To develop the advanced subchannel analysis code, the dominant factors that influence the boiling transitional process must be taken into account in the mechanistic constitutive equations based on the flow geometries and the fluid properties. The dominant factors that influence the boiling transitional processes are (1) the gas-liquid re-distribution by cross flow, (2) the liquid film dryout, (3) the two-phase flow regime transition, (4) the droplet deposition, and (5) the spacer-droplet interaction. At first, we indicated the strategy for the development of the constitutive equations for the five dominant factors based on the experimental database by the latest measurement technique and the latest computational fluid dynamics method. Then, the problems of the present constitutive equations and the improvement plan of the constitutive equations were indicated. Finally, the layered structure for the two-phase/three-field ...
It is reported that due to the large demand for electricity in Japanese homes and given the fact that the energy consumption rate of air conditioners to the total energy consumption rate in an average home exceeds 20%, an energy saving-type room air conditioner is essential, also for environmental reasons. Japanese customers ranked high running costs as a major drawback of conventional equipment. Toshiba started developing the first generation energy saving air conditioners in 1993. Improvements to the concept were made and the 1995 model offers a heating COP of 4.65 and a cooling COP of 4.3 at rated conditions, an improvement of more than 30% compared to the conventional model. Various component improvements have led to this high performance including the indoor fan design, a DC compressor motor and inverter using digital sampling, advanced (PMV) control technology, and compact heat exchangers. The ...
In order to improve the reliability of PWR steam generators, we have performed research to improve the tubing material and tube-support-plate configuration, based on our wide operating experience, and have developed and verified Alloy TT690 as the optimum tubing material and the BEC (Broached Egg Crate) type tube-support design. In the research, we have studied the metallurgical mechanism of the alloy to improve its corrosion resistance, evaluated corrosion susceptible region quantitatively, estimated the actual environment in a steam generator and confirmed the reliability by a model boiler test over a long period. It has been verified that the steam generator with the latest design has higher reliability with respect to the corrosion resistance of tubes. (author).
Described herein are the latest trends in rolling mill facilities toward the 21st. century and new techniques developed by Hitachi Ltd. These cover hot rolling facilities, such as two-stage twin, high crown control-roll cross mill, roll shaping machine and continuous hot rolling systems; cold rolling facilities, such as pickling line-tandem cold mill and other continuous systems; and fine steel rolling facilities, such as roll mill for very small diameter pipes and others to improve productivity and product quality. The other new techniques include systems to pursue reliability and maintainability, in which electric appliances, instruments and computers are integrated, or equipped with built-in large-capacity inverters and drivers. For hot rolling, the above techniques lead to development of a new system named Hi-HOT, which produces high-quality hot coils at a sufficient speed, while keeping rolled steel at a desired temperature. 1 ref., 3 ...
This report describes operations at SunLine Transit Agency for their newest prototype fuel cell bus and five compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. In May 2010, SunLine began operating its sixth-generation hydrogen fueled bus, an Advanced Technology (AT) fuel cell bus that incorporates the latest design improvements to reduce weight and increase reliability and performance. The agency is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to evaluate the bus in revenue service. This report provides the early data results and implementation experience of the AT fuel cell bus since it was placed in service.
Papers and presentations were made by all participating countries and provided a wide range of perspectives on the use of the ASSET methodology. Generally, the views expressed were positive, however, there were comments on areas were the service could be improved or enhanced. The workshop was divided into three task groups to analyze the self-assessments conducted at Krsko NPP, Slovenia; Dukovany NPP, Czech Republic; and Balakovo NPP, Russian Federation. In addition, they were asked to comment on the recommendations on the ASSET service made by the Consultants' Meeting of 26-30 August 1996 on ''Performance of the IAEA programme on Operational Safety Services''. A presentation was made by Mr. B. Thomas to remind delegates of the ASSET methodologies, and Mr. V. Sivokon demonstrated the latest developments of computer software available for assisting in the plant Self-Assessment process. Refs, figs, tabs.
ObjectivesTo improving the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in developing countries through plant sciences research.Information on individual projects in the programme can be found by selecting this programme in the advanced search page. Please note that expenditure given in the project records contributes towards the overall expenditure of the programme.DescriptionProject Background: The PSP broad spectrum of research encompasses the latest biotechnology techniques for screening and breeding for drought/disease tolerance through to the development of key technologies - simple, low-cost interventions, the impacts of which are large enough to induce farmers to make other, perhaps more risky or more costly, changes in agronomic practices in order to make yet further gains. The Plant Sciences Research Programme funds projects under five research theme [continued...
The prospects for the low-aspect-ratio (A) tokamak to fulfill the requirements of viable fusion power plants are considered relative to the present status in data and modeling. Desirable physics and design features for an attractive Blanket Test Facility and power reactors are estimated for low-A tokamaks based on calculations improved with the latest data from small pioneering experiments. While these experiments have confirmed some of the recent predictions for low-A, they also identify the remaining issues that require verification before reliable projections can be made for these deuterium-tritium applications. The results show that the low-A regime of small size, modest field, and high current offers a path complementary to the standard and high A tokamaks in developing the full potential of fusion power.
Georg Fischer GmbH operates a melting plant with several cupola furnaces in Mettmann. The plant supplies two casting plants for production of castings from nodular cast iron or malleable cast iron. It is now planned to convert one of the existing hot-blast cupola furnaces to the latest state of the art. Under special consideration are clear reduction of dust emission by use of a filtering separator below the permissible mass concentration according to the Clean Air Regulations; reduction of the current level of dumped waste by application of a new dust (residue) utilisation method; improvement of the total thermal efficiency of the cupola furnace melting plant by extensive, advanced utilisation of waste heat; and use of low-cost dust-like alternative fuels. (author).
Kawasaki Steel started the construction of an automatic steel strip coil transportation system in the 1980's. Presently, most of the in-plant transportation of hot-rolled or cold-rolled coils are automated. For establishing the automatic transportation, there were developed various technologies, such as, the optimum handling technology using artificial intelligence, the technology of preventing additional piling of coils on existing coils by using an ultrasonic wave and a laser beam. Through the improvements of these technologies, a full-automated transportation system has been achieved and the system has contributed substantially toward product quality assurance and cost reduction. This paper gives the changes in the automation technology of coil transportation in the automation of No. 3 finishing hot rolling mill, now having the latest automatic system, in Chiba Works. (author)
To estimate the success criteria of an operators action time for a probabilistic safety/risk assessment (PSA/PRA) of a nuclear power plant, the information from a safety analysis report (SAR) and/or that by using a simplified simulation code such as the MAAP code has been used in a conventional PSA. However, the information from these is often too conservative to perform a realistic PSA for a risk-informed application. To reduce the undue conservatism, the use of a best-estimate thermal hydraulic code has become an essential issue in the latest PSA and it is now recognized as a suitable tool. In the same context, the `ASME PRA standard' also recommends the use of a best-estimate code to improve the quality of a PSA. In Korea, a platform to use a best-estimate thermal hydraulic code called ...
Kawasaki Steel has modernized blast furnace control systems featuring an integrated instrumentation and electrical system for each sub-process, a human-machine interface through a single window, and a distributed process computer system. A furnace diagnosis system, which has been known as 'GO-STOP system', has been developed to a knowledge-based system that enables to provide appropriate action guidance. For the burden distribution control, controllability and flexibility have been improved by the use of a bell-less-top charging device. For hot stove control, the automatic setting of a combustion gas flow rate and improved efficiency have been achieved by a fuzzy control system. Furthermore, the remote operation of cast house equipment has been realized and contributed to improve the working environment and the efficient operation at Chiba Works No. 6 blast furnace. (author)
Various types of nuclear power plants are being constructed and operated in Korea, and in terms of regulatory control, a method of examining and evaluating the structural integrity of containment structure is being used. Generally, after the construction has been completed, all containment structure go through a Structural Integrity Test(hereinafter SIT) in which the displacement occurring in a structure under greater internal pressure than it was designed for is measured and the result is comparatively assessed with the allowed criteria. Most of the nuclear power plants in Korea are American type plants and their SIT uses the Invar-wire and Extensometer methods. These existing methods are expected to be used for the APR1400 plant currently being built unless some other reliable alternative technique is presented. This tendency can be observed in other countries, such as Japan, and there is thus insufficient effort to enhance the reliability of SIT through the implementation of the ...
Various types of nuclear power plants are being constructed and operated in Korea, and in terms of regulatory control, a method of examining and evaluating the structural integrity of containment structure is being used. Generally, after the construction has been completed, all containment structure go through a Structural Integrity Test(hereinafter SIT) in which the displacement occurring in a structure under greater internal pressure than it was designed for is measured and the result is comparatively assessed with the allowed criteria. Most of the nuclear power plants in Korea are American type plants and their SIT uses the Invar-wire and Extensometer methods. These existing methods are expected to be used for the APR1400 plant currently being built unless some other reliable alternative technique is presented. This tendency can be observed in other countries, such as Japan, and there is thus insufficient effort to enhance the reliability of SIT through the implementation of the ...
The most recently developed control technologies in a hot strip mill are described. Preview AGC has been developed with a preview control synthesis. It controls roll gaps by using the previous information of disturbances. The disturbances which are concerned are derived from the rolling force, the roll gap and the thickness of a previous stand. The thickness accuracy and the availability of mill have been improved by this technology. An on-line roll grinding (ORG) system with an on-line roll profile meter (OPM) has been developed for the purpose of achieving schedule-free rolling. The ORG smooths the worn and roughed surface of a work roll and OPM can measure the profile of a revolving roll without contact. The data obtained by the OPM are given as feedback information to the ORG. As a result, grinding accuracy has been improved and rolling restriction on width has been relaxed widely. (author)
The Fuel Handling(F/H) System in existing CANDU 6 nuclear power plants was designed in the early 1960`s, utilizing the technology available at that time. The design for the F/H control system has been proven to be excellent in meeting the functional requirements through more than 20 CANDU units in service or under construction. The significant advance in electrical and electronic engineering area in a few decades motivates the design changes to reduce costs for engineering, construction and operation as well as to improve performance, reliability and safety based on the latest technology. This report outlines the current design of the F/H system, especially for the F/H control system, introduces some topics in research and development projects being carried out by AECL or other institutes, and presents several potential design improvement items for the better CANDU system with brief explanation about implementation. 29 ...
This article reviews briefly a range of the latest monitoring and controlling equipment for use in coal mines. This includes pressure transmitters, shale/coal discriminator, nucleonic bunker level indicator, automatic steering and monitoring system, oscilloscope/multimeter, and microprocessor based digital display controllers. 1 fig.
In this paper we describe the reconstruction strategies, the calibration procedures and the detector performance results from the latest CMS operation.
Sep 19, 2011 ... (The whispering voice, on the other hand, was the latest in ultrasound directed audio technology from the firm Audio Spotlight.) The NASA ...
...that the term global warming is actually misleading because ...global warming here ...a global warming of point seven four degrees in a hundred-years ...
of refined petroleum and energy traders have stopped sales of refined product to Iran. Jet fuel suppliers are now refusing to supply jet fuel to Iran Air at most destinations in...
Economic and safe operation of nuclear power plants requires reliable steam turbines with high efficiencies. The progress in flow mechanics achieved over the past few years has allowed the use of powerful methods of flow calculation in developments of new blading with greatly enhanced efficiencies. Thanks to the latest manufacturing techniques, the newly developed blading systems can be produced at low cost. Next to progress in flow mechanics, also the broadbased use of advanced finite-element calculations resulted in a more thorough grasp of the many problems associated with structural mechanics assessment of steam turbine components. The theoretical methods have been supplemented by comprehensive efforts in fracture mechanics and experimental materials studies, thus helping to create a reliable knowledge base which will help to avoid the dreaded stress corrosion cracking phenomenon, in components of steam turbines. The measures introduced to ...
The 10th International Neurotrauma Symposium was held in Shanghai, China, on 27-???30 April 2011. This meeting marked the 20th anniversary of International Neurotrauma Symposia. The vision of the International Neurotrauma Society is to unite clinicians and scientists to discuss and present the latest in translational clinical and basic science research related to neurotrauma. The Shanghai meeting brought together 1000 delegates from over 70 countries. Key areas discussed included current guidelines of neurotrauma management, the latest advances in neuroimaging, the latest concepts in cell death mechanisms after neurotrauma, the role of decompressive techniques for cranial and spinal neurotrauma, advances in biomarkers for CNS injury, and the future of clinical management and research in ne...
Seasonal traffic on intercity corridors often creates severe congestion at various bottlenecks, such as land-drops and drawbridges. A Traffic Simulation And Optimization model (TSAO) has been developed in order to 1) evaluate traffic impacts (including travel time, vehicle operating costs, accidents, air pollution and fuel consumption) of a given routing pattern on a network, and 2) determine the optimal flow pattern. In its latest version, the TSAO model uses: 1) a macroscopic simulation approach to trace vehicle platoons through a network; 2) Greenshield's equation to represent volume-speed relationship on freeways and multi-lane highways, and Highway Capacity Manual method for two-lane rural highways; 3) Lighthill's shockwave function to simulate queue propagation; 4) event-scan time management for simulation; 5) variable link capacity for two-lane rural highways or to stimulate incidents; 6) AASHTO Guideline for determining vehicle operating ...
The "2"3"3U(n,f) cross section has been measured at the white neutron source n_TOF in a wide energy range with a dedicated fission ionization chamber. We report here the results from #approx#30 meV to 1 MeV neutron energy. The "2"3"3U(n,f) cross section has been determined relative to a reference sample of "2"3"5U(n,f) measured simultaneously with the same detector. The very high instantaneous neutron flux and the intrinsically low background of the n_TOF installation result in an accuracy around 3% in the whole energy range, while the energy resolution of the neutron beam allows for an accurate description of the fission cross section by means of R-matrix analysis over a wide energy range. The results are, in general, in good agreement with the most recent high-accuracy measurement of this fission cross section, over the more limited range of the previous measurements, and indicated that even the latest evaluations underestimate the cross section in the epithermal ...
To estimate the success criteria of an operator's action time for a probabilistic safety/risk assessment (PSA/PRA) of a nuclear power plant, the information from a safety analysis report (SAR) and/or that by using a simplified simulation code such as the MAAP code has been used in a conventional PSA. However, the information from these is often too conservative to perform a realistic PSA for a risk-informed application. To reduce the undue conservatism, the use of a best-estimate thermal hydraulic code has become an essential issue in the latest PSA and it is now recognized as a suitable tool. In the same context, the 'ASME PRA standard' also recommends the use of a best-estimate code to improve the quality of a PSA. In Korea, a platform to use a best-estimate thermal hydraulic code called the MARS code has been developed for the PSA of the Korea standard nuclear power plant (KSNP). This study has proposed an estimation method for an operator's ...
To estimate the success criteria of an operator's action time for a probabilistic safety/risk assessment (PSA/PRA) of a nuclear power plant, the information from a safety analysis report (SAR) and/or that by using a simplified simulation code such as the MAAP code has been used in a conventional PSA. However, the information from these is often too conservative to perform a realistic PSA for a risk-informed application. To reduce the undue conservatism, the use of a best-estimate thermal hydraulic code has become an essential issue in the latest PSA and it is now recognized as a suitable tool. In the same context, the 'ASME PRA standard' also recommends the use of a best-estimate code to improve the quality of a PSA. In Korea, a platform to use a best-estimate thermal hydraulic code called the MARS code has been developed for the PSA of the Korea standard nuclear power plant (KSNP). This study has proposed an ...
BackgroundFunctional Near-Infrared Spectroscope (fNIRs) is one of the latest technologies which utilize light in the near-infrared range to determine brain activities. Near-infrared...Full Text Available
The latest-generation cochlear implant devices provide many deaf patients with good speech recognition in quiet listening conditions. However, speech recognition deteriorates rapidly as the level of...Full Text Available
...PROJECTS We are funded by industry, public bodies, charities and research councils and we are proud of the research projects undertaken by our world-class research groups . Research News To read more about our latest research to hit the media go to our News & Events page ...
Background:Advances in nonablative skin rejuvenation technologies have sparked a renewed interest in the cosmetic treatment of aging skin. More options exist now than ever...Full Text Available
Mist eliminators for flue gas desulphurisation units remove liquid droplets entrained in the flue gas leaving the SO/sub 2/-absorber vessels. The commercial designs currently available are described.
September 14, 2010 ADHD: Signs, Symptoms, Research NIMH researchers talk about the symptoms of ADHD as well as the latest research. Download this video. Watch on YouTube. Transcript Announcer: ADHD- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- is one of the ...
BackgroundMimivirus, a giant dsDNA virus infecting Acanthamoeba, is the prototype of the mimiviridae family, the latest addition to the family of the nucleocytoplasmic...Full Text Available
One of the aims in the safety assessment of SFR-1 is to estimate the release to the environment. In order to make these calculations there is a need to describe the inventory in greater detail. The new computerised database of waste in SFR-1 gives a good possibility to achieve this. The aim for project SAFE is to make both conservative and realistic radionuclide transport calculations. To achieve this goal there must be two inventories. The conservative inventory is the inventory used in the design of the repository, which in most parts is identical with the limits in the licence for SFR-1. There is a great interest to have good estimates of the volumes of the different waste types. A thorough prognosis should be made in 1999, but until then the latest one from 1995 could be used in the calculations. The total (actual) inventory of nuclides is calculated from the measurements of the easy-to-measure nuclides since, in principle, all hard-to-measure nuclides are ...
The training of a new project team member was completed (Task 2.1). The Software Requirements Document was written (Task 2.3). It was determined that the CAPE-OPEN interfaces are sufficient for the communication between Fluent and V21 Controller (Task 2.4). The AspenPlus-Fluent prototype on allyl/triacetone alcohol production was further developed to assist the GUI and software design tasks. The prototype was also used to analyze the sensitivity of a process simulation result with respect to a parameter in a CFD model embedded in the process simulation. Thus the integration of process simulation and CFD provides additional process insights and enables the engineer to optimize overall process performance (e.g., product purity and yield) with respect to important CFD design and operation parameters (e.g., CSTR shaft speed). A top-level design of the V21 Controller was developed and discussed. A draft version of the Software Design Document was written (Task 2.5/2.6). A preliminary ...
Economic and safe operation of nuclear power plants requires reliable steam turbines with high efficiencies. The progress in flow mechanics achieved over the past few years has allowed the use of powerful methods of flow calculation in developments of new blading with greatly enhanced efficiencies. Thanks to the latest manufacturing techniques, the newly developed blading systems can be produced at low cost. Next to progress in flow mechanics, also the broadbased use of advanced finite-element calculations resulted in a more thorough grasp of the many problems associated with structural mechanics assessment of steam turbine components. The theoretical methods have been supplemented by comprehensive efforts in fracture mechanics and experimental materials studies, thus helping to create a reliable knowledge base which will help to avoid the dreaded stress corrosion cracking phenomenon, in components of steam turbines. The measures introduced to ...
The time dependence of negative corona current I, called by Gagarin like 'relaxing of CV-characteristics', is a observed phenomena. The observed phenomena was explained by two theoretical models considering the ion-molecule and chemical reactions in the negative corona discharges in air, especially the ozone production. In the presented paper the discrepancies of above mentioned models, re-examination the earlier experimental data and presumptions used in models in a light the latest experimentally confirmed facts are discussed.
The bibliography contains citations concerning the use of dialysis in the treatment of wastewaters. Techniques for the removal of metals, ammonia, waste acids, nitrates, and phosphates are described. Special attention is given to the desalination of liquid wastes. Applications of this technology to the treatment of effluent from the agrochemical, petrochemical, tanning, and electroplating industries are discussed. (Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.) (Copyright NERAC, Inc. 1995)
EPRI's Steam Generator Strategic Management Project issues an annual report on the progress being made in tackling steam generator problems worldwide, containing a wealth of detailed statistics on the status of operating units and degradation mechanisms encountered. A few highlights are presented from the latest report, issued in October 1993, which covers the period to 31 December 1992. (Author).
We apply the potential force estimation method to artificial time series of market price produced by a deterministic dealer model. We find that dealers' feedback of linear prediction of market price based on the latest mean price changes plays the central role in the market's potential force. When markets are dominated by dealers with positive feedback the resulting potential force is repulsive, while the effect of negative feedback enhances the attractive potential force.
In this study, for the institutionalization of risk informed and performance based regulation in Korea, the latest technical movements of overseas countries are examined and reviewed. And the issues that was found when license change petition using risk information was submitted in Korean regulatory body are reviewed. Based on these review, the applicable areas to domestic situation will be found and proposed. This study can contribute to setting up the proper direction for the institutionalization of risk informed and performance based regulation
In this study, for the institutionalization of risk informed and performance based regulation in Korea, the latest technical movements of overseas countries are examined and reviewed. And the issues that was found when license change petition using risk information was submitted in Korean regulatory body are reviewed. Based on these review, the applicable areas to domestic situation will be found and proposed. This study can contribute to setting up the proper direction for the institutionalization of risk informed and performance based regulation.
The bibliography contains citations concerning the structural properties of sputtered tantalum and tantalum compounds. The preparation of thin film capacitors and resistors is described. The electrical properties of the sputtered films are also included. The influence of the substrate on the properties of the coatings is considered, including adherence of the coating to the substrate, and the effects of impurities on coating integrity. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
The bibliography contains citations concerning the properties of tantalum and tantalum compound films formed by sputtering techniques. Topics include processes, and electrical, magnetic, and dielectric properties of the sputtered films. Tantalum compounds studied include nitrates, oxides, and aluminides. The structural properties of sputtered films are also discussed. (Contains a minimum of 105 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
The article is the second part of a review dealing with latest developments in the area of solar cell technologies and application. Physical principles, design and efficiency as well as advantages and disadvantages of GaAs- and CdS-solar cells are described. Power generation solar cell systems with voltage converters, combined solar cell/solar collector systems and thermoelectric solar systems are presented in the second part of the article.
A summary of the latest results of Standard Model Higgs boson searches from CDF and D0 presented at the DIS 2007 conference is reported in this paper. All analyses presented use 1 fb{sup -1} of Tevatron data. The strategy of the different analyses is determined by the Higgs production mechanism and decay channel.
A summary of the latest results of Standard Model Higgs boson searches from CDF and D0 presented at the DIS 2007 conference is reported in this paper. All analyses presented use 1 fb{sup -1} of Tevatron data. The strategy of the different analyses is determined by the Higgs production mechanism and decay channel.
This book includes the latest developments and covers pump performance, selection and operations, materials, seals and packings, effective fluid characteristics, filtration, piping systems, economics, valves, instrumentation, automatic controls, power transmission equipment, pump and pipeline heating, and more. An extensive data section contains formulas, charts, symbols, nomographs, and standard specification documents.
This article discusses the latest developments made in the field of technology used for coal liquefaction. Some new areas of development in research and development work are described. Particular consideration is given to low-severity processing. This has two advantages, mostly low-molecular-weight fragments are produced and the extracts are low in heteroatoms. A detailed description of low-severity processing is given. The refining of the liquids produced from coal is also covered.
The IWA and ISWA congresses organized in Paris in july showed the latest research developments in the field of water and wastes management. The water sector is more mature than the waste sector but for both a closer association of the public and private is increasing. A summary of the presentations in successively the water and the wastes management is proposed bringing an analysis of the international situation and regulations. (A.L.B.)
The bibliography contains citations concerning industrial uses and design of microwave heating equipment. Included are heating and drying of paper, industrial process heat, vulcanization, textile processing, metallurgical heat for sintering and ceramic manufacturing, food processing, and curing of polymers.(Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.) (Copyright NERAC, Inc. 1995)
This paper reports a recent feasibility study of a scheme to transport thermal coal as a coal-water slurry by pipeline from Coalspur, Alberta to the west coast of Canada. The base case is for the transport of 10.2 million tons of coal annually, and an expanded case of 18.2 million tons is also considered. Coal would be drawn from 5 mines within a 16 km radius of Coalspur. Several different terminal layouts were considered.
The bibliography contains citations concerning Federal and state laws and management programs for the protection and use of inland wetlands. Utilization of wetlands to control highway runoff and community wastewater is discussed. Wetlands protection programs, restoration projects, resource planning, and wetlands identification methods are cited. References to coastal and salt water wetlands are not included in this bibliography. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
This proceedings CD ROM contains 127 papers on developing and evaluating engineering approaches to wetlands and river restoration. The latest engineering developments are discussed, providing valuable insights to successful approaches for river restoration, wetlands restoration, watershed management, and constructed wetlands for stormwater and wastewater treatment. Potential solutions to a wide variety of ecosystem concerns in urban, suburban, and coastal environments are presented.
The bibliography contains citations concerning the research and development of the electric automobile. Various sources of energy to accommodate electric cars, environmental effects, energy consumption and efficiency, and computer simulation and modeling relative to electric vehicle transportation are considered. Design variations are also included. (Contains a minimum of 195 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
The bibliography contains citations concerning the research and development of the electric automobile. Various sources of energy to accommodate electric cars, environmental effects, energy consumption and efficiency, and computer simulation and modeling relative to electric vehicle transportation are considered. Design variations are also included. (Contains a minimum of 121 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
In order to implement effective safety regulations on aging management for reactor facilities etc., the information on important technology issues, the latest technical knowledge including evaluation technology, test and research outcomes, related codes and standards, regulation information, operation experiences such as accidents and trouble, etc. with respect to aging-induced deterioration in and outside Japan and in other industries, were collected, organized and evaluated. (author)
Several recently introduced 'new' techniques in computed tomography - iterative reconstruction, gated cardiac CT, multiple-source, and dual-energy CT - actually date back to the early days of CT. We review the historic origins and evolution of these techniques, which may provide some insight into the latest innovations in commercial CT systems. (orig.)
Venture capital has guaranteed the successful launch of biotechnology in the US since 1977. Established companies are then licensed to produce and distribute the latest inventions. By contrast in Japan established industrial companies are the leaders in biotechnology research, development and commercialization, building on existing technology and past experience and retraining staff. In the US electronics industry the acute shortage of electronic engineers combined with the high cost of capital and instability within venture capital companies to restrict the high level of innovation required looks likely to happen again in biotechnology.
During thirty years the techniques used for sensing the environment have changed dramatically. This paper describes the latest generation of sensors available. This new generation of sensors includes those two most critical gas sensors for methane and carbon monoxide and new sensors for airflow and air temperature. When these sensors are combined with the new sensors for machine condition monitoring it forms the heart of the Sentex system. 2 figs.
In areas where radiation dose monitoring has not been performed, it is essential to use material available in the environment be able to rapidly assess doses to individuals for immediate emergency medical care or for general estimation of the radiological consequences. It was shown that certain types of telephone cards containing microchips have the potential to be used as individual radiation dosimeters in emergency situations to detect doses over 250 mGy by luminescence measurements. In order to understand the dosimetric properties of chip cards, the components obtained from INFINIEON Company at various stages of production were used for luminescence measurements. It is found that the protecting layer used above the chips so called 'globe top' is the main source of radiation induced signal in chip cards. The globe top produced by INFINIEON at that stage is found to contain SiO2 and Epoxy. In order to improve the dosimetric properties of the chip cards, the raw ...
The latest inclined mine winder started operation in April, 1995 at the Kushiro Mining Station of Taiheiyo Coal Mining Co. A permanent magnet synchronous motor, a cycloconverter, and H{sub {infinity}} control are employed to complete the latest inclined mine winder. The winder is the world`s longest and fastest inclined mine winder, and the torque of the permanent magnet synchronous motor is the largest in the world. A report is made on the driving system placing emphasis on the points considered in the design. The gallery has the length of world`s longest 6,626m and the average gentle inclination of 6 degree. The worker transport car runs at the world`s fastest speed of 420m/min from the mouth to the bottom of the pit, making a round trip in 40 minutes. Speed is adjusted smoothly by the cycloconverter, and the car arrives at the destination safely in a short time due H{sub {infinity}} controlling. By the application of H{sub {infinity}} ...
Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a dynamic technology and progresses with time. Since the issuance of IAEA-TECDOC-628 in 1991, the technology has experienced numerous changes. Advancements in knowledge about the behaviour of materials have led to changes in the applicable NDT codes, standards and specifications. In addition, over the last ten years, as a result of extensive research and development activities worldwide, new NDT techniques and equipment have been developed which are accepted by engineering community. To accommodate the latest developments, modifications are required to training materials. The present publication is an updated version of IAEA-TECDOC-628. The modifications were made during an Advisory Group Meeting, held in Vienna from 25-29 June 2001. The content of the first edition of IAEA-TECDOC-628 has been revised based on the experience of the experts, as well as comments of the end-user industries. The time allotment for different topics has ...
Constraints on the original Cardassian model and the modified polytropic Cardassian model are examined from the latest derived 397 Type Ia supernova (SNe Ia) data, the size of baryonic acoustic oscillation peak from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the position of first acoustic peak of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation (CMB) from the five years Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), the x-ray gas mass fractions in clusters of galaxies, and the observational H(z) data. In the original Cardassian model with these combined data set, we find $\\Omega_{m0}=0.271^{+0.014}_{-0.014}, n=0.035^{+0.049}_{-0.049}$ at $1 \\sigma$ confidence level. And in the modified polytropic Cardassian model, we find that $\\Omega_{m0}=0.271^{+0.014}_{-0.015}$, $n=-0.091^{+0.331}_{-1.908}$ and $\\beta=0.824^{+0.750}_{-0.622}$ within $1\\sigma$ confidence level. According to these observations, the acceleration of the universe begins at $z_T=0.55^{+0.05}_{-0.05} (1\\sigma)$ ...
Thermophotovoltaics is the science and technology associated with the direct generation of electricity from high temperature heat. Potential applications include combined heat and power, portable and auxiliary power, radioisotope space power, industrial waste heat recovery and concentrated solar power. This book aims at serving as an introduction to the underlying theory, overview of present day components and system arrangements, and update of the latest developments in the field. The emphasis is placed on the understanding of the critical aspects of efficient thermophotovoltaic system design. The aim is to assist researchers in the field. (orig.)
All sections of the third edition of this well-known textbook have been revised and enlarged in consequence of the change-over to SI units. Numerous examples and illustrations have been included or replaced by new ones. The book considers the latest research results as well as the constructive developments of industrial steam turbine construction. On a scientific basis, this plain book imparts basic knowledge of the design, calculation, execution, condensation and performance in service of steam turbines of all types. The well-founded introduction, together with many calculated examples addresses the student as well as the engineer.
The bibliography contains citations concerning the recycling of scrap plastic produced in the injection molding process. Plastic pellets made from scrap, that are used in the injection molding process, are also discussed. Recycling equipment and automated recycling systems are described. The reuse of plastic scrap culled from junk automobiles and packaging materials is discussed, and waste byproducts from polyurethane production are described. (Contains a minimum of 80 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
The bibliography contains citations concerning the recycling of scrap plastic produced in the injection molding process. Plastic pellets made from scrap, that are used in the injection molding process, are also discussed. Recycling equipment and automated recycling systems are described. The reuse of plastic scrap culled from junk automobiles and packaging materials is discussed, and waste byproducts from polyurethane production are described. (Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.) (Copyright NERAC, Inc. 1995)
A quantum computer would put the latest PC to shame. Not only would such a device be faster than a conventional computer, but by exploiting the quantum-mechanical principle of superposition it could change the way we think about information processing. However, two key goals need to be met before a quantum computer becomes reality. The first is to be able to control the state of a single quantum bit (or 'qubit') and the second is to build a two-qubit gate that can produce 'entanglement' between the qubit states. (U.K.)
The RSS collaboration has measured the spin structure functions of the proton and the deuteron at Jefferson Lab using the Hall C HMS spectrometer, a polarized electron beam and a polarized solid target. The asymmetries A and A were measured in the region of the nucleon resonances (0.82 GeV < W < 1.98 GeV) at an average four momentum transfer of Q2 = 1.3 GeV2. The extracted spin structure functions and their kinematic dependence will make a significant contribution in the study of higher-twist effects and polarized duality tests. A description of the experiment and the latest findings of the analysis will be presented.
This workshop covered the latest practical engineering and operational management applications and techniques that have been found to enhance operational costs, reliability, and flexibility, with topics such as establishing the optimal refrigeration design cycle and operating design points; utility management; manpower scheduling; plant control philosophy and automation; short and long term maintenance scheduling; refrigerant loss detection and control; system contamination; component reliability; and equipment technical performance issues.
The bibliography contains citations concerning plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) and equipment. PIII is a new technique to implant plasma ions into materials for surface modification and treatment. Topics include plasma nitriding, semiconductor doping, ion energy distribution, ion dose, pulsed plasma, metal plasma, and defect passivation. References also review applications in semiconductor device and integrated circuit manufacture, silicon material fabrication, aerospace bearings, carbon coatings on metals, and ceramic coatings. (Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.) (Copyright NERAC, Inc. 1995)
The bibliography contains citations concerning the pitting corrosion of copper and copper alloys, in different media, with some references to methods for protecting against such corrosion. Included are factors contributing to the onset of pitting corrosion. Emphasis is placed on exposure to water, especially in tubing for heat exchangers and water conduits. Many of the citations present studies on exposure to sea water. Some references pertain to the detection of pitting corrosion in installations and the evaluation of the degree of pitting present. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
The bibliography contains citations concerning the pitting corrosion of copper and copper alloys by different media, with some references to methods that protect against such corrosion. Included are factors contributing to the onset of pitting corrosion. Emphasis is placed on exposure to water, especially in heat exchanger tubing and water conduits. Studies are included which examine corrosion in metals containing small amonts of copper where corrosion is attributable to changes in alloying. (Contains a minimum of 158 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
Five fires that occurred in the air and gas treatment systems of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants are reviewed. The causes of the fires, the method of extinguishing them and possible fire prevention methods are correlated with the properties of the adsorbents. The similarities and differences of adsorbent (carbon) fires of solvent recovery systems and the nuclear air-cleaning units are discussed in relation to fire development, consequences of the fire, and fire extinguishing methods. The latest methodology of fire prevention, as proposed for a New Hampshire nuclear power plant is described.
The development status of the EE-1 Small Community Solar Thermal Power Experiment (SCSE Program) is presented. Current activities on the Phase II single module development effort are presented, together with plans for a Phase III 1 MW/sub e/ demonstration plant. A description of the various subsystems and components is given with a brief review of their development background. Latest performance figures are given for a 1 MW/sub e/ plant, based on 56 power modules, each consisting of a 12m parabolic dish concentrator, a cavity receiver, an organic Rankine power conversion subsystem and a ground-mounted solid-state rectifier.
Developing in Ext GWT is a fast--paced, practical guide to quickly learning the tasks necessary in building enterprise--class Rich Internet Applications. Based around the exciting new UI library from Ajax leaders Ext JS and the latest GWT release, this book takes the reader through setup, the available widgets, and advanced custom widgets and templates, and concludes with a functional sample client--server application in less than 150 pages. Not your typical beginner's guide to programming, this book provides a rapid approach to becoming effective with leading commercial RIA tools and librarie
A complete preparation guide for the entry-level networking CCNA certification. If you're planning to advance your career by taking the all-important Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), this is the study guide you need! Seven minibooks cover all the concepts and topics on which you'll be tested, covering the latest version of the exam. Each part of the exam is covered thoroughly in its own section, so you can readily find the information you want to study. Plenty of review questions help you prepare, and the companion CD-ROM includes the highly rated Dummies Test Engine so you can test y
The bibliography contains citations concerning the properties, industrial uses and federal regulation of asbestos. The references explore advantages and disadvantages associated with use of industrial robots in areas containing high concentrations of asbestos dust, the use of water as a cutting tool to control the generation of asbestos dust, and governmental policies and attitudes relative to the health and welfare of workers subjected to asbestos. Thermal insulation properties, wear characteristics, high temperature capabilities, use as a reinforcement in composite materials, and asbestos substitutes are included. (Contains a minimum of 69 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
Abstract Continuity and change in ancient Indian afterlife conceptions are discussed in a broad overview of the most relevant Vedic texts (the Rig Veda, the Krishna Yajur Veda, the Atharva Veda, the Shatapatha Brahmana, the Jaiminiya Brahmana and the Upanishads). Despite the introduction of (or re-emphasis on) certain ideas, such as reincarnation and moksha (liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth), there is also continuity of a core set of conceptions from the earliest texts to the latest. Return-from-death narratives are also found in each textual strand, and are discussed separately.
Objectives This paper examines the determinants of the insureds decision to use their health insurance card when seeking outpatient and inpatient health care in Vietnam. Methods Uses Vietnams latest Household Living Standard Survey data and random-intercept logistic regression to assess the influence of the observed individual, household and commune/ward factors on the insureds decision to access health insurance benefits while controlling for the unobserved commune/ward-specific factors. Results Compared to the compulsory enrollees, the voluntary enrollees and the beneficiaries of the Health Care Fund for the Poor are less likely to use their card when seeking inpatient care. An individuals likelihood of accessing insurance benefits varies inversely with income and the level of education,...
The bibliography contains citations concerning waste treatment and disposal in the food processing industry. Methods, equipment, and technology are considered. References discuss waste heat recovery and examine treatment of wastes resulting from meat and seafood processing, dairy and beverage production, and fruit and vegetable processing. The citations explore conversion of the treated waste to fertilizer and for use in animal feeds, combustion for energy production, biogas production, and composting. The recovery and recycling of usable chemicals from the food waste are also covered. Food packaging recycling is considered in a related bibliography. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
Description of the current status of the developments of a simulation of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station shutdown and regulating systems, DARSIM. The DARSIM program simulates the spatial neutron dynamics, the regulations of the reactor power, and shutdown system 1 and shutdown system 2 software. The DARSIM program operates in the interactive simulation (INSIM) program environment. DARSIM was installed on the APOLLO computer at the Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) and a version for an IBM-PC was also provided for the exclusive use of the AECB. Shutdown system software was updated to incorporate the latest revisions in the functional specifications. Additional developments were provided to assist in the use and interpretation of the DARSIM results.
A real-time orbit feedback system has been implemented at the Advanced Photon Source in order to meet the stringent orbit stability requirements. The system reduces global orbit motion below 30Hz by a factor of four to below 5{micro}m rms horizontally and 2{micro}m rms vertically. This paper focuses on dynamic orbit stability and describes the all-digital orbit feedback system that has been implemented at the APS. Implementation of the global orbit feedback system is described and its latest performance is presented. Ultimately, the system will provide local feedback at each x-ray source point using installed photon BPMs to measure x-ray beam position and angle directly. Technical challenges associated with local feedback and with dynamics of the associated corrector magnets are described. The unique diagnostic capabilities provided by the APS system are discussed with reference to their use in identifying sources of the underlying orbit motion.
The random walk function is a mathematical function derived from studies of the mass transport and flow of diffusible materials through tubes. Approximations to the function were first used some time ago in the field of cardiac tracer dilution curves, but in the absence of rapid and reproducible curve fitting the method never became commonplace. The current study uses the latest curve-fitting techniques and shows how the method may be used with precision in the analysis of time-activity curves from dynamic oesophageal and blood flow studies. The physiological basis of the method is given and parameters obtained which relate to both the rate of flow and the local dispersion of the bolus.
The paper describes the latest approach to quality engineering in the design process as applied by Ontario Hydro throughout the various phases of the project life cycle for Ontario Hydro generating stations and related facilities. Ontario Hydro has long recognized that the high quality and performance required in nuclear generating stations start in the design process and can best be achieved through an adequate and proper quality engineering programme in design. The current approach has evolved over a period of six years and represents a meaningful and effective series of requirements, functions and activities, which are used to ensure safety, reliability, economy and environmental acceptability of nuclear generating stations. (author).
This international conference brought together representatives from industry, academia and government agencies to present the latest developments on the subject of chemical admixtures and superplasticizers in concrete. Recent technological advances in the development of superplasticizers were reviewed, as well as new approaches to manufactured aggregates. The influence of new materials on the rheology of cement systems was discussed, as well as the influence of superplasticizers on various types of aggregates. The addition of hydrophobic admixtures in corrosion prevention strategies were reviewed. Various interactions between cements and superplasticizers were evaluated. Issues concerning adsorption and concrete materials were also investigated. A total of 70 papers were presented at the conference, of which 3 have been catalogued separately for inclusion in this database. refs., tabs., figs.
Abstract Policy-makers are increasingly recognising that the promotion of more sustainable consumption patterns is an indispensable prerequisite for achieving sustainable development in the long term. Policy documents and action plans have been published, and a wide array of policy instruments has been implemented with the aim of reducing the environmental and social burdens of consuming goods and services. But what are the latest trends and innovative approaches in sustainable consumption (SC) policies? What could be learnt for future policy-making? Based on an overview of European policy instruments and several case studies, the paper discusses instructive examples of SC policy instruments, in particular the Danish information campaign "One Tonne Less", the Dutch tax incentive scheme "Gr...
The combination of functional and morphological imaging technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) has shown its value in the clinical and preclinical field. However, CT provides only very limited soft-tissue contrast and exposes the examined patient or laboratory animal to a high X-ray radiation dose. In comparison to CT, magnetic resonance tomography (MRI) provides excellent soft-tissue contrast and allows for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMRS) or functional MRI (fMRI). Thus, the combination of PET and MRI has been pursued for several years. First approaches have succeeded using conventional photo multiplier tube (PMT) technology together with light fibers to transfer scintillation light away from the high magnetic field. Latest...
This report presents a view of and commentary on the current status of equipment qualification (EQ) in nuclear industries of the major western nations. The introductory chapters discuss the concepts of EQ, the elements of EQ process and highlight some of the key issues in EQ. A brief review of industry practices and some of the prevalent industrial standards is presented, followed by an overview of current regulatory positions in the USA, France, Germany and Sweden. A summary and commentary on the latest research findings on issues relating to accident simulation, to aging simulation and some special topics related to EQ, has been contributed by Franklin Research Centre of Philadelphia. The last part of the report deals with equipment qualification in Canada and gives recommendations on EQ for new plants as well as currently operational CANDU nuclear power plants.
This paper describes the design and operating experience with a high performance control system tailored to the requirements of the SuperHILAC accelerator. A large number (20) of the latest 16-bit microcomputer boards are used in a parallel-distributed manner to get a high system bandwidth. Because of the high bandwidth, software costs and complexity are significantly reduced. The system by its very nature and design is easily upgraded and repaired. Dynamically assigned and labeled knobs, together with touch-panels, allow a flexible and efficient operator interface. An X-Y vector graphics system provides for display and labeling of real-time signals as well as general plotting functions. This control system allows attachment of a powerful auxiliary computer for scientific processing with access to accelerator parameters.
The research committee of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan on water chemistry standard aims at establishing the private standard of water chemistry of nuclear power plants. The committee gathers up 'BWR water chemistry management manual', 'PWR primary system water chemistry management manual' and 'PWR water chemical analysis standard method', and furthermore aims at the standardization of those in future. Looking back on the committee's activities for the past four years, latest results of research of water chemistry mainly contributing to safe and reliable nuclear power plants were described with the future perspective of water chemistry and a demanded break-through. (T.T.)
...February 2010 | PR 10/14 Intelligent Energy demonstrates zero emission scooter at Loughborough Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter Loughborough University spin out company Intelligent Energy has partnered with ...the Suzuki Motor Corporation to develop the zero emission Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter which was given its European unveiling and first demonstrations in London ...Show, and demonstrated in Loughborough today (Friday 5 February), the city friendly Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter builds upon the success of the Crosscage fuel cell motorbike unveiled ... The Fuel Cell Burgman takes the next step towards offering cleaner, more efficient motorcycles in a practical and accessible form with the potential ...
The site characterization of Yucca Mountain, NV as a potential high level nuclear waste repository includes study of the surficial deposits as a record of the paleoenvironmental history of the Yucca Mountain region. An important aspect of this history is an understanding of the evolution of paleogeography leading to establishment of the present drainage pattern. Establishment of drainage basin evolution is needed before geomorphic response to paleoclimate and tectonics can be assessed, because a major change in drainage basin geometry can predominantly affect the sedimentary record. Because alluvial aquifers are significant to regional hydrology, a major change in surface drainage resulting in buried alluvium could have hydrogeologic significance. In this paper, we report on geologic evidence for a major modification in surface drainage pattern in the Yucca Mountain region, resulting in the probable establishment of the Fortymile Wash drainage basin by latest ...
The latest figures published by the Science and Engineering Indicators report reveals that in 2003, 33% of faculty in science and engineering departments at research universities were foreign-born, a number that has more than doubled in thirty years. Foreign-born faculty members comprise an important part of the scientific enterprise that has been understudied. The purpose of this study is to examine the job satisfaction patterns of scientists and engineers by status of birth using a very large and comprehensive National Science Foundation (NSF) dataset, the Survey of Doctoral Recipients (SDR). The results of the study indicate that foreign-born scientists and engineers are less satisfied in several areas of their work life as compared to their US-born peers.
The objective of this study was to analyse one of the goals of the latest National Waste Plan of Finland: the relative reduction of hazardous waste (HW) generation by 15% over the period 1992 to 2005.Official statistics and a national database of the annual reports of HW generators were used as one basis for this study. A case study was focused on a selection of HW classes that were considered to be typical to the metal workshop industry. These HW classes were combined to form functional HW groups for the purpose of forming time series. Trends at the company level were studied by performing interviews and by studying the environmental permit documents of about 50 companies.The total amount of HW reported in Finland increased by 133% over the studied period. Meanwhile the GDP of Finland gre...
The paper describes the latest developments in STRASSY (Strategy Assistance System), the strategy assistance system for the inspection of nuclear materials. The user can now select the fuel cycle he wishes to investigate from an initial range of 19 facilities. An inspection interface has been developed to enable the details and dates of inspections to be modified. One of the special features of the application of STRASSY in international safeguards is the taking into account of timeliness of detection; certain aspects of the time manager algorithms are presented and analysed, including the guaranteed existence of a solution. The results of a study of diversion paths in a simplified cycle consisting of our facilities are presented. Finally, the modifications necessary to enable STRASSY to be used for a posterior analysis of inspection results are discussed. (authors). 7 refs., 3 figs.
Based on the air pollution values typical of brown coal furnaces the paper discusses pollution abatement measures on the part of fuel engineering and flue gas technology. Fuel engineering contributes to air pollution abatement by measures such as stepped air supply, stepped fuel supply and flue gas draw-in. Flue gas technology largely relies on measures such as the SCR method using different catalytic converters, the noncatalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides, the simultaneous separation of sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides, and the Denox-Luvo method. The paper concludes with remarks on the RWE brown coal power plant retrofitting scheme planning to have all power plants equipped with adequate denitrification systems until the end of 1989 at the latest. (orig./PW)
Southern California Gas Co.`s (SoCalGas) Energy Resource Center (ERC) in Downey, Calif. is a 45,000 ft{sup 2} (4,181 m{sup 21}) conference and education center created to help energy decision-makers find the most energy-efficient, cost-effective and environment-sensitive solutions to their energy requirements. The center has 36,000 ft{sup 2} (3,344 m{sup 2}) of remodeled space and 9,000 ft{sup 2} (836 m{sup 2}) of new space, all designed to showcase the latest energy-efficient and environment-sensitive technologies. The building is one of the 25 buildings in the US to be designated as Energy Star Showcase buildings by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The document provides: An overview of CCS technology including what plant equipment is novel and what is currently in use within the CCS or other industries; An in depth guide to carbon dioxide to broaden the readers understanding of the material and its health and safety issues; Key design features of plant and pipelines for carbon dioxide service including experience gained from the industrial gases sector; and Key operational information for plant and pipelines for carbon dioxide service including experience gained from the industrial gases sector to ensure that your operating practices take into account the latest operational experiences from carbon dioxide plant. 45 figs., 18 tabs.
Sizewell B is Nuclear Electric's latest power station, and the Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) design on which it is based represents a ''first'' for the UK. One of the integral components of the plant is the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, which performs a contamination control and gaseous waste management function for the site. During the commissioning of Sizewell B Power Station the extract systems of the HVAC plant underwent a procedure known as ''fingerprinting''. This entailed the characterisation of the facilities provided to test the filtration plant during its lifetime. The assessment of their adequacy was then used to identify necessary modifications and/or to propose the manner in which future in situ performance testing would be carried out. The paper outlines the basic principles and procedure that was used to ''fingerprint'' test systems during the commissioning of Sizewell B. A specific example is presented to demonstrate the ...
The author analyzes conference materials, emphasizing the studies and latest developments useful for industrial heterogeneous catalysis in view of the requirements of green chemistry. Industrial catalysts is developing along a nanometer scale, so especial attention is devoted to analyzing the reports in the Nanochemistry section on the creation of nanocatalysts, the production of active phase nanoparticles, and the formation of new synthesized material properties. The catalysts developed earlier by Russian research in cooperation with Belarusian scientists are considered, and it is shown that not only are expensive nanocontacts extremely promising for industry, but the efficient and economic low-percentage new generation of nanocatalysts synthesized by wet chemistry and containing nanopart...
Particle accelerators are constructed and operated for a wide variety of applications. In particle physics - the branch of physics that studies the elementary constituents of matter and forces between them - high energy accelerators are used to look deep into the structure of matter. Medical particle accelerators are used for example in medicine to treat tumours [31], in imaging techniques such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) [24], or for the radio-isotopes production. They also serve in many other industrial branches, e.g. geology, radiocarbon dating [39], molecular complex spectroscopy, lithography, food preservation etc. The eld of accelerator technology draws knowledge and expertise from a wide range of scientic disciplines and uses the latest technical knowledge. The incomplete list of covered disciplines includes mathematics, physics, electronics, computing, electromagnetic eld technology, microwave technology, cryogenics, vacuum technology, special ...
Purpose - Mobile phones have provided an opportunity for banking institutions to introduce new services to the public. The latest service, which is now available in Malaysian banking institutions, is the mobile phone credit card. The purpose of this paper is to provide a preliminary investigation of the factors that determine whether Malaysia's bank customers will use the new mobile phone credit card technology. Design/methodology/approach - This paper extends the applicability of the technology acceptance model (TAM) to mobile phone credit cards and includes "perceived credibility (PC)", the "amount of information about mobile phone credit cards (AIMCs)" and "perceived expressiveness (PE)", in addition to "perceived usefulness (PU)" and "perceived ease of use (PEOU)". Findings - The resul...
FIRESET is a PC-based computer code which calculates current as a function of time for an RLC circuit containing up to fifteen series conductors which undergo rapid heating and subsequent explosion as a consequence of an electric current which passes through them. In its original form, the code was developed to model electrical waveforms measured when a large, typically 25.4 x 25.4 x 0.051-mm, aluminum foil was exploded using a capacitor bank with tens of kilojoules of stored energy. The code proved to be useful for this purpose, and it was recognized that it could also be used for modeling the electrical response of detonator bridgewires. In view of the increasing use of slapper detonators for DOD applications, we wish to make the latest version of the code, available to DOD laboratories and contractors for use in designing firing systems which employ slapper or exploding bridgewire detonators. This document provides instructions for the code.
This document is intended to serve two purposes. Its first purpose is that of a program status report of the considerable progress that the Department of Energy (DOE) has made since 1993, the time of the last such report (DOE/ER-0536, {open_quotes}The DOE Program in HPCC{close_quotes}), toward achieving the goals of the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program. The second purpose is that of a summary report of the many research programs administered by the Mathematical, Information, and Computational Sciences (MICS) Division of the Office of Energy Research under the auspices of the HPCC Program and to provide, wherever relevant, easy access to pertinent information about MICS-Division activities via universal resource locators (URLs) on the World Wide Web (WWW). The information pointed to by the URL is updated frequently, and the interested reader is urged to access the WWW for the latest information.
The calculations presented are based on RELAP5/MOD2-3 input for VVER 440/213 Bohunice NPP, developed within the framework of IAEA TC Project by an international team of specialists from CSFR, Hungary, Bulgaria and Poland. Project activities were condentrated on input data refinement and testing. Several cases were calculated using the latest version of RELAP5/MOD2 provided by RMA, Albuquerque to investigate some modelling assumptions, such as break location, geometrical representation of secondary circuit piping as well as the effect of deactivation of the signal controlling the SG isolation valves. (2 refs., 21 figs., 2 tabs.).
The calculations presented are based on RELAP5/MOD2-3 input for VVER 440/213 Bohunice NPP, developed within the framework of IAEA TC Project by an international team of specialists from CSFR, Hungary, Bulgaria and Poland. Project activities were condentrated on input data refinement and testing. Several cases were calculated using the latest version of RELAP5/MOD2 provided by RMA, Albuquerque to investigate some modelling assumptions, such as break location, geometrical representation of secondary circuit piping as well as the effect of deactivation of the signal controlling the SG isolation valves. (2 refs., 21 figs., 2 tabs.).
We present an update of the most stringent experimental bounds on the trilinear R-parity violating couplings. We then analyse bounds on the R-parity violating couplings at the unification scale by renormalising the weak scale bounds. We derive unification scale upper bounds upon the couplings which are broadly independent of the fermion mass texture assumed. The R-parity violating couplings are factors of two to five more severely bounded at the unification scale than at the electroweak scale. In the presence of quark mixing, a few of the bounds are orders of magnitude stronger than their weak scale counterparts due to new R-parity violating operators being induced in the renormalisation between high and low scales. These induced bounds are fermion mass texture dependent. New bounds upon the weak scale couplings are obtained by the requirement of perturbativity between the weak and unification scales. A comprehensive set of the latest limits is included.
An estimate for the number of ionizing photons per baryon as a function of redshift is computed based on the plausible extrapolation of the observed galaxy UV luminosity function and the latest results on the properties of the escape fraction of ionizing radiation. It is found that, if the escape fraction for low mass galaxies (Mtot<10^{11}Msun) is assumed to be negligibly small, as indicated by numerical simulations, then there are not enough ionizing photons to reionize the universe by z=6 for the cosmology favored by the WMAP 3rd year results, while the WMAP 1st year cosmology is marginally consistent with the reionization requirement. The escape fraction as a function of galaxy mass would have to be constant to within a factor of two for the whole mass range of galaxies for reionization to be possible within the WMAP 3rd year cosmology.
This volume is based on the proceedings of the CERN Accelerator School's course on Applied Geodesy for Particle Accelerators held in April 1986. The purpose was to record and disseminate the knowledge gained in recent years on the geodesy of accelerators and other large systems. The latest methods for positioning equipment to sub-millimetric accuracy in deep underground tunnels several tens of kilometers long are described, as well as such sophisticated techniques as the Navstar Global Positioning System and the Terrameter. Automation of better known instruments such as the gyroscope and Distinvar is also treated along with the highly evolved treatment of components in a modern accelerator. Use of the methods described can be of great benefit in many areas of research and industrial geodesy such as surveying, nautical and aeronautical engineering, astronomical radio-interferometry, metrology of large components, deformation studies, etc.
Fuji Computed Radiography (FCR) is a new system of digital radiography that is based on the latest computer technologies. We applied this FCR system to the X-ray diagnosis of the laryngeal disease. Twenty patients with various laryngeal diseases were evaluated by both FCR frontal tomography and conventional screen-film frontal tomography under the same exposure condition. Both tomograms were then compared on the subject of the clarity of delineation of laryngeal structures. As the result, FCR tomograms revealed the feature of the laryngeal lumen and cartilages more clearly than conventional tomograms. In addition, energy subtraction method, which is one of FCR image processing systems, was presented as a new technical procedure to extinguish cervical spine shadows in plain anteroposterior laryngeal X-photograph. We stress that FCR system is the suitable procedure for X-ray analysis of laryngeal diseases, especially in the region related with the phono-surgery. ...
A brief survey of present air pollution abatement requirements relevant to domestic heating systems is followed by a comparative evaluation of the latest results worked out on the part of boiler and burner manufacturers, and the legal requirements and existing regulations. Details are given on the limiting values required by law, the regulations valid for domestic heating systems, and the values fixed according to scientific knowledge and research results (development of NO{sub x} and CO, flame temperature dependence, table comparing CO and NO{sub x} limiting values for different types of burners and boilers). Access is given to primary air pollution abatement measures (cooling of flames, absorber rods, influence of mixing pressure), modern burner and boiler systems, and secondary measures suited for smaller boilers. (HWJ).
Recently, the precise isotope ratios of some refractory elements in meteorites have been reported using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The in situ decay of {sup 182}Hf (T{sub 1/2}=9 Myr), which was produced at the latest nucleosynthesis, is recognized in many meteorites as isotopic anomalies of its daughter isotope, {sup 182}W. The degrees of relative {sup 182}W isotopic deviation in extra-terrestrial and terrestrial silicate samples vary from +0.3% to {+-}0% related to the size of their parent bodies. One ready interpretation of its correlation is the difference in timing of metal-silicate separation in the parent bodies. Between the earth and meteorite parent bodies, the difference is calculated to be about four times of the half-life of {sup 182}Hf, equivalent to 36 Myr. (author)
The ASFIT (Anisotropic Source-Flux Iteration Technique) code was first developed in India about 1970 to solve the radiation transport equation represented in the form of coupled integral equations separating the spatial and energy-angular transmissions. The ASFIT code uses a nodal structure in the wavelength [lambda] domain in Compton units (CU) rather than in the energy domain. The ASFIT-VARI code is the latest version available from the Radiation Shielding Information Center. It incorporates variable dimensioning and has been adapted for use on MS-DOS personal computers using the Ryan-McFarland or Microsoft Version 5.0 FORTRAN compilers. While earlier versions used point cross sections (well suited for gamma-ray transport), the present version also allows multigroup cross sections for neutron and coupled neutron-gamma-ray transport.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, there was heightened interest worldwide in protecting nuclear power plants against intentional aircraft attack by terrorists. This paper presents our perspective into regulatory requirements for intentional aircraft crash that were set forth in foreign countries, including the latest rulemaking by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), i.e., 10 CFR 50.54(hh) and 10 CFR 50.150 that have been made effective in May and July of 2009, respectively. In light of these international efforts to further enhance safety of NPPs, a study is also underway at the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) to establish an effective and efficient regulatory approach in consideration of the state of the art in this area
Present methods for planning reliability improvement of launch vehicles are reviewed. A theoretical criterion for optimum allocation of resources for reliability improvement exists that requires equal marginal failure reduction for all elements to be impr...
The authors extend the Fermilab formalism for heavy quarks to develop an {Omicron}(a{sup 2}) improved relativistic action. They discuss their construction of the action, including the identification of redundant operators and the calculation of the improvement coefficients.
Molten salt oxidation (MSO) is a good alternative to incineration for the treatment of a variety of organic wastes such as explosives, low-level mixed waste streams, PCB contaminated oils, spent resins and carbon. Since mid-1990s, the U.S. Army Defense Ammunition Center (DAC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have jointly invested in MSO development at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). LLNL first demonstrated the MSO process for the effective destruction of explosives, explosives-contaminated materials, and other wastes on a 1.5-kg/hr bench-scale unit, and then in an integrated MSO facility capable of treating 8 kg/hr of low-level radioactive mixed wastes. Several MSO systems have been built with sizes up to 10 ft in height and 16 inches in diameter. LLNL in 2001 completed a MSO plant for DAC for the destruction of explosives-contaminated sludge and explosives-contaminated carbon. We will present in this paper our latest demonstration data and our ...
Our latest survey of hydro resources demonstrates the significant role that hydroelectric power continues to play in world energy supply. Our statistics have been revised, updated and expanded this year (1992) on the basis of a detailed questionnaire sent to power authorities around the world. For cases where data could not be obtained in this way we have collaborated with the World Energy Council, the United Nations and OLADE. The four tables this year give data by country and geographical region for the following: 1. Hydropower potential: a detailed breakdown of gross theoretical, technically feasible and economically feasible hydro potential, as well as the dates when the figures were last evaluated. 2. Hydro capacity in operation, under construction and planned (pure hydro only excluding contributions derived from pumped storage). 3. Hydropower ownership: data on public versus independent producers. 4. Pumped-storage plants: in operation, under construction, ...
We propose a new method to measure the metallicity of Type Ia supernova progenitors using Mn and Cr lines in the X-ray spectra of young supernova remnants. We show that the Mn to Cr mass ratio in Type Ia supernova ejecta is tightly correlated with the initial metallicity of the progenitor, as determined by the neutron excess of the white dwarf material before thermonuclear runaway. We use this correlation, together with the flux of the Cr and Mn Kalpha X-ray lines in the Tycho supernova remnant recently detected by Suzaku (Tamagawa et al. 2008) to derive a metallicity of log(Z) = -1.32 (+0.67,-0.33) for the progenitor of this supernova, which corresponds to log(Z/Zsun)= 0.60 (+0.31,-0.60) according to the latest determination of the solar metallicity by Asplund et al. (2005). The uncertainty in the measurement is large, but metallicities much smaller than the solar value can be confidently discarded. We discuss the implications of this result for future research on ...
Geothermal energy pile foundations are an alternative energy source for heating and cooling needs. Utilising this source of energy has great potential due to the environmental, economic and social benefits. This paper looks at an extensive amount of literature on the technology behind the system including the overall process, primary considerations for each of the main components including latest developments as well as design implications such as the integration of ground energy systems into structural piles of buildings. Environmental considerations including performance-dependent parameters of the subsurface are described. Main parameters include thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity and moisture content. Temperature and groundwater effects are also discussed and design considerations are provided. Mathematical models are available to aid in the design of these systems but there are various other issues and complex parameters that ...
Thursday 4 September From 14:00 to 17:00 - Training Centre Auditorium bldg. 593, room 11 The Summit Design VisualElite 4.0 Release Jean Marie St Paul / SUMMIT DESIGN, Europe, Technical Manager Michel Delcroix / SUMMIT DESIGN, Southern Europe, Sales F-95015 CERGY PONTOISE, France Summit Design is an important EDA digital hardware design tool supplier, and the industry leader in the emerging Electronic System Level design domain. Its VisualElite program has been used at CERN for several years. This seminar will include the highlights of the program's latest release. It will be illustrated how Summit Design products can provide a high-level C/C++ and SystemC functional modelling design and verification environment, enabling engineers to analyse system concepts before the implementation stage. The seminar will show how mixed SystemC and HDL simulation can be done, along with solutions for hardware/software development. HDL new features: Connectivity ...
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) prepares quarterly, short-term energy supply, demand, and price projections for publication in February, May, August, and November in the Short-Term Energy Outlook (Outlook). An annual supplement analyzes the performance of previous forecasts, compares recent cases with those of other forecasting services, and discusses current topics related to the short-term energy markets. (See Short-Term Energy Outlook Annual Supplement, DOE/EIA-0202.) The forecast period for this issue of the Outlook extends from the third quarter of 1993 through the fourth quarter of 1994. Values for the second quarter of 1993, however, are preliminary EIA estimates (for example, some monthly values for petroleum supply and disposition are derived in part from weekly data reported in the Weekly Petroleum Status Report) or are calculated from model simulations using the latest exogenous information available (for example, electricity sales and ...
The Department of Energy`s program for disposing of nuclear High-Level Waste (HLW) and transuranic (TRU) waste has been impeded by overwhelming political opposition fueled by public perceptions of actual risk. Analysis of these perceptions shows them to be deeply rooted in images of fear and dread that have been present since the discovery of radioactivity. The development and use of nuclear weapons linked these images to reality and the mishandling of radioactive waste from the nations military weapons facilities has contributed toward creating a state of distrust that cannot be erased quickly or easily. In addition, the analysis indicates that even the highly educated technical community is not well informed on the latest technology involved with nuclear HLW and TRU waste disposal. It is not surprising then, that the general public feels uncomfortable with DOE`s management plans for with nuclear HLW and TRU waste disposal. Postponing the permanent geologic ...
The atomic explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki made the name radiation itself become a nightmare. Notwithstanding this, radiation continued to serve the mankind specially in diagnosis of several human diseases and in the treatment of intractable malignancies. With their latest research tools biologists have now shown a significant shift in the earlier paradigm; even the concept that radiation initiates cancer appears to be no longer tenable. On the contrary, selective radiation doses inhibit growth of cancer cells and radiation in combination with many chemotherapeutic drugs, radiosensitizing chemicals and/or hyperthermia, is emerging as a new modality for cancer treatment which offers high therapeutic advantages. In addition, the deleterious effects of radiation can now be strategically counter poised by the use of many drugs and chemicals. This has been possible by the newer insights gained in the mechanism of biological effects of radiation. The fate of ...
Magnetically driven non-stationary acceleration of jets in active galactic nuclei results in the leading parts of the flow being accelerated to much higher Lorentz factors than in the case of steady-state acceleration with the same parameters. The higher Doppler-boosted parts of the flow may dominate the high-energy emission of blazar jets. We suggest that highly variable GeV and TeV emission in blazars is produced by the faster moving leading edges of highly magnetized non-stationary ejection blobs, while the radio data trace the slower-moving bulk flow. Thus, the radio and gamma-ray emission regions have different, but correlated, Doppler factors. High-energy emission is generated, typically within the optically thick core, in the outer parts of the broad-line emission region, avoiding the radiative drag on the faster parts of the flow. The radio emission should correlate with the gamma-ray emission, delayed with frequency-dependent time lag of the order of weeks to months. Model ...
To investigate the future problem of oil field operation in the North Sea, the latest trend of the resources and development/production of the oil fields in the North Sea in British and Norwegian territories are outlined. Recoverable crude oil reserves, potential additional crude oil reserves, and undiscovered recoverable reserves of Britain, as well as probable total potential crude oil reserves in British continental shelf are put in order. Outlines of development and production of crude oil are described. The petroleum and gas development by Norway in 1996 is arranged, and outlines of the reserves, development, and petroleum/gas production are given. As the topics relating to the North Sea in 1996, reports are made on: the effective use of existing infrastructure surplus capacity; dealing with economic efficiency; challenge to abysmal development; applied instances of floating production; storage and offloading (FPSO) system to a small-size oil field in the ...
The latest electronic circuit technology that can be used for the electric railway traction system fed by an AC/DC dual power line was developed. This system consists of reverse conducting GTO thyristors, microprocessors, and DSP`s. In the AC power supply line section, the line converter is controlled by PWM technology to secure a high power factor and reduce the higher harmonic generation of an input current as far as possible. The line converter and motor converter use reverse conducting GTO thyristors. Since these converters are cooled using a heat pipe cooler, they are reduced in size and weight. The electric grounding point of the main power circuit is set to the negative side of the DC line for AC and DC line sections. Therefore, the AC/DC selector switch was simplified in structure. Moreover, the DC input for the auxiliary power supply can be obtained from multiple line converters using diodes. As the result of the actual operational test, the expected ...
The combination of functional and morphological imaging technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) has shown its value in the clinical and preclinical field. However, CT provides only very limited soft-tissue contrast and exposes the examined patient or laboratory animal to a high X-ray radiation dose. In comparison to CT, magnetic resonance tomography (MRI) provides excellent soft-tissue contrast and allows for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMRS) or functional MRI (fMRI). Thus, the combination of PET and MRI has been pursued for several years. First approaches have succeeded using conventional photo multiplier tube (PMT) technology together with light fibers to transfer scintillation light away from the high magnetic field. Latest PET/MRI developments use solid-state light detectors that can be operated even at high magnetic fields. Initial pilot studies with prototype animal PET/MRI systems have shown ...
One of the most challenging topics in the area of organic electronic devices is the growth of transparent electrodes onto flexible polymeric substrates that will be characterized by enhanced conductivity in combination with high optical transparency. An essential aspect for these materials is their synthesis and/or microstructure which define the transparency, the stability and the interfacial chemistry which in turn determine the performance and stability of the organic electronic devices, such as organic light emitting diodes, organic photovoltaics, etc. In this work, we will discuss the latest advances in the growth of organic (e.g. PEDOT:PSS) and inorganic (e.g. zinc oxide-ZnO, indium tin oxide-ITO) conductive materials and their deposition onto flexible polymeric substrates. We will compare the optical, structural, nano-mechanical and nano-topographical properties of the inorganic and organic materials and we investigate the effect of their structure on their ...
This study develops a statistical model of industrial US natural gas consumption based upon historical data for the 1958-2003 period. The model specifically addresses interfuel substitution possibilities and changes in the industrial economic base. Using a relatively simple approach, the framework can be simulated repeatedly with little effort over a range of different conditions. It may also provide a valuable input into larger modeling exercises where an organization wants to determine long-run natural gas prices based upon supply and demand conditions. Projections based upon this demand framework indicate that industrial natural gas consumption may grow more slowly over the next 20 yr than being projected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This conclusion is based upon the assumption that natural gas prices will follow oil prices, as they have done over recent decades. If natural gas prices should lag well below oil prices, as envisioned by the ...
Due to its important hydroelectric power generation facilities (about 525 plants with a total power of 13,314 MW producing about 35.3 TWh annually) Switzerland plays an important role in the interconnected European power system. Large artificial storage lakes in the Swiss Alps can generate peak power during hours of highest demand: 9700 MW are available from accumulated energy and the total power of pumped-storage facilities amounts to 1700 MW. The latter allow refilling the reservoirs at periods of low power demand and generating power at periods of peak demand. In the case of favorable conditions, the yearly average power production could be increased by 6% and the production during the winter period (October to March) by 20% by the year 2020. However, looking forward to the year 2050, the annual production is expected to decrease by 3% despite a possible extension of hydropower. This decrease is due to the enforcement of the minimum residual water flow rates required by a new ...
A comparison between the concepts of the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and the ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV) was presented. The ULEV uses a much larger engine compared to the HEV, but it uses a lower Kw generator/motor and inverter/charger to use the latest engine and battery technology. The underlying goal of the ULEV is to supply auxiliary power under start-up and heavy load conditions and to remove indirect systems such as steering, starting and blower control from the engine via small electric drives. The challenge is to build a ULEV that is robust enough to withstand any environmental conditions. Since the ULEV engine is larger, it can experience compartment temperatures greater than 125 degrees C, which limits the use of conventional filter capacitors. Nippon Chemi-Con has recently developed U787D, the world's first continuous 150 degrees C rated aluminum electrolytic capacitor designed to meet the ambient, ripple currents and vibration ...
Fermilab's Advanced Computer Program (ACP) has been developing highly cost effective, yet practical, parallel computers for high energy physics since 1984. The ACP's latest developments are proceeding in two directions. A Second Generation ACP Multiprocessor System for experiments will include $3500 RISC processors each with performance over 15 VAX MIPS. To support such high performance, the new system allows parallel I/O, parallel interprocess communication, and parallel host processes. The ACP Multi-Array Processor, has been developed for theoretical physics. Each $4000 node is a FORTRAN or C programmable pipelined 20 MFlops (peak), 10 MByte single board computer. These are plugged into a 16 port crossbar switch crate which handles both inter and intra crate communication. The crates are connected in a hypercube. Site oriented applications like lattice gauge theory are supported by system software called CANOPY, which makes the hardware ...
The new proton-induced nuclear reaction data for C, Fe, Cu and Pb for KASKAD-S have been generated using a newly developed data preparation system. The new system utilizes the NJOY and TRANSX codes to prepare these data with the latest evaluation instead of using the SADCO code with the built-in nuclear data. Auxiliary codes have been developed to help the conversion of TRANSX output into the reaction data for running the KASKAD-S. The basic nuclear data selected for this work are the LA150 and KAERI high energy files whose energy ranges are up to 150 and 250 MeV, respectively. The total neutron yields were calculated using KASKAD-S and the new reaction data up to 250 MeV bombarding energy. The calculations were compared with the measurements or MCNPX calculations when the measured data were absent. The comparison shows that our calculations give an overall good agreement with the measurements and MCNPX calculations except around 30 MeV where large discrepancies ...
The publication presents the authentic texts of the: (1) Ordinance on road transport of hazardous materials (GGVS) with the ADR, as of 1993, skeleton ordinance, annexes A and B, reasons underlying the 4th ordinance amending the GGVS, directives for implementation, RS 002, instructions for accident management, RS-006, design approval standards for packaging materials and IBC-R002. (2) Ordinance on exemptions under the GGVS (GGAV). (3) Guiding principles for the training of vehicle drivers. (4) Catalogue of monetary fines under the GGVS, BKatV. (5) Draft version of catalogue of on-the-spot cautionary fines. (6) List of materials. (7) Technical rules TR IBC 003, non-electrical equipment, TRS 003, TRS 004, TRS 005, TRS 006. (HP).
It is very well known that the CANDU reactor has positive Coolant Void Reactivity (CVR), which is most important criticisms about CANDU. The most recent innovations based on using a thin absorbent Hafnium shell in the central bundle element were successfully been applied to the Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR) project. The paper's objective is to analyze elementary lattice cell effects in applying such methods to reduce the CVR. Three basic fuel designs in their corresponding geometries were chosen to be compared: the ACR-1000TM, the RU-43 (developed in INR Pitesti) and the standard CANDU fuel. The bundle geometry influence on void effect was also evaluated. The WIMS calculations proved the Hafnium absorber suitability (in the latest 'shell design') to achieve the negative CVR target with great accuracy for the ACR-1000 fuel bundle design than for the other two projects. (authors)
Tanker-based floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) systems have been in operation since Aug. 1977, when a single-well FPSO facility was put into production by Shell Espana in the Mediterranean. The overall operational experience with this system at this field is reviewed, with special attention to the wireline workover facilities, which have proved very satisfactory. A subsequent evolutionary step, a FPSO system accommodating multiple wells, necessitated development of a multibore fluid swivel. A design program for this swivel was initiated in 1978; a prototype was built and full-scale testing finalized in 1980. A summary of the test results is presented. Simultaneously with the multibore swivel development, detailed engineering for an eight-well FPSO unit was begun. This system includes gas-lift and water injection capabilities. Provisions for through-flowline (TFL) well workover can be incorporated. The detailed design is reviewed, as well as the ...
Climate change, and more specifically the carbon emissions from energy production and use, is one of the more vexing problems facing society today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just completed its latest assessment on the state of the science of climate change, on the potential consequences related to this change, and on the mitigation steps that could be implemented beginning now, particularly in the energy sector. Few people now doubt that anthropogenic climate change is real or that steps must be taken to deal with it. The World Energy Council has long recognized this serious concern and that in its role as the world's leading international energy organization, it can address the concerns of how to provide adequate energy for human well-being while sustaining our overall quality of life. It has now performed and published 15 reports and working papers on this subject. This report examines what has worked and what is likely to ...
Tantalum and tantalum-based thin films have gained precedence as the diffusion barrier for copper interconnects used in the latest generation of integrated circuits (ICs). The paper presents insight and observations on the covariance of texture and grain size of wrought tantalum sputtering targets and their influence on sputtering performance. Previous studies involving deposition trials of tantalum targets of varying metallurgical character had demonstrated that both grain size and textural homogeneity is critical for assuring reliable sputtering performance of tantalum. Subsequently, a model had been proposed to prescribe how localized texture bands and orientation clusters in tantalum are effectively resistant to sputter erosion. In this paper, results of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and orientation imaging microscopy (OIM{sup TM}) analyses on the eroded surface of a tantalum sputtering target are presented. Initial findings support the model's ...
Throughout the DOE complex there are numerous facilities that handle hazardous and radioactive waste solutions. Due to the hazardous constituents of the mixed waste, secondary containment of tank systems and their ancillary piping, in accordance with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, is a concern for such existing facilities. The Idaho Division of Environmental Quality was petitioned in 1990 for an Equivalent Device determination regarding secondary containment of waste lines embedded in interior concrete walls. The petition was granted; however, it expires in 1996. To address the secondary containment issue, additional studies were undertaken. One study verified the hypothesis that an interior wall pipe leak would follow the path of least resistance through the naturally occurring void found below a rigidly supported pipe and pass into an adjacent room where detection could occur, before any significant deterioration of the concrete takes place. Other tests using acidic waste ...
The report examines the scientific progress which has been made over the past years on the climate change issue. It examines shifts in emphasis on climate change debates and the implications of scientific uncertainty for the policy maker. Information on the impact of climate on various sectors, such as agriculture and coastal zones is also provided, as well as a case study on the UK. Regional impacts of climate change and associated economic implications are considered. The report also documents some different considerations for a climate change policy in the context of the latest meeting of contracting parties to the Un Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Kyoto in December 1997. The report is divided into five sections: Introduction; Scientific progress; Climate change policy - the dilemma with implementation; Summary and conclusions; Summary of Kyoto`s results. 146 refs., 4 figs., 14 tabs., 2 apps.
One wonders how a facility will cope with the new Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA). Environmental engineers working in large companies' facilities and in corporate engineering groups already have an idea of how to comply with the regulations for chemical plant equipment leaks. (In fact, the rules will also affect process bins, wastewater, transfer and storage.) But those who work for smaller companies or who have assignments not directly tied to environmental affairs may not have access to the latest thinking on compliance. One of the first challenges in becoming aware of the CAAA regulations is learning the new language, which consists of acronyms, some containing other acronyms. NESHAP, for example, stands for national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants. Prior to the CAAA, NESHAPs applied to a few specific chemicals, such as benzene. Now the proposed rules establish a HON, a hazardous organic NESHAP. According to David Gustafson, environmental air ...
CANDU reactors developed under Canadian licensing regulations that placed the primary responsibility for safety on the licensee. The Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB), Canada's nuclear regulatory agency, state in their regulations what is expected in terms of safety performance so that designers are free to propose the best means of meeting this performance. This goal-oriented approach, besides encouraging innovation, allowed CANDU to be licensed in other jurisdictions. The latest design - the large, single unit, CANDU 9 - explicitly incorporates licensability in Canada through a formal AECB review of the design; lessons learned from licensing CANDU 6 in Asian countries, particularly with Wolsong 2, 3 and 4 in Korea, and more recently with Qinshan in China; utility requirements for modem evolutionary plants; and emerging international standards for safety, sponsored or issued by the IAEA. By combining the assurance of acceptability in Canada with ...
CANDU reactors developed under Canadian licensing regulations that placed the primary responsibility for safety on the licensee. The Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB), Canada's nuclear regulatory agency, state in their regulations what is expected in terms of safety performance so that designers are free to propose the best means of meeting this performance. This goal-oriented approach, besides encouraging innovation, allowed CANDU to be licensed in other jurisdictions. The latest design - the large, single unit, CANDU 9 - explicitly incorporates licensability in Canada through a formal AECB review of the design; lessons learned from licensing CANDU 6 in Asian countries, particularly with Wolsong 2, 3 and 4 in Korea, and more recently with Qinshan in China; utility requirements for modem evolutionary plants; and emerging international standards for safety, sponsored or issued by the IAEA. By combining the assurance of acceptability in Canada with compliance with ...
A small break LOCA event simulation with no high pressure injection system available, known as International Atomic Energy Agency Standard Problem Exercise no. 4 (IAEA-SPE-4), was performed on the PMK-2 integral test facility in Budapest in 1993. This paper analyses the response of the PMK-2 facility, a model of VVER-440 nuclear power plant, using the latest released version MOD3.2.1.2 of the RELAP5 thermal-hydraulic code. After several years of the SPE-4 experiment analyses, many problems have emerged and been studied. Main goal of the present analyses was to study the main influencing parameters for adequate modelling of the hexagonal core channel with 19-rod bundle and phenomena during the core uncovery. Some influencing parameters have been identified, mostly on the primary side, but some also on the secondary side. This is exact simulation of main coolant pump coast down, hydro-accumulators water temperature and connections to the primary system. Some concern ...
Complete calculations of the accelerator related background in the muon spectrometer of the CMS detector at the Large Hadron Collider are presented. The simulations have been performed with the STRUCT multi-turn tracking code and the MARS and FLUKA cascade codes taking into account latest information of the LHC lattice, vacuum conditions, beam cleaning system and the shielding and layout of the CMS experiment. Beam loss distributions in the interaction regions and their vicinities and their contribution to the background levels in the muon spectrometer of CMS are analyzed. The studies show that hadronic and electromagnetic components of machine background are efficiently suppressed by the proposed CMS shielding. High energy muons penetrate through the shielding, but in positions of significance they do not contribute more than a few percent compared to the background generated by the pp-collisions. It is anticipated that the relative contribution of accelerator ...
We present the latest developments for the radiation laboratory curriculum at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of Western Kentucky University. During the last decade, the Applied Physics Institute (API) at WKU accumulated various equipment for radiation experimentation. This includes various neutron sources (computer controlled d-t and d-d neutron generators, and isotopic 252 Cf and PuBe sources), the set of gamma sources with various intensities, gamma detectors with various energy resolutions (NaI, BGO, GSO, LaBr and HPGe) and the 2.5-MeV Van de Graaff particle accelerator. XRF and XRD apparatuses are also available for students and members at the API. This equipment is currently used in numerous scientific and teaching activities. Members of the API also developed a set of laboratory activities for undergraduate students taking classes from the physics curriculum (Nuclear Physics, Atomic Physics, and Radiation Biophysics). Our goal is to develop a set of ...
The Girassol field is located in Angolan deep water of Block 17 and consists of large vertically stacked turbidities complexes. The reservoir extends over approximately 200 km{sup 2} and water depth ranges between 1300 and 1400 meters. In that context High Resolution 3D seismic became the most valuable tool to describe and monitor the reservoir. The field development plan took into account, through re-injection of the gas into the reservoir, Total environmental policy imposing the recycling of production gas. Monitoring of this injection was the main reason to shoot the first High Resolution 4D extremely early in the life of field. Despite the complexity of interpretation due to complex fluid situation and pressure effect, the results went way beyond expectations as the 4D images are of very high quality. Data has also been used to update and refine the reservoir flow model as well as to help deciding on the location of latest development wells. Other repeat ...
BackgroundThe metagenomic analysis of microbial communities holds the potential to improve our understanding of the role of microbes in clinical conditions. Recent, dramatic improvements...Full Text Available
As a maintenance optimization project to improve the safety of Wolsung NPP (Nuclear Power Plant), reliability of diesel generators are estimated based on the operating experience, and improvement options are suggested. A reliability measure is suggested for the estimation of reliability for standby safety systems to reflect availability. It is assessed that the reliability of diesel generators can be mush improved if the suggested improvement options are implemented. (Author) 6 refs., 1 tab.
As a maintenance optimization project to improve the safety of Wolsung NPP (Nuclear Power Plant), reliability of diesel generators are estimated based on the operating experience, and improvement options are suggested. A reliability measure is suggested for the estimation of reliability for standby safety systems to reflect availability. It is assessed that the reliability of diesel generators can be much improved if the suggested improvement options are implemented.
Exercise promotes weight loss and improves insulin sensitivity. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating its beneficial effects are not fully understood. Obesity correlates with increased production...Full Text Available
Context:Much of the recent focus in shoe design and engineering has been on improving athletic performance. Currently, this improvement has been in the form of “cushioned...Full Text Available
BackgroundEwing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common bone tumor in children, and survival of those with metastatic ES has not improved. Previous studies have shown...Full Text Available
This program focused on practice-level service change as a means of improving patient care and developing leadership skills of 19 general practitioners (GPs) and aimed to: promote and support change...Full Text Available
The beneficial effect of improving yeast redox response by increasing thioredoxin levels has been shown. Decreased lipid and protein oxidation is reflected in an increased biomass yield. In addition,...Full Text Available
Following an earlier article on developments to enhance the reliability of supertension oil filled cables and accessories, changes are described in design and installation of complete cable systems which have similarly improved operating performance.
BackgroundEstablishing an evidence-based method of improving knowledge and attitudes concerning depression has been identified as a priority in Chinese medical education. The purpose...Full Text Available
The possibility of rapid heat treatment (RHT) application to titanium castings has been studied. It was shown that such treatment provides a significant improvement of intragrain structure and mechanical properties of cast ({alpha}+{beta})-titanium alloys. ((orig.))
The invention comprises an improved rechargeable zinc-air cell/battery having recirculating alkaline electrolyte and a zinc electrode comprising a porous foam support material which carries the active zinc electrode material. 5 figs.
Growth of the malolactic bacterium Leuconostoc oenos was improved with respect to both the specific growth rate and the biomass yield during the fermentation of glucose-malate mixtures as compared with...Full Text Available
The causality of observed associations between air pollution and respiratory health in children is still subject to debate. If reduced air pollution exposure resulted in improved respiratory health...Full Text Available
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Standard chemotherapy has been shown to improve quality of life and has a modest influence on overall survival. This modest improvement in...Full Text Available
BackgroundImproving nutrition knowledge among children may help them to make healthier food choices. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a...Full Text Available
Thermodynamic Stable Metal Compositions for Improvement of an Operational Safety of Constructional Materials under Conditions of Multifactor Loadings of an Aggressive Environment
... a way to model a munition's terminal effects in a ... following attributes are handled in a stochastic fashion ... be improved by managing a queue of buffers ...
... that defines hydrometeor categories for the duration of the simulation ... and to observe the movement of any particular system ... particle settling occurred ...
In this work, the thermal performance of a conventional collector is improved by inserting porous substrates at the inner walls of the collector tubes. The porous substrates improve the convective heat transfer coefficient between the tube wall and the fluid. This improvement is investigated numerically and its effects on the efficiency and the useful gain of the collector are evaluated. It is found that inserting the porous substrate may raise the collector efficiency considerably, especially at high values of the overall heat loss coefficient.
The purpose of this paper is to describe instrumentation and control (I C) system improvements at Experimental Breeder Reactor 11 (EBR-11). The improvements are focused on three objectives; to keep the reactor and balance of plant (BOP) I C systems at a high level of reliability, to provide diagnostic systems that can provide accurate information needed for analysis of fuel performance, and to provide systems that will be prototypic of I C systems of the next generation of liquid metal reactor (LMR) plants.
The purpose of this paper is to describe instrumentation and control (I&C) system improvements at Experimental Breeder Reactor 11 (EBR-11). The improvements are focused on three objectives; to keep the reactor and balance of plant (BOP) I&C systems at a high level of reliability, to provide diagnostic systems that can provide accurate information needed for analysis of fuel performance, and to provide systems that will be prototypic of I&C systems of the next generation of liquid metal reactor (LMR) plants.
A discussion is presented of the 750-KeV chopper experience with both proton and negative ion beams and the ability of these systems to tailor the Linac beam to the diverse requirements of its users; normal accelerator injection, neutron therapy beam, and electron cooling experiments. This flexibility plus a cleaner beam pulse, improved thyratron operation, and mechanical modularity are the results of recent improvements. Additional benefits have been increased reliability and ease of service to the 750-KeV chopper. 3 refs.
According to the practice operation experience of the outdoors electrical equipment in Guangdong Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station, following to the engineering technical standard applied in China, by analysis and assessment of pollution classes, it is considered that the class four is reasonable. And indicated the voltage distance should be more than 3.5 cm/kV. Some improvements had been executed and effects are good. And further suggest some improving comments
DescriptionThe main objective of the project is to develop a range of underpinning plant resources together with information about the level of genetic variability they represent, in a form suitable for use in crop improvement research in vegetable brassicas, lettuce and onion. The proposed research addresses Defra's requirement for a crop improvement programme to underpin research programmes aimed at Pest and Disease Control, Plant Nutrition and Quality in field vegetables at HRI. We will produc [continued...
Large volumes of woodwaste disposal by incineration in a number of wigwam burners are contributing to pollution problems in Williams Lake, British Columbia. In 1985, the latest year for which data are available, total woodwaste production was about 800 million bd ft equivalent; only about 14% of this was used for energy recovery. In addition, about 66,000 m/sup 3/ of waste was sent to landfills after open burning. The characteristics of the local woodwaste are summarized, and available conversion technologies and the potential application of their products are reviewed. These include direct combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction, and densification, for use in power generation, cogeneration, and the manufacture of saleable products. Environmental and legal aspects of woodwaste utilization are also outlined. Finally, options for reducing pollution from existing burners are reviewed. One option is the upgrading of existing burners; however, it is noted that ...
The strategy for management of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory`s (ORNL) radioactively contaminated liquid waste was reviewed in 1991. The latest information available through the end of 1990 on waste characterization, regulations, US Department of Energy (DOE) budget guidance, and research and development programs was evaluated to determine how the strategy should be revised. Few changes are needed to update the strategy to reflect new waste characterization, research, and regulatory information. However, recent budget guidance from DOE indicates that minimum funding will not be sufficient to accomplish original objectives to upgrade the liquid low-level waste (LLLW) system to comply with the Federal Facilities Agreement, provide long-term LLLW treatment capability, and minimize environmental, safety, and health risks. Options are presented that might allow the ORNL LLLW system to continue operations temporarily, but they would significantly reduce its ...
An outcrop-based study combining detailed lithofacies analysis with high-resolution sequence stratigraphy in the Paradox Basin, southwestern United States. has shown that complex lateral and vertical facies variations occur in relatively consistent and predictable patterns. Large-scale facies shifts of several kilometers occur across major sequence boundaries whereas small-scale lateral and vertical variations develop from stacking of individual cycles. Understanding of vertical stacking patterns and lateral distribution of facies in outcrop can be directly applied to both three-dimensional distribution of reservoir facies in the subsurface as well as the evaluation of heterogeneity within individual reservoirs. The Desert Creek and Ismay intervals of the Paradox Formation (Pennsylvanian) exposed along the San Juan River in southeastern Utah are characterized by high-frequency cyclic repetition of carbonate and siliciclastic facies controlled primarily by 4th and 5th-order changes in ...
The role of the Latin American state oil companies (LASOCs) in establishing national industries to fuel economic development is discussed. LASOCs are represented internationally in an organization called ARPEL (Asistencia Reciproca Petrolera Estatal Latinoamericana) which is aimed to foster interchange, cooperation, and mutual assistance among its 20 member companies, as well as to promote economic integration of Latin America through its petroleum sector. State oil companies in Latin America date from 1922, when the oldest LASOC was created in Argentina. LASOCs are responsible for ca 80% of petroleum activities in Latin America. As of 1990, Latin American oil reserves, including gas liquids, amounted to ca 122 billion bbl or 12.2% of the world total. Regional oil production averaged 7.4 million bbl/d in 1990. Refining capacity is ca 7.7 million bbl/d, of which 80% is operated directly by LASOCs. Natural gas reserves are 7.3 trillion m"3, ca 6% of the world total, and production ...
In this paper an analysis will be performed to assess the economical competitiveness of Nuclear Power against other base load technologies. There are several plans to build more nuclear power plants in western countries; these plans are result among other things of the fossil fuel high prices and the concern for the global warming. France started the construction of one EPR at Flamanville in 2007 and at the end of 2008 there were 17 applications before NRC for construction and operation licenses (COL) to build as much as 26 new reactor units in USA, among the designs selected are the US-EPR, APWR, ESBWR, ABWR and AP1000. Currently, there is a lot of uncertainty about what is the overnight cost for a new generation III nuclear power plant and the vendors are not providing too much information. However, it is expected that under the new economy conditions the overnight cost will be between 2500 and 3500 USD/kW, the output electricity power of the units mentioned above are between 1100 ...
Visual Sample Plan (VSP) is an easy-to-use visual and graphic statistically-based software tool being developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to help determine the appropriate number and location of environmental samples so that environmental decisions can be made with the required confidence. The VSP software, which is available free at http://dqo.pnl.gov/vsp, is a significant aid in developing probability-based sampling designs (number and location of samples and measurements) using the Data Quality Objectives (DQO) planning process developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). VSP also has the capability of conducted statistical analyses to provide descriptive statistical summaries of data sets, to test whether data are normally distributed, and to compute upper confidence limits on means. This report is the latest in a series of reports that document the statistical methods used in VSP [Davidson (2001), Gilbert et al. ...
We have developed refined statistical and modeling techniques to assess low-level uptake and urinary excretion of plutonium from different population group in the northern Marshall Islands. Urinary excretion rates of plutonium from the resident population on Enewetak Atoll and from resettlement workers living on Rongelap Atoll range from <1 to 8 {micro}Bq per day and are well below action levels established under the latest Department regulation 10 CFR 835 in the United States for in vitro bioassay monitoring of {sup 239}Pu. However, our statistical analyses show that urinary excretion of plutonium-239 ({sup 239}Pu) from both cohort groups is significantly positively associated with volunteer age, especially for the resident population living on Enewetak Atoll. Urinary excretion of {sup 239}Pu from the Enewetak cohort was also found to be positively associated with estimates of cumulative exposure to worldwide fallout. Consequently, the age-related trends in ...
The strategy for management of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory`s (ORNL`s) radioactively contaminated liquid waste was reviewed. The latest information on waste characterization, regulations, US Department of Energy (DOE) budget guidance, and research and development programs was evaluated to determine how the strategy should be revised. Few changes are needed to update the strategy to reflect new waste characterization, research, and regulatory information. However, recent budget guidance from DOE indicates that minimum funding will not be sufficient to accomplish original objectives to upgrade the liquid low-level waste (LLLW) system to be in compliance with the Federal Facilities Agreement compliance, provide long-term LLLW treatment capability, and minimize Environmental Safety & Health risks. Options are presented that might allow the ORNL LLLW system to continue operations temporarily but significantly reduce its capabilities to handle emergency ...
Understanding the structure of the nucleon is a fundamental question in subatomic physics, and it has been under intensive investigation for the last several years. Modern research focuses in particular on the spin structure of the nucleon. Experimental and theoretical investigations worldwide over the last few decades have established that, contrary to nave quark model expectations, quarks carry only about 30% of the totd spin of the proton. The origin of the remaining spin is the key question in current hadronic physics and also the major driving forces for the current and future experiments, such as RHIC and CEBAF in US, JPARC in Japan, COMPASS at CERN in Europe, FAIR at GSI in Germany. Among these studies, the transverse-spin physics develops actively and rapidly in the last few years. Recent studies reveal that transverse-spin physics is closely related to many fundamental properties of the QCD dynamics such as the factorization, the non-trivial universality of the parton ...
The {ital L}{sub 2}-{ital L}{sub 3} Coster-Kronig transition probability ({ital f}{sub 23}) in Tm was measured by multiparameter {ital K} versus {ital L} x-ray coincidence techniques. The Tm x rays were obtained from a radioactive source of {sup 169}Yb and were detected with cooled germanium and silicon detectors of high-energy resolution. Corrections were applied for the contribution of {ital K}{alpha}{sub 1} x rays to the {ital K}{alpha}{sub 2} x-ray peak and for the contribution of unresolved {ital L}{eta} x rays to the {ital L}{alpha}{sub 1,2} x-ray peak. The contribution of {ital K}{alpha}{sub 1} x rays to the {ital K}{alpha}{sub 2} x-ray peak was determined solely from the results of the coincidence measurements using a method of data analysis which was previously described elsewhere. The contribution of {ital L}{eta} x rays to the {ital L}{alpha}{sub 1,2} x-ray peak was determined from the coincidence measurements and published values of the {ital L}{eta} to {ital L}{beta}{sub ...
The {ital L}{sub 2}-{ital L}{sub 3} Coster-Kronig transition probability ({ital f}{sub 23}) in Tm was measured by multiparameter {ital K} versus {ital L} x-ray coincidence techniques. The Tm x rays were obtained from a radioactive source of {sup 169}Yb and were detected with cooled germanium and silicon detectors of high-energy resolution. Corrections were applied for the contribution of {ital K}{alpha}{sub 1} x rays to the {ital K}{alpha}{sub 2} x-ray peak and for the contribution of unresolved {ital L}{eta} x rays to the {ital L}{alpha}{sub 1,2} x-ray peak. The contribution of {ital K}{alpha}{sub 1} x rays to the {ital K}{alpha}{sub 2} x-ray peak was determined solely from the results of the coincidence measurements using a method of data analysis which was previously described elsewhere. The contribution of {ital L}{eta} x rays to the {ital L}{alpha}{sub 1,2} x-ray peak was determined from the coincidence measurements and published values of the {ital L}{eta} to {ital L}{beta}{sub ...
Based on the IAPWS technical guidance on ''Instrumentation for Monitoring and Control of Cycle Chemistry for Steam-Water Circuits of Fossil-Fired and Combined Cycle Power Plants,'' the latest situation regarding instrumentation for nuclear power plants is discussed. As a result of the discussion, it is concluded that: (1) Reliable and safe operation of plants is established by the application of suitable chemical conditions in plant cooling systems, which should be supported by the selection of suitable control targets for monitoring and by the application of reliable instruments. (2) The minimum level of key instrumentation consists of on-line as well as off-line instruments for monitoring the key parameters: - on-line: pH, conductivity, cation conductivity, O{sub 2} and H{sub 2} concentrations, electrochemical corrosion potential; - off-line: radioactive nuclides ({sup 60}Co, {sup 58}Co, {sup 131}I, etc.), and the ...
The advent of light metal alloys and advanced materials (polymer, composites, etc.) have brought the possibility of achieving important energy reductions into the full life cycle of these materials, especially in transportation applications. 1 These materials have gained acceptance in the aerospace industry but use of light metal alloys needs to gain wider acceptance in other commercial transportation areas. Among the main reasons for the relatively low use of these materials are the lack of manufacturability, insufficient mechanical properties, and increased material costs due to processing inefficiencies. Considering the enormous potential energy savings associated with the use of light metal alloys and advanced materials in transportation, there is a need to identify R&D opportunities in the fields of materials fabrication and forming aimed at developing materials with high specific mechanical properties combined with energy efficient processes and good manufacturability. ...
In 1991/1992, VEAG decided to convert its 500 MW plants at Jaenschwalde and Boxberg to the latest state of technology. This even included the discharge of the cleaned flue gas through the existing cooling towers. The site of the flue gas desulphurization plant and also the existing cooling tower shells required routeing of the clean gas lines similar to the routes in the existing plants of RWE. The positive experience accrued with the pipework material `glass-fibre reinforced vinyl ester resin` has also led to the selection of this material here. The universally positive experience gained from existing clean gas lines via cooling towers by very different power station operators induced VEAG and its partners also to equip new construction operations in the new Federal states with this technology. (orig.) [Deutsch] In den Jahren 1991/1992 entschloss sich die VEAG, ihre 500-MW-Anlagen Jaenschwalde und Boxberg auf den neuesten Stand der Technik umzuruesten. Hierzu ...
Due to its important hydroelectric power generation facilities (about 525 plants with a total power of 13,314 MW producing about 35.3 TWh annually) Switzerland plays an important role in the interconnected European power system. Large artificial storage lakes in the Swiss Alps can generate peak power during hours of highest demand: 9700 MW are available from accumulated energy and the total power of pumped-storage facilities amounts to 1700 MW. The latter allow refilling the reservoirs at periods of low power demand and generating power at periods of peak demand. In the case of favorable conditions, the yearly average power production could be increased by 6% and the production during the winter period (October to March) by 20% by the year 2020. However, looking forward to the year 2050, the annual production is expected to decrease by 3% despite a possible extension of hydropower. This decrease is due to the enforcement of the minimum residual water flow rates required by a new ...
The enhancements described of high-performance CT systems of latest design have again confirmed the importance of CT systems for acute and selective diagnostic imaging. Higher availability, shorter exposure times, and better applicability and handling for examination of poly-traumata patients or patients of intensive care departments are some of the advantages achieved with CT systems which demonstrate CT system efficiency in addition to MRI, which for specific examinations will remain the modality of first choice for diagnostic evaluation. The Tomoscan Av-E presented here was able to answer all relevant diagnostic questions appearing in routine diagnostics and scientific work. For patients, examinations using the spiral CT technique also offers significant advantages. (orig./CB) [Deutsch] Durch die dargestellten Verbesserungen bei Hochleistungs-CT-Systemen neuester Bauart wurde die Bedeutung der CT fuer die akute und selektive Diagnostik erneut bestaetigt. Bessere ...
The research for the development of flexible organic electronic devices (FEDs) is rapidly increasing worldwide, since FEDs will change radically several aspects of everyday life. Although there has been considerable progress in the area of flexible inorganic devices (a-Si or solution processed Si), there are numerous advances in the organic (semiconducting, conducting and insulating), inorganic and hybrid (organic-inorganic) materials that exhibit customized properties and stability, and in the synthesis and preparation methods, which are characterized by a significant amount of multidisciplinary efforts. Furthermore, the development and encapsulation of organic electronic devices onto flexible polymeric substrates by large-scale and low-cost roll-to-roll production processes will allow their market implementation in numerous application areas, including displays, lighting, photovoltaics, radio-frequency identification circuitry and chemical sensors, as well as to a new generation of ...
Modern nuclear spectroscopy boosts the study of the nuclear matter towards extreme conditions: large excitation energies, high spins, and new nuclear species with unusual ratio between the numbers of neutrons and protons. One of the 'exotic' nuclear regions, practically not studied until now, is the upper part of the N=Z line, from about N#approx#Z#approx#36 to Sn-100, probably the heaviest bound nucleus with N=Z. These nuclei lie close to the proton-drip line. Due to their special composition, it is expected that their study will reveal some phenomena which are less encountered in the nuclei studied till now. In particular, of outstanding interest is the fact that these are the only nuclei which may provide information on the properties of the neutron-proton pairing forces. In spite of its large interest, this nuclear region is exceedingly difficult to reach with the present techniques. The lecture follows the latest results and efforts in the study of the ...
Dual fuel operation, in which natural gas is mixed with the diesel engine intake air and ignition is by diesel fuel spray, has the advantage that engine conversion is simple. Under high load it has the same high efficiency as a diesel engine and it can be switched to normal diesel operation for long distance running. Also, NO{sub x} and black smoke emissions can also be reduced. However, the disadvantages are to increase HC and CO emissions, to reduce efficiency under low load, and to emit the large amount of NO{sub x} under high load. Waseda University was commissioned by Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. to conduct research program involving experimentation ragarding a dual fuel engine. It was then discovered that the most effective means of solving the problems mentioned above is Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and that the effect can be increased by heating the intake air. An old engine before the current emission standard was converted to dual fuel operation. It was found that these measures ...
We carry out investigation on the establishment of a program to cultivate a nuclear fusion workforce effectively, which is the most important resource in the fusion energy development. Acquisition of fresh fusion technologies is essentially required to pursue R and D efficiently and to ensure fusion initiatives firmly in the international community. As the time has come to cultivate the fusion workforce and to enhance the workforce's expertise, the universities, research institutes and industries involved in fusion energy development are supposed to adjust fast technology shifts and to accommodate international trends toward collaboration. We establish systematic schemes to develop a professional workforce and to assign the right jobs to the right people timely through the research-academic-industry cooperation. After carrying out domestic and oversea surveys on the education and training programs of various institutes, we evaluate an over-all manpower supply system. Also, in ...
The Internet is becoming the preferred method for disseminating scientific data from a variety of disciplines. This can result in information overload on the part of the scientists, who are unable to query all of the relevant sources, even if they knew where to find them, what they contained, how to interact with them, and how to interpret the results. A related issue is keeping up with current trends in information technology often taxes the end-user's expertise and time. Thus instead of benefiting from this information rich environment, scientists become experts on a small number of sources and technologies, use them almost exclusively, and develop a resistance to innovations that can enhance their productivity. Enabling information based scientific advances, in domains such as functional genomics, requires fully utilizing all available information and the latest technologies. In order to address this problem we are developing a end-user centric, ...
Japan's first water power station to provide public power was the Keage plant (maximum output 160 kW) which began operation in 1891. The installed capacity of pure hydro plants reached 20 481 MW in March 1991; pumped-storage powerplants account for 17 004 MW, making a total of 37 483 MW. Pumped-storage thus represents 45 per cent of total hydro capacity. Pure hydro plants under construction at the end of March 1990 totalled 75, representing 968 MW of capacity. There were also seven pumped-storage plants under construction (each more than 300 MW). The latest survey to establish the hydro potential of Japan indicated the gross theoretical hydro potential to be 717 600 GWh/year and the exploitable potential to be 130 524 GWh/year. Of this exploitable potential, 60 per cent is in operation and 3 per cent is under construction. The exploitable potential represents 4551 pure hydro plants, with a total installed capacity of 32 792 MW. In an effort to reduce ...
Various kinds of decontaminations are carried out in atomic power plant. Here current decontamination technologies such as chemical decontamination with chemical solution or blast decontamination have a problem of reduction of secondary radioactive waste generated in the decontamination process. On the other hand, a low pressure arc plasma can remove metal oxide film on the metal substrate without heavy damage on the metal substrate when the object to be treated was set as a cathode. Dry surface decontamination technology with using low-pressure arc plasma can decrease secondary radioactive waste because low-pressure arc plasma does not need any chemical solution. In addition, the time required for treatment can be shorter, so it is possible for the low-pressure arc plasma decontamination technology to interpolate the current decontamination technologies such as spot decontamination technology etc. Therefore we have been investigating the dependence of removal of metal oxide film on ...
This paper extends the analytical procedure described in another paper in these proceedings to analyze a variety of compact and light-weight OSC-designed radioisotope-heated generators. Those generators employed General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules and a converter containing sixteen AMTEC cells of OSC`s revised five-tube design with enhanced cell wall reflectivity described in a companion paper in these proceedings. OSC found that the performance of the generator is primarily a function of the thermal insulation between the outside of the generator`s 16 cells and the inside of its wall. After examining a variety of insulation options, it was found that the generator`s performance is optimized by employing a hybrid insulation system, in which the space between the cells is filled with fibrous Min-K insulation, and the generator walls are lined with tapered (i.e., graded-length) multifoil insulation. The OSC design results in a very compact generator, with eight AMTEC cells on each ...
We prepared macromer-grafted polymers (MGPs) containing suitable polymer side chains for improving solubility and pyrene units for improving adsorption on multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) surfaces, and demonstrated that these MGPs act as MWCNT solubilizers that improve solubility of MWCNTs in typically poor solvents such as alkanes and that improve flowability of polymer/MWCNT composites. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-MGPs, synthesized using PDMS macromers and pyrene-containing monomers, improved solubility of MWCNTs not only in chloroform but also in hexane, which is a poor solvent for MWCNTs. Moreover, the addition of PDMS-MGP-adsorbed MWCNTs (MWCNT/PDMS-MGPs) to epoxy resin monomers or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) drastically reduced the viscosity of the obtained epoxy resin mo...
This paper summarizes the current scientific evidence that improved indoor environmental quality can improve work performance and health. The review indicates that work and school work performance is affected by indoor temperature and ventilation rate. Pollutant source removal can sometimes improve work performance. Based on formal statistical analyses of existing research results, quantitative relationships are provided for the linkages of work performance with indoor temperature and outdoor air ventilation rate. The review also indicates that improved health and related financial savings are obtainable from reduced indoor tobacco smoking, prevention and remediation of building dampness, and increased ventilation. Example cost-benefit analyses indicate that many measures to improve indoor temperature control and increase ventilation rates will be highly cost effective, with ...
A wood-polymer composite has been produced by impregnating the wood with the monomer and subsequently polymerizing it by exposure to a gamma radiation source. To compare the improvement in creep deformation of the wood due to the polymer impregnation, a nonlinear Norton-Bailey isothermal mathematical function has been used to model the bending creep deformation of the wood-polymer composites. Results show that the impregnation significantly improves the creep resistance of the wood. The maximum creep resistance is obtained when the amount of polymer impregnation exceeds about 30%. An interfacial interaction between the wood cell wall and the polymer could explain the creep deformation improvement, as well as the maximum impregnation level beyond which little improvement occurs. The results indicate that polymer impregnation is a viable method for improving the poor creep properties ...
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in-place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional and multi-component seismic area is being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with extended-reach jetting lance and other ultra-short radius lateral technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimates of oil-in-place will result in additional oil production by primary and enhanced ...
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in-place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in Red River and Ratcliffe shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing three-dimensional and multi-component seismic are being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with extended-reach jetting lance and other ultra-short-radius lateral technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimates of oil in place will result in additional oil recovery by primary ...
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in-place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional (3D) and multi-component seismic are being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with short-lateral and horizontal drilling technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimates of oil-in-place will result in additional oil production by primary and enhanced recovery processes.
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in-place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in Red River and Ratcliffe shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing three-dimensional and multi-component seismic are being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with extended-reach jetting lance and other ultra-short-radius lateral technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimates of oil in place will result in additional oil recovery by primary ...
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in- place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional (3D) and multi- component seismic are being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with short- lateral and horizontal drilling technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimates of oil-in-place will result in additional oil production by primary and enhanced recovery processes.
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determination of oil-in-place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional (3D) is being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with short lateral and horizontal drilling technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimates of oil-in- place will result in additional oil production by primary and enhanced recovery processes.
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in- place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional (3-D) and multi-component seismic are being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with short-lateral and horizontal drilling technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimate of oil-in-place will result in additional oil production by primary and enhanced recovery processes.
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in- place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional (3-D) and multi- component seismic are being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with short- lateral and horizontal drilling technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimate of oil-in-place will result in additional oil production by primary and enhanced recovery processes.
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in-place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing three-dimensional is being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with short-lateral and horizontal drilling technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacing and better estimates of oil-in-place will result in additional oil production by primary and enhanced recovery processes.
Many of the vertical hydrocarbon miscible floods in the Keg River carbonate reefs of the Rainbow Field are at a mature stage of reservoir depletion, and are characterized by thin oil sandwiches. Injection of a gas-blocking foam barrier into a gas cone had the potential to improve oil productivity. Experimental foam treatments were described for two wells, each in a different miscible flood well. One of the wells received foam in an aqueous solution to generate foam in-situ, and as a surface generated foam. These attempt were unsuccessful at improving well performance. The second well was injected with preformed foam only. This treatment reduced GOR and improved oil production over a 14 month period. Field experience from these field trials was expected to improve efficiency in planning, design, implementation and evaluation of future foam projects.
Daylight responsive dimming systems have been used in few buildings to date because they require improvements to improve reliability. The key underlying factor contributing to poor performance is the variability of the ratio of the photosensor signal to daylight workplane illuminance in accordance with sun position, sky condition, and fenestration condition. Therefore, this paper describes the integrated systems between automated roller shade systems and daylight responsive dimming systems with an improved closed-loop proportional control algorithm, and the relative performance of the integrated systems and single systems. The concept of the improved closed-loop proportional control algorithm for the integrated systems is to predict the varying correlation of photosensor signal to daylight workplane illuminance according to roller shade height and sky conditions for improvement of ...
This paper describes the activities for improving the Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) quality in the human reliability analysis (HRA) of the pre-accident human errors for the Korea Standard Nuclear Power Plant (KSNP). We evaluate the HRA results of the PSA for the KSNP and identify the items to be improved using the ASME PRA Standard. Evaluation results show that the ratio of items to be improved for pre-accident human errors is relatively high when compared with the ratio of those for post-accident human errors. They also show that more than 50% of the items to be improved for pre-accident human errors are related to the identification and screening analysis for them. In this paper, we develop the modeling guidelines for pre-accident human errors and apply them to the auxiliary feedwater system of the KSNP. Application results show that more than 50% of the items to be ...
This paper describes the activities for improving the Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) quality in the human reliability analysis (HRA) of the pre-accident human errors for the Korea Standard Nuclear Power Plant (KSNP). We evaluate the HRA results of the PSA for the KSNP and identify the items to be improved using the ASME PRA Standard. Evaluation results show that the ratio of items to be improved for pre-accident human errors is relatively high when compared with the ratio of those for post-accident human errors. They also show that more than 50% of the items to be improved for pre-accident human errors are related to the identification and screening analysis for them. In this paper, we develop the modeling guidelines for pre-accident human errors and apply them to the auxiliary feedwater system of the KSNP. Application results show that more than 50% of the items to be ...
Due to the general market conditions, the construction of steam turbines was greatly reduced in 1987. As in 1986, it came to a downward movement. This situation will heighten in the coming years. The exploitation of devices, which are available by way of the development of EDP in computation, construction, production and operation, leads to considerable improvements. These improvements can only be employed gradually, due to the reduction in production. However, technological progress can be used economically in part in the restoration of old installations. Here turbine construction, the thermodynamical interpretation of gas and steam turbines, developments in the field of conduction technology, piping and materials are described. Also improvements in operation security and operation supervision of the installations is treated, as well as service and maintenance of the plants. (BR) With 131 refs.
A rotational speed control, tailored to the Sunflower system requirements, was designed and fabricated in breadboard, preprototype, and prototype configurations. These units were subjected to performance and environmental testing which has led to design improvements. Program efforts have yielded hardware capable of meeting all performance requirements and of operating under all the environmental conditions to which the units were exposed. Attractive design changes were identified and, in some cases, completed. These changes involve improvements in circuitry and packaging, the primary objectives of which are to eliminate startup bias batteries and reduce weight. It is recommended that the reported program be extended to implement these improvements. (auth)
Dictionary lookup methods are popular in dealing with ambiguous letters which were not recognized by Optical Character Readers. However, a robust dictionary lookup method can be complex as apriori probability calculation or a large dictionary size increases the overhead and the cost of searching. In this context, Levenshtein distance is a simple metric which can be an effective string approximation tool. After observing the effectiveness of this method, an improvement has been made to this method by grouping some similar looking alphabets and reducing the weighted difference among members of the same group. The results showed marked improvement over the traditional Levenshtein distance technique.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is frequently used for relief of chronic benign pain resistant to conservative therapies. Clinical practice suggests, at least in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), the possibility that SCS significantly improves motor performances. We present here the case of a 41-years-old female patient with FBSS, who showed a clear improvement in muscle strength after SCS, persisting at 6-months follow-up. We speculate that the electrical stimulation of posterior columns could potentiate the caudal, segmental spinal reflexes resulting in a facilitation of motoneurons activation. PMID:16175150
An improved method for the synthesis of (/sup 15/N) 16-Doxyl stearate, a fatty-acid spin label, is reported. The method requires only one mole of (/sup 15/N) 2-amino-2-methyl propanol per mole of methyl keto stearate with an overall yield of about 50%. In contrast, the previous method produced only 1-3% yield. The great improvement in yield was achieved mainly through the reduction of reaction volume which increases the reaction rate by the law of mass action.
The two model MP Tandem Van de Graaff accelerators at Brookhaven have been used in a four-stage accel-decel configuration to produce highly stripped low energy heavy ions. The performance in this mode of operation has now been substantially improved by modifications of the second accelerator. The inclined field acceleration tube electrodes at the exit of this accelerator were replaced by straight electrodes, the vacuum was improved and the maximum negative terminal potential was increased. Higher intensity beams of heavier highly stripped ions can now be produced at lower energies than before.
In this paper a comparison between calculations of severe accidents occurred from WWER-1000 with ASTEC code specified for an event of full unloading with relief valves stuck opened with no hydroaccumulators intervention is presented. The purpose of the analyses provided is to present the relationship between the improvements of the actual version (ASTEC Vl.2 rev. 1) and ASTEC V1.1 p2 like: code modifications, incoming data improvements. Such discrepancies are to be examined. Case by case suggestions for ASTEC improvements are to be provided.
High conductivity liquid waste, which is produced in nuclear power plants, is now processed with radwaste evaporator. The concentrated liquid waste in the evaporator is so highly radioactive and corrosive that the improvement on maintenability and reduction of exposure dose rate are desirable as well as high decontamination factor (DF). Fuji Electric constructed the improved experimental facility of evaporator and carried out an experiment to demonstrate DF, maintenability and controllability of system. As the results, DF, maintenability and controllability were proved to be excellent and its applicability to nuclear power plant was well established.
Absorption with aqueous amine solvents is at present the most viable technology for CO{sub 2} capture. While this is a proven technology, efforts are ongoing to improve it in order to make it a more attractive technology for large scale use to reduce CO{sub 2} emissions. Finding solvents with better properties is one approach to improving the technology. In this thesis methods in computational chemistry are used to improve the understanding of the chemistry of CO{sub 2} absorption in amine-water systems. The work is also intended to provide models that can be used to predict the performance of new solvents. Such predictive models are intended to facilitate the screening for new solvents
Purpose of this assessment for this town in the Slovak Republic is to develop information on the building sector energy efficiency and improvement potential for use by town management to support decisions on providing energy services to Handlova citizens. Objectives were to characterize baseline space and water heat energy use and efficiency improvement potential in the residential and nonresidential building sectors. Intention was to identify major areas of efficiency improvement potential and cost-effectiveness. Four levels of energy and fuel prices were used. A significant efficiency resource exists in the space and water heating end uses in these building sectors; it amounts to 42% of the total building sector space and water heat energy consumption.
BackgroundFeature selection is an important pre-processing task in the analysis of complex data. Selecting an appropriate subset of features can improve classification or clustering...Full Text Available
Abstract The authors provide a survey of how images are used in radiation therapy to improve the precision of radiation therapy plans, and delivery of radiation treatment. In contrast...Full Text Available
The practice of urology is changing, not only from a medical and technological standpoint, but also from a business standpoint. New and improved computer technology and enhanced databases have allowed...Full Text Available
BackgroundBlindness due to trachoma is avoidable through Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial hygiene and Environmental improvements (SAFE). Recent surveys have shown trachoma to be a serious...Full Text Available
Although the life expectancy of thalassemia patients has markedly improved over the last few decades, patients still suffer from many complications of this congenital disease. The presence of a high...Full Text Available
High-risk neuroblastoma is a childhood malignancy with a poor prognosis. Gradual improvements in survival have correlated with therapeutic intensity, and the ability to harvest, process and...Full Text Available
Safety in general and harmonization of International Maritime Organization rules on mobile offshore drilling rig operation in particular are discussed. The improvement of the industry's safety record is also discussed.
In the last two decades rectal cancer has changed from a surgically managed disease into a multidisciplinary treatment model resulting in considerable improvements in the survival and outcome. This...Full Text Available
Improving patient compliance with physicians’ treatment or prescription recommendations is an important goal in medical practice. We examine the relationship between treatment progress...Full Text Available
of the digital hearing aid technology that led to the cochlear implant. Former. Marshall Space Flight Center engineers. John Richardson and Joseph Howard ...
With the improvements accomplished during the past 15 years in detection techniques and instrumentation and with the opening of space exploration, molecular spectroscopy has become a very efficient way to probe planetary atmospheres.
ObjectiveFamily-centered bedside rounds (FCBR) are recommended to improve trainee education, patient outcomes, and family satisfaction. However, bedside teaching...Full Text Available
Immunomodulatory drugs lenalidomide and pomalidomide are synthetic compounds derived by modifying the chemical structure of thalidomide to improve its potency and reduce its side effects. Lenalidomide...Full Text Available
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved installation having a pressurized fluid circuit incorporating fluidic brakes for restricting fluid flow through a breach of the installation. (author).
Purpose: This preliminary report describes the development and implementation of a project to improve access to literature in Latin American social medicine (LASM).Methods:...Full Text Available
... Abstract : Fifty-nine Grenada veterans currently assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 75th Ranger Regiment ...
This research aims to develop reliable, advanced system thermal-hydraulic computer code and to quantify the uncertainties of code to introduce the best estimate methodology of ECCS for LBLOCA. Although the one of best estimate code, RELAP5/MOD3.1 was introduced from USNRC, several deficiencies in its reflood model and some improvements have been made. The improvements consist of modification of reflood wall heat transfer package and adjusting the drop size in dispersed flow regime. The tome smoothing of wall vaporization and level tracking model are also added to eliminate the pressure spike and level oscillation. For the verification of improved model and quantification of associated uncertainty, the FLECHT-SEASET data were used and upper limit of uncertainty at 95% confidence level is evaluated. (Author) 30 refs., 49 figs., 2 tabs.
4), is quite efficient for multivibrators because complementary outputs are available ... age or ground, much as is done in the complementary multivibrators. ...
Over the past decade, dramatic increases in computational power and improvement in image analysis algorithms have allowed the development of powerful computer-assisted analytical approaches...Full Text Available
ground strike hazards 3) Advancements in the initialization of numerical weather prediction models through better identification of deep convection 4) Improved routing of...
Improving employees' posture may decrease the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The current paper is a systematic replication and extension of Sigurdsson...Full Text Available
This self-evaluation report offers a summary of results from FY2000 actions to achieve Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's strategy and provides an analysis of the state of their self-assessment process. The result of their integrated planning and assessment process identifies Laboratory strengths and opportunities for improvement. Critical elements of that process are included in this report; namely, a high-level summary of external oversight activities, progress against Operations Improvement Initiatives, and a summary of Laboratory strengths and areas for improvement developed by management from across the laboratory. Some key areas targeted for improvement in FY2001 are: systems approach to resource management; information protection; integrated safety management flow-down to the benchtop; cost management; integrated assessment; Price Anderson Amendments Act (PAAA) Program; and travel ...
BackgroundSwine is an important agricultural commodity and biomedical model. Manipulation of the pig genome provides opportunity to improve production efficiency, enhance disease...Full Text Available
... 2008. Characterizing the relative contributions of large vessels to total ocean noise fields: a case study using the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank ...
... investigates the convergence of three main areas of UUV development; mission ... with an improved low-cost embedded-system robot controller, to ...
... teaching and learning; Creating learning materials and teaching strategies; Developing faculty ... achieve educational innovations. Educational Materials Development (EMD): A project under the former ...
our exploration of space, in a manner with improved safety. ... a new Space Transportation System. ... Columbia launches as STS-107 on January 16, 2003. ...
Platinum(II) complexes have been investigated in the hydration of alkynes. These catalysts offer improved regioselectivity over Hg(II) counterparts. 1 fig., 2 tabs.
Hypertension affects most hemodialysis patients and is often poorly controlled. Adequate control of blood pressure is difficult with conventional hemodialysis alone but is important to improve...Full Text Available
... XVIII, n. 1, p. 50-67. [2] G. Becker: Zeitskalenprobleme: jahreszeitliche Gangschwankungen von Atomuhren, PTB Mitteilungen 92 2/82, p. 105-113. ...
Background:Antimicrobial agents have been used as a chemotherapeutic agent to improve oral health. This in vitro study was carried out to determine the antimicrobial activity...Full Text Available
... reliability of fiber optics in preference over space-based systems. ... STC web site at www.aiaa.org/tc ... and improve lethalities of US weapon systems 3 ...
The authors reviewed the literature on psychological and psychosocial outcomes for individuals undergoing cosmetic surgery, to address whether elective cosmetic procedures improve psychological...Full Text Available
This paper presents a new approach to improve the in silico modeling of ultrasound transducer arrays. While current simulation tools accurately predict the theoretical element...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a program to improve hypertension control practices in primary care. DESIGN: Retrospective quasi-experimental study. SETTING: Three hospital-based family...Full Text Available
The MISR instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite participated in the UAE-2 campaign, August-October 2004. This campaign represented a unique opportunity to study the complex aerosol situation in the Arabian Gulf region, in the context of a first-rate collection of aircraft and surface-based instruments, giving us the opportunity to do some groundbreaking satellite aerosol validation work. We aimed (1) to validate MISR aerosol retrieval results for dust and pollution particles over dark and light surfaces, and (2) to contribute regional maps of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and particle micro-physical properties, giving spatial context to the field-instrument measurements, and moving toward a satellite-based regional aerosol climatology. The validation effort benefited from the combination of an instrumented aircraft and a regional network of surface-based sun photometers. We obtained high-quality sub-orbital data coincident with MISR overpasses on three days: September 01, 10, and ...
To foster rural economic development and growth, Congress passed the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program as Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill. This program provides financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. The Rural Business and Cooperative Services of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers this program. This conference poster provides an overview of Section 9006.
Based on the activation theory of alkali and sulfate, the influence of compound admixtures on the properties of high-content slag cement was studied by testing the strength, pore structure, hydrates, and microstructure, Test results show that compound admixtures can obviously improve the properties of high-content slag cement. The emphasis of the present research is two-fold: substituting gypsum with anhydrite and calcining gypsum. These both can improve early and later performance.
Recently, Wang et al. proposed a three-party simultaneous quantum secure direct communication (3P-SQSDC) scheme with EPR pairs, which enables three involved parties to exchange their secret messages simultaneously by using an EPR pair. This work proposed an enhancement on Wang et al.'s scheme. With the enhancement, the communications in the improved 3P-SQSDC can be paralleled and thus improves the protocol efficiency.
A new fabrication process is being developed which significantly improves the efficiency of metal-semiconductor solar cells. The resultant effect, a marked increase in the open-circuit voltage, is produced by the addition of an interfacial layer oxide on the semiconductor. Cells using gold on n-type gallium arsenide have been made in small areas (0.17 sq cm) with conversion efficiencies of 15% in terrestrial sunlight.
Surface photometry of bulges and elliptical galaxies is reviewed. The properties of cores and nuclei as revealed by improvements in seeing and the use of CCDs are examined, and newly discovered structural details such as dust, shells, and dynamical subsystems which show the importance of accretion events in galactic evolution are addressed. Improved constraints on galaxy formation resulting from better measurements of parameter scaling laws are discussed, and accurate measurements of departures from elliptical isophotes and of color gradients obtained with CCDs are considered.
... The colored background is an isopleth map showing change in sulfate concentrations as measured by the CASTNET rural air quality monitoring network , leading to significant improvements in air quality and human health. Wet sulfate deposition decreased 43 percent in the Northeast and 44 percent in the ...
This paper reviews the mill flowsheet applied at the COMINAK uranium mill (Compagnie Miniere d'Akouta) in Niger. For ore treatment, it focuses on the major improvements to the operations using sulfonitric pugging and solids/liquid separation using belt filter double filtration after leaching. The precipitation circuits have been improved with molybdenum elimination through caustic washing of the yellow cake. (author)
By using a laser and maser in tandem, it is possible to obtain laser action in the hot exhaust gases involved in heat engine operation. Such a "quantum afterburner" involves the internal quantum states of working gas atoms or molecules as well as the techniques of cavity quantum electrodynamics and is therefore in the domain of quantum thermodynamics. As an example, it is shown that Otto cycle engine performance can be improved beyond that of the "ideal" Otto heat engine.
Brief summaries are given of research carried out in the following areas: absorption spectroscopy of titanium, niobium, and molybdenum in uranium alloys; atomic absorption spectroscopy of selenium in stainless steel, computer program improvements for spectrophotometer control, and detection of beryllium in stack gases; electrolysis for inactivation of bacteria in cooling-tower water; improved solvent analysis by gas chromatography; sequential radionuclide separation for various sample matrices; progress on an electron microprobe analyzer; and miscellaneous projects.
A tiered communications architecture for managing network traffic in a distributed system. Communication between client or control computers and a plurality of hardware devices is administered by agent and monitor devices whose activities are coordinated to reduce the number of open channels or sockets. The communications architecture also improves the transparency and scalability of the distributed system by reducing network mapping dependence. The architecture is desirably implemented in a proton beam therapy system to provide flexible security policies which improve patent safety and facilitate system maintenance and development.
Wood/polymer composites (WPC) have been prepared from pinewood with different compounds using gamma irradiation: butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, and unsaturated polyester styrene resin. The polymer loading was determined with respect to the compound concentration and the irradiation dose. The polymer loading increases generally with increase in the monomer or polymer concentration. Tensile and compression strength have been improved in the four cases, but no improvement was observed using unsaturated polyester styrene resin or acrylamide.
One approach to improving the competitiveness of photovoltaic systems is the development of designs specifically for export applications. In other words, where is it appropriate in a system design to incorporate components manufactured and/or assembled in the receiving country in order to improve the photovoltaic exports from the US? What appears to be needed is a systematic method of evaluating the potential for export from the US of PV systems for various application in different countries. Development of such a method was the goal of this project.
Adsorption isotherms for phenol and o-cresol on activated charcoal at neutral pH and several dissolved oxygen concentrations were conducted at 23{degree}C. Significant improvements in capacities were observed with increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations for the two adsorbates. These statistically-significant additional capacities were not due to biological activities but merely due to surface chemical reactions. The improvement in capacity was directly related to the amount of oxygen per unit mass of GAC.
Experience and technical innovations in power plant engineering have resulted in continuous improvements of operation control, availability and safety of pumped storage plants. Process control is constantly improved as new developments are made in equipment and systems engineering. Plant control concepts with increasingly complex automation hierarchy are described by which pumped storage processes can be controlled optimally, reliably, and automatically.
The catalytic performance of alkaline-treated zeolite H-ZSM-5 in the conversion of methanol to gasoline has been studied. After treatment with 0.20M NaOH, the total conversion capacity increased by a factor of 3.3, and the selectivity towards the gasoline fraction increased by a factor of 1.7. Physical characterization indicated the formation of mesopores and improved crystallinity.
Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) sensors can supply much of the critical downhole information needed in a systems approach to improving drilling efficiency. The author looks at some areas where MWD information has helped to improve drilling efficiency. To date, most use of MWD has been for directional survey, pressure prediction, and formation evaluation. As MWD systems become more reliable and cost effective, their applications will expand.
The Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Information Systems Definition architecture evaluated information Management (IM) processes in several key organizations. The intent of the study is to identify improvements in TWRS IM processes that will enable better support to the TWRS mission, and accommodate changes in TWRS business environment. The ultimate goals of the study are to reduce IM costs, Manage the configuration of TWRS IM elements, and improve IM-related process performance.
The need for cost effective, high performance, long life capacitors with improved reliability is discussed. It is shown that a low cost, miniature aluminum capacitor, with improved reliability and proven life, can be produced with existing technology. It is further shown that the capacitor can be specified for 125 C life and shelf test requirements, and meet established standards for their parametric performance.
An improved coating for Advanced Gas Cooled Nuclear Reactor austenitic stainless steel fuel cans is described which, tests have shown, inhibits the deposition of carbon on the cans in carbon-containing ionising radiation environments. The coating comprises a refractory oxide which has been prepared by a vapour phase condensation method, in combination with a noble metal. (U.K.).
In this article carbon co-implantation and step-by-step thermal treatments of shallow p"+-n-junctions formation were used with the purpose of extended defect suppression and reduction of boron transient enhanced diffusion. A substantial improvement of the structural and electrical parameters of shallow p"+-n-junctions has been achieved by using the additional carbon implantation and step-by-step thermal treatments. (authors)
The loosening equipment consists of a base machine and four-link suspension mechanism which is a cross frame with loosening gear connected to the base machine by universal hinges. In order to improve the reliability of the machine, the drive of transverse shifting in the cross frame is made of symmetrically arranged, shock-absorbing, hydraulic cylinders which are connected by additional universal hinges to the base machine and the lower pull rods. The design of the loosening machine guarantees its reliable operation on soil with significant quantity of hard inclusions.
Organic molecules are a significant and highly varied component of atmospheric aerosols. Measurement of aerosol composition and improvements in our understanding of the complex chemistry involved in their formation and aging are being aided by innovations in soft ionization aerosol MS. (To listen to a podcast about this feature, please go to the Analytical Chemistry multimedia page at pubs.acs.org/page/ancham/audio/index.html.). PMID:21275431
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in-place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Results of seismic surveys are presented.
Bahrain's Awali oil field is one of the oldest in the Arabian Gulf region. The recent sharp increase in produced water cut at Awali has resulted in higher oil carry-over in the produced water, which is currently disposed of in an aquifer about 700 ft (210 m) deep. The steps taken by Bahrain Natl. Oil Co. (Banoco) and the problems encountered in improving the quality of effluent are described in this paper.
With the frequent load changes to which a hard coal power station is subjected in the middle and peak load range, great demands are linked with the transient behaviour of the steam generator. Due to the serial connection of the crusher and boiler, the strongly delaying transient behaviour of the crusher compounds entirely with the transient behaviour of the steam generator. Therefore, a suggestion is to be made here as to the improvement of the dynamics of the crusher.
It is shown that a simple algorithm which exactly segregates between adiabatic and non-adiabatic electrons in particle-in-cell simulations of drift modes yields excellent conservation properties (e.g. particle number, energy) compared to the conventional df scheme. The removal of the free streaming term in the evolution of the marker weight is shown to be responsible for the improved linear and nonlinear properties of the simulated plasma.
Copolymers of a 1,2 epoxy alkane and a cyclic carboxylate compound of the class consisting of dicarboxylic acid anhydrides, preferably maleic anhydride or a hydrocarbyl substituted succinic anhydride and a beta lactone, said copolymers having C/sub 10/ to C/sub 50/, preferably C/sub 20/ to C/sub 40/, linear, pendant hydrocarbon chains are flow improvers in residual and crude oils.
Developments made under this program will play a key role in underpinning the technology for producing EC devices. It is anticipated that the work begun during this period will continue to improve materials properties, and drive yields up and costs down, increase durability and make manufacture simpler and more cost effective. It is hoped that this will contribute to a successful and profitable industry, which will help reduce energy consumption and improve comfort for building occupants worldwide. The first major task involved improvements to the materials used in the process. The improvements made as a result of the work done during this project have contributed to the enhanced performance, including dynamic range, uniformity and electrical characteristics. Another major objective of the project was to develop technology to improve yield, reduce cost, and facilitate manufacturing ...
The use of an SCR-controlled power system on an offshore drilling rig has lead to an increased acceptance of high technology equipment. Such equipment increases drilling productivity, reduces maintenance, and improves reliability. Most new rigs now have AC squirrel cage motors, brushless AC generators, silicon controlled rectifiers, DC motors, and swtichgear and motor starters. Several opportunities for cost reductions in SCR systems, such as improving the power factor, are studied in this paper.
Annealing of magnetostrictive Metglas foils, subsequently incorporated into laminated Metglas/Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 magnetoelectric (ME) composites, is shown to result in improved magnetic properties, as well as ME coefficients. Annealing of the foils at 350 ?C resulted in partial crystallization, without oxidation or magnetic cluster formation that would reduce the magnetization. Laminate composites made with these annealed Metglas foils had improved ME coefficients.
During this report period our research efforts have concentrated on studies of the dissociation reactions of model peptides and other biologically important molecules. In addition, a considerable amount of research effort has been directed toward improving the apparatus used for laser-ion beam photodissociation. The instrumental improvements include some changes on the original apparatus, but most of this effort involved designing a second generation laser-ion beam photodissociation instrument.
Specifications of the PGV-1000 steam generators applied at the WWER-1000 NPP power units, operational experience and data on damages at the 'cold' heat carriers of steam generators are considered and their results are presented. Developed and introduced measures aimed at improving reliability and operational life of the PGV-1000 collectors are described.
The objective of this work was to identify methods of improving the performance of gas-fired radiant burners through the use of Continuous Fiber Ceramic Composites (CFCCs). Methods have been identified to improve the price and performance characteristics of the porous surface burner. Results are described.
An experimental plan for improving the problems of failed fuel location system in Wolsung Unit-2 reactors was established. It is not possible to make an experiment on the failed fuel monitoring nuclides in the cold laboratories because they have very short half life. Therefore, the experiments can be only carried out at the existing monitoring system under reactor operation. For that reason, an experimental plan was drawn up for installing the radiation detection system on reactor site.
Ways of improving the water chemistry used in the turbine generator stator?s cooling systems at Russian nuclear power plants are considered. Data obtained from operational chemical monitoring of indicators characterizing the quality of cooling water in the turbine generator stator cooling systems of operating power units at nuclear power plants are presented.
Metadata can be used to support accessibility in connection with improved discovery. ...certain metadata elements provide information about what capabilities are needed--either perceptual-motor, cognitive, socio-economic or geographic--to make use of a resource. This cam improve the ability of users who are disadvantaged in these ways to find resources that meet their needs--and avoid ones [resources] that do not.
The purpose and need for DOE to undertake the actions described in this document are to improve the efficiency of the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) complex. Benefits would include optimization of the AGS scientific program, increased high-energy and nuclear physics experimentation, improved health and safety conditions for workers and users, reduced impact on the environment and the general public, energy conservation, decreased generation of hazardous and radioactive wastes, and completion of actions required to permit the AGS to be the injector to the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC)., Improved efficiency is defined as increasing the AGS`s capabilities to capture and accelerate the proton intensity transferred to the AGS from the AGS booster. Improved capture of beam intensity would reduce the beam losses which equate to lost scientific opportunity for study and increased potential for ...
Airborne pollutants can cause failures in switching and computing equipment. This paper focuses on a subset of such pollutants - airborne fine particles (<2.5 [mu]m diameter). It begins by examining the extent to which different improvements in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems reduce indoor concentrations of fine particles. For each modification, the consequent reduction in soiling rate is derived. The concomitant increase in operating costs is also calculated. These costs are then compared with the costs of failures in telephone switching offices, leading to estimates of failure rate reductions that would make improvements cost-effective. Finally, the reduction in failures required to offset the costs of the improvements are compared with documented differences in failure rates between unimproved and improved environments. This study suggests that, in many telephone switching ...
The purpose of organization and management development activities in the commercial nuclear power industry is to foster high levels of power plant performance and safety through improved human performance. The NRC has been working to develop assessment tools to assay the effects of organizational factors on plant safety. The utility industry has been working on initiatives targeting individual accountability, the improvement of plant performance and the elimination of the items identified through the NRC assessment process. Organization and management activities do not focus on industry organizational charts, but on the personnel processes and dimensions (factors) that affect safety and economic performance. As individual terms these activities are often combined and referred to as organizational factors. As an area of study, organizational factors has become more prominent as the industry emphasis has switched in recent years from hardware ...
Large capacity adjustable speed machines (ASMs) at pumped storage power station have been put into full operation and the operating characteristics of ASM have been highly evaluated from the view point of power system operation. The output power (input power) of ASM can be controlled very quickly by applying a vector control scheme to the excitation control. This quick responsive feature of ASM can make it possible to improve the stability of the neighbor sub-power system. For improvement of transient stability, the output power of ASM is reduced very quickly in order to control the acceleration of neighbor generators during and after transmission line faults. For improvement of dynamic stability, the output power of ASM is modulated in accordance with the stabilizing signals detected from the swing of generator rotor or the power flow fluctuation on the transmission line. This paper describes the design concepts and method ...
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in- place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional and multi-component seismic area is being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterization tools are integrated with geological and engineering studies. Improved completion efficiency is being tested with extended- reach jetting lance and other ultra-short radius lateral technologies. Improved completion efficiency, additional wells at closer spacings better estimates of oil-in-place will result in additional oil production by primary and enhanced ...
As for No.2 plant in Sendai Nuclear Power Station, which is the fourth nuclear power generation facilities in Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc., all works have been completed, and at present, the final trial operation is under way. In No.2 plant, many new techniques for raising the reliability and safety, improving the maintainability and reducing radiation exposure were introduced on the basis of the operation experience of PWRs obtained so far, similarly to No.1 plant. In this paper, the main items of the new techniques related to the design and construction of the plant are reported. No. 2 plant is a first improved and standardized plant having the thermal output of 2660 MW for standard three-loop PWRs, and the rated power output was set at 890 MW. As for the turbine, TC6F-40 in was adopted. As the improved design, a large reactor containment vessel, 17 x 17 type 9-grid fuel, improved steam generators, ...
Construction of the French PWR nuclear program started in the early 70s, at the time a number of operating plants in the US were being affected by the first corrosion problems. Since, at that time, its construction program was in an early stage, FRAMATOME was able to make modifications on the first units to improve steam generator resistance to corrosion. For instance, full depth expansion of the tubes in the tube-sheet using an explosive process (Westex) was performed on Fessenheim 1 steam generators already installed on site. Later on, continuous operating experience was being obtained in the US, before startup of the French units. This allowed FRAMATOME to react rapidly and take immediate corrective actions at the design stage, during fabrication and sometimes even on site in order to mitigate the risk of corrosion in the steam generators. FRAMATOME is confident that the present design of its steam generator models, including a large number of major ...
Global meat and milk consumption is exponentially increasing due to population growth, urbanization and changes in lifestyle in the developing world. This is an excellent opportunity for developing countries to improve the livestock sector by using technological advances. Biotechnology is one of the avenues for improved production in the "Livestock revolution". Biotechnology developments applied to livestock health, nutrition, breeding and reproduction are improving with a reasonable pace in developing countries. Simple bio-techniques such as artificial insemination have been well implemented in many parts of the developing world. However, advanced technologies including transgenic plant vaccines, marker assisted selection, solid state fermentation for the production of fibrolytic enzymes, transgenic fodders, embryo transfer and animal cloning are confined largely to research organizations. Some developing countries such as ...
The Outstanding Achievement Award in Water Pollution Control' is intended to recognize the water pollution control program that best demonstrates achieving significant, lasting, and measurable excellence in water-quality improvement in preventing water-quality degradation in a region, basin, or water body. This article is about the 1991 Award. This year, WPCF honored Los Angeles Hyperion Treatment Plant with a citation of outstanding achievement. To qualify for this honor, Hyperion has remarkably improved the quality of wastewater discharged to Santa Monica Bay since 1985. Capital programs developed by Los Angeles to achieve this rapid improvement, coined the Hyperion Improvement Program (HIP), reflect the city's commitment to protect the valuable resource of Santa Monica Bay. The HIP was conceived in 1986 to cease sludge ocean disposal by the end of 1987 and expedite effluent quality ...
The fuel economy of different types of trucks was simulated. Preliminary vehicle simulation activity took place in order to determine a feasible range of vehicle fuel efficiency improvements that could be obtained. Another objective was to provide a start to the Systems Analysis road mapping process in order to identify significant improvements for future studies at minimal costs. Technology improvements to all types of trucks were categorized in relation to engine improvements, the incorporation of continuously variable transmissions, hybrid drivetrain technology and improvements in aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance and weight reduction. The trucks which had the largest national impact were identified from data on vehicles, miles driven, fuel consumption and exhaust gases. The study involved Class 2B utility trucks, Class 6 enclosed delivery trucks, Class 8 transit buses and ...
The CANDU-type nuclear fuel localization project started in 1981, and mass-production system completed in 1987 through the pilot scale demonstration of fuel manufacturing. Since the completion of the mass-production system, about 24,000 fuel bundles (450 ton-U) had been delivered to Wolsung Nuclear Power Plant by the end of 1992, according to the fuel supply contracts with KEPCO. The superiority of KAERI-made nuclear fuel has been demonstrated by having achieved the highest utilization factor in the world in 1992. In 1993, as contracted, 4,824 fuel bundles well fabricated and delivered to Wolsung Nuclear Power Plant. The process improvement, quality control, safety management, safeguards of nuclear materials and various kinds of audits have also been performed in the course for fuel manufacturing. Especially in 1993, the difficulties of the reduction of participating work-force were overcome by improving the manufacturing techniques, and ...
Further improvement of dimensional tolerance and elimination of such post-processing as cutting work are required for the maximum exhibition of the features of sintered parts. Powder behavior in fall filling and leveling off is observed with the prototype of visual apparatus for observing powder filling. It is found that the delay in the replacement of powder by air in the die and the fall along the angle of repose are the causes for the occurrence of particle size segregation, and that the diagonal downward slide of powder in upper layer only in leveling off is the cause for nonuniformity of the density. As a result, it is found that improvement of powder flowability and minimization of shaking are important for uniform and rapid filling of powder in a thin walled and complicated shape die cavity, and a guide for developing uniform filling method is made clear. Based on the result, a new uniform filling method for powder is under development ...
The Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation describes nonlinear dispersive waves which travel mainly in one direction, generalizing the Korteweg-de Vries equation for purely uni-directional waves. In this Letter we derive an improved KP-equation that has exact dispersion in the main propagation direction and that is accurate in second order of the wave height. Moreover, different from the KP-equation, this new equation is also valid for waves on deep water. These properties are inherited from the AB-equation (E. van Groesen, Andonowati, 2007 ) which is the unidirectional improvement of the KdV equation. The derivation of the equation uses the variational formulation of surface water waves, and inherits the basic Hamiltonian structure.
The paper analyses the advantages and disadvantages of the second generation improved technologies and third generation technologies mainly developed in China in terms of safety and economy. The paper also discusses the maturity of the second generation improved technologies and the sophistication of the third generation technologies respectively. Meanwhile, the paper proposes that the advantage and disadvantage of second generation improved technologies and third generation technologies should be carefully taken into consideration and the relationship between the maturity and sophistication should be properly dealt with in the current stage. A two-step strategy shall be taken as a solution to solve the problem of insufficient capacity of nuclear power, trace and develop the third generation technologies, so as to ensure the sound and fast development of nuclear power. (authors)
The mapping of the magnetic flux bundle from the center cell to the Plasma Potential Control plates (PPC) on the end fan of the Tandem Mirror Experiment Upgrade (TMX-U), was improved by the addition of trim coils (12,000 amp-turns) on each side of each end fan next to the pump beam magnetic shields. The coils' axes are oriented perpendicular to the machine centerline. These coils made the necessary corrections to the field-line mapping, while keeping the field in the nearby pump beam magnetic shield below the saturation threshold. This paper briefly describes the problem, discusses the design as it evolved, and presents the results of the field testing. A brief description of the improvement in the machine performance is also included.
A series of modifications which increased the capacity of Canadian Electrolytic Zinc's Valleyfield plant from 220,000 MT/year to 260,000 MT/year during the last decade is discussed, combined with an an overview of the plant's operations. The modifications included modernisation of the waste disposal methods and facilities, such as a new high-density sludge wastewater treatment process, a new process to remove selenium from weak acid solutions and the jarofix process. Roasting capacity also has been improved by recent investments in new cooling coils, rebricking, oxygen enrichment and process automation. In addition to increases in refining capacity, the improvements also enabled the company to minimize its impact on the environment and the community.
Ceramic fuel element is one of the most important items of HTGR technology, and the corrosion resistance of is matrix materials is vital to the operational performance of HTGR. In the paper, based on the oxidation study of the matrix materials, it has been proposed that the corrosion resistance of the matrix materials might be improved through forming carbon -ceramic composite. The experiment results have shown that the corrosion resistance of matrix materials has been improved by addition of SiC superfine powders, and that the matrix materials containing SiC superfine powders and heat-treated at 1600 deg. C had an oxidation rate lower than the general one containing no SiC superfine powder and heat-treated at 1950 deg. C. (author). 5 refs, 8 figs.
The project was designed to solve the infra structural problem required for commercialization of food irradiation. In improvement of physical properties of corn starch, gamma irradiation was effective for increasing glucose productivity and for substituting traditional modified starches (acid modified starch, oxidized starch). In immobilization of microorganisms, the mass production method of natural red pigment was developed by using immobilized mold pellets. In Korean medicinal plants, 10 kGy gamma irradiation was effective for improving sanitary quality and increasing extraction yield. In evaluation of wholesomeness, gamma irradiated red ginseng could be safe on the genotoxic point of view. And also, six items of irradiated foods approved for human consumption from Korea ministry of health and welfare in May 19, 1995. 30 figs, 20 tabs, 54 refs. (Author).
Studies have suggested that skill-building through hands-on cooking as a nutrition education strategy, is effective to improve overall dietary quality among participants. FamilyCook Productions' ''Diet for a Healthy Planet with Teen Battle Chefs(TM)'' curriculum using this approach, was piloted in 2008 in a Brooklyn public high school resulting in a statistically significant improvements in dietary quality as well as attitudinal improvements and efforts by students to support changes in school food service. Program evaluation used the RE-AIM framework and employed both quantitative and qualitative strategies including pre and post program surveys, focus groups, and weekly electronic teacher feedback. The program has since grown to over 85 high schools in 16 states.
This paper proves that it is practicable to build a new power model which can work efficiently at night by using a type of fluorescence material. The utilization efficiency of photovoltaic cell is improved by prolonging the actual working hours of the cell within 24 hours. Both theoretical analysis and experiment on this model are carried out, and base on which the current-time curve (I-t curve) is depicted. It shows that the model which applies the fluorescence material to photovoltaic system is available. According to the analysis and comparison between the attenuating curve of the material and I-t curve of the power system, we can conclude that the weak illumination and the mismatch on wavelength are primary reasons for the low current. Finally, several improved measures of this power model for practical application are given, and it is expected to provide a new thought for photovoltaic study. (orig.)
The Heat Cycle Research Program, which is conducted for the Department of Energy, has as its objective the development of the technology for effecting the improved utilization of moderate temperature geothermal resources. The current testing involves the investigation of the performance of binary power cycles utilizing mixtures of non-adjacent hydrocarbons as the working fluids, with supercritical vaporization and in-tube condensation. The utilization of these concepts will improve the net geofluid effectiveness (net plant output per unit mass of geofluid) about 20% over that of a conventional binary power plant. The major prerequisite for this improvement is the achievement of integral, countercurrent condensation. Results are presented for testing of the performance of the condenser at different tube inclinations. The performance in the vertical orientation is better than in either the horizontal or inclined orientations. ...
The Operation Technical Specifications is a document that is attached to the Operation License of a nuclear power station and its are applicable since the first load of fuel begins in the reactor core. This document is normative and with its application it is assured the safe operation of the nuclear power station. For the case of the Laguna Verde Nucleo electric Central this is documented in the Condition No. 5 of the License of Operation. Any modification to the ETOs is subject to the evaluation by part of the regulator organism. This work describes the regulator frame and the evaluation process of the Improved Technical Specifications on the part of the regulator organism. It is also indicated the implementation process of the improved ETOs and the main characteristics and benefits that are obtained of these processes to maintain the safety of the nuclear power stations. (Author)
The goal of this three-year project was to improve the production systems in use by steel foundries in the United States. Improvements in the production systems result in less rework, less scrap, and less material handling, all of which would significantly reduce the energy demands of the process. Furthermore, these improvements would allow the companies to be more competitive, more responsive to customers' needs, deliver products with less lead time and require less capital. The ultimate result is a stronger domestic steel casting industry, which uses less energy. A major portion of this research involved the deployment of student researchers at steel foundries, to study their production systems and collect data.
Wood-polymer composites (WPC) have been prepared of pinewood with different monomers using Gamma radiation: acrylamide, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile, and polyester. The polymer loading was determined as a function of monomer concentration and absorbed dose. The data show that polymer loading increases by increasing the monomer concentration. In two cases, BMA and polyester, the polymer loading decreases at high concentrations. This can be explained by the increase of the viscosity. Thus the diffusion of the compound into bulk would be slower. The absorbed dose seems to play a positive role in enhancing the polymer loading by increasing the dose. The mechanical properties, tensile and compression strength, have been improved in the most cases for all monomer concentrations or absorbed doses. Using polyester there was no improvement in the mechanical properties, and using acrylamide the ...
Preliminary studies were preformed to determine whether thermal conductivity of cementitious grouts used to backfill heat exchanger loops for geothermal heat pumps could be improved, thus improving efficiency. Grouts containing selected additives were compares with conventional bentonite and cement grouts. Significant enhancement of grout alumina grit, steel fibers, and silicon carbide increased the thermal conductivity when compared to unfilled, high solids bentonite grouts and conventional cement grouts. Furthermore, the developed grouts retained high thermal conductivity in the dry state, where as conventional bentonite and cement grouts tend to act as insulators if moisture is lost. The cementitious grouts studied can be mixed and placed using conventional grouting equipment.
The foundation is a key to safety of any structure built on reclaimed land in coastal areas. This paper gives examples of reclamation methods, ground improvement works, foundations adopted, and consequent land subsidence as for structures directly borne by the underlying ground. Structures built on the recently reclaimed land often stand on piles driven into gravel layers. But an emphasis in pile design in usually placed on bearing capacity, with little consideration given to land subsidence and its effects. Appropriate ground improvement works, if followed by an enough consolidation period, produce satisfactory results for both direct and pile foundations. Low and light structures can be more economically built on direct foundations. It will be still safer for those structures if floating foundations or other measures are taken for preventing increases in load. 5 refs., 16 figs.
Improving the performance of the Chinese B135 six-cylinder direct injection turbocharged and turbocompounded Low Heat Rejection Engine (LHRE) was based on experimental and analytical studies. The studies were primarily applied on a B1135 single-cylinder LHR engine and a conventional water-cooled B1135 single-cylinder engine. Performance of the B1135 LHRE was worse than that of the conventional B1135 due to a deterioration in the combustion process of the B1135 LHRE. The combustion process was improved and the fuel injection system was redesigned and applied to the B135 six-cylinder LHRE. The new design improved the performance of the LHRE and better fuel economy was realized by the thermal energy recovered from the exhaust gases by the turbocompounding system.
Response Surface Methodology (RSM) via Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to optimize the alkaline hydrolysis of paddy straw to improve ferulic acid extraction. The parameters involved, namely temperature (^oC), concentration of NaOH (M) and duration of extraction (h) are screened by Full Factorial Studies (FFD). The result obtained from FFD was 0.518% (5.18mg/g). The interactions between each parameters involved were studied using Central Composite Design (CCD). Upon optimization, the percentage of ferulic acid improved from 0.518% to 0.817% (8.17mg/g). The optimum conditions obtained from this study are 125^oC, 3.90M, 2.30h for temperature, concentration of NaOH and extraction time, respectively. This result shows a significant improvement than the previous published work. Details o...
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) conducts research and development activities which focus on improving energy efficiency and providing for fuel flexibility within US industry in the area of industrial conservation. The mission of OIT is to increase the utilization of existing energy-efficient equipment and to find and promote new, cost-effective ways for industrial facilities to improve their energy efficiency and minimize waste products. To ensure advancement of the technological leadership of the United States and to improve the competitiveness of American industrial products in world markets, OIT works closely with industrial partners, the staffs of the national laboratories, and universities to identify research and development needs and to solve technological challenges. This report contains summaries of the currently active projects supported by the Office of Industrial ...
The PARLOC Pipeline and Incident Databases provide the most complete information available on North Sea pipelines and risers from 1975. The database information enables the frequency of incidents which either result, or have a potential to result, in loss of containment to be related to the pipeline population as a whole or expressed as a function of particular pipeline characteristics. The importance of the PARLOC study in risk assessments of offshore pipelines is acknowledged worldwide and it is recognized as having contributed positively to their safer operation. Continuing improvements ensure that it remains a key reference in risk assessment studies. This paper describes the improvements which are being made to the study and shows how PARLOC is being used by the offshore industry in the consideration of pipeline safety. The rationalization of current arrangements for regulating pipeline safety presented in the new UK Pipeline Safety ...
Laser surface modification can lead to formation of a novel microstructure on the surface of a material resulting in improved surface properties. During the past one and half decades, a number of investigations have been reported on laser surface modification techniques for improving the corrosion resistance of various materials. This paper reviews various work reported on utilising laser modification techniques for enhancing the aqueous corrosion resistance of materials. The laser surface modification work carried out on materials like stainless steels, C-steels, low alloy steels and non-ferrous materials such as Zr, Zn, Al, Ni, Mg and their alloys has been covered in the review. General features observed in improving the corrosion resistance after laser processing have been discussed and scope for future investigations in this field has been highlighted. (author). 97 refs., 15 figs., 5 tabs.
This work describes the ability of ion beam analysis techniques IBA to simultaneously determine the concentration and the possible depth profile of some light elements, such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, in matrices of high atomic number Z, such as stainless steel materials. In fact, the nitriding process of some materials has the potential to improve their tribological and mechanical properties and to offer various advantages as compared with other methods used in the modification of surfaces. Gas and Plasma nitriding were applied to certain types of steel, such as AISI-304 and H-13 which are commonly used in the industry, in order to improve their hardness and their surface corrosion resistance. The improvement was correlated with the depth profile of N and the consequent structure variations. More specifically, non-Rutherford elastic backscattering (alpha, alpha) at 5 MeV was performed on different samples, before and ...
Visits were made to selected manufacturing units with 25 or more employees. Information was gathered on energy consumption and advice was given on the opportunities available for improving the efficiency of energy use. Potential energy savings are estimated and recommendations are made on the action that should be taken to improve the efficiency of energy use. In the footwear industry space heating controls, improvements in boiler plant and steam services along with building insulation provide most of the savings potential. In the leather industries major energy saving opportunities can be found in low-temperature drying, and heat recovery, where the use of heat pumps could contribute substantial savings in drying and process water heating. Boiler controls and good housekeeping are areas where firms can make worthwhile savings at very little capital cost. (MCW)
This report is a scoping study to examine research opportunities to improve the accuracy of the system dynamic load and generator models, data and performance assessment tools used by CAISO operations engineers and planning engineers, as well as those used by their counterparts at the California utilities, to establish safe operating margins. Model-based simulations are commonly used to assess the impact of credible contingencies in order to determine system operating limits (path ratings, etc.) to ensure compliance with NERC and WECC reliability requirements. Improved models and a better understanding of the impact of uncertainties in these models will increase the reliability of grid operations by allowing operators to more accurately study system voltage problems and the dynamic stability response of the system to disturbances.
Data and functions of the cell burnup calculation of the SRAC system were revised to improve mainly the accuracy of the burnup calculation of high conversion light water reactors (HCLWRs). New burnup chain models were developed in order to treat fission products (FPs) and actinide nuclides in detail. Group cross section library, SRACLIB-JENDL2, was generated based on JENDL-2 nuclear data file. In generating this library, emphasis was placed on FPs and actinides. Also revised were the data such as the average energy release per fission for various actinides. These improved data were verified by performing the burnup analysis of PWR spent fuels. Some new functions were added to the SRAC system for the convenience to yield macroscopic cross sections used in the core burnup process. (author).
This paper presents an assessment of recent improvements in the technology for direct coal liquefaction on the estimated commercial economics. The basis for the design and cost estimates is a series of studies sponsored by Amoco Corporation and Electric Power Research Institute, which were derived from the highly detailed Breckinridge Project, completed in the early 1980s under DOE sponsorship. The technology, design, and cost estimates reflect the current two-stage liquefaction technology practiced at the Advanced Coal Liquefaction Research facility in Wilsonville, Alabama. Details of the design bases and cost estimates and how they compare with the original Breckinridge study are described. Also examined are effects of feed coal rank, product slate, and the source of hydrogen (natural gas or coal) on the costs. Finally, the ways that projected future improvements in the technology will change the design and lead to lower costs are discussed. ...
Traditional methane drainage methods, including conventional ventilation and boreholes drilled in the coal seam, are widely used in modern coal mining operation in China. However, it is often noted that the gas drainage presents low efficiency in most coal mines due to low permeability of the coal seam, which not only affects the safety, but also the productivity of the coal mine. This paper describes the development and application of the waterjet cutting system, which is used to create artificial fractures and increase the permeability of coal seam for the improvement of methane drainage in underground coal mines in China. According to underground monitoring, a significant improvement of methane drainage efficiency of up to 3 to 6 times over the traditional methods has been achieved. (author)
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in- place, methods for improved completion efficiency and the suitability of waterflooding in certain shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Williston Basin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional (3D) and multi-component seismic are being investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. Field demonstrations are in progress to collect data for evaluation of horizontal completions in both the Red River and Ratcliffe. A vertical well in the Red River will test attribute analysis of 3D seismic data for prediction of porosity development. Additional seismic acquisitions and interpretation are in progress for both the Ratcliffe and Red River. A water-injectivity test in a new horizontal completion in the Red Rive B zone ...
The Heat Cycle Research Program, which is conducted for the Department of Energy, has as its objective the development of the technology for effecting the improved utilization of moderate temperature geothermal resources. The current testing involves the investigation of binary power cycle performance utilizing mixtures of non-adjacent hydrocarbons as the working fluids, with supercritical vaporization and in-tube condensation of the working fluid. The utilization of these concepts verified here will improve the net geofluid effectiveness (net watt hours plant output per pound of geofluid) about 20% over that of a conventional binary power plant. The major effect in this improvement is the ability to achieve integral, countercurrent condensation. Results are presented for the recent testing including those tests examining the performance of the countercurrent condenser at different tube inclinations and comparison with new ...
This paper reviews generation methods of artificial earthquake motion and proposes an improved method of generating input motions for use in vibration tests of equipment to prove aseismic performance. The improved method employs beat wave repetition characteristic that inherently appears in the component waves of recorded earthquakes decomposed by bandpass filter and algebraic function phase for the component waves. Typical motions generated by the improved method satisfies prescribed severe conditions such as target response spectrum that are defined with a wideband frequency component and a limited maximum acceleration due to shaking table performance. The motions had never been generated by the conventional method.
To improve the friction and wear behavior of carbon fabric reinforced polymer composites (CFRP), nano-SiO2 was deposited on the fabric surface. The friction and wear behavior of the resulting composites were investigated on a model ring-on-block test rig. Experimental results revealed that fiber surface treatment contributed to largely improve the tribological properties of the CFRP composites. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation showed that the worn surface of the surface modified CFRP composite was smoother under given load and sliding rate. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies of the carbon fiber surface showed that nanostructured Sio2 thin film can be obtained by SiO2 sols deposition, which improved th...
This paper describes the weekly load forecasting expert system (named WLoFy) which was developed and implemented for korea electric power corporation(KEPCO). WLoFy was designed to provide user oriented features with a graphical user interface to improve the user interaction. The various forecasting models such as exponential smoothing, multiple regression, artificial neural networks, rule-based model, and relative coefficient model also have been included in WLofy to increase the forecasting accuracy. The simulation based on historical data shows that the weekly forecasting results from WLoFy is an improvement when compared to the results from the conventional methods. Especially the forecasting accuracy on special days has been improved remarkably. (author). 9 refs., 5 figs., 6 tabs.
Plastic composites have become a large class of construction material for exterior applications. One of the main disadvantages of wood plastic composites resides in the weak adhesion between the polar and hydrophilic surface of wood and the non-polar and hydrophobic polyolefin matrix, hindering the dispersion of the flour in the polymer matrix. To improve interfacial compatibility wood flour can be pretreated with environmentally friendly methods such as cold-atmospheric pressure plasma. The objective of this work is therefore to evaluate the potential of plasma polymerization of acetylene on wood flour to improve the compatibility with polyolefins. This presentation will describe the reactor design used to modify wood flour using acetylene plasma polymerization. The optimum conditions for plasma polymerization on wood particles will also be presented. Finally preliminary results on the wood flour surface properties and use in wood plastic ...
Purpose - The article discusses how care programmes and integrated care pathways can be linked, finding ways to improve healthcare process professional and logistical quality from a supply chain and a network point-of-view. Design/methodology/approach - The authors argue that owing to cost containment goals and increasing healthcare demand, healthcare services systems are challenged to improve service quality, whilst at the same time finding ways to improve delivery processes. It explores if the combination of two instruments, care programmes and integrated care pathways, can meet both goals. This combination is illustrated by an example from the Institute of Mental Health Care Eindhoven en de Kempen. Findings - Analysis suggests that care programmes can be combined with integrated care pa...
Car weight corresponds directly to fuel consumption and driving performance. So in order to improve the fuel efficiency and performance of a car the weight has to be reduced. Magnesium as a light metal offers a wide range of weight saving opportunities, especially Magnesium wrought alloys with their improved mechanical properties have a high potential for structural applications. Mechanical properties in terms of their quality and anisotropy are dependent on the microstructure of the material and can be characterized by their degree of inhomogeneity, their grain size distribution and their crystallographic texture. Therefore the orientation distribution of grains, the grain size, its size distribution, the chemical composition (precipitates) itself influence the mechanical parameters and their anisotropy. In this presentation first results of mechanical anisotropy are given: differences in yield stress, r-values and their relation to the ...
The Open Software Foundation`s Distributed Computing Environment (OSF/DCE) was originally designed to provide a secure environment for distributed applications. By combining it with Kerberos Version 5 from MIT, it can be extended to provide network security as well. This combination can be used to build both an inter and intra organizational infrastructure while providing single sign-on for the user with overall improved security. The ESnet community of the Department of Energy is building just such an infrastructure. ESnet has modified these systems to improve their interoperability, while encouraging the developers to incorporate these changes and work more closely together to continue to improve the interoperability. The success of this infrastructure depends on its flexibility to meet the needs of many applications and network security requirements. The open nature of Kerberos, combined with the vendor support of ...
Purpose - This paper seeks to provide a social network-based model for improving knowledge management in multi-level supply chains formed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach - This approach uses social network analysis techniques to propose and represent a knowledge network for supply chains. Empirical experience from an exploratory case study in the construction sector is also presented. Findings - This proposal improves the establishment of inter-organizational relationships into networks to exchange knowledge among the companies along the supply chain and to create specific knowledge by promoting confidence and motivation. Originality/value - This proposed model is useful for academics and practitioners in supply chain management to gain a better un...
California s major energy utilities and the California Energy Commission (CEC) are seeking to allocate capital that yields the greatest return on investment for energy infrastructure that meets any part of the need for reliable supplies of energy. The utilities are keenly interested in knowing the amount of electrical energy savings that would occur if cool roof color materials are adopted in the building market. To meet this need the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have been collaborating on a Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) project to develop an industry-consensus energy-savings calculator. The task was coordinated with an ongoing effort supported by the DOE to develop one calculator to achieve both the DOE and the EPA objectives for deployment of cool roof products. Recent emphasis on domestic building energy use has made the work a top priority by the Department of Energy s (DOE) Building Technologies Program. The Roof ...
Statistical design of experiments is widely used among scientists and engineers to understand influential factors in a laboratory or manufacturing process. One of the underlying principles of...Full Text Available
BackgroundStrategies to accurately identify the occurrence of specific health care events in administrative data is central to many quality improvement and research efforts. Many...Full Text Available
This patent describes a method of improving the S0{sub 2} scrubbing efficiency of flue gas desulfurization scrubbers. It comprises conducting the scrubbing operation in such scrubbers in the presence of an oil-soluble surfactant.
Personal Health Records (PHRs) are increasingly recognized as a strategy to improve patient-provider communication, availability of health information, and quality of care, by making the delivery of...Full Text Available
An improved method of counting acoustic emission (AE) events from water-stressed stems of cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) is presented. Amplified AEs are analyzed on a real time basis...Full Text Available
Most livestock farmers in the United States do not take advantage of anaerobic digester technology because of the high cost and large scale. These limitations therefore reduce the production of renewable energy from farmlands. In order to expand anaerobic digestion methods and improve environmental quality, affordable and smaller-scale digesters should be developed to enable most livestock farmers to convert manure to methane. Doing so would improve their economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. This paper provided an analogy to the development of the Model T to better explain the need and potential for this technology. A modified fixed-dome digester was installed on the Ohio State University dairy in Columbus, Ohio. The digester was unheated, buried, had a volume of 1 m{sup 3} and received diluted dairy manure as feedstock. Biogas was produced at digester temperatures as low 10 degrees C during colder ambient temperatures. Water ...
The challenge to our profession today is to improve the quality of oral health while overcoming both extrinsic and intrinsic factors which may adversely affect our progress toward this goal. The combined...Full Text Available
Clarifies the concept of universal basic education. Highlights the need for performance criteria and ways to measure literacy attainment. Identifies issues related to improving primary education, seeing adult literacy as its necessary complement. Underscores the substantial resources required to achieve universal basic education. (CH)
This paper describes high speed rolling and gauge control in cold tandem mill for ultra-thin gauge strip at the Chiba Works of Kawasaki Steel Corporation. To improve the plate-out property of rolling oil, cationic polymeric coagulant was prepared. Rolling oil with cohesion independent of inorganic inclusions or phosphatide was developed, to improve the lubrication for cold rolling, remarkably. In addition, a low-cost Ti-enhanced work roll having high wear resistance and excellent grindability was developed. Rolling can be conducted at the optimal rolling roughness and operation can be performed at the highest rolling speed independent of the rolling treatment amount. Rolling speed at 2800 m/min was confirmed by developing the rolling oil with excellent lubrication and the work roll having high wear resistance. For the improvement of strip thickness accuracy at the steady state rolling, use of the backup roll as roller ...
Although genetic engineering techniques for baker's yeast might improve the yeast's fermentation characteristics, the lack of scientific data on the survival of such strains in natural environments...Full Text Available
Goals of workThe goal of this study was to evaluate, at a population level, the association between specialized palliative care services (SPCS) and short- and long-term caregiver...Full Text Available
Enzymes are versatile catalysts in laboratories and on an industrial scale; improving their immobilization would be beneficial to broadening their applicability and ensuring their (re)use. Lipid-coated...Full Text Available
Dental caries continues to be a common chronic disease among various population groups. Patient care can be improved with detection at the earliest stage. However, current techniques do not...Full Text Available
BackgroundSafety for diabetic patients means providing the most suitable treatment for each type of diabetic in order to improve monitoring and to prevent the adverse effects of...Full Text Available
From view on Organization Behavior theory, the concept, development and affecting factors of safety culture are introduced. The focuses are on the establishment, development and management practice for safety culture at Daya Bay NPP. A strong safety culture, also demonstrated, has contributed greatly to improving performance at Daya Bay
BackgroundDistraction osteogenesis is the standard treatment for the management of lower limb length discrepancy of more than 3 cm and bone loss secondary to congenital anomalies,...Full Text Available
number of technical requirements and performance criteria can drive stellarator costs, e.g., tight tolerances, accurate coil positioning, low aspect ratio (compactness), choice of assembly strategy, metrology, and complexity of the stellarator coil geometry. With the completion of a seven-year design and construction effort of the National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX) it is useful to interject the NCSX experience along with the collective experiences of the NCSX stellarator community to improving the stellarator configuration. Can improvements in maintenance be achieved by altering the stellarator magnet configuration with changes in the coil shape or with the combination of trim coils? Can a mechanical configuration be identified that incorporates a partial set of shaped fixed stellarator coils along with some removable coil set to enhance the overall machine maintenance? Are there other approaches that will simplify the concepts, ...
A number of technical requirements and performance criteria can drive stellarator costs, e.g., tight tolerances, accurate coil positioning, low aspect ratio (compactness), choice of assembly strategy, metrology, and complexity of the stellarator coil geometry. With the completion of a seven-year design and construction effort of the National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX) it is useful to interject the NCSX experience along with the collective experiences of the NCSX stellarator community to improving the stellarator configuration. Can improvements in maintenance be achieved by altering the stellarator magnet configuration with changes in the coil shape or with the combination of trim coils? Can a mechanical configuration be identified that incorporates a partial set of shaped fixed stellarator coils along with some removable coil set to enhance the overall machine maintenance? Are there other approaches that will simplify the concepts, ...
Quality reporting tools, integrated with ambulatory electronic health records, can help clinicians and administrators understand performance, manage populations, and improve quality. Report Central...Full Text Available
The coking plant is described with some details of coal supplies and coke quality. Engineering improvements to the by-product system and coke oven machines, major repair of two batteries, installation of a PLC-based monitoring and control system, and training of personnel are dealt with at greater length.
Specificity of the pulses mean frequency measurement (the pulses being generated in a stochastic process) is described. Status of the domain of analog frequency meters is presented. Methods of increasing accuracy of such meters are discussed.
Specificity of the pulses mean frequency measurement (the pulses being generated in a stochastic process) is described. Status of the domain of analog frequency meters is presented. Methods of increasing accuracy of such meters are discussed. (author).
The status of the electroweak Standard Model is reviewed in the light of recent precision data and new theoretical results which have contributed to improve the predictions for precision observables, together with the remaining inherent theoretical uncertainties. Consequences for possible new physics are also discussed.
This paper evaluates the Post-Hospital Support Program for the frail elderly and their caregivers using a quasi-experimental design. The program goals were to reduce stress in the caregivers, improve...Full Text Available
BACKGROUND: Although the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in high-risk groups has been proven, vaccine coverage continues to be less than 50% in The Netherlands. To improve vaccination rates,...Full Text Available
The ability to achieve tumor selective expression of therapeutic genes is an area that needs improvement for cancer gene therapy to be successful. One approach to address this is through the...Full Text Available
BackgroundOil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is one of the most important oil bearing crops in the world. However, genetic improvement of oil palm through conventional...Full Text Available
Experience with visual objects leads to later improvements in identification speed and accuracy (“repetition priming”), but generally leads to reductions in neural activity in single-cell...Full Text Available
The long-term goal of nuclear transfer or alternative reprogramming approaches is to create patient-specific donor cells for transplantation therapy, avoiding immunorejection, a major complication in...Full Text Available
The Heliophysics roadmap: "The Solar and Space Physics of a New Era: ..... Improved materials and manufacturing processes to produce Iridium/Rhenium apogee class ... In addition to batteries, other advanced energy storage/load leveling ...
...Quality = $290,604 to improve permit compliance and appropriate preservation of wetlands by providing a spatial dataset to locate individual wetland permits on a property using high resolution imagery within specific regions of Virginia; this data set will be compared with the permit Comprehensive Environmental Database System that is currently used ...
Although ultrasound arrays were exploited in photoacoustic imaging to improve imaging speed, ultrasound-array-based optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) has never been achieved...Full Text Available
BackgroundThere are no drugs presently available to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). A variety of single drugs have failed clinical trials suggesting a role for drug combinations....Full Text Available
A method is proposed for operating bed waters in an oil well by injecting silanes into the near-face zone. It is distinguished by the fact that in order to improve the effectiveness of insulation, the silanes used are silanes of general formula Si /SUB n/ H /SUB 2n-n/ .
Metallic O-ring or Helicoflex seals can prevent relaxation and provide greater resilience than composite seals, helping to keep joints leaktight. Their characteristics and applications in the nuclear industry are outlined. (Author).
The needs of hospitalized geriatric patients differ from the needs of hospitalized younger adults. In an attempt to improve systems of care for the older adult, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...Full Text Available
This 3-year longitudinal study investigated whether low-wage employment was associated with improved psychological and parenting outcomes in a sample of 178 single mothers who were employed...Full Text Available
The performance of the PSI/ETH focused ion beam (FIB) system has been improved to produce ion beams of very low energies down to 40 eV with a reasonable spot size of 1 {mu}m at 200 eV. (author) 2 figs., 1 ref.
BackgroundGenetic interactions within hybrids influence their overall fitness. Understanding the details of these interactions can improve our understanding of speciation. One experimental...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG5) aims at improving maternal health. Globally, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined from 400 to 260 per 100000 live births...Full Text Available
The key to improving transmission-network security is faster response to contingencies. Now a new breed of pumped-storage plant - designed for ultra-fast response - may soon provide a tool dispatchers can use to improve network security. This type of plant can also substantially increase the effective capacity of existing transmission lines and improve the performance of thermal generating units. The Mt. Hope Waterpower Project, planned for Rockaway Township, NJ, 35 miles west of New York City, lies strategically adjacent to major load centers at the eastern end of the PJM control area and near the interconnection point with the New York Power Pool (NYPP). This location also is in an area deficient in significant generating facilities. Maximum design capacity of the project is 2000 MW, provided by six reversible pump/turbines, each with a nominal 340-MW rating. The upper reservoir, with a surface area of only 60 acres, ...
In the RIR (Risk-informed Regulation), PSA (Probabilistic Safety Assessment) plays a major role because it provides overall risk insights for the regulatory body and utility. Therefore, the scope, the level of details and the technical adequacy of PSA, i.e. the quality of PSA is to be ensured for the successful RIR. To improve the quality of Korean PSA, we evaluate the quality of the KSNP (Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plant) internal full-power PSA model based on the 'ASME PRA Standard' and the 'NEI PRA Peer Review Process Guidance.' As a working group, PSA experts of the regulatory body and industry also participated in the evaluation process. It is finally judged that the overall quality of the KSNP PSA is between the ASME Standard Capability Category I and II. We also derive some items to be improved for upgrading the quality of the PSA up to the ASME Standard Capability Category II. In this paper, we ...
The patent relates to fluid operated devices for moving articles. The machine may be used in filling a nuclear fuel canister with fuel pellets where there is a tendency for out of squareness of pellets to produce a jam condition readily cleared by a modest force. (U.K.).
AGNES is a chopper spectrometer installed at the top of the C3 cold guide of JRR-3 (JAERI, Tokai). In 2004 - 2006, this spectrometer was greatly improved by installing (1) 208 new detectors to make the detector bank complete, (2) new radiation shields composed of Fe (14 mm), polyethylene (50 mm), B4C rubber (10 mm), and Cd (0.5 mm) sheets, (3) a new control system for the anti-frame-overlap chopper rotating simultaneously with the Fermi chopper, (4) a monitor counter at the space between the chopper and monochromator, (5) a neutron guide tube (50 cm) before the monochromator, (6) a new instrument control (monochromators, choppers, beam narrowers, etc.) and measurement control (real-time data monitoring, sample temperature control, etc.) systems, (7) a top-loading type cryostat workable at a wide temperature range of 6 - 480 K. As the results of these improvements, the signal intensity has been increased by 3.3 and the background has been ...
Sensory analysis studies are critical in the development of quality enhanced crops, and may be an important component in the public acceptance of genetically modified foods. It has recently been established...Full Text Available
Thermodynamic parameters for prediction of RNA duplex stability are reported. One parameter for duplex initiation and 10 parameters for helix propagation are derived from enthalpy and free-energy changes...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVE: We studied 22 dogs to examine the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) alone, in comparison with omental or muscular wrapping on airway healing in a tracheal autotransplantation...Full Text Available
BackgroundHealth related quality of life (HRQoL) is one of the most important outcomes to measure effectiveness of an intervention, especially for islet transplantation...Full Text Available
The use of dideoxynucleotide triphosphates labeled with different fluorescent dyes (dye terminators) is the most versatile method for automated DNA sequencing. However, variation in peak heights reduces...Full Text Available
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common cause of degenerative dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD), and is clinically characterized by the progressive cognitive decline with fluctuations...Full Text Available
Previous studies have documented diagnostic bias and noted that its reduction could eliminate misdiagnosis and improve mental health service delivery. Few studies have investigated clinicians'...Full Text Available
A prototype detector based on the inclined absorber layer principle is introduced. For the Liquids Reflectometer at the Spallation Neutron Source, it is shown to be a significant improvement over its current detector, which imposes an instantaneous count rate limitation of 50 kcps.
The goal of the Fifteenmile Creek Habitat Improvement project is to improve wild winter steelhead habitat in the Fifteenmile Creek Basin. This goal was addressed under the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, Measure 703 (c) (1) - Action Item 4.2. Construction of fish habitat structures was completed on approximately 3.5 miles of Eightmile Creek and on approximately 8.5 miles of Fifteenmile Creek. A total of 15,435 yds of rock was placed to improve rearing and spawning habitat, and to improve water quality and reduce siltation. Riparian protection fencing was completed on 1.8 miles of Dry Creek, approximately 1.75 miles on Eightmile Creek, and 4.75 miles on Fifteenmile Creek. Approximately 10 miles of stream will receive protection from the 8 miles of new fencing installed and 6.5 miles of abandoned fence repaired. Irrigation withdrawal screens were installed at six irrigation pump ...
AIMS:To investigate the effect of carnitine supplementation on alcoholic malnourished rats' hepatic nitrogen content.METHODS:Malnourished rats, on...Full Text Available
BackgroundSevere sepsis and septic shock are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In experimental sepsis there is prominent apoptosis of various cell types, and genetic...Full Text Available
The Electronic REference To access In vivo Concentrations (ERETIC) method was applied to 1H HR-MAS spectroscopy. The accuracy, precision, and stability of ERETIC as a quantitative...Full Text Available
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are often prescribed as first-line therapy for patients with asthma Despite their efficacy and improved safety profile compared with oral corticosteroids, the potential...Full Text Available
Improving the anti-demineralizing/remineralizing and mechanical properties of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) composites has been the focus of our recent research. In this study, an ethoxylated...Full Text Available
AIM: To improve the diagnosis of heterotopic pancreas by the use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging and CT virtual endoscopy (CTVE).METHODS: A total of six patients with heterotopic...Full Text Available
BackgroundSupplementation of nutritional deficiencies helps to improve immune function and resistance to infections in malnourished subjects. However, the suggested benefits of dietary...Full Text Available
Antivenoms are the currently available agents for treatment of snake venom intoxication in humans. The development of therapeutic strategies employing more generally available drugs could improve treatment of invenomation by reducing hypersensitive reacti...
IntroductionRadiotherapy outcomes might be further improved by a greater understanding of the individual variations in normal tissue reactions that determine tolerance. Most published...Full Text Available
Depending on the location, dermatoses can produce blemishes that severely impair quality of life and require highly effective treatment that is otherwise used for extensive skin involvement. We report...Full Text Available
Coke-fired cupola furnaces were improved and made suitable for the production of high-quality casting melts by numerous additional devices. Moreover, they were equipped with environmental protection systems with numerous dust separation devices and afterb...
The University of Georgia, in collaboration with GE Global Research, has investigated the relevant quenching mechanism of phosphor coatings used in white light devices based on UV LEDs. The final goal of the project was the design and fabrication of a high-efficacy white light UV-LED device through improved geometry and optimized phosphor coatings. At the end of the research period, which was extended to seamlessly carry over the research to a follow-up program, we have demonstrated a two-fold improvement in the conversion efficiency of a white light LED device, where the increase efficacy is due to both improved phosphor quantum efficiency and lamp geometry. Working prototypes have been displayed at DOE sponsored meetings and during the final presentation at the DOE Headquarters in Washington, DC. During the first phase of the project, a fundamental understanding of quenching processes in UV-LEDs was obtained, and the ...
The University of Georgia, in collaboration with GE Global Research, has investigated the relevant quenching mechanism of phosphor coatings used in white light devices based on UV LEDs. The final goal of the project was the design and fabrication of a high-efficacy white light UV-LED device through improved geometry and optimized phosphor coatings. At the end of the research period, which was extended to seamlessly carry over the research to a follow-up program, we have demonstrated a two-fold improvement in the conversion efficiency of a white light LED device, where the increase efficacy is due to both improved phosphor quantum efficiency and lamp geometry. Working prototypes have been displayed at DOE sponsored meetings and during the final presentation at the DOE Headquarters in Washington, DC. During the first phase of the project, a fundamental understanding of quenching processes in UV-LEDs was obtained, and the ...
BackgroundLung volume reduction surgery is effective at improving lung function, quality of life, and mortality in carefully selected individuals with advanced emphysema. Recently,...Full Text Available
Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are increasingly recognized due to the expanding use and improved sensitivity of cross-sectional abdominal imaging. Major advances in the last decade have led to an...Full Text Available
A small-sample survey of consumer preferences for a second car - featuring both conventional and electric vehicle choices - indicates a proelectric bias. The potential of electric cars in the utility market largely depends on dramatic improvements in battery technology and the right mix of electricity and gasoline prices.
Congenital woolly hair is a disorder with structural defects of the hair shafts. Curled hairs are noticed at birth or soon after birth and often improve with age. Some cases of woolly hairs are associated...Full Text Available
BackgroundSelf-administered computer-assisted blood donor screening strategies may elicit more accurate responses and improve the screening process.MethodsRandomized...Full Text Available
BackgroundLignocellulosic biomass such as wood is an attractive material for fuel ethanol production. Pretreatment technologies that increase the digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose...Full Text Available
... After completing a review into direct coal liquefaction research carried out in Australia and internationally, CSIRO has identified potential new science and technology developments that may improve the cost and viability of CTL in a greenhouse gas-constrained environment. We are conducting research to: determine the optimum ...
This study was an evaluation of the performance of self-applied, blue light, light-emitting diode therapy in the treatment of mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne on the face, concerning: 1) time to improvement...Full Text Available
New and improved camouflage techniques which will enhance field security are required by Department of Army personnel. The report contains the results of tests, formulations and the operational characteristics of the 73E01-1A dispenser. Various tests (air...
Atmospheric electrodynamics research is summarized, focusing on three general areas: the ionosphere as a source for middle atmospheric electrodynamics, regional and global scale electrodynamics, and thunderstorms and lightning. New or improved instrumentation techniques which have furthered atmospheric electrodynamics research are also discussed. 93 refs.
BackgroundThe effects of intervention programs on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with hip fracture have not been well studied. We hypothesized that older patients...Full Text Available
BackgroundObtaining single parasite clones is required for many techniques in malaria research. Cloning by limiting dilution using microscopy-based assessment for parasite growth...Full Text Available
A remarkable discovery of recent years is that, despite the complexity of ageing, simple genetic interventions can increase lifespan and improve health during ageing in laboratory animals. The pathways...Full Text Available
Over the past few years, tissue microarray (TMA) technology has been established as a standard method for assessing the expression of proteins or genes across large sets of tissue specimens....Full Text Available
A common approach used to fuse simultaneously recorded EEG and fMRI is to correlate trial-by-trial variability in the EEG, or variability of components derived therefrom, with the blood oxygenation...Full Text Available
BackgroundWe were commissioned to carry out three health assessments in urban areas of Dublin in Ireland. We required an epidemiologically robust method that could collect data rapidly...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe biopharmaceutical industry requires cell lines to have an optimal proliferation rate and a high integral viable cell number resulting in a maximum volumetric recombinant...Full Text Available