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The renovation programme of the Phenix nuclear power plant (fast neutrons reactor situated at Marcoule) has for objective to ensure the reactor operation lengthening. In this frame, expertise and monitoring operation in situ of materials have been started. The presence of sodium and a temperature at the cold breakdown of the primary circuit between 150 and 180 degrees (Celsius) imply, for fast reactors, very special conditions. In this context, Framatome has realised three intervening in the area of nondestructive testing: the inspection of the cone-shaped support ring, the monitoring of the upper part of the primary vessel and the monitoring of the intermediary exchanger equipment. (N.C.)

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Vanadium doped manganese bi-oxide has been obtained from a solution containing both cations. The X-ray diffraction of this material indicates a rutile-type phase but the enlargement of some lines supports the existence of several lattice defects. Also the particle size of the doped material is significantly smaller than the one of the non-doped material obtained in the same conditions. The presence of pentavalent vanadium inside the lattice leads to a small amount of trivalent manganese. Electron microscopy shows the existence of defects which have a tendency of becoming well-ordered and to stabilize a sur-structure. At ambient temperature, the electrochemical behaviour of doped manganese bi-oxide is greatly improved when compared to the non-doped phase. This behaviour is due to the presence of numerous lattice defects and to the smaller size of crystallites. In polymer batteries, the behaviour is similar the one of the non-doped material for which the kinetics performances are ...

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The urban zone needs clean air to assure public health. To achieve this goal several filter samples were collected in different sites in Algiers city. Toxic elements such as: Na, Mg, Cl, Sc, Cr, Ti, V, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Ag, Sb, Ce, La, Hf, Ta and Hg have been measured in the filters using neutron activation analysis technique. Irradiation of filter samples and standards were carried out in Es-Salem reactor. The experimental procedure and the results are discussed. We noted during this work that the upper limit values for suspended dusts and the high concentrations for some toxic elements found are due to the weather conditions and intense road traffic around collecting sites. (authors)

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This project of law concerns an additional protocol to the agreement of warranties signed on September 22, 1998 between France, the European atomic energy community and the IAEA. This agreement concerns the declaration of all information relative to the R and D activities linked with the fuel cycle and involving the cooperation with a foreign country non endowed with nuclear weapons. These information include the trade and processing of nuclear and non-nuclear materials and equipments devoted to nuclear reactors (pressure vessels, fuel loading/unloading systems, control rods, force and zirconium tubes, primary coolant pumps, deuterium and heavy water, nuclear-grade graphite), to fuel reprocessing plants, to isotope separation plants (gaseous diffusion, laser enrichment, plasma separation, electromagnetic enrichment), to heavy water and deuterium production plants, and to uranium conversion plants. (J.S.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Aim: The study aimed to analyze blood pressure (BP) responses in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) over a 24h period following resistance (RES) and aerobic (AER) exercise. Methods: Ten adults with T2D (age: 55.8+/-7.7 years; weight: 79.4+/-14.0kg; fasting glucose: 133.0+/-36.7mg.dL^-^1) underwent: (1) AER: 20min of cycling at 90% lactate threshold (90% LT); (2) RES: three laps of a circuit of six exercises with eight repetitions at 70% 1-RM and 40s of recovery; and (3) a control session of no exercise. Heart rate (HR), and systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial (MAP) and pulse (PP) BP, as well as lactataemia (Lac), VO2, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at rest, during exercise and control (CON) periods, and 60min after interve...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage have the capability to adhere to and fuse with each other and to differentiate into osteoclasts and giant cells. To investigate the macrophage adhesion/fusion...Full Text Available

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Previous studies suggest that the radiosensitivity and origin of tissue macrophage precursors differ from those of hemopoietic macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-Ms) committed to macrophage-lineage cells. We assessed the origins of tissue macrophage colony-forming cells (M-CFCs) in mice by comparing their kinetics and radiosensitivities in the normal steady state and under the conditions of bone marrow depletion by [sup 89]Sr-administration and/or splenectomy. The results indicate that the radiosensitive peritoneal M-CFCs elicited by thioglycollate are derived from bone marrow macrophage precursors; where as alveolar M-CFCs, which are radioresistant, are self-sustained locally and independent of hemopoietic macrophage precursors. In contrast, highly radiosensitive liver M-CFCs are probably derived from CFU-Ms that appear to be propagated in the spleen in ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The phagocytic and killing abilities of heifer mammary gland macrophages (M phi) and neutrophils were evaluated after exposure to recombinant bovine interferon-gamma (rBoIFN-gamma) stimulation in vitro....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundMacrophages (MΦs) utilize macropinocytosis to integrate immune and metabolic signals in order to initiate an effective immune response. Diabetes is characterized...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection frequently causes neurologic disease, which is the result of viral replication and activation of macrophages and microglia...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Eosinophils are associated with helminth immunity and allergy, often in conjunction with alternatively activated macrophages (AAMs). Adipose tissue AAMs are necessary to maintain glucose homeostasis...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

B lymphocytes can function independently as efficient APCs. However, our previous studies demonstrate that both dendritic cells and macrophages are necessary to propagate immune responses initiated...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) represents an endogenous seizure suppressing system, which may be targeted to develop treatments for generalized or multifocal epilepsies. This review summarizes...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One of the Eddy Current Testing issues in aeronautics is the inspection of fastened structures to detect flaws nearby rivets which can grow because of mechanical stress. EADS and the CEA LIST have started a collaborative work with the support of the Ile-de-France Region to develop a simulation tool of EC fastened structures testing, integrated to the CIVA platform, aimed at conceiving testing methods, optimizing and qualifying it. The volume integral method using the Green dyadics formalism has been chosen in order to get a fast resolution of Maxwell equations. A first milestone was to build a simulation model of multilayer structures testing, thanks to the use of the multilayer Green dyads. Because of the rivet volume, 60 times bigger than the one of a typical flaw, a large number of discretization cells are needed. Therefore an iterative method has been developed in order to numerically solve large calculation zones. Finally, the flaw response simulation mostly has to cope with a ...

Science.gov (United States)

... as far as mammary development is concerned but carries the NF-κB reporter, there is diffuse NF-κB activity throughout the epithelial tissue that is ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Immunomodulation by environmental chemical contaminants and the role immune parameters play in toxicity and risk assessment studies is of increasing concern. Although considerable evidence has indicated...Full Text Available

KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text of publication follows: The hydrogen mitigation system of 20 igniters and 6 PARs is installed to control the hydrogen in the containment during severe accidents and design basis accidents, respectively, in Shin-Wolsung 1 and 2 nuclear power plants. The igniters are primarily installed at the hydrogen source locations, and the PARs are installed in the open spaces. The PARs will maintain the hydrogen concentration within the containment atmosphere below the limit of 4 v/o in accordance with Regulatory Guide 1.7 during design basis accidents. The igniters will maintain the hydrogen concentration within the containment atmosphere below the limit of 10 v/o in accordance with 10CFR50.34(f) during severe accidents. In addition, the PARs can be used as a supplementary means to control the hydrogen concentration during severe accidents because of their inherent passive characteristics. This paper ...

Science.gov (United States)

Nov 15, 2006 ... Sick leave and other types of non-vested leave ... For FERS employees, NASA makes contributions of 10.7 percent to the defined benefit plan, ...

Science.gov (United States)

The biological activity of coir fibre, coir ash and their components were investigated in vitro by measuring the haemolytic activity and macrophage cytotoxicity. In vivo studies carried out by injecting guinea pigs intratracheally with coir fibres resulted in resolving granulomas. The observed haemolytic activity and macrophage cytotoxicity was more marked with coir ash compared with coir fibres. Chemical analysis of coir ash revealed the presence of toxic chemical constituents in appreciable amounts. PMID:6283694

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

French ... Title Synthese d'agregats metalliques par radiolyse de solutions aqueuses de sels simples ou complexes. Etude par M. E. du greffage des agregats sur membranes de carbone.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) controls seizures in a sex-specific manner. At postnatal day 15 (P15), SNR infusion of GABA_A receptor agonist muscimol have proconvulsant...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the mucosal surface of the human upper respiratory tract. A colonization event is gradually cleared through phagocytosis by monocytes/macrophages that are recruited to the airway lumen. Here, we sought to define the bacterial and host factors that promote monocyte/macrophage influx and S. pneumoniae clearance using intranasal bacterial challenge in mice. We found that the recruitment of monocytes/macrophages required their expression of the chemokine receptor CCR2 and correlated with expression of the CCR2 ligand CCL2. Production of CCL2 and monocyte/macrophage recruitment were deficient in mice lacking digestion of peptidoglycan by lysozyme (LysM) and cytosolic sensing of the products of digestion by Nod2. Ex vivo macrophages produced CCL2 following bacterial uptake, digestion by LysM, and sensing of peptidoglycan by Nod2. Sensing of digested ...

Science.gov (United States)

sur la médiatisation des élections Il s'est ouverte le 16 septembre 2011 à Matadi dans le Bas-Congo une formation sur la médiatisation des questions électorales,...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

AbstractThe tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria annulata causes a debilitating disease of cattle called Tropical Theileriosis. The parasite predominantly invades...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Macrophage activation by the proinflammatory cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is a critical component of the host innate response to bacterial pathogenesis. However, the precise nature...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The use of infectious pathogens has allowed the detection of the development of synergism between pathogens and ubiquitous environmental chemical contaminants. This synergism has been demonstrated to...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Despite the demonstrated clinical efficacy of CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) for lymphoma therapy, the in vivo mechanisms of tumor depletion remain controversial and variable. To identify the molecular...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Exteriorized phosphatidylserine (PS) residues in apoptotic cells trigger rapid phagocytosis by macrophage scavenger receptor pathways. Mimicking apoptosis with liposomes containing PS may represent...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The influence of pretreatment of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with sub-MICs of the new beta-lactam antibiotic imipenem on phagocytosis and killing by murine peritoneal macrophages and...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Normal healthy volunteers underwent broncho-alveolar lavage and the cells obtained were cultured for 24 h and 48 h, either alone or in the presence of the corticosteroid, Budesonide. Cell differentials...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Macrophages are cells of the immune system that protect organisms against invading pathogens by fulfilling critical roles in innate and adaptive immunity and inflammation. They originate from circulating...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

An in vitro system for studying Pu uptake by, and removal from, macrophages was developed to provide data for the actinide therapy program. We have shown that "2"3"9PuO_2 particle uptake in vitro resembles the process in vivo with respect to the intracellular localization of phagocytized particles. At the end of 7 days of culture of Pu-loaded cells, 54% of the cells were viable even though 71% of the cells in the culture initially contained enough "2"3"9PuO_2 to deliver more than 53 intracellular #alpha#-disintegrations.

Science.gov (United States)

Established Investigators (K18) (PAR-09-090) NIH: Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research (K18) (PA-09-110) NIDCD: NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award for Established...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Discusses methods for determining ash content in coal using backscattering in X-ray fluorescence. The following aspects are evaluated: principle of ash content determination, energy sources, factors that influence measurement accuracy, reliability. Types of X-ray fluorescence analyzers developed in Czechoslovakia and manufactured in the Czech Republic are comparatively evaluated. Operation of the RPM 113.1 radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analyzer developed by the PAR company and used for measuring ash content in coal and coal calorific value is discussed. 7 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sep 1970. 85 p. United States Green, SJ LeTourneau, BW Peterson, AC Bettis

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Short communication.

Science.gov (United States)

... In Nederland wordt het telewerken bevorderd door bet Nederlands Telewerk Forum, waarin zowel de overheid als verschillende industri~le ...

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The lowest excited level in Ni-like ions, 3d{sup 9}4s {sup 3}D{sub 3}, decays only via a magnetic octupole (M3) decay. They present calculated values of transition wavelengths and rates for ions with 30 {le} Z {le} 100. They have observed this line in Xe{sup 26+}, using the Livermore EBIT-I electron beam ion trap and a microcalorimeter, as well as a high-resolution flat-field grating spectrometer.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this study, we measured the effects of different concentrations of paraquat (0,01 mM and 1,0 mM) on the 1-"1"4CO_2 and 6-"1"4CO_2 production of rabbit lung slices and isolated alveolar macrophages, in 20% and 95% oxygen phases respectively. A 95% oxygen phase induced an increase in the 6-"1"4C-glucose oxidation of control lung slices over a 3-hour period, while the increased activity of the pentose pathway over the first 2 hours started to decline during the third hour of incubation. Paraquat (1,0mM) in 20% oxygen caused a consistent increase in the 6-"1"4CO_2 production by lung slices, but in a 95% oxygen phase gradually inhibited the 6-"1"4C-glucose oxidation over a period of 3 hours. The pentose phosphate pathway was highly significantly stimulated by 1,0 mM paraquat in 20% and 95% oxygen over 3 hours. When isolated alveolar macrophages (viability 95%) were incubated in a 20% and 95% oxygen phase respectively, both the 6-"1"4C-glucose and ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In monocytes, sulfatide, a lipid from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, blocked priming for enhanced release of superoxide (O2-) by the macrophage activating factors lipopolysaccharide, gamma interferon,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The CNS is a unique organ due to its limited capacity for immune surveillance. As macrophages of the CNS, microglia represent a population originally known for the ability to assist neuronal stability,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We present here for the first time the tele-robotics system for hot-cells MT200-TAO (TAO stands for Teleoperation Assistee par Ordinateur or Computer Assisted Tele-robotics), able to replace a conventional telescopic medium tele-manipulator (extension 4 m; capacity 20 kg). The system is currently under evaluation in COGEMA/AREVA- La Hague hot-cells. (authors)

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This text presents the annotations of all different articles of the law text concerning the sustainable development of radioactive materials and wastes. (A.L.B.)

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Aim of the work was to describe computerised tomography (CT) findings of calcified renal metastases focusing on differential diagnosis problems. Abdominal CT scans of 8000 patients with tumor, performed from 1984 to 1998, have been retrospectively reviewed. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' quello di descrivere gli aspetti con tomografia computerizzata delle metastasi renali calcificate enfatizzando le problematiche diagnostico differenziali. Sono state valutate retrospettivamente le indagini TC addominali di 8000 pazienti affetti da tumore nel periodo 1984-1998, analizzando le lesioni calcificate riscontrate.

Science.gov (United States)

Sep 1, 2011 ... Title: THINEX - an expert system for estimating forest harvesting productivity and cost. Author: LeDoux, C. B.; Gopalakrishnan, B.; Pabba, R. S. ...

Science.gov (United States)

The advanced technologies of Ka-Band systems such as high gain spot .... sometimes used based on link requirements for a specific application. .... received at NASA LeRC from a Ku-band satellite and retransmitted to the USAT at Ka-Band. .... and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

ResumeObjectif determiner dans une etude randomisee l'impact d'un enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane pendant 48 heures sur le controle glycemique trois mois plus tard chez des patients presentant un diabete de type 1 (DT1) ou de type 2 (DT2). Methodes Quarante-huit patients avec un mauvais equilibre glycemique (HbA1c : 8-10,5 %) ont beneficie d'un enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane pendant 48 heures avec le systeme GlucoDay (A. Menarini Diagnostics) et ont ete randomises en deux groupes : ajustement de traitement en fonction de l'autosurveillance glycemique capillaire (groupe ASG) ou du profil d'enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane (groupe CGM). Le dosage d'HbA1c et le port du GlucoDay ont ete renouveles trois mois plus tard. Resultats Trente-quatre patients ...

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This course is based upon lectures in physics given by Professor Feynman at the California institute of technology during 1961 and 1962. This volume is dedicated to quantum physics, semiconductors, symmetry and advanced principles of physics.

Science.gov (United States)

1.9312. 1"6898. 1,3036 .7846 .313g .0121. Bright hess values. 263.291. 332.278. 382.911. 481.013. 575"949. 693.038. 886.076. 1025.316. 1291.139 ...

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This article describes a hierarchical and functional model for continuous process control aid. The expertise is represented by graphs from a simple functional restructuring of the Grafcet, which is the formalism used by the designers of the command-control program. The new structure is familiar to the operator, and it is settled in an expert system. The application built on the basis of this method detects some default types which are not detected by the control-command. It proposes a diagnosis to the operator, and can explain and justify the state of the process. (authors) 9 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

A new simple multi-well plate-based assay to determine monocyte differentiation-inducing activity was developed. It is based on the increase of macrophage adherence after the induction of monocyte differentiation. The assay was conducted using a human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, treated with either 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma. This method is sensitive and easy to perform, especially in case of analyzing a large number of samples. PMID:17920620

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Extracellular ATP stimulates transmembrane ion fluxes in the mouse macrophage cell line J774. In the presence of Mg2+, nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs and other purine and pyrimidine nucleotides do not elicit this response, suggesting the presence of a specific receptor for ATP on the macrophage plasma membrane. One candidate for such a receptor is the ecto-ATPase expressed on these cells. We, therefore, investigated the role of this enzyme in ATP-induced /sup 86/Rb+ efflux in J774 cells. The ecto-ATPase had a broad nucleotide specificity and did not hydrolyze extracellular ATP in the absence of divalent cations. /sup 86/Rb+ efflux was not blocked by inhibition of the ecto-ATPase and did not require Ca2+ or Mg2+. In fact, ATP-stimulated /sup 86/Rb+ efflux was inhibited by Mg2+ and correlated with the availability of ATP4- in the medium. In the absence of divalent cations, the slowly hydrolyzable ATP analogs adenosine 5'-(beta, ...

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The interest of irradiation by carbon ions is in the fact that the carbon ions leave all their energy to a determined depth. ( phenomenon known under the name of Bragg peak)This high diffusion in tissue gives an RBE particularly high. The indications of this therapy are chordomas, and chondrosarcomas of the skull base, some cyst adenoid carcinomas, pulmonary cancer, sarcomas, hepato carcinomas, melanomas. In the light of results in term of efficiency, the place of irradiation by carbon ions should widen. (N.C.)

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We proposed that a new type of the electrostatic microwiggler with a wiggler period (0.1 mm {le}1{sub w}{le}1 mm) and the wiggler field strength (E{sub w}{le} 100 kV/m) can be produced on the surface of a PZT when a high power and high frequency ultrasonic wave travels through a PZT bar. Numerical simulations in the linear and nonlinear gain regime show that a weak microwiggler (E{sub w}100 kV/m,{lambda}{sub w}{approx}100 periods), operating in magnetoresonance with a strong guide field (B{sub o}{approx} 3.6T), can generate a millimeter and submillimeter radiations with medium electronic efficiency of few percents. It is shown that the maximum output power of the compact FEL using the wiggler system generated on the surface of the piezoelectric material may be upto a few Watts with a relatively low energy and low current electron beam (Ew {approx}100 keV and I{sub b}1 mA).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The immune system modulates many key biological processes in humans. However, the exact role of the immune system in particle-associated periprosthetic osteolysis is controversial. Human tissue retrieval studies, in vivo and in vitro experiments suggest that the immune response to polymer particles is non-specific and macrophage-mediated. Lymphocytes may modulate this response. However direct lymphocyte activation by polymer particle-protein complexes seems unlikely. However, metallic byproducts may complex with serum proteins and lead to a Type IV, lymphocyte-mediated immune reaction. In predisposed individuals, this reaction may rarely lead to persistent painful joint effusions, necessitating debridement and excision of the bearing surfaces of the prosthesis. In these patients, retrieved...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Objective: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, modulated by plaque stabilizing and de-stabilizing cell populations such as infiltrating monocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs). Transcription factors regulating proliferation and differentiation of atherosclerosis relevant cell types are of interest in this context. The forkhead box transcription factor FoxP1 modulates monocyte differentiation. We studied FoxP1 expression in atherosclerotic tissue, correlated FoxP1 expression with plaque characteristics and identified associations between FoxP1 and plaque proteins. Methods: 116 Atherosclerotic plaques from carotid endarterectomy samples were histologically classified (fibrous, fibroatheromatous, atheromatous) and subjected to semi-quantitative protein analysis. Macrophage,...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The present study describes pathologic findings and immunohistochemical diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in 22 dogs who died naturally in the Aegean region of Turkey. At necropsy, lymphadenomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, hepatic, and nephrosclerotic lesions were conspicuous. Histopathologically, chronic inflammatory reactions of the spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, and skin were marked findings. Cytological and histological examinations showed macrophages loaded with Leishmania amastigotes in these organs. Immunohistochemistry revealed that immunolabeling of amastigotes and/or parasite antigen, especially in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, liver, and skin, and occasionally, in the kidneys, intestines and lungs. Our laboratory results showed that immunohistochemis...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Forsmark and the Laxemar investigation areas are examined by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. for a possible construction of a deep repository for nuclear waste. In the case of a future leakage of waste, the radioactive isotopes could end up in the ecosystems above the repository. The fate of the radionuclides and their possible radiological impacts are then highly determined by ecosystem carbon cycling. An important part of the carbon cycling is the soil carbon effluxes, and in the investigation areas soil carbon effluxes have been examined with the closed chamber technique. This paper is divided into two parts. Firstly, there were problems with the equipment measuring the soil carbon dioxide efflux, and the first part is a description of the problem, how it was corrected and its possible causes. The second part is a manual in how to analyse data and calculate annual estimates of soil carbon efflux. The field measurement by the EGM-4 is just an occasional estimate ...

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This publication of the Areva Group, a world nuclear industry leader, provides information on the energy in many domains. This issue deals with the nuclear fuel cycle, the biofuels, the everyday geothermal power, the Unites States energy supply and types, the Bertrand Picard solar aircraft, the kyoto protocol and the wind power leaders. A special chapter is devoted to the renaissance of solar homes. (A.L.B.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During its jubilee, the French building technical and scientific centre (CSTB) has organized a colloquium about the future tendencies of buildings evolution in the 20 forthcoming years: autonomy in energy production and wastes or effluents management, reduction of water consumption and management of water, hot water production and space heating, bio-sensors for the management of indoor air-quality, control of noise environment using active acoustic systems etc.. (J.S.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This autumn, Nice welcomed the thirteen European photovoltaic conference. It was the occasion for the world of solar energy to measure technical progress which were carried out and the market which are still to win. If developing countries are a reserve of new markets, they are not solvent and programmes depend on North/South negotiations. (N.C.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Brachytherapy consists of sealed radioactive source implantation. The diversity in the nature of radioelements, in their energy and activity requires strict implantation and utilization rules. These rules include radioactive source physical parameters check, after-loading machine and treatment planning system quality assurance and safe and reproducible dosimetric systems. Patient and medical workers information guarantee radioprotection and prevention of accidental exposures. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This device has and head-race pipe with an external part and a coaxial inner part. A measuring head is mounted movable between these 2 parts and has at least a thermocouple and a mobile grid for varying the section and the sodium flow to facilitate the impurities dissolution. This ensemble is completed by a longitudinal body containing the main parts of the indicator and surrounded by a thermal exchanger to cool the sodium.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The proposed aim of the work is to verify the effects produced on different kinds of environmental pollutants after exposure to a low frequency radiation such as microwaves. They have proved capable of producing minimum heating of the matrix as well as modifications in the structure of the molecules at the level of simple bonds. Steps were also taken ti check whether the degradation action of the microwaves could be boosted by sunlight. For this reason tests were run also on samples irradiated using microwaves and a lamp capable of simulating the sun's spectrum, as well as in the presence of a single lamp. [Italian] Lo scopo di questa ricerca e' di verificare gli effetti prodotti su inquinanti ambientali, di diversa natura, a seguito di un'esposizione ad una radiazione a bassa frequenza come le microonde. Le microonde possono produrre minimi riscladamenti della matrice e modificazioni della struttura delle molecole, a ...

Science.gov (United States)

The authors present electric-field dependent electroreflectance and photocurrent spectra of visible-bandgap In{sub x}(Al{sub y}Ga{sub 1{minus}y}){sub 1{minus}x}P/In{sub x{prime}}(Al{sub y{prime}}Ga{sub 1{minus}y{prime}}){sub 1{minus}x{prime}}P multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structures. These structures, grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy on 6{degrees}-misoriented (100) GaAs substrates, have undoped MQWs sandwiched between doped In{sub 0.5}Al{sub 0.5}P layers, forming p-i-n diodes. Quantum-well compositions in the range 0.46{le}x{le}0.52 and 0{le}y{le}0.4, corresponding to bandgaps in the red to yellow-green range, were used. The Stark shifts in these various samples were measured and found to depend on the details of the Mg p-type doping profile, confirming important diffusion effects, in agreement with secondary ion mass spectrometry and capacitance-voltage data. The results show that these new materials are promising for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the last issue of 'L'Industrie ceramique et verriere', we presented the first part of this study. We describe in this issue the experimental procedure, the results and the conclusions of this work. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The economic development of eastern Europe was associated during the last 15 years with the following average annual increases in energy consumption: Approximately 1% in the sectors industry, building and transport, almost 7% in the farming sector, approximately 3% in households, and nearly 4% in the municipal sector. This trend will not continue. As the economic system shifts from centrally planned to free economy and as the previously secluded economy is forced to face world market conditions as well as changed pars of exchange and conditions of payment, it not only experiences a transitory, sharp dip of economic growth in general but, in particular, drastic structural changes. - While there is to be expected, on the whole a slump in national economic growth, in tradiational branches of industry (e.g., metallurgy, the chemicals and textile industry) as well as in farming, such sectors as the service industry and small trade are expanding. (orig./UA).

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The passive films formed on 316L stainless steel in various NaCl solutions have been investigated by capacitance measurements (Mott-Schottky). Pitting parameters have been determined using the galvano-kinetic polarisation method. The obtained results reveal the existence of a shallow and a deep donor level localised in the band gap of the semiconducting oxide film. These energy levels are due to iron ions in the tetrahedral and octahedral positions. It also appears that the participation of the deep donor level effects the electric field. The study developed allows us to compare characteristic parameters of the electronic structure of the passive film to those related to pitting susceptibility. (authors) 25 refs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A study was conducted to determine the fitting soil moisture for the normal growth of two-year-old W. sinensis (Sims) Sweets by using gas exchange technique. Remarkable threshold values of net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr) and water use efficiency (WUE) were observed in the W. sinensis leaves treated by various soil moisture and photosynthetic available radiation (PAR). The fitting soil moisture for maintaining a high level of Pn and WUE was in range of 15.3%?26.5% of volumetric water content (VWC), of which the optimal VWC was 23.3%. Under the condition of fitting soil moisture, the light saturation point of leaves occurred at above 800?mol?m?2?s?1, whereas under the condition of water deficiency (VWC, 11.9% and 8.2%) or oversaturation (VWC, 26.5%), the light saturatio...

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This study has been carried out in the framework of a collaboration between the laboratory of processes automation (LAP, Caen (France)), and Air Com, a monitoring network for the prevention of atmospheric pollution in Basse-Normandie. It aims at obtaining a medium and long term forecast of the ozone level above the Caen city. The expected goal is to foresee the pollution peaks exceeding the warning thresholds, but the rareness of such events make them more difficult to predict. In order to solve this kind of problem, a neural modeling method combined with a noise injection technique has been implemented in order to obtain a sufficiently performing model over the whole domain of operation. (J.S.)

CERN Document Server

Bargmann's superselection rule, which forbids the existence of superpositions of states with different mass and, therefore, implies the impossibility of describing unstable particles in non-relativistic quantum mechanics, arises as a consequence of demanding Galilean covariance of Schr\\"odinger's equation. However, the usual Galilean transformations inadequately describe the symmetries of non-relativistic quantum mechanics since they fail to take into account relativistic time contraction effects which can produce non-relativistic phases in the wavefunction. In this paper we describe the incompatibility between Bargmann's rule and Lorentz transformations in the low-velocities limit, we analyze its classical origin and we show that the Extended Galilei group characterizes better the symmetries of the theory. Furthermore, we claim that a proper description of non-relativistic quantum mechanics requires a modification of the notion of spacetime in the corresponding limit, which is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

SPEOS takes advantage of a geological situation which apparently does not occur much in Switzerland. The SPEOS pilot installation, which was erected in 1982, is designed for the supply of heat for about 500 persons. In the course of 10 cycles, the possibilities and limits of the seasonal heat storage were displayed. It was demonstrated that large quantities of heat with temperatures of up to 75 C can be stored in an aquifer. The behaviour of such a storage can be predicted with sufficient accuracy with mathematical models. (author) 12 refs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

As the main forestry species in the Canary Islands (Spain), Pinus canariensis is frequently used in afforestation programs. Several nursery techniques are commonly employed to modify its morphology and physiology with the aim of improving post-planting survival and growth. In this work, we studied how fertilization and light regime treatments applied during the nursery period modify biomass allocation patterns and produce effects in gas exchange and root hydraulic conductance. Seedlings were grown for a 6-month period in the nursery under two light regimes (full sunlight and 40% PAR reduction), and three fertilization levels were applied in each light regime. Morphology, biomass allocation patterns, leaf gas exchange and hydraulic conductance of the whole root system were evaluated. Fertil...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

An exposure chamber is described for the quantifiable addition of fine and ultrafine aerosol particulate matter directly to cells and used to demonstrate the in vitro cytotoxicity of fine 1,4-naphthoquinone particles to murine lung epithelial cells. The electrostatic particulate dosage and exposure system (EPDExS) operates on the principle of electrostatic precipitation and is shown to deposit fine and ultrafine aerosol particles directly to cells with 100% efficiency for particle diameters in the range of 40-530nm. This range is not limited by the EPDExS, but rather by the aerosolization method used for this study. Numbers of particles deposited onto the cells are counted with a condensation particle counter, negating any need to calculate or estimate particle exposure. The process of par...

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In this experiments, we established long-termed culture methods of bone marrow stromal cells for proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. And we selected some extracts which support maximal proliferation of stromal cells with this method. We conformed the synergic effects of herval mixture extracts for stromal cell growth. The proliferation of stromal cells was increased rather by the addition of mixture extracts than by addition of single strain extract. In the previous and cooperative experiments, we selected complex extracts which increased the number of nonadherent mononuclear cells. Different cytokine expression patterns were observed stromal cells cultured in the presence or absence of mixture extracts which support differentiation of nonadherent cells. Stimulation of macrophage cell line with herval extracts with the treatments of recombinant interferon-{gamma} resulted in increased nitric oxide synthesis in a dose-dependent manners. In addition, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Radiation chimeras in the early phase after bone marrow transplantation are a good model to study the efficiency of the body's nonspecific defense system represented by macrophages (M phi), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), and NK cells. These cell types are present in large numbers in spleen and liver at that time, whereas the specific immune system represented by T and B cells is functionally deficient. We previously reported enhanced activities in vitro of M phi (and PMN) from recipient animals in an early phase after allogeneic bone marrow transfer. We here demonstrate that these activities result in enhanced spontaneous resistance against Listeria monocytogenes in vivo: CFU of L. monocytogenes in spleen and liver 48 h after infection were about 1 or 2 to 4 log steps less than in untreated control mice of donor or host haplotype. This enhanced resistance decreased over the 4-mo period after marrow transfer. Preactivated M phi were identified as the most important ...

CERN Document Server

We summarize results of recent studies of heavy quarkonia correlators and spectral functions at finite temperatures from lattice QCD and systematic T-matrix studies using QCD motivated finite-temperature potentials. We argue that heavy quarkonia dissociation shall occur in the temperature range $1.2 \\le T_d/T_c \\le 1.5$ by the interplay of both screening and absorption in the strongly correlated plasma medium. We discuss these effects on the quantum mechanical evolution of quarkonia states within a time-dependent harmonic oscillator model with complex oscillator strength and compare the results with data for $R_{\\rm AA}/R_{\\rm AA}^{\\rm CNM}$ from RHIC and SPS experiments. We speculate whether the suppression pattern of the rather precise NA60 data from In-In collisions may be related to the recently discovered X(3872) state. Theoretical support for this hypothesis comes from the cluster expansion of the plasma Hamiltonian for heavy ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1{minus}x}P layers (0 {le} x {le} 0.7), with thicknesses of {ge}1 {micro}m were grown on Si (100) wafers by metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy (MOMBE) at 450 C. Transmission electron micrographs of the single crystal films revealed that the microstructure contains stacking faults and microtwins especially near the interface as well as both threading and misfit dislocations. Hardness and elastic modulus were measured using a Nanotest 500 indenter, which can probe the film properties without influence from the substrate. The hardness H varies linearly according to (11.8 {minus} 2.3x) GPa. The absence of alloy hardening is due to the fact that there is no difference in atomic size of Al and Ga. The indentation modulus E/(1{minus}v{sup 2}) decreases monotonically from 136 GPa for GaP to 129 GPa for Al{sub 0.7}Ga{sub 0.3}P and bows only slightly (about 2%) below the straight line of linear interpolation.

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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 ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to draw together the salient issues surrounding customer loyalty and customer relationship management (CRM) into a single coherent discussion. Various schools of academic thought are examined. The paper concludes with practical implications for managers. Design/methodology/approach - The literature surrounding customer loyalty, customer satisfaction, effective CRM and managing loyalty in a profitable manner are all reviewed. The paper allows managers to consider a wide range of material in the context of their business. Findings - The need for businesses to retain customers is an important issue in today's global marketplace. To retain customers, a business must forge loyal and long-term relationships with profitable customers. Reasons why customers le...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This document provides information and presents data on the energy situation in many regions of Canada. The first part deals with the petroleum and the bitumen shales of Alberta (reserves, exploitation and production, environmental impacts), the second part discusses with the hydroelectricity choice of Quebec and the 2004 crisis. The nuclear situation of Ontario is presented in the third part (nuclear park, programs, uranium reserves, research and development on Candu reactors), while the fourth part deals with the renewable energies (wind power and biomass). The canadian situation facing the Kyoto protocol is discussed in the last part. (A.L.B.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The French office for technical studies and control of big dams (BETCGB), has recently reedited the `guidebook for the control of dams in exploitation`. The aim of this document is to provide to the regional directions of industry, research and environment (DRIRE) a methodological help for their control actions of hydroelectric dams granted for exploitation. It comprises 6 chapters dealing with: the different type of dams, the inspection, the surveillance, the floods evacuation, the flood instructions, and the particular emergency plans. (J.S.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A major component of the 1990 recommendations of ICRP (ICRP, 1991a) was the revision of the dose limits. But other changes were introduced which necessitated a review of earlier guidance. In particular, ICRP set up a Task Group in 1993 to prepare a report on the principles for the protection of workers. The report was adopted in 1997 and has now been published as ICRP Publication 75 (ICRP, 1997). It is for others to judge the real significance of the guidance provided; what follows are some of the main points. (author)

CERN Document Server

We propose a new approach to study Koszul cohomology of general $g^r_d$'s on general curves via degenerations and deformations. As an application of this new method, we prove projective normality for general line bundles $L$ on general curves with $h^1(L)\\le1$ and degree greater than roughly $(5/4)g$. This improves the bound in a classical theorem of Green and Lazarsfeld. Also we give some partial results on vanishing of higher syzygies for line bundles with $h^1(L)=1$.

CERN Multimedia

Since the mid-1980s the number of scientists from all over the world using CERN's facilities has increased enormously. Currently more than 6,000 users, over half of the planet's high-energy physicists, carry out fundamental research at CERN. This user community is living proof that CERN welcomes inter- regional collaboration which benefits all and boosts the progress of science. The LHC, the only machine capable of addressing problems way beyond today's frontiers of high energy physics, offers an unique opportunity for extending world wide collaboration.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper investigates the yield and the role of the computerized tomography in diagnosing abdominal gunshot wounds, with their rich and varied radiological signs and associated injuries, and subsequently used in the diagnosis. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' riportare l'esperienza personale nell'uso della tomografia computerizzata per riconoscere le lesioni da arma da fuoco dell'addome e nelle fasi successive dell'approfondimento diagnostico.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

CYRANO3 is the new EDF thermomechanical code developed to evaluate the overall fuel rod behavior under irradiation. In that context, this paper presents the phenomena to be simulated and the correlations adopted for modelling purposes. The empirical models presented are taken from the CYRANO2 code and a compilation of the relevant literature. The present revision corrects and supplements version B on the basis of its use during the software coding phase from January 1991 to May 1993. (authors). figs., tabs., 120 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This work gives a global view of legislations in which are included metals chemical states, briefly recalls the conditions to be respected for the CRM (Certified Reference Materials), and describes the results of some current plans for the Norms, Measures and Tests program. (O.M.) 23 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

Resistance to abrupt and gradual cold shock was determined in bioassays with pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), and a northwestern crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) acclimated to higher temperatures at 5 C increments. Test criteria were median tolerance limits (TLm) for 96-h exposures after abrupt cold shock, and 50 percent loss of equilibrium (LE50) for decline rates of 18, 15, 10, 5, and 1 C/h during gradual cold shock. Cold resistance depended on original acclimation temperature (AT) and varied among species under both test conditions in the order: pumpkinseed less than rainbow trout less than crayfish. The lower TLm limit for pumpkinseed was 12.3 C at 30 C AT, 9.6 C at 25 C AT, 4.5 C at 20 C AT, and 2.7 C at 15 C AT. Rainbow trout at 20, 15 and 10 C AT survived abrupt exposures to cold down to 3.3, 1.4 and 0.5 C, respectively. Crayfish at 25, 20 and 15 C AT survived exposures down to 2.5, 0.4 and 0.0 C, respectively. TLm values ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) may be elusive. A 6-year-old boy had microcytic hypochromic anemia and a hemolytic component. Hemosiderin-laden macrophages were not found in the gastric aspirate. He had no pulmonary signs or symptoms. Extensive hematologic and roentgenologic investigations failed to reveal the cause of the anemia. Quantitative serial scintigraphic scanning showed significant (35%) pulmonary sequestration of autologous erythrocytes labeled with sodium chromate Cr51. The half-life of the RBCs was moderately decreased (half-life, 15 days; normal, 25 to 35 days). An open-lung biopsy spece Cr51. The half-life of the RBCs was moderately decreased (half-life, 15 days; normal, 25 to 35 days). An open-lung biopsy specimen confirmed the diagnosis of IPH. A diagnosis of IPH should be considered when children have iron deficiency anemia and pulmonary signs or symptoms. Organ sequestration studies may be helpful in equivocal cases.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are subject to a spectrum of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Recent evidence implicates the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) in the pathogenesis of some of these illnesses, although the cells infected by the virus have yet to be identified. Using in situ hybridization, the authors examined brain tissue from two patients with AIDS encephalopathy for the presence of HTLV-III RNA. In both cases, viral RNA was detected and concentrated in, though not limited to, the white matter. The CNS cells most frequently infected included macrophages, pleomorphic microglia, and multinucleated giant cells. Less frequently, cells morphologically consistent with astrocytes, oligodendroglia, and rarely neurons were also infected. The findings strengthen the association of HTLV-III with the pathogenesis of AIDS encephalopathy. In situ hybridization can be applied to routinely prepared biopsy tissue in ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Sepsis induced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has worse outcome because of multiresistance to a large group of antibiotics, which may lead to death from septic shock. In the present study, we firstly found that artesunate in combination with oxacillin was capable of protecting mice challenged with live MRSA WHO-2 (WHO-2) and the protection was related to the reduced TNF-a and IL-6 levels and decreased bacterial load. Based on above results, artesunate was further investigated from two aspects in vitro, anti-inflammation effect and antibacterial enhancement effect on antibiotics. Artesunate not only inhibited TNF-a and IL-6 release but also inhibited mRNA and protein expressions of TLR2 and Nod2, two important receptors, in murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated wit...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The control of nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}) emissions will become a major challenge in the forthcoming years, in the domain of automotive industry or industrial burners. Pulsed combustion offers an imaginative solution which does not affect the combustion efficiency. In this paper, the efficiency of this method is demonstrated using the burner of a 20 kW domestic boiler. The actuator is simply installed on the air intake. Two types of actuators have been tested successfully: a loudspeaker and a rotative valve. Both can produce 100 to 1000 Hz frequencies and can lead to a reduction of 20% of NO{sub x} emissions. The feasibility of the concept is also demonstrated on a 840 kW liquid fuel-oil burner. The mechanisms involved during an excitation are explained using the CH{sup *} radical imaging. Results show an important reorganization of the flow and of the flame structure. During each excitation cycle, an annular swirl occurs at the leading edge of the flame catching and develops during ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report prepared for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) describes the practical realisation and testing of a heat recovery system based on a one-stage organic Rankine cycle with R134a as the working fluid. The waste heat has a temperature of 95 {sup o}C and originates from a gas engine that powers a small co-generation plant fuelled with biogas produced on-site. Two similar cycles have been built, ORC1 with one and ORC2 with two turbines. Only ORC1 has been tested so far. The maximum efficiency measured in these tests was 6.64% (theoretical Carnot-efficiency: 17 %) and the electric power output was 5.0 kW. The problems encountered during commissioning are described and recommendations for further improvements are given.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy has been used for the study of a Lithium/polymer electrolyte-LiTFSI/V{sub 2}O{sub 5} type battery in which the polymer electrolyte thickness is of about 80 {mu}m. The analysis is performed on the side of the battery thanks to a specially designed cell which preserves all the characteristics of the real system. The analysis is performed on 20 points aligned between the anode and the cathode and with a depth of several tenth of {mu}m. The analysis of data obtained during charging/output cycles allows to evaluate the gradients of salt concentration inside the electrolyte, the pollutions of LiOH, Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3}, Li{sub 2}O and Li{sub 3}N -type at the lithium interface, but also the structural modifications of the cathode material. The in-situ study of concentration gradients inside the electrolyte is of prime importance for the understanding of dendrites growth. (J.S.) 11 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

ACRO, a NGO equipped with a laboratory to measure radioactivity, runs the Citizen Watchdog of Radioactivity in the Environment. Involving many volunteers, it monitors regularly the French coast of the Channel and many rivers of the North half of France. It also makes investigations in other places. Such an action is aimed to supplement the official monitoring, not to replace it, in order to answer to the worries of the population. This monitoring shows that some radioelements, such as iodine 129, cobalt 60, tritium, etc. released in the environment by nuclear facilities can be detected on very large areas. Carbon 14 was detected up to almost 4 times the background in vegetables around the reprocessing plant of La Hague. ACRO also sits in many official committees to transmit the point of view of the populations exposed to the radioactive pollution. It is lobbying for a decrease of the release authorization, especially for the elements that are discharged in large quantity in the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Swift heavy ion-solid interaction leads in volume to track creation and on the surface to the ejection of particles into the vacuum. To learn more about initial mechanisms of track formation, we are focused on the sputtering of uranium dioxide by fast heavy ions. This present study is exclusively devoted to the influence of the electronic stopping power on the emission of neutral particles and especially on their angular distribution. These measurements are completed by those of the ions emitted from UO{sub 2} targets bombarded with swift heavy ions. The whole experimental results give access to: i) the nature of the sputtered particles; ii) the charge state of the emitted particles; iii) the direction of ejection of the sputtered particles ; iv) the sputtering yields deduced from the angular distributions. These results are compared to the prediction of the sputtering models proposed in the literature and it seems that the supersonic gas flow model is well suited to describe our ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This work is based on the study of cesium ({sup 118,146}Cs) and francium ({sup 207-213}Fr,{sup 220-228}Fr) isotopes by hyperfine atomic spectroscopy and on the interpretation of these results from the nuclear physics point of view. The measured nuclear quantities are: the spin, the magnetic moment, the electric quadrupole moment and the mean square charge radius. The experimental method which is based on hyperfine optical pumping with a tunable laser, followed by magnetic analysis of the atoms is described in the first part. Results related to atomic physics are also presented. In the second part, these data are interpreted in the framework of nuclear models. The deformation of light cesium isomers are compared to values obtained from a theoretical self-consistent calculation. Heavy francium isotopes are situated in an area where the existence of static octupole deformations have been predicted. The odd-even staggering measured on the mean square radius is abnormal in this region. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Modelization of crack propagation and theoretical prediction of rupture are the two main objectives of researchers in stress corrosion cracking. Nevertheless, to reach this aim, the behavior of the passive film which appears spontaneously on the substrate in contact with an environment has to be known. This structural and mechanical characterization is all the more difficult because the number of parameters is important: crystallinity rate, defects concentration, thickness (about a few nanometers), electric field, chemical composition (a lot of oxides are present), peeling layers (atomic structure for example) and some hypothesis can be made about their multi-layer structure, their chemical composition or their epitaxial character... Passive films formed on 316L or 304L stainless steels in different aqueous solutions (in ambient air, in MgCl{sub 2} at 117 deg. C...) have been studied and some important remarks about their mechanical properties are made (brittle behavior, strong or weak ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The patient positioning and repositioning control in radiation therapy all along the treatment can be conducted using a variety of X-ray sources and imaging detector devices. The development of image guided radiation therapy techniques leads to more frequent use of this imaging control. In this article we summarize the current methods for measuring the dose delivered by X-ray imaging devices used in radiation therapy, as well as basic proposals to take account of these imaging doses for prescribing, recording and reporting radiation therapy treatment. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to avoid the use of catalysts in the process of auto-thermal reforming, it is possible to adopt a running at high temperature. In this study are presented the results of simulations of an auto-thermal/recuperator hybrid reforming system; these results are obtained with the oxidation model of alkanes developed by Ranzi and Faravelli. An isothermal configuration at high temperature improves the hydrogen yield and avoids the formation of soots. The analysis of the powers to be furnished to assure such an experimental mode, and the global approach of the fuel cell system show that the management of the heat exchanges is a key parameter in this process. (O.M.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This article presents numerical study of 3-D thermosolutale mixed convection (TSMC) in horizontal rectangular channels. The contribution of this work is to characterize the travelling wave's appearance and to generalize the behavior of Poiseuille-Rayleigh-Benard (PRB) systems for a broad range of dimensionless parameters, which control the double diffusive mixed convection. The numerical results consist of analyzing the flow regimes of the steady longitudinal thermoconvectives rolls for the case of purely thermal mixed convection (TMC) and for both thermal and mass transfer (TSMC). The transition from opposed volume forces to cooperating ones at fixed Rayleigh (Ra), Reynolds (Re), and Lewis (Le) numbers, considerably affects the birth and the development of the longitudinal rolls (noted R/...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The opportunity of use self-maintained plasma-beam discharge in an extended pulsing plasma diode of low pressure for making powerful sources of the soft X-rays is investigated. Conditions of formation of the self-maintained plasma-beam discharge are determined. The mode of making of dense high-temperature plasma on the basis of stannum ions in the discharge is shown. The stannum ions are used as a working element of a radiation sources at pulsing power of electron beam P?10...100 MW. Results of the examination on formation of the dense (np?1016 cm3), small sizes (le?100 eV in conditions of working material evaporation from the anode are given. The total contribution of energy to the discharge has made W < 20 J.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

DVR project concerns the creation of a virtual reality OpenGL system for desktop applications in archaeology. The main goal is the creation of a 3D information system using the real time interaction of OpenGL environments. The first case study implemented is the Vettii House, one of the most important and outstanding monuments in Pompei. The virtual reconstruction of these architectural models is based on very detailed photogrammetric surveys and it is connected with information layers and archaeometric data-bases regarding the state of conservation of walls, structures and any type of materials of the monument. A full 3D interface characterizes the system, comprising a high resolution texturing with detailed volumetric and geometric data. Finally, for the future, the project plans to fit the system for scientific and end users through the installation of stations on site.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

SummaryPermeable pavement functions as a porous infrastructure interface allowing the infiltration and evaporation of rainfall-runoff while functioning as a relatively smooth load-bearing surface for vehicular transport. Hydraulic conductivity (k) of permeable pavement is an important hydraulic property and is a function of the pore structure. This study examines k for a cementitious permeable pavement (CPP) through a series of pore-structure models. Measurements utilized include hydraulic head as well as total porosity, (t), effective porosity (e), tortuosity (Le/L) and pore size distribution (PSD) indices generated through X-ray tomography (XRT). XRT results indicate that the permeable pavement pore matrix is hetero-disperse, with high tortuosity and t!=e. Power law models of k-t and k-e...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

New Non Destructive Testing techniques are currently being developed for the inspection of two groups of components in the FA3 EPR nuclear reactor at Flamanville. The first group of components to be controlled is constituted by the welds of the (89) rod cluster control assemblies' containment; two control types are to be used: an ultrasonic technique (UT) evaluation from the outside of the flange-casing weld, and an ET control from the inside of the three other welds. The second group of components is formed by the 44 welded joints of the primary circuit, which will be inspected through ultrasonic testing. Details of the components, control devices and sensors are given and some test results are presented

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This poster presentation details the procedure that was followed for the development of the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) manual. This manual was developed to provide a detailed summary of the important results obtained through studies sponsored by the MEND program and other studies conducted on topics related to acid mine drainage. The manual was divided into volumes dealing with topics such as summary, sampling and analysis, predictions, prevention and control, treatment, and monitoring. Details concerning the format, research conducted under the auspices of MEND, utilization and limitations, methodology, variations, costs, and references were also discussed. The author stated that the manual is to be used as a guide. The proposed English publication dates for the volumes were indicated, and they ranged from the fall of 2000 for volumes 3, 5, and 6, to the CD-ROM publication in March 2001. The French publication is expected to be in print by mid 2001. 26 figs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Visualization of a liquid metal flow and image processing methods to measure the vector field are carried out by real-time neutron radiography. The JRR-3M real-time thermal neutron radiography facility in the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute was used. Lead-bismuth eutectic was used as a working fluid. Particles made from a gold-cadmium intermetallic compound (AuCd_3) were used as the tracer for the visualization. The flow vector field was obtained by image processing methods. It was shown that the liquid metal flow vector field was obtainable by real-time neutron radiography when the attenuation of neutron rays due to the liquid metal was less than l/e and the particle size of the tracer was larger than one image element size digitized for the image processing. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper describes the latest developments in STRASSY (Strategy Assistance System), the strategy assistance system for the inspection of nuclear materials. The user can now select the fuel cycle he wishes to investigate from an initial range of 19 facilities. An inspection interface has been developed to enable the details and dates of inspections to be modified. One of the special features of the application of STRASSY in international safeguards is the taking into account of timeliness of detection; certain aspects of the time manager algorithms are presented and analysed, including the guaranteed existence of a solution. The results of a study of diversion paths in a simplified cycle consisting of our facilities are presented. Finally, the modifications necessary to enable STRASSY to be used for a posterior analysis of inspection results are discussed. (authors). 7 refs., 3 figs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The last developments in lithium batteries design have demonstrated the advantages of graphite: competitive cost, flat output curve, high capacity thanks to the obtention of a final compound close to LiC{sub 6}, good behaviour during cycling and a high mass energy. However, these advantages are slightly tarnished by parasite secondary reactions during the evolution of the element. Two different cases are encountered: the formation of a passivation layer (loss of Li ions and formation of irreversible bounds) and the formation of a passivation layer with a reaction between graphite and the solvent (partial destruction of the graphite crystal lattice). In the first case, the theoretical graphite insertion capacity remains at 372 mAh/g while in the second case the insertion capacity is greatly reduced. Abstract only. (J.S.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Petrographical analysis is a microscopical analytical tool which allows definition of the exact nature of the components of different concrete mixes, as well as definition of internal structures and alteration processes. In order to improve the precision and the swiftness of the petrographical analysis, an automated image analysis system has been developed. In the next stage of this study, which consisted in the testing of new concrete mixes containing fluidised bed ashes, petrography has been used, not only to identify the nature of the mix components, but also assess the behaviour of these new concrete mixes when exposed to aggressive conditions.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Intelligent and decision aiding systems as support to operators are becoming increasingly a necessity in nuclear installations and in nuclear reactors in particular, specially after the Tree Mile Island. Development of new technologies based on linguistic approaches such as fuzzy logic has given rise to much interest during the last years. Fuzzy logic controller (FLC) has many advantage compared to conventional controllers using classical techniques. The aim of the present work is to use a fuzzy logic controller in parallel to actual semi-automatic controller in order to supervise in real time the operation of the research nuclear reactor. The principal of this controller is based on rules which are established previous from experiment using the semi-automatic controller and from the knowledge of the operators. (authors)

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 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of this project was to implement a centralised data base of internal quality control in radiotherapy according to the criteria of the decree of A.f.s.s.a.p.s. (French agency of sanitary safety of health products on 27 july 2007, about the internal quality control of external radiotherapy facilities. The software on one year meets the objectives: compliance by comparison with A.f.s.s.a.p.s. criteria but particularly optimization of the centralisation and analysis of the internal quality controls. (N.C.)

Science.gov (United States)

We report the first visible (657 nm) vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser. The photopumped undoped structure was grown using low-pressure metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy in a single-growth sequence on misoriented GaAs substrates. The optical cavity consists of an In{sub 0.54}Ga{sub 0.46}P/In{sub 0.48}(Al{sub 0.7}Ga{sub 0.3}){sub 0.52} P strained quantum-well active region and a lattice-matched In{sub 0.48}(Al{sub {ital y}}Ga{sub 1{minus}{ital y}}){sub 0.52} P (0.7{le}{ital y}{le}1.0) graded spacer region, while the distributed Bragg reflectors are composed of Al{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 0.5}As/AlAs quarter-wave stacks. Room-temperature optically pumped lasing was achieved with a very low-threshold power, clearly demonstrating the viability of this new technology. These results provide the foundation for visible semiconductor laser-diode arrays for a number of applications including laser projection displays, holographic memories, and plastic fiber ...

Science.gov (United States)

The dependence of the photoluminescent properties of In{sub 0.48}(Al{sub {ital y}}Ga{sub 1{minus}{ital y}}){sub 0.52}P alloys (0{le}{ital y}{le}0.5) on growth temperature and substrate misorientation off GaAs(100) has been studied. Samples were grown using low-pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. By studying the dependence of ordering behavior in InGaP as a function of substrate misorientation and growth temperature simultaneously, a very large range in low-temperature photoluminescence emission energy---135 meV---has been obtained. The photoluminescence linewidth exhibits a strong, continuous dependence on the extent of atomic ordering (the emission energy) in the alloys. The results indicate that inhomogeneity in the microstructure of the material (i.e., between ordered'' domains and the disordered'' matrix) is the dominant photoluminescence broadening mechanism. This investigation has allowed a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The ORNL high temperature isopiestic apparatus was adapted for adsorption measurements. The quantity of water retained by rock samples taken from three different wells of The Geysers was measured at 150 °C and at 200 °C as a function of pressure in the range 0.00 &le; p/p₀ &le; 0.98, where p₀ is the saturated water vapor pressure. The rocks were crushed and sieved into three fractions of different grain sizes (with different specific surface areas). Both adsorption (increasing pressure) and desorption (decreasing pressure) runs were made in order to investigate the nature and extent of the hysteresis. Additionally, BET surface area analyses were performed by Porous Materials Inc. on the same rock samples using nitrogen or krypton adsorption measurements at 77 K. Specific surface areas and pore volumes were determined. These parameters are important in estimating water ...

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The rare-earth based nickelates RNiO{sub 3} (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Pr{sub 1-x}La{sub x}, 0{<=}x{<=}0.7) were studied by inelastic neutron scattering. Energy splittings due to the crystalline-electric-field (CEF) interaction at the R{sup 3+} site within the electronic ground-state J multiplet (for R = Pr, Nd, and Pr{sub 1-x}La{sub x}) as well as within the two lowest-lying J multiplets (for R = Sm and Eu) were directly observed, and the corresponding CEF energy-level schemes were reconstructed. The latter were rationalized in terms of CEF parameters, which vary smoothly over the rare-earth series and give magnetic properties associated with the R sublattice in agreement with results from neutron powder diffraction experiments. Across the metal-insulator transition, a continuous change in the electronic part of the CEF parameters is observed. However, an attempt to quantify a charge transfer from the observed variation of the CEF parameters in an effective point charge ...

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The translocation of particles from the alveolar compartment to the pleural space and tracheobronchial lymph nodes was investigated in rats over a 30 day period following the intrapulmonary instillation of 4 x 10/sup 8/ polystyrene microspheres (1.9 ..mu..m dia.). In initial studies, approx. =10/sup 4/ particles were found in the pleural space compartment on Days 1, 14 and 30 after particle deposition, and most of these were cell-associated. Subsequent pleural space studies indicated, however, that the particles found in this compartment were, at least in part, due to the pleural lavage technique, and, unlike observations reported for some fibers, the translocation of the particles used in our study to the pleural space does not represent an important lung clearance pathway. In regard to particle clearance to the tracheobronchial lymph nodes, the accumulation of particles, most of which were extracellular, kinetically was biphasic with the most rapid phase occurring within the first 24 ...

Science.gov (United States)

BackgroundIn recent years, near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF)-labeled iron nanoparticles have been synthesized and applied in a number of applications, including the labeling of human cells for monitoring the engraftment process, imaging tumors, sensoring the in vivo molecular environment surrounding nanoparticles and tracing their in vivo biodistribution. These studies demonstrate that NIRF-labeled iron nanoparticles provide an efficient probe for cell labeling. Furthermore, the in vivo imaging studies show excellent performance of the NIR fluorophores. However, there is a limited selection of NIRF-labeled iron nanoparticles with an optimal wavelength for imaging around 800 nm, where tissue autofluorescence is minimal. Therefore, it is necessary to develop additional alternative NIRF-labeled iron nanoparticles for application in this area.ResultsThis study manufactured 12-nm DMSA-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles labeled with a near-infrared fluorophore, IRDye800CW (excitation/emission, ...

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In this experiments, we established long-termed culture methods of bone marrow stromal cells for proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. And we selected some extracts which support maximal proliferation of stromal cells with this method. We conformed the synergic effects of herbal mixture extracts for stromal cell growth. The proliferation of stromal cells was increased rather by the addition of mixture extracts than by addition of single strain extract. In the previous and cooperative experiments, we selected complex extracts (Him-I, Him-II) which increased the number of nonadherent mononuclear cells. Different cytokine expression patterns were observed stromal cells cultured in the presence or absence of mixture extracts which support differentiation of nonadherent cells. Some fractions of Him-I and Him-II increased the proliferation of bone marrow cells irradiated {gamma}-ray(4Gray). Stimulation of macrophage cell line with herval extracts with the ...

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A study conducted at the IHS had the aim to obtain basic information on whether it is possible to build flow turbines following the free jet principle that are on a par with, or superior to, the conventional design, especially in terms of performance and the efficiency curve. Several inflow contours with a ventilated free jet and a conventional flow turbine were studied. The direct comparison of these variants revealed a slightly enhanced peak load efficiency and a very distinct superiority of the free jet contour during partial load. But the efficiency of all variants failed to attain the values claimed by commercial manufacturers. As compared to the initial contour, peak load efficiency was enhanced by 5 per cent. During partial load, the variants studied showed a distinct superiority of the free jet concept over the contour of conventional flow turbines. (orig.) [Deutsch] Am IHS wurde eine Untersuchung mit dem Ziel durchgefuehrt, grundlegende Aussagen zu ...

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The oxide colloidal route, developed in the laboratory for mono-metallic catalysts, consists in preparing a metallic oxide hydro-sol which leads to the supported catalyst after deposition onto a support and an activation stage. In this work, this method has been adapted to the preparation of alumina supported bimetallic Pd-Sn catalysts to determine its interest for the control of the properties of the bimetallic phase (size, composition and structure). In the preliminary study concerning tin oxide sols, SnO{sub 2} (size=2,3 nm) and Sn{sub 6}O{sub 4}(OH){sub 4} (size = 25 nm) nano-particles were synthesized by neutralization respectively for tin(IV) and tin(H). The control through the pH of the aggregation of the PdO and SnO{sub 2} particles revealed that increasing oxide solubility promotes integral re-dispersion of the oxide particles. To synthesize oxide bimetallic sols, three strategies were defined. Copolymerization (formation of a mixed oxide nano-sol by cross condensation of both ...

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This work presents a study of the {sup 1}P{sup 0} excited states of He that can be reached by absorption of a single photon carrying an energy close to the double ionization threshold (DIT) (79 eV). Above the DIT, these states are the double continuum states; below, they are the double excited states. These two types of states are tightly coupled to the single continuum states with or without excitation of the residual ion He{sup +}, owing to their degeneracy in energy. In a one-photon process, these states can only be formed owing to the electronic correlations in the system which must be well described to obtain quantitative good results. Our study is a part of the work which aims at a united description of all these doubly excited, ionized-excited, and double continuum states. We use the Hyperspherical R-Matrix with Semiclassical Outgoing Waves (HRM-SOW) method, initially dedicated to double photoionization studies. We extend it to extract information on the single continuum. This ...

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This paper is dedicated to the numerical study of natural ventilation in a room through a large external opening using the CFD code Fluent. Bidimensional numerical simulations are performed for wind speeds up to 5.55 m-s{sup -1} (20 km-h{sup -1}). We propose a two-step solution procedure with grid refinement. When combined with appropriate thermal boundary conditions, this technique appears very efficient at limiting local convergence problems. Through an analysis of the flow pattern in the cavity, we qualitatively explain those results and define a critical Archimedes number. Calculated air change rates are compared to values deduced from empirical correlations of the literature. Agreement is in general poor, which can be explained by the differences between the conditions of our simulations and those of the experiments that lead to those correlations. However, from our simulations, we derived very clear correlations between the air change coefficient and the Archimedes number. In the ...

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Due to its important hydroelectric power generation facilities (about 525 plants with a total power of 13,314 MW producing about 35.3 TWh annually) Switzerland plays an important role in the interconnected European power system. Large artificial storage lakes in the Swiss Alps can generate peak power during hours of highest demand: 9700 MW are available from accumulated energy and the total power of pumped-storage facilities amounts to 1700 MW. The latter allow refilling the reservoirs at periods of low power demand and generating power at periods of peak demand. In the case of favorable conditions, the yearly average power production could be increased by 6% and the production during the winter period (October to March) by 20% by the year 2020. However, looking forward to the year 2050, the annual production is expected to decrease by 3% despite a possible extension of hydropower. This decrease is due to the enforcement of the minimum residual water flow rates required by a new ...

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As the jump from 2D to 3D, seismic exploration lives a new revolution with the use of converted PS waves. Indeed PS converted waves are proving their potential as a tool for imaging through gas; lithology discrimination; structural confirmation; and more. Nevertheless, processing converted shear data and in particular determining accurate P and S velocity models for depth imaging of these data is still a challenging problem, especially when the subsurface is anisotropic. To solve this velocity model determination problem we propose to use reflection travel time tomography. In a first step, we derive a new approximation of the exact phase velocity equation of the SV wave in anisotropic (TI) media. This new approximation is valid for non-weak anisotropy and is mathematically simpler to handle than the exact equation. Then, starting from an isotropic reflection tomography tool developed at Lt-'P, we extend the isotropic bending ray tracing method to the anisotropic case and we ...

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Results are presented from a series of studies conducted at the Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Plant (SRP) with the NASA Airborne Oceanographic Lidar (AOL). These studies included a topographic survey of a {approximately}1000 acre lake basin (presently designated L Lake) which had been excavated for use as a cooling pond for L Reactor; a study of the movement of discharged cooling water in Pond C and the warm arm of Par Pond using Rhodamine WT dye as a tag; initial baseline studies of the vegetation cover of the Steel Creek corridor (through which the outflow of L Lake is carried to the Savannah River); and a demonstration of potential forestry applications of the AOL. These investigations were conducted over a 3-day period in June 1985. The AOL is an advanced airborne laser system capable of making temporal or time history measurements of laser backscatter (bathymetry mode) or spectral measurements of laser induced fluorescence from waterborne ...

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Numerical solutions given by a vorticity-velocity method are presented for combined free and forced laminar convection in the thermal entrance region of a horizontal rectangular channel without the assumptions of large Prandtl number and small Grashof number. The channel wall is heated with a uniform wall heat flux. Typical developments of temperature profile, secondary flow, and axial velocity at various axial positions in the entrance region are presented. Local friction factor and Nusselt number variations are shown for Rayleigh numbers Ra = 10{sup 4}, 3 {times} 10{sup 4}, 6 {times} 10{sup 4}, and 10{sup 5} with the Prandtl number as a parameter. The solution for the limiting case of large Prandtl number and small Grashof number obtained from the present study confirms the data of existing literature. It is observed that the large Prandtl number assumption is valid for Pr = 10 when Ra {le} 3 {times} 10{sup 4} but for a larger Prandtl number when the Rayleigh ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

R?sum? La rate baladeuse est une anomalie rare chez l?enfant. Elle est souvent d?crite chez l?adulte, particuli?rement la femme enceinte. Elle est due ? un d?faut de fixit? anatomique de la rate avec les organes de voisinage. Ses manifestations cliniques sont variables, mais la complication la plus redoutable est la survenue d?une torsion du p?dicule spl?nique. Nous rapportons le cas d?une fille de 11 ans qui s?est pr?sent?e avec des douleurs abdominales aigu?s et des vomissements. Les examens radiologiques ont montr? une absence de la vascularisation spl?nique. ? l?exploration chirurgicale, on a d?couvert une torsion du p?dicule spl?nique avec une isch?mie tissulaire avanc?e. La rate ?tait d?pourvue d?attaches ligamentaires. La d?torsion n?a pas permis de sauvegarder la rate, et une spl?n...

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The relative contributions of interstitials and vacancies to diffusion of a dopant A in silicon are specified by the interstitial fraction of diffusivity, f{sub A}. Accurate knowledge of f{sub A} is required for predictive simulations of Si processing during which the point defect population is perturbed, such as transient enhanced diffusion. While experimental determination of f{sub A} is traditionally based on an underdetermined system of equations, we show here that it is actually possible to derive expressions that give meaningful bounds on f{sub A} without any further assumptions but that of local equilibrium. By employing a pair of dopants under the same point-defect perturbance, and by utilizing perturbances very far from equilibrium, we obtain experimentally f{sub Sb}{le}0.012 and f{sub B}{ge}0.98 at temperatures of {approximately}800{degree}C, which are the strictest bounds reported to date. Our results are in agreement with a theoretical expectation that ...

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Under the auspices of the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) Program, several waste rock piles were monitored and characterized. Acid rock drainage (ARD) became a mechanism better understood based on the data acquired during these projects. Numerical simulation was used to better comprehend the quantitative issues associated with the characterization of three specific sites for the purpose of this study. The sites selected were the south waste rock pile of the Doyon Mine in Quebec, the Northdale of the mining district of Ronnenberg in Germany, and the waste rock pile of the Sugar Shack South of the Questa mine in New Mexico. The observed and simulated conditions were very distinct from one mine to another, even if the same mechanisms were involved. The dominant oxygen and heat transfer mechanisms displayed the most varied behavior between the sites. ARD control or site rehabilitation decisions were based on the quantitative understanding gained from the monitoring and led to ...

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This work presents the development of a streak camera 'jitter free' sweep unit synchronized on a femtosecond laser. This application of high voltage photoconductive switches ('High voltage Auston switch') yields subpicosecond resolution for accumulated images on streak camera on a few hundreds micro joule femtosecond laser. Two others applications of these photoconductive switches are studied: - ultrafast optical commutation by a Pockels cell directly driven by a photoconductive switch (rising edge < 100 ps and jitter < 2 ps), - laser pulse energy self-stabilization experimentally proving that driving a Pockels cell by a photoconductive switch can increase the stability of the laser pulse energy from 7 % to 0.7 % rms. Additionally, the application of the acoustic-optical programmable dispersive filter (Dazzler) to the self referenced spectral phase measurement is presented. As these measurements require a linear filter combined with a ...

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This document gathers the presentations given at the first French national meetings of solar energy for the development of solar systems in buildings. The meeting was organized over two days. The first day comprises 4 workshops about: urbanism and planning, cultural acceptability of solar energy in buildings (the OPAC 38 housing association, point of view on an energy information point, the Freiburg (Germany) solar region and marketing examples), technical integration to the structure (Clipsol solutions), and economical criteria (compared impacts of R and D public photovoltaic programs (USA, Japan, Germany, France, Italy), financing of rehabilitation projects, global approach of solar photovoltaic energy, technical solutions and strategy of products development, why and how to make an economical analysis of solar energy applications in the building industry). The second day comprises a plenary session and a round table: global status of solar energy development in Europe, status of ...

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The present study treats only the collective risk of ex-utero leukaemia associated with the routine releases of the nuclear industrial installations of the North Cotentin (0.0009 cases over the considered period) the uncertainty on the contribution to the collective risk of the incidents and the accidents of the nuclear installations (notably the drilling of the pipe of release in sea arisen in 1979-1980 and the fire of the waste silo on January 6. 1981, for the reprocessing plant of La Hague has not been considered. Only 45% of the risk are taken into account by the study. Every calculated value remains very inferior to the number of leukemia cases observed (4 cases observed for two expected cases) and to the risk of radioinduced leukemia any merged exposure sources, that is to say 0.84 cases. It appears thus not very probable that the nuclear installations of the North - Cotentin can explain the tendency to the excess of observed leukaemia. The limits of the study become attached for ...

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The quality insurance in radiotherapy in the frame of highly complex technical process as Intensity modulated radiotherapy (I.M.R.T.) needs independent control of the delivered dose to the patient. Actually, up to now, most of the radiotherapy treatments rely only on computed dosimetry through a rather complicated series of linked simulation tool. This dosimetry approach requires also qualified treatment means based on cautious quality insurance procedures. However, erroneous parameters could be difficult to detect and systematical errors could happen leading to radiotherapy accidents. In this context, in vivo dosimetry has a critical role of final control of the delivered dose. As many beam incidences and ports are used for any photon therapy treatment, external control could be very tedious and time consuming. Therefore, innovations are needed for in vivo dosimetry to provide ergonomic and efficient tools for these controls. This paper presents a review of technologies and products ...

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Controls of welds by radiographies are an efficient non destructive technique but it can be dangerous if not managed following a strict set of rules. EDF acts to avoid risks via several ways (adapted tools, best practices) and seeks for an integration of the radiographies with respect to the other maintenance operations, in order to raise the ratio of availability of the electricity production unit. This study explores an original analysis of industrial radiography: the influence of the representations of the workplace and its utilizations. This document supports the utilization of some space constraints as explanations of difficulties in the industrial radiography activity. The document proposes innovative points of view coming for on-site observations and from a theoretical background 'cognitive sciences' completed by technical propositions. (author)

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The European demonstration project Hip Hip (house integrated photovoltaic high-tech in public) led the French photovoltaic market to reach a level comparable to those of the other European countries in terms of relevance of implemented solutions and costs. This document presents the best realizations and the experience gained through the Hip Hip project. Its aim is to convince the designers and managers of building projects of the advantages of photovoltaic installations integrated to the structure and connected to the power distribution grid: 1 - presentation of the technology; 2 - status of the Hip Hip demonstration project (goals, results: main innovations and impact on the French market); 3 - different possibilities of integration to the building structure; 4 - examples of projects realized in France in the framework of the Hip Hip project: integration in glass roof, frontage, added elements, fitting on roofs. (J.S.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Une enfant drepanocytaire homozygote SS de 14 ans (sans deficit en G6PD), non transfusee anterieurement, a une cholecystectomie pour lithiase decouverte a un bilan systematique. L'intervention est encadree de 2 transfusions de concentres erythrocytaires (CGR) phenotypes ABO Rh Kell, compatibilises. Quinze jours apres, elle presente une hemolyse aigue associant fievre, ictere, insuffisance renale tubulaire, hemoglobinurie et anemie profonde (Hb 3,6 g/dL). Les RAI deviennent positives avec, entre autres, un auto anticorps anti D suspecte, le test de Coombs direct est positif de type mixte. L'enfant n'est pas retransfusee, mais recoit 1 mg/kg/j de corticoides IV pendant 10 jours. L'hemoglobine retrouve sa valeur de base (9 g/dL) apres 15 jours. Un antigene RH1(D) partiel de type DAR est ulter...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This poster presentation dealt with a brief overview of the practices in effect in British Columbia related to metal leaching and acid mine drainage. The metals mined in the province include coal, gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, lead, and zinc. Some mines operate under the surface, while others are strip mines, etc. under a variety of climactic conditions and a host of different mining companies, such as Cominco, Placer Dome and Noranda. The primary objective is the prevention of negative environmental impacts on land and in the water. Salmon and other fish need to be protected. A secondary objective is the minimization of impacts on the biota, which requires a detailed study of ecological risks. The solution often lies in soil covering. To illustrate, the author described the situation at Huckleberry Mines Ltd. and the remedial action that was implemented, and discussed the results on the beavers. In conclusion, the author discussed the strategies implemented by the British Columbia ...

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This work concerns the study of the nuclear superdeformation phenomenon in the rare earth region (A {approx} 150). The superdeformed (SD) states in Gadolinium and Dysprosium isotopes were produced via heavy-ion induced reactions and studied with the (EUROGAM EUROpean GAmma-ray Microscope) gamma multidetector array. Precise level attenuation method (DSAM). From the derived quadrupole moments, we find large differences in deformation between the yrast bands in neighbour nuclei explained in terms of the case of nuclei corresponding to an axis ratio of 2:1, the shell gaps are not fixed at a specific particle number and deformation. Furthermore the present results indicate that the deformations associated with identical bands are different supporting the picture that mass and deformation changes tend to compensate in SB bands with the same moments of inertia. (author). 114 refs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

SommarioScopo Valutare limpatto clinico negli anni dellecografia intraoperatoria (IOUS) nella identificazione delle metastasi epatiche rispetto alle altre metodiche di imaging. Materiali e metodi risultati delle ecografie intraoperatorie effettuate per lidentificazione delle metastasi epatiche in un periodo compreso tra gli anni 2000 e 2006 sono stati retrospettivamente revisionati e comparati con le metodiche di imaging preoperatorio: Ecografia (US), Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e/o Risonanza Magnetica (RM). Tutti i casi sono stati patologicamente provati. Sono stati calcolati per anno i casi discordanti in termini di presenza/assenza di lesione focale epatica. Il confronto statistico e stato effettuato con il test di McNemar. Un valore del p<0,05 e stato considerato statisticamente sig...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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Cooperation for low carbon and energy efficient development is a high priority for France, in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. France contributes to tackling climate change by working with its partners on all continents to implement projects both to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change. Within the framework of the Marrakech Accords, France also encourages the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol Clean Development Mechanism, in particular between French business and non-Annex I countries; this mechanism will facilitate the financing of mitigation projects and contribute to the sustainable development of host countries in the South. At multilateral level, France is a major donor. At a bilateral level, an initial analysis of cooperation projects which are strongly linked to tackling climate change identified public support of 136 millions euros per year, as an average over the past few years. Some project examples, mostly ...

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The open circuit potential (OCP) of stainless steels immersed in natural waters generally increases with time. This phenomenon is strongly linked to the formation of a bio-film on the surface. Several studies have proved that the bio-film modifies the reaction of reduction of dissolved oxygen and that it acts mainly on the cathodic processes. One of the hypotheses explaining the action of the bio-film involves certain bacteria which use dissolved oxygen and extracellular enzymes to produce reactive oxygen species. Among this kind of metabolites is hydrogen peroxide H{sub 2}O{sub 2}. This compound interacts with the passive layer of stainless steels and affects their electrochemical behaviour, even when the chloride concentration is low. The aim of this work is to study the influence of an enzymatic reaction (of the oxidoreductase type) on anodic and cathodic processes on AISI 316L stainless steel. Experiments are carried out in two artificial electrolytes simulating natural fresh ...

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

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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.

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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 - concentrazione di acidi umici, ottenere la degradazione del paraquat fino a valori ...

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The finest particle size fractions ({le} 25 {mu}m) in four fly ash samples from fluidised bed combustion of three biomass based fuels and a municipal solid waste fuel were size separated using a centrifugal SPLITT fractionation cell. The ashes were separated into different size fractions and the cadmium concentration, partition and speciation in each separated fraction were then investigated in relation to their possible leaching. The fractionation was evaluated by environmental scanning electron microscopy, which also provided indications of the associations between Cd and other main elements on the particles through the use of X-ray fluorescence mapping. The total concentration of Cd in each fraction was determined by AAS analysis which showed different dependence on the ash particle size in the case of biomass or waste fuels. In addition, the speciation of Cd in each fraction, investigated by sequential chemical extractions and X-ray powder diffraction analysis, ...

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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 ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The responses of ramets of hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) (HP) clones NE388 and NE359, and seedlings of red maple (Acer rubrum, L.) to ambient ozone (O_3) were studied during May-September of 2000 and 2001 under natural forest conditions and differing natural sunlight exposures (sun, partial shade and full shade). Ambient O_3 concentrations at the study site reached hourly peaks of 109 and 98 ppb in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Monthly 12-h average O_3 concentrations ranged from 32.3 to 52.9 ppb. Weekly 12-h average photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) within the sun, partial shade and full shade plots ranged from 200 to 750, 50 to 180, and 25 to 75 #mu#mol m"-"2 s"-"1, respectively. Ambient O_3 exposure induced visible foliar symptoms on HP NE388 and NE359 in both growing seasons, with more severe injury observed on NE388 than on NE359. Slight foliar symptoms were observed on red maple seedlings during the 2001growing season. Percentage of total leaf area ...

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Physico-chemical characterizations performed on samples of 100Cr6 steel implanted both with boron and nitrogen revealed the formation of boron nitride along with the following new phases: Fe{sub 1-x}(B, N), Fe{sub 2-x}(B, N) and Fe{sub 3-x}(B, N). A thorough analysis of boron NITRIDE (5BN) indicates that a low ion current density (3 {mu}A.cm{sup -2}) in the case of the boron plus nitrogen sequence favours the formation of sp{sup 2} bonds (hexagonal-BN) while a higher ion current density (6{mu}A.cm{sup -2}) promotes sp{sup 3} bonds (cubic-BN) in the opposite sequence. Tribological tests carried out on these samples revealed that nitrogen and boron implantations do not lead to any significant improvement of friction and wear at variance with the results obtained by others authors. However, on a set samples accidentally contaminated with carbon during implantation, we noticed a considerable improvement of these tribological parameters. As this pollution is commonly encountered in surface ...

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The purpose of this work is to investigate whether any morphometric or densitometric are detectable in the kidneys of type 2 diabetic patients. 40 diabetic patients were examined and of 20 non-diabetics (the control group) were submitted to triphasic helical CT for different abdominal conditions. The type 2 diabetic patients were 23 men and 17 women, mean age 62 years, while the nondiabetic controls were 12 men and 8 women, mean age 58 years. All the CT images were analyzed using the Multiplanar Reconstruction (MPR) software. It was evaluated morphometric features, such as the presence of parenchymal or vascular calcifications, axial and coronal renal diameters, coronal renal area, and cortico medullary ratio, and densitometric and functional features, such as unenhanced renal density, cortical and medullary density in the arterial phase, parenchymal density in the nephrographic phase, and contrast elimination. It was also compared the results in the subgroups of patients with those in ...

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Purpose: To report on the nephron-sparing, percutaneous ablation of a large renal cell carcinoma by combined superselective embolization and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. Materials and Methods: A 5 cm renal cell carcinoma of a 43-year-old drug abusing male with serologically proven HIV, hepatitis B and C infection, who refused surgery, was superselectively embolized using microspheres (size: 500 - 700 {mu}m) and a platinum coil under local anesthesia. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using a 7F LeVeen probe (size of expanded probe tip: 40 mm) and a 200 Watt generator was performed one day after transcatheter embolization under general anesthesia. Results: The combined treatment resulted in complete destruction of the tumor without relevant damage of the surrounding healthy renal tissue. The patient was discharged 24 hours after RF ablation. No complications like urinary leaks or fistulas were observed and follow up CT one day and 4 weeks after the ...

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The R and D activities of the institute focused on two major projects, ``Molecular and cellular environmental toxicology``, and ``Biophysics of multi-cellular systems``. For assessment of health risks emanating from the uptake of heavy metal compounds, work performed under the first mentioned project studies the formation of allergy-inducing metabolic products from membrane lipids, and the effects of related cellular signaling processes. These studies are accompanied by an approach to quantify and classify the toxicity of environmental organometallic compounds. Another major task is research into the pathogenesis of lung disease induced by dusts, gases, and gas-dust mixtures and the liberation of inflammatory agents by immunological cell reactions (alveolar macrophages). Atomic force microscopy is the tool used to visualize the related dynamic changes in bronchial cells. Studies for detection of the localisation and structure of the Fe-Mo co-factor in nitrogenase ...

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In this work some examples of studies performed with the use of microzooplankton as biological indicator are reported. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' quello di dimostrare come lo studio della distribuzione del microzooplancton in ambienti aquatici, possa permettere la caratterizzazione trofica dell'ambiente oggetto di studio. Il microzooplancton, infatti, essendo un componente fondamentale della catena trofica di differenti ambienti acquatici, puo' essere considerato un buon {sup i}ndicatore biologico{sup .} E' quindi riportata un'ampia ed approfondita analisi sistematica, necessaria al fine di individuarne le diverse specie dalla cui presenza (oltreche' dal numero degli esemplari) e' possibile desumere lo stato chimico-fisico e trofico di un determinato ambiente acquatico. Sono poi indicati i diversi metodi per il campionamento, la conservazione, la concentrazione ed il conteggio del microzooplancton; ...

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In this paper, the analysis of carbonate depositional systems, using high resolution sequence stratigraphy, studies the ratio between change in accommodation space and skeletal carbonate production. This approach establishes the concurrent change in nature of facies belts (expansion, retraction and type) and fossil communities, within the detailed time frame in accommodation. Carbonate production is generally considered to be a fairly simple function of environmental conditions such as climate and water depth. However, data from several case studies also show a covariance between change in stratigraphic architecture of carbonate systems (the seaward or landward stepping stacking patterns of stratigraphic units) and charge in facies. Case studies include Carboniferous algal mound development in the Paradox Basin (USA), Devonian stromatoporoid reef development in Alberta (Canada), and Cenomanian rudistid shoal development in Oman. The hypotheses are tested on cases taken from the ...

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ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment) is conducting a large research and development programme on innovative vehicles with high energy efficiency and low environmental impact. In particular conducts activities on electric and hybrid vehicles. Testing and evaluation activities play a strong role in this programme. A complete characterization chain has been then defined and set up with a network of facilities which covers main testing needs for single components, subsystems and complete vehicles, in simulated and real operating conditions. The test facility which has been realised is able to experiment and fully characterise complete drive-trains (and subsystems) for pure electric and hybrid vehicles. It is composed by a different section for each subsystem: 1) power generation; 2) energy storage and management; 3) driving motors. Each section acts as an experimental island, able to operate alone or jointly with the other sections. In fact, all ...

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In this work a flat receiver of self construction is shown with relatively low cost and easy manufacture, but with a thermal efficiency superior to 40% for applications at temperatures less than 60 degrees Celsius, that allows satisfying international standards in this respect. The heater has been matter of study in open courses distributed in the Universidad Autonoma de la Ciudad de Mexico (UACM) oriented to that the participants construct their own system, in addition to its installation and tests. The obtained results have been excellent. The massive use of efficient solar receivers of self-construction can truly help to the decreasing of the gas discharges of greenhouse effect. [Spanish] En este trabajo se presenta un captador plano de auto construccion con relativamente bajo costo y facil manufactura, pero con un rendimiento termico superior a 40% para aplicaciones a temperatura menos de 60 grados centigrados que le permite satisfacer estandares ...

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Although the standard model of particle physics agrees perfectly with experimental data, it is unlikely the final theory describing particles and their interactions. New phenomena has been searched in the jets and missing transverse energy topology. Such phenomena may be due to the pair production of leptoquarks decaying into a quark and a neutrino or the pair production of stops decaying into a charm and a neutralino which is assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle. These searches have been performed with the Ddiamter detector at hadronic collider TeVatron with a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV. This kind of searches needs a good understanding of the jet energy calibration. The determination of the relative jet energy scale has allowed us to reduce the systematic uncertainties on the jet energy measurement when comparing the data and the simulation. Moreover a new method has been developed in order to correct simulated jets for the differences observed in the jet energy ...

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We analyze the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC telescope during a flare of the active galactic nucleus Mkn 501 for a possible correlation with energy, as suggested by some models of quantum gravity (QG), which predict a vacuum refractive index {approx_equal}1+(E/M{sub QGn}){sup n}, n=1,2. Parametrizing the delay between {gamma}-rays of different energies as {delta}t={+-}{tau}{sub l}E or {delta}t={+-}{tau}{sub q}E{sup 2}, we find {tau}{sub l}=(0.030{+-}0.012) s/GeV at the 2.5-{sigma} level, and {tau}{sub q}=(3.71{+-}2.57)x10{sup -6} s/GeV{sup 2}, respectively. We use these results to establish lower limits M{sub QG1}>0.21x10{sup 18} GeV and M{sub QG2}>0.26x10{sup 11} GeV at the 95% C.L. Monte Carlo studies confirm the MAGIC sensitivity to propagation effects at these levels. Thermal plasma effects in the source are negligible, but we cannot exclude the importance of some other source effect.

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Nuclear magnetic resonance is a powerful technique that can be used in a wide range of applications, such as the structural characterization of high molecular weight molecules, conformational studies on enzymes in solution, enzyme-substrate or DNA-protein interactions, monitoring of cell metabolism in vivo, and for diagnostic purposes, employing spectroscopic and imaging techniques. This course was organized in order to introduce the participants to the fundamentals of NMR spectroscopy, and offer practical advice on performing NMR experiments on cell systems, cell and tissue extracts and animal models. The main implications regarding human experiments were also discussed. Finally the quantification of information and the interpretation of data were considered with regard to the main nuclei observed. [Italiano] La risonanza magnetica nucleare e` una delle tecniche spettroscopiche che meglio risponde all`ampio spettro di condizioni imposto dalla ricerca in biofisica e biomedicina. Il ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Leukodystrophies are inherited white matter diseases due to abnormalities occurring in myelin synthesis and/or maintenance. The most common types of these rare childhood conditions are represented by adrenoleukodystrophy, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Canavan's, Alexander's, Krabbe's, and Pelizaeus-Merzbacher's diseases. Most of them are lethal during childhood, with the exception of the adrenoleukodystrophy-adrenomyeloneuropathy complex, which sometimes, during its early phases, may be cured with a dietary therapy. The aims of this paper are: 1) the description of inheritance factors, pathogenesis, pathological and clinical findings of each of the most frequent childhood leukodystrophies; 2) the description of the most common patterns of these conditions on CT and MR imaging; 3) the evaluation of the diagnostic capabilities of these two imaging techniques and the comparison of their results. Finally, some of the therapies suggested for the mild forms of these conditions are discussed. ...

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Samples from three mine tailings, the Hemlo Mine (located in Northern Ontario), the Louvicourt Mine, and the Laronde Mine (both located in Northwestern Quebec) and four different types of hydraulic binder in three different proportions (3, 4.5, 6 per cent of total dry weight of tailings) were used to prepare 33 recipes for cement caulk. The sulphur content of the three tailings is, respectively, 5 per cent, 16 per cent, and 32 per cent. Three of the four hydraulic binders are in fact a mix of two cement types: binder based on Portland cement (CP), binder based on fly ash (FA), and binder based on dross (CL). The fourth binder is based mainly on dross. The coupons of caulk dykes were flushed at 14, 28, 56, and 91 days in a humid chamber. At each of these steps, the samples were characterized for chemical, geochemical, physical, microstructural, and mechanical attributes to better understand the hydrogeochemical properties of the caulk dykes. The geochemical characterization indicated no ...

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The objective of the research is first to build a highly parallel processing system using 100 personal computers and an ATM switch. The former is a commodity for computer, while the latter can be regarded as a commodity for future communication systems. Second is to implement parallel relational database management system and parallel data mining system over the 100-PC cluster system. Third is to run decision-support queries typicalto data warehouses, to run association rule mining, and to prove the effectiveness of the proposed architecture as a next generation parallel database/datamining server. Performance/cost ratio of PC is significantly improved compared with workstations and proprietry systems due to its mass production. The cost of ATM switch is also considerably decreasing since ATM is being widely accepted as a communication-on infrastructure. By combining 100 PCs as computing commodities and ATM switch as a communication commodity, we built large sca-le ...

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The total and state-specific electron-ion recombination rate coefficients are obtained for FeI. The calculations are carried out using a new ab initio method that incorporates both the radiative and the dielectronic recombination processes in an unified and self-consistent manner. The computations employ the close coupling approximation and the R-matrix method from atomic collision theory. A 52 state close coupling eigenfunction expansion dominated by the states of the ground 3d{sup 6}4s and excited 3d{sup 7}, 3d{sup 6}4p, 3d{sup 5}4s{sup 2}, and 3d{sup 5}4s4p configurations of FeII are used in the present calculations. The important electron correlation and radiation damping effects are included via explicit coupling of autoionization and radiative channels. This is the first detailed atomic calculation for the recombination rates for FeI. The present rates are considerably higher than the radiative recombination rates being used currently in the low-temperature region, ...

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After having recalled the formal convergence of the semi-classical multi-species Boltzmann equations toward the multi-species Euler system (i.e. mixture of gases having the same velocity), we generalize to this system the closure relations proposed by B. Despres and by F. Lagoutiere for the multi-components Euler system (i.e. mixture of non miscible fluids having the same velocity). Then, we extend the energy relaxation schemes proposed by F. Coquel and by B. Perthame for the numerical resolution of the mono-species Euler system to the multi-species isothermal Euler system and to the multi-components isobar-isothermal Euler system. This allows to obtain a class of entropic schemes under a CFL criteria. In the multi-components case, this class of entropic schemes is perhaps a way for the treatment of interface problems and, then, for the treatment of the numerical mixture area by using a Lagrange + projection scheme. Nevertheless, we have to find a good projection stage in the ...

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A variety of surveillance operations require the ability to track vehicles over a long period of time using sequences of images taken from a camera mounted on an airborne or similar platform. In order to be able to see and track a vehicle for any length of time, either a persistent surveillance imager is needed that can image wide fields of view over a long time-span or a highly maneuverable smaller field-of-view imager is needed that can follow the vehicle of interest. The algorithm described here was designed for the persistence surveillance case. In turns out that most vehicle tracking algorithms described in the literature[1,2,3,4] are designed for higher frame rates (> 5 FPS) and relatively short ground sampling distances (GSD) and resolutions ({approx} few cm to a couple tens of cm). But for our datasets, we are restricted to lower resolutions and GSD's ({ge}0.5 m) and limited frame-rates ({le}2.0 Hz). As a consequence, we designed our own ...

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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 ...

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Computed Tomography (CT) and, more recently, ultrasound (US), have proved excellent tools for quantifying adipose tissue distribution. Body fat distribution is an important factor in the treatment of obesity and its complications. In this work it is investigated the correlation between CT and US measurements in pediatric obesity. Forty obese children and adolescents aged 4.1-14.8 years were submitted to CT and US. Intra-abdominal, subcutaneous and total body fat were calculated (in cm{sup 2}), with the CT image analysis software. The rectus muscle-spine and rectus muscle-aorta distances, as indicative of visceral fat thickness, were measured on US images with(out) compression. The distance between skin fat and fat-rectus muscle interfaces was measured as subcutaneous fat thickness. US-CT findings have been compared with other morphometric variables-i.e., patient's (ideal) body weight and skin fold measures. A statistically significant correlation was found between the CT ...

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Some crops of important nutritive requirements have been collected from farmlands located in Bitsichi an old tin mining town in north central region of Nigeria. The food crops were analyzed in order to determine trace element concentrations level using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). The activity concentrations due to natural radionuclides in the food samples and soil samples collected within the root zone of the crops were also determined using gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS). The NAA results obtained showed higher concentration of Potassium among the essential elements in all the crops. Calcium concentration in both maize and Guinea corn was below detection limit and also Zn in Green beans, sweet potato and cassava. The trace elements; Sc, Hf, Sm, and Th, were below detection limit in all the crops except in Green beans. Rubidium (Rb) and lanthanum (La) were below detection limits only in Cabbage. The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides in the food samples were found ...

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Since the beginning of the sixties, France has developed a fleet of nuclear powered vessels. Insofar as the ships of the 2. generation are being built, the older ones are decommissioned and enter the dismantling process. The average rate is presently one submarine decommissioned every two or three years. The overall strategy for the decommissioning of French nuclear submarines can be brought down to 3 phases: 1. Level 1 dismantling which essentially consists in: - unloading the spent fuel and storing it in a pool ; - possibly emptying the circuits which contain radioactive liquids. The level 1 is easily achieved, as it is not very different from the plant situation during ship overhaul or major refits. 2. Level 2 dismantling which consists in isolating the nuclear reactor compartment from the rest of the submarine and conditioning it for interim storage on a ground facility located inside Cherbourg Naval Dockyard. The rest of the ship is decontaminated, controlled and set for scrap ...

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A.C.R.O. (Association pour le Controle de la Radioactivite dans l'Ouest) is a French non governmental organisation that operates a laboratory for radioactivity analysis. It was created in 1986 as a response to people demands for information and reliable, independent testing. The organisation mainly carries out missions of information and training for its correspondents and more generally for a wide audience, particularly for people who worry about problems of environment, health, management of radioactive waste and emissions. Thanks to its structure, it enables citizens to involve themselves together with scientists so as to gain access to information that was hither to reserved to specialists. The organisation can vouchsafe its independence from the diversity of its members and volunteers, as well as from the diversity of its money resources. Besides its headquarters situated on the city of Caen area (Normandy), three branches situated in North Normandy, ...

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Purpose: For planning the therapeutic strategies and estimating the prognosis in esophageal cancer, N-staging is very important. To date, MRI still is of minor importance as imaging modality of the mediastinum despite promising developments in the past, like ECG-gating or 'averaging' sequences, e.g. LOTA (Long-term averaging), which facilitate mediastinal and thoracic MR-imaging. In a prospective approach, the value of MRI based N-staging was examined with respect to LOTA-sequences. Material and Methods: Within from weeks prior to esophagectomy, standardized MRI of the esophagus was performed in 15 patients (10 squamous-cell-carcinomas and 5 adenocarcinomas) using a 1.5 T whole body scanner. Imaging quality was classified based on depiction of aortic wall or tracheal wall layers. Criteria for malignant infiltration were a diameter of more than 15 mm or a round appearance of a lymph node together with GD-DTPA enhancement. All data were blinded and separately read by ...

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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 ...

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Purpose: Cardiomyopathy is one of the major complications of {beta} thalassaemia major as a result of transfusion iron overload. The aim of our study is to evaluate with MR if there is any difference of iron deposition signal intensity (SI) or distribution between non-cardiopatic and cardiopatic thalassaemic patients in order to establish if there is a relationship between cardiopathy and iron deposition. Materials and methods: We studied 20 patients affected by {beta} thalassaemia major, of whom 10 cardiopatic and 10 non-cardiopatic, and 10 healthy volunteers as control group. Serum ferritin and left ventricular ejection fraction were calculated in thalassaemic patients. All patients were examinated using a 1.5 MR unit with ECG-gated GE cine-MR T2*-weighted, SE T1-weighted and GE T2*-weighted sequences. In all cases, using an adequate ROI, the myocardial and skeletal muscle signal intensity (SI), the myocardial/skeletal muscle signal intensity radio (SIR) and the SI average of the ...

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In this article is reviewed the role of Computed Tomography (CT) in thoracic complications following ortho topic liver transplantation (OLT). In a post-OLT population of 567 patients transplanted in the Italian institutions, 100 patients (17.6%) were examined with chest CT. It was reviewed data relative to the total number of examinations, clinical and/or radiographic indications, the CT technique-i.e., conventional (with (out) intravenous, i.v., contrast material) or high-resolution (HRCT). It also reviewed the radiologic patterns and their correlation with the other clinical, bronchoscopic and/or laboratory results. Of 152 chest CT examinations, 45 (29.6%) were performed because of clinical indications, 31 (20.4%) because of a radiographic abnormality, 64 (42.1%) because of clinical and radiographic abnormality, 64 (42.1%) because of clinical and radiographic indications, while in 12 cases (7.9%) the reasons were unknown; 133/152 (87.5%) examinations had been performed with ...

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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 ...

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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 ...