Pretest Round Robin Analysis of 1:4-Scale Prestressed Concrete Containment Vessel Model

The purpose of the program is to investigate the response of representative scale models of nuclear containment to pressure loading beyond the design basis accident and to compare analytical predictions to measured behavior. This objective is accomplished by conducting static, pneumatic overpressurization tests of scale models at ambient temperature. This research program consists of testing two scale models: a steel containment vessel (SCV) model (tested in 1996) and a prestressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV) model, which is the subject of this paper

Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy by on-line hemodiafiltration: a case series study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is thought that a good survival rate of patients with acute liver failure can be achieved by establishing an artificial liver support system that reliably compensates liver function until the liver regenerates or a patient undergoes transplantation. We introduced a new artificial liver support system, on-line hemodiafiltration, in patients with acute liver failure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This case series study was conducted from May 2001 to October 2008 at the medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care academic medical center. Seventeen consecutive patients who admitted to our hospital presenting with acute liver failure were treated with artificial liver support including daily on-line hemodiafiltration and plasma exchange.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After 4.9 ± 0.7 (mean ± SD) on-line hemodiafiltration sessions, 16 of 17 (94.1%) patients completely recovered from hepatic encephalopathy and maintained consciousness for 16.4 ± 3.4 (7-55) days until discontinuation of artificial liver support (a total of 14.4 ± 2.6 [6-47] on-line hemodiafiltration sessions). Significant correlation was observed between the degree of encephalopathy and number of sessions of on-line HDF required for recovery of consciousness. Of the 16 patients who recovered consciousness, 7 fully recovered and returned to society with no cognitive sequelae, 3 died of complications of acute liver failure except brain edema, and the remaining 6 were candidates for liver transplantation; 2 of them received living-related liver transplantation but 4 died without transplantation after discontinuation of therapy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>On-line hemodiafiltration was effective in patients with acute liver failure, and consciousness was maintained for the duration of artificial liver support, even in those in whom it was considered that hepatic function was completely abolished.</p

Zastosowanie wyładowania elektrycznego do ozonowania gleby

In this study, influence of ozone treatment on physical properties of soil was investigated. We used a quartz container for ozone treatment of soil. The amount of soil used for treatment was 100 g. Treating time was 90 minutes. Flow rate of ozone gas was 1.5 L/min. We measured characteristics of soil such as inorganic nutrient (NO3-N, NO2-N, and NH4-N), pH(H2O), fungi, DNA of soil, and exchangeable bases (Ca, K, Fe, and Al) before and after ozone treatment.W niniejszym opracowaniu, opisano badania wpływu obróbki ozonem na własności fizyczne gleby. Do ozonowania gleby wykorzystaliśmy pojemnik kwarcowy. Ilość gleby poddanej działaniu ozonu wynosiła 100g, a czas oddziaływania 90 minut. Przepływ ozonu wyniósł 1.5l/min. Mierzono właściwości gleby, takie jak nieorganiczne składniki odżywcze (NO3-N, NO2-N i NH4-N), pH(H2O), grzyby, DNA w glebie i zasady wymienne (Ca, K, Fe i Al) przed i po poddaniu jej działaniu ozon

Spatiotemporally resolved characteristics of a gliding arc discharge in a turbulent air flow at atmospheric pressure

A gliding arc discharge was generated in a turbulent air flow at atmospheric pressure driven by a 35 kHz alternating current (AC) electric power. The spatiotemporally resolved characteristics of the gliding arc discharge, including glow-type discharges, spark-type discharges, short-cutting events and transitions among the different types of discharges, were investigated using simultaneously optical and electrical diagnostics. The glow-type discharge shows sinusoidal-like voltage and current waveforms with a peak current of hundreds of milliamperes. The frequency of the emission intensity variation of the glow-type discharge is the same as that of the electronic power dissipated in the plasma column. The glow-type discharge can transfer into a spark discharge characterized by a sharp peak current of several amperes and a sudden increase of the brightness in the plasma column. Transitions can also be found to take place from spark-type discharges to glow-type discharges. Short-cutting events were often observed as the intermediate states formed during the spark-glow transition. Three different types of short-cutting events have been observed to generate new current paths between two plasma channel segments, and between two electrodes, as well as between the channel segment and the electrodes, respectively. The short-cut upper part of the plasma column that was found to have no current passing through can be detected several hundreds of microseconds after the short-cutting event. The voltage recovery rate, the period of AC voltage-driving signal, the flow rates and the rated input powers were found to play an important role in affecting the transitions among the different types of discharges