Atomic Energy

The period between 1945 and 1960 represents a major moment in the consolidation of the so-called the “Cold War”. It was in this period that the atomic weapons were consolidated – and thermonuclear weapons shortly after – as devices to be used in an “imminent” World War III: in this process, the byproducts of the “Cold War” emerged, such as the “Atomic and Missiles Age” and “Arms and Space Race”, which reinforce and are reinforced by it. On one hand, during this period nuclear weapons and their delivery systems were developed, tested, improved and became operational, increasing their destructive power and capacity to delivery them into target. On the other hand, the greater the production and development of nuclear weapons, the clearer it became that nuclear weapons could not be used in war without destroying the entire planet, capitalists, communists and whatever lied between. The perception of this destructive capacity not only diminished the temperature of the “Cold War” between the two major actors of the bipolar system, but also clearly revealed the relative usefulness of nuclear weapons. Therefore, it is the technical-military component (the nuclear weapons) that kept the “Cold War” “cold” and helped define the very basis of the concept itself rather than the ideological component (capitalism versus communism). The objective of this doctorate thesis is to move beyond the concept of the “Cold War” and investigate the role of the “Cold War” and its byproducts in Brazil during the period of 1945-60, and in doing so provide a greater understanding of how Brazil specifically and Latin America in general lost their strategic importance during the post-war period. It is also my objective to analyze the usefulness of one of the internalization mechanisms of that loss – the so-called “atomic bargain” – by nationalists, communists and entreguistas, as well as the posture of these same historical actors in the face of the Brazilian strategic renaissance at the end of the 1950s, when the island of Fernando de Noronha was loaned to the United States. The research reveals that the atomic ores were not a good bargaining instrument to reverse the loss of Brazil’s strategic importance. This study also reveals that Brazil’s best bargaining chip since World War II – the island of Fernando de Noronha – was either wasted or undervalued by the Brazilian government. The prominence of the “Cold War” ideological component in historiography – readily acknowledged today – obfuscates the underlying crucial elements which were the looming threat of atomic and thermonuclear weapons (or “the irradiating focus of the ‘Cold War’”).

Key-words:

Brazil - United States political relations – “Cold War” – Atomic and thermonuclear weapons.

Im Kalten Krieg avancierten Atombomben zur bedeutendsten Bedrohung, Kernkraftwerke versprachen riesige Mengen an Energie und Radioisotope befeuerten biomedizinische Forschungen. Strahlen bündelten die Zukunftsversprechen und Visionen, aber auch die Ängste und Bedrohungsvorstellungen der Epoche.

Die Studie nimmt Akteure aus Militär, Verwaltung, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft in den Blick und zeigt auf, wie in der Schweiz seit dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges bis zur Reaktorkatastrophe von Tschernobyl mit Strahlen umgegangen wurde. Sie beleuchtet nicht nur die Vorbereitungen auf einen künftigen Atomkrieg, sondern auch die Vorkehrungen für einen nuklearen Alltag. Die Geschichte von Strahlen und den gegen sie ergriffenen Schutzmaßnahmen gibt Aufschluss über die noch wenig erforschte politische Kultur der Schweiz im Kalten Krieg.

Tesis - Maestría en Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad (Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina)

Esta investigación tiene por objeto analizar el abastecimiento de radioisótopos para uso médico en Argentina entre los años 1950 y 1971. La creciente demanda de radioisótopos para su utilización en diagnóstico y tratamiento médico, la centralización de las actividades nucleares en el país y la política de desarrollo autónomo llevada adelante por la Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA) determinaron la estrategia de abastecimiento del mercado nacional.

¿Cómo, dónde, en qué circunstancias y a partir de la participación de quiénes comenzó y se institucionalizó la producción de radioisótopos para uso médico? ¿Cuáles fueron los intereses que se disputaron? ¿Qué conocimientos se movilizaron? ¿Cuál fue y cómo se determinó la política institucional? ¿Cómo se desarrollaron las relaciones de colaboración y tensión entre actores provenientes de distintas disciplinas científicas?

A partir de estos interrogantes emergieron dos desafíos: uno, histórico; el otro, conceptual.

Desde una perspectiva histórica, intento reconstruir el desarrollo de la capacidad endógena de producción de radioisótopos, atendiendo a los siguientes elementos determinantes: contexto de una posguerra que comenzó con el lanzamiento de dos bombas nucleares; instituciones jóvenes movilizando conocimientos novedosos; y actores heterogéneos transitando estas instituciones y estos conocimientos.

Con la reconstrucción histórica emerge, indisociable, el desafío conceptual generado por la heterogeneidad de los actores involucrados y por los cambios en las prácticas, en los imaginarios y en las relaciones entre los actores, que esta heterogeneidad implica.

The Monte Carlo method is used to simulate electronuclear systems consisting of two-cascade subcritical zones: a liquid-metal fast reactor, which is used as a booster, and a thermal reactor, where most of the energy is released. Reactors of the type VVÉR-1000, MSBR-1000, and CANDU-6 are considered. The systems considered, functioning in the safe regime (keff = 0.94–0.98), possess much higher maximum power in the entire range of keff than similar systems without an intermediate fast booster reactor. At the same time, for high thermal neutron flux and with both fast and thermal zones present nuclear wastes can be efficiently transmuted in them, decreasing the required proton current in the beam by approximately a factor of 10. This is especially important when the liquid-salt thermal breeding reactors are considered as the basic electricity producing zone.

Four agricultural wastes: 1) castor bean leaves (CBL), 2) castor bean capsules (CBC), 3) jojoba leaves (JL), and 4) jojoba capsules (JC), were used as adsorbents for the adsorption of Strontium (Sr) from Abu Zaabal industrial wastewater. Three different dosages (0, 0.5, and 1g /100ml wastewater) were used for each at different contact times (1h., 2h., 3h, and 24h). The data showed that: 1) the concentration of Sr in Abu Zaabal industrial wastewater was high (9.8 mg/L), 2) the concentration of Sr has declined overtime and with the use of high dosage of bio-sorbents, 3) the maximum Sr (II) adsorption percentage was observed by using jojoba capsules wastes at 1% dosage and at 24 hours contact time (48.1%).While the lowest percentages were recorded by using castor leaves at 0.5% for 1 and 3 hours of contact time (1.6 and 1.2%). The data also showed that jojoba leaves at concentration 1% recorded the highest adsorption percentage (78%) for Cd. Castor bean and jojoba wastes were found to be attractive low cost materials for the treatment of industrial wastewater to remove Sr and Cd. Get more articles at: http://www.innspub.net/volume-5-number-5-november-2014-jbes/

"Gareth Porter has been the most conscientious follower of the fantasy danger of Iran’s purported “nuclear weapons program.” In this new, meticulously documented book, he exposes the many lies and half-truths that have been promulgated over more than two decades to try and convince the American public and the world that Iran is the chief danger to international peace.

Before plunging into the details of the book, let me state its conclusions unequivocally: Iran has never been proven to have a nuclear weapons program. Any claim to the contrary is absolutely false. The attempt to claim that such a weapons program exists was the result of a decades-long effort on the part of American neoconservatives allied with right-wing forces in Israel to legitimize hostile actions against Iran designed to effect regime change there.

Porter’s account is fascinating and appalling reading. It is fascinating because he has created a compelling narrative showing how the framework for attacking Iran in this way evolved over decades."

The finite element method (FEM) is a powerful computational technique for approximate solutions to a variety of ‘‘real-world” engineering problems having complex domains subjected to general boundary conditions. In this paper FEM is implemented to determine the effective thermal conductivity of partic-ulate filled polymer composites and is validated by experimentation. A commercially available finite-ele-ment package ANSYS is used to for this numerical analysis. Three-dimensional spheres-in-cube lattice array models are constructed to simulate the microstructure of composite materials for various filler con-centrations ranging from about 6 to 36 vol.%. Composites with similar filler contents are fabricated by hand layup technique by reinforcing micro-sized pine wood dust in epoxy resin. Guarded heat flow meter test method is used to measure the thermal conductivity of these composites using the instrument Uni-therm™ Model 2022 as per ASTM-E1530. This study shows that the incorporation of pine wood dust results in reduction of conductivity of epoxy resin and thereby improves its thermal insulation capability. With addition of 6.5 vol.% of filler, the thermal conductivity of epoxy is found to decrease by about 19.8%
and with about 36 vol.% of filler addition, a 57.3% reduction in thermal conductivity of neat epoxy is achieved. The experimentally measured conductivity values are compared with the numerically calcu-lated ones and also with the existing theoretical and empirical models. The values obtained using finite-element analysis (FEA) are found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental values.

ESPAÑOL: De mediados de los años cuarenta a finales de los sesenta, Estados Unidos vivió una extraña relación con la energía atómica. Por un lado, estaban maravillados por aquel nuevo poder que podría aniquilar una ciudad enemiga u ofrecer energía infinita. Pero por otra parte, la población estaba atemorizada por la posibilidad de un accidente, una guerra que emplease armamento atómico o la lluvia radioactiva. El presente texto trata sobre las esperanzas y miedos que existieron, y sobre cómo fueron reflejadas en la cultura popular a través de horribles monstruos, extraños mutantes y maravillosos superhéroes.

ABSTRACT: United States lived a strange relationship with atomic power from middle 40s to late 60s. On the one hand, they were marveled with this new power which can to erase an enemy city from the map or create unlimited energy. On the other hand, people were terrorized by possible accidents, atomic wars of fallouts. This article deals with these dreams and nightmares, and how they were reflected in popular culture through tales of terrible monsters, strange mutants and amazing superheroes.

The a tomic energy progra m initia ted in a modest manner and later developed into multi-dimensiona l orga nizations under DAE. The spectrum of significa nt activities includes resea rch a nd development in nuclear sciences a nd engineering, explora tion a nd mining of radioisotopes, nuclea r energy development a nd implementation, a pplica tion of nuclea r energy, bio-a gricultura l resea rch, medical sciences, etc. Though India a cknowledged the potentia l of nuclea r energy since independence, yet it ha s contributed little to its develo pment. It is required to ha ve the huge amount of energy requirement fo r India, in order to tra nsform into a developed na tion. Nuclea r power ha s the potentia l to sma ll fra ction of the total commercial energy consumed within India. The lia bility regimes for nuclea r da mage sha re two common fea tures i.e., channelling liability to the o perato r, ca pping this lia bility, a nd tra nsferring the fina l responsibility to compensa te the victims to the government. Having a dhered to the internationa l norms and standards, the la ws, rega rding atomic energy in India , appears to be in consona nce with the prescribed IAEA sta nda rds. 1 This essa y carefully eva lua tes and ana lyses the lega l fra mework perta ining to a tomic energy laws in India .] * Advoc ate, High Co urt of Delhi.

The principal sources of plutonium and americium entering the environment are tests of nuclear weapons, the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, and discharges from radiochemical factories. It is necessary to monitor the contamination of soil these produce from the levels caused by global radioactive fallout. The 241pu content in plutonium contaminating soil can vary by an appreciable factor (see ). This determines the contribution of 241Anl to the total c~ activity of the soil or of a sample prepared from it.

We describe a mechanism for cold fusion that is able to explain how two hydrogen ions may come close enough so as to fusion as well as many of the different and independent experimental observations made during years of experiments. We present the mechanism, its weak points, the way it explains the respective phenomena and suggest some experiments that may validate further the model described by us.

Because of his short term of office, President Kennedy's energy policies have not been critiqued, reviewed, or analyzed in the same manner, or to the same degree, as other administrations. This essay fills part of that void by reviewing the key components of President Kennedy's energy and environmental goals and policies that managed to have a lasting impact, despite his short term in office, and discusses the results of those policies, both positive and negative. Through this review, President Kennedy's policies can become a resource and roadmap for the current Administration and all those who seek to ensure access to affordable energy while preserving the environment.

FIELD OF INVENTION Photosensitized Decomposition of methane under Specific Heat, Light and Vacuum Conditions. This is a Free Radical Chain Reaction of Mercury and Methane, in Which Mercury is used as a Catalyst and Provides Alternate Pathway of Lower Activation Energy. As a Result of Which High Amount of Energy is released. This Reaction Comprises of Four Steps: 1) Dissociation 2) Excitation 3) Ionization 4) Association BACK GROUND OF INVENTION
This is a Free Radical Chain Reaction of Mercury and Methane in Which Input Energy is Low and High Amount of Energy is released. We Extract the Output Energy by Heat Exchangers and used it in Thermal Power Stations to Boiled Water for Generating Electricity. By This Reaction, By-Products We Get Are Ethane, Methane And Hydrogen Which Are Eco-Friendly. So there is No Wastage of Fuel and is Economical As Well.

A new group of thermoelectric materials, trigonal and tetragonal XYZ 2 (X, Y: rare earth or transition metals, Z: group VI elements), the prototype of which is TmAgTe 2 , is identified by means of high-throughput computational screening and experiment. Based on density functional theory calculations, this group of materials is predicted to attain high zT (i.e. B1.8 for p-type trigonal TmAgTe 2 at 600 K). Among approximately 500 chemical variants of XYZ 2 explored, many candidates with good stability and favorable electronic band structures (with high band degeneracy leading to high power factor) are presented.

A new group of thermoelectric materials, trigonal and tetragonal XYZ 2 (X, Y: rare earth or transition metals, Z: group VI elements), the prototype of which is TmAgTe 2 , is identified by means of high-throughput computational screening and experiment. Based on density functional theory calculations, this group of materials is predicted to attain high zT (i.e. B1.8 for p-type trigonal TmAgTe 2 at 600 K). Among approximately 500 chemical variants of XYZ 2 explored, many candidates with good stability and favorable electronic band structures (with high band degeneracy leading to high power factor) are presented.

A generally applicable, synthetic simulation model and computational tool has been elaborated for dynamic simulation of solenoid valves (SV) applied as control elements in fast-response pneumatic fluid power systems. The SV of case study has been modeled as a system consisting of coupled magnetodynamic and mechanical subsystems. At the present state of investigation, fluid dynamic effects are not considered in the model. The appropriateness of the model has been verified by experimental data. The simulation model resolves the valve body motion and the solenoid current at a high accuracy. It has been pointed out in the concerted numerical and experimental studies that the valve body performs repetitive flexible collision (bouncing) at its opened end-position. Such initial vibrating motion of valve body may affect favorably the SV fluid transmission characteristics, transferring momentum to the fluid in the orifice cross-section. The investigation reveals that the valve body penetrate...

Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray phase analysis, and infrared spectroscopy are used to study samples selected from a near-surface zone of glass blocks of vitrified radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants after they have been in storage in an experimental repository for 17 years. It is shown that only a thin surface layer of the glass blocks undergoes any changes due to environmental factors, and quartz-like and alumosilicate embryos are found on this layer.

In late 2011 The Japanese Diet ratified four civil nuclear cooperation treaties, with Vietnam, Russia, Korea, and Jordan, adding them to the seven already in place with other countries, including China. The move was significant not only because of
the identity of the four nations concerned, but because it took place less than one year after the Fukushima nuclear incident, with a “cold shutdown” just announced and Japan still struggling to decide the fate of its nuclear industry. On the other and, Japan and India still have not managed to reach a nuclear civil cooperation agreement, which would be the last nail in the coffin of the 'Nuclear Apartheid' so bitterly denounced for years by Indian observers.

The world’s first nuclear power plant operated for almost 48 years. Over this period of time, the neutron fluence on the graphite masonry reached ∼1022 cm−2, which resulted in activation of the impurities present in the graphite. During operation, incidents occurred with loss of seal and sometimes loss of integrity of the fuel-element claddings in some cells and particles of the fuel and steam-water mixture entered the graphite masonry. This resulted in radiation contamination with a complex radionuclide composition. Experimental information about the content and distribution of radionuclides in the spent nuclear graphite is needed in order to plan methods and periods of time for disassembly and salvaging of the graphite masonry of the stopped reactor taking account of the dose loads on the workers and the ecological safety norms. The problems which can be solved on the basis of the present work included the determination of the 14C and 3H contents by liquid-scintillation β spectrometry, analysis of the actinide content by direct γ spectrometry, and neutron-activation analysis followed by γ spectrometry. These investigation yielded new data on the content of fission products and activation impurities in graphite.

Atomic energy has long been a controversial topic among politicians, clean energy advocates and citizens alike. The outright benefits of such technology include a clean, efficient and reliable source of energy, which could potentially offer a stable electricity supply at affordable prices. The stigma of nuclear energy, on the other hand, relates to the possibility of negative externalisation or catastrophic environmental effect. Atomic energy is, nevertheless, the future of “a critical part of today’s energy mix, and will play an even larger role in the future to satisfy global demand for energy” according to Westinghouse CEO Danny Roderick. For China, however, nuclear energy is a necessity positively inclined with the need for change in specific areas. The aim of this research project is to answer, to the best of its ability, the following research question: What are the main imperatives for change fuelling China’s nuclear energy programme?

The total cross sections of (γ, n) reactions were measured for 12 nuclei from45Sc to208Pb using an activational method on bremsstrahlung from a microtron with maximum energy 25 MeV. Calculations of the total cross sections were performed on the basis of a modified preequilibrium decay model. Good agreement was obtained between the experimental and computed cross sections in the mass number range 100–208. 1 figure, 3 tables, 13 references.

The characteristic feature of the investigations performed was the wide-scale and representative selection of samples of graphite masonry from reactors and the comprehensive analysis of their radioactive contamination. An analysis of a large number of samples made it possible to construct a detailed picture of the contamination. The role of incidents in the formation of the contamination of graphite by individual radionuclides was determined. The distribution of the radionuclides in the masonry was studied. Correlations between the content of different radionuclides were investigated. Schemes for estimating the store of radionuclides in graphite masonry were constructed on the basis of the distribution of the radionuclides of different origin. In the approximate schemes the masonry was represented as a collection of cells. The store of a radionuclide was determined by summing its content in individual cells, which were divided into several categories according to their degree of contamination. The estimates of the store of radionuclides in the masonry differed strongly from the predicted values. The store of fission products and actinides was approximately ten times smaller than previously assumed; this could substantially simplify the disassembly and choice of utilization technology. 2 figures, 10 tables, 3 references.

to study the atmospheric fallout of heavy metals and radionucildes in the Southern Urals. Epithermal neutron activation analysis is used to determine the concentrations of 38 and 33 elements in soil and moss samples, respectively. Atomic-absorption spectrometry is used to determine Cu, Cd, and Pb in mosses. The specific activity of 90 Sr and 137 Cs is measured in soil samples. Multidimensional statistical analysis of the data obtained is used to establish and characterize various sources of contamination in the region investigated. The enterprises in the mining, ore processing, and other branches of heavy industry in the Southern Urals are persistent sources of industrial emissions of heavy metals into the atmosphere. This brings great urgency to investigating the distribution of industrial contaminations on the territory of this region. It should be noted that previous work was mainly of a local character, limited to the results for individual enterprises and adjoining territories, and were focused on radioactive contaminations of the region [1-3]. In the last few years, interest has arisen in determining the total effect of industrial enterprises on the region as a whole . In this context, it becomes urgent to determine the largest possible number of constituent elements of the contamination in order to divide the elements into categories to establish the specific sources of contamination. To solve these problems, in the present work a biomonitoring system using moss [5, 6] and a combination of analytical methods -epithermal neutron-activation analysis and flame atomic-absorption spectrometry and multidimensional statistical analysis -are used. In addition, the degree of contamination of the 3-cm thick top undisturbed soil layer is studied by the method of . The main goals of this work are to determine and characterize the sources of contamination in the Southern Urals, characterize the fallout spots of copper and arsenic around the Karabash Integrated Copper Smelting Plant, determine the spa-

Two phenomena were recently observed: efficient diffuse reflection of very cold neutrons (VCN) from nano-structured matter for any angle of neutron incidence to the matter surface, and also quasi-specular reflection of cold neutrons (CN) from nano-structured matter for small angles of neutron incidence to the matter surface. In both cases, powder of diamond nanoparticles was used as nano-structured matter, and the measured reflection probabilities by far exceeded the values known for alternative reflectors. Both these phenomena are already used in neutron experiments and for building neutron sources. In the present theoretical work, we consider an option of further increasing the efficiency of nano-structured reflectors due to replacing spherical nanoparticles by nanorods. We showed that VCN albedo from powder of randomly oriented nanorods is lower than their albedo from powder of nanospheres of equal diameter. However albedo of VCN and quasi-specular reflection of CN from powder of long nanorods oriented parallel to the powder surface exceed those for powder of nanospheres of equal diameter.

The development of nuclear power dictates higher requirements for mass-spectrometric instruments. The MTI-350G specialized mass-spectrometric system for isotopic analysis of uranium in the gas phase meets these requirements. The design was developed as part of the concept adopted for building instruments using a universal base analytical mass-spectrometric part taking account of the modern scientific and technical trends in instrument building. Two experimental models of MTI-350G were built, set up, and passed government acceptance tests. The instrument has been certified by the Government Committee of the Russian Federation on Standardization, Metrology, and Certification. A small series of these instruments for the separation enterprises of the Ministry of Atomic Energy is now in production. The MTI-350G modern instrument is clearly better with respect to certain basic analytical parameters and cost than the foreign analogs.

Methodological aspects in realization of Probabilistic Methods (PMs, i.e., those taking into consideration the corresponding distribution laws for values used) are scrutinized. The wish to improve the radioecological prediction of some values under investigation by using the PMs can face ambiguous estimates which cannot be verified in many cases. Significance of the differences appearing in determination of the structure of plant and animal products contamination is considered by concrete examples of contaminated areas of Bryansk region, Russia, after Chernobyl accident.

A brief exposition of the γ-x-ray spectrometric method and apparatus for analyzing the content of plutonium and241Am in samples of soil and vegetation is presented. The results of an analysis of some samples from the regions where peaceful nuclear explosions were conducted in Yakutiya and Perm oblast' are presented. It is concluded that the γ-x-ray spectrometric method can be used to perform large-scale measurements in regions where peaceful nuclear explosions have been conducted, 2 figures, 3 tables, 8 references.

Experimental and computational investigations of turbulent flow past projectiles is modeled as axial flow past a cylinder with a free-spinning base. A subsonic wind tunnel with a forward-sting mounted spinning cylinder is used for experiments. In addition, a free-jet facility is used for benchmarking the experimental set up. Experiments are performed for a range of spin rates and free stream flow conditions. An anisotropic two-equation Reynolds-stress model that incorporates the effect of rotation-modified energy spectrum and swirl is used to perform computations for the flow past axially rotating cylinders. Both rigid cylinders as well as that of cylinders with free-spinning base are considered from a computational point of view. Applications involving the design of projectiles are discussed.

Experimental and computational investigations of turbulent flow past projectiles is modeled as axial flow past a cylinder with a free-spinning base. A subsonic wind tunnel with a forward-sting mounted spinning cylinder is used for experiments. In addition, a free-jet facility is used for benchmarking the experimental set up. Experiments are performed for a range of spin rates and free stream flow conditions. An anisotropic two-equation Reynolds-stress model that incorporates the effect of rotation-modified energy spectrum and swirl is used to perform computations for the flow past axially rotating cylinders. Both rigid cylinders as well as that of cylinders with free-spinning base are considered from a computational point of view. Applications involving the design of projectiles are discussed.

A new chemically modified carbon paste Al(III) ion selective electrode based on 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHAQ) as an ionophore is described. This sensor has a wide linear range of concentration (1.0x10-6 – 1.0×10-1 mol L-1) and a low detection limit of 5.0×10-7 mol L-1 of Al(III) ion. It has a Nernstian response with slope of 20.7 ± 0.5 mV/decade and it is applicable in the pH range of 2.0–5.0 without any divergence in potential. The proposed electrode has a short response time of approximately 20 s and is stable at least for 3 months. The electrode shows a good selectivity for Al(III) ion towards a wide variety of metal ions. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of Al(III) ion in different real samples (aluminium-silicon alloy, pharmaceutical drug and water samples) with satisfactory results.

A scheme for accumulating radioactive ions, which is geared toward a quasicontinuous low-intensity flux, is discussed. It is based on individual correction of the trajectory and momentum deflection of each ion in the transport channel and individual ion injection into the accumulator ring. The advantages of this scheme are low accumulator acceptance 5-10 π·mm·mrad, high ion accumulation rate -up to 10 3 sec -1 -with beam intensity after the fragment separator 10 3 -10 4 sec -1 , and a 10 4 -10 5 -fold decrease of the pulse intensity of the primary beam on the productive target.

A simplified one-dimensional (1D) simulation model has been elaborated in AMESim environment, which is capable for analyzing and predicting the flow characteristics of small electropneumatic (EP) valves within a wide range of pressure ratios in the sonic range. The flow coefficient in the model has been identified on the basis of experiments and was compared with the Perry model. The flow coefficient values have been successfully reproduced by axisymmetric quasi-3D (Q3D) computations using the FLUENT code.

Restenosis remains the main complication of balloon angioplasty and/or stent implantation. Preclinical testing of new pharmacologic agents preventing restenosis largely rely on porcine models, where restenosis is assessed after endothelial abrasion of the arterial wall or stent implantation. We combined endothelial cell denudation and implantation of stents to develop a new clinically relevant porcine model of restenosis, and used this model to determine the effects of an a4 integrin inhibitor, ELN 457946, on restenosis. Balloon-angioplasty endothelial cell denudation and subsequent implantation of bare metal stents in the left anterior descending coronary, iliac, and left common carotid arteries was performed in domestic pigs, treated with vehicle or ELN 457946, once weekly via subcutaneous injections, for four weeks. After 1 month, histopathology and morphometric analyses of the arteries showed complete healing and robust, consistent restenotic response in stented arteries. Treatment with ELN 457946 resulted in a reduction in the neointimal response, with decreases in area percent stenosis between 12% in coronary arteries and 30% in peripheral vessels. This is the first description of a successful pig model combining endothelial cell denudation and bare metal stent implantation. This new double injury model may prove particularly useful to assess pharmacological effects of drug candidates on restenosis, in coronary and/or peripheral arteries. Furthermore, the ELN 457946 a4 integrin inhibitor, administered subcutaneously, reduced inflammation and restenosis in stented coronary and peripheral arteries in pigs, therefore representing a promising systemic therapeutic approach in reducing restenosis in patients undergoing angioplasty and/or stent implantation.

The Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 in Japan has had an impact on the overall pace of building of new nuclear reactors in particular, and on the attitude towards nuclear energy, in general. However, it could not bring an end to "the nuclear renaissance in several countries".1 A scrutiny of the halfdecade of nuclear energy trend worldwide since the Fukushima event reveals that most countries with, or planning for, nuclear programmes opted for a slowdown or temporary halt, rather than complete cessation of their programme, except Germany. The trend in Asia seems to be interesting as increasing number of states have shown interest in nuclear energy; while those countries already having nuclear programme like India, China, etc., are also planning for major expansion.Meanwhile, sporadic anti-nuclear movements have cropped up in many countries. In the past, there have been cases in Australia and USA where near-complete reactors have been halted by the weight of public opinion...

A computational analysis is performed of the use of zirconium dioxide ceramic in melt containment systems with relatively thin heat-conducting structures. The results of an investigation of the physicochemical processes for the interaction of melt with zirconium dioxide ceramic are presented. It is shown that the use of zirconium dioxide ceramic together with a passive water source gives the required melt cooling parameters for 3 to 24 h depending on the cooling regime. 4 figures, 9 references.

ABSTRACT Computational studies are performed for choosing an optimal material and dimensions of a moderator for forming a beam of epithermal neutrons for boron-neutron-capture therapy based on a proton accelerator and the reaction 7 Li(p, n)7 Be as the neutron source. It is shown that the best material for this is magnesium fluoride. An optimal configuration is proposed for a combined moderator consisting of magnesium fluoride and teflon. The computational results are compared with the experimental data.

... VS Karasev, VS Kislik, GF Shred, and RV Grebennikov ... Curve 1 has eight well-resolved peaks (denoted by Roman numerals), enabling one to determine with sufficient accuracy the charac-teristic temperature of the corresponding stage of helium evolution. ...