EXAMINATION OF 304 STAINLESS STEEL CLADDING FROM COLD-SWAGED AND ROLLED FUEL RODS

Samples of 304 stainless steel cladding from unirradiated fuel rods fabricated by cold swaging and tandem rolling were investigated to determine the effects of cold working. These fabrication techniques were found to produce a structure containing a large amount of slip bands. Results of tensile tests and fracture behavior observations indicate that this cladding should be adequate for boiling reactor fuel rods. (J.R.D.

New Blood Pressure-Associated Loci Identified in Meta-Analyses of 475,000 Individuals

Background - Genome-wide association studies have recently identified >400 loci that harbor DNA sequence variants that influence blood pressure (BP). Our earlier studies identified and validated 56 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with BP from meta-analyses of exome chip genotype data. An additional 100 variants yielded suggestive evidence of association. Methods and Results - Here, we augment the sample with 140 886 European individuals from the UK Biobank, in whom 77 of the 100 suggestive SNVs were available for association analysis with systolic BP or diastolic BP or pulse pressure. We performed 2 meta-analyses, one in individuals of European, South Asian, African, and Hispanic descent (pan-ancestry, ≈475 000), and the other in the subset of individuals of European descent (≈423 000). Twenty-one SNVs were genome-wide significant (P<5×10-8) for BP, of which 4 are new BP loci: rs9678851 (missense, SLC4A1AP), rs7437940 (AFAP1), rs13303 (missense, STAB1), and rs1055144 (7p15.2). In addition, we identified a potentially independent novel BP-associated SNV, rs3416322 (missense, SYNPO2L) at a known locus, uncorrelated with the previously reported SNVs. Two SNVs are associated with expression levels of nearby genes, and SNVs at 3 loci are associated with other traits. One SNV with a minor allele frequency <0.01, (rs3025380 at DBH) was genome-wide significant. Conclusions - We report 4 novel loci associated with BP regulation, and 1 independent variant at an established BP locus. This analysis highlights several candidate genes with variation that alter protein function or gene expression for potential follow-up

EXAMINATION OF 304 STAINLESS STEEL CLADDING FROM COLD-SWAGED AND ROLLED FUEL RODS

Samples of 304 stainless steel cladding from unirradiated fuel rods fabricated by cold swaging and tandem rolling were investigated to determine the effects of cold working. These fabrication techniques were found to produce a structure containing a large amount of slip bands. Results of tensile tests and fracture behavior observations indicate that this cladding should be adequate for boiling reactor fuel rods. (J.R.D.

Effect of damaging main stem terminals at various stages of flowering, on yield of cotton in south-east queensland

Damage by the cotton tipworm, Crocidosema plebeiana Zeller, was simulated in field trials by the removal of terminal buds (tipping) at different phenological stages coinciding with tipworm presence on cotton grown in south-eastern Queensland. The effect of this damage was considered in relation to the induced changes in crop morphology, fruit production, yield and harvestability of cotton grown under field conditions. No significant differences in fruit formation and yield were established. There were significant delays in times to 50 per cent flowering and boll opening in plants tipped before squaring had commenced. Changes in the location of monopodial branches arising from the main stem were induced in plants tipped pre-squaring but this did not significantly affect the harvestability

The distribution of cotton looper (Anomis flava Fabr.) larvae and larval damage on cotton and its relationship to the photosynthetic potential of cotton leaves at the attack sites

Data are given for the distribution of larvae and larval damage of the cotton looper, Anomis flava Fabr., during periods of natural attack on cotton in the south-east Queensland region. A distinct distributional pattern developed in which larvae and major damage to leaves were centrally located on both the horizontal and vertical axes of the plant. The distribution and damage potential of the larval population was subsequently greatly modified by a nucleopolyhedrosis virus epizootic disease commonly recorded in cotton looper populations in the region. Major damage was caused to leaves 14-21 days old which were approximately midway through their photosynthetic capacity range and continuing to decline in photosynthetic importance. The data are considered relative to the inclusion of loopers in a complete pest management program currently being developed for cotton in the south-east Queensland region