International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A clear and reproducible transition to a regime with an improved particle confinement is routinely observed on the CASTOR tokamak, if the biasing electrode is inserted deep enough into the plasma (r/a?0.5) and biased up to +250 V. The steepening of the radial profiles of the plasma density and potential demonstrate the formation of a transport barrier just inside the last closed flux surface. Fast relaxations of the edge plasma parameters, with a frequency of about 10 kHz, are observed when the average radial electric field within the barrier prevails values of about 20 kV/m. A detailed analysis of the spatial-temporal behaviour of these relaxations is presented.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have investigated via SQUID magnetometry and polarised neutron reflectivity the exchange-bias effect in CoO/Co sputtered multilayers. In particular, we studied the magnetisation reversal and the time relaxation of the exchange-bias field close to the coercive field H{sub c1}. Neutron intensities of all four cross sections (I++, I+-, I-+, I-) were recorded at the position of the first multilayer Bragg peak while scanning the magnetic field. From such scans we infer that the magnetisation reversal for the ascending as well as for the descending branch of the magnetic hysteresis occurs not by in-plane rotation but through domain-wall movements. The exchange-bias field, H{sub EB}, is strongly affected by thermal fluctuations. H{sub EB} decreases, following an exponential decay function with a half-life time of about 580 s at T=240 K. (orig.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Many studies on multisensory processes have focused on performance in simplified experimental situations, with a single stimulus in each sensory modality. However, these results cannot necessarily be applied to explain our perceptual behavior in natural scenes where various signals exist within one sensory modality. We investigated the role of audio-visual syllable congruency on participants? auditory localization bias or the ventriloquism effect using spoken utterances and two videos of a talking face. Salience of facial movements was also manipulated. Results indicated that more salient visual utterances attracted participants? auditory localization. Congruent pairing of audio-visual utterances elicited greater localization bias than incongruent pairing, while previous studies have repor...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors analyze the consequences of models of structure formation for higher-order (n-point) galaxy correlation functions in the mildly non-linear regime. Several variations of the standard {Omega} = 1 cold dark matter model with scale-invariant primordial perturbations have recently been introduced to obtain more power on large scales, R{sub p} {approximately}20 h{sup {minus}1} Mpc, e.g., low-matter-density (non-zero cosmological constant) models, {open_quote}tilted{close_quote} primordial spectra, and scenarios with a mixture of cold and hot dark matter. They also include models with an effective scale-dependent bias, such as the cooperative galaxy formation scenario of Bower, et al. The authors show that higher-order (n-point) galaxy correlation functions can provide a useful test of such models and can discriminate between models with true large-scale power in the density field and those where the galaxy power arises from scale-dependent ...

Science.gov (United States)

The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement between rectal temperature and infrared emission detection (IRED). The specificity and sensitivity, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were calculated. It was a prospective, observational and unblinded study. Thermoscan-pro-1 was used to collect pairs of data in 41 patients, all hospitalised on an acute geriatric ward during a 4-month period. 41% of the patients were febrile. The 'bias' between rectal and tympanic measurement (left ear) was -0.64 degree C (d) and the standard deviation 0.58 degree C (s). The '95% Confidence Interval' for the bias was -0.82 degree C and -0.46 degree C. The '95% limits of agreement' between the rectal measurement and the tympanic measurement (left ear) was -1.78 degrees C and 0.50 degree C. Regression analysis taught us that bias was increasing with increasing temperature. If we take into ...

Wastenet

heterogeneity bias Static models: Other models:

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this work we present the electrical characterization of non self-aligned p-channel thin film transistors fabricated by using laser doping technique for source/drain contact formation and gate oxide deposited at room temperature by Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition. These techniques are suitable for a very low temperature process for TFT fabrication. The output characteristics show a current increase at high drain voltage ('kink' effect) rather moderate, if compared to self aligned polysilicon TFTs, probably due to the gradual doping profile induced by laser doping process. After bias stress at low gate voltage and high drain voltage condition a strong reduction of kink current has been observed in the output characteristics at high drain voltage, whereas minor changes has been observed in the transfer characteristics. This behaviour is similar to what ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The authors report on observations of plasma wave turbulence generated during electron beam injections, spacecraft potential variations, and neutral gas emissions of the CHARGE 2 sounding rocket experiment. The payload was flown in a mother/daughter configuration, with the two sub-payloads electrically connected by an insulated, conducting tether. While tethered, the two platforms were separated, drifting apart in a direction perpendicular to both the magnetic field and to the spacecraft velocity, reaching a maximum distance of 426 m at the end of the flight. The mother carried a high-voltage (HV) system (0-460 V), biasing the mother negative relative to the daughter. The operation of the HV bias system simulated the motional emf induced in larger orbiting space structures like the Tethered Satellite System 1 (TSS 1) space shuttle mission scheduled for the spring of 1992. In addition, the mother carried an electron beam ...

Science.gov (United States)

The authors have studied (Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1{minus}x}){sub 0.5}In{sub 0.5}P doped with tellurium using deep level transient spectroscopy and associated electrical measurements. Several defect states are observed in the upper half of the band gap, that are believed to be intrinsic to the alloy system as well as related to the tellurium donors. Defects observed at measurement temperatures above 390 K exhibit a hysteretic behavior. The observed spectra depend on the biasing conditions applied to the Schottky diode during cooling. The hysteretic behavior suggests the existence of different defect configurations, which can be accessed under conditions of high temperatures and electrical stress, but remain stable below 300 K.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the synergistic effect of helium and hydrogen on Fe-Cr ferritic model alloys, to provide basic understanding concerning development of fusion reactor components. Single, dual and triple ion-beams consisting of Fe{sup 3+}, He{sup +} and H{sup +} were used for irradiation, at temperatures 470-600 deg. C and dose to 50 dpa at 1 {mu}m. The dual beam irradiation with He enhanced cavity nucleation extensively to swelling of about 0.4%, whereas the dual beam irradiation with H did not significantly affect the microstructure. In the case of triple ion irradiation, the synergistic effect of He and H was confirmed clearly; relative large void formation and enhanced swelling to almost 5%. The synergistic effect suggests that the role of H is important for void growth and dislocation bias.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) has been proposed several years ago as an approach for quantitative analysis of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy spectra. Recently developed refinement of the spectral processing method is described in the present work. Accurate quantitative results have been demonstrated for several metallic alloys. However, the degree of accuracy that can be achieved with Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy analysis of generic samples still needs to be thoroughly investigated. The authors have undertaken a systematic study of errors and biasing factors affecting the calculation in the Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy spectra processing. These factors may be classified in three main groups: 1) experi...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have observed resonant changes in the current-voltage characteristics of miniband semiconductor superlattices when the Bloch frequency is resonant with a terahertz field and its harmonics: the inverse Bloch oscillator effect. The resonant feature consists of a peak in the current which grows with increasing laser intensity accompanied by a decrease of the current at the low bias side. The peak position moves linearly with the laser frequency. When the intensity is increased further the first peak starts to decrease and a second peak at about twice the voltage of the first peak is observed due to a two photon resonance. At the highest intensities we observe up to a four photon resonance. A superlattice is expected to show negative differential conductance due to the strong nonparabolicity of the miniband. In this situation the carriers should undergo Bloch oscillations with a frequency {omega}{sub B} ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This work aims to contribute to the understanding of the influence of the ionospheric layer height (ILH) on the thin layer ionospheric model (TLIM) used to retrieve ionospheric information from the GNSS observations. Particular attention is paid to the errors caused on the estimation of the vertical total electron content (vTEC) and the GNSS satellites and receivers inter-frequency biases (IFB), by the use of an inappropriate ILH. The work relies upon numerical simulations performed with an empirical model of the Earth?s ionosphere: the model is used to create realistic but controlled ionospheric scenarios and the errors are evaluated after recovering those scenarios with the TLIM. The error assessment is performed in the Central and the northern part of the South American continents, a re...

CERN Document Server

The possibility of radio galaxies being random sample of otherwise normal elliptical galaxies is tested. Starting with the observed optical luminosity functions for elliptical galaxies, it is shown that the probability of an elliptical forming a radio source is a continuous, increasing function of optical luminosity, precisely proportional to square of the optical luminosity of the galaxy. Once the probability function is fixed, the luminosity function of normal elliptical galaxies is used as input for Monte Carlo simulations that reproduce the distribution of radio galaxies in the radio-optical luminosity plane. Our results show that radio galaxies are luminosity biased, but otherwise random sample of elliptical galaxies. This unified view of radio and non-radio ellipticals also explains the well known difference of 0.5 mag in average optical luminosity between FRI and FRII radio galaxies as a simple selection effect. Specifically, FRII appear ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Indium sulfide thin films were deposited onto indium-tin-oxide coated glass substrate by electrochemical deposition from an aqueous solution containing In2 (SO4) 3 and Na2S2O3. The deposition conditions were optimized on the basis of data obtained by scanning electron microscope, Auger electron spectroscopy and optical transmission measurements. Furthermore, the photosensitivity of the films was observed by means of photoelectrochemical measurements, which confirmed that the indium sulfide showed n-type conduction. The X-ray diffraction and Raman studies revealed that the as-grown films were amorphous or nanocrystalline in nature and became polycrystalline In2S3 after annealing.

Science.gov (United States)

After some observations about the tests of the research exposed in the literature, authors illustrate the tests for 142 patients divided into 5 groups: a) patients affected with acute viral hepatitis; b) patients affected with praegressa acute viral hepatitis; c) relatives of patients with acute viral hepatitis; d) volunteers; e) patients affected with chronic uraemia under dialisis periodic treatment. After the testing control, authors, conclude with an hipotesis: a possible epidemic function of faeces, urine saliva, in the passage of the acute viral hepatitis. PMID:488577

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundIn many of the European countries affected by Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), case clustering patterns have been observed. Most of these patterns have been interpreted...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Traditional approaches to the study of hormones and cognition have been primarily observational or correlational in nature. Because this work does not permit causal relationships to be identified,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We theoretically model a nuclear-state preparation scheme that increases the coherence time of a two-spin qubit in a double quantum dot. The two-electron system is tuned repeatedly across a singlet-triplet level-anticrossing with alternating slow and rapid sweeps of an external bias voltage. Using a Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg model, we find that in addition to a small nuclear polarization that weakly affects the electron spin coherence, the slow sweeps are only partially adiabatic and lead to a weak nuclear spin measurement and a nuclear-state narrowing which prolongs the electron spin coherence. This resolves some open problems brought up by a recent experiment. We also show that the electronic two-spin states singlet and triplet T_+ are promising candidates for the implementation of a qubit in GaAs double quantum dots (DQD). A coherent superposition of the two-spin states is obtained by finite time Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg interferometry and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The effect of water shortage on growth and gas exchange of maize grown on sandy soil (SS) and clay soil was studied. The lower soil water content in the SS during vegetative growth stages did not affect plant height, above-ground biomass, and leaf area index (LAI). LAI reduction was observed on the SS during the reproductive stage due to early leaf senescence. Canopy and leaf gas exchanges, measured by eddy correlation technique and by a portable photosynthetic system, respectively, were affected by water stress and a greater reduction in net photosynthetic rate (A N) and stomatal conductance (g s) was observed on SS. Chlorophyll and carotenoids content was not affected by water shortage in either condition. Results support two main conclusions: (1) leaf photosynthetic capacity was unaffec...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It is shown analytically and experimentally that thermally stimulated current (TSC) measurements at negative bias incompletely describe oxide-trap charge in SIMOX and bipolar base oxides irradiated at 0 V. Positive-bias TSC is also required.

Science.gov (United States)

In this study, the complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Atelura formicaria (Hexapoda: Zygentoma) is described. The molecule is 15.205 bp in length and it is the third complete mt genome sequenced from the Zygentoma. The genome organization conforms with the putative ancestral insect gene arrangement. All protein coding genes use standard initiation codons (methionine and isoleucine). The exception is nad4 that starts with GTG, a codon used for this purpose in other insect species. A peculiar strand skew bias is observed, given that the PCGs encoded on the J-strand contain more thymines than adenines and more cytosines than guanines. This trend in nucleotide composition has been observed also in the "firebrat" Thermobia domestica (Zygentoma, Lepismatidae), but differs from that of the majority of hexapod species, including Tricholepidion gertschi (Zygentoma, Lepidotrichidae), where adenines and cytosines ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors report a two-temperature RF bias stress test on nominal 1.2 W 7.5 GHz GaAs/AlGaAs HBT unit cell amplifiers. MTTF`s of 2020 and 1340 hours were obtained at Tj = 218{degrees}C and 245{degrees}C, respectively, under nominal input bias. An activation energy of 0.42 eV is estimated, consistent with published results for similar devices under DC bias stress.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Pippenger (2011) recently proposed a solution to the longstanding forward-bias puzzle. He argues that the puzzling estimates obtained using the standard equation for the efficient markets hypothesis are due to omitted variable bias. He identifies the missing variables as the future change in the forward exchange rate and the future interest differential. When these are added to the standard equation, he finds a one-to-one relationship between the future change in the spot rate and the forward premium. However, we argue that his equation can only test covered interest parity and offers no insight into the forward-bias puzzle.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract: This article argues that Pippenger's (2011) ''Solution to the forward-bias puzzle'' must be regarded as an econometric explanation of the famous puzzle, although it does not offer an exhaustive economic answer to it. Some of Pippenger's (2011) findings are reproduced and established in a cointegrated multiple time series model. It is suggested that economists should stop trying to working out the forward-bias puzzle and start looking for fundamentally better models of foreign exchange rate determination. A tentative alternative is provided.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In an aim to develop photo-responsive composites, the UV photo-reduction of aqueous titanium oxide nanoparticle-graphene oxide (TiO{sub 2}-GO) dispersions (Lambert et al. J Phys. Chem. 2010 113 (46), 19812-19823) was undertaken. Photo-reduction led to the formation of a black precipitate as well as a soluble portion, comprised of titanium oxide nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide (TiO{sub 2}-RGO). When allowed to slowly evaporate, self assembled titanium oxide nanoparticle-graphene oxide (SA-TiO{sub 2}-RGO) films formed at the air-liquid interface of the solution. The thickness of SARGO-TiO{sub 2} films range from {approx}30-100 nm when deposited on substrates, and appear to be comprised of a mosaic assembly of graphene nanosheets and TiO{sub 2}, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the graphene oxide is only partially reduced in the SA-TiO{sub 2}-RGO material. These films were also ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Typhoons Aere (2004) and Matsa (2005) caused high nephelometric turbidity in the Shihmen reservoir in northern Taiwan, jeopardizing the operation of the reservoir for several days, and ultimately impacting the living conditions and economy of the downstream residents. The torrential rains caused landslides and debris flows in upland areas, and flowed into riverbeds, likely contributing significantly to the suspended sediment yields in the reservoir. This investigation elucidates how upland landslides affect sediment attributes in the reservoir basin. Study methods including field observations, spatial analysis in GIS and aerial photo interpretation are adopted to trace the sediment sources and contributing factors to the landslide. Torrential rains induced landslides and debris-flows uplan...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Passive films formed anodically on titanium (Ti) plates in 0.5 M sulfuric acid were corroded in aqueous solutions of H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} in the dark and under illumination of a 250-W mercury lamp. The corrosion depth was determined by calculating the thickness of the oxide layers from interference patterns of reflection spectra in the visible region. Corrosion was observed at pH {le} 3, with the corrosion rate increasing exponentially with decreasing pH and achieving a maximum value at pH {approximately} 1. Photocorrosion generally was quicker than corrosion occurring in the dark in all cases (i.e., open-circuit, short-circuit, bias conditions) and increased under anodic polarization of the oxide electrode together with the photocurrent. Corrosion occurring in the dark decreased very weakly under anodic polarization. Long-term corrosion experiments indicated the initial corrosion rate for a thick anodic oxide was higher than the later rates, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors developed an analytical model (intersection model) to estimate the exposure of sea otters (Enhydra lutris), to oil from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The authors applied estimated and assumed exposure dependent mortality rates to the Kenai Peninsula sea otter population to provide examples of the application of the model in estimating sea otter mortality. The intersection model requires three distinct types of data: (1) distribution, abundance, and movements of oil, (2) abundance and distribution of sea otters, and (3) sea otter mortality rates relative to oil exposure. Initial output of the model is an estimate of exposure of otters to oil. Exposure is measured in amount and duration of oil near an otter`s observed location (intersections). The authors provide two examples of the model using different assumptions about the relation between exposure and mortality. Because of an apparent non-linear relation between the degree of oiling and survival of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A brief description of a method for producing relatively intense molecular negative ion beams for the difficult Group IIA elements is given which offers considerable improvement in terms of source operation and beam intensity stability over other methods conventionally utilized. It is particularly suited for use in cesium plasma sources such as the Aarhus geometry and axial geometry versions of the source. The method utilizes H/sub 2/ source feed gas for the production of a hydrogen-rich plasma discharge which sputters a negatively biased probe made of elemental or copper alloy material. Negative ion beams of MgH/sub 3//sup -/>=12 ..mu.. A have been realized during routine operation of the 25 MV tandem accelerator. Negative ion beam intensity data, typical source operational parameters, and examples of mass spectra associated with their production are given. Interesting intermetallic molecular negative ion beams consisting of the particular Group IIA element and ...

CERN Document Server

We directly measure the evolution of the intergalactic Lyman-alpha effective optical depth, tau_eff, over the redshift range 2 is <1% at z=2, 4% at z=3, and 12% at z=4. Previous measurements of tau_eff at 3biased low. We provide estimates of the level of absorption arising from metals in the Ly-alpha forest based on both direct and statistical metal removal results in the literature, finding that this contribution is ~6-9% at z=3 and decreases monotonically with redshift. The high precision of our measurement, attaining 3% in redshift bins of width Delta z=0.2 aro und z=3, indicates significant departures from the best-fit power-law redshift evolution (tau_eff=0.0018(1+z)^3.92, when metals are left in), particularly near z=3.2. The observed downward departure is statistically consistent with a ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper investigates whether China has reached postnatal nutrient intake equality between boys and girls, despite an exceptionally high ratio of boys to girls at birth, after dramatic technological advances in prenatal sex determination, rapid increases in income, and improved educational opportunities for females. Dominance methods applied to data from the Chinese Health and Nutrition Surveys (selected years 1991-2004) reveal no bias in calorie consumption between girls and boys. We find some weak evidence of protein bias toward boys in 1991, but it disappeared by 2004. (JEL I32, O15, N35)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Monte Carlo criticality calculations have been performed for over 50 years for reactor physics and criticality safety applications. With today's faster computers, these calculations are being carried out to greater precision (smaller uncertainties) in keff, and detailed distributions of power and reaction rates are being computed routinely. This paper provides a review of the fundamental theory of Monte Carlo criticality calculations, with guidance on practical methods for: (1) assuring convergence of both keff and the source distribution, (2) minimizing the bias in keff and reaction rate distributions, and (3) dealing with the under-prediction bias in uncertainties for keff and reaction rate distributions. (authors)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Motivation: It is commonplace for authors to propose a new classification rule, either the operator construction part or feature selection, and demonstrate its performance on real data sets, which often come from high-dimensional studies, such as from gene-expression microarrays, with small samples. Owing to the variability in feature selection and error estimation, individual reported performances are highly imprecise. Hence, if only the best test results are reported, then these will be biased relative to the overall performance of the proposed procedure. Results: This article characterizes reporting bias with several statistics and computes these statistics in a large simulation study using both modeled and real data. The results appear as curves giving the different reporting biases as...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Genomic imprinting refers to the parent-of-origin-specific epigenetic marking of a number of genes. This epigenetic mark leads to a bias in expression between maternally and paternally inherited imprinted...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

... adaptive method called Shortest Queue plus Bias ... routing problem under stochastic traffic demands have ... of permits allocated to a node or terminal ...

Science.gov (United States)

Available from UMI in association with The British Library. Requires signed TDF. Design of time and correlation windows for non -parametric frequency response estimates. The thesis deals with problems that arise in the field of spectral analysis due to finite observations of input and output records. In particular, it is concerned with the method of applying time and correlation windows in spectral analysis procedures to obtain non-parametric frequency response estimates of open-loop time invariant systems. The thesis reviews and develops the sources of error that arise when frequency response techniques are applied directly to windowed records of input and output data to estimate the frequency response of open loop systems. Having identified the cause of these errors, methods of eliminating or reducing them are studied. The techniques introduced involve the use of differing time windows for the input and output data records. It is shown that windows can be ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) has been proposed several years ago as an approach for quantitative analysis of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy spectra. Recently developed refinement of the spectral processing method is described in the present work. Accurate quantitative results have been demonstrated for several metallic alloys. However, the degree of accuracy that can be achieved with Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy analysis of generic samples still needs to be thoroughly investigated. The authors have undertaken a systematic study of errors and biasing factors affecting the calculation in the Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy spectra processing. These factors may be classified in three main groups: 1) experimental aberrations (intensity fluctuations and inaccuracy in the correction for spectral efficiency of a detection system), 2) inaccuracy in theoretical ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have used the unique spatial sensitivity of polarized neutron and soft x-ray beams in reflection geometry to measure the depth dependence of magnetization across the interface between a ferromagnet and antiferromagnet. The new uncompensated magnetization near the interface responds to applied field, while the uncompensated spins in the antiferromagnetic bulk are pinned, thus providing a means to establish exchange bias.

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

BACKGROUND: The aetiologies of glioma and meningioma tumors are largely unknown. Although reproductive hormones are thought to influence the risk of these tumors, epidemiologic data are not supportive of this hypothesis; however, few cohort studies have published on this topic. We examined the relation between reproductive factors and risk of glioma and meningioma among women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).METHODS: After a mean of 8.4 years of follow-up, 193 glioma and 194 meningioma were identified among 276,212 women. Information on reproductive factors and hormone use was collected at baseline. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to determine hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: No associations were observed between glioma or meningioma risk and reproductive factors, including age at menarche, parity, age at first birth, menopausal status, and age at menopause. A higher risk of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A series of experiments have been conducted on AISI 5140 low alloy steel using a hollow cathode discharge-assisted plasma nitriding apparatus with the aim of elucidating the role of substrate bias voltages in plasma nitriding process. For comparison, some samples were nitrided with applied substrate bias (-50 V) while other samples were nitrided at floating potential. Treatments were carried out in NH{sub 3} atmosphere of 150 Pa at temperatures ranging from 450 {sup o}C to 550 {sup o}C for 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h. The nitrided samples were characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and micro-hardness measurement. The corrosion behaviors were evaluated using anodic polarization tests in 3.5% NaCl solution. The results showed that the microstructure and phase constituents of the nitride layers were strongly influenced by the bias voltages. It was also demonstrated that the better corrosion resistance with a thicker ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We present two new techniques that enhance conventional focused ion beam (FIB) system capabilities for integrated circuit (IC) analysis: in situ electrical biasing and voltage contrast imaging. We have used in situ electrical biasing to enable a number of advanced failure analysis applications including (1) real time evaluation of device electrical behavior during milling and deposition, (2) verification of IC functional modifications without removal from the FIB system, and (3) ultraprecision control for cross sectioning of deep submicron structures, such as programmed amorphous silicon antifuses. We have also developed FIB system voltage contrast imaging that can be used for a variety of failure analysis applications. The use of passive voltage contrast imaging for defect localization and for navigation on planarized devices will be illustrated. In addition, we describe new, biased voltage contrast imaging techniques and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effect of NaCl and Na_2SO_4 treatments on chlorophyll content, rate of "1"4C assimilation and products of photosynthesis in peanut (Arachish hypogaea L.) variety TMV-10 has been investigated. It was observed that chlorophyll content was affected mainly by NaCl, Na_2SO_4 treatment lowered the rate of photosynthetic "1"4CO_2 fixation. The analysis of labelled products revealed that the salts affect the carbon metabolism differently. The radioactivity was found to be accumulated in fractions of sugars and sugarphosphates in the leaves of NaCl treated plants. Na_2SO_4 treatment brought about considerable decline in labelling of sugars and an increase in labelling of amino acids and sugarphosphates. (orig.).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Background: Apheresis is a procedure to selectively obtain blood components. For the collection process citrate is routinely used. It inhibits coagulation by binding to ionized calcium and leads to metabolic alkalosis. Objective: Whether regular apheresis affects bone and mineral metabolism is unknown. The intention of this study was to investigate 1) the acute effects of apheresis on acid-base balance, bone and mineral metabolism and 2) to compare bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and hip of donors to matched control subjects. Design: In this open, observational, single-center, cross-sectional study we enrolled 102 regular plasma and thrombocyte donors to pursue objective 1) and compared those to 102 matched controls (CTR) for objective 2). Results: Platelet donation led to s...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ingestion of HTO during oocyte maturation and continued during pre-implantation time was found to depress decidual response. At birth these offspring also showed a decrease in brain cell number. When HTO was given during pregnancy only, the offspring at birth showed a similar deficit in brain cell number. Even so, we could not demonstrate a gross deficit in oocyte maturation when HTO was ingested during sexual maturity only; however, when further continued during pregnancy, the measured newborn parameters were most severely affected. In this group, cell-multiplication in the cerebrum was severely decreased, protein synthesis was decreased, and somatic growth was also highly significantly decreased. These experiments indicate that even a short-term exposure to HTO during early pregnancy (pre-implantation) alters normal development to such an extent that it is still observable at birth. During embryonic development, HTO ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The classical phenomenon of position-effect variegation (PEV) is the mosaic expression that occurs when a chromosomal rearrangements moves a euchromatic gene near heterochromatin. A striking feature of this phenomenon is that genes far away from the junction with heterochromatin can be affected, as if the heterochromatic state {open_quotes}spreads.{close_quotes} We have investigated classical PEV of a Drosophila brown transgene affected by a heterochromatic junction {approximately} 60 kb away. PEV was enhanced when the transgene was locally duplicated using P transposase. Successive rounds of P transpose mutagenesis and phenotypic selection produced a series of PEV alleles with differences in phenotype that depended on transgene copy number and orientation. As for other examples of classical PEV, nearby heterochromatin was required for gene silencing. Modifications of classical PEV by alterations at a single site are unexpected, and these ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Various statistical methods for the estimation of the mean lifetimes of charmed particles have been considered. It is shown that the usual estimates of the maximum likelihood in some cases do not exist or may have rather great positive bias, if the statistics are low. Alternative estimates of the mean lifetime tau are discussed. Among them the 'jackknife' estimate of tau is considered. The minimum variance unbiased estimates of the average rate of decay 1/tau have been derived for some particular cases. It is also shown that the usual estimate of the ratio of the mean lifetimes of different kinds of particles may also have a bias when the statistics are poor. Two methods of reducing this bias have been proposed.

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.

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

A food supplement containing fish oils, urtica dioica, zinc, and vitamin E (Phytalgic) for osteoarthritis (OA) has now been tested in a placebo-controlled trial for 3 months and according to the authors has a very large clinical effect, considerably larger than that of any other known product. Even experts endorsing nutraceuticals for OA symptoms would probably agree that a nutraceutical with an effect size above 0.5 is rarely seen. Despite our concerns about the fact that trial registration took place after the study was completed and the likelihood that patients would note the taste of fish, a circumstance that would lead to detection bias, we consider these data promising though with a high risk of bias.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The thermal degradation and crystallisation behaviours of polyamide12/isotactic polypropylene (PA12/PP) blends were studied. Effects of blend ratio and compatibiliser concentration on the thermal degradation properties of the blends were analysed. The activation energy for degradation in compatibilised and uncompatibilised blends computed using Horowitz-Metzger equation was reported. The blend ratio as well as the presence of compatibiliser has significant effect on the thermal stability of the blends. Phase morphology was found to be one of the decisive factors that affected the thermal stability of both uncompatibilised and compatibilised blends. Melting and crystallisation behaviours of the blends in the presence and absence of compatibiliser were evaluated. It was observed that blendin...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The dependence of the mobility of DNA molecules through an hexagonal array of micropillars on their length and the applied electric field was investigated and it was found that mobility is a nonmonotonic function of their length. Results also revealed that the size dependence of the DNA mobility depends on the applied electric field and there is a crossover around E 25 V/cm for the mobility of l-DNA and T4-DNA. These observations are explained in terms of the diffusion process inside the structure affected by the solvent and are modeled using the Langevin and its corresponding Fokker-Planck equations. The phenomenon is generalized under three regimes in a phase diagram relating the electric field and the DNA lengths. The model and the associated phase diagram described here provide an expl...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Periosteal Ewing's sarcoma is an uncommon, but well documented origin of this malignant condition with radiography signs, different from intramedullary growing tumours. Imaging modalities like CT or MRI supply proof of macroscopically intact endosteal cortical surface and free medullary cavity in long bones affected by this periosteal type of malignancy. Definite confirmation is valid after a careful microscopic investigation of the resected specimen. The prognosis of this type of Ewing's sarcoma may be favourable than that of the central type. Early diagnosis and therapy are thus essential. A clinical survey of six observations is given. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper presents case studies of economic feasibility of solar photovoltaic systems using the software AVES-F (Analysis of Economic Feasibility of Photovoltaic Systems), developed by the authors, considering cases of stand-alone and grid-connected systems. The software takes into account several factors that can influence the economic feasibility of these kind of systems, like load to be supplied, distance to the grid, the use regime of the system, applied subsidies and others. The main goal of this paper is to analyze some of these factors and to observe how they can affect the economics of PV systems for electricity generation. (authors)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Argon ions irradiation of 12% Cr steels and Fe/Cr alloys results in the hardening up to 10000 MPa. This value exceeds the hardening level even for martensitic transformation. Along with the increase of microhardness following irradiation the shape of X-ray graph of the affected materials changes considerable. Hardening value and behavior are determined by temperature radiation doze, preliminary ageing, extent of cold strain and alloying. The odserved phenomenon is supposed to be caused by irradiation-induced structural transformations. Reversibility of radiation hardening of the materials in question was observed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Spectral appearance and concentrations of the most prominent metabolites are affected by brain development. This knowledge is essential for the detection of pathological changes in pediatric patients. This paper discusses specific conditions of MR spectroscopic examination of children and the effects of age on MR spectra quality and quantitation of the studied metabolites. Clinical examples show several diseases that are reflected in changes in "1H MR spectra due to pathological alterations in the biochemical pathways of the observed metabolites. Attention is given to the main metabolites such as N-acetylaspartate, creatine/phosphocreatine, cholines, lactate, inositol, etc.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ozone is a principal component of photochemical air pollution endogenous to numerous metropolitan areas. It is primarily formed by the oxidation of NOx in the presence of sunlight and reactive organic compounds. Ozone is a highly active oxidizing agent capable of causing injury to the lung. Lung injury may take the form of irritant effects on the respiratory tract that impair pulmonary function and result in subjective symptoms of respiratory discomfort. These symptoms include, but are not limited to, cough and shortness of breath, and they can limit exercise performance. The effects of ozone observed in humans have been primarily limited to alterations in respiratory function, and a range of respiratory physiological parameters have been measured as a function of ozone exposure in adults and children. These affects have been observed under widely varying (clinical experimental and environmental settings) conditions

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Our understanding of prenatal behavior has been significantly advanced by techniques for direct observation and manipulation of unanesthetized, behaving rodent fetuses with intact umbilical connections to the mother. These techniques involve brief administration of an inhalant anesthesic, enabling spinal transection of the rat or mouse dam, after which procedures can continue with unanesthetized dams and fetuses. Because anesthetics administered to the mother can cross the placental barrier, it is possible that fetuses are anesthetized to varying degrees. We compared in perinatal rats the effects of prenatal maternal exposure to two inhalant anesthetics: ether and isoflurane. Fewer spontaneous fetal movements and first postpartum nipple attachments were observed following maternal exposure...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The phenomenon of radiation blistering by helium ion bombardment has been the subject of extensive studies in recent years because of its technological importance in thermonuclear fusion devices and reactors. However, the mechanism of radiation blistering is still not well understood. There are two different models of blister formation: the gas-pressure model and the lateral stress model. The former model is, however, supported by many experimental observations, the prominent one is that of Evans and Eyre who observed blisters appearing on the front and rear surfaces of a thin wedge-shaped molybdenum foil irradiated by helium ions. Their experiment also indicates that the thickness of the irradiated specimen could be important in affecting the characteristics of blisters. With this in view, we have studied the development of blisters in thin foils of tantalum by 30 MeV ..cap alpha..-particle bombardment.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Preliminary observations on the isothermal carbon transfer in low-carbon Alloy-800 exposed in sodium with AISI-304 type of steel at 550_0 are reported. The alloy was found to undergo a carburization comparable or slightly lower than that observed for the AISI-304 stainless steel for carbon activities above 6 x 10 /sup -3/ at 550_0C, but was not found to decarburize below such a carbon activity value. In the examined range the chemical composition of the alloys does not affect the process out of the experimental uncertainty of measure. Conclusions concerning the effective diffusion for carbon in the alloy are formulated. Preliminary relationships were found for an empirical evaluation of the carburization of the Alloy-800 in sodium of known carbon activity.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fluorinated amorphous carbon (a-C:F) films were deposited by radio frequency bias assisted microwave plasma electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition with tetrafluoromethane (CF_4) and acetylene (C_2H_2) as precursors. The deposition process was performed at two flow ratios R=0.90 and R=0.97, where R=CF_4/(CF_4+C_2H_2). The samples were annealed at 300 deg. C for 30 min. in a N_2 atmosphere. Both Fourier transform infrared and electron spectroscopy for chemical analyzer were used to characterize the a-C:F film chemical bond and fluorine concentration, respectively. A high resolution electron energy loss spectrometer was applied to detect the electronic structure. The higher CF_4 flow ratio (R=0.97) produced more sp"3 linear structure, and it made the a-C:F film smoother and softer. A lifetime of around 0.34 #mu#s and an energy gap of #approx#2.75 eV were observed in both the as-deposited and after annealing conditions. The short ...

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Large rigid-body domain movements are critical to GroEL-mediated protein folding, especially apical domain elevation and twist associated with the formation of a folding chamber upon binding ATP and co-chaperonin GroES. Here, we have modeled the anisotropic displacements of GroEL domains from various crystallized states, unliganded GroEL, ATP?S-bound, ADP-AlFx/GroES-bound, and ADP/GroES bound, using translation-libration-screw (TLS) analysis. Remarkably, the TLS results show that the inherent motions of unliganded GroEL, a polypeptide-accepting state, are biased along the transition pathway that leads to the folding-active state. In the ADP-AlFx/GroES-bound folding-active state the dynamic modes of the apical domains become reoriented and coupled to the motions of bound GroES. The ADP/GroES complex exhibits these same motions, but they are increased in magnitude, potentially reflecting the decreased stability of the complex after nucleotide hydrolysis. Our results ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We present results from the first studies of electric-field effects on optical transitions in visible-band-gap InGaP/InAlGaP multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structures. These structures, grown at 775 degree C by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy on (100) GaAs substrates misoriented 6 degree towards P(111)right-angle left-angle 111 right-angle A, consist of nominally undoped MQWs surrounded by doped In_0_._4_9Al_0_._5_1P cladding layers to form p-i-n diodes. The Stark shifts of various allowed and forbidden quantum-well transitions were observed in bias-dependent electroreflectance spectra of In_0_._4_9Ga_0_._5_1P/In_0_._4_9(Al_0_._5Ga_0_._5)_0_._5_1P MQW samples with 10-nm-thick layers. We find the magnitude of these shifts to depend on the details of the Mg doping profile, confirming the importance of Mg diffusion and unintentional background doping in these materials. Our results show that (InAlGa)P materials are promising for visible-wavelength ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

From 1979 to 1986, 182 patients with biopsy proven diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma of bone were observed. One hundred of the 182 patients (72 males, 28 females, median age 15.8 years) with localized disease and no previous treatment were treated with chemotherapy (VCR, ADM, CTX, D-ACT) for 15-18 months. Local treatment was radiotherapy (42 patients), surgery (31 patients), or a combination of both (27 pts). Radiation doses ranged from 45 to 64 Gy given with conventional fractionation. Median follow-up was 51.2 months (24-106). Overall and disease-free survival were, respectively, 58.7 and 42.6%. Resected patients tended to have a better local control (Surgery 93.6%, Surgery + Radiation therapy 92.6%, Radiation therapy 69.1%). Disease-free survival was significantly related to the volume of the primary tumor (bulky: 33.2%, not-bulky: 57.7%), to site (extremities 54.6%, central sites 16.6%, other sites 40.9%), and to local treatment (Radiation therapy 30.3%, Surgery + ...

CERN Document Server

We present the discovery of a Baldwin effect in 8 nearby Seyfert galaxies for the three most prominent mid-infrared forbidden emission lines observable from the ground that are commonly found in AGN, [ArIII](8.99 micron), [SIV](10.51 micron), and [NeII](12.81 micron). The observations were carried out using the VLT/VISIR imager and spectroraph at the ESO/Paranal observatory. The bulk of the observed line emission comes from the inner <0.4 arcsec which corresponds to spatial scales <100 pc in our object sample. The correlation index is approximately -0.6 without significant difference among the lines. This is the strongest anti-correlation between line equivalent width and continuum luminosity found so far. In the case of Circinus, we show that despite the use of mid-infrared lines, obscuration by either the host galaxy or the circumnuclear dust torus might affect the equivalent widths. Given the ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Polyploidy is an important force in the evolution of flowering plants. Genomic merger and doubling induce an extensive array of genomic effects, including immediate and long-term alterations in the...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Most codon indices used today are based on highly biased nonrandom usage of codons in coding regions. The background of a coding or noncoding DNA sequence, however, is fairly random, and can be characterized...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Previous studies have documented diagnostic bias and noted that its reduction could eliminate misdiagnosis and improve mental health service delivery. Few studies have investigated clinicians'...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A small-sample survey of consumer preferences for a second car - featuring both conventional and electric vehicle choices - indicates a proelectric bias. The potential of electric cars in the utility market largely depends on dramatic improvements in battery technology and the right mix of electricity and gasoline prices.

CERN Document Server

We examine the effect of a threshold bias on the power spectrum and the bispectrum in an ensemble of numerical simulations (Gaussian initial perturbations with power law spectra P(k) \\sim k^n, n=+1, 0, -1, -2) and compare our results with theoretical predictions. Our simulations are evolved sufficiently that on the scale where we apply the threshold the rms fluctuation has developed significantly into the nonlinear regime. Thus, predictions based on perturbation theory do not necessarily apply. Nevertheless, we find our results for the power spectrum, biased power simply amplified by a numerical factor, follow predicted trends, far beyond the regime where perturbation theory is expected to be valid. We find that the biased bispectrum continues to follow the so-called hierarchical form, with reduced three-point amplitude Q \\approx 1 in the strongly nonlinear regime, independent of initial spectrum. In the quasi-linear ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Proposals that adaptation with left-shifting prisms induces neglect-like symptoms in normal individuals rely on a dissociation between the post-adaptation performance of individuals trained...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Let Y be a nonnegative random variable with mean?? and finite positive variance ? 2, and let Y s , defined on the same space as Y, have the Y size-biased distribution, characterized by Formula Not Shown Under a variety of conditions on Y and the coupling of Y and Y s , including combinations of boundedness and monotonicity, one sided concentration of measure inequalities such as Formula Not Shown hold for some explicit A and B. The theorem is applied to the number of bulbs switched on at the terminal time in the so called lightbulb process of Rao et?al. (Sankhy? 69:137?161, 2007).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This study was designed to quantitate the dose resulting from lead exposure during the critical periods of brain development during gestation by determining: (1) if blood lead concentration in rat dams is affected by pregnancy status or duration of lead exposure, (2) if lead concentration in fetuses is associated with the duration of dam exposure, (3) the rates of lead absorption and elimination in pregnant and nonpregnant dams; and (4) the effect that prebreeding exposure on lead kinetics in the dam and upon fetus blood lead concentrations. The results of experiments in which the dams' drinking water contained 50 mg/L lead indicate blood lead levels (after normalizing by water consumption on a body weight basis) of pregnant rats are significantly higher than blood lead levels of non-pregnant rats. Statistical differences in blood lead levels were observed by day 15 of gestation and continue through day 20 of gestation. These blood lead ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The current--density profile of a focused ion beam (FIB) has a central peak accompanied by broader ``wings`` that, while unimportant in lithographic applications, can lead to unwanted effects during an implantation operation. The origin of the wings, and hence the best way to minimize them, is not clear and needs further study. We have measured the line profiles of several of the ions available in our FIB machine as a function of a number of variables, under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. No effects are observed from changes in emission current or deliberate defocusing of the objective lens. There are some changes with beam aperture and/or current, but the biggest differences seem to be associated with a change of source type and hence, possibly, with a change in the source/extractor configuration or in the alloy and the emission process. The wing amplitudes are appreciably lower than many previously observed, and their profiles, at least ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Volatile compounds produced in flexible food packaging materials (LDPE, EVAc, PET/PE/EVOH/PE) during electron beam irradiation were isolated by purge and trap technique and identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), after thermal desorption and concentration. For comparison purposes non-irradiated films were also studied. Film samples were irradiated at low (5 kGy, corresponding to cold pasteurization), intermediate (20 kGy, corresponding to cold sterilization) and high (100 kGy) doses. It was observed that a number of volatile compounds are produced after irradiation in all cases. Furthermore the amounts of all volatile compounds increase with increasing irradiation dose. Both primary (methyl-derivatives etc.) as well as secondary i.e. oxidation products (ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, carboxylic acids etc.) are produced upon irradiation. These products may affect organoleptic properties and thus shelf-life of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tm3+ and Dy3+ ions co-doped aluminoborosilicate glasses were prepared in this study. The luminescence properties of the glasses were analyzed. A combination of blue, green, yellow, and red emission bands was shown for these glasses, and white light emission could be observed under UV light excitation. White light luminescence color could be changed by varying the excitation wavelength. Concentration quenching effect was investigated in this paper. Furthermore, the dependence of luminescence properties on glass compositions was studied. Results showed that the luminescence intensity changed with different network modifier oxides, while the white color luminescence was not affected significantly. - Graphical abstract: Tm3+ and Dy3+ ions co-doped aluminoborosilicate glasses, which emit white light under UV light excitation, were prepared. The dependence of luminescence properties on glass compositions was studied, and results showed that the white ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mannitol and sucrose are the main photosynthetic products and translocated carbon compounds in celery (Apium graveolens L.). Carbon partitioning was studied in greenhouse-grown celery plants supplied with a nutrient solution containing or lacking phosphate (P). P-deficient plants developed new leaves at about the same rate as control plants, but showed greatly reduced growth of leaves and petioles; root growth was apparently unaffected. P-deficient leaves contained less mannitol and more sucrose than control leaves. Starch content increased with P-deficiency only in mature (the most photosynthetically-active) leaves, and then amounted to less than 10 mg/g fresh weight. Similarly, when {sup 14}CO{sub 2} was supplied to intact plants, P-deficient leaves contained less label in mannitol and more in sucrose than did control leaves; labeling of starch changed little. The P-status of celery leaves apparently affects the partitioning of carbon between mannitol and sucrose ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of the present study was to examine the in vitro effects of low-dose cadmium (Cd) on developing cortical cells. The cortical cells removed from fetuses (embryonic day 15) were treated with 10 nM of Cd for 24 h. The effects of Cd on dendritic and synaptic development were immunocytochemically observed with anti-microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP2) and anti-synapsin I antibodies, respectively. Administration of Cd suppressed dendritic as well as synaptic development at 10 nM. By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) analysis, we identified three proteins with different expression after Cd-treatment; dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2 (DRP-2/CRMP-2), 14-3-3-epsillon and calmodulin (CaM). Though the number of identified proteins was small, these proteins are known to be involved in neuronal development. The present study demonstrated the morphological effects as well as ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Microstructural analyses by advanced metallographic techniques were conducted on mockup welds and a cracked BWR core shroud weld fabricated from Type 304L stainless steel. heat-affected zones of the shroud weld and mockup shielded-metal-arc welds were free of grain-boundary carbide, martensite, delta ferrite, or Cr depletion near grain boundaries. However, as a result of exposure to welding fumes, the heat-affected zones of the welds were significantly contaminated by fluorine and oxygen which migrate to grain boundaries. Significant oxygen contamination promotes fluorine contamination and suppresses classical thermal sensitization, even in Type 304 steels. Results of slow-strain-rate tensile tests indicate that fluorine exacerbates the susceptibility of irradiated steels to intergranular stress corrosion cracking. These observations, combined with previous reports on the strong influence of weld flux, indicate that oxygen ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A liquid column was used for the experiments reported in Part 1. However, it only gives the observation of the effect of fast reaction because the liquid flow was controlled to uniform laminar flow and the contact is limited to short time of around 10 ms. In practical absorbing operation, turbulence is involved in liquid flow, and the residence time for contact is long. Hence, the absorption of trace iodine in the purified air has been experimented by using a constant interface area type stirred absorption tank. Prior to the experiment, the characteristics of the absorption tank was investigated by conducting pure carbon dioxide absorption test with purified water. It gave the conclusion that the tank was sufficiently usable for fundamental researches. In short contact time absorption, the iodine dissolved and absorbed in liquid phase is affected by reaction of hypoiodous acid and poly-iodide ion formation due to hydrolysis by basic catalyst, ...

CERN Document Server

Ultra-luminous infrared galaxies are among the most luminous objects in the local universe and are thought to be powered by intense star formation. It has been shown that in these objects the rotational spectral lines of molecular hydrogen observed at mid-infrared wavelengths are not affected by dust obscuration, leaving unresolved the source of excitation of this emission. Here I report an analysis of archival Spitzer Space Telescope data on ultra-luminous infrared galaxies and demonstrate that star formation regions are buried inside optically thick clouds of gas and dust, so that dust obscuration affects star-formation indicators but not molecular hydrogen. I thereby establish that the emission of H_2 is not co-spatial with the buried starburst activity and originates outside the obscured regions. This is rather surprising in light of the standard view that H_2 emission is directly associated with star-formation ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text: The production of #beta#-sialon from kaolinite and carbon has been studied using Hulu Langat Kaolin and activated carbon as raw materials. The sintered temperature is shown to play a prominent role in the process of sialon conversion. Apart from temperature, nitrogen flow rate is also affect the production of #beta#--sialon. This study was carried out on the effect of additive, Y_2O_3 and Al_2O_3 at different temperature that will be mixed and sintered. The additives are expected to affect the formation of #beta#--sialon and Y-sialon upon the synthesis. The mineral and phase development was analysed using X-Ray Diffraction technique (Rigaku Geigerflex) while its chemical compositions through X-Ray Fluorescent Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu XRF 1700) and the particle size distribution analysis through Particle Size Analyser (Horiba, CAPA 700). The observed changes in the microstructure were analysed using the Hitachi ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

There are very different views on the health hazards of DU munitions. Most of the concerns of veterans and their advisors focus on the radiological effects of DU and consequently these are the focus of this editorial. Effects on the kidney and environmental consequences are, however, considered in the second of the Royal Society reports and the main conclusions of both of the reports are outlined in the summary document published in this issue of the journal. The main radiological concerns focus on the irradiation of lung tissues from inhaled DU particles and irradiation resulting from the translocation of inhaled particles to the thoracic lymph nodes.The overwhelming scientific view, presented in the two Royal Society reports and in other independent reviews, is that the main risks of exposure to DU aerosols are an increase in lung cancer and (from chemical toxicity) damage to the kidney, although these are likely to be evident only following substantial intakes. The equivalent doses ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In order to provide pigs a comfortable sleeping area in hot weather, a floor cooling system was designed and applied to production buildings. Experiments were conducted to compare the floor temperatures and to observe the lying behaviour of pigs in the sleeping area of the buildings with and without floor cooling system. The results showed that, without the floor cooling system, the floor temperature was nearly the same as the air temperature in the open pig house. With the floor cooling system, the floor temperature of the sleeping area was controlled at 22-26degreeC, even though the air temperature was as high as 34degreeC, which improved the comfort of the pigs in the sleeping area. The pig lying behaviour was greatly affected by the floor temperature. More than 85% of the pigs were lyi...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Elevation of zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) levels in the blood has served as an indicator of lead poisoning and iron deficiency anemia for many years. We have discovered that sublethal doses of whole body irradiation with x-rays also elevates ZPP 2-3-fold over normal levels. The ZPP level does not begin to increase until days 12-14 postirradiation and peaks between days 18 and 20 before returning to normal levels between days 28 and 35. Increasing the radiation dose delays the onset of the rise in ZPP, but does not affect the magnitude of the elevation. At lethal doses, ZPP elevation is not observed. Neither of the two previously described mechanisms that cause elevations of ZPP, namely iron deficiency and inhibition of ferrochelatase, are responsible for the radiation-induced elevation of ZPP. The elevation of ZPP appears to be correlated with the recovery of the hematopoietic system from radiation injury.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We revisit a recently proposed agent-based model of active biological motion and compare its predictions with own experimental findings for the speed distribution of bacterial cells, Salmonella typhimurium. Agents move according to a stochastic dynamics and use energy stored in an internal depot for metabolism and active motion. We discuss different assumptions of how the conversion from internal to kinetic energy d(v) may depend on the actual speed, to conclude that d 2 v ? with either ? = 2 or 1 ? < 2 are promising hypotheses. To test these, we compare the model?s prediction with the speed distribution of bacteria which were obtained in media of different nutrient concentration and at different times. We find that both hypotheses are in line with the experimental observations, with ? bet...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Storage of thermal energy in aquifers has obvious benefits of saving energy and decreasing the consumption of fossil fuels. However, aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES), which involves groundwater aquifers as the storage medium for heat or chill, impinges on the environment. A literature review of pertinent microbiology publications (Hicks and Stewart, 1988) identified the potential for the interaction of ATES systems and microbiological processes to create a source of infectious diseases and the potential for damage to the environment. In addition, the review identified a potential for microbiological processes to develop conditions that would interfere with the operation of an ATES system. As a result of this research effort, investigators from Finland, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States have examined several ATES systems in operation and have observed that the ATES systems studied do not contribute to infectious disease transmission, do not adversely ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A stratigraphic and geochemical study of alpine soils, which formed in later Pleistocene (late glacial) and Neoglacial deposits in the Wind River Mountains of western Wyoming, indicates that these soils are affected by air-fall in flux of inorganic pollutants. Arsenic, bromine and antimony appear to have been deposited in surface soils by incorporation of aeolian materials which were presumably transported by winds from industrial sources, including coal-burning operations. As vanadium was not found in surface soils at concentrations above site-specific background levels, oil-fired energy generating stations were not found to be significant sources of surface soil pollution in the region. Acid-rain effects were not observed in the soils. (author) 32 refs.; 2 figs.; 3 tabs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The relationship of lead exposure to blood pressure has been examined in a longitudinal study of a cohort of 89 Boston, Massachusetts, policemen. At the baseline examination, subjects had a blood lead determination and three consecutive blood pressure measurements. Triplicate blood pressure measurements were also taken at years 3, 4, and 5. Multivariate analysis revealed that, after correction for previous systolic blood pressure, body mass index, age, and smoking, a high level of blood lead was a significant predictor of subsequent elevation of systolic pressure. Bootstrap simulations of these models provided supporting evidence for the observed associations. These data suggest that lead exposure can significantly affect systolic pressure.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract It is well established that ageing handicaps the ability of prey to escape predators, yet surprisingly little is known about how ageing affects the ability of predators to catch prey. Research into long-lived predators has assumed that adults have uniform impacts on prey regardless of age. Here we use longitudinal data from repeated observations of individually-known wolves (Canis lupus) hunting elk (Cervus elaphus) in Yellowstone National Park to demonstrate that adult predatory performance declines with age and that an increasing ratio of senescent individuals in the wolf population depresses the rate of prey offtake. Because this ratio fluctuates independently of population size, predatory senescence may cause wolf populations of equal size but different age structure to have d...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Olfactory memory dysfunctions were investigated in the triple-transgenic murine model of Alzheimer's disease (3x Tg-AD). In the social transmission of food preference test, 3x Tg-AD mice presented severe deficits in odor-based memory, without gross changes in general odor-ability. Ab and tau immunoreactivity was not observed in the primary processing regions for odor, the olfactory bulbs (OBs), whereas marked immunostaining was present in the piriform, entorhinal, and orbitofrontal cortex, as well as in the hippocampus. Our results suggest that the impairment in olfactory-based information processing might arise from degenerative mechanisms mostly affecting higher cortical regions and limbic areas, such as the hippocampus.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The irradiation behavior of Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} under a fusion reactor environment was simulated by simultaneous irradiation of Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} by the triple ion beams and the respective single ion beams of O{sup 2+}, He{sup +} and H{sup +}. The microstructural changes in Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} caused by the irradiation were measured by Raman spectroscopy and FT-IR photoacoustic spectroscopy. The results suggest that the formation of TiO{sub 2} due to displacements by irradiation occurs, and the irradiation defects generated by irradiation trap hydrogen and increase the amount of hydroxyl near the surface. Such phenomena are believed to significantly affect the chemical form of the released tritium and the tritium inventory in the breeding materials of a fusion reactor.

Science.gov (United States)

Experimental measurements were made of the production cross sections and energy distributions of gamma rays emitted when the stable targets /sup 88/Sr, /sup 89/Y and /sup 90/Zr are exposed to protons in the energy range 3 to 8 MeV. The data are being analyzed using a recent version of the Uhl statistical model code. One conclusion is that while the gamma-ray strength functions employed reproduce the proton capture cross sections, they do not achieve the same degree of hardness observed in the measured spectra. To do so, their lower energy regions must be modified; such changes, however, do not affect the capture cross sections. 7 references.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

AISI 316L stainless steel was welded by the electron beam (EB) and laser techniques. Microstructural characteristics, hardness profile, creep rupture properties and creep damage of the welds were investigated. Fully austenitic microstructure was obtained in the two welds. The solidification structure of the welds consisted of the cellular and equiaxed dendrites. The creep rupture lives of the two welds were almost the same, and they were reduced by a factor of about two compared to the base metal. Moreover, the rupture elongation of the welds was lower than that of the base metal. Creep damage was observed in the ''parting'' region of the welds and in the heat-affected zone (HAZ), respectively. Final creep fracture occurred in the ''parting'' region of the welds. (orig.).

Science.gov (United States)

Examinations of polished and dry cut sections of feed and tuyere coke revealed some possible mechanisms for the physical influence of mineral compounds on the reactivity and strength of coke. It was observed that rounded particles of mineral phases that are exposed to the pore walls and surface of coke at high temperature create an inorganic cover, thus reducing the surface available for gas-solid reactions. The particles of mineral matter that have a low melting point and viscosity can affect the coke at earlier stages in the blast furnace process, acting in the upper parts of the blast furnace (BF). The temperature-driven redistribution of mineral phases within the coke matrix probably leads to the creation of weak spots and in general to anisotropy in its properties, thus reducing its strength. 9 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Intra uterine growth retardation (IUGR) is a major complication of pregnancy, affecting ~5% to 10% of newborns. Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is an organochlorine pesticide that consists of eight stereoisomers and g-isomer is the only isomer that possesses insecticidal activity. The aim of the present study was to analyze the OCP residues in maternal and cord blood of women and to assess the level of oxidative stress markers as well as to establish correlation with OCP levels. Fifty women delivering neonates with low birth weight (IUGR) and equal number of women delivering normal birth weight babies (control) were recruited. We have observed higher levels of g-HCH and T-HCH and increased oxidative stress markers in IUGR subjects versus control subjects. Significant correlations were also fou...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A series of SiAlON materials with a cordierite-based matrix were annealed for different lengths of time to cause crystallization of the glass phase. Their fracture toughness, hardness, and elastic modulus were measured from room temperature up to 1100"0C. The fracture toughness generally decreased with temperature. Short time annealing raised toughness at lower temperatures, while further annealing lowered it back to the value for as-hot pressed materials. At higher test temperatures annealing had no effect on toughness. This annealing behavior is significantly different from that previously reported in the system SaAlON-YAG. Hardness decreased monotonically with temperature for all samples. Both hardness and the elastic modulus were not affected by the annealing treatment. At elevated temperatures appreciable scatter of modulus results allowed only a rough trend of decrease with temperature to be observed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Field-grown snap bean plants were treated with simulated acidic rain applied either alone or in combination with ambient rain and the effects on growth and yield were determined. In plots where ambient rain was excluded, a retractable canopy was activated to shield the crop. Four levels of acidity at pH values of 5.0, 4.2, 3.4 and 2.6 were applied in four replicate treatments and the experiment was conducted in two successive years (1981 and 1982). In plots that received only simulated rain, yield was not adversely affected by acidic rain; in 1981, a positive linear relationship was present between acidity of simulated rain and yield, but in 1981, no effect was found. In contrast, in plots that received both simulated and ambient rain, a negative linear relationship between acidity in simulated rain and yield was observed in both years.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract The glycosylation profile of therapeutic antibodies is routinely analyzed throughout development to monitor the impact of process parameters and to ensure consistency, efficacy, and safety for clinical and commercial batches of therapeutic products. In this study, unusually high levels of the mannose-5 (Man5) glycoform were observed during the early development of a therapeutic antibody produced from a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, model cell line A. Follow up studies indicated that the antibody Man5 level was increased throughout the course of cell culture production as a result of increasing cell culture medium osmolality levels and extending culture duration. With model cell line A, Man5 glycosylation increased more than twofold from 12% to 28% in the fed-batch process...

CERN Document Server

Disorder on the string theory landscape may significantly affect dynamics of eternal inflation leading to the possibility for some vacua on the landscape to become dynamically preferable over others. We systematically study effects of a generic disorder on the landscape starting by identifying a sector with built-in disorder -- a set of de Sitter vacua corresponding to compactifications of the Type IIB string theory on Calabi-Yau manifolds with a number of warped Klebanov-Strassler throats attached randomly to the bulk part of the Calabi-Yau. Further, we derive continuum limit of the vacuum dynamics equations on the landscape. Using methods of dynamical renormalization group we determine the late time behavior of the probability distribution for an observer to measure a given value of the cosmological constant. We find the diffusion of the probability distribution to significantly slow down in sectors of the landscape where the number of ...

CERN Document Server

Neutron stars are sensitive laboratories for testing general relativity, especially when considering deviations where velocities are relativistic and gravitational fields are strong. One such deviation is described by dynamical, Chern-Simons modified gravity, where the Einstein-Hilbert action is modified through the addition of the gravitational parity-violating Pontryagin density coupled to a field. This four-dimensional effective theory arises naturally both in perturbative and non-perturbative string theory, loop quantum gravity, and generic effective field theory expansions. We calculate here Chern-Simons modifications to the properties and gravitational fields of slowly spinning neutron stars. We find that the Chern-Simons correction affects only the gravitomagnetic sector of the metric to leading order, thus introducing modifications to the moment of inertia but not to the mass-radius relation. We show that an observational determination ...

Science.gov (United States)

This summary report outlines the work that was performed to gain a more complete understanding of denting corrosion of steam generators in PWRs. Background laboratory and plant data on denting were compiled, reviewed and correlated to determine how various exposure conditions affect denting. Two high-temperature chemistry analytical models were reviewed and evaluated by experimental simulation of impurity concentration in the heat transfer and isothermal capsule tests. Simulation of impurity concentration for three cooling waters (lake, river, and cooling tower) was evaluated. The effects of species concentration (Cu/sup + +/, Cl/sup -/, O/sub 2/, and H/sup +/), contaminant thresholds (established by isothermal and heat transfer tests), and heat flux as indicated by superheat on denting were examined. A discussion of several pertinent observations and conclusions drawn from these tasks (as they pertain to plant operation) is presented.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mineral matter in coals is important in various senses for coal liquefaction. It is possible that the catalytic activity is affected by the interaction between catalyst and mineral matter. Iron-based catalyst forms pyrrhotite in the process of liquefaction, but the interaction between it and mineral matter is not known in detail. In this study, the interaction between mineral matter and catalyst and the selective reaction between them were investigated. Tanito Harum coal was used for this study. This coal contains a slight amount of siderite and jarosite besides pyrite as iron compounds. Liquefaction samples were obtained from the 1 t/d NEDOL process PSU. The solid deposits in the reactor mainly contained pyrrhotite and quartz. A slight amount of kaolinite was observed, and pyrite was little remained. It was found that the catalyst (pyrrhotite) often coexisted with quartz, clay and calcite. 8 figs., 2 tabs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Major forecast errors on the background error covariance from initial conditions, atmospheric forcing, model open boundary conditions, and the river discharges are examined in a coastal model of northern South China Sea. The analysis of background error covariance matrix produced by model ensemble shows that the perturbations of the initial conditions and atmospheric forcing play major roles in producing and maintaining the amplitude of ensemble spread except for the sea surface height (SSH) field. The perturbation of model open boundary conditions can influence ensemble spread of all variables and covariance between temperature and velocity or between temperature and SSH. The perturbation of river discharge mainly affects the covariance of salinity in river estuary. A data assimilation ex...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Amicrobial pustulosis of the folds (APF) is a recently described entity characterized by relapsing pustular lesions predominantly involving the cutaneous flexures and scalp. This disease typically occurs in association with systemic lupus erythematosus and a variety of other autoimmune diseases. We here describe an APF-like pustular eruption predominantly affecting the scalp, face and trunk, occurring during long-term infliximab treatment for Crohn's disease. Immunohistochemical staining of skin biopsy specimens for myxovirus resistance protein A, a marker for type 1 interferon-inducible proteins, showed increased staining in the epidermis and dermal mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate. Our observation further extends the spectrum of cutaneous adverse reactions potentially related...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR) system is developed to determine two-phase flow parameters for a vertical co-current two-phase flow channel with a hexagonal finned bundle. Image processing techniques are applied to visualize the two-phase flow, and procedures for measuring flow regime, cross-sectional averaged void fraction, time averaged void fraction, and void distribution for this complex geometry are discussed. The results show that the experimental flow regime map agrees well with an existing flow regime model for a hexagonal fined bundle. The hexagonal finned bundle is observed to significantly affect the void fraction, void migration, and void fluctuation along the axial flow channel.

Science.gov (United States)

Inductively coupled fluorocarbon (CF4/Ar and C4F8/Ar) plasmas were used to etch HfO2, which is a promising high-dielectric-constant material for the gate of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. The etch rates of HfO2 in CF4/Ar plasmas exceeded those in C4F8/Ar plasmas. The tendency for etch rates to become higher in fluorine-rich (high F/C ratio) conditions indicates that HfO2 can be chemically etched by fluorine-containing species. In C4F8/Ar plasmas with a high Ar dilution ratio, the etch rate of HfO2 increased with increasing bias power. The etch rate of Si, however, decreasd with bias power, suggesting that the deposition of carbon-containing species increased with increasing the power and inhibited the etching of Si. The HfO2/Si selectivity monotonically increased with increasing power, then became more than 5 at the highest tested bias power. The carbon-containing species to inhibit etching of Si play an ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Single-crystal neutron diffraction has been used to observe the interactions between deuterated ethanol (CD3CD2OH) and lysozyme in triclinic crystals of hen egg white lysozyme soaked in 25% (v/v) ethanol solutions. A total of 6047 observed reflections to a resolution of 2 A were used, and 13 possible ethanol sites were identified. The three highest occupied sites are close to locations for bromoethanol found in an earlier study by Yonath et al. [Yonath, A., Podjarny, A., Honig, B., Traub, W., Sielecki, A., Herzberg, O., and Moult, J. (1978) Biophys. Struct. Mech. 4, 27-36]. Structure refinements including a model for the flat solvent lead to a final crystallographic agreement factor of 0.097. Comparison with earlier neutron studies on triclinic lysozyme showed that neither the molecular structure nor the thermal motions were affected significantly by the ethanol. A detailed analysis of the ethanol-lysozyme contacts showed ...

CERN Document Server

Observations show the ubiquitous presence of propagating magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) kink waves in the solar atmosphere. Waves and flows are often observed simultaneously. Due to plasma inhomogeneity in the perpendicular direction to the magnetic field, kink waves are spatially damped by resonant absorption. The presence of flow may affect the wave spatial damping. Here, we investigate the effect of longitudinal background flow on the propagation and spatial damping of resonant kink waves in transversely nonuniform magnetic flux tubes. We combine approximate analytical theory with numerical investigation. The analytical theory uses the thin tube (TT) and thin boundary (TB) approximations to obtain expressions for the wavelength and the damping length. Numerically, we verify the previously obtained analytical expressions by means of the full solution of the resistive MHD eigenvalue problem beyond the TT and TB approximations. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A real-time neutron radiography (RTNR) system is used to determine two-phase flow parameters for a horizontal co-current two-phase flow channel with a cylindrical 37 rod bundle. Image processing techniques are applied to visualize the two-phase flow, and to determine flow regime, cross-sectional averaged void fraction, time averaged void fraction, and void distribution. The experimentally determined flow regime map disagrees with existing flow regime models developed for the cylindrical rod bundles. A new flow regime is observed and designated large amplitude stratified wavy (LASW) flow. The results show that the LASW flow regime may be due to a combination of undeveloped flow phenomena, boundary conditions, and circumferential cross flow occuring in the bundle. The rods in the bundle may act as a dampener to the vertical flow component and hinders the development of the wave into plug or slug flow by changing the momentum of the fluid in the circumferential ...

Science.gov (United States)

Based on studies on the genetic and molecular basis of Shigella flexneri invasive properties, we have constructed and evaluated a double mutant of S. flexneri serotype 5 for utilization as a live attenuated oral vaccine against shigellosis. The first mutation, icsA, blocks intracellular spread of bacteria as well as cell-to-cell infection. It affects the capacity of the invasive pathogen to form large abscesses in epithelia. The second mutation, iuc, eliminates production of the siderophore aerobactin thus impairing growth of the bacterium within tissues. This double mutant, SC5700 appeared safe when administered intragastrically to macaque monkeys as three doses (5 x 10(10) c.f.u. each) at weekly intervals. Protection against a challenge by the wild type isolate (M90T) was observed 4 weeks after the last vaccine inoculation. Duration of carriage was considerably reduced as compared to the control group in which all animals had developed severe ...

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The feasibility of using of current-biased superconducting strips for radiation detection is investigated. Narrow Ta strips are exposed to 5.5 MeV [alpha]-particle radiation and the rise-time of the induced voltage pulses is measured as function of temperature and bias current. The rise-time of the voltage signal strongly depends on the site on the strip which is hit by the [alpha]-particle. In order to determine the spatial resolution of a superconducting strip detector, position-sensitive measurements were performed. The maximum lateral resolution estimated so far is 25[mu]m in a 7[mu]m wide, 340 nm thick and 0.6 mm long Ta-strip. (orig.)

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DOE installations possessing sufficient quantities of fissile material to potentially constitute a critical mass, such that the excessive exposure of personnel to radiation from a nuclear accident is possible, are required to provide nuclear accident dosimetry services. This document describes the personal nuclear accident dosimeter (PNAD) used by SNL and prescribes methodologies to initially screen, and to process PNAD results. In addition, this report describes PNAD dosimetry results obtained during the Nuclear Accident Dosimeter Intercomparison Study (NAD23), held during 12-16 June 1995, at Los Alamos National Laboratories. Biases for reported neutron doses ranged from -6% to +36% with an average bias of +12%.

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The original objective of our EMSP research was to design, develop, and test new in situ field permeameters for use in spatial variability studies of unsaturated hydraulic properties. We initially focused on activities related to development and testing of techniques for inverting permeameter data, development of numerical tools for data inversion, error evaluation for permeameter design, and permeameter component design. However, the results of error evaluations for permeameter design caused us to redirect our research, and reformulate our research objectives. We discovered that small, simple measurement errors lead to significant bias in the estimated hydraulic properties and their spatial statistics. Our reformulated research objective became the evaluation of the origin, impact and relevance of spatial bias in field-and laboratory-estimated unsaturate hydraulic properties, with an emphasis on spatial statistics and the resulting predictions ...

CERN Document Server

We investigate the extent to which the pure magnification effect of gravitational lensing can be extracted from galaxy clustering statistics, by a nulling method which aims to eliminate terms arising from the intrinsic clustering of galaxies. The aim is to leave statistics which are free from the uncertainties of galaxy bias. We find that nulling can be done effectively, leaving data which are relatively insensitive to uncertainties in galaxy bias and its evolution, leading to cosmological parameter estimation which is effectively unbiased. This advantage comes at the expense of increased statistical errors, which are in some cases large, but it offers a robust alternative analysis method to cosmic shear for cosmological imaging surveys designed for weak lensing studies, or to full modelling of the clustering signal including magnification effects.

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The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) core loading during its ninth operating cycle was significantly different from that of previous cycles because of the presence of the Core Demonstration Experiment (CDE). The CDE consists of a number of axially blanketed fuel assemblies and internal blankets prototypic of advanced oxide cores in Liquid Metal Reactors (LMR). In preparation for the Cycle 9 reload design effort, a careful assessment of control rod worth and reactivity calculations for Cycles 1 through 8 was made. The goal of this study was to establish calculational biases and reduce uncertainties factored into the reload design calculations. These analyses helped assure that the operational objectives for Cycle 9 were met.

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The red sequence is an important feature of galaxy clusters and plays a crucial role in optical cluster detection. Measurement of the slope and scatter of the red sequence are affected both by selection of red sequence galaxies and measurement errors. In this paper, we describe a new error corrected Gaussian Mixture Model for red sequence galaxy identification. Using this technique, we can remove the effects of measurement error and extract unbiased information about the intrinsic properties of the red sequence. We use this method to select red sequence galaxies in each of the 13,823 clusters in the maxBCG catalog, and measure the red sequence ridgeline location and scatter of each. These measurements provide precise constraints on the variation of the average red galaxy populations in the observed frame with redshift. We find that the scatter of the red sequence ridgeline increases mildly with redshift, and that the slope decreases with ...

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Reinjection of spent geothermal brine is a common means of disposing of geothermal effluents and maintaining reservoir pressures. Contrary to the predictions of two-fluid models (two-viscosity) of nonisothermal injection, an increase of injectivity, with continued injection, is often observed. Injectivity enhancement and thermally-affected pressure transients are particularly apparent in short-term injection tests at the Los Azufres Geothermal Field, Mexico. During an injection test, it is not uncommon to observe that after an initial pressure increase, the pressure decreases with time. As this typically occurs far below the pressure at which hydraulic fracturing is expected, some other mechanism for increasing the near-bore permeability must explain the observed behavior. This paper focuses on calculating the magnitude of the near-bore permeability changes observed in several ...

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The Waste Acceptance Preliminary Specifications (WAPS) require that the DWPF estimate the inventory of long-lived radionuclides present in the waste glass, and report the values in the Waste Form Qualification Report. In this report, conservative (biased high) estimates of the radionuclide inventory of glass produced from waste currently in the Tank Farm are provided. In most cases, these calculated values compare favorably with actual data. In those cases where the agreement is not good, the values reported here are conservative.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Biased above threshold (VT), pulsed photocurrent (u) measurements on windowed silicon Pd gate MOS capacitors are shifted (DV) negatively by H2/N2, whereas Au gates shift positively under NO2/air. Below VT, the shifts are reversed by adjustments of interface state population. Minor temperature increases may coax the device from inversion to depletion, inducing sign reversal of the chemical response.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors investigate the breakdown luminescence spectra in reverse-biased p-n heterojunctions based on gallium and aluminum phosphides and arsenides for the purpose of determining their behavior as lasing and photodetection materials. Data are given on temperature coefficients, band gap structure, bremsstrahlung, hot carrier mobility and photon emission, and transition and recombination parameters.

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A simple and continuous model for the on-state current of polysilicon thin-film transistors, suitable for implementation in circuit simulators, is presented. The model includes the potential barrier at the grain boundaries, the channel length modulation and the excess current due to impact ionization. Comparison between measured output characteristics and the model shows excellent agreement over wide range of bias voltages and for devices with different gate lengths.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Multi-dimensional modelling of two-phase flow requires accurate constitutive relationships for interfacial parameters such as interfacial heat transfer, void fraction distribution, interfacial area, etc. However, existing diagnostic systems for measurement of two-phase flow parameters have difficulty measuring two or three-dimensional void distributions required for determination of interfacial parameters. In this work, a Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR) system is developed for non-intrusive measurement of two-phase flow parameters in nuclear fuel channels at low thermal neutron fluxes (on the order of 10"6n/cm"2-s). This advanced radiation technique has the advantage of measuring two-phase flow in 3 1/2 dimensions (x,#integral#dy,t) where the 1/2 dimension refers to an integrated or averaged space dimension. Pipe flow channels, annulus flow channels, MAPLE-type nuclear fuel flow channels, and CANDU-type nuclear fuel flow channels are investigated. Measurements of flow regime, void ...

Science.gov (United States)

The epileptogenic and neurodegenerative effects of gamma-dendrotoxin, from Dendroaspis angusticeps, a specific blocker of a non-inactivating, voltage-sensitive K+ channel, were studied after focal injection into one dorsal hippocampus in rats pretreated with CGP040116, a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, and in rats bearing a monolateral surgical lesion of the Schaffer collaterals whose terminals originate from CA3 pyramids and release glutamate in the CA1 hippocampal area. Administration of 35 pmol gamma-dendrotoxin elicited in all of the treated animals (n=8) bilateral EEG discharges and damage to the hippocampal formation. Quantitation of the damage revealed significant bilateral neuronal cell loss in the CA1, CA3 and CA4 pyramidal cell layers. The lowest dose (0.35 pmol; n=4) of the toxin used did not affect EEG activity and failed to cause significant hippocampal cell loss whereas the 3.5 pmol (n=6) dose caused EEG seizures and hippocampal cell ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the bacterial reversion assay with S. typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537, gamma irradiated hyaluronic acid (10 and 50 kGy) did not induce a significant increase in the number of revertant colonies in the presence of S9 metabolic activation system. In chromosomal aberration tests with CHO cells, gamma irradiated hyaluronic acid (10 and 50 kGy) did not result in an increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. In vivo mouse micronucleus assay, gamma irradiated hyaluronic acid (10 and 50 kGy) did not show an increase in the frequency of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei. These results indicate that hyaluronic acids irradiated at 10 and 50 kGy did not show any genotoxic effects under these experimental conditions. In order to evaluate their possible subacute toxicity, the male and female of ICR mouse were given to methanol extract of 50 kGy irradiated red ginseng and 20 kGy irradiated water extract of mistletoe for three months. During the experimental periods, ...

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Since the 1970 innovations have allowed both active and passive neutron techniques to address various safeguards and waste measurement needs in the DOE complex. Much research was focused on satisfjring the 100-nCi/g detection limit for TRU waste in 208-liter drums. The emphasis on measuring drum-sized containers for disposal at WIPP has resulted in improved waste assay capability that now needs to be extended to larger containers. The desire to expedite the decontamination and decommissioning of certtain DOE facilities, and the large waste encountered in that process, has prompted the need for increasingly large disposal containers. Instruments have recently been built to accommodate crates that are nearly 100 cubic feet in volume, such as a B-25 box or Standard Waste 13ox. The density of hydrogen inside a waste container profoundly affects the accuracy of neutron measurements, and the metal content greatly affects sensitivity. Depending on the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The influence of (%MgO) and (%T.Fe) in slug on the corrosion resistance of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-C brick was studied at 1,550-1,800{degree}C to apply it to the post combustion zone of an in-bath smelting reduction furnace. The wear rate of the brick was affected strongly by temperature decreasing to 1 2-2 3 for every temperature reduction of 100{degree}C, and it was also more affected by (%T.Fe) than (%MgO) in slug at every temperature. The observation of brick microstructures by reflecting microscopy revealed the preceding wear of a carbon matrix. Based on the consideration that the growth of degraded structures by decarburization also contributes to movement of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} clinkers, the wear rate equation of the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-C brick was derived taking into account not only elution of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} clinkers into slug but oxidation and decarburization of the carbon matrix in oxidation atmosphere at high ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A necessary condition for crevice corrosion is that a crevice former create a sufficiently tight, restricted geometry on the metal surface to support the development of critical crevice chemistry. Crevice corrosion is affected by the crevice geometry (tightness) and the properties of the crevice former. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of the crevice former material on the evolution of localized corrosion-damage. A standard crevice corrosion test method is modified by (a) the use of ceramic, metal or polymer materials as the crevice former and (b) the variation of size and shape of the crevice. This study focuses on the post initiation stage of crevice corrosion and addresses factors that may limit the initiation of localized corrosion and also slow or stop the continued propagation of corrosion. Controlled crevice corrosion tests are performed under aggressive, accelerated conditions on Ni-Cr-Mo alloy C-22 and other alloys for comparison. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In most conceptual fusion power reactor designs, it is proposed to use beryllium as a neutron multiplier in the blanket. Detailed chemical composition of beryllium is necessary for evaluation of the tritium breeding ratio, and estimating the activation and transmutation of beryllium in the fusion reactor. In the present report, special attention was paid to a detailed analysis of impurities in beryllium, relevant to the tritium breeding ratio evaluation. Two different methods were used for the study of impurities: an analysis of the local sample by the ICP-MS method, and an integral analysis of the beryllium assembly, using the pulsed neutron method. The latter method was proposed as the most effective way of analyzing the integral effect to impurities in beryllium on production of the tritium on the lithium-6. The evaluation of the integral effect was based on time behaviour observations of the thermal neutron flux, following the injection of a burst of D-T ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectra have been obtained for the bR----K, bR----L, and bR----M photoreactions in bacteriorhodopsin mutants in which Asp residues 85, 96, 115, and 212 have been replaced by Asn and by Glu. Difference peaks that had previously been attributed to Asp COOH groups on the basis of isotopic labeling were absent or shifted in these mutants. In general, each COOH peak was affected strongly by mutation at only one of the four residues. Thus, it was possible to assign each peak tentatively to a particular Asp. From these assignments, a model for the proton-pumping mechanism of bR is derived, which features proton transfers among Asp-85, -96, and -212, the chromophore Schiff base, and other ionizable groups within the protein. The model can explain the observed COOH peaks in the FTIR difference spectra of bR photointermediates and could also account for other recent results on site-directed mutants of bR.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Locomotion is a complex behavior affected by many different brain- and spinal cord systems, as well as by variations in the peripheral nervous system. Recently, we found increased gene expression for EphA4, a gene intricately involved in motor neuron development, between high-active parental strain C57BL/6J and the low-active chromosome substitution strain 1 (CSS1). CSS1 mice carry chromosome 1 from A/J mice in a C57BL/6J genetic background, allowing localization of quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosome 1. To find out whether differences in motor neuron anatomy, possibly related to the changes in EphA4 expression, are involved in the motor activity differences observed in these strains, motor performance in various behavioral paradigms and anatomical differences in the ventral roots ...

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Perylene bisimides (PBIs) represent an important class of organic n-type semiconductors exhibiting a relatively high electron affinity among large-band-gap materials. Herein synthesis and characterization of several unsymmetrical N-substituted PBI dyes is presented and the thermotropic behavior, which is strongly affected by the respective N-substituents was investigated. Two different series of highly soluble and fluorescent derivatives have been synthesized: (1) PBIs bearing swallow-tailed alkyl chains, different in size or (2) one swallow-tailed alkyl chain and one branched oligoethylenglycolether. Synthesis of these PBIs is generally feasible by two distinct divergent synthesis approaches. Thermotropic behavior was studied by DSC, POM and XRD measurements. Inherent {pi}-{pi} interactions between cofacially orientated perylene molecules and the elliptic shape of the molecule favor the ordering in columns and self-organized architectures. Among them hexagonal ...

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Meteorological and air-quality data, as well as surface tracer concentration values, were collected during 1990 to assess the impact of Navajo Generating Station (NGS) emissions on Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) air quality. These data have been used in the present investigation to determine between direct and indirect transport routes taken by the NGS plume to produce measured high-tracer concentration events at GCNP. Results show that complex-terrain features affect local wind-flow patterns during winter in the Grand Canyon area. Local channelling, decoupled canyon winds, and slope and valley flows dominate in the region when synoptic systems are weak. Direct NGS plume transport to GCNP occurs with northeasterly plume-height winds, while indirect transport to the park is caused by wind direction shifts associated with passing synoptic systems. Calculated polluted airmass positions along the modeled streak lines match measured surface-tracer ...

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The effects of lead on the development of the nervous system are of immediate concern to human health. While it is clear that lead can affect neuronal development at levels of exposure within the range found in the environment, the particular mechanism of the disruption is not readily ascertained. The goal of the authors research is to develop a model system in which the effects of lead on central nervous system development can be demonstrated. To study neuronal development in a system that minimizes such difficulties, the authors have grafted discrete brain regions derived from rat fetuses into the anterior chamber of the eye of adult hosts. The brain pieces continue organotypic development in the eye, but are isolated from possible secondary changes due to alterations in the development of the endocrine and other somatic systems because the adult host has these systems already fully developed. Using this system, they have discovered that lead induces a ...

CERN Document Server

We present a large set of merger simulations of early-type disc galaxies with mass ratios of 1:1 and 3:1 and 10% of the total disc mass in gas. In contrast to the collisionless case equal-mass mergers with gas do not result in very boxy remnants which is caused by the suppression of box orbits and the change of the projected shape of minor-axis tube orbits in the more axisymmetric remnants. The isophotal shape of 3:1 remnants and the global kinematic properties of 1:1 and 3:1 remnants are only weakly affected by the presence of gas. 1:1 remnants are slowly rotating whereas 3:1 remnants are fast rotating and discy. The shape of the stellar LOSVD is strongly influenced by gas. The LOSVDs of collisionless remnants have broad leading wings while their gaseous counterparts show steep leading wings, more consistent with observations of elliptical galaxies. We show that this change is also caused by the suppressed populating of box orbits and it is ...

CERN Document Server

(abridged) The accretion disk in AGN is expected to produce strong outflows, in particular a UV-line driven wind. Despite providing a good fit to the data, current spectral models of the X-ray spectrum of AGN observed through an accretion disk wind are ad-hoc in their treatment of the properties of the wind material. In order to address these limitations we adopt a numerical computation method that links a series of radiative transfer calculations, incorporating the effect of a global velocity field in a self-consistent manner (XSCORT). We present a series of example spectra from the XSCORT code that allow us to examine the shape of AGN X-ray spectra seen through a wind, for a range of velocity and density distributions, total column densities and initial ionization parameters. These detailed spectral models clearly show considerable complexity and structure that is strongly affected by all these factors. The presence of sharp features in the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract SLC9A9 (solute carrier family 9, member 9, also known as Na+/H+ exchanger member (NHE9)) is a membrane protein that regulates the luminal pH of the recycling endosome, an essential organelle for synaptic transmission and plasticity. SLC9A9 has been implicated in human attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and in rat studies of hyperactivity. We examined the SLC9A9 gene sequence and expression profile in prefrontal cortex, dorsal striatum and hippocampus in two genetic rat models of ADHD. We report two mutations in a rat model of inattentive ADHD, the WKY/NCrl rat, which affect the interaction of SLC9A9 with calcineurin homologous protein (CHP). We observed an age-dependent abnormal expression of SLC9A9 in brains of this inattentive model and in the Spontaneous Hypertensi...

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Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) has been used to investigate changes that occur in an advanced Ir-0.3W alloy during high temperature aging. This alloy is used to clad /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ heat sources used in thermoelectric generators for deep space reconnaissance satellites. Long-term direct contact with PuO/sub 2/ at 1400/sup 0/C leads to physical and chemical changes within the cladding alloy that affect its metallurgical properties. SIMS was used to show that Cr, Fe, Ni, and in some cases O, diffuse from the PuO/sub 2/ into the alloy. Thorium and aluminum diffuse out of the alloy in these same regions. This SIMS study suggests that inward O diffusion and subsequent formation of ThO/sub 2/ on grain boundaries may stabilize the alloy against enhanced grain growth.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence are observed in polycrystalline RbMgF3:Eu2+ after x-ray, ?-ray, or ? irradiation. The main electron traps are F-centers but there are other unidentified traps. The main hole traps at room temperature are probably Eu3+ and thermal or optical stimulation leads to electron-hole recombination at the Eu3+ site and Eu2+ emissions arising from 6PJ to 8S7/2 and 4f5d(Eg) to 8S7/2 transitions. We find that some of the electron traps can be emptied by infrared stimulation and all of the electron traps can be emptied by white light stimulation. The OSL dark decay is long and exceeds 5 days for traps that are emptied by white light stimulation after initial infrared bleaching. Our results show that this compound can be used as a radiation dosimeter for intermediate dose levels where the 87Rb self-dose does not significantly affect the dose reading.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

'Full text:' In Germany, Alloy 800 (high nickel austenitic stainless steel) was modified and qualified for the use as steam generator tubing by Siemens/KWU (now AREVA NP GmbH). The service reliability of Alloy 800 has been demonstrated over a long period of time. 1968 Siemens/KWU decided to use this material for the NPP Stade, which started operation in 1972. The steam generators operating with Alloy 800 tubes have now been in service for more than 30 years. Up to now no PWSCC or secondary-side SCC has been observed in the more than 285,000 tubes installed in Siemens/KWU steam generators (including RSG) in 19 PWRs in Europe. The operating experience will be shown and discussed. During the past regular SG tubing inspections using eddy current testing, a few indications were detected within the tube sheet between upper and lower tube expansion. These indications were limited to the outer tube positions. The number of affected positions is small. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

3T3 - L1 cells can be induced to differentiate by exposing cell culture to a medium containing 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine together with insulin and dexamethasone. They have observed that oxalomalate (OMA) which inhibits aconitase thus blocking the citric cycle, also favours differentiation to adipocytes leading to fatty acids accumulation and increased synthesis of specific proteins. They compared the effects of 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine-insulin-dexamethasone and OMA on the steady-state levels of mRNA of c / EBP, H-ferritin and aconitase / IRE-BP. OMA does not affect the steady-state mRNA amount of C / EBP, H-ferritin and aconitase / IRE-BP but the 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine-insulin-dexamethasone mixture is able to induce a five-fold increase of mRNA levels for aconitase / IRE-BP. This is the first finding correlating iron metabolism to adipocyte differentiation. Further studies will clarify a possible role for the aconitase inhibitor ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A discussion of how stress and strain affect the quantities which can be measured in an NQR experiment shows that, for stresses of the magnitude to be expected at depths up to about 10,000 feet, quadrupole coupling constants will fall in the range of 1 to 10 kHz for both the sodium and chloride ions in NaCl. The most promising system involves pulsed nuclear double resonance detection; and alterative is to observe the quadrupolar splitting of the NMR signal. Choices to be made in the measurement and mapping techniques are discussed. The well-known perturbation of the homogenous stress field in the neighborhood of a borehole is shown to be advantageous from the point of view of obtaining directional information on the stress. Construction and operation of a borehole stress sensor are considered. The NQR technique seems feasible for measuring the magnitude and direction of underground stress with a resolution of about 25 psi, or 2.5% at 1000 psi. ...

CERN Document Server

We study the impact of very light sterile neutrinos (Delta m^2_new around 1 to 10 times 10^(-2) eV^2, sin^2 2theta_new<10^(-1)) on upcoming theta_13-driven reactor antineutrino experiments like Double-CHOOZ and Daya Bay. Oscillations driven by these vales of Delta m^2_new affect data in the near and far detectors differently and hence potentially modify the capability of these experimental setups to constrain and measure sin^2 2theta_13. We find that the hypothesis theta_new different from zero negatively impacts one's ability to either place an upper bound on sin^2 2theta_13 in the advent of no oscillation signal or measure sin^2 2theta_13 if a theta_13-driven signal is observed. The impact of sterile neutrino effects, however, depends significantly on one's ability to measure the recoil positron energy spectrum. If sin^2 2theta_new is larger than 10^(-2), upcoming theta_13-driven reactor antineutrino experiments should be able to measure ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

For the development of high ionic conductive solid electrolyte, LiTi2(PO4)3 (LTP), one of the promising inorganic solid electrolyte, was synthesized to investigate an effect of additional lithium salt on the ion conductivity. Lithium salt added LTP composite electrolyte sintered at 900{degree}C exhibited highest conductivity, which was two order magnitude higher than pure LTP. Effects of lithium salt addition are as follows. Conductivity of the composite electrolyte provided larger sintering temperature dependence than the pure LTP. From X-ray diffraction analysis, structures and compositions were resemble between two composite electrolytes. Byproducts except LTP provided rather low conductivity. It was suggested that melted constitution in the composite can affect the sintering improvement by the additional lithium salt at temperatures over 800 {degree}C. From the observation of ruptured surface of sintered specimens, grain growth was found ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

adult males and females, less than 24 hours old, of the spiny bollworm, Earias Insulana boisd. were irradiated with sub sterilizing doses of 50,80,100 and 150 gray (Gy). treated moths were out crossed with normal adults and observed for their ability to reproduce. inherited deleterious effects resulting from irradiation of p_1 moths were recorded for several generations. the reduction in both fecundity and egg viability increased by increasing the dose applied to p_1 adult moths .at all tested doses, the females were more radiosensitive than males, as for reduction in fecundity and egg viability. the progeny from irradiated parental females are not as sterile as the progeny from irradiated parental males. the reduction of egg hatching continued in the progeny of irradiated males through F_1 and to lesser extent through F_2 .on the other hand , irradiation of P_1 females reduced the rate of egg hatching among parental generation and to lesser extent among the first ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of this work was to investigate the role of chromium on hydrogen embrittlement of Ni-Cr-Fe alloys and thus to develop a better understanding of the low-temperature stress corrosion cracking (SCC) phenomenon. The effect of chromium on hydrogen embrittlement was examined using tensile tests followed by material evaluation via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light optical microscopy. Four alloys were prepared with chromium contents ranging from 6 to 35 wt pct. In the uncharged condition, ductility, as measured by the percent elongation or reduction in area, increased as the alloy chromium content increased. Hydrogen appeared to have only minor effects on the mechanical properties of the low-chromium alloys. The addition of hydrogen had a marked effect on the ductility of the higher-chromium alloys. In the 26 pct chromium alloy, the elongation to failure was reduced from 53 to 14 pct, with a change in fracture mode from mixed ductile dimple and ductile intergranular ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Using a radioactive tracer method the bulk and grain boundary diffusion of {sup 59}Fe was determined in industrial alloy 800 and melts of alloy 800 with additional P and S in the temperature range 800 to 1000 C. The use of the approximation of Suzuoka was confirmed by autoradiographs. In alloy 800 H the activation energy of grain boundary diffusion of {sup 59}Fe is (209 {+-} 17)kJ/mol. Dissolved elements especially P increase the activation energy of the grain boundary diffusion of Fe by their segregation to the grain boundaries. In addition the influence of the grain boundary diffusion on the growth of creep cavities was investigated in the same materials, and the chemical composition of the creep cavities and grain boundaries were analysed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). For alloy 800 + 0.088 wt-%P an enrichment of about 14 at-%P was observed at the grain boundaries. The addition of P clearly enhances the creep strength of alloy 800; this can probably be ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Trace elements, including manganese may afford protection from deleterious effects of aflatoxin. Young male Fischer rats received ip injections of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg. Control groups received DMSO ip or no injection. All animals were intubated with 3 microCi of (/sup 54/Mn)-MnCl/sub 2/ 12 hr post-injection. Sacrifice occurred 72 hr after gavage of the radiolabel. All tested levels of AFB1 affected the loss of total body radioactivity. This response was observed within 12 hr when toxin-treated groups excreted almost 4 times more counts than controls. From 12-36 hr following radiolabel administration, AFB1 appeared to enhance excretion; by 72 hr, toxin-treated animals (especially those receiving higher doses) appeared to conserve the metal. Aflatoxicosis manifested itself through reduced body weight gain. The data provide support evidence that Mn and AFB1 biointeract.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

High temperature fatigue crack growth (FCG) and creep crack growth (CCG) experiments have been conducted in air on weld metal, heat affected zone (HAZ) and base metal of the austenitic Alloy 800 and the nickel base Alloy 617. Tests were performed on specimens machined from pipes, in the temperature range 550-900 deg. C. The crack propagation mode was examined. At all temperatures and for both materials, FCG of base metal was found to be the highest, whereas the weld metal exhibited the lowest FCG rate. The FCG rate in the HAZ was found to lie in between of those observed for base and weld metal. The crack propagation mode remained transgranular in base metal and transdendritic in weld metal at all temperatures. CCG behaviour could be described using the energy rate integral C*. Base metal and weld metal exhibited similar CCG rate at same C*. The crack propagation mode under CCG condition was found to be intergranular in base metal and HAZ and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Glasses in the system (1 - x) [29Na2O- 4Al2O3- 67B2O3]- xZnO (0 ? x ? 35 mol%), have been prepared by the melt quenching technique. Elastic properties, X-ray and FT-IR spectroscopic studies have been employed to study the role of ZnO on the structure of the investigated glass system. Elastic properties and Debye temperature have been investigated using sound wave velocity measurements at 4 MHz at room temperature. The results showed that the density increases and the molar volume decreases while both sound velocities and the determined glass transition temperatures decrease with increase in x. X-ray and infrared spectra of the glasses reveal that the borate network consists of diborate units and is affected by the increase in the concentration of ZnO content. These results are interpreted in terms of the decrease in the N4 values (fraction of tetrahedral coordinated boron atoms), and substitution of longer bond lengths of Zn-O in place of shorter B-O bond. The ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The efficacy of gamma irradiation as a method of decontamination for food and herbal materials is well established. In the present study, Glycyrrhiza glabra roots were irradiated at doses 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kGy in a cobalt-60 irradiator. The irradiated and un-irradiated control samples were evaluated for phenolic contents, antimicrobial activities and DPPH scavenging properties. The result of the present study showed that radiation treatment up to 20 kGy does not affect the antifungal and antibacterial activity of the plant. While sample irradiated at 25 kGy does showed changes in the antibacterial activity against some selected pathogens. No significant differences in the phenolic contents were observed for control and samples irradiated at 5, 10 and 15 kGy radiation doses. However, phenolic contents increased in samples treated with 20 and 25 kGy doses. The DPPH scavenging activity significantly (p<0.05) increased in all irradiated ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The present paper deals with the fouling process of calcium sulfate dehydrate on heat-transfer surfaces. The crystallization of calcium sulfate showed typical asymptotic fouling curves, the asymptotic value of which was greatly influenced by the surface temperature and fluid velocity. The fouling mechanism was discussed with a generalized fouling model and proved to be surface process controlled, where the activation energy was 6.2 {times} 10{sup 4} J/mol. The availability of mechanical cleaning against the formed scale was quantitatively evaluated by applying the particle abrasion method. The removal test verified that the removing rate per unit particle concentration decreased in an inverse proportion to the overall particle load, to the power of 0.8, and that it was affected by the fluid velocity. The observed final residual fouling resistance decreased asymptotically with an increase in particle concentration. The suitable concentration of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Soils of arid regions of Central Asia contain salts of different types that may differentially affect seed germination and plant development. We studied effect of NaCl, Na2SO4, 2NaCl + KCl + CaCl2 and 2Na2SO4+K2SO4+MgSO4 on germination of Kochia prostrata and Kochia scoparia seeds under a range of concentrations from 0.5 to 5% and at two constant temperature regimes +22 degrees C and +6 degrees C. The observed salt tolerance limit of germination at constant temperature +22 degrees C for both species was 5-6%, while at low temperature (+6 degrees C) this limit was 2%. The salt tolerance of young plants (before flowering) was 3% for NaCl. Low concentrations of sulfuric and mixed salts had a stimulating effect on seed germination in K. prostrata. Despite similarity of salt-tolerance limits...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Investigation of co-gasification of biomass-coal blends in oxygen-containing atmosphere was carried out in a pressurized fluidized bed gasifier. Different biomass materials including wood and energy crop were used in the study, whereas the coal used was in bituminous rank from UK, The gasifier used was a Laboratory Development Unit (LDU) with an inner diameter of 144 mm. The operation temperature and pressure were varied in the investigation. The research was part of the European Union's Joule Ill clean coal technology programme. The study was focused on possible synergies in the thermochemical treatment of the fuel blends. The char formed was examined. The tar produced in the process was analyzed. The environmentally concerned nitrogen compounds emitted from the process were detected. Interesting synergies were observed in the experimental study. The blends of the fuels and their char formed in situ demonstrated unexpected high reaction rate of ...

Science.gov (United States)

The aqueous fraction (AF) of an ethanolic extract from Chrysanthemum indicum was evaluated for analgesic activity in mice using chemical and thermal models of nociception. Given orally, AF at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg produced significant inhibitions on chemical nociception induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid, subplantar formalin/capsaicin injections and on thermal nociception in the tail-flick test and in the hot plate test. In the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time test and the open-field test, AF neither significantly enhanced the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time nor impaired the motor performance, indicating that the observed analgesic activity was unlikely due to sedation or motor abnormality. In a measurement of core body temperature, AF did not affect temperature within 80 min. Moreover, the effective dose (600 mg/kg) also showed no toxicity within 7 days. These results suggested further that AF produced analgesic ...

Science.gov (United States)

Human space travelers experience a unique environment that affects homeostasis and physiologic

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:19395606

Science.gov (United States)

... assistance for Iowa workers affected by layoffs at Electrolux [10/17/2011] DOL provides grant increment to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The electrical characteristics of thin TiO2 films prepared by metal?organic chemical vapor deposition grown on a p-type InP substrate were studied. For a TiO2 film of 4.7?nm on InP without and with ammonium sulfide treatment, the leakage currents are 8.8?10?2 and 1.1?10?4?A/cm2 at +2 V bias and 1.6?10?1 and 8.3?10?4?A/cm2 at ?2?V bias. The lower leakage currents of TiO2 with ammonium sulfide treatment arise from the improvement of interface quality. The dielectric constant and effective oxide charge number density are 33 and 2.5?1013?cm2, respectively. The lowest mid-gap interface state density is around 7.6?1011?cm?2?eV?1. The equivalent oxide thickness is 0.52?nm. The breakdown electric field increases with decreasing thickness in the range of 2.5 to 7.6?nm and reaches 9.3?MV/cm at 2.5?n...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A portable X-ray image system is described comprising: (a) a base assembly including panels and hinges joining the panels together along edges, and compression stops for biasing the hinges to compensate for the weight of payload when mounted on the base assembly, the compression stops being located for interaction with the hinges for biasing the panels to exhibit upward bowing when laid upon a flat surface prior to loading, and to provide resiliency for facilitating the base assembly assuming a substantially flat configuration when a predetermined payload is placed upon the base assembly; (b) an X-ray member; (c) apparatus for detachably mounting a table member to the base assembly to hold the table member at a location above the base; (d) an X-ray source; (e) means for sensing X-rays to form an image; (f) means for mounting the X-ray source and the X-ray sensing means on opposite sides relative to the table member and supported by the base ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Inductively coupled plasma etching of InGaP, AlInP and AlGaP in BI{sub 3} or BBr{sub 3} discharges was investigated as a function of source power, dc chuck bias and plasma composition. InGaP etches at the fastest rates ({gt}6000thinsp{Angstrom}thinspmin{sup {minus}1}) in both chemistries, followed by AlGaP. It is found that AlInP provides an excellent etch stop for the other two materials in both mixtures. The InGaP surface morphology improves with increasing BI{sub 3} or BBr{sub 3} content, and with increasing dc chuck bias. The etched features for this material are highly anisotropic. Etch selectivities for InGaP over SiO{sub 2} and SiN{sub x} of {ge}8 are obtained in both plasma chemistries, and there is no etch incubation time with either mixture, indicating that both can scavenge the native oxide on InGaP, AlGaP and AlInP. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Vacuum Society.}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chromium electroplated AISI 316L stainless steel was nitrided using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for application in the bipolar plate of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). A continuous and thin chromium nitride layer was formed at the surface of the samples after ICP nitriding for 2 h at 400 C. The interfacial contact resistance (ICR) and corrosion resistance in simulated PEMFC operating conditions were higher than the required values, while they varied with the applied dc bias voltage during the nitriding process. The ICR value decreased with an increase in bias voltage. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed that all of the nitrided samples had excellent corrosion resistance with a current density of {proportional_to}10{sup -7} A cm{sup -2} at the cathode. It was also found that the oxygen content at the surface was not increased after the corrosion test. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to enhance the resistance to the pitting corrosion due to asepsis processes and to avoid structural fractures in dentistry drills, a plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) treatment using nitrogen has been performed. The selected drill samples, made of AISI 434 based stainless steel with a 0.670 mm diameter, were treated at a -1kV bias between 350 C and 450 C, this temperature being controlled by both a 20-50 {mu}s pulse width and a 200-1000 Hz repetition rate in the bias. The drills were analysed by cyclic potentiodynamic tests showing a good pitting corrosion resistance when treated at around 400 C, as follows from a resulting very low hysteresis loop. Yet, the resistance appears somehow diminished by the presence of sputtering when processed at temperatures near 450 C. It is also found that the PIII nitriding effectiveness appears to be limited by the appearance of uniform corrosion. Finally, X-ray diffraction of the samples has ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effects of gate and drain bias stresses on thin film transistors fabricated in polysilicon films crystallized using the advanced sequential lateral solidification excimer laser annealing (SLS ELA) process, which yields very elongated polysilicon grains and allows the fabrication of TFTs without grain boundary barriers to current flow, are investigated as a function of the active layer thickness and of the TFT orientation relative to the grains. The application of hot carrier stress, with a condition of V_G_S = V_D_S/2, was determined to induce threshold voltage, subthreshold swing and transconductance degradation for TFTs in thicker polysilicon films and the associated stress-induced increase in the active layer trap density was evaluated. However, this device degradation was drastically reduced for TFTs fabricated in ultra-thin films. Furthermore, the application of the same stress condition to TFTs oriented vertically to the elongated grains resulted in ...

Science.gov (United States)

A rotational speed control, tailored to the Sunflower system requirements, was designed and fabricated in breadboard, preprototype, and prototype configurations. These units were subjected to performance and environmental testing which has led to design improvements. Program efforts have yielded hardware capable of meeting all performance requirements and of operating under all the environmental conditions to which the units were exposed. Attractive design changes were identified and, in some cases, completed. These changes involve improvements in circuitry and packaging, the primary objectives of which are to eliminate startup bias batteries and reduce weight. It is recommended that the reported program be extended to implement these improvements. (auth)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors have measured the noise of MOS transistors of the United Technology Microelectronics Center (UTMC) 1.2 [mu]m radiation hardened CMOS P-well process from the weak to moderate inversion region. The noise power spectral densities of both NMOS and PMOS devices were measured from 1 KHz to 50 MHz. The bandwidth was chosen such that the important components of the spectral densities such as the white thermal noise and the 1/f noise could be easily resolved and analyzed in detail. In this paper the effects of different device terminal DC biases and channel geometries on the noise are described.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Experiments are described on a plasma cathode with biased grids to prevent entry of ions into the electron extraction gap. The cathode has potential applications to the generation of high-current pulsed electron beams. Operation at 20 A/cm"2 is theoretically possible. The source combines the low average power consumption of a plasma cathode with many of the attractive features of thermionic cathodes, such as space-charge-limited extractor gap electron flow, fast turn-on, and no diode closure. Initial experiments are reported at the 2 A/cm"2 level for pulse lengths to 160 #mu#s.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An electrostatic beam steering mechanism (ESM) has been designed and tested to deflect negative ion beams consisting of multi-beamlets. A steering angle of 10 mrad was obtained within the deviation of less than 1 mrad by biasing two electrodes at 0.5 kV and -0.75 kV for 120 keV H{sup -} ion beam. The current flowing to the positive electrode was no more than 10% of the beam current at a pressure of 2.8x10{sup -5} Torr. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

We present evidence for the creation of an exchange spring in an antiferromagnet due to exchange coupling to a ferromagnet. X-ray magnetic linear dichroism spectroscopy on single crystal Co/NiO(001) shows that a partial domain wall is wound up at the surface of the antiferromagnet when the adjacent ferromagnet is rotated by a magnetic field. We determine the interface exchange stiffness and the antiferromagnetic domain wall energy from the field dependence of the direction of the antiferromagnetic axis, the antiferromagnetic pendant to a ferromagnetic hysteresis loop. The existence of a planar antiferromagnetic domain wall, proven by our measurement, is a key assumption of most exchange bias models.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Often, lifetime data come from experiments where failure times are grouped. The Weibull distribution is a popular distribution for modeling failure times. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) has outstanding large sample properties for the Weibull distribution. This article evaluates small sample properties of MLEs for grouped data. We evaluate sample size requirements for MLE asymptotic properties to take effect. We compare type I and type II censoring for pooled experiments and conclude that bias for the shape parameter estimate can be alarmingly high especially for type II censored data. Finally, we investigate the benefits of the pooled analysis.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

It has been reported by the present authors that behavior of tritium release from solid breeder grain is consisted of diffusion in grain, tritium transfer at surface layer and surface reactions on grain surface such as adsorption or isotope exchange reactions. Tritium release curves estimated using the tritium release model gave good agreement with observed tritium release curves from Li_4SiO_4, Li_2ZrO_3 or LiAlO_2. Tritium release behavior from Li_2TiO_3 under humid purge gas, dry purge gas and dry purge gas with hydrogen conditions is discussed in this study, tritium release curves using the release model that we proposed previously give a good agreements with experimental tritium release curves. Tritium effective diffusivity in the crystal grain of Li_2TiO_3 is also estimated in this study using a curve-fitting method applied to the release curves obtained under the humid purge gas condition. It is discussed that change of color of Li_2TiO_3 surface under ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The study concerns 1984-1991. The wind park consists of 18 three-bladed 300 kW horizontal axis wind turbines of 35 meters height, and a rotor diameter of 30 meters, seven meteorological towers, and three cluster and control buildings. Aspects studied included disturbance of breeding, resting or feeding, and migrating birds, behavior of birds approaching the wind turbines during the day and night, and bird victims due to collision with the wind turbines and the meteorological towers. The flight behavior of birds approaching the wind park system during daylight is also dealt with. For at least a fifth of the observations it was noted whether the birds passing within 100 meters distance of a turbine showed a reaction or not. The proportion of the reactions was related to the wind park in operation or not in operation, and to the distance between the wind turbines, species, flight height, the passing distance, wind direction and wind force. Secondly the flight path of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The changes in quality of irradiated spices, i.e., nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), black pepper and white pepper (Piper nigrum) stored in different indigenous packaging materials were evaluated. Packaging materials used were tin cans; tin can lined with polypropylene film, tin can lined with wrapping paper, woven polypropylene bag and woven polypropylene bag lined with polypropylene film. Packaging in woven polypropylene bag could cause significant changes in a_w-values and moisture contents of the spices. In the tin can, no significant change was found during storage. By applying a polypropylene film liner inside the plastic bag, the changes could be retarded. The other parameters observed, i.e. total plate count, total mould and yeast count and organoleptic scores of the samples were not significantly affected by the packaging method. A dose of 5 kGy could reduce the microbial load of the spices by about 2-3 log cycles. A significant decrease in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of the current study was the gradual development of the formation of the nitride layer during inductive r.f. plasma nitriding. The study centers on characterization of refined layers and plasma diagnostics in the vicinity of the sample, and raises critical questions of how the layers and interfacial microstructure might affect the near-surface properties. The composition of the plasma near the surface of the sample (plasma layer) was examined by optical emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry during plasma nitriding and while sputtering the sample after the nitriding process. It was observed that during the nitriding process, the plasma layer contains Ti, NH[sub n] species, N (or/and N[sup +]), H[sub n] species (or/and H[sup +][sub 2]). However, when the nitrided sample was exposed to argon plasma, Ti, Al and NH were observed. It was found that two distinct sublayers, comprising [delta]-TiN and [delta]-TiN ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A series of Model Tests of Embedment Effect on Reactor Buildings has been carried out by the Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC), under the sponsorship of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) of Japan. Seismic response of an embedded reactor building is greatly affected by the non-linearity of the backfill soil. However, quite few experimental data have been obtained so far. The objective of this study is to qualitatively evaluate the non-linear behavior of the backfill soil through shaking table tests. Its effects to the seismic response of a reactor building constructed at a soft rock site can be made clear through the tests. Non-linear effects of the backfill soil on the seismic response of the embedded reactor building model were evaluated experimentally. Based on the sinusoidal and seismic wave excitation tests, the following conclusions were obtained regarding the changes in vibrational characteristics of the building model which ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aerosols affect the radiative energy budget on both the regional and global scales. The wavelength-dependent aerosol optical depth (AOD) is a fundamental determinant of the amount by which extra-terrestrial incoming sunlight and outgoing terrestrial radiation are being attenuated in the atmosphere. The present study addresses the influence of local waste burning on aerosol characteristics, black carbon (BC) aerosol mass concentration and spectral solar irradiance using ground-based measurements over the tropical urban environment of Hyderabad, India. AOD has been observed to be maximum during burning days compared to normal days. Aerosol size spectra suggest bimodal distributions during pre-and post-burning periods and trimodal distributions during burning periods. Angstrom wavelength exponent estimated from spectral variation of AOD suggested dominance of accumulation mode particle loading during burning days compared to normal days. Diurnal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The proposed design for a final repository for spent fuel and other long-lived residues in Sweden is based on the multi-barrier principle. The waste will be encapsulated in sealed cylindrical canisters, which will then be placed in granite bedrock and surrounded by compacted bentonite clay. The canister design is based on a thick cast inner container fitted inside a corrosion-resistant copper canister. During fabrication of the outer copper canisters there will be some unavoidable grain growth in the welded areas. As grains grow they will tend to concentrate impurities within the copper at the new grain boundaries. The work described in this report was undertaken to determine whether there is any possibility of enhanced corrosion at grain boundaries within the copper canister. The potential for grain boundary corrosion was investigated by exposing copper specimens, which had undergone different heat treatments and hence had different grain sizes, to aerated artificial ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Protocol changes and options contained within US Environmental Protection Agency whole effluent toxicity tests represent variables that have the potential to affect bioassay performance and interpretation of results. Variables evaluated in this study include: the change in allowable age in the Pimephales promelas acute bioassay from up to 90 d to a maximum of 14 d, age-specific acute responses of P. promelas among the allowable ages of 1 to 14 d, change in the chronic growth endpoint definition from final mass to biomass, differences between hemacytometer and fluorometer measurements in the Selenastrum capricornutum protocol, and options for statistical interpretation of species sensitivity in multiple test/species screening bioassays. Clear age-related sensitivity and precision differences were observed in acute responses of P. promelas. Results obtained using the younger age classes were typically more variable in studies of both 1- to ...

Science.gov (United States)

The mixture of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP) is used as a preplant soil fumigant. In comparison with individual fumigants, application of a mixture may affect the environmental dissipation and fate of each chemical, such as emission and degradation. We investigated the degradation of CP, 1,3-D, and their mixture in fresh soils and sterile soils, and evaluated the competitive characteristic of fumigants in the mixture. The degradation of low concentrations of CP in fresh soil was accelerated at early times in the presence of 1,3-D, whereas the addition of CP reduced the degradation rate of trans-1,3-D, possibly by inhibiting the activity of trans-1,3-D degrading microorganisms. The potential of applying amendments to the soil to increase the rate of CP and 1,3-D degradation was also illustrated. The degradation of both fumigants was significantly enhanced in soils amended with ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate ...

Scientific Electronic Library Online (English)

Abstract in english Previous studies have shown that women are more emotionally expressive than men. It is unclear, however, if women are also more susceptible to the emotional modulation of behavior imposed by an affective stimulus. To investigate this issue, we devised a task in which female subjects performed six sequential trials of visual target detection following the presentation of emotional (mutilation and erotic) or neutral pictures (domestic utensils and objects) and compared the (more) data obtained in the present study with those described in a previous study with male subjects. The experiment consisted of three blocks of 24 pictures and each block had an approximate duration of 4 min. Our sample consisted of 36 subjects (age range: 18 to 26 years) and each subject performed all blocks. Trials following the presentation of mutilation pictures (283 ms) had significantly slower reaction times than those following neutral (270 ms) pictures. None of the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Calcined and sulfided Ni-Mo catalysts supported on ultrastable Y zeolite (USY), NaY zeolite, mordenite, and ZSM-5 were studied by high-resolution electron transmission microscopy (HRTEM) with selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Ni and Mo oxide aggregates were rarely observed in the USY-supported Ni-Mo catalyst, indicating that most of Ni and Mo may be incorporated into USY, e.g., supercavities and possibly sodalite cages. However, there were a large number of {alpha}-NiMoO{sub 4} aggregates of different particle sizes in NaY-, mordenite-, and ZSM-5-supported catalysts, and the mordenite-supported catalyst also contained MoO{sub 3} crystals. The {alpha}-NiMoO{sub 4} may be attached to the surface of substrates as individual particles or needle aggregates, it may be disseminated into mordenite particles, or it may even form an isolated sphere (in Ni-Mo/NaY) or a needle (in Ni-Mo/ZSM-5) aggregates. Thus, most of Ni and ...

Science.gov (United States)

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is a relatively sensitive explosive used in many electroexplosive devices as well as in medicine. Of primary interest to LLNL is its use in items such as exploding bridgewire (EBW) detonators and exploding bridge foil initiators (EFI). In these devices the crystalline powder is pressed into a granular, low-density compact that can be initiated by an exploding wire or foil. The long-term stability of this pressed compact is of interest to weapon stockpile lifetime prediction studies. Key points about potential aging mechanisms can be summarized as follows: (1) There are a number of factors that can contribute to PETN instability. These include particle size, polymorphic phase transitions, crystal structure, impurities, moisture, occlusions, chemical incompatibility and biological (microorganism) action. of these factors the most important for long-term aging of high surface area powders used in detonators appears to be that of particle size growth. ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Various factors affecting the aggregation of Actinomyces naeslundii strain 12104 were studied. When the pH of glucose-supplemented growth medium fell below 5.5, the cells aggregated and formed microbial...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Science.gov (United States)

... The moisture content-dimension relationship of two laminate components, phenolic core and melamine overlay, are compared. (Author, modified). ...

Science.gov (United States)

FEP polyethylene mechanical properties affected by UV. " Siloxane-modified materials resist AO. " Nonsilicone polymers attacked by AO ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The most striking achievement in magnetic fusion experiments during last few years was the discovery of plasma detachment from material targets, a much needed effect for plasmas with high power fusion parameters. Due to the very low heat loads on the targets observed in these regimes and potentially low erosion of the targets, detached regimes look attractive from the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) design point of view. Thus the author has experimental proof for the possibility for a co-existence of fusion relevant hot plasma in the core and a low temperature partly ionized plasma at the edge of magnetic fusion device. Although somewhat similar behavior of edge plasma was considered theoretically even before plasma detachment was found experimentally, it was not clear in the beginning how these theoretical and experimental findings would fit together. Now, after a few years of intensive additional experimental and theoretical studies, a ...

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The CASTOC project addresses environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) phenomena in low alloy steels used for pressure boundary components in both Western type boiling water reactors (BWR) and Russian type pressurised water reactors (VVER). It comprises the four work packages (WP): inter-laboratory comparison test (WP1); EAC behaviour under static load (WP2), EAC behaviour under cyclic load and load transients (WP3); evaluation of the results with regard to their relevance for components in practice (WP4). The use of sophisticated test facilities and measurement techniques for the on-line detection of crack advances have provided a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms of environmentally assisted cracking and provided quantitative data of crack growth rates as a function of loading events and time, respectively. The effect of several major parameters controlling EAC was investigated with particular emphasis on the transferability of the results to components in service. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Our investigation concerns the class of Josephson-like systems, sharing the same nonlinear Hamiltonian. Among the latter a Josephson junction with an external biasing circuit is considered. We diagonalize the fully nonlinear Hamiltonian (in the superconductive regime of the junction) in the Fock space of the TBHA (two-boson Heisenberg algebra) and prove that such algebra leads quite naturally to the theoretical realization of codewords and logical operators: the codewords are defined as the even and odd coherent states of the TBHA, while the logical operators are expressed in terms of operators in the same algebra. Our theoretical construction corresponds to a continuous variable quantum computation scheme; the continuous variables are identified in terms of the physical operators of the junction. The link between this scheme and the technique of fermionization of bosonic systems is also discussed.

Science.gov (United States)

In the last decade, directed evolution has become a routine approach for engineering proteins with novel or altered properties. Concurrently, a trend away from purely 'blind' randomization strategies and towards more 'semi-rational' approaches has also become apparent. In this review, we discuss ways in which structural information and predictive computational tools are playing an increasingly important role in guiding the design of randomized libraries: web servers such as ConSurf-HSSP and SCHEMA allow the prediction of sites to target for producing functional variants, while algorithms such as GLUE, PEDEL and DRIVeR are useful for estimating library completeness and diversity. In addition, we review recent methodological developments that facilitate the construction of unbiased libraries, which are inherently more diverse than biased libraries and therefore more likely to yield improved variants. PMID:16095966

Science.gov (United States)

The paper outlines the design, principles of operation, and calibration of a five-IC network intended to give a rapid, precise, and automatic determination of the flatband voltage of MOS capacitors. The basic principle of measurement is to compare the analog output voltage of a capacitance meter - which is directly proportional to the capacitance being measured - with a preset or dialed-in voltage proportional to the calculated flatband capacitance by means of a comparator circuit. The bias to the MOS capacitor supplied through the capacitance meter is provided by a ramp voltage going from a negative toward a positive voltage level and vice versa. The network employs two monostable multivibrators for reading and recording the flatband voltage and for resetting the initial conditions and restarting the ramp. The flatband voltage can be held and read on a digital voltmeter.