Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study attempts have been made to utilize biomass residues in a proper and efficient way. As a part of these attempts activated charcoal has been produced from coconut shell. The effects of temperature, time and impregnation ratio on activation and yield have also been studied. Experimental results show that higher temperature produces better activation but lower yield. The optimum values for activation time and impregnation ratio in producing activated charcoal were 50 min and 40%, respectively, at 600{sup o}C. (Author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We show that the recently measured asymmetry in helicity-angle spectra of the {lambda}-hyperons, produced in the reaction pp{yields}K{sup +}{lambda}p reaction, and the energy dependence of the total pp{yields}K{sup +}{lambda}p cross-section can be explained consistently by the same {lambda}p final-state interaction. Assuming that there is no final-state interaction in the {sigma}{sup 0} p channel, as suggested by the available data for the reaction pp{yields}K{sup +}{sigma}{sup 0}p, we can also reproduce the energy dependence of the {lambda}/{sigma}{sup 0} production ratio and, in particular, the rather large ratio observed near the reaction thresholds. The nominal ratio of the {lambda} and {sigma}{sup 0} production amplitudes squared, i.e. when disregarding the final-state interaction, turns out to be about 3, which is in line with hyperon ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The enzymatic activity characterization of the cellulolytic complex obtained from Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 and the influence of the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions on the hydrolysis yield are studied. Pure cellulose and native or alkali pretreated biomass Onopordum nervosum have been used as substrates. The values of pH, temperature, substrate concentration and enzyme-substrate ratio for the optimum activity of that complex, evaluated as glucose and reducing sugars production, have been selected. Previous studies on enzymatic hydrolysis of 0. nervosum have shown a remarkable effect of the alkaline pretreatments on the final hydrolysis yield. (Author) 10 refs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Energy use patterns and utilisation efficiencies in 40 factories producing palm kernel oil (PKO) in southwestern part of Nigeria were studied. The factories were stratified into small, medium and large scale categories based on the mode of operations and production capacities. Questionnaires were administered on the factories to obtain historical data on petrol, diesel and electricity consumption and PKO production outputs for seven years (1998-2004). Energy use efficiency indicators employed include: energy intensity (EI), energy cost per unit product (EC/P), energy ratio (ER), food energy ratio (FER) and percentage oil yield by weight. Results of the study indicated that averagely, 0.58, 0.53 and 0.74GJ/103l of PKO were needed in the small, medium and large PKO factories, respectively. T...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Effect of alkalis (NaOH, KOH and K2CO3) on liquefaction of EPFB (empty palm fruit bunch) biomass liquefaction was investigated under subcritical water conditions in a batch reactor operating at 270degreeC and 20bars for a period of 20min. Catalytic performance and suitable biomass to water ratio that supported higher EPFB conversion, liquid hydrocarbons yield and lignin degradations were screened. Analytical results indicate that maximum of 68wt% liquids were produced along with 72.4wt% EPFB mass conversions and 65.6wt% lignin degradation under 1.0M K2CO3/2:10 (biomass/water) conditions. In comparison, the experiments that were performed in the absence of alkalis yielded only 30.4wt% liquids, converted 36wt% EPFB and degraded 24.3wt% lignin. Furthermore, biomass to water ratios >2:10 decre...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The 10.3-h "1"6"5Er, decaying by electron capture to stable "1"6"5Ho, offers an excellent promise for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine, especially in conjuction with multiwire proportional-counter cameras. Using an ultra-high-resolution Si(Li) photon spectrometer, L and K x-ray photon yields in "1"6"5Er decay have been measured. The ratio P/sub L//P/sub K/ of electron-capture probabilities in L and K shells is determined to be 0.196 +- 0.030, in good agreement with theory. Estimates of Auger electron yields and yields of very-low-energy electrons from Coster--Kronig transitions are presented. Levels of "1"6"9Er and "1"7"1Er radioactive impurities in the reactor-produced "1"6"5Er sample are experimentally determined. Whole-body dose estimates for "1"6"5Er are given. These compare favorably with "9"9Tc dose.

Science.gov (United States)

The relationship between processing, microstructure, and properties was studied for A-15 compounds in multifilamentary composites produced by solid-state diffusion and in thin-film samples produced by vapor deposition. Grain sizes of A-15 superconducting compounds were measured by transmission electron microscopy of multifilamentary composites reacted at various temperatures. Critical current densities at 4.2 K and fields up to 6 T were found to be similar for niobium-tin, vanadium-gallium, and vanadium-silicon of the same grain size. Study of the Cu-V-Si phase diagram led to the production of improved multifilamentary vanadium-silicon conductors. The effects of various alloying elements on A-15 layers produced by solid-state diffusion were studied. The most promising new observation was that tantalum can be incorporated into niobium-tin reaction layers, leading to an enhancement of critical currents at high fields. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ionic liquids can enhance the activity, selectivity, and stability of enzyme catalysts. Enzymes and ionic liquids as catalysts are seen as a more environmentally friendly technology than the use of traditional catalyst materials in biofuels production. This study investigated the lipase catalyzed esterification reaction for biodiesel production in the presence of the ionic liquid BMIM PF{sub 6}. Methyl acetate was used as the acyl acceptor. A titremetric assay was conducted to measure the activity of the lipase with various amounts of ionic liquid. Reaction parameters were investigated in order to determine their effects on biodiesel conversion. An 80 per cent overall methyl oleate biodiesel yield was successfully produced in the presence of the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid improved lipase activity as well as overall biodiesel yield. Results also showed that the addition of the ionic liquid facilitated the separation of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Alkaline promoted active carbon supported iron catalysts are very active in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene in the presence of carbon dioxide. The best results were obtained at 550 C for a Li-promoted catalyst with a conversion of ethylbenzene of 75% and a selectivity towards styrene of nearly 95%. These results are better than those obtained with industrial catalysts which perform the dehydrogenation process with an excess of water. The main product of the dehydrogenation reaction with CO{sub 2} was styrene, but the following by-products were detected - benzene and toluene. The selectivity towards toluene was always higher than towards benzene. We observed also the formation of carbon monoxide and water, which were produced with a constant molar ratio of about 0.8. The weight of the catalysts increased up to 20% during the reaction due to deposition of carbon. Using a too large excess of CO{sub 2} (CO{sub 2}/EB>10) ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ksub(#beta#)/Ksub(#alpha#) X-ray intensity ratios have been measured for various elements between Z = 29 and Z = 79 for incident proton energies of 23.6, 32.1 and 43.6 MeV. The results yield no evidence for a variation in ratio with particle energy. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computer code, ICRKFLO, was used to investigate the scale-up effects on the coke yields of thermal cracking riser factors. Comparisons were made for calculated coke yields of pilot- and commercial-scales riser units. Computational results show that the riser aspect ratio, reaction temperature, particle residence time, and particle/oil ratio have major impacts on the coke yield. A computational experiment was conducted to determine optimal operating conditions for a conceptual design of a commercial-scale riser unit. This experiment showed that the performance loss in scale-up from pilot to commercial scale may be almost completely recovered through optimizing the operating conditions after scale-up using the CFD simulations as a guide.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of this research was to examine the energy equivalents of inputs and output in greenhouse vegetable production in the Antalya province of Turkey. For this purpose, the data for the production of four greenhouse crops (tomato, cucumber, eggplant and pepper) were collected in eighty-eight greenhouse farms by questionnaire. The results revealed that cucumber production was the most energy intensive of among the four crops investigated. Cucumber production consumed a total of 134.77 GJha{sup -1} followed by tomato with 127.32 GJha{sup -1}. The consumption of energy by eggplants and pepper were 98.68 and 80.25 GJha{sup -1}, respectively. The output-input energy ratio for greenhouse tomato, pepper, cucumber and eggplant were estimated to be 1.26, 0.99, 0.76 and 0.61, respectively. This indicated an intensive use of inputs in greenhouse vegetable production not accompanied by increase in the final product. This can lead to problems associated with these inputs ...

Science.gov (United States)

Enhanced heat transfer in curved rectangular channels depends on at least two geometric factors, the radius of curvature of the duct and the aspect ratio, which is the width/depth ratio of the duct. In this work, an expression for optimum aspect ratio is derived mathematically from a correlation that includes both aspect ratio and bend curvature parameters. Enhancement factors are developed that show optimal, near-optimal, and nonoptimal aspect ratios for curved rectangular ducts. Predicted enhancements are within 25% of published literature results for individual designs, two of which show heat transfer enhancement of 200% over that of a straight duct with turbulent flow. The theoretical maximum enhancement is shown to be about 480% over a straight-duct, turbulent-flow situation. This is not achievable in practice, but near-optimal solutions are achievable, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ratio of the fissile isomers and prompt fissions yields has been measured in processes of neutron capture by /sup 241/Am and /sup 243/Am nuclei in the neutron energy interval from 0.2 up to 1.3 MeV. The present data and the previous results suggest that the fission Am isomers are spin structure isomers rather than shape isomers.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Austenitic 316LN alloy was ion-irradiated using the unique Triple Ion Beam Facility (TIF) at ORNL to investigate radiation damage effects relevant to spallation neutron sources. The TIF was used to simulate significant features of GeV proton irradiation effects in spallation neutron source target materials by producing displacement damage while simultaneously injecting helium and hydrogen at appropriately high gas/dpa ratios. Irradiations were carried out at 80, 200, and 350 C using 3.5 MeV Fe{sup ++}, 360 keV He{sup +}, and 180 keV H{sup +} to accumulate 50 dpa by Fe, 10,000 appm of He, and 50,000 appm of H. Irradiations were also carried out at 200 C in single and dual ion beam modes. The specific ion energies were chosen to maximize the damage and the gas accumulation at a depth of {approximately} 1 {micro}m. Variations in microstructure and hardness of irradiated specimens were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report presents the results of work which included extensive modifications to HRI`s existing 3 ton per day Process Development Unit (PDU) and completion of the first PDU run. The 58-day Run 1 demonstrated scale-up of the Catalytic Two-Stage Liquefaction (CTSL Process) on Illinois No. 6 coal to produce distillate liquid products at a rate of up to 5 barrels per to of moisture-ash-free coal. The Kerr McGee Rose-SR unit from Wilsonville was redesigned and installed next to the US Filter installation to allow a comparison of the two solids removal systems. Also included was a new enclosed reactor tower, upgraded computer controls and a data acquisition system, an alternate power supply, a newly refurbished reactor, an in-line hydrotreater, interstage sampling system, coal handling unit, a new ebullating pump, load cells and improved controls and remodeled preheaters. Distillate liquid yields of 5 barrels/ton of moisture ash free coal were ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The improvement of startability achieved by chemical ignition promotion at low temperature was studied theoretically and experimentally in terms of compression ratio and cetane number using a small direct injection diesel engine. The findings are as follows: The compression ratio and cetane number vary almost linearly. When the compression ratio increases by 1, the cetane number decreases by about 9. Since almost the same ignition condition at starting can be achieved by adjusting the number of cranking cycles, there is almost no influence of compression ratio and cetane number on ignition delay. When the soak temperature is -10{sup 0}C and the compression ratio is 18, the influence of the cetane number is almost negligible. Given the same starting time, the influence produced by an increase in compression ratio by 1 is equivalent to the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

For developing coal liquefaction processes, it is an important problem to improve the light oil yield with increased oil yield. It was previously reported that distillate mainly containing lighter fraction can be produced with high oil yield by reducing the iron/sulfur catalyst addition in slurry, by recycling gas in the process operation, by utilizing these effects, and by using heavy oil as recycling solvent. In this study, the maximum distillate yield of Victorian brown coal was investigated through continuous liquefaction using a bench scale unit. In addition, operation conditions for obtaining sufficient oil yield were investigated under the reduced catalyst addition into one-third. Consequently, it was confirmed that the maximum content of lighter fraction in distillate product was obtained with reduced catalyst addition by using heavy oil as recycling ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This thesis describes the analysis of the semileptonic decay D{sup 0} {yields} {bar K}{sup 0} {pi}{sup -} {mu}{sup +}{nu} using FOCUS data. FOCUS is a fixed target experiment at Fermilab that studies the physics of the charm quark. Particles containing charm are produced by photon-gluon fusion from the collision of a photon beam on a BeO target. The experiment is characterized by excellent vertex resolution and particle identification. The spectrometer consists of three systems for track reconstruction (two silicon systems and one multiwire proportional chamber system) and two magnets of opposite polarity. The polarity of the magnet is such that the events of e{sup +}e{sup -} pairs produced in the target (which constitutes the main background) travel through a central opening in the detectors without interactions. Particle momentum is measured from the deflection angle in the magnets. Three multicell Cerenkov counters are ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The determination of ratio of neutron over proton matrix elements by inelastic proton scattering, for 0{sup +}{yields}2{sup +} transitions, is investigated via the comparison between experimental data and theoretical calculations. Calculations into the context of a macroscopic and a microscopic description are performed for a wide mass range nuclei: {sup 18}O, {sup 30}Si, {sup 32,34}S, {sup 48}Ca, {sup 88}Sr, for which these ratios were determined previously with an independent technique. At that point the choice of the theoretical model may be very critical. It is thus the purpose of this investigation to point out the most suitable model. It is found that in general both theoretical models can be employed for the reliable determination of neutron over proton matrix element ratios.

CERN Document Server

We calculate the energy spectra of cosmic rays (CR) and their secondaries produced in a supernova remnant (SNR), taking into account the time-dependence of the SNR shock. We model the trajectories of charged particles as a random walk with a prescribed diffusion coefficient, accelerating the particles at each shock crossing. Secondary production by CRs colliding with gas is included as a Monte Carlo process. We find that SNRs produce less antimatter than suggested previously: The positron/electron ratio and the antiproton/proton ratio are a few percent and few $\\times 10^{-5}$, respectively. Moreover, the obtained positron/electron ratio decreases with energy, while the antiproton/proton ratio rises at most by a factor of two above 10 GeV.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A new evaluation (UKFY2) has been prepared of the independent and cumulative yields of the products of fission induced by thermal, fast, and 14 MeV neutrons in nuclides important for reactor design and operation and for fuel and waste management. Three spontaneously fissioning nuclides were also considered. The evaluation used a database that is considered to be complete up to early 1989. Careful study was made of experimental uncertainties and discrepancies, emphasizing the need for further measurements. Gaps in the data were filled by interpolation and extrapolation, using fits to empirical models. The yields were subsequently adjusted to fit physical constraints of the fissioning process. This paper describes the evaluation, which was submitted and accepted for inclusion in the JEF2 file. The file was produced in January 1990 and a revision of cumulative yield uncertainties distributed in January ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Independent calculations of the antiproton-to-proton ratio by Gaisser and Maurer and by Badhwar et al. have produced conflicting results which obscure the interpretation of recent measurements of cosmic ray antiprotons. A detailed reexamination of these calculations has been performed and these differences have been resolved. We find that the first calculation was essentially correct and the reported fluxes of antiprotons are significantly higher than expected for secondary antiprotons in conventional models of cosmic ray propagation, as indicated by other recent calculations.

CERN Document Server

We report Sr, Pd and Ag abundances for a sample of metal-poor field giants and analyze a larger sample of Y, Zr, and Ba abundances. The [Y/Zr] and [Pd/Ag] abundance ratios are similar to those measured for the r-process-rich stars CS 22892-052 and CS 31082-001. The [Pd/Ag] ratio is larger than predicted from the solar-system r-process abundances. The constant[Y/Zr] and [Sr/Y] values in the field stars places strong limits on the contributions of the weak s-process and the main s-process to the light neutron-capture elements. Stars in the globular cluster M 15 possess lower [Y/Zr] values than the field stars. There is a large dispersion in [Y/Ba]. Because the r-process is responsible for the production of the heavy elements in the early Galaxy, these dispersions require varying light-to-heavy ratios in r-process yields.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The production of the {lambda}- and {sigma}{sup 0}-hyperons has been measured via the pp{yields}pK{sup +}{lambda}/{sigma}{sup 0} reaction at the internal COSY-11 facility in the excess energy range between 14 and 60 MeV. The transition of the {lambda}/{sigma}{sup 0} cross-section ratio from about 28 at Q{<=}13 MeV to the high-energy level of about 2.5 is covered by the data showing a strong decrease of the ratio between 10 and 20 MeV excess energy. Effects from the final-state interactions in the p-{sigma}{sup 0} channel seem to be much smaller than in the p-{lambda} channel. Estimates of the effective range parameters are given for the N{lambda} and the N{sigma} systems. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The formation of #alpha#'-sialon using Li as a modifying cation was investigated. The effects of the Li content, firing temperatures and Si/Al ratios on #alpha#'- yield were studied. The results indicated that at lower sintering temperatures the stabilisation of #alpha#'-sialons was obtained but the high weight losses of Li at higher temperatures limited the stabilisation. Increased ''Al'' content in the compositions resulted in an increase in the stability of Li-#alpha#'-sialon at higher temperatures, by the formation of a liquid phase which retains Li in the system. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In Spiral CT, the pitch is the ratio of the distance to tabletop travels per 360 degrees rotation to nominal slice width, expressed in mm. Performing Spiral CT examination with pitch 2 allows to reduce examination time, exposure and contrast dose, and X-ray tube overload. The authors investigated the yield of pitch 2 in lung parenchyma studies, particular relative to diagnostic image quality.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have created quasiprojectiles of varying isospin via peripheral reactions of {sup 28}Si+{sup 112}Sn and {sup 124}Sn at 30 and 50 MeV/nucleon. The quasiprojectiles have been reconstructed from completely isotopically identified fragments. The difference in N/Z of the reconstructed quasiprojectiles allows the investigation of the disassembly as a function of the isospin of the fragmenting system. The isobaric yield ratio {sup 3}H/{sup 3}He depends strongly on N/Z ratio of quasiprojectiles. The dependences of mean fragment multiplicity and mean N/Z ratio of the fragments on N/Z ratio of the quasiprojectile are different for light charged particles and intermediate mass fragments. Observation of a different N/Z ratio of light charged particles and intermediate mass fragments is consistent with an inhomogeneous distribution of isospin in the fragmenting system.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A method is proposed for producing a stabilizer of wash drilling muds; by hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrile in an aqueous solution of alkaline agent with heating. To raise the heat resistance of the stabilizer, as the alkaline agent is used monosilicate of sodium, while the hydrolysis is done at a molar ratio of polyacrylonitrile, sodium monosilicate and water equal to 1.0:0.7-2.5:100, to a degree of hydrolysis of 25-40.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We show that the recently measured asymmetry in helicity-angle spectra of the #LAMBDA#-hyperons, produced in the reaction pp#->#K"+#LAMBDA#p reaction, and the energy dependence of the total pp#->#K"+#LAMBDA#p cross-section can be explained consistently by the same #LAMBDA#p final-state interaction. Assuming that there is no final-state interaction in the #SIGMA#"0 p channel, as suggested by the available data for the reaction pp#->#K"+#SIGMA#"0p, we can also reproduce the energy dependence of the #LAMBDA#/#SIGMA#"0 production ratio and, in particular, the rather large ratio observed near the reaction thresholds. The nominal ratio of the #LAMBDA# and #SIGMA#"0 production amplitudes squared, i.e. when disregarding the final-state interaction, turns out to be about 3, which is in line with hyperon production data from proton and nuclear targets available at high energies. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text: Measurement of K_#beta# to K_#alpha# x-ray intensity ratios are important not only in the field of atomic physics, radiation physics and medical physics, but also to test the validity of assumptions made in the theoretical prediction. The intensity ratios can also give information on the effect of physical and chemical environment of the element in the compound. Many investigators have adopted a single and double reflection geometries to measure the K_#beta# to K_#alpha# x ray intensity ratios to understand the effect of physical and chemical environment on x-ray fluorescence. The targets are excited by a radioactive source of having activity of the order 100 MBq. in order to carry out accurate measurement K_#beta# to K_#alpha# x-ray intensity ratios, we have develop 2#pi# geometrical configuration method : placing a target right on the surface of the detector facing the target to measure the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the present thesis, the shell structure in exotic nuclei has been investigated. The focus of the work was on finding new experimental data in neutron-rich Cr and proton-rich Ca isotopes. The investigation of light Ca isotopes concentrated on the nucleus {sup 36}Ca which was produced in a knockout reaction from a radioactive {sup 37}Ca beam. For {sup 36}Ca, the excitation energy of the first 2{sup +} state has been measured for the first time. Furthermore, momentum distributions were analyzed using a Monte-Carlo simulation of the knockout reaction. This analysis yielded the contributions of neutrons from individual orbitals to the total knockout cross section. In principle, these may be used to calculate spectroscopic factors, but such a calculation is hampered by difficulties of present knockout-reaction models in predicting precise single-particle cross sections. The measured branching ratio to the ground and excited ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effect of a carbohydrate, a 20% protein, or a carbohydrate +0.3% tryptophan TRP breakfast on plasma large neutral amino acid ratio was studied in 6 healthy men. The carbohydrate-rich meal produced shifts in plasma amino acid concentrations such that plasma TRP/LNAA ratios increased from 0.13 to 0.15 (p<0.04) and the protein meal decreased the ratio from 0.14 to 0.11 (p<0.04) after 1 hour. Addition of 0.3% TRP to the carbohydrate-rich meal increased plasma TRP/LNAA ratios more than 2-fold. The TRP containing meal was thus the only one likely to influence brain 5-HT synthesis, although the difference between the plasma TRP/LNAA ratios after carbohydrate and protein breakfasts suggests that the brain may distinguish, by synthesizing more or less 5-HT, the composition of breakfast meals. (Author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The LAHET code system calculations and experimental results for proton interactions with an energy <50 MeV are compared. For these energies, the theories behind the LAHET models are not applicable. Three quantities compared are (a) the magnitude of the neutron yield generated through proton interactions, (b) the energy and angular distributions of the resultant neutrons, and (c) the residual nuclei produced by proton interactions (spallation products). The comparisons are for protons incident on iron and copper, except in the case of the energy and angular distributions, which are calculated only for iron. The neutron yields predicted by LAHET agree with published measurements to within 50% for both materials. For iron, the predicted energy and angular distributions agree to within a factor of 3. Finally, the predicted spallation product yields of both materials agree with measurements to within a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sesame varieties/genotypes showed a good response to radiation with gamma rays and treatments with EMS. In M_1 both gamma rays and EMS influenced germination, seedling height, survival of plants and pollen fertility/sterility, producing deleterious effects on these characters. Compared to black seeded genotypes, white seeded ones are more susceptible to radiation. Both gamma rays and EMS produced various types of morphological variations in M_2 generation. These were dwarf plant mutants, mottled and fleshy leaved mutants (sterile), fasciated stem, flower colour, altered phyllotaxy, early, uniculm, capsule size variations, multiple capsule/leaf axil, seed coat colour variations, indehiscent and semi-indehiscent type mutants. Moreover, studies on quantitative characters including seed yield revealed the induction of mutants in both positive and negative directions for such traits which made a good scope of selection of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The authors propose a method for determining the risk of femoral neck fracture in osteoporotic patients that is not based on densitometric techniques. The method is based on a structural analysis performed by a computer on data taken from a single digital anteroposterior projection of the hip. From the image, the effective cross-sectional area and cross-sectional moment of inertia are computed from attenuation principles. Together with other geometric measurements, these data are used in an engineering analysis to compute the yield strength of the proximal femur, under stress applied through the acetabulum in a one-legged stance. An index of fracture risk based on the ratio of estimated yield strength to body weight is proposed. Ultimately it is expected that this work will allow the clinician to estimate hip fracture risk in osteoporotic patient using widely available existing technology, a goal which has eluded bone ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The L-shell x-ray intensity ratios I(L_#beta#)/I(L_#alpha#) and I(L_#gamma#)/I(L_a_l_p_h_a) for elements with 73 #<=# Z #<=# 83 have been measured at photon incident energies of 17.8, 25.8 and 46.9 keV. The emitted x-rays were measured with a Si(Li) detector system. The results for Re, Pt and Tl are being reported for the first time. A comparison is made of the experimental results with the calculated values obtained by using the theoretical x-ray emission rates, subshell ionisation cross sections, subshell fluorescence yields and Coster-Kronig transition probabilities. The experimental results are in reasonable agreement with the theoretical values. (author).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this context, the bulk ratio of CH4/N2 is examined as a potential alternative geochemical parameter for the assessment of thermal maturity of natural gas and compared to other previously published data. Open-system non-isothermal pyrolysis of low-mature coal from the Manjiaer sag, Tarim basin, yielded generation curves for methane and nitrogen. Analysis of the change of vitrinite reflectance indicates a two-stage process of thermal maturation with increasing temperatures. The relationship between Ro and pyrolysis temperature could be expressed by the following equations: Stage I: Ro = 0.0014T + 0.109, r = 0.9931(Ro Ro = 0.0067T -1.5855, r = 0.9996 (Ro > 0.6%). A kinetic interpretation of the characteristics of nitrogen and methane generation in humic coal during laboratory pyrolysis ind...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This study investigated the effect of hydrogen content in producer gas on the performance and exhaust emissions of a supercharged producer gas-diesel dual-fuel engine. Two types of producer gases were used in this study, one with low hydrogen content (H{sub 2} = 13.7%) and the other with high hydrogen content (H{sub 2} = 20%). The engine was tested for use as a co-generation engine, so power output while maintaining a reasonable thermal efficiency was important. Experiments were carried out at a constant injection pressure and injection quantity for different fuel-air equivalence ratios and at various injection timings. The experimental strategy was to optimize the injection timing to maximize engine power at different fuel-air equivalence ratios without knocking and within the limit of the maximum cylinder pressure. Two-stage combustion was obtained; this is an indicator of maximum ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The goal of this project is to develop a bench-scale procedure to produce clean, desulfurized, premium-quality chars from the Illinois basin coals. This goal is achieved by utilizing the effective capabilty of smectites in combination with methane to manipulate the char yields. The major objectives are: to determine the optimum water- ground particle size for the maximum reduction of pyrite and minerals by the selective-bitumen agglomeration process; to evaluate the type of smectite and its interlamellar cation which enhances the premium-quality char yields; to find the mode of dispersion of smectites in clean coal which retards the agglomeration of char during mild gasification; to probe the conditions that maximize the desulfurized clean-char yields under a combination of methane+oxygen or helium+oxygen; to characterize and accomplish a material balance of chars, liquids, and gases ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Unsymmetric diaryl alkynes were synthesized from the palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of aryl halides and propiolic acid using a continuous flow reaction system. This flow chemistry system continuously gave the desired products in moderate to good yields, and produced less byproduct than was formed in the batch reaction.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The reactions of alpha particles on natural abundance chromium have been studied between 40 and 110 MeV, in order to produce "5"2Fe for medical use. The yield of the reaction "5"2Cr(#alpha#,4n)"5"2Fe for Esub(#alpha#) = 85 #-># 53 MeV is only 30 #mu#Ci/#mu#Ah. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Experimental observations related to the initiation of plastic deformation in metals and alloys irradiated with fission neutrons have been analyzed. The experimental results, showing irradiation-induced increase in the upper yield stress followed by a yield drop and plastic instability, cannot be explained in terms of conventional dispersed-barrier hardening because (a) the grown-in dislocations are not free, and (b) irradiation-induced defect clusters are not rigid indestructible Orowan obstacles. A new model called 'cascade-induced source hardening' is presented where glissile loops produced directly in cascades are envisaged to decorate the grown-in dislocations so that they cannot act as dislocation sources. The upper yield stress is related to the breakaway stress which is necessary to pull the dislocation away from the clusters/loops decorating it. The magnitude of the breakaway stress has been ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We demonstrate a two-step process used to increase the hydrogen yield from sucrose and to relieve the pollution threat caused by resultant fatty acids in dark-fermentation. In batch tests of dark-fermentation using microflora, the maximum hydrogen production rate was >360 mL H{sub 2}/Lh and the maximum hydrogen yield was 3.67 mol H{sub 2}/mol sucrose. The fatty acids produced in dark-fermentation were mainly butyrate and acetate with a small amount of propionate, valerate, n-butyl alcohol, and caproate. Photo-fermentation with Rhodobacter sphaeroides SH2C was then employed to convert these small molecular fatty acids into hydrogen. The total hydrogen yield from sucrose increased from the maximum of 3.67 mol H{sub 2}/mol sucrose in dark-fermentation to 6.63 mol H{sub 2}/mol sucrose by using the two-step process. No butyrate, acetate, propionate, or valerate was detected in the final fermentation ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The structure functions (SF) of nuclei determined within the framework of the flucton model with rescaling (FMR) are compared with new experimental data of the ITEP on cumulative #pi#-meson yield in a wide range of the scale variable X (1ratios obtained in analysis of deep inelastic lepton scattering by nuclei within the FMR framework and experimental data on #pi#"+-meson production on Be, Al, Cu, Ta nuclei in cumulative region has confirmed the hypothesis of limiting fragmentation.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mass distribution in 28.5 MeV alpha particle induced fission of "2"3"2Th has been determined using gamma spectrometric technique. The chain yields of 24 different fission products covering both symmetric and asymmetric mass divisions were determined. The mass distribution was found to be asymmetric with peak positions at mass numbers 96 and 136 respectively while the peak to valley ratio was 3.86. The results are compared with the available literature on 14 MeV neutron induced fission of "2"3"5U. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Analyses of the date obtained from the instrumented impact test and of its correlation with static and dynamic J integral values and various tensile properties are made in this study. It is shown that a dynamic bending yield load recorded in the instrumented Charpy V test can be easily converted to a dynamic tensile yield stress using Server's equation. It is also possible to estimate a true fracture strain, COD value, and SZW easily if the load point displacement is recorded. Temperature dependency of Charpy V energy and J integral values is rather well simulated by a curve fitting method. However, a half value transition temperture obtained in that method has no physical meaning. Dynamic J sub(ID) is larger than a static J sub(IC) in the ductile fracture range in this study. This rise is proportional to the yield stress ratio sigmasub(yd)/sigmasub(y)(--1.2-1.3). It is found, therefore, that ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effect of two iron catalysts, red mud and CGS S-G, as well as Co-Mo/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and Ni-Mo/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ commercial catalysts on the composition of oil derived from the liquefaction of Japanese subbituminous coal have been investigated comparatively by conventional autoclave experiments at 440 and 450C under initial hydrogen pressure of 85kg/cm/sup 2/ . G with tetralin to coal weight ratio of 3. From the results obtained at 450C, total conversion and the yield of gas revealed almost same level with four catalysts, but the oil product from molybdenum catalysts showed higher yield than that from iron catalysts. CGS S-G catalyst also showed higher yield of oil product than red mud catalyst. Reaction behavior of two iron catalysts were also tested by solvent recycle mode experiments.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

With the aim of optimizing the nitriding process parameters (temperature and gas mixture ) experimental studies of the plasma nitriding of Ck 15 steel were carried out, using a D. C. glow discharge. Nitriding treatments were performed at 450, 500 and 550 and N_2/H_2 volume ratio of 3/1, 1/1 and 1/3 for 5 hours. Nitriding treatment produces modified surface layer consisting of an outer compound layer and an inner diffusion layer.The plasma nitriding of Ck 15 produce single white layer consisting of #gamma#-(Fe_4N).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This research involves the development of an analysis which yielded recommendations regarding the plate thickness at which the effects of transverse shear become significant enough to be taken into consideration during vibration testing of composite plates. The specimens designed using this analysis are to be used for the {open_quotes}inverse{close_quotes} problem of determining through-the-thickness elastic constants as well as in-plane elastic constants from modal vibration response data. The effects of transverse shear were studied over the range of practical plate aspect ratios (length to thickness ratios) and mode numbers. Behavior of composite plates ranging from isotropic to highly orthotropic was studied in order to investigate the effects of transverse shear. Orthotropic plates having in-plane dimensions of 254 x 254 mm and thicknesses varying from 10 mm to 80 mm, with free-free edge boundary conditions, were ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The radioactive isotopes of lead are reviewed with respect to their choice for in vitro tracer studies. The #gamma#-photon energy and absence of particle emission in the decay of "2"0"3Pb makes it particularly suitable for these applications. Reaction yields of "2"0"3Pb using "2"0"3Tl targets and proton, deuteron, "3He and "4He beams are listed. Using the preferred reaction "2"0"3Tl (d, 2n)"2"0"3Pb with a 15 MeV deuteron beam, yields of about 75 #mu#Ci #mu#Ahr"-"1, after chemical separation, are reported. Details of target design and chemical separation are given. (U.K.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The modeling methods used to compute the neutron-induced activation of target and near-target materials in the NIF facility are presented. A detailed space and energy description of the neutron environment in the different materials is provided. A new capability has been developed to treat in a general way the activation of debris produced in an operational regime of yield and no-yield experiments. First calculations are addressed to analyze the activity of the debris into the target chamber. The contribution of the different components to activity, interior dose rates, and waste disposal rating (WDR) is determined. The importance of the activation coming from primary irradiation in the target, and from secondary irradiation in debris deposited onto the first wall is assessed. Finally, waste hazards of the activated debris when removed out of the chamber and stored are analyzed. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A focused ion beam (FIB) system produces a final beam spot size down to 0.1 .mu.m or less and an ion beam output current on the order of microamps. The FIB system increases ion source brightness by properly configuring the first (plasma) and second (extraction) electrodes. The first electrode is configured to have a high aperture diameter to electrode thickness aspect ratio. Additional accelerator and focusing electrodes are used to produce the final beam. As few as five electrodes can be used, providing a very compact FIB system with a length down to only 20 mm. Multibeamlet arrangements with a single ion source can be produced to increase throughput. The FIB system can be used for nanolithography and doping applications for fabrication of semiconductor devices with minimum feature sizes of 0.1 .mu.m or less.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this article a methodology is presented for studying the influence of the biomass moisture content and the biomass/air ratio on the producer gas composition and on the chemiluminescent emissions during the combustion process. Firstly, a mathematical model based on the thermo-chemical processes inside the gasifier is used to predict the composition of the producer gas as a mixture of CO, CO2, H2, N2, CH4 and H2O gases. Secondly, the predicted composition is introduced into a constant volume combustion bomb (CVCB), which simulates the typical conditions inside the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, in order to characterize its combustion under gasoline-type conditions through the instantaneous pressure and the detection of the spontaneous luminous radiation (chemilumines...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pd/sub 2/Si layers produced by evaporation or sputtering onto silicon substrates were examined by high resolution electron microscopy, microdiffraction, X-ray, energy loss and Auger spectroscopy. The Si-Pd/sub 2/Si interfaces produced by evaporation were in all cases rougher and more polycrystalline than those produced by sputtering. X-ray microanalysis showed the predictable variation in palladium distribution across the interface but quantification did not produce the expected palladium-to-silicon ratios, primarily because of probe broadening and X-ray-induced fluorescence. Energy loss spectra showed plasmon energy shifts and changes in Si L edge shape due to bond formation with palladium. Auger data provided evidence for a small amount of oxygen at the Si-Pd/sub 2/Si interface. Electrical measurements of the ideality factor for Schottky barriers made from the materials ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effect that different chemical and physical atomic environments can have on the relative intensities of radiative electron transitions from the filling of K shell vacancies was investigated. The method used involved the detection of photoionization induced X-ray fluorescence. An experimental system based on a hyper pure germanium detector (HPGE) was used to measure the relative K-L and K-M X-ray yields from the photofluorescence of a series of lanthanide elements and compounds. A background subtraction and peak integration strategy was employed which accounted for scattering in the samples and scattering of the flux from the radioisotope photoionization sources. Analysis of the data resulted in a tabulation of relative K/sub #beta#//K/sub #alpha#/ X-ray intensity ratios. The measured relative K/sub #beta#//K/sub #alpha#/ X-ray intensity ratios were compared to the calculated values predicted by the theoretical ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Excessive use of poultry litter (PL) on agricultural land is known to cause eutrophication of surface waters. Consequently, both poultry producers and PL users have to meet strict state and federal guidelines on litter storage and land application. This study examined the environmental benefits of adding lime, alum, ferrous sulfate, fly ash (FA), fluidized bed ash (FBA) and soil fix (SF) to PL for immobilizing excess phosphorus (P) while providing sufficient nutrients for proper growth of soybean [Glycine max (L.)] and corn [Zea mays (L.)] on a rotation. Amending PL with lime, alum, SF, FA and FBA significantly (p>0.05) increased corn and soybean yield. In contrast control plots that received a 10-10-10 (N-P2O5-K2) fertilizer showed lower yield and corn quality. Increased yield was ob...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Large amounts of US public funds are deviated to energy-related R and D conflicts with the country's simultaneous attempts to control inflation and to limit federal government expansion. Congress must concentrate the funds at its disposal upon a manageable number of energy technologies - those most likely to improve the supply side of the domestic energy equation while maintaining an adequate return on investment. An examination of a wide array to technology alternatives concludes that (1) the development of unconventional gas would yield a large return while requiring only limited federal R and D support, (2) combined-cycle coal gasification and the manufacture of low- and medium-Btu gas need relatively little government aid and produce moderate returns, (3) although requiring limited support, energy from municipal solid waste (MSW) yields a small return, and (4) high-Btu coal gasification needs extensive federal ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Hydrogen production from desugared molasses (DM) was investigated in both batch and continuous reactors using thermophilic mixed cultures enriched from digested manure by load shock (loading with DM concentration of 50.1 g-sugar/L) to suppress methanogens. H"2 gas, free of methane, was produced during batch cultivations, at different (DM) concentrations ranging from 1.5 g-sugars/L to 50.1 g-sugars/L. The highest yield of 237 ml-H"2/g-sugar was achieved during the DM batch fermentation at concentration of 2.1 g-sugars/L, whereafter the yield decreased with increasing DM concentration. The enriched hydrogen producing mixed culture achieved from the 16.7 g-sugars/L DM batch cultivation was immobilized on heat treated anaerobic sludge granules in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reac...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Known since ancient times, the phenomenon of allelopathy has recently received greater attention from researchers and farmers worldwide. Crop failures and low yields caused by the reseeding, overseeding, crop rotation and replanting of fruit trees in orchards are believed to be caused by allelopathic activity. Moreover, the expensive and environmentally impacting herbicides for weed control have motivated studies directed at developing cheaper, environmentally-friendly alternatives. Despite the difficulties in separating chemical interference from other mechanisms, more modern approaches have produced consistent and conclusive data on this topic. The release and dynamics of allelochemicals in the soil are discussed herein. Examples of allelopathic crops, the allelochemicals produced and th...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Micropropagation methods are described for the production of clonal lines from Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah) seedlings. Nodal explants from mature trees can also yield shoot cultures, but a high frequency of contamination occurs among such explants. Uncontaminated callus cultures can be produced from mature trees by culturing stamen filaments and shoots can subsequently be regenerated from this callus. The rooting percentage of shoot cultures from either nodes or stamen callus of mature trees is low compared with that from seedling explants. Considerable variation was observed between trees in the ability of stamen callus to regenerate shoots and in the frequency of rooting. (Refs. 27)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

COMPLIS is an experimental facility designed to carry out spectroscopic studies on radioisotopes produced by disintegration of elements available at CERN's Booster-ISOLDE on-line isotope separator. During recent series of experimental runs, hyperfine structure measurements have yielded information on nuclear moments and deformations of platinum and iridium isotopes. For the first time, population by #alpha#-decay from Hg was exploited to investigate "1"7"8"-"1"8"1Pt--the most neutron-deficient Pt isotopes yet studied. Successful measurements have recently been carried out on "1"8"2"-"1"8"9Ir.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Florida posseses climatic, land, and water resources favorable for abundant biomass production. Therefore, a statewide program has been initiated to determine adapted species for the available array of production sites. Plant resources under investigation include woody, aquatic, grasses, hydrocarbon, and root crop species. The goal is to produce a continuous stream of biomass for the various biofuel conversion options. Preliminary yields from energy cropping experiments range from about 10 to nearly 90 metric tons per hectare per year, depending on the crop and the production systems employed. (Refs. 15).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tumor imaging using radioiodinated monoclonal antibodies (Mab) suffered from rapid in vivo deiodination. This problem can be circumvented by covalent attachment of a bifunctional chelating group to the Mab followed by chelation with a suitable cationic radionuclide such as In-111. Competition of trace metal contaminants with In-111 for chelating sites, however, is known to lower the labeling yield. Since commercially available reagents may be contaminated with other trace metal ions, the effect of trace metals on Mab-DTPA chelation and the possibility of masking the trace metal effect on the In-111 labeling of Mab-DTPA were, therefore, investigated. Labeling yield of 93% was obtained when 1 mg (20mg/ml) of Mab F(ab')/sub 2/-DTPA (protein to DTPA ratio of --1) was allowed to incubate with 3 mCi In-111 in 2 ml acetate buffer (0.5M, pH 5.5) for 30 min. The yield was drastically decreased to 13-76% when the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In order to optimize the production of "2"0"1Tl and "6"7Ga using the (p, xn) reactions on enriched "2"0"3Tl and "6"8Zn targets we established a new set of cross section curves for the most relevant reactions. Target stacks made of up to 15 thin (50 #mu#m) natural Tl or Zn foils interleaved with brass degradation foils were irradiated with incident proton energies from 42 to 10 MeV in overlapping experiments. Yields for "2"0"0","2"0"1","2"0"2"m","2"0"3","2"0"4"mPB and "6"6","6"7","6"8Ga were computed from measured #gamma# emission rates. Where possible, cross section curves for the nuclear reactions involved were computed. Thick target yields and contamination ratios for enriched targets were derived and show good agreement with results from actual production runs. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The production of K{sup +}-mesons in pA(A=D,C,Cu,Ag,Au) collisions has been investigated at the COoler SYnchrotron COSY-Juelich for beam energies T{sub p}=1.0-2.3 GeV. Double differential inclusive pC cross-sections at forward angles {theta}{sub K+}<12 as well as the target mass dependence of the K{sup +} momentum spectra have been measured with the ANKE spectrometer. Far below the free NNthreshold at T{sub NN}=1.58 GeV the spectra reveal a high degree of collectivity in the target nucleus. From the target mass dependence of the cross-sections at higher energies, the repulsive in-medium potential of the K{sup +}-mesons can be deduced. Using pNcross-section parameterisations from the literature and our measured pD data we derive a cross-section ratio {sigma}(pn{yields}K{sup +}X)/{sigma}(pp{yields}K{sup +}X) {proportional_to}(3-4). (orig.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa L.) yellow variety is composed of 50-55g peel per 100g of fresh fruit which is discarded as waste during processing. Utilization of passion fruit peel for pectin extraction was studied. Passion fruit peel obtained after juice extraction was blanched in boiling water for 5min, dehydrated in a cross flow hot air drier at 60+-1degreeC to a moisture content of 4g/100g of dried peel. The dehydrated passion fruit peel was used for extraction experiments of pectin. The effect of pH, peel to extractant ratio, and number of extractions, extraction time and temperature on the yield and quality characteristics of pectin were investigated. The optimized conditions for extraction of pectin from passion fruit peel yielded 14.8g/100g of dried peel. Pectin ex...

CERN Document Server

Associated production of a baryonic Z' boson with the W boson can account for the excess in Wjj production observed by the CDF collaboration at the Tevatron. We analyze other possible channels of this Z' at the Tevatron and at the LHC, including \\gamma Z' and Z Z' with the Z' -> jj. We show that the chances of confirming this baryonic Z' is better at the Tevatron than at the LHC because of the faster growing backgrounds at the LHC. Unfortunately the current systematic uncertainties of the order of 10% cannot yield any significant excess in both \\gamma Z' and Z Z' channels at the Tevatron and also at the LHC. Nevertheless the search using the b\\bar b decay mode of Z' is much more feasible at the LHC, provided that the branching ratio B(Z' -> b\\bar b) > 0.1. In particular, the W Z' -> l \

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A series of four 125I-labeled 1-substituted-4-phenylpiperazines were prepared and evaluated in rats as potential brain imaging agents. The compounds were labeled using (125I)iodide/chloramine-T or iodine monochloride and isolated in 48-60% radiochemical yields. The tissue distribution studies indicated that a butyrophenone derivative demonstrated the best overall brain-imaging properties. Compared with the compounds having other 1-substituents this agent had a more prolonged retention of activity in the brain and higher brain-to-blood ratios over the 4-h period studied. The in vivo behavior of this agent is comparable to that of radioiodinated N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine, and, because it can be labeled directly via electrophilic methods, it has substantial potential for use in brain imaging with single photon emission computed tomography.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) represents a powerful technique for the detection of long-lived radionuclides through ultra-low isotope ratio measurements. In many cases, counting atoms rather than decays yields much higher sensitivities. The potential of AMS will be demonstrated on typical radionuclides of interest with half-lives between some tens of years up to a hundred million years. The precise measurement of the 27Al(n,2n)26Al excitation function will be exemplified. Lack of information exists for a list of nuclides as pointed out by nuclear data requests. A brief overview on detection limits and some applications for selected long-lived radionuclides is given.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lipophilic tertiary amines attached to cylcopentadienyl technetium-99m tricarbonyl (cytectrene) have been prepared with high radiochemical yield and purity. Biodistribution studies in mice showed that [{sup 99m}Tc]-cytectrenes, containing in their structure an N-methylpiperidine, were accumulated in the brain up to 2.8% of injected dose with high brain-to-blood ratios at 15 min p.i. They therefore indicate some potential as brain imaging agents. It has to be pointed out that the N-methylpiperidine ester showed similar biological behaviour as the keto derivatives. This indicates that the conversion to polar metabolite(s) via hydrolysis of the ester group - as described for [{sup 99m}Tc]-ECD -is not essential for brain retention. (Author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Electric Fuel zinc-air battery yielded energy densities from 6.8 to 10.2 times higher than those of the lead-acid batteries. The higher the power and the more difficult the driving cycle, the higher this ratio of energy densities grew. Not only was the Electric Fuel battery capable of extended high-power discharge, the impact of such discharge conditions on energy and driving range was show to be quite small, and was much smaller than the comparable impact on lead-acid traction batteries. At the time of writing this paper, tests are scheduled to continue with the 110-kWh battery in the Mercedes van, and preliminary plans have been made for testing of additional batteries on other vehicle types.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper reported on a study in which rapeseeds were separated into high quality seed for food oil and low quality seed for biofuels. A laboratory-scale oilseed screw press was then used to examine the effects of choke opening and seed preheating on the rapeseed pressing performance and the quality of food oil and biofuels oil. Oil recovery and chlorophyll content was found to increase as maximum pressure increased. In terms of pressing performance, the rapeseed heated by microwaves yielded more oil and chlorophyll than without heating. The NEB ratio of microwave heating press with an 8.0 mm choke opening was advantageous. Rapeseed oil extracted from low quality seeds was found to have a high acid value. The quality of oil extracted by oilseed screw press was found to be good and met the requirements of the Codex Alimentarius for edible oils.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper presents an investigation into the feasibility and potential advantages of a small scale Miller cycle natural gas engine for applications such as domestic combined heat and power systems. The Miller cycle engine is compared to a standard Otto cycle engine using cycle analyses and multidimensional simulation, and basic engine design implications are discussed. It is found that the Miller cycle engine has a potential for improved fuel efficiency, but at the cost of a reduced power to weight ratio. A fuel efficiency advantage of 5{yields}10% compared to a standard Otto cycle engine appears possible, however it is stated that further investigations, in particular into the topic of engine friction, are required in order to validate the findings. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Recently developed oxygen O18 method [K. Franzreb, J. Lorincik, P. Williams, Surf. Sci. 573 (2004) 291; R.C. Sobers, K. Franzreb, P. Williams, Appl. Surf. Sci. 231-232 (2004) 729; P. Williams, R.C. Sobers Jr., K. Franzreb, J. Lorincik, Appl. Surf. Sci. 252 (2006) 6429] is able to quantitatively determine the flux ratio of oxygen to matrix species at dynamical SIMS sputtering. This flux ratio can be directly related to the surface oxygen concentration at dynamical sputtering - an important parameter controlling the ionization yield of emitted species. It is argued that the oxygen O18 method is a worthy step forward in gathering relevant experimental data that might eventually lead to the understanding of oxygen enhancement mechanism in SIMS. A current status of understanding of the ionization processes in SIMS is briefly discussed in terms of non-adiabatic strongly velocity dependent processes represented by the electron ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Based on techniques of organic solvent extraction and a thermal model experiments of coal-related hydrocarbon, the variation of coal structure and the character of deformed coal-related hydrocarbons were studied when the coal seam at Piagdingshan mine, China was modified by tectonic stress. The results show that the extraction ratio by n-hexane and benzene from the deformed coal approaches that form normal coal, but the extraction ratio by chloroform from the deformed coal is two times more than that from normal coal. The deformed coal has higher solvable low-molecular weight compounds than normal coal. The intermolecular force of deformed coal is relatively small. The deformed coal has low strength and high adsorption capacity, and these determine the outbreak of coal-gas outburst. The extraction yields by chloroform can be taken as an index of forecast risks of coal-gas outburst. The potentially of generating hydrocarbon ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rats were exposed to lead (Pb) before or after weaning. For preweaning exposures, nursing dams received 0.2% Pb acetate(1090 ppm Pb) in drinking water. Offspring treated after weaning consumed the same concentration. Tapwater served as the control fluid. Pre-post treatments were distributed among four experimental groups of 10 rats each: tap water-tap water, Pb-tap water, tap water-Pb, Pb-Pb. Operant behavior training began on Postnatal Day 58. Animals performed on a multiple reinforcement schedule of food presentation consisting of fixed-interval, fixed-ratio, and time out components.Statistical analyses of experimental sessions 4 to 11 (Postnatal Days 72 to 79) revealed that postweaning exposure significantly lengthened the median interval (interresponse time) between consecutive responses on both the interval and ratio schedules. Preweaning exposure alone tended to produce a shortening of the median interresponse time. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: To enable the solidification of liquid waste containing radioactive substance in a free shape with large volume reduction ratio without a pulverizing step by producing solute in the liquid waste as a slurry in a predetermined organic solvent and forming it into a cake by mechanical exfoliation. Method: Liquid waste containing suitably concentrated radioactive substances is supplied to a centrifugal thin film evaporator together with an organic agent having a higher boiling point than water and a non aqueous solution to evaporate the water content, the solute in the waste is produced as a slurry in the organic solvent, and removed as cake-state solute slightly residued with the organic solvent by the mechanical exfoliation such as centrifugal exfoliation or settling exfoliation from the slurry-state liquid. Accordingly, it can be increased in size as compared with the powder reduced in volume of the radioactive ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Medium-density polyethylene/multiwall carbon nanotube (MDPE/MWCNT) nanocomposites were produced by a mechanical milling method using a high-energy ball mill. The MDPE and MWCNTs were added to the ball mill at a constant 20:1 weight ratio of ball/powders and milled for 10 h to obtain polyethylene matrix nanocomposites reinforced with 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 weight percent of MWCNTs. To clarify the role of both MWCNT content and milling time on the morphology of MDPE, some nanocomposite samples were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope. To evaluate the role of milling on the microstructure of the nanocomposites, very thin films of MDPE/MWCNTs were prepared and studied by transmission electron microscopy. Thermal behavior of these nanocomposites was investigated by using differenti...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The reactive evaporation process was successfully used to deposit films of the A-15 Nb_3Ge phase. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, illustrating the use of such processes for the deposition of A-15 compounds. In this process, niobium vapors from an electron-beam-heated evaporation source react with germane gas introduced into the vacuum chamber at low partial pressures (approximately 10"-"4 Torr) to produce Nb_3Ge deposits. The process variables studied were the deposition temperature, the niobium-to-germanium impingement ratio on the substrate and the plasma-enhanced deposition, in this case the activated reactive evaporation process. At low deposition temperatures (below 450"0C) the deposit is amorphous (or microcrystalline) and can be crystallized to the Nb_3Ge phase by heat treatment, e.g. at 850"0C for 1 h in vacuum. The ratio of niobium to germanium in the deposit can be varied by changing the ...

CERN Document Server

We present new results from accurate and fully general-relativistic simulations of the coalescence of unmagnetized binary neutron stars with various mass ratios. The evolution of the stars is followed through the inspiral phase, the merger and prompt collapse to a black hole, up until the appearance of a thick accretion disk, which is studied as it enters and remains in a regime of quasi-steady accretion. Although a simple ideal-fluid equation of state with \\Gamma=2 is used, this work presents a systematic study within a fully general relativistic framework of the properties of the resulting black-hole--torus system produced by the merger of unequal-mass binaries. More specifically, we show that: (1) The mass of the torus increases considerably with the mass asymmetry and equal-mass binaries do not produce significant tori if they have a total baryonic mass M_tot >~ 3.7 M_sun; (2) Tori with masses M_tor ~ 0.2 M_sun are ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There is growing interest in using {sup 242m}Am as a nuclear fuel for space reactors and nuclear batteries. In this paper, we discuss different {sup 242m}Am enrichments, as well as fuel weight requirements, to produce a critical reactor. It was found that relatively low enrichments of {sup 242m}Am, about 10 w/o, are enough to guarantee criticality. Such low enrichments might eliminate the need for a {sup 242m}Am enrichment process. It was also found that the best results for low {sup 242m}Am requirements are obtained with a moderator to fuel volume ratio of 10,000.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The refractory nature and high ductility of body centered cubic (bcc) phase tantalum makes it a suitable material for corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings on surfaces that are subjected to high stresses and harsh chemical and erosive environments. Sputter deposition can produce thick tantalum films but is prone to forming the brittle tetragonal beta phase of this material. Efforts aimed at forming thick bcc phase tantalum coatings in both flat plate and cylindrical geometries by high-rate triode sputtering methods are discussed. In addition to substrate temperature, the bcc-to-beta phase ratio in sputtered tantalum coatings is shown to be sensitive to other substrate surface effects.

Science.gov (United States)

The U.S.A. is currently spending hundreds of millions of dollars on coal liquefaction research and this is aimed at improving the German processes to give better yields at lower temperatures and pressures using regenerable, instead of throw-away, catalysts. In assessing the various processes it should be remembered that Australia's requirements are different from those of America. American work is mainly directed to producing a clean, low sulphur, low ash, fuel(solid, liquid or gaseous) particularly from their high sulphur Eastern coals, in order to release for other purposes the very large quantities of oil and gas used in the U.S.A. each year in power stations. Obviously there is no scope for this approach in Australia, where over 90% of electricity is produced already from coal and where there are adequate resources of low sulphur coals to meet Australia's forseeable power requirements. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The production methods for seven radioisotopes, Ga-67, Sr-85, Pd-103, In-111, Tu-167, Hg-197 and Pb-203, by using a classical 1.5m cyclotron in the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, Obninsk, USSR, are described. At present, more than 50 cyclotrons in different countries are used for the production of radioisotopes applied to medicine. Radioisotopes are produced with the cyclotron in the I.Ph.P.E. in the form of irradiated targets, which are delivered to Moscow radiopharmaceutical factory, where radiopharmaceuticals are produced on the base of these targets. The cyclotron is operated in two regimes providing the acceleration of protons, deuterons and alpha -particles. Two types of target assemblies are used for irradiation, the one is intended for the internal beam, and the other is for the external beam. The reactions used for the production of seven radioisotopes described above, the types of targets, particle energy, respective ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The production of cellulolytic enzymes from fungi has been extensively studied. Several mutants of Trichoderma reesei were selected. Most of the studies were carried out on T. reesei, T. viride, T. harzianum, Penicillium funiculosum, Altemaria alternata. Aspergillus phoenicis, A. ustus, A. tamarii, A. japonicus, and A. niger. T. koningii is one of the most active producers of the so-called C, factor, which is indispensable for the rapid and extensive attack on crystal-line cellulose. However, Trichodenna is known to excrete only small amounts of {beta}-glucosidase. Therefore, Trichoderma is supplemented with {beta}-glucosidase from Aspergillus to increase the saccharification rate of cellulose to glucose as the main sugar. Induction of mutations in Trichodenna spp. rather than T. viride as a tool for the enhancement of {beta}-glucosidase activity was reported. Unfortunately, T. reesei is a poor producer of {beta}-glucosidase. On the other hand, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The stoichiometry of photorespiration, S, is defined as the fraction of glycolate carbon photorespired. It is postulated that under steady-state conditions there are two determinants of the ratio of photorespiration to net photosynthesis: the partitioning of ribulose bisphosphate between oxidation and carboxylation, and the partitioning of glycolate between reactions leading to complete oxidation to CO/sub 2/ (S . 100%) and those yielding CO/sub 2/ plus serine (S . 25%). S may be calculated using two independent probes of the system. The physical probe, using an infrared gas analyzer, measured photorespiration and net photosynthesis, and hence their ratio PR/NPS . pn(phys). The metabolic probe employed tracer (3R)-D-(3-/sup 3/H1,3-/sup 14/C)glyceric acid to determine r, the fraction of /sup 3/H retained in the triose phosphates leaving the chloroplasts. It is deduced from the postulated model that S . pn(phys) . r/(1 - r). ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the present thesis I discuss the hard spectator interaction amplitude in B {yields} {pi}{pi} at NLO i.e. at O({alpha}{sup 2}{sub s}). This special part of the amplitude, whose LO starts at O({alpha}{sub s}), is defined in the framework of QCD factorization. QCD factorization allows to separate the short- and the long-distance physics in leading power in an expansion in {lambda}{sub QCD}/m{sub b}, where the short-distance physics can be calculated in a perturbative expansion in {alpha}{sub s}. Compared to other parts of the amplitude hard spectator interactions are formally enhanced by the hard collinear scale {radical}({lambda}{sub QCD}m{sub b}), which occurs next to the mb-scale and leads to an enhancement of {alpha}{sub s}. From a technical point of view the main challenges of this calculation are due to the fact that we have to deal with Feynman integrals that come with up to five external legs and with three independent ratios of scales. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Neutron time-of flight spectra were measured from 90 MeV protons and 140 MeV alpha-particle bombardment of Al, Ni, Zr, and Bi at laboratory angles between 20"0 and 130"0. The proton induced neutron spectra reveal three distinct energy regions; a low energy evaporation region, a high-energy region dominated by quasi-free scattering processes and an intermediate-energy region dominated by multi-step, pre-equilibrium processes. In the latter two regions, the spectra show strong angular dependence. The alpha-induced neutron spectra show these same distinct energy regions plus an exponential fall-off above the beam energy per nucleon. The high-energy portions of the forward-angle neutron and proton cross sections are in ratios consistent with the assumption that single nucleon-nucleon scattering dominates. For heavy-mass targets, the low-energy evaporation regions show neutron yields larger than proton yields. The ...

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Laser-assisted processing techniques for producing high-quality solar cell metallization patterns have been investigated, developed, and characterized. During the early stages, preliminary investigations were carried out on a variety of promising laser-assisted metallization schemes, and the best of these was selected for further development. A comprehensive literature search initially yielded information on state-of-the-art laser-assisted techniques for metal deposition such as laser chemical vapor deposition and laser photolysis of organometallics, as well as laser-enhanced electroplating. Initial experiments on laser-enhanced electroplating yielded very promising results with linewidths as narrow as 25 ..mu..m and local plating speeds as high as 12 ..mu..m/s being achieved. Metal deposition experiments were carried out utilizing laser-assisted pyrolysis of a variety of metal-bearing polymer films and metallo-organic inks ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cross sections for some electro- and photoinduced spallation reactions on {sup 27}Al and {sup 51}V are measured in the energy region 130 MeV to 580 MeV with the activation method. Comparisons are made with calculations based on the Dalitz formalism for virtual photon spectra, and Monte Carlo calculations based on a cascade evaporation model, respectively. By use of Bremsstrahlung with end-point energies from threshold to 750 MeV, the yields for photo- production of{pi}{sup -}leading to ground and isomeric states in {sup 197}Hg are measured with the activation method. The activity from the Hg-isotopes were measured after a chemical separation of Hg from the target material. The yields and isomeric ratios are compared with impulse approximation calculations. For the photoproduction of {sup 195m}Hg and {sup 192}Hg from {sup 197}Au, the yields were measured. The experimental mean cross sections are compared ...

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Excitation functions for {sup 201}Pb, {sup 202m}Pb, {sup 203}Pb and {sup 204m}Pb radionuclides which are formed via proton induced reactions with natural thallium target have been measured from their respective threshold (E{sub thr}) to 27.5 MeV using activation technique. Natural copper foils were used to monitor the cyclotron beam. The integral yields (MBq/{mu}A h) of the produced radionuclides were calculated from the measured excitation functions. The optimum proton energy range for the production of {sup 203}Pb with low amount of impurities is (16-10 MeV) after 5 h of EOB. The experimental cross-sections for {sup nat}Tl(p,xn) reactions were compared with the cross-sections recommended by the IAEA and with earlier published data when it was possible. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Three dispersants (stearic acid, oleic acid, and poly-(12-hydroxystearic acid)) are compared for their ability to produce low-viscosity suspensions of zirconia in kerosene. Rheological measurements and sediment packing density measurements show that poly(12-hydroxystearic acid) is a better dispersant than stearic acid or oleic acid; this is explained in terms of the longer tail of the poly-(12-hydroxystearic acid) surfactant molecule. The amount of dispersant can be optimized to reduce viscosity and yield point of the suspension, and to eliminate thixotropic hysteresis. The use of a dispersion medium of lower viscosity than the dispersant makes it easy to detect when complete monolayer coverage has been achieved. The loss of pseudoplasticity, brought about by a higher degree of deflocculation, can be recovered by increasing the volume fraction of solids of a suspension and this is beneficial in the plastic forming of ceramics. Rheological ...

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Plutonium metal is produced by reducing PuF{sub 4} prepared from PuO{sub 2} by fluorination. Both fluorination and reduction are batch processes at the Los Alamos Plutonium Facility. The conversion of plutonium oxide to fluoride greatly increases the neutron yield, a result of the high cross section for alpha-neutron ({alpha},n) reactions on fluorine targets compared to the (more than 100 times) smaller {alpha},n yield on oxygen targets. Because of the increase, total neutron counting can be used to monitor the conversion process. This monitoring ability can lead to an improved metal product, reduced scrap for recycle, waste reduction, minimized reagent usage, and reduce personnel radiation exposures. A new stirred-bed fluorination process has been developed simultaneously with a recent evaluation of an automated neutron-counting instrument for quantitative process monitoring. Neutrons are counted with ...

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The possibility of obtaining high yields of hydrogen through the exposure of calcium hydroxide to natural uranium fission fragments is confirmed experimentally. The amounts of hydrogen obtained in some experiments were determined not only from the mass-spectrometry data, but also with the use of standard chemical analysis methods. The radiolytic hydrogen yield averaged over six independent experiments comprises 20.41 hydrogen molecules per 100 eV of absorbed fission fragment energy. The corresponding energy efficiency makes up to 60.62. Since on interaction with water or water vapor calcium hydroxide enters into the exothermal reaction to liberate 15.6 kcal/mole, it can easily be regenerated; this was attested to by one of irradiation experiments. Therefore, in the long run, we are dealing with a radiolytic decomposition of water at low temperatures or at temperatures readily available with modern reactor engineering techniques. Comparison of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The "6"2Zn-"6"2Cu generator system is one of the few which yield a pure positron emitting daughter. The authors have developed a method for the preparation of this generator system following 32 MeV #alpha# particle bombardment of nickel targets. The chemical processing involves two stages: first a hydrous zirconium oxide column is used at pH 4-5 to separate the zinc and copper activities produced in the target nickel, and secondly, a conventional anion exchange column is used to retain the "6"2Zn and remove all copper activities in 2M HCl. This column serves as the "6"2Cu generator which will yield pure "6"2Cu repeatedly, free from "6"2Zn and other impurities, in a mixture of HCl and NaCl. A method is outlined also to obtain a solution of "6"2Zn using the hydrous zirconium oxide (HZO) column. "6"1Cu can be prepared as a by-product in the above procedure, but a method for the preparation of "6"1Cu alone using an 18 MeV ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Taiheiyo coal deashed using acid treatment and loaded with potassium or calcium was hydro-cracked under gaseous phase to discuss effects of these metals on liquefaction reaction. In addition, the loaded coal was added with red mud catalyst to examine effects of the addition. The loaded potassium has a softening power, and particularly the potassium adsorbed into surface and micropores in the coal decomposes selectively HI-BS and BI-PS and generates gas and HS. On the other hand, potassium deposited on coal surface promotes direct gas production from the coal. Irrespective of its loading modes, calcium has a catalytic nature to produce HI-BS selectively. Calcium also acts to impede decomposition of HI-BS into HS. Adding red mud catalyst to potassium loaded coal increases the inversion rate and the liquefaction yield, and most of the increase is accounted for by HI -BS, and BI-PS. When red mud catalyst is added to calcium loaded coal, the ...

Science.gov (United States)

A laser pyrolysis technique has been used to produce ultrafine particles of iron carbide with diameters ranging from 2 to 20 nm. Catalysis using iron carbide was investigated in the liquefaction of Wyodak subbituminous coal; yields were determined. A study was carried out to examine the possibility of using an ultrasonic extraction technique as a rapid method of product work-up of samples following pretreatment or liquefaction experiments. A similar study had shown that extraction of coal-derived products by an ultrasonic method was rapid and gave yields and product distributions comparable to those obtained by Soxhlet extraction. On another project, three different types of supported catalysts were used to test activity for the combined water-gas shift hydrogenation of a synthetic donor solvent. The three catalysts tested were: (1) Alumina supported NiMo catalyst-Shell 324m; (2) Bulk hydrous TiO NiMo catalyst; (3) Thin ...

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Partial combustion of biomass in the gasifier generates producer gas that can be used for heating purposes and as supplementary or sole fuel in internal combustion engines. In this study, the potential of coir-pith and wood chips as the feedstock for gasifier is analyzed. The performance of the gasifier-engine system is analyzed by running the engine for various producer gas-air flow ratios and at different load conditions. The system is experimentally optimized with respect to maximum diesel savings and lower emissions in the dual fuel mode operation while using coir-pith and wood chips separately. The performance and emission characteristics of the dual fuel engine are compared with that of diesel engine at different load conditions. Specific energy consumption in the dual fuel mode of operation is found to be in the higher side at all load conditions. The brake thermal efficiency of the engine while using wood chips in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The present study was carried out during two successive seasons of 2005 and 2006 seasons on"Montakhab El-Kanater"guavas and"Hachiya"persimmons.two different experiments were studied, the first one for pre harvest and second post harvest. Regarding pre harvest experiment,hand or chemical flower thinning by urea or ethrel and date of fruit picking (maturity) were evaluated on both guavas and persimmons.All flower thinning treatments increased fruit set,total yield,average fruit weight and decreased fruit abscission.However,a great effect on fruit quality and chemical compositions were also found with flower thinning treatments. Chemical flower thinning was more effective than hand thinning in improving yield and quality in "Montakhab El-Kanater"guavas and "Hachiya"persimmons. However,early maturation(120 and 150 days for guava and persimmon respect.) produced poor fruit quality.Whereas, medium maturity(130 and 180 days for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A balloon-borne instrument has measured the cosmic-ray antiproton flux between 130 and 320 MeV and searched for antihelium between 130 and 370 MeV per nuclear. These particles were selected from the background of normal-matter cosmic rays by combining a selective trigger with a detailed spark chamber visualization of each recorded event. Antiprotons are identified by their characteristic annihilatin radiation. Residue from background processes meeting the selection criteria is small. The observed 14 antiprotons yield a measured differential flux of 1.7 +- 0.5 x 10/sup -4/ antiprotons m/sup -2/ sr/sup -1/ s/sup -1/ MeV/sup -1/ at the top of the atmosphere. The corresponding antiproton/proton ratio is 2.2 +- 0.6 x 10/sup -4/,, only slightly smaller than the ratio observed by other experiments at higher energies. Thus the antiprotons have a spectral shape similar to the protons, at least down to about 100 MeV. The expected ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The atmospheric chemical behaviour of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CF{sub 3}CFH{sub 2}, HFC-134a) with respect to its rate and mechanism of degradation in the troposphere has been investigated. The rate coefficient for the reaction of (1a) CF{sub 3}CFH{sub 2}+OH{yields}CF{sub 3}CFH+H{sub 2}O has been determined in direct time-resolved experiments using laser-pulse initiation and laser long-path absorption. A value of k{sub 1a}=(4.6{+-}0.5).10{sup -15} cm{sup 3}/s at T=295 K has been found. The ratio of the rate coefficients for the reactions of the CF{sub 3}CFHO-radical with O{sub 2}, (4) CF{sub 3}CFHO+O{sub 2}{yields}CF{sub 3}CFO+HO{sub 2}, and C-C bond fission, (5) CF{sub 3}CFHO+M{yields}CFHO+CF{sub 3}+M, for T=295 K and p{sub total}=50 mbar (O{sub 2}) has been obtained to be k{sub 4}/(k{sub 5}[M])=1.5.10{sup -19} cm{sup 3}, with the individual values being k{sub 4}=2.7.10{sup -15} cm{sup 3}/s and k{sub ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This multinational, multi-phase spent fuel sabotage test program is quantifying the aerosol particles produced when the products of a high energy density device (HEDD) interact with and explosively particulate test rodlets that contain pellets of either surrogate materials or actual spent fuel. This program has been underway for several years. This program provides data that are relevant to some sabotage scenarios in relation to spent fuel transport and storage casks, and associated risk assessments. The program also provides significant technical and political benefits in international cooperation. We are quantifying the Spent Fuel Ratio (SFR), the ratio of the aerosol particles released from HEDD-impacted actual spent fuel to the aerosol particles produced from surrogate materials, measured under closely matched test conditions, in a contained test chamber. In addition, we are measuring the amounts, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of the current MITRE study is to estimate the cost of the coal derived liquid products that result from processing low rank coals in the Wilsonville and HRI CTSL configurations. The resultant cost of liquids is then compared to liquids produced from bituminous coals. The methodology used to accomplish the above objective was to utilize the MITRE coal liquefaction cost model to assess the overall technical and economic performance of low rank coals in both the Wilsonville and HRI configurations. Actual test data from Wilsonville and HRI was used as the basis for these analyses. This test data is modified to simulate complete resid recycle extinction and to standardize the operating performance of the deashing unit. This corrected yield data is then used in the simulation models to predict the overall performance and economics of a conceptual commercial coal liquefaction facility. 9 refs., 7 figs.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

For an ultrafine grain ferrite/cementite (UGF/C) steel, the Charpy impact energy was measured at temperatures from 373K to 4.2K, and tensile tests were carried out at temperatures between 323K and 77K. For the steel with annealed microstructure, the ductile-to-brittle transition appearance temperature (DBTT) was lower than the Charpy transition temperature (CTT). With increasing annealing time at 873K, the DBTT and the CTT increased, and the DBTT approached the CTT. The DBTT decreased with decreasing effective grain size. The effective grain size correlated to the grain size of the larger grain size peak in the distribution of grains with {100} planes. The annealed microstructures had higher yield strength for equivalent toughness (including upper shelf energy, DBTT and CTT) compared to th...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Trametes hirsuta, a filamentous basidiomycete, was successfully cultivated in solid-state fermentation (SSF) on a mixture of pine wood chips and orange peel in a novel bioreactor that allows mixing of the inoculated solid material during the fermentation. Copper sulfate or xylidine (2,5-dimethylaniline) were added to enhance the production of enzymes, especially laccases. For comparison, Trametes hirsuta was also cultivated in submerged conditions. The effect of additives in SSF was low, whereas the choice of the solid material and the rotation of the reactor vessel showed a significant influence on the enzyme production. The space-time yields for the fermentations were calculated and showed that SSF on low-cost substrates can effectively produce extracellular enzymes at a suffici...

Science.gov (United States)

A new process engineering flowsheet reflecting an improved design of the LASL Bismuth Sulfate thermochemical cycle is presented. The design is based on laboratory data that indicate a lowered endothermic heat load for a partial decomposition of the solid bismuth sulfate. A small electrical energy demand should result from operation of the sulfur dioxide electrolytic step at lower acid concentration, in principle. The results of the flowsheeting analysis yield a thermal efficiency of 50% for the cycle when coupled to a conceptual fusion energy heat source at 1500/sup 0/K. A parametric analysis shows a slight drop in efficiency as the temperature of the heat source is decreased. The LASL Bismuth Sulfate thermochemical cycle appears to have potential as a means of producing hydrogen from high-temperature heat sources such as fusion, fission, and solar energy; it also appears to be competitive with alternative thermochemical cycles as well as with ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Modern commercial alloys are not suited for future steam turbines of operating temperatures beyond 700 C. #gamma#'-hardened alloys like Waspaloy have good mechanical characteristics but have defects when large batches are melted. #gamma#'/#gamma#''-hardened alloys like Inconel 706, on the other hand, are easy to produce but have insufficient microstructural long-term stability and insufficient creep strength. Mixed crystal solidified alloys like Inconel 617 have excessive yield stress at forging temperatures. Two new alloys were therefore developed. Results so far show that they have good production characteristics but insufficient mechanical characteristics. The reasons for this are currently under investigation. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

2-methylpropan-1-ol (isobutanol) is a leading candidate biofuel for the replacement or supplementation of current fossil fuels. Recent work has demonstrated glucose to isobutanol conversion through a modified amino acid pathway in a recombinant organism. Although anaerobic conditions are required for an economically competitive process, only aerobic isobutanol production has been feasible due to an imbalance in cofactor utilization. Two of the pathway enzymes, ketol-acid reductoisomerase and alcohol dehydrogenase, require nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH); glycolysis, however, produces only nicotinamide dinucleotide (NADH). Here, we compare two solutions to this imbalance problem: (1) over-expression of pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase PntAB and (2) construction of an NADH-de...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Describes a process for production of briquets for metallurgy with binder and coke fines or anthracite. The suggested binder is waste phenol resin from the production of phenol (cumene method). Resin properties are given. Possible reaction mechanisms yielding solidified matter are discussed. The production process requires 10-15% binder and applies charge heating up to 200 C over 30 min. Catalytic amounts of sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid were also employed. The production process is shown in a flowsheet. Properties of produced briquets are tabulated. The briquets were used in a 8 t/h cupola furnace and their performance was compared to that of KL-1 coke. Performance was found to be comparable; the cost of coke briquets was less than that of heating coke. 2 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

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

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The potential of the yeast Candida tropicalis and Candida guillermondii was evaluated and an isolated partnership of microorganisms of waters of the Medellin River, conformed by two bacteria and one leavening, to degrade the content of organic matter present in wine produced by the factory of Licores and Alcoholes de Antioquia (FLA) in aerobic process with biomass production. For each one of the microorganisms in study this capacity of removal in units of chemical demand of oxygen was quantified (CDO); in addition, parameters were analyzed such as yield of the biomass in relation to the removed CDO and to total reducing sugars (TRS) consumed, time of fermentation and speed of growth different dilutions from wine. Also the possible inhibition was analyzed that the present phenolic compounds in this wine can cause in the biological process of degradation.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Brazil is the world?s main producer of passion fruit. Previous reports show that passion fruit rinds, an industrial waste, contain large amounts of pectin. Pectin is a dietary fiber that is widely used in the food industry as a gelling agent and stabilizer. In this study, the quality and characteristics of pectin extracted from yellow passion fruit rind flour was investigated. Pectin was extracted from both commercially available and prepared passion fruit peels using nitric acid. Once extracted, the pectin was evaluated for its molecular characteristics and chemical composition as well as for the apparent and reduced viscosity of the gel. Prepared (blanched) rind flour yielded 203.4?g?kg?1 of pectin, which contained a uronic acid content of 681?mg?g?1, a degree of esterification of 80, a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Red mud is a solid waste produced in the process of alumina extraction from bauxite. In this paper, recovery iron from Bayer red mud was studied with direct reduction roasting process followed by magnetic separation, and then building materials were prepared from alumosilicate residues. After analysis of chemical composition and crystalline phase, the effects of different parameters on recovery efficiency of iron were carried out. The optimum reaction parameters were proposed as the following: ratio of carbon powder: red mud at 18:100, ratio of additives: red mud at 6:100, roasting at 1300 deg. C for 110 min. With these optimum parameters, total content of iron in concentrated materials was 88.77%, metallization ratio of 97.69% and recovery ratio of 81.40%. Then brick specimens were prepared with alumosilicate residues and hydrated lime. Mean compressive strength of specimens was ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We propose to investigate the spontaneous emission of radiation arising out of the interaction of a relativistic electron beam with a metallic grating (the Smith-Purcell effect). The work will concentrate, primarily, in the 50-120 #mu#m part of the infrared spectrum and will be an extension of the work begun by the Oxford-Dartmouth-Essex collaboration; one of the early objectives of the project will be to develop a quantitative understanding of the power spectrum of the emitted radiation over a wide range of emission angles. In particular, the limits of relativistic peaking of forward directed emission will be investigated. The electron beam will be produced by laser irradiation of a metallic cathode in the terminal of a small Van de Graff accelerator located in the Technische Universitaet, Muenchen. Beam energies will be in the range of 2 - 4 MeV. Initial tests on photoproduction of electrons have yielded 10 mA pulses with a width of about 20 ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A technique of producing radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements (r.e.e.) and carrier free "2"4"2Am is suggested. The technique makes use of ''sandwich'' phthalocya=- nine complexes of r.e.e. and americium placed on sorbent. This is a new type of r.e.e. compounds and actinides (C_3_2H_1_6N_8)_2M (M is a metal ion) which are thermally, radiationally and chemically stable, dissolve well in some organic solvents and do not dissolve in water. Radiation and chemically stable activated carbon is used as a sorbent carrier. After irradiation the target is treated by a weakly acid solution or complex-former solution. Radioactive atoms formed due to (n, #gamma#)-reaction and desoleting the complex because of recoil transfer into the solution. When irradiating in the flux of 10"1"3 neutr./cm"2 x s for 1 hour it is possible to produce radioactive isotopes with the yield from 20 to 90%, for example "1"6"0Tb, "1"6"6Ho with enrichment ...

CERN Document Server

A new monolithic semi-insulating (SI) GaAs sensor design for X-ray imaging applications between 10-100keV has been proposed. Monolithic pixel detectors offer a number of advantages over hybrid bump-bonded detectors, such as high device yield, low costs and are easier to produce large scale arrays. In this thesis, an investigation is made of the use of a SI GaAs wafer as both a detector element and substrate for the epitaxially grown High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs). The design of the HEMT transistors, optimised for this application, were produced with the aid of the Silvaco 'Virtual Wafer Fab' simulation package. It was determined that the device characteristics would consist of a small positive threshold voltage, a low off-state drain current and high transconductance. The final HEMT transistor design, that would be integrated to a pixel detector, had a threshold voltage of 0.17V, an off-state leakage current of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Optical Isotope shift measurements have been performed for the {sup 240f,242f}Am fission isomers to test the stability of nuclear deformation as function of the neutron number. The method is based on resonance ionization spectroscopy (RIS) in a buffer gas cell with fission detection of the ionization process. The {sup 240f,242f}Am fission isomers have been produced by {sup 242}Pu(p, 3n), {sup 242}Pu(d, 2n) reactions, respectively. Relative isotope shift ratios X{sub exp}{sup 242f}(500 nm)=IS{sup 242f,241}/IS{sup 243,241}=41.4(8) and X{sub exp}{sup 240f}(500 nm)=IS{sup 240f,241}/IS{sup 243,241}=39.2(8) were measured. From these ratios a small difference {delta}{beta}{sub 2}{sup 242f,240f}=0.0076(14) of the deformation parameter {beta}{sub 2} can be deduced assuming that the isotope shift between the reference isotopes {sup 241,243}Am is caused by a pure volume change. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

local peanut cultivars Giza 4 and Giza 5 were exposed to different doses ( 50,100,150,200,250 and 300 Gy)to Co "6"0 gamma ray source . all irradiated materials were cultivated to give the M_1 and M_2 generation , then high yielding mutants were selected from the M_2 generation and cultivated separately to give the M_3 generation. some yield component traits were measured for the three generations (M_1,M_2 and M_3) and M_3 families.variations observed in these traits were attributed to genetic factors. the M_3 selected mutants were artificially infected by aspergillus flavus L spores (aflatoxins-B1 and B2 groups-producer strain). aflatoxin concentrations were estimated and the analysis showed that aflatoxin concentrations in seeds of the M_3 selected mutants from cultivar Giza 4 were higher than those in seeds of the M3 mutants selected from cultivar Giza 5. however, the concentration of aflatoxin increased when the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Single and binary metal molybdates, supported on silica (80 wt% active phase/20 wt% SiO{sub 2}), having the formula AMoO{sub 4}, where A = Ni, Co, Mg, Mn, and/or Zn, and some ternary molybdates having the formula Ni{sub 0.45}Co{sub 0.45}X{sub 0.066}MoO{sub 4}, where X = P, Bi, Fe, Cr, V, and Ce, were investigated for the oxydehydrogenation of propane to propylene. The reaction is catalytic and is first order in propane disappearance, consistent with the abstraction of a methylene hydrogen being the rate limiting step. Propane conversion and yields of propylene produced vary greatly with the choice of the A metal of the molybdate and the surface area of the catalyst. At 560{degrees}C and atmospheric pressure, the highest propane conversion and highest propylene yields are obtained with NiMoO{sub 4}/SiO{sub 2} (16% at 27% conversion), closely followed by Ni{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.5}MoO{sub 4}/SiO{sub 2}. The molybdenum content of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of this work was to investigate the optical properties of several high T/sub c/ compounds in the form of sputtered films. The measurements are used toward this end: optical absorptance (using a calorimetric technique near 4.2K), which yields (after Kramers-Kronig analysis) the complex dielectric function, and thermoreflectance (which measures the change in reflectance in the optical range when a 1 to 10_0K temperature wave is applied), performed at two ambient temperatures (80 and 300_0K), yielding the differential dielectric function. The sputtered films included Nb"3Ge, Nb"3Al, V"3Ga and Nb"3Ir. It is noted that Nb"3Ir is not a high T/sub c/ superconductor. The thermoreflectance on the bulk samples V"3Si, V"3Ge and single crystal Cr"3Si were not performed because the samples were not in the form of thin films. The thermomodulation studies are correlated with the absorptance measurements in comparison to band structure ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Two mechanical design requirements are defined for the SSC Collider beam tube. First, the vacuum requirement (luminosity lifetime = 150 hrs). It requires the design of a pressure boundary within the cold mass vessel to provide a vacuum tunnel for the proton beam and to minimize the synchrotron radiation gas desorbtion with a suitable material. The Collider beam tube design is under an intensive activity to search for a material that will meet the luminosity requirement without a distributed pump or liner. Second is the tube wall`s resistivity requirement ({sigma}*t = 2E5 {Omega}{sup {minus}1}). For a 4.2 K beam tube the Cu thickness is 100 {mu}m (RRR=30,6.7 T, {sigma}=2E9{Omega}{sup {minus}1}m{sup {minus}1}). The copper yield strength is relatively low in comparison to steel and, therefore, the design of the steel layer is governed by the copper layer yield stress limit. A beam tube subjected to eddy current load in a quenching dipole requires ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The MiniBooNE experiment [1] is motivated by the LSND observation, [2] which has been interpreted as {nu}{sub {mu}} {yields} {nu}{sub e} oscillations, and by the atmospheric neutrino deficit, [3,4,5] which may be ascribed to {nu}{sub {mu}} oscillations into another type of neutrino. MiniBooNE is a single-detector experiment designed to: obtain {approx} 1000 {nu}{sub {mu}} {yields} {nu}{sub e} events if the LSND signal is due to {nu}{sub {mu}} {yields} {nu}{sub e} oscillations, establishing the oscillation signal at the > 5{sigma} level as shown in Fig. 1.1; extend the search for {nu}{sub {mu}} {yields} {nu}{sub e} oscillations significantly beyond what has been studied previously if no signal is observed; search for {nu}{sub {mu}} disappearance to address the atmospheric neutrino deficit with a signal that is a suppression of the rate of {nu}{sub {mu}}C {yields} {mu}N events ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The energy level schemes of /sup 192/Os and /sup 192/Pt have been established on the basis of ..gamma..-..gamma.. coincidence studies using a dual parameter data collection system. Ge(Li) detectors were employed to study the gamma spectra produced in the E.C. and ..beta../sup -/ decays of /sup 192/Ir to /sup 192/Os and /sup 192/Pt, respectively. Thirteen new transitions and three new levels at 1146.95, 1237.35 and 1913.76 keV are suggested. Relative intensities from singles measurements, branching ratios, ..cap alpha..(K) and log ft values were calculated and multipolarities, spins and parities deduced. Comparisons are made with predictions of the Interacting Boson Model calculated on the basis of an O(6) to SU(3) transition.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The rationale for hybrid fusion-fission reactors is the production of fissile fuel for fission reactors. A new class of reactor, the fission-suppressed hybrid promises unusually good safety features as well as the ability to support 25 light-water reactors of the same nuclear power rating, or even more high-conversion-ratio reactors such as the heavy-water type. One 4000-MW nuclear hybrid can produce 7200 kg of /sup 233/U per year. To obtain good economics, injector efficiency times plasma gain (eta/sub i/Q) should be greater than 2, the wall load should be greater than 1 MW m/sup -2/, and the hybrid should cost less than 6 times the cost of a light-water reactor. Introduction rates for the fission-suppressed hybrid are unusually rapid.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

High-spin states in "1"7"7Ta were produced using the "1"7"0Er("1"1B, 4n) reaction at 55 and 60 MeV. Considerable extensions have been made to the previously known level scheme, and new structures have been found. B(M1)/B(E2) ratios have been extracted for strongly coupled bands. The behavior of the different rotational cascades, in particular the anomalous crossing frequency observed in the [541]1/2"- proton h_9_/_2 band and the occurrence of ''identical bands,'' is discussed. Comparisons are made with projected shell model calculations.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The penumbra of the profile function describing the nuclear collisions of relativistic heavy ions is related to the cross section for their producing a specific target-nucleus #gamma#-ray, sigmasub(#gamma#). The analysis assumes that the diffuse-edge diffraction model suffices to calculate the inelastic cross sections to the particle-stable states of the target nucleus. When the deformation lengths, deltasub(L) = #beta#sub(L)R, characterizing all important excitations are available from other experiments and the #gamma#-branching of these states is also known, the only unknown quantity determining sigmasub(#gamma#) is found to be the ratio of the diffuseness parameter of the profile function, d, to its radius, R. The most reliably determined values of d/R, for the target "4"0Ca, imply a rather wide penumbra, consistent with microscopic calculations. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The refractory nature and high ductility of body centered cubic (bcc) phase tantalum makes it a suitable material for corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings on surfaces which are subjected to high stresses and harsh chemical and erosive environments. Sputter deposition can produce thick tantalum films but is prone to forming the brittle tetragonal beta phase of this material. Efforts aimed at forming thick bcc phase tantalum coatings in both flat plate and cylindrical geometries by high-rate triode sputtering methods are discussed. In addition to substrate temperature, the bcc-to-beta phase ratio in sputtered tantalum coatings is shown to be sensitive to other substrate surface effects.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Volatile fatty acids (VFA), produced in the rumen by microbial fermentation, are the main energy source for ruminants. The VFA profile, particularly the nonglucogenic (acetate, Ac; butyrate, Bu) to glucogenic (propionate, Pr) VFA ratio (NGR), is associated with effects on methane production, milk composition, and energy balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate extant rumen VFA stoichiometry models for their ability to predict in vivo VFA molar proportions. The models were evaluated using an independent data set consisting of 101 treatments from 24 peer-reviewed publications with lactating Holstein cows. All publications contained a full diet description, rumen pH, and rumen VFA molar proportions. Stoichiometric models were evaluated based on root mean squared prediction error (RMSPE)...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Past movement on faults can be dated by measurement of the intensity of ESR signals in quartz. These signals are reset by local lattice deformation and local frictional heating on grain contacts at the time of fault movement. The ESR signals then trow back as a result of bombardment by ionizing radiation from surrounding rocks. The age is obtained from the ratio of the equivalent dose, needed to produce the observed signal, to the dose rate. Fine grains are more completely reset during faulting, and a plot of age vs grain size shows a plateau for grains below critical size : these grains are presumed to have been completely zeroed by the last fault activity. We carried out ESR dating of fault rocks collected from the Yangsan fault system. ESR dates from the this fault system range from 870 to 240 ka. Results of this research suggest that long-term cyclic fault activity continued into the pleistocene.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An experimental investigation has been carried out to examine for the first time the performance and combustion noise of an indirect injection diesel engine running with new fuel derived from pure jojoba oil, jojoba methyl ester, and its blends with gas oil. A Ricardo E6 compression swirl diesel engine was fully instrumented for the measurement of combustion pressure and its rise rate and other operating parameters. Test parameters included the percentage of jojoba methyl ester in the blend, engine speed, load, injection timing and engine compression ratio. Results showed that the new fuel derived from jojoba is generally comparable and a good replacement to gas oil in diesel engine at most engine operating conditions, in terms of performance parameters and combustion noise produced. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

SummaryThis paper examines the sensitivity and uncertainty of evaporation estimates from Nasser Lake, south of Egypt using data collected at the floating station Raft, 2km upstream of the Aswan High Dam, and 12 evaporation models. Based on their approach the evaporation models were ranked in five classes, respectively the Bowen ratio energy budget (BREB) approach, three energy-aerodynamic based methods, a mass transfer method, two temperature and five solar radiation-temperature approaches. State dependent parameter models were used to estimate the sensitivity indices of the different evaporation estimation methods at daily and monthly frequencies. A drastic reduction in the cost of the sensitivity analysis was obtained when coupled with efficient sampling methods, producing quasi-Monte Ca...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

One of the requirements for uniform field quality in the SSC dipole magnets is the consistency in the superconducting strand characteristics from start to finish to the production phase. As full scale production of strand and cable approaches, the consistency in performance of the early batches of conductor needs to be examined. A number of 300 mm billets have been manufactured at IGC with tight process controls. The performance of the final conductor in terms of piece lengths, current density, Cu/Sc ratio and wire diameter has been evaluated. The data are analyzed in order to understand the variations that are related to the conductor design and processing. In this paper the current density of the strand is examined over the length of the billet to determine inherent variability in the Nb/Ti alloy itself.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper reports on steam injection cycle which is similar to supplementary fired combined cycle, but for the utilized steam medium produced by HRSG, its temperature is higher and pressure is lower than in the combined cycle. In comparison with the thermodynamic advantage of the two cycles, a clear understanding of physical concept can be gotten simply by energy balance. The difference of total power output between them is subtraction of enthalpy difference of exhaust steam and feed water of HRSG in steam injection cycle from the rejected heat by water coolant of condenser in combined cycle, when using the identical gas turbine and the same amount of total fuel consumption. In general case, formulas and data are given to indicate this comparison by the ratio of steam mass flow supplied by HRSG of the two cycles. The analysis of Cheng Cycle Series 7 is applied as an example to give the practical result.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report describes the progress made during this reporting period of a two year project to demonstrate that the air pollution from a traveling grate stoker being used to heat water at a central heating plant in Krakow, Poland can be reduced significantly by (1) substituting the unwashed, unsized coal currently being used with a mechanically cleaned, double-sized stoker fuel and by (2) optimizing the operating parameters of the stoker. It is anticipated that these improvements will prove to be cost effective and hence be adopted by the other central heating plants in Krakow and indeed, throughout Eastern European cities where coal continues to be the primary source of fuel. EFH Coal Company has formed a partnership with two Polish institutions -- MPEC, a central heating company in Krakow, and Naftokrak-Naftobudowa, preparation plant designers and fabricators, for the execution of this effort. The washability data from a 20mm x 0.5mm size fraction of raw coal from the Nikwa Modrejow ...

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The radiosensitivity of spermatogonial stem cells of C3H/HeHx101/H F[sub 1] hybrid mice was determined by counting undifferentiated spermatogonia at 10 days after X-irradiation. During the spermatogenic cycle, differences in radiosensitivity were found, which were correlated with the proliferative activity of the spermatogonial stem cells. In stage VIII[sub irr], during quiescence, the spermatogonial stem cells were most radiosensitive with a D[sub 0] of 1.4 Gy. In stages XI[sub irr]-V[sub irr], when the cells were proliferatively active, the D[sub 0] was about 2.6 Gy. Based on the D[sub 0] values for sensitive and resistant spermatogonia and on the D[sub 0] for the total population, a ratio of 45:55% of sensitive to resistant spermatogonial stem cells was estimated for cell killing. When the present data were compared with data on translocation induction obtained in mice of the same genotype, a close fit was obtained when the translocation ...

CERN Document Server

We present here the effective theory of inflation `a la Ginsburg-Landau in which the inflaton potential is a polynomial. The slow-roll expansion becomes a systematic 1/N expansion where N ~ 60. The spectral index and the ratio of tensor/scalar fluctuations are n_s - 1 = O(1/N), r = O(1/N) while the running turns to be d n_s/d \\ln k = O(1/N^2) and can be neglected. The energy scale of inflation M ~ 0.7 10^{16} GeV is completely determined by the amplitude of the scalar adiabatic fluctuations. A complete analytic study plus the Monte Carlo Markov Chains (MCMC) analysis of the available CMB+LSS data showed: (a) the spontaneous breaking of the phi -> - phi symmetry of the inflaton potential. (b) a lower bound for r: r > 0.023 (95% CL) and r > 0.046 (68% CL). (c) The preferred inflation potential is a double well, even function of the field with a moderate quartic coupling yielding as most probable values: n_s = 0.964, r = 0.051. This ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The properties of the triplet of low-lying states in "1"0"1Mo have been studied through spectroscopy of the #gamma# radation following thermal neutron capture in "1"0"0Mo and #beta#-decay of "1"0"1Nb and through a measurement of the proton angular distributions in the "1"0"0Mo(d, p) reaction with 14 MeV deuteron energy. The half-lives of the 13.5 keV state and the 57.0 keV 5/2"+ state have been measured as 226(7) and 133(7) ns, respectively. These values and the quadrupole/dipole mixing ratios of the 13.5 keV and 43.5 keV transitions yield spin and parity 3/2"+ for the 13.5 keV level. The E2 components in the 13.5 (3/2"+#->#1/2"+) and 43.5 keV (5/2"+#->#3/2"+) transitions are #<=# 8x10"-"4 and 54(9)%, respectively. The possibility of an additional state near to the 57.0 keV level is discussed. IBFM/PTQM calculations, taking into consideration the transitional character of the "1"0"0Mo boson core, account for the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The interest in radioiodinated diamines stems from their similarity to /sup 125/I-HIPDM and to the 1-dialkvlamino-acyl-4-phenylpiperazines that the authors have previously examined as potential brain imaging agents. In this study they converted the 1-(dialkylaminoacyl)-4-phenylpiperazines to their corresponding 1-(dialkylaminoacyl) analogs via reduction with diborane in THF. Radioiodination at the no-carrier-added level with Na/sup 125/I and chloramine-T gave the final compounds, after chromatographic separation, in 30-50% yields. The tissue distributions were determined in rats at 0.25, and 4 hrs after an i.v. injection of the radiochemical. The results indicated that all of the agents were readily extracted by the brain (1.5-2.5% ID) with brain to blood ratios >20. The structure-distribution relationships for this series were, however, decidedly different from the aminoacyl compounds in that morpholino-derivatives had better uptake and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We discuss the possibility of extending solid state laser technology to high average power and of improving the efficiency of such lasers sufficiently to make them reasonable candidates for a number of demanding applications. A variety of new design concepts, materials, and techniques have emerged over the past decade that, collectively, suggest that the traditional technical limitations on power (a few hundred watts or less) and efficiency (less than 1%) can be removed. The core idea is configuring the laser medium in relatively thin, large-area plates, rather than using the traditional low-aspect-ratio rods or blocks. This presents a large surface area for cooling, and assures that deposited heat is relatively close to a cooled surface. It also minimizes the laser volume distorted by edge effects. The feasibility of such configurations is supported by recent developments in materials, fabrication processes, and optical pumps. Two types of lasers can, in ...

CERN Document Server

We have examined the dust photoelectric heating in the intergalactic medium (IGM). The heating rate in a typical radiation field of the IGM is represented by $\\Gamma_{\\rm pe} = 1.2\\times10^{-34}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-3}$ $({\\cal D}/10^{-4})(n_{\\rm H}/10^{-5} {\\rm cm^{-3}})^{4/3} (J_{\\rm L}/10^{-21} {\\rm erg s^{-1} cm^{-2} Hz^{-1} sr^{-1}})^{2/3} (T/10^4 {\\rm K})^{-1/6}$, where ${\\cal D}$ is the dust-to-gas mass ratio, $n_{\\rm H}$ is the hydrogen number density, $J_{\\rm L}$ is the mean intensity at the hydrogen Lyman limit of the background radiation, and $T$ is the gas temperature, if we assume the new X-ray photoelectric yield model by Weingartner et al. (2006) and the dust size distribution in the Milky Way by Mathis, Rumpl, & Nordsieck (1977). This heating rate dominates the HI and HeII photoionization heating rates when the hydrogen number density is less than $\\sim10^{-6}$ cm$^{-3}$ if ${\\cal D}=10^{-4}$ which is 1% of that ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

State-of-the-art approaches for the calculation of gamma heating in LMFBR core, blanket and reflector regions have been evaluated, with particular emphasis on coupled neutron-gamma methods/cross section sets. The major source of calculational error was found to be the apparent failure to impose a mass-energy balance on total gamma energy yield from neutron capture and other interactions in the preparation of representative neutron-gamma cross section sets. The applicability of many simplifying assumptions was demonstrated, including: volume-weighted homogenization, insensitivity to the shape of the gamma-source-spectrum, gamma energy deposition equal to gamma energy source more than 10 cm inside large zones of uniform composition, and the negligible effect of bremsstrahlung. A simple one-group method was developed to permit rapid, accurate estimation of the large (factor of 2) changes in the gamma energy deposition-to-source ratio possible near ...

Science.gov (United States)

Selecting an appropriate matrix solution is one of the most effective means of increasing the ionization efficiency of phosphopeptides in matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). In this study, we systematically assessed matrix combinations of 2, 6-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP) and diammonium hydrogen citrate (DAHC), and demonstrated that the low ratio DHAP/DAHC matrix was more effective in enhancing the ionization of phosphopeptides. Low femtomole level of phosphopeptides from the tryptic digests of ?-casein and ?-casein was readily detected by MALDI-TOF-MS in both positive and negative ion mode without desalination or phosphopeptide enrichment. Compared with the DHB/PA matrix, the optimized DHAP/DAHC matrix yielded superior sample homogeneity and higher phosphopeptide measurement sensitivity, particularly when multiple phosphorylated peptides were assessed. Finally, the DHAP/DAHC matrix was ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Radionuclides exhibiting in decaying a strong interaction between nucleus and electron shell (especially electron capture and internal conversion) are, in principle, sensitive to their chemical surroundings. Consequently, they can be used to yield chemical information after an appropriate labelling procedure. The information can be extracted from the decay rate variation as well as from their X-ray emission as a response to an inner-shell vacancy creation during nuclear deexcitation. As an example of the former method the relationship between the decay rate of /sup 99m/Tc and the chemical structures of pertechnetate and bis(meso-dimercapto-succinate)oxotechnetate(V) is considered. Lower expectations with respect to measuring techniques are associated with the observation of X-ray emission. For a number of elements (especially 3d transition elements) the K/sub #alpha#//K/sub #betta#/ X-ray intensity ratio was found to be an indicator of the ...

Science.gov (United States)

In this study, flue gas desulfurization (FGD) byproducts are used to ameliorate alkali soil. The average application rates for soils with low exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), mid ESP, and high ESP are 20.9, 30.6, and 59.3 Mg ha(-1), respectively. The experimental results obtained for 3 consecutive years reveal that the emergence ratios and yields of the crops were 1.1-7.6 times and 1.1-13.9 times those of the untreated control, respectively. The concentrations of Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in the treated soils are far below the background values stipulated by the Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB15618-1995). Their concentrations in the seeds of corn and alfalfa grown in the treated soils are far below the tolerance limits regulated by National Food Standards of China. The results of this research demonstrate that the amelioration of alkali soils using FGD byproducts is promising. PMID:17412469

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Recognizing the importance of {sup 99m}Tc and {sup 99m}Tc-based radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute has initiated research on the development of column-type generators for {sup 99m}Tc using {sup 99}Mo in the form of a gel. The use of reactor-produced {sup 99}Mo will reduce the country's dependence on the importation of commercial generators based on fission product molybdenum-99. However, the relatively low specific activity of {sup 99}Mo must be compensated by the high adsorption capacity of the column material for molybdenum. A procedure based on the incorporation of low activity {sup 99}Mo into a zirconium molybdate gel matrix was adopted with reasonable success. Because the properties of the gel vary considerably with conditions of synthesis, the following parameters were carefully controlled: pH, concentration, temperature, order of mixing of the reactant solutions and conditions of aging, washing and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Electricity generation from natural gas in gas turbine units can be made substantially more efficient by preliminary methane conversion to a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide and/or by the use of some of the synthesis gas produced in industry. An alternative improvement involves the introduction of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and the use of the synthesis gas in them. In this study, a modified scheme of gas turbine cycle that includes an SOFC, a membrane reactor (instead of a traditional combustion chamber), and a catalytic reactor to perform methane conversion to produce hydrogen (synthesis gas) is proposed. Variations of the energy and exergy efficiencies of the integrated system with operating conditions are provided, showing, for example, that SOFC efficiency is enhanced if the fuel cell active area is augmented. The SOFC stack efficiency can be maximized by reducing the steam generation while increasing the stack ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membranes with various degrees of sulfonation (DS) have been prepared as a potential membrane material for proton exchange membrane by sulfonation process using mixtures of (15-30% concentration) fuming sulfuric acid and (95-98%) concentrated sulfuric acid as the sulfonating agent. The sulfonation process was conducted at room temperature by varying the acid ratio and reaction time. The produced membranes were then characterized by evaluating the ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, thermal stability, proton conductivity and methanol permeability as a function of degree of sulfonation. The proton conductivity of the sulfonated PEEK membranes with various DS was within the magnitude of 10"-"3 and 10"-"2 S cm"-"1 at room temperature and the methanol permeability was in the range of 3.45 x 10"-"7 to 2.73 x 10"-"6 cm"2 s"-"1. The overall membrane performance of the SPEEK membrane with 80% DS was six ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A generic reactor model is used to examine the economic viability of electricity generation by magnetic fusion. The simple model uses components which are representative of those used in previous reactor studies of deuterium-tritium burning tokamaks, stellarators, bumpy tori, reverse field pinches and tandem mirrors. Conservative costing assumptions are made. The generic reactor is not a tokamak but rather it is intended to emphasize what is common to all magnetic fusion reactors. The reactor uses a superconducting toroidal coil set to produce the dominant magnetic field. To this extent it is a less good approximation to systems, such as the reversed field pinch in which the main field is produced by a plasma current. The main output of the study is the cost of electricity as a function of the weight and size of the fusion core - blanket, shield, structure and coils. The model shows that a 1200 MW/sub e/ power plant with a fusion core weight of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Two new cyclopentadienyl piperidine derivatives, namely ferrocene carboxylic acid 1-ethyl-3-hydroxypiperidinyl ester and ferrocene carboxylic acid 4-hydroxypiperidinyl ester, were synthesized. The ligands were then radiolabelled with "9"9"mTc using two different approaches. The first method consisted of reacting the ligand precursor with Mn(CO)_5Br in pertechnetate "9"9"mTcO_4 - in normal saline and dimethyl formamide (DMF) at 150 "oC for 1 h. The yields were 70% and 90%, respectively. For the second method, the reactions mixtures were placed in a microwave oven for 2 min at 650 watt. The yields were higher than 90% for both "9"9"mTc complexes. Biodistribution studies showed that tricarbonyl[#eta#"5-[carboxy-3-hydroxy(N-ethyl)piperidine]cyclopentadienyl] technetium(I) had the highest brain uptake. The regional distribution in the brain also demonstrated relatively higher uptake of tricarbonyl [#eta#"5-[carboxy-3-hydroxy(N-ethyl) ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A 16 l liquid parahydrogen target has been developed for a measurement of the parity-violating {gamma}-asymmetry in the capture of polarized cold neutrons on protons in the {rvec n} + p {yields} d + {gamma} reaction by the NPDGamma collaboration. The target system was carefully designed to meet the stringent requirements on systematic effects for the experiment and also to satisfy hydrogen safety requirements. The target was designed to preserve the neutron polarization during neutron scattering on liquid hydrogen (LH{sub 2}), optimize the statistical sensitivity to the {rvec n} + p {yields} d + {gamma} reaction, minimize backgrounds coming from neutron interaction with the beam windows of the target cryostat, minimize LH{sub 2} density fluctuations which can introduce extra noise in the gamma asymmetry signal, and control systematic effects. The target incorporates two mechanical refrigerators, two ortho-para convertors, an aluminum cryostat, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

One approach in the design of neutral oxotechnetium complexes is based on the simultaneous substitution of a tridentate dianionic ligand and a monodentate monoanionic coligand on a [Tc(V)O]"+"3 precursor. Following this ''mixed ligand'' concept, a novel "9"9"mTc complex with N,N-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)-N'N'-diethylethylenediamine as ligand and 1-octanethiol as coligand is prepared and evaluated as potential brain radiopharmaceutical. Preparation of the complex at tracer level was accomplished by using "9"9"mTc-glucoheptonate as precursor. The substitution was optimized and a coligand/ligand ratio of 5 was selected. Under this conditions the labeling yield was over 80% and a major product (with radiochemical purity > 80%) was isolated by HPLC methods and used for biological evaluation. Chemical characterization at carrier level was developed using the corresponding rhenium complex as structural model. The Re complex was also prepared by ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Investigations of alternative renewable energy resources continue, with many studies concentrating on hydrogen storage. However, there are a few problems such as storage, transportation, delivery to the user and usage safely, to be addressed to facilitate commercialization and wide usage of the hydrogen. The absorbed form within the metal hydrides seems to be the best solution of this problem. Since Li is the lightest metal, it has the advantage as the stored amount of hydrogen mass ratio. LiBH{sub 4} production process was investigated using elemental Li, B and H{sub 2}. Spex type ball milling with tungsten carbide, stainless steel and zirconia type vessels, was used to mix the different amount of Li and B under argon atmosphere. X-ray diffraction pattern demonstrated that the LiB was obtained. A system was designed to provide a hydrogen atmosphere of 60 bars to force hydrogen into the LiB structure. FTIR analysis strongly indicated the LiBH{sub 4} compound when ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hydrocarbon synthesis during CO hydrogenation over Pd/M-ZSM5 (M=H,Na,La) and Pd/SiO/sub 2/ has been investigated. Overall activity depended on the cation-exchanged form of the support and decreased in the order Pd/La-ZSM5 = Pd/Na-ZSM5 > Pd/H-ZSM5 > Pd/SiO/sub 2/. The zeolite-supported catalysts showed high selectivity towards saturated C/sub 2/-C/sub 6/ hydrocarbons, whereas Pd/SiO/sub 2/ favored methanol production. Increasing temperature and H/sub 2//CO feed ratio led to higher reaction rates, lower yields of C/sub 2/-C/sub 6/ products, and increased lighter hydrocarbons. A mechanical mixture of Pd/SiO/sub 2/ and Na-ZSM5 showed similar product distribution as Pd/Na-ZSM5. Infrared spectra of the catalysts under reaction conditions indicate the presence of adsorbed oxygenates on the zeolite. Changes in the IR bands during the initial stages of the reaction suggest that surface species on the zeolite are not methanol synthesis ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The particulate matter of a light-duty diesel engine was characterized in its morphology, sizes, internal microstructures, and fractal geometry. A thermophoretic sampling system was employed to collect particulates directly from the exhaust manifold of a 1.7-liter turbocharged common-rail direct-injection diesel engine. The particulate samples collected at various engine-operating conditions were then analyzed by using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) and an image processing/data acquisition system. Results showed that mean primary particle diameters (dp), and radii of gyration (Rg), ranged from 19.4 nm to 32.5 nm and 77.4 nm to 134.1 nm, respectively, through the entire engine-operating conditions of 675 rpm (idling) to 4000 rpm and 0% to 100% loads. It was also revealed that the other important parameters sensitive to the particulate formation, such as exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) rate, equivalence ratio, and temperature, affected ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The first long pulse production of high power D"- ion beams has been demonstrated in the JT-60 U negative ion sources, each of which was designed to produce 22 A, 500 keV D"- ion beams. Voltage holding capability and the grid power loading were examined for long pulse production of high power D"- ion beams. From the correlation between voltage holding and the light intensity of cathodoluminescence from the Fiber Reinforced Plastic insulators, the acceleration voltage for stable voltage holding capability was found to be less than 320-340 kV where the light was sufficiently suppressed. By tuning the extraction voltage, the grid power loadings in the ion sources were decreased to the allowable levels for long pulse injection without a significant reduction of the beam power. After tuning the acceleration and extraction voltages, D"- ion beams of 12.5 and 9.8 A were produced at 340 keV with cesium seeding at a rate of #approx#14 #mu#g/s into the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A prediction of delayed neutron yields for actinides which are important in the nuclear energy field is given. The prediction is based on a correlation related to a suggested cluster structure of the nucleus. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Johnston Atoll (JA) is a small (270-ha), but strategic, US possession in the Pacific Ocean, which was previously used in nuclear weapons testing. Nuclear devices were launched by missile for detonations at very high altitudes. In 1962, one missile failed on the launch pad and two failed overhead. The devices were destructed without nuclear yield, but transuranium (TRU) elements were dispersed. Cleanup was swift and incomplete. A 2-ha area was placed under radiological controls and restricted from use due to residual contamination. Planning was begun in 1983 for a total JA cleanup to provide additional (unrestricted) land to meet future requirements. A TRUe soil cleanup is programmed to begin at JA in 1988 utilizing a full-scale mining plant. The plant should be able to process all contaminated soil by 1992 and produce less than #approx# 2000 m"3 of concentrated waste. This cleanup will increase the amount of land available for unrestricted use ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The possibility of a positive agricultural use of flue gas filter ash from brown coal power plants is investigated. The suggested measure is mixing ash dump surfaces with extremely acidic spoil bank soils, which balances the high pH value of the alkaline ash and contributes to improved nutrient and soil sorptive conditions. Optimum quantity of spoil bank sands in the mixture with ash is between 10% and 40%. The optimum quantity must be determined for each type of ash considering improvement of soil chemical conditions and water retention capacity. Filter ash properties vary widely; the required amount of spoil bank sand added to investigated ash surfaces near 3 brown coal power plants was between 25% and 30% of the mixture. The same favourable soil and ash mixture can be produced by adding 60% to 75% filter ash to acidic raw spoil bank soil surfaces forming a top soil layer in a thickness of minimum 60 cm. Tests of plant growth showed high crop ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The production of radiopharmaceuticals used in positron emission tomography (PET) can require large amounts of activity at the start of synthesis in order to yield sufficient labeled material for clinical studies. Several investigators have developed remote and automated systems for the routine production of PET radiopharmaceuticals in order to reduce radiation exposure to personnel. Such devices, however, suffer from limited flexibility and can be relatively complicated in design. These systems are also limited to the production of a single or a few closely related compounds. Furthermore, changes in chemistry would require considerable modifications in hardware and/or software in order to bring the device back into operation. To circumvent the above limitations associated with the remote production of PET radiopharmaceuticals, the authors have investigated the use of laboratory robotics as a flexible alternative to the synthesis of several short-lived ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Corn is the main source for biofuel production in North America. However, both sweet pearl millet and sweet sorghum crops represent an interesting alternative to corn for ethanol production because of their high biomass yield under a wide range of environmental conditions and high concentration of readily fermentable sugars. Coproducts such as pressing residues can be also be utilized so that nothing is lost in the process. However, in order to improve the extraction of juice for ethanol production, the pressing process of this biomass must be optimized. Preliminary experiments were therefore conducted to optimize the juice extraction from sweet pearl millet and sweet sorghum using 2 different presses, notably a screw press and a manually operated hydraulic press. Both types of biomass were either chopped finely or coarsely and were exposed to various pressures with the hydraulic press. The volume of juice extracted from both crops increased linearly with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Results on the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane on rare-earth oxide (REO) based catalysts (Na-P-Sm-O, Sm-Sr(Ca)-O, La-Sr-O and Nd-Sr-O) are described. Oxygen adsorption was found to be a key factor which determines the activity of this type of catalysts. Continuous flow experiments in the presence of catalysts which reveal strong oxygen adsorption showed that the reaction mixture is ignited resulting in an enhanced heat generation at the reactor inlet. The heat produced by the oxidative reactions was sufficient under the conditions chosen for the endothermic thermal pyrolysis which takes place preferentially in the gas phase. Ignition of the reaction mixture is an important catalyst function. Contrary to non-catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation, reaction temperatures above 700 C could be achieved without significant external heat input. Ethylene yields of up to 34-45% (S=66-73%) were obtained on REO-based catalysts under non-isothermal ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microfabrication processes for Y-Ba-Cu-O films have been investigated, using ion-beam techniques. High-T_c superconducting lines as narrow as 0.8 #mu#m have been fabricated from epitaxial YBa_2Cu_3O_7 _- _y films by Ar ion-beam etching (IBE), combined with focused ion-beam (FIB) lithography. The resulting lines, 1.3 #mu#m wide and 2 mm long, showed a zero resistance temperature of 81 K and a critical current density of 1.9 x 10"4 A/cm"2 at 77.3 K. Maskless etching was carried out using 130-keV au"+ focused ion-beam (FIB) with a 0.1-#mu#m-diameter beam. A 50-nm-thick film was patterned into 0.3-#mu#m-wide lines at a dose of 5 x "1"6 ions/cm"2. In comparison with Ar IBE, Cl_2 reactive ion-beam etching (RIBE) exhibited an enhancement effect in sputtering yield. Ion implantation with 300-keV Si"+ "+ FIB also indicated the possibility to produce submicrometer patterns by selectively modifying film properties from superconductive to normal or ...

CERN Document Server

All of the solar system gas giants produce electron cyclotron masers, driven by the solar wind impinging on their magnetospheres. Extrapolating to the planet orbiting tau Boo, various authors have predicted that it may be within the detection limits of the 4-meter wavelength (74 MHz) system on the Very Large Array. This paper reports three epochs of observations of tau Boo. In no epoch do we detect the planet; various means of determining the upper limit to the emission yield single-epoch limits ranging from 135 to 300 mJy. We develop a likelihood method for multi-epoch observations and use it to constrain various radiation properties of the planet. Assuming that the planet does radiate at our observation wavelength, its typical luminosity must be less than about 10^{16} W, unless its radiation is highly beamed into a solid angle Omega << 1 sr. While within the range of luminosities predicted by various authors for this planet, this value ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of this contract is to investigate, develop, and characterize laser-assisted processing techniques utilized to produce the fine-line, thin-metal grid structures that are required to fabricate high-efficiency solar cells. During the first quarter of this contract, a comprehensive literature search was carried out in the various state-of-the-art laser-assisted techniques for metal deposition, including laser chemical vapor deposition and laser photolysis of organometallics, as well as laser-enhanced electroplating. A compact system for the experiments involving laser-assisted photolysis of gas-phase compounds was designed and constructed. The work performed in the second quarter is detailed in this report. Metal deposition experiments have been carried out utilizing laser-assisted pyrolysis of a variety of metal-bearing polymer films and metallo-organic inks spun onto silicon substrates. Laser decomposition of spun-on silver neodecanoate ink obtained from ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The global production of steel is predicted to increase rapidly to meet future demands. In order to conserve the natural resources, certain measures must be taken. These include perfecting the recycling of steel, improving the performance to extend the life of the material, and reduce the need for massive production of steel by increasing the strength of the material. This paper presented a design concept for ultrafine complex microstructure steel. The National Research Institute for Metals in Japan has worked on a project which investigated 800 MPa ferrite steel for welded structures with a chemical composition similar to 400 MPa-class plain carbon steel. The doubled strength was attributed to grain refinement. Novel welding techniques were also used for joining the ultrafine microstructure. In this study, low carbon Si-Mn ferrite-pearlite steels were subjected to a thermo-mechanical treatment to produce a microstructure of 1 micron order ultrafine grain ferrite ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A linear induction accelerator that produces a beam of energetic heavy ions (T #approx =# 10 GeV, A #approx =# 200 am#mu#) is a prime candidate as a driver for an inertial fusion power plant. Some early perceptions were that heavy-ion driven fusion would not be cost-competitive with other power sources because of the high cost of the accelerators. However, improved understanding of the physics of heavy-ion transport and acceleration (supported by experimental results), combined with advances in accelerator technology, have resulted in accelerator design costs -- 50% of previous estimates. As a result, heavy-ion driven fusion power plants conceptual fusion power plants. A brief formulation of transport and acceleration physics is presented here, along with a description of the induction Linac cost optimization code LIACEP. Cost trends are presented and discussed, along with specific cost estimates for several accelerator designs matched to specific inertial fusion ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effect of warm rolling under various conditions on the microstructure and mechanical property was investigated using an AZ31 Mg alloy sheet. Several processing parameters such as initial thickness, thickness reduction by a single pass rolling, rolling temperature, roll speed, and roll temperature were varied to elicit an optimum condition for the warm rolling process of AZ31 Mg alloy. Microstructure and mechanical properties were measured for specimens subjected to rolling experiments of various conditions. Warm rolling of 30% thickness reduction per pass was possible without any side-crack at temperatures as low as 200 C under the roll speed of 30 m/min. The initial microstructure before rolling was the mixed one consisting of partially recrystallized and cast structures. Grain refinement was found to occur actively during the warm rolling, producing a very fine grain size of 7 {mu}m after 50% reduction in single pass rolling at 200 C. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The usual method of introducing engineers to the concept of dislocations and their role in plastic flow is to compare an estimate of the theoretical strength of solid (of order {micro}/30 where {micro} is the shear modulus) and the observed strength of either single crystals ({mu}/10{sup 4}) or practical engineering material such as structural steels where the yield stress in shear is of order {mu}/10{sup 3}. However, if one considers the problem in reverse, one can consider the accumulation of dislocations as an important mechanism by which one can produce engineering materials in which the strength level approaches the theoretical strength. If one assumes that the flow stress can be expressed in terms of te mean free path between stored dislocations or as the square root of the global dislocation density, then one can see the influence of dislocation density in a diagrammatic form. It is clear that the strengthening by dislocation ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fatigue damage occurs in general when a boiler tube is subject to repeat cyclic or fluctuating loading although the stress produced is below the material yield strength. The types of fatigue damage include, e.g., corrosion, thermal, mechanical, vibration, and creep fatigue. It is important to determine which form of fatigue is active, because measures to avoid repeat failures differ as the case arises. In this lesson, the focus is exclusively on corrosion fatigue. Corrosion fatigue occurs by the combined synergistic actions of cyclic loading and a corrosive environment. It is a discontinuous process with crack initiation and growth during transient periods. The excessive stresses may be caused during boiler operation by the restraint at tube attachments and by load changes (in particular during cold starts or forced cools) or during shutdown or restart of circulation boilers by thermal stratification of water along the tube length. Poor water ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Anaerobic digestion of slurry represents an environmental opportunity for both slurry management and renewable energy production in countries with high animal density. This study evaluated the environmental impacts of 4 biogas production alternatives in which slurry was the only input in the process, without supplementary addition of easily degradable carbon. This was achieved by exposing the slurry to different separation technologies. The biomass mixture input for biogas production included solid fraction from slurry separation as well as raw slurry, proportioned in order to achieve economical methane yield. The separation processes considered in this study were mechanical separation; mechanical separation combined with the addition of flocculants; and mechanical separation combined with a thermal treatment. Four biogas alternatives were compared to a reference slurry management scenario, notably to use the slurry as a fertilizer without prior treatment. The ...

CERN Document Server

Optical sections of the cornea are obtained by illumination with a collimated beam expanded in a fan shape by a small rotary cylindrical lens. The light diffused from the cornea is observed by two cameras and processed in order to yield the surfaces' profiles. The optical system used to project a thin rotating line on the cornea consists of a white light source provided with optical fiber bundle output which is first conditioned by a set of lenses so that it would produce a spot on the cornea. A small cylinder lens is used to expand the beam in one direction so that a thin line illuminates the cornea, rather than a spot. The cylinder lens is provided with motor driven rotation about an axis normal to its own in order to rotate the line on the cornea such that the projected line scans the whole cornea; the illuminator is completed with a slit aperture. The cornea is not perfectly transparent, scattering some of the light that traverses it; this ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This thesis presents an experimental study performed on compacted loose and natural dense expansive soils using osmotic odometers. Several successive cycles were applied under three different low constant vertical net stresses. The loose soil presents a significant shrinkage accumulation while the dense one produces the swelling accumulation during the suction cycles. The suction cycles induced an equilibrium stage which indicates an elastic behaviour of the samples. At the end of suction cycles, a loading/unloading test was performed at the constant suctions for both materials. The mechanical parameters, i.e. the virgin compression index lambda(s), the apparent pre-consolidation stress p0(s) and the elastic compression index values lambda are completely dependent on the followed stress paths. The whole experimental results made it possible to define the yielding surfaces: suction limit between micro and macrostructure (Lm/M), loading collapse ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Energy balances are analysed from a life-cycle perspective for biogas systems based on 8 different raw materials. The analysis is based on published data and relates to Swedish conditions. The results show that the energy input into biogas systems (i.e. large-scale biogas plants) overall corresponds to 20-40% (on average approximately 30%) of the energy content in the biogas produced. The net energy output turns negative when transport distances exceed approximately 200 km (manure), or up to 700 km (slaughterhouse waste). Large variations exist in energy efficiency among the biogas systems studied. These variations depend both on the properties of the raw materials studied and on the system design and allocation methods chosen. The net energy output from biogas systems based on raw materials that have high water content and low biogas yield (e.g. manure) is relatively low. When energy-demanding handling of the raw materials is required, the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

An experimental approach has been performed to ascertain the effectiveness of semi-solid strip casting using a horizontal twin roll caster. The demand for light-weight products with high strength has grown recently due to the rapid development of automobile and aircraft technology. One key to such development has been utilization of magnesium alloys, which can potentially reduce the total product weight. However, the problems of utilizing magnesium alloys are still mainly related to high manufacturing cost. One of the solutions to this problem is to develop magnesium casting-rolling technology in order to produce magnesium sheet products at competitive cost for commercial applications. In this experiment, magnesium alloy AZ31B was used to ascertain the effectiveness of semi-solid roll strip casting for producing magnesium alloy sheets. The temperature of the molten magnesium, and the roll speeds of the upper and lower rolls, (which could be ...

J-STORE (Japan)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Molybdenum oxide nanostructures were synthesized utilizing the solution combustion method where the ammonium molybdate powder and an organic additive were used as precursors. Different organic additives including ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200), sorbitol and urea were used as surfactants in order to investigate the effect of additive structure on morphology and particle size of products. Also various reaction parameters such as the additive/Mo molar ratio, concentration of metal ion in solution, pH of the reaction, and temperature of the synthesis media were changed to study effects on product morphology and size. Outcomes were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. Results show a variety of MoO_3 nanoparticles and nanorods produced within the size range of 10-80 nm. Furthermore, microrods and microsheets were ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Laser desorption (LD) and thermal desorption (TD) mass spectra of the metallofullerenes found in arc-produced primary soots have been studied for a large variety of alkaline earth and lanthanide elements. The metallofullerene ratios found in the LD spectra indicate that two distinct groups are observed: Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Ho, Er, and Lu (group A) and Ca, Sr, Sm, Eu, and Yb (group B). The TD spectra of most of these same soots also separate into two groups that contain the same elements as groups A and B. Group A metallofullerenes show strong signals in both LD and TD spectra. Group B metallofullerenes are distinguished by their presence in the LD spectra but absence in the TD spectra. From the general ionic behavior of the elements of these groups, and recent studies of the endohedral oxidation states, we propose that the oxidation states are +3 for group A and +2 for group B. C[sub 70] metallofullerenes are anomalous in that they ...

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 ...

CERN Document Server

Recent measurements of cosmic ray leptons by PAMELA, ATIC, HESS and Fermi revealed interesting excesses. Many authors suggested particle Dark Matter (DM) annihilations could be at the origin of these effects. In this paper, we critically assess this interpretation by reviewing some results questioning the naturalness and robustness of such an interpretation. Natural values for the DM particle parameters lead to a poor leptons production so that models often require signal enhancement effects that we constrain here. Considering DM annihilations are likely to produce antiprotons as well, we use the PAMELA antiproton to proton ratio measurements to constrain a possible exotic contribution. We also consider the possibility of an enhancement due to a nearby clump of DM. This scenario appears unlikely when compared to the state-of-the-art cosmological N-body simulations. We conclude that the bulk of the observed signals most likely has no link with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Coded imaging techniques using thick, micro-Fresnel zone plates as coded apertures have been used to image x-ray emissions (2-20 keV) and 3.5 MeV Alpha particle emissions from laser driven micro-implosions. Image resolution in these experiments was 3-8 ..mu..m. Extension of this coded imaging capability to higher energy x-rays (approx. 100 keV) and more penetrating charged particles (e.g. approx. 15 MeV protons) requires the fabrication of very thick (50-200 ..mu..m), high aspect ratio (10:1), gold Fresnel zone plates with narrow linewidths (5-25 ..mu..m) for use as coded aperatures. A reactive ion etch technique in oxygen has been used to produce thick zone plate patterns in polymer films. The polymer patterns serve as electroplating molds for the subsequent fabrication of the free-standing gold zone plate structures.