Unit Conversion Factors Research Articles

An analytical study Of Vehicular Effects on Sound in Residential, Silent And Mixed zones Of Sylhet

Noise is a form of environmental pollution that influences our life and comfort. Because of growing populations and increasing urbanization, noise is more common and is getting worse. Sylhet is one of the Bangladesh's most rapid growth cities. In recent years, it has experienced unprecedented population increase. During the past decades, there has been a noticeable growth in the number of individuals moving to Sylhet City from other regions of the nation, particularly for jobs and education. As the lifestyle and facilities of this city increase compared to the suburbs and countryside areas, nowadays vast amounts of individuals are interested in living in the Sylhet city. As the population is increasing, the number of transport facilities (volume of vehicles) are also increasing. To be more specific, the number of private cars ownership is increasing day by day. As a result, now the sound level is increasing much more than the standard level. Throughout the working days, between 6 am and 12 am, noise levels were monitored at 15 significant places (residential, silent and mixed zones) across the city. A sound meter was used to conduct the study. Vehicular data were converted to passenger car unit (PCU) conversion factor. Geometric design standard manual (LGED, 2005) was used to calculate PCU by passenger car factor or passenger car equivalent. “Environmental conservation rules-1997” was considered as basic to analyze the data. The study was conducted to quantify the amount of noise pollution that happens in the city's mixed, residential, and silent zones. It also revealed the impact of vehicular noise. It was found that most of the time the sound level at every site remained consistently much above the allowable limit and vehicular noise played a significant role in every case. GUB JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, Vol 10(1), 2023 P 10-16

Comparison of ReCiPe 2016, ILCD 2011, CML-IA baseline and IMPACT 2002+ LCIA methods: a case study based on the electricity consumption mix in Europe

Abstract Purpose The international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 do not specify a single method for the performance of life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). As a result, many different LCIA methods have been developed and the choice between them is not always obvious. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to systematically compare the most commonly used multi-impact LCIA methods worldwide to support practitioners in confronting the question of how the choice of LCIA method affects the LCA results. Methods Four LCIA methods: ReCiPe 2016, ILCD 2011, CML-IA baseline and IMPACT 2002+ at the midpoint level were applied to compare the environmental profiles of the electricity consumption mix in the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, taking into account the electricity consumption mix in individual countries. The results of the impact categories were converted into common metrics using unit conversion factors to allow the comparison of the results in absolute values across LCIA methods. Results and discussion In the LCA study, four common LCIA methods were compared across 12 defined midpoint areas of impacts. Results were consistent for climate change and ozone depletion, with the exception of the ReCiPe 2016 method, and acidification and eutrophication, with the exception of the IMPACT 2002+ method. Significant disparities were noted for ozone formation/respiratory organics, particulate matter/respiratory inorganics ecotoxicity and water consumption. The rankings of environmental profiles remained largely consistent across LCIA methods, with only a few exceptions concerning the following midpoint areas of impacts: ozone formation/respiratory organics, ecotoxicity and resource scarcity (minerals). Contribution analysis highlighted the crucial role of only a few key substances in each area. Conclusions The methodological choices during LCIA have significant implications for the characterisation results in absolute values, but lead, in most cases, to comparable conclusions on the ranking of environmental profiles of the electricity consumption mix in the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. This results from large methodological discrepancies between LCIA methods, concerning, among others, the geographical differentiation (either the European or global context), the scope of the impact categories grouped into the same midpoint area of impacts (for instance eutrophication) and the contribution of specific environmental flows to a given result of the impact category. Consequently, the findings of this research underpin the importance of careful selection of the LCIA method and impact categories, following the goal and scope definition and unique attributes of each method.

811-P: Initiation of Once-Weekly (QW) Basal Insulin Fc (BIF) in Three Patient Populations in Phase 2 Studies Using a One-Time Loading Dose (LD) Minimizes Transient Hyperglycemia and Is Not Associated with Excess Hypoglycemia Risk vs. Degludec

BIF is a fusion protein combining a novel single chain insulin variant with a human IgG Fc domain. The safety population from 3 randomized, open-label, phase 2 treat-to-target studies included 942 people with T2D previously treated with basal insulin (T2D-Switch) or new to insulin therapy (T2D-Naïve), or with T1D on multiple daily injections (T1D). QW BIF was compared to once daily (OD) DEG for 26 or 32 wks. Given BIF's slow accumulation and extended PK profile, initiation of or transition from prior OD basal insulin to BIF was managed by “boosting” initial exposure with a one-time ~ 3-fold LD strategy to achieve therapeutic concentration more quickly. In the absence of a definitive mg to unit conversion factor, determination of the starting QW dose differed by study and was based on PK/PD modelling and individual patient characteristics. Fasting glucose and patient reported hypoglycemia <70 mg/dL were compared during the first 6 wks of treatment and showed no clinically significant differences between treatments (Table). T2D-Switch and T1D studies included CGM and data during first 6 wks of the study were reviewed; no severe hypoglycemia was reported during this time. These data suggest that the BIF LD strategy is safe and effective in reducing transient hyperglycemia, especially in T2D. Disclosure J.M.Bue-valleskey: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company. C.M.Kazda: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company. Q.Zhang: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company, Stock/Shareholder; Eli Lilly and Company. A.Haupt: Employee; Lilly, Stock/Shareholder; Lilly. D.Dahl: Research Support; Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company, Boehringer Ingelheim Inc., Amgen Inc. J.P.Frias: Advisory Panel; Becton, Dickinson and Company, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Consultant; Akero Therapeutics, Inc., 89bio, Inc., Aimmune, Boehringer Ingelheim Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Carmot Therapeutics, Inc., Echosens, Merck & Co., Inc., Metacrine, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Employee; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Research Support; Akero Therapeutics, Inc., 89bio, Inc., Altimmune, Axcella Health Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carmot Therapeutics, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Metacrine, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Oramed Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Speaker's Bureau; Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi. Funding Eli Lilly and Company

Stochastic Estimation of Barrels of Oil Equivalent Conversion Factor for Natural Gas Volumes from Offshore Carbonate Fields in Ultradeep Waters

Summary Oil and gas production is measured in different units; therefore, there is a need to use a conversion factor of natural gas (NG) to barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). The SPE unit conversion factor, which is based on a reference oil, is often used. However, BOE conversion factors vary as a function of the high heating value (HHV) calculated for a gas, which in turn, varies as a function of the NG composition. Herein, by using Monte Carlo simulations, HHV and produced volumes of NG measured over the years were used in estimating BOE conversion factors for two offshore carbonate fields in ultradeep waters. Then, the new BOE conversion factors were used to review the production data collected in 2021. By comparing the new production data with the data obtained by using the SPE unit conversion factor, it is seen that the proposed conversion factors are more suitable for the specific assets than the standardized conversion factors.

Measurement comparability of insulin assays using conventional immunoassay kits.

BackgroundThe standardization of measurement aims to achieve comparability of results regardless of the analytical methods and the laboratory where analyses are carried out. In this paper, a comparison of results from several immunoassay‐based insulin analysis kits is described, and the steps necessary to improve comparability are discussed.MethodsFour manual enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits produced by Mercodia, Alpco, Epitope Diagnostics, and Abcam, and three automated chemiluminescent (CLIA) insulin assay kits (Siemens Centaur XP, Unicel Dxl800, Cobas e801) were compared by analyzing human serum samples and certified reference materials for human insulin.ResultsThe seven evaluated assay kits showed substantial discrepancies in the results, with relative standard deviation ranges between 1.7% and 23.2%. We find that the traceability chains and the unit conversion factors are not yet harmonized, and current reference materials for insulin are not applicable for immunoassay‐based method validation due to the use of different matrices.ConclusionsThe findings suggest the need to fine tune insulin analysis methods, measurement traceability, and any conversion factor used in post‐analysis steps in accordance with the necessity for standardization.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Levels Measured by the AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 Assay Are Concordant with Previously Available Serologic Assays but Are Not Fully Predictive of Sterilizing Immunity.

ABSTRACTWith the availability of widespread SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, high-throughput quantitative anti-spike protein serological testing will likely become increasingly important. Here, we investigated the performance characteristics of the recently FDA-authorized semiquantitative anti-spike protein AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assay compared to the FDA-authorized anti-nucleocapsid protein Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Roche Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2-S, EuroImmun anti-SARS-CoV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and GenScript surrogate virus neutralization assays and examined the humoral response associated with vaccination, natural protection, and vaccine breakthrough infection. The AdviseDx assay had a clinical sensitivity at 14 days after symptom onset or 10 days after PCR detection of 95.6% (65/68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 87.8 to 98.8%), with two discrepant individuals seroconverting shortly thereafter. The AdviseDx assay demonstrated 100% positive percent agreement with the four other assays examined using the same symptom onset or PCR detection cutoffs. Using a recently available WHO international standard for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, we provide assay unit conversion factors to international units for each of the assays examined. We performed a longitudinal survey of healthy vaccinated individuals, finding that median AdviseDx immunoglobulin levels peaked 7 weeks after first vaccine dose at approximately 4,000 IU/ml. Intriguingly, among the five assays examined, there was no significant difference in antigen binding level or neutralizing activity between two seropositive patients protected against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a previously described fishing vessel outbreak and five health care workers who experienced vaccine breakthrough of SARS-CoV-2 infection, all with variants of concern. These findings suggest that protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection cannot currently be predicted exclusively using in vitro antibody assays against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike. Further work is required to establish protective correlates for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Impact of polarised extragalactic sources on the measurement of CMBB-mode anisotropies

One of the main goals of cosmology is to search for the imprint of primordial gravitational waves in the polarisation filed of the cosmic microwave background to probe inflation theories. One of the obstacles in detecting the primordial signal is that the cosmic microwave backgroundB-mode polarisation must be extracted from among astrophysical contaminations. Most efforts have focus on limiting Galactic foreground residuals, but extragalactic foregrounds cannot be ignored at the large scale (ℓ ≲ 150), where the primordialB-modes are the brightest. We present a complete analysis of extragalactic foreground contamination that is due to polarised emission of radio and dusty star-forming galaxies. We update or use current models that are validated using the most recent measurements of source number counts, shot noise, and cosmic infrared background power spectra. We predict the flux limit (confusion noise) for future cosmic microwave background (CMB) space-based or balloon-borne experiments (IDS, PIPER, SPIDER, LiteBIRD, and PICO), as well as ground-based experiments (C-BASS, NEXT-BASS, QUIJOTE, AdvACTPOL, BICEP3+Keck, BICEPArray, CLASS, Simons Observatory, SPT3G, and S4). The telescope aperture size (and frequency) is the main characteristic that affects the level of confusion noise. Using the flux limits and assuming mean polarisation fractions independent of flux and frequency for radio and dusty galaxies, we computed theB-mode power spectra of the three extragalactic foregrounds (radio source shot noise, dusty galaxy shot noise, and clustering). We discuss their relative levels and compare their amplitudes to that of the primordial tensor modes parametrised by the tensor-to-scalar ratior. At the reionisation bump (ℓ= 5), contamination by extragalactic foregrounds is negligible. While the contamination is much lower than the targeted sensitivity onrfor large-aperture telescopes at the recombination peak (ℓ= 80), it is at a comparable level for some of the medium- (∼1.5 m) and small-aperture telescope (≤0.6 m) experiments. For example, the contamination is at the level of the 68% confidence level uncertainty on the primordialrfor the LiteBIRD and PICO space-based experiments. These results were obtained in the absence of multi-frequency component separation (i.e. considering each frequency independently). We stress that extragalactic foreground contaminations have to be included in the input sky models of component separation methods dedicated to the recovery of the CMB primordialB-mode power spectrum. Finally, we also provide some useful unit conversion factors and give some predictions for the SPICA B-BOP experiment, which is dedicated to Galactic and extragalactic polarisation studies. We show that SPICA B-BOP will be limited at 200 and 350μm by confusion from extragalactic sources for long integrations in polarisation, but very short integrations in intensity.

A Novel Analytical Fracture-Permeability Model Dependent on Both Fracture Width and Proppant-Pack Properties

SummaryFor an empty fracture, the fracture permeability (kf) is mainly influenced by the effect of viscous shear from fracture walls and can be analytically estimated if the fracture width (wf) is known a priori (i.e., kf=β2wf2/12, where β2 is the unit-conversion factor). For an adequately propped fracture, the fracture permeability is mainly influenced by the proppant-pack properties and can be approximated with the proppant-pack permeability (kf=kp, where kp is proppant-pack permeability). It can be readily inferred that as the effect of viscous shear fades (or the proppant-pack effect becomes pronounced), there should be a regime within which both the viscous shear and the proppant-pack properties exert significant influences on the fracture permeability. However, the functional relationship between fracture permeability, viscous shear (or fracture width), and proppant-pack properties is still elusive. In this work, we propose a new fracture-permeability model to account for the influences of the proppant-pack permeability, proppant-pack porosity (ϕp), and fracture width on the fracture permeability. This new fracture-permeability model is derived from a modified Brinkman equation. The results calculated with the fracture-permeability model show that with different values of the Darcy parameter, the fluid flow can be divided into viscous-shear-dominated (VSD) regime, transition regime, and Darcy-flow-dominated (DFD) regime. If the Darcy parameter is sufficiently large, the effect of proppant-pack permeability on fracture permeability can be neglected and the fracture permeability can be calculated with the VSD fracture-permeability (FP) (VSD-FP) equation (i.e., kf=β2ϕpwf2/12). If the Darcy parameter is sufficiently small, the effect of viscous shear on fracture permeability can be neglected and the fracture permeability can be calculated with the DFD-FP equation (i.e., kf=kp). Both the VSD-FP and DFD-FP equations are special forms of the proposed fracture-permeability model. For the existing empirical/analytical fracture-conductivity models that neglect the effect of viscous shear, one can multiply these models by the coefficient of viscous shear to make these models capable of estimating the fracture conductivity with large values of Darcy parameter.

Generalized Kasha’s Model: T-Dependent Spectroscopy Reveals Short-Range Structures of 2D Excitonic Systems

Summary Excitonic organic materials owe their tunable optoelectronic properties to intricate microscopic configurations, challenging for conventional characterization methods to resolve. We generalize Kasha’s model by incorporating the temperature (T)-dependent absorption peak shift, in addition to the monomer-aggregate absorption peak shift that defines J- and H-aggregates, to characterize the microscopic structures. We show that the short-range interactions dominate in determining the direction of the T-dependent peak shift, which accounts for previously observed T-dependent blueshifting J-aggregates (BJ-aggregates) that were not explained and predicts the existence of redshifting H-aggregates (RH-aggregates). This defines four types of excitonic aggregates: RJ-, BH-, BJ-, and RH-aggregates, where the latter two unconventional aggregates are possible because of the two dimensionality of excitonic systems and cannot be understood with the original Kasha’s theory. Our conceptual framework is useful for elucidating structure-function relationships in molecular excitonic systems and is fully compatible with existing tools. Possible extensions to other spectroscopic observables and related systems are discussed.

Quality Control of Display Devices for Medical Radiodiagnosis Employing the Standard TG18, GSDF and JND

Introduction: This work presents a study on the procedures for evaluating the quality of imaging display devices in radiology, considering the characteristic luminance curve obtained experimentally versus the Just Noticeable Difference (JND) and the lifetime of digital display devices. Materials & Methods: The evaluations were done using image patterns published by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine on Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) and the Grayscale Standard Display Function (GSDF), viewed in DICOM software, with various shades of gray. A digital luximeter was used as the luminance meter. A correlation with the time of use of the devices was performed to classify the digital devices as primary (suitable for medical diagnosis) or secondary (suitable only for visualization of medical images). Results & Discussion: Among the monitors evaluated, those with a resolution between 2 and 5 megapixels were classified as primary for up to 50, 000 hours of use, and some above that time limit present behavior equivalent to secondary monitors. Monitoring the temporal evolution of the use of devices is important to avoid errors in medical diagnosis. Conclusion: The use of a calibrated digital luximeter with an illuminance unit conversion factor in luminance defined by this equipment was shown to be an alternative to replace a photometer when this latter is not available.

Quantification of Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI) Comparable With 3-D PET Standard Measurements.

Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) is commonly performed using two-dimensional (2-D) conventional optical imaging systems for its cost-effective solution. However, quantification of CLI comparable to conventional three-dimensional positron emission tomography (PET) is challenging using these systems due to both the high attenuation of Cerenkov radiation (CR) on mouse tissue and nonexisting depth resolution of CLI using 2-D imaging systems (2-D CLI). In this study, we developed a model that estimates effective tissue attenuation coefficient and corrects the tissue attenuation of CLI signal intensity independent of tissue depth and size. To evaluate this model, we used several thin slices of ham as a phantom and placed a radionuclide (89Zr and 64Cu) inside the phantom at different tissue depths and sizes (2, 7, and 12 mm). We performed 2-D CLI and MicroPET/CT (Combined small animal PET and Computed Tomography (CT)) imaging of the phantom and in vivo mouse model after administration of 89Zr tracer. Estimates of the effective tissue attenuation coefficient (μeff) for 89Zr and 64Cu were ∼2.4 and ∼2.6 cm−1, respectively. The computed unit conversion factor to %ID/g from 2-D CLI signal was 2.74 × 10−3 μCi/radiance estimated from phantom study. After applying tissue attenuation correction and unit conversion to the in vivo animal study, an average quantification difference of 10% for spleen and 35% for liver was obtained compared to PET measurements. The proposed model provides comparable quantification accuracy to standard PET system independent of deep tissue CLI signal attenuation.

Quiz: Acute Kidney Injury in a Patient on a TNF-α Blocking Agent

Quiz: Acute Kidney Injury in a Patient on a TNF-α Blocking Agent

A Monte Carlo modeling alternative for the API Gamma Ray Calibration Facility

The gamma ray pit at the API Calibration Facility, located on the University of Houston campus, defines the API unit for natural gamma ray logs used throughout the petroleum logging industry. Future use of the facility is uncertain. An alternative method is proposed to preserve the gamma ray API unit definition as an industry standard by using Monte Carlo modeling to obtain accurate counting rate-to-API unit conversion factors for gross-counting and spectral gamma ray tool designs.

Comparison of absolute gain photometric calibration betweenPlanck/HFI andHerschel/SPIRE at 545 and 857 GHz

We compare the absolute gain photometric calibration of the Planck/HFI and Herschel/SPIRE instruments on diffuse emission. The absolute calibration of HFI and SPIRE each relies on planet flux measurements and comparison with theoretical far-infrared emission models of planetary atmospheres. We measure the photometric cross calibration between the instruments at two overlapping bands, 545 GHz / 500 $\mu$m and 857 GHz / 350 $\mu$m. The SPIRE maps used have been processed in the Herschel Interactive Processing Environment (Version 12) and the HFI data are from the 2015 Public Data Release 2. For our study we used 15 large fields observed with SPIRE, which cover a total of about 120 deg^2. We have selected these fields carefully to provide high signal-to-noise ratio, avoid residual systematics in the SPIRE maps, and span a wide range of surface brightness. The HFI maps are bandpass-corrected to match the emission observed by the SPIRE bandpasses. The SPIRE maps are convolved to match the HFI beam and put on a common pixel grid. We measure the cross-calibration relative gain between the instruments using two methods in each field, pixel-to-pixel correlation and angular power spectrum measurements. The SPIRE / HFI relative gains are 1.047 ($\pm$ 0.0069) and 1.003 ($\pm$ 0.0080) at 545 and 857 GHz, respectively, indicating very good agreement between the instruments. These relative gains deviate from unity by much less than the uncertainty of the absolute extended emission calibration, which is about 6.4% and 9.5% for HFI and SPIRE, respectively, but the deviations are comparable to the values 1.4% and 5.5% for HFI and SPIRE if the uncertainty from models of the common calibrator can be discounted. Of the 5.5% uncertainty for SPIRE, 4% arises from the uncertainty of the effective beam solid angle, which impacts the adopted SPIRE point source to extended source unit conversion factor (Abridged)

Definition of an HBsAg to DNA international unit conversion factor by enrichment of circulating hepatitis B virus forms.

Hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection is characterized by the overproduction of subviral particles (SVP) over infectious Dane particles (VP). Precise regulation of the ratio between these forms is unknown, but its fluctuation may have a clinical impact. An enrichment method was applied to assess the SVP/VP ratio in chronically infected patients (CHB) and to compare the sensitivity of HBs antigen (HBsAg) and DNA detection methods. Plasmas from 9 genotype A-D CHB patients were fractionated on Nycodenz(®) gradients, and both HBV DNA and HBsAg were quantified in each collected fraction using standardized techniques expressed in IU/mL. Infection of primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) was performed with crude or fractionated plasma. Independently of the genotype, all plasmas showed a similar rate-zonal separation profile characterized by a bottom DNA-enriched peak surmounted by HBsAg-enriched fractions. Inoculation of PHH with plasma-derived VP-enriched fractions led to long-lasting production of virus in cell supernatants with a SVP/VP ratio similar to that observed in patient plasmas. In the VP fraction, one IU of HBsAg corresponded to approximately 5 million IU of HBV DNA. Rate-zonal gradient separation directly applied on patient plasma allows a better insight into the distribution of VP in HBeAg-positive CHB carriers. This study highlights the sensitivity difference of the techniques classically used to monitor HBV infection and indicates that VP-associated HBsAg contributes modestly to the overall amount of total circulating HBsAg in CHB. Such a fractionation approach should help to understand the fine regulation of HBsAg production over replication at different stages of CHB.

Dictionary of petroleum exploration, drilling & production

Contents: Drilling & completion records Rotary drilling rig Cable tool drilling rig Crank counterbalanced bean pumping unit Geological time scale Giant oil & gas fields Mineral properties Sandstone limestone classifications Carbonate porosity Common geological map & log symbols Drill stem test symbols Flow sheet symbols Land subdivisions (U.S.) Geological features (U.S. & Canada) Unit conversion factors Atomic weights & numbers Greek alphabet.

A Clinical Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Hypernatremia

Hypernatremia is a commonly encountered electrolyte disorder occurring in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Community-acquired hypernatremia typically occurs at the extremes of age, whereas hospital-acquired hypernatremia affects patients of all age groups. Serum sodium concentration is linked to water homeostasis, which is dependent on the thirst mechanism, arginine vasopressin, and kidney function. Because both hypernatremia and the rate of correction of hypernatremia are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, prompt effective treatment is crucial. Chronic hypernatremia can be classified into 3 broad categories, hypovolemic, euvolemic, and hypervolemic forms, with each form having unique treatment considerations. In this teaching case, we provide a clinically based quantitative approach to the treatment of both hypervolemic and hypovolemic hypernatremia, which occurred in the same patient during the course of a prolonged illness.

Rescaling Temperature and Entropy

Temperature and entropy traditionally are expressed in units of kelvin and joule/kelvin. These units obscure some important aspects of the natures of these thermodynamic quantities. Defining a rescaled temperature using the Boltzmann constant, T′ = kBT, expresses temperature in energy units, thereby emphasizing the close relationship between temperature and energy. When temperature is rescaled, entropy must also be rescaled, S′ = S/kB. Rescaled entropy is dimensionless. Rescaling reveals that the Boltzmann constant (and the gas constant) can be viewed as unit conversion factors between two energy units, kelvin and joule. The machinery of chemical thermodynamics remains intact upon rescaling, inasmuch as T and S appear together. Similar to entropy, however, heat capacities become dimensionless upon rescaling. Rescaling provides several insights into the nature of thermodynamic quantities: temperature is a measure of energy intensity; entropy is a measure of distribution; heat capacity states the number of ...

原子力施設廃止措置費用簡易評価コードの開発

The simplified decommissioning cost estimation code for nuclear facilities (DECOST code) was developed in consideration of features and structures of nuclear facilities and similarity of dismantling methods. The DECOST code could calculate 8 evaluation items of decommissioning cost. Actual dismantling in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) was evaluated; unit conversion factors used to calculate the manpower of dismantling activities were evaluated. Consequently, unit conversion factors of general components could be classified into three kinds. Weights of components and structures of the facility were necessary for calculation of manpower. Methods for evaluating weights of components and structures of the facility were studied. Consequently, the weight of components in the facility was proportional to the weight of structures of the facility. The weight of structures of the facility was proportional to the total area of floors in the facility. Decommissioning costs of 7 nuclear facilities in the JAEA were calculated by using the DECOST code. To verify the calculated results, the calculated manpower was compared with the manpower gained from actual dismantling. Consequently, the calculated manpower and actual manpower were almost equal. The outline of the DECOST code, evaluation results of unit conversion factors, the evaluation method of the weights of components and structures of the facility are described in this report.

A 42-Year-Old Woman With Flaccid Paralysis

A 42-Year-Old Woman With Flaccid Paralysis