International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Main results of 15-year SSTC NRS activity in the field of technical support of regulatory authority are presented. The article also described management policy, quality assurance system, personnel training system and international co-operation of SSTC. (author)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

AbstractT-box family transcription factors play many roles in Metazoan development. Here we characterise Tbx6r, a unique Tbx6 paralogue isolated from the amphibian Xenopus....Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In August 1995, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a policy statement proposing improved regulatory decision making by increasing the use of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) in all regulatory matters to the extent supported by the state-of-the-art in PRA methods and data. A key aspect in using PRA in risk-informed regulatory activities is establishing the appropriate scope and attributes of the PRA. In this regard, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) decided to develop a consensus PRA standard. The objective is to develop a PRA standard such that the technical quality of nuclear plant PRAs will be sufficient to support risk-informed regulatory applications. The authors present example recommendations for the systems analysis element of a PRA for incorporation into the ASME PRA standard.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Biosynthesis and uptake of siderophores in Aspergillus nidulans are regulated not only by iron availability but also by ambient pH: expression of this high-affinity iron uptake system...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) is essential for optimal T cell activation. Patients with WAS exhibit both immunodeficiency and a marked susceptibility to systemic autoimmunity. We investigated...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We examine how the structure and function of indirect flight muscle (IFM) and the entire flight system of Drosophila melanogaster are affected by phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundNeuropeptide Y is a key neurotransmitter of the central nervous system which plays a vital role in the feed energy homeostasis in mammals. Mutations in the regulatory and...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Abstract: The Hanford Tanks Initiative (HTI) is a five-year project resulting from the technical and financial partnership of the U.S. Department of Energy`s Office of Waste Management (EM-30) and Office of Science and Technology Development (EM-50). The HTI project accelerates activities to gain key technical, cost performance, and regulatory information on two high-level waste tanks. The HTI will provide a basis for design and regulatory decisions affecting the remainder of the Tank Waste Remediation System`s tank waste retrieval Program.

CERN Document Server

Regulatory Control of Radioactive Waste Management

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The author investigates whether the international law regime so far has developed any legal principles dealing with the problem of the dumping of radioactive waste in the sub-seabed, and whether any of such provisions available adequately tackle the problem in the light of the gravity of danger emanating from radioactive waste. The study covers over 30 different texts of international treaties and protocols. Points of main interest are the London Dumping Convention and the Montego Bay Convention on the Law of the Sea. The author concludes that the disposal of radioactive waste into the seabed belongs to the permissible, although not specially allowed activities within the framework of the freedom of the high seas, and therefore urgently calls for establishing an international regulatory system pertaining to the planning and accomplishment of such activities. An outline legal concept of a regulatory ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Reliability Data Management System (RDMS) for safety systems of PHWR type plants has been developed and utilized in the reliability analysis of the special safety systems of Wolsong Unit 1 with plant overhaul period lengthened. The RDMS is developed for the periodic efficient reliability analysis of the safety systems of Wolsong Unit 1. In addition, this system provides the function of analyzing the effects on safety system unavailability if the test period of a test procedure changes as well as the function of optimizing the test periods of safety-related test procedures. The RDMS can be utilized in handling the requests of the regulatory institute actively with regard to the reliability validation of safety systems.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The justification, strategies, and technology options for implementing advanced district heating and cooling systems in the United States are presented. The need for such systems is discussed in terms of global warming, ozone depletion, and the need for a sustainable energy policy. Strategies for implementation are presented in the context of the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act and proposed new institutional arrangements. Technology opportunities are highlighted in the areas of advanced block-scale cogeneration, CFC-free chiller technologies, and renewable sources of heating and cooling that are particularly applicable to district systems.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Computer based control systems for safety related applications in nuclear power plants have to meet not only the functional, performance and interface requirements, they in addition, have to meet regulatory requirements like enhanced reliability, safety and security and should provide fault tolerance, diagnostics and self-supervision. The control system architecture, hardware design and software design should meet requirements as specified in design code and guides of AERB. The Dual Processor Hot Standby Process Control System (DPHS-PCS) for TAPP-3 and 4 is a safety related (Class- IB) system. DPHS-PCS regulates PHT pressure, Pressuriser pressure, Pressuriser level, Bleed condenser pressure, Bleed condenser level and Steam generator pressure. The performance, reliability and safety requirements of this control system are met by employing a fault tolerant ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to realize improve of reliability and economy by duplicate production, rapid supply of repair parts from standardized storage, such were expected as to have continuous order of standardized plant, to ignore site condition, to avoid expansion of regulatory requirement. Standardization program was planned to limitedly promote standardization of safety-related design concept, major specification and basic system composition of reactor and primary systems. The area of standardization had been tried to expand to BOP such as general arrangement and rad-waste system.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This safety design guide for pipe rupture protection identifies high-energy systems in which pipe ruptures must be postulated to occur, as well as systems that must be protected from the dynamic effects of such ruptures. Dynamic effects considered in this SDG consist of pipe whip (including missiles generated by pipe ruptures, if any) and jet impingement, Requirements for protection against the dynamic effects of a postulated pipe rupture and method of protection of essential structures, systems and components are specified for these effects. The change status for the regulatory requirements, code and standards should be traced and this safety design guide shall be updated accordingly. 2 tabs., 5 refs. (Author) .new.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of project is to derive the policy recommendations to improve the efficiency of CANDU plants regulation. These policy recommendations will eventually contribute to the upgrading of Korean nuclear regulatory system and safety enhancement. During the second phase of this 2 years study, following research activities were done. Review the technical basis and framework of the new Canadian Regulation System and IAEA. Analysis on the interview of Wolsung operation staffs to identify important safety issues and regulation problems experienced at operation. Providing a plan of CANDU regulation system enhancement program.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by the JC virus (JCV), a human papovavirus. PML is a relatively rare disease seen predominantly in immunocompromised individuals and is a frequent complication observed in AIDS patients. The significantly higher incidence of PML in AIDS patients than in other immunosuppressive disorders has suggested that the presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the brain may directly or indirectly contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. In the present study the authors have examined the expression of the JCV genome in both glial and non-glial cells in the presence of HIV-1 regulatory proteins. They find that the HIV-1-encoded trans-regulatory protein tat increases the basal activity of the JCV late promoter, JCV{sub L}, in glial cells. They conclude that the presence of the HIV-1-encoded tat protein ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) for use in Nuclear Power Plant safety-related applications is being developed and tested first time in Korea. This safety-related PLC is being developed with requirements of regulatory guideline and industry standards for safety system. To test that the quality of the developed PLC is sufficient to be used in safety critical system, document review and various product testings were performed over the development documents for S/W, H/W, and V/V. This paper provides the performance testing methodology and its effectiveness for PLC platform conducted by KOPEC

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Atomic Energy commission of Syria (AECS) is nominated by Syrian legislation as the regulatory authority in respect of radiation protection and safety and security of radioactive sources. In addition AECS is providing a wide range of Technical Services (TS) through its various departments. In this paper, the cooperation and coordination between the regulatory authority and the providers of technical services in Syria are described. The adjustment of the regulatory programme as to make maximal use of the available technical resources is presented. It was shown that this relationship does not jeopardize the effective independency of the regulatory authority which is maintained by keeping the regulatory decisions based on pure regulatory considerations. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper presents the regulatory experience gained from Wolsong Units 2,3 and 4 - Special Safety System Instrumentation Uncertainty for Trip Setpoint and Allowable Values. The equipment diversity method for the defense against common mode failure was applied to the transmitters of shutdown system number 2. However the Units experienced an unexpected drift problem with which the performance did not meet the Technical Specification (Tech Spec) Surveillance Requirements (SR). Discussed are the background, status and corrective actions, regulatory positions and issues to be solved for the drift problem. It was an instrument uncertainty methodology that the designer of safety system should have shown when the drift problem occurred. For deeper understanding of the problem, we present the background of Tech Spec SR for setpoints in Korean PWR and in CANDU reactors. The Setpoint ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report describes the fiscal 1998 result on development of genome informatics technology. As comparative analysis technique of genes, the combination of electrophoresis and PCR was used. For improvement of the throughput and reproducibility of the technique, module- shuffling primers were used, and the multi(96)-arrayed capillary fragment analyzer was devised. The system detecting SNPs rapidly was also developed successfully. As analysis technology of DNA sequence by use of triple- stranded DNA formation, study was made on construction of long cDNA libraries, selective subtraction of specific sequences from libraries, and the basic technology of homologous cloning. Study was also made on each reaction step of IGCR technique for fast analysis, and specifications of a fluorescence transfer monitor. As modeling technique of genetic sequence information, the simulation model was developed for gene expression regulatory networks during muscle ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The mammalian circadian timing system is organized into hierarchical structures with a central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and subsidiary peripheral oscillators. After the discovery of the local clockwork in peripheral organs and tissues, which have a molecular makeup similar to the central pacemaker SCN, uncovering the roles of the peripheral clock in the rhythmic physiology has been an emerging goal in chronobiology. Glucocorticoid (GC) is a multifunctional adrenal steroid hormone that shows a robust circadian rhythm. The daily GC rhythm has long been thought to be governed by the SCN via the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal neuroendocrine axis. Recent findings, however, indicate that multiple regulatory mechanisms, including the adrenal intrinsic mechanism by the peripheral...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A respected veteran among state utility regulators raises a sober warning that it may not be possible for the telecommunications industry to survive half regulated and half unregulated, which is its posture for the present. He foresees a danger that the unregulated sector may be successful in capturing all the profitable portions of the market, leaving only the unprofitable areas to the regulated sector, which will then experience serious dislocations and even system breakdowns. Avoidance of such an outcome to the deregulatory steps presently being taken will require an uncommon degree of prudence and wisdom in those state officials who remain charged with regulatory responsibility for local exchange telephone facilities and service.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The textbook is primarily intended for radiologic staff and radiologic safety officers and gives information on the current regulatory provisions of the German X-ray Ordinance, applications of X-rays, quality assurance, organisational aspects of film processing and quality requirements of X-rays. An annex lists the guidelines of the Bundesaerztekammer (German National Chamber of Physicians) relating to quality assurance aspects, and further useful information on commercially available film-screen systems, the various associations of physicians in Germany, and requirements and performance of radiation surveys. (vhe).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The nature of hydrothermal resources, their associated temperatures, geographic locations, and developable capacity are described. The parties involved in development, required activities and phases of development, regulatory and permitting requirements, environmental considerations, and time required to complete development activities ae examined in detail. These activities are put in proper perspective by detailing development costs. A profile of the geothermal industry is presented by detailing the participants and their operating characteristics. The current development status of geothermal energy in the US is detailed. The work on market penetration is summarized briefly. Detailed development information is presented for 56 high temperature sites. (MHR)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Significant environmental issues and regulatory proceedings in Alberta were discussed. The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Project was reviewed in relation to the Deh Cho First Nation's advanced actions in the federal court to enjoin the review panel from proceeding with the review process. The Deh Cho First Nation is seeking a declaration that the plan violates their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Constitution Act. Various regulatory and government agencies have now developed a plan to coordinate their different regulatory processes and approvals in the Cooperation Plan for the Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Review of the Northern Gas Pipeline project. The Deh Cho allege that they were not afforded the opportunity to participate in the development and implementation of the plan. A review panel plans to proceed once the environmental and social ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper is focused on TLP and Spar technology as applied to floating production applications. In particular, safety considerations as related to classification and certification requirements are addressed. This covers hull structures, marine systems, production facilities and the relevant mooring systems for each platform type from design approval on through construction, installation and ultimately the ongoing maintenance of the platform to acceptable standards throughout its operating life. The experience of the American Bureau of Shipping with these platforms will be utilized in supporting the practical application of classification and regulatory standards to ensure safe operations and concluding that use of such standards in conjunction with an experienced classification society provides a substantial benefit to companies utilizing these technologies. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This document is furnished as part of the effort to develop NRC Class 1E Digital Computer Systems Guidelines which is Task 8 of USAF Rome Laboratories Contract F30602-89-D-0100. The report addresses four major topics, namely, computer programming languages, software design and development, software testing and fault tolerance and fault avoidance. The topics are intended as stepping stones leading to a Draft Regulatory Guide document. As part of this task a small scale survey of software fault avoidance and fault tolerance practices was conducted among vendors of nuclear safety related systems and among agencies that develop software for other applications demanding very high reliability. The findings of the present report are in part based on the survey and in part on review of software literature relating to nuclear and other critical installations, as well as on the authors' experience in these areas.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Regulatory T cells are proposed to play a central role in the maintenance of immunological tolerance in the periphery, and studies in many animal models demonstrate their capacity to inhibit inflammatory...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)

The electricity industry in the US today is at a crossroads. The restructuring debate going on in most regions has made it clear that the traditional model of vertically integrated firms serving defined franchise areas and regulated by state commissions may not be the pattern for the future. The demands of large customers seeking direct access to power markets, the entry of new participants, and proposed reforms of the regulatory process all signify a momentum for fundamental change in the organization of the industry. This paper addresses electricity restructuring from the perspective of bulk power markets. The authors focus attention on the organization of electricity trade and the various ways it has been and might be conducted. Their approach concentrates on conceptual models and empirical case studies, not on specific proposals made by particular utilities or commissions. They review literature in economics and power system engineering ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the beginning of 2005 several changes in the electricity and natural gas market law came into effect. This report examines the influence and impact of these changes on the behaviour and development of these markets, looking at the role and position of both the energy industry and customers. The report combines existing data with new research data collected during spring and summer 2006. Whilst the recency of the law changes, along with the simultaneous impact of other market variables limits the salience of any impact, the report nevertheless provides clear and interesting conclusions. In the electricity market, one major legislative change that came into force in the beginning of 2005 concerned the supervision of the reasonableness of electricity distribution pricing. According to the newly adopted ex ante regulation principles, the regulatory authority now determines the guidelines for reasonable pricing prior the start of a predefined ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

WIPS (Whip and Impact of Piping Systems) is a special purpose computer code for the structural analysis of pipe whip dynamic effects following a postulated pipe rupture. WIPS has been developed primarily to provide support for the pipe whip analysis procedures described in Section 3.6.2 of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Standard Review Plan. This report summarizes the purpose and scope of the WIPS development effort, identifying those clauses in the Standard Review Plan which refer to pipe whip analysis, and indicating how the WIPS code can be used to provide supporting data. Detailed information on use of the code is contained in accompanying reports which cover: (1) user instructions; (2) theory; (3) programming procedures; and (4) verification examples.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

New standard catalogs for piping, supports, and valves have been introduced by Kraftwerk Union (KWU) for the first time in its Convoy series of PWR plants. These catalogs, underlying regulatory codes, and newly developed KWU specifications are described. Feedwater and main steam piping systems within the containment, including pipe supports and valves, are used to demonstrate the high quality level of piping technology achieved in the Federal Republic of Germany. Such quality standards ensure the integrity of single components as well as of the entire system, so that, under certain conditions, pipe whip restraints against postulated breaks have become unnecessary. The quality aspects apply basically for both PWR and BWR plants of KWU.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A program under the sponsorship of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission was intiated at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in late 1977. The program, Advanced Instrumentation for Reflood Studies (AIRS), is charged with developing instrumentation for measurement of in-vessel fluid phenomena in pressurized water reactor reflood facilities. The goal of the ORNL program is to develop techniques and systems for measuring fluid flow in-core, deentrainment in the upper plenum and liquid fallback from the upper plenum into the core. A large portion of the development at ORNL is devoted to the impedance probes for measurement of two-phase flow velocities and void fractions. Film probe development at ORNL is limited to adapting the present techniques to the environment of a reflood facility. As the development progresses on all the measurement techniques, ORNL will fabricate and supply instrument systems to the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fusion device produces high-level neutrons and #gamma#-rays, which would hazard the safety of the public and workers if the doses would be higher than the regulatory limits because of leakage from the bio-shielding and skyshine. It is essential to monitor the radiation doses in the workshop and the enumerative around fusion devices. A radiation monitoring system (RMS) for full (near and far) areas around a nuclear fusion device has been designed and developed, which can achieve the monitoring and controlling of radiation doses in the workshop area by using the Controller Area Network (CAN), in the institution area by using the Bluetooth Ad hoc network based on a new tree topology formation and routing protocol and in a long range environment by using the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This project is to provide the regulatory direction of containment bypass during multiple steam generator tube failure issue for the Korean Next Generation Reactors, which is a part of major technical issues resulted from the safety regulation R and D on the KNGR. The outstanding results are as follows : the Multiple Steam Generator Tube Repture(MSGTR) event has never been occurred in the history of commercial nuclear reactor operation but single Steam Generator Tube Rupture(SGTR) event is reported to occur every two years. A probabilistic safety analysis study on MSGTR event, however, show its probability of occurrence is to be the same order as the design basis accidents such as LACA. In this regard, the ability of NPPs to cope with MSGTR event is required. Some requirements on initial and boundary conditions are suggested to be used in the analyses of NPPs during MSGTR events. The items that should be considered in establishing regulatory ...

Environmental Research Database

Summary'THE ROLE OF THE UK PLANNING SYSTEM IN PROTECTING AND ENHANCING SOILS PROJECT REF: UKLQ01 APRIL 2004 INTRODUCTION Soil has long been overlooked in environmental planning. Whilst it has sometimes benefited from indirect protection, until recently its importance and vulnerability have not been reflected in more explicit strategies. This study explored the current and potential role of the planning system in protecting and enhancing soils. Soil is the physical material that covers much o [continued...]DescriptionSNIFFER has commissioned this study on behalf of SEPA, SNH, EHS and the Environment Agency for England and Wales. These UK agencies have an interest in protecting soil quality through a combination of direct regulation of emissions to land, protection of designated sites of special value or sensitivity and engaging other regulatory regimes such as land use planning. All UK environment agencies devote ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Epidemiologic studies suggest a weak link between occupational or residential exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and cancer, especially tumors of the central nervous and hematopoietic systems. This report discusses these studies with reference to basic research on ELF EMF bioeffects relevant to cancer-promoting mechanisms. Many of the studies suggest a possible interaction of ELF EMF with the immune system, endocrine system, or growth-regulatory signals and morphogenic movements that involve calcium flux through cell membranes. Many bioeffects have been reported only with certain specific combinations of frequency, amplitude, and orientation of the EMF signal with respect to the geomagnetic field. The possibility of signal-specific effects raises a complication in dosimetry for both epidemiologic and experimental studies since ELF EMF effects may not be directly related to field ...

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 ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The strategy for the Korean nuclear power plant lifetime management (PLIM) program, which has been developed over the last 3 years, is introduced, together with descriptions of recent events and related maintenance activities. This leading Korean PLIM project has been focused on such areas as a plant data survey, screening and prioritization of systems, structures and components (SSCs), aging evaluation of major components, economic analysis and regulatory issues. The current status is outlined in terms of major tasks including aging evaluation of 13 major components. The future long-term plan which eventually aims at maximizing the economic benefit for both the utility and its customers is presented. Also described is the technical development required for plant life extension. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Negligent hazardous waste management has resulted in real threats to public health. The Federal Government has responded to the situation with laws and regulations aimed at the producers of hazardous waste, including clinical laboratories. The Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) imposes controls on hazardous waste management through the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulate these activities through 40 CFR and 49 CFR. Most clinical laboratories can operate satellite accumulation points and accumulate, store, transport, and dispose of waste in accordance with EPA and DOT regulations. Regulations pertaining to infectious waste, sure to affect many clinical laboratories, are being developed now by he EPA. The cradle to grave tracking system mandated by the Federal Government can be supplemented by state and local authorities and poses a significant ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The article maps the risk management failures within Anglo Irish Bank, showing that, when banks are systemic in nature, poor internal corporate governance within a Minsky credit cycle can lead to destabilising macroeconomic conditions, which may prolong the effects of a credit-induced downturn. The article highlights a failure of management at Anglo Irish Bank to establish and measure firm-level risks and develop appropriate internal controls to support a culture of prudent credit management. We propose the adoption of a novel supervisory architecture based on the meta-risk regulatory philosophy, which is designed to strengthen risk management practices at banks.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Medical imaging using single gamma-ray-emitting radionuclides typically makes use of parallel hole collimators or pinholes in order to achieve good spatial resolution. However, a tradeoff in sensitivity is inherent in the use of a collimator, and modern preclinical single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems detect a very small fraction of emitted gamma rays, often less than 0.1%. A system for small animal SPECT imaging which uses no collimators could potentially achieve very high sensitivity-several tens of percent-with reasonably sized detectors. This would allow two significant improvements in preclinical studies: images could be obtained more rapidly, allowing higher throughput for screening applications, or for dynamic processes to be observed with very good time resolution; and images could be obtained with less radioactive tracer, making possible the in vivo imaging of low-capacity receptor systems, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper summarizes results of reviews on the safety, critical software performed during the licensing process for the new Wolsung units. Each of these CANDU-type nuclear power plants has two micro-computerized shutdown systems. The SDS No. 1 program is graphically programmed in such a manner that its development process does not essentially differ from the design process of the conventional analog counterpart. This approach is understandable even to a reviewer in the regulatory agency without additional training in software engineering. The confidence in the reliability of this system is strengthened by the reverse verification and increased by extensive testing such as the reliability test. Concerning SDS No. 2, the development process is significantly influenced by the {open_quotes}software cost reduction project{close_quotes} of the U.S. naval research laboratory, and is, as a whole, clear and well structured except ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is a liquid-metal-cooled test reactor located on the Hanford Site. The FFTF is the only reactor of this type designed and operated with the intent of meeting the licensing requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Unique characteristics of the FFTF that present special challenges related to leak rate testing include thin wall containment vessel construction, cover gas systems that penetrate containment, and a low-pressure design basis accident. The successful completion in 1986 of the third FFTF Integrated Leak Rate Test (ILRT) five days ahead of schedule and 10% under budget was a major achievement for the Westinghouse Hanford Company. The success of this operational safety test was due in large part to a special local area network (LAN) of three IBM PC/XT computers that monitored the sensor data, calculated the containment vessel leak rate, and displayed test results. The multiple computer ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to amend the regulations that currently require that the design basis for nuclear power plants include the postulation of dynamic effects from loss of coolant accidents up to and including the double-ended rupture of the largest pipe in the reactor coolant system. Proposed modifications would allow analyses to serve as a sufficient basis for excluding dynamic effects, including but not necessarily limited to pipe whip and jet impingement, associated with specific pipe ruptures. Only dynamic effects would be impacted; current design requirements for containment sizing and discharge capacity of emergency core cooling systems would remain unchanged. This report presents a detailed analysis of value-impact associated with the proposed amendment for PWR reactor coolant loop piping and for BWR recirculation loop piping. The effect of extending application of the proposed rule ...

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 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The strategy for management of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory`s (ORNL`s) radioactively contaminated liquid waste was reviewed. The latest information on waste characterization, regulations, US Department of Energy (DOE) budget guidance, and research and development programs was evaluated to determine how the strategy should be revised. Few changes are needed to update the strategy to reflect new waste characterization, research, and regulatory information. However, recent budget guidance from DOE indicates that minimum funding will not be sufficient to accomplish original objectives to upgrade the liquid low-level waste (LLLW) system to be in compliance with the Federal Facilities Agreement compliance, provide long-term LLLW treatment capability, and minimize Environmental Safety & Health risks. Options are presented that might allow the ORNL LLLW system to continue operations temporarily but significantly reduce its ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Reverse engineering of gene regulatory networks has been an intensively studied topic in bioinformatics since it constitutes an intermediate step from explorative to causative gene expression...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Zebrafish transgenesis is a powerful and increasingly common strategy to assay vertebrate transcriptional regulatory control. Several challenges remain, however, to the broader application of...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Cellular cholesterol homeostasis is controlled by sterol-regulated proteolysis of membrane-bound transcription factors called sterol-regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs). CPP32, a cysteine protease,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Oct 1973. 1 p. United States USAEC Directorate of Regulatory Standards,

Science.gov (United States)

ASME PRA STANDARD FOR PRA. FOR NPP APPLICATION. " Provides a Standard for performing and using a. PRA. Definitions. Risk assessment ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 is a key transcription factor for the regulation of lipogenic enzyme genes in the liver. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) selectively suppress hepatic...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The 3001 Storage Canal is located under portions of Buildings 3001 and 3019 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and has a capacity of approximately 62,000 gallons of water. The term canal has historically been used to identify this structure, however, the canal is an in-ground reinforced concrete structure satisfying the regulatory definition of a tank. From 1943 through 1963, the canal in Building 3001 was designed to be an integral part of the system for handling irradiated fuel from the Oak Ridge Graphite Reactor. Because one of the main initial purposes of the reactor was to produce plutonium for the chemical processing pilot plant in Building 3019, the canal was designed to be the connecting link between the reactor and the pilot plant. During the war years, natural uranium slugs were irradiated in the reactor and then pushed out of the graphite matrix into the system of diversion plates and chutes which directed ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the execution of disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive wastes, it is important to evaluate accurately the kind and quantity of each radionuclide in the wastes. For such an evaluation, correlation of non-gamma-emitting nuclides based on gamma-emitting nuclides is recommended and regarded as a partial method. This method necessitates a completion of a highly accurate and reliable nondestructive assay system of gamma-emitting nuclides for partical use. In 1992, in support of the new waste disposal program in Hungary, Paks NPP initiated a waste characterization program to determine the radiological properties of its rad wastes. A segmented gamma scanning system has been set up to measure the gamma-emitting nuclides in 2000 litre low level drums following in-drum compaction. In the framework of the program a radiochemical analysis sub-program was stated to determine the long-lived non-gamma emitting radionuclides, mainly those listed ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The decommissioning of windscale Pile 2 Chimney resulted in the removal of one of most historically significant and prominent features of the Sellafield site. The project was the first large scale concrete ''free release'' operation to be undertaken on the Sellafield nuclear site, producing 4500 tons of concrete of which 3000 tons was demonstrated to be ''free release''. The paper describes the radiometric techniques employed in the characterisation and segregation of the concrete into low level waste (LLW), very low level waste (VLLW) and free release categories. It examines the robust solutions that were developed to meet the technical and regulatory challenges of the project, which included the definition of free release, the selection of averaging volumes, the testing and validation of the monitoring systems employed for ton quantities of concrete and the identification and removal of small numbers of fuel particles from the free release ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Anadromous salmon in the Columbia River Basin are presently far below historic level of production, due to the impacts of development in the basin. To halt the downward trend in production and ultimately increase returns, the Northwest Power Planning Council developed the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The Program outlines a coordinated plan for restoring anadromous salmonid runs to the basin. The goals and objectives outlined in the Program require addressing a complex set of problems that encompass a broad range of social, political, economic and biological issues. Resolution of these problems will require the efforts of a number of federal, state, and tribal agencies that have regulatory authority over activities that either directly or indirectly affect anadromous salmonids in the basin. Resource managers have realized the need for coordination in these efforts. The Coordinated Information System is designed to share ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report, the eighth in a series of annual reports, was prepared in response to congressional inquiries concerning how nuclear regulatory research is used. It summarizes the accomplishments of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research during FY 1992. A special emphasis on accomplishments in nuclear power plant aging research reflects recognition that a number of plants are entering the final portion of their original 40-year operating licenses and that, in addition to current aging effects, a focus on safety considerations for license renewal becomes timely. The primary purpose of performing regulatory research is to develop and provide the Commission and its staff with the technical bases for regulatory decisions on the safe operation of licensed nuclear reactors and facilities, to find unknown or unexpected safety problems, and to develop data and related information for the purpose of revising the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The paper is Part 2 of the study on the thermodynamic and thermoeconomic analyses of trigeneration system with a gas-diesel engine. In Part 1, thermodynamic and thermoeconomic methodologies for such a comprehensive analysis were provided, while this paper applies the developed methodology to an actual TRIGEN system with a rated output of 6.5 MW gas-diesel engine installed in the Eskisehir Industry Estate Zone, Turkey. Energy and exergy efficiencies, equivalent electrical efficiency, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) efficiency, fuel energy saving ratio, fuel exergy saving ratio and other thermodynamic performance parameters are determined for the TRIGEN system. The efficiencies of energy, exergy, PURPA and equivalent electrical efficiency of the entire system are found to be 58.97%, 36.13%, 45.7% and 48.53%, respectively. For the whole system ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During LOCA (Loss of Coolant Accident) in design bases accident (DBA), emergency core coolant supplements form a recirculation sump and cooled core and containment. When the double ended guillotine Break (DEGB) at the hot leg near steam generator, due to the jet impingement discharge flow, the debris could be potentially generated at pipe or wall nearby steam generator and be transported to the recirculation sump. Therefore, the debris, such as insulations and paint chips, could be accumulated and be clogged in the recirculation sump screen. If debris is blocked the sump strainer, the pressure drop is increased at the screen so as to increase the pressure loss of ECCS (Emergency Core Cooling System) pump NPSH (Net positive suction head). It is potentially influenced to decrease the long-term cooling capability of the recirculation sump. The recirculation sump screen clogging accident has happened in BWR of USA and Sweden. Considering the important to safety, US NRC ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Since the late 1970s, the Babcock & Wilcox (B & W) Owners Group (BWOG) has sponsored significant activities that address technical, economic, and licensing issues to ensure that the B & W nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) power plants operate until the end of their current plant licensed life and to preserve the license renewal option. It should be no surprise that the BWOG decided in late 1992 to aggressively pursue a license renewal effort. This effort, the Generic License Renewal Program (GLRP), has over the past 18 months contributed significantly to the industry`s license renewal initiative. The GLRP was established as a project with a full-time management organization within the BWOG structure. Its primary objective was the development and demonstration of an integrated plant assessment (IPA) process that would meet the requirements of the License Renewal Rule, published by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Quality Assurance Requirements and Description (QARD) is the principal quality assurance document for the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program (Program). It establishes the minimum requirements for the Quality Assurance Program. The QARD contains regulatory requirements and program commitments necessary for the development of an effective quality assurance program. Quality assurance implementing documents must be based on, and consistent with, QARD requirements. The QARD applies to the following: (1) acceptance of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (2) transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (3) the Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) facility through application for an operating license; (4) Mined Geologic Disposal System (MGDS), including the site characterization activities (exploratory studies facility (ESF) and surface based testing), through application for an operating license; (5) ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The existence, in real-time, of transmission constraints, demand forecasting errors, generator failures, and other factors impose additional costs through the need to run more expensive generation. These costs can appear as a significant component of the wholesale price to demand served by electricity markets operated over transmission networks. In the England & Wales Pool these costs are passed through directly to supply companies. The Transmission System Operator ({open_quotes}TSO{close_quotes}) can exert significant influence on these costs through improved availability of transmission circuits and through appropriate investment, but has no incentive to do so. Since the inception of the Pool, these costs have increased in level and volatility, and have proved difficult to hedge. In response, St Clements Services were instrumental in assisting Pool members to develop an {open_quotes}Uplift Incentive Management Scheme{close_quotes} which has seen controllable ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text of publication follows: The hydrogen mitigation system of 20 igniters and 6 PARs is installed to control the hydrogen in the containment during severe accidents and design basis accidents, respectively, in Shin-Wolsung 1 and 2 nuclear power plants. The igniters are primarily installed at the hydrogen source locations, and the PARs are installed in the open spaces. The PARs will maintain the hydrogen concentration within the containment atmosphere below the limit of 4 v/o in accordance with Regulatory Guide 1.7 during design basis accidents. The igniters will maintain the hydrogen concentration within the containment atmosphere below the limit of 10 v/o in accordance with 10CFR50.34(f) during severe accidents. In addition, the PARs can be used as a supplementary means to control the hydrogen concentration during severe accidents because of their inherent passive characteristics. This paper shows the three dimensional results using the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This Current Year Work Plan presents a detailed description of the activities to be performed by the Joint Integration Office during FY87. It breaks down the activities into two major work areas: Program Management and Program Analysis. Program Management is performed by the JIO by providing technical planning and guidance for the development of advanced TRU waste management capabilities. This includes equipment/facility design, engineering, construction, and operations. These functions are integrated to allow transition from interim storage to final disposition. JIO tasks include program requirements identification, long-range technical planning, budget development, program planning document preparation, task guidance, task monitoring, information gathering and task reporting to DOE, interfacing with other agencies and DOE lead programs, integrating public involvement with program efforts, and preparation of program status reports for DOE. Program Analysis is performed by the JIO to ...

Science.gov (United States)

Through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small regulatory RNAs the epigenome systematically controls gene expression during development, both in utero and throughout life. The epigenome is also a very reactive system; its labile nature allows it to sense and respond to environmental perturbations to ensure survival during fetal growth. This pliability can lead to aberrant epigenetic modifications that persist into later life and induce numerous disease states. Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are ubiquitous chemicals that interfere with growth and development. Several EDCs also interfere with epigenetic programming. The investigation of the epigenotoxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA), an EDC used in the production of plastics and resins, has further raised concern over the impact of EDCs on the epigenome. Using the Agouti viable yellow (A(vy)) mouse model, dietary BPA exposure was shown to hypomethylate both the A(vy) and the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One of the issues identified in the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission`s Nuclear Plant Aging Research program plan is the need to understand the state of ``mothballed`` or other out-of-service equipment to ensure subsequent safe operation. Programs for proper storage and preservation of materials and components are required by NRC regulations (10 CFR 50, Appendix B). However, materials and components have been seriously degraded due to improper storage, protection, or layup, at facilities under construction as well as those with operating licenses. Pacific Northwest Laboratory has evaluated management of aging for unstarted or mothballed nuclear power plants. The investigations revealed that no uniform guidance in the industry addresses reactor layup. In each case investigated, layup was not initiated in a timely manner, primarily because of schedule uncertainty. Hence, it is reasonable to assume that this delay resulted in accelerated aging of some ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This project aims at developing risk-informed application technologies to enhance the safety and economy of nuclear power plant altogether. For this, the Integrated Level 1 and 2 PSA model is developed. In addition, the fire and internal flooding PSA models are improved according to the PSA standard of U.S.A. To solve the issues of domestic PSA model, the best-estimate thermal hydraulic analyses are preformed for the ATWS and LSSB. In order to reduce the uncertainty of PSA, several new PSA technologies are developed: (1) more exact quantification of large fault tree, (2) importance measure including the effects of external PSA. As feasibility studies of Option 2 and 3, the class of 6 systems' SSC are re-classified based on the risk information and the sensitivity analyses is performed for the EDG starting time, respectively. It is also improved that the methodology to identify the vital area of NPP. The research results of this project can be used in the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

From the results of the In-Service Inspection (ISI) measuring the wall thickness of outlet (hot-leg side) feeder pipes performed at two Canadian nuclear power plants, Point Lepreau and Gentilly-2 in 1995 and 1996, respectively, the wall thinning degradation of feeder pipes at the bend part was found to be much more severe than expected. It has been well known that such wall thinning of feeder pipes is caused by the flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) which is one of the mechanical-chemical degradation mechanisms affecting the integrity of piping systems. For the Wolsung unit 1, the wall thickness measurements have been performed during every overhaul period since 1996. The wall thinning rates at the bends of outlet feeder pipes were assessed to exceed the design value. However, for the Wolsung units 2, 3 and 4, the wall thinning rates of all the outlet feeder pipes were assessed not to exceed it. The reason is because the content of Cr in the material of feeder pipes ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Purified protein kinase C (C-kinase) from guinea pig pancreas and rat brain stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in purified rat adipocyte membranes. Cyclase stimulation occurred over 100 to 1000 mU/ml of C-kinase activity, required greater than 10 ..mu..M calcium, proceeded without a lag, was not readily reversible, and required no exogenous phospholipid. Moreover, C-kinase inhibitors, such as chlorpromazine and palmitoyl carnitine, inhibited selectively adenylate cyclase which was activated by C-kinase and calcium. Depending on assay conditions, 10 nM 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) either enhanced or was required for kinase action on cyclase. Also, TPA plus calcium promoted the quantitative association of C-kinase with membranes. Adenylate cyclase activation by C-kinase was seen both in the presence and absence of exogenous GTP, indicating that the kinase effect does not result from an action on the GTP-binding, inhibitory regulatory component (N/sub ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Based on the occurrence of a number of plant incidents during low power and shutdown operating conditions, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has initiated several programs to better quantify risk during these periods. One specific issue of interest is the loss of residual heat removal (RHR) under reduced coolant inventory conditions. This issue is also of interest in the Federal Republic of Germany and an experiment was performed in the integral PKL-3 experimental facility at Siemens-KWU to supply applicable data. Recently, an effort has been undertaken at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) to identify and analyze the important thermal-hydraulic phenomena in pressurized water reactors following loss of vital AC power and consequent loss of the RHR system during reduced inventory operation. The thermal-hydraulic response of a nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) with a closed reactor coolant ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report, the fifth in a series of annual reports, was prepared in response to congressional inquiries concerning how nuclear regulatory research is used. It summarizes the accomplishments of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research during FY 1989. The goal of this office is to ensure that safety-related research provides the technical bases for rulemaking and for related decisions in support of NRC licensing and inspection activities. This research is necessary to make certain that the regulations that are imposed on licensees provide an adequate margin of safety so as to protect the health and safety of the public. This report describes both the direct contributions to scientific and technical knowledge with regard to nuclear safety and their regulatory applications.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report, the seventh in a series of annual reports, was prepared in response to congressional inquiries concerning how nuclear regulatory research is used. It summarizes the accomplishments of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research during FY 1991. The goal of this office is to ensure that safety-related research provides the technical bases for rulemaking and for related decisions in support of NRC licensing and inspection activities. This research is necessary to make certain that the regulations that are imposed on licensees provide an adequate margin of safety so as to protect the health and safety of the public. This report describes both the direct contributions to scientific and technical knowledge with regard to nuclear safety and their regulatory applications.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report, the fourth in a series of annual reports, was prepared in response to Congressional inquiries concerning how nuclear regulatory research is used. It summarizes the accomplishments of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research during 1988. The goal of this office is to ensure that safety-related research provides the technical bases for rulemaking and for related decisions in support of NRC licensing and inspection activities. This research is necessary to make certain that the regulations that are imposed on licensees provide an adequate margin of safety so as to protect the health and safety of the public. This report describes both the direct contributions to scientific and technical knowledge with regard to nuclear safety and their regulatory applications.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors trace the early history of nuclear power regulation in the US. Focusing on the Atomic Energy Commission, they describe the role of other groups that figured in the development of regulatory policies, including the Congressional Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, other federal agencies, state governments, the nuclear industry, and scientific organizations. They consider changes in public perceptions of and attitudes toward atomic energy and the dangers of radiation exposure. The basic purpose of the book is to provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the general public with information on the historical antecedents and background of regulatory issues so that there will be continuity in policy decisions. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography of selected references. 19 figures.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Within the cardiac cell, the movements of calcium ions are tightly regulated by a number of regulatory proteins including pumps, and channels. The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is in large part...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

and used to reduce or replace petroleum-based transportation fuel, heating oil or jet fuel). In addition, this rule includes a new regulatory provision establishing a...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Since its creation the nuclear industry has been struggling with the question of how safe is safe enough. Safety is a common goal to all involved in the design, operation and regulation of a nuclear installation. As a concept safety is not easy to define. However, there is a general understanding of what attributes a nuclear power plant should have in order to operate safely. The challenge lies in measuring the attributes. The new competitive open electricity market, in many countries throughout the world, is increasing the economic pressure on operators to lower operating costs without jeopardizing safety. Challenges are occurring at a rate that is unprecedented in the nuclear industry: competitiveness; downsizing; ageing; policy changes; reorganization; restructuring; mergers; globalization; and takeovers demand increasing attention to the management of safety. There are various means to measure safety performance, some of which are more qualitative in nature and others which through ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This is the second technical report, covering the period from April 1, 2003 through September 30, 2003. This project brings together three parts of the oil exploration, development, and permitting process to form the foundation for a more fully integrated information technology infrastructure for the State of Alaska. The geo-technical component is a shared effort between the State Department of Administration and the US Department of Energy. The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is rapidly converting high volumes of paper documents and geo-technical information to formats suitable for search and retrieval over the Internet. The permitting component is under the lead of the DNR Office of Project Management and Permitting. A web-based system will enable the public and other review participants to track permit status, submit and view comments, and obtain important project information on-line. By automating several functions of the current manual process, ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The rates of synthesis of a class of both secreted and intracellular degradative enzymes in Bacillus subtilis are controlled by a signal transduction pathway defined by at least four regulatory genes:...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Public Law 95-209 includes a requirement that the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards submit an annual report to Congress on the safety research program of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This report presents the results of the ACRS review and evaluation of the NRC safety research program for Fiscal Year 1982. The report contains a number of comments and recommendations.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Regulatory T (T reg) cells exert powerful down-modulatory effects on immune responses, but it is not known how they act in vivo. Using intravital two-photon laser scanning microscopy we determined that,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To be able to carry out review functions regulatory authorities must be able to make critical evaluations of proponent's safety cases. In Sweden the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority aims to have in place its own suite of performance assessment tools. This paper looks at the role and application of a regulator's models to important features of current modelling in a proponent's performance assessment. (authors)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundATRX is a tightly-regulated multifunctional protein with crucial roles in mammalian development. Mutations in the ATRX gene cause ATR-X syndrome, an X-linked...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The fourth in a series of international Leak-Before-Break (LBB) Seminars supported in part by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission was held at the National Central Library in Taipei, Taiwan on May 11 and 12, 1989. The seminar updated the international polices and supporting research on LBB. Attendees included representatives from regulatory agencies, electric utilities, nuclear power plant fabricators, research organizations, and academic institutions. Regulatory policy was the subject of presentations by Mr. G. Arlotto (US NRC, USA) Dr. B. Jarman (AECB, Canada), Dr.P. Milella (ENEA-DISP, Italy), Dr. C. Faidy (EDF/Septen, France ), and Dr. K. Takumi (NUPEC, Japan). A paper by Mr. K. Wichman and Mr. A. Lee of the US NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is included as background material to these proceedings; it discusses the history and status of LBB applications in US nuclear power plants. In addition, several papers on ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The world's fleet of nuclear power plants is, on average, more than 20 years old. Even though the design life of a nuclear power plant is typically 30-40 years, it is quite feasible that many plants will be able to operate in excess of their design lives, provided that nuclear power plant engineers demonstrate by analysis, trending, equipment and system upgrades, increased vigilance, testing and ageing management that the plant will operate safely. In the operation of nuclear power plants, safety should be always the prime consideration. Plant operators and regulators must always ensure that plant safety is maintained, and where possible enhanced, during a plant's operating lifetime. Nuclear power plant life management (PLiM) has gained increased attention over the past decade, and effective ageing management of systems, structures and components (SSCs) is a key element in PLiM for the safe and reliable long term operation of nuclear power ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Industrial radiography accounts for approximately half of all the reported accidents for the nuclear related industry, in both developed and developing countries. This Safety Report is the result of a review made of a large selection of accidents in industrial radiography reported by regulatory authorities, professional associations and scientific journals. A small, representative selection of 43 accident descriptions has been used to illustrate the primary causes of radiography accidents, and a set of measures provided to prevent the recurrence of such accidents or to mitigate the consequences of those that do occur. These accident descriptions were categorized by primary causes as follows: inadequate regulatory control; failure to follow operational procedures; inadequate training; inadequate maintenance; human error; equipment malfunction or defect; design flaws; and wilful violation. The information in this Safety report is intended for use ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The State Energy Conservation Office has executed its first Fuel Cell Project which was awarded under a Department of Energy competitive grant process. The Texas LPG Fuel Processor Development and Fuel Cell Demonstration Program is a broad-based public/private partnership led by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). Partners include the Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division (AFRED) of the Railroad Commission of Texas; Plug Power, Inc., Latham, NY, UOP/HyRadix, Des Plaines, IL; Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX; the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The team proposes to mount a development and demonstration program to field-test and evaluate markets for HyRadix?s LPG fuel processor system integrated into Plug Power?s residential-scale GenSys 5C (5 kW) PEM fuel cell system in a variety of building types and conditions ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This report discusses the safety approach of the Advanced Liquid Metal reactor program, sponsored by the US Department of Energy, which relies upon passive reactor responses to off-normal condition to limit power and temperature excursions to levels that allow safety margins. Gas expansion modules (GEM) have included in the design to provide negative reactivity to enhance these margins in the extremely unlikely event that pumping power is lost and the highly reliable scram system fails to operate. The feasibility and beneficial features of these devices were first demonstrated in the core of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) in 1986. Preapplication safety evaluations by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission have identified areas that must be addressed if these devices are to be relied on. One of these areas is the response of the reactor when it is critical and the pumps are turned on, resulting in positive reactivity being added to the core. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Petro-Canada's Terra Nova offshore oil platform was designed with the expectation that its Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel would be taken off location for maintenance and modifications work within the first 10 years of operation. Petro-Canada's 2006 extended Turnaround project was initiated to prepare for the maintenance and transport of the FPSO. The project aimed to execute an extended turnaround in approximately 90 days. The cost of the project was estimated at $190.5 million. Shutdown occurred early on May 7, 2006 due to the failure of a generator gearbox. Staff were increased from 80 to 120 to complete critical preparation work. On June 17, the FPSO was disconnected and departed for Conception Bay. A turret cover plate was installed, and the FPSO began its voyage to a Rotterdam shipyard in the Netherlands. In order to complete the journey, a comprehensive marine transit manual and emergency response plan was needed. The vessel transited ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The environmental management infrastructure that has evolved in the United States over the last 25 years or so, since {open_quotes}the environment{close_quotes} burst into the national consciousness with events like Love Canal and Earth Day in the early 1970s. Increasingly, U.S. businesses must successfully compete with those of other nations to survive. Organizational re-engineering, cycle-time management, concurrent engineering, and lean manufacturing are just a few examples of corporate efforts to become better global competitors. U.S. environmental management systems, with their various inefficiencies, can hardly be excluded from these improvement initiatives. Businesses must find ways to reduce or control their environmental costs and, where possible, find ways that {open_quotes}environment{close_quotes} can add positive value to their goods and services. Secondly, although considerable progress has been made in some areas, such as the development of cleaner ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report documents the results of the routine environmental audit of the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12 Plant), Anderson County, Tennessee. During this audit, the activities conducted by the audit team included reviews of internal documents and reports from previous audits and assessments; interviews with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), State of Tennessee regulatory, and contractor personnel; and inspections and observations of selected facilities and operations. The onsite portion of the audit was conducted August 22-September 2, 1994, by the DOE Office of Environmental Audit (EH-24), located within the Office of Environment, Safety and Health (EH). DOE 5482.1 B, {open_quotes}Environment, Safety, and Health Appraisal Program,{close_quotes} establishes the mission of EH-24 to provide comprehensive, independent oversight of DOE environmental programs on behalf of the Secretary of Energy. The ultimate goal of EH-24 is enhancement of environmental protection and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In February 2001, the Minister of Environment Canada outlined a series of measures to be implemented over the next decades to reduce emissions from vehicles, engines and fuels. The agenda includes the development of new regulations under the authority of Part 7, Division 5 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to align Canada's emission standards for on-road vehicles with those of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This paper presents a detailed summary of comments received by the interested parties that appeared at a public consultation in November 2001 to discuss and raise issues about the proposed regulations. The parties that provided submissions included: governments; the vehicle and engine manufacturing industry; the oil industry; other groups of associations such as the Canadian Trucking Alliance, David Suzuki Foundation, and West Coast Environmental Law; and, five private individuals. The report presents comments and replies from each ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Eiric Raude offshore drilling rig is a powerful machine that is suitable for drilling in harsh environments in ultra deep water. It has a total drilling depth of 8,200 to 10,000 metres and an operational displacement of 53,400 mt. The rig complies with the regulatory regimes of Norway, the United Kingdom and Canada. The Eiric Raude has drilled 5 deepwater wells offshore eastern Canada, 1 well offshore Cuba, 1 well west of Shetland, and 3 offshore Norway. The environmental criteria for extreme weather conditions consider wave, current and wind forces. The general operational guidelines were discussed along with key areas for prevention of environmental impact, including emissions from well testing, air emissions from diesel engines, cooling water, bunkering operations, discharges from drilling, accidental discharges, drain water, and domestic sewage. It was noted that the zero discharge philosophy is the basis for all activities. The original design was meant to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a complete set of environmental pathways for disposal options and conditions that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) may analyze for a low-level radioactive waste (LLW) license application. The regulations pertaining In the past, shallow-land burial has been used for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. However, with the advent of the State Compact system of LLW disposal, many alternative technologies may be used. The alternative LLW disposal facilities include below- ground vault, tumulus, above-ground vault, shaft, and mine disposal This paper will form the foundation of an update of the previously developed Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)/NRC LLW performance assessment methodology. Based on the pathway assessment for alternative disposal methods, a determination will be made about whether the current methodology can satisfactorily analyze the pathways and phenomena likely to be ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In response to the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission`s subsequent rulemaking on transmission access, many states are exploring options to restructure their electric industries. In their deliberations on restructuring, policymakers should consider (1) the reliability of the electric system; (2) income-distribution effects on ratepayers and utilities; (3) social consequences such as effects on energy conservation, renewable energy, and the environment; and (4) economic efficiency. We address economic-efficiency considerations in this study. Economic efficiency is important because it is one of the primary reasons that policymakers should consider restructuring in the first place: improving the electric-industry`s efficiency lowers costs and, hence, electric prices. In this study, we look at the sources of (in)efficiency in existing and proposed electric markets with the objective of guiding policymakers to ...

Science.gov (United States)

The NCRP Wound Model, which describes the retention of selected radionuclides at the site of a contaminated wound and their uptake into the transfer compartment, has been combined with the ICRP element-specific systemic models for those radionuclides to derive dose coefficients for intakes via contaminated wounds. These coefficients can be used to generate derived regulatory guidance (i.e., the activity in a wound that would result in an effective dose of 20 or 50 mSv, or in some cases, a organ-equivalent dose of 500 mSv) and clinical decision guidance (i.e., activity levels that would indicate the need for consideration of medical intervention to remove activity from the wound site, administration of decorporation therapy or both). Data are provided for 38 radionuclides commonly encountered in various activities such as nuclear weapons, fuel fabrication or recycling, waste disposal, medicine, research, and nuclear power. These include 3H, 14C, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizen's Advisory Council and the Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council are independent, non profit organizations formed in 1989 following the Exxon Valdez oil spill to promote the concept of community-based oil spill response (COSR) in their respective regions. COSR involves local citizens in responding to oil spilled in waters they rely upon for income, recreation and subsistence. The 2 advisory councils recently held a Community Oil Spill Response Forum to review the status of existing COSR teams and to share information about past and future COSR-related efforts. The meeting served as an information exchange process about regulatory programs, COSR variations in communities and harbors, training, and personnel issues. Key groups attending the forum were harbor masters, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, United States Coast Guard, existing COSR teams, oil response organizations, local ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Extending genome wide association analysis by the inclusion of gene expression data may assist in the dissection of complex traits. We examined piebald, a pigmentation phenotype in both human and Merino...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

DNA transposons are efficient tools in transgenesis and have therefore become popular in the analysis of the regulatory genome in vertebrates via enhancer trap screens. Here, I discuss recent progress...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Rhizobium leguminosarum, biovar viceae, strain RCC1001 contains two glutamine synthetase activities, GSI and GSII. We report here the identification of glnA, the structural gene for GSI. A 2 kb fragment...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

SUMMARYThe biologic and clinical significance of KIT overexpression that associates with KIT gain-of- function mutations occurring in subsets...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Promoters are important regulatory elements that contain the necessary sequence features for cells to initiate transcription. To functionally characterize a large set of human promoters, we measured...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The level of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) profoundly influences essential cell behaviors such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. The spatial and temporal pattern...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Phospho-beta-galactosidase (P-beta-gal), the enzyme which catalyzes the first step in the metabolism of intracellular lactose phosphate, occurred at high specific activity in the cytoplasm in 12 of...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Regulatory agencies currently rely on rodent carcinogenicity bioassay data to predict whether or not a given chemical poses a carcinogenic threat to humans. We argue that it is always more useful to...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Medical treatment of heroin addiction with methadone and other pharmacotherapies has important benefits for individuals and society. However, regulatory policies have separated this treatment from the...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report includes the issuances received during the specified period from the Commission (CLI), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards (LBP), the Administrative Law Judges (AU), the Directors` Decisions (DD), and the Decisions on Petitions for Rulemaking (DPRM).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report includes the issuances received during the specified period from the Commission (CLI), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Boards (ALAB), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards (LBP), the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the Directors' Decisions (DD), and the Denials of Petitions for Rulemaking (DPRM).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report includes the issuances received during the specified period from the Commission (CLI), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards (LBP), the Administrative Law Judges (ALJ), the Directors Decisions (DD), and the Decisions on Petitions for Rulemaking (DPRM).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Choline (Cho)-containing phospholipids are the most abundant phospholipids in cellular membranes and play fundamental structural as well as regulatory roles in cell metabolism and signaling. Although...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Electricity markets in the United States are undergoing unprecedented structural changes as a result of the confluence of regulatory, competitive, and technological forces. This paper introduces these structural changes and forces and discuss the implications, markets and commercialization scenarios for emerging fuel cells in evolving US electricity markets.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundRecent data show aberrant and altered expression of regulatory noncoding micro (mi) RNAs in prostate cancer (PCa). A large number of miRNAs are encoded in organized intronic...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe immunoregulatory enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, which catalyzes the conversion of tryptophan into kynurenine, is expressed in a significant subset of patients...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundGene regulation is a key mechanism in higher eukaryotic cellular processes. One of the major challenges in gene regulation studies is to identify regulators affecting the...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Progress is reported in the following subject areas: (1) chemistry of the arogenate molecule; (2) plant enzymology at the organismal level; (3) isolation of regulatory mutants in tobacco; and (4) stability of the haploid state in Nicotiana sylvestris.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The programming of cellular networks to achieve new biological functions depends on the development of genetic tools that link the presence of a molecular signal to gene-regulatory activity. Recently,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

FXYD1 (phospholemman) is a member of an evolutionarily conserved family of membrane proteins that regulate the function of the Na,K-ATPase enzyme complex in specific tissues and specific physiological...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The ability to adapt to adverse environmental conditions encountered in food and during host infection is a sine qua non for a successful Listeria monocytogenes infection. This ability...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

This analysis, submitted in support of proposed effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the centralized waste treatment (CWT) industry, investigates the cost-effectiveness of 24 regulatory options, representing all possible combinations of nine ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Phosphorus is an essential mineral that maintains cellular energy and mineralizes the skeleton. Because complex actions of ion transporters and regulatory hormones regulate serum phosphorus concentrations,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK) is a member of the death-associated protein kinase family associated with apoptosis in nonmuscle cells where it phosphorylates myosin regulatory light chain...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The carboxyl-terminal region of tubulin alpha and beta subunits plays a major role in regulating its assembly into microtubules and constitutes an essential domain for the selective interaction of microtubule-associated...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

The report gives an initial assessment of the feasibility of disposing of flue gas desulfurization wastes in mines and in the ocean. The purpose of the assessment was to evaluate environmental, technical, regulatory, and economic aspects of the use of such disposal sites. Availab...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

From Toki-shakuyaku-san, an herbal formulation for “cleansing stagnated blood,” a key gene regulatory compound was purified and identified through a screening based on DNA microarray...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundGATA-2 is a transcription factor required for hematopoietic stem cell survival as well as for neuronal development in vertebrates. It has been shown that specific expression...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundWe have recently introduced a predictive framework for studying gene transcriptional regulation in simpler organisms using a novel supervised learning algorithm called...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This document defines the services the Waste Sampling and Characterization Facility (WSCF) shall provide Effluent Monitoring (EM) throughout the calendar year for analysis. The internal memo contained in Appendix A identifies the samples Em plans to submit for analysis in CY-1995. Analysis of effluent (liquid and air discharges) and environmental (air, liquid, animal, and vegetative) samples is required using standard laboratory procedures, in accordance with regulatory and control requirements. This report describes regulatory reporting requirements and WSCF services and data quality objectives.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study, the state-of-the art for estimating LERF is considered for the regulatory risk-informed decisions. The consideration is mainly focused on (1) the relationship between Level 2 PSA and LERF evaluation methodology, (2) the standard requirements in terms of modeling preparation and the acceptance criteria based on the application capability II of ASME PRA standard, and (3) some pending issues for developing and proposing a simplified LERF model. This study is preliminarily presented and will be updated for establishing detailed evaluation scheme of extended MPAS (multi-purpose probabilistic analysis of safety) model and preparing the technical basis.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During the five plus years this Cooperative Agreement existed, more than 45 different projects were funded. Most projects were funded for a one year period but there were some, deemed of such quality and importance, funded for multiple years. Approximately 22 external agencies, businesses, and other entities have cooperated with or been funded through the WVU Cooperative Agreement over the five plus years. These external entities received 33% of the funding by this Agreement. The scope of this Agreement encompassed all forms of hazardous waste remediation including radioactive, organic, and inorganic contaminants. All matrices were of interest; generally soil, water, and contaminated structures. Economic, health, and regulatory aspects of technologies were also within the scope of the agreement. The highest priority was given to small businesses funded by the Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC) and Department of Energy (DOE) involved in research and development ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Located approximately 350 km east of Newfoundland, on the eastern edge of the Jeanne d'Arc Basin, and approximately 50 km from both the Terra Nova and Hibernia oilfields, the White Rose oilfield is considered the main oil producing basin off the eastern coast of North America. Husky Oil is very active in the region and holds almost 32 per cent net working interest in the Significant Discovery License areas in the Jeanne d'Arc basin. The development of an economically significant oil discovery in the White Rose Significant Discovery Area is being proposed jointly by Husky Oil and Petro-Canada. It is estimated that the project would enable the recovery of an estimated 36 million cubic meters (230 million barrels) of recoverable oil in this area that covers approximately 40 square kilometers. The operators propose to use a ship-shaped floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility which could store up to 135,000 cubic meters (850,000 barrels) of oil or the ...

CERN Document Server

Regulatory genes called small RNAs (sRNAs) are known to play critical roles in cellular responses to changing environments. For several sRNAs, regulation is effected by coupled stoichiometric degradation with messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The nonlinearity inherent in this regulatory scheme indicates that exact analytical solutions for the corresponding stochastic models are intractable. Here, we present a variational approach to analyze a well-studied stochastic model for regulation by sRNAs via coupled degradation. The proposed approach is efficient and provides accurate estimates of mean mRNA levels as well as higher order terms. Results from the variational ansatz are in excellent agreement with data from stochastic simulations for a wide range of parameters, including regions of parameter space where mean-field approaches break down. The proposed approach can be applied to quantitatively model stochastic gene expression in complex ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Total river discharge in Pakistan in summer season vary from 3 thousand to 34 thousand cusses (100 thousand Cusses to 1,200 thousand Cusses) and can cause tremendous loss to human lives, crops and property, this causes the loss of most of the flood water in the lower Indus plains to the sea. Due to limited capacity of storage at Tarbela and Mangla Dams on river Indus and Jhelum, with virtually no control on Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, devastating problems are faced between July and October in the event of excessive rainfall in the catchments. Due to enormous amounts of sediments brought in by the feeding rivers, the three major reservoirs -Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma will lose their storage capacity, by 25 % by the end of the year 2010, which will further aggravate the water-availability situation in Pakistan. The quality of water is also deteriorating due to urbanization and industrialization and agricultural developments. On the Environmental Front the main problems are water-logging ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) engaged in numerous projects outlined under the scope of work discussed in the United States Department of Energy (DOE) grant number DE-FG26-01BC15336 awarded to the IOGCC. Numerous projects were completed that were extremely valuable to state oil and gas agencies as a result of work performed utilizing resources provided by the grant. There are numerous areas in which state agencies still need assistance. This additional assistance will need to be addressed under another grant because funding resources have been exhausted under The scope of work objectives for the eight projects covered under this grant is as follows: (1) Improve uniformity within state oil and gas data management efforts. (2) Conduct environmental compliance workshops and related educational projects on natural gas and oil exploration and production. (3) Improve regulatory efficiency through partnering opportunities provided by the Appalachian ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report summarizes a public workshop that was held on April 27, 1999, in Rockville, Maryland. The workshop was conducted as part of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) efforts to further develop its understanding of the risks associated with low power and shutdown operations at US nuclear power plants. A sufficient understanding of such risks is required to support decision-making for risk-informed regulation, in particular Regulatory Guide 1.174, and the development of a consensus standard. During the workshop the NRC staff discussed and requested feedback from the public (including representatives of the nuclear industry, state governments, consultants, private industry, and the media) on the risk associated with low-power and shutdown operations.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This is the sixth report by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) that has been prepared in response to the Congressional requirement for an annual report on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Reactor Safety Research Program. Part I is a compilation of our general comments and recommendations regarding the NRC Safety Research Program, and includes budget recommendations and an identification of matters of special importance that deserve increased emphasis. It is intended to serve as an Executive Summary. Part II is divided into ten chapters, each of which represents a Decision Unit of the NRC research program. In each chapter, specific comments are included on the research involved in the Decision Unit, an assessment of priorities, and recommendations regarding new directions and levels of funding.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Seabed Disposal Project (SDP) was evaluating the technical feasibility of high-level nuclear waste disposal in deep ocean sediments. Working standards were needed for risk assessments, evaluation of alternative designs, sensitivity studies, and conceptual design guidelines. This report completes a three part program to develop radiological standards for the feasibility phase of the SDP. The characteristics of subseabed disposal and how they affect the selection of standards are discussed. General radiological protection standards are reviewed, along with some new methods, and a systematic approach to developing standards is presented. The selected interim radiological standards for the SDP and the reasons for their selection are given. These standards have no legal or regulatory status and will be replaced or modified by regulatory agencies if subseabed disposal is implemented. 56 refs., 29 figs., 15 tabs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Internationally, on-line maintenance (OLM) of nuclear power plants under the operation is prevailed to enhance nuclear safety and economics. In recent years, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. Ltd. (KHNP) is eager to apply OLM. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) has established the related technology development program as an item of 'Overall Planning on Nuclear Safety(2010-2014)' through acceptance to the request of KHNP in 2009. OLM is defined as maintenance that is performed with the main generator connected to the grid. In other words, it means a preventive maintenance to be implemented during the allowable outage time (AOT) with ignoring inoperability of safety-related equipment listed in the technical specifications. The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) is developing the assessment technology of safety concerns for OLM under the auspices of MEST. Draft regulatory rule-making for OLM is devised as a part of the development of the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The analysis is submitted in support of the effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the Coastal Oil and Gas Industry. The report analyzes the cost-effectiveness of 10 regulatory options organized by three wastestreams. The document compares the total annualized cost incurred for each of the regulatory options within each wastestream to the corresponding effectiveness of that option in reducing the discharge of pollutants. Section Two discusses the cost-effectiveness methodology used and identifies the pollutants included in the analysis, presenting their toxic weighting factors and removal efficiencies. Section Three presents the results of the analysis. In Section Four, the cost-effectiveness values are compared to cost-effectiveness values for other promulgated rules. Appendix A presents data on pollutants, pollutant removals, annualized costs, and other, more detailed information.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors have identified a protein present only in erythroid cells that binds to two adjacent sites within an enhancer region of the chicken {beta}-globin locus. Mutation of the sites, so that binding by the factor can no longer be detected in vitro, leads to a loss of enhancing ability, assayed by transient expression in primary erythrocytes. Binding sites for the erythroid-specific factor (Eryf1) are found within regulatory regions for all chicken globin genes. A strong Eryf1 binding site is also present within the enhancer of at least one human globin gene, and proteins from human erythroid cells (but not HeLa cells) bind to both the chicken and the human sites.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Full text of publication follows: The Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) are always designed for the highest level of safety against postulated accidents which may be initiated due to internal or external causes. One of the external/internal causes, which may lead to accident in the reactor and its associated systems, is fire in certain vital areas of the plant. Conventionally, the fire containment approach and/or the fire confinement approach is used in designing the fire protection systems of NPPs. Indian NPPs (PHWRs) follow the combined approach to ensure plant safety and all newly designed plants are required to comply with the provisions of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) fire safety Guide. In respect of older plants, the reassessment of adequacy of fire safety provisions in the light of current advances has becomes essential so as to decide upon the steps for retrofitting. Keeping this in mind the deterministic fire ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Protection of wetlands became a national issue in 1988 when President George Bush pledged no net loss of wetlands in the US under his [open quotes]environmental presidency.[close quotes] As wetlands became a national issue, the job of protecting them became an obligation for many groups, including hydro-power developers. Now, when a site selected for development includes an area that may be classified as a wetland, the developer quickly discovers the importance of recognizing and protecting these natural habitats. Federal legislation severely limits development of wetland, and most states increase the restrictions with their own wetlands regulations. The difficulty of defining wetlands complicates federal and state enforcement. Land that appears to be dry may in fact be classified as a wetland. So, even if a site appears dry, potential hydro developers must confirm whether or not any jurisdictional wetlands are present. Regulated lands include much more than marshes and swamps. Further ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The cell cycle-regulatory transcription factor E2F-1 is regulated by interactions with proteins such as the retinoblastoma gene product and by cell cycle-dependent alterations in E2F-1 mRNA abundance....Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This report presents criteria for the identification and evaluation of fire hazards in nuclear power stations. The report presents criteria that are consistent with the existing regulatory approach in Canada, and outlines engineering tools and analytical techniques currently available to deterministically analyse fire. The criteria presented cover the topics which should be included in a fire hazard analysis and provide details of each topic so that the accuracy of an analysis may be evaluated.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this study, for the institutionalization of risk informed and performance based regulation in Korea, the latest technical movements of overseas countries are examined and reviewed. And the issues that was found when license change petition using risk information was submitted in Korean regulatory body are reviewed. Based on these review, the applicable areas to domestic situation will be found and proposed. This study can contribute to setting up the proper direction for the institutionalization of risk informed and performance based regulation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The FFTF is an ERDA facility which does not require licensing, but a technical review by NRC is required by ERDA policy. Safety issues which were not fully resolved in the course of the review for construction authorization have been the subject of continuing review since mid-1973. These issues included HCDA energetics, design fallback provisions for additional safety margins, piping integrity, and natural circulation core cooling.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We demonstrate that expression of the UGA1, CAN1, GAP1, PUT1, PUT2, PUT4, and DAL4 genes is sensitive to nitrogen catabolite repression. The expression of all these genes, with the exception of UGA1...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This journal includes all formal reports in the NUREG series prepared by the NRC staff and contractors, as well as proceedings of conferences and workshops. The entries in the compilation are indexed for access by title and abstract, contractor report number, personal author, subject, NRC organization, contractor, and licensed facility.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Sodium Storage Facility Project Quality Assurance Plan delineates the quality assurance requirements for construction of a new facility, modifications to the sodium storage tanks, and tie-ins to the FFTF Plant. This plan provides direction for the types of verifications necessary to satisfy the functional requirements within the project scope and applicable regulatory requirements determined in the Project Functional Design Criteria (FDC), WHC-SD-FF-FDC-009.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report includes the issuances received during April 1984 from the Commission (CLI), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Boards (ALAB), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards (LBP), the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the Directors' Decisions (DD), and the Denials of Petitions for Rulemaking (DPRM).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report includes the issuances received during the specified period from the Commission (CLI), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Boards (ALAB), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards (LBP), the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the Director's Decisions (DD), and the Denials of Petitions For Rulemaking (DPRM).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report includes the issuances received during January 1984 from the Commission (CLI), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Boards (ALAB), the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards (LBP), the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the Directors' Decisions (DD), and the Denials of Petitions for Rulemaking (DPRM).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The positive control function of the bacterial enhancer-binding protein NtrC resides in its central domain, which is highly conserved among activators of ς⁵⁴ holoenzyme. Previous...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We have isolated a human thrombomodulin cDNA, and a human genomic clone containing the putative promoter domain, as well as the translated and untranslated regions of the endothelial cell receptor....Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

The Economic Analysis (EA) report is written to address the impacts of this proposed Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for Synthetic-Based and Other Non-Aqueous Drilling Fluids. Currently, effluent guidelines pertaining to the discharge of drilling fluids address two specific types of fluids: Oil-based drilling fluids (OBFs) that use diesel and mineral oil, which are prohibited from being discharged; and Water-based drilling Fluids (WBFs), which can be discharged subject to meeting certain discharge requirements, including a sheen test and an aqueous toxicity test, in certain limited offshore regions. Section Two presents sources of data, Section Three presents the industry profile, Section Four discusses the regulatory costs of options under consideration for the proposed rulemaking, and Section Five discusses the impacts of the proposed rule on firms, well drilling, and production, and also briefly discusses secondary impacts such as those on ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The UK Pipelines Safety Regulations require the pipeline operator to ensure that a pipeline, once decommissioned, does not become a source of danger. Elsewhere, Regulatory Authorities require consideration of the possible issues which pipeline decommissioning may raise. This paper considers current practice with respect to pipeline decommissioning and abandonment, and sets out the range of factors which the operator must take into account. (author)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the Lyme disease spirochete, the alternative σ factor σ⁵⁴ (RpoN) directly activates transcription of another alternative σ...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundAberrant CD40 ligand (CD154) expression occurs on both T cells and B cells in human lupus patients, which is suggested to enhance B cell CD40 signaling and play a role...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This Pollution Prevention Design Assessment (PPDA) provides data for cost-benefit analysis of the potential environmental impact of the APT, is an integral part of pollution prevention/waste minimization, and is required by DOE for any activity generating radioactive, hazardous, and mixed wastes. It will also better position the APT to meet future requirements, since it is anticipated that regulatory and other requirements will continue to become more restrictive and demanding.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

CORAL-I was an experimental, zero-power, fast-spectrum, high-enriched metal uranium reactor that operated from 1968 until 1988 at the former Junta de Energia Nuclear (JEN), CIEMAT at present. The critical measurements performed at the startup of the reactor are being evaluated as part of the International Critical Safety Benchmark Evaluation Program (ICSBEP) and proposed to be included in its 2001 edition. Additionally, the measurement of the mass reactivity coefficient is compared with MCNP4B calculations. This measurement allows one to perform the approach to critical without the need of a previous control rod calibration, thus enhancing the safety of such an approach. This technique can also be applied to other reactor types. CORAL-I (Ref. 1) is a 90% enriched metal uranium reactor domestically designed and manufactured in the experimental facilities of JEN, now CIEMAT, in Madrid, Spain. The enriched uranium was supplied by the International Atomic Energy Agency as metal ingots and ...

CERN Document Server

The CMS RPC system overview

CERN Document Server

Handbook on decision support systems

CERN Document Server

Dynamic system identification

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses organized and hosted a workshop on ``Rock Mechanics Issues in Repository Design and Performance Assessment`` on behalf its sponsor the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This workshop was held on September 19- 20, 1994 at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Rockville, Maryland. The objectives of the workshop were to stimulate exchange of technical information among parties actively investigating rock mechanics issues relevant to the proposed high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain and identify/confirm rock mechanics issues important to repository design and performance assessment The workshop contained three technical sessions and two panel discussions. The participants included technical and research staffs representing the NRC and the Department of Energy and their contractors, as well as researchers from the academic, commercial, and international technical communities. These ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The staff of the Spent Fuel Project Office at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission undertook the investigation and thermal analysis of the Baltimore tunnel fire event. This event occurred in the Howard Street tunnel, in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 18, 2001. The staff was tasked with assessing the consequences of this event on the transportation of spent nuclear fuel. This paper describes the staff's coordination with the following government and laboratory organizations: the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), to determine the details of the train derailment and fire; the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to quantify the thermal conditions within the tunnel; the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analysis (CNWRA), to validate the NIST evaluations, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), to assist in the thermal analysis. The results of the staff's review and analysis efforts are ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Understanding of the thermal hydraulic phenomena is now the key issue in solving the severe accident problems of light water reactors. The Atomic Energy Society of Japan has organized a special committee on the evaluation of the thermal hydraulic phenomena in severe accident. The committee has continued the investigation of present status of thermal hydraulics in severe accident. Industries have completed the detailed implementation of the accident management measures, and industries have established also a self-regulatory document mainly on phase II accident management for the containment design of the future reactors. Present paper reviews the current status of evaluation activity referring to severe accident research in Japan. The phenomena included in this paper are (1) molten core behavior in lower plenum of pressure vessel, (2) fuel-coolant interaction, (3) molten core-concrete interaction, (4) direct containment heating, (5) hydrogen combustion, and (6) ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This study examines, in general, the transformation of the role of the Brazilian state to intervener in supervisory of the services, through the delegation of responsibility for the exploitation of public services to private enterprise, and the creation of regulatory agencies. The study pointing to the necessity of a legal and regulatory stable scenario in the regulation of these services, as enables of private investment mechanisms and, as a consequence of sustainable economic development. The success of the neo liberal state model is examined, specifically in relation to the market of pipeline gas distribution, showing the environmental, economic and social benefits that brought in this sector, the private investment and stability so far reasonably observed in this segment. The work also indicating, in general, the risks and issues most relevant, from the investor and markets point of view, to attract and maintain investment and to reduce the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the RIR (Risk-informed Regulation), PSA (Probabilistic Safety Assessment) plays a major role because it provides overall risk insights for the regulatory body and utility. Therefore, the scope, the level of details and the technical adequacy of PSA, i.e. the quality of PSA is to be ensured for the successful RIR. To improve the quality of Korean PSA, we evaluate the quality of the KSNP (Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plant) internal full-power PSA model based on the 'ASME PRA Standard' and the 'NEI PRA Peer Review Process Guidance.' As a working group, PSA experts of the regulatory body and industry also participated in the evaluation process. It is finally judged that the overall quality of the KSNP PSA is between the ASME Standard Capability Category I and II. We also derive some items to be improved for upgrading the quality of the PSA up to the ASME Standard Capability Category II. In this paper, we ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We report here a study of the mechanisms leading to loss of growth control in chicken embryo fibroblasts transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). We have been particularly concerned with the role of the src gene in this process, and have used RSV mutants temperature sensitive (ts) for transformation to investigate the nature of the growth regulatory lesion. The two principal findings were (1) the stationary phase of the cell cycle (G{sub 1}) in chick embryo fibroblasts seems to have two distinct regulatory compartments (using the terminology of Brooks et al. we refer to these as 'Q' and 'A' states). When rendered stationary at 41.5 C by serum deprivation, normal cells enter a Q state, but cells infected with the ts-mutant occupy an A state. (2) Whereas normal cells can occupy either state depending on culture conditions, the ts-infected cells, at 41.5 C, do not seem to enter Q even though a known src gene ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This regulatory guide describes methods acceptable to the NRC staff for calculating radon fluxes through earthen covers and for calculating the resulting minimum cover thickness needed to meet NRC and EPA standards. The guide also suggests methods for obtaining the various parameters used in calculating the radon fluxes and earthen cover thicknesses and suggests default values for certain parameters. This regulatory guide is applicable to active uranium tailings sites. The NRC staff is using the methods stated in this guide as a basis for review and concurrence of DOE remedial action plans for inactive sites. The guidance is intended to be used for calculating radon flux attenuation by earthen uranium mill tailings covers. The parameter values and examples presented are limited to earthen cover materials, but the diffusion theory and the methods presented are also applicable to man-made materials. Detailed supporting information for calculating ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A brief overview is given of the geological characteristics of each region of the state as they relate to potential geothermal development. Those exploration methods which can lead to the siting of a deep exploration well are described. Requirements and techniques needed for drilling deeper higher temperature exploration and production wells are presented. Electrical generation, direct utilization, and indirect utilization are reviewed. Economic factors of direct use projects are presented. A general guide to the regulatory framework affecting geothermal energy development is provided. The general steps necessary to gain access to explore, develop, distribute, and use geothermal resources are outlined. (MHR)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The US New Source Review (NSR) program requires power plant owners to install modern pollution control whenever they upgrade their plants in a way that will cause more pollution. The Clean Air Task Force and other environmental organizations and dozens of states and municipalities have challenged changes to the NSR rule change exempting grandfathered power plants under certain conditions. The author discussed this legislation and whether the Clear Skies Act will be effective. 9 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The author describes the history of the Soviet Unions nuclear weapons testing in Siberia from the first bomb on 29th August 1949 until the test-ban treaty of 1963. The effects of the weapons testing on the local population is only now becoming widely known. Levels of cancers and cataracts are significantly higher than in uneffected populations, and there are also high levels of some lung, bone, skin and digestive conditions. Perhaps the most important information relates to cataracts, previously thought to be caused by single large bursts of radiation. Regulatory authorities worldwide will need to tighten the safety limits for eye radiation exposure to these findings. (U.K.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of the Korean Next Generation Reactor(KNGR) seismic design is to develop a standard design that can cover most of site characteristics in the world with the possible exception of areas of high seismicity. This seismic design was based on the current state-of-the-art as well as the current Nuclear Regulatory guidance. This paper provides a summary on the design parameters used in the KNGR seismic design. In addition, this paper discusses seismic design requirements, selection of generic soil sites, selection of design control motions, and soil-structure interaction(SSI) analyses for the KNGR Nuclear Island(NI) structures. (author). 16 refs., 8 figs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Health physicists from the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) visited the Savannah River Site (SRS) as one of 12 facilities operated by the Department of Energy (DOE) contractors with annual collective dose equivalents greater than 100 person-rem (100 person-cSv). Their charter was to review, evaluate and summarize as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) techniques, methods and practices as implemented. This presentation gives an overview of the two selected ALARA practices implemented at the SRS: Administrative Exposure Limits and Goal Setting. These dose control methods are used to assure that individual and collective occupational doses are ALARA and within regulatory limits.

Science.gov (United States)

The proceedings document the presentations made during the symposium, which dealt with the status of flue gas desulfurization technology in the United States and abroad. Subjects considered included: regenerable, non-regenerable, and advanced processes; process costs; and by-product disposal, utilization, and marketing. The purpose of the symposium was to provide developers, vendors, users and those concerned with regulatory guidelines with a current review of progress made in applying processes for the reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions at the full- and semi-commercial scale. The 20 papers were abstracted and indexed separately.

Science.gov (United States)

(B204)Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) insights are now used by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) to confirm the level of safety for plant operations and to justify changes in nuclear power plant operating requirements, both on an exception basis and as changeds to a plant's licensing basis. This report examines qualitative and quantitative risk assessments during shutdown plant states, providing feedback to utilities in the use of qualitative models for outage risk management, and also providing input to the development of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Low Power and Shutdown PRA Standard.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Operations at the Savannah River Site (SRS) result in releases of small amounts of radioactive materials to the atmosphere and to the Savannah River. For regulatory compliance purposes, potential offsite radiological doses are estimated annually using computer models that follow U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Regulatory Guides. Within the regulatory guides, default values are provided for many of the dose model parameters but the use of site-specific values by the applicant is encouraged. A detailed survey of land and water use parameters was conducted in 1991 and is being updated here. These parameters include local characteristics of meat, milk and vegetable production; river recreational activities; and meat, milk and vegetable consumption rates as well as other human usage parameters required in the SRS dosimetry models. In addition, the preferred elemental bioaccumulation factors and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A 2D matrix allows a fairly rapid verification of irradiation parameters transferred on computer processing equipment without expanding the dosimetry means to implement. Associated to 'Multicheck and Verisoft' software it will handle some of the regulatory recommendations of the A.F.S.S.A.P.S. for quality control of accelerators and ensure the traceability of testing carried out. (N.C.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

With the increasing use of high voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission lines there is a growing concern among the public about possible human health effects resulting from exposure to the electric fields associated with these lines. While there is no definitive evidence of such effects, mounting public fear and activism over hypothesized health risks is already causing delays in the licensing and constuction of major power transmission facilities, and is encouraging the formation of regulatory policy. This paper briefly reviews the concerns, biological effects data and standards for HVAC transmission lines.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This document presents an assessment of the severe accident phenomena observed from four Full-Length High-Temperature (FLHT) tests that were performed by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) in the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor at Chalk River, Ontario, Canada. These tests were conducted for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as part of the Severe Accident Research Program. The objectives of the test were to simulate conditions and provide information on the behavior of full-length fuel rods during hypothetical, small-break, loss-of-coolant severe accidents, in commercial light water reactors.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A 1976 decision of the US Supreme Court made it clear that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (then the Federal Power Commission) has a responsibility to consider and determine allegations that proposed wholesale electric rates create a price squeeze against customers who compete with the wholesaler in making retail electric sales. This article reviews how the commission has approached the matter of discharging its newly recognized responsibility since that time, and describes its current position regarding the several issues and questions that price squeeze allegations raise. 35 references.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Comparisons of the 60 Hz electric field exposures associated with high voltage transmission lines to those associated with common household sources can provide an important input to regulatory decisions that involve transmission line fields. Electric blankets are of interest in this context because the exposures they produce are among the most intense and prolonged of any of the household sources of 60 Hz electric field exposure. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the body surface fields induced by electric blankets. Electric blanket exposure intensities are compared to those associated with transmission lines.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Due mainly to competitive pressures, the practice of offering electric and telephone service under contracts or special tariffs negotiated individually between a utility and its customers has increased in importance in recent years. Moreover, the practice is likely to become still more widespread in the future. This creates questions of public policy that are of interest to regulators and ratepayers alike such as how to supervise the practice, how to encourage utilities to compete while preventing cross-subsidization and anticompetitive behavior, and how the practice will ultimately affect utilities and ratepayers. This report sheds light on the topic by describing approaches that have been taken by the various regulatory commissions and by providing a framework for analyzing such contractors.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A brief overview is given of the geological characteristics of each region of the state as they relate to potential geothermal development. Those exploration methods which can lead to the siting of a deep exploration well are described. Requirements and techniques needed for drilling deeper higher temperature exploration and production wells are presented. Electrical generation, direct utilization, and indirect utilization are reviewed. Economic factors of direct use projects are presented. A general guide to the regulatory framework affecting geothermal energy development is provided. The general steps necessary to gain access to explore, develop, distribute, and use geothermal resources are outlined. (MHR)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

On July 18, 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous (non-nuclear) materials derailed and caught fire while passing through the Howard Street railroad tunnel in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC), one of the agencies responsible for ensuring the safe transportation of radioactive materials in the United States, undertook an investigation of the train derailment and fire to determine the possible regulatory implications of this particular event for the transportation of spent nuclear fuel by railroad. Shortly after the accident occurred, the USNRC met with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the U.S. agency responsible for determining the cause of transportation accidents, to discuss the details of the accident and the ensuing fire. Following these discussions, the USNRC assembled a team of experts from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Center for ...