Improving the economic performance of nuclear icebreakers when navigating ships in the Arctic

The most expensive part of nuclear icebreakers to be replaced is the reactor core, and therefore great importance was attached to increasing its energy storage and energy resource. At the first stage of the active zone development, it was possible to solve the problem of equalizing the calculated energy storage and the assigned energy resource. Another problem related to the icebreaker maneuvering in the Arctic is the unreasonably overestimated power limitation of the electric propulsion installation set by the navigator, leading to a decrease in the duration of the core campaign and its premature unloading from the reactor. The article proposes solutions that allow increasing the duration of the active zone campaign in the conditions of icebreaker maneuvering in the Arctic.

ENERGY AND STRUCTURE STATES OF LOW-LYING BANDS IN 156Gd

The experimental results of the literary and electronic nuclear database for 156Gd were summarized and analyzed. Inertial parameters of rotating core were determined using the Harris method. The theoretical values of energy and wave functions were calculated within the framework of a phenomenological model that takes into account Coriolis mixing of state rotational bands. The calculated energy values were compared with existing experimental data, which were in good agreement. ABSTRAK: Hasil dapatan kajian melalui eksperimen pangkalan data nuklear dan elektronik bagi 156Gd diringkaskan dan dianalisis. Parameter inersia putaran berputar ditentukan menggunakan kaedah Harris. Nilai teori fungsi tenaga dan gelombang dikira dalam kerangka model fenomenologi yang mengambil kira campuran Coriolis pada band putaran keadaan. Nilai pengiraan tenaga dibandingkan dengan data eksperimen memberikan persetujuan yang baik.

Comparison of the actual and theoretical energy use in nZEB renovations of multi-family buildings using in situ monitoring

Often there is a significant difference between the actually measured and theoretically calculated energy use. The deviation between the two can be a result of errors in design, construction or commissioning, due to the technical performance of building components and installations that don’t meet the design requirements. But equally, incorrect assumptions in the calculation can largely affect the results, for example the user influence that is simulated in a different way. This paper presents the analysis of data from an on-site monitoring system of two case study multi-family buildings that were deeply refurbished. It points out that the calculated energy use for space heating was largely underestimated, while there was an overestimation of the energy use for domestic hot water. The high indoor temperature and the low occupancy of the apartments were identified as the key parameters to explain this striking difference between the theoretical design and the actual situation.

A feasibility study of activity tracking devices in pregnancy

Background We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using an activity-tracking device (ATD) during pregnancy and compare self-reported to ATD-calculated energy expenditure in a 2-phase study. Methods (Phase 1) Twenty-five pregnant women were asked about exercise, computer use, smartphone ownership, and ATD attitudes. Descriptive statistics were reported. (Phase 2) Women ≥18 years, smartphone owners, < 16-weeks gestation, and without exercise restrictions were approached to participate in 2016–2017. Women received instructions to wear and sync the ATD daily. We assessed protocol adherence and satisfaction via surveys at 36-weeks and used mixed models to assess the relationship between gestational age and ATD data. Energy expenditure from the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) was compared to ATD-calculated energy expenditure. Results (Phase 1) Walking was the most common exercise; 8% did not perform any activity during pregnancy. All women had internet access and owned a smartphone. Women stated they would wear the ATD all the time during a pregnancy (88%), with the intent to improve their health (80%). (Phase 2) The characteristics of the 48 women were: pre-pregnancy BMI 28, 62% non-Hispanic black, 62% multiparas. Of the 18 women who completed the 36-week survey, only 56% wore the ATD daily, 33% had a lost or broken ATD, and 17% had technical problems; however, 94% enjoyed wearing it, 94% would recommend it to a pregnant friend, and 78% thought it helped them reach activity goals. According to ATD data, the median number of active days was 41 (IQR 20–73) and the median proportion of active days out of potential days was 22% (IQR 11–40). As gestational age increased, mean log steps decreased, active minutes decreased, and sedentary hours increased in unadjusted and adjusted models (P < 0.05 all comparisons). There were no differences in mean energy expenditure (MET-h/week) estimated by PPAQ or ATD data at 28 weeks gestation [212 (22–992 range) vs. 234 (200–281 range), P = 0.66] and at 36 weeks [233 (86–907 range) vs. 218 (151–273 range), P = 0.68]). Conclusions Women reported high motivation to wear an ATD and high satisfaction with actually using an ATD during pregnancy; however adherence to the study protocol was lower than expected and ATD technical problems were frequent.

Semiclassical perturbation Stark shifts of singly charged argon spectral lines

Using semiclassical perturbation approach in impact approximation, Stark shifts for singly charged argon (Ar ii) spectral lines have been calculated. Energy levels and oscillator strengths needed for this calculation were determined using Hartree–Fock method with relativistic correction (HFR). We compare our results with experimental values for 100 spectral lines. We also present results as a function of temperature for 161 spectral lines for collisions with electrons, protons, singly charged helium and singly charged argon. This work extends our previous one.

Wavelengths, transition probabilities, and oscillator strengths for M-shell transitions in tungsten ions with partially filled 3p subshell

Wavelengths, transition probabilities, and oscillator strengths have been calculated for M-shell electric dipole (E1) transitions in Al-like W61+ through Cl-like W57+, with partially filled 3p subshell. The fully relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock (MCDF) method, taking quantum electrodynamical effect and Breit correction into account, was used in the calculations. Calculated energy levels of M-shell excited states in Al-like through Cl-like W ions from the method were compared with some available theoretical and experimental results, and good agreement with them was achieved.