Due to their unique features,such as the inherent safety,simplified fuel cycle,and continuous on-line reprocessing,molten salt reactors(MSRs)are regarded as one of the six reference reactors in the Generation IV Inter...Due to their unique features,such as the inherent safety,simplified fuel cycle,and continuous on-line reprocessing,molten salt reactors(MSRs)are regarded as one of the six reference reactors in the Generation IV International Forum(GEN-IV).Molten chloride salt fast reactors(MCFRs)are a type of MSR.Compared to molten fluoride salt reactors(MFSRs),MCFRs have a higher solubility of heavy metal atoms,a harder neutron spectrum,lower accumulation of fission products(FPs),and better breeding and transmutation performance.Thus,MCFRs have been recognized as a type of MSR with great prospects for future development.However,as the most important feature for MSRs,the effect of different reprocessing modes on MCFRs must be researched in depth.As such,this study investigated the effect of different isotopes,especially FPs,on the neutronic performance of an MCFR,such as its breeding performance.Furthermore,the characteristics of the different reprocessing modes and MCFR rates were analyzed in terms of safety,radioactivity level,neutron economy,and breeding capacity.In the end,a reprocessing method suitable for MCFRs was determined through calculation and analysis,which provides a reference for the further research of MCFRs.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the application of enzyme in instrument cleaning for hospital sterile reprocessing and different factors that impact the enzyme activity.Methods Standard soil objects for instrument cleaning qual...Objective To evaluate the application of enzyme in instrument cleaning for hospital sterile reprocessing and different factors that impact the enzyme activity.Methods Standard soil objects for instrument cleaning quality evaluation,as testing coupons,were identified and used to evaluate different cleaning processes designed with varied conditions.Between testing groups using enzymatic detergent versus non-enzymatic detergent,the amount of residual protein on the testing coupons were quantified and compared at different soaking time(10min,20min,30min,45min and 60min).Then,within the enzymatic detergent group,different testing conditions were further explored by adjusting factors,in⁃cluding the soaking temperature(25°C,30°C and 45°C),use solution pH(7.0,8.0),and enzyme dosing(1/80,1/40,1/20,3/40,1/10 and 3/20 in v/v).Then,through an observational comparative study for each testing condition,the time needed to achieve a complete soil removal through visual inspection of the testing coupons was documented for analyses.Results In the test of enzymatic detergent versus non-enzymatic detergent,the non-enzymatic group did not show an obvious decline in the residual protein amount(1069μg at 10 min vs.1042μg at 60 min),whereas the enzymatic group showed significant decrease in residual protein quantity(947μg at 10 min vs.620μg at 60 min).Meanwhile,the amounts of the residual protein at different time points in the enzyme group(947μg at 10 min,864μg at 20 min,812μg at 30 min,691μg at 45 min,and 620μg at 60 min)were consistently lower than those at the same time schedule in the non-enzyme group(1069μg at 10 min,1069μg at 20 min,1067μg at 30 min,1059μg at 45 min,and 1042μg at 60 min).Furthermore,within the enzymatic group,the soaking temperature,use solution pH and enzyme dosing factors all appear to impact the enzyme activity and significantly contribute to the cleaning outcomes.Specifi⁃cally,the higher soaking temperature,higher use solution pH and higher enzyme dosing showed 58.4%,20.0%and 34.4%time reduction to completely remove the soil on the testing coupons,respectively.Conclusion Enzyme seems to play a significant role in the instrument cleaning process for hospital sterile reprocessing.The soaking temperature,cleaning use solution pH,and enzyme dosing all appear to be critical factors impacting the enzyme activity and thus the overall cleaning outcomes.In practice,cleaning process verification should be considered to ensure the optimal use conditions for enzyme cleaning performance are well-understood and consistently achieved at the facility level.展开更多
This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the polymeric properties of lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(iminehydroxyurethane)s(LNIPUs).The properties of the LNIPUs are affected by changes in the stoichiometr...This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the polymeric properties of lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(iminehydroxyurethane)s(LNIPUs).The properties of the LNIPUs are affected by changes in the stoichiometric feed ratios of the bis(6-membered cyclic carbonate)(BCC)and levulinate enzymatic hydrolysis lignin(LEHL).The results showed that the LNIPUs exhibited a short relaxation time and excellent thermal repair and degradation properties.With a change in the LEHL content in the LNIPUs to 45.53%,a relaxation time of only 9 s was achieved,and the thermal repair rate of the scratches reached 93%.Furthermore,the tensile strength of the LNIPUs decreased with an increase in the LEHL content after two hot-pressing processes,while a higher than 75% tensile strength was maintained after the second hot-pressing treatment.The LNIPUs exhibited thermoresponsive shape memory property with deformation and shape fixing at 80℃.In addition,the as-synthesized LNIPUs were soluble in ethylene glycol in the absence of any organic solvents.This work demonstrates the synthesis of LNIPUs with self-healing,reprocessing,shape memory,and degradation properties.展开更多
This paper investigates the problem of inconsistent states of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data caused by incomplete execution of read/write operations during access to RFID tag memory. Passive RFID tag...This paper investigates the problem of inconsistent states of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data caused by incomplete execution of read/write operations during access to RFID tag memory. Passive RFID tags require RF communication to access memory data. This study is motivated by the volatility of RF communication, where instability is caused by intermittent connections and uncertain communication. If a given tag disappears from the communication area of the reader during the reading or writing of tag data, the operation is incomplete, resulting in an inconsistent state of tag data. To avoid this inconsistency, it is necessary to ensure that any operations on tag memory are completed. In this paper, we propose an asynchronous reprocessing model for finalizing any incomplete execution of read/write operations to remove inconsistent states. The basic idea is to resume incomplete operations autonomously by detecting a tag's re-observation from any reader. To achieve this, we present a concurrency control mechanism based on continuous query processing that enables the suspended tag operations to be re-executed. The performance study shows that our model improves the number of successful operations considerably in addition to suppressing inconsistent data access completely.展开更多
Atmospheric water vapor is an essential climate variable(ECV)with extensive spatial and temporal variations.Microwave humidity observations from meteorological satellites provide important information for climate syst...Atmospheric water vapor is an essential climate variable(ECV)with extensive spatial and temporal variations.Microwave humidity observations from meteorological satellites provide important information for climate system variables,including atmospheric water vapor and precipitable water,and assimilation in numerical weather prediction(NWP)and reanalysis.As one of the payloads onboard China’s second-generation polar-orbiting operational meteorological Fengyun-3(FY-3)satellites,the Microwave Humidity Sounder(MWHS)has been continuously observing the global humidity since 2008.The reprocessing of historical FY-3 MWHS data is documented in detail in this study.After calibrating and correcting the data,the quality of the reprocessed dataset is evaluated and the improvement is shown in this study.The results suggest that MWHS observations bias is reduced to approximately 0.8 K,compared with METOP-A Microwave Humidity Sounder(MHS).The temporal variability of MWHS is highly correlated with the instrument temperature.After reprocessing,the scene temperature dependency is mitigated for all 183 GHz channels,and the consistency and stability between FY-3A/B/C are also improved.展开更多
BACKGROUND Patient-ready duodenoscopes were designed with an assumed contamination rate of less than 0.4%;however,it has been reported that 5.4%of clinically used duodenoscopes remain contaminated with viable high-con...BACKGROUND Patient-ready duodenoscopes were designed with an assumed contamination rate of less than 0.4%;however,it has been reported that 5.4%of clinically used duodenoscopes remain contaminated with viable high-concern organisms despite following the manufacturer’s instructions.Visual inspection of working channels has been proposed as a quality control measure for endoscope reprocessing.There are few studies related to this issue.AIM To investigate the types,severity rate,and locations of abnormal visual inspection findings inside patient-ready duodenoscopes and their microbiological significance.METHODS Visual inspections of channels were performed in 19 patient-ready duodenoscopes using the SpyGlass visualization system in two endoscopy units of tertiary care teaching hospitals(Tri-Service General Hospital and National Taiwan University Hospital)in Taiwan.Inspections were recorded and reviewed to evaluate the presence of channel scratches,buckling,stains,debris,and fluids.These findings were used to analyze the relevance of microbiological surveillance.RESULTS Seventy-two abnormal visual inspection findings in the 19 duodenoscopes were found,including scratches(n=10,52.6%),buckling(n=15,78.9%),stains(n=14,73.7%),debris(n=14,73.7%),and fluids(n=6,31.6%).Duodenoscopes>12 mo old had a significantly higher number of abnormal visual inspection findings than those≤12 mo old(46 findings vs 26 findings,P<0.001).Multivariable regression analyses demonstrated that the bending section had a significantly higher risk of being scratched,buckled,and stained,and accumulating debris than the insertion tube.Debris and fluids showed a significant positive correlation with microbiological contamination(P<0.05).There was no significant positive Spearman’s correlation coefficient between negative bacterial cultures and debris,between that and fluids,and the concomitance of debris and fluids.This result demonstrated that the presence of fluid and debris was associated with positive cultures,but not negative cultures.Further multivariate analysis demonstrated that fluids,but not debris,is an independent factor for bacterial culture positivity.CONCLUSION In patient-ready duodenoscopes,scratches,buckling,stains,debris,and fluids inside the working channel are common,which increase the microbiological contamination susceptibility.The SpyGlass visualization system may be recommended to identify suboptimal reprocessing.展开更多
The high rate of relapse among heroin users remains a significant public concern in China. In the present study, we utilized a Motivation-Skill-Desensitization-Mental Energy (MSDE) intervention and evaluated its effec...The high rate of relapse among heroin users remains a significant public concern in China. In the present study, we utilized a Motivation-Skill-Desensitization-Mental Energy (MSDE) intervention and evaluated its effects on abstinence and mental health. Eighty-nine male heroin users in a drug rehabilitation center were enrolled in the study. The participants in the MSDE intervention group (n=46) received MSDE intervention, which included motivational interviewing, coping skills training, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and mindfulness-based psychotherapy. The participants in the control group (h=43) received a series of lectures on skills training. A significant increase in Contemplation Ladder score (P<0.001) and decreases in scores on the Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale (P<0.001), Beck Depression Inventory (P<0.001), and Aggression Questionnaire (P=O.O33) were found immediately after intervention. Compared to the control group, the MSDE intervention group reported significantly higher abstinence rates (P=0.027) and retention rates (P<0.001) at follow-up. Overall, the MSDE intervention, which uses a combined strategy for relapse prevention, could be a promising approach for preventing relapse among heroin users in China.展开更多
To use fly ash and coal waste effectively, the current technologies for reprocessing and recycling these wastes into eco-building materials were reviewed, such as utilizing fly ash as the component of fly ash cement a...To use fly ash and coal waste effectively, the current technologies for reprocessing and recycling these wastes into eco-building materials were reviewed, such as utilizing fly ash as the component of fly ash cement and low heat cement after the processes of separation, removal of carbon remains and fine comminution, calcining coal waste into kaolin and meta-kaolin with suspension technology, and preparing clinkerless alkali-activated geopolymer materials with fly ash and meta-kaolin.展开更多
Global Positioning System data processing is affected by many non-tectonic factors, including the common-mode errors (CME) in station-position time series. The characteristics and origins of CME are still not clear,...Global Positioning System data processing is affected by many non-tectonic factors, including the common-mode errors (CME) in station-position time series. The characteristics and origins of CME are still not clear, due to uneven distribution of global GPS networks and the lack of reliable data of the position time series. In this work, data from 241 continuous GPS stations were reprocessed in a consistent way and the results were compared with those generated at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Improvements of residual positions were obtained for many low-quality stations, especially those located in Asia and Australia.展开更多
In this study,an environmentally friendly and non-toxic route to synthesize lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(imine-hydroxyurethane)s networks was explored.Specifically,the NH_(2)-terminated polyhydroxyurethanes(NPHUs)...In this study,an environmentally friendly and non-toxic route to synthesize lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(imine-hydroxyurethane)s networks was explored.Specifically,the NH_(2)-terminated polyhydroxyurethanes(NPHUs)prepolymer was first synthesized from bis(6-membered cyclic carbonate)(BCC)and diamine via the ring-opening reaction.Subsequently,the corresponding ligninbased non-isocyanate polyurethanes(NIPUs)with tunable properties were synthesized from NPHUs and levulinate lignin derivatives containing ketone groups via the Schiff base reaction.The structural,mechanical,and thermal properties of NIPUs with different stoichiometric feed ratios of BCC and levulinate lignin were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA),and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA).The results indicated that the tensile strength,Young's modulus,toughness,storage modulus,glass transition temperature,and thermal stability of lignin-based NIPUs gradually increased with increasing lignin content,and the highest Young's modulus of 41.1 MPa was obtained when lignin content reached 45.53%.With good reprocessing properties,this synthetic framework of ligninbased NIPUs also provides sustainable non-isocyanate-based substitutions to traditional polyurethane networks.展开更多
Background: Seven patients at a hospital in Houston, TX, were diagnosed during a two-week period in 2009 with joint space infection of pansusceptible P. aeruginosa following arthroscopic procedures of the knee or shou...Background: Seven patients at a hospital in Houston, TX, were diagnosed during a two-week period in 2009 with joint space infection of pansusceptible P. aeruginosa following arthroscopic procedures of the knee or shoulder. Tosh et al. (2011), who investigated and published the principal report discussing this bacterial outbreak, conclude that its most likely cause was the improper reprocessing of certain reusable, physically-complex, heat-stable arthroscopic instruments used during these arthroscopic procedures. These reusable instruments reportedly remained contaminated with remnant tissue, despite diligent efforts by the hospital to clean their internal structures. This retained bioburden presumably shielded the outbreak’s strain of embedded P. aeruginosa from contact with the pressurized steam, reportedly resulting in ineffective sterilization of these arthroscopic instruments and bacterial transmission. Objectives: First, to clarify which specific sterilization methods, in addition to steam sterilization, Methodist Hospital employed to process its reusable arthroscopic instrumentation at the time of its outbreak, in 2009;second, to evaluate Tosh et al.’s (2011) conclusion that ineffective steam sterilization due to inadequate cleaning was the most likely cause of this hospital’s outbreak;third, to consider whether any other hitherto unrecognized factors could have plausibly contributed to this outbreak;and, fourth, to assess whether any additional recommendations might be warranted to prevent disease transmission following arthroscopic procedures. Methods: The medical literature was reviewed;some of the principles of quality assurance, engineering and a root-cause analysis were employed;and Tosh et al.’s (2011) findings and conclusions were reviewed and compared with those of other published reports that evaluated the risk of disease transmission associated with the steam sterilization of physically-complex, heat-stable, soiled surgical instruments. Results and Conclusion: Reports documenting outbreaks of P. aeruginosa or another vegetative bacterium associated with the steam sterilization of inadequately cleaned surgical or arthroscopic instruments are scant. This finding—coupled with a number of published studies demonstrating the effective steam sterilization of complex instruments contaminated with vegetative bacteria mixed with organic debris, or, in one published series of tests, with resistant bacterial endospores coated with hydraulic fluid—raises for discussion whether Methodist Hospital’s outbreak might have been due to one or more factors other than, or in addition to, that which Tosh et al. (2011) conclude was its most likely cause. An example of such a factor not ruled out by Tosh et al. (2011) findings would be the re-contamination of the implicated arthroscopic instruments after sterilization. The specific methods that Methodist Hospital employed at the time of its outbreak to sterilize some of its arthroscopic instrumentation remain unclear. A number of additional recommendations are provided to prevent disease transmission following arthroscopic procedures.展开更多
A blending strategy of virgin and reprocessed polylactide may be postulated as an alternative to reduce the material cost at industrial level,and as a valorization route to plastic waste management of production scrap...A blending strategy of virgin and reprocessed polylactide may be postulated as an alternative to reduce the material cost at industrial level,and as a valorization route to plastic waste management of production scraps.The performance of blends prepared from virgin polylactide and polylactide mechanically reprocessed up to two cycles(PLA-V/R)was assessed in terms of thermo-oxidative stability,morphology,viscoelasticity and thermal kinetics for energetic valorization.PLA-V/R blends showed appropriate thermo-oxidative stability.The amorphous nature of polylactide was preserved after blending.The viscoelastic properties showed an increment of the mechanical blend effectiveness,which suggested the feasibility of using PLA-V/R blends under similar mechanical conditions to those of virgin PLA goods.Finally,it was shown that the energetic valorization of PLA-V/R blends would result in a more feasible process,due to the lower required activation energy,thus highlighting the advantages of the energetic demand for the process.In conclusion,PLA-V/R blends showed similar processability,service performance and valorization routes as virgin PLA and therefore could be relevant in the sustainable circular industry of bioplastics.展开更多
This study assessed the life cycle of biocomposites with antioxidants by repeated processing.The effects of antioxidants on the life cycle of wood flour/polypropylene(PP)composites were determined by analyzing their m...This study assessed the life cycle of biocomposites with antioxidants by repeated processing.The effects of antioxidants on the life cycle of wood flour/polypropylene(PP)composites were determined by analyzing their mechanical and thermal properties.The composites were repeatedly processed for seven times with pelletizing and extruding.An antioxidant,pentaerythritoltetrakys 3-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate,was used.The mechanical strength of the biocomposites decreased after reprocessing.Fourier transformed infrared analysis showed that thermo-oxidative aging occurred during reprocessing.The thermal performance of the resulting composites decreased because of reprocessing.Wood flour/PP has a long lifetime and antioxidants can slow the thermo-oxidative and mechanical degradation during reprocessing.展开更多
In order to make an effectivily recycle use of iron and steel slags that are main industrial wastes generated in Chinese metallurgical industry, the current technologies for reprocessing and recycling these wastes int...In order to make an effectivily recycle use of iron and steel slags that are main industrial wastes generated in Chinese metallurgical industry, the current technologies for reprocessing and recycling these wastes into eco-building materials were reviewed, such as preparing cement-steel slag blended cement with steel slag after metal recovery, using the fine powder of blast furnace slag (BFS) for manufacturing slag cement and high performance concrete. A further research on using these available resources more efficiently were discussed.展开更多
The treatment of zinc ores at the UZK(Kolwezi Zinc Factory),in the DRC(Democratic Republic of Congo),has generated a deposit of solid releases rich in recoverable metals,but presented an environmental risk given the c...The treatment of zinc ores at the UZK(Kolwezi Zinc Factory),in the DRC(Democratic Republic of Congo),has generated a deposit of solid releases rich in recoverable metals,but presented an environmental risk given the conditions of its storage.The results of chemical analyses by X-ray fluorescence have shown the presence of base metals recoverable in significant proportions in these releases,which contain on average 17%zinc and 3.5%copper.In addition,X-ray diffraction analyses have identified the main minerals:franklinite,willemite and sphalerite.The environmental risks are real,because the results of the availability tests for leaching have revealed significant zinc and copper extraction rates for a liquid to solid ratio of 100 and those of landfill compliances show that although under European Directive 2003/33/EC,these discharges are dangerous and must be treated under conditions which respect the environment.Following an environmental risk assessment,two scenarios for reprocessing these discharges are envisaged and will be compared from a technical,economic and environmental point of view,including their feasibility in the context of the DRC.The two processes would be on the one hand a hot acid attack in two or three stages and on the other hand a mixed digestion-roasting treatment followed by leaching with water.展开更多
Background: A recent survey of in-hospital reprocessing in Tanzanian hospitals identified bag-valve masks (BVM) as a commonly reused single-use device. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), in-hospital reprocess...Background: A recent survey of in-hospital reprocessing in Tanzanian hospitals identified bag-valve masks (BVM) as a commonly reused single-use device. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), in-hospital reprocessing supports neonatal resuscitation strategies by helping to maintain adequate supplies of BVM. However, there is a need for device-specific protocols defining reprocessing procedures and inspection criteria to overcome variations in reprocessing practices between hospitals. The purposes of this study were: 1) to complete a comprehensive design review and identify challenges to reprocessing BVMs;and 2) to investigate three different residual bioburden analysis methods for assessing the efficacy of decontaminating a disposable BVM. Methods: New, unused bag-valve-masks were contaminated with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Artificial Mucus Soil to simulate the worst case soiling conditions. Devices underwent one of five disinfection protocols, including one currently used in a LMIC hospital. Three analytical (two quantitative and one qualitative) methods were selected to evaluate residual bioburden on the device following decontamination. Results: Of all protocols tested, only the positive control and the Soap and Bleach protocols met disinfection targets. Most cleaning outcomes were consistent from trial to trial for each protocol. However, cleaning outcomes varied greatly for the Alcohol Wipe protocol. For the residual bioburden analyses, the two quantitative methods produced similar results, but the qualitative measurement exhibited increased variability. Conclusion: While this study revealed positive disinfection outcomes for the Tanzanian hospital decontamination protocol, more studies are required to support these findings. Design features of the BVM mask presented challenges to cleaning and drying during different decontamination protocols, as seen in the variability in the Alcohol Wipe protocol performance. These findings support the case for a device-specific protocol for the BVM. Given proper hospital personnel training and available resources, in-hospital reprocessing could support neonatal resuscitation strategies and other demands for manual resuscitation by helping to maintain adequate supplies of BVM.展开更多
BACKGROUND Several strategies have been implemented to reduce or abolish the life-threatening risk of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)-related multidrug-resistant infections due to duodenoscopes co...BACKGROUND Several strategies have been implemented to reduce or abolish the life-threatening risk of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)-related multidrug-resistant infections due to duodenoscopes contaminations;among those strategies,serial microbiologic tests,thorough reprocessing schedules,and use of removable scope cap have been adopted,but the potential cross-infection risk was not eliminated.AIM To review available evidence in the field of single-use duodenoscopes(SUD)use for ERCP.METHODS An overview on ongoing clinical studies was also performed to delineate which data will become available in the next future.RESULTS One bench comparative study and four clinical trials performed with EXALT model-D(Boston Scientific Corp.,United States)have been identified.Of them,one is a randomized controlled trial,while the other three studies are prospective single-arm,cross-over studies.Pooled technical success rate(4 studies,368 patients)was 92.9%[95%confidence interval(CI):89.9-95.5;I2:11.8%].Pooled serious adverse event(4 studies,381 patients)rate was 5.9%[3.7%-8.5%;I2:0.0%].CONCLUSION Although few clinical trials are available,evidence is concordant in identifying an absolute feasibility and safety and feasibility for SUD use for ERCP.The expertise and quality of evidence in this field are going to be improved by further large clinical trials;data on cost-effectiveness and environmental impact will be needed for a worldwide spread of SUD use for ERCP.展开更多
Background:We investigated the procedures used by medical institutions in Guangdong Province for reprocessing ophthalmic surgical instruments and analyzed the problems identified in order to improve the quality of cle...Background:We investigated the procedures used by medical institutions in Guangdong Province for reprocessing ophthalmic surgical instruments and analyzed the problems identified in order to improve the quality of cleaning medical instruments and its management.Methods:The reprocessing of ophthalmic surgical instruments was investigated in 72 hospitals in Guangdong Province using a questionnaire designed for this purpose.Results:Ophthalmic surgical instruments underwent centralized reprocessing in the disinfection and supply centers in 50%of the 72 hospitals.Cataract phacoemulsification surgery was the main ophthalmic surgery performed in 94%of the 72 hospitals.The main reasons for using centralized reprocessing were an insufficient supply of ophthalmic surgical instruments,short turnaround times between surgeries,and the high cost of losing these precise and fragile instruments.Manual processing was the predominant method of reprocessing ophthalmic surgical instruments;enzyme detergents were used in 63.89%of the hospitals;and 48.61%of the hospitals used N-model small pressure-steam sterilizers for the ophthalmic surgical instruments.Conclusions:In order to improve the quality and management of the cleaning of medical instruments,and guarantee high-quality medical care,the following measures are recommended.Centralized management of ophthalmic surgical instruments should be based on the instruments’characteristics.Pay more attention to reprocessing site locations and staff training.Choose detergents based on manufacturers’instructions for use with specific instruments.Increase the number of available ophthalmic instruments in accordance with their demand and select appropriate small pressure-steam sterilizers.展开更多
This work investigates an accident during the pyrochemical extraction of Uranium and Plutonium from PWR spent fuel in an argon atmosphere hot cell. In the accident, the heavy metals (U and Pu) being extracted are acci...This work investigates an accident during the pyrochemical extraction of Uranium and Plutonium from PWR spent fuel in an argon atmosphere hot cell. In the accident, the heavy metals (U and Pu) being extracted are accidently exposed to air from a leaky instrument penetration which goes through the cell walls. The extracted pin size pieces of U and Pu metal readily burn when exposed to air. Technicians perform the electrochemical extraction using manipulators through a 4 foot thick hot cell concrete wall which protects them from the radioactivity of the spent fuel. Four foot thick windows placed in the wall allow the technicians to visually control the manipulators. These windows would be exposed to the heat of the metal fire. This analysis determines if the thermal stress caused by the fire would crack the windows and if the heat would degrade the window seals allowing radioactivity to escape from the cell.展开更多
In this study,a series of hindered urea bond(HUB)containing polyurethane-urea methacrylate prepolymers and a none HUB containing polyurethane methacrylate prepolymer were prepared using isobornyl methacrylate as the r...In this study,a series of hindered urea bond(HUB)containing polyurethane-urea methacrylate prepolymers and a none HUB containing polyurethane methacrylate prepolymer were prepared using isobornyl methacrylate as the reactive diluent via one-pot procedure.The prepolymers were characterized fully by various techniques.Then,their thermosets were fabricated via UV curing in presence of a photo initiator,and their mechanical property and thermal behavior were investigated and compared.Different from the none HUB containing thermoset,the HUB containing thermosets(defined as PUT)could be recycled and reprocessed by hot press under relatively mild conditions with high recovery ratio of mechanical property.Furthermore,zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles were modified with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate and the modified ZnO(defined as ZnO-TPM)was dispersed and polymerized into PUT matrix to prepare their nanocomposites.The influence of ZnO-TPM on the mechanical performance of the composites was evaluated,which indicated that the Young’s modulus and tensile strength increased gradually to the maximum values at ZnO-TPM content of 1 wt%and then decreased.The composites also displayed good reprocessability with improved recovery ratio compared to the pure PUT sample.In addition,the composite materials exhibited strong UV absorption capacity,implying their potential application in the circumstance where UV-shielding was required.展开更多
基金supported by the Chinese TMSR Strategic Pioneer Science and Technology Project (No.XDA02010000)the Frontier Science Key Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.QYZDY-SSW-JSC016)the Shanghai Sailing Program (No.20YF1457600).
文摘Due to their unique features,such as the inherent safety,simplified fuel cycle,and continuous on-line reprocessing,molten salt reactors(MSRs)are regarded as one of the six reference reactors in the Generation IV International Forum(GEN-IV).Molten chloride salt fast reactors(MCFRs)are a type of MSR.Compared to molten fluoride salt reactors(MFSRs),MCFRs have a higher solubility of heavy metal atoms,a harder neutron spectrum,lower accumulation of fission products(FPs),and better breeding and transmutation performance.Thus,MCFRs have been recognized as a type of MSR with great prospects for future development.However,as the most important feature for MSRs,the effect of different reprocessing modes on MCFRs must be researched in depth.As such,this study investigated the effect of different isotopes,especially FPs,on the neutronic performance of an MCFR,such as its breeding performance.Furthermore,the characteristics of the different reprocessing modes and MCFR rates were analyzed in terms of safety,radioactivity level,neutron economy,and breeding capacity.In the end,a reprocessing method suitable for MCFRs was determined through calculation and analysis,which provides a reference for the further research of MCFRs.
文摘Objective To evaluate the application of enzyme in instrument cleaning for hospital sterile reprocessing and different factors that impact the enzyme activity.Methods Standard soil objects for instrument cleaning quality evaluation,as testing coupons,were identified and used to evaluate different cleaning processes designed with varied conditions.Between testing groups using enzymatic detergent versus non-enzymatic detergent,the amount of residual protein on the testing coupons were quantified and compared at different soaking time(10min,20min,30min,45min and 60min).Then,within the enzymatic detergent group,different testing conditions were further explored by adjusting factors,in⁃cluding the soaking temperature(25°C,30°C and 45°C),use solution pH(7.0,8.0),and enzyme dosing(1/80,1/40,1/20,3/40,1/10 and 3/20 in v/v).Then,through an observational comparative study for each testing condition,the time needed to achieve a complete soil removal through visual inspection of the testing coupons was documented for analyses.Results In the test of enzymatic detergent versus non-enzymatic detergent,the non-enzymatic group did not show an obvious decline in the residual protein amount(1069μg at 10 min vs.1042μg at 60 min),whereas the enzymatic group showed significant decrease in residual protein quantity(947μg at 10 min vs.620μg at 60 min).Meanwhile,the amounts of the residual protein at different time points in the enzyme group(947μg at 10 min,864μg at 20 min,812μg at 30 min,691μg at 45 min,and 620μg at 60 min)were consistently lower than those at the same time schedule in the non-enzyme group(1069μg at 10 min,1069μg at 20 min,1067μg at 30 min,1059μg at 45 min,and 1042μg at 60 min).Furthermore,within the enzymatic group,the soaking temperature,use solution pH and enzyme dosing factors all appear to impact the enzyme activity and significantly contribute to the cleaning outcomes.Specifi⁃cally,the higher soaking temperature,higher use solution pH and higher enzyme dosing showed 58.4%,20.0%and 34.4%time reduction to completely remove the soil on the testing coupons,respectively.Conclusion Enzyme seems to play a significant role in the instrument cleaning process for hospital sterile reprocessing.The soaking temperature,cleaning use solution pH,and enzyme dosing all appear to be critical factors impacting the enzyme activity and thus the overall cleaning outcomes.In practice,cleaning process verification should be considered to ensure the optimal use conditions for enzyme cleaning performance are well-understood and consistently achieved at the facility level.
基金The authors wish to express their gratitude for the grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFB0307903)Natural Science Foundation of China(21706154)Foundation of Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education of China(KF201916).
文摘This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the polymeric properties of lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(iminehydroxyurethane)s(LNIPUs).The properties of the LNIPUs are affected by changes in the stoichiometric feed ratios of the bis(6-membered cyclic carbonate)(BCC)and levulinate enzymatic hydrolysis lignin(LEHL).The results showed that the LNIPUs exhibited a short relaxation time and excellent thermal repair and degradation properties.With a change in the LEHL content in the LNIPUs to 45.53%,a relaxation time of only 9 s was achieved,and the thermal repair rate of the scratches reached 93%.Furthermore,the tensile strength of the LNIPUs decreased with an increase in the LEHL content after two hot-pressing processes,while a higher than 75% tensile strength was maintained after the second hot-pressing treatment.The LNIPUs exhibited thermoresponsive shape memory property with deformation and shape fixing at 80℃.In addition,the as-synthesized LNIPUs were soluble in ethylene glycol in the absence of any organic solvents.This work demonstrates the synthesis of LNIPUs with self-healing,reprocessing,shape memory,and degradation properties.
基金supported by the Grant of the Regional Core Research Program/Institute of Logistics Information Technology of Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
文摘This paper investigates the problem of inconsistent states of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data caused by incomplete execution of read/write operations during access to RFID tag memory. Passive RFID tags require RF communication to access memory data. This study is motivated by the volatility of RF communication, where instability is caused by intermittent connections and uncertain communication. If a given tag disappears from the communication area of the reader during the reading or writing of tag data, the operation is incomplete, resulting in an inconsistent state of tag data. To avoid this inconsistency, it is necessary to ensure that any operations on tag memory are completed. In this paper, we propose an asynchronous reprocessing model for finalizing any incomplete execution of read/write operations to remove inconsistent states. The basic idea is to resume incomplete operations autonomously by detecting a tag's re-observation from any reader. To achieve this, we present a concurrency control mechanism based on continuous query processing that enables the suspended tag operations to be re-executed. The performance study shows that our model improves the number of successful operations considerably in addition to suppressing inconsistent data access completely.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFB0504900 and 2018YFB0504902)National Natural Science Foundation of China(41775020,42005105,and 41905034)。
文摘Atmospheric water vapor is an essential climate variable(ECV)with extensive spatial and temporal variations.Microwave humidity observations from meteorological satellites provide important information for climate system variables,including atmospheric water vapor and precipitable water,and assimilation in numerical weather prediction(NWP)and reanalysis.As one of the payloads onboard China’s second-generation polar-orbiting operational meteorological Fengyun-3(FY-3)satellites,the Microwave Humidity Sounder(MWHS)has been continuously observing the global humidity since 2008.The reprocessing of historical FY-3 MWHS data is documented in detail in this study.After calibrating and correcting the data,the quality of the reprocessed dataset is evaluated and the improvement is shown in this study.The results suggest that MWHS observations bias is reduced to approximately 0.8 K,compared with METOP-A Microwave Humidity Sounder(MHS).The temporal variability of MWHS is highly correlated with the instrument temperature.After reprocessing,the scene temperature dependency is mitigated for all 183 GHz channels,and the consistency and stability between FY-3A/B/C are also improved.
基金Ministry of Defense-Medical Affairs Bureau,Tri-Service General Hospital,No.TSGH-D-109182.
文摘BACKGROUND Patient-ready duodenoscopes were designed with an assumed contamination rate of less than 0.4%;however,it has been reported that 5.4%of clinically used duodenoscopes remain contaminated with viable high-concern organisms despite following the manufacturer’s instructions.Visual inspection of working channels has been proposed as a quality control measure for endoscope reprocessing.There are few studies related to this issue.AIM To investigate the types,severity rate,and locations of abnormal visual inspection findings inside patient-ready duodenoscopes and their microbiological significance.METHODS Visual inspections of channels were performed in 19 patient-ready duodenoscopes using the SpyGlass visualization system in two endoscopy units of tertiary care teaching hospitals(Tri-Service General Hospital and National Taiwan University Hospital)in Taiwan.Inspections were recorded and reviewed to evaluate the presence of channel scratches,buckling,stains,debris,and fluids.These findings were used to analyze the relevance of microbiological surveillance.RESULTS Seventy-two abnormal visual inspection findings in the 19 duodenoscopes were found,including scratches(n=10,52.6%),buckling(n=15,78.9%),stains(n=14,73.7%),debris(n=14,73.7%),and fluids(n=6,31.6%).Duodenoscopes>12 mo old had a significantly higher number of abnormal visual inspection findings than those≤12 mo old(46 findings vs 26 findings,P<0.001).Multivariable regression analyses demonstrated that the bending section had a significantly higher risk of being scratched,buckled,and stained,and accumulating debris than the insertion tube.Debris and fluids showed a significant positive correlation with microbiological contamination(P<0.05).There was no significant positive Spearman’s correlation coefficient between negative bacterial cultures and debris,between that and fluids,and the concomitance of debris and fluids.This result demonstrated that the presence of fluid and debris was associated with positive cultures,but not negative cultures.Further multivariate analysis demonstrated that fluids,but not debris,is an independent factor for bacterial culture positivity.CONCLUSION In patient-ready duodenoscopes,scratches,buckling,stains,debris,and fluids inside the working channel are common,which increase the microbiological contamination susceptibility.The SpyGlass visualization system may be recommended to identify suboptimal reprocessing.
基金This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30872175,No.81573236).
文摘The high rate of relapse among heroin users remains a significant public concern in China. In the present study, we utilized a Motivation-Skill-Desensitization-Mental Energy (MSDE) intervention and evaluated its effects on abstinence and mental health. Eighty-nine male heroin users in a drug rehabilitation center were enrolled in the study. The participants in the MSDE intervention group (n=46) received MSDE intervention, which included motivational interviewing, coping skills training, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and mindfulness-based psychotherapy. The participants in the control group (h=43) received a series of lectures on skills training. A significant increase in Contemplation Ladder score (P<0.001) and decreases in scores on the Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale (P<0.001), Beck Depression Inventory (P<0.001), and Aggression Questionnaire (P=O.O33) were found immediately after intervention. Compared to the control group, the MSDE intervention group reported significantly higher abstinence rates (P=0.027) and retention rates (P<0.001) at follow-up. Overall, the MSDE intervention, which uses a combined strategy for relapse prevention, could be a promising approach for preventing relapse among heroin users in China.
基金Funded by the Sciences and Technology Bureau of Yulin City (No. 2006YL100-06)
文摘To use fly ash and coal waste effectively, the current technologies for reprocessing and recycling these wastes into eco-building materials were reviewed, such as utilizing fly ash as the component of fly ash cement and low heat cement after the processes of separation, removal of carbon remains and fine comminution, calcining coal waste into kaolin and meta-kaolin with suspension technology, and preparing clinkerless alkali-activated geopolymer materials with fly ash and meta-kaolin.
基金supported by the Institute of Crustal Dynamics Fund(ZDJ2009-01)National Natural Science Foundation of China(41104001)
文摘Global Positioning System data processing is affected by many non-tectonic factors, including the common-mode errors (CME) in station-position time series. The characteristics and origins of CME are still not clear, due to uneven distribution of global GPS networks and the lack of reliable data of the position time series. In this work, data from 241 continuous GPS stations were reprocessed in a consistent way and the results were compared with those generated at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Improvements of residual positions were obtained for many low-quality stations, especially those located in Asia and Australia.
基金the grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China(21706154)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFB0307903)+1 种基金the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science and Technology of Ministry of Education of China(KF201916)the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province,China(2019JQ-277).
文摘In this study,an environmentally friendly and non-toxic route to synthesize lignin-based non-isocyanate poly(imine-hydroxyurethane)s networks was explored.Specifically,the NH_(2)-terminated polyhydroxyurethanes(NPHUs)prepolymer was first synthesized from bis(6-membered cyclic carbonate)(BCC)and diamine via the ring-opening reaction.Subsequently,the corresponding ligninbased non-isocyanate polyurethanes(NIPUs)with tunable properties were synthesized from NPHUs and levulinate lignin derivatives containing ketone groups via the Schiff base reaction.The structural,mechanical,and thermal properties of NIPUs with different stoichiometric feed ratios of BCC and levulinate lignin were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA),and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA).The results indicated that the tensile strength,Young's modulus,toughness,storage modulus,glass transition temperature,and thermal stability of lignin-based NIPUs gradually increased with increasing lignin content,and the highest Young's modulus of 41.1 MPa was obtained when lignin content reached 45.53%.With good reprocessing properties,this synthetic framework of ligninbased NIPUs also provides sustainable non-isocyanate-based substitutions to traditional polyurethane networks.
文摘Background: Seven patients at a hospital in Houston, TX, were diagnosed during a two-week period in 2009 with joint space infection of pansusceptible P. aeruginosa following arthroscopic procedures of the knee or shoulder. Tosh et al. (2011), who investigated and published the principal report discussing this bacterial outbreak, conclude that its most likely cause was the improper reprocessing of certain reusable, physically-complex, heat-stable arthroscopic instruments used during these arthroscopic procedures. These reusable instruments reportedly remained contaminated with remnant tissue, despite diligent efforts by the hospital to clean their internal structures. This retained bioburden presumably shielded the outbreak’s strain of embedded P. aeruginosa from contact with the pressurized steam, reportedly resulting in ineffective sterilization of these arthroscopic instruments and bacterial transmission. Objectives: First, to clarify which specific sterilization methods, in addition to steam sterilization, Methodist Hospital employed to process its reusable arthroscopic instrumentation at the time of its outbreak, in 2009;second, to evaluate Tosh et al.’s (2011) conclusion that ineffective steam sterilization due to inadequate cleaning was the most likely cause of this hospital’s outbreak;third, to consider whether any other hitherto unrecognized factors could have plausibly contributed to this outbreak;and, fourth, to assess whether any additional recommendations might be warranted to prevent disease transmission following arthroscopic procedures. Methods: The medical literature was reviewed;some of the principles of quality assurance, engineering and a root-cause analysis were employed;and Tosh et al.’s (2011) findings and conclusions were reviewed and compared with those of other published reports that evaluated the risk of disease transmission associated with the steam sterilization of physically-complex, heat-stable, soiled surgical instruments. Results and Conclusion: Reports documenting outbreaks of P. aeruginosa or another vegetative bacterium associated with the steam sterilization of inadequately cleaned surgical or arthroscopic instruments are scant. This finding—coupled with a number of published studies demonstrating the effective steam sterilization of complex instruments contaminated with vegetative bacteria mixed with organic debris, or, in one published series of tests, with resistant bacterial endospores coated with hydraulic fluid—raises for discussion whether Methodist Hospital’s outbreak might have been due to one or more factors other than, or in addition to, that which Tosh et al. (2011) conclude was its most likely cause. An example of such a factor not ruled out by Tosh et al. (2011) findings would be the re-contamination of the implicated arthroscopic instruments after sterilization. The specific methods that Methodist Hospital employed at the time of its outbreak to sterilize some of its arthroscopic instrumentation remain unclear. A number of additional recommendations are provided to prevent disease transmission following arthroscopic procedures.
文摘A blending strategy of virgin and reprocessed polylactide may be postulated as an alternative to reduce the material cost at industrial level,and as a valorization route to plastic waste management of production scraps.The performance of blends prepared from virgin polylactide and polylactide mechanically reprocessed up to two cycles(PLA-V/R)was assessed in terms of thermo-oxidative stability,morphology,viscoelasticity and thermal kinetics for energetic valorization.PLA-V/R blends showed appropriate thermo-oxidative stability.The amorphous nature of polylactide was preserved after blending.The viscoelastic properties showed an increment of the mechanical blend effectiveness,which suggested the feasibility of using PLA-V/R blends under similar mechanical conditions to those of virgin PLA goods.Finally,it was shown that the energetic valorization of PLA-V/R blends would result in a more feasible process,due to the lower required activation energy,thus highlighting the advantages of the energetic demand for the process.In conclusion,PLA-V/R blends showed similar processability,service performance and valorization routes as virgin PLA and therefore could be relevant in the sustainable circular industry of bioplastics.
基金This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.2572018BB07)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31670570).
文摘This study assessed the life cycle of biocomposites with antioxidants by repeated processing.The effects of antioxidants on the life cycle of wood flour/polypropylene(PP)composites were determined by analyzing their mechanical and thermal properties.The composites were repeatedly processed for seven times with pelletizing and extruding.An antioxidant,pentaerythritoltetrakys 3-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate,was used.The mechanical strength of the biocomposites decreased after reprocessing.Fourier transformed infrared analysis showed that thermo-oxidative aging occurred during reprocessing.The thermal performance of the resulting composites decreased because of reprocessing.Wood flour/PP has a long lifetime and antioxidants can slow the thermo-oxidative and mechanical degradation during reprocessing.
基金Funded by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No.50872105)Shaanxi Provincial Grand-Tech Project of China (No.2008ZKC04-04)
文摘In order to make an effectivily recycle use of iron and steel slags that are main industrial wastes generated in Chinese metallurgical industry, the current technologies for reprocessing and recycling these wastes into eco-building materials were reviewed, such as preparing cement-steel slag blended cement with steel slag after metal recovery, using the fine powder of blast furnace slag (BFS) for manufacturing slag cement and high performance concrete. A further research on using these available resources more efficiently were discussed.
基金The authors are thankful to the General Direction of the General of the Quarries and Mines(GECAMINES or GCM)as well as to the persons in charge and personnel of the former Zinc Factory of Kolwezi,which has meanwhile become Copper Factory of Kolwezi,respectively for the authorization and the support granted for carrying out field work.
文摘The treatment of zinc ores at the UZK(Kolwezi Zinc Factory),in the DRC(Democratic Republic of Congo),has generated a deposit of solid releases rich in recoverable metals,but presented an environmental risk given the conditions of its storage.The results of chemical analyses by X-ray fluorescence have shown the presence of base metals recoverable in significant proportions in these releases,which contain on average 17%zinc and 3.5%copper.In addition,X-ray diffraction analyses have identified the main minerals:franklinite,willemite and sphalerite.The environmental risks are real,because the results of the availability tests for leaching have revealed significant zinc and copper extraction rates for a liquid to solid ratio of 100 and those of landfill compliances show that although under European Directive 2003/33/EC,these discharges are dangerous and must be treated under conditions which respect the environment.Following an environmental risk assessment,two scenarios for reprocessing these discharges are envisaged and will be compared from a technical,economic and environmental point of view,including their feasibility in the context of the DRC.The two processes would be on the one hand a hot acid attack in two or three stages and on the other hand a mixed digestion-roasting treatment followed by leaching with water.
文摘Background: A recent survey of in-hospital reprocessing in Tanzanian hospitals identified bag-valve masks (BVM) as a commonly reused single-use device. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), in-hospital reprocessing supports neonatal resuscitation strategies by helping to maintain adequate supplies of BVM. However, there is a need for device-specific protocols defining reprocessing procedures and inspection criteria to overcome variations in reprocessing practices between hospitals. The purposes of this study were: 1) to complete a comprehensive design review and identify challenges to reprocessing BVMs;and 2) to investigate three different residual bioburden analysis methods for assessing the efficacy of decontaminating a disposable BVM. Methods: New, unused bag-valve-masks were contaminated with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Artificial Mucus Soil to simulate the worst case soiling conditions. Devices underwent one of five disinfection protocols, including one currently used in a LMIC hospital. Three analytical (two quantitative and one qualitative) methods were selected to evaluate residual bioburden on the device following decontamination. Results: Of all protocols tested, only the positive control and the Soap and Bleach protocols met disinfection targets. Most cleaning outcomes were consistent from trial to trial for each protocol. However, cleaning outcomes varied greatly for the Alcohol Wipe protocol. For the residual bioburden analyses, the two quantitative methods produced similar results, but the qualitative measurement exhibited increased variability. Conclusion: While this study revealed positive disinfection outcomes for the Tanzanian hospital decontamination protocol, more studies are required to support these findings. Design features of the BVM mask presented challenges to cleaning and drying during different decontamination protocols, as seen in the variability in the Alcohol Wipe protocol performance. These findings support the case for a device-specific protocol for the BVM. Given proper hospital personnel training and available resources, in-hospital reprocessing could support neonatal resuscitation strategies and other demands for manual resuscitation by helping to maintain adequate supplies of BVM.
文摘BACKGROUND Several strategies have been implemented to reduce or abolish the life-threatening risk of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)-related multidrug-resistant infections due to duodenoscopes contaminations;among those strategies,serial microbiologic tests,thorough reprocessing schedules,and use of removable scope cap have been adopted,but the potential cross-infection risk was not eliminated.AIM To review available evidence in the field of single-use duodenoscopes(SUD)use for ERCP.METHODS An overview on ongoing clinical studies was also performed to delineate which data will become available in the next future.RESULTS One bench comparative study and four clinical trials performed with EXALT model-D(Boston Scientific Corp.,United States)have been identified.Of them,one is a randomized controlled trial,while the other three studies are prospective single-arm,cross-over studies.Pooled technical success rate(4 studies,368 patients)was 92.9%[95%confidence interval(CI):89.9-95.5;I2:11.8%].Pooled serious adverse event(4 studies,381 patients)rate was 5.9%[3.7%-8.5%;I2:0.0%].CONCLUSION Although few clinical trials are available,evidence is concordant in identifying an absolute feasibility and safety and feasibility for SUD use for ERCP.The expertise and quality of evidence in this field are going to be improved by further large clinical trials;data on cost-effectiveness and environmental impact will be needed for a worldwide spread of SUD use for ERCP.
文摘Background:We investigated the procedures used by medical institutions in Guangdong Province for reprocessing ophthalmic surgical instruments and analyzed the problems identified in order to improve the quality of cleaning medical instruments and its management.Methods:The reprocessing of ophthalmic surgical instruments was investigated in 72 hospitals in Guangdong Province using a questionnaire designed for this purpose.Results:Ophthalmic surgical instruments underwent centralized reprocessing in the disinfection and supply centers in 50%of the 72 hospitals.Cataract phacoemulsification surgery was the main ophthalmic surgery performed in 94%of the 72 hospitals.The main reasons for using centralized reprocessing were an insufficient supply of ophthalmic surgical instruments,short turnaround times between surgeries,and the high cost of losing these precise and fragile instruments.Manual processing was the predominant method of reprocessing ophthalmic surgical instruments;enzyme detergents were used in 63.89%of the hospitals;and 48.61%of the hospitals used N-model small pressure-steam sterilizers for the ophthalmic surgical instruments.Conclusions:In order to improve the quality and management of the cleaning of medical instruments,and guarantee high-quality medical care,the following measures are recommended.Centralized management of ophthalmic surgical instruments should be based on the instruments’characteristics.Pay more attention to reprocessing site locations and staff training.Choose detergents based on manufacturers’instructions for use with specific instruments.Increase the number of available ophthalmic instruments in accordance with their demand and select appropriate small pressure-steam sterilizers.
文摘This work investigates an accident during the pyrochemical extraction of Uranium and Plutonium from PWR spent fuel in an argon atmosphere hot cell. In the accident, the heavy metals (U and Pu) being extracted are accidently exposed to air from a leaky instrument penetration which goes through the cell walls. The extracted pin size pieces of U and Pu metal readily burn when exposed to air. Technicians perform the electrochemical extraction using manipulators through a 4 foot thick hot cell concrete wall which protects them from the radioactivity of the spent fuel. Four foot thick windows placed in the wall allow the technicians to visually control the manipulators. These windows would be exposed to the heat of the metal fire. This analysis determines if the thermal stress caused by the fire would crack the windows and if the heat would degrade the window seals allowing radioactivity to escape from the cell.
文摘In this study,a series of hindered urea bond(HUB)containing polyurethane-urea methacrylate prepolymers and a none HUB containing polyurethane methacrylate prepolymer were prepared using isobornyl methacrylate as the reactive diluent via one-pot procedure.The prepolymers were characterized fully by various techniques.Then,their thermosets were fabricated via UV curing in presence of a photo initiator,and their mechanical property and thermal behavior were investigated and compared.Different from the none HUB containing thermoset,the HUB containing thermosets(defined as PUT)could be recycled and reprocessed by hot press under relatively mild conditions with high recovery ratio of mechanical property.Furthermore,zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles were modified with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate and the modified ZnO(defined as ZnO-TPM)was dispersed and polymerized into PUT matrix to prepare their nanocomposites.The influence of ZnO-TPM on the mechanical performance of the composites was evaluated,which indicated that the Young’s modulus and tensile strength increased gradually to the maximum values at ZnO-TPM content of 1 wt%and then decreased.The composites also displayed good reprocessability with improved recovery ratio compared to the pure PUT sample.In addition,the composite materials exhibited strong UV absorption capacity,implying their potential application in the circumstance where UV-shielding was required.