Survey of natural radiation in France

Survey of natural radiation is conducted in France since 1981, with the assessment of the components resulting from external sources (ground and building materials) using thermoluminescent dosemeters. In addition, the internal exposure to Rn-222 and the potential alpha energy due to radon daughters, are estimated by passive track detectors in the first case and active dosemeters in the second one. This paper presents the French program methods and results with an analysis and discussion of the observed levels.     

Wind flow patterns about buildings

A knowledge of building wake characteristics is useful in a variety of applications including dispersion of pollutants downwind of conventional or nuclear power plants, airport runway interference effect, take-off/landing limitations at heliports, pedestrian wind comfort, and wind loads on structures. Recent investigations have advanced both understanding of physical flow processes occurring in the near and far wake regions and theoretical predictive capability for flow and diffusion in the far wake region. These studies have shown, for example, that separation cavities immediately downwind are not enclosed by free streamlines as in two-dimensional separation/reattachment, that organized vortices can play an important role in wake development, and that theoretical solutions for some wake regions are possible.     

Increasing the corrosion resistance of low-alloy and carbon steels for automobile construction by optimizing the metallurgical technology

It is shown that the corrosion resistance of automobile sheet can be improved by ensuring that steels of this type have a low content of corrosion-active nonmetallic inclusions (CANI). The main mechanisms responsible for the formation of CANI in automobile sheet have been established, and recommendations have been developed to reduce their concentration in this product • optimize the deoxidation processes that are used by ensuring that the proportions of the additions made to the steel are consistent with the composition of the ladle slag and that certain key temperature-time parameters of these processes are maintained • control the composition of the ladle slag to prevent the formation of solid phases in the slag and their transfer to the metal; certain conditions must also be observed in the argon blow and the introduction of the addtions. Use of the above recommendations to make automobile sheet and tube steels cleaner with respect to their content of CANI and thus help optimize out-of-furnace treatments at metallurgical and pipe plants will make it possible to improve the corrosion resistance of metal products used in automotive manufacturing. __________ Translated from Metallurg, No. 2, pp. 45–48, February, 2006.     

Interactive anatomy online

The scientific community and general public can best take advantage of the benefits of 3D digital reconstructions if they are stored in a Web-accessible, easy-to-access database. We describe MorphologyNet/sup /spl copy// a Web-based digital library of realistic, 3D interactive and customizable images of anatomy currently in development at the University of Missouri-Rolla.     

Developments in high-resolution positron emission tomography at MGH

The development of high resolution PET systems is important for the wider application of this techniques. The resolution of PET is limited by a number of physical factors such as positron range, small angle deviation, and sampling frequency. The design of the detector array and its sensitivity remain critical factors; designs incorporating analog coding have proven to be useful. PCR-I, a single plane PET system, has demonstrated the concept and has produced useful images in animal studies. PCR-II will extend the concept to a two dimensional detector array resulting in a system with high resolution and high sensitivity.     

Development of sealing compositions with nanostructure iron-based fillers

The possibility of utilizing nanopowders of iron and Fe-Co-Ni produced bu a thermochemical method in the fabrication of sealing composition materials is investigated. It is established that such hermetic sealing composition materials function reliably under extremal conditions and guarantee elevated strength of adhesion to the surface of the metal and high corrosion and temperature stability. __________ Translated from Poroshkaya Metallurgiya, Nos. 3–4(448), pp. 112–117, March–April, 2006.     

Construction of transmission lines above valuable standing timber

Problems with the construction of transmission lines above a forest are examined. Construction of lines above standing timber makes it possible to shorten the length of the route, eliminate the clearing of a continuous swath along the line, and reduce the volume of in-service work. To implement this solution, it is necessary to introduce changes and supplements to existing regulatory technical documents. __________ Translated from élektricheskie Stantsii, No. 10, October 2007, pp. 48–51.