The situation of local fruit vendors has gone from bad to worse after the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN) released its finding two weeks ago, revealing chemical contamination in popular Shine Muscat grapes.

Satellite images show China working on nuclear reactor for new warship

Angelina Jolie received an Oscar for film 'Girl, Interrupted'Angelina Jolie has responded to the Oscar buzz surrounding her latest released film, Maria. Amid all the hype, Jolie feels ‘very nice’, but she is far happier to have been a part of a movie which gave her an opportunity of...

to write a reaction paper book

Concern over the risks of enabling nuclear weapons development is usually focused on nuclear fission reactors, but the potential harm from more advanced fusion reactors has been underappreciated

Two types of fusion reactor called tokamaks and stellarators both have drawbacks – but a new design combining parts from both could offer the best of both worlds

Title: Serious Reactions to Vaccines Rarely Recur: Review
Category: Health News
Created: 8/28/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/28/2017 12:00:00 AM

End-to-end RNA-sequencing methods that capture 5'-sequence content without cumbersome library manipulations are of great interest, particularly for analysis of long RNAs. While template-switching methods have been developed for RNA sequencing by distributive short-read RTs, such as the MMLV RTs used in SMART-Seq methods, they have not been adapted to leverage the power of ultraprocessive RTs, such as those derived from group II introns. To facilitate this transition, we dissected the individual processes that guide the enzymatic specificity and efficiency of the multistep template-switching reaction carried out by RTs, in this case, by MarathonRT. Remarkably, this is the first study of its kind, for any RT. First, we characterized the nucleotide specificity of nontemplated addition (NTA) reaction that occurs when the RT extends past the RNA 5'-terminus. We then evaluated the binding specificity of specialized template-switching oligonucleotides, optimizing their sequences and chemical properties to guide efficient template-switching reaction. Having dissected and optimized these individual steps, we then unified them into a procedure for performing RNA sequencing with MarathonRT enzymes, using a well-characterized RNA reference set. The resulting reads span a six-log range in transcript concentration and accurately represent the input RNA identities in both length and composition. We also performed RNA-seq from total human RNA and poly(A)-enriched RNA, with short- and long-read sequencing demonstrating that MarathonRT enhances the discovery of unseen RNA molecules by conventional RT. Altogether, we have generated a new pipeline for rapid, accurate sequencing of complex RNA libraries containing mixtures of long RNA transcripts.

Minor spoilers for the first few hours of Veilguard and heavy spoilers for Baldur’s Gate 3

For all the things I ended up enjoying about Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it isn’t much of an RPG. What little roleplaying it does offer revolves around what flavour of supportive hero you prefer, and you can count the number of impactful dialogue decisions on a three-fingered hand. This might sound utterly damning in the wake of Baldur's Gate 3’s incredible reactivity, and if I approached games as some sort of tedious comparative intellectual exercise rather than just, y’know, seeing how I felt about them, then I suppose it would be. Weirdly, though, the recent memory of Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t diminish my time with Veilguard at all. It was actually the opposite: it freed Dragon Age from having to carry the torch for a certain period in Bioware’s history, and let me enjoy Veilguard for what it was.

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The first ever full-scale demonstration of a nuclear reactor designed to passively cool itself in an emergency was a success, showing that it should be possible to build nuclear plants without the risk of dangerous meltdown

Thirteen years since a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in northern Japan, causing a loss of power, meltdowns and a major release of radioactive material, operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) finally seems to be close to extracting the first bit of melted fuel from the complex—thanks to a special telescopic robotic device.

Despite Japan’s prowess in industrial robotics, TEPCO had no robots to deploy in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Since then, however, robots have been used to measure radiation levels, clear building debris, and survey the exterior and interior of the plant overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

It will take decades to decommission Fukushima Dai-ichi, and one of the most dangerous, complex tasks is the removal and storage of about 880 tons of highly radioactive molten fuel in three reactor buildings that were operating when the tsunami hit. TEPCO believes mixtures of uranium, zirconium and other metals accumulated around the bottom of the primary containment vessels (PCVs) of the reactors—but the exact composition of the material is unknown. The material is “fuel debris,” which TEPCO defines as overheated fuel that has melted with fuel rods and in-vessel structures, then cooled and re-solidified. The extraction was supposed to begin in 2021 but ran into development delays and obstacles in the extraction route; the coronavirus pandemic also slowed work.

While TEPCO wants a molten fuel sample to analyze for exact composition, getting just a teaspoon of the stuff has proven so tricky that the job is years behind schedule. That may change soon as crews have deployed the telescoping device to target the 237 tons of fuel debris in Unit 2, which suffered less damage than the other reactor buildings and no hydrogen explosion, making it an easier and safer test bed.

“We plan to retrieve a small amount of fuel debris from Unit 2, analyze it to evaluate its properties and the process of its formation, and then move on to large-scale retrieval,” says Tatsuya Matoba, a spokesperson for TEPCO. “We believe that extracting as much information as possible from the retrieved fuel debris will likely contribute greatly to future decommissioning work.”

How TEPCO Plans to Retrieve a Fuel Sample

Getting to the fuel is easier said than done. Shaped like an inverted light bulb, the damaged PCV is a 33-meter-tall steel structure that houses the reactor pressure vessel where nuclear fission took place. A 2-meter-long isolation valve designed to block the release of radioactive material sits at the bottom of the PCV, and that’s where the robot will go in. The fuel debris itself is partly underwater.

The robot arm is being preceded by a smaller telescopic device. The telescopic device, which is trying to retrieve 3 grams of the fuel debris without further contamination to the outside environment, is similar to the larger robot arm, which is better suited for the retrieval of larger bits of debris.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning and UK-based Veolia Nuclear Solutions developed the robot arm to enter small openings in the PCV, where it can survey the interior and grab the fuel. Mostly made of stainless steel and aluminum, the arm measures 22 meters long, weighs 4.6 tons and can move along 18 degrees of freedom. It’s a boom-style arm, not unlike the robotic arms on the International Space Station, that rests in a sealed enclosure box when not extended.

The arm consists of four main elements: a carriage that pushes the assembly through the openings, arm links that can fold up like a ream of dot matrix printer paper, an arm that has three telescopic stages, and a “wand” (an extendable pipe-shaped component) with cameras and a gripper on its tip. Both the arm and the wand can tilt downward toward the target area.

After the assembly is pushed through the PCV’s isolation valve, it angles downward over a 7.2-meter-long rail heading toward the base of the reactor. It continues through existing openings in the pedestal, a concrete structure supporting the reactor, and the platform, which is a flat surface under the reactor.

Then, the tip is lowered on a cable like the grabber in a claw machine toward the debris field at the bottom of the pedestal. The gripper tool at the end of the component has two delicate pincers (only 5 square millimeters), that can pinch a small pebble of debris. The debris is transferred to a container and, if all goes well, is brought back up through the openings and placed in a glovebox: A sealed, negative-pressure container in the reactor building where initial testing can be performed. It will then be moved to a Japan Atomic Energy Agency facility in nearby Ibaraki Prefecture for detailed analysis.

While the gripper on the telescopic device currently being used was able to reach the debris field and grasp a piece of rubble—it’s unknown if it was actually melted fuel—last month, two of the four cameras on the device stopped working a few days later, and the device was eventually reeled back into the enclosure box. Crews confirmed there were no problems with signal wiring from the control panel in the reactor building, and proceeded to perform oscilloscope testing. TEPCO speculates that radiation passing through camera semiconductor elements caused electrical charge to build up, and that the charge will drain if the cameras are left on in a relatively low-dose environment. It was the latest setback in a very long project.

“Retrieving fuel debris from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is an extremely difficult task, and a very important part of decommissioning,” says Matoba. “With the goal of completing the decommissioning in 30 to 40 years, we believe it is important to proceed strategically and systematically with each step of the work at hand.”

This story was updated on 15 October, 2024 to clarify that TEPCO is using two separate tools (a smaller telescopic device and a larger robot arm) in the process of retrieving fuel debris samples.

The Italian is reportedly set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of his contract..

The comedian is more than ready to reprise her Emmy-nominated 'SNL' guest role.

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The former president thinks Joe Biden 'nailed this decision.'

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The California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies published research this week that showed China has constructed a prototype nuclear reactor that could fit aboard a large surface vessel - a sign that China is making progress toward building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The post Report: China Builds ‘Prototype’ Nuclear Reactor for Aircraft Carrier appeared first on Breitbart.

Over the years, I’ve been able to interview some of my favorite developers ever including a few I never though …

Continue reading "Sukeban Games 2024 Interview: Christopher Ortiz AKA kiririn51 Talks .45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND, Inspirations, Fan Reactions, VA-11 Hall-A, The Silver Case, and Much More"

When it comes to the effects that the upcoming Trump presidency will have on healthcare, attendees’ attitudes ranged from cautiously optimistic to fairly anxious. Some of the issues they highlighted included mental health parity, telehealth prescribing flexibilities, and the role of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The post How Did Attendees at a Behavioral Health Conference React to Trump’s Victory? appeared first on MedCity News.

Jardiance is a popular drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and help reduce cardiovascular risk. DTC campaigns […]

Pagans from across the community react to the US 2024 Presidential Election.

Continue reading Pagan Voices: Reactions to the 2024 US Presidential Election at The Wild Hunt.

Commonly prescribed medlinkantibiotics/medlink, sulfonamides and cephalosporins, pose the highest risk for severe, potentially fatal skin reactions (!--ref1--).

Layered with metaphors and allegories that give varied meanings to the narration, on the surface, the film is the adventure of a young boy named Jake (Asa Butterfield), who shuttles in time.

Directed by Nag Ashwin, Mahanati has Keerthy Suresh and Dulquer Salmaan in the lead roles. Dulquer Salmaan has done a great job in this film, and it marked his debut in Telugu cinema.

Amir Khan claimed in an interview that he has not watched the entire film but has only watched the last scene because it went viral.

1. Khushi Kapoor reacts to her rumoured relationship with Vedang Raina: 'It’s best to keep your personal lif  TOI Etimes
2. Khushi Kapoor opens up about her dating life amid romance rumours with Vedang Raina: ‘I understand the curiosity…’  Hindustan Times
3. Khushi Kapoor Confirms Dating Vedang Raina By Wearing Bracelet With His Name? See Here  News18
4. Khushi Kapoor’s bracelet spells out rumoured boyfriend Vedang Raina’s name, netizens ask, ‘Official finally?’  The Indian Express
5. Khushi Kapoor on public scrutiny of her dating life: Let work be the priority  India Today

Here’s what economists had to say about the July jobs report.

US President Joe Biden announced that he would be dropping out of the 2024 race for the White House. The 81-year-old commander chief took to X to officially end his bid for re-election, bringing an abrupt end to his half-century-long political

Never one to mince words, former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad voiced his anger over India's stance, labeling it a “joke.”

Donald Trump, who lost the 2020 elections to President Biden, pulled off an incredible comeback, wresting 295 electoral college votes against Harris' 226 in a fierce contest that almost left the Americans with two world views.