International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nano structured carbon nitride thin films were deposited at different RF powers in the range of 50 W to 225 W and constant gas ratio of (argon: nitrogen) Ar:N_2 by RF magnetron sputtering. The atomic percentage of Nitrogen: Carbon (N/C) content and impedance of the films increased from 14.36% to 22.31% and 9 x 10"-"1 #OMEGA# to 7 x 10"5 #OMEGA# respectively with increase in RF power. The hardness of the deposited films increased from 3.12 GPa to 13.12 GPa. The increase in sp"3 hybridized C-N sites and decrease of grain size with increase in RF power is responsible for such variation of observed mechanical and electrical properties.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Highly resistant, high-transmittance woodceramic thin films were prepared using rf magnetron sputtering of a woodceramic disk in argon plasma. A film series was deposited based on substrate temperature, which was varied from 50 to 500 degree C. The film's electrical and optical properties depended on substrate temperature. Films deposited below 300 degree C were insulative, {rho}>10{sup 10} {omega} {center_dot} cm. Films deposited at 50 degree C had a density of 1.9-2.2 g/cm{sup 3} comparable to that of single crystal graphite. Below 200 degree C, films had higher transmittance than typical DLC films in the visible and infrared region. Infrared C-H absorption spectrum was observed by Ft-IR and there exist two types of bonding corresponding to sp{sup 2} or SP{sup 3}. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nitrogen doped Diamond-like carbon thin films were deposited on n-Si and SiO_2 substrates by rf magnetron sputtering using pure graphite (99.999%) as the target material and mixtures of Ar, N_2 and H_2 for plasma generation. The dependence of structural and optical properties on nitrogen content was investigated using XPS, Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and Ellipsometry studies. It was found that as the nitrogen content was increased in the plasma, sp"2 bonding favored. Also it was observed that oxygen contamination increased with nitrogen content. Typical C-H stretching modes connected with diamond-like carbon could be seen in FT-IR spectra. The I_D and I_G bands were well defined and it was observed that as nitrogen content increased I_G band was enhanced. Ellipsometry studies revealed that the optical constants like refractive index (n) and extinction co-efficient (k) increased with increase in nitrogen content as well as substrate ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Magnetic materials such as yttrium iron garnet (YIG) are of great importance for its magneto-optic properties and for their potential applications in the domain of optical telecommunications. The deposition of thin films of YIG, on quartz or GGG (gadolinium gallium garnet) substrate, was performed using radio frequency non reactive magnetron sputtering, followed by high temperature annealing which is needed to enhance the crystallinity of the layers. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry RBS was used to determine the thickness and stoichiometry of the performed layers in order to investigate correlations between growth conditions and the quality of the final material. RBS measurements showed the influence of the deposition time and the temperature substrate on the film growth and its stoichiometry. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Reactive Magnetron Sputtering is a complex process and huge efforts are made addressing the understanding of its fundamental phenomena and the simulation of the deposition process by e.g. Particle in Cell/Monte Carlo (PIC/MC). One of the most uncertain parameters in this reactive sputtering process is the incorporation coefficient of the reactive gas in the growing layer, i.e. the real-time sticking coefficient during deposition. In this work, mass spectrometry is used to deliver more insights on this complex matter. Earlier, a method was developed to determine the incorporation coefficient of the reactive gas molecules in the growing metal film, using mass spectrometry combined with thin film analysis techniques (electron probe microanalysis and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). This method delivers a global, realistic incorporation coefficient which can be used in models for the reactive sputtering process. In this work, new insights have ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with 8 mol% Y was deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering onto oxidized (100) silicon substrates. It was possible to switch film texture from (111) to (200) by applying a strong RF substrate bias. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the film deposited under bias is porous and exhibits nanoscaled grains, whereas the film deposited without bias is dense and columnar. The ionic conductivity as a function of temperature revealed an activation energy of 1.04 eV. The mechanical stress could be tuned to low values by thermal post-annealing. Using the dense (111) film as electrolyte layer, and the porous (200) film as an interlayer to a porous Pt anode, an open circuit voltage of 0.85 V was obtained in a micro machined fuel cell structure.

CERN Document Server

In order to reduce the activation temperature of the TiZrV alloy, thin films of various compositions were produced by three-cathode magnetron sputtering on stainless-steel substrates. For the characterisation of the activation behaviour the surface chemical composition has been monitored by Auger electron spectroscopy during specific in situ thermal cycles. The volume elemental composition of the film has been measured by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and the morphology (crystal structure and size of the crystallites) has been investigated by X-ray diffraction. The criteria indicating the sample quality and its dependence on film structure and chemical composition are presented and discussed. (13 refs).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There is presently considerable interest in wear resistant coatings produced using closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering technology. For example, layered films of diamond-like carbon (DLC) with tungsten or titanium additions have been widely reported. The benefit is that the mechanical properties are enhanced (e.g. giving greater toughness); also it is possible to control the stress state and enhance adhesion. Here we report the further development of this concept by the addition of TiN, TiCN and TiC layers in DLC-based composites, utilizing an additional source of electrons in the vicinity of substrate to enhance ionisation of the plasma and increase coating density. Composite coatings of ceramics TiN, TiC{sub x}N{sub y}, TiC, CrN, TiCrN, TiCrCN, TiCrC, metal doped Ti{sub x%}-DLC and their combinations were deposited on 316 stainless steel substrates. The mass flow of reactive gases into the chamber was controlled using plasma optical ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The pentenary compound semiconductor Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 is one of the most attractive materials for high-efficiency solar cells due to its tunable band gap to match well the solar spectrum. In this study, semiconducting Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 thin films were prepared by a classical two-step growth process, which involves the selenization and/or sulfurization of In/Cu?Ga precursor. During the precursor formation step metallic In/Cu?Ga alloys were deposited onto the Mo-coated soda-lime glass substrates by DC magnetron sputter process. The respective precursors were subsequently reacted with H2Se and/or H2S gasses, at elevated temperatures. By optimizing the selenization parameters, such as the gas concentrations, reaction time, reaction temperature, and the flow of H2Se and H2S, high quality, single...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Duplex-coating procedures consisting of plasma nitriding and Me-C:H hard coating lead to an improved performance of the devices because the Me-C:H coating is supported by the nitrided phase and, therefore, the `eggshell-effect` is avoided. Furthermore, this support leads to a higher load-bearing capacity of the thin film. Two standard procedures (classical high-pressure plasma nitriding and unbalanced magnetron sputtering of Ti-C:H) were performed subsequently to prepare the duplex coatings on X20Cr13 ferritic stainless steel. The corrosion resistance of the steel could be improved by nitriding at 450 C compared to the untreated ferritic substrate. The roughness is determined by the nitriding step. The weakest point of the coating is the transition zone between the nitrided and the untreated substrate and not the interface between the Ti-C:H coating and the nitrided substrate as shown by the Rockwell and scratch tests. The adhesion of the ...

Science.gov (United States)

Attempt to form the Schottky barrier on mercury indium telluride (MIT) surface by deposition transparent conducting electrode (TCE) and avoid the negative results by non-rectifier contacts nature, we have investigated the oxidation of clean MIT surfaces to form an insulating layer to overcome this disadvantage by metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photodetectors designing. Oxide film is grown on the MIT surface by plasma enhance chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Previously cleaned MIT wafers were dipped and boiled in solution, which consists of mixture of bromine and an organic solvent in ratio of 1:50. By the way of using these films as intermediate slightly conducting insulator, a fast-response MIT based surface-barrier photodetectors have been developed. Pt films were used as TCE frontal electrode by vacuum magnetron sputtering (VMS). The current-voltage characteristic is described quantitatively based on the energy diagram and the found ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There is an increasing number of applications for hard coatings in engineering where the properties of the single-layer coating are not sufficient. One way to solve this problem is to use a multilayer coating that combines the properties of several coating materials. In this study, TiN-CrAlN and CrN-CrAlN multilayer coatings were deposited on 100Cr6 and S6-5-2 (DIN) steel substrates, by means of unbalanced magnetron sputtering. For comparison, TiN, CrN and CrAlN single-layer coatings were also prepared. For all depositions the coating temperature was below 473 K. Indentation testing, hardness measurements and scratch tests were performed to characterize the mechanical properties. The correlation between the wear behavior in rolling contact and the mechanical properties of the multilayer coatings is reported. A ball crater preparation technique through scratch tests and wear tracks was used to observe the deformation and fracture behavior ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The properties of ZnO films were investigated as functions of annealing temperatures in H2/Ar and vacuum. The resistivities and mobilities of ZnO films decreased with increase of annealing temperatures in vacuum and H2/Ar ambients. However, the carrier densities of ZnO films increased with increase of annealing temperatures in vacuum and H2/Ar ambients. The resistivities of ZnO2 films annealed at 300degreeC were 2186cm and 798cm in H2/Ar and vacuum ambients, respectively. The resistivities of ZnO films annealed in vacuum and H2/Ar ambients at 600degreeC were similar with 0.040cm and 0.035cm, respectively. The hydrogen donor was more dominant than the oxygen vacancy or Zn interstitial donor in ZnO films annealed in ambient H2/Ar at low temperatures. The average optical transmission was >82%...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The properties of polycrystalline (Ti, Al)N coatings deposited on non-nitrided, classically plasma-nitrided and low pressure plasma-nitrided AISI H11 steel samples were investigated. The plasma deposition and low pressure plasma nitriding were performed in a Z700-LH magnetron sputter ion plating unit, while a separate unit was used for plasma nitriding of specimens at a pressure of several millibars. The (Ti, Al)N coating was deposited onto all the samples using the same equipment as for the plasma deposition and low pressure plasma nitriding. For the characterization of the composite structures, the following methods were used: scratch test, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy and microhardness testing. It was found that plasma nitriding prior to coating deposition strongly affects the growth and properties of hard coatings, such as the microhardness, adhesion, preferred orientation, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chromium containing amorphous hydrogenated carbon films (a-C : H/Cr) have been prepared by simultaneous rf plasma activated chemical vapour deposition of methane and magnetron sputtering of a chromium target. During deposition the substrates were heated (up to 300C) and DC biased (-200 and -600 V) in order to obtain films with high chemical stability. Constant temperature tests were performed at 250C in air with coatings deposited on silicon substrates. The degradation of the coatings was monitored by Raman spectroscopy and reflectance and transmission measurements. The main degradation mechanisms are discussed and the relevant parameters which improve the durability of the coatings are presented. Furthermore, the durability of solar selective, multilayered coatings which were deposited on copper sheets was investigated. Based on accelerated aging tests at different temperature loads in air (at 220C, 250C and 300C) and in a humid environment ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Thin films of new metastable materials from the system Ti-B-C-N were deposited on metallic substrates by d.c. magnetron sputtering in different Ar+N{sub 2} atmospheres. The multiphase compound targets used were based on various compositions on the TiC-TiB{sub 2} and TiB{sub 2}-C tie lines of the Ti-B-C phase diagram. The structure and chemical composition of the films were characterized by electron microprobe analysis, depth profiling Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The hardness, critical load of failure and the tribological behavior of the coatings were investigated. Superhard single-phase crystalline metastable Ti-B-C-N layers with hardness values exceeding 5000 HV{sub 0.05} and extremely low sliding wear against 100Cr6 and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} counterparts could be produced by reactive sputtering of various TiC-TiB{sub 2} targets in Ar+N{sub 2} atmospheres with low nitrogen flows. In the case ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

By magnetron sputtering model steel films with specific properties can be prepared for purposive surveys. By changing the deposition parameters certain properties of these films can be influenced. For this thesis steel films with 18% Cr and 8% Ni have been prepared in order to study specific parameters on the corrosion resistance of bulk stainless steel. Chemical composition, microstructure, and surface morphology of these films have been characterized. In comparison to bulk steel sheets with the same chemical composition they have a smaller grain size and a ferritic structure. In contrast to bulk steel sheets they don`t contain any nonmetallic inclusions like Mn-sulfides. The influence of these structural differences on the corrosion resistance has been studied. For this purpose the electrochemical properties of the sputter-deposited steels have been compared with the properties of steel sheets with a similar chemical composition (DIN 1.4301, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nanocrystalline processing by inert gas condensation has the inherent advantages of generating: (1) high surface area nanoclusters, (2) non-stoichiometric oxides, and (3) high dispersions of dopants. This approach is exploited in the synthesis of fluorite-structured catalysts for SO{sub 2} reduction by CO. Nanocrystalline CeO{sub 2{minus}x}, La-doped CeO{sub 2{minus}x}, and Cu-doped CeO{sub 2{minus}x} were produced by magnetron sputtering from a pure or mixed metal target, followed by controlled oxidation of the metallic clusters. The as-prepared doped and undoped nanocrystalline CeO{sub 2{minus}x} materials were found to be excellent catalysts for complete SO{sub 2} conversion to elemental sulfur. Undoped nanocrystalline CeO{sub 2{minus}x} enabled light-off at 460 C, a temperature {approximately} 120 C lower than that over polycrystalline CeO{sub 2}, which is a novel effective catalyst itself. The high catalytic activity of the nanocrystals ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Diamond-like carbon thin films for tribological applications were deposited by d.c.-magnetron sputtering of a graphite target in a pure argon atmosphere or in a reactive hydrogen or methane atmosphere at pressures between 0.1 and 1 Pa in a graded constitution to improve adhesion and reduce residual stress. The temperature of the metallic, carbon- and ceramic-like substrates was below 100 C. The mechanical, thermal, electronic and optical properties of the carbon thin films show a significant dependence on the ion energy. Below 220 eV, strongly adherent black conductive films with hardness values up to 2000 HV0.05 were obtained. Hard and superhard diamond-like carbon thin films were deposited in an energy range between 220 and 370 eV with hardness values up to 4000 HV0.05. They are insulating, optically transparent and show a high degree of hardness combined with high compressive stress in the order of 4 GPa as well as a low adhesion, which ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Some magnetron sputtering systems experience rapid oscillations in the current and voltage of the plasma discharge after several hours when equipped with certain targets. These oscillations often lead to the plasma becoming extinguished, a condition known as ''flame-out.'' This article details the study of two 90% W--10% Ti magnetron targets which differed in density. The higher density targets sometimes experienced flame-out after approximately 3 h of sputtering. The less dense material could be sputtered for the entire 15 h life of the target. Scanning electron microscopy pictures and atomic composition depth profiles were obtained using Auger electron spectroscopy. In addition, a Colutron-based ion source with a high vacuum system was used to measure ion-induced secondary electron emission coefficients as a function of energy, ion specie, and gas coverage. Analysis of the sample from the group that suffers flame-out showed large regions of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The motivation of this work is to develop high reflectance normal-incidence multilayer mirrors in the 8-12 nm wavelength region for applications in astronomy and extreme ultraviolet lithography. To achieve this goal, Mo/Sr and Mo/Y multilayers were studied. These multilayers were deposited with a UHV magnetron sputtering system and their reflectances were measured with synchrotron radiation. High normal-incidence reflectances of 23% at 8.8 nm, 40.8% at 9.4 nm, and 48.3% at 10.5 nm were achieved. However, the reflectance of Mo/Sr multilayers decreased rapidly after exposure to air. Attempts to use thin layers of carbon to passivate the surface of Mo/Sr multilayers were unsuccessful. Experimental results on the refractive index {tilde n} = 1-{delta} + i{beta} of yttrium and molybdenum in the 50-1300 eV energy region are reported in this work. This is the first time ever that values on the refractive index of yttrium are measured in this energy ...

Science.gov (United States)

A reactor was proposed in which the breeder mantel would consist of a charge of homogeneous cast breeder elements, so that the breeder element has the same shape as the fuel elements. By this method it would be possible to use the breeder element after its irradiation immediately for the charging of the fuel elements.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We describe a procedure for correcting the systematic errors in the Moessbauer f-factor measurement due to non-homogeneous effective thickness of the sample. To be more precise, we show that, if the mass of the sample is determined by means of X- or {gamma}-ray absorption, it is possible to establish experimental conditions so that the error on f due to material non-homogeneity in the sample is minimized.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The diagonal and symmetric Bianchi type IX models are coupled to a homogeneous spinor field. An action for the combined fields is constructed, where the orthonormal basis used is given explicitly in terms of the metric. This allows one to vary the action with respect to the metric and the spinor fields only. Next, a Hamiltonian formulation is given, and a qualitative solution for the problem is presented. We also show that the k = +1 FRW (Friedmann--Robertson--Walker) model is not compatible with a homogeneous spinor field, while the more complicated models are.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We examine the late-time behavior of initially expanding homogeneous cosmological models satisfying Einstein's equation with a positive cosmological constant ..lambda... It is shown that such models of all Bianchi types except IX exponentially evolve toward the de Sitter solution, with time scale (3/..lambda..)/sup 1/2/. The behavior of Bianchi type-IX universes is similar, provided that ..lambda.. is sufficiently large compared with spatial-curvature terms. Thus, a positive cosmological constant provides an effective means of isotropizing homogeneous universes.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We write a space-time Feynman Path Integral representation for scattered wave fields from a weakly/compact supported anisotropic non-homogeneity. (author)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

LEW anti-DA kidney and DA anti-LEW kidney sera were assayed using an indirect 125I anti-immunoglobulin-binding assay with kidney homogenate as target. This allowed the full spectrum of antibodies to...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The measurement methods of homogeneity of dispersion fuel were analyzed. The effects of mixing method, rotating speed, particle shape, particle size and moisture content on homogeneity of U{sub 3}Si/Al powder mixture were characterized by the apparent density measurement. The effects of fuel particle shape on green properties and optimum compaction conditions were investigated in U{sub 3}Si{sub 2}/Al powder compacts. 3 kinds of measurement method on the homogeneity were analyzed by apparent density measurement method, x-ray image contrast method and image analysis method of mixed powders or fuel rods. The homogeneity of dispersed fuel powder mixture was analyzed using three kinds of mixing, by apparent density measurements method. The homogeneity of powder mixture increased with rotating speed of the V-shape tumbler mixer. The comminuted irregular shaped particles and smaller ...

Science.gov (United States)

The understanding of transport processes that occur in naturally fractured geothermal systems is far from being complete. Often, evaluation and numerical simulations of fractured geothermal reservoirs, are carried out by assuming equivalent porous media and homogeneous petrophysical properties within big matrix blocks. The purpose of this paper, is to present a comparison between results obtained from numerical studies of a naturally fractured reservoir treated as a simple porous medium and the simulation of some real aspects of the fractured reservoir. A general conclusion outlines the great practical importance of considering even approximately, the true nature of such systems. Our results show that the homogeneous simplified evaluation of the energy resource in a fractured system, could result in unrealistic estimates of the reservoir capacity to generate electricity.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Every Bianchi type-IX universe can be interpreted as a closed Friedmann universe on which is superimposed circularly polarized gravitational waves with the longest wavelength that will fit into a closed universe. In this paper, I give a new derivation of this result based on the concept of homogeneous tensor fields on the three-sphere. Every homogeneous symmetric traceless tensor field is shown to be a longest-wavelength three-sphere harmonic. Contrary to previous authors, I show that the wavelength of these gravitational waves is one-half the circumference of the universe. In order to maintain homogeneity, the gravitational waves must all have the same polarization. There are five longest-wavelength modes for each polarization. This interpretation is an {ital exact} description that is valid for every Bianchi type-IX universe---it is in no way limited to first-order perturbations of a Friedmann universe.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A comparative and quantitative study of the tissue distribution of brain-thymus shared antigens was carried out using rabbit antisera to rat, dog and human brain homogenates, assayed on rat, dog and...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

N alpha-Acetylenkephalin carboxypeptidase was co-purified with N-acetyltyrosine deacetylase from monkey kidney. Almost 90% of the activity from the homogenate was recovered in a high-speed supernatant...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Polyamine oxidase was purified to homogeneity from leaves of water hyacinth by the criterion of sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis (SDS disc PAGE). The enzyme showed a high specificity for spermidine...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

[Leu]- and [Met]enkephalin from thoracic ganglia of the shore crab Carcinus maenas have been purified to homogeneity by a reversed-phase HPLC procedure. Automated gas-phase sequencing revealed a primary...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

An immunoglobulin Mk monoclonal (F8IVE9) antibody raised against oat (Avena sativa cv Garry) root homogenate has been produced and characterized. The predominant target...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Malate synthase (EC 4.1.3.2), an enzyme unique to the glyoxylate cycle, was purified to homogeneity from cotyledons of 72-hours, darkgrown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The extracellular domain of human fibroblast growth factor receptor (XC-FGF-R) was expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein was purified to homogeneity and the interaction with basic fibroblast growth...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Reciprocal mass crosses and back-crosses were performed between two homogeneous strains of the housefly (Musca domestica L.), representing the extremes in susceptibility and resistance...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

An enantio-specific polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was purified ≈1,700-fold to apparent homogeneity from the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), and its encoding gene was cloned. The...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Recent work on N=2 supersymmetric Bianchi type IX cosmologies coupled to a scalar field is extended to a general treatment of homogeneous quantum cosmologies with explicitly solvable momentum constraints, i.e., Bianchi types I, II, VII, VIII in addition to the Bianchi type IX, and special cases, namely, the Freidmann universes, the Kantowski-Sachs space, and Taub-NUT space. In addition to the earlier explicit solution of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for Bianchi type IX, describing a virtual wormhole fluctuation, an additional explicit solution is given and identified with the ''no-boundary state.''.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In an effort to improve the extrapolation of laboratory data to man and estimate risk of human reproductive toxicity associated with environmental exposure, the pharmacokinetic parameters of the testicular compartment are being studied. Of particular interest is the variety of enzyme systems capable of activating and detoxicating environmental chemicals and drugs. This report compares the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by the isolated perfused testis and testicular homogenates in vitro. The cell free in vitro system metabolized benzo(a)pyrene at a much greater rate than the perfused testis and produced a different spectrum of metabolites. Reliable laboratory prediction of biotransformation by the whole organ or intact animal is an essential aspect of reproductive toxicology.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In most previous studies of topology optimization, commercial programs, such as Optistruct, ANSYS, and MSC Patran, usually were used during implementation. Such commercial programs are not easy to use and entail time and cost. In addition, it is difficult to confirm results with reference to individual stages of optimization. For addressing this disadvantage, a topology optimization program, which is based on the C language, is developed in this study. This is a very convenient and powerful program for users to conduct topology optimization by using all density methods and homogenization methods in compliance with the methodology. For verifying the developed program, first of all, topology optimization was implemented by using density methods to evaluate the strain energy density of a cant...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

CIRNAT, a one-dimensional code for natural circulation analysis, was described. The homogeneous approach was adopted for the two-phase flow regime and different heat transfer regimes were considered. The code was exhaustively tested for one-phase flow systems. For two phase flows a boiling/condensing system was simulated. The results are qualitatively correct but the oscillations observed at the system were not captured by the model. Other two-phase flow tests must be done to show the limits of the homogeneous approach before the introduction of a more complex model. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nitinol has found growing applications in vascular stents, with the recent introduction on the market of a number of new nitinol tubular devices for coronary and peripheral usage. These stents can be produced either through the expansion of a pattern cut on a small tube (pre-cut) or by cutting the deployed design on a tube of a larger size (pre-expanded). The aim of the study was to analyze the differences of properties induced by the two manufacturing methods. For this purpose, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were performed on various specimens from the two types of stents. A first set of measurements shows that pre-expanded stents exhibit usual A<->R<->M transformations whereas multi-stage transformations occur for pre-cut stents. Two types of DSC specimens were then prepared for each stent, corresponding to the straight sections and the curved parts of the stent. It is shown that the pre-cut stents exhibit less ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The effects of pore curvature and surface heterogeneity on the adsorption of water on a graphitic surface at 298 K were investigated using a Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation. Slit and cylindrical pores are used to study the curvature effects. To investigate the surface heterogeneity the functional group and the structural defect on the surface were specifically considered. The hydroxyl group (OH) is used as a model for the functional group and the water potential model proposed by Muller et al. is used to calculate the water interaction. For the homogeneous cylinder, the pore filling occurs at a pressure lower than the saturation pressure of the water model, while it is greater in the case of homogeneous slit pore. The size of hysteresis loop is more sensitive to the length of...

CERN Document Server

Tensor network states are used to approximate ground states of local Hamiltonians on a lattice in D spatial dimensions. Different types of tensor network states can be seen to generate different geometries. Matrix product states (MPS) in D=1 dimensions, as well as projected entangled pair states (PEPS) in D>1 dimensions, reproduce the D-dimensional physical geometry of the lattice model; in contrast, the multi-scale entanglement renormalization ansatz (MERA) generates a (D+1)-dimensional holographic geometry. Here we focus on homogeneous tensor networks, where all the tensors in the network are copies of the same tensor, and argue that certain structural properties of the resulting many-body states are preconditioned by the geometry of the tensor network and are therefore largely independent of the choice of variational parameters. Indeed, the asymptotic decay of correlations in homogeneous MPS and MERA for D=1 systems is seen to be ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper opens with a critical analysis of a paradox in contemporary educational research in and about Confucian Heritage Culture (CHC): the assumption that national boundaries coincide with those of a distinct and homogeneous culture, which consistently renders a rather homogenous set of educational phenomena, and collides against a more widely accepted discourse - culture transcends geographical frontiers and is ever evolving in character. It is claimed that this paradox is due to the fact that a thin conception of CHC competes neck-and-neck with a thick conception of it. This paper also addresses the possibility of an ad hoc education research methodology in and about CHC and its compliance issues regarding the mainstream Western research dynamics and philosophy of science. Confucian ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Isolation of functional and intact mitochondria from solid tissue is crucial for studies that focus on the elucidation of normal mitochondrial physiology and/or mitochondrial dysfunction in conditions such as aging, diabetes, and cancer. There is growing recognition of the importance of mitochondria both as targets for drug development and as off-target mediators of drug side effects. Unfortunately, mitochondrial isolation from tissue is generally carried out using homogenizer-based methods that require extensive operator experience to obtain reproducible high-quality preparations. These methods limit dissemination, impede scale-up, and contribute to difficulties in reproducing experimental results over time and across laboratories. Here we describe semiautomated methods to disrupt tissue ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

By using a two-step homogenization approach, we derive analytical formulas of effective mass density {rho}{sub e} and effective bulk modulus B{sub e} for two- and three-dimensional acoustic metamaterials of Helmholtz resonators (HRs) in fluid. A negative B{sub e} is found at certain frequencies due to the monopolar resonance, leading to a low-frequency acoustic band gap. A unified picture is presented for metamaterials of HRs and three-component metamaterials of negative {rho}{sub e}. Our work supports recent observations in a one-dimensional array of HRs [N. Fang et al., Nat. Mater. 5, 452 (2006)] and presents important high-dimensional extensions for exploring more fascinating phenomena.

CERN Document Server

A rigorous homogenization theory of metamaterials -- artificial periodic structures judiciously designed to control the propagation of electromagnetic waves -- is developed. All coarse-grained fields are unambiguously defined and effective parameters are then derived without any heuristic assumptions. The theory is an amalgamation of two concepts: Smith & Pendry's physical insight into field averaging and the mathematical framework of Whitney-Nedelec-Bossavit-Kotiuga interpolation. All coarse-grained fields are defined via Whitney forms and satisfy Maxwell's equations exactly. The new approach is illustrated with several analytical and numerical examples and agrees well with the established results (e.g. the Maxwell-Garnett formula and the zero cell-size limit) within the range of applicability of the latter. The sources of approximation error and the respective suitable error indicators are clearly identified, along with systematic routes for improving the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A general theoretical scheme to describe the effective modulus and mass density for acoustic metamaterials is presented. For such a purpose, an effective medium theory of a one-dimensional acoustic waveguide containing subwavelength-sized Helmholtz resonators is formulated. It is shown that, when the wavelength is much larger than the periodic length and the size of the resonators, the whole composite structure can be treated as an effective homogeneous medium in accounting for its acoustic properties. It is also shown that the acoustic characteristics, such as the effective modulus and the effective mass density, can be determined precisely from the transmission and the reflection data. The calculated effective modulus and effective mass density confirm that this structure behaves as a homogeneous metamaterial with a negative effective modulus in a frequency range just above the resonant frequency.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The dynamical effects of spatially homogeneous electromagnetic fields on anisotropic Bianchi type-IX models are studied. The Lagrangians and Hamiltonians affecting the evolution of anisotropy (including the gravitational and electromagnetic potentials) are obtained for very general spatially homogeneous metrics by means of the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner Hamiltonian formalism. For models having diagonal metrics an exact solution for the electromagnetic fields is obtained. This solution allows a qualitative solution for the gravitational variables. The total solution is similar to that of Brill. For Bianchi type-IX models having symmetric and general metrics, a discussion of the qualitative behavior of the universe point under the influence of the above potentials is given. In particular, it is shown that in some cases the presence of the electromagnetic potential inhibits some types of singularities.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Examination is made of the main features of the physical and chemical preignition processes within homogeneous mixtures of air and gaseous fuels, such as propane, methane and hydrogen in a motored engine, while employing detailed chemical kinetics in a one zone analytical model. The changes in the compression temperature and pressure due to the admission of gaseous fuels, energy release during the preingition reactions and the contributions of heat transfer and residual gases to the preignition reaction activity were followed over a number of consecutive cycles until the occurrence of autoignition. Some of the observed differences in engine behaviour when operating on methane, propane and hydrogen were discussed with particular reference to the observed trends in dual fuel engine operation. Calculated results showed good agreement with some corresponding experimental trends. 14 refs., 9 figs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This work proposes an acoustic structure feasible to engineer that accomplishes the requirements of acoustic cloaking design recently introduced by Cummer and Schurig (2007 New J. Phys. 9 45). The structure, which consists of a multilayered composite made of two types of isotropic acoustic metamaterials, exactly matches the conditions for the acoustic cloaking. It is also shown that the isotropic metamaterials needed can be made of sonic crystals containing two types of material cylinders, whose elastic parameters should be properly chosen in order to satisfy (in the homogenization limit) the acoustic properties under request. In contrast to electromagnetic cloaking, the structure here proposed verifies the acoustic cloaking in a wide range of wavelengths; its performance is guaranteed for any wavelength above a certain cutoff defined by the homogenization limit of the sonic crystal employed in its fabrication.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A combined numerical and theoretical study is conducted herein on the penetration of semi-infinite targets by jacketed rods with different r"j"0/r"c"0 ratios where r"j"0 and r"c"0 are the radii of the jacket and the core, respectively. The numerical results show that for smaller r"j"0/r"c"0 ratios the u-v relationship changes only a little compared to that of unitary long rod penetrator of the same core material, hence, the u-v relationship of unitary (homogeneous) long rod penetration is also applicable for jacketed rod penetration. Model for cratering in semi-infinite targets by jacketed rods is then suggested by using the laws of conversation of mass, momentum and energy, together with the u-v relationship of unitary (homogeneous) long rod penetration and an analytical model for predict...

CERN Document Server

We have conducted a systematic investigation of the origin and underlying physics of the line--line and line--continuum correlations of AGNs, particularly the Baldwin effect. Based on the homogeneous sample of Seyfert 1s and QSOs in the SDSS DR4, we find the origin of all the emission-line regularities is Eddington ratio (L/Ledd). The essential physics is that L/Ledd regulates the distributions of the properties (particularly column density) of the clouds bound in the line-emitting region.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

RNA was synthesized in vitro from a T3 DNA template by T3 RNA polymerase and subsequently separated into seven discrete size classes (molecular weights ranging between 0.21 x 10(6) and 6.2 x 10(6))...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We demonstrate the existence of shear-free cosmological models with rotation and expansion which support inflationary scenarios. The corresponding metrics belong to the family of spatially homogeneous models with the geometry of the closed universe (Bianchi type IX). We show that the global vorticity does not prevent inflation and can even accelerate it.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We describe exact cosmological solutions with rotation and expansion in the low-energy effective string theory. These models are spatially homogeneous (closed Bianchi type IX) and they belong to the family of shear-free metrics which are causal (no closed timelike curves are allowed), admit no parallax effects and do not disturb the isotropy of the background radiation. The dilaton and the axion fields are nontrivial, in general, and we consider both cases with and without the central charge (effective cosmological constant)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A small cholangiocarcinoma was detected at autopsy in a patient with thorotrastosis who died from the rupture of esophageal varices at the esophagogastric junction. Prior to the advent of recent diagnostic imaging technique, a correct antemortem diagnosis could only be obtained from tumor markers. However, the tendency for the opacity of the liver to decrease slowly with time and develop uneven trabeculation suggests that small tumors may be difficult to detect against such a non-homogeneous background. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of the invention is a process for the production of a particularly finely divided, homogeneous transition metal phosphide and transition metal chalcogenide of Daltonian stochiometry by the conversion of at least one powder transition metal or a transition metal alloy with phosphorus or with a chalcogen at raised temperature, which is characterized by the fact that the conversion is carried out in the presence of at least one inert finely divided auxiliary material which is soluble in water and does not sinter together at the reaction temperature, and that the conversion produce removes the auxiliary material. Even relatively small quantities of the auxiliary material are sufficient to ensure rapid and homogeneous conversion of the reaction partners to the reaction product having a large surface. A ratio of 1 part by volume of a mixture of a transition metal and phosphorus or chalcogen to 1 part by volume of finely divided auxiliary ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A large Bragg-curve spectrometer has been constructed and tested. The detector has a cylindrical geometry and operates with a homogeneous electric field. Energy resolutions of <0.8% and Z resolutions of Z/..delta..Z=80 have been achieved for eleastically scattered /sup 58/Ni ions. These results demonstrate the suitability of this large solid-angle detector for use in a wide variety of heavy-ion scattering experiments.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Within the framework of homogeneous models of the Universe, inflation provides the simplest explanation for the present cosmic isotropy, and a Bianchi type-IX (mixmaster) model is the least prejudiced guess we can make about the state of the Universe before the inflationary phase. However, a mixmaster model would not inflate unless either shear or the radiation energy density are large enough. Particle creation enhances the radiation energy density and therefore enlarges the set of inflating initial conditions for the Universe.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A new procedure for an efficient and sparing cleaning procedure of turbines was developed. The procedure uses cleaning and passivation chemicals that solve effectively and homogeneously salt and ferrous oxide coatings from turbines, avoiding attacks from corrosion, plugging and unbalances. In several high-pressure and condensation turbines the cleaning procedure has been already put into practice. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Homogeneous nucleation of CaSO{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O (gypsum) based on an optical diagnostic technique was studied within a supersaturation range of 1--4 at 25--90 C. The experiments were carried out using an experimental apparatus consisting of a batch crystallizer with the related measurement devices. Signals of scattered and transmitted light coming from a He-Ne laser source were analyzed to measure the induction period (t{sub ind}), that is, the time delay necessary for homogeneous nucleation to take place. As expected from theory, it was found that t{sub ind} decreases when either temperature or supersaturation increase; from the dependence of t{sub ind} on supersaturation, it was possible to distinguish between the mechanisms of homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. From the experimental data relative to homogeneous nucleation, the interfacial tension ({gamma}{sub s}) between CaSO{sub ...

Science.gov (United States)

During the period covered by this report research has been concerned with the study of photo-induced electron transfer reactions from porphyrins to acceptor molecules with time-resolved Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) methods. Excited-state electron transfer reactions are of importance from a fundamental point of view and in connection with applications in homogeneous and heterogeneous photosensitization, photopolymerization, and solar energy conversions. For this reason, the study of photo-induced electron transfer reactions is of considerable interest.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The theoretical treatment of the relation between the critical angle of planar channeling and the characteristics of crystal lattice defects is carried out. The predictions are made about some typical forms of the critical angle dependence on the mean-square static displacement produced by defects, and then these predictions are detailed for the cases of homogeneous disordering, spherical clusters of point defects and dislocation loops. Analytical results are supported by the exact computer calculations for the defects in the intermetallic A-15 compounds.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A radiometric method was elaborated for surface density determinations of the adhesive layer of plasters by radionuclide X-ray fluorescence using the 17.47 keV bremsstrahlung of "1"4"7Pm/Mo. The bremsstrahlung line excites the 8.63 keV characteristic K#alpha# line of Zn contained in the adhesive layer of the plaster as a filling material in the form of ZnO. In homogeneous adhesive layers the Zn content is proportional to surface density. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The report describes the studies carried out to design a non-destructive system for the radiological characterization of packages containing LLW and MLW. This technique is applied for quantitative and qualitative gamma emitters determination in packages with homogeneous and heterogeneous matrices as well as the development of a maximum activity points location system. Development involves also the automatization for its industrial use.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The stability constants of [AtX_2]"- with X = Cl, Br and I in ethanol and methanol as well as their ion mobilities at a temperature of 298 K and an ionic strength of 0.05 were determined by horizontal zone electromigration in homogeneous electrolyte solution. The results are compared with existing data from aqueous electrolyte systems. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We present in this paper the computer code BACCHUS, to analyze the thermal-hydraulics in a rod bundle in single or two-phase flow regime. The model is 2-D and uses the porous body approach. The two-phase model is an extension of the classical homogeneous model, and includes a differential non-equilibrium equation. Results are shown for the extension of the boiling region in a 19-pin bundle. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We consider the problem of rotation in a homogeneous Bianchi type IX cosmological model. Studying the Wheeler-De Witt equation corresponding to this minisuperspace, and adopting a particular choice of the factor ordering, we are able to find a particular solution which is strongly peaked about isotropy. This result confirms all the previous investigations in this field, and suggests the conclusion that the machian nature of our universe is the natural, i.e. most likely, outcome of the Planck epoch. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A higher-dimensional homogeneous spacetime is investigated satisfying the vacuum Einstein equations. It is assumed that the algebra of Killing vectors L admits a non-trivial Levi decomposition L=N+so(3), i.e. that the subalgebras N and so(3) do not commute. It is found that the model behaves in a non-chaotic way and cosmological dimensional reduction inevitably occurs. This model completes all the possible types within the class of higher-dimensional extensions of Bianchi type-IX cosmology. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: Various published reports involving intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans developed using automated optimization (inverse planning) have demonstrated highly conformal plans. These reported conformal IMRT plans involve significant target dose inhomogeneity, including both overdosage and underdosage within the target volume. In this study, we demonstrate the development of optimized beamlet IMRT plans that satisfy rigorous dose homogeneity requirements for all target volumes (e.g., #+-#5%), while also sparing the parotids and other normal structures. Methods and Materials: The treatment plans of 15 patients with oropharyngeal cancer who were previously treated with forward-planned multisegmental IMRT were planned again using an automated optimization system developed in-house. The optimization system allows for variable sized beamlets computed using a three-dimensional convolution/superposition dose calculation and flexible cost functions derived ...

CERN Document Server

Homogeneity for highly asymmetric fields has been studied for a Siemens PRIMUS linear accelerator. The flattening filter has a radius smaller than the primary collimator one, creating inhomogeneities that affect large fields in areas far from the collimator axis, and asymmetric fields with large offset. Profiles and absolute dose have been measured in fields with two jaws at maximal position (20 cm) and the other two at maximal overtravel (10 cm.), corresponding to 10 x 10 fields with extreme offset. Profiles have a remarkable gradient decreasing towards the beam edge, making these fields unsuitable for treatments. Results show that the design of the primary collimator and flattening filter assembly has direct consequences in homogeneity. This can have clinical consequences for treatments involving fields that include these inhomogeneous areas. Comparisons with the treatment planning system (Philips Pinnacle) calculations, that computes under ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The document describes the outcome of the CSN/CIEMAT-00 interlaboratory test comparison among environmental radioactivity laboratories. the exercise was organised according to the ISO-43 and the ISO/IUPAC/AOAC Harmonized Protocol for the proficiency testing of analytical laboratories. the test sample was a soil containing environmental levels of K-40, Ra-226, Ac-228, Sr-90, Cs-137, Cs-134, Pu (239-240) y Am-241. the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona prepared the material and reported adequate statistical studies of homogeneity. The results of the exercise were computed for 30 participating laboratories, and their analytical performance was assessed using the u-score approach. A raised percentage of satisfactory laboratory performance has been obtained for all the analysis, being the best performance in gamma measurements. The exercise has drawn that several laboratories have difficulties in the evaluation of combined uncertainty, mainly in analysis involving ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The canonical quantum theory of gravity-quantum geometrodynamics (QG)-is applied to the homogeneous Bianchi type IX cosmological model. As a result, a framework for the quantum theory of homogeneous cosmologies is developed. We show that the theory is internally consistent and prove that it possesses the correct classical limit (the theory of general relativity). To emphasize the special role that the constraints play in this new theory, we compare it to the traditional ADM square-root and Wheeler-DeWitt quantization schemes. We show that, unlike traditional approaches, QG leads to a well-defined Schroedinger equation for the wavefunction of the universe that is inherently coupled to the expectation value of the constraint equations. This coupling to the constraints is responsible for the appearance of a coherent spacetime picture. Thus, the physical meaning of the constraints of the theory is quite different from Dirac's ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A relatively quick and simple assay for hyaluronate was developed using the specific binding protein, hyaluronectin. The hyaluronectin was obtained by homogenizing the brains of Sprague-Dawley rats, and then centrifuging the homogenate. The resulting supernatant was used as a source of crude hyaluronectin. In the binding assay, the hyaluronectin was mixed with (/sup 3/H)hyaluronate, followed by an equal volume of saturated (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, which precipitated the hyaluronectin and any (/sup 3/H)hyaluronate associated with it, but left free (/sup 3/H)hyaluronate in solution. The mixture was then centrifuged, and the amount of bound (/sup 3/H)hyaluronate in the precipitate was determined. Using this assay, the authors found that hyaluronectin specifically bound hyaluronate, since other glycosaminoglycans failed to compete for the binding protein. In addition, the interaction between hyaluronectin and hyaluronate was of relatively high ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

MRT criteria have been developed to distinguish between tumour and implant material following examination of 50 patients who had transsphenoidal hypophysectomies for tumours. Judgements were based on the postoperative hormonal status and the operation notes. Following contrast injection of Gd-DTPA and using T[sub 1] weighted spin-echo sequences, implant material appeared as sandwich-like, linear or circular structures. Residual recurrent tumour produced homogenous or non-homogenous aspects without marginal enhancement in 84% of cases. Postoperative displacement of the infundibulum to the opposite side was observed in 73% of patients with tumour remnants. Sensitivity of MRT was 70%, specificity 95%. There was a positive predictive value of 94% and a negative predictive value of 72% with an accuracy of 81%. This provides assistance in differentiating between tumour remnants and implant material. MRT is recommended as a method of examination for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We present a new class of exact solutions of Deser, Jackiw, and Templeton's theory (DJT) of topologically massive gravity which consists of homogeneous, anisotropic manifolds. In these solutions the coframe is given by the left-invariant 1-forms of 3-dimensional Lie algebras up to constant scale factors. These factors are fixed in terms of the DJT coupling constant {mu}m which is the constant of proportionality between the Einstein and Cotton tensors in 3-dimensions. Differences between the scale factors result in anisotropy which is a common feature of topologically massive 3-manifolds. We have found that only Bianchi Types VI, VIII, and IX lead to nontrivial solutions. Among these, a Bianchi Type IX, squashed 3-sphere solution of the Euclideanized DJT theory has finite action, Bianchi Type VIII, IX solutions can variously be embedded in the de Sitter/anti-de Sitter space. That is, some DJT 3-manifolds that we shall present here can be regarded as the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A sum-over-histories generalized quantum theory is developed for homogeneous minisuperspace type A Bianchi cosmological models, focusing on the particular example of the classically recollapsing Bianchi type-IX universe. The decoherence functional for such universes is exhibited. We show how the probabilities of decoherent sets of alternative, coarse-grained histories of these model universes can be calculated. We consider in particular the probabilities for classical evolution defined by a suitable coarse graining. For a restricted class of initial conditions and coarse grainings we exhibit the approximate decoherence of alternative histories in which the universe behaves classically and those in which it does not. For these situations we show that the probability is near unity for the universe to recontract classically if it expands classically. We also determine the relative probabilities of quasiclassical trajectories for initial states of WKB form, recovering ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The technology of minor actinide recycling in fast reactors has been discussed. In CEA, the feasibility study on Am once-through recycling in Phenix core with the moderated target subassemblies (S/As) has been performed. In this report, the evaluation of the heterogeneity effect on the moderated target S/As is described. It was evaluated by the calculation with the continuous energy Monte-Carlo code, MVP, because the accuracy of the deterministic method for the moderated target S/As is unknown. The reaction rates of four isotopes (Am-241, Am-242, Am242m and Am-243) calculated with the heterogeneous model and the homogeneous one were compared. These four isotopes play the important role in Am incineration. It is seen that the homogeneous model overestimates the reaction rates of Am-241 and Am-243 by 4 - 13%, and underestimates those of Am-242 and Am-242m by 13 - 23%. Further investigation made it clear that the overestimation of Am-241 and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A methodology for assessing the impact of subacute concentrations of organometallic agents on bioenergetic and oxidative damage processes in animals, cells and energy transducing subcellular organelles is being developed. Several of the assays are noninvasive and thus lend themselves to human tests. At the whole-animal level we utilize a treadmill chamber where physiological parameters of exercising animals are monitored. These include parameters of whole animals' work performance such as oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide evolution and endurance. Oxidative damage can be monitored in experiments by analyzing expired air of the animals for ethane and n-pentane. These alkanes correlate with lipid peroxidation in vivo. At the cellular and subcellular levels, respiratory activity, lipid peroxidation and free radical species are assayed. Respiratory activity is measured in muscle homogenates and isolated mitochondria using substrates which feed into different ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The principle of radiodiagnosis consists in the fact the X-ray beam is attenuated at different degrees by distinct tissues. For this reason, the anatomical structures have distinct radiological opacities, that produce the radiographic image. The progresses in radiology are related to the development if new radiographic image formation systems that enable an amplification in the quality, with low dose and/or risk to the patient. The objective of this work is the sensitometric valuation of a screen-film combination, that is still the most used, for the standardization, of radiographic images. Thinking about this, were constructed homogeneous phantoms of the chest, skull and pelvis, for the calibration of X-ray beams, with the purpose of obtaining radiographic images of good quality, basing in the routine of a radiodiagnosis service and in the scientific knowledge. Questions were approached about the choice of the suitable equipment, that allow the obtention of k Vp ...

CERN Document Server

We consider a class of nonlinear Schrodinger / Gross-Pitaevskii (NLS/GP) equations with periodic potentials, having an even symmetry. We construct "solitons", centered about any point of symmetry of the potential. For focusing (attractive) nonlinearities, these solutions bifurcate from the zero state at the lowest band edge frequency, into the semi-infinite spectral gap. Our results extend to bifurcations into finite spectral gaps, for focusing or defocusing (repulsive) nonlinearities under more restrictive hypotheses. Soliton nonlinear bound states with frequencies near a band edge are well-approximated by a slowly decaying solution of a homogenized NLS/GP equation, with constant homogenized effective mass tensor and effective nonlinear coupling coefficient, modulated by a Bloch state. For the critical NLS equation with a periodic potential, e.g. the cubic two dimensional NLS/GP with a periodic potential, our results imply that the limiting ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A novel direct calculation method of response matrices on heterogeneous lattices by using the Monte Carlo method is proposed. These direct response matrices (DRMs) can be used in core calculations in place of the conventional homogenized lattice constants. The DRMs are formalized by four sub response matrices (sub-RMs) in order to respond to a core eigenvalue, k; thus the DRMs can be re-evaluated on each outer iteration in the core calculations. The sub-RMs can be evaluated by analyzing each neutron's trajectory from ordinary lattice calculations with the Monte Carlo code. Since these sub-RMs are calculated directly under an actual complex assembly geometry, i,e., without a homogenization process, intra-assembly heterogeneous effects can be reflected on global partial current balance calculations. With using two of the sub-RMs, which deal with neutron production probabilities for each fuel pin, and the obtained partial current balance, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chemical and phase homogeneity of titanium-niobium sponge, produced by a combined magnesium-thermic reduction of niobium pentachloride and titanium tetrachloride mixtures, is investigated. It is ascertained that a sponge consists of spherical shape particles and has a large number of pores. Particle sizes are reduced with niobium being substituted for titanium from 50-500 #mu#m for titanium sponge to 1-40 #mu#m for niobium one, which testifies to the bormation in a titanium-niobium sponge of an alloy and not a mechanical mixture. A number of solid solutions is detected by X-ray phase analysis. Lattice parameters are determined.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Solutions are obtained for the Einstein field equations governing 40 rotating and time-dependent Bianchi type-IX cosmologies with thermal and nonthermal perfectly fluid sources. Some general properties of the solutions are discussed, and the exact computational details are given in a companion paper. All the cosmologies have spacelike, timelike or null-like homogeneous hypersurfaces depending on whether the constant alpha is less than or greater than one. The pressure of the cosmologies is assumed to be zero, and the energy density is less than zero. 9 references.

Science.gov (United States)

The real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) quantification of several vaginal bacterial groups in healthy women and patients developing asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis (BV) and candidiasis (CA) was performed. Statistical analysis revealed that the BV condition is characterised by a great variability among subjects and that it is associated with a significant increase of Prevotella, Atopobium, Veillonella and Gardnerella vaginalis, and a drop in Lactobacillus. On the contrary, the vaginal microflora of healthy women and patients developing CA was found to be homogeneous and stable over time. PMID:18762999

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper describes Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy used to study the connection between dopant precipitation and phase transformation in high dose In"+ and Sb"+ implanted Si. In the case of In, the observations confirm a heterogeneous nucleation model. Images of the precursor precipitates give the first measurement of the diffusion coefficient in amorphous Si, with an enhancement of 10"7 over tracer crystalline values. With Sb"+ implants enhanced homogeneous nucleation is observed. The connection between these results and the transient enhanced diffusion observed in crystallized Si is discussed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We show using covariant techniques that the Einstein static universe containing a perfect fluid is always neutrally stable against small inhomogeneous vector and tensor perturbations and neutrally stable against adiabatic scalar density inhomogeneities so long as c{sup 2}{sub s} > 1/5, and unstable otherwise. We also show that the stability is not significantly changed by the presence of a self-interacting scalar field source, but we find that spatially homogeneous Bianchi type IX modes destabilize an Einstein static universe. The implications of these results for the initial state of the universe and its pre-inflationary evolution are also discussed. (letter to the editor)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We discuss the asymptotic dynamical evolution of spatially homogeneous brane-world cosmological models close to the initial singularity. We find that generically the cosmological singularity is isotropic in Bianchi type IX brane-world models and consequently these models do not exhibit Mixmaster or chaotic-like behaviour close to the initial singularity. We argue that this is typical of more general cosmological models in the brane-world scenario. In particular, we show that an isotropic singularity is a past-attractor in all orthogonal Bianchi models and is a local past-attractor in a class of inhomogeneous brane-world models. (letter to the editor)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Big bang nucleosynthesis constraints on baryon isocurvature perturbations are determined. A simple model ignoring the effects of the scale of the perturbations is first reviewed. This model is then extended to address the claim that large amplitude perturbations will collapse, preventing their baryons from contributing to the observed baryon density. It is found that baryon isocurvature perturbations are constrained to provide only a slight increase in the density of baryons in the universe over the standard homogeneous model. In particular, it is found that models which rely on power laws and the random phase approximation for the power spectrum are incompatible with big bang nucleosynthesis unless an ad hoc, small-scale cutoff is included. {copyright} {ital 1995 The American Astronomical Society.}

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The increasing environmental concern and promotion of ''green processes'' are forcing the substitution of traditional acid and base homogeneous catalysts by solid ones. Among these heterogeneous catalysts, zeolites and zeotypes can be considered as real ''green'' catalysts, due to their benign nature from an environmental point of view. The importance of these inorganic molecular sieves within the field of heterogeneous catalysis relies not only on their microporous structure and the related shape selectivity, but also on the flexibility of their chemical composition. Modification of the zeolite framework composition results in materials with acidic, basic or redox properties, whereas multifunctional catalysts can be obtained by introducing metals by ion exchange or impregnation procedures...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This monograph gives a detailed and pedagogical account of the geometry of rigid superspace and supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories. While the core of the text is concerned with the classical theory, the quantization and anomaly problem are briefly discussed following a comprehensive introduction to BRS differential algebras and their field theoretical applications. Among the treated topics are invariant forms and vector fields on superspace, the matrix-representation of the super-Poincare group, invariant connections on reductive homogeneous spaces and the supermetric approach. Various aspects of the subject are discussed for the first time in textbook and are consistently presented in a unified geometric formalism.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Experiments were conducted which established that the higher passivating capacity of Ni/sub 60/Nb/sub 40/ alloys in the amorphous state and higher efficiency of the anodic process of generation of chlorine (2 N NaCl + HCl to pH = 0) in comparison with the crystalline state are determined by higher homogeneity and density of the passive films formed on the amorphous alloy and by higher electron conduction which depends directly on the difference in the structure of the passive films formed on the alloys in the amorphous and crystalline states.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The process of miniemulsification allows the generation of small, homogeneous, and stable droplets containing monomer or polymer precursors and magnetite which are then transferred by polymer reactions to the final polymer latexes, keeping their particular identity without serious exchange kinetics involved. It is shown that the miniemulsion process can excellently be used for the formulation of polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles which can further be used for biomedical applications. The use of high shear, appropriate surfactants, and the addition of a hydrophobe in order to suppress the influence of Ostwald ripening are key factors for the formation of the small and stable droplets in miniemulsion and will be discussed. Two different approaches based on miniemulsion processes for the encapsulation of magnetite into polymer particles will be presented in detail.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It is shown that all contracting, spatially homogeneous, orthogonal Bianchi cosmologies that are sourced by an ultra-stiff fluid with an arbitrary and, in general, varying equation of state asymptote to the spatially flat and isotropic universe in the neighbourhood of the big crunch singularity. This result is employed to investigate the asymptotic dynamics of a collapsing Bianchi type IX universe sourced by a scalar field rolling down a steep, negative exponential potential. A toroidally compactified version of M*-theory that leads to such a potential is discussed and it is shown that the isotropic attractor solution for a collapsing Bianchi type IX universe is supersymmetric when interpreted in an 11-dimensional context.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The authors suggested a conceptual model of automatic processing the data on radioactive environment contamination (REC) after the accidents at the plants with nuclear fuel cycle. The possibilities of mathematic methods of processing the data on REC in automatic-control systems of radiation situation. It is stated that the following 2 methods most of all satisfy the existing requirements: linear interpolation on the locally homogenous fields and successive parametric adaptation. As an example there are demonstrated the results of estimation of the actual radiation situation in the region of accident at Siberian Chemical Plant (town Tomsk-7) in April, 1993. 6 refs.; 2 figs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There is increasing demand to functionalize meso- and nano-porous materials by coating and make the porous substrate biocompatible or environment friendly. However, coating on a meso-porous substrate poses great challenges, especially if the pore aspect ratio is high. In the current work the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method is used for coating Ni{sub 3}Al-based meso-porous membranes with diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers of high thickness homogeneity and adhesion. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Minimum critical fissile concentrations are calculated for U-233, U-235, Pu-239, and Am-242m mixed homogeneously with hydrogen at temperatures to 15,000K. Minimum critical masses of the same mixtures in a 1000 liter sphere are also calculated. It is shown that propellent efficiencies of a gas core fizzler engine using Am-242m as fuel would exceed those in a solid core engine as small as 1000L operating at 100 atmospheres pressure. The same would be true for Pu-239 and possibly U-233 at pressures of 1000 atm. or at larger volumes.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Analytic expression is derived for X-ray fluorescence dependence on the particle size of powder and slurry media. The expression is obtained for a model of powder medium containing particles of different size and random distribution in the bulk of the sample. Limiting cases of homogeneous and slurry-like media are considered and expressions for calculation of the fluorescence intensity are derived. The results reasonably match the experiment for binary powder mixtures and thus provide evaluation of the powder particle size on the fluorescence intensity for multicomponent polydisperse powder medium

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We develop a new cavity with a mode similar to TE13 to produce microwave plasma, named APMPS II, which is able to produce a mass of air plasma with diameter of around 6 cm, equipped with about 3 kW input power under one atmosphere. The plasma seems to be homogeneous without significant filamentous discharge as observed by common camera device. We present the theory of this cavity, show the distribution of electric field of several planes inside the cavity and give some experimental results. (authors)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Both microstructural graded and homogenous single-phase #alpha#-Sialon is obtained from Si_3N_4 powder for a broad range of compositions of practical interest. Elongated grains of #alpha#-Sialon could be developed in the monophase material by controlled mechanism of nucleation and growth. Tailoring of microstructure was realized through slow transformation reaction from Si_3N_4 to #alpha#-Sialon at lower temperature than sintering temperature when the composition is near the #alpha#-Sialon phase boundary. The mechanical properties are strongly correlated with the microstructure and are enhanced greatly in the optimized Sialon composition. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The process of carbonate dissolution at the sediment-water interface has two possible end-member boundary conditions. Either the carbonate particles dissolve mostly before they are incorporated into the sediment by bioturbation (interface dissolution), or the vertical mixing is rapid relative to their extermination rate (homogeneous dissolution). In this study, a detailed radiocarbon profile was determined in deep equatorial Pacific sediment that receives a high rate of carbonate supply. In addition, a box model of sediment mixing was used to simulate radiocarbon, carbonate content, and excess thorium profiles that result from either boundary process following a dissolution increase. Results from homogeneous dissolution imply a strong, very recent erosional event, while interface dissolution suggests that moderately increased dissolution began about 10,000 years ago. In order to achieve the observed mixed layer radiocarbon age, increased ...

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Primary malignant lymphoma of the brain is a disease of unknown etiology, which is increasing in incidence and has an unfavorable prognosis. Despite the lack of specific changes on CT or MRI in most cases, these procedures may typically facilitate the diagnosis: A focal-enhancing mass with subependymal spread on CT or MRI and hyperattenuation on nonenhanced CT are the most reliable features in the diagnosis of primary malignant lymphoma of the brain. Peritumoral edema and mass effect are usually not prominent features. On unenhanced CT scans they usually appear homogeneously isodense to mildly hyperdense relative to the gray matter. On MRI these tumors are slightly hypointense on T1-weighted images and slightly hpyerintense on PD- and T2-weighted images relative to the gray matter. On CT and MRI enhancement is usually homogeneous. Contrast-enhanced MRI, with its multiplanar capability, lack of bone-induced artifacts, and high-contrast ...

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Abstract The past and future dynamical evolution of all 64 long-period comets having 1/aori 3.0-au and discovered after 1970 is studied. For this sample of Oort-spike comets we have obtained a new, homogeneous set of osculating orbits, including 15 orbits with detected non-gravitational parameters. The non-gravitational effects for 11 comets have been determined for the first time. This means that more than 50 per cent of all comets with perihelion distances between 3 and 4-au and discovered after 1970 show detectable deviations from purely gravitational motion. Each comet was then replaced with a swarm of 5001 virtual comets representing the observations well. These swarms were propagated numerically back and forth up to a heliocentric distance of 250-au, constitutin...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bituminization has to be selected as the process for conditioning radioactive liquid wastes arising from the two VVER V-230 reactors being built at Temelin in the Czech Republic. In the process, a thin-film evaporator, operating at a waste-product temperature of 160"oC, evaporates all free water from the waste effluents. Remaining solids are homogeneously dispersed in a bitumen matrix which solidifies through natural cooling of the binder. The relative simplicity of the process reduces construction costs for on-line waste facilities and operating costs are less given the cheap basic material and simple maintenance. The reliability of the process has been demonstrated at Western reactors and reprocessing plants though adaptations have had to be made to accept VVER effluents. (UK).

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The project is focused on the thermal hydraulic analyses of nuclear power plants. Specific areas of research have been the modelling of heat transfer in horizontal steam generator in presence of non-condensable gas, and the development of tools for multidimensional two-phase flow simulations. The effect of non-condensable gas on the heat transfer in the horizontal steam generator (SG) has been studied by calculating with APROS the PACTEL experiments NCG-1 (air injection) and NCG-3 (helium injection). The work done for the two-phase flow model development consists of two parts; improving the solution algorithm of porous media code PORFLO, and adding a homogeneous two-phase model to the commercial CFD code Fluent. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

As part of the general QC/QA management of the k_0-standardization, three types of 'SMELS' (synthetic multi-element standards) are being developed to check the performance of k_0-NAA when implemented in a laboratory. Phenol-formaldehyde resin is proposed in this paper as the matrix of choice. Based on previous work, this material could be prepared with sufficient purity so as to make interferences with the spiking elements negligible. The matrix was found to be adequately resistant towards high neutron flux irradiation. A selection was made of compounds, soluble in ethyl alcohol, for spiking the prepolymer ethanolic solution with the elements of interest. Finally, some prototypes were prepared and a satisfactory homogeneity of the spiked elements was found for 50 mg sample intake.

CERN Document Server

We report the results of the evaluation of the ``concentration-density'' relation of galaxies in the local universe, taking advantage of the very large and homogeneous data set available from the Las Campanas Redshift Survey (Shectman et al. 1996). This data set consists of galaxies inhabiting the entire range of galactic environments, from the sparsest field to the densest clusters, thus allowing us to study environmental variations without combining multiple data sets with inhomogeneous characteristics. Concentration is quantified by the automatically-measured concentration index $C$, which is a good measure of a galaxy's bulge-to-disk ratio. The environment of the sample galaxies is characterized both by the three-space local galaxy density and by membership in groups and clusters. We find that the distribution of C in galaxy populations varies both with local density and with cluster/group membership: the fraction of centrally-concentrated galaxies increases ...

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Abstract:- Brine solution injection of beef contaminated with-Escherichia coli-O157:H7 on its surface may lead to internalization of pathogen cells and/or cross-contamination of the brine, which when recirculated, may serve as a source of new product contamination. This study evaluated survival of-E. coli-O157:H7 in brines formulated without or with antimicrobials. The brines were formulated in sterile distilled water (simulating the composition of freshly prepared brines) or in a nonsterile 3% meat homogenate (simulating the composition of recirculating brines) at concentrations used to moisture-enhance meat to 110% of initial weight, as follows: sodium chloride (NaCl, 5.5%) + sodium tripolyphosphate (STP, 2.75%), NaCl + sodium pyrophosphate (2.75%), or NaCl + STP combined with potassium ...

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The light-emitting properties of cubic silicon carbide films grown by vacuum vapor phase epitaxy on Si(100) and Si(111) substrates under conditions of decreased growth temperatures (T gr ? 900?700?C) have been discussed. Structural investigations have revealed a nanocrystalline structure and, simultaneously, a homogeneity of the phase composition of the grown 3C-SiC films. Photoluminescence spectra of these structures under excitation of the electronic subsystem by a helium-cadmium laser (?excit = 325 nm) are characterized by a rather intense luminescence band with the maximum shifted toward the ultraviolet (?3 eV) region of the spectral range. It has been found that the integral curve of photoluminescence at low temperatures of measurements is split into a set of Lorentzian components. Th...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Low energy (<100 eV) Ar"+ ion bombardment of the growing film during the deposition of amorphous GaSb+Ge mixtures was found to affect both the transformation rate kinetics as well as the reaction path during subsequent annealing. Ion bombardment induced collisional cascades resulted in more random mixing in the growing films thus retarding the rate of the amorphous to equilibrium state phase transformation during annealing and allowing the formation of homogeneous metastable randomly oriented single phase (GaSb)/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ alloys. The films were approx.1.5 #mu#m thick and the average grain size in the metastable state was approx.300 A.

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The catalytic oxygen transfer properties of vanadium containing zeolites and vanadium based sol-gel catalysts with hydrogen peroxides are well known. The severe problem of vanadium leaching caused by the presence of the by-product water has been addressed. To avoid any interference with homogeneously catalyzed reactions, our study focusses on selective oxidations in a moisture-free medium with tert.-butylhydroperoxide. We have investigated the catalytic properties of amorphous microporous materials based on SiO{sub 2}, TiO{sub 2}, ZrO{sub 2} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} as matrix material and studied the effects of surface polarity on the oxidation of 1-octene and cyclohexane. (orig.)

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Whilst unwashed preparations of biomass from a local brewery had an apparent maximum biosorption capacity for uranium of 360 mg/g (dry weight biomass) washing reduced this maximum to 150 mg/g. Homogenization of both biomass preparations and recovery of cellular debris had no significant effect on the maximum biosorption capacities although at lower equilibrium concentrations of uranium differences in the biosorption capacities were detected. When unwashed biomass was retained by a semi-permeable membrane 40% of uranium used in the experiments precipitated outside that membrane. Therefore a significant proportion of the uranium removed from solution, and previously attributed to biosorption by the yeast biomass, resulted from precipitation brought about by interaction with low molecular weight components loosely associated with the biomass. (Author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In order to substitute expensive cast titanium alloys by powder ones the possibility of introduction of powder additions by mechanical stock mixing is studied. It is shown that microstructure of powder alloys of Ti-Zr(1-9%) system is typical for one-phase cast #alpha#-alloys. The Ti-Mo(1-9%) and Ti-Nb(1-9%) system alloys have microstructure typical for two-phase (#alpha#+#beta#)-alloys. For homogeneous structure to be obtained the high temprature annealing is advisable after hot pressing. Alloying with Mo, Zr and Nb permits to increase considerable the strength of powder titanium products (at 9% Mo more than two times).

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This paper addresses the problem of partitioning a local service region into nonoverlapping work areas in which pickups and deliveries are made throughout the day. For a fleet of homogeneous vehicles, a given set of customers, and expected demand for service, the objective is to find the least number of work areas or clusters that satisfy a variety of geometric and capacity constraints. Using rectangles as the basic shape, each cluster must have an aspect ratio that falls within certain bounds, as well as meet load and time requirements dictated by the capacity of a vehicle and the working hours in a day, respectively. The latter requirement presents a unique hurdle because travel times are a function of the actual routes followed by the drivers, and are not known, even in a probabilistic ...

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Atmospheric pressure tests were performed in which a palladium catalyst ignites and stabilizes the homogeneous combustion of methane. Palladium exhibited a reversible deactivation at temperatures above 750 C, which acted to ``self-regulate`` its operating temperature. A properly treated palladium catalyst could be employed to preheat a methane/air mixture to temperatures required for ignition of gaseous combustion (ca. 800 C) without itself being exposed to the mixture adiabatic flame temperature. The operating temperature of the palladium was found to be relatively insensitive to the methane fuel concentration or catalyst inlet temperature over a wide range of conditions. Thus, palladium is well suited for application in the ignition and stabilization of methane combustion.

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Water vapor is well known to be a critical component in many aspects of atmospheric research, such as radiative transfer and cloud and aerosol processes. This requires both improved measurements of the columnar water vapor and its profiles in the atmosphere in a wide range of conditions, and adjustment of water vapor parameterizations in radiation codes including the perfection of spectroscopic parameters. In this paper we will present the results of comparison of our calculations and downward solar fluxes measured with Rotating Shadowband Spectroradiometer under conditions of horizontally homogeneous clouds. We also will discuss the sensitivity of atmospheric radiation characteristics to variations of water vapor in the band 940 nm: these results may be useful for development of new methods of retrieval of the total column water vapor content (WVC) in the atmosphere from data of radiation observations.

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Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that certain N-substituted phthalimides (NSPs) exhibit GA-like activity in a range of specific bioassays and that bioactive NSPs compete with ({sup 3}H)-GA{sub 4} for soluble binding sites in cucumber homogenates. As such, these compounds may prove useful in the purification and characterization of GA receptor proteins. To this end, five azido-NSPs have been synthesized and are currently being screened for biological activity and photochemical stability. Three azido-NSPs elicit {alpha}-amylase production in barley half-seeds and stimulate tissue elongation in d{sub 5} maize, lettuce, sunflower, and soybean. Further evaluations are in progress and these data as well as the utility of these compounds as photo-affinity ligands will be discussed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The basic Quality Assurance Program Requirements standard for the National Waste Terminal Storage Program has been developed primarily for nuclear reactors and other fairly well established nuclear facilities. In the case of waste isolation, however, there are many ongoing investigations for which quality assurance practices and requirements have not been well defined. This paper points out these problems which require supplementary requirements. Briefly these are: (1) the language barrier, that is geologists and scientists are not familiar with quality assurance (QA) terminology; (2) earth sciences deal with materials that cannot be characterized as easily as metals or other materials that are reasonably homogeneous; (3) development and control of mathematical models and associated computer programs; (4) research and development.

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In general, macroscopic material failure is a manifestation of irreversible changes at the microscopic level. Many tissues, which may appear to be macroscopically homogeneous, are, at a fundamental microscopic level, a composite material. For example, cornea is composed of a hyaluronic acid matrix in which layers of collagen fibers are overlaid in a crossing pattern. The points where the collagen fibers intersect are potential nucleation sites for microscopic defects, which under the action of tensile stress, nucleate, grow and coalesce to form macroscopic failure planes, or spall planes. Using a model based on microstructural evolution, this paper examines the failure process during photoablation. Specifically, the paper describes a physically motivated, micromechanical model based on the nucleation and growth of spherical voids. This model is then used to simulate photoablation of cornea. Potential for using this model to predict the stress wave and material ...

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This article describes the complete microsporogenesis and pollen formation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) at the various developmental stages (pollen mother cell, meiosis, tetrads, early free spore, mid uninucleate, late uninucleate, binucleate and mature pollen grain). Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used for the study. Floral bud size and other inflorescence characteristics were correlated with specific stages of the microspore development. This association allows a rapid selection of floral buds with similar microspore developmental stages, useful when a large number of homogeneous cells are needed for analysis and for in vitro induction of androgenesis. This article also compares methods for digestion the exine wall ...

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Radon migration in porous, earthen materials is characterized by diffusion in both the air and water components of the system as well as by the interaction of the radon between the air and water. The size distribution and configuration of the pore spaces and their moisture distributions are key parameters in determining the radon diffusion coefficient for the bulk material. A mathematical model is developed and presented for calculating radon diffusion coefficients solely from the moisture content and pore size distribution of a soil, reducing the need for resorting to radon diffusion measurements. The resulting diffusion coefficients increase with the median pore diameter of the soil and decrease with increasing widths of the pore size distribution. The calculated diffusion coefficients are suitable for use in simple homogeneous-medium diffusion expressions for predicting radon transport and compare well with measured diffusion coefficients and with empirical ...

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Heme peroxidases are a class of multifunctional redox-active proteins found in all organisms. We recently cloned, expressed, and characterized an ascorbate peroxidase from Leishmania major (LmAPX) that was capable of detoxifying hydrogen peroxide. Localization studies using green fluorescent protein fusions revealed that LmAPX was localized within the mitochondria by its N-terminal signal sequence. Subcellular fractionation analysis of the cell homogenate by the Percoll density-gradient method and subsequent Western blot analysis with anti-LmAPX antibody further confirmed the mitochondrial localization of mature LmAPX. Submitochondrial fractionation analysis showed that the mature enzyme (?3.6?kDa shorter than the theoretical value of the whole gene) was present in the intermembrane space ...

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In globulitic gray iron (3.6 wt.% C, 2.4 wt.% Si and 0.45 wt.% Mn) the decomposition of austenite into bainite is investigated in real time using a new method based on neutron scattering. During the phase transformation transmission spectra of thermal neutrons are continuously recorded containing specific Bragg edges. Thus, the transformation is followed in-situ time resolved by evaluating the relative (micro)structural fractions of the transforming phases from the heights of the corresponding Bragg edges. The progression of the transformation is described and the results are discussed. The observed late time deviations from the Avrami law are explained by residual stresses of the second kind (homogeneous microstresses), which occur during the transformation because of the different specific volumes of the phases. ((orig.))

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A variety of observations suggest that the Universe had a hot dense origin and that the pregalactic composition of the Universe was determined by nuclear reactions that occurred in the first few minutes. There is no unique hot Big Bang theory, but the simplest version produces a primeval chemical composition that is in good qualitative agreement with the abundances deduced from observation. Whether or not any Big Bang theory will provide quantitative agreement with observations depends on a variety of factors in elementary particle physics (number and masses of stable or long-lived particles, half-life of neutron, structure of grand unified theories) and from observational astronomy (present mean baryon density of the Universe, the Hubble constant and deceleration parameter). The influence of these factors on the abundances is discussed, as is the effect of departures from homogeneity and isotropy in the early Universe.

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Some N-containing or S-containing organic substances and some acetylenic alcohols were tested as inhibitors of the corrosive attack suffered by Fe-based metallic glasses in deaerated 0.1 N sulfuric acid (H{sub 2}SO{sub 4}) solution at 25 C. It was verified that the specific action these compounds exerted on the corrosion process of the amorphous alloys was similar to the one these compounds exerted on polycrystalline iron. The most efficient substances were those containing a sulfur atom with available lone pairs, which chiefly inhibited the anodic reaction of both metal specimens. Owing to the chemical and physical homogeneity of the amorphous alloy, the chemisorbed inhibitor film that formed on the glassy surface was more stable and protective than that formed on the polycrystalline iron.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Within the framework of the Bianchi type-IX homogeneous space, we set up a system of coupled equations for the cosmic scale factors, scalar field, and radiative energy density. At the tree level, the equations are written in a self-consistent, Hartree-Fock form. For phi"4 theory, the system of nine first-order differential equations is solved numerically for a varying ratio of the energy of anisotropy to the vacuum energy. As the vacuum energy increases, there appears to be less reheating, since the energy of anisotropy is more efficiently converted into isotropic expansion. If the energy of anisotropy is large enough, the inflationary phase is prevented. In this case, a series of cosmological phase transitions will take place each time the square of the effective mass changes its sign.

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We have measured time-resolved laser-induced incandescence of flame-generated soot under high-vacuum conditions (4.1?10?6 mbar) at an excitation wavelength of 532 nm with laser fluences spanning 0.06?0.5 J/cm2. We generated soot in an ethylene/air diffusion flame, introduced it into the vacuum system with an aerodynamic lens, heated it using a pulsed laser with a spatially homogeneous and temporally smooth laser profile, and recorded LII temporal profiles at 685 nm. At low laser fluences LII signal decay rates are slow, and LII signals persist beyond the residence time of the soot particles in the detection region. At these fluences, the temporal maximum of the LII signal increases nearly linearly with increasing laser fluence until reaching a plateau at ?0.18?J/cm2. At higher fluences, th...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

There is little flame spread data for homogeneous energetic materials and no data for nitramines. We report the results of flame spread experiments of PBX 9501 (HMX (cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine) based explosive). The horizontal flame spread rate, Sf, is of the same order of magnitude as normal deflagration and varies nearly as the square root of pressure, as our scaling analysis presented here predicts. In the vertical orientation, the flame propagation downward was observed to be slightly faster than horizontal flame spread, presumably because of the melt layer flowing downward on the sample. In an accident scenario, a charge may be fractured or the surface roughened. Consequently, we also examined the effect of roughness. Minor roughness created by explosives machining was found to...

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The primary objective of batch data as trajectory alignment (or synchronization) is to standardize the data sampling per batch according to the evolution of the process, and secondarily to homogenize the samples per run. The use of an indicator variable performs both objectives well. Two examples from the pharmaceutical sector are discussed to illustrate the different ways to deal with uneven samples across batches and across variables in the same batch. Since trajectory alignment requires large time investment, a simple triage approach is proposed to assess the need to analyze the dynamics of a given process and hence perform alignment. The presented examples are representative of a broad variety of batch processes that are operated by recipe in the pharmaceutical sector. In our experienc...

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This paper investigates the effects of the electric current pulse (ECP) on the interface stability of Al-4.5% Cu alloy during the directional solidification. Experimental results show both the cellular spacing and the mushy zone depth decrease with increasing current density, moreover, the solid-liquid interface morphology transforms from dendritic to cellular or even planar interface. The secondary dendrites are suppressed due to the homogeneous distribution of the solute and the increase of temperature gradient originated from ECP. The decrease of the cellular spacing results from branching of the cellular tip caused by Joule heat of the current exerting on cellular tip.

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The standard Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) big bang model of the universe requires special initial conditions: the early universe is highly homogeneous and isotropic even though there exist causally disconnected regions (horizon problem). A plane symmetric (anisotropic) solution of field equations in a generalized theory of gravitation predicts the beginning of the universe as a vacuum instability at a specific fundamental time (which can be associated with the Planck time (tsub(p))), after which matter is created as the universe begins to expand. At a time t=tsub(c) there is a singular expansion, the anisotropy vanishes, and the physical horizon becomes infinite. Thereafter the solution of the field equations goes over into the FRW model. Thus the special initial conditions of the FRW model at the big bang singularity t=tsub(c) are predicted by the theory.

CERN Document Server

The stock market has been known to form homogeneous stock groups with a higher correlation among different stocks according to common economic factors that influence individual stocks. We investigate the role of common economic factors in the market in the formation of stock networks, using the arbitrage pricing model reflecting essential properties of common economic factors. We find that the degree of consistency between real and model stock networks increases as additional common economic factors are incorporated into our model. Furthermore, we find that individual stocks with a large number of links to other stocks in a network are more highly correlated with common economic factors than those with a small number of links. This suggests that common economic factors in the stock market can be understood in terms of deterministic factors.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The homogeneity of a helium dielectric barrier discharge, working at atmospheric pressure and containing oxygen as contaminant, is assessed by mapping the spatial distribution of oxygen metastable atoms in relation to the uniformity of surface properties. Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy is used to monitor the time evolution of the absorption coefficient corresponding to the oxygen metastable atoms on the 35S2 level, as a function of the laser absorbing path, whereas bi-dimensional Abel transform is used to obtain local information on the space distribution of the metastable atoms in the discharge. The radial distribution of the surface properties is investigated using atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that ...

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An easy and simple method for gamma assay of large multi-gamma lines samples was introduced in this work. This method performs the assay using point source calibration. The correction factors for volume and self-attenuation are experimentally deduced from the spectra of different thicknesses samples utilizing the following two simple well known facts: large and small samples of the same homogenous material have identical specific activities; the self-attenuation of gamma line decreases as its energy increases. The method was successfully applied to naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) large samples. This method does not require complicated mathematical procedures. Neither sample matrix data nor detector unit composition is needed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

An easy and simple method for gamma assay of large multi gamma lines samples was introduced in this work. This method performs the assay using point source calibration. The correction factors for volume and self-attenuation are experimentally deduced from the spectra of different thicknesses samples utilizing the following tow simple well known facts: Large and small samples of the same homogenous material have identical activities; the self attenuation of gamma line decreases as its energy increases. The method was successfully applied to NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) large samples. This method doesn't require complicated mathematical procedures. Neither sample matrix data nor detector unit composition is needed. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Lysis and extraction of cells are essential sample processing steps for investigations pertaining to metabolism of xenobiotics in cell culture studies. Of particular importance to these procedures are maintaining high lysis efficiency and analyte integrity as they influence the qualitative and quantitative distribution of drug and toxicant metabolites in the intra- and extracellular milieus. In this study we have compared the efficiency of different procedures viz. homogenization, sonication, bead beating, and molecular grinding resin treatment for disruption of HT-29 colon cells exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compound and a suspected colon carcinogen. Also, we have evaluated the efficiency of various procedures for extracting BaP parent c...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This study evaluates the trends of meteorological and agrometeorological indices computed at different sites in the Region of Umbria (Central Italy). The indices were selected on the basis of whether they enable the evaluation of the potential effects of climatic changes on agricultural water requirements and management. The meteorological stations were preliminarily selected considering the length and entirety of the data series and a homogeneous spatial coverage of the region under study. The daily rainfall and minimum and maximum temperature data collected at the stations were elaborated to calculate meteorological and agrometeorological indices (for corn, widespread irrigated crop in Central Italy).The results of the analysis show that rainfall has decreased generally everywhere and th...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Twenty-three patients with intracranial meningiomas were examined by means of magnetic resonance tomography (MRT). In 13 patients the paramagnetic contrast medium gadolinium DTPA was used. Meningiomas show only slight changes in signal intensity compared with brain in the spin-echo mode, the greatest contrast being found on photon density images (TR 1600 ms, TE 35 ms). In T1 images more than 50% of the patients showed a low signal margin between tumour and brain. Hyperostosis of the calvarium is easily recognised, but MRT is unreliable for showing tumour calcification. After intravenous injection of gadolinium DTPA, there was marked homogeneous uptake in the meningiomas. These signs are useful for the diagnosis of a meningioma by MRT. (orig.).

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CT findings were compared retrospectively between 9 cases with malignant lymphoma of the anterior mediastinum and 8 cases with invasive thymoma. CT findings of malignant lymphoma were as follows: (1) The majority of the tumors were bilateral and extended beyond the anterior mediastinum to the other mediastinum compartments. (2) Their margin was either smooth or lobulated. (3) Their density was either homogeneous or heterogeneous. In the case with heterogeneous density, ring, triangle and/or band-like low density areas, just like interspace of fused lymph nodes, were demonstrated. Calcification or cysts could not be shown. (4) Patent inherent vessels without deviation were occasionally demonstrated running through the tumors. (5) The tumors faced and contacted widely to anterior chest wall and often pressed the lung laterally at the anterior parietomediastinal pleural reflection. (6) Pleural implants were not demonstrated. (author).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Varroa destructor is an ectoparasitic mite that affects colonies of honey bee Apis mellifera worldwide. In the last years, substances of botanical origin have emerged as natural alternative acaricides to diminish the population levels of the mite. In the present work, the bioactivity of propolis from different geographical locations of Pampean region from Argentina on V. destructor was evaluated. Fourteen propolis samples were organoleptic and physicochemically characterized and, by means topical applications, their activity was tested on mites. All propolis had a homogeneous composition and the bioactivity levels against mites were comparable among the different propolis samples. The percentage of mites killed by the treatments ranged between 60.5% and 90% after 30?s of exposure. Thus, V....

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We investigate the quantum cosmology of spatially homogeneous models with compact spatial sections admitting a u(2) isometry algebra. The metric ansatz in these models is that of Bianchi type IX with two scale factors set to be equal. We apply the Hartle-Hawking no-boundary path integral prescription and find the semi-classical contributions to the wave function. Exact formulae are obtainable for certain contributions and otherwise the limits of large and small anisotropy (for the pure vacuum case) and large spatial volume or small anisotropy (for the case with a positive cosmological constant) are considered. For the pure vacuum case we find no semiclassical components which would correspond to Lorentzian universes. For the case with a cosmological constant the Hartle-Hawking boundary conditions formally constrain one of the parameters in the Lorentzian solutions to be purely imaginary. Possible interpretations of this imaginary parameter are discussed. 27 refs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Teleost gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) consists of leucocyte populations located both intraepithelially and in the lamina propria with no structural organization. The present study aims to assess different protocols for the isolation of GALT cells from an important fish species in the Mediterranean aquaculture, the gilthead seabream. Mechanical, chemical and enzymatic treatments were assayed. Nylon wool columns and continuous density gradients were used for further separation of cell subpopulations. Light microscopy and flow cytometry showed that the highest density band (HD) consisted of a homogeneous lymphocytic population, whereas the intermediate density band (ID) corresponded to epithelial and secretory cells and some lymphocytes. Respiratory burst activity of total cell suspen...

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The effects of reservoir layering and gravity segregation on nonisothermal injection and falloff tests are investigated. Results show that layering does not affect injection or falloff data if all the layers are permeable and accept fluids from the wellbore. In such cases, the average permeability, skin factor, and distance to the thermal front can be calculated using the techniques developed for homogeneous reservoirs. Special considerations have to be taken for cases where several layers are impermeable or are permeable but do not accept fluids of the well face. In the first case (impermeable layers), knowledge of the total thickness of the permeable layers is required for the existing techniques to be applied successfully. In the second case, the existing techniques cannot be applied, but characteristic responses from injection and falloff test are seen; therefore, this case can be identified easily. 13 refs., 8 figs.

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The purpose of this work was to evaluate the quality of a rural area near Faenza (Italy) by using an active biomonitoring approach, i.e., by placing homogeneous individuals of the perennial shrub Rosa rugosa in different sites throughout the area. Further sites, within the city or its environs, were used for comparison. Soil and leaves of R. rugosa were analyzed for their heavy metal content. The total heavy metal pattern of leaves closely paralleled the pattern registered in soil, with the highest content (both in total and assimilable forms) at the site in the urban area, which is exposed to heavy traffic. Pollen quality (abortiveness and viability) was also tested as a potential indicator of pollution. Pollen abortiveness was strictly related to Pb levels in leaves, while viability was ...

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We present ANAPPRES V1.0, the first version of a computerized expert system capable of analyzing constant- and variable-flowrate interference tests, in which there is one active well and an arbitrary number of observation wells, in liquid-saturated homogeneous reservoirs. ANAPPRES successfully couples mathematical models, optimization techniques, heuristic knowledge and computerized graphics, a combination not often found in published expert systems. Its main advantages are that it is user friendly, requires essentially no experience on the part of the analyst, eliminates subjectivity associated with earlier techniques of analysis, can handle complex cases and large data sets, completes the analysis of even the most complex cases (including plotting the results) in one run, and is significantly faster than a human expert.

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An analytical method was proposed for calculating radiative fluxes incident on a planar circular detector from a volume multiple point chemi- or bio-luminescent source inside a coaxial cylindrical reactor. The method was designed for a cylindrical reactor when the surface reflections were neglected and when chemi- or bio-luminescence reaches a detector embedded in the same homogeneous optical medium as the point emitters of the volume multiple point source model. The radiative fluxes from arbitrarily distributed point emitters were expressed by one generalized quadruple-integral formula. Then some double- and single-integral formulas were obtained for calculating radiative fluxes from identically radiating point emitters uniformly distributed within the reactor. Selected results were compu...

CERN Document Server

In this paper we deal with a new class of Clifford algebra valued automorphic forms on arithmetic subgroups of the Ahlfors-Vahlen group. The forms that we consider are in the kernel of the operator $D \\Delta^{k/2}$ for some even $k \\in {\\mathbb{Z}}$. They will be called $k$-holomorphic Cliffordian automorphic forms. $k$-holomorphic Cliffordian functions are well equipped with many function theoretical tools. Furthermore, the real component functions have also the property that they are solutions to the homogeneous and inhomogeneous Weinstein equation. This function class includes the set of $k$-hypermonogenic functions as a special subset. While we have not been able so far to propose a construction for non-vanishing $k$-hypermonogenic cusp forms for $k \

CERN Document Server

The increasing number of aspect mining techniques proposed in literature calls for a methodological way of comparing and combining them in order to assess, and improve on, their quality. This paper addresses this situation by proposing a common framework based on crosscutting concern sorts which allows for consistent assessment, comparison and combination of aspect mining techniques. The framework identifies a set of requirements that ensure homogeneity in formulating the mining goals, presenting the results and assessing their quality. We demonstrate feasibility of the approach by retrofitting an existing aspect mining technique to the framework, and by using it to design and implement two new mining techniques. We apply the three techniques to a known aspect mining benchmark and show how they can be consistently assessed and combined to increase the quality of the results. The techniques and combinations are implemented in FINT, our publicly available free aspect ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report presents the results of a study dealing with the homogeneous recycling of either Pu or Pu+Np or Pu+Np+Am or Pu+Np+Am+Cm in PWRs using MOX-UE fuel, i.e. standard MOX fuel with a U235 enriched uranium support instead of the standard tail uranium (0.25%) for standard MOX fuel. This approach allows to multirecycle Pu or TRU (Pu+MA) as long as U235 is available, by keeping the Pu or TRU content in the fuel constant and at a value ensuring a negative moderator void coefficient (i.e. the loss of the coolant brings imperatively the reactor to a subcritical state). Once this value is determined, the U235 enrichment of the MOX-UE fuel is adjusted in order to reach the target burnup (51 GWd/t in this study).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A cell calculation code SLAROM-UF was developed to improve calculation accuracy of effective cross sections for various fast reactor types. SLAROM-UF has a capability to calculate effective cross sections in ultra fine groups of about 100,000 below 50keV and in fine groups above the energy (maximum 900 groups). Resonance interaction among the fuel, the coolant, and the structure materials can be treated accurately even in a heterogeneous cell structure. Temperature can be set up freely in a cell by the ultra fine group calculation. Improvement in nuclear characteristics was observed in the analysis of JUPITER critical experiment, as 0.1% for criticality, 4% for sodium void reactivity, several % for radial reaction rate distribution, when SLAROM-UF was used instead of the typical cell calculation code. The effect of the ultra fine group calculation is remarkable in the non-leakage term of sodium void reactivity, and that of the fine group calculation is in the case that neutron spectrum ...

Science.gov (United States)

Magmatic sulfide deposits are the most significant source of platinum-group elements (PGE) in the world. Key to understanding their genesis is determining the processes and timing of sulfide saturation, metal enrichment and crustal contamination. In this study, we have identified droplets of magmatic sulfide from the Platreef, South Africa, where droplets of sulfide have been trapped in the earliest crystallising phase, chromite. Due to their early entrapment at high temperatures, metal concentrations and ratios that they display are indicative of a very early-stage sulfide liquid in the system, as they will have cooled and fractionated within an essentially closed system, unlike interstitial blebs that crystallise in an open system as the magma cools. Analysis of these droplets in an opaque mineral like chromite by LA-ICP-MS is problematic as some of the fractionated inclusion is necessarily lost during cutting and polishing to initially identify the inclusion. This particularly ...

Science.gov (United States)

This study addresses the modeling of transdermal diffusion of drugs, to better understand the permeation of molecules through the skin, and especially the stratum corneum, which forms the main permeation barrier of the skin. In transdermal delivery of systemic drugs, the drugs diffuse from a patch placed on the skin through the epidermis to the underlying blood vessels. The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and can be further divided into the stratum corneum (SC) and the viable epidermis layers. The SC consists of keratinous cells (corneocytes) embedded in the lipid multi-bilayers of the intercellular space. It is widely accepted that the barrier properties of the skin mostly arises from the ordered structure of the lipid bilayers. The diffusion path, at least for lipophilic molecules, seems to be mainly through the lipid bilayers. Despite the advantages of transdermal drug delivery compared to other drug delivery routes such as oral dosing and injections, the low ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The two-phase flows involve interfacial interactions which modify significantly the structure of the mean and fluctuating flow fields. The design of the two-fluid models adapted to industrial flows requires the taking into account of the effect of these interactions in the closure relations adopted. The work developed in this thesis concerns the development of first order two-fluid models deduced by reduction of second order closures. The adopted reasoning, based on the principle of decomposition of the Reynolds stress tensor into two statistically independent contributions turbulent and pseudo-turbulent parts, allows to preserve the physical contents of the second order relations closure. Analysis of the turbulence structure in two basic flows: homogeneous bubbly flows uniform and with a constant shear allows to deduce a formulation of the two-phase turbulent viscosity involving the characteristic scales of bubbly turbulence, as well as an analytical description ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Increasing frequency of skin cancer, mycosis fungoides, Kaposi sarcoma etc, it need to treatment dose planning for total skin electron beam (TSEB) therapy. Appropriate treatment planning for TSEB therapy is needed to give homogeneous dose distribution throughout the entire skin surface. The energy of 6 MeV electron from the 18 MeV medical linear accelerator was adapted for superficial total skin electron beam therapy. The energy of the electron beam was reduced to 4.2 MeV by a 0.5cmx90cmx180cm acryl screen placed in a feet front of the patient. Six dual field beam was adapted for total skin irradiation to encompass the entire body surface from head to toe simultaneously. The patients were treated behind the acryl screen plate acted as a beam scatterer and contained a parallel-plate shallow ion chamber for dosimetry and beam monitoring. During treatment, the patient was placed in six different positions due to be homogeneous dose distribution ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of this study was to compare a 1-day with a 2-day iodine bowel preparation for CT colonography in a positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening population. One hundred consecutive patients underwent CT colonography and colonoscopy with segmental unblinding. The first 50 patients (group 1) ingested 7*50 ml iodinated contrast starting 2 days before CT colonography. The latter 50 patients (group 2) ingested 4*50 ml iodinated contrast starting 1 day before CT colonography. Per colonic segment measurements of residual stool attenuation and homogeneity were performed, and a subjective evaluation of tagging quality (grade 1-5) was done. Independently, two reviewers performed polyp and carcinoma detection. The tagging density was 638 and 618 HU (p = 0.458) and homogeneity 91 and 86 HU for groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.145). The tagging quality was graded 5 (excellent) in 90% of all segments in group 1 and 91% in group 2 (p = ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This investigation presents scale-up of a detailed heterogeneous geostatistical model to a full field reservoir simulation model, considering both single and two-phase flow properties. The model represents a typical low permeability Danish North Sea chalk reservoir and includes capillary pressure and saturation end-point variations. Two new up-scaling methods has been investigated, all based on fine scale simulation on a cross section of the geomodel. The first methods assumes piston style behaviour and a coupled viscosity is introduced into the basic Darcy`s equations. The second method is a modification of the JBN method traditionally applied in analysing results from core flooding experiments, which emerged as the most successful and therefore also the recommended method. 1. In addition to the up scaling work we review the Equivalent Radius Method for capillary pressure normalisation with explicit derivation of type functions for Maastrichtian and Danian chalk types. Implementation ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An important component of the overall program to validate WIMS-AECL for use with RFSP in the analysis of CANDU-6 reactors for design and safety analysis calculations is the validation of calculations of incremental cross sections used to represent reactivity devices. A method has been developed for the calculation of the three-dimensional neutron flux distribution in and around CANDU reactor fuel channels and reactivity control devices. The methods is based on one- and two dimensional transport calculations with the WIMS-AECL lattice cell code, SPH homogenization, and three-dimensional flux calculations with finite-difference diffusion theory using the MULTICELL code. Simulations of Wolsung 1 Phase-B commissioning measurements and Point Lepreau restart tests have been performed, as a part of the program to validate WIMS-AECL lattice cell calculations for application to CANDU reactor simulations in RFSP. The incremental cross section properties of the Wolsung 1 and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The unsteady state heat transfer behaviour of a vertical wall subject to the effects of uniform radiation is investigated and the dimensional analysis of combined heat transfers by conduction, convection and radiation is presented. The convective heat transfer coefficients used in the numerical model are determined experimentally by means of an assembly resembling the conditions encountered in the dwelling (variable temperatures and heat flows in time and space, wall associated with a floor, radiative flux outside the wall). In routine conditions (homogeneous wall dimensions, temperature differentials less than 40/sup 0/C), it is shown that the problem depends in practice on three parameters (instead of five) and that nomographs can give the energy accumulated in the wall as a function of its geometric and thermal charactersitics and the external conditions (type and thickness of material, changes in incident flux, convection over the height of the wall in laminar, ...

CERN Document Server

Two dimensional gyrokinetics is a simple paradigm for the study of kinetic turbulence. We study the inertial range dual cascade, assuming a homogeneous and isotropic random forcing. This cascade occurs in phase-space (two dimensions in position-space plus one dimension in velocity-space) via the nonlinear phase-mixing process, at scales smaller than the Larmor radius. At these scales, we show that the turbulence is self-similar and exhibits power law spectra in position and velocity-space. The velocity-space spectrum is treated via a Hankel transform which fits naturally with the mathematical framework of gyrokinetics. We derive the exact relations for third order structure functions, in analogy to Kolmogorov's four-fifths law. For scales larger than the Larmor radius, the two dimensional gyrokinetic system may be reduced to the well-studied Charney--Hasegawa--Mima equation or the vorticity equation describing incompressible two dimensional fluid turbulence. We ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A homogeneous turbulent mixing of coolant flows with different temperatures at the fuel assembly inlets is an important requirement to minimize hot spots in a fuel assembly of a High Performance Light Water Reactor (HPLWR). Therefore, the mixing chamber between lower core plate, flow adjuster and the mixing chamber within the cluster foot piece diffuser have been investigated using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-code Fluent 6.1 and its implemented k-#epsilon# model. The previously presented 3D-CAD-geometry has been simplified using Gambit 2.1.2 and consists of various inlet and outlet tubes or channels in the foot piece bottom plate, the lower core plate and the flow adjuster establishing the boundaries of two consecutive mixing chambers. The temperature distribution at the inlet of the sub-channels of the cluster fuel assemblies is presented. It reveals temperature variations at the coolant inlet of the nine fuel assemblies which are not acceptable. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The analytical results of blowdown characteristics and thrust forces were compared with the experiments, which were performed as pipe whip and jet discharge tests under the PWR LOCA conditions. The blowdown thrust forces were obtained by Navier-Stokes momentum equation for a single-phase, homogeneous and separated two-phase flow, assuming critical pressure at the exit if a critical flow condition was satisfied. The following results are obtained: (1) The node-junction method is useful for both the analyses of the blowdown thrust force and of the water hammer phenomena. (2) The Henry-Fauske model for subcooled critical flow is effective for the analysis of the maximum thrust force under the PWR LOCA conditions. The jet thrust parameter of the analysis and experiment is equal to 1.08. (3) The thrust parameter of saturated blowdown has the same one with the value under pressurized condition when the stagnant pressure is chosen as the saturated one. (4) The dominant ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Software has been developed for the calculation of the thermodynamic cycle and the entropy changes in a turbocharged, direct injection, diesel engine based upon the measured cylinder pressure and a shaft encoder output. Assumptions of homogeneous mixture and equilibrium thermodynamic properties are made for the products of combustion and temporal variation in the fluid thermodynamic state is followed in a quasi-steady manner through a series of adjacent equilibrium states, each separated by finite intervals of one degree crank angle (1degCA). The thermodynamic properties are calculated by either of two equivalent formulations -- equilibrium constant or minimisation of Gibbs free energy, and are expressed in algebraic equations of the partial derivative of internal energy and gas constant with respect to temperature, pressure and equivalence ratio. The effect of the engine operating conditions on the thermodynamic cycle is studied, Results show that the dynamic fuel ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Precondition for the low-NO operation of gas turbine burners is the generation of as homogeneous as possible a gaseous fuel/air mixture. Such a burner behavior can be achieved by selective adaptation of the flow and injection. A computing model is introduced that calculates the dynamically balanced GASs/droplet flow through numerical solution of the transport equations in a curved orthogonal coordinate system. The feedback reaction of the fuel droplets to the gas phase is considered by source terms and/or sink terms. Test computations were carried out for comparison with analytical solutions from the flow mechanics and validated by comparison with measurement results. Droplet motion and evaporation were checked by means of published experimental results on single droplets. For the validation of the developed computing technique, model tests were carried out with water in place of fuel. It is pointed out that the choice of different parameters is of importance for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We consider spatially homogeneous (but generally non-isotropic) cosmologies in the recently proposed Horava-Lifshitz gravity and compare them to those of general relativity using Hamiltonian methods. In all cases, the problem is described by an effective point particle moving in a potential well with exponentially steep walls. Focusing on the closed-space cosmological model (Bianchi type IX), the mixmaster dynamics is now completely dominated by the quadratic Cotton tensor potential term for a very small volume of the universe. Unlike general relativity, where the evolution toward the initial singularity always exhibits chaotic behavior with alternating Kasner epochs, the anisotropic universe in Horava-Lifshitz gravity (with parameter #lambda# > 1/3) is described by a particle moving in a frozen potential well with fixed (but arbitrary) energy E. Alternating Kasner epochs still provide a good description of the early universe for very large E, but the evolution ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Experimental and theoretical work have been carried out to find out the effects of heat transfer augmentation on two-phase flow instabilities in a single channel system. The effect of mass flow rate, heat input and inlet subcooling on the system behavior is studied using Freon-11 as the test fluid and six different heater surfaces are tested at various experimental conditions. Experimental evaluation is done using the steady-state pressure drop versus mass flow rate curves along with the curves of additional inlet pressure drop required to stabilize the system during the oscillations, and tables generated using the experimental data. Homogeneous equilibrium flow model and finite differences are used in theoretical analysis. An empirical relationship is obtained to calculate the pressure drop across the exit restriction. Characteristic equation for the system is found by linearizing the dynamic equations of the overall system and analyzed to determine the ...

CERN Document Server

We study from a critical perspective several quantum-electrodynamic phenomena commonly related to vacuum electromagnetic (EM) fluctuations in complex media. We compute the resonance-shift, the spontaneous emission rate, the local density of states and the van-der-Waals-Casimir pressure in a dielectric medium using a microscopic diagrammatic approach. We find, in agreement with some recent works, that these effects cannot be attributed to variations on the energy of the EM vacuum but to variations of the dielectric self-energy. This energy is the result of the interaction of the bare polarizability of the dielectric constituents with the EM fluctuations of an actually polarized vacuum. We have found an exact expression for the spectrum of these fluctuations in a statistically homogeneous dielectric. Those fluctuations turn out to be different to the ones of normal radiative modes. It is the latter that carry the zero-point-energy (ZPE). Concerning spontaneous ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) supported cobalt oxide composites as high-capacity anode materials were prepared through a facile, effective method for potential use in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The effects of the calcining temperature on the crystallinity, grain size, specific surface area of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} and phase transformation from Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} to CoO were studied in detail. Both the specific surface area and CNF content in CNF-cobalt oxide composites strongly affect the electrochemical performance of these series composites. The CNF-Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} composite with 24.3% CNF pyrolyzed at 500{sup o}C in Ar shows an excellent cycling performance, retaining a specific capacity of 881 mAh g{sup -1} beyond 100 cycles. Homogeneous deposition and distribution of nanosized Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} particles on the surface of CNF can stabilize the electronic and ionic conductivity as well as the morphology of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} phase, which may be the main reason ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of this work is the comparative study of the properties of the natural graphite/liquid organic electrolyte interface by impedance spectroscopy with respect to different lithium salts (LiX with X = ClO{sub 4}{sup -}, BF{sub 4}{sup -}, CF{sub 3}SO{sub 3}{sup -}, N(CF{sub 3}SO{sub 2}){sub 2}{sup -}, PF{sub 6}{sup -}). The evolution of the interface properties during the first electrochemical reduction suggests different mechanisms of formation of passivation films. A more stable, thin and homogenous film seems to develop when the LiN(CF{sub 3}SO{sub 2}){sub 2} or LiPF{sub 6} lithium salts are used. The chemical diffusion coefficient of lithium in graphite has been determined by impedance spectroscopy. (J.S.) 16 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Because of the environmental hazard of organic solvents such as chlorinated or aromatic hydrocarbons, water soluble and biodegradable substitutes have come into use. It should be assessed how they affect soil and aquifer when spilled in leaks or accidents. This was simulated in a model system using methanol and percolation columns, one filled with material from the unsaturated subsurface and two with different materials from aquifers. The results reveal that a spill of the substitutes can also cause problems. In homogeneous soils and at long retention times until the substance reaches the aquifer, sorption and biological degradation are most likely to prevent contamination of the groundwater. When oxygen supply in the subsurface is insufficient, reducing conditions occur and sulphide is formed. The data show that much more methanol was eliminated than reflected by the consumption of electron acceptors. This indicates that sorption and anabolic turnover of the ...

Science.gov (United States)

Internet bandwidth is in high demand, and one way that web sites lower the amount of bandwidth they use is by compressing their site's images. This lowers the amount of bandwidth used, and makes the site load much faster. There are of course many other useful applications for compressed images. Bit Plane Complexity Segmentation (BPCS) digital picture steganography is a technique to hide data inside an image file. BPCS achieves high embedding rates with low distortion based on the theory that noise-like regions in a bit-plane can be replaced with noise-like secret data without discernible loss in image quality. This is possible because the human eye, while very good at distinguishing anomalies in areas of homogenous texture, is bad at distinguishing anomalies in visually complex areas. However, BPCS is not a robust embedding scheme, and any lossy compression usually destroys the data. Wavelet image compression using the Discreet Wavelet Transform (DWT) is the basis ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Spherical nanostructured Si/C composite was prepared by spray drying technique, followed by heat treatment, in which nanosized silicon and fine graphite particles were homogeneously embedded in carbon matrix pyrolyzed by phenol formaldehyde resin. Cyclic voltammetry tests showed two pairs of redox peaks corresponding to lithiation and delithiation of Si/C composite. The Si/C composite exhibited a reversible capacity of 635 mAh g"-"1 and good cycle performance used in lithium ion batteries. To improve cycle performance of this Si/C composite further, the carbon-coated Si/C composite was synthesized by the second spray drying and heat treatment processing. The cycle performance of carbon-coated Si/C composite was improved significantly, which was attributed to the formation of stable SEI passivation layers on the outer surface of carbon shell which protected the bared silicon from exposing to electrolyte directly.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sodium nitrate waste has been successfully solidified in two types of polymeric materials: polyethylene, a thermoplastic material, and polyester styrene (PES), a thermosetting material. Waste form property evaluation tests such as ANS 16.1 leaching test and compressive strength measurements were performed on the waste forms containing various amounts of sodium nitrate. A single-screw extruder was employed for incorporating dry waste into polyethylene at its melt temperature of 120/sup 0/C to produce a homogenous mixture. Results of the leaching test for polyethylene waste forms containing 30, 50, 60 and 70 wt% sodium nitrate are presented as cumulative fraction leached and leaching indices ranging from 11 to 7.8. Two PES systems are discussed. The first is for solidification of dry salt wastes and the second is a water extendible system that is compatible with wet waste streams. Leaching data for PES and water extendible PES waste forms containing 30 wt% sodium ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A first-order one-way wave system has been created based on characteristic analysis of the acoustic wave system and optimization of the dispersion relation. The authors demonstrate that this system is equivalent to a third-order scalar partial-differential equation which, for a homogeneous medium, reduces to a form similar to the 45{degree} paraxial wave equation. This system describes accurately waves propagating in a 2D heterogeneous medium at angles up to 75{degree}. The one-way wave system representing downgoing waves is used for a modified reverse time migration method. As a wavefield extrapolator in migration, the downgoing wave system propagates the reflection events backwards to their reflectors without scattering at the discontinuities in the velocity model. Hence, images with amplitudes proportional to reflectivity can be obtained from this migration technique. They present examples of the application of the new migration method to synthetic seismic data ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

From the indoor radon problem arises a great challenge for the radiation protection of the population. The soil can be considered as the only source for high radon concentrations in buildings. The contribution of common building materials to high indoor concentrations with a range of 30 Bq/m"3 is negligible low. Therefore building materials for radon mitigation should be judged by their tightness against diffusive radon and not by their radon exhalation rate. Also isolation materials for mitigation should be radon tight. The radon diffusion coefficient describes the physical processes in relatively homogeneous samples. The diffusion coefficient D and the diffusion length R are very exactly determined by a self engineered measuring method. The range of D reaches from D = (0.0005 to 2.35) . 10"-"6 m"2/s for building materials and from D = (0.07 to < 10"-"6) . 10"-"6 m"2/s for isolation materials. Applicable mitigation measures like increased ventilation rates, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A new industrial process allowing to reach very high cooling rates in the cooling section after soaking of a continuous annealing line for steel sheets is presented. This process constitutes the successful conclusion of a long term research programme, jointly carried out at CRM and Arcelor Cockerill-Sambre for three years, including laboratory experiments, pilot scale trials and several industrial campaigns. It is running on from developments performed in the framework of the HOWAQ (Hot Water Quench) process. The process successively combines a moderate cooling step (600 deg C/s for 0.8 mm thick strips), in boiling water, and a faster cooling step (above 700 deg C/s), by impinging turbulent cold water in a box. Its main features are simplicity, resulting from advanced developments, soundness, flexibility and cooling homogeneity. As treated steel products are characterized by improved mechanical properties, outstanding surface quality (corrosion resistance) and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper introduces a new method to produce nano-composite powder for the preparation of high performance ZnO varistors. ZnO particles were coated with Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Co{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} and other additives via liquid nano-coating technique. Then the prepared powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravity and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and particle size distribution. The results showed that the ZnO composite powder is homogeneously coated and ultrafine. The densification, phase composition and microstructure of ZnO varistors was studied by linear shrinkage, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and SEM, respectively. The preliminary electrical parameters of ZnO varistors showed that the breakdown voltage V {sub b} (1 mA/cm{sup 2}) and nonlinear coefficient {alpha} is 5400 V/cm and 50, respectively, much higher than that of conventional ball milling ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li{sub 1.3}Al{sub 0.3}Ti{sub 1.7}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} thin films were successfully prepared by the solution deposition using lithium acetate, aluminum nitrate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and titanium butoxide as starting materials. The structure, surface morphology, electrochemical window, and ionic conductivity of the films were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance. The results showed that Li{sub 1.3}Al{sub 0.3}Ti{sub 1.7}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} thin films annealed between 750 deg. C and 900 deg. C prepared by this method were well crystallized, homogenous and crack-free. The electrochemical window was beyond 2.4 V and the ionic conductivity was approximately 1.57x10{sup -5} S/cm at room temperature for the film annealed at 800 deg. C for 30 min.

Science.gov (United States)

The work reported in this paper addresses the problem of structure-borne sound transmission between vibrating sources and ribbed-plate receiver structures. Vibrating sources, such as pumps, motors, fans, etc., transmit vibro-acoustic power, causing noise complaints by occupants in cars, trains, aircraft, buildings and/or material fatigue and damage. The transmission process is complicated in that sources transmit power through several contacts and by up to six components of excitation at each contact. The structure-borne sound power is a function of source activity, source mobility and receiver mobility, and all three quantities must be known to some degree. For non-homogeneous receiver structures, such as thin-plate cavity constructions or lightweight framed constructions, the sheathing plates are typically fastened to the framing members using bolts, screws or spot-welded joints. Hence the resulting system is a point-connected ribbed plate structure and the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nano-sized zinc oxide was synthesized and deposited onto cellulosic fibers using the sol-gel process at ambient temperature. The prepared materials were characterized using several techniques including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction studies of the ZnO-coated fiber indicate formation of the hexagonal crystal phase which was satisfactory crystallized on the fiber surface. The electron micrographs show formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles within 10-15 nm in size which have been homogeneously dispersed on the fiber surface. The prepared materials show significant photocatalytic self-cleaning activity, which was monitored by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photoactivity was studied upon measuring the photodegradation of methylene blue and eosin yellowish under UV-Vis irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of the treated fabrics ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

With respect to concept of resolution in seismic exploration using the reflection method, detailed considerations were given on processes of forming the resolution as a result of arranging observation points at vibration transmitting and receiving points. In the discussion, numerical experiments were carried out, in which the scattering stacking process is applied in a model having one scatterer existing in homogeneous media. The experiments investigated an imaging formation process of the scatterer when arrangement of the vibration transmitting and receiving points were changed from a coarse condition to a dense condition while the number of transmitting and receiving points is being increased. Resolution is created if waveforms having finite frequencies are used as input, and the imaging is performed by utilizing the limited number of vibration receiving and transmitting points. If the concept of equi-travel plane is used under these conditions, the equi-travel ...

Science.gov (United States)

A new method, near-infrared laser desorption/ionization aerosol mass spectrometry (NIR-LDI-AMS), is described for the real time analysis of organic aerosols at atmospherically relevant mass loadings. Use of a single NIR laser pulse to vaporize and ionize particle components deposited on an aluminum probe results in minimal fragmentation to produce exclusively intact pseudomolecular anions at [M-H](-). Limits of detection (total particulate mass sampled) for oxidized compounds of relevance to atmospheric primary and secondary organic aerosol range from 89 fg for pinic acid to 8.8 pg for cholesterol. NIR-LDI-AMS was used in conjunction with the University of Vermont Environmental Chamber to study secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from ozonolysis of limonene at total aerosol mass loadings ranging from 3.2 to 25.0 ?g m(-3) and with a time resolution of several minutes. NIR-LDI-AMS permitted direct delineation between gas-phase, homogeneous SOA formation and ...

Science.gov (United States)

In previous molecular phylogenetic analyses of the freshwater mussel family Unionidae (Bivalvia: Unionoida), the Afrotropical genus Coelatura had been recovered in various positions, generally indicating a paraphyletic Unionidae. However that result was typically poorly supported and in conflict with morphology-based analyses. We set out to test the phylogenetic position of Coelatura by sampling tropical lineages omitted from previous studies. Forty-one partial 28S nuclear rDNA and partial COI mtDNA sequences (1130 total aligned nucleotides) were analyzed separately and in combination under both maximum parsimony and likelihood, as well as Bayesian inference. There was significant phylogenetic incongruence between the character sets (partition homogeneity test, p<0.01), but a novel heuristic for comparing bootstrap values among character sets analyzed separately and in combination illustrated that the observed conflict was due to homoplasy rather than separate ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Micropatterned materials were obtained by a controlled laser ablation of a photoimmobilised homogeneous layer of hyaluronic acid (Hyal) and its sulphated derivative (HyalS). The photoimmobilisation was performed by coating the polysaccharide, adequately functionalised with a photoreactive group, on aminosilanised glass substrate and immobilising it on the surface under UV light. Hyal or HyalS photoimmobilised samples were then subjected to laser ablation with wavelengths in the UV regions in order to drill the pattern. Four different patterns with stripes of 100, 50, 25 and 10 {mu}m were generated. A chemical characterisation by attenuated total reflection/Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FT-IR) and time of flight-secondary ions mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) confirmed the success of the laser ablation procedure and the presence of alternating stripes of polysaccharide and native glass. The exact dimensions of the stripes were determined by atomic force microscopy. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the production of heavy-sectioned ferritic spheroidal graphite iron castings for such parts as spent fuel shipping container (cask), undesirable structures like abnormal graphite lamella, pearlite or so-called chinese script type of inclusions tend to appear, deteriorating the mechanical properties at the central part of the section where molten iron freezes last. 500 mm thick cylindrical vessels with bottom, weighing 18 tons and 33 tons, were poured as trial products of casks. Solidification structure and mechanical properties were examined at many portions of the castings. By controlling chemical composition, solidification time and inoculation process the structure and the mechanical properties in the last portion of the section to solidify were improved. Sufficiently homogeneous heavy-sectioned ferritic spheroidal graphite iron castings were successfully produced in the as-cast state. In addition, quality assurance process by using test pieces taken from the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The reliability of the surface condenser is a key factor in plant performance level and maintenance cost optimization. This is especially the case for thermal nuclear plants where condenser raw wa-ter ingress can introduce contamination into the chemically-controlled, steam/water loop potentially causing damage to sensitive equipment. Two important parameters must be taken into account when attempting to optimize the quality and the reliability of condenser tubing. They include selecting the appropriate material according to the cooling water corrosion level present. A second and equally important parameter is the manufac-turing of the tubing product itself. This paper will identify methods to optimize manufacturing processes and improve tubing quality, according to VALTIMET's 30 years of condenser welded tubing production experience. Those methods complete the core manufacturing process (forming and welding), through improvement of the metallurgical ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

60 patients between 17 and 72 years of age were investigated. First, an enteroclysis was performed in typical manner. The applicated methylcellulosis was blended with positive oral MR contrast media (Magnevist oral, Schering). After enteroclysis, MRI of the abdomen was performed using T1- and T2-weighted breathhold sequences (Flash 2D pre- and postcontrast and TSE) in axial and coronal planes. The length of the affected bowel and the stenosis seen with enteroclysis correlated well with the visible thickening of the small bowel wall and the stenosis seen in MRI. Using MRI, additional findings could be obtained in 28 patients, such as fistulas, abscesses or a hydronephrosis, or a better assessment of the stenosis was possible with MRI, because of the avoidance of overshadowing of the affected bowel loop with MRI. A brilliant MR-tomographic imaging of the small bowel is possible under the condition, that the small bowel contrast is optimal. The main prerequisite is a large filling volume ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma) along with surgical resection is the most appropriate therapeutic modality. For this purpose, there have been many reports concerning the diagnostic value of Lipiodol-CT scan. The authors selected 45 patients with hepatoma during the period of Feb.1986 to Jan. 1988 who received a conventional CT scan, hepatic angiography and a Lipiodol-CT scan. The results were as follows: 1. There was no statistical significant between serum AFP level and mass size, morphology and amount of necrosis. 2. Tumor necrosis was observed in a single massive and multinodular type when the tumor size exceeded 5 cm. 3. Pattern II on Lipiodol-CT, homogenous accumulation of Lipiodol except for the area of inner necrosis, was most frequently demonstrated, which means that a tumor mass with hypervascularity and increased blood flow will attract Lipiodol better. 4. Lipiodol-CT was superior to conventional CT in detecting small, daughter ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Processing of food with ionizing radiation is a method suitable to enhance shelf-life and hygienic quality. Up to a dose of 10 kGy the method is considered wholesome. In many countries the practical use of food irradiation is increasing, however, in the Federal Republic of Germany the process is strictly forbidden. Applications and methods for radiation processing of food are compiled, limits and prospects are explained, and advantages and disadvantages are compared with traditional methods. Identification of irradiated foods and dosimetry and process control for radiation processing of food are areas where further research is needed. Continuous processing of particulate foods in bulk is an application where electron accelerators might be profitable. Beam parameters and velocity distribution of food particles in the treatment area can be matched for an effective result. Thus, dose distribution can be adjusted for homogeneous treatment and at the same time radiation ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A series of spinel Li4Ti5O12 samples were synthesized via a composite molten-salt method (CMSM) using the mixtures of LiCl and KCl with different L values (L is defined as the molar ratio of LiCl:KCl) as the reaction media. It is found that the melting point of the composite molten salt can effectively influence the formation of particles, and leads to different electrochemical performances of the as-prepare Li4Ti5O12. The investigations of X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size distribution (PSD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicate that the as-prepared Li4Ti5O12 with L=1.5 is a pure phase, and has uniform homogeneous octahedral shape particles, rather narrow PSD, and high BET surface area. Electrochemical tests show that the optimized...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To elucidate the mechanism of sunlight-induced skin damage, guinea pigs exposed to UV light (280-320 nm, UV B, 4J/cm"2) and a homogenate of the epidermis was examined by means of the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test. Three hours after the exposure, TBA-malondialdehyde adducts had increased while glutathione reductase activity had decreased, indicating lipid peroxidation. To detect the initial species, spin trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) was applied to a suspension of illuminated epidermal cells (0.5 J/cm"2). An ESR signal obtained only with irradiation comprised a 1 : 2 : 2 : 1 quartet [a (N) =a (#beta#H) =1.49 mT] attributable to a spin adduct of hydroxyl radicals. These results suggest that sunlight exposure of skin may lead to hydroxyl radical generation and simultaneous lipid peroxidation. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The quantum behavior of the vacuum Bianchi type-IX universe with the cosmological constant is investigated in terms of the Ashtekar variables. An exact solution to the quantum Hamiltonian constraint in the holomorphic representation is given. This solution reduces to the Hartle-Hawking wave function in the spatially isotropic sector and extends in the triad representation to the classically forbidden region where the determinant of the spatial metric becomes negative. The analysis of the quantum Robertson-Walker universe indicates that if the superspace is extended to such a classically forbidden region, the holomorphic representation picks up some restricted class of solutions in general. This observation leads to a new ansatz on the boundary condition of the Universe. In particular, the behavior of the Lorentzian and Euclidean WKB orbits corresponding to the solution suggests a new picture on the semiclassical behavior of the quantum Universe: that the Universe is created from an ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This study hypothesizes that Appalachian Kentucky's nineteenth century commercial economic development was as significant as coal mining in shaping economic patterns which appeared during the depression years of the 1930's. Testing of this hypothesis permits the evaluation of widely-held views of the region's development. The economic landscape of the 1800's has generally been thought of as a rather homogeneous unit, isolated from outside commercial linkages, and almost wholly dominated by subsistence agriculture. This study concludes that the region's nineteenth century economy was: 1) spatially and structurally more complex than has previously been recognized, 2) not by-passed by national economic growth in 1850, as previous research indicates; and 3) characterized by some commercial agriculture rather than the subsistence stereotype presented in other works. Appalachian Kentucky did not develop as a unified economic ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the typical appearance of ganglioneuromas in computer-assisted tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of diagnostic imaging (9 CT, 6 MRI) in 9 children aged 3 to 15 years with the histological diagnosis of ganglioneuroma. Results: The tomographies showed large (max. 13.4 cm in diameter) round or oval tumors with sharp delineation. The sites of the tumors were the retroperitoneum (5), the mediastinum (3), and the adrenal gland (1). Intraspinal tumor involvement occurred in 4 cases. On comparing CT with MRI, MRI was more accurate in defining the intraspinal involvement. The ganglioneuromas were of hypodense appearance in the native CT scan and showed moderate enhancement upon administration of contrast media. In five patients tumor calcifications with a disseminated sprinkled pattern were seen in CT. In MRI T_1-weighted scans the tumors were homogeneous and ...