Monte Carlo calculation of the small sample reactivity effect

A monte Carlo method for the calculation of the reactivity effect of a small sample in a nuclear reactor is described. Particle histories are started within the sample. Therefore, it is not necessary to enter the sample from outside with a small probability. After leaving the sample, the histories are terminated at some distance from the sample site using pre-calculated results of the unperturbed reference system. The influence of some approximations is diminished because these pre-calculated results are used only far away from the region of interest. Some numerical results show the efficiency of the method. The method is fast and can also be used at rather small and slow computers.     

How tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) perform in a searching task: Evidence for strategy use.

This study investigated how male tree shrews (Tupaia balngeri) performed in a searching task while in their home cages and assessed whether different food distributions affected their performance. The animals were faced with a holeboard containing 9 food sources arranged in a 3 X 3 matrix or in 3 clusters, each containing 3 sources. Animals tended to start and end the trials from preferred locations, thereafter solving the task by strategically organizing the reward collection according to a minimum-distance principle. In the cluster configuration, they visited the sources hierarchically. Food distribution did not affect the performance. Comparison with data from mice and capuchin monkeys revealed that tree shrews and capuchins solved the task in a similar strategic way, whereas mice did not. These findings attract particular attention because of the phylogenetic position of tree shrews, which are regarded as closely related to primates. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lebenszyklusbetrachtungen als Grundlage für die Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung von Straßenbrücken

Lebenszyklusbetrachtungen spielen bei der Bewertung der Nachhaltigkeit von Bauwerken eine besondere Rolle. Sie fokussieren nicht nur auf die einmaligen Umweltwirkungen und die Investitionskosten bei der Herstellung von Bauwerken, sondern ermöglichen die ganzheitliche Beurteilung der fortlaufend anfallenden ökologischen und ökonomischen Wirkungen. Mit der Untersuchung von zwei Autobahnbrücken und zwei Überführungsbauwerken wird das Ziel verfolgt, einen einheitlichen Durchschnittswert für die ökologischen und die ökonomischen Wirkungen von Brückenbauwerken zu definieren. Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der Festlegung derartiger Referenzwerte und stellt erste Lösungsansätze zur Berücksichtigung des Recyclingpotentials von Materialien vor. Life cycle considerations as a base for assessment of the sustainability of road bridges. Life cycle considerations are important for the assessment of the sustainability of constructions. Taking the life cycle into account it is not only possible to determine single environmental impacts and investment costs arising during the construction of buildings, but also to assess the consecutive ecological and economical impacts. The aim of this study was to define a consistent average value for ecological as well as economical impacts of road bridges by evaluating two viaducts and two overcrossings. This article deals with the determination of those reference values and presents an approach how to deal with the recycling potential of materials within the life cycle assessment.     

Neutron radiography, a powerful method to determine time-dependent moisture distributions in concrete

Service life of reinforced concrete structures is often limited by penetration of water and compounds dissolved in water into concrete. Concrete can be damaged in this way and corrosion of steel reinforcement can be initiated. There is an urgent need to study water penetration into concrete in order to better understand deterioration mechanisms and to find appropriate ways to improve durability. Neutron radiography provides us with an advanced non-destructive technique with high spatial resolution and extraordinary sensitivity. In this contribution, neutron radiography was successfully applied to study the process of water absorption of two types of concrete with different water–cement ratios, namely 0.4 and 0.6. The influence cracks and of water repellent treatment on water absorption has been studied on mortar specimens. It is possible to visualize migration of water into concrete and other cement-based composites and to quantify the time-dependent moisture distributions as function of time with high spatial resolution by means of neutron radiography. Water penetration depth obtained from neutron radiography is in good agreement with corresponding values obtained from capillary suction tests. Surface impregnation of concrete with silane prevents capillary uptake of water. Even fine cracks are immediately filled with water as soon as the surface gets in contact. Results provide us with a solid basis for a better understanding of deteriorating processes in concrete and other cement-based materials.     

New statistical method for detection and quantification ofrespiratory sinus arrhythmia

A statistical method with the advantages of 1) enabling graphical representation of within-respiratory cycle heart rate variations, 2) detecting the presence of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in a moving window, and 3) providing breath-by-breath RSA amplitude and phase obtained from the fitting of a sinusoid to the instantaneous relative heart rate is presented.