CERN Document Server

Kelvin and Stokes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hybrid organic-inorganic coatings with phosphonate functionalities have been synthesized and evaluated as prospective surface treatments for magnesium materials. These coatings have been processed via a sol-gel route by hydrolysis and condensation of a mixture of diethylphosphonatoethyltriethoxy-silane and tetraethoxy-silane with variable molar ratios. The coatings morphology and the surface chemistry at the coating/substrate interface have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, "3"1P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The corrosion protection performance of the coatings deposited on magnesium alloy AZ31B has been examined by a group of electrochemical techniques including potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In addition, a scanning Kelvin probe technique has been used to investigate interfacial ...

Science.gov (United States)

Apr 14, 2010 ... The payload uses a remote infrared thermometer (Kelvin-Video), a thermohygrometer (Iva-6A), a heat-loss thermoanemometer/thermometer (TTM-2) ...

Science.gov (United States)

Observations are presented that link extratropical Rossby wave disturbances excited in the Southern Hemisphere subtropical jet to the initiation of convectively coupled Kelvin waves in the Pacific intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) during austral winter. A baroclinic, zonal wavenumber 6, eastward-propagating Rossby wave train in the subtropical jet turns northeastward in the vicinity of Australia, inducing upper tropospheric divergence and vertical motion fields that spread equatorward and induce cloudiness anomalies in the Tropics. Lower tropospheric pressure surges excited from the extratropics also induce Kelvin wave-like geopotential height and temperature anomalies at the surface, providing additional lower tropospheric convergence and vertical motion forcing. The tropical outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and circulation fields propagate eastward in tandem with the extratropical Rossby wave train at approximately 17 m s-1. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper presents a methodology for modeling slug initiation and growth in horizontal ducts. Transient two-fluid equations are solved numerically using a class of high-resolution shock capturing methods. The advantage of this method is that slug formation and growth in a stratified regime can be calculated directly from the solutions to the flow field differential equations. In addition, by using high-resolution shock capturing methods that do not contain numerical diffusion, the discontinuity generated by slugging in the flow field can be modeled with good accuracy. The two-fluid model is shown to be well-posed mathematically only under certain conditions. Under these circumstances, the two-fluid model is capable of correctly predicting and modeling the flow physics. When ill-posed, an unbounded instability occurs in the flow field solution, and the instability amplitude increases exponentially with decreasing mesh sizes. This work shows that there are three ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Complimentary spectroscopic, microscopic and electrochemical studies were performed to characterise the barrier properties as well as the interface structure of model iron substrates covered with thin plasma polymer films. Cathodic plasma polymers were deposited which show high barrier properties. The metal surface was pre-treated by a reducing or oxidising plasma. This allowed the adjustment of the oxidation state of the interface layer. The interface structure was characterised by means of X-ray photoelectron sputter profiles, infrared spectroscopy and the application of a Kelvin probe. The investigations show that the measured Voltapotential on the plasma polymer surface can be correlated with the oxidation state of the interface. Reducing plasmas lead to an almost oxide free surface. After deposition of the plasma polymer, this reduced state of the oxide is sensitive to re-oxidation of the interface by oxygen that diffuses through the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

By means of an audio frequency plasma polymerisation ultra-thin gradient plasma polymer layers were deposited on zinc and zinc-coated iron. The aim was to generate an interfacial polymeric layer which bonds to an oxidised metal as well as to a subsequently applied organic coating and acts as an interfacial barrier layer for ions and water. Surface modifications were done in an in situ plasma cell with infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). The zinc surface was first activated by an oxygen plasma to provide a freshly oxidised and contamination free oxide surface. The intermediate stages of the surface reactions could be revealed. Carbon dioxide molecules as oxidation products adsorbed on the growing zinc oxide and were desorbed at a later stage. An organosilicon plasma polymer was deposited directly on top of the oxide layer from a hexamethyldisilane (HMDS) plasma. Afterwards a cyclohexene (CHEX)/hexamethyldisilane co-plasma polymer was deposited. The top plasma polymer ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A new eddy current array probe has been implemented as a straightforward and promising technique for detection of outer diameter (OD) surface-breaking cracks on the extrados of feeder bends. The design is based on previous work performed at AECL, which had demonstrated that eddy current probes with laterally displaced transmit-receive coils can overcome some of the limitations of inspecting ferritic steel components for surface-breaking cracks. The Feeder Integrity Joint Program-CANDU Owners Group Inc. (FIJP-COG) Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) Team members commissioned AECL to work in collaboration with the probe manufacturer ZETEC, to develop a field usable eddy current array probe. The objective was to acquire a technique with the following capabilities: fast scanning non-contact inspection technique for surface breaking discontinuities; full inspection of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This work reports the development of an automatic methodology based on the use of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) as an interfacial fluorescent probe for detecting the hydrophobic environment shift around the probe, caused by the hydrolytic action of PLA2 on the liposomes. The implementation of this reaction in a sequential injection analysis (SIA) system along with the use of the mixing chambers permitted the evaluation of PLA2 activity and assessment of the inhibitory effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on PLA2 activity. Several studies were performed with the aim of establishing the appropriate flow system configuration: the liposome substrate; PLA2 and ANS optimum concentrations and incubation times before and after the enzyme addition. Based on these st...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Secondary-electron emission (SEE) spectra have been obtained with the Scanning Probe Energy Loss Spectrometer at a tip-sample distance of only 50 nm. Such short working distances are required for the best theoretical spatial resolution (<10 nm). The SEE spectra of graphite, obtained as a function of tip bias voltage, are shown to correspond to unoccupied states in the electronic band structure. The SEE spectra of thin gold films demonstrate the capability of identifying (carbonaceous) surface contamination with this technique.

Environmental Research Database

ObjectivesThe overall aim of this work is to use an in-situ FTIR probe to investigate selected heterogeneous catalysts in industrially relevant organic reactions. This approach will be broadly applicable to the UK fine chemical manufacturing base.~%~~%~The project has the following specific objectives:~%~~%~- To demonstrate and develop the use of an in-situ FTIR probe in a batch reactor at elevated temperatures (eg greater than 100 deg C) to monitor reactant usage and product formation.~%~~%~- To validat [continued...]DescriptionThis proposal concerns the in-situ study of catalytic processes and reaction kinetics. The catalysts concerned are microporous materials, such as, zeolites, containing pores and cavities of molecular dimensions. These catalysts constitute crystal reactors on a nanometer scale that are selective on a size and shape basis for organic molecules used ...

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:21769239

Science.gov (United States)

... INTERMEDIATE TO THE CENTRALIZERS IS A SENSING SECTION COMPRISED OF MULTIPLE EDDY CURRENT PROBES ON FLEXIBLE ...

CERN Document Server

Network tomography aims at inferring internal network characteristics based on measurements at the edge of the network. In loss tomography, in particular, the characteristic of interest is the loss rate of individual links. There is a significant body of work dedicated to this problem using multicast and/or unicast end-to-end probes. Independently, recent advances in network coding have shown that there are several advantages from allowing intermediate nodes to process and combine, in addition to just forward, packets. In this paper, we pose the problem of loss tomography in networks that have network coding capabilities. We design a framework for estimating link loss rates, which leverages network coding capabilities and we show that it improves several aspects of tomography, including the identifiability of links, the tradeoff between estimation accuracy and bandwidth efficiency, and the complexity of probe path ...

Science.gov (United States)

... The development of various modeling methods for conventional eddy current probes (absolute, differential, two-port, etc.) has led to a general ...

Science.gov (United States)

Not Available

Science.gov (United States)

... Accession Number : ADD321199. Title : OPTIMIZATION OF EDDY CURRENT PROBES FOR NDT OF CARBON FIBER COMPOSITES. ...

Science.gov (United States)

... Accession Number : ADD335809. Title : Characterization of Absolute-Resonant Eddy Current Probes,. Corporate Author : ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Focus Ion Beam (FIB) milling has greatly extended the utility of atom probe and TEM because it enables sample preparation with a level of dimensional control never before possible. Using FIB it is possible to extract the samples from desired and very specific locations. The artifacts associated with this sample preparation method must also be fully understood. In this work issues specifically relevant to the FIB milling of aluminum alloys are presented. After using the FIB as a sample preparation technique it is evident that gallium will concentrate in three areas of the sample: on the surface, on grain boundaries and at interphase boundaries. This work also shows that low energy Ar ion nanomilling is potentially quite effective for removing gallium implantation layers and gallium from the internal surfaces of aluminum thin foils.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

New physical objects, ispalators based on free soap films, exhibit persistent flows of the soap solution in open and closed volumes in air with additions of gases of the C_8F_1_8 type (p = 20 Torr) at temperature drops on the films of the order of tenths and hundredths of kelvin. The flows move continuously at a velocity of 5 - 20 cm s"-"1. It is found that the parts of an inclined ispalator film show anomalous behaviour upon heating: their weight increases and they move downward over the film, whereas the unheated parts of the film move upward. Continuous radial vortex flows accompanied by the formation and washing of the regions of a thin black film are observed on circular films in closed volumes upon their uniform external cooling by evaporating water for 5 - 10 hours. The rapid flows make film ispalators the efficient heat carriers, which operate at small temperature drops (tenths and hundredths of kelvin) and surpass copper in the amount ...

Science.gov (United States)

Our research in the general area of acid catalysis involves the characterization of solid acidity and the corresponding assessment of catalytic performance of acidic materials. Acid characterization studies are required to provide essential information about the type of acid site (i.e., Lewis versus Bronsted), the strength of the sites, and the mobility of molecules adsorbed on the acid sites. An accurate measure of acid strength is given by the heat of adsorption of a basic probe molecule on the acid site. A thermodynamic representation of the mobility of adsorbed species on these sites is given by the entropy of adsorption. Important techniques used in these acid site characterization studies include microcalorimetry, thermogravimetric measurements, temperature programmed desorption, infrared spectroscopy and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance. The combination of these acid site characterization studies with reaction kinetics measurements of selected ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This work concerns the development of a methodology the objective of which is to characterize and diagnose two-phase flow regime transitions. The approach is based on the fundamental assumption that a transition flow is less stationary than a flow with an established regime. During the first time, the efforts focused on: (1) the design and construction of an experimental loop, allowing to reproduce the main horizontal two-phase flow patterns, in a stable and controlled way; (2) the design and construction of an electrical impedance probe, providing an imaged information of the spatial phase distribution in the pipe; and (3) the systematic study of the joint time-frequency and time-scale analysis methods, which permitted to define an adequate parameter quantifying the unstationarity degree. During the second time, in order to verify the fundamental assumption, a series of experiments were conducted, the objective of which was to demonstrate the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nuclear steam generator tubes have become flawed in ways that challenge conventional eddy current probes. In response to the shortcomings of conventional probes, array probes have been developed to improve measurement capabilities. However, the commercially available array probes have exhibited several weaknesses that offset the advantages and limit the applications in steam generator inspections. A primary weakness is the relatively high rate of probe failure coupled with the high unit cost for each probe. This can be costly for a utility in the time lost for probe replacement and increased radiation exposure in addition to the probe costs. Other weaknesses which make array probes undesirable for routine use are: poor mechanical and electrical characteristics; difficulty in operation and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A concentric reducer tube, which was a part of the top exit roughing hydraulic descaler in a hot strip mill failed prematurely under working pressure. A detailed metallurgical investigation comprising physical examination, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis was carried out to find out the genesis of the failure. Physical examination revealed cracks located symmetrically around the circumference of the tube that ran along its full length, up to the weld beads at both ends. Optical microscopy of etched samples revealed a banded ferrite-pearlite structure and the existence of forging folds near the change-in-section(160? fillets). Cracks were found to initiate from these forging folds. No structural abnormalities were found in the weld beads and...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) with continuous-wave (cw) laser excitation has added high frequency resolution to the ability of CRDS being used for the absolute quantification of trace-level species present in many chemical processes. Cavity dithering technique has easily resolved the problem of resonant coupling of a cw laser light into a high-finesse cavity. The present study addresses the potential uncertainty involved in such cw-CRDS techniques incorporating the cavity mirror motion, i.e., the doppler frequency shift of a probe light inside the cavity. In the high-resolution spectroscopic work of megahertz-accuracy, even the influence of intracavity doppler effect may become significant.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A multiple probe approach of implanting microdialysis probes into each separate tissue layer would better represent sampling from the stomach. Presently, microdialysis sampling experiments are...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This semiannual report for the period October 1983-March 1984 summarizes activities in Sandia National Laboratories' continuing program of coal liquefaction research. The primary goals are to: explore novel catalytic concepts and materials for conversion of coal to liquid fuels; determine the effects of process variables on catalyst deactivation; determine the effects of coal structure and solvent properties on low temperature dissolution; study the kinetics and catalysis of hydrogen transfer reactions; develop an understanding of slurry gelling phenomena; and provide a technical assessment of coal liquefaction processes. During this period, work was performed on: the use of pyrene as a chemical probe of catalyst activity; analysis of catalysts from Wilsonville run 242 using ESCA; atmospheric pressure model compound activity testing of regenerated catalysts from Wilsonville run 242; base displacement experiments with a coal-indole ...

CERN Document Server

The adjoint of an ocean general circulation model is used as a tool for investigating the causes of changes in ENSO SST indices. We identify adjoint Kelvin and Rossby waves in the sensitivities to sea level and wind stress at earlier times, which can be traced back for more than a year through western and weak eastern boundary reflections. Depending on the thermocline depth the first and second baroclinic modes are excited. The sensitivities to the heat flux and SST are local and decay in about a month. The sensitivities to the fluxes are converted into the influence of SST using the adjoint of a statistical atmosphere model. Focusing on SST perturbations in the index region itself, we recover, up to a scale factor, the delayed oscillator concept.

Science.gov (United States)

Not Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Described herein is an optical probe (120) for use in characterizing surface defects in wafers, such as semiconductor wafers. The optical probe (120) detects laser light reflected from the surface (124) of the wafer (106) within various ranges of angles. Characteristics of defects in the surface (124) of the wafer (106) are determined based on the amount of reflected laser light detected in each of the ranges of angles. Additionally, a wafer characterization system (100) is described that includes the described optical probe (120).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Short communication.

Science.gov (United States)

Not Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper described the application of an AC surface probe, similar to presently used eddy current probes, to the measurement of DC transport critical currents and critical state dissipation in high {Tc} superconductors. It has been shown that the probe can provide quantitative measurement of the full field penetration in superconducting samples by measuring the response of AC induced screening currents for superconducting materials in the form of tapes with overlayers of silver. In this manner, the AC probe can be used to replace the contact DC probe for determining critical currents in a noncontacting and local manner suitable for scanning over or along the sample.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper described the application of an AC surface probe, similar to presently used eddy current probes, to the measurement of DC transport critical currents and critical state dissipation in high [Tc] superconductors. It has been shown that the probe can provide quantitative measurement of the full field penetration in superconducting samples by measuring the response of AC induced screening currents for superconducting materials in the form of tapes with overlayers of silver. In this manner, the AC probe can be used to replace the contact DC probe for determining critical currents in a noncontacting and local manner suitable for scanning over or along the sample.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Computer programs have been developed for modelling impedance and transmit-receive eddy current probes in two-dimensional axis-symmetric configurations. These programs, which are based on analytic equations, simulate bobbin probes in infinitely long tubes and surface probes on plates. They calculate probe signal due to uniform variations in conductor thickness, resistivity and permeability. These signals depend on probe design and frequency. A finite element numerical program has been procured to calculate magnetic permeability in non-linear ferromagnetic materials. Permeability values from these calculations can be incorporated into the above analytic programs to predict signals from eddy current probes with permanent magnets in ferromagnetic tubes. These programs were used to test various probe designs for new testing applications. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Research at the interface between biomolecules and inorganic nanocrystals has resulted in a great number of new discoveries. In part this arises from the synergistic duality of the system: biomolecules may act as self-assembly agents for organizing inorganic nanocrystals into functional materials; alternatively, nanocrystals may act as microscopic or spectroscopic labels for elucidating the behavior of complex biomolecular systems. However, success in either of these functions relies heavily uponthe ability to control the conjugation and assembly processes.In the work presented here, we first design a branched DNA scaffold which allows hybridization of DNA-nanocrystal monoconjugates to form discrete assemblies. Importantly, the asymmetry of the branched scaffold allows the formation of asymmetric2assemblies of nanocrystals. In the context of a self-assembled device, this can be considered a step toward the ability to engineer functionally distinct inputs and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A 450 MeV Synchrotron Radiation Source, Indus-1 is being constructed at Centre for Advanced Technology at Indore in central India. This paper narrates our experience in construction and alignment of synchrotron machines which was first of its kind for most of us. Careful design, planning and execution of the work yielded modest results so that alignment accuracies between 0.1 to 0.3 mm could be achieved (in booster synchrotron) and, which have proved to be adequate up till now. The building of the SRS complex was constructed such that machine rings have their foundations isolated from rest of the building. A number of 100 x 150 mm size steel plates were embedded in the concrete of floor and walls to serve as base for reference surveying marks which were established later. The pre-injector and booster ring are enclosed in a radiation shielding zone with separate ventilation system. Dipoles, quadrupoles and a few sextupoles were fiducialised during their field ...

CERN Document Server

Some extensions of the Standard Model often predict a Z'gauge boson which mediates flavor-changing neutral-current (FCNC) interaction between up and top quarks. These new physics models are phenomenologically attractive because they can explain the top quark forward-backward asymmetry $A^t_FB$ measured recently by the Tevatron collider. In addition, they will induce the top quark FCNC decays and the like-sign top pair production which can be explored at the LHC. In this work we focus on two such models (the left-right model and the $U(1)_X$ model) to investigate their correlated effects on $A^t_FB$, the FCNC decays $t -> u V (V=g,Z,\\gamma)$ and the like-sign top pair production at the LHC. We also pay special attention on the most recently measured $A^t_FB$ in the large invariant mass region. We find that under the current experimental constrains both models can alleviate the deviation of $A^t_FB$ and, meanwhile, enhance some FCNC decays and the like-sign pair ...

Science.gov (United States)

The work presented in part 1 of this study established that the sorption of anhydrous HX into dehydrated Na{sub 56}Y progresses through a sequence of steps involving HX ionization and charge separation, oxygen framework protonation, formation of {alpha}-cage confined cation-anion contact ion pairs, and proton solvation by HX. A logical extension, which is the subjected of this study, concerns the effect of extraframework alkali metal cation type (M = Li{sup +}, Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, Rb{sup +}, Cs{sup +}) on the sorption process. The question of the acidity of proton-loaded zeolites compared to Broensted acid zeolites is addressed by using probe reactions with weak bases like ethane and cyclopropane. Additional insight into these systems is also obtained from a quantitative comparison of the kinetic and thermodynamic activation parameters for the dehydrohalogenation of proton-loaded zeolites exemplified by (HX){sub 8}Na{sub 56}Y relative to the ...

Science.gov (United States)

The purpose of this project was to design, build, and characterize the performance of a volume breast ultrasound (VBUS) scanner that images the pendant breast. VBUS scanner design includes a: 1) clinical ultrasound scanner and transducer; 2) scanning table with a hole for the pendant breast; 3) rotational gantry; 4) probe mounting assembly; 5) compressionless breast stabilization device; 6) acquisition, control, reconstruction, and display software. Performance assessment characterized a variety of parameters including: spatial resolution, uniformity, and distortion using high and low contrast test objects in both horizontal and vertical scanning modes. The VBUS scanner modules have been constructed and initial performance evaluated. Approximately 300 scans are acquired over 360 degrees in 18 seconds. Reconstruction requires 25 ms per slice. Test object images depicted hyper- and hypo-echoic masses and demonstrated good resolution, soft tissue contrast and reduced ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Recent research has shown that biologically inspired approaches to materials synthesis and self-assembly, hold promise of unprecedented atomic level control of structure and interfaces. In particular, the use of organic molecules to control the production of inorganic technological materials has the potential for controlling grain structure to enhance material strength; controlling facet expression for enhanced catalytic activity; and controlling the shape of nanostructured materials to optimize optical, electrical and magnetic properties. In this work, we use organic molecules to modify silver crystal shapes towards understanding the metal-organic interactions that lead to nanoparticle shape control. Using in situ electrochemical AFM (EC-AFM) as an in situ probe, we study the influence of a cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylamminobromide (CTAB) on Ag growth during electrochemical deposition on Ag(100). The results show that the organic ...

CERN Document Server

We review X-ray plasma diagnostics based on the line ratios of He-like ions. Triplet/singlet line intensities can be used to determine electronic temperature and density, and were first developed for the study of the solar corona. Since the launches of the X-ray satellites Chandra and XMM-Newton, these diagnostics have been extended and used (from CV to Si XIII) for a wide variety of astrophysical plasmas such as stellar coronae, supernova remnants, solar system objects, active galactic nuclei, and X-ray binaries. Moreover, the intensities of He-like ions can be used to determine the ionization process(es) at work, as well as the distance between the X-ray plasma and the UV emission source for example in hot stars. In the near future thanks to the next generation of X-ray satellites (e.g., Astro-H and IXO), higher-Z He-like lines (e.g., iron) will be resolved, allowing plasmas with higher temperatures and densities to be probed. Moreover, the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This quarterly report for the period April through June 1984 summarizes activities in Sandia National Laboratories' continuing program of coal liquefaction research. The primary goals are to: explore novel catalytic concepts and materials for conversion of coal to liquid fuels; determine the effects of process variables on catalyst deactivation; determine the effects of coal structure and solvent properties on low temperature dissolution; study the kinetics and catalysis of hydrogen transfer reactions; develop an understanding of slurry gelling phenomena; and provide a technical assessment of coal liquefaction processes. During this period, work was performed on: analysis of catalyst samples from Wilsonville Run 246; catalyst presulfiding; catalyst activity testing using pyrene as a chemical probe; catalyst deactivation using a high-pressure model compound test reactor; dissolution chemistry of Wyodak coal; slurry gelling utilizing the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This work reports studies of ethanol oxidation on Pt-Sn/C catalysts with nearly the same particle size and identical overall composition having different amounts of oxide and alloyed phases. Results of characterization of physical properties by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and in situ dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (DXAS) are presented. The variation in the amount of oxide and alloyed phases, promoted by heat treatments in mild temperature conditions, does not produce any significant particle growth. Cyclic voltammetry and oxidation of adsorbed CO in acid medium are used to probe the surface conditions. Data on the electrocatalytic activity towards ethanol oxidation, obtained by potential sweeps and chronoamperometry, are discussed and correlate well with the physical properties. This study, carried out in the absence ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Conventional eddy current bobbin probes are known to be ineffectual in detecting circumferential cracks in tubing. Multi-pancake and/or rotating pancake probes are required to detect circumferential cracks. It has recently been demonstrated in CANDU steam generator tubes, with deformation, ferromagnetic deposits, and copper deposits, that multi-channel probes with transmit-receive (T/R) coils are superior to those using surface impedance coils. Unlike rotating probes, the design of a new probe denoted as C3 permits fast, single-scan inspection of a full-length tube at inspection speeds comparable to conventional bobbin probes. Since 1992, the probe has been used routinely for steam generator in-service inspection at 4 CANDU plants. Defective tubes have been plugged and the units returned to service, and they continue to operate without ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

chipD is a web server that facilitates design of DNA oligonucleotide probes for high-density tiling arrays, which can be used in a number of genomic applications such as ChIP-chip or gene-expression...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Oligonucleotide DNA probes complementary to the hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA of Bacteroides forsythus were tested for their specificity and sensitivity against reference and clinical isolates...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The introduction of prenatal screening requires rapid high-throughput diagnosis of common aneuploidies. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) allows for quick, easily automated multiplex...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Computer programs have been written to allow the analysis of different types of eddy-current probes and their performance under different steam generator test conditions. The probe types include the differential bobbin probe, the absolute bobbin probe, the pancake probe and the reflection probe. The generator test conditions include tube supports, copper deposits, magnetite deposits, denting, wastage, pitting, cracking and IGA. These studies are based mostly on computed values, with the limited number of test specimens available used to verify the computed results. The instrument readings were computed for a complete matrix of the different test conditions, and then the test conditions determined as a function of the readings by a least-squares technique. A comparison was made of the errors in fit and instrument drift for the different probe ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

CANDU steam generators and heat exchangers have been afflicted with a significant variety of degradation mechanisms. Until recently, detection and characterization of most of the varieties of flaws required usage of several different eddy current techniques. Tubes needed to be scanned multiple times to ensure they were inspected for all possible degradation mechanisms. The time required to deploy so many different types of techniques to inspect the steam generator tubes has had a significant impact on the inspection schedules. The X-Probe was designed with an array of eddy current coils capable of detecting, characterizing and sizing axial, circumferential and volumetric flaws. The X-Probe is a fast-scanning probe with scanning speed equivalent to speeds typically used for simple bobbin coil probes. With its capability of fulfilling most if not all of the functions of the other tube-testing eddy current ...

Science.gov (United States)

The past decade has seen the development of eddy current probes for inspection of the mildly ferro-magnetic alloy Monel 400. Due to the rapid advances in permanent magnet technology similar probes have been upgraded to magnetically saturate, and hence ins...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Synthetic complementary oligonucleotides are useful hybridization probes for the detection of mRNAs and genes encoding proteins for which only a partial amino acid sequence is known. Usually this involves...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

... The rounds were initiated by an exploding bridgewire detonator (EBW) and the ionisation probes were progressively cloud by the detonation front. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Science.gov (United States)

... HARDENED CUP AND CARBURIZED AND HARDENED CORES HAVE BEEN PROFILED USING 2 TYPES OF EDDY CURRENT PROBES. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Phased array provides many advantages over conventional ultrasonic testing method, but phased array has also limitations. This paper describes typical results of the experimental sound field analysis generated from the array probe. A photo-elastic ultrasonic visualization technique was applied in this study. The sound fields of shear wave generated from the array probe was equivalent to that from the fixed angle probe. (author)

CERN Document Server

Towards the end of the 19th century, Kelvin pronounced as the "clouds of physics" 1) the failure of the Michelson-Morely experiment to detect an ether wind, 2) the violation of the classical mechanical equipartition theorem in statistical thermodynamics. And he believed that the removal of these clouds would bring physics to an end. But as we know, the removal of these clouds led to the two great breakthoughts of modern physics: 1) The theory of relativity, and 2) to quantum mechanics. Towards the end of the 20th century more clouds of physics became apparent. They are 1) the riddle of quantum gravity, 2) the superluminal quantum correlations, 3) the small cosmological constant. Furthermore, there is the riddle of dark energy making up 70% of the physical universe, the non-baryonic cold dark matter making up 26% and the very small initial entropy of the universe. An attempt is made to explain the importance of these clouds for the future of physics. Conjectures for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Until a decade ago, only the differential bobbin type eddy current probe was considered necessary for reliable heat exchanger tube inspection. The introduction of different tube materials, manufacturing processes and a variety of service induced failures has greatly increased the demands of eddy current testing. Optimized probe designs enhanced by improved instrumentation can help satisfy some of these demands. Some of the more difficult inspection problems are detection of circumferential cracks, fretting wear under non-ferromagnetic support plates and shallow internal defects. Reliable detection and sizing of such defects is often made more difficult by the fact they frequently occur in defect prone regions such as under tubesheets or support plates and in transition regions of finned tubes. Probe designs effective in overcoming these difficulties exist. This paper describes a number of such probes ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The bobbin probe technique is basically one of the important ECT methods for the steam generator tube integrity assessment that is practiced during each plant outage. The bobbin probe also is the essential component which consists of the whole ECT examination system, and provides a decisive data for the evaluation of tube integrity in compliance with acceptance criteria described in specific procedures. The selection of probe is especially important because the quality of acquired ECT data is determined by the probe design characteristics, such as geometry and operation frequency, and has an important effect on examination results. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has recently defined the procedures for the qualification of eddy current hardware and technique. These procedures provide two basic methods for qualification. Flawed tube removed from operation, or artificial flaw is required for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Helically coiled tubes of steam generators (SG) in FBR are boundaries between sodium and water/steam. Therefore, to assure the integrity of tubes, it is necessary to inspect the tubes nondestructively for in service or after a sodium-water reaction accident. In order to make it possible to conduct in-service inspection of SG tubes, we have studied on eddy current probes and probe inserting methods. As for the probe inserting method, IHI designed a fluid driving type which consists of a model probe and signal cable with float balls and driven by air pressure force. Presented in this paper is the authors' report, which describes the fluid driving type as an effective method to insert an eddy current probe into helically coiled tubes. The outline of the test results is as follows: 1. It was possible to insert the probe into 65 meter length helically coiled tubes. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Steam Generator (SG) tubes in PWR plant are periodically inspected using eddy current testing (ECT) method. In Japan, bobbin coil type dual function probe is used for full length inspection, but the detectability for circumferential crack is very poor, and to improve detectability for circumferential crack and supplement regular ECT, various kinds of multi segment eddy current probes and multi transducer ultrasonic testing (UT) method have been developed. ECT probes are constructed of multiple surfaceriding special winding differential type coils and UT probe consists of 16 transducers which are spaced equally around the probe circumference for 360deg wall coverage. Both of those EC and UT probes are designed effective to detect circumferential crack. On the other hand, various kinds of laboratory induced circumferential cracks have been made and destroyed to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Plasma arc welding processes are used in off-shore industry for construction and maintenance in the wet surrounding of underwater structures and pipelines. In greater water depth the density of the plasma gas increase because of the greater hydrostatic pressure. This causes the increase of conductive heat losses to the wet surrounding. To keep up the energy flux to the workpiece to be welded, the plasma arc has to burn in a local dry area with an inside pressure of 1 bar. This requirement can be fulfilled by a rotating cylinder with a liquid film flowing down the inner wall. The flow around the rotating cylinder to create a local dry area around the plasma arc under water is experimentally investigated. The rotating cylinder is placed above the work surface which is simulated by a flat plate. According to the centrifugal forces of the rotating flow inside the gap between the lower end of the cylinder and the flat plate the water is forced out of the cylinder. The ...

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The high cost of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) poses a significant challenges to their commercial uptake. The bipolar plates connect the anode and cathodes of cells and separate the reactant gases, and are the most expensive components in PEMFCs. Although stainless steel can be used as a low-cost alternative in bipolar plate construction, steel is prone to electrochemical corrosion in the highly acidic PEMFC operation process. This study examined the polarization curves and ICR as a function of compaction force of a high Cr and Ni austenitic stainless steel in an environment simulating the bipolar plate under PEMFC operating conditions. The 3-electrode system consisted of a platinum (Pt) sheet, a saturated calomel electrode with a Luggin capillary contract with the used solution and the work electrode. All polarization curves were measured in a solution of H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} in order to simulate the aggressive PEMFC environment. Surface morphologies ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ultra-shallow junction formation in deep submicron Si devices is limited by anomalous diffusion of the dopant, which is related to the release of interstitials from defect clusters formed during the implantation of energetic ions or the subsequent annealing. The work described in this dissertation is concerned with the effects of low energy B ion implantation, especially damage formation, clustering and its annealing. After a review of the stopping and ranges of energetic ions in Si, the formation of implant damage, in particular of point defects, their migration, agglomeration and annihilation, including the involvement of dopant ions, is considered. A description of the Salford ultra low energy implanter is given and the main analysis technique, medium ion energy scattering (MEIS) reviewed. Additional analytical techniques used, such as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), 4-point probe and cross section transmission microscopy (XTEM) as ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the last two decades, due to increased inspection demands, eddy current instrumentation has advanced from single-frequency, single-output instruments to multifrequency, computer-aided systems. This has significantly increased the scope of eddy current testing, but, unfortunately, it has also increased the cost and complexity of inspections. In addition, this approach has not always improved defect detectability or signal-to-noise. Most eddy current testing applications are still performed with impedance probes, which have well known limitations. However, recent research at AECL has led to improved eddy current inspections through the design and development of transmit-receive (T/R) probes. T/R eddy current probes, with laterally displaced transmit and receive coils, present a number of advantages over impedance probes. They have improved signal-to-noise ratio in the presence of variable lift-off ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bobbin-coil-type eddy current probes, which are conventionally used for nondestructive inspection of steam generator tubes in pressurized-water-type nuclear power plants, have poor detectability for circumferential flaws. Hence a new type of eddy current probe was proposed to detect effectively the magnetic flux component disturbed by a flaw and thus to eliminate the flaw direction dependency on the flaw detectability. In the course of development of the proposed method, structures of the probe were investigated based on the measurement of magnetic fields induced by exciting flat coils with several shapes. The new type of probe proposed here consists of differential pick-up coils detecting magnetic flux and exciting coils having a parallelogrammic shape, and its structure was fabricated experimentally in order to detect flaws independently of their directions. Nondestructive flaw detection tests was ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper reports on the electron current to a Langmuir probe in a moving high-pressure plasma. The plasma is an atmospheric-pressure propane flame, and the probe's speed relative to the plasma is varied from 10 to 30 ms"-"1. The current is linearly dependent on the speed and appears to be comprised of two components - one driven by diffusion and the other by convection. A model is devised which can be used to measure the electron density. By comparing the density computed from this model to that measured from the ion current, it has been possible to measure the electron mobility in the flame gases. The value obtained here is in good agreement with theoretical calculations found in the literature.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We consider a D-brane probe in the unstable string background associated with flux branes. The twist in the spacetime metric reponsible for supersymmetry breaking is shown to manifest itself in the mixing of open Wilson lines with the phases of some adjoint matter fields, resulting in a nonlocal and nonsupersymmetric form of Yang-Mills theory as the probe dynamics. This provides a setup where one can study the fate of a large class of unstable closed string theories that includes as a limit type 0 theories and various orbifolds of type II and type 0 theories. We discuss the limit of C/Z_n orbifold in some detail and speculate on the couplings with closed string tachyons.

Science.gov (United States)

single star evolution. To understand the evolution of massive stars and their role in shaping the galaxy, understanding of the distribution of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

... obtain the film thickness for a given x-ray intensity ratio. 2.3 ANALYSING FOR

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of the determinant of the parameter covariance matrix for each ... parameter covariance matrix, as obtained from the Markov chains. The basic set ...

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With the improvements accomplished during the past 15 years in detection techniques and instrumentation and with the opening of space exploration, molecular spectroscopy has become a very efficient way to probe planetary atmospheres.

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... A second hydrometeor sampler (MRI Model 1220 ... The cloud particle probe normally installed in ... to the northeast showed no significant movement. ...

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... Accession Number : ADD336001. Title : Development of a FeCoNb Alloy to be used in Eddy Current Probes for Testing Ferromagnetic Tubes,. ...

Science.gov (United States)

Briefly, 48 MOS microparticle sensors (essentially the same as those flown on .... at the Naval Research Lab to interpret the polarization of the incoming radio .... Adapter Satellite, to be published in Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 1994. ...

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Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy is a powerful in situ probe of sulfur biochemistry in intact cells and tissues. Under favorable circumstances the technique can provide quantitative information on the chemical identify of the sulfur species that are present in a sample. Prange et al. have recently reported an X-ray absorption spectroscopic study of bacterial sulfur storage globules. Unfortunately there are substantial problems with the experimental technique employed that, they contend, lead to completely erroneous conclusions. In the more recent of their two papers Prange et al. employed a curve-fitting method similar to that used by us (for more than 10 years). In essence, the method employs simply fitting a linear combination of the spectra of standard compounds to that of the unknown, in this case cultures of bacterial cells. This type of analysis can provide quantitative estimates of the individual sulfur types in the sample, but is critically ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of this work was to develop a high specific activity radioiodinated cell membrane probe for tracking lymphocytes in-vivo to replace the nucleus localizing, cytotoxic lipophilic chelates (In-111 oxine and Tc-99m HMPAO) currently used. Alkylation of parent dye 4-[2-[-N,N-didecylamino]phenyl]ethenyl pyridine with E-1-tributylstannyl-3-tosylpropene (prepared form E-1-tributylstannyl-1-propene-3-ol), gave a tributyltin precursor 1. Radiolabeled 3-[4-[2-[4-(N,N-didecylamino)phenyl]ethenyl]pyridino] E-[I-125]-1-iodopropene (2), was prepared from 1 using peracetic acid in acetonitrile/water. Labeling yields and specific activities achieved were 26% (#approx#2170 Ci/mmol), 40% (1220 Ci/mmol), and 55% (200 Ci/mmol) for nca, 0.4, and 2 nanomole carrier iodide runs respectively. Canine mixed leukocytes (0.5-1.0 x 10"8 cells) were labeled with 2 (67% and 42% yields for 200 Ci/mol and 1220 Ci/mmol preparations) and showed blood clearance similar ...

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Nano materials are usually difficult to prepare. This work presents a simple way of preparing LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} nano powders using the high-energy ball milling method. This method has the advantage of producing pure, single-phase and crystalline nano powders. The milling method is carefully controlled to avoid unwanted chemical reactions that may change the stoichiometry of the material. Nano powders of between 30 and 50 nm are obtained. Structural studies of the nano powders, as well as the more conventional micron-sized LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4}, are made using X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction methods. Electrochemical evaluation of the materials is undertaken with a three-probe cyclic voltammetry technique and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. Structural studies reveal that not only are the crystallites of the nano powders much reduced in size from the normal powders, but their cell parameters are also smaller. The performance ...

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Aluminum, due to its low density and low cost, is a key material for future lightweight applications. However, like other structural materials, aluminum is subject to various forms of corrosion damage that annually costs the United States approximately 5% of its GNP [1]. The main goal is to investigate the effects of various solution anions on aluminum surfaces, and specifically probe pit initiation and inhibition. Using surface analysis techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, results have been correlated with those obtained from electrochemical methods and a radiolabeling technique developed in the Wieckowski laboratory. Analysis of data has indicated that important variables include type of anion, solution pH, and applied electrode potential. While aggressive anions such as chloride are usually studied to elucidate corrosion processes to work ultimately toward ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We present an abundance analysis based on high-resolution spectra of 10 stars selected to span the full range in metallicity in the Ursa Minor (UMi) dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy. We find that [Fe/H] for the sample stars ranges from -1.35 to -3.10 dex. Combining our sample with previously published work for a total of 16 luminous UMi giants, we establish the trends of abundance ratios [X/Fe] as functions of [Fe/H] for 15 elements. In key cases, particularly for the #alpha#-elements, these trends resemble those for stars in the outer part of the Galactic halo, especially at the lowest metallicities probed. The neutron-capture elements show an r-process distribution over the full range of Fe metallicity reached in this dSph galaxy. This suggests that the duration of star formation in the UMi dSph was shorter than in other dSph galaxies. The derived ages for a larger sample of UMi stars with more uncertain metallicities also suggest a population ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

1. The fluorescent fatty acid probe 11-(dansylamino)undecanoic acid (DAUDA) binds with high affinity to bovine and human serum albumin (BSA and HSA) at three sites. 2. The Kd of the primary binding...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Non-destructive methods for measuring the remaining anticorrosive or antioxidative ability of coatings are investigated. For anticorrosive chromium coatings the increasing ferromagnetism caused by loss of chromium is measured by a permeability probe. Measured values on blades after operation are correlated with the progress of corrosion as determined by metallographic methods. For antioxidative aluminum coatings the diminishing layer thickness is taken as indication for the exhaustion of their protection ability. The layer thickness is measured eddy current probes, especially developed for this application.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The results show that the SQUID device eddy current testing system is a suitable tool for NDE. Due to the high low-frequency sensitivity of the SQUID sensor, the SQUID device eddy current testing system permits lower examination frequencies than the conventional eddy current probe system. The SQUID system enhances fault detection in even deeper materials layers. (orig./MM).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We determined the Na/K x-ray intensity ratio in frozen sections of myocardial tissues obtained at autopsy from patients who died from various causes, using electron probe analysis. We have been able to distinguish between the ischemically injured and normal cells. The method is simple, fast, and dependable even when the duration of ischemia is only 30 minutes.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In in-service inspection of steam-generator tubes, the need for reproducibility of the measurement results and for comparison of these results over two successive inspections has led EDF to specify the main characteristics of the Eddy-Current probes and to design equipment to measure them. This equipment is presented here and the electrical and magnetic results are correlated with those obtained by testing tubes with reference defects. 5 refs.

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Specific {sup 32}P-labeled DNA probes were prepared and used to evaluate the distribution of tetracycline resistance determinants carried by gram-negative enteric bacteria isolated from pigs in 3 swine herds with different histories of antibiotic exposure. Plasmid DNA, ranging in size from 2.1 to 186 Kb, was observed in over 84% of 114 isolates studied. Two of 78 tetracycline resistant strains did not harbor plasmids. The DNA probes were isolated from plasmids pSL18, pRT29/Tn10, pBR322 and pSL106, respectively, and they represented class A, B, C and D tetracycline resistance determinants. Hybridization conditions using 0.5X SSPE at 65{degrees}C minimize cross-hybridization between the different class of tetracycline resistance genes. Cross-hybridization between class A and class C determinants could be distinguished by simultaneous comparison of the intensity of their hybridization signals. Plasmids from over 44% of the tetracycline resistant ...

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Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was applied to evaluate the heterogeneity of a passive film formed on a pure iron electrode in deaerated pH 8.4 borate solution. A probe current image of SECM was measured with a tip-generation/sub-strate-collection (TO/SC) mode in deaerated pH 8.4 borate solution containing 0.03 moldm{sup -3} Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup 4-} as a mediator. The difference in thickness of passive films formed on two iron plates at different potentials could be evaluated from the probe current image. The probe current image of the passivated iron surface with distinctive crystal grains was composed of the patch patterns, the shapes of which coincided completely with the shapes of the substrate crystal grains. The probe current flowed above the grain surface oriented to {l_brace}100{r_brace} plane was less than that above the grain surface oriented to {l_brace}110{r_brace} or ...

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PMID:6810210

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Customized reference tubes reduced sensitivity discrepancies able to be observed from one probe to the other, due to the gain setting adjustment required for a pre-definite level in amplitude response of the artificial notch. The use of a reference circuit in place of a reference part, makes characterization of the probe matched to its generator more accurate: - the material dependence is cancelled during the compensation process, - the reference signal can be adjusted more accurately in amplitude and phase response, - the manufacturing cost is reduced compared to the one necessary for machining the reference part, - the amplitude and phase response of the reference circuit can be simply modelled by using the transformer relations, such as one can appreciate the variations of the probe definition parameters and its connexion to the generator, and makes them optimal for use. The method proposed by ALSTOM for the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We analyze the potential of the e"+e"- linear colliders, operating in the e#gamma# and #gamma##gamma# modes, to probe anomalous quartic vector-boson interactions through the multiple production of W's and Z's. We examine all SU(2)_L(circle times)U(1)_Y chiral operators of order p"4 that lead to new four-gauge-boson interactions but do not alter trilinear vertices. We show that the e#gamma# and #gamma##gamma# modes are able not only to establish the existence of a strongly interacting symmetry breaking sector but also to probe for anomalous quartic couplings of the order of 10"-"2 at 90% C.L. Moreover, the information gathered in the e#gamma# mode can be used to reduce the ambiguities of the e"+e"- mode.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this Brief Report, we consider dijet production at #gamma##gamma# colliders as a probe of recently proposed, large extra-dimensional gravity models. The exchange of virtual, spin-2 graviton towers (Kaluza-Klein excitations) significantly modifies the cross section, as compared to the standard model predictions. We find that, in order to maximize the value of the effective scale that can be probed at a given center-of-mass energy, a very severe p_T cut should be applied; in general, a p_T equal to approximately 46% of the e"+e"- beam energy gives the highest reach. We find that we can probe the effective mass scale from about 2.7 TeV to 11.1 TeV, depending on the center-of-mass energy and assumptions about the model. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The ISI (In-Service Inspection) system has been developed so as to maintain the structural integrity of heat transfer tubes in the primary pressurized water cooler in the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor). This system consists of eddy current probes, ultra-sonic probes, insertion and extraction units, positioning unit and so on. Verification and performance tests of the developed ISI system were carried out using mock-up heat transfer tubes in the primary pressurized water cooler. The constitution of the system, R and D results of the inspection probes, and verification and performance test results of the ISI system for heat transfer tubes are described in this paper. (author)

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The need for a Combustion and Melting Research Facility focused on the solution of glass manufacturing problems common to all segments of the glass industry was given high priority in the earliest version of the Glass Industry Technology Roadmap (Eisenhauer et al., 1997). Visteon Glass Systems and, later, PPG Industries proposed to meet this requirement, in partnership with the DOE/OIT Glass Program and Sandia National Laboratories, by designing and building a research furnace equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostics in the DOE Combustion Research Facility located at the Sandia site in Livermore, CA. Input on the configuration and objectives of the facility was sought from the entire industry by a variety of routes: (1) through a survey distributed to industry leaders by GMIC, (2) by conducting an open workshop following the OIT Glass Industry Project Review in September 1999, (3) from discussions with numerous glass engineers, scientists, and executives, and (4) during visits to ...

Science.gov (United States)

Nanosized particles are important because of their unique properties, different from the bulk, which leads to their enhanced catalytic, photocatalytic and electronic properties. This work has dealt with three different nanoparticle systems in the context of three different aspects of nanoparticle properties: (a) photocatalytis (TiO2/metal) system, (b) luminescence (CdSe) (c) alloying (Pt-Ag and Pd-Ag). The initial photocatalytic enhancement obtained by adding noble metal on semiconductor nanoparticles, degrades as fast as in 15 minutes and questions their long-term performance. XANES measurements on such irradiated systems like TiO2/Au, TiO2/Pt, TiO2/Ir indicates a positive oxidation state of these noble metals which renders them as recombination centers for photo-excited electrons and explains the decreased photocurrent. The oxidation is caused by holes. The EXAFS results also indicate a change of the interfacial structure under the effect of UV-irradiation, thus ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Heat transfer processes use fluids which are generally not pure and can react with transfer surfaces. These surfaces are subject to deposits which can be sediments harmful to heat transfer and to integrity of materials. For nuclear plant steam generators, sludge build-up accelerates secondary side corrosion by concentrating chemical species. A major safety problem involved with such a corrosion is the growing of circumferential cracks which are very difficult to detect and size with eddy current probes. With a view to understand and control this problem, it is necessary to develop a mathematical model for the prediction of sludge behavior in PWR steam generators. Based on fundamental principles, this work intends to use different models available in literature for the prediction of the phenomenon leading to the accumulation of sludge particles at the bottom (the tubesheet) of a PWR. For that, a three-dimensional simulation of magnetite ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A CANDU nuclear reactor was shut down for over one year because steam generator (SG) tubes had failed with outer diameter stress-corrosion cracking (ODSCC) in the U-bend section. Novel, single-pass eddy current transmit-receive probes, denoted as C3, were successful in detecting all significant cracks so that the cracked tubes could be plugged and the unit restarted. Significant numbers of tubes with SCC were removed from a SG in order to validate the results of the new probe. Results from metallurgical examinations were used to obtain probability-of-detection (POD) and sizing accuracy plots to quantify the performance of this new inspection technique. Though effective, the above approach of relying on tubes removed from a reactor is expensive, in terms of both economic and radiation-exposure costs. This led to a search for more affordable methods to validate inspection techniques and procedures. Methods are presented for calculating POD curves ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

AbstractThe structural integrity of striated muscle is determined by extra-sarcomere cytoskeleton that includes structures that connect the Z-disks and M-bands of a sarcomere to sarcomeres...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The ability to directly compare gastric ulcerated and healthy tissue would aid in the understanding of the physiological differences between these tissue types. Presently, these comparisons...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The relative sensitivities of different protocols for detecting cytomegalovirus nucleic acid sequences in histological specimens, using a biotinylated cDNA probe, were assessed. Several commonly used...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The T-loop motif is an important recurrent RNA structural building block consisting of a U-turn sub-motif and a UA trans Watson–Crick/Hoogsteen base pair. In the presence of...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We describe the characteristics of the rapidly rotating molecular disk in the nucleus of the mildly active galaxy NGC4258. The morphology and kinematics of the disk are delineated by the point-like...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Failures in cortical control of fronto-striatal neural circuits may underpin impulsive and compulsive acts. In this narrative review, we explore these behaviors from the perspective of neural processes...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Effects of physical environment on plasma membrane semipermeability and osmotic induction of changes in aqueous cytoplasmic volume were studied in vegetative and spore cells of a plant pathogenic fungus,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The polarity of biological mediums controls a host of physiological processes such as digestion, signaling, transportation, metabolism, and excretion. With the recent widespread use of near-infrared...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

This report describes the results of EPRI Program S404-28, titled Experimental Modeling of Eddy Current Response'', conducted by the Westinghouse Science and Technology Center (STC). The Westinghouse STC demonstrates that its mercury modeling technique provides an unique bridge between steam generator eddy current field inspection conditions and predictions obtained using recently developed analytical models. The mercury modeling technique was used systematically to explore factors which contribute to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) sizing inaccuracy, including probe design, coil excitation frequency, crack length, and crack morphology. Two new proposed techniques for inverting crack lengths from eddy current data are compared with the technique commonly used in field data analysis for PWSCC. The performance of uniform field eddy current probes is compared with the performance of pancake coil ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The localization of gold in the synovial membrane of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with sodium aurothiomalate was examined and quantitative analysis of epon-embedded sections was carried out...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The main subject of this thesis is the study of the hardronic final state in deep-inelastic electron-proton scattering. Theexperiment described in this thesis is performed with such a high resolution that the substructure of the proton is probed by the electron beam with a resolution of less than 10{sup -15} cm. (orig./HSI).

Science.gov (United States)

Aug 25, 2004 ... Current Developments in Future Planetary Probe Sensors: .... Data: Outgoing and incoming EIA RS-422 interface for serial data transmission (for electrical purposes only, .... Milos, et. al, Journal of Spacecraft & Rockets 1999 ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) is a promising technique or high resolution cellular imaging in human tissues. An OCM system for high-speed en face cellular resolution imaging...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The binding of amphiphilic molecules to lipid bilayers is followed by ¹⁹F NMR using chemical shift and line shape differences between the solution and membrane-tethered states of...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Detection of fatigue damage cracks in aircraft skin structures is an ongoing NDT challenge. Cracks growing rate is difficult to predict, and for this reason, it is important to detect them as soon as possible to avoid a catastrophic break. Eddy current methods are known and well-accepted techniques which are relatively simple to carry out. However, with conventional inspection of airframe structures using standard driver-pickup eddy current probes, it is difficult to detect small fatigue cracks initiated in the second layer of the skin and in the shadow region at fastener holes. Such difficulty is related to fasteners length and their spacing which reduces test sensitivity. This report explains the development of improved eddy current probe/technique to detect and visualize fatigue cracks in fasteners. In this study, an eddy current array probe was evaluated and new coil design was suggested. Several tests were conducted on ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Although ultrasonic testing inspection technology and tools have improved significantly, there is still a need for more reliable detection, monitoring, and accurate sizing of crack-like and planar defects, complex corrosion damage, and detection of secondary features within deformed pipe. Ultrasonic two dimensional (2D) matrix phased array technology offers some unique advantages that make the technology promising for improving detection and sizing of pipeline flaws resulting from welding or from in-service damage. Ultrasonic modeling and simulation has been conducted to evaluate the detection and sizing capabilities of 2D matrix arrays for various pipeline inspection concepts. Simulations have been performed using both flexible and rigid array probes. Inspection concepts using rigid probes were evaluated for inspections from both the outside and inside pipe surfaces, while flexible probes were evaluated primarily for ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Various physico-chemical tissue optical clearing (TOC) methods have been suggested to maximize photon density in tissue. In order to enhance photon density, a compression-controlled low-level...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

DNA barcodes linked to genetic features greatly facilitate screening these features in pooled formats using microarray hybridization, and new tools are needed to design large sets of barcodes to allow...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Three nucleic acid probes, two for autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria of the beta subdivision of the class Proteobacteria and one for alpha subdivision nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, were developed...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Heat transfer tubes of a primary pressurized water cooled (PPWC) in the high temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) form the reactor pressure boundary of the primary coolant, therefore are important from the viewpoint of safety. To establish inspection techniques for the heat transfer tubes of the PPWC, an automatic inspection system was developed. The system employs a bobbin coil probe, a rotating probe for eddy current testing (ECT) and a rotating probe for ultrasonic testing (UT). Nondestructive test of a half of the heat transfer tubes of the PPWC was carried out by the automatic inspection system during reactor shutdown period of the HTTR (about 55% in the maximum reactor power in this paper). The nondestructive test results showed that the maximum signal-to-noise ratio was 1.8 in ECT. Pattern and phase of Lissajous wave, which were obtained for the heat transfer tube of the PPWC, were different from those ...

Science.gov (United States)

Probing Neutron Star Evolution with Gamma Rays Online Source: Click to View PDF File [PDF Size: 217 KB] Author: Wijers, Ralph A. M. J. ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Water-maze testing has been used to assess prenatal cocaine (PCOC)- induced deficits in behavioral studies of spatial navigation and memory abilities. Effects of PCOC in acquisition or in probe...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The use of europium as a local structural probe allows the various phases appearing in the NaCaPO/sub 4/-Na/sub 3/Eu(PO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ and NaSrPO/sub 4/-Na/sub 3/Eu(PO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ systems to be detected. The broadening of the europium emission lines in going from the calcium to the strontium phases illustrates the ease of displacement of the PO/sub 4/ groups.

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Results are given for deep-level petroleum and gas drilling probes in various coastal zones of Southern Sakhalin covering the Poronai depression and the Aniv Bay trough. The exploratory probes indicate that the Middle Miocence deposits of the Boundary trough contain commercial-size deposits of petroleum, that commercial-size gas deposits are in the upper Myocene deposits of the Aliv Bay trough, and that the upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic deposits of the eastern section of Southern Sakhalin lack folded deformations. 7 references, 2 figures.

CERN Document Server

Individual laser cooled atoms are delivered on demand from a single atom magneto-optic trap to a high-finesse optical cavity using an atom conveyor. Strong coupling of the atom with the cavity field allows simultaneous cooling and detection of individual atoms for time scales exceeding 15 s. The single atom scatter rate is studied as a function of probe-cavity detuning and probe Rabi frequency, and the experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. We demonstrate the ability to manipulate the position of a single atom relative to the cavity mode with excellent control and reproducibility.

CERN Document Server

A proposal is made to test Newton's inverse-square law using the perihelion shift of test masses (planets) in free fall within a spacecraft located at the Earth-Sun L2 point. Such an Artificial Planetary System In Space (APSIS) will operate in a drag-free environment with controlled experimental conditions and minimal interference from terrestrial sources of contamination. We demonstrate that such a space experiment can probe the presence of a "hidden" fifth dimension on the scale of a micron, if the perihelion shift of a "planet" can be measured to sub-arc-second accuracy. Some suggestions for spacecraft design are made.

CERN Document Server

\\lhcb is one of the four major experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (\\lhc) at CERN. It is custom built to look for CP violation and New Physics in rare decays of heavy flavour hadrons, like the B and D systems. Rare decays that occur via loop diagrams provide a way to probe New Physics at energy scales much higher than can be probed by direct production in experiments. In this article, the \\lhcb prospects for such measurements with exclusive decays of the type $B \\to \\Xs \\gamma$ and $B \\to X_{s} l^{+} l^{-}$ are presented.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Eddy current testing (ECT) method is widely used as the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of the various kinds of material degradation occurring in nuclear power plants (NPPs) components including steam generator (SG) tubes. Detection of any defects or flaws in the steam generator tubes in the early stage is very important in maintenance of NPP for its primary role as the pressure boundary with thin wall thickness. Although the ECT technique provides lots of information for a SG management, it has a generic problem in its reliability due to a low ability in detect of small defects and some difficulty in a signal analysis. For the improvement of these shortcomings in conventional ECT, profile-MRPC (motorized rotating pancake coil) ECT technology was developed in KAERI. The key of this new technology is the development of new eddy current probes, designated as a diagnostic probe (D-probe). The D-probe is ...

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Moisture profiles from neutron probe data provide valuable information in site characterization and to supplement ground water monitoring efforts. The neutron probe precision error (reproducibility) is found to be about 0.2 vol% under in situ field conditions where the slope in moisture content with depth is varying slowly. This error is about 2 times larger near moisture spikes (e.g., at the vapor phase notch), due to the sensitivity of the probe response to vertical position errors on the order of 0.5 inches. Calibrations were performed to correct the downhole probe response to the volumetric moisture content determined on core samples. Calibration is sensitive to borehole diameter and casing type, requiring 3 separate calibration relations for the boreholes surveyed here. Power law fits were used for calibration in this study to assure moisture content results greater than zero. Findings in the ...

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No abstract prepared.

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Corrosion probes are being developed and combined with an existing measurement technology to provide a tool for assessing the extent of corrosion of metallic materials on the fireside in coal-fired boilers. The successful development of this technology will provide power plant operators the ability to (1) accurately monitor metal loss in critical regions of the boiler, such as waterwalls, superheaters, and reheaters; and (2) use corrosion rates as process variables. In the former, corrosion data could be used to schedule maintenance periods and in the later, processes can be altered to decrease corrosion rates. The research approach involves laboratory research in simulated environments that will lead to field tests of corrosion probes in coal-fired boilers. Laboratory research has already shown that electrochemically-measured corrosion rates for ash-covered metals are similar to actual mass loss corrosion rates. Electrochemical tests conducted ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We present a sample preparation method for measuring magnesium in individual whole lymphocytes by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. We use Burkitt's lymphoma cells in culture as the test sample and compare X-ray microanalysis of individual cells with atomic absorption analysis of pooled cell populations. We determine the magnesium peak-to-local continuum X-ray intensity ratio by electron probe X-ray microanalysis and calculate a mean cell magnesium concentration of 39 +- 19 mmol/kg dry weight from analysis of 100 cells. We determine a mean cell magnesium concentration of 34 +- 4 mmol/kg dry weight by atomic absorption analysis of pooled cells in three cell cultures. The mean cell magnesium concentrations determined by the two methods are not significantly different. We find a 10% coefficient of variation for both methods of analysis and a 30% coefficient of variation in magnesium concentration among individual cells by electron ...

Science.gov (United States)

... addition, the Department of Homeland Security works closely with The Combating Terrorism Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), to ensure ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The ability to monitor the corrosion degradation of key components in fossil fuel power plants is of utmost importance for Futuregen and ultra-supercritical power plants. Fireside corrosion occurs in the high temperature sections of energy production facilities due to a number of factors: ash deposition, coal composition, thermal gradients, and low NOx conditions, among others. Problems occur when equipment designed for either oxidizing or reducing conditions is exposed to alternating oxidizing and reducing conditions. This can happen especially near the burners. The use of low NOx burners is becoming more commonplace and can produce reducing environments that accelerate corrosion. One method of addressing corrosion of these surfaces is the use of corrosion probes to monitor when process changes cause corrosive conditions. In such a case, corrosion rate could become a process control variable that directs the operation of a coal combustion or coal gasification ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An electrochemical detection method for analyzing sequence-specific DNA using gold nanoparticle DNA probes and subsequent signal amplification step by silver enhancement is described. The assay relies on the electrostatic adsorption of target oligonucleotides onto the sensing surface of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and its hybridization to the gold nanoparticle-labeled oligonucleotides DNA probe. After silver deposition onto gold nanoparticles, binding events between probe and target were monitored by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) signal of the large number of silver atoms anchored on the hybrids at the electrode surface. The signal intensity difference permits to distinguish between the match of two perfectly matched DNA strands and the near-perfect match where just one base pair was wrong. Coupled with this 'nanoparticle-promoted' reduction of silver signal amplification method, the ...

CERN Document Server

Upcoming high-intensity laser systems will be able to probe the quantum-induced nonlinear regime of electrodynamics. So far unobserved QED phenomena such as the discovery of a nonlinear response of the quantum vacuum to macroscopic electromagnetic fields can become accessible. In addition, such laser systems provide for a flexible tool for investigating fundamental physics. Primary goals consist in verifying so far unobserved QED phenomena. Moreover, strong-field experiments can search for new light but weakly interacting degrees of freedom and are thus complementary to accelerator-driven experiments. I review recent developments in this field, focusing on photon experiments in strong electromagnetic fields. The interaction of particle-physics candidates with photons and external fields can be parameterized by low-energy effective actions and typically predict characteristic optical signatures. I perform first estimates of the accessible new-physics parameter space ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

With steam generator check testing, the numerous types of defect not only have to be detected reliably but also to be identified correctly and classified according to depth. A priori, no signals are provided by the physical eddy-current mechanism, i.e. the disturbance of an excited eddy-current field by a defect, which will allow unambiguous identification and classification of the defects. The task, therefore, consists in designing the eddy-current method in terms of measurement technology in such a way as to obtain useful detection, identification and classification by a translation of the signals as simple and as save as possible. Internal through-flow wils and internal rotating probes were examined for their suitability to fulfill this three-pronged task with steam generator inspection. (orig./RW).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Research conducted since the last progress report includes the synthesis and characterization of twenty three novel proton-ionizable crown ether compounds. Metal ion complexation behavior of new and previously-synthesized proton-ionizable crown ether compounds has been probed by solvent extraction and transport across polymer-supported liquid membranes. The behavior of neutral polyether and proton-ionizable polyether ligands in polymeric membrane electrodes has been assessed. Studies of the use of proton-ionizable crown ethers for separation of lithium isotopes were initiated. Also, the thermodynamics of interactions between alkali metal cations and ionized crown ethers have been probed by titration calorimetry. 10 refs., 1 tab.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) spacecraft, designed to test predictions of general relativity, will fly in the mid 1990s. It will carry four electrostatically suspended gyroscopes in a cryogenic environment and will have a drag-free control system to minimize disturbances on the gyroscopes. The Stanford Test of Equivalence Principle (STEP) spacecraft, to fly later, will carry a set of test masses under very similar conditions. The possibility of using differential measurements of the GP-B gyroscopes suspension forces and the STEP tests mass displacement readout to form single-axis gravity gradiometers is explored. It is shown that the noise in the suspension systems is sufficiently small in the relevant frequency range, and that enough information is collected to compensate for the spacecrafts' attitude motion. Finally, using Breakwell's flat-earth approximation, these experiments are compared to other geodesy experiments and predict the contribution ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The transmission of electrical energy by use of underground cables is increasing. Fault location techniques have certain limitations; incipient fault detection and location would help reduce the maintenance cost of these lines as well as improve the reliability of service. The report discusses some test results related to RF-probing techniques applied to high-voltage transmission lines. The high-frequency losses and attenuation in high-voltage cables places certain ultimate limitations on RF-probing techniques for incipient fault detection. Time-domain reflectrometry methods were employed to assess the RF-transmission properties of high-voltage cables at frequencies as high as 6 GHz. Fast-Fourier-transform deconvolution was used to obtain loss measurements as a function of frequency. The loss mechanisms were identified. The measurement hardware and methods are discussed as well as analysis approach leading to the conclusions.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostic system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of these items.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

TAPP-3 and 4 reactors use large number of Self Powered Neutron Detectors (SPNDs) for Neutronic lower measurement and control. To perform in-situ calibration of these detectors in select locations and to validate the reactor physics codes which predict flux at various points in the core, traveling in-core probes (TIP) are required. The TIP assembly consists of a miniature neutron sensitive detector. The detector is driven in and out of core using a mechanism which facilitates positioning of the detector anywhere inside a vertical tube (Central carrier tube of any of the six select Vertical Flux Units) in the core. TIP is driven through retractable feed mechanism for a stroke of 13 m. This paper describes the developmental efforts and the operational feedback of the retractable feed mechanism for the stroke of 13 m used at TAPP 3 and 4 reactor. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract In 46 febrile neutropenic patients who had undergone haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the fluorescence in situ hybridisation using peptide nucleic acid probes (PNA FISH), Gram stain/acridine orange leukocyte cytospin (Gram/AOLC), and differential time to positivity (DTP) methods were performed for detection of catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). As compared with the DTP method (which detected 11 patients with CRBSI), the PNA FISH and the Gram/AOLC methods detected ten of 11 CRBSI patients, resulting in a sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value of 91%, 100%, 97% and 100%, respectively, for the PNA FISH method as well as for the Gram/AOLC method.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A series of desilicated ZSM-5 catalysts previously shown to have improved catalytic performance in the MTG (methanol-to-gasoline) reaction [M. Bjorgen, F. Joensen, M.S. Holm, U. Olsbye, K.-P. Lillerud, S. Svelle, Appl. Catal. A 345 (2008) 43] was subjected to thorough examination using FTIR. Clearly, defects represented by internal Si-OH sites are removed upon NaOH treatment. In a parallel manner, free Si-OH sites increase in concentration and the results point to a selective mechanism for formation of mesopores as the framework dissolution preferentially takes place at defective sites in the crystallites. The acid properties of the desilicated materials were investigated by applying CO and collidine (2,4,6-trimethylpyridine) as molecular probes. Monitoring the induced frequency shifts upo...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The temperature dependent vibrational relaxation of the CO stretching mode of Rhodium dicarbonyl acetylacetonate (Rh(CO){sub 2}(acac)) and tungsten hexacarbonyl (W(CO){sub 6}) in dibutylphthalate (DBP) and 2-methylpentane (2-MP) were measured with IR pump and probe (P-P) experiments. The experiments were performed with {approximately}1.5 ps pulses generated by the Stanford superconducting accelerator pumped free electron laser (FEL). Measurements were performed on the Rh(CO){sub 2}(acac) CO asymmetric stretching mode at {lambda} = 4.98{mu}m from 10 K to 300 K. Both the parallel and magic angle probe polarizations decay curves are biexponential over the entire temperature range. The slow component (ranging from 40 ps at 300 K to 55 ps at 10K) is attributed to the population relaxations. For the fast component (ranging from 4-5 ps at 300 K to 13-15 ps at 10K), we propose a mechanism of spectral diffusion, in contrast to the previously proposed ...

CERN Document Server

Fragile volatile aggregates with extremely low albedo, gravitationally drawn into the solar system are likely from the dark matter dominating the universal mass. Characteristics of this meteoric population permitted avoiding detection through a half-century's search. Measurements from space probes and in the upper atmosphere prove their existence and confirm their elusive properties.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

An eddy current inspection has been applied for a pre-service and in-service examination of a steam generator in nuclear power plants. The experience from the inspection of steam generators showed that many plants had an excessive number of tubes with eddy current noise signals over several hundreds, which originated from manufacturing anomalies. The plants in U.S suffered significant downstream inspection costs, history reviews, and diagnostic testing because some signals resembled flaws and others masked a flaw. These lessens learned resulted in issuing the guidelines for steam generator tubing specifications and repair, in order to reduce the number of anomalous signals in the tubes and also to provide the requirement of a signal to noise ratio by applying a field type examination with bobbin coil eddy current probes at a manufacturing process. Besides the noise signals of a bobbin coil eddy current probe from manufacturing anomalies, the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The fission gas xenon bonded in bubbles, in pore, and in the lattice of mixed carbide fuels is measured by electron-probe microanalysis. Radial xenon distribution and release curves are determined and are calibrated by gas chromatography of the bonded fission gas and by burnup analysis in the respective pin sections of the irradiation experiments FR2 6A and 6C, Mol 11/K 2, and DFR 330/1. The results are correlated to the microstructure of the fuel, bonding medium, temperature, and burnup. (Auth.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The use of platinum(II) complexes as tags and probes for biomolecules is indeed advantageous for their reactivities can be selective for certain purposes through an interplay of mild reaction conditions and of the ligands bound to the platinum. The use of {sup 195}Pt NMR as a method of detecting platinum and its interactions with biomolecules was carried out with the simplest model of platinum(II) tagging to proteins. Variable-temperature {sup 195}Pt NMR spectroscopy proved useful in studying the stereodynamics of complex thioethers like methionine. The complex, Pt(trpy)Cl{sup +}, with its chromophore has a greater potential for probing proteins. It is a noninvasive and selective tag for histidine and cysteine residues on the surface of cytochrome c at pH 5. The protein derivatives obtained are separable, and the tags are easily quantitated and differentiated through the metal-to-ligand charge transfer bands which are sensitive to the ...

Science.gov (United States)

High molecular weight DNA from pleroceroid larvae of the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides was purified from isolated nuclei by conventional techniques. The DNA so isolated has a melting temperature (Tm) of 87 degrees C and a guanine plus cytosine (G/C) content of 44%. 5-Methyl cytosine could not be detected in plerocercoid DNA by HPLC analysis of DNA hydrolysates, by radiolabeling 5'-termini of MspI digests with polynucleotide kinase, or by comparing restriction patterns generated by MspI and HpaII. Renaturation kinetics demonstrated that the genome of S. mansonoides contains repetitive as well as single copy sequences and has a genome size estimated at approx. 1.6 X 10(9) bp. Hybridization was carried out between plerocercoid DNA and cDNAs for human beta-actin, alpha-tubulin and growth hormone (hGH). Rationale for this analysis was based on known homologies among actin and tubulin genes in numerous species and on apparent similarities between hGH and a plerocercoid growth factor that ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Two sequences with homology to a thioredoxin oligonucleotide probe were detected by Southern blot analysis of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 genomic DNA. One of the sequences was shown to code for a protein...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We have used intramolecular cross-linking, MS, and sequence threading to rapidly identify the fold of a model protein, bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2. Its tertiary structure was probed...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The electroweak-symmetry-breaking sector of the standard model can be weakly-coupled or can be strongly-coupled, which is characterized by some kinds of strong interaction among the Goldstone bosons of the electroweak-symmetry-breaking sector. In this paper, we summarize an investigation of probing the strong electroweak-symmetry-breaking effects at photon colliders. ((orig.)).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The steam generator (SG) is one of the most critical components of the heat transfer system in nuclear generation stations. Testing the structural integrity of SG tubing and SG internals is a key element of the fitness-for-service assessments to assure the safe and continuous operation of nuclear power plants. Recent eddy current (ET) inspections of two nuclear power plants revealed degradation of some of the tube support plate (TSP) structures, which was also confirmed by visual inspection. The phenomena was described as metal loss, caused by flow-accelerated corrosion of the carbon steel trefoil support plate and varying from minor to complete loss of the ligaments. This loss of TSP ligaments results in lack of support for the adjacent tubes making them more susceptible to fretting-wear damage and fatigue cracking. A signal analysis method, based on the responses at low frequency of two types of eddy current probes, has been developed to assess the degree of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There are 760 feederpipes, which they are connected to inlet/outlet of the 380 pressure tube channels on the front of the calandria, in CANDU-type Reactor of Wolsung Nuclear Power Plant. As an ISI(In-Service Inspection) and PSI (Post- Service Inspection) requirements, maintenance activities of measuring the thickness of curvilinear part of feederpipe and inspecting the feederpipe support area within calandria are needed to ensure continued reliable operation of nuclear power plant. And untrasonic probe is used to measure the thickness of curvilinear part of feederpipe, however workers are exposed to radioactivity irradiation during the measurement period. But, it is impossible to inspect feederpipe support area thoroughlv because of narrow and confined accessibility, that is, an inspection space between the pressure tube channels is less than 100mm and pipes in feederpipe support area are congested. And also, workers involved in inspecting feederpipe support area ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Maintaining uniformity of properties over long distances is one of the fabrication problems encountered with the new high {Tc} superconductors. Uniform properties are crucial in long tapes or wires with high critical current since local nonuniformities can limit the current carrying capacity of the whole piece. Transport critical currents in high {Tc} superconductors are conventionally measured with the contact 4-point probe DC current-voltage technique. This technique requires contact with the sample and and spatially averages over the region between the two voltage contacts. Two techniques have been used to infer the critical state model. The first uses the net magnetization of a suitably shaped sample in an external magnetic field. The second combines a DC magnetic field with AC induced currents to infer spatial flux profiles. The AC magnetization technique offers an advantage in that it is noncontacting; however, it also averages the measurement over a large ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Aluminum hydroxide coating thicknesses were measured on fuel elements stored in aluminum canisters in K West Basin using specially developed eddy current probes . The results were used to estimate coating inventories for MCO fuel,loading. Brushing tests successfully demonstrated the ability to remove the coating if deemed necessary prior to MCO loading.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The device, aimed at non destructive control of the inner side of tubes such as steam generator tubes, is composed of a control sensor mounted on a support; the sensor head may rotate in the tube and a measuring system and signal processing allow for the exact determination of the angular position of the sensor head (application to ultrasonic or eddy current probes).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

1-Naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) is a specific inhibitor of polar auxin transport that blocks carrier-mediated auxin efflux from plant cells. To allow identification of the NPA receptor thought to be...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

Al Fleig, PITA Analytic Sciences. 7th Earth Science Data Systems Working Group Meeting ..... The Reuse Industry in Brazil, CESAR, and the Reuse in Software ...

Science.gov (United States)

This study investigates the contributions of the military working dogs in Vietnam to determine their significance to the United States' war effort. There is limited written history concerning the use of the military working dogs in Vietnam. The methods an...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of this statement of work (SOW) is to establish laboratory analytical criteria and requirements for radioactive airborne emissions measurement sample and/or analysis activities.

Science.gov (United States)

The Directive establishes a single manager for the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program, provides policy, prescribes procedures, and assigns responsibilities.

Science.gov (United States)

... current and cancelled), Joint Staff and other US Military (ie, Army, Navy, Air ... Title : RECTAL TEMPERATURE OF THE WORKING SLED DOG. ...

Science.gov (United States)

... History of military working dogs: Pack dogs were in use by the military as far back as the Revolutionary War. World War ...

ScienceCinema

@ work highlights Idaho National Laboratory employees and the jobs they perform.This segment features Robotic Software Engineer Miles Walton.

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This work has analyzed the key variables of indentation tip radius, contact radius, delamination radius, residual stress and superlayer/film/interlayer properties on nanoindentation measurements of adhesion. The goal to connect practical works of adhesion for very thin films to true works of adhesion has been achieved. A review of this work titled ''Interfacial toughness measurements of thin metal films,'' which has been submitted to Acta Materialia, is included.

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:21398174

ScienceCinema

...the development of biomedicine ...

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:16049230

Science.gov (United States)

This viewgraph presentation reviews NASA's work on the project that supports the Gulf of Mexico

Norwegian Open Research Archives (NORA)

Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A one-nanometer scale transmission electron microscope electron probe X-ray microanalysis characterization of as-deposited and annealed aluminum--11.5 at.% zirconium multilayer samples in cross-section synthesized by magnetron sputtering is reported on here. Composition line profiles were acquired across Zr layers in as-deposited material and samples isochronally annealed in a differential scanning calorimeter to temperatures of 290 C and 485 C. A spatial resolution of approximately 1.5 to 2.0 nm was achieved in these experiments and will be improved by deconvolution of the instrumental electron probe function from the data. The as-deposited structure consisted of crystalline Al and Zr layers with thin amorphous layers at the Al/Zr interfaces. The amorphous interface layers increased in thickness upon annealing to 290 C. Additionally, at 290 C a metastable cubic alloy forms at the Zr deposited on Al interface. Upon heating to 485 C a multilayer ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The two-phase flow regime transition in a large diameter (I.D.=200mm) vertical pipe was experimentally investigated using a dual-sensor optical probe. The flow transitions from bubbly to chum without an intermediate slug flow regime as the air flow rate is increased. The transition boundaries developed for bubbly to slug flow in small diameter pipes are compared to the bubbly to chum flow transition of the present experiment. The bubbly to chum transition occurs at a void fraction of about 0.15 compared to 0.25 for bubbly to slug transition in small diameter pipes. The radial distribution of bubble diameter, bubble frequency, bubble velocity and local void fraction were obtained using a dual-sensor optical probe at different flow conditions. The Probability Density Function (PDF) and Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) of the bubble velocity and size are used to study the flow regime transition in the large diameter pipe. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

High salinity is one of the main factors limiting cotton growth and productivity. The genes that regulate salt stress in TM-1 upland cotton were monitored using microarray and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) with samples taken from roots. Microarray analysis showed that 1503 probe sets were up-regulated and 1490 probe sets were down-regulated in plants exposed for 3h to 100mM NaCl, and RT-PCR analysis validated 42 relevant/related genes. The distribution of enriched gene ontology terms showed such important processes as the response to water stress and pathways of hormone metabolism and signal transduction were induced by the NaCl treatment. Some key regulatory gene families involved in abiotic and biotic sources of stress such as WRKY, ERF, and JAZ were differentially expressed. Our transcriptome analysis might provide some useful insights into salt-mediated signal transduction pathways in cotton and offer a number of candidate genes as potential ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The papers presented at the symposium had covered three general areas in which isotopes could have been beneficially used. these areas are: -Water use and water use efficiency studies. -Ground water investigations -Water problems in the arab countries. The individual papers had dealt with these subjects: -Hydrological research in the arab countries by use of radioisotopes. -The perspectives of use of radioisotopes in hydrological studies in Syria. -Water use efficiency and sub-soil water studies. -Sea water inclusion in a coast el aquifers in Lebanon. -Irrigation requirements of crops in Lebanon as determined by a Neutron probe with reference to other methods. -The use of the neutron moisture meter and other methods of the determination of the evapotranspiration of maize. -Ground water investigations, dating and nuclear methods applied to hydrology. -Ground water investigation in Wa di El-Nat run, U.A.R. -Velocity distribution along the pumped well using ...

CERN Document Server

The Large Hadron Collider presents an unprecedented opportunity to probe the realm of new physics in the TeV region and shed light on some of the core unresolved issues of particle physics. These include the nature of electroweak symmetry breaking, the origin of mass, the possible constituent of cold dark matter, new sources of CP violation needed to explain the baryon excess in the universe, the possible existence of extra gauge groups and extra matter, and importantly the path Nature chooses to resolve the hierarchy problem - is it supersymmetry or extra dimensions. Many models of new physics beyond the standard model contain a hidden sector which can be probed at the LHC. Additionally, the LHC will be a top factory and accurate measurements of the properties of the top and its rare decays will provide a window to new physics. Further, the LHC could shed light on the origin of neutralino masses if the new physics associated with their ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The human smooth muscle myosin heavy chain locus (MYH11) was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization to the middle of the p arm of chromosome 16 using a genomic cosmid clone containing coding sequences of the gene as probe. Probe from coding sequence, when applied to Southern blots of a panel of hybrids containing different portions of human chromosome 16, localized the gene to 16p13.13-13.12. Coding sequence PCR primers, when used on the DNA from a CHO-mouse hybrid clone mapping panel informative for mouse chromosomes, showed that the gene was located on mouse chromosome 16. These results correct a recent assignment of MYH11 from 16q12.2 to the region of the 16p-arm inversion breakpoint seen in acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) M4Eo and demonstrate that the conflicting data do not result from the presence of additional MYH genes on the q arm of the chromosome. Also, a new region of conserved synteny between human 16p and mouse 16 is ...

CERN Document Server

We present a detailed phenomenological study of direct photon production in association with a heavy-quark jet in pA collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at next-to-leading order in QCD. The dominant contribution to the cross-section comes from the gluon--heavy-quark (gQ) initiated subprocess, making \\gamma + Q production a process very sensitive to both the gluon and the heavy-quark parton distribution functions (PDFs). Additionally, the RHIC and LHC experiments are probing complementary kinematic regions in the momentum fraction x_2 carried by the target partons. Thus, the nuclear production ratio R^{\\gamma+Q}_{pA} can provide strong constraints, over a broad x-range, on the poorly determined nuclear parton distribution functions which are extremely important for the interpretation of results in heavy-ion collisions.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We investigated the Raman coherence characteristics of a solid hydrogen film deposited on a sapphire substrate held at 5.3 K. Using Raman coherence prepared with two single-frequency pulsed lasers, we generated the multiorder coherent Raman sidebands in solid hydrogen film. The highorder Raman sidebands were obtained under strong pumping intensities (>= 230 MW/cm{sup 2}). The generated anti-Stokes(AS)-Raman sidebands extend from the ultraviolet (292 nm for the AS5 band) to the visible (565 nm for the AS1 band) region. The multiorder Raman sideband generation is found to be due to the parametric coupling of pump and coupling lasers. The frequency conversion efficiency from pumping beams to the first AS-Raman sideband shows a maximum (14 %) at a pumping intensity of 360 MW/cm{sup 2}. From an experiment that makes the multimode probe beam beat with the prepared Raman coherence, we found that the prepared Raman coherence replicates the probe ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To investigate the usefulness of a newly developed magnetic resonance (MR) image-guided surgical robotic system for minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. The system consists of MR image guidance [interactive scan control (ISC) imaging, three-dimensional (3-D) navigation, and preoperative planning], an MR-compatible operating table, and an MR-compatible master-slave surgical manipulator that can enter the MR gantry. Using this system, we performed in vivo experiments with MR image-guided laparoscopic puncture on three pigs. We used a mimic tumor made of agarose gel and with a diameter of approximately 2 cm. All procedures were successfully performed. The operator only advanced the probe along the guidance device of the manipulator, which was adjusted on the basis of the preoperative plan, and punctured the target while maintaining the operative field using robotic forceps. The position of the probe was monitored continuously with 3-D ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have developed an ion probe technique for the in situ measurement of oxygen isotope ratios, {sup 18}O/{sup 16}O and {sup 17}O/{sup 16}O, with high spatial resolution in polished thin sections of silicate minerals. This technique allows the isotopic analysis of samples as small as picomoles of material which represents only 10{sup -7} of the sample size required by conventional fluorination oxygen isotope measurement methods and thus has wide application to the study of many terrestrial and extra-terrestrial samples that have heterogeneous oxygen isotope compositions on a scale of tens of micrometres. To illustrate the breadth of studies that are made possible by the ion probe, we report here oxygen isotope measurements from an authigenic quartz overgrowth obtained from the Penrith sandstone, UK, and measurements of magnetite grains from the Orgueil and Yamato 82162 carbonaceous chondrites which may be used to constrain possible formation ...

Science.gov (United States)

The aim of the present study focuses on experimentally demonstrating the efficacy of using angularly-variable fiber geometry to achieve the desired tissue-layer selection and probing depths with the further objective of enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of spectral diagnosis in stratified architectures that resemble human cervical epithelia. The morphological and biochemical features of epithelial tissue vary in accordance with tissue depths; consequently, the accuracy of spectroscopic diagnosis of epithelial dysplasia may be enhanced by probing the optical properties of this tissue. When correlated to cellular dysplasia, layer-specific changes in tissue optical properties may be deciphered by reflectance spectroscopy coupled with angularly-variable fiber geometry. This study addresses the utility of using such angularly-variable fiber geometry for resolving spatially-specific spectral signatures of tissue pathology. This is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cu[sup 2+] is a sensitive electron spin resonance (ESR) probe for the penetration of various polar solvents in membranes made of Nafion and as an indicator for the replacement of one solvent by another. The ESR parameters (g and [sup 63]Cu hyperfine tensors) can be translated into a structure of the solvent around the cation. The replacement of a solvent in the membrane by another depends on the polarity of the two solvents. The solvent with the largest dielectric constant, N-methylformamide (NMF), can be replaced by water but not by methanol or acetonitrile (dielectric constants 182, 78.5, 32.7, and 37.5, respectively). Preferential solvation of the cation by water in three water/acetonitrile mixtures (9:1, 1:1, and 1:9 by volume) in contact with silica gel, Sephadex, and Nafion has been observed in various degrees. Nafion is most selective, followed by Sephadex and by silica gel. The selectivity appears to be related to electrostatic interactions which are ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostic system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of these items.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The downstream failure of cable during winding, insulating, coil winding, and coil assembly is a significant issue in magnet production. The impact of these failures is costly both financially and because of the time needed to recover from them. The current approach to cabling has been to visually inspect the cable for any gross defects during cabling. To date this has been effective in finding small defects such as crossovers, which drastically reduce the mechanical integrity of the strand and thus of the cable itself. But because of the large volume of cable that will be manufactured, an automated flaw detection system that can inspect the cable and detect these types of defects will be needed. We have recently done an on-line experiment using an Eddy current system and specialized Eddy current probes to inspect cable during manufacturing. We will present the results of our inspection, demonstrating detection of crossovers and cold welds. This will include a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

After October 1993, Swedish BWR power plant operators will be required to present an inspection concept which will facilitate the nondestructive examination of recirculation system piping. According to the pertinent Swedish codes and standards, such inspections will be required to focus on internal pipe surfaces. Since it is impossible for external inspections to cover all essential areas with the necessary degree of sensitivity (geometry, beam attenuation), Siemens-KWU was commissioned to develop an inspection system which combines ultrasonic search units and eddy current probes to produce the required degree of examination sensitivity. A pipe crawler was developed to transport the inspection unit. This device can be used for the inspection of circumferential and longitudinal pipe welds, nozzle-to-pipe welds and RPV nozzle-to-shell welds. Special probes designed to fulfill inspection and manipulation requirements were developed for the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Two overlapping cDNA clones encoding human DNA topoisomerase II were identified by two independent methods. In one, a human cDNA library in phage {lambda} was screened by hybridization with a mixed oligonucleotide probe encoding a stretch of seven amino acids found in yeast and Drosophila DNA topoisomerase II; in the other, a different human cDNA library in a {lambda}gt11 expression vector was screened for the expression of antigenic determinants that are recognized by rabbit antibodies specific to human DNA topoisomerase II. The entire coding sequences of the human DNA topoisomerase II gene were determined from these and several additional clones, identified through the use of the cloned human TOP2 gene sequences as probes. Hybridization between the cloned sequences and mRNA and genomic DNA indicates that the human enzyme is encoded by a single-copy gene. The location of the gene was mapped to chromosome 17q21-22 by in situ hybridization of a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A device is presented with handle containing hinges and work support arm, a flexible pin with supports and extra weights. The flexible pin is equipped with cantilevered sergments and weights. The bracket hinges on the handle are perpendicular to the axis of the flexible pin. To reduce handle vibration during drilling hard rock, the handle and brackets are joined to allow relative movement on the surface perpendicular to the hinges of the work support arm. The handle is joined to the work support arm parallel to the sides and the work support arm has holes to accomodate this. Elastic bushings are located between the lateral sides of the work support arm where it is joined to the handle.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the construction work for the Unit No.5 Turbine Building at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, the collaboration work for the planning and the coordination of the building construction and the machinery installation was carried out utilizing three-dimensional computer aided design (3D CAD) information. It was the first time in Japan for a building constructor and a plant manufacturer to work together, exchanging 3D CAD data of the whole building and adjusting the construction schedule. It was made possible to confirm the correspondence concerning the planning of both companies from the primary stage of the project by the total process simulation and to adjust on-going work precisely by the partial process simulation.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Search for the value of ?13 mixing angle is of importance in understanding the lepton flavor mixing matrix, and in motivating future experiments to probe CP violation in the lepton sector. Among the present experimental approaches, reactor experiment can provide a clean laboratory for the ?13-measurement. The Daya Bay experiment will start civil construction this year at Daya Bay, Guangdong, China. The goal of this experiment is to reach a sensitivity in sin2 2?13 of < 0.01 at 90% C.L. by precisely measuring the disappearance and spectral distortion of reactor electron anti-neutrinos with multiple identical detectors at different baselines. The talk will present the current status and prospects of the experiment.

CERN Document Server

We investigate the effect of anomalous gamma-W-W couplings in e-gamma --> nu W through the angular and energy spectrum of the secondary leptons. Within the narrow-width approximation, a semi-analytical study of the secondary lepton energy-angle double distribution is considered. Utility of observables derived from this is demonstrated by considering the anomalous coupling, delta-kappa-gamma. Results of our investigation for typical ILC machine considered at Ecm = 300-1000 GeV re-affirms potential of this collider as a precision machine.