Design and fabrication aspects of a plutonium-incineration experiment using inert matrices in a “Once-Through-Then-Out” mode

In the plutonium incineration experiment, named ‘Once-Through-Then-Out’ (OTTO), that is being prepared by JAERI, PSI and NRG, the use of highly stable inert matrices will be examined. The inert matrices MgAl₂O₄ spinel and ZrO₂ are insoluble in nitric acid and are considered as good storage media for final disposal. These inert matrices will be used in this experiment, which is representative for an OTTO scenario. A total of 7 Pu-containing targets were prepared for an irradiation in the High Flux Reactor in Petten. The objective of the irradiation is to reach a very high Pu-burnup. The main parameters to be studied are stability under irradiation, swelling, fission gas release and chemical interactions in the fuel. Four targets will be equipped with thermocouples for on-line monitoring of central temperature. Four of the targets contain MgAl₂O₄ as an inert matrix, 2 targets contain ZrO₂ and one target contains mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel for reference purposes. The fissile plutonium concentration is 0.32–0.44 g cm⁻³. Both particle-dispersed fuel and homogeneous dispersions were fabricated in order to test the effect of the size of the fissile inclusions. The design of the experiment and the fabrication of the samples are discussed.     

Inferential processes in clinical work: Inquiry into logical errors that affect diagnostic judgments.

We explore the implications of the experimental findings of attribution theorists for practice, training, and research in the domain of counseling and psychotherapy. Research literature contains abundant evidence that people engage routinely in inferential processes that are logically deficient and lead to erroneous social judgments. Clinical psychologists, no less than others, are engaged in work that is highly inferential in character and that offers continuous opportunity for error in matters that have the most profound consequences in the lives of their clients. Certain sources of error are explored. Emphasis is given to the question of the accuracy and representativeness of the data about clients' lives and the hypotheses derived from those data. The evidence suggests that an objective of every training program in clinical psychology or psychiatry should be the instruction of students in the rigorous application of principles of inferential reasoning within the systems in which they choose to design their treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microstructure coarsening during thermo-mechanical fatigue of Pb-Sn solder joints

Phase coarsening in as-cast solder joints produced by isothermal annealing and by thermo-mechanical cycling (TMC) (-30 to 130°C) was determined and its influence on the plastic deformation kinetics of 63Sn37Pb solder joints was investigated by stress relaxation (SR) tests. The static, isothermal coarsening kinetics were in accord with Senkov-Myshlyaev’s theory. The rate of coarsening by TMC was appreciably greater than that by isothermal annealing. The SR curves following TMC exhibited two regions with a stress exponent n > 5 at high stresses (Region A) and n ≈ 2-3 at low stresses (Region B). In both regions, the stress exponent varied in an irregular manner with the mean phase size. In Region A the plastic strain rate at a constant value of τⁿ (τ = shear stress) was relatively independent of the average phase size, while in Region B the strain rate increased with increase in phase size. The activation energy in both regions appeared to be that for lattice diffusion. Possible reasons for the anomalous effects of phase size on the plastic deformation kinetics are offered.     

Alternate iron transport pathway. Mobilferrin and integrin in K562 cells

A transferrin-independent iron transport system in cells containing transferrin receptors was described previously by several investigators. Prior studies did not identify the proteins involved in this alternate iron transport pathway. Using a human-derived erythroleukemia tissue culture line, iron-binding proteins were isolated from cytosol and cell membranes. The cytosol protein was soluble in 60% ammonium sulfate, had a molecular mass similar to mobilferrin (56 kDa), and reacted with anti-mobilferrin antibodies. The water-insoluble radiolabeled protein was solubilized with Nonidet P-40 and immunoprecipitated with monoclonal antibody against beta 3 human integrin. Pulse-chase studies suggested sequential passage of iron to integrin, mobilferrin, and ferritin, respectively. Thus, the alternate iron transport pathway contained proteins similar to those observed in intestinal cells which did not possess transferrin receptors on their absorptive surface. The alternate iron transport pathway is only partially shared with zinc and cadmium. Mobilferrin bound zinc and iron competitively, but the two metals were not transported competitively into K562 cells. Immunoprecipitates of integrin containing radiozinc were obtained with a monoclonal antibody against beta 1 human integrin. This suggested iron and zinc may utilize different integrins to passage the cell membrane.     

Milk fever in dairy cows. VII. Effect of continuous vitamin D feeding on incidence of milk fever.

Feeding of 20 to 30 million units of vitamin D for 3 to 8 days prepartum previously prevented about 80% of expected milk fever cases in mature Jersey cows with histories of milk fever. In this experiment vitamin D was fed continuously through the year via 32,000 units of vitamin D added to each .455 kg of concentrate fed (approximately 100,000 to 580,000 units/day). Milk fever incidence was measured after 5 yr of age (third calf) at 43 parturitions in mature Jersey cows with histories of milk fever and at 139 parturitions in mature Jersey cows with no previous milk fever. Continuous feeding of vitamin D reduced incidence of milk fever in cows with previous milk fever from 60% in the controls to 26.1% in the group fed vitamin D. In the cows with no milk fever previously, feeding vitamin D did not reduce incidence of milk fever (controls 23.7%, vitamin-D-fed 28.3%).     

On sensitivity calculations for neutrino oscillation experiments

Calculations of sensitivities of future experiments are a necessary ingredient in experimental high energy physics. Especially in the context of measurements of the neutrino oscillation parameters extensive studies are performed to arrive at the optimal configuration. In this note we clarify the definition of sensitivity as often applied in these studies. In addition, we examine two of the most common methods to calculate sensitivity from a statistical perspective using a toy model. The importance of inclusion of uncertainties in nuisance parameters for the interpretation of sensitivity calculations is pointed out.