Abstract: A method of determining structural health of an assembly includes determining a Margin of Safety (MSH) value for at least one of a plurality of components in the assembly when the assembly is healthy. The method includes determining if damage to the assembly has occurred. If damage to the assembly has occurred, the method includes determining a Margin of Safety (MSD) value for at least one of the plurality of components in the assembly when the assembly is damaged. The method includes determining a Structural Health Index (SHI) of the assembly based on the MSD value for the at least one undamaged component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing BAP or BA cells, obtained BAP or BA cell populations and their use as a medicament.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for solution cathode glow discharge (SCGD) elemental analysis. A solution-catching collar, in the form of a weir, a wicking element, or combinations thereof between the outlet tip of the capillary tube and the base of a grounding electrode tip maintain a solution sample level proximate the plasma emission region.

Abstract: A method of assessing structural health includes receiving an anomaly detector, receiving an anomaly detection threshold, and receiving a strain measurement for a structure of interest. A rating is generated for the strain measurement using the anomaly detector and compared with the anomaly detection threshold. Health of the structure of interest is determined based on the comparison of the rating and the anomaly detection threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for solution cathode glow discharge (SCGD) elemental analysis. A solution-catching collar, in the form of a weir, a wicking element, or combinations thereof between the outlet tip of the capillary tube and the base of a grounding electrode tip maintain a solution sample level proximate the plasma emission region.

Abstract: An improved method of selecting and planning the performance of various maintenance activities on a facility such as a nuclear power plant includes determining the net present value of a number of future net savings that are expected to result from performance of the maintenance activity at a given time, and selecting and planning the maintenance activities in a fashion that maximizes net present value. The method includes, for each of a number of components and a number of time periods, determining a change in the probability that a component will fail within a time period, with the change resulting from an assumption that a maintenance activity is performed. The change in probability is multiplied with the losses associated with a failure in order to determine a gross savings from which costs are subtracted to determine net savings.

Abstract: A parking bumper shell that can be easily filled with a heavy form-filling material (such as concrete) to form a parking bumper is provided. The parking bumper shell may be injection molded from durable, brightly-colored, UV- and weather-resistant plastic. Undercuts, such as in the form of a plurality of undercut wings or z-puller pins, may be disposed on the interior of the parking bumper shell's top and side walls to aid in holding the parking bumper shell and the heavy filling material together. The parking bumper shell may also include internally projecting hollow extensions that are adapted to receive anchoring posts. While the parking bumper shell is being filled, it may be placed in a rigid frame which helps the shell to keep its shape during filling. The parking bumper shells are light-weight, nestable, and do not require internal steel rebar reinforcement, thereby greatly reducing transportation costs.

Abstract: A trench pan and grate assembly generally rectangular in shape, having downwardly ramped transition bottom walls and an integrally-formed but removable strainer plate, terminating in a round pipe receiving fitting that is, through use of a bushing, able to accommodate the common different types of commercially-available plastic plumbing pipe of a given nominal size, and thus be connected to an underlying sloped main drainage pipe. The separate grate member is installed and fastened down, via threaded fasteners, to the trench pan to complete the assembly. This heavy duty grate is formed using gas-assist molding procedures with fractional-melt material (melt number<1.0). Individual assemblies can be formed end-to-end into an elongate trench drain system, with each assembly containing no standing effluent, and connected to different drainage pipes if desired. Assemblies can be solvent welded to drainage piping and thus require nothing to position and hold while the adjacent concrete is being cast.

Abstract: A multi-use adapter ring for converting the compatibility of an access opening of an underground on-site waste or drainage facility tank surface or component so as to receive a lower end of a riser component, in a tongue-and-groove type connection, to help achieve and maintain a vacuum tight, water-tight seal. The multi-use adapter ring has a first vertical cylindrical wall, a second vertical cylindrical wall having a height less than the first vertical cylindrical wall and spaced radially outwardly from the first vertical cylindrical wall, and a plurality of radially-extending ribs arranged between the first and second vertical cylindrical walls. An inner ledge is provided inwardly of the first vertical cylindrical wall. The first vertical cylindrical wall defines a male connection end to engage, in a substantially vacuum-tight manner, a female connection end of a riser component, such as a riser, a riser pan, or a riser cover.

Abstract: A trench drain frame, and associated grate, adapted to be mounted atop a commonly available drain pipe, for casting-in-concrete in poured concrete or packed asphalt, or otherwise embedding in a suitably tightly packed supporting material, the frame having a pair of connected side walls, each side wall having a lower base portion with downwardly extending support wall to position and support the trench drain frame over the associated underlying pipe. Once the assembled frame, grate and pipe are cast in concrete, or otherwise supported, the grate is removed, and at least portions of the top of the pipe are removed to expose the interior of the pipe for drainage purposes, and the grate is secured to the trench drain frame. A separable end plate can be used to close off a cut-open end of the trench drain frame, when the later is cut short for a given application.

Abstract: An adapter for a tank, having a bottom with one or more adhesive-receiving channels formed therein, an inner wall, structure for supporting a riser component on the adapter, and wall reinforcement structure. The adapter is particularly suited to providing pre-cast concrete tank lids with structural, interengaging support for a column of stackable riser components to form a passageway to facilitate access to the tank from a higher elevation.

Abstract: A modular riser base suitable for use in a lift pump station, a sump pump station, a drainage holding unit and the like. The riser base can include a top side with a substantially flat surface for supporting a pump. The modular riser base includes a bottom side having reinforcing support structure for strengthening the riser base. The modular riser base further includes a raised perimeter edge extending from a top surface of the top side. The edge forms a connecting member for interconnecting with a mating edge of an associated riser component. The height of the riser base is preferably less than the diameter of an inlet pipe delivering effluent to the station.

Abstract: A data collection system. A data input form receives data, and a message queue receives the data from the data input form, and temporarily manages the data until the data collection system can process the data. A temporary data storage temporarily stores the data received by the message queue while waiting for the data collection system to process the data. A transaction manager receives the data from the message queue and processes the data. A data logger logs the processing transactions of the transaction manager. A data loader receives the data from the transaction manager and prepares the data for storage. A data storage device receives the data from the data loader.

Abstract: An improved method of characterizing the potential financial benefit to a facility such as a nuclear power plant that would result from various groups of possible activities includes determining a number of goals for the facility, identifying groups of activities that could effect achievement of the goal and, for each group of activities, determining a probability distribution on net present savings corresponding with implementation of the group of activities. The method includes identifying a number of operational parameters having an uncertainty and allowing the uncertainty to propagate through the method to provide the probability distribution on net present savings. A plurality of Monte Carlo trials are performed on the operational parameters to result in the probability distribution on net present savings that corresponds with implementation of the group of activities compared with a baseline group of activities.

Abstract: A shield panel for use in a nuclear reactor including a reactor vessel susceptible to embrittlement when bombarded with high energy neutrons and a nuclear reactor core mounted within the reactor vessel, the reactor vessel having a longitudinal axis and an inner surface surrounding the longitudinal axis, and the nuclear core emitting high energy neutrons which impinge on the inner surface of the reactor vessel. The shield panel includes a canister which contains a completely enclosed interior space and which is mountable between the inner surface of the reactor vessel and the nuclear core in a region wherein the reactor vessel is susceptible to a higher rate of embrittlement than the remaining portion of the vessel when bombarded with high energy neutrons emitted from the nuclear core, and a substance consisting essentially of a heavy metal and hydrogen filling the interior space of the canister.