Externally powered prostheses have been studied for many years, to provide more effective rehabilitation of amputees. To take advantage of the benefits offered by external power in prostheses, however, the mode of control of the prosthesis by the amputee ...
Remote-controlled handling systems are required for work to be done in the decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities. These systems are equipped with electronic devices suitable for use in working environments affected by ionizing radiation. The publication explains the step-wise progress achieved for improving the radiation resistance of electronic devices with the example of a four-quadrant controlling device for the motors of a manipulator. The radiation resistance of the device could be enhanced to radiation energies of 5.500 Gy. This means that a manipulator vehicle equipped with this controlling device can take up to approx. 15 kGy all in all, taking into account its own shielding properties. (DG).
The need for a game-theoretical formulation of the problem of linear-quadratic control under nonmeasurable plant state where the functional depends on the uncertain initial state was substantiated. The minimax output control law in terms of linear matrix inequalities that may be regarded as the optimal robust control law for the given set of the plant initial states was established assuming that the measurable components of the initial state were known and the nonmeasurable components take on values within the given ellipsoid. The results obtained were generalized to the plants with uncertain parameters.
A high voltage self-blowing circuit breaker with closing resistors is equipped with an auxiliary contact inserted in the trip control circuit of an electrical circuit breaker. The auxiliary contact is actuated by the mechanical control rod of the circuit breaker in such a way as to prevent any operator closing error. A high-speed mechanism is inserted in the link system connecting the control rod and the auxiliary contact, with dead travel to delay closing of the auxiliary contact when a closing operation takes place and to prevent a tripping order from being transmitted too early. Such an early transmission would be liable to cause a flashover on the inserter contacts and damage to the circuit breaker.
The seawater in the intake structure flows into the large pump to with draw excess heat from the turbine steam condenser. In the intake structure of a nuclear power plant, undesirable pump operating characteristics such as vortices, impeller damages and non-uniform pump-approach flow around the pump bells take place frequently due to poorly-arranged intake geometry. In this study, physical modeling test was performed to predict the hydraulic phenomenon, and proposed flow control devices.
The patient positioning and repositioning control in radiation therapy all along the treatment can be conducted using a variety of X-ray sources and imaging detector devices. The development of image guided radiation therapy techniques leads to more frequent use of this imaging control. In this article we summarize the current methods for measuring the dose delivered by X-ray imaging devices used in radiation therapy, as well as basic proposals to take account of these imaging doses for prescribing, recording and reporting radiation therapy treatment. (authors)
In this work, we propose a conceptual distributed control framework for electrical grid integrated with distributed renewable energy generation systems in order to enable the development of the so-called ''smart electrical grid''. First, we introduce the key elements and their interactions in the proposed control architecture and discuss the design of the distributed control systems which are able to coordinate their actions to account for optimization considerations on the system operation. Subsequently, we focus on a specific wind/solar energy generation system connected to a reverse osmosis water desalination system and the electrical grid and design two supervisory predictive controllers via model predictive control to operate the integrated system taking into account short-term and lo...
The goal of this work is to minimize the energy dissipation of embedded controllers without jeopardizing the quality of control (QoC). Taking advantage of the dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) technology, this paper develops a performance-aware power management scheme for embedded controllers with processors that allow multiple voltage levels. The periods of control tasks are adapted online with respect to the current QoC, thus facilitating additional energy reduction over standard DVS. To avoid the waste of CPU resources as a result of the discrete voltage levels, a resource reclaiming mechanism is employed to maximize the CPU utilization and also to improve the QoC. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme. Compared with the optimal standard DVS scheme, the proposed scheme is shown to be able to save remarkably more energy while maintaining ...
Many existing methods of identifying the optimum sites for installing power system stabilizers (PSSs) in multi-machine systems are restricted to the sequential PSS application, which considers the enhancement of damping of just one critical electromechanical mode at a time; the eigenstructure analysis of the open-loop system, which does not take the control matrix (i.e., the B matrix in the linearized model x = Ax + Bu for power systems) into consideration. This paper presents a method of identifying the optimum sites for installing power system stabilizers. The advantages of this method are: it can identify the optimum sites for installing PSSs so that several electrochemical modes are damped out simultaneously; it takes both the eigenstructure of the open-loop system and the control matrix into consideration.
This paper presents a technique for speed control three-phase induction motor using the pulse width modulation (PWM), in open loop while maintaining the tension for constant frequency. The technique is adapted from a thesis entitled 'Control of the three-phase induction motor, using discrete PWM generation, optimized and synchronized', where studies are presented aimed at their application in home appliances, to eliminate mechanical parts, replaced by low cost electronic control, thus having a significant reduction in power consumption. Initially the experiment was done with the Intel 80C31 micro controller. In this paper, the PWM modulation is implemented using a PIC micro controller, and the speed control kept a low profile, based on tables, synchronized with transitions and reduced generation of harmonics in the network. Confirmations were ...
The paper develops a new design procedure for simultaneous coordinated designing of the thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) damping controller and power system stabilizer (PSS) in multi-machine power system. The coordinated design problem of PSS and TCSC damping controllers over a wide range of loading conditions is converted to an optimization problem with the time domain-based objective function that is solved by a particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique which has a strong ability to find the most optimistic results. By minimizing the proposed fitness function in which oscillatory characteristics between areas are included and thus the interactions among the TCSC controller and PSS under transient conditions in the multi-machine power system are improved. To ensure the robustness of the proposed stabilizers, the design process takes a wide range of operating ...
High-resolution sequence stratigraphy taking base-level cycles as interface of reference was developed rapidly in recent years. Its greatest predominance lies in that it can be applied to multi-controled continental sedimentary basins and can effectively improve accuracy and distinguishability of sequence stratigraphy analysis. Principles of base-level cycles can also be applied to the research and practice of the exploration and exploitation of sandstone-type uranium deposits as they control the spatial distribution, porosity, the permeability and the sealing ability of sandstone and mudstone, and stacking patterns of strata configuration. Taking Dongsheng uranium deposits as an example, the application of base-level cycles to exploration and exploitation of sandstone uranium deposits was analyzed. It is suggested that favorable strata framework of sandstone and mudstone was developed very well in the ...
In order to ensure a power balance in an electrical network a spinning reserve has to be capable of activation within seconds. However, because of the need to vary the fuel flow in the steam generator, the run-up of output takes minutes. The required capacity response is therefore achieved by storage of steam from the steam generator. In this process the turbine control valves come into action in a specific manner. The paper describes the importance of the initial reserve for unit capacity control. (orig.).
Oil and gas industry is the largest user of radioactive materials in Nigeria. They make use of radiation generators, sealed and unsealed radioactive sources.Some of these are potentially dangerous to human health and environment if not properly controlled. here is also the need to maintain control over occupational exposures to radiation, as well as to protect the public and the environment through proper management of wastes that may be radiologically hazardous. To minimize these, effective regulatory infrastructure is being put in place.For a smooth take-off of the nuclear power program, the National Nuclear Regulatory Authority and other stake holders in the nuclear industry need to start to put together licensing procedure for these.
The notion of hardened systems can be found in several applications (nuclear power plants, alarm systems, research installations..). Their development correspond to the functional necessity to take into account a specific radiative environment. The starting point of each hardening study is the definition of the radiative environmental constraints representative of the application. In addition to these external constraints, the specific functional characteristics of each system are considered: control or interface systems in nuclear industry, in-board control systems, remote handling systems, etc. This paper summarizes the methodology followed according to the experience gained in previous studies and anticipating the future needs. (J.S.). 6 refs., 5 figs.
The synthesis of experimental data concerning the effect of jet stagnation conditions on the drag of various afterbodies is presented. Jet pressure ratio effect on boattail pressure and on boundary layer separation is analyzed. This study is made for several values of the boundary layer thickness, taking into account the fact that some test rigs make its control possible by means of tangential blowing.
... The male GM mosquitoes mate with normal females to produce larvae that die unless the antibiotic tetracycline is present. In tetracycline's absence an enzyme accumulates to a toxic level, killing the larvae. The developers hope the strategy could be combined with other mosquito control methods to reduce transmission in dengue-prone areas. Ricarda Steinbrecher, a geneticist and co-director of EcoNexus -a UK-based non-profit research organisation -expressed surprise ...
... The male GM mosquitoes mate with normal females to produce larvae that die unless the antibiotic tetracycline is present. In tetracycline's absence an enzyme accumulates to a toxic level, killing the larvae. The developers hope the strategy could be combined with other mosquito control methods to reduce transmission in dengue-prone areas. Ricarda Steinbrecher, a geneticist and co-director of EcoNexus - a UK-based non-profit research organization - ...
Since many years, people take care of hazardous consequences of a non controlled economic growth and the sustainable development concept gains on one. This situation leads to consequences in the building industry and in the energy policy: buildings insulation in consideration, demand of consultants. In this framework, the partnership between Gaz De France and CICF has to be built. (A.L.B.)
The fast rotating wire scanners installed in the PS and the PS booster are used for the precise transversal profile measurements in horizontal and vertical planes. The scanners may show large position measurement errors if no special treatment is applied to the acquired data. The aim of the calibration is to obtain a correction algorithm for the systematic position measurement error due to mechanical and electronic offsets. A new calibration system has been developed and introduced at CERN for the scanners implementing position feedback control. The calibration method is based on a substitution of a particle beam by a laser one where the laser beam position is well known. According to the previous experience the following crucial requirements to the system have been taking into consideration: heavy and mechanically stable design of the calibration bench to reduce mechanical oscillations of scanner parts; automation of the calibration procedure ...
The authors explain the bankers' point of view of the financial and economic aspects of developments in the energy sector, discussing the financing of natural gas pipelines (Muro, Megal, etc.), of nuclear power plant construction, of projects in the oil supply sector, and of pollution abatement measures and equipment for the power industry and other industries. The different financial situations of small firms or large firms supplying pollution control equipment are discussed referring to the financing schemes to be set up, explaining among other things the profitability assessment taking into account long-term development or delays in return on capital investment from borrowed funds as induced, e.g., by delays in the licensing procedure. Future demand for borrowed capital for pollution control or nuclear power plant development is difficult to assess by the banking circles. (orig./RST).
The bacterial strain E1R-j, isolated as an endophyte from wheat roots, exhibited high antifungal activity to Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt). Strain E1R-j was identified as Bacillus subtilis based on morphological, physiological and biochemical methods as well as on 16S rDNA analysis. This strain inhibited mycelium growth in vitro of numerous plant pathogenic fungi, especially of Ggt, Coniothyrium diplodiella, Phomopsis sp. and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In greenhouse experiments, soil drenches with cell densities of 106, 109 and 1012CFU ml-1 E1R-j reduced significantly take-all disease, caused by Ggt, in wheat seedling by 62.6%, 68.6% and 70.7%, respectively, compared to the inoculated control, 4weeks after sowing. Growth parameters such as lengths and fresh weights of roots and...
NIF target diagnostics are being developed to observe and measure the extreme physics of targets irradiated by the 192-beam laser. The response time of target materials can be on the order of 100ps--the time it takes light to travel 3 cm--temperatures more than 100 times hotter than the surface of the sun, and pressures that exceed 109 atmospheres. Optical and x-ray diagnostics were developed and fielded to observe and record the results of the first 4-beam experiments at NIF. Hard and soft x-ray spectra were measured, and time-integrated and gated x-ray images of hydrodynamics experiments were recorded. Optical diagnostics recorded backscatter from the target, and VISAR laser velocimetry measurements were taken of laser-shocked target surfaces. Additional diagnostics are being developed and commissioned to observe and diagnose ignition implosions, including various neutron and activation diagnostics. NIF's diagnostics are being developed at LLNL and with ...
The thermal modeling of electrochemical batteries is today an integral part of the design and validation operations of new products. The Li-ion pair allows to increase the power density of batteries but leads to higher heat fluxes during charging-output cycles. Thus, the thermal control has become more crucial and requires the use of modeling. SAFT and TSR companies are involved in this approach and use the ESACAP software. This paper presents this software which uses a nodal method for the modeling of the coupled thermal and electrical processes that take place inside elementary cells and batteries. (J.S.)
We study a quantum computing system using microwave photons in transmission line resonators on a superconducting chip as qubits. We show that linear optics and other controls necessary for quantum computing can be implemented by coupling to Josephson devices on the same chip. By taking advantage of the strong nonlinearities in Josephson junctions, photonic qubit interactions can be realized. We analyze the gate error rate to demonstrate that our scheme is realistic even for Josephson devices with limited decoherence times. As a conceptually innovative solution based on existing technologies, our scheme provides an integrated and scalable approach to the next key milestone for photonic qubit quantum computing.
Ascochyta blight causes significant yield loss in pulse crops worldwide. Integrated disease management is essential to take advantage of cultivars with partial resistance to this disease. The most effective practices, established by decades of research, use a combination of disease-free seed, destruction or avoidance of inoculum sources, manipulation of sowing dates, seed and foliar fungicides, and cultivars with improved resistance. An understanding of the pathosystems and the inter-relationship between host, pathogen and the environment is essential to be able to make correct decisions for disease control without compromising the agronomic or economic ideal. For individual pathosystems, some components of the integrated management principles may need to be given greater consideration tha...
In this paper an attempt is made to forecast load using fuzzy neural network (FNN) for an integrated power system. Here, the proposed system uses a two stage FNN for a short term peak and average load forecasting (STPALF). The first stage FNN deals with the load forecasting and the second stage algorithm can be worked independently for network security. This technique is used to forecast load accurately on week days as well as holidays, weekends and some special occasions considering historical data of load and weather information and also take necessary control action for network security.
The invention refers a procedure of radiation dose control in irradiated tissues during electron-beam therapy. It aims at meeting the planned radiation dose for diseased tissues and taking care of the healthy ones. Therefore, the dose distribution required is determined before irradiation in consideration of such factors as energy-dependence of detector sensitivity, self-absorption within the tissue, and relative biological effectiveness. Furthermore, the expected intensity distribution of secondary quantum radiation excited in the irradiated tissue is calculated. A radiation detector for local resolution is used for registration. During irradiation the calculated intensity distribution is compared with the measured one. The invention is applicable in radiation therapy with monoenergetic electron beams.
This paper presents a study involving prediction of a complicated maneuvering target, with the aim of improving the tracking performance of a fire control system (FCS). In this study, we predict the position of a complicated maneuvering target 5 s in advance using the information up to the current time. Because of the large error caused by the complicated maneuvers and the long prediction time interval, the mechanical system of the fire control system will take a heavy load. In order to cope with this problem, several approaches to decreasing the prediction error have been proposed including the prediction algorithms based on the multiple model(MM) filter, interacting multiple model (IMM) filter, and variable dimension with input estimation (VDIE) filter. Finally, comparative simulation re...
A new German-engineered articulated drilling tool that can take the vertical to the horizontal, using about eight metres of curve, was described. The Articulate Downhole Motor has the capability to run radii as long as 57 metres (the usual requirement is 15 metres), under full control. Its ability to rotate and slide while maintaining control is one of the major positives of the technology. The technology also includes a `positive` communication system in its steering tool. The deployment of the positive pulse retrievable measurement-while-drilling (MWD) system brings real-time tool face orientation and hole direction to the surface. In using the tool, formation composition is not an issue; it is designed to withstand any environment.
To develop a work in an area with high radiation, it requires of a detailed knowledge of the surroundings work, a communication and effective vision, a near dosimetric control. In a work where the spaces variables and reduced accesses exist, noise that hinders the communication, defendant operative condition, radiation field and taking of decision, it is necessary to have tools that allow a total control of the environment to make opportune and effective decisions, there where the task is developed. Under this elementary concept, it was developed in the Laguna Verde Central a project that it allowed a mechanism, interactive of control in spaces complex; to see, to hear, to speak, to measure. This concept takes to the creation of an equipped system with closed circuit of television, wireless communication systems, tele dosimetry wireless systems, VHS and DVD recording equipment, ...
The deformation behavior and structure changes of magnesium alloy AZ31 were studied in compression at temperatures ranging from 523 K to 673 K and at a strain rate of 3 x 10{sup -3} s{sup -1}. They depend sensitively on deformation temperature. At high temperatures, grain fragmentation takes place due to frequent formation of kink bands initially at corrugated grain boundaries and then in grain interiors, followed by full development of new grains in high strain. At lower temperatures, in contrast, twinning takes place in rather coarse grains and kink bands are formed mainly in finer original ones in low strain. It is concluded that new grain evolution can be controlled by a deformation-induced continuous reaction resulting in grain fragmentation by kink bands, i.e. continuous dynamic recrystallization (cDRX). The latter is discussed comparing with conventional, i.e. discontinuous, DRX. (orig.)
In 1981, the German Society of Pediatric Oncology initiated a multi-institutional study for the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma. The protocol (Cooperative Ewing's Sarcoma Study, CESS 81) consisted of four courses of a four-drug-regimen (VACA), each course taking nine weeks. Local therapy (radical surgery or resection plus irradiation or radiotherapy alone) was performed after the second course. The results of CESS 81 can be summarized as follows: VACA-chemotherapy is effective in controlling systemic disease. Initial tumor mass and response to initial chemotherapy are of major prognostic value for local control and survival. Permanent local control is a problem, especially in irradiated patients. The high local failure rate in irradiated patients in CESS 81 could be attributable to the following reasons: Late start of local therapy (after 18 weeks of chemotherapy), uneven distribution of prognostic ...
There are certain factors to take into account when determining the suitability of a healthy house site. Power lines, agricultural spraying, vehicle exhaust, and industrial pollution are all potential sources of indoor air contamination. It is recommended that a environmental assessment be done to determine whether there are specific sources of contamination. Good drainage is required. The surrounding landscaping should be open and sunlit, and with low maintenance requirements. Decks and fences made from pressure-treated or chemical treated lumber should be avoided. One of the early decisions in the design process is the choice of the structural system. The key with all foundation types is to control moisture, whether from rain, from the ground, or the condensation of moisture from the air with cooling. The construction frame is sealed away from the occupants by the air/vapor barrier, so only in extreme cases is it essential to use alternatives ...
A cross sectional study on the mineral density of the 3rd lumbar vertebral trabecular bone was carried out in 123 children less than 15 years old, comprising 44 controls, and 79 patients affected with conditions which are at risk for developing metabolic derangement of skeletal bone (34 patients taking antiepileptic drugs (AED), 29 undergoing glucocorticoid (GC) therapy and 16 bedridden patients), by using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) with a CaCO{sub 3} phantom. Serum Ca and alkaline-phosphatase (Alp) levels were measured at the time of QCT examinations in all. The results obtained were as follows: The QCT values in the control children showed neither age dependency nor a sexual difference before puberty. The QCT values in each group showed significant difference with one another; the control group>the AED group>the GC group>the bedridden group (p<0.05{approx}0.005). The serum Ca ...
An analysis is presented of the electron temperature in a linear device which includes the effect of thermal conduction, heat flux limit, radiation, and end plugs. It is found that the thermal conduction and the heat flux limit are dominant in the initial phase of cooling, while the later phase is almost completely controlled by radiation that spatially homogenizes the temperature distribution. In the case of bremsstrahlung, within the frame of the present model, the temperature decays to zero in a finite time. This process takes the form of a cooling wave that moves from the ends of the column to the center. Impurities cause a milder, exponential decay, which is still much faster than the algebraic conduction decay. The thermal effectiveness of the end plugs is described by a convective transfer coefficient h/sub p/. Its scaling law (in terms of the coupled plamsa-plug system) reveals that a very high plug-plasma density ratio provides a ...
Water chemistry of nuclear power plants has played an important role in reduction of personnel doses, structural materials and fuel integrity assurance, and reduction of radioactive wastes production. Further contributions are requested for advanced utilization of the LWR, advanced fuels and aging management of plants. Since water chemistry has an effect on all structure and materials immersed and at the same time affected by them, the optimum control not sticking to specific issues and covering the whole plant is required for these requests. Taking account of roles and activities of the industry, governmental institutes and academia, road maps on research and development plans for water chemistry were compiled into identified eleven items with targets and counter measures taken, such as common basic technologies, dose reduction, SCC mitigation, fuel cans corrosion/hydrogen absorption mitigation, condition based maintenance and flow accelerated ...
The ATLAS High Level Trigger (HLT) is a distributed real-time software system that performs the final online selection of events produced during proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It is designed as a two-stage trigger and event filter running on a farm of commodity PC hardware. Currently the system consists of about 850 processing nodes and will be extended incrementally following the expected increase in luminosity of the LHC to about 2000 nodes. The event selection within the HLT applications is carried out by specialized reconstruction algorithms. The selection can be controlled via properties that are stored in a central database and are retrieved at the startup of the HLT processes, which then usually run continuously for many hours. To be able to respond to changes in the LHC beam conditions, it is essential that the algorithms can be re-configured without disrupting data taking while ensuring a consistent and ...
Protective goals set the line of orientation of tasks and activities in the field of accident prevention. They have to be based on safety-science methods in order to develop from the conceptual idea to the practically feasible solution, while using the scientific methods to take into account the facts and the capabilities of a situation and, proceeding from them, finding an efficient and rational, optimal pragmatic approach by way of various strategies or tactics. In this process, the activities of defining, informing, thinking and developing need the proper terminology. Safety is absence of danger, protection is limitation of danger and prevention of damage. So it is protection what is needed with danger being given, and risks have to be minimized. Riskology is a novel method of safety science, combining risk analysis and risk control into a systematic concept which is practice-oriented. Applying this to the field of nuclear engineering, the ...
A survey was undertaken of literature on the conversion of coke-fired cupola furnaces so that they can be fuelled, either wholly or partially, with natural gas. The aim was to determine the most suitable method for a specific furnace. Substitution with natural gas can result in speedier adjustment and control of the smelting process and in addition operational costs are reduced as natural gas is a cheaper fuel. The payback period would be one year. Pollutive emissions would be reduced. It was concluded that the most satisfactory solution would be that 3-4 gas burners should be placed immediately above the smelting zone in the furnace. Each burner should be placed in a separate combustion box in which the complete combustion process could take place. The burners should be placed symmetrically about the furnace, pointing at a small degree downwards. In this way the combustion chamber will not be filled with materials from the furnace and the ...
The paper describes the latest developments in STRASSY (Strategy Assistance System), the strategy assistance system for the inspection of nuclear materials. The user can now select the fuel cycle he wishes to investigate from an initial range of 19 facilities. An inspection interface has been developed to enable the details and dates of inspections to be modified. One of the special features of the application of STRASSY in international safeguards is the taking into account of timeliness of detection; certain aspects of the time manager algorithms are presented and analysed, including the guaranteed existence of a solution. The results of a study of diversion paths in a simplified cycle consisting of our facilities are presented. Finally, the modifications necessary to enable STRASSY to be used for a posterior analysis of inspection results are discussed. (authors). 7 refs., 3 figs.
Despite the many advances in scientific research over the last several decades, cutting edge technologies and therapeutics often take many years to find their way into widespread use. The dissemination and uptake of best practices into clinical care is sometimes a neglected component of research that is essential to improve the population?s health. Type 2 translational research, sometimes called ?Proof in Practice Research,? seeks to maximize the yield of what has been learned from the bench and from carefully controlled clinical trials and to extend those benefits to a larger population. One aspect of type 2 translational research, sometimes called evidence implementation or implementation science, applies what has been learned about clinical medicine to achieve best practices across prov...
This paper presents a reformer prototype for the production of the necessary H{sub 2} to supply a 5 kW PEMFC and its first results. The fuel processor consists of an OSR and a WGS and a PROX reactors. The design of the system was carried out with a one-dimensional model. The mixture chamber was specially studied with a CFD code (Fluent), taking into account the effect of fuel evaporation and the cool flame process. The aim of the designed facility is to be able of characterising each component and controlling each working parameter. Eventually, using diesel as fuel, results from the mixture chamber, OSR, WGS and PROX reactors are presented. It also includes conclusions and future works. (authors)
By applying the high-resolution sequence stratigraphy, the different sub-divisions of base-level cycles of Qingtujing Formation, Middle Jurassic in Chaoshui Basin are analyzed in detail. 23 short, 3 middle and 1 long base-level cycles are recognized. On the above basis, the corresponding frameworks of high-resolution sequence stratigraphy have been established in northern and southern sub-basins respectively, and the detailed sedimentary facies of MSC_1_-_3 and the special distribution of Qintujing Formation are discussed. It is pointed out that MSC_2 is the most favorable layer for the localization of sandstone-type uranium deposits. (authors)
The loss of seal of the H9 channel in vacuum, freeing the entire cross section of the front part, leads to a fast leak that progresses rapidly. The effect of depressurizing the reflector can leads to shutdown of the shutdown rod pumps. The source changer associated with the channel fills completely before the valve closes. All of the leak water remains contained within the source changer containment. After the valves open, cooling of the fuel element is handled by natural convection, requiring a reversal of the flow between the plates. This changeover, which takes place at a relatively low pressure level, could lead to local boiling in the fuel element. Consequently, irreversible transformations cannot be excluded as possibilities for the fuel element and even for the control rod. Subsequently, the can is refilled with heavy water with establishment of the usual pressure levels.
The analysis of transmission line faults is essential to the proper performance of the power system. It is required if protective relays are to take the appropriate action and in monitoring the performance of relays, circuit breakers, and other protective and control elements. The detection and classification of transmission line faults is a fundamental component of such fault analysis. Another application of fault analysis is in software packages for automated analysis of digital fault recorder (DFR) files. Recently, such a package, called DFR Assistant, was developed for substation applications. This program can be installed locally in a substation, in which case it is connected directly to the DFR via a high speed parallel link, or it can be installed at a central station, in which case it can be configured to automatically analyze events coming from all DFRs.
The difficulty in information communication and sharing are major problems for forest fire monitoring and early warning in China. As authors, we applied web service technology to a personal digital assistant (PDA) forest fire monitoring system and propose the framework of a monitoring system based on service-oriented architecture (SOA). At the same time, we describe the composition and function of web services from a server side and a client side. The method for developing a web service invocation engine on the PDA is introduced in detail. Finally, an example of a fire danger rating and fire weather services system are established, based on the Beijing Forest Fire Control System. The results show that the PDA forest fire monitoring system based on web services can effectively take advantag...
In previous work, several significant improvements in the measurement of distillation curves for complex fluids were introduced. The modifications to the classical measurement provide for (1) temperature and volume measurement(s) of low uncertainty, and most important, (2) a composition-explicit data channel in addition to the usual temperature?volume relationship. This latter modification is achieved with a new sampling approach that allows precise qualitative as well as quantitative analyses of each fraction, on the fly. In the new approach, the distillation temperature is measured in two locations. The temperature is measured in the usual location, at the bottom of the take-off in the distillation head, but it is also measured directly in the fluid. We have further modified our developm...
This paper presents a design of fuzzy power system stabilizer (FPSS) using adaptive evolutionary computation (AEC). We have proposed an adaptive evolutionary algorithm which uses a genetic algorithm (GA) and an evolution strategy (ES) in an adaptive manner in order to take merits of two different evolutionary computations. FPSS shows better control performances than conventional power system stabilizer (CPSS) in three-phase fault with heavy load which is used when tuning FPSS. To show there robustness of the proposed FPSS, it is applied to damp the low frequency oscillations caused by disturbances such as three-phase fault with normal and light load, the angle deviation of generator with normal and light load and the angle deviation of generator with heavy load. Proposed FPSS shows better robustness than CPSS. (author). 15 refs., 13 figs., 3 tabs.
Sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) is a vertebrate pesticide widely used for possum control in New Zealand. Fluoroacetate is also a toxic component of poisonous plants found in Australia, South Africa, South America, and India. Because of its importance and effectiveness in pest control and the highly toxic nature of this compound, its acute sub-lethal and target organ toxicity have been extensively studied. In relation to its use as a pesticide its environmental fate, persistence, non-target impacts and general toxicology have been and continue to be extensively studied. Toxic baits must be prepared and used with extreme care, otherwise humans, livestock, and non-target wildlife will be put at risk. The high risk of secondary poisoning of dogs is a cause for concern. 1080 acts by interfering with cellular energy production. Possums die from heart failure, usually within 6-18 h of eating baits. Long-term exposure to sub-lethal doses can have ...
What kind of lesson do we get from California situation? The first is that the sufficient investment to the operational regulation should be prepared as a system. It is necessary to introduce the systems related to capacity, such as the capacity market system that makes retail suppliers secure the fixed rate of their running peak-load as reserve capacity and other system that secure the 5-year supply capacity by a contract, in which suppliers can pay the penalty if they purchase more capacity than in the contract. The second is that the supplementary measures should be systematized for the supply system not to be in a panic in a case of the shortage situation of equipment. The exchange authority should control the regular inspection program on generators to reduce the market control of the supply companies. Through the supplementary system, the increase of electricity price must make the demand decrease. According to the current plan, it will ...
In this article, we describe an approach to model the electromechanical behavior of the skeletal muscle based on the Huxley formulation. We propose a model that complies with a well established macroscopic behavior of striated muscles where force-length, force-velocity, and Mirsky-Parmley properties are taken into account. These properties are introduced at the microscopic scale and related to a tentative explanation of the phenomena. The method used integrates behavior ranging from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale, and allows the computation of the dynamics of the output force and stiffness controlled by EMG or stimulation parameters. The model can thus be used to simulate and carry out research to develop control strategies using electrical stimulation in the context of rehabilitation. Finally, through animal experiments, we estimated model parameters using a Sigma Point Kalman Filtering technique and dedicated experimental protocols ...
The fuel-injection system of the Niigata 6L 16X-AG dual-fuel engine is structured to steadily supply injected fuel during diesel-engine operation, and to distribute oil at a low rate to all the cylinders during gas-engine operation. The dual-fuel engine is started by the diesel engine operation and is changed over to gas-engine operation when the load increases. This change over is done automatically with a link mechanism. Regarding the gas-supply system, the changing pressure of supply gas is controlled by a pressure control valve which is stable and most adequate for the engine. The dual-fuel engine has the following features: (1) a high compression ratio is adopted, which reduces fuel consumption and thermal efficiently; (2) if the supply of gas decreases or stops, while continuing loaded operations, it can immediately shift to diesel engine operation automatically and continue the operation; (3) ignition is done by the injection of pilot ...
A 1,200 bird solar chicken brooder was indigenously designed and operated by the Indian scientists for the first time in the country as a Project under funding by the Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources to the All India Women`s Conference. This multi disciplinary project was taken up on the International Sun Day, May 3, 1993 and completed on May, 1994. Data has been collected for the first nine months of operation. Its successful operation has justified multi disciplinary approach. The solar chicken brooder incorporates modern poultry concepts of breeding under controlled temperatures. In view of the mixed climate of Delhi, provision was made for heating and cooling both to take care of the 24 hour cycle. Comfort conditions have been identified and maintained (as is done in the their genetic characteristics) at different temperatures for a period of 8--10 weeks to grow them to a uniform weight of 2.0 kg. Growing them under ...
The paper deals briefly with the basic nature of financial activity and markets and of the intermediaries, including banks, within these markets. It is argued that efforts by the authorities to affect monetary policy through controls on bank lending (quantitative and interest rates) are inefficient and only lead to circumvention. To the degree that prices (interest rates) are kept down in one area, they will be higher in another, and supply of credit reduced from one source will encourage a greater supply from another. The Campbell Committee's recommendations, if implemented, are likely to result in freer financial markets and to improve the resource development sector's access to finance. Clear examples would be the removal of foreign exchange restrictions and the setting up of a market-oriented exchange rate system. However, in one sense this access may be narrowed as the extension of bank-type prudential controls to bank ...
Changes facing the electricity supply industry are significant, and the challenges these changes pose are enormous. There are major changes to the business environment of transitional electric utilities. There are also changes in the management of the companies in that nontechnical people are taking over the leadership of traditionally technical companies to deal with the new business scenario. This raises the concern that there may be a lack of familiarity by management of the technical issues involved with the result that the quality of the product may be at risk over the long term. This article deals with the future. It describes a vision for the control center energy management systems (EMS) network security applications as a function of the current and expected changes in the electric supply industry. The objective is to present a conceptual specification. It suggests possible approaches to the problems control centers ...
Aimed at some typical constraints of police dogs and robots used in the areas of reconnaissance and counterterrorism currently, the multifunction anti-terrorism robotic system based on police dog has been introduced. The system is made up of two parts: portable commanding device and police dog robotic system. The portable commanding device consists of power supply module, microprocessor module, LCD display module, wireless data receiving and dispatching module and commanding module, which implements the remote control to the police dogs and takes real time monitor to the video and images. The police dog robotic system consists of microprocessor module, micro video module, wireless data transmission module, power supply module and offence weapon module, which real time collects and transmits video and image data of the counter-terrorism sites, and gives military attack based on commands. The system combines police dogs" biological intelligence ...
This study aims to develop a particulate model combining solid waste particle combustion and heavy metal vaporization from burning particles during MSW incineration in a fluidized bed. The original approach for this model combines an asymptotic combustion model for the carbonaceous solid combustion and a shrinking core model to describe the heavy metal vaporization. A parametric study is presented. The global metal vaporization process is strongly influenced by temperature. Internal mass transfer controls the metal vaporization rate at low temperatures. At high temperatures, the chemical reactions associated with particle combustion control the metal vaporization rate. A comparison between the simulation results and experimental data obtained with a laboratory-scale fluid bed incinerator and Cd-spiked particles shows that the heavy metal vaporization is correctly predicted by the model. The predictions are better at higher temperatures because ...
IMRT with inverse planning allows simultaneous integrated boost strategies that exploit the heterogeneous dose distribution within the planning target volumes (PTVs). In this scenario, the location of cold spots within the target becomes a crucial issue and has to be related to the distribution of the clonogenic cell density (CCD). The main aim of this work is to provide the means to calculate the optimal prescription dose in a relative inhomogeneous dose distribution. To achieve this, the prescription dose has to be assigned to obtain the same tumor control probability (TCP) as the ideal homogeneous distribution, taking into account different CCDs in different PTVs (i.e. visible and subclinical regions). An adapted formulation of the linear-quadratic model, within the F-factor formalism, has been derived to preserve a chosen TCP value for the whole target volume. The F-factor has been investigated to show its potential applications in clinical ...
The advantage of high-resolution sequence stratigraphy, which takes base-levels as reference, is that it can be applied to continental depositional basins controlled by multiple factors and can effectively improve the accuracy and resolution of sequential stratigraphic analysis. Moreover, the principles of base-level cycles are also suitable for analyzing sequential stratigraphy in continental coal-bearing basins because of their accuracy in forecasting distribution of coal measures. By taking the Dongsheng coalfield in the Ordos basin as an example, the extensive application of base-level cycles in exploration and exploitation of coal is analyzed. The result shows that the Yan'an formation in the Dongsheng area is a long-term base-level cycle which is bordered by nonconformities and made up of five mid-term cycles and 13 short-term cycles. The long-term cycle and the mid-term cycles are obvious in comparison with ...
In this thesis a study is made of the of voltage characteristics and reactive power control in the transmission network of the Electric Power Systems (EPS) with static compensators of VARs (SCVs). The necessity of voltage and reactive power control and the application of SCVs as a solution means for three representative operation stages of the EPS, considering balanced operation conditions and fundamental frequency is analyzed: Operation in the presence of incremental voltage changes, quasi-stationary operation or steady state and behavior at the occurrence of big disturbances. The application of SCVs to systems of integral transmission is in general a closed loop control system, reason why the analysis of the interaction of the system EPS-SCV is considered as an essential part of the voltage and reactive power control study. Firstly, the response analysis of the control loop is ...
Reaction Engineering International (REI) has established a project team of experts to develop a technology for combustion systems which will minimize NO x emissions and minimize carbon in the fly ash. This much need technology will allow users to meet environmental compliance and produce a saleable by-product. This study is concerned with the NO x control technology of choice for pulverized coal fired boilers, ?in-furnace NO x control,? which includes: staged low-NO x burners, reburning, selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) and hybrid approaches (e.g., reburning with SNCR). The program has two primary objectives: 1) To improve the performance of ?in-furnace? NO x control processes. 2) To devise new, or improve existing, approaches for maximum ?in-furnace? NO x control and minimum unburned carbon. The program involves: 1) fundamental studies at laboratory- and bench-scale to define NO reduction ...
This study provides an analysis of potential changes that may take place in a Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project disposal cell cover system as a result of plant biointrusion. Potential changes are evaluated by performing a sensitivity analysis of the relative impact of root penetrations on radon flux out of the cell cover and/or water infiltration into the cell cover. Data used in this analysis consist of existing information on vegetation growth on selected cell cover systems and information available from published studies and/or other available project research. Consistent with the scope of this paper, no new site-specific data were collected from UMTRA Project sites. Further, this paper does not focus on the issue of plant transport of radon gas or other contaminants out of the disposal cell cover though it is acknowledged that such transport has the potential to be a significant pathway for contaminants to reach the environment during ...
This study provides an analysis of potential changes that may take place in a Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project disposal cell cover system as a result of plant biointrusion. Potential changes are evaluated by performing a sensitivity analysis of the relative impact of root penetrations on radon flux out of the cell cover and/or water infiltration into the cell cover. Data used in this analysis consist of existing information on vegetation growth on selected cell cover systems and information available from published studies and/or other available project research. Consistent with the scope of this paper, no new site-specific data were collected from UMTRA Project sites. Further, this paper does not focus on the issue of plant transport of radon gas or other contaminants out of the disposal cell cover though it is acknowledged that such transport has the potential to be a significant pathway for contaminants to reach the environment during ...
The results of a scoping study of onsite radiation exposures which could take place in each of three types of postulated reactor accidents are presented. The accident types are (1) a fuel handling accident at a Mark III BWR; an interfacing system LOCA or V sequence at a PWR; and and Anticipated Transient Without Scram (ATWS) at a Mark I BWR. Both external and internal dose pathways are considered. The results of the study indicate the prohibitively high radiation doses could be received in some plant areas if personnel were to remain there. However, times of the order of a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the type of accident, would be available before life-threatening doses would be accumulated assuming that the provided full face respiratory protection equipment were used promptly. Special attention was given radiation doses possibly received by control room personnel for several control room air in-leakage ...
The concentration of trace elements in brain sections was measured by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence. The relative concentration was calculated by means of the normalization of Compton scattering intensity approximately 22 keV, after the normalization for collecting time of X-ray spectrum and the counting of the ion chamber, and subtracting the contribution of the polycarbonate film for supporting sample. Furthermore, the statistical evaluation of the element distribution in various regions of the brain sections of the 20-day-old rats was tested. For investigating the distribution of elements in the brain of iodine deficient rats, Wistar rats were fed with iodine deficient diet and deionized water (ID group). The rats were fed the same iodine deficient diet, but drank KIO_3 solution as control (CT group). The results showed that the contents of calcium (Ca) in thalamus (TH) and copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) in cerebral cortex (CX) of ID rats were ...
A newly synthesized glycine derivative (termed GlyD), 2-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylamino)acetic acid hydrochloride, was used to inhibit uniform and pitting corrosion processes of Al in 0.50 M KSCN solutions (pH 6.8) at 25 "oC. For uniform corrosion inhibition study, Tafel extrapolation, linear polarization resistance and impedance methods were used, complemented with SEM examinations. An independent method of chemical analysis, namely ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry) was also used to test validity of corrosion rate measured by Tafel extrapolation method. GlyD inhibited uniform corrosion, even at low concentrations, reaching a value of inhibition efficiency up to 97% at a concentration of 5 x 10"-"3 M. Results obtained from the different corrosion evaluation techniques were in good agreement. This new synthesized glycine derivative was also used to control pit nucleation and growth on the pitted Al surface based on cyclic polarization, ...
It is well known that if one integrates a Schur function indexed by a partition $\\lambda$ over the symplectic (resp. orthogonal) group, the integral vanishes unless all parts of $\\lambda$ have even multiplicity (resp. all parts of $\\lambda$ are even). In a recent paper of Rains and Vazirani, Macdonald polynomial generalizations of these identities and several others were developed and proved using Hecke algebra techniques. However at $q=0$ (the Hall-Littlewood level), these approaches do not work, although one can obtain the results by taking the appropriate limit. In this paper, we develop a direct approach for dealing with this special case. This technique allows us to prove some identities that were not amenable to the Hecke algebra approach, as well as to explicitly control the nonzero values. Moreover, we are able to generalize some of the identities by introducing extra parameters. This leads us to a finite-dimensional analog of a ...
This paper presents an uplink capacity analysis and interference avoidance technique for a femtocell based two-tier DS-CDMA network using shared spectrum. Assuming randomly distributed macrocell users and femtocell base stations (BS), we evaluate a network-wide area spectral efficiency metric called the operating contour (OC) defined as the feasible combinations of the average macrocell users and femtocell BS per cell-site that meet a target outage constraint $\\epsilon$. A contribution of this work is an accurate characterization of the uplink outage probability taking cross-tier power control, path-loss and shadowing effects into account. We show that a time-hopped CDMA physical layer coupled with sectorized receive antennas shows dramatic performance improvements in both light and heavily loaded two-tier networks, relative to a split spectrum two-tier network with omnidirectional femtocell antennas. These results provide insights into design ...
The electromagnetic properties that present hydrogen and other nucleus of agro-alimentary products, have allowed widely use of magnetic resonance (MR) to study the composition and internal structure of these biological materials in a micro and macroscopic scale, in a nondestructive way. In this paper the physical principles, basic equipment to measure the MR signals and the MR imaging of any biological sample, are explained. It is also shown a review of the main agro-alimentary applications, emphasizing in the use of this principle to examine the internal quality of fruits and vegetables. In these products, the MR has been used to detect and follow the evolution of different factors that determine the internal quality after harvesting, during storage and after post harvesting processes. The main studies that have been conducted with MR in harvested products are about physiological disorders that take place during storage and conservation of fruits in ...
Activities in British Columbia's Fraser Valley generate an estimated 3 million tones of agriculture and food wastes annually, of which 85 per cent are readily available for anaerobic digestion. The potential for energy generation from biogas through anaerobic digestion is approximately 30 MW. On-farm manure-based systems represent the most likely scenario for the development of anaerobic digestion in British Columbia in the near future. Off-farm food processing wastes may be an alternative option to large centralized industrial complexes. Odour control, pathogen reduction, improved water quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced landfill usage are among the environmental benefits of anaerobic digestion. The economical benefits include power and heat generation, biogas upgrading, and further processing of the residues to produce compost or animal bedding. This paper described a newly developed anaerobic digestion (AD) calculator that helps users ...
The paper gives a general view of techniques and systems related to soil less culture developed in the last years (on substrate in beg; NFT; Ebb-Flood, aeroponic,..) taking into account their management and problems (water quality, control of plant nutrition and irrigation; substrates; pathological aspects,..). The evolution, now in progress, of soil less culture from open to closed system as a way to realized an environmental friendly growing system, is considered. When plants are grown with open cycle techniques a large amount of waste solution, with an a high content of nutrients, are discharged in soil and water. Furthermore, they need an extra-utilization of water and fertilizers. Another aspect is the utilization of low cost substrates, which can be reused for more than one cultural cycle without negative effects on yield, and also finally discharged without negative effects on the environment. The development of soil less culture in ...
Experiments were completed to study intermittent coal-water slurry (CWS) fuel sprays injected from an electronically-controlled accumulator injector system. A new synchronization technique was developed using the light extinction signal as a triggering source for the data taking initiation with a laser diffraction particle analyzing (LDPA) technique. This technique allowed measurement of SMDs near the spray tip where the light extinction was low and the data were free from the multiscattering bias. Coal-water slurry fuel with 50% coal loading in mass containing 5 {mu}m mass median diameter coal particulates was considered. A correlation of the SMD with the injection conditions was determined which should show a satisfactory agreement with the measured SMD data. The spray SMD showed an increase with the distance of the axial measurement location and with the ambient gas density, and showed a decrease with increasing injection pressure.
The report presents the results of the study carried out to estimate the accident risk involved in the transport of spent fuel from Rajasthan Atomic Power Station near Kota to the fuel reprocessing plant at Tarapur. The technique of probabilistic safety analysis is used. The fuel considered is the Indian pressurised heavy water reactor fuel with a minimum cooling period of 485 days. The spent fuel is transported in a cuboidal, naturally-cooled shipping cask over a distance of 822 km by rail. The Indian rail accident statistics are used to estimate the basic rail accident frequency. The possible ways in which a release of radioactive material can occur from the spent fuel cask are identified by the fault tree analysis technique. The release sequences identified are classified into eight accident severity categories, and release fractions are assigned to each. The consequences resulting from the release are estimated by the computer code RADTRAN 4. Results of the risk analysis indicate ...
As network bandwidth continues to grow and longer paths are used to exchange large scientific data between storage systems and GRID computation, it has become increasingly obvious that there is a need to deploy a packet drop avoidance mechanism into network transmission protocols. Current end-to-end congestion avoidance mechanisms used in Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) have worked well on low bandwidth delay product networks, but with newer high-bandwidth delay networks they have shown to be inefficient and prone to unstable. This is largely due to increased network bandwidth coupled with changes in internet traffic patterns. These changes come from a variety of new network applications that are being developed to take advantage of the increased network bandwidth. This paper will examine the end-to-end congestion avoidance mechanism and perform a step-by-step analysis of its theory. In addition we will propose an alternative approach ...
This paper presents a Benders decomposition approach to determine the optimal day-ahead power scheduling in a pool-organized power system, taking into account dispatch, network and security constraints. The study model considers the daily market and the technical constraints resolution as two different and consecutive processes. The daily market is solved in a first stage subject to economical criteria exclusively and then, the constraints solution algorithm is applied to this initial dispatch through the redispatching method. The Benders partitioning algorithm is applied to this constraints solution process to obtain an optimal secure power scheduling. The constraints solution includes a full AC network and security model to incorporate voltages magnitudes as they are a critical factor in some real power systems. The algorithm determines the active power committed to each generator so as to minimize the energy redispatch cost subject to dispatch, network and ...
The report outlines the role of the IEA Greenhouse Gas R and D Programme, gives details of participants and of publications and summarises achievements of 1998. A successful conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies was held in Interlaken, Switzerland. Technical studies reported include novel power generation concepts for removing carbon dioxide prior to or after combustion, using seawater for CO{sub 2} capture, investigating carbon dioxide sequestration in conjunction with enhanced coalbed methane recovery and applying retrofitting to power plants and to offshore oil and gas platforms. Systems studies taking a broader view include investigating the potential for combined energy systems (power generation with district heating, power with district cooling etc.) to reduce CO{sub 2} abatement cost, studies on the LNG/power generation fuel cycle, assessing the potential of methanol as an energy carrier investigating methods of making ...
An unmanned aerial vehicle called RAVEN, said to be capable of remote tracking of onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities, has been developed by a group of graduate students from Memorial University of Newfoundland. RAVEN is claimed to be capable of performing a number of tasks under its own control without the need for human intervention, including checking onshore pipelines for damage, or scouting the path of hazardous icebergs offshore. The RAVEN was created to meet the need for real time iceberg tracking and early hazard detection, supplementing or replacing the present method of RADARSAT images and tracking by manned aircraft. The RAVEN can be launched from any platform; it can fly under conditions that would be too dangerous for a manned aircraft. Currently in the prototype stage, the first trial flight for the RAVEN is expected to take place in September 2002. The first flight will consist of five GPS waypoints set relatively close ...
In this report, we have examined some of the fundamental mechanisms expected to be at work during mobilization of the waste within the double-shell tanks at Hanford. The motivation stems from the idea that in order to properly apply correlations derived from scaled tests, one would have to ensure that appropriate scaling laws are utilized. Further, in the process of delineating the controlling mechanisms during mobilization, the currently used computational codes are being validated and strengthened based on these findings. Experiments were performed at 1/50-scale, different from what had been performed in the previous fiscal years (i.e., 1/12- and 1/25-scale). It was anticipated that if the current empirical correlations are to work, they should be scale invariant. The current results showed that linear scaling between the 1/25-scale and 1/50-scale correlations do not work well. Several mechanisms were examined in the scaled tests which might have contributed to ...
The electrical transport taking place in the {mu}c-Si tunnel recombination junction (TRJ) of a-Si:H/a-Si:H tandem solar cells and the role of CO{sub 2} plasma oxidation performed between microcrystalline layers is investigated in this paper with the computer code AMPS. Oxidized interfaces were modelled as simple highly defective intrinsic {mu}c-Si layers. Two different tunnel junction structures are studied in this paper: (a) (n){mu}c-Si/oxide/(p){mu}c-Si and (b) (n){mu}c-Si/(i){mu}c-Si/(p){mu}c-Si. In the last configuration the oxide interface is removed and replaced by a thin defective (i) {mu}c-Si layer. Both tunnel junctions have comparable theoretical and experimental tandem solar cell efficiencies which indirectly proves that our modelling assumption for oxidised interfaces is correct. A-Si:H/a-Si:H tandem solar cell efficiencies depend on the thickness of the intrinsic layer introduced in the tunnel junction. The optimisation of this thickness provides a ...
The Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB), Canada's nuclear regulatory authority, is preparing new regulations based on ICRP-60. The proposed regulations have some features which are different from ICRP-60, e.g., the limit for pregnant workers was set at a higher level than that proposed in ICRP-60. The AECB, through its consultative process, received many responses from female staff in nuclear medicine. The concern was that it would be very difficult to prove compliance with such low doses, particularly for internal doses. There was an additional concern that hospital administrators would respond to the reduction of the current pregnant worker limit from 10 mSv to the ICRP-60 recommended value of 2 mSv by discriminating against hiring women. A new proposal for the dose limit for pregnant workers has been made which will limit the dose to the mother by means of a combining formula that will take both external and internal doses into account. ...
Introduced herein is microwave irradiation for the adsorption and desorption of environmental pollutants. Microwaves may be used in two ways, other than through elevation of temperature of a system as a whole with the adsorbent such as activated carbon serving as the heating medium. The first is the application by which desorption is caused to take place of specified molecules. For example, zeolite that has adsorbed water is regenerated when it is irradiated with microwaves in a stream of cooling gas. This is because only the moisture is heated since zeolite is a non-carbon adsorbent that absorbs microwaves but a little. Another case is reported in which microwaves are utilized to desorb H2S, H2O, CO, etc., from molecular sieves. In the second application, coexisting materials different in absorptivity are exposed to irradiation. The adsorption of microwave-absorbent materials is inhibited while that of the others is accelerated. For example, the adsorption of ...
The macrotemporal structure of the Super-ACO Storage ring free-electron laser (FEL) can be either continuous, pulsed, or chaotic, and can present some rapid fluctuations. The temporal evolution of a storage ring FEL involves both the longitudinal motion of the positron beam (especially the synchrotron oscillations) and the FEL dynamics, as in a coupled system. Studies on the dynamics of the positron beam are performed here, in the goal to have a stable source for FEL applications, and to determine the conditions for a stable Q-switching experiment. The employed method is to study the influence of a controlled change of the radio frequency (RF) (modulation or frequency jump) on the beam. A simple theoretical model taking into account the perturbed RF system is presented to help the understanding of the experimental data. The different methods of measurement are described. Then, the results are given for several experimental conditions and the ...
Dynamic Flowgraph Methodology (DFM) is a methodological approach to modeling and analyzing the behavior of software-driven embedded systems for the purpose of reliability/safety assessment and verification. The methodology has two fundamental goals: (a) to identify how certain postulated events may occur in a system and (b) to identify an appropriate testing strategy based on an analysis of system functional behavior. To achieve these goals, the methodology employs a modeling framework in which system models are developed in terms of causal relationships between physical variables and temporal characteristics of the execution of software modules. These models are then analyzed to determine how a certain state (desirable or undesirable) can be reached. This is done by developing timed fault trees, which take the form of logical combinations of static trees relating system parameters at different points in time. The prime implicants (multistate analog of minimal cut ...
Applying the theory of depositional system, the depositional facies and depositional systems of the Zhiluo Formation in Dongsheng area are systematically analysed, and the authors proposed that sediments of the Zhiluo Formation are of fluvial facies, and streams of the Zhiluo time experienced three evolution stages, namely: the early braided stream, the middle low sinuosity meandering stream and the late high sinuosity meandering stream. Based on features of paleoclimatic evolution, the Zhiluo Formation is divided into two lithological members. The lower lithological member consists of sediments of braided and low sinuosity meandering streams under humid-ward paleoclimatic conditions forming grey sedimentary formation. The upper member is composed of sediments of meandering streams under arid-hot paleoclimatic conditions representing complex-colored (mainly red) sedimentary formation. It is suggested that uranium mineralization in the study area is of channel sandstone type and ...
The design of high level radioactive waste (HLW) repositories in deep geological media in which bentonite clay is proposed as a sealing material leads to the need of further studying the behaviour of highly compacted expansive soils when subjected to mechanical, hydraulic and thermal changes. Laboratory tests may help to understand the processes that take place in the clay barrier under simple and controlled conditions and to develop the governing equations. The laboratory tests enable to isolate the different processes, making their interpretation easier, and provide with fundamental data concerning the parameters to be used in the models. The extremely low permeability of these materials, their avidity for water (high suction) and their high swelling capacity make necessary the modification of the conventional laboratory techniques and procedures to determine basic physical parameters. The main hydraulic properties of the barrier to be ...
This paper presents a novel organization of switch capacitor charge pump circuits based on voltage doubler structures. Each voltage doubler takes a DC input and outputs a doubled DC voltage. By cascading voltage doublers the output voltage increases up to 2 times. A two-phase voltage doubler and a multiphase voltage doubler structures are discussed and design considerations are presented. A simulator working in the Q-V realm was used for simplified circuit level simulation. In order to evaluate the power delivered by a charge pump, a resistive load is attached to the output of the charge pump and an equivalent capacitance is evaluated. To avoid the short circuit during switching, a clock pair generator is used to achieve multi-phase non-overlapping clock pairs. This paper also identifies optimum loading conditions for different configurations of the charge pumps. The proposed charge-pump circuit is designed and simulated by SPICE with TSMC 0.35-#mu#m CMOS ...
We present the latest developments for the radiation laboratory curriculum at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of Western Kentucky University. During the last decade, the Applied Physics Institute (API) at WKU accumulated various equipment for radiation experimentation. This includes various neutron sources (computer controlled d-t and d-d neutron generators, and isotopic 252 Cf and PuBe sources), the set of gamma sources with various intensities, gamma detectors with various energy resolutions (NaI, BGO, GSO, LaBr and HPGe) and the 2.5-MeV Van de Graaff particle accelerator. XRF and XRD apparatuses are also available for students and members at the API. This equipment is currently used in numerous scientific and teaching activities. Members of the API also developed a set of laboratory activities for undergraduate students taking classes from the physics curriculum (Nuclear Physics, Atomic Physics, and Radiation Biophysics). Our goal is ...
The aim with this project sponsored by Energimyndigheten is to develop a method for calculations of grate boilers fueled by bark. This report describes this project, 'Evaluation Method for Grate Combustion' (EMGC). CFD codes is an engineering tool applicable in the area of the over-grate section called the furnace. This part of the boiler is easy to model for an experienced CFD code user and the results are usually quite satisfactory for evaluating the combustion process in general. Various gas phases reactions and related combustion processes over the burning bed can be simulated including air staging, fuel staging and SNCR. However the simulation needs information of amount and properties of the burning bed products, entering the furnace. The simulation of the in-furnace processes without this information is often just a numerical speculation. A predictive mathematical model based on physical and chemical data for the grate and fuel bed would solve this problem. ...
...d) A bar for taking down loose material shall be available in the working place or on all face equipment except haulage equipment. Bars provided for taking down loose material shall be of a length and design that will allow the removal of...
Washboard (WB) modes (Smeulders P et al 1999 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 41 1303) are a very common edge instability regularly observed in the H-mode regime in JET. They are detected as (normally several) bands of continuously fluctuating magnetic activity rotating in the direction of the electron diamagnetic drift with typical frequencies in the range of 10-90 kHz. The time evolution of the WB mode frequency is found to follow qualitatively the evolution of the electron temperature measured near the pedestal top, probably due to the strong diamagnetic drift associated with the large pedestal gradients. Evidence for their involvement in the pedestal and ELM dynamics will be presented. Increasing WB mode amplitude is correlated with an increase in the time between consecutive type-I ELMs. In situations in which a sudden increase (decrease) of WB mode activity is observed, the build-up of the pedestal temperature (and, linked to this, also of the pedestal pressure) ...
A guidance document on the instrumentation for monitoring and control of cycle chemistry for the steam-water circuits of fossil-fired and combined-cycle power plants was developed within the IAPWS Power Cycle Chemistry Working Group. This technical guidance document has been authorized by the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS) at its meeting in Doorwerth, The Netherlands, 6-11 September, 2009, for issue by its Secretariat. The members of the IAPWS are: Britain and Ireland, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Russia, and the United States of America, and the associate members Argentina and Brazil, Italy, and Switzerland. In order to achieve suitable chemical conditions in steam-water circuits it is essential to establish reliable monitoring of key parameters on every plant. This enables the demonstration of operation within cycle chemistry targets, and alerts the operators to the need to ...
Sep 16, 2010 ... Taking military operations as an example, there is evidence that stress-related behavioral disorders and mental conditions such as anxiety, ...
...take on my Notice of Intent to Conduct Geothermal Resource Exploration Operations? ...INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE LEASING Exploration Operations...take on my Notice of Intent to Conduct Geothermal Resource Exploration Operations?...
Safety indicators play a role in providing information on organizational performance, motivating people to work on safety and increasing organizational potential for safety. The aim of this report is to provide an overview on leading safety indicators in the domain of nuclear safety. The report explains the distinction between lead and lag indicators and proposes a framework of three types of safety performance indicators - feedback, monitor and drive indicators. Finally the report provides guidance for nuclear energy organizations for selecting and interpreting safety indicators. It proposes the use of safety culture as a leading safety performance indicator and offers an example list of potential indicators in all three categories. The report concludes that monitor and drive indicators are so called lead indicators. Drive indicators are chosen priority areas of organizational safety activity. They are based on the underlying safety model and potential safety activities and safety ...
A new air injection process called toe-to-heel air injection (THAI) has been developed to achieve very stable combustion performance in heavy oil wells by controlling gas override. In the THAI process, injected air migrates preferentially to the combustion front into a horizontal producer well by the oxygen diffusional gradient created under steady state conditions. This is possible because of the balance between the stoichiometric oxygen flux needed to burn the fuel (coke) laid down ahead of the combustion front and the removal of downstream combustion gases and mobilised fluids. This study involved a numerical simulation of the THAI process to increase the understanding of the processes involving fluid flow, heat transfer and chemical reactions taking place during in situ combustion. Two tests were conducted involving one dry and one wet combustion using heavy Wolf Lake Oil. The objective was to determine if the behaviour of the oil could be ...
The performance of a convolution/superposition based treatment planning system depends on the ability of the dose calculation algorithm to accurately account for physical interactions taking place in the tissue, key components of the linac head and on the accuracy of the photon beam model. Generally the user has little or no control over the performance of the dose calculation algorithm but is responsible for the accuracy of the beam model within the constraints imposed by the system. This study explores the dosimetric impact of limitations in photon beam modeling accuracy on complex 3D clinical treatment plans. A total of 70 photon beam models was created in the Pinnacle(TM) treatment planning system. Two of the models served as references for 6 MV and 15 MV beams, while the rest were created by perturbing the reference models in order to produce specific deviations in specific regions of the calculated dose profiles (central axis and ...
Studies have linked cell phone radiation to health problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, cancer and more. There is a latency period for most diseases and it may take years and more studies before the required weight of evidence is established. But the effects are cumulative and precautions should be taken now before it is too late. The aim of the present study was to investigate if supplementation with antioxidants would protect heart and liver tissues from harmful radiation emitted by cell phone. Thirty two male albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: I- Control, II- Antioxidants treated group, III- 950 MHz EMR, IV- 950 MHz EMR + antioxidants. A 950 MHz EMR radiation (217-Hz pulse rate, 2-W maximum peak power, SAR Specific Absorption Rate"1.6 W/Kg) was applied to groups III and IV 60 min/day, for 30 days using an experimental exposure device. Antioxidants supplement (Vitamins A, E and C + Se) was administered to ...
In this report, we estimated the temperature of the pump rooms and reviewed the operability of the components under the loss of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Condition) system. The issues relevant to the HVAC system in the PSA (Probabilistic Safety Assessment) FT (Fault Tree) model are as follows: (1) Does the loss of the HVAC system bring about a function failure of other components? (2) Can the operator take action to reduce the temperature of the room in case of a HVAC function failure? At present, we do not know whether a component will lose its function or not under the loss of the HVAC. ASME Standard describes that a recovery action can be credited if the related recovery action is included in the procedure or there are similar recovery experiences in the plant. However, there is no description about the recovery action of the HVAC in the EOP (Emergency Operation Procedure) of the UCN3, 4 under the situation of a loss of the HVAC. Even though we ...
As the nuclear world is changing, the non-proliferation and safeguard systems have to change along the global development. Nuclear security as well as safety must be involved in all phases. Thus, modernization of thinking is a must. State system of accounting for and control of nuclear material (SSAC) is a basis, but now it is time to move ahead. Safeguards is not any more only to verify the declared nuclear materials but it is to inform the international safeguards society transparently but confidentially about the nuclear fuel cycle related activities and trade, and to confirm that there are no undeclared activities related to the nuclear fuel cycle in the states. Only strong SSAC with enhanced capabilities, activities and rights can meet the demand. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is a threat that also urges cooperation at all levels. International, regional and state systems must work closely together, and there is need and space for everyone. State ...
This paper (paper I) presents the first part of results obtained with the PF-1000 facility for the first time at its upper energy limit (?1 MJ). Special attention is paid here to plasma ('pinch') dynamics, which was investigated in relation to its electro-technical and radiation (especially neutron) characteristics with the help of a number of diagnostics, both time-integrated and with nanosecond temporal resolution. In these methods we utilized a Rogowski coil for the routine electro-technical measurements, visual multi-frame and streak cameras, soft x-ray pin-hole multi-frame cameras, PIN-diode assembly and PM tubes with scintillators for soft and hard x-rays as well as for neutron investigations together with a set of activation counters. In particular, the temporal cross correlation of different phenomena taking place during the discharge was investigated. The pinch's longevity appears to be 10-15 times larger than the ideal magnetohydrodynamic growth time ...
The aim of this study concerns the use of numerical methods for the resolution of the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations adapted to the simulation of the cooling of the trailing edge of a stator in a high pressure turbine. These methods, based on the elsA solver developed at ONERA, use a four steps Runge Kutta time discretization scheme and a Jameson centered space discretization scheme. The scheme is applied through a finite volume approach on control volume centered on the cells of a multi-block structured mesh. Turbulence is simulated either through the algebraic Michel model, or through the one-transport-equation Spalart-Allmaras model, or through the two-transport-equations k 1, k {omega} and k {epsilon} models, and through ASM model. A simulation of the flow in a bidimensional stator, without cooling, is carried out. The cooling, which is realized with trailing edge slots, is then simulated on a bidimensional stator. Because the slot is represented by ...
This study identifies potential applications and design requirements for ceramic materials (CMs) and ceramic composite materials (CCMs) in the NGNP hightemperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) primary circuit. Components anticipated for fabrication from non-graphite CMs and CCMs are identified along with recommended normal and off-normal operating conditions. The evaluation defines required dimensions and material properties of the candidate materials for normal operating conditions (NOC), anticipated transients, abnormal events, and design basis events. The report also identifies additional activities required for codifying the selected materials. The activities include ASTM Standard and ASME Code development and other work to support NRC licensing of the plant. Evaluation of the NGNP baseline design indicates components requiring either CMs or CCMs depend upon the reactor operating temperatures. For a reactor outlet temperature of 900 oC, four of the five evaluated components would ...
The novel optical, electronic, and/or magnetic properties of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles have resulted in extensive research on new methods for their preparation. An ideal preparation method would allow the particle size, size distribution, crystallinity, and particle shape to be easily controlled, and would be applicable to a wide variety of material systems. Numerous preparation methods have been reported, each with its inherent advantages and disadvantages; however, an ideal method has yet to emerge. The most widely applied methods for nanoparticle preparation include the sonochemical reduction of organometallic reagents,(1&2) the solvothermal method of Alivisatos,(3) reactions in microemulsions,(4-6) the polyol method (reduction by alcohols),(7-9) and the use of polymer and solgel materials as hosts.(10-13) In addition to these methods, there are a variety of methods that take advantage of the unique properties of a ...
A link is made in this paper between proposed low energy scenarios for different Western European countries and the amount of pollutants that may result from these scenarios. Air pollutant emissions are calculated for the ten countries for which low energy scenarios are available. These scenarios emphasize stringent energy efficiency, maximizing the use of renewable (other than nuclear) energy, and minimizing the use of fossil fuels. Under these low energy scenarios, the average per capita energy use (year 2030) in the ten countries is estimated as 97 GJ/person, which is a decrease of 38% relative to 1980. Using the energy consumption figures from the low energy scenarios, together with sector- and fuel-specific emission factors from Europe, the resulting emissions of SO_2 , NO_x , and CO_2 were computed. These estimates do not take into account any add-on pollution controls over and above what was in place in 1980, or changes in combustion ...
This paper deals with the combustion process of the turbocharged dual-fuel engine with regard to improvement to thermal efficiency and exhaust gas emissions. It describes the method of charge-air control used to achieve optimal operation in either a pure diesel engine or a gas engine using the pilot-ignition process (dual-fuel principle). The change-over from gas to diesel operation and vice versa can be made automatically even under full load, i. e. the engine can be changed over from one mode of operation to the other without interruption. The exhaust gas constituents emitted by the dual-fuel engine are less detrimental to the environment than those of other internal-combustion engines: CO is hardly present at all; NOx is no higher than that from good diesel engines, or even lower; SO/sub 2/ does not occur since the natural gas, which is used most frequently, and the pilot fuel are practically free of sulfur; CH (hydrocarbons) in this case are non-toxic and ...
Three-dimensional computer simulation and analyses of the horizontal steam generator thermal-hydraulics of the WWER 1000 nuclear power plant have been performed for 50% and 75% partial loads, 100% nominal load and 110% over-load. Presented results show water and steam mass flow rate vectors, steam void fraction spatial distribution, recirculation zones, swell level position, water mass inventory on the shell side, and other important thermal-hydraulic parameters. The simulations have been performed with the computer code 3D ANA, based on the 'two-fluid' model approach. Steam-water interface transport processes, as well as tube bundle flow resistance, energy transfer, and steam generation within tube bundles are modelled with {sup c}losure laws{sup .} Applied approach implies non-equilibrium thermal and flow conditions. The model is solved by the control volume procedure, which has been extended in order to take into account ...
Three-dimensional computer simulation and analyses of the horizontal steam generator thermal-hydraulics of the WWER 1000 nuclear power plant have been performed for 50% and 75% partial loads, 100% nominal load and 110% over-load. Presented results show water and steam mass flow rate vectors, steam void fraction spatial distribution, recirculation zones, swell level position, water mass inventory on the shell side, and other important thermal-hydraulic parameters. The simulations have been performed with the computer code 3D ANA, based on the 'two-fluid' model approach. Steam-water interface transport processes, as well as tube bundle flow resistance, energy transfer, and steam generation within tube bundles are modelled with "closure laws". Applied approach implies non-equilibrium thermal and flow conditions. The model is solved by the control volume procedure, which has been extended in order to take into account the 3D flow of liquid and gas ...
The undeniable success in controlling some preventable communicable respiratory diseases in Europe has created an impression that respiratory infections are no longer as dangerous as they once were, and efforts of public health services should be concentrated on other problems. However, epidemiological data do not exactly confirm this optimistic view, as acute respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of death in Europe. When morbidity statistics - which are usually less reliable - are considered, acute respiratory infections in Europe take the lead among all communicable diseases. For example, each year 15% of the population in Spain and 30% of the population in the United Kingdom have a recorded acute respiratory disease. Several environmental risk factors of acute respiratory diseases have been recorded, the main ones being indoor and outdoor air pollution, overcrowding in dwellings and public transport, and poor indoor climate. ...
Present and potential future changes to the global environment have important implications for marine pollution and for the air-sea exchange of both anthropogenic and natural substances. This report addresses three issues related to the potential impact of global change on the air-sea exchange of chemicals: Global change and the air-sea transfer of the nutrients nitrogen and iron. Global change and the air-sea exchange of gases. Oceanic responses to radiative and oxidative changes in the atmosphere. The deposition of atmospheric anthropogenic nitrogen has probably increased biological productivity in coastal regions along many continental margins. Atmospheric deposition of new nitrogen may also have increased productivity somewhat in mid-ocean regions. The projected future increases of nitrogen oxide emissions from Asia, Africa and South America will provide significant increases in the rate of deposition of oxidized nitrogen to the central North Pacific, the equatorial Atlantic, and ...
The Nuclear Renaissance is stumbling at the very same time it should speed up in order to help control the climate change and meet a fast growing energy need in a large part of the world. Rising costs of projects, uncertainties about their completion, rocketing safety requirements, and financial constraints are key factors which slow down the Nuclear Renaissance. Furthermore, the legal infrastructure required from any country to enter a commercial nuclear programme (safety authorities, fuel cycle, and waste disposal) is a major hurdle s which impedes consideration for small to mid size reactors, well suited for many countries. The paper prepared and presented by Alain Bugat (Chairman of NucAdvisor and former Head of the French Atomic Energy Commission), Dominique Vignon (CEO of NucAdvisor and former President and CEO of AREVA NP) and Michel Lecomte (Co-founder NucAdvisor) reviews the present status of the Nuclear Renaissance. Based on an analysis of initial versus ...
Increasing prosperity and population-growth in many developing countries are resulting in accelerated growth in population of vehicles and vehicle-kilometers traveled. In Pakistan also, the number of vehicles has jumped from 0.8 million to about 4.0 million within 20 years, showing an overall increase of more than 400%. Accordingly, the consumption of petrol (motor spirit) has increased from 828,670 metric tons to 1,189,042 metric tons. The high content of lead in petrol is a serious issue, as the end- product is the release of lead into the environment. In Pakistan, prior to July 2001, lead-content in petrol was reported to be as high as 0.35-0.84 gram per liter. The reported lead-levels in air (micrograms/cubic centimeter) in different cities of Pakistan are: Karachi (1980-81) 0.13-0.24; Peshawar (1994-95) 0.21-0.79; Lahore (1993-94) 0.15-8.36 and (1999-2000) 0.89-7.85 and Rawalpindi (1999-2000) 0.71-10.00, indicating the very alarming increase and high levels of lead in the ambient ...
In order to practice design-by-analysis of thermohydraulics design of BWR fuel rod bundles, the subchannel analysis would play a major role. There, one of the immediate concerns is improvement in its predictive capability of boiling transition phenomena on the fuel rod surface. This capability strongly depends on the modeling of thermohydraulics phenomena of interests: 1) vapor-liquid redistribution by inter-subchannel exchanges due to the diversion cross flow, turbulent mixing and void drift, 2) liquid film behaviors, 3) transition of two-phase flow regimes, 4) droplet entrainment and deposition and 5) spacer-droplet interactions. These are considered to be five key factors in understanding the BT in BWR fuel rod bundles. This paper describes a progress and current status in the second year of the three year project on developing generalized boiling transition models with the above five key factors being focused on. A combined approach of experiment and computation is described in ...
White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is an annual crop that has been used for phytostabilization of acidified multi-contaminated soils. Once the culture cycle is over, after shoot harvesting, a progressive transference of contaminants from roots to soil may take place as decomposition of roots occurs. An incubation experiment with Cu, Zn, Cd, and As-loaded roots of white lupin and soils with different pH values and concentrations of these contaminants from the area affected by a mine spill at Aznalcollar (near Seville, Spain) was performed in order to assess the effect of the decomposition of the roots to the pH and (NH_4)_2SO_4-extractable levels of these pollutants in the soils. Pollutants loaded-roots were mineralized (56 d) at a ratio similar to animal manures (15.8-19.4% of total organic carbon) in soil. The estimated root inputs of contaminants in comparison to their extractable concentrations in soil were high, especially in the control, ...
Customized reference tubes reduced sensitivity discrepancies able to be observed from one probe to the other, due to the gain setting adjustment required for a pre-definite level in amplitude response of the artificial notch. The use of a reference circuit in place of a reference part, makes characterization of the probe matched to its generator more accurate: - the material dependence is cancelled during the compensation process, - the reference signal can be adjusted more accurately in amplitude and phase response, - the manufacturing cost is reduced compared to the one necessary for machining the reference part, - the amplitude and phase response of the reference circuit can be simply modelled by using the transformer relations, such as one can appreciate the variations of the probe definition parameters and its connexion to the generator, and makes them optimal for use. The method proposed by ALSTOM for the characterization of the condenser and exchanger tubing probes, ...
These classroom guides, designed to accompany the daily CNN (Cable News Network) Newsroom broadcasts for the month of October 2000, provide program rundowns, suggestions for class activities and discussion, student handouts, and a list of related news terms. Top stories include: Chinese authorities detain Falun Gong protesters on Tiananmen Square and Pope John Paul II angers China by canonizing Chinese martyrs, U.S. presidential candidates prepare for the first presidential debate, U.S. presidential candidates debate education issues, Danville, Kentucky prepares for the first U.S. vice presidential debate, and Yugoslav protesters seize parliament (October 2-6); Yugoslavian president Vojislav Kostunica takes office, recent clashes between Arabs and Israelis concern neighboring Arab states, North Korea observes 55 years of communism with celebrations, Al Gore and George W. Bush meet in the second presidential debate, and Violence in the Mideast and an attack on a ...
The objective of this work is to study greenhouse gas emissions and sinks and their greenhouse impact as a function of time. The greenhouse impact is expressed in terms of global average radiative forcing, which measures the perturbation in the Earth`s radiation budget. Radiative forcing is calculated on the basis of the concentration changes of the greenhouse gases and the radiation absorption properties of the gases. It takes into account the relatively slow changes in the concentrations due to natural removal and transformation processes and also allows a comparison of the impact of various greenhouse gases and their possible control options as a function of time. In addition to the applications mentioned above, the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission histories of Nordic countries have been estimated, and the radiative forcing caused by them has been calculated with REFUGE. The dynamic impact of aerosol emissions both from the global point ...
The Candu 6 reactor assembly consists of an array of 380 pressure tubes, which are installed horizontally in a large cylindrical vessel, the Calandria, containing the low pressure heavy water moderator. The pressure tube is located inside calandria tube and the annulus between these tubes, which forms a closed loop with CO{sub 2} gas recirculating, is called the Annulus Gas System (AGS). It is designed to give an alarm to the operator even for a small pressure tube leak by a very sensitive dew point meter so that he can take a preventive action for the pressure tbe rupture incident. To judge whether the operator action time is enough or not in the design of Wolsung 2, 3, and 4, the Leak Before Break (LBB) assessment is required for the analysis of the pressure tube failure accident. In order to provide the required data for the LBB assessment of Wolsung Units 2, 3, 4, a series of leak detection capability tests was performed by injecting ...
Some of the methodologies, techniques, dependencies and lessons learned regarding the year 2000 (Y2K) project currently underway at PanCanadian are described. The Y2K problem, which is a date related malfunction associated with the turn of the century, may affect computers and automated control systems. The cost of fixing this world wide problem ranges from $52 billion to $2 trillion. At PanCanadian, central to ensuring that the entire corporation is ready for the Year 2000 is a dedicated project team in the information technology (IT) department who manage all the life-cycle software for the company. IT staff purchase, install and remove all obsolete software and data. Inventory, testing and remediation of all software, hardware and embedded systems are the basis of the plan of action adopted by the I.T. Y2K project team. Dealing with Y2K problems of business partners, and planning for business interruption are special problems for which different approaches have ...
... after Roscoe Robinson relinquished command of the 82nd Airborne Division in 1978, it would be 25 ... taking command of the 10th Mountain Division. ...
We investigate the solar neutrino problem in the scenario of three generation neutrino oscillation hypothesis, taking into account other phenomenological constraints to the neutrino mixing and mass parameters.
To express growth-related changes in physiologic or other functions in forms usable for kinetic modeling, we are interested in identifying regular relationships that take the form of simple mathematical...Full Text Available
Like few other organs, the skin is continuously exposed to multiple exogenous and endogenous stressors. Superimposed on this is the impact of psychological stress on skin physiology and pathology....Full Text Available
Jun 21, 2006 ... The competition is organized by the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center (MATE) and Marine Technology Society's (MTS) ROV Committee. ...
coupled heat/mass transfer Stefan problem. Taking the diffusion coefficient of Bi as a free parameter, the best fit was observed for the published value, ...
... and (3) the exchange of information; materials or perspectives. In 1977, a conference of ... their peers), to products (e.g., curriculum materials, guidebooks, or videos). We will also take ...
Social organisms that cooperate with some members of their own species, such as close relatives, may fail to cooperate with other genotypes of the same species. Such noncooperation may take the form...Full Text Available
... endometriosis can be seen is by doing a laparoscopy. A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure used to look at ... of the abdomen using special scopes. During a laparoscopy, the doctor is able to take small samples ...
In this paper, we propose a new cooperative control method for multiple robotic systems that eliminates several issues in the discentralized control method. The proposed control method is constructed by extending a Passive Velocity Field Control (PVFC). It is easy to guarantee the stability in control, because the PVFC can keep the passivity of the controlled system. In this study, the cooperative control method is proposed and then it`s stability is proven. Moreover, it is extended so as to control an internal force and to control a virtual time. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed cooperative control method are examined by computer simulations for cooperation tasks with two manipulators. 11 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab.
An outline of the instrumentation and control systems associated with fuelling machines is given. The control systems such as hydraulic system, oil hydraulic system, electric control system and the remote control systems have been discussed in detail. The difference between RAPP and MAPP fuel handling control systems has been explained. A computer based system for the Narora fuel handling control system is also discussed. (S.K.K.).
...Butley river and Ore estuary, Boyton Marshes attracts breeding wading birds in spring and ducks, geese and swans in winter. It's also ... During spring and autumn, it is an ideal place to see migrant wading birds, gulls and terns. Insh Marshes Insh ... Spring is also an excellent time to visit. Leighton Moss Leighton Moss is the largest reedbed in north-west England, and home ... When they leave in spring, wading birds take centre stage. Watch it all take place from our viewing centre and hide,...
As a part of a phenomenological model, a method for simulating the wall/jet interaction in a direct injection diesel engine is proposed. The method is based on the application of the momentum conservation equation in the different directions in which the wall jet is spread, and takes into account both the interaction with the combustion chamber geometry and with swirl. It takes as initial conditions the results of calculating the free jet, which is divided into packages. The predictions provide good agreement with those by other researchers. (author).
This article presents a decentralized control scheme for the complex problem of simultaneous position and internal force control in cooperative multiple manipulator systems. The proposed controller is composed of a sliding mode control term and a force robustifying term to simultaneously control the payloads position/orientation as well as the internal forces induced in the system. This is accomplished independently of the manipulators dynamics. Unlike most controllers that do not require prior knowledge of the manipulators dynamics, the suggested controller does not use fuzzy logic inferencing and is computationally inexpensive. Using a Lyapunov stability approach, the controller is proven to be robust in the face of varying systems dynamics. The payloads position/orientation and the inte...
A sequential problem in decentralized detection is considered. Two observers can make repeated noisy observations of a binary hypothesis on the state of the environment. At any time, observer 1 can stop and send a final binary message to observer 2 or it may continue to take more measurements. Every time observer 1 postpones its final message to observer 2, it incurs a penalty. Observer 2's operation under two different scenarios is explored. In the first scenario, observer 2 waits to receive the final message from observer 1 and then starts taking measurements of its own. It is then faced with a stopping problem on whether to stop and declare a decision on the hypothesis or to continue taking measurements. In the second scenario, observer 2 starts taking measurements from the beginning. It is then faced with a different stopping problem. At any time, observer 2 can decide whether to stop and declare a ...
Purpose: To secure the reactor operation safety by the provision of a fluid pressure detecting section for control rod driving fluid and a control rod interlock at the midway of the flow pass for supplying driving fluid to the control rod drives. Constitution: Between a driving line and a direction control valve are provided a pressure detecting portion, an alarm generating device, and a control rod inhibition interlock. The driving fluid from a driving fluid source is discharged by way of a pump and a manual valve into the reactor in which the control rods and reactor fuels are contained. In addition, when the direction control valve is switched and the control rods are inserted and extracted by the control rod drives, the pressure in the driving line is always detected by the pressure detection ...
Since information has been regarded os a physical entity, the field of quantum information theory has blossomed. This brings novel applications, such as quantum computation. This field has attracted the attention of numerous researchers with backgrounds ranging from computer science, mathematics and engineering, to the physical sciences. Thus, we now have an interdisciplinary field where great efforts are being made in order to build devices that should allow for the processing of information at a quantum level, and also in the understanding of the complex structure of some physical processes at a more basic level. This thesis is devoted to the theoretical study of structures at the nanometer-scale, 'nanostructures', through physical processes that mainly involve the solid-state and quantum optics, in order to propose reliable schemes for the processing of quantum information. Initially, the main results of quantum information theory and quantum computation are ...
The aim of the study is to prepare ionic exchangers using the polymerization of unsaturated polyster with monomeric styrene units in a ratio of 60%: 40% respectively. The type of method involved in this preparation, is called An Emulsion Polymerization. Such type of polymerization was carried out by two techniques: chemical and irradiation techniques. The first techniques requires the formation of free radical monomers by use of methyl Ethy Ketone Peroxide capable of decomposing into free radicals upon heating, while the other technique involves the use of gamma rays (using Co-60 source) capable of activating monomers towards free radical formations. A number of very effective chemical parameters and physical factors were used and investigated throughout the reactions such as: dispersant matrix, viscosity, rate of mixing, and irradiation dose. Besides, the study has included the study of the rate of Resin Beads Swelling which is thought to be another important part of investigation. ...
Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) followed by gamma-ray spectrometry was used to determine the concentrations of As, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Eu, Fe, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Pr, Sb, Se, Th, U, V and Z, in 82 leaf samples belonging to two cultivars of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp). Pigeonpea, an easy cultivation legume species, probably originated from Africa and adapted to brazilian conditions, is a very promising and unconventional source of food, mainly to the grain production intended for human feeding, and that even can be used in flour products. It is an excellent proteic supplement for ruminants, due to its large potential of forage production and its high nutritive value, or in addition it can be used in the recuperation of exhausting soils either by means of its utilization as green manure or by taking free Nitrogen from the atmosphere to produce nitrates which can be utilized by the plants. However, in spite of the several possibilities and ...
The challenge for truck engine product engineering is not only to fulfill increasingly stringent emission requirements, but also to improve the engine's economical viability in its role as the backbone of our global economy. While societal impact and therefore emission limit values are to be reduced in big steps, continuous improvement is not enough but technological quantum leaps are necessary. The introduction and refinement of electronic control of all major engine systems has already been a quantum leap forward. Maximizing the benefits of these technologies to customers and society requires full use of parameter optimization and other enabling technologies. The next big step forward will be widespread use of exhaust aftertreatment on all transportation related diesel engines. While exhaust gas aftertreatment has been successfully established on gasoline (Otto cycle) engines, the introduction of exhaust aftertreatment especially for heavy-duty diesel ...
A.C.R.O. (Association pour le Controle de la Radioactivite dans l'Ouest) is a French non governmental organisation that operates a laboratory for radioactivity analysis. It was created in 1986 as a response to people demands for information and reliable, independent testing. The organisation mainly carries out missions of information and training for its correspondents and more generally for a wide audience, particularly for people who worry about problems of environment, health, management of radioactive waste and emissions. Thanks to its structure, it enables citizens to involve themselves together with scientists so as to gain access to information that was hither to reserved to specialists. The organisation can vouchsafe its independence from the diversity of its members and volunteers, as well as from the diversity of its money resources. Besides its headquarters situated on the city of Caen area (Normandy), three branches situated in North Normandy, ...
operating at the maximal setting of speed control dials used to control their ...evaluates their energy performance when the speed control dial used ...FFUs when the speed control dial used for adjusting fan wheel speeds in each FFU was
... 65th AGARD Fluid Dynamics Symposium, Madrid, Spain, October ... of research programs on flow control ... separation, and delta wing flows formed the ...
In order to practice a design-by-analysis of thermohydraulics design of BWR fuel rod bundles, the subchannel analysis would play a major role. There, the immediate concern is improvement in its predictive capability of CHF due in particular to the film dryout (boiling transition phenomena: BT) on the fuel rod surface. Constitutive equations in the subchannel analysis formulation are responsible for the quality of calculated results. The constitutive equations are a result of integration of the local and instantaneous description of two-phase flows over the subchannel control volume. In general, they are expressed in terms of subchannel-control-volume- as well as area-averaged two-phase flow state variables. In principle the information on local and instantaneous physical phenomena taking place inside subchannels must be counted for in the algebraic form of the equations on the basis of a more mechanistic modeling approach. ...
Full text of publication follows:In order to practice a design-by-analysis of thermohydraulics design of BWR fuel rod bundles, the subchannel analysis would play a major role. There, the immediate concern is improvement in its predictive capability of CHF due in particular to the film dryout (boiling transition phenomena: BT) on the fuel rod surface. Constitutive equations in the subchannel analysis formulation are responsible for the quality of calculated results. The constitutive equations are a result of integration of the local and instantaneous description of two-phase flows over the subchannel control volume. In general, they are expressed in terms of subchannel-control-volume- as well as area-averaged two-phase flow state variables. In principle the information on local and instantaneous physical phenomena taking place inside subchannels must be counted for in the algebraic form of the equations on the basis of a ...
In order to practice a design-by-analysis of thermohydraulics design of BWR fuel rod bundles, the subchannel analysis would play a major role. There, the immediate concern is improvement in its predictive capability of CHF due in particular to the film dryout (boiling transition phenomena: BT) on the fuel rod surface. Constitutive equations in the subchannel analysis formulation are responsible for the quality of calculated results. The constitutive equations are a result of integration of the local and instantaneous description of two-phase flows over the subchannel control volume. In general, they are expressed in terms of subchannel-control-volume- as well as area-averaged two-phase flow state variables. In principle the information on local and instantaneous physical phenomena taking place inside subchannels must be counted for in the algebraic form of the equations on the basis of a more mechanistic modeling approach. ...
The results of the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) study of the FEBEX bentonite performed during FEBEX II are presented. The laboratory test program continued in part with the works carried out during FEBEX I, particularly in activities related to tests aimed to the calibration of the models, the acquisition of parameters by back-analysis and the improvement of the knowledge on the behaviour of expansive clays. But the program has also included tests on new areas: investigations about the influence of the microstructure changes in bentonite, of temperature and of the solute concentration on the behaviour of clay. Besides, several tests were proposed in order to understand the unexpected behaviour observed in the mock-up test, towards the end of year 2. Temperature effects on water retention curves in confined and unconfined conditions were determined, and swelling pressure, hydraulic conductivity and swelling and consolidation strains as a function of temperature were successfully ...
A.C.R.O. (Association pour le Controle de la Radioactivite dans l Ouest) is a French non governmental organisation that operates a laboratory for radioactivity analysis. It was created in 1986 as a response to people demands for information and reliable, independent testing. The organisation mainly carries out missions of information and training for its correspondents and more generally for a wide audience, particularly for people who worry about problems of environment, health, management of radioactive waste and emissions. Thanks to its structure, it enables citizens to involve themselves together with scientists so as to gain access to information that was hither to reserved to specialists. The organisation can vouchsafe its independence from the diversity of its members and volunteers, as well as from the diversity of its money resources. Besides its headquarters situated on the city of Caen area (Normandy), three branches situated in North Normandy, in ...
The heavy water reactor such as Wolsung No.1 and No.2 has a purification system to purify the reactor coolant. The control system regulates the coolant temperature to protect the ion exchanger. After the fuel exchanges of operating plant, the increase of the coolant pressure makes the purification temperature control difficult. In this paper, the controllability of the control dynamics of the purification system was analysed and the optimal parameters were proposed. To reduce the effects of the flow disturbance, the feedforward control structure was proposed and analysed.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has implemented a computer control system for operation of an FN tandem accelerator. The control software utilized is the Thaumaturgic Automated Control Logic (TACL) written by the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility and co-developed with LLNL. Details of the design philosophy, hardware configuration, control software, and special control algorithms will be presented. 2 refs., 4 figs.
In the case of large capacity steam turbines the conventional nozzle group control is, for mechanical and thermodynamic reasons, diminishing more and more in importance in favour of variable pressure control. A design for constant-pressure operation as an alternative to nozzle group control is described; this demonstrates a series of important advantages compared with the latter. (orig.).
Families of regimes for discrete control systems are studied possessing a special quasi-controllability property that is similar to the Kalman controllability property. A new approach is proposed to estimate the amplitudes of transient regimes in quasi-controllable systems. Its essence is in obtaining of constructive a priori bounds for degree of overshooting in terms of the quasi-controllability measure. The results are applicable for analysis of transients, classical absolute stability problem and, especially, for stability problem for desynchronized (asynchronous, switching) systems.
This paper discusses the concept of controllable subspace for open quantum dynamical systems. It is constructively demonstrated that combining structural features of decoherence-free subspaces with the ability to perform open-loop coherent control on open quantum systems will allow decoherence-free subspaces to be controllable. This is in contrast to the observation that open quantum dynamical systems are not open-loop controllable. To a certain extent, this paper gives an alternative control theoretical interpretation on why decoherence-free subspaces can be useful for quantum computation.
Drawing upon the cultural risk perspective and writings on risk taking, this paper seeks to develop ideas relating to the effective use of school cyberspace. It is argued that some individuals respond to exaggerated, yet seductive, discourses of online risks by over-blocking, unreasonably restricting students' Internet activity. At the same time, there are sensible, even compelling, motivations for teachers as well as students to use the school Internet to engage in low-level risk taking, fostering excitement, identity construction and networked media literacy. Connecting these seductive pushes and pulls of risk it is ultimately maintained that the fostering of trust through open communication is key in overcoming over-blocking whilst allowing for greater educational gains, realised in part through certain types of low-level risk taking in school cyberspace.
Humans are quite unusual compared to other great apes in that reproduction typically takes place within long-term, iteroparous pairings—social arrangements that have been culturally reified...Full Text Available
A screening questionnaire designed to take an alcohol history was used on 996 patients attending the London Hospital Accident and Emergency Department. Questions concerned with 'binge' drinking detected...Full Text Available
Borna disease virus (BDV) uses a unique strategy of replication and transcription which takes place in the nucleus, unlike other known, nonsegmented, negative-stranded RNA viruses of animal origin....Full Text Available
There is a pressing need for medical graduates to be fully prepared to take on the responsibilities of prescribing and to be able to respond to continual inevitable rapid changes in therapeutics. The...Full Text Available
SYNOPSISRhomboid proteases are a fascinating class of enzymes that combine a serine protease active site within the core of an integral membrane protein. Despite having key roles...Full Text Available
AbstractIndividual informed consent is a key ethical obligation for clinical studies, but empirical studies show that key requirements are often not met. Common recommendations to strengthen...Full Text Available
We combine data from the Latin American Migration Project and the Mexican Migration Project to estimate models predicting the likelihood of taking of first and later trips to the United States...Full Text Available
This 1978 annual report contains the results of ''Seismic testing of Wolsung-1 steam generator model'' which was initiated in 1977 as a part of a study on nuclear components testing. Model 78, improved version of Model 77 which did not take into account f...
This report presents the full texts of the allocution delivered during the colloquium on the renewable energies and the public policies. It takes stock on the strategical environment and the political will of the renewable energies, the tracks of development in France and the necessity of a law on the renewable energies. (A.L.B.)
time as well, due to the complex patterns of air movement taking place within cumulus clouds. ...... cumulative distribution of XPD, for rain and ice-particle induced ...... CCIR (1986f), Attenuation by Hydrometeors, In Particular ...
It is shown that a natural consequence of the binary pulsar's evolution is a neutron star collision. Such a collision is expected to eject neutron-rich matter of an r-process character. Taking reasonable estimates for the number of such events over the history of the galaxy, it may be that they account for all of the r-process nuclei.
SummaryThe general transcription factor TFIID is a large multi-subunit complex required for the transcription of most protein-encoding genes by RNA polymerase II. Taking advantage...Full Text Available
A growing number of studies suggest that the development of compulsive drug seeking and taking depends on dorsostriatal mechanisms. We previously observed that ex vivo acute...Full Text Available
This booklet presents safe practices that you should follow if your activities take you near high-voltage transmission lines. It documents information that has generally been available to the public.
As the result of genetic alterations and tumor hypoxia, many cancer cells avidly take up glucose and generate lactate through lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), which is encoded by a target gene of c-Myc...Full Text Available
Epifluorescence images of Ca2+ transients elicited by electrical stimulation of single skeletal muscle fibers were studied with fast imaging techniques that take advantage of the large fluorescence...Full Text Available
... different personal wellness goals for you. HIV Health Management With a good medical team and a desire to reach wellness goals , people with HIV can have a virtually normal lifespan. Take the HIV Wellness Quiz Test your knowledge and find out where you need to learn ...
The heterogeneity of metastatic breast cancer mandates the need to select therapies taking into account tumor and patient characteristics. Chemotherapy is indicated in the palliative setting especially...Full Text Available
A new method for computing petroleum reserves which takes into account the volumetric elasticity of stratal petroleum and a porous medium of a collector is examined based on the example of developing petroleum beds of Cretaceous horizon of the Groznenskiy region.
The development of comfort in buildings throughout the centuries was influenced by the demand for progress, wealth and innovation in various respects. At present, it seems that progress may only be possible by taking into account the environment and creat...
Enterococcus faecalis cells cannot synthesize porphyrins and do not rely on heme for growth but can take up heme and use it to synthesize heme proteins. We recently described a cytochrome...Full Text Available
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) take a major human toll on society and reduce public confidence in the healthcare system. The current convergence of scientific, public, and legislative...Full Text Available
Air pollution abatement measures are not an end in themselves, and undesirable side effects should be taken into account. The proposed emission index takes into account the total emissions caused by a technical project as well as the effects of the individual pollutants.
One tiny marine plant makes life on Earth possible: phytoplankton. These microscopic photosynthetic drifters form the basis of the marine food web, they regulate carbon in the atmosphere, and are responsible for half of the photosynthesis that takes place on this planet.
Purpose.The hypothesis that drivers with homonymous hemianopia (HH) would take a lane position that increased the safety margin on their blind side was tested with a driving simulator.Methods.Twelve...Full Text Available
We calculate the expected fluxes of cosmic ray nuclei with charge 5 ≤ Z ≤ 28 at various depths in the earth's atmosphere, taking into account the initial charge distribution,...Full Text Available
A paradoxical metabolic imbalance in inorganic phosphate occurs from the early onset of diabetes and may lead to a reduction of high energy phosphates and tissue hypoxia. These changes take place in...Full Text Available
Improved NMR detection of mass limited samples can be obtained by taking advantage of the mass sensitivity of microcoil NMR, while throughput issues can be addressed using multiple, parallel...Full Text Available
Competent Haemophilus cells recognize and preferentially take up Haemophilus DNA during genetic transformation. This preferential uptake is correlated with the presence on incoming DNA of an 11-base-pair...Full Text Available
The synthesis of an extracellular ribbon of cellulose in the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum takes place from linearly arranged, membrane-localized, cellulose-synthesizing and extrusion complexes that...Full Text Available
Canadian power and industrial projects world-wide are highlighted in this annual feature. A short section on the CANDU Wolsung Reactor in the Republic of Korea mentions that it went critical in November 1982 after taking only 60 months to complete.
Hunger, thirst and satiety have an enormous influence on cognition, behavior and development, yet we often take for granted that they are simply inborn or innate. Converging data and theory...Full Text Available
...global warming problem became undeniable ...as global warming are a number also review they world energy ...global warming temperatures on the models and people take what's called ...? story combat global warming conservation ...
The French office for technical studies and control of big dams (BETCGB), has recently reedited the `guidebook for the control of dams in exploitation`. The aim of this document is to provide to the regional directions of industry, research and environment (DRIRE) a methodological help for their control actions of hydroelectric dams granted for exploitation. It comprises 6 chapters dealing with: the different type of dams, the inspection, the surveillance, the floods evacuation, the flood instructions, and the particular emergency plans. (J.S.)
This article deals with the need for control strategies and control systems in buildings with hybrid ventilation. In this respect, control strategies are methods of keeping certain parameters like temperature, air quality etc within specified limits. A control system is automatic and includes sensors, motors, dampers etc. The article also discusses consequences with respect to thermal comfort, air quality and energy use following selection of control parameters for controlling air masses.
A consistent statistical theory of the crystal-liquid phase transition is developed, being based on a method which takes into account liquidlike fluctuations in crystals and solidlike clusters in liquids. It is shown that degenerate fluidlike droplets have a finite number density at zero temperature, while nondegenerate fluctuations disappear when the temperature goes to zero. The existence of a melting point is proved. This method, which takes into consideration the heterophase fluctuations, provides the possibility of describing metastable states such as a supercooled liquid or an overheated crystal. Conditions for the existence of metastable states are found. The liquid-glass transition can also be described by the method presented here.
Taboada et al. have recently developed a computer model to predict gamma radiation doses to aircrews flying through nuclear-debris clouds. Although the model has the advantages of taking a large number of parameters into account and using the benchmark DELFIC code to model cloud dynamics, it takes up to 20 min for a single run on a mainframe computer. Results from a number of runs have been generalized into empirical formulae. From these results it is possible to estimate worst case gamma radiation doses for complex scenarios using a hand calculator.
The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment is designed to determine the yet unknown neutrino mixing angle theta_13 by measuring the disappearance of electron antineutrinos from several nuclear reactor cores, using multiple underground detectors at different baselines to minimize systematic errors and to suppress the cosmogenic background. The civil construction has begun since October 2007, enabling first commissioning data in 2009, and full data taking will begin in late 2010. The planned sensitivity in sin^2 (2theta_13) of better than 0.01 at 90% CL will be achieved in three years of data-taking. I will present an overview and current status of the experiment.
Daya Bay Neutrino Experiment is dedicated to measuring the last unobserved neutrino mixing angle theta_13. The predicted precision on sin^2(2theta_13) is 0.01 at 90% confidence level. This document briefly reviews the measurement method and detector construction status. The first two anti-neutrino detectors' dry run result is also discussed. The Daya Bay near hall data taking is expected to commence in the summer of 2011 and the data taking of all of the three halls in the summer of 2012.
Capacity is defined as the power resulting from the specific position of a company in a network organization. This article extends the theory of network organizations to examine Mazda?s Yokokai Keiretsu, and proposes a new approach to calculating a firm?s capacity in a network. Capacity is divided into two categories, take-in capacity and take-out capacity, and the gap between them is called the capacity difference. We analyze the impact of capacity difference as a determinant of corporate performance in network organizations, thus providing a new perspective for successful corporate management.
Fuji Electric has realized highly reliable and functional control systems by the dispersion type control system FOCUS, which uses the controller (ICS-2000) enjoying good reputation in controlling industrial plants for a long time and a personal computer with high windows operability, the former for controlling and the latter for MHI responsible for monitoring. The smelting process in a steel-making plant needs a highly reliable system for advanced control to ensure continuous operation. Fuji Electric delivered the FOCUS system to Kubota in 1998, as the smelting furnace instrumentation/control system for the cupola furnace. The system has been in service smoothly. Moreover, a total of four control systems have been delivered, 2 for steel-making furnaces and the other 2 for continuous casting. (NEDO)
Studies continued on organic tracers for use as hydrologic tracers as part of the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization project. This subject report for the quarter 01/01/93 through 03/31/93 discusses the following issues: project organization and responsibilities; quality assurance program; design control; procurement document control; instructions, procedures, and drawings; document control; control of purchased items and services; identification and control of items; control of processes; inspection; test control; control of measuring and test equipment; handling, storage, and shipping; inspection, test, and operating status; control of nonconforming items and conditions; corrective action; quality assurance records; audits; software quality assurance; and scientific investigation.
Purpose: To stably control the reactor water level so as not to cause excess water feeding in a BWR type reactor. Constitution: A flow control valve is disposed to the exit of a feedwater pump for a nuclear reactor and the valve is controlled by a flow regulator to maintain the water level constant in the reactor. A signal from a water level controller is inputted to the flow regulator to thereby control the flow rate control valve. In this case, the flow regulator remains in a saturated state just after the starting of the feedwater pump, in which the pump flowrate is at 100% to result in an excess water feeding condition. In view of the above, a feedback circuit is provided to the flow regulator so that the saturated state is eliminated and the water feeding can be controlled directly from the water level controller. ...
A scheme for controlling multimanipulator systems is presented. The control objective is to coordinate the manipulators to perform parts-matching tasks such as screwing a nut onto a bolt. The task of moving a rigid object can be treated as a special case. Two secondary control objectives internal force control and load distribution can be accomplished within the structure of the control law. The internal force control mechanism keeps the internal forces on the object being manipulated at a desirable level. The load distribution mechanism distributes control effort to each manipulator according to a weighting factor. It is also shown that the control algorithm has a modular structure which facilitates its implementation on a multiprocessor computer. The scheme was tested on a planar scara type dual-manipulator system. A ...
This paper deals with the control of an electromechanical valves engine. The control uses neural networks in order to build a non-linear model of engine filing which depends on the driven inlets. The aim is to build this real-time model and to integrate this model to a control system which performs an iterative inversion. (J.S.)
We present a modification of the closed-loop state space model for AO control which allows delays that are a non-integer multiple of the system frame rate. We derive the new forms of the Predictive Fourier Control Kalman filters for arbitrary delays and show that they are linear combinations of the whole-frame delay terms. This structure of the controller is independent of the delay. System stability margins and residual error variance both transition gracefully between integer-frame delays.
Experience and technical innovations in power plant engineering have resulted in continuous improvements of operation control, availability and safety of pumped storage plants. Process control is constantly improved as new developments are made in equipment and systems engineering. Plant control concepts with increasingly complex automation hierarchy are described by which pumped storage processes can be controlled optimally, reliably, and automatically.
University research group with research areas: * Land based and submersible autonomous robots, (UUVs: AUVs and ROVs); * Controllers, electronics, sensor design and fusion, motion control; * Guidance and navigation of underwater vehicles; * AI, neural networks, fuzzy logic, subsumption control, behaviour based control; * Optical fibre and ultrasonic sensors for proximal object detection; * Robot arm control, visual servoing; * Imaging sonar applications; * Simulator development: UUV simulator; imaging sonar simulator; Aircraft/flight simulator.
The technology status of the dynamics and controls discipline as it applies to energy storage wheel systems was evaluated. No problems were identified for which an adequate solution could not be proposed. Design issues that influence control were addressed. The dynamics and control aspects associated with the energy storage system concept and its various constituent parts, and the control tasks attendant to large, manned spacecraft are discussed.
Use of an adaptive optimal control algorithm for two realtime control applications, optimal excitation control of a synchronous generator (OEC) and power system stabilizer (PSS) is described in this paper. Experimental studies on a physical model of a power system show that the proposed OEC and PSS can track the controlled system by parameter identification at different operating conditions. The proposed control algorithm is based on the linear optimal control theory and a special 5th order discrete Riccati equation is solved in each sampling period. The proposed OEC and PSS can always guarantee that in closed loop the controlled system is stable based on the identified parameters. As the actual output of the controlled system and control are directly used in the controller, no ...
How sensory organization for postural control matures in children is not clear at this time. The present study examined, in children aged 7 to 11 and in adults, the postural control modifications in...Full Text Available
This article reviews briefly a range of the latest monitoring and controlling equipment for use in coal mines. This includes pressure transmitters, shale/coal discriminator, nucleonic bunker level indicator, automatic steering and monitoring system, oscilloscope/multimeter, and microprocessor based digital display controllers. 1 fig.
The article describes control and monitoring concepts in which the delegation of responsibility is becoming more decisive than ever (automation hierarchy), and which are capable of optimized, automatic control of process events in pumped storage plants. 8 refs.
The highly variable and intermittent pollutant concentrations and flowrates associated with wet-weather events in combined sewersheds necessitates the use of storage-treatment systems to control pollution.An optimized combined-sewer-overflow (CSO) control system requires a manage...
Studies have shown that the nervous system may adopt a control scheme in which synergistic muscle groups are controlled by common excitation patters, or modules, to simplify the coordination...Full Text Available
This work considers the problem of controlling multiple nonholonomic vehicles so that they converge to a scent source without colliding with each other. Since the control is to be implemented on simple 8-bit microcontrollers, fuzzy control rules are used to simplify a linear quadratic regulator control design. The inputs to the fuzzy controllers for each vehicle are the (noisy) direction to the source, the distance to the closest neighbor vehicle, and the direction to the closest vehicle. These directions are discretized into four values: Forward, Behind, Left, and Right, and the distance into three values: Near, Far, Gone. The values of the control at these discrete values are obtained based on the collision-avoidance repulsive forces and the change of variables that reduces the motion control problem of each nonholonomic vehicle to a ...
A controlled bidirectional quantum secret direct communication scheme is proposed by using a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state. In the scheme, two users can exchange their secret messages simultaneously with a set of devices under the control of a third party. The security of the scheme is analysed and confirmed.
The objective of this project is to reduce energy consumption in 203 buildings by providing a new EMCS (Energy Monitoring Control System) to control and monitor systems.
A closed loop control process assures that a system performs within control limits. In closed loop control, the system's output feeds back directly to change the system's inputs. We describe an approach...Full Text Available
A retrospective case-control study tested the hypothesis that exposure to hydrocarbon combustion products is associated with the development of renal cell carcinoma. One control per case, matched for...Full Text Available
...Department of Environmental Control to ASARCO Incorporated. (B) Amended Administrative...Department of Environmental Control to ASARCO Incorporated. (C) Second Amended...Department of Environmental Control to ASARCO Incorporated. (ii) Additional...
In this article the methodology followed to diagnose the performance of the equipment where heat is transferred from the feed water, condensate and circulation water systems in fossil power plants (FPP). The data collection is made with the unit in normal operation, using local instrumentation without taking the equipment out of service for its installation. The equipment diagnosis is made through the analysis of the collected data in actual operation and the design data; for this purpose a thermal balance of the interested systems is performed to obtain all the conditions an operation data. Later on the performance indicative parameters (PIP) of actual operation and design are calculated and compared one against the other. Such a comparison reveals the performance deterioration and the possible equipment faults. The data obtained and the supplementary information are stored in a data base whose objective is that Comision Federal de Electricidad has on hand a ...
This paper has the objective of presenting the philosophy of Static Var Compensator (SVC) Control as well the necessary adjustments in the project of control system to guarantee suitable performance under different operating conditions. The verification on the performance of the SVC control has been done by Transient Network Analyzer (TNA/CEPEL) studies, commissioning tests and a factory tests. The SVC is the type of Thyristor Controlled Reactor (TCR) and Thyristor Switched Capacitor (TSC). (author) 3 refs., 12 figs.
The idle speed of an internal combustion engine is controlled in response to a variable ignition timing control signal from a microcomputer. The microcomputer derives this control signal as a function of the magnitude of engine speed variation which occurs during engine idle periods to cause the ignition timing to vary quickly in response to a transitory engine load variation. An auxiliary air delivery system may be advantageously incorporated in the idle speed control system to cooperate with the ignition timing control in response to the engine speed variation.
A dual fuel engine control system for controlling the power output of a dual fuel compression ignition engine. The engine includes mixing means for combining an oxidizer and a primary fuel at a substantially constant ratio of oxidizer to primary fuel. The power output of the engine is controlled through the use of a throttle valve controlling the quantity of combustible mixture delivered to the combustion chamber. The fuel control system minimizes the quantity of ignition fuel required by controlling the quantity of combustible mixture rather than the fuel of air ratio. (author) figs.
The control valve for a large steam turbine must be operated linearly to be run by an automatic control system in a power plant. It is, however, found that the flow increase is much greater for a given valve position change near the closed end of travel than it is near the open end. Accordingly, the desired linearization will be achieved if the valve is opened less near the closed end of travel and greater near the open end. The previous way for linearization was to utilize the cams, which is called the mechanical hydraulic control (MHC). The MHC was afterward improved by producing the nonlinear electric compensation to the nonlinear system of control valves, viz. the electro hydraulic control (EHC)
The control valve for a large steam turbine must be operated linearly to be run by an automatic control system in a power plant. It is, however, found that the flow increase is much greater for a given valve position change near the closed end of travel than it is near the open end. Accordingly, the desired linearization will be achieved if the valve is opened less near the closed end of travel and greater near the open end. The previous way for linearization was to utilize the cams, which is called the mechanical hydraulic control (MHC). The MHC was afterward improved by producing the nonlinear electric compensation to the nonlinear system of control valves, viz. the electro hydraulic control (EHC)
There is an urgent need in aquaculture to develop microbial control strategies, since disease outbreaks are recognized as important constraints to aquaculture production and trade and since the development...Full Text Available
A stable power system stabilizer (PSS) based on the inverse dynamics of the controlled system using an artificial neural network (ANN) is suggested to enhance the dynamic performances of a power system. First, an output feedback control law is driven with some conditions satisfied, which guarantees the internal stability and robustness against the asymptotically stable external disturbances. Then the control law is implemented using the inverse dynamics of the controlled plant. The inverse dynamics of the controlled plant is identified by an ANN, inverse dynamics neural network (IDNN), off-line. The pole-shifting technique and a scaling factor are introduced for the control system to meet the conditions for internal stability and robustness. The proposed controller is applied to a typical single-machine infinite-bus power system. Simulation ...
While substantial research has examined the control of information systems (IS) projects, most studies in this area have only examined how one controller manages a single group of controllees. However, many IS projects, especially enterprise systems projects (often initiated by an organization's corporate headquarters, and involving business unit users and consultants), have multiple stakeholders. The corporate headquarters (the project's principal controller) must simultaneously ensure that the various stakeholders are aligned with the project's goals despite their diverse motivations, and that the stakeholders collaborate with each other to achieve project success. Behavior control theory argues that the controller enacts a control portfolio of formal and informal controls. However, the ...
Despite the existence of effective analgesic drugs, many cancer patients live and die with ineffective pain control. The control of cancer pain is largely achievable with the appropriate use of available...Full Text Available
Models can be useful at many different levels when considering complex issues such as biological control of mosquitoes. At an early stage, exploratory models are valuable in exploring the characteristics...Full Text Available
[9] Rysdyk, R. T., and Calise, A. J., Fault Tolerant Flight control via Adaptive Neural Augmentation, AIAA. Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Aug. ...
Several studies of facilitated communication have demonstrated that the facilitators were controlling and directing the typing, although they appeared to be unaware of doing so. Such results shift...Full Text Available
The management of risks of explosives are described. Administrative and procedural controls are considered. The safety management plan involves hazard identification, risk analysis, assessment and control. The current position of explosives safety is considered. 4 tabs.
In this study, usage of a variable speed refrigeration system in latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) system is investigated to increase energy storage efficiency. Four different compressor speed control cases are compared to obtain a constant heat transfer fluid (HTF) temperature at the inlet of the energy storage tank. These control cases are (i) control with evaporation temperature, (ii) control with ethylene glycol temperature at the outlet section of evaporator, (iii) control with suction pressure of the compressor and (iv) on/off control. By means of the experimental analysis the best control strategy is obtained as control with Case (ii), in terms of stability of inlet temperature of heat transfer fluid, variations of energy efficiency of LHTES and coefficient of performance (...
AbstractThe efficacy of tilmicosin administered in the feed to control Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infections in pigs was evaluated through a multisite, multitrial...Full Text Available
In order to suppress resonance vibrations of a rotor-shaft of rotating machinery, a rotor-shaft system elastically supported by ball bearings which are installed in electromagnetic actuators are proposed and the design method of some compensatory circuits in the controller to control the electromagnetic actuators in the system are explained. These actuators are controlled by the analog PID (proportional, integral, and derivative) controller. The compensation for nonlinearity of electromagnetic force, the negative stiffness of electromagnet, and the time lag of the coil current are discussed and the effective control circuits are proposed. The rotor-shaft system is replaced by the equivalent two-degree-of-freedom system and both impulse and frequency responses are numerically simulated for several parameters of PD-controller gain. By applying the principle of ...
Intelligent and decision aiding systems as support to operators are becoming increasingly a necessity in nuclear installations and in nuclear reactors in particular, specially after the Tree Mile Island. Development of new technologies based on linguistic approaches such as fuzzy logic has given rise to much interest during the last years. Fuzzy logic controller (FLC) has many advantage compared to conventional controllers using classical techniques. The aim of the present work is to use a fuzzy logic controller in parallel to actual semi-automatic controller in order to supervise in real time the operation of the research nuclear reactor. The principal of this controller is based on rules which are established previous from experiment using the semi-automatic controller and from the knowledge of the operators. (authors)
Purpose: To remove excessive driving pressure applied to an unisolated control rod drive by returning excessive coolant to a condensed water storage tank or to the inlet side of a drive water pump using a coolant flow rate control pipe of a control rod driving hydraulic system. Constitution: Excessive water is returned to a condensed water tank while controlling the excessive coolant by a flow control valve in response to variations in the pressure difference between the reactor pressure and the driving water line when the control rods are isolated using a pipe from the outlet side of the drive water pump to the condensed water storage tank. Thus, the control rod to be isolated is prevented form being dropped. (Sekiya, K.).
Phosphorylation is one of the most frequent modifications in intracellular signaling and is implicated in many processes ranging from transcriptional control to signal transduction in innate immunity....Full Text Available
Disclosed in this proposal are plans to construct a patent pending wrist module with computer control, configurable to form high-dexerity telerobotic arms ...
The biosynthesis of insect juvenile hormone (JH) and its neuroendocrine control are attractive targets for chemical control of insect pests and vectors of disease. To facilitate the molecular...Full Text Available
Sep 1, 2011 ... Title: Application of chloropicrin to Douglas-fir stumps to control laminated root rot does not affect infection or growth of regeneration 16 growing ...
Hypertension affects most hemodialysis patients and is often poorly controlled. Adequate control of blood pressure is difficult with conventional hemodialysis alone but is important to improve...Full Text Available
Abstract A control framework was developed for real time implementation of optimal control of emulsion polymerization with multiple monomers by integrating model based algorithms with software engines. The developed system was applied for controlling conversion, particle size, molar mass, and polymer composition using model predictive control (MPC) based on mechanistic models for emulsion polymerization. The control formulation was extended to account for existing process constraints on the input, input moves, and solids content. On experimental testing, the developed control scheme was found to achieve the desired objectives without violating the process constraints and showed good robustness in rejecting disturbances. Improvements in the process operation and polymer property control wer...
A power system stabilizer based on GMV (Generalized Minimum Variance), one of the adaptive control techniques, is developed to enhance the dynamic performances of a power system using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The stabilizer consists of two parts. One part is Inverse Dynamics Neural Networks (IDNN), which is trained to identify the inverse dynamics of controlled plant and used as a one-step ahead controller, or inverse controller. The other part is Adaptive Reference Model (ARM), which prevents excessive controller output. The ARM produces the modified reference value by minimizing a cost function recursively on the assumption that the IDNN perfectly identifies the controlled plant. The IDNN is used in the minimization procedure to calculate the sensitivities. The proposed controller is simulated in a typical ...
The control of gas activity and process technology has developed tremendously over the past two decades. While once considered to be primitive control systems using simple PID loops with thermocouples that were suspect and unable to perform repeatedly and consistently during the arduous process of plasma nitriding and processing, developments in recent years have elevated the control of the process into what might be considered one of the most controllable processes of the latter part of this century. The advent of plasma processing technology has improved control methods by observing and harnessing each of the various process parameters into many different combinations of control systems. Some of these control systems can control the complete function of the process, thus freeing the operator entirely for other duties, ...
The need for a Combustion and Melting Research Facility focused on the solution of glass manufacturing problems common to all segments of the glass industry was given high priority in the earliest version of the Glass Industry Technology Roadmap (Eisenhauer et al., 1997). Visteon Glass Systems and, later, PPG Industries proposed to meet this requirement, in partnership with the DOE/OIT Glass Program and Sandia National Laboratories, by designing and building a research furnace equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostics in the DOE Combustion Research Facility located at the Sandia site in Livermore, CA. Input on the configuration and objectives of the facility was sought from the entire industry by a variety of routes: (1) through a survey distributed to industry leaders by GMIC, (2) by conducting an open workshop following the OIT Glass Industry Project Review in September 1999, (3) from discussions with numerous glass engineers, scientists, and executives, and (4) during visits to ...
Marine ecosystems are suffering severe depletion of apex predators worldwide; shark declines are principally due to conservative life-histories and fisheries overexploitation. On coral reefs, sharks are strongly interacting apex predators and play a key role in maintaining healthy reef ecosystems. Despite increasing fishing pressure, reef shark catches are rarely subject to specific limits, with management approaches typically depending upon no-take marine reserves to maintain populations. Here, we reveal that this approach is failing by documenting an ongoing collapse in two of the most abundant reef shark species on the Great Barrier Reef (Australia). We find an order of magnitude fewer sharks on fished reefs compared to no-entry management zones that encompass only 1% of reefs. No-take zones, which are more difficult to enforce than no-entry zones, offer almost no protection for shark populations. Population viability models of whitetip and ...
The vortex amplifier controller has no moving parts and therefore it can have extremely high reliability and avoid the maintenance problems associated with contaminated equipment. The vortex amplifier and its application to ventilation control of radioactive enclosures is described. Reverse purge vortex amplifier ventilation system control is also discussed. (U.K.).
This paper suggests how nonlinear periodic optimal control of a pumped storage plant can be realized. The control problem consists in maximization of the plant benefits over an operational period. An optimal control law is proposed, yielding a bang-off-bang mode of operation. An algorithm for numerical solution of the problem was developed, and its effectiveness was demonstrated by simulation experiments.
Brief summaries of research work are presented in the following section: overview of the ORNL Instrumentation and Controls Division activities; new developments and methods; reactor instrumentation and controls; measurement and control engineering; electronic engineering; maintenance; studies; services; and development; and division achievements.
Implementation of an adaptive power system stabilizer (PSS) based on linear optimal control is described in this paper. The generator is identified in real time, and a special 3rd order discrete Riccati equation is solved in each sample interval. Because the output of the generator is fed back directly, the controller can track the system very fast. Experimental studies on a physical model of a power system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive optimal controller.
This paper reviews emission standards, technologies to control emissions, and the cost of these controls. It is concluded that international bodies will increasingly set minimum emissions, these standards will continue to be reduced, and in addition new substances will be controlled. The cost of this control will likely not exceed 0.5 cents per kWe-hr. 4 refs., 3 tabs.
Response of control valves plays an important role in the dynamics of the flow system as a whole. Knowledge of its transfer function would facilitate analysis of the behaviour of the system. This paper presents the application of Levy's complex curve fitting method for determination of the transfer function of control valves used in Liquid Zone Control System of 540 MWe PHWR. (author)
In the positive column of a neon glow discharge, two different types of ionization waves occur simultaneously. The low-dimensional chaos arising from the nonlinear interaction between the two waves is controlled by a continuous feedback technique. The control strategy is derived from the time-delayed autosynchronization method. Two spatially displaced points of observation are used to obtain the control information, using the propagation characteristics of the chaotic wave.
A program to modernize existing computer control and data analysis in a precision gamma-scanning system is described. This involves interfacing a new computer-based multichannel analyzer to existing equipment through a CAMAC system with an intelligent crate controller and writing software for scan control and data reduction. Both hardware and software requirements are discussed. 6 figures.
A dual-rate self-tuning control technique, in which the system identification and control calculation are performed separately, is proposed in this paper. This greatly increases the control rate. A self-tuning power system stabilizer (DSPSS) making use of this technique is developed and implemented using multi-micro-computers. Simulation and experimental results with DSPSS show that the increase in the control rate can considerably improve the system performance.
Installation of the major hardware subsystems for MFTF is nearing completion. These subsystems include the Fusion Chamber System, the eighty KV Neutral Beam System, the Superconducting Magnet System, and the Personnel Safety System. The Local Controls group has undertaken a uniform aproach to implementing the control systems for all of these hardware subsystems. This approach has two major aspects: (1) to provide a stand-alone computer control system with a remote, portable terminal so that computer control can be provided at the site of the hardware for initial testing, (2) to provide hardware simulators so that the complicated MFTF computer control system can be tested independent of the hardware. The software and hardware tools which were developed to carry out this plan will be described. Our experiences with bringing up subsystems containing up to 900 separate channels of ...
The Proportional-Integral-Derivative Controller is widely used in industries for process control applications. Fractional-order PID controllers are known to outperform their integer-order counterparts. In this paper, we propose a new technique of fractional-order PID controller synthesis based on peak overshoot and rise-time specifications. Our approach is to construct an objective function, the optimization of which yields a possible solution to the design problem. This objective function is optimized using two popular bio-inspired stochastic search algorithms, namely Particle Swarm Optimization and Differential Evolution. With the help of a suitable example, the superiority of the designed fractional-order PID controller to an integer-order PID controller is affirmed and a comparative study of the efficacy of the two above algorithms in solving the ...
The Los Alamos Nuclear Material Accounting and Safeguards System (MASS) is a near-real-time accountability system for bulk materials, discrete items, and material undergoing dynamic processing. MASS has evolved from an eighty-column card based process control system to a very sophisticated computer system. The security of the MASS computer system is provide through various access controls. There are two kinds of access control to be addressed. They are physical access control to the hardware which make up the system, and access control to the software. There are many features which provide a measure of security to the hardware that will be discussed. Access to the software is controlled by a security password. Access to various transaction activities in the system is controlled through the level of MASS user privilege. Details of MASS user ...
New Non Destructive Testing techniques are currently being developed for the inspection of two groups of components in the FA3 EPR nuclear reactor at Flamanville. The first group of components to be controlled is constituted by the welds of the (89) rod cluster control assemblies' containment; two control types are to be used: an ultrasonic technique (UT) evaluation from the outside of the flange-casing weld, and an ET control from the inside of the three other welds. The second group of components is formed by the 44 welded joints of the primary circuit, which will be inspected through ultrasonic testing. Details of the components, control devices and sensors are given and some test results are presented
Butter-fly valves are advantageous over gate, globe, plug, and ball valves in a variety of installations, particularly in the large sizes. The purpose of this project development of linear flow rate control system for eccentric butter-fly valve (intelligent butter-fly valve system). The intelligent butter-fly valve system consist of a valve body, micro controller. The micro controller consist of torque control system, pressure censor, worm and worm gear and communication line etc. The characteristics of intelligent butter-fly valve system as follows: Linear flow rate control function. Digital remote control function. guard function. Self-checking function. (author)
The manual provides design information for four groups of sediment control structures and treatments which are suitable for use on small areas in surface coal mining. A detailed design procedure is given for each group which will estimate the total amount of settleable solids from a small area with a sediment control structure or treatment for a specific design storm. A procedure is also given for estimating the mean annual sediment yield from a small area. Information on design, installation, maintenance and cost is given for each sediment control measure. Methods for determining the maximum allowable area for each sediment control measure and for design of combined sediment control systems are presented. The design procedures contain numerous nomographs, graphs, and worksheets to facilitate the use of the design procedure. The sediment control measures, design ...
The manual provides design information for four groups of sediment control structures and treatments which are suitable for use on small areas in surface coal mining. A detailed design procedure is given for each group which will estimate the total amount of settleable solids from a small area with a sediment control structure or treatment for a specific design storm. A procedure is also given for estimating the mean annual sediment yield from a small area. Information on design, installation, maintenance and cost is given for each sediment control measure. Methods for determining the maximum allowable area for each sediment control measure and for design of combined sediment control systems are presented. The design procedures contain numerous nomographs, graphs, and worksheets to facilitate the use of the design procedure. The sediment control measures, design ...
A multivariate bioprocess control approach, capable of tracking a pre-set process trajectory correlated to the biomass or product concentration in the bioprocess is described. The trajectory was either a latent variable derived from multivariate statistical process monitoring (MSPC) based on partial least squares (PLS) modeling, or the absolute value of the process variable. In the control algorithm the substrate feed pump rate was calculated from on-line analyzer data. The only parameters needed were the substrate feed concentration and the substrate yield of the growth-limiting substrate. On-line near-infrared spectroscopy data were used to demonstrate the performance of the control algorithm on an Escherichia coli fed-batch cultivation for tryptophan production. The controller showed good ability to track a defined biomass trajectory during varying process dynamics. The robustness of the ...
This paper summarizes the findings from an exploratory definition of a usage strategy for multiple control centre wall displays in CANDU nuclear power plants. Wall displays are defined as large sized, vertically oriented display surfaces that may be positioned in various locations about a control room to support user information needs. The paper begins by discussing the need for a usage strategy for all control room information resources, and then reviews the history in wall display implementation and usage in nuclear power plant control rooms. The balance of the paper discusses the approach used in characterization and review of control room task information needs and definition of a wall display usage strategy. The paper concludes by outlining some of the possible impacts on future control room design and operations that the introduction of wall displays may ...
A nonlinear mathematical model is presented of a WWER-440 nuclear power plant horizontal steam generator. On the proposed model is based a computer program for investigating transients in steam generators during loss of coolant accidents. Processes taking place at the primary side of the steam generator are described by a set of partial differential equations while those at the secondary side of the steam generator are described by plain differential equations with the variables being complex time functions. The model takes account of the coolant as both a single- and two-phase medium, of changes in the direction of the primary coolant flow and of changes in the direction of heat transfer. Heat transfer through the wall is based on a simple model of heat transfer through a thin-walled tube and includes a correction for the heat resistance of the wall. (author).
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to help library technology staff understand the process of beta testing software, determine if it is appropriate for them to engage in the process, and provide suggestions on how to the time invested in the process. Design/methodology/approach - The paper explains what beta testing is, why it should be used and how to become a beta tester. Findings - The paper reveals that beta testing is not convenient for everyone, but those taking place in these activities should be thorough, positive and generous in order to maximize the return on investment in this kind of testing. Practical Implications - While beta testing new software features can take a significant amount of time, the resulting benefits of early access to new features and improved vendor-staf...
A solar energy desalination process utilizing solar radiation directly for the evaporation of salt water is described. Ambient air takes on water vapor as the air passes through an evaporative medium. It is then directed between a saline water-covered, solar absorbing surface and a solar collecting housing. The resulting heated and moisture-saturated air is cooled in a heat exchange means where condensation of fresh water occurs. Simultaneously, cool salt water is utilized as the cooling water in the heat exchange means, and takes on the heat of condensation given up by the condensing vapor. The heated salt water from the heat exchange means is partially directed over the solar absorbing surface, and at least a portion of it is also directed to wet the evaporative medium. Several optional sub-processes are described for operation of the system during periods of reduced insolation, and an alternative process is described for operation of the ...
Biosorption of elements is a little understood phenomenon exhibited by some types of even nonliving microbial biomass. A common fungus Rhizopus arrhizus has been reportd to take up uranium from adqueous solutions to the extent of 180 mg U/sup 6 +//g. The mechanism of uranium sequestering by this type of biomass was studied by using experimental techniques such as electron microscopy, x-ray energy dispersion analysis, IR spectroscopy, and supporting evidence was obtained for a biosorption mechanism consisting of at least three processes. Uranium coordination and adsorption in the cell-wall chitin structure occur simultaneously and rapidly whereas precipitation of uranylhdroxide within the chitin microcrystalline cell-wall structure takes place at a lower rate. Interference of Fe/sup 2/ and Zn/sup 2 +/ coions with uranium biosorption is indicated.
Two approaches are used to analyse X-ray or neutron scattering by crystals with different dislocation ensembles. Analogy between the above concepts is discussed. The microscopical approach takes into account the detailed displacement field due to different types of dislocation arrangement in the crystal. Frequently a phenomenological concept operating with the ideas of displacements, strains and stresses arising in the materials under deformation is applied. Unfortunately, the phenomenological concept cannot take into account that similar stress distributions may have significantly different microscopic reasons. The comparison of the results obtained by both phenomenological and microscopic descriptions of scattering enables us to understand the connection between different types of strains and stresses in the crystal with the type of the defects in it. (orig.)
The present investigation focuses on the study of design parameters for a generic fan-in-wing configuration. The objective is to evaluate the performance of a fan-in-wing concept in a Short-Take-Off and Landing situation. The results presented are also of interest for transition between hover and a wing-sustained flight for a Vertical Take Off and Landing concept. Steady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes computations using an actuator disk technique are performed. The results show a good agreement with experimental data and simulation results obtained in previous investigations for a generic wind tunnel model. A parametric study is conducted for a more realistic wing planform. For a single fan installed in the wing, the streamwise and spanwise influence on the wing aerodynamics is studied. I...
Just below the Arctic Circle, about 200 kilometres off the Helgeland coastal region of Norway, lies the Skarv oil and gas field. Discovered in 1998, the greater Skarv development project now includes the Idun gas field. The Skarv development has begun to take shape, now roughly half-way to commencement, so Scandinavian Oil-Gas Magazine decided it was time to take a look at the project's progress thus far and what's left to do before production that's slated to begin in late summer, 2011. The Skarv Project include subsea wells connected to a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to process oil and condensate and a gas export pipeline that ties back to the Aasgard Transport system. (AG)
The USAF Surgeon General approved pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pretreatment for flying personnel as of 21 March 1986. However, specific side effects resulting from taking PB during high sustained + G/sub z/ stress, altitude stress, and periods of potential spatial disorientation had not yet been fully investigated. The USAF school of Aerospace Medicine (UASFSAM), Crew Technology Division, was therefore tasked with this clinical research effort. For effective investigation of these potential problem areas, rapid and accurate methods have had to be established for determining the blood plasma PB levels and the resultant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. The basic purpose of this report is to describe in detail the analytical techniques used at USAFSAM to support the clinical research programs involving the physiological and performance aspects of USAF aircrews taking PB.
Climate variability greatly affects animals through direct and indirect effects. Animals with slow reproductive adaptation to ecological changes such as large mammals are likely to have evolved mechanisms to anticipate early such impacts of climate variability on the environment. One of the adaptive mechanisms between reproductive costs and benefits in mammals affects parental investment through biases in sex ratio. Deer might be likely to show an early detection of climate variability because conception takes place in early autumn, but the main raising cost in deer concerns lactation, which takes place at the end of the following spring. The aim of this paper is to assess whether there is a relationship between global indices of climate variability such as El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (EN...
Dimensioning of actinides waste packages for long duration storage has to take into account helium production from natural decay and release rates from the material. For the latter, we propose here an improved method for the determination of the helium diffusion coefficient in britholite, to be used for minor actinides storage. This work is based on results we previously published using the classical three steps method: "3He implantation on a Van de Graaff facility, "3He profile determination analysing the protons resulting from the "3He(d,p)"4He reaction in a nuclear microprobe, evolution of the helium profile during annealings. Taking explicitly into account the incident deuterons energy stragglings allows us to show that the implanted helium profiles are bimodal, each component leading to a different helium diffusion coefficient.
X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and particle size analysis were used to characterize the product of the thiosulfate process. It was found to consist of a mixture of a solid solution of calcium sulfate in calcium sulfite hemihydrate, calcium sulfate dihydrate, and calcium carbonate. Reactions taking place on heating the byproduct were identified in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. Pure calcium sulfite hemihydrate as well as solid solutions of CaSO[sub 4] in CaSO[sub 3] [center dot] (1/2)H[sub 2]O with different sulfate concentrations were synthesized in the laboratory. Thermal analyses of pure solid solutions proved that the higher the sulfate content, the higher is the dehydration temperature. Accordingly, taking SO[sub 4][sup 2[minus
In the safety assessment of a high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal system, it is required to estimate radiological impacts on future human beings arising from potential radionuclide releases from a deep repository into the surface environment. In order to estimated the impacts, a biosphere model is developed by reasonably assuming radionuclide migration processes in the surface environment and relevant human lifestyles. It is important to modify the present biosphere models or to develop alternative biosphere models applying the biosphere models according to quality and quantify of the information acquired through the siting process for constructing the repository. In this study, alternative biosphere models were developed taking geosphere-biosphere interface of marine environment into account. Moreover, the flux to dose conversion factors calculated by these alternative biosphere models was compared with those by the present basic biosphere models. (author)
A metamaterial that is composed of solid viscoelastic elements with controllable properties is proposed in this Letter. This enables an adaptable and general acoustic metamaterial to be practically realised. An array of masses with a single elastic connection to a supporting viscoelastic structure, such as one that is dynamically equivalent to an array of Helmholtz resonators, only provides a system with negative effective mass. A local active control scheme applied to each of these masses can emulate additional elastic connections to the supporting structure. An array of masses with a suitable local control scheme can provide both the negative effective stiffness and mass required for negative refraction. The tuneable feedback control parameters determine the characteristics of the region...
To utilize ethanol from agricultural residue as a fuel in diesel engines, a dual-fuel engine was developed. The engine, which was equipped with a system to electrically control diesel and alcohol flow rates, met basic requirements of a tractor engine, including engine speed control and setting of the torque curve. However, engine knock due to alcohol was a significant drawback. A diesel injection pump with a timing and flow rate control system was adapted, and the effect of injection timing on combustion and performance was investigated. It was observed that the timing control was effective in reducing engine knock caused by rapid alcohol combustion. (author)
This paper presents the eigenvalue control strategy which utilizes an adaptive power system stabilizer for the decentralized control of damping and frequency of electromechanical oscillations in power systems. The control procedure includes the complete identification of the decoupled subsystem model in real-time from local measurements only and the assignment of its estimated electromechanical eigenvalue by the change of stabilizer parameters. The robustness and efficiency of the proposed adaptive controller to enhance overall system stability are illustrated in several examples, including the three-machine power system model.
Since the PWR plants in Japan have been operated more than 30 years, main instrumentation control equipment of analog systems has been renewed to digital control systems. Renewal works had to be done in short period within periodical inspection term and for several facilities. The Mitsubishi LTD group had been provided with these market needs by its digital control system (MELTAC-NplusR 3) applicable to main instrumentation control equipment for primary and secondary systems and had already finished the renewal for practical plants. (T. Tanaka)
Purpose: In a case of automatically controlling the water level at the time of generating a lower power, to impact the followability of the control necessary for the power variation of the steam generator thereby to obtain good controllability. Constitution: A signal of deviation of water level of a steam generator and its set value and a signal of a difference between the temperature of the primary coolant in the high temperature side pipeline and that of the primary coolant in the low temperature side pipeline are used to automatically or manually control the flow quantity of water fed to the steam generator. (Yoshihara, H.).
This study presents a semi-active vibration control of a scaled two-span bridge structure. Magneto-rheological fluid dampers are utilized as the semi-active energy absorbing devices, and a bridge vibration control system is developed. Closed-loop control system based on fuzzy logic is used to suppress the bridge deck motion under random excitation. It is demonstrated that this fuzzy logic control system can significantly reduce the relative deck displacement using about 60% less power compared to passive on state, while the absolute deck acceleration remains practically unchanged.
Particle Swarm Optimization technique offers optimal or suboptimal solution to multidimensional rough objective functions. In this paper, this optimization technique is used for designing fractional order PID controllers that give better performance than their integer order counterparts. Controller synthesis is based on required peak overshoot and rise time specifications. The characteristic equation is minimized to obtain an optimum set of controller parameters. Results show that this design method can effectively tune the parameters of the fractional order controller.
This article describes a hierarchical and functional model for continuous process control aid. The expertise is represented by graphs from a simple functional restructuring of the Grafcet, which is the formalism used by the designers of the command-control program. The new structure is familiar to the operator, and it is settled in an expert system. The application built on the basis of this method detects some default types which are not detected by the control-command. It proposes a diagnosis to the operator, and can explain and justify the state of the process. (authors) 9 refs.
This dissertation deals with the control of active power flow, or load flow in electric power systems. During the last few years, interest in the possibilities to control the active power flows in transmission systems has increased significantly. There is a number of reasons for this, coming both from the application side - that is, from power system operations - and from the technological side. where advances in power electronics and related technologies have made new system components available. Load flow control is by nature a multi-input multi-output problem, since any change of load flow in one line will be complemented by changes in other lines. Strong cross-coupling between controllable components is to be expected, and the possibility of adverse interactions between these components cannot be rejected straightaway. Interactions with dynamic phenomena in the power system are also a source of ...
This paper describes the graphical simulation of a traffic environment. The environment includes streets leading to an intersection, the intersection, vehicle traffic, and signal lights in the intersection controlled by different methods. The simulation allows for the study of parameters affecting traffic environments and the study of different control strategies for traffic signal lights, including conventional, fuzzy, and adaptive control methods. Realistic traffic environments are simulated including a cross intersection, with one or more lanes of traffic in each direction, with and without turn lanes. Vehicle traffic patterns are a mixture of cars going straight and making right or left turns. The free velocities of vehicles follow a normal distribution with a mean of the ``posted`` speed limit. Actual velocities depend on such factors as the proximity and velocity of surrounding traffic, approaches to intersections, ...
A method is described of controlling an anodic protection system in a heat exchanger comprising: (a) installing at least one cathode within the heat exchanger, at least one cathode being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger and extending substantially along the length of the heat exchanger; (b) installing a first reference electrode within and at one end of the heat exchanger, the first reference electrode having a first controller having a set point for control and a power supply having an output creating an electrical potential between at least one cathode and the heat exchanger; (c) measuring the electrical potential of the heat exchanger with the first reference electrode; (d) operating the first controller in response to measurements made by the first reference electrode to change the output of the power supply; (e) installing a second reference electrode within and at the ...
The aim of this paper is to present and evaluate control strategies for adjustment and preservation of air quality, thermal and visual comfort for buildings' occupants while, simultaneously, energy consumption reduction is achieved. Fuzzy PID, fuzzy PD and adaptive fuzzy PD control methods are applied. The inputs to any controller are: the PMV index affecting thermal comfort, the CO{sub 2} concentration affecting indoor air quality and the illuminance level affecting visual comfort. The adaptive fuzzy PD controller adapts the inputs and outputs scaling factors and is based on a second order reference model. More specifically, the scaling factors are modified according to a sigmoid type function, in such a way that the measured variable to be as closer as possible to the reference model. The adaptive fuzzy PD controller is compared to a non-adaptive fuzzy PD and to an ON-OFF ...
The paper brings forth the information related to the youth organizations acting at the factory, their policies, provisions of youth incentives, intake of employees to the company, labor motivation. There is also the information on the events, which take place on site, on the arrangements of the young employees' leisure, as well as on the creative and productive potential of the factory. (author)
It is shown that it is necessary to take into account locality of the analysis and to introduce additional corrections for partial capture of matrix and fluorescent subexcitation by matrix during quantitative X-ray spectral microanalysis of finely dispersed materials. Cast two-phase (#alpha#+#beta#) titanium alloy VT3-1 is chosen as an investigation object.
Because of good thermal insulation of advanced energetic buildings and their good airtightness the air hygiene is insufficient. A normal ventilation behaviour by window opening consumes too much heating energy. A calculation method is shown taking into account a required air change number, flow rate and indoor air quality as thermal comfort in the rooms occupied by different number of persons. (GL)
As wastewater travels through a sewer system it undergoes changes in composition. The changes in composition may be caused by chemical, physical and/or biological processes. At present engineers do not take into consideration the impacts of these processes on the wastewater quality when designing wastewater treatment systems. However, the impact of these processes on the chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrogen and phosphorus content of the wastewater can be significant. In the case of the biological processes, microorganisms present in the water as it travels through the sewer system are similar to those found in an activated sludge process. Given that the microorganism population and the hydraulic retention time often resembles that of an activated sludge process, it would seem only reasonable to look further into the possibility of using sewers as wastewater treatment systems. Furthermore, the plug flow regime of a sanitary sewer is inherently ...
The UIC High Speed Department's flagship event is the World Congress on High Speed Rail held approximately every three years. This year's congress will take place in Amsterdam from 17 to 19 March 2008. (orig.)
Tunneling spectroscopy of normal-insulator-superconductor junction is investigated theoretically. In anisotropic superconductors, differently from the case of isotropic superconductor, the effective pair potentials felt by quasiparticles depend on the direction of their motion. By taking this effect into account, it is shown that the conductance spectra strongly depend on the crystal orientation. Using Green`s function method, local density of states (LDOS) in superconductor is also calculated. The close relation between conductance spectra and LDOS is presented. The calculation is compared with experimental spectra of high-{Tc} superconductors.
The work is devoted to a microscopic analysis of the reactive capacity of chitin. An algorithm for modeling the deacetylation reaction in a monomeric unit of chitin is described. The reaction coordinate and the potential energy surface topography are determined taking into account the electron-vibrational interaction and low-symmetry perturbations within Jahn-Teller theory. Based on this algorithm, the topological modeling of the deacetylation process is performed for the first time and a mechanism of the biological activity of chitosan is proposed.
A new type of multi-channel analyzer system is introduced, which takes advantage of Universal Serial Bus to communicate with computer and gets the merit of fast speed, universality and Plug and Play. The authors discussed the framework of the system, primary functions, display of spectrum date and the way of communication with hardware. The environment of the program is Visual Basic 6.0
We discuss the description of the proton structure function within the dipole factorization framework. We parameterize the forward dipole amplitude to account for saturation as predicted by the small-x QCD evolution equations. Contrarily to previous models, the saturation scale does not decrease when taking heavy quarks into account. We show that the same dipole amplitude also allows to reproduce diffractive data and exclusive vector meson production.
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The defect-induced effect on superconducting transition temperature T_c of A-15 compounds is examined. T_c is found from the Eliashberg equations which take into account the defect-induced changes in the electron-phonon spectral function and electron density of states. The dependence of T_c on the defect type in the superconductor is obtained.
Abstract in english This report deals with the identification of samples of nematodes recovered from Tropidurus nanuzae Rodrigues, 1981, with the description of a new species, and is a part of a major study on helminth parasites of reptiles in Brazil, taking into account previous data on this subject. The main approach is that referring to the first occurrence of subulurid nematodes in a reptilian host, since they have been assigned previously to birds and mammals.
Pacini (1973) has considered basic theoretical expectations regarding the magnetic dipole radiation and unipolar induction of pulsars, taking into account observational results. The present investigation is concerned with the difference between the two braking mechanisms. Attention is also given to a statistical study involving a comparison of the two braking mechanisms with observations. The study makes use of the observational data for the distribution of apparent beamwidth, and a geometrical method. The obtained results agree with the theory of magnetic dipole radiation.
Energy sector is relatively easy to evaluate economically. There have existed reliable statistics on energy systems and consumption and the planning has been based on them. However the environmental factors have been integrated into the Danish energy policy first in the nineties, and the new socio-economic evaluations have to take the pollution abatement measures into account. (EG)
... April 29, 2011, 8:25 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca Ottawa taps Itron for 210,000 smart water meters The City of Ottawa has chosen smart grid firm Itron ...to deploy smart water meters and related infrastructure in town. April 29, 2011, 7:18 AM PDT | By Andrew ...
...Simplification of the scheme - Department of Energy and Climate Change simplification, crc energy efficiency scheme Simplification of the scheme Simplification of the CRC Energy ...Efficiency Scheme The Government is considering the simplification of the CRC in the light of experience since the scheme began in April 2010. ...will take into account feedback from stakeholders including: the effectiveness of the CRC framework for driving energy efficiency in large private and public sector ... The perceived complexity of the CRC scheme and hence the administrative burden on: - those organisations that are subject to ...
We discuss optimal detection of fast radio transients from astrophysical objects while taking into account the effects of propagation through intervening ionized media, including dispersion, scattering and scintillation.Our analysis applies to the giant-pulse phenomenon exhibited by some pulsars, for which we show examples, and to radio pulses from other astrophysical sources, such as prompt radio emission from gamma-ray burst sources and modulated signals from extra-terrestrial civilizations.
Amidst the explosion of greenfield natural gas-fired combined-cycle plant development, opportunities still exist for valuable plant repowering and retrofits by taking advantages of unique technical and market conditions. One of the projects discussed is the rebuilding of the coal-fired Hawthorne unit 5 damaged by a boiler explosion. 3 tabs., 5 photos.
On the basis of legally provided area dose measurements and time records of fluoroscopic examinations during the operation, radiation doses to medical personnel and patients are evaluated. Adequate radiation protection measures and a careful behaviour in the operating room keep the radiation exposure to the personnel below the maximum permissible exposure. Taking into account the continuous personnel radiation monitoring and medical supervision, radiation hazards in the operating room can be considered low.
Pumping is one of the means for storing vast quantities of energy. This article analyses its principles and ways of implementation with emphasis on its double aspect, e.g., on the one hand, off-peak power is transferred to the periods of heaviest load and is thus valorized, even when taking into account losses due to poor efficiency of operations in the pumping and turbine modes, and on the other hand, plants have great flexibility in operation, faciliting the permanent fitting of generation to demand.
Transient enhanced diffusion in boron-implanted silicon is interpreted as being due to the fact that during rapid thermal annealing a relaxation process takes place, associated with quasi-chemical reactions including defects. A simple analytical model makes it possible to describe the annealing mechanism on a microscopic scale in terms of reaction-diffusion processes. The measured dependences of the boron diffusion coefficient of the enhanced diffusion on time, temperature and implantation energy are satisfactorily explained. (author).
Transient enhanced diffusion in boron-implanted silicon is interpreted as being due to the fact that during rapid thermal annealing a relaxation process takes place, associated with quasi-chemical reactions including defects. A simple analytical model makes it possible to describe the annealing mechanism on a microscopic scale in terms of reaction-diffusion processes. The measured dependences of the boron diffusion coefficient of the enhanced diffusion on time, temperature and implantation energy are satisfactorily explained. (author).
The paper discusses future oil combustion. A greenhouse-related environmental driving-force seems set to emerge in the capital markets in the years ahead. This will severely compound other already serious environment-related financial problems blighting the oil-industry`s access to capital radar screen. The wise oil company is now, increasingly clearly, the company thinking about how to begin repositioning itself for the twenty-first century as a total energy company. 6 refs.
The Monte Carlo simulation method is applied to calculate the nucleon transfer part of the imaginary optical-model potential in colliding heavy ions. In the process of transfer of nucleons from one nucleus to the other, forward and backward neutrons and protons are treated separately by taking into consideration the effect of the Coulomb forces and the potential energy surfaces (driving forces). The Pauli exclusion principle is also incorporated properly in the calculation.
The lepton flavor-violating coherent ( /sup -/, e/sup -/) conversion is investigated. Photonic and nonphotonic contributions arising in various gauge models are considered. The dependence of the conversion rate on the structure of the nucleus is given by the elastic form factors. These are obtained in the context of shell model taking into account finite-size effects or extracted from the electron scattering data whenever possible. The relevant branching ratios are studied throughout the periodic table.
During protein synthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) and release factors 1 and 2 (RF1 and RF2) have to bind at the catalytic center of the ribosome on the 50S subunit where they take part in peptide bond...Full Text Available
Correlation characteristics of quantum noise on the shadow radiation image (RI) of the object under nondestructive testing are studied. Mathematical model of RI occasional distortions is derived. The model takes into account the parameters of object under testing and of radiation beam by radiation quanta flux density. The results obtained can be used as a component in the process of investigation of various radiation testing systems
This paper describes a method for measuring oil consumption in compressors. The oil is labelled with Zn 65. The consumed radioactive oil is retained in an activated carbon filter and its activity is measured continuously with a plastic scintillator detector. Measuring the oil consumption at a given operating levels takes about 15 minutes. At an oil consumption rate of about 1 g/h the measurement errors are of the order of +- 5%. (orig.).
At the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility, ?- to ? sticking K? X-rays were observed for the first time taking advantage of the pulsed beam structure. The precision of the present measurements was insufficient to distinguish between theoretical models, however the observed K?/K? X-ray intensity ratio tends to be smaller than most of these theoretical predictions.
The management procedure of a large PRISE (Primary-to-Secondary) leakage accident at Loviisa nuclear power plant taking into account the plant modifications which are expected to be realized during 1995-96 is described. The management procedure has been validated by performing thermal hydraulic analyses with the computer code RELAP5/MOD3 and the results from these analyses are also shortly discussed. (4 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.).
The macroscopic behavior of magnetostrictive materials results from domain evolutions occurring at a microscopic scale. The author shows how to compute magnetization and magnetostriction curves by appraising the behavior of the underlying microstructures. The method hinges on an averaging device (Young measures), which allows one to pass from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale. He takes into account the kinematical constraints on the accommodation of elastic effects, and he highlights the role of material symmetry in the selection of energetically optimal microstructures.
In the 21st century, eighty years after William Baer presented his groundbreaking work treating bone and soft tissue infections with live maggots, thousands of therapists around the globe have rediscovered...Full Text Available
... Jared Deacon, former Olympian and Commonwealth Gold Medallist, who coaches out of PowerBase and Loughborough's High Performance Athletics Centre, and Pete McKnight of Leicestershire County Cricket Club who formerly worked out of PowerBase with EIS and continues to work for UKA at the University, will also take ...
These are some interesting sites that will help you to understand networking and how it can benefit you. These sites contain sound so you may want to wear headphones if you are in a classroom. Learn how the internet began and the basics of the www. Learn why a network is useful. Jans network contains the important concepts of networking, Work through section 7 to learn about different types of connections, transmissions, media, and configurations. Then take the quiz at the end to see how ...
The kinetics of the reaction of carbon dioxide in MDEA solutions were studied both experimentally and theoretically. It is concluded that MDEA acts as a homogeneous catalyst for CO/sub 2/ hydrolysis, and as a result the rate of absorption in aqueous MDEA solutions is significantly larger than one would calculate by simply taking into account the alkalinity of the reaction. A possible zwitterion mechanism is proposed for this reaction. The minor effect of ionic strength were also studied with the presence of other ions. 19 references, 6 figures.
Thermodynamic analysis of dissolution processes of tungsten minerals in citric acid solutions in the absence and in the presence of hydrochloric acid has been carried out by means of calculation of Gibbs energy of the chemical reactions. Kinetic characteristics, such as specific dissolution rates and activation energies, are determined. It is established that the dissolution reactions studied take place in kinetic region. A possibility of scheelite selective dissolution in the presence of other tungsten minerals is shown.
In studying the absorption of carbon dioxide by absorbents impregnated with alkanol amines, researchers used a laboratory-scale packed column to determine the overall gas-phase mass-transfer coefficients and enhancement factors. A model derived for the mechanism of the chemical reaction taking place in the interfacial layer accounts for the effect of the reaction upon the absorption rate better than other models.
The feasibility of using a thermoplastic-powder metallurgy technique for the fabrication of porous niobium rods was investigated. Some early problems were overcome to successfully extrude the polymer coated niobium powder into long lengths. The effects of certain process variables were investigated. Residual porosity and extrusion pressure were found to be regulated by the polymer fraction. The procedures for taking the extruded polystyrene--niobium rods through the heat treatments to the final, tin infiltrated stage are explained.
Experimental data in the Kondo lattice YbPd_2Si_2 is compared with the results of a hybridization model, based ont he 'large degeneracy expansion' approximation, which takes into account the crystal field level splittings of the Yb ion. We show that satisfactory agreement is obtained with a unique set of crystal field and hybridization parameters. (orig.).
Experimental data in the Kondo lattice YbPd{sub 2}Si{sub 2} is compared with the results of a hybridization model, based ont he 'large degeneracy expansion' approximation, which takes into account the crystal field level splittings of the Yb ion. We show that satisfactory agreement is obtained with a unique set of crystal field and hybridization parameters. (orig.).
In this paper the feasibility of phase locking a FIR laser by injection of a highly stable synthesized signal is examined. The theory of injection locking is revised in order to take into account the characteristic features of FIR lasers and turns out to be in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data reported. From the results obtained, it is inferred that the state of the art of submillimetric multipliers makes it possible to stabilize FIR laser emissions up to about 1 THz.
Since the oil prices decreased during June 2008, many uncertainties drive the energy markets. The author aims to analyze the future battles around the the dying resources, taking into account that the alternatives sources will need time to develop. The author analyzes also the relation energy and climate in the preservation of the fundamental equilibrium. (A.L.B.)
If the soft supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking masses and couplings are complex and cancellations do take place in the SUSY induced contributions to the fermionic electric dipole moments, then the CP- violating soft phases can drastically modify much of the known phenomenological pattern of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. In particular, the squark loop content of the dominant Higgs production mechanism at the large hadron collider, the gluon-gluon fusion mode, could be responsible for large corrections to the known cross sections. (15 refs).
The dynamic behavior of electrooptic bistable devices with delayed feedback is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The operation principle of the system is analyzed by the method of iterated maps. Stable, bistable, periodic, higher periodic, and chaotic solutions are discussed and realized experimentally by using an integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer on LiNbO3 as a basic nonlinear element. Taking into account the periodic modulator characteristic, the application of this device as a simple and fast bistable and monostable multivibrator is demonstrated. In addition, the synchronization properties of the astable multivibrator are investigated.
A brief overview is given of the developments in the Dutch offshore industry where new offshore sites appear to be retrofitted or recycled platforms and contractors take over the work from petroleum companies (e.g. as so-called Floating Production Storage Offloading or FPSO). It is expected that in ten years from now a large number of oil platforms will be disappeared or transported to the Chinese Bohai Sea where a new oil field will be explored.
The present code requirements on quality assurance as well as the present praxice of quality assurance procedures in the operation of nuclear power plants are presented. On the example of recurring inspections the organizational and technical complications are shown with respect to the code and licensing requirements. Taking the present experiences into account suggestions are given how to transform the general requirements of KTA 1401 to quality assurance requirements during plant operation. (orig.).
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)
This thesis investigates the application of artificial neural networks for the compression of image data. An algorithm is developed using the competitive learning paradigm which takes advantage of the parallel processing and classification capability of neural networks to produce an efficient implementation of vector quantization. Multi-Stage, tree searched, and classification vector quantization codebook design are adapted to the neural network design to reduce the computational cost and hardware requirements. The results show that the new algorithm provides a substantial reduction in computational costs and an improvement in performance.
Today you will learn about the parts of DNA and what DNA, genes and chromosomes are. Today you will learn what DNA, genes and chromosomes are and the parts of the DNA molecule. Look at all of the websites, take whatever notes you need to. At the end of the assignment, be able to describle DNA, the parts of DNA, genes and chromosomes. Covers Biology Core Curriculum, ...
In spite of extensive cooling water studies premature damage due to corrosion occurred on the CuZn20Al condenser tubes. It was then decided to incorporate new titanium-tubed condensers during the annual overhauls of 1983 and 1985 and also take ameliorating measures up to the exchange of individual condensers. (orig.).
We consider the numerical discretization of the time-domain Maxwell's equations with an energy-conserving discontinuous Galerkin finite element formulation. This particular formulation allows for higher order approximations of the electric and magnetic field. Special emphasis is placed on an efficient implementation which is achieved by taking advantage of recurrence properties and the tensor-product structure of the chosen shape functions. These recurrences have been derived symbolically with computer algebra methods reminiscent of the holonomic systems approach.
A reciprocal relationship informing both research and practice is one of the primary goals in the emerging field of Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE), yet the field has little documentation and analysis of such collaborations. In this article, we present case studies of three research-practice partnerships taking place between scientists and educators. By comparing and contrasting these three partnerships we expect to illuminate common characteristics, challenges, and benefits that come with doing MBE work.
This book shows the severe environmental price we pay for offshore oil drilling, and shows how citizens can take action to protect the nation's shores. This is a handbook for anyone with a stake in the health of the environment. It includes alternatives for decreasing our reliance on offshore drilling, and guidelines for citizens who want to make their opposition heard.
Processing concept that increases supply of jet fuel has been developed as part of study on methods for converting coal to hydrogen, methane, and jet fuel. Concept takes advantage of high aromatic content of coal-derived liquids to make high-octane gasoline, instead of destroying aromatics to make jet fuel.
Taking both white noise and colored environmental noise into account, a general stochastic logistic model under regime switching is proposed and studied. Sufficient conditions for extinction, nonpersistence in the mean, weak persistence, stochastic permanence and global attractivity are established. The critical number between weak persistence and extinction is obtained. Moreover, some simulation figures are introduced to illustrate the main results.
Results are reported which were obtained when investigating the anodic behavior of titanium in sodium iodide solutions. It was concluded that in order to explain the special features in the anodic behavior and anionic anodic activity of titanium one must take into account, both a redistribution of the potential drop between the oxide and the Helmholtz layer and a potential-dependent variation of the catalytic and adsorption properties of the oxidized titanium anode.
To many, recent developments in electric markets are perplexing. Competition has appeared, often in the form of new players who do not own and operate generation or transmission facilities. Yet, these players happily enter into contracts obliging them to make or take delivery of power at set prices for months or even years into the future. They seem unconcerned about predicted capacity shortages, fuel price uncertainty or unpredictable plant outages. For the most part, these new players understand these risks quite well. They simply believe in the efficacy of markets. Until recently, price ensured recovery of cost. They foresee a true market where price makes supply equal demand and cost is not a factor in the short term at least. The appearance of such players is an augury of the new industry structure, one in which specialists in taking and managing distinct business risks evolve from within or enter from outside. They ...
The presentation gives a brief insight on possibility of using the VEERA facility in studying the stratification phenomenon. The idea for such experiments is to use the facility upper plenum part to simulate the conditions in upper part of horizontal steam generator hot collector. The upper part of steam generator hot collector is one of the locations where the stratification can take part during natural circulation mode. 4 refs.
We discuss the determination of the infrared singularities of massive one-loop 5-point functions with Mellin-Barnes (MB) representations. Massless internal lines may lead to poles in the {epsilon} expansion of the Feynman diagram, while unresolved massless final state particles give endpoint singularities of the phase space integrals. MB integrals are an elegant tool for their common treatment. An evaluation by taking residues leads to inverse binomial sums. (orig.)
The author reports briefly a noble gas leakage searching process in which a person was contaminated in Daya Bay NPP, the radionuclide causing contamination was ascertained as the daughter product of "8"8Kr, the "8"8Rb; By taking air contamination sampling and measuring the "8"8Rb concentration in the room, the leakage source was predetermined and the leakage rate of primary coolant was estimated
This program is designed in order to calculate electricity generation cost by different energy sources, and menu type is adopted for user convenience. This program also graphically shows the share of capital investment cost, O and M cost, and fuel cost. Sensitivity analysis about discount rate can also be carried out by this program, taking into consideration the important role of the discount rate in the generation costs calculation. (Author) 7 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
This paper presents a semi-active vibration control of a scaled two-span bridge structure. Magneto-rheological fluid dampers are utilized as the semi-active energy absorbing deices and a bridge vibration control system is developed. Closed-loop control system based on fuzzy logic is used to suppress the bridge deck motion under random excitations. The sufficient condition for the closed-loop stability of the fuzzy control system is derived from the variable structure system theory. It is demonstrated that this stable fuzzy control system can significantly reduce the relative deck displacement using about 55 percent less power compared to passive-on state, while the absolute deck acceleration is relatively unaffected.
The performance requirements of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) challenge the control system in a number of areas. This paper will review a few applications of advanced technology in the control and monitoring of the APS. The application of digital signal processors (DSPs) and techniques will be discussed, both from the perspective of a large distributed multiprocessor system and from that of embedded systems. In particular, two embedded applications will be highlighted, a beam position monitor processor and a DSP-based power supply controller. Fast data distribution is often a requirement. The application of a high-speed network based on reflective memory will also be discussed in the context of the APS global orbit feedback system. Timing systems provide opportunities to apply technologies such as high-speed logic and fiber optics. Examples of the use of these technologies will also be included. Finally, every modern ...
This paper presents a new and simple method for sensorless control of matrix converter drives using a power flowing to the motor. The proposed control algorithm is based on controlling the instantaneous real and imaginary powers into the induction motor. To improve low-speed sensorless performance, the nonlinearities of a matrix converter drive such as commutation delays, turn-ON and turn-OFF times of switching devices, and on-state switching device voltage drop are modeled using a PQ power transformation and compensated using a reference power control scheme. The proposed sensorless control method is applied for the induction motor drive using a 3 kW matrix converter system. Experimental results are shown to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed strategy. Udgivelsesdato: September
Because the state of a free-floating space robot model is uncertain and sudden changes in the model parameters might undermine the stability of the system, this paper proposes a control strategy based on a variable structure neural integrated controller. This scheme does not need a precise space robot model, making use of the radial basis function neural network ability approach to learn about an uncertain model. The network weights are adjusted online in real-time. During the early period of the control phase and parameter changes, the variable structure controller compensates for the uncertain model which the neural network could not learn well. It also creates global asymptotic stability for the whole closed-loop system. Simulation results show that the controller can handle bad changea...
A new chemical reactor, the Open Plate Reactor, is being developed by Alfa Laval AB. It combines good mixing with high heat transfer capacity into one operation. With the new concept, highly exothermic reactions can be produced using more concentrated reactants. A nonlinear model of the reactor is derived and a control system is developed. For temperature control a cooling system is designed and experimentally verified, which uses a mid-ranging control structure to increase the operating range of the hydraulic equipment. A Model Predictive Controller is proposed to maximize the conversion under hard input and state constraints. An extended Kalman filter is designed to estimate unmeasured concentrations and parameters. Simulations show that the designed control system gives high conversion ...
Local control of Ewing's sarcoma was analysed in a series of 67 patients treated by surgery and/or radiotherapy as well as combination chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was employed with or without surgery in 60 patients and produced an overall local control rate of 55%; complete excision of the primary lesion seemed to be beneficial. There was a marked variation in control rates depending on the site of the primary lesion: limb 85%, rib 53%, pelvis 31% and other sites 33%.Primary tumours greater than 10 cm in diameter were significantly less likely to be controlled. Using daily fractions of approximately 180 cGy, total doses in excess of 6000 cGy seem more likely to produce serious late morbidity amd may not increase the local control rate. No cases of second malignancy arising in irradiated tissue have been observed to date, but one patient developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. ...
The control valve for a large steam turbine must be operated linearly to be run by an automatic control system in a power plant. It is, however, found that the flow increase is much greater for a given valve position change near the closed end of travel than it is near the open end. Accordingly, the desired linearization will be achieved if the valve is opened less near the closed end of travel and greater near the open end. The previous way for linearization was to utilize the cams, which is called the mechanical hydraulic control (MHC). The MHC was afterward improved by producing the nonlinear electric compensation to the nonlinear system of control valves, viz. the electro hydraulic control (EHC). This paper addresses the principle of linearization.
The control valve for a large steam turbine must be operated linearly to be run by an automatic control system in a power plant. It is, however, found that the flow increase is much greater for a given valve position change near the closed end of travel than it is near the open end. Accordingly, the desired linearization will be achieved if the valve is opened less near the closed end of travel and greater near the open end. The previous way for linearization was to utilize the cams, which is called the mechanical hydraulic control (MHC). The MHC was afterward improved by producing the nonlinear electric compensation to the nonlinear system of control valves, viz. the electro hydraulic control (EHC). This paper addresses the principle of linearization.
In this paper, a robust water level control system for the horizontal steam generator (SG) using the quantitative feedback theory (QFT) method is presented. To design a robust QFT controller for the nonlinear uncertain SG, control oriented linear models are identified. Then, the nonlinear system is modeled as an uncertain linear time invariant (LTI) system. The robust designed controller is applied to the nonlinear plant model. This nonlinear model is based on a locally linear neuro-fuzzy (LLNF) model. This model is trained using the locally linear model tree (LOLIMOT) algorithm. Finally, simulation results are employed to show the effectiveness of the designed QFT level controller. It is shown that it will ensure the entire designer's water level closed loop specifications.
It is very important to develop the design guidelines which can be applicable for Korean operators for the purpose of designing the KSNP more safely. The objective of this project is to provide the standards, guidelines and bases applicable for HF-010 through the within-subject experiment for obtaining Korean operators' population stereotype for direction-of-movement of controls associated with displays on the control panels. Through the survey of researches on display compatibility and the classification of types of displays and controls in the main control room of Uljin units 3 and 4, methods for an experiment on the stereotype were established. Experimental interface prototypes for a total of 108 combinations of display and control types were implemented. Experimental data collection and analysis system was built in association with the interface prototypes. The ...
This project is about the simulation design of an engine control unit (ECU) for an Otto cycle engine with electronic fuel injection (EFI). The simulation includes a model for the ECU as well as physical parameters of the engine, which allows closed-loop control and monitoring of various systems.This simulation has been realized using Simulink and Stateflow, which are components of Mathworks' MATLAB software.The program allows control of various parameters of the ECU, as well as the simulation of failures to verify that the designed ECU is fault-tolerant and can control the engine using an open loop control. The main function the ECU provides is fuel metering.Subsequently, this program could be used as a tool to quickly develop and test models of ECU in order to control an engine in laborat...
FELs require tight control of the amplitudes and phase of the fields in two linear accelerator tanks to obtain stable lasing. The accelerator control loops must establish constant, stable, repeatable amplitudes and phases of the rf fields and must have excellent bandwidth to control high-frequency noise components. A model of the feedback loops has been developed that agrees well with measurements and allows easy substitution of components and circuits, thus reducing breadboarding requirements. The model permits both frequency and time-domain analysis. The accelerator control scheme and model are described and the control of noise in feedback loops is discussed, showing how low-frequency-noise components (errors) can be corrected, but high-frequency-noise components (errors) are actually amplified by the feedback circuit. Measurements of noise in both open- and closed-loop modes is ...
Purpose: To flatten temperature distribution of coolant within a core. Constitution: The control device of the present invention is to vary reactivity of a fast breeder to control a reactor power. In general, the control device of this kind comprises a guide pipe arranged within the core and a control rod movable up and down within the guide pipe, and a coolant flows from bottom toward top within the guide pipe. Since a cooling flow rate has a margin, temperature of coolant outlet is extremely low as compared to a fuel assembly, and therefore temperature gradient in the vicinity of the top of the control rod becomes sharp to possibly impart thermal shock to the structural material. In the present invention, the flow passage of coolant is varied to thereby avoid outflow thereof into the core, thus flattening the temperature distribution of the coolant within the core. (Kamimura, M.).
Kawasaki Steel has constructed many facilities for 15 years to produce cold rolled products and galvanized products in Mizushima Works and Chiba Works. To efficiently and stably produce high and uniform quality products, various new control methods have been developed and applied to these new facilities. Especially, temperature control in a continuous annealing line, zinc coating control in a continuous galvanizing line or paint coating control in a multi-purpose coating line and tension control to achieve stable processing are the most advanced technologies and are introduced in this paper. (author)
A very simple theoretical scheme is proposed to implement two- and three-qubit controlled-phase gates firstly only using a single resonant interaction between ladder-type three-level atoms and the single-mode cavity. In the presented protocol, the quantum information is encoded on the stable ground states of the atoms (as the controlling qubits) and the zero- and one-photon Fock states of cavity-field (as the target qubit). Under the influence of the atomic spontaneous emission, the decay of the cavity-mode, and deviation of the coupling strength, the three-qubit controlled-phase gate may have a comparatively high fidelity. The experimental feasibility of controlled-phase gate and the case that is extended to realize N-qubit controlled-phase gate are also discussed. (general)
A gas-diesel dual fuel engine apparatus is described having a diesel engine, a diesel fuel supply system including a diesel fuel injection pump, a gaseous fuel supply system including a gaseous fuel regulating valve, and a governing and controlling device for governing the speed of the engine through the control of fuel supplied to the engine and controlling the switchover of the operation of the engine between a diesel fuel mode and a gaseous fuel mode. The improvement of the governing and controlling device consists of: (a) at least one electronic governor means adapted to compare a speed signal representing the actual operating speed of the diesel engine with a set speed signal representing the set speed thereof; (b) a pair of electric actuator means having respective power amplifier circuits and mechanically connected to the diesel fuel injection pump and the gaseous fuel regulating valve, ...
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This document - IAEA Safeguards: Implementation Blueprint of Commercial Satellite Imagery - constitutes the second report from SSC Satellitbild giving a structured view and solid guidelines on how to proceed with a conceivable implementation of satellite imagery to support Safeguards activities of the Agency. This Phase 2 report presents a large number of concrete recommendations regarding suggested management issues, work organisation, imagery purchasing and team building. The study has also resulted in several lists of actions and preliminary project plans with GANT schedules concerning training, hardware and software, as well as for the initial pilot studies. In both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies it is confirmed that the proposed concept of a relatively small Imagery Unit using high-resolution data will be a sound and feasible undertaking. Such a unit capable of performing advanced image processing as a tool for various safeguard tasks will give the Agency an effective instrument ...
Reporting of the first nuclear trafficking incidents began in the early 1990's. The incidents were handled on a national level, using the resources and expertise available in the respective states. However, it soon became evident that fighting this illicit movement of nuclear material across borders would require international cooperation and a systematic and methodological approach. To this end, the G-8 states encouraged the creation of a dedicated group of experts. The Nuclear Smuggling International Technical Working Group (ITWG) was created in the mid 1990's under the auspices of the G-8, following the 1995 Ottawa summit and the 1996 nuclear security summit held in Moscow. The group reports regularly to the Nuclear Safety and Security Group (NSSG) of the G-8. The ITWG has been working towards a sustainable mechanism to help resolve the international problem surrounding combating the illicit trafficking of nuclear material. In consequence, the technical focus has been on ...
This report describes a quality assurance program plan for the Yucca Mountain Project. Aspects of the plan include: document control, equipment maintenance and calibration, process control, audits, computer software, and inspections. (CBS)
BackgroundInterim analysis of accumulating trial data is important to protect participant safety during randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data Monitoring Committees (DMCs) often...Full Text Available
BackgroundThere have been reports both supporting and refuting an inverse relationship between hip fracture and hip osteoarthritis (OA). We explore this relationship using a case-control...Full Text Available
Terminal-differential algorithm for identification of local nonhomogeneities in items under control is developed on the basis of measurements of X-ray or gamma-radiation weakening. The algorithm may be applied by developing radiation schemes of nondestructive control, identifying inadmissible inclusions in the object under study
Progress is reported in the following areas: radioactivity control technology, FFTF sodium characterization system, corrosion and process control, and fuel failure monitoring systems for FFTF and CRBRP. (JWR)
Destress blasting is commonly used as a stress control technique at the Galena Mine, Wallace, Idaho, where the U.S. Bureau of Mines maintains a cooperative research program with the mine operators (ASARCO). A digital seismic array and an array of borehole...
A schematic diagram of the decision making process for air pollution control equipment for the conversion of a fossil-fired generating unit from oil to coal is presented and explained.
This report presents by state the status of awarded grants, requested grants, and the estimated time required to achieve required control of combined sewer overflow pollution. It also compares discharges of pollutants from treated municipal effluent with ...
That regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a crucial role in controlling allergic diseases such as asthma is now undisputed. The cytokines most commonly implicated in Treg-mediated suppression of...Full Text Available
Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinases control cell growth through two functionally distinct multiprotein complexes. TOR complex 1 (TORC1) controls temporal cell growth and is sensitive to rapamycin, whereas...Full Text Available
Globally, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a significant source of morbidity and disproportionately impact the health of women and children. The number of randomized controlled trials...Full Text Available
The status of the concept of controlling the quality of physicians is reviewed as are studies that have been done on methods to measure and improve quality. The conclusions are dismal given the rhetoric...Full Text Available
BackgroundWe investigated the influence of parenteral glucose infusion on insulin-driven tight glucose control (4.4–6.1 mmol/liter) in the critically ill by appraising kinetic...Full Text Available
A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of a homeopathic treatment of neonatal calf diarrhoea was performed using 44 calves in 12 dairy herds. Calves with spontaneously derived diarrhoea were...Full Text Available
End binding proteins (EBs) are highly conserved core components of microtubule plus-end tracking protein networks. Here we investigated the roles of the three mammalian EBs in controlling microtubule...Full Text Available
This manual provides information to assist in selection and designing control measures for reducing pollutant discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs). he manual will be useful for municipal public works staff, design engineers, and regulatory agency staff tasked with the ...
This is a description of the preliminary local design specifications of the Central Computing Network Security Controller. The external interface to the Central Computing Network is not described, but the functions and services to be provided are included as justification for the local design.
Synaptic gain control and information storage in neural networks are mediated by alterations in synaptic transmission, such as in long-term potentiation (LTP). Here, we show using both in...Full Text Available
Progress is briefly summarized for a large number of projects in the areas of research instruments, measurement and controls engineering, reactor systems, and maintenance management. (LEW)
BackgroundThe prevalence of tobacco use among individuals with mental illness remains a serious public health concern. Tobacco control has received little attention in community...Full Text Available
In this paper the authors present some final results from a research project focused on introducing automatic control to the operation of cupola iron furnaces. The main aim of this research is to improve the operational efficiency and performance of the cupola furnace, an important foundry process used to melt iron. Previous papers have described the development of appropriate control system architectures for the cupola. In this paper experimental data is used to calibrate the model, which is taken as a first-order multivariable system with time delay. Then relative gain analysis is used to select loop pairings to be used in a multiloop controller. The resulting controller pairs melt rate with blast volume, iron temperature with oxygen addition, and carbon composition with metal-to-coke ratio. Special (nonlinear) filters are used to compute melt rate from actual scale readings of the amount of iron ...
BackgroundCompared to healthy controls, cancer patients have a higher risk of unemployment, which has negative social and economic impacts on the patients and on society at large....Full Text Available
Bistability plays a central role in the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) controlling many essential biological functions, including cellular differentiation and cell cycle control. However, establishing...Full Text Available
The modification of a Ford 7600 turbocharged diesel engine to a dual fuel engine using methane as the supplementary fuel has been carried out. The paper describes the preliminary work of dual fuel control. Two systems are examined and their behaviour is presented.
Various physico-chemical tissue optical clearing (TOC) methods have been suggested to maximize photon density in tissue. In order to enhance photon density, a compression-controlled low-level...Full Text Available
The report gives background design data for a specific copper smelter. The data is sufficiently detailed to allow air pollution control system engineering studies to be conducted. These studies will be concerned primarily with lean SO2 streams that curren...
This design manual contains descriptions of design procedures and operating experience to date, including results obtained, for secondary flow pollution control devices. Two types of combined sewer overflow regulators are described: the swirl and the helical bend regulator/separa...
Operant conditioning techniques were applied to the study of how target fixations are controlled by the probability of signal occurrence. In a standard vigilance setting, gaze at three illuminable...Full Text Available
A case-control study has been carried out to examine the occurrence of childhood cancer in relation to the proximity of overhead power lines to a child's home address at birth and to the calculated...Full Text Available
SummarySpatial control of gene expression, at the level of both transcription and translation, is critical for cellular differentiation [1-Full Text Available
BackgroundThere is no consensus as to the prognostic model for brachytherapy of tongue carcinoma. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic factors for local control based...Full Text Available
The 17-metre DOE/Sandia VAWT began operation in March 1977. Since that time the turbine has been operated strictly by manual control for the purpose of data acquisition and performance analysis; this procedure has limited the VAWT operation time and power...
A self-optimizing pole-shifting control algorithm has been developed for an adaptive power system stabilizer (APSS) to improve its dynamic performance and autonomous operation. The proposed algorithm deals with the system frequency and time domain characteristics simultaneously to guarantee stability and to enhance the performance of the closed-loop system. The mechanism of discrete control system control limits influencing the closed loop system behaviour is studied. Short-term behaviour is studied by introducing the concept of a short-term behaviour index. With the introduction of dynamic control limits, an effective discrete control system design method is proposed. A PSS oriented power system dynamics simulation package (PSDSP) has been developed. Using the PSDSP, simulation studies were performed with the proposed APSS applied to a single machine and a multi machine power ...
BackgroundThe ACTION study (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Controlled Trial Investigation Of a Non-stimulant) is a multi-center, double-blind, randomized...Full Text Available
AIM: To examine the determinants of maternal-neonatal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV).METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted in Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic...Full Text Available
Adaptive Neural Augmentation , AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and. Control Conference, Aug. 1998. [2] J. T. Kaneshige, J. Bull, and J. J. Totah, Generic Neural ...