Electron beam loss assumptions for ELI-NPMEGa-ray radioprotection analysis

The ELI-NP project is now working on the design of their conventional facility. Dr. Gheorghe Cata-Danil recently requested that I provide them with information on the location and amount of electron-beam loss in the MEGa-ray source they have proposed for ELI-NP. This memo is intended to document that information, for transmission to ELI-NP. The ELI-NP MEGa-ray source, as presently proposed, consists of two x-band accelerator sections separated by a large chicane, as show in figure 1. The basic parameters of the machine that are pertinent for specifying the radiation source terms are shown in table 1. These are the parameters of the intentionall-produced photobeam. In addition to the photobeam, the electron gun and accelerator will produce 'dark current' that originates throughout the RF structures (that is, distributed along the accelerator axis) and therefore has a distribution of energy below the energy of the photobeam. Because it is emitted from surfaces inside the RF structures, much of it is not transported through the accelerator and is lost in the accelerator RF structures. A large fraction of the total dark current is produced in the photogun and lost at the entrance of the 1st accelerator RF structure. Important sources of radiation during operation are beam alignment screens that are used for observing the image of the electron beam, during adjustment of beam steering and for general diagnostic purposes. Each screen consists of a 1 mm thick Ce:YAG plate that is moved into the path of the beam when desired. This destroys the electron beam, spraying all beam current into the structures downstream of the screen. Only one screen is inserted at a time. These screens may be located after each accelerator RF structure, and after each set of bend magnets, as shown in figure 3. The photobeam energy and currents at each location are listed in table 2; for simplicity, the dark current energy is (conseratively) assumed to be the same as the photobeam energy. In normal operation, the locations of other beam losses and the estimated current and energy of the lost beam are listed in table 3. In addition to these 'normal' beam losses, it is assumed that the beam may be accidentally mis-steered by up to 1 degree at every steering magnet, so that it hits the surrounding beam tube and other structures. This loss can be modeled as occurring at the locations listed in table 2, numbers 1-7 and 16-21. Similarly, it is assumed that any of the dipole magnets, in chicanes or at the beam dump, may fail, resulting in total beam loss straight ahead. These locations can be assumed to be the same as listed in table 2, numbers 8-10, 12-14, 22-24, 26, and 27. The data provided above are estimates of the beam loss, for the purpose of calculating radiation source terms. Dark current estimates are conservative, until we acquire actual operational data. Neither the estimated currents nor the estimated energies listed above contain any intentional margin. when they have performed similar calculations for their own purposes, they have typitally added approximately 10% to the beam energy to provide some overall margin in the analysis

NIF Title III engineering plan

The purpose of this document is to define the work that must be accomplished by the NIF Project during Title III Engineering. This definition is intended to be sufficiently detailed to provide a framework for yearly planning, to clearly identify the specific deliverables so that the Project teams can focus on them, and to provide a common set of objectives and processes across the Project. This plan has been preceded by similar documents for Title I and Title II design and complements the Site Management Plan, the Project Control Manual, the Quality Assurance Program Plan, the RM Parsons NIF Title III Configuration Control Plan, the Integrated Project Schedule, the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report, the Configuration Management Plan, and the Transition Plan

Regulation by endogenous opioids of suckling-induced prolactin secretion in pregnant and lactating rats: Role of ovarian steroids

Evidence suggests that endogenous opioid peptides are implicated in the suckling-induced prolactin rise. We explored the role of the opioid system and the participation of ovarian hormones in the regulation of prolactin induced by the suckling stimulus at the end of pregnancy in rats with developed maternal behavior, and during lactation. Suckling for 24 h induced a significant increase in serum prolactin on day 19 of pregnancy, which was increased more than three times when naloxone (2 mg/kg s.c.) or mifepristone (2 mg/kg) was administered. The combination of naloxone and mifepristone did not increase serum prolactin more than either compound alone. Administration of tamoxifen (500 μg/kg orally) on days 14 and 15 of pregnancy completely abolished the effect of naloxone, indicating a role for estrogens in establishing this inhibitory role of opioids. To examine the participation of the opioid system during lactation, we used groups of rats on days 1, 3, 5, 12 and 19 postpartum either (i) isolated from the pups for 4 h, or (ii) isolated from the pups for 3.5 h and reunited with them and suckled for 30 min. Naloxone, given just before replacing the pups, prevented the increase in serum prolactin levels observed in the suckled group of rats but had no effect on the basal levels of the isolated rats. To examine whether the participation of the opioid system in the release of prolactin is dependent on the variation of progesterone levels, rats on day 20 of pregnancy were implanted with two cannulae containing progesterone (that blocked postpartum ovulation) or cholesterol, and cesarean surgery was performed on day 21. To maintain lactation, pups (1-3 days old) were replaced every 24 h, and 4 days after the cesarean eight pups were placed in the cage at 1800 h to maintain a strong suckling stimulus during the following 24 h. Naloxone administration significantly reduced serum prolactin levels in control (cholesterol) rats but progesterone implants prevented the inhibitory effect of naloxone and this effect was not modified by treatment with estrogen. These results indicate that the opioid system modulates suckling-induced prolactin secretion, passing from an inhibitory action before delivery to a stimulatory action during lactation. This regulatory shift seems to be dependent on the fall in progesterone concentration at the end of pregnancy and the subsequent increase after the postpartum ovulation and luteal phase.Fil: Soaje, Marta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: de Di Nasso, E. G.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Deis, Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentin

Utilization of fission reactors for fusion engineering testing

Fission reactors can be used to conduct some of the fusion nuclear engineering tests identified in the FINESSE study. To further define the advantages and disadvantages of fission testing, the technical and programmatic constraints on this type of testing are discussed here. This paper presents and discusses eight key issues affecting fission utilization. Quantitative comparisons with projected fusion operation are made to determine the technical assets and limitations of fission testing. Capabilities of existing fission reactors are summarized and compared with technical needs. Conclusions are then presented on the areas where fission testing can be most useful

A data quality control program for computer-assisted personal interviews

Researchers strive to optimize data quality in order to ensure that study findings are valid and reliable. In this paper, we describe a data quality control program designed to maximize quality of survey data collected using computer-assisted personal interviews. The quality control program comprised three phases: (1) software development, (2) an interviewer quality control protocol, and (3) a data cleaning and processing protocol. To illustrate the value of the program, we assess its use in the Translating Research in Elder Care Study. We utilize data collected annually for two years from computer-assisted personal interviews with 3004 healthcare aides. Data quality was assessed using both survey and process data. Missing data and data errors were minimal. Mean and median values and standard deviations were within acceptable limits. Process data indicated that in only 3.4% and 4.0% of cases was the interviewer unable to conduct interviews in accordance with the details of the program. Interviewers&rsquo; perceptions of interview quality also significantly improved between Years 1 and 2. While this data quality control program was demanding in terms of time and resources, we found that the benefits clearly outweighed the effort required to achieve high-quality data.<br /

Recent advances in processing of Ag-clad Bi-2223 superconductors

Enhancements in the transport current properties of long lengths of multifilament Ag-sheathed (Bi,Pb){sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y} (Bi-2223) superconducting tapes were made as a function of increased packing density of precursor powder, improved mechanical deformation, and adjusted cooling rate. Improved processing parameters had a pronounced effect on the transport critical current (I{sub c}) of the superconducting tapes, at 77 K and zero applied magnetic field, an I{sub c} of 60 A was obtained in short length samples (4 cm), an I{sub c} of 54 A in a 164 m length, and 18 A in a 1,260 m length. These enhancements were based on the increase in packing density accompanied with improved mechanical deformation and cooling schedule. Maximum critical current values were two to three times higher in slow-cooled tapes than in fast-cooled tapes

Chemical Study of the Interstitial Water Dissolved Organic Matter and Gases in Lake Erie, Cleveland Harbor, and Hamilton Harbour Bottom Sediments - Composition and Fluxes to Overlying Waters

The research on which this report is based was financed in part by the U.S. Department of the Interior, as authorized by the Water Research and Development Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-467).(print) iv, 167, [45] p. : ill., maps ; 29 cm.FINAL REPORT FOR OWRT GRANT A-O59-OHIOItem lacks publication date. Issue date supplied from hand-written year on coverIntroduction -- The Study Area -- Methods and Materials -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusions -- Selected Bibliographic References -- Tables 1-32 -- Figures 1-36 -- Appendi

Resting and exercise haemodynamic characteristics of patients with advanced heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

Aims: This study aimed to describe haemodynamic features of patients with advanced heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) as defined by the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Methods and results: We used pooled data from two dedicated HFpEF studies with invasive exercise haemodynamic protocols, the REDUCE LAP-HF (Reduce Elevated Left Atrial Pressure in Patients with Heart Failure) trial and the REDUCE LAP-HF I trial, and categorized patients according to advanced heart failure (AdHF) criteria. The well-characterized HFpEF patients were considered advanced if they had persistent New York Heart Association classification of III–IV and heart failure (HF) hospitalization &lt; 12 months and a 6 min walk test distance &lt; 300 m. Twenty-four (22%) out of 108 patients met the AdHF criteria. On evaluation, clinical characteristics and resting haemodynamics were not different in the two groups. Patients with AdHF had lower work capacity compared with non-advanced patients (35 ± 16 vs. 45 ± 18 W, P = 0.021). Workload-corrected pulmonary capillary wedge pressure normalized to body weight (PCWL) was higher in AdHF patients compared with non-advanced (112 ± 55 vs. 86 ± 49 mmHg/W/kg, P = 0.04). Further, AdHF patients had a smaller increase in cardiac index during exercise (1.1 ± 0.7 vs. 1.6 ± 0.9 L/min/m2, P = 0.028). Conclusions: A significantly higher PCWL and lower cardiac index reserve during exercise were observed in AdHF patients compared with non-advanced. These differences were not apparent at rest. Therapies targeting the haemodynamic compromise associated with advanced HFpEF are needed

Development of a nuclear test strategy for Test Program Element II

As part of Phase O in Test Program Element II of the Office of Fusion Energy's First Wall/Blanket/Shield Engineering Test Program, a test strategy has been developed to address the blanket/shield's (B/S's) thermal-hydraulic and thermomechanical data needs, which were identified in an earlier task through the use of nuclear and supporting nonnuclear testing. In Phase I, which extends through 1984, this strategy emphasizes the development of pre-design information and the nonnuclear supporting tests. After Phase I, nuclear testing will be emphasized, and B/S design-verification testing will become more important. The proposed program will investigate a solid-breeder-blanket concept via nuclear testing. This program can begin in Phase I with nonnuclear support tests, and can progress to integrated nuclear testing soon after the completion of Phase I. The program's approximate cost and schedule are presented. In addition, other possible areas of study for Phase I, and strategies for the use of nuclear and nonnuclear facilities after Phase I are outlined