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There has been a steady increase in the number of revision total knee arthroplasties being performed in the United States. Hinge knee prostheses are used predominantly in complex primary or revision arthroplasties, often as salvage procedures. Significant improvement of the articulation between the rotating hinge mechanism and tibial component has decreased the stresses that contributed to earlier failures in previous generation designs. Two cases of fracture of the tibial metal post in the rotating hinge of a revision total knee arthroplasty were evaluated and treated at our institution within a 1-month period. We present our experience with this construct failure and subsequent patient management.

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Raltegravir is the first integrase inhibitor approved for treatment of HIV-infected patients harboring multiresistant viruses.

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Retrospective analyses were performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of intra-oral cone (IOC) radiation therapy for carcinoma of the oral tongue, especially about its faculty of local control and complications. Thirty-nine patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue were treated with IOC radiation therapy alone or in combination with external irradiation. IOC radiation therapy was given not only for T1 and T2, but also for T3 tumors. Hypofractionation was used for IOC radiation therapy. The 2 year local control rates, including surgical salvage, for T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 100%, 73.3%, 40% and 0%, respectively. The 5 year actuarial survival rates for Stage I, II, III and IV were 100%, 65.3%, 35.4% and 0%, respectively. The incidences of radiation complications, i.e. soft tissue ulceration and osteoradionecrosis, were 42.9% and 2.9%, respectively. It is suggested that relatively high rate of soft tissue ...

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A micro-mechanistic understanding of bone fracture thatencompasses how cracks interact with the underlying microstructure anddefines their local failure mode is lacking, despite extensive research nthe response of bone to a variety of factors like aging, loading, and/ordisease.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gastrointestinal lymphomas are almost exclusively of a non Hodgkin's type. The Western form is characterized by a higher incidence of stomach location (50 %), a MALT type (mucosa associated lymphoid tissue) (40 %), a B-cell type (90 %), and a high grade (55 %). Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori is an important risk factor. Mediterranean lymphomas form a particular clinical and pathological entity with diffuse involvement of the small bowel and are frequently being associated with a chronic malabsorption disorder. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in early lymphomas, and the use of tetracyclines in early Mediterranean lymphomas, have been shown to induce durable remissions. For more advanced gastric lymphomas, treatment usually consists of anthracycline-based chemotherapy followed by involved field radiotherapy. Surgery is usually reserved for complications such as perforation or bleeding, or in some selected cases for salvage after ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: To determine if involved field radiation (IF) is equivalent to standard whole bone radiation (SF) in local tumor control; to establish patterns of failure following treatment; and to determine response, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival rates from multidisciplinary therapy in Ewing's sarcoma. Methods and Materials: Between 1983 and 1988, 184 children with Ewing's sarcoma were enrolled onto Pediatric Oncology Group 8346 (POG 8346). A total of 178 (97%) met eligibility criteria; 6 had pathology other than Ewing's sarcoma. Induction chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin (adriamycin )(C/A) x 12 weeks was followed by local treatment either surgery or radiation therapy and C/A, dactinomycin, and vincristine for 50 weeks. Resection was advised for patients with small primary tumors if accomplished without functional loss. Forty patients were randomized to receive SF, whole bone radiation to 39.6 Gy ...

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A micro-mechanistic understanding of bone fracture that encompasses how cracks interact with the underlying microstructure and defines their local failure mode is lacking, despite extensive research on the response of bone to a variety of factors like aging, loading, and/or disease. Micro-mechanical models for fracture incorporating such local failure criteria have been widely developed for metallic and ceramic materials systems; however, few such deliberations have been undertaken for the fracture of bone. In fact, although the fracture event in mineralized tissues such as bone is commonly believed to be locally strain controlled, until recently there has been little experimental evidence to support this widely held belief. In the present study, a series of in vitro experiments involving a double-notch bend test geometry are performed in order to shed further light on the nature of ...

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Twenty-two out of 31 patients with chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroidectomy before operation underwent non-invasive image diagnosis of parathyroid glands by computed tomography (CT), scintigraphy with /sup 201/TlCl and /sup 99m/TcO/sup 4 +/, and/or ultrasonography. CT visualized 39 of 45 parathyroid glands (86.7%), weighing more than 500 mg. Scintigraphy with a subtraction method using a computer performed the diagnosis in 19 of 27 glands (70.4%). Ultrasonography detected 21 of 27 glands (77.8%). Image diagnosis was also useful in the postoperative follow-up study. The non-invasive image diagnosis of parathyroid glands in patients with chronic renal failure is thus valuable for 1) definite diagnosis of secondary hyperparathyroidism, 2) localization, and 3) diagnosis for effectiveness of conservative treatment.

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...Key Phrase page for Kidney Failure: Books containing the phrase Kidney Failure Kidney Failure,Key Phrase Kidney Failure,Books containing Kidney Failure,Amazon....com: \\

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The study presented in this thesis is a contribution about the analysis of failures modes of electrolytic capacitors and thyristors. The studied components are main elements of the protection system of the superconductive magnets of the LHC. The study of the ageing of the electrolytic capacitors has shown that their reliability is strongly related to their technological characteristic. Evolution of their principal indicator of ageing (ESR) can be modeled according to different laws chosen according to their running mode. It appears that the prediction of failure of these components other than that due to wear can be only statistical taking into account the many causes of failure involving various modes of failure. In order to be able to evaluate influence of the ageing of the electrolytic capacitors on a system, simple models taking into account this parameters as well as the effective temperature of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In 1981, the German Society of Pediatric Oncology initiated a multi-institutional study for the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma. The protocol (Cooperative Ewing's Sarcoma Study, CESS 81) consisted of four courses of a four-drug-regimen (VACA), each course taking nine weeks. Local therapy (radical surgery or resection plus irradiation or radiotherapy alone) was performed after the second course. The results of CESS 81 can be summarized as follows: VACA-chemotherapy is effective in controlling systemic disease. Initial tumor mass and response to initial chemotherapy are of major prognostic value for local control and survival. Permanent local control is a problem, especially in irradiated patients. The high local failure rate in irradiated patients in CESS 81 could be attributable to the following reasons: Late start of local therapy (after 18 weeks of chemotherapy), ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of patients with Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) treated with modern radiotherapy techniques with MRI along with optimal chemotherapy. Methods and Materials: The records of all 60 patients with ESFT who received radiation to the primary site between 1990 and 2004 were reviewed. All patients received chemotherapy, including vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and etoposide. Radiation was used as the sole modality for local control in 31 patients and was given either before (n = 3) or after surgical resection (n = 26) in the remainder. All patients had MRI and CT scan-based treatment planning, and 43% received intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Radiation doses ranged from 30 Gy to 60 Gy (median, 51 Gy), and 35% received hyperfractionated radiotherapy. Results: Median age was 16 years (range, 2-40 years). Because of selection bias for radiotherapy, the majority of primary tumors were centrally located ...

Science.gov (United States)

Acute Heart Failure

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This report discusses a representation scheme of device failures anticipated in nuclear power plant, to describe related knowledge in a computer software. Coping ability covering a wide range of physical events is desired in plant operators and maintenance staffs, but it is impractical to give them a set of experience to cover the all possible events in the education/training curriculum. However, in case that their knowledge of plant design and of generally-known physical principles are enforced, their ability of cause identification and of appropriate responding actions against inexperienced events are expected to be enhanced, by combining the basic engineering and physical knowledge. Most of the anomalies anticipated in nuclear power plants are initiated as an incipient failure in some auxiliary equipment initially affecting only within the relative subsystem and hiding from the central control room, and then are propagated to deviate process ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Solid solution-strengthened nickel base alloys have been used for nuclear stream generator tubing in pressurized water reactors since the beginnings of commercial nuclear power. The purpose of this paper is to recap and update the authors understanding of the relationship between processing, resulting structure, and properties for Alloy 600 and to discuss the requirements for optimized performance in both primary and secondary environments. Potential replacement materials and their performance will be discussed. Also discussed is the role and importance of system chemistry, bulk and local, and control and its relationship to performance. A discussion of potential mechanisms of environmentally assisted failure is also discussed.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Phelps N. A. Cluster or capture? Manufacturing foreign direct investment, external economies and agglomeration, Regional Studies.?This paper reviews the nature and significance of external economies associated with multinational enterprise (MNE) participation in the manufacturing industries of host economies. It argues that the balance of forces of internalization and externalization is currently skewed towards the former and the interests of MNEs rather than the latter and the interests of local and national communities and governments. A stylized comparison of developmental and competition state interventions in relation to MNEs and their foreign direct investment (FDI) suggests that in the absence of co-ordinated interventions by governments, there will commonly be a failure of t...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a rare malignancy. Despite radical resection, survival remains poor, with high rates of local and distant failure. To clarify the role of radiotherapy with chemotherapy, we performed a retrospective analysis of resected patients who had undergone chemoradiotherapy. Methods and Materials: A total of 45 patients (13 with proximal and 32 with distal disease) underwent resection plus radiotherapy (median dose, 50.4 Gy). All but 1 patient received concurrent fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 30 months for all patients and 40 months for survivors. Results: Of the 45 patients, 33 underwent adjuvant radiotherapy, and 12 were treated neoadjuvantly. The 5-year actuarial overall survival, disease-free survival, metastasis-free survival, and locoregional control rates were 33%, 37%, 42%, and 78%, respectively. The median survival was 34 months. No patient died perioperatively. Patient ...

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The 1977 version of the Simpson-Puls-Dutton model appears to be the most amenable with respect to utilizing known or readily estimated quantities. The Pardee-Paton model requires extensive calculations involving estimated quantities. Recent observations by Koike and Suzuki on vanadium support the general assumption that crack growth in hydride forming metals is determined by the rate of hydride formation, and their hydrogen atmosphere-displacive transformation model is of potential interest in explaining hydrogen embrittlement in ferrous alloys as well as hydride formers. The discontinuous nature of cracking due to hydrogen embrittlement appears to depend very strongly on localized stress intensities, thereby pointing to the role of microstructure in influencing crack initiation, fracture mode and crack path. The initiation of hydrogen induced failures over relatively short periods of time can be characterized with fair reliability using ...

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An experiment was conducted on the structure of mesoscopic calculating method for cement-based composite materials. The purpose was utilization for the simulation of mesoscale failure processes and the development of new composite materials. Mesh split based on Voronoi polygons was applied as the discrete limit analysis of the cement-based composite materials containing aggregate particles taking the arrangement of random particles into consideration, and a two-dimensional rigid-body/spring model was employed as the model. The nonhomogeneity of concrete was represented by three kinds of different spring parameters which were aggregate, mortar matrix and their interfaces. The simulation results were summarized as follows: The stress-strain curve went into a non-linear state from the 30% of the maximum stress. The generation of interfacial crack started on the side of the aggregate, but the propagation of the crack was stable. Deformation became unstable at 80% of ...

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Forty-three patients with basal and squamous cell carcinomata arising on the pinna were treated radically using a 10 MeV electron beam. The technique and dosage are described and discussed. Primary cancer control with retention of the pinna was achieved in 34 patients. Salvage pinnectomy was performed in four patients for recurrence and one patient for radiation necrosis. Two patients with large primary tumours failed to resolve and died of their disease. The advantages for the patient of the policy of primary radical electron beam therapy are discussed.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Purpose To evaluate disease failure patterns and overall survival (OS) of women with triple-negative (TN) breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and to understand the relationship of TN tumors with other prognostic factors. Patients and Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry identified 562 women diagnosed and/or treated with unilateral invasive breast cancer during 2003?2004 at three Emory hospitals. After medical record review, 193 eligible women, with all tumor types, received BCT. Primary endpoints (local, regional, and distant recurrences) and secondary endpoint (OS) were evaluated using chi-square tests and Cox proportional hazards models. Results Of the 193 women, 33 (17.1%) had TN tumors and 160 (82.9%) had non-TN tumors. Patient...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper is a progress report on the role of radiation therapy (RT) in local tumor control and the decreased incidence of pulmonary metastasis in 251 patients entered in the Intergroup Ewing's Sarcoma Study. All were followed for more that 1 year, and their RT records were reviewed. Doses to the primary tumor in the range of 4,500--6,500 rad were administered over approximately 5 to 6 weeks in combination with 4 drugs, i.e., vincristine (VCR), dactinomycin (DAC), cyclophosphamide (CY), and adriamycin, or only the first 3. One group of patients received the 3 drugs and bilateral pulmonary irradiation (approximately 1,500 rad in 2 wk). Preliminary analysis showed a local primary tumor control of approximately 90%. Patients with lesions in the pelvis and humerus had local failure rates of 13% (7 of 54) and 21.4% (6 of 28), respectively. The treatment groups differed significantly in the incidence of ...

CERN Document Server

This paper addresses the problem of blind separation of convolutive mixtures of BPSK and circular linearly modulated signals with unknown (and possibly different) baud rates and carrier frequencies. In previous works, we established that the Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA) is able to extract a source from a convolutive mixture of circular linearly modulated signals. We extend the analysis of the extraction capabilities of the CMA when the mixing also contains BPSK signals. We prove that if the various source signals do not share any non zero cyclic frequency nor any non conjugate cyclic frequencies, the local minima of the constant modulus cost function are separating filters. Unfortunately, the minimization of the Godard cost function generally fails when considering BPSK signals that have the same rates and the same carrier frequencies. This failure is due to the existence of non-separating local minima of the Godard ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: The occurrence of extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma (ES) in deep soft tissues has been well described, but cases in which this tumor occurs in a primary cutaneous or subcutaneous site have rarely been reported. The superficial variant may be less aggressive than are the more common bony and deep soft tissue counterparts with an apparently favorable outcome. A retrospective review of patients with cutaneous or subcutaneous ES was conducted to analyze outcome and patterns of failure. Methods and Materials: Between July 1985 and March 1997, 14 patients with cutaneous or subcutaneous ES were treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The median age at presentation was 16 years (range 7-21 years). Anatomic locations included trunk and pelvis (7), upper or lower extremity (4), and head and neck (3). The median size of the lesion was 3 cm (range, 1-12 cm). Thirteen had definitive surgical resections, and one had biopsy of the mass at the time of referral. They ...

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Seventy-one patients with intestinal injury secondary to pelvic irradiation had predominantly large bowel lesions. Seventeen cases were treated conservatively and 54 came to surgery, 28 patients having more than one operation. Following this essentially salvage surgery there were more ileal than colonic anastomotic leaks. Thirty-four patients died during the follow-up period (2-12 years), 19 from recurrent malignancy, and nine as a result of continuing radiation effects. Seventy per cent of the patients who had a radiation fistula died as a result of malignancy. Of 42000 cases of pelvic malignancy treated by irradiation over the decade 1972-1982, surgical referrals for complications constituted 1.7%, with an overall radiation-related mortality of 0.2%. It is our opinion that colostomy alone has little part to play in this condition, and a policy based on excisional surgery is suggested.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Objective To determine whether a centralised telephone intervention reduces the incidence of death or admission for worsening heart failure in outpatients with chronic heart failure.Design...Full Text Available

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Failure of a dam is something we hope never happens. But if a failure occurs, it`s important to study the circumstances in order to expand our knowledge base, and then apply what we learn to other structures.

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The topics of these short lectures on the subject of cyclic stress were: Microstructural mechanisms of damage accumulation under a multistage cyclic stress until incipient cracking; influence of surface decarbonizing phenomena on the failure behaviour of steel construction parts subjected to cyclic stress; thermocyclic fatigue of pipe samples of austenitic steel 1.4436; studies on surface structuring, microstructure and fatigue in LCF area. The short lectures on effects of quasi-static and creep stress were: Shear fracture in AlMg alloys as a result of local plastic instability; study of formation and growth of pores for an early recognition of damage and the course of damage in heat-resistant steels under creep test; experimental and numeric studies of the infuence of the microstructure on the course of damage during shear fractures of steel; numerical modelling of ductile fractures on the basis of micromechanical models. Under the topic of ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundProvision of consumer information and patient education are considered an essential part of chronic disease management programmes developed for patients with heart failure....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. CHF is marked by atrial and ventricular enlargement and reduced cardiac contractility, as well as an association...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Recently, the development of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators, in the forms of wire, thin film and stent have been found increasingly in the fields of materials science and smart structures and engineering. The increase in attraction for using these materials is due to their many unique materials, mechanical, thermal and thermal-mechanical properties, which in turn, evolve their subsequent shape memory, pseudo-elasticity and super-elasticity properties. In this paper, a common type of SMA actuator, Nitinol wires, were embedded into advanced composite structures to modulate the structural dynamic responses, in terms of natural frequency and damping ratio by using its shape memory and pseudo-elastic properties. A simple theoretical model is introduced to estimate the natural frequency of the structures before and after actuating the embedded SMA wires. The damping ratios of different SMA composite beams were measured through experimental approaches. The natural frequencies changed ...

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During rolling contact fatigue of the inner rings of ball bearings three stages of material response can be distinguished, in terms of the volume that is plastically deformed upon overrolling. After a first stage of material strengthening during which a decrease occurs for the volume that is deformed plastically, an effectively stationary, second stage is entered which is eventually succeeded by a third stage exhibiting a pronounced increase of the volume that is deformed plastically upon overrolling, which leads to failure. It is suggested that carbon diffusion induced by local temperature peaks occurring at the moment of overrolling is the key mechanism leading to fatigue damage. The amount of decomposed retained austenite is a useful, practical parameter to assess fatigue life. It is shown that published ideas about the role of certain components of residual stress in enhancing fatigue life are not correct and that the so-called ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

France began atmospheric nuclear testing at Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls in the South Pacific in July 1966. Following international protest, atmospheric testing ceased in August 1970. In late 1995, an International Geomechanical Commission (IGC) was created to assess the short- and long-term effects of underground nuclear testing on the stability and hydrology of Mururoa and Fangataufa. With the aid of its consultants, the Commission sought to develop its own understanding of the mechanics and consequences of the underground nuclear tests. It carried out extensive numerical analyses of shock wave effects, seismic wave propagation, slope stability and pre- and post-test hydrology. However, in its studies, the IGC was constrained to use the data made available to it by the French authorities. The Commission's report (International Geomechanical Commission 1998) has been submitted to the French Government. This article draws heavily on parts of that report. The Commission's observations ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Twenty-four high-risk Ewing's sarcoma patients were treated on an intensive combined modality protocol including low-dose fractionated total body irradiaiton (TBI) and autologous bone marrow infusion (ABMI). Twenty patients (83%) achieved a complete clinical response to the primary and/or metastatic sites following induction therapy. The median disease-free interval was 18 months, and nine patients remain disease-free with a follow-up of 22 to 72 months. Local failure as a manifestation of initial relapse occurred in only three patients (15%), each having synchronous distant failure. Eight patients failed initially with only distant metastases, usually within 1-2 years following a complete clinical response. Two patterns of granulocyte recovery following consolidative therapy (including TBI and ABMI) were recognized. The time to platelet recovery was different for the groups with early and late granulocyte recovery. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In 65 adult rabbits of both sexes (2.5 to 6 kg) the following salvaging procedures were performed after simulated trauma: (1) Continuous suture line; (2) closure with fibrin sealant after temporary clamping; (3) hemisplenectomy with omental wrap; (4) suture fixation of fragments and slices of spleen tissue to the peritoneum; (5) suture fixation of spleen fragments to the omentum; (6) extraperitoneal subcutaneous transposition of spleen cubes. In addition, the likelihood of spontaneous splenosis was examined in a preliminary study involving 5 animals by introducing unattached spleen meal and fragments. Scanning was repeated 4 to 12 weeks postoperatively. The functional competence of minor parenchymal islands was also investigated with well counter measurements of organ and muscle tissue homogenates. Spontaneous splenosis after abdominal injuries was not found to be the rule. Salvaging procedures at the natural vascular hilus by sutures, fibrin ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A survey was conducted of experience with steam generator tubes at nuclear power stations during 1976. Failures were reported at 25 out of 68 water-cooled reactors. The causes of these failures and the repair and inspection procedures designed to cope with them are summarized. Examination of the data indicates that corrosion was the major cause of steam generator tube failures. Improvements are needed in steam generator design, condenser integrity and secondary water chemistry control. (author).

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This report documents the investigation regarding the failure of CPVC piping that was used to connect a solar hot water system to standard plumbing in a home. Details of the failure are described along with numerous pictures and diagrams. A potential failure mechanism is described and recommendations are outlined to prevent such a failure.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Extensive investigations and detailed analysis of the failure reason of 9DVN002ZV fan in Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station showed that the fan destroy was caused by the failure of non-drive end bear. The direct cause of this bearing' failure was its improper assembly caused by improper maintenance procedure, and the root cause was too small internal radial clearance after mounting. The factor affecting bearing internal radial clearance, the relationship between clearance and operating life time and fan failure process were discussed. (authors)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: The results of therapy in 288 men with pathologic Stage C prostate cancer who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) were analyzed to determine the effects of adjuvant therapy. Methods and Materials: Twenty-seven of the 288 patients received preoperative neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (leuprolide acetate). Postoperatively, 60 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) to the prostate bed. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 83 months (median = 32 months). Freedom from failure (FFF) was defined as maintaining a serum PSA level of #<=# 0.3 ng/ml. Results: The FFF was 61% at 3 years and 45% at 5 years for the entire group. The FFF following RRP plus RT was 75% at 3 years and 57% at 5 years as compared to 56% at 3 years and 40% at 5 years for RRP without RT (p = 0.049). The FFF following RRP plus neoadjuvant hormonal therapy was 58% at 3 years and 40% at 5 years as compared to 60% at 3 years and 45% at 5 years following RRP without hormonal therapy (p = ...

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Understanding the mechanical properties of biomedical devices is critical in predicting and preventing their failure in the body. Such knowledge is essential, for example, in the design of biomedical stents, which must undergo repeated strain over their ten year lifetimes without breaking. Computational models are used to predict mechanical response of a device, but these models are not complete; there are significant deviations from the predictions, especially when devices are subjected to repeated multi-axial loads. Improving these models requires comparisons with actual measurements of strained nitinol. Local measurements of the full strain tensor can be made using X-ray diffraction techniques, but they are currently limited to materials whose grain size is larger than the X-ray beam size or require several diffraction patterns produced by rotation of the sample. Nitinol stents are nanocrystalline, with grains smaller than any available ...

Science.gov (United States)

S>Hydrogen-induced delayed failure in an alpha-beta titanium alloy (4Al-- 4Mn) was sensitive to microstructure. A quenched structure was less susceptible to delayed failure than aged or annealed structures. The tendency for delayed failure was magnified in all structures by an increase in hydrogen content or an increase in strength level. Hydrogen-induced delayed failure occurred by a process of crack initiation and controlled crack growth. Delayed failures resulting from creep were also encountered. Plastic strain resulting from creep tended to retard crack initiation. Changes occurring in material under static load prior to formation of cracks were reversible, as long as no appreciable plastic strain occurred, indicating stress-induced diffusion of hydrogen. Hydrogen-induced delayed failure disappeared at both high and low ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Background: Premature ovarian failure is diagnosed with a picture of amenorrhea, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and age under 40 years. Twenty percent (20%) of patients with premature ovarian failure have a concomitant autoimmune disease. Cases of premature ovarian failure associated with Sj?gren syndrome have been reported in the literature. Patient and method: We report a case of a 42-year-old white woman with Sj?gren syndrome and premature ovarian failure who underwent a reversal of her premature ovarian failure and restoration of normal menses using an elimination diet protocol. The patient was diagnosed with her rheumatological condition in 2005 and started on disease-modifying antirheumatoid drugs, which were taken intermittently due to a concern over medicatio...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Annona reticulata L. possesses many traits desirable in other edible annonas, and hybridization is the simplest means to combine desirable features of related species. In this study, A. reticulata was hybridized with atemoya (A. cherimola Mill.??A. squamosa L.), and 250 trispecies hybrids were studied for 28 traits (12 tree traits and 16 fruit traits) with the objective of salvaging useful genes from the three edible annonas and determining the extent of variation in the progeny. The heterozygous nature of Annona spp. and simultaneous segregation of three distant genomes resulted in a tremendous heterogeneity in the progenies. The fitness of the progenies ranged from very vigorous to very weak, with a wide range of values for tree height (1.75?5.9?m), canopy spread (1.15?5.07?m) and trunk...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We describe a 59-year-old patient who developed acute renal failure because of rhabdomyolysis after extensive red fire ant bites. This case illustrates a serious systemic reaction that may occur from...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

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

Science.gov (United States)

Angiotensin II has adverse actions in heart failure including vasoconstriction, aldosterone secretion, and activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Valsartan, a potent specific angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, may produce beneficial effects in heart failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the steady-state pharmacokinetics of valsartan 40, 80, and 160 mg each given every 12 h for 7 days in heart failure patients. Eighteen patients with chronic stable heart failure and left ventricular ejection fractions power model, showed that doubling the dose increased the AUC and Cmax 1.8 times. The pharmacokinetics of valsartan are predictable in heart failure patients within the dose range of 40-160 mg BID. Age did not appear to have influenced the valsartan clearance in heart failure patients. The pharmacokinetic values were higher in heart ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundAlthough dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of heart failure (HF), the mechanism underlying DCM is not well understood. Previously, it has been demonstrated...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Premature menopause, ovarian failure younger than 40 years of age, is relatively rare but may preclude childbearing for some women who delay attempts at fertility. We present five kindreds in which...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to ascertain whether all cervical cancer patients who received adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) for high risk of treatment failure after...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The reliability of an electrical power system is influenced by the operation of circuit-breaker (CB). A good indicator of circuit-breaker condition is its switching time. Based on it some of the critical circuit-breaker irregularities can be detected and removed before they develop to a failure. In this paper, the evaluation of time measurements (timings) in case of different failures will be carried out for two circuit-breaker solutions, i.e. with spring and hydraulic drive. Moreover, the relationships between switching time and failure type/location will be derived. Thereby, the influence of failure trend will also be taken into account. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Presented are the results of the investigation of the kinetics and micromechanism of the failure in impact bending of oriented-crystallized specimens having the eutectic composition Ni_3Al-Ni_3Nb and of the bimetal composed of 45 steel + M3 copper. The failure kinetics was studied by high-speed filming, whereas the fractures were studied by electron fractography. The particularities of the failure of the laminar-type composite materials were found. Analyzed was the effect of the kinetic factors and the mechanism of failure upon its energy consumption.

Science.gov (United States)

... with the additional US funds supporting Islamic ... the FATA and NWFP, keeping Pakistan's government and ... Without these madrassas, the TTP is left ...

Science.gov (United States)

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors, with 1043 failures, are a good example. Also, categorization by size and voltage reveals such frequencies of occurrence as ...

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:20173351

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Heart failure goes beyond mechanical dysfunction and involves an interplay of multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms, including inflammation, tissue remodeling, neurohormonal and endocrine signaling, and interactions with the renal and nervous systems. This article highlights some novel biomarkers that may aid in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of acute heart failure, specifically focusing on ST2, endoglin, galectin-3, cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase?associated lipocalin, midregional pro-adrenomedullin, chromogranin A, adiponectin, resistin, and leptin and their emerging clinical roles.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A case study is presented about the failure of a stainless steel blade reinforcing band in a steam turbine. The inspection results and analysis of samples of material are discussed. Being pitting corrosion and cracks the main defects found, a study of chemical composition and heat treatment state of the steel is made and findings are related to type of failure. (orig.)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Addition of a vasoconstrictor to a local anesthetic may have several beneficial effects: a decrease in the peak plasma concentration of the local anesthetic agent, increase in the duration and the quality...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Single-crystalline nanostructures often exhibit gradients of surface (and/or interface) curvature that emerge from fabrication and growth processes or from thermal fluctuations. Thus, the system-inherent capillary force can initiate morphological transformations during further processing steps or during operation at elevated temperature. Therefore and because of the ongoing miniaturization of functional structures which causes a general rise in surface-to-volume ratios, solid-state capillary phenomena will become increasingly important: On the one hand diffusion-mediated capillary processes can be of practical use in view of non-conventional nanostructure fabrication methods based on self-organization mechanisms, on the other hand they can destroy the integrity of nanostructures which can go along with the failure of functionality. Additionally, capillarity-induced shape transformations are effected and can thereby be controlled by applied fields and forces (guided ...

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Damage and cyclic fatigue failure under alternating loading in transformation-toughened zirconia ceramics is reviewed and compared to corresponding behavior under quasi-static loading (static fatigue). Current understanding of the role of transformation toughening in influencing cyclic fatigue-crack propagation behavior is examined based on studies which altered the extent of the tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation in MG-PSZ through subeutectoid aging. These studies suggest that near-tip computations of the crack-driving force (in terms of the local stress intensity) can be used to predict crack-growth behavior under constant amplitude and variable-amplitude (spectrum) loading, using spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy to measure the extent of the transformation zones. In addition, results are reviewed which rationalize distinctions between the crack-growth behavior of preexisting, long'' (> 2 mm), ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Microelectronic failure analysis (FA) has been an integral part of the development of state-of-the-art integrated circuits. FA of MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) is moving from its infancy stage to assume an important role in the successful design, fabrication, performance and reliability analysis for this new technology. In previous work, the authors focused on the application of several techniques developed for integrated circuit analysis to an earlier version of a surface micromachined microengine fabricated at Sandia. Recently, they have identified important new failure modes in binary counters that incorporate a newer design of the microengine, using a subset of integrated circuit failure analysis techniques including optical microscopy, focused ion beam (FIB) techniques, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The primary failure mode they have identified is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This probabilistic analysis of WIPP TRUDOCK crane failure is based on two sources of failure data. The source for operator errors is the report by Swain and Guttman, NUREG/CR-1278-F, August 1983. The source for crane cable hook breaks was initially made by WIPP/WID-96- 2196, Rev. O by using relatively old (1970s) U.S. Navy data (NUREG-0612). However, a helpful analysis by R.K. Deremer of PLG guided the authors to values that were more realistic and more conservative, with the recommendation that the crane cable/hook failure rate should be 2.5 x 10-6 per demand. This value was adopted and used. Based on these choices a mean failure rate of 9.70 x 10-3(1/yr) was calculated. However, a mean rate by itself does not reveal the level of confidence to be associated with this number. Guidance to making confidence calculations came from the report by Swain and Guttman, who stated that ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Airborne pollutants can cause failures in switching and computing equipment. This paper focuses on a subset of such pollutants - airborne fine particles (<2.5 [mu]m diameter). It begins by examining the extent to which different improvements in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems reduce indoor concentrations of fine particles. For each modification, the consequent reduction in soiling rate is derived. The concomitant increase in operating costs is also calculated. These costs are then compared with the costs of failures in telephone switching offices, leading to estimates of failure rate reductions that would make improvements cost-effective. Finally, the reduction in failures required to offset the costs of the improvements are compared with documented differences in failure rates between unimproved and improved environments. This study suggests that, in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This study describes the formulations to optimize the time interval of inspections and/or replacements of equipment/parts taking into account the probability density functions (PDF) for failure rates and parameters of failure distribution functions (FDF) and evaluates the optimized results of these time intervals using our formulations by comparing with those using only representative values of failure rates and the parameters of FDF instead of using these PDFs. The PDFs are obtained with Bayesian method and the representative values are obtained with likelihood estimation method. However, any significant difference is not observed between both optimized results within our preliminary calculations. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A wood/polymer composite was produced by impregnating Ramin wood with methyl methacrylate monomer and subsequently polymerizing it by gamma irradiation. To assess the improvement in compression strength of the wood caused by the polymer impregnation, a microbuckling compression failure mechanism was used to model the compression failure of the composite. Such a mechanism was found to predict a linear relationship between the compression strength and the percentage polymer impregnation (by weight). Uniaxial compression test results at 45(#+-#5)% and 90(#+-#5)% relative humidity levels, after being statistically analysed, showed that such a linear relationship was valid for up to 100% polymer impregnation. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The wind industry has experienced premature turbine component failures during the past years. With the increase in turbine size, these failures, especially those found in the major drivetrain components, i.e. main shaft, gearbox, and generator, have become extremely costly. Given that the gearbox is the most costly component in the drivetrain to fix, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) initiated the Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC) to determine the causes for premature gearbox failures and subsequently, recommend improvements to gearbox design, manufacture, and operational practices. The GRC has two identical test gearboxes, which are planned for a dynamometer and a field test, respectively.

Science.gov (United States)

Ultimate Compressive Strength = 3000.0 psi. 3.0 Failure Criteria. The structural criteria used to evaluate the combustor components was chosen ...

Science.gov (United States)

of the Intelligent Control System (ICS) for reusable rocket engines. .... the incoming measurements with corresponding estimates, a sensor failure can be ...

Science.gov (United States)

Kidney Failure, Chronic

Science.gov (United States)

The location of defective LMFBR fuel pins by the determination of gas tag isotopic ratios is discussed. The application of this method to the FFTF Reactor briefly described.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Corrosion failures in circuits of foreign NPPs are considered. According to American statistics there are more corrosion failures in two-circuit NPPs than in NPPs with one circuit. Steam generators mostly suffer from ''corrosion denting''. Lately pitting corrosion becomes a potentially serious problem. Steam generator vertical tubes are mainly subjected to this corrosion type. Attention is drawn to intercrystalline corrosion. The causes of corrosion are described. The problem of optimization of structural materials is discussed to reduce corrosion failures as well as other methods of decreasing corrosion failures. Organization of nondestructive testing, increased requirements to water and steam purity are of great importance.

Science.gov (United States)

... position must not be penalized in their NCO Evaluation Report (NCOER). ... failure to perform MOS-, SQI-, or ASI-related duties after counseling. ...

Science.gov (United States)

reaching their ultimate compressive strength. Thus, when applying a lamina stress analysis in conjunction with a failure model, one must ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

This thesis - Resource Management in Broadband Communication Networks - deals with different ways of optimizing the available resources of data- or telecommunication networks. Especially topics like optimal routing, load balancing and fast recovery of routes in case of link failures are covered. The first part gives a brief description of some of the existing protocols for routing and controlling resources, such as RSVP, OSPF, BGP, PNNI, etc. The remaining part concerns the following two fundamentally different approaches to resource management etc.: - Software agents - Simulated ants In the beginning of the part concerning software agents a description of what exactly constitutes software agents, according to the scientists and according to the organization, FIPA is given. After this, the main results from the IMPACT project are presented. The IMPACT project is an EU-project that aimed at developing a demonstration platform, where software agents handled virtually ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During the past 10 years, five infants with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (K-M) receiving radiation therapy were reported. We investigated whether radiation therapy for K-M was useful and what the unfavorable factors of K-M were. During the past 10 years, we have treated five infants with K-M. The syndrome occurred at ages ranging from birth to 4 months. The incidence of female to male ratio was 3:2. Among 5 cases, the site of hemangioma was as follows; shoulder, anterior chest wall, lower abdominal wall, face and neck and inguinal site. All 5 cases received medication to control the coagulopathy including prednisone and blood transfusion at first. Because the platelet count and the bleeding tendency did not improve in any case, these cases received radiation therapy. Total dose ranged from 5 to 10 Gy and fraction-size ranged from 0.5 to 1.75 Gy. Irradiation session was 2 or 3 times per week. In 5 cases, 4 cases showed cure of bleeding tendency and disappearance of tumor, and survived. In ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Neuroblasts in the developing Drosophila CNS asymmetrically localize the cell fate determinants Numb and Prospero as well as prospero RNA to the basal cortex during...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The defects localization in power cables follows several steps: identification, pre-localization and precise localization. Pre-localization methods, other than echo-metry, are presented first: bridge methods, particular case of low voltage networks, future perspectives. Then, the precise localization methods are described: magneto-acoustic method, audible frequencies method. The particular case of underwater and high-voltage cables is considered too (oil and gas leaks detection). (J.S.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Failure of multiple components due to a common cause represents one of the most important issues in evaluation of system reliability or unavailability. The frequency of such events has relatively low expectancy, when compared to random failures, which affect individual components. However, in many cases the consequence is a direct loss of safety system or mitigative safety function. For this reason, the modeling of a common cause failure (CCF) and its presentation in fault tree structure is of the uttermost importance in probabilistic safety analyses (PSA). Amongst the different techniques available to reduce the impact of common cause failures, the most important operations related technique, is that of staggered testing. In the TAPP 3,4 Level-1 PSA it was found that the contribution of Common Cause Failures to the Core Damage Frequency (CDF) was significant. The Common Cause ...

Science.gov (United States)

Only a small number of radiation accidents in the United States have been severe enough to result in multi-organ failure (MOF). Medical details of selected medical misadministration and criticality cases are reviewed, with an emphasis on pathophysiology. The four criticality cases are particularly relevant for analysis of MOF, since medical treatment was supportive and did not appreciably alter the clinical evolution of radiation injury. PMID:15975871

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report contains the results of a survey of reactor coolant pump shaft seal reliability. The survey sample is representatively large (approx. = 27% of total US commercial plant population) and includes the three industry seal suppliers (Bingham-Williamette, Byron Jackson, and Westinghouse). Operationally incurred/induced problems and seal redesign parameters are identified. Failure hypotheses in the form of fault trees have been developed to describe the failure mechanisms. Recommendations are made for seal reliability improvement.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Probabilistic assessment methods can be used to identify specific plant vulnerabilities. Application of such methods can also facilitate selection among system design alternatives available for safety enhancements. The quality of assessment results is however strongly dependent on realistic and accurate input data for modelling of system component behaviour and failure modes during conditions to be assessed. Use of conservative input data may not lead to results providing guidance on safety upgrades. Adequate input data for probabilistic assessments seems to be lacking for at least failure modes of some electrical components when exposed to a fire. This report presents an attempt to improve the situation with respect to such input data. In order to take advantage of information in existing documentation of fire incident occurrences some of the lessons learned from the fire at Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant on March 22, 1975 are discussed in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Power devices such as MOSFETSs and IGBTs, include parasitic structures that can give rise to destructive failures such as breakdown and latch-up. To determine a suitable strategy for device radiation hardening, simulation software like MEDICI-2D can be used to model the effects of technological modifications and device parameters that are difficult to measure experimentally. (authors).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Science.gov (United States)

... of a secondary standard (VCO) locally available. ... phase of the local secondary standards to the 10-min average of the phase of ... I3a - - \\.-e-~--. ...

Science.gov (United States)

... dartevellei is only known from the type locality (Matadi, Lower Congo River basin) and it has only ... the type locality is in the region of Matadi, and not only of Matadi itself. If there ... ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Reliability has an impact on wind energy project costs and benefits. Both life test data and field failure data can be used for reliability analysis. In wind energy industry, wind farm operators have greater interest in recording wind turbine operating data. However, field failure data may be tainted or incomplete, and therefore it needs a more general mathematical model and algorithms to solve the model. The aim of this paper is to provide a solution to this problem. A three-parameter Weibull failure rate function is discussed for wind turbines and the parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood and least squares. Two populations of German and Danish wind turbines are analyzed. The traditional Weibull failure rate function is also employed for comparison. Analysis shows that the three-parameter Weibull function can obtain more accuracy on reliability growth of wind turbines. This work will be ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

As part of the Nondestructive Evaluation Reliability Program sponsored by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Pacific Northwest Laboratory is developing a method that uses risk-based approaches to establish in-service inspection plans for nuclear power plant components. This method uses probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) results and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FEMA) techniques to identify and prioritize the most risk-important systems and components for inspection. The Surry Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 was selected for pilot applications of this method. The specific systems addressed in this report are the reactor pressure vessel, the reactor coolant, the low-pressure injection, and the auxiliary feedwater. The results provide a risk-based ranking of components within these systems and relate the target risk to target failure probability values for individual components. These results will be used to guide the development of ...

Science.gov (United States)

... the type locality on the Zaire River at Matadi, where it was first recorded in the 1940s ... ...

Science.gov (United States)

... Congo, Guinea Equatorial, and Angola. The record from Matadi from the Lower Congo and the type locality ... ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper is concerned with the development and application of an analytical method for the performance prediction of air cooled condensers. A local analysis is employed in which the condenser is considered as a matrix of small basic heat transfer modules. For each element, local film coefficients for both the air and the condensing fluid are determined according to the existing local conditions, including the two-phase flow regime. The paper considers an application of the method to heat pump condensing.

Science.gov (United States)

ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDIES INTO THE MORPHOLOGY AND LOCALIZATION OF OMSK HEMORRHAGIC FEVER VIRUS IN INFECTED ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

... americium 241 americium 242 americium 243 curium 242 environment local

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A series of six transient tests was performed on FFTF irradiated fuel pins to demonstrate their transient performance capability. The tests were performed in the TREAT reactor using sodium loops and instrumented test trains. The TEMECH computer code was used to design overpower transients which would simulate FFTF fuel pin thermal conditions during slow and fast unprotected transients. Some tests were run to substantial overpower levels but terminated prior to fuel pin failure, while other tests were intentionally extended to fuel failure to establish failure thresholds and characteristics. Post-test examination data provided significant cladding strain and fuel melting information used for performance code calibration and validation. These data showed that cladding damage caused by fuel melting is related to the steady state condition of the fuel.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The performance of steam generator tubes in water-cooled nuclear power reactors has been reviewed for 1979. Tube failures occurred at 38 of the 93 reactors surveyed. Causes of these failures and procedures designed to deal with them are described. The defect rate was twice that in 1978 but still lower than the two previous years. Methods being employed to detect defects include increasing use of multifrequency eddy-current testing and a trend to full-length inspection of all tubes. To reduce the incidence of tube failures by corrosion, plant operators are turning to full-flow condensate demineralization and more leak-resistant condenser tubes. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The aim of the risk assessment consists of a comparative security evaluation for the SNR-300 and the PWR Biblis B. The failure analysis focusses on the reactor core; in addition, possible fission product release from the spent fuel pits is examined. By reliability analyses, the frequency of events leading to incidents is determined together with the probability of core destruction. In the accident analysis, the kind and frequency of failure of the activity barriers, i.e., primary system (reactorvessel) and inner and outer containment are investigated for the various incident sequences. The radionuclide release into the environment is classified into five different release categories. Besides internal failures, external causes (especially earthquakes and plane crashes) are considered under the aspect of their risk contribution. (RF).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper presents a probabilistic approach for structural robustness assessment for a timber structure built a few years ago. The robustness analysis is based on a structural reliability based framework for robustness and a simplified mechanical system modelling of a timber truss system. A complex timber structure with a large number of failure modes is modelled with only a few dominant failure modes. First, a component based robustness analysis is performed based on the reliability indices of the remaining elements after the removal of selected critical elements. The robustness is expressed and evaluated by a robustness index. Next, the robustness is assessed using system reliability indices where the probabilistic failure model is modelled by a series system of parallel systems.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Premature Failure of a Riata Defibrillator Lead. A 63-year-old woman with a St. Jude Medical Riata 1570 right ventricular lead complained of intermittent hiccups 2 months after implant. Interrogation revealed elevated pacing threshold and diaphragmatic stimulation. Pacing and shock lead impedances remained stable. No inappropriate sensing was noted. Fluoroscopic examination of the lead revealed a thin radio-opaque wire seen between the 2 defibrillator coils away from the main body of the lead. After extraction, a tear in the insulation of the lead was noted allowing the inner wire to protrude. This case illustrates a novel mechanism of insulation failure without inappropriate sensing or impedance change.-(J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 1070-1072, September 2011)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An availability assessment of the principal systems of the Heber Geothermal Power Plant has been carried out based on the final issue of the process descriptions, process flow diagrams, and the approved for design P and IDs prepared by Fluor Power Services, Inc. (FPS). The principal systems are those which contribute most to plant unavailability. The plant equivalent availability, considering forced and deferred corrective maintenance outages, was computed using a 91 state Markov model to represent the 29 principal system failure configurations and their significant combinations. The failure configurations and associated failure and repair rates were defined from system/subsystem availability assessments that were conducted using the availability assessments based on the EPRI GO methodology and availability block diagram models. The availability and unavailability ranking of the systems and major equipment is presented.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The reliability analysis of the Fast Flux Test Facility reactor shutdown system was reevaluated. Failure information based on five years of plant operating experience was used to verify original reliability numbers or to establish new ones. Also, system modifications made subsequent to performance of the original analysis were incorporated into the reevaluation. Reliability calculations and sensitivity analyses were performed using a commercially available spreadsheet on a personal computer. The spreadsheet was configured so that future failures could be tracked and compared with expected failures. A number of recommendations resulted from the reevaluation including both increased and decreased surveillance intervals. All recommendations were based on meeting or exceeding existing reliability goals. Considerable cost savings will be incurred upon implementation of the recommendations.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Analyses were performed of the safety-related performance of the reactor protection system (RPS) at U.S. Westinghouse and General Electric commercial reactors during the period 1984 through 1995. RPS operational data from these reactors were collected from the Nuclear Plant Reliability Data System (NPRDS) and Licensee Event Reports (LER). The common-cause failure (CCF) modeling in the fault trees developed for these studies and the analysis and use of common-cause failure data were sophisticated, state-of-the-art efforts. The overall CCF effort helped to test and expand the limits of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's CCF methodology.

Scientific Electronic Library Online (English)

Abstract in english AIM: This prospective randomized clinical study was conducted to compare radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) with wire-guided localization to evaluate optimum localization techniques for non-palpable breast lesions. METHODS: A total of 108 patients who were undergoing an excisional biopsy for non-palpable breast lesions requiring pathologic diagnosis were randomly assigned to the ROLL group (n = 56) and wire-guided localization group (n = 52). In the study, pati (more) ents' characteristics, radiological abnormalities, radiological technique of localization, localization time, operation time, weight of the excised specimen, clearance margins, pathological diagnosis and perioperative complications were assessed. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age, radiological abnormalities and ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundModern metal-on-metal hip resurfacing implants are being increasingly used for young and active patients, although the long-term outcome and failure mechanisms of these...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

HIV-1 nonsubtype B variants account for the majority of HIV infections worldwide. Drug resistance in individuals who have never undergone antiretroviral therapy can lead to early failure and...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundIsoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice has been used in a number of studies to model human cardiac disease. In this study, we compared the transcriptional response...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Aging is a risk factor for heart failure, which is a leading cause of death world-wide. Elderly patients are more likely than young patients to experience a myocardial infarction (MI) and are...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThere is a strong inverse relationship between final vessel diameter and subsequent risk of treatment failure after coronary stent deployment. The aim of this study was...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundContrast-induced nephropathy is the leading cause of in-hospital acute renal failure. This side effect of contrast agents leads to increased morbidity, mortality, and health...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Failures in cortical control of fronto-striatal neural circuits may underpin impulsive and compulsive acts. In this narrative review, we explore these behaviors from the perspective of neural processes...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It is well known that the lightning protection of transmission lines is exclusively relying on their correct initial design. Although detailed engineering studies are usually performed by electric power utilities for the design of new transmission lines, there are reported cases where the design is based simply on tradition or on utilities' standardization policy. In this paper, the lightning protection of high-voltage transmission lines is faced as an optimization problem where optimum design parameters are calculated for the lines, relating their cost with the lightning failures' cost, aiming to reduce or even eliminate lightning failures. The optimization method considers all the available protection means, i.e. ground wires and surge arresters. In order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, it is applied on several operating Hellenic transmission lines of 150 kV carefully selected among others due to their ...

Science.gov (United States)

Oct 25, 2000 ... The shutdown 9310 HPFTP Roller Bearing Inner Race Failure Rate is then: 0.50 X 10/100k = 5 fail/100k firings. Reliability Prediction ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Bone remodeling is necessary to avoid microdamage accumulation, which could lead to whole-bone failure. Previous studies have shown that this bone-repair mechanism is triggered by osteocyte apoptosis....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Silver-haired bat rabies virus (SHBRV) infection induces a strong virus-specific immune response in the periphery of the host, but death is common due to the failure to open the blood-brain barrier...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The presence of DNA-anti-DNA complexes in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was investigated by two new radioimmunoassays (RIA) developed for this purpose and by measuring the...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

ObjectivesThis studys examined the relationship between substance use disorder (SUD) and intimate partner violence screening (IPV) and management practices in the...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The probabilistic external events analysis performed for the Savannah River Site K-reactor PRA considered many different events which are generally perceived to be external'' to the reactor and its systems, such as fires, floods, seismic events, and transportation accidents (as well as many others). Events which have been shown to be significant contributors to risk include seismic events, tornados, a crane failure scenario, fires and dam failures. The total contribution to the core melt frequency from external initiators has been found to be 2.2 {times} 10{sup {minus}4} per year, from which seismic events are the major contributor (1.2 {times} 10{sup {minus}4} per year). Fire initiated events contribute 1.4 {times} 10{sup {minus}7} per year, tornados 5.8 {times} 10{sup {minus}7} per year, dam failures 1.5 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} per year and the crane failure scenario less than ...

Science.gov (United States)

Present methods for planning reliability improvement of launch vehicles are reviewed. A theoretical criterion for optimum allocation of resources for reliability improvement exists that requires equal marginal failure reduction for all elements to be impr...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Acetaminophen (APAP), a widely used analgesic and antipyretic that is considered to be relatively safe at recommended doses, is the leading cause of drug-induced liver failure in the United States....Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Research is in progress to obtain a satisfactory creep ductility for alloy 800 when used as heat exchanger material in sodium-cooled fast reactors (LMFBR). The creep test characteristics at present available show that a pronounced tendency to reduced elongation by creep failure may arise after prolonged testing in the 500-700 deg C temperature range. This phenomenon is now agreed to be primarily inherent to the conditions for Ni_3(Ti,Al) precipitation in the material and hence to the Ti and Al concentrations. By structural studies and hardness measurements on material subjected to creep tests and taken from a large number of castings, the relationship was established between the (Ti+Al) content and the structural hardness effect of Ni_3(Ti,Al) at 600 deg C. Below a certain Ti+Al concentration, no precipitation occurs and hence the creep ductility to failure can be improved considerably by limiting the allowed Ti+Al content in the material, ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe elevated serum and peritoneal cytokine concentrations responsible for the systemic response syndrome (SIRS) and multiorgan failure in patients with severe acute pancreatitis...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Failure of bone under monotonic and cyclic loading is related to the bone mineral density, the quality of the bone matrix and the evolution of microcracks. The theory of linear elastic fracture...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Evaluating the systolic function of the left ventricle (LV) is important in the hemodynamic management of the critically ill patients with circulatory failure. Echocardiography is considered the standard...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The free radical theory of ageing posits that accrual of oxidative damage underlies the increased cellular, tissue and organ dysfunction and failure associated with advanced age. In support of this...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting the failure of trials (<50% pain reduction in pain for trial period) to improve success rate of spinal...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Due to the recent catastrophic energy system failures in California along with those in the North-Eastern US and Southern Canada, London, and Italy, the time has come to proclaim the failure of deregulation, privatization or liberalization and propose a new energy system. This book shows in the first section, how five precipitating forces led to the deregulation debacle in California: (1) major technological changes and commercialization, (2) regulatory needs mismatched to societal adjustments, (3) inadequate and flawed economic models, (4) lack of vision, goals, and planning leading to energy failures, and (5) failure and lack of economic regional development. The second half of the book, examines how 'civic market', new economic models, and planning for complexity as sustainable economic development transformed in California, the same five forces to create an 'agile energy ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Procedures for {sup 131}I ablation in renal failure are not known. In one patient receiving dialysis, detailed dosimetry and health safety aspects were obtained. The results showed insignificant contamination of equipment, but a surprisingly significant reduction in biologic half-life of {sup 131}I due to efficient dialysis extraction. The data indicate that {sup 131}I ablation can be done safely and easily during dialysis but that much higher {sup 131}I doses must be used to achieve equivalent results to those obtained in patients with normal renal function.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

High strain fatigue problem in steam turbine. Cyclic stress strain hysteresis loops and stress relaxation behaviour in 16 h dwell period tests. Variation of stress and strain during tests under nominally strain controlled conditions. Definition of test conditions and of criteria for crack initiation and failure. Comparison of reverse bend and push pull failure data. (orig.) 891 RW/orig. 892 RKD.

Science.gov (United States)

Analytical models for predicting the deformation and failure of composite sandwich panels subjected to blast and projectile impact loading are presented in this paper. The analytical predictions of the transient deformations and damage initiation in the composite sandwich panels were compared with finite element solutions using ABAQUS Explicit. For the blast model, the predicted transient deformation of the sandwich panel was within 7%of FEA results, while the predicted damage initiation using Hashin's composite failure criteria was about 15%higher than FEA results in most cases. For the high velocity impact model, the predicted transient deformations were within 20%of FEA results.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The nitric acid solution dissolving nuclear fuel material is transferred with the three way valve called VCV (VCV: vide-casse-vide in Fr.) using vacuum in the Tokai Reprocessing Plant. The initial VCV was not reliable because it had broken with in 1 or 2 years. The cause of failure was damage of the plastic diaphragms in the moving parts. Then, the new VCV valve with stainless-steel bellows was developed. There is no failure in moving parts in 20 years, therefore reliability is significantly improved. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

From the beginning, one of the most useful applications of Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) is its use in evaluating the risk importance of changes to plant design, operations, or other plant conditions. Risk importance measures the impact of a change on the risk. Risk is defined as a combination of the likelihood of failure and consequence of the failure. The consequence can be safety system unavailability, core melt frequency, early release, or various other consequence measures. The goal in this PSA application is to evaluate the risk importance of an ISI process, as applied to plant piping systems. Two approaches can be taken in this evaluation: Current PSA Approach or the Blended Approach. Both are discussed here.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Since the integrity of the containment penetrations was confirmed under accident management (AM) conditions in the former test, failure criteria tests and aerosol trapping tests were carried out using low-voltage modules and flange gaskets of an actual plant under severe accident (SA) conditions, without AM. The safety margin for failure temperature of the penetrations and the credit for fission product (FP) aerosol trapping effect along the leakage paths of the degraded penetrations were evaluated in the present tests. Failure temperature of the penetrations ranged from 270 to 300degC for low-voltage modules and 300 to 350degC for flange gaskets under 0.4 to 1.0 MPa conditions. Pressure dependency on failure temperature was small. This means that the safety margin of failure temperature under AM condition is more than 70degC. By introducing a equivalent leak area for the damaged ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Paraquat poisoning in mammals results in a characteristic lung lesion manifested principally as progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Paraquat is actively concentrated into the lung but the site of uptake remains undefined. A method is described for the autoradiographic localization of paraquat in rats. Preliminary evidence for the site of uptake implicates the bronchiol. (author).

CERN Document Server

Relations between parameter rigidity of locally free Lie group actions on closed manifolds and the 1st leafwise cohomology of the orbit foliations are discussed. Some computational results of the leafwise cohomology are included.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer including timing and dosage of radiotherapy, degree of sphincter preservation with neoadjuvant radiotherapy, and short and long term effects of radiotherapy...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A panel of 16 monoclonal antibodies recognizing M protein (M1) of influenza virus was generated. Competition analyses resulted in localization of 14 monoclonal antibodies to three antigenic sites. Three...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

Page 1. Mt N Local Spatial Frequency Analysis N for Computer Vision N John Krumm and Steven A. Shafer CMU-RI-TR-90-1 1 JUNO0 8 199 0 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of this paper is to assess a new local air coolers model in ISAAC 2.0, as ISAAC 1.0 could model local air coolers only at two locations. In the new model, local air coolers up to twelve locations could be handled. Large LOCA and loss of feed water sequences were selected for the model comparison. Two cases were analyzed with ISAAC 2.0: one with 6 local air coolers in one of the fueling machine room and in the steam generator room, respectively, and the other with 3 local air coolers at both fueling machine room and 6 local air coolers in the steam generator room. The study assumes that the safety systems such as emergency core cooling system, shield cooling system and moderator cooling system are unavailable. According to the ISAAC 2.0 results, the new local air coolers model showed almost no difference between two cases. Also it ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

This work reports the design of and experimentation with a topographically patterned cell culture substrate of variable local density and anisotropy as a facile and efficient platform to guide...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

UK Nirex has announced four sites which it wishes to assess for the disposal of low-level and short-lived intermediate-level radioactive wastes. There is local opposition at all four of the potential sites. (U.K.).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

One hundred and seventy-nine patients completed a questionnaire focusing on adverse reactions to dental local anesthetics as manifested by 16 signs and symptoms. Twenty-six percent of the participants...Full Text Available

CERN Document Server

We numerically demonstrate selective near-field localization determined by the polarization state of a single emitter coupled to plasmonic nano-cluster. Seven gold nanospheres are carefully arranged such that up to ten polarization states of the single emitter, including linear, circular, and elliptical polarizations, can be distinguished via the distinct field localization in four gaps. The ability to transform polarization state into field spatial localization may find application for single emitter polarization analysis.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Science.gov (United States)

... should seek permission from the local governments and personnel assignment commissions to set up an import- export tax management office in ...

Science.gov (United States)

... The realization of directional audio technology in the cockpit may reduce visual workload, enhance the presentation of flight and threat information ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Localized corrosion has a stochastic character by nature. This character leads to an observed random behavior: fluctuations of the free potential, fluctuations of the current when a constant potential is maintained. This random signal, which is similar to an electric noise, can be analyzed either in the time domain by counting the events or in the frequency domain by measuring the power spectral density of the electrochemical noise. The experimental techniques developed for investigating the localized corrosion on the probabilistic point of view, i.e., statistical counting and power spectral density measurements, are discussed. Then the experimental results reported in the literature are reviewed in order to see what kind of parameters are accessible and how they can be related to the localized corrosion processes.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this report, we estimated the temperature of the pump rooms and reviewed the operability of the components under the loss of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Condition) system. The issues relevant to the HVAC system in the PSA (Probabilistic Safety Assessment) FT (Fault Tree) model are as follows: (1) Does the loss of the HVAC system bring about a function failure of other components? (2) Can the operator take action to reduce the temperature of the room in case of a HVAC function failure? At present, we do not know whether a component will lose its function or not under the loss of the HVAC. ASME Standard describes that a recovery action can be credited if the related recovery action is included in the procedure or there are similar recovery experiences in the plant. However, there is no description about the recovery action of the HVAC in the EOP (Emergency Operation Procedure) of the UCN3, 4 under the situation of a loss of the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper presents a stochastic model and estimation procedure for analyzing the failure process of a repairable system. We consider repairable systems whose successive interfailure times reveal a significant dependence while showing an insignificant trend. Neither the renewal process nor the non-homogeneous Poisson process are adequate for modeling such failure processes. Especially when the interfailure times show a cyclic pattern, we may consider a switching of the regimes (states) governing the lifetime distribution of the system. We propose a Markov switching model describing the failure process for such a case. The model postulates that a finite number of states governs the distinct lifetime distributions, and the state makes transitions according to a discrete-time Markov chain. Each of the distinct lifetime distributions represents a failure type that may change after successive repairs. Our ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The diversity of plant resources in the Brazilian semi-arid region is being compromised by practices related to agriculture, pastures, and forest harvesting, especially in areas containing Caatinga vegetation (xeric shrublands and thorn forests). The impact of these practices constitutes a series of complex factors involving local issues, creating a need for further scientific studies on the social-environmental dynamics of natural resource use. Through participatory methods, the present study analyzed people?s representations about local environmental change processes in the Brazilian semi-arid region, taking into consideration local production systems, natural resources, and their importance. Environmental historical graphs were developed with nine local families to analyze landscape cha...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The electronic structures of URh_3, UPd_3, UPt_3 and UAu_3 are calculated with the self-interaction-corrected local-spin-density approximation. We find that only in URh_3 the f-electrons are fully delocalized. UPt_3 has one f-electron localized at each U site, whilst a localized f"2 configuration of the U-ion is found for UPd_3. It is predicted that upon application of pressure, UPd_3 will acquire the f"1 configuration and possibly exhibit heavy-fermion behaviour. We find that UAu_3 is characterized by the same mixed localized-delocalized f-electron manifold as UPd_3. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We show that a general variant of the Wick theorems can be used to reduce the time ordered products in the Gell-Mann and Low formula for a certain class on non local quantum field theories, including the case where the interaction Lagrangian is defined in terms of twisted products. The only necessary modification is the replacement of the Stueckelberg-Feynman propagator by the general propagator (the 'contractor' of Denk and Schweda) D(y-y';#tau#-#tau#')=(1)/i(#DELTA#_+(y-y')#theta#(#tau#-#tau#')+#DELTA#+(y'-y)#theta#(#tau#'-#tau#)), where the violations of locality and causality are represented by the dependence of #tau#,#tau#' on other points, besides those involved in the contraction. This leads naturally to a diagrammatic expansion of the Gell-Mann and Low formula, in terms of the same diagrams as in the local case, the only necessary modification concerning the Feynman rules. The ordinary local ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This report is the user's manual of seismic system reliability analysis code SECOM2 (Seismic Core Melt Frequency Evaluation Code Ver.2) developed at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute for systems reliability analysis, which is one of the tasks of seismic probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) of nuclear power plants (NPPs). The SECOM2 code has many functions such as: Calculation of component failure probabilities based on the response factor method, Extraction of minimal cut sets (MCSs), Calculation of conditional system failure probabilities for given seismic motion levels at the site of an NPP, Calculation of accident sequence frequencies and the core damage frequency (CDF) with use of the seismic hazard curve, Importance analysis using various indicators, Uncertainty analysis, Calculation of the CDF taking into account the effect of the correlations of responses and capacities of components, and Efficient sensitivity analysis by ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The use of deuterium-tritium fuel in the Compact Ignition Tokamak will require applying remote handling technology for ex-vessel maintenance and replacement of machine components. Highly activated and contaminated components of the fusion devices auxiliary systems, such as diagnostics and RF heating, must be replaced using remotely operated maintenance equipment in the test cell. In-vessel remote maintenance included replacement of divertor and first wall hardware, faraday shields, and for an in-vessel inspection system. Provision for remote replacement of a vacuum vessel sector, toroidal field coil or poloidal field ring coil was not included in the project baseline. As a result of recent coil failures experienced at a number of facilities, the CIT project decided to reconsider the question of remote recovery from a coil failure and, in January of 1990, initiated a coil replacement study. This study focused on the technical requirements and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper demonstrates that a commercial-scale facility for encapsulating krypton-85 in zeolite-5A or glass at a 2000 MTHM per year nuclear fuel reprocessing plant can be designed to contain fragments and the 340 to 850 kCi krypton-85 inventory from an assumed catastrophic failure of the high pressure vessel. The vessel failure was assumed as a worst case and was not based on a detailed design evaluation or operating experience. The process design is based on existing commercial hot isostatic pressing technology operated at up to 40 times the scale required for krypton encapsulation. From the calculated process gas inventory in the pressure vessel and vessel design, the maximum explosive energy of 8.4 kg TNT and resulting vessel plug and fragment velocities were calculated. The facility Containment Cell housing the high pressure vessel was designed to contain the gases, fragments, and the shock wave energy calculated for a hypothetical vessel ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Westinghouse is currently conducting the pre-application licensing of the International Reactor Innovative and Secure (IRIS). One of the key aspects of the IRIS design is its safety-by-designTM philosophy and within this framework the PRA is being used as an integral part of the design process. The most ambitious risk-related goal for IRIS is to reduce the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) to within the exclusion area by demonstrating that the off-site doses are consistent with the US Protective Action Guidelines (PAGs) for initiation of emergency response so that the required protective actions would be limited to the exclusion area. As a first step, a model has been developed to provide a first order approximation of the Large Early Release Frequency (LERF) as a surrogate predictor of the off-site doses. A key-aspect of the LERF model development is the characterization of the possible paths of release. Four main categories have been historically pointed out: (1) Core Damage (CD ) ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There are two kinds of uncertainties in safety assessment of engineering structures. One is of the nature of randomness, and the other fuzziness. Fuzzy uncertainties exist in defining certain structural performances, conditions, parameters, and their interrelationships. The theory of fuzzy sets should be employed to cope with the fuzzy uncertainties. In this paper, a general definition for structural failure considering the fuzzy uncertainties is introduced firstly. Failure of the structure is modelled by a fuzzy event, and described by the membership function. The limit state surface is then replaced by a fuzzy limit state zone, in which every point represents a state belonging to the failure with a certain degree of membership. Then a fuzzy optimization problem for solving the reliability index is formulated. In classical structural reliability theory, the reliability index is defined by the minimum distance from the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The downstream failure of cable during winding, insulating, coil winding, and coil assembly is a significant issue in magnet production. The impact of these failures are costly both financially, and from the time to recover from this downstream failure. The current approach to cabling has been to visually inspect the cable for any gross defects during cabling. To date this has been effective in finding small defects such as crossovers for example, which drastically reduce the mechanical integrity of the strand, and thus the cable itself. But because of the large volume of cable which will be manufactured an automated flaw detection system which can inspect the cable and detect these type of defects will be needed. We have recently done an on-line experiment using an Eddy current system, and specialized Eddy current probes to inspect cable during manufacturing. We will present the results of our inspection demonstrating ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Reliability and Availability Data System (RADS) is a database and analysis code, developed by the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC). The code is designed to estimate industry and plant-specific reliability and availability parameters for selected components in risk-important systems and initiating events for use in risk-informed applications. The RADS tool contains data and information based on actual operating experience from U.S. commercial nuclear power plants. The data contained in RADS is kept up-to-date by loading the most current quarter's Equipment Performance and Information Exchange (EPIX) data and by yearly lods of initiating event data from licensee event reports (LERS). The reliability parameters estimated by RADS are (1) probability of failure on demand, (2) failure rate during operation (used to calculate failure to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

One of the main applications of PSA studies is related to identification of the major key issues related to plant safety. In standard PSA one assumes a constant value for component failure rates by considering that the component doesn't experience any degradation that could affect its performance. Used in this manner, standard PSA tools do not adequately address important ageing issues, and this fact could have a significant impact on the conclusions drawn from PSA studies and applications, in conditions of operation of ageing plants. To obtain realistic results, it is necessary to consider in the PSA model the ageing effects, and to do that it is necessary to take into consideration the change in component failure rate as a function of component age. In case of ageing phenomena, this dependence causes the failure rate of a component (or a set of components) to increase in time as the component age increase. The paper ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Some considerations regarding ice load in risk-based dam safety analysis are presented for small concrete dams. The most significant physical mechanisms leading to ice thrust on dams (such as thermal expansion and water level fluctuations) are outlined. Published literature on dam ice loads to examine ice load magnitude-return period relationships, sliding and overstressing failure mechanisms and structural performance criteria to resist ice loads, are also reviewed. Related loading combinations for structural safety evaluations were determined regarding the issue of simultaneity of ice loads with other events such as earthquakes. Parametric analyses were conducted on a small gravity dam section, 3m high, and a taller dam, 17.9 m high, to demonstrate the ultimate ice load carrying capability as a function of dam geometry and shear and tensile strengths of construction joints. Since the failure mechanism of a dam subjected to excessive ice loads ...

CERN Document Server

Liquid-liquid wetting failure is investigated in a two-dimensional Couette system with two immiscible fluids of arbitrary viscosity. The problem is solved exactly using a sharp interface treatment of hydrodynamics (lubrication theory) as a function of the capillary number, viscous ratio and separation of scale, i.e. slip length versus macroscopic scale of the system. The existence of critical velocities, above which no stationary solutions are found, is analyzed in detail in terms of the relevant parameters of the system. Comparisons with existing analysis for other geometries are also carried out. A numerical method of analysis is also presented, based on diffuse interface models obtained from multiphase extensions of the lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE). Sharp interface and diffuse interface models are quantitatively compared face to face indicating the correct limit of applicability of the diffuse interface models.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper is concerned with the fracture analysis of thin cylindrical shells subject to secondary bending stresses with some degree of elastic follow-up. A P.Y.F.M. failure assessment route is utilised for an initial investigation. Results are presented graphically and indicate the differences obtained by considering the stresses as primary or secondary in nature. The Jsup(*) contour integral is computed from the results of a non-linear finite element analysis of a thermally loaded cracked cylinder. Comparison is made between Jsup(*) and the P.Y.F.M. failure criteria demonstrating the degree of conservatism in the latter. It is observed that LEFM may be appropriate for moderate load levels but that the elastic follow-up of the structure causes enhancement of Jsup(*) for higher loads, at which stage LEFM becomes non-conservative. (orig.).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

RIFLE criteria have been used to determine the incidence of acute kidney dysfunction (AKD) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, no studies have focused on the incidence of AKD after OLT in patients with normal pre-OLT kidney functions. Using the RIFLE criteria, we determined the incidence and risk factors for AKD after OLT in patients with normal pre-OLT kidney function. We retrospectively analyzed the records of 112 patients who underwent OLT from January 2000 to February 2009 with normal prior kidney function. We investigated three levels of renal dysfunction outlined in the RIFLE criteria: risk (R); injury (I); and failure (F). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected. AKD occurred in 64 (57%) OLTs with risk, injury, and failure frequenc...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Objectives: Intra-operative cisplatin-based intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (IPC) may alter renal function in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The aim of this study was to describe postoperative alteration of renal function after cisplatin-based IPC and to identify risk factors for moderate to severe acute renal failure. Study design: This prospective observational study was carried out on 77 consecutive patients who underwent cisplatin-based IPC procedures, with (n=23) or without (n=54) intra-peritoneal epinephrine, for advanced ovarian cancer. Postoperative renal function was assessed using serial serum creatinine measurements and was based on serum creatinine changes from pre-operative values, according to the risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) classificat...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report gives a brief introduction to the project `Probabilistic Design Tool for Wind Turbines` - PRODETO - which was carried out during the years 1996-98 with partial funding from the European Commission under the Non-Nuclear Energy Programme JOULE III. The report gives an overview of the objectives and motivation for the project, and the methodology used. In this context, an example of reliability-based wind turbine design against fatigue failure is outlined with emphasis on the various important steps herein, which include probabilistic load and resistance modelling, calculation of failure probability, and calibration of partial safety factors for use with a deterministic design code format. The results of the project are presented with emphasis on a developed computer program and its capabilities, and the various elements of an executed case study are outlined. A list of project reports concludes the report. (au)

Science.gov (United States)

The exposure and subsequent undermining of pier/abutment foundations through the scouring action of a flood can result in the structural failure of a bridge. Bridge scour is one of the leading causes of bridge failure. Bridges subject to periods of flood/high flow require monitoring during those times in order to protect the traveling public. In this study, an innovative scour monitoring system using button-like fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors was developed and applied successfully in the field during the Aere typhoon period in 2004. The in situ FBG scour monitoring system has been demonstrated to be robust and reliable for real-time scour-depth measurements, and to be valid for indicating depositional depth at the Dadu Bridge. The field results show that this system can function well and survive a typhoon flood.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A test program was conducted under contract to Sandia National Laboratories to investigate water/steam effects on elevated temperature low cycle fatigue and creep-fatigue of Alloy 800. This report presents interpretation and analysis of the test results. Tubular specimens with water sealed inside were cycled to failure under strain control. Tests were conducted to 616K (650/sup 0/F) and 922K (1200/sup 0/F); some at 922K included tensile or compressive hold periods to simulate creep-fatigue conditions. The tubular specimens showed significantly lower lives than solid bar specimens cycled at equivalent strain ranges. Rough internal surfaces contributed to early crack initiation with these specimens. Inclusion of hold periods caused further large reductions in cycles to failure.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Diurnal and seasonal thermal constancy, a greatly delayed seasonal temperature maximum, and summer cool and winter warm conditions characterize the stream environment below a deep-release dam in Colorado. Low diversity index and equitability values and changes in macroinvertebrate species composition may result from failure of the temperature regime to provide the thermal stimuli essential for various life-cycle phenomena. It is hypothesized that the following sublethal effects, directly or indirectly resulting from the modified temperature regime, may further alter macroinvertebrate community structure: reduction of niche overlap and a shift toward an equilibrium community as a consequence of reduced environmental fluctuation; more intense competition associated with greater productivity; elimination of major invertebrate predators; and failure of the limited temperature range to provide optimal temperatures for various physiological ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The first cardiac pacemaker implants occurred in the late 1950s and involved insertion of epicardial or epimyocardial leads and abdominal pulse generators. By the mid 1960s, cardiologists were making attempts to insert transvenous leads into the right ventricle. These early unipolar leads had large, polished, high polarization electrodes, no fixation device, and no lumen in which to place a stylet for lead positioning. The lead implantation procedures were usually long and the irradiation to both patient and operator excessive. Pulse generators were powered by zinc-mercury cells, which were large, unreliable, and prone to sudden output failure. Postoperative complications such as lead dislodgement, exit block, and premature power source failure were very common with most patients requiring...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The author applies the GO methodology to reliability analysis of the offsite power supply system of Daya Bay NPP. The direct quantitative calculation formulas of the stable reliability target of the system with shared signals and the dynamic calculation formulas of the state probability for the unit with two states are derived. The method to solve the fault event sets of the system is also presented and all the fault event sets of the outer power supply system and their failure probability are obtained. The resumption reliability of the offsite power supply system after the stability failure of the power net is also calculated. The result shows that the GO methodology is very simple and useful in the stable and dynamic reliability analysis of the repairable system

Science.gov (United States)

Ectopically located parathyroid adenomas may be difficult to find during initial neck exploration. They account for over 70 percent of missed adenomas found at reexploration. Preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas would reduce unnecessary dissection and possibly reduce the number of negative results of initial neck exploration. Before reoperative parathyroid surgery is performed, some means of localization is mandatory to detect ectopic adenomas in the neck and mediastinum. Computed tomography and ultrasonography cannot effectively evaluate the mediastinum. Angiography and venous parathyroid hormone sampling are invasive, costly, and tedious to perform. We have shown that thallium-201 will accurately localize ectopic parathyroid adenomas. All 10 adenomas found in positions not immediately adjacent to the thyroid gland were detected by thallium-201 scintigraphy. One was a mediastinal adenoma resected with a median ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A metamaterial that is composed of solid viscoelastic elements with controllable properties is proposed in this Letter. This enables an adaptable and general acoustic metamaterial to be practically realised. An array of masses with a single elastic connection to a supporting viscoelastic structure, such as one that is dynamically equivalent to an array of Helmholtz resonators, only provides a system with negative effective mass. A local active control scheme applied to each of these masses can emulate additional elastic connections to the supporting structure. An array of masses with a suitable local control scheme can provide both the negative effective stiffness and mass required for negative refraction. The tuneable feedback control parameters determine the characteristics of the region...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Excitation of the HF electric field in the local plasma resonance region (LPRR) of inhomogeneous plasma by pumping electric field or modulated electron beam results to appearance of the ponderomotive force that presses plasma out of this region. Density cavity is formed in the LPRR due to this field. Further dynamics in this region depends on the plasma properties. For plasma with hot electrons ion-acoustic pulses run away from the cavity. at the local density maximum the new peak of electric field is excited. It results to the formation of new density cavity, etc. For isothermal plasma the density jump is formed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Energy conservation and local energy deposition are investigated in the context of coupled-particle (i.e., neutrons, gamma rays, and charged particles) transport analysis. For charged particles, the concept of group splitting the 1 = 0 transfer matrix to ensure both particle and energy conservation is introduced. Although these procedures are more complex than those found in the usual neutron or coupled-neutron gamma-ray problem, they yield a consistent approach for the calculation of local energy deposition.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The present contribution deals with the thermophoresis particle deposition and thermal radiation effects on the flow, heat and mass transfer characteristics in a viscous fluid over a semi-infinite vertical porous plate. The governing boundary layer equations are written into a dimensionless form by similarity transformations. The transformed coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically by means of the fourth-order Runge?Kutta method with a shooting technique. The effects of different parameters on the dimensionless velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles are shown graphically. In addition, results for the local skin-friction coefficient, the local Nusselt number, and the local Sherwood number are tabulated and discussed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The work is devoted to the construction of a viable of locally anisotropic, i.e. Finslerian, space-time and to the generalization, on this basis, of the relativistic theory of gravitation. Arguments in favour of this model are considered. From physical considerations the concrete form of the Finslerian metric has been reconstructed and within the framework of the correspondence principle a formalism of the theory has been developed. The approach suggested is aimed at developing unified gauge theories of all fundamental interactions. Much attention is given to the nontrivial physical manifestations of local space anisotropy and to the possibility of its experimental detection. (orig.)

Environmental Research Database

DescriptionThis project investigates in silico the interactive consequences of breeding for parasite resistance and nutritional environment on livestock productivity. The thesis of the work is that conflicting evidence regarding the consequences of breeding for parasite resistance arises from the failure to consider the interactions between host genetics and nutritional environment. Starting with a framework that accounts for the consequences of host nutrition on the development of parasitism, we will (1 [continued...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The hepatic removal of albumin-bound substances from plasma requires that they dissociate from albumin. Using indirect methods, we and others have proposed that dissociation may be catalyzed by interaction...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The electrogeometric model cannot consider the influence of some parameters on the screening of the wire conductor of the H.V. lines. For analysing the influence of these parameters (the conductor potential, the influence of the distance from phase conductor to earth wire, the influence of the reducing factor of the striking earth distance, the earth slope, etc.), the Monte Carlo method is preferable. The influence of the earth slope on the screening effect of the wire conductor for different conditions is presented in this paper. (author)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We report that the fission yeast nucleoporin Nup124p is required for the nuclear import of both, retrotransposon Tf1-Gag as well as the retroviral HIV-1 Vpr. Failure to import Tf1-Gag into the nucleus...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Statistical data on individual types of foreign NPPs including reliability and safety indices are given. It is noted that capacity factors (CF) in 1985 were higher for PWRs. Japan has the highest CF-98.5% in the world. One of main causes of NPP shutdown remains the primary circuit equipment failure in connection with different corrosion types (intercrystalline, pitting, denting-corrosion etc.). Effect of all volatile treatment on enhancement of NPP reliabiity is shown. Technical BWR characteristics are presented.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To make a quantitative comparison of risks between the SNR 300 and a modern PWR (Biblis B), the consequences of an accident or the extent of damage of a release of radionuclides to the environment due to an accident are estimated by computer programs for accident consequence models. The accident analysis includes an analysis of events for Bethe-Tait accidents with failure of the outer containment. The FGSB release rates are compared with those of the Society for Reactor Safety (GRS). (HP).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Solutions have been found for the problems encountered with the coil power and switching systems of the International Fusion Superconducting Magnet Test Facility (IFSMTF). The coil power system provides the filtered dc sources (+- 12 V dc; 25,000 A) for charging and discharging the coils of the IFSMTF experiment. The switching system provides the means of transferring the coil current into a dump resistor when a rapid discharge of a coil is required due to a coil failure (quench) or other system abnormalities.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of this work group was to identify obstacles to the development of better risk management practices and performance standards in the pipeline industry. An outline of developments in pipeline risk assesment management was presented, including an update of the Risk Based Design and Assessment annex and other CSA Z662 code developments. It was suggested that progress in risk management require that acceptable levels of risk and reliability need to be defined. Environmental and safety consequence analysis was recommended, as well as failure frequency estimation and assessment of distribution systems. Guidelines for Integrity Management Programs (IMPs) were reviewed. It was noted that CSA Z662 will become mandatory for sour gas in 2005 and may become mandatory for all onshore pipelines in 2007. Operating company procedures in relation to hazards with significant consequences were discussed. It was noted that companies should assess risks associated with ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Recent literature indicates that torsion of the left ventricle (LV) is a promising predictor for response to cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT). Among patients with severe heart failure, 45 to 75% of patients show rigid body rotation, where the base and apex rotate in the same direction, instead of normal, opposite rotation. The occurrence of this phenomenon seems to be a good indicator for response to CRT. From this review, it can be concluded that LV torsion might be a welcome addition to current selection criteria.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A thesis is presented on improving the understanding of the fatigue properties of wood and fatigue failure mechanisms in the design of wind turbine blades. Three main areas were researched: the effect of R ratio on fatigue life, the effect of moisture on fatigue life and the development of cumulative damage laws. Tests were carried out on mainly four-ply laminates. Recommendations to future work are outlined. (U.K.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The polymer industry is a young industry that has undergone tremendous growth and change over the last sixty years. Many important discoveries in polymer science have been accidental. Most of the learning has been by trial and error and most of the understanding is still basically empirical--make a polymer material or compound and then put it to the test to study what it is and how it performs. This article provides an overview of what polymers and polymer compounds are, why they behave as they do, and it discusses several examples of failures of rubber and plastic components.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We report for the first time a case of a 54 years old man with a fatal motorcycle accident due to an external bleeding compression of left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This article examines the impact of mist-eliminator (ME) design and reliability on the performance of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) processes. ME failures are the second most common cause of FGD system outages. ME design also affects the chemistry of the FGD processes. The author considers the ME the linchpin of the whole FGD process system.