CERN Document Server

Ultra-high resolution radiographs can be obtained using synchrotron X-rays. A collaboration team consisting of K-JIST, POSTECH and YUMC has recently commissioned a new beamline (5C1) at Pohang Light Source (PLS) in Korea for medical applications using phase contrast radiology. Relatively simple image acquisition systems were set up on 5C1 beamline, and imaging studies were performed for resolution test patterns, mammographic phantom, and animals. Resolution test patterns and mammographic phantom images showed much better image resolution and quality with the 5C1 imaging system than the mammography system. Both fish and mouse images with 5C1 imaging system also showed much better image resolution with great details of organs and anatomy compared to those obtained with a conventional mammography system. A simple and inexpensive ultra-high resolution imaging system on 5C1 beamline was successfully implemented. The authors were ...

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:16966350

Science.gov (United States)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A 2-stage cold (non-tritium) PMR system was tested with the ITER mix in 61 days of continuous operation. No decrease in performance was observed over the duration of the test. Decontamination factor (DF) was found to increase with decreasing inlet rate. Decontamination factors in excess of 1.4x10"5 were obtained, but the exact value of the highest DF could not be determined because of analysis limitations. Results of the 61-day test were used to design a 2-stage PMR system for use in tritium testing. The PMR system was scaled up by a factor of 6 and built into a glovebox in the Tritium Systems Test Assembly (TSTA) of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. This system is approximately 1/5"t"h of the expected full ITER scale. The ITER mix was injected into the PMR system for 31 hours, during which 4.5 g of tritium were processed. The 1"s"t stage had DF =200 and the 2"n"d stage had DF=2.9x10"6. The overall DF=5.8x10"8, which is ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the psychosocial effects on the quality of life (QOL) of adults with head and neck cancer (HNC) and any gender variations with predictive factors that may influence...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundParents of chronically ill children are at risk for a lower Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Insight in the dynamics of factors influencing parental HRQoL is necessary...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Scattered radiation generated in patient and imaging system has to be considered when quality-assurance tests involve dose detection or image-quality estimations. Measurement of automatic-exposure control dose can be altered by backscattering from intensifying screens of more than 10% and the equipment transmission factor can be overestimated up to a factor of 10 when only primary radiation is used. The sensitivity of intensifying screens depends on the angle of incidence of the radiation and so primary and scattered radiation are detected differently. The quality-control aspects of anti-scatter grids are discussed. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text. Here we present a status report of the Schenberg antenna, which started commissioning runs in September 2006 under the full support of FAPESP. In its first commissioning runs we tested three preliminary parametric transducer systems, which did not achieve a high enough performance for placing the antenna sensitivity in the range of the calibrator capacitor. Instead of improving the calibrator, making it capable of introducing a larger input force, we decided to go to a radical upgrading operation: replacing the three transducers for a complete set of six transducers, with better sensitivity and arranged according to the truncated icosahedron configuration, plus two extra ones; starting to install the dilution refrigerator; installing wires, cables, and amplifiers for the complete set of transducer circuits; and a new suspension and vibration isolation system for the cabling and microstrip antennas. We also have been developing a new set of transducers, microwave oscillators, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this article, the authors recall the factors apt to influence image quality in NMR Imaging and present the european works that have been developed in MRIQA to set 5 quality assurance tests: EUROSPIN 1 to 5.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The current--density profile of a focused ion beam (FIB) has a central peak accompanied by broader ``wings`` that, while unimportant in lithographic applications, can lead to unwanted effects during an implantation operation. The origin of the wings, and hence the best way to minimize them, is not clear and needs further study. We have measured the line profiles of several of the ions available in our FIB machine as a function of a number of variables, under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. No effects are observed from changes in emission current or deliberate defocusing of the objective lens. There are some changes with beam aperture and/or current, but the biggest differences seem to be associated with a change of source type and hence, possibly, with a change in the source/extractor configuration or in the alloy and the emission process. The wing amplitudes are appreciably lower than many previously observed, and their profiles, at least for the lighter ions ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We describe a liquid hydrogen droplet as an optical cavity via whispering gallery modes. We show that the droplet leads to an ultrahigh-cavity-Q value of 2.5x10{sup 9} in visible region. We show also that the high-Q droplet results in a huge Raman nonlinearity, generating a stimulated Raman comb series covering whole visible region.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Stress has been reported to be a causative factor for male infertility. Withania somnifera has been documented in Ayurveda and Unani medicine system for its stress-combating properties....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

AbstractBackgroundGender concordance between patients and their physicians is related to prevention screening and other quality indicators. Research suggests female...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used in combination cocktails for treatment of childhood hematological cancers and solid tumors. A major factor limiting DOX usage is DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. However,...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The quality of the end product from andrology services continues to lack consistency and in some cases fails to meet the needs of the end users (patients or clinicians). Results of external quality assessment (EQA) schemes continue to show unacceptably wide variation for the results of a single specimen. Some laboratories are able to show that the results of semen analyses relate to both natural and assisted pregnancy and are therefore useful in the management of the infertile couple, whereas others claim that their value is limited to the identification of severe male factor infertility. With wide variation in standardisation of methodology, levels of staff training and quality assurance, it is entirely understandable that such discrepancies persist. The following article proposes that Qu...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Recent studies have shown Y chromosome microdeletions associated with male infertility. The factors responsible for Y chromosome microdeletions in spermatozoa remain unresolved. However, the environmental pollutants are known to damage DNA in differentiating and maturing germ cells in the male reproductive tract. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seminal hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and its isomers, an environmental pollutant, in 50 fertile and 50 infertile males in relation to semen quality and the incidence of Y chromosome microdeletion in azoospermic factor (AZF) region. As compared to control, an increased HCH level and significantly decreased semen quality were observed in the infertile males. A positive significant association was found between sperm c...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A few studies have found poor semen quality in sons whose mothers have received fertility treatment, but it is unknown whether the poor semen quality is related to the infertility treatment or to infertility per se, for example, whether it is caused by hereditable factors. Using data from a population-based, Danish follow-up study conducted in 2005-2006, the authors of the present study examined whether sons of subfertile couples who had not received fertility treatment had poorer semen quality than sons of fertile couples. Among the 311 participants, an inverse association between parental waiting time to pregnancy and both semen volume and total sperm count was observed (p trend = 0.04 and p trend = 0.046, respectively). Semen volume in sons of subfertile parents (pregnant after ?1 ye...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Artificial neural network analysis is found to be far superior to multiple regression when applied to the evaluation of trap quality in the Northern Kuqa Depression, a gas-rich depression of Tarim Basin in western China. This is because this technique can correlate the complex and non-linear relationship between trap quality and related geological factors, whereas multiple regression can only describe a linear relationship. However, multiple regression can work as an auxiliary tool, as it is suited to high-speed calculations and can indicate the degree of dependence between the trap quality and its related geological factors which artificial neural network analysis cannot. For illustration, we have investigated 30 traps in the Northern Kuqa Depression. For each of the traps, the values of 14 selected geological factors were all known. While geologists were also ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The presence of highly heat-resistant spores of Bacillus sporothermodurans in ultrahigh-temperature or sterilized consumer milk has emerged as an important item in the dairy industry....Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nonevaporable getters (NEGs) have been extensively studied in the last several years for their sorption properties toward many gases. In particular, an innovative alloy as a thin film by magnetron sputtering was developed and characterized at the European Organization for Nuclear Research. It is composed of Ti-Zr-V and protected by an overlayer of palladium (Pd), according to a technology for which the authors got the licence. NEG-Pd thin films used in combination with ion getter pumps is a simple, easy way to handle pumping devices for ultrahigh and extremely high vacuum applications. To show how to apply this coating technology to the internal surface of different types of ion pumps, the authors carried out several tests on pumps of various shapes, sizes (in terms of nominal pumping speed), and types (diode, noble diode, and triode). Special care was taken during the thermal cycle of baking and activation of the pumps to preserve the internal film from sources of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The objective of this study is to comprehend the basic structural characteristics of box shaped mixed structures proposed for a future nuclear reactor building structure. Specimens of reinforced concrete precast panel walls of the mixed structures were prepared using ultrahigh strength materials. Two bending shear tests were conducted with a parameter of the quantity of reinforcement bars. The results include: (1) Relationship of shear stress and the angle of the structure, and (2) Failure mode. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The ``Passivhaus Darmstadt-Kranichstein`` is a 4 unit terrace house with an extremely low total annual energy consumption of less than 32 kWh/m{sup 2} of living area, thereof about 12 kWh are needed for room heating. The determining factors for the low consumption are the superinsulation, airtightness of the thermal envelope in combination with a highly efficient VAV ventilation system, and an improved window construction. The results of a detailed monitoring program allow decisive statements concerning reduction of energy consumption, relief of environment, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One of the most important factors affecting the postharvest life and quality of horticultural crops is temperature. Quality loss after harvest occurs as a result of physiological and biological processes, the rates of which are influenced primarily by product temperature. As the maintenance of market quality is of vital importance to the success of the horticultural industry, it is necessary not only to cool the product but to cool it as quickly as possible after harvest. The process of precooling is the removal of field heat which arrest the deteriorative and senescence processes so as to maintain a high level of quality that ensures customer satisfaction. This paper provides a critical review to portray precooling as an intricate part of temperature management and to highlight the importance of its utilisation for extending the shelf life and maintaining the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In designing automatic water quality monitoring networks for a river basin, determination of measurement locations and items is critical to the effectiveness of the total system. In this paper we studied how to decide these two design factors when a monitoring network is designed for the purpose of water quality surveillance and emergency alarm. For measurement locations, candidate sites are chosen based on the intake amount for water supply and the point sources of contamination. Then, detailed locations are decided according to the contaminant flow distance. As for measurement items, characteristics and the accident history of water pollution in the basin must be taken into account. Considering economic aspects, we proposed a two-stage measurement plan: basic components for all locations and selective ones variable for different locations. Proposed methodology is demonstrated through a case study for Nak-dong River Basin. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Typical beam lines are comprised of an assembly of vacuum valves and shutters referred to as a ''front end'', optical elements to monochromatize, focus and split the photon beam, and an experimental area where a target sample is placed into the photon beam and data from the interaction is detected and recorded. Windows are used to separate sections of beam lines that are not compatible with storage ring ultra high vacuum. Some experimental beam lines share a common vacuum with storage rings. Sections of beam lines are only allowed to vent up to atmospheric pressure using pure nitrogen gas after a vacuum barrier is established to protect ring vacuum. The front end may only be bled up when there is no current in the machine. This is especially true on the VUV storage ring where for most experiments, windows are not used. For the shorter wavelength, more energetic photons of the x-ray ring, beryllium windows are used at various beam line locations so ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Proper estimation of shipping emissions is essential for an impact assessment of shipping on air quality and health in port cities and coastal regions. In the Netherlands shipping is an important source of particulate matter. This report provides an internationally accessible and transparent summary and description of the methodologies used in the Netherlands Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) to estimate PM emissions from shipping, including recently implemented updates.

Science.gov (United States)

The Ho-Chunk Nation is interested in documenting water-quality conditions in streams adjacent to their Reservation lands in Wisconsin and developing management plans to protect these water resources. The Nation uses these waterways for recreation and as a source for food, and therefore, is dedicated to maintaining and restoring their quality. Ho-Chunk lands encompass more than 10,000 acres ranging primarily over 17 counties in Wisconsin. The study areas for this report include streams adjacent to Ho-Chunk Nation residential lands: Potch-Hah-Chee, Sandpillow, Mission, Bluewing, Chakh Hah Chee, Winnebago Heights, Indian Heights, and Ho-Chunk Village. These residential areas, or housing sites, are located along or near the Middle Branch Embarrass, Black, Lemonweir, and Wisconsin Rivers or their tributaries. Water-quality data were compiled and summarized, and basin maps showing land cover and previous sampling sites are ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Based on wind tunnel experiments, theoretical considerations and measurements the dispersion model CAR (Calculation of Air pollution from Road traffic) has been developed for determining air quality in city streets. CAR International is a simple parameterized model using readily available input data and calculating annual percentile values and average concentrations close to streets (at the kerb side) for non-reactive air pollutants and NO{sub 2}. Originally the model was set up for the Dutch situation (traffic, meteorology) with a system of fixed parameters. In order to extend its application to other countries the program has been made more flexible and user friendly. User defined system data can now be changed interactively, such as emission factors of passenger cars and trucks, fraction of directly emitted NO{sub 2}, city and regional background concentration, and average regional wind speed. The accuracy of the model has proved to be good ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A railgun has an armature driven between two rail-like conductors. In other words, it is a linear drive device system that drives airframes by using the Lorentz`s force. The system is expected as a next-generation high-speed transport means, or as a means to create such ultimate fields as ultra-high pressures, ultra-high temperatures, and ultra-ferromagnetic fields. This paper is a report on investigations on the relevant technological trends as surveyed by the investigation committee at the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan using research reports published inside and outside the country. The reported themes cover explanations from the construction to the pulse power supply that forms the core of the technology, problems in switching, recent status of research and development, and to application fields. Compatibility in the high-level electrical and mechanical performances demanded in the railgun is not as easy as has been anticipated ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Tailor die quenching in the hot stamping of quenchable steel sheets was developed to produce ultra-high strength steel formed parts having strength distribution. Local portions of the heated sheet were quenched by holding grooved tools at the bottom dead centre during the stamping. Non-contact portions were generated in the sheet by grooving the tools, and thus the strength in the contact portions is high owing to the quenching and that in the non-contact portions is low owing to the lack of the quenching. Hat-shaped products having a tensile strength of approximately 1.5GPa only at four corners were formed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pd was deposited onto Si (111) 7x7 surface at approximately 700 K inside an ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscope. Plan-viewed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation indicated that the islands have two kinds of shapes, round and rectangular (one-dimensional) ones. In a diffraction pattern for the rectangular islands, extra spots along the <110> direction of the Si surface, spacing of which is 1/8 times as long as that of Si (220) spots, were seen. A high resolution TEM image showed the corresponding superstructure in the rectangular islands. In situ observation of the growing process of the rectangular islands showed repeat of introduction and relief of strains during the growth, suggesting that such superstructure would be constructed by stacking compositionally different phases or introducing defects so that the periodically maximized strain is relieved.

Science.gov (United States)

Recent studies have shown Y chromosome microdeletions associated with male infertility. The factors responsible for Y chromosome microdeletions in spermatozoa remain unresolved. However, the environmental pollutants are known to damage DNA in differentiating and maturing germ cells in the male reproductive tract. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seminal hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and its isomers, an environmental pollutant, in 50 fertile and 50 infertile males in relation to semen quality and the incidence of Y chromosome microdeletion in azoospermic factor (AZF) region. As compared to control, an increased HCH level and significantly decreased semen quality were observed in the infertile males. A positive significant association was found between sperm count with alpha-HCH and beta-HCH in the infertile males. A negative significant association was observed between ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There is a need to reduce air pollutant emissions in some U.S. urban regions to meet federal and state air quality guidelines. Opportunities exist for reducing pollutant emissions from natural gas appliances in the residential sector. A cost-benefit analysis on various pollutant-reducing strategies is needed to evaluate these opportunities. The effectiveness of these pollutant-reducing strategies (e.g., low-emission burners, energy conservation) can then be ranked among themselves and compared with other pollutant-reducing strategies available for the region. A key step towards conducting a cost-benefit analysis is to collect information on pollutant emissions from existing residential natural gas appliances. An extensive literature search was conducted to collect data on residential natural-gas-appliance pollutant emission factors. The literature primarily describes laboratory tests and may not reflect actual emission ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There are many factors affecting diffusion bonding in order to obtain high quality joining. Therefore, in the beginning, we constructed diffusion bonding model based on void growth mechanism to predict bonding pressures and times. In addition, in order to compare theoretical values with experimental values, diffusion bonding tests were carried out by using commercial AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets with different grain sizes, 16 and 130 {mu}m. The present AZ31 alloys were successfully diffusion bonded at several conditions, and the bonding strength was more than 0.8 of each parent materials. The experimental bonding conditions in high quality joining, times and pressures, were good agreed with prediction analysis. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The existence of multipole components in the dipole and quadrupole magnets is one of the factors limiting the beam stability in the RHIC operations. So, a realistic non-linear model is crucial for understanding the beam behavior and to achieve the ultimate performance in RHIC. A procedure is developed to build a non-linear model using the available multipole component data obtained from measurements of RHIC magnets. We first discuss the measurements performed at different stages of manufacturing of the magnets in relation to their current state in RHIC. We then describe the procedure to implement these measurement data into tracking models, including the implementation of the multipole feed down effect due to the beam orbit offset from the magnet center. Finally, the field quality analysis in the RHIC interaction regions (IR) is presented.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Soybean is one of the most economical and nutritious food packed with basic nutrients that combat diseases stemming from mal- and under-nutrition. Despite its rich nutritional profile, use of soybean in food has been limited because soybean proteins are often associated with compounds, which could exert a negative impact on the nutritional quality of the protein. Trypsin inhibitor (TI) is one of the important anti-nutritional factors that exert negative effect by causing growth inhibition. Soybean cultivar VLS-2 was irradiated with 250 Gy gamma rays in a gamma cell (200) with 60Co source installed at BARC to induce mutations for low trypsin inhibitor content. Three mutants with lower levels of TI content were identified and can be utilized for developing elite varieties of soybean. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Changes in soil properties and vegetable growth were quantified on a low-fertility tropical soil. Four treatments (two composts, urea, and control) were applied to an Oxisol (Rhodic Haplustox, Wahiawa series) in a field on Oahu, Hawaii. Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa, Chinensis group) and eggplant (Solanum melongena) were grown sequentially as test crops. Soil quality as measured by hot-water-soluble carbon, dehydrogenase activity, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased by compost amendments. Total organic carbon or carbon dioxide (CO2) respiration rate did not correlate with the soil amendments. Nitrogen (N) nutrition was the main factor that improved growth and carotenoid content in cabbage. The urea treatment promoted better growth in cabbage, whereas good-quality compost, made of...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Industrial premises bear more and more important thermal constraints which can commonly reach 150 W/m{sup 2} and more. The reason is the general development of automation and automatic devices and the better thermal insulation of buildings. Production quality requires also more and more strict ambient conditions (temperature, humidity, air quality, air flow etc..). Thus, the air-conditioning market in the industrial sector is more linked to economic factors such as productivity and profit than to thermal comfort of workers. However, the air-conditioning potentialities in the industrial sector remains under-exploited in France. This paper analyzes the reasons of this situation in terms of investments and equipments. (J.S.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There are few studies on coke's micro-pore structure in recent years, however, micro-pore structure of foundry coke determines its macroscopically quality index and reactivity in cupola furnace. Effect of such factors on micro-pore structure were investigated under different carbonization conditions with certain ratio of raw materials and material forming process in this article as charging temperature (A); braised furnace time (B); heating rate of the first stage (C)and the second stage (D) and holding time of ultimate temperature (E). Research showed that charging temperature was the most influential factor on the coke porosity, pore volume, pore size and specific surface area. It is suggested that formation of plastic mass and releasing rate of volatile during carbonization period are two main factors on microstructure of foundry coke while charging temperature contributes most to the above ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

High and ultra-high strength steels for pipelines are produced by properly handling the steel microstructure. The metallurgical principles involved in the microstructure control are presented, with emphasis on TMCP processing, that comprises conventional controlled rolling followed by accelerated cooling. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report contains detailed information of the research program entitled "Development of Bulk Nanocrystalline Cemented Tungsten Carbide Materials for Industrial Applications". The report include the processes that were developed for producing nanosized WC/Co composite powders, and an ultrahigh pressure rapid hot consolidation process for sintering of nanosized powders. The mechanical properties of consolidated materials using the nanosized powders are also reported.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A method is proposed for evaluating reliability of planning and calculation of the reliability factor with current planning of open pit mining operations. For a quantitative evaluation of the reliability of fulfilling the planned assignment, laws were defined for distribution of the quality characteristics of the coal. After establishing that coal ash content follows the normal distribution law, the probability was defined that the actual output of coal is greater or equal to the planned. Calculation of the factor of reliability of the current planning of open mining operations makes it possible to determine the optimum planning for this period and the probability of fulfillment of the planned assignments. The technique of planning with regard for reliability makes it possible to select the most reliable variant of the plan within the planning period.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is associated with a dismal prognosis; however, curative resection may offer a chance of cure. Various factors should be considered in the surgical planning for curative resection. These factors include extent of bile duct involvement, relationship between portal vein and tumor involvement, diffuse hepato duodenal ligament infiltration, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, peritoneal seeding, and hepatic volume. Using high-quality volume data from multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) and adequate postprocessing images, radiologists can provide various types of information, imperative for curative resection of a hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This review illustrates the role of MDCT in the preoperative workup of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The paper presents some aspects relating to the importance of a good communication and cooperation between all factors involved in procurement process at Societatea Nationala 'Nuclearelectrica', SNN. In order to comply with the internal and international rules related to safety in nuclear field and public procurement requirements and for maintaining a high standard of operational performance of Cernavoda NPP, adequate procurement systems were developed by SNN SA. The importance of human factor and the training activities for all personnel from this chain of procurement process is the main key issue to maintain high quality of their activities considering that procurement documents are reviewed and approved before to be issued by all departments involved in procurement process. The specialized department for public acquisition is supervising that the procurement processes initiated at the level of branches, in accordance ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

High energy radiation was studied as a means for destroying hazardous organic chemical wastes. Tests were conducted at bench scale with a {sup 60}Co source, and at full scale (387 l/min) with a 1.5 MV electron beam source. Bench scale tests for both benzene and phenol included 32 permutations of water quality factors. For some water qualities, as much as 99.99% of benzene or 90% of phenol were removed by 775 krads of {sup 60}Co irradiation. Full scale testing for destruction of benzene in a simulated waste-water mix showed loss of 97% of benzene following an 800 krad dose and 88% following a 500 krad dose. At these loss rates, approximately 5 Mrad of electron beam irradiation is required to reduce concentrations from 100 g/l to drinking water quality (5 {mu}g/l). Since many waste streams are also inhabited by bacterial populations which may affect filtering operations, the effect of irradiation on those ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A case study is presented where an integrated, ecologically relevant exposure assessment is presented for a polluted lowland river. Using partial least squares regression of latent structures (PLS), an analysis of the impact of two effluents on physico-chemical water quality measures, macroinvertebrate and diatom communities, and in situ bioassay responses with four different test species are combined into an integrative exposure assessment. Bioassays focussed on growth and condition related endpoints, because they are key functional processes of organisms and populations. Integrating these multiple lines of evidence, we were able to discriminate among the impact of both effluents, link changes in physico-chemical water quality with bioassay endpoints and ecological quality of the ecosystem, and address the importance of integrating all information into one exposure assessment framework. The bioassays under field conditions ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The paper presents information in the form of data, tables and diagrams compiled to a broad but very up-to-date survey of required radiation for the various most frequently performed X-ray examinations of patients. The required dose is discussed from the point of view of radiation protection, defining the inevitably administered dose to the skin, the frequency of examinations, and the diagnostic image quality as the main three factors to be observed, as these determine the radiation dose to the patient and to the personnel. The somatic risks of radiography examinations are a point of main interest. (DG).

Science.gov (United States)

We proposed and numerically investigated the influence of spatial symmetry on the terahertz frequency region response of composite planar metamaterials based on deformed split ring resonators. Compared with the original simple structures, the composite metamaterials with different spatial symmetries exhibited exotic electromagnetic properties. The electromagnetic response of a specific configuration with C4 symmetry was identical to the structure with simple lattice. Especially, for configurations with broken symmetry, very sharp Drude-like resonances with high quality factor were observed. The electric field and current distribution associated the resonances were analyzed for deep understanding of the underlying physical properties.

Science.gov (United States)

The effects of variable hardness, pH, alkalinity, humics, and suspended clay on the chemical speciation of copper and its toxicity to fathead minnow larvae in Lake Superior water were investigated. Two proposed methods (toxicity factors and chemical speciation) for predicting LC50 values in specific natural waters from laboratory toxicity data and the average site specific values of general water quality parameters were evaluated. The accuracy of the cupric ion-selective electrode in determining CU/sup +2/ activities in ambient and chemically altered Lake Superior water was also determined.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The quality of fuel oils is discussed. The problems that the fuel oil marketer must deal with that relate to the quality of the fuel oil are described.

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

A few studies have found poor semen quality in sons whose mothers have received fertility treatment, but it is unknown whether the poor semen quality is related to the infertility treatment or to infertility per se, for example, whether it is caused by hereditable factors. Using data from a population-based, Danish follow-up study conducted in 2005-2006, the authors of the present study examined whether sons of subfertile couples who had not received fertility treatment had poorer semen quality than sons of fertile couples. Among the 311 participants, an inverse association between parental waiting time to pregnancy and both semen volume and total sperm count was observed (p trend = 0.04 and p trend = 0.046, respectively). Semen volume in sons of subfertile parents (pregnant after > or =1 years) was 19% lower in comparison with that in sons ofparents whose waiting time to pregnancy was 0-6 months (p ...

Science.gov (United States)

New interest by Australians in the state of rural education requires new understanding of factors affecting rural education and its related issues. Educational programs have not been flexible enough to cope with rural diversity, a key element in the milieu. Standards such as "equality of opportunity" and "uniformity" have been misapplied to rural Australian education, which is made distinctive by the inter-relatedness of many factors. Three dimensions of isolation are discussed: (1) types of isolation (geographic, cultural, social, and professional isolation); (2) ways of coping with isolation (understanding isolation, developing a sense of community, developing awareness of options, training the isolated, application, and technology); and (3) conditions affecting educational changes in isolated communities (social and political climate, pedagogy, finance, and incentives for change). All these concerns focus on the issue of local control. ...

Science.gov (United States)

The global spread of HIV and AIDS has presented a major threat to development, affecting the health of the poor and many aspects of social and economic development. The greatest impact of the epidemic has been felt in sub-Saharan Africa, and Zambia ranks among the worst hit countries. The Free Basic Education Policy in Zambia upholds the right of all children to a universal basic education. This study explored staff and student perceptions of the impact of the epidemic on access to, and the quality of, basic education for AIDS-affected children, orphans and other vulnerable children (OVCs) in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia, where the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate ranges from 34 to 40%, and life expectancy has dropped to 33 years. Data were collected from education personnel in six districts of the Copperbelt with the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS and from staff and students in six schools. The data indicated a range of factors that adversely ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pd was deposited onto Si (111) 7x7 surface at approximately 700 K inside an ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscope. Plan-viewed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation indicated that the islands have two kinds of shapes, round and rectangular (one-dimensional) ones. In a diffraction pattern for the rectangular islands, extra spots along the <110> direction of the Si surface, spacing of which is 1/8 times as long as that of Si (220) spots, were seen. A high resolution TEM image showed the corresponding superstructure in the rectangular islands. In situ observation of the growing process of the rectangular islands showed repeat of introduction and relief of strains during the growth, suggesting that such superstructure would be constructed by stacking compositionally different phases or introducing defects so that the periodically maximized strain is relieved.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During the past two decades, the explosives synthetic effort at Los Alamos has been directed toward energetic heterocylic compounds and has produced some useful thermally stable explosives. The recent evolution of crystal-density predictive methods is guiding our current efforts toward ultrahigh performance explosives. Much of our effort is now on the development of new methods for preparing unique nitro compounds that are inaccessible by conventional techniques. This paper reviews the Los Alamos synthetic program with emphasis on the development of novel thermally stable explosives, and current efforts to synthesize high-density/performance explosives will be discussed.

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Planning for quality assurance (QA) in research and development (R D) is like stealing eggs without waking up the chickens. The QA program should be as unobtrusive as possible. Researchers require a QA program that affords them an environment capable of supporting repeatable experiments with accurate data without unduly stifling their creative abilities. Careful advance planning ensures that the intensity of control provided by quality-related systems is commensurate with the importance and scope of the activities being performed. Good scientific practices applied to small bench-scale projects may require minimal additional controls. As projects increase in size and complexity the controls imposed through planning must, by necessity, be increased. Research and development QA planning, just like any other planning, involves all affected individuals. The application of control systems is determined by factors such as customer ...

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Urea-formaldehyde resin bonded particle board, medium density fiberboard and plywood paneling are used as flooring, wall paneling, for cabinet work and in furniture, and are present in almost every office, home and public building. If large quantities of these products are used in poorly ventilated spaces, high manufacturing quality control is necessary to avoid problems of latent formaldehyde release. Indoor air formaldehyde concentrations depend on the nature of the product, the product surface to air volume (loading) factor, temperature, humidity, age and product emission rates. Standard test methods are now available for measuring product emission rates that make it possible to predict the performance of UF-bonded pressed wood materials if use conditions and environmental parameters are known. Recent modifications in adhesive and board manufacturing parameters have made it possible to reduce formaldehyde emission significantly, and ...

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The reliability of the surface condenser is a key factor in plant performance level and maintenance cost optimization. This is especially the case for thermal nuclear plants where condenser raw wa-ter ingress can introduce contamination into the chemically-controlled, steam/water loop potentially causing damage to sensitive equipment. Two important parameters must be taken into account when attempting to optimize the quality and the reliability of condenser tubing. They include selecting the appropriate material according to the cooling water corrosion level present. A second and equally important parameter is the manufac-turing of the tubing product itself. This paper will identify methods to optimize manufacturing processes and improve tubing quality, according to VALTIMET's 30 years of condenser welded tubing production experience. Those methods complete the core manufacturing process (forming and welding), ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Selective alveolo-bronchography (SAB) has been routinely used to evaluate anatomical changes in the bronchiole and its distal air spaces. A narrowing of the bronchiole and abnormal pooling of contrast medium in the destroyed air space are the prime findings. Since the object of radiography is extremely thin, direct magnification radiography is mandatory to obtain radiologic details. However, the problem with this technique is that radiographic quality varies depending upon the size of the patient and the concentration of contrast medium to be introduced in the lung. This study had two goals. One was to improve the image quality of SAB by Fuji Computed Radiography (FCR). FCR provides radiographs with a good contrast and stable density throughout a wide range of exposure factors which occur in the use of SAB. The other goal was to separately evaluate morphological abnormalities in the outer and inner zones of the lung using ...

Science.gov (United States)

We compared experimental wave aberrations in pseudophakic eyes with aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs) to simulate aberrations from numerical ray tracing on customized computer eye models using corneal topography, angle ?, ocular biometry, IOL geometry, and IOL tilt and decentration measured on the same eyes. We found high correlations between real and simulated aberrations even for the eye with only the cornea, and these increased on average when the IOL geometry and position were included. Relevant individual aberrations were well predicted by the complete eye model. Corneal spherical aberration and horizontal coma were compensated by the IOL, and in 58.3% of the cases IOL tilt and decentration contributed to compensation of horizontal coma. We conclude that customized computer eye models are a good representation of real eyes with IOLs and allow understanding of the relative contribution of optical, geometrical and surgically-related factors to image ...

Science.gov (United States)

Changes in the supply situation have necessitated the use of poorly-caking coals in blends for blast furnace coke. This has led to impairment of the coke rate (up to 9 kg/t iron) and furnace throughput (down 3.8%). Coke strength has suffered and leads to difficulties in the hearth area. Despite maintained pressure gradient between throat and tuyeres, blast figures were lower, suggesting decreased permeability of the charge and a general deterioration in heat utilization. Coke breeze became excessive and had to be removed on several occasions. Other factors which may be involved include the graphitization of the coke and its combustibility, neither of which were included in this study; coke quality, however, remains of prime importance to projected increases in furnace capacity.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In recent years, cobia has become an emerging farmed species in Asia due to its quick growth and high economic value. This study collects biological and economic data affecting the economic performance of cobia farming in three countries, namely Taiwan, China, and Vietnam. The data are collected by questionnaire sampling and analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis in order to compare the key factors affecting the production and economy of cobia farming in these three countries. The results show that Taiwan, China, and Vietnam have significant differences in input intensities and profitability. China has the highest input intensity (3372.42?TWD/m3), as its high stocking density increases feed input. Taiwan has the highest unit input cost (103.44?TWD/kg), as the high quality of the pro...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Ozone is the most important regional-scale air pollutant causing risks for vegetation and human health in many parts of the world. Ozone impacts on yield and quality of crops and pastures depend on precursor emissions, atmospheric transport and leaf uptake and on the plant?s biochemical defence capacity, all of which are influenced by changing climatic conditions, increasing atmospheric CO2 and altered emission patterns. In this article, recent findings about ozone effects under current conditions and trends in regional ozone levels and in climatic factors affecting the plant?s sensitivity to ozone are reviewed in order to assess implications of these developments for future regional ozone risks. Based on pessimistic IPCC emission scenarios for many cropland regions elevated mean ozone lev...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Voltage sag caused by faults on an electric power transmission line is one of the most intractable power quality issues for both utility companies and customers. The fault in power system randomly exists along transmission lines due to the combination of many uncertain factors. To predict and assess the annual expected sag frequency (ESF) deriving from the faults along lines, a stochastic based method that employs maximum entropy principle, namely the maximum entropy probability method (MEPM), has been introduced in this paper. Moreover, various types of faults have been considered systematically. With the fault line intervals and the sample moments taken into account, the discrete values of distribution probability of fault locations along the transmission lines have been estimat...

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In the food, chemical and safety industry there is a demand for gas detectors for process control applications, like quality control of food or leakage control in chemical plants. Gas sensor array systems have the potential to be used in this areas, with the advantage of being also affordable systems compared to other systems like gaschromatographs (GC) or infrared detectors (NIR, FTIR). One of the main drawbacks of the gas sensors is their response to non interesting ambient factors like temperature, pressure and humidity. Metal oxide sensors (MOS) have a low ambient temperature and pressure dependency. Some of them (SnO + dopands) have some sensitivity to humidity. In many cases the response of the sensors is often non-linear, which implies a concentration dependant pattern of the samples. (orig.)

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Ecosystems worldwide are experiencing unprecedented nitrogen enrichment through fertilization and pollution. While longterm ecological consequences are difficult to predict, it seems that plants and animals adapted to nitrogen-limited environments are at particular risk from these changes. This report summarizes the limited body of literature which addresses this important topic. From a herbivoreAes perspective, fertilization increases the nutritional quality of host plant tissues. In some cases fertilization has lead to decreased production of defensive compounds. How this affects populations of insects is unclear because fertilization affects not only herbivores but their natural enemies. This report outlines how fertilization affects tree processes such as growth, photosynthesis, and production of defensive compounds. The many factors that affect insect repsonse to fertilization and the difficulties in assessing how fertilization affects ...

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This document includes the following topics: Background; Data Collection; Scope/Applicability of the Proposed Regulation; Description of the Industry; Industry Subcategorization; Pollutants of Concern for the Centralized Waste Treatment Industry; Pollutants Selected for Regulation; Wastewater Treatment Technologies; Regulatory Options Considered and Selected for Basis of Regulation; Long-Term Averages, Variability Factors, and Limitations and Standards; Cost of Treatment Technologies; Pollutant Loading and Removal Estimates; Non-Water Quality Impacts; Implementation; Analytical Methods and Baseline Values; List of Definitions; List of Acronyms; Appendix A--Pollutant Groups; Appendix B--Listing of Characerization Data From Non-Hazardous Oils Facilities; Appendix C--Listing of Daily Influent and Effluent Measuements; Appendix D--Facility-Specific Compliance Costs; Appendix E--Attachements to Chapter 10; and Appendix F--Listing of Pollutants of ...

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This document represents the FY2002 BPA contract Statement of Work for the Yakama Nation (YN) portion of the project entitled 'Assessment of current and potential salmonid production in Rattlesnake Creek associated with restoration efforts'. The purpose of the project is to complete detailed surveys of water quality, fish populations, habitat conditions and riparian health in the Rattlesnake Creek sub-basin of the White Salmon River in south central Washington. Results of the surveys will be used to establish Rattlesnake Creek sub-basin baseline environmental factors prior to anticipated removal of Condit Dam in 2006 and enable cost-effective formulation of future watershed restoration strategies.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Developing a test standard/protocol for solar box type cookers has drawn a considerable interest among the researchers throughout the world. Recent publications on solar cookers emphasize the need of introducing the thermal performance indicators determined through exergy analysis. In the present paper, the time variation of instantaneous exergy output and energy output as function of its temperature and also of the instantaneous ambient temperature have been reported for truncated pyramid type solar box cooker and compared with those of box type cooker. Further, variations in the exergy lost with temperature difference have been depicted for the selected water temperature range from 60 degreeC to 95 degreeC. Based on this study, quality factor, exergy temperature difference gap product, a...

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Radial sonic crystals (RSC) are fluidlike structures infinitely periodic along the radial direction that verify the Bloch theorem and are possible only if certain specially designed acoustic metamaterials with mass density anisotropy can be engineered (see Torrent and Sanchez-Dehesa 2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 064301). A comprehensive analysis of two-dimensional (2D) RSC shells is reported here. A given shell is in fact a circular slab with a central cavity. These finite crystal structures contain Fabry-Perot-like resonances and modes strongly localized at the central cavity. Semi-analytical expressions are developed to obtain the quality factors of the different resonances, their symmetry features and their excitation properties. The results reported here are completely general and can be extended to equivalent 3D spherical shells and to their photonic counterparts.

Science.gov (United States)

We hypothesize that the mushroom-derived active compound may be a potential strategy for increasing survival in response to influenza virus (H1N1) infection through the stimulation of host innate immune response. The validity of the hypothesis can be tested by immune response to influenza infection as seen through survival percentage, virus clearance, weight loss, natural killer cell cytotoxicity, Tumor Necrosis Factor-? (TNF-?) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-?) levels, lytic efficiency in the spleens of mice and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expressions in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. The hypothesis may improve people's quality of life, reduce the medical cost of our healthcare system and eliminate people's fears of influenza outbreak. PMID:21660092

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Selection of the appropriate radiation quality is an important aspect of optimisation for every clinical imaging task in radiology, since it affects both image quality and patient dose. Spreadsheet...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

Based on the view that major changes in the social and economic context in the United States require major policy changes related to early childhood education, this paper examines the factors supporting public policy changes and how advocates for change in early childhood education might incorporate effective strategies. The paper is presented in two parts. Part 1 reviews the research on state policy settings and the factors that tend to support policy change. This part focuses attention on the ways that state policymakers appear to learn from what is going on elsewhere and incorporate new ideas into their policy agendas. Several strategic implications for advocates of policy change are presented, such as brainstorming a list of potential obstacles to the introduction of a policy innovation or shaping the debate so the public will support change. Part 2 of the paper takes these general strategic implications and considers their relevance to ...

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The CANDU-type nuclear fuel localization project started in 1981, and mass-production system completed in 1987 through the pilot scale demonstration of fuel manufacturing. Since the completion of the mass-production system, about 24,000 fuel bundles (450 ton-U) had been delivered to Wolsung Nuclear Power Plant by the end of 1992, according to the fuel supply contracts with KEPCO. The superiority of KAERI-made nuclear fuel has been demonstrated by having achieved the highest utilization factor in the world in 1992. In 1993, as contracted, 4,824 fuel bundles well fabricated and delivered to Wolsung Nuclear Power Plant. The process improvement, quality control, safety management, safeguards of nuclear materials and various kinds of audits have also been performed in the course for fuel manufacturing. Especially in 1993, the difficulties of the reduction of participating work-force were overcome by improving the manufacturing techniques, and ...

Science.gov (United States)

Clean Water Act You are here: Water Laws & Regulations Policy & Guidance Clean Water Act Water Quality and 401 Certification Water Quality and 401 Certification Water Quality...

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Science.gov (United States)

Archived Web resource. Information about the impacts of global warming on the environmental quality and recreation, such as ... ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A diffuse-reflectance capability for the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer at the Y-12 Plant Laboratory has been implemented. A sample cell with a 25 to 400/sup 0/C temperature-controlled sample stage and an ultrahigh-vacuum-to-atmospheric pressure gas-handling capability has been developed. Absorbance of light from the spectrometer beam, resulting from the beam being scattered from a powder sample, can be measured. This capability of detecting molecular species on and in powders is to be used to study chemisorption on actinide and rare-earth metals, alloys, and compounds. Cell design is described along with experiments demonstrating its performance in detecting moisture absorption on uranium oxide, moisture and carbon dioxide absorption on the lithium hydride/hydroxide system, and carbon dioxide absorption on potassium borohydride. 13 figures.

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A procedure was developed for separating rubidium from irradiated aluminum encapsulated uranium. The separations procedure produces a final ultra-high purity RbCl product for subsequent high performance mass spectrometric analysis. The procedure involves first removing most of the macro-components and fission products by strong base anion exchange using, first, concentrated HCl, then oxalic acid media and second, selectively separating rubidium from alkaline-earth ions and other alkali-metal ions, including cesium, using Bio-Rex-40 cation-exchange resin. The resultant RbCl is then put through a final vacuum sublimation step. Ultra-pure reagents and specially clean glassware are used throughout the procedure to minimize contamination by naturally-occurring rubidium.

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The growth of thin Pd[sub 2]Si films on Si(111) surfaces is studied using [ital in] [ital situ] transmission electron microscope under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. No immediate reaction of deposited Pd with Si is observed at room temperature. At [similar to]200 [degree]C, uniform Pd[sub 2]Si films can be formed. The thin Pd[sub 2]Si films are found to grow into strained islands at elevated temperatures. Interfacial misfit dislocations associated with interfacial steps propagate across the strained islands, causing the islands to grow layer-by-layer at the interface. The strain fields associated with the misfit dislocations are believed to be responsible for this behavior.

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During the early 1970s, controversy developed over the possible biological effects of electric fields from new 500-kilovolt and 765-kilovolt transmission lines. This, along with growing interest in advancing transmission voltage into the ultrahigh-voltage range (1000 kilovolts and above), led to the initiation of numerous research projects. Several reviews of this research by scientists in the US and other countries indicate that transmission lines have not been proven to be a health hazard to people or animals. The issue remains controversial, however, because research has confirmed some subtle effects of electric fields, and because it is an inseparable part of the public opposition that often accompanies the siting of high-voltage transmission lines. In addition, there is renewed interest in magnetic fields, including a possible association between such fields and human cancers. 2 figures, 2 tables.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A high-average power (kW) infrared (IR) free-electron laser (FEL) is currently being commissioned for the Jefferson Laboratory FEL User Facility. The IR FEL is driven by a unique superconducting rf linac which is recirculated to recover electron beam power that is not radiated in the FEL. The design and installation of the vacuum system for the FEL involved particular attention to minimizing particulate contamination which could cause problems with the superconducting acceleration cavities and the high power FEL optics. Particulate contamination levels of all vacuum components were monitored during the cleaning process using laser scattering. Cleaning, transport, and installation procedures were developed to minimize the contamination of the complete system. We will summarize a data base we compiled of particulate contamination levels of the various components installed in the FEL vacuum system.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The advent of multislice spiral CT (MSCT) technique has led to new aspects of dose reduction, especially for the dedicated use of MSCT in children. Optimizing pediatric MSCT protocols according to the clinical problem allows reduction of radiation exposure to a minimum without loss of diagnostic quality. The different parameters that influence the degree of dose reduction, like tube current-time product (mAs), tube voltage (kV), collimation and pitch, are discussed in context with previously published data and our own experience in nearly 200 pediatric CT examinations. In our department, the effective mAs is calculated for a pediatric chest MSCT by multiplication of the body weight in kilogram with a factor of 1 to 1.5 and for a pediatric abdominal MSCT by multiplication with a factor of 2 to 2.5. To calculate the equivalent effective dose for a contrast media-enhanced 80 kV protocol, the effective mAs of the 120 kV ...

Science.gov (United States)

Hypercholesterolemia

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The WEGA stellarator is used to confine low temperature, overdense (densities exceeding the cut-off density of the heating wave) plasmas by magnetic fields in the range of B=50-500 mT. Microwave heating systems are used to ignite gas discharges using hydrogen, helium, neon or argon as working gases. The produced plasmas have been analyzed using Langmuir and emissive probes, a single-channel interferometer and ultra-high resolution Doppler spectroscopy. For a typical argon discharge in the low field operation, B=56 mT, the maximum electron density is n{sub e}{proportional_to}10{sup 18} m{sup -3} with temperatures in the range of T=4-12 eV. The plasma parameters are determined by using Langmuir probes and are cross-checked with interferometry. It is demonstrated within this work that the joint use of emissive probes and ultra-high resolution Doppler spectroscopy allows a precise measurement of the radial electric field. The focus of this work is ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) was developed to monitor low level neutron exposure rates at working stations in a nuclear fuel fabrication facility. It has proven capable of accurately measuring neutron dose rates at levels from 0.1 to 0.2 mrem/hr. It also calculates the Quality Factor which is of importance in locations where the neutron to gamma ratio may vary significantly and irregularily. The system described is computerized to monitor 100 work locations simulationeously and can be expanded to monitor 384 locations. Neutron dose is accumulated on a real time basis and after the proton drop point is established, dose rate can be read out at any time for the dose accumulated over a specified period of time. The current development program which provides reduced system maintenance, lower detection limits, and improved accuracy is discussed along with examples of measurement data and work experience with the current system.

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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 ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

When chest radiographs are obtained using an anti-scatter grid in a mobile x-ray unit by Fuji Computed Radiography (FCR), right lung densities may differ from left lung densities owing to misalignment caused by an oblique x-ray beam. Such misalignment is considered to be caused by factors such as the shape of the bed and angle of the x-ray tube. Misalignment is especially frequent when exposure is carried out in the sitting position. Although a low-ratio grid has been reported to offer improvement, the misalignment is not completely eliminated. Therefore, we used a copper plate without a lattice feature instead of grid, and examined the results. The copper plate was found to have the ability of a grid to eliminate radiation scatter, and, furthermore, to offer the physical capabilities of a grid as determined by Carlin's new grid assessment method. Image quality was demonstrated through contrast manipulation to be equal to that obtained by grid ...

Science.gov (United States)

Critical power at boiling transition is an important factor in a boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel bundle design. Boiling transition under high quality accounts for dryout as the result of the complete disappearance of film flow on a fuel rod. This liquid film vanishing process can be calculated by the liquid film model, which takes into account the evaporation due to heat from the rod surface, liquid film entrainment by steam flow, and liquid droplet deposition. It is known that spacers affect liquid film entrainment and liquid droplet deposition, so the detailed study of spacer effects on hydrodynamic characteristics is necessary for critical power prediction based on the film flow model. Many studies have been conducted to examine spacer effects on liquid film flow. However, most of them are restricted to simple test sections such as a rectangular conduit. There are a few reports on fuel bundle geometry; however the bundle studied was only a ...

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Purpose: calculation of conversion coefficients for the reconstruction of organ doses from entrance doses for abdomen radiographs of 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 30-year-old patients in conventional pediatric radiology for the radiographic settings recommended by the German and European guidelines for quality management in diagnostic radiology. Materials und method: using the commercially available personal computer program PCXMC developed by the Finnish Center for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (Saeteilyturvakeskus STUK), conversion coefficients for conventional abdomen radiographs were calculated performing Monte Carlo simulations in mathematical hermaphrodite phantom models describing patients of different ages. The possible clinical variation of beam collimation was taken into consideration by defining optimal and suboptimal radiation fields on the phantoms' surfaces. Results: conversion coefficients for the reconstruction of organ does in about 40 organs and ...

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A competitive repopulation assay utilizing chromosome markers was used to assay the reconstituting potential of hematopoietic populations. The test populations consisted of tibial murine marrow locally irradiated with doses ranging from 1.5 Gy to 8.5 Gy and of marrow generated from either murine splenic or marrow stem cells. The purpose of this assay was to assess the innate proliferative potential and microenvironmental influences on the ability to repopulate. Regardless of origin, spleen repopulating ability consistently agreed with spleen colony-forming unit (CFU-s) content. Doses of radiation from 5 Gy to 8.5 Gy diminished, by a factor of 2, the ability to repopulate marrow despite maintenance of CFU-s levels. Marrow generated from splenic stem cells had one-fifth the repopulating ability of marrow derived from marrow stem cells, even though CFU-s levels were equivalent. The results imply that the splenic environment can only maintain stem cells at the level of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper presents an overview of issues related to surface water contamination arising from uranium mining activities in the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR) of northern Australia, and a program of research and monitoring that must assess the potential and actual effects on ecosystem and human health. The program of assessing effects on aquatic ecosystems involves a four-tiered approach including the derivation of local water quality guideline trigger values, direct toxicity assessment of mine waters prior to their release, creekside or in situ monitoring for early warning of adverse effects during mine water release, and longer-term monitoring of macroinvertebrate and fish communities. Bioaccumulation in aquatic biota is also assessed, and is an issue of importance not only to ecosystem health, but also to the health of local Aboriginal people. The aquatic animals they consume represent potential sources of radiological dose, and as a result, a major component of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Physicochemical and benthos data were collected from 12 marine monitoring stations in Daya Bay, during 2001-2004. 12 stations in Daya Bay could be grouped into three clusters: cluster I consisted of stations in the southern part of Daya Bay (stations S1, S2 and S6); cluster II consisted of stations in the cage culture areas (stations S3, S4, S5 and S8); cluster III consisted of stations in the southwest, the middle and the northeast of the Bay (stations S7, S9, S10, S11 and S12). Calculation with bivariate correlations between benthos and major physicochemical factors showed that the density of benthos in all stations correlated positively with temperature, DO, pH, NH4-N, SiO3-Si, SiO3-Si /PO4-P and chlorophyll a and was negatively correlated with salinity, Secchi, COD, NO3-N, NO2-N, TIN, ...

Science.gov (United States)

During the Vietnam War, US military working dogs served with their companion dog handlers in close proximity, sharing common exposures to war-related activity, many zoonotic infectious agents, chemical pesticides, phenoxy herbicides, and extensive use of therapeutic drugs. To gain insight into the effects of the Vietnam experience, we investigated the occurrence of neoplasms in military working dogs based on standard necropsy examination by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. We observed that these dogs experienced significant elevated risks for testicular seminoma and, independently, testicular dysfunction. Experimental evidence shows testicular dysfunction and impaired spermatogenesis in laboratory animals exposed to phenoxy herbicides, dioxin, or tetracycline, and antibiotic used extensively in military working dogs in Vietnam. Because an unexplained significant decrease in sperm quality in Vietnam veterans has been observed by the Centers for Disease ...

Science.gov (United States)

Near-ideal Schottky barrier contacts to n-type Al0.22Ga0.78N have been developed by a two-step surface treatment technique. Plasma etching of the AlxGa1-xN surface prior to Schottky metal deposition, combined with sequential chemical treatment of the etched surface, holds promise for developing high quality low-leakage Schottky contacts for low noise applications and for recessed gate high electron mobility transistors. In this work, the effect of postetch chemical treatment of the n-type Al0.22Ga0.78N surface on the performance of the Ni/Au based Schottky contact has been investigated. Three different types of chemical treatment: viz, reactive ion etching, reactive ion etching plus dipping in hot aqua regia, and reactive ion etching plus dipping in hot KOH, are studied. Detailed current-voltage studies of three different surface treated diodes and a comparison with as-deposited diodes reveal significant improvement in the diode characteristics. The latter surface ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The changes in the electrical and structural properties of metal-silicide films caused byion implantation and subsequent thermal annealing have been investigated. Epitaxial silicide films such as those of CoSi"2, NiSi"2 and Pd"2Si grown on Si(111) substrates were implanted with Ar ions and annealed in a vacuum furnace at temperatures ranging from 200 to 800_0C. Rutherford backscattering and channeling techniques and the four-point probe method were used to measure the crystalline quality and the sheet resistance of the films, respectively. It was found that the sheet resistances of CoSi"2, NiSi"2 and Pd"2Si films were increased by factors of 70, 6, and 3, respectively, by implantation to a dose of 1 x 10_1_6 Ar-ions/cm_2, but that they were almost restored by subsequent annealing to the values before implantation. A phase transformation from Pd"2Si to PdSi was also observed in the high-temperature annealing of the implanted Pd"2Si films. ...

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The US Department of Energy (DOE) sponsors an extensive research program to improve the methods, dosimeters, and instruments available to DOE facilities for measuring neutron dose and assessing its effects on the work force. The Total Dose Meter was recently developed for measuring in real time the adsorbed dose of mixed neutron and gamma radiation and for calculating the dose equivalent. The Field Neutron Spectrometer was developed to provide a portable instrument for determining neutron spectra in the workplace for flux-to-dose equivalent conversion and quality factor calculation. The Combination Thermoluminescence/Track Etch Dosimeter (TLD/TED) was developed to extend the effective neutron energy range of the conventional TLDs to improve detection of fast-energy neutrons. An Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter is presently being developed for application to gamma, neutron, and beta radiation. An Effective Dose Equivalent System is ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To assess the diagnostic capability Fuji computed radiography (FCR) using a dual side reading system was compared to the conventional radiography using a film-screen system. Twenty-eight patients with lung cancer were examined with a new FCR system (FCR 5501D) and a conventional screen-film system concurrently. FCR utilizes a reading system that detects emissions from dual sides of imaging plate. Chest X-rays were obtained with same exposure factors in both systems. Image qualities of both systems were compared by two radiologists using a five-level score. There were no lesion that FCR images were inferior to film-screen images. The frequency of score +1 or +2 that FCR images were superior to film-screen images was 31% in large nodular shadows, 40% in accompanying shadows with a nodule, 67% of small nodular shadows, and 43% of the lymph node swelling in the hilum of the lung or mediastinum. In large nodular shadows which were the most frequent ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Macroinvertebrate communities in Rietvlei nature reserve wetland area and their relationship with water quality were studied with the aim to evaluate their use as potential indicators of pollution. Sampling locations were selected to include outlets from swage effluent, agricultural and informal residential runoff. A large increase in nutrient concentrations was observed downstream from discharged treated sewage with an associated decrease in species richness. Bioassays performed included: Daphnia magna, Hydra attenuate, Lactuca sativa, Allium cepa and Pyxicephalus adspersus. The highest percentage of lethality response to a screen (100% concentration) of sampled wetland water by test specimens were observed at the point source input of the Hartbeespoort treated sewage plant. Data generated from the AUSRIVAS method and multitrophic level bioassays revealed the deterioration of the wetland possibly due to factors such as increasing urbanization, ...

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An independent investigation of pipe welding leaks from the Low-Level Waste 2 (LLW2) Skid-B System for the possibilities of improper welding (IW), microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), sensitization, chloride pitting corrosion (CPC), and intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) was conducted. The results show the prevailing mechanisms that caused the leaks are identified as IW, CPC, and the improper selection of weld filler material for the base metals in an environment of the North Plateau underground water. These is no evidence of MIC, sensitization, or IGSCC. The chloride pitting corrosion mechanism that took place at all the welds are also described. All the pipelines were replaced with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for cost saving and the LLW2 Skid B System has been successfully operating since 1999. This report summarizes the findings and recommendations associated with preventive measures for future operations. The LLW2 Facility is a replacement for an existing waste ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The report presents a long-range plan for a broad-based, coordinated research, development and market transformation program for reducing the lighting energy intensities in commercial and residential buildings in California without compromising lighting quality. An effective program to advance lighting energy efficiency in California must be based on an understanding that lighting is a mature field and the lighting industry has developed many specialized products that meet a wide variety of light needs for different building types. Above all else, the lighting field is diverse and there are applications for a wide range of lighting products, systems, and strategies. Given the range of existing lighting solutions, an effective energy efficient lighting research portfolio must be broad-based and diverse to match the diversity of the lighting market itself. The belief that there is one solution--a magic bullet, such as a better lamp, for example--that will propel ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to validate the questionnaire ECOS-16 (Assessment of health related quality of life in osteoporosis) for the evaluation of health related quality...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Quality reporting tools, integrated with ambulatory electronic health records, can help clinicians and administrators understand performance, manage populations, and improve quality. Report Central...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The `Procurement Quality Function` is an element of the Body of Knowledge of Quality Engineering, as defined by the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC). This paper describes the Procurement Quality function which has been installed as an integral part of the Quality Engineering group of the Technical and Management Support Services (T&MSS) contractor to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project. Each of the elements of the T&MSS Procurement Quality Engineering (PQE) system is discussed along with the measurements obtained. With the installation and development of the PQE system we have attained more meaningful evaluation of supplier capability, reduction of procurement document review reject ratios from 31% to less than 2% per quarter, more effective measurement and control of supplier performance, ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BACKGROUND: This prospective and retrospective study carried out over a period of one month (50 patients) looked at the quality of hospital records of urethral catheterisation with reference to the...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The following aspects will be discussed: The main function of the Division of Inspection Services and its role in the Marketing of agricultural products; the shelf life of agricultural products: short review of present methods with a practical example of losses incurred due to limited keeping quality; irradiation and heat treatment: advantages of inhibited microbiological activities and undesirable chemical changes from a quality control point of view; quality standards: the basic principles of quality control; consequences of effective post-harvest treatment: export of deciduous and citrus fruit; the magnitude of the problem of poor keeping quality and quality requirements; other fruit; quantities and export limitations and vegetables; quantity and quality requirements; local marketing: fruit and vegetables subjected to inspection; quantity ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

As the penetration of wind energy continues to increase around the world, with a trend towards large utility-scale wind farms (greater than 100 MW), effective wind energy forecasting will become increasingly important. Previous work by GH has estimated the trading benefit of high quality short-term forecasting to be EUR 7/MWh. Depending on market conditions, for a 100 MW wind farm with a capacity factor of 30%, this equates to an estimated annual trading benefit of up to EUR 1.8m. To date, a number of studies have focused on the mathematical modelling techniques for forecasting the production from wind farms, looking predominantly at the task of predicting the meteorological conditions at the site. This paper focuses on the final stage of the forecasting process, conversion from a meteorological forecast to a power production forecast. This challenge is particularly significant for utility-scale wind farms. The main body of research in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Elf Aquitaine, a major international oil and gas company, has recently undergone a thorough reengineering of its research and development in exploration and production division. The aim of this reengineering, was to align the company R&D with its business strategy, and also to give a clear picture of two major features for a R&D portfolio: a duration profile (short, median or long term?) and a partnership profile (do it yourself, cooperate, outsource or let do elsewhere?). In short, we were trying to answer a basic question: How can we adapt our R&D to a durable context of low oil price (eg 15 $/bbl)? In our opinion, two preliminary statements ought to be made when dealing with the above issue. Firstly, R&D does not contribute equally to the factors of increased profitability, although it is certainly a major contributor to some of them (like obtaining new ventures, reducing costs, discovering new reserves out of current acreage, or improving the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Quantitative ecological risk assessment (ERA) is a means whereby the risk posed by a toxicant in any system can be evaluated by comparing the distribution of its measured or modelled concentrations (water quality data (WQD)) with available information on the range of concentrations that are known to adversely affect biota within that, or similar, habitats (dose-response data (DRD)). Initially, the WQD are compared with regulatory criteria (e.g. ANZECC and ARMCANZ, 2000). If they fail this test, then, on the assumption that both data sets comprise subsets of the entire range of concentrations, probability density functions are derived assuming a standard distribution form a typically log-normal. In this paper, AQUARISK has been used to estimate the risk posed by copper in effluent from the Rum Jungle mine site, pre- and post-remediation, and the proportion of taxa likely to be affected in the East Branch (EB) of the Finniss River downstream of the mine. In addition, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The five thermal-hydraulic concepts chosen for conceptual study of advanced PWR systems have been studied as follows: (1) Critical Heat Flux in passive PWR Conditions: review of previous works (various of correlations, analysis of parametric trends) on CHF, assessment and improvement of CHF prediction models for round tubes, development of the prediction model on bundle CHF with considering the correction factor calculated from the tube data base, design and construction of the intermediate-pressure CHF experimental loop, extension of CHF data base by performing the experiments at low-flow, and low-quality conditions (2) Passive Cooling Concepts for Concrete Containment Systems: Selection of the external condenser by comparing and reviewing between passive cooling concepts for concrete containment system concepts, survey and review of previous studies (theoretical mechanism of condensation heat transfer and effect of non-condensable gases) on ...

Science.gov (United States)

Dust detection and control in real time, represent one of the most challenging problem in all those environments where fine and ultrafine airborne particulate solids products are present. The presence of such products can be linked to several factors, often directly related and influenced by the working-production actions performed. Independently from the causes generating dust, airborne contaminants are an occupational problem of increasing interest as they are related to a wide number of diseases. In particular, airborne dusts are well known to be associated with several classical occupational lung diseases, such as the pneumoconiosis, especially at high levels of exposure. Nowadays there is also an increasing interest in other dust related diseases, from the most serious as cancer and asthma, to those related with allergies or irritation and other illnesses, also occurring at lower levels of exposure. Among the different critical factors ...

Science.gov (United States)

... TITLE (Indlude Security Classifkcation) Human Factors in Network Security 12. ... FIELD GROUP SUBGROUP Human Factors, Network, Security 19. ...

Science.gov (United States)

... 15 minutes Time lapse video Time Lapse Recorder (Panasonic) SVHS 4-seconds

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The quality assurance requirements in various countries and according to various international codes and standards are presented, compared and critically discussed. Cases of developing countries are also discussed, and the use of IAEA code of practice and other codes for quality assurance in these countries is reviewed. Recommendations are made regarding the quality assurance system to be applied for Egypt's nuclear power plants.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1973. 43 p. United States Anon. American Society of Mechanical

KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Science.gov (United States)

Quality assurance data for FFTF reactor fuel pellets are presented.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Health surveillance program This article outlines the principal components of quality control of laboratory rodents.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The B-Factory which is constructed by National Laboratory for High Energy Physics is the device for elucidating the breakdown of symmetry of matter and antimatter by studying the behavior of B mesons which are generated in large quantity when the electrons and the positrons which are accelerated to light velocity level are collided. In order to maintain electron beam-positron beam bunch circling the ring at light velocity stably, the instability of the coupled bunch must be overcome. For this purpose, the ultrahigh speed beam position digital feedback control system was developed. This system is composed of the high speed input-output substrate using GaAs LSI, the feedback computation substrate using complementary metal oxide semiconductor and the memory mounted on it, and the real time operation device. The development of both substrates and their functions are explained. The real time data collection and the change of computation parameters for specific bunch in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Abstract: We report for the selective-area chemical synthesis of semiconductor single-crystal organic nanowires of silver-tetracyanoquinodimethane (Ag-TCNQ). Straight and smooth Ag-TCNQ nanowires can be produced and patterned on micrometer and nanometer scale on silicon substrates covered with a thin layer of Ag film through the reaction of TCNQ and Ag in a simple gas-solid chemical reaction process. Ag-TCNQ nanowires are characterized by UV-vis, IR and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The Ag-TCNQ nanowires grows preferentially along the [100] direction of strong - stacking of Ag-TCNQ molecules. Nanodevices based on these nanowires are fabricated using focus ion beam (FIB) technique. Electrical properties are characterized and I-V hysteresis is observed, which shows memory effect with electrical switching of three orders on-off ratio. These nanowires could be potential for use in optical storage, ultrahigh-density nanoscale memory and logic devices.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Potassium deposition in ultrahigh vacuum on 12-(3-thienyl)dodecanethiol monolayers assembled on gold surfaces has been investigated using X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS and UPS). Angle-resolved XPS indicates that initially deposited potassium penetrates the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and diffuses to the SAM/Au interface. Even after large metal doses, the presence of thiophene ring valence electronic states in the UPS spectra confirms that most of the thiophene rings (at the SAM/vacuum interface) are not covered by potassium. The binding energy shifts of the thiophene ring valence states and the C1s and thiophene S2p peaks, referenced to the Fermi level, are due to the work function changes of the gold substrate. This indicates that these electronic states are pinned to the vacuum level, in contrast to the thiolate S2p orbital, which is pinned to the Fermi level. For large potassium doses, the appearance of new features in the UPS ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fe-Ni-Mn martensitic steels are one of the major groups of ultra-high strength steels that have good mechanical properties and ductility in as annealed condition but they suffer from severe inter-granular embitterment after aging. In this paper, the effect of heavy shaped cold rolling and wire drawing on the mechanical properties of Fe-Ni-Mn steel was investigated. This process could provide a large strain deformation in this alloy. The total strain was {epsilon} {approx}7. Aging behavior and tensile properties of Fe-10Ni-7Mn were studied after aging at 753 K. The results showed that the ultimate tensile strength and ductility after cold rolling, wire drawing and aging increased up to 2540 MPa and 7.1 %, respectively, while the conventional steels show a premature fracture stress of 830 MPa with about zero ductility after aging.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ti-15Mo-2.7Nb-3Al-0.2Si (Timetal-21S), a metastable #beta#-titanium alloy, is a candidate material for titanium matrix composite structures in hydrogen-fueled hypersonic planes because of its excellent formability and adequate mechanical properties in the 500--800 C temperature range. The alloy is strengthened through the precipitation of fine #alpha# particles in the #beta# matrix. The mechanical properties and microstructures are controlled by a solutionizing/aging heat treatment. A major concern in using titanium alloys in hydrogen service is the embrittlement caused by the precipitation of hydrides. It is believed that the large solubility of hydrogen in the #beta#-phase would preclude the precipitation of hydrides in Beta titanium alloys, especially at low hydrogen pressures. However, depending on the hydrogen content, a shift in the ductile/brittle transition temperatures to levels much higher than room temperature has been reported for Timetal-21S alloy. The objective of the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The UTST (University of Tokyo Spherical Tokamak) device was constructed for the purpose of exploring the formation of ultra-high beta ST (Spherical Tokamak) plasma using the double null plasma merging method. When two plasmas merge together to form a single plasma, magnetic field lines reconnect, and the magnetic field energy is converted to the plasma kinetic energy, increasing the plasma beta. The merging start-up has been demonstrated in the TS-3/4, START and MAST devices using coils inside the vacuum vessel and TS-3 plasma obtained 50% beta. In order to demonstrate the start-up in a more reactor relevant situation, UTST has all poloidal field coils outside the vacuum vessel. The first plasma experiment on the UTST was performed from December, 2007. In the result, the plasma obtained 10 kA by using only outer PF coils and single ST was generated at the lower area (z=-0.3 - -1.0[m]) close to a washer gun. This result suggests that another washer gun on the top of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

CuAg core-shell nanoparticles are synthesized by ultra-high vacuum thermal evaporation. We show on this system how the Energy-Filtered Transmission Electron Microscopy (EFTEM) technique allows one to improve the characterization by precisely pointing out the formation of core-shell arrangements in bimetallic nanoparticle assemblies. A criterion to measure the shell thickness from EFTEM images on unique core-shell nanoparticles is defined, that can be used for core-shell nanoparticles of any sizes, with shell thicknesses over 1 nm. It is based on the intensity variation along a line drawn across a core-shell nanoparticle on a EFTEM image. This criterion has been validated by a close comparison of the shell thickness measurements performed in this work and the ones obtained by acoustic micro-Raman spectroscopy. Using this criterion, we report a strong correlation between the size of the Cu cores and the formation of the core-shell arrangements in the nanoparticle ...

Science.gov (United States)

The Abrasive Waterjet Cutting process was evaluated to determine if the equivalent could be utilized for cutting uranium metal at the Feed Materials Production Center (FMPC). In the process, a thin stream of ultrahigh pressure water carried grit material through a designated piecepart. In order to be acceptable for use at the FMPC, the equipment must be cost effective, minimize waste, and be adaptableto operating in an enclosure, and improve health and safety conditions. Observation of the cutting process showed that health and safety aspects could be optimized with an enclosed ventilated system. Also the equipment can be easily automated. The cutting action produced sparks similar to the sparks caused by a grinding operation. The sparks are captured in a water container under the workpiece that not only catches the sparks, but also serves to dissipiate the stream of water and residues produced by the cut. Metallographic tests performed on the cut surface of the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

I. S. Kirbis, P. Maxwell, M. S. Flear, K. Miller and M. Ibrahim External quality control for immunocytochemistry on cytology samples: a review of UK NEQAS ICC (cytology module) results Objective:- To date, external quality control for immunocytochemistry on cytology samples is provided only by the United Kingdom national external quality assessment service for immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridisation (UK NEQAS ICC & ISH). For the purpose of this study a retrospective analysis of a comprehensive collection of quality-related data regarding immunocytochemistry on cytology samples collected through this service was analysed. Methods:- The quality of immunocytochemical reactions, using on-line collected data, was analysed for the last 23 UK NEQAS ICC cytology module external quality asses...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic quality and adverse events of the water-soluble, non-ionic, iso-osmolar, dimeric contrast media iodixanol and iotrolan in hysterosalpingography (HSG). Material and Methods: One hundred and twenty patients participated in a double-blind randomized parallel-group phase-III study. Questionnaires and patient interviews were used. Diagnostic quality was assessed using a visual analogue scale and the quality in specific regions was rated using a categorical scale. Results: Overall diagnostic quality was equal for the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in diagnostic quality in the specific regions of interest. No differences between the contrast media were found with regard to adverse events. Conclusion: Both contrast media provided images of high diagnostic quality in HSG. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Huntsville, Alabama Utilities has successfully provided services for over 53 years. However, the quality of service demands from customers are changing every day! Part of this demand is due to updated digital appliances, home and business computers, and automated systems. A quality program was initiated in 1992 as a result of an internal assessment. The Malcolm Baldrige approach was selected which includes seven areas: (1) Leadership; (2) Information and Analysis; (3) Strategic Planning; (4) Human Resource Utilization; (5) Quality Assurance of Products and Services: (6) Quality Results: (7) Customer Satisfaction. Training for and implementation of the Quality program is discussed in detail.

Wastenet

...com: The Art of Application Performance Testing : Help for Programmers and Quality Assurance (9780596520663): Ian Molyneaux: Books Amazon.com:...The Art of Application Performance Testing : Help for Programmers and Quality Assurance (9780596520663): Ian Molyneaux: Books Ian Molyneaux,The ...Art of Application Performance Testing : Help for Programmers and Quality Assurance,O'Reilly Media,0596520662,LA9780596520663,Computer Books: General,Application software,Computer software,...com: The Art of Application Performance Testing : Help for Programmers and Quality Assurance (9780596520663): Ian Molyneaux: Books ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement activation, caused by mutations or polymorphisms in the genes encoding factor H, membrane co-factor protein, factor I or factor B, is associated...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Human Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor, purified by calcium citrate-cellulose chromatography and 4% agarose gel filtration was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis on gels containing...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Within the Annual Conference 2009 of the VGB PowerTech e.V. (Essen, Federal Republic of Germany) from 23rd to 25th May, 2009, in Lyon (France) the following lectures were held: (1) Electricity demand, consequences of the financial and economic crisis - Current overview 2020 for the EU-27 (Hans ten Berge); (2) Status and perspectives of the electricity generation mix in France (Bernard Dupraz); (3) European electricity grid - status and perspective (Dominique Maillard); (4) Technologies and acceptance in the European energy market (Gordon MacKerran); (5) EPR construction in Finland, China, France, (Claude Jaouen); (6) EPR Flamanville 3: A project on the path towards nuclear revival (Jacques Alary); (7) Worldwide nuclear Revival and acceptance (Luc Geraets); (8) An overview on the status of final disposal of radioactive wastes worldwide (Piet Zuidema); (9) Who needs pumped storage plants? PSP are partner to grid stability and renewable energies (Hans-Christoph Funke); (10) Sustainable ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

T{sub 2} weighted ultra-short turbo spin echo sequences were used in five individuals with variations in echo times, delayed triggering and echo intervals. To reduce movement artifacts all examinations were carried out with ECG and respiratory triggering. The sequences giving optimal image quality were then employed in 19 patients having various pulmonary abnormalities. Image resolutions, artifacts, image contrasts and diagnostic value were then judged by two observers and compared with CT. In the first study, a diastole-triggered UTSE sequence with the shortest echo proved optimal (T{sub E}=90 ms, T{sub R}=2-4 s, echo=9 ms, turbo factor=19). In the patient series studied, MRT was inferior to CT with regard to resolution and number of artifacts, but better in respect of contrast and diagnostic value. Using UTSE of the lung, MRT can produce images of good quality. Compared with CT, contrast is better with MRT, offering ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Immunoassays are versatile analytical techniques that had a leading role in various clinical applications, during the last four decades. The studies carried out by Rosalyn Yalow, Solomon Berson and Roger Ekins in the 1960s gave a breakthrough in the development of this novel analytical method. Sensitivity up to femtomolar concentrations, high specificity and universal application to different classes of molecular species made immunoassay a very useful tool in analytical investigation. The expertise acquired by immunochemists in producing antibodies against any antigen and the ability of radiochemists in labeling the antigens with "1"2"5I without affecting the active site are the two main factors responsible for the above development. There are concerns about the safety and health of humans due to the high-level contamination of environment by pesticides, industrial compounds and metals, anabolic steroids in milk and meat products, and presence of mycotoxins in food ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper aims to explore consumer preference for fresh vegetables labelled as organic in combination with health and environment related quality traits. The study decomposes organic farming into its main quality aspects and measures consumers' preference structure for organic, in general, and for specific organic quality traits in particular. By means of stated choice preference modelling, the following hypotheses are tested: consumers prefer health over environment related quality traits; the organic label plays a significant role in consumers' choice for organic products; organic farming is perceived as healthier and more environmentally friendly than conventional farming; purchase intention is mainly driven by health related quality traits; both health and environmental concerns influ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

How does one assure that both quality and creativity are obtained in basic research environments QA theoreticians have attempted to develop workable definitions of quality, but in more reflective moments, these definitions often fail to capture the deeper essence of the idea of quality.'' This paper asserts that creativity (as a product of the human mind) is a concrete interface between perfunctory definitions of quality (conformance to specifications) and more philosophical speculations about the nature of quality- related ultimates'' like elegance or beauty. In addition, we describe the distinction between creative ideas and creative acts and highlight one of the major inhibitors of creativity, fear. Finally we show that highly creative people often have an irreverent attitude toward boundaries and established authority, and discuss how one can ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A scaled physical model was operated to simulate steam drive operations in five-spot patterns with reservoir and operational parameters similar to those encountered in California reservoirs. The goal of this study was to elucidate the role of two important controllable parameters, viz., steam injection rate and steam quality and to explore the role of two important factors, oil viscosity and reservoir permeability on the performance of the steam drive. In addition, the influence of bottom water and a basal permeable layer were investigated. The experiments demonstrated that there is an optimum injection rate; that in the vicinity of this optimum an increased quantity results in improved oil steam ratios; that the viscosity of the oil at steam temperature, raised to a fractional power, 0.5, appears to correlate with oil production; that permeabilities in the darcy range have little effect on performance, but an increasing one with low viscosity ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To evaluate a dose conversion factor from the `Working Level of Month` (WLM) of radon to the absorbed dose (mGy), the quality of radon and its progeny was assessed, and exposures controlled for each deposition region were planed as follows: 1) exposure of radon gas to the entire respiratory tract, 2) exposure of `unattached` fractions to the upper respiratory tract, 3) exposure of `attached` fractions onto ultrafine particles to the deep lung, 4) exposure of `attached` fractions onto fine particles to the lower respiratory tract, 5) exposure of `attached` fractions onto coarse particles to the upper respiratory tract. In this preliminary study, a prototype exposure system of radon and its progeny for small rodents was designed. A whole body exposure chamber with a volume of about 0.5 m{sup 3} was used, which it held 20 rats. The aging and mixing chamber separated by the exposure chamber had a volume of about 1 m{sup 3}. As career aerosols of ...

Science.gov (United States)

The thermostable Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase (Taq Pol) has been the key factor in transforming the initial PCR method into one with huge impact in molecular biology and biotechnology. Therefore, the development of effective affinity adsorbents for the purification of Taq Pol, as well as other DNA polymerases, attracts the attention of the enzyme manufacturers and the research laboratories. In this report we describe a simple protocol for the purification of Taq Pol from E. coli lysates, leading to enzymes of high specific activity and purity. The protocol is based on a single affinity chromatography step, featuring an immobilized ligand selected from a structure-biased combinatorial library of dNTP-mimetic synthetic ligands. The ligand library was screened for its ability to bind and purify Taq Pol from E. coli lysates. One immobilized ligand (mABSGu) of the general formula X-Trz-Y, bearing 9-aminoethylguanine (AEGu) and aniline-2-sulfonic acid (mABS) linked ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Competition to produce cast parts of higher quality, lower rejection rate, and lower cost is a fundamental factor in the global economy. To gain an edge on foreign competitors, the US casting industry must cut manufacturing costs and reduce the time from design to market. Casting research and development (R&D) are the key to increasing US compentiveness in the casting arena. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is the home of a wide range of R&D projects that push the boundaries of state-of-the art casting. LLNL casting expertise and technology include: casting modeling research and development, including numerical simulation of fluid flow, heat transfer, reaction/solidification kinetics, and part distortion with residual stresses; special facilities to cast toxic material; extensive experience casting metals and nonmetals; advanced measurement and instrumentation systems. Department of Energy (DOE) funding provides the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper proposes a novel and efficient algorithm to obtain optimal generation dispatch reflecting the operator's intention in power system rescheduling. In optimal system operation, various objectives, such as economy, quality and transmission security, need to be achieved simultaneously. However, these objectives are often contradictory and in a trade-off relationship with respect to each other thus making it difficult to handle this class of problem by conventional approaches. In the proposed algorithm, optimal generation dispatch is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem. A fuzzy coordination technique based on fuzzy set theory is used to obtain an optimal solution. Evaluation indices composed of fuel cost, transmission line overload and AFC regulation capacity margin are measured by the membership functions, and multi-objective optimization is solved by maximizing the composite performance index, namely, the fuzzy decision-making ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Due to the high investment and operation costs incurred by dryers up to 50% of the proceeds from the cultivation of medicinal plants have to be spent on drying. This study was conducted in order to determine whether these costs can be lowered when solar energy is used. As little is known about the drying behaviour of medicinal plants even today one selected sage and camomile in order to study the influence of temperature, relative humidity, and drying air velocity on drying time and drug quality. Laboratory results were used as a basis for developing a solar hothouse dryer for medicinal plants which uses the whole roof surface as solar collectors with a batch dryer set up within the hothouse. In contrast to dryers of this type used up to now a foil green house with a gable roof was used. Installation of a central heating system helps to avoid bottlenecks, allows drying at night and increases plant flow by a factor of 3. The cost of heating oil, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to optimize the performance of molecular organic electronic devices it is important to study the intermolecular density of states and charge transport mechanisms in the environment of crystalline organic material. Using this approach in Field Effect Transistors (FETs) we show that material purification improves carrier mobility and decreases density of the deep localized electronic state. We also report a general exponential energy dependence of the density of localized states in a vicinity of the mobility edge (Fermi energies up to approx7 times higher than the thermal energy (kT)) in a variety of the extensively purified molecular organic crystal FETs. This observation and the low activation energy of the order of approxkT suggest that molecular structural misplacements of the sizes that are comparable with thermal molecular modes rather than impurity deep traps play a role in formation of these shallow states. We find that the charge carrier mobility in the FET ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A family of industrial irradiators is being developed by AECL to cover an electron-beam energy range from 5 to 18 MeV at beam powers between 20 and 250 kW. The IMPELA family of irradiators is designed for push button, reliable operation. The major irradiator components are modular, allowing for later upgrades to meet increased demands in either electron or X-ray mode. Interface between the control system, irradiator availability and dose quality assurance is in conformance with the most demanding specifications. The IMPELA irradiators use a klystron-driven, standing-wave, L-band accelerator structure with direct injection from a rugged, triode electron gun. Direct control of the accelerating field during the beam pulse ensures constant output beam energy, independent of beam power. The first member of the family, the IMPELA 10/50 (10 MeV, 50 kW), is in the final stages of assembly at Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories. The IMPELA 10/50 is constructed around a 3.25 m ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

High energy physics facilities must monitor the radiation doses received by their personnel. This monitoring can only be effective if the radiation detection devices can be calibrated with a good degree of accuracy. Radiation fields are usually composed of several types of radiation, including gamma rays, beta radiation, neutrons, etc. The neutron detection instruments respond not only to the neutrons coming directly from the source but also those scattered from the floor, walls, and ceiling. The amount of neutron scattering varies from site to site depending on the construction materials and layout of the building. The purpose of this study was to determine the scattered neutron fraction in the central volume of the calibration mezzanine of the Radiation Physics Calibration Facility (RPCF) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). At Fermilab, radiation workers dosimeters use CR39 for neutron detection, which are sent to an outside vendor for reading. As part of the ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundStrategies to accurately identify the occurrence of specific health care events in administrative data is central to many quality improvement and research efforts. Many...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

USGS - science for a changing world USGS Home Contact USGS Search USGS USGS Water-Quality Information * Home * Data * Methods * Labs * Publications * Topics * Programs * Contact Us...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

ObjectivesThe objective of this paper is to describe the complex mixed-methods design of a study conducted to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper presents a brief account of Lingling Hydroelectric Power Equipment General Works, the capacity of equipment production, the organization body, the quality assurance system and supervision of government department on its product quality.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Requirements for the installation, inspection, and testing that assure the quality of important components of a nuclear power plant during construction are presented.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundQuality of Life measurements are necessary tools for effectively evaluating health services. In the population of patients afflicted with war-related blindness in Iran,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The guide describes a method acceptable to the NRC staff for complying with the Commission's regulations with regard to quality assurance requirements for installation, inspection, and testing of mechanical equipment and systems for water-cooled and high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear power plants.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Experience of the Westinghouse Water Reactors Division with indoctrination and training of quality engineers includes training of personnel from Westinghouse divisions in the USA and overseas as well as of customers' personnel. A written plan is prepared for each trainee in order to fit the training to the individual's needs, and to cover the full range of information and activities. The trainee is also given work assignments, working closely with experienced quality engineers. He may prepare inspection plans and audit check lists, assist in the preparation of QA training modules, write procedures, and perform supplier surveillance and data analyses, or make special studies of operating systems. The trainee attends seminars and special courses on work-related technical subjects. Throughout the training period, emphasis is placed on inculcating an attitude of team work in the trainee so that the result of the training is the achievement of both ...

Science.gov (United States)

This plan describes the Quality Assurance Program which will be applied to spent fuel handling and packaging tests conducted at the Area 25 E-MAD facility, Nevada Test Site (NTS).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

AimsTo describe nurse burnout, job dissatisfaction, and quality of care in Japanese hospitals, and to determine how these outcomes are associated with work environment...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundAlthough considerable progress has been made in the treatment of chronic kidney disease, compromised quality of life continues to be a significant problem for patients...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

OBJECTIVE. This study was conducted to determine whether an index for measuring quality of care for psychiatric emergencies is reliable and valid. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING. The study used primary...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundHealth related quality of life (HRQoL) is one of the most important outcomes to measure effectiveness of an intervention, especially for islet transplantation...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundMigrants everywhere face several demands for health and maintaining good health and quality of life could be challenging. Iraqis are the second largest refugee group that...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

AIMS:This study aimed to determine the effect of 50 days of forced swimming stress on fertilization capacity of rat and subsequent offspring quality.SETTING...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

OBJECTIVES: To assess the subjective quality of life (QOL) of family caregivers of Sudanese type-1 and type-2 diabetic outpatients, using the WHO 26-item QOL instrument, compared with a general population...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a program of repeated assessments, feedback, and training on the quality of coded clinical data in general practice.Design:...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundEvidence on human semen quality as it relates to exposure to various metals, both essential (e.g., zinc, copper) and nonessential (e.g., cadmium, lead), is inconsistent....Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

IAQ Tools for Schools Program Leaders in Improving Indoor Air Quality in Schools Baldwin Union Free School District, Baldwin, NY El Paso Independent School District, El Paso,...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

German 2006 [1 p.] Germany Karger, Christian Heeg, Peter Jaekel, Oliver

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This document presents the basic Quality Assurance (QA) requirements which shall be included in the Quality Assurance Program established by sites planning to certify Transuranic (TRU) Waste to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Waste Acceptance Criteria. These QA requirements were modeled after ANSI/ASME NQA-1-1979. The application of quality assurance to Waste Certification Programs is required by WIPP-DOE-069 and DOE Order 5700.6A, as implemented by DOE Order AL 5700.6A.

Science.gov (United States)

... s excellent water quality and ideal temperature conditions. Oyster aquaculture operations on the Damariscotta lease about 100 acres ... ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

start within 6-12 months with small number of journals test and quality check with these journals already having full text sites ...

Science.gov (United States)

... and implement high-quality instructional materials; ? Provide stimulating environments outside of ...

Science.gov (United States)

... The total hemispherical emittance rig has been returned to service and the quality of temperature measurement has been investigated. ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The report is the second of three describing the geology of coal quality variations in the foothills and mountains region of Alberta. The Lower Cretaceous Luscar Group, Lower Paleocene Coalspur Formation, and the Upper Paleocene Paskapoo Formation (Obed-Marsh coal zone, which is classified as a foothills deposit) are evaluated. Data on proximate and ultimate analysis variables, calorific analysis, vitrinite reflectance, maceral analyses, and coal quality relationships are presented. The coals range from low volatile bituminous to subbituminous A. Regional and local in seam coal quality variations are examined. 49 refs., 39 figs., 6 tabs.