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)

Congenital isolated pleural effusion is a rare cause of respiratory distress in neonates. It is usually chylous. Herein, we report a rare case of nonchylous congenital idiopathic pleural effusion.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

AIMS—(1) To validate a leg to leg bioimpedance analysis (BIA) device in the measurement of body composition in children by assessment of its agreement with dual energy x...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe presence of enthesitis (insertional inflammation) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is difficult to establish clinically and may influence classification...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

IntroductionPrevious observations suggest that active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is associated with a prominent erythropoiesis gene-expression signature. The aim...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

ObjectiveTo report the efficacy and safety of combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection in the treatment of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A shock absorber mechanism and method for use on the leg structure of a jack-up offshore drilling rig is described. It is mounted on the bottom of each existing leg of a drilling rig and comprises a pointed piston member which is positioned on the bottom of the leg structure and projects downwards through the can/footing of the rig leg. The piston member is held in place by a resilient tension member which is designed to absorb shock forces during vertical/axial impact of the leg structure when contact is made with the ocean floor. (author).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe epidemiology of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in gulls is only partially known. The role of the world's most numerous gull species, the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa...Full Text Available

Environmental Research Database

DescriptionLameness, commonly referred to as the leg health, in the modern broiler chicken is an emotive issue and the debate surrounding this subject is not helped by the lack of agreement as to how leg health should be assessed. A commonly used tool for scoring leg health is the Bristol Gait Score, a technique used in the recently reported Defra project AW0230 (`Leg Health and Welfare in Commercial Broiler Production`). The authors of the final report for AW0230 noted that for the chickens gait scored [continued...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease with poor survival. The identification of therapeutic targets is essential to improving outcomes. Previous studies found that expression...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Psychological illness influences the experience and expression of pain and disability. We tested three null hypotheses: (1) patients with nonspecific pain (medically unexplained and idiopathic) and...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most lethal form of diffuse lung fibrosis, killing approximately half of those affected within 2-3 years of diagnosis. Until recently, no therapies had been shown to have an impact on disease progression. The Clinical Studies Assessing Pirfenidone (Esbriet) in IPF: Research of Efficacy and Safety Outcomes (CAPACITY) program comprised two almost identical double-blind placebo-controlled studies assessing the effects of pirfenidone on change in forced vital capacity, the primary end point, over a 72-week period. One of these studies was positive, matching in magnitude the benefit seen in two previous positive Japanese studies. The other study did not meet its primary end point but positive trends were consistent in this and a number of secondary end point...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Purpose:To report the preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and foveal thickness (FT) values that lead to a postoperative decimal BCVA of ≥1.0 after surgical removal...Full Text Available

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

It is possible to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease with pharmacological treatment. When this treatment is given to people with types of dementia that affect the frontal and temporal lobes (Frontotemporal Dementia) the results are discouraging. It is observed that the patients show pronounced restlessness and mania. In this article we describe a nonpharmacological psychosocial approach, music therapy, and how it is possible to work with this method when constitutional, regulative, dialogical, and integrative aspects are included. The focus is on therapeutic singing where well-known songs are applied in order to build up structure and stability and/or as means of arousal regulation. Songs with personal meaning make it possible to acknowledge the person's emotions, breaking the social isolation, and meeting the music therapy participant's psychosocial needs. The clinical approach is an integration of a relational music therapy approach and a more ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Experiments have been performed with the PMK integral-type facility, a model of WWER-440 type PWRs, to investigate two-phase natural circulation behaviour. The phenomena to be expected in this reactor type are different from those in PWRs with vertical steam generators mainly due to the loop seal in the hot leg and the horizontal layout of the steam generator heat transfer tubes. The experiments showed that the system is repressurized when the water level drops to the hot leg elevation due to the effect of the loop seal. Opening of the loop seal can be smooth, but may lead to oscillations depending on the power and the mass inventory. Natural circulation recovers after the hot leg loop seal is opened, but then decreases with further mass inventory decrease. (orig.).

Science.gov (United States)

pedel supl3od" surfcoe. U => ut::_oer (torso segment or shoulder. 13oint),. L => lower. (legs]. m-I. => mediolatercl a_is re. Doo_,. s-i => ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A number of studies have examined the functional roles of individual muscles during normal walking, but few studies have examined which are the primary muscles that respond to changes in external...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The report deals with: (1) two-phase flow regime transitions, (2) liquid entrainment in break flow, (3) vapor pull-through, and (4) CCFL in horizontal ducts. The first three processes influence the mass flow through the break, whereas the fourth one imposes a limit on liquid flow from the steam generator through the hot leg break into the core. Correlations available in the literature which deal with these processes are presented and applied to a hot leg of a PWR, LOFT and Semiscale for quantitative estimates, as well as for determining the scale distortion in the latter two facilities.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The existence of characteristic longitudinal optical and transverse optical phonons of cubic ZnO in ZnO nano-tetrapods is determined by Raman spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. Stacking sequence change at the boundary of the core and legs is also identified by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Based on this experimental and theoretical evidence, we demonstrate that the lattice structure of ZnO nano-tetrapods is hierarchical with a zinc blende core connecting to four wurtzite legs. Furthermore, we establish the atomic configuration and propose a formation mechanism induced by Laplace pressure in the initial growth stage of ZnO nano-tetrapods.

Science.gov (United States)

A 1.5-year-old male Belgian Malinosis Military Working Dog presented with a 1-month history of intermittent hematuria. Diagnostic ultrasound and contrast radiography demonstrated large blood clots in the urinary bladder and a filling defect in the right renal pelvis. At surgery, clotted blood was present in the right ureter and bladder. Following right nephrectomy, the dog returned to training. One month later, elevations in urea nitrogen and creatinine were noted. Hematuria recurred at 3 months and the dog was found dead in its kennel. Necropsy showed a blood-filled left renal pelvis and ureter. PMID:1454185

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: To permit accurate detection of sodium leakage by distinguishing between variations in the overflow tank level due to changes in sodium temperature accompanying changes in the power level or operating state of a liquid metal sodium cooled fast breeder, and a reduction in power level due to duct leakage. Constitution: The volume of sodium in the primary cooling system is roughly estimated from the temperatures of hot and cold legs, and the duct leak preset level with respect to the sodium liquid level within an overflow tank when the plant is normal is varied according to the state of the plant. More particularly, the volume of sodium within the overflow tank is calculated on the basis of a signal representing the liquid level detected by a liquid level gauge in the overflow tank and a signal representing the temperature detected by hot leg and cold leg thermometers, thereby obtaining the preset value of the liquid ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper describes a series of tests investigating two-phase flow regimes in a transparent model of a PWR hot leg. Test conditions were selected to cover a wide range of gas and liquid superficial velocities (.01 m/s 2 m/s) were also performed for comparison with semi-analytical predictions. Results include average void fractions, flow rates, and visual characterizations of the two-phase flow phenomena. Results show generally good agreement with Taitel and Duckler flow regime map and Zuber-Findlay correlation for average void fraction in vertical pipes. Results also indicate that flow regimes and collapsed liquid level (void fraction) are more strongly dependent on air flow rate (air superficial velocity) than water flow rate (water superficial velocity).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A cold-leg small-break loss-of-coolant accident (SBLOCA) experiment was performed on the PACTEL facility to study the behavior of natural circulation in a VVER-440 reactor geometry. The facility is a volumetrically scaled (1:305) integral test loop simulating the VVER-440 reactors used in Finland. The test results were used to assess the computer codes RELAP5/MOD3.1 and APROS 3.0 for VVER reactors. The behavior of the horizontal steam generator and the effect of the hot-leg loop seal were of particular interest. The specific parameters to be compared included the primary pressure and the downcomer mass flow rate.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Magnetization data of single crystalline La{sub 4}Sr{sub 10}Cu{sub 24}O{sub 41} are presented. In this compound, doped spin chains and undoped spin ladders are realized. The magnetization, at low temperatures, is governed by the chain subsystem with a finite interchain coupling which leads to short range antiferromagnetic spin correlations. At higher temperatures, the response of the chains can be estimated in terms of a Curie-Weiss law. For the ladders, we apply the low temperature approximation for a S = 1/2 2-leg spin ladder.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

During sporting events, injured athletes often return to competition after icing because of the reduction in pain. Although some controversy exists, several studies suggest that cryotherapy causes a decrease in muscle activity, which may lead to a higher risk of injury upon return to play. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 20-min knee joint cryotherapy application on the electromyographic activity of leg muscles during a single-leg drop jump in twenty healthy subjects, randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group. After the pre-tests, a crushed-ice bag was applied to the knee joint of the experimental group subjects for 20min, while the control group subjects rested for 20min. All subjects were retested immediately after this period and retested again...

Science.gov (United States)

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Rendu-Weber disease) is a genetic disorder with autosomal dominance, variable penetrance, and an estimated prevalence of 1/10,000 inhabitants in France. Diagnosis is based on clinical criteria including epistaxis, telangiectasia, visceral manifestations, and familial occurrence. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, present in 15-33% of patients, are its primary visceral complications. The disease may be revealed by infectious and ischemic neurological manifestations due to paradoxical embolism. The high frequency of neurologic complications even in asymptomatic patients justifies systematic screening for pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. Treatment of these malformations is based on percutaneous transcatheter coil embolization of the feeding artery. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is rare in this disease. It may be due to systemic arteriovenous shunting in the liver, which increases cardiac output, or be similar to ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Introduction: Intractable ascites in neonates has a varied etiology; and often, the cause is idiopathic. The management usually consists of observation, diuretics, paracentesis, albumin replacements, and self correction. However, in some cases, the above treatment remains unsuccessful. Results: We present 2 cases of intractable ascites causing metabolic abnormalities, severe protein and immunoglobulin loss, and respiratory compromise. Although the use of peritoneovenous shunts for intractable ascites has been reported previously, our cases differ in both technique and patient size. Our first patient is an ex-28-week premature, 1.4-kg infant with intractable ascites for which a peritoneal drain was initially placed. After 3 weeks and putting out nearly 300 mL of ascitic fluid daily, we plac...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Precocious puberty is a significant child health problem, especially in girls, because 95% of cases are idiopathic. Our earlier studies demonstrated that low-dose levels of manganese (Mn) caused precocious puberty via stimulating the secretion of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). Because glial-neuronal communications are important for the activation of LHRH secretion at puberty, we investigated the effects of prepubertal Mn exposure on specific glial-derived puberty-related genes known to affect neuronal LHRH release. Animals were supplemented with MnCl2 (10 mg/kg) or saline by gastric gavage from day 12 until day 22 or day 29, then decapitated, and brains removed. The site of LHRH release is the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), and tissues from this area were analyzed by real-...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Individuals with male factor infertility resulting from idiopathic oligo-, astheno- or teratozoospermia are frequently offered IVF in an attempt to increase their chances of having a child. A concern remains whether these infertile males have an elevated risk of transmitting chromosomal abnormalities to their offspring. Sperm chromosomal complements from these men were assayed using the human sperm/hamster oocyte fusion system and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on sperm nuclei. For each of 5 infertile patients, 100 sperm karyotypes were analyzed and multicolour FISH analysis was performed on a minimum of 10,000 sperm nuclei for each chromosome-specific DNA probe for chromosomes 1 (pUC1.77), 12 (D12Z3), X (XC) and Y (DYZ3). As a group, the infertile patients showed increased frequencies of both numerical ({chi}{sup 2}=17.26, {proportional_to} <0.001) and total abnormalities ({chi}{sup 2}=7.78, {proportional_to} <0.01) relative to control donors when ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In order to study the two-phase natural circulation and flow termination during a small break loss of coolant accident in LWR, simulation experiments have been performed. Based on the two-phase flow scaling criteria developed under this program, an adiabatic hot leg U-bend simulation loop using nitrogen gas and water and a Freon 113 boiling and condensation loop were built. The nitrogen-water system has been used to isolate key hydrodynamic phenomena from heat transfer problems, whereas the Freon loop has been used to study the effect of phase changes and fluid properties. Various tests were carried out to establish the basic mechanism of the flow termination and reestablishment as well as to obtain essential information on scale effects of parameters such as the loop frictional resistance, thermal center, U-bend curvature and inlet geometry. In addition to the above experimental study, a preliminary modeling study has been carried out for two-phase flow in a large ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to study the two-phase natural circulation and flow termination during a small break loss of coolant accident in LWR, simulation experiments have been performed using two different thermal-hydraulic loops. The main focus of the experiment was the two-phase flow behavior in the hot-leg U-bend typical of BandW LWR systems. The first group of experiments was carried out in the nitrogen gas-water adiabatic simulation loop and the second in the Freon 113 boiling and condensation loop. Both of the loops have been designed as a flow visualization facility and built according to the two-phase flow scaling criteria developed under this program. The nitrogen gas-water system has been used to isolate key hydrodynamic phenomena such as the phase distribution, relative velocity between phases, two-phase flow regimes and flow termination mechanisms, whereas the Freon loop has been used to study the effect of fluid properties, phase changes and coupling between ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Modelling the behaviour of fission product (FP) in a nuclear reactor coolant system (RCS) undergoing a hypothetical severe accident is an important step in the evaluation of radioactive release outside a nuclear power plant. This paper scrutinize Small Break LOCA sequence for WWER1000 reactor in order to investigate the possible paths for release of FP from fuel pallets to the reactor containment. Contemporaneous computer code for simulation of RCS will be use for the analysis. The results from analysis of fuel damage and release of FP trough the break of cold leg are present. (author)

CERN Document Server

We propose a numerical method for resummation of perturbative series, which is based on the stochastic perturbative solution of Schwinger-Dyson equations. The method stochastically estimates the coefficients of perturbative series, and incorporates Borel resummation in a natural way. Similarly to the "worm" algorithm, the method samples open Feynman diagrams, but with an arbitrary number of external legs. As a test of our numerical algorithm, we study the scale dependence of the renormalized coupling constant in a theory of one-component scalar field with quartic interaction. We confirm the triviality of this theory in four and five space-time dimensions, and the instability of the trivial fixed point in three dimensions.

Scientific Electronic Library Online (English)

Abstract in english We hypothesized that chronic oral administration of the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil could improve the exercise capacity and pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on the basis of previous short-term studies. We tested this hypothesis in 14 subjects with PAH, including seven patients with the idiopathic form and seven patients with atrial septal defects, but no other congenital heart abnormalities. Patients were subjected (more) to a 6-min walk test and dyspnea was graded according to the Borg scale. Pulmonary flow and pressures were measured by Doppler echocardiography. Patients were given sildenafil, 75 mg orally three times a day, and followed up for 1 year. Sildenafil therapy resulted in the following changes: increase in the 6-min walk distance from a median value of 387 m (range 0 to 484 m) to 462 m (range 408 to 588 m; P

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Basalt and diabase from the Cretaceous Dumisseau Formation, southern Haiti have Mg-numbers of 43-63, TiO/sub 2/ contents of 1.6-3.9% and La abundances of 3.6-15.3 ppm. LaTa ratios average 10, and indicate that the basalts are oceanic in character, distinct from the arc associations forming the northern part of Haiti. Oldest lavas have low TiO/sub 2/, (1.6%) and are LREE-depleted, similar to N-MORBs, whereas overlying lavas have higher TiO/sub 2/ (2-3.9%) and are LREE-enriched, similar to E-MORBs or hotspot basalts. /sup 87/Sr/sup 86/Sr ratios vary from 0.70280 to 0.70316, /sup 143/Nd/sup 144/Nd from 0.512929 to 0.513121, and /sup 206/Pb/sup 204/Pb from 19.00 to 19.27 LREE-depleted lavas have high /sup 143/Nd/sup 144/Nd (0.51309-0.51310) typical of MORBs, whereas /sup 143/Nd/sup 144/Nd in the LREE-enriched lavas varies widely (0.512929-0.513121). Chemical features of the Dumisseau basalts are equivalent to those of Caribbean seafloor basalts recovered on DSDP Leg ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A method for determining the rational capacity of the shield supports under various geological conditions is proposed. Based on the instrumentation of the pressure histories of the shield legs in eight mines, the relation between the final load or the increment of support resistance in a mining cycle and the setting load is established. The relation is represented by a mathematical equation with characteristic constants. Those constants are related to the physical properties of the immediate and main roof strata. Nomographs were constructed for determining the constants under various geological conditions. The paper discusses the principles and step-by-step procedures for determining the rational setting and yield loads for all the shield supports employed in the eight mines. The predicted values are then compared with the actual ones used by the operators. 7 refs., 6 figs., 4 tabs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The authors propose a method for determining the risk of femoral neck fracture in osteoporotic patients that is not based on densitometric techniques. The method is based on a structural analysis performed by a computer on data taken from a single digital anteroposterior projection of the hip. From the image, the effective cross-sectional area and cross-sectional moment of inertia are computed from attenuation principles. Together with other geometric measurements, these data are used in an engineering analysis to compute the yield strength of the proximal femur, under stress applied through the acetabulum in a one-legged stance. An index of fracture risk based on the ratio of estimated yield strength to body weight is proposed. Ultimately it is expected that this work will allow the clinician to estimate hip fracture risk in osteoporotic patient using widely available existing technology, a goal which has eluded bone density-based methods.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Background: This study was conducted to examine the effects of prophylactic misoprostol prior to intrauterine device (IUD) placement in nulliparous women. Study Design: Nulliparous, reproductive-aged women desiring an IUD for contraception were randomized to receive 400 mcg of buccal misoprostol or placebo 90 min prior to IUD insertion. Subjects completed a series of 100-mm visual analogue scales (VAS, anchors: 0=none, 100 mm=worst imaginable) to measure their perceived pain at several times points (anticipated pain, leg positioning, speculum placement, tenaculum placement, IUD insertion, equipment removal and 5 min postinsertion). Secondary outcomes included provider ''ease of placement'' (100-mm VAS, anchors: 0=easy, 100 mm=extremely difficult), side effects and retention of the IUD afte...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Bothriochloa ischaemum L. and Lespedeza davurica (Laxm.) Schindl. are two co-dominant species of great importance in reducing soil and water loss and maintaining the distinctive natural scenery of the semiarid Loess Plateau of China. Our aim was to determine the growth and interspecific competition between these species under water stress to facilitate the prediction of community succession and guide the selection of appropriate methods of conservation and use in the area. A pot experiment was designed to investigate the effects of water stress and competition on biomass production and allocation, relative competitive ability and water use efficiency of the two species. Bothriochloa ischaemum (a C4 perennial herbaceous grass) was planted in the same pot with L. davurica (a C3 perennial leg...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Natural circulation experiments carried out in the REWET-III facility in 1985 have been used for RELAP5/MOD2 assessment. The REWET-III facility is a scaled-down model of VVER-440 type reactors. The facility consists of a pressure vessel in which the downcomer is simulated with an external pipe assembly, hot and cold legs with loop seals and a horizontal steam generator. The volume scaling factor compared to the reference reactor is 1:2333. The present paper summarizes the experiences gained in the RELAP5/MOD2 calculations of selected REWET-III single- and two-phase natural circulation experiments. The code`s ability to represent the main phenomena of experiments in both cases was satisfactory.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Objective: Sarcopenia of legs is an important cause of physical dysfunctions, frailty and dependence. Many predisposing and underlying mechanisms of sarcopenia, including age, sedentary life style, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and low testosterone levels, are also known to be related to atherosclerosis, which is another leading cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly subjects. In this study, we investigated our hypothesis that sarcopenia and atherosclerosis are associated with each other to facilitate mutual abnormalities. Methods: Study was performed in apparently healthy 496 middle-aged to elderly persons recruited consecutively among the visitors to the medical check-up program, Anti-Aging Doc, in a University hospital, from March 2006 to December 2007. Mid-thigh muscle cro...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Accelerator concepts for heavy-ion fusion require small emittance, high-current beams. Such applications could include funnels in which high-current, like-charged particle beams are interlaced to double beam current while retaining small emittances. The first experimental demonstration confirming the beam dynamics of the funnel principle was recently completed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A single-leg prototype 5-MeV, H{sup {minus}} funnel was successfully tested. This single-beam demonstration explored physics issues of a two-beam funnel. It contained elements for emittance control, position control, and rf deflection, as well as diagnostics for measurement of beam intensity, position and angle centroids, energy and phase centroids, and transverse and longitudinal phase-space distributions. Results of the experiment will be presented along with comparisons to simulations. 7 refs., 5 figs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Korean Next Generation Reactor (KNGR) adopts 4-train Direct Vessel Injection (DVI) configuration and injects the safety injection water directly into the downcomer through the 8.5'' DVI nozzle. Thus, the thermal hydraulic phenomena such as ECCS mixing and bypass are expected to be different from those observed in the cold leg injection. In order to investigate the realistic injection phenomena and modify the analysis code developed in the basis of cold leg injection, thermal hydraulic test with the performance evaluation is required. Preliminarily, the sequence of events and major thermal hydraulic phenomena during the small break LOCA for KNGR are identified from the analysis results calculated by the CEFLASH-4AS/REM. It is shown from the analysis results that the major transient behaviors including the core mixture level are largely affected by the downcomer modeling. Therefore, to investigate the proper thermal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This article gives an account of the recent development of light water reactors new concepts in the world. Different projects are being studied. The CE80+ from Combustion Engineering (CE) is a 1350 MWe-PWR-type reactor whose primary circuit is confined in a spherical metallic containment. This reactor was certified by NRC (national regulatory commission) in mid-1996. The APWR (advanced pressurized water reactor) is developed by MHI (Mitsubishi heavy industries) in a collaboration with Westinghouse, this PWR-type reactor fitted with 4 loops derived from the SP90 model that was developed by Westinghouse during the eighties. 2 units of ABWR (advanced boiling water reactor) were commissioned in Japan in 1996 and 1997, ABWR was certified by NRC in mid-1996. The BWR90+ is developed by ABB-atom (Sweden) and it represents a cautious advanced version of the BWR75. Passive reactors are reactors that rely only on potential energy (compressed gas, gravitational flow or electric batteries) to feed ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text: Disorders of brain development and phakomatosis are resulting from disturbed embryonic-foetal development One third of all major embryological anomalies involve CNS, and over 2000 different anomalies have been described. Anomalies of the brain often cause foetal and neonatal death, and mental and physical retardation in pediatric group. The majority of disorders of brain development and phakomatosis are idiopathic, and most of them are not hereditary or familial. Ultrasonography plays the important role in screening foetal and neonatal brain, but after closure of fontanels it is difficult to find the acoustic window. CT has limited contrast resolution, and disadvantage exposing infant to ionizing radiation. It is helpful to demonstrate the presence of calcifications. MR imaging has proved to be a diagnostic tool of major importance in children with disorders of brain development and phakomatosis. The excellent grey/white matter differentiation and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An updated TRAC 80% large-break loss-of-coolant accident (LBLOCA) has been calculated for the Westinghouse AP600 advanced reactor design, The updated calculation incorporates major code error corrections, model corrections, and plant design changes. The 80% break size was calculated by Westinghouse to be the most severe large-break size for the AP600 design. The LBLOCA transient was calculated to 144 s. Peak cladding temperatures (PCTS) were well below the Appendix K limit of 1,478 K (2,200 F), but very near the cladding oxidation temperature of 1,200 K (1,700 F). Transient event times and PCT for the TRAC calculation were in reasonable agreement with those calculated by Westinghouse using their {und W}COBRA/TRAC code. However, there were significant differences in the detailed phenomena calculated by the two codes, particularly during the blowdown phase. The reasons for these differences are still being investigated. Additional break sizes and break locations need to be analyzed to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: In an experimental study, the correlation between the trabecular bone density of the different regions of the proximal femur and the fracture load in the setting of femoral neck fractures was examined. Methods: The bone mineral density 41 random proximal human femora was estimated by single-energy quanitative CT (SE-QCT). The trabecular bone density was measured at the greatest possible extracortical volume at midcapital, midneck and intertrochanteric level and in the 1 cm"3 volumes of the centres of these regions in a standardised 10 mm thick slice in the middle of the femoral neck axis (in mg/ml Ca-hydroxyl apatite). The proximal femora were then isolated and mounted on a compression/bending device under two-legged stand conditions and loaded up to the point when a femoral neck fracture occurred. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a linear correlation between the trabecular bone density and the fracture load for the greater regions, with the highest ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The multidimensional countercurrent two-phase flow regimes that occur in a pressurized-water reactor (PWR) vessel downcomer during the refill phase of a large-break loss-of-coolant accident are studied using a transparent 1/10 scale model of a PWR vessel. The various flow regimes and their distribution in the downcomer have been identified and mapped for a range of air-water flooding experiments. The two-phase flow patterns that are identified in the downcomer included various types of film flows, droplet flows, countercurrent churn flows and cocurrent flows depending on the flooding condition. Through observation of the two-phase flow dynamics it was deduced that the physical mechanisms associated with the flooding processes could be separated into a liquid entrainment process and a film flow reversal process. In addition to the above exercise, the effect of non-uniform injection of water into the downcomer via different combinations of cold leg was studied ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal technique for delivering postoperative radiotherapy for vulvar cancer and other tumors requiring treatment of the inguinal nodes. This project compared tumor coverage and normal tissue sparing for the 5 main radiotherapy techniques that are used to treat vulvar cancer. The intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan was undesirable because it resulted in an excessive dose to portions of the central pelvic structures. The photon thunderbird with skin match was unacceptable because it underdosed a portion of the groin region. The electron thunderbird was ideal for thin patients but was not applicable for most patients because of excessive dose to the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The photon through-and-through and the photon thunderbird with deep match were acceptable in most situations. In thin patients, where the depth of the inguinal vessels is less than 3 cm, the electron thunderbird is the technique of choice. In the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The NUclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC) has developed IMPACT-SAMPSON code to analyze integral behavior of light water nuclear power plants under severe accident conditions. IMPACT-SAMPSON's distinguishing features include interconnected hierarchical modules and mechanistic models covering a wide spectrum of scenarios ranging from normal operation to severe accident events, and high-speed simulation on parallel processing computers. The integral plant behaviors of typical PWR and BWR under severe accident conditions have been analyzed with the IMPACT-SAMPSON code. The PWR plant analyzed was the three-loop, steel-dry containment type with 2,440 MWt. The AE accident scenario was supposed, that is, LOCA by 6-inch hot leg failure followed by accumulated water injection, but no ECCS and containment spray activation. The BWR plant analyzed was the 3,293 MWt BWR-5, Mark-II containment type. The TQUV accident scenario was supposed, that is, reactor scram ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Scaling criteria for a natural-circulation loop are examined. The present state of knowledge of scaling to obtain similarity during single- and two-phase flow conditions in a closed loop are reviewed, and an alternative development of two-phase similarity parameters is presented. The loop scaling criteria are the results of analyses in which flow from one component to another is considered. In this work, boundary conditions for the closed loop are developed to obtain scaling criteria for leak flow, injection flow, and heat loss to ambient. The leak scaling criteria are specialized for modeling approaches using prototypic fluid at prototypic or reduced pressures. The derived scaling parameters are examined for their application to two existing scaled test facilities: the Multi-Loop Integral System Test (MIST) facility at Babcock and Wilcox, and the UMCP 2 x 4 facility at the University of Maryland College Park. The heat loss similarity analysis is performed in conjunction with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ionising radiation induces stable free radicals in chicken bones and in the shell of chicken eggs which can be detected, by the electrons spin resonance (ESR) technique, well beyond the shelf-life of the food and can be used for dosimetry. The method usually adopted to evaluate ``a posteriori`` the dose given during the ionising radiation treatment of food, is the dose additive method. To assess the dose, the ESR signal amplitude of the irradiated food (bone or egg shell in the present case) is measured and then the dose-effect relationship is obtained by re-irradiating the sample with some additive doses (usually of 1 kGy). The dose-effect curve is back-extrapolated and the initial given dose determined. At the Istituto Superiore di Sanita (ISS), Rome, Italy, a research programme was approved two years ago aimed to, (1) study new methodological approaches for ESR dose assessment, and (2) analyse the factors which may influence the ESR readout of irradiated chicken bones and chicken ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the frame of the use of the Relap5 thermal hydraulic code in the predictions of LOCA transient scenarios in PWRs and considering the recent development of a methodology to evaluate the related uncertainty, the response to a Small Break LOCA of Eastern and Western type PWRs has been analyzed. A four loop/horizontal Steam Generator WWER-1000 (KOZLODUY in Bulgaria) and a two loop/vertical U-tubes Steam Generator Westinghouse (KRSKO in Slovenia) nuclear power plants have been considered in the analysis. The reference transient is a 2% equivalent cold leg break accident, without High Pressure Injection System intervention, as specified in the frame of a ``counterpart test`` activity involving experimental tests on four Integral Test Facilities: LOBI (European Community), SPES (Italy), BETHSY (France) and LSTF (Japan). The code results in the two cases, also taking into account the related uncertainty as evaluated by means of the aforementioned methodology, are ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

From the results of the In-Service Inspection (ISI) measuring the wall thickness of outlet (hot-leg side) feeder pipes performed at two Canadian nuclear power plants, Point Lepreau and Gentilly-2 in 1995 and 1996, respectively, the wall thinning degradation of feeder pipes at the bend part was found to be much more severe than expected. It has been well known that such wall thinning of feeder pipes is caused by the flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) which is one of the mechanical-chemical degradation mechanisms affecting the integrity of piping systems. For the Wolsung unit 1, the wall thickness measurements have been performed during every overhaul period since 1996. The wall thinning rates at the bends of outlet feeder pipes were assessed to exceed the design value. However, for the Wolsung units 2, 3 and 4, the wall thinning rates of all the outlet feeder pipes were assessed not to exceed it. The reason is because the content of Cr in the material of feeder pipes ...

Science.gov (United States)

The aim of this study was to observe both the clinical signs and symptoms of wounds at risk of infection, that is critically colonised (biofilm infected) and antimicrobial-performance of an ionic silver alginate/carboxymethylcellulose (SACMC) dressing, in comparison with a non silver calcium alginate fibre (AF) dressing, on chronic venous leg and pressure ulcers. Thirty-six patients with venous or pressure ulcers, considered clinically to be critically colonised (biofilm infected), were randomly chosen to receive either an SACMC dressing or a non silver calcium AF dressing. The efficacy of each wound dressing was evaluated over a 4-week period. The primary study endpoints were prevention of infection and progression to wound healing. The SACMC group showed a statistically significant (P = 0.017) improvement to healing as indicated by a reduction in the surface area of the wound, over the 4-week study period, compared with AF controls. In conclusion, the SACMC ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the context of safety assessment of radioactive waste repositories, complex radionuclide transport models covering key safety-relevant processes play a major role. In recent Swiss safety assessments, such as Kristallin-I, an important drawback was the limitation in geosphere modelling capability to account for geosphere heterogeneities. In marked contrast to this limitation in modelling capabilities, great effort has been put into investigating the heterogeneity of the geosphere as it impacts on hydrology. Structural geological methods have been used to look at the geometry of the flow paths on a small scale and the diffusion and sorption properties of different rock materials have been investigated. This huge amount of information could however be only partially applied in geosphere transport modelling. To make use of these investigations the 'PICNIC project' was established as a joint cooperation of PSI/Nagra and QuantiSci to provide a new geosphere transport ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Analyzing various SBLOCA with high pressure safety injection (HPSI) at VVER-440/213, we met a surprising phenomenon - a 'natural' circulation post SG heat transfer reversal. This is not usual, because normal natural circulation (NC) in primary circuit is connected with positive heat transfer at SG. If there is reverse heat transfer at SG (as soon as the break enthalpy outflow is sufficient for removal of reactor decay heat), it should obstruct any natural circulation. The question was, what is the driving force of this 'non-standard natural circulation'. After all we revealed that force - it is the density difference between the colder water in reactor downcomer (cold water from HPSI) and warmer water in inner reactor (lower plenum, core, upper plenum). This phenomenon could be confusing for operating personal, because there would be an opposite temperature difference at the loop than by normal natural circulation (under non-standard NC conditions water is heated in SG so there is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During the Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station (BNGS-A) Unit 1 1997 planned outage, a dew point search method identified a leak in one steam generator(SG) tube. Subsequently, the tube was inspected with all available eddy current probes and removed for examination. The initial inspection results and metallurgical examination of the removed tube confirmed that the leak was due to intergranular attack/stress corrosion cracking (IGA/SCC) emanating from the secondary side of the tube at the top of the tubesheet location. Subsequently, eddy current and ultrasonic indications were found at the top of the tubesheet of other Alloy 600 SG tubes. To investigate the source of the indications and to validate the inspection probes, sections of 40 tubes with various levels of damage were removed. The metallurgical examination of the removed sections showed that both secondary side and primary side initiated, circumferential, stress corrosion cracking and intergranular attack occurred in the BNGS-A SG ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This spring, Newfoundland will send off a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to the offshore Terra Nova field. The Terra Nova will proceed southeast through Bull Arm, then northeast out of Trinity Bay, then heads southeast to the Jeanne d'Arc Basin on the Grand Banks. The Terra Nova is expected to produce 115,000 barrels of oil per day for six years, when it reaches full capacity. The consortium, headed by Petro-Canada as senior ownership partner and operator, built an environment protection program into every aspect of the project. Some of the features of the environment protection program include glory holes excavated on the ocean floor for the protection of production equipment from icebergs, to a flare stack on the platform, which has four legs to provide stability in rough seas. The FPSO was designed to withstand sea ice, icebergs, and severe winter storms. Flow lines are also protected, and in the event that a line is damaged, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During LOCA (Loss of Coolant Accident) in design bases accident (DBA), emergency core coolant supplements form a recirculation sump and cooled core and containment. When the double ended guillotine Break (DEGB) at the hot leg near steam generator, due to the jet impingement discharge flow, the debris could be potentially generated at pipe or wall nearby steam generator and be transported to the recirculation sump. Therefore, the debris, such as insulations and paint chips, could be accumulated and be clogged in the recirculation sump screen. If debris is blocked the sump strainer, the pressure drop is increased at the screen so as to increase the pressure loss of ECCS (Emergency Core Cooling System) pump NPSH (Net positive suction head). It is potentially influenced to decrease the long-term cooling capability of the recirculation sump. The recirculation sump screen clogging accident has happened in BWR of USA and Sweden. Considering the important to safety, US NRC ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lappeenranta University of Technology (LTKK) and VTT Energy carried out a series of preliminary tests in 1999 to study the behavior of noncondensable (NC) gases in VVER geometry. The tests aimed at studying the effect of NC gases on system thermal-hydraulics and on heat transfer in a horizontal steam generator (HSG). The system behavior can be affected by hydrogen produced in the core in case of a severe accident, by nitrogen from hydro-accumulators released into the primary circuit in case of a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) and more generally by any NC gas in all cases where cooling is ensured by natural circulation. A secondary objective of the tests - the first series of tests ever performed with NC gas with PACTEL - was to find out, if the instrumentation of PACTEL was adequate for this type of tests and if it was functioning properly. This paper presents the measured and calculated (CATHARE code version V15a mod 2.1) results of the test NCg-l. It was carried out in natural ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This report is a summary of the Steam Generator Group Project progress for 1985. Statistical analyses are presented of data from nondestructive examination (NDE) round robin tests that were performed on the Surry generator in 1984. In the first round robin, teams acquired and analyzed their own data on a selected 10% subset of tubes. In the second round robin, analysts from each participating team analyzed identical sets of data which were provided to them by the Project. Results from several examinations utilizing advanced/alternate NDE technologies including alternate eddy current probes and techniques, ultrasonics, and profilometry are also reported. Criteria are listed for selecting tube specimens that will be removed from the generator. A sampling plan based on these criteria is detailed graphically in the report. The initial steps that have been taken to carry out the plan are described; tooling fabricated for the sample removals is discussed. Successful removal of three 9-tube ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This human investigation of lead absorption from the lungs utilized two forms of lead, lead chloride and lead hydroxide; the former was used in picogram amounts and the latter at microgram levels. These two species of lead were selected in an attempt to simulate the range of physicochemical properties found in atmospheric lead (urban air). Aerosols labeled with lead-203 were made of comparable aerodynamic size (MMAD 0.25 ..mu..m +- 0.1) by using sodium chloride as the deposition-determining aerosol. After brief, mouthpiece exposures, 17 subjects were followed by serial counting with a thoracic array of 12 2-in. scintillation detectors and two 2-in. leg counters, all coupled to single channel analyzers. Serial blood samples were also taken. The two exposure groups showed similar total deposition values (23 vs 26%) and the same biological retention halftimes, viz., 22.6 h. When the retention data were corrected for blood-borne /sup 203/Pb, the biological halftimes ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Friede and Goldman Ltd. of New Orleans, Louisiana has a successful drilling rig, the L-780 jack-up series. The triangular-shaped drilling vessel measures 180 x 176 ft. and is equipped with three 352 ft legs including spud cans. It is designed to work in up to 250 ft waters and drill to 20,000 ft depths. The unit is scheduled to begin initial drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico for Arco. Design features are included for the unit. Davie Shipbuilding Ltd. has entered the Mexican offshore market with the signing of a $40,000,000 Canadian contract for a jack-up to work in 300 ft water depths. Baker Marine Corporation has contracted with the People's Republic of China for construction of two self-elevating jack-ups. The units will be built for Magnum Marine, headquartered in Houston. Details for the two rigs are given. Santa Fe International Corporation has ordered a new jack-up rig to work initially in the Gulf of Suez. The newly ordered unit, Rig 136, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lappeenranta University of Technology (LTKK) and VTT Energy carried out a series of preliminary experiments in 1999 to study the behavior of noncondensable (NC) gases in VVER geometry. The experiments were run on the Parallel Channel Test Loop (PACTEL), which is a medium scale integral test facility designed to simulate thermal-hydraulic phenomena characteristic of VVER 440 type nuclear plants. The experiments aimed at studying the effect of noncondensable gases on system thermal-hydraulics and on heat transfer in a horizontal steam generator (HSG). The system behavior can be affected by hydrogen produced in the core in case of a severe accident, by nitrogen from hydro-accumulators (ACCU) released into the primary circuit in case of a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) and more generally by any noncondensable gas in all cases where cooling is ensured by natural circulation. This paper presents the measured results of the series of three experiments with noncondensable gases (NCg-1, NCg-2 ...

Science.gov (United States)

The mantis shrimp Squilla mantis shows a graded series of avoidance/escape responses to visual and mechanical (vibration and touch) rostral stimuli. A low-threshold response is mediated by the simultaneous protraction of the thoracic walking legs and abdominal swimmerets and telson, producing a backwards 'lurch' or jump that can displace the animal by up to one-third of its body length, but leaves it facing in the same direction. A stronger response starts with similar limb protraction, but is followed by partial abdominal flexion. The maximal response also consists of limb protraction followed by abdominal flexion, but in this case the abdominal flexion is sufficiently vigorous to pull the animal into a tight vertical loop, which leaves it inverted and facing away from the stimulus. The animal then swims forward (away from the stimulus) and rights itself by executing a half-roll. A bilaterally paired, large-diameter, rapidly conducting axon in the dorsal region of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ovarian function was evaluated in 11 women 16 to 43 years of age at treatment who received doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and high doses of methotrexate with or without radiotherapy in adjuvant therapy of soft tissue sarcoma. Five women (16-33 yr old) who received chemotherapy alone or combined with radiotherapy only at sites distant from the ovaries (chest wall, thigh, and leg) had minimal menstrual irregularities or temporary cessation of menses during therapy; cyclic menses returned promptly after therapy. Gonadotropin levels (expressed as means +/- SD (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 10 +/- 5 mlU/ml; luteinizing hormone (LH), 10 +/- 4 mlU/ml) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) levels (means +/- SD, 208 +/- 147 pg/ml) were normal. By contrast, 4 older women (ages 36-43 yr) who received similar treatment developed persistent amenorrhea with postmenopausal levels of gonadotropin (FSH, 108 +/- 29 mlU/ml; LH, 72 +/- 19 mlU/ml) and E2 (19 +/- 8 pg/ml). Two additional ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A 12 m.y. record of large rhyolitic eruptions from the Coromandel (CVZ) and Taupo (TVZ) volcanic zones of New Zealand is contained in cores retrieved by Leg 181 of the Ocean Drilling Program. Site 1124, located 670 km from the TVZ, has a maximum of 134 macroscopic tephra layers with a total thickness of 13.18 m. These units, along with between 7 and 63 tephras from 3 other sites, were dated by a combination of magnetostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, isothermal plateau fission track determinations, and geochemical correlation with onshore tephra deposits. Additional time control for the last 3 m.y. came from an orbitally tuned, benthic, oxygen isotope profile for Site 1123. Results extend the incomplete terrestrial record of volcanism by placing the first major rhyolitic eruption in the CVZ at c. 12 Ma, c. 1.6-1 m.y. earlier than previously known. Tephras became thicker and more frequent from the late Miocene into the Quaternary - a trend that probably reflected (1) ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The understanding of fission product deposition in realistic steam generator conditions is needed for release estimates in PSA studies, and for the design of efficient accident management procedures. This is considered very important because primary-to-secondary leakages risk dominant sequences in many plants. Furthermore, the decay heat of the fission product deposits adds to the thermal load to the steam generator tubes also in other sequences, especially in case of cold leg leakages. This brings out the concern of induced steam generator tube ruptures in cases, where the steam generators are initially intact. The experimental data showed that the highest deposited fraction within the tubes were found in cases with lowest flow velocities. The minimum value of the deposited fraction was observed at intermediate flow velocities. With these relatively low Reynolds numbers, the results calculated with deposition models agree well with the experiments. At high ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This project is to provide the regulatory direction of containment bypass during multiple steam generator tube failure issue for the Korean Next Generation Reactors, which is a part of major technical issues resulted from the safety regulation R and D on the KNGR. The outstanding results are as follows : the Multiple Steam Generator Tube Repture(MSGTR) event has never been occurred in the history of commercial nuclear reactor operation but single Steam Generator Tube Rupture(SGTR) event is reported to occur every two years. A probabilistic safety analysis study on MSGTR event, however, show its probability of occurrence is to be the same order as the design basis accidents such as LACA. In this regard, the ability of NPPs to cope with MSGTR event is required. Some requirements on initial and boundary conditions are suggested to be used in the analyses of NPPs during MSGTR events. The items that should be considered in establishing regulatory requirements are summarized as follows : the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Installation of new Shortwave Spectrometer for permanent operation at SGP - In May 2006 the new ShortWave Spectrometer (SWS) was installed in the Optical Trailer at the Southern Great Plains Central Facility SGP on 27 April 2006. The SWS began full operation 28 April 2006 and has run continuously to the present. Over 25 GB of spectra has been collected, calibrated and archived. 3-D radiative transfer simulations - Retrieved fields of cloud optical thickness and effective radius to from the MODIS Airborne Simulator were used to reproduce 3D cloud fields that were used a input to 3D radiative transfer simulations and then compared with simultaneous Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR) spectral irradiance measurements. The influence of both horizontal and vertical cloud structure, using accurate versus approximated optical properties in the radiative transfer model on the modeled irradiance was examined, as was the influence of using the full phase function versus using approximations of ...