Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Evolutionary conservation of DNA sequences provides a tool for the identification of functional elements in genomes. We have created a database of evolutionary conserved regions (ECRs) in vertebrate genomes entitled ECRbase that is constructed from a collection of pairwise vertebrate genome alignments produced by the ECR Browser database. ECRbase features a database of syntenic blocks that recapitulate the evolution of rearrangements in vertebrates and a collection of promoters in all vertebrate genomes presented in the database. The database also contains a collection of annotated transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) in all ECRs and promoter elements. ECRbase currently includes human, rhesus macaque, dog, opossum, rat, mouse, chicken, frog, zebrafish, and two pufferfish genomes. It is freely accessible at http://ECRbase.dcode.org.

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:20156044

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The nature of radicals in wood irradiated in vacuum was studied by ESR method. The decay rate of radicals changes in three temperature ranges. Long-lived radicals are very stable at 298"0K, at which the wood-plastics composite has often been studied. The number of radicals formed by irradiations shows fairly good agreement with the total number of radicals in each isolated wood component. The graft copolymerization of MMA to irradiated wood was also studied by means of ESR, and it was found that PMMA propagating radicals are formed in irradiated wood. These radicals are probably formed by the result of graft copolymerization of MMA of wood. (auth.).

CERN Document Server

Checks are performed on the alignment of the magnets in the LHC tunnel. It is vital that each magnet is placed exactly where it has been designed so that the path of the beam is precisely controlled.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Doubly decoupled structures in doubly odd deformed nuclei are reexamined and shown to be composed of a pseudo-spin aligned neutron and a decoupled proton. (orig.).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Comparisons have been made between Buddhism and the philosophy of science in general, but there have been only a few attempts to draw comparisons directly with the philosophy of radical behaviorism....Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A method for the quantitative determination of atmospheric hydroperoxyl radical comprising: (a) contacting a liquid phase atmospheric sample with a chemiluminescent compound which luminesces on contact with hydroperoxyl radical; (b) determining luminescence intensity from the liquid phase atmospheric sample; and (c) comparing said luminescence intensity from the liquid phase atmospheric sample to a standard luminescence intensity for hydroperoxyl radical. An apparatus for automating the method is also included.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Short note.

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Experimental investigation data are systematized of free radical states and processes in irradiated proteins. The investigation is performed by the radiospectral methods. Results are discussed in detail of the study of free radicals electronic structure of amino acids, peptides and proteins formed by the action of ionizing radiation. The specificity is stressed of the study of monocrystalls of these compounds by the method of electronic paramagnetic resonance. The nature is also studied of primary centres formed under the effect of radiation on biologically important compounds and their subsequent reactions in solid and liquid solutions. Ion-radical states of different functional groups of the protein molecule are studied. Prospects of the study and the role of anion-radicals in biological processes are discusses.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Computational methods for determining the secondary structure of RNA sequences from given alignments are currently either based on thermodynamic folding, compensatory base pair substitutions or both....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The spliced alignment of expressed sequence data to genomic sequence has proven a key tool in the comprehensive annotation of genes in eukaryotic genomes. A novel algorithm was developed to assemble...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

New methodologies for fabrication of multilevel packaging, particularly for RF signal analysis, are investigated. A new method for ``gluing'' silicon wafers together with a Self Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) based nanoglue are discussed, as are methods to enable its use with nonconforming wafers. Results of bond strength measurements as a function of temperature and process will be presented. Surface area bonded is characterized by infrared (IR) imaging. We will also present a method of inducing self-alignment between whole silicon wafers with micrometer precision. This represents a qualitative departure from alignment of millimeter-sized object as has been previously demonstrated. Self-alignment is induced by creating hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the wafers and using capillary forces of water in these regions to force the wafers to align with little to no outside influence. Results are ...

Science.gov (United States)

... gao. 1993. Structural Matching of Parallel Texts. In ACL 1993 A. Meyers, R. Yangarber, and R. Grishman. 1996. Alignment ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The radical cations from aziridine and azetidine have been characterized by ESR spectroscopy following their generation in the solid state by #gamma# irradiation of dilute solutions of the parent compounds in the CFCl_3 matrix at 77 K. The ESR parameters of the azetidine radical cation are typical of those for nitrogen-centered amine radical cations such as Me_2NH*"+. On the other hand, the radical cation formed from aziridine has very different ESR parameters that compare closely to those for the isoelectronic C...C ring-opened form of the oxirane radical cation and the allyl radical. The radical cation formed from azetidine is therefore assigned a ring-closed structure with the unpaired electron in a 2p/sub z/ orbital on nitrogen perpendicular to the ring plane, whereas the cation from aziridine is an allylic C...C ring-opened planar ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper is aimed to present a fuzzy decision making approach to deal with the performance measurement in supply chain systems. In the manufacturing environment, performance measurement is based on different quantitative and qualitative factors. Some of these factors may have a larger effect on the performance measure than others. Units of measure of the quantitative factors are different such as time, money, percentage, ratio, and counts. Thus, this paper presents a performance measurement approach based on fuzzy set theory and the pair-wise comparison of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which ensures the consistency of the designer's assignments of importance of one factor over another to find the weight of each of the manufacturing activity in the departmental organization. In the ...

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:18640506

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

PurposeThe objective of this study is to evaluate the continence rate following reconstruction of the posterior urethral plate in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundTrichloroethylene (TCE) may induce oxidative stress which generates free radicals and alters antioxidants or oxygen-free radical scavenging enzymes.MethodsTwenty...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Despite being free of charge, treatment adherence to 7-day primaquine for the radical cure of Plasmodium vivax was estimated at 62.2% among patients along the Iquitos-Nauta road in...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Radicals formed in gamma-irradiated crystals of galactose and glycine were found, upon dissolution, to cause mutagenesis of Salmonella typhimurium strains TA-98 and TA-100. Although the reproducibility of the results has not been adequately determined, they suggest the possibility of developing a test to measure the mutagenic-carcinogenic potential of radiation-induced free radicals with a microbial system.

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

One important market related capability for firms which seek to develop radical innovations is the competence to involve the 'right' users at the 'right' time in the 'right' form. While former studies have identified a rather passive role of users in the radical innovation process, this paper focuses on the involvement of such users that are in the position to play an active role as inventors and (co)-developers. A multiple case study analysis was conducted in the field of medical technology. Five radical innovation projects within four firms were selected including medical robots and computer-assisted navigation systems. The case study analysis reveals that firms who closely interact with specific users benefit significantly for their radical innovation work. These users have a high motivation toward new solutions, are open to new technologies, possess diverse competencies, and are embedded into a very ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Formation of oxidizing and reducing radicals was studied by pulse radiolysis of [Fe(CN)_6]"4"- - BrO_3"- - CN"- system in ethylene glycol - water solvent mixture. Oxidizing #centre dot#BrO_2 and BrO radicals formed by electron scavenging with #centre dot#BrO_2"- were identified and their reactions were investigated. The reaction of hydroxyl radicals with ethylene glycol leads to formation of reactive radicals with reducing properties and of compounds which reduce slowly in dark the ferricyanide formed in the reaction of #centre dot#BrO_2 radical with ferrocyanide. (author) 21 refs.; 7 figs.

CERN Document Server

Mono-layers of stearic and behenic acids and mixtures of them in different proportions, deposited with the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, were used to study the alignment and the alignment dynamics in nematic liquid crystal cells. A relaxation process from a splay-bend flow induced metastable orientation to the homeotropic one occurs. The lifetime of the metastable state was found to depend on the mono-layer composition. The transition between the homeotropic and the conical anchoring was found to be irreversible in the case of the mixed aligning mono-layers: on cooling from the isotropic phase a quasi-planar nematic state (schlieren texture) appears. It is stable in a range of a few degrees below the clearing point and, on decreasing the temperature, relaxes to the homeotropic state in form of expanding domains.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract: Environmental synergisms may pose the greatest threat to tropical biodiversity. Using recently updated data sets from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, we evaluated the incidence of perceived threats to all known mammal, bird, and amphibian species in tropical forests. Vulnerable, endangered, and extinct species were collectively far more likely to be imperiled by combinations of threats than expected by chance. Among 45 possible pairwise combinations of 10 different threats, 69%, 93%, and 71% were significantly more frequent than expected for threatened mammals, birds, and amphibians, respectively, even with a stringent Bonferroni-corrected probability value (p= 0.003). Based on this analysis, we identified five key environmental synergisms in t...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The set of nonlinear equations describing the standard model kinematics of the top quark antiquark production system in the dilepton decay channel has at most a fourfold ambiguity due to two not fully reconstructed neutrinos. Its most precise solution is of major importance for measurements of top quark properties like the top quark mass and tt spin correlations. Simple algebraic operations allow one to transform the nonlinear equations into a system of two polynomial equations with two unknowns. These two polynomials of multidegree eight can in turn be analytically reduced to one polynomial with one unknown by means of resultants. The obtained univariate polynomial is of degree 16. The number of its real solutions is determined analytically by means of Sturm's theorem, which is as well used to isolate each real solution into a unique pairwise disjoint interval. The solutions are polished by seeking the sign change of the polynomial in a given interval through ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effect on an oscillator moving in a medium produced by that part of the radiative force which does not perform work but creates and angular moment is considered. It is shown that the radiative torque turns the dipole toward the axis along which it is moving. Near the axis of motion the dipole executes small oscilltions. The frequency of the oscillations is determined. This effect leads to spontaneous alignment of the dipole moments on moving through the medium. The feasibility of observing the effect experimentally is discussed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

An electron accelerator unit is described for electron beam therapy, comprising: a source of an electron beam; means for finally directing at least a portion of the beam to a therapy site, the directing means being mechanically independent of, and electrically isolated from, the source, and having a target area; and means for aligning the source with the directing means, the aligning means comprising means for projecting at least one beam of light from the source toward the target area.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The mono- and intramolecular cation-radicals (CR) reactions of diethylmercury in the CFCl_3, CFCl_2CF_2Cl matrices and CF_2BrCF_2Br and CFCl_3 freons vitrified mixture (1:1) were studied through the EPR method. Formation of radical products of transformations of the initial CR diethylmercury (X-ray radiation dose - 100-200 Gy at the temperature of 293 K) was studied through the spin trap of 2.4.6 - tri-tret-butylnitrosebenzene.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

PurposeTo conduct a retrospective analysis within a large university teaching hospital, comparing outcomes between patients receiving either radical surgery or radiotherapy as curative treatment for bladder cancer.Patients and MethodsBetween March 1996 and December 2000, 169 patients were treated radically for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Data were collected from patient notes. Statistical analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to compare radiotherapy and surgical outcome data.ResultsThere was no difference in overall, cause-specific, and distant recurrence-free survival at 5 years between the two groups, despite the radiotherapy group being older (median age, 75.3 years vs. 68.2 years). There were 31 local bladder recurrences...

Science.gov (United States)

Penile rehabilitation therapy following radical prostatectomy is a much debated topic. Erectile dysfunction is still a significant contributor to postoperative morbidity following radical prostatectomy, despite meticulous nerve-sparing technique. Secondary smooth muscle changes in the penis have been identified as the underlying causes of penile atrophy, veno-occlusive dysfunction, and fibrosis. Initial observations that intracavernous injection therapies used on a regular basis postoperatively resulted in improvements in the return of spontaneous erectile function led to the development of penile rehabilitation protocols. Chronic dosing of PDE-V inhibitors is now commonly used by urologists after radical prostatectomy. Despite the current enthusiasm of penile rehabilitation therapy, current scientific evidence with clinical trials is still limited. PMID:19255627

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pulsed radiolysis method is used to study transformations intermediates of 6-aminophenalenone in ethanol. In alkaline medium the main product is radical-anion of 6-aminophenalenone, which optical absorption spectrum contains two bands with maxima at 355 and 400 nm. The particle precursors are e_s, CH_3CHOH and CH_3CHO"- radicals. In neutral and acid medium radical-anions are protonated in reactions with alcohol and hydrogen ions. The resulting H-adduct of 6-aminophenalenone has optical absorption maxima at 350 and 390 nm. Availability of two maxima is related to two various product structures. Molar extinction coefficients of radical-anions and H-adducts of 6-aminophenalenone and rate constants of reactions with their participation are estimated.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The n3 and n4 vibrational transitions of CH3 and CD3 isolated in solid parahydrogen were studied by high-resolution infrared spectroscopy. The radicals were produced by in situ UV photolysis of methyl iodides trapped in solid parahydrogen. The observed spectra showed clear rotational fine structures, which were subjected to further splitting due to the electrostatic field of solid parahydrogen. The molecular constants and crystal field parameters of the radicals in solid parahydrogen were determined by analyzing the spectral structures of the n3 and n4 transitions of CD3 by the crystal field theory. The rotational constants of the CD3 radical were found to be only a few percent smaller than those in the gas phase. The determined crystal field parameters indicated significant quantum effect...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

There are several methods of generating OH free radicals from ozone and/or hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light. They all have in common that the OH free radicals originate in one single source only whereas in the combination of ozone with ionizing radiation two simultaneous working sources for the OH free radicals exist. The resulting higher OH free radical concentration makes this process especially apt for the remediation of low level contaminated groundwater as for example trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in the sub-ppm range. A cost comparison between O_3/UV and O_3/electron beam for remediation of a groundwater contaminated with 100 ppb TCE indicated that for a throughput of about 5 million gallons/day the O_3/electron beam process is more cost-effective. (authors).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Esters of dihydric alcohols with alkenylphosphonic or alkenylphosphinic acids which are polymerizable by free radicals are described. They are combined with polymer binders, in particular water-soluble polymers, and photoinitiators forming free radicals to give photopolymerizable mixtures which are suitable for the production of photoresists and printing plates. The mixtures display low heat-sensitivity and have long shelf lives. (author) 1 tab.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The author is exploring the efficiency of pulsed plasma processing in the removal of nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and other pollutants. This process uses an electrical discharge to create chemical radicals from air molecules. These radicals can react with pollutants and form harmless compounds. Additives such as hydrocarbons are also used to improve the efficiency of the removal. The efficient removal of nitrogen dioxide has required the presence of dilute aqueous solution of ammonia.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The talk will focus on spin-dependent competition between oblate and prolate shape minima in the potential energy landscape of "1"8"0Hf (the most neutron-rich stable isotope), mediated via the alignment of valence nucleons. Results of a prompt spectroscopic study, using deep inelastic reactions with Gammasphere and CHICO, bombarding a thin "2"3"2Th target with a "1"8"0Hf beam #approx#25% above the Coulomb barrier, will be presented. Nucleon alignments in both prolate and oblate minima will be discussed, as well as the favoring of oblate collective rotation at high spins, observed through a mixing with gamma vibrations built on the prolate shape.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The high-energy radiation-induced degradation of an H-acid derivative azo dye, Apollofix-Red SF-28 (AR-28) was studied in aqueous solution by using pulse radiolysis with kinetic spectroscopic detection for transient measurements. Gamma radiolysis with UV-VIS spectroscopy and gradient ionpair HPLC separation with diode array detection were applied for following the destruction of AR-28 and measuring the products. The reactions of hydrated electron (e_a_q "-) and hydroxyl ("#centre dot#OH) radical were investigated separately. "#centre dot#OH reacts with the unsaturated bonds of the molecule. In the further reactions of the "#centre dot#OH adduct radicals, the AR-28 molecules partly reform with a slightly modified structure. The products formed in the first reaction of "#centre dot#OH and AR-28 molecules have also high reactivity towards the "#centre dot#OH radicals. For these reasons the efficiency of "#centre dot#OH ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundAurora kinases play an essential role in orchestrating chromosome alignment, segregation and cytokinesis during mitotic progression, with both aurora-A and B frequently...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The looming potential of deformable alignment tools to play an integral role in adaptive radiotherapy suggests a need for objective assessment of these complex algorithms. Previous studies in this area...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

On agar plates, daughter cells of Escherichia coli mutually slide and align side-by-side in parallel during the first round of binary fission. This phenomenon has been previously attributed...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundIn current comparative proteomics studies, the large number of images generated by 2D gels is currently compared using spot matching algorithms. Unfortunately, differences...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundA relevant problem in drug design is the comparison and recognition of protein binding sites. Binding sites recognition is generally based on geometry often combined with...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aqueous deoxyhemoglobin solutions (2 mg/ml) were gamma-irradiated by a "6"0Co source in the presence of methanol, ethanol, 1-butanol and t-butanol under N_2O or argon. The effects of the interaction of the particular alcohol radical species with hemoglobin were determined according to the detected spectral alterations in the visible range. The amounts of stable final products in the form of methemoglobin (MetHb) and the sum of hemichromes and cholehemichromes (Hemichr) were estimated in irradiated preparations. For preparations irradiated under N_2O, the radiation yield for MetHb formation was three-fold lower in the presence of ethanol and 1-butanol [G(MetHb) = 0.33[ compared with preparations irradiated in the presence of t-butanol or without alcohol [G(MetHb) = 1.00[. The yield of hemichromes and cholehemichromes in preparations irradiated under N_2O increased in the order: ethanol (G = 0.38), 1-butanol (B = 0.52), t-butanol (G = 0.59), and in the absence of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kinetics of postradiation polymerization of triethylene glycol ..cap alpha.., ..omega..-dimethacrylate has been studied by calorimetric method. The low-temperature radiolysis has been studied by ESR method. The radiation-chemical yield of radicals on ..gamma..-irradiation by /sup 60/Co is determined being equal to 6+-1 1/100 ev. Transformation of the radicals spectrum into the spectrum of propagating macroradicals proceeds at 140 K. After the transition from glassy to liquid state (Tsub(g)=193 K) the intensive postpolymerization begins. During the polymerization the disappearance of radicals is observed. For the low-temperature region the effective activation energy of polymerization is determined beina equal to 50.7+-0.8 kJ/mol.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pulse radiolysis studies of the formation kinetics and the yields of various phenylcarbenium ions from several different solutes in 1,2-dichloroethane solution have been carried out. The results indicate that there are two kinetically distinguishable cationic species of the solvent which react selectively with the different solutes to form the phenylcarbenium ions. It is suggested that one is a cation radical (yield 0.68 molecule/100 eV) and the other a carbocation (yield 0.20 molecule/100 eV). Rate constants for their separate reactions with selected aromatic compounds and with ammonia have been determined. Molar extinction coefficients have been estimated for benzyl cation, diphenyl cation radical, and anthracene cation radical. 6 figures, 1 table.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effects of TANOL radical have been examined on chemical shifts and relaxation rates of /sup 109/Ag NMR in aqueous solution of silver salts. The silver ion in aqueous solution is found to coordinate with TANOL radical. A small amount of TANOL is added as a doping agent(0.020M), since /sup 109/Ag signals are obtained for (1.0M) silver ion within 30 minutes. The /sup 109/Ag chemical shifts of silver salt in aqueous solutions were found within the range of 0 to -1000 ppm relative to that of 1.0M AgNo/sub 3/.

CERN Document Server

The quantum $N$-body problem is studied in the context of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics with a one-dimensional deformed Heisenberg algebra of the form $[\\hat x,\\hat p]=i(1+\\beta \\hat p^2)$, leading to the existence of a minimal observable length $\\sqrt\\beta$. For a generic pairwise interaction potential, analytical formulas are obtained that allow to estimate the ground-state energy of the $N$-body system by finding the ground-state energy of a corresponding two-body problem. It is first shown that, in the harmonic oscillator case, the $\\beta$-dependent term grows faster with $N$ than the $\\beta$-independent one. Then, it is argued that such a behavior should be observed also with generic potentials and for $D$-dimensional systems. In consequence, quantum $N$-body bound states might be interesting places to look at nontrivial manifestations of a minimal length since, the more particles are present, the more the system deviates from standard quantum ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Aims: The present study explored the integrative effect of genes encoding methadone pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic pathways on methadone maintenance doses in Han Chinese Patients. Materials & methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 321 opioid-dependent patients and 202 healthy controls, and realtime-PCR and PCR-RFLP were conducted to determine the genotypes. Results: Pair-wise comparisons revealed that carriers of the variants ABCB1 3435C>T or CYP2B6 516G>T alleles were more likely to require a higher methadone dose than noncarriers (both p G or 939C>T allele had a two-fold chance of requiring a lower methadone dose than noncarriers (p = 0.001). Proportional odds regression with adjustment of cofactors demonstrated that ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The recently described retinoid X receptors (RXRs) respond to the novel retinoid 9-cis-retinoic acid and also serve as heterodimeric partners for the vitamin D, thyroid hormone, and retinoic acid receptors (VDR, TR, and RAR, respectively). In this work, the authors report high-resolution localization of the human RXR genes within cytogenetic bands and also within a standard reference map of cosmid DNA markers on human chromosomes. They have determined the location of the human RXR genes by pairwise hybridization of the RXR cosmids and reference markers, using fluorescence in situ hybridization. They localized (i) RXR[alpha] (RXRA) to chromosome 9 band q34.3; (ii) RXR[beta] (RXRB) to chromosome 6 band 21.3; and (iii) RXR[gamma] (RXRG) to chromosome 1 band q22-q23. Six retinoid-responsive transcription factors have been identified so far, including three retinoic acid receptors in addition to the three RXRs. Interestingly, each of these receptors in human and mouse ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Exercise training is known to induce an increase in free radical production potentially leading to enhanced muscle injury. Vitamins C and E are well known antioxidants that may prevent muscle cell damage....Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors report on a search for pair production of first-generation scalar leptoquarks (LQ) in p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 252 pb{sup -1} collected at the Fermilab Tevatron collider by the D0 detector. They observe no evidence for LQ production in the topologies arising from LQ{ovr LQ} {yields} eqeq and LQ{ovr LQ} {yields} eqvq, and derive 95% C.L. lower limits on the LQ mass as a function of {beta}, where {beta} is the branching fraction for LQ {yields} eq. The limits are 241 and 218 GeV/c{sup 2} for {beta} = 1 and 0.5, respectively. These results are combined with those obtained by D0 at {radical}s = 1.8 TeV, which increases these LQ mass limits to 256 and 234 GeV/c{sup 2}.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe optimal treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) is still a matter of debate. This study assessed the outcome of LRRC patients treated with multimodality...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Recurrent tumour after radical pancreaticoduodenectomy may cause obstruction of the small bowel loop draining the liver. Roux-loop obstruction presents a particular therapeutic challenge, since the...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Because copper catalyzes the conversion of H₂O₂ to hydroxyl radicals in vitro, it has been proposed that oxidative DNA damage may be an important component of copper toxicity....Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It was previously reported that the tritium tracer method is useful for the quantitative consideration of hydrogen behavior in coal during coal liquefaction reaction. Tetralin is excellent hydrogen donating solvent, and is considered as one of the model compounds of coal. In this study, effects of H2S and H2O on the hydrogen exchange reaction between tetralin and gaseous hydrogen labeled by tritium were investigated. It was suggested that the conversion of tetralin and the hydrogen exchange reaction between gaseous hydrogen and tetralin proceed through the radical reaction mechanism with a tetralyl radical as an intermediate product. When H2S existed in this reaction, the hydrogen exchange yield increased drastically without changing the conversion yield. This suggested that the hydrogen exchange reaction proceeds even in the reaction where radical does not give any effect. In the case of H2O addition, the conversion yield ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The dissociation of methylal is investigated using mass spectrometry, combined with a pyrolytic radical source and femtosecond pump probe experiments. Based on preliminary results two reaction paths of methylal dissociation are proposed and discussed. (author) 4 fig., 3 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The development of detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanisms for oxidation of n-octane and iso-octane is described, with emphasis on the factors which are specific to many large hydrocarbon fuel molecules. Elements which are of particular importance are found to include site-specific abstraction of H atoms, radical isomerization of alkyl radicals by internal H atom abstraction, and rapid ..beta..-scission of the alkyl radicals. These features, combined with distinctions in the types of intermediate olefin species produced, are used to explain the significant differences in the rate of oxidation between n-octane and iso-octane. Experimental results from the turbulent flow reactor and low pressure laminar flames, using both n-octane and iso-octane as fuels, are used to test the reaction mechanisms and indicate those parts of the total mechanisms which are in greatest need of further development and refinement. It is found ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that perioperative transfusion of allogeneic and autologous red blood cells (RBCs) stored for a prolonged period speeds biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

RC-12 [1,2-dimethoxy-4-(bis-diethylaminoethyl)-amino-5-bromobenzene] was evaluated for prophylactic, radical curative, and suppressive activities against infections with Plasmodium cynomolgi and subacute...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and bacteriochlorophyll a in aqueous micellar solutions of Trition X 100 (2%) are readily oxidized by pulse-radiolytically generated N_3., Br_2"-., and (SCN)_2"-. radicals at nearly diffusion-controlled rates. The kinetic study suggests that pigment molecules occupy multiple sites in the micelle. Pheophytin a is only oxidized by N_3. and Br_2"-. radicals. The absolute spectra and the molar extinction coefficients of chlorophyll a, bacteriochlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and pheophytin a cations have been determined. The chlorophyll a cation has been observed in the presence of pigment aggregates.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hydroperoxides are important atmospheric oxidants. They are responsible for most of the oxidation of aqueous-phase SO(sub 2) to sulfate in the northeastern United States, resulting in the formation of acid precipitation and visibility-reducing sulfate aerosol (Penkett et al., 1979; Lind et al., 1987; Madronich and Calvert, 1990; Tanner and Schorran, 1995). Atmospheric hydrogen peroxide (H(sub 2)O(sub 2) or HP) is produced by the self-reaction of hydroperoxyl radicals (HO(sub 2)); higher organic peroxides are produced by reaction of HO(sub 2) with alkylperoxyl radicals (RO(sub 2)). Peroxyl radicals, along with OH, are chain carriers in the complex photochemical process that produces tropospheric ozone. Thus, concentrations of peroxides and their free radical precursors depend on solar intensity and ambient concentrations of water vapor, ozone, NO(sub x) (NO+ NO(sub 2)), and VOCs (volatile organic ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: To conduct a retrospective analysis within a large university teaching hospital, comparing outcomes between patients receiving either radical surgery or radiotherapy as curative treatment for bladder cancer. Patients and Methods: Between March 1996 and December 2000, 169 patients were treated radically for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Data were collected from patient notes. Statistical analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to compare radiotherapy and surgical outcome data. Results: There was no difference in overall, cause-specific, and distant recurrence-free survival at 5 years between the two groups, despite the radiotherapy group being older (median age, 75.3 years vs. 68.2 years). There were 31 local bladder recurrences in the radiotherapy group (24 solitary), but there was no significant difference in distant recurrence-free survival. In a more recent (2002-2006) ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Both (001)- and (111)-oriented CeO[sub 2] thin films have been grown on amorphous fused silica (SiO[sub 2]) substrates by ion-beam assisted pulsed laser ablation of a polycrystalline CeO[sub 2] target. Using 200 eV Ar[sup +] ions incident at 55[degree] to the substrate normal, the preferred orientation for CeO[sub 2] film growth is (001) at room temperature, but changes to (111) for temperatures [ge]300 [degree]C. Furthermore, the ion-beam assisted CeO[sub 2] films exhibit strong in-plane crystallographic alignment. In contrast, CeO[sub 2] films grown without ion-beam assistance exhibit a mixture of polycrystalline orientations with the relative amounts depending on growth temperature. Under optimum conditions, off-normal-incidence Ar[sup +] ions produce a (111)-oriented crystalline CeO[sub 2] film that is aligned with respect to a single in-plane axis, on an amorphous substrate.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

High-spin states of "1"8"7Ir have been populated in the "1"7"6Yb("1"5N,4n) reaction and measured with the YRAST Ball spectrometer. The #pi#h _9_/_2 rotational band has been extended beyond the first alignment crossing, which was found at rotational frequency (#Planck constant#/2#pi#)#omega# _c #approx =#0.39 MeV . Two different scenarios for describing this crossing are considered: the alignment of an h _9_/_2 proton or i _1_3_/_2 neutron pair and it is concluded that a proton band crossing is more likely. A systematic study of the rotational alignment crossings in the #pi#h _9_/_2 bands in the N=104,106,108 isotopes of _7_3Ta,_7_5Re,_7_7Ir, and _7_9Au is presented.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A solar thermal powered aircraft powered by heat energy from the sun. A heat engine, such as a Stirling engine, is carried by the aircraft body for producing power for a propulsion mechanism, such as a propeller. The heat engine has a thermal battery in thermal contact with it so that heat is supplied from the thermal battery. A solar concentrator, such as reflective parabolic trough, is movably connected to an optically transparent section of the aircraft body for receiving and concentrating solar energy from within the aircraft. Concentrated solar energy is collected by a heat collection and transport conduit, and heat transported to the thermal battery. A solar tracker includes a heliostat for determining optimal alignment with the sun, and a drive motor actuating the solar concentrator into optimal alignment with the sun based on a determination by the heliostat.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The highest equilibrium free-carrier doping concentration possible in a given material is limited by the ''pinning energy'' which shows a remarkable universal alignment in each class of semiconductors. Our first-principles total energy calculations reveal that equilibrium n -type doping is ultimately limited by the spontaneous formation of close-shell acceptor defects: the 3- -charged cation vacancy in AlN, GaN, InP, and GaAs and the 1- -charged DX center in AlAs, AlP, and GaP. This explains the alignment of the pinning energies and predicts the maximum equilibrium doping levels in different materials. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nanowires, films, and membranes comprising ordered porous manganese oxide-based octahedral molecular sieves, and methods of making, are disclosed. A single crystal ultra-long nanowire includes an ordered porous manganese oxide-based octahedral molecular sieve, and has an average length greater than about 10 micrometers and an average diameter of about 5 nanometers to about 100 nanometers. A film comprises a microporous network comprising a plurality of single crystal nanowires in the form of a layer, wherein a plurality of layers is stacked on a surface of a substrate, wherein the nanowires of each layer are substantially axially aligned. A free standing membrane comprises a microporous network comprising a plurality of single crystal nanowires in the form of a layer, wherein a plurality of layers is aggregately stacked, and wherein the nanowires of each layer are substantially axially aligned.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We have succeeded in aligning self-assembled structures by using a lithographically defined stripe. The 140 nm wide by 100 nm high SiO_2 strip is shown to guide the assembly of 500 nm latex spheres so that spheres are aligned along the strip and are in registration on either side of the strip. This method can be used to increase long-range ordering in magnetic storage systems without compromising the density. Inverse sphere Ni arrays were made by electrodeposition through the latex template. We also show that the hexagonal symmetry of the resulting inverse sphere Ni arrays can be simulated using the approach presented below.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The performance of scanning driver circuits fabricated with self-aligned aluminum gate polysilicon thin-film transistors (TFT's) is demonstrated. After the gate electrode patterning, the fabrication process temperature is kept below 400degC to enable the use of aluminum gate electrodes. The low-temperature crystallization phenomenon, which occurs when protons are implanted simultaneously with boron or phosphorus dopants, is employed to eliminate the 600degC activation-annealing process. A maximum clock frequency of about 2.0 MHz is achieved when the driver operating voltage is 24 V and the TFT channel length is 12 [mu]m. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A sensitivity study that used the particle tracking code PARMELA was performed on the Advanced Free-Electron Laser (AFEL). The tolerances on the alignment of the beam-line elements and the magnetic-field strengths were examined. Two base-line configurations were determined at the beginning of the study. The electron beam was then matched into the wiggler. The optimized beam-line parameters were varied independently and their sensitivities were judged with the criterion that the free-electron laser (FEL) effective-detuning parameter should not fluctuate more than 10%. The results of this study set the specifications for the alignment, for the sensitivity of the steering magnets, and for the accuracy of the magnetic field in the quadrupoles and dipoles. 5 figs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

CERN Document Server

In the CLIC main linac it is very important to minimise the trajectory excursion and consequently the emittance dilution in order to obtain the required luminosity. Several algorithms have been proposed and lately the ballistic method has proved to be very effective. The trajectory method described in this Note retains the main advantages of the latter while adding some interesting features. It is based on the separation of the unknown variables like the quadrupole misalignments, the offset and slope of the injection straight line and the misalignments of the beam position monitors (BPM). This is achieved by referring the trajectory relatively to the injection line and not to the average pre-alignment line and by using two trajectories each corresponding to slightly different quadrupole strengths. A reference straight line is then derived onto which the beam is bent by a kick obtained by moving the first quadrupole. The other quadrupoles are then ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The A2P-X2+Dv=-3 bands of the 12C14N radical have been observed by time-resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy in the 1850-3100cm-1 region with a wavenumber resolution of 0.025cm-1. The radical was produced in a pulsed positive column discharge in a cyanogene and helium mixture. Seven bands of v=0-3, 1-4, 2-5, 3-6, 4-7, 5-8, and 6-9 were analyzed to give the molecular constants of each state by least-squares fitting of 801 lines. The pulsed discharge was found to be efficient for production of CN in the excited A2P state. The vibrational excitation temperature was determined to be 6680+-835K and 6757+-534K for the A2P and X2+ states, respectively. The population of the A2P was found to be 4% of that of the X2+ state in the time after turning off the discharge.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A novel technique is proposed for the growth of an InN film on a GaN/Al2O3(0001) template by radio-frequency plasma-excited molecular beam epitaxy (RF-MBE). The method involves 1) InN growth under an In-rich condition and 2) additional nitrogen radical irradiation after the InN growth under an In-rich condition. Excess In that appeared on the InN surface in the InN growth under an In-rich condition is transformed to InN by the additional nitrogen radical irradiation. The effective V/III ratio is easily controlled by monitoring the intensity in a reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) pattern. The growth of the InN film by repeating the InN growth under an In-rich condition and the additional nitrogen radical irradiation is also demonstrated. (copyright 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lysozyme dimers produced on oxidation of lysozyme with Br_2anion radicals in aqueous solutions exhibit a fluorescence spectrum (lambdasub(max) = 400 nm) closely similar to that of bi-tyrosine. This suggests that the dimer is likely to have a tyrosine-tyrosine bond resulting from the combination of tyrosine phenoxy radicals of two lysozyme molecules. Kinetic studies on dimer formation were made by measuring time-dependent fluorescence after pulsed-electron irradiation over wide pH range. The results lead to the following conclusions. The second-order growth of the dimer fluorescence observed at pH 10.7-12.5 reflects the combination process of the lysozyme radicals, which is rate-determining in the pH range. On the other hand, the first-order growth observed at pH 6.8-10.2 is attributable to the enolization of the keto-form of the dimer. A tentative reaction scheme is proposed for the dimer formation. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Two measurement methods to determine the rate of neutral free radical production by the photo-deionization of negative ion beams (PDINIB) are introduced. These methods, namely, photoelectron-current measurement by low-frequency electro-modulation probe (PMMP) and measurement of decrease in the negative-ion beam current (DNIC) were employed to evaluate the production rate in a trial surface-processing apparatus developed in the author's laboratory utilizing a steady-flux refined beam of neutral free radicals (RBNR) produced by the PDINIB procedure. A {sup 63}Cu{sup -} negative ion beam of kinetic energy E{sub i} varied up to 15 keV was irradiated with a 514.5 nm visible light beam from a 25 W CW Ar{sup +} ion laser. The detection limit of the production rate by the PMMP setup was as high as 6 x 10{sup 9} s{sup -1} under the condition that E{sub i}=15 keV, the negative-ion beam current I{sub i}=4 {mu}A and the laser power P=6 W. The DNIC ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To analyse the thermal noise of the pendulum mode of a suspended mirror, we interferometrically detect the differential movement of two mirrors suspended as multiple-stage pendulums. We present the set-up of this experiment and the current sensitivity, and also the different steps that we took in the past to increase the sensitivity, which include an auto alignment of the laser beam into the resonator eigenmode, changes of the seismic isolation system to more damping stages and higher moments of inertia and an intensive noise hunting.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We studied whether plasma-etching techniques can use standard screen-printed gridlines as etch masks to form self-aligned, patterned-emitter profiles on multicrystalline-silicon (mc-Si) cells from Solarex. We conducted an investigation of plasma deposition and etching processes on full-size mc-Si cells processed in commercial production lines, so that any improvements obtained would be immediately relevant to the PV industry. This investigation determined that reactive ion etching (RIE) is compatible with using standard, commercial, screen-printed gridlines as etch masks to form self-aligned, selectively doped emitter profiles. This process results in reduced gridline contact resistance when followed by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) treatments, an undamaged emitter surface easily passivated by plasma-nitride, and a less heavily doped emitter between gridlines for reduced emitter recombination. This allows for heavier doping ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A number of interactions between magnetic fields and matter is reviewed. The resulting forces range in magnitude from the very large, obtained in high-energy fields, to the weak ones caused by the magnetostriction of ferromagnets. The fundamentals of these interactions are highlighted, and the examples discussed are forces on dipoles, particle alignment, magnetostrictive forces, magnetic forming, magnetic stirring, levitation melting, and magnetic pulsing of tool steels. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Accurate automated alignment of laser beams in the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is essential for achieving extreme temperature and pressure required for inertial confinement fusion. The alignment achieved by the integrated control systems relies on algorithms processing video images to determine the position of the laser beam images in real-time. Alignment images that exhibit wide variations in beam quality require a matched-filter algorithm for position detection. One challenge in designing a matched-filter based algorithm is to construct a filter template that is resilient to variations in imaging conditions while guaranteeing accurate position determination. A second challenge is to process the image as fast as possible. This paper describes the development of a new analytical template that captures key recurring features present in the beam image to accurately estimate the beam position under good image quality ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Calculations of total and angle-differential excitation cross sections for the electron impact excitation of lithium-like iron were performed with the R-matrix formulation. The alignments of the excited states 1s{sup 2}np {sup 2}P{sub 3/2} are also presented for n=3 and 4 along with the angular photon distribution from these states to the ground state. Relativistic effects were included in the present calculations by the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

TRF-CUT, an ARB-implemented tool, was developed to predict in silico the terminal restriction fragments of aligned small-subunit rRNA gene or functional gene sequences. Application of this new tool...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Recent work has shown that natural hydrocarbon emissions can significantly affect the levels of urban and regional tropospheric ozone. We report on the reactivities of these biogenic trace gases, particularly isoprene, focusing on their importance in the production of aldehydes and peroxy radicals, leading to increased levels of hydrogen over regional forests. Hydrogen peroxide can lead to the wet oxidation of sulfur dioxide to acidic sulfate in aerosols, fogs, and clouds. In turn, acidic sulfate can act to as a light scattering aerosol and a source of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), potentially leading to global cooling. Aerosol sulfate and other dissolved organic and inorganic compounds can also play important roles as a greenhouse species in the lower troposphere.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors search Z{prime} bosons in dielectron events produced in p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV, using a 0.45 fb{sup -1} dataset accumulated with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. To identify the Z{prime} {yields} e{sup +}e{sup -} signal, both the dielectron invariant mass distribution and the angular distribution of the electron pair are used. No evidence of a signal is found, and 95% confidence level lower limits are set on the Z{prime} mass for several models. Limits are also placed on the mass and gauge coupling of a generic Z{prime}, as well as on the contact interaction mass scales for different helicity structure scenarios.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Purpose. To compare erectile function (EF) recovery of patients treated by early penile rehabilitation therapy (PRT) with sildenafil and with control group. Method. Forty men treated by bilateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP) and with a normal pre-operative EF were enrolled. Fourteen days after surgery, they were randomised to a flexible-dose sildenafil group and to a control group. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire was completed before surgery and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after NSRP. Results. In the group treated, the mean IIEF score before surgery was 26.2 and 14.1, 16.2, 22.5 and 25.2 at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after NSRP, respectively. In the control group, the respective scores were 26.5 and 12.4, 15.8, 15.3 and 17.4. There was a significant ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The optimal management of men with very favorable clinicopathological factors who develop biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) has not been previously reported. Both local and systemic recurrences are unlikely in this cohort. This study examines their management and outcomes. Between October 2000 to March 2010, 1627 men underwent open RP by a single surgeon. In all, 448 (27.5%) met the following criteria for extremely low risk disease: preoperative PSA level <10?ng?ml?1, clinical stage T1c/T2a, Gleason score ?6, estimated cancer volume in the surgical specimen ?5% and no evidence for positive surgical margin. Undetectable PSA was defined as ?0.04?ng?ml?1. BCR was defined as PSA ?0.2?ng?ml&#...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The radiation induced reactions in LDPE in the presence of phenolic type antioxidants have been studied. It was shown that various antioxidants can influence the polyethylene network formation and the radical yield in different ways. The dependence of network structure on absorbed doses was determined by gel analysis, hot-set test and extraction of antioxidants for samples irradiated with accelerated electrons. It was found that the antioxidants eluted from polyethylene in higher percentage influence polymer crosslinking to a smaller degree. The ESR studies of #gamma#-irradiated blends of polyethylene with antioxidant indicate the presence of alkyl and phenoxyl radicals. The role of antioxidant molecules on radiation induced reactions in polyethylene-antioxidant systems is considered. The correlation between the network structure and the type of additive in polyethylene is also discussed. (author).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Three alternative extraction procedures were carried out in order to separate the antioxidant components and isolate an efficient extract from Origanum dictamnus. Procedure A included sequential extractions with petroleum ether (PE), diethyl ether (DE) and ethanol; procedure B sequential extractions with PE and ethyl acetate (EAc); procedure C a single step extraction with ethanol. The most efficient radical scavengers, according to the DPPH method, were isolated in ethanol extract of procedure A (mainly rosmarinic acid), followed by ethanol extract of procedure C. However, both ethanol extracts had low solubility in oil and could not protect it. EAc and DE extracts, containing mainly apigenin and epirosmanol ethyl ether, presented lower radical scavenging activity but were very effective ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Evidence is reported for a narrow structure near the J/{psi}{phi} threshold in exclusive B{sup +} {yields} J/{psi}{phi}K{sup +} decays produced in {bar p}p collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV. A signal of 14 {+-} 5 events, with statistical significance in excess of 3.8 standard deviations, is observed in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.7 fb{sup -1}, collected by the CDF II detector. The mass and natural width of the structure are measured to be 4143.0 {+-} 2.9(stat) {+-} 1.2(syst) MeV/c{sup 2} and 11.7{sub -5.0}{sup +8.3}(stat) {+-} 3.7(syst) MeV/c{sup 2}.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Oxidative degradation of methylene blue (MB) by Co^2^+-HCO3^- system with H2O2 in aqueous solution was studied. Nearly complete decolorization of the dye was obtained in less than 50min in diluted NaHCO3 solution (25mM) in the presence of only 20mM Co^2^+ ions. Meanwhile, the conjugated structure and phenyl rings of the MB molecule were destroyed or even broken down into small organic acids and inorganic ions, as indicated by FT-IR spectra and ion-chromatography. Photoluminescence probing and radical scavenging technologies suggested that the reaction of MB degradation in this system mainly involved the generation and participation of hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, by cyclovoltammetric measurements, the in situ formed different complexes between Co^2^+ and HCO3^- were observed at differen...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The reactions of the hydroxyl radical with hydrocarbons and fluoro hydrocarbons attract significant attention due to their importance in atmospheric chemistry. Its reactions with the two first hydrocarbons, methane and ethane are of special interest because, owing to the small size of these systems, they serve as a prototype for the theoretical studies of hydrogen abstraction reactions. In this work, the reaction and activation energies of the hydroxyl radical abstraction reaction with methane and ethane have been investigated by correlated ab initio and DFT methods. The DFT reaction energies are in good agreement with experimental values, but the activation energies may be in severe error. (authors) 22 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper presents the results of the Spatial Signature Analysis (SSA) Electrical-test (e-test) validation study that was conducted between February and June, 1998. SSA is an automated procedure developed by researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to address the issue of intelligent data reduction while providing feedback on current manufacturing processes. SSA was initially developed to automate the analysis of optical defect data. Optical defects can form groups, or clusters, which may have a distinct shape. These patterns can reveal information about the manufacturing process. Optical defect SSA uses image processing algorithms and a classifier system to interpret and identify these patterns, or signatures. SSA has been extended to analyze and interpret electrical test data. The algorithms used for optical defect SSA have been adapted and applied to e-test binmaps. An image of the binmap is created, and features such as geometric and invariant moments are extracted and ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant tumor and the fourth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The crucial role of fatty acids for a number of important biological processes suggests a more in depth analysis of inter-individual differences in fatty acid metabolizing genes as contributing factor to colon carcinogenesis. We examined the association between genetic variability in 43 fatty acid metabolism-related genes and colorectal risk in 1225 CRC cases and 2032 controls participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. 392 single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected using pairwise tagging with an r(2) cutoff of 0.8 and a minor allele frequency of >5%. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Haplotype analysis was performed using a generalized linear model framework. On the genotype level, HPGD, PLA2G6, and TRPV3 were ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Stargardt`s disease (MIM 248200), originally described in 1909, is an autosomal recessive condition of childhood, characterized by a sudden and bilateral loss of central vision. Typically, it has an early onset (7 to 12 years), a rapidly progressive course and a poor final outcome. The central area of the retina (macula) displays pigmentary changes in a ring form with depigmentation and atrophy of the retinal pigmentary epithelium (RPE). Perimacular yellowish spots, termed fundus flavimaculatus, are observed in a high percentage of patients. We have recently reported the genetic mapping of Stargardt`s disease to chromosome 1p13. On the other hand, considering that fundus flavimaculatus (MIM 230100) is another form of fleck fundus disease, with a Stargardt-like retinal aspect but with a late-onset and a more progressive course, we decided to test the hypothesis of allelism between typical Stargardt`s disease and late-onset autosomal recessive fundus flavimaculatus. Significant ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Although silicosis has been studied extensively, the mechanism is still not fully understood. Experiments do provide evidence that the actions of unique properties of silica surface on the cell membrane are the starting point of silicotic processes. This paper summarizes literature on chemical properties of silica surface, and the effect of particle size on silica toxicity. This paper also discusses the ways in which silica dusts are though to interact with the cell membrane, with emphasis on freshness, hydrogen bonding, and free-radical interactions.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We demonstrate the nonuniqueness of the basic assumptions leading to spiral structure in self-propagating star formation models. Even in the case where star formation occurs purely spontaneously and does not propagate, we have generated spiral structure by adopting the radically different assumption where star formation is systematically inhibited.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There have been no radically new commercial bulk explosives since Atlas Powder Company's introduction of emulsions onto the market in 1968. But the effectiveness, safety and management of these familiar explosives is continuously being improved by the development of blast design techniques, explosives delivery and initiation systems, and monitoring methods. The author looks at developments in blasting technology and discusses experiences with Handibulk emulsion delivery systems.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The introduction of CT scan and, more recently, magnetic resonance imaging, has radically changed the diagnostic approach to tumors developed in the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle. CT scan with intravenous injection visualizes tumors lying in the cerebellopontine angle. Magnetic resonance imaging, especially using gadolinium, is a very accurate means for diagnosing tumors of both the auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract High Post-Modernism with its understanding of the significance of the image anticipated the flattening of culture, first in advertising and the printed media, and more recently online. Sam Jacob of FAT speculates on architecture's relationship with the Internet, -a flatland of undifferentiated information-, and how Radical Post-Modernism might be best placed to resist the ubiquity of global culture while reanimating the social and cultural agenda of Modernism and Post-Modernism. Copyright 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

When a highly collimated beam of particles is aimed along the atomic rows of an aligned single crystal, the averaging effect of high speed motion results, to the lowest order of approximation, in crystal electric fields which are transverse to the atomic rows. The enormous magnitude of the crystal transverse electric fields is unsurpassed by any other known earth-bound macroscopic sources. For example, the field strengths along the <100> axis of tungsten at 77 K approach 9{center dot}10{sup 13}V/m. Thus quantum electrodynamic (QED) processes in strong fields which are thought to occur only in the extra-terrestrial environment can now be investigated in the laboratory. Here we review the results of measurements performed at the SPS facility in CERN using highly collimated beams of electrons, positrons and photons in the 20-200 GeV range, and germanium crystals cooled to 77 K with thicknesses ranging from 0.07 mm to 1.40 mm. The focus is on the simplest ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An attempt was made to minimize the channeling tail by implantation along a random equivalent direction following a careful alignment of the target. In order to analytically determine the random equivalent directions, critical angles for channeling were mapped on a stereogram. Boron ions with energies of 17 and 45 keV are implanted along specified directions determined from the map. The depth distribution of the dopant is profiled by SIMS and the effects of water orientation upon the channeling tail are noted. Industrial common use of a 7/sup 0/ tilt is not optimum. However, implantation with the wafer tilted at 5.5 +/- 0.5/sup 0/ from the surface normal and rotated at 7.0 +/- 0.5/sup 0/ from a (100) plane shows the least channel-tail compared to implantation along other directions. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) is a promising annealing method for shallow junction formation. Transient enhanced diffusion of implanted boron is observed. Two different mechanisms for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Photometric and kinematic observations of the peculiar S0 galaxy IC 4767, the X-galaxy, are presented. At various intensities the bulge of this galaxy looks like a normal spheroidal system with elliptical isophotes, a well-defined rectangle, and a peanut-shaped or X-shaped structure with components aligned at oblique angles to the major axis. The observations reveal a rapidly rotating inner disk of gas and dust which is nearly aligned with the major axis. The presence of gaseous emission alone suggests an accretion event. The stars in the outer regions of the X-component are rotating nearly as rapidly as the gas in the main disk, indicating that they are in relatively circular orbits. The five most prominent peanut-shaped bulges all have several nearby companions, evidence that the peanut deformity is due to interaction between galaxies. An analogy with the formation mechanism proposed for polar-ring galaxies suggests how an X-shaped component ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Elise is a heavy ion induction linear accelerator that will demonstrate beam manipulations required in a driver for inertial fusion energy. With a line charge density similar to that of heavy ion drivers, Elise will accelerate a #>=# 1 gs beam pulse of K"+ ions from an initial energy of 2 MeV to a final energy #>=# 5 MeV. In the present design, the Elise electrostatic quadrupoles (ESQ) will have a 2.33 cm radius aperture operating at #+-#59 kV. The half-lattice periods range from 21 cm to 31 cm. The entire machine will be approximately 30 m long, half of that is the induction accelerator and the remaining half is the injector (including the Marx generator) and the matching section. Elise will be built in a way that allows future expansion into the full ILSE configuration, therefore it will have an array of four ESQ focusing channels capable of transporting up to a total of 3.2 A of beam current. Elise will also have an active alignment system with an ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This patent describes a system adapted for alternative use as a diverter or a blowout preventer for a bottom supported drilling rig and adapted for positioning beneath a rotary table of the drilling rig, the system comprising: a fluid flow controller having a controller housing with a lower opening and an upper opening and a vertical flow path therebetween and an outlet passage provided in its housing wall, and at least two bases. A method is described for installing a system adapted for alternative connection as a diverter or a blowout preventer for a bottom supported drilling rig positioned beneath a rotary table of the drilling rig after structural casing has been set in a borehole. The method comprises: positioning a first telescoping spool having a lower end and an upper end below the rotary table, the first spool having a first base disposed at its upper end, the first base having a port disposed in its wall; aligning a fluid flow controller having a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Modern imaging technologies visualize different aspects of disease in a non-invasive way. Considerable progress has been made in the fusion of images from different imaging modalities using software approaches. One goal of fusion software is to align anatomical and functional images and allow improved spatial localization of abnormalities. The resulting correlation of the anatomical and functional images may clarify the nature of the abnormality and help diagnose or stage the underlying disease. Whereas successful image fusion software has been developed for the brain, only limited success has been achieved for image alignment in other parts of the body. The development and current status of alternative approaches are presented. Dual-modality imaging is described with devices where two modalities are combined and mounted in a single gantry. The use of existing scanner technology ensures that no compromises are made in the clinical efficacy of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

High-spin states (I < or approx. 50(#Planck constant#/2#pi#)) of the odd-odd nucleus "1"7"0Ta have been investigated with the "1"2"4Sn("5"1V,5n) reaction. The resolving power of Gammasphere has allowed for the observation of eleven rotational bands (eight of which are new) and over 430 transitions (#approx#350 of which are new) in this nucleus. Many interband transitions have been observed such that the relative spins and excitation energies of the 11 bands have been established. This is an unusual circumstance in an odd-odd study. Configurations have been assigned to most of these bands based upon features such as alignment properties, band crossings, B(M1)/B(E2) ratios, and the additivity of Routhians. A systematic study of the frequency at which normal signature ordering occurs in the #pi#h_9_/_2#nu#i_1_3_/_2 band has been performed and it is found that its trend is opposite to that observed in the #pi#h_1_1_/_2#nu#i_1_3_/_2 bands. A possible interpretation ...

Science.gov (United States)

The phase space beam analyzer is a measurement instrument that is applied in laser technology to perform analyses of the spatial and angular distribution of rays. We are interested in this instrument as a means to characterize non-coherent light sources. In this context, a closer look at the tolerances of this optical instrument was considered useful. Having a so-called quadrupole lens as a key element, the phase space beam analyzer is a device that features anamorphic optical properties. To describe these anamorphic properties, recurrence was made to a description by extended ray-transfer matrices. This formalism allows for an analysis of the alignment tolerances of the phase space beam analyzer and facilitates a study of the sensitivities of the instrument. The analysis is complemented using numerical ray tracing.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The 4025/2 bands in [sup 177]Ta which are ''identical'' to the neighboring even-even [sup 176]Hf groundstate band have been extended to higher angular momentum. These bands in the two nuclei are seen to diverge from each other in the region of the first i[sub 13/2] neutron alignment. The lower observed crossing frequency for the 4025/2 bands indicates a lower deformation for these bands compared to [sup 176]Hf. Extensions to the h[sub 9/2] 5411/2 yrast band are also reported. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This letter describes a new simple fabrication process, developed recently for blue response'' improvement in low-cost polycrystalline silicon solar cells. A selective emitter is created by heavily doping the emitter, followed by a wet etching-back of the cell area between the fingers. An improvement up to 17 mV in {ital V}{sub oc}, 1.5 mA/cm{sup 2} in {ital J}{sub sc}, and 1% (absolute value) in {eta} is obtained. Effective phosphorus gettering, self-alignment, and application in a low-cost full screenprinting technology are the main advantages of the proposed process.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The combined magnetic braking-ambipolar diffusion problem in weakly ionized, rigidly rotating disks is studied. An analytical solution is presented for a disk whose angular velocity and magnetic yield vectors are aligned with the symmetry axis, illustrating the effects of the relative azimuthal drift of neutrals and ions. The effects of radial drift are added, commenting on the ratio of the characteristic ambipolar diffusion and magnetic braking time scales in high-mass and low-mass disks. A numerical calculation is used to show the combined action of these two processes. 31 references.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

It is suggested that the magnetic Ap stars can be rotationally decelerated to long periods by the braking action of the associated magnetic field on time scales of order 10"7--10"1"0 years depending on whether the star's dipole field is aligned perpendicular or parallel to the rotation axis. Rotation includes a toroidal magnetic field in the plasma surrounding a star, and the accompanying magnetic stresses produce a net torque acting to despin the star. These results indicate that it is not necessary to postulate mass loss or mass accretion for this purely hydromagnetic braking effect.

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The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), under construction at CERN, uses superconducting magnets operating at a temperature of 1.9 K to guide the circulating particles. A specific feature of the main magnets (dipoles and quadrupoles) is the two-in-one design with two magnetic channels in one common retaining structure. Indeed, the accelerator is made of two rings, mechanically linked, that have to be simultaneously aligned during the installation in the already existing LEP tunnel. The assembly tolerances of the LHC main magnets have been reconsidered to take into account the tight constraints on geometry. The dipoles are bent to follow closely the curvature of the circulating particles and to make a larger mechanical aperture available for the circulating particles. In order to minimise the geometrical errors the dipole assembly procedure is assisted by high precision survey measurements based on laser trackers. By this we hope to reduce to {+-} 1 mm the positioning ...

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The effect of various window layers for InP solar cells are studied. Window materials that have type 1 and type 2 alignment in the window/emitter interface are compared. All window materials that form a type 2 alignment with InP, such as Al{sub 0.20}In{sub 0.80}P, Ga{sub 0.20}In{sub 0.80}P, Al{sub 0.55}In{sub 0.45}As and Al{sub 0.60}In{sub 0.40}P, cause a high interface recombination velocity, which deteriorates the carrier collection. This recombination takes place due to the spatially indirect quantum well transition between the triangular quantum wells formed in the interface. ZnSe as a window layer material with type 1 alignment does not have this problem, but still decreased response in the short wavelength region is observed due to misfit dislocation induced trap sites. Future prospects for the window layer development for InP are discussed. The discussion is extended also to other III-V semiconductor based solar cell ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany's national metrology institute, developed an alignment strategy to specify elemental depth profiling in vertical sidewall layers on structured wafers. For this purpose, PTB's irradiation chamber for 200 mm and 300 mm silicon wafers was used to combine total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and grazing incidence XRF (GIXRF) techniques by employing monochromatized undulator radiation of the BESSY II electron storage ring. 3-D test structures were fabricated to develop an optimal alignment strategy allowing for depth profiling in such nanolayers. The test structures consisted of silicon bars with widths/spacings either in the ?m or in the nm range. In order to be able to differentiate the sidewalls more easily from the remainder of the structures, they were provided with an additional silicon nitride layer. Four structure types of different bar width and density parameters on two 200 mm ...

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The authors present a search for excited and exotic muon states {mu}*, conducted using an integrated luminosity of 371 pb{sup -1} of data collected in p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV at the Tevatron with the CDF II detector. They search for associated production of {mu}{mu}* followed by the decay {mu}* {yields} {mu}{gamma}, resulting in the {mu}{mu}{gamma} final state. They compare the data to model predictions as a function of the mass of the excited muon M{sub {mu}*}, the compositeness energy scale {Lambda}, and the gauge coupling factor f. No signal above the standard model expectation is observed in the {mu}{gamma} mass spectrum. In the contact interaction model, they exclude 107 < M{sub {mu}*} < 853 GeV/c{sup 2} for {Lambda} = M{sub {mu}*}; in the gauge-mediated model, they exclude 100 < M{sub {mu}*} < 410 GeV/c{sup 2} for f/{Lambda} = 10{sup -2} GeV{sup -1}. These 95% confidence level exclusions extend previous limits ...

Science.gov (United States)

Erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy remains a frequent problem despite the development of nerve-sparing techniques. This erectile dysfunction is believed to be neurogenic, enhanced by hypoxia-induced structural changes which result in additional veno-occlusive dysfunction. Recently, daily use of intracavernous vasoactive substances and oral use of PDE5-inhibitors have been clinically studied for treatment of postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction. Since these studies showed benefits of "penile rehabilitation therapy," these effects have been studied in a preclinical setting. We reviewed experimental literature on erectile tissue preserving and neuroregenerative treatment strategies, and found that preservation of the erectile tissue by the use of intracavernous nitric oxide donors or vasoactive substances, oral PDE5-inhibitors, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy improved erectile function by antifibrotic effects and preservation of smooth muscle. ...

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The authors measure the dipion mass spectrum in X(3872) {yields} J/{psi}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} decays using 360 pb{sup -1} of {bar p}p collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector. The spectrum is fit with predictions for odd C-parity ({sup 3}S{sub 1}, {sup 1}P{sub 1}, and {sup 3}D{sub J}) charmonia decaying to J/{psi}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}, as well as event C-parity states in which the pions are from {rho}{sup 0} decay. The latter case also encompasses exotic interpretations, such as a D{sup 0}{bar D}*{sup 0} molecule. Only the {sup 3}S{sub 1} and J/{psi} {rho} hypotheses are compatible with the data. Since {sup 3}S{sub 1} is untenable on other grounds, decay via J/{psi} {rho} is favored, which implies C = +1 for the X(3872). Models for different J/{psi}-{rho} angular momenta L are considered. Flexibility in the models, especially the introduction of {rho}-{omega} interference, enable good descriptions of the data for both L = 0 and 1.

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Penile rehabilitation has been an area of intense study and debate over the last decade. Interest in this topic was stimulated by the observation that erectile dysfunction remained a significant problem after radical prostatectomy despite meticulous nerve-sparing technique. Smooth muscle alterations and fibrotic changes in the penis were identified as the underlying causes of penile atrophy, veno-occlusive dysfunction, and Peyronie's-like changes that were observed after surgery. Initial observations that intracavernous injection therapies used on a regular basis postoperatively resulted in improvements in the return of spontaneous erectile function led to the development of penile rehabilitation protocols. Chronic dosing of oral type V phosphodiesterase inhibitors is now commonly used by urologists after radical prostatectomy despite a lack of convincing evidence from randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Use of local therapies to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microsecond pulse radiolysis of oxygenated aqueous solutions containing 0.02 mol dm"-"3 sodium formate and 2 mmol dm"-"3 phosphate buffer at pH 7 was used to generate superoxide anion radicals. The influence of some biologically important compounds upon the rate of O_2"."-"b"a"r decay as monitored spectrophotometrically in the range of 245-300 nm. Hematoporphyrin (HP), hemin C (HC), catalase (Cat), cobalt sulfophthalocyanine (CoTSPc) were studied. Among the investigated compounds only Cat was found to show a high catalytic efficiency towards the self-decay of O_2"."-"b"a"r. A red shift of 0_2"."-"b"a"r absorption band and slowing down of its decay were observed to take place by adding HP or CoTSPc to the solutions containing formate ions in excess. This effect is associated with the formation of a transient superoxo-complex. An appearance of an intermediate species with absorption maxima at 350 nm and half-life of about 2 s was observed to accompany the ...

Science.gov (United States)

The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant property of Glycyrrhiza glabra root extracts using in vitro models. The dose-dependent aqueous and ethanolic extracts demonstrated the scavenging activity against nitric oxide (concentration that caused 50% inhibition of nitric oxide radicals [IC(50)]=72 and 62.1 microg/ml, respectively), superoxide (IC(50)=64.2 and 38.4 microg/ml, respectively), hydroxyl (IC(50)=81.9 and 63 microg/ml, respectively), DPPH (IC(50)=43.6 and 28.3 microg/ml, respectively) and ABTS(*+) (IC(50)=77.3 and 57.2 microg/ml, respectively) radicals. Further, both extracts showed strong reducing power and iron-chelating capacities. In the Fe(2+)/ascorbate system, both extracts were found to inhibit mitochondrial fraction lipid peroxidation. In copper-catalyzed human serum and low-density lipoprotein oxidation models, both extracts significantly (P<0.05) lengthened the lag phase along with a decline in the oxidation ...

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

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New partial differential equations (PDEs) for the full order weak schemes of the Langevin simulations are formulated. They are solved recursively in full order series solutions with respect to {radical}(t) (the full order weak Taylor schemes). Arbitrariness involved in the solutions is analyzed and clarified in detail. Specific solutions within some orders are presented as examples of the weak Taylor schemes. These PDEs and their solutions will serve for further developments of efficient higher order Runge-Kutta-like schemes. The similar formulation is possible for the imaginary time Hamiltonian evolution kernels as well. (orig.). 9 refs.

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Faced with a changing business emphasis, plus the need to reduce operations and maintenance costs in the North Sea, the Forties Field engineering partnership between BP and Brown and Root recognised the need to make radical changes in its organisational structure. An innovative change management programme was planned and executed inside 12 months with the purpose of right-sizing the Forties Operations Engineering team. Not only has the initiative succeeded in cutting costs by 40 per cent; it has also enhanced the quality of engineering support services supplied to the BP Forties platforms. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

This article reviews antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, and violence and develops a three factor model of personality traits. Then a discussion of related personality disorders precedes the development of a categorical two factor model of impulsive versus remorseless violence. A paradigm of proactive, medical, and school based early intervention and prevention is advocated as a useful addition to the reactive detention of criminal justice. Integration of psychological tests, neuroimaging, and genomic data in early childhood and school based intervention strategies to prevent the development of conduct disorder and attenuate criminal propensity inform this approach. PMID:20422651

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Nano-materials in which a large fraction of atoms resides within a few atomic layers near the surface can be designed to have novel properties by manipulating their surface parameters. We show that the effective elastic constants of nano-porous/cellular materials can be made to exceed those of the parent materials provided the pore surface elastic parameters satisfy certain conditions. These stiff nano-porous materials herald a radical breakthrough in sandwich-type construction.

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Fractal dimensional analysis was employed to obtain a quantitative measure of the morphology of polymer networks formed by UV irradiation induced polymerization of photo-reactive mesogenic monomers dissolved in a liquid crystal host medium. The fractal dimensions obtained, may be interpreted by polymer network growth following a percolation-like model for monomer concentrations well below the solubility limit. On passing the solubility limit, the polymerization process changes from a (radical chain) solution polymerization to a dispersion polymerization, with fractal dimensions decreasing and suggesting a cluster-cluster aggregation process for monomer concentrations above the solubility limit, similar to the aggregation of colloidal particles.

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We prove a cosmic no-hair theorem for Bianchi models in power-law inflation. Provided that the potential of an inflaton {phi} is exp({minus}{lambda}{kappa}{phi}) with 0{le}{lambda}{lt} {radical}2/3 , we find that the isotropic power-law solution is the unique attractor for any initially expanding Bianchi-type models except type IX. For Bianchi type IX, this conclusion is also true if the initial ratio of the vacuum energy to the maximum three-curvature is larger than one half.

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We summarize the predictions of different models for total {gamma}{gamma} cross-sections. The experimentally observed rise of {sigma}{sub {gamma}}{sub {gamma}} with s radical {sub {gamma}}{sub {gamma}}, faster than that for {sigma}{sub p-barp}, {sigma}{sub {gamma}}{sub p} is in agreement with the predictions of the Eikonalized Minijet Models as opposed to those of the Regge-Pomeron models. We then show that a measurement of {sigma}{sub {gamma}}{sub {gamma}} with an accuracy of < or approx. 8-9% (6-7%) is necessary to distinguish among different Regge-Pomeron type models (the different parameterisations of the EMM models) and a precision of < or approx. 20% is required to distinguish the predictions of the EMMs and of those models which treat 'photon like a proton', for the energy range 300< s radical{sub {gamma}}{sub {gamma}} <500 GeV. We further show that the difference in model predictions for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Two electroactive polymeric arylene bisimides, namely poly[(4,7,10-trioxatrideca-1,13-diyl)-(1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic bisimide-N,N'-diyl)] and its perylene analogue - poly[(4,7,10-trioxatrideca-1,13-diyl)-(3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic bisimide-N,N'-diyl)] have been synthesized and studied by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis-NIR as well as Raman spectroeletrochemistry. Contrary to low molecular weight arylene bisimides, which show a clear two electron, double-step electrochemical reduction (neutral form to radical anion and from radical anion to dianion), in the synthesized polymers multielectron transfers are observed, accompanied with a strong electrochromic effect. However, as probed by cyclic voltammetry, their first reduction step is retarded and covers a wider potential range. We attribute this effect to macromolecular nature of the compounds being reduced and their structural inhomogeneity caused by ?-stacking induced ...

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The evaluation of radiotherapy and surgery as exclusive local treatment in comparably selected subgroups of patients with Ewing's sarcoma on the basis of the CESS 86-data. In the German multicenter Ewing's sarcoma study CESS 86, treatment consisted for four 9-week-courses of VACA- or VAIA-chemotherapy plus local therapy. VACA (vincristine, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, adriamycin) was given in low-risk extremity tumors with a tumor volume below 100 cm"3. Highrisk patients with central lesions or a tumor volume >100 m"3 received VAIA (ifosfamide instead of cyclophosphamide). Local therapy started after one complete chemotherapy course in week 10. Based on an individual decision in each patient, local therapy was either radical surgery or resection plus postoperative irradiation with 45 Gy or definitive radiotherapy with 60 Gy. Because of poor results with radiotherapy in a preceeding study, it was intended to restrict irradiation to patients with small ...

Science.gov (United States)

The gas-phase reaction of benzene with O(3P) is of considerable interest for modeling of aromatic oxidation, and also because there exist fundamental questions concerning the prominence of intersystem crossing in the reaction. While its overall rate constant has been studied extensively, there are still significant uncertainties in the product distribution. The reaction proceeds mainly through the addition of the O atom to benzene, forming an initial triplet diradical adduct, which can either dissociate to form the phenoxy radical and H atom, or undergo intersystem crossing onto a singlet surface, followed by a multiplicity of internal isomerizations, leading to several possible reaction products. In this work, we examined the product branching ratios of the reaction between benzene and O(3P) over the temperature range of 300 to 1000 K and pressure range of 1 to 10 Torr. The reactions were initiated by pulsed-laser photolysis of NO2 in the presence of benzene and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

During unit wise conditioning of unit 8, the vacuum started deteriorating inside the tube after a spark. The RGA reading was taken and it was found out that residual gas inside tube was sulphur hexafluoride. A leak was detected in second tube of unit number eight in between electrode 6 to 8. Leak was sealed with the sealant. Again leak check was done and no leak was found. The tank was closed and conditioning was started again. During the same unit number eight conditioning, leak developed again followed by a spark. So the damaged tube was replaced with a new accelerator tube. During the installation time the alignment of the machine was taken care. Again leak checking was done and the tube was baked properly. The tank was closed again and this particular unit was conditioned for about four days. The maximum voltage it has attained was 1.1 MV. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The energy dependence of the Yb and Au L_#alpha#/L_l X-ray intensity ratio, produced by 0.5 - 3.0 MeV/u Li, Be, C, N, F, and Si ion bombardment (Malhi and Gray, Phys. Rev. A 44, 7199, (1991)), measured at 90"0 relative to the beam axis, has been explained. While for light ion impact the behaviour of the alignment parameter as a function of impact velocity is dominant, for the impact of heavier ions the multiple ionization effects become important. Using Larkins' prescription in the last case, calculations have been performed, which agree well with the data over the whole energy range investigated. (Author).

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This article identifies the imperatives behind the need to move away from teaching based on the transmission of a lot of facts to teaching that enables students to become lifelong learners. It reminds us that the over-riding goal is an education process that maximizes the ability of teachers to teach well and of students to learn effectively. It argues that the necessary reform process can only be successful if the three components of an education programme--the curriculum, teaching strategies and assessment--are reformed simultaneously to ensure that each is designed to produce more effective teaching and learning. It points to the literature that tells us what we know about factors affecting student behaviour and, in particular, notes the crucial factor of student perception of the requirement of the assessment regime. It recommends that Biggs' model of constructive alignment is used as the organizing principle of continuing reform.

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In-situ TEM investigations during thermal treatment of amorphous Pd{sub 81}Si{sub 19} have been performed. It was found that crystalline nuclei are formed near the perforation edge of the hole produced by electrochemical polishing. After impinging with neighboring crystals, a crystallization front formed which was aligned parallel to the perforation edge. The crystallization front moved in the direction perpendicular to the perforation edge. Crystal growth was found to proceed faster in thinner parts of the specimen than in thicker parts. The results are described qualitatively within a thermodynamic model taking into account volume-, surface- and interfacial free energies and an appropriate specimen geometry.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Lead discovery in the pharmaceutical environment is largely an industrial-scale process in which it is typical to screen 1-5 million compounds in a matter of weeks using High Throughput Screening (HTS). This process is a very costly endeavor. Typically a HTS campaign of 1 million compounds will cost anywhere from $500000 to $1000000. There is consequently a great deal of pressure to maximize the return on investment by finding fast and more effective ways to screen. A panacea that has emerged over the past few years to help address this issue is in silico screening. In silico screening is now incorporated in all areas of lead discovery; from target identification and library design, to hit analysis and compound profiling. However, as lead discovery has evolved over the past few years, so h...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Although managing fisheries is complex, policymakers must make decisions daily that affect the future of aquatic resources. To make these decisions, they often combine a mental model with lessons learned from formal models such as computer models. While such computer models are frequently interpreted as predictors of the future, they are often more valuable when used as tools for learning about fisheries and options for management. This approach, looking at computer simulations as learning laboratories, is what this study is all about since its objective is to investigate by means of a microworld if policymakers in Belgian fisheries have the policy instruments at hand to align the real fisheries world with their often completely different desired fisheries worlds. This study illustrates ba...

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The interfaces between metal electrodes and electroactive organic materials are important for the performance of organic electronic devices. One way of optimizing the anode/organic interface is the insertion of a (sub-)monolayer of molecular acceptors. Here we present an UPS study of new electron acceptor molecules deposited on Au(111), Cu(111) and Ag(111). This study intends to improve the understanding of how the interactions of specific electron withdrawing groups with metal surfaces are correlated with observed modifications of interfacial electron density distribution, work function change ({delta}{phi}), and the energy level alignment. We find that {delta}{phi}, which is the difference between the work function ({phi}) of the clean metal surface and {phi} after formation of a molecular monolayer, is a monotonic function of initial {phi} of the metal. Two different slopes were observed for acceptors with cyano and those with keto or nitro groups.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Magnetization, neutron diffraction and "1"6"6Er Moessbauer measurements on ErPd_2Si_2 are reported. Below 4.8 K ErPd_2Si_2 orders AF with complex modulated magnetic structures, where the Er moments are aligned along the c-axis. At 1.5 K a squared structure with #mu#_E_r #approx# 7.8(1)#mu#_B is found while a saturation Er moment of 8.2(2)#mu#_B is inferred from the hyperfine field data. The temperature dependence of the Moessbauer spectra in the paramagnetic region is explained in the framework of a relaxation model implying excited crystal field levels. Its analysis is used to estimate the B"m_n CEF parameters. (orig.).

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The switching behavior of magnetic patterns prepared by ion irradiation was investigated. Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy and large out-of-plane coercivities 5-6 kOe were grown on electron transparent SiN windows. Regularly spaced 1 micron sized regions, were magnetically pattered via ion beam irradiation through a stencil mask. Lorentz TEM was used to observe in-situ magnetization reversal processes of irradiated regions under well-defined applied magnetic fields. When the in-plane field was increased, domain wall motion was observed, resulting in the alignment of the patterns with the direction of the applied field. The switching mechanism of the in-plane patterns was by domain wall motion.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In recent years, increased attention has been focused on the use of lasers in different fabrication steps of solar cells, in particular laser doping to form emitter and/or selective emitter. In this method the laser energy is used to melt silicon, allowing the diffusion of dopant atoms to occur in the liquid phase. The main advantage of this method is the localised nature of the laser beam, which melts and diffuses a limited area without heating the bulk, therefore reducing the possible degradation associated with high temperature processes. At the University of New South Wales a novel laser doping method was developed, which combines the formation of the selective emitter with a self-aligned metallisation pattern. Despite achieving high efficiencies, concerns arose regarding the adhesion ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Polycrystalline specimens of spinel (MgAl_2O_4) and alumina (Al_2O_3) were irradiated at room temperature and 650deg C with either dual- or triple-ion beams in order to investigate the effects of simultaneous displacement damage and helium implantation on cavity formation. The cavities in alumina were aligned along the direction of the c-axis, with diameters ranging from < 2 to 10 nm. The cavities in spinel were preferentially associated with dislocation loops and were of similar size as the cavities in alumina. Catastrophic amounts of cavitation were observed at the grain boundaries in spinel when the displacement damage level exceeded a critical value (#approx =# 20 dpa) in the presence of a fusion-relevant (#approx =# 60 appm/dpa) helium environment. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The inverse Compton scattering between positron bunches and the Free Electron Laser (FEL) of the SuperAco storage ring generates a collimated and tunable gamma-ray beam. The use of the FEL instead of a conventional laser, automatically provides the transverse alignment and synchronisation of the electron and optical beams. The Super-ACO FEL is operated in the 300-430 nm range at 800 MeV with a high repetition rate (8 MHz) and an average transmitted power of 300 mW at 350 nm. High energy gamma rays of 35 MeV are produced with a rate of 1.5 10 7 photons/second and good monocromaticity (about 10%). Applications of the SuperAco FEL installation for diamond irradiation and biological studies are envisaged. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This studys purpose was to explore the relationship between creativity and integrity in the ideation phase of feature filmmaking. Integrity refers to ones self-defined ability to maintain authenticity and moral autonomy while preserving ones sense of membership and loyalty to the team or organization. When team members choose elements for the screenplays story that they feel will attract the ideal audience, the dynamic tension between creativity and integrity is most apparent. The forces at play during this phase of work yielded the research question: In what ways and to what degree do screenwriters andor studio executives feel their personal integrity is in alignment with the creative process of feature film development? Several concepts from the literature formed the design around which ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Phage display is effective in screening peptides that mimic venom's neutralizing epitopes. A phage display cyclized heptapeptide library (C7C library) was panned with purified divalent antivenin IgG, which neutralizes Naja naja atra venom (NAV) and Bungarus multicinctus venom (BMV). The selected heptapeptide sequences were aligned with known protein sequences of NAV and BMV in GenBank. One of the four consensus sequences, L/PKSSLL, mimicked the crucial epitope on Loop III of Taiwan cobra cardiotoxin that is associated with the venom's lethal potency. In dot blot analysis, several clones showed varying reactivities for NAV monovalent antivenin and lesser cross-reactions with BMV monovalent antivenin. The KSSLLRN-carrying phage occurred four times in selected clones and showed the strongest ...

Science.gov (United States)

Channeling effect measurements have been employed to investigate radiation damage produced by 100-keV Ar ions in preferred oriented polycrystalline metal-silicide layers, such as Pd/sub 2/Si and NiSi/sub 2/ layers formed on single-crystalline Si. For room-temperature implantation, an amount of the damage in Pd/sub 2/Si layers was found to saturate at doses between 3 x 10/sup 14/ and 1 x 10/sup 17/ ions/cm/sup 2/, where the minimum aligned yield of 1.5-MeV He ions was nearly 40% of the random one. On the contrary, it was observed that the NiSi/sub 2/ layers became amorphous at doses higher than 3 x 10/sup 15/ ions/cm/sup 2/. These results were confirmed by the reflection electron diffraction analyses.

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In order to reduce the size and cost of heat exchangers, an air-side wavy fin-and-tube heat transfer surface with three-row tubes needs to be replaced by two-row tubes with some appropriate enhancing techniques. The major purpose of the present paper is to search for such new structure by numerical simulation. First, longitudinal vortex generators of Delta-winglet type are tried. The influence of number and of arrangement of the winglets on the performance of the heat transfer surface is studied in detail. The numerical results show that the fin with two winglets aligned spanwise in the front and rear of each tube (Fin W6) has higher heat transfer capability than other enhanced structures with vortex generators, but it still unable to meet the heat transfer requirement. Then a combination ...

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The developed system is intended for use at a collimated thermal neutron beam with a flux of about 10{sup 6} n/cm{sup 2} s. The system works with a cooled CCD array (192 x 165 pixels) and an intensifier for light from a NE426 scintillator with traditional optical coupling. A fine mechanical regulation system allows an accurate positioning of the tomographer, also ensuring the alignment of the CCD array with the rotation and translation axes. The acquisition of 200 projections is carried out in about 30 min with a reconstruction time (40 min max) depending on the reconstruction-matrix order. Radiography and tomography of significant objects are illustrated. The reconstruction algorithm, including spatial and temporal inhomogeneity corrections and filters, was tested with good results for projections up to 512 x 512 pixels. (orig.)

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A 5 GHz GaAs monolithic astable multivibrator-type voltage-controlled oscillator has been developed. The monolithic oscillator uses 2 micron long self-aligned TiW-silicide gate MESFETs as well as GaAs Schottky diodes for capacitance. Good agreement between the experiment and calculations for oscillation frequency characteristics versus control voltage is obtained by assuming donor density in the FET active layer to be a Gaussian distribution. This oscillator is useful for monolithic front ends and phase-locked oscillators used in microwave signal processing. X-band oscillation frequency can be obtained with 1 micron long gate FET and low loss resonance inductors.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The accuracy of dose computation within the lungs depends strongly on the performance of the calculation algorithm in regions of electronic disequilibrium that arise near tissue inhomogeneities with large density variations. There is a lack of data evaluating the performance of highly developed analytical dose calculation algorithms compared to Monte Carlo computations in a clinical setting. We compared full Monte Carlo calculations (performed by our Monte Carlo dose engine MCDE) with two different commercial convolution/superposition (CS) implementations (Pinnacle-CS and Helax-TMS's collapsed cone model Helax-CC) and one pencil beam algorithm (Helax-TMS's pencil beam model Helax-PB) for 10 intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) lung cancer patients. Treatment plans were created for two photon beam qualities (6 and 18 MV). For each dose calculation algorithm, patient, and beam quality, the following set of clinically relevant dose-volume values was reported: (i) minimal, median, ...

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Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) have experienced a healthy growth during the last decade. However, improvement in properties is necessary to increase their utility for structural applications. The toughness of WPCs can be improved by creating a fine cellular structure while reducing the density. Extrusion processing is one of the most economical methods for profile formation. For our study, rectangular profiles were extruded using a twin-screw extrusion system with different grades of HDPE and with varying wood fibre and lubricant contents together with maleated polyethylene (MAPE) coupling agent to investigate their effects on WPC processing and mechanical properties. Work has been done to redesign the extrusion system setup to achieve smoother and stronger profiles. A guiding shaper, submerged in the water, has been designed to guide the material directly through water immediately after exiting the die; instead of passing it through a water cooled vacuum calibrator and then through ...

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Measurements of human joint motion frequently involve the use of opto-electronic and other motion analysis systems where some type of makers are used to establish joint motion within a global reference coordinate frame. Typically, this global reference coordinate frame is chosen to be most convenient for the person carrying out the experiment in which the joint motion is measured, and Euler angles are chosen as the measure of joint motion. Results, however, may be quite arbitrary and therefore rendered meaningless if the reference frame is not properly chosen with respect to the physical joint axis. In order to make a proper choice of coordinate axes in the reference frame, one must take into consideration both the location and the orientation of die physical joint axis relative to the reference frame`s axes. In nature, joint axes can exist at any orientation and location relative to an arbitrarily chosen global reference frame. An axis that is not properly aligned ...

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YBCO films were fabricated on PLD-CeO{sub 2}/IBAD-Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7}/Hastelloy substrates using the advanced TFA-MOD process. The effective thickness of the CeO{sub 2} buffer layer for obtaining high I{sub c} was investigated in short samples of YBCO films. The CeO{sub 2} buffer layer was epitaxially grown on an IBAD-Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7} template tape with 18 deg. of {delta}{phi} by a reel-to-reel PLD system. The in-plane grain alignment of PLD-CeO{sub 2} buffer layers rapidly improved with the thickness and saturated at a critical thickness of 0.8 {mu}m. The size of CeO{sub 2} grains was about 1 {mu}m at the saturated thickness of {delta}{phi}. YBCO films with the thickness of 1 {mu}m were deposited by the TFA-MOD on the CeO{sub 2} buffer layer with different thickness films. Improvement of the CeO{sub 2} in-plane grain alignment resulted in increase of I{sub c}. The I{sub c} values of 250-290 A were obtained with the CeO{sub 2} ...

Science.gov (United States)

Molecular biologists, geneticists, and other life scientists use the BLAST homology search package as their first step for discovery of information about unknown or poorly annotated genomic sequences. There are two main variants of BLAST: BLASTP for searching protein collections and BLASTN for nucleotide collections. Surprisingly, BLASTN has had very little attention; for example, the algorithms it uses do not follow those described in the 1997 BLAST paper and no exact description has been published. It is important that BLASTN is state-of-the-art: Nucleotide collections such as GenBank dwarf the protein collections in size, they double in size almost yearly, and they take many minutes to search on modern general purpose workstations. This paper proposes significant improvements to the BLASTN algorithms. Each of our schemes is based on compressed bytepacked formats that allow queries and collection sequences to be compared four bases at a time, permitting very fast query evaluation ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a diagnostic imaging tool relies on the generation of magnetic fields, whereas the computerized tomography (CT) uses X-radiation. The fundamental principle of MRI is the magnetic resonance of paramagnetic atomic nuclei. These nuclei, as e.g. protons (= hydrogen nuclei), are aligned in required orientation by application of a strong magnetic field. Upon simultaneous application of an electromagnetic high-frequency field perpendicular to the axis of the basic magnetic field, and in response to periodical changing of the electromagnetic field at a given frequency, the originally aligned paramagnetic nuclei are forced into a movement similar to that of a ``whipping top``. When the resonance frequency is shut off, the nuclei return to their former, aligned positions, inducing a weak signal in a coil. The series of signals generated by multiple repetition of this process of excitation of nuclei ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the first paper of this series devoted to a structural analysis of a binary metallic glass model, we study a Pd/sub 80/Si/sub 20/ sample obtained by numerical relaxation. We discuss the reproducibility of the method and make a comparison with the experimental interference functions. Then we undertake a microscopic structural analysis from several point of view: we first study the number of neighbours of each type for each type of atoms; secondly, we analyse the structure by means of the radical plane method; at last, we show that it is possible to generalize the five fundamental characteristic units introduced by Bernal, so that we can define the environment of any Si atom without any ambiguity. All these methods reveal a certain tendency towards a prismatic environment for the metalloids.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Male infertility continues to be a clinical challenge of increasing significance. While male factors such as decreased semen quality are responsible for 25% of all infertility issues, the etiology of suboptimal semen quality is poorly understood. Many physiological, environmental, and genetic factors have been implicated, including oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), or free radicals, and although ROS are required for critical aspects of sperm function, excessive levels of ROS can negatively impact sperm quality. The origin of ROS generation, and the etiologies of increased ROS in men with suboptimal sperm quality have only recently been elucidated, offering multiple targets for potential therapy. Here, we present a critical review of th...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The mutual influence between the PP/PS polymer blend components during UV photodegradation was studied. Polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) have different photodegradation mechanisms, due to the larger UV absorption of polystyrene and formation of more stable tertiary carbon radicals. To compare the stabilities the kinetics of carbonyl formation was measured in different blend compositions. The results show that polystyrene presented a faster carbonyl formation than polypropylene, while the blends display faster kinetics than the isolated components. The kinetics of carbonyl formation of the blends was a function of polypropylene content. This result is unexpected if one considers the behaviour of each component alone. The kinetics and mechanism of UV degradation can be only explained ...

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Subcutaneous involvement frequently occurs in maxillary sinus carcinoma. Radical resection does not include removal of the skin at risk. In standard postoperative wedge-pair treatment plans, the surface dose is dependent upon beam weighting, beam energy, and patient contour. Thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) measurements were performed to evaluate the surface dose of patients undergoing postoperative irradiation of maxillary sinus carcinoma following primary resection. When 60 Gy was delivered to isocenter with a 45 degrees wedge pair and 6 MV photons with 1 cm bolus, the subcutaneous tissues at risk received {approximately} 30 Gy. Based upon presented TLD measurements, supplemental electron beam therapy to the subcutaneous tissues if primarily involved should be considered.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A 46-year-old man was referred to us after he presented to his local physician complaining of difficulty eating. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a tumor at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was diagnosed from the biopsy findings. Computed tomography (CT) showed apparent enlargement of the pretracheal lymph nodes, the lymph nodes around the bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves, and the lower thoracic paraesophageal lymph nodes, confirming metastasis. Since the disease was far advanced esophagogastric cancer with marked lymph node metastases throughout the mediastinum, curative resection would have been unlikely. Thus, he was commenced on systemic chemotherapy with cisplatin (90 mg/body, day 8) + S-1 (120 mg/body/day, given for 3 weeks...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The degradation of irradiated human insulin in aqueous solutions was investigated in order to protect the protein against ionizing radiation. The influence of the drug concentration, excipients and irradiation temperature were studied.Aqueous solutions at pH 2 were irradiated by gamma rays or by accelerated electrons. Two different high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were used: reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC)/UV and size exclusion liquid chromatography (SEC/UV) to investigate both the fragmentation and the formation of higher molecular weight proteins.In solution without excipients irradiated at ambient temperature at 10kGy, the loss of human insulin is almost complete. Addition of radio-protecting excipients (free radicals scavengers) and c...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Childhood cancer survivors at highest risk of developing a secondary malignancy are those with hereditary retinoblastoma. The majority of such secondary cancers will be sarcomas, most commonly of bone. One-third of these occur outside a typical radiation field, commonly in an extremity. Bone sarcoma is also the most commonly reported secondary cancer to develop among survivors of Ewing's sarcoma. In this group, radiation doses greater than 60 Gy as well as alkylating agent chemotherapy have been identified as contributors to the increased risk. The prognosis for patients with a secondary sarcoma has been poor, with few cures reported to date. However, an aggressive, combined modality approach, including radical resection, postoperative radiation, and adjuvant chemotherapy, may improve the survival rate.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

ObjectivesTo assess the influence of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the efficacy of ionizing radiation on prostate cancer cells because of the increased use of dietary interventions, especially by patients with prostate cancer. Radiotherapy is used to treat localized prostate cancer. Some people consume green tea (EGCG) as a chemopreventive agent against prostate cancer. Green tea can act as an antioxidant and induce superoxide dismutase enzymes, which could scavenge the free oxygen radicals generated by radiotherapy. MethodsProstate cancer cell line DU145 cells were treated with EGCG or radiotherapy, or both. Cell death was assessed using trypan blue cell counting, and apoptosis was confirmed by assessing poly (adenosine phosphate ribose) polymerase cleavage. The antioxidant potenti...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The primary charge separation in photosynthetic bacteria generates a dimeric bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) cation and a bacteriopheophytin (BPheo) anion which lie within close proximity of each other (approx. 10 A). The two radicals also lie within van der Waals contact on opposite sides of a lone BChl bridging molecule. Spectral changes in the red (Q/sub y/) band of the bridge BChls have been observed on picosecond time scales following excitation of the reaction center (RC) and have been variously attributed to the formation of a BChl anion, to a charge-transfer state, or to electrochromic effects. They present calculations here which suggest that electrochromic effects caused by the photogenerated cation and/or anion can rationalize the optical changes observed in the flash photolyses as well as in trapping experiments.

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Ionizing radiation has been used to treat poultry to remove harmful microorganisms, mainly Salmonella, which contaminates chicken, goose and other fresh and frozen poultry. This microorganism is sensitive to low dose radiation. Thus, irradiating these foods with doses between 1 to 7 kGy results in a large reduction of bacteria. Since it is necessary to determine whether irradiation has occurred and to what extend, this work studied the signal produced by ionizing radiation within the hard crystalline matrix of chicken`s bone to establish a control method. Chicken`s drumsticks were irradiated and bones separated from flesh were lyophilized and milled. ESR spectrum was then obtained. The ESR signal increased linearly with dose over the range 0.25 to 8.0 kGy. Free radicals evaluated during 30 days after irradiation showed stable in this period. (Author).

Science.gov (United States)

During this report period, we have obtained a model of montmorillonite clay, and this model has been of great assistance in visualizing how the chemistry of substrate molecules might be altered as it occurs on the surface of the clay. A stereochemical representation of this montmorillonite model is shown. Of particular significance, this model indicates that hydroxyl groups are located in the center of each siloxane ring on the surface of the montmorillonite clay. These hydroxyl groups might serve to bond substrate molecules to the surface of the clay. The next step in our systematic examination of the radical cation-initiated dimerization of plant monomers from the C{sub 6}-C{sub 3} pool of shikimic acid metabolites was to study the dimerization of cinnamic acid and its derivatives. In the next block of research, we examined the reaction of montmorillonite clay (K-10) with methyleugenol. 2 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Recent data on {eta} -meson photoproduction off a proton target in the energy range 2 {<=}{radical}(s){<=} 3 GeV are analyzed with regard to their overall consistency. Results from the ELSA and CLAS measurements are compared with predictions of a Regge model whose reaction amplitude was fixed via a global fit to pre-2000 measurements of differential cross sections and polarization observables for {gamma}p{yields}{eta}p at higher energies. We find that all recent experimental results on differential cross sections for {eta} -meson photoproduction are in good agreement with each other, except for the CLAS data from 2009. However, the latter can be made consistent with the other data at the expense of introducing an energy-dependent renormalization factor. We point out that there are indications in the data for a possible excitation of baryon resonances with masses around 2.1 and 2.4GeV. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Here we report a new method for measuring the heterogeneous chemistry of submicron organic aerosol particles using a continuous flow stirred tank reactor. This approach is designed to quantify the real time heterogeneous kinetics, using a relative rate method, under conditions of low oxidant concentration and long reaction times that more closely mimic the real atmosphere. A general analytical expression, which couples the aerosol chemistry with the flow dynamics in the chamber is developed and applied to the heterogeneous oxidation of squalane particles by hydroxyl radicals (OH) in the presence of O2. The particle phase reaction is monitored via photoionization aerosol mass spectrometry and yields a reactive uptake coefficient of 0.51+-0.10, using OH concentrations of 1-7x108 molec cdot cm-3 and reaction times of 1.5+-3 hours. This uptake coefficient is larger than that found for the reaction carried out under high OH concentrations (~;;1x1010 molec cdot cm-3) and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The reactions of CF{sub 3}O radicals with (1) NO and (2) NO{sub 2} were studied using two different experimental techniques. A laser photolysis/LIF detection method was applied for measuring the rate constants as a function of temperature (T=222-302 K) and total pressure (p{sub tot}=7-107 mbar). Whereas the reaction with (1) NO was found to be independent of temperature and pressure with k{sub 1}=(4.5{+-}1.2) x 10{sup -11} cm{sup 3}s{sup -1}, the reaction with (2) NO{sub 2} was found to be dependent on both of these variables. The temperature dependence of k{sub 2} in the high pressure limit can be given by the expression k{sub 2{infinity}}{sup -}(T)=(8{+-}5) x 10{sup -13} exp ((863{+-}194) K/T) cm{sup 3}s{sup -1}. The product distributions of the two reactions were determined in separate experiments using steady-state photolysis combined with FTIR spectroscopy. For reaction (1) only CF{sub 2}O was found as a reaction product with a yield of 0.93{+-}0.10, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper explores for the first time the post-radiation-induced-graft polymerization on solid substrate using reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) mechanism. Radiation-induced graft polymerization onto polymers is a potentially interesting technique to create easily new materials from highly resistant polymers, e.g. surface graft polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) improves its surface properties without losing its excellent mechanical properties. As a consequence of the radical nature of the polymerization processes it is difficult to control molecular weight of grafted chains, and therefore design and standardize the properties of the final product. RAFT polymerization is a suitable method to obtain monodisperse polymers. The ability of the RAFT agents to control the polymer chain length could be an interesting approach to improve the grafted polymers obtained by post-radiation-induced-graft polymerization ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A study was conducted to determine the feasibility and the opportunity of photochemical pretreatment on the biodegradation and detoxification of Methyl Tert Butyl Ether (MTBE), Ethyl Tert Butyl Ether (ETBE) and Tert Amyl Methyl Ether (TAME), the most common oxygenates used as octane enhancers in unleaded gasoline. The production, storage, uses and disposal of oxygenates result in an unknown amount of groundwater pollution. Because of their high solubility, MTBE, ETBE and TAME are detected in large portions in saturated zones of aquifers. The biodegradation of these oxygenates is difficult and slow, and information regarding their biodegradability is scarce. Photo-decomposition of oxidants under appropriate UV radiation has been shown to be very effective because the hydroxyl radicals produced possess high oxidation potential. In this study, the H{sub 2}O{sub 2}/UV process was used to generate hydroxyl radicals. Maximal oxygenates transformation ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The European Union (EU) market integration is leading to increasingly monopolistic electricity market infrastructures, which has opened a debate on the regulation of these so-called power exchanges. In this paper, we start by stating that there are two types of power exchanges in Europe, i.e. 'merchant' and 'cost-of-service regulated' power exchanges. We then discuss how regulation can be used to better align their incentives with the main power exchange tasks. We conclude that adopting the cost-of-service regulated model for all power exchanges in Europe could be counterproductive in the current context, but that regulation can help ensure that the benefits of the EU market integration materialize. Promising regulatory actions include tempering the reinforced market power of power exchanges, and quality-of-service regulation for the ongoing cooperation among power exchanges to organize trade across borders. - Research highlights: #-># Market integration is ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A pair of bundles is placed in a shuttle tube, which is enclosed by a carriage tube kept inside the Shuttle Transfer Station (STS). It takes about 90 minutes for the spent fuel bundles to travel from the reactor channel to Transfer Magazine (TM). Subsequently, the dry transfer operation takes about 4 minutes. An emergency air cooling flow rate of 600 m3/hr is supplied to cool the spent fuel bundles after they reach the STS, following lapse of 4 minutes of spent fuel dry transfer, in case the bundles are not submerged in the light water in STS. A thermal and hydraulic safety analysis has been done to estimate the maximum sheath temperature, if the spent fuel bundles are stuck at a location of 30 mm below the normal location aligned to the TM port. This position of the spent fuel will have least cooling from the emergency cooling airflow. At the same time, the shuttle tube carrying the spent fuel bundle is just above the water. From the analysis it has been concluded ...

Science.gov (United States)

The aims of the study were to develop and test the psychometric properties of the Thai Family Health Routines (TFHR) scale, a 70-item self-report questionnaire used to measure the health of Thai families through their routine behaviors in daily life. Development of the TFHR was based on the structural domains of Denham's Family Health Model. The TFHR scale was initially composed of 85 items and tested on 1,040 families living in the central region of Thailand. The confirmatory factor analysis, with an acceptable factor structure model, yielded 70 items aligned with six factors: self-care, safety and prevention, mental health behavior, family care, family caregiving, and illness care routines. The preliminary psychometric properties demonstrated that the TFHR scale had satisfactory internal consistency, criterion validity, and construct validity. The test results suggested that the TFHR scale has potential benefits for family and community nurses to assess Thai ...

Science.gov (United States)

We have investigated the nanotexture and crystallographic orientation of aragonite in a coral skeleton using synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Polarization-dependent STXM imaging at 40-nm spatial resolution was used to obtain an orientation map of the c-axis of aragonite on a focused ion beam milled ultrathin section of a Porites coral. This imaging showed that one of the basic units of coral skeletons, referred to as the center of calcification (COC), consists of a cluster of 100-nm aragonite globules crystallographically aligned over several micrometers with a fan-like distribution and with the properties of single crystals at the mesoscale. The remainder of the skeleton consists of aragonite single-crystal fibers in crystallographic continuity with the nanoglobules comprising the COC. Our observation provides information on the nm-scale processes that led to biomineral formation in this ...

Science.gov (United States)

The ratio of the proton's electric to magnetic form factor, G{sub E}/G{sub M}, can be extracted in elastic electron-proton scattering by measuring cross sections, beam-target asymmetry, or recoil polarization. Separate determinations of G{sub E}/G{sub M} by cross sections and recoil polarization observables disagree for Q{sup 2}>1 (GeV/c){sup 2}. Measurement by a third technique might uncover an unknown systematic error in either of the previous measurements. The beam-target asymmetry has been measured for elastic electron-proton scattering at Q{sup 2} = 1.51 (GeV/c){sup 2} for target spin orientation aligned perpendicular to the beam momentum direction. This is the largest Q{sup 2} at which G{sub E}/G{sub M} has been determined by a beam-target asymmetry experiment. The result, {mu}G{sub E}/G{sub M}=0.884{+-}0.027{+-}0.029, is compared to previous world data.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Obtaining precise values of the undulator parameter, K, is critical for producing high-gain FEL radiation. At the LCLS [1], where the FEL wavelength reaches down to 1.5 {angstrom}, the relative precision of K must satisfy ({Delta}K/K){sub rms} {approx}< 0.015% over the full length of the undulator. Transverse misalignments, construction errors, radiation damage, and temperature variations all contribute to errors in the mean K values among the undulator segments. It is therefore important to develop some means to measure relative K values, after installation and alignment. We propose a method using the angle-integrated spontaneous radiation spectrum of two nearby undulator segments, and the natural shot-to-shot energy jitter of the electron beam. Simulation of this scheme is presented using both ideal and measured undulator fields. By ''leap-frogging'' to different pairs of segments with extended separations we hope to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) has been used, together with scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS), to investigate the optical and electronic properties of nanodots formed by depositing Ag on the Si(111)-3 x 1-Ag surface. One-dimensional (1D) arrays of nanodots were grown on a single-domain (3 x 1)-Ag surface and the anisotropic optical response in the 0.5-5 eV range measured by RAS. Aligned, elongated Ag islands were also grown on this surface to compare their properties with those of the nanodots. STS of the Ag islands showed distinct metallic behaviour, whereas the nanodots revealed a bandgap of #approx#0.6 eV, indicating that the surface of the dots has a non-metallic character, similar to that of the Si(111)-3 x 1-Ag surface. RAS also showed substantial differences between the structures, with a large infrared anisotropy for the metallic Ag islands consistent with anisotropic Drude-like intraband transitions, whereas the nanodots gave a negligible ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ga"+ focused ion beam (FIB) patterning was used to structure highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surfaces with square, periodic arrays of amorphous carbon defects (mesh sizes: 300 nm-2 #mu#m). Controlled oxygen etching of these arrays leads to matrices of uniform, orientationally aligned, nm-sized, hexagonal holes. The properties of the resulting hole assembly (hole depths and lateral hole dimensions) have been investigated by means of atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and FIB sectioning. The hole dimensions and uniformity both depend on the FIB parameters and etching conditions. Etching temperatures from 500 to 700 deg. C were applied. Initial etch rates of up to 10"6 C s"-"1 per individual hole were observed when using oxygen pressures of 200 mbar. For an etch temperature of 590 deg. C the rate of etching of individual holes was found to depend measurably on the inter-hole separation. This confirms that the associated reaction kinetics is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It is well known that composite armors, consisting of glass elements confined with metallic tampers, are extraordinarily effective against shaped charge attack. Early experiments showed that jets fired against glass targets appeared to be bombarded by tiny fragments that destroyed alignment and reduced residual jet penetration. This result was attributed to an elastic rebound effect in which the outward radial motion of the target around the jet periphery was supposed to be arrested by tensile hoop stresses which developed behind the divergent shock front. Glass fragments were then accelerated radially inward and these destabilized the jet. To sustain the large tensile hoop stresses required, the glass must not have been fractured by the initial shock, behind which the stress state is typically well above the Hugoniot elastic limit. Modeling the penetration of a jet into glass requires not only determining the spall strength, i.e., the tensile stress at which ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Our inability to associate distant regulatory elements with the genes that they regulate has largely precluded their examination for sequence alterations contributing to human disease. One major obstacle is the large genomic space surrounding targeted genes in which such elements could potentially reside. In order to delineate gene regulatory boundaries we used whole-genome human-mouse-chicken (HMC) and human-mouse-frog (HMF) multiple alignments to compile conserved blocks of synteny (CBS), under the hypothesis that these blocks have been kept intact throughout evolution at least in part by the requirement of regulatory elements to stay linked to the genes that they regulate. A total of 2,116 and 1,942 CBS>200 kb were assembled for HMC and HMF respectively, encompassing 1.53 and 0.86 Gb of human sequence. To support the existence of complex long-range regulatory domains within these CBS we analyzed the prevalence and distribution of chromosomal aberrations ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The influence of high energy electron (23 MeV) irradiation on the electrical characteristics of p-channel polysilicon thin film transistors (PSTFTs) was studied. The channel 220 nm thick LPCVD (low pressure chemical vapor deposition) deposited polysilicon layer was phosphorus doped by ion implantation. A 45 nm thick, thermally grown, SiO_2 layer served as gate dielectric. A self-alignment technology for boron doping of the source and drain regions was used. 200 nm thick polysilicon film was deposited as a gate electrode. The obtained p-channel PSTFTs were irradiated with different high energy electron doses. Leakage currents through the gate oxide and transfer characteristics of the transistors were measured. A software model describing the field enhancement and the non-uniform current distribution at textured polysilicon/oxide interface was developed. In order to assess the irradiation-stimulated changes of gate oxide parameters the gate oxide tunneling conduction ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

RNA interference has become a powerful biological tool over the last decade. In this study, a tetracycline-inducible shRNA vector system was designed for silencing CFP expression and delivered alongside the yfp marker gene into Chinese hamster ovary cells using impalefection on spatially indexed vertically aligned carbon nanofiber arrays (VACNFs). The VACNF architecture provided simultaneous delivery of multiple genes, subsequent adherence and proliferation of interfaced cells, and repeated monitoring of single cells over time. Following impalefection and tetracycline induction, 53.1% 10.4% of impalefected cells were fully silenced by the inducible CFP-silencing shRNA vector. Additionally, efficient CFP-silencing was observed in single cells among a population of cells that remained CFP-expressing. This effective transient expression system enables rapid analysis of gene silencing effects using RNAi in single cells and cell populations.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

High-performance polysilicon thin-film transistors (TFT`s) are fabricated using an excimer laser to recrystallize the undoped channel and dope the source-drain regions. Using a technique the authors call grain engineering they are able to control grain microstructure using laser parameters. Resulting polysilicon films are obtained with average grain sizes of {approximately}4--9 {micro}m in sub-100 nm thick polysilicon films without substrate heating during the laser recrystallization process. Using a simple four-mask self-aligned aluminum top-gate structure, they fabricate TFT`s in these films. By combining the grain-engineered channel polysilicon regions with laser-doped source-drain regions, TFT`s are fabricated with electron mobilities up to 260 cm{sup 2}/Vs and on/off current ratios greater than 10{sup 7} To their knowledge, these devices represent the highest performance laser-processed TFT`s reported to date fabricated without substrate heating or ...

CERN Document Server

Shared memory multiprocessors come back to popularity thanks to rapid spreading of commodity multi-core architectures. As ever, shared memory programs are fairly easy to write and quite hard to optimise; providing multi-core programmers with optimising tools and programming frameworks is a nowadays challenge. Few efforts have been done to support effective streaming applications on these architectures. In this paper we introduce FastFlow, a low-level programming framework based on lock-free queues explicitly designed to support high-level languages for streaming applications. We compare FastFlow with state-of-the-art programming frameworks such as Cilk, OpenMP, and Intel TBB. We experimentally demonstrate that FastFlow is always more efficient than all of them in a set of micro-benchmarks and on a real world application; the speedup edge of FastFlow over other solutions might be bold for fine grain tasks, as an example +35% on OpenMP, +226% on Cilk, +96% on TBB for the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

BC Hydro recently conducted a demonstration test of a bearing condition monitor. The test, at the 529-MW Kootenay Canal project, proved the ability of the monitor to detect machine condition faults. The capability to detect changing conditions during normal operation of hydroelectric machines gives hydro plant owners the opportunity to anticipate needed maintenance and ultimately to reduce the number of equipment failures. BC Hydro intends to install bearing condition monitors, as well as windings monitors, brushgear monitors, environmental monitors, and other selected systems in as many as 46 of its hydro generators. BC Hydro analyzed forced outages between 1985 and 1989 in its hydro system to identify which parts of a generating unit resulted in the highest number of hours of outage. From there, the utility has formulated a concept for a machine condition monitoring system. To keep the system cost effective, it will be developed in modules. In this way, users can pick and choose from ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A method is described of controlling an anodic protection system in a heat exchanger comprising: (a) installing at least one cathode within the heat exchanger, at least one cathode being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger and extending substantially along the length of the heat exchanger; (b) installing a first reference electrode within and at one end of the heat exchanger, the first reference electrode having a first controller having a set point for control and a power supply having an output creating an electrical potential between at least one cathode and the heat exchanger; (c) measuring the electrical potential of the heat exchanger with the first reference electrode; (d) operating the first controller in response to measurements made by the first reference electrode to change the output of the power supply; (e) installing a second reference electrode within and at the opposite end of the heat exchanger separated from the first ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The present invention concerns a device for peeling off activated concretes in processing for discarding a reactor of a nuclear reactor facility. The device comprises a gyrotron for generation microwaves, an irradiator for irradiating output microwaves, a reflection mirror for reflecting and converging the microwaves and irradiating them to a material to be irradiated and a first rotating means for rotating the irradiator and the reflection mirror in parallel with the axis of the gyrotron while maintaining the positional relation between the irradiator and the reflection mirror. When the position of the microwaves irradiated on concrete walls are moved in a circumferential direction and the central axes of the rotational axis and the material to be irradiated are aligned, then the intensity of the irradiation of the microwaves at each of the irradiation points can be maintained constant without changing the focal distance of the reflected microwaves thereby ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An improved lockout assembly for locking a circuit breaker in a selected off or on position is provided. The lockout assembly includes a lock block and a lock pin. The lock block has a hollow interior which fits over the free end of a switch handle of the circuit breaker. The lock block includes at least one hole that is placed in registration with a hole in the free end of the switch handle. A lock tab on the lock block serves to align and register the respective holes on the lock block and switch handle. A lock pin is inserted through the registered holes and serves to connect the lock block to the switch handle. Once the lock block and the switch handle are connected, the position of the switch handle is prevented from being changed by the lock tab bumping up against a stationary housing portion of the circuit breaker. When the lock pin installed, an apertured-end portion of the lock pin is in registration with another hole on the lock block. Then a special ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We review the recent development of bendable x-ray optics used for focusing of beams of soft and hard x-rays at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) x-ray free electron laser (FEL) at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) National Accelerator Laboratory. For simultaneous focusing in the tangential and sagittal directions, two elliptically cylindrical reflecting elements, a Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) pair, are used. Because fabrication of elliptical surfaces is complicated, the cost of directly fabricated tangential elliptical cylinders is often prohibitive. Moreover, such optics cannot be easily readjusted for use in multiple, different experimental arrangements, e.g. at different focal distances. This is in contrast to flat optics that are simpler to manufacture and easier to measure by conventional interferometry. The tangential figure of a flat substrate is changed by placing torques (couples) at ...

CERN Document Server

The front-end electronics system for the anode signals of the CMS Endcap Muon cathode strip chambers has about 183000 channels. The purposes of the anode front-end electronics are to acquire precise muon timing information for bunch crossing number identification at the Level-1 muon trigger system and to provide a coarse radial position of the muon track. Each anode channel consists of an input protection network, amplifier, shaper, constant-fraction discriminator, and a programmable delay. The essential parts of the electronics include a 16-channel amplifier-shaper-discriminator ASIC CMP16 and a 16-channel ASIC D16G providing programmable time delay. The ASIC CMP16 was optimized for the large cathode chamber size (up to 3 x 2.5 m2) and for the large input capacitance (up to 200 pf). The ASIC combines low power consumption (30 mW/channel) with good time resolution (2 - 3 ns). The del ay ASIC D16G makes possible the alignment of signals with an accuracy of 2.2 ns. ...