[en] Following injection of ¹²⁵I-WGA into various parts of the caudal thalamus in the cat, the distribution of orthograde and retrograde labels in the cortex around the anterior ectosylvian sulcus (AESS) and the superior colliculus (SC) was examined autoradiographically. When ¹²⁵I-WGA injections involved the medial part of nucleus lateralis posterior (Lp) of the thalamus, both orthograde and retrograde labels consistently appeared in the cortex around AESS, and retrograde labels in the SC. The topographical organization of the cortical connections with the medial part of Lp can be well correlated with that of the tecto-thalamic projections, in such a way that the dorsal portion of the medial part of Lp which receives fibers from the rostromedial part of SC is connected reciprocally with the lateral lip of AESS and the crown of the anterior sylvian gyrus; whereas, the most ventral portion of the medial part of Lp which receives tectal afferents from the caudolateral part of SC is connected with the dorsal bank and fundus of AESS. These results suggest the existence of retinotopically ordered linkage between the tecto-Lp and the Lp-AESS connections in the cat

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[en] In 2002 TEPCO found that there were unreported cracks in reactor components, of which inspection records had been falsified. Stress Corrosion Cracking indications found in Core Shrouds and Primary Loop Re-circulation pipes at some plants were removed from the inspection records and not reported to the regulators. Top management of TEPCO took the responsibility and resigned, and recovery was started under the leadership of new management team. First of all, behavioral standards were reconstituted to strongly support safety-first value. Ethics education was introduced and corporate ethics committee was organized with participation of external experts. Independent assessment organization was established to enhance quality assurance. Information became more transparent through Non-conformance Control Program. As for the material management, prevention and mitigation programs for the Stress Corrosion Cracking of reactor components were re-established. In addition to the above immediate recovery actions, long term improvement initiatives have also been launched and driven by our aspiration to excellence in safe operation of nuclear power plants. Vision and core values were set to align the people. Organizational learning was enhanced by benchmark studies, better systematic use of operational experience, self-assessment and external assessment. Based on these foundation blocks and with strong sponsorship from the top management, work processes were analyzed and improved by Peer Groups. (author)

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[en] This paper describes strategies to ensure containment integrity for ABWRs in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station reflecting the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident. The accident and response actions were analysed to extract lessons. Based on the lessons basic policies to enhance safety and containment integrity were derived. Firstly with considerations of multiple failures of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, defense in depth (DID) was enhanced by applying more diverse safety measures. For this purpose, in addition to refurbishing safety measures for beyond design base events, safety measures for each DID layer was enhanced not only by strengthen robustness to single failure but also by strengthen diversity and by physical separation. Secondly phased approach was introduced in choosing mitigation measures considering timing of the response actions and required reliabilities. Lastly performance requirements was clarified for containment vessel and its auxiliary systems after core damage. Various safety measures were implemented based on these policies and applied at ABWRs in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station to ensure containment integrity. (author)

[en] An on-farm experiment in which 361 metric tons of rough rice was stored in a silo from November until July was conducted at a country elevator in Hokkaido to develop new techniques for storing rough rice in cold regions. The temperature of the rough rice near the inner silo wall decreased to below ice point (-5°C) due to natural heat radiation in winter, which the temperature of the rough rice in the center of the silo was maintained at almost the same temperature as that at the beginning of storage (5°C). Ventilation in the upper vacant space of the silo prevented moisture condensation on the inside surface of the silo during storage. When the cold rough rice was unloaded from the silo in summer, an unheated forced-air drier was used to increase the temperature of rough rice to above the dew point temperature of surrounding air. During the unloading and rewarming process, the moisture content of the rough rice increased due to moisture condensation on the grain from the air. However, the husks first absorbed the condensation and then the moisture slowly permeated into the brown rice kernel. Thus the rewarming process didn't cause any fissures in the brown rice. The results of the experiment indicate that condensation on rough rice doesn't give rise to any problems

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[en] A TTA (2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone) containing silica gel plate was prepared, and a few metal ions were chromatographed on the plate by use of acetate buffers. The Rsub(f) values on the TTA-containing silica gel plate were compared with those on a conventional silica gel plate. It was found that the migration of the metal ions was governed by the TTA. ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁸⁵Sr, ⁹⁵Zr, ¹³⁷Cs and ¹⁴⁴Ce were used as tracers, to which was added the chloride of each element (Zn, nitrate) as a carrier to make an 0.05M solution. (F.Gy.)

[en] The thermodynamic values of ion exchange of [M(B)sub(n)(H₂O)sub(6-n)]³⁺ [M = Cosup(III) or Crsup(III), B = NH₃, (ethylenediamine = en)/2, (1,3-diaminopropane = tn)/2, (1,2-diaminopropane = pn)/2 or urea, 0 =< n =< 6] with Ce³⁺ ions on Dowex 50W resin of 2,8 or 16% divinylbenzene (DVB) content were determined from selectivity coefficient and heat of exchange measurements at 25⁰C. Further, the equivalent volumes of [M(B)sub(n)(H₂O)sub(6-n)]³⁺-form resins of 2% DVB content were measured. The heat and entropy of exchange were negative for the preferential uptake of [MB₆]³⁺ by Ce³⁺-form resin of 2% DVB content and they vary significantly with the ligand, B. The sequence of their values is given. From the entropy of exchange on 2% DVB resin, it seems that the interaction between the complex ion and water depends on the surface charge density of complex ion. Further, the heat of exchange on 2% DVB resin and the equivalent volume of resin are explained in terms of the interaction between the complex ion and water. (author)