A conceptual approach to the estimation of societal willingness-to-pay for nuclear safety programs

The design, refurbishment and future decommissioning of nuclear reactors are crucially concerned with reducing the risk of radiation exposure that can result in adverse health effects and potential loss of life. To address this concern, large financial investments have been made to ensure safety of operating nuclear power plants worldwide. The efficacy of the expenditures incurred to provide safety must be judged against the safety benefit to be gained from such investments. We have developed an approach that provides a defendable basis for making that judgement.If the costs of risk reduction are disproportionate to the safety benefits derived, then the expenditures are not optimal; in essence the societal resources are being diverted away from other critical areas such as health care, education and social services that also enhance the quality of life. Thus, the allocation of society’s resources devoted to nuclear safety must be continually appraised in light of competing needs, because there is a limit on the resources that any society can devote to extend life.The purpose of the paper is to present a simple and methodical approach to assessing the benefits of nuclear safety programs and regulations. The paper presents the Life-Quality Index (LQI) as a tool for the assessment of risk reduction initiatives that would support the public interest and enhance both safety and the quality of life. The LQI is formulated as a utility function consistent with the principles of rational decision analysis. The LQI is applied to quantify the societal willingness-to-pay (SWTP) for safety measures enacted to reduce of the risk of potential exposures to ionising radiation. The proposed approach provides essential support to help improve the cost–benefit analysis of engineering safety programs and safety regulations.     

水泥窑煅烧带图像数据库系统的研究

利用图像处理技术，将采集到的水泥窑煅烧带图像进行处理，并根据存储条件把有效图像存人数据库，应用基于内容的图像检索技术对数据库中的图像进行检索和对图像数据库的安全管理。     

Micro-watershed level population based fuelwood consumption dynamics: Implications of seasonal vs. annual models for sustainable energy resource planning

Most developing countries such as India use biomass as a primary source of energy especially in domestic sectors in the rural area. The increasing population exerts more pressure on the biomass resource thereby initiating energy crisis in the region. The issue of shortage of fuelwood in the remote mountain regions is increasing since the alternative energy resources have limitations either due to poor economic condition of the people, complex technology involved or being inaccessible due to remoteness. It is also seen that the use of traditional biomass as a source of energy will improve the livelihood conditions of the people and it will give ecological benefits to the region if other associated factors like health, gender etc. are taken care of and thus the planners aim to focus on sustaining the natural fuelwood resources. The present paper attempts to predict the future fuelwood demand based on the present consumption pattern in the upland villages of Indian Himalaya. Major consumption characteristics such as fuelwood consumption at different altitude and per capita fuelwood consumption (PCFC) are studied. Population dynamics model is postulated in order to assess future population vs. fuelwood consumption scenario, thereby projecting the future population and the future fuelwood demand in the region.It is observed that variations in fuelwood consumption exist at different altitudes in the hilly region. Mathematical modelling and time-series simulation model was proposed and validated model to predict the future expected demand of fuelwood resources in Phakot watershed. Based on the projected population and season based fuelwood requirements, the watershed will have a total fuelwood demand of 19,327 t in 2011 which is expected to reach 36,462 t in 2021. Such studies on the future resource demand trends will help in finding suitable region-specific and need-based alternative strategies for achieving sustainable fuelwood management at the micro-level.     

Sterile keratitis after corneal collagen crosslinking in a child

Corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) is a non invasive technique used in halting the progression of keratoconus. Complications with this modality are rare. We report a case of an 8-year-old child who developed sterile infiltrates in the immediate postoperative period after uneventful corneal collagen crosslinking for keratoconus. The infiltrates resolved with topical steroid therapy. There was also present coexisting vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) which was controlled with topical 2% cyclosporine A eye drops prior to crosslinking treatment. This case highlights importance of controlling VKC prior to CXL in keratoconus as it adds to the risk of developing post operative sterile keratitis.     

Size dependent ferromagnetism in dodecyl amine capped ZnO nanoparticles

We investigated the size dependent ferromagnetism in dodecyl amine capped zinc oxide nanoparticle. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that density of oxygen vacancies was enhanced due to an increase in compressive strain concomitant with the decrease in particle size. Magnetic measurements showed increased ferromagnetic ordering in ZnO nanoparticles with reduced particle size. It was also found that the increase in coercive field, saturation magnetization and magnetic hysteresis loop area were invariably associated with increased oxygen defect population. The observed ferromagnetism in organic capped zinc oxide nanocrystals has therefore been assigned to defect induced phenomena. Results of sample characterization using optical absorption spectroscopy, photo luminescence spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscope have also been presented.     

Structural,Electronic Properties,Hydrogen Bonding Analyses,and Biological Activity of Two Multiple Myeloma Drugs: Lenalidomide and Pomalidomide

In this article, we made a comparative study of two multiple myeloma drugs: lenalidomide and pomalidomide. We calculated and discussed their geometries at DFT/B3LYP method. Intra-molecular hydrogen bonding in these molecules is confirmed and characterized by QTAIM calculations. Electronic parameters along with HOMO-LUMO and MESP surfaces are calculated in order to compare their chemical reactivity. The effect of structure and bonding on electronic properties and biological activities is discussed and it is established that pomalidomide is more biologically active than lenalidomide. The phenyl ring of these molecules show teratogenic effects, making a possibility of finding another new class of drugs.     

Non-traditional machining processes by means of velocity shear instability in plasma

The material removal within different machining process can be performed in distinct modalities. One of the modality is based on the effect of impact phenomenon. In this paper theoretical model of non-traditional machining process based on impact phenomenon is discussed. The material is removed from the surface due to the impact of ions. The velocity of ions is equal to the velocity at which the electrostatic ion-cyclotron instability driven by parallel flow velocity shear generated by massive ions takes place. The main ways for the material removal as consequence of the impact phenomenon are the microcracking, microcutting, melting and vaporizing of small quantities from the work-piece surface layer.