Kv-scaling in thermal hydraulics: Background, applications and forthcoming uses

Addressing the scaling issue refers to a rather complex process of demonstrating the applicability of activities devoted to predict the behaviour of actual nuclear power plants using the knowledge acquired in scaled-down test facilities. Such activities involve, among others, the evaluation of the capability of Best Estimate codes to scale-up processes from reduced scale test facilities to full scale Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) and the quantification of the effects of scale distortions. In this context, a scaled calculation is a system-code simulation in which, defined test conditions of an Integral Test Facility (ITF) are scaled-up to a NPP nodalization to reproduce the same scenario. The practical use of such kind of calculation is to permit a comparison of the behaviour of the plant and the ITF nodalizations under the same conditions. The comparison between the NPP -scaled results and those of the experiment post-test calculation will show unavoidable differences or distortions. Explaining such distortions is the key process in methods devoted to qualify plant nodalizations. The aim of this paper is to show the effectiveness of -scaled calculations and to outline the forthcoming use of hybrid nodalizations and scale-up nodalizations. The paper includes a thorough literature review of these type of approaches as well as the perspectives of future use of the scaling analysis. Such future uses include the feedback to experimentation. Despite the fact that the hybrid calculations presented here are related to existing ITFs and NPPs, feedback to experimentation intents to show the essentials of a future practice to be mainly implemented in modular ITFs.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Applying UPC scaling-up methodology to the LSTF-PKL counterpart test

In the framework of the nodalization qualification process and quality guarantee procedures and following the guidelines of Kv-scaled analysis and UMAE methodology, further development has been performed by UPC team resulting in a scaling-up methodology. Such methodology has been applied in this paper for analyzing discrepancies that appear between the simulations of two counterpart tests. It allows the analysis of scaling-down criterion used for the design of an ITF and also the investigation of the differences of configuration between an ITF and a particular NPP. For analyzing both, it applies two conceptsPostprint (published version

Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering UPC-ENDESA. A consolidated international program

The Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering (MNE) UPC-ENDESA offers a unique and practical oriented training, with the aim to prepare competent engineers so that they can assume managerial positions within the Nuclear Industry. The program combines science, technology and management in the nuclear energy field, including the elements of the safety culture. MNE is embedded in EMINE, the European Master in Nuclear Energy (KIC InnoEnergy) and is completely taught in English. Its 90 credits (each credit implies 25 hours of student’s work) are divided into one year of subjects (60 credits), and one semester of internship plus final project (30 credits). MNE has a strong industrial implication: lecturers from companies, research institutes and the Spanish Regulatory Authority (cover about one half of the lectures; companies accept students in internships and organize technical visits. The participation of professionals external to the University in the definition and revision of the Program is one of MNE’s assets. A large portion of the contents of the MNE are organized in the form of Problem and Project Based Learning: real industrial problems are brought into the classroom to be solved by students, most of the time assisted by experts from the nuclear industry. MNE is in continuous evolution, seeking for a continuous improvement of the contents and learning methods. Starting the sixth edition, the master is firmly consolidated and the alumni value it positively.Postprint (published version

ETV5 i RUNX1, nous factors de transcripció implicats en la invasió miometrial del carcinoma endometrial

Actualment, en càncer d'endometri, està àmpliament acceptat el model dualístic que, atenent a bases morfològiques, diferencia tumors de tipus i o endometrioides dels de tipus ii o no endometrioides. La genètica molecular ha aportat dades que donen suport a aquest model dualístic de la tumorigènesi endometrial i algunes claus per a poder especular sobre la seqüència temporal de les alteracions moleculars que defineixen les rutes tumorigèniques. En els càncers endometrials endometrioides, o de tipus i, es coneixen alteracions majors, com poden ser el silenciament del gen PTEN, la inestabilitat de microsatèll. its associada a defectes en els gens reparadors de DNA, o mutacions al gen K-ras. Aquestes alteracions defineixen la progressió de l'endometri normal cap a la hiperplàsia i posteriorment cap al carcinoma. Recentment, l'ús de la tecnologia de microxips de cDNA per a identificar les diferències en els patrons d'expressió gènica entre els diferents tipus histològics de càncer d'endometri han permès la identificació de gens expressats diferencialment que podrien ajudar-nos a entendre les diferències en la biologia i el pronòstic clínic dels diferents histiotips tumorals. En el nostre laboratori hem aïllat i caracteritzat dos nous factors de transcripció, ETV5 i RUNX1, que estan associats amb els passos inicials de la infiltració miometrial en el càncer d'endometri endometrioide. Aquests estudis, i els d'altres gens implicats en el control de la mitosi com a mecanisme major de carcinogènesi en els càncers d'endometri no endometrioides, representen exemples de la utilitat dels estudis genètics amplis per a comprendre el procés de tumorigènesi i les rutes implicades en la patogènesi molecular del càncer d'endometri.A dualistic model, which has been established on a morphological basis and that differentiates type i endometrioid from type ii non-endometrioid endometrial cancer, is widely accepted. Molecular genetics have provided us with data supporting the dualistic model of endometrial tumorigenesis and with some clues to speculate about the sequence of the molecular alterations defining the tumorigenesis pathways. In type i endometrioid endometrial cancer, PTEN gene silencing, microsatellite instability associated with defects in DNA mismatch repair genes, or mutations in the K-ras gene are the known major alterations defining the progression from normal endometrium to hyperplasia and then on to carcinoma. Recently, cDNA microarray technology for identifying the differences in gene expression patterns between the histological types of endometrial cancer have permitted the identification of differentially expressed genes that could help us to understand differences in the biology and the clinical outcome between histiotypes. In our laboratory, we have recently isolated and characterized two new transcription factors, ETV5 and RUNX1, which expression appears to be associated with initial steps of myometrial infiltration in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. These studies, as well as those on other genes involved in the mitotic checkpoint as a major mechanism of carcinogenesis in non-endometrioid endometrial cancer, represent examples of how useful large genetic screenings can be for understanding the tumorigenesis process and the future directions in the molecular pathogenesis of endometrial cancer

Diseño conceptual e ingenieria de detalle de un lazo experimental dual Pb15.7Li/ He (proyecto BCN_LOOP®): una propuesta de proyecto de I+D+i industrial para desarrollos clave en tecnologia nuclear de fusion

Postprint (published version

The EMT signaling pathways in endometrial carcinoma

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy of the female genital tract and the fourth most common neoplasia in women. In EC, myometrial invasion is considered one of the most important prognostic factors. For this process to occur, epithelial tumor cells need to undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), either transiently or stably, and to differing degrees. This process has been extensively described in other types of cancer but has been poorly studied in EC. In this review, several features of EMT and the main molecular pathways responsible for triggering this process are investigated in relation to EC. The most common hallmarks of EMT have been found in EC, either at the level of E-cadherin loss or at the induction of its repressors, as well as other molecular alterations consistent with the mesenchymal phenotype-like L1CAM and BMI-1 up-regulation. Pathways including progesterone receptor, TGFβ, ETV5 and microRNAs are deeply related to the EMT process in EC

Transición energética : ¿qué es urgente? ¿qué es importante?

Descripció del recurs: 24 maig 2022La problemática energética está sobre la mesa y la necesidad de una aproximación multidisciplinar que permita abordarla teniendo en cuenta su dimensión mundial, es cada día más acuciante. Para hablar de energía, además de conocer la tecnología, debemos tener muy presente a la ciudadanía, hacer un esfuerzo humano y científico para entender lo que nos pide y actuar en consecuencia. Para producir pensamiento energético necesitamos expertos en economía, gestión, climatología, sociología, sostenibilidad... y ¡también en tecnología energética! El entramado de las interacciones entre expertos de especialidad diversa en general ya es complejo y, en este caso tal vez más aún. Las dificultades que aparecen en estas interacciones suelen hacernos globalmente poco eficaces. ¡No interaccionamos de forma óptima! Así, y a pesar de los esfuerzos de muchos, el diálogo en temas de sostenibilidad energética o global entre expertos diversos es dificultoso. Estamos ante un tema con un encuadre complejo. La transversalidad debe ser gestionada y uno de los propósitos que tenemos es intentar aportar un poco de luz al esclarecimiento de la situación.Primera edici

Transició energètica : què és urgent? què és important?

Descripció del recurs: 23 desembre 2021La problemàtica energètica és damunt la taula i la necessitat d’una aproximació multidisciplinària que permeti abordar-la tenint en compte la seva dimensió mundial és cada dia més punyent. Per parlar d’energia, a més de conèixer la tecnologia, hem de tenir molt present la ciutadania, fer un esforç humà i científic per tal d’entendre què ens demana i actuar en conseqüència. Per produir pensament energètic necessitem experts en economia, gestió, climatologia, sociologia, sostenibilitat... i també en tecnologia energètica! L’entrellat de les interaccions entre experts d’especialitat diversa en general ja és complex i, en aquest cas potser més encara. Les dificultats que apareixen en aquestes interaccions solen fer-nos globalment poc eficaços. No interaccionem de forma òptima! Així, i malgrat els esforços de molts, el diàleg en temes de sostenibilitat energètica o global entre experts diversos és dificultós. Som davant d’un tema amb un enquadrament complex. La transversalitat ha de ser gestionada i un dels propòsits que tenim és intentar aportar una mica de llum a l’aclariment de la situació.Primera edici

The use of system codes in scaling studies: relevant techniques for qualifying NPP nodalizations for particular scenarios

System codes along with necessary nodalizations are valuable tools for thermal hydraulic safety analysis. Qualifying both codes and nodalizations is an essential step prior to their use in any significant study involving code calculations. Since most existing experimental data come from tests performed on the small scale, any qualification process must therefore address scale considerations. This paper describes the methodology developed at the Technical University of Catalonia in order to contribute to the qualification of Nuclear Power Plant nodalizations by means of scale disquisitions. The techniques that are presented include the so-called.. V-scaled calculation approach as well as the use o

Perfecting the use of hybrid models in scaling analysis

Different methodologies devoted to qualify Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) system-code nodalizations rely on Kv-scaled calculations as an essential tool for their purpose. In the framework of Power-To-Volume strategy, a Kv-scaled calculation is a simulation in which, defined Integral Test Facility (ITF) test conditions are scaled-up to a NPP nodalization to reproduce the same scenario. In the recent years, the “Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya” (UPC) has developed SCUP, a scaling methodology to qualify NPP models. Following the steps established in UPC’s SCUP methodology, Kv-scaled calculations become really useful when two different kinds of them, the so-called “pure scaled” and “hybrid” are properly combined. This paper starts summarizing the most relevant features of UPC’s SCUP methodology and its validation process. It also includes important aspects of the usefulness of hybrid calculations in their role of explaining distortions that may appear when a plant simulation is compared with a scaled-up version of test results. Some ideas on the forthcoming uses of hybrid nodalizations are also presented. Among such uses the most significant is the support to test design. Hybrid calculations are used to justify facility modifications. This particular, despite being more specific for future modular ITFs, is illustrated in the paper for minor changes in existing facilities. Previous article in issue.Postprint (author's final draft