Leak detection in pipe using transient flow and genetic algorithm

An inverse transient method with genetic algorithm (GA) was applied to leak detection in pipeline. Transient flow caused by valve operation was calculated using the characteristics method. The location and discharge of leak were determined so that the difference of the calculated pressure may be minimized from the reference pressure calculated under a given leak condition. Calculations were done for the leak at one and two locations in pipeline. Furthermore, the effect of noise in pressure data was discussed, and the leak locations and leak discharges can be predicted precisely even in the case of noisy data. This paper was presented at the 9^th Asian International Conference on Fluid Machinery (AICFM9), Jeju Korea, October 16–19, 2007.     

Enhancement of etch rate for preparation of nano-sized ion-track membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride): Effect of pretreatment and high-LET beam irradiation

We investigated how pretreatment and high-LET beam irradiation affected the ion-track dissolution rate in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) films by SEM observations and conductometric analysis in order to develop the preparation methodology of nano-sized ion-track membranes. PVDF thin films irradiated with four types of ion beams were exposed to a 9 mol/dm³ KOH aqueous solution after their storage in air at 120 °C. This heating treatment was found to enhance the etch rate in the latent track, both in the inner core and outer halo regions, without changing that in the bulk, probably due to the formation of parasitic oxidation products facilitating the introduction of the etching agent to improve the etchability. Additionally, the irradiation of heavier higher-LET ions, causing each track to more activated sites (like radicals), was preferable for achieving effective etching.     

Molecular Hydrogen Enhances Proliferation of Cancer Cells That Exhibit Potent Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response

Molecular hydrogen ameliorates pathological states in a variety of human diseases, animal models, and cell models, but the effects of hydrogen on cancer have been rarely reported. In addition, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of hydrogen remain mostly unelucidated. We found that hydrogen enhances proliferation of four out of seven human cancer cell lines (the responders). The proliferation-promoting effects were not correlated with basal levels of cellular reactive oxygen species. Expression profiling of the seven cells showed that the responders have higher gene expression of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) molecules than the non-responders. In addition, the responders have higher mitochondrial mass, higher mitochondrial superoxide, higher mitochondrial membrane potential, and higher mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity than the non-responders. In the responders, hydrogen provoked mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR). Suppression of cell proliferation by rotenone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ETC complex I, was rescued by hydrogen in the responders. Hydrogen triggers mtUPR and induces cell proliferation in cancer cells that have high basal and spare mitochondrial ETC activities.     

考虑反复加载时混凝土损伤积累的RC平板及剪力墙的有限元分析模型的开发

反复荷载作用下的混凝土、钢筋的本构模型是评价和分析钢筋混凝土(RC)结构的承载力-变形特性关键,旨在开发适用于反复荷载作用下RC平板、剪力墙的2维非线性有限元分析的材料本构模型,探讨并推出了反复荷载作用下在混凝土的本构模型中考虑混凝土损伤积累的方法;并对RC平板和剪力墙进行了反复加载的2维有限元模拟。分析结果与实验结果的比较表明,采用所建议的考虑损伤积累的2维非线性有限元分析模型由加载至最大承载力前能很好的模拟反复加载时RC平板、剪力墙的非线性特性。     

Lithium intercalation and alloying effects on electronic structures of spinel lithium manganese oxides

Employing the DV-Xα molecular orbital method, lithium intercalation effect and alloying effect have been investigated on the electronic structures of spinel M_xMn_2−xO₄ and LiM_xMn_2−xO₄ (M=Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu). It is found that the lithium intercalation induces the electron transfer from Li to the surrounding O ions, and enlarges the Mn-3d/O-2p band gap greatly. Such a modification of the oxygen electronic state is probably related to the electrochemical cell voltage. This lithium intercalation effect still holds even in the alloyed systems. However, the amount of transferred charges from M to O ions changes depending on the alloying element, M. So the alloying addition modifies the oxygen electronic state and influences the lithium intercalation process indirectly.     

Seismic proof test of a reinforced concrete containment vessel (RCCV): Part 2: Results of shaking table tests

A 1/8-scale model was constructed of a reinforced concrete containment vessel (RCCV) used in the latest advanced boiling water reactors (ABWR). Shaking table tests were conducted on it with input motions corresponding to or exceeding a design earthquake assumed for a real Nuclear Power Plant.The objectives of the tests were to verify the structural integrity and the leak-proof functional soundness of the RCCV subjected to design earthquakes, and to determine the ultimate strength and seismic margin by an excitation that led to the model's collapse. The model, the test sequence and the pressure and leak test results were addressed in Part 1. The shaking table test method, the input motions and the test results, including the transition of the model's stiffness, natural frequencies and damping factors and the effects of vertical input motions and internal pressure on the model's characteristics and behavior, the load–deformation, the ultimate strength, the failure mode of the reinforced concrete portion and the liner plate are described here. The seismic safety margin that was evaluated by the energy input during the failure test to a design basis earthquake will be described in Part 3. The analytical results of simulation using the multi-lumped mass model will be described in Part 4.     

Principle validation of nuclear fuel material isotopic composition measurement method based on photofission reactions

We have developed a new nondestructive assay technique based on the photonuclear reaction, which is aimed at measuring the isotopic composition of nuclear fuel materials without relying on their self-generated neutron information. This methodology enables measurement of the number of neutrons produced by the photofission reactions at different specific photon energies, and only information on the relative counts and not the absolute values or energies, which are considerably affected by backgrounds, are required for the enrichment induction according to a mathematical process. The present methodology estimated the ²³⁵U enrichment value with 8% accuracy when the cross section uncertainty is 5%.     

Maximization of representativity factors for experimental planning of cross-section measurements: An information theoretic approach

The similarity between two nuclear systems is expressed by the representativity factors and maximizing its value to unity reduces the uncertainty from its existing value. As the representativity factor is a function of covariance matrix of neutron cross-sections, the inherent systematic uncertainty in neutron cross-sections inhibits it from approaching unity and hence statistical procedures have to be resorted to minimize the systematic uncertainty. As the conventional statistical techniques fail when systematic uncertainty is dominant, we propose an entropy based information theoretic approach of maximizing the mutual information by the knowledge of bounds for the correlated elements. We show that maximizing the mutual information and the representativity factors express the similar phenomena of uncertainty reduction. We estimated the bounds for the correlated elements of the correlation matrix for minor actinides and show how the systematic uncertainty is reduced when lower bound values are considered. These lower bound values aid in experimental planning for future measurement of cross-sections with reduced systematic uncertainty.     

香港部屋 日本新潟县

<正>香港部屋座落在日本新潟县中鱼沼郡津南町内的一个村落里。津南的上乡被大自然紧紧包围着,是一个有大树,有小草,充满着雪国风貌的青葱之地。为了不打扰这份自然和宁静,LAAB以融入作为设计理念,希望香港部屋成为这个村落的一部分。屋顶微微倾侧,和村落中此起彼落的民居建筑物互相呼应。LAAB用新潟当地的鱼沼杉木和常见的镀铁板     

Electron beam nanoprocessing of a carbon nanotube film using a variable pressure scanning electron microscope

We demonstrate a novel method of processing carbon nanotubes using a variable pressure scanning electron microscope. Lines were processed in a nanotube film by electron beam irradiation in oxygen gas and nitrogen gas. The processing mechanism can be explained in terms of gas ion sputtering and chemical reaction. In this experiment, the narrowest line width of 120 nm was achieved in a nitrogen atmosphere.