[en] An apparatus for changing jaw assemblies on manipulators comprises a support frame having a carriage movable between location blocks for the jaw assemblies. The carriage has an opening to permit passage therethrough of a jaw assembly and to receive a displaceable collar on the arm which encloses a releasable coupling between the jaw assembly and the end of the arm. The coupling is engaged or disengaged upon movement of the carriage on rods relative to the location blocks and on the application of a force on the manipulator arm towards the assembly. The coupling may be a T-section slidable in a channel member biassed by a spring into the collar which is slidable on the arm. (author)

[en] Attention is called to the unique character of the space between atoms of a solid crystal such as exists interior to the arms of an interferometer. This interior space has a time coordinate associated g₀₀ element of the metric tensor gsub(ik), which possesses a value different from its unit value in free space. This being the case it is hypothesised that the Lorentz factor (1 - v²/c²)sup(-1/2) is not quite complete and should incorporate the above mentioned element of the metric tensor or some appropriate function thereof. If that function be denoted G then it is that relativistic considerations predict the possibility of a small shift, whenever G is different from unity. A decisive test for this phenomenon is suggested. (Auth.)

[en] The author investigates the possibility of the existence of a closer similarity between the structure of localized matter and that of photons, to a degree beyond that which has been explored to date. The fundamental point of view in this regard is that the photon is but another state of the same energy form which constitutes matter. It is therefore hypothesised that the photon has a nucleus surrounded by a potential well. Also, residing as a cloud and occupying this surrounding well, there are additional peripheral particles of propagating energy. This cloud then is similar to the electron clouds which surround atomic nuclei. For this model then one may visualize each quantum of energy hγ/2π to have three major parts, viz. a nucleus, a surrounding potential well and a peripheral cloud within that well. It then becomes possible to construct a photon model which projects a very lucid physical reason for the dependence of the photon frequency γ upon its energy E as well as an interpretation of Planck's constant h/2π. (Auth.)

[en] The strategy for the long term disposal of Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) by British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) is to immobilise the waste by encapsulating it in concrete within 500l stainless steel drums. these will be stored underground when the respository has been built. In the shorter term, the drums will be stored in one of several modular stores, such as EPS2. This paper describes the design, supply and installation of cranes for use in EPS2. The remote handling equipment developed has led to many technological improvements of wider benefit in the field of remote handling equipment. (Author)

[en] British Nuclear Fuels plc have under construction a store for intermediate level radioactive waste which has been immobilised by encapsulation in concrete within 500 litre stainless steel drums. The store is a large reinforced concrete structure split into two vaults each capable of housing 17,000 drums. The drums will be received from the encapsulation plants via a bogie transfer system in an underground tunnel passing under the store. Apertures in the tunnel roof of each vault allow an overhead crane to retrieve and stack the drums in a vacant location. The cranes, which are currently being commissioned, straddle their respective vaults and are remotely controlled from a control room in an existing neighbouring plant. Purpose designed maintenance areas into which the cranes will be occasionally withdrawn are being provided. A large sliding shield door will be used to close off the opening between the respective storage vault and the maintenance area for the radiation protection of personnel. The design and installation of the cranes and shield doors are described. (UK)

[en] We review the status of B_s mixing measurements from LEP experiments, including new results from DELPHI. We briefly review the various experimental techniques used and their limitations and discuss the possibilities for improving these measurements in the near future. Including the new DELPHI results the combined world average limit on the B_s oscillation frequency is Δm_s > 8.4ps^-1 at 95% CL. (orig.)

[en] Since 1985 when parathyroid subtraction scintigraphy was presented in atlas form in this journal, the T1-201-Tc-99m computer subtraction studies have become more and more popular. Although the study has been quite accurate in localizing abnormal parathyroid pathology, the rate of false positive studies has been somewhat excessive, usually due to thyroid pathology. This atlas is an update of that previous work with the goal of presenting a scheme of interpretation that lessens the incidence of false positive studies as well as presenting many of the pitfalls in diagnosis of parathyroid disease.13 references

[en] A measurement of absolute integrated luminosity is presented using the CLEO II detector operating at the CESR e⁺e^- storage ring. Independent analyses of three different final states (e⁺e^-, γγ, and μ⁺μ^-) at √(s) similar eq10 GeV normalize to the expected theoretical cross sections and correct for detection efficiencies. The resulting luminosities are measured with systematic errors of ±1.8%, ±1.6%, and ±2.2%, respectively, and are consistent with one another. The combined luminosity has a systematic error of ±1.0%. ((orig.))

[en] EnergySolutions has developed two major types of radioactive processing plants based on its experience in the USA and UK, and its exclusive North American access to the intellectual property and know-how developed over 50 years at the Sellafield nuclear site in the UK. Passive Secure Cells are a type of hot cell used in place of the Canyons typically used in US-designed radioactive facilities. They are used in permanent, large scale plants suitable for long term processing of large amounts of radioactive material. The more recently developed Transportable Processing Systems, which are the subject of this paper, are used for nuclear waste processing and clean-up when processing is expected to be complete within shorter timescales and when it is advantageous to be able to move the processing equipment amongst a series of geographically spread-out waste treatment sites. Such transportable systems avoid the construction of a monolithic waste processing plant which itself would require extensive decommissioning and clean-up when its mission is complete. This paper describes a range of transportable radioactive waste processing equipment that EnergySolutions and its partners have developed including: the portable MOSS drum-based waste grouting system, the skid mounted MILWPP large container waste grouting system, the IPAN skid-mounted waste fissile content non-destructive assay system, the Wiped Film Evaporator low liquid hold-up transportable evaporator system, the CCPU transportable solvent extraction cesium separation system, and the SEP mobile shielded cells for emptying radioactive debris from water-filled silos. Maximum use is made of proven, robust, and compact processing equipment such as centrifugal contactors, remote sampling systems, and cement grout feed and metering devices. Flexible, elastomer-based Hose-in-Hose assemblies and container-based transportable pump booster stations are used in conjunction with these transportable waste processing units for transferring radioactive waste from its source to the processing equipment. (authors)

[en] We have developed an inexpensive sonar-based instrument to provide a routine on-line monitor of the composition and stability of several gas mixtures having application in a Cherenkov Ring Imaging Detector. The instrument is capable of detecting small (<1%) fluctuations in the relative concentration of the constituent gases and, in contrast with some other gas analysis techniques, lends itself well to complete automation. (orig.)