Response in the late phase to a radiological emergency

This paper looks at the key issues that need to be addressed during the transition from the emergency phase to the late phase of a radioactive release, and the development of the initial late phase strategy. It discusses the extent to which current national plans and international advice address the needs of decision makers following contamination of inhabited areas and food production systems. Based on this the following recommendations are made: (1) the issues that will arise at the start of the late phase response to a radioactive release require preparation work in advance of any release; (2) this preparation should consider the adequacy of legislation, technical data and modelling, options for waste storage and disposal, resources for monitoring and implementing clean up; (3) late phase preparedness requires regular exercising and (4) the possibility of terrorist releases adds further emphasis to the need for preparedness for the late phase.     

A Method of Measuring the Parameters of the Response Speed of Photodetectors

Measurement Techniques - Problems arising in the measurement of the parameters of the response speed of current broadband photodetectors by the method based on measurement results of the rise time...     

The Kalman-Yakubovich Lemma for non-stationary systems and its applications

An existence problem for non-stationary Lyapunov functions is considered. This problem is connected according to a certain rule with the linear Hamiltonian system that is called adjoint. We apply this method to obtain conditions of absolute stability and adaptive stabilization for non-linear non-stationary systems.     

Recursive state estimation for uncertain systems with an integralquadratic constraint

This paper considers a robust state estimation problem for a class of uncertain systems where the noise and uncertainty are modeled deterministically via an integral quadratic constraint. The robust state estimation problem involves constructing the set of all possible states at the current time consistent with given output measurements and the integral quadratic constraint     

Materials based on highly concentrated ceramic binding suspensions (HCBS). Comparative evaluation of the properties and in-service durability of pocket blocks of intermediate ladles

The Pervouralsk Dinas Plant has developed a technology for and started industrial production of pocket blocks based on bauxite ceramoconcrete for intermediate ladles. The structure and service properties of the blocks are compared with corresponding imported parts. The structure of the imported blocks is characterized by the presence of large (process) pores and the material is impregnated in service, whereas the developed blocks possess a homogeneous fine-capillary structure and are not impregnated in service.     

Minimax optimal control of uncertain systems with structured uncertainty

This paper considers a minimax control problem for an uncertain system containing structured uncertainties. The uncertainties in this system are assumed to satisfy a certain integral quadratic constraint. For a given initial condition, the minimax optimal controller is constructed by solving a parameter-dependent Riccati equation of the game type. This controller leads to a closed-loop uncertain system which is absolutely stable.     

Neutron-Capture Therapy with Thermal Neutrons at the Institute of Radiation Therapy at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute

The results of the development of an irradiation base for neutron-capture therapy at the Institute of Radiation Therapy at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, the production and study of boron- and gadolinium-containing preparations, and preclinical investigations on large laboratory animals (dogs with spontaneous melanoma) are presented.     

Development and trials of an improved process for decontamination of liquid radioactive wastes from Radon Moscow Research and Production Association

Speciation of radionuclides in low-salinity liquid radioactive wastes (LRW) formed in the course of reprocessing and storage of radioactive wastes at the Radon Moscow Research and Production Association was studied. ¹³⁷Cs is present in LRW mainly in the ionic form; α-emitting radionuclides, in the colloidal form; and ⁹⁰Sr, in both colloidal and ionic forms. Coagulation methods with FeCl₃ and methods of peroxide and permanganate oxidation were tested for removing organic substances from LRW. A two-step reverse-osmosis apparatus was tested for removing the major fraction of radionuclides and salts from the LRW. Laboratory experiments on sorption refinement of the permeate from the first step of reverse osmosis were performed with ionexchange resins and an NZhS type ferrocyanide sorbent. A new flowsheet for a water-treatment installation (WTI), allowing considerable reduction of the volume of secondary radioactive wastes, was suggested. The WTI was put into operation in 2010.     

The problem of boundary following by a unicycle-like robot with rigidly mounted sensors

We consider the problem of reactively navigating an unmanned Dubins-like robot along an equidistant curve of an environmental object based on the distance to its boundary measured perpendicularly to the robot centerline and the angle of incidence of this perpendicular to the boundary. Such a situation holds if e.g., the measurements are supplied by range sensors rigidly mounted to the vehicle body at nearly right angles, or by a single sensor scanning a nearly perpendicular narrow sector. A sliding mode control law is proposed that drives the robot at a pre-specified distance from the boundary and maintains this distance afterwards. This is achieved without estimation of the boundary curvature and holds for boundaries with both convexities and concavities. Mathematically rigorous analysis of the proposed control law is provided, including an explicit account for the global geometry of the boundary. Computer simulations and experiments with real wheeled robots confirm the applicability and performance of the proposed guidance approach.     

Pragmatic aspects of the solution of FMS scheduling problems using hybrid dynamical approach

Hybrid Dynamical (or Switched Server) approach is a relatively new direction in the solution of FMS scheduling problems. The theoretical results in this field are promising, but a number of questions should be cleared for practical applications.Some of these are: How to choose demand rates? How to provide the stability of processes in multi-machine group cases? What are the main characteristics of the processes and how to determine the suitable values of the parameters?In relation to the first two questions, proposals are given in the present paper. For demand rates determination, relations giving the upper and lower boundary values are proposed. For multi-machine group processing, the controlled buffer technique was developed. In relation to the others, simulation studies are proposed. Two of the simulation approaches are described in this paper and some demonstration is also given.The simulation results obtained from case studies show that the overlapping production obtained using the hybrid dynamical approach (HDA) are far more effective than batch processing. The decrease of production times may reach 20–30% or more.