[en] This document presents 3 experiments carried out within the framework of inertial fusion. The first experiment was devoted to the study of fast electron beam transport in a compressed target. The implosion of the target with a cylindrical geometry was carried out with the GEKKO XII laser facility (ILE Osaka, Japan). The fast electron beam was generated by the LFEX laser (∼10"1"9 W/cm"2) and its propagation through the compressed cylinder was observed with several X-ray diagnostics. This experiment showed the guiding effect of the electron beam resulting from self-generated magnetic fields. Furthermore, the results of this experiment were in good agreement with numerical simulations. Two other experiments were performed to study the propagation of strong shock waves created by lasers in a plasma. They were carried out with different laser systems. In the first experiment with the Gekko XII laser, we observed the creation and the propagation of two successive shock waves in an ablation plasma in CH and Be. The objective of characterizing the amplification of a transmitted shock by the collision of two counter-propagating shocks has been partially realized. The comparison of the experimental results with the hydrodynamic simulations enabled us to confirm an amplification of the shock by a factor 2 in pressure in the condition of this experiment. The shot with a Be target allowed the development and validation of the diagnostic method of X-ray radiography for shock wave propagation. The second experiment was performed with PHELIX GSI laser (Darmstadt, Germany). The purpose of this experiment was to study the generation of strong shocks. They were applied to study the equation of state of carbon in the WDM state. The condition of pressure and density for the carbon were obtained by deducing the pressure and the velocity of the shock wave chronometric diagnostics employed in this experiment. In this experiment, diamond was at the metallic liquid phase with a pressure of 7 Mbar and a temperature of 15.000 degrees. (author)

[en] UV-B (290–320 nm) irradiation considerably reduced the cotyledon size of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings at 20 °C, and the extent of growth inhibition was reduced at 25 °C. At both temperatures, levels of endogenous scavengers and activities of active oxygen-scavenging enzymes were affected by UV-B irradiation. In particular, ascorbate peroxidase activity increased considerably, suggesting that active oxygen species might participate in the growth inhibition induced by UV-B irradiation. However, since no positive correlation was detected between the dependence of growth inhibition on temperature and the capacity to scavenge active species of oxygen, other mechanisms must be involved in the changes in the responses to UV-B that are related to temperature

[en] Large scale demonstration experiments in underground research laboratories (both onsite and off-site) are currently undertaken by most high level radioactive waste management organisations. The decision to plan and implement prototype experiments, which might have a life of several decades, has both important strategic and budgetary consequences for the organisation. Careful definition of experimental objectives based on the design and safety requirements is critical. The implementation requires the involvement of many parties and needs flexible but consequent management as, for example, additional goals for the experiments, identified in the course of the implementation, might jeopardise initial primary goals. The outcomes of an international workshop in which European and Japanese implementers (SKB, Posiva, Andra, ONDRAF, NUMO and Nagra) but also certain research organisations (JAEA, RWMC) participated identified which experiments are likely to be needed depending on the progress in implementing a disposal programme. Already earlier in a programme, large scale demonstrations are generally performed aiming at reducing uncertainties identified during the safety case development such as thermo-hydraulic-mechanical process validation in the engineered barrier system and target host rock. Also feasibility testing of underground construction in a potential host rock at relevant depth might be required. Later in a programme, i.e., closer to the license application, large scale experiments aim largely at demonstrating engineering feasibility and performance confirmation of complete repository components. Ultimately, before licensing repository operation, 1:1 scale commissioning testing will be required. Factors contributing to the successful completion of large scale demonstration experiments in terms of planning, defining the objectives, optimising results and main lessons learned over the last 30 years are being discussed. The need for international coordination in defining the objectives of new large scale demonstration experiments is addressed. The paper is expected to provide guidance to implementing organisations (especially those in their early stages of the programme), considering participating in and/or or conducting on their own large scale experiments in the near future. (authors)

No abstract available

[en] There has been no detailed documentation of the advantages of three-dimensional (3D) wall imaging of cerebral aneurysms. The usefulness of such endoscopic images obtained with modified spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) was therefore examined in comparison with conventional spiral CTA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Fifteen of 45 patients who underwent conventional spiral CTA in our department in the past 4 years, were further studied with a technical modification of surface-rendering reconstruction in spiral CT. Endoscopic images were obtained regulating the lower and higher thresholds of spiral CT scans in processing. Digital subtraction angiography was also performed for 14 of the 15 patients. the 3D wall images of the cerebral aneurysms were assessed in comparison with findings from conventional CTA and DSA. The true office of the aneurysms could be visualized with the endoscopic mode in all of the 15 cases. In paraclinoid aneurysms, particularly below the anterior clinoid process, the relationships to associated vessels and bone structures were more clearly disclosed with this mode. The endoscopic images of aneurysms with rigid clots or neighboring distended veins were not as adversely affected as conventional CTA. In 4 of the 15 the wall imaging precisely located the branches arising from the dome of aneurysms which DSA could not. Wall imaging of complex or small cerebral aneurysms provided valuable information on their relationships to associated arteries and surrounding bony structures. The endoscopic mode, a simple modification of surface rendering, is easily available in commercial CT processing packages. (author)

[en] An accessory anterior cerebral artery (ACA) sometimes makes it difficult to identify the structure of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) complex, only with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) can it be clearly demonstrated. We report a case of a 67-year-old woman with subarachnoid haemorrhage due to ruptured ACoA aneurysm associated with an accessory ACA, which was found clearly in images of three dimensional computerized tomographic angiography (3D CTA). The images of 3D CTA for an accessory ACA have never been previously described. Refs. 7 (author)

[en] We report four patients in whom gas was seen in the head on CT shortly after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The gas was in the posterior cranial fossa, presumably within veins, or in the cavernous sinus. The cause of the cardiac arrest was myocardial infarction in three patients and hanging in one. All had peripheral or central venous lines. The mechanism by which gas appeared in the intracranial veins is discussed. (orig.)

[en] PART I: The liquid wastes arising in BWR plants are generally classified under four types. Usually, three are reused as feed water after filtration, concentration and demineralization, while laundry liquid waste is discharged into the environment. Studies were made on laundry liquid waste treatment in order to establish a closed liquid waste system by using foamless detergent and evaporation treatment. It was demonstrated in pilot plant experiments that no foaming was caused during continuous concentration test runs from 500 to 200000 ppm. Then, the concentrated liquid was dried by LUWA wiped film vertical drier. The total volume reduction ratio through this concentration-drying system was calculated to be 1/2000. This treatment system may well be expected to have a potentiality of practical application in a few years to nuclear power plants in Japan. PART II: Although it is known that iron or iron compounds are effective in removing ruthenium, any satisfactory continuous treatment method of removing ruthenium present in minute quantities in the liquid waste has not yet been reported in the published literature. Based on the preliminary batch tests, column experiments using steel wool as the filter medium with activated surface layers produced by saturated steam were carried out mainly to develop a continuous method for industrial application. Some of the results of test runs made at a space velocity of 50m³.m^-3.h^-1, with ¹⁰⁶Ru spiked laboratory demineralized water clearly showed that the DFs of more than 100 were obtained even after treatment of the volume of liquid 10000 times the bed volume. (author)

[en] This robot system has been developed for automatic inspection of nuclear power plants. The system configuration is composed of vehicle that runs on monorail, the sensors on the vehicle, an image processer that processes the image information from the sensors, a computer that creates the inspection planning of the robot and an operation panel. This system has two main features, the first is the robot control system. The vehicle and the sensors are controlled by the output data calculated in the computer with the three dimensional plant data. The malfunction is recognized by the combination of the results of image processing, information from the microphone and infrared camera. Tests for a prototype automatic inspection robot system have been performed in the simulated main steam piping room of a nuclear power plant

[en] Chromium and its alloys have good corrosion resistance in corrosive environments and good oxidation resistance at high temperatures. In addition, they exhibit an excellent combination of low density and high creep strength. However, there is still a large barrier to the practical use because of their poor ductility at room temperature. According to recent investigations, an environmental effect was found on the ductility of high purity polycrystalline chromium. In this study, in order to find a way to improve the ductility of chromium at room temperature, the alloying effect on the ductility of chromium was investigated experimentally in several test environments