This thesis outlines the design and implementation of a single channel, dual polarization pulsar timing instrument for the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO). The new timer is designed to be an improved, temporary replacement for the existing device which has been in operation for over 20 years. The existing device is no longer reliable and is di±cult to maintain. The new pulsar timer is designed to provide improved functional- ity, higher sampling speed, greater pulse resolution, more °exibility and easier maintenance over the existing device. The new device is also designed to keeping changes to the observation system to a minimum until a full de-dispersion timer can be implemented at theobservatory. The design makes use of an 8-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) micro-processor with external Random Access Memory (RAM). The instrument includes an IEEE-488 subsystem for interfacing the pulsar timer to the observation computer system. The microcontroller software is written in assembler code to ensure optimal loop execution speed and deterministic code execution for the system. The design path is discussed and problems encountered during the design process are highlighted. Final testing of the new instrument indicates an improvement in the sam- pling rate of 13.6 times and a significant reduction in 60Hz interference over the existing instrument.

Dans un contexte de raréfaction des énergies à bas coût et de lutte contre le changement climatique, le secteur du bâtiment est contraint à des objectifs de diminution de ses consommations d'énergie. Un contrôle adapté des systèmes énergétiques du bâtiment peut constituer un levier important pour tendre vers cet objectif. Le but premier de ces travaux est la construction de modèles de faibles dimensions afin de pouvoir les embarquer dans un contrôleur pour améliorer la gestion énergétique. Ces modèles doivent être capables de s’enrichir des mesures disponibles sur site. Un bâtiment démonstrateur situé à l'Institut Universitaire de Technologie Génie Civil Construction Durable de Bordeaux sert de support au projet. Ce travail se décline en quatre volets. Le premier concerne la modélisation puisque des modèles légers basés sur l'analogie électrique et la représentation d'état sont proposés afin de décrire la dynamique du bâtiment sur un horizon de contrôle de quelques jours. Le deuxième volet concerne l'instrumentation du bâtiment puisque des campagnes de mesures courtes sont réalisées afin d'identifier les valeurs des paramètres du modèle de façon à minimiser l'écart modèle-mesure. Certains capteurs servent par la suite pour la gestion énergétique du bâtiment ; ces travaux posent donc également la question du jeu minimal de capteurs. Le troisième volet concerne la caractérisation des systèmes servant à piloter l'ambiance puisque dans une logique de contrôle optimal il faut être capable de relier l'effet de la commande sur la grandeur d'intérêt (température de confort). Le bâtiment démonstrateur comprend deux systèmes de chauffage : un plancher chauffant et des ventilo-convecteurs ainsi qu'une centrale de traitement d'air double flux pour le renouvellement d'air. Le dernier volet concerne la gestion énergétique avec l'utilisation d'un contrôleur prédictif embarquant l'un des modèles identifiés. Ainsi l’objectif est de chercher à anticiper le pilotage d'un système capacitif à long temps de réponse, tel que le plancher chauffant, grâce à la connaissance des perturbations futures (occupation, météo) sur un horizon de prédiction de quelques heures. Un contrôle réactif est assuré par les ventilo-convecteurs en appoint. La gestion prédictive est comparée à des stratégies de gestion plus classiques en simulation et in situ avec le bâtiment démonstrateur. L'originalité de ces travaux est de proposer une démarche pour la mise en place d'une boucle de contrôle complète (contrôleur/capteur /actionneurs) et de montrer s'il existe un intérêt à la gestion prédictive de systèmes à long temps de réponse dans le domaine du bâtiment. / The building sector is forced to reduce its energy consumption in a context of high energy prices and global warming. Proper control of building energy systems can be an important lever to move towards this goal. The main goal of this work is to obtain small size buildings models in order to use it in a controller to improve energy management. The inputs of these models are fed in real-time with available measurements on site. A demonstration building at the IUT Civil Engineering and Sustainable Construction of Bordeaux serves as experimental support for the project. This work consists of four parts. The first one is to make lightweight models based on the electrical analogy and state-space representation to describe the dynamics of the building on upcoming days. The second part concerns the instrumentation of the building because short measurement campaigns are carried out to identify the model parameter values to minimize the gap between model output and measurement. Some sensors are then used for energy management of the building; thus this work also raise the question of the minimum set of sensors. The third address the characterization of the systems used to control air temperature. For an optimal control logic we must be able to link the effect of the command on the interest variable (air temperature). The demonstration building includes two heating systems : floor heating system (FHS) and fan coil units (FC). A dual flow air handling unit (AHU) is used for air renewal. The last part concerns energy management with the use of a predictive controller boarding one of the identified models. This project intends to anticipate the control of long time response capacitive systems as floor heating through knowledge of future disturbances on a prediction horizon of a few hours (occupation, weather). A reactive control is ensured by the fan coil units. Predictive management is compared to more conventional management strategies in simulation and on-site with the demonstrator building. The originality of this work is to propose a method for the establishment of a full control loop (controller/sensor/actuator) and demonstrate an interest in the predictive management of long response time systems in the building sector.

Doctor of Philosophy / Food Science Institute / Jayendra K. Amamcharla / Lactose is commercially produced from whey, whey permeate, or milk permeate as α-lactose monohydrate in crystalline form. Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) as a potential tool for in situ monitoring of lactose crystallization at concentrations relevant to the dairy industry was evaluated. Applicability of FBRM at supersaturated lactose concentrations 50%, 55%, and 60% (w/w) was reported in comparison with Brix values obtained from a Refractometer during isothermal crystallization at temperatures 20ºC and 30ºC. FBRM technique was shown to be a valuable tool for monitoring chord length distributions during lactose crystallization. In a different study, the influence of cooling rate during crystallization of lactose in concentrated permeates was studied. Three cooling rates accounting for approximately 17, 11, and 9 h were applied during lactose crystallization to evaluate the lactose crystal yield and quality of lactose crystals. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) found in lactose crystal yield, mean particle size obtained at the end of crystallization. This study suggested that increasing the cooling rate during lactose crystallization within the range explained in this study can save approximately 8 h of crystallization time. These studies evaluated FBRM as a potential tool to monitor lactose crystal chord lengths and counts. Also, process improvements were suggested to increase the productivity of lactose crystallization process by reducing the crystallization time. In chapters 5 and 6, calcium-reduced milk protein concentrates (MPCs) were used as an ingredient to improve the stability of high-protein dairy beverages. Heat stability increased significantly (P>0.05) in 8% protein solutions made from 20% calcium-reduced MPC. A significant increase in heat stability was observed in beverages formulated with 20% calcium-reduced MPC in the absence of chelating agent. In another study, it was evident that the dairy beverage formulation with 20% calcium-reduced MPC showed no sedimentation and age gelation indicating an improved storage stability. These studies confirmed that 20% calcium reduced MPC contributed towards improved heat stability and storage stability of the high-protein beverages.

Ce manuscrit décrit la modélisation et la régulation de la température au sein d’un dispositif expérimental développé initialement pour valider les principes de conception adoptés pour une nouvelle machine de mesure de cylindricité au Laboratoire Commun de Métrologie du Laboratoire national de métrologie et d’essais – Conservatoire national des arts et métiers.L’appareil a été équipé de 19 sondes à résistance de platine raccordées à une référence nationale afin d’étudier l’influence sur son comportement des perturbations thermiques générées par des sources de chaleur internes et externes. L’investigation de l’influence de ces perturbations sur les mesures réalisées avec des capteurs de déplacement capacitifs a également été menée. Les perturbations thermiques internes simulant les puissances dissipées par les éléments de guidage mécaniques ont été générées par l’intermédiaire de trois films chauffants. Une modélisation par éléments finis du dispositif expérimental a été réalisée et les résultats numériques comparés à des résultats expérimentaux réalisés dans les mêmes conditions. Les écarts obtenus, de l’ordre de 0,1 °C, sont trop élevés pour que ce modèle soit adopté pour l’élaboration d’une régulation thermique en temps réel. Dans la suite, un modèle réduit a été développé à partir des données expérimentales à l’aide de la méthode d’identification modale (MIM). Le résidu obtenu lors de la comparaison des résultats issus de ce modèle et expérimentalement est inférieur à 0,003 °C. Finalement, une régulation thermique à mieux que le centième de degré a été mise en oeuvre en utilisant une commande prédictive associée à un filtre de Kalman. / This thesis describes the modelling and real-time regulation of the temperature inside an apparatus developed to validate the design principles of a cylindricity measurement machine at the Laboratoire Commun de Métrologie du Laboratoire national de métrologie et d’essais – Conservatoire national des arts et métiers. To study the effect of internal and external perturbations on the behaviour of the system, the apparatus is equipped with 19 platinum resistance thermometers calibrated with respect to the national standard. The effect of perturbations on the behaviour of capacitive displacement sensors has also been studied. The effect of internal perturbations generated by the mechanical guide rails was simulated using three film resistive heaters. Finite element modeling of the system temperature was carried out and the numerical results compared with experiment. The offsets about 0.1°C are too large for the model to be used for real-time temperature control. Subsequently, a reduced model wasdeveloped based on experimental data using the modal identification method (MIM). The residual obtained when its results are compared with experiment is 0.003°C. Finally, a temperature servo implemented using predictive control combined with a Kalman filter.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Potato tubers can be used as food or seed. Potatoes are mostly sold for tablestock and processing consumptions. Each destination has its own requirements to attend consumers exigencies. The aim of this work was to evaluate the processing quality and physiological aging of potato tubers produced during spring and autumn growing conditions in Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Tubers of 15 potato clones were evaluated for processing quality during spring 2003 and autumn 2004. The best performance of chips color, dry matter, and reduced sugar was obtained with potatoes of the clones SMIJ461-1, SMIJ319-1, SMIJ456-4Y, SMIC148-A, SMIDO40-4RY and SMIH095-1. Among these clones, SMIDO40-4RY and SMIH095-1 were less affected by temperature and sunlight conditions of the RS growing seasons. The clones SMIJ461-1 and SMIJ456-4Y cultivated during spring showed the highest dry matter and the lightest chip color. The physiological aging was studied in potato tubers of the Asterix, SNINIA793101-3 and SMIJ461-1 clones produced during spring and autumn 2004 and stored at 4, 8, 12 and 25°C for 180 days. The physiological aging of the three evaluated clones was affected by the growing conditions. Potato tubers cultivated in autumn and stored at 4 and 8°C remained dormant for 180 days. When tubers were produced during spring, only the clones SMINI793101-3 and SMIJ461-1 stored at 4°C remained dormant for 180 days. The growing conditions and genetic differences influence both processing quality and physiological aging of potato tubers. The storage at low temperature is efficient to delay physiological aging only during the dormant period of the potato tubers. / Os tubérculos de batata podem ser destinados para o consumo ou semente. Para o consumo, estes podem ser utilizados para mesa ou para processamento. Ambas as finalidades exigem tubérculos com qualidades distintas, as quais são essenciais para atender as necessidades do consumidor. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade de processamento e o envelhecimento fisiológico de tubérculos produzidos durante a primavera e o outono na região central do Rio Grande do Sul. A qualidade de processamento foi avaliada em 15 clones produzidos durante a primavera de 2003 e o outono de 2004. O envelhecimento fisiológico foi estudado em tubérculos dos clones Asterix, SNINIA793101-3 e SMIJ461-1 produzidos durante o outono e primavera de 2004 e armazenados a 4, 8, 12 e 25°C por um período de 180 dias. Para qualidade de processamento, os clones SMIJ461-1, SMIJ319-1, SMIJ456-4Y, SMIC148-A, SMIDO40-4RY e SMIH095-1 foram os que apresentaram o melhor desempenho em coloração dos chips e teores de massa seca e açúcares redutores. Dentre esses clones, SMIDO40-4RY e SMIH095-1 foram os menos influenciados pelas épocas de cultivo de outono e primavera na região central do RS. Os clones SMIJ461-1 e SMIJ456-4Y apresentaram maior teor de massa seca e coloração mais clara dos chips no cultivo da primavera. De acordo com a avaliação do envelhecimento fisiológico, os três clones sofreram influência das condições de cultivo. O cultivo de outono combinado com o armazenamento a 4 e 8°C manteve os tubérculos dos diferentes clones em estádio de dormência por 180 dias. Quando os tubérculos foram produzidos na primavera, somente os clones SMINI793101-3 e SMIJ461-1 submetidos a temperatura de 4°C mantiveram a dormência durante os 180 dias de armazenamento. As condições de cultivo e as diferenças genéticas alteram tanto a qualidade de processamento quanto o envelhecimento fisiológico dos tubérculos. O armazenamento dos tubérculos a baixa temperatura é eficaz para retardar o envelhecimento fisiológico somente durante o período de dormência.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In front of the current and growing demand for natural resources, especially of the water resources, it seeks to find a way to minimize the impacts caused by the anthropic interference in areas of riparian vegetation. These environments have an important functionality to the ecosystems belonging and surrounding due to the fact of this vegetation possesses intrinsic characteristics and adapted to the hydro and ecological environment. The rivers barring for water use as an energy source (study subject of this work) cause various impacts to the environment, one of the major is the alteration of the natural regime of pulses and often, the reducing the downstream flow of the works. The flow reduction in certain stretches of the waterway, besides requiring an in-depth study about the impacts caused by the reduction of the downstream water level of the utilization section, it becomes essential to the vegetation analysis, soil and local geology. These related factors to the morphophysiological characteristics of the different species found in these locations will determine if the current ecosystem, observed in natural altimetric quotes previously found in the area of riparian vegetation, will be able to adapt to the lower quotes checked after implementation of the barring, in other words, in the stretch of reduced flow (SRF). For determination and differentiation of the vegetation it was necessary the study and development of a methodology of analysis by quotes. This analysis was performed using the points method that consisted of a classification and identification by functional character of the existing plants in three sampling units (SU's) located in the SRF of the hydroelectric unit Passo São João town of Roque Gonzales-RS. Furthermore, were performed the gathering of soil samples in the different quotes of the three SU's for physical and chemical analysis. Thus, it was possible to determine that the soil variable (physical and chemical characteristics), has no significant variation by quotes gap and therefore, are not considered necessary for studies of adaptive variations of the vegetation established there. However, in front of this fact and of the generated results, one can strengthen the hypothesis that the hydrological variable is directly responsible for the adaptive variation of the vegetal species in these areas. / Diante da atual e crescente demanda por recursos naturais, em especial dos recursos hídricos, busca-se uma forma de minimizar os impactos causados pela interferência antrópica em áreas de vegetação ribeirinha. Estes ambientes possuem uma importante funcionalidade aos ecossistemas pertencentes e circundantes devido ao fato desta vegetação possuir características intrínsecas e adaptadas ao meio hidro ecológico. O barramento de rios para utilização da água como fonte energética (objeto de estudo deste trabalho) causa vários impactos ao meio ambiente, um dos principais é a alteração do regime natural de pulsos e, muitas vezes, a redução da vazão a jusante das obras. A redução da vazão em determinados trechos do curso d´agua, além de necessitar um estudo aprofundado a respeito dos impactos causados pela redução do nível de água a jusante da seção de aproveitamento, torna-se indispensável a análise da vegetação, solo e geologia local. Estes fatores relacionados com as características morfofisiológicas das diferentes espécies encontradas nestes locais determinarão se o ecossistema atual, observado nas cotas altimétricas naturais anteriormente encontradas na área de vegetação ribeirinha, terá condições de se adaptar às cotas inferiores verificadas após a implantação do barramento, ou seja, no trecho de vazão reduzida (TVR). Para determinação e diferenciação da vegetação foi necessário o estudo e desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de análise por cotas. Esta análise foi realizada pelo método de pontos que consistiu em uma classificação e identificação por caracteres funcionais das plantas existentes em três unidades amostrais (UA‟s) locadas no TVR da UHE Passo São João, município de Roque Gonzales-RS. Além disso, foram realizadas coletas de amostras de solo nas diferentes cotas das três UA‟s para análise física e química. Desta forma, foi possível determinar que a variável solo (características físicas e químicas), não possuem variação significativa por intervalo de cotas e, portanto, não são consideradas necessárias para estudos de variações adaptativas da vegetação ali estabelecida. Contudo, diante deste fato e dos resultados gerados, pode-se fortalecer a hipótese de que a variável hidrológica é, de forma direta, responsável pela variação adaptativa das espécies vegetais destas áreas.

Visual Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping is a useful tool forcreating 3D environments with feature points. These visual systemscould be very valuable in autonomous vehicles to improve the localisation.Cameras being a fairly cheap sensor with the capabilityto gather a large amount of data. More efficient algorithms are stillneeded to better interpret the most valuable information. This paperanalyses how much a feature based map can be reduced without losingsignificant accuracy during localising. Semantic segmentation created by a deep neural network is used toclassify the features used to create the map, the map is reduced by removingcertain classes. The results show that feature based maps cansignificantly be reduced without losing accuracy. The use of classesresulted in promising results, large amounts of feature were removedbut the system could still localise accurately. Removing some classesgave the same results or even better in certain weather conditionscompared to localisation with a full-scale map.

Bakgrund: Fosterrörelserna ses som ett friskhetstecken. Fostrets rörelser ändrar karaktär under graviditeten, men det är en myt att de ofta blir svagare i slutet av graviditeten. Minskade fosterrörelser är ett viktigt kliniskt tecken som kan föregå intrauterin fosterdöd (IUFD). Kvinnan tar telefonkontakt när hon är orolig då hon upplever ett ändrat rörelsemönster. Socialstyrelsens nya riktlinjer finns till för korrekt handläggning, undersökning utan fördröjning kan förebygga livshotande tillstånd hos fostret. Syftet var att beskriva barnmorskors erfarenheter av telefonrådgivning till gravida som kontaktar förlossningsavdelningen gällande minskade fosterrörelser.Design: Studien har utgått ifrån en kvalitativ design med deskriptiv ansats. Datainsamlingen utfördes med semistrukturerade intervjuer och analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys.Deltagare och omgivning: Tio barnmorskor som arbetade vid en förlossningsavdelning i norra Sverige.Resultat: I studien framkom två huvudkategorier, försöka bemöta oron samt komma till ett beslut och sju kategorier. Barnmorskorna är medvetna om vilka riskfaktorer som föreligger för minskade fosterrörelser och IUFD samt kring andra faktorer som kan ha betydelse för fosterrörelserna. Barnmorskorna ger “handgripliga” råd till kvinnan innan hon återkommer och i vissa fall erbjuds undersökning direkt. Telefonrådgivning förekommer dagligen och barnmorskorna belyser vikten av att vara lyhörd och ta kvinnans oro på allvar. Det ses som svårt att bedöma fostrets välmående över telefonen. Kommunikationen och erfarenhetsutbyte mellan kollegor anses värdefullt, men det upplevs även som en svårighet att ta del av nya riktlinjer på kliniken. Slutsats: Telefonrådgivningen är en komplex uppgift där en korrekt handläggning som grundar sig på evidens är avgörande för fostrets överlevnad. Riktlinjer och PM måste utformas för att barnmorskorna ska kunna handlägga minskade fosterrörelser på likartat sätt. Kliniska implikationer: Gravida kvinnor bör få information om fosterrörelser på mödravården för att öka medvetenheten. Ett nationellt utformat PM för rådgivning vid minskade fosterrörelser bör upprättas för kvinnors lika vård på lika villkor. Ökad medvetenhet hos vårdgivare om att undvika avvaktande råd då dessa saknar evidens. Nyckelord: Barnmorska, minskade fosterrörelser, IUFD, telefonrådgivning, rådgivning

The Mucopolysaccharide (MPS) diseases are a group of lysosomal storage disorders, caused by a lack of the enzymes required for catabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), leading to severe neurological decline, skeletal deformities, organomegaly, cardiac and respiratory compromise, and premature death. The severe form of MPS I, Hurler syndrome, can be successfully treated using haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but the risks associated with myeloablation and immune suppression limit the broader application of HSCT to attenuated diseases. Successful engraftment in MPS I has been difficult to achieve, and requires fully myeloablative conditioning, whilst reduced intensity conditioning is a risk factor for graft rejection. Non-myeloablative conditioning generating reliable graft acceptance and high donor chimerism could increase safety and applicability of HSCT in genetic disease, therefore the aim of this research was to identify such a regimen in a clinically relevant mouse model of HSCT.Conditioning regimens developed in existing mouse models of HSCT have had limited clinical success, and often require clinically unachievable high cell doses or less stringent strain combinations to overcome allogeneic transplant rejection. To improve clinical relevance we used CBA donors and C57BL/6 recipients, which require full myeloablation with busulfan and immune suppression using non-depleting anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies for engraftment of low cell doses across a major histocompatibility complex barrier. In syngeneic transplant donor chimerism was improved by generating a greater ratio of donor:recipient haematopoietic cells in the bone marrow initially, therefore we tested granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), high cell dose and stem cell niche disruption and compared this to anti-CD40L costimulatory blockade in allogeneic transplant performed with a reduced dose of busulfan that was insufficient for graft acceptance. Despite improvements in initial engraftment with some of these treatments, only combined signal 1 and 2 T cell blockade were effective in reducing the dose of busulfan required for long-term graft acceptance. Early detection of MPS is important in treatment success; good disease biomarkers are vital, and biomarkers suitable for monitoring treatment outcome in MPS are lacking. We evaluated serum heparin cofactor II-thrombin (HCII-T) complex for MPS. We determined optimal sample collection and storage conditions, assay limitations and developed measurement in dried blood spots. Dermatan sulphate has a greater effect on in vivo HCII-T complex formation than heparan sulphate, thus in the MPS mouse models HCII-T is a reliable biomarker for MPS I, but not MPS IIIA or IIIB. HCII-T is greatly elevated in MPS I, II and VI patients, who all store dermatan sulphate, but it is also elevated by a small but significant amount in MPS III patients, who store heparan sulphate. HCII-T was also measured longitudinally in MPS I, II and VI patients, compared to an existing clinical biomarker, and validated against clinical outcomes to show that it is a good biomarker of short-term treatment outcomes and responds rapidly to perturbations in treatment. Finally, we determined whether an engraftment defect was observed in the MPS I mouse model, and show that this is present following both syngeneic and allogeneic HSCT. The effect of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and anti-inflammatory treatment prior to allogeneic HSCT was investigated, and initial results suggest that ERT, but not ibuprofen, may improve HSCT outcome. Overall, a clinically relevant mouse model of allogeneic HSCT has been developed and used to determine a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen that generates high levels of donor chimerism with a minimal dose of busulfan and blockade of both signal 1 and 2 of T cell activation. The conditions required to observe an engraftment defect in MPS I mice have also been defined, and preliminary studies have suggested that ERT, but not anti-inflammatory treatment, may overcome the engraftment defect in MPS I. Alongside this work, the HCII-T biomarker has been evaluated in MPS mouse models and patients, determining that it correlates well with short-term treatment outcomes. The techniques and models developed here will provide an excellent basis for further work in developing non-myeloablative conditioning for bone marrow transplant in MPS I.

Light water reactors (LWRs) are the world’s dominant nuclear reactor system. Uranium (U)-fuelled LWRs produce long-lived transuranic (TRU) isotopes. TRUs can be recycled in LWRs or fast reactors. The thermal neutron spectrum in LWRs is less suitable for burning TRUs as this causes a build-up of TRU isotopes with low fission probability. This increases the fissile feed requirements, which tends to result in a positive void coefficient (VC) and hence the reactor is unsafe to operate. Use of reduced-moderation LWRs can improve TRU transmutation performance, but the VC is still severely limiting for these designs. Reduced-moderation pressurized water reactors (RMPWRs) and boiling water reactors (RBWRs) are considered in this study. Using thorium (Th) instead of U as the fertile fuel component can greatly improve the VC. However, Th-based transmutation is a much less developed technology than U-based transmutation. In this thesis, the feasibility and fuel cycle performance of full TRU recycle in Th-fuelled RMPWRs and RBWRs are evaluated. Neutronic performance is greatly improved by spatial separation of TRU and 233-6U, primarily implemented here using heterogeneous RMPWR and RBWR assembly designs. In a RMPWR, the water to fuel ratio must be reduced to around 50% of the normal value to allow full actinide recycle. If implemented by retrofitting an existing PWR, steady-state thermal-hydraulic constraints can still be satisfied. However, in a large break loss-of-coolant accident, the emergency core cooling system may not be able to provide water to the core quickly enough to prevent fuel cladding failure. A discharge burn-up of ~40 GWd/t is possible in RMPWRs. Reactivity control is a challenge due to the reduced worth of neutron absorbers in the hard neutron spectrum, and their detrimental effect on the VC, especially when diluted, as for soluble boron. Control rods are instead used to control the core. It appears possible to achieve adequate power peaking, shutdown margin and rod-ejection accident response. In RBWRs, it appears neutronically feasible to achieve very high burn-ups (~120 GWd/t) but the maximum achievable incineration rate is less than in RMPWRs. The reprocessing and fuel fabrication requirements of RBWRs are less than RMPWRs but more than fast reactors. A two-stage TRU burning cycle, where the first stage is Th-Pu MOX in a conventional PWR feeding a second stage continuous burn in a RBWR, is technically reasonable. It is possible to limit the core area to that of an ABWR with acceptable thermal-hydraulic performance. In this case, it appears that RBWRs are of similar cost to inert matrix incineration in LWRs, and lower cost than RMPWRs and Th- and U-based fast reactor recycle schemes.