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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

A starting guide to root ecology: strengthening ecological concepts and standardising root classification, sampling, processing and trait measurements

In the context of a recent massive increase in research on plant root functions and their impact on the environment, root ecologists currently face many important challenges to keep on generating cutting-edge, meaningful and integrated knowledge. Consideration of the below-ground components in plant and ecosystem studies has been consistently called for in recent decades, but methodology is disparate and sometimes inappropriate. This handbook, based on the collective effort of a large team of experts, will improve trait comparisons across studies and integration of information across databases by providing standardised methods and controlled vocabularies. It is meant to be used not only as starting point by students and scientists who desire working on below-ground ecosystems, but also by experts for consolidating and broadening their views on multiple aspects of root ecology. Beyond the classical compilation of measurement protocols, we have synthesised recommendations from the literature to provide key background knowledge useful for: (1) defining below-ground plant entities and giving keys for their meaningful dissection, classification and naming beyond the classical fine-root vs coarse-root approach; (2) considering the specificity of root research to produce sound laboratory and field data; (3) describing typical, but overlooked steps for studying roots (e.g. root handling, cleaning and storage); and (4) gathering metadata necessary for the interpretation of results and their reuse. Most importantly, all root traits have been introduced with some degree of ecological context that will be a foundation for understanding their ecological meaning, their typical use and uncertainties, and some methodological and conceptual perspectives for future research. Considering all of this, we urge readers not to solely extract protocol recommendations for trait measurements from this work, but to take a moment to read and reflect on the extensive information contained in this broader guide to root ecology, including sections I–VII and the many introductions to each section and root trait description. Finally, it is critical to understand that a major aim of this guide is to help break down barriers between the many subdisciplines of root ecology and ecophysiology, broaden researchers’ views on the multiple aspects of root study and create favourable conditions for the inception of comprehensive experiments on the role of roots in plant and ecosystem functioning.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Sensitivity-based Experiment Design Optimization for a Molybdenum Critical Experiment

A lack of intermediate molybdenum benchmarks in the ICSBEP has been identified by LANL, Y-12, and IRSN. This lacking adversely effects criticality safety operations and leaves new differential molybdenum data unvalidated. NCERC is proposing a series of intermediate integral experiments to better the understanding of molybdenum systems. Using MCNP6.2 with the ENDF/B-VIII.0 nuclear data library a single unmoderated and four moderated system designs were identified using a sensitivity optimization method. Each proposed system was found to be at least twice as sensitive to the 95 Mo capture cross section in the URR as the sole existing intermediate molybdenum benchmark in the ISCBEP handbook. The addition of a new molybdenum sensitive intermediate system would improve future nuclear data evaluations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

FY22 CritView Status & Database Expansion [Slides]

This presentation covers Fiscal Year FY22 CritView Status & Database Expansion. This presentation Provide an update for progress and current status related to the CritView digital handbook for FY22/FY23. The lecture also covers a budget summary, FY22 highlights, CritView overview, and future work for FY23.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Joint LLNL, LANL, SNL, and IRSN High Multiplication Subcritical (Multiplicity) Benchmark Integral Experiment Execution (CED-3b Report)

This report documents the experimental configurations and measurements for IER-518: Joint LLNL, LANL, SNL, and IRSN High Multiplication Subcritical (Multiplicity) Benchmark Experiments. These measurements involved a series of subcritical configurations at the Sandia Critical Experiments (SCX) facility at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). The purpose of these measurements was to produce time tagged neutron count data of configurations that exceed a subcritical multiplication of 20, which is the high end of the fundamental physics benchmarks currently available in the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project Handbook (ICSBEP). These measurements leverage experimental configurations 1 and detector systems 2 from previously accepted ICSBEP benchmark evaluations, allowing evaluations of these measurements to be performed at greatly reduced cost.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Appendix 2. Guide for Running AgMIP Climate Scenario Generation Tools with R in Windows, Version 2.3

This Guide explains how to create climate series and climate change scenarios by using the AgMip Climate team's methodology as outlined in the AgMIP Guide for Regional Assessment: Handbook of Methods and Procedures. It details how to: install R and the required packages to run the AgMIP Climate Scenario Generation scripts, and create climate scenarios from CMIP5 GCMs using a 30-year baseline daily weather dataset. The Guide also outlines a workflow that can be modified for application to your own climate data.

handbooks↗

Safe Space Conduct: NASA Best Practices for SmallSats

The Conjunction Assessment Best Practices Handbook that NASA published in late 2020 covers many topics that are important to the smallsat community, such as how to produce and share accurate ephemerides for CA screening, why trackability is critical to ensuring the prevention of orbital debris, and the pitfalls of autonomous maneuvering for safety of your neighbors. This presentation describes each of these topics to give visibility of these critical items to the smallsat community.

Collision Avoidance↗

2010 Criticality Accident Alarm System Benchmark Experiment at the CEA Valduc SILENE Facility

Several experiments were performed at the CEA Valduc SILENE reactor facility, which are intended to be published as evaluated benchmark experiments in the ICSBEP Handbook. These evaluated benchmarks will be useful for the verification and validation of radiation transport codes and evaluated nuclear data, particularly those that are used in the analysis of CAASs. During these experiments SILENE was operated in pulsed mode in order to be representative of a criticality accident, which is rare among shielding benchmarks. Measurements of the neutron flux were made with neutron activation foils and measurements of photon doses were made with TLDs. Also unique to these experiments was the presence of several detectors used in actual CAASs, which allowed for the observation of their behavior during an actual critical pulse. This paper presents the preliminary measurement data currently available from these experiments. Also presented are comparisons of preliminary computational results with Scale and TRIPOLI-4 to the preliminary measurement data.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Criticality Safety Validation of SCALE 6.1 with ENDF/B-VII.0 Libraries

ANSI/ANS-8.1-1998;2007, Nuclear Criticality Safety in Operations with Fissionable Material Outside Reactors, and ANSI/ANS-8.24-2007, Validation of Neutron Transport Methods for Nuclear Criticality Safety Calculations, require validation of a computer code and the associated data through benchmark evaluations based on physical experiments. The performance of the code and data are validated by comparing the calculated and the benchmark results. A SCALE procedure has been established to generate a Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID). This procedure provides a framework for preparing, peer reviewing, and controlling models and data sets derived from benchmark definitions so that the models and data can be used with confidence. The procedure ensures that the models and data were correctly generated using appropriate references with documented checks and reviews. Configuration management is implemented to prevent inadvertent modification of the models and data or inclusion of models that have not been subjected to the rigorous review process. VALID entries for criticality safety are based on critical experiments documented in the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (IHECSBE). The findings of a criticality safety validation of SCALE 6.1 utilizing the benchmark models vetted in the VALID library at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are summarized here.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

What If Lady Godiva Was Wrong?

The experiment from which benchmark specifications of "Lady Godiva" were derived consisted of nested hemispheres forming a bare sphere of highly enriched uranium (HEU). That experiment was performed in the early 1950s and the critical configuration was later (1995) evaluated and published in the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments . The benchmark eigenvalue is reported as 1.000 ± 0.001, which is representative of a high-quality benchmark experiment. Our current neutronic codes and cross section data are tailored to provide qualitative results that concur with the GODIVA I benchmark. Since 1995, additional high-fidelity HEU metal benchmark data have been evaluated and published. Calculated results from those benchmarks are consistently low. Those findings are investigated further in this paper.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Quantification of Uncertainties and Correlations in Criticality Experiments With SCALE

Uncertainties in benchmark keff values due to uncertainties in individual components, such as geometry and material compositions, are rigorously quantified and documented in evaluations provided in the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (IHECSBE). Correlations between the uncertainties may affect not only the overall uncertainty for a series of benchmarks but also the magnitude of computational biases and bias uncertainties quantified by validation methods. The impact of the correlations in experimental uncertainties is especially important in the use of advanced validation methods such as Generalized Linear Least Squares (GLLS), as implemented in the SCALE TSURFER code. In a recent study, it was demonstrated that biases computed with GLLS procedures vary by as much as 75%, depending on the selection of the experimental uncertainty correlation value. of the >4000 benchmarks documented in the IHECSBE; experimental correlation data are only available in the DICE database tool for ~60 benchmarks. Additional data are available in DICE to identify the potential for correlations between evaluations, but the values of correlations are not quantified. The new Sampler module of SCALE provides stochastic capabilities to quantify uncertainties and correlations in keff or any other measured value for one or more benchmark experiments due to uncertainties in individual sources of uncertainty, such as geometry and material composition. The values for individual parameters in the input model are randomly modified within the reported uncertainty, and a distribution function and a series of perturbed keff values are obtained. Where sufficient samples are made, the distribution of the perturbed keff values is used to determine the uncertainty in the keff due to uncertainties in the input parameters. In cases where the same uncertainty parameters influence multiple experiments, such as where the same fissile solution or fuel rods are used for many critical measurements, the simultaneous perturbation of an uncertain parameter for multiple cases provides the correlation in keff uncertainties between the different configurations. The parametric uncertainty capabilities of Sampler for a single system are demonstrated for a benchmark exercise from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety (WPNCS) Expert Group on Uncertainty Analysis for Criticality Safety Assessment (UACSA) Phase II benchmark. Sampler is further applied to quantify correlations among benchmarks from a series of highly enriched uranium (HEU) solution (SOL) thermal spectrum (THERM) systems, through the analysis of the 10 cases from HEU-SOL-THERM-001 from the IHECSBE.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The SCALE Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data - VALID

The Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID) at ORNL contains high quality, independently reviewed models and results that improve confidence in analysis. VALID is developed and maintained according to a procedure of the SCALE quality assurance (QA) plan. This paper reviews the origins of the procedure and its intended purpose, the philosophy of the procedure, some highlights of its implementation, and the future of the procedure and associated VALID library. The original focus of the procedure was the generation of high-quality models that could be archived at ORNL and applied to many studies. The review process associated with model generation minimized the chances of errors in these archived models. Subsequently, the scope of the library and procedure was expanded to provide high quality, reviewed sensitivity data files for deployment through the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (IHECSBE). Sensitivity data files for approximately 400 such models are currently available. The VALID procedure and library continue fulfilling these multiple roles. The VALID procedure is based on the quality assurance principles of ISO 9001 and nuclear safety analysis. Some of these key concepts include independent generation and review of information, generation and review by qualified individuals, use of appropriate references for design data and documentation, and retrievability of the models, results, and documentation associated with entries in the library. Some highlights of the detailed procedure are discussed to provide background on its implementation and to indicate limitations of data extracted from VALID for use by the broader community. Specifically, external users of data generated within VALID must take responsibility for ensuring that the files are used within the QA framework of their organization and that use is appropriate. The future plans for the VALID library include expansion to include additional experiments from the IHECSBE, to include experiments from areas beyond criticality safety, such as reactor physics and shielding, and to include application models. In the future, external SCALE users may also obtain qualification under the VALID procedure and be involved in expanding the library. The VALID library provides a pathway for the criticality safety community to leverage modeling and analysis expertise at ORNL.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Validation of Criticality Safety Calculations with SCALE 6.2

SCALE 6.2 provides numerous updates in nuclear data, nuclear data processing, and computational tools utilized in the criticality safety calculational sequences relative to SCALE 6.1. A new 252-group ENDF/B-VII.0 multigroup neutron library, improved ENDF/B-VII.0 continuous energy data, as well as the previously deployed 238-group ENDF/B-VII.0 neutron library are included in SCALE 6.2 for criticality safety analysis. The performance of all three libraries for keff calculations is examined with a broad sampling of critical experiment models covering a range of fuels and moderators. Critical experiments from the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (IHECSBE) that are available in the SCALE Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID) are used in this validation effort. Over 300 cases are used in the validation of KENO V.a, and a more limited set of approximately 50 configurations are used for KENO-VI validation. Additionally, some KENO V.a cases are converted to KENO-VI models so that an equivalent set of experiments can be used to validate both codes. For continuous-energy calculations, SCALE 6.2 provides improved performance relative to SCALE 6.1 in most areas with notable improvements in fuel pin lattice cases, particularly those with mixed oxide fuel. Multigroup calculations with the 252-group library also demonstrate improved performance for fuel lattices, uranium (high and intermediate enrichment) and plutonium metal experiments, and plutonium solution systems. Overall, SCALE 6.2 provides equivalent or smaller biases than SCALE 6.1, and the two versions of KENO provide similar results on the same suite of problems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Validation for 233U-Fueled Systems in KENO V.a in SCALE 6.2

Validation of the KENO V.a Monte Carlo code has been performed in recent years using benchmark experiments contained in the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook. The models used in these recent validation efforts have been drawn from the Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID). Models must be generated and reviewed by qualified individuals to be added to the VALID library, which leads to high confidence in the models and reduces the probability that apparent validation issues are a result of modeling errors. The contents of the VALID library are somewhat limited because of the effort involved in generating and reviewing models, so no 233U-fueled experiments are included in VALID. A large number of models of 233U experiments have been modeled in the past in support of the criticality safety of 233U in storage at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). In June 2016, two midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy were assigned to ORNL, and they reviewed and updated these models for execution in SCALE 6.2. The validation of 233U is of interest because some discrepancies in SCALE results were identified by a beta tester at the Nuclear Energy Agency modeling these systems. These discrepancies were related to a data thinning procedure in the continuous-energy nuclear data process, and had been resolved prior to the release of SCALE 6.2

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗