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Cost-effective technology now exists which would allow people in the USA to live the same life style using only one-quarter the electricity. Practically speaking it will take at least 10 years to reach even half that efficiency potential. In fact, since 1973 the USA has already significantly improved efficiency. Even more significant improvements will be made over the next decade for several reasons; first, technology which will allow such improvement is developing at an astounding rate; second, we are facing renewed environmental concern for which energy efficiency offers the best mitigation opportunity; and third, the USA is improving the regulatory process to consider environmental effects. Finally, the regulatory process is being adjusted to allow utility companies to be in the business of energy conservation.

Owners of hydropower facilities face increasing demands to reduce or eliminate environmental concerns arising from the impoundment and control of once-natural stream flows. These demands, which are rooted in a complex me lange of technical, political, social, legal, and economic factors, are typically applied through regulatory criteria for mitigating the impact of hydro projects on aquatic habitat. The improvement of low dissolved oxygen (DO) in reservoir releases is a major environmental concern for projects with moderate to heavy amounts of organic sediments. When applicable, turbine aeration often is the most cost-effective technology for providing DO improvements. However, opportunities to solve DO-related water quality problems by turbine methods are often overlooked. In some cases this is due to ambiguous accountability for the low DO problem. In other cases, it is due to limited awareness of aerating turbine capabilities, limited support for research and development, or a lack of industry-accepted procedures for the analysis and design of these turbines. This paper presents a brief summary of guiding principles used for justifying, specifying, and verifying the performance of aerating turbines. Examples are given for Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) hydro projects using turbine aeration. A defensible project justification for turbine aeration requires a reliable determination of the site-specific environmental and hydraulic capabilities of aerating turbines and the ability to express these capabilities in economic terms. Specification requirements must define the desired environmental and hydraulic guarantees to be achieved by an aerating turbine, including the operating conditions for the evaluation. Verification is also needed to determine conformance to proposed environmental and hydraulic guarantees, and measurement uncertainty can have a significant impact. 1 Technical Specialist, Tennessee Valley Authority, Engineering Laboratory, Norris, TN 37828 2 Senior Product Development Manager, TVA, Engineering Laboratory, Norris, TN 37828 3 Mechanical Engineer, MTS Nano Instruments Innovation Center, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 (formerly, Mechanical Engineer, TVA, Engineering Laboratory, Norris, TN 37828)

The ongoing research and development of cost effective technology for remotely queried sensors for health and usage monitoring of composite structures has lead to the application of electrically conductive thermoplastic adhesive films. This paper intends to provide an in depth overview of a newly developed technology for the design and manufacturing of smart structures by introducing the application of electrically conductive thermoplastic adhesive films. The current technology is discussed and compared with this newly developed technology. It is shown that the structural aspects of this new technology are advantageous to smart structures' concept as a whole. Fabrication and manufacturing techniques for this new technology is discussed including the suitability of the process for automation. Specifically, standard tensile testing of the manufactured composite coupons with embedded thermoplastic conductive adhesive films has been performed and compared to the test results from copper embedded coupons. The effect of embedded thermoplastic stripes on stiffness as well as strength of the parent laminated- structure is evaluated and discussed. Further, fatigue testing has been done at various ultimate failure strength percentiles to determine some degree of the fatigue life of the composite and the embedded conductive and insulting films. The conductive thermoplastic films are found to be structurally superior to copper when embedded in a composite structure but the electrical conductivity is not as good as copper or other metallic conductors.

Improvements in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sand control completion methods have been and continue to be an ever-changing process. However, the goals have remained the same — to complete wells efficiently and generate the greatest production using the most cost-effective technology. One of the new techniques that is available to operators to accomplish these goals is a method that allows perforating and gravel packing to be accomplished with a single trip into the well. This technique, the Single Trip Perforate and Pack (STPP) method, has recently been introduced to the industry. The purpose of this paper is to provide engineers and operators with a better understanding of when this technology should be applied. The method discussed will attempt to quantify the decision making process.

Recently, polymeric optical waveguide for optical telecommunications have been actively investigating because of their easy processibility and cost-effective technology.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a cost-effective technology testbed which can be used to support research and development (R.&D.) activities and demonstration tests for advanced space technology systems. These advanced systems are needed for Space Station Pre-Planned Program Improvements (P3I), near-Earth commercialization activities and human exploration missions. The ISS, advanced space technology R.&D. and testing capabilities include the capability to develop and test advanced propulsion/transport systems, both on (attached to) the International Space Station (ISS) and on future ISS based or visiting platforms (most likely commercially provided). Feasibility assessments of proposed, advanced propulsion research and development (R.&D.) and demonstration tests, will likely include new types of guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) operations and associated safety considerations. A GN&C software model of a specific advanced propulsion concept is used to examine some of these considerations. So...

High school students in the United States are consistently outper-formed by those from Asian and some European countries oninternational assessment of mathematics and science, according toThe Condition of Education 2006 report released in June 2006 bythe U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Educa-tion Statistics NCES http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2006/06/06012006.html http://www.ed.gov/pubs/12TIMSS/SecIII.htmlThere has been an increasing decline in college enrollment inthe fields related to math and sciences. The sole decline amongthe top five popular degree fields between 2003 and 2004 was inengineering and engineering technologies. In the global economythat is driven by advancement in science and technology, thispoor performance calls for action and improvement in the currentmethods of teaching math and science in high schools.This issue is critical because there is an acute shortage ofqualified math and science teachers across the United States.Many middle and high school science classes are taught by teach-ers without adequate training and credentials. Elementary andsecondary science curricula have not been an educational priority.It is as if the better students will find a way to advance them-selves, and those that are on the cusp of wanting to know moreabout science are left in a lurch.The National Science Foundation NSF has been proactive inpromoting quality science education by providing funding andresources for 7th to 12th grade teachers who seek professionaldevelopment. This education is used to strengthen their academicskills in teaching math and science. NSF supports scienceteaching by delivering programs through university engineeringdepartments that provide teachers with a broad knowledge ofmathematics and science strategies that can be applied in theclassroom to promote science teaching and learning.The NSF/Research Experiences for Teachers RET summerworkshop provides a range of inquiry-based experiences forscience and math teachers creating an opportunity for them toengage in state-of-the-art research with professors and graduatestudents, to hone their skills in applying the scientific method.Teachers are exposed to innovative technologies and how thesetechnologies are applied to research. Teachers generate real datathat can be synthesized and measured. The research can then beused to improve their quality of life.Our RET team was involved in an environmental research lablooking for an innovative and cost-effective technology to removeodorous compounds from surface water. The presence of odorouscompounds in water is a phenomenon that high school studentscan easily grasp. Each city has its own surface water problems.The need to develop an effective technology to remove odorsfrom water becomes a real issue for students. When students arepresented with potentially dangerous situations they understandthe need to learn; thereby becoming active participants. This leadsto a productive classroom environment and an increased interestin the field of science.It is really exciting to see how research activities can result inreal life applications that provide solutions to human needs. Forexample, the impact of the current research being conductedmight be directly used by local water treatment plants to removepersistent odors in water. RET-trained teachers collect and sharescientific data with their students. This data then becomes authen-tic, believable, and easier to understand. The student’s involve-ment in this real-life research gives them ownership into the sci-ence and math program.The lab research experience also clarifies concepts like nano-technology, environmental chemistry, scientific method, and labsafety. The RET project provides a great opportunity for teachersto work side by side with engineers and engineering students todevelop effective problem-solving strategies and pedagogy thatare readily available for use in the classroom. There is a plethoraof resources and lesson plans available on the RET websitehttp://www.eng.uc.edu/dept_cee/research/ret for use by mathand science teachers. Assessment tools are discussed and devel-oped to measure student progress toward the learning of math andscience, with regard to state science standards.RET teams work with engineering students and field engi-neers. Field trips to actual testing sites are used to bring theseexperiences together. They help the teachers learn how structuralengineers use basic principles of algebra, geometry, trigonometry,physics, and chemistry to assess material properties, and applygeneral design methodology in bridge building. The teachers alsoexamine everyday problems that structural engineers face in theirwork, and how they use hands-on mathematical models to pro-vide possible solutions to those problems and brainstorm various

A computer model (LYMESIM) was developed to simulate the effects of management technologies on populations of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, and the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner in eastern North America. Technologies considered in this study were area-wide acaricide, acaricide self-treatment of white-footed mice and white-tailed deer, vegetation reduction, and white-tailed deer density reduction. Computer simulations were run with normal weather patterns for coastal Connecticut and New York. Results showed that area-wide acaricide, vegetation reduction, or a combination of these technologies would be useful for short-term seasonal management of ticks and disease in small recreational or residential sites. Acaricide self-treatment of deer appears to be the most cost-effective technology for use in long-term management programs in large areas. Simulation results also suggested that deer density reduction should be considered as a management strategy component. Integrated management strategies are presented that could be used in pilot tests and operational tick and tick-borne disease programs.

To insure that the manufacture of VLPC devices is a reliable, cost-effective technology, hybrid assembly procedures and testing methods suitable for large scale production have been developed. This technology has been developed under a contract from Fermilab as part of the D-Zero upgrade program. Each assembled hybrid consists of a VLPC chip mounted on an AlN substrate. The VLPC chip is provided with bonding pads (one connected to each pixel) which are wire bonded to gold traces on the substrate. The VLPC/AlN hybrids are mated in a vacuum sealer using solder preforms and a specially designed carbon boat. After mating, the VLPC pads are bonded to the substrate with an automatic wire bonder. Using this equipment we have achieved a thickness tolerance of ±0.0007 inches and a production rate of 100 parts per hour. After assembly the VLPCs are tested for optical response at an operating temperature of 7K. The parts are tested in a custom designed continuous-flow dewar with a capacity 15 hybrids, and one Lake S...

Abstract The exploration and production of offshore hydrocarbon reserves drives the oil industry to look for cost-effective technology. New fields are often marginal in character, e.g. smaller reservoirs and located in deeper waters and existing technology is not always cost-effective or reliable, and often exhibits high maintenance costs. Modem offshore developments in harsh environments and in steadily deeper waters often consist of floating production and offload systems (FPSO) tied to a vast number of subsea templates. These tie-backs require extensive use of service injection lines to transport hydraulic control fluids and hydrate prevention chemicals, i.e. methanol or glycol. Part of the Ågard field development consist of an FPSO and subsea wells. Long continuous high pressure pipes made from composite materials were considered to be an attractive alternative for methanol and glycol service lines. This paper will review and discuss the requirements for the methanol and glycol static service at the Ågard field and present results from a qualification and verification project that is completed. A project was initiated by the Ågard operator to complete necessary steps in making spoolable composite high pressure pipes an acceptable alternative. Furthermore, aspects related to test methodology, writing of specifications and simulating operating conditions are discussed and results presented. Introduction The development of the Åsgad field situated in a harsh environment off Mid-Norway is the largest ongoing subsea development project in the world. Ågard consists of three fields that will be connected: SmØrbukk, SmØrbukk South and Midgard. The fields were discovered in 1981. 1984 and 1985. Planned production of oil is 1998 and production of gas and condensate is scheduled for 2000. Recoverable reserves are 123 million m3 of oil/condensate and 232 billion sm3 of sales gas. Planned peak production of oil: 200,000 bbl/d, of rich gas: 30 million sm3/d and of condensate: 14,000 m3/d, giving an anticipated field lifetime of 20-30 years. Figure 1 shows the field lay-out and position of the 17 subsea templates comprising 59 production and injection wells. All subsea wells are tied back to surface facilities by a complex of flowlines, umbilicals and service lines. The Ågard water depth is 245-320 m. Oil production commences in 1998 from a floating production, storage and offload vessel (FPSO) in position A in Figure 1. The FPSO is the world's largest with a length of 276 m, a width of 45.6 m and a draught of 26.6 m. Storage capacity is 950,000 barrels of oil and the produced oil will be transferred to shuttle tankers. The gas/condensate will be processed on a semi-submersible floating production unit (B) and the gas will be exported trough a 42" pipeline to KårstØ on the Norwegian coast. Condensate is transferred to a storage tanker (C) for further export by shuttle tankers. Total capital investment is estimated to approximately 4.2 billion USD. The design data for the Ågard field is shown in Table 1. 17 electro-hydraulic umbilicals with lengths varying from 1 km to 34km (0.62 to 21 miles) control the subsea templates. Continuous or intennittent methanol and glycol injection prevents hydrate formation.

Lower Cost Produced Water Treatment in the Gulf Coast Region: Investigation of Biotreatment Methods D.G. Sholtes, SPE, BDM Federal, Inc., M.A. Young, SPE, M.A. Young, Inc. - J.S. Jones, SPE, BDM Petroleum Technologies Copyright 1997, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Abstract Direct discharge of oil field produced waters to surface waters has been a widely used disposal method in the Gulf Coast Region since regional production began. Produced water from oil and gas production operations has received increasing scrutiny in recent years relative to the potential impacts on surrounding, often sensitive habitats due to the tremendous volume of waste water generated and the specific constituents typically present. The effluent limitation guidelines promulgated by the EPA under the authority of the Clean Water Act are limiting produced water discharges to the surface waters of the United States. For coastal Louisiana and Texas, the future of produced water discharges seems forbidding. Zero discharge limits will dramatically increase the operating costs for produced water disposal in the Gulf Coast Region and significantly limit the economic life of producing wells and fields. The increasing reliance of the United States on foreign oil compels the industry and government to research and develop cost effective environmental compliance technologies for produced water disposal. BDM-Oklahoma is investigating the feasibility of biological treatment methods for the treatment of produced waters in an effort to prove that discharged effluent can meet the increasingly stringent effluent limitations for the Gulf Coast Region. Biological treatment technologies are being developed for the treatment of oil field produced waters. Two biological treatment technologies were investigated under this study and the promising results are summarized in this paper. A bench treatability study was conducted on an organic material in a packed-bed upflow reactor. In addition, results from a Gas Research Institute study on a second biological treatment method which utilizes a granular activated carbon fluidized bed reactor are presented. This treatment technology has been tested at the pilot and field scale. Introduction The purpose of this study is to identify current and proposed regulatory requirements related to produced water treatment and disposal in the Gulf Coast Region and to identify and demonstrate innovative technologies which could be used for complying with produced water surface disposal requirements. This report presents findings on two biological treatment methods for produced waters in an effort to prove that discharged effluent can be treated to meet increasingly stringent effluent limitations. For the Territorial Seas of Louisiana and Texas and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), increasingly stringent discharge limitations will require aggressive treatment technologies for compliance to become cost effective. Biological treatment methods for reducing levels of toxic metals and organics from produced waters by removing free oil and grease, destroying dissolved hydrocarbons, and removing dissolved metals are being developed with the goal of offering cost-effective methods for the treatment of oil field produced water. A bench scale feasibility study was conducted which utilizes an organic matrix coated with a microbial consortium in a packed-bed upflow reactor. A second biological treatment method was evaluated which employs a granular activated fluidized bed reactor treatment technology tested at the pilot scale and at full scale. Both technologies show promise for removal of contaminants to levels which could allow for surface discharge of treated water as an alternative to transport or reinjection. The goal of each technology development effort is to provide a cost-effective technology for treating produced water to allow for surface discharge of treated effluent. Information on the following technologies was provided by the respective research organizations. P. 143^

The Clean Air Act, as revised in 1992, has spurred the development of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) technologies that have resulted in large volumes of wet scrubber sludges. In general, these sludges must be dewatered, chemically treated, and disposed of in landfills. Disposal is an expensive and environmentally questionable process for which suitable alternatives must be found. Wet scrubbing with magnesium (Mg)-enhanced lime has emerged as an efficient, cost effective technology for SO2 removal. When combined with an appropriate oxidation system, the wet scrubber sludge can be used to produce gypsum (CaSO4-2H2O) and magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2] of sufficient purity for beneficial re-use. Product value generally increases with purity of the by-product(s). The pilot plant at the CINERGY Zimmer Station near Cincinnati produces gypsum by products that can be formulated to contain varying amounts of Mg(OH)2. Such materials may have agricultural value as soil conditioners, liming agents and sources of plant nutrients (Ca, Mg, S). This report describes a greenhouse study designed to evaluate by-product gypsum and Mg gypsum from the Zimmer Station pilot plant as amendments for improving the quality of agricultural soils and mine spoils that are currently unproductive because of phytotoxic conditions related to acidity and high levelsmore » of toxic dissolved aluminum (Al). In particular, the technical literature contains evidence to suggest that gypsum may be more effective than agricultural limestone in modifying soil chemical conditions below the immediate zone of application. Representative samples of by-product gypsum and Mg(OH)2 from the Zimmer Station were initially characterized. The gypsum was of high chemical purity and consisted of well crystalline, lath-shaped particles of low specific surface area. By contrast, the by-product Mg(OH)2 was a high surface area material (50 m2 g-1) that contained 20% CaSO4 with variable hydration state. Artificial blends of these materials containing 4% and 8% Mg(OH)2 were prepared for comparison with other liming agents in the form of agricultural limestone and gypsum amended with laboratory Ca(OH)2.« less

Hyperinsulinemia identification as defined by glucose/insulin tolerance has been established as the prime etiological factor in idiopathic neurootological disorders. Insulin assays by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the IMx (Abbott) immunoassay yielded in 558 of 595 glucose/insulin tolerance a concurrence of 93.7%. The latter measures insulin without cross-reaction with proinsulin. The RIA methodology includes proinsulin. The IMx (Abbott), a micro-particle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA), gave lower values due to its nondetection of proinsulin. Based upon defined insulin values, the dynamic patterns of euinsulinemia, hyperinsulinemia with elevated fasting insulin levels and hyperinsulinemia with impaired and/or hyperglycemia glucose tolerance were concurred 100% by MEIA. All of the nonconcurrences were with normal glucose tolerances when the second and/or third hour insulin values were borderline. The limited utilization of RIA technology and the potential availability of enzymatic immunoassay which requires less technical skills presents MEIA as a practical and precise alternative to RIA hyperinsulinemia identification. The increasing world-wide significance of the clinical pathology of hyperinsulinemia becoming manifest in all disciplines of medicine, warrants the identification and/or exclusion of hyperinsulinemia by cost-effective technology.

There is a great need for cost effective technology to remediate soils and bodies of water contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides. Phytoremediation, an emerging technology of using plants for the removal of pollutants could provide an affordable way to restore the economic value of contaminated land. Two main subsets of phytoremediation have been developed: phytoextration, which is based on using high biomass crop plants in combination with a system of soil amendments to extract heavy metals from soil, and rhizofiltration, a technology which employs plants to remove contaminants from aqueous streams.

Introduction Vaginal discharge constitutes an important symptom in women attending gynaecology outpatient clinics. Some of these cases are due to sexually transmitted organisms such as N. gonorrheae, C. trachomatis and T. vaginalis and can lead to poor reproductive health and co-infection with HIV. The control of these infections can lead to substantial reduction in the transmission of HIV. Given the high cost of diagnosis, National Aids Control Organisation advocates syndromic management of patients with genitourinary complaints and treatment with drugs that target the most frequent etiological agents. However, it can lead to emergence of antibiotic resistant strains due to overtreatment. Therefore, we tried to find out prevalence of these three pathogens in cases of symptomatic vaginal discharge and to determine the number of patients who were over-treated following syndromic approach. Methods 320 non-pregnant women (16 – 60 years) attending the gynaecology outpatient clinic of VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, with complaint of vaginal discharge and clinically suspected to be infected by N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis & T. Vaginali were recruited. Endocervical swabs were used for detection of these organisms by PCR. Results Of the 320 subjects 24 (7.5%) were positive for C. trachomatis, 19 (5.9%) for N. gonorrhoeae & 13 (4.6%) for T. vaginalis. Furthermore, 8(2.5%) patients had co-infection of C. trachomatis & N. gonorrhoeae, 07(2.1%) had co-infection of C. trachomatis & T. vaginalis, 07(2.1%) had N. gonorrheae & T. vaginalis and 06 (1.8%) cases had C. trachomatis, N. gonorrheae & T. vaginalis. Infection was found in 49/320 patients with infection rate of 15.3%. Since all the patients (320) were treated the overtreatment rate was 84.6%. Conclusion Cost-effective technology for simultaneous detection of these pathogens is urgently required in developing countries so that all clinically suspicious cases of vaginal discharge are given treatment only after confirmed diagnosis.

Not all autoreactive antibodies are harmful, despite their role in autoimmune disease. Autoantibodies targeting tumor antigens, growth factors and their receptors are currently used therapeutically for treatment of cancer and autoimmunity. Ordinarily, healthy subjects do not exhibit strong secondary antibody responses to self-proteins, because most autoreactive B cells do not receive sufficient T cell help required for the germinal center reaction and for differentiation into IgG secreting cells. Our data demonstrate that rare, potentially therapeutic autoreactive B cells can be efficiently rescued from tonsil with EBV immortalization, and manipulated in vitro to secrete IgG, by supplying factors that mimic antigen stimulation and T cell help. Because this process is performed wholly in vitro, it constitutes a rapid and cost effective technology, resulting in the isolation of fully human antibodies. In addition, antibodies can be generated against highly toxic antigens, since immunization is unnecessary. As proof of concept, we have developed a panel of human monoclonal antibodies targeting the self-tumor antigen nucleolin for use in cancer immunotherapy. Nucleolin is normally expressed in the nucleus of all cells, but it is over-expressed in both the cytoplasm and on the cell surface of tumor cells in the most common forms of breast cancer, making nucleolin a new type of tumor antigen. The antibodies are currently undergoing pre-clinical testing against breast cancer.

Phytoremediation is the use of specially selected or engineered living green plants for in situ risk reduction and/or removal of pollutants from contaminated media. This process is one of the most rapidly developing components of environmentally friendly (green) and cost-effective technology to abate environmental pollution. The risk reduction could be through the process of removal, degradation, containment of a contaminant or a combination of any of these factors. Bryophyllum pinnatum a herbally-accepted plant in some parts of the world was cultivated in ten different plastic buckets containing heavy metal polluted soil and nurtured for 20 months. The plants were left in ambient conditions and watered periodically. After the first 2 weeks, the plant and soil samples were collected and analysed for total concentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb V and Zn. Subsequently, the plant and soil samples were collected monthly and analysed for the total concentrations of these heavy metals, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Maximum extracted heavy metals from soil by plant were Cd (3.12±1.03 mg/kg), Cr (32.48±3.21 mg/kg), Cu (81.01±2.3 mg/kg) Ni (11.91±2.32 mg/kg), Pb (399.90 ±4.32 mg/kg) V (5.81±0.08 mg/kg) and Zn (150.51± 0.33) and this occurred in the 4th month of study. This study confirms B. pinnatum as one of the plants that could be employed in phytoremediation of soil polluted by heavy metals.

The increased costs of transportation and distribution are leading many commercial and industrial firms to consider the on-site generation for energy and other commodities used in their facilities. This trend has been accelerated by the development of compact, efficient processes for converting basic raw materials into finished services at the distributed sites. Distributed generation with the PC25{trademark} fuel cell power plant is providing a new cost effective technology to meet building electric and thermal needs. Small compact on-site separator systems are providing nitrogen and oxygen to many industrial users of these gases. The adaptation of the fuel processing section of the PC25 power plant for on-site hydrogen generation at industrial sites extends distributed generation benefits to the users of industrial hydrogen.

Antiarrhythmic drugs have systematically failed to improve—or have even worsened prognosis—when given prophylactically to “high-risk” patients without previous spontaneous sustained ventricular arrhythmias. In patients who have had ≥1 episode(s) of near sudden cardiac death or sustained ventricular arrhythmias, randomized studies against placebo have been considered unethical. Therefore, no information exists on the value of treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs in the prevention of sudden death in these patients. Sudden death is quite predictable and almost expected in some situations. The number of “very high risk” patients is small, but the incidence of sudden death among them is very high. A prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) can be easily justified in them. Unfortunately, the greatest absolute number of sudden deaths occurs in patients from a very large population with a rather low risk for sudden death. Truly unexpected cardiac death is most frequently caused by the first acute ischemic event in a previously asymptomatic individual. While the causes of sudden cardiac death are multiple, the final link is frequently the same: ventricular fibrillation. This arrhythmia can be effectively recognized and treated by an ICD, irrespective of its initiating cause. The time when an ICD will be given prophylactically to a truly asymptomatic individual may never come, but there is an urgent need to implant this device prophylactically in patients who are clearly at risk for sudden death. There are medical, ethical, statistical, technical, practical, financial, and even philosophical obstacles involved in the concept of a prophylactic ICD, but they can be solved, because this therapy is effective. Deciding on the benefits of a prophylactic ICD is a probabilistic issue analogous to deciding on mass vaccination against a preventable infection. To the political community, the decision to accept a prophylactic ICD is too much a matter of expenses, because the benefits may not seem that obvious to them. To the device industry, the cleaves between doctors and politicians have to be the best stimuli to come along with cost-effective technology acceptable to both sides. (Am J Cardiol 1996;78(suppl 5A):128–133)

This paper describes R&D efforts and trends and possible application of new technologies to improve on pipeline construction and operations. The paper also identifies possible solutions for some operating concerns related to pipeline integrity and safety. Safety is defined as protection for humans, the environment and materials/equipment. As in other industries, the oil & gas business too is driven by events; a typical example is the current interest on Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC). Accordingly, there are technical concerns related to the influence of SCC and aging on pipeline integrity and the consequent financial concerns regarding possible pipeline upgrading, derating, abandonment and possible retrieval. Potential new solutions include a proposed flexible tube (currently under development) made out of fibre glass composites. This patented innovation could reduce pipeline construction and operating costs. This tube could also eliminate some problems typically associated with metal corrosion. Also included is the application of Fibre Optic Sensor (FOS) technology to the monitoring and evaluation of pipeline integrity. FOS technology may be utilized to study SCC because of its high resolution, and its insensitivity to electro-magnetic interference, and its real time availability. This cost effective technology is currently utilized in the monitoring and evaluation of a variety of structures such as airplanes, engines, generators, bridges and along highways. Optical fibres have the ability to detect a wide range of physical, mechanical, chemical and biological parameters, as: • frequency • temperature • pressure • strain-stress • residual-strain • vibration • damage • impact • displacement • deformation • acoustic-emission • wear • electric-fields • acceleration • rotation • voltage • chemical-species • refractive-index • chemical-reactions • load • liquidlevels • cracking If a fibre optic cable acting as a sensor can be applied to a pipeline system in a practical manner, it may be possible to monitor the performance and conditions of a pipeline over its operating life.

Abstract The first plenary meeting of United Nations on human Environment in 1972 considered the need for a common outlook and for common principles to inspire and guide the people and industries of the world in the preservation and enhancement of human environment. Since then many countries have, or are now enacting, environmental legislation's covering the wide spectrum of environmental protection issues. Petroleum industry has not been immune to such scrutiny, however, little has changed in land based drilling operations, especially in remote areas. A major aspect of the ongoing program in the design of a light modular land rig has been minimisation of the environmental impact. Today, concerns for protection of the environment have spread in many drilling areas: the use of some traditional drilling techniques such as waste pits is now banned. When re-thinking about rig hardware and design today, environment protection needs to be considered at an early stage. There are many incentives for implementation of environmental protection programs, in design and in operation, aside from the regulatory/compliance issue. Waste disposal costs have risen dramatically over the last few years and the trend is expected to continue. Improvements in environment conditions improves morale and image. Growing public awareness and realisation of the man made harm in many regions of the earth: dangerous levels of pollution in water, air, earth and living beings; major and undesirable disturbances to the ecological balance of the biosphere; destruction and depletion of irreplaceable resources; and gross deficiencies harmful to the physical, mental and social health of man, in the living and working environment. This paper discusses the steps taken, early on in the design stage and operations methodology, to minimise the environmental impact. These include, but not limited to:–Minimum "footprint" and civil works–"Dry Location" concept with no requirement of waste pits.–Improvements in waste fluids channelling, collection and recycling.–Minimised personnel exposure to hazardous chemicals. - Waste minimisation, segregation and disposal.–Noise reduction.–Education and awareness programs. Introduction Across the industry ways are being sought to extract oil and gas more cost effectively while improving occupational health, safety and environmental performance. Little fundamental questioning of how the drilling process is organised, has been done over the past fifty years. Today, the ever increasing need for more cost-effective operations is bringing new approaches to the fore. Thus a project, Simpler, which defines a new rig site organisation and designs a light modular rig around it, was initiated to create a fully integrated rig team and improve HSE and operational performance by the application of cost effective technology. Coming with a new rig design in today's competitive market is a challenge, which requires an overall approach. In the case of this project two elements supported innovation to make it cost effective:–The big picture approach, looking not only at the new rig hardware costs but offsetting it by savings resulting from the new rig organisation–Wide use of existing state of the art technologies (from oilfield and non-oilfield industries) rather than developing new hardware. Integrating these new technologies at an early stage of the design rather than retrofitting them on an existing rig enables us to take full advantage of them. Drilling operations involves many types of Hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Typically, most of the emphasis in today's business is on "end-of-pipe" treatment. P. 785

A cost-effective technology has been developed for producing 1-3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composites for active surface control. SonoPanelTM 1-3 piezocomposite transducers consist of an array of piezoelectric ceramic rods in a polymer matrix. Stiff face plates are bonded to the composite for stress amplification when used as a sensor and to enhance surface response uniformity when used as an actuator. Many piezocomposite design variations have been produced for specific applications. The key technology in SonoPanelTM manufacturing is the PZT ceramic injection molding process. Using this process, an entire array of piezoelectric ceramic rods are molded in one operation using specially designed tooling. Injection molded PZT preforms are formed at a rate of one per minute. Several thousand components with excellent piezoelectric properties and part-to-part reproducibility have been manufactured to date. The piezocomposite fabrication process has been scaled up for low volume manufacturing. More than thirty 250 X 250 mm SonoPanelTM transducers have been produced and evaluated. The transducers show high receiving voltage sensitivity and transmitting voltage response as well as symmetrical beam patterns. Next generation SonoPanelTM transducers, with materials and designs optimized for Navy systems, are under development, including advanced panels for active surface control. The devices incorporate actuators, pressure sensors, and velocity sensors--all made from 1-3 composite materials--into an autonomous smart panel.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Sedco Forex are currently building a new land drilling rig based upon the SIMPLER* concept. This SIMPLER* concept reviewed a wide range of issues associated with the well construction process and developed an innovative approach to drilling operations resulting in significant cost savings. The basis of this novel approach is to re-engineer and integrate the well construction activities with regards to personnel and equipment, and make extensive use of cost-effective technology from oilfield an The use of multi-skilling and integration of personnel implies a smaller rig crew which results in direct and indirect cost savings. However, smaller crew also implies mechanisation of labour intensive tasks which not only reduces personnel exposure to hazardous activities, thus increasing safety, but also increases efficiency, thus reducing well costs. Smaller crew also implies improvements in rig design and material selection for minimum maintenance, ease of cleaning, etc. This paper will briefly describe the methodology used for the rig design, which takes into consideration not only operator's priorities and needs, but also, local conditions and constraints. These issues combined with a simplified client/contractor relationship leads to a "fit for purpose" rig design. In detail the paper describes the application of various cost effective technologies used on this land rig to achieve objectives of well cost reduction, improvements in HSE performance and rig mobility. Finally, it is explained; how these initiatives have influenced the overall rig design, showing that the use of innovative technology can have a marked positive effect on the economics of our future energy exploitation.

"Cholecystectomy" is one of the ten "case payment" diseases announced in the National Health Insurance. Thirty-five consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC), performed during the period July 1993 to December 1994, were compared to 35 age- and sex-matched patients undergoing open cholecystectomies (OC) during the same period. The results revealed that there were no significant differences in insurance status, indications, or abnormal results of EKG and liver function tests. The mean operative time was 124 +/- 46 min for LC, and 86 +/- 27 min for OC (p0.001), while the mean hospital stay was 7.4 +/- 2.8 days for LC, and 11.7 +/- 6.6 days for OC (p0.001). There were fewer patients using analgesics postoperatively within 24 hours for LC than for OC. The percentage of patients returned to work (or normal activity) within one week was higher for LC than for OC, but the difference was not statistically significant. Bile leakage was found in two LC cases (5.71%), while another two (57.1%) had wound infection in OC. Cost analysis showed that the cost of the operation room was NT$18,503 higher for LC (NT$27,643 against NT$9,140). Hospital charges were, on average, NT$53,721 for LC and NT$51,560 for OC (P0.05). The higher cost of LC was offset by a reduced length of hospital stay, so the hospital charges in the cases of both procedures were similar. As experience increases, the cost of LC will become lower. Moreover, LC minimizes the discomfort of patients, and patients can return to work earlier. From the perspective of the healthcare system, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is a safe, cost-effective technology.

A cost‐effective technology has been developed for producing 1–3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composites and transducers for underwater actuators, pressure sensors, and velocity sensors. Applications include active and passive sonar, underwater imaging, and active surface control. The key technology in the manufacturing process in the PZT ceramic injection molding process, in which an entire array of piezoelectric elements is molded to final net shape in one operation. Several designs of low‐profile, area‐averaging 1–3 piezocomposite accelerometers have been fabricated. The initial breadboard accelerometers were made using a prepoled 50×50 mm injection molded 1–3 PZT‐5H preforms, containing 361 identical rods on a common baseplate. Additional mass was attached to the baseplate, which was metallized to serve as an electrode, and the free ends of the PZT rods were bonded to a fixed surface, which also functions as the other electrode. Subsequently, a manufacturing process was developed to create accelerometer ‘‘islands’’ within a 1–3 piezocomposite transducer. The accelerometers can be made in arbitrary areas, shapes, and arrangements within the transducer panel, with the remaining area used either as a hydrophone or an actuator. This integral accelerometer technology is being optimized as part of an ARPA‐funded active surface control program. This paper reviews the current state‐of‐the‐art of injection molded piezocomposite transducers and describes some of the velocity sensor configurations made using this technology.

Abstract Horizontal drilling technology has been the fastest growing segment of the oil and gas industry over the last few years. With the diversity of reservoirs in the Western Canadian Basin, Canada is widely recognized as a leader in this technology. Due to economic, environmental, and surface logistics concerns, reentry drilling from existing wellbores is often an extremely viable solution to horizontal development in existing reservoirs. By utilizing an existing wellbore, many of the costs can be avoided and often troublesome formations are already secured behind casing. Coiled tubing drilling is also a fast growing technology in Canada, and the obvious advantages of coiled tubing for a safe, efficient drilling operation which lends itself easily to "underbalanced" or "live well" operations have propelled it into the horizontal re-entry market. This paper examines the rationale behind the selection of coiled tubing as a viable drilling technology for horizontal reentry drilling. A summary of the field trials is also included along with a discussion on the current focus of technology development. Objectives In 1995, Morrison Petroleums initiated a program of re-entry drilling in several Mannville pools of Southern Alberta. The objectives of the program were as follows:Accelerate production of Mannville pools in Southern Alberta.Improve total recovery within economic limits.Determine most cost effective technology for reservoir management.Take advantage of royalty relief schemes available for reentries under current regulatory structure. Technology Evaluation Why Horizontal Re-entries? The primary technology options for reservoir management available were as follows: The selection of coiled tubing underbalanced drilling as a reservoir management tool to enhance economics of pool development was arrived at after consideration of the above objectives. The primary technology options available were as follows:Vertical infill drillingHorizontal new well infill drillingHorizontal re-entry drilling The above options could further be divided into overbalanced and underbalanced drilling techniques and could be conducted with conventional jointed pipe drilling technology or coiled tubing drilling technology. The overall economics of re-entering an existing well and drilling a horizontal wellbore versus drilling a new vertical or new horizontal well were projected to favour the horizontal re-entry. The elimination of requirements for lease acquisition allows for a more cost effective and timely reservoir development scheme. The royalty schedule for re-entry drilling also offered additional incentive over new drills in this area. Old marginal wells do not recover reserves in place before economic limits are reached. Horizontal drilling was expected to provide better reservoir access, improved drainage efficiency and an improved recovery factor. Three wells were selected as candidates for coiled tubing underbalanced drilling after consideration of the above objectives. Why Underbalanced Drilling? The reservoir in question consists of tight sandstone with low permeability and porosity and depleted pressure. As a result, these wellbores are difficult to clean up with post-drilling stimulations. Formation damage problems can be circumvented by maintaining underbalanced conditions while drilling.

The Center for Healthcare Technologies at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a partnership among government, industry, and universities that focuses on improving healthcare through development of cost-effective technology. With the guidance of healthcare providers, medical institutions, and medical instrument manufacturers, technology can be harnessed to reduce healthcare costs. The partnership is a miniature test case for a potential national strategy for development and adoption of technology specifically to reduce costs.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

An advanced in-line patterned wafer defect detection system has been developed in a Joint Development Project (JDP) with Tencor Instruments and SEMATECH. The JDP, known as J101, was initiated due to critical needs identified in a SEMATECH Phase 4/5 (0.25 micrometers ) Workshop. The goal of the workshop was to identify the most suitable and cost-effective technology to meet the in-line monitoring needs specified in the National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (NTRS), also known as the SIA technology roadmap. This paper will review the inspection requirements identified in the SEMATECH Phase 4/5 (0.25 micrometers ) Workshop, specify the objectives and milestones of the JDP, provide a technology overview of the system, and show results obtained by using the system during alpha and prototype characterization.

SPE Member Abstract Several North Sea Operators are now using Snubbing Units to undertake operations previously regarded as only within the scope of a drilling rig (such as the running of 7" completions and the undertaking of gravel-packing operations). Snubbing Units are also increasingly being used to access and service horizontal and extended reach wells which coiled tubing cannot access. With the use of a Snubbing Unit, through-tubing side-tracking and underbalanced drilling is no longer limited by the technology of Coiled Tubing Drilling. Additional margins are available if a 'Snubdrill' option is adopted and these are quantified with the presentation of the results a 'Snubdrill' Case Study. Snubbing Units can therefore now be regarded as an established means of providing an Operators with a versatile and unique device which offers many advantages over both Derrick Equipment Sets and Coiled Tubing Units. Introduction A Snubbing System is basically a well servicing system capable of running and retrieving jointed pipe under live wells conditions. A typical Snubbing System is illustrated in Figure 1. The use of a Snubbing Unit is not only already providing cost effective technology for a wide range of Drilling and Well Servicing applications but also has the potential for providing an alternative way to optimally develop future fields. Present Snubbing and Hydraulic Workover applications include the undertaking of remedial well work without resorting to the use of kill fluids or lost circulation material and the performing of conventional tubing replacement workovers Snubbing well intervention operations are also now routine where coiled tubing operations are not feasible due to well bore geometry or length and should be considered where platform facilities are unable to handle the weights of larger coiled tubing reels. Historically, workovers performed through existing tubing ('through-tubing workovers') have been undertaken with wireline or coiled tubing equipment, often supported by the use of a derrick equipment set. Snubbing systems are now performing similar work and are proving to be far more versatile than wireline coiled tubing and conventional workover rigs with the additional ability of being able to run and rotate tubulars while there is pressure on the well. Although certain workover situations will still call for wireline coiled tubing or workover rigs, there are now many situations where a Snubbing Unit is the logical choice. In principle, all of the downhole work that can be carried out by standard rig or through-tubing workover equipment can also be completed by Snubbing Units, with the (current) exception of running large >10 3/4") tubulars. Future applications for the technology include the horizontal side-tracking of existing wells (which could be performed conventionally or underbalanced). Such operations can either be undertaken through the existing tubing or, where such operations are not deemed feasible, the Snubbing Unit can be used to pull the existing completion prior to the side-track and used for the subsequent running of the liner and completion after drilling. One of the main advantages of utilising Snubbing equipment is the ability to undertake a whole variety of operations and hence supply the versatility that has, up to now, only been regarded as available from a full derrick equipment set in combination with wireline or coiled tubing equipment. P. 439

The Center for Environmental Technology`s (CET) mission is to provide a fully integrated system for accelerated evaluation, development, commercialization, and public acceptance of creative environmental solutions which match the foremost demands in today`s environmentally sensitive world. In short, CET will create a means to provide quick, effective solutions for environmental needs. To meet this mission objective, CET has created a unique and innovative approach to eliminating the usual barriers in developing and testing environmental technologies. The approach paves the way for these emerging, cutting-edge technologies by coordinating environmental restoration and waste management activities of industry, universities, and the government to: efficiently and effectively transfer technology to these users, provide market-driven, cost-effective technology programs to the public and DOE, and aid in developing innovative ideas by initiating efforts between DOE facilities and private industry. The central part to this mission is selecting and evaluating specific innovative technologies for demonstration and application at United States Department of Energy (DOE) installations. The methodology and criteria used for this selection, which is called the CET Innovative Technology Screening Process, is the subject of this paper. The selection criteria used for the screening process were modeled after other DOE technology transfer programs and were further developed by CET`s Technology Screening and Evaluation Board (TSEB). The process benefits both CET and the proposing vendors by providing objective selection procedures based on predefined criteria. The selection process ensures a rapid response to proposing vendors, all technologies will have the opportunity to enter the selection process, and all technologies are evaluated on the same scale and with identical criteria.

Knowledge of technology performance under different contamination scenarios is key to effective risk-based corrective action (RBCA). The combination of soil vapour extraction and bioremediation (a.k.a. ‘bioventing’) has been promoted as a cost-effective technology to remediate mixed gasoline and diesel spills. It is therefore worthwhile to systematise its RBCA potential. ‘Rules-of-thumb’ (heuristics) to perform a technology screening, design, operation and monitoring of bioventing are necessary. Variables such as contaminant characteristics, well design, positioning and operation; and performance monitoring can all have significant cost implications.

Motivation Recent advances in sequencing technologies allowed for unprecedented possibilities and applications for clinical data analysis. In particular, Whole Genome sequencing at reasonable coverage has turned into a cost-effective technology to characterize the genetic framework of rare diseases. Here we present an example of a case of whole genome sequencing analysis in a case of a rare recessive disease. Our purpose is to identify allelic variants associated with the described syndrome using a whole genome sequencing approach. Methods As an example, we utilized 100 bp paired-end sequencing of a single human genomic sample from a rare recessive disorder using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencer. Read tags were aligned to the hg19 reference genome using BWA [1]. The Genome Analysis ToolKit was used to pipeline the downstream analysis: local realignment around indels, quality score recalibration, SNP and indel calling and Variant Quality Score Recalibration. We filtered SNV with a confidence lower than 0.1%. We used the Seattle SNP Annotation tools [3] in order to annotate the SNP on the reference genome. We performed some preliminary statistics in order to identify a threshold that allowed us to identify a reliable subset of SNPs to use for our purpose. Using the sub set of known SNPs as guide we identify the value of the SNP quality, for which we are confident regarding our data. Using a quality threshold of 50 we identified a subset of SNPs that we analysed with the HomozygosityMapper web tools [4]. Results The sequencing data used amounted to 400 million read pairs, achieving a 20x average coverage of the genome (sufficient for reliable homozygous SNP calls). We filtered out 2 million SNPs with a read depth of at least 5 and max 250. The average quality above 400k SNPs is 313 (max 9371, min 30). We found about 100k novel SNPs (10% of which were homozygous). Given the assumption of recessive inheritance in the example under investigation, we focused on homozygous stretches, and identified 6 stretches of homozigosity, two of which were also confirmed by previous microsatellite linkage data. This workflow can be easily automatized and used for different type of re-sequencing projects in the context of recessive rare disorders. Reference Li and Durbin (2010) Fast and accurate long-read alignment with Burrows-Wheeler transform. Bioinformatics 26 (5):589-95 Mckenna et al. (2010) The Genome Analysis Toolkit: A MapReduce framework for analyzing next-generation DNA sequencing data. Genome research 20 (9):1297-1303 http://snp.gs.washington.edu/SeattleSeqAnnotation134/ Seelow et al. (2009) HomozygosityMapper—an interactive approach to homozygosity mapping. Nucleic Acids Res 37 (suppl 2):W593-W599

Cost effective and large scale energy storage is critical to renewable energy integration and smart-grid energy infrastructure. Rechargeable batteries have great potential to become a class of cost effective technology suited for large scale energy storage. In this paper, we report the energy storage characteristics of a newly developed rechargeable solid oxide iron–air battery. Investigations of the battery’s performance under various current densities and cycle durations show that iron utilization plays a determining role in storage capacity and round-trip efficiency. Further studies of the battery's cycle life reveal a unique charge-cycle originated degradation mechanism that can be interpreted by a combined vapor-phase transport and electrochemical condensation model. Overall, the energy capacity of the new solid oxide iron–air storage battery should be properly balanced with the round-trip efficiency at optimized iron utilization.

Despite their role in autoimmune disease, not all autoreactive antibodies are harmful. Autoantibodies targeting tumor antigens, growth factors and their receptors are currently used therapeutically in cancer and autoimmunity. Ordinarily, healthy subjects do not exhibit strong secondary antibody responses to self-proteins, because most autoreactive B cells do not receive sufficient T cell help required for the germinal center reaction and for differentiation into IgG secreting cells. Our data demonstrate that rare, potentially therapeutic autoreactive B cells can be efficiently rescued from tonsil with EBV immortalization, and manipulated in vitro into secreting IgG, by supplying factors that mimic antigen stimulation and T cell help. Because this process is performed wholly in vitro, it constitutes a rapid and cost effective technology, resulting in the isolation of fully human antibodies. In addition, antibodies can be generated against highly toxic antigens, since immunization is unnecessary. We have developed two panels of human monoclonal antibodies targeting distinct self-antigens for use in cancer immunotherapy, one targeting the tumor antigen nucleolin and the other angiogenic placenta growth factor. We hypothesize that infection of B cells with the ubiquitous herpesvirus EBV might contribute to the persistance of autoreactive memory B cells in vivo, altering the B cell repertoire and resulting in the secretion of destructive and possibly of protective autoantibodies.

SPE Members Abstract Recent advances in injection pressure operated gas lift spring valve technology have proven to be beneficial in the Western Operated Area (WOA) of the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field. The temperature independent nature of the spring valves combined with their ability to operate at injection pressures as high as 2400 psig at valve depth make them the proven choice over conventional bellows charged gas lift valves. This cost effective technology has simplified both gas lift design and operation in the WOA. Two case wells which exemplify the benefits derived from the utilization of spring valve technology are described in this paper. Introduction The Prudhoe Bay field is located some 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle. As a consequence of geographical location, there is a permafrost zone across the field extending from several inches below the surface to approximately 2000 feet true vertical depth. This frozen soil is a heat sink which creates a large differential temperature in the well bore between shut in and flowing-conditions. WOA oil production began in June, 1977, with approximately 75 naturally flowing wells on line. The typical well at start up produced 10,000+ BFPD at a solution GOB of 650 SCF/STB and no water cut. Production now comes from 500 wells of which nearly 200 are gas lifted using some 400 MMSCFD of lift gas. The typical matured gas lifted well now produces 3200 BFPD at 51% water cut and a producing GOR ranging from 700 to 2000 SCF/STB. Where artificial lift has been needed, the only viable means has been gas lift. Gas lift operations in the WOA are unique because there is effectively an unlimited supply of lift gas available. Maximum surface injection pressure (kickoff pressure) ranges from 1700 to 2000 psig. Operating injection pressure is regulated from individual surface control valves and ranges between 1000 and 1800 psig depending upon the producing characteristics of a given well. Tubing sizes range from 3.5 to 5.5 inches in diameter. Most wells are equipped with 5 or 6 gas lift mandrels which normally accommodate 1.5 inch gas lift valves. In general, the gas lift operations may be classified as continuous high volume lift. Utilizing gas lift at Prudhoe Bay is complicated by the fact that a well will typically have a shut in temperature of some 60 degrees F at 3000 true vertical depth, TVD, which is usually the location of the uppermost gas lift mandrel. However, the flowing temperature at the same depth may be as high as 200 degrees F. P. 683^

The five buildings at the K-25 Site formerly involved in the gaseous diffusion process contain 5000 gaseous diffusion stages as well as support facilities that are internally contaminated with uranium deposits. The gaseous diffusion facilities located at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant also contain similar equipment and will eventually close. The decontamination of these facilities will require the most cost-effective technology consistent with the criticality, health physics, industrial hygiene, and environmental concerns; the technology must keep exposures to hazardous substances to levels as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). This report documents recent laboratory experiments that were conducted to determine the feasibility of gas-phase decontamination of the internal surfaces of the gaseous diffusion equipment that is contaminated with uranium deposits. A gaseous fluorinating agent is used to fluorinate the solid uranium deposits to gaseous uranium hexafluoride (UF[sub 6]), which can be recovered by chemical trapping or freezing. The lab results regarding the feasibility of the gas-phase process are encouraging. These results especially showed promise for a novel decontamination approach called the long-term, low-temperature (LTLT) process. In the LTLT process: The equipment is rendered leak tight, evacuated, leak tested, and pretreated, charged with chlorine trifluoride (ClF[submore » 3]) to subatmospheric pressure, left for an extended period, possibly > 4 months, while processing other items. Then the UF[sub 6] and other gases are evacuated. The UF[sub 6] is recovered by chemical trapping. The lab results demonstrated that ClF[sub 3] gas at subatmospheric pressure and at [approx] 75[degree]F is capable of volatilizing heavy deposits of uranyl fluoride from copper metal surfaces sufficiently that the remaining radioactive emissions are below limits.« less

Polymer technology shows the potential to fabricate and integrate the basic components of OFDM-crossconnect elements which are important signal processing units in a future transparent optical network. The fabrication and characterization of integrated optical polymer components like power splitters and combiners and polymer directional couplers are presented. The devices are fiber-pigtailed, packaged and exhibit waveguide losses in the order of 1 dB/cm at 1.55 micrometers wavelength. Studies based on guest/host-polymer-systems for application on electro-optic polymer devices are shown and the synthesis and characterization of rare-earth doped polymers for active device applications are reported. Because polymer technology is a conceptional hybrid, a combination of semiconductor and polymer elements on large substrates is proposed. This opens up the possibility for a future large scale integration of optical components to functional devices by a cost-effective technology.

The aim of this brief is to present an original design methodology that permits implementing latch-up-free smart power circuits on a very simple, cost-effective technology. The basic concept used for this purpose is letting float the wells of the MOS transistors most susceptible to initiate latch-up.

This paper reports on a pilot project that was undertaken in 2006 to develop the use of SMS technology to enhance communication in agricultural value chains in Cambodia. The project worked closely with farmers, traders, silo managers and Ministry of Commerce officials to develop an electronic marketing communication system (EMCS) based on text messaging. The EMCS demonstrated a successful proof-of-concept and showed SMS as a robust and cost-effective technology. Future projects will explore the wider scale implementation of this SMS system in Cambodia and address the broader issues of cost, training and user literacy levels.

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a group of priority pollutants which are present at high concentrations in the soils of many industrially contaminated sites. Criteria established for the removal or treatment or both of soils contaminated with PAHs vary widely within and between nations. The bioremediation of contaminated soils with in-situ, on-site, and bioreactor techniques is reviewed, together with the factors affecting PAH degradation. Current in-situ remediation techniques are considered ineffective for the removal of most PAHs from contaminated soil. On-site ‘landforming’ methods have been used successfully (and within a reasonable period of time) to degrade only those PAHs with three or fewer aromatic rings. Bioreactors have proved most effective for soil remediation, since conditions for enhanced degradation can be achieved most readily. However, bioreactors are still at the development stage, and further research is required to optimise their efficiency and economy for routine use. Degradation of the more recalcitrant high-molecular-weight PAHs is contaminated soil has not been particularly successful to date. Further research needs are identified to help develop bioremediation into a most cost-effective technology. The importance of full site assessments and treatability studies for successful application in the field is emphasised.

In the context of the future Internet, all-optical wavelength switched optical networks will play an important role in either evolutionary or revolutionary design paradigms. In any paradigm, dense wavelength domain multiplexing (DWDM) is the most cost-effective technology to increase bandwidth capacity. DWDM provides the basis for a core optical transport infrastructure supporting a wide range of heterogeneous services. However, such all-optical networks raise well-known challenges such as the wavelength continuity constraint (WCC). The WCC is hard to address in a multiarea scenario when provisioning an end-to-end lightpath owing to network topology hiding requirements and the limited exchange of information between areas. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is currently standardizing the path computation element (PCE) architecture, a good candidate to perform multidomain path computation. In such an architecture, the approach named backwards recursive path computation (BRPC), also under standardization at the IETF, aims at overcoming the limitations of the per-domain mechanism. However, although BRPC does provide end-to-end shortest paths, it fails to take into account the WCC, which is the main motivation for this work. We extend the BRPC algorithm and the companion PCE protocol in order to address the end-to-end WCC efficiently. We perform a quantitative comparative analysis of the different approaches, experimentally showing the improvements of the conceived solution, which has been evaluated in a GMPLS-controlled network of the ADRENALINE testbed.

High power krypton fluoride lasers are being developed as an alternative more efficient and more cost effective technology for the production of ultra high power pulses. Novel laser architectures are being evolved for this purpose including the use of angular multiplexing and Raman beam combining. Prototype systems are being developed in several laboratories worldwide and in particular at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory where the Sprite laser installation has been used to demonstrate operation in an angular multiplexed and Raman beam combined mode for the generation of exceptionally low beam divergence and high power in short pulses. Details are reported of the work with the Sprite system and of design extrapolations which are under consideration as the basis of future larger laser facilities, including the possible European Laser Facility with a performance target in the region of 1 PW peak power and 100 kJ maximum energy.

A key aspect to effective completion design is an accurate understanding of the reservoir and bounding formations. Nearly every well completed in a prolific sandstone formation requires sand control, either as a preventive measure or as remediation later in its production life. Formation damage is another problem associated with wells that produce sand unchecked. The possible creation of void spaces behind the casing can leave the casing and any shaly streaks in the reservoir unsupported. The much less permeable shaly streaks that remain can collapse around the slotted or perforated casing, causing severe and irreparable restrictions to production. Most authorities recommend that sand-control techniques be applied immediately upon indication that a formation will produce sand. This practice will allow the highest success rate and the lowest production loss possible after sand control is applied. Laboratory studies have shown that once unconsolidated sand is disturbed, the sand cannot be packed back to its original permeability. Therefore, sand control should be applied before the reservoir rock is seriously disturbed by sand production. Also, operators are opting for advanced sand-control completion technologies in demanding gravel-pack and frac-pack completions. In this environment, the next generation of sand-control completion technologies must be able to handle larger proppant volumes and higher pump rates and place proppant or gravel-pack sand effectively along the sandface completion void free. For most open holes drilled in unconsolidated formations, a gravel pack is the preferred completion option. By filling the annulus between the liner or screen and open hole with specially sized, high-permeability gravel-pack sand, the wellbore is stabilized to control production of formation sand and protect the screen from plugging or erosion. When performed with proper procedures and tools that use the next-generation sand-control completion technologies, gravel-pack and frac-pack completions can be highly productive and long-lasting completions. Finally, the ultimate objective is to create cost-effective technology that builds on proven sand-control technologies and best practices that help operators overcome these serious well-production sand-control challenges successfully. Completions Today additional reading available at the SPE eLibrary: www.spe.org SPE 101987 "Effects of Formation Damage and High-Velocity Flow on the Productivity of Slotted-Liner-Completed Horizontal Wells" by Yula Tang, SPE, Chevron Energy Technology Company, et al. SPE 106757 "Expandable Liner Hanger Resolves Sealing Problems and Improves Integrity in Liner-Completion Scenarios" by James Williford, SPE, Halliburton, et al. SPE 103668 "Case History of One-Trip Monobore Completion System—2 Years of Cement-Through-Monobore Completions in the Gulf of Thailand" by Walt Chapman, Baker Oil Tools SPE 103986 "Improving Performance of the Naturally Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs by Means of Various Stimulation and Completion Techniques" by H. Jahediesfanjani, SPE, University of Oklahoma, et al.

The cost of wind-generated electricity can be reduced by mitigating fatigue loads acting on the blades of wind turbine rotors. One way to accomplish this is with active aerodynamic load control devices that supplement the load control obtainable with current full-span pitch control. Techniques to actively mitigate blade loads that are being considered include individual blade pitch control, trailing-edge flaps, and other much smaller trailing-edge devices such as microtabs and microflaps. The focus of this paper is on the latter aerodynamic devices, their time-dependent effect on sectional lift, drag, and pitching moment, and their effectiveness in mitigating high frequency loads on the wind turbine. Although these small devices show promise for this application, significant challenges must be overcome before they can be demonstrated to be a viable, cost-effective technology.

A high efficiency of 60% in a combined-cycle power plant technology with fuels like gas or light oil is estimated to be achievable. On the other hand existing conventional coal-fired power plants based on steam generation have an efficiency of about 40?45%. A huge potential of improvement in efficiency could be achieved by the implementation of a simple and cost-effective technology: PPCC, a coal-based combined-cycle with combustion of coal at high pressure (up to 20 bar) and temperature (1500?C) with a subsequent efficient ash and alkali removal from the flue gas under pressure at process temperature to use it directly as input for a gas turbine. This process can be considered as the most suitable and straightforward design to utilise hard coal in a combined cycle with an efficiency of ~55% and above. The concept results in a straightforward and robust design at low installation and operating costs. We report the success in removing liquid ash particles to a content of

Genome-wide transcriptional profiling has shown that different biologic states (for instance, disease and response to pharmacologic manipulation) can be recognized by the expression pattern of relatively small numbers of genes. However, the lack of a practical and cost-effective technology for detection of these gene expression 'signatures' in large numbers of samples has severely limited their exploitation in important medical and pharmaceutical discovery applications. Here, we describe a solution based on the combination of ligation-mediated amplification with an optically addressed microsphere and flow cytometric detection system.

Increasingly demanding contractual obligations and more cost-effective technology has led to the widespread use of hydraulic fracture treatments of wells onshore Australia. Whilst historically confined to low permeability, marginal fields, the majority of natural gas wells in some areas of onshore Australia are now routinely hydraulically fractured. However, a number of wells in localised regions have displayed treatment difficulties. Such wells consistently display common symptoms, such as the inability to inject proppant at required concentrations without exceeding surface injection pressure limitations. Fracture treatments on these wells are often prematurely terminated (or 'screen-out'), mainly because of near-wellbore fracture complexity. Such wells invariably display poor post-stimulation productivity.This paper describes the evaluation of reservoirs on the basis of in-situ stress and their propensity for fracture complexity. Simple, recognisable treatment pressure signatures, which indicate the presence of near-wellbore tortuosity, are presented. A conventional single, planar fracture simulation model confirms the presence of fracture tortuosity. Proppant-free shear dilation, herein referred to as a 'water-frac', has been analysed as an alternative fracture treatment in which natural fractures are inflated to interconnect with each other, forming a conduit for hydrocarbon flow. This alleviates near- wellbore fracture complexity and may avoid the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars on sub- optimal fracture treatments or remedial work.

After several years of experimentation and demonstration, photovoltaic (PV) power is now firmly established for certain applications where reliable power is required in remote locations. The technology has recently matured to the point where PV is now an appropriate, cost-effective technology for village use. This paper reviews experience and presents economic comparisons between photovoltaic and conventional power systems. It is concluded that PV is cost-effective for individual home lighting and small loads such as radios, when compared with kerosene lamps and batteries. For mutiple uses PV is cost-effective compared with diesel generators for daily electricity demands up to around 20 kWh, depending on local conditions.

Significant amounts of cobalt, a strategic and critical metal, are present in readily accessible copper recycling leach solutions. However, cost-effective technology is not available to separate and recover the cobalt from this low-grade domestic source. The Bureau of Mines has developed a procedure using a chelating ion-exchange resin from Dow Chemical Co. to successfully extract cobalt from a pH 3.0 copper recycling solution containing only 30 mg/1 cobalt. Cyclic tests with the commercial resin XFS-4195 in 4-ft-high by 1-in.-diameter columns gave an average cobalt extraction of 95% when 65 bed volumes of solution were processed at a flow rate of 4 gpm/ft.2 Elution of the cobalt using a 50 g/l H2SO4 solution yielded an eluate containing 0.5 gli Co. Selective elution of the loaded resin and solvent extraction procedures using di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and Cyanex 272 removed the impurities and produced a cobalt sulfate solution containing 25 g/l Co.

The first Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator (PBFA-I) has recently completed its operational series of tests. It provided 30 TW into 36 power flow lines terminated in electron beam loads at the accelerator's center. The outputs were 2 MV at 15 MA for a 40 ns pulse which provided 1 MJ of output energy. During the accelerator develcpament, several ways of modifying and reconnecting this modular, few MV output pulsed power were discovered. The data from PBFA-I tests show the flexibility and reliability of pulsed power. This technology base could provide a 100 TW accelerator known as PBFA-II which will be the light ion beam test bed for breakeven experiments for the Department of Energy's Inertial Confinement Fusion Program. Pulsed power technology continues to be flexible and adaptable to a wide variety of basic research problems. It is a cost effective technology for producing large pulsed energy outputs.