlinear factors of oil film force, the trajectory of the rotor demonstrates a complex dynamics with rotational speed ratio s. Poincare maps, bifurcation diagrams, and power spectra are used to analyze the behavior of the rotor trajectory in the horizontal and vertical directions under different operating conditions. The maximum Lyapunov exponent and fractal dimension concepts are used to determine ...

Science.gov (United States)

;Table of Contents: Legal authority; Summary of proposed regulations; Industry definition and waste streams; Industry description; Data and information gathering; Selection of pollutant parameters; Drilling wastes-characterization, control, and treatment technologies; Produced water-characterization, control, and treatment technologies; Miscellaneous waste-characterization, control, and treatment technologies; Cost and pollutant loading determination of drilling fluids and drill cuttings; Compliance cost and pollutant load determination of produced water; Compliance cost and pollutant load determination of well treatment, workover, and completion fluids; Cost and pollutant loading determination of deck drainage; Options selection-rationale and total costs; Pretreatment standards; Non-water quality environmental impacts and other factors; Best Management Practices; and Appendices.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In order to study the intragenic profiles of active transcription, we determined the relative levels of active RNA polymerase II present at the 3′- and 5′-ends of 261 yeast genes by...Full Text Available

Environmental Research Database

Objectives1) To establish a protocol for transfection of immortalised type I cells with SiRNA and its effect on cell viability; 2) To optimise silencing of genes involved in endocystosis using SiRNA and confirm successful transfection with western blotting; 3) To investigate the effect of gene silencing on uptake of flourescently-labelled latex nanoparticles.DescriptionTo investigate the mechanisms of particle uptake.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major risk factor for the development of nearly all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. The presence of HPV DNA in cases of esophageal...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the Lyme disease spirochete, the alternative σ factor σ⁵⁴ (RpoN) directly activates transcription of another alternative σ...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Quantitative bone scans were evaluated in 16 patients with osteoporosis and in a control group of 7 healthy subjects. Along with a detailed biochemical analysis of calcium-phosphorus metabolism and standartized reongenographs, a quantitative dynamic bone scintigraphy was performed according to the method proposed by the authors. The bone-accumulating factor K_b was determined on the base of mathematical analysis of the graph reflecting activity changes in bone tissue unit during the investigation, the blood-elimination factor K_h and kidney-elimination factor K_k. In addition the accumulation index AI (in %) was calculated as a relation between the activity in bone tissue unit, registered in 20 min interval, and the activity in soft tissues for the same time. Whereas the static gamma camera scintigraphy, made 3-4 hrs after injecting of the osteotrope radiopharmaceuticals, showed no specific changes in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pyrolysis of Greek fir wood samples in a fluidized bed reactor was studied. The experimental conditions selected control the yield of gaseous, liquid and solid products. The factors examined were: pyrolysis temperature, mean particle size, pressure, residence time of volatiles, lignin content of biomass and moisture content. The experiments were performed on the basis of a 12-run Plackett-Burman fractional factorial design. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the pyrolysis temperature is the main factor affecting the distribution of the yields of liquids, their phenolic fraction and gases in the range of experimental conditions tested. Empirical expressions were obtained from linear regression giving the yields of liquids, phenols and gases in terms of temperature. The maximum predicted yields were 56 and 12 wt.% on a moisture-free basis at 520 C and 545 C for liquids and phenols, respectively. The yield of gases ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Reclamation of copper mine tailings in a cost effective, successful, and sustainable manner is an ongoing area of evaluation in the arid southwest. A study was initiated in September, 1996 near Hayden, Arizona to evaluate the use of municipal biosolids for reclaiming acidic copper mine tailings (pH of 2.5 to 4.0). The main objectives of the study were to (1) define an appropriate level of biosolids application for optimum plant growth, and (2) evaluate the effects of green waste and lime amendments. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with four biosolid rates of 20, 70, 100 and 135 dry tons/acre, three amendment treatments (none, green waste, and green waste plus lime); with three replications. Non-replicated controls (no treatment, green waste only and lime only) were included for comparison. Shortly after biosolids incorporation to a depth of 10--12 inches, composite soil samples (0--12 inches) of each plot were taken. Biosolids incorporation ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Vermicompost preparations are increasingly used in agricultural practice. There is a possibility, that crop plants are sensitive to negative effect of vermicompost at early stages of development. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of vermicompost on seed germination and seedling growth of different vegetable crop species. Vermicompost substitution inhibited seed germination and seedling growth with almost linear decrease of growth with increasing concentration of vermicopost in the substrate. However, both leaf chlorophyll content and photochemical activity of photosynthesis increased in all crop species with the exception of pea seedlings. Vermicompost extract as a watering solution showed positive effect on growth of bean and pea seedlings. Germination response of vermi...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In Indian traditional medicine, various plants have been used widely as a remedy for treating snakebites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Tamarindus indica seed extract on the pharmacological as well as the enzymatic effects induced by V. russelli venom. Tamarind seed extract inhibited the PLA2, protease, hyaluronidase, L-amino acid oxidase and 5prime-nucleotidase enzyme activities of venom in a dose-dependent manner. These are the major hydrolytic enzymes responsible for the early effects of envenomation, such as local tissue damage, inflammation and hypotension. Furthermore, the extract neutralized the degradation of the Bb chain of human fibrinogen and indirect hemolysis caused by venom. It was also observed that the extract exerted a moderate effect on the clotting ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cuphea, a relatively unknown plant outside the scientific community, might someday provide valuable oils for manufacturing soaps, detergents, surfactants, and lubricants, and may have medical, nutritional and dietetic applications as well. Unique properties of oils found in its seed make cuphea a potentially valuable new crop for the USA. Its seeds contain large quantities of medium-chain fatty acids such as lauric acid, which is used in manufacturing soaps and detergents. Other medium-chain fatty acids in cuphea can be used for clinical treatment of rare human ailments associated with fat absorption. New uses for the fatty acids in the seed may be developed and economic conditions may change, making the crop more or less valuable.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Summary Fruit vinegar can be obtained biologically from the fermentation of fruit wine using species of the genera Acetobacter. However, the productivity of vinegar is generally low because of the inhibition by substrate ethanol and product acetic acid. In this research, the yield of acetic acid, as well as the cell growth, in hawthorn vinegar fermentation was enhanced using beer for seed preparation. The higher yield of acetic acid of AC2005 was because of the higher alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities caused by using beer for seed preparation. Furthermore, Acetobacter pasteurianus AC2005 showed acid stability during the fed batch fermentation of hawthorn vinegar.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The relationships between changes in energy metabolism and the antioxidant defense system in the weed species Ipomoea triloba L. during seed germination and early seedling growth were investigated. The effects of some common allelochemicals on these parameters also were studied. Respiratory activity and the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaicol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and lipoxygenase were measured. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation resumed shortly after the seed imbibition period, as indicated by considerable KCN-sensitive respiratory activity in embryos of I. triloba. The occurrence of superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaicol peroxidase, and lipoxygenase activities in the embryos, along with significant KCN-inse...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Daylight responsive dimming systems have been used in few buildings to date because they require improvements to improve reliability. The key underlying factor contributing to poor performance is the variability of the ratio of the photosensor signal to daylight workplane illuminance in accordance with sun position, sky condition, and fenestration condition. Therefore, this paper describes the integrated systems between automated roller shade systems and daylight responsive dimming systems with an improved closed-loop proportional control algorithm, and the relative performance of the integrated systems and single systems. The concept of the improved closed-loop proportional control algorithm for the integrated systems is to predict the varying correlation of photosensor signal to daylight workplane illuminance according to roller shade height and sky conditions for improvement of the system accuracy. In this study, the ...

Science.gov (United States)

The purpose of this study was to prepare recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) collagen sponges for topical applications and investigate the effects of different types of crosslinked collagen sponges as platforms for the controlled release of rhEGF. The microstructure and the drug release rates of collagen sponges were modified through treatment with different types (glutaraldehyde (GTA), genipin and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC)), different concentrations of crosslinking agents and various preparation conditions. A controlled release profile was observed for the crosslinked collagen sponges as compared to the non-crosslinked ones. The results indicated that the GTA crosslinked sponges have the most potent controlling effect. As the amount of GTA increased, a greater rigidity of the collagen sponge structure combined with a lower hydrophilicity was observed, leading to ...

Science.gov (United States)

... BEAN, KIDNEY X X X X 06 VEGETABLE, LEGUME, GROUP BEAN, KIDNEY, SEED ... CATTLE, KIDNEY X 99 NO GROUP NAME CATTLE, LIVER ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Storage proteins are deposited into protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) during plant seed development and maturation and stably accumulate to high levels; subsequently, during germination the storage...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Rate of dehydration greatly affects desiccation tolerance of recalcitrant seeds. This effect is presumably related to two different stress vectors: direct mechanical or physical stress because of the...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The cells of the endosperm of castor bean seeds (Ricinus communis) undergo programmed cell death during germination, after their oil and protein reserves have been mobilized. Nuclear...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Three homeologous genes encoding a sucrose (Suc) transporter (SUT) in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum), TaSUT1A, 1B, and 1D, were...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Elemental composition and distribution of the mineral reserves in the endosperm and embryo tissues of Ricinus communis cultivars Hale and Zanzibarensis were investigated. Energy dispersive...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Little is known about the metabolic origin of petroselinic acid (18:1 delta 6cis), the principal fatty acid of the seed oil of most Umbelliferae, Araliaceae, and Garryaceae species. To examine the possibility...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Background and AimsThe small leafy succulent shrub Halocnemum strobilaceum occurs in saline habitats from northern Africa and Mediterranean Europe to western Asia,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The biological and radiobiological peculiarities of seeds and seedlings of the Rumex confertus and Lupinus polycolor plants, which grown during several generations in plots with different level of radionuclide pollution of the Chernobyl exclusive zone have been investigated.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Chromatographic and electrophoretic studies have shown that the subunits of the crystalloid protein, isolated from mature castor bean (Ricinus communis L. cv Hale) seed endosperm protein...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A self-seeded free electron laser (FEL) provides a high gain and extraction efficiency for the emitted light. An accelerator outputs a beam of electron pulses to a permanent magnet wiggler having an input end for receiving the electron pulses and an output end for outputting light and the electron pulses. An optical feedback loop collects low power light in a small signal gain regime at the output end of said wiggler and returns the low power light to the input end of the wiggler while outputting high power light in a high signal gain regime.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brachytherapy is used for treating certain types of cancer by inserting radioactive sources into tumours. CDTN/CNEN is developing brachytherapy seeds to be used mainly in prostate cancer treatment. Dose calculations play a very significant role in the characterization of the developed seeds. The current state-of-the-art of computation dosimetry relies on Monte Carlo methods using, for instance, MCNP codes. However, deterministic calculations have some advantages, as, for example, short computer time to find solutions. This paper presents a software developed to calculate doses in a two-dimensional space surrounding the seed, using a deterministic algorithm. The analysed seeds consist of capsules similar to IMC6711 (OncoSeed), that are commercially available. The exposure rates and absorbed doses are computed using the Sievert integral and the Meisberger third order polynomial, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In 1995, 25,8 % of the world electricity consumption was of nuclear origin, while in the EU this figure is increased up to 50,6 %. In order to maintain and even to increase its share in the electricity generation, Nuclear Energy needs to achieve a good economic performance as a base load source when compared with its competitors, basically coal and gas fired plants. Fossil-fired generation costs have declined over the past ten years, mainly due to lower fossil fuel prices. This factor together with the recently observed tendency of higher discount rates to be applied are challenging the attractiveness of the nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is a capital intensive option. Taken into account extensive standardization programs has been established aiming at cost reductions as well as to increase efficiency of nuclear energy utilization, among their main purposes. Externalities play an important role, as they are already internalized in nuclear generation costs. This is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In many parts of the world and certainly in Europe large areas exist where the wind resources are good or very good and the grid is relatively weak due to a small population. In the areas the capacity of the grid can very often be a limiting factor for the exploitation of the wind resource. There are two main problems concerned with wind power and weak grids. The first is the steady state voltage level. The other main problem is voltage fluctuations. Some or all the these problems can be avoided if a so-called power control concept is applied together with the wind farm. The idea behind the power control concept is eliminate the violations of the steady state voltage level by buffering the power from the wind turbines in periods where the voltage limits might be violated and combine this ability with smoothing of the power output. The investigations have shown that the power control concept can compete ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Objectives This paper examines the determinants of the insureds decision to use their health insurance card when seeking outpatient and inpatient health care in Vietnam. Methods Uses Vietnams latest Household Living Standard Survey data and random-intercept logistic regression to assess the influence of the observed individual, household and commune/ward factors on the insureds decision to access health insurance benefits while controlling for the unobserved commune/ward-specific factors. Results Compared to the compulsory enrollees, the voluntary enrollees and the beneficiaries of the Health Care Fund for the Poor are less likely to use their card when seeking inpatient care. An individuals likelihood of accessing insurance benefits varies inversely with income and the level of education,...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Mapping the distribution of invasive alien plant species is significant for testing ecological hypotheses and for guiding effective management. Little is known about the distribution of invasive plants at landscape scale, and the factors controlling their dispersal and establishment are still poorly understood. This is the case for Rosa rugosa, an invasive shrub with negative effects on biodiversity in dune ecosystems of NW Europe. The aim of the study was to identify the factors which determine the distribution of R. rugosa in coastal dunes. In a large semi-natural dune area of NW Denmark (2364ha) all patches of the species (1321, 1.3-59.1m2) were GPS mapped. Patch distribution was GIS analysed, based on aerial photographs and vegetation maps. The distance of R. rugosa from the most consp...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The performance of a group of reference laboratories measuring lead in blood, has been monitored by an intensive external quality assessment programme, since 1974. Performance was similar to that observed in other, larger quality control surveys but rapidly improved following detailed investigations of critical factors in the analytical methodology. The introduction of a rigorous internal quality control protocol, with all laboratories using the same well-characterised materials, has produced external quality control results that are both accurate and very tightly distributed. Between-laboratory coefficients of variation of less than 5%, less than 6% and less than 20% are now obtained at concentrations of over 1.0 ..mu..mol/l (20.7 ..mu..g/dl), 0.5-1.0 ..mu..mol/l (10-20 ..mu..g/dl) and less than 0.5 ..mu..mol/l (10 ..mu..g/dl), respectively. These results represent the best that can be achieved by ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Discusses scaling of closed systems for cooling coal gas from black coal coking. Scaling rate and factors that influence scaling are analyzed. Physical and chemical properties of scale buildup on the inner walls of pipe cooling systems are evaluated. Water pH value and its effects on scaling and solubility of chemical compounds that form scale are discussed. Use of ammonium sulfate for scale control is analyzed. Consumption rate of ammonium sulfate depends on ambient temperature, water pH value and chloride content in return water. Formulae for calculating optimum content of ammonium sulfates for scale control are derived. 3 refs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Capillary permeability is a tightly regulated feature of microcirculation in all organ beds. In sepsis, this feature is fundamentally altered. We have previously reported elevated levels of angiopoietin-2 in patients with septic shock, and have investigated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related and weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), which mediates both angiogenesis and inflammation, in those patients. Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure serum TWEAK levels in 20 patients with septic shock, all of whom were treated by direct hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (DHP-PMX), and in 20 non-septic controls. The TWEAK levels were higher in patients with septic shock (192.8--230.5-pg/mL) than in controls (84.1--28.7-pg/mL, P-=-0.043). Between 11 survivors and 1...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Background: G proteins are ubiquitously expressed signal transduction proteins playing a key role in multiple signal transduction pathways. The Gas subunit has been considered as an apoptosis factor. In this study the role of GNAS T393C genotypes of the GNAS gene encoding Gas was analyzed for its influence on the development and progression of prostate cancer. Methods: Genotyping of the GNAS T393C polymorphism in 196 prostate cancer patients and 200 healthy controls was performed by DNA extraction followed by PCR and restriction analysis. Results: We observed no evidence of effects related to GNAS T393C genotype as demonstrated by a comparison of the genotype distribution in prostate cancer patients and healthy controls, the genotype distribution dependent on grade of the primary ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Level 1 probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) for Wolsung(WS) 2/3/4 nuclear power plant (NPPs) in design stage is performed using the methodologies being equivalent to PWR PSA. Accident sequence evaluation program (ASEP) human reliability analysis (HRA) procedure and technique for human error rate prediction (THERR) are used in HRA of WS 2/3/4 NPPs PSA. The= purpose of this paper is to introduce the procedure and methodology of HRA in WS 2/3/4 NPPs PSA. Also, this paper describes the interim results of importance analysis for human actions modeled in WS 2/3/4 PSA and the findings and recommendations of administrative control of secondary control area from the view of human factors. (Author) 10 refs., 2 tabs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a highly prevalent condition, is independently associated with increased risks of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and metabolic syndrome. It is unclear, however, if the severity of OSA has any impact on glycemic control among patients with T2D. We therefore aimed to determine the independent association between OSA severity and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with T2D. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study of 52 consecutive patients attending the diabetes obesity clinic between January 2008 to February 2010 with risk factors for sleep apnea and who underwent polysomnography study. Clinical, demographic, and lifestyle data were recorded using a questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of OSA in this clini...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The lower condition factors for two catfish species in water heated by effluents from APCo's Glen Lyn, Virginia plant as compared to control areas probably is not due to lack of food as evidenced by macroinvertebrate sampling and the fact that only 4.3 percent of the catfish stomachs were empty. Results suggested that young-of-the-year channel catfish were nonselectively eating food organisms present at both control and heated stations. The difference between stomach contents of flatheat catfish from the heated site and fauna available at that site indicated that fish were either moving out of the heated area to feed or were selectively feeding on organisms (particularly mayflies) which were in the substrate or drifted into the heated area. Stomach contents of the two species and distribution and abundance of the macroinvertebrate benthos community are detailed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) core loading during its ninth operating cycle was significantly different from that of previous cycles because of the presence of the Core Demonstration Experiment (CDE). The CDE consists of a number of axially blanketed fuel assemblies and internal blankets prototypic of advanced oxide cores in Liquid Metal Reactors (LMR). In preparation for the Cycle 9 reload design effort, a careful assessment of control rod worth and reactivity calculations for Cycles 1 through 8 was made. The goal of this study was to establish calculational biases and reduce uncertainties factored into the reload design calculations. These analyses helped assure that the operational objectives for Cycle 9 were met.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The document represents a specific type of discussion of existing methodologies for the creation and application of probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) in light of the EUR document summarizing requirements placed by Western European NPP operators on the future design of nuclear power plants. A partial goal of this discussion consists in mapping, from the PSA point of view, those selected design, operational and/or safety factors of future NPPs that may be entirely new or, at least, newly addressed. Therefore, the terms of reference for this stage were formulated as follows: Assess current level of knowledge and procedures in the analysis of factors and phenomena with a dominant influence upon operational safety of new generation reactors, especially in the following areas: (1) Phenomenology of failure types and mechanisms and reliability of conventional passive safety system components; (2) Phenomenology of failure types and mechanisms and ...

Science.gov (United States)

Endoreduplication represents a cell cycle variant during which multiple rounds of DNA replication occur without subsequent chromosome separation and cytokinesis, resulting into a cellular increase of the DNA content. Although the DNA ploidy level of cells is controlled by external stimuli such as light, currently limited knowledge is available on how environmental signals regulate the endoreduplication cycle at the molecular level. Previously, we have demonstrated that the conversion from the mitotic cell cycle into an endoreduplication cycle is mediated by the atypical E2F transcription factor DEL1 that operates as a repressor of endocycle onset. Here, we identified DEL1 as a transcriptional target of the classical E2Fb and E2Fc transcription factors that antagonistically control DEL1 transcript levels through competition for a single E2F cis-acting binding site. Correspondingly with the reported ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

This paper presents a new grid connected inverter for fuel cells. It consists of a two stage power conversion topology. Since the fuel cell operates with a low voltage in a wide voltage range (25 V-45 V) this volt- age must be transformed to around 350-400 V in order to invert this dc power into ac power to the grid. The proposed converter consists of an isolated dc-dc converter cascaded with a single phase H-bridge inverter. The dc-dc converter is a current-fed push-pull converter. A new dedicated voltage mode startup procedure has been developed in order to limit the inrush current during startup. The inverter is controlled as a power factor controller with resistor emulation.Experimental results of converter efficiency, grid performance and fuel cell response are shown for a 1 kW prototype. The proposed converter exhibits a high efficiency in a wide power range (higher than 92%) and the inverter operates with a near ...

Science.gov (United States)

"The focus of this study was to examine the structural, social, and attitudinal factors that influence an individual?s decision to choose an IT career. The findings revealed many differences among male and female high school students? attitudes and intentions. Although many stereotypes existed among the male and female students, perceptions appeared to be similar within the population. For boys, computer and technical skills had a stronger association with attitudes toward IT than for girls. For girls, social issues showed a strong association with attitudes toward IT. Overall, the intention to pursue IT as a career was most likely to prevail within the population of the high school boys."

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Three samples of dusts generated by the non ferrous metallurgical industries are treated between 200 and 800 degree centigree in controlled oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. The objective of this study is to recover the valuable metals from these wastes. The treatments of these solids under oxidizing conditions at 700 degree centigree are well adapted for two samples. The totality of valuable elements are concentrated in the treatments residues. The use of hydrogen at 600 degree centigree, permits the removal of up to 100 % of valuable metals contained in the treated industrial wastes. The recovery rate of valuable metals (Pb, Zn, Cu) as well as the Global Decontamination Factor are reported. (Author) 9 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The importance of ecosystem restoration to land reclamation is discussed. If a plant community is to be self sustaining, natural diversity processes provide a useful model for restoration. Biodiversity is important for utilitarian, ecological, and ethical/aesthetic reasons. Issues that must be considered include sampling and management scales, the separate richness of the diverse array of species playing a role in ecosystem productivity and stability, and natural trends in diversity. Ecological restoration comprises two fundamental activities: management for some pre-disturbance level of biodiversity and the combination of species in a manner that is essentially experimental. Endeavours to restore biological diversity are a useful method of experimenting with the factors that control ecosystem structure and function. 21 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper presents an approach to comparing computer run time of building simulation programs. The computing run time of a simulation program depends on several key factors, including the calculation algorithm and modeling capabilities of the program, the run period, the simulation time step, the complexity of the energy models, the run control settings, and the software and hardware configurations of the computer that is used to make the simulation runs. To demonstrate the approach, simulation runs are performed for several representative DOE-2.1E and EnergyPlus energy models. The computer run time of these energy models are then compared and analyzed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This report reviews the published literature on the anaerobic oxidation of iron in aqueous solutions which are of particular relevance to Swedish granitic groundwaters. The thermodynamics of iron corrosion in water are briefly considered. Following this the experimental data found in the literature are presented and discussed. Results were found for corrosion of iron in both pure water and solutions containing mineral salts. The literature work in the nature of the films formed on iron surfaces under anaerobic conditions is reviewed and the possible mechanisms of film formation are discussed. Conclusions are drawn on the factors most likely to influence and control film growth. 32 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

Metabolic engineering of photosynthetic organisms is required for utilization of light energy and for reducing carbon emissions.Control of transcriptional regulators is a powerful approach for changing cellular dynamics, because a set of genes is concomitantly regulated. Here, we show that overexpression of a group 2 ? factor, SigE, enhances the expressions of sugar catabolic genes in the unicellular cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes for the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and glycogen catabolism are induced by overproduction of SigE. Immunoblotting showed that protein levels of sugar catabolic enzymes, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, glycogen phosphorylase, and isoamylase, are increased. Glycogen levels are reduced in the SigE-overexpressing strain grown under light. Metabolome analysis revealed that metabolite levels of the TCA cycle and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The objectives of this research were to investigate the possibility of controlling the #alpha#'/#beta#' phase ratio and morphology in Sialon ceramics. These objectives have been sought by the control of the starting composition, and by post sintering heat treatment. The main emphasis has been on the production of a series of #alpha#' and (#alpha#'+#beta#') Sialon ceramics with a minimum amount of the glass phase by the pressureless sintering technique and using ytterbium (Yb) as an #alpha#' stabilising element. The Yb additions were made via the oxide or the alumino- silicate presynthesised glass; the latter was found to improve the density. The XRD analysis of the as sintered materials revealed #alpha#' to be the dominant phase with minor contributions from #beta#' sialon and/ or 12H A1N polytype. Additions of SiO_2 or #beta#-Si_3N_4 were made to various materials to assess potential mechanisms for obtaining control over ...

Science.gov (United States)

NFAT involvement in adipocyte physiological processes was examined by treatment with CsA and/or GSK3{beta} inhibitors (Li{sup +} or TZDZ-8), which prevent or increase NFAT nuclear translocation, respectively. CsA treatment reduced basal and TNF{alpha}-induced rates of lipolysis by 50%. Adipocytes preincubated with Li{sup +} or TZDZ-8 prior to CsA and/or TNF{alpha}, exhibited enhanced basal rates of lipolysis and complete inhibition of CsA-mediated decreased rates of lipolysis. CsA treatment dramatically reduced the mRNA levels of adipocyte-specific genes (aP2, HSL, PPAR{gamma}, ACS and Adn), compared with control or TNF{alpha}-treatment, whereas Li{sup +} pretreatment blocked the inhibitory effects of CsA, and mRNA levels of aP2, HSL, PPAR{gamma}, and ACS were found at or above control levels. NFAT nuclear localization, assessed by EMSA, confirmed that CsA or Li{sup +} treatments inhibited or increased NFAT nuclear translocation, respectively. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) was designed to test fast-reactor fuels and other nonfuel materials. In its 37 reactor cycles of operations, the FFTF reactor has performed very well and successfully completed all the irradiation testings with an operating efficiency factor as high as 98%. Since FFTF is an experimental reactor, its core loading changed from cycle to cycle. Depending on the number of test assemblies in the core and their location, the core loading can change significantly from an essentially homogeneous core loading to a relatively nonhomogeneous or even highly localized heterogeneous loading. Consequently, the core reload design and initial criticality analyses were required for each operating cycle. The zero power initial critical control rod bank height was predicted before each reactor startup. The initial critical prediction depends on the reactivity conditions at the end of the previous cycle, the temperature feedback ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Citrate is an important naturally occurring inhibitor of calcium stone formation in urine. Urinary citrate excretion was examined in 43 consecutive patients with recurrent idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis and in 50 normal controls by a specific enzymatic technique. Hypocitraturia (<1.6 mmol/24h) was found in 14 (33%) stone formers compared to 6 (12%) normal controls (p = 0.03). Citrate excretion expressed as citrate-creatinine ratio in 24 hour urine samples was significantly lower in the stone formers than in the healthy controls (p = 0.03), and significantly lower in healthy men, compared to healthy females (p = 0.006). There was a great variability in urinary citrate levels in both groups, and a considerable overlap in the urinary citrate excretion between normal subjects and stone formers. Factors other than urinary citrate excretion must therefore be of importance in the pathophysiology of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The advances in laser technology have made available very short and intense laser pulses which can be used to seed a high-gain single-pass free-electron laser (FEL) amplifier. With these seed pulses, a regime of the FEL interaction where the radiation evolution is simultaneously dominated by nonlinear effects (saturation) and time-dependent effects (slippage) can be explored. This regime is characterized by the propagation of a solitary wavelike pulse where the power of the optical wave grows quadratically with time, its pulse length decreases and the spectral bandwidth increases. We analyze the interplay between the field and particle dynamics of this propagation regime which was studied before and termed super-radiance. Furthermore we analyze the properties of the strong higher-order harmonic emission from this wave and its behavior when propagating in a cascade FEL. The super-radiant pulse is indeed capable of passing through the stages of a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Single crystal cubic boron nitride (cBN) was heteroepitaxially grown on a seed crystal of diamond under static high pressure and high temperature at 5.5GPa and 1,600--1,700 C, respectively, for 10--100 hour. A temperature gradient method was employed for the crystal growth by using lithium boron nitride as a solvent. Initial growth feature of cBN crystal was found on the diamond seed surface after the growing time of 10 minutes. The nucleation sites of the crystals seem to be near the etch pits on the diamond surface which were introduced by the surface dissolution by the solvent for cBN growth. Two types of growth features, island and step growth were typically shown on the surface. It can be seen that grown crystal appearing as a (111) nitrogen face was exhibited with the step growth feature, while the (11n) face exhibited the island growth feature. Considering the growth process under constant P-T growing condition, growth rate of cBN ...

International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Development of Frequency Controlled Electric Drives

Science.gov (United States)

Dust detection and control in real time, represent one of the most challenging problem in all those environments where fine and ultrafine airborne particulate solids products are present. The presence of such products can be linked to several factors, often directly related and influenced by the working-production actions performed. Independently from the causes generating dust, airborne contaminants are an occupational problem of increasing interest as they are related to a wide number of diseases. In particular, airborne dusts are well known to be associated with several classical occupational lung diseases, such as the pneumoconiosis, especially at high levels of exposure. Nowadays there is also an increasing interest in other dust related diseases, from the most serious as cancer and asthma, to those related with allergies or irritation and other illnesses, also occurring at lower levels of exposure. Among the different critical ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A cyclic hexapeptide, annomuricatin A (the molecular formula: C27H38N6O7), was isolated from the seeds of Annona muricata. The types and sequence of the amino acids were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The stereochemistry of the title cyclopeptide was clarified by X-ray crystallographic study. The backbone contains two b-turns, one is type I b-turn and the other is type II, which are stabilized by two transannular 41 backbone hydrogen bonds between Ala and Phe. There are intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the cyclopeptide and the solvent molecules which maintained the steady spatial arrangement in crystal.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The effect of four extracts from neem seeds (Azadirachta indica) containing 2000, 5000, 9000 and 10,000ppm of azadirachtin A (AZA), quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and diluted to 1.25%; 2.5%; 5.0%; 10.0% and 12.8% was verified by in vitro tests with engorged females and larvae of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. The results from the bioassays with the engorged females showed that the main toxic effect of the extracts was reduction of the reproductive parameters, with a sharp drop in the number of eggs laid and the hatching rate, mainly when the extracts were diluted to 10.0% and 12.8%. The product effectiveness (PE) calculations for all the solutions tested showed that the AZA solution at 10,000ppm (N10) was the most effective. However, statistical analy...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A galactose-specific seed lectin was purified from the legume Spatholobus parviflorus and crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion technique. Thecrystals belonged to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters a = 60.998, b=60.792, c = 78.179-, = 101.32, = 91.38, = 104.32. X-ray diffraction data were collected under cryoconditions (100-K) to a resolution of 2.04- using a MAR image-plate detector system mounted on a rotating-anode X-ray (Cu-K) generator. Molecular replacement using legume-lectin coordinates as a search model gave a tetrameric structure.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Copper bioavailability was studied in rats using an extrinsic Cu label. Copper absorption from sunflower seeds (46%), peanuts (41%), cooked shrimp (50%), and cooked beef (40%) was as good or better than copper sulfate (46%). Copper from plant foods (sunflower seeds, garbanzo beans, peanuts) was absorbed equally as well as copper from animal foods (beef, shrimp, chicken liver), 39 +/- 7% vs 43 +/- 7%, P greater than 0.05. There was no significant difference in percentage Cu absorption between intrinsically labeled chicken liver and extrinsically labeled chicken liver. In a second experiment, Cu absorption was measured in the presence of glucose, fructose, sucrose, or cornstarch. There were no significant differences in Cu absorption due to different carbohydrates in a single meal.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Objective: To explore the feasibility of real-time monitoring exposure dose and image quality by using the data stored in the DICOM image archive of direct digital radiography system. Methods: Model TO. 16 was exposed, the current increased gradually from 0.5 to 125 mAs. The displayed number of model A( diameter 11.1 mm), D (diameter 4.0 mm) and J( diameter 0.7 mm) were recorded, and the detect factors (H_T) was also calculated. Images were sent to workstation before the end of DR examination. An automatic procedure was implemented to extract dose data and exposure parameters from the DICOM header file. Maximum, minimum and 3rd quartile values were preinstalled. Mean values exceeding the threshold trigger alarm signal to guide radiologist to explore the cause. Results: When the current of point A was less than 10 mAs and the current of point D and J were less than 16 mAs, the detect factor (H_T) increased with the rise of current. While point A ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To demonstrate that the caustic-side solvent extraction (CSSX) process could remove cesium from Savannah River Site (SRS) high-level waste over long periods of time, an improved minicontactor (2-cm centrifugal contactor) was needed that could be operated for several days. In particular, the contractor temperature had to be controlled and contactor hydraulic performance needed to be improved. Because the process was to be continuous, provisions were made for a three-shift operation. With the improvements made and the operators trained, the CSSX process was run in a 33-stage minicontactor over a period of three days to remove cesium from an average SRS siumulant for the waste feed. The two key process goals were achieved: (1) the cesium was removed from the waste with decontamination factors greater than 40,000 and (2) the recovered cesium was concentrated by a factor of 15 in dilute nitric acid. These goals were maintained ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships of bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and estradiol in pubertal female athletes. The participants were 170 healthy adolescent girls (13?15?years) who participated in competitive extramural athletic programs, i.e., sports games (n?=?49), track sprinting (n?=?24), rhythmic gymnastics (n?=?23), swimming (n?=?24) and cross-country skiing (n?=?17). The control group (n?=?33) consisted of girls who took part only in compulsory physical education classes at school. The whole-body BMD and femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD and BMC were measured using DXA, and the volumetric BMD was calculated. Venous blood samples to determine the concentration of IGF-1, IGFB...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The RADionuclide Transport, Removal, And Dose (RADTRAD) code is designed for US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) use to calculate the radiological consequences to the offsite population and to control room operators following a design-basis accident at Light Water Reactor (LWR) power plants. This code utilizes updated reactor accident source terms published in draft NUREG-1465, ``Accident Source Terms for Light-Water Nuclear Power Plants.`` The code will track the transport of radionuclides as they are released from the reactor pressure vessel, travel through the primary containment and other buildings, and are released to the environment. As the radioactive material is transported through the primary containment and other buildings, credit for several removal mechanisms may be taken including sprays, suppression pools, overlying pools, filters, and natural deposition. Simple models are available for these different removal mechanisms that use, as input, ...

Science.gov (United States)

Somatogenic hormones play an important role in regulation of receptors for prolactin (PRL) and estrogen. Plerocercoids of the tapeworm, S. mansonoides produce a factor which mimics some, but not all of the actions reported for GH. Intact female rats were subjected to a constant infusion of plerocercoid growth factor (PGF) via a subcutaneous infection for two weeks to determine if PGF influences receptors for PRL, GH or estradiol. The rate of weight gain in the PGF-treated rats was accelerated in spite of a marked reduction in serum GH. Partially-purified PGF specifically displaced [125I]hGH from rat liver receptors but microsomes prepared from rats treated with PGF specifically bound significantly less [125I]hGH than microsomes from control rats. The reduction in [125I]hGH binding was not due to occupancy or to a change in affinity but to a suppression in receptor concentration. Scatchard analysis of [3H]estradiol binding ...

Science.gov (United States)

Summaries are presented for those research contracts which expired between December 31, 1960 and December 31, 1981. Topics covered include: factors controlling distribution of fission products in biosphere, non-destructive methods of evaluating the U/sup 235/ and Pu content of irradiated fuel elements, studies of contamination in local marine resources, tracer studies of anemia, non-destructive analysis of irradiated fuel elements using a flux integrating monitor, mechanism of proteolysis of I/sup 131/-labeled fibrinogen, radiosensitivity of spermatogonia of Drosophila melel elements by gamma scanning, uptake and loss of radioactive material by marine bacteria, factors which influence the movement of radioactive strontium from soils to plants, biological concentration of fission products in mollusks from water, decay scheme of Tl/sup 210/, calcium balance in metabolic bone disease, development of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The studies of forced jet augmentation of natural convection heat transfer are introduced. It investigates experimentally mixed convection and heat transfer augmentation by forced jets in a large rectangular enclosure with a vertical cooling surface. The experiment is designed to measure the key parameters governing the heat transfer augmentation by a forced jet, and to investigate the effects of geometric factors, including the jet diameter, jet injection orientation, interior structures, and enclosure aspect ratio, on conditions simulating those of actual passive containment cooling systems and scales approaching those of actual containment buildings or compartments. The tests that cover a variety of injection modes will contribute to reveal the nature of mixing and stratification phenomena under accident conditions to a new generation of inherently safe reactors. With similarity considerations on governing equations, the heat transfer of mixed convection can be ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A pyrochemical process has been introduced and utilized so that the transmutation of spent PWR fuel in PEACER can produce mainly low and intermediate level waste for near surface disposal. Major radioactive nuclides from PEACER pyro-processing are composed of TRU and LLFP. In this study, the requirement for the final waste from PEACER is evaluated based on the methodology for establishment of waste acceptance criteria. Also, sensitivity analysis for several input parameters is conducted in order to determine acceptable decontamination factor (DF) and LLFP removal efficiency and to find out input parameter that extremely have an effect on DF. As a result of the study, LLFP removal efficiency, especially Sr-90 and Tc-99, is proved to be a major nuclide which contributes to annual dose by human intrusion scenario rather than TRU DF. More than 98.5% of LLFP have to be removed to meet below dose constraint within the DF more than 5.0E+03. Besides, because of the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A pyrochemical process has been introduced and utilized so that the transmutation of spent PWR fuel in PEACER can produce mainly low and intermediate level waste for near surface disposal. Major radioactive nuclides from PEACER pyroprocessing are composed of TRU and LLFP. In this study, the requirement for the final waste from PEACER is evaluated based on the methodology for establishment of waste acceptance criteria. Also, sensitivity analysis for several input parameters is conducted in order to determine acceptable decontamination factor (DF) and LLFP removal efficiency and to find out input parameter that extremely have an effect on DF. As a result of the study, LLFP removal efficiency, especially Sr-90 and Tc-99, is proved to be a major nuclide which contributes to annual dose by human intrusion scenario rather than TRU DF. More than 98.5% of LLFP have to be removed to meet below dose constraint within the DF more than 5.0E + 03. Besides, because of the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

... dose rates inhalation iodine 134 krypton 88 nuclear decay quality factor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A summary of the topics covered in papers presented at the 1995 Brookhaven joint conference on production, neutralization, and application of negative ion beams is given. The conference topics covered included plasma ion sources, plasma seeding of these sources for increased ion production, beam extraction and transport, computer simulation and design studies, and operation of existing and experimental ion source facilities. Application of the sources to accelerator, tokamak, and thin film deposition are discussed. (AIP) {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The NREL Sensitized Solar Cell (SSC) Core Program supports the Solar America Initiative by: (1) targeting new devices and processes for commercialization by 2015 that are less expensive, more efficient, highly reliable, and environmentally benign; (2) collaborating with DOE OS/BES to conduct basic research targeting breakthroughs in key areas, such as ultra-high efficiency and/or ultra-low cost materials and devices.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Rice, the world's major staple crop, is a poor source of essential micronutrients, including folates (vitamin B9). We report folate biofortification of rice seeds achieved by overexpressing two Arabidopsis thaliana genes of the pterin and para-aminobenzoate branches of the folate biosynthetic pathway from a single locus. We obtained a maximal enhancement as high as 100 times above wild type, with 100 g of polished raw grains containing up to four times the adult daily folate requirement.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Fatty acid biosynthesis from Na[1-¹⁴C]acetate was characterized in plastids isolated from primary roots of 7-day-old germinating pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds. Fatty acid...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Normal human aging is accompanied by progressive brain tissue loss and cognitive decline; however, several factors are thought to influence brain aging. We applied tensor-based morphometry to high-resolution brain MRI scans to determine whether educational level or physical activity was associated with brain tissue volumes in the elderly, particularly in regions susceptible to age-related atrophy. We mapped the 3D profile of brain volume differences in 226 healthy elderly subjects (130F/96M; 77.9 3.6 SD years) from the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study. Statistical maps revealed the 3D profile of brain regions whose volumes were associated with educational level and physical activity (based on leisure-time energy expenditure). After controlling for age, sex, and physical...

Science.gov (United States)

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the validity and efficiency of iterative methods for solving large linear systems arising from the finite element discretization of the equation governing conduction-controlled solidification processes. Starting from the basic enthalpy equation, two alternative formulations are obtained and fixed-grid finite element discretizations are developed. These discretizations yield a set of nonlinear equations that are linearized using the Newton-Raphson scheme. The linearized equations are used as a basis for evaluating different iterative methods of the conjugated gradient type. Symmetric scaling and incomplete factorization preconditioning of the linear equations are used to improve the convergence properties of the iterative methods. Vectorization and parallelization are also employed to make full use of the CRAY-2 supercomputer. The results indicate that the implementation of currently available iterative ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

We study the spike statistics of neurons in a network with dynamically balanced excitation and inhibition. Our model, intended to represent a generic cortical column, comprises randomly connected excitatory and inhibitory leaky integrate-and-fire neurons, driven by excitatory input from an external population. The high connectivity permits a mean field description in which synaptic currents can be treated as gaussian noise, the mean and autocorrelation function of which are calculated self-consistently from the firing statistics of single model neurons. Within this description, a wide range of Fano factors is possible. We find that the irregularity of spike trains is controlled mainly by the strength of the synapses relative to the difference between the firing threshold and the postfiring reset level of the membrane potential. For moderately strong synapses, we find spike statistics very similar to those observed in primary visual cortex.

Science.gov (United States)

Serum growth hormone (GH) was suppressed in female rats bearing mammary tumors induced by 7, 12, dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) or N-nitrosomethylurea(NMU). Serum GH was suppressed due to treatment with a human GH analog produced by the plerocercoid stage of the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides. Rats treated with plerocercoid growth factor (PGF) via plerocercoid infection had accelerated growth rates despite marked reductions in GH levels. Approximately two-thirds of the mammary tumors induced by either DMBA or NMU regressed during three weeks of exposure to PGF while most of the control tumors continued to grow. The data support an important regulatory role for GH in growth of mammary tumors in rats. PMID:3019224

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microprocessor based ''smart'' pressure, level, and flow transmitters were tested to determine the radiation hardness of this class of electronic instrumentation for use in reactor building applications. Commercial grade Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits used in these transmitters were found to fail at total gamma dose levels between 2500 and 10,000 rad. This results in an unacceptably short lifetime in many reactor building radiation environments. Radiation hardened integrated circuits can, in general, provide satisfactory service life for normal reactor operations when not restricted to the extremely low power budget imposed by standard 4--20 mA two-wire instrument loops. The design of these circuits will require attention to vendor radiation hardness specifications, dose rates, process control with respect to radiation hardness factors, and non-volatile programmable memory technology. 3 refs., 2 figs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The distribution of Lipiodol in the liver and lungs following arterial or portal injection was studied in normal (n=55) and cirrhotic rats (n=20). Using magnified xeroradiography and radioisotope labeled tracers, it was found that Lipiodol was deposited mainly in the liver and lung after either arterial or portal administration. In control rats after arterial injection, deposits in the lung peaked after 2 hours and gradually declined over 48 hours; whereas after portal injection, the deposit steadily increased for 48 hours. Twenty-five percent of cirrhotic rats demonstrated a Lipiodol-induced miliary pattern in the lung. An increased number of portosystemic shunts in cirrhotic rats was also noted. These results suggest that cirrhosis of the liver may be a potential risk factor for developing pulmonary complications after Lipiodol administration. (orig.).

Science.gov (United States)

The kinetic rate constants for the cracking, isomerization, and disproportionation of n-heptane over a CrHNaY (32% chromium exchanged) zeolite catalyst at 400, 450, and 470/sup 0/C have been calculated. The interaction of n-heptane with a model Lewis acid such as BF/sub 3/ and progress along the reaction coordinate have been studied by means of molecular orbital calculations. From the kinetic results, i.e., activation energies and frequency factors, and the theoretical calculations, it can be concluded that the controlling step in these reactions is not the formation of the carbonium ion, but the subsequent transformation of this carbonium ion. In addition, the theoretical calculations show that the attack of a Lewis acid is more likely to occur on a carbon atom than on a C-H bond.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been actively exploited as potential anticancer agents. To identify gene targets of HDAC inhibitors, we found that HDAC inhibitors such as sodium butyrate, scriptaid, apicidin and oxamflatin induced the expression of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), a potential cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) antagonist and tumor suppressor, in a time and concentration dependent manner in A549 and H1435 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Detailed analyses indicated that HDAC inhibitors activated the 15-PGDH promoter-luciferase reporter construct in transfected A549 cells. A representative HDAC inhibitor, scriptaid, and its negative structural analog control, nullscript, were further evaluated at the chromatin level. Scriptaid but not nullscript induced a signific...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The expression of motor activity levels in response to novel situations is under complex genetic and environmental control. Several genetic loci have been implicated in the regulation of this behavioral phenotype, but their relationship to epigenetic and epistatic interactions is relatively unknown. Here, we report on a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on mouse chromosome 1 for novelty-induced motor activity in the open field, using chromosome substitution strains derived from a high active host strain (C57BL/6J) and a low active donor strain (A/J). The QTL for open field (horizontal distance moved) peaked at the location of Kcnj9, however, QTL detection was initially masked by an interplay of both grandparent genetic origin and genetic co-factors influencing behavior on chromosome 1. Our fi...

Science.gov (United States)

The cost-effectiveness (CE) analysis presents an evaluation of the technical efficiency of pollutant control options for the proposed effluent limitations guidelines. The proposed BAT and PSES apply to six subcategories: Dissolving Kraft; Dissolving Sulfite; Bleached Papergrade Kraft; Papergrade Sulfite; Unbleached Kraft; and Semichemical. The document compares the total annualized cost incurred for each of the regulatory options within each subcategory to the corresponding effectiveness of that option in reducing the discharge of pollutants. Section Two discusses the cost-effectiveness methodology and identifies the pollutants included in the analysis and their toxic weighting factors. Section Three describes the options evaluated for each subcategory. Section Four presents the results of the CE analysis. Section Five presents a separate analysis of AOX (adsorbable organic halides).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The sediment content of the Yellow River is resulted from the interactions of natural, economic, and social factors, so it includes some evolutive information of the Yellow River Basin system. Sediment contents from 1952 to 2007 on Toudaoguai, Tongguan, Huayuankou and Lijin sections along the river are chosen as the study time series, and correlation dimensions (D 2), Kolmogorov entropies (K 2), and Hurst indexes (H) of the time series were calculated. Correlation dimensions on Toudaoguai, Tongguan, Huayuankou, and Lijin sections are 3.24, 5.69, 6.57 and 7.34 respectively, and the Kolmogorov entropies are 0.13, 0.37, 0.40 and 0.38 respectively, which indicates that the systems controlled by different sections along the Yellow River are chaotic systems and the chaotic degrees increase gradu...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

New technologies are needed to reduce the current high rate of well abandonment. Improved sweep efficiency, reservoir conformance, and permeability modification can have a significant impact on oil recovery processes. Microorganisms can be used to selectively plug high-permeability zones to improve sweep efficiency and impart conformance control. Studies of a promising microbial system for polymer production were conducted to evaluate reservoir conditions in which this system would be effective. Factors which can affect microbial growth and polymer production include salinity, pH, temperature, divalent ions, presence of residual oil, and rock matrix. Flask tests and coreflooding experiments were conducted to optimize and evaluate the effectiveness of this system. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) was used to visualize microbial polymer production in porous media. Changes in fluid distribution within the pore system of the core were ...

Science.gov (United States)

As coal becomes more and more important as a power plant fuel in this time of energy shortage and the combustion of high-sulfur coals that would impair air quality, efforts have been made to devise efficient processes to control sulfur dioxide emission. Besides desulfurization before combustion, flue gas desulfurization is considered the most promising method that could also be applicable to all other fossil fuels. In this article, the flue gas desulfurization processes are briefly reviewed, and processes with highest use and with high potential for future use are compared from technical and economical points of view. In the selection of a desulfurization process, it is very important to consider the capacity of the plant, fuel type and fuel-to-sulfur ratio, availability and price of the reagent to be used, type, price, and market of side products, disposal problems of wastes, and environmental factors.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We studied regional myocardial perfusion by scintigraphic computer-assisted analysis of initial distribution, washout rates, and residual activity of "1"3"3Xe injected into the left coronary artery of four patients with normal arteriograms and 14 patients with coronary stenosis. At rest, residual activity in poststenotic regions was always greater than in control regions, but initial washout rates were not slower. During angina, following xenon injections, the amount of indicator distributed to the poststenotic regions was markedly reduced; the increase of the initial washout rates was smaller than in control regions relative to rest, and residual activity was higher. Initial washout rates did not differ as much as from those of normal myocardium because in severe ischemia too little indicator is deposited initially in these regions to produce a change of any magnitude. Indeed, when angina was induced immediately after the xenon injection, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The existence, in real-time, of transmission constraints, demand forecasting errors, generator failures, and other factors impose additional costs through the need to run more expensive generation. These costs can appear as a significant component of the wholesale price to demand served by electricity markets operated over transmission networks. In the England & Wales Pool these costs are passed through directly to supply companies. The Transmission System Operator ({open_quotes}TSO{close_quotes}) can exert significant influence on these costs through improved availability of transmission circuits and through appropriate investment, but has no incentive to do so. Since the inception of the Pool, these costs have increased in level and volatility, and have proved difficult to hedge. In response, St Clements Services were instrumental in assisting Pool members to develop an {open_quotes}Uplift Incentive Management Scheme{close_quotes} which has seen ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ozone production by synchrotron radiation as a function of power density in air was investigated using a white beam at the BNL National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) x-ray ring. Power densities were calculated from the energy spectrum at 2.52 GeV. Ozone concentrations in small beam pipes were measured for power densities between I = 10/sup 12/ and 10/sup 15/ eV/sup . /cm/sup -3 . /sec/sup -1/. The measured ozone half-life was 37+-2 min. The measured G-value was 2.69+-0.14 mol/100 eV and the ozone destruction factor k was less than 5 x 10/sup -19/cm/sup 3//eV. The random uncertainties stated are approximately one standard error. The large departure of the values for G and k from previous values suggest that some undiscovered systematic error may exist in the experiment. Ozone concentration in excess of the 0.1 ppm ACGIH TLV can be generated in the experimental hutches but can readily be controlled. Industrial hygiene aspects of operation and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The supply of electronic instrumentation and controlling (I and C) equipments in Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station depends on importation up to now, however, reliable supply of spare parts is presently threatened by many factors. Consequently, Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station tries to localize these equipments. According to a survey, China has possessed the ability to undertake the research, development and production of the I and C system in nuclear power independently. We propose that localization should firstly starts with the production of replacement board and parts for analogical I and C system, gradually leads to the substitution of system cabinet units, and finally realize the independent research, development and production of advanced digital main control system. A series of prominent problems of producing nuclear grade I and C equipments are focused on the designing, manufacturing, testing and reliability evaluation. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We report here a study of the mechanisms leading to loss of growth control in chicken embryo fibroblasts transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). We have been particularly concerned with the role of the src gene in this process, and have used RSV mutants temperature sensitive (ts) for transformation to investigate the nature of the growth regulatory lesion. The two principal findings were (1) the stationary phase of the cell cycle (G{sub 1}) in chick embryo fibroblasts seems to have two distinct regulatory compartments (using the terminology of Brooks et al. we refer to these as 'Q' and 'A' states). When rendered stationary at 41.5 C by serum deprivation, normal cells enter a Q state, but cells infected with the ts-mutant occupy an A state. (2) Whereas normal cells can occupy either state depending on culture conditions, the ts-infected cells, at 41.5 C, do not seem to enter Q even though a known src gene product, a kinase, is ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Exposure control at the operating Nuclear Power Station is a major concern. TAPS Unit-4 is the first Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor of 540 MWe electrical capacity. This unit was made critical on March 6, 2005. In-depth review of radiation safety was done to identify the impact of design modification on dose rates at various locations and on the equipment's. Problems encountered in controlling the dose rates in 220 MWe electrical are eliminated by appropriate design modifications. Due to higher capacity of the unit there are design changes in major systems such as reactor core, primer heat transport system, moderator system, reactor regulation and protection systems. Reactor operations and maintenance activities during shut down contributes to exposure of the employees. Based on the experience gained in the operation of 220 MWe, design modifications incorporated in TAPS unit-4 and dose rate measurements carried out at 90 % full power, through ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study, the adoptable essential technologies and reference design concept of the advanced reactor were developed and related basic experiments were performed. (1) Once-through Helical Steam Generator: a performance analysis computer code for heli-coiled steam generator was developed for thermal sizing of steam generator and determination of thermal-hydraulic parameters. (2) Self-pressurizing pressurizer : a performance analysis computer code for cold pressurizer was developed. (3) Control rod drive mechanism for fine control : type and function were surveyed. (4) CHF in passive PWR condition : development of the prediction model bundle CHF by introducing the correction factor from the data base. (5) Passive cooling concepts for concrete containment systems: development of the PCCS heat transfer coefficient. (6) Steam injector concepts: analysis and experiment were conducted. (7) Fluidic diode concepts : analysis and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this paper, an improved soft switched two cell interleaved boost AC/DC converter with high power factor is proposed and investigated. A new auxiliary circuit is designed and added to two cell interleaved boost converter to reduce the switching losses. The proposed auxiliary circuit is implemented using only one auxiliary switch and a minimum number of passive components without an important increase in the cost and complexity of the converter. The main advantage of this auxiliary circuit is that it not only provides zero-voltage-transition (ZVT) for the main switches but also provides soft switching for the auxiliary switch and diodes. Though all semiconductor devices operate under soft switching, they do not have any additional voltage and current stresses. The proposed converter operates successfully in soft switching operation mode for a wide range of input voltage level and the load. In addition, it has advantages such as fewer structure complications, lower ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Waveform correlation detectors compare a signal template with successive windows of a continuous data stream and report a detection when the correlation coefficient, or some comparable detection statistic, exceeds a specified threshold. Since correlation detectors exploit the fine structure of the full waveform, they are exquisitely sensitive when compared to power (STA/LTA) detectors. The drawback of correlation detectors is that they require complete knowledge of the signal to be detected, which limits such methods to instances of seismicity in which a very similar signal has already been observed by every station used. Such instances include earthquake swarms, aftershock sequences, repeating industrial seismicity, and many other forms of controlled explosions. The reduction in the detection threshold is even greater when the techniques are applied to arrays since stacking can be performed on the individual channel correlation traces to achieve significant array ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Planning for quality assurance (QA) in research and development (R D) is like stealing eggs without waking up the chickens. The QA program should be as unobtrusive as possible. Researchers require a QA program that affords them an environment capable of supporting repeatable experiments with accurate data without unduly stifling their creative abilities. Careful advance planning ensures that the intensity of control provided by quality-related systems is commensurate with the importance and scope of the activities being performed. Good scientific practices applied to small bench-scale projects may require minimal additional controls. As projects increase in size and complexity the controls imposed through planning must, by necessity, be increased. Research and development QA planning, just like any other planning, involves all affected individuals. The application of control systems is determined by ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cigarette smoking is the major environmental risk factor for bladder cancer in humans. Aromatic amines, potent DNA-reactive bladder carcinogens present in cigarette smoke, contribute significantly. However, increased cell proliferation, caused by direct mitogenesis or in response to cytotoxicity, may also play a role since urothelial hyperplasia has been observed in human cigarette smokers. We examined the urothelial effects of cigarette smoke (whole body inhalation exposure (Teague) system) in female C57BL/6 mice at various times in two studies, including reversibility evaluations. In both studies, no urothelial hyperplasia was observed by light microscopy in any group. However, in study 1, the Ki-67 labeling index (LI) of the urothelium was significantly increased in the smoke exposed group compared to controls through 3 months, but was not present at 6, 9 or 12 months even with continued exposures. In the groups that discontinued smoke ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In 1998, EU legislation initiated a liberalisation process among European energy markets. The process of market opening has significantly changed the functioning of the markets and the competition conditions of the energy sector. At the same time, the industry witnessed a surge of mergers and far-reaching changes in the structure of German electricity and natural gas markets occurred. Against this background, the doctoral thesis at hand surveys the merger activities in the energy sector as well as the merger control policy of the German Federal Cartel Office during the first years of liberalisation. The study starts with a portrayal of the institutional framework of the German merger control regime and a survey of the relevant economic literature on horizontal and vertical mergers. Subsequent to the legal and theoretical considerations, the merger activities and the merger control policy of the German Federal Cartel Office ...