International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Shungit Filled Polymers for Artificial Bone Articulations

CERN Document Server

Modeling artificial scanning electron microscope (SEM) and scanning ion microscope images has recently become important. This is because of the need to provide repeatable images with a priori determined parameters. Modeled artificial images are highly useful in the evaluation of new imaging and metrological techniques, like image-sharpness calculation, or drift-corrected image composition (DCIC). Originally, the NIST-developed artificial image generator was designed only to produce the SEM images of gold-on-carbon resolution sample for image-sharpness evaluation. Since then, the new improved version of the software was written in C++ programming language and is in the Public Domain. The current version of the software can generate arbitrary samples, any drift function, and many other features. This work describes scanning in charged-particle microscopes, which is applied both in the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study, the corrosion behavior of commercially pure titanium (c.p. Ti), Ti-6Al-4V and five new experimental Ti-Cr alloys was evaluated through open-circuit potential (OCP) and potentiodynamic polarization measurement in an artificial saliva containing fluoride. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) was used to characterize the composition of the passive films on the alloy after potentiodynamic polarization measurement. It was found that in standard artificial saliva the OCP increases with higher Cr content in Ti-Cr alloys. In 0.5% NaF artificial saliva, the OCP decreases with decreasing Cr in Ti-Cr alloys, and all but Ti-5Cr remain consistently higher than those of c.p Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. Linear polarization results show that artificial saliva and artificial saliva containing 0.5% NaF result in different corrosion behavior in Ti-Cr alloys, c.p.Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. The ...

CERN Document Server

Methods and Procedures for the Verification and Validation of Artificial Neural Networks

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A data analysis based on an artificial neural network classifier is proposed to identify cosmic ray antiprotons detected with the CAPRICE silicon-tungsten imaging calorimeter against electron background in the energy range 1.2-4.0 GeV. A set of new physical variables, describing the events inside the calorimeter on the base of their different patterns, are introduced in order to discriminate between hadronic and electromagnetic showers. The ability of the artificial neural network classifier to perform a careful multidimensional analysis gives the possibility to identify antiprotons with an electron rejection 408{+-}85 (stat) at 95.0{+-}0.2 (stat)% of signal detection efficiency. The high accuracy achieved by this method improves substantially the efficiency in the evaluation of the cosmic ray antiproton spectrum. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper is concerned with the real time automatic discriminating of flaws from two categories; i. cracks (planar defect) and ii. Non-cracks (volumetric defect such as cluster porosity and slag) using pulse-echo ultrasound. The raw ultrasonic flaws signal were collected from a computerized robotic plane scanning system over the whole of each reflector as the primary source of data. The signal is then filtered and the analysis in both time and frequency domain were executed to obtain the selected feature. The real time feature analysis techniques measured the number of peaks, maximum index, pulse duration, rise time and fall time. The obtained features could be used to distinguish between quantitatively classified flaws by using various tools in artificial intelligence such as neural networks. The proposed algorithm and complete system were implemented in a computer software developed using Microsoft Visual BASIC 6.0 (author)

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During the past three years the program has undergone a substantial revitalization. There has been no significant change in the scientific direction of this grant, in which emphasis continues to be placed on developing new or improved methods of obtaining quantitative data from radiotracer imaging studies. However, considerable scientific progress has been made in the three areas of interest: Radiochemistry, Quantitative Methodologies, and Experimental Methods and Feasibility Studies, resulting in a sharper focus of perspective and improved integration of the overall scientific effort. Changes in Faculty and staff, including development of new collaborations, have contributed to this, as has acquisition of additional and new equipment and renovations and expansion of the core facilities. 121 refs., 30 figs., 2 tabs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper reviews generation methods of artificial earthquake motion and proposes an improved method of generating input motions for use in vibration tests of equipment to prove aseismic performance. The improved method employs beat wave repetition characteristic that inherently appears in the component waves of recorded earthquakes decomposed by bandpass filter and algebraic function phase for the component waves. Typical motions generated by the improved method satisfies prescribed severe conditions such as target response spectrum that are defined with a wideband frequency component and a limited maximum acceleration due to shaking table performance. The motions had never been generated by the conventional method.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The topic of supervised learning within the conceptual framework of artificial neural network (ANN) models is addressed. An ANN is a parallel distributed processing system that consists of many computationally simple processing elements interconnected through uni-directional weighted connections. Such networks, which are roughly patterned after biological nervous systems, have been proposed for use in areas in which the traditional von Neumann computer architecture has been relatively unsuccessful. Learning in these networks is accomplished through the use of algorithms that adjust the values of the connection weights. The work presented here addresses the issue of improving the rate at which ANNs can learn to achieve the mapping of an input pattern to a desired output pattern. The most successful learning algorithms for accomplishing this task are based on gradient descent error minimization techniques. However, the large amount of training ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The need for noninvasive sensitive techniques for the diagnosis and follow-up of metabolic bone disease in dialysis patients has stimulated the author's interest in the efficacy of more detailed quantitative bone scintigraphy. Using hemodialysis to reduce elevated soft-tissue activity at scintigraphy, an attempt was made to assess the diagnostic sensitivity of quantitative bone scintigraphy as compared to qualitative bone scintigraphic, biochemical, radiographic and bone histologic studies. The second aim of these studies was to determine if one of the two major components of renal osteodystrophy is a major determinant for skeletal radiotracer uptake. The clinical observations on the efficacy and possible specificity of quantitative bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis and follow-up during treatment of renal osteodystrophy are presented briefly in this chapter. Thus, the use of scintigraphy for the routine detection and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

''Paraquat lung'' which is complicated with paraquat poisoning has been a lethal pulmonary pathology presenting intra-alveolar fibrosis, but an effective therapy has not been developed so far. We hypothesized that the type II alveolar cells producing surfactant were damaged by paraquat which was actively accumulated through out the blood by alveolar epithelial cells. To prove this hypothesis, we examined the effect of an intratracheal administration of an artificial lung surfactant (surfacten, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Osaka) on mortality in a model of murine paraquat poisoning. Paraquat was given intramuscularly 3 days after the intratracheal surfactant administration. The mice used were C57BL/6J strain and Balb/C strain. The lethal dose, 50% (LD50), of paraquat was about 28 mg/kg in the C57BL/6J strain and about 9 mg/kg in the Balb/C strain, respectively. Mortalities of paraquat poisoning in both strains of mice improved ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

With using artificial neural networks (ANNs), an analytical study related to the heated length effect on critical heat flux (CHF) has been carried out to make an improvement of the CHF prediction accuracy based on local condition correlations or table. It has been carried out to suggest a feasible criterion of the threshold length-to-diameter (L/D) value in which heated length could affect CHF. And within the criterion, a L/D correction factor has been developed through conventional regression. In order to validate the developed L/D correction factor, CHF experiments for various heated lengths have been carried out under low and intermediate pressure conditions. The developed threshold L/D correlation provides a new feasible criterion of L/D threshold value. The developed correction factor gives a reasonable accuracy for the original database, showing the error of -2.18% for average and 27.75% for RMS, and promising results for new experimental ...

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This paper summarizes the current scientific evidence that improved indoor environmental quality can improve work performance and health. The review indicates that work and school work performance is affected by indoor temperature and ventilation rate. Pollutant source removal can sometimes improve work performance. Based on formal statistical analyses of existing research results, quantitative relationships are provided for the linkages of work performance with indoor temperature and outdoor air ventilation rate. The review also indicates that improved health and related financial savings are obtainable from reduced indoor tobacco smoking, prevention and remediation of building dampness, and increased ventilation. Example cost-benefit analyses indicate that many measures to improve indoor temperature control and increase ventilation rates will be highly cost ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The meeting was arranged into the following sessions: introductory; advanced ceramics and ceramic composites; ceramic and metal matrix composites; electronic materials and devices; acoustoelasticity, stress, and texture; composites-porosity, strength, and UT propagation; process modeling and monitoring; thermal wave physics; material properties, composites, surfaces, and interfaces; acoustic emission; ferromagnetic materials; new sensors; NDE reliability assessment; elastic wave scattering and propagation; image analysis, data storage, and signal processing; UT transducers; weldments and bonded materials; eddy current models; unified life cycle engineering; x rays, CT, and NMR; eddy current probes and instruments; acoustic microscopy imaging, and reconstruction; signal processing, measurement techniques, and systems; NDE applications of artificial intelligence; crack behavior influenced by history; inversion procedures for UT and EC; process control and material ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The advent of aberration correction for electron microscope lenses has produced a significant advance in the improvement of resolution in microscopy. This improvement, while significant in itself, promises to have its most profound impact in materials science when it delivers quantitative information to challenge models and modellers. This capability for an electron microscope-modelling synergy to deliver useful results at the atomic level is not yet firmly established. For this reason, one of the major challenges for electron microscopy in materials science over this decade is to study systems where electron microscopists and modellers can work collaboratively. This paper explores some examples.

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How to decide which mine surface tasks may be performed by industrial robots to improve productivity and working conditions is described. Charts are presented of the industrial tasks performed on the surface and how each task may be classified as light, average, difficult or very diffcult according to a defect criteria is explained (defective operations are those which involve, heavy, harmful, stressful or dangerous jobs). The results of these calculations are used to identify which operations are suitable for first introduction of robots since traditional automation methods cannot be used, e.g. various storage, loading and packaging tasks, coal selection, sorting and removal of foreign matter, provision of services such as food preparation, cleaning, etc. Robots may also be used to control automated operations that are monotonous and hazardous for human operators. It is envisaged that in the future computer programmed robots with artificial ...

CERN Document Server

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An artificial neural network (ANN), trained as an inverse of the controlled plant, to function as a power system stabilizer (PSS) is presented in this paper. In order to make the proposed ANN PSS work properly, it was trained over the full working range of the generating unit with a large variety of disturbances. Data used to train the ANN PSS consists of the control input and the synchronous machine response with an adaptive PSS (APSS) controlling the generator. During training, the ANN was required to memorize the reverse input/output mapping of the synchronous machine. After the training, the output of the synchronous machine was applied as the input of the ANN PSS and the output of the ANN PSS was used as the control signal. Simulation results show that the proposed ANN PSS can provide good damping of the power system over a wide operating range and significantly improve the system performance.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We summarize recent developments in x-ray microscopy of polymers by focusing on the characterization of organic electronic devices. The quantitative compositions of model polymer blends have been mapped at a resolution of {approx}35 nm. Since it could be inferred that these devices have structures smaller than 35 nm, quantitative compositional mapping at length scales below the present resolution limit of x-ray microscopy is required. Organic devices thus serve to both highlight the success of NEXAFS microscopy to date, but to also outline the very real need for higher spatial resolution. New approaches to create improved optics or different acquisition modalities are required if x-ray microscopy is to make sustained contributions to such an important area of research as organic devices.

Science.gov (United States)

Since August 2000, the stock market in the USA as well as most other western markets have depreciated almost in synchrony according to complex patterns of drops and local rebounds. In (Quantitative Finance 2 (2002) 468), we have proposed to describe this phenomenon using the concept of a log-periodic power law antibubble, characterizing behavioral herding between investors leading to a competition between positive and negative feedbacks in the pricing process. A monthly prediction for the future evolution of the US S&P 500 index has been issued, monitored and updated in (http://www.ess.ucla.edu/faculty/sornette/prediction/index.asp#prediction), which is still running as the article goes to press. Here, we test the possible existence of a regime switching in the US S&P 500 antibubble. First, we find some evidence that the antibubble has exhibited a transition in log-periodicity described by a so-called second-order log-periodicity. Second, we develop a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In order to improve the reliability of PWR steam generators, we have performed research to improve the tubing material and tube-support-plate configuration, based on our wide operating experience, and have developed and verified Alloy TT690 as the optimum tubing material and the BEC (Broached Egg Crate) type tube-support design. In the research, we have studied the metallurgical mechanism of the alloy to improve its corrosion resistance, evaluated corrosion susceptible region quantitatively, estimated the actual environment in a steam generator and confirmed the reliability by a model boiler test over a long period. It has been verified that the steam generator with the latest design has higher reliability with respect to the corrosion resistance of tubes. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effect of various forms of treatment of renal osteodystrophy was evaluated in 25 dialysis patients by quantitative bone scintigraphy, using 99m-Tc-HEDP. The results were compared with those of biochemical and bone morphometric studies. The total skeletal activity (TSA) decreased in 5 patients after transplantation, in 11 after parathyroidectomy and in 6 out of 9 treated conservatively, but did not normalize in any of the patients. Bone morphometric evaluation of treatment, which could be performed in 19 of the 20 patients who did not receive a transplant, demonstrated a reduction in the degree of hyperparathyroidism in 17 patients (89 per cent). Osteoid excess was reduced in 13 patients (68 per cent) but an evident reduction of osteomalacic osteoid, i.e. improvement of osteomalacia, occurred in only 4 patients (21 per cent). Changes in the TSA correlated significantly with the changes in the biochemical and histological parameters of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In 620 patients quantitative bone scintigraphy with "9"9"mTc pyrophosphate of the sacroiliac joints and of the spine was performed: 365 patients with confirmed ankylosing spondylitis, 125 patients with clinical radiological suspicion for ankylosing spondylitis (probable Bechterev) and control group of 130 healthy individuals. By comparison of the activity in zones of interest of the sacroiliac joints, the spine and sacrum, the following indices were determined: sacroiliac (separately for the left and right sacroiliac joints), index D_1_0/sacrum, index L_4/sacrum and index C_7/sacrum. The scintigraphic finding was compared to the X-ray one and to the radiological stage of the disease. A long-term follow-up of the patients was carried out during 1-6 years with scintigraphic, X-ray and clinical investigations. Emphasis was laid upon the posibilities for quantitative scintigraphy for early diagnostics of ankylosing spondylitis. The combination of ...

CERN Document Server

Computers have a direct impact on our lives nowadays. Human's interaction with the computer has modified with the passage of time as improvement in technology occurred the better the human computer interaction became. Today we are facilitated by the operating system that has reduced all the complexity of hardware and we undergo our computation in a very convenient way irrespective of the process occurring at the hardware level. Though the human computer interaction has improved but it's not done yet. If we come to the future the computer's role in our lives would be a lot more rather our life would be of the artificial intelligence. In our future the biggest resource would be component of time and wasting time for a key board entry or a mouse input would be unbearable so the need would be of the computer interaction environment that along with the complexity reduction also minimizes the time wastage in the human computer ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

During 1993 and 1994 a working group of biologists operating in Region Lombardia has carried out a study to evaluate the reliability of artificial substrates in the assessment of water quality by the Extended Biotic Index. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected by means of hand net and artificial substrates (up to 3 replicates) in 22 sampling sites of 15 watercourses of different typology (river, stream, irrigation channel) and water quality. Sampling efficiency and reliability in the calculation of E.B.I. and Quality Class by 1, 2 and 3 artificial substrates with respect to hand net have been evaluated. Influence of water quality, typology and original prevailing substrate in watercourses on the performance of artificial substrates has also been investigated. Results show a good agreement with other Authors' papers, confirming that artificial substrates represent a valid ...

Science.gov (United States)

Coke petrography could be useful for improving blast furnace coke properties and for solving cokemaking production problems. To do this, quantitative correlations between coke structure, coal properties and carbonization conditions, and coke properties are useful, if not essential. Some examples of correlations of this type were presented in this paper. Specifically, microstructural parameters of cokes produced in Inland Steel Company's pilot scale coke oven were correlated with the rank and blend proportions of the parent coal, with the reactivity of the coke, and with the ASTM stability of cokes prepared from single coals.

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This report summarizes the research done on artificial photosynthesis by the Calvin Group between 1970 and 1995 when the program was terminated. It contains a compilation of the personnel involved as well as a bibliography of publications supported by the project.

Science.gov (United States)

A program was conducted to develop a pop-up artificial-foliage system compatible with the rural Maryland (summertime) background environment. The result of this Phase I effort was a self-expanding leaf module, a number of which are stored flat in a simple...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

AimsA better understanding of the ionic mechanisms for cardiac automaticity can lead to better strategies for engineering bio-artificial pacemakers. Here, we attempted to better...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Multiple linear regression, principal component analysis, partial least squares, polynomial regression and artificial neural networks are popular techniques for process modeling. An industrial case study illustrates some of these technologies, with an emphasis on artificial neural networks. Experience with this and other projects indicates that while neural network models, combined with partial least squares when necessary, are an excellent tool for modeling, linear techniques may also be appropriate in some cases. Regardless of the specific method used, software analyzers are an attractive lower-cost alterative to hardware options in some monitoring applications. From a fundamental point of view, the result of chemical analysis can be considered as the dependent variable(s) of a process system having a number of independent variables. The independent variables are the causes and the chemical analysis is the effect. If the cause-and-effect ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We have recently introduced several important improvements in the measurement of distillation curves for complex fluids. This new method is a significant improvement over current approaches, with features including a composition-explicit data channel for each distillate fraction (for both qualitative and quantitative analysis), trace chemical analysis of each distillate fraction, and a corrosivity assessment of each distillate fraction. In the present contribution, we present the application of the advanced distillation curve method to a bio-derived crude oil prepared from swine manure. One motivation behind the work was to precisely measure the distillation curve of the oil derived from swine manure with our advanced distillation apparatus and compare the bio-derived oil to traditional pe...

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The preparation by sputtering of artificial metallic superlattices is described, as are the results of x-ray structural determinations. Tunneling and resistivity measurements on these materials are reported.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Science.gov (United States)

... in artificial intelligence, human physiology and biomedical prosthesis. ... central and peripheral nerve systems [1 ... CMOS circuit interface for multiplexed ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A technique for quantitative determination of cephalothin and desacetylcephalothin in serum using a method based on high-pressure liquid chromatography is described. Both compounds were quantitatively...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The catalytic liquefaction of a Chinese bituminous coal was simulated by artificial neural network. Three liquefaction variables, catalyst loading, reaction temperature and reaction time were used as inputs and tetrohydrofuran (THF) conversion and toluene (T) conversion were used as outputs. The artificial neural network, trained by the experimental data, could represent the liquefaction process, with a mean squared deviation of less than 0.025. 7 refs.,1 fig., 3 tabs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Structural and functional responses of a benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage to pulses of the insecticide imidacloprid were assessed in outdoor stream mesocosms. Imidacloprid pulses reduced invertebrate abundance and community diversity in imidacloprid-dosed streams compared to control streams. These results correlated well with effects of imidacloprid on leaf litter decomposition and feeding rates of Pteronarcys comstocki, a stonefly, in artificial streams. Reductions in oxygen consumption of stoneflies exposed to imidacloprid were also observed in laboratory experiments. Our findings suggest that leaf litter degradation and single species responses can be sensitive ecotoxicological endpoints that can be used as early warning indicators and biomonitoring tools for pesticide contamination. The data generated illustrates the value of mesocosm experiments in environmental assessment and how the consideration of functional and structural endpoints of natural ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In France, groundwater usage represents 40 per cent of volumetric use, outside of thermal power plants. Groundwater represents 60 per cent of domestic and public use, 40 per cent in the industrial sector, and is increasing in the agricultural sector where it accounts for 20 per cent. Groundwater withdrawal in France has slightly increased over the last twenty years and benefited the agricultural sector. Availability throughout the territory, the consistency of resupply and natural quality has rendered groundwater a prevailing source for drinking water. Water protection and management is important and led to the adoption of legislative and regulatory measures. The Mining Code (Code minier) allows for exploitation of underground resources starting at 10 metres. The Rural Code (Code rural) mandates the declaration of public utility for water collection for the public. Protection areas are to be provided under the Public Health Code (Code de sante publique). Proper permits and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) was evaluated in 7 normal volunteers and 31 patients with cardiac diseases. Adequate cut off value of a prefilter was 0.45. In phantom, the left ventricular volume value was 93.9% of determined value by 180-degree projection in L type and 98.8% by 360-degree projection in opposed type. In normal volunteers, LVEF measured by QGS program related to value by first pass method. As for functional map, regional EF and wall motion decreased at the septum side, and wall thickening at base side of heart. Good correlation was recognized (p<0.0001) between blood flow image and functional map (regional EF and wall thickening). In 20 cases of acute myocardial infarction, lesion was detected conspicuously in regional EF and wall motion. The accuracy of coronary arterial stenosis improved in functional map (regional EF 92%, wall motion 92% and wall thickening 88%). In particular, the accuracy of 3 rami lesion was 100% in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This is a report of 21 patients presenting with epigastric pain, bilious vomiting, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, iron-deficiency anemia, and weight loss, who had undergone Billroth II gastrectomy from 3 to 35 yr earlier. Eighteen of 21 patients were found to have significant enterogastric reflux indices varying from 60% to 95% demonstrated by /sup 99m/Tc HIDA scintigraphy. Thirteen patients had diversion antireflux surgery in the form of a Roux-en-Y procedure, and 1 patient had a Henley loop jejunal interposition. Postoperative /sup 99m/Tc HIDA scintigraphic studies showed the enterogastric reflux indices to have decreased significantly to a range of 2%-26% (p less than 0.00001). There was marked improvement of symptoms, including correction of anemia and weight gain in those patients who had been anemic or who had sustained earlier weight loss. The enterogastric reflux indices of 10 asymptomatic control patients after Billroth II gastrectomy ranged from 4% to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A new microdensitometry method for quantitative assessment of bone mineral content using Fuji computed radiography (FCR) was developed and the results were compared with those obtained by the conventional film-screen method. Using both methods, X-ray pictures of the 2nd metacarpal bone were taken with a reference aluminum step wedge in nine normal subjects and nine parameters representing the width and density of bone marrow and cortex were calculated in middle of the bone shaft. Interobserver reproducibility assessed for three parameters was significantly higher in the FCR method than the conventional one. The value of #SIGMA#GS computed by the FCR method, that is equivalent to the net bone density of the transverse section of the shaft, showed higher correlation with the one obtained by computed tomography in comparison with the conventional method. In our FCR method, moreover, interobserver reproducibility and accuracy was improved by ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Copper(II) bis(thiosemicarbazone) are very useful for blood flow and hypoxic imaging. The aim of this study was to identify structure-activity relationships (SARs) within a series of analogues with different substitution patterns in the ligands, in order to design improved hypoxia imaging agents and elucidate hypoxia selectivity mechanisms. Genetic algorithms (GAs) were used to develop specific copper metal-ligand force field parameters for the MM3 force-field calculations. These new parameters produced results in good agreement with experiment and previously reported copper metal-ligand parameters. A successful quantitative SAR (QSAR) for predicting the several classes of Cu(II)-chelating ligands was built using a training set of 21 Cu(II) complexes. The QSAR exhibited a correlat...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Since high resolution sequence stratigraphy was introduced into China by DENG Hong-wen in 1995, it has been experienced two development stages in China which are the beginning stage of theory research and development of theory research and application, and the stage of theoretical maturity and widely application that is going into. It is proved by practices that high resolution sequence stratigraphy plays more and more important roles in the exploration and development of oil and gas in Chinese continental oil-bearing basin and the research field spreads to the exploration of coal mine, uranium mine and other strata deposits. However, the theory of high resolution sequence stratigraphy still has some shortages, it should be improved in many aspects. The authors point out that high resolution sequence stratigraphy should be characterized quantitatively and modelized by computer techniques. (authors)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of treatment with oral risedronate (17.5?mg once daily) for 8?weeks in 11 Japanese patients with Paget?s disease of bone (PDB). Risedronate suppressed the excessive bone turnover associated with PDB and improved several biochemical markers, including serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum bone-specific ALP (BALP), urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX). These markers began to decrease within about 2?weeks after the initiation of treatment in most patients, and the response persisted for up to 40?weeks after the cessation of treatment. Risedronate reduced pain by week 24 in most patients. According to quantitative bone scintigraphy, the lesion with the highest radioisotope (RI) uptake showe...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In previous work, several significant improvements in the measurement of distillation curves for complex fluids were introduced. The modifications to the classical measurement provide for (1) temperature and volume measurement(s) of low uncertainty, and most important, (2) a composition-explicit data channel in addition to the usual temperature?volume relationship. This latter modification is achieved with a new sampling approach that allows precise qualitative as well as quantitative analyses of each fraction, on the fly. In the new approach, the distillation temperature is measured in two locations. The temperature is measured in the usual location, at the bottom of the take-off in the distillation head, but it is also measured directly in the fluid. We have further modified our developm...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Supplementing the collection of artificial neural network methodologies devised for monitoring energy producing installations, a general regression artificial neural network is proposed for the identification of the two-phase flow that occurs in the coolant channels of boiling water reactors. The utilization of a limited number of image features derived from radiography images affords the proposed approach with efficiency and non-invasiveness. Additionally, the application of counter-clustering to the input patterns prior to training accomplishes an 80% reduction in network size as well as in training and test time. Cross-validation tests confirm accurate on-line flow regime identification.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: The predictive potential of tumor cell kinetic parameters may be improved when they are studied in relation to other microenvironmental parameters. The purpose of this investigation was to quantitatively categorize human tumor samples according to proliferation patterns. Second, it was examined whether these characteristics are retained after xenotransplantation. Methods and Materials: Fifty tumor samples from head-and-neck cancer patients were immunohistochemically stained for Ki-67 and vessels. Also, parts of the samples were transplanted into nude mice. Tumors were categorized according to previously described patterns of proliferation. Vascular and proliferation patterns were analyzed using an image processing system. Results: The 50 tumors were categorized into four patterns of proliferation by visual assessment: marginal (6), intermediate (10), random (21), and mixed (12). One tumor could not be classified. These patterns were ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this article, the ability of artificial neural networks in prediction of separation in steady two dimensional boundary layer flows is studied. Data for network training is extracted from numerical solution of an ODE obtained from Von Karman integral equation with approximate one parameter Pohlhousen velocity profile. As an appropriate neural network, a two layer radial basis generalized regression artificial neural network is used. The results shows good agreements between the overall behavior of the flow fields predicted by the artificial neural network and the actual flow fields for some cases. The method easily can be extended to unsteady separation and turbulent as well as compressible boundary layer flows. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

... will utilize man-made habitats, including artificial wetlands, waste water ponds, water hazards on golf courses, and an abandoned ... ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Dynamic clamp is a powerful method that allows the introduction of artificial electrical components into target cells to simulate ionic conductances and synaptic inputs. This method is based...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

With regard to the creation of river basin plans and programmes of measures according to the EU Water Framework Directive, the importance of model-supported analyses of nutrient inputs into aquatic systems and the localization of source areas is increasing. Especially in lowland regions artificial drainage installations play a major role, but little information exists concerning their location within larger river basins. Therefore, artificially drained lands were identified by interpreting aerial photographs and typical site conditions of the drained plots were derived. A GIS-based approach was then developed, which allows the delineation of artificially drained lands by combining various site conditions like soil properties and land use type. After checking the validity of a derived map f...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Research highlights: #-># The building occupancy affecting the cooling load prediction is studied. #-># PENN model is adopted in this study for predicting the building cooling load. #-># Statistical approach is adopted to result a less prejudice prediction performance. #-># Results show that occupancy data can significantly improve the prediction. -- Abstract: Building cooling load prediction is one of the key factors in the success of energy-saving measures. Many computational models available in the industry today have been developed from either forward or inverse modeling approaches. However, most of these models require extensive computer resources and involve lengthy computation. This paper discusses the use of data-driven intelligent approaches, a probabilistic entropy-based neural (PENN) model to predict the cooling load of a building. Although it is common knowledge that the presence and activity of building occupants have a significant impact ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

As with science, so with security--in both arenas, the extraordinary sensitivity of cryogenic sensors enables high-confidence detection and high-precision measurement even of the faintest signals. Science applications are more mature, but several national and international security applications have been identified where cryogenic detectors have high potential payoff. International safeguards and nuclear forensics are areas needing new technology and methods to boost speed, sensitivity, precision and accuracy. Successfully applied, improved nuclear materials analysis will help constrain nuclear materials diversion pathways and contribute to treaty verification. Cryogenic microcalorimeter detectors for X-ray, gamma-ray, neutron, and alpha-particle spectrometry are under development with these aims in mind. In each case the unsurpassed energy resolution of microcalorimeters reveals previously invisible spectral features of nuclear materials. Preliminary results of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Inco Ltd., a primary producer of nickel and an important producer of copper, cobalt, precious metals and sulphur products, initiated a project in 1997 to conduct eco-profiles of its worldwide metal production in an effort to improve its internal processing, marketing and environmental management. The study made it possible to recognize some internal and external benefits including the opportunity to gain operating efficiencies and improved process/product design, the development of better environmental performance indicators to guide decision making, and the availability of comprehensive product related environmental data to meet the informational needs of customers, designers, engineers and governments. This paper described the life cycle assessment (LCA) process used by Inco to conduct the study. A life cycle inventory (LCI) was used to quantitatively calculate resource requirements and environmental burdens associated ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The evaluation of biological markers is recognized as necessary to the future of toxicology, epidemiology, and quantitative risk assessment. For biological markers to become widely accepted, their validity...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Decision-making is strongly based on modelling in two of our water supply projects concerning artificial ground water. The model used is a 2-dimensional flow and transport model using the element method. Due to sharp variations in Finnish soils, the modelling process is based on careful and detailed evaluation of basic hydrogeological data before and during model calibration.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We present a comparative study on the acoustic tunneling through artificial periodical composites, from phononic crystals to acoustic metamaterials. We find that the features of the acoustic tunneling are closely related with the origins of band gaps. In particular, the band gap associated with the negative effective material parameter in the metamaterial results in a better analog of the tunneling effect to the quantum system.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The work of this association is cut according to 6 axes. Three publications: radiological quality of marine and continental waters of the Normandy coast (synthesis 1997 and 1998); preliminary study of the iodine 129 distribution in the environment of the reprocessing plant of La Hague with terrestrial moss (Homalotecium sericeum); radiological surveillance of the aquatic environment of the nuclear facilities on the area of La Hague (1997 and 1998). The second axis concerns the radiation protection with a campaign of radon measures in a school of the Vire rural district (june 1999). The third part is devoted to the radioecology with the surveillance of radioactivity in the aquatic continental environment of nuclear facilities and the radioecological surveillance (1999) of the building site of Cogema la Hague in the area of tidal range of the Moulinets cove. The fourth part concerns the radioactive waste and environment, with the study of the distribution of the ...

Science.gov (United States)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Published in summary form only.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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This report to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) describes the development and application of a methodology to systematically and quantitatively assess predictive uncertainty in groundwater flow and transport modeling that considers the combined impact of hydrogeologic uncertainties associated with the conceptual-mathematical basis of a model, model parameters, and the scenario to which the model is applied. The methodology is based on a n extension of a Maximum Likelihood implementation of Bayesian Model Averaging. Model uncertainty is represented by postulating a discrete set of alternative conceptual models for a site with associated prior model probabilities that reflect a belief about the relative plausibility of each model based on its apparent consistency with available knowledge and data. Posterior model probabilities are computed and parameter uncertainty is estimated by calibrating each model to observed system behavior; prior parameter estimates ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating could induce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) artificial ligament graft osseointegration in the bone tunnel. Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits underwent artificial ligament graft transplantation in bilateral proximal tibia tunnels. One limb was implanted with HAp-coated PET graft, and the contralateral limb was implanted with non-HAp-coated PET graft as control. The rabbits were randomly sacrificed at four and eight?weeks after surgery. The loads to failure of the experimental group at eight?weeks were significantly higher than those of the control group (p?=?0.0057). Histologically, application of HAp coating induced new bone formation between graft and bone at eight?weeks compared with the controls. Rea...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of artificial neural networks (ANN) application in evaluation of scintimammography in the context of clinical data in the diagnosis of breast cancer. The results produced by ANN were compared with the diagnosis of two independent observers, nuclear medicine specialists. Material and methods: The clinical data and the numerical values derived from scintimammograms of 103 patients were the material for the study. The reference method was the result of histopathology study (core biopsy and /or FNB). Results: The overall sensitivity of physician diagnosis was 78% with specificity of 72%. The ANN produced 71% sensitivity and specificity of 73%. The physicians and ANN results were not significantly different (p=0.4619). Conclusions: Artificial neutral networks are useful tool in clinical diagnosis of breast cancer. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Thallium-201 myocardial imaging was performed in 80 children with coronary arterial lesions due to Kawasaki disease in order to assess the value of serial and exercise myocardial imagings. In eight of these children, abnormalities of the image were noted. Twenty children had serial thallium studies with an interval of three to 18 months, and five of these showed changes in the image including appearance of a new perfusion defect in one patient and improvement of perfusion defects in four. These changes of the myocardial image were correlated well with coronary angiographic findings obtained within a few days of the isotope studies. It was noted that the changes of the myocardial image were more frequently observed at relatively recent period recovered from Kawasaki disease. Exercise myocardial imaging using a bicycle ergometer was performed in eight children with coronary arterial lesions. In three an evidence of improvement of the myocardial ...

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We describe a model of damage in rf cavities and show how this damage can limit cavity operation. We first present a review of mechanisms that may or may not affect the ultimate fields that can be obtained in rf cavities, assuming that mechanical stress explains the triggers of rf breakdown events. We present a method of quantifying the surface damage caused by breakdown events in terms of the spectrum of field enhancement factors, Beta, for asperities on the surface. We then model an equilibrium that can develop between damage and conditioning effects, and show how this equilibrium can determine cavity performance and show experimental evidence for this mechanism. We define three functions that quantify damage, and explain how the parameters that determine this performance can be factored out and measured. We then show how this model can quantitatively explain the dependence of cavity performance on material, frequency, pulse length, gas, power supply and other ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A series of 27 reflood experiments has been carried out in a full-length electrically heated rod bundle facility. The primary objective of these tests was to study the effects of a simultaneous upper plenum and downcomer coolant injection and to provide data for the verification of computer codes. The experimental results indicate that an upper plenum injection alone cools the test rods slowly, a simultaneous coolant injection to the downcomer improves cooling significantly, and a downcomer injection alone cools the test rod bundle best if the total value of the coolant flow rate is the same in these three different cases. If the coolant injected to the upper plenum increases the total flow rate, the quench time of the test rods decreases at all elevations. Quenching time and clad temperature histories calculated with the computer codes NORCOOL-I and FLOOD4 are in a reasonable quantitative agreement with experiments in the case of pure ...

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To address the need for integrated models of advanced power generation systems and for improved analysis techniques, the US Department of Energy (DOE), through the Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC), has supported the development of performance, emissions, and cost models of several advanced power generation systems, including integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), externally-fired combined cycle (EFCC) and pressurized fluidized bed combustion (PFBC) concepts. Simultaneously, numerical methods for simulation of uncertainties and optimization of process flowsheets have been implemented in the DOE`s public version of ASPEN. The new process models and computational capabilities have been applied to demonstrate the benefits of quantitative approaches to dealing with uncertainty and for optimizing technologies in the face of uncertainty. This paper focuses on modeling and assessment of the EFCC system concept. The purpose of the ...

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The Kyoto Protocol is often described as a good first step towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere. The Protocol endorses emissions trading, joint implementation including 'bubbling' between Annex 1 Parties, and a clean development mechanism that allows Annex 1 and non-Annex 1 Parties to act together to reduce emissions. However, the anticipated permit market will not function if uncertainties are not rigorously assessed and considered in any compliance process. With no reliable verification tool, it is impossible to effectively assess the different mechanisms and activities mentioned under the Protocol. Thus, it is very important to study the uncertainties underlying the Kyoto relevant GHGs, here with reference to Poland, because without the consideration of uncertainty robust verification can not occur. This paper presents information about the data used in the calculations as well as the methods favored by the Intergovernmental Panel on ...

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The paper deals briefly with the basic nature of financial activity and markets and of the intermediaries, including banks, within these markets. It is argued that efforts by the authorities to affect monetary policy through controls on bank lending (quantitative and interest rates) are inefficient and only lead to circumvention. To the degree that prices (interest rates) are kept down in one area, they will be higher in another, and supply of credit reduced from one source will encourage a greater supply from another. The Campbell Committee's recommendations, if implemented, are likely to result in freer financial markets and to improve the resource development sector's access to finance. Clear examples would be the removal of foreign exchange restrictions and the setting up of a market-oriented exchange rate system. However, in one sense this access may be narrowed as the extension of bank-type prudential controls to bank ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Results from a heavily fouled 19 tube C-E model boiler test to investigate the potential for egg crate corrosion in aggressively fouled AVT chemistry are reported. Substantial support plate and egg crate corrosion was produced in this test. Carbon steel drilled support plates exhibited extensive denting which resulted in flow hole ligament cracking. Corrosion of the carbon steel egg crate, through-wall at areas of tube contact, resulted in denting of the Alloy 600 heat transfer tubes. Corrosion performance of the 409 stainless steel egg crate was improved compared to the carbon steel egg crate although localized through-wall corrosion was noted. The results from the above test and previously reported tests were compared based on the following simplifying assumptions: maximum dent size and/or corrosion penetrations utilized, average bulk water chloride concentrations, pilling bedworth ratios, pot and model boilers data are equivalent, heat flux not significantly ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

For good image quality using ultrasound inverse scattering, one alternately solves the well-posed forward scattering equation for an estimated total field and the ill-posed inverse scattering equation for the desired object property function. In estimating the total field, error or noise contaminates the coefficients of both matrix and data of the inverse scattering equation. Previous work on ill-posed inverse ultrasonic scattering commonly used Tikhonov regularization, which considers error only in the data. The solution so obtained is not precise enough to reconstruct the quantitative internal structure of a large or high-contrast object. This paper adopts the truncated total least squares method, simultaneously considering error and noise on both sides of the inverse scattering equation, and compares it with the classical Tikhonov regularization. We show that it can substantially improve reconstruction fit and image quality when the inverse ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

When an exogenous protein, bovine serum albumin, was introduced into the vacuole of a Chara australis internodal cell, it was degraded with time. This degradation proceeded only in...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The different radiation loads caused by natural and artificial radionuclides are compared in this paper. This examples will serve to illustrate that the problem of population exposure to radiation can only be solved in consideration of all components and to show which effects of the radiation from natural sources are of special importance in this connexion. (orig./AK).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones are effective mapping and sequencing reagents for use with a wide variety of small and large genomes. This report describes the development of a physical...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A novel way to extract relevant parameters associated with the outgoing ions from nuclear reactions, obtained by digitizing the signals provided by a Bragg curve spectrometer (BCS) is presented. This allowed the implementation of a more thorough pulse-shape analysis. Due to the complexity of this task, it was required to take advantage of new and more powerful computational paradigms. This was fulfilled using a back-propagation artificial neural network (ANN) as a pattern identifier. Over training of ANNs is a common problem during the training stage. In the performance of the ANN there is a compromise between its size and the size of the training set. Here, this effect will be illustrated in relation to the problem of Bragg Curve (BC) identification. (Author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The role of robotics and remote handling equipment in future nuclear power plant maintenance activities is discussed in the context of artificial intelligence applications. Special requirements manipulators, control systems, and man-machine interfaces for nuclear applications are noted. Tasks might include inspection with cameras, eddy current probes, and leak detectors; the collection of material samples; radiation monitoring; and the disassembly, repair and reassembly of a variety of system components. A robot with vision and force sensing and an intelligent control system that can access a knowledge base is schematically described. Recent advances in image interpretation systems are also discussed.

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This paper deals with an artificial neural network (ANN) based adaptive conventional power system stabilizer (PSS). The ANN comprises an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer. The input vector to the ANN comprises real power (P) and reactive power (Q), while the output vector comprises optimum PSS parameters. A systematic approach for generating training set covering wide range of operating conditions, is presented. The ANN has been trained using back-propagation training algorithm. Investigations reveal that the dynamic performance of ANN based adaptive conventional PSS is quite insensitive to wide variations in loading conditions.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

OBJECTIVETo assess the new quantitative bone scan parameters as markers of Charcot neuroosteoarthropathy (CNO) activity.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSForty-two...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Effective small interfering RNA (siRNA)–mediated therapeutics require the siRNA to be delivered into the cellular RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Quantitative information of this essential...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We have exploited ``progeny testing'' to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying the genetic variation of milk production in a selected dairy cattle population. A total of 1,518 sires, with progeny...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) are a biological marker for schizophrenia. To unravel the mechanisms that control PPI, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis on 1,010 F2 mice derived...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

SIMV (simulation and modeling of ventilation) is a quantitative system for the mathematical modeling and simulation of pulmonary...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

French 1979. p. 4.35-4.48. France Granier, R. Bittoun, J. Doury, P. Pattin,

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Published in summary form only.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In-core thermal-hydraulics during a PWR reflood phase following a large-break LOCA are quite unique in comparison with two-phase flow which has been studied widely in previous researches, because the geometry of the flow path is complicated (bundle geometry) and water is at extremely low superficial velocity and almost under stagnant condition. Hence, some phenomena realized during a PWR reflood phase are not understood enough and appropriate analytical models have not been developed, although they are important in a viewpoint of reactor safety evaluation. Therefore, author investigated some phenomena specified as important issues for quantitative prediction, i.e. (1) void fraction in a bundle during a PWR reflood phase, (2) effect of radial core power profile on reflood behavior, (3) effect of combined emergency core coolant injection on reflood behavior, and (4) the core separation into two thermal-hydraulically different regions and the in-core flow circulation ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A three-dimensional, three-phase, multiple-component numerical simulator was developed to investigate transport and growth of microorganisms in porous media and the impacts of microbial activities on oil recovery. The microbial activities modeled in this study included: (1) growth, retention, chemotaxis, and end product inhibition of growth, (2) the formation of metabolic products, and (3) the consumption of nutrients. Major mechanisms for microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) processes were modeled as follows: (1) improvement in sweep efficiency of a displacement process due to in situ plugging of highly-permeable production zones by cell mass or due to improved mobility control achieved by increasing the viscosity of the displacing fluid with a biopolymer, and (2) solubilization and mobilization of residual oil in porous media due to the reduction of the interfacial tension between oleic and aqueous phases by the production of a ...

Science.gov (United States)

The purpose of this study was to use high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging combined with image analysis to investigate the three-dimensional (3D) trabecular structure, anisotropy, and connectivity of human vertebral, femoral, and calcaneal specimens. The goal was to determine whether: (a) MR-derived measures depict known skeletal-site-specific differences in architecture and orientation of trabeculae; (b) 3D architectural parameters combined with bone mineral density (BMD) improve the prediction of the elastic modulus using a fabric tensor formulation; (c) MR-derived 3D architectural parameters combined with BMD improve the prediction of strength using a multiple regression model, and whether these results corresponded to the results obtained using higher resolution depictions of trabecular architecture. A total of 94 specimens (12 x 12 x 12 mm cubes) consisting of trabecular bone only were obtained, of which there were 7 from the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract The aim of this paper was to examine the result of rotary root canal preparation with the nickel-titanium (NiTi) systems K3, ProTaper and Mtwo. One hundred and fifty curved artificial root canals and 60 mesial canals of human mandibular molars were selected. In the group of curved artificial canals, all canals were prepared to size 35/0.04 taper with the three systems. In the group of human mandibular molars, the teeth with mature root canals were radiographed with silver points inserted in bucco-lingual and in mesio-distal positions. In the artificial root group, one K3 instrument separated. Mtwo (20%) showed significantly (P = 0.003) less zips than K3 (46.9%) or ProTaper (50%). There were no significant differences in ledge and elbow formation. K3 and Mtwo had the lowest percent...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

With regard to a fracture system in the Hijiori hot dry rock artificial reservoir, an attempt was made on an interpretation which integrates different data. Major factors that characterize development and performance of an artificial reservoir are composed of a fracture system in rocks, which acts as circulating water paths, a heat exchange face and a reservoir space. The system relates not only with crack density distribution, but also with cracks activated by water pressure fracturing, cracks generating acoustic emission (AE), and cracks working as major flow paths, all of which are characterized by having respective behaviors and roles. Characteristics are shown on AE cluster distribution, crack distribution, production zone and estimated stress fields. Mutual relationship among these elements was discussed based on the Coulomb`s theory. The most important paths are characterized by distribution of slippery cracks. Directions and appearance ...

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The reinforced concrete artificial iced course, constructed first in Japan as a bobsleigh and luge track for the Nagano Olympic Games, has a total extension of 1,700 m and an altitude difference of 113 m. It contains 15 curves and 2 up-grades and is divided into 43 blocks with spans ranging from 20 m to 80 m, all of which consist of lightwall RC members supported by pile foundations. The surface is cooled to -15 centigrade by the cooling pipes embedded in concrete and is iced by spraying water, and iced surface is shaved to make a course. Since the course scarcely has same profiles, the finished wall thickness is secured by fixing wire gauzes on the required positions without using shutterings. As there is not existed concrete satisfying all the required quality, two kinds of concrete were selected for filling in the arrangement of reinforcement and pipes and for surface finishing. Special notice was taken of the accuracy of finished surface. For the construction ...

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As part of developing efforts for physical exploration technologies for oil reservoirs, this paper describes development of an active seismic while drilling (SWD). The SWD is a seismic exploration method to acquire records equivalent to VSP using seismic waves generated from a bit executing excavation, and is capable of detection and control on a real time basis during the excavation. However, the drawback is that it is subjected to a limitation in the bit. To eliminate this limitation, an artificial seismic source method was devised. In other words, this is an SWD utilizing an artificial seismic source. The contrivance is such that a shot sub containing a magnetic distortion oscillator is attached directly above a bit to generate vibration artificially, and try to utilize larger seismic energy by combining this vibration with that generated from the excavating bit. Frequency band in the seismic source is as narrow as ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper seeks to investigate the liquefaction of clayey soils, a phenomenon that has been the trigger for many natural disasters in the last few decades, including landslides. Research was conducted on artificial clay?sand mixtures and natural clayey soils collected from the sliding surfaces of earthquake-induced landslides. The undrained response of normally consolidated clayey soils to cyclic loading was studied by means of a ring-shear apparatus. For the artificial clay?sand mixtures, it was found that the presence of a small amount of bentonite (?7%) would cause rapid liquefaction, while a further increase in bentonite content (?11%) produced the opposite effect of raising soil resistance to liquefaction by a significant degree. It was demonstrated that the bentonite?sand mixture wa...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A stable power system stabilizer (PSS) based on the inverse dynamics of the controlled system using an artificial neural network (ANN) is suggested to enhance the dynamic performances of a power system. First, an output feedback control law is driven with some conditions satisfied, which guarantees the internal stability and robustness against the asymptotically stable external disturbances. Then the control law is implemented using the inverse dynamics of the controlled plant. The inverse dynamics of the controlled plant is identified by an ANN, inverse dynamics neural network (IDNN), off-line. The pole-shifting technique and a scaling factor are introduced for the control system to meet the conditions for internal stability and robustness. The proposed controller is applied to a typical single-machine infinite-bus power system. Simulation results under various operation conditions are given which show that the proposed controller damps the low frequency ...

CERN Document Server

Community ecologists are principally occupied with the proposition that natural assemblages of species exhibit orderliness and with identifying its causes. Plant-pollinator networks exhibit a variety of orderly properties, one of which is 'nestedness'. Nestedness has been attributed to various causes, but we propose a further influence arising from the phylogenetic structure of the biochemical constraints on the pollen diets of bees. We use an artificial assemblage as an opportunity to isolate the action of this mechanism. The properties of the network that we studied are consistent with the proposition that nestedness is caused by the phylogeny of diet range in bees, but the claim is preliminary and we propose that valuable progress in understanding plant-pollinator systems may be made through applying the techniques of chemical ecology at the community scale.

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A solid layer artificial pollution test was carried out to study the pollution performance of a new type of hybrid station post insulator used in suspension and tensile high voltage transmission lines. The structure of the separated silicone rubber shed and porcelain core hybrid insulator was shown. The new insulator showed excellent pollution performance under both HVAC and HVDC conditions. It also exhibited excellent aging performance in artificial aging tests. The mechanical strength of the hybrid insulator was also better than normal composite insulators. Another advantage revealed was the fact that separated silicone rubber sheds and porcelain core hybrid post insulators are easier to manufacture than normal porcelain post insulators and other hybrid insulators. 5 refs., 6 tabs., 1 fig.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

ABSTRACT Purpose: There is a consensus in the community of dental research that the selection of undersized artificial maxillary anterior teeth offers an unnatural appearance to the denture. Several methods to select the adequate width of these teeth are of questionable validity, and many dentures have an obviously artificial appearance. This article assessed the relationship between the individual and the combined width of maxillary anterior teeth. Materials and Methods: Impressions were made of the anterior dentition of 69 dentate undergraduate students with rubber impression silicon, and casts were formed. The individual widths of the maxillary anterior teeth were measured by using a digital caliper (SC-6 digital caliper, Mitutoyo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), and the combined width was r...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Frozen boiled shrimp and dried shrimp are among the high-value fishery products of Thailand. During the production of these products boiling is one of the most important steps that affects significantly the product physicochemical properties, especially the quantity and quality of proteins, which in turn affect other apparent properties perceived by consumers. The protein changes are, however, difficult to evaluate comparing to other typical physical properties of shrimp. The objective of this study was therefore to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict the protein changes of shrimp in terms of protein loss and protein denaturation as a function of the boiling conditions, namely, concentration of salt solution and boiling time, as well as a rather easily determined ch...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of this study is to develop the methodology which enables to identify the mechanical properties of element such as stress intensity factor by using the AE parameters. Considering the multivariate and nonlinear properties of AE parameters such as ringdown count, rise time, energy, event duration and peak amplitude from fatigue cracks of machine element the principal component regression(PCR) and artificial neural network(ANN) models for the estimation of stress intensity factor were developed and validated. The AE parameters were found to be very significant to estimate the stress intensity factor. Since the statistical values including correlation coefficients, standard mr of calibration, standard error of prediction and bias were stable, the PCR and ANN models for stress intensity factor were very robust. The performance of ANN model for unknown data of stress intensity factor was better than that of PCR model

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

An appropriate mathematical model can help researchers to simulate, evaluate, and control a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack system. Because a PEMFC is a nonlinear and strongly coupled system, many assumptions and approximations are considered during modeling. Therefore, some differences are found between model results and the real performance of PEMFCs. To increase the precision of the models so that they can describe better the actual performance, optimization of PEMFC model parameters is essential. In this paper, an artificial bee swarm optimization algorithm, called ABSO, is proposed for optimizing the parameters of a steady-state PEMFC stack model suitable for electrical engineering applications. For studying the usefulness of the proposed algorithm, ABSO-based results...

Science.gov (United States)

On-orbit spectral calibration of hyperspectral imaging data is a key step for quantitatively analyzing them. Like the atmospheric correction, accurate spectral calibration is very necessary for improved studies of land or ocean surface properties. Based on the previous literatures, a new method which coupled an optimization algorithm was developed to simultaneously retrieve the central wavelength and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the hyperspectral sensor without needing the in situ reflectance spectra. Firstly, the Hyperion data set simulated using MODTRAN4 with the Hyperion spectral specification was used to test the new method, and the results indicated that the maximum error was less than 0.1 and 0.7 nm for central wavelength and FWHM respectively when the spectral shift is 5 nm. Then the algorithm was applied to the Hyperion data acquired on May 20, 2008 over Heihe River Basin and it was iteratively performed for each detector of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

Science.gov (United States)

The present study attempts to use hydrogen peroxide solution to humidify Ca(OH)(2) particles to enhance the absorption of SO(2) to achieve higher removal efficiency and to solve the valuable reuse of the reaction product in the semidry flue gas desulfurization (FGD) process. Experiments were carried out to examine the effect of various operating parameters including hydrogen peroxide solution concentration, Ca/S molar ratio and approach to adiabatic saturation temperature on SO(2) removal efficiency in a laboratory scale spray reactor. The product samples were analyzed to obtain semi-quantitative measures of mineralogical composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD) with reference intensity ratio (RIR) method and the morphology of the samples was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Compared with spraying water to humidify Ca(OH)(2), SO(2) removal efficiency was improved significantly by spraying hydrogen peroxide solution of 1-3 wt.% to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The use and application of remote sensing data for monitoring the environmental impacts of open cast lignite mining in Eastern Germany is described. This investigation is based on the digital analysis of several Landsat-TM and ERS-1 data sets acquired from 1989 to 1994. The characteristics of the imagery enable quantitative analysis of different open cast mine features, such as waste, water bodies, change of land use, reclamation processes and estimation of vegetation cover in the affected areas. On the basis of the Maximum Likelihood Classification of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data the open cast mining areas were separated into bare open cast areas and areas of less and dense vegetation. The bare open cast areas were classified with respect to type of different sediments and the vegetation was seperated into different classes according to the age of the vegetation and the density cover. Apart from these, water bodies within the mining areas were classified into ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nitric acid leaching from the weak base anion (WBA) exchanger had been evaluated and based on this a 5% mixture of nitric acid loaded weak base anion exchanger with fresh weak base anion exchanger (NLWBA) at the bottom of the ion exchange column has been devised to maintain an outlet pH in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 during Gd removal from the moderator system of TAPP - 3 and 4. A three layered bed had been constituted wherein strong acid cation (SAC) exchanger is placed as the top layer while a mixed bed of SAC and WBA or pure WBA is used as the middle layer and the 5% NLWBA was used as the bottom most layer. This bed configuration would result in an iso-pH regime in the moderator system during the Gd removal along with quantitative removal of Gd. Two three-layer bed columns were prepared at TAPS - 3 and 4 in July 07. The resin was loaded in batches and after preparing the column, the column was deuterated with heavy water (> 99.75 % w/w) at a steady flow rate of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for treating a cervix carcinoma has become popular, because it eliminates many of the problems associated with conventional brachytherapy. In order to improve the clinical effectiveness with HDR brachytherapy, a dose calculation algorithm, optimization procedures, and image registrations need to be verified by comparing the dose distributions from a planning computer and those from a humanoid phantom. In this study, the humanoid phantom was fabricated in order to verify the absolute doses and the relative dose distributions. The measured doses from the humanoid phantom were then compared with the treatment planning system for the dose verification. The humanoid phantom needs to be designed such that the dose distributions can be quantitatively evaluated thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips with a dimension of 1/8 and film dosimetry with a spatial resolution of <1 mm used to measure the radiation ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In Japan, the development of next-generation Light Water Reactor has been launched since April 2008. The development program will be completed in 2015. The purpose of development is to cope with the replacement for existing nuclear power plants after 2030 in Japan and the expanding demand for nuclear power in the world; 'Nuclear Renaissance.' The reactor also aims to be global standard at around 2030. The requirements for global standard and domestic users have been investigated through the feasibility study of past 2 years, 2006-2007, and six innovative features or 'Core-Concepts' were established as follows. A) Reactor core system with uranium enrichment above 5% for significant decrease of spent fuel discharge and prominent higher availability B) Long-life materials and innovative water chemistry technologies for 80 years plant lifetime and significant reduction of occupational dose C) Seismic isolation technologies to standardize plant design independent from site conditions D) ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The object and the purpose of the present work was to develop, to assemble and to start running a new TOF (time of flight) mass spectrometer for imaging SNMS analytic which is optimized for the analysis of highly molecular secondary ions. The most important purpose was the characterization of the TOF mass spectrometer. The obtained mass spectra of indium, tantalum and silver clusters reflect the excellent properties of the TOF mass spectrometer for the detection of large clusters with good detection efficiency up to masses of 16000 amu. The possibility of the deflection of selected saturated atom and cluster peaks serves for further improvement of the detection efficiency for large molecules. The accessible mass resolution was determined to be of the order of m/{delta}m=1000 in the high mass region. Numerous measurements were carried out to characterize the useful yield of this spectrometer. For a best possible adaptation of the TOF mass spectrometer for the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Involvement of the dopaminergic system has been suggested in patients suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since the symptoms can be successfully treated with methylphenidate, a potent blocker of the dopamine transporter (DAT). This study reports the findings on the status of the DAT in adults with ADHD before and after commencement of treatment with methylphenidate, as measured using [{sup 99m}Tc]TRODAT-1. Seventeen patients (seven males, ten females, aged 21-64 years, mean 38 years) were examined before and after the initiation of methylphenidate treatment (3 x 5 mg/day). All subjects were injected with 800 MBq [{sup 99m}Tc]TRODAT-1 and imaged 3 h p.i. Single-photon emission tomography (SPET) scans were acquired using a triple-headed gamma camera. For semi-quantitative evaluation of the DAT, transverse slices corrected for attenuation were used to calculate specific binding in the striatum, with the cerebellum used as background ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Classical semiconductor physics has been continuously improving electronic components such as diodes, light-emitting diodes, solar cells and transistors based on highly purified inorganic crystals over the past decades. Organic semiconductors, notably polymeric, are a comparatively young field of research, the first light-emitting diode based on conjugated polymers having been demonstrated in 1990. Polymeric semiconductors are of tremendous interest for high-volume, low-cost manufacturing (''printed electronics''). Due to their rather simple device structure mostly comprising only one or two functional layers, polymeric diodes are much more difficult to optimize compared to small-molecular organic devices. Usually, functions such as charge injection and transport are handled by the same material which thus needs to be highly optimized. The present work contributes to expanding the knowledge on the physical mechanisms determining ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Concept Exploration (CE) experiments within the Innovative Confinement Concept Program have a unique role which impacts their contributions to the development of fusion energy. As stated in the FESAC ''Report on Alternate Concepts:'' These [CE] programs are aimed at innovation and basic understanding of relevant scientific phenomena. The emphasis on innovation motivates their application to the search for a better fusion reactor configuration. In addition, because of their unique character the CE experiments offer excellent opportunities to couple fusion-plasma physics to other sciences. A recent example of coupling is the fusion self-organized plasmas to reconnection physics and extra-terrestrial plasmas. Perhaps of even greater importance is the education of the future scientists needed for developing fusion energy. The CE experiments, both at universities and national labs, are of a size students can ''get their hands ...

Science.gov (United States)

... These assumptions are quantitatively investigated by calculating tie icldti\\e inportance of ... A modified lon-shore current model is used to study the ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A specific application of single photon emission tomography to the relative quantitation of the pituitary region is described together with the results obtained in 19 patients with pituitary adenoma...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

Typing Workshop": [Introductions] [Intro, DNA Basics, and Historical Perspective] [DNA Extraction] [Validation and QA/QC] [DNA Quantitation] [PCR Amplification] [STR Loci and Kits]...

Science.gov (United States)

This laboratory exercise demonstrates some basic principles in parasitology by using experimental studies of the relationship of Hymenolepis diminuta with its rodent host.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Absolute measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF) are an important endpoint in studies of cerebral pathophysiology. Currently no accepted method exists for in vivo longitudinal...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

OBJECTIVEEvaluate the qualitative and quantitative differences between moderated and unmoderated on-line social support groups focused on asthma.DESIGNA...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1984. p. 680-685. Germany Glaubitt, D. Siafarikas, K. Staedtische

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundSeveral fractal and non-fractal parameters have been considered for the quantitative assessment of the vascular architecture, using a variety of test specimens and of computational...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGNThis study used qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the reasons primary care physicians and nurses offered for their inability to initiate guideline-concordant...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In this model, without dark matter, the flat rotation curves of galaxies and the mass-to-light ratios of clusters of galaxies are described quantitatively. The hypothesis is that the agent of gravitational...Full Text Available

CERN Document Server

We apply the potential force estimation method to artificial time series of market price produced by a deterministic dealer model. We find that dealers' feedback of linear prediction of market price based on the latest mean price changes plays the central role in the market's potential force. When markets are dominated by dealers with positive feedback the resulting potential force is repulsive, while the effect of negative feedback enhances the attractive potential force.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Discusses alternative futures for distributing future personal computers, via data communications networks. The author scans and extrapolates some of the advances for impacting the emerging future of information utilities now sprouting up thoroughout the world. In particular he looks at the future of personal computers in the field of artificial intelligence,, for expert knowledge-based systems.

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The classical stochastic approximation methods are shown to yield algorithms to solve several formulations of the PAC learning problem defined on the domain [o,1]{sup d}. Under some assumptions on different ability of the probability measure functions, simple algorithms to solve some PAC learning problems are proposed based on networks of non-polynomial units (e.g. artificial neural networks). Conditions on the sizes of these samples required to ensure the error bounds are derived using martingale inequalities.

Science.gov (United States)

Current U.S. military operations in deserts face persistent threats from sand flies that transmit human Leishmania. In this study we investigated the efficacy of artificial barriers treated with residual insecticide to potentially reduce the risk of human infection from leishmaniasis by reducing the...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

By the use of thermoluminescence (TL) technique we have investigated the effects of gamma irradiation on the TL response of pulverised natural zircon (ZrSiO{sub 4}) crystals from the Jos Plateau area of Nigeria. Samples of the mineral that have been previously annealed were artificially irradiated to moderate gamma doses ranging from 0.7 to 4.9 Gy using {sup 60}Co gamma-source of the CERD. The natural TL glow curve of the sample showed a broad peak around 250 deg. C, the peak was however, found to be completely erased following heat treatment for 2 h at 400 deg. C. The TL glow curves of the artificially irradiated samples showed two overlapping glow peaks at about 112 deg. C (peak I) and at 156 deg. C (peak II) within the dose range utilised. We note that the natural TL peak appears to be different from the two observed in the artificially irradiated sample. The TL response with dose was investigated for the two glow peaks ...

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As characterization of artificial cracks formed underground by using the water pressure fracturing method, experiments have been carried out to detect relationship of pressurization and S-wave propagation time with the polarizing direction dependence. Openings are created when pressure in the vicinity of the artificial cracks increases greater than reopening pressure of micro cracks. Elastic wave velocity decreases in this region because of water in the opened micro cracks. Anisotropy is created in the S-wave propagation velocity due to influence from anisotropic reopening region when the artificial cracks are pressurized, and is separated into two components which polarize orthogonally with each other (micro splitting). Field experiments conducted at the Higashi-hachimantai field were analyzed by using wavelet transform. It was possible to detect the S-wave arrival time at high accuracy, and the arrival of an orthogonally ...

CERN Document Server

Computing Networks (CNs) are defined. These are used to generalize neural and swarm architectures, namely artificial neural networks, ant colony optimization, and particle swarm optimization. The description of these architectures as CNs allows their comparison, distinguishing which properties enable them to perform complex computations and exhibit complex cognitive abilities. In this context, the most relevant characteristics of CNs are the existence multiple dynamical and functional scales.

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A novel approach is presented to extract relevant parameters associated with the energy loss of ejectiles from nuclear reactions obtained by digitizing the signals of a Bragg curve spectrometer. New and more powerful computational paradigms allow a more thorough pulse-shape analysis. This is fulfilled using a back-propagation artificial neural network as a pattern identifier. The known problem of over-training is discussed.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThermostable bacterial lipases occupy a place of prominence among biocatalysts owing to their novel, multifold applications and resistance to high temperature and other...Full Text Available

CERN Document Server

Improving Low-Reading Ages in the Secondary School

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We characterized the absorption and short-term translocation of cadmium (Cd) in rice (Oryza sativa ‘Nipponbare’) quantitatively using serial images observed with a positron-emitting...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring-mass spectral analysis using [¹³C₆]indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) as an internal standard provides an effective means for quantitation of...Full Text Available

CERN Document Server

A quantitative description is presented of the non-linear current-voltage response in superconducting niobium cavities for accelerator application. It is based on a fit for a large sample of data from cavity tests of different kind. Trial functions for the surface resistance describing this non-linear relation are established by a least square data fit. Those trial functions yielding the best fit are quantitatively explained by basic physics.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Studies have been performed with an anti-osteogenic sarcoma monoclonal antibody 791T/36 and human tumour xenografts to examine some of the quantitative and kinetic aspects of tumour localization. The influence of variations in tumour size and site and antibody dose on the extent and rate of specific antibody localization have been examined, together with the site of intratumoural deposition of the antibody. (UK).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In nuclear fuel, in approximately one quarter of the fissions, one of the two formed fission products is gaseous. These are mainly the noble gases xenon and krypton with isotopes of xenon contributing up to 90% of the product gases. These noble fission gases do not combine with other species, and have a low solubility in the normally used uranium oxide matrix. They can be dissolved in the fuel matrix or precipitate in nanometer-sized bubbles within the fuel grain, in micrometer-sized bubbles at the grain boundaries, and a fraction also precipitates in fuel pores, coming from fuel fabrication. A fraction of the gas can also be released into the plenum of the fuel rod. With increasing fission, and therefore burn-up, the ceramic fuel material experiences a transformation of its structure in the 'cooler' rim region of the fuel. A subdivision occurs of the original fuel grains of few microns size into thousands of small grains of sub-micron sizes. Additionally, larger ...

Science.gov (United States)

Cancer is a severe threat to human health. Early detection is considered the best way to increase the chance for survival. While the traditional cancer detection method, biopsy, is invasive, noninvasive optical diagnostic techniques are revolutionizing the way that cancer is diagnosed. Reflectance spectroscopy is one of these optical spectroscopy techniques showing promise as a diagnostic tool for pre-cancer detection. When a neoplasia occurs in tissue, morphologic and biochemical changes happen in the tissue, which in turn results in the change of optical properties and reflectance spectroscopy. Therefore, a pre-cancer can be detected by extracting optical properties from reflectance spectroscopy. This dissertation described the construction of a fiberoptic based reflectance system and the development of a series of modeling studies. This research is aimed at establishing an improved understanding of the optical properties of mucosal tissues by analyzing ...

Science.gov (United States)

Abstract Background: Aution Max AX-4030, a test strip analyzer recently introduced to the market, represents an upgrade of the Aution Max AX-4280 widely employed for urinalysis. This new instrument model can allocate two different test strips at the same time. In the present study the two instruments have been compared together with the usage of Uriflet 9UB and the recently produced Aution Sticks 10PA urine strips, the latter presenting an additional test area for the measurement of urinary creatinine. Methods: Imprecision and correlation between instruments and strips have been evaluated for chemical-physical parameters. Accuracy was evaluated for protein, glucose and creatinine by comparing the semi-quantitative results to those obtained by quantitative methods. The well-known interference effect of high ascorbic acid levels on urine glucose test strip determination was evaluated, ascorbic acid influence was also evaluated on protein and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of this study is to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict the thermal conductivity of ethylene glycol-water solutions based on experimentally measured variables. The thermal conductivity of solutions at different concentrations and various temperatures was measured using the cylindrical cell method that physical properties of the solution are being determined fills the annular space between two concentric cylinders. During the experiment, heat flows in the radial direction outwards through the test liquid filled in the annual gap to cooling water. In the steady state, conduction inside the cell was described by the Fourier equation in cylindrical coordinates, with boundary conditions corresponding to heat transfer between the solution and cooling water. The performance of ANN was evaluated by a regression analysis between the predicted and the experimental values. The ANN predictions yield R{sup 2} in the range of 0.9999 and MAPE ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The nuclear industry has a recognized need for intelligent, multitask robots to carry out tasks in harsh environments. From 1986 to the present, the number of robotic systems available or under development for use in the nuclear industry has more than doubled. Presently, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a relatively small role in existing robots used in the nuclear industry. Indeed, the lack of intelligence has been labeled the ''Achilles heel'' of all current robotic technology. However, larger-scale efforts are underway to make the multitask robot more sensitive to its environment, more capable to move and perform useful work, and more fully autonomous via the use of AI. In this paper, we review the terminology, the history, and the factors which are motivating the development of robotics and remove systems; discuss the applications related to the nuclear industry; and, finally, examine the state of the art of the technologies being applied to introduce more ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Over 300 cases of femoral neck fractures following radiotherapy for intrapelvic malignant tumor have been reported in various countries since Baensch reported this disease in 1927. In Japan, 40 cases or so have been reported, and cases of bilateral femoral neck fractures have not reached to ten cases. The authors experienced a case of 75 year-old female who received radiotherapy for cancer of the uterus, and suffered from right femoral neck fracture 3 months after and left femoral neck fracture one year and half after. As clinical symptoms, she had not previous history of trauma in bilateral femurs, but she complained of a pain in a hip joint and of gait disturbance. The pain in left femoral neck continued for about one month before fracture was recognized with roentgenogram. As histopathological findings, increase of fat marrow, decrease of bone trabeculae, and its marked degeneration were recognized. Proliferation of some blood vessels was found out, but thickness of the internal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Distance protection, differential protection and directional comparison schemes are presently used for protecting transmission lines. Directional comparison relays are set to respond to faults in the protection zone without intentional time delay and are, therefore, used where high-speed fault clearing is needed. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) can handle most situations which cannot be defined sufficiently for finding a deterministic solution. The design and testing of an ANN for directional comparison protection of transmission lines are presented in this paper. Training patterns were generated using voltage and current samples for faults at various locations along a transmission line. The faults were simulated using an electromagnetic transient program and a sample three-phase power system. The performance of the proposed discriminator was checked using data simulated for testing and the fault data recorded from 240 kV and 500 kV lines. Some of the test ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This thesis consists of an introduction and five included papers. Of these, four papers are published in international journals and the fifth was submitted for review in April 2000. Emphasis has been placed on both naturally and artificially generated light hydrocarbons in petroleum fluids and their proposed source rocks as well as direct application of light hydrocarbons to oil/source rock correlations. Collectively, these papers describe a strategy for interpreting the source of the light hydrocarbons in original oils and condensates as well as the source of the asphaltene fractions from the reservoir fluids. The influence of maturity on light hydrocarbon composition has also been evaluated. The papers include (1) compositional data on the light hydrocarbons from thermal extracts and kerogen pyrolysates of sediment samples, (2) light hydrocarbon data of oils and condensates as well as the pyrolysis products of the asphaltenes from these fluids, (3) assessment of ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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This report describes the results made in fulfillment of contract DE-FG26-02NT15451, ''Multicomponent Seismic Analysis and Calibration to Improve Recovery from Algal Mounds: Application to the Roadrunner/Towaoc Area of the Paradox Basin, Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, Colorado''. Optimizing development of highly heterogeneous reservoirs where porosity and permeability vary in unpredictable ways due to facies variations can be challenging. An important example of this is in the algal mounds of the Lower and Upper Ismay reservoirs of the Paradox Basin in Utah and Colorado. It is nearly impossible to develop a forward predictive model to delineate regions of better reservoir development, and so enhanced recovery processes must be selected and designed based upon data that can quantitatively or qualitatively distinguish regions of good or bad reservoir permeability and porosity between existing well control. ...

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The Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers (AMPTE) program provided important information on the behavior of clouds of plasma artificially injected into the solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere. Now that the releases are over, data from the satellites are being analyzed to investigate the processes by which the ambient solar wind mass, momentum, and energy are transferred to the magnetosphere. Work in progress at APL indicates that the solar wind is much more inhomogeneous than previously believed, that the solar wind constantly buffets the magnetosphere, and that ground observers may remotely sense these interactions as geomagnetic pulsations. 8 refs.

CERN Document Server

In this paper we have investigated the performance of PSO Particle Swarm Optimization based clustering on few real world data sets and one artificial data set. The performances are measured by two metric namely quantization error and inter-cluster distance. The K means clustering algorithm is first implemented for all data sets, the results of which form the basis of comparison of PSO based approaches. We have explored different variants of PSO such as gbest, lbest ring, lbest vonneumann and Hybrid PSO for comparison purposes. The results reveal that PSO based clustering algorithms perform better compared to K means in all data sets.

Science.gov (United States)

The removal of Reactive Black 5 dye in an aqueous solution by electrocoagulation (EC) as well as addition of flocculant was investigated. The effect of operational parameters, i.e. current density, treatment time, solution conductivity and polymer dosage, was investigated. Two models, namely the artificial neural network (ANN) and the response surface method (RSM), were used to model the effect of independent variables on percentage of dye removal. The findings of this work showed that current density, treatment time and dosage of polymer had the most significant effect on percentage of dye removal (p0.8). PMID:21411950

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Four major reasons why municipal resource recovery operations are uneconomical are analyzed. These reasons are: alternative municipal waste disposal methods are artificially underpriced when the costs of meeting modern environmental standards are considered; high capital costs related to the procurement of resource recovery systems and the marketing of recovered resources; uncertainties associated with the costs and performance of resource recovery technologies; and construction and operating risks of municipal waste resource recovery systems. If resource recovery is to become economical, purchasers of plants must develop innovative process designs and equipment and formulate new operating and maintenance procedures. (1 photo)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper introduces the inter-comparison results of some environmental radioactivity monitoring items for Daya Bay nuclear power plant. The inter-comparison was organized by China Institute for Radiation Protection and five laboratories participated in it. The compared items included total #beta# in kelp and sediment, "3H in water, "9"0Sr in soil, artificial nuclides "1"1"0"mAg, "2"4"1Am, "1"0"9Cd, "5"7Co in kelp and sediment. Inter-comparison results are analyzed as well

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Inactivation of aflatoxin B1 was studied by using gamma radiation and hydrogen peroxide. A 100-krad dose of gamma radiation was sufficient to inactivate 50 micrograms of aflatoxin B1 in the presence of 5% hydrogen peroxide, and 400 krad was required for total degradation of 100 micrograms of aflatoxin in the same system. Degradation of aflatoxin B1 was confirmed by high-pressure liquid chromatographic and thin-layer chromatographic analysis. Ames microsomal mutagenicity test showed loss of aflatoxin activity. This method of detoxification also reduces the toxin levels effectively in artificially contaminated groundnuts.

Science.gov (United States)

Lanthanide-ion doped oxide nanoparticles were functionalized for use as fluorescent biological labels. These nanoparticles are synthesized directly in water which facilitates their functionalization, and are very photostable without emission intermittency. Nanoparticles functionalized with guanidinium groups act as artificial toxins and specifically target sodium channels. They are individually detectable in cardiac myocytes, revealing a heterogeneous distribution of sodium channels. Functionalized oxide nanoparticles appear as a novel tool particularly well adapted to long-term single-molecule tracking.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This study deals with the application of wavelet analysis to detection and characterization of defects from eddy-current and ultrasonic testing signals of a low signal-to-noise ratio. Presented in this paper are the methods for processing eddy-current testing signals of heat exchanger tubes of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant. The results of processing eddy-current testing signals of tube test pieces with artificial flaws show that the flaw signals corrupted by noise and/or non-defect signals can be effectively detected and characterized by using the wavelet methods. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

... Aluminum electrolytic capacitors have improved through the years. They are smaller, and equivalent series resistance (ESR) is improved. ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This study assesses the current state of undergraduate instruction in empirical research methods in communication and offers recommendations for enhancing such instruction. Responses to an online questionnaire were received from 149 communication-related programs at four-year colleges and universities. Just over 85% of responding programs offered an empirical methods course. Although the course often covered both qualitative and quantitative methods, instruction was heavily slanted toward quantitative methods and topics common to both qualitative and quantitative inquiry. The empirical methods course was usually required for graduation, but it was typically not well integrated with the rest of the curriculum and taken late in students' undergraduate careers. Additional analyses examined st...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, is the most important shrimp species in volume in world aquaculture. However, in recent decades, outbreaks of diseases, especially viral diseases, have led to significant economic losses, threatening the sustainability of shrimp farming worldwide. In 2004, Brazilian shrimp farming was seriously affected by a new disease caused by the Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV). Thus, disease control based on rapid and sensitive pathogen detection methods has become a priority. In this study, a specific quantitation method for IMNV was developed using real-time PCR with SYBR Green chemistry and viral load of the principal target tissues of chronically infected animals was quantified. The quantitative analysis revealed that mean viral load ranged from ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Rationale, aims and objectives- Finding ways to incorporate disparate types of evidence into research syntheses has the potential to build a better evidence base for clinical practice and policy. Yet conducting such mixed research synthesis studies is challenging. Researchers have to determine whether and how to use adjusted and unadjusted quantitative findings in combination with each other and with qualitative findings. Methods- Among quantitative findings, adjustment for confounding, either via study design or statistical analysis, can be a considerable source of heterogeneity. Yet there is no consensus about the best way to synthesize findings resulting from different methods for addressing confounding. When synthesizing qualitative and quantitative findings, additional consid...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

OAK B188 The goal of this project is to mimic the energy transduction processes by which photosynthetic organisms harvest sunlight and convert it to forms of energy that are more easily used and stored. The results may lead to new technologies for solar energy harvesting based on the natural photosynthetic process. They may also enrich our understanding and control of photosynthesis in living organisms, and lead to methods for increasing natural biomass production, carbon dioxide removal, and oxygen generation. In our work to date, we have learned how to make synthetic antenna and reaction center molecules that absorb light and undergo photoinduced electron transfer to generate long-lived, energetic charge-separated states. We have assembled a prototype system in which artificial reaction centers are inserted into liposomes (artificial cell-like constructs), where they carry out light-driven transmembrane translocation of hydrogen ions to ...

Science.gov (United States)

We present a femtosecond Laser Two-Photon Polymerization (LTPP) system of large scale three-dimensional structuring for applications in tissue engineering. The direct laser writing system enables fabrication of artificial polymeric scaffolds over a large area (up to cm in lateral size) with sub-micrometer resolution which could find practical applications in biomedicine and surgery. Yb:KGW femtosecond laser oscillator (Pharos, Light Conversion. Co. Ltd.) is used as an irradiation source (75 fs, 515 nm (frequency doubled), 80 MHz). The sample is mounted on wide range linear motor driven stages having 10 nm sample positioning resolution (XY--ALS130-100, Z--ALS130-50, Aerotech, Inc.). These stages guarantee an overall travelling range of 100 mm into X and Y directions and 50 mm in Z direction and support the linear scanning speed up to 300 mm/s. By moving the sample three-dimensionally the position of laser focus in the photopolymer is changed and one is able to write ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

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

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Neuroblasts born in the adult subventricular zone (SVZ) migrate long distances in the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to the olfactory bulbs where they integrate into circuitry as functional interneurons....Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Neutron radiography (NR) is a useful non-destructive method for determination of hydrogen content in various building and technical materials. Monitoring of transport processes of moisture and hydrogenous liquids in porous building materials is enabled by fast, quasi-real-time NR methods based on novel imaging plate neutron detectors (IP-NDs). Hydrogen content in the samples is determined by quantitative analysis of measured profiles of neutron attenuation in the samples. Detailed description of quantitative NR method is presented by the authors in another accompanying contribution at this conference. Deterioration of building materials is originated by different processes that all require presence of water therefore it is essential to limit or prevent the transport of water through the porous material. In this presentation, results of a study of clay brick impregnation by silicone based hydrophobic agents will be presented. ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

An antigen-antibody system of polystyrene tubes coated with immunoglobulin antibody was used for quantitating immunoglobulins. A similar radioimmunoassay method was adapted for a viral antigen-antibody...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Thirty-four patients with prostatic carcinoma were studied with quantitative bone scintigraphy and whole-body counting (WBC) 1 and 24 h after injection of [sup 99m]Tc-MDP before as well as two weeks and two months after orchiectomy. Thirteen of the patients had normal bone scintigrams and WBR at the three different investigations; 21 had skeletal metastases. The latter showed throughout the study higher local gamma camera count rates as well as WBR values than the patiens with normal scintigrams. In these patients a ''flare phenomenon'', with an increase in count rate two weeks after orchiectomy followed by a decrease two months post-operatively, was seen with quantitative bone scintigraphy but not with WBC. However, WBC may be a valuable method indicating the total extent of skeletal metastases in the body, while quantitative bone scintigraphy is more accurate in the interpretation of ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Background In May 2000, AstraZeneca launched a Web service for asthma patients and health-care providers called LinkMedica, which includes an asthma diary for...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Forty-six patients with end-stage renal failure were subjected to iliac crest biopsy before the initiation of a dialysis programme and regardless of the presence of skeletal symptoms....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the EGF receptor (EGFR) initiates signal transduction, ultimately leading to altered gene expression. Ligand-activated EGFR is also rapidly internalized...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis designed for a multi-parent population was carried out and tested in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), which is a diploid cross-fertilising...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

How transcription factors interpret the cis-regulatory logic encoded within enhancers to mediate quantitative changes in spatiotemporally restricted expression patterns during animal...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The A(..pi../sup +/,/sup 3/He)B reaction near threshold is studied in a model where the pion is absorbed by an /sup 4/He constituent of the target nucleus. The predictions of this model using harmonic oscillator cluster wave functions agree semi-quantitatively with the experimental data on the inverse reaction.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Recent experiments have provided new quantitative measurements of the rippling phenomenon in fields of developing myxobacteria cells. These measurements have enabled us to develop a mathematical model...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Skeletal radiotracer (sup(99m)Tc-HEDP) uptake was quantitated with and without the aid of a computer in 30 chronic dialysis patients with histologic evidence of renal osteodystrophy. Before scintigraphy, elevated soft-tissue activity due to the absence of renal radiotracer excretion was reduced by hemodialysis. The results were compared with those of a normal group and with the results of the biochemical and the bone morphometric studies of these patients. In all patients the radiotracer uptake was elevated, often markedly. In several patients with minimal histologic bone disease, however, soft-tissue activity could not be normalized by hemodialysis although its influence on the quantitative data could be further reduced (but not excluded) by computer evaluation of skeletal radiotracer uptake. Since the latter technique clearly distinguished the majority of the patients from the normals, it appears that computerized ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Based on a generalized theory of perturbations and on non-linear programming an approach to the quantitative determination of necessary accuracies for nuclear data is described. It is used to calculate transactinide isotope build-up in reactors.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundArtemisinin-based combination therapy, currently considered the therapy of choice for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in endemic countries,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A fluid-phase immunoradiometric assay has been developed which identifies an antigen on the Factor VIII (antihemophilic factor) procoagulant protein. This sensitive and quantitative assay is not influenced...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A novel, quantitative method for detecting poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) amounts in viable cells was developed to allow for high-throughput screening of mutant libraries. The staining technique was demonstrated...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe decline noticed in several fertility traits of dairy cattle over the past few decades is of major concern. Understanding of the genomic factors underlying fertility,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The changes in conjugated indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels compared to the levels of free IAA have been analyzed during the development of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed using quantitative...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Pseudomonas mandelii liquid cultures were studied to determine the effect of pH and temperature on denitrification gene expression, which was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Experimental and imaging studies in monkeys have outlined various long association fiber bundles within the temporoparietal region. In the present study the trajectory of the middle longitudinal fascicle...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Motivation: Cell tracking is an important method to quantitatively analyze time-lapse microscopy data. While numerous methods and tools exist for tracking cells in 2D time-lapse images,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Activatable or “smart” magnetic resonance contrast agents have relaxivities that depend on environmental factors such as pH or enzymatic activity, but the MR signal depends on...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The purpose of the work was to quantitatively characterize temperature effects on the bacterial leaching of sulfide ore material containing several sulfide minerals. The leaching was tested at eight...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We used tryptophan auxotrophs of the dicot Arabidopsis thaliana (wall cress) to determine whether tryptophan has the capacity to serve as a precursor to the auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Quantitative...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundQuantitative sensory testing (QST) is applied to evaluate somatosensory nerve fiber function in the spinal system. This study uses QST in patients with sensory dysfunctions...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Numbers of non-indigenous species--species introduced from elsewhere - are increasing rapidly worldwide, causing both environmental and economic damage. Rigorous quantitative risk-analysis frameworks,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

DNA antoantibodies in serum will bind to antigen-coated polystyrene tubes and can be detected by radiolabelled anti-immunoglobulin. The method is quantitative, gives information on the antibody class...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

There has been increased theoretical and experimental research interest in autonomous mobile robots exhibiting cooperative behaviour. This paper provides consistent quantitative measures of organizational degree of a two-dimensional environment. We proved, by the way of numerical simulations, that the theoretically derived values of the feature are reliable measures of aggregation degree. The slope of the feature's dependence on memory radius leads to an optimization criterion for stochastic functional self-organization. We also described the intellectual heritages that have guided our research, as well as possible future developments. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

An advanced video system has been assembled from commercially available equipment to support the real-time neutron radiography facility established jointly by the University of Virginia Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, and the Philip Morris Research Center. A schematic diagram of the equipment used for real-time neutron radiography is presented. To obtain quantitative density measurements with this system, several modifications of both hardware and image processing software were required. After implementation of these changes, the system was capable of determining material densities by measuring the degree of neutron attenuation.

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The authors experimentally study the separate stages of the determination of iodine in thyroidin by the combustion method in a flask with oxygen. The monotypic, conventional procedures and the procedure of Kolii and Pakhomov were studied. With addition of potassium iodide, a sixfold amount (compared with the initial) of iodine is liberated. Further, the liberated iodine is titrated by sodium thiosulfate. The authors find the degree of influence of a high nitrogen content on the determination of iodine in organic compounds. The procedure developed for the quantitative determination of the iodine in thyroidin by the combustion method is simple, fairly rapid, and can be used for the reliable control of the quality of thyroidin preparations and its starting raw material.

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The investigation of the petroleum contamination in marine organisms requires the trace level quantitative determination of indicative substances to be identified by a fingerprint of petroleum. Polymethylnaphthalene (PMN) and polymethylphenanthrene (PMP) were chosen because of their simple separation from a crude oil by means of an activated charcoal chromatography, their relatively high existence in aromatic compounds, and their persistence relative to other petroleum components in the tissue of oil contaminated marine organisms. The purpose of this paper is to present an activated charcoal chromatographic separation procedure of PMN and PMP in a crude oil and a trace level quantitative analytical method of them in marine organisms by mass fragmentography (MF).