Revision of the Transuranus PUREDI Model

The Transuranus PUREDI model calculates the plutonium redistribution across the fuel pellet due to thermal diffusion. This phenomenon is particularly significant in oxide fuels for fast breeder reactors (FBR) where temperatures and temperature gradients are extremely high. The first version of PUREDI was developed and implemented as a stand-alone model. Since plutonium redistribution due to transport can lead to significant modifications of the radial power profile, a coupling of the PUREDI model with TUBRNP (recently extended for FBRs) is needed to correctly predict the fuel temperature. To this purpose, a revision of PUREDI has been proposed and the main features will be outlined in this report.JRC.E.3-Materials researc

Sjögren's syndrome: State of the art on clinical practice guidelines

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a complex autoimmune rheumatic disease that specifically targets salivary and lachrymal glands. As such, patients typically had ocular and oral dryness and salivary gland swelling. Moreover, skin, nasal and vaginal dryness are frequently present. In addition to dryness, musculoskeletal pain and fatigue are the hallmarks of this disease and constitute the classic symptom triad presented by the vast majority of patients. Up to 30% to 50 % of patients with SS may present systemic disease; moreover, there is an increased risk for the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that occurs in a minority of patients. The present work was developed in the framework of the European Reference Network (ERN) dedicated to Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ReCONNET). In line with its goals of aiming to improve early diagnosis, treatment and care of rare connective and musculoskeletal diseases, ERN-ReCONNET set to review the current state of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in the rare and complex connective tissue diseases of interest of the network. Therefore, the present work was aimed at providing a state of the art of CPGs for SS

Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and women’s political representation partially explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in women’s (rather than men’s) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to men’s higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men’s leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed.Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 CountriespublishedVersio

Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and women’s political representation partially explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in women’s (rather than men’s) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to men’s higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men’s leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed

A New Data-Condensation Method Based on Multidimensional Minimisation.

Abstract not availableJRC.E-Institute for Transuranium Elements (Karlsruhe

Melting Temperature of MOX fuel for FBR Applications: TRANSURANUS Modelling and Experimental Findings

This document focuses on the TRANSURANUS modelling of the melting temperature of MOX fuel for fast breeder reactors (FBRs). After a review of the models available in the code and in the open literature, their predictions were compared with an experimental dataset compiled from published measurements. A critical discussion of the comparison provided useful indications for the future development of the code and for the recommendations to the users involved in the analysis of the performance of fast reactor fuel. A special attention was given to the presence of minor actinides (MAs), a topic of great importance for the closure of nuclear fuel cycle. The analysis was carried out assuming, in the frame of GEN-IV and the FP7 PELGRIMM project (PELlets versus GRanulates: Irradiation, Manufacturing & Modelling), a homogeneous strategy for plutonium recycling.JRC.E.3-Materials researc

Proceedings International Workshop "Towards nuclear fuel modelling in the various reactor types across Europe"

The workshop was organised jointly by ITU and INRNE in Burgas, Bulgaria. The meeting is held in parallel with the 8th Conference on WWER Performance, Modelling and Experimental Support, 26 September - 04 October 2009, which is organised by INRNE in co-operation with the IAEA. The workshop aims at exchanging experience and knowledge in fuel performance analysis for West and East European nuclear reactors, as well as discussing the experimental results used for development and validation of fuel performance codes. It coincides with the bi-annual meeting of the institutional network TUNet, bringing together representatives from the nuclear industry, research and licensing organizations. Participants will mainly come from EU member states, and are involved in the development, validation and application of the code.JRC.DG.E.3-Materials researc

The Benefits of the FUMEX-II Project for Extending the Verification of the TRANSURANUS Code

see attachmentJRC.E.3-Materials researc

The added value of International Benchmarks for Fuel Performance Codes: an illustration on the basis of TRANSURANUS

Safety authorities and fuel designers, as well as nuclear research centers rely heavily on fuel performance codes for predicting the behaviour and life-time of fuel rods. The simulation tools are developed and validated on the basis of experimental results, some of which is in the public domain such as the International Fuel Performance Experiments database of the OECD/NEA and IAEA. Publicly available data constitute an excellent basis for assessing codes themselves, but also to compare codes that are being developed by independent teams. The present report summarises the advantages for the TRANSURANUS code by taking part in previous benchmarks organised by the IAEA, and outlines the preliminary results along with the perspectives of our participation in the current coordinated research project FUMEXIII.JRC.E.3-Materials researc