Smart Search in Newspaper Archives Using Topic Maps

The OmniPaper project has implemented three information retrieval prototypes in the area of electronic news publishing. One prototype uses SOAP as communication protocol between the central system and a number of distributed news archives. The second prototype uses an RDF metadata database, enabling direct metadata queries to the central system. Finally the Topic Map prototype uses query expansion and semantic linking for smart metadata search. The Topic Map prototype enhances thesearch experience by implementing a knowledge layer that combines the semantic content of a lexical database, consisting of concepts and keywords, with a metadata-set of newspaper articles. The linking between both is currently implemented at the level of keywords but will be developed at the level of concepts in the final prototype. The knowledge layer has been designed from a Topic Map point of view, although the XTM syntax has not been used to avoid performance issues. The consortium’s adopted view on information publishing and retrieval considers querying and navigation as two very related actions that can both be captured under the name “search for relevant information”. Navigation forces the user to followpredefined paths whereas querying enables the user to look freely for a suitable starting point. The query and navigation functionality is provided through a web engine and is build on top of the information structure of the knowledge layer

List-mode data acquisition based on digital electronics - State-of-the-art report

This report deals with digital radiation detection systems employing list-mode data collection, which improves data analysis capabilities. Future data acquisition systems shall also ultimately enable the movement of detection data from first responders electronically to analysis centres rather than the costly and time consuming process of moving experts and/or samples. This new technology is especially useful in crisis events, when time and resources are sparse and increased analysis capacity is required. In order to utilise the opportunities opened by these new technologies, the systems have to be interoperable, so that the data from each type of detector can easily be analysed by different analysis centres. Successful interoperability of the systems requires that European and/or international standards are devised for the digitised data format. The basis of such a format is a list of registered events detailing an estimate of the energy of the detected radiation, along with an accurate time-stamp for recorded events (and optionally other parameters describing each event).JRC.G.5-Security technology assessmen

Critical parameters and performance tests for the evaluation of digital data acquisition hardware

Recent developments of digital data acquisition systems allow real-time pre-processing of detector signals at a high count rate. These so-called pulse processing digitizers are powerful and versatile instruments offering techniques which are important for nuclear security, critical infrastructure protection, nuclear physics and radiation metrology. Certain aspects of digital data acquisition affect the performance of the total system in a critical way and therefore require special attention. This report presents a short introduction to digital data acquisition, followed by a discussion of the critical parameters which affect the performance in the lab and in the field. For some of the parameters, tests are proposed to assess the performance of digital data acquisition systems. Good practices are offered to guide the selection and evaluation of digital data acquisition systems. More general performance criteria which are not specifically related to digital data acquisition systems are discussed separately.JRC.D.4-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard

Robotic equipment carrying RN detectors: requirements and capabilities for testing

77 pags., 32 figs., 5 tabs.-- ERNCIP Radiological and Nuclear Threats to Critical Infrastructure Thematic Group . -- This publication is a Technical report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) . -- JRC128728 . -- EUR 31044 ENThe research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union as part of the European Reference Network for Critical Infrastructure Protection (ERNCIP) projec

An absolute measurement of the neutron production rate of a spent nuclear fuel sample used for depletion code validation

A method to determine the neutron production rate of a spent nuclear fuel segment sample by means of non-destructive assay conducted under standard controlled-area conditions is described and demonstrated. A neutron well counter designed for routine nuclear safeguards applications is applied. The method relies on a transfer procedure that is adapted to the hot cell facilities at the Laboratory for High and Medium level Activity of SCK CEN in Belgium. Experiments with 252Cf(sf) sources, certified for their neutron emission rate, were carried out at the Joint Research Centre to determine the characteristics of the detection device. Measurements of a segment of a spent nuclear fuel rod were carried out at SCK CEN resulting in an absolute and non-destructive measurement of the neutron production rate avoiding any reference to a representative spent nuclear fuel sample to calibrate the device. Results of these measurements were used to study the performance of depletion codes, i.e., ALEPH2, SCALE, and Serpent2. The study includes a code-to-code and code-to-experiment comparison using different nuclear data libraries

Absolute measurement of βeff and I on weapon-grade MOX fuel at the VENUS critical facility by means of RAPJA technique

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The first e-Sampling Proficiency Test in the area of food quality and safety

The Community Reference Laboratory for Heavy Metals in Feed and Food (CRL-HM) organised a course on "Uncertainty of Sampling" attended by National Reference Laboratories. After the introductory lecture by Prof. M. Ramsey the first electronic proficiency test on sampling (e-SPT), developed in the frame of the collaboration between the IRMM and the University of Sussex, was carried out. A total of 16 participants reported results. The purpose of the exercise was to monitor the "nitrate contamination in a lettuce field". The same nitrate concentration profile was used throughout the exercise. Participants were guided along the exercise; they collected two compound samples and reported their measurement results. The spreadsheet application accounted for sampling and analytical uncertainties, so that every participant provided four experimental results (two independent analytical measurements per composite sample). The reported results were analysed using the robust ANOVA program (ROBAN). Between participants, within-participant sampling, within-participant analytical and within-participant measurement uncertainties were evaluated. Although the results of a real sampling proficiency test estimate better the uncertainty from sampling,the e-SPT helps to learn how to design better real sampling proficiency tests

Acceptance of the proposal for a new international standard for list-mode data used in nuclear instrumentation - EMPIR 14SIP07 "DigitalStandard", Deliverable D1; JRC work package 3883 "DiSNU", Deliverable 1

This report is Deliverable D1 of the EMPIR project 14SIP07 "DigitalStandard", which corresponds to Deliverable 1 of the JRC work package 3883 "DiSNU".) The use of digital data acquisition for the detection and measurement of radioactivity is increasing over the years since it offers advantages over data acquisition with conventional modular systems. Modern digital systems sample the signal directly from the radiation detector at a high rate and present data in a digital manner to computer systems for further processing and analysis. However, there currently is no standard for the format of the data presented by such systems, which hinders the interoperability between hardware for data acquisition and software for data analysis. The need for such a standard has been identified earlier by the FP7 EMRP MetroFission project and confirmed by CEN/TC 391 in the frame of Commission mandate M/487 to the European Standardisation Organisations. In the Horizon2020 EMPIR DigitalStandard project, a consortium of four EU Member States has developed a preliminary draft international standard under the lead of JRC, who submitted it together with a New Work Item Proposal to the IEC/TC 45 "Nuclear Instrumentation". The proposal to develop the standard has been accepted, a project team has been appointed by the TC 45 National Committees and a liaison category A has been established between JRC and IEC/TC 45. The liaison officer will lead the project to develop the new standard. Forecast publication date of the standard is March 2019. The first Committee Draft should be finalised and prepared for circulation to the IEC/TC 45 National Committees by October 2016.JRC.D.4-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard