Network adaptable information systems for safeguard applications

While containment and surveillance systems designed for nuclear safeguards have greatly improved through advances in computer, sensor, and microprocessor technologies, the authors recognize the need to continue the advancement of these systems to provide more standardized solutions for safeguards applications of the future. The benefits to be gained from the use of standardized technologies are becoming evident as safeguard activities are increasing world-wide while funding of these activities is becoming more limited. The EURATOM Safeguards Directorate and Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing and testing advanced monitoring technologies coupled with the most efficient solutions for the safeguards applications of the future

Ground test accelerator control system software

The GTA control system provides an environment in which the automation of a state-of-the-art accelerator can be developed. It makes use of commercially available computers, workstations, computer networks, industrial I/O equipment, and software. This system has built-in supervisory control (like most accelerator control systems), tools to support continuous control (like the process control industry), and sequential control for automatic startup and fault recovery (like few other accelerator control systems). Several software tools support these levels of control: a real-time operating system (VxWorks) with a real-time kernel (VRTX), a configuration database, a sequencer, and a graphics editor. VxWorks supports multitasking, fast context-switching, and preemptive scheduling. VxWorks/VRTX is a network-based development environment specifically designed to work in partnership with the UNIX operating system. A database provides the interface to the accelerator components. It consists of a run time library and a database configuration and editing tool. A sequencer initiates and controls the operation of all sequence programs (expressed as state programs). A graphics editor gives the user the ability to create color graphic displays showing the state of the machine in either text or graphics form. 11 refs., 2 figs

Padrão geográfico de diversidade genética em populações naturais de Pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora), na Amazônia Central

Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke, Lauraceae) is an Amazonian evergreen tree and a source of the purest linalool, the main component of its essential oil, which is very valuable in the international perfumery market. After decades of over-exploitation it is currently considered as threatened. We evaluated the genetic diversity and its distribution in four populations in Central Amazonia. Thirty-five reliable RAPD markers were generated, of which 32 were polymorphic (91.4%). Variation was higher within the populations (76.5%; p < 0.0001) and geographic distribution contributed to population differentiation (23.4%; p < 0.0001). The Amazon River had a small influence on gene flow (3.3%; p < 0.0001), but we identified evidence of gene flow across the river. There were significant differences in marker frequencies (p < 0.05), in agreement with the low gene flow (Nm = 2.02). The correlation between genetic distance and gene flow was - 0.95 (p = 0.06) and between geographic distance and gene flow was -0.78 (p = 0.12). There was a geographic cline of variability across an East-West axis, influenced as well by the Amazon River, suggesting the river could be a barrier to gene flow. Although threatened, these Rosewood populations retain high diversity, with the highest levels in the Manaus population, which has been protected for over 42 years in a Reserve.O Pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke, Lauraceae) é uma árvore amazônica fonte do mais puro linalol, o qual é o principal componente do seu óleo essencial e muito valioso no mercado internacional de perfumaria. Após várias décadas de intensa exploração, a espécie foi levada à categoria de ameaçada de extinção. Quatro populações naturais distribuídas na bacia Amazônia Central foram avaliadas quanto ao nível e a distribuição da diversidade genética. Trinta e cinco marcadores RAPD reprodutíveis foram gerados, dos quais 32 foram polimórficos (91,4%). A diversidade foi maior dentro das populações (76,5%; p < 0,0001) e a distribuição geográfica contribuiu para a diferenciação entre as populações (23,4%; p < 0,0001). A AMOVA indicou que pode haver uma influência parcial do Rio Amazonas no fluxo gênico (3,3%; p < 0,0001), mas foram identificadas evidências de fluxo gênico atravessando o rio. Houve diferenças significativas nas freqüências dos marcadores (p < 0,05) e o fluxo gênico estimado foi relativamente baixo (Nm = 2,02). A correlação entre a distância genética e o fluxo gênico foi de - 0,95 (p = 0,06) e para a distância geográfica e o fluxo gênico foi de - 0,78 (p = 0,12). Houve um padrão geográfico de variabilidade ao longo do eixo Leste - Oeste, influenciado também pelo Rio Amazonas, o que sugere que o rio poderia funcionar como uma barreira para o fluxo gênico. Apesar de ameaçadas, estas populações de Pau-rosa possuem alta diversidade, com o maior valor na população de Manaus, que vem sendo protegida por 42 anos em uma reserva

Simplified extension of the LSI-11 Q-Bus for a high energy laser control application

Antares, a large, experimental laser fusion facility under construction at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, is controlled by a network of PDP-11 minicomputers and microprocessors. The remote nodes of the Antares control network are based on an LSI-11/2 microcomputer interfaced to an STD Bus. This machine interface or MI forms the intelligent process controller located directly adjacent to the many diverse laser subsystem devices. The STD Bus, linked to the LSI-11/2 microcomputer, offers a standardized, cost effective means for the development of the specialized interface functions required for the high energy laser environment

Remote monitoring using technologies from the Internet and World Wide Web

Recent developments in Internet technologies are changing and enhancing how one processes and exchanges information. These developments include software and hardware in support of multimedia applications on the World Wide Web. In this paper the authors describe these technologies as they have applied them to remote monitoring and show how they will allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to efficiently review and analyze remote monitoring data for verification of material movements. The authors have developed demonstration software that illustrates several safeguards data systems using the resources of the Internet and Web to access and review data. This Web demo allows the user to directly observe sensor data, to analyze simulated safeguards data, and to view simulated on-line inventory data. Future activities include addressing the technical and security issues associated with using the Web to interface with existing and planned monitoring systems at nuclear facilities. Some of these issues are authentication, encryption, transmission of large quantities of data, and data compression

Using of hemp as an energy plant

Od 1 stycznia 2007 r. na podstawie rozporządzenia Rady (WE) nr 2012/2006 z dnia 19 grudnia 2006 r. Polska została objęta systemem wsparcia roślin energetycznych, do których można zaliczyć także konopie włókniste. W Polsce posiadamy wieloletnie tradycje uprawy konopi. Dysponujemy odpowiednimi warunkami klimatyczno-glebowymi. Mamy w rejestrze 4 odmiany jednopiennych konopi włóknistych (Białobrzeskie, Beniko, Silesia, Tygra) dające corocznie 10-15 ton biomasy z hektara. Szacuje się, ze 1 hektar konopi wiąże około 2,5 t CO2. Opracowane są technologie uprawy i zbioru słomy. Przeprowadzone w Instytucie badania wykazały, że konopie są cennym surowcem energetycznym (ciepło spalania ok. 18 MJ/kg). Źródłem energii jest nie tylko cała roślina, ale również produkt uboczny powstający z jej przerobu, tj. paździerze. Zgodnie z wymogami UE koniecznym staje się zagospodarowanie i utylizacja odpadów, w tym przypadku paździerzy, powstających w procesie przerobu słomy lnianej i konopnej. W zakładzie doświadczalnym Instytutu w Stęszewie przeprowadzono udane próby brykietyzacji paździerzy oraz zainstalowano pilotową linię brykietującą.Since January 1st , 2007, on the basis of EU Directive No 2012/2006 of 19th December 2006, Poland has been included in the system of subsidies for energy plants which covers also the hemp now. Hemp cultivation in Poland is of a long tradition. Polish climatic conditions are suitable for hemp growing. Biomass yielding capacity of registered hemp cultivars (Białobrzeskie, Beniko, Silesia, Tigra) exceeds 10-15 t/ha. It was estimated that 1 ha of hemp assimilate 2.5 t CO2 per year. Technologies of cultivation and harvest of straw are developed. The research conducted at the Institute showed that hamp is a valuable raw material for energy generation (combustion heat of about 18 MJ/kg). Not only the whole plants, but also shives - a by-product of hemp straw processing, may be a source of energy. According to the EU requirements it is necessary to utilize by-products of flax and hemp straw processing. Therefore, at Stęszew Experimental Station the successful trials were conducted on briquetting of the shives and a pilot line for briquette production was installed

The nu1+nu5 high resolution infrared band of FClO3

The high resolution infrared spectra of the mono isotopic species (FClO3)-Cl-35-O-16, (FClO3)-Cl-37-O-16, (FClO3)-Cl-35-O-18 and (FClO3)-Cl-37-O-18 have been analysed in the region of the nu(1) + nu(5) perpendicular combination band, from 1540 to 1680 cm(-1). For all the isotopologues the nu(1) + nu(5) band is of medium intensity at the recording conditions. In total, about 2400, 2000, 2600 and 2700 transitions have been assigned for (FClO3)-Cl-35-O-16, (FClO3)-Cl-37-O-16, (FClO3)-Cl-35-O-18 and (FClO3)-Cl-37-O-18, respectively. The data for each band have been analysed on the basis of the usual Hamiltonian for a degenerate state of a molecule of C-3v symmetry. In addition, two interaction terms have been considered active within the v(1) = v(5) = 1 state, with Delta l = 0, Delta k = +/- 3 and Delta l = Delta k = +/- 2 selection rules. The ro-vibration parameters of the v(1) = v(5) = 1 states have been obtained, together with the band origins. Combining the nu(1) + nu(5) origins with those of the nu(1) and nu(5) fundamentals, the anharmonicity constant x(15) has been derived for the four molecules and compared to the corresponding value calculated ab initio