Applying Bayesian networks in nuclear power plant safety analysis

AbstractOver the last decade, Nuclear energy has become one of important energy. Nuclear power systems become more complex and traditional safety methods are hard to be applied. This paper presents a novel approach for nuclear power plant safety analysis which called Bayesian Networks(BN). The BN model is constructed based on the combination of Failure Mode, Effect Analysis (FMEA) and Fault Trees Analysis(FTA). The probability of the model’s root nodes is estimated by Bayesian estimation method and Monte Carlo simulation. Bidirectional inference and sensitivity analysis of the model is also researched. At last, we use a case study to show the method’s advantages compared with traditional methods in nuclear power plant safety analysis

Plasticity of DNA methylation in mouse T cell activation and differentiation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Circulating CD4⁺T helper cells are activated through interactions with antigen presenting cells and undergo differentiation into specific T helper cell subsets depending on the type of antigen encountered. In addition, the relative composition of the circulating CD4⁺T cell population changes as animals mature with an increased percentage of the population being memory/effector type cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we report on the highly plastic nature of DNA methylation at the genome-wide level as T cells undergo activation, differentiation and aging. Of particular note were the findings that DNA demethylation occurred rapidly following T cell activation and that all differentiated T cell populations displayed lower levels of global methylation than the non-differentiated population. In addition, T cells from older mice had a reduced level of DNA methylation, most likely explained by the increase in the memory/effector cell fraction. Although significant genome-wide changes were observed, changes in DNA methylation at individual genes were restricted to specific cell types. Changes in the expression of enzymes involved in DNA methylation and demethylation reflect in most cases the changes observed in the genome-wide DNA methylation status.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have demonstrated that DNA methylation is dynamic and flexible in CD4+ T cells and changes rapidly both in a genome-wide and in a targeted manner during T cell activation, differentiation. These changes are accompanied by parallel changes in the enzymatic complexes that have been implicated in DNA methylation and demethylation implying that the balance between these opposing activities may play a role in the maintaining the methylation profile of a given cell type but also allow flexibility in a cell population that needs to respond rapidly to environmental signals.</p

Zika Virus Induced More Severe Inflammatory Response Than Dengue Virus in Chicken Embryonic Livers

Dengue (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are important flaviviruses in tropical and subtropical regions, causing severe Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF)/Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) and microcephaly, respectively. The infection of both viruses during pregnancy were reported with adverse fetal outcomes. To investigate the effects of ZIKV and DENV infections on fetal development, we established an infection model in chicken embryos. Compared with DENV-2, the infection of ZIKV significantly retarded the development of chicken embryos. High viral loads of both DENV-2 and ZIKV was detected in brain, eye and heart 7 and 11 days post-infection, respectively. Interestingly, only ZIKV but not DENV-2 was detected in the liver. Even both of them induced apparent liver inflammation, ZIKV infection showed a more severe inflammatory response than DENV-2 infection based on the inflammation scores and the gene expression levels of IL-1β, TNF, IL-6, and TGFβ-2 in liver. Our results demonstrated that ZIKV induced more severe inflammatory response in chicken embryo liver compared to DENV-2, which might partially attribute to viral replication in liver cells. Clinicians should be aware of the potential liver injury associated with ZIKV infection in patients, especially in perinatal fetuses

Ti3C2Tx on copper and nickel foams with improved electrochemical performance produced via solution processing for supercapacitor

Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of Ti3C2Tx electrodes using solution processing. Two-dimensional (2D) nanometer Ti3C2Tx flakes are site-aggregated on copper and nickel foam papers with a reconstituted threedimensional (3D) structure consisting of overlapping and open-pore 2D flakes. When Ti3C2Tx was used as electrochemical capacitor electrodes in 1 M Na2SO4 solution, the capacitances were comparable to literature values. There is a quantitative linear relationship between the capacitance and foam thicknesses. Given the process scalability and the morphological control that is possible, these results provide a promising road map for convenient and economical supercapacitors

Meeting Summary of The NYO3 5th NO-Age/AD Meeting and the 1st Norway-UK Joint Meeting on Aging and Dementia:Recent Progress on the Mechanisms and Interventional Strategies

Unhealthy aging poses a global challenge with profound healthcare and socioeconomic implications. Slowing down the aging process offers a promising approach to reduce the burden of a number of age-related diseases, such as dementia, and promoting healthy longevity in the old population. In response to the challenge of the aging population and with a view to the future, Norway and the United Kingdom are fostering collaborations, supported by a "Money Follows Cooperation agreement" between the 2 nations. The inaugural Norway-UK joint meeting on aging and dementia gathered leading experts on aging and dementia from the 2 nations to share their latest discoveries in related fields. Since aging is an international challenge, and to foster collaborations, we also invited leading scholars from 11 additional countries to join this event. This report provides a summary of the conference, highlighting recent progress on molecular aging mechanisms, genetic risk factors, DNA damage and repair, mitophagy, autophagy, as well as progress on a series of clinical trials (eg, using NAD+ precursors). The meeting facilitated dialogue among policymakers, administrative leaders, researchers, and clinical experts, aiming to promote international research collaborations and to translate findings into clinical applications and interventions to advance healthy aging.</p

A Rapid Method for Measuring Strontium-90 Activity in Crops in China

A rapid method for measuring Sr-90 activity in crop ashes is presented. Liquid scintillation counting, combined with ion exchange columns 4‘, 4“(5“)-di-t-butylcyclohexane-18-crown-6, is used to determine the activity of Sr-90 in crops. The yields of chemical procedure are quantified using gravimetric analysis. The conventional method that uses ion-exchange resin with HDEHP could not completely remove all the bismuth when comparatively large lead and bismuth exist in the samples. This is overcome by the rapid method. The chemical yield of this method is about 60% and the MDA for Sr-90 is found to be 2:32 Bq/kg. The whole procedure together with using spectrum analysis to determine the activity only takes about one day, which is really a large improvement compared with the conventional method. A modified conventional method is also described here to verify the value of the rapid one. These two methods can meet di_erent needs of daily monitoring and emergency situation

Proceedings of Patient Reported Outcome Measure’s (PROMs) Conference Oxford 2017: Advances in Patient Reported Outcomes Research

A33-Effects of Out-of-Pocket (OOP) Payments and Financial Distress on Quality of Life (QoL) of People with Parkinson’s (PwP) and their Carer