bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Young adults' views on the relevance of three measures for oral health‐related quality of life
Authors: Johansson G , Söderfeldt B , Östberg A‐L
Published: November 2014

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the views of young adults on the relevance of three measures of oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Methods

Sixteen young adults aged 21–29 years were interviewed. The selection was strategic with reference to age (21–25 years.; 26–30 years), sex and education (university degree; upper secondary school). The interview guide covered areas on the content and construction of the measures: The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) and the Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life UK (OHRQoL‐UK). The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

A theme expressing the latent content was formulated during the data analysis: ‘young adults' own experiences were reflected in their views on the OHRQoL measures’; that is, the experiences of young adults of own oral problems and aspects that were found to be especially important for their age group influenced their view on the measures. The self‐reported ability to understand and answer the questions varied and the perceived advantages and disadvantages were almost equally distributed among the three measures.

Conclusions

The OHIP, OIDP and OHRQoL‐UK were evaluated as being equal by the young adults in this study, with regard both to their pros and cons. The clarity of the measures was regarded as the most important factor, while the length and assessment period were less significant.
Medication‐administration errors in an urban mental health hospital: A direct observation study
Authors: Cottney Alan , Innes James
Published: November 2014

In the present study, we aimed to identify the incidence, type, and potential clinical consequence of medication‐administration errors made in a mental health hospital, and to investigate factors that might increase the risk of error. A prospective, direct observational technique was used to collect data from nurse medication rounds on each of the hospital's 43 inpatient wards. Regression analysis was used to identify potential error predictors. During the 172 medication rounds observed, 139 errors were detected in 4177 (3.3%) opportunities. The most common error was incorrect dose omission (52/139, 37%). Other common errors included incorrect dose (25/139, 18%), incorrect form (16/139, 12%), and incorrect time (12/139, 9%). Fifteen (11%) of the errors were of serious clinical severity; the rest were of negligible or minor severity. Factors that increased the risk of error included the nurse interrupting the medication round to attend to another activity, an increased number of ‘when required’ doses of medication administered, a higher number of patients on the ward, and an increased number of doses of medication due. These findings suggest that providers of inpatient mental health‐care services should adopt medicine‐administration systems that minimize task interruption and the use of ‘when required’ medication, as well as taking steps to reduce nursing workload.
Derived protein and cDNA sequences of hamster amelogenin
Authors: Lyaruu D. M. , Hu C.‐C. , Zhang C. , Qian Q. , Ryu O. H. , Moradian‐Oldak J. , Wöltgens J. H. M. , Fincham A. G. , Simmer J. P.
Published: November 2014

Hamster enamel protein extracts were analyzed by RP‐HPLC and the isolated fractions by SDS‐and Western blotting using polyclonal antibodies against recombinant mouse amelogenin and anti‐peptide antibodies against the mouse exon 4‐encoded sequence. Total RNA was extracted from enamel organ epithelia and, using a 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (3′ RACE) technique, the coding regions for three different amelogenin isoforms were cloned along with the 3′ non‐coding region. DNA sequencing revealed that the hamster amelogenin isoforms are 180, 73 and 59 amino acids in length, respectively. The 59‐residue amelogenin corresponds to the leucine‐rich amelogenin protein (LRAP), the 73‐residue amelogenin corresponds to LRAP with the inclusion of the exon 4‐encoded sequence, while the 180‐residue amelogenin is the most abundant amelogenin isoform. Edman degradation was performed on purified hamster amelogenin, which provided the amino acid sequence in the region encoded by the 5′ PCR amplification primer used in cloning. Therefore, the entire derived amino acid sequence of hamster amelogenin was revealed. The hamster amelogenin amino acid sequence was aligned with all its known homologues. Hamster differs from rat and mouse amelogenin at only three amino acid positions. Southern blot analysis using a panel of restriction enzymes gave the same pattern for hamster DNA obtained from males and females, suggesting that in hamster, as in mouse, amelogenin is expressed from a single gene located on the X chromosome.
Sheath proteins: synthesis, secretion, degradation and fate in forming enamel
Authors: Uchida Takashi , Murakami Chikage , Wakida Kazuyoshi , Dohi Naofumi , Iwai Yasuko , Simmer James P. , Fukae Makoto , Satoda Takahiro , Takahashi Osamu
Published: November 2014

We investigated expression of ameloblastin and sheathlin, recently cloned enamel matrix proteins from the rat and pig, in forming enamel immunocytochemically and immunochemically, using region‐specific antibodies. The results obtained from the rat and pig were essentially the same. Antibodies which recognize the N‐terminal region stained the secretory machinery of the secretory ameloblast and the entire thickness of the enamel matrix, especially the peripheral region of the enamel rod. Immunostained protein bands were observed near 65 or 70 kDa and below 20 kDa. C‐terminal‐specific antibodies stained the secretory machinery of the ameloblast and the immature enamel adjacent to the secretion sites. Immunostained protein bands were found ranging from 25 to 70 kDa. Antibodies which recognize a region in the protein just prior to the C‐terminal region stained the cis‐side of the Golgi apparatus but not the enamel matrix. Immunostained protein bands were observed of about 55 kDa. These results suggest that post‐translational and post‐secretory modifications of ameloblastin and sheathlin are similar to each other, and further showed that their cleaved N‐terminal polypeptides concentrate in the prism sheath. We propose that sheathlin and ameloblastin share the same role in amelogenesis and should be classified as sheath proteins.
Raman Spectra, Infrared Spectra, and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Low‐Temperature Firing [(Li0.5Ln0.5)1−xCax]MoO4 (Ln = Sm and Nd) Solid Solution Ceramics with Scheelite Structure
Authors: Xi Hai‐Hong , Zhou Di , Xie Hui‐Dong , He Bin , Wang Qiu‐Ping
Published: November 2014

In this work, a series of scheelite solid solution [(Li0.5Ln0.5)1−xCax]MoO4 (Ln = Sm and Nd; x = 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.70, 0.80, 0.85, 0.90) ceramics were prepared by conventional solid‐state reaction method. The sintering temperature was lowered to 925°C by (Li0.5Ln0.5)2+ substituting for Ca2+ in the solid solution without any secondary phase. Compared with that of scheelite CaMoO4 (−57 ppm/°C), the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF or τf) of the scheelite solid solution was modified to near zero (about +4.3 ppm/°C) at x = 0.8 with a dielectric constant 11.0 and the quality factor (Q × f value) of 18 695 GHz. The Raman spectra, showed the degree of disordering increased with x value, which resulted in decrease in the permittivities and increase in the Q × f values. The infrared spectra were analyzed using the classical harmonic oscillator model and were extrapolated to the microwave range. The chemical compatibility with silver electrode indicated that the reported series of ceramics were good candidates for the low‐temperature cofired ceramic applications.
The Role of Social Mechanisms in Demand and Supply Integration: An Individual Network Perspective
Authors: Stolze Hannah J. , Murfield Monique L. U. , Esper Terry L.
Published: November 2014

In many industries, including retail, increased complexity of marketing strategies needs to be met with increased efficiency in product delivery, requiring integration across demand and supply facing functions of the firm. For frontline logistics employees (FLEs) of manufacturing firms who are delivering and marketing products in retail stores daily, the ability to understand both the marketing and supply implications of their actions is essential. Despite the importance of cross‐functional integration at the retail frontline, little logistics research has explored how logistics frontline employees interact with managers and each other to integrate knowledge and information. The purpose of this research is to examine the antecedents to cross‐functional integration across demand and supply functions in multiple social networks of the FLE. Mixed methods, including social network analysis, structural equation modeling, and analysis of variance, are applied to test social capital theory hypotheses regarding the impact of relational embeddedness and social mechanisms, socialization and shared interpretation, on individual demand and supply integration across friendship, key enabler, and ideation networks of the frontline employee.
A Molecular Phylogenetic Investigation of Bakuella, Anteholosticha, and Caudiholosticha (Protista, Ciliophora, Hypotrichia) Based on Three‐Gene Sequences
Authors: Lv Zhao , Shao Chen , Yi Zhenzhen , Warren Alan
Published: November 2014

Traditionally classifications of the Urostyloida have been mainly based on morphology and morphogenesis. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses have been largely based on single‐gene data for a limited number of taxa. Consequently, incongruence has arisen between the morphological/morphogenetic and the molecular data. In this study, the three phylogenetic markers (SSU rDNA, ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 region, and LSU‐rDNA) of three urostyloid genera represented by four species (Bakuella granulifera, Anteholosticha monilata, Caudiholosticha sylvatica, and C. tetracirra) were sequenced to investigate their phylogeny. The results show that: (1) all three genera should be regarded as the members of the order Urostyloida within the subclass Hypotrichia, as indicated by morphological characters; (2) phylogenetic analyses and sequence similarities both indicate that neither Anteholosticha nor Caudiholosticha are monophyletic and the systematic assignment of both genera awaits further evaluation; and (3) Bakuella has a closer relationship with Urostyla than with bakuellids (e.g. Apobakuella and Metaurostylopsis), suggesting Bakuella may belong to the family Urostylidae rather than the family Bakuellidae.
Genomic comparison of virulent and non‐virulent Streptococcus agalactiae in fish
Authors: Delannoy C M J , Zadoks R N , Crumlish M , Rodgers D , Lainson F A , Ferguson H W , Turnbull J , Fontaine M C
Published: November 2014

Streptococcus agalactiae infections in fish are predominantly caused by beta‐haemolytic strains of clonal complex (CC) 7, notably its namesake sequence type (ST) 7, or by non‐haemolytic strains of CC552, including the globally distributed ST260. In contrast, CC23, including its namesake ST23, has been associated with a wide homeothermic and poikilothermic host range, but never with fish. The aim of this study was to determine whether ST23 is virulent in fish and to identify genomic markers of fish adaptation of S. agalactiae. Intraperitoneal challenge of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus), showed that ST260 is lethal at doses down to 102 cfu per fish, whereas ST23 does not cause disease at 107 cfu per fish. Comparison of the genome sequence of ST260 and ST23 with those of strains derived from fish, cattle and humans revealed the presence of genomic elements that are unique to subpopulations of S. agalactiae that have the ability to infect fish (CC7 and CC552). These loci occurred in clusters exhibiting typical signatures of mobile genetic elements. PCR‐based screening of a collection of isolates from multiple host species confirmed the association of selected genes with fish‐derived strains. Several fish‐associated genes encode proteins that potentially provide fitness in the aquatic environment.
How Do Management Fees Affect Retirement Wealth under Mexico's Personal Retirement Accounts System?
Authors: Aguila Emma , Hurd Michael D. , Rohwedder Susann
Published: November 2014

In 1997, Mexico transformed its pay‐as‐you‐go social security system to a fully funded system with personal retirement accounts, including management fees. This article examines changes in retirement wealth resulting from this new system. It shows that management fees have drained a significant proportion of individuals' retirement wealth and have increased the number of persons claiming a government‐subsidized minimum pension, particularly from the time the system was introduced in 1997 until adjustment to management fees in 2008. Since 2008, retirement wealth accumulation has been similar to that of the previous system.
Extent and application of ICU diaries in Germany in 2014
Authors: Nydahl Peter , Knueck Dirk , Egerod Ingrid
Published: November 2014

Background

Diaries written for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) have been used in many European countries since the early 1990s to support patients and their relatives in their understanding of the ICU experience. ICU diaries have been introduced in Germany since 2008 via the internet, newsletters, newspapers, lectures and publications in German nursing journals.

Aim

The aim of the study was to update our knowledge of the extent and application of ICU diaries in Germany in 2014.

Design

The study had a prospective mixed methods multicenter design.

Method

All 152 ICUs in the two German federal states of Baden‐Württemberg and Schleswig‐Holstein were surveyed to identify units that had implemented ICU diaries. An additional 69 ICUs from other parts of Germany were included in the survey. We excluded diaries used in neonatal ICUs. Out of 43 units using diaries 14 were selected for semi‐structured key‐informant telephone‐interviews on the application of ICU diaries.

Results

According to the survey, 8 out of 152 ICUs in the two federal states of Baden‐Württemberg and Schleswig‐Holstein had implemented ICU diaries and another six were planning implementation. Another 35 ICUs in other areas of Germany had implemented diaries and three units were planning to do so. Interviews were conducted with nurses at 14 selected ICUs. Informants reported successful adaption of the diary concept to their culture, but variability in application. No units were identified where all nursing staff participated in keeping ICU diaries.

Conclusion

Six years after the introduction of ICU diaries, ICU nurses in Germany are becoming familiar with the concept. Nursing shortage and bureaucratic challenges have impeded the process of implementation, but the adaption of ICU diaries to German conditions appears to be successful and is still in progress.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Implementation of ICU diaries is feasible after adjusting for cultural and legal issues.
Breaking the bacterial protein targeting and translocation model: oral organisms as a case in point
Authors: Lewis N.E. , Brady L.J.
Published: November 2014

Insights into the membrane biogenesis of oral and throat bacteria have highlighted key differences in protein localization by the general secretion pathway compared with the well‐studied Escherichia coli model system. These intriguing novelties have advanced our understanding of both how these microorganisms have adapted to survive and cause disease in the oral cavity, and the field of protein translocation as a whole. This review focuses on findings that highlight where oral bacteria differ from the E. coli paradigm, why these differences are biologically important, and what questions remain about the differences in pathway function. The majority of insight into protein translocation in microbes of the oral cavity has come from streptococcal species, which will be the main topic of this review. However, other bacteria will be discussed when relevant. An overview of the E. coli model of protein targeting and translocation is provided for comparison.
Co‐Expression of c‐Fos with Oestradiol Receptor α or Somatostatin in the Arcuate Nucleus, Ventromedial Nucleus and Medial Preoptic Area in the Follicular Phase of Intact Ewes: Alteration after Insulin‐Induced Hypoglycaemia
Authors: Fergani C , Routly JE , Jones DN , Pickavance LC , Smith RF , Dobson H
Published: November 2014

Contents

The aim of this study was to investigate how acute insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia (IIH) alters the activity of cells containing oestradiol receptor α (ERα) or somatostatin (SST) in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and ventromedial nucleus (VMN), and ERα cells in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) of intact ewes. Follicular phases were synchronized with progesterone vaginal pessaries. Control animals were killed at 0 h or 31 h (n = 5 and 6, respectively) after progesterone withdrawal (PW; time zero). At 28 h, five other animals received insulin (INS; 4 iu/kg) and were subsequently killed at 31 h. Hypothalamic sections were immunostained for ERα or SST each with c‐Fos, a marker of neuronal transcriptional activation. Insulin did not alter the percentage of activated ERα cells in the ARC; however, it appeared visually that two insulin‐treated animals (INS responders, with no LH surge) had an increase in the VMN (from 32 to 78%) and a decrease in the mPOA (from 40 to 12%) compared to no increase in the two INS non‐responders (with an LH surge). The percentage of activated SST cells in the ARC was greater in all four insulin‐treated animals (from 10 to 60%), whereas it was visually estimated that activated SST cells in the VMN increased only in the two insulin responders (from 10 to 70%). From these results, we suggest that IIH stimulates SST activation in the ARC as part of the glucose‐sensing mechanism but ERα activation is unaffected in this region. We present evidence to support a hypothesis that disruption of the GnRH/LH surge may occur in insulin responders via a mechanism that involves, at least in part, SST cell activation in the VMN along with decreased ERα cell activation in the mPOA.
Regulation of exercise‐induced lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle
Authors: Jordy Andreas Børsting , Kiens Bente
Published: November 2014

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

This report addresses novel mechanisms regulating the utilization of long‐chain fatty acids, with emphasis on FAT/CD36 and lipolysis of intramuscular triacylglycerol in skeletal muscle during exercise and contractions.

What advances does it highlight?

Recent findings show that adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL) collectively account for at least 98% of total triacylglycerol lipase activity in skeletal muscle during muscle contractions. The relative importance of HSL and ATGL for breakdown of intramuscular triacylglycerol during muscle contractions is discussed. Collectively, these findings contribute to the understanding of skeletal muscle lipid metabolism during exercise and muscle contractions.

Exercise increases the utilization of lipids in muscle. The sources of lipids are long‐chain fatty acids taken up from the plasma and fatty acids released from stores of intramuscular triacylglycerol by the action of intramuscular lipases. In the present review, we focus on the role of fatty acid binding proteins, particularly fatty acid translocase/cluster of differentiation 36 (FAT/CD36), in the exercise‐ and contraction‐induced increase in uptake of long‐chain fatty acids in muscle. The FAT/CD36 translocates from intracellular depots to the surface membrane upon initiation of exercise/muscle contractions. This occurs independently of AMP‐activated protein kinase, and data suggest that Ca2+‐related signalling is responsible. The FAT/CD36 has an important role; long‐chain fatty acid uptake is markedly decreased in FAT/CD36 knockout mice during contractions/exercise compared with wild‐type control mice. In skeletal muscle, 98% of the lipase activity is accounted for by adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone‐sensitive lipase. Give that inhibition or knockout of hormone‐sensitive lipase does not impair lipolysis in muscle during contraction, the data point to an important role of adipose triglyceride lipase in regulation of muscle lipolysis. Although the molecular regulation of the lipases in muscle is not understood, it is speculated that intramuscular lipolysis may be regulated in part by the availability of the plasma concentration of long‐chain fatty acids.
Stimulus‐specific effects of noradrenaline in auditory cortex: implications for the discrimination of communication sounds
Authors: Gaucher Quentin , Edeline Jean‐Marc
Published: November 2014

Key points

Many studies have described the action of Noradrenaline (NA) on the properties of cortical receptive fields, but none has assessed how NA affects the discrimination abilities of cortical cells between natural stimuli. In the present study, we compared the consequences of NA topical application on spectro‐temporal receptive fields (STRFs) and responses to communication sounds in the primary auditory cortex.

NA application reduced the STRFs (an effect replicated by the alpha1 agonist Phenylephrine) but did not change, on average, the responses to communication sounds.

For cells exhibiting increased evoked responses during NA application, the discrimination abilities were enhanced as quantified by Mutual Information.

The changes induced by NA on parameters extracted from the STRFs and from responses to communication sounds were not related.

The alterations exerted by neuromodulators on neuronal selectivity have been the topic of a vast literature in the visual, somatosensory, auditory and olfactory cortices. However, very few studies have investigated to what extent the effects observed when testing these functional properties with artificial stimuli can be transferred to responses evoked by natural stimuli. Here, we tested the effect of noradrenaline (NA) application on the responses to pure tones and communication sounds in the guinea‐pig primary auditory cortex. When pure tones were used to assess the spectro‐temporal receptive field (STRF) of cortical cells, NA triggered a transient reduction of the STRFs in both the spectral and the temporal domain, an effect replicated by the α1 agonist phenylephrine whereas α2 and β agonists induced STRF expansion. When tested with communication sounds, NA application did not produce significant effects on the firing rate and spike timing reliability, despite the fact that α1, α2 and β agonists by themselves had significant effects on these measures. However, the cells whose evoked responses were increased by NA application displayed enhanced discriminative abilities. These cells had initially smaller STRFs than the rest of the population. A principal component analysis revealed that the variations of parameters extracted from the STRF and those extracted from the responses to natural stimuli were not correlated. These results suggest that probing the action of neuromodulators on cortical cells with artificial stimuli does not allow us to predict their action on responses to natural stimuli.
Transient Critical Heat Fluxes of Subcooled Water Flow Boiling in a SUS304-Circular Tube Caused by a Rapid Decrease in Velocity From Non-Boiling Regime
Authors: Hata Koichi , Fukuda Katsuya , Masuzaki Suguru
Published: November 2014

The flow transient critical heat fluxes (FT-CHFs, qcr,sub) in a SUS304-circular tube caused by a rapid decrease in velocity from non-boiling regime are systematically measured for initial flow velocities (u0=7.057 to 13.635 m/s for conditions of u0=6.9, 9.9 and 13.3 m/s), initial heat fluxes (q0=15.59 to 17.34 MW/m2), inlet liquid temperatures (Tin=290.12 to 308.51 K), outlet pressures (Pout=698.38 to 1288.97 kPa) and decelerations caused by a rapid decrease in velocity (u(t)=u0+αt, α=−7.357 to −0.326 m/s2) by the experimental water loop comprised of a multistage canned-type circulation pump controlled by an inverter. The SUS304-circular tubes of inner diameter (d=6 mm), heated length (L=59.5 to 59.7 mm), effective length (Leff=48.7 to 50.2 mm), L/d (=9.92 to 9.95), Leff/d (=8.12 to 8.37) and wall thickness (δ=0.5 mm) with average surface roughness (Ra=3.89 μm) are used in this work. The flow transient CHFs for SUS304-circular tube are compared with authors’ steady-state CHF data for the empty VERTICAL and HORIZONTAL SUS304-circular tubes and the values calculated by authors’ steady-state CHF correlations against outlet and inlet subcoolings for the empty circular tube. The influences of initial flow velocity (u0), initial heat flux (q0) and deceleration caused by a rapid decrease in velocity (α) on the flow transient CHF are investigated into details and the widely and precisely predictable correlations of CHF and flow velocity at the flow transient CHF for the circular tube is given based on the experimental data. The correlations can describe the flow velocity and the CHFs at the flow transient CHFs for SUS304-circular tube obtained in this work within ±20 % difference.
Porous Media Approach of a CFD Code to Analyze Thermal Hydraulics of PWR Components
Authors: Park Ik Kyu , Lee Seung Jun , Kim Soo Hyoung , Kim Hyungrae , Lee Jae Ryong , Yoon Han Young , Jeong Jae Jun
Published: November 2014

This paper presents a set of numerical procedure to innovate CFD code into a PWR component analysis code. A porous media approach is adapted to two-fluid model and conductor model, and a pack of constitutive relations close the numerical model into a PWR component analysis code. The separate verification calculations on conductor model and porous media approach, and the validation calculation for the integrated component-scale code are introduced.
Modeling of the Supercritical Steam Generator of MHTGR in Engineering Simulator
Authors: Liu Dan , Sun Jun , Sui Zhe , Wei Chun-lin , Sun Yu-liang
Published: November 2014

The Modular High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (MHTGR) could realize higher efficiency and lower costs by developing the multi-modular high temperature gas-cooled reactors combined with supercritical steam turbine unit. The coupling effects among different modules are crucial to the designs and operation analyses of the multi-modular reactors. By establishing the engineering simulator for multi-modular reactors, the coupling effects can be studied and optimized to advance the reactor designs, due to the advantages of real-time calculations and coupled calculations. As key energy transfer equipment, the steam generator is very important to the reactor operation, and focused in the modeling of the engineering simulator system for multi-modular reactors.

In this paper, the once-through steam generator consisted of helical coils was modeled and optimized in the vPower integrated simulation platform. From the detailed analyses of the distributions of temperatures, heat flux, and other parameters along the heat transfer tubes, it showed that the steam generator model well presented the supercritical water properties and heat transfer characteristics inside helical tubes. Also, the heat transfer correlations of the supercritical water inside helical tubes were investigated, discussed and also compared to test the uncertainty and influence to the whole steam generator model. And the results indicated that most heat transfer correlations showed similar results and had little effect on the primary side in the steady state operation condition. In future work, the model and heat transfer characteristics of the supercritical steam generator will be further tested in more transients and integrated into complete engineering simulator for multi-module reactors.
Kinetic Study of Containment Retention Factor (CRF) for Large Dry Containment Under Radiation Load
Authors: Mehboob Khurram , Park Kwangheon , Khan Rehan , Ali Majid , Ahmed Raheel
Published: November 2014

The Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) have been built on the concept of Defense in depth. The severe accident causes the failure of fission product barriers and let the fission products to escape into environment. The containment is the last barrier to the fission products. Thus, the containment is installed with engineering safety features (ESFs) i.e. spray system, heat removal system, recirculation filtration system; containment filtered venting system (CFVS), and containment exhaust filtration system. In this work, kinetic study of the containment retention factor (CRF) has been carried out for a large dry PWR containment considering 1000 MWe PWR. The computational modeling and simulation have been carried out by developing a kinetic code in MATLAB, which uses the fractions of activity airborne into the containment after the accident. The Kinetic dependency of CRF on containment filtration systems, spray system with caustic and boric acid spray has been carried out. For noble gases, iodine and aerosols, the CRF increases with the increase in exhaust rate. While, CRF for iodine first increases then start reducing with containment spray flow rate. The Kinetic dependency of CRF has also been studied for boric and caustic spray.
Reconsideration of a Scaling Study of CANDU-6 Moderator Tank Scaled-Down Test Facility
Authors: Rhee Bo W. , Kim H. T. , Song Y. M.
Published: November 2014

According to the literature survey, several scaling studies have been performed to derive a set of scaling criteria which were thought to be suitable for reproducing the major thermal-hydraulic phenomena in a scaled-down CANDU moderator tank similar to that in a prototype power plant during a full power steady state condition [1,2,3]. The objective of building this scaled-down moderator tank is to generate the experimental data necessary to validate the computer codes which are used to analyze the accident analysis of CANDU-6 plants. The major variables of interests in this paper are moderator flow velocity and temperature of the moderator which is D2O inside the moderator tank during a steady state and transient conditions. The reason is that the local subcooling of the moderator is found to be a critical parameter determining whether the stable film boiling can sustain on the outer surface of the calandria tube if the contact of overheated pressure tube and cold calandria tube should occur due to pressure tube ballooning during LBLOCA with ECC injection failure[4]. The key phenomena involved include the inlet jet development and impingement, buoyancy force driven by the moderator temperature gradient caused by non-uniform direct heating of the moderator, and the pressure drop due to viscous friction of the flow across the calandria tube array. In this paper, the previous researches are reviewed, some concerns or potential problems associated with them implied by comparing CFD analyses results between the CANDU-6 moderator tank and 1/4 scaled-down test facility are described, and as a way to examine the assumption of the scaling analysis is true an order-of-magnitude analyses are performed. Based on the results of these analyses the assumption of neglecting (∇*)2V* .and (∇*)2T* terms cannot be justified for the power of 0.5 MW and 1.566 MW for the 1/4 scaled-down facility. Further investigation is thought to be necessary to confirm this result, i.e. if the scaling of the previous work1 is justifiable by some other independent analyses.
Characterization and Optimization of a Tensioned Metastable Fluid Nuclear Particle Sensor Using Laser Based Profilimetry
Authors: Hagen Alexander R. , Grimes Thomas F. , Archambault Brian C. , Harris Trevor N. , Taleyarkhan Rusi P.
Published: November 2014

State of the art neutron detectors lack capabilities required by the fields of homeland security, health physics, and even for direct in-core nuclear power monitoring. A new system being developed at Purdue’s Metastable Fluid and Advanced Research Laboratory in conjunction with S/A Labs, LLC provides capabilities the state of the art lacks, and simultaneously with beta (β) and gamma (γ) blindness, high (> 90% intrinsic) efficiency for neutron/alpha spectroscopy and directionality, simple detection mechanism, and lowered electronic component dependence. This system, the Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector (TMFD) [3], provides these capabilities despite its vastly reduced cost and complexity compared with equivalent present day systems. Fluids may be placed at pressures lower than perfect vacuum (i.e. negative) [4, 5], resulting in tensioned metastable states. These states may be induced by tensioning fluids just as one would tension solids. The TMFD works by cavitation nucleation of bubbles resulting from energy deposited by charged ions or laser photon pileup heating of fluid molecules which are placed under sufficiently tensioned (negative) pressure states of metastability. The charged ions may be created from neutron scattering, or from energetic charged particles such as alphas, alpha recoils, fission fragments, etc. A methodology has been created to profile the pressures in these chambers by lasing, called Laser Induced Cavitation (LIC), for verification of a multiphysics simulation of the chambers. The methodology and simulation together have lead to large efficiency gains in the current Acoustically Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector (ATMFD) system. This paper describes in detail the LIC methodology and provides background on the simulation it validates.
The Fukushima Scenario: Estimating the Probability of Core Melt or Damage Following Loss of Total Power and Cooling
Authors: Duffey R. B.
Published: November 2014

We analyze the probability of extensive core damage following loss of offsite power and cooling scenarios, including the past Fukushima-Daiichi events. Because we are interested also in extreme or rare events and “natural” disasters, the analysis is extended to include power recovery data from the recent Superstorm Sandy in the USA, which also caused widespread disruption, flooding and extended power outages. We provide a simple bounding expression for the probability of core damage that not only illustrates the known physics, but also provides relative sensitivity analyses on the key influence of learning.
Numerical Simulation of Two-Phase Flows Using 3D-VOSET Method on Dynamically Adaptive Octree Grids
Authors: Wang Tai , Li Huixiong , Zhang Yifan , Han Wei , Sheng Tianyou , Zhang Weiqiang
Published: November 2014

In this paper, a coupled volume-of-fluid and level set (VOSET) method is developed to simulate the two-phase flows. To improve the calculation accuracy of two-phase flows and reduce the cost of computer resources, the dynamically adaptive octree grids are used to refine the grids near the interface. For the deformation of a sphere, the numbers of cells and the CPU time are analyzed. The number of cells for the adaptive grid system is less than 550000. To keep the same resolution, the number of cells for the uniform grid system would be 4096000. The CPU time for the adaptive grids is less than 300 min, while it is 650 min for the uniform grids. The results demonstrate that using the adaptive octree grids takes less storage and time to achieve almost the same accuracy as employing the relevant uniform grids. A static drop in equilibrium without gravity is numerically simulated, and the results show that this method can accurately calculate the interfacial force. A rising gas bubble and the coalescence of two bubbles are simulated, and the results are in good agreement with the previous results.
Evaluation of Vibration Characteristics for Reactor Coolant Pump Considering Fluid Flow Effect
Authors: Kim Ik Joong , Kim Min Chul , Jang Gyu Ho , Jeong Dae Hee , Kim Oak Sug , Bang Sang Youn , Park Seong Hun
Published: November 2014

Reactor coolant pump (RCP) is designed for the heat transfer of heat which is generated from reactor vessel to steam generators by circulating the coolant water. RCP is the only rotating equipment in the nuclear steam supply system (NSSS). Therefore, the problem of vibration has arisen caused by the hydraulic forces of the working fluid. These forces can drastically alter the critical speeds and stability characteristics and can act as significant destabilizing forces. So, vibration evaluation of RCP has been considered as a very important issue [1]. Among them, unbalance response caused by weight of unbalancing of rotating shaft could have serious effects on the entire rotor system. Thus, precise unbalance response spectrum analyses are required. In general, in order to evaluate the unbalance response characteristics for centrifugal pump, finite element analysis was performed according to the ISO 1940-1 standard. However, finite element analysis according to the ISO 1940-1 standard does not considering fluid flow effect. So, finite element analysis result and experimental results may be some differences. Vibration characteristics of RCP has affected by fluid flow effect induced from working fluid. Therefore, in order to understand vibration characteristics for the RCP shaft assembly considered in actual operating condition, rotor dynamic analysis should be performed considering the fluid flow effect. In this research, owing to accurately evaluate the vibration characteristics for the RCP considering hydro forces due to the fluid flow, we measured the bearing force and moment take into account the fluid-induced force. And then response spectrum analysis of RCP shaft assembly was performed considering fluid induced bearing radial forces which are measured values. Lastly, evaluate the vibration characteristics considering effect of fluid flow according to the number of revolution.
The Use of Experimental Design for the Shrink-Fit Assembly of Multi-Ring Flywheel
Authors: Wang Yujin , Wang DeZhong , Yin Junlian , Hu Yaoyu
Published: November 2014

The flywheel of latest coolant pump provides high inertia to ensure a slow decrease in coolant flow to prevent fuel damage after the loss of power. Flywheel comprises a hub, twelve tungsten alloy blocks and a retainer ring shrink-fit assembled on the outer surface of blocks. In the structural integrity analysis, the shrinkage load due to shrink-fit and the centrifugal load due to rotation are considered, so the wall thickness of retainer ring and the magnitude of shrink-fit are key variables. In particular, these variables will change the flywheel running state. This paper considers the influence of these variables, we employ Latin hypercube design to obtain the response surface model and analyze the influence of these variables. Finally we obtain the magnitude of wall thickness of retainer ring and the range of shrink-fit.
Development and Verification Models of Vertical Stratification, Dryout and Slug Boiling of Superheated Sodium for LMFBR Safety Analyses
Authors: Pribaturin Nikolay A. , Usov Eduard V. , Kudashov Ivan G. , Kuznetsova Marina E. , Butov Anton A. , Vozhakov Ivan S.
Published: November 2014

A new model which describes the dynamics of a vertically stratified flow correctly within the limits of a single-pressure two-fluid model has been developed. The model is based on the modification of finite-differences of convective terms and pressure gradients taking into account a distinct interface.

We propose to use the vapor quality as a criterion for the onset of dryout. The choice of the criterion is based on the analysis of experimental and theoretical studies. To determine the boundary vapor quality we used the correlation xcr = 1.26·G0.2, which was found from experimental data fit.

A review of articles has shown that for today it is impossible to predict correct superheat value. Therefore the superheat value was determined as a parameter of the model from the experimental data of a particular simulated experiment. Thus a boiling up regime was selected. The model described in this paper allows us to calculate the boiling up of sodium under the superheat conditions as well as problems of the evolution of the vapor volume.

The verification of the models was done by using the SOCRAT-BN code [1]. SOCRAT-BN is a coupled code which consists of modules for calculation of damage and melting of a reactor’s core, thermohydraulic processes and neutron physics.

The models of vertical stratification, dryout and slug boiling of superheated sodium are described in details in this paper. Also we present the results of verification for the models within analytic tests and experimental data.
Removal Efficiency of Iodine at Saturated Steam in Submerged Venturi Scrubber
Authors: Ali Majid , Yan Changqi , Gu Haifeng , Mehboob Khurram , Rasool Athar
Published: November 2014

Sever accident due to molten core of Nuclear Power Plant causes the production of steam which carries the radioactive iodine. It is important to retain the radioactive iodine from contaminated gas and steam before it is released into the environment. The purpose of this research is to investigate the removal efficiency of iodine in a submerged venturi scrubber for saturated steam at 100°C. Venturi Scrubber is submerged in a venturi tank filled with liquid which is alkaline by adding sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) in scrubbing water. Saturated Steam of 100 °C is injected into an experimental loop. Iodine removal efficiency is investigated for saturated steam at various compressed gas flow rate 330, 420, and 510 kg/s. Inlet and outlet concentration are measured at the sampling points of an experimental loop to calculate the iodine removal efficiency. The maximum removal efficiency of 99.4% is achieved at gas mass flow rate of 510 kg/s.
Experimental Research on Pulsating Two-Phase Flow Pressure Drop Characteristics in Horizontal Rectangular Channel
Authors: Zou Chong , Gao Puzhen , Pan Wei , Yang Zheng , Chen Xianbing
Published: November 2014

We preliminarily designed a power tracking and control system using single-chip computers and industrial control computer in the electric heating simulated power loop. The system is an innovational design based on the proven simulated nuclear power loop, with increased techniques of step-less power regulation system and modeling nuclear feedback effect correctional programs. We promoted both hardware and software designs of this power tracking and control system in this paper. It used single-chip computers as the core control chips and an industrial control computer as the additional correctional program and record carrier. The process and implementation of the control software are presented, which is designed as a fuzzy theoretical nonlinear system. In order to ensure the subsequent updates, the access interface of the system is open for following correctional programs, including the correctional program of void fraction effect, temperature effect, hysteresis effect and heat power distribution effect. Taken hysteresis effect correctional program as an example, we use an offset tic-tac clock replacing the inherent tic-tac clock in different devices of the system in order to reduce the hysteresis effect of measuring and corresponding errors. We also put out a preliminary analysis of the accurate synchronization for the system at the end of the paper.
New Instrumentation Using a Heat Resistant FBG Sensor Installed by Laser Cladding
Authors: Nishimura Akihiko , Terada Takaya , Takenaka Yusuke , Furuyama Takehiro , Shimomura Takuya
Published: November 2014

Since 2007, JAEA has been developing laser based technologies of structural health monitoring. We proposed that the FBG sensor made by femtosecond laser processing will be the best candidate. To make the best use of the heat resistant characteristic, the FBG sensor was embedded in metal mold by laser cladding. A groove was processed to the surface of a SUS metal plate. We used a QCW laser to weld a filler wire on the plate. A series of weld beads perfectly formed a sealing clad on the groove. Though the FBG sensor was buried tightly, no degradation on the reflection spectrum was detected after the processing. The FBG sensor could detect the vibration of the plate caused by impact shocks and audio vibration. The reflection peak of the FBG sensor under laser cladding condition was shifted to be 6 nm. We demonstrated that the corresponded temperature derive from the reflection peak shift reached 600 °C in heat shock experiments. The installation procedure of a FBG sensor using a portable laser cladding machine was described.
Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Load-Following Control of Nuclear Reactors Based on Reactor Point Kinetics Equations
Authors: Luan Xiuchun , Zhou Jie , Zhai Yu
Published: November 2014

A state differential feedback control system based Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model is designed for load-following operation of nonlinear nuclear reactor whose operating points vary within a wide range. Linear models are first derived from the original nonlinear model on several operating points. Next the fuzzy controller is designed via using the parallel distributed compensation (PDC) scheme with the relative neutron density at the equilibrium point as the premise variable. Last the stability analysis is given by means of linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, thus the control system is guaranteed to be stable within a large range. The simulation results demonstrate that the control system works well over a wide region of operation.
Analysis of Isotopic Contributions to Doppler Coefficients of Inert Matrix Fuels
Authors: Xie Jinsen , Yu Tao
Published: November 2014

The Minor Actinides (MA) generated by nowadays PWRs fleet has significant impact on environment and biosphere. Inert Matrix Fuels (IMF) is a possible way to reduce the production and hazard of MA in recent. From neutronic aspect, using the MCNP code with temperature related continuous neutron data, the present paper analyses the isotopic contributions to the Doppler Coefficients of certain types IMF fuels. It is concluded that, the Doppler Coefficients of Al2O3+ZrO2+MgO and ZrO2 based IMF fuels are much smaller than those containing ThO2, since the low neutron absorptions and lacking of resonance broadening of Al, Zr, Mg and O elements. For the same Inert Matrix, Reactor Grade Plutonium (RG-Pu) IMF fuels have more negative Doppler Coefficients than Weapon Grade Plutonium (WG-Pu) IMF fuels, which induce by the more abundance of resonance isotopes 240Pu, 242Pu in RG-Pu. Since the different neutron absorption cross-section profiles, the Er2O3 burnable poison has negative contribution to the Doppler Coefficient, however 10B, a typical 1/v absorber, is on the contrary way.
Improvement of Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Analysis Code for Reactor Piping Considering Large Earthquakes
Authors: Yamaguchi Yoshihito , Katsuyama Jinya , Udagawa Makoto , Onizawa Kunio , Nishiyama Yutaka , Li Yinsheng
Published: November 2014

The probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis code PASCAL-SP is improved by introducing crack-growth evaluation methods based on J-integrals, including calculation functions of J-integral values for semi-elliptical surfaces and through-wall cracks in pipes. Using the improved PASCAL-SP, sensitivity analyses that varied parameters such as earthquake magnitude were carried out on the basis of probabilistic evaluation. Results obtained from sensitivity analyses are also presented, e.g., the effect of earthquake magnitude on failure probability. The improved PASCAL-SP makes evaluation of the failure probability of piping under large seismic loading possible.