Solution composition and particle size effects on the dissolution and solubility of a ThO2 microstructural analogue for UO2 matrix of nuclear fuel

The objective of this study was to investigate the dissolution rate of ThO2 which was synthesised to approximate, as closely as possible, the microstructure of UO2 in a nuclear fuel matrix. The optimal sintering temperature for ThO2 pellets was found to be 1750 ℃, which produced pellets with a microstructure similar to UO2 nuclear fuel pellets, with randomly oriented grains ranging in size from 10 to 30 μm. Dissolution was conducted using ThO2 particles of different size fractions (80 to 160 μm and 2 to 4 mm) in the presence and absence of carbonate, in solutions with pH from 2 to 8 and at 80 ℃. Dissolution rates were calculated from Th released from the solid phase to solution. Particles of ThO2 were also leached with 1 M HNO3 at 80 ℃ in order to investigate the morphological changes at the particle surfaces. The concentration of Th was found to be ≥ 10–9 mol/L at pH ≤ 4, lower than the theoretical solubility of crystalline ThO2. At higher pH values, from 4 to 8, the measured concentrations (10−10 to 10–12 mol/L) were between the theoretical solubility of ThO2 and Th(OH)4. Grain boundaries were shown to exert an influence on the dissolution of ThO2 particles. Using high resolution aqueous solution analysis, these data presented here extend the current understanding of Th solubility in solutio

Evolution of phase assemblage of blended magnesium potassium phosphate cement binders at 200 degrees and 1000 degrees C

The fire performance of magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) binders blended with fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) was investigated up to 1000°C using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and SEM techniques. The FA/MKPC and GBFS/MKPC binders dehydrate above 200°C to form amorphous KMgPO4, concurrent with volumetric and mass changes. Above 1000°C, additional crystalline phases were formed and microstructural changes occurred, although no cracking or spalling of the samples was observed. These results indicate that FA/MKPC and GBFS/MKPC binders are expected to have satisfactory fire performance under the fire scenario conditions relevant to the operation of a UK or other geological disposal facility

Krypton irradiation damage in Nd-doped zirconolite and perovskite as potential ceramics for inert matrix fuel and plutonium disposition

ABSTRACT Understanding the effect of radiation damage and noble gas accommodation in potential ceramic hosts for plutonium disposition is necessary to evaluate the long-term behaviour during geological disposal. Polycrystalline samples of Nd-doped zirconolite and Nd-doped perovskite were irradiated ex-situ with 2 MeV Kr + at a dose of 5x10 15 ions.cm -2 to simulate plutonium nuclei recoil during alpha decay. The feasibility of thin section preparation of both pristine and irradiated samples by Focussed Ion Beam sectioning was demonstrated. After irradiation, the Nd-doped zirconolite revealed a well defined amorphous region separated from the pristine material by a thin (40-60 nm) damaged interface. The Nd-doped perovskite contained a defined irradiated region composed of an amorphous region surrounded by damaged regions. In both samples, as revealed by electron diffraction, the damaged regions and interface have a structure in which the fluorite sublattice is present while the pristine lattice is absent. In addition in Nddoped perovskite, the amorphisation dose depended on crystallographic orientation and possibly sample configuration (thin section and bulk). In Nd-doped perovskite, Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy study revealed a change in Ti coordination associated with the crystal to amorphous transition

Prevention of bone mineral changes induced by bed rest: Modification by static compression simulating weight bearing, combined supplementation of oral calcium and phosphate, calcitonin injections, oscillating compression, the oral diophosphonatedisodium etidronate, and lower body negative pressure

The phenomenon of calcium loss during bed rest was found to be analogous to the loss of bone material which occurs in the hypogravic environment of space flight. Ways of preventing this occurrence are investigated. A group of healthy adult males underwent 24-30 weeks of continuous bed rest. Some of them were given an exercise program designed to resemble normal ambulatory activity; another subgroup was fed supplemental potassium phosphate. The results from a 12-week period of treatment were compared with those untreated bed rest periods. The potassium phosphate supplements prevented the hypercalciuria of bed rest, but fecal calcium tended to increase. The exercise program did not diminish the negative calcium balance. Neither treatment affected the heavy loss of mineral from the calcaneus. Several additional studies are developed to examine the problem further

Repeated administration of phytocannabinoid Δ9-THC or synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 and JWH-073 induces tolerance to hypothermia but not locomotor suppression in mice, and reduces CB1 receptor expression and function in a brain region-specific manner

These studies probed the relationship between intrinsic efficacy and tolerance / cross-tolerance between Δ9-THC and synthetic cannabinoid drugs of abuse (SCBs) by examining in vivo effects and cellular changes concomitant with their repeated administration in mice. Dose-effect relationships for hypothermic effects were determined in order to confirm that SCBs JWH-018 and JWH-073 are higher efficacy agonists than Δ9-THC in mice. Separate groups of mice were treated with saline, sub-maximal hypothermic doses of JWH-018 or JWH-073 (3.0 mg/kg or 10.0 mg/kg, respectively) or a maximally hypothermic dose of 30.0 mg/kg Δ9-THC once per day for 5 consecutive days while core temperature and locomotor activity were monitored via biotelemetry. Repeated administration of all drugs resulted in tolerance to hypothermic effects, but not locomotor effects, and this tolerance was still evident 14 days after the last drug administration. Further studies treated mice with 30.0 mg/kg Δ9-THC once per day for 4 days, then tested with SCBs on day 5. Mice with a Δ9-THC history were cross-tolerant to both SCBs, and this cross-tolerance also persisted 14 days after testing. Select brain regions from chronically treated mice were examined for changes in CB1 receptor expression and function. Expression and function of hypothalamic CB1Rs were reduced in mice receiving chronic drugs, but cortical CB1R expression and function were not altered. Collectively, these data demonstrate that repeated Δ9-THC, JWH-018 and JWH-073 can induce long-lasting tolerance to some in vivo effects, which is likely mediated by region-specific downregulation and desensitization of CB1Rs

Robust avoidance of edge-localized modes alongside gradient formation in the negative triangularity tokamak edge

In a series of high performance diverted discharges on DIII-D, we demonstrate that strong negative triangularity (NT) shaping robustly suppresses all edge-localized mode (ELM) activity over a wide range of plasma conditions: $\langle n\rangle=0.1-1.5\times10^{20}$m$^{-3}$, $P_\mathrm{aux}=0-15$MW and $|B_\mathrm{t}|=1-2.2$T, corresponding to $P_\mathrm{loss}/P_\mathrm{LH08}\sim8$. The full dataset is consistent with the theoretical prediction that magnetic shear in the NT edge inhibits access to ELMing H-mode regimes; all experimental pressure profiles are found to be at or below the infinite-$n$ ballooning stability limit. Importantly, we also report enhanced edge pressure gradients at strong NT that are significantly steeper than in traditional ELM-free L-mode plasmas and provide significant promise for NT reactor integration.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Rhodium(II)-catalyzed stereocontrolled synthesis of dihydrofuran-3-imines from 1-Tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles

Rhodium(II) acetate catalyzes the denitrogenative transformation of 5-substituted and 4,5-disubstituted 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with pendent allyl and propargyl ether motifs to oxonium ylides that undergo [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to give substituted dihydrofuran-3-imines in high yield and diastereoselectivity

IMG/M: the integrated metagenome data management and comparative analysis system

The integrated microbial genomes and metagenomes (IMG/M) system provides support for comparative analysis of microbial community aggregate genomes (metagenomes) in a comprehensive integrated context. IMG/M integrates metagenome data sets with isolate microbial genomes from the IMG system. IMG/M's data content and analytical capabilities have been extended through regular updates since its first release in 2007. IMG/M is available at http://img.jgi.doe.gov/m. A companion IMG/M systems provide support for annotation and expert review of unpublished metagenomic data sets (IMG/M ER: http://img.jgi.doe.gov/mer)