Ageing of instrumentation and control (I&C) equipment at nuclear facilities has the potential to degrade mechanisms, which can in turn reduce safety margins and increase operating and maintenance costs. Obsolescence of I&C equipment can compound matters as suitable replacements become difficult to source. In 2019, the IAEA Technical Working Group on Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control acknowledged that relevant system and strategy guidance was required to implement modern technology at nuclear facilities. The purpose of this publication is to assist Member States in developing strategies to address ageing and obsolescence issues for I&C systems and it provides detail on modernization considerations and information from relevant recent operator experience. An appendix summarizes cable ageing management through condition monitoring, and several annexes describe Member States’ practices and experience with l&C ageing management and modernization.

This publication examines the special characteristics of the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its clinical presentation in women, which differ from those of men. While coronary obstruction and multi-vessel disease are more common in men, non-ischemic heart disease (IHD) best encompasses the spectrum of the disease in women. The publication provides a critical review of the existing literature, covering some general aspects of the disease as well as how to make a diagnosis/prognosis of IHD, both clinical and by means of cardiac imaging. The specific situation of cardiac imaging in the management of IHD in low- or middle- income countries is surveyed. In addition, reference is made to cardiotoxicity and radiotherapy-induced disease in breast cancer.

Complementing existing standards and guides on the operational excellence of nuclear power plants, this publication supports leaders of owner/operating organizations by providing strategic responses to current business challenges and effective measures to sustain high performance levels. The publication considers activities that are under the control of the owner/operating organization as well as those that involve interaction with other stakeholders such as regulatory bodies, industry peers, international organizations, policy makers and academia.

This publication has been developed to assist IAEA Member States in establishing and maintaining regulatory control through notification, authorization, inspection and enforcement in relation to facilities and activities with radiation sources, in order to achieve the fundamental safety and security objectives. The publication addresses the implementation of the requirements for safety and security in a harmonized way, taking into account differences in the requirements as well as differences in States’ regulatory infrastructures. For example, in some States the same regulatory body is responsible for the control of safety and security, while in others, safety and security are controlled by separate regulatory bodies. A harmonized approach for notification, authorization, inspection and enforcement is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory control through concurrent inspection for safety and security.

Continued and increasing demand for safe, clean, reliable, and cost-effective electricity generation is a strong driver to extend the operating lives of nuclear power plants (NPPs). The life of an NPP can be extended for several decades through refurbishment, which involves modernizing and enhancing major equipment and systems to support long term operation. Refurbishing a facility through component upgrades and modifications also provides opportunities to enhance plant safety and reliability. This publication presents some highlights of past and ongoing pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) refurbishment projects. It summarizes the lessons learned and knowledge gained. It is intended to be of use to operators and other stakeholders embarking upon a PHWR facility refurbishment project.

Management systems play an important role in the success of a nuclear power programme. Recognizing that their development poses a number of questions, this publication aims to share experiences of regulatory bodies and owner operator organizations in developing management systems consistent with the main activities planned from inception of these organizations to construction of a nuclear power plant, whilst prioritizing safety.

Major accidents at a nuclear power plant or fuel cycle facility are rare but can produce large quantities of radioactive waste with widely varying characteristics that can be difficult to manage. Large volumes of radioactive waste can also be generated by accidents at military installations or by the mishandling high-activity-sealed radiation sources. In the case of a major accident, radioactive waste volumes may quickly overwhelm existing national management and disposal infrastructure. Appropriate disposal facilities might not be available to match the amounts or characteristics of the wastes. This publication is developed to support Member States efforts towards improved preparedness related to the management of radioactive waste in the event of a nuclear or radiological accident. It builds on experiences gained following historic accidents to develop lessons learned, which planners in governmental agencies and nuclear facilities are encouraged to consider in preplanning activities.

A revised edition of IAEA Technical Reports Series No. 480, this publication includes all the data from the first edition, augmented with fourteen new benchmarks. It provides a set of experimental data that is suitable for benchmarking and validation of neutronic, thermohydraulic, fuel burnup and material activation computational methods and tools employed for improved utilization, operation and safety analysis of research reactors. It contains the facility specifications, experiment descriptions, and corresponding experimental data for sixteen different research reactors covering a wide range of research reactor types, power levels and experimental configurations. It has been written as a resource for research reactor staff performing reactor physics calculations and individuals working on the design and planning of research reactors and their modifications. It may also prove useful to regulators involved in licensing of research reactors.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an important clinical tool, and with its longer half-life, copper-64 has several unique attributes that make it a multi-purpose radionuclide with many potential applications. Additionally, copper as a trace element plays a pivotal role in several human metabolic and pathologic diseases and is involved in malignant cells biochemistry pathways. This offers the opportunity for scientists to explore the theranostic capabilities of copper-64. This current publication, arising from an IAEA Coordinated Research Project, describes the biochemical and radiopharmaceutical aspects of copper-64, and its clinical applications, with specific guidelines and methods for the production of copper-64 chloride, peptide and monoclonal antibody radiopharmaceuticals. It is expected to be of use to all professionals involved in the field by specifying ideal production, formulation and quality control methods.