COMBINE7.1 - A Portable ENDF/B-VII.0 Based Neutron Spectrum and Cross-Section Generation Program

COMBINE7.1 is a FORTRAN 90 computer code that generates multigroup neutron constants for use in the deterministic diffusion and transport theory neutronics analysis. The cross-section database used by COMBINE7.1 is derived from the Evaluated Nuclear Data Files (ENDF/B-VII.0). The neutron energy range covered is from 20 MeV to 1.0E-5 eV. The Los Alamos National Laboratory NJOY code is used as the processing code to generate a 167 fine-group cross-section library in MATXS format for Bondarenko self-shielding treatment. Resolved resonance parameters are extracted from ENDF/B-VII.0 File 2 for a separate library to be used in an alternate Nordheim self-shielding treatment in the resolved resonance energy range. The equations solved for energy dependent neutron spectrum in the 167 fine-group structure are the B-3 or B-1 approximations to the transport equation. The fine group cross sections needed for the spectrum calculation are first prepared by Bondarenko self-shielding interpolation in terms of background cross section and temperature. The geometric lump effect, when present, is accounted for by augmenting the background cross section. Nordheim self-shielded fine group cross sections for a material having resolved resonance parameters overwrite correspondingly the existing self-shielded fine group cross sections when this option is used. The fine group cross sections in the thermal energy range are replaced by those self-shielded with the Amouyal/Benoist/Horowitz method in the three region geometry when this option is requested. COMBINE7.1 coalesces fine group cross sections into broad group macroscopic and microscopic constants. The coalescing is performed by utilizing fine-group fluxes and/or currents obtained by spectrum calculation as the weighting functions. The multigroup constant may be output in any of several standard formats including ANISN 14** free format, CCCC ISOTXS format, and AMPX working library format. ANISN-PC, a one-dimensional, discrete-ordinate transport code, is incoprated into COMBINE7.1. As an option, the 167 fine-group constants generated by COMBINE portion in the program can be used to cacluate regionwise spectra in the ANISN portion, all internally to reflect the one-dimensional transport correction. Results for the criticality validation calculations are included as a part of verification and validation

VERIFICATION OF THE INL/COMBINE7 NEUTRON ENERGY SPECTRUM CODE

We construct semi-analytic benchmarks for the neutron slowing down equations in the thermal, resonance and fast energy regimes through mathematical embedding. The method features a fictitious time-dependent slowing down equations solved via Taylor series expansion over discrete “time” intervals. Two classes of benchmarks are considered- the first treats methods of solution and the second the multigroup approximation itself. We present several meaningful benchmark methods comparisons with the COMBINE7 energy spectrum code and a simple demonstration of convergence of the multigroup approximation

Passive active neutron radioassay measurement uncertainty for combustible and glass waste matrices

Using a modified statistical sampling and verification approach, total uncertainty of INEL`s Passive Active Neutron (PAN) radioassay system was evaluated for combustible and glass content codes. Waste structure and content of 100 randomly selected drums in each the waste categories were computer modeled based on review of real-time radiography video tapes. Specific quantities of Pu were added to the drum models according to an experimental design. These drum models were then submitted to the Monte Carlo Neutron Photon code processing and subsequent calculations to produce simulated PAN system measurements. The reported Pu masses from the simulation runs were compared with the corresponding input masses. Analysis of the measurement errors produced uncertainty estimates. This paper presents results of the uncertainty calculations and compares them to previous reported results obtained for graphite waste

Financial feasibility and social acceptance for reducing nuclear power plants: A contingent valuation study

Social acceptance of nuclear power has become a decisive factor in framing a sustainable energy policy. This study examines social acceptance for cancelling the construction of planned nuclear power plants (NPPs) and rep

Prevalence and effects of emphysema in never-smokers with rheumatoid arthritis interstitial lung disease

AIMS: Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) have been linked to the existence of emphysema in never-smokers. We aimed to quantify emphysema prevalence in RA-ILD never-smokers and investigate whether combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) results in a worsened prognosis independent of baseline disease extent. METHODS: RA-ILD patients presenting to the Royal Brompton Hospital (n=90) and Asan Medical Center (n=155) had CT's evaluated for a definite usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern, and visual extents of emphysema and ILD. RESULTS: Emphysema, identified in 31/116 (27%) RA-ILD never-smokers, was associated with obstructive functional indices and conformed to a CPFE phenotype: disproportionate reduction in gas transfer (DLco), relative preservation of lung volumes. Using multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for patient age, gender and ILD extent, emphysema presence independently associated with a CT-UIP pattern in never-smokers (0.009) and smokers (0.02). On multivariate Cox analysis, following adjustment for patient age, gender, DLco, and a CT-UIP pattern, emphysema presence (representing the CPFE phenotype) independently associated with mortality in never-smokers (p=0.04) and smokers (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: 27% of RA-ILD never-smokers demonstrate emphysema on CT. Emphysema presence in never-smokers independently associates with a definite CT-UIP pattern and a worsened outcome following adjustment for baseline disease severity

Preparation and Characterization of Low Dielectric Methyl Silsesquioxane (MSSQ) Thin Films

As feature sizes in integrated circuits approach 0.18 ㎛ and below, problems such as interconnect RC delay and crosstalk become more serious. Materials with low dielectric constants are needed to solve these problems. We applied methyl silsesquioxane (MSSQ) as a low dielectric material and studied the film formation condition and the electrical properties of MSSQ films. MSSQ dissolved in a propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) and MSSQ/PGMEA solution was spun on glass substrates at various concentrations. Spinning at 2,500 rpm for 30 sec resulted in films with thicknesses of 6,500 A. Then, we cured the films by heating and measured the electrical properties of samples sandwiched between Al electrodes. The dielectric constant was ~ 2.7, the breakdown strength was about 2.3 MV/cm, and the leakage current was 5.4 X 10-10 A/cm2. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) indicated that the curing reaction started at about 200 ℃ and proceeded very fast up to 250 ℃. The structural change in the MSSQ films during curing was monitored by following the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) absorption intensity of the Si-O stretching vibration, which showed that the Si-O structure became more asymmetric during curing and/or network formation.This work was supported in part by the Korean Collaborative Project for Excellence in Basic System IC Technology (98-B4-C0-00-01-00) and the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) through the Hyperstructured Organic Materials Research Center (HOMRC)

Negative Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Graphene Measured by Raman Spectroscopy

The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of single-layer graphene is estimated with temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy in the temperature range between 200 and 400 K. It is found to be strongly dependent on temperature but remains negative in the whole temperature range, with a room temperature value of -8.0x10^{-6} K^{-1}. The strain caused by the TEC mismatch between graphene and the substrate plays a crucial role in determining the physical properties of graphene, and hence its effect must be accounted for in the interpretation of experimental data taken at cryogenic or elevated temperatures.Comment: 17 pagese, 3 figures, and supporting information (4 pages, 3 figures); Nano Letters, 201

Intranasal Introduction of Fc-Fused Interleukin-7 Provides Long-Lasting Prophylaxis against Lethal Influenza Virus Infection

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection frequently causes hospitalization and mortality due to severe immunopathology. Annual vaccination and antiviral drugs are the current countermeasures against IAV infection, but they have a limited efficacy against new IAV variants. Here, we show that intranasal pretreatment with Fc-fused interleukin-7 (IL-7-mFc) protects mice from lethal IAV infections. The protective activity of IL-7-mFc relies on transcytosis via neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) in the lung and lasts for several weeks. Introduction of IL-7-mFc alters pulmonary immune environments, leading to recruitment of T cells from circulation and their subsequent residency as tissue-resident memory-like T (T-RM-like) cells. IL-7-mFc-primed pulmonary T-RM-like cells contribute to protection upon IAV infection by dual modes. First, T-RM-like cells, although not antigen specific but polyclonal, attenuate viral replication at the early phase of IAV infection. Second, T-RM-like cells augment expansion of IAV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), in particular at the late phase of infection, which directly control viruses. Thus, accelerated viral clearance facilitated by pulmonary T cells, which are either antigen specific or not, alleviates immunopathology in the lung and mortality from IAV infection. Depleting a subset of pulmonary T cells indicates that both CD4 and CD8 T cells contribute to protection from IAV, although IL-7-primed CD4 T cells have a more prominent role. Collectively, we propose intranasal IL-7-mFc pretreatment as an effective means for generating protective immunity against IAV infections, which could be applied to a potential prophylaxis for influenza pandemics in the future. IMPORTANCE The major consequence of a highly pathogenic IAV infection is severe pulmonary inflammation, which can result in organ failure and death at worst. Although vaccines for seasonal IAVs are effective, frequent variation of surface viral proteins hampers development of protective immunity. In this study, we demonstrated that intranasal IL-7-mFc pretreatment protected immunologically naive mice from lethal IAV infections. Intranasal pretreatment with IL-7-mFc induced an infiltration of T cells in the lung, which reside as effector/memory T cells with lung-retentive markers. Those IL-7-primed pulmonary T cells contributed to development of protective immunity upon IAV infection, reducing pulmonary immunopathology while increasing IAV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Since a single treatment with IL-7-mFc was effective in the protection against multiple strains of IAV for an extended period of time, our findings suggest a possibility that IL-7-mFc treatment, as a potential prophylaxis, can be developed for controlling highly pathogenic IAV infections.open1175sciescopu