International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Peculiarities of Kurchatov Institute WWR-2 and TR research reactors spent fuel treating and transportation for radiochemical processing are stated. Spent fuels were performed as fuel assemblies of different forms and containing similar fuel elements: EhK-10 with 10% enrichment UO2-Mg fuel kernels or S-36 with 36% enrichment U-Al alloys. Spent fuel storage conditions are described. Features of developed procedures for identification of fuel assemblies by type of fuel elements are given. Transport package TUK-19 for loading and transportation of spent fuel for processing was chosen. Details of spent fuel loading in TUK-19 that is conducted by personnel under protective sheet of water in special reclaim volume are described

CERN Document Server

Guida alla gestione di sistemi di calcolo

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Processes of production and purification (necessary for fabricating fuel elements) of powdery uranium dioxide with particle size up to 1000 #mu#m and more have been studied. Developed is continuous process of UO_2 production with above particle size by converting uranium hexafloride into UO_2 solid particles in fluidized bed while their interaction with water vapor and hydrogen on the uranium dioxide nucleus material. The method allows to conduct continuous selection from the apparatus of UO_2 powder fraction with particle size near 1000 #mu#m without nucleus material additional feed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Determination of the specific surface of uranium oxides: UO_2 and U_3O_8 using a simplified equation derived from the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller theory. The method is suitable for samples having a surface between 6 to 50 m"2.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The conditions of production and the stability regions have been studied for the following crystallohydrates of trisubstituted uranyl orthophosphates: (UO_2)_3(PO_4)_2x6H_2O, (UO_2)_3(PO_4)_2x4H_2O, and (UO_2)_3(PO_4)_2xH_2O. Their thermal stability has been studied. It is shown that thermal dehydration of high-water hydrates at 220-240 deg C gives (UO_2)_3(PO_4)_2xH_2O. The anion composition and crystal structure of the compound remain constant up to 1000 deg C. The mixture of the composition of U_3O_8xU_3(PO_4)_4 is the final product of decomposition at 1000 deg C. The thermodynamic constants of dehydration processes have been calculated. A conclusion has been made about the polymer structure of the compound in which water is located between the uranylphosphate layers.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Sectors of Zea mays cobs, with and without kernels were cultured in vitro in the presence and absence of fluridone. Cultured kernels, cob tissue, and embryos developed...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The large degree of confusion and many contradictions which are evident in the literature regarding the dioxo-uranium(VI)-hydroxide system has prompted the re-investigation of the hydrolysis of UO_2"2"- in aqueous media. The hydrolysis reactions of the uranyl ion have been investigated by potentiometric (pH)-, spectrophotometric- and conductometric titrations of uranyl chloride solutions with sodium hydroxide solutions. In all these titrations two clearly defined endpoints were obtained, indicating the predominance in solution of only a limited number of species. From a consideration of all the experimentally obtained data the following set of species was proposed to be present in significant concentrations in the pH range 0 to 12: UO_2"2"-, (UO_2)_2(OH)_2"2"-, (UO_2)_2(OH)_3"- and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A discussion is given concerning the transformation in acid medium of curite into copper-, nickel- and cobalt-uranylphosphate. From chemical, differentiel thermal and thermogravimetric analyses, the crystal-chemical formula are calculated as: Cu(UO_2/PO_4)_2.8H_2O, Ni(UO_2/PO_4)_2.7H_2O and Co(UO_2/PO_4)_2.7H_2O. The two last compounds crystallize in the triclinic system with space group P1 or P1(overscore) and the first one crystallizes in the tetragonal system with space group P4/nmm. The cell parameters are calculated. From solubility data, the solubility products are computed as 10sup(-12.8), 10sup(-9.5) and 10sup(-9.9) for the copper-, nickel- and colbalt-compound respectively. The electrokinetic properties of the three species are closely similar to those of natural meta-torbernite: the zeta-potential is negative and the point of zero charge be reached ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the present work, a rapid deposition anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) for determination of uranium is presented. For this purpose, the uranyl hexacyanoferrate (K2UO2[Fe(CN)6]) is deposited electrochemically on a thin palladium-aluminum electrode (Pd-Al) from a UO22+ solution in the presence of K3Fe(CN)6. Then, the well stable (K2UO2[Fe(CN)6]) on the electrode was stripped by anodic differential pulse voltammetry for measuring the UO22+ ion concentration. The effect of operational parameters, including: concentration of K3Fe(CN)6, solution pH, deposition potential, and deposition time were studied. In optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the concentration range 105-7 x 10-4 mol L-1 with a detection limit of 6.2 x 10-6 mol L-1. The influence of some concomitant ions in K2UO2[Fe(CN)6] formation was investigated. The proposed method was used ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effect of burn-up on the thermal conductivity of homogeneous SBR MOX fuel is investigated and compared with standard UO_2 LWR fuel. New thermal diffusivity results obtained on SBR MOX fuel with a pellet burn-up of 35 MWd/kgHM are reported. The thermal diffusivity measurements were carried out at three radial positions using a shielded 'laser-flash' device and show that the thermal diffusivity increases from the pellet periphery to the centre. The fuel thermal conductivity was found to be in the same range as for UO_2 of similar burn-up. The annealing behaviour was characterized in order to identify the degradation due to the out-of-pile auto-irradiation.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A 340-watt CO_2 laser is being used to generate PuO_2-UO_2 condensation aerosol from the surface of a Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) fuel pellet. A wide range of concentrations is achieved by varying the laser power, pulse width, and/or pulse period. The resulting aerosol is composed of branch chain-like aggregates, with the primary particle size ranging between 0.005 and 0.15 #mu#m. X-ray diffraction analyses show that these aerosols condense into a face-centered cubic crystal structure. The activity mean aerodynamic diameter (AMAD), for most power levels, is approximately 0.85 #mu#m with a geometric standard deviation of 1.5.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Sugar release from the pedicel tissue of maize (Zea mays L.) kernels was studied by removing the distal portion of the kernel and the lower endosperm, followed by replacement of the...Full Text Available

CERN Document Server

Il package software GESIS per la gestione di sistemi spettrometrici gamma

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

... Italy) Istituto Superiore di Sanita (Italy) 207 p. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Testing two or more data sets for the hypothesis that they are sampled form the same population is often required in environmental data analysis. Typically the available samples have a small number of data and often then assumption of normal distributions is not realistic. On the other hand the diffusion of the days powerful Personal Computers opens new possible opportunities based on a massive use of the CPU resources. The paper reviews the problem introducing the feasibility of two non parametric approaches based on intrinsic equi probability properties of the data samples. The first one is based on a full re sampling while the second is based on a bootstrap approach. A easy to use program is presented. A case study is given based on the Chernobyl children contamination data. [Italiano] Nell`analisi di dati ambientali ricorre spesso il caso di dover sottoporre a test l`ipotesi di provenienza di due, o ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this paper a computational analysis of 11 fuel samples (seven UO_2 and four MOX) with a burn-up ranging from 20 MWd/kgHM up to 121 MWd/kgHM (HM: Heavy Metal) is carried out with the depletion module of the lattice code CASMO-4E [Rhod01, Rhod01b] using the neutron data libraries ENDF/B-VI and JEF-2.2 and a pin cell model. In order to assess the accuracy of the model and the depletion calculation in the determination of the isotopic inventory after several irradiation cycles, the calculated results were compared to experimental data gathered from a chemical isotopic analysis of the fuel samples performed at the Hot Laboratory at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Switzerland. Selected results of this comparison, which includes 54 isotopes (17 actinides and 37 fission products), are presented here. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A semi-mechanistic model for calculating solid radionuclide release rates from bubbling pools of sodium was developed. The influence of particle spacial and size distributions on the decontamination of the releases was analysed and found significant. Decontamination factors are shown as a function of pool depth, bubbling characteristics and particle size distribution. The calculation of a decontamination factor for estimating the source term of large scale hypothetical core disruptive accidents is presented. The decontamination factor for a large scale accident was found to be two orders of magnitude greater than results obtained from small scale experiments conducted with uniform particle distributions. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The interpretation of soil amelioration experiments with peanuts is made difficult by the unpredictibility of the crop and by the many factors altered when ameliorating acid soils. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of lime and gypsum applications on peanut kernel yield via the three first order yield components, pods per ha, kernels per pod, and kernel mass. On an acid medium sandy loam soil (typic Plinthustult), liming resulted in a highly significant kernel yield increase of 117% whereas gypsum applications were of no significant benefit. As indicated by path coefficient analysis, an increase in the number of pods per ha was markedly more important in increasing yield than an increase in either the number of kernels per pod or kernel mass. Furthermore, exch. Al was found to be particularly detrimental to pod number. It was postulated ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In connection with some applications of asymptotic numbers and asymptotic functions, proposed by Khr.Khristov, the problem of describing subsets of asymptotic numbers closed with respect to algebraic operations arises. The algebraic operations with asymptotic numbers are defined by classes of their representatives. All trivial or noncharacteristic solutions are avoided. A procedure for constructing sets of elements closed under action of an algebraic operation or a combination of two or more of them is given. It turns out that the closed sets are given by their kernels, the last being the minimal subsets which generate the whole set by the introduced algebraic operations. It is proved that such kernels exist always. . The closed sets are described by their correspondence with the kernels. (S.P.).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this study, a two-stage support-vector-regression optimization model (TSOM) is developed for the planning of municipal solid waste (MSW) management in the urban districts of Beijing, China. It represents a new effort to enhance the analysis accuracy in optimizing the MSW management system through coupling the support-vector-regression (SVR) model with an interval-parameter mixed integer linear programming (IMILP). The developed TSOM can not only predict the city's future waste generation amount, but also reflect dynamic, interactive, and uncertain characteristics of the MSW management system. Four kernel functions such as linear kernel, polynomial kernel, radial basis function, and multi-layer perception kernel are chosen based on three quantitative simulation performance criteria [i.e....

CERN Document Server

In these lecture notes we present some connections between random matrices, the asymmetric exclusion process, random tilings. These three apparently unrelated objects have (sometimes) a similar mathematical structure, an interlacing structure, and the correlation functions are given in terms of a kernel. In the basic examples, the kernel is expressed in terms of orthogonal polynomials.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The second messenger signaling molecule bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) regulates many processes in bacteria, including motility, pathogenesis,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Interfacial tension at the aqueous solution of di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid or its copper salts/water solutions has been measured by the drop volume method.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Experiments were conducted to confirm the isotropic spatial resolution of multislice CT with a 0.5 mm slice thickness. Isotropic spatial resolution means that the spatial resolution in the transaxial plane (X-Y plane) and that in the longitudinal direction (Z direction) are equivalent. To obtain point spread function (PSF) values in the X-Y-Z directions, three-dimensional voxel data were obtained by helical scanning of a bead phantom. The modulation transfer function (MTF) values were then obtained by three-dimensional Fourier transform of the PSF. Evaluation of the spatial resolution in the X-Y-Z directions by the MTF values showed that the spatial resolution in the Z direction does not depend on the reconstruction kernel used. It was also found that the spatial resolution in the Z direction, as compared with that in the X-Y plane, is superior with the standard kernel for the abdomen and is inferior with the high-definition ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In these years Information Technology has been used in activities that require an intelligent intervention. In this context take placing Decision Support Systems, since they use Information Technology to support users in decision processes, that is problems of logical level greater then problems normally treated by traditional information systems. The purpose of this work is to describe Decision Support Systems specifying what they are, their functionally and structure, identifying, furthermore, user types referred to and interaction modality between them; and to present a prototype of these systems. From a preliminary analyses phase of ENEA being and its Information Systems to understand which topics can be supported by systems of this type, it deals with one of these topics: weighing of new project, finding parameters, or key quantity, that affect and determine decisions. It describes, then, models, conceived form parameters, that permit to the user, through a simple representation ...

Science.gov (United States)

... Corporate Author : Personal Author(s) : GORBUNOV ,VI ; SVIRYAKIN ,DI ; CHANTSEV ,VI ; KOLUPAEV ,AN ; MAXIMENKO,AD. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The identification, and hence origin determination, of unknown nuclear material that might be found undeclared away from designated locations in the nuclear fuel cycle, is an important task in the frame of nuclear forensics. Material with forensic importance can be found at the microscopic level as particles in environmental samples indicating possible clandestine production of fissile material, and as bulky samples in the case of illicit trafficking of nuclear material. The objective of this work is to present, at a theoretical level, an isotopic finger-printing methodology which would determine the origin of unknown nuclear material with forensic importance. This is demonstrated for the case when the unknown nuclear material is spent nuclear fuel. The methodology is based on multivariate statistics, such as cluster and factor analysis, complemented by spent fuel isotopic composition simulations using the zero-dimensional depletion computer code ORIGEN2. A major source of error in the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A composition and method for encapsulating a photovoltaic device which minimizes discoloration of the encapsulant. The composition includes an ethylene-vinyl acetate encapsulant, a curing agent, an optional ultraviolet light stabilizer, and/or an optional antioxidant. The curing agent is preferably 1,1-di-(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane; the ultraviolet light stabilizer is bis-(N-octyloxy-tetramethyl) piperidinyl sebacate and the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, tetrakis methylene (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate) methane, octadecyl 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate, and 2,2'-ethylidene bis(4,6-di-t-butylphenyl) fluorophosponite. The composition is applied to a solar cell then cured. The cured product contains a minimal concentration of curing-generated chromophores and resists ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shadow effect was used for investigating damage of uranium dioxide monocrystal. The dependence of shadow minimum parameters on fluence of "2"2Ne ions with 172 MeV energy was followed when detecting fission fragments. Ion dose responsible for sufficient microdamage of lattice structure, included into the classification of heavy ion damage effect on monocrystals was determined. The problem of radiation intensity effect on the character of occurred damages was studied. It was established that macroscopic sample failure, caused by generation of considerable mechanical stresses in monocrystal under beam effect could be observed along with microdamages of lattice structure at ion flux density >10"1"2 cm"-"2Xs"-"1.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The photodegradation of two well known recalcitrant compounds was studied. At this aim, a photosystem constituted by titanium dioxide and polyaniline, both immobilised in a PVC membrane, and a sunlight simulating irradiation source was used. The optimisation of the experimental conditions, ph, ionic strength and, when operating on soils, humic acid concentration, allowed the photodegradation of Paraquat at a nearly 100% extent, while, an oxidation by hypochlorite was needed to degrade cyanuric acid. [Italian] E' stata studiata la fotodegradazione di due composti notoriamente recalcitranti a questo tipo di rimozione. Con un sistema fotocatalitico costituito da biossido di titanio e polianilina immobilizzati in una membrana di PVC ed operando con luce solare simulata e' possibile, ottimizzando le condizioni sperimentali di pH, forza ionica e - operando su terreno - ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Surveys were carried out in 2006 and 2007 in Umbria (central Italy) to evaluate the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in maize grain sampled at harvest. Fusarium spp., were the most abundant species detected in maize kernels, followed by Aspergillus species of sections Flavi and Nigri and by Penicillium spp. Among Fusarium species, F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species, as detected by PCR directly on the kernels and on the fungi isolated from the kernels, followed by F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. Fumonisins were the predominant mycotoxins with values, on average, of 4.3 and 5.7mgkg-1, in 2006 and 2007, respectively, with a maximum of 76.3mgkg-1 in the second year. Deoxynivalenol ranged from 0.2 to 3.98mgkg-1 in 2006 (average 1.04mgkg-1) and from undetectable...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Plutonium and minor actinides produced as by-products of the UO_2 nuclear cycle could be considered as waste or energy source depending on the strategy selected in the nuclear energy programme. Considering Pu and Minor Actinides as a source, they can be burned in existing water reactor for diminishing the radiotoxicity of the spent fuel, it is necessary to use 'inactive' materials as matrix like ThO_2. ThO_2 matrix has demonstrated its Pu burning efficiency and higher corrosion resistance than UO_2. Uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel efficiency is low because the presence of U in MOX results in the creation of some new Pu under irradiation. The dissolution behaviour of irradiated (Th,Pu)O_2 pellets with burn-up of 38.8 MWd/kg Th has been studied in carbonated (20 mM HCO_3"-), deionised and granite ground water solution in a hot cell. The dissolution behaviour of Th, Pu, U and Np was studied in ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A monoclonal antibody raised against carboxyl-linked IAA was used in Western blot analysis of storage proteins from kernels of Avena sativa, Pennisetum americanum, Sorghum bicolor,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In germinating oil palm (Elaeis guineensis var D × P) seedling, an active lipase was present in the shoot but absent from both the kernel and the haustorium. It has an optimum...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundGene regulation is a key mechanism in higher eukaryotic cellular processes. One of the major challenges in gene regulation studies is to identify regulators affecting the...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol occurs in both the kernel and vegetative shoot of germinating Zea mays seedlings. The effect of a gravitational stimulus on the transport...Full Text Available

CERN Document Server

We construct representation of the Separated Variables (SoV) for the quantum SL(2,R) Heisenberg closed spin chain and obtain the integral representation for the eigenfunctions of the model. We calculate explicitly the Sklyanin measure defining the scalar product in the SoV representation and demonstrate that the language of Feynman diagrams is extremely useful in establishing various properties of the model. The kernel of the unitary transformation to the SoV representation is described by the same "pyramid diagram" as appeared before in the SoV representation for the SL(2,C) spin magnet. We argue that this kernel is given by the product of the Baxter Q-operators projected onto a special reference state.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Convolution/superposition (C/S) is regarded as the standard dose calculation method in most modern radiotherapy treatment planning systems. Different implementations of C/S could result in significantly different dose distributions. This paper addresses two major implementation issues associated with collapsed cone C/S: one is how to utilize the tabulated kernels instead of analytical parametrizations and the other is how to deal with voxel size effects. Three methods that utilize the tabulated kernels are presented in this paper. These methods differ in the effective kernels used: the differential kernel (DK), the cumulative kernel (CK) or the cumulative-cumulative kernel (CCK). They result in slightly different computation times but significantly different voxel size effects. Both simulated and real multi-resolution dose calculations are presented. For ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The article provides a 1998 updated picture of Italy's and the world's photovoltaic market in terms of produced modules and total installed capacity, as well as market growth forecasts up to 2010. After a short description of the state-of-the-art of cell and module manufacturing, ana analysis of the cost of producing a photovoltaic kw is reported for different plant types: stand-alone plants with energy storage batteries, plants connected to low low voltage networks or intended for supporting medium voltage networks, hybrid plants with diesel sets. The article is concluded by illustrating ENEL's (Electric Power Production Company) engagement in the field of photovoltaic solar energy as regards theoretical studies, research and testing of new technologies, and installing plants; over nearly twenty years of activity, ENEL has designed and built a few hundreds of photovoltaic plants for a total capacity of about 4.000 kw, and is currently in the process of ...

Science.gov (United States)

... 13BRL I COMBUSTIBLE CARTRIDGE CASES: CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS FW ROBBINS J. W. COLB3URN DI ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of work is systematical studying of benzo (B) of thiophene-1,1-dioxides and their 2,3-di-hydro derivatives behaviour in the reactions of electrophflic, radical, nucleophilic nitration, reduction of nitro group, embodiment of synthesis of N-amino derivatives, investigation of sulfur containing hetero-cyclic compounds, including of residues of some steroids

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The document, based on European guidelines, was jointly developed by radiation oncologists, radiation physicists and radiation technologists. It contains the aims of the guidelines, professional profiles, roles and responsibilities, personnel and equipment requirements, procedures.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Laser flash photolysis studies of tetraphenyl-p-dioxin have led to the characterization of its triplet state. The T-T absorption spectra shows maxima at 350 and 545 nm; the triplet has a lifetime of 535 ns in methanol and can be quenched by di-tert-butyl nitroxide, paraquat dications, oxygen, and di-tert-butyl selenoketone. The interaction of the triplet with oxygen leads to the formation of singlet oxygen which in turn reacts with the title compound to yield benzil.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The main purpose of this paper is to stress the importance of CT depiction of the mandibular incisive canal. This anatomical structure contains a major neurovascular bundle and is thus very important in the planning of mandibular implants in the canine-incisive area. The importance of careful assessment of the mandibular canal course before implantology is now widely recognized. The same holds true for the canine-incisive region in the jaw, to detect the incisive canal if present and prevent any complications from its accidental damage. CT with a dedicated software showed the incisive canal in a large number of patients, which calls for precise reporting of its presence, course, and relationships with teeth. [Italian] Scopo di questo lavoro e' sottolineare l'importanza di rilevare e segnalare la visibilita' con Tomografia Computerizzata del canale incisivo mandibolare, struttura anatomica al cui interno decorre un ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The work examines twenty-two patients with coronary artery disease, previous myocardial infarction and LV dysfunction, using the technetium-99m ({sup 99m}Tc) tetrofosmin (SPECT) associated with nitrate administration in the detection of hypoperfused but still viable myocardium. The method allows the detection of this disease. [Italian] Il lavoro analizza i risultati degli esami condotti su 22 pazienti con cardiopatia ischemica cronica e ridotta funzione ventricolare sinistra sottoposti a tomografia computerizzata con emissione di fotone singolo (SPECT) cardiaca con tecnezio-99m ({sup 99m}Tc) tetrofosmina associata alla somministrazione di nitrati nella differenziazione tra tessuto miocardico ipoperfuso ma ancora vitale e tessuto miocardico necrotico. La metodologia usata consente di identificare la presenza di tessuto miocardico vitale in territori vascolari severamente ipoperfusi.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of this work is to describe the radiological appearance of overlooked malignant pulmonary lesions at CT and to analyze the reasons of misdiagnosis. Ten patient with pulmonary lesion (PML) overlooked at forst CT examination were selected among patients with lung cancer. Endobronchial location of the tumors and their small size were the most frequent causes of misdiagnosis of PML at chest CT in the series. However, a systematic evaluation of CT scans can reduce the percentage of missed lesions. [Italian] Scopo del presente lavoro e' di descrivere le caratteristiche radiologiche delle lesioni polmonari maligne non identificate con la Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e definire le possibili cause di errore. Sono stati esaminato 10 pazienti con tumore polmonare. Le sedi endobronchiale e centrale nonche' le piccole dimensioni delle lesioni polmonari maligne rappresentano le cause piu' frequenti ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The possibility of oxidizing at a PbO{sub 2} anode the phenols and polyphenols, present in the olive oil mill wastewater, has been studied as a pre-treatment for the submission of such wastewater to the traditional biological treatments. The results obtained operating at current densities ranging 500 to 2000 A/m{sup 2} show that it is possible to reduce the concentration of the phenolic components, which interfere with the biological treatments, down to low values without decreasing too much the total organic content of the wastewater. [Italian] E' stata studiata la possibilita' di ossidare anodicamente i componenti fenolici delle acque reflue di frantoio, quale pretrattamento delle stesse prima del loro invio ai processi di trattamento biologico. I risultati ottenuti impiegando PbO{sub 2} quale materiale anodico e operando con densita' di corrente comprese tra 500 e 2000 ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The fast breeder test reactor at Kalpakkam has completed nearly 25 years of operation and is now operating at 18 MWt capacity with 46 fuel subassemblies (FSA) in the core consisting of 27 Mark-I (70% PuC + 30% UC), 13 Mark-II (55% PuC + 45% UC) and 6 MOX (44% PuO_2 + 56% UO_2) and one test PFBR FSA. Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) campaigns on FSAs at different burnup levels has provided valuable information about the irradiation behavior of the carbide fuel. This paper gives a summary of the irradiation performance of the carbide fuel evaluated through some of the investigations such as neutron radiography, x-radiography, gamma scanning, fission gas analysis and ceramography. Burnup of the carbide fuel could be enhanced from the initial design burnup limit of 50 GWd/t to 165 GWd/through systematic PIE. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Use of high plutonia MOX as fuel is contemplated from the point of view of rapid disposition of plutonium and economic power generation. The fuel pellets are subjected to steep thermal gradients #approx# 1700 K drop across a radius of #approx# 2.5mm. This leads to evaporation-condensation of the fuel constituents to cooler regions. Vaporization depends on fuel compositions such as Pu fraction, Oxygen-to-Metal (O/M) ratio and local temperature. Knowledge of vapour chemistry is essential in understanding the fuel behavior. The vaporization behaviour of MOX was analyzed in this work using thermochemical methods. The vapour phase consisted of nine species; O, O_2, Pu, PuO, PuO_2, U, UO, UO_2 and UO_3. Oxygen formed part of the vapour phase along with other species and oxygen potential was not controlled independently. The vapour pressures were estimated at 2000 K as a function of (O/M) for several Pu-fraction. Results for MOX-28%PuO_2 is shown in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The procedure and operation-by-operation methods of the quality control of structural and fuel materials, mixed fuel pellets of UO_2-PuO_2, fuel element cans made of the AISI-316 steel and ready fuel elements are described as well as spacer wires (steel AISI-316), cases of fuel assemblies (FA) and completed FAs. The methods are used in manifacturing fuel elements and FAs for the FFTF reactor. The RDT standards that regulate the structure and functioning of the system of fuel element and FA production management are outlined. Destructive analytical methods characterized by sufficient accuracy but low productivity are noted to represent a considerable share of operations. Some specialized means of nondestructive testing are developed, such as the gauge to measure the total plutonium content in a fuel element, neutron radiography deVice and a laser gauge to measure the FA dimensions. The experience gained served as a basis for designing the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Characteristic study for the recycled fuel cycle, MOX fuel and Th-MOX fuel in PWR was performed with the comparison of 4 w/o UO2 fuel. It was assumed that there are no limit in reprocessing and no technical difficulty in recycling of spent fuel. The effect of recycling, plutonium composition, conversion ratio, MTC, FTC was investigated to each cycle. (Th+Pu)O_2 recycle option was advantageous because the loading amount of plutonium could be reduced from 8.3 w/o at once-through cycle to 3.5 w/o. (Th+Pu)O_2 recycled fuel was known to be higher Pu-239 consumption rate and more Pu-240(242) production rate. The (Th+U)O2 and (U+Pu)O2 once-through fuel cycle revealed high conversion ratio. The (U+Pu)O_2 recycled fuel cycle, however, showed low conversion ratio. Safety of each cycle was ensured by negative MTC and FTC

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of lung perfusions permits to map functioning lung parenchyma with higher sensitivity than CT. Delivering higher radiations doses it used to increase local control in lung carcinoma; this strategy is based on radiobiological and clinical studies. Lung parenchyma is a dose-limiting tissue in patients irradiated for lung cancer. Functional mapping based on SPECT and CT findings permits to design radiation beams such as to minimize irradiation of functioning lung. [Italian] L'integrazione delle immagini diagnostiche aventi diverso contenuto informativo anatomico-funzionale puo' essere utilizzata nella radioterapia per migliorare le procedure diagnostiche e ottimizzare la geometria dell'irraggiamento. I sistemi per l'elaborazione di piani di radioterapia oggi in uso sono direttamente interfacciati con gli apparecchi di Tomografia ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the convolution/superposition method of photon beam dose calculations, inhomogeneities are usually handled by using some form of scaling involving the relative electron densities of the inhomogeneities. In this paper the accuracy of density scaling as applied to primary electrons generated in photon interactions is examined. Monte Carlo calculations are compared with density scaling calculations for air and cork slab inhomogeneities. For individual primary photon kernels as well as for photon interactions restricted to a thin layer, the results can differ significantly, by up to 50%, between the two calculations. However, for realistic photon beams where interactions occur throughout the whole irradiated volume, the discrepancies are much less severe. The discrepancies for the kernel calculation are attributed to the scattering characteristics of the electrons and the consequent oversimplified modeling used in the density scaling method. A ...

CERN Document Server

We consider a family of chiral non-Hermitian Gaussian random matrices in the unitarily invariant symmetry class. The eigenvalue distribution in this model is expressed in terms of Laguerre polynomials in the complex plane. These are orthogonal with respect to a non-Gaussian weight including a modified Bessel function of the second kind, and we give an elementary proof for this. In the large $n$ limit, the eigenvalue statistics at the spectral edge close to the real axis are described by the same family of kernels interpolating between Airy and Poisson that was recently found by one of the authors for the elliptic Ginibre ensemble. We conclude that this scaling limit is universal, appearing for two different non-Hermitian random matrix ensembles with unitary symmetry. As a second result we give an equivalent form for the interpolating Airy kernel in terms of a single real integral, similar to representations for the asymptotic ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Energy use patterns and utilisation efficiencies in 40 factories producing palm kernel oil (PKO) in southwestern part of Nigeria were studied. The factories were stratified into small, medium and large scale categories based on the mode of operations and production capacities. Questionnaires were administered on the factories to obtain historical data on petrol, diesel and electricity consumption and PKO production outputs for seven years (1998-2004). Energy use efficiency indicators employed include: energy intensity (EI), energy cost per unit product (EC/P), energy ratio (ER), food energy ratio (FER) and percentage oil yield by weight. Results of the study indicated that averagely, 0.58, 0.53 and 0.74GJ/103l of PKO were needed in the small, medium and large PKO factories, respectively. T...

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CT is a valuable tool in assessing thoracic gunshot wounds. CT is also the method of choice in emergency, because it permits rapid depiction of bullet damage to the chest and to other body districts. This in turn permits correct assessment of the main thoracic injuries, plus adequate and prompt planning of surgical treatment or support intensive care. It is reported on the role of CT in diagnosing the complex pleuropulmonary, cardiovascular and thoracic wall injuries caused by gunshot wounds, with their specific and acute signs which differ greatly fro those of other types of chest trauma. In the last 4 years, it was observed an amount of 76 cases of gunshot injury, twenty-six of them involved the chest. The patients, 25 men and 1 woman (mean age: 32 years, range: 17-48), were all submitted to emergency CT with iv contrast agent injection and the CT-angiography technique. The reanimator was always presented to monitor the patients' vital functions and shock state. CT of the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Oxygenated fuels increase fuel consumption due to their low enthalpy of combustion; however, their high antiknock index renders them suitable for use in engines with a high compression rate, increasing their thermal yield. This study evaluated the performance of biorenewable oxygenated fuels (ethanol and isoamyl alcohol) and partially renewable fuels (ETBE: ethyl tert-butyl ether, TAEE: tert-amyl ethyl ether and di-TAE: di-tert-amyl ether) with high degree of purity and in mixtures with automotive gasoline, based on tests with Otto cycle engines. Among the oxygenated fuels evaluated here, di-TAE was found to present the best characteristics of performance, both individually and in mixtures with gasoline.

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The purpose of this work is to investigate the possible role of Helical CT defecography in pelvic floor disorders by comparing the results of the investigations with those of conventional defecography. The series analyzed consisted of 90 patients, namely 62 women and 28 men, ranging in age 24-82 years. They were all submitted to conventional defecography, and 18 questionable cases were also studied with Helical CT defecography. The conventional examination was performed during the 4 standard phases of resting, squeezing, Valsalva and straining; it is used a remote-control unit. The parameters for Helical CT defecography were: 5 mm beam collimation, pitch 2, 120 KV, 250 m As and 18-20 degrees gantry inclination to acquire coronal images of the pelvic floor. The rectal ampulla was distended with a bolus of 300 mL nonionic iodinated contrast agent (dilution: 3g/cc). The patient wore a napkin and was seated on the table, except for those who could not hold the position and were thus ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The first compound in the series of reactions leading to the ester conjugates of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in kernels of Zea mays sweet corn is the acyl alkyl acetal, 1-O-indol-3-ylacetyl-β-d-glucose...Full Text Available

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Geoinformatics, of which remote sensing, global positioning system and geographical information system are kernel components, has developed rapidly and become applicable in the last ten years. In this paper, the recent development and advantages of geoinformatics are introduced; some achievements and understanding in applications for environmental protection in mining areas are also described. 7 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A method for calculation of absorbed dose distributions in three dimensions for 1-20 MeV photons is presented. The method uses convolution/superposition of photon fluence distributions with energy scattering kernels. Results for Co-60 and X-ray beams in homogeneous and inhomogeneous media are compared with measurements. Good agreement is found between calculations and measurements. 8 refs.; 3 figs.

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In order to materialize the automobile use small direct injection diesel engine (DI), the reduction in both exhaust emission and noise, as studied, was explained in summary. The DI, as excellent in fuel consumption characteristics, was studied to be adopted to the small automobile, with the materialization of small DI to be about 600cc in capacity per cylinder. However the further diminution in dimension had not been materialized yet, because of the aggravation in exhaust emission and vibration noise. Then a single spray DI, characterized by the approximate sphericity in shape of combustion chamber and adoption of cast iron made piston and two-stage spring nozzle, was prototypically made, with optimizing the combustion in characteristics, decreasing HC in exhaust quantity by modifying the injection system, doing also NOx in exhaust quantity by adopting the lag angle at injection time and EGR, modifying ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

After treatment with NN-di[14C]methylnitrosamine, samples of DNA were isolated from rat livers by a conventional phenol procedure and examined for the presence of phosphotriesters. A method of capable...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mycobacterium xenopi is one of the most common agents responsible for nontubercolar mycobacterial pulmonary disease on AIDS patients. These lesions have been studied with conventional radiography while CT has been used in patients with aspecific mycobacterioses or non-AIDS pulmonary conditions from Mycobacterium xenopi. 12 AIDS patients were examined. They had pulmonary lesions from Mycobacterium xenopi, patients age ranged 30 to 46 years. All patients had CD4 blood levels lower than 250 cells/mL and Mycobacterium xenopi in the sputum. All patients underwent a standard chest radiograph and a CT examination. CT images were evaluated by three radiologists independently and the definitive diagnosis was made in the presence of a fourth radiologist. Chest CT showed parenchymal consolidation in 66% of cases, associated with bilateral basal bands in 16% of cases. Consolidation was unilateral in 41% of cases and most frequently involved the right lower lobe. Bilateral reticular interstitial ...

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Aim of the work was to describe the noninvasive assessment of bone mineral density, geometrical and biochemical properties in premenopausal women with dietary intake of phytoestrogens and comparison of these parameters with those of age-matched female subjects with Mediterranean dietary intake lacking in these substances. Volumetric cortical, trabecular and total mineral density and bone geometrical properties were evaluated with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the distal radius of the non dominant forearm. pQCT showed higher bone mineral density (total and trabecular) and SSI values in premenopausal with dietary intake of phytoestrogens. Despite the lack of statistical significance, these preliminary results, should further support the few literature findings about the potential role of phytoestrogens consumption in preventing trabecular bone loss. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate definitively postmenopausal osteoporosis. [Italian] Scopo del ...

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Purpose: To assess the role of CT in the evaluation of traumatic and spontaneous oesophageal perforation. Materials and methods: From March 2001 to May 2003, we studied 12 patients (7 males and 5 females; age range: 25-66 years, mean age: 43.5 years) with suspected oesophageal perforation due to motor-vehicle accidents (4 cases), stab wound (one case), post-intubation (2 cases), foreign body ingestion (2 cases) and spontaneous (3 cases). Five patients underwent standard chest and cervical radiography; two patients with suspected foreign body ingestion also underwent a gastrografin swallow study; all of the 12 patients underwent CT of the neck, chest and abdomen before and after intravenous, and in four cases oral, administration of contrast material. Results: In 5 patients with cervical, thoracic and abdominal trauma, the CT examination showed the presence of pleuroparenchymal injury (pneumothorax, pleural effusion and subcutaneous emphysema) as well as findings suggestive of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nowadays, unlike in the past, companies have to operate in a context of sustainable development, in which the economic and social development, production and consumption have to take into account the medium and long term impact on environment. The article sets forth some considerations about these subjects, which are assuming a growing importance in the management of companies: the variable environment may for instance be a factor of discrimination between being competitive or not. In order to characterise the context within which the environmental management has to be applied, some basic concepts about environmental management systems, Life Cycle Assessment, and Eco labeling are illustrated. As an example of application of the methodology described, a brief reference to the Italgas Group Environmental Report is given. [Italian] Oggi, a differenza del passato, le imprese si trovano ad operare in un contesto di sviluppo sostenibile, nel quale l'evoluzione ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive and consistent description of the complexity of laws regulating the field of biotechnology, mainly focusing on the definition of items to be patented, which is one of the most important and also controversial issues within the new 98/44/EC set of rules. As biotechnology is a specialist and multidisciplinary field, it has begun by giving a general description of the field, outlining the grounds for the new rules, and then thoroughly examined and evaluated previous national and international laws especially with regard to patenting. This was followed by an evaluation of what can be patented according to the new instructions by systematically assessing the section defining items to be patented in the field of biotechnology. It is used to be a matter of opinion whether biotechnological material was to be considered a discovery or an invention, the former being impatentable according to patenting laws. The new law pays particular attention ...

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Aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) in the identification of colorectal cancer and to define the limitations and the advantages of this imaging modality, as well as indications to the examination. It was examined prospectively 62 symptomatic patients aged 36 to 82 years (28 women and 34 men). All patients underwent both conventional and virtual colonoscopy on the same day; the conventional examination allowed exploration of the entire colon. Conventional colonoscopy identified 89 lesions 3-50 mm in diameter, namely 84 benign and 5 malignant lesions. No lesions were identified in 12 patients. CT colonography identified 52 of the 89 lesions, with 57.1% diagnostic accuracy. They were 11 false positives (82.5% positive predictive value and 52.2% specificity) and 37 false negatives (24.5% negative predictive value and 58.4% sensitivity). Sensitivity was significantly higher (85.7%) for polyps {>=} 1 cm. Virtual colonoscopy is an ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In Europe, MOX fuel has been supplied by AREVA for more than 30 years, to 36 reactors: 21 in France, 10 in Germany, 3 in Switzerland, 2 in Belgium. For the present and future, recycling is compulsory in the frame of sustainable development of nuclear energy. By 2030 the overall volume of used fuel will reach about 400 000 t worldwide. Their plutonium and uranium content represents a huge resource of energy to recycle. That is the reason why, the European Utilities issued an EUR (European Utilities Requirement) demanding new builds reactors to be able of using MOX Fuel Assemblies in up to 50 % of the core. AREVA GEN3+ reactors, like EPR"T"M or ATMEA"T"M designed with MHI partnership, are designed to answer any utility need of MOX recycling. The example of the EPR"T"M reactor operated with 100 % MOX core optimized for MOX recycling will be presented. A standard EPR"T"M can be operated with 100 % MOX core using an advanced homogeneous MOX (single Pu content) with highly improved ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A method has been developed for calibration of CT-numbers to volumetric electron density distributions using tissue substitutes of known elemental composition and experimentally determined electron density. This information have been used in a dose calculation method based on photon and electron interaction processes. The method utilizes a convolution integral between the photon fluence matrix and dose distribution kernels. Inhomogeneous media are accounted for using the theorems of Fano and O'Connor for scaling dose distribution kernels in proportion to electron density. For clinical application of a calculated dose plan, a method for prediction of accelerator output have been developed. The methods gives the number of monitor units that has to be given to obtain a certain absorbed dose to a point inside an irregular, inhomogeneous object. The method for verification of dose distributions outlined in this study makes it possible to exclude the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A convolution/superposition method is proposed for use with primary and scatter dose kernels formed for energy bins of X-ray spectra reconstructed as a function of off-axis distance. It should be noted that the number of energy bins is usually about ten, and that the reconstructed X-ray spectra can reasonably be applied to media with a wide range of effective Z numbers, ranging from water to lead. The study was carried out for 10-MV X-ray doses in water and thorax-like phantoms with the use of open-jaw-collimated fields. The dose calculations were made separately for primary, scatter, and electron contamination dose components, for which we used two extended radiation sources: one was on the X-ray target and the other on the flattening filter. To calculate the in-air beam intensities at po...

CERN Document Server

A theory of nonunitary-invertible as well as unitary canonical transformations is formulated in the context of Weyl's phase space representations. Exact solutions of the transformation kernels and the phase space propagators are given for the three fundamental canonical maps as fractional-linear, gauge and contact (point) transformations. Under the nonlinear maps a phase space representation is mapped to another phase space representation thereby extending the standard concept of covariance. This extended covariance allows Dirac-Jordan transformation theory to naturally emerge from the Hilbert space representations in the Weyl quantization.

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The study compares the doses absorbed by the dentomaxillary area in spiral CT and panoramic examinations. The dose measurements demonstrate that patients receive smaller doses with panoramic radiography than with spiral CT with Dentascan. After following for some variations from instrumental differences, they are in substantial agreement with literature data. Further investigations are needed considering the radiobiological risk related to the growing spread of Dentascan examinations. [Italian] Questo lavoro intende confrontare le dosi assorbite nel distretto dento-mascellare, con le due principali tecniche utilizzate in questo campo: TC spirale e ortopantomografia. Emerge come l'esame panoramico delle arcate dentarie eseguito con l'ortopantomografo comporti la'ssorbimento di dosi inferiori rispetto a quelle dell'esame TC spirale con programma Dentascan. Questi dati, pur essendo soggetti a variabilita' dovuta alla ...

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The paper investigates the functional endoscopic sinus surgery with the Messer-linger's technique which treats benign or inflammatory diseases of paranasal sinuses resistant to medical therapy. The goal of this type of surgery is to open the obstructed sinus ostia and restore normal aeration and mucociliary clearance. The computerized tomography permits an accurate assessment of extension and results of functional endoscopic sinus surgery. [Italian] L'articolo discute l'uso della tecnica di Messerklinger nella chirurgia funzionale endoscopica dei seni paranasali per il trattamento delle malattie benigne e delle infiammazioni croniche. Essa disostruisce gli osti sinusali ripristinando la normale areazione e la pulizia mucociliare. La tomografia computerizzata consente di valutare l'estensione e i risultati del trattamento chirurgico funzionale, soprattutto nel caso di insuccesso ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The synthesis and properties of various 1,2,4,5-tetrazine explosives and energetic materials are described. These are the nitrate and perchlorate salts of 3,6-diguanidino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine, the nitrate and perchlorate salts of 3,6-diguanidino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-1,4-di-N-oxide, 3,6-bis(1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-5-ylamino)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine and its 1,4-di-N-oxide derivative, 3,3'-azobis(6-amino-1,2,4,5-tetrazine) and its oxidation products. (Abstract Copyright [2004], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

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Buses, operating within a Florence (Italy) municipal transportation system, and equipped with Otto cycle engines, were selected for retrofitting taking into account the suitability of each vehicle`s specific routing and service requirements. Cost benefit analyses indicated that it wouldn`t be economically feasible to retrofit buses equipped with diesel engines. A computerized refuelling system was set up at the fleet`s central service station which was hooked up to the natural gas utility`s supply line. This paper tables the cost benefit analysis data comparing gasoline and methane operation and reflecting the cost savings which are expected to be accrued through this methanization program over a span of 14 years.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A series of [60]fullerene-substituted phenylalanine (Baa) and lysine derivatives have been prepared by the condensation of 1,2-(4prime-oxocyclohexano)fullerene with the appropriately protected (4-amino)phenylalanine and lysine, respectively. Conversion of the imine to the corresponding amine is achieved by di-acid catalyzed hydroboration. The reduction of the imine is not accompanied by hydroboration of the fullerene cage. The [70]fullerene phenylalanine derivative has also been prepared as have the di-amino acid derivatives. The compounds were characterized by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy allowed the observation of diastereomers. Fullerene-substituted peptides may be synthesized on relatively large scale by solid-pha...

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The paper reports the results of the studies performed at the Electric Research Center of ENEL (Italian National Electricity Board) in the field of compacting high voltage transmission lines, from the point of view of dielectric and corona noise constraints. The results of switching impulse withstand voltage tests, performed on typical compact line insulation configurations, are given and optimization criteria of such insulation configurations in relation to switching impulse are outlined. The constraints regarding surface withstand voltage in polluted conditions of the above insulations are analyzed and the possibility of reducing their dimensions by using unconventional insulation materials is considered. Finally, evaluations of corona noise in the case of optimization of the line encumbrance from the point of view of dielectric constraints are given.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of this work is to characterize the role of the financial institutions in achieving sustainable development meaning a process of development which leaves at least the same amount of capital, natural and man-made, to future generations as current generations have access to. This makes it clear that sustainable development is about capital allocation and thus should be at the core of financial markets activity. On a more practical level the different ways banks affect environment are analyzed: as investors - supplying the investments with environmental perspective; as lenders - developing new financial products to encourage sustainable development; as valuers - estimating risks and opportunities in project-financing; as powerful stake holders - as shareholders and lenders they can exercise considerable influence over companies; - as polluters - while not dirty industries, financial institutions do consume natural resources. By the study of these environmental aspects it comes ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gastric stromal tumors are an ill-defined group of lesions arising from muscle wall cells and characterized by extremely variable biological patterns. Thanks to modern immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques, four main classes of these lesions have been identified, namely: (1) tumors with differentiation toward smooth muscle cells; (2) tumors with differentiation toward neural elements; (3) tumors with differentiation toward neural elements; (3) tumors with dual differentiation toward either cell type. It was investigated the yield of CT in diagnosing and characterizing gastric stromal tumors. It was retrospectively reviewed the CT findings of 38 patients (15 men and 23 women; mean age 51 years) with pathologically proven gastric stromal tumors, namely 31 of myoid origin, 4 of neural origin, 2 with both muscle and neural differentiation, 1 lacking differentiation with either cell type. The myoid tumors involved gastric fundus in 9/13 and 5/7 benign lesions and lesions with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rectus sheath hematomas are a frequent but sometimes misdiagnosed disease in patients under anticoagulative drugs, hemodialysis, or simply in the elderly. The most frequent localization is in the lower part of the abdomen: the explanation lies in the anatomy of the abdominal wall, especially in the arcuate line of the rectus sheath. Aim of this work is to explain the reason of the almost constant location correlating the anatomy with the CT features. The rectus abdominis muscle lies between the aponeuroses of the transverse and oblique muscles which form the so called rectus sheath. This arrangement is found from the costal arch to a level approximately between the umbilicus and the pubic symphisis, where the rear layer of the rectus sheath ends with a curved edge, called the arcuate or semicircular line of Douglas. Beneath this line the aponeuroses of the three muscles pass in front of the rectus which is separated from the peritoneum only by the fascia trasversalis, a thin connective ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In the rat, some phthalates alter sexual differentiation at relatively low dosage levels by altering fetal Leydig cell development and hormone synthesis, thereby inducing abnormalities of the testis,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The document reports the main issues discussed during the first course-debate on quality controls in radiotherapy, held in Rome in December 3-4, 1998 and May 3-5 1999 in collaboration between the Istituto Superiore di Sanita' and the Istituto Regina Elena. The points considered critical to the quality assurance in radiotherapy by the participants are presented in relation to the total radiotherapy procedure.

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A comparative test in mice for pulmonary toxicity between butylated hydroxytoluene (2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-methylphenol, BHT) and 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-(alpha, alpha, alpha-2H3)methylphenol (BHT-d3) showed a significantly lower toxic potency of the latter. The rate of in vitro BHT metabolism to 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-methylene-2,5-cyclohexadienone (BHT-QM) was slowed by deuterating BHT in the 4-methyl group. On the other hand, the rate of in vitro metabolism to 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2,5-cyclohexadienone (BHT-OH) was increased with the deuteration. A similar isotope effect of the deuterium substitution on the in vivo metabolic rates of BHT was observed. These observations support the concept that the lung damage caused by BHT is mediated by BHT-QM. The pulmonary toxicity of 2-tert.-butyl-4-ethylphenol (4-EP) and their deuterated analogs was also compared. 2-tert.-Butyl-4-(1,1-2H2)ethylphenol ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

MauG is a novel 42 kDa di-heme protein which is required for the biosynthesis of tryptophan tryptophylquinone, the prosthetic group of methylamine dehydrogenase. The visible absorption and resonance...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cesium ions (Cs"+) are used for the production of the feed ions necessary to obtain Fourier transform mass spectra (FTMS). The molecule chosen for the initial study of this Cs"+ desorption ionization (DI-FTMS) was vitamin B-12 because of its nonvolatile, thermally labile character. 21 references.

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The study reports ultrasonography and computerise tomography findings in 16 patients with amoebic abscesses, 12 of whom lived in a temperate peripheral area north-east of Naples (Italy). All patients have a clinical-diagnostic condition called sub-urban amoebiasis. The personal experience with the US guided therapeutic drainage of amoebic abscess with repeated cavity washing, which is important for positive parasitology. Combined US and CT assessment facilitated the diagnosis of amoebiasis and its differentiation from pyogenic abscess and hepatoma. [Italian] La colonizzazione epatica rappresenta la localizzazione piu' comune dell'amebiasi extraintestinale e gli ascessi epatici ne costituiscono la manifestazione piu' frequente sviluppandosi nel 3-9 % dei pazienti affetti da infezione parassitaria. Diversi studi confermano che la terapia medica dell'amebiasi risulta piu' efficace quando viene associato il drenaggio percutaneo degli ascessi ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The aim of this work is to understand the reasons for the selectivity shown in the complexation by unsaturated heteropolyanions (HPA) of actinides (An) which are oxidized to the number +IV. Different studies have been carried out, both in solution and in solid state, on P_2W_1_7O_6_1"1"0"- and its complexes with Zn"2"+, UO_2"2"+, Ce"4"+, Th"4"+ and U"4"+ to characterize the nature of the complexation site offered to the cation. Among the actinides(IV), the U"4"+ ion has been selected due to its singular spectroscopic and magnetic properties. An initial series of studies, in solution, using NMR"3"1P has thus enabled us to characterize these complexes and to compare them to those formed with the complexing agent PW_1_1O_3_9"8"-. This body of data allows to identify an identical complexation site for both ligands. An analysis of the NMR"3"1P spectrum of U(P_2W_1_7O_6_1)_2"1"6"- has shown a plane of symmetry passing through the actinide and enables ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this article, self-organizing-map-based video object segmentation is proposed, assuming that either Y-quantification or HSV-quantification can be systematically selected. Given a video sequence, the value of the probability density function for each component value is calculated according to a kernel estimation at the first frame. Some areas randomly chosen from the background are then examined, using each component value, to judge whether or not they include the target object. The quantification is determined so that the frequency of occurrence of false extractions can be reduced. The data presented to the maps are generated based on the selected quantification. Experimental results show that the proposed method recognizes the target object well.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We report on the improvement of Critical Dimension (CD) linearity on a photomask by applying the concept of process proximity correction to a laser lithographic process used for fabrication of photomasks. Rule-based Laser Process proximity Correction (LPC) was performed using an automated optical proximity correction tool and we obtained dramatic improvement of CD linearity on a photomask. A study on model-based LPC was executed using a two-Gaussian kernel function and we extracted model parameters for the laser lithographic process by fitting the model-predicted CD linearity data with measured ones. Model-predicted bias values of isolated space (I/S), Arrayed Contact (A/C) and Isolated Contact (I/C) were in good agreement with those obtained by the nonlinear curve-fitting method used for the rule-based LPC.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

LLNL is developing the nuclear fusion based Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) power plant concept. The baseline design uses a depleted uranium (DU) fission fuel blanket with a flowing molten salt coolant (flibe) that also breeds the tritium needed to sustain the fusion energy source. Indirect drive targets, similar to those that will be demonstrated on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), are ignited at 13Hz providing a 500MW fusion source. The DU is in the form of a uranium oxycarbide kernel in modified TRISO-like fuel particles distributed in a carbon matrix forming 2-cm-diameter pebbles. The thermal power is held at 2000MW by continuously varying the 6Li enrichment in the coolants. There are many options to be considered in the engine design including target yield, U-to-C ratio in th...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

We examine moving average (MA) filters for estimating the integrated variance (IV) of a financial asset price in a framework where high-frequency price data are contaminated with market microstructure noise. We show that the sum of squared MA residuals must be scaled to enable a suitable estimator of IV. The scaled estimator is shown to be consistent, first-order efficient, and asymptotically Gaussian distributed about the integrated variance under restrictive assumptions. Under more plausible assumptions, such as time-varying volatility, the MA model is misspecified. This motivates an extensive simulation study of the merits of the MA-based estimator under misspecification. Specifically, we consider nonconstant volatility combined with rounding errors and various forms of dependence between the noise and efficient returns. We benchmark the scaled MA-based estimator to subsample and realized kernel estimators and find that the MA-based estimator performs well ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) can fully use the frequency band and transmit data at high speeds. The ADSP-TS101 is a high performance digital signal processor (DSP) with good properties that include parallel processing and a high speed. Aimed at the real-time processing requirement of the OFDM algorithm, an underwater acoustic communication system with real-time processing capability is carried out. The system is mainly composed of multiple ADSP-TS101s, a multi-channel synchronous sample module and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip. The multiprocessor structure is made up of a cluster/data flow associated multiprocessing parallel processing structure as the operation kernel, and a multi-channel synchronous sample module is designed to realize no phase warp amo...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

BACKGROUND: High levels of g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulate in plant tissues under various stresses. GABA accumulation is also influenced by cultivar. This aim of this study was to select the most promising cultivar of fava bean for GABA accumulation and to optimise the culture conditions for GABA production in germinated fava beans by response surface methodology based on central composite design (CCD). RESULTS: GABA content and glutamate decarboxylase activity in germinated seeds of cultivar S2 were significantly higher than those in other cultivars (P < 0.05). A significant negative correlation (r = -0.765, P < 0.05) between germination percentage and 1000-kernel weight was observed. There was a linear relationship between GABA content and sprout length (R2 = 0.816). The regression...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A nonlinear free boundary-value problem of supercavitating flow past n + 1 hydrofoils is analyzed. To describe the cavities' closure mechanism, the Tulin-Terentev single-spiral-vortex model is employed. The flow domain is considered as the image of an (n + 1)-connected circular domain. The conformal map is constructed in terms of the solutions to two Riemann-Hilbert problems of the theory of symmetric automorphic functions. One of the problems is homogeneous and its coefficients are continuous functions while the second problem is inhomogeneous and has discontinuous coefficients. The exact solutions to the problems are found by using quasiautomorphic and quasimultiplicative analogs of the Cauchy kernel. The case of a single plate is considered in detail and the numerical results are report...

CERN Document Server

We construct the Baxter Q-operator and the representation of the Separated Variables (SoV) for the homogeneous open SL(2,R) spin chain. Applying the diagrammatical approach, we calculate Sklyanin's integration measure in the separated variables and obtain the solution to the spectral problem for the model in terms of the eigenvalues of the Q-operator. We show that the transition kernel to the SoV representation is factorized into the product of certain operators each depending on a single separated variable. As a consequence, it has a universal pyramid-like form that has been already observed for various quantum integrable models such as periodic Toda chain, closed SL(2,R) and SL(2,C) spin chains.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One of ENEA's many activities consists in dealing with the analysis of information strategies. In this case the analysis concerns an environmental issue, the ozone hole which, in spite of the consideration given by the media, is not sufficiently highlighted, as well as in the case of climate changes issue. A survey of the coverage of four daily newspapers was realized; the time period covered by the analysis spans form January 1996 to December 1997, 77 articles in total. The newspapers involved are: La Repubblica, Il Corriere della Sera, L'Unita' on a national scale, and Il Resto del Carlino on a regional scale. The number of articles analyzed is divided as follows: 26 for the Repubblica, 24 for the Corriere della Sera, 21 for the Unita', 6 for the Resto del Carlino. The purpose of the work was to detect quality and quantity indicators of the Italian press about the ozone hole issue and possible environmental risks conveyed to the public, using the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A number of procedures in diagnostic radiology and cardiology make use of long exposures to x-rays from fluoroscopy units. Although numerous studies have been performed to measure or calculate skin dose from these procedures, there have only been a handful of studies to determine the dose to the other organs. This thesis was focused on devising a method to calculate the absorbed dose to underlying tissues and organs. The work was performed in several stages. First, a commercial convolution/superposition-based treatment planning system used in radiation oncology was modified and complemented to make it usable with the low energies of x-rays used in diagnostic radiology. This required generation of energy deposition kernels in the kilovoltage energy range. The kernels were generated using the EGS4 Monte Carlo system of codes and added to the treatment planning system. The treatment planning system was then evaluated for its accuracy of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In radiotherapy treatment planning, convolution/superposition algorithms currently represent the best practical approach for accurate photon dose calculation in heterogeneous tissues. In this work, the implementation, accuracy and performance of the FFT convolution (FFTC) and multigrid superposition (MGS) algorithms are presented. The FFTC and MGS models use the same 'TERMA' calculation and are commissioned using the same parameters. Both models use the same spectra, incorporate the same off-axis softening and base incident lateral fluence on the same measurements. In addition, corrections are explicitly applied to the polyenergetic and parallel kernel approximations, and electron contamination is modelled. Spectra generated by Monte Carlo (MC) modelling of treatment heads are used. Calculations using the MC spectra were in excellent agreement with measurements for many linear accelerator types. To speed up the calculations, a number of calculation techniques were ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Using Monte Carlo simulation and the convolution/superposition algorithm, this work examines percent depth dose curves of the central axis in an acrylic phantom (20x20x20 cm"3) with variously sized air cavities (20x20x1.0, 20x20x2.0, 20x20x3.0, 20x20x4.0 and 20x20x4.95 cm"3 for study of longitudinal electron disequilibrium (ED) and 3.6x3.6x4.95, 4.5x4.5x4.95, 5.4x5.4x4.95 and 20x20x4.95 cm"3 for study of lateral ED). Radiochromic film samples are also measured to verify the Monte Carlo results. The Monte Carlo simulation is performed using OMEGA/BEAM and DOSXYZ codes, and the convolution/superposition calculation relies on an ADAC commercial treatment planning system. Underestimating the dose kernel expansion leads to overestimating the dose of what was found in the air cavity of ED using the convolution/superposition algorithm. Consequently, the dose in the rebuild-up region is influenced. The influenced region is on the acrylic phantom surface to a depth of about ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

SommarioScopo In questo studio riportiamo i dati relativi all'ablazione percutanea con Radiofrequenza (RF) di HCC e trombosi neoplastica dei vasi portali. Pazienti e metodi Dieci pazienti (pz) cirrotici, 7 maschi e 3 femmine, eta media 68 anni, con 10 noduli di HCC e trombosi neoplastica dei vasi portali sono stati sottoposti ad ablazione percutanea con RF del trombo neoplastico e dell'HCC. La RF veniva ritenuta efficace quando alla TC con mdc si osservava la necrosi completa dell'HCC e al Color Doppler si osservava la ricanalizzazione completa dei vasi portali. Risultati La necrosi completa dell'HCC e la ricanalizzazione completa dei vasi portali si osservava in 7 (70%) dei 10 pazienti. Nei rimanenti 3 (30%) la necrosi dell'HCC e la ricanalizzazione dei vasi portali non risultavano comple...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A mathematical model was developed to predict the penetration of a transient fuel spray, the temporal and spatial distribution of air-fuel mixture before the end of ignition delay and the subsequent pressure rise during combustion in a Direct-Injection Diesel Engine with and without swirl. The model accounts for the non-isothermal and non-isobaric character of processes during fuel injection resulting from continuous motion of the piston. The effects of various engine operating variables on spray were studied and graphically presented. The calculated spray penetration with and without crossflow of air is compared with the available experimental data of other researchers with good agreement. The model can predict the rate of combustible-mixture formation, the rate of heat release and cylinder pressure as a function of time in direct injection (DI) diesel engine. A single-cylinder D.I. research diesel engine was operated with N-hexadecane as the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Geothermal systems and fields are analysed giving particular evidence to the value of the geothermal source as an important natural source of energy. The paper analyses hydrothermal systems and describes the international experimental studies on the use of geothermal reservoirs in hot rocks with geopressured and magmatic systems. Experts are optimistic as far as the use of this innovative source of energy is possible in the medium-short term. [Italian] Si analizzano i sistemi e i campi geotermici, sottolineando il valore della fonte geotermica come risorsa naturale ragguardevole d'energia. Vengono descritti i sistemi idrotermali e gli esperimenti condotti a livello internazionale sull'utilizzo di serbatoi geotermici in rocce calde con sistemi geopressurizzati e magmatici. L'ottimismo degli esperti sull'utilizzo di questa innovativa sorgente d'energia in tempi medio-brevi.

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The diagnostic imaging findings in hepatic amoebiasis and the capabilities of percutaneous drainage have already been described but some debate is open on both diagnosis and treatment. It is reported the experience with the ultrasound (US) and Computed Tomography (CT) studies of the hepatic amoebic abscess and its management. [Italian] I reperti con diagnostica per immagini nell'amebiasi epatica e le possibilita' del drenaggio percutaneo sono stati gia' illustrati; esistono tuttavia controversie sul piano sia diagnostico che terapeutico. Obiettivo di questo lavoro e' quello di riportare l'esperienza personale nella diagnostica con ecografia e tomografia computerizzata (TC) e nel trattamento degli ascessi amebici del fegato.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Purpose of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness and role of CT in blunt diaphragmatic injuries by reviewing our 8-year experience. It is reviewed the preoperative CT findings of 35 patients with surgically confirmed diaphragmatic rupture. Surgical repair was performed in the acute setting (within 12 hours of trauma) in 22 cases, and late (8 months-5 years) in 13 cases. Twenty-eight patients (80%) were examined with conventional CT and 7 (20%) with Helical CT. Of the 13 patients examined long after trauma, the left hemi diaphragm was ruptured in 12 cases (with visceral herniation in 4), and the right hemi diaphragm in 1, with no herniation. The diaphragmatic rent was found in the dome (15 cases, 43%), muscolotendinous junction (11 cases, 31%), muscular portion (8 cases, 23%), and at the muscular attachments on the ribs (1 case, 3%). As for the site of diaphragmatic injury, CT never depicted the diaphragmatic rent in the dome and at the muscolotendinous junction (74%), not even ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A 4{pi} detection system sensitive to light charged particles is being developed at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL) for the study of reaction mechanisms at energies up to 20 AMeV. The array consists of 262 {Delta}E-E telescopes covering 90% of 4{pi}. Each telescope is made of a 300 {mu}m passivated silicon detector and a 15 mm (or 5 mm) CsI(Tl) crystal read by a photodiode. The system will be operational in the Spring of 1997 and the first experiments will run in the second half of 1997.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A process is disclosed for the preparation of liquid, storage-stable, polyisocyanate compositions containing a release agent formed in situ which compositions are useful, for example, as binder resins in the formation of particle boards which latter, because of the presence of the release agent, show no tendency to adhere to the face of metal platens used in their formation. The process comprises heating an organic polyisocyanate (polymethylene polyphenyl polyisocyanate preferred) with an acid phosphate (e.g. a mixture of mono-and di-alkyl acid phosphates) under conditions controlled as to time and temperature so as to yield a product which is storage stable and shows no tendency to deposit solid or to separate into two liquid phases.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This review begins with an historical account of biomaterials applications followed by a concise description of the phenomena taking place between the living tissues and non-living materials containing them. After describing the requirements for biodegradability and the mechanisms involved, a thorough literature survey of such polymers is presented. In the end a very short review of the work done in this area by the authors in recent years is given, including: the synthesis of a wide variety of biodegradable di-and tri-block copolymers, preparation of microparticles; stealth-and immuno-liposomes; dendrosomes and polymersomes; and some of their applications in drug and gene delivery.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Molar enthalpies of sublimation of 1,2,4-, 1,2,3-, and 1,3,5-tri-hydroxy-benzene, were obtained from the temperature dependence of the vapor pressure measured by the transpiration method. The molar enthalpies of fusion and molar heat capacities of these compounds were measured by DSC. The measured data sets of vaporization, sublimation and fusion enthalpies were checked for internal consistency. Strength of the inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding in di- and tri-hydroxy-benzenes have been assessed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

(methine-{sup 3}H)1,1-Di-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane ((methine-{sup 3}H)DDT) and its di-(4-nitrophenyl) analog, both of high purity with a moderately high specific activity were prepared. Chloro-benzene was condensed with (1-{sup 3}H)1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloro-ethanol, which has been synthesized by sodium boro({sup 3}H)hydride reduction of 4-chlorophenyl trichloromethyl ketone. The purified ({sup 3}H)DDT had a specific activity of 0.77 Ci/mmol (28.49 GBq/mmol). (methine-{sup 3}H)1,1-Diphenyl-2,2,2-trichloroethane was similarly synthesized and was nitrated to give (methine-{sup 3}H)1,1-di-(4-nitrophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloro-ethane of 1.63 Ci/mmol (60.31 GBq/mmol). Dehydrochlorination with housefly enzyme (glutathione-dependent DDT dehydrochlorinase) showed a remarkable isotope effect. For DDT, the observed tritium isotope effect on V{sub max}/K{sub m} was 11.51{plus minus}0.52. For the nitro-analog, the value ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Acute thoracic aortic injuries account for up to 10-20% of fatalities in high-speed deceleration road accidents and have an estimated immediate fatality rate of 80-90%. Untreated survivors to acute trauma (10-20%) have a dismal prognosis: 30% of them die within 6 hours, 40-50% die within 24 hours, and 90% within 4 months. It was investigated the diagnostic accuracy of Helical Computed Tomography (Helical CT) in acute traumatic injuries of the thoracic aorta, and the role of this technique in the diagnostic management of trauma patients with a strong suspicion of aortic rupture. It was compared retrospectively the chest Helical CT findings of 256 trauma patients examined June 1995 through August 1999. Chest Helical CT examinations were performed according to trauma score, to associated traumatic lesions and to plain chest radiographic findings. All the examinations were performed with no intravenous contrast agent administration and the pitch 2 technique. After a previous baseline ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Atterberg limits, free swell, and hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted to assess how wet-dry cycling affects the plasticity and swell of bentonite, and the hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) hydrated with deionized (DI) water (pH 6.5), tap water (pH 6.8), and 0.0125-M CaCl{sub 2} solution (pH 6.2). The plasticity of bentonite hydrated with DI water increased during each wetting cycle, whereas the plasticity of bentonite hydrated with tap water and CaCl{sub 2} decreased during each wetting cycle. Wet-dry cycling in DI water and tap water had little effect on swelling of the bentonite, even after seven wet-dry cycles. However, swelling decreased dramatically after two wetting cycles with CaCl{sub 2} solution. Hydraulic conductivity of GCL specimens remained low during the first four wetting cycles ({approximately}1 x 10{sup {minus}9} cm/s). However, within five to eight cycles, the hydraulic ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Active contrast material extravasation can be recognized with conventional CT scanners, though it has been considered a rare finding. Helical CT seems to increase the detection rate and especially to boost the radiologist's confidence in this diagnosis. Though active bleeding is defined in severely-injured subjects requiring urgent intervention and may be associated with findings of hypovolaemic shock, it should not be considered itself as a negative prognostic factor. Contrast extravasation is due to ongoing hemorrhage and its detection is critical for urged treatment. Accurate anatomical location permits to choose surgical management or transcatheter embolization and thus decreases time consumption for precis e bleeding site identification. [Italian] Lo stravaso attivo del mdc e' rilevabile anche con appropriate apparecchiature TC tradizionali, sebbene sia stato considerato raro. La TC sprirale sembra aumentare la frequanza del riconoscimento e soprattutto la ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

LLNL is developing the nuclear fusion based Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) power plant concept. The baseline design uses a depleted uranium (DU) fission fuel blanket with a flowing molten salt coolant (flibe) that also breeds the tritium needed to sustain the fusion energy source. Indirect drive targets, similar to those that will be demonstrated on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), are ignited at #approx#13 Hz providing a 500 MW fusion source. The DU is in the form of a uranium oxycarbide kernel in modified TRISO-like fuel particles distributed in a carbon matrix forming 2-cm-diameter pebbles. The thermal power is held at 2000 MW by continuously varying the "6Li enrichment in the coolants. There are many options to be considered in the engine design including target yield, U-to-C ratio in the fuel, fission blanket thickness, etc. Here we report results of design variations and compare them in terms of various figures of merit such as time to reach a ...

CERN Document Server

Given an invariant gauge potential and a periodic scalar potential \\tilde{V} on a Riemannian manifold \\tilde{M} with a discrete symmetry group \\Gamma, consider a \\Gamma-periodic quantum Hamiltonian \\tilde{H}=-\\tilde{\\Delta}_{B}+\\tilde{V} where \\tilde{\\Delta}_{B} is the Bochner Laplacian. Both the gauge group and the symmetry group \\Gamma can be noncommutative, and the gauge field need not vanish. On the other hand, \\Gamma is supposed to be of type I. To any unitary representation \\Lambda of \\Gamma one relates a Hamiltonian H^{\\Lambda}=-\\Delta_{B}^{\\Lambda}+V on M=\\tilde{M}/\\Gamma where V is the projection of \\tilde{V} to M. We describe a construction of the Bloch decomposition of \\tilde{H} into a direct integral whose components are H^{\\Lambda}, with \\Lambda running over the dual space \\hat{\\Gamma}. The evolution operator and the resolvent decompose correspondingly. Conversely, given \\Lambda\\in\\hat{\\Gamma}, one can express the propagator ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An Ethernet based embedded system has been developed to upgrade the Beam Viewer and Beam Position Monitor (BPM) systems within the free-electron laser (FEL) project at Jefferson Lab. The embedded microcontroller was mounted on the front-end I/O cards with software packages such as Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) and Real Time Executive for Multiprocessor System (RTEMS) running as an Input/Output Controller (IOC). By cross compiling with the EPICS, the RTEMS kernel, IOC device supports, and databases all of these can be downloaded into the microcontroller. The first version of the BPM electronics based on the embedded controller was built and is currently running in our FEL system. The new version of BPM that will use a Single Board IOC (SBIOC), which integrates with an Field Programming Gate Array (FPGA) and a ColdFire embedded microcontroller, is presently under development. The new system has the features of a low cost IOC, an open ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Techniques for reducing computation time in 3D photon dose calculations are addressed with specific emphasis given to the convolution/superposition approach. A single polyenergetic superposition model calculating absorbed dose per incident photon fluence (Gy cm"2) was developed in terms of TERMA and a total energy deposition kernel (a total point spread function). A novel approach was devised for reducing calculation time. The method, named the CF method, was based on the use of a conventional, fast model (here a modified power-law method was used) for the generation of 3D dose distributions on a fine dose matrix. Superposition calculations were carried out on a coarse matrix and calculation speed was increased simply by reducing the number of calculations. A set of correction factors was derived on the coarse grid from the ratio of the dose values from superposition to those from the conventional algorithm. These were interpolated onto the fine matrix and used to ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

a-Dystroglycan is an extracellular adhesion protein that is known to interact with different ligands. The interaction is thought to stabilize the integrity of the plasma membrane. The N-terminal part of a-dystroglycan may be proteolytically processed to generate a small 38kDa protein (a-DG-N). The physiological significance of a-DG-N is unclear but has been suggested to be involved in nerve regeneration and myelination and to function as a potential biomarker for neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases. In this report we show that a-DG-N is released into different body fluids, such as lachrimal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), urine and plasma. To investigate the significance of a-DG-N in CSF we examined the levels of a-DG-N and known neurodegenerative markers in CSF from patients di...

CERN Document Server

In pp collisions at 1.25 GeV kinetic energy, the HADES collaboration aimed at investigating the di-electron production related to $\\Delta$ (1232) Dalitz decay ($\\Delta^+ \\to pe^+e^-$). In order to constrain the models predicting the cross section and the production mechanisms of $\\Delta$ resonance, the hadronic channels have been measured and studied in parallel to the leptonic channels. The analyses of $pp\\to np\\pi^+$ and $pp\\to pp\\pi^0$ channels and the comparison to simulations are presented in this contribution, in particular the angular distributions being sensitive to $\\Delta$ production and decay. The accurate acceptance corrections have been performed as well, which could be tested in all the phase space region thanks to the high statistic data. These analyses result in an overall agreement with the one-$\\pi$ exchange model and previous data.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The Alpine Foreland Basin is a minor oil and moderate gas province in central Europe. In the Austrian part of the Alpine Foreland Basin, oil and minor thermal gas are thought to be predominantly sourced from Lower Oligocene horizons (Schoneck and Eggerding formations). The source rocks are immature where the oil fields are located and enter the oil window at ca. 4 km depth beneath the Alpine nappes indicating long-distance lateral migration. Most important reservoirs are Upper Cretaceous and Eocene basal sandstones.Stable carbon isotope and biomarker ratios of oils from different reservoirs indicate compositional trends in W-E direction which reflect differences in source, depositional environment (facies), and maturity of potential source rocks. Thermal maturity parameters from oils of di...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Based on a multi-zone spray-mixing approach, an air-fuel mixing and combustion model for a Direct Injection Diesel engine is presented. The predictions from the model show very good agreement with the experimental data for various engines under a wide range of operating conditions. Major physical processes are modeled and validated independently. The atomisation process is based on Binary Drop Division concept. Fuel droplets are considered randomly distributed in the spray. A spherico-symmetrical transient drop evaporation model is used for evaporation calculation. A 3-dimensional spray-swirl interaction is modeled on centreline velocity vector/continuum approach. Turbulent mixing is characterised considering all possible available energy sources in DI diesel engines.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Plasma polymerization of aniline is carried out in a radiofrequency plasma reactor and the effect of polymerization time is examined in the structural, optical and optoelectronic properties of deposited films. Conjugated structures of polyaniline like films are obtained with unique and broad optical absorption band in the ultraviolet and entire visible region. The width of the absorption band increases and hence the optical band gap decreases with polymerization time. The optical constants are extracted by Swanepoel method and the optical dispersion parameters are determined by employing the Wemple-DiDomenico single oscillator model. The films exhibit similar thermal stability in air and argon atmosphere in the region of interest for optoelectronic applications. The photoluminescence study...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Please cite this paper as: Ectopic mineralization of connective tissue in Abcc6-/- mice: effects of dietary modifications and a phosphate binder - a preliminary study. Experimental Dermatology 2008; 17: 203-207. Abstract: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a heritable multisystem disorder, is caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene. We have developed a murine model for PXE by targeted inactivation of the corresponding mouse gene. A feature of this mouse model is ectopic mineralization of connective tissue capsule surrounding the bulb of vibrissae. This study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary sevelamer hydrochloride (Renagel), a phosphate binder, and specific mineral modifications on ectopic mineralization of connective tissue in Abcc6-/- mice. Three groups were fed a specific di...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The formation constants of species formed in the system H"+"+alanine and VO_"2"+alanine have be determined in aqueous solution for 1.0di oxovanadium(V) forms two mononuclear 1:1 and 1:2 species with alanine of the type VO_2L and VO_2L_2 The protonation constant of the amino group of alanine has been determined using a computer program which employ a least-squares method. The defence of the protonation of alanine and the stability constant of the species on ionic strength are described by a Debby-huckel type equation.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Occupation of the coast has significantly increased in recent decades, mostly due to a greater demand for recreation and tourism. Today, erosion threatens many human-made structures and activities, requiring an integrated approach for the understanding of coastal dynamics and identification of alternatives to associated problems. This study investigates a 64km-long coastal physiographic unit in the northern microtidal littoral of Tuscany (Italy). Vertical aerial photographs and direct field surveys were used to retrieve changes in shoreline position over 1938-1997 and 1997-2005 time intervals. Significant beach accretion was observed during the first period updrift of Carrara (84m) and Viareggio (280m) harbours and at Marina di Pietrasanta (100m), whereas severe erosion occurred downcoast ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Manganese model complexes, relevant to the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) in photosynthesis, were studied with Mn K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), Mn Kb X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), and vibrational spectroscopy. A more detailed understanding was obtained of the influence of nuclearity, overall structure, oxidation state, and ligand environment of the Mn atoms on the spectra from these methods. This refined understanding is necessary for improving the interpretation of spectra of the OEC. Mn XANES and Kb XES were used to study a di-(mu)-oxo and a mono-(mu)-oxo di-nuclear Mn compound in the (III,III), (III,IV), and (IV,IV) oxidation states. XANES spectra show energy shifts of 0.8 - 2.2 eV for 1-electron oxidation-state changes and 0.4 - 1.8 eV for ligand-environment changes. The shifts observed for Mn XES spectra were approximately 0.21 eV for oxidation state-changes and only approximately 0.04 eV for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Purpose: To assess the prevalence, significance and practical value of two recently described CT signs of instable aneurysm: the crescent sign and the periluminal halo (a low-attenuating internal layer of the thrombus around the patent lumen). Material and methods: Among the CT examination performed in the last 5 years, they retrospectively selected the nonruptured aneurysms with a diameter exceeding 4 cm (no. = 93 average diameter 5.1 cm, unenhanced images in 28 cases and enhanced in 84) and the ruptured aneurysms (no. = 16, average diameter 6.7 cm, unenhanced images in 9 cases and enhanced in 9). They studied the prevalence of the crescent and halo sing, their relationship with the aneurysm diameter, and the effect of contrast enhancement. Results: The crescent sign was identified with a statistically significant prevalence in ruptured ( 37.5 % or cases) over asymptomatic aneurysms (5.5 %); the halo had the same frequency in the 2 groups (12.5 % and 9.5 %). Both signs were more ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The main purpose of this work is to report the personal experience with addition of contrast-enhanced multiphase helical CT to unenhanced CT (Lipiodol CT) in the evaluation of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with chemoembolization and to analyze the present role of oily agent CT. It has been retrospectively reviewed the examinations of 42 consecutive patients submitted to global chemoembolization over a 2-year period. CT was performed 18-30 days after the treatment. The Lipiodol CT study was carried out with volume acquisitions. It has been considered as nodules all well-defined areas with dense oily agent uptake; uptake itself was classified as: 0=absent, I=lower than 10% of the tumor volume; II=lower than 50%, III=50%, IV=homogeneous. Contrast-enhanced helical CT was performed with the 2-phase technique in 28 patients and with the 3-phase technique in 14; it has been considered as nodules all well-defined and relatively homogeneous areas with hyper attenuation in the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the role of CT in identifying other morphological signs of met static lymph node involvement from non small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. This is done to improve N staging, a critical step in this disease. In fact, since diameter is the only criterion used to distinguish normal form abnormal lymph nodes, mediastinal CT only has 80% diagnostic accuracy. 137 patients with known or suspected lung cancer were examined with Helical CT during early and late arterial phases (2 min. delay, 3 mm thickness, 5 mm inter slice gap) to depict node characteristics. Mediastinal lymph nodes, located according to the American Thoracic Society mapping, were considered normal when they were not visible or, if visible, less than 1 cm in diameter and of homogeneous density; lymph nodes over 1 cm in diameter and homogenous density were considered reactive. A lymph node was considered metastatic when, independent of size, the following signs were found: central hypo ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This manual describes the use of the Xyce Parallel Electronic Simulator. Xyce has been designed as a SPICE-compatible, high-performance analog circuit simulator, and has been written to support the simulation needs of the Sandia National Laboratories electrical designers. This development has focused on improving capability over the current state-of-the-art in the following areas: (1) Capability to solve extremely large circuit problems by supporting large-scale parallel computing platforms (up to thousands of processors). Note that this includes support for most popular parallel and serial computers; (2) Improved performance for all numerical kernels (e.g., time integrator, nonlinear and linear solvers) through state-of-the-art algorithms and novel techniques. (3) Device models which are specifically tailored to meet Sandia's needs, including some radiation-aware devices (for Sandia users only); and (4) Object-oriented code design and implementation using ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

For a given linac design, the dosimetric characteristics of a photon beam are determined uniquely by the energy and radial distributions of the electron beam striking the x-ray target. However, in the usual commissioning of a beam from measured data, a large number of variables can be independently tuned, making it difficult to derive a unique and self-consistent beam model. For example, the measured dosimetric penumbra in water may be attributed in various proportions to the lateral secondary electron range, the focal spot size and the transmission through the tips of a non-divergent collimator; the head-scatter component in the tails of the transverse profiles may not be easy to resolve from phantom scatter and head leakage; and the head-scatter tails corresponding to a certain extra-focal source model may not agree self-consistently with in-air output factors measured on the central axis. To reduce the number of adjustable variables in beam modelling, we replace the focal and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

During the last few decades, accuracy in photon and electron radiotherapy has increased substantially. This is partly due to enhanced linear accelerator technology, providing more flexibility in field definition (e.g. the usage of computer-controlled dynamic multileaf collimators), which led to intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Important improvements have also been made in the treatment planning process, more specifically in the dose calculations. Originally, dose calculations relied heavily on analytic, semi-analytic and empirical algorithms. The more accurate convolution/superposition codes use pre-calculated Monte Carlo dose 'kernels' partly accounting for tissue density heterogeneities. It is generally recognized that the Monte Carlo method is able to increase accuracy even further. Since the second half of the 1990s, several Monte Carlo dose engines for radiotherapy treatment planning have been introduced. To enable the use of a Monte Carlo treatment ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A general space- and energy-dependent formalism is developed in order to analyze zero-power neutron noise experiments in fast reactor systems. A generalized dispersion equation is combined with theoretical expressions for the experimentally measured power spectral density and variance-to-mean ratio which makes it possible to express these quantities in terms of a double moment of the Laplace and Fourier transformed Green's function of a slowing-down operator rather than those of the full Boltzmann operator. Several spatial approximations are analyzed in the context of the general formalism. In each case, the power spectral density and variance-to-mean ratio are written in terms of an appropriate fast reactor dispersion law for the medium which can be calculated from the solution to a simple slowing-down equation. The resultant expression for the power spectral density are analyzed for various combinations of neutron migration descriptions, slowing-down ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility of ultra-low-dose scanning for multislice CT colonography in the detection of colorectal lesions. Twenty-seven patients (14 men, 13 women) with clinical indication for conventional colonoscopy were recruited. Multislice spiral CT (Somatom Plus 4 Volume Zoom, Siemens, Germany) examinations were performed after standard oral colonoscopic preparation and colonic distension with room air. Images were acquired using 2.5-mm collimation, 3.0-mm slice thickness, standard reconstruction kernel, 140 kVp, and 10 mAs. Supine and prone acquisitions were obtained in all patients. Images were analyzed on a workstation by two gastrointestinal radiologists. Conventional colonoscopy was performed on the same day in all patients and represented the standard of reference. Total radiation exposure was also calculated. All colorectal cancers were correctly identified at CT colonography (9 of 9, sensitivity 100%). The CT colonography also ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

I present an exact calculation of free-electron-laser (FEL) eigenmodes (fundamental as well as higher order modes) in the exponential-gain regime. These eigenmodes specify transverse profiles and exponential growth rates of the laser field, and they are self-consistent solutions of the coupled Maxwell-Vlasov equations describing the FEL interaction taking into account the effects due to energy spread, emittance and betatron oscillations of the electron beam, and diffraction and guiding of the laser field. The unperturbed electron distribution is assumed to be of Gaussian shape in four dimensional transverse phase space and in the energy variable, but uniform in longitudinal coordinate. The focusing of the electron beam is assumed to be matched to the natural wiggler focusing in both transverse planes. With these assumptions the eigenvalue problem can be reduced to a numerically manageable integral equation and solved exactly with a kernel iteration method. An ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The methodology of achieving a high power density (HPD, or brake mean effective pressure) direct-injection Diesel engine has been studied, which is directed to using high fuel/air ratio, high-speed and ceramic engine components. Among the main thrust to achieve these engine changes for an advanced Diesel engine is the design of a high injection pressure (HIP) fuel system. During the course of the present study, two Cummins 903 engines mated with a Rutger-built HIP were employed to investigate the engine response to HIP and in-cylinder processes by using the Rutgers high-speed infrared (IR) spectral digital imaging system. Five separate technical publications were prepared to report results obtained from the study. The main findings include: The HIP system permits engine operation at an air/fuel ratio of as rich as 18 to 1 with smoke emission not worse than with the conventional mechanical (low pressure) injection system; A high injection pressure improves HPD of a Diesel engine; A HIP ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The possibility of the group preconcentration of Zr(4), Hf(4), Nb(5), and Ta(5) countercurrent liquid chromatography using extraction systems based on di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine, and tetraoctylethylenediamine (TOEDA) is studied. A method have been proposed for the group extraction of Zr(4), Hf(4), Nb(5), and Ta(5) from solution of geological samples. At the stage of the preconcentration of Zr(40, Hf(4), Nb(5) and Ta(5) with a 0.1 M solution of TOEDA in chloroform from mixture of oxalic (0.01 M) and hydrochloric (0.1 M) acids, matrix components are eluted with a flow of the mobile phase, Then, upon changing the eluent (2.0 M HCl), the four elements mentioned above are extracted to a small (7-8 mL) eluate fraction. The results of determining Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in the international standard reference material Granite GM after their preconcentration in the system with TOEDA ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A thermodynamic model for predicting the distribution coefficients has been developed by taking into account the extraction mechanism and the chloride complexation when Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho for single component systems are extracted from acidic chloride solutions by di-2-ethylhexyl ester in kerosene, respectively. The model equation includes two constants, of which one corresponds to the apparent extraction equilibrium constant and the other is due to the variation of the activity coefficients of organic species. These values are determined from a few experimental data by the curve fitting method. Then, the distribution coefficients under untried calculations, Bromley's formulation is used to estimate the activity coefficients of aqueous species and the interaction parameters for some rare earth chlorides are reported in terms of morality and molarity using data from Spedding et al. According to the authors the validity of this method has been confirmed by ...

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 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper gives a general view of techniques and systems related to soil less culture developed in the last years (on substrate in beg; NFT; Ebb-Flood, aeroponic,..) taking into account their management and problems (water quality, control of plant nutrition and irrigation; substrates; pathological aspects,..). The evolution, now in progress, of soil less culture from open to closed system as a way to realized an environmental friendly growing system, is considered. When plants are grown with open cycle techniques a large amount of waste solution, with an a high content of nutrients, are discharged in soil and water. Furthermore, they need an extra-utilization of water and fertilizers. Another aspect is the utilization of low cost substrates, which can be reused for more than one cultural cycle without negative effects on yield, and also finally discharged without negative effects on the environment. The development of soil less culture in countries, such as Italy, where only in the ...

CERN Multimedia

In accordance with the Status Agreements with CERN, Switzerland and France facilitate the entry of members of the Organization’s personnel onto their territories. Where relevant, detailed procedures for obtaining visas apply. Within the framework of those procedures, only the following individuals are authorised to initiate the Note verbale procedure as well as to sign the Official Invitation Letters and the Protocoles d’accueil. Kirsti ASPOLA (PH – CMO) Oliver BRÜNING (BE – ABP) Michelle CONNOR (PH – AGS) Sylvie DETHURENS FAVEZ (HR – SPS) David FOSTER (IT – DI) Nathalie GRUB (PH – AGS) Tadeusz KURTYKA (DG – PRJ) Jean-Pol MATHEYS (BE – ASR) Cécile NOELS (DG – PRJ) Connie POTTER (PH – AGS) Maria QUINTAS (HR – SPS) Jeanne ROSTANT (PH – AGS) ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

4,4'-bis(N-carbazolyl)tolan (BCT) and 4,4'-bis[N-(3,6-di-t-butyl)carbazolyl]tolan (BCT-t-Bu) were synthesized as ?-expanded analogs of 4,4'-bis(N-carbazolyl)biphenyl. Their photophysical characteristics both in solution and films were thoroughly investigated. Interestingly, the phosphorescence spectrum of BCT was significantly medium-dependent, and the emission maximum was red-shifted by 131 nm from 489 nm in solution at 77 K to 620 nm in a deposited film at 5 K, suggesting the presence of strong intermolecular interactions in the film. BCT and BCT-t-Bu were found to be useful as host materials for fluorescence-based organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, their low triplet energy levels in films negated their potential to act as hosts in phosphorescence-based OLEDs. - Research highlights: ? We synthesized N-carbazolyl-tolan derivatives (BCT) as ?-expanded analogues of CBP. ? We found that BCT derivatives are useful as host materials for fluorescence-based ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The PICTURE utility generates user defined pictures with black-and-white or color output, suitable for viewgraphs, slides, report diagrams - in general, any application requiring visual aids. The interactive menu-driven system allows a user to create a picture consisting of text, straight lines, graphs, and assortment of markers, splines and drawings, all in a variety of colors. Commands for manipulating the picture include moving, scaling, rotating, deleting, copying and changing the color of objects. Text strings may be aligned left, right, or centered, and have a vertical or horizontal path. Markers, circles and the large bold font may be filled or unfilled. The user may add or delete one of two overlay grids for help in positioning items. The final product may be saved in a text file for later retrieval. PICTURE currently runs on a VAX 11/780 with the DI-3000 commercial graphics package. Supported graphics devices include Ramtek 9400 and Metheus 440 frame ...

CERN Document Server

It has by now been established that standard QCD factorization using transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions fails in hadro-production of nearly back-to-back hadrons with high transverse momentum. The essential problem is that gauge invariant transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions cannot be defined with process-independent Wilson line operators, thus implying a breakdown of universality. This has led naturally to proposals that a correct approach is to instead use a type of "generalized" transverse momentum dependent factorization in which the basic factorized structure is assumed to remain valid, but with transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions that contain non-standard, process dependent Wilson line structures. In other words, to recover a factorization formula, it has become common to assume that it is sufficient to simply modify the Wilson lines in the parton correlation functions for each separate hadron. In this paper, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Reduction of occupational radiation exposure dose in a BWR plant is achieved by an elimination of crud in a BWR primary loop condensate stream by condensate demineralizer. Crud removal by condensate polisher improves year by year, a phenomenon called the Aging Effect of Ion Exchange Resins. The cause of this phenomenon is assumed to be mainly due to changes in the cation resin property becoming more crud adsorptive, where a typical change in physical property of aged cation resin is an increase in water retention capacity. Assuming that the crud removal efficiency was influenced by a crosslinkage of cation resin, an attempt was made to enhance this removal efficiency by decreasing the crosslinkage and satisfactory results were obtained. As a result, new gel type cation resins were developed with lower crosslinkage and larger surface areas, as compared with conventional gel type resins. The crosslinkage degree of these new cation resins are equivalent to a 6 % DVB ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Introduccion y objetivos La enfermedad renal oculta (ERO) es una entidad que define los estadios mas iniciales de insuficiencia renal y no se detecta con los metodos usados habitualmente. El objetivo es determinar la prevalencia de ERO en los pacientes hipertensos en consultas de cardiologia y su relacion con los distintos factores de riesgo y tratamientos cardiovasculares. Metodos. Estudio observacional, transversal, retrospectivo y multicentrico que se llevo a cabo en 1.214 hipertensos de consultas de cardiologia. Resultados . Se analizo a 1.190 pacientes (98%). El filtrado glomerular (FG) fue calculado (MDRD) por el cardiologo responsable en el 11% de los pacientes. Tras su determinacion a posteriori, el 9,5% presentaba ERO, mas probablemente mujeres, con mas edad, mas antecedents de di...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper studies subphrenic inflammatory abscesses and splenic fluid collections after splenectomy for trauma. These complications may appear early or late postoperatively; they are easily demonstrated with computerized tomography, which permits accurate spatial assessment of the lesions and appropriate treatment with percutaneous drainage. It has been also investigates the diagnostic accuracy of the CT in subphrenic inflammatory conditions after emergency splenectomy for traumatic spleen rupture and found that CT is a precious tool for rapid and easy diagnosis and follow-up of subphrenic abscesses treated with percutaneous drainage. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' di valutare il ruolo della tomografia computerizzata nelle flogrosi subfreniche secondarie a splenectomia d'urgenza per rottura traumatica della milza, documentando come tale metodica risulti accurata nel diagnosticare e monitorare in modo semplice e rapido l'evoluzione e il ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to gain a wider knowledge of corrosion phenomena in OFHC (oxygen free high conductivity) copper pipes of the stator cooling circuit of a power plant turboalternator, a research program was laid out which is based on the use of an experimental loop simulating real operating conditions as closely as possible. The samples examined were either copper foils or hollow conductors of the type that is normally used in the stator cooling system, and the circulating fluid was high purity water with controlled O/sub 2/, H/sub 2/ and C0/sub 2/ contents. Investigations were focused on the kinetics of O/sub 2/ removal through catalytic resins covered with metallic palladium (at different temperatures and pressures) and on the kinetics of CO/sub 2/ removal through mixed bed resins. Subsequently, attention was directed to the corrosion of copper (in the form of foils or hollow conductors) under different experimental conditions simulating either optimal or anomalous situations that can occur ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A pretreatment flowsheet was tested for separating key radionuclide components from the sludge stored in one of the high level waste tanks (B-110) at the Hanford Site; this sludge resulted primarily from the bismuth phosphate process, which was one of the three major plutonium separation processes used at Handford. This test involved (1) washing with water, (2) caustic leaching, (3) acid dissolution, (4) separation of transuranic elements (TRUs) by extraction with octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide(CMPO), (5) separation of Sr by extraction with di-t-butylcyclohexano-18-crown-6, (6) separation of Cs from the acid-dissolved sludge solution by treatment with ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP), and (7) separation of Cs from the sludge wash and caustic leach solutions by ion exchange using a phenol-formaldehyde resin (CS-100). The results of the radionuclide separation steps indicated that the proposed flowsheet is a viable approach to pretreating ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A sequential port injection, lean-burn, fully electronically-controlled compressed natural gas (CNG)/diesel dual-fuel engine has been developed based on a turbo-charged and inter-cooled direct injection (D.I.) diesel engine. During the optimisation of engine overall performance, the effects of pilot diesel and premixed CNG/air mixture equivalence ratio on emissions (CO, HC, NO{sub x}, soot), knocking, misfire and fuel economy are studied. The rich and lean boundaries of the premixed CNG/air mixture versus engine load are also provided, considering the acceptable values of NO{sub x} and THC emissions, respectively. It is interesting to find that there is a critical amount of pilot diesel for each load and speed point, which proved to be the optimum amount of pilot fuel. Any decrease in the amount of pilot diesel from this optimum amount results in an increase of NO{sub x} emissions, because the premixed CNG/air mixture must be made richer, otherwise THC emissions ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The high-speed direct-injection diesel engine for passenger cars has been a resounding success in the marketplace in the last few years. This was due to an intensive development process as a result of which the direct-injection diesel engine for passenger cars is currently setting new standards with regard to performance and fuel consumption in spite of the constant tightening of emission regulations. Of particular importance in this context is exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). This technology permits a considerable reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, which are especially critical in the case of the direct-injection diesel engine. In addition, continuing development of supercharging technology, in particular the turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, have allowed further improvement of the full-load behaviour and the engine response and a considerable reduction in the fuel consumption of direct-injection diesel engines. This FVV paper deals with the fundamentals of the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Current methods to calculate dose distributions with organ motion can be broadly classified as 'dose convolution' and 'fluence convolution' methods. In the former, a static dose distribution is convolved with the probability distribution function (PDF) that characterizes the motion. However, artifacts are produced near the surface and around inhomogeneities because the method assumes shift invariance. Fluence convolution avoids these artifacts by convolving the PDF with the incident fluence instead of the patient dose. In this paper we present an alternative method that improves the accuracy, generality as well as the speed of dose calculation with organ motion. The algorithm starts by sampling an isocenter point from a parametrically defined space curve corresponding to the patient-specific motion trajectory. Then a photon is sampled in the linac head and propagated through the three-dimensional (3-D) collimator structure corresponding to a particular MLC segment chosen randomly from ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Suspension direct current plasma spraying allows achieving finely structured coatings whose thickness is between few tens and few hundreds of micrometres. Drops (200-300 ?m in diameter) or liquid jets are mechanically injected in the plasma jet. With radial injection they are rapidly (a few ?s) fragmented into droplets (a few ?m in diameter). The latter are vaporized (in a few ?s) and the solid particles contained in suspension droplets are accelerated and melted by the plasma jet. As in conventional plasma spraying (CPS), much smaller splats (with diameters between 0.2 and 3 ?m and thicknesses between 30 and 200 nm) are arranged in layers up to form the coating. The low inertia of particles requires spray distances between 40 and 60 mm which induces plasma heat fluxes up to 22 MW m-2 participating in coating densification. Even more than in CPS, the plasma jet fluctuations, particularly for plasmas containing di-atomic gases, perturb drops penetration and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract A series of small phosphazene ligands with pendant 6-phenyl-2,2--bipyridyl moieties, namely L1 [N3P3(OPh)5(OPhbpyPh)], L2 [N3P3(biph)2(OPhbpyPh)2], L3 [N3P3(tBubiph)2(OPhbpyPh)2], L4 [N3P3(biph)2(OPhbpyPh)Cl] and L5 [N3P3(biph)2(OPhbpyPh)(OPh)] [OPhbpyPh = 4-(4-phenoxy)-6-phenyl-2,2--bipyridine, OPh = phenoxy, biph = 2,2--oxybiphenyl and tBubiph = 4,4--di-tert-butyl-2,2--oxybiphenyl], have been used to synthesise the new cyclometallated palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes [(L1-H)PdCl], [(L1-H)PtCl], [(L1-H)(PdCl)2], [(L3-H)(PdCl)2], [(L4-H)PtCl], [(L5-H)PtCl] and the rhenium(I) complex [L5Re(CO)3Cl]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was performed on the free ligand L2 and the palladium complexes [(L1-H)PdCl] and [(L3-H)(PdCl)2]. In both PdII complexes, the metal cent...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Many hormones elicit effects on target cells by stimulating the enzyme phospholipase-C, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides to the intracellular second messengers diacylglycerol and inositol phosphates. The present study examined the roles of FSH and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) in regulating the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in Sertoli cells. Sertoli cell cultures prepared from 16- to 18-day-old rats were incubated for 24 h with myo-[2-3H] inositol to label endogenous phospholipids. Treatment of cells from 0.5-20 min with preparations of ovine FSH ranging in potency from 1-60 times that of NIH FSH S1 did not affect accumulation of inositol phosphates. Levels of total [3H]inositol phosphates [[3H]inositol mono-, di-, and triphosphates (IP, IP2, and IP3)] in FSH-treated cultures was 75-120% the levels in control cultures over the various time intervals studied. Addition of testosterone and the combination of testosterone plus ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Formaldehyde, a well-identified indoor pollutant, was recently classified as carcinogenic. New regulations for the air quality are expected and therefore there is a need for low-cost sensors, sensitive and selective with a fast response time for the detection of formaldehyde at ppb level. In the present work, we had developed a chemical sensor based on nano-porous matrices doped with Fluoral-P and optical methods of detection. The nano-porous matrices, elaborated via the Sol-Gel process, display nano-pores whose cavity is tailored for the trapping of the targeted pollutant. They provide a first selectivity with the discrimination of the pollutants by their size. A second selectivity is obtained with a molecular probe, Fluoral-P, which reacts specifically with formaldehyde leading to the 3,5- di-acetyl-1,4-dihydro-lutidine (DDL). The kinetics of formation of DDL was studied as function of many parameters such as the concentration of Fluoral-P in the matrix, the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fuel spray and air motion characteristics and combustion in direct injection (DI) diesel engines was studied using computational models of the commercial CFD-code FIRE. Physical subprocesses modelled included Lagrangian spray droplet movement and behaviour (atomisation, evaporation and interaction of spray droplets) and combustion of evaporated liquid spray in the gas phase. Fuel vapour combustion rate was described by the model of Magnussen and Hjertager. The standard k,{epsilon}-model was used for turbulence. In order to be able to predict combustion accurately, the fuel spray penetration should be predicted with reasonable accuracy. In this study, the standard drag coefficient had to be reduced in order to match the computed penetration to the measured one. In addition, the constants in the submodel describing droplet breakup also needed to be adjusted for closer agreement with the measurements. The characteristic time scale of fuel consumption rate k/C{sub R} ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Single crystals of trigonal Cr{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, monoclinic Cr{sub 5}Te{sub 8}, and trigonal Cr{sub 5}Te{sub 8} were prepared and the single crystal structures were determined. The structures are related to the NiAs structure type by successive removal of Cr in every second metal atom layer parallel to the c axis. The strong relationship between the structures is evidenced by their very similar X-ray powder patterns. In trigonal Cr{sub 2}Te{sub 3} excess Cr occupies only one of the two possible sites. In monoclinic Cr{sub 5}Te{sub 8} the Cr atoms occupy four different crystallographic sites. The resulting ordering of the vacancies is significantly different from the hitherto reported crystal structures of transition metal chalcogenides M{sub 5}X{sub 8}. A slight increase of the tellurium content leads to an order-disorder transition from the monoclinic to a trigonal phase. The Cr atoms are located on four crystallographically different sites leading to the formation of a five layer ...

Science.gov (United States)

The formation and properties of Pd{sub 2}Si formed by focused ion beam implantation of Pd ions into Si is presented in this thesis. An extensive microstructural study using transmission electron microscopy was undertaken and the as-implanted as well as annealed microstructure is shown. Results of other analysis techniques such as Rutherford back scattering and secondary ion mass spectrometry etc. are also presented. Kinetic information on the growth of Pd{sub 2}Si obtained by both microstructural and resistance measurements indicates that the activation energy for growth of the silicide is around 0.36 to 0.39 eV. This can be compared with the normally reported value of 1.5 eV for Pd{sub 2}Si formed by annealing thin film Pd on Si. The growth of the silicide was found to follow t{sup 1/2} kinetics. Microstructural observation of the as-implanted samples showed extensive in-situ formation of Pd{sub 2}Di and also surprisingly few defect structures. A heat transfer ...

Science.gov (United States)

In a 4-wk oral toxicity study, 4-wk-old male and female Wistar rats were exposed to a combination of arbitrarily chosen chemicals comprising sodium metabisulphite, Mirex, Loperamide, metaldehyde, di-n-octyltin dichloride, stannous chloride, lysinoalanine and potassium nitrite. The dose levels used were based on the "no-observed-adverse-effect level" (NOAEL) and the "minimum-observed-adverse-effect level" (MOAEL) of the individual compounds obtained in similar studies with Wistar rats previously performed at TNO-CIVO, and comprised 0 (controls), 1/10 and 1/3 of the NOAEL, the NOAEL and the MOAEL. In comparison with the adverse effects of the individual compounds, both more severe and less severe adverse effects were observed at the MOAEL of the combined compounds, indicating interaction of effects at this exposure level. Slightly decreased haemoglobin content and slightly increased relative kidney weight were the only treatment-related adverse effects seen in the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An efficient method of hydrogen storage in nano-porous carbons is its reversible sorption by electrochemical decomposition of a KOH water solution according to the following equation: C + xH{sub 2}O + xe{sup -} {yields} (CH{sub x}) + xOH{sup -} where (CH{sub x}) stands for the hydrogen inserted into the nano-porous carbon during charging and oxidized during discharging. Although various carbon materials have been investigated as hydrogen adsorbents, the information about the storage mechanism as well as the nature of the hydrogen/carbon interaction is still not sufficient. In order to extend the understanding of the process, carbon samples charged electrochemically were investigated by temperature programmed desorption (TPD). The nature of the hydrogen/carbon interaction was studied by electrochemical analysis at different temperatures. The TPD experiments consist of heating the samples from room temperature to 950 C and of quantitative analysis by On-line mass spectrometry, the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The aim of this paper was to describe ability to intercalation of laboratory prepared carbon composites and their constituents. In work the following materials were tested; pinch-based fibres of P-120 and K-1100 manufacturer's designations, carbon matrix and resulting composites. To prepare a matrix of composites, phenol-formaldehyde resin (Z) and pinch-based precursor (PAK) were used. After initial carbonization, the carbon matrix was heated to 2150 "oC i to improve ability to the future intercalation. Three kinds of composites (P/Z, K/Z and K/PAK), with two directional reinforcement (2D), were prepared. All carbon samples were intercalated with copper chloride(II). To study the structure of all materials, before and after intercalation, X-ray diffraction method was used. It enabled to measure microstructure parameters (L_c and L_a), interplanar distance (d_0_0_2) thickness of an intercalation layer (d_i). Before intercalation, graphite fibers are characterized by ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The addition of MO{sub x} (M: di- or tri-valent transition metal ion) into cerium dioxide (CeO{sub 2}) enhanced the ability of CeO{sub 2} for the oxygen (O{sub 2})-releasing reaction at lower temperature and swift hydrogen (H{sub 2})-generation reaction. CeO{sub 2}-MO{sub x} (M=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu) reactive ceramics having high melting points were synthesized with the combustion method from their nitrates for solar H{sub 2} production. The prepared CeO{sub 2}-MO{sub x} samples were solid solutions between CeO{sub 2} and MO{sub x} with the fluorite structure through the X-ray diffractometry measurement. Two-step water-splitting reactions with CeO{sub 2}-MO{sub x} reactive ceramics proceeded at 1573-1773 K for the O{sub 2}-releasing step and at 1273 K for the H{sub 2}-generation step by irradiation of infrared image furnace as a solar simulator. The amounts of O{sub 2} evolved in the O{sub 2}-releasing reaction with CeO{sub 2}-MO{sub x} increased with an increase in the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper present the results of the study on D.U. (depleted uranium) contamination in the environment and possible effects on animal healths in the region o f Bujanovac. Samples of soil, feed, leaves, grass, lichen, moss, honey and water were collected randomly in 2003/2004 in the vicinity of the target area (500-1000 m) and 5 km from the target area. Activity of the radionuclides ({sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, {sup 40}K, {sup 210}Pb, {sup 238}U, {sup 235}U, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 7}Be) in soils, grass, lichen, moss and honey was determined on Hp Ge detector (Canberra, relative efficiency 23%) by standard gamma spectrometry. Total alpha and beta activity in water was determined on proportional alpha/beta counter (Canberra 2400, efficiency for alpha emitters 11%, efficiency for beta emitters 30%). Non significantly higher values of concentrations of {sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, {sup 238}U and {sup 235}U were measured in the immediate vicinity of the targeted site, but {sup 235}U/{sup 238}U ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This study reports on the physical-chemical behaviour of swelling di-octahedral clays (smectites) and their interaction with aqueous solutions and bacteria (Shewanella putrefaciens). Experimental results are presented for compacted clays, hydrated under confined volume conditions, using a new type of reaction-cell (the 'wet-cell' of Warr and Hoffman, 2004) that was designed for in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. For comparison, dispersed clay systems were studied using standard batch solutions subjected to varying degrees of agitation. The combination of time-dependent in situ XRD measurements with gravimetric measurements and calculated diffraction patterns using the CALCMIX software (Plancon and Drits, 1999) allowed to successful quantification of the dynamics of water uptake and storage. This analytical procedure combined with published water vapour adsorption data enabled determination of the abundance of structured water layers, ...