Joyson Safety Systems (Japan)

The mechanism of primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) in Alloy TT690 was studied from the viewpoint of the influence of hydrogen behavior and cavity formation. Four parameters were examined: cavity formation at crack tips; deformation in the presence of hydrogen gas; dynamic strain effect on mechanical properties; and nickel plating effect on PWSCC propagation. The correlation that was observed between cavity formation at crack tips and crack growth rates indicates the cavities have an important influence on cracking. Results for creep tests done in the presence of hydrogen gas reveal hydrogen lowers the elasticity and makes the alloy brittle at the stress concentrated region. Results for slow strain rate tensile tests indicate that the dynamic strain which accompanies the hydrogen source increases the apparent yield strength. Additionally, nickel plating, which might change corrosion behavior on the alloy surface, suppresses the crack propagation. These observations provide direct support for hydrogen and cavity related mechanism that account for PWSCC of Alloy TT690.

The primary purpose of this research is to examine the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance of Alloy 800NG in pressurized water reactor (PWR) primary water and pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) primary water. Rates of SCC growth of 20% cold-worked (CW) Alloy 800NG measured over the temperature range between 270°C and 360°C were compared with previously reported results for 20% CW Alloy TT690 and 20% CW Alloy 600 in order to consider which material is the most SCC resistant among materials presently being used for steam generator (SG) tubing worldwide. The secondary purpose is to examine the effect of chromium addition on SCC growth in PWR primary water of a series of alloys based on the Alloy 800 composition. SCC growth measurements were performed in PWR primary water over the chromium concentration range from 16% to 27% to obtain fundamental knowledge useful for considering a future alternative SCC-resistant material for SG tubing in extended life PWRs and PHWRs. The third objective is to examine the rate of cavity formation of 20% CW Alloy 800NG to obtain basic knowledge of one possible mechanism for SCC initiation after long-term operation. Measured rates of cavity formation in 20% CW Alloy 800NG were compared with previously reported results of 20% CW Alloy TT690 to compare the rate of SCC initiation caused by cavity formation. Four important patterns were observed. First, excellent SCC growth resistance was observed for 20% CW Alloy 800NG compared to 20% CW Alloy TT690 at 320°C, 340°C, and 360°C. Second, an inverse temperature dependence on SCC growth was observed in Alloy 800NG. The rate of SCC growth increased with decreasing temperature which was completely different from the trend for Alloy 600. Third, a significant beneficial effect by chromium addition in 800 series alloys on SCC growth resistance was observed in PWR primary water in the operating temperature range of PWRs and PHWRs. The rate of SCC growth decreased with increasing chromium concentration in the chromium concentration range between 16% and 27% chromium at 270°C, 290°C, and 320°C. However, no beneficial effect of chromium addition in these alloys was observed at 340°C and 360°C. Finally, a more than 10 times slower rate of cavity formation was observed in 20% CW Alloy 800NG than for 20% CW Alloy TT690. Results suggested that because of cavity formation, a more than 10-fold faster crack initiation occurred in Alloy TT690 than in Alloy 800NG. Further, carbide coverage and grain size significantly affected the rate of cavity formation. Detailed and comprehensive studies of long-term SCC initiation are necessary to ensure the future reliability of life-extended PWRs and PHWRs.

This paper describes the experience of developing Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) training programby applying an Instructional Design Process(IDP). This is not complete training to become an IV&V engineer, but job training to help solve common problems encountered in IV&V work. The instructional design process featured extensive frontend analysis before the design and implementation of the instruction, and also repeated revision of the instruction. The Dick and Carey model influenced the process used for developing the IV&V training program, which we called J-IDP. We conducted a field trial with the entry level of the training materials, but the resultwas not as positive as expected. Therefore, following J-IDP, we reviewed the materials and revised the training. Our experience with this training program suggests applying an instructional design process may solve some aspects of two common issues for software engineering education or training, the difficulty in identifying necessary abilities for software engineers and the difficulty in maintaining the training up-to-date.

BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that functions as a tumor suppressor gene. Double hit BAP1 inactivation has been reported in a range of tumor types, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), sometimes in association with germline mutation.We performed immunohistochemistry for BAP1 on a well-characterized cohort of 211 ICC patients undergoing surgical resection with curative intent at 3 institutions based in 3 different countries. The median age at diagnosis was 65 years (range, 36.5–86) and 108 (51%) were men. Negative staining for BAP1 (defined as completely absent nuclear staining in the presence of positive internal controls in nonneoplastic cells) occurred in 55 ICCs (26%). BAP1 loss predicted a strong trend toward improved median survival of 40.80 months (95% CI, 28.14–53.46) versus 24.87 months (95% CI, 18.73–31.01), P = 0.059). In a multivariate model including age, sex, BAP1 status, tumor stage, tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, and tumor size, female sex was associated with improved survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34–0.85), while advanced tumor stage and lymphovascular invasion (HR 1.89; 95% CI, 1.09–3.28) correlated with decreased survival. In a multivariate analysis, high grade tumors were associated with BAP1 loss (odds ratio [OR] 3.32; 95% CI, 1.29–8.55), while lymphatic invasion was inversely associated with BAP1 loss (OR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.13–0.99).In conclusion, we observed a trend toward improved prognosis in ICC associated with absent expression of BAP1 and an association of BAP1 loss with higher histological grade and absent lymphatic invasion. Female sex was associated with improved survival while advanced tumor stage and lymphatic invasion were associated with decreased survival.

Because it has been suggested that food rich in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) peptides have beneficial effects on blood pressure (BP) and other cardiovascular risk factors, we tested the effects of low-sodium bread, but rich in potassium, GABA, and ACEI peptides on 24-hour BP, glucose metabolism, and endothelial function.A randomized, double-blind, crossover trial was conducted in 30 patients with pre or mild-to-moderate hypertension, comparing three 4-week nutritional interventions separated by 2-week washout periods. Patients were randomly assigned to consume 120 g/day of 1 of the 3 types of bread for each nutritional intervention: conventional wheat bread (CB), low-sodium wheat bread enriched in potassium (LSB), and low-sodium wheat bread rich in potassium, GABA, and ACEI peptides (LSB + G). For each period, 24-hour BP measurements, in vivo endothelial function, and biochemical samples were obtained.After LSB + G consumption, 24-hour ambulatory BP underwent a nonsignificant greater reduction than after the consumption of CB and LSB (0.26 mm Hg in systolic BP and -0.63 mm Hg in diastolic BP for CB; -0.71 mm Hg in systolic BP and -1.08 mm Hg in diastolic BP for LSB; and -0.75 mm Hg in systolic BP and -2.12 mm Hg in diastolic BP for LSB + G, respectively). Diastolic BP at rest decreased significantly during the LSB + G intervention, although there were no significant differences in changes between interventions. There were no significant differences between interventions in terms of changes in in vivo endothelial function, glucose metabolism, and peripheral inflammatory parameters.Compared with the consumption of CB or LSB, no greater beneficial effects on 24-hour BP, endothelial function, or glucose metabolism were demonstrated after the consumption of LSB + G in a population with pre or mild-to-moderate hypertension. Further studies are warranted to clarify the effect of GABA on BP, preferably using a specific design for noninferiority trials and ambulatory BP monitoring as a measure of BP.This study was registered at Current Controlled Trials as ISRCTN31436822.

Japan is in a seismically active area and experiences many damaging earthquakes with loss of life. In 1995, the Hyogoken-Nanbu earthquake caused major destruction in Kobe City and in 2011 the Great Eastern Japan earthquake and tsunami caused major destruction in the Pacific coast areas of northeastern Japan. Additionally, recent relatively less destructive earthquakes include the 2003 Tokachi-Oki earthquake, the 2004 Niigataken Chuetsu earthquake, the 2005 Miyagiken-Oki earthquake, the 2007 Noto-Hanto earthquake, and the 2007 Niigataken Chuetsu-Oki earthquake. In particular, the Great Eastern Japan, Noto-Hanto, Miyagiken-Oki, and NiigatakenChuetsu-Oki earthquakes occurred near nuclear power facilities and have been accompanied by enhanced public concern for seismic safety of nuclear plants. Within the Japanese national government, the Nuclear Safety Commission revised the Regulatory Guide for Reviewing Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Reactor Facilities (Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan, 2006) in 2006. This revised Regulatory Guide required seismic safety design of buildings, structures and equipment for larger seismic motions. In addition, seismic probabilistic safety assessment (seismic PSA) (American Nuclear Society, 2007; Atomic Energy Society of Japan, 2007) was urged, for which accurate evaluation techniques for seismic response of equipment installed in the nuclear power plants were needed. Large cylindrical liquid storage tanks in nuclear power plants are classified as equipment requiring high seismic safety because many are containers storing cooling water used in normal plant operation and in accidents. Their seismic evaluation is done on the basis of the Technical Codes for Aseismic Design of Nuclear Power Plants (Japan Electric Association [JEA], 2008) published by the Japan Electric Association. The seismic evaluation methods used in the conventional seismic design of the tanks (Kanagawa Prefecture, 2002; High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan [KHK], 2003; Architectural Institute of Japan [AIJ], 2010) such as the Technical Codes examine the bending vibration mode (beam-type vibration) which mainly affects the seismic resistance of the tanks, but they do not consider high order vibration modes (oval-type vibration) which are excited in the tank wall by large vibrations and cause oscillation patterns that look like petals of a flower. Therefore, it is necessary to reveal the influence of oval-type vibration on vibration characteristics and seismic safety and to consider the vibration in the seismic design of

Reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) policies form the basis of waste management and global warming countermeasures globally, so we conducted a comparative study of 3R and waste management policies in the European Union (EU), USA, Korea, Japan, China, and Vietnam. An international workshop for 3R and waste management policymakers was held in Kyoto, Japan, and a bibliographic survey was also conducted to collect data. 3R policies are clearly given priority in the hierarchy of waste management in every country studied. Thermal recovery, which includes power generation from waste heat and methane gas collected from organic waste, is also a priority; this is consistent with the increased use of countermeasures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the EU, waste management is characterized by practical and effective 3R policies through the development of realistic regulations and by the policymakers’ desire to simplify management systems. The policy ideal in China, however, is the development of a circular economy that targets reductions in the amount and hazardousness of waste. Limits on the number of final disposal sites, strategies for procuring resources, and GHG emission countermeasures are closely linked with 3R policies, and further development of 3R policies in parallel with such issues is expected.