Analysis of LOCA Scenarios in the NIST Research Reactor Before and After Fuel Conversion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baek, J. S.; Cheng, L. Y.; Diamond, D.

An analysis has been done of hypothetical loss-of-coolant-accidents (LOCAs) in the research reactor (NBSR) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The purpose of the analysis is to determine if the peak clad temperature remains below the Safety Limit, which is the blister temperature for the fuel. The configuration of the NBSR considered in the analysis is that projected for the future when changes will be made so that shutdown pumps do not operate when a LOCA signal is detected. The analysis was done for the present core with high-enriched uranium (HEU) fuel and with the proposed low-enrichedmore » uranium (LEU) fuel that would be used when the NBSR is converted from one to the other. The analysis consists of two parts. The first examines how the water would drain from the primary system following a break and the possibility for the loss of coolant from within the fuel element flow channels. This work is performed using the TRACE system thermal-hydraulic code. The second looks at the fuel clad temperature as a function of time given that the water may have drained from many of the flow channels and the water in the vessel is in a quasi-equilibrium state. The temperature behavior is investigated using the three-dimensional heat conduction code HEATING7.3. The results in all scenarios considered for both HEU and LEU fuel show that the peak clad temperature remains below the blister temperature.« less

R&D Plan for RISMC Industry Application #1: ECCS/LOCA Cladding Acceptance Criteria

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szilard, Ronaldo Henriques; Zhang, Hongbin; Epiney, Aaron Simon

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is finalizing a rulemaking change that would revise the requirements in 10 CFR 50.46. In the proposed new rulemaking, designated as 10 CFR 50.46c, the NRC proposes a fuel performance-based equivalent cladding reacted (ECR) criterion as a function of cladding hydrogen content before the accident (pre-transient) in order to include the effects of higher burnup on cladding performance as well as to address other technical issues. A loss of operational margin may result due to the more restrictive cladding embrittlement criteria. Initial and future compliance with the rule may significantly increase vendor workload and licenseemore » costs as a spectrum of fuel rod initial burnup states may need to be analyzed to demonstrate compliance. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has initiated a project, as part of the DOE Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program (LWRS), to develop analytical capabilities to support the industry in the transition to the new rule. This project is called the Industry Application 1 (IA1) within the Risk-Informed Safety Margin Characterization (RISMC) Pathway of LWRS. The general idea behind the initiative is the development of an Integrated Evaluation Model (IEM). The motivation is to develop a multiphysics framework to analyze how uncertainties are propagated across the stream of physical disciplines and data involved, as well as how risks are evaluated in a LOCA safety analysis as regulated under 10 CFR 50.46c. This IEM is called LOTUS which stands for LOCA Toolkit for US, and it represents the LWRS Program’s response to the proposed new rule making. The focus of this report is to complete an R&D plan to describe the demonstration of the LOCA/ECCS RISMC Industry Application # 1 using the advanced RISMC Toolkit and methodologies. This report includes the description and development plan for a RISMC LOCA tool that fully couples advanced MOOSE tools already in development in order to characterize and optimize plant safety and operational margins. Advanced MOOSE tools that are needed to complete this integrated evaluation model are: RAVEN, RELAP-7, BISON, and MAMMOTH.« less

Comparisons of Wilks’ and Monte Carlo Methods in Response to the 10CFR50.46(c) Proposed Rulemaking

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Hongbin; Szilard, Ronaldo; Zou, Ling

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing a new rulemaking on emergency core system/loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) performance analysis. In the proposed rulemaking, designated as 10CFR50.46(c), the US NRC put forward an equivalent cladding oxidation criterion as a function of cladding pre-transient hydrogen content. The proposed rulemaking imposes more restrictive and burnup-dependent cladding embrittlement criteria; consequently nearly all the fuel rods in a reactor core need to be analyzed under LOCA conditions to demonstrate compliance to the safety limits. New analysis methods are required to provide a thorough characterization of the reactor core in order to identify the locations of themore » limiting rods as well as to quantify the safety margins under LOCA conditions. With the new analysis method presented in this work, the limiting transient case and the limiting rods can be easily identified to quantify the safety margins in response to the proposed new rulemaking. In this work, the best-estimate plus uncertainty (BEPU) analysis capability for large break LOCA with the new cladding embrittlement criteria using the RELAP5-3D code is established and demonstrated with a reduced set of uncertainty parameters. Both the direct Monte Carlo method and the Wilks’ nonparametric statistical method can be used to perform uncertainty quantification. Wilks’ method has become the de-facto industry standard to perform uncertainty quantification in BEPU LOCA analyses. Despite its widespread adoption by the industry, the use of small sample sizes to infer statement of compliance to the existing 10CFR50.46 rule, has been a major cause of unrealized operational margin in today’s BEPU methods. Moreover the debate on the proper interpretation of the Wilks’ theorem in the context of safety analyses is not fully resolved yet, even more than two decades after its introduction in the frame of safety analyses in the nuclear industry. This represents both a regulatory and application risk in rolling out new methods. With the 10CFR50.46(c) proposed rulemaking, the deficiencies of the Wilks’ approach are further exacerbated. The direct Monte Carlo approach offers a robust alternative to perform uncertainty quantification within the context of BEPU analyses. In this work, the Monte Carlo method is compared with the Wilks’ method in response to the NRC 10CFR50.46(c) proposed rulemaking.« less

Bio-mechanical assessment toward throwing and lifting process of i-LOCA (Innovative Lobster Catcher)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sudiarno, A.; Dewi, D. S.; Putri, M. A.

2018-04-01

Indonesia is the country rich in marine resource, one of which is lobster. East java, one of Indonesian province, especially in Region of Gresik and Lamogan, has very huge potential of lobster. Current condition shown that lobster catch by the fisherman mostly depend on lucky factor, which the lobster unintentionally trapped in fisherman’s fish net. By using this mechanism, the number of lobster catch cannot be optimum. Previous researches have produced two versions of i-LOCA, Innovative Lobster Catcher, a special tool for catching the lobster. Although produce more lobster catch, second version of i-LOCA still needs to be scrutinized, one of that is bio-mechanical assessment. The second version of i-LOCA still has no tool to ease throwing and lifting it into the sea. This condition cause Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) toward the fisherman. This research perform bio-mechanical assessment toward throwing and lifting process in order to suggest improvement for i-LOCA as the third version. Based on body moment calculation, we found that throwing and lifting process of third version of i-LOCA, each was 3 times and 2 times better than second version of i-LOCA. Meanwhile, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) score of throwing and lifting process for third version of i-LOCA can be reduced by 5 points compared to second version of i-LOCA.

Non-condensable gas effects in ROSA/AP600 small-break LOCA experiments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nakamura, Hideo; Kukita, Yutaka; Shaw, R.A.

1996-06-01

Integral experiments simulating the postulated accidents in the Westinghouse AP600 reactor have been conducted using the ROSA-V Large Scale Test Facility (LSTF). These experiments allowed the N{sub 2} gas for the pressurization of accumulator tanks to enter the primary system after the depletion of the tank water inventory. The gas migrated into the Passive Residual Heat Removal (PRHR) system heat exchanger tubes and into the Core Makeup Tanks (CMTs), and influenced the performance of these components which are unique to the AP600 reactor. Specifically, the PRHR was disabled soon after the N{sub 2} gas discharge in most of the experiments,more » although the core decay power was removed well by the steam discharge through the Automatic Depressurization System (ADS) after the PRHR was disabled. The N{sub 2} gas ingress into the CMTs occurred in the experiments with relatively large breaks ({ge} 2 inch in equivalent diameter), and contributed to a smooth draindown of the CMT inventory into the primary system.« less

Rate theory scenarios study on fission gas behavior of U 3 Si 2 under LOCA conditions in LWRs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miao, Yinbin; Gamble, Kyle A.; Andersson, David

Fission gas behavior of U3Si2 under various loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions in light water reactors (LWRs) was simulated using rate theory. A rate theory model for U3Si2 that covers both steady-state operation and power transients was developed for the GRASS-SST code based on existing research reactor/ion irradiation experimental data and theoretical predictions of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The steady-state and LOCA condition parameters were either directly provided or inspired by BISON simulations. Due to the absence of in-pile experiment data for U3Si2's fuel performance under LWR conditions at this stage of accident tolerant fuel (ATF) development, a variety ofmore » LOCA scenarios were taken into consideration to comprehensively and conservatively evaluate the fission gas behavior of U3Si2 during a LOCA.« less

Final Report on ITER Task Agreement 81-08

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Richard L. Moore

As part of an ITER Implementing Task Agreement (ITA) between the ITER US Participant Team (PT) and the ITER International Team (IT), the INL Fusion Safety Program was tasked to provide the ITER IT with upgrades to the fusion version of the MELCOR 1.8.5 code including a beryllium dust oxidation model. The purpose of this model is to allow the ITER IT to investigate hydrogen production from beryllium dust layers on hot surfaces inside the ITER vacuum vessel (VV) during in-vessel loss-of-cooling accidents (LOCAs). Also included in the ITER ITA was a task to construct a RELAP5/ATHENA model of themore » ITER divertor cooling loop to model the draining of the loop during a large ex-vessel pipe break followed by an in-vessel divertor break and compare the results to a simular MELCOR model developed by the ITER IT. This report, which is the final report for this agreement, documents the completion of the work scope under this ITER TA, designated as TA 81-08.« less

JPRS Report Science & Technology Japan

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-03-02

Oxychlorides MOCln_2 (Organic Metal Salts) Alkoxides M(OR)n Acetylacetonate M(C5H702)n Acetates M(C2H302)n Oxalates M(C204)n/2 2.2 Hydrolysis and Gel...more deeply understanding hydrothermal dynamics during not only a major rupture LOCA but also a minor rupture LOCA and clarifying the combination of... hydrothermal dynamics of the coolant from the beginning of LOCA to its end, using a scale model of PWR (pressurized water reactor). Under the ROSA-III Plan

Decay Heat Removal from a GFR Core by Natural Convection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Williams, Wesley C.; Hejzlar, Pavel; Driscoll, Michael J.

2004-07-01

One of the primary challenges for Gas-cooled Fast Reactors (GFR) is decay heat removal after a loss of coolant accident (LOCA). Due to the fact that thermal gas cooled reactors currently under design rely on passive mechanisms to dissipate decay heat, there is a strong motivation to accomplish GFR core cooling through natural phenomena. This work investigates the potential of post-LOCA decay heat removal from a GFR core to a heat sink using an external convection loop. A model was developed in the form of the LOCA-COLA (Loss of Coolant Accident - Convection Loop Analysis) computer code as a meansmore » for 1D steady state convective heat transfer loop analysis. The results show that decay heat removal by means of gas cooled natural circulation is feasible under elevated post-LOCA containment pressure conditions. (authors)« less

Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) / Emergency Core Coolant System (ECCS Evaluation of Risk-Informed Margins Management Strategies for a Representative Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szilard, Ronaldo Henriques

A Risk Informed Safety Margin Characterization (RISMC) toolkit and methodology are proposed for investigating nuclear power plant core, fuels design and safety analysis, including postulated Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) analysis. This toolkit, under an integrated evaluation model framework, is name LOCA toolkit for the US (LOTUS). This demonstration includes coupled analysis of core design, fuel design, thermal hydraulics and systems analysis, using advanced risk analysis tools and methods to investigate a wide range of results.

Nuclear power plant cable materials :

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Celina, Mathias C.; Gillen, Kenneth T; Lindgren, Eric Richard

2013-05-01

A selective literature review was conducted to assess whether currently available accelerated aging and original qualification data could be used to establish operational margins for the continued use of cable insulation and jacketing materials in nuclear power plant environments. The materials are subject to chemical and physical degradation under extended radiationthermal- oxidative conditions. Of particular interest were the circumstances under which existing aging data could be used to predict whether aged materials should pass loss of coolant accident (LOCA) performance requirements. Original LOCA qualification testing usually involved accelerated aging simulations of the 40-year expected ambient aging conditions followed by amore » LOCA simulation. The accelerated aging simulations were conducted under rapid accelerated aging conditions that did not account for many of the known limitations in accelerated polymer aging and therefore did not correctly simulate actual aging conditions. These highly accelerated aging conditions resulted in insulation materials with mostly inert aging processes as well as jacket materials where oxidative damage dropped quickly away from the air-exposed outside jacket surface. Therefore, for most LOCA performance predictions, testing appears to have relied upon heterogeneous aging behavior with oxidation often limited to the exterior of the cable cross-section a situation which is not comparable with the nearly homogenous oxidative aging that will occur over decades under low dose rate and low temperature plant conditions. The historical aging conditions are therefore insufficient to determine with reasonable confidence the remaining operational margins for these materials. This does not necessarily imply that the existing 40-year-old materials would fail if LOCA conditions occurred, but rather that unambiguous statements about the current aging state and anticipated LOCA performance cannot be provided based on original qualification testing data alone. The non-availability of conclusive predictions for the aging conditions of 40-year-old cables implies that the same levels of uncertainty will remain for any re-qualification or extended operation of these cables. The highly variable aging behavior of the range of materials employed also implies that simple, standardized aging tests are not sufficient to provide the required aging data and performance predictions for all materials. It is recommended that focused studies be conducted that would yield the material aging parameters needed to predict aging behaviors under low dose, low temperature plant equivalent conditions and that appropriately aged specimens be prepared that would mimic oxidatively-aged 40- to 60- year-old materials for confirmatory LOCA performance testing. This study concludes that it is not sufficient to expose materials to rapid, high radiation and high temperature levels with subsequent LOCA qualification testing in order to predictively quantify safety margins of existing infrastructure with regard to LOCA performance. We need to better understand how cable jacketing and insulation materials have degraded over decades of power plant operation and how this aging history relates to service life prediction and the performance of existing equipment to withstand a LOCA situation.« less

Identification of limiting case between DBA and SBDBA (CL break area sensitivity): A new model for the boron injection system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gonzalez Gonzalez, R.; Petruzzi, A.; D'Auria, F.

2012-07-01

Atucha-2 is a Siemens-designed PHWR reactor under construction in the Republic of Argentina. Its geometrical complexity and (e.g., oblique Control Rods, Positive Void coefficient) required a developed and validated complex three dimensional (3D) neutron kinetics (NK) coupled thermal hydraulic (TH) model. Reactor shut-down is obtained by oblique CRs and, during accidental conditions, by an emergency shut-down system (JDJ) injecting a highly concentrated boron solution (boron clouds) in the moderator tank, the boron clouds reconstruction is obtained using a CFD (CFX) code calculation. A complete LBLOCA calculation implies the application of the RELAP5-3D{sup C} system code. Within the framework of themore » third Agreement 'NA-SA - Univ. of Pisa' a new RELAP5-3D control system for the boron injection system was developed and implemented in the validated coupled RELAP5-3D/NESTLE model of the Atucha 2 NPP. The aim of this activity is to find out the limiting case (maximum break area size) for the Peak Cladding Temperature for LOCAs under fixed boundary conditions. (authors)« less

Industry Application ECCS / LOCA Integrated Cladding/Emergency Core Cooling System Performance: Demonstration of LOTUS-Baseline Coupled Analysis of the South Texas Plant Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Hongbin; Szilard, Ronaldo; Epiney, Aaron

Under the auspices of the DOE LWRS Program RISMC Industry Application ECCS/LOCA, INL has engaged staff from both South Texas Project (STP) and the Texas A&M University (TAMU) to produce a generic pressurized water reactor (PWR) model including reactor core, clad/fuel design and systems thermal hydraulics based on the South Texas Project (STP) nuclear power plant, a 4-Loop Westinghouse PWR. A RISMC toolkit, named LOCA Toolkit for the U.S. (LOTUS), has been developed for use in this generic PWR plant model to assess safety margins for the proposed NRC 10 CFR 50.46c rule, Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) performance duringmore » LOCA. This demonstration includes coupled analysis of core design, fuel design, thermalhydraulics and systems analysis, using advanced risk analysis tools and methods to investigate a wide range of results. Within this context, a multi-physics best estimate plus uncertainty (MPBEPU) methodology framework is proposed.« less

Hydrogen motion in Zircaloy-4 cladding during a LOCA transient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elodie, T.; Jean, D.; Séverine, G.; M-Christine, B.; Michel, C.; Berger, P.; Martine, B.; Antoine, A.

2016-04-01

Hydrogen and oxygen are key elements influencing the embrittlement of zirconium-based nuclear fuel cladding during the quench phase following a Loss Of Coolant Accident (LOCA). The understanding of the mechanisms influencing the motion of these two chemical elements in the metal is required to fully describe the material embrittlement. High temperature steam oxidation tests were performed on pre-hydrided Zircaloy-4 samples with hydrogen contents ranging between 11 and 400 wppm prior to LOCA transient. Thanks to the use of both Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA) and Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (μ-ERDA), the chemical elements partitioning has been systematically quantified inside the prior-β phase. Image analysis and metallographic examinations were combined to provide an average oxygen profile as well as hydrogen profile within the cladding thickness after LOCA transient. The measured hydrogen profile is far from homogeneous. Experimental distributions are compared to those predicted numerically using calculations derived from a finite difference thermo-diffusion code (DIFFOX) developed at IRSN.

Spatializing Sexuality in Jaime Hernandez's "Locas"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Jessica E.

2009-01-01

Focusing on Jaime Hernandez's "Locas: The Maggie and Hopey Stories," part of the "Love and Rockets" comic series, I argue that the graphic landscape of this understudied comic offers an illustration of the theories of space in relation to race, gender, and sexuality that have been critical to understandings of Chicana…

Game Analysis of Olympic, World and European Championships in Men's Handball.

PubMed

Bilge, Murat

2012-12-01

The development of men's handball was analyzed using data from the Olympic, World and European Championships held within the last eight years. The most obvious change, especially within these last nine tournaments, was that men's handball was played more dynamically and rapidly, both in attack and defense, especially by European teams. The first aim of this study was to conduct a technical analysis of current handball and to determine factors related to success in this sport discipline. The second aim was to compare the data of European Championships with other tournaments, considering the success of European teams in Men's World Handball. The technical variables used to compare the tournaments included: the average number of attacks, the efficiency of attacks, the efficiency of goal throws, fast break goals per game, the efficiency of fast breaks, the efficiency of the goalkeeper, saves by the goalkeeper per game, number of turnovers per game, and the efficiency of position throws (wing, pivot, back court, break-through, fast break, and 7-meter). This technical analysis used cumulative statistics from the European Handball Federation and International Handball Federation. ANOVA revealed significant differences between the first eight teams in the European Championships and their counterparts in the other two tournaments (Olympics and World Championships) in terms of several technical variables. The results showed that the efficiency of fast break, pivot position and back court players affected the ranking in favor of the European teams in significant international tournaments.

ACHILLES: Heat Transfer in PWR Core During LOCA Reflood Phase

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

2013-11-01

1. NAME AND TITLE OF DATA LIBRARY ACHILLES -Heat Transfer in PWR Core During LOCA Reflood Phase. 2. NAME AND TITLE OF DATA RETRIEVAL PROGRAMS N/A 3. CONTRIBUTOR AEA Technology, Winfrith Technology Centre, Dorchester DT2 8DH United Kingdom through the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Data Bank, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. 4. DESCRIPTION OF TEST FACILITY The most important features of the Achilles rig were the shroud vessel, which contained the test section, and the downcomer. These may be thought of as representing the core barrel and the annular downcomer in the reactor pressure vessel. The test section comprises a cluster of 69more » rods in a square array within a circular shroud vessel. The rod diameter and pitch (9.5 mm and 12.6 mm) were typical of PWR dimensions. The internal diameter of the shroud vessel was 128 mm. Each rod was electrically heated over a length of 3.66 m, which is typical of the nuclear heated length in a PWR fuel rod, and each contained 6 internal thermocouples. These were arranged in one of 8 groupings which concentrated the thermocouples in different axial zones. The spacer grids were at prototypic PWR locations. Each grid had two thermocouples attached to its trailing edge at radial locations. The axial power profile along the rods was an 11 step approximation to a "chopped cosine". The shroud vessel had 5 heating zones whose power could be independently controlled. 5. DESCRIPTION OF TESTS The Achilles experiments investigated the heat transfer in the core of a Pressurized Water Reactor during the re-flood phase of a postulated large break loss of coolant accident. The results provided data to validate codes and to improve modeling. Different types of experiments were carried out which included single phase cooling, re-flood under low flow conditions, level swell and re-flood under high flow conditions. Three series of experiments were performed. The first and the third used the same test section but the second used another test section, similar in all respects except that it contained a partial blockage formed by attaching sleeves (or "balloons") to some of the rods. 6. SOURCE AND SCOPE OF DATA Phenomena Tested - Heat transfer in the core of a PWR during a re-flood phase of postulated large break LOCA. Test Designation - Achilles Rig. The programme includes the following types of experiments: - on an unballooned cluster: -- single phase air flow -- low pressure level swell -- low flooding rate re-flood -- high flooding rate re-flood - on a ballooned cluster containing 80% blockage formed by 16 balloon sleeves -- single phase air flow -- low flooding rate re-flood 7. DISCUSSION OF THE DATA RETRIEVAL PROGRAM N/A 8. DATA FORMAT AND COMPUTER Many Computers (M00019MNYCP00). 9. TYPICAL RUNNING TIME N/A 11. CONTENTS OF LIBRARY The ACHILLES package contains test data and associated data processing software as well as the documentation listed above. 12. DATE OF ABSTRACT November 2013. KEYWORDS: DATABASES, BENCHMARKS, HEAT TRANSFER, LOSS-OF-COLLANT ACCIDENT, PWR REACTORS, REFLOODING« less

RELAP5 Analyses of OECD/NEA ROSA-2 Project Experiments on Intermediate-Break LOCAs at Hot Leg or Cold Leg

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeda, Takeshi; Maruyama, Yu; Watanabe, Tadashi; Nakamura, Hideo

Experiments simulating PWR intermediate-break loss-of-coolant accidents (IBLOCAs) with 17% break at hot leg or cold leg were conducted in OECD/NEA ROSA-2 Project using the Large Scale Test Facility (LSTF). In the hot leg IBLOCA test, core uncovery started simultaneously with liquid level drop in crossover leg downflow-side before loop seal clearing (LSC) induced by steam condensation on accumulator coolant injected into cold leg. Water remained on upper core plate in upper plenum due to counter-current flow limiting (CCFL) because of significant upward steam flow from the core. In the cold leg IBLOCA test, core dryout took place due to rapid liquid level drop in the core before LSC. Liquid was accumulated in upper plenum, steam generator (SG) U-tube upflow-side and SG inlet plenum before the LSC due to CCFL by high velocity vapor flow, causing enhanced decrease in the core liquid level. The RELAP5/MOD3.2.1.2 post-test analyses of the two LSTF experiments were performed employing critical flow model in the code with a discharge coefficient of 1.0. In the hot leg IBLOCA case, cladding surface temperature of simulated fuel rods was underpredicted due to overprediction of core liquid level after the core uncovery. In the cold leg IBLOCA case, the cladding surface temperature was underpredicted too due to later core uncovery than in the experiment. These may suggest that the code has remaining problems in proper prediction of primary coolant distribution.

75 FR 53985 - Arizona Public Service Company, et al., Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 3; Temporary...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-02

... are authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to public health or safety, and are consistent... Public Health and Safety The underlying purpose of 10 CFR 50.46 is to establish acceptance criteria for... (LOCA) and non-LOCA criteria, mechanical design, thermal hydraulics, seismic, core physics, and...

Parameter study on the influence of prepressurization on PWR fuel rod behavior during normal operation and hypothetical LOCAs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brzoska, B.; Depisch, F.; Fuchs, H.P.

To analyze the influence of prepressurization on fuel rod behavior, a parametric study has been performed that considers the effects of as-fabricated fuel rod internal prepressure on the normal operation and postulated loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) rod behavior of a 1300-MW(electric) Kraftwerk Union (KWU) standard pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant. A variation of the prepressure in the range from 15 to 35 bars has only a slight influence on normal operation behavior. Considering the LOCA behavior, only a small temperature increase results from prepressure reduction, while the core-wide straining behavior is improved significantly. The KWU prepressurization takes both conditions intomore » account.« less

Modelling of LOCA Tests with the BISON Fuel Performance Code

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Williamson, Richard L; Pastore, Giovanni; Novascone, Stephen Rhead

2016-05-01

BISON is a modern finite-element based, multidimensional nuclear fuel performance code that is under development at Idaho National Laboratory (USA). Recent advances of BISON include the extension of the code to the analysis of LWR fuel rod behaviour during loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs). In this work, BISON models for the phenomena relevant to LWR cladding behaviour during LOCAs are described, followed by presentation of code results for the simulation of LOCA tests. Analysed experiments include separate effects tests of cladding ballooning and burst, as well as the Halden IFA-650.2 fuel rod test. Two-dimensional modelling of the experiments is performed, and calculationsmore » are compared to available experimental data. Comparisons include cladding burst pressure and temperature in separate effects tests, as well as the evolution of fuel rod inner pressure during ballooning and time to cladding burst. Furthermore, BISON three-dimensional simulations of separate effects tests are performed, which demonstrate the capability to reproduce the effect of azimuthal temperature variations in the cladding. The work has been carried out in the frame of the collaboration between Idaho National Laboratory and Halden Reactor Project, and the IAEA Coordinated Research Project FUMAC.« less

Steady state and LOCA analysis of Kartini reactor using RELAP5/SCDAP code: The role of passive system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antariksawan, Anhar R.; Wahyono, Puradwi I.; Taxwim

2018-02-01

Safety is the priority for nuclear installations, including research reactors. On the other hand, many studies have been done to validate the applicability of nuclear power plant based best estimate computer codes to the research reactor. This study aims to assess the applicability of the RELAP5/SCDAP code to Kartini research reactor. The model development, steady state and transient due to LOCA calculations have been conducted by using RELAP5/SCDAP. The calculation results are compared with available measurements data from Kartini research reactor. The results show that the RELAP5/SCDAP model steady state calculation agrees quite well with the available measurement data. While, in the case of LOCA transient simulations, the model could result in reasonable physical phenomena during the transient showing the characteristics and performances of the reactor against the LOCA transient. The role of siphon breaker hole and natural circulation in the reactor tank as passive system was important to keep reactor in safe condition. It concludes that the RELAP/SCDAP could be use as one of the tool to analyse the thermal-hydraulic safety of Kartini reactor. However, further assessment to improve the model is still needed.

Pressure suppression system

DOEpatents

Gluntz, D.M.

1994-10-04

A pressure suppression system includes a containment vessel surrounding a reactor pressure vessel and defining a drywell therein containing a non-condensable gas. An enclosed wetwell pool is disposed inside the containment vessel, and an enclosed gravity driven cooling system (GDCS) pool is disposed above the wetwell pool in the containment vessel. The GDCS pool includes a plenum for receiving through an inlet the non-condensable gas carried with steam from the drywell following a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). A condenser is disposed in the GDCS plenum for condensing the steam channeled therein and to trap the non-condensable gas therein. A method of operation includes draining the GDCS pool following the LOCA and channeling steam released into the drywell following the LOCA into the GDCS plenum for cooling along with the non-condensable gas carried therewith for trapping the gas therein. 3 figs.

Pressure suppression system

DOEpatents

Gluntz, Douglas M.

1994-01-01

A pressure suppression system includes a containment vessel surrounding a reactor pressure vessel and defining a drywell therein containing a non-condensable gas. An enclosed wetwell pool is disposed inside the containment vessel, and an enclosed gravity driven cooling system (GDCS) pool is disposed above the wetwell pool in the containment vessel. The GDCS pool includes a plenum for receiving through an inlet the non-condensable gas carried with steam from the drywell following a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). A condenser is disposed in the GDCS plenum for condensing the steam channeled therein and to trap the non-condensable gas therein. A method of operation includes draining the GDCS pool following the LOCA and channeling steam released into the drywell following the LOCA into the GDCS plenum for cooling along with the non-condensable gas carried therewith for trapping the gas therein.

Rapid depressurization event analysis in BWR/6 using RELAP5 and contain

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mueftueoglu, A.K.; Feltus, M.A.

1995-09-01

Noncondensable gases may become dissolved in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) water level instrumentation during normal operations. Any dissolved noncondensable gases inside these water columns may come out of solution during rapid depressurization events, and displace water from the reference leg piping resulting in a false high level. These water level errors may cause a delay or failure in actuation, or premature shutdown of the Emergency Core Cooling System. (ECCS). If a rapid depressurization causes an erroneously high water level, preventing automatic ECCS actuation, it becomes important to determine if there would be other adequate indications for operator response and othermore » signals for automatic actuation such as high drywell pressure. It is also important to determine the effect of the level signal on ECCS operation after it is being actuated. The objective of this study is to determine the detailed coupled containment/NSSS response during this rapid depressurization events in BWR/6. The selected scenarios involve: (a) inadvertent opening of all ADS valves, (b) design basis (DB) large break loss of coolant accident (LOCA), and (c) main steam line break (MSLB). The transient behaviors are evaluated in terms of: (a) vessel pressure and collapsed water level response, (b) specific transient boundary conditions, (e.g., scram, MSIV closure timing, feedwater flow, and break blowdown rates), (c) ECCS initiation timing, (d) impact of operator actions, (e) whether indications besides low-low water level were available. The results of the analysis had shown that there would be signals to actuate ECCS other than low reactor level, such as high drywell pressure, low vessel pressure, high suppression pool temperature, and that the plant operators would have significant indications to actuate ECCS.« less

APT Blanket Thermal Analyses of Top Horizontal Row 1 Modules

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shadday, M.A.

1999-09-20

The Accelerator Production of Tritium (APT) cavity flood system (CFS) is designed to be the primary safeguard for the integrity of the blanket modules during loss of coolant accidents (LOCAs). For certain large break LOCAs the CFS also provides backup for the residual heat removal systems (RHRs) in cooling the target assemblies. In the unlikely event that the internal flow passages in a blanket module or target assembly dryout, decay heat in the metal structures will be dissipated to the CFS through the module or assembly walls (i.e., rung outer walls). The target assemblies consist of tungsten targets encased inmore » steel conduits, and they can safely sustain high metal temperatures. Under internally dry conditions, the cavity flood fluid will cool the target assemblies with vigorous nucleate boiling on the external surfaces. However, the metal structures in the blanket modules consist of lead cladded in aluminum, and they have a long-term exposure temperature limit currently set to 150 degrees C. Simultaneous LOCAs in both the target and blanket heat removal systems (HRS) could result in dryout of the target ladders, as well as the horizontal blanket modules above the target. The cavity flood coolant would boil on the outside surfaces of the target ladder rungs, and the resultant steam could reduce the effectiveness of convection heat transfer from the blanket modules to the cavity flood coolant. A two-part analysis was conducted to ascertain if the cavity flood system can adequately cool the blanket modules above the targets, even when boiling is occurring on the outer surfaces of the target ladder rungs. The first part of the analysis was to model transient thermal conduction in the front top horizontal row 1 module (i.e. top horizontal modules nearest the incoming beam), while varying parametrically the convection heat transfer coefficient (htc) for the external surfaces exposed to the cavity flood flow. This part of the analysis demonstrated that the module could adequately conduct heat to the outer module surfaces, given reasonable values for the convection heat transfer coefficients. The second part of the analysis consisted of two-phase flow modeling of the natural circulation of the cavity flood fluid past the top modules. Slots in the top shield allow the cavity flood fluid to circulate. The required width for these slots, to prevent steam from backing up and blanketing the outer surfaces of the top modules, was determined.« less

Implementation of non-condensable gases condensation suppression model into the WCOBRA/TRAC-TF2 LOCA safety evaluation code

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liao, J.; Cao, L.; Ohkawa, K.

2012-07-01

The non-condensable gases condensation suppression model is important for a realistic LOCA safety analysis code. A condensation suppression model for direct contact condensation was previously developed by Westinghouse using first principles. The model is believed to be an accurate description of the direct contact condensation process in the presence of non-condensable gases. The Westinghouse condensation suppression model is further revised by applying a more physical model. The revised condensation suppression model is thus implemented into the WCOBRA/TRAC-TF2 LOCA safety evaluation code for both 3-D module (COBRA-TF) and 1-D module (TRAC-PF1). Parametric study using the revised Westinghouse condensation suppression model ismore » conducted. Additionally, the performance of non-condensable gases condensation suppression model is examined in the ACHILLES (ISP-25) separate effects test and LOFT L2-5 (ISP-13) integral effects test. (authors)« less

Pressure suppression containment system

DOEpatents

Gluntz, Douglas M.; Townsend, Harold E.

1994-03-15

A pressure suppression containment system includes a containment vessel surrounding a reactor pressure vessel and defining a drywell therein containing a non-condensable gas. An enclosed wetwell pool is disposed inside the containment vessel, and a gravity driven cooling system (GDCS) pool is disposed above the wetwell pool in the containment vessel. The wetwell pool includes a plenum for receiving the non-condensable gas carried with steam from the drywell following a loss-of coolant-accident (LOCA). The wetwell plenum is vented to a plenum above the GDCS pool following the LOCA for suppressing pressure rise within the containment vessel. A method of operation includes channeling steam released into the drywell following the LOCA into the wetwell pool for cooling along with the non-condensable gas carried therewith. The GDCS pool is then drained by gravity, and the wetwell plenum is vented into the GDCS plenum for channeling the non-condensable gas thereto.

Pressure suppression containment system

DOEpatents

Gluntz, D.M.; Townsend, H.E.

1994-03-15

A pressure suppression containment system includes a containment vessel surrounding a reactor pressure vessel and defining a drywell therein containing a non-condensable gas. An enclosed wetwell pool is disposed inside the containment vessel, and a gravity driven cooling system (GDCS) pool is disposed above the wetwell pool in the containment vessel. The wetwell pool includes a plenum for receiving the non-condensable gas carried with steam from the drywell following a loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA). The wetwell plenum is vented to a plenum above the GDCS pool following the LOCA for suppressing pressure rise within the containment vessel. A method of operation includes channeling steam released into the drywell following the LOCA into the wetwell pool for cooling along with the non-condensable gas carried therewith. The GDCS pool is then drained by gravity, and the wetwell plenum is vented into the GDCS plenum for channeling the non-condensable gas thereto. 6 figures.

The R&D PERFROI Project on Thermal Mechanical and Thermal Hydraulics Behaviors of a Fuel Rod Assembly during a Loss of Coolant Accident

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Repetto, G.; Dominguez, C.; Durville, B.

The safety principle in case of a LOCA is to preserve the short and long term coolability of the core. The associated safety requirements are to ensure the resistance of the fuel rods upon quench and post-quench loads and to maintain a coolable geometry in the core. An R&D program has been launched by IRSN with the support of EDF, to perform both experimental and modeling activities in the frame of the LOCA transient, on technical issues such as: - flow blockage within a fuel rods bundle and its potential impact on coolability, - fuel fragment relocation in the balloonedmore » areas: its potential impact on cladding PCT (Peak Cladding Temperature) and on the maximum oxidation rate, - potential loss of cladding integrity upon quench and post-quench loads. The PERFROI project (2014-2019) focusing on the first above issue, is structured in two axes: 1. axis 1: thermal mechanical behavior of deformation and rupture of cladding taking into account the contact between fuel rods; specific research at LaMCoS laboratory focus on the hydrogen behavior in cladding alloys and its impact on the mechanical behavior of the rod; and, 2. axis 2: thermal hydraulics study of a partially blocked region of the core (ballooned area taking into account the fuel relocation with local over power), during cooling phase by water injection; More detailed activities foreseen in collaboration with LEMTA laboratory will focus on the characterization of two phase flows with heat transfer in deformed structures.« less

Rate Theory Modeling and Simulation of Silicide Fuel at LWR Conditions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miao, Yinbin; Ye, Bei; Hofman, Gerard

As a promising candidate for the accident tolerant fuel (ATF) used in light water reactors (LWRs), the fuel performance of uranium silicide (U 3Si 2) at LWR conditions needs to be well understood. In this report, rate theory model was developed based on existing experimental data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations so as to predict the fission gas behavior in U 3Si 2 at LWR conditions. The fission gas behavior of U 3Si 2 can be divided into three temperature regimes. During steady-state operation, the majority of the fission gas stays in intragranular bubbles, whereas the dominance of intergranularmore » bubbles and fission gas release only occurs beyond 1000 K. The steady-state rate theory model was also used as reference to establish a gaseous swelling correlation of U 3Si 2 for the BISON code. Meanwhile, the overpressurized bubble model was also developed so that the fission gas behavior at LOCA can be simulated. LOCA simulation showed that intragranular bubbles are still dominant after a 70 second LOCA, resulting in a controllable gaseous swelling. The fission gas behavior of U 3Si 2 at LWR conditions is benign according to the rate theory prediction at both steady-state and LOCA conditions, which provides important references to the qualification of U 3Si 2 as a LWR fuel material with excellent fuel performance and enhanced accident tolerance.« less

Lessons Learned from Breaking Through. In Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bragg, Debra D.; Barnett, Elisabeth

2009-01-01

The Breaking Through (BT) initiative promotes an expanded and enhanced role for community colleges in providing access to college for low-skilled adults. BT is uniquely important in its systematic integration of adult education, developmental/remedial education, professional-technical education (PTE), and career planning and preparation in…

LOFT L2-3 blowdown experiment safety analyses D, E, and G; LOCA analyses H, K, K1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Perryman, J.L.; Keeler, C.D.; Saukkoriipi, L.O.

1978-12-01

Three calculations using conservative off-nominal conditions and evaluation model options were made using RELAP4/MOD5 for blowdown-refill and RELAP4/MOD6 for reflood for Loss-of-Fluid Test Experiment L2-3 to support the experiment safety analysis effort. The three analyses are as follows: Analysis D: Loss of commercial power during Experiment L2-3; Analysis E: Hot leg quick-opening blowdown valve (QOBV) does not open during Experiment L2-3; and Analysis G: Cold leg QOBV does not open during Experiment L2-3. In addition, the results of three LOFT loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) analyses using a power of 56.1 MW and a primary coolant system flow rate of 3.6 millionmore » 1bm/hr are presented: Analysis H: Intact loop 200% hot leg break; emergency core cooling (ECC) system B unavailable; Analysis K: Pressurizer relief valve stuck in open position; ECC system B unavailable; and Analysis K1: Same as analysis K, but using a primary coolant system flow rate of 1.92 million 1bm/hr (L2-4 pre-LOCE flow rate). For analysis D, the maximum cladding temperature reached was 1762/sup 0/F, 22 sec into reflood. In analyses E and G, the blowdowns were slower due to one of the QOBVs not functioning. The maximum cladding temperature reached in analysis E was 1700/sup 0/F, 64.7 sec into reflood; for analysis G, it was 1300/sup 0/F at the start of reflood. For analysis H, the maximum cladding temperature reached was 1825/sup 0/F, 0.01 sec into reflood. Analysis K was a very slow blowdown, and the cladding temperatures followed the saturation temperature of the system. The results of analysis K1 was nearly identical to analysis K; system depressurization was not affected by the primary coolant system flow rate.« less

Low- and Moderate-Income Residences Can Help Modernize the U.S. Electric

Science.gov Websites

of the United States, divided by county, is color-coded by the total solar technical potential Chicago region, show the greatest technical potential. The report breaks down the total potential for rooftop solar could contribute up to 42 percent of all rooftop technical potential in the residential

MODELLING OF FUEL BEHAVIOUR DURING LOSS-OF-COOLANT ACCIDENTS USING THE BISON CODE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pastore, G.; Novascone, S. R.; Williamson, R. L.

2015-09-01

This work presents recent developments to extend the BISON code to enable fuel performance analysis during LOCAs. This newly developed capability accounts for the main physical phenomena involved, as well as the interactions among them and with the global fuel rod thermo-mechanical analysis. Specifically, new multiphysics models are incorporated in the code to describe (1) transient fission gas behaviour, (2) rapid steam-cladding oxidation, (3) Zircaloy solid-solid phase transition, (4) hydrogen generation and transport through the cladding, and (5) Zircaloy high-temperature non-linear mechanical behaviour and failure. Basic model characteristics are described, and a demonstration BISON analysis of a LWR fuel rodmore » undergoing a LOCA accident is presented. Also, as a first step of validation, the code with the new capability is applied to the simulation of experiments investigating cladding behaviour under LOCA conditions. The comparison of the results with the available experimental data of cladding failure due to burst is presented.« less

42 CFR 136.23 - Persons to whom contract health services will be provided.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...—during their full-time attendance at programs of vocational, technical, or academic education, including normal school breaks (such as vacations, semester or other scheduled breaks occurring during their... who were eligible for contract health services at the time of the court order shall continue to be...

SPES-2, AP600 intergral system test S01007 2 inch CL to core make-up tank pressure balance line break

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bacchiani, M.; Medich, C.; Rigamonti, M.

1995-09-01

The SPES-2 is a full height, full pressure experimental test facility reproducing the Westinghouse AP600 reactor with a scaling factor of 1/395. The experimental plant, designed and operated by SIET in Piacenza, consists of a full simulation of the AP600 primary core cooling system including all the passive and active safety systems. In 1992, Westinghouse, in cooperation with ENEL (Ente Nazionale per l` Energia Elettrica), ENEA (Enter per le numove Technlogie, l` Energia e l` Ambient), Siet (Societa Informazioni Esperienze Termoidraulich) and ANSALDO developed an experimental program to test the integrated behaviour of the AP600 passive safety systems. The SPES-2more » test matrix, concluded in November 1994, has examined the AP600 passive safety system response for a range of small break LOCAs at different locations on the primary system and on the passive system lines; single steam generator tube ruptures with passive and active safety systems and a main steam line break transient to demonstrate the boration capability of passive safety systems for rapid cooldown. Each of the tests has provided detailed experimental results for verification of the capability of the analysis methods to predict the integrated passive safety system behaviour. Cold and hot shakedown tests have been performed on the facility to check the characteristics of the plant before starting the experimental campaign. The paper first presents a description of the SPES-2 test facility then the main results of S01007 test {open_quotes}2{close_quotes} Cold Leg (CL) to Core Make-up Tank (CMT) pressure balance line break{close_quotes} are reported and compared with predictions performed using RELAP5/mod3/80 obtained by ANSALDO through agreement with U.S.N.R.C. (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission). The SPES-2 nodalization and all the calculations here presented were performed by ANSALDO and sponsored by ENEL as a part of pre-test predictions for SPES-2.« less

Cladding burst behavior of Fe-based alloys under LOCA

DOE PAGES

Terrani, Kurt A.; Dryepondt, Sebastien N.; Pint, Bruce A.; ...

2015-12-17

Burst behavior of austenitic and ferritic Fe-based alloy tubes has been examined under a simulated large break loss of coolant accident. Specifically, type 304 stainless steel (304SS) and oxidation resistant FeCrAl tubes were studied alongside Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 that are considered reference fuel cladding materials. Following the burst test, characterization of the cladding materials was carried out to gain insights regarding the integral burst behavior. Given the widespread availability of a comprehensive set of thermo-mechanical data at elevated temperatures for 304SS, a modeling framework was implemented to simulate the various processes that affect burst behavior in this Fe-based alloy. Themore » most important conclusion is that cladding ballooning due to creep is negligible for Fe-based alloys. Thus, unlike Zr-based alloys, cladding cross-sectional area remains largely unchanged up to the point of burst. Furthermore, for a given rod internal pressure, the temperature onset of burst in Fe-based alloys appears to be simply a function of the alloy's ultimate tensile strength, particularly at high rod internal pressures.« less

SPES-2, an experimental program to support the AP600 development

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tarantini, M.; Medich, C.

1995-09-01

In support of the development of the AP600 reactor, ENEA, ENEL, ANSALDO and Westinghouse have signed a research agreement. In the framework of this agreement a complex Full Height Full Pressure (FHFP) integral system testing program has been planned on SPES-2 facility. The main purpose of this paper is to point out the status of the test program; describe the hot per-operational test performed and the complete test matrix, giving all the necessary references on the work already published. Two identical Small Break LOCA transients, performed with Pressurizer to Core Make-up Tank (PRZ-CMT) balance line (Test S00203) and without PRZ-CMTmore » balance line (Test S00303) are then compared, to show how the SPES-2 facility can contribute in confirming the new AP600 reactor design choices and can give useful indications to designers. Although the detailed analysis of test data has not been completed, some consideration on the analytical tools utilized and on the SPES-2 capability to simulate the reference plant is then drawn.« less

Reliability enhancement of APR + diverse protection system regarding common cause failures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oh, Y. G.; Kim, Y. M.; Yim, H. S.

2012-07-01

The Advanced Power Reactor Plus (APR +) nuclear power plant design has been developed on the basis of the APR1400 (Advanced Power Reactor 1400 MWe) to further enhance safety and economics. For the mitigation of Anticipated Transients Without Scram (ATWS) as well as Common Cause Failures (CCF) within the Plant Protection System (PPS) and the Emergency Safety Feature - Component Control System (ESF-CCS), several design improvement features have been implemented for the Diverse Protection System (DPS) of the APR + plant. As compared to the APR1400 DPS design, the APR + DPS has been designed to provide the Safety Injectionmore » Actuation Signal (SIAS) considering a large break LOCA accident concurrent with the CCF. Additionally several design improvement features, such as channel structure with redundant processing modules, and changes of system communication methods and auto-system test methods, are introduced to enhance the functional reliability of the DPS. Therefore, it is expected that the APR + DPS can provide an enhanced safety and reliability regarding possible CCF in the safety-grade I and C systems as well as the DPS itself. (authors)« less

Experimental study of phase separation in dividing two phase flow

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qian Yong; Yang Zhilin; Xu Jijun

1996-12-31

Experimental study of phase separation of air-water two phase bubbly, slug flow in the horizontal T-junction is carried out. The influences of the inlet mass quality X1, mass extraction rate G3/G1, and fraction of extracted liquid QL3/QL1 on phase separation characteristics are analyzed. For the first time, the authors have found and defined pulsating run effect by the visual experiments, which show that under certain conditions, the down stream flow of the T-junction has strangely affected the phase redistribution of the junction, and firstly point out that the downstream geometric condition is very important to the study of phase separationmore » phenomenon of two-phase flow in a T-junction. This kind of phenomenon has many applications in the field of energy, power, petroleum and chemical industries, such as the loss of coolant accident (LOCA) caused by a small break in a horizontal coolant pipe in nuclear reactor, and the flip-flop effect in the natural gas transportation pipeline system, etc.« less

76 FR 27606 - Technical Corrections To Remove Obsolete References to Non-Automated Carriers From Electronic...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-12

...] Technical Corrections To Remove Obsolete References to Non- Automated Carriers From Electronic Cargo... manifests for vessels transporting bulk and certain break bulk cargo to the United States to make several... transmit cargo declaration information electronically (non-automated carriers). When CBP amended its...

The Internet and Technical Services: A Point Break Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCombs, Gillian M.

1994-01-01

Discusses implications of using the Internet for library technical services. Topics addressed include creative uses of the Internet; three basic applications on the Internet, i.e., electronic mail, remote log-in to another computer, and file transfer; electronic processing of information; electronic access to information; and electronic processing…

IT Labs Proof-of-Concept Project: Technical Data Interoperability (TDI) Pathfinder Via Emerging Standards

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conroy, Mike; Gill, Paul; Ingalls, John; Bengtsson, Kjell

2014-01-01

No known system is in place to allow NASA technical data interoperability throughout the whole life cycle. Life Cycle Cost (LCC) will be higher on many developing programs if action isn't taken soon to join disparate systems efficiently. Disparate technical data also increases safety risks from poorly integrated elements. NASA requires interoperability and industry standards, but breaking legacy ways is a challenge.

Natural cellulose fibers from soybean straw.

PubMed

Reddy, Narendra; Yang, Yiqi

2009-07-01

This paper reports the development of natural cellulose technical fibers from soybean straw with properties similar to the natural cellulose fibers in current use. About 220 million tons of soybean straw available in the world every year could complement the byproducts of other major food crops as inexpensive, abundant and annually renewable sources for natural cellulose fibers. Using the agricultural byproducts as sources for fibers could help to address the concerns on the future price and availability of both the natural and synthetic fibers in current use and also help to add value to the food crops. A simple alkaline extraction was used to obtain technical fibers from soybean straw and the composition, structure and properties of the fibers was studied. Technical fibers obtained from soybean straw have high cellulose content (85%) but low% crystallinity (47%). The technical fibers have breaking tenacity (2.7 g/den) and breaking elongation (3.9%) higher than those of fibers obtained from wheat straw and sorghum stalk and leaves but lower than that of cotton. Overall, the structure and properties of the technical fibers obtained from soybean straw indicates that the fibers could be suitable for use in textile, composite and other industrial applications.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mohr, C.L.; Rausch, W.N.; Hesson, G.M.

The LOCA Simulation Program in the NRU reactor is the first set of experiments to provide data on the behavior of full-length, nuclear-heated PWR fuel bundles during the heatup, reflood, and quench phases of a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). This paper compares the temperature time histories of 4 experimental test cases with 4 computer codes: CE-THERM, FRAP-T5, GT3-FLECHT, and TRUMP-FLECHT. The preliminary comparisons between prediction and experiment show that the state-of-the art fuel codes have large uncertainties and are not necessarily conservative in predicting peak temperatures, turn around times, and bundle quench times.

Diffractive Optics: Design, Fabrication, and Applications, Technical Digest Series, Volume 9, 1992

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

integration of optoelec- lens are presented and discussed. (p. 8) tronic chips with the passive glass optics. (p. 26) 10:00 am-10:30 am Coffee Break 2...optical pickup, Wai-Hon Lee, HOETRON, Inc. This paper discusses the recent pro- 3:30 pm-4:00 pm COFFEE BREAK gress in miniaturization of optical pickup...compared to 0th-order EMT and to 10:00 am-10:30 am COFFEE BREAK a rigorous coupled wave approach. (p. 44) 5:10 pm CABILDO ROOM MD4 Filter properties of

Localized Multi-Model Extremes Metrics for the Fourth National Climate Assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, T. R.; Kunkel, K.; Stevens, L. E.; Easterling, D. R.; Biard, J.; Sun, L.

2017-12-01

We have performed localized analysis of scenario-based datasets for the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4). These datasets include CMIP5-based Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA) downscaled simulations at daily temporal resolution and 1/16th-degree spatial resolution. Over 45 temperature and precipitation extremes metrics have been processed using LOCA data, including threshold, percentile, and degree-days calculations. The localized analysis calculates trends in the temperature and precipitation extremes metrics for relatively small regions such as counties, metropolitan areas, climate zones, administrative areas, or economic zones. For NCA4, we are currently addressing metropolitan areas as defined by U.S. Census Bureau Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Such localized analysis provides essential information for adaptation planning at scales relevant to local planning agencies and businesses. Nearly 30 such regions have been analyzed to date. Each locale is defined by a closed polygon that is used to extract LOCA-based extremes metrics specific to the area. For each metric, single-model data at each LOCA grid location are first averaged over several 30-year historical and future periods. Then, for each metric, the spatial average across the region is calculated using model weights based on both model independence and reproducibility of current climate conditions. The range of single-model results is also captured on the same localized basis, and then combined with the weighted ensemble average for each region and each metric. For example, Boston-area cooling degree days and maximum daily temperature is shown below for RCP8.5 (red) and RCP4.5 (blue) scenarios. We also discuss inter-regional comparison of these metrics, as well as their relevance to risk analysis for adaptation planning.

Ripples and Breaks: Reflecting on Learning Ecologies in Career and Technical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jocson, Korina M.

2016-01-01

In this paper, the author reflects on a year-long ethnography to point out contextual factors situated in career and technical education (CTE) and specifically how a CTE teacher and a university researcher shaped learning opportunities to support students' interests in the arts, technology, and multimedia communications. The discussion arched by a…

Soft A 4→Z 3 symmetry breaking and cobimaximal neutrino mixing

DOE PAGES

Ma, Ernest

2016-03-28

In this study, I propose a model of radiative charged-lepton and neutrino masses with A 4 symmetry. The soft breaking of A 4 to Z 3 lepton triality is accomplished by dimension-three terms. The breaking of Z 3 by dimension-two terms allows cobimaximal neutrino mixing (θ 13 ≠ 0, θ 23 = π/4, δ cp=π/2) to be realized with only very small finite calculable deviations from the residual Z 3 lepton triality. This construction solves a long-standing technical problem inherent in renormalizable A 4 models since their inception.

Summary on the depressurization from supercritical pressure conditions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anderson, M.; Chen, Y.; Ammirable, L.

When a fluid discharges from a high pressure and temperature system, a 'choking' or critical condition occurs, and the flow rate becomes independent of the downstream pressure. During a postulated loss of coolant accident (LOCA) of a water reactor the break flow will be subject to this condition. An accurate estimation of the critical flow rate is important for the evaluation of the reactor safety, because this flow rate controls the loss of coolant inventory and energy from the system, and thus has a significant effect on the accident consequences[1]. In the design of safety systems for a super criticalmore » water reactor (SCWR), postulated LOCA transients are particularly important due to the lower coolant inventory compared to a typical PWR for the same power output. This lower coolant inventory would result in a faster transient response of the SCWR, and hence accurate prediction of the critical discharge is mandatory. Under potential two-phase conditions critical flow is dominated by the vapor content or quality of the vapor, which is closely related with the onset of vaporization and the interfacial interaction between phases [2]. This presents a major challenge for the estimation of the flow rate due to the lack of the knowledge of those processes, especially under the conditions of interest for the SCWR. According to the limited data of supercritical fluids, the critical flows at conditions above the pseudo-critical point seem to be fairly stable and consistent with the subcritical homogeneous equilibrium model (HEM) model predictions, while having a lower flow rate than those in the two-phase region. Thus the major difficulty in the prediction of the depressurization flow rates remains in the region where two phases co-exist at the top of the vapor dome. In this region, the flow rate is strongly affected by the nozzle geometry and tends to be unstable. Various models for this region have been developed with different assumptions, e.g. the HEM and Moody model [3], and the Henry-Fauske non-equilibrium model [4], and are currently used in subcritical pressure reactor safety design[5]. It appears that some of these models could be reasonably extended to above the thermodynamic pseudo-critical point. The more stable and lower discharge flow rates observed in conditions above the pseudo-critical point suggests that even though SCWR's have a smaller coolant inventory, the safety implications of a LOCA and the subsequent depressurization may not be as severe as expected, this however needs to be confirmed by a rigorous evaluation of the particular event and further evaluation of the critical flow rate. This paper will summarize activities on critical flow models, experimental data and numerical modeling during blowdown from supercritical pressure conditions under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on 'Heat Transfer Behaviour and Thermo-hydraulics Code testing for SCWRs'. (authors)« less

Energy Systems Integration News | Energy Systems Integration Facility |

Science.gov Websites

facility. "We try to scope out some technical work that is based on the fundamental problem that technical or market problem that they're trying to solve, and then we'll scope out work with them based on that visit. "The second step is to begin to break that scope of work into what I call three

A Historical Introduction to Library Education: Problems and Progress to 1951.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Carl M.

The growth of libraries and of technical education in the middle of the 19th century led to the organization of Melvil Dewey's School of Library Economy in 1887. The School offered a technical course to replace the apprenticeships then in favor. Its curriculum persisted as the model for library education through 1920. A break with the early form…

Technical match characteristics and influence of body anthropometry on playing performance in male elite team handball.

PubMed

Michalsik, Lars Bojsen; Madsen, Klavs; Aagaard, Per

2015-02-01

Modern team handball match-play imposes substantial physical and technical demands on elite players. However, only limited knowledge seems to exist about the specific working requirements in elite team handball. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the physical demands imposed on male elite team handball players in relation to playing position and body anthropometry. Based on continuous video recording of individual players during elite team handball match-play (62 tournament games, ∼4 players per game), computerized technical match analysis was performed in male elite team handball players along with anthropometric measurements over a 6 season time span. Technical match activities were distributed in 6 major types of playing actions (shots, breakthroughs, fast breaks, tackles, technical errors, and defense errors) and further divided into various subcategories (e.g., hard or light tackles, type of shot, claspings, screenings, and blockings). Players showed 36.9 ± 13.1 (group mean ± SD) high-intense technical playing actions per match with a mean total effective playing time of 53.85 ± 5.87 minutes. In offense, each player performed 6.0 ± 5.2 fast breaks, received 34.5 ± 21.3 tackles in total, and performed in defense 3.7 ± 3.5 blockings, 3.9 ± 3.0 claspings, and 5.8 ± 3.6 hard tackles. Wing players (84.5 ± 5.8 kg, 184.9 ± 5.7 cm) were less heavy and smaller (p < 0.001) than backcourt players (94.7 ± 7.1 kg, 191.9 ± 5.4 cm) and pivots (99.4 ± 6.2 kg, 194.8 ± 3.6 cm). In conclusion, modern male elite team handball match-play is characterized by a high number of short-term, high-intense intermittent technical playing actions. Indications of technical fatigue were observed. Physical demands differed between playing positions with wing players performing more fast breaks and less physical confrontations with opponent players than backcourt players and pivots. Body anthropometry seemed to have an important influence on playing performance because it is highly related to playing positions. The present observations suggest that male elite team handball players should implement more position-specific training regimens, while also focusing on anaerobic training and strength training.

ERGOFIT MICROMIX AQUA

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Technical product bulletin: this bioremediation agent (microbiological culture, enzyme additive, nutrient additive) for oil spill cleanups generally takes 5 to 50 minutes to penetrate molecular walls of hydrocarbons, and breaks down adhesive properties.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gerard, R.; Malekian, C.; Meessen, O.

The Leak Before Break (LBB) concept allows to eliminate from the design basis the double-ended guillotine break of the primary loop piping, provided it can be demonstrated by a fracture mechanics analysis that a through-wall flaw, of a size giving rise to a leakage still well detectable by the plant leak detection systems, remains stable even under accident conditions (including the Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE)). This concept was successfully applied to the primary loop piping of several Belgian Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) units, operated by the Utility Electrabel. One of the main benefits is to permit justification of supports inmore » the primary loop and justification of the integrity of the reactor pressure vessel and internals in case of a Loss Of Coolant Accident (LOCA) in stretch-out conditions. For two of the Belgian PWR units, the LBB approach also made it possible to reduce the number of large hydraulic snubbers installed on the primary coolant pumps. Last but not least, the LBB concept also facilitates the steam generator replacement operations, by eliminating the need for some pipe whip restraints located close to the steam generator. In addition to the U.S. regulatory requirements, the Belgian safety authorities impose additional requirements which are described in details in a separate paper. An novel aspect of the studies performed in Belgium is the way in which residual loads in the primary loop are taken into account. Such loads may result from displacements imposed to close the primary loop in a steam generator replacement operation, especially when it is performed using the {open_quote}two cuts{close_quotes} technique. The influence of such residual loads on the LBB margins is discussed in details and typical results are presented.« less

CN-110

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Technical product bulletin: this surface washing agent for oil spill cleanups breaks the physical bond between the oil and the object to be cleaned (e.g., shoreline). Also use for herding or corralling a slick.

Aging, Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA), and high potential testing of damaged cables

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vigil, R.A.; Jacobus, M.J.

1994-04-01

Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of high potential testing of cables and to assess the survivability of aged and damaged cables under Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) conditions. High potential testing at 240 Vdc/mil on undamaged cables suggested that no damage was incurred on the selected virgin cables. During aging and LOCA testing, Okonite ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) cables with a bonded jacket experienced unexpected failures. The failures appear to be primarily related to the level of thermal aging and the presence of a bonded jacket that ages more rapidly than the insulation. For Brand Rex crosslinked polyolefin (XLPO) cables,more » the results suggest that 7 mils of insulation remaining should give the cables a high probability of surviving accident exposure following aging. The voltage necessary to detect when 7 mils of insulation remain on unaged Brand Rex cables is approximately 35 kVdc. This voltage level would almost certainly be unacceptable to a utility for use as a damage assessment tool. However, additional tests indicated that a 35 kvdc voltage application would not damage virgin Brand Rex cables when tested in water. Although two damaged Rockbestos silicone rubber cables also failed during the accident test, no correlation between failures and level of damage was apparent.« less

Technical Elements of Transportation. Grade 11-12. Course #8176 (Semester). Technology Education Course Guide. Industrial Arts/Technology Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina State Dept. of Public Instruction, Raleigh. Div. of Vocational Education.

This guide is intended for use in teaching a course in the history of the development of transportation systems and the individual elements in such systems. The course is designed to break transportation systems down into their individual components so as to make it possible to study system types, media, technical elements, and environmental…

A Study of the Jettisoning of JP-4 Fuel in the Atmosphere

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-11-01

t e r m i n e d by m e a s u r i n g the s tagna t ion p r e s s u r e with a pitot probe , shown in Fig. 21, with the s p h e r i c a l t...ip. The rod loca ted to the r igh t of the pitot probe was loca ted in the s a m e photographic plane as the suspended J P - 4 drop- le t...of Atomiza t ion in C a r b u r e t o r s . " NACA TM 518, 1929. 13. Lapple , C. E . , Henry , J . P . , J r . , and Blake, D. E. " A t o

Overview of Fuel Rod Simulator Usage at ORNL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ott, Larry J.; McCulloch, Reg

2004-02-01

During the 1970s and early 1980s, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) operated large out-of-reactor experimental facilities to resolve thermal-hydraulic safety issues in nuclear reactors. The fundamental research ranged from material mechanical behavior of fuel cladding during the depressurization phase of a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) to basic heat transfer research in gas- or sodium-cooled cores. The largest facility simulated the initial phase (less than 1 min. of transient time) of a LOCA in a commercial pressurized-water reactor. The nonnuclear reactor cores of these facilities were mimicked via advanced, highly instrumented electric fuel rod simulators locally manufactured at ORNL. This paper provides an overview of these experimental facilities with an emphasis on the fuel rod simulators.

ZYME-FLOW

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Technical product bulletin: this miscellaneous oil spill control agent used in cleanups makes heavy crudes more pumpable, and breaks adhesion between oils and soil, rock, or sand. Works best on soil/sand placed into a device that can mechanically agitate.

Interaction of Flowing Plasma with Collecting Objects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hutchinson, Ian; Haakonsen, Christian Brent; Zhou, Chuteng

Grant DE-SC0010491 has supported ground-breaking research into the wakes and interaction of flowing plasma with collecting objects. This fi nal report outlines the technical achievements and statistics concerning products, participants, and impact.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roos, E.; Maier, V.; Nagel, G.

The break preclusion concept is based on {open_quotes}KTA rules{close_quotes}, {open_quotes}RSK guidelines{close_quotes} and {open_quotes}Rahmenspeziflkation Basissicherheit{close_quotes}. These fundamental rules containing for example requirements on material, design, calculation, manufacturing and testing procedures are explained and the technical realisation is shown by means of examples. The proof of the quality of these piping systems can be executed by means of fracture mechanics calculations by showing that in every case the leakage monitoring system already detect cracks which are clearly smaller than the critical crack. Thus the leak before break behavior and the break preclusion concept is implicitly affirmed. In order to further diminish conservativitiesmore » in the fracture mechanics procedures, specific research projects are executed which are explained in this contribution.« less

Systems Engineering Technical Leadership Development Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

leading others in creative problem solving, complexity, and why projects fail . These topics were additionally supported by case studies designed to...Your Core Values Dominick Wed 12:30-1:30 Lunch Wed 1:30-2:45 Case Study: Why Projects Fail Pennotti Wed 2:45-3:00 Break Wed 3:00-4:30 Project...Case Study: When Good Wasn’t Good Enough 11. Technical Value-5: Group Project: AR2D2 RFP 12. Customer Expectation-1: Lecture: Why Systems Fail

National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bio-Products Final Technical Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Olivares, Jose A.; Baxter, Ivan; Brown, Judith

2014-09-30

The main objective of NAABB was to combine science, technology, and engineering expertise from across the nation to break down critical technical barriers to commercialization of algae-based biofuels. The approach was to address technology development across the entire value chain of algal biofuels production, from selection of strains to cultivation, harvesting, extraction, fuel conversion, and agricultural coproduct production. Sustainable practices and financial feasibility assessments ununderscored the approach and drove the technology development.

Evaluation of Candidate Materials for Fines Filter Media in the C2 Canister

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-05-01

Philadelphia PA 19103. (5) Owens - Corning Technical Center, "Breaking Strength", Test Report 48708, October 1, 1990. (6) ASTM F778-88, "Gas Flow...strength per ASTM D1682-64. Appendix A 39 OWENS - CORNING TESTING SERVICES TECHNICAL CENTER, 2790 Columbus Rd. OWENS - CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION Granville... Owens - Corning Testing Services makes no warranty, express or implied, whether of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, with respect to

Technical activity profile and influence of body anthropometry on playing performance in female elite team handball.

PubMed

Michalsik, Lars B; Aagaard, Per; Madsen, Klavs

2015-04-01

To determine the physical demands placed on female elite team handball (TH) players in relation to playing position and body anthropometry, female elite TH primarily field players were monitored during match-play using video recording and subsequent computerized technical match analysis during 5 regular tournament match seasons. Technical match activities were distributed in 6 major types of playing actions (shots, breakthroughs, fast breaks, technical errors, defensive errors, and tackles) and further divided into various subcategories (e.g., type of shot, hard or light tackles, claspings, screenings, and blockings). Furthermore, anthropometric measurements were performed. Each player had 28.3 ± 11.0 (group means ± SD) high-intense playing actions per match with a total effective playing time of 50.70 ± 5.83 minutes. On average, each player made 2.8 ± 2.6 fast breaks, gave 7.9 ± 14.4 screenings, received 14.6 ± 9.2 tackles in total, and performed 7.7 ± 3.7 shots while in offense, along with 3.5 ± 3.8 blockings, 1.9 ± 2.7 claspings, and 6.2 ± 3.8 hard tackles in defense. Mean body height, body mass, and age in the Danish Premier Female Team Handball League were 175.4 ± 6.1 cm, 69.5 ± 6.5 kg, and 25.4 ± 3.7 years, respectively. Wing players were lighter (63.5 ± 4.8 kg, p < 0.001) and smaller (169.3 ± 4.9 cm, p < 0.001) than backcourt players (BP) (70.6 ± 5.3 kg, 177.0 ± 5.4 cm) and pivots (PV) (72.5 ± 4.9 kg, 177.7 ± 4.9 cm). In conclusion, the present match observations revealed that female elite TH players during competitive games intermittently perform a high number of short-term, high-intense technical playing actions making modern female elite TH a physically demanding team sport. No sign of technical fatigue were observed, since the amount of intense technical playing actions remained unchanged in the second half. Marked positional differences in the physical demands were demonstrated, with wing players performing more fast breaks and less physical confrontations than BP and PV. Body anthropometry differed substantially between different playing positions. Consequently, this should lead to an increase in physical training in modern female elite TH directed at specific positions and individual physical capacity.

A guide to aviation education resources

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1993-01-01

The National Coalition for Aviation Education represents industry and labor, united to promote : aviation education activities and resources; increase public understanding of the importance of aviation; and support educational initiatives at the loca...

Influence of rock salt impurities on limestone aggregate durability : technical summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-08-01

Non-durable coarse aggregate in concrete pavement can break down under : repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Application of rock salt may increase the severity of : exposure conditions because of trace compounds, such as calcium sulfate, in rock : salt. Con...

Creative revision - From rough draft to published paper

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buehler, M. F.

1976-01-01

The process of revising a technical or scientific paper can be performed more efficiently by the people involved (author, co-author, supervisor, editor) when the revision is controlled by breaking it into a series of steps. The revision process recommended here is based on the levels-of-edit concept that resulted from a study of the technical editorial function at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology. Types of revision discussed are Substantive, Policy, Language, Mechanical Style, Format, Integrity, and Copy Clarification.

Partnership strategies for safety roadside rest areas.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

This project studied the many factors influencing the potential for public private partnerships for Safety : Roadside Rest Areas. It found that Federal and California State laws and regulations represent important : barriers to certain types and loca...

New State of Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ford, William J.

2009-01-01

This paper presents how minorities break color barriers in top administrative positions at Pennsylvania institutions. Pennsylvania, the state with the sixth-largest population in the country with more than 12 million people, reportedly has more than 450 public and private colleges, universities and career and technical training schools.…

Breaking Barriers: Women in Nontraditional Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodman, Joseph J.; Fisher, Paula L.

This paper documents the efforts of Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute's (TVI) Trades and Service Occupations Department to recruit and support women in nontraditional occupations. Nontraditional careers are defined as those occupations in which women comprise less than 25 percent of the population. While women are entering professional…

A framework for collaboration in public transit systems

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-05-01

The 494 transportation corridor stretches eight miles and connects residential suburbs with major commercial areas, including the Mall of America and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The corridor includes l-494 as well as parallel loca...

Passive containment cooling system

DOEpatents

Billig, P.F.; Cooke, F.E.; Fitch, J.R.

1994-01-25

A passive containment cooling system includes a containment vessel surrounding a reactor pressure vessel and defining a drywell therein containing a non-condensable gas. An enclosed wetwell pool is disposed inside the containment vessel, and a gravity driven cooling system (GDCS) pool is disposed above the wetwell pool in the containment vessel and is vented to the drywell. An isolation pool is disposed above the GDCS pool and includes an isolation condenser therein. The condenser has an inlet line disposed in flow communication with the drywell for receiving the non-condensable gas along with any steam released therein following a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). The condenser also has an outlet line disposed in flow communication with the drywell for returning to the drywell both liquid condensate produced upon cooling of the steam and the non-condensable gas for reducing pressure within the containment vessel following the LOCA. 1 figure.

Passive containment cooling system

DOEpatents

Billig, Paul F.; Cooke, Franklin E.; Fitch, James R.

1994-01-01

A passive containment cooling system includes a containment vessel surrounding a reactor pressure vessel and defining a drywell therein containing a non-condensable gas. An enclosed wetwell pool is disposed inside the containment vessel, and a gravity driven cooling system (GDCS) pool is disposed above the wetwell pool in the containment vessel and is vented to the drywell. An isolation pool is disposed above the GDCS pool and includes an isolation condenser therein. The condenser has an inlet line disposed in flow communication with the drywell for receiving the non-condensable gas along with any steam released therein following a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). The condenser also has an outlet line disposed in flow communication with the drywell for returning to the drywell both liquid condensate produced upon cooling of the steam and the non-condensable gas for reducing pressure within the containment vessel following the LOCA.

Influence of chemical composition of zirconium alloy E110 on embrittlement under LOCA conditions - Part 1: Oxidation kinetics and macrocharacteristics of structure and fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikulin, S. A.; Rozhnov, A. B.; Belov, V. A.; Li, E. V.; Glazkina, V. S.

2011-11-01

Exploratory investigations of the influence of alloying and impurity content in the E110 alloy cladding tubes on the behavior under conditions of Loss of Coolant Accidents (LOCA) has been performed. Three alloys of E110 type have been tested: E110 alloy of nominal composition Zr-1%Nb (E110), E110 alloy of modified composition Zr-1%Nb-0.12%Fe-0.13%O (E110M), E110 alloy of nominal composition Zr-1%Nb with reduced impurity content (E110G). Alloys E110 and E110M were manufactured on the electrolytic basis and alloy E110G was manufactured on the basis of zirconium sponge. The high temperature oxidation tests in steam ( T = 1100 °C, 18% of equivalent cladding reacted (ECR)) have been conducted, kinetics of oxidation was investigated. Quantitative research of structure and fracture macrocharacteristics was performed by means of optical and electron microscopy. The results received were compared with the residual ductility of specimens. The results of the investigation showed the existence of "breakaway oxidation" kinetics and white spalling oxide in E110 and E110M alloys while the specimen oxidation kinetics in E110G alloy was characterized by a parabolic law and specimens had a dense black oxide. Oxygen and iron alloying in the E110 alloy positively changed the macrocharacteristics of structure and fracture. However, in general, it did not improve the resistance to embrittlement in LOCA conditions apparently because of a strong impurity influence caused by electrolytic process of zirconium production.

Sensitivity analysis of FeCrAl cladding and U3Si2 fuel under accident conditions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gamble, Kyle Allan Lawrence; Hales, Jason Dean

2016-08-01

The purpose of this milestone report is to highlight the results of sensitivity analyses performed on two accident tol- erant fuel concepts: U3Si2 fuel and FeCrAl cladding. The BISON fuel performance code under development at Idaho National Laboratory was coupled to Sandia National Laboratories’ DAKOTA software to perform the sensitivity analyses. Both Loss of Coolant (LOCA) and Station blackout (SBO) scenarios were analyzed using main effects studies. The results indicate that for FeCrAl cladding the input parameters with greatest influence on the output metrics of interest (fuel centerline temperature and cladding hoop strain) during the LOCA were the isotropic swellingmore » and fuel enrichment. For U3Si2 the important inputs were found to be the intergranular diffusion coefficient, specific heat, and fuel thermal conductivity. For the SBO scenario, Young’s modulus was found to be influential in FeCrAl in addition to the isotropic swelling and fuel enrichment. Contrarily to the LOCA case, the specific heat of U3Si2 was found to have no effect during the SBO. The intergranular diffusion coefficient and fuel thermal conductivity were still found to be of importance. The results of the sensitivity analyses have identified areas where further research is required including fission gas behavior in U3Si2 and irradiation swelling in FeCrAl. Moreover, the results highlight the need to perform the sensitivity analyses on full length fuel rods for SBO scenarios.« less

Advancing Commercialization of Algal Biofuel through Increased Biomass Productivity and Technical Integration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anton, David

The proposed project built on the foundation of over several years years of intensive and ground-breaking R&D work at Cellana's Kona Demonstration Facility (KDF). Phycological and engineering solutions were provided to tackle key cultivation issues and technical barriers limiting algal biomass productivity identified through work conducted outdoors at industrial (1 acre) scale. The objectives of this project were to significantly improve algal biomass productivity and reduce operational cost in a seawater-based system, using results obtained from two top-performing algal strains as the baseline while technically advancing and more importantly, integrating the various unit operations involved in algal biomass production, processing,more » and refining.« less

Traffic control at stop sign approaches.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-04-01

The objectives of this report were to: a) determine the number of crashes in Kentucky involving a driver disregarding a stop sign and the locations where these occur, b) determine the characteristics of these crashes, c) investigate loca tions with a...

Innovative tools and techniques in identifying highway safety improvement projects : project summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-01-01

Researchers completed the following activities: - Reviewed the literature, state HSIP processes and practices, and HSIP tools used by various agencies. - Evaluated the applicability of safety assessment methods and tools used by other states and loca...

VHF-FM Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-10-01

This report describes the development and testing of an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) which operates on Channels 15 and 16 of the Maritime Mobile VHF Band. It provides functions necessary to ensure that distress alerting and loca...

78 FR 74119 - Department of Defense Task Force on the Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-10

... Project Technical Training Academy Briefing 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Interagency Program Office (IPO) Briefing 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Break for Lunch 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Job Training, Employment Skills Training...

The role of the uncertainty in code development

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barre, F.

1997-07-01

From a general point of view, all the results of a calculation should be given with their uncertainty. It is of most importance in nuclear safety where sizing of the safety systems, therefore protection of the population and the environment essentially depends on the calculation results. Until these last years, the safety analysis was performed with conservative tools. Two types of critics can be made. Firstly, conservative margins can be too large and it may be possible to reduce the cost of the plant or its operation with a best estimate approach. Secondly, some of the conservative hypotheses may notmore » really conservative in the full range of physical events which can occur during an accident. Simpson gives an interesting example: in some cases, the majoration of the residual power during a small break LOCA can lead to an overprediction of the swell level and thus of an overprediction of the core cooling, which is opposite to a conservative prediction. A last question is: does the accumulation of conservative hypotheses for a problem always give a conservative result? The two phase flow physics, mainly dealing with situation of mechanical and thermal non-equilibrium, is too much complicated to answer these questions with a simple engineer judgement. The objective of this paper is to make a review of the quantification of the uncertainties which can be made during code development and validation.« less

Vehicle kinematics in turns and the role of cornering lamps in driver vision.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-11-01

"SAE Recommended Practice J852 and ECE Regulations 119 and 48 for cornering lamps : were compared. Photometric points described in each specification were then compared : to naturalistic low-speed turn trajectories produced by 87 drivers. Future loca...

Church ladies, good girls, and locas: stigma and the intersection of gender, ethnicity, mental illness, and sexuality in relation to HIV risk.

PubMed

Collins, Pamela Y; von Unger, Hella; Armbrister, Adria

2008-08-01

Inner city women with severe mental illness may carry multiple stigmatized statuses. In some contexts these include having a mental illness, being a member of an ethnic minority group, being an immigrant, being poor, and being a woman who does not live up to gendered expectations. These potentially stigmatizing identities influence both the way women's sexuality is viewed and their risk for HIV infection. This qualitative study applies the concept of intersectionality to facilitate understanding of how these multiple identities intersect to influence women's sexuality and HIV risk. We report the firsthand accounts of 24 Latina women living with severe mental illness in New York City. In examining the interlocking domains of these women's sexual lives, we find that the women seek identities that define them in opposition to the stigmatizing label of "loca" (Spanish for crazy) and bestow respect and dignity. These identities have unfolded through the additional themes of "good girls" and "church ladies". Therefore, in spite of their association with the "loca", the women also identify with faith and religion ("church ladies") and uphold more traditional gender norms ("good girls") that are often undermined by the realities of life with a severe mental illness and the stigma attached to it. However, the participants fall short of their gender ideals and engage in sexual relationships that they experience as disempowering and unsatisfying. The effects of their multiple identities as poor Latina women living with severe mental illness in an urban ethnic minority community are not always additive, but the interlocking effects can facilitate increased HIV risks. Interventions should acknowledge women's multiple layers of vulnerability, both individual and structural, and stress women's empowerment in and beyond the sexual realm.

Effect of excess dietary salt on calcium metabolism and bone mineral in a spaceflight rat model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Navidi, Meena; Wolinsky, Ira; Fung, Paul; Arnaud, Sara B.

1995-01-01

High levels of salt promote urinary calcium (UCa) loss and have the potential to cause bone mineral deficits if intestinal Ca absorption does not compensate for these losses. To determine the effect of excess dietary salt on the osteopenia that follows skeletal unloading, we used a spaceflight model that unloads the hindlimbs of 200-g rats by tail suspension (S). Rats were studied for 2 wk on diets containing high salt (4 and 8%) and normal calcium (0.45%) and for 4 wk on diets containing 8% salt (HiNa) and 0.2% Ca (LoCa). Final body weights were 9-11% lower in S than in control rats (C) in both experiments, reflecting lower growth rates in S than in C during pair feeding. UCa represented 12% of dietary Ca on HiNA diets and was twofold higher in S than in C transiently during unloading. Net intestinal Ca absorption was consistently 11-18% lower in S than in C. Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was unaffected by either LoCa or HiNa diets in S but was increased by LoCa and HiNa diets in C. Despite depressed intestinal Ca absoption in S and a sluggish response of the Ca endocrine system to HiNa diets, UCa loss did not appear to affect the osteopenia induced by unloading. Although any deficit in bone mineral content from HiNa diets may have been too small to detect or the duration of the study too short to manifest, there were clear differences in Ca metabolism from control levels in the response of the spaceflight model to HiNa diets, indicated by depression of intestinal Ca absorption and its regulatory hormone.

Identification of a Smartphone User via Keystroke Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-01

Participation for the study was solicited via email to students and faculty of the Computer Science Department and Cyber Academic Group at the Naval...taken a monumental effort, but some of our team members are on the verge of burnout . I believe a short break would work wonders for our technical team

Recommended Feeding and Dietary Practices To Improve Infant and Maternal Nutrition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC.

The LINKAGES Project is intended to improve breastfeeding and related complementary feeding and maternal dietary practices. The project, in consultation with technical experts and program managers, identified a set of recommended feeding and dietary practices intended to break the cycle of poor health and nutrition that passes from generation to…

On the Application of Corpus of Contemporary American English in Vocabulary Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yusu, Xu

2014-01-01

The development of corpus linguistics has laid theoretical foundation and provided technical support for breaking the bottleneck in traditional vocabulary instruction in China. Corpora allow access to authentic data and show frequency patterns of words and grammar construction. Such patterns can be used to improve language materials or to directly…

Food for Thought. The Changing Face of CTE

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mischel, Susan

2005-01-01

As a former career and technical education teacher, this author was often faced with the issue of students segregating themselves by culture. This article describes how she managed to break down cultural barriers and prejudice through teamwork, cooking, and class goals set with high expectations. The course she offered included student "ownership"…

Cost Efficiency in the University: A Departmental Evaluation Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gimenez, Victor M.; Martinez, Jose Luis

2006-01-01

This article presents a model for the analysis of cost efficiency within the framework of data envelopment analysis models. It calculates the cost excess, separating a unit of production from its optimal or frontier levels, and, at the same time, breaks these excesses down into three explanatory factors: (a) technical inefficiency, which depends…

A Framework for Mapping User-Designed Forms to Relational Databases

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khare, Ritu

2011-01-01

In the quest for database usability, several applications enable users to design custom forms using a graphical interface, and forward engineer the forms into new databases. The path-breaking aspect of such applications is that users are completely shielded from the technicalities of database creation. Despite this innovation, the process of…

Oxidation of 304 stainless steel in high-temperature steam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishida, Toshihisa; Harayama, Yasuo; Yaguchi, Sinnosuke

1986-08-01

An experiment on oxidation of 304 stainless steel was performed in steam between 900°C and 1350°C, using the spare cladding of the reactor of the nuclear-powered ship Mutsu. The temperature range was appropriate for a postulated loss of coolant accident (LOCA) analysis of a LWR. The oxidation kinetics were found to obey the parabolic law during the first period of 8 min. After the first period, the parabolic reaction rate constant decreased in the case of heating temperatures between 1100°C and 1250°C. At 1250°C, especially, a marked decrease was observed in the oxide scale-forming kinetics when the surface treated initially by mechanical polishing and given a residual stress. This enhanced oxidation resistance was attributed to the presence of a chromium-enriched layer which was detected by use of an X-ray microanalyzer. The oxidation kinetics equation obtained for the first 8 min is applicable to the model calculation of a hypothetical LOCA in a LWR, employing 304 stainless steel cladding.

Hot Cell Installation and Demonstration of the Severe Accident Test Station

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Linton, Kory D.; Burns, Zachary M.; Terrani, Kurt A.

A Severe Accident Test Station (SATS) capable of examining the oxidation kinetics and accident response of irradiated fuel and cladding materials for design basis accident (DBA) and beyond design basis accident (BDBA) scenarios has been successfully installed and demonstrated in the Irradiated Fuels Examination Laboratory (IFEL), a hot cell facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The two test station modules provide various temperature profiles, steam, and the thermal shock conditions necessary for integral loss of coolant accident (LOCA) testing, defueled oxidation quench testing and high temperature BDBA testing. The installation of the SATS system restores the domestic capability to examinemore » postulated and extended LOCA conditions on spent fuel and cladding and provides a platform for evaluation of advanced fuel and accident tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding concepts. This document reports on the successful in-cell demonstration testing of unirradiated Zircaloy-4. It also contains descriptions of the integral test facility capabilities, installation activities, and out-of-cell benchmark testing to calibrate and optimize the system.« less

Joy Development Properties, LLC, Pleasant Valley, Iowa and Summit Concrete, Inc., LeClaire, Iowa - Clean Water Act Public Notice

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The EPA is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against Joy Development Properties, LLC and Summit Concrete, Inc., for alleged violations at the companies’ residential construction site known as the Schutter Farms Addition loca

The art in getting flocks and herds to flerds

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Flerds (small ruminants that consistently stay near cattle under free-ranging conditions) offer four distinct advantages over stocking simply flocks and herds to carry out mixed species stocking. One of the main advantages flerds offer is added protection from canine predation, reduced time in loca...

BESAFE II: Accident safety analysis code for MFE reactor designs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sevigny, Lawrence Michael

The viability of controlled thermonuclear fusion as an alternative energy source hinges on its desirability from an economic and an environmental and safety standpoint. It is the latter which is the focus of this thesis. For magnetic fusion energy (MFE) devices, the safety concerns equate to a design's behavior during a worst-case accident scenario which is the loss of coolant accident (LOCA). In this dissertation, we examine the behavior of MFE devices during a LOCA and how this behavior relates to the safety characteristics of the machine; in particular the acute, whole-body, early dose. In doing so, we have produced an accident safety code, BESAFE II, now available to the fusion reactor design community. The Appendix constitutes the User's Manual for BESAFE II. The theory behind early dose calculations including the mobilization of activation products is presented in Chapter 2. Since mobilization of activation products is a strong function of temperature, it becomes necessary to calculate the thermal response of a design during a LOCA in order to determine the fraction of the activation products which are mobilized and thus become the source for the dose. The code BESAFE II is designed to determine the temperature history of each region of a design and determine the resulting mobilization of activation products at each point in time during the LOCA. The BESAFE II methodology is discussed in Chapter 4, followed by demonstrations of its use for two reference design cases: a PCA-Li tokamak and a SiC-He tokamak. Of these two cases, it is shown that the SiC-He tokamak is a better design from an accident safety standpoint than the PCA-Li tokamak. It is also found that doses derived from temperature-dependent mobilization data are different than those predicted using set mobilization categories such as those that involve Piet fractions. This demonstrates the need for more experimental data on fusion materials. The possibility for future improvements and modifications to BESAFE II is discussed in Chapter 6, for example, by adding additional environmental indices such as a waste disposal index. The biggest improvement to BESAFE II would be an increase in the database of activation product mobilization for a larger spectrum of fusion reactor materials. The ultimate goal we have is for BESAFE II to become part of a systems design program which would include economic factors and allow both safety and the cost of electricity to influence design.

False Memories for Shape Activate the Lateral Occipital Complex

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karanian, Jessica M.; Slotnick, Scott D.

2017-01-01

Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence has shown that false memories arise from higher-level conscious processing regions rather than lower-level sensory processing regions. In the present study, we assessed whether the lateral occipital complex (LOC)--a lower-level conscious shape processing region--was associated with false…

AROMATASE ACTIVITY IN THE OVARY OF MOSQUITOFISH GAMBUSIA HOLBROOKI, COLLECTED FROM THE FENHOLLOWAY AND ECONFINA RIVERS, FLORIDA (

EPA Science Inventory

Scientists are increasingly aware of the adverse effects of environmental contaminants, including their ability to alter the normal development and reproduction of wildlife species by modifying the endocrine system. Female mosquitofish living downstream of a paper mill plant loca...

Imaging Near-Earth Electron Densities Using Thomson Scattering

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-15

geocentric solar magnetospheric (GSM) coordinates1. TECs were initially computed from a viewing loca- tion at the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point2 for both...further find that an elliptical Earth orbit (apogee ~30 RE) is a suitable lower- cost option for a demonstration mission. 5. SIMULATED OBSERVATIONS We

Breaking Ground: Analysis of the Assessment System and Impact of Mexico's Teacher Incentive Program "Carrera Magisterial." Technical Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santibanez, Lucrecia; Martinez, Jose Felipe; Datar, Ashlesha; McEwan, Patrick J.; Setodji, Claude Messan; Basurto-Davila, Ricardo

2007-01-01

Mexico's Carrera Magisterial (CM) is one of the pioneer teacher incentive programs in the world. It was instituted in 1992 and designed jointly by the federal education authorities, state authorities, and the teachers' union as a horizontal promotion system that rewards teachers with salary bonuses on the basis of their performance. Teacher…

Breaking Ground: Analysis of the Assessment System and Impact of Mexico's Teacher Incentive Program "Carrera Magisterial." Technical Report. Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santibariz, Lucrecia; Martinez, Jose Felipe; Datar, Ashlesha; McEwan, Patrick J.; Setodji, Claude Messan; Basurto-Davilao, Ricardo

2007-01-01

Mexico's Carrera Magisterial was instituted in 1992 and designed jointly by the federal education authorities, state authorities, and the teachers' union as a horizontal promotion system that rewards teachers with salary bonuses on the basis of their performance. Teacher performance is evaluated through a series of assessments, including teacher…

Establishment and assessment of code scaling capability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Jaehyok

In this thesis, a method for using RELAP5/MOD3.3 (Patch03) code models is described to establish and assess the code scaling capability and to corroborate the scaling methodology that has been used in the design of the Purdue University Multi-Dimensional Integral Test Assembly for ESBWR applications (PUMA-E) facility. It was sponsored by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) under the program "PUMA ESBWR Tests". PUMA-E facility was built for the USNRC to obtain data on the performance of the passive safety systems of the General Electric (GE) Nuclear Energy Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). Similarities between the prototype plant and the scaled-down test facility were investigated for a Gravity-Driven Cooling System (GDCS) Drain Line Break (GDLB). This thesis presents the results of the GDLB test, i.e., the GDLB test with one Isolation Condenser System (ICS) unit disabled. The test is a hypothetical multi-failure small break loss of coolant (SB LOCA) accident scenario in the ESBWR. The test results indicated that the blow-down phase, Automatic Depressurization System (ADS) actuation, and GDCS injection processes occurred as expected. The GDCS as an emergency core cooling system provided adequate supply of water to keep the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) coolant level well above the Top of Active Fuel (TAF) during the entire GDLB transient. The long-term cooling phase, which is governed by the Passive Containment Cooling System (PCCS) condensation, kept the reactor containment system that is composed of Drywell (DW) and Wetwell (WW) below the design pressure of 414 kPa (60 psia). In addition, the ICS continued participating in heat removal during the long-term cooling phase. A general Code Scaling, Applicability, and Uncertainty (CSAU) evaluation approach was discussed in detail relative to safety analyses of Light Water Reactor (LWR). The major components of the CSAU methodology that were highlighted particularly focused on the scaling issues of experiments and models and their applicability to the nuclear power plant transient and accidents. The major thermal-hydraulic phenomena to be analyzed were identified and the predictive models adopted in RELAP5/MOD3.3 (Patch03) code were briefly reviewed.

Ab initio simulations of bond breaking in sulfur crosslinked isoprene oligomer units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gehrke, Sascha; Alznauer, Hans Tobias; Karimi-Varzaneh, Hossein Ali; Becker, Jörg August

2017-12-01

Sulfur crosslinked polyisoprene (rubber) is used in important material components for a number of technical tasks (e.g., in tires and sealings). If mechanical stress, like tension or shear, is applied on these material components, the sulfur crosslinks suffer from homolytic bond breaking. In this work, we have simulated the bond breaking mechanism of sulfur crosslinks between polyisoprene chains using Car-Parrinello molecular dynamic simulations and investigated the maximum forces which can be resisted by the crosslinks. Small model systems with crosslinks formed by chains of N = 1 to N = 6 sulfur atoms have been simulated with the slow growth-technique, known from the literature. The maximum force can be thereby determined from the calculated energies as a function of strain (elongation). The stability of the crosslink under strain is quantified in terms of the maximum force that can be resisted by the system before the crosslink breaks. As shown by our simulations, this maximum force decreases with the sulfur crosslink length N in a step like manner. Our findings indicate that in bridges with N = 1, 2, and 3 sulfur atoms predominantly, carbon-sulfur bonds break, while in crosslinks with N > 3, the breaking of a sulfur-sulfur bond is the dominant failure mechanism. The results are explained within a simple chemical bond model, which describes how the delocalization of the electrons in the generated radicals can lower their electronic energy and decrease the activation barriers. It is described which of the double bonds in the isoprene units are involved in the mechanochemistry of crosslinked rubber.

Multitarget Tracking Studies.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-01

ie "n.: r c:.t. ’ur wn Le r":2- ence Indistes :nac pole a n :arc loca- 40 ":Lors !AVe a sinificant effect n convergence raes.- .ahdn te poles and...LATTICE ALGORITHMS ( LADO ) 1. The Normalized AR Lattice (ARN) This algorithm implements the normalized algorithm described in [23]. The AR coefficients are

77 FR 53923 - Biweekly Notice;

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-04

... to be publicly disclosed. The NRC posts all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well... (psig) to 49.7 psig for the design basis loss-of- coolant accident (LOCA). In support of the revised P a... analysis. The P a remains below the containment design pressure of 50 psig because of the change in the...

Effect of sampling location on L* values and pH measurements and their relationship in broiler breast fillets

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Lightness (CIELAB L*) and pH values are the most widely measured quality indicators for broiler breast fillets (pectoralis major). Measurement of L* values with a spectrophotometer can be done through Specular Component Included (SCI) or Specular Component Excluded (SCE) modes. The intra-fillet loca...

A combination of sexual and ecological divergence contributes to the spread of a chromosomal rearrangement during initial stages of speciation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Chromosomal rearrangements between sympatric species often contain multiple loci contributing to assortative mating, local adaptation, and hybrid sterility. When and how these associations arise during the process of speciation remains a subject of debate. Here, we address the relative roles of loca...

Estimation of ring tensile properties of steam oxidized Zircaloy-4 fuel cladding under simulated LOCA condition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shriwastaw, R. S.; Sawarn, Tapan K.; Banerjee, Suparna; Rath, B. N.; Dubey, J. S.; Kumar, Sunil; Singh, J. L.; Bhasin, Vivek

2017-09-01

The present study involves the estimation of ring tensile properties of Indian Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (IPHWR) fuel cladding made of Zircaloy-4, subjected to experiments under a simulated loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA) condition. Isothermal steam oxidation experiments were conducted on clad tube specimens at temperatures ranging from 900 to 1200 °C at an interval of 50 °C for different soaking periods with subsequent quenching in water at ambient temperature. The specimens, which survived quenching, were then subjected to ambient temperature ring tension test (RTT). The microstructure was correlated with the mechanical properties. The yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased initially with rise in oxidation temperature and time duration but then decreased with further increase in oxidation. Ductility is adversely affected with rising oxidation temperature and longer holding time. A higher fraction of load bearing phase and lower oxygen content in it ensures higher residual ductility. Cladding shows almost zero ductility behavior in RIT when load bearing phase fraction is less than 0.72 and its average oxygen concentration is greater than 0.58 wt%.

Post-quench ductility evaluation of Zircaloy-4 and select iron alloys under design basis and extended LOCA conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Y.; Keiser, J. R.; Terrani, K. A.; Bell, G. L.; Snead, L. L.

2014-05-01

Oxidation experiments were conducted at 1200 °C in flowing steam with tubing specimens of Zircaloy-4, 317, 347 stainless steels, and the commercial FeCrAl alloy APMT. The purpose was to determine the oxidation behavior and post-quench ductility under postulated and extended LOCA conditions. The parabolic rate constant for Zircaloy-4 tubing samples at 1200 °C was determined to be k = 2.173 × 107 g2/cm4/s, in excellent agreement with the Cathcart-Pawel correlation. The APMT alloy experienced the slowest oxidation rate among all materials examined in this work. The ductility of post-quenched samples was evaluated by ring compression tests at 135 °C. For Zircaloy-4, the ductile to brittle transition occurs at an equivalent cladding reacted (ECR) of 19.3%. SS-347 was still ductile after being oxidized for 2400 s (CP-ECR ≈ 50%), but the maximum load was reduced significantly owing to the metal layer thickness reduction. No ductility decrease was observed for the post-quenched APMT samples oxidized up to 4 h.

Radiological dose in Muria peninsula from SB-LOCA event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sunarko; Suud, Zaki

2017-01-01

Dose assessment for accident condition is performed for Muria Peninsula region using source-term from Three-Mile Island unit 2 SB-LOCA accident. Xe-133, Kr-88, 1-131 and Cs-137 isotopes are considered in the calculation. The effluent is assumed to be released from a 50 m stack. Lagrangian particle dispersion method (LPDM) employing non-Gaussian dispersion coefficient in 3-dimensional mass-consistent wind-field is employed to obtain periodic surface-level concentration which is then time-integrated to obtain spatial distribution of ground-level dose. In 1-hour simulation, segmented plumes with 60 seconds duration with a total of 18.000 particles involved. Simulations using 6-hour worst-case meteorological data from Muria peninsula results in a peak external dose of around 1.668 mSv for low scenario and 6.892 mSv for high scenario in dry condition. In wet condition with 5 mm/hour and 10 mm/hour rain for the whole duration of the simulation provides only minor effect to dose. The peak external dose is below the regulatory limit of 50 mSv for effective skin dose from external gamma exposure.

30MM GAU-8/A Plastic Frangible Projectile

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-03-01

20. ABSTRACT fContlnuo on rmvert» tld» 11 nacaaaary and Idontlly by block numbmr) ■feA 30mm target practice (TP) projectile, designed to break...contract to solve these problems. As a result, the Air Force has decided to delay further development of this projectile design concept...Section Title I INTRODUCTION II TECHNICAL DISCUSSION Design Parameters Final Projectile Design Design Evolution Acceptance Testing III

Student production: making a realistic stereo CG short film in six months

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramasamy, Celambarasan

2010-02-01

This paper breaks down the R&D and production challenges faced on a stereoscopic CG short film that was developed on a six month time budget. Using this film as an example, the manner in which technical innovation and story telling techniques can be used to emphasize the strengths and hide the weaknesses of a limited timeframe student production is discussed.

Manpower Requirements Report for FY 1982

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-02-01

Specifically included are program elements for industrial preparedness, second destination transportation, property disposal, production engineering ...artillery, and combat - engineers . Army policy accepts the fact that women will serve in loca- .. tions throughout the battlefield, will be expected to... industrial engineering work measurement techniques and computerized models such as the Logistics Composite Model (LCOM). MEP policy emanates from the

Effects of short-term tocopherol (T) feeding on structure-localized protein tyrosine nitration (pTN) patterns of mitochondrial ATPase following endotoxin (LPS) challenge in beef calves.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Mitochondrial ATPase/Complex-V (MCV) is an electron transport chain (ETC) component needed for ATP synthesis. The ETC, exquisitely sensitive to proinflammatory mediators (PIM), generates oxynitrogen reactants leading to pTN formation as mitochondrial membrane leakage occurs. Immunohistochemical loca...

Evaluation of a barley core collection for spot form net blotch reaction reveals distinct genotype specific pathogen virulence and host susceptibility

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Spot form net blotch (SFNB) caused by Pyrenophora teres Drechs. f. maculata Smedeg., (anamorph Drechslera teres [Sacc.] Shoem.) is a major foliar disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) worldwide. SFNB epidemics have recently been observed in major barley producing countries, suggesting that the loca...

Modern Data Analysis techniques in Noise and Vibration Problems

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-01

Hilbert l’une de l’autre. Cette propriete se retrouve dans l’etude de la causalite : ce qui de- finit un critere pratique caracterisant un signal donc, par...entre Ie champ direct et Ie champ reflechi se caracterisent loca- lement par l’existence de frequences pour lesquelles l’interference est totale

Patient to Health Team Communications Preferences and Perceptions of Secure Messaging

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-25

Ellicott C itv MD, 25- 27 April 2017 in accordance with MDWI 4 1- 108, has been approved and assigned loca l fi le # 17202. 2. Pe11 inent biographic...scholarl y activities o f our professional staff and students, which is an essential component of Wi lford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC

Review of Waste Management Symposium 2007, Tucson, AZ, USA

DOE PAGES

Luna, Robert E.; Yoshimura, R. H.

2007-03-01

The Waste Management Symposium 2007 is the most recent in a long series that has been held at Tucson, Arizona. The meeting has become extremely popular as a venue for technical exchange, marketing, and networking involving upward of 1800 persons involved with various aspects of radioactive waste management. However, in a break with tradition, the symposium organizers reported that next year’s Waste Management Symposium would be held at the Phoenix, AZ convention center. Additionally, most of the WM07 sessions dealt with the technical and institutional issues relating to the resolution of waste disposal and processing challenges, including a number ofmore » sessions dealing with related transport activities.« less

Armenia: Restructuring To Sustain Universal General Education. World Bank Technical Paper No. 498. Europe and Central Asia Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perkins, Gillian; Yemtsov, Ruslan

Before the break-up of the Soviet Union, Armenia had a highly developed and expensive education system, matching the needs of the command economy. The government is now facing an enormous challenge to sustain universal coverage and performance standards in primary-secondary education with a small fraction of the former budget, while reorienting…

Carbohydrates for Soccer: A Focus on Skilled Actions and Half-Time Practices

PubMed Central

Hills, Samuel P.; Russell, Mark

2017-01-01

Carbohydrate consumption is synonymous with soccer performance due to the established effects on endogenous energy store preservation, and physical capacity maintenance. For performance-enhancement purposes, exogenous energy consumption (in the form of drinks, bars, gels and snacks) is recommended on match-day; specifically, before and during match-play. Akin to the demands of soccer, limited opportunities exist to consume carbohydrates outside of scheduled breaks in competition, such as at half-time. The link between cognitive function and blood glucose availability suggests that carbohydrates may influence decision-making and technical proficiency (e.g., soccer skills). However, relatively few reviews have focused on technical, as opposed to physical, performance while also addressing the practicalities associated with carbohydrate consumption when limited in-play feeding opportunities exist. Transient physiological responses associated with reductions in activity prevalent in scheduled intra-match breaks (e.g., half-time) likely have important consequences for practitioners aiming to optimize match-day performance. Accordingly, this review evaluated novel developments in soccer literature regarding (1) the ergogenic properties of carbohydrates for skill performance; and (2) novel considerations concerning exogenous energy provision during half-time. Recommendations are made to modify half-time practices in an aim to enhance subsequent performance. Viable future research opportunities exist regarding a deeper insight into carbohydrate provision on match-day. PMID:29295583

Flooding Experiments and Modeling for Improved Reactor Safety

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Solmos, M.; Hogan, K. J.; Vierow, K.

2008-09-14

Countercurrent two-phase flow and “flooding” phenomena in light water reactor systems are being investigated experimentally and analytically to improve reactor safety of current and future reactors. The aspects that will be better clarified are the effects of condensation and tube inclination on flooding in large diameter tubes. The current project aims to improve the level of understanding of flooding mechanisms and to develop an analysis model for more accurate evaluations of flooding in the pressurizer surge line of a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). Interest in flooding has recently increased because Countercurrent Flow Limitation (CCFL) in the AP600 pressurizer surge linemore » can affect the vessel refill rate following a small break LOCA and because analysis of hypothetical severe accidents with the current flooding models in reactor safety codes shows that these models represent the largest uncertainty in analysis of steam generator tube creep rupture. During a hypothetical station blackout without auxiliary feedwater recovery, should the hot leg become voided, the pressurizer liquid will drain to the hot leg and flooding may occur in the surge line. The flooding model heavily influences the pressurizer emptying rate and the potential for surge line structural failure due to overheating and creep rupture. The air-water test results in vertical tubes are presented in this paper along with a semi-empirical correlation for the onset of flooding. The unique aspects of the study include careful experimentation on large-diameter tubes and an integrated program in which air-water testing provides benchmark knowledge and visualization data from which to conduct steam-water testing.« less

[Technical options of electrotherapy in patients with vasovagal syncope].

PubMed

Bałczewska, Daria; Kaczmarek, Krzysztof; Ptaszyński, Paweł; Wranicz, Jerzy Krzysztof; Cygankiewicz, Iwona

2016-10-19

Syncope is a symptom of the disease with diverse etiology and can be evidence of both benign and very serious life-threatening conditions. Vasovagal syncope(VVS), with prevalence about 35% of the general population, is most frequent causes of transient loss of consciousness (T-LOC). Most cases of vasovagal syncope requires conservative treatment. Although cardioinhibitory type of VVS characterized by a significant bradycardia or pause of the heart rate and can be treated with continuous electrotherapy. This article discuss cardiac pacing and technical solutions for the treatment of VVS. Available cardiac pacing methods used to detect and break VVS such as Rate Drop Response (RDR), Closed Loop Stimulation (CLS) and rate response driven by variations of myocardial contractility like Peak Endocardial Acceleration (PEA), has been presented.

Technical Leadership Development Program - Year 2

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

Why Projects Fail Pennotti Wed 2:45-3:00 Break Wed 3:00-4:30 Project: AR2D2: RFP Robinson UNCLASSIFIED Contract Number: H98230-08-D-0171 DO 02...Project: AR2D2 RFP 12. Customer Expectation-1: Lecture: Why Systems Fail 13. Customer Expectation-2: Case Study: Process Automation 14...01 February 2012 UNCLASSIFIED 65 Syllabus Segment 12: Why Systems Fail (Lecture) Time: 1.5 hours Responsible: Mike Pennotti Support

Technical Report 1205: A Simple Probabilistic Combat Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-08

This page intentionally left blank. 1. INTRODUCTION The Lanchester combat model1 is a simple way to assess the effects of quantity and quality...model. For the random case, assume R red weapons are allocated to B blue weapons randomly. We are interested in the distribution of weapons assigned...the initial condition is very close to the break even line. What is more interesting is that the probability density tends to concentrate at either a

Strategy and Airpower

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

myopia often leads otherwise competent observers to under­ estimate significantly the new technology’s potential. Two business examples stand out: in...direction. With precision of effect combined with precision of impact, bloodless war becomes a reality . To this point, we have tried to make the...against virtually all of the centers of gravity directly related to strategic objectives, regardless of their loca­ tion. Because it can bring many

Well, you have hepatic metastases: Use of technical language by medical students in simulated patient interviews.

PubMed

Bourquin, Céline; Stiefel, Friedrich; Mast, Marianne Schmid; Bonvin, Raphael; Berney, Alexandre

2015-03-01

This research explored medical students' use and perception of technical language in a practical training setting to enhance skills in breaking bad news in oncology. Terms potentially confusing to laypeople were selected from 108 videotaped interviews conducted in an undergraduate Communication Skills Training. A subset of these terms was included in a questionnaire completed by students (N=111) with the aim of gaining insight into their perceptions of different speech registers and of patient understanding. Excerpts of interviews were analyzed qualitatively to investigate students' communication strategies with respect to these technical terms. Fewer than half of the terms were clarified. Students checked for simulated patients' understanding of the terms palliative and metastasis/to metastasize in 22-23% of the interviews. The term ambulatory was spontaneously explained in 75% of the interviews, hepatic and metastasis/to metastasize in 22-24%. Most provided explanations were in plain language; metastasis/to metastasize and ganglion/ganglionic were among terms most frequently explained in technical language. A significant number of terms potentially unfamiliar and confusing to patients remained unclarified in training interviews conducted by senior medical students, even when they perceived the terms as technical. This exploration may offer important insights for improving future physicians' skills. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Qualification Testing of Solid Rocket Booster Diagonal Strut Restraint Cable Assembly Part Number 10176-0031-102/103

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malone, T. W.

2006-01-01

This Technical Memorandum presents qualification test results for solid rocket booster diagonal strut restraint cable part number 101276-00313-102/103. During flight this assembly is exposed to a range of temperatures. MIL-W-83420 shows the breaking strength of the cable as 798 kg (1,760 lb) at room temperature but does not define cable strength at the maximum temperature to which the cable is exposed during the first 2 min of flight; 669 C (1,236 F). The cable, which can be built from different corrosion resistant steel alloys, may also vary in its chemical, physical, and mechanical properties at temperature. Negative margins of safety were produced by analysis of the cable at temperature using standard knockdown factors. However, MSFC-HDBK-5 allows the use of a less conservative safety factor of 1.4 and knockdown factors verified by testing. Test results allowed a calculated knockdown factor of 0.1892 to be determined for the restraint cables, which provides a minimum breaking strength of 151 kg (333 lb) at 677 C (1,250 F) when combined with the minimum breaking strength of 0.317-cm (0.125- or 1/8-in) diameter, type 1 composition rope.

Nature's technical ceramic: the avian eggshell

PubMed Central

Hahn, Eric N.; Sherman, Vincent R.; Pissarenko, Andrei; Rohrbach, Samuel D.; Fernandes, Daniel J.

2017-01-01

Avian eggshells may break easily when impacted at a localized point; however, they exhibit impressive resistance when subjected to a well-distributed compressive load. For example, a common demonstration of material strength is firmly squeezing a chicken egg along its major axis between one's hands without breaking it. This research provides insight into the underlying mechanics by evaluating both macroscopic and microstructural features. Eggs of different size, varying from quail (30 mm) to ostrich (150 mm), are investigated. Compression experiments were conducted along the major axis of the egg using force-distributing rubber cushions between steel plates and the egg. The force at failure increases with egg size, reaching loads upwards of 5000 N for ostrich eggs. The corresponding strength, however, decreases with increasing shell thickness (intimately related to egg size); this is rationalized by a micro-defects model. Failure occurs by axial splitting parallel to the loading direction—the result of hoop tensile stresses due to the applied compressive load. Finite-element analysis is successfully employed to correlate the applied compressive force to tensile breaking strength for the eggs, and the influence of geometric ratio and microstructural heterogeneities on the shell's strength and fracture toughness is established. PMID:28123095

A computer-based specification methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Munck, Robert G.

1986-01-01

Standard practices for creating and using system specifications are inadequate for large, advanced-technology systems. A need exists to break away from paper documents in favor of documents that are stored in computers and which are read and otherwise used with the help of computers. An SADT-based system, running on the proposed Space Station data management network, could be a powerful tool for doing much of the required technical work of the Station, including creating and operating the network itself.

Application Specific Electronic Module Program (ASEM), Final Technical Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-12-14

relatively high temperatures , may induce a metal break or other continuity problems. Secondly, the improved electrical environment at the module level vs...wafer probe can permit higher speed tests to be applied, isolating marginal die. Thirdly, high reliability screens, such as temperature cycling, bum-in...The high temperature aging is done at 150’ C for 500 hours. The thermal cycle treatments are from 0- 100 0 C and 3 cycles per hour are done. The

Outstanding junior investigator program. [Final technical report, 8/1/92-10/31/97

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Randall, Lisa; Rosenberg, Leslie

1999-12-18

Much of the authors work over the past five years has been aimed at bridging the gap between the exactly supersymmetric world of string theories and the world that is actually observed. Her report discusses the following subjects: (1) supersymmetry breaking; related work on the mass hierarchy and the relation between supersymmetry and grand unified theories; distinguishing between supersymmetric models; and the fundamental question of how gauge theories arise from D-branes.

The Learning Curve: MACVs Grasp of Intelligence, PSYOP, and Their Coordination, 1965-1971

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

demonstrations break out on a number of US college campuses 4 May 1970 - Four students fatally shot during protest at Kent State University...Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College , and a Master’s of Philosophy in Military Strategy from the School of Advanced...Turned a Tactical Victory into a Political Defeat”, (Ft. Belvoir: Defense Technical Information Center, 2009), www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD

Low Voltage, Low Power Organic Light Emitting Transistors for AMOLED Displays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCarthy, M. A.; Liu, B.; Donoghue, E. P.

2011-01-01

Low voltage, low power dissipation, high aperture ratio organic light emitting transistors are demonstrated. The high level of performance is enabled by a carbon nanotube source electrode that permits integration of the drive transistor and the organic light emitting diode into an efficient single stacked device. Given the demonstrated performance, this technology could break the technical logjam holding back widespread deployment of active matrix organic light emitting displays at flat panel screen sizes.

A socio-technical approach for improving a Brazilian shoe manufacturing system.

PubMed

Renner, J S; de M Guimarães, L B; de Oliveira, P A B

2012-01-01

This article presents a macroergonomic intervention in a footwear company in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to improve both the quality of life of the employees and productivity by optimizing the traditional Taylor/Ford work organization. Multi-functionality and team working were implemented as means of making tasks more flexible and richer and the working hours were changed. The results showed a reduction in human and material resource costs and a consequent improvement in health and workers quality of life. Although middle managerial staff displayed strong resistance to the project and to breaking traditional production paradigms, the socio-technical system has been implemented throughout the plant and is expected to end up becoming the benchmark for other companies in the sector. Macro-ergonomics, footwear industry, organization work.

National Alliance for Advance Biofuels and Bio-Products Final Technical Report Addendum Hydrothermal Processing Pilot System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oyler, James R.

2015-12-21

The main objective of the NAABB was to combine science, technology, and engineering expertise from across the nation to break down critical technical barriers to commercialization of algae-based biofuels. As a part of the consortium, Genifuel’s NAABB goals was to fabricate and demonstrate a pilot-scale system to convert algae into fuels. The purpose of this pilot system was to show that processes developed in the laboratory at bench-scale during the program could be successfully scaled up to a pre-commercial level, and thereby provide visibility into the ultimate viability and cost of algae biofuels. The pilot system has now been completedmore » and tested, and this report documents what has been achieved.« less

Security analysis of RSA cryptosystem algorithm and it’s properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Chenglian; Guo, Yongning, E-mail: guoyn@163.com, E-mail: linjuanliucaihong@qq.com; Lin, Juan, E-mail: guoyn@163.com, E-mail: linjuanliucaihong@qq.com

2014-10-06

The information technology rapidly development and dramatically changed the life style people, in addition to shortening the distance of communication, but also promote the smooth exchange of information flows. However, derivatives to facilitate the relative safety of these issues, since into the digital information age, the majority of the practitioners of engineering and technical personnel and technical workers in terms of technology, information security is increasingly becoming an important issue. The RSA algorithm was published in 1978. It is a kind of very popular and widely application modem cryptosystem in the world. Even though there are lots of articles tomore » discuss about how to break the RSA, but it is still secure today. In this paper, the authors would like to introduce a variant attack to RSA.« less

Atmospheric Models For Over-Ocean Propagation Loss

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-24

Radiosonde balloons are launched daily at selected loca- tions, and measure temperature, dew point temperature, and air pressure as they ascend. Radiosondes...different times of year and locations. The result was used to estimate high-reliability SHF/EHF air -to-surface radio link performance in a maritime...environment. I. INTRODUCTION Air -to-surface radio links differ from typical satellite com- munications links in that the path elevation angles are lower

Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Volcanic Tremor,

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-10-01

information regarding the fluid system Fiske (1969) Kilauea volcano : The 1967-68 summit configuration, tremor magnitudes and source loca- eruption...Koyanagi (1981) Deep volcanic tremor logicalSociety of America, vol. 40, p. 175-194. and magma ascent mechanism under Kilauea , Hawaii . Omori, F...dynamics Seismology Tremors Volcanoes 40 M\\ TlACT (amhue ai revers if5 neeeeiy md ide~Wify by block number) Low-frequency (< 10 Hz) volcanic earthquakes

Joint Force Quarterly. Number 15, Spring 1997

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-06-01

headquarters to extract information from sensors on the vehicle without bothering crew members with extraneous reports. Position loca- tion devices on... change in how they do business. Air Force lean logistics and Army velocity management programs are literal springboards for quantum improvements in...Spring 1997 Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes

Beam Research Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-04-01

wavelengths. A direct application of such a laser is isotope separation. 2. For a brief status report of the Laboratory’s high- explosive flash...operation in the fall of 1982. in a 50-MeV Advanced Test Accelerator Facility (the ATA)1 that we are con- structing at our high- explosives test loca...chemical explosives in target-damage studies. Potential hazards associated with the ATA experiments were considered in choosing our site. LLNL’s

Safety margins in zircaloy oxidation and embrittlement criteria for emergency core cooling system acceptance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Williford, R.E.

1986-09-01

Current emergency core cooling system acceptance criteria for light water reactors specify that, under loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions, the Baker-Just (BJ) correlation must be used to calculate Zircaloy-steam oxidation, calculated peak cladding temperatures (PCT) must not exceed 1204/sup 0/C, and calculated oxidation must not exceed 17% equivalent cladding reacted (ECR). An appropriately defined minimum margin of safety was estimated for each of these criteria. The currently required BJ oxidation correlation provides margins only over the 1100 to 1500/sup 0/C temperature range at the 95% confidence level. The PCT margins for thermal shock and handling failures are adequate at oxidation temperaturesmore » above 1204/sup 0/C for up to 210 and 160 s, respectively, at the 95% confidence level. The ECR thermal shock and handling margins at the 50 and 95% confidence levels, respectively, range between 2 and 7% ECR for the BJ correlation, but vanish at temperatures above 1100 to 1160/sup 0/C for the best-estimate Cathcart-Pawel correlation. However, use of the Cathcart Pawel correlation for ''design basis'' LOCA calculations can be justified at the 85 to 88% confidence level if cooling rate effects can be neglected.« less

A review for identification of initiating events in event tree development process on nuclear power plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riyadi, Eko H.

2014-09-01

Initiating event is defined as any event either internal or external to the nuclear power plants (NPPs) that perturbs the steady state operation of the plant, if operating, thereby initiating an abnormal event such as transient or loss of coolant accident (LOCA) within the NPPs. These initiating events trigger sequences of events that challenge plant control and safety systems whose failure could potentially lead to core damage or large early release. Selection for initiating events consists of two steps i.e. first step, definition of possible events, such as by evaluating a comprehensive engineering, and by constructing a top level logic model. Then the second step, grouping of identified initiating event's by the safety function to be performed or combinations of systems responses. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discuss initiating events identification in event tree development process and to reviews other probabilistic safety assessments (PSA). The identification of initiating events also involves the past operating experience, review of other PSA, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), feedback from system modeling, and master logic diagram (special type of fault tree). By using the method of study for the condition of the traditional US PSA categorization in detail, could be obtained the important initiating events that are categorized into LOCA, transients and external events.

Hanford business structure for HANDI 2000 business management system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilson, D.

The Hanford Business Structure integrates the project`s technical, schedule, and cost baselines; implements the use of a standard code of accounts; and streamlines performance reporting and cost collection. Technical requirements drive the technical functions and come from the RDD 100 database. The functions will be identified in the P3 scheduling system and also in the PeopleSoft system. Projects will break their work down from the technical requirements in the P3 schedules. When the level at which they want to track cost via the code of accounts is reached, a Project ID will be generated in the PeopleSoft system. P3 maymore » carry more detailed schedules below the Project ID level. The standard code of accounts will identify discrete work activities done across the site and various projects. They will include direct and overhead type work scopes. Activities in P3 will roll up to this standard code of accounts. The field that will be used to record this in PeopleSoft is ``Activity``. In Passport it is a user-defined field. It will have to be added to other feeder systems. Project ID and code of accounts are required fields on all cost records.« less

International Symposium on Organosilicon Chemistry (8th) Held in St. Louis Missouri on 7-12 June 1987.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-05-13

Encapsulants H6rnig, Jahanna Kron and Wolfgang Hepp 2:40 B41 Recent Advances in Organosiloxane Copolymers 3:00 BREAK James E. McGrath New Developments in the...Mobility of H2 ontaining Oligomeric Siloxanes by Si-NMR S 10:10 B48 Syntheses and Reactions N. Heo, R. Krause and R. Kos- of Uniform Size Poly...Technical University Graz Stremayrgasse 16 A-8010 Graz, Austria Kirsten Hinrichs Department of Chemistry University of Wisconsin-Madison Wolfgang

Diagnostics of heavy mining equipment during the scheduled preventive maintenance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drygin, M. Yu; Kuryshkin, N. P.

2018-01-01

Intensification of production, economic globalization and dramatic downgrade of the workers’ professional skills lead to unacceptable technical state of heavy mining equipment. Equipment maintenance outage reaches 84 % of the total downtime, of which emergency maintenance takes up to 36 % of time, that excesses 429 hours per year fr one excavator. It is shown that yearly diagnostics using methods of non-destructive check allows to reduce emergency downtime by 47 %, and 55 % of revealed defects can be eliminated without breaking the technological cycle of the equipment.

An analytical study of the dual mass mechanical system stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikolov, Svetoslav; Sinapov, Petko; Kralov, Ivan; Ignatov, Ignat

2011-12-01

In this paper an autonomous, nonlinear model of five ordinary differential equations modeling the motion of a dual mass mechanical system with universal joint is studied. The model is investigated qualitatively. On the base of the stability analysis performed, we obtain that the system is: i) in an equilibrium state, or ii) in a structurally unstable behavior when equilibrium states disappear. In case (i) the system is in a normal technical condition and in case (ii) hard break-downs take place.

NASA/contractor partnership on the second TDRSS ground terminal program: Breaking barriers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tierney, Paul G.

1992-01-01

The Second Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Ground Terminal (STGT) Program from its technical and programmatic backgrounds is introduced and then several techniques to enhance communication and empower the NASA Contractor team are described. A major factor in our success was an approach used to shorten the time span of the Critical Design Review phase. This approach is described. The relationships involving NASA's O&M contractor are discussed. A set of lessons learned is included.

Fallon Geothermal Exploration Project, Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nevada.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

magneto- telluric studies. LINEAMENT ANALYSIS As part of the initial phase of the Fallon Exploration Project, a composite lineament analysis of the region...Nevada. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 750, 1924, pp. 79-86. Hoover, D. B., R. M. Senterfit, and Bruce Radtke. Telluric Profile Loca- tion...Map and Telluric Data for the Salt Wells Known Geothermal Resource Area, Nevada. United States Geological Survey Open File Report 77-66F, 1977. Horton

The California Debris Commission: A History

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-01-01

the pipe a more freely in the horizontal plane, while vertical elastic packing in the joint instead of two stable instrument to handle. movement was...report of January duplicate and triplicate taxation , and (4) it 1880 painted a dark and sobering picture Following two months of intense and had not the...isolated cases it is possible to impound debris without injury; also, that loca- tions exist in the canons of the different mining streams in the Sierra

The Effects of Alarm Display, Processing, and Availability on Crew Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-11-01

snow Instrumentation line leakage Small LOCA Steam generator tube rupture Small feedwater leakage inside containment Cycling of main steam...implemented. • Due to primary pressure controller failure, pressure heater banks cycle between on and off. 8.00 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5...temperatures after the high-pressure pre- heaters flows into the steam generators number of active emergency feedwater pumps openings of the condensate

Data analysis unveils a new stylized fact in foreign currency markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nacher, J. C.; Ochiai, T.

2012-09-01

The search for stylized facts (i.e., simplified empirical facts) is of capital importance in econophysics because the stylized facts constitute the experimental empirical body on which theories and models should be tested. At the moment they are too few and this is an important limitation to the progress in the field. In this work, we unveil a new stylized fact, which consists of resistance effect and breaking-acceleration effect that implicitly requires a long memory feature in price movement. By analyzing a vast amount of historical data, we demonstrate that the financial market tends to exceed a past (historical) extreme price less often than expected by a classic short-memory model (e.g., Black-Scholes model). We call it resistance effect. However, when the market does it, we predict that the average volatility at that time point will be much higher (accelerates more). It means, in average, volatility accelerates more when the price breaks the highest (lowest) value. We refer to this as breaking-acceleration effect. These observed empirical facts are actually an effect which may arise from technical trading and psychological effects. Taken together, these results indicate that, beyond the predictive capability of this unveiled stylized fact, traditional short-memory models do not faithfully capture the market dynamics.

Probabilistic pipe fracture evaluations for leak-rate-detection applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rahman, S.; Ghadiali, N.; Paul, D.

1995-04-01

Regulatory Guide 1.45, {open_quotes}Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Leakage Detection Systems,{close_quotes} was published by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in May 1973, and provides guidance on leak detection methods and system requirements for Light Water Reactors. Additionally, leak detection limits are specified in plant Technical Specifications and are different for Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). These leak detection limits are also used in leak-before-break evaluations performed in accordance with Draft Standard Review Plan, Section 3.6.3, {open_quotes}Leak Before Break Evaluation Procedures{close_quotes} where a margin of 10 on the leak detection limit is used in determining the crackmore » size considered in subsequent fracture analyses. This study was requested by the NRC to: (1) evaluate the conditional failure probability for BWR and PWR piping for pipes that were leaking at the allowable leak detection limit, and (2) evaluate the margin of 10 to determine if it was unnecessarily large. A probabilistic approach was undertaken to conduct fracture evaluations of circumferentially cracked pipes for leak-rate-detection applications. Sixteen nuclear piping systems in BWR and PWR plants were analyzed to evaluate conditional failure probability and effects of crack-morphology variability on the current margins used in leak rate detection for leak-before-break.« less

The political science of radioactive waste disposal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jacobi, L.R. Jr.

1996-06-01

This paper was first presented at the annual meeting of the HPS in New Orleans in 1984. Twelve years later, the basic lessons learned are still found to be valid. In 1984, the following things were found to be true: A government agency is preferred by the public over a private company to manage radioactive waste. Semantics are important--How you say it is important, but how it is heard is more important. Public information and public relations are very important, but they are the last thing of concern to a scientist. Political constituency is important. Don`t overlook the need formore » someone to be on your side. Don`t forget that the media is part of the political process-they can make you or break you. Peer technical review is important, but so is citizen review. Sociology is an important issue that scientists and technical people often overlook. In summary, despite the political nature of radioactive waste disposal, it is as true today as it was in 1984 that technical facts must be used to reach sound technical conclusions. Only then, separately and openly, should political factors be considered. So, what can be said today that wasn`t said in 1984? Nothing. {open_quotes}It`s deja vu all over again.{close_quotes}« less

Operation TEAPOT. Report of the Test Manager Joint Test Organization

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-01

Analysis of air, water, and milk samples were made at the laboratory at Mercury. z. 6.4 MONITORING PROCEDURES A mobile surface monitoring group consisting o...additional weather observations proved very use- ful in weather analysis and forecasting as well as for monitoring winds aloft prior to shot time. The...data were also valuable in post analysis for accurate plotting of fallout and determining cloud trajectories. The loca- tion and type of operations of

Better Vision Through Manipulation

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

correlation can be used as a "signature" to iden- map useful for generating arm, head, and trunk tify parts of the scene that are being influenced by...down reaching. This can be over- in response to the nudge of the arm. This move- come by training up a function to estimate the loca- ment will be... behavioural evidence. Experimental Gibson, J. J. (1977). The theory of affordances. Brain Research, 143:335-341. In Shaw, R. and Bransford, J., (Eds

Particle Size Determination in Small Solid Propellant Rocket Motors Using the Diffractively Scattered Light Method.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-10-01

calibrated by using spherical glass beads and aluminum oxide powder . Measurements were successfully made at both locations. Because DO 1473 EoITioN OF I NOVy...determined using measurements of diffrac- tively scattered laser power spectra. The apparatus was calibrated by using spherical glass beads and aluminum oxide... powder . Measurements were successfully made at both loca- tions. Because of the presence of char agglomerates in the exhaust, continued effort is

Core-power and decay-time limits for disabled automatic-actuation of LOFT ECCS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hanson, G.H.

1978-11-22

The Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) for the LOFT reactor may need to be disabled for modifications or repairs of hardware or instrumentation or for component testing during periods when the reactor system is hot and pressurized, or it may be desirable to enable the ECCS to be disabled without the necessity of cooling down and depressurizing the reactor. A policy involves disabling the automatic-actuation of the LOFT ECCS, but still retaining the manual actuation capability. Disabling of the automatic actuation can be safely utilized, without subjecting the fuel cladding to unacceptable temperatures, when the LOFT power decays to 33more » kW; this power level permits a maximum delay of 20 minutes following a LOCA for the manual actuation of ECCS. For the operating power of the L2-2 Experiment, the required decay-periods (with operating periods of 40 and 2000 hours) are about 21 and 389 hours, respectively. With operating periods of 40 and 2000 hours at Core-I full power, the required decay-periods are about 42 and 973 hours, respectively. After these decay periods the automatic actuation of the LOFT ECCS can be disabled assuming a maximum delay of 20 minutes following a LOCA for the manual actuation of ECCS. The automatic and manual lineup of the ECCS may be waived if decay power is less than 11 kW.« less

A review for identification of initiating events in event tree development process on nuclear power plants

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Riyadi, Eko H., E-mail: e.riyadi@bapeten.go.id

2014-09-30

Initiating event is defined as any event either internal or external to the nuclear power plants (NPPs) that perturbs the steady state operation of the plant, if operating, thereby initiating an abnormal event such as transient or loss of coolant accident (LOCA) within the NPPs. These initiating events trigger sequences of events that challenge plant control and safety systems whose failure could potentially lead to core damage or large early release. Selection for initiating events consists of two steps i.e. first step, definition of possible events, such as by evaluating a comprehensive engineering, and by constructing a top level logicmore » model. Then the second step, grouping of identified initiating event's by the safety function to be performed or combinations of systems responses. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discuss initiating events identification in event tree development process and to reviews other probabilistic safety assessments (PSA). The identification of initiating events also involves the past operating experience, review of other PSA, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), feedback from system modeling, and master logic diagram (special type of fault tree). By using the method of study for the condition of the traditional US PSA categorization in detail, could be obtained the important initiating events that are categorized into LOCA, transients and external events.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Walston, S; Rowland, M; Campbell, K

It is difficult to track to the location of a melted core in a GE BWR with Mark I containment during a beyond-design-basis accident. The Cooper Nuclear Station provided a baseline of normal material distributions and shielding configurations for the GE BWR with Mark I containment. Starting with source terms for a design-basis accident, methods and remote observation points were investigated to allow tracking of a melted core during a beyond-design-basis accident. The design of the GE BWR with Mark-I containment highlights an amazing poverty of expectations regarding a common mode failure of all reactor core cooling systems resulting inmore » a beyond-design-basis accident from the simple loss of electric power. This design is shown in Figure 1. The station blackout accident scenario has been consistently identified as the leading contributor to calculated probabilities for core damage. While NRC-approved models and calculations provide guidance for indirect methods to assess core damage during a beyond-design-basis loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), there appears to be no established method to track the location of the core directly should the LOCA include a degree of fuel melt. We came to the conclusion that - starting with detailed calculations which estimate the release and movement of gaseous and soluble fission products from the fuel - selected dose readings in specific rooms of the reactor building should allow the location of the core to be verified.« less

Hearing is Believing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

This paper presents a discussion on the cochlear implant. This device was developed by Adam Kissiah, who suffers from hearing loss. Driven by his own hearing problem and three failed corrective surgeries, Kissiah started working in the mid-1970s on this surgically implantable device that provides hearing sensation to persons with severe-to-profound hearing loss who receive little or no benefit from hearing aids. Uniquely, the cochlear implant concept was not based on theories of medicine, as Kissiah had no medical background whatsoever. Instead, he utilized the technical expertise he learned while working as an electronics instrumentation engineer at NASA s Kennedy Space Center for the basis of his invention. This took place over 3 years, when Kissiah would spend his lunch breaks and evenings in Kennedy s technical library, studying the impact of engineering principles on the inner ear. In April of 2003, Kissiah was inducted into the Space Foundation's U.S. Space Technology Hall of Fame for his invention

ENcentive: A Framework for Intelligent Marketing in Mobile Peer-To-Peer Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

trade and commu- nication strategies, mobile electronic marketing, intelligent agents, collaborative eCommerce 1. INTRODUCTION With the explosion of...requests the promotion (since Jeff is a cof- fee drinker). MH2 signs the promotion with Susan’s eN- centive ID. At 6pm, Jeff decides to take advantage of the...to become valid, a user has a choice of remaining in his current loca- tion and being able to take advantage of the promotion. The eNcentive Ad

Predicting the Behavior of Asphalt Concrete Pavements in Seasonal Frost Areas Using Nondestructive Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-11-01

and psychrometers : the loca- cm-diameter wooden dowel approximately 122 cm in tion of these gauges is shown in Figure 16. The length, with 4.0-mm holes...thermocouple psychrometers were the third Dowel set of sensors used. A detailed description of these sensors can be found in a paper by Brown and...Figure 19. Freezing of test sections. in resistance with temperature in TS 2. Major changes psychrometers were not evaluated for this report. These in

The history of Fort Leavenworth, 1937 - 1951

DTIC Science & Technology

1951-01-01

research assistance on the bibliography and some of the appendixes; Public Library, Leaven- worth, Kansas, for use of facilities; M~r. Cleve Williams for...througho4t (Act or Cometition s ged by Loca Citizens)its active ser~iice on a Snake River run, from Pocatello, Idaho , north to (Act or Cmpetitio s aged y...Post as usual 35th Division and Maj Gen William K. Herndon on June 9, 1940. A few days later the War of the 24th Division, National Guard, were on

Development of Facility Type Information Packages for Design of Air Force Facilities.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-03-01

solution. For example, the optimum size and loca- 19 tion of windows for the incorporation of a passive solar *l . heating system varies with location, time...conditioning load estimate M. Energy impact statement N. Majcom review comments 0. Solar energy systems 61 4 Information which could help in the development...and Passive solar systems. All facilities should have Scme aspects of passive solar incor- por3ted into the iesign. Active sclar systems should ze con

A Steady State and Dynamic Analysis of a Mooring System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-03-25

drag on subsurface buoy Dx«, »y«» Dzs Cable drag eoaponants in esble coordinates *A Distance between calculated location and actual loca- tion of...ship Be Modulus of elasticity of esble fh Highest natural frequency of systea 0 Horizontal distance between snshor and ship -- MUIIM—laSHS...TQD Tension in esble fron ahlp st subsurface buoy TBB Tension in cable fron anchor at aubaurfaea buoy Ty" Tension In n’th esble segaent Hif|l

Reconstruction of Acoustic Exposure on Orcas in Haro Strait

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) (J pod).1 The class shadowed the J pod from their boat, recording its behavior, the GPS loca- tion of the...one of the resident pods of orcas, raising the question of the sonar’s impact on them. Due to two coincidental activities, this question can be...addressed in detail. Coinciding with Shoup’s transit, a marine mammal class from Friday Harbor Labs led by Dr. David Bain was observing a pod of Southern

Archeological Investigations in Cochiti Reservoir, New Mexico. Volume 2. Excavation and Analysis 1975 Season.

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-01-01

groups who used this ratio should be considered. them to process wild seeds and other vegeta material. The trough metate has been considered a specialized...transition and as an indi- was composed entirely of jar formswith wide oriface. cation of the importance assumed by wild vegetal ma- not as difficult to...For example. Ovis/Capra meat is con- faunal resource utilization from the excavated site loca- sidered most edible when the animal is young. Meat

International Workshop on Millimeter Waves (1992) Held in Orvieto, Italy on April 22-24, 1992

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-04-24

1fillinmler4Vtlatri Circuits T. Yotwymatiat. Receott IDeehotnns. #of NRI)-;,.,s. Te, impIig It. 11. Jamset. Adv’anced Design Tee hnu jues fir Leiear... designed for the sky radiation measurement. - consideration of typical flight altitudes of 300m to Its output delivers a mean-value of the relevant...Electrolytic Processes: Anodic, Etching and Cathodic -increase of Surface to Volume Ratio metal deponition. Loca-Stuctre epoitin b pont- ikea ) no damage

Design and Implementation of a Consolidated Airfield at McMurdo, Antarctica

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

DESTROY THIS REPORT WHEN NO LONGER NEEDED. DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE ORIGINATOR . ERDC/CRREL TR-14-22 iii Contents Abstract...the current loca- tion of the white ice runway (the wheeled runway at Pegasus) is about 1/3 mile WSW of where it was when it was originally ...ft below the surface. This is not surprising; when the original runway was established in 1991–92, there were regions where the ice needed to be

Enhancing Effective Stakeholder Participation in Local Groundwater Sustainability Planning through Technical Assistance in California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weintraub, C.; Christian-Smith, J.; Dobbin, K.; Cullen, K.

2017-12-01

This presentation will share content from UCS's new publication, Getting Involved in Groundwater; A Guide to Effective Engagement in California's Groundwater Sustainability Plans, as well as lessons learned from collaborating with community organizations to provide technical assistance to Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) board members and stakeholders in the San Joaquin Valley on Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) development. California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) mandates extensive stakeholder engagement, presenting an opportunity for unincorporated, low-income communities that have historically been affected by but not included in water decisions. However, implementation requires a concerted, thoughtful effort. Through technical assistance and strategic outreach, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is working to ensure stakeholder engagement in GSP development is robust, diverse, and supported by the best science available. UCS created the GSP stakeholder engagement guide to equip GSA members, scientists and interested community members to meaningfully engage in the GSP development process. The guide serves as a technical primer on SGMA's GSP process and as a resource for understanding groundwater management in California. The guide is just one component of a larger effort to overcome barriers to effective engagement in sustainable groundwater management, especially those presented by technical information. In April, UCS co-hosted a technical assistance workshop for GSA and advisory committee members in Visalia, CA with the Community Water Center (CWC), a local environmental justice non-profit. The workshop was well received and UCS and the CWC were invited to host a second workshop in June. To deepen this engagement and provide one-on-one technical assistance, UCS developed a program to match relevant water experts in the UCS Science Network with GSA members or involved community members in need of specific technical support. Through these efforts, UCS is working to break down barriers to participation and ensure sound science is incorporated into the GSP process.

Breaking bad news in the emergency department: a comparative analysis among residents, patients and family members' perceptions.

PubMed

Toutin-Dias, Gabriela; Daglius-Dias, Roger; Scalabrini-Neto, Augusto

2018-02-01

Our main objective was to assess patient and family members' perception of bad news communication in the emergency department (ED) and compare these with physicians' perceptions. This is a cross-sectional study carried out at the ED of a tertiary teaching hospital. To compare physicians' and receivers' (patient and/or family member) perceptions, we created a survey based on the six attributes derived from the SPIKES protocol. The surveys were applied immediately after communication of bad news occurred in the ED. We analyzed agreement among participants using κ-statistics and the χ-test to compare proportions. A total of 73 bad news communication encounters were analyzed. The survey respondents were 73 physicians, 69 family members, and four patients. In general, there is a low level of agreement between physicians' and receivers' perceptions of how breaking bad news transpired. The satisfaction level of receivers, in terms of breaking bad news by doctors, presented a mean of 3.7±0.6 points. In contrast, the physicians' perception of the communication was worse (2.9±0.6 points), with P value less than 0.001. Doctors and receivers disagree in relation to what transpired throughout bad news communications. Discrepancies were more evident in issues involving emotion, invitation, and privacy. An important agreement between perceptions was found in technical and knowledge-related aspects of the communication.

An Assessment of Technical and Production Risks of Candidate Low-Cost Attitude/Heading Reference Systems(AHRS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yuchnovicz, Daniel; Burgess, Malcolm; Hammers, William

1999-01-01

This report provides an assessment of technical and production risks of candidate low-cost attitude/heading reference systems (AHRS) for use in the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) airplanes. A low-cost AHRS is a key component of modem "glass cockpit" flight displays for General Aviation (GA) aircraft. The technical capabilities of several candidate low-cost AHRS were examined and described along with the technical issues involved with using all solid-state components for attitude measurement. An economic model was developed which describes the expected profit, rate of return, and volume requirements for the manufacture of low-cost AHRS for GA aircraft in the 2000 to 2020 time frame. The model is the result of interviews with GA airframe manufacturers, avionics manufacturers and historical analysis of avionics of similar complexity. The model shows that a manufacturer will break even after three years of AHRS production, realizing an 18 percent rate of return (23 percent profit) on an investment of $3.5M over the 20 year period. A start-up production estimate showed costs of $6-12M for a new company to build and certify an AHRS from scratch, considered to be a high-risk proposition, versus $0.25-0.75M for an experienced avionics manufacturer to manufacture a design under license, a low-risk proposition.

Assessment of safety margins in zircaloy oxidation and embrittlement criteria for ECCS acceptance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Williford, R.E.

1986-04-01

Current Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) Acceptance Criteria for light-water reactors include certain requirements pertaining to calculations of core performance during a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA). The Baker-Just correlation must be used to calculate Zircaloy-steam oxidation, calculated peak cladding temperatures (PCT) must not exceed 1204/sup 0/C, and calculated oxidation must not exceed 17% equivalent cladding reacted (17% ECR). The minimum margin of safety was estimated for each of these criteria, based on research performed in the last decade. Margins were defined as the amounts of conservatism over and above the expected extreme values computed from the data base atmore » specified confidence levels. The currently required Baker-Just oxidation correlation provides margins only over the 1100/sup 0/C to 1500/sup 0/C temperature range at the 95% confidence level. The PCT margins for thermal shock and handling failures are adequate at oxidation temperatures above 1204/sup 0/C for 210 and 160 seconds, respectively, at the 95% confidence level. ECR thermal shock and handling margins at the 50% and 95% confidence levels, respectively, range between 2% and 7% ECR for the Baker-Just correlation, but vanish at temperatures between 1100/sup 0/C and 1160/sup 0/C for the best-estimate Cathcart-Pawel correlation. Use of the Cathcart-Pawel correlation for LOCA calculations can be justified at the 85% to 88% confidence level if cooling rate effects can be neglected. 75 refs., 21 figs.« less

Development and Assessment of CFD Models Including a Supplemental Program Code for Analyzing Buoyancy-Driven Flows Through BWR Fuel Assemblies in SFP Complete LOCA Scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Artnak, Edward Joseph, III

This work seeks to illustrate the potential benefits afforded by implementing aspects of fluid dynamics, especially the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling approach, through numerical experimentation and the traditional discipline of physical experimentation to improve the calibration of the severe reactor accident analysis code, MELCOR, in one of several spent fuel pool (SFP) complete loss-ofcoolant accident (LOCA) scenarios. While the scope of experimental work performed by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) extends well beyond that which is reasonably addressed by our allotted resources and computational time in accordance with initial project allocations to complete the report, these simulated case trials produced a significant array of supplementary high-fidelity solutions and hydraulic flow-field data in support of SNL research objectives. Results contained herein show FLUENT CFD model representations of a 9x9 BWR fuel assembly in conditions corresponding to a complete loss-of-coolant accident scenario. In addition to the CFD model developments, a MATLAB based controlvolume model was constructed to independently assess the 9x9 BWR fuel assembly under similar accident scenarios. The data produced from this work show that FLUENT CFD models are capable of resolving complex flow fields within a BWR fuel assembly in the realm of buoyancy-induced mass flow rates and that characteristic hydraulic parameters from such CFD simulations (or physical experiments) are reasonably employed in corresponding constitutive correlations for developing simplified numerical models of comparable solution accuracy.

Core cooling under accident conditions at the high flux beam reactor (HFBR)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tichler, P.; Cheng, L.; Fauske, H.

In certain accident scenarios, e.g. loss of coolant accidents (LOCA) all forced flow cooling is lost. Decay heating causes a temperature increase in the core coolant and the resulting thermal buoyancy causes a reversal of the flow direction to a natural circulation mode. Although there was experimental evidence during the reactor design period (1958--1963) that the heat removal capacity in the fully developed natural circulation cooling mode was relatively high, it was not possible to make a confident prediction of the heat removal capacity during the transition from downflow to natural circulation. In a LOCA scenario where even limited fuelmore » damage occurs and natural circulation is established, fission product gases could be carried from the damaged fuel by steam into areas where operator access is required to maintain the core in a coolable configuration. This would force evacuation of the building and lead to extensive core damage. As a result the HFBR was shut down by the Department of Energy (DOE) and an extensive review of the HFBR was initiated. In an effort to address this issue BNL developed a model designed to predict the heat removal limit during flow reversal that was found to be in good agreement with the test results. Currently a thermal-hydraulic test program is being developed to provide a more realistic and defensible estimate of the flow reversal heat removal limit so that the reactor power level can be increased.« less

[Behavior therapy technics in the treatment of endogenous eczema with special reference to compulsive scratching].

PubMed

Böddeker, K W; Böddeker, M

1976-01-01

An exact observation and description of scratching behavior leads to a behavioral model for the obsessional scratching in patients with atopic dermatitis. The patient who cannot handle negative emotions because of a deficit in social behavior strategies suffers from diffuse tension. He can reduce the tension for the moment by scratching. Thus itching is being reinforced. The feeling of misbehavior occurs with delay and then again can serve as a stimulus for more tension.--Basing on this model behavior therapeutical techniques for breaking up this vicious circle are discussed.

Free-trade agreements: challenges for global health

PubMed Central

Ribeiro, Helena

2015-01-01

In this study new free-trade agreements are discussed, which are based on the breaking down of tariff and technical barriers and normally exclude most of the poorest countries in the world. Considering the current context of economic globalization and its health impacts, seven controversial points of these treaties and their possible implications for global public health are presented, mainly regarding health equity and other health determinants. Finally, this research proposes a greater social and health professionals participation in the formulation and discussion of these treaties, and a deeper insertion of Brazil in this important international agenda. PMID:26270018

Identification of cost effective energy conservation measures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bierenbaum, H. S.; Boggs, W. H.

1978-01-01

In addition to a successful program of readily implemented conservation actions for reducing building energy consumption at Kennedy Space Center, recent detailed analyses have identified further substantial savings for buildings representative of technical facilities designed when energy costs were low. The techniques employed for determination of these energy savings consisted of facility configuration analysis, power and lighting measurements, detailed computer simulations and simulation verifications. Use of these methods resulted in identification of projected energy savings as large as $330,000 a year (approximately two year break-even period) in a single building. Application of these techniques to other commercial buildings is discussed

Brownfield to Brightfield Initiative in Oak Ridge, TN - 12346

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hough, Gil; Fairless, Chad

Experience characterizing, permitting, and restoring 'Brownfield' sites-government or industrial sites with restricted future use due to the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants-is being leveraged to identify opportunities for redevelopment into solar power generating facilities which, in this context, are called 'Brightfields'. Brownfield sites offer the expansive land necessary for large photovoltaic (PV) solar farms, but require an in-depth working knowledge of complicated regulatory restrictions and environmental constraints to develop them. As a part of the effort to identify opportunities for redevelopment of Brownfield sites for solar applications, a technical guide, was composed specifically for themore » development of solar generation on restricted use sites. The basis of the technical guide gives specific consideration to environmental requirements and installation methods breaking that into three areas for assessing: 1) levels of contamination, 2) ground penetration requirements, and 3) the requirements for aesthetics and maintenance. Brightfield projects are underway to support the technical guide and expand re-industrialization efforts for the former DOE Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Oak Ridge, TN. There are exciting opportunities to turn Brownfields into Brightfield solar energy solutions for meeting the future renewable energy needs of our country. Brownfields that offer the large surface area required for solar PV farms coupled with the technical guide for the installation of solar farms on restricted use sites supports efforts to develop the solar capacities and expertise to tap this future market. The initial projects designed following the technical guide will provide verification of the installation requirements and beneficial reuse of restricted use sites. (authors)« less

Accumulation and phytotoxicity of technical hexabromocyclododecane in maize.

PubMed

Wu, Tong; Huang, Honglin; Zhang, Shuzhen

2016-04-01

To investigate the accumulation and phytotoxicity of technical hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in maize, young seedlings were exposed to solutions of technical HBCD at different concentrations. The uptake kinetics showed that the HBCD concentration reached an apparent equilibrium within 96hr, and the accumulation was much higher in roots than in shoots. HBCD accumulation in maize had a positive linear correlation with the exposure concentration. The accumulation of different diastereoisomers followed the order γ-HBCD>β-HBCD>α-HBCD. Compared with their proportions in the technical HBCD exposure solution, the diastereoisomer contribution increased for β-HBCD and decreased for γ-HBCD in both maize roots and shoots with exposure time, whereas the contribution of α-HBCD increased in roots and decreased in shoots throughout the experimental period. These results suggest the diastereomer-specific accumulation and translocation of HBCD in maize. Inhibitory effects of HBCD on the early development of maize followed the order of germination rate>root biomass≥root elongation>shoot biomass≥shoot elongation. Hydroxyl radical (OH) and histone H2AX phosphorylation (γ-H2AX) were induced in maize by HBCD exposure, indicative of the generation of oxidative stress and DNA double-strand breaks in maize. An OH scavenger inhibited the expression of γ-H2AX foci in both maize roots and shoots, which suggests the involvement of OH generation in the HBCD-induced DNA damage. The results of this study will offer useful information for a more comprehensive assessment of the environmental behavior and toxicity of technical HBCD. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Balancing the health workforce: breaking down overall technical change into factor technical change for labour-an empirical application to the Dutch hospital industry.

PubMed

Blank, Jos L T; van Hulst, Bart L

2017-02-17

Well-trained, well-distributed and productive health workers are crucial for access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare. Because neither a shortage nor a surplus of health workers is wanted, policymakers use workforce planning models to get information on future labour markets and adjust policies accordingly. A neglected topic of workforce planning models is productivity growth, which has an effect on future demand for labour. However, calculating productivity growth for specific types of input is not as straightforward as it seems. This study shows how to calculate factor technical change (FTC) for specific types of input. The paper first theoretically derives FTCs from technical change in a consistent manner. FTC differs from a ratio of output and input, in that it deals with the multi-input, multi-output character of the production process in the health sector. Furthermore, it takes into account substitution effects between different inputs. An application of the calculation of FTCs is given for the Dutch hospital industry for the period 2003-2011. A translog cost function is estimated and used to calculate technical change and FTC for individual inputs, especially specific labour inputs. The results show that technical change increased by 2.8% per year in Dutch hospitals during 2003-2011. FTC differs amongst the various inputs. The FTC of nursing personnel increased by 3.2% per year, implying that fewer nurses were needed to let demand meet supply on the labour market. Sensitivity analyses show consistent results for the FTC of nurses. Productivity growth, especially of individual outputs, is a neglected topic in workforce planning models. FTC is a productivity measure that is consistent with technical change and accounts for substitution effects. An application to the Dutch hospital industry shows that the FTC of nursing personnel outpaced technical change during 2003-2011. The optimal input mix changed, resulting in fewer nurses being needed to let demand meet supply on the labour market. Policymakers should consider using more detailed and specific data on the nature of technical change when forecasting the future demand for health workers.

Development of an AFIT (Air Force Institute of Technology) ADP System Network Model.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-12-01

printers. Lastly, after a batch event finishes ’printing’, the turnaround time for each computer and loca- tion may be collected. Resource Module. The...9)), + (IJOBSA(10)) ,(IORG,A( 12)) ,(,AEi4A( 13)) C CNNNN IF JOB JUST FINISHED CPU OR PRINTER IN WAIT MODE THEN SCHEDULE C**** THINK TINE C IF...Modules: CPUAIJ I C Scheduled by. none C C FUNCTION XIOSEC(ICLASSISIZE) P RAMETER (1AXCLS=6,WAXSIZ-6) C -’. CMII COPtION BLOCKS COtON /FACTOR/ DI STRB

APT Blanket System Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) Based on Initial Conceptual Design - Case 2: with Beam Shutdown Only

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hamm, L.L.

1998-10-07

This report is one of a series of reports that document normal operation and accident simulations for the Accelerator Production of Tritium (APT) blanket heat removal system. These simulations were performed for the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report. This report documents the results of simulations of a Loss-of-Flow Accident (LOFA) where power is lost to all of the pumps that circulate water in the blanket region, the accelerator beam is shut off and neither the residual heat removal nor cavity flood systems operate.

Facility Instrumentation for SOFIA: Technical Specifications and Scientific Goals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stacey, G. J.

2000-05-01

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is NASA's next generation airborne observatory consisting of a 2.5 m telescope in a modified Boeing 747 SP. First light is expected in late 2002. Three "Facility Class" instruments were among the first generation of instruments selected to fly on SOFIA. These instruments, currently under development are (1) a 5 to 38 um imaging photometer based on twin As:Si and Sb:Sb BIB arrays (FORCAST), (2) a 40 to 300 um photometer based on three arrays of bolometers, and (3) a 17 to 210 um eschelle grating spectrometer based on an Sb:Sb BIB array and a Ge:Sb and stressed Ge:Ga array of photoconductors. I will discuss both the technical aspects of these facility instruments, and some of the exciting new science that is possible with these ground breaking instruments on an airborne 2.5 meter telescope. Science topics include circumstellar debris disks, star formation, the Galactic Center, and distant galaxies.

Open Mobile Alliance Secure Content Exchange: Introducing Key Management Constructs and Protocols for Compromise-Resilient Easing of DRM Restrictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kravitz, David William

This paper presents an insider's view of the rationale and the cryptographic mechanics of some principal elements of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Secure Content Exchange (SCE) Technical Specifications. A primary goal is to enable implementation of a configurable methodology that quarantines the effects that unknown-compromised entities have on still-compliant entities in the system, while allowing import from upstream protection systems and multi-client reuse of Rights Objects that grant access to plaintext content. This has to be done without breaking compatibility with the underlying legacy OMA DRM v2.0/v2.1 Technical Specifications. It is also required that legacy devices can take at least partial advantage of the new import functionality, and can request the creation of SCE-compatible Rights Objects and utilize Rights Objects created upon request of SCE-conformant devices. This must be done in a way that the roles played by newly defined entities unrecognizable by legacy devices remain hidden.

LCROSS - Lunar Impactor: Pioneering Risk-Tolerant Exploration in Search for Water on the Moon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andrews, Daniel R.

2010-01-01

The Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) was launched with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) on June 18, 2009 to determine the presence of water-ice in a permanently shadowed crater on the south pole of the Moon. However, an equally important purpose was to pioneer low-cost, quick-turnaround NASA missions that could accept a higher-than-normal-level of technical risk. When the LCROSS mission proposal was competitively selected by the NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate to design, build, and launch a spacecraft in 31 months with a $79M cost-capped budget and a fixed mass allocation, NASA Ames Research Center and its industry partner, Northrop-Grumman, needed a game-changing approach to be successful. That approach was a ground-breaking combination of having a risk-tolerant NASA Class D mission status and finding the right balance point between the inflexible elements of cost and schedule and the newly-flexible element of technical capability.

Transport and mixing of a volume of fluid in a complex geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gavelli, Filippo

This work presents the results of the experimental investigation of an entire sequence of events, leading to an unwanted injection of boron-depleted water into the core of a PWR. The study is subdivided into three tasks: the generation of a dilute volume in the primary system, its transport to the core, and the mixing encountered along the path. Experiments conducted at the University of Maryland (UM) facility show that, during a Small-Break LOCA transient, volumes of dilute coolant are segregated in the system, by means of phase-separating energy transport from the core to the steam generators (Boiler Condenser Mode). Two motion-initiating mechanisms are considered: the resumption of natural circulation during the recovery of the primary liquid inventory, and the reactor coolant pump startup under BCM conditions. During the inventory recovery, various phenomena are observed, that contribute to the mixing of the dilute volumes prior to the resumption of flow. The pump activation, instead, occurs in a stagnant system, therefore, no mixing of the unborated liquid has occurred. Since an unmixed slug has the potential for a larger reactivity excursion than a partially mixed one, the pump-initiated flow resumption represents the worst-case scenario. The impulse - response method is applied, for the first time, to the problem of mixing in the downcomer. This allows to express the mixing in terms of two parameters, the dispersion number and the residence time, characteristics of the flow distribution in the complex annular geometry. Other important results are obtained from the analysis of the experimental data with this procedure. It is shown that the turbulence generated by the pump impeller has a significant impact on the overall mixing. Also, the geometric discontinuities in the downcomer (in particular, the gap enlargement below the cold leg elevation) are shown to be the cause of vortex structures that highly enhance the mixing process.

Effect of Pitch Size on Technical-Tactical Actions of the Goalkeeper in Small-Sided Games

PubMed Central

Jara, Daniel; Ortega, Enrique; Gómez, Miguel-Ángel; de Baranda, Pilar Sainz

2018-01-01

Abstract The aim of this paper was to determine how the size of the pitch affected technical and tactical actions of the goalkeeper when playing small-sided games. The participants were 13 male youth players, including 3 goalkeepers. Three different pitch sizes were used (62 x 44 m; 50 x 35 m; 32 x 23 m). On each pitch, the players played three matches of 8 minutes, with 5-minute breaks between matches. Numerous variables were recorded and examined: defensive and offensive technical and tactical actions, opponent’s shooting zone, length and zone of the offensive action, and goal zone where the shoot was directed. An ad hoc observational tool was used. A descriptive analysis was described. The Fisher’s exact test was used when the expected distribution was below 5 or included values below 1%. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that the technical-tactical actions of the goalkeeper differed among pitch sizes. In defensive actions, when the pitch was larger, the 1-on-1 situations took precedence, whereas when the pitch was smaller, the proportion of blocks increased. In offensive actions, the goalkeepers did not show a wide variety of actions when the pitch was larger, but when the pitch was smaller, passes with a hand or foot increased. These results show that the size should be taken into account when planning and designing tasks. PMID:29922387

Public Response to a Near-Miss Nuclear Accident Scenario Varying in Causal Attributions and Outcome Uncertainty.

PubMed

Cui, Jinshu; Rosoff, Heather; John, Richard S

2018-05-01

Many studies have investigated public reactions to nuclear accidents. However, few studies focused on more common events when a serious accident could have happened but did not. This study evaluated public response (emotional, cognitive, and behavioral) over three phases of a near-miss nuclear accident. Simulating a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) scenario, we manipulated (1) attribution for the initial cause of the incident (software failure vs. cyber terrorist attack vs. earthquake), (2) attribution for halting the incident (fail-safe system design vs. an intervention by an individual expert vs. a chance coincidence), and (3) level of uncertainty (certain vs. uncertain) about risk of a future radiation leak after the LOCA is halted. A total of 773 respondents were sampled using a 3 × 3 × 2 between-subjects design. Results from both MANCOVA and structural equation modeling (SEM) indicate that respondents experienced more negative affect, perceived more risk, and expressed more avoidance behavioral intention when the near-miss event was initiated by an external attributed source (e.g., earthquake) compared to an internally attributed source (e.g., software failure). Similarly, respondents also indicated greater negative affect, perceived risk, and avoidance behavioral intentions when the future impact of the near-miss incident on people and the environment remained uncertain. Results from SEM analyses also suggested that negative affect predicted risk perception, and both predicted avoidance behavior. Affect, risk perception, and avoidance behavior demonstrated high stability (i.e., reliability) from one phase to the next. © 2017 Society for Risk Analysis.

Severe Accident Test Station Design Document

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Snead, Mary A.; Yan, Yong; Howell, Michael

The purpose of the ORNL severe accident test station (SATS) is to provide a platform for evaluation of advanced fuels under projected beyond design basis accident (BDBA) conditions. The SATS delivers the capability to map the behavior of advanced fuels concepts under accident scenarios across various temperature and pressure profiles, steam and steam-hydrogen gas mixtures, and thermal shock. The overall facility will include parallel capabilities for examination of fuels and irradiated materials (in-cell) and non-irradiated materials (out-of-cell) at BDBA conditions as well as design basis accident (DBA) or loss of coolant accident (LOCA) conditions. Also, a supporting analytical infrastructure tomore » provide the data-needs for the fuel-modeling components of the Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCRD) program will be put in place in a parallel manner. This design report contains the information for the first, second and third phases of design and construction of the SATS. The first phase consisted of the design and construction of an out-of-cell BDBA module intended for examination of non-irradiated materials. The second phase of this work was to construct the BDBA in-cell module to test irradiated fuels and materials as well as the module for DBA (i.e. LOCA) testing out-of-cell, The third phase was to build the in-cell DBA module. The details of the design constraints and requirements for the in-cell facility have been closely captured during the deployment of the out-of-cell SATS modules to ensure effective future implementation of the in-cell modules.« less

Transfer of 45Ca and 36Cl at the blood-nerve barrier of the sciatic nerve in rats fed low or high calcium diets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wadhwani, K.C.; Murphy, V.A.; Rapoport, S.I.

1991-04-01

Unidirectional fluxes of 45Ca, 36Cl, and of (3H)mannitol from blood into the sciatic nerve and cerebral cortex were determined from 5- and 15-min uptakes of these tracers after an intravenous (i.v.) bolus injection in awake rats. Rats were fed diets for 8 wk, that had either a low (0.01% wt/wt), normal (0.67%), or high (3%) Ca content. Plasma (Ca) was 32% less and 11% more in rats fed low (LOCA) and high Ca diets (HICA), respectively, than in rats fed a normal Ca diet (CONT). The mean permeability-surface area product (PA) of 45Ca at the blood-nerve barrier was about eightfoldmore » higher than at the blood-brain barrier in the same animals and did not differ significantly between groups (greater than 0.05). Mean PA ratios of 45Ca/36Cl for the blood-nerve and blood-brain barriers in CONT rats, 0.52 {plus minus} 0.04 and 0.40 {plus minus} 0.02, respectively, were not significantly different from corresponding ratios in LOCA and HICA groups, and corresponded to the aqueous limiting diffusion ratio (0.45). The authors results show no evidence for concentration-dependent transport of Ca over a plasma (Ca) range of 0.8-1.4 mmol/liter at the blood-nerve barrier of the rat peripheral nerve, and suggest that Ca and Cl exchange slowly between nerve and blood via paracellular pathways.« less

Biological Bases of Space Radiation Risk

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

In this session, Session JP4, the discussion focuses on the following topics: Hematopoiesis Dynamics in Irradiated Mammals, Mathematical Modeling; Estimating Health Risks in Space from Galactic Cosmic Rays; Failure of Heavy Ions to Affect Physiological Integrity of the Corneal Endothelial Monolayer; Application of an Unbiased Two-Gel CDNA Library Screening Method to Expression Monitoring of Genes in Irradiated Versus Control Cells; Detection of Radiation-Induced DNA Strand Breaks in Mammalian Cells By Enzymatic Post-Labeling; Evaluation of Bleomycin-Induced Chromosome Aberrations Under Microgravity Conditions in Human Lymphocytes, Using "Fish" Techniques; Technical Description of the Space Exposure Biology Assembly Seba on ISS; and Cytogenetic Research in Biological Dosimetry.

Ultra-weak sector, Higgs boson mass, and the dilaton

DOE PAGES

Allison, Kyle; Hill, Christopher T.; Ross, Graham G.

2014-09-26

The Higgs boson mass may arise from a portal coupling to a singlet fieldmore » $$\\sigma$$ which has a very large VEV $$f \\gg m_\\text{Higgs}$$. This requires a sector of "ultra-weak" couplings $$\\zeta_i$$, where $$\\zeta_i \\lesssim m_\\text{Higgs}^2 / f^2$$. Ultra-weak couplings are technically naturally small due to a custodial shift symmetry of $$\\sigma$$ in the $$\\zeta_i \\rightarrow 0$$ limit. The singlet field $$\\sigma$$ has properties similar to a pseudo-dilaton. We engineer explicit breaking of scale invariance in the ultra-weak sector via a Coleman-Weinberg potential, which requires hierarchies amongst the ultra-weak couplings.« less

Study to determine the technical and economic feasibility of reclaiming chemicals used in micellar polymer and low tension surfactant flooding. Final report. [Ultrafiltration membranes and reverse osmosis membranes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stephens, R.H.; Himmelblau, A.; Donnelly, R.G.

1978-02-01

Energy Resources Company has developed a technology for use with enhanced oil recovery to achieve emulsion breaking and surfactant recovery. By using ultrafiltration membranes, the Energy Resources Company process can dewater an oil-in-water type emulsion expected from enhanced oil recovery projects to the point where the emulsion can be inverted and treated using conventional emulsion-treating equipment. By using a tight ultrafiltration membrane or a reverse osmosis membrane, the Energy Resources Company process is capable of recovering chemicals such as surfactants used in micellar polymer flooding.

Development and Validation of Accident Models for FeCrAl Cladding

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gamble, Kyle Allan Lawrence; Hales, Jason Dean

2016-08-01

The purpose of this milestone report is to present the work completed in regards to material model development for FeCrAl cladding and highlight the results of applying these models to Loss of Coolant Accidents (LOCA) and Station Blackouts (SBO). With the limited experimental data available (essentially only the data used to create the models) true validation is not possible. In the absence of another alternative, qualitative comparisons during postulated accident scenarios between FeCrAl and Zircaloy-4 cladded rods have been completed demonstrating the superior performance of FeCrAl.

Emergency heat removal system for a nuclear reactor

DOEpatents

Dunckel, Thomas L.

1976-01-01

A heat removal system for nuclear reactors serving as a supplement to an Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) during a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) comprises a plurality of heat pipes having one end in heat transfer relationship with either the reactor pressure vessel, the core support grid structure or other in-core components and the opposite end located in heat transfer relationship with a heat exchanger having heat transfer fluid therein. The heat exchanger is located external to the pressure vessel whereby excessive core heat is transferred from the above reactor components and dissipated within the heat exchanger fluid.

General Electromagnetic Model for the Analysis of Complex Systems (GEMACS) Computer Code Documentation (Version 3). Volume 3. Part 2.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-01

F.P. PX /AMPZIJ/ REFH /AMPZIJ/ REFV /AI4PZIJ/ * RHOX /AI4PZIJ/ RHOY /At4PZIJ/ RHOZ /AI4PZIJ/ S A-ZJ SA /AMPZIJ/ SALP /AMPZIJ/ 6. CALLING ROUTINE: FLDDRV...US3NG ALGORITHM 72 COMPUTE P- YES .~:*:.~~ USING* *. 1. NAME: PLAINT (GTD) ] 2. PURPOSE: To determine if a ray traveling from a given source loca...determine if a source ray reflection from plate MP occurs. If a ray traveling from the source image location in the reflected ray direction passes through

Westinghouse Small Modular Reactor passive safety system response to postulated events

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smith, M. C.; Wright, R. F.

2012-07-01

The Westinghouse Small Modular Reactor (SMR) is an 800 MWt (>225 MWe) integral pressurized water reactor. This paper is part of a series of four describing the design and safety features of the Westinghouse SMR. This paper focuses in particular upon the passive safety features and the safety system response of the Westinghouse SMR. The Westinghouse SMR design incorporates many features to minimize the effects of, and in some cases eliminates the possibility of postulated accidents. The small size of the reactor and the low power density limits the potential consequences of an accident relative to a large plant. Themore » integral design eliminates large loop piping, which significantly reduces the flow area of postulated loss of coolant accidents (LOCAs). The Westinghouse SMR containment is a high-pressure, compact design that normally operates at a partial vacuum. This facilitates heat removal from the containment during LOCA events. The containment is submerged in water which also aides the heat removal and provides an additional radionuclide filter. The Westinghouse SMR safety system design is passive, is based largely on the passive safety systems used in the AP1000{sup R} reactor, and provides mitigation of all design basis accidents without the need for AC electrical power for a period of seven days. Frequent faults, such as reactivity insertion events and loss of power events, are protected by first shutting down the nuclear reaction by inserting control rods, then providing cold, borated water through a passive, buoyancy-driven flow. Decay heat removal is provided using a layered approach that includes the passive removal of heat by the steam drum and independent passive heat removal system that transfers heat from the primary system to the environment. Less frequent faults such as loss of coolant accidents are mitigated by passive injection of a large quantity of water that is readily available inside containment. An automatic depressurization system is used to reduce the reactor pressure in a controlled manner to facilitate the passive injection. Long-term decay heat removal is accomplished using the passive heat removal systems augmented by heat transfer through the containment vessel to the environment. The passive injection systems are designed so that the fuel remains covered and effectively cooled throughout the event. Like during the frequent faults, the passive systems provide effective cooling without the need for ac power for seven days following the accident. Connections are available to add additional water to indefinitely cool the plant. The response of the safety systems of the Westinghouse SMR to various initiating faults has been examined. Among them, two accidents; an extended station blackout event, and a LOCA event have been evaluated to demonstrate how the plant will remain safe in the unlikely event that either should occur. (authors)« less

Development of Test Rig for Robotization of Mining Technological Processes - Oversized Rock Breaking Process Case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawel, Stefaniak; Jacek, Wodecki; Jakubiak, Janusz; Zimroz, Radoslaw

2017-12-01

Production chain (PCh) in underground copper ore mine consists of several subprocesses. From our perspective implementation of so called ZEPA approach (Zero Entry Production Area) might be very interesting [16]. In practice, it leads to automation/robotization of subprocesses in production area. In this paper was investigated a specific part of PCh i.e. a place when cyclic transport by LHDs is replaced with continuous transport by conveying system. Such place is called dumping point. The objective of dumping points with screen is primary classification of the material (into coarse and fine material) and breaking oversized rocks with hydraulic hammer. Current challenges for the underground mining include e.g. safety improvement as well as production optimization related to bottlenecks, stoppages and operational efficiency of the machines. As a first step, remote control of the hydraulic hammer has been introduced, which not only transferred the operator to safe workplace, but also allowed for more comfortable work environment and control over multiple technical objects by a single person. Today literature analysis shows that current mining industry around the world is oriented to automation and robotization of mining processes and reveals technological readiness for 4th industrial revolution. The paper is focused on preliminary analysis of possibilities for the use of the robotic system to rock-breaking process. Prototype test rig has been proposed and experimental works have been carried out. Automatic algorithms for detection of oversized rocks, crushing them as well as sweeping and loosening of material have been formulated. Obviously many simplifications have been assumed. Some near future works have been proposed.

The value of residential photovoltaic systems: A comprehensive assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Borden, C. S.

1983-01-01

Utility-interactive photovoltaic (PV) arrays on residential rooftops appear to be a potentially attractive, large-scale application of PV technology. Results of a comprehensive assessment of the value (i.e., break-even cost) of utility-grid connected residential photovoltaic power systems under a variety of technological and economic assumptions are presented. A wide range of allowable PV system costs are calculated for small (4.34 kW (p) sub ac) residential PV systems in various locales across the United States. Primary factor in this variation are differences in local weather conditions, utility-specific electric generation capacity, fuel types, and customer-load profiles that effect purchase and sell-back rates, and non-uniform state tax considerations. Additional results from this analysis are: locations having the highest insolation values are not necessary the most economically attractive sites; residential PV systems connected in parallel to the utility demonstrate high percentages of energy sold back to the grid, and owner financial and tax assumptions cause large variations in break-even costs. Significant cost reduction and aggressive resolution of potential institutional impediments (e.g., liability, standards, metering, and technical integration) are required for a residential PV marker to become a major electric-grid-connected energy-generation source.

Tank Riser Pit Decontamination System (Pit Viper) Return on Investment and Break-Even Analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Young, Joan K.; Weimar, Mark R.; Balducci, Patrick J.

2003-06-30

This study assessed the cost benefit of Pit Viper deployment for 80 tank farm pits between October 1, 2003 and September 30, 2012 under the technical baseline for applicable double-shell tank (DST) and single-shell tank (SST) projects. After this assessment had been completed, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Richland Operations Office (RL) and Office of River Protection (ORP) published the Hanford Performance Management Plan (August 2003), which accelerated the schedule for SST retrieval. Then, DOE/CH2M HILL contract modification M064 (October 2002) and The Integrated Mission Acceleration Plan (March 2003) further accelerated SST retrieval and closure schedules. Twenty-six to 40more » tanks must be retrieved by 2006. Thus the schedule for SST pit entries is accelerated and the number of SST pit entries is increased. This study estimates the return on investment (ROI) and the number of pits where Pit Viper deployment would break even or save money over current manual practices. The results of the analysis indicate a positive return on the federal investment for deployment of the Pit Viper provided it is used on a sufficient number of pits.« less

Global eradication of poliomyelitis: benefit-cost analysis.

PubMed Central

Bart, K. J.; Foulds, J.; Patriarca, P.

1996-01-01

A benefit-cost analysis of the Poliomyelitis Eradication Initiative was undertaken to facilitate national and international decision-making with regard to financial support. The base case examined the net costs and benefits during the period 1986-2040; the model assumed differential costs for oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) and vaccine delivery in industrialized and developing countries, and ignored all benefits aside from reductions in direct costs for treatment and rehabilitation. The model showed that the "break-even" point at which benefits exceeded costs was the year 2007, with a saving of US$ 13 600 million by the year 2040. Sensitivity analyses revealed only small differences in the break-even point and in the dollars saved, when compared with the base case, even with large variations in the target age group for vaccination, the proportion of case-patients seeking medical attention, and the cost of vaccine delivery. The technical feasibility of global eradication is supported by the availability of an easily administered, inexpensive vaccine (OPV), the epidemiological characteristics of poliomyelitis, and the successful experience in the Americas with elimination of wild poliovirus infection. This model demonstrates that the Poliomyelitis Eradication Initiative is economically justified. PMID:8653814

The making of a cavitation children's book

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henry de Frahan, Marc; Patterson, Brandon; Lazar, Erika

2016-11-01

Engaging young children in science is particularly important to future scientific endeavors. From thunderstorms to the waterpark, children are constantly exposed to the wonders of fluid dynamics. Among fluid phenomena, bubbles have always fascinated children. Yet some of the most exciting aspects of bubbles, such as cavitation, are scarcely known to non-experts. To introduce cavitation to a five year old audience, we wrote "Brooke Bubble Breaks Things", a children's book about the adventures of a cavitation bubble learning about all the things she could break. In this talk, we discuss how a children's book is made by walking through the steps involved in creating the book from concept to publication. We focus on strategies for successfully communicating a technical message while balancing entertainment and fidelity to nature. To provide parents, teachers, and young inquiring minds with a detailed explanation of the physics and applications of cavitation, we also created a website with detailed explanations, animations, and links to further information. We aim to convince the fluids community that writing picture books is an intellectually stimulating and fun way of communicating fluids principles and applications to children. ArtsEngine Microgrant at the University of Michigan.

The value of residential photovoltaic systems: A comprehensive assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borden, C. S.

1983-09-01

Utility-interactive photovoltaic (PV) arrays on residential rooftops appear to be a potentially attractive, large-scale application of PV technology. Results of a comprehensive assessment of the value (i.e., break-even cost) of utility-grid connected residential photovoltaic power systems under a variety of technological and economic assumptions are presented. A wide range of allowable PV system costs are calculated for small (4.34 kW (p) sub ac) residential PV systems in various locales across the United States. Primary factor in this variation are differences in local weather conditions, utility-specific electric generation capacity, fuel types, and customer-load profiles that effect purchase and sell-back rates, and non-uniform state tax considerations. Additional results from this analysis are: locations having the highest insolation values are not necessary the most economically attractive sites; residential PV systems connected in parallel to the utility demonstrate high percentages of energy sold back to the grid, and owner financial and tax assumptions cause large variations in break-even costs. Significant cost reduction and aggressive resolution of potential institutional impediments (e.g., liability, standards, metering, and technical integration) are required for a residential PV marker to become a major electric-grid-connected energy-generation source.

The desirability of education in didactic skills according to medical interns.

PubMed

Kloek, Anne T; Verbakel, Joshua R A; Bernard, Simone E; Evenboer, Januska; Hendriks, Eef J; Stam, Hanneke

2012-12-01

Since all doctors at some point in their career will be faced with their role as a teacher, it appears desirable that future doctors are educated in didactic skills. At present, however, there are no formal opportunities for developing didactic skills at the majority of Dutch medical faculties. The main question of this study is: How do medical interns perceive the quality and quantity of their education in didactic skills? The Dutch Association for Medical Interns (LOCA) ran a national survey among 1,008 medical interns that measured the interns' self-assessed needs for training in didactic skills during medical school. Almost 80 % of the respondents argue that the mastery of didactic skills composes an essential competency for doctors, with the skill of providing adequate feedback considered to be the most important didactic quality for doctors. Of the respondents, 41 % wish to be educated in didactic skills, both during their medical undergraduate degree and during their subsequent training to become a resident. Teaching while being observed and receiving feedback in this setting is regarded as a particularly valuable didactic method by 74 % of the medical interns. Of the respondents, 82 % would invest time to follow training for the development of didactic skills if it was offered. Medical interns stress the importance of doctors' didactic skills during their clinical internships. Compared with current levels, most interns desire increased attention to the formal development of didactic skills during medical school. Considering the importance of didactic skills and the need for more extensive training, the LOCA advises medical faculties to include more formal didactic training in the medical curriculum.

Geochemical and Hydrologic Controls of Copper-Rich Surface Waters in the Yerba Loca-Mapocho System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pasten, P.; Montecinos, M.; Coquery, M.; Pizarro, G. E.; Abarca, M. I.; Arce, G. J.

2015-12-01

Andean watersheds in Northern and Central Chile are naturally enriched with metals, many of them associated to sulfide mineralizations related to copper mining districts. The natural and anthropogenic influx of toxic metals into drinking water sources pose a sustainability challenge for cities that need to provide safe water with the smallest footprint. This work presents our study of the transformations of copper in the Yerba Loca-Mapocho system. Our sampling campaign started from the headwaters at La Paloma Glacier and continues to the inlet of the San Enrique drinking water treatment plant, a system feeding municipalities in the Eastern area of Santiago, Chile. Depending on the season, total copper concentrations go as high as 22 mg/L for the upper sections, which become diluted to <5 mg/L downstream. pH ranged from 3 to 5.6 while suspended solids ranged from <10 to 100 mg/L. We used Geochemist Workbench to assess copper speciation and to evaluate the thermodynamic controls for the formation and dissolution of solid phases. A sediment trap was used to concentrate suspended particulate matter, which was analyzed with ICP-MS, TXRF (total reflection X ray fluorescence) and XRD (X-ray diffraction). Major elements detected in the precipitates were Al (200 g/kg), S (60 g/kg), and Cu (6 g/kg). Likely solid phases include hydrous amorphous phases of aluminum hydroxides and sulfates, and copper hydroxides/carbonates. Efforts are undergoing to find the optimal mixing ratios between the acidic stream and more alkaline streams to maximize attenuation of dissolved copper. The results of this research could be used for enhancing in-stream natural attenuation of copper and reducing treatment needs at the drinking water facility. Acknowledgements to Fondecyt 1130936 and Conicyt Fondap 15110020

New reactor cavity cooling system having passive safety features using novel shape for HTGRs and VHTRs

DOE PAGES

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Hu, Rui

2014-11-27

A new, highly efficient reactor cavity cooling system (RCCS) with passive safety features without a requirement for electricity and mechanical drive is proposed for high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGRs) and very high temperature reactors (VHTRs). The RCCS design consists of continuous closed regions; one is an ex-reactor pressure vessel (RPV) region and another is a cooling region having heat transfer area to ambient air assumed at 40 (°C). The RCCS uses a novel shape to efficiently remove the heat released from the RPV with radiation and natural convection. Employing the air as the working fluid and the ambient airmore » as the ultimate heat sink, the new RCCS design strongly reduces the possibility of losing the heat sink for decay heat removal. Therefore, HTGRs and VHTRs adopting the new RCCS design can avoid core melting due to overheating the fuels. The simulation results from a commercial CFD code, STAR-CCM+, show that the temperature distribution of the RCCS is within the temperature limits of the structures, such as the maximum operating temperature of the RPV, 713.15 (K) = 440 (°C), and the heat released from the RPV could be removed safely, even during a loss of coolant accident (LOCA). Finally, when the RCCS can remove 600 (kW) of the rated nominal state even during LOCA, the safety review for building the HTTR could confirm that the temperature distribution of the HTTR is within the temperature limits of the structures to secure structures and fuels after the shutdown because the large heat capacity of the graphite core can absorb heat from the fuel in a short period. Therefore, the capacity of the new RCCS design would be sufficient for decay heat removal.« less

Technology, society, and freedom in teh Tower of Babel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Von Laue, T.H.

This article extends the relationship between technolgy and society in three respects. First, it calls attention to the commonly overlooked subliminal sources of human motivation and conduct in dealing with both technical and nontechnical (or cultural) artifacts. Both enforce restraints that liberate human creativity and permit collective survival, hence the relevance of the issue of freedom. Second, it sets the relationship between technology and society into the full context of our contemporary anarchical world order, in which incompatible cultures clash with each other and with the common technologies and organizations that sustain the world's rapidly growing population. Finally, it assignsmore » top priority to the social contexts into which all scientific and technical work is set; it contends that, if society breaks down, all else goes down, too. In this perspective the present world order demands vastly more individual and collective restraints if the new technologies are to live up to their promise. Unfortunately, we know yet too little about the social contexts of technology or the functioning of society in our multicultured, interdependent world. 12 notes and references« less

Terrestrial Micro Renewable Energy Applications of Space Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komerath, N. M.; Komerath, P. P.

This paper explores the synergy between technologies intended for extraterrestrial in situ resource utilization and those for terrestrial mass-market micro renewable power generation systems. The case for a micro renewable energy architecture is presented. The obstacles hindering market success are summarized, along with opportunities from recent demonstrations suggesting that the public appetite for sophisticated technology worldwide may be underappreciated by technical researchers. Technical innovations from space research are summarized along with estimates of possible conversion efficiencies. It is argued that the cost-effectiveness of micro power generation must be viewed through the value of the first few watts of available power, rather than the marginal cost per kilowatt-hour of electric power from utility power grids. This leads to the finding that the actual target cost per unit power, and efficiency, are well within reach of space technology products. Hybrid systems integrating power extraction from multiple resources, and adaptable for multiple applications, can break through mass market price barriers. Recent work to develop learning resources and test beds as part of a Micro Renewable Energy Laboratory is summarized.

FY 1987 current fiscal year work plan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

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

MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery, present and future

PubMed Central

Schlesinger, David; Benedict, Stanley; Diederich, Chris; Gedroyc, Wladyslaw; Klibanov, Alexander; Larner, James

2013-01-01

MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) is a quickly developing technology with potential applications across a spectrum of indications traditionally within the domain of radiation oncology. Especially for applications where focal treatment is the preferred technique (for example, radiosurgery), MRgFUS has the potential to be a disruptive technology that could shift traditional patterns of care. While currently cleared in the United States for the noninvasive treatment of uterine fibroids and bone metastases, a wide range of clinical trials are currently underway, and the number of publications describing advances in MRgFUS is increasing. However, for MRgFUS to make the transition from a research curiosity to a clinical standard of care, a variety of challenges, technical, financial, clinical, and practical, must be overcome. This installment of the Vision 20/20 series examines the current status of MRgFUS, focusing on the hurdles the technology faces before it can cross over from a research technique to a standard fixture in the clinic. It then reviews current and near-term technical developments which may overcome these hurdles and allow MRgFUS to break through into clinical practice. PMID:23927296

Children's quality of life in a noisy world

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulte-Fortkamp, Brigitte

2004-05-01

On 30 April 2003 during the International Forum Noise Awareness Day European experts from the fields of medicine, acoustics, sociology, psychology, city planning, and traffic regulation led the current discussion on the risks of noise pollution for children at the Institute of Technical Acoustics at the Berlin Technical University, Germany. Studies probing into the negative effects of noise exposure upon the psychic, cognitive, and emotional functions of children are of a quite recent date. Even the quality of life of children as auto-directed experience and functionality is only now starting to get recognized; of special interest are the changes in self-awareness, performance, and health. The Forum focused upon methodological reflections for the collection of data as well as studies regarding the living conditions of children under sound exposure from different perspectives. In this context the research of sound effects has taken initial tentative steps to break away from the tried-and-true procedures of the last 30 years. Next to applied science, investigating fundamentals will need to be considered. Aiming at a networking process is one of the goals conducting the ``Tag gegen Lrm-International Noise Awareness Day.''

U.S. Virgin Islands Transportation Petroleum Reduction Plan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, C.

2011-09-01

This NREL technical report determines a way for USVI to meet its petroleum reduction goal in the transportation sector. It does so first by estimating current petroleum use and key statistics and characteristics of USVI transportation. It then breaks the goal down into subordinate goals and estimates the petroleum impacts of these goals with a wedge analysis. These goals focus on reducing vehicle miles, improving fuel economy, improving traffic flow, using electric vehicles, using biodiesel and renewable diesel, and using 10% ethanol in gasoline. The final section of the report suggests specific projects to achieve the goals, and ranks themore » projects according to cost, petroleum reduction, time frame, and popularity.« less

Selection and Evaluation of Priority Domains in Global Energy Internet Standard Development Based on Technology Foresight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Yang; Ciwei, Gao; Jing, Zhang; Min, Sun; Jie, Yu

2017-05-01

The selection and evaluation of priority domains in Global Energy Internet standard development will help to break through limits of national investment, thus priority will be given to standardizing technical areas with highest urgency and feasibility. Therefore, in this paper, the process of Delphi survey based on technology foresight is put forward, the evaluation index system of priority domains is established, and the index calculation method is determined. Afterwards, statistical method is used to evaluate the alternative domains. Finally the top four priority domains are determined as follows: Interconnected Network Planning and Simulation Analysis, Interconnected Network Safety Control and Protection, Intelligent Power Transmission and Transformation, and Internet of Things.

KSC-06pd0545

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-03-24

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Bill Parsons explains the significance of the Operations Support Building II (behind him) to guests at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Operations Support Building II is an Agency safety and health initiative project to replace 198,466 square feet of substandard modular housing and trailers in the Launch Complex 39 area at Kennedy Space Center. The five-story building, which sits south of the Vehicle Assembly Building and faces the launch pads, includes 960 office spaces, 16 training rooms, computer and multimedia conference rooms, a Mission Conference Center with an observation deck, technical libraries, an Exchange store, storage, break areas, and parking. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton

Gas Fuelling System for SST-1Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhanani, Kalpesh; Raval, D. C.; Khan, Ziauddin; Semwal, Pratibha; George, Siju; Paravastu, Yuvakiran; Thankey, Prashant; Khan, M. S.; Pradhan, Subrata

2017-04-01

SST-1 Tokamak, the first Indian Steady-state Superconducting experimental device is at present under operation in the Institute for Plasma Research. For plasma break down & initiation, piezoelectric valve based gas feed system is implemented as a primary requirement due to its precise control, easy handling, low construction and maintenance cost and its flexibility in the selection of the working gas. Hydrogen gas feeding with piezoelectric valve is used in the SST-1 plasma experiments. The piezoelectric valves used in SST-1 are remotely driven by a PXI based platform and are calibrated before each SST-1 plasma operation with precise control. This paper will present the technical development and the results of the gas fuelling system of SST-1.

KSC-98dc1879

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-12-18

An artist's rendering shows the $8-million Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Support Complex planned for the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at Kennedy Space Center. The ground breaking took place today. To be located at the tow-way adjacent to the SLF, the complex will include a multi-purpose RLV hangar and adjacent facilities for related ground support equipment and administrative/technical support. It will be available to accommodate the Space Shuttle, the X-34 RLV technology demonstrator, the L-1011 carrier aircraft for Pegasus and X-34, and other RLV and X-vehicle programs. The complex is jointly funded by the Spaceport Florida Authority, NASA's Space Shuttle Program and KSC. The facility will be operational in early 2000

PANDA asymmetric-configuration passive decay heat removal test results

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fischer, O.; Dreier, J.; Aubert, C.

1997-12-01

PANDA is a large-scale, low-pressure test facility for investigating passive decay heat removal systems for the next generation of LWRs. In the first series of experiments, PANDA was used to examine the long-term LOCA response of the Passive Containment Cooling System (PCCS) for the General Electric (GE) Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (SBWR). The test objectives include concept demonstration and extension of the database available for qualification of containment codes. Also included is the study of the effects of nonuniform distributions of steam and noncondensable gases in the Dry-well (DW) and in the Suppression Chamber (SC). 3 refs., 9 figs.

Technical determinants of tackle and ruck performance in International rugby union.

PubMed

Hendricks, Sharief; van Niekerk, Tiffany; Sin, Drew Wade; Lambert, Mike; den Hollander, Steve; Brown, James; Maree, Willie; Treu, Paul; Till, Kevin; Jones, Ben

2018-03-01

The most frequently occurring contact events in rugby union are the tackle and ruck. The ability repeatedly to engage and win the tackle and ruck has been associated with team success. To win the tackle and ruck, players have to perform specific techniques. These techniques have not been studied at the highest level of rugby union. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify technical determinants of tackle and ruck performance at the highest level of rugby union. A total of 4479 tackle and 2914 ruck events were coded for the Six Nations and Championship competitions. Relative risk ratio (RR), the ratio of the probability of an outcome occurring when a characteristic was observed (versus the non-observed characteristic), was determined using multinomial logistic regression. Executing front-on tackles reduced the likelihood of offloads and tackle breaks in both competitions (Six Nations RR 3.0 Behind tackle, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.9-4.6, effect size [ES] = large, P < 0.001); Championship RR 2.9 Jersey tackle, 95% CI: 1.3-6.4, ES = moderate, P = 0.01). Fending during contact increased the chances of offloading and breaking the tackle in both competitions (Six Nations RR 4.5 Strong, 95% CI: 2.2-9.2, ES = large, P = P < 0.001; Championship RR 5.1 Moderate, 95% CI: 3.5-7.4, ES = large, P < 0.001). For the ruck, actively placing the ball increased the probability of maintaining possession (Six Nations RR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.3, ES = moderate, P = 0.03); Championship RR 4.0, 95% CI: 1.3-11.8, ES = large, P = 0.01). The techniques identified in this study should be incorporated and emphasised during training to prepare players for competition. Furthermore, these techniques need to be added to coaching manuals for the tackle and ruck.

Lessons for surgeons in the final moments of Air France Flight 447.

PubMed

Bhangu, Aneel; Bhangu, Sonia; Stevenson, James; Bowley, Douglas M

2013-06-01

All surgeons make mistakes, and learning from critical incidents may help improve performance. The present study aimed to highlight lessons for surgeons from analysis of the final moments of Air France Flight 447. All of the authors work in teams and situations where safety, technical performance, and non-technical skills are critical. This review was born out of discussions regarding the events of Flight 447; specifically, whether the airline disaster was relevant to their work, and whether they could learn anything from it. The study is based on review of the crash reports of Flight 447, which lost flight speed indication after formation of ice prevented air from entering flight speed indicators during a storm. Following a subsequent stall, the aircraft fell at a rate of >10,000 feet/min until it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing 228 passengers and crew. There were errors in decision making, reasoning, communication, and teamwork. Such non-technical skills failures have been recognized previously and can be addressed by existing non-technical skills training. A reliance on autopilot meant that the pilots were unfamiliar with high-altitude flying when the autopilot is disengaged. They were unprepared for and affected by such a sudden and serious problem; an event called "surprise and startle" by the accident investigation. The absence of the senior pilot (who was on a scheduled break) in the critical final minutes slowed error recognition and recovery. Unintended consequences of modern safety strategies may be under-recognized and can lead to adverse events. Both simulation-based and non-simulation-based training should include "surprise and startle" events beyond the scenarios trainees might expect. Likewise, in the face of increasing reliance on modern technology, surgeons should ensure that they would be able to perform procedures in the absence of such technologies. Specific training may improve surgeons' non-technical skills, and recognition of such skills could also be used to help select future surgeons.

Geographical aspects of a territory and the velocity of liquidation natural-technical emergency situations' consequences (the case of Leningradskaya oblast in Russia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vashalova, Tatiana; Gavrilova, Sofia

2013-04-01

The velocity of liquidation of consequences of emergency situation or natural hazards is on of two main components of nonmonetized evaluation of their graveness. Besides the level of technical and economical securance of repair works the big role in their differentiation plays macro and mesolocation of the repaire object in phisical- and economicalgeographical space. The enlistment of theses factors differs very much for the accidents of various origin and for various territories with their own combination of phisical- and economicalgeographical conditions. In this work the first attempt of analysis of influence of the phisical- and economicalgeographical conditions on the duration of repair the electricity supplies, broken down by the hazardous hydrometeorological phenomena in Leneigradskaya oblast in Russia was made. This region, situated on north-west of the country, outstands with variety of phisical- and economicalgeographical conditions. In this project the data of Laboratory of snow avalanches and mudflows (geographical faculty, MSU), open-sourced map data and the archive of newspapers of Leningradskaya oblast were used. It is very important to understand, that the transportation of the electricity by electric power lines is the main way of transportation energy in Russia. The interruption of power supply, caused by dangerous phenomena, happens in majority cases because of kinking or break of the cable. The break takes places during the strong winds and fall of the trees on the cable or icing and their break during the strong winds. The frequency of strong winds in the terms of one sinoptical cicle (5-7 days) appears as an independent factor of elongation of terms of repairing the power supply. Such phisicogeographical singularities of landscape of Leningradkaya oblast as the grade of loiss soil and swampiness of different districts apears as a factor, wgich modulate the dependence of the velocity of repairing the power supply from the characteristics of economical geographical space. Economical-geograhical characteristics of the space according to concered tipes of accidents should be estimate in macro and meso scale. In macro scale the social-economical status of Saint-Petersburg and accumbens cities and districts is essential. This city determins the creation of technical conditious, providing the protection of these objects from natural hazards. In meso scale the significant factors are the rank of the village, the presence of objects of life necessities and social-significant objects, the number of population, the distance to the closest "central place" and the quality of the transport arteria. In some cases the size of "the zone of responsobilitiy" plays a role. The investigation allowes to determine the principals of estimation geographical structure of the territory as a factor of differentation the velocity if liquadation the consequence of accidents and natural hazards. The analysis of causes and conditions, that influence the velocity of liquadation the consequence of accidents on a power supply make possible the zoning of Leningradskaya oblast. The conformation of achieved connections on other regions will make possible the development of methods of evaluation the value of appreciation the maintaining the life in regions of Russia on a certain level of life.

Designing a system for patients controlling providers' access to their electronic health records: organizational and technical challenges.

PubMed

Leventhal, Jeremy C; Cummins, Jonathan A; Schwartz, Peter H; Martin, Douglas K; Tierney, William M

2015-01-01

Electronic health records (EHRs) are proliferating, and financial incentives encourage their use. Applying Fair Information Practice principles to EHRs necessitates balancing patients' rights to control their personal information with providers' data needs to deliver safe, high-quality care. We describe the technical and organizational challenges faced in capturing patients' preferences for patient-controlled EHR access and applying those preferences to an existing EHR. We established an online system for capturing patients' preferences for who could view their EHRs (listing all participating clinic providers individually and categorically-physicians, nurses, other staff) and what data to redact (none, all, or by specific categories of sensitive data or patient age). We then modified existing data-viewing software serving a state-wide health information exchange and a large urban health system and its primary care clinics to allow patients' preferences to guide data displays to providers. Patients could allow or restrict data displays to all clinicians and staff in a demonstration primary care clinic, categories of providers (physicians, nurses, others), or individual providers. They could also restrict access to all EHR data or any or all of five categories of sensitive data (mental and reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse) and for specific patient ages. The EHR viewer displayed data via reports, data flowsheets, and coded and free text data displayed by Google-like searches. Unless patients recorded restrictions, by default all requested data were displayed to all providers. Data patients wanted restricted were not displayed, with no indication they were redacted. Technical barriers prevented redacting restricted information in free textnotes. The program allowed providers to hit a "Break the Glass" button to override patients' restrictions, recording the date, time, and next screen viewed. Establishing patient-control over EHR data displays was complex and required ethical, clinical, database, and programming expertise and difficult choices to overcome technical and health system constraints. Assessing patients' preferences for access to their EHRs and applying them in clinical practice requires wide-ranging technical, clinical, and bioethical expertise, to make tough choices to overcome significant technical and organization challenges.

Spontaneous Chloroplast Mutants Mostly Occur by Replication Slippage and Show a Biased Pattern in the Plastome of Oenothera[OPEN

PubMed Central

Massouh, Amid; Schubert, Julia; Yaneva-Roder, Liliya; Ulbricht-Jones, Elena S.; Johnson, Marc T.J.; Wright, Stephen I.; Pellizzer, Tommaso; Sobanski, Johanna; Greiner, Stephan

2016-01-01

Spontaneous plastome mutants have been used as a research tool since the beginning of genetics. However, technical restrictions have severely limited their contributions to research in physiology and molecular biology. Here, we used full plastome sequencing to systematically characterize a collection of 51 spontaneous chloroplast mutants in Oenothera (evening primrose). Most mutants carry only a single mutation. Unexpectedly, the vast majority of mutations do not represent single nucleotide polymorphisms but are insertions/deletions originating from DNA replication slippage events. Only very few mutations appear to be caused by imprecise double-strand break repair, nucleotide misincorporation during replication, or incorrect nucleotide excision repair following oxidative damage. U-turn inversions were not detected. Replication slippage is induced at repetitive sequences that can be very small and tend to have high A/T content. Interestingly, the mutations are not distributed randomly in the genome. The underrepresentation of mutations caused by faulty double-strand break repair might explain the high structural conservation of seed plant plastomes throughout evolution. In addition to providing a fully characterized mutant collection for future research on plastid genetics, gene expression, and photosynthesis, our work identified the spectrum of spontaneous mutations in plastids and reveals that this spectrum is very different from that in the nucleus. PMID:27053421

[Surgical managment of retinal detachment].

PubMed

Haritoglou, C; Wolf, A

2015-05-01

The detachment of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium can be related to breaks of the retina allowing vitreous fluid to gain access to the subretinal space, to exudative changes of the choroid such as tumours or inflammatory diseases or to excessive tractional forces exerted by interactions of the collagenous vitreous and the retina. Tractional retinal detachment is usually treated by vitrectomy and exudative detachment can be addressed by treatment of the underlying condition in many cases. In rhegmatogenous retinal detachment two different surgical procedures, vitrectomy and scleral buckling, can be applied for functional and anatomic rehabilitation of our patients. The choice of the surgical procedure is not really standardised and often depends on the experience of the surgeon and other more ocular factors including lens status, the number of retinal breaks, the extent of the detachment and the amount of preexisting PVR. Using both techniques, anatomic success rates of over 90 % can be achieved. Especially in young phakic patients scleral buckling offers the true advantage to prevent the progression of cataract formation requiring cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. Therefore, scleral buckling should be considered in selected cases as an alternative surgical option in spite of the very important technical refinements in modern vitrectomy techniques. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

New traits in crops produced by genome editing techniques based on deletions.

PubMed

van de Wiel, C C M; Schaart, J G; Lotz, L A P; Smulders, M J M

2017-01-01

One of the most promising New Plant Breeding Techniques is genome editing (also called gene editing) with the help of a programmable site-directed nuclease (SDN). In this review, we focus on SDN-1, which is the generation of small deletions or insertions (indels) at a precisely defined location in the genome with zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), TALENs, or CRISPR-Cas9. The programmable nuclease is used to induce a double-strand break in the DNA, while the repair is left to the plant cell itself, and mistakes are introduced, while the cell is repairing the double-strand break using the relatively error-prone NHEJ pathway. From a biological point of view, it could be considered as a form of targeted mutagenesis. We first discuss improvements and new technical variants for SDN-1, in particular employing CRISPR-Cas, and subsequently explore the effectiveness of targeted deletions that eliminate the function of a gene, as an approach to generate novel traits useful for improving agricultural sustainability, including disease resistances. We compare them with examples of deletions that resulted in novel functionality as known from crop domestication and classical mutation breeding (both using radiation and chemical mutagens). Finally, we touch upon regulatory and access and benefit sharing issues regarding the plants produced.

Plowshare Program - American Atomic Bomb Tests For Industrial Applications

ScienceCinema

None

2018-01-16

The United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) established the Plowshare Program as a research and development activity to explore the technical and economic feasibility of using nuclear explosives for industrial applications. The reasoning was that the relatively inexpensive energy available from nuclear explosions could prove useful for a wide variety of peaceful purposes. The Plowshare Program began in 1958 and continued through 1975. Between December 1961 and May 1973, the United States conducted 27 Plowshare nuclear explosive tests comprising 35 individual detonations. Conceptually, industrial applications resulting from the use of nuclear explosives could be divided into two broad categories: 1) large-scale excavation and quarrying, where the energy from the explosion was used to break up and/or move rock; and 2) underground engineering, where the energy released from deeply buried nuclear explosives increased the permeability and porosity of the rock by massive breaking and fracturing. Possible excavation applications included: canals, harbors, highway and railroad cuts through mountains, open pit mining, construction of dams, and other quarry and construction-related projects. Underground nuclear explosion applications included: stimulation of natural gas production, preparation of leachable ore bodies for in situ leaching, creation of underground zones of fractured oil shale for in situ retorting, and formation of underground natural gas and petroleum storage reservoirs.

A Universe without Weak Interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harnik, Roni; Kribs, Graham D.; Perez, Gilad

2006-04-07

A universe without weak interactions is constructed that undergoes big-bang nucleosynthesis, matter domination, structure formation, and star formation. The stars in this universe are able to burn for billions of years, synthesize elements up to iron, and undergo supernova explosions, dispersing heavy elements into the interstellar medium. These definitive claims are supported by a detailed analysis where this hypothetical ''Weakless Universe'' is matched to our Universe by simultaneously adjusting Standard Model and cosmological parameters. For instance, chemistry and nuclear physics are essentially unchanged. The apparent habitability of the Weakless Universe suggests that the anthropic principle does not determine the scalemore » of electroweak breaking, or even require that it be smaller than the Planck scale, so long as technically natural parameters may be suitably adjusted. Whether the multi-parameter adjustment is realized or probable is dependent on the ultraviolet completion, such as the string landscape. Considering a similar analysis for the cosmological constant, however, we argue that no adjustments of other parameters are able to allow the cosmological constant to raise up even remotely close to the Planck scale while obtaining macroscopic structure. The fine-tuning problems associated with the electroweak breaking scale and the cosmological constant therefore appear to be qualitatively different from the perspective of obtaining a habitable universe.« less

Discrete-Element bonded-particle Sea Ice model DESIgn, version 1.3a - model description and implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herman, Agnieszka

2016-04-01

This paper presents theoretical foundations, numerical implementation and examples of application of the two-dimensional Discrete-Element bonded-particle Sea Ice model - DESIgn. In the model, sea ice is represented as an assemblage of objects of two types: disk-shaped "grains" and semi-elastic bonds connecting them. Grains move on the sea surface under the influence of forces from the atmosphere and the ocean, as well as interactions with surrounding grains through direct contact (Hertzian contact mechanics) and/or through bonds. The model has an experimental option of taking into account quasi-three-dimensional effects related to the space- and time-varying curvature of the sea surface, thus enabling simulation of ice breaking due to stresses resulting from bending moments associated with surface waves. Examples of the model's application to simple sea ice deformation and breaking problems are presented, with an analysis of the influence of the basic model parameters ("microscopic" properties of grains and bonds) on the large-scale response of the modeled material. The model is written as a toolbox suitable for usage with the open-source numerical library LIGGGHTS. The code, together with full technical documentation and example input files, is freely available with this paper and on the Internet.

Plowshare Program - American Atomic Bomb Tests For Industrial Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2012-04-22

The United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) established the Plowshare Program as a research and development activity to explore the technical and economic feasibility of using nuclear explosives for industrial applications. The reasoning was that the relatively inexpensive energy available from nuclear explosions could prove useful for a wide variety of peaceful purposes. The Plowshare Program began in 1958 and continued through 1975. Between December 1961 and May 1973, the United States conducted 27 Plowshare nuclear explosive tests comprising 35 individual detonations. Conceptually, industrial applications resulting from the use of nuclear explosives could be divided into two broad categories: 1)more » large-scale excavation and quarrying, where the energy from the explosion was used to break up and/or move rock; and 2) underground engineering, where the energy released from deeply buried nuclear explosives increased the permeability and porosity of the rock by massive breaking and fracturing. Possible excavation applications included: canals, harbors, highway and railroad cuts through mountains, open pit mining, construction of dams, and other quarry and construction-related projects. Underground nuclear explosion applications included: stimulation of natural gas production, preparation of leachable ore bodies for in situ leaching, creation of underground zones of fractured oil shale for in situ retorting, and formation of underground natural gas and petroleum storage reservoirs.« less

[Mechanisms and prevention of windsurfing injuries].

PubMed

Petersen, W; Rau, J; Hansen, U; Zantop, T; Stein, V

2003-09-01

Aim of this study was to analyse the mechanisms of windsurfing injuries. For this purpose we performed a internet based survey among 327 windsurfers in Germany. Overall 630 accidents have been registered among all 327 athletes during the 2000 season. The majority of injuries were classified as minor injury. The most common injury was the bruise. 70 participants reported fractures, 26 participants ruptured a ligament. 280 injuries required medical treatment; in 67 cases even surgical treatment was necessary. The majority of accidents happened at wind power of 5-6 Beaufort after 2 hour exercise. A technical mistake was the most frequent cause for the accident. The most dangerous manoeuvres were difficult jumps (e. g. front loop, backward loop, 70 injuries). In 46 cases the weather conditions were underestimated. Only 10 windsurfers reported about broken material as cause for the injury. One half of the injuries happened in wave conditions. The analysis of injury mechanisms allows conclusions regarding injury prevention. A longer break after 60 minutes windsurfing might help to prevent injuries due to poor physical fitness. After one hour windsurfing without a break training of difficult manoeuvres should not be performed. The use of a helmet might prevent head injuries during training of difficult jumps. "Overpower situations" should be prevented by choosing the right board and sail size.

KSC-03pd1108

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-04-10

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Members of a Columbia Recovery search team take a break while walking a grid during a search near the Hemphill site. At center is NASA engineer Clay Thomlinson. The U.S. Forest Service group is accompanied by a space program worker able to identify potential hazards of Shuttle parts. Kennedy Space Center workers are participating in the Columbia Recovery efforts at the Lufkin (Texas) Command Center, four field sites in East Texas, and the Barksdale, La., hangar site. KSC is working with representatives from other NASA Centers and with those from a number of federal, state and local agencies in the recovery effort. KSC provides vehicle technical expertise in the field to identify, collect and return Shuttle hardware to KSC.

KSC-06pd0546

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-03-24

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Scott Kerr, director of Engineering Development at Kennedy Space Center, addresses guests at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Operations Support Building II (behind him). He and other key Center personnel and guests attended the significant event. The Operations Support Building II is an Agency safety and health initiative project to replace 198,466 square feet of substandard modular housing and trailers in the Launch Complex 39 area at Kennedy Space Center. The five-story building, which sits south of the Vehicle Assembly Building and faces the launch pads, includes 960 office spaces, 16 training rooms, computer and multimedia conference rooms, a Mission Conference Center with an observation deck, technical libraries, an Exchange store, storage, break areas, and parking. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton

KSC-06pd0544

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-03-24

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Bill Parsons talks to guests at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Operations Support Building II (behind him). He and other key Center personnel and guests attended the significant event. The Operations Support Building II is an Agency safety and health initiative project to replace 198,466 square feet of substandard modular housing and trailers in the Launch Complex 39 area at Kennedy Space Center. The five-story building, which sits south of the Vehicle Assembly Building and faces the launch pads, includes 960 office spaces, 16 training rooms, computer and multimedia conference rooms, a Mission Conference Center with an observation deck, technical libraries, an Exchange store, storage, break areas, and parking. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

Materials developed by NIOSH concerning video display terminals (VDTs) comprise the publication. The first section listed citations of reports developed by NIOSH concerning VDTs and possible hazards associated with their use, and contained ordering information for these publications. Types of publications included NIOSH numbered publications, hazard evaluation and technical assistance reports, contract reports, journal articles, book chapters, presentations, and miscellaneous reports. The second section of the report contained full text copies of selected references from the bibliography. These references included testimony before congressional committees, presentations and articles dealing with radiation issues, reproductive outcomes of workers using VDTs the risk ofmore » spontaneous abortion, an epidemiologic investigation of electric and magnetic fields and operator exposure, controlling glare problems in the VDT work environment, and the design of rest breaks for VDT operators.« less

Lactation accommodation in the workplace and duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

PubMed

Bai, Yeon; Wunderlich, Shahla M

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess current lactation accommodations in a workplace environment and to examine the association between the different dimensions of support and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. A survey was conducted with employees of a higher-education institution and clients of an obstetric hospital in New Jersey. Factor analysis identified dimensions of workplace support. The dimensions were correlated with the duration of exclusive breastfeeding using Pearson's r correlation analysis. One hundred and thirteen working mothers participated in the study. The mean (SD) number of working hours of the participants was 34.3 (2.8) hours per week. Participants were primarily white (89.4%), older (mean age, 33.8 [6.0] years), highly educated (>82% above college graduate), and married (92%). Participants indicated that in their workplaces, breastfeeding was not common, breast pumps were not available, and on-site day care was not always an option. The analysis identified 4 dimensions of breastfeeding accommodation: break time, workplace environment, technical support, and workplace policy. Technical support (r = 0.71, P = .01) and workplace environment (r = 0.26, P = .01) were significantly associated with the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Employers can strengthen technical support and workplace environment to encourage breastfeeding continuation in working mothers. New federal laws should consider specific guidelines for minimum requirements for functional lactation support to achieve comprehensive breastfeeding benefits. © 2013 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

The Future of the Space Age or how to Evaluate Innovative Ideas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vollerthun, A.; Fricke, E.

2002-05-01

Based on an initiative of the German Aerospace Industry Association to foster a more transparent and structured funding of German commercial-oriented space projects a three-phased approach is suggested in this paper, to stepwise improve and evaluate proposed concepts for space-related innovations. The objective of this concept was to develop a transparent, structured, and reproducible process to select the right innovative project in terms of political, economical, and technical objectives for funding by e.g. a governmental agency. A stepwise process and related methods, that cover technical as well as economical aspects (and related sensitivities) are proposed. Based on the special needs and requirements of space industry the proposals are compared to a set of predefined top level objectives/requirements. Using an initial trades analysis with the criteria company, technology, product, and market, an initial business case is analyzed. The alternative innovative concepts are in the third process step subject to a very detailed analysis. The full economical and technical scale of the projects is evaluated and metrics for e.g. the 'Return on Investment' or 'Break Even Point' are determined, to compare the various innovations. Risks related to time, cost, and quality are considered, when performing sensitivity analysis by varying the most important factors of the project. Before discussing critical aspects of the proposed process, space-related examples will be presented to show how the process could be applied, and how different concepts should be evaluated.

Passive containment cooling system with drywell pressure regulation for boiling water reactor

DOEpatents

Hill, Paul R.

1994-01-01

A boiling water reactor having a regulating valve for placing the wetwell in flow communication with an intake duct of the passive containment cooling system. This subsystem can be adjusted to maintain the drywell pressure at (or slightly below or above) wetwell pressure after the initial reactor blowdown transient is over. This addition to the PCCS design has the benefit of eliminating or minimizing steam leakage from the drywell to the wetwell in the longer-term post-LOCA time period and also minimizes the temperature difference between drywell and wetwell. This in turn reduces the rate of long-term pressure buildup of the containment, thereby extending the time to reach the design pressure limit.

Operation of a wind turbine-flywheel energy storage system under conditions of stochastic change of wind energy.

PubMed

Tomczewski, Andrzej

2014-01-01

The paper presents the issues of a wind turbine-flywheel energy storage system (WT-FESS) operation under real conditions. Stochastic changes of wind energy in time cause significant fluctuations of the system output power and as a result have a negative impact on the quality of the generated electrical energy. In the author's opinion it is possible to reduce the aforementioned effects by using an energy storage of an appropriate type and capacity. It was assumed that based on the technical parameters of a wind turbine-energy storage system and its geographical location one can determine the boundary capacity of the storage, which helps prevent power cuts to the grid at the assumed probability. Flywheel energy storage was selected due to its characteristics and technical parameters. The storage capacity was determined based on an empirical relationship using the results of the proposed statistical and energetic analysis of the measured wind velocity courses. A detailed algorithm of the WT-FESS with the power grid system was developed, eliminating short-term breaks in the turbine operation and periods when the wind turbine power was below the assumed level.

Non-mydriatic, wide field, fundus video camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoeher, Bernhard; Voigtmann, Peter; Michelson, Georg; Schmauss, Bernhard

2014-02-01

We describe a method we call "stripe field imaging" that is capable of capturing wide field color fundus videos and images of the human eye at pupil sizes of 2mm. This means that it can be used with a non-dilated pupil even with bright ambient light. We realized a mobile demonstrator to prove the method and we could acquire color fundus videos of subjects successfully. We designed the demonstrator as a low-cost device consisting of mass market components to show that there is no major additional technical outlay to realize the improvements we propose. The technical core idea of our method is breaking the rotational symmetry in the optical design that is given in many conventional fundus cameras. By this measure we could extend the possible field of view (FOV) at a pupil size of 2mm from a circular field with 20° in diameter to a square field with 68° by 18° in size. We acquired a fundus video while the subject was slightly touching and releasing the lid. The resulting video showed changes at vessels in the region of the papilla and a change of the paleness of the papilla.

Operation of a Wind Turbine-Flywheel Energy Storage System under Conditions of Stochastic Change of Wind Energy

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

The paper presents the issues of a wind turbine-flywheel energy storage system (WT-FESS) operation under real conditions. Stochastic changes of wind energy in time cause significant fluctuations of the system output power and as a result have a negative impact on the quality of the generated electrical energy. In the author's opinion it is possible to reduce the aforementioned effects by using an energy storage of an appropriate type and capacity. It was assumed that based on the technical parameters of a wind turbine-energy storage system and its geographical location one can determine the boundary capacity of the storage, which helps prevent power cuts to the grid at the assumed probability. Flywheel energy storage was selected due to its characteristics and technical parameters. The storage capacity was determined based on an empirical relationship using the results of the proposed statistical and energetic analysis of the measured wind velocity courses. A detailed algorithm of the WT-FESS with the power grid system was developed, eliminating short-term breaks in the turbine operation and periods when the wind turbine power was below the assumed level. PMID:25215326

Profitability of simple technical trading rules of Chinese stock exchange indexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Hong; Jiang, Zhi-Qiang; Li, Sai-Ping; Zhou, Wei-Xing

2015-12-01

Although technical trading rules have been widely used by practitioners in financial markets, their profitability still remains controversial. We here investigate the profitability of moving average (MA) and trading range break (TRB) rules by using the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (SHCI) from May 21, 1992 through December 31, 2013 and Shenzhen Stock Exchange Component Index (SZCI) from April 3, 1991 through December 31, 2013. The t-test is adopted to check whether the mean returns which are conditioned on the trading signals are significantly different from unconditioned returns and whether the mean returns conditioned on the buy signals are significantly different from the mean returns conditioned on the sell signals. We find that TRB rules outperform MA rules and short-term variable moving average (VMA) rules outperform long-term VMA rules. By applying White's Reality Check test and accounting for the data snooping effects, we find that the best trading rule outperforms the buy-and-hold strategy when transaction costs are not taken into consideration. Once transaction costs are included, trading profits will be eliminated completely. Our analysis suggests that simple trading rules like MA and TRB cannot beat the standard buy-and-hold strategy for the Chinese stock exchange indexes.

The fractured landscape of RNA-seq alignment: the default in our STARs.

PubMed

Ballouz, Sara; Dobin, Alexander; Gingeras, Thomas R; Gillis, Jesse

2018-06-01

Many tools are available for RNA-seq alignment and expression quantification, with comparative value being hard to establish. Benchmarking assessments often highlight methods' good performance, but are focused on either model data or fail to explain variation in performance. This leaves us to ask, what is the most meaningful way to assess different alignment choices? And importantly, where is there room for progress? In this work, we explore the answers to these two questions by performing an exhaustive assessment of the STAR aligner. We assess STAR's performance across a range of alignment parameters using common metrics, and then on biologically focused tasks. We find technical metrics such as fraction mapping or expression profile correlation to be uninformative, capturing properties unlikely to have any role in biological discovery. Surprisingly, we find that changes in alignment parameters within a wide range have little impact on both technical and biological performance. Yet, when performance finally does break, it happens in difficult regions, such as X-Y paralogs and MHC genes. We believe improved reporting by developers will help establish where results are likely to be robust or fragile, providing a better baseline to establish where methodological progress can still occur.

Revisiting physicians' financial incentives in Quebec: a panel system approach.

PubMed

Nassiri, Abdelhak; Rochaix, Lise

2006-01-01

Do Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) react strategically to financial incentives and if so how? To address this question, we follow a quasi-natural experiment in Quebec, using a panel system technique. In so doing, we both correct for underestimation biases in earlier time series findings and generate new results on the issue of complementarity/substitution between consultations with varying levels of technicality. Under both techniques, we show that PCPs are sensitive to the enforcement and subsequent temporary removals of expenditure caps and more generally, to changes in consultations' relative prices over time. These results support the existence of a discretionary power over the choice of consultation, PCPs increasing strategically the number of the more technical (and therefore more lucrative) consultations when pressed to defend their income. This finding for primary care parallels the now well-established DRG creep in hospitals. The panel system approach offers a better account of the complexity surrounding PCPs' decision-making process. In particular, it successfully addresses issues of physician heterogeneity, jointness between consultations and temporal breaks and generates robust estimates of PCPs volume and quality reactions to regulatory changes. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Preliminary analysis of loss-of-coolant accident in Fukushima nuclear accident

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Su'ud, Zaki; Anshari, Rio

Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) especially on Fukushima Nuclear Accident will be discussed in this paper. The Tohoku earthquake triggered the shutdown of nuclear power reactors at Fukushima Nuclear Power station. Though shutdown process has been completely performed, cooling process, at much smaller level than in normal operation, is needed to remove decay heat from the reactor core until the reactor reach cold-shutdown condition. If LOCA happen at this condition, it will cause the increase of reactor fuel and other core temperatures and can lead to reactor core meltdown and exposure of radioactive material to the environmentmore » such as in the Fukushima Dai Ichi nuclear accident case. In this study numerical simulation has been performed to calculate pressure composition, water level and temperature distribution on reactor during this accident. There are two coolant regulating system that operational on reactor unit 1 at this accident, Isolation Condensers (IC) system and Safety Relief Valves (SRV) system. Average mass flow of steam to the IC system in this event is 10 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 3,2 hours and fully uncovered in 4,7 hours later. There are two coolant regulating system at operational on reactor unit 2, Reactor Core Isolation Condenser (RCIC) System and Safety Relief Valves (SRV). Average mass flow of coolant that correspond this event is 20 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 73 hours and fully uncovered in 75 hours later. There are three coolant regulating system at operational on reactor unit 3, Reactor Core Isolation Condenser (RCIC) system, High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system and Safety Relief Valves (SRV). Average mass flow of water that correspond this event is 15 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 37 hours and fully uncovered in 40 hours later.« less

Probabilistic risk assessment for a loss of coolant accident in McMaster Nuclear Reactor and application of reliability physics model for modeling human reliability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ha, Taesung

A probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) was conducted for a loss of coolant accident, (LOCA) in the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR). A level 1 PRA was completed including event sequence modeling, system modeling, and quantification. To support the quantification of the accident sequence identified, data analysis using the Bayesian method and human reliability analysis (HRA) using the accident sequence evaluation procedure (ASEP) approach were performed. Since human performance in research reactors is significantly different from that in power reactors, a time-oriented HRA model (reliability physics model) was applied for the human error probability (HEP) estimation of the core relocation. This model is based on two competing random variables: phenomenological time and performance time. The response surface and direct Monte Carlo simulation with Latin Hypercube sampling were applied for estimating the phenomenological time, whereas the performance time was obtained from interviews with operators. An appropriate probability distribution for the phenomenological time was assigned by statistical goodness-of-fit tests. The human error probability (HEP) for the core relocation was estimated from these two competing quantities: phenomenological time and operators' performance time. The sensitivity of each probability distribution in human reliability estimation was investigated. In order to quantify the uncertainty in the predicted HEPs, a Bayesian approach was selected due to its capability of incorporating uncertainties in model itself and the parameters in that model. The HEP from the current time-oriented model was compared with that from the ASEP approach. Both results were used to evaluate the sensitivity of alternative huinan reliability modeling for the manual core relocation in the LOCA risk model. This exercise demonstrated the applicability of a reliability physics model supplemented with a. Bayesian approach for modeling human reliability and its potential usefulness of quantifying model uncertainty as sensitivity analysis in the PRA model.

A coupled hydrodynamic-hydrochemical modeling for predicting mineral transport in a natural acid drainage system.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zegers Risopatron, G., Sr.; Navarro, L.; Montserrat, S., Sr.; McPhee, J. P.; Niño, Y.

2017-12-01

The geochemistry of water and sediments, coupled with hydrodynamic transport in mountainous channels, is of particular interest in central Chilean Andes due to natural occurrence of acid waters. In this paper, we present a coupled transport and geochemical model to estimate and understand transport processes and fate of minerals at the Yerba Loca Basin, located near Santiago, Chile. In the upper zone, water presentes low pH ( 3) and high concentrations of iron, aluminum, copper, manganese and zinc. Acidity and minerals are the consequence of water-rock interactions in hydrothermal alteration zones, rich in sulphides and sulphates, covered by seasonal snow and glaciers. Downstream, as a consequence of neutral to alkaline lateral water contributions (pH >7) along the river, pH increases and concentration of solutes decreases. The mineral transport model has three components: (i) a hydrodynamic model, where we use HEC-RAS to solve 1D Saint-Venant equations, (ii) a sediment transport model to estimate erosion and sedimentation rates, which quantify minerals transference between water and riverbed and (iii) a solute transport model, based on the 1D OTIS model which takes into account the temporal delay in solutes transport that typically is observed in natural channels (transient storage). Hydrochemistry is solved using PHREEQC, a software for speciation and batch reaction. Our results show that correlation between mineral precipitation and dissolution according to pH values changes along the river. Based on pH measurements (and according to literature) we inferred that main minerals in the water system are brochantite, ferrihydrite, hydrobasaluminite and schwertmannite. Results show that our model can predict the transport and fate of minerals and metals in the Yerba Loca Basin. Mineral dissolution and precipitation process occur for limited ranges of pH values. When pH values are increased, iron minerals (schwertmannite) are the first to precipitate ( 2.5

Preliminary analysis of loss-of-coolant accident in Fukushima nuclear accident

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su'ud, Zaki; Anshari, Rio

2012-06-01

Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) especially on Fukushima Nuclear Accident will be discussed in this paper. The Tohoku earthquake triggered the shutdown of nuclear power reactors at Fukushima Nuclear Power station. Though shutdown process has been completely performed, cooling process, at much smaller level than in normal operation, is needed to remove decay heat from the reactor core until the reactor reach cold-shutdown condition. If LOCA happen at this condition, it will cause the increase of reactor fuel and other core temperatures and can lead to reactor core meltdown and exposure of radioactive material to the environment such as in the Fukushima Dai Ichi nuclear accident case. In this study numerical simulation has been performed to calculate pressure composition, water level and temperature distribution on reactor during this accident. There are two coolant regulating system that operational on reactor unit 1 at this accident, Isolation Condensers (IC) system and Safety Relief Valves (SRV) system. Average mass flow of steam to the IC system in this event is 10 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 3,2 hours and fully uncovered in 4,7 hours later. There are two coolant regulating system at operational on reactor unit 2, Reactor Core Isolation Condenser (RCIC) System and Safety Relief Valves (SRV). Average mass flow of coolant that correspond this event is 20 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 73 hours and fully uncovered in 75 hours later. There are three coolant regulating system at operational on reactor unit 3, Reactor Core Isolation Condenser (RCIC) system, High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system and Safety Relief Valves (SRV). Average mass flow of water that correspond this event is 15 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 37 hours and fully uncovered in 40 hours later.

Give me a better break: Choosing workday break activities to maximize resource recovery.

PubMed

Hunter, Emily M; Wu, Cindy

2016-02-01

Surprisingly little research investigates employee breaks at work, and even less research provides prescriptive suggestions for better workday breaks in terms of when, where, and how break activities are most beneficial. Based on the effort-recovery model and using experience sampling methodology, we examined the characteristics of employee workday breaks with 95 employees across 5 workdays. In addition, we examined resources as a mediator between break characteristics and well-being. Multilevel analysis results indicated that activities that were preferred and earlier in the work shift related to more resource recovery following the break. We also found that resources mediated the influence of preferred break activities and time of break on health symptoms and that resource recovery benefited person-level outcomes of emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behavior. Finally, break length interacted with the number of breaks per day such that longer breaks and frequent short breaks were associated with more resources than infrequent short breaks. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Digital Signal Processing for the Event Horizon Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weintroub, Jonathan

2015-08-01

A broad international collaboration is building the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). The aim is to test Einstein’s theory of General Relativity in one of the very few places it could break down: the strong gravity regime right at the edge of a black hole. The EHT is an earth-size VLBI array operating at the shortest radio wavelengths, that has achieved unprecedented angular resolution of a few tens of μarcseconds. For nearby super massive black holes (SMBH) this size scale is comparable to the Schwarzschild Radius, and emission in the immediate neighborhood of the event horizon can be directly observed. We give an introduction to the science behind the CASPER-enabled EHT, and outline technical developments, with emphasis on the secret sauce of high speed signal processing.

Emerging ethical perspectives in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats genome-editing debate

PubMed Central

Camporesi, Silvia; Cavaliere, Giulia

2016-01-01

This paper provides an overview of the ethical issues in the international clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome editing debate from March 2015 to September 2016. We present the regulatory framework for embryo research in the UK, and explain why CRISPR is not a significant break with the past. We discuss the ethical issues arising from CRISPR applications beyond human embryos, namely the use of gene drive-engineered mosquitoes to eradicate diseases, engineering nonhuman animals to harvest organs for human transplant and engineering crops. We discuss the experiments that have demonstrated the technical feasibility of cultivating embryos in vitro for up to 14 days, and possibly beyond this limit, and the ethical issues arising from the proposal to extend the limit beyond 14 days. PMID:28757883

Emerging ethical perspectives in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats genome-editing debate.

PubMed

Camporesi, Silvia; Cavaliere, Giulia

2016-11-01

This paper provides an overview of the ethical issues in the international clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome editing debate from March 2015 to September 2016. We present the regulatory framework for embryo research in the UK, and explain why CRISPR is not a significant break with the past. We discuss the ethical issues arising from CRISPR applications beyond human embryos, namely the use of gene drive-engineered mosquitoes to eradicate diseases, engineering nonhuman animals to harvest organs for human transplant and engineering crops. We discuss the experiments that have demonstrated the technical feasibility of cultivating embryos in vitro for up to 14 days, and possibly beyond this limit, and the ethical issues arising from the proposal to extend the limit beyond 14 days.

Nanotubes May Break Through "Chip Wall"

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laufenberg, Larry

2003-01-01

In 1965, just four years after the first planar integrated circuit (IC) was discovered, Cordon Moore observed that the number of transistors per integrated circuit had grown exponentially. He predicted that this would continue, and the media soon began to call his prophesy "Moore's Law" For nearly forty years, Moore's Law has been validated by the technological progress achieved in the semiconductor industry. Now, however, industry experts are warning of a "Red Brick Wall" that may soon block the continued scaling predicted by by Moore's Law. The "red bricks" in the wall are those areas of technical challenge for which no known manufacturable solution exists. One such "brick" is the challenge of finding a new material and processing technology to replace the metals used today to interconnect transistors on a chip.

Statistical physics of hard combinatorial optimization: Vertex cover problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jin-Hua; Zhou, Hai-Jun

2014-07-01

Typical-case computation complexity is a research topic at the boundary of computer science, applied mathematics, and statistical physics. In the last twenty years, the replica-symmetry-breaking mean field theory of spin glasses and the associated message-passing algorithms have greatly deepened our understanding of typical-case computation complexity. In this paper, we use the vertex cover problem, a basic nondeterministic-polynomial (NP)-complete combinatorial optimization problem of wide application, as an example to introduce the statistical physical methods and algorithms. We do not go into the technical details but emphasize mainly the intuitive physical meanings of the message-passing equations. A nonfamiliar reader shall be able to understand to a large extent the physics behind the mean field approaches and to adjust the mean field methods in solving other optimization problems.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wright, DA; Li, T; Yang, B

Genome editing is the practice of making predetermined and precise changes to a genome by controlling the location of DNA DSBs (double-strand breaks) and manipulating the cell's repair mechanisms. This technology results from harnessing natural processes that have taken decades and multiple lines of inquiry to understand. Through many false starts and iterative technology advances, the goal of genome editing is just now falling under the control of human hands as a routine and broadly applicable method. The present review attempts to define the technique and capture the discovery process while following its evolution from meganucleases and zinc finger nucleasesmore » to the current state of the art: TALEN (transcription-activator-like effector nuclease) technology. We also discuss factors that influence success, technical challenges, and future prospects of this quickly evolving area of study and application.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Swamy, S.A.; Bhowmick, D.C.; Prager, D.E.

The regulatory requirements for postulated pipe ruptures have changed significantly since the first nuclear plants were designed. The Leak-Before-Break (LBB) methodology is now accepted as a technically justifiable approach for eliminating postulation of double-ended guillotine breaks (DEGB) in high energy piping systems. The previous pipe rupture design requirements for nuclear power plant applications are responsible for all the numerous and massive pipe whip restraints and jet shields installed for each plant. This results in significant plant congestion, increased labor costs and radiation dosage for normal maintenance and inspection. Also the restraints increase the probability of interference between the piping andmore » supporting structures during plant heatup, thereby potentially impacting overall plant reliability. The LBB approach to eliminate postulating ruptures in high energy piping systems is a significant improvement to former regulatory methodologies, and therefore, the LBB approach to design is gaining worldwide acceptance. However, the methods and criteria for LBB evaluation depend upon the policy of individual country and significant effort continues towards accomplishing uniformity on a global basis. In this paper the historical development of the U.S. LBB criteria will be traced and the results of an LBB evaluation for a typical Japanese PWR primary loop applying U.S. NRC approved methods will be presented. In addition, another approach using the Japanese LBB criteria will be shown and compared with the U.S. criteria. The comparison will be highlighted in this paper with detailed discussion.« less

Micro-cost Analysis of ALK Rearrangement Testing by FISH to Determine Eligibility for Crizotinib Therapy in NSCLC: Implications for Cost Effectiveness of Testing and Treatment.

PubMed

Parker, David; Belaud-Rotureau, Marc-Antoine

2014-01-01

Break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is the gold standard test for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement. However, this methodology often is assumed to be expensive and potentially cost-prohibitive given the low prevalence of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. To more accurately estimate the cost of ALK testing by FISH, we developed a micro-cost model that accounts for all cost elements of the assay, including laboratory reagents, supplies, capital equipment, technical and pathologist labor, and the acquisition cost of the commercial test and associated reagent kits and controls. By applying a set of real-world base-case parameter values, we determined that the cost of a single ALK break-apart FISH test result is $278.01. Sensitivity analysis on the parameters of batch size, testing efficiency, and the cost of the commercial diagnostic testing products revealed that the cost per result is highly sensitive to batch size, but much less so to efficiency or product cost. This implies that ALK testing by FISH will be most cost effective when performed in high-volume centers. Our results indicate that testing cost may not be the primary determinant of crizotinib (Xalkori(®)) treatment cost effectiveness, and suggest that testing cost is an insufficient reason to limit the use of FISH testing for ALK rearrangement.

Spontaneous Chloroplast Mutants Mostly Occur by Replication Slippage and Show a Biased Pattern in the Plastome of Oenothera.

PubMed

Massouh, Amid; Schubert, Julia; Yaneva-Roder, Liliya; Ulbricht-Jones, Elena S; Zupok, Arkadiusz; Johnson, Marc T J; Wright, Stephen I; Pellizzer, Tommaso; Sobanski, Johanna; Bock, Ralph; Greiner, Stephan

2016-04-01

Spontaneous plastome mutants have been used as a research tool since the beginning of genetics. However, technical restrictions have severely limited their contributions to research in physiology and molecular biology. Here, we used full plastome sequencing to systematically characterize a collection of 51 spontaneous chloroplast mutants in Oenothera (evening primrose). Most mutants carry only a single mutation. Unexpectedly, the vast majority of mutations do not represent single nucleotide polymorphisms but are insertions/deletions originating from DNA replication slippage events. Only very few mutations appear to be caused by imprecise double-strand break repair, nucleotide misincorporation during replication, or incorrect nucleotide excision repair following oxidative damage. U-turn inversions were not detected. Replication slippage is induced at repetitive sequences that can be very small and tend to have high A/T content. Interestingly, the mutations are not distributed randomly in the genome. The underrepresentation of mutations caused by faulty double-strand break repair might explain the high structural conservation of seed plant plastomes throughout evolution. In addition to providing a fully characterized mutant collection for future research on plastid genetics, gene expression, and photosynthesis, our work identified the spectrum of spontaneous mutations in plastids and reveals that this spectrum is very different from that in the nucleus. © 2016 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

Micro-cost Analysis of ALK Rearrangement Testing by FISH to Determine Eligibility for Crizotinib Therapy in NSCLC: Implications for Cost Effectiveness of Testing and Treatment

PubMed Central

Parker, David; Belaud-Rotureau, Marc-Antoine

2014-01-01

Break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is the gold standard test for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement. However, this methodology often is assumed to be expensive and potentially cost-prohibitive given the low prevalence of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. To more accurately estimate the cost of ALK testing by FISH, we developed a micro-cost model that accounts for all cost elements of the assay, including laboratory reagents, supplies, capital equipment, technical and pathologist labor, and the acquisition cost of the commercial test and associated reagent kits and controls. By applying a set of real-world base-case parameter values, we determined that the cost of a single ALK break-apart FISH test result is $278.01. Sensitivity analysis on the parameters of batch size, testing efficiency, and the cost of the commercial diagnostic testing products revealed that the cost per result is highly sensitive to batch size, but much less so to efficiency or product cost. This implies that ALK testing by FISH will be most cost effective when performed in high-volume centers. Our results indicate that testing cost may not be the primary determinant of crizotinib (Xalkori®) treatment cost effectiveness, and suggest that testing cost is an insufficient reason to limit the use of FISH testing for ALK rearrangement. PMID:25520569

Mentoring Undergraduate Students through the Space Shuttle Hitchhiker GoldHELOX Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moody, J. Ward; Barnes, Jonathan; Roming, Peter; Durfee, Dallin; Campbell, Branton; Turley, Steve; Eastman, Paul

2015-01-01

In the late 1980s a team of four BYU undergraduate students designed a space-based telescope to image the sun in soft x-rays from 171-181 Angstroms to gain information on microflares and their relation to the corona-chromosphere transition region. The telescope used a near-normal incidence multi-layered mirror imaging onto film through a micro-channel plate. The system was capable of 1.0 sec time resolution and 2.5 arcsec spatial resolution. Aided by a NASA grant in 1991, a system was built and successfully tested in 1998 at Marshall Space Flight Center. Originally designed to be deployed from a Get-Away-Special (GAS) canister in the bay of a space shuttle, the good results of this test elevated GoldHelox to greater-priority Hitchhiker status. Even so technical and procedural difficulties delayed a launch until after 2003. Unfortunately after the Columbia re-entry break-up in February 2003, the Hitchhiker program was cancelled and the GoldHelox project ended.Well over 200 undergraduate students worked on GoldHelox. Many of these have since earned advanced degrees in a variety of technical fields. Several have gone on to work in the space industry, becoming NASA scientists and engineers with one becoming a PI on the Swift satellite. The broad range of talent on the team has included students majoring in physics, astronomy, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, design engineering, business and even English majors who have written technical and public relations documents. We report on lessons learned and the pitfalls and successes of this unique mentoring experience.

Passive containment cooling system with drywell pressure regulation for boiling water reactor

DOEpatents

Hill, P.R.

1994-12-27

A boiling water reactor is described having a regulating valve for placing the wetwell in flow communication with an intake duct of the passive containment cooling system. This subsystem can be adjusted to maintain the drywell pressure at (or slightly below or above) wetwell pressure after the initial reactor blowdown transient is over. This addition to the PCCS design has the benefit of eliminating or minimizing steam leakage from the drywell to the wetwell in the longer-term post-LOCA time period and also minimizes the temperature difference between drywell and wetwell. This in turn reduces the rate of long-term pressure buildup of the containment, thereby extending the time to reach the design pressure limit. 4 figures.

Dynamic breaking of a single gold bond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pobelov, Ilya V.; Lauritzen, Kasper Primdal; Yoshida, Koji; Jensen, Anders; Mészáros, Gábor; Jacobsen, Karsten W.; Strange, Mikkel; Wandlowski, Thomas; Solomon, Gemma C.

2017-07-01

While one might assume that the force to break a chemical bond gives a measure of the bond strength, this intuition is misleading. If the force is loaded slowly, thermal fluctuations may break the bond before it is maximally stretched, and the breaking force will be less than the bond can sustain. Conversely, if the force is loaded rapidly it is more likely that the maximum breaking force is measured. Paradoxically, no clear differences in breaking force were observed in experiments on gold nanowires, despite being conducted under very different conditions. Here we explore the breaking behaviour of a single Au-Au bond and show that the breaking force is dependent on the loading rate. We probe the temperature and structural dependencies of breaking and suggest that the paradox can be explained by fast breaking of atomic wires and slow breaking of point contacts giving very similar breaking forces.

Feasibilities of a Coal-Biomass to Liquids Plant in Southern West Virginia

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bhattacharyya, Debangsu; DVallance, David; Henthorn, Greg

This project has generated comprehensive and realistic results of feasibilities for a coal-biomass to liquids (CBTL) plant in southern West Virginia; and evaluated the sensitivity of the analyses to various anticipated scenarios and parametric uncertainties. Specifically the project has addressed economic feasibility, technical feasibility, market feasibility, and financial feasibility. In the economic feasibility study, a multi-objective siting model was developed and was then used to identify and rank the suitable facility sites. Spatial models were also developed to assess the biomass and coal feedstock availabilities and economics. Environmental impact analysis was conducted mainly to assess life cycle analysis and greenhousemore » gas emission. Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis were also investigated in this study. Sensitivity analyses on required selling price (RSP) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of CBTL fuels were conducted according to feedstock availability and price, biomass to coal mix ratio, conversion rate, internal rate of return (IRR), capital cost, operational and maintenance cost. The study of siting and capacity showed that feedstock mixed ratio limited the CBTL production. The price of coal had a more dominant effect on RSP than that of biomass. Different mix ratios in the feedstock and conversion rates led to RSP ranging from $104.3 - $157.9/bbl. LCA results indicated that GHG emissions ranged from 80.62 kg CO 2 eq to 101.46 kg CO2 eq/1,000 MJ of liquid fuel at various biomass to coal mix ratios and conversion rates if carbon capture and storage (CCS) was applied. Most of water and fossil energy were consumed in conversion process. Compared to petroleum-derived-liquid fuels, the reduction in GHG emissions could be between -2.7% and 16.2% with CBTL substitution. As for the technical study, three approaches of coal and biomass to liquids, direct, indirect and hybrid, were considered in the analysis. The process models including conceptual design, process modeling and process validation were developed and validated for different cases. Equipment design and capital costs were investigated on capital coast estimation and economical model validation. Material and energy balances and techno-economic analysis on base case were conducted for evaluation of projects. Also, sensitives studies of direct and indirect approaches were both used to evaluate the CBTL plant economic performance. In this study, techno-economic analysis were conducted in Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA) environment for indirect, direct, and hybrid CBTL plants with CCS based on high fidelity process models developed in Aspen Plus and Excel. The process thermal efficiency ranges from 45% to 67%. The break-even oil price ranges from $86.1 to $100.6 per barrel for small scale (10000 bbl/day) CBTL plants and from $65.3 to $80.5 per barrel for large scale (50000 bbl/day) CBTL plants. Increasing biomass/coal ratio from 8/92 to 20/80 would increase the break-even oil price of indirect CBTL plant by $3/bbl and decrease the break-even oil price of direct CBTL plant by about $1/bbl. The order of carbon capture penalty is direct > indirect > hybrid. The order of capital investment is hybrid (with or without shale gas utilization) > direct (without shale gas utilization) > indirect > direct (with shale gas utilization). The order of thermal efficiency is direct > hybrid > indirect. The order of break-even oil price is hybrid (without shale gas utilization) > direct (without shale gas utilization) > hybrid (with shale gas utilization) > indirect > direct (with shale gas utilization).« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Swamy, S.A.; Mandava, P.R.; Bhowmick, D.C.

The leak-before-break (LBB) methodology is accepted as a technically justifiable approach for eliminating postulation of Double-Ended Guillotine Breaks (DEGB) in high energy piping systems. This is the result of extensive research, development, and rigorous evaluations by the NRC and the commercial nuclear power industry since the early 1970s. The DEGB postulation is responsible for the many hundreds of pipe whip restraints and jet shields found in commercial nuclear plants. These restraints and jet shields not only cost many millions of dollars, but also cause plant congestion leading to reduced reliability in inservice inspection and increased man-rem exposure. While use ofmore » leak-before-break technology saved hundreds of millions of dollars in backfit costs to many operating Westinghouse plants, value-impacts resulting from the application of this technology for future plants are greater on a per plant basis. These benefits will be highlighted in this paper. The LBB technology has been applied extensively to high energy piping systems in operating plants. However, there are differences between the application of LBB technology to an operating plant and to a new plant design. In this paper an approach is proposed which is suitable for application of LBB to a new plant design such as the Westinghouse AP600. The approach is based on generating Bounding Analyses Curves (BAC) for the candidate piping systems. The general methodology and criteria used for developing the BACs are based on modified GDC-4 and Standard Review Plan (SRP) 3.6.3. The BAC allows advance evaluation of the piping system from the LBB standpoint thereby assuring LBB conformance for the piping system. The piping designer can use the results of the BACs to determine acceptability of design loads and make modifications (in terms of piping layout and support configurations) as necessary at the design stage to assure LBB for the, piping systems under consideration.« less

Breaking the cycles of poverty: Strategies, achievements, and lessons learned in Los Cuatro Santos, Nicaragua, 1990–2014

PubMed Central

Blandón, Elmer Zelaya; Källestål, Carina; Peña, Rodolfo; Perez, Wilton; Berglund, Staffan; Contreras, Mariela; Persson, Lars-Åke

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Background: In a post-war frontier area in north-western Nicaragua that was severely hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, local stakeholders embarked on and facilitated multi-dimensional development initiatives to break the cycles of poverty. Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the process of priority-setting, and the strategies, guiding principles, activities, achievements, and lessons learned in these local development efforts from 1990 to 2014 in the Cuatro Santos area, Nicaragua. Methods: Data were derived from project records and a Health and Demographic Surveillance System that was initiated in 2004. The area had 25,893 inhabitants living in 5,966 households in 2014. Results: A participatory process with local stakeholders and community representatives resulted in a long-term strategic plan. Guiding principles were local ownership, political reconciliation, consensus decision-making, social and gender equity, an environmental and public health perspective, and sustainability. Local data were used in workshops with communities to re-prioritise and formulate new goals. The interventions included water and sanitation, house construction, microcredits, environmental protection, school breakfasts, technical training, university scholarships, home gardening, breastfeeding promotion, and maternity waiting homes. During the last decade, the proportion of individuals living in poverty was reduced from 79 to 47%. Primary school enrolment increased from 70 to 98% after the start of the school breakfast program. Under-five mortality was around 50 per 1,000 live births in 1990 and again peaked after Hurricane Mitch and was approaching 20 per 1,000 in 2014. Several of the interventions have been scaled up as national programs. Conclusions: The lessons learned from the Cuatro Santos initiative underline the importance of a bottom-up approach and local ownership of the development process, the value of local data for monitoring and evaluation, and the need for multi-dimensional local interventions to break the cycles of poverty and gain better health and welfare. PMID:28136698

Breaking the cycles of poverty: Strategies, achievements, and lessons learned in Los Cuatro Santos, Nicaragua, 1990-2014.

PubMed

Blandón, Elmer Zelaya; Källestål, Carina; Peña, Rodolfo; Perez, Wilton; Berglund, Staffan; Contreras, Mariela; Persson, Lars-Åke

2017-01-01

In a post-war frontier area in north-western Nicaragua that was severely hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, local stakeholders embarked on and facilitated multi-dimensional development initiatives to break the cycles of poverty. The aim of this paper is to describe the process of priority-setting, and the strategies, guiding principles, activities, achievements, and lessons learned in these local development efforts from 1990 to 2014 in the Cuatro Santos area, Nicaragua. Data were derived from project records and a Health and Demographic Surveillance System that was initiated in 2004. The area had 25,893 inhabitants living in 5,966 households in 2014. A participatory process with local stakeholders and community representatives resulted in a long-term strategic plan. Guiding principles were local ownership, political reconciliation, consensus decision-making, social and gender equity, an environmental and public health perspective, and sustainability. Local data were used in workshops with communities to re-prioritise and formulate new goals. The interventions included water and sanitation, house construction, microcredits, environmental protection, school breakfasts, technical training, university scholarships, home gardening, breastfeeding promotion, and maternity waiting homes. During the last decade, the proportion of individuals living in poverty was reduced from 79 to 47%. Primary school enrolment increased from 70 to 98% after the start of the school breakfast program. Under-five mortality was around 50 per 1,000 live births in 1990 and again peaked after Hurricane Mitch and was approaching 20 per 1,000 in 2014. Several of the interventions have been scaled up as national programs. The lessons learned from the Cuatro Santos initiative underline the importance of a bottom-up approach and local ownership of the development process, the value of local data for monitoring and evaluation, and the need for multi-dimensional local interventions to break the cycles of poverty and gain better health and welfare.

A Preliminary Investigation of Caffeinated Alcohol Use During Spring Break.

PubMed

Linden-Carmichael, Ashley N; Lau-Barraco, Cathy

2016-06-06

Caffeinated alcoholic beverages (e.g., Red Bull and vodka) are popular but associated with negative consequences. CABs may be particularly popular during Spring Break, a potentially risky social event. We aimed to identify the prevalence of Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use, determine how caffeinated alcohol use Spring Break drinking habits differ from usual, and examine the association between Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Data were collected from 95 college students during March of 2013 and 2014. Students completed questionnaires of their alcohol and caffeinated alcohol use before and during Spring Break and Spring Break alcohol-related problems. Approximately 54% of students used caffeinated alcohol during Spring Break. Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use was associated with more alcohol-related problems, even after controlling for other alcohol consumed and Spring Break vacation status. Caffeinated alcoholic beverages are commonly consumed during Spring Break and their use uniquely predicted harms. Prevention efforts placed on caffeinated alcoholic beverage users may be helpful in reducing Spring Break-related harms.

Quasiperiodic Quantum Ising Transitions in 1D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crowley, P. J. D.; Chandran, A.; Laumann, C. R.

2018-04-01

Unlike random potentials, quasiperiodic modulation can induce localization-delocalization transitions in one dimension. In this Letter, we analyze the implications of this for symmetry breaking in the quasiperiodically modulated quantum Ising chain. Although weak modulation is irrelevant, strong modulation induces new ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases which are fully localized and gapless. The quasiperiodic potential and localized excitations lead to quantum criticality that is intermediate to that of the clean and randomly disordered models with exponents of ν =1+ (exact) and z ≈1.9 , Δσ≈0.16 , and Δγ≈0.63 (up to logarithmic corrections). Technically, the clean Ising transition is destabilized by logarithmic wandering of the local reduced couplings. We conjecture that the wandering coefficient w controls the universality class of the quasiperiodic transition and show its stability to smooth perturbations that preserve the quasiperiodic structure of the model.

Dynamic analysis of elastic rubber tired car wheel breaking under variable normal load

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedotov, A. I.; Zedgenizov, V. G.; Ovchinnikova, N. I.

2017-10-01

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the dynamics of the braking of the wheel under normal load variations. The paper uses a mathematical simulation method according to which the calculation model of an object as a mechanical system is associated with a dynamically equivalent schematic structure of the automatic control. Transfer function tool analyzing structural and technical characteristics of an object as well as force disturbances were used. It was proved that the analysis of dynamic characteristics of the wheel subjected to external force disturbances has to take into account amplitude and phase-frequency characteristics. Normal load variations impact car wheel braking subjected to disturbances. The closer slip to the critical point is, the higher the impact is. In the super-critical area, load variations cause fast wheel blocking.

WFIRST: Guest observer science with the coronagraph instrument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levesque, Emily; Lomax, Jamie; Akeson, Rachel; Meshkat, Tiffany; WFIRST CGI GO working group

2018-01-01

In addition to the discovery and characterization of exoplanets, the coronagraph instrument (CGI) on WFIRST has the potential for ground-breaking discoveries in other fields through the Guest Observer (GO) program. 25% of the observing time in the primary mission will be made available to the GO community, and GO science with the CGI spans a broad range of scientific applications. These include imaging of binary and multiple asteroids and Kuiper Belt objects, the circumstellar environments of evolved giants and supergiants, debris disks around young stars, and the circumnuclear regions of active galactic nuclei. In this poster we summarize some of the key compelling science gains that can be pursued with the GO program and present preliminary analyses of the technical gains that the CGI will be able to offer over other contemporary coronagraphs, including those on JWST and ground-based observatories.

An Historic Overview of the Development of Fibre Metal Laminates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vermeeren, C. A. J. R.

2003-07-01

In this paper a brief overview of the history of Fibre Metal Laminates Arall and Glare is given as background information for the other, technical articles in this journal. The story of the development of Fibre Metal Laminates is rather a unique story in the history of aircraft materials: A university laboratory invented, developed and certified an aircraft material. Many parties were involved naturally, yet the very heart of the activity was the Structures and Materials Laboratory of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. At the break of the world's largest passenger transport aircraft, the Airbus A380, in which a substantial part of the fuselage will be made of Glare, the glass fibre-aluminium version of Fibre Metal Laminates, it is a good moment to tell some of its history.

Nanostructured Metal Oxides and Sulfides for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

PubMed

Liu, Xue; Huang, Jia-Qi; Zhang, Qiang; Mai, Liqiang

2017-05-01

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high energy density and long cycle life are considered to be one of the most promising next-generation energy-storage systems beyond routine lithium-ion batteries. Various approaches have been proposed to break down technical barriers in Li-S battery systems. The use of nanostructured metal oxides and sulfides for high sulfur utilization and long life span of Li-S batteries is reviewed here. The relationships between the intrinsic properties of metal oxide/sulfide hosts and electrochemical performances of Li-S batteries are discussed. Nanostructured metal oxides/sulfides hosts used in solid sulfur cathodes, separators/interlayers, lithium-metal-anode protection, and lithium polysulfides batteries are discussed respectively. Prospects for the future developments of Li-S batteries with nanostructured metal oxides/sulfides are also discussed. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Cytochrome P450-mediated metabolic engineering: current progress and future challenges.

PubMed

Renault, Hugues; Bassard, Jean-Etienne; Hamberger, Björn; Werck-Reichhart, Danièle

2014-06-01

Cytochromes P450 catalyze a broad range of regiospecific, stereospecific and irreversible steps in the biosynthetic routes of plant natural metabolites with important applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, fragrance and flavour, or polymer industries. They are consequently essential drivers for the engineered bioproduction of such compounds. Two ground-breaking developments of commercial products driven by the engineering of P450s are the antimalarial drug precursor artemisinic acid and blue roses or carnations. Tedious optimizations were required to generate marketable products. Hurdles encountered in P450 engineering and their potential solutions are summarized here. Together with recent technical developments and novel approaches to metabolic engineering, the lessons from this pioneering work should considerably boost exploitation of the amazing P450 toolkit emerging from accelerated sequencing of plant genomes. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Visible rodent brain-wide networks at single-neuron resolution

PubMed Central

Yuan, Jing; Gong, Hui; Li, Anan; Li, Xiangning; Chen, Shangbin; Zeng, Shaoqun; Luo, Qingming

2015-01-01

There are some unsolvable fundamental questions, such as cell type classification, neural circuit tracing and neurovascular coupling, though great progresses are being made in neuroscience. Because of the structural features of neurons and neural circuits, the solution of these questions needs us to break through the current technology of neuroanatomy for acquiring the exactly fine morphology of neuron and vessels and tracing long-distant circuit at axonal resolution in the whole brain of mammals. Combined with fast-developing labeling techniques, efficient whole-brain optical imaging technology emerging at the right moment presents a huge potential in the structure and function research of specific-function neuron and neural circuit. In this review, we summarize brain-wide optical tomography techniques, review the progress on visible brain neuronal/vascular networks benefit from these novel techniques, and prospect the future technical development. PMID:26074784

Polymorphic Contracts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belo, João Filipe; Greenberg, Michael; Igarashi, Atsushi; Pierce, Benjamin C.

Manifest contracts track precise properties by refining types with predicates - e.g., {x : Int |x > 0 } denotes the positive integers. Contracts and polymorphism make a natural combination: programmers can give strong contracts to abstract types, precisely stating pre- and post-conditions while hiding implementation details - for example, an abstract type of stacks might specify that the pop operation has input type {x :α Stack |not ( empty x )} . We formalize this combination by defining FH, a polymorphic calculus with manifest contracts, and establishing fundamental properties including type soundness and relational parametricity. Our development relies on a significant technical improvement over earlier presentations of contracts: instead of introducing a denotational model to break a problematic circularity between typing, subtyping, and evaluation, we develop the metatheory of contracts in a completely syntactic fashion, omitting subtyping from the core system and recovering it post facto as a derived property.

Break the "wall" and become creative: Enacting embodied metaphors in virtual reality.

PubMed

Wang, Xinyue; Lu, Kelong; Runco, Mark A; Hao, Ning

2018-07-01

This study investigated whether the experience of "breaking the walls", the embodiment of the metaphor "breaking the rules", could enhance creative performance. The virtual reality technology was used to simulate the scenario where participants could "break the walls" while walking in a corridor. Participants were asked to solve the creativity-demanding problems (ie., alternative uses tasks, AUT) in either the "break" condition in which they had to break the walls to move forward in VR, or the "no-break" condition where no barrier walls would appear. Results showed higher AUT originality and AUT fluency in the "break" condition than in the "no-break" condition. Moreover, the effects of "breaking the walls" on AUT originality were fully mediated by cognitive flexibility and persistence. These findings may indicate that enacting metaphors such as "breaking the rules" contribute to creative performance. The enhanced cognitive flexibility and persistence may account for the benefits. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Stop and revive? The effectiveness of nap and active rest breaks for reducing driver sleepiness.

PubMed

Watling, Christopher N; Smith, Simon S; Horswill, Mark S

2014-11-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two commonly utilized sleepiness countermeasures: a nap break and an active rest break. The effects of the countermeasures were evaluated by physiological (EEG), subjective, and driving performance measures. Participants completed 2 h of simulated driving, followed by a 15-min nap break or a 15-min active rest break, then completed the final hour of simulated driving. The nap break reduced EEG and subjective sleepiness. The active rest break did not reduce EEG sleepiness, with sleepiness levels eventually increasing, and resulted in an immediate reduction of subjective sleepiness. No difference was found between the two breaks for the driving performance measure. The immediate reduction of subjective sleepiness after the active rest break could leave drivers with erroneous perceptions of their sleepiness, particularly with increases of physiological sleepiness after the break. Copyright © 2014 Society for Psychophysiological Research.

Posttest analysis of international standard problem 10 using RELAP4/MOD7. [PWR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsu, M.; Davis, C.B.; Peterson, A.C. Jr.

RELAP4/MOD7, a best estimate computer code for the calculation of thermal and hydraulic phenomena in a nuclear reactor or related system, is the latest version in the RELAP4 code development series. This paper evaluates the capability of RELAP4/MOD7 to calculate refill/reflood phenomena. This evaluation uses the data of International Standard Problem 10, which is based on West Germany's KWU PKL refill/reflood experiment K9A. The PKL test facility represents a typical West German four-loop, 1300 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) in reduced scale while maintaining prototypical volume-to-power ratio. The PKL facility was designed to specifically simulate the refill/reflood phase of amore » hypothetical loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA).« less

[Management and orientation of a hand laceration].

PubMed

Masmejean, Emmanuel

2013-11-01

The good management and orientation of a hand laceration by the general physician is essential. Anatomical knowledge help to judge, after examination, the opportunity for surgery exploration with local anesthesia. Serious stakes are prognostic and economics. The conclusion identifies three clinical pictures : simple superf cial wound requiring a simple clinical control 2 days follow-up, the dubious wound that need to be sent to a specialized center, and the wound requiring care in an emergency hand unit. Extremely urgent wounds are devascularization, amputation and the pressure injection . Bites and wounds on a tendon way require surgical exploration. Bandage should be as simple as possible in order to allow early motion. No antibiotic is given preventively exept for bite, open fractures and/or delay of treatment. Outpatient surgery under loca anesthesia simplifies management.

Stealth Dark Matter: Dark scalar baryons through the Higgs portal

DOE PAGES

Appelquist, T.; Brower, R. C.; Buchoff, M. I.; ...

2015-10-23

We present a new model of "Stealth Dark Matter": a composite baryonic scalar of an SU(N D) strongly coupled theory with even N D ≥ 4. All mass scales are technically natural, and dark matter stability is automatic without imposing an additional discrete or global symmetry. Constituent fermions transform in vectorlike representations of the electroweak group that permit both electroweak-breaking and electroweak-preserving mass terms. This gives a tunable coupling of stealth dark matter to the Higgs boson independent of the dark matter mass itself. We specialize to SU(4), and investigate the constraints on the model from dark meson decay, electroweakmore » precision measurements, basic collider limits, and spin-independent direct detection scattering through Higgs exchange. We exploit our earlier lattice simulations that determined the composite spectrum as well as the effective Higgs coupling of stealth dark matter in order to place bounds from direct detection, excluding constituent fermions with dominantly electroweak-breaking masses. A lower bound on the dark baryon mass m B ≳ 300 GeV is obtained from the indirect requirement that the lightest dark meson not be observable at LEP II. Furthermore, we briefly survey some intriguing properties of stealth dark matter that are worthy of future study, including collider studies of dark meson production and decay; indirect detection signals from annihilation; relic abundance estimates for both symmetric and asymmetric mechanisms; and direct detection through electromagnetic polarizability, a detailed study of which will appear in a companion paper.« less

Light hadron spectra in the constituent quark model with the Kobayashi-Kondo-Maskawa-'t Hooft effective U {sub A} (1) symmetry breaking interaction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dmitrasinovic, V.; Toki, H.; Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047

2006-02-15

We make a critical comparison of several versions of instanton-induced interactions present in the literature, all based on ITEP group's extension to three colours and flavours of 't Hooft's effective lagrangian, with the predictions of the phenomenological Kobayashi-Kondo-Maskawa (KKM) chiral quark lagrangian. We analyze the effects of all versions of the effective U {sub A} (1) symmetry breaking interactions on light hadron spectra in the non-relativistic constituent quark model. We show that the KKMT force, when used as a residual hyperfine interaction reproduces the correct ordering of pseudoscalar and vector mesons even without explicitly taking chiral symmetry into account. Moreover,more » the nucleon spectra are also correctly reproduced, only the Roper resonance remains too high, albeit lower than usual, at 1660 MeV. The latter's lower than expected mass is not due to a small excitation energy, as in the Glozman-Riska (GR) model, but to a combination of colour, flavour, and spatial wave function properties that enhance the relevant matrix elements. The KKMT interaction explicitly depends on flavour and spin of the quarks, but unlike the GR flavour-spin one it has a firm footing in QCD. In the process we provide several technical advances, in particular we show the first explicit derivation of the three-body Fierz transformation and apply it to the KKM interaction. We also discuss the ambiguities associated with the colour degree of freedom.« less

The comet assay: ready for 30 more years.

PubMed

Møller, Peter

2018-02-24

During the last 30 years, the comet assay has become widely used for the measurement of DNA damage and repair in cells and tissues. A landmark achievement was reached in 2016 when the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development adopted a comet assay guideline for in vivo testing of DNA strand breaks in animals. However, the comet assay has much more to offer than being an assay for testing DNA strand breaks in animal organs. The use of repair enzymes increases the range of DNA lesions that can be detected with the assay. It can also be modified to measure DNA repair activity. Still, despite the long-term use of the assay, there is a need for studies that assess the impact of variation in specific steps of the procedure. This is particularly important for the on-going efforts to decrease the variation between experiments and laboratories. The articles in this Special Issue of Mutagenesis cover important technical issues of the comet assay procedure, nanogenotoxicity and ionising radiation sensitivity on plant cells. The included biomonitoring studies have assessed seasonal variation and certain predictors for the basal level of DNA damage in white blood cells. Lastly, the comet assay has been used in studies on genotoxicity of environmental and occupational exposures in human biomonitoring studies and animal models. Overall, the articles in this Special Issue demonstrate the versatility of the comet assay and they hold promise that the assay is ready for the next 30 years.

Deletions at short direct repeats and base substitutions are characteristic mutations for bleomycin-induced double- and single-strand breaks, respectively, in a human shuttle vector system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dar, M. E.; Jorgensen, T. J.

1995-01-01

Using the radiomimetic drug, bleomycin, we have determined the mutagenic potential of DNA strand breaks in the shuttle vector pZ189 in human fibroblasts. The bleomycin treatment conditions used produce strand breaks with 3'-phosphoglycolate termini as > 95% of the detectable dose-dependent lesions. Breaks with this end group represent 50% of the strand break damage produced by ionizing radiation. We report that such strand breaks are mutagenic lesions. The type of mutation produced is largely determined by the type of strand break on the plasmid (i.e. single versus double). Mutagenesis studies with purified DNA forms showed that nicked plasmids (i.e. those containing single-strand breaks) predominantly produce base substitutions, the majority of which are multiples, which presumably originate from error-prone polymerase activity at strand break sites. In contrast, repair of linear plasmids (i.e. those containing double-strand breaks) mainly results in deletions at short direct repeat sequences, indicating the involvement of illegitimate recombination. The data characterize the nature of mutations produced by single- and double-strand breaks in human cells, and suggests that deletions at direct repeats may be a 'signature' mutation for the processing of DNA double-strand breaks.

Long-term hormonal contraceptive use is associated with a reversible suppression of antral follicle count and a break from hormonal contraception may improve oocyte yield.

PubMed

Letourneau, Joseph M; Cakmak, Hakan; Quinn, Molly; Sinha, Nikita; I Cedars, Marcelle; Rosen, Mitchell P

2017-09-01

Unlike infertility, patients presenting for fertility preservation (FP) are often using combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC). We studied whether long-term (≥6 months) CHC use is associated with reversible suppression of antral follicle count (AFC). This is a longitudinal study of FP cycles from 2012 to 2016. We studied three groups: those without CHC exposure (NO CHC), those with CHC usage with a CHC break (BREAK), and without a break (NO BREAK) prior to ovarian stimulation. We assessed ovarian reserve by AFC at initial consultation and discussed the possibility of CHC suppression of AFC. Patients chose between ovarian stimulation with no CHC break versus ovarian stimulation after a CHC break. AFC was measured serially in the BREAK group. We assessed whether AFC suppression was reversed in the BREAK group. Total oocyte yield was compared among the NO CHC, BREAK, and NO BREAK groups. T tests, ANOVA, and linear/logistic regressions were used. Seven hundred forty-three women underwent FP. Twenty-one percent (n = 154) were taking long-term CHC (≥6 months). AFC suppression was more likely with CHC use (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.4, P = 0.011). The BREAK group (n = 79) stopped CHC for an average of 4 months. AFC improvement started at 1 month and plateaued at approximately 6- to 7-month break. The BREAK group had approximately twice as many oocytes per initial AFC as NO BREAK (2.8 ± 3.8 vs. 1.4 ± 0.9, P < 0.001). When women present for FP on CHC, AFC may be suppressed. A CHC break of several months is associated with an increase in AFC and a potential improvement in overall egg yield.

38 CFR 17.100 - Refusal of treatment by unnecessarily breaking appointments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... and satisfactory reasons are advanced for breaking the appointment and circumstances were such that... unnecessarily breaking appointments. 17.100 Section 17.100 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL Breaking Appointments § 17.100 Refusal of treatment by unnecessarily breaking...

Integrated biological and cultural practices can reduce crop rotation period of organic strawberries

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Approached by an organic grower and the land owner, a team of researchers conducted a replicated on-farm experiment with the break period between strawberry crops (continuous strawberries with broccoli residue incorporation, one year break, two year break, three year break, and seven year break) as ...

Improved National Response to Climate Change: Aligning USGCRP reports and the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipschultz, F.; Dahlman, L. E.; Herring, D.; Fox, J. F.

2017-12-01

As part of an effort to coordinate production and distribution of scientific climate information across the U.S. Government, and to spur adaptation actions across the nation, the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) has worked to better integrate the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit (CRT) and its Climate Explorer (CE) tool into USGCRP activities and products. Much of the initial CRT content was based on the Third National Climate Assessment (NCA3). The opportunity to integrate current development of NCA4—scheduled for release in late 2018—with CRT and CE can enhance all three projects and result in a useable and "living" NCA that is part of USGCRP's approach to sustained climate assessment. To coordinate this work, a USGCRP-led science team worked with CRT staff and CE developers to update the set of climate projections displayed in the CE tool. In concert with the USGCRP scenarios effort, the combined team selected the Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA) dataset for the updated version of CE, based on its capabilities for capturing climate extremes and local climate variations. The team identified 28 variables from the LOCA dataset for display in the CE; many of these variables will also be used in USGCRP reports. In CRT engagements, communities with vulnerable assets have expressed a high value for the ability to integrate climate data available through the CE with data related to non-climate stressors in their locations. Moving forward, the teams intend to serve climate information needs at additional spatial scales by making NCA4 content available via CE's capability for dynamic interaction with climate-relevant datasets. This will permit users to customize the extent of data they access for decision-making, starting with the static NCA4 report. Additionally, NCA4 case studies and other content can be linked to more in-depth content within the CRT site. This capability will enable more frequent content updates than can be managed with quadrennial NCA reports. Overall, enhanced integration between USGCRP and CRT will provide consistent information for communities that are assessing their climate vulnerabilities or considering adaptation options.

Water Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

Mike Morris, former Associate Director of STAC, formed pHish Doctor, Inc. to develop and sell a pH monitor for home aquariums. The monitor, or pHish Doctor, consists of a sensor strip and color chart that continually measures pH levels in an aquarium. This is important because when the level gets too high, ammonia excreted by fish is highly toxic; at low pH, bacteria that normally break down waste products stop functioning. Sales have run into the tens of thousands of dollars. A NASA Tech Brief Technical Support Package later led to a salt water version of the system and a DoE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for development of a sensor for sea buoys. The company, now known as Ocean Optics, Inc., is currently studying the effects of carbon dioxide buildup as well as exploring other commercial applications for the fiber optic sensor.

Isolation and Connectivity in Random Geometric Graphs with Self-similar Intensity Measures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dettmann, Carl P.

2018-05-01

Random geometric graphs consist of randomly distributed nodes (points), with pairs of nodes within a given mutual distance linked. In the usual model the distribution of nodes is uniform on a square, and in the limit of infinitely many nodes and shrinking linking range, the number of isolated nodes is Poisson distributed, and the probability of no isolated nodes is equal to the probability the whole graph is connected. Here we examine these properties for several self-similar node distributions, including smooth and fractal, uniform and nonuniform, and finitely ramified or otherwise. We show that nonuniformity can break the Poisson distribution property, but it strengthens the link between isolation and connectivity. It also stretches out the connectivity transition. Finite ramification is another mechanism for lack of connectivity. The same considerations apply to fractal distributions as smooth, with some technical differences in evaluation of the integrals and analytical arguments.

Breaking the Language Barrier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

Preparation for the Apollo Soyuz mission entailed large-scale informational exchange that was accomplished by a computerized translation system. Based on this technology of commercial machine translation, a system known as SYSTRAN II was developed by LATSEC, Inc. and the World Translation Company of Canada. This system increases the output of a human translator by five to eight times, affording cost savings by allowing a large increase in document production without hiring additional people. Extra savings accrue from automatic production of camera-ready copy. Applications include translation of service manuals, proposals and tenders, planning studies, catalogs, list of parts and prices, textbooks, technical reports and education/training materials. System is operational for six language pairs. Systran users include Xerox Corporation, General Motors of Canada, Bell Northern Research of Canada, the U.S. Air Force and the European Commission. The company responsible for the production of SYSTRAN II has changed its name to SYSTRAN.

Prizes for innovation of new medicines and vaccines.

PubMed

Love, James; Hubbard, Tim

2009-01-01

This article argues that prizes can help stimulate medical innovation, control costs and ensure greater access to new medicines and vaccines. The authors explore four increasingly ambitious prize options to reward medical innovation, each addressing flaws in the current patent system. The first option promotes innovation through a large prize fund linked to the impact on health outcomes; the second option rewards the sharing of knowledge, data, and technology with open source dividends; the third option awards prizes for interim benchmarks and discrete technical problems; and the final option removes the exclusive right to use patented inventions in upstream research in favor of prizes. The authors conclude that a system of prizes to reward drug development would break the link between R&D incentives and product prices, and that such a reform is needed to improve innovation and access to new medicines and vaccines.

Analysis of the division of the urban-rural ecotone in the city of Zhuhai

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Nan; Zhou, Sulong; Guo, Luo

2018-02-01

In this study, a high-resolution remote sensing image of downtown Zhuhai (2010) was used to analyze the division of the urban-rural ecotone. Based on the information entropy theory, the study analyzed the characteristics of the ecotone’s land use and entropy value distribution, the break entropy values of the inner and outer boundary, as determined by mutation detection, were 0.51 and 0.46, respectively, providing a range for the rough classification of the rural-urban ecotone. The results showed that the boundaries of the ecotone were dynamic and the landscape turbulence of the urban fringe in the section between rural and urban areas was greater than that of the core area and imagery area of Zhuhai city. We concluded that this study provided technical support for urban planning and administration in the city of Zhuhai.

Where size does matter: foldable telescope design for microsat application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segert, Tom; Danziger, Björn; Lieder, Matthias

2017-11-01

The DOBSON SPACE TELESCOPE Project (DST) at the Technical University of Berlin (TUB) believes that micro satellites can be a challenging competitor in the high resolution remote sensing market. Using a micro satellite as basis for a remote sensing platform will dramatically reduce the cost for the end users thereby initiating the predicted remote sensing boom. The Challenging task is that an optic required for a GSD smaller than 1m is much bigger than the given room for secondary payload. In order to break the volume limits of hitchhiker payloads the DST team develops an optical telescope with deployable structures. The core piece of DST is a 20 inch modified Cassegrain optic. Stored during ascend the instrument fits in a box measuring 60 x 60 x 30cm (including telescope and optical plane assembly). After the satellite was released into free space the telescope unfolds and collimates automatically.

Organisational learning and self-adaptation in dynamic disaster environments.

PubMed

Corbacioglu, Sitki; Kapucu, Naim

2006-06-01

This paper examines the problems associated with inter-organisational learning and adaptation in the dynamic environments that characterise disasters. The research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate whether organisational learning took place during and in the time in between five disaster response operations in Turkey. The availability of information and its exchange and distribution within and among organisational actors determine whether self-adaptation happens in the course of a disaster response operation. Organisational flexibility supported by an appropriate information infrastructure creates conditions conducive to essential interaction and permits the flow of information. The study found that no significant organisational learning occurred within Turkish disaster management following the earthquakes in Erzincan (1992), Dinar (1995) and Ceyhan (1998). By contrast, the 'symmetry-breaking' Marmara earthquake of 1999 initiated a 'double loop' learning process that led to change in the organisational, technical and cultural aspects of Turkish disaster management, as revealed by the Duzce earthquake response operations.

Techno-economic and Monte Carlo probabilistic analysis of microalgae biofuel production system.

PubMed

Batan, Liaw Y; Graff, Gregory D; Bradley, Thomas H

2016-11-01

This study focuses on the characterization of the technical and economic feasibility of an enclosed photobioreactor microalgae system with annual production of 37.85 million liters (10 million gallons) of biofuel. The analysis characterizes and breaks down the capital investment and operating costs and the production cost of unit of algal diesel. The economic modelling shows total cost of production of algal raw oil and diesel of $3.46 and $3.69 per liter, respectively. Additionally, the effects of co-products' credit and their impact in the economic performance of algal-to-biofuel system are discussed. The Monte Carlo methodology is used to address price and cost projections and to simulate scenarios with probabilities of financial performance and profits of the analyzed model. Different markets for allocation of co-products have shown significant shifts for economic viability of algal biofuel system. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Concordance of IHC, FISH and RT-PCR for EML4-ALK rearrangements.

PubMed

Teixidó, Cristina; Karachaliou, Niki; Peg, Vicente; Gimenez-Capitan, Ana; Rosell, Rafael

2014-04-01

The echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) has emerged as the second most important driver oncogene in lung cancer and the first targetable fusion oncokinase to be identified in 4-6% of lung adenocarcinomas. Crizotinib, along with a diagnostic test-the Vysis ALK Break Apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) Probe Kit-is approved for the treatment of ALK positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the success of a targeted drug is critically dependent on a sensitive and specific screening assay to detect the molecular drug target. In our experience, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based detection of EML4-ALK is a more sensitive and reliable approach compared to FISH and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Although ALK FISH is clinically validated, the assay can be technically challenging and other diagnostic modalities, including IHC and RT-PCR should be further explored.

Perturbation measurement of waveguides for acoustic thermometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, H.; Feng, X. J.; Zhang, J. T.

2013-09-01

Acoustic thermometers normally embed small acoustic transducers in the wall bounding a gas-filled cavity resonator. At high temperature, insulators of transducers loss electrical insulation and degrade the signal-to-noise ratio. One essential solution to this technical trouble is to couple sound by acoustic waveguides between resonator and transducers. But waveguide will break the ideal acoustic surface and bring perturbations(Δf+ig) to the ideal resonance frequency. The perturbation model for waveguides was developed based on the first-order acoustic theory in this paper. The frequency shift Δf and half-width change g caused by the position, length and radius of waveguides were analyzed using this model. Six different length of waveguides (52˜1763 mm) were settled on the cylinder resonator and the perturbation (Δf+ig) were measured at T=332 K and p=250˜500 kPa. The experiment results agreed with the theoretical prediction very well.

An ultra-weak sector, the strong CP problem and the pseudo-Goldstone dilaton

DOE PAGES

Allison, Kyle; Hill, Christopher T.; Ross, Graham G.

2014-12-29

In the context of a Coleman–Weinberg mechanism for the Higgs boson mass, we address the strong CP problem. We show that a DFSZ-like invisible axion model with a gauge-singlet complex scalar field S, whose couplings to the Standard Model are naturally ultra-weak, can solve the strong CP problem and simultaneously generate acceptable electroweak symmetry breaking. The ultra-weak couplings of the singlet S are associated with underlying approximate shift symmetries that act as custodial symmetries and maintain technical naturalness. The model also contains a very light pseudo-Goldstone dilaton that is consistent with cosmological Polonyi bounds, and the axion can be themore » dark matter of the universe. As a result, we further outline how a SUSY version of this model, which may be required in the context of Grand Unification, can avoid introducing a hierarchy problem.« less

Technical Support to SBIR Phase II Project: Improved Conversion of Cellulose Waste to Ethanol Using a Dual Bioreactor System: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-08-310

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, M.

2013-04-01

Over-dependence on fossil fuel has spurred research on alternative energy. Inedible plant materials such as grass and corn stover represent abundant renewable natural resources that can be transformed into biofuel. Problems in enzymatic conversion of biomass to sugars include the use of incomplete synergistic enzymes, end-product inhibition, and adsorption and loss of enzymes necessitating their use in large quantities. Technova Corporation will develop a defined consortium of natural microorganisms that will efficiently break down biomass to energy-rich soluble sugars, and convert them to cleaner-burning ethanol fuel. The project will also develop a novel biocatalytic hybrid reactor system dedicated to thismore » bioprocess, which embodies recent advances in nanotechnology. NREL will participate to develop a continuous fermentation process.« less

Lithographically-generated 3D lamella layers and their structural color

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Sichao; Chen, Yifang; Lu, Bingrui; Liu, Jianpeng; Shao, Jinhai; Xu, Chen

2016-04-01

Inspired by the structural color from the multilayer nanophotonic structures in Morpho butterfly wing scales, 3D lamellae layers in dielectric polymers (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) with n ~ 1.5 were designed and fabricated by standard top-down electron beam lithography with one-step exposure followed by an alternating development/dissolution process of PMMA/LOR (lift-off resist) multilayers. This work offers direct proof of the structural blue/green color via lithographically-replicated PMMA/air multilayers, analogous to those in real Morpho butterfly wings. The success of nanolithography in this work for the 3D lamellae structures in dielectric polymers not only enables us to gain deeper insight into the mysterious blue color of the Morpho butterfly wings, but also breaks through the bottleneck in technical development toward broad applications in gas/liquid sensors, 3D meta-materials, coloring media, and infrared imaging devices, etc.

A generalized analysis of solar space heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, J. A.

A life-cycle model is developed for solar space heating within the United States. The model consists of an analytical relationship among five dimensionless parameters that include all pertinent technical, climatological, solar, operating and economic factors that influence the performance of a solar space heating system. An important optimum condition presented is the break-even metered cost of conventional fuel at which the cost of the solar system is equal to that of a conventional heating system. The effect of Federal (1980) and State (1979) income tax credits on these costs is determined. A parameter that includes both solar availability and solar system utilization is derived and plotted on a map of the U.S. This parameter shows the most favorable present locations for solar space heating application to be in the Central and Mountain States. The data employed are related to the rehabilitated solar data recently made available by the National Climatic Center.

An ultra-weak sector, the strong CP problem and the pseudo-Goldstone dilaton

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Allison, Kyle; Hill, Christopher T.; Ross, Graham G.

In the context of a Coleman–Weinberg mechanism for the Higgs boson mass, we address the strong CP problem. We show that a DFSZ-like invisible axion model with a gauge-singlet complex scalar field S, whose couplings to the Standard Model are naturally ultra-weak, can solve the strong CP problem and simultaneously generate acceptable electroweak symmetry breaking. The ultra-weak couplings of the singlet S are associated with underlying approximate shift symmetries that act as custodial symmetries and maintain technical naturalness. The model also contains a very light pseudo-Goldstone dilaton that is consistent with cosmological Polonyi bounds, and the axion can be themore » dark matter of the universe. As a result, we further outline how a SUSY version of this model, which may be required in the context of Grand Unification, can avoid introducing a hierarchy problem.« less

Ownership and technical efficiency of hospitals: evidence from Ghana using data envelopment analysis.

PubMed

Jehu-Appiah, Caroline; Sekidde, Serufusa; Adjuik, Martin; Akazili, James; Almeida, Selassi D; Nyonator, Frank; Baltussen, Rob; Asbu, Eyob Zere; Kirigia, Joses Muthuri

2014-04-08

In order to measure and analyse the technical efficiency of district hospitals in Ghana, the specific objectives of this study were to (a) estimate the relative technical and scale efficiency of government, mission, private and quasi-government district hospitals in Ghana in 2005; (b) estimate the magnitudes of output increases and/or input reductions that would have been required to make relatively inefficient hospitals more efficient; and (c) use Tobit regression analysis to estimate the impact of ownership on hospital efficiency. In the first stage, we used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate the efficiency of 128 hospitals comprising of 73 government hospitals, 42 mission hospitals, 7 quasi-government hospitals and 6 private hospitals. In the second stage, the estimated DEA efficiency scores are regressed against hospital ownership variable using a Tobit model. This was a retrospective study. In our DEA analysis, using the variable returns to scale model, out of 128 district hospitals, 31 (24.0%) were 100% efficient, 25 (19.5%) were very close to being efficient with efficiency scores ranging from 70% to 99.9% and 71 (56.2%) had efficiency scores below 50%. The lowest-performing hospitals had efficiency scores ranging from 21% to 30%.Quasi-government hospitals had the highest mean efficiency score (83.9%) followed by public hospitals (70.4%), mission hospitals (68.6%) and private hospitals (55.8%). However, public hospitals also got the lowest mean technical efficiency scores (27.4%), implying they have some of the most inefficient hospitals.Regarding regional performance, Northern region hospitals had the highest mean efficiency score (83.0%) and Volta Region hospitals had the lowest mean score (43.0%).From our Tobit regression, we found out that while quasi-government ownership is positively associated with hospital technical efficiency, private ownership negatively affects hospital efficiency. It would be prudent for policy-makers to examine the least efficient hospitals to correct widespread inefficiency. This would include reconsidering the number of hospitals and their distribution, improving efficiency and reducing duplication by closing or scaling down hospitals with efficiency scores below a certain threshold. For private hospitals with inefficiency related to large size, there is a need to break down such hospitals into manageable sizes.

Ownership and technical efficiency of hospitals: evidence from Ghana using data envelopment analysis

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background In order to measure and analyse the technical efficiency of district hospitals in Ghana, the specific objectives of this study were to (a) estimate the relative technical and scale efficiency of government, mission, private and quasi-government district hospitals in Ghana in 2005; (b) estimate the magnitudes of output increases and/or input reductions that would have been required to make relatively inefficient hospitals more efficient; and (c) use Tobit regression analysis to estimate the impact of ownership on hospital efficiency. Methods In the first stage, we used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate the efficiency of 128 hospitals comprising of 73 government hospitals, 42 mission hospitals, 7 quasi-government hospitals and 6 private hospitals. In the second stage, the estimated DEA efficiency scores are regressed against hospital ownership variable using a Tobit model. This was a retrospective study. Results In our DEA analysis, using the variable returns to scale model, out of 128 district hospitals, 31 (24.0%) were 100% efficient, 25 (19.5%) were very close to being efficient with efficiency scores ranging from 70% to 99.9% and 71 (56.2%) had efficiency scores below 50%. The lowest-performing hospitals had efficiency scores ranging from 21% to 30%. Quasi-government hospitals had the highest mean efficiency score (83.9%) followed by public hospitals (70.4%), mission hospitals (68.6%) and private hospitals (55.8%). However, public hospitals also got the lowest mean technical efficiency scores (27.4%), implying they have some of the most inefficient hospitals. Regarding regional performance, Northern region hospitals had the highest mean efficiency score (83.0%) and Volta Region hospitals had the lowest mean score (43.0%). From our Tobit regression, we found out that while quasi-government ownership is positively associated with hospital technical efficiency, private ownership negatively affects hospital efficiency. Conclusions It would be prudent for policy-makers to examine the least efficient hospitals to correct widespread inefficiency. This would include reconsidering the number of hospitals and their distribution, improving efficiency and reducing duplication by closing or scaling down hospitals with efficiency scores below a certain threshold. For private hospitals with inefficiency related to large size, there is a need to break down such hospitals into manageable sizes. PMID:24708886

Spring break trips as a risk factor for heavy alcohol use among first-year college students.

PubMed

Lee, Christine M; Maggs, Jennifer L; Rankin, Lela A

2006-11-01

Many high school and college students are believed to use spring break vacation to travel to destinations with the intent of engaging in extreme party behaviors, including excessive alcohol use. However, the extent to which spring break travelers' behaviors are more risky than their typical behaviors remains unclear. To assess the impact of spring break as a situational risk factor, we analyzed data collected from 176 first-year college students across 10 weeks using weekly telephone interviews. Using multilevel modeling, we found the following: (1) men, participants in fraternity/sorority organizations, students traveling on spring break trips, and those with higher fun-social alcohol expectancies drank more during the regular semester; (2) alcohol use did not increase during spring break week in general; however, (3) spring break travelers increased their alcohol use during spring break. Spring break trips are a risk factor for escalated alcohol use both during the academic semester and during spring break trips, suggesting that some students may seek out opportunities for excessive alcohol use. Results are discussed in terms of niche selection and prevention implications.

Induction of chromatin damage and distribution of isochromatid breaks in human fibroblast cells exposed to heavy ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kawata, Tetsuya; Ito, Hisao; Motoori, Ken; Ueda, Takuya; Shigematsu, Naoyuki; Furusawa, Yoshiya; Durante, Marco; George, Kerry; Wu, Honglu; Cucinotta, Francis A.

2002-01-01

The frequency of chromatid breaks and the distribution of isochromatid breaks were measured in G2-phase normal human fibroblasts prematurely condensed a short time after exposure to low- or high-LET radiations. The average number of isochromatid breaks from a single particle traversal increased with increasing LET values, while the average number of chromatid-type breaks appeared to reach a plateau. The distribution of isochromatid breaks after high-LET iron particles exposure was overdispersed compared to gamma-rays, indicating that a single iron particle traversal through a cell nucleus can produce multiple isochromatid breaks.

Induction of chromatin damage and distribution of isochromatid breaks in human fibroblast cells exposed to heavy ions.

PubMed

Kawata, Tetsuya; Ito, Hisao; Motoori, Ken; Ueda, Takuya; Shigematsu, Naoyuki; Furusawa, Yoshiya; Durante, Marco; George, Kerry; Wu, Honglu; Cucinotta, Francis A

2002-12-01

The frequency of chromatid breaks and the distribution of isochromatid breaks were measured in G2-phase normal human fibroblasts prematurely condensed a short time after exposure to low- or high-LET radiations. The average number of isochromatid breaks from a single particle traversal increased with increasing LET values, while the average number of chromatid-type breaks appeared to reach a plateau. The distribution of isochromatid breaks after high-LET iron particles exposure was overdispersed compared to gamma-rays, indicating that a single iron particle traversal through a cell nucleus can produce multiple isochromatid breaks.

Effects of school breaks on influenza-like illness incidence in a temperate Chinese region: an ecological study from 2008 to 2015.

PubMed

Chu, Yanhui; Wu, Zhenyu; Ji, Jiayi; Sun, Jingyi; Sun, Xiaoyu; Qin, Guoyou; Qin, Jingning; Xiao, Zheng; Ren, Jian; Qin, Di; Zheng, Xueying; Wang, Xi-Ling

2017-03-06

To assess the effects of winter/summer school breaks on occurrences of influenza-like illness (ILI). We jointly analysed ILI surveillance data with the timing of school breaks in a temperate district in Beijing, China from 2008 to 2015. ILI incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of schoolchildren (5-14 and 15-24 years of age) to adults (25-59 and >60 years of age) were used to measure the age shift of ILI incidence before, during and after the 4-week winter/7-week summer breaks. Serfling-based Poisson regression model with adjustment for unmeasured confounders was built to further assess the effect of winter school breaks. ILI incidences were consistently lower during winter breaks than before winter breaks for all age groups. IRRs of younger schoolchildren aged 5-14 to adults were higher during winter school breaks than before breaks, while the opposite was true for the IRRs of older schoolchildren aged 15-24 to adults. Schoolchildren-to-adults IRRs during summer breaks were significantly lower than before or after school breaks (p<0.001). Both winter and summer breaks were associated with reductions of ILI incidences among schoolchildren and adults. Our study contributes additional evidence on the effects of school breaks on ILI incidence, suggesting school closure could be effective in controlling influenza transmission in developing countries. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Distributions of Low- and High-LET Radiation-Induced Breaks in Chromosomes are Associated with Inter- and Intrachromosome Exchanges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hada, Megumi; Zhang, Ye; Feiveson, Alan; Cucinotta, Francis A.; Wu, Honglu

2010-01-01

To study the breakpoint along the length of the chromosome induced by low- and high-LET radiations, we exposed human epithelial cells in vitro to Cs-137 rays at both low and high dose rates, secondary neutrons at a low dose rate, and 600 MeV/u Fe ions at a high dose rate. The location of the breaks was identified using the multicolor banding in situ hybridization (mBAND) that paints Chromosome 3 in 23 different colored bands. The breakpoint distributions were found to be similar between rays of low and high dose rates and between the two high-LET radiation types. Detailed analysis of the chromosome break ends involved in inter- and intrachromosome exchanges revealed that only the break ends participating in interchromosome exchanges contributed to the hot spots found for low-LET. For break ends participating in intrachromosome exchanges, the distributions for all four radiation scenarios were similar with clusters of breaks found in three regions. Analysis of the locations of the two break ends in Chromosome 3 that joined to form an intrachromosome exchange demonstrated that two breaks with a greater genomic separation may be more likely to rejoin than two closer breaks, indicating that chromatin folding can play an important role in the rejoining of chromosome breaks. Our study demonstrated that the gene-rich regions do not necessarily contain more breaks. The breakpoint distribution depends more on the likelihood that a break will join with another break in the same chromosome or in a different chromosome.

TRU Waste Management Program. Cost/schedule optimization analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Detamore, J.A.; Raudenbush, M.H.; Wolaver, R.W.

This Current Year Work Plan presents in detail a description of the activities to be performed by the Joint Integration Office Rockwell International (JIO/RI) during FY86. It breaks down the activities into two major work areas: Program Management and Program Analysis. Program Management is performed by the JIO/RI by providing technical planning and guidance for the development of advanced TRU waste management capabilities. This includes equipment/facility design, engineering, construction, and operations. These functions are integrated to allow transition from interim storage to final disposition. JIO/RI tasks include program requirements identification, long-range technical planning, budget development, program planning document preparation, taskmore » guidance development, task monitoring, task progress information gathering and reporting to DOE, interfacing with other agencies and DOE lead programs, integrating public involvement with program efforts, and preparation of reports for DOE detailing program status. Program Analysis is performed by the JIO/RI to support identification and assessment of alternatives, and development of long-term TRU waste program capabilities. These analyses include short-term analyses in response to DOE information requests, along with performing an RH Cost/Schedule Optimization report. Systems models will be developed, updated, and upgraded as needed to enhance JIO/RI's capability to evaluate the adequacy of program efforts in various fields. A TRU program data base will be maintained and updated to provide DOE with timely responses to inventory related questions.« less

FY 1986 current fiscal year work plan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

This Current Year Work Plan presents in detail a description of the activities to be performed by the Joint Integration Office/RI during FY86. It breaks down the activities into two major work areas: Program Management and Program Analysis. Program Management is performed by the JIO/RI by providing technical planning and guidance for the development of advanced TRU waste management capabilities. This includes equipment/facility design, engineering, construction, and operations. These functions are integrated to allow transition from interim storage to final disposition. JIO/RI tasks include program requirements identification, long-range technical planning, budget development, program planning document preparation, task guidance development, taskmore » monitoring, task progress information gathering and reporting to DOE, interfacing with other agencies and DOE lead programs, integrating public involvement with program efforts, and preparation of reports for DOE detailing program status. Program Analysis is performed by the JIO/RI to support identification and assessment of alternatives, and development of long-term TRU waste program capabilities. These analyses include short term analyses in response to DOE information requests, along with performing an RH Cost/Schedule Optimization report. System models will be developed, updated, and upgraded as needed to enhance JIO/RI's capability to evaluate the adequacy of program efforts in various fields. A TRU program data base will be maintained and updated to provide DOE with timely responses to inventory related questions.« less

Intelligent clutch control with incremental encoder to improve wear issues of an intercept pendulum in real time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jalba, C. K.; Diekmann, R.; Epple, S.

2017-01-01

A pendulum impact tester is a technical device which is used to perform plasticity characterizations of metallic materials. Results are calculated based on fracture behavior under pendulum impact loadings according to DIN 50115, DIN 51222/EN 10045. The material is held at the two ends and gets struck in the middle. A mechanical Problem occurs when testing materials with a very high impact toughness. These specimen often do not break when hit by the pendulum. To return the pendulum to its initial position, the operator presses a service button. After a delay of approximately 2 seconds a clutch is activated which connects the arm of the pendulum with an electric motor to return it back upright in start position. At the moment of clutch activation, the pendulum can still swing or bounce with any speed in any direction at any different position. Due to the lack of synchronization between pendulum speed and constant engine speed, the clutch suffers heavy wear of friction. This disadvantage results in considerable service and repair costs for the customer. As a solution to this problem this article presents a customized technical device to significantly increase the lifetime of the clutch. It was accomplished by a precisely controlled activation of the clutch at a point of time when pendulum and motor are at synchronized speed and direction using incremental encoders.

Cooperative Monitoring Center Occasional Paper/8: Cooperative Border Security for Jordan: Assessment and Options

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qojas, M.

1999-03-01

This document is an analysis of options for unilateral and cooperative action to improve the security of Jordan's borders. Sections describe the current political, economic, and social interactions along Jordan's borders. Next, the document discusses border security strategy for cooperation among neighboring countries and the adoption of confidence-building measures. A practical cooperative monitoring system would consist of hardware for early warning, command and control, communications, and transportation. Technical solutions can expand opportunities for the detection and identification of intruders. Sensors (such as seismic, break-wire, pressure-sensing, etc.) can warn border security forces of intrusion and contribute to the identification of themore » intrusion and help formulate the response. This document describes conceptual options for cooperation, offering three scenarios that relate to three hypothetical levels (low, medium, and high) of cooperation. Potential cooperative efforts under a low cooperation scenario could include information exchanges on military equipment and schedules to prevent misunderstandings and the establishment of protocols for handling emergency situations or unusual circumstances. Measures under a medium cooperation scenario could include establishing joint monitoring groups for better communications, with hot lines and scheduled meetings. The high cooperation scenario describes coordinated responses, joint border patrols, and sharing border intrusion information. Finally, the document lists recommendations for organizational, technical, and operational initiatives that could be applicable to the current situation.« less

[SUVA (Swiss Accident Insurance Fund) and silicosis. Silicosis in Switzerland. Development of technological dust control].

PubMed

Bachofen, G

1983-01-01

In Switzerland the technical measures against quartz dust started in 1948 when wet drilling was compulsoryly introduced, initially in underground mining. The miners using the first wet drilling machines had serious problems with water, and only with the introduction of carriage drilling machines in 1963 did the method fully break through. Dust caused by blasting operations and by loading of the resultant material was limited by ventilation and sprinkling of water. In 1966 the first full-face cutting machines were used, and it was necessary to install a dust chamber behind the drill from which dust could be taken to a dust arrester. The problem of dust limitation when using boom cutters at sectional areas of more than 20 sq. meters without a pilot tunnel has not been resolved. Since 1970, dust in quarries and stone-cutter workshops has been successfully combated by the use of exhaust pumps in combination with filters. The use of quartz sand to clean metal pieces (sandblast) was forbidden in 1960. Today, materials of the same value, but quartz-free, are available. In foundries, dust production can be limited by continuous automation and installation of exhaust pumps in moulding units. For more than 30 years now the technical equipment has been available for successful prevention of quartz dust emissions. However, at some plants it is still difficult to persuade the personnel to use the protective equipment.

Factors affecting fuel break effectiveness in the control of large fires on the Los Padres National Forest, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Syphard, Alexandra D.; Keeley, Jon E.; Brennan, Teresa J.

2011-01-01

As wildfires have increased in frequency and extent, so have the number of homes developed in the wildland-urban interface. In California, the predominant approach to mitigating fire risk is construction of fuel breaks, but there has been little empirical study of their role in controlling large fires.We constructed a spatial database of fuel breaks on the Los Padres National Forest in southern California to better understand characteristics of fuel breaks that affect the behaviour of large fires and to map where fires and fuel breaks most commonly intersect. We evaluated whether fires stopped or crossed over fuel breaks over a 28-year period and compared the outcomes with physical characteristics of the sites, weather and firefighting activities during the fire event. Many fuel breaks never intersected fires, but others intersected several, primarily in historically fire-prone areas. Fires stopped at fuel breaks 46% of the time, almost invariably owing to fire suppression activities. Firefighter access to treatments, smaller fires and longer fuel breaks were significant direct influences, and younger vegetation and fuel break maintenance indirectly improved the outcome by facilitating firefighter access. This study illustrates the importance of strategic location of fuel breaks because they have been most effective where they provided access for firefighting activities.

Booster Breaks in the workplace: participants’ perspectives on health-promoting work breaks

PubMed Central

Taylor, Wendell C.; King, Kathryn E.; Shegog, Ross; Paxton, Raheem J.; Evans-Hudnall, Gina L.; Rempel, David M.; Chen, Vincent; Yancey, Antronette K.

2013-01-01

Increasing sedentary work has been associated with greater cardiovascular and metabolic risk, as well as premature mortality. Interrupting the sedentary workday with health-promoting work breaks can counter these negative health effects. To examine the potential sustainability of work-break programs, we assessed the acceptance of these breaks among participants in a Booster Break program. We analyzed qualitative responses from 35 participants across five worksites where one 15-min physical activity break was taken each workday. Two worksites completed a 1-year intervention and three worksites completed a 6-month intervention. Responses to two open-ended questions about the acceptance and feasibility of Booster Breaks were obtained from a survey administered after the intervention. Three themes for benefits and two themes for barriers were identified. The benefit themes were (i) reduced stress and promoted enjoyment, (ii) increased health awareness and facilitated behavior change, and (iii) enhanced workplace social interaction. The barrier themes were the need for (iv) greater variety in Booster Break routines and (v) greater management support. This study provides empirical support for the acceptance and feasibility of Booster Breaks during the workday. Emphasizing the benefits and minimizing the barriers are strategies that can be used to implement Booster Breaks in other workplaces. PMID:23466367

Relationship between Age and the Ability to Break Scored Tablets

PubMed Central

Notenboom, Kim; Vromans, Herman; Schipper, Maarten; Leufkens, Hubert G. M.; Bouvy, Marcel L.

2016-01-01

Background: Practical problems with the use of medicines, such as difficulties with breaking tablets, are an often overlooked cause for non-adherence. Tablets frequently break in uneven parts and loss of product can occur due to crumbling and powdering. Health characteristics, such as the presence of peripheral neuropathy, decreased grip strength and manual dexterity, can affect a patient's ability to break tablets. As these impairments are associated with aging and age-related diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and arthritis, difficulties with breaking tablets could be more prevalent among older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between age and the ability to break scored tablets. Methods: A comparative study design was chosen. Thirty-six older adults and 36 young adults were systematically observed with breaking scored tablets. Twelve different tablets were included. All participants were asked to break each tablet by three techniques: in between the fingers with the use of nails, in between the fingers without the use of nails and pushing the tablet downward with one finger on a solid surface. It was established whether a tablet was broken or not, and if broken, whether the tablet was broken accurately or not. Results: The older adults experienced more difficulties to break tablets compared to the young adults. On average, the older persons broke 38.1% of the tablets, of which 71.0% was broken accurately. The young adults broke 78.2% of the tablets, of which 77.4% was broken accurately. Further analysis by mixed effects logistic regression revealed that age was associated with the ability to break tablets, but not with the accuracy of breaking. Conclusions: Breaking scored tablets by hand is less successful in an elderly population compared to a group of young adults. Health care providers should be aware that tablet breaking is not appropriate for all patients and for all drugs. In case tablet breaking is unavoidable, a patient's ability to break tablets should be assessed by health care providers and instructions on the appropriate method of breaking should be provided. PMID:27507946

Preliminary examination of spring break alcohol use and related consequences.

PubMed

Lee, Christine M; Lewis, Melissa A; Neighbors, Clayton

2009-12-01

The authors examined the extent to which college student drinkers are at risk for experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences during Spring Break. A sample of first-year college student drinkers (N = 726) participated by completing an online survey assessing typical drinking, as well as Spring Break drinking and related consequences. Findings suggest Spring Break drinking was positively associated with alcohol-related consequences during Spring Break, even after controlling for sex and typical drinking. Furthermore, results indicated that typical drinking moderated the relationship between Spring Break drinking and expected zero-values (i.e., not reporting any Spring Break consequences), such that the association between Spring Break drinking and the likelihood of being a zero-score was less evident for those who are typically lighter drinkers. Identifying and examining temporal and contextually relevant events and associated drinking is critical for understanding and ultimately preventing extreme drinking and associated consequences associated with specific events like Spring Break, which place many students at high risk for experiencing acute harm. Copyright 2009 APA

Fuel breaks affect nonnative species abundance in Californian plant communities

USGS Publications Warehouse

Merriam, K.E.; Keeley, J.E.; Beyers, J.L.

2006-01-01

We evaluated the abundance of nonnative plants on fuel breaks and in adjacent untreated areas to determine if fuel treatments promote the invasion of nonnative plant species. Understanding the relationship between fuel treatments and nonnative plants is becoming increasingly important as federal and state agencies are currently implementing large fuel treatment programs throughout the United States to reduce the threat of wildland fire. Our study included 24 fuel breaks located across the State of California. We found that nonnative plant abundance was over 200% higher on fuel breaks than in adjacent wildland areas. Relative nonnative cover was greater on fuel breaks constructed by bulldozers (28%) than on fuel breaks constructed by other methods (7%). Canopy cover, litter cover, and duff depth also were significantly lower on fuel breaks constructed by bulldozers, and these fuel breaks had significantly more exposed bare ground than other types of fuel breaks. There was a significant decline in relative nonnative cover with increasing distance from the fuel break, particularly in areas that had experienced more numerous fires during the past 50 years, and in areas that had been grazed. These data suggest that fuel breaks could provide establishment sites for nonnative plants, and that nonnatives may invade surrounding areas, especially after disturbances such as fire or grazing. Fuel break construction and maintenance methods that leave some overstory canopy and minimize exposure of bare ground may be less likely to promote nonnative plants. ?? 2006 by the Ecological Society of America.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yu, Jiang-Hao

In original twin Higgs model, vacuum misalignment between electroweak and new physics scales is realized by adding explicit Z 2 breaking term. Introducing additional twin Higgs could accommodate spontaneous Z 2 breaking, which explains origin of this misalignment. We introduce a class of twin two Higgs doublet models with most general scalar potential, and discuss general conditions which trigger electroweak and Z 2 symmetry breaking. Various scenarios on realising the vacuum misalignment are systematically discussed in a natural composite two Higgs double model framework: explicit Z 2 breaking, radiative Z 2 breaking, tadpole-induced Z 2 breaking, and quartic-induced Z 2more » breaking. Finally, we investigate the Higgs mass spectra and Higgs phenomenology in these scenarios.« less

In-pile tests at Karlsruhe of LWR fuel-rod behavior during the heatup phase of a LOCA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Karb, E.H.

1980-01-01

In order to investigate the influence of a nuclar environment on the mechanisms of fuel-rod failure, in-pile tests simulating the heatup phase of a loss-of-coolant accident in a pressurized-water reactor are being conducted with irradiated and unirradiated short-length single rods in the FR2 reactor at Kernforschungszentrum karlsruhe (Karlsruhe Nuclear Reasearch Center), Federal Republic of Germany, within the Project Nuclear Safety. With nearly 70% of the scheduled tests completed, no such influences have been found. The in-pile burst and deformation data are in good agreement with results from nonnuclear tests with electrically heated fuel-rod simulators. The phenomenon of pellet disintegration, whichmore » has been observed in all tests with previously irradiated rods, needs further investigation.« less

Semester and Event-Specific Motives for Alcohol Use During Spring Break: Associated Protective Strategies and Negative Consequences

PubMed Central

Patrick, Megan E.; Lewis, Melissa A.; Lee, Christine M.; Maggs, Jennifer L.

2012-01-01

Motives surrounding alcohol use behavior are important for understanding college student drinking. However, no previous research has addressed how motives for and against drinking during specific events associated with high-risk drinking, such as Spring Break, may differ from motives for and against drinking during the regular semester. Further, we examine the extent to which semester and Spring Break motives are associated with alcohol use, protective behavioral strategies (PBS), and consequences. Participants were college students (N = 261; 55% women) who provided data both immediately prior to (Wave 1) and after (Wave 2) Spring Break. Fun/Social motives for drinking were greater for Spring Break, and Driving motives against drinking were lower for Spring Break, compared to semester drinking. Relax and Image motives for drinking and Physical/Behavioral motives for not drinking during Spring Break did not differ from semester motives. Spring Break motives for and against drinking were associated with total drinks, maximum drinks, PBS, and experienced negative consequences during Spring Break. Students’ specific motives regarding drinking during Spring Break predict high-risk drinking and may be utilized in creating salient event-specific interventions. PMID:23384451

Impact of Booster Breaks and Computer Prompts on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among Desk-Based Workers: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Taylor, Wendell C; Paxton, Raheem J; Shegog, Ross; Coan, Sharon P; Dubin, Allison; Page, Timothy F; Rempel, David M

2016-11-17

The 15-minute work break provides an opportunity to promote health, yet few studies have examined this part of the workday. We studied physical activity and sedentary behavior among office workers and compared the results of the Booster Break program with those of a second intervention and a control group to determine whether the Booster Break program improved physical and behavioral health outcomes. We conducted a 3-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial at 4 worksites in Texas from 2010 through 2013 to compare a group-based, structured Booster Break program to an individual-based computer-prompt intervention and a usual-break control group; we analyzed physiologic, behavioral, and employee measures such as work social support, quality of life, and perceived stress. We also identified consistent and inconsistent attendees of the Booster Break sessions. We obtained data from 175 participants (mean age, 43 y; 67% racial/ethnic minority). Compared with the other groups, the consistent Booster Break attendees had greater weekly pedometer counts (P < .001), significant decreases in sedentary behavior and self-reported leisure-time physical activity (P < .001), and a significant increase in triglyceride concentrations (P = .02) (levels remained within the normal range). Usual-break participants significantly increased their body mass index, whereas Booster Break participants maintained body mass index status during the 6 months. Overall, Booster Break participants were 6.8 and 4.3 times more likely to have decreases in BMI and weekend sedentary time, respectively, than usual-break participants. Findings varied among the 3 study groups; however, results indicate the potential for consistent attendees of the Booster Break intervention to achieve significant, positive changes related to physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body mass index.

Impact of Booster Breaks and Computer Prompts on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among Desk-Based Workers: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Paxton, Raheem J.; Shegog, Ross; Coan, Sharon P.; Dubin, Allison; Page, Timothy F.; Rempel, David M.

2016-01-01

Introduction The 15-minute work break provides an opportunity to promote health, yet few studies have examined this part of the workday. We studied physical activity and sedentary behavior among office workers and compared the results of the Booster Break program with those of a second intervention and a control group to determine whether the Booster Break program improved physical and behavioral health outcomes. Methods We conducted a 3-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial at 4 worksites in Texas from 2010 through 2013 to compare a group-based, structured Booster Break program to an individual-based computer-prompt intervention and a usual-break control group; we analyzed physiologic, behavioral, and employee measures such as work social support, quality of life, and perceived stress. We also identified consistent and inconsistent attendees of the Booster Break sessions. Results We obtained data from 175 participants (mean age, 43 y; 67% racial/ethnic minority). Compared with the other groups, the consistent Booster Break attendees had greater weekly pedometer counts (P < .001), significant decreases in sedentary behavior and self-reported leisure-time physical activity (P < .001), and a significant increase in triglyceride concentrations (P = .02) (levels remained within the normal range). Usual-break participants significantly increased their body mass index, whereas Booster Break participants maintained body mass index status during the 6 months. Overall, Booster Break participants were 6.8 and 4.3 times more likely to have decreases in BMI and weekend sedentary time, respectively, than usual-break participants. Conclusion Findings varied among the 3 study groups; however, results indicate the potential for consistent attendees of the Booster Break intervention to achieve significant, positive changes related to physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body mass index. PMID:27854422

The Effects of Spacing, Naps, and Fatigue on the Acquisition and Retention of Laparoscopic Skills.

PubMed

Spruit, Edward N; Band, Guido P H; van der Heijden, Kristiaan B; Hamming, Jaap F

Earlier research has shown that laparoscopic skills are trained more efficiently on a spaced schedule compared to a massed schedule. The aim of the study was to estimate to what extent the spacing interval, naps, and fatigue influenced the effectiveness of spacing laparoscopy training. Overall 4 groups of trainees (aged 17-41y; 72% female; N massed = 40; N break = 35; N break-nap = 37; N spaced = 37) without prior experience were trained in 3 laparoscopic tasks using a physical box trainer with different scheduling interventions. The first (massed) group received three 100-minute training sessions consecutively on a single day. The second (break) group received the sessions interrupted with two 45-minute breaks. The third (break-nap) group had the same schedule as the second group, but had two 35-minute powernap intervals during the breaks. The fourth (spaced) group had the 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days. A retention session was organized approximately 3 months after training. The results showed an overall pattern of superior performance at the end of training and at retention for the spaced group, followed by the break-nap, break, and massed group, respectively. The spaced and break-nap group significantly outperformed the break and massed group, with effect sizes ranging from 0.20 to 0.37. Spacing laparoscopic training over 3 consecutive days or weeks is superior to massed training, even if the massed training contains breaks. Breaks with sleep opportunity (i.e., lying, inactive, and muted sensory input) enhance performance over training with regular breaks and traditional massed training. Copyright © 2017 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Simulation of breaking waves using the high-order spectral method with laboratory experiments: wave-breaking energy dissipation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seiffert, Betsy R.; Ducrozet, Guillaume

2018-01-01

We examine the implementation of a wave-breaking mechanism into a nonlinear potential flow solver. The success of the mechanism will be studied by implementing it into the numerical model HOS-NWT, which is a computationally efficient, open source code that solves for the free surface in a numerical wave tank using the high-order spectral (HOS) method. Once the breaking mechanism is validated, it can be implemented into other nonlinear potential flow models. To solve for wave-breaking, first a wave-breaking onset parameter is identified, and then a method for computing wave-breaking associated energy loss is determined. Wave-breaking onset is calculated using a breaking criteria introduced by Barthelemy et al. (J Fluid Mech https://arxiv.org/pdf/1508.06002.pdf, submitted) and validated with the experiments of Saket et al. (J Fluid Mech 811:642-658, 2017). Wave-breaking energy dissipation is calculated by adding a viscous diffusion term computed using an eddy viscosity parameter introduced by Tian et al. (Phys Fluids 20(6): 066,604, 2008, Phys Fluids 24(3), 2012), which is estimated based on the pre-breaking wave geometry. A set of two-dimensional experiments is conducted to validate the implemented wave breaking mechanism at a large scale. Breaking waves are generated by using traditional methods of evolution of focused waves and modulational instability, as well as irregular breaking waves with a range of primary frequencies, providing a wide range of breaking conditions to validate the solver. Furthermore, adjustments are made to the method of application and coefficient of the viscous diffusion term with negligible difference, supporting the robustness of the eddy viscosity parameter. The model is able to accurately predict surface elevation and corresponding frequency/amplitude spectrum, as well as energy dissipation when compared with the experimental measurements. This suggests the model is capable of calculating wave-breaking onset and energy dissipation successfully for a wide range of breaking conditions. The model is also able to successfully calculate the transfer of energy between frequencies due to wave focusing and wave breaking. This study is limited to unidirectional waves but provides a valuable basis for future application of the wave-breaking model to a multidirectional wave field. By including parameters for removing energy due to wave-breaking into a nonlinear potential flow solver, the risk of developing numerical instabilities due to an overturning wave is decreased, thereby increasing the application range of the model, including calculating more extreme sea states. A computationally efficient and accurate model for the generation of a nonlinear random wave field is useful for predicting the dynamic response of offshore vessels and marine renewable energy devices, predicting loads on marine structures, and in the study of open ocean wave generation and propagation in a realistic environment.

Skills Associated with Line Breaks in Elite Rugby Union

PubMed Central

den Hollander, Steve; Brown, James; Lambert, Michael; Treu, Paul; Hendricks, Sharief

2016-01-01

The ability of the attacking team to break through the defensive line is a key indicator of success as it creates opportunities to score tries. The aim of this study was to analyse line breaks and identify the associated skills and playing characteristics. The 2013 Super Rugby season (125 games) was analysed, in which 362 line breaks were identified and coded using variables that assessed team patterns and non-contact attacking skills in the phases preceding the line break. There was an average of 3 line breaks per game, with 39% of line breaks resulting in a try. Line breaks occurred when the ball-carrier was running fast [61%, x2(4) = 25.784, p = 0.000, Cramer’s v = 0.1922, weak]. At a moderate distance, short lateral passes (19%) and skip passes (15%) attributed to the highest percentage of line breaks [x2(26) = 50.899, p = 0.036, Cramer’s v = 0.2484, moderate]. Faster defensive line speeds resulted in more line breaks [x2(12) = 61.703, p < 0.001, Cramer’s v = 0.3026, moderate]. Line breaks are associated with overall team success and try scoring opportunities. Awareness of the defenders line speed and depth, fast running speed when receiving the ball and quick passing between attackers to the outside backs creates line break opportunities. During training, coaches should emphasise the movement speed of the ball between attackers and manipulate the speed and distance of the defenders. Key points Line breaks are associated with overall team success and try scoring opportunities. Awareness of the defenders line speed and depth, fast running speed when receiving the ball and quick passing between attackers to the outside backs creates line break opportunities During training, coaches should emphasise the movement speed of the ball between attackers and manipulate the speed and distance of the defenders. PMID:27803629

Associations between social ecological factors and self-reported short physical activity breaks during work hours among desk-based employees.

PubMed

Bennie, Jason A; Timperio, Anna F; Crawford, David A; Dunstan, David W; Salmon, Jo L

2011-01-01

To examine the associations between potential social ecological correlates and self-reported short physical activity breaks during work hours (defined as any interruption in sitting time during a typical work hour) among a sample of employees who commonly sit for working tasks. 801 employed adults aged 18-70 years from metropolitan Melbourne, Australia were surveyed in 2009 about their short physical activity breaks from sitting during work hours and potential social ecological correlates of this behaviour. Men reported significantly more short physical activity breaks per work hour than did women (2.5 vs. 2.3 breaks/h, p=0.02). A multivariable linear regression analysis adjusting for clustering and meeting the public health physical activity recommendations showed that the factors associated with frequency of short physical activity breaks per work hour were perceptions of lack of time for short physical activity breaks for men (-0.31 breaks/h, 95% confidence intervals [CI] -0.52, -0.09) and lack of information about taking short physical activity breaks for women (-0.20 breaks/h, CI -0.47, -0.05). These findings suggest that providing male employees with support for short physical activity breaks during work hours, and female employees with information on benefits of this behaviour may be useful for reducing workplace sedentary time. Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Climate and floods still govern California levee breaks

USGS Publications Warehouse

Florsheim, J.L.; Dettinger, M.D.

2007-01-01

Even in heavily engineered river systems, climate still governs flood variability and thus still drives many levee breaks and geomorphic changes. We assemble a 155-year record of levee breaks for a major California river system to find that breaks occurred in 25% of years during the 20th Century. A relation between levee breaks and river discharge is present that sets a discharge threshold above which most levee breaks occurred. That threshold corresponds to small floods with recurrence intervals of ???2-3 years. Statistical analysis illustrates that levee breaks and peak discharges cycle (broadly) on a 12-15 year time scale, in time with warm-wet storm patterns in California, but more slowly or more quickly than ENSO and PDO climate phenomena, respectively. Notably, these variations and thresholds persist through the 20th Century, suggesting that historical flood-control effects have not reduced the occurrence or frequency of levee breaks. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.

Simulation of breaking waves using the high-order spectral method with laboratory experiments: Wave-breaking onset

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seiffert, Betsy R.; Ducrozet, Guillaume; Bonnefoy, Félicien

2017-11-01

This study investigates a wave-breaking onset criteria to be implemented in the non-linear potential flow solver HOS-NWT. The model is a computationally efficient, open source code, which solves for the free surface in a numerical wave tank using the High-Order Spectral (HOS) method. The goal of this study is to determine the best method to identify the onset of random single and multiple breaking waves over a large domain at the exact time they occur. To identify breaking waves, a breaking onset criteria based on the ratio of local energy flux velocity to the local crest velocity, introduced by Barthelemy et al. (2017) is selected. The breaking parameter is uniquely applied in the numerical model in that calculations of the breaking onset criteria ratio are not made only at the location of the wave crest, but at every point in the domain and at every time step. This allows the model to calculate the onset of a breaking wave the moment it happens, and without knowing anything about the wave a priori. The application of the breaking criteria at every point in the domain and at every time step requires the phase velocity to be calculated instantaneously everywhere in the domain and at every time step. This is achieved by calculating the instantaneous phase velocity using the Hilbert transform and dispersion relation. A comparison between more traditional crest-tracking techniques shows the calculation of phase velocity using Hilbert transform at the location of the breaking wave crest provides a good approximation of crest velocity. The ability of the selected wave breaking criteria to predict single and multiple breaking events in two dimensions is validated by a series of large-scale experiments. Breaking waves are generated by energy focusing and modulational instability methods, with a wide range of primary frequencies. Steep irregular waves which lead to breaking waves, and irregular waves with an energy focusing wave superimposed are also generated. This set of waves provides a wide range of breaking-wave strengths, types and scales for validation of the model. A comparison of calculations made using HOS-NWT with experimental measurements show that the model is successful at predicting the occurrence of wave breaking, as well as accurately calculating breaking onset time and location. Although the current study is limited to a unidirectional wave field, the success of the wave-breaking model presented provides the basis for application of the model in a multidirectional wave field. By including wave breaking onset with the addition of an appropriate energy dissipation model into HOS-NWT, we can increase the application range of the model, as well as decrease the occurrence of numerical instabilities that are associated with breaking waves in a potential flow solver. An accurate description of the wave field is useful for predicting the dynamic response of offshore vessels and marine renewable energy devices, predicting loads on marine structures and the general physics of ocean waves, for example.

26 CFR 1.411(a)-6 - Year of service; hours of service; breaks in service.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... this subdivision by reason of any prior break in service may be disregarded. (2) One-year break in... 26 Internal Revenue 5 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Year of service; hours of service; breaks in.... § 1.411(a)-6 Year of service; hours of service; breaks in service. (a) Year of service. Under section...

Colour break in reverse bicolour daffodils is associated with the presence of Narcissus mosaic virus

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) are one of the world's most popular ornamentals. They also provide a scientific model for studying the carotenoid pigments responsible for their yellow and orange flower colours. In reverse bicolour daffodils, the yellow flower trumpet fades to white with age. The flowers of this type of daffodil are particularly prone to colour break whereby, upon opening, the yellow colour of the perianth is observed to be 'broken' into patches of white. This colour break symptom is characteristic of potyviral infections in other ornamentals such as tulips whose colour break is due to alterations in the presence of anthocyanins. However, reverse bicolour flowers displaying colour break show no other virus-like symptoms such as leaf mottling or plant stunting, leading some to argue that the carotenoid-based colour breaking in reverse bicolour flowers may not be caused by virus infection. Results Although potyviruses have been reported to cause colour break in other flower species, enzyme-linked-immunoassays with an antibody specific to the potyviral family showed that potyviruses were not responsible for the occurrence of colour break in reverse bicolour daffodils. Colour break in this type of daffodil was clearly associated with the presence of large quantities of rod-shaped viral particles of lengths 502-580 nm in tepals. Sap from flowers displaying colour break caused red necrotic lesions on Gomphrena globosa, suggesting the presence of potexvirus. Red necrotic lesions were not observed in this indicator plant when sap from reverse bicolour flowers not showing colour break was used. The reverse transcriptase polymerase reactions using degenerate primers to carla-, potex- and poty-viruses linked viral RNA with colour break and sequencing of the amplified products indicated that the potexvirus Narcissisus mosaic virus was the predominant virus associated with the occurrence of the colour break. Conclusions High viral counts were associated with the reverse bicolour daffodil flowers that were displaying colour break but otherwise showed no other symptoms of infection. Narcissus mosaic virus was the virus that was clearly linked to the carotenoid-based colour break. PMID:21854646

Manufacturing of Low Cost, Durable Membrane Electrode Assemblies Engineered for Rapid Conditioning

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Busby, Colin

Over the past 20 years significant progress in membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) technology development for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) has resulted in the PEMFC technology approaching a commercial reality for transportation applications. However, there remain two primary technical challenges to be addressed in the MEA. First and foremost is meeting the automotive cost targets: Producing a fuel cell stack cost competitive with today’s internal combustion engine. In addition to the material cost, MEA (and other components) and stack assembly production methods must be amenable for use in low cost, high speed, automotive assembly line. One impediment to this latter goalmore » is that stack components must currently go through a long and tedious conditioning procedure before they produce optimal power. This so-called “break-in” can take many hours, and can involve quite complex voltage, temperature and/or pressure steps. These break-in procedures must be simplified and the time required reduced if fuel cells are to become a viable automotive engine. The second challenge is to achieve the durability targets in real-world automotive duty cycle operations. Significant improvements in cost, break-in time, and durability for the key component of fuel cell stacks, MEAs were achieved in this project. Advanced modeling was used to guide design of the new MEA to maximize performance and durability. A new, innovative process and manufacturing approach utilizing direct in-line coating using scalable, cost-competitive, continuous high volume 3-layer rolled-good manufacturing processes was developed and validated by single cell and short stack testing. In addition, the direct coating methods employed were shown to reduce the cost for sacrificial films. Furthermore, Gore has demonstrated a 10 µm reinforced membrane that is used in the new low-cost process and can meet automotive power density and durability targets. Across a wide range of operating conditions, the direct-coated MEA outperformed the commercial baseline MEA, and did so through a process that delivers MEAs at $92.35/m2 at a volume of 500,000 systems per year, according to Strategic Analysis (SA) estimates.« less

Modeling the safety impacts of driving hours and rest breaks on truck drivers considering time-dependent covariates.

PubMed

Chen, Chen; Xie, Yuanchang

2014-12-01

Driving hours and rest breaks are closely related to driver fatigue, which is a major contributor to truck crashes. This study investigates the effects of driving hours and rest breaks on commercial truck driver safety. A discrete-time logistic regression model is used to evaluate the crash odds ratios of driving hours and rest breaks. Driving time is divided into 11 one hour intervals. These intervals and rest breaks are modeled as dummy variables. In addition, a Cox proportional hazards regression model with time-dependent covariates is used to assess the transient effects of rest breaks, which consists of a fixed effect and a variable effect. Data collected from two national truckload carriers in 2009 and 2010 are used. The discrete-time logistic regression result indicates that only the crash odds ratio of the 11th driving hour is statistically significant. Taking one, two, and three rest breaks can reduce drivers' crash odds by 68%, 83%, and 85%, respectively, compared to drivers who did not take any rest breaks. The Cox regression result shows clear transient effects for rest breaks. It also suggests that drivers may need some time to adjust themselves to normal driving tasks after a rest break. Overall, the third rest break's safety benefit is very limited based on the results of both models. The findings of this research can help policy makers better understand the impact of driving time and rest breaks and develop more effective rules to improve commercial truck safety. Copyright © 2014 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A tale of twin Higgs: natural twin two Higgs doublet models

DOE PAGES

Yu, Jiang-Hao

2016-12-28

In original twin Higgs model, vacuum misalignment between electroweak and new physics scales is realized by adding explicit Z 2 breaking term. Introducing additional twin Higgs could accommodate spontaneous Z 2 breaking, which explains origin of this misalignment. We introduce a class of twin two Higgs doublet models with most general scalar potential, and discuss general conditions which trigger electroweak and Z 2 symmetry breaking. Various scenarios on realising the vacuum misalignment are systematically discussed in a natural composite two Higgs double model framework: explicit Z 2 breaking, radiative Z 2 breaking, tadpole-induced Z 2 breaking, and quartic-induced Z 2more » breaking. Finally, we investigate the Higgs mass spectra and Higgs phenomenology in these scenarios.« less

Core break-off mechanism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Myrick, Thomas M. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

A mechanism for breaking off and retaining a core sample of a drill drilled into a ground substrate has an outer drill tube and an inner core break-off tube sleeved inside the drill tube. The break-off tube breaks off and retains the core sample by a varying geometric relationship of inner and outer diameters with the drill tube. The inside diameter (ID) of the drill tube is offset by a given amount with respect to its outer diameter (OD). Similarly, the outside diameter (OD) of the break-off tube is offset by the same amount with respect to its inner diameter (ID). When the break-off tube and drill tube are in one rotational alignment, the two offsets cancel each other such that the drill can operate the two tubes together in alignment with the drill axis. When the tubes are rotated 180 degrees to another positional alignment, the two offsets add together causing the core sample in the break-off tube to be displaced from the drill axis and applying shear forces to break off the core sample.

Processing consequences of superfluous and missing prosodic breaks in auditory sentence comprehension.

PubMed

Bögels, Sara; Schriefers, Herbert; Vonk, Wietske; Chwilla, Dorothee J; Kerkhofs, Roel

2013-11-01

This ERP study investigates whether a superfluous prosodic break (i.e., a prosodic break that does not coincide with a syntactic break) has more severe processing consequences during auditory sentence comprehension than a missing prosodic break (i.e., the absence of a prosodic break at the position of a syntactic break). Participants listened to temporarily ambiguous sentences involving a prosody-syntax match or mismatch. The disambiguation of these sentences was always lexical in nature in the present experiment. This contrasts with a related study by Pauker, Itzhak, Baum, and Steinhauer (2011), where the disambiguation was of a lexical type for missing PBs and of a prosodic type for superfluous PBs. Our results converge with those of Pauker et al. (2011): superfluous prosodic breaks lead to more severe processing problems than missing prosodic breaks. Importantly, the present results extend those of Pauker et al. (2011) showing that this holds when the disambiguation is always lexical in nature. Furthermore, our results show that the way listeners use prosody can change over the course of the experiment which bears consequences for future studies. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Statistical evidence of strain induced breaking of metallic point contacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alwan, Monzer; Candoni, Nadine; Dumas, Philippe; Klein, Hubert R.

2013-06-01

A scanning tunneling microscopy in break junction regime and a mechanically controllable break junction are used to acquire thousands of conductance-elongation curves by stretching until breaking and re-connecting Au junctions. From a robust statistical analysis performed on large sets of experiments, parameters such as lifetime, elongation and occurrence probabilities are extracted. The analysis of results obtained for different stretching speeds of the electrodes indicates that the breaking mechanism of di- and mono-atomic junction is identical, and that the junctions undergo atomic rearrangement during their stretching and at the moment of breaking.

Phase-breaking effect on polaron transport in organic conjugated polymers

DOE PAGES

Meng, Ruixuan; Yin, Sun; Zheng, Yujun; ...

2017-06-15

Despite intense investigations and many accepted viewpoints on theory and experiment, the coherent and incoherent carrier transport in organic semiconductors remains an unsettled topic due to the strong electron-phonon coupling. Based on the tight-binding Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model combined with a non-adiabatic dynamics method, we study the effect of phase-breaking on polaron transport by introducing a group of phase-breaking factors into π-electron wave-functions in organic conjugated polymers. Two approaches are applied: the modification of the transfer integral and the phase-breaking addition to the wave-function. Within the former, it is found that a single site phase-breaking can trap a polaron. However, withmore » a larger regular phase-breaking a polaron becomes more delocalized and lighter. Additionally, a group of disordered phase-breaking factors can make the polaron disperse in transport process. Within the latter approach, we show that the phase-breaking can render the delocalized state in valence band discrete and the state in the gap more localized. Consequently, the phase-breaking frequency and intensity can reduce the stability of a polaron. Furthermore, the phase-breaking in organic systems is the main factor that degrades the coherent transport and destroys the carrier stability.« less

Modelling wave-induced sea ice break-up in the marginal ice zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montiel, F.; Squire, V. A.

2017-10-01

A model of ice floe break-up under ocean wave forcing in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) is proposed to investigate how floe size distribution (FSD) evolves under repeated wave break-up events. A three-dimensional linear model of ocean wave scattering by a finite array of compliant circular ice floes is coupled to a flexural failure model, which breaks a floe into two floes provided the two-dimensional stress field satisfies a break-up criterion. A closed-feedback loop algorithm is devised, which (i) solves the wave-scattering problem for a given FSD under time-harmonic plane wave forcing, (ii) computes the stress field in all the floes, (iii) fractures the floes satisfying the break-up criterion, and (iv) generates an updated FSD, initializing the geometry for the next iteration of the loop. The FSD after 50 break-up events is unimodal and near normal, or bimodal, suggesting waves alone do not govern the power law observed in some field studies. Multiple scattering is found to enhance break-up for long waves and thin ice, but to reduce break-up for short waves and thick ice. A break-up front marches forward in the latter regime, as wave-induced fracture weakens the ice cover, allowing waves to travel deeper into the MIZ.

Phase-breaking effect on polaron transport in organic conjugated polymers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meng, Ruixuan; Yin, Sun; Zheng, Yujun

Despite intense investigations and many accepted viewpoints on theory and experiment, the coherent and incoherent carrier transport in organic semiconductors remains an unsettled topic due to the strong electron-phonon coupling. Based on the tight-binding Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model combined with a non-adiabatic dynamics method, we study the effect of phase-breaking on polaron transport by introducing a group of phase-breaking factors into π-electron wave-functions in organic conjugated polymers. Two approaches are applied: the modification of the transfer integral and the phase-breaking addition to the wave-function. Within the former, it is found that a single site phase-breaking can trap a polaron. However, withmore » a larger regular phase-breaking a polaron becomes more delocalized and lighter. Additionally, a group of disordered phase-breaking factors can make the polaron disperse in transport process. Within the latter approach, we show that the phase-breaking can render the delocalized state in valence band discrete and the state in the gap more localized. Consequently, the phase-breaking frequency and intensity can reduce the stability of a polaron. Furthermore, the phase-breaking in organic systems is the main factor that degrades the coherent transport and destroys the carrier stability.« less

Modelling wave-induced sea ice break-up in the marginal ice zone

PubMed Central

Squire, V. A.

2017-01-01

A model of ice floe break-up under ocean wave forcing in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) is proposed to investigate how floe size distribution (FSD) evolves under repeated wave break-up events. A three-dimensional linear model of ocean wave scattering by a finite array of compliant circular ice floes is coupled to a flexural failure model, which breaks a floe into two floes provided the two-dimensional stress field satisfies a break-up criterion. A closed-feedback loop algorithm is devised, which (i) solves the wave-scattering problem for a given FSD under time-harmonic plane wave forcing, (ii) computes the stress field in all the floes, (iii) fractures the floes satisfying the break-up criterion, and (iv) generates an updated FSD, initializing the geometry for the next iteration of the loop. The FSD after 50 break-up events is unimodal and near normal, or bimodal, suggesting waves alone do not govern the power law observed in some field studies. Multiple scattering is found to enhance break-up for long waves and thin ice, but to reduce break-up for short waves and thick ice. A break-up front marches forward in the latter regime, as wave-induced fracture weakens the ice cover, allowing waves to travel deeper into the MIZ. PMID:29118659

Modelling wave-induced sea ice break-up in the marginal ice zone.

PubMed

Montiel, F; Squire, V A

2017-10-01

A model of ice floe break-up under ocean wave forcing in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) is proposed to investigate how floe size distribution (FSD) evolves under repeated wave break-up events. A three-dimensional linear model of ocean wave scattering by a finite array of compliant circular ice floes is coupled to a flexural failure model, which breaks a floe into two floes provided the two-dimensional stress field satisfies a break-up criterion. A closed-feedback loop algorithm is devised, which (i) solves the wave-scattering problem for a given FSD under time-harmonic plane wave forcing, (ii) computes the stress field in all the floes, (iii) fractures the floes satisfying the break-up criterion, and (iv) generates an updated FSD, initializing the geometry for the next iteration of the loop. The FSD after 50 break-up events is unimodal and near normal, or bimodal, suggesting waves alone do not govern the power law observed in some field studies. Multiple scattering is found to enhance break-up for long waves and thin ice, but to reduce break-up for short waves and thick ice. A break-up front marches forward in the latter regime, as wave-induced fracture weakens the ice cover, allowing waves to travel deeper into the MIZ.

How Does Definition of Minimum Break Length Affect Objective Measures of Sitting Outcomes Among Office Workers?

PubMed

Kloster, Stine; Danquah, Ida Høgstedt; Holtermann, Andreas; Aadahl, Mette; Tolstrup, Janne Schurmann

2017-01-01

Harmful health effects associated with sedentary behavior may be attenuated by breaking up long periods of sitting by standing or walking. However, studies assess interruptions in sitting time differently, making comparisons between studies difficult. It has not previously been described how the definition of minimum break duration affects sitting outcomes. Therefore, the aim was to address how definitions of break length affect total sitting time, number of sit-to-stand transitions, prolonged sitting periods and time accumulated in prolonged sitting periods among office workers. Data were collected from 317 office workers. Thigh position was assessed with an ActiGraph GT3X+ fixed on the right thigh. Data were exported with varying bout length of breaks. Afterward, sitting outcomes were calculated for the respective break lengths. Absolute numbers of sit-to-stand transitions decreased, and number of prolonged sitting periods and total time accumulated in prolonged sitting periods increased, with increasing minimum break length. Total sitting time was not influenced by varying break length. The definition of minimum break length influenced the sitting outcomes with the exception of total sitting time. A standard definition of break length is needed for comparison and interpretation of studies in the evolving research field of sedentary behavior.

The bending strength of tablets with a breaking line--Comparison of the results of an elastic and a "brittle cracking" finite element model with experimental findings.

PubMed

Podczeck, Fridrun; Newton, J Michael; Fromme, Paul

2015-11-10

The aim of this work was to ascertain the influence of the position of the breaking line of bevel-edged tablets in a three-point bending test. Two different brands of commercially available, flat-round, bevel-edged tablets with a single central breaking line were studied. Breaking line positions tested, relative to the upper loading roll, were 0°, 22.5°, 45°, 67.5° and 90°. The breaking line faced either up- or downwards during the test. The practical results were compared with FEM results simulating similar test configurations. Tablets failed mainly across the failure plane, resulting in two tablet halves. An exception to this was found for tablets where the breaking line faced down and was positioned at an angle of 22.5° relative to the loading plane. Here the crack followed the breaking line in the centre of the tablets and only diverged towards the loading plane position at the edges of the tablets. The breaking line facing upwards resulted in a significantly higher tensile strength of the tablets compared to it facing downwards. However, with one exception, the orientation of the breaking line relative to the loading plane appeared not to affect the tensile strength values. A fully elastic FEM model indicated that both the position of the breaking line relative to the loading plane and as to whether the breaking line faced up- or downwards during the bending test would result in considerably different failure loads during practical experiments. The results also suggested that regardless of the breaking line position, when it is facing down crack propagation should start at the outer edges propagating towards the midpoint of the discs until failure occurs. Failure should hence always result in equal tablet halves, whereby the failure plane should coincide with the loading plane. Neither predictions fully reflected the practical behaviour of the tablets. Using a brittle cracking FEM model significantly larger tensile stresses for tablets with the breaking line positioned downwards at 0° or 22.5° relative to the loading plane were still predicted, but the differences between model and experimental values was greatly reduced. The remaining differences are more likely due to the inadequacy of the equation available to calculate the experimental tensile strength values. This equation cannot account for the presence of a breaking line and overestimates the thickness of the loading plane by the depth of the breaking line when in 0° or 22.5° position. If the depth of the breaking line is taken into account, the model predictions and the experimental findings are comparable. Also, in the brittle cracking FEM simulations the predicted crack propagation patterns were similar to those found in the experiments, and the model stress distributions across the lower surfaces were much more homogeneous and streamlined parallel to the loading plane. The brittle cracking model hence reflected the practicalities of the bending test more closely. The findings suggested that with the breaking line facing down fracture should always start in the centre of a tablet at its lower surface, initiated by the breaking line. Due to simultaneous development of larger stresses along the y-axis the tablet should still break into two equal halves along the loading plane, unless the position of the breaking line relative to the loading plane was 22.5°. In this case the tablet would fail by a mixed process, whereby failure would occur mainly along the breaking line, but due to simultaneous crack formation at the lower surface close to the bevel edge parallel to the loading plane the final breaking pattern would deviate from the breaking line about half-way from its centre, as seen in the practical experiments. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Theoretical investigations into the influence of the position of a breaking line on the tensile failure of flat, round, bevel-edged tablets using finite element methodology (FEM) and its practical relevance for industrial tablet strength testing.

PubMed

Podczeck, Fridrun; Newton, J Michael; Fromme, Paul

2014-12-30

Flat, round tablets may have a breaking ("score") line. Pharmacopoeial tablet breaking load tests are diametral in their design, and industrially used breaking load testers often have automatic tablet feeding systems, which position the tablets between the loading platens of the machine with the breaking lines in random orientation to the applied load. The aim of this work was to ascertain the influence of the position of the breaking line in a diametral compression test using finite element methodology (FEM) and to compare the theoretical results with practical findings using commercially produced bevel-edged, scored tablets. Breaking line test positions at an angle of 0°, 22.5°, 45°, 67.5° and 90° relative to the loading plane were studied. FEM results obtained for fully elastic and elasto-plastic tablets were fairly similar, but they highlighted large differences in stress distributions depending on the position of the breaking line. The stress values at failure were predicted to be similar for tablets tested at an angle of 45° or above, whereas at lower test angles the predicted breaking loads were up to three times larger. The stress distributions suggested that not all breaking line angles would result in clean tensile failure. Practical results, however, did not confirm the differences in the predicted breaking loads, but they confirmed differences in the way tablets broke. The results suggest that it is not advisable to convert breaking loads obtained on scored tablets into tablet tensile strength values, and comparisons between different tablets or batches should carefully consider the orientation of the breaking line with respect to the loading plane, as the failure mechanisms appear to vary. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estimating the cost of production stoppage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delionback, L. M.

1979-01-01

Estimation model considers learning curve quantities, and time of break to forecast losses due to break in production schedule. Major parameters capable of predicting costs are number of units made prior to production sequence, length of production break, and slope of learning curve produced prior to break.

Experimental evaluation of rigor mortis IX. The influence of the breaking (mechanical solution) on the development of rigor mortis.

PubMed

Krompecher, Thomas; Gilles, André; Brandt-Casadevall, Conception; Mangin, Patrice

2008-04-07

Objective measurements were carried out to study the possible re-establishment of rigor mortis on rats after "breaking" (mechanical solution). Our experiments showed that: *Cadaveric rigidity can re-establish after breaking. *A significant rigidity can reappear if the breaking occurs before the process is complete. *Rigidity will be considerably weaker after the breaking. *The time course of the intensity does not change in comparison to the controls: --the re-establishment begins immediately after the breaking; --maximal values are reached at the same time as in the controls; --the course of the resolution is the same as in the controls.

Higgs boson from the metastable supersymmetric breaking sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Yang; Fan, Jiji; Han, Zhenyu

2007-09-01

We construct a calculable model of electroweak symmetry breaking in which the Higgs doublet emerges from the metastable SUSY breaking sector as a pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson. The Higgs boson mass is further protected by the little Higgs mechanism, and naturally suppressed by a two-loop factor from the SUSY breaking scale of 10 TeV. Gaugino and sfermion masses arise from standard gauge mediation, but the Higgsino obtains a tree-level mass at the SUSY breaking scale. At 1 TeV, aside from new gauge bosons and fermions similar to other little Higgs models and their superpartners, our model predicts additional electroweak triplets and doublets from the SUSY breaking sector.

Raman amplification in the coherent wave-breaking regime.

PubMed

Farmer, J P; Pukhov, A

2015-12-01

In regimes far beyond the wave-breaking threshold of Raman amplification, we show that significant amplification can occur after the onset of wave breaking, before phase mixing destroys the coherent coupling between pump, probe, and plasma wave. Amplification in this regime is therefore a transient effect, with the higher-efficiency "coherent wave-breaking" (CWB) regime accessed by using a short, intense probe. Parameter scans illustrate the marked difference in behavior between below wave breaking, in which the energy-transfer efficiency is high but total energy transfer is low, wave breaking, in which efficiency is low, and CWB, in which moderate efficiencies allow the highest total energy transfer.

Breaking Up is Hard to do: The Impact of Unmarried Relationship Dissolution on Mental Health and Life Satisfaction

PubMed Central

Rhoades, Galena K.; Kamp Dush, Claire M.; Atkins, David C.; Stanley, Scott M.; Markman, Howard J.

2011-01-01

This study was the first to examine the impact of unmarried relationship break-up on psychological distress and life satisfaction using a within-subjects design. Among unmarried 18 to 35-year olds (N = 1295), 36.5% had one or more break-ups over a 20-month period. Experiencing a break-up was associated with an increase in psychological distress and a decline in life satisfaction (from pre- to post-dissolution). In addition, several characteristics of the relationship or of the break-up were associated with the magnitude of the changes in life satisfaction following a break-up. Specifically, having been cohabiting and having had plans for marriage were associated with larger declines in life satisfaction while having begun to date someone new was associated with smaller declines. Interestingly, having higher relationship quality at the previous wave was associated with smaller declines in life satisfaction following a break-up. No relationship or break-up characteristics were significantly associated with the magnitude of changes in psychological distress after a break-up. Existing theories are used to explain the results. Implications for clinical work and future research on unmarried relationships are also discussed. PMID:21517174

Induction and disappearance of G2 chromatid breaks in lymphocytes after low doses of low-LET gamma-rays and high-LET fast neutrons.

PubMed

Vral, A; Thierens, H; Baeyens, A; De Ridder, L

2002-04-01

To determine by means of the G2 assay the number of chromatid breaks induced by low-LET gamma-rays and high-LET neutrons, and to compare the kinetics of chromatid break rejoining for radiations of different quality. The G2 assay was performed on blood samples of four healthy donors who were irradiated with low-LET gamma-rays and high-LET neutrons. In a first set of experiments a dose-response curve for the formation of chromatid breaks was carried out for gamma-rays and neutrons with doses ranging between 0.1 and 0.5 Gy. In a second set of experiments, the kinetics of chromatid break formation and disappearance were investigated after a dose of 0.5 Gy using post-irradiation times ranging between 0.5 and 3.5 h. For the highest dose of 0.5 Gy, the number of isochromatid breaks was also scored. No significant differences in the number of chromatid breaks were observed between low-LET gamma-rays and high-LET neutrons for the four donors at any of the doses given. The dose-response curves for the formation of chromatid breaks are linear for both radiation qualities and RBEs = 1 were obtained. Scoring of isochromatid breaks at the highest dose of 0.5 Gy revealed that high-LET neutrons were, however, more effective at inducing isochromatid breaks (RBE = 6.2). The rejoining experiments further showed that the kinetics of disappearance of chromatid breaks following irradiation with low-LET gamma-rays or high-LET neutrons were not significantly different. Half-times of 0.92 h for gamma-rays and 0.84 h for neutrons were obtained. Applying the G2 assay, the results demonstrate that at low doses of irradiation, the induction as well as the disappearance of chromatid breaks is independent of the LET of the radiation qualities used (0.24 keV x microm(-1) 60Co gamma-rays and 20 keV x microm(-1) fast neutrons). As these radiation qualities produce the same initial number of double-strand breaks, the results support the signal model that proposes that chromatid breaks are the result of an exchange process which is triggered by a single double-strand break.

Radioresistance of GGG Sequences to Prompt Strand Break Formation from Direct-Type Radiation Damage

PubMed Central

Black, Paul J.; Miller, Adam S.; Hayes, Jeffrey J.

2016-01-01

Purpose As humans, we are constantly exposed to ionizing radiation from natural, man-made and cosmic sources which can damage DNA, leading to deleterious effects including cancer incidence. In this work we introduce a method to monitor strand breaks resulting from damage due to the direct effect of ionizing radiation and provide evidence for sequence-dependent effects leading to strand breaks. Materials and methods To analyze only DNA strand breaks caused by radiation damage due to the direct effect of ionizing radiation, we combined an established technique to generate dehydrated DNA samples with a technique to analyze single strand breaks on short oligonucleotide sequences via denaturing gel electrophoresis. Results We find that direct damage primarily results in a reduced number of strand breaks in guanine triplet regions (GGG) when compared to isolated guanine (G) bases with identical flanking base context. In addition, we observe strand break behavior possibly indicative of protection of guanine bases when flanked by pyrimidines, and sensitization of guanine to strand break when flanked by adenine (A) bases in both isolated G and GGG cases. Conclusions These observations provide insight into the strand break behavior in GGG regions damaged via the direct effect of ionizing radiation. In addition, this could be indicative of DNA sequences that are naturally more susceptible to strand break due to the direct effect of ionizing radiation. PMID:27349757

A comparison of G2 phase radiation-induced chromatid break kinetics using calyculin-PCC with those obtained using colcemid block.

PubMed

Bryant, Peter E; Mozdarani, Hossein

2007-09-01

To study the possible influence of cell-cycle delay on cells reaching mitosis during conventional radiation-induced chromatid break experiments using colcemid as a blocking agent, we have compared the chromatid break kinetics following a single dose of gamma rays (0.75 Gy) in metaphase CHO cells using calyculin-induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC), with those using colcemid block. Calyculin-induced PCC causes very rapid condensation of G2 cell chromosomes without the need for a cell to progress to mitosis, hence eliminating any effect of cell-cycle checkpoint on chromatid break frequency. We found that the kinetics of the exponential first-order decrease in chromatid breaks with time after irradiation was similar (not significantly different) between the two methods of chromosome condensation. However, use of the calyculin-PCC technique resulted in a slightly increased rate of disappearance of chromatid breaks and thus higher frequencies of breaks at 1.5 and 2.5 h following irradiation. We also report on the effect of the nucleoside analogue ara A on chromatid break kinetics using the two chromosome condensation techniques. Ara A treatment of cells abrogated the decrease in chromatid breaks with time, both using the calyculin-PCC and colcemid methods. We conclude that cell-cycle delay may be a factor determining the absolute frequency of chromatid breaks at various times following irradiation of cells in G2 phase but that the first-order disappearance of chromatid breaks with time and its abrogation by ara A are not significantly influenced by the G2 checkpoint.

Controlled breaks as a fatigue countermeasure on the flight deck

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neri, David F.; Oyung, Raymond L.; Colletti, Laura M.; Mallis, Melissa M.; Tam, Patricia Y.; Dinges, David F.

2002-01-01

BACKGROUND: A major challenge for flight crews is the need to maintain vigilance during long, highly automated nighttime flights. No system currently exists to assist in managing alertness, and countermeasure options are limited. Surveys reveal many pilots use breaks as an in-flight countermeasure, but there have been no controlled studies of their effectiveness. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that brief, regular breaks could improve alertness and performance during an overnight flight. METHOD: A 6-h, uneventful, nighttime flight in a Boeing 747-400 flight simulator was flown by fourteen two-man crews. The 14 subjects in the treatment group received 5 short breaks spaced hourly during cruise; the 14 subjects in the control group received 1 break in the middle of cruise. Continuous EEG/EOG, subjective sleepiness, and psychomotor vigilance performance data were collected. RESULTS: During the latter part of the night, the treatment group showed significant reductions for 15 min post-break in slow eye movements, theta-band activity, and unintended sleep episodes compared with the control group. The treatment group reported significantly greater subjective alertness for up to 25 min post-break, with strongest effects near the time of the circadian trough. There was no evidence of objective vigilance performance improvement at 15-25 min post-break, with expected performance deterioration occurring due to elevated sleep drive and circadian time. CONCLUSIONS: The physiological and subjective data indicate the breaks reduced nighttime sleepiness for at least 15 min post-break and may have masked sleepiness for up to 25 min, suggesting the potential usefulness of short-duration breaks as an in-flight fatigue countermeasure.

Controlled breaks as a fatigue countermeasure on the flight deck.

PubMed

Neri, David F; Oyung, Raymond L; Colletti, Laura M; Mallis, Melissa M; Tam, Patricia Y; Dinges, David F

2002-07-01

A major challenge for flight crews is the need to maintain vigilance during long, highly automated nighttime flights. No system currently exists to assist in managing alertness, and countermeasure options are limited. Surveys reveal many pilots use breaks as an in-flight countermeasure, but there have been no controlled studies of their effectiveness. We hypothesized that brief, regular breaks could improve alertness and performance during an overnight flight. A 6-h, uneventful, nighttime flight in a Boeing 747-400 flight simulator was flown by fourteen two-man crews. The 14 subjects in the treatment group received 5 short breaks spaced hourly during cruise; the 14 subjects in the control group received 1 break in the middle of cruise. Continuous EEG/EOG, subjective sleepiness, and psychomotor vigilance performance data were collected. During the latter part of the night, the treatment group showed significant reductions for 15 min post-break in slow eye movements, theta-band activity, and unintended sleep episodes compared with the control group. The treatment group reported significantly greater subjective alertness for up to 25 min post-break, with strongest effects near the time of the circadian trough. There was no evidence of objective vigilance performance improvement at 15-25 min post-break, with expected performance deterioration occurring due to elevated sleep drive and circadian time. The physiological and subjective data indicate the breaks reduced nighttime sleepiness for at least 15 min post-break and may have masked sleepiness for up to 25 min, suggesting the potential usefulness of short-duration breaks as an in-flight fatigue countermeasure.

75 FR 36698 - Draft Regulatory Guide: Issuance, Availability

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-28

... information based on the likelihood of pipe breaks of different sizes. The rule would divide all coolant... to and including a ``transition break size,'' and breaks larger than the transition size up to the largest pipe in the reactor coolant system. Selection of the transition size was based upon pipe break...

9 CFR 590.520 - Breaking room facilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Breaking room facilities. 590.520..., Processing, and Facility Requirements § 590.520 Breaking room facilities. (a) The breaking room shall have at.... (d) Ventilation shall provide for: (1) A positive flow of outside filtered air through the room; (2...

9 CFR 590.520 - Breaking room facilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Breaking room facilities. 590.520..., Processing, and Facility Requirements § 590.520 Breaking room facilities. (a) The breaking room shall have at.... (d) Ventilation shall provide for: (1) A positive flow of outside filtered air through the room; (2...

9 CFR 590.520 - Breaking room facilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Breaking room facilities. 590.520..., Processing, and Facility Requirements § 590.520 Breaking room facilities. (a) The breaking room shall have at.... (d) Ventilation shall provide for: (1) A positive flow of outside filtered air through the room; (2...

Rock breaking methods to replace blasting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Huisheng; Xie, Xinghua; Feng, Yuqing

2018-03-01

The method of breaking rock by blasting has a high efficiency and the cost is relatively low, but the associated vibration, flyrock, production of toxic gases since the 1970’s, the Western developed countries began to study the safety of breaking rock. This paper introduces different methods and their progress to safely break rock. Ideally, safe rock breaking would have little vibration, no fly stone, and no toxic gases, which can be widely used in municipal engineering, road excavation, high-risk mining, quarrying and complex environment.

The time-of-day that breaks occur between consecutive duty periods affects the sleep strategies used by shiftworkers.

PubMed

Roach, Gregory D; Dawson, Drew; Reid, Kathryn J; Darwent, David; Sargent, Charli

The aim of this study was to examine the sleep strategies used in breaks between consecutive shifts. For two weeks, 253 shiftworkers collected data regarding the timing of all shifts and sleeps. The final dataset included 395 between-shift breaks that had a standard duration (i.e. ~16 h). If a break included an entire night, participants had a single sleep on 80-93% of occasions, but if a break occurred predominantly during the daytime, participants had more than one sleep on 41-50% of occasions. These data indicate that the sleep strategy employed is influenced by the time-of-day that a break occurs.

Landscape of little hierarchy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, Bhaskar; Mimura, Yukihiro

2007-05-01

We investigate the little hierarchy between Z boson mass and the SUSY breaking scale in the context of landscape of electroweak symmetry breaking vacua. We consider the radiative symmetry breaking and found that the scale where the electroweak symmetry breaking conditions are satisfied and the average stop mass scale is preferred to be very close to each other in spite of the fact that their origins depend on different parameters of the model. If the electroweak symmetry breaking scale is fixed at about 1 TeV by the supersymmetry model parameters then the little hierarchy seems to be preferred among the electroweak symmetry breaking vacua. We characterize the little hierarchy by a probability function and the mSUGRA model is used as an example to show the 90% and 95% probability contours in the experimentally allowed region. We also investigate the size of the Higgsino mass μ by considering the distribution of electroweak symmetry breaking scale.

Flow-Field Measurements in the Windward Surface Shock Layer of Space Shuttle Orbiter Configurations at Mach Number 8

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-07-01

pitot p robes . T e m p e r a - tu re probe TT 2 was 0.010 in. in d i a m e t e r and was used as the p r i m a r y i n s t r u m e n t . P...lower pitot probe , PPl , was c o n s t r u c t e d of 0. 0 2 0 - i n . - O D tubing t a p e r e d to 0 .014 in. at the t ip and had an ins ide...t ion in the model boundary l a y e r . The o the r pitot probe , PP2, was loca ted about 1.0 in. above PPl and was c o n s t r u c t e d of

Core-power and decay-time limits for disabled automatic-actuation of LOFT ECCS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hanson, G.H.

1978-06-05

The Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) for the LOFT reactor may need to be disabled for modifications or repairs of hardware or instrumentation or for component testing during periods when the reactor system is hot and pressurized, or it may be desirable to enable the ECCS to be disabled without the necessity of cooling down and depressurizing the reactor. LTR 113-47 has shown that the LOFT ECCS can be safely bypassed or disabled when the total core power does not exceed 25 kW. A modified policy involves disabling the automatic actuation of the LOFT ECCS, but still retaining the manualmore » activation capability. Disabling of the automatic actuation can be safely utilized, without subjecting the fuel cladding to unacceptable temperatures, when the LOFT power decays to 70 kW; this power level permits a maximum delay of 20 minutes following a LOCA for the manual actuation of ECCS.« less

SCORE-EVET: a computer code for the multidimensional transient thermal-hydraulic analysis of nuclear fuel rod arrays. [BWR; PWR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Benedetti, R. L.; Lords, L. V.; Kiser, D. M.

1978-02-01

The SCORE-EVET code was developed to study multidimensional transient fluid flow in nuclear reactor fuel rod arrays. The conservation equations used were derived by volume averaging the transient compressible three-dimensional local continuum equations in Cartesian coordinates. No assumptions associated with subchannel flow have been incorporated into the derivation of the conservation equations. In addition to the three-dimensional fluid flow equations, the SCORE-EVET code ocntains: (a) a one-dimensional steady state solution scheme to initialize the flow field, (b) steady state and transient fuel rod conduction models, and (c) comprehensive correlation packages to describe fluid-to-fuel rod interfacial energy and momentum exchange. Velocitymore » and pressure boundary conditions can be specified as a function of time and space to model reactor transient conditions such as a hypothesized loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) or flow blockage.« less

Discrete element method study of fuel relocation and dispersal during loss-of-coolant accidents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Govers, K.; Verwerft, M.

2016-09-01

The fuel fragmentation, relocation and dispersal (FFRD) during LOCA transients today retain the attention of the nuclear safety community. The fine fragmentation observed at high burnup may, indeed, affect the Emergency Core Cooling System performance: accumulation of fuel debris in the cladding ballooned zone leads to a redistribution of the temperature profile, while dispersal of debris might lead to coolant blockage or to debris circulation through the primary circuit. This work presents a contribution, by discrete element method, towards a mechanistic description of the various stages of FFRD. The fuel fragments are described as a set of interacting particles, behaving as a granular medium. The model shows qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimental observations, such as the packing efficiency in the balloon, which is shown to stabilize at about 55%. The model is then applied to study fuel dispersal, for which experimental parametric studies are both difficult and expensive.

Effects of the air–steam mixture on the permeability of damaged concrete

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Medjigbodo, Sonagnon; Darquennes, Aveline; Aubernon, Corentin

Massive concrete structures such as the containments of nuclear power plant must maintain their tightness at any circumstances to prevent the escape of radioactive fission products into the environment. In the event of an accident like a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA), the concrete wall is submitted to both hydric and mechanical loadings. A new experimental device reproducing these extreme conditions (water vapor transfer, 140 °C and 5 bars) is developed in the GeM Laboratory to determine the effect of the saturation degree, the mechanical loading and the flowing fluid type on the concrete transfer properties. The experimental tests showmore » that the previous parameters significantly affect the concrete permeability and the gas leakage rate. Their evolution as a function of the mechanical loading is characterized by two phases that are directly related to concrete microstructure and crack development.« less

Simulation of German PKL refill/reflood experiment K9A using RELAP4/MOD7. [PWR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsu, M.T.; Davis, C.B.; Behling, S.R.

This paper describes a RELAP4/MOD7 simulation of West Germany's Kraftwerk Union (KWU) Primary Coolant Loop (PKL) refill/reflood experiment K9A. RELAP4/MOD7, a best-estimate computer program for the calculation of thermal and hydraulic phenomena in a nuclear reactor or related system, is the latest version in the RELAP4 code development series. This study was the first major simulation using RELAP4/MOD7 since its release by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). The PKL facility is a reduced scale (1:134) representation of a typical West German four-loop 1300 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR). A prototypical scale of the total volume to power ratio wasmore » maintained. The test facility was designed specifically for an experiment simulating the refill/reflood phase of a Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA).« less

The Impact of School Breaks on Students Living in Poverty

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDonald, Michelle

2013-01-01

Summer and winter breaks from school can be highly anticipated times for students and educators. However, for students living in poverty, the break from school can bring hidden challenges that school psychologists should be aware of when preparing for vacation. Research has shown that school breaks affect students from varying socioeconomic status…

38 CFR 17.100 - Refusal of treatment by unnecessarily breaking appointments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Refusal of treatment by... VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL Breaking Appointments § 17.100 Refusal of treatment by unnecessarily breaking... informed that breaking an additional appointment will be deemed to be a refusal to accept VA treatment. If...

Breaking Bat

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aguilar, Isaac-Cesar; Kagan, David

2013-01-01

The sight of a broken bat in Major League Baseball can produce anything from a humorous dribbler in the infield to a frightening pointed projectile headed for the stands. Bats usually break at the weakest point, typically in the handle. Breaking happens because the wood gets bent beyond the breaking point due to the wave sent down the bat created…

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Silicon Valley-based Electric Vehicle Parade

Science.gov Websites

Breaks Guinness World Record Silicon Valley-based Electric Vehicle Parade Breaks Guinness World Parade Breaks Guinness World Record on Facebook Tweet about Alternative Fuels Data Center: Silicon Valley -based Electric Vehicle Parade Breaks Guinness World Record on Twitter Bookmark Alternative Fuels Data

Laser Marking of the Meridian of Retinal Breaks at the Ora: A Novel Technique for Pneumatic Retinopexy.

PubMed

Yan, Peng; Minaker, Samuel; Mandelcorn, Efrem D

2016-06-01

Localization of retinal breaks in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after pneumatic retinopexy (PR) can be challenging once the retina is reattached. Laser can be applied to the pigmented and always-attached ora serrata in the meridian of the retinal breaks prior to pneumatic retinopexy, resulting in subsequent rapid localization of the breaks even in the presence of a gas bubble or media opacity. Ten cases of indirect laser photocoagulation marking at the ora prior to intraocular gas injection in PR for RRD. Subsequent laser retinopexy was completed 48 hours after utilizing the landmarks at the ora to localize the reattached retinal breaks. In all 10 cases, laser photocoagulation marking was easily applied to the ora in the meridian of the retinal breaks prior to gas injection with no complications. The retinal breaks were subsequently identified 48 hours after gas injection. Laser marking of the ora prior to pneumatic retinopexy is a rapid and effective way to localize the re-attached retina breaks. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:570-572.]. Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.

High-LET radiation-induced aberrations in prematurely condensed G2 chromosomes of human fibroblasts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kawata, T.; Gotoh, E.; Durante, M.; Wu, H.; George, K.; Furusawa, Y.; Cucinotta, F. A.; Dicello, J. F. (Principal Investigator)

2000-01-01

PURPOSE: To determine the number of initial chromatid breaks induced by low- or high-LET irradiations, and to compare the kinetics of chromatid break rejoining for radiations of different quality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Exponentially growing human fibroblast cells AG1522 were irradiated with gamma-rays, energetic carbon (290MeV/u), silicon (490MeV/u) and iron (200 and 600 MeV/u). Chromosomes were prematurely condensed using calyculin A. Chromatid breaks and exchanges in G2 cells were scored. PCC were collected after several post-irradiation incubation times, ranging from 5 to 600 min. RESULTS: The kinetics of chromatid break rejoining following low- or high-LET irradiation consisted of two exponential components representing a rapid and a slow time constant. Chromatid breaks decreased rapidly during the first 10min after exposure, then continued to decrease at a slower rate. The rejoining kinetics were similar for exposure to each type of radiation. Chromatid exchanges were also formed quickly. Compared to low-LET radiation, isochromatid breaks were produced more frequently and the proportion of unrejoined breaks was higher for high-LET radiation. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with gamma-rays, isochromatid breaks were observed more frequently in high-LET irradiated samples, suggesting that an increase in isochromatid breaks is a signature of high-LET radiation exposure.

The difference in LET and ion species dependence for induction of initially measured and non-rejoined chromatin breaks in normal human fibroblasts.

PubMed

Tsuruoka, Chizuru; Suzuki, Masao; Hande, M Prakash; Furusawa, Yoshiya; Anzai, Kazunori; Okayasu, Ryuichi

2008-08-01

We studied the LET and ion species dependence of the induction of chromatin breaks measured immediately after irradiation as initially measured breaks and after 24 h postirradiation incubation (37 degrees C) as non-rejoined breaks in normal human fibroblasts with different heavy ions, such as carbon, neon, silicon and iron, generated by the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) at the National Institute of Radiological Science (NIRS). Chromatin breaks were measured as an excess number of fragments of prematurely condensed chromosomes using premature chromosome condensation (PCC). The results showed that the number of excess fragments per cell per Gy for initially measured chromatin breaks was dependent on LET in the range from 13.3 to 113.1 keV/mum but was not dependent on ion species. On the other hand, the number of non-rejoined chromatin breaks detected after 24 h postirradiation incubation was clearly dependent on both LET and ion species. No significant difference was observed in the cross section for initially measured breaks, but a statistically significant difference was observed in the cross section for non-rejoined breaks among carbon, neon, silicon and iron ions. This suggests that the LET-dependent structure in the biological effects is reflected in biological consequences of repair processes.

Risk factors for retinal breaks in patients with symptom of floaters.

PubMed

Singalavanija, Apichart; Amornrattanapan, Chutiwan; Nitiruangjarus, Kanjanee; Tongsai, Sasima

2010-06-01

To identify the risk factors of retinal breaks in patients with the symptom of floaters, and to determine the association between those risk factors and retinal breaks. A retrospective analytic study of 184 patients (55 males and 129 females) that included 220 eyes was conducted. Patient information such as age, symptoms (multiple floaters, flashing), duration of symptom, refractive error, history of cataract surgery, family history of retinal detachment, and complete eye examination were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups, the first group (control group) had symptoms of floaters and no retinal breaks, the second group (retinal breaks group) had symptoms of floaters with retinal breaks. Chi-square test, and the multiple logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Two hundred twenty eyes, 175 eyes of the control group and 45 eyes of the retinal breaks group were examined and included in this study. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with multiple floaters, and floaters and flashing increased the risk of retinal breaks to 5.8 and 4.3 times, respectively, when compared to patients with single floater or floaters alone. Lattice degeneration increased the risk of retinal breaks to 5.9 times when compared to eyes that did not have lattice degeneration. Multiple floaters, flashing and lattice degeneration are risk factors of retinal breaks in patients with symptoms of floaters. Therefore, it is important for the ophthalmologists to be aware of these risk factors and the patients at risk should have follow-up examinations.

Rejoining of isochromatid breaks induced by heavy ions in G2-phase normal human fibroblasts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kawata, T.; Durante, M.; Furusawa, Y.; George, K.; Ito, H.; Wu, H.; Cucinotta, F. A.

2001-01-01

We reported previously that exposure of normal human fibroblasts in G2 phase of the cell cycle to high-LET radiation produces a much higher frequency of isochromatid breaks than exposure to gamma rays. We concluded that an increase in the production of isochromatid breaks is a signature of initial high-LET radiation-induced G2-phase damage. In this paper, we report the repair kinetics of isochromatid breaks induced by high-LET radiation in normal G2-phase human fibroblasts. Exponentially growing human fibroblasts (AG1522) were irradiated with gamma rays or energetic carbon (290 MeV/nucleon), silicon (490 MeV/nucleon), or iron (200 MeV/nucleon) ions. Prematurely condensed chromosomes were induced by calyculin A after different postirradiation incubation times ranging from 0 to 600 min. Chromosomes were stained with Giemsa, and aberrations were scored in cells at G2 phase. G2-phase fragments, the result of the induction of isochromatid breaks, decreased quickly with incubation time. The curve for the kinetics of the rejoining of chromatid-type breaks showed a slight upward curvature with time after exposure to 440 keV/microm iron particles, probably due to isochromatid-isochromatid break rejoining. The formation of chromatid exchanges after exposure to high-LET radiation therefore appears to be underestimated, because isochromatid-isochromatid exchanges cannot be detected. Increased induction of isochromatid breaks and rejoining of isochromatid breaks affect the overall kinetics of chromatid-type break rejoining after exposure to high-LET radiation.

Decompression Sickness After Air Break in Prebreathe Described with a Survival Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conkin, J.; Pilmanis, A. A.

2010-01-01

Data from Brooks City-Base show the decompression sickness (DCS) and venous gas emboli (VGE) consequences of air breaks in a resting 100% O2 prebreathe (PB) prior to a hypobaric exposure. METHODS: DCS and VGE survival times from 95 controls for a 60 min PB prior to 2-hr or 4-hr exposures to 4.37 psia are statistically compared to 3 break in PB conditions: a 10 min (n=40), 20 min (n=40), or 60 min break (n=32) 30 min into the PB followed by 30 min of PB. Ascent rate was 1,524 meters / min and all exposures included light exercise and 4 min of VGE monitoring of heart chambers at 16 min intervals. DCS survival time for combined control and air breaks were described with an accelerated log logistic model where exponential N2 washin during air break was described with a 10 min half-time and washout during PB with a 60 min half-time. RESULTS: There was no difference in VGE or DCS survival times among 3 different air breaks, or when air breaks were compared to control VGE times. However, 10, 20, and 60 min air breaks had significantly earlier survival times compared to control DCS times, certainly early in the exposures. CONCLUSION: Air breaks of 10, 20, and 60 min after 30 min of a 60 min PB reduced DCS survival time. The survival model combined discrete comparisons into a global description mechanistically linked to asymmetrical N2 washin and washout kinetics based on inspired pN2. Our unvalidated regression is used to compute additional PB time needed to compensate for an air break in PB within the range of tested conditions.

Method for Cleanly and Precisely Breaking Off a Rock Core Using a Radial Compressive Force

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richardson, Megan; Lin, Justin

2011-01-01

The Mars Sample Return mission has the goal to drill, break off, and retain rock core samples. After some results gained from rock core mechanics testing, the realization that scoring teeth would cleanly break off the core after only a few millimeters of penetration, and noting that rocks are weak in tension, the idea was developed to use symmetric wedging teeth in compression to weaken and then break the core at the contact plane. This concept was developed as a response to the break-off and retention requirements. The wedges wrap around the estimated average diameter of the core to get as many contact locations as possible, and are then pushed inward, radially, through the core towards one another. This starts a crack and begins to apply opposing forces inside the core to propagate the crack across the plane of contact. The advantage is in the simplicity. Only two teeth are needed to break five varieties of Mars-like rock cores with limited penetration and reasonable forces. Its major advantage is that it does not require any length of rock to be attached to the parent in order to break the core at the desired location. Test data shows that some rocks break off on their own into segments or break off into discs. This idea would grab and retain a disc, push some discs upward and others out, or grab a segment, break it at the contact plane, and retain the portion inside of the device. It also does this with few moving parts in a simple, space-efficient design. This discovery could be implemented into a coring drill bit to precisely break off and retain any size rock core.

Indicator saturation: a novel approach to detect multiple breaks in geodetic time series.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, L. P.; Pretis, F.; Williams, S. D. P.

2016-12-01

Geodetic time series can record long term trends, quasi-periodic signals at a variety of time scales from days to decades, and sudden breaks due to natural or anthropogenic causes. The causes of breaks range from instrument replacement to earthquakes to unknown (i.e. no attributable cause). Furthermore, breaks can be permanent or short-lived and range at least two orders of magnitude in size (mm to 100's mm). To account for this range of possible signal-characteristics requires a flexible time series method that can distinguish between true and false breaks, outliers and time-varying trends. One such method, Indicator Saturation (IS) comes from the field of econometrics where analysing stochastic signals in these terms is a common problem. The IS approach differs from alternative break detection methods by considering every point in the time series as a break until it is demonstrated statistically that it is not. A linear model is constructed with a break function at every point in time, and all but statistically significant breaks are removed through a general-to-specific model selection algorithm for more variables than observations. The IS method is flexible because it allows multiple breaks of different forms (e.g. impulses, shifts in the mean, and changing trends) to be detected, while simultaneously modelling any underlying variation driven by additional covariates. We apply the IS method to identify breaks in a suite of synthetic GPS time series used for the Detection of Offsets in GPS Experiments (DOGEX). We optimise the method to maximise the ratio of true-positive to false-positive detections, which improves estimates of errors in the long term rates of land motion currently required by the GPS community.

Comparing the role of fuel breaks across southern California national forests

USGS Publications Warehouse

Syphard, Alexandra D.; Keeley, Jon E.; Brennan, Teresa J.

2011-01-01

Fuel treatment of wildland vegetation is the primary approach advocated for mitigating fire risk at the wildland-urban interface (WUI), but little systematic research has been conducted to understand what role fuel treatments play in controlling large fires, which factors influence this role, or how the role of fuel treatments may vary over space and time. We assembled a spatial database of fuel breaks and fires from the last 30 years in four southern California national forests to better understand which factors are consistently important for fuel breaks in the control of large fires. We also explored which landscape features influence where fires and fuel breaks are most likely to intersect. The relative importance of significant factors explaining fuel break outcome and number of fire and fuel break intersections varied among the forests, which reflects high levels of regional landscape diversity. Nevertheless, several factors were consistently important across all the forests. In general, fuel breaks played an important role in controlling large fires only when they facilitated fire management, primarily by providing access for firefighting activities. Fire weather and fuel break maintenance were also consistently important. Models and maps predicting where fuel breaks and fires are most likely to intersect performed well in the regions where the models were developed, but these models did not extend well to other regions, reflecting how the environmental controls of fire regimes vary even within a single ecoregion. Nevertheless, similar mapping methods could be adopted in different landscapes to help with strategic location of fuel breaks. Strategic location of fuel breaks should also account for access points near communities, where fire protection is most important.

Daily Variations in Spring Break Alcohol and Sexual Behaviors Based on Intentions, Perceived Norms, and Daily Trip Context

PubMed Central

Patrick, Megan E.; Lee, Christine M.

2012-01-01

Objective: Given the known risks of alcohol use and sexual behavior for college students on Spring Break, this study was designed to document the behaviors and correlates associated with being on a Spring Break trip on a given day (controlling for average time on a trip). Method: Participants were undergraduate students (n = 261; 55% women) who reported that they planned to go on a Spring Break trip. Web-based survey responses before and after Spring Break documented perceived norms, intentions, and actual behavior on each of the 10 days of Spring Break. Results: Students who went on longer trips, who previously engaged in more heavy episodic drinking, or who had greater pre–Spring Break intentions to drink reported greater alcohol use during Spring Break. Similarly, students with greater pre–Spring Break intentions to have sex, greater perceived norms for sex, or more previoussexual partners had greater odds of having sex. On days students were on trips, they had a greater likelihood of having sex, drinking to higher estimated blood alcohol concentrations, consuming more drinks, and reporting perceived drunkenness than on nontrip days, especially if they had intentions to have sex and drink alcohol (and, for models predicting sexual behavior and drunkenness, had greater perceived norms for sex and drinking). Conclusions: Students who went on Spring Break trips engaged in more risk behaviors. In addition, the context of being on a trip on a given day was associated with increased risk, especially if they had stronger intentions and, in some cases, higher perceived norms. Further research is needed to describe the contexts of Spring Break trips and how to intervene effectively. PMID:22630797

Employee perception of breastfeeding-friendly support and benefits of breastfeeding as a predictor of intention to use breast-pumping breaks after returning to work among employed mothers.

PubMed

Tsai, Su-Ying

2014-01-01

Although increasing numbers of large companies are complying with demands for a breastfeeding-friendly workplace by providing lactation rooms and breast-pumping breaks, the effectiveness for intention to use breast-pumping breaks to express breast milk among employed mothers is uncertain. To explore the impact of employees' perceived breastfeeding support from the workplace and the benefits of breastfeeding on a woman's intention to use breast-pumping breaks after returning to work, we conducted a survey at a female labor-intensive electronics manufacturer in Taiwan. A structured questionnaire survey was administered to 715 working mothers employed in an electronics manufacturing plant in Tainan Science Park in Southern Taiwan. Questionnaire content included female employee demographics, employment characteristics, and breastfeeding behavior after returning to work, as well as employees' perception of breastfeeding-friendly support and awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding when raising their most recently born child. Higher education (odds ratio [OR] 2.33), non-clean room worksite (OR 1.51), awareness of breast-pumping breaks (OR 4.70), encouragement by colleagues to use breast-pumping breaks (OR 1.76), and greater awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding (OR 1.08) were significant predictors of the use of breast-pumping breaks after returning to work, whereas the perception of inefficiency when using breast-pumping breaks reduced an employed mother's intention to use breast-pumping breaks (OR 0.55). This study finds an association between an appreciation of the benefits provided by the employer and the likelihood of increased usage of breastfeeding breaks. Workplaces and employers can help employed mothers to understand the benefits of breastfeeding, which may increase the intention of the mother to take breast-pumping breaks after returning to work.

The autumn effect: timing of physical dormancy break in seeds of two winter annual species of Geraniaceae by a stepwise process

PubMed Central

Gama-Arachchige, N. S.; Baskin, J. M.; Geneve, R. L.; Baskin, C. C.

2012-01-01

Background and Aims The involvement of two steps in the physical dormancy (PY)-breaking process previously has been demonstrated in seeds of Fabaceae and Convolvulaceae. Even though there is a claim for a moisture-controlled stepwise PY-breaking in some species of Geraniaceae, no study has evaluated the role of temperature in the PY-breaking process in this family. The aim of this study was to determine whether a temperature-controlled stepwise PY-breaking process occurs in seeds of the winter annuals Geranium carolinianum and G. dissectum. Methods Seeds of G. carolinianum and G. dissectum were stored under different temperature regimes to test the effect of storage temperature on PY-break. The role of temperature and moisture regimes in regulating PY-break was investigated by treatments simulating natural conditions. Greenhouse (non-heated) experiments on seed germination and burial experiments (outdoors) were carried out to determine the PY-breaking behaviour in the natural habitat. Key Results Irrespective of moisture conditions, sensitivity to the PY-breaking step in seeds of G. carolinianum was induced at temperatures ≥20 °C, and exposure to temperatures ≤20 °C made the sensitive seeds permeable. Sensitivity of seeds increased with time. In G. dissectum, PY-break occurred at temperatures ≥20 °C in a single step under constant wet or dry conditions and in two steps under alternate wet–dry conditions if seeds were initially kept wet. Conclusions Timing of seed germination with the onset of autumn can be explained by PY-breaking processes involving (a) two temperature-dependent steps in G. carolinianum and (b) one or two moisture-dependent step(s) along with the inability to germinate under high temperatures in G. dissectum. Geraniaceae is the third of 18 families with PY in which a two-step PY-breaking process has been demonstrated. PMID:22684684

Different modes of continental break-up triggered by a sole mantle plume: a 2D and 3D numerical study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beniest, Anouk; Koptev, Alexander; Leroy, Sylvie; Burov, Evgueni

2017-04-01

We used 2D and 3D numerical models to investigate the impact of a single mantle plume on continental rifting and breakup processes. We varied the thermo-rheological structure of the continental lithosphere, its geometry and the initial plume position. Based on the results of our 2D experiments, three continental break-up modes can be distinguished: A) 'central' continental break-up, the break-up center is located directly above the original mantle anomaly position, B) 'shifted' break-up, the break-up center is 50 to 200 km displaced from the initial plume location and C) 'distant' break-up, due to convection and/or slab-subduction/delamination, the break-up center is considerably shifted (300 to 800 km) from the primary plume position. Our 3D model, with a laterally homogeneous initial setup also results in continental break-up with the axis of continental break-up hundreds of kilometers shifted from the original plume location. The model results show that the classical, 'central' view of mantle plume induced continental break-up is not the only mode of break-up. When considering a diversity of break-up styles, it is possible to explain a variety of observed geophysical and geological features. For example, the mantle material glued to the base of the lithosphere at shallower depths corresponds geometrically and location-wise to high-velocity/high-density bodies observed on seismic data below the thinned continental lithosphere and the transition zone of the South Atlantic domain. During migration, products of partial melting of the mantle material can move vertically to (shallow) lower crustal levels. They might resemble high density bodies observed at lower crustal levels inside continental crust with similar geometries observed with gravity modelling. Also, topographic variation form in the very early stages of rifting on the first impingement of upwelled plume material. These variations remain visible, as the final position of the spreading center is shifted from the point of impingement and can be interpreted as aborted rifts, observed along passive margins. Our modelling demonstrates that both simple and perfectly symmetric preliminary settings as well as complex initial setups can result in a variety of break-up systems.

Film and television in Croatia today: production, new technologies and the relationship with visual anthropology.

PubMed

Svilicić, Niksa; Vidacković, Zlatko

2013-03-01

This paper seeks to explain some of the most important recent production and technological changes that have affected the relationship between television and film, especially in Croatia, from the aspect of the development of visual anthropology. In the production segment, special attention was given to the role of Croatian television stations in the production of movies, "splitting" the movies into mini-series, interrupting movies with commercial breaks, and to television movies turned into feature films. This paper tries to perceive and define the structure of methodical processes of visual anthropology (reactive process). The development of photographic and film technology and the events which led to the rapid development of visual culture also point to the inseparable duality of observing visual anthropology within reactive and proactive processes, which are indirectly closely related to the technical aspects of these processes. Defining the technical aspect of visual anthropology as such "service" necessarily interferes with the author's approach in the domain of the script and direction related procedures during pre-production, on the field and during post-production of the movie. The author's approach is important because in dependence on it, the desired spectrum of information "output", susceptible to subsequent scientific analysis, is achieved. Lastly, another important segment is the "distributive-technological process" because, regardless of the approach to the anthropologically relevant phenomenon which is being dealt with in an audio-visual piece of work, it is essential that the work be presented and viewed adequately.

Breakeven Prices for Photovoltaics on Supermarkets in the United States

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ong, S.; Clark, N.; Denholm, P.

The photovoltaic (PV) breakeven price is the PV system price at which the cost of PV-generated electricity equals the cost of electricity purchased from the grid. This point is also called 'grid parity' and can be expressed as dollars per watt ($/W) of installed PV system capacity. Achieving the PV breakeven price depends on many factors, including the solar resource, local electricity prices, customer load profile, PV incentives, and financing. In the United States, where these factors vary substantially across regions, breakeven prices vary substantially across regions as well. In this study, we estimate current and future breakeven prices formore » PV systems installed on supermarkets in the United States. We also evaluate key drivers of current and future commercial PV breakeven prices by region. The results suggest that breakeven prices for PV systems installed on supermarkets vary significantly across the United States. Non-technical factors -- including electricity rates, rate structures, incentives, and the availability of system financing -- drive break-even prices more than technical factors like solar resource or system orientation. In 2020 (where we assume higher electricity prices and lower PV incentives), under base-case assumptions, we estimate that about 17% of supermarkets will be in utility territories where breakeven conditions exist at a PV system price of $3/W; this increases to 79% at $1.25/W (the DOE SunShot Initiative's commercial PV price target for 2020). These percentages increase to 26% and 91%, respectively, when rate structures favorable to PV are used.« less

Contraceptive security, information flow, and local adaptations: family planning Morocco.

PubMed

Chandani, Y; Breton, G

2001-12-01

Many developing countries increasingly recognize and acknowledge family planning as a critical part of socio-economic development. However, with few health dollars to go around, countries tend to provide essential drugs for curative care, rather than for family planning products. Donors have historically provided free contraceptives for family planning services. Whether products are donated or purchased by the country, a successful family planning program depends on an uninterrupted supply of products, beginning with the manufacturer and ending with the customer. Any break in the supply chain may cause a family planning program to fail. A well-functioning logistics system can manage the supply chain and ensure that the customers have the products they need, when they need them. Morocco was selected for the case study. The researchers had ready access to key informants and information about the Logistics Management Information System. Because the study had time and resource constraints, research included desktop reviews and interview, rather than data collection in the field. The case study showed that even in a challenging environment an LMIS can be successfully deployed and fully supported by the users. It is critical to customize the system to a country-specific situation to ensure buy-in for the implementation. Significant external support funding and technical expertise are critical components to ensure the initial success of the system. Nonetheless, evidence from the case study shows that, after a system has been implemented, the benefits may not ensure its institutionalization. Other support, including local funding and technical expertise, is required.

Institutional factors and HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

PubMed

Simmonds, Stephanie

2008-01-01

This paper outlines the principal institutional factors affecting the slow progress in reaching agreed targets in Africa regarding the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. It focuses on three key factors: political analysis, strategic business approach and international inputs. Most of the analyses tend to look at the technical aspects of disease prevention and control, of political analysis there is a marked absence. Yet, we know that wider contextual or macro factors such as power and political decision making can make or break a programme. Many senior managers in public sector institutions are preoccupied with day-to-day work. Successful businesses in the private sector have some things in common with each other. Outstanding leadership, a strategic and action orientated culture, highly focused on comparative strengths on priorities and quality being some of the key ones. Adopting such successful business characteristics might make the difference to public institutions. The move to results based institutions by focussing on outputs and outcomes is for the better. However, we still need to rigorously examine the quality of inputs that the increasing availability of funds is being used on. This is especially so in relation to needing a better balance between aid for health services and that for institutional and health systems development. In addition, technical advisers from development partners need to work more across a ministry of health on institutional and management change to have a greater impact on achieving targets. 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

PREFACE: Conceptual and Technical Challenges for Quantum Gravity 2014 - Parallel session: Noncommutative Geometry and Quantum Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinetti, P.; Wallet, J.-C.; Amelino-Camelia, G.

2015-08-01

The conference Conceptual and Technical Challenges for Quantum Gravity at Sapienza University of Rome, from 8 to 12 September 2014, has provided a beautiful opportunity for an encounter between different approaches and different perspectives on the quantum-gravity problem. It contributed to a higher level of shared knowledge among the quantum-gravity communities pursuing each specific research program. There were plenary talks on many different approaches, including in particular string theory, loop quantum gravity, spacetime noncommutativity, causal dynamical triangulations, asymptotic safety and causal sets. Contributions from the perspective of philosophy of science were also welcomed. In addition several parallel sessions were organized. The present volume collects contributions from the Noncommutative Geometry and Quantum Gravity parallel session4, with additional invited contributions from specialists in the field. Noncommutative geometry in its many incarnations appears at the crossroad of many researches in theoretical and mathematical physics: • from models of quantum space-time (with or without breaking of Lorentz symmetry) to loop gravity and string theory, • from early considerations on UV-divergencies in quantum field theory to recent models of gauge theories on noncommutative spacetime, • from Connes description of the standard model of elementary particles to recent Pati-Salam like extensions. This volume provides an overview of these various topics, interesting for the specialist as well as accessible to the newcomer. 4partially funded by CNRS PEPS /PTI ''Metric aspect of noncommutative geometry: from Monge to Higgs''

Generation and validation of PAX7 reporter lines from human iPS cells using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

PubMed

Wu, Jianbo; Hunt, Samuel D; Xue, Haipeng; Liu, Ying; Darabi, Radbod

2016-03-01

Directed differentiation of iPS cells toward various tissue progenitors has been the focus of recent research. Therefore, generation of tissue-specific reporter iPS cell lines provides better understanding of developmental stages in iPS cells. This technical report describes an efficient strategy for generation and validation of knock-in reporter lines in human iPS cells using the Cas9-nickase system. Here, we have generated a knock-in human iPS cell line for the early myogenic lineage specification gene of PAX7. By introduction of site-specific double-stranded breaks (DSB) in the genomic locus of PAX7 using CRISPR/Cas9 nickase pairs, a 2A-GFP reporter with selection markers has been incorporated before the stop codon of the PAX7 gene at the last exon. After positive and negative selection, single cell-derived human iPS clones have been isolated and sequenced for in-frame positioning of the reporter construct. Finally, by using a nuclease-dead Cas9 activator (dCas9-VP160) system, the promoter region of PAX7 has been targeted for transient gene induction to validate the GFP reporter activity. This was confirmed by flow cytometry analysis and immunostaining for PAX7 and GFP. This technical report provides a practical guideline for generation and validation of knock-in reporters using CRISPR/Cas9 system. Published by Elsevier B.V.

26 CFR 1.411(a)-9 - Amendment of break in service rules; transitional period.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 5 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Amendment of break in service rules.... § 1.411(a)-9 Amendment of break in service rules; transitional period. (a) In general. Under section... breaks in service are amended, and— (1) Such amendment is effective after January 1, 1974, and before the...

26 CFR 1.410(a)-5 - Year of service; break in service.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... under this subparagraph by reason of any prior break in service. (ii) Examples. The rules of this... 26 Internal Revenue 5 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Year of service; break in service. 1.410(a)-5... service; break in service. (a) Year of service. For the rules relating to years of service under...

Use of the Mid-Lecture Break in Chemistry Teaching: A Survey and Some Suggestions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, David K.

2006-01-01

This article uses student feedback to explore student attitudes towards the use of lecture breaks. The survey illustrates that undergraduates genuinely value such breaks, finding them educationally useful and enhancing their enjoyment of the lecture experience. By comparing and contrasting the perceived value of different types of lecture breaks,…

75 FR 80073 - Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-21

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Wage and Hour Division RIN 1235-ZA00 Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers... and a place for nursing mothers to express breast milk for one year after their child's birth. The... the break time for nursing mothers law. The break time requirement that is now part of the FLSA is set...

Analysis of free-time contingencies as positive versus negative reinforcement.

PubMed

Zarcone, J R; Fisher, W W; Piazza, C C

1996-01-01

Providing a short break contingent on completed work may increase responding through positive reinforcement (e.g., access to preferred activities) or negative reinforcement (e.g., escape form work). In this investigation, three analyses conducted with a boy with profound mental retardation showed that (a) a 20-s break increased responding more than a positive reinforcer (cola) did, and (b) the reinforcing effect of a 20-s break were affected by the availability of positive reinforcers during the break were affected by the availability of positive reinforcers during the break.

Exploring the Surface Brightness Breaks and Star Formation in Disk Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malko, Bradley Ann; Hunter, Deidre Ann

2018-06-01

Stellar surface brightness profiles of both spirals and dwarf irregular galaxies often show breaks in which the exponential fall-off abruptly changes slope. Most often the profile is down-bending (Type II) in the outer disk, but sometimes it is up-bending (Type III). Stellar disks extend a long ways beyond the profile breaks, but we do not understand what happens physically at the breaks. To explore this we are examining the star formation activity, as traced with FUV emission, interior to the break compared to that exterior to the break in both dwarf irregulars and spiral galaxies. We present the results for the spiral galaxy NGC 2500 and compare it to the LITTLE THINGS dwarf irregular galaxies.

Facilitating working mothers' ability to breastfeed: global trends in guaranteeing breastfeeding breaks at work, 1995-2014.

PubMed

Atabay, Efe; Moreno, Gonzalo; Nandi, Arijit; Kranz, Gabriella; Vincent, Ilona; Assi, Tina-Marie; Winfrey, Elise Marie Vaughan; Earle, Alison; Raub, Amy; Heymann, S Jody

2015-02-01

Mothers who work away from home tend to stop breastfeeding earlier than their nonworking counterparts due to workplace barriers. Barriers to breastfeeding discriminate against women and may lead to inequities in children's health outcomes. Guaranteeing paid breastfeeding breaks at work is 1 mechanism that can improve mothers' opportunity to breastfeed in the workplace. This study aimed to assess the trends in the share of countries guaranteeing breastfeeding breaks in the workplace and paid maternal leave that lasts until the infant is 6 months old (the World Health Organization recommended duration for exclusive breastfeeding), between 1995 and 2014. Legislation and secondary source data were collected and reviewed for 193 United Nations member states. Legislation was analyzed for content on breastfeeding breaks and maternal leave guarantees. Fifty-one countries (26.7%) in 2014 did not guarantee breastfeeding breaks in any form and 4 countries provided only unpaid breaks or breaks that did not cover the first 6 months of life; since 1995, around 15 countries (10.2%) legislated for such a policy. In 2014, out of 55 countries that did not guarantee paid breastfeeding breaks for the first 6 months after birth, 7 countries guaranteed paid maternal leave for the same duration; 48 countries (25.1%) provided neither paid maternal leave nor paid breastfeeding breaks. Progress in the number of countries guaranteeing breastfeeding breaks at work is modest. Adopting measures to facilitate breastfeeding at work can be a critical opportunity for countries to increase breastfeeding rates among the growing number of women in the labor force. © The Author(s) 2014.

The impacts of short break provision on families with a disabled child: an international literature review.

PubMed

Robertson, Janet; Hatton, Chris; Wells, Emma; Collins, Michelle; Langer, Susanne; Welch, Vicki; Emerson, Eric

2011-07-01

There are widespread assumptions about the potential impacts of short breaks on family carers and disabled children. This review aims to evaluate the existing international research evidence concerning the impacts of short breaks on families with a disabled child. Electronic literature searches were conducted using ASSIA, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science, and requests for information were sent to selected email lists. Of 60 articles or reports identified for inclusion in the review, the vast majority of studies were cross-sectional, with only eight studies using quasi-experimental pre-post designs or longitudinal designs. Nonetheless, the consistency with which some findings have been reported suggests that short breaks appear to have the potential to positively impact on not only the well-being of carers, but also the children receiving short breaks and their families as a whole. Additional research is warranted in a number of areas. First, research needs to consider the impact of short breaks on fathers. Second, there is a need to consider in more depth how short breaks can impact on the siblings of disabled children. Third, research could consider how best short breaks can be combined with other interventions to maximise the impact for disabled children and their families. Fourth, research needs to look at the longer term impact of short breaks on outcomes for disabled children and their families. What is needed is evidence on what type of short breaks are best for children and families with particular characteristics at particular times during the course of the child's maturation towards adulthood. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Homologous Recombination Repair Signaling in Chemical Carcinogenesis: Prolonged Particulate Hexavalent Chromium Exposure Suppresses the Rad51 Response in Human Lung Cells

PubMed Central

Qin, Qin; Xie, Hong; Wise, Sandra S.; Browning, Cynthia L.; Thompson, Kelsey N.; Holmes, Amie L.; Wise, John Pierce

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to focus on hexavalent chromium, [Cr(VI)], a chemical carcinogen and major public health concern, and consider its ability to impact DNA double strand break repair. We further focused on particulate Cr(VI), because it is the more potent carcinogenic form of Cr(VI). DNA double strand break repair serves to protect cells against the detrimental effects of DNA double strand breaks. For particulate Cr(VI), data show DNA double strand break repair must be overcome for neoplastic transformation to occur. Acute Cr(VI) exposures reveal a robust DNA double strand break repair response, however, longer exposures have not been considered. Using the comet assay, we found longer exposures to particulate zinc chromate induced concentration-dependent increases in DNA double strand breaks indicating breaks were occurring throughout the exposure time. Acute (24 h) exposure induced DNA double strand break repair signaling by inducing Mre11 foci formation, ATM phosphorylation and phosphorylated ATM foci formation, Rad51 protein levels and Rad51 foci formation. However, longer exposures reduced the Rad51 response. These data indicate a major chemical carcinogen can simultaneously induce DNA double strand breaks and alter their repair and describe a new and important aspect of the carcinogenic mechanism for Cr(VI). PMID:25173789

Wave Breaking Dissipation in Fetch-Limited Seas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwendeman, M.; Thomson, J. M.; Gemmrich, J.

2012-12-01

Breaking waves on the ocean surface control wave growth and enhance air-sea interaction, yet field measurements of breaking are limited. A promising technique for field measurements of wave breaking uses the breaking crest length distribution Λ(c), introduced by Phillips (1985). However, calculating dynamic quantities from Λ(c) requires knowledge of the breaking strength parameter, b. Estimates of a b have varied over many orders of magnitude, and recent studies have attempted to model b in terms of sea state, such as wave steepness or saturation. We present comprehensive observations of breaking in fetch-limited conditions from Juan de Fuca Strait, WA. The wave evolution along fetch is explained by an observed energy budget using the radiative transfer equation (RTE), and the evolution is consistent with existing empirical fetch laws. Estimates of Λ(c) increase along fetch and are consistent with directly measured breaking rates. Using novel in situ measures of dissipation, as well as a residual term from the RTE budget, we obtain robust estimates of the wave breaking strength b. Results suggest that b decreases with wave steepness and saturation, in contrast with recent laboratory results (Drazen et al, 2008). This trend is discussed in terms of the fetch evolution and associated broadening of the equilibrium range in the wave spectra.Map of drifter tracks colored by wave height for two days in Juan de Fuca Strait, WA.

78 FR 76757 - Regulatory Guidance on Hours of Service of Drivers Rest Break Requirement; Drivers Who Become...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-19

... days as ``short haul'' drivers exempt from the break rule, but who occasionally exceed the short haul distance or time limits. Such drivers are then subject to the break requirement and must prepare a record-of-duty-status (RODS) for the day. The intent of the break rule would be satisfied if drivers in...

26 CFR 1.410(a)-6 - Amendment of break in service rules; Transition period.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 5 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Amendment of break in service rules; Transition.... § 1.410(a)-6 Amendment of break in service rules; Transition period. (a) In general. Under section... breaks in service are amended, and— (1) Such amendment is effective after January 1, 1974, and before the...

46 CFR 196.30-20 - Breaking of safety valve seal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Breaking of safety valve seal. 196.30-20 Section 196.30... OPERATIONS Reports of Accidents, Repairs, and Unsafe Equipment § 196.30-20 Breaking of safety valve seal. (a) If at any time it is necessary to break the seal on a safety valve for any purpose, the Chief...

46 CFR 196.30-20 - Breaking of safety valve seal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Breaking of safety valve seal. 196.30-20 Section 196.30... OPERATIONS Reports of Accidents, Repairs, and Unsafe Equipment § 196.30-20 Breaking of safety valve seal. (a) If at any time it is necessary to break the seal on a safety valve for any purpose, the Chief...

Low energy supergravity: R-parity breaking and the top quark mass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carena, Marcela S.; Wagner, Carlos E. M.

1987-03-01

We study the process of spontaneous R-parity breaking in minimal low energy supergravity models. We show that it is very hard to obtain models with heavy top quarks if one wants to preserve the radiative breaking of SU(2)L⊗U(1)Y without breaking R-parity. Fellow of Consejo National de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas.

A depth-averaged 2-D shallow water model for breaking and non-breaking long waves affected by rigid vegetation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This paper presents a depth-averaged two-dimensional shallow water model for simulating long waves in vegetated water bodies under breaking and non-breaking conditions. The effects of rigid vegetation are modelled in the form of drag and inertia forces as sink terms in the momentum equations. The dr...

DNA breaks and end resection measured genome-wide by end sequencing | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

About the Cover The cover depicts a ribbon of DNA portrayed as a city skyline. The central gap in the landscape localizes to the precise site of the DNA break. The features surrounding the break denote the processing of DNA-end structures (end-resection) emanating from the break location. Cover artwork by Ethan Tyler, NIH. Abstract

Attributing Changing Rates of Temperature Record Breaking to Anthropogenic Influences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, Andrew D.

2017-11-01

Record-breaking temperatures attract attention from the media, so understanding how and why the rate of record breaking is changing may be useful in communicating the effects of climate change. A simple methodology designed for estimating the anthropogenic influence on rates of record breaking in a given time series is proposed here. The frequency of hot and cold record-breaking temperature occurrences is shown to be changing due to the anthropogenic influence on the climate. Using ensembles of model simulations with and without human-induced forcings, it is demonstrated that the effect of climate change on global record-breaking temperatures can be detected as far back as the 1930s. On local scales, a climate change signal is detected more recently at most locations. The anthropogenic influence on the increased occurrence of hot record-breaking temperatures is clearer than it is for the decreased occurrence of cold records. The approach proposed here could be applied in rapid attribution studies of record extremes to quantify the influence of climate change on the rate of record breaking in addition to the climate anomaly being studied. This application is demonstrated for the global temperature record of 2016 and the Central England temperature record in 2014.

Child personality facets and overreactive parenting as predictors of aggression and rule-breaking trajectories from childhood to adolescence.

PubMed

Becht, Andrik I; Prinzie, Peter; Deković, Maja; van den Akker, Alithe L; Shiner, Rebecca L

2016-05-01

This study examined trajectories of aggression and rule breaking during the transition from childhood to adolescence (ages 9-15), and determined whether these trajectories were predicted by lower order personality facets, overreactive parenting, and their interaction. At three time points separated by 2-year intervals, mothers and fathers reported on their children's aggression and rule breaking (N = 290, M age = 8.8 years at Time 1). At Time 1, parents reported on their children's personality traits and their own overreactivity. Growth mixture modeling identified three aggression trajectories (low decreasing, high decreasing, and high increasing) and two rule-breaking trajectories (low and high). Lower optimism and compliance and higher energy predicted trajectories for both aggression and rule breaking, whereas higher expressiveness and irritability and lower orderliness and perseverance were unique risk factors for increasing aggression into adolescence. Lower concentration was a unique risk factor for increasing rule breaking. Parental overreactivity predicted higher trajectories of aggression but not rule breaking. Only two Trait × Overreactivity interactions were found. Our results indicate that personality facets could differentiate children at risk for different developmental trajectories of aggression and rule breaking.

On the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters in gauge-mediated models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagner, C. E. M.

1998-09-01

Gauge mediation of supersymmetry breaking in the observable sector is an attractive idea, which naturally alleviates the flavor changing neutral current problem of supersymmetric theories. Quite generally, however, the number and quantum number of the messengers are not known; nor is their characteristic mass scale determined by the theory. Using the recently proposed method to extract supersymmetry-breaking parameters from wave-function renormalization, we derived general formulae for the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters in the observable sector, valid in the small and moderate tan β regimes, for the case of split messengers. The full leading-order effects of top Yukawa and gauge couplings on the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters are included. We give a simple interpretation of the general formulae in terms of the renormalization group evolution of the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters. As a by-product of this analysis, the one-loop renormalization group evolution of the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters is obtained for arbitrary boundary conditions of the scalar and gaugino mass parameters at high energies.

DNA Strand Breaks in Mitotic Germ Cells of Caenorhabditis elegans Evaluated by Comet Assay

PubMed Central

Park, Sojin; Choi, Seoyun; Ahn, Byungchan

2016-01-01

DNA damage responses are important for the maintenance of genome stability and the survival of organisms. Such responses are activated in the presence of DNA damage and lead to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and DNA repair. In Caenorhabditis elegans, double-strand breaks induced by DNA damaging agents have been detected indirectly by antibodies against DSB recognizing proteins. In this study we used a comet assay to detect DNA strand breaks and to measure the elimination of DNA strand breaks in mitotic germline nuclei of C. elegans. We found that C. elegans brc-1 mutants were more sensitive to ionizing radiation and camptothecin than the N2 wild-type strain and repaired DNA strand breaks less efficiently than N2. This study is the first demonstration of direct measurement of DNA strand breaks in mitotic germline nuclei of C. elegans. This newly developed assay can be applied to detect DNA strand breaks in different C. elegans mutants that are sensitive to DNA damaging agents. PMID:26903030

The transcription fidelity factor GreA impedes DNA break repair.

PubMed

Sivaramakrishnan, Priya; Sepúlveda, Leonardo A; Halliday, Jennifer A; Liu, Jingjing; Núñez, María Angélica Bravo; Golding, Ido; Rosenberg, Susan M; Herman, Christophe

2017-10-12

Homologous recombination repairs DNA double-strand breaks and must function even on actively transcribed DNA. Because break repair prevents chromosome loss, the completion of repair is expected to outweigh the transcription of broken templates. However, the interplay between DNA break repair and transcription processivity is unclear. Here we show that the transcription factor GreA inhibits break repair in Escherichia coli. GreA restarts backtracked RNA polymerase and hence promotes transcription fidelity. We report that removal of GreA results in markedly enhanced break repair via the classic RecBCD-RecA pathway. Using a deep-sequencing method to measure chromosomal exonucleolytic degradation, we demonstrate that the absence of GreA limits RecBCD-mediated resection. Our findings suggest that increased RNA polymerase backtracking promotes break repair by instigating RecA loading by RecBCD, without the influence of canonical Chi signals. The idea that backtracked RNA polymerase can stimulate recombination presents a DNA transaction conundrum: a transcription fidelity factor that compromises genomic integrity.

Differential Effects of Music and Video Gaming During Breaks on Auditory and Visual Learning.

PubMed

Liu, Shuyan; Kuschpel, Maxim S; Schad, Daniel J; Heinz, Andreas; Rapp, Michael A

2015-11-01

The interruption of learning processes by breaks filled with diverse activities is common in everyday life. This study investigated the effects of active computer gaming and passive relaxation (rest and music) breaks on auditory versus visual memory performance. Young adults were exposed to breaks involving (a) open eyes resting, (b) listening to music, and (c) playing a video game, immediately after memorizing auditory versus visual stimuli. To assess learning performance, words were recalled directly after the break (an 8:30 minute delay) and were recalled and recognized again after 7 days. Based on linear mixed-effects modeling, it was found that playing the Angry Birds video game during a short learning break impaired long-term retrieval in auditory learning but enhanced long-term retrieval in visual learning compared with the music and rest conditions. These differential effects of video games on visual versus auditory learning suggest specific interference of common break activities on learning.

Hydrochemical simulation of a mountain basin under hydrological variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montserrat, S.; Trewhela, T. A.; Navarro, L.; Navarrete, A.; Lagos Zuniga, M. A.; Garcia, A.; Caraballo, M.; Niño, Y.; McPhee, J. P.

2016-12-01

Water quality and the comprehension of hydrochemical phenomena in natural basins should be of complete relevance under hydrological uncertainties. The importance of identifying the main variables that are controlling a natural system and finding a way to predict their behavior under variable scenarios is mandatory to preserve these natural basins. This work presents an interdisciplinary model for the Yerba Loca watershed, a natural reserve basin in the Chilean central Andes. Based on different data sets, provided by public and private campaigns, a natural hydrochemical regime was identified. Yerba Loca is a natural reserve, characterized by the presence of several glaciers and wide sediment deposits crossed by a small low-slope creek in the upper part of the basin that leads to a high-slope narrow channel with less sediment depositions. Most relevant is the geological context around the glaciers, considering that most of them cover hydrothermal zones rich in both sulfides and sulfates, a situation commonly found in the Andes due to volcanic activity. Low pH (around 3), calcium-sulfate water with high concentrations of Iron, Copper and Zinc are found in the upper part of the basin in summer. These values can be attributed to the glaciers melting down and draining of the mentioned country rocks, which provide most of the creek flow in the upper basin. The latter clearly contrasts with the creek outlet, located 18 km downstream, showing near to neutral pH values and lower concentrations of the elements already mentioned. The scope of the present research is to account for the sources of the different hydrological inlets (e.g., rainfall, snow and/or glacier melting) that, depending on their location, may interact with a variety of reactive minerals and generate acid rock drainage (ARD). The inlet water is modeled along the creek using the softwares HEC-RAS and PHREEQC coupled, in order to characterize the water quality and to detect preferred sedimentation sections retaining precipitated minerals, mostly Iron and Aluminium hydroxysulfates, due to low velocity flow in those areas. Validation of the results is done using several data sets that show cycles along seasons under variable outflow and chemical conditions in the outlet of the basin, responding to the same inflow and initial chemical data used for simulation.

A conservation paradox in the Great Basin—Altering sagebrush landscapes with fuel breaks to reduce habitat loss from wildfire

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shinneman, Douglas J.; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Coates, Peter S.; Germino, Matthew J.; Pilliod, David S.; Vaillant, Nicole M.

2018-03-15

Interactions between fire and nonnative, annual plant species (that is, “the grass/fire cycle”) represent one of the greatest threats to sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems and associated wildlife, including the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). In 2015, U.S. Department of the Interior called for a “science-based strategy to reduce the threat of large-scale rangeland fire to habitat for the greater sage-grouse and the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem.” An associated guidance document, the “Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy Actionable Science Plan,” identified fuel breaks as high priority areas for scientific research. Fuel breaks are intended to reduce fire size and frequency, and potentially they can compartmentalize wildfire spatial distribution in a landscape. Fuel breaks are designed to reduce flame length, fireline intensity, and rates of fire spread in order to enhance firefighter access, improve response times, and provide safe and strategic anchor points for wildland fire-fighting activities. To accomplish these objectives, fuel breaks disrupt fuel continuity, reduce fuel accumulation, and (or) increase plants with high moisture content through the removal or modification of vegetation in strategically placed strips or blocks of land.Fuel breaks are being newly constructed, enhanced, or proposed across large areas of the Great Basin to reduce wildfire risk and to protect remaining sagebrush ecosystems (including greater sage-grouse habitat). These projects are likely to result in thousands of linear miles of fuel breaks that will have direct ecological effects across hundreds of thousands of acres through habitat loss and conversion. These projects may also affect millions of acres indirectly because of edge effects and habitat fragmentation created by networks of fuel breaks. Hence, land managers are often faced with a potentially paradoxical situation: the need to substantially alter sagebrush habitats with fuel breaks to ultimately reduce a greater threat of their destruction from wildfire. However, there is relatively little published science that directly addresses the ability of fuel breaks to influence fire behavior in dryland landscapes or that addresses the potential ecological effects of the construction and maintenance of fuel breaks on sagebrush ecosystems and associated wildlife species.This report is intended to provide an initial assessment of both the potential effectiveness of fuel breaks and their ecological costs and benefits. To provide this assessment, we examined prior studies on fuel breaks and other scientific evidence to address three crucial questions: (1) How effective are fuel breaks in reducing or slowing the spread of wildfire in arid and semi-arid shrubland ecosystems? (2) How do fuel breaks affect sagebrush plant communities? (3) What are the effects of fuel breaks on the greater sage-grouse, other sagebrush obligates, and sagebrush-associated wildlife species? We also provide an overview of recent federal policies and management directives aimed at protecting remaining sagebrush and greater sage-grouse habitat; describe the fuel conditions, fire behavior, and fire trends in the Great Basin; and suggest how scientific inquiry and management actions can improve our understanding of fuel breaks and their effects in sagebrush landscapes.

Cancer therapy and replication stress: forks on the road to perdition.

PubMed

Kotsantis, Panagiotis; Jones, Rebecca M; Higgs, Martin R; Petermann, Eva

2015-01-01

Deregulated DNA replication occurs in cancer where it contributes to genomic instability. This process is a target of cytotoxic therapies. Chemotherapies exploit high DNA replication in cancer cells by modifying the DNA template or by inhibiting vital enzymatic activities that lead to slowing or stalling replication fork progression. Stalled replication forks can be converted into toxic DNA double-strand breaks resulting in cell death, i.e., replication stress. While likely crucial for many cancer treatments, replication stress is poorly understood due to its complexity. While we still know relatively little about the role of replication stress in cancer therapy, technical advances in recent years have shed new light on the effect that cancer therapeutics have on replication forks and the molecular mechanisms that lead from obstructed fork progression to cell death. This chapter will give an overview of our current understanding of replication stress in the context of cancer therapy. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

How can Doctors Improve their Communication Skills?

PubMed Central

Kumari, Archana; Chakrawarty, Avinash

2015-01-01

The process of curing a patient requires a holistic approach which involves considerations beyond treating a disease. It warrants several skills in a doctor along with technical expertise. Studies have shown that good communication skill in a doctor improve patient’s compliance and overall satisfaction. There are certain basic principles of practicing good communication. Patient listening, empathy, and paying attention to the paraverbal and non verbal components of the communication are the important ones that are frequently neglected. Proper information about the nature, course and prognosis of the disease is important. Besides, patients and attendants should always be explained about the necessity and yield of expensive investigations and risks/benefits involved in invasive procedures. One should be extremely cautious while managing difficult encounters and breaking bad news. Formal training of the doctors in improving communication skills is necessary and has proven to improve overall outcome. The authors recommend inclusion of formal training in communication skills in medical curriculum and training of practising doctors in the form of CMEs and CPEs. PMID:25954636

Percutaneous needling of Morton’s complex: a technical note

PubMed Central

Atilano, Leire; Martin, Jose Ignacio; Iglesias, Gotzon; Andia, Isabel

2015-01-01

Summary Background the Morton’s complex, i.e. fibrotic mass enfolding the medial plantar nerve, the bursa and the interdigital transverse ligament in the web space, is a common cause of pain and functional disability. Conservative and operative treatments are investigated but currently the best approach to treat the Morton’s complex is unknown. Methods we describe a non-invasive, straight forward intervention consisting on multiple percutaneous punctures, shearing the fibrotic tissue in lateromedial and anteroposterior directions. The goal is to break up fibrosis occupying the intermetatarsal space thus releasing the affected nerve from the adjacent structures, there by stimulating tissue remodelling. Results slow tissue remodelling occurs following sequential fibrosis cleavage through multiple needling. Needling of the intermetatarsal fibrosis is performed every eight weeks until pain resolution. Echographic changes are associated to pain reduction as measured by Visual Analogue Score (VAS). Conclusion we present an original idea that may improve Morton’s management. Upcoming prospective clinical studies have to demonstrate the symptomatic benefits and the usefulness of this novel echographic intervention. PMID:26958536

The Robustness of Cluster Expansion: Assessing the Role of Relaxation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Andrew H.; Rosenbrock, Conrad W.; Hart, Gus L. W.

Cluster expansion (CE) has been used widely in combination with first-principles calculations to predict stable structures of metal alloys. CE treats alloys as a purely configuration problem, i.e., a problem in the distribution of the alloying elements on a fixed lattice. CE models are usually built from data taken from ``relaxed'' first-principles calculations where the individual atoms assume positions that minimize the total energy. A perennial question in the cluster expansion community is how the accuracy of the CE is affected by relaxations--technically, the formalism of CE breaks down when the underlying lattice is not preserved--but practitioners often argue that there is a one-to-one correspondence between relaxed and unrelaxed structures so that the formalism holds. We quantify the effect of relaxation on the robustness of cluster expansions by comparing CE fits for relaxed and unrelaxed data sets. Our results give a heuristic for when CE models can be trusted. Onr (MURI N00014-13-1-0635).

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Sampling ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of manufactured compounds used in a variety of industries, such as aerospace, automotive, textiles, and electronics, and are used in some food packaging and firefighting materials. For example, they may be used to make products more resistant to stains, grease and water. In the environment, some PFAS break down very slowly, if at all, allowing bioaccumulation (concentration) to occur in humans and wildlife. Some have been found to be toxic to laboratory animals, producing reproductive, developmental, and systemic effects in laboratory tests. EPA's methods for analyzing PFAS in environmental media are in various stages of development. This technical brief summarizes the work being done to develop robust analytical methods for groundwater, surface water, wastewater, and solids, including soils, sediments, and biosolids. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) methods for analyzing PFAS in environmental media are in various stages of development. EPA is working to develop robust analytical methods for groundwater, surface water, wastewater, and solids, including soils, sediments, and biosolids.

Coseismic and Posteismic Deformation of a Blind Thrust Ramp from the 3 July 2015 Mw 6.4 Pishan, China Earthquake Detected with Sentinel-1A Radar Interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Mingjia; Sun, Jianbao; Shen, Zheng-Kang

2016-08-01

Boosted by the launch of Sentinel-1A radar satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA), we now have the opportunity of fast, full and multiple coverage of the land based deformation field of earthquakes. Here we use the data to investigate a strong earthquake struck Pishan, western China on July 3, 2015. The earthquake fault is blind and no ground break features are found on-site, thus Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data give full play to its technical advantage for the recovery of coseismic deformation field. By using the Sentinel-1A radar data in the Interferometric Wide Swath mode, we obtain 1 track of InSAR data over the struck region, and resolve the 3D ground deformation generated by the earthquake. Then the Line-of-Sight (LOS) InSAR data are inverted for the slip-distribution of the seismogenic fault.

KSC-06pd0547

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-03-24

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the new Operations Support Building II is officially in business. Participating in the event are (left to right) Aris Garcia, vice president of the architecture firm Wolfgang Alvarez; Mark Nappi, associate program manager of Ground Operations for United Space Alliance; Donald Minderman, NASA project manager; Scott Kerr, director of Engineering Development at Kennedy; Bill Parsons, deputy director of Kennedy Space Center; Miguel Morales, with NASA Engineering Development; Mike Wetmore, director of Shuttle Processing; and Tim Clancy, president of the construction firm Clancy & Theys. The Operations Support Building II is an Agency safety and health initiative project to replace 198,466 square feet of substandard modular housing and trailers in the Launch Complex 39 area at Kennedy Space Center. The five-story building, which sits south of the Vehicle Assembly Building and faces the launch pads, includes 960 office spaces, 16 training rooms, computer and multimedia conference rooms, a Mission Conference Center with an observation deck, technical libraries, an Exchange store, storage, break areas, and parking. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton

Heavy ion induced DNA-DSB in yeast and mammalian cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loebrich, M.; Ikpeme, S.; Kiefer, J.

1994-01-01

Molecular changes at the DNA are assumed to be the main cause for radiation effects in a number of organisms. During the course of the last decades techniques have been developed for measuring DNA double-strand breaks (dsb), generally assumed to be the most critical DNA lesions. The outcome of all those different approaches portrays a collection of data useful for a theoretical description of radiation action mechanisms. However, in the case of heavy ion induced DNA dsb the picture is not quite clear yet and further projects and strategies have to be developed. The biological systems studied in our group are yeast and mammalian cells. While in the case of yeast cells technical and methodical reasons highlight these organisms mammalian cells reach greater importance when dsb repair studies are performed. In both types of organisms the technique of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is applied, although with different modifications and evaluation procedures mainly due to the different genome sizes.

Phytoremediation of hazardous wastes. Technical report, 23--26 July 1995

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCutcheon, S.C.; Wolfe, N.L.; Carreria, L.H.

1995-07-26

A new and innovative approach to phytoremediation (the use of plants to degrade hazardous contaminants) was developed. The new approach to phytoremediation involves rigorous pathway analyses, mass balance determinations, and identification of specific enzymes that break down trinitrotoluene (TNT), other explosives (RDX and HMX), nitrobenzene, and chlorinated solvents (e.g., TCE and PCE) (EPA 1994). As a good example, TNT is completely and rapidly degraded by nitroreductase and laccase enzymes. The aromatic ring is broken and the carbon in the ring fragments is incorporated into new plant fiber, as part of the natural lignification process. Half lives for TNT degradation approachmore » 1 hr or less under ideal laboratory conditions. Continuous-flow pilot studies indicate that scale up residence times in created wetlands may be two to three times longer than in laboratory batch studies. The use of created wetlands and land farming techniques guided by rigorous field biochemistry and ecology promises to be a vital part of a newly evolving field, ecological engineering.« less

Preliminary analysis of space mission applications for electromagnetic launchers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, L. A.; Rice, E. E.; Earhart, R. W.; Conlon, R. J.

1984-01-01

The technical and economic feasibility of using electromagnetically launched EML payloads propelled from the Earth's surface to LEO, GEO, lunar orbit, or to interplanetary space was assessed. Analyses of the designs of rail accelerators and coaxial magnetic accelerators show that each is capable of launching to space payloads of 800 KG or more. A hybrid launcher in which EML is used for the first 2 KM/sec followed by chemical rocket stages was also tested. A cost estimates study shows that one to two EML launches per day are needed to break even, compared to a four-stage rocket. Development models are discussed for: (1) Earth orbital missions; (2) lunar base supply mission; (3) solar system escape mission; (4) Earth escape missions; (5) suborbital missions; (6) electromagnetic boost missions; and (7) space-based missions. Safety factors, environmental impacts, and EML systems analysis are discussed. Alternate systems examined include electrothermal thrustors, an EML rocket gun; an EML theta gun, and Soviet electromagnetic accelerators.

Major deepwater pipelay vessel starts work in North Sea

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Heerema, E.P.

1998-05-04

Industry`s deepwater pipelaying capability has received a boost this year with the entry into the world`s fleet of Solitaire, a dynamically positioned pipelay vessel of about 350 m including stinger. The converted bulk carrier, formerly the Trentwood, will arrive on station in the North Sea and begin laying pipe this month on Statoil`s Europipe II project, a 600-km, 42-in. OD gas pipeline from Norway to Germany. Next year, the vessel will install pipe for the Exxon U.S.A.`s Gulf of Mexico South Diana development (East Breaks Block 945) in a water depth of 1,643 m and for Mobil Oil Canada asmore » part of the Sable Island Offshore and Energy Project offshore Nova Scotia. Using the S-lay mode, Solitaire is particularly well-suited for laying large lines economically, including the deepwater projects anticipated for the US Gulf of Mexico. Table 1 presents Solitaire`s technical specifications. The design, construction, pipelaying, and justification for building vessels such as the Solitaire are discussed.« less

Method of passive ranging from infrared image sequence based on equivalent area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Weiping; Shen, Zhenkang

2007-11-01

The information of range between missile and targets is important not only to missile controlling component, but also to automatic target recognition, so studying the technique of passive ranging from infrared images has important theoretic and practical meanings. Here we tried to get the range between guided missile and target and help to identify targets or dodge a hit. The issue of distance between missile and target is currently a hot and difficult research content. As all know, infrared imaging detector can not range so that it restricts the functions of the guided information processing system based on infrared images. In order to break through the technical puzzle, we investigated the principle of the infrared imaging, after analysing the imaging geometric relationship between the guided missile and the target, we brought forward the method of passive ranging based on equivalent area and provided mathematical analytic formulas. Validating Experiments demonstrate that the presented method has good effect, the lowest relative error can reach 10% in some circumstances.

Distributed Saturation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chung, Ming-Ying; Ciardo, Gianfranco; Siminiceanu, Radu I.

2007-01-01

The Saturation algorithm for symbolic state-space generation, has been a recent break-through in the exhaustive veri cation of complex systems, in particular globally-asyn- chronous/locally-synchronous systems. The algorithm uses a very compact Multiway Decision Diagram (MDD) encoding for states and the fastest symbolic exploration algo- rithm to date. The distributed version of Saturation uses the overall memory available on a network of workstations (NOW) to efficiently spread the memory load during the highly irregular exploration. A crucial factor in limiting the memory consumption during the symbolic state-space generation is the ability to perform garbage collection to free up the memory occupied by dead nodes. However, garbage collection over a NOW requires a nontrivial communication overhead. In addition, operation cache policies become critical while analyzing large-scale systems using the symbolic approach. In this technical report, we develop a garbage collection scheme and several operation cache policies to help on solving extremely complex systems. Experiments show that our schemes improve the performance of the original distributed implementation, SmArTNow, in terms of time and memory efficiency.

TT2014 meeting report on the 12th Transgenic Technology meeting in Edinburgh: new era of transgenic technologies with programmable nucleases in the foreground.

PubMed

Beck, Inken M; Sedlacek, Radislav

2015-02-01

The 12th Transgenic Technology meeting was held in Edinburgh on 6th-8th October 2014 and interest to participate in the meeting overcame all expectations. The TT2014 was the largest meeting ever with more than 540 scientists, technicians, and students from all over the world. The meeting had an excellent scientific program that brought information on the latest ground-breaking technologies for gene targeting and genome editing using programmable nucleases into the foreground. These presentations were well balanced with several highlights over viewing topics in embryonic stem cell research, embryogenesis, disease models, and animals in agriculture. Ample space was reserved also for short talks presenting technical development and for highlighting posters contributions. A highlight of the meeting was the award of the 10th International Society of Transgenic Technologies Prize to Janet Rossant for her outstanding contributions in the field of mouse embryogenesis.

Validation of whitecap fraction and breaking wave parameters from WAVEWATCH-III using in situ and remote-sensing data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leckler, F.; Hanafin, J. A.; Ardhuin, F.; Filipot, J.; Anguelova, M. D.; Moat, B. I.; Yelland, M.; Prytherch, J.

2012-12-01

Whitecaps are the main sink of wave energy. Although the exact processes are still unknown, it is clear that they play a significant role in momentum exchange between atmosphere and ocean, and also influence gas and aerosol exchange. Recently, modeling of whitecap properties was implemented in the spectral wave model WAVEWATCH-III ®. This modeling takes place in the context of the Oceanflux-Greenhouse Gas project, to provide a climatology of breaking waves for gas transfer studies. We present here a validation study for two different wave breaking parameterizations implemented in the spectral wave model WAVEWATCH-III ®. The model parameterizations use different approaches related to the steepness of the carrying waves to estimate breaking wave probabilities. That of Ardhuin et al. (2010) is based on the hypothesis that breaking probabilities become significant when the saturation spectrum exceeds a threshold, and includes a modification to allow for greater breaking in the mean wave direction, to agree with observations. It also includes suppression of shorter waves by longer breaking waves. In the second, (Filipot and Ardhuin, 2012) breaking probabilities are defined at different scales using wave steepness, then the breaking wave height distribution is integrated over all scales. We also propose an adaptation of the latter to make it self-consistent. The breaking probabilities parameterized by Filipot and Ardhuin (2012) are much larger for dominant waves than those from the other parameterization, and show better agreement with modeled statistics of breaking crest lengths measured during the FAIRS experiment. This stronger breaking also has an impact on the shorter waves due to the parameterization of short wave damping associated with large breakers, and results in a different distribution of the breaking crest lengths. Converted to whitecap coverage using Reul and Chapron (2003), both parameterizations agree reasonably well with commonly-used empirical fits of whitecap coverage against wind speed (Monahan and Woolf, 1989) and with the global whitecap coverage of Anguelova and Webster (2006), derived from space-borne radiometry. This is mainly due to the fact that the breaking of larger waves in the parametrization by Filipot and Ardhuin (2012) is compensated for by the intense breaking of smaller waves in that of Ardhuin et al. (2010). Comparison with in situ data collected during research ship cruises in the North and South Atlantic (SEASAW, DOGEE and WAGES), and the Norwegian Sea (HiWASE) between 2006 and 2011 also shows good agreement. However, as large scale breakers produce a thicker foam layer, modeled mean foam thickness clearly depends on the scale of the breakers. Foam thickness is thus a more interesting parameter for calibrating and validating breaking wave parameterizations, as the differences in scale can be determined. With this in mind, we present the initial results of validation using an estimation of mean foam thickness using multiple radiometric bands from satellites SMOS and AMSR-E.

Supersymmetric Higgs and radiative electroweak breaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibáñez, Luis E.; Ross, Graham G.

2007-11-01

We review the mechanism of radiative electroweak symmetry breaking taking place in SUSY versions of the Standard Model. We further discuss different proposals for the origin of SUSY-breaking and the corresponding induced SUSY-breaking soft terms. Several proposals for the understanding of the little hierarchy problem are critically discussed. To cite this article: L.E. Ibáñez, G.G. Ross, C. R. Physique 8 (2007).

Validity of two wearable monitors to estimate breaks from sedentary time

PubMed Central

Lyden, Kate; Kozey-Keadle, Sarah L.; Staudenmayer, John W.; Freedson, Patty S.

2012-01-01

Investigations employing wearable monitors have begun to examine how sedentary time behaviors influence health. Purpose To demonstrate the utility of a measure of sedentary behavior and to validate the activPAL and ActiGraph GT3X for estimating measures of sedentary behavior: absolute number of breaks and break-rate. Methods Thirteen participants completed two, 10-hour conditions. During the baseline condition, participants performed normal daily activity and during the treatment condition, participants were asked to reduce and break-up their sedentary time. In each condition, participants wore two ActiGraph GT3X monitors and one activPAL. The ActiGraph was tested using the low frequency extension filter (AG-LFE) and the normal filter (AG-Norm). For both ActiGraph monitors two count cut-points to estimate sedentary time were examined: 100 and 150 counts∙min−1. Direct observation served as the criterion measure of total sedentary time, absolute number of breaks from sedentary time and break-rate (number of breaks per sedentary hour [brks.sed-hr−1]). Results Break-rate was the only metric sensitive to changes in behavior between baseline (5.1 [3.3 to 6.8] brks.sed-hr−1) and treatment conditions (7.3 [4.7 to 9.8] brks.sed-hr−1) (mean [95% CI]). The activPAL produced valid estimates of all sedentary behavior measures and was sensitive to changes in break-rate between conditions (baseline: 5.1 [2.8 to 7.1] brks.sed-hr−1, treatment: 8.0 [5.8 to 10.2] brks.sed-hr−1). In general, the AG-LFE and AG-Norm were not accurate in estimating break-rate or absolute number of breaks and were not sensitive to changes between conditions. Conclusion This study demonstrates the utility of expressing breaks from sedentary time as a rate per sedentary hour, a metric specifically relevant to free-living behavior, and provides further evidence that the activPAL is a valid tool to measure components of sedentary behavior in free-living environments. PMID:22648343

Quantitative analysis of the thermal requirements for stepwise physical dormancy-break in seeds of the winter annual Geranium carolinianum (Geraniaceae)

PubMed Central

Gama-Arachchige, N. S.; Baskin, J. M.; Geneve, R. L.; Baskin, C. C.

2013-01-01

Background and Aims Physical dormancy (PY)-break in some annual plant species is a two-step process controlled by two different temperature and/or moisture regimes. The thermal time model has been used to quantify PY-break in several species of Fabaceae, but not to describe stepwise PY-break. The primary aims of this study were to quantify the thermal requirement for sensitivity induction by developing a thermal time model and to propose a mechanism for stepwise PY-breaking in the winter annual Geranium carolinianum. Methods Seeds of G. carolinianum were stored under dry conditions at different constant and alternating temperatures to induce sensitivity (step I). Sensitivity induction was analysed based on the thermal time approach using the Gompertz function. The effect of temperature on step II was studied by incubating sensitive seeds at low temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy, penetrometer techniques, and different humidity levels and temperatures were used to explain the mechanism of stepwise PY-break. Key Results The base temperature (Tb) for sensitivity induction was 17·2 °C and constant for all seed fractions of the population. Thermal time for sensitivity induction during step I in the PY-breaking process agreed with the three-parameter Gompertz model. Step II (PY-break) did not agree with the thermal time concept. Q10 values for the rate of sensitivity induction and PY-break were between 2·0 and 3·5 and between 0·02 and 0·1, respectively. The force required to separate the water gap palisade layer from the sub-palisade layer was significantly reduced after sensitivity induction. Conclusions Step I and step II in PY-breaking of G. carolinianum are controlled by chemical and physical processes, respectively. This study indicates the feasibility of applying the developed thermal time model to predict or manipulate sensitivity induction in seeds with two-step PY-breaking processes. The model is the first and most detailed one yet developed for sensitivity induction in PY-break. PMID:23456728

Employee Perception of Breastfeeding-Friendly Support and Benefits of Breastfeeding as a Predictor of Intention to Use Breast-Pumping Breaks After Returning to Work Among Employed Mothers

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Abstract Background: Although increasing numbers of large companies are complying with demands for a breastfeeding-friendly workplace by providing lactation rooms and breast-pumping breaks, the effectiveness for intention to use breast-pumping breaks to express breast milk among employed mothers is uncertain. To explore the impact of employees' perceived breastfeeding support from the workplace and the benefits of breastfeeding on a woman's intention to use breast-pumping breaks after returning to work, we conducted a survey at a female labor-intensive electronics manufacturer in Taiwan. Subjects and Methods: A structured questionnaire survey was administered to 715 working mothers employed in an electronics manufacturing plant in Tainan Science Park in Southern Taiwan. Questionnaire content included female employee demographics, employment characteristics, and breastfeeding behavior after returning to work, as well as employees' perception of breastfeeding-friendly support and awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding when raising their most recently born child. Results: Higher education (odds ratio [OR] 2.33), non–clean room worksite (OR 1.51), awareness of breast-pumping breaks (OR 4.70), encouragement by colleagues to use breast-pumping breaks (OR 1.76), and greater awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding (OR 1.08) were significant predictors of the use of breast-pumping breaks after returning to work, whereas the perception of inefficiency when using breast-pumping breaks reduced an employed mother's intention to use breast-pumping breaks (OR 0.55). Conclusions: This study finds an association between an appreciation of the benefits provided by the employer and the likelihood of increased usage of breastfeeding breaks. Workplaces and employers can help employed mothers to understand the benefits of breastfeeding, which may increase the intention of the mother to take breast-pumping breaks after returning to work. PMID:24304034

Workforce planning in dentistry: the impact of shorter and more varied career patterns.

PubMed

Newton, J T; Buck, D; Gibbons, D E

2001-12-01

To compare the frequency and duration of career breaks taken by three groups of dental health care professionals and to assess the impact of these and changes in working hours on human resource planning. Dental personnel planning has been the subject of recent attention, particularly the role of professionals complementary to dentistry. Data on which to plan a dental personnel strategy have been lacking. Questionnaire survey of a random sample of 10% of dental practitioners, and of all dental therapists and dental hygienists registered with the General Dental Council. The proportion of each group who had taken a career break at some point during their career was analysed for each professional group. A larger proportion of female general dental practitioners (61%) than male practitioners (27%) take a break in their career at some point during their working lives. The proportion of hygienists who take career breaks is similar (57%) to the proportion of female GDPs. The proportion of dental therapists who take a career break (who in this sample were all female) is 71%. The duration of career breaks taken by women is longer than that for males, the median length of career breaks for male dental practitioners is 4 months; female dental practitioners 9 months; hygienists 11 months; therapists 11.5 months. Female GDPs who take a career break can be expected to have a working life 25% shorter than a GDP who does not take a career break. As the proportion of female general dental practitioners increases, and with the possible expansion of the role of professionals complementary to dentistry, there is likely to be an increase in the proportion of dental personnel who take a career break during their working lives. Planning of dental personnel requirements should consider the likely effect of career breaks upon the availability of dental staff.

Propagation and Breaking at High Altitudes of Gravity Waves Excited by Tropospheric Forcing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prusa, Joseph M.; Smolarkiewicz, Piotr K.; Garcia, Rolando R.

1996-01-01

An anelastic approximation is used with a time-variable coordinate transformation to formulate a two-dimensional numerical model that describes the evolution of gravity waves. The model is solved using a semi-Lagrangian method with monotone (nonoscillatory) interpolation of all advected fields. The time-variable transformation is used to generate disturbances at the lower boundary that approximate the effect of a traveling line of thunderstorms (a squall line) or of flow over a broad topographic obstacle. The vertical propagation and breaking of the gravity wave field (under conditions typical of summer solstice) is illustrated for each of these cases. It is shown that the wave field at high altitudes is dominated by a single horizontal wavelength; which is not always related simply to the horizontal dimension of the source. The morphology of wave breaking depends on the horizontal wavelength; for sufficiently short waves, breaking involves roughly one half of the wavelength. In common with other studies, it is found that the breaking waves undergo "self-acceleration," such that the zonal-mean intrinsic frequency remains approximately constant in spite of large changes in the background wind. It is also shown that many of the features obtained in the calculations can be understood in terms of linear wave theory. In particular, linear theory provides insights into the wavelength of the waves that break at high altitudes, the onset and evolution of breaking. the horizontal extent of the breaking region and its position relative to the forcing, and the minimum and maximum altitudes where breaking occurs. Wave breaking ceases at the altitude where the background dissipation rate (which in our model is a proxy for molecular diffusion) becomes greater than the rate of dissipation due to wave breaking, This altitude, in effect, the model turbopause, is shown to depend on a relatively small number of parameters that characterize the waves and the background state.

Electrical Conductivity in Textiles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2006-01-01

Copper is the most widely used electrical conductor. Like most metals, though, it has several drawbacks: it is heavy, expensive, and can break. Fibers that conduct electricity could be the solutions to these problems, and they are of great interest to NASA. Conductive fibers provide lightweight alternatives to heavy copper wiring in a variety of settings, including aerospace, where weight is always a chief concern. This is an area where NASA is always seeking improved materials. The fibers are also more cost-effective than metals. Expenditure is another area where NASA is always looking to make improvements. In the case of electronics that are confined to small spaces and subject to severe stress, copper is prone to breaking and losing connection over time. Flexible conductive fibers eliminate that problem. They are more supple and stronger than brittle copper and, thus, find good use in these and similar situations. While clearly a much-needed material, electrically conductive fibers are not readily available. The cost of new technology development, with all the pitfalls of troubleshooting production and the years of testing, and without the guarantee of an immediate market, is often too much of a financial hazard for companies to risk. NASA, however, saw the need for electrical fibers in its many projects and sought out a high-tech textile company that was already experimenting in this field, Syscom Technology, Inc., of Columbus, Ohio. Syscom was founded in 1993 to provide computer software engineering services and basic materials research in the areas of high-performance polymer fibers and films. In 1999, Syscom decided to focus its business and technical efforts on development of high-strength, high-performance, and electrically conductive polymer fibers. The company developed AmberStrand, an electrically conductive, low-weight, strong-yet-flexible hybrid metal-polymer YARN.

Differences in Game Statistics Between Winning and Losing Rugby Teams in the Six Nations Tournament

PubMed Central

Ortega, Enrique; Villarejo, Diego; Palao, José M.

2009-01-01

The objective of the present study was to analyze the differences in rugby game statistics between winning and losing teams. The data from 58 games of round robin play from the Six Nations tournament from the 2003-2006 seasons were analyzed. The groups of variables studied were: number of points scored, way in which the points were scored; way teams obtained the ball and how the team used it; and technical and tactical aspects of the game. A univariate (t-test) and multivariate (discriminant) analysis of data was done. Winning teams had average values that were significantly higher in points scored, conversions, successful drops, mauls won, line breaks, possessions kicked, tackles completed, and turnovers won. Losing teams had significantly higher averages for the variables scrums lost and line-outs lost. The results showed that: a) in the phases of obtaining the ball and more specifically in scrummage and line-out, winning teams lose fewer balls than losing teams (winning teams have an efficacy of 90% in both actions); b) the winning team tends to play more with their feet when they obtain the ball, to utilize the maul as a way of attacking, and to break the defensive line more often than the losing team does; and c) On defence, winning teams recovered more balls and completed more tackles than losing teams, and the percentage of tackles completed by winning teams was 94%. The value presented could be used as a reference for practice and competition in peak performance teams. Key points This paper increases the knowledge about rugby match analysis. Give normative values to establish practice and match goals. Give applications ideas to connect research with coaches practice. PMID:24149592

Mars Pathfinder Landing Site Workshop 2: Characteristics of the Ares Vallis Region and Field Trips in the Channeled Scabland, Washington

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golombek, M. P. (Editor); Edgett, K. S. (Editor); Rice, J. W., Jr. (Editor)

1995-01-01

This volume, the first of two comprising the technical report for this workshop, contains papers that have been accepted for presentation at the Mars Pathfinder Landing Site Workshop 2: Characteristics of the Ares Vallis Region, September 24-30, 1995, in Spokane, Washington. The Mars Pathfinder Project received a new start in October 1993 as one of the next missions in NASA's long-term Mars exploration program. The mission involves landing a single vehicle on the surface of Mars in 1997. The project is one of the first Discovery-class missions and is required to be a quick, low-cost mission and achieve a set of significant but focused engineering, science, and technology objectives. The primary objective is to demonstrate a low-cost cruise, entry, descent, and landing system required to place a payload on the martian surface in a safe, operational configuration. Additional objectives include the deployment and operation of various science instruments and a microrover. Pathfinder paves the way for a cost-effective implementation of future Mars lander missions. Also included in this volume is the field trip guide to the Channeled Scabland and Missoula Lake Break-out. On July 4, 1997, Mars Pathfinder is scheduled to land near 19.5 deg N, 32.8 deg W, in a portion of Ares Vallis. The landing ellipse covers a huge (100 x 200 km) area that appears to include both depositional and erosional landforms created by one or more giant, catastrophic floods. One of the best known terrestrial analogs to martian outflow channels (such as Ares Vallis) is the region known as the Channeled Scabland. The field trip guide describes some of the geomorphological features of the Channeled Scabland and adjacent Lake Missoula break-out area near Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho.

Improving back projection imaging with a novel physics-based aftershock calibration approach: A case study of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Lingsen; Zhang, Ailin; Yagi, Yuji

2016-01-01

The 2015 Mw 7.8 Nepal-Gorkha earthquake with casualties of over 9000 people was the most devastating disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake. Its rupture process was imaged by teleseismic back projections (BP) of seismograms recorded by three, large regional networks in Australia, North America, and Europe. The source images of all three arrays reveal a unilateral eastward rupture; however, the propagation directions and speeds differ significantly between the arrays. To understand the spatial uncertainties of the BP analyses, we analyze four moderate size aftershocks recorded by all three arrays exactly as had been conducted for the main shock. The apparent source locations inferred from BPs are systematically biased from the catalog locations, as a result of a slowness error caused by three-dimensional Earth structures. We introduce a physics-based slowness correction that successfully mitigates the source location discrepancies among the arrays. Our calibrated BPs are found to be mutually consistent and reveal a unilateral rupture propagating eastward at a speed of 2.7 km/s, localized in a relatively narrow and deep swath along the downdip edge of the locked Himalayan thrust zone. We find that the 2015 Gorkha earthquake was a localized rupture that failed to break the entire Himalayan décollement to the surface, which can be regarded as an intermediate event during the interseismic period of larger Himalayan ruptures that break the whole seismogenic zone width. Thus, our physics-based slowness correction is an important technical improvement of BP, mitigating spatial uncertainties and improving the robustness of single and multiarray studies.

Microphysics and dynamics of the gamma-ray burst 121024A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varela, K.; van Eerten, H.; Greiner, J.; Schady, P.; Elliott, J.; Sudilovsky, V.; Krühler, T.; van der Horst, A. J.; Bolmer, J.; Knust, F.; Agurto, C.; Azagra, F.; Belloche, A.; Bertoldi, F.; De Breuck, C.; Delvaux, C.; Filgas, R.; Graham, J. F.; Kann, D. A.; Klose, S.; Menten, K. M.; Nicuesa Guelbenzu, A.; Rau, A.; Rossi, A.; Schmidl, S.; Schuller, F.; Schweyer, T.; Tanga, M.; Weiss, A.; Wiseman, P.; Wyrowski, F.

2016-05-01

Aims: The aim of the study is to constrain the physics of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by analysing the multi-wavelength afterglow data set of GRB 121024A that covers the full range from radio to X-rays. Methods: Using multi-epoch broad-band observations of the GRB 121024A afterglow, we measured the three characteristic break frequencies of the synchrotron spectrum. We used six epochs of combined XRT and GROND data to constrain the temporal slopes, the dust extinction, the X-ray absorption, and the spectral slope with high accuracy. Two more epochs of combined data from XRT, GROND, APEX, CARMA, and EVLA were used to set constraints on the break frequencies and therefore on the micro-physical and dynamical parameters. Results: The XRT and GROND light curves show a simultaneous and achromatic break at around 49 ks. As a result, the crossing of the synchrotron cooling break is no suitable explanation for the break in the light curve. The multi-wavelength data allow us to test two plausible scenarios explaining the break: a jet break, and the end of energy injection. The jet-break scenario requires a hard electron spectrum, a very low cooling break frequency, and a non-spreading jet. The energy injection avoids these problems, but requires ɛe > 1 (k = 2), spherical outflow, and ɛB < 10-9. Conclusions: In light of the extreme microphysical parameters required by the energy-injection model, we favour a jet-break scenario where νm < νsa to explain the observations. This scenario gives physically meaningful microphysical parameters, and it also naturally explains the reported detection of linear and circular polarisation.

Double-stranded DNA breaks hidden in the neutral Comet assay suggest a role of the sperm nuclear matrix in DNA integrity maintenance

PubMed Central

Ribas-Maynou, J.; Gawecka, J.E.; Benet, J.; Ward, W.S.

2014-01-01

We used a mouse model in which sperm DNA damage was induced to understand the relationship of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) breaks to sperm chromatin structure and to the Comet assay. Sperm chromatin fragmentation (SCF) produces dsDNA breaks located on the matrix attachment regions, between protamine toroids. In this model, epididymal sperm induced to undergo SCF can religate dsDNA breaks while vas deferens sperm cannot. Here, we demonstrated that the conventional neutral Comet assay underestimates the epididymal SCF breaks because the broken DNA ends remain attached to the nuclear matrix, causing the DNA to remain associated with the dispersion halo, and the Comet tails to be weak. Therefore, we term these hidden dsDNA breaks. When the Comet assay was modified to include an additional incubation with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dithiothreitol (DTT) after the conventional lysis, thereby solubilizing the nuclear matrix, the broken DNA was released from the matrix, which resulted in a reduction of the sperm head halo and an increase in the Comet tail length, exposing the hidden dsDNA breaks. Conversely, SCF-induced vas deferens sperm had small halos and long tails with the conventional neutral Comet assay, suggesting that the broken DNA ends were not tethered to the nuclear matrix. These results suggest that the attachment to the nuclear matrix is crucial for the religation of SCF-induced DNA breaks in sperm. Our data suggest that the neutral Comet assay identifies only dsDNA breaks that are released from the nuclear matrix and that the addition of an SDS treatment can reveal these hidden dsDNA breaks. PMID:24282283

Double-stranded DNA breaks hidden in the neutral Comet assay suggest a role of the sperm nuclear matrix in DNA integrity maintenance.

PubMed

Ribas-Maynou, J; Gawecka, J E; Benet, J; Ward, W S

2014-04-01

We used a mouse model in which sperm DNA damage was induced to understand the relationship of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) breaks to sperm chromatin structure and to the Comet assay. Sperm chromatin fragmentation (SCF) produces dsDNA breaks located on the matrix attachment regions, between protamine toroids. In this model, epididymal sperm induced to undergo SCF can religate dsDNA breaks while vas deferens sperm cannot. Here, we demonstrated that the conventional neutral Comet assay underestimates the epididymal SCF breaks because the broken DNA ends remain attached to the nuclear matrix, causing the DNA to remain associated with the dispersion halo, and the Comet tails to be weak. Therefore, we term these hidden dsDNA breaks. When the Comet assay was modified to include an additional incubation with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dithiothreitol (DTT) after the conventional lysis, thereby solubilizing the nuclear matrix, the broken DNA was released from the matrix, which resulted in a reduction of the sperm head halo and an increase in the Comet tail length, exposing the hidden dsDNA breaks. Conversely, SCF-induced vas deferens sperm had small halos and long tails with the conventional neutral Comet assay, suggesting that the broken DNA ends were not tethered to the nuclear matrix. These results suggest that the attachment to the nuclear matrix is crucial for the religation of SCF-induced DNA breaks in sperm. Our data suggest that the neutral Comet assay identifies only dsDNA breaks that are released from the nuclear matrix and that the addition of an SDS treatment can reveal these hidden dsDNA breaks.

Decompression sickness after air break in prebreathe described with a survival model.

PubMed

Conkin, Johnny

2011-06-01

A perception exists in aerospace that a brief interruption in a 100% oxygen prebreathe (PB) by breathing air has a substantial decompression sickness (DCS) consequence. The consequences of an air break during PB on the subsequent hypobaric DCS outcomes were evaluated. The hypothesis was that asymmetrical and not symmetrical nitrogen (N2) kinetics was best to model the distribution of subsequent DCS survival times after PBs that included air breaks. DCS survival times from 95 controls for a 60-min PB prior to 2- or 4-h exposures to 4.37 psia (9144 m; 30,000 ft) were analyzed along with 3 experimental conditions: 10-min air break (N = 40), 20-min air break (N = 40), or 60-min air break (N = 32) 30 min into the PB followed by 30 min of PB. Ascent rate was 1524 m x min(-1) and all 207 exposures included light exercise at 4.37 psia. Various computations of decompression dose were evaluated; either the difference or ratio of P1N2 and P2, where P1N2 was computed tissue N2 pressure to account for the PB and P2 was altitude pressure. Survival times were described with an accelerated log logistic model with asymmetrical N2 kinetics defining P1N2--P2 as best decompression dose. Exponential N2 uptake during the air break was described with a 10-min half time and N2 elimination during PB with a 60-min half time. A simple conclusion about compensation for air break is not possible because the duration and location of a break in a PB is variable. The resulting survival model is used to compute additional PB time to compensate for an air break in PB within the range of tested conditions.

Key Impact Factors on Dam Break Fatalities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, D.; Yu, Z.; Song, Y.; Han, D.; Li, Y.

2016-12-01

Dam failures can lead to catastrophes on human society. However, there is a lack of research about dam break fatalities, especially on the key factors that affect fatalities. Based on the analysis of historical dam break cases, most studies have used the regression analysis to explore the correlation between those factors and fatalities, but without implementing optimization to find the dominating factors. In order to understand and reduce the risk of fatalities, this study has proposed a new method to select the impact factors on the fatality. It employs an improved ANN (Artificial Neural Network) combined with LOOCV (Leave-one-out cross-validation) and SFS (Stepwise Forward Selection) approach to explore the nonlinear relationship between impact factors and life losses. It not only considers the factors that have been widely used in the literature but also introduces new factors closely involved with fatalities. Dam break cases occurred in China from 1954 to 2013 are summarized, within which twenty-five cases are selected with a comprehensive coverage of geographic position and temporal variation. Twelve impact factors are taken into account as the inputs, i.e., severity of dam break flood (SF), population at risk (PR), public understanding of dam break (UB), warning time (TW), evacuation condition (EC), weather condition during dam break (WB), dam break mode (MB), water storage (SW), building vulnerability (VB), dam break time (TB), average distance from the affected area to the dam (DD) and preventive measures by government (PG).From those, three key factors of SF, MB and TB are chosen. The proposed method is able to extract the key factors, and the derived fatality model performs well in various types of dam break conditions.

Rest break organization in geriatric care and turnover: a multimethod cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Wendsche, Johannes; Hacker, Winfried; Wegge, Jürgen; Schrod, Nadine; Roitzsch, Katharina; Tomaschek, Anne; Kliegel, Matthias

2014-09-01

Various determinants of nurses' work motivation and turnover behavior have been examined in previous studies. In this research, we extend this work by investigating the impact of care setting (nursing homes vs. home care services) and the important role of rest break organization. We aimed to identify direct and indirect linkages between geriatric care setting, rest break organization, and registered nurses' turnover assessed over a period of one year. We designed a multimethod cross-sectional study. 80 nursing units (n=45 nursing homes, n=35 home care) in 51 German geriatric care services employing 597 registered nurses. We gathered documentary, interview, and observational data about the organization of rest breaks, registered nurses' turnover, and additional organizational characteristics (type of ownership, location, nursing staff, clients, and client-to-staff-ratio). The findings show that the rest break system in geriatric nursing home units is more regularly as well as collectively organized and causes less unauthorized rest breaks than in home care units. Moreover, the feasibility of collective rest breaks was, as predicted, negatively associated with registered nurses' turnover and affected indirectly the relation between care setting and registered nurses' turnover. Care setting, however, had no direct impact on turnover. Furthermore, registered nurses' turnover was higher in for-profit care units than in public or non-profit units. This study reveals significant differences in rest break organization as a function of geriatric care setting and highlights the role of collective rest breaks for nursing staff retention. Our study underlines the integration of organizational context variables and features of rest break organization for the analysis of nursing turnover. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

76 FR 20336 - Meeting of Federal Advisory Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-12

... Information Resources Status of Integrated Disability Evaluation System 2--Break 2:15 p.m.--Panel for the... Members. 10:30--Break 10:45--Panel on Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy and TBI. 12--Break. Training...

Amphiphilic nanoparticles suppress droplet break-up in a concentrated emulsion flowing through a narrow constriction

PubMed Central

Gai, Ya; Kim, Minkyu; Pan, Ming; Tang, Sindy K. Y.

2017-01-01

This paper describes the break-up behavior of a concentrated emulsion comprising drops stabilized by amphiphilic silica nanoparticles flowing in a tapered microchannel. Such geometry is often used in serial droplet interrogation and sorting processes in droplet microfluidics applications. When exposed to high viscous stresses, drops can undergo break-up and compromise their physical integrity. As these drops are used as micro-reactors, such compromise leads to a loss in the accuracy of droplet-based assays. Here, we show droplet break-up is suppressed by replacing the fluoro-surfactant similar to the one commonly used in current droplet microfluidics applications with amphiphilic nanoparticles as droplet stabilizer. We identify parameters that influence the break-up of these drops and demonstrate that break-up probability increases with increasing capillary number and confinement, decreasing nanoparticle size, and is insensitive to viscosity ratio within the range tested. Practically, our results reveal two key advantages of nanoparticles with direct applications to droplet microfluidics. First, replacing surfactants with nanoparticles suppresses break-up and increases the throughput of the serial interrogation process to 3 times higher than that in surfactant system under similar flow conditions. Second, the insensitivity of break-up to droplet viscosity makes it possible to process samples having different composition and viscosities without having to change the channel and droplet geometry in order to maintain the same degree of break-up and corresponding assay accuracy. PMID:28652887

Dose--response of initial G2-chromatid breaks induced in normal human fibroblasts by heavy ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kawata, T.; Durante, M.; Furusawa, Y.; George, K.; Takai, N.; Wu, H.; Cucinotta, F. A.; Dicello, J. F. (Principal Investigator)

2001-01-01

PURPOSE: To investigate initial chromatid breaks in prematurely condensed G2 chromosomes following exposure to heavy ions of different LET. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Exponentially growing human fibroblast cells AG1522 were irradiated with gamma-rays, energetic carbon (13 keV/ microm, 80 keV/microm), silicon (55 keV/microm) and iron (140 keV/microm, 185keV/microm, 440keV/microm) ions. Chromosomes were prematurely condensed using calyculin-A. Initial chromatid-type and isochromatid breaks in G2 cells were scored. RESULTS: The dose response curves for total chromatid breaks were linear regardless of radiation type. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) showed a LET-dependent increase, peaking around 2.7 at 55-80keV/microm and decreasing at higher LET. The dose response curves for isochromatid-type breaks were linear for high-LET radiations, but linear-quadratic for gamma-rays and 13 keV/microm carbon ions. The RBE for the induction of isochromatid breaks obtained from linear components increased rapidly between 13keV/microm (about 7) and 80keV/microm carbon (about 71), and decreased gradually until 440 keV/microm iron ions (about 66). CONCLUSIONS: High-LET radiations are more effective at inducing isochromatid breaks, while low-LET radiations are more effective at inducing chromatid-type breaks. The densely ionizing track structures of heavy ions and the proximity of sister chromatids in G2 cells result in an increase in isochromatid breaks.

Evaluating crude oil chemical dispersion efficacy in a flow-through wave tank under regular non-breaking wave and breaking wave conditions.

PubMed

Li, Zhengkai; Lee, Kenneth; King, Thomas; Boufadel, Michel C; Venosa, Albert D

2009-05-01

Testing dispersant effectiveness under conditions similar to that of the open environment is required for improvements in operational procedures and the formulation of regulatory guidelines. To this end, a novel wave tank facility was fabricated to study the dispersion of crude oil under regular non-breaking and irregular breaking wave conditions. This wave tank facility was designed for operation in a flow-through mode to simulate both wave- and current-driven hydrodynamic conditions. We report here an evaluation of the effectiveness of chemical dispersants (Corexit EC9500A and SPC 1000) on two crude oils (Medium South American [MESA] and Alaska North Slope [ANS]) under two different wave conditions (regular non-breaking and plunging breaking waves) in this wave tank. The dispersant effectiveness was assessed by measuring the water column oil concentration and dispersed oil droplet size distribution. In the absence of dispersants, nearly 8-19% of the test crude oils were dispersed and diluted under regular wave and breaking wave conditions. In the presence of dispersants, about 21-36% of the crude oils were dispersed and diluted under regular waves, and 42-62% under breaking waves. Consistently, physical dispersion under regular waves produced large oil droplets (volumetric mean diameter or VMD > or = 300 microm), whereas chemical dispersion under breaking waves created small droplets (VMD < or = 50 microm). The data can provide useful information for developing better operational guidelines for dispersant use and improved predictive models on dispersant effectiveness in the field.

Rotational Symmetry Breaking in Baby Skyrme Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karliner, Marek; Hen, Itay

We discuss one of the most interesting phenomena exhibited by baby skyrmions - breaking of rotational symmetry. The topics we will deal with here include the appearance of rotational symmetry breaking in the static solutions of baby Skyrme models, both in flat as well as in curved spaces, the zero-temperature crystalline structure of baby skyrmions, and finally, the appearance of spontaneous breaking of rotational symmetry in rotating baby skyrmions.

Jet simulations and gamma-ray burst afterglow jet breaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Eerten, H. J.; Meliani, Z.; Wijers, R. A. M. J.; Keppens, R.

2011-01-01

The conventional derivation of the gamma-ray burst afterglow jet break time uses only the blast wave fluid Lorentz factor and therefore leads to an achromatic break. We show that in general gamma-ray burst afterglow jet breaks are chromatic across the self-absorption break. Depending on circumstances, the radio jet break may be postponed significantly. Using high-accuracy adaptive mesh fluid simulations in one dimension, coupled to a detailed synchrotron radiation code, we demonstrate that this is true even for the standard fireball model and hard-edged jets. We confirm these effects with a simulation in two dimensions. The frequency dependence of the jet break is a result of the angle dependence of the emission, the changing optical depth in the self-absorbed regime and the shape of the synchrotron spectrum in general. In the optically thin case the conventional analysis systematically overestimates the jet break time, leading to inferred opening angles that are underestimated by a factor of ˜1.3 and explosion energies that are underestimated by a factor of ˜1.7, for explosions in a homogeneous environment. The methods presented in this paper can be applied to adaptive mesh simulations of arbitrary relativistic fluid flows. All analysis presented here makes the usual assumption of an on-axis observer.

Breastfeeding policy: a globally comparative analysis.

PubMed

Heymann, Jody; Raub, Amy; Earle, Alison

2013-06-01

To explore the extent to which national policies guaranteeing breastfeeding breaks to working women may facilitate breastfeeding. An analysis was conducted of the number of countries that guarantee breastfeeding breaks, the daily number of hours guaranteed, and the duration of guarantees. To obtain current, detailed information on national policies, original legislation as well as secondary sources on 182 of the 193 Member States of the United Nations were examined. Regression analyses were conducted to test the association between national policy and rates of exclusive breastfeeding while controlling for national income level, level of urbanization, female percentage of the labour force and female literacy rate. Breastfeeding breaks with pay are guaranteed in 130 countries (71%) and unpaid breaks are guaranteed in seven (4%). No policy on breastfeeding breaks exists in 45 countries (25%). In multivariate models, the guarantee of paid breastfeeding breaks for at least 6 months was associated with an increase of 8.86 percentage points in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding (P < 0.05). A greater percentage of women practise exclusive breastfeeding in countries where laws guarantee breastfeeding breaks at work. If these findings are confirmed in longitudinal studies, health outcomes could be improved by passing legislation on breastfeeding breaks in countries that do not yet ensure the right to breastfeed.

Activity-rest schedules in physically demanding work and the variation of responses with age.

PubMed

Kakarot, Nadine; Mueller, Friedrich; Bassarak, Claudia

2012-01-01

Workers in physically demanding occupations require work breaks to recover from exertion. In a laboratory setting, we investigated the impact of ergometer cycling for 7 h in two conditions with an identical total break time but with two different activity-rest schedules. We hypothesised that more frequent but shorter breaks lead to less psychophysical strain and its effects than do less frequent but longer breaks, particularly for older workers. Twenty-nine participants representing three different age groups were tested in both conditions. Heart rate, perceived exertion/tension and feelings of fatigue were assessed and used as dependent variables. Results indicate no general activity-rest differences as well as no age-related differences of break effects under the condition of subjectively equal straining load. However, heart rate was found to be lower at some measurement points in the frequent-short-break condition and perceived exertion was lower in the infrequent-long-break condition. Design of activity-rest schedules in physically demanding occupations is a key issue in the prevention of strain and hence of interest to ergonomists. Our study suggests that breaks during physically demanding work have the same effect if they are frequent and short or infrequent and long, regardless of age.

Electrical Arc Ignition Testing of Spacesuit Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Sarah; Gallus, Tim; Tapia, Susana; Ball, Elizabeth; Beeson, Harold

2006-01-01

A viewgraph presentation on electrical arc ignition testing of spacesuit materials is shown. The topics include: 1) Background; 2) Test Objectives; 3) Test Sample Materials; 4) Test Methods; 5) Scratch Test Objectives; 6) Cotton Scratch Test Video; 7) Scratch Test Results; 8) Entire Date Plot; 9) Closeup Data Plot; 10) Scratch Test Problems; 11) Poke Test Objectives; 12) Poke Test Results; 13) Poke Test Problems; 14) Wire-break Test Objectives; 15) Cotton Wire-Break Test Video; 16) High Speed Cotton Wire-break Test Video; 17) Typical Data Plot; 18) Closeup Data Plot; 19) Wire-break Test Results; 20) Wire-break Tests vs. Scratch Tests; 21) Urethane-coated Nylon; and 22) Moleskin.

Break-even analysis in a nurse-managed center.

PubMed

McBryde-Foster, Merry J

2005-01-01

The concept of break-even analysis as a financial assessment tool is defined and demonstrated in evaluation of a proposed nurse-managed center. The advantages of using break-even analysis during proposal development are explored.

Breaking bad news and personality assessment.

PubMed

Rudnick, A; Ezra, Y; Melamed, E

2000-09-01

Breaking bad news to seriously ill patients is an especially difficult and important part of patient education and counseling. Guidelines for breaking bad news have been previously presented, but this is the first report to address the personality of the patient in deciding how to break had news. A case study of a patient diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is presented. A psychiatric consultation assisted in assessing the patient's personality and thus preparing the medical staff for breaking the bad news to him. The patient was assessed as having an obsessive-compulsive personality, and consequently the staff was instructed to concentrate on facts and not on feelings when breaking the bad news to him. The patient coped adaptively with this procedure, as did the staff. This case report illustrates that personality assessment may be of benefit in breaking bad news to seriously ill patients. It remains to be seen whether this procedure can be successfully generalized to other patients and settings as well as to other domains of patient education and counseling, and if so--whether this will also prove to be cost-effective.

Water level effects on breaking wave setup for Pacific Island fringing reefs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, J. M.; Merrifield, M. A.; Ford, M.

2014-02-01

The effects of water level variations on breaking wave setup over fringing reefs are assessed using field measurements obtained at three study sites in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Mariana Islands in the western tropical Pacific Ocean. At each site, reef flat setup varies over the tidal range with weaker setup at high tide and stronger setup at low tide for a given incident wave height. The observed water level dependence is interpreted in the context of radiation stress gradients specified by an idealized point break model generalized for nonnormally incident waves. The tidally varying setup is due in part to depth-limited wave heights on the reef flat, as anticipated from previous reef studies, but also to tidally dependent breaking on the reef face. The tidal dependence of the breaking is interpreted in the context of the point break model in terms of a tidally varying wave height to water depth ratio at breaking. Implications for predictions of wave-driven setup at reef-fringed island shorelines are discussed.

-> Air entrainment and bubble statistics in three-dimensional breaking waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deike, L.; Popinet, S.; Melville, W. K.

2016-02-01

Wave breaking in the ocean is of fundamental importance for quantifying wave dissipation and air-sea interaction, including gas and momentum exchange, and for improving air-sea flux parametrizations for weather and climate models. Here we investigate air entrainment and bubble statistics in three-dimensional breaking waves through direct numerical simulations of the two-phase air-water flow using the Open Source solver Gerris. As in previous 2D simulations, the dissipation due to breaking is found to be in good agreement with previous experimental observations and inertial-scaling arguments. For radii larger than the Hinze scale, the bubble size distribution is found to follow a power law of the radius, r-10/3 and to scale linearly with the time dependent turbulent dissipation rate during the active breaking stage. The time-averaged bubble size distribution is found to follow the same power law of the radius and to scale linearly with the wave dissipation rate per unit length of breaking crest. We propose a phenomenological turbulent bubble break-up model that describes the numerical results and existing experimental results.

Effect of winter school breaks on influenza-like illness, Argentina, 2005-2008.

PubMed

Garza, Roberto C; Basurto-Dávila, Ricardo; Ortega-Sanchez, Ismael R; Carlino, Luis Oreste; Meltzer, Martin I; Albalak, Rachel; Balbuena, Karina; Orellano, Pablo; Widdowson, Marc-Alain; Averhoff, Francisco

2013-06-01

School closures are used to reduce seasonal and pandemic influenza transmission, yet evidence of their effectiveness is sparse. In Argentina, annual winter school breaks occur during the influenza season, providing an opportunity to study this intervention. We used 2005-2008 national weekly surveillance data of visits to a health care provider for influenza-like illness (ILI) from all provinces. Using Serfling-specified Poisson regressions and population-based census denominators, we developed incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for the 3 weeks before, 2 weeks during, and 3 weeks after the break. For persons 5-64 years of age, IRRs were <1 for at least 1 week after the break. Observed rates returned to expected by the third week after the break; overall decrease among persons of all ages was 14%. The largest decrease was among children 5-14 years of age during the week after the break (37% lower IRR). Among adults, effects were weaker and delayed. Two-week winter school breaks significantly decreased visits to a health care provider for ILI among school-aged children and nonelderly adults.

Effect of Winter School Breaks on Influenza-like Illness, Argentina, 2005–2008

PubMed Central

Basurto-Dávila, Ricardo; Ortega-Sanchez, Ismael R.; Carlino, Luis Oreste; Meltzer, Martin I.; Albalak, Rachel; Balbuena, Karina; Orellano, Pablo; Widdowson, Marc-Alain; Averhoff, Francisco

2013-01-01

School closures are used to reduce seasonal and pandemic influenza transmission, yet evidence of their effectiveness is sparse. In Argentina, annual winter school breaks occur during the influenza season, providing an opportunity to study this intervention. We used 2005–2008 national weekly surveillance data of visits to a health care provider for influenza-like illness (ILI) from all provinces. Using Serfling-specified Poisson regressions and population-based census denominators, we developed incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for the 3 weeks before, 2 weeks during, and 3 weeks after the break. For persons 5–64 years of age, IRRs were <1 for at least 1 week after the break. Observed rates returned to expected by the third week after the break; overall decrease among persons of all ages was 14%. The largest decrease was among children 5–14 years of age during the week after the break (37% lower IRR). Among adults, effects were weaker and delayed. Two-week winter school breaks significantly decreased visits to a health care provider for ILI among school-aged children and nonelderly adults. PMID:23735682

Your Digestive System and How It Works

MedlinePlus

... Proteins break into amino acids Fats break into fatty acids and glycerol Carbohydrates break into simple sugars MyPlate ... lymph throughout your body to fight infection, absorbs fatty acids and vitamins. Your body uses sugars, amino acids, ...

Breaking Gaussian incompatibility on continuous variable quantum systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Heinosaari, Teiko, E-mail: teiko.heinosaari@utu.fi; Kiukas, Jukka, E-mail: jukka.kiukas@aber.ac.uk; Schultz, Jussi, E-mail: jussi.schultz@gmail.com

2015-08-15

We characterise Gaussian quantum channels that are Gaussian incompatibility breaking, that is, transform every set of Gaussian measurements into a set obtainable from a joint Gaussian observable via Gaussian postprocessing. Such channels represent local noise which renders measurements useless for Gaussian EPR-steering, providing the appropriate generalisation of entanglement breaking channels for this scenario. Understanding the structure of Gaussian incompatibility breaking channels contributes to the resource theory of noisy continuous variable quantum information protocols.

CYBERSUSY A new mechanism for supersymmetry breaking in models like the Supersymmetric Standard Model (SSM):

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dixon, John A.

2010-02-10

The SUSY breaking in Cybersusy is proportional to the VEV that breaks the gauge symmetry SU(2)xU(1) down to U(1), and it is rather specific to models like the SSM. Assuming full breaking, as explained below, for the leptons, Cybersusy predicts a spectrum of SUSY breaking that is in accord with experimental results so far. In particular, for the choice of parameters below, Cybersusy predicts that the lowest mass superpartner for the charged leptons is a charged vector boson lepton (the Velectron), which has a mass of 316 Gev. The Selectron has a mass of 771 Gev for that choice ofmore » parameters. The theory also leads to a zero cosmological constant after SUSY breaking. The mechanism generates equations that restrict models like the SSM. This version of this paper incorporates recent results and changes discovered subsequent to the talk.« less

Online location of a break in water distribution systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Jianwen; Xiao, Di; Zhao, Xinhua; Zhang, Hongwei

2003-08-01

Breaks often occur to urban water distribution systems under severely cold weather, or due to corrosion of pipes, deformation of ground, etc., and the breaks cannot easily be located, especially immediately after the events. This paper develops a methodology to locate a break in a water distribution system by monitoring water pressure online at some nodes in the water distribution system. For the purpose of online monitoring, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) technology can well be used. A neural network-based inverse analysis method is constructed for locating the break based on the variation of water pressure. The neural network is trained by using analytically simulated data from the water distribution system, and validated by using a set of data that have never been used in the training. It is found that the methodology provides a quick, effective, and practical way in which a break in a water distribution system can be located.

Effects of surface wave breaking on the oceanic boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Hailun; Chen, Dake

2011-04-01

Existing laboratory studies suggest that surface wave breaking may exert a significant impact on the formation and evolution of oceanic surface boundary layer, which plays an important role in the ocean-atmosphere coupled system. However, present climate models either neglect the effects of wave breaking or treat them implicitly through some crude parameterization. Here we use a one-dimensional ocean model (General Ocean Turbulence Model, GOTM) to investigate the effects of wave breaking on the oceanic boundary layer on diurnal to seasonal time scales. First a set of idealized experiments are carried out to demonstrate the basic physics and the necessity to include wave breaking. Then the model is applied to simulating observations at the northern North Sea and the Ocean Weather Station Papa, which shows that properly accounting for wave breaking effects can improve model performance and help it to successfully capture the observed upper ocean variability.

Regulating strain states by using the recovery potential of lunch breaks.

PubMed

Krajewski, Jarek; Wieland, Rainer; Sauerland, Martin

2010-04-01

The aim of the worksite study is to elucidate the strain reducing impact of different forms of spending lunch breaks. With the help of the so-called silent room cabin concept, it was possible to induce a lunch-break relaxation opportunity that provided visual and territorial privacy. To evaluate the proposed effects, 14 call center agents were assigned to either 20 min progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) or small-talk (ST) break groups. We analyzed the data in a controlled trial for a period of 6 months (every 2 months four measurements a day at 12:00, 13:00, 16:00, 20:00) using independent observer and self-report ratings of emotional, mental, motivational, and physical strain. Results indicated that only the PMR break reduced postlunchtime and afternoon strain. Although further intervention research is required, our results suggest that PMR lunch break may sustainable reduce strain states in real worksite settings. Copyright 2010 APA, all rights reserved.

Mammalian DNA single-strand break repair: an X-ra(y)ted affair.

PubMed

Caldecott, K W

2001-05-01

The genetic stability of living cells is continuously threatened by the presence of endogenous reactive oxygen species and other genotoxic molecules. Of particular threat are the thousands of DNA single-strand breaks that arise in each cell, each day, both directly from disintegration of damaged sugars and indirectly from the excision repair of damaged bases. If un-repaired, single-strand breaks can be converted into double-strand breaks during DNA replication, potentially resulting in chromosomal rearrangement and genetic deletion. Consequently, cells have adopted multiple pathways to ensure the rapid and efficient removal of single-strand breaks. A general feature of these pathways appears to be the extensive employment of protein-protein interactions to stimulate both the individual component steps and the overall repair reaction. Our current understanding of DNA single-strand break repair is discussed, and testable models for the architectural coordination of this important process are presented. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

3D virtual human atria: A computational platform for studying clinical atrial fibrillation.

PubMed

Aslanidi, Oleg V; Colman, Michael A; Stott, Jonathan; Dobrzynski, Halina; Boyett, Mark R; Holden, Arun V; Zhang, Henggui

2011-10-01

Despite a vast amount of experimental and clinical data on the underlying ionic, cellular and tissue substrates, the mechanisms of common atrial arrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation, AF) arising from the functional interactions at the whole atria level remain unclear. Computational modelling provides a quantitative framework for integrating such multi-scale data and understanding the arrhythmogenic behaviour that emerges from the collective spatio-temporal dynamics in all parts of the heart. In this study, we have developed a multi-scale hierarchy of biophysically detailed computational models for the human atria--the 3D virtual human atria. Primarily, diffusion tensor MRI reconstruction of the tissue geometry and fibre orientation in the human sinoatrial node (SAN) and surrounding atrial muscle was integrated into the 3D model of the whole atria dissected from the Visible Human dataset. The anatomical models were combined with the heterogeneous atrial action potential (AP) models, and used to simulate the AP conduction in the human atria under various conditions: SAN pacemaking and atrial activation in the normal rhythm, break-down of regular AP wave-fronts during rapid atrial pacing, and the genesis of multiple re-entrant wavelets characteristic of AF. Contributions of different properties of the tissue to mechanisms of the normal rhythm and arrhythmogenesis were investigated. Primarily, the simulations showed that tissue heterogeneity caused the break-down of the normal AP wave-fronts at rapid pacing rates, which initiated a pair of re-entrant spiral waves; and tissue anisotropy resulted in a further break-down of the spiral waves into multiple meandering wavelets characteristic of AF. The 3D virtual atria model itself was incorporated into the torso model to simulate the body surface ECG patterns in the normal and arrhythmic conditions. Therefore, a state-of-the-art computational platform has been developed, which can be used for studying multi-scale electrical phenomena during atrial conduction and AF arrhythmogenesis. Results of such simulations can be directly compared with electrophysiological and endocardial mapping data, as well as clinical ECG recordings. The virtual human atria can provide in-depth insights into 3D excitation propagation processes within atrial walls of a whole heart in vivo, which is beyond the current technical capabilities of experimental or clinical set-ups. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Esophageal mucosal breaks in gastroesophageal reflux disease partially responsive to proton pump inhibitor therapy.

PubMed

Shaheen, Nicholas J; Denison, Hans; Björck, Karin; Silberg, Debra G

2013-04-01

Approximately 20-30% of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) do not experience complete symptom resolution during proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of esophageal mucosal breaks among patients who have a partial response to PPI therapy. This was an analysis of data from a phase 2b clinical trial carried out to assess the efficacy and safety of a reflux inhibitor, lesogaberan (AZD3355), as an add-on to PPI therapy in this patient population (clinicaltrials.gov reference: NCT01005251). A total of 661 patients with persistent GERD symptoms who had received a minimum of 4 weeks of PPI therapy were included in the study. The prevalence of esophageal mucosal breaks was assessed according to (i) the most recent endoscopy results from within the previous 24 months, if available ("historical" endoscopies), and (ii) the results of endoscopies performed at study baseline ("baseline" endoscopies). Baseline endoscopies were not carried out in patients who had a historical endoscopy showing an absence of esophageal mucosal breaks. Historical endoscopy results were available for 244 patients, of whom 48 (19.7%) had esophageal mucosal breaks. Baseline endoscopies were carried out in 465 patients, of whom 146 (31.4%) had esophageal mucosal breaks. Sensitivity analyses showed a prevalence of esophageal mucosal breaks of 20-30%. In both the historical and baseline endoscopies, most esophageal mucosal breaks were Los Angeles grades A or B. In patients with GERD symptoms partially responsive to PPI therapy, mild-to-moderate severity esophageal mucosal breaks are common (prevalence 20-30%), and may contribute to symptom etiology.

Breaking Bad Habits | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine

MedlinePlus

... of this page please turn Javascript on. Feature: Bad Habits Breaking Bad Habits: Why It's So Hard to Change Past Issues / ... News in Health ( http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/ ) Break Bad Habits Avoid temptations. If you always stop for a ...

Gamma-Ray Burst Jet Breaks Revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiang-Gao; Zhang, Bing; Liang, En-Wei; Lu, Rui-Jing; Lin, Da-Bin; Li, Jing; Li, Long

2018-06-01

Gamma-ray Burst (GRB) collimation has been inferred with the observations of achromatic steepening in GRB light curves, known as jet breaks. Identifying a jet break from a GRB afterglow light curve allows a measurement of the jet opening angle and true energetics of GRBs. In this paper, we re-investigate this problem using a large sample of GRBs that have an optical jet break that is consistent with being achromatic in the X-ray band. Our sample includes 99 GRBs from 1997 February to 2015 March that have optical and, for Swift GRBs, X-ray light curves that are consistent with the jet break interpretation. Out of the 99 GRBs we have studied, 55 GRBs are found to have temporal and spectral behaviors both before and after the break, consistent with the theoretical predictions of the jet break models, respectively. These include 53 long/soft (Type II) and 2 short/hard (Type I) GRBs. Only 1 GRB is classified as the candidate of a jet break with energy injection. Another 41 and 3 GRBs are classified as the candidates with the lower and upper limits of the jet break time, respectively. Most jet breaks occur at 90 ks, with a typical opening angle θj = (2.5 ± 1.0)°. This gives a typical beaming correction factor {f}b-1∼ 1000 for Type II GRBs, suggesting an even higher total GRB event rate density in the universe. Both isotropic and jet-corrected energies have a wide span in their distributions: log(Eγ,iso/erg) = 53.11 with σ = 0.84 log(EK,iso/erg) = 54.82 with σ = 0.56 log(Eγ/erg) = 49.54 with σ = 1.29 and log(EK/erg) = 51.33 with σ = 0.58. We also investigate several empirical correlations (Amati, Frail, Ghirlanda, and Liang–Zhang) previously discussed in the literature. We find that in general most of these relations are less tight than before. The existence of early jet breaks and hence small opening angle jets, which were detected in the Swfit era, is most likely the source of scatter. If one limits the sample to jet breaks later than 104 s, the Liang–Zhang relation remains tight and the Ghirlanda relation still exists. These relations are derived from Type II GRBs, and Type I GRBs usually deviate from them.

Cops or Robbers — a Bistable Society

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kułakowski, K.

The norm game described by Axelrod in 1985 was recently treated with the master equation formalism. Here we discuss the equations, where (i) those who break the norm cannot punish and those who punish cannot break the norm, (ii) the tendency to punish is suppressed if the majority breaks the norm. The second mechanism is new. For some values of the parameters the solution shows the saddle-point bifurcation. Then, two stable solutions are possible, where the majority breaks the norm or the majority punishes. This means, that the norm breaking can be discontinuous, when measured in the social scale. The bistable character is reproduced also with new computer simulations on the Erdös-Rényi directed network.

Concept Based Tie-breaking and Maximal Marginal Relevance Retrieval in Microblog Retrieval

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-01

the same score, another singal will be used to rank these documents to break the ties , but the relative orders of other documents against these...documents remain the same. The tie- breaking step above is repeatedly applied to further break ties until all candidate signals are applied and the ranking...searched it on the Yahoo! search engine, which returned some query sug- gestions for the query. The original queries as well as their query suggestions

Refined Source Terms in Wave Watch 3 with Wave Breaking and Sea Spray Forecasts

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-05

Farmer at IOS Canada involved a novel scale analysis of breaking waves. This was motivated by the results of the model study of wave breaking onset by...timely development that needs careful examination. 4.11 Highlights of the SPANDEX study SPANDEX, the Spray Production and Dynamics Experiment, is...speed alone. To accomplish this goal, a parallel laboratory study (SPANDEX II) was undertaken to parameterize sea spray flux dependences on breaking

GeneBreak: detection of recurrent DNA copy number aberration-associated chromosomal breakpoints within genes.

PubMed

van den Broek, Evert; van Lieshout, Stef; Rausch, Christian; Ylstra, Bauke; van de Wiel, Mark A; Meijer, Gerrit A; Fijneman, Remond J A; Abeln, Sanne

2016-01-01

Development of cancer is driven by somatic alterations, including numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations. Currently, several computational methods are available and are widely applied to detect numerical copy number aberrations (CNAs) of chromosomal segments in tumor genomes. However, there is lack of computational methods that systematically detect structural chromosomal aberrations by virtue of the genomic location of CNA-associated chromosomal breaks and identify genes that appear non-randomly affected by chromosomal breakpoints across (large) series of tumor samples. 'GeneBreak' is developed to systematically identify genes recurrently affected by the genomic location of chromosomal CNA-associated breaks by a genome-wide approach, which can be applied to DNA copy number data obtained by array-Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) or by (low-pass) whole genome sequencing (WGS). First, 'GeneBreak' collects the genomic locations of chromosomal CNA-associated breaks that were previously pinpointed by the segmentation algorithm that was applied to obtain CNA profiles. Next, a tailored annotation approach for breakpoint-to-gene mapping is implemented. Finally, dedicated cohort-based statistics is incorporated with correction for covariates that influence the probability to be a breakpoint gene. In addition, multiple testing correction is integrated to reveal recurrent breakpoint events. This easy-to-use algorithm, 'GeneBreak', is implemented in R ( www.cran.r-project.org ) and is available from Bioconductor ( www.bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/GeneBreak.html ).