MEASUREMENT OF PROMPT NEUTRON SPECTRA OF ^238U FISSION INDUCED BY 10.17 AND 12.12 MeV NEUTRONS

Experimental method to measure the prompt neutron spectra of 238U fission induced by fast neutrons has been developed at HI-13 Tandem Van de Graaff Accelerator Laboratory of CIAE.These techniques employ a multi-segment fission chamber and two liquid scintillator neutron detectors.TOF(time of flight)techniques are used for primary neutrons to select the fission events induced by monoenergetic neutron from 2H(d,n) reactions instead of breakup neutrons from 2H(d,np) reactions.The fission neutron TOF spectra are measured in coincidence with the fission fragments to distinguish fission neutrons from other secondary neutrons.The method permits measurements to a fairly good accuracy under large neutron and gamma ray background.The techniques are described and experimental spectra are presented.     

Operation and Control of a Full-Scale Biogas Plant Treating Wastewater from the Cleaning of Car Tanks

A 1200-m³ full-scale biogas plant treating highly polluted wastewater (WW) from the cleaning of tank cars transporting food and fodder is working stably and efficiently despite the WW is constantly varying in strength and composition, is easily acidifying, and low in alkalinity. Na₂CO₃ has to be added to maintain the digester alkalinity and the digester pH at defined values due to softened water used for car tank cleaning. Monitoring volatile organic acid concentration and controlling the alkalinity in the digester are essential for maintaining the digestion process stability. Biogas production is adapted to the demand by a modulated feeding regime. The drastic modulation of feeding is possible due to the moderate organic loading of the plant along with the high average hydraulic retention time.     

Cationic UV‐Curable Conductive Composites from Exfoliated Graphite

Electrically conductive, cationically UV‐cured composites were prepared using exfoliated graphite plates (EGP) with cycloaliphatic epoxy resin and polyalcohol binder system. Exfoliated graphite (EG) was obtained from natural flake graphite through chemical and thermal treatment. Sonication of EG in solvent produced EGP. Characterization of graphite samples by XRD showed structural similarity between original graphite and EGP. UV curing behavior was characterized using photoDSC. Electrical resistivity measurements of the composites as a function of EGP concentration showed that at low filler concentration the binder system can influence the electrical percolation behavior. Some formulations showed electrical percolation at less than 1 vol.‐% of EGP filler.

     

Study on the structure of mangrove polyflavonoid tannins with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is a suitable method for examining polyflavonoid tannin oligomers as it is capable to determine aspects of their oligomeric structure and characteristics, which are otherwise too difficult to determine by other techniques. It has been possible to determine by MALDI-TOF for Rhizophora apiculata mangrove polyflvonoid tannins that: (i) procyanidins oligomers formed by catechin/epicatechin, epigallocatechin, and epicatechin gallate monomers are present in great proportions; (ii) oligomers, up to nonamers, in which the repeating unit at 528–529 Da is a catechin gallate dimer that has lost both the gallic acid residues and an hydroxy group which are the predominant species; (iii) oligomers of the two types covalently linked to each other also occur. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effect of metal oxides on the microstructure of zinc ceramic

The effect of crystallization of ZnO on volt-ampere characteristics was investigated. It was shown that incorporation of Bi₂O₃, TiO₂, and SnO₂ causes crystal growth, while Sb₂O₅, CoO, and MnO slow crystal growth. The formation of a finely crystalline structure with thin layers of glass phase increases the volt-ampere characteristics. __________ Translated from Steklo i Keramika, No. 1, pp. 29–31, January, 2007.     

Effect of heat transfer on the C49–C54 phase transformation in TiSi2 thin film

In this paper, the effect of heat transfer on the C49–C54 phase transformation in TiSi₂ thin film was investigated for the first time. Variation of the height of the chamber in the furnace during the annealing process was found to affect the sheet resistance (Rs) value of TiSi₂. By employing a moderate height of the annealing chamber, which makes it possible for the gas molecules inside to be more turbulent, the reduction of Rs can be achieved. From the standpoint of heat transfer theory, it has been proved in this paper that the enhancement of the thermal energy exchange between the wafer and the surrounding ambient contributes to the low resistivity C54 phase formation.     

Cysteamine-Gold Coated Carboxylated Fluorescent Nanoparticle Mediated Point-of-Care Dual-Modality Detection of the H5N1 Pathogenic Virus

Globally, point-of-care testing (POCT) is the most preferable on-site technique for disease detection and includes a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and fluorescent immunochromatographic strip test (FICT). The testing kits are generally insufficient in terms of signal enhancement, which is a major drawback of this approach. Sensitive and timely on-site POCT methods with high signal enhancement are therefore essential for the accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases. Herein, we prepare cysteamine-gold coated carboxylated europium chelated nanoparticle (Cys Au-EuNPs)-mediated POCT for the detection of the H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV). Commercial nanoparticles were used for comparison. The spectral characteristics, surface morphologies, functional groups, surface charge and stability of the Cys AuNPs, EuNPs, and Cys Au-EuNPs were confirmed by UV-visible spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectrometry, transmission electron microscope with Selected area electron diffraction (TEM-SAED), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and zeta potential analysis. The particle size distribution revealed an average size of ~130 ± 0.66 nm for the Cys Au-EuNPs. The Cys Au-EuNP-mediated RDT (colorimetric analysis) and FICT kit revealed a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 HAU/mL and 2.5 HAU/mL, respectively, for H5N1 under different titer conditions. The obtained LOD is eight-fold that of commercial nanoparticle conjugates. The photo luminance (PL) stability of ~3% the Cys Au-EuNPs conjugates that was obtained under UV light irradiation differs considerably from that of the commercial nanoparticle conjugates. Overall, the developed Cys Au-EuNPs-mediated dual-mode POCT kit can be used as an effective nanocomposite for the development of on-site monitoring systems for infectious disease surveillance.     

Enhancement of boron removal in treatment of spent rinse from a plating operation using RO

Boron removal is a critical issue in the production of drinking water and of ultra-pure water in the electronics industry. Boron rejection in a RO process is typically in the range of 40-60%. The objective of this study was to distinguish the factor contributing to enhanced boron rejection in reclamation of a spent rinse stream from a plating operation. The effects of different known components used in the feed on boron removal were investigated in the laboratory. The results indicated that glycolic acid and antifoulants could not individually enhance boron rejection in a RO process. A high boron rejection of 95% was achieved as the concentration of iron in the feed was 10 times higher than that of boron, which might be due to formation of a complex between iron oxide and boron. The finding was confirmed in a pilot study.     

Scandium extraction from sulfuric acid solutions by mixtures of D2EHPA and MTAA sulfate in toluene

Theoretical Foundations of Chemical Engineering - The extraction of scandium from solutions of the waste of sulfuric-acid leaching from the magnetic separation of titanomagnetites via toluene...     

The use of personal protective measures in control of malaria in a defined community

Malaria is one of the main health problems in the non-immune immigrant workers and army personnel of the malaria endemic areas in Myanmar. Due to changes in the vector bionomics and multiresistant strains of P. falciparum, chemoprophylaxis alone is not an effective means of control of malaria in them. So it is envisaged that the combined used of personal protective measures (deltamethrin impregnated bed-nets, scalves and hand-bands) and the chemoprophylaxis will be an effective means of control of malaria in the define group of people. The study also intended to find out the side effects of the deltamethrin and feasibility and acceptability of methods by the users. The study was conducted in Theini Township, Northern Shan State, from March to November 1993. The study population consisted of all ages of both sexes 554 and 440 persons in the test and control groups respectively. At the initial phase of the study, malaria infected persons from both the groups were treated. The experimental group received personal protective measures with impregnation of bed-nets using 25 mg ai/m2 of deltamethrin at 4 monthly intervals and the scarves and hand-bands at twice the concentration of the insecticides at monthly intervals. Chemoprophylaxis was given to both the groups at weekly intervals using age adjusted dosage of Pyrixine tablet (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine). The parasitological, entomological, and epidemiological indices were collected at two month intervals in both the groups. The study clearly showed the impact of personal protective measures and chemoprophylaxis on malaria infection in the studied subjects. During the study period, the out patient malaria cases of the test group was 6% to 11.2% and that of the control group was 12% to 21.6% in Theini Hospital. The reinfection rate of the test group (0.9 to 4.7%) was also significantly lower than the control group (6.1 to 14.3%) from July to November. Acceptance of the treated bed-nets, scarves and hand-bands was high and good compliance was found in the follow up. The results of the study clearly showed that malaria can be controlled effectively in the defined group of persons for a malaria transmission season by using chemoprophylaxis and personal protective measures.