bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vegetation response to precipitation anomalies under different climatic and biogeographical conditions in China
Authors: Chen Zefeng , Wang Weiguang , Fu Jianyu
Published: January 2020

Understanding precipitation-vegetation interaction is of great importance to implementing adaptation and mitigation measures for terrestrial ecosystems. Many studies have explored the spatial pattern of precipitation-vegetation correlation along the precipitation amount gradient. While the impacts of other precipitation characteristics remain poorly understood. Here, we provided a comprehensive investigation of spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation response to precipitation anomalies in China, using satellite-derived vegetation index and multi-source climate datasets for the years 1982–2015. Subsequently, we attempted to examine in detail what specific factors, climatic or biogeographic, are responsible for spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation-vegetation relationship. Results show that vegetation in Inner Mongolia Plateau is strongly affected by precipitation anomalies. Vegetation has a 1–2 month lag response to precipitation anomalies and is significantly correlated with 2–6 month cumulative precipitation anomalies. Seasonal differences of vegetation response are also remarkable. Moreover, the largest NDVI-precipitation correlation appears in areas with 150–500 mm of mean annual precipitation, 0.075–0.275 of fraction of precipitation days, and 19–23 of precipitation concentration index. More locally, the spatial distribution of NDVI-precipitation correlations is closely related to the vegetation type and elevation. The results can provide technical basis and beneficial reference to water resource and ecological management strategies in China for associated policymakers and stakeholders.
Trichloroethylene, a ubiquitous environmental contaminant in the risk for Parkinson's disease
Authors: De Miranda Briana R. , Greenamyre J. Timothy
Published: January 2020

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a volatile organic solvent, released into the environment from industrial sites. It contaminates ground water and soil and poses a vapor intrusion hazard for residential and commercial buildings.
An ultrasensitive colorimetric test for the detection of somatic rare mutations in DNA
Authors: Udayan Gayatri , Marsella Alessandra , Valentini Paola
Published: January 2020

We developed a rapid test to detect rare somatic point mutations in DNA by the naked-eye, with minimal instrumentation.
Perdeuteration of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (d-MEH-PPV): control of microscopic charge-carrier spin–spin coupling and of magnetic-field effects in optoelectronic devices
Authors: Stoltzfus Dani M. , Joshi Gajadhar , Popli Henna , Jamali Shirin , Kavand Marzieh , Milster Sebastian , Grünbaum Tobias , Bange Sebastian , Nahlawi Adnan , Teferi Mandefro Y. , Atwood Sabastian I. , Leung Anna E. , Darwish Tamim A. , Malissa Hans , Burn Paul L. , Lupton John M. , Boehme Christoph
Published: January 2020

Replacing all protons on a polymer by deuterium has a dramatic impact on spin-dependent properties of the material in devices.
A single-molecule conformation modulating crystalline polymorph of a physical π–π pyrene dimer: blue and green emissions of a pyrene excimer
Authors: Jiang Wenzhe , Shen Yue , Ge Yunpeng , Zhou Changjiang , Wen Yating , Liu Haichao , Liu Hui , Zhang Shitong , Lu Ping , Yang Bing
Published: January 2020

Blue fluorescence and green fluorescence were observed in two crystals with different pyrene dimers, which are modulated by the molecular conformation.
Enhanced and unconventional responses in chemiresistive sensing devices for nitrogen dioxide and ammonia from carboxylated alkylthiophene polymers
Authors: Wagner Justine , Jang Hyun-June , Han Jinfeng , Katz Howard E.
Published: January 2020

A carboxylated thiophene polymer-based chemiresistive device in a field-effect transistor (FET) configuration with unusual and enhanced responses to the widespread pollutants nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ammonia (NH3) is described.
Preliminary Investigation of the Perspectives of Parents of Children With Cerebral Palsy on the Supports, Challenges, and Realities of Integrating Augmentative and Alternative Communication Into Everyday Life
Authors: O'Neill Tara , Wilkinson Krista M.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To ensure long-term adoption and use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies, they must be designed to support children to participate within everyday activities and routines that are prioritized by families. The aim of this study was to gain parent perspectives on how AAC technologies were integrated into everyday life.

Method

Nine parents of children with cerebral palsy who used AAC technologies participated in semistructured interviews to provide their perspectives on how AAC technologies were integrated into the functional contexts of everyday life.

Results

Five major themes emerged from the discussions: (a) integrating AAC into life, (b) AAC technologies, (c) child needs and skills, (d) parent responsibilities and priorities, and (e) AAC process and decision making. Children were able to use AAC technologies within a variety of everyday contexts with various partners; however, challenges included access to technologies within care routines and outdoor activities as well as partners who lacked knowledge regarding operational competencies and effective interaction strategies. To integrate AAC technologies into life, parents prioritized technology features including ease of programming, improved physical design, features to enhance efficiency and ease of access, and availability of multiple functions and features (e.g., games and leisure activities, environmental controls).

Conclusion

AAC manufacturers and mainstream technology developers should work to ensure that technologies are responsive to the supports, limitations, and ideal features identified by parents. Future research should seek input from a larger group of stakeholders and use longitudinal methods to examine perceptions of AAC technologies over time.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11625543
Power conversion interface with harmonic suppression for a DC grid and single‐phase utility
Authors: Wu Jinn‐Chang , Jou Hurng‐Liahng , Wu Xi‐Zhen
Published: January 2020

This study proposes a power conversion interface for a DC grid and a single‐phase utility. The proposed power conversion interface is configured using an interleaved AC–DC power converter and a DC hybrid power filter. The interleaved AC–DC power converter controls the real power between the DC grid and the single‐phase utility in both directions. The interleaved AC–DC power converter can effectively reduce the high‐frequency harmonic currents at both the AC side and DC side. A new current‐sharing control method is used to equalise the currents in the interleaved power‐electronic arms using only one current sensor in the interleaved AC–DC power converter. The DC hybrid power filter is connected between the DC bus of the interleaved AC–DC power converter and the DC grid. The DC hybrid power filter is controlled to be operated as a virtual low‐frequency AC resistor connected to the DC grid in series and the low‐frequency harmonic for the DC input current of the interleaved AC–DC power converter is suppressed. Accordingly, the problems of harmonic currents for a power conversion interface used between the DC grid and the single‐phase utility are attenuated. A hardware prototype is developed to verify the performance of the proposed power conversion interface.
An Application of MODIS Surface Reflectance Product for Drought Assessment on Agriculture Area in Manukwari – West Papua – Indonesia
Authors: Faisol Arif , Indarto Indarto , Novita Elida , Budiyono Budiyono
Published: January 2020

Drought is one of the natural disasters in Indonesia. Some regions in Indonesia are very vulnerable to drought, including West Papua. This research aimed to map the droughtiness level on the agriculture area in Manokwari - West Papua using MODIS Surface Reflectance and Moisture Adequacy Index (MAI) methods. A total of 20 MODIS surface reflectance image recording 2018 and ground check on agriculture area at some location were used for the analysis. Research shows that MODIS Surface Reflectance and MAI methods are entirely accurate in describing the level of drought in the agriculture area in Manokwari - West Papua.
Quality Development of Bagiak (Osing Ethnic’s Snack) Using Gembili (Dioscorea esculenta L.) Flour
Authors: Herlina  , Kuswardhani Nita , Widjayanthi Lenny
Published: January 2020

The development of food product for improving the product quality was costly, especially if it had to reformulate the product. Therefore, finding the alternative raw materials which nutritious food and has a bioactive component that beneficial for health, was one of the ways to reduce cost. One of the raw materials that has Glucomannan as a bioactive component, was Gembili tuber (Dioscorea esculenta L.) as a local tuber which was widely grown in Banyuwangi, East Java. Osing ethnic’s snacks that are widely produced by the community in the district of Banyuwangi, East Java province is a Bagiak. Bagiak is cookies made from cassava starch (tapioca) and arrowroot starch. In the market, bagiak has low quality, un-uniform shapes, un-similar color, no value-added and causes obesity due to higher sugar content. The purpose of this research was to improve the quality of Bagiak through Gembili flour substitution. The result showed that substitution of 5% Gembili flour has higher fiber with 0.62% effectiveness index value of panelist ( in term of color, taste, flavor, texture and crispness), baking loss 12.50±0.65 %; lightness 52.48±0.45; texture 689±1.09 g/1mm; Water Holding Capacity (WHC) 172.5±1.32%; water content 4.50± 0.33%; ash 0.5±0.04 %; protein 2.50±0.12 %; fat 8.50±1.09 % and carbohydrate 84.00±1.53 %.
Effect of starter sources and old fermentation on making nata de whey towards chemical quality
Authors: Khusna Asmaul , Prastujati Anis , Setiadevi Shinta , Hilmi Mustofa
Published: January 2020

Whey cheese is a by-product of traditional or modern cheese-making processes. The yield of each cheesemaking reaches around 83% of the volume of milk used.whey can be processed into nata de whey by adding Acetobacterxylinum. The purpose of this study were to determine the effect of fermentation duration and differences in starter sources on the chemical quality produced by nata de whey. All samples were analyzed for fat, protein, cellulose and reducing sugars. this use study of two factorial randomized block design. The first factor is the difference in the starter (commercial and pineapple fruit extract) and the second factor is the length of fermentation with three replications. The results showed that the effect of fermentation time and the difference in starter sources on nata de whey had a very significant impact (P <0.01) on the calculation of fat content in the nata the whey. The duration of fermentation and differences in the source of the stater on nata de whey had no significant effect (P> 0.05) on the content of protein, reducing sugar and cellulose content produced.
Analysis of contract farming pattern and income comparison of potato farmers on atlantic and granola varieties
Authors: Brilian Syaban Pramana Dimas , Rondhi Mohammad
Published: January 2020

Contract farming is a practice in order to decrease the risk and uncertainty commonly done on farming. Generally, contract farming is divided into two types that are production contract and market contract. Contract farming is commonly done on the strategic and high-risk agricultural? commodities, one of them is the potato. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a commodity with high risk. One of the contract farming done on potato commodity is a contract occurred between farmer group and PT. “KLM” in Ijen District Bondowoso Regency, East Java Province Indonesia. The writer would like to review more related to the contract farming pattern occurred and compare the potato farmers’ income following the contract farming and independent contract. This research was done from February until April 2019. Samples in this research used probability sampling on 106 potato farmers consisting of 76 farmers incorporated within contract farming and 29 farmers independently. The research results showed that contract farming intertwined was the contract farming type of market. The comparison of potato farmers income following the contract farming was lower than independent potato farmers income with the difference of IDR 4,515,417.49.
Transaction Cost and Market Development of Cassava Production in Jember Regency, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Nasir M. Abd. , Gema Qori’ah Ciplis
Published: January 2020

Rapidly growing food needs require a strategy to achieve self-sufficiency based on a diversity of local food resources. One source of carbohydrates based on local ingredients, namely cassava, which occupies a quite important role in the food structure of Indonesian society, after rice and corn. Institutional arrangement and transaction costs in managing cassava production in Jember Regency, East Java, Indonesia have strong implications in relation to specifications and estimates of production function responses. If transaction costs are fixed costs, discontinuities will occur in response to incentives that occur in the market. The purpose of this study is to determine the amount of transaction costs and the development of cassava markets that occur in the business of managing cassava production in Jember Regency. The method used in answering the purpose of the study is value chain analysis. Based on the results of the analysis it was found that the largest transaction costs were at the level of sellers and industry compared between farmers and sellers. At the farmer level, social capital is one of the strengths for cassava marketing sustainability. The social capital is in the form of guarantees for the certainty of the sale of crops by buyers who already have a cooperative relationship. The policy recommendations that can be given are the optimization of the role of farmer groups for the sustainability of cassava production and the implementation of cassava-based processed product development programs and the provision of marketing.
Institutional Arrangement for Food Price Stabilization and Market Distribution System: Study of Chili Commodity in Banyuwangi Regency
Authors: Wardhono Adhitya , Indrawati Yulia , Gema Qori’ah Ciplis , Nasir M. Abd.
Published: January 2020

The fluctuating development of chili prices implies that the maintained supply of chili is very important to maintaining the stability of food prices. The value chain integration of the chili commodity from upstream to downstream supported by the availability of adequate infrastructure and institutions is the main prerequisite in increasing the productivity of chili commodities. The purpose of this study is (1) to give a description of the chili commodity marketing chain in Banyuwangi Regency; (2) analyze the determinants of structure, conduct, and performance of the chili commodity market in Banyuwangi Regency. The analytical method used consists of the Autoregressive Integrative Moving Average (ARIMA) and Structure Conduct Performance (SCP) models.The results of the study show that price determination was based on market mechanisms and collective agreements for farmers who partner with collectors and food processing industries. However, the lack of price and knowledge information in market analysis and projections of price movements and the absence of special institutions that deal with chili governance and limited use of technology have led to the emergence of asymmetrical information from chili businesses and the growth of new players in the trade system that dominates the chili trade. The chili market structure tends to oligopsony, which has the power to influence market prices and is concentrated, causing little competition between chili traders in Banyuwangi Regency.
The competitiveness of Pronojiwo snake fruit
Authors: Soetriono  , Soejono Djoko , Dewi Maharani Ariq , Bastara Zahrosa Dimas
Published: January 2020

This study aims to analyze the comparative and competitive advantages of Pronojiwo snake fruit and his farming development strategies to be competitive in the international market. Location determination is done intentionally in Pronojiwo Village, Lumajang Regency. The data used includes primary data and secondary data. Data analysis using PAM (Policy Analysis Matrix) and SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat). The results showed that the DRC value of Pronojiwo snake fruit farming was 0.20 or DRC <1 and the PCR value was 0.13 or PCR <1. Both criteria indicate that DRC and PCR <1 so that it can be said that Pronojiwo snake fruit farming has comparative and competitive advantages or strong competitiveness. Smaller DRC values than PCR (DRC <PCR) values indicate divergence due to government policies that still do not support the development of them. The position of the development of Pronojiwo snake fruit is in the Gray Area position. The strategy to develop Pronojiwo snake fruit which must be done is to maintain product quality, an effective means of transportation is needed and is supported by the use of appropriate technology so that products can compete in a healthy manner with products from other countries.
Integrated Crop Management And Farmers’ Group Dynamics In Arjasa Village
Authors: Widjayanthi Lenny
Published: January 2020

Integrated Crop Management (ICM) applies various farming technologies through efficient production inputs according to location specifics, so as to produce high productivity to support sustainable production increases. Government programs in increasing production in the form of assistance to farmers are often followed in ICMFS activities and are expected to be included in the program to increase food production programs to achieve the right targets as desired. The result shows that, ICM has been carried out by farmers by choosing rice varieties that are able to adapt to the environment, resistant to pest and disease attacks, have high selling values and have a good taste that is accepted by consumers. The purposes of the farm group is to get capital assistance, increase income and develop farming. The group’s objectives are formulated by deliberations with group members, even though group goals do not cover all the needs of group members. Members are given the freedom to convey their ideas and opinions. Group structure is formed based on the agreement of members and deliberations as expected by members. the group structure consists of farmer group leaders, secretaries, treasurers and members. Cooperation among member groups is good and the group leader is able to communicate well. The group’s unity is fundamental to the success of the group
Risk Analysis and Management Strategies of Sugarcane Producer in Selecting Varieties: Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) Approach
Authors: Zainuddin Ahmad , Seldon Magfiroh Illia , Kartika Setyawati Intan , Yunita Rahman Rena
Published: January 2020

The composition of sugar cane varieties which planted are not balanced especially in the nursery sector that caused the efficiency of the sugar industry on national scale low. This condition happens because there are risks faced by farmers in determining the varieties of sugarcane that will be planted. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk of production and strategies to overcome the risks due to the selection of sugar cane varieties. Samples used in the study were 30 people (12 sugarcane farmers, 6 managers, and assistant plant managers, and 12 people from APTR / KPTR. Data were analyzed using the method of Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). Research Results indicate that the risks classified as very high categories that can be caused by the selection of certain sugar cane varieties are production risk, sugar quality risk and sugar price-output risk Risk management that can be applied to reduce the risk due to variety selection is to use superior varieties, the development of new varieties which has high productivity, increase cultivation technology by farmers, and unloads ratoon after 2 times harvesting.
Energy calibration via correlation using an adaptive mesh refinement
Authors: Maier Daniel , Limousin Olivier , Daniel Geoffrey
Published: January 2020

Energy calibration via correlation has proven to be a powerful calibration method especially in the case of calibration data sets with low counting statistics. This work reports on an evolved version of this approach that uses an adaptive mesh refinement to sample the parameter space which results in the same calibration performance but in a considerably reduced computation time.
Report of High Temperature Measurements with a Fabry-Perot Extensometer
Authors: Cheymol G. , Verneuil A. , Grange P. , Maskrot H. , Destouches C.
Published: January 2020

Fabry-Perot (FP) sensors like other Fiber Optic (FO) sensors may be of particular interest for in pile experiments in MTR with little room available thanks to their compact size. Light weight also reduces gamma heating hence limiting the thermal effect. Different physical parameters such as temperature, strain, displacement, vibration, pressure, or refractive index may be sensed through the measurement of the optical path length difference in the cavity. We have developed a Fabry-Perot extensometer able to operate at high temperature (up to 400°C), under a high level of radiation (neutron and gamma flux). The measurement based on interferometry is largely insensitive to radiation induced attenuation (RIA) thanks to the wavelength encoding of the useful signal, but for such high fluence as encountered in a reactor core, a special rad-hard fiber is needed. Operating in the wavelength domain around 1ím remains preferable to minimize the impact of irradiation. Moreover, fast neutron radiation is expected to change the structure of the fiber and possibly others materials in the transducer. Then, we revised the basic scheme of Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer (EFPI) so that the effects of compaction remain limited. Tests under mixed neutron and gamma irradiation permitted to verify the general behavior and particularly the low drift with radiation induced compaction (RIC). Also, two types of tests have been conducted to verify the accuracy at high temperature. The first ones are “measurements” of thermal dilatation of materials: the sensor is fixed on a sample and knowing its thermal expansion, it is possible to predict the measurement expected from the optical sensor when the temperature is increased from low to high temperature. The comparison between the predicted and experimental outputs informs on how the sensor is accurate. The second types are tests on a tensile test bench operating at high temperature. The Fabry-Perot measurements are compared, in the elastic domain, with the expected strain given by the Young modulus of the material, and also on a larger strain domain, with the measurements of a high temperature axial extensometer. Both types of tests are presented and commented.
TRITIUM - A Quasi Real-Time Low Activity Tritium Monitor for Water
Authors: Azevedo C.D.R. , Baeza A. , Brás M. , Cámara T. , Cerna C. , Chauveau E. , Gil J.M. , Corbacho J.A. , Delgado V. , Díaz J. , Domange J. , Marquet C. , Macko M. , Martínez-Roig M. , Moreno A. , Piquemal F. , Rodríguez A. , Rodríguez J. , Roldían, C. , Veloso J.F.C.A. , Yahlali N.
Published: January 2020

Tritium is released abundantly to the environment by nuclear power plants (NPP), as a product of neutron capture by hydrogen and deuterium. In normal running conditions, released cooling waters may contain levels of tritium close to or even larger than the maximum authorised limit for human consumption (drinking and irrigation). The European Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom requires a maximum level of tritium in water for human consumption lower than 100 Bq=L. Current monitoring of tritium activity in water by liquid scintillating method takes about two days and can only be carried out in a dedicated laboratory. This system is not appropriate for real time monitoring. At present, there exists no available detector device with enough sensitivity to monitor waters for human consumption with high enough sensitivity. The goal of the TRITIUM project is to build a tritium monitor capable to measure tritium activities with detection limit close to 100Bq=L, using instrumentation technique developed in recent years for Nuclear and Particle Physics, such as scintillating fibres and silicon photomultipliers (SiPM). In this paper the current status of the TRITIUM project is presented and he results of first prototypes are discussed. A detector system based on scintillating fibers read out either photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) or silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays is under development and will be installed in the vicinity of Almaraz nuclear power plant (Cáceres, Spain) by the fourth term of 2019.
THERMOCOAX rhodium SPND sensitivity dispersion and validation of the sensitivity calculation model
Authors: Vermeeren L. , Leysen W. , Pichon L. , Salou V. , Helleux G.
Published: January 2020

This paper describes the neutron irradiation tests of 7 THERMOCOAX Self-Powered Neutron detectors (SPNDs) in the BR1 reactor at SCK•CEN. The SPNDs were fabricated according to the same specifications, but from different fabrication batches. The SPND signals were recorded during stepwise power-up of the reactor, proving the linearity of the SPND response within a wide thermal neutron flux range: from as low as 0.8·109 n/(cm2) to 2.6·1011 n/(cm2s). Intercomparison of the SPND signals shows a very small spread, confirming the repeatability of the THERMOCOAX fabrication processes. The overall neutron sensitivities of the seven SPNDs agreed within a 1% margin.

The experimental data were analyzed in terms of prompt and various delayed responses. Prompt contributions to the signal are due to external gamma induced processes and to processes involving gamma rays emitted instantaneously upon neutron capture. The main contribution in a rhodium SPND is due to activation of the rhodium emitter and beta emission during decay of the activated rhodium and leads to a delayed response with a characteristic time of a few minutes. Activation and subsequent beta decay in other materials present in the SPND lead to additional minor delayed signal contributions. The partial SPND sensitivities due to all these processes were calculated using an MCNPX based model and were compared with experimental sensitivities based on the recorded data. The results were in fair agreement; for the overall SPND neutron sensitivity an agreement within a 1% margin was achieved.
Building and Use of Infrastructure for Detector Development and Testing at VR-1 Reactor Facility
Authors: Bily Tomas , Rataj Jan , Huml Ondrej
Published: January 2020

Activities related to detector development, testing, characterisation and applications belong to key research objectives of the VR-1 reactor facility. The contribution gives a review of related improvements, achievements, used approaches, methods, and trends.
In-core dosimetry for the validation of neutron spectra in the CROCUS reactor
Authors: Jiang Y. , Laureau A. , Lamirand V. , Frajtag P. , Pautz A.
Published: January 2020

The present article describes the preliminary validation study of simulated in-core and reflector n eutron spectra in preparation of oncoming experimental programs in the zeropower reactor CROCUS at EPFL. For this purpose, a set of activation foils were irradiated at three characteristic positions in the CROCUS reactor, and the subsequent activities were analyzed via γ spectrometry. The experimental setup was then modeled with the Monte Carlo neutron transport code Serpent2 and associated with an analysis tool to include the effect of the reactor power history during experiments.

The comparison of calculated and measured reaction rates (C/E) indicates a general consistency (at 2σ) between calculated and measured spectra. However, offsets of C/E values were observed in (n, γ) reactions, up to 18% for 115In and 8% for 63Cu dosimeters. This could be caused by an unexpected isotopic composition, uncertainties in nuclear data, or the spectrometry analysis.

In addition, a 100-groups spectrum unfolding was performed using the experimentally determined reaction rates and the Serpent2 spectra as the prior knowledge. The unfolded spectra were mainly adjusted in the thermal and fast ranges, while few modifications w ere m ade i n t he e pithermal r egion d ue t o the low contribution of epithermal neutrons in activation processes. Moreover, within energy groups where the capture reactions show resonant behavior, flux depletion (up to 38% as compared to the prior spectra) is observed due to the absence of self-shielding effect in the unfolding process. For this purpose, an unfolding method based on energy groups weighting is developed and tested.
Retracted article: Comparison of neutron/gamma separation qualities of various organic scintillation materials
Authors: Matěj Zdeněk , Mravec Filip , Jančář Aleš , Košťál Michal , Kučera František , Cvachovec František , Přenosil Václav , Kopecký Zdeněk , Čulen Jiří
Published: January 2020

This paper has been formally retracted because it has been accidentally published twice in the same volume. Request approved by the proceedings Editor and the Publisher on June 02, 2023.
Perspective liquid scintillators for spectrometry of neutron and gamma radiation
Authors: Haji Mahmoud Kawa , Prenosil Vaclav , Matej Zdenek , Kucera Frantisek , Mravec Filip , Kostal Michal , Cvachovec Frantisek , Valis David
Published: January 2020

This paper presents some results of the development of two new scintillation detectors usable for the detection and spectrometry of neutron and photon components of the mixed field. It is a series of liquid organic scintillators containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. Elements of individual scintillator designs are arranged in various chemical bonds defining physical and chemical properties of the scintillators. These scintillators have advantageous useful properties. They are non-hygroscopic, not poisonous and are not sensitive to contact with the outside atmosphere and can be stored in conventional laboratory containers.
The remote-controlled spectrometric system for searching and characterization of high-level radioactive waste
Authors: Danilovich Alexey , Potapov Victor , Smirnov Sergey
Published: January 2020

In 2003, the work on environmental rehabilitation of the former coastal technical base of the Russian Navy in Gremikha town, with technical and financial support of the State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission had begun. In 2017, the task of searching, characterization and packaging in transport containers for export to the long-term storage of high-level waste containing 152Eu was set as part of this program. These wastes were presented as fragments of reactor control and safety system rods of first generation nuclear submarine reactors and were placed in temporary storage containers mixed with other radioactive waste and construction garbage on the territory of the Gremikha branch of the North-West Center “SevRAO”.

To accomplish the task, the spectrometric system “Gamma-Pioneer” was developed and made at National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”. The system consist of a collimated spectrometric gamma-ray CdZnTe detector 500 mm3 volume, a dosimeter for continuous measurement of ambient equivalent dose rate at the instrument location and a color video camera with zoom lens. The device is placed in a protective frame and installed as an attachment implements on robot Brokk-90. Communication between the measuring system and the control computer is carried out using USB extender and 100 meters cable. The video camera is connected to the control computer via Ethernet.

To search for the most active sources of gamma radiation, an equivalent dose rate calculation program using the results of measured instrumental spectra was developed. The characterization of the extracted fragments was carried out by activity evaluation of the main radionuclides polluting the samples under investigation. The paper describes design and operating principles of the system, as well as methods for the equivalent dose rate calculation and the activity evaluation of the fragments of reactor control and safety system rods based on spectral measurements obtained using the developed radiometric system
Compton imaging reconstruction methods: a comparative performance study of direct back-projection, SOE, a new Bayesian algorithm and a new Compton inversion method applied to real data with Caliste
Authors: Daniel G. , Limousin O. , Maier D. , Meuris A. , Carrel F.
Published: January 2020

Compton imaging is one of the main methods to localize radioactive hotspots, which emit high-energy gamma-ray photons, above 200 keV. Most of the Compton imaging systems are composed by at least two detection layers or one 3D position sensitive detector. In this study, we demonstrate the application of a new miniature pixelated single plane detector to Compton imaging. In this configuration, we do not have the information on interaction depth but we successfully test its ability to perform Compton localization by means of comparing different Compton reconstruction algorithms applied to real data measured with our single plane detection system.
Simulation of delayed gamma rays from neutron-induced fissions using MCNP 6.1
Authors: De Stefano R. , Pérot B. , Carasco C. , Simon E.
Published: January 2020

As part of its R&xD activities in the fields of radioactivewaste drum storage and homeland security, the NuclearMeasurement Laboratory of CEA Cadarache has started studiesrelated to the detection of induced delayed fission gamma rays asa signature of U/Pu presence either in radioactive wastes or incargo containers and luggage. The study described in the presentpaper explores the feasibility of detecting fission delayed gammarays of nuclear materials interrogated by a pulsed neutrongenerator. For this purpose, Monte Carlo simulations have beenperformed with ACT, the MNCP6 Activation Control Card.Simulated results have been compared with experimental data tovalidate the numerical model. Samples of uranium andplutonium have been irradiated for 2 hours with a pulsed D-Tneutron generator delivering 14 MeV neutrons with an averageemission of 8.107n/s, which are thermalised in a graphite cellcalled REGAIN. At the end of irradiation, activated nuclearmaterials were placed in a low-background, high-resolutiongamma spectroscopy station in order to detect delayed gammarays emitted by fission products. Anomalies have been observedin the calculated time decay curve of fission delayed gamma rayswith MCNP6 ACT card, but the time behavior is correct for non-fission activated materials like aluminum or copper. On the otherhand, the number of counts recorded in the main simulatedgamma ray lines from activated nuclear material fission productsis consistent with the experimental results, thus validating thesimulation scheme in view of further studies on thecharacterization of radioactive waste drums or special nuclearmaterial detection in cargo containers.
Modular and Integrated Sensor Network of Intelligent Radiation Monitor Systems for Radiological and Nuclear Threat Response
Authors: Corbo M. , Morichi M. , Fanchini E. , Mini G. , Pepperosa A. , Mangiagalli G.
Published: January 2020

Increased sensitivity to nuclear safety and security issues has prompted public entities and private institutions to maximize their capability to rapidly assess risks and intervene in the case of accident or threat. Quick intervention and response are achieved through nuclear measurements via airborne, land, and underwater systems. A network of cohesive, well-integrated and easy deployable radiation monitoring systems combined with real-time analysis of data is essential to facilitate and enhance the decision-making process during these most critical moments enhancing the quality of the management plan.

The presented radiation monitoring systems can be integrated in several form factors which depend mainly on operational needs and internal battery for autonomous operation. Compact ARM based computers is embedded, which can store large amount of data in their non-volatile memory, run automatic data analysis and trigger alarms in case of exceeding radiation levels. All the systems can communicate with redundant interfaces in failover configuration and upload the acquired environmental information in a central database. The same monitoring systems can alert the emergency response personnel on the field as well, through wireless connection to common tablets or cellphone or SMS, guaranteeing a prompt response in case an illicit transportation of radiological or nuclear material is detected.
Measurements and simulations to investigate the feasibility of neutron multiplicity counting in the current mode of fission chambers
Authors: Nagy Lajos , Pázsit Imre , Pál Lénárd , Klujber Gergely , Szieberth Máté
Published: January 2020

In two earlier papers [1], [2] we investigated the possibility of extracting traditional multiplicity count rates from the cumulants of fission chamber signals in current mode. It was shown that if all neutrons emitted from the sample simultaneously are also detected simultaneously, the multiplicity rates can be retrieved from the first three cumulants of the currents of up to three detectors, but the method breaks down if the detections of neutrons of common origin take place with a time delay spread wider than the pulse shape. To remedy these shortcomings, in this work we extended the theory to two- and three-point distributions (correlations). It was found thatthe integrals of suitably chosen two- and three-point moments with respect to the time differences become independent of the probability density of the time delays of detections. With this procedure, the multiplicity rates can be retrieved from the detector currents for arbitrary time delay distributions. To demonstrate the practical applicability of the proposed method, a measurement setup was designed and built. The statistics (shape and amplitude distribution) of the detector pulse were investigated as important parameters of the theoretical model. Simulations were performed to estimate the expected value of the multiplicity rates in the built setup. Measurements were performed and two types of moments (the mean and the covariance function) of the recorded detector signals were calculated. Values of singles rates were successfully recovered.
Study of online measurements techniques of metallic phase spatial distribution into a corium pool
Authors: Tisseur D. , Cavaro M. , Rey F. , Paumel K. , Chikhi N. , Delacroix J. , Fouquart P. , Le Tellier R. , Bouyer V.
Published: January 2020

In the context of in-vessel retention (IVR) strategy in order to better assess the risk of reactor vessel failure, the knowledge related to the kinetics of immiscible liquid phases stratification phenomenon needs to be further improved. So far, only one medium-scale experiment (MASCA-RCW, in the frame of the OECD MASCA program) gives direct information regarding the transient relocation of metal below the oxide phase through post-mortem measurements. No experimental characterization of the stratification inversion kinetics when heavy metal becomes lighter and relocates at the top exists. Further investigation of these hydrodynamic and thermochemical processes could be made possible thanks to on line instrumentation enabling to follow displacement of oxidic and metallic phases into the corium pool. At CEA Cadarache, studies are under progress to set up innovative technologies for corium stratification monitoring which would be integrated to a cold crucible induction melting furnace. Based on space and time resolution specifications, three on-line measurements techniques were selected and studied. The first one is an ultrasonic technique using a refractory material waveguide and based on a time-of-flight measurement. We present the feasibility approach with the preliminary results obtained during experiments at high temperature on VITI facility. The second method consists in electromagnetic characterization of the corium pool thanks to an excitation by a magnetic field induced by surroundings coils and measurement of magnetic response by sensors placed around the crucible. A modelling study has enabled to define an appropriate experimental configuration. An experimental set up has also been tested to verify the calculation results. The third technique is 2D X-rays imaging. A feasibility study for a real-time X-ray imagingwith a framerate of 1 image/s has been performed using home-made simulation software MODHERATO, accounting forscattering, based on corium behavior previsions. Results on thedetection of interfaces between different type of corium phases(oxide, light metal, heavy metal) are shown.
Tests under irradiation of optical fibers and cables devoted to corium monitoring in case of severe accident in a Nuclear Power Plant
Authors: Cheymol G. , Maurin L. , Remy L. , Arounassalame V. , Maskrot H. , Rougeault S. , Dauvois V. , Le Tutour P. , Huot N. , Ouerdane Y. , Ferdinand P.
Published: January 2020

The DISCOMS project, which stands for “DIstributed Sensing for COrium Monitoring and Safety”, considers the potential of distributed sensing technologies, based on remote instrumentations and Optical Fiber Sensing cables embedded into the concrete floor under the reactor vessel, to monitor the status of this third barrier of confinement. This paper focuses on the selection and testing of singlemode (SM) optical fibers with limited RIA (Radiation Induced Attenuation) to be compliant with remote distributed instruments optical budgets, the ionizing radiation doses to sustain, and their reduction provided by the concrete basemat shielding. The tests aimed at exposing these fibers and the corresponding sensitive optical cables, to the irradiation doses expected during the normal operation of the reactor (up to 60 years for the European Pressurized Reactor), followed by a severe accident. Several gamma and mixed (neutron-gamma) irradiations were performed at CEA Saclay facilities: POSÉÏDON irradiator and ISIS reactor, up to a gamma cumulated dose of about 2 MGy and fast neutron fluence (E > 1 MeV) of 6 x 1015 n/cm2. The first gamma test permitted to assess the RIA at various optical wavelengths, and to select three radiation tolerant singlemode fibers (RIA < 5 dB/100 m, at 1550 nm operating wavelength). The second one was performed on voluminous strands of sensitive cables encapsulating the selected optical fibers, up to approximately the same accumulated dose, at two temperatures: 30°C and 80°C. A significant increase of the RIA, without any saturation tendency, appeared for fibers inserted into cables, correlated with the increase of the hydroxyl attenuation peak at 1380 nm. Molecular hydrogen generated by the radiolysis of compounds of the cable is at the origin of this phenomenon. A third gamma irradiation run permitted to measure the radiolytic hydrogen production yield of some compounds of a dedicated temperature cable sample. The efficiency of a carbon coating layer over the silica cladding, acting as a barrier against hydrogen diffusion, was also successfully confirmed. Finally, the efficiency of this carbon coating layer has also been tested under neutron irradiation, then qualified as a protection barrier against hydrogen diffusion in the optical fiber cores.
MAPSSIC, a communicating MAPS-based intracerebral positrons probe for deep brain imaging in awake and freely-moving rats
Authors: Gensolen F. , Ammour L. , Bautista M. , Heymes J. , Fieux S. , Kachel M. , Lefebvre F. , Pangaud P. , Pinot L. , Lanièce P. , Baudot J. , Gisquet P. , Zimmer L. , Verdier M-A. , Morel C.
Published: January 2020

Radioisotope imaging is a powerful tool to understand the biological mechanisms in-vivo, especially in the brain of small animals, providing a significant model to study the human brain.

In this context, we have developed and built a pixelated intracerebral positron probe to be embedded on awake and freely moving small animals, typically rats. This pixelated probe will represent a key instrument for neuroscientists to study neural mechanisms and correlate them to behavioral experiments.

We describe in this paper the simulations carried out to design the intracerebral sensor, its architecture, and the detection of positrons in a volume with a couple of sensors assembled back-to-back. We also depict the architecture of the wireless acquisition system. Finally, we present the first measurements performed in real-time by this miniaturized probe with sealed radioactive sources and a 18F solution.
On Some Problems of the Numerical Implementation of Nonlinear Systems on Example of KPI Equation
Authors: Bogdanov Alexander V. , Mareev Vladimir V.
Published: January 2020

Analytical and numerical peculiarities of solving nonlinear problems are considered on examples of wave equations like KdVB and Kadomtsev-Petviashvili-I equation (KPI). KPI is represented in integro-differential form. Main attention is paid to the problem of asymptotical behavior of solution and appearance of nonphysical artefacts. The numerical solution is carried out by the finite difference method. For a correct representation of the boundary condition along the y axis in numerical simulation a method is proposed for introducing small artificial convection into the original equation in the indicated direction. Along with the introduction of artificial convection, the procedure of trimming of the integral on the bands adjacent to the upper and lower boundaries of the calculated region is used. The results obtained by numerical testing, showed sufficient accuracy and validity of this procedure.
Theoretical Basis of Nanobioelectronics
Authors: Lakhno Victor
Published: January 2020

Several years ago, the modern silicon-based nanoelectronics came to the limits of its miniaturization. Its advancement into the range of 10 nm and less faces enormous challenges. A breakthrough in further miniaturization of electronic devices can be realized only on the basis of new approaches of which nanobioelectronics seems to be the most promising.
Modelling Leaky Waves in Planar Dielectric Waveguides
Authors: Ayryan Edik , Divakov Dmitry , Egorov Alexandre , Lovetskiy Konstantin , Sevastianov Leonid
Published: January 2020

Experimentally observed leaky modes of a dielectric waveguide are characterised by a weak tunnelling of the light through the waveguide and its long-time propagation along the waveguide. Traditional mathematical models of leaky waveguide modes meet some contradictions resolved using additional considerations. We propose a model of leaky modes in a waveguide free from the above contradictions, akin to the quantum mechanical model of the “pseudo-stable” Gamow-Siegert states.

By separating variables, from the complete problem for plane inhomogeneous waves we obtain a non-self-adjoint Sturm-Liouville problem to determine the complex coefficient of the phase delay of the studied mode. The solution of the complete wave problem determines the propagation cone for the leaky mode of the waveguide, inside which there are no contradictions. Thus, solution is in qualitative agreement with experimental data.