The Japanese government’s unilateral decision to discharge the nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean has caused immense nuclear safety risks.Monitoring the unclear contamina...The Japanese government’s unilateral decision to discharge the nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean has caused immense nuclear safety risks.Monitoring the unclear contaminated water is a starting point to combat these risks and seek remedies for the rights and interests of all concerned parties.The establishment of a mechanism for international cooperation in this respect is necessary to handle the risks of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water and to lay the foundation of a framework for tackling any future disposal of nuclear-contaminated water following Japan’s example.At present,the international legal systems in the spheres of nuclear safety and security,marine environmental protection,and other areas,as well as the questioning of the monitoring reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)by the relevant parties,the monitoring practices of historical nuclear accidents,and numerous radioactivity monitoring mechanisms have provided the institutional and practical basis for constructing such a mechanism.The mechanism can be promoted by the IAEA through its existing mechanisms or be jointly initiated by China,the Russian Federation,the Republic of Korea,the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,and the Pacific Island countries,among other stakeholders.Specifically,this mechanism should consist of three levels:first,the framework of the basic legal system,including the cooperative principles of national sovereignty,interest-relatedness,and procedural fairness,and the signing of the Framework Convention on the Monitoring of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water and its Optional Protocol;second,the organizational structure and its responsibilities,which may include the Conference of Parties as the decision-making body,the Secretariat as the central coordinating body,and the monitoring committees in various fields as specific implementing agencies;and third,specific administrative arrangements,which involve the standardization of monitoring,the management system of monitoring networks and stations,the rules for monitoring procedures,and the rules for the utilization of the monitoring data,etc.With the urgent need for the scientific and fair monitoring of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water,China,as a stakeholder country,can promote the establishment of such a mechanism for monitoring nuclear-contaminated water through the following paths:①It is necessary to clarify the factors affecting the construction of an international cooperation mechanism for monitoring nuclear-contaminated water so as to ascertain the standpoints of the stakeholders,claims of their interests,contents of their cooperation,and the relevant international relations.②On the basis of existing practices,China should consider improving the monitoring mechanism to cope with the risks of the discharge of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water by formulating targeted policies and systems,setting up specialized monitoring institutions,and establishing a systematic monitoring network system.③This is an effective way for China to actively promote the participation of stakeholders in the construction of an international cooperation mechanism for monitoring nuclear-contaminated water in Fukushima by further innovating the dissemination mechanism to address the risk of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water discharging into the sea and facilitating the identification of issues for international cooperation in monitoring Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water based on the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.展开更多
Homeodomains,a 60-amino acid sequence encoded by 180 nucleotides,are highly conserved DNA-binding motifs that are present in a variety of transcription factors in species ranging from yeast to humans.The NKX proteins ...Homeodomains,a 60-amino acid sequence encoded by 180 nucleotides,are highly conserved DNA-binding motifs that are present in a variety of transcription factors in species ranging from yeast to humans.The NKX proteins belong to the homeodomain(HD)-containing transcription factor family.They play vital roles in the regulation of morphogenesis.NKX1-2 is one member of the NKX subfamily.At present,information about its nuclear localization signal(NLS)sequence is limited.We studied the NLS sequence of zebrafish Nkx1.2 by introducing sequence changes such as deletion,mutation,and truncation,and identified an NLS motif(QNRRTKWKKQ)that is localized at the C-terminus of the homeodomain.Moreover,the deletion of two amino acid residues(RR)in this NLS motif prevents Nkx1.2 from entering the nucleus,indicating that the two amino acids are essential for Nkx1.2 nuclear localization.However,the NLS motif alone is unable to target cytoplasmic protein glutathione S-transferase(GST)to the nucleus.An intact homeodomain is necessary for mediating the complete nuclear transport of cytoplasmic protein.Unlike most nuclear import proteins with short NLS sequences,a long NLS is present in zebrafish Nkx1.2.We also demonstrated that the sequences of homeodomain of NKX1.2 are well conserved among different species.This study is informative to verify the function of the NKX1.2 protein.展开更多
The disposal of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant is a significant international nuclear safety issue with considerable cross-border implications.This matter requires compliance not only w...The disposal of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant is a significant international nuclear safety issue with considerable cross-border implications.This matter requires compliance not only with the law of the sea but also with the principles of nuclear safety under international law.These principles serve as the overarching tenet of international and China’s domestic nuclear laws,applicable to nuclear facilities and activities.The principle of safety in nuclear activities is fully recognized in international and domestic laws,carrying broad legal binding force.Japan’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea violates its obligations under the principle of safety in nuclear activities,including commitments to optimum protection,as low as reasonably practicable,and prevention.The Japanese government and the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)have breached the obligation of optimum protection by restricting the scope of assessments,substituting core concepts,and shielding dissenting views.In the absence of clear radiation standards,they have acted unilaterally without fulfilling the obligation as low as reasonably practicable principle.The discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water poses an imminent and unpredictable risk to all countries worldwide,including Japanese residents.Japan and the IAEA should fulfill their obligations under international law regarding disposal,adhering to the principles of nuclear safety,including optimum protection,the obligation as low as reasonably practicable,and prevention through multilateral cooperation.Specifically,the obligation to provide optimum protection should be implemented by re-evaluating the most reliable disposal technologies and methods currently available and comprehensively assessing various options.The standard of the obligation as low as reasonably practicable requires that the minimization of negative impacts on human health,livelihoods,and the environment should not be subordinated to considerations of cutting costs and expenses.Multilateral cooperation should be promoted through the establishment of sound multilateral long-term monitoring mechanisms for the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water,notification and consultation obligations,and periodic assessments.These obligations under international law were fulfilled after the accidents at the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear power plants.The implications of the principles of nuclear safety align with the concept of building a community of shared future for nuclear safety advocated by China.In cases of violations of international law regarding the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water that jeopardize the concept of a community of a shared future for nuclear safety,China can also rely on its own strength to promote the implementation of due obligations through self-help.展开更多
Background: Diagnosis of autoimmune diseases (AID) is challenging, due to overlapping features with other non-immune disorders. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are sensitive screening tests but anti-deoxyribonucleic aci...Background: Diagnosis of autoimmune diseases (AID) is challenging, due to overlapping features with other non-immune disorders. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are sensitive screening tests but anti-deoxyribonucleic acid-antibody (anti-DNA), and anti-extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENA) are specific for AIDs. We aimed to look at ANA patterns in our patients and correlated them with anti-ENA for proper interpretation and better patient management cost-effectively. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over 1 year from January to December 2022 who were tested for ANA at biology medical laboratory of Pasteur Institute of Dakar. Anti-ENA and anti-DNA results were also analyzed for ANA-positive patients. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14.0, p Results: 216 patients were analyzed. Women predominated at 79.2% and mean age was 48 years [CI 95%, 46 - 50], with extremes of 10 and 89. Most represented age group was [41 - 60] with 38%. ANA was positive in 27 (12.5%) of patients, 59.2% of whom were strongly positive (titer of 1/1000, 1/3200 or 1/6400). The most common pattern was nuclear speckled, which was found in 77.8% of samples. Anti-ENA and anti-DNA positivity in ANA-positive patients was found respectively in 63% (17/27) and 1.4% (3/27) of the samples analyzed. Most commonly identified anti-ENA was anti-Sm 29.6%, anti-SSA 29.6%, anti-Ro-52 25.9%, anti-RNP 18.5% and anti-SSB 14.8% which was associated with speckled pattern. Association results indicated a significant relationship between both tests and between ANA titer in the anti-ENA- and ANA-positive patients (p 0.001). Conclusions: ANA, Anti-ENA and anti-DNA antibodies are essential for AIDS diagnosis. However, the testing repertoire should follow an algorithm comprising of clinical features, followed by ANA results with nuclear, mitotic, and cytoplasmic patterns, anti-ENA, and anti-DNA for a more meaningful, and cost-effective diagnostic approach.展开更多
In high-altitude nuclear detonations,the proportion of pulsed X-ray energy can exceed 70%,making it a specific monitoring signal for such events.These pulsed X-rays can be captured using a satellite-borne X-ray detect...In high-altitude nuclear detonations,the proportion of pulsed X-ray energy can exceed 70%,making it a specific monitoring signal for such events.These pulsed X-rays can be captured using a satellite-borne X-ray detector following atmospheric transmission.To quantitatively analyze the effects of different satellite detection altitudes,burst heights,and transmission angles on the physical processes of X-ray transport and energy fluence,we developed an atmospheric transmission algorithm for pulsed X-rays from high-altitude nuclear detonations based on scattering correction.The proposed method is an improvement over the traditional analytical method that only computes direct-transmission X-rays.The traditional analytical method exhibits a maximum relative error of 67.79% compared with the Monte Carlo method.Our improved method reduces this error to within 10% under the same conditions,even reaching 1% in certain scenarios.Moreover,its computation time is 48,000 times faster than that of the Monte Carlo method.These results have important theoretical significance and engineering application value for designing satellite-borne nuclear detonation pulsed X-ray detectors,inverting nuclear detonation source terms,and assessing ionospheric effects.展开更多
A benchmark experiment on^(238)U slab samples was conducted using a deuterium-tritium neutron source at the China Institute of Atomic Energy.The leakage neutron spectra within energy levels of 0.8-16 MeV at 60°an...A benchmark experiment on^(238)U slab samples was conducted using a deuterium-tritium neutron source at the China Institute of Atomic Energy.The leakage neutron spectra within energy levels of 0.8-16 MeV at 60°and 120°were measured using the time-of-flight method.The samples were prepared as rectangular slabs with a 30 cm square base and thicknesses of 3,6,and 9 cm.The leakage neutron spectra were also calculated using the MCNP-4C program based on the latest evaluated files of^(238)U evaluated neutron data from CENDL-3.2,ENDF/B-Ⅷ.0,JENDL-5.0,and JEFF-3.3.Based on the comparison,the deficiencies and improvements in^(238)U evaluated nuclear data were analyzed.The results showed the following.(1)The calculated results for CENDL-3.2 significantly overestimated the measurements in the energy interval of elastic scattering at 60°and 120°.(2)The calculated results of CENDL-3.2 overestimated the measurements in the energy interval of inelastic scattering at 120°.(3)The calculated results for CENDL-3.2 significantly overestimated the measurements in the 3-8.5 MeV energy interval at 60°and 120°.(4)The calculated results with JENDL-5.0 were generally consistent with the measurement results.展开更多
It is well-known that the equilibrium isotope fractionation of mercury(Hg)includes classical massdependent fractionations(MDFs)and nuclear volume effect(NVE)induced mass-independent fractionations(MIFs).However,the ef...It is well-known that the equilibrium isotope fractionation of mercury(Hg)includes classical massdependent fractionations(MDFs)and nuclear volume effect(NVE)induced mass-independent fractionations(MIFs).However,the effect of the NVE on these kinetic processes is not known.The total fractionations(MDFs+NVEinduced MIFs)of several representative Hg-incorporated substances were selected and calculated with ab initio calculations in this work for both equilibrium and kinetic processes.NVE-induced MIFs were calculated with scaled contact electron densities at the nucleus through systematic evaluations of their accuracy and errors using the Gaussian09 and DIRAC19 packages(named the electron density scaling method).Additionally,the NVE-induced kinetic isotope effect(KIE)of Hg isotopes are also calculated with this method for several representative Hg oxidation reactions by chlorine species.Total KIEs for 202 Hg/^(198)Hg ranging from−2.27‰to 0.96‰are obtained.Three anomalous^(202)Hg-enriched KIEs(δ^(202)Hg/^(198)Hg=0.83‰,0.94‰,and 0.96‰,)caused by the NVE are observed,which are quite different from the classical view(i.e.,light isotopes react faster than the heavy ones).The electron density scaling method we developed in this study can provide an easier way to calculate the NVE-induced KIEs for heavy isotopes and serve to better understand the fractionation mechanisms of mercury isotope systems.展开更多
Owing to the complex lithology of unconventional reservoirs,field interpreters usually need to provide a basis for interpretation using logging simulation models.Among the various detection tools that use nuclear sour...Owing to the complex lithology of unconventional reservoirs,field interpreters usually need to provide a basis for interpretation using logging simulation models.Among the various detection tools that use nuclear sources,the detector response can reflect various types of information of the medium.The Monte Carlo method is one of the primary methods used to obtain nuclear detection responses in complex environments.However,this requires a computational process with extensive random sampling,consumes considerable resources,and does not provide real-time response results.Therefore,a novel fast forward computational method(FFCM)for nuclear measurement that uses volumetric detection constraints to rapidly calculate the detector response in various complex environments is proposed.First,the data library required for the FFCM is built by collecting the detection volume,detector counts,and flux sensitivity functions through a Monte Carlo simulation.Then,based on perturbation theory and the Rytov approximation,a model for the detector response is derived using the flux sensitivity function method and a one-group diffusion model.The environmental perturbation is constrained to optimize the model according to the tool structure and the impact of the formation and borehole within the effective detection volume.Finally,the method is applied to a neutron porosity tool for verification.In various complex simulation environments,the maximum relative error between the calculated porosity results of Monte Carlo and FFCM was 6.80%,with a rootmean-square error of 0.62 p.u.In field well applications,the formation porosity model obtained using FFCM was in good agreement with the model obtained by interpreters,which demonstrates the validity and accuracy of the proposed method.展开更多
Nuclear power plants exhibit non-linear and time-variable dynamics.Therefore,designing a control system that sets the reactor power and forces it to follow the desired load is complicated.A supercritical water reactor...Nuclear power plants exhibit non-linear and time-variable dynamics.Therefore,designing a control system that sets the reactor power and forces it to follow the desired load is complicated.A supercritical water reactor(SCWR)is a fourth-generation conceptual reactor.In an SCWR,the non-linear dynamics of the reactor require a controller capable of control-ling the nonlinearities.In this study,a pressure-tube-type SCWR was controlled during reactor power maneuvering with a higher order sliding mode,and the reactor outgoing steam temperature and pressure were controlled simultaneously.In an SCWR,the temperature,pressure,and power must be maintained at a setpoint(desired value)during power maneuvering.Reactor point kinetics equations with three groups of delayed neutrons were used in the simulation.Higher-order and classic sliding mode controllers were separately manufactured to control the plant and were compared with the PI controllers speci-fied in previous studies.The controlled parameters were reactor power,steam temperature,and pressure.Notably,for these parameters,the PI controller had certain instabilities in the presence of disturbances.The classic sliding mode controller had a higher accuracy and stability;however its main drawback was the chattering phenomenon.HOSMC was highly accurate and stable and had a small computational cost.In reality,it followed the desired values without oscillations and chattering.展开更多
The extended kernel ridge regression(EKRR)method with odd-even effects was adopted to improve the description of the nuclear charge radius using five commonly used nuclear models.These are:(i)the isospin-dependent A^(...The extended kernel ridge regression(EKRR)method with odd-even effects was adopted to improve the description of the nuclear charge radius using five commonly used nuclear models.These are:(i)the isospin-dependent A^(1∕3) formula,(ii)relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov(RCHB)theory,(iii)Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov(HFB)model HFB25,(iv)the Weizsacker-Skyrme(WS)model WS*,and(v)HFB25*model.In the last two models,the charge radii were calculated using a five-parameter formula with the nuclear shell corrections and deformations obtained from the WS and HFB25 models,respectively.For each model,the resultant root-mean-square deviation for the 1014 nuclei with proton number Z≥8 can be significantly reduced to 0.009-0.013 fm after considering the modification with the EKRR method.The best among them was the RCHB model,with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.0092 fm.The extrapolation abilities of the KRR and EKRR methods for the neutron-rich region were examined,and it was found that after considering the odd-even effects,the extrapolation power was improved compared with that of the original KRR method.The strong odd-even staggering of nuclear charge radii of Ca and Cu isotopes and the abrupt kinks across the neutron N=126 and 82 shell closures were also calculated and could be reproduced quite well by calculations using the EKRR method.展开更多
The supercritical CO_(2) Brayton cycle is considered a promising energy conversion system for Generation IV reactors for its simple layout,compact structure,and high cycle efficiency.Mathematical models of four Brayto...The supercritical CO_(2) Brayton cycle is considered a promising energy conversion system for Generation IV reactors for its simple layout,compact structure,and high cycle efficiency.Mathematical models of four Brayton cycle layouts are developed in this study for different reactors to reduce the cost and increase the thermohydraulic performance of nuclear power generation to promote the commercialization of nuclear energy.Parametric analysis,multi-objective optimizations,and four decision-making methods are applied to obtain each Brayton scheme’s optimal thermohydraulic and economic indexes.Results show that for the same design thermal power scale of reactors,the higher the core’s exit temperature,the better the Brayton cycle’s thermo-economic performance.Among the four-cycle layouts,the recompression cycle(RC)has the best overall performance,followed by the simple recuperation cycle(SR)and the intercooling cycle(IC),and the worst is the reheating cycle(RH).However,RH has the lowest total cost of investment(C_(tot))of$1619.85 million,and IC has the lowest levelized cost of energy(LCOE)of 0.012$/(kWh).The nuclear Brayton cycle system’s overall performance has been improved due to optimization.The performance of the molten salt reactor combined with the intercooling cycle(MSR-IC)scheme has the greatest improvement,with the net output power(W_(net)),thermal efficiencyη_(t),and exergy efficiency(η_(e))improved by 8.58%,8.58%,and 11.21%,respectively.The performance of the lead-cooled fast reactor combined with the simple recuperation cycle scheme was optimized to increase C_(tot) by 27.78%.In comparison,the internal rate of return(IRR)increased by only 7.8%,which is not friendly to investors with limited funds.For the nuclear Brayton cycle,the molten salt reactor combined with the recompression cycle scheme should receive priority,and the gas-cooled fast reactor combined with the reheating cycle scheme should be considered carefully.展开更多
●AIM:To evaluate the role of semaphorin 7A(Sema7A)and its associated regulatory mechanisms in modulating the barrier function of cultured human corneal epithelial cells(HCEs).●METHODS:Barrier models of HCEs were tre...●AIM:To evaluate the role of semaphorin 7A(Sema7A)and its associated regulatory mechanisms in modulating the barrier function of cultured human corneal epithelial cells(HCEs).●METHODS:Barrier models of HCEs were treated with recombinant human Sema7A at concentrations of 0,125,250,or 500 ng/mL for 24,48,or 72h in vitro.Transepithelial electrical resistance(TEER)as well as Dextran-fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)permeability assays were conducted to assess barrier function.To quantify tight junctions(TJs)such as occludin and zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)at the mRNA level,reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)analysis was performed.Immunoblotting was used to examine the activity of the nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)signaling pathway and the production of TJs proteins.Immunofluorescence analyses were employed to localize the TJs.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and RT-PCR were utilized to observe changes in interleukin(IL)-1βlevels.To investigate the role of NF-κB signaling activation and IL^(-1)βin Sema7A’s anti-barrier mechanism,we employed 0.1μmol/L IκB kinase 2(IKK2)inhibitor IV or 500 ng/mL IL^(-1)receptor(IL-1R)antagonist.●RESULTS:Treatment with Sema7A resulted in decreased TEER and increased permeability of Dextran-FITC in HCEs through down-regulating mRNA and protein levels of TJs in a time-and dose-dependent manner,as well as altering the localization of TJs.Furthermore,Sema7A stimulated the activation of inhibitor of kappa B alpha(IκBα)and expression of IL-1β.The anti-barrier function of Sema7A was significantly suppressed by treatment with IKK2 inhibitor IV or IL-1R antagonists.●CONCLUSION:Sema7A disrupts barrier function through its influence on NF-κB-mediated expression of TJ proteins,as well as the expression of IL-1β.These findings suggest that Sema7A could be a potential therapeutic target for the diseases in corneal epithelium.展开更多
The distribution of the nuclear ground-state spin in a two-body random ensemble(TBRE)was studied using a general classification neural network(NN)model with two-body interaction matrix elements as input features and t...The distribution of the nuclear ground-state spin in a two-body random ensemble(TBRE)was studied using a general classification neural network(NN)model with two-body interaction matrix elements as input features and the corresponding ground-state spins as labels or output predictions.The quantum many-body system problem exceeds the capability of our optimized NNs in terms of accurately predicting the ground-state spin of each sample within the TBRE.However,our NN model effectively captured the statistical properties of the ground-state spin because it learned the empirical regularity of the ground-state spin distribution in TBRE,as discovered by physicists.展开更多
BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disorder induced by an imbalance between osteoclastic activity and osteogenic activity.During osteoporosis,bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)exhibit an increased abil...BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disorder induced by an imbalance between osteoclastic activity and osteogenic activity.During osteoporosis,bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)exhibit an increased ability to differentiate into adipocytes and a decreased ability to differentiate into osteoblasts,resulting in bone loss.Jumonji domain-containing 1C(JMJD1C)has been demonstrated to suppress osteoclastogenesis.AIM To examine the effect of JMJD1C on the osteogenesis of BMSCs and the potential underlying mechanism.METHODS BMSCs were isolated from mouse bone marrow tissues.Oil Red O staining,Alizarin red staining,alkaline phosphatase staining and the expression of adipo-genic and osteogenic-associated genes were assessed to determine the differen-tiation of BMSCs.Bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMMs)were incubated with receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaΒligand to induce osteoclast differentiation,and osteoclast differen-tiation was confirmed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining.Other related genes were measured via reverse transcription coupled to the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure the levels of inflammatory cytokines,including tumor necrosis factor alpha,interleukin-6 and interleukin-1 beta.RESULTS The osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs isolated from mouse bone marrow samples was evaluated.JMJD1C mRNA and protein expression was upregulated in BMSCs after osteoblast induction,while p-nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)and inflammatory cytokines were not significantly altered.Knockdown of JMJD1C repressed osteogenic differentiation and enhanced NF-κB activation and inflammatory cytokine release in BMSCs.Moreover,JMJD1C expression decreased during BMM osteoclast differentiation.CONCLUSION The JMJD1C/NF-κB signaling pathway is potentially involved in BMSC osteogenic differentiation and may play vital roles in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.展开更多
In connection with the current prospect of decarbonization of coal energy through the use of small nuclear power plants (SNPPs) at existing TPPs as heat sources for heat supply to municipal heating networks, there is ...In connection with the current prospect of decarbonization of coal energy through the use of small nuclear power plants (SNPPs) at existing TPPs as heat sources for heat supply to municipal heating networks, there is a technological need to improve heat supply schemes to increase their environmental friendliness and efficiency. The paper proves the feasibility of using the heat-feeding mode of ASHPs for urban heat supply by heating the network water with steam taken from the turbine. The ratio of electric and thermal power of a “nuclear” combined heat and power plant is given. The advantage of using a heat pump, which provides twice as much electrical power with the same heat output, is established. Taking into account that heat in these modes is supplied with different potential, the energy efficiency was used to compare these options. To increase the heat supply capacity, a scheme with the use of a high-pressure heater in the backpressure mode and with the heating of network water with hot steam was proposed. Heat supply from ASHPs is efficient and environmentally friendly even in the case of significant remoteness of heat consumers.展开更多
Today, the most urgent problem of the existing and future nuclear power industry is to ensure the nuclear and environmental safety of the operation of nuclear power reactor units (NPPs) and nuclear power plants (NPPs)...Today, the most urgent problem of the existing and future nuclear power industry is to ensure the nuclear and environmental safety of the operation of nuclear power reactor units (NPPs) and nuclear power plants (NPPs). It is solved thanks to the application of deeply echeloned protection and an anti-accident complex of methods and means for effective control of the operation of active reactor zones (AZR). However, the danger of existing NPPs in the world from time to time manifests itself in the form of severe post-project accidents and catastrophes with the release into the environment of a significant amount of radioactive materials dangerous for all living things. The results of the analysis show that the unconditional fulfillment of the main requirements of nuclear environmental safety and biocompatibility is possible only in the so-called wave nuclear reactor of the G-V generation, which, unlike reactors of the previous generations III, II+ and IV, does not require supercritical loading of the core with nuclear fuel. In the active zone of this reactor, nuclear-physical processes governed by physical law are implemented, which exclude the operator’s participation in regulating the reactivity of the reactor’s active zone, which makes it the reactor with the highest level of nuclear and environmental safety today, which is based on the principles of so-called internal safety, free from the human factor. The possibility of burning nuclear fuel based on U238 and Th232 in it expands the reserves of energetic nuclear fuel almost to inexhaustibility. The technology of nuclear reactors of the G5 generation through the secondary use of spent irradiated nuclear fuel (SNF) for the production of energy and energy raw materials with simultaneous burning of it to an environmentally safe state is able to quickly reduce the available stocks and further production of dangerous SNF, guarantee the nuclear and environmental safety of NPPs with reactors G5 and to technologically make nuclear post-project accidents and disasters impossible at the level of physical law with the complete elimination of the human factor.展开更多
The random forest algorithm was applied to study the nuclear binding energy and charge radius.The regularized root-mean-square of error(RMSE)was proposed to avoid overfitting during the training of random forest.RMSE ...The random forest algorithm was applied to study the nuclear binding energy and charge radius.The regularized root-mean-square of error(RMSE)was proposed to avoid overfitting during the training of random forest.RMSE for nuclides with Z,N>7 is reduced to 0.816 MeV and 0.0200 fm compared with the six-term liquid drop model and a three-term nuclear charge radius formula,respectively.Specific interest is in the possible(sub)shells among the superheavy region,which is important for searching for new elements and the island of stability.The significance of shell features estimated by the so-called shapely additive explanation method suggests(Z,N)=(92,142)and(98,156)as possible subshells indicated by the binding energy.Because the present observed data is far from the N=184 shell,which is suggested by mean-field investigations,its shell effect is not predicted based on present training.The significance analysis of the nuclear charge radius suggests Z=92 and N=136 as possible subshells.The effect is verified by the shell-corrected nuclear charge radius model.展开更多
Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G is down-regulated in the spinal cord of the Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur(TG)amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model.However,most studies have only examined heterogenous nuclear ribonucl...Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G is down-regulated in the spinal cord of the Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur(TG)amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model.However,most studies have only examined heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G expression in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model and heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G effects in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis such as in apoptosis are unknown.In this study,we studied the potential mechanism of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in neuronal death in the spinal cord of TG and wild-type mice and examined the mechanism by which heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G induces apoptosis.Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in spinal cord was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and western blotting,and cell proliferation and proteins(TAR DNA binding protein 43,superoxide dismutase 1,and Bax)were detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 and western blot analysis in heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G siRNA-transfected PC12 cells.We analyzed heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G distribution in spinal cord in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model at various time points and the expressions of apoptosis and proliferation-related proteins.Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G was mainly localized in neurons.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice were examined at three stages:preonset(60-70 days),onset(90-100 days)and progression(120-130 days).The number of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells was significantly higher in the anterior horn of the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice at the preonset stage than that of control group but lower than that of the control group at the onset stage.The number of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells in both central canal and surrounding gray matter of the whole spinal cord of TG mice at the onset stage was significantly lower than that in the control group,whereas that of the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly higher than that in the control group at preonset stage and significantly lower than that in the control group at the progression stage.The numbers of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells in the posterior horn of cervical and thoracic segments of TG mice at preonset and progression stages were significantly lower than those in the control group.The expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in the cervical spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly higher than that in the control group at the preonset stage but significantly lower at the progression stage.The expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in the thoracic spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly increased at the preonset stage,significantly decreased at the onset stage,and significantly increased at the progression stage compared with the control group.heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G expression in the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly lower than that of the control group at the progression stage.After heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G gene silencing,PC12 cell survival was lower than that of control cells.Both TAR DNA binding protein 43 and Bax expressions were significantly increased in heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-silenced cells compared with control cells.Our study suggests that abnormal distribution and expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G might play a protective effect in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis development via preventing neuronal death by reducing abnormal TAR DNA binding protein 43 generation in the spinal cord.展开更多
In this study, the rapidity distribution, collective flows, and nuclear stopping power in ^(197)Au+^(197)Au collisions at intermediate energies were investigated using the ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics(...In this study, the rapidity distribution, collective flows, and nuclear stopping power in ^(197)Au+^(197)Au collisions at intermediate energies were investigated using the ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics(UrQMD) model with GEMINI++ code. The UrQMD model was adopted to simulate the dynamic evolution of heavy-ion collisions, whereas the GEMINI++ code was used to simulate the decay of primary fragments produced by UrQMD. The calculated results were compared with the INDRA and FOPI experimental data. It was found that the rapidity distribution, collective flows, and nuclear stopping power were affected to a certain extent by the decay of primary fragments, especially at lower beam energies. Furthermore, the experimental data of the collective flows and nuclear stopping power at the investigated beam energies were better reproduced when the sequential decay effect was included.展开更多
During the long service period of a nuclear waste repository in crystalline rock,large earthquake(s)may occur nearby the repository site and coseismically alter the local stress field around pre-existing fractures wit...During the long service period of a nuclear waste repository in crystalline rock,large earthquake(s)may occur nearby the repository site and coseismically alter the local stress field around pre-existing fractures within the geological formation.The resulting fracture normal/shear displacements may lead to fracture opening and further promote the transport of leaked radionuclides into the groundwater system.Thus,it is of central importance to analyze the consequences of potential future earthquake(s)on the hydrogeological properties of a repository site for spent nuclear fuel disposal.Based on the detailed site characterization data of the repository site at Forsmark,Sweden,we conduct a three-dimensional(3D)seismo-hydro-mechanical simulation using the 3Dimensional Distinct Element Code(3DEC).We explicitly represent a primary seismogenic fault zone and its surrounding secondary fracture network associated with a power-law size scaling and a Fisher orientation distribution.An earthquake with a magnitude of M_(w)=5.6 caused by the reactivation of the primary fault zone is modeled by simulating its transient rupture propagating radially outwards from a predefined hypocenter at a specified rupture speed,with the faulting dynamics controlled by a strength weakening law.We model the coseismic response of the off-fault fracture network subject to both static and dynamic triggering effects.We further diagnose the distribution of fracture hydro-mechanical properties(e.g.mechanical/hydraulic aperture,hydraulic transmissivity)before and after the earthquake in order to quantify earthquakeinduced hydraulic changes in the fracture network.It is found that earthquake-induced fracture transmissivity changes tend to follow a power-law decay with the distance to the earthquake fault.Our simulation results and insights obtained have important implications for the long-term performance assessment of nuclear waste repositories in fractured crystalline rocks.展开更多
基金funded by the National Social Science Fund of China[Grant No.20&ZD162].
文摘The Japanese government’s unilateral decision to discharge the nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean has caused immense nuclear safety risks.Monitoring the unclear contaminated water is a starting point to combat these risks and seek remedies for the rights and interests of all concerned parties.The establishment of a mechanism for international cooperation in this respect is necessary to handle the risks of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water and to lay the foundation of a framework for tackling any future disposal of nuclear-contaminated water following Japan’s example.At present,the international legal systems in the spheres of nuclear safety and security,marine environmental protection,and other areas,as well as the questioning of the monitoring reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)by the relevant parties,the monitoring practices of historical nuclear accidents,and numerous radioactivity monitoring mechanisms have provided the institutional and practical basis for constructing such a mechanism.The mechanism can be promoted by the IAEA through its existing mechanisms or be jointly initiated by China,the Russian Federation,the Republic of Korea,the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,and the Pacific Island countries,among other stakeholders.Specifically,this mechanism should consist of three levels:first,the framework of the basic legal system,including the cooperative principles of national sovereignty,interest-relatedness,and procedural fairness,and the signing of the Framework Convention on the Monitoring of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water and its Optional Protocol;second,the organizational structure and its responsibilities,which may include the Conference of Parties as the decision-making body,the Secretariat as the central coordinating body,and the monitoring committees in various fields as specific implementing agencies;and third,specific administrative arrangements,which involve the standardization of monitoring,the management system of monitoring networks and stations,the rules for monitoring procedures,and the rules for the utilization of the monitoring data,etc.With the urgent need for the scientific and fair monitoring of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water,China,as a stakeholder country,can promote the establishment of such a mechanism for monitoring nuclear-contaminated water through the following paths:①It is necessary to clarify the factors affecting the construction of an international cooperation mechanism for monitoring nuclear-contaminated water so as to ascertain the standpoints of the stakeholders,claims of their interests,contents of their cooperation,and the relevant international relations.②On the basis of existing practices,China should consider improving the monitoring mechanism to cope with the risks of the discharge of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water by formulating targeted policies and systems,setting up specialized monitoring institutions,and establishing a systematic monitoring network system.③This is an effective way for China to actively promote the participation of stakeholders in the construction of an international cooperation mechanism for monitoring nuclear-contaminated water in Fukushima by further innovating the dissemination mechanism to address the risk of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water discharging into the sea and facilitating the identification of issues for international cooperation in monitoring Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water based on the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31970429)the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.ZR 2022 MC 032)。
文摘Homeodomains,a 60-amino acid sequence encoded by 180 nucleotides,are highly conserved DNA-binding motifs that are present in a variety of transcription factors in species ranging from yeast to humans.The NKX proteins belong to the homeodomain(HD)-containing transcription factor family.They play vital roles in the regulation of morphogenesis.NKX1-2 is one member of the NKX subfamily.At present,information about its nuclear localization signal(NLS)sequence is limited.We studied the NLS sequence of zebrafish Nkx1.2 by introducing sequence changes such as deletion,mutation,and truncation,and identified an NLS motif(QNRRTKWKKQ)that is localized at the C-terminus of the homeodomain.Moreover,the deletion of two amino acid residues(RR)in this NLS motif prevents Nkx1.2 from entering the nucleus,indicating that the two amino acids are essential for Nkx1.2 nuclear localization.However,the NLS motif alone is unable to target cytoplasmic protein glutathione S-transferase(GST)to the nucleus.An intact homeodomain is necessary for mediating the complete nuclear transport of cytoplasmic protein.Unlike most nuclear import proteins with short NLS sequences,a long NLS is present in zebrafish Nkx1.2.We also demonstrated that the sequences of homeodomain of NKX1.2 are well conserved among different species.This study is informative to verify the function of the NKX1.2 protein.
基金funded by the Research on National Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Obligations under the Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutral Commitment,General Program of Humanities and Social Sciences,Ministry of Education of China[Grant No.21YJA820010].
文摘The disposal of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant is a significant international nuclear safety issue with considerable cross-border implications.This matter requires compliance not only with the law of the sea but also with the principles of nuclear safety under international law.These principles serve as the overarching tenet of international and China’s domestic nuclear laws,applicable to nuclear facilities and activities.The principle of safety in nuclear activities is fully recognized in international and domestic laws,carrying broad legal binding force.Japan’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea violates its obligations under the principle of safety in nuclear activities,including commitments to optimum protection,as low as reasonably practicable,and prevention.The Japanese government and the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)have breached the obligation of optimum protection by restricting the scope of assessments,substituting core concepts,and shielding dissenting views.In the absence of clear radiation standards,they have acted unilaterally without fulfilling the obligation as low as reasonably practicable principle.The discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water poses an imminent and unpredictable risk to all countries worldwide,including Japanese residents.Japan and the IAEA should fulfill their obligations under international law regarding disposal,adhering to the principles of nuclear safety,including optimum protection,the obligation as low as reasonably practicable,and prevention through multilateral cooperation.Specifically,the obligation to provide optimum protection should be implemented by re-evaluating the most reliable disposal technologies and methods currently available and comprehensively assessing various options.The standard of the obligation as low as reasonably practicable requires that the minimization of negative impacts on human health,livelihoods,and the environment should not be subordinated to considerations of cutting costs and expenses.Multilateral cooperation should be promoted through the establishment of sound multilateral long-term monitoring mechanisms for the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water,notification and consultation obligations,and periodic assessments.These obligations under international law were fulfilled after the accidents at the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear power plants.The implications of the principles of nuclear safety align with the concept of building a community of shared future for nuclear safety advocated by China.In cases of violations of international law regarding the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water that jeopardize the concept of a community of a shared future for nuclear safety,China can also rely on its own strength to promote the implementation of due obligations through self-help.
文摘Background: Diagnosis of autoimmune diseases (AID) is challenging, due to overlapping features with other non-immune disorders. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are sensitive screening tests but anti-deoxyribonucleic acid-antibody (anti-DNA), and anti-extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENA) are specific for AIDs. We aimed to look at ANA patterns in our patients and correlated them with anti-ENA for proper interpretation and better patient management cost-effectively. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over 1 year from January to December 2022 who were tested for ANA at biology medical laboratory of Pasteur Institute of Dakar. Anti-ENA and anti-DNA results were also analyzed for ANA-positive patients. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14.0, p Results: 216 patients were analyzed. Women predominated at 79.2% and mean age was 48 years [CI 95%, 46 - 50], with extremes of 10 and 89. Most represented age group was [41 - 60] with 38%. ANA was positive in 27 (12.5%) of patients, 59.2% of whom were strongly positive (titer of 1/1000, 1/3200 or 1/6400). The most common pattern was nuclear speckled, which was found in 77.8% of samples. Anti-ENA and anti-DNA positivity in ANA-positive patients was found respectively in 63% (17/27) and 1.4% (3/27) of the samples analyzed. Most commonly identified anti-ENA was anti-Sm 29.6%, anti-SSA 29.6%, anti-Ro-52 25.9%, anti-RNP 18.5% and anti-SSB 14.8% which was associated with speckled pattern. Association results indicated a significant relationship between both tests and between ANA titer in the anti-ENA- and ANA-positive patients (p 0.001). Conclusions: ANA, Anti-ENA and anti-DNA antibodies are essential for AIDS diagnosis. However, the testing repertoire should follow an algorithm comprising of clinical features, followed by ANA results with nuclear, mitotic, and cytoplasmic patterns, anti-ENA, and anti-DNA for a more meaningful, and cost-effective diagnostic approach.
文摘In high-altitude nuclear detonations,the proportion of pulsed X-ray energy can exceed 70%,making it a specific monitoring signal for such events.These pulsed X-rays can be captured using a satellite-borne X-ray detector following atmospheric transmission.To quantitatively analyze the effects of different satellite detection altitudes,burst heights,and transmission angles on the physical processes of X-ray transport and energy fluence,we developed an atmospheric transmission algorithm for pulsed X-rays from high-altitude nuclear detonations based on scattering correction.The proposed method is an improvement over the traditional analytical method that only computes direct-transmission X-rays.The traditional analytical method exhibits a maximum relative error of 67.79% compared with the Monte Carlo method.Our improved method reduces this error to within 10% under the same conditions,even reaching 1% in certain scenarios.Moreover,its computation time is 48,000 times faster than that of the Monte Carlo method.These results have important theoretical significance and engineering application value for designing satellite-borne nuclear detonation pulsed X-ray detectors,inverting nuclear detonation source terms,and assessing ionospheric effects.
基金This work was supported by the general program(No.1177531)joint funding(No.U2067205)from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
文摘A benchmark experiment on^(238)U slab samples was conducted using a deuterium-tritium neutron source at the China Institute of Atomic Energy.The leakage neutron spectra within energy levels of 0.8-16 MeV at 60°and 120°were measured using the time-of-flight method.The samples were prepared as rectangular slabs with a 30 cm square base and thicknesses of 3,6,and 9 cm.The leakage neutron spectra were also calculated using the MCNP-4C program based on the latest evaluated files of^(238)U evaluated neutron data from CENDL-3.2,ENDF/B-Ⅷ.0,JENDL-5.0,and JEFF-3.3.Based on the comparison,the deficiencies and improvements in^(238)U evaluated nuclear data were analyzed.The results showed the following.(1)The calculated results for CENDL-3.2 significantly overestimated the measurements in the energy interval of elastic scattering at 60°and 120°.(2)The calculated results of CENDL-3.2 overestimated the measurements in the energy interval of inelastic scattering at 120°.(3)The calculated results for CENDL-3.2 significantly overestimated the measurements in the 3-8.5 MeV energy interval at 60°and 120°.(4)The calculated results with JENDL-5.0 were generally consistent with the measurement results.
基金This paper is supported by Chinese NSF project(42130114)the strategic priority research program(B)of CAS(XDB41000000)the pre-research Project on Civil Aerospace Technologies No.D020202 funded by Chinese National Space Administration(CNSA)。
文摘It is well-known that the equilibrium isotope fractionation of mercury(Hg)includes classical massdependent fractionations(MDFs)and nuclear volume effect(NVE)induced mass-independent fractionations(MIFs).However,the effect of the NVE on these kinetic processes is not known.The total fractionations(MDFs+NVEinduced MIFs)of several representative Hg-incorporated substances were selected and calculated with ab initio calculations in this work for both equilibrium and kinetic processes.NVE-induced MIFs were calculated with scaled contact electron densities at the nucleus through systematic evaluations of their accuracy and errors using the Gaussian09 and DIRAC19 packages(named the electron density scaling method).Additionally,the NVE-induced kinetic isotope effect(KIE)of Hg isotopes are also calculated with this method for several representative Hg oxidation reactions by chlorine species.Total KIEs for 202 Hg/^(198)Hg ranging from−2.27‰to 0.96‰are obtained.Three anomalous^(202)Hg-enriched KIEs(δ^(202)Hg/^(198)Hg=0.83‰,0.94‰,and 0.96‰,)caused by the NVE are observed,which are quite different from the classical view(i.e.,light isotopes react faster than the heavy ones).The electron density scaling method we developed in this study can provide an easier way to calculate the NVE-induced KIEs for heavy isotopes and serve to better understand the fractionation mechanisms of mercury isotope systems.
基金This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U23B20151 and 52171253).
文摘Owing to the complex lithology of unconventional reservoirs,field interpreters usually need to provide a basis for interpretation using logging simulation models.Among the various detection tools that use nuclear sources,the detector response can reflect various types of information of the medium.The Monte Carlo method is one of the primary methods used to obtain nuclear detection responses in complex environments.However,this requires a computational process with extensive random sampling,consumes considerable resources,and does not provide real-time response results.Therefore,a novel fast forward computational method(FFCM)for nuclear measurement that uses volumetric detection constraints to rapidly calculate the detector response in various complex environments is proposed.First,the data library required for the FFCM is built by collecting the detection volume,detector counts,and flux sensitivity functions through a Monte Carlo simulation.Then,based on perturbation theory and the Rytov approximation,a model for the detector response is derived using the flux sensitivity function method and a one-group diffusion model.The environmental perturbation is constrained to optimize the model according to the tool structure and the impact of the formation and borehole within the effective detection volume.Finally,the method is applied to a neutron porosity tool for verification.In various complex simulation environments,the maximum relative error between the calculated porosity results of Monte Carlo and FFCM was 6.80%,with a rootmean-square error of 0.62 p.u.In field well applications,the formation porosity model obtained using FFCM was in good agreement with the model obtained by interpreters,which demonstrates the validity and accuracy of the proposed method.
文摘Nuclear power plants exhibit non-linear and time-variable dynamics.Therefore,designing a control system that sets the reactor power and forces it to follow the desired load is complicated.A supercritical water reactor(SCWR)is a fourth-generation conceptual reactor.In an SCWR,the non-linear dynamics of the reactor require a controller capable of control-ling the nonlinearities.In this study,a pressure-tube-type SCWR was controlled during reactor power maneuvering with a higher order sliding mode,and the reactor outgoing steam temperature and pressure were controlled simultaneously.In an SCWR,the temperature,pressure,and power must be maintained at a setpoint(desired value)during power maneuvering.Reactor point kinetics equations with three groups of delayed neutrons were used in the simulation.Higher-order and classic sliding mode controllers were separately manufactured to control the plant and were compared with the PI controllers speci-fied in previous studies.The controlled parameters were reactor power,steam temperature,and pressure.Notably,for these parameters,the PI controller had certain instabilities in the presence of disturbances.The classic sliding mode controller had a higher accuracy and stability;however its main drawback was the chattering phenomenon.HOSMC was highly accurate and stable and had a small computational cost.In reality,it followed the desired values without oscillations and chattering.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11875027,11975096).
文摘The extended kernel ridge regression(EKRR)method with odd-even effects was adopted to improve the description of the nuclear charge radius using five commonly used nuclear models.These are:(i)the isospin-dependent A^(1∕3) formula,(ii)relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov(RCHB)theory,(iii)Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov(HFB)model HFB25,(iv)the Weizsacker-Skyrme(WS)model WS*,and(v)HFB25*model.In the last two models,the charge radii were calculated using a five-parameter formula with the nuclear shell corrections and deformations obtained from the WS and HFB25 models,respectively.For each model,the resultant root-mean-square deviation for the 1014 nuclei with proton number Z≥8 can be significantly reduced to 0.009-0.013 fm after considering the modification with the EKRR method.The best among them was the RCHB model,with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.0092 fm.The extrapolation abilities of the KRR and EKRR methods for the neutron-rich region were examined,and it was found that after considering the odd-even effects,the extrapolation power was improved compared with that of the original KRR method.The strong odd-even staggering of nuclear charge radii of Ca and Cu isotopes and the abrupt kinks across the neutron N=126 and 82 shell closures were also calculated and could be reproduced quite well by calculations using the EKRR method.
基金This work was supported of National Natural Science Foundation of China Fund(No.52306033)State Key Laboratory of Engines Fund(No.SKLE-K2022-07)the Jiangxi Provincial Postgraduate Innovation Special Fund(No.YC2022-s513).
文摘The supercritical CO_(2) Brayton cycle is considered a promising energy conversion system for Generation IV reactors for its simple layout,compact structure,and high cycle efficiency.Mathematical models of four Brayton cycle layouts are developed in this study for different reactors to reduce the cost and increase the thermohydraulic performance of nuclear power generation to promote the commercialization of nuclear energy.Parametric analysis,multi-objective optimizations,and four decision-making methods are applied to obtain each Brayton scheme’s optimal thermohydraulic and economic indexes.Results show that for the same design thermal power scale of reactors,the higher the core’s exit temperature,the better the Brayton cycle’s thermo-economic performance.Among the four-cycle layouts,the recompression cycle(RC)has the best overall performance,followed by the simple recuperation cycle(SR)and the intercooling cycle(IC),and the worst is the reheating cycle(RH).However,RH has the lowest total cost of investment(C_(tot))of$1619.85 million,and IC has the lowest levelized cost of energy(LCOE)of 0.012$/(kWh).The nuclear Brayton cycle system’s overall performance has been improved due to optimization.The performance of the molten salt reactor combined with the intercooling cycle(MSR-IC)scheme has the greatest improvement,with the net output power(W_(net)),thermal efficiencyη_(t),and exergy efficiency(η_(e))improved by 8.58%,8.58%,and 11.21%,respectively.The performance of the lead-cooled fast reactor combined with the simple recuperation cycle scheme was optimized to increase C_(tot) by 27.78%.In comparison,the internal rate of return(IRR)increased by only 7.8%,which is not friendly to investors with limited funds.For the nuclear Brayton cycle,the molten salt reactor combined with the recompression cycle scheme should receive priority,and the gas-cooled fast reactor combined with the reheating cycle scheme should be considered carefully.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81770889)Zhuhai Science and Technology Program(No.ZH22036201210134PWC).
文摘●AIM:To evaluate the role of semaphorin 7A(Sema7A)and its associated regulatory mechanisms in modulating the barrier function of cultured human corneal epithelial cells(HCEs).●METHODS:Barrier models of HCEs were treated with recombinant human Sema7A at concentrations of 0,125,250,or 500 ng/mL for 24,48,or 72h in vitro.Transepithelial electrical resistance(TEER)as well as Dextran-fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)permeability assays were conducted to assess barrier function.To quantify tight junctions(TJs)such as occludin and zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)at the mRNA level,reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)analysis was performed.Immunoblotting was used to examine the activity of the nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)signaling pathway and the production of TJs proteins.Immunofluorescence analyses were employed to localize the TJs.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and RT-PCR were utilized to observe changes in interleukin(IL)-1βlevels.To investigate the role of NF-κB signaling activation and IL^(-1)βin Sema7A’s anti-barrier mechanism,we employed 0.1μmol/L IκB kinase 2(IKK2)inhibitor IV or 500 ng/mL IL^(-1)receptor(IL-1R)antagonist.●RESULTS:Treatment with Sema7A resulted in decreased TEER and increased permeability of Dextran-FITC in HCEs through down-regulating mRNA and protein levels of TJs in a time-and dose-dependent manner,as well as altering the localization of TJs.Furthermore,Sema7A stimulated the activation of inhibitor of kappa B alpha(IκBα)and expression of IL-1β.The anti-barrier function of Sema7A was significantly suppressed by treatment with IKK2 inhibitor IV or IL-1R antagonists.●CONCLUSION:Sema7A disrupts barrier function through its influence on NF-κB-mediated expression of TJ proteins,as well as the expression of IL-1β.These findings suggest that Sema7A could be a potential therapeutic target for the diseases in corneal epithelium.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Fund(12105234)。
文摘The distribution of the nuclear ground-state spin in a two-body random ensemble(TBRE)was studied using a general classification neural network(NN)model with two-body interaction matrix elements as input features and the corresponding ground-state spins as labels or output predictions.The quantum many-body system problem exceeds the capability of our optimized NNs in terms of accurately predicting the ground-state spin of each sample within the TBRE.However,our NN model effectively captured the statistical properties of the ground-state spin because it learned the empirical regularity of the ground-state spin distribution in TBRE,as discovered by physicists.
基金2018 Henan Medical Science and Technology Research Plan Project,China,No.SBGJ2018019.
文摘BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disorder induced by an imbalance between osteoclastic activity and osteogenic activity.During osteoporosis,bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)exhibit an increased ability to differentiate into adipocytes and a decreased ability to differentiate into osteoblasts,resulting in bone loss.Jumonji domain-containing 1C(JMJD1C)has been demonstrated to suppress osteoclastogenesis.AIM To examine the effect of JMJD1C on the osteogenesis of BMSCs and the potential underlying mechanism.METHODS BMSCs were isolated from mouse bone marrow tissues.Oil Red O staining,Alizarin red staining,alkaline phosphatase staining and the expression of adipo-genic and osteogenic-associated genes were assessed to determine the differen-tiation of BMSCs.Bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMMs)were incubated with receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaΒligand to induce osteoclast differentiation,and osteoclast differen-tiation was confirmed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining.Other related genes were measured via reverse transcription coupled to the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure the levels of inflammatory cytokines,including tumor necrosis factor alpha,interleukin-6 and interleukin-1 beta.RESULTS The osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs isolated from mouse bone marrow samples was evaluated.JMJD1C mRNA and protein expression was upregulated in BMSCs after osteoblast induction,while p-nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)and inflammatory cytokines were not significantly altered.Knockdown of JMJD1C repressed osteogenic differentiation and enhanced NF-κB activation and inflammatory cytokine release in BMSCs.Moreover,JMJD1C expression decreased during BMM osteoclast differentiation.CONCLUSION The JMJD1C/NF-κB signaling pathway is potentially involved in BMSC osteogenic differentiation and may play vital roles in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.
文摘In connection with the current prospect of decarbonization of coal energy through the use of small nuclear power plants (SNPPs) at existing TPPs as heat sources for heat supply to municipal heating networks, there is a technological need to improve heat supply schemes to increase their environmental friendliness and efficiency. The paper proves the feasibility of using the heat-feeding mode of ASHPs for urban heat supply by heating the network water with steam taken from the turbine. The ratio of electric and thermal power of a “nuclear” combined heat and power plant is given. The advantage of using a heat pump, which provides twice as much electrical power with the same heat output, is established. Taking into account that heat in these modes is supplied with different potential, the energy efficiency was used to compare these options. To increase the heat supply capacity, a scheme with the use of a high-pressure heater in the backpressure mode and with the heating of network water with hot steam was proposed. Heat supply from ASHPs is efficient and environmentally friendly even in the case of significant remoteness of heat consumers.
文摘Today, the most urgent problem of the existing and future nuclear power industry is to ensure the nuclear and environmental safety of the operation of nuclear power reactor units (NPPs) and nuclear power plants (NPPs). It is solved thanks to the application of deeply echeloned protection and an anti-accident complex of methods and means for effective control of the operation of active reactor zones (AZR). However, the danger of existing NPPs in the world from time to time manifests itself in the form of severe post-project accidents and catastrophes with the release into the environment of a significant amount of radioactive materials dangerous for all living things. The results of the analysis show that the unconditional fulfillment of the main requirements of nuclear environmental safety and biocompatibility is possible only in the so-called wave nuclear reactor of the G-V generation, which, unlike reactors of the previous generations III, II+ and IV, does not require supercritical loading of the core with nuclear fuel. In the active zone of this reactor, nuclear-physical processes governed by physical law are implemented, which exclude the operator’s participation in regulating the reactivity of the reactor’s active zone, which makes it the reactor with the highest level of nuclear and environmental safety today, which is based on the principles of so-called internal safety, free from the human factor. The possibility of burning nuclear fuel based on U238 and Th232 in it expands the reserves of energetic nuclear fuel almost to inexhaustibility. The technology of nuclear reactors of the G5 generation through the secondary use of spent irradiated nuclear fuel (SNF) for the production of energy and energy raw materials with simultaneous burning of it to an environmentally safe state is able to quickly reduce the available stocks and further production of dangerous SNF, guarantee the nuclear and environmental safety of NPPs with reactors G5 and to technologically make nuclear post-project accidents and disasters impossible at the level of physical law with the complete elimination of the human factor.
基金Supported by Basic and Applied Basic Research Project of Guangdong Province(2021B0301030006)。
文摘The random forest algorithm was applied to study the nuclear binding energy and charge radius.The regularized root-mean-square of error(RMSE)was proposed to avoid overfitting during the training of random forest.RMSE for nuclides with Z,N>7 is reduced to 0.816 MeV and 0.0200 fm compared with the six-term liquid drop model and a three-term nuclear charge radius formula,respectively.Specific interest is in the possible(sub)shells among the superheavy region,which is important for searching for new elements and the island of stability.The significance of shell features estimated by the so-called shapely additive explanation method suggests(Z,N)=(92,142)and(98,156)as possible subshells indicated by the binding energy.Because the present observed data is far from the N=184 shell,which is suggested by mean-field investigations,its shell effect is not predicted based on present training.The significance analysis of the nuclear charge radius suggests Z=92 and N=136 as possible subshells.The effect is verified by the shell-corrected nuclear charge radius model.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.30560042,81160161,81360198,82160255Education Department of Jiangxi Province,Nos.GJJ13198 and GJJ170021+1 种基金Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology,Nos.[2014]-47,20142BBG70062,20171BAB215022,20192BAB205043Health and Family Planning Commission of Jiangxi Province,No.20181019(all to RSX).
文摘Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G is down-regulated in the spinal cord of the Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur(TG)amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model.However,most studies have only examined heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G expression in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model and heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G effects in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis such as in apoptosis are unknown.In this study,we studied the potential mechanism of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in neuronal death in the spinal cord of TG and wild-type mice and examined the mechanism by which heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G induces apoptosis.Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in spinal cord was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and western blotting,and cell proliferation and proteins(TAR DNA binding protein 43,superoxide dismutase 1,and Bax)were detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 and western blot analysis in heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G siRNA-transfected PC12 cells.We analyzed heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G distribution in spinal cord in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model at various time points and the expressions of apoptosis and proliferation-related proteins.Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G was mainly localized in neurons.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice were examined at three stages:preonset(60-70 days),onset(90-100 days)and progression(120-130 days).The number of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells was significantly higher in the anterior horn of the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice at the preonset stage than that of control group but lower than that of the control group at the onset stage.The number of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells in both central canal and surrounding gray matter of the whole spinal cord of TG mice at the onset stage was significantly lower than that in the control group,whereas that of the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly higher than that in the control group at preonset stage and significantly lower than that in the control group at the progression stage.The numbers of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells in the posterior horn of cervical and thoracic segments of TG mice at preonset and progression stages were significantly lower than those in the control group.The expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in the cervical spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly higher than that in the control group at the preonset stage but significantly lower at the progression stage.The expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in the thoracic spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly increased at the preonset stage,significantly decreased at the onset stage,and significantly increased at the progression stage compared with the control group.heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G expression in the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly lower than that of the control group at the progression stage.After heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G gene silencing,PC12 cell survival was lower than that of control cells.Both TAR DNA binding protein 43 and Bax expressions were significantly increased in heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-silenced cells compared with control cells.Our study suggests that abnormal distribution and expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G might play a protective effect in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis development via preventing neuronal death by reducing abnormal TAR DNA binding protein 43 generation in the spinal cord.
基金partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. U2032145 and 11875125)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2020YFE0202002)。
文摘In this study, the rapidity distribution, collective flows, and nuclear stopping power in ^(197)Au+^(197)Au collisions at intermediate energies were investigated using the ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics(UrQMD) model with GEMINI++ code. The UrQMD model was adopted to simulate the dynamic evolution of heavy-ion collisions, whereas the GEMINI++ code was used to simulate the decay of primary fragments produced by UrQMD. The calculated results were compared with the INDRA and FOPI experimental data. It was found that the rapidity distribution, collective flows, and nuclear stopping power were affected to a certain extent by the decay of primary fragments, especially at lower beam energies. Furthermore, the experimental data of the collective flows and nuclear stopping power at the investigated beam energies were better reproduced when the sequential decay effect was included.
文摘During the long service period of a nuclear waste repository in crystalline rock,large earthquake(s)may occur nearby the repository site and coseismically alter the local stress field around pre-existing fractures within the geological formation.The resulting fracture normal/shear displacements may lead to fracture opening and further promote the transport of leaked radionuclides into the groundwater system.Thus,it is of central importance to analyze the consequences of potential future earthquake(s)on the hydrogeological properties of a repository site for spent nuclear fuel disposal.Based on the detailed site characterization data of the repository site at Forsmark,Sweden,we conduct a three-dimensional(3D)seismo-hydro-mechanical simulation using the 3Dimensional Distinct Element Code(3DEC).We explicitly represent a primary seismogenic fault zone and its surrounding secondary fracture network associated with a power-law size scaling and a Fisher orientation distribution.An earthquake with a magnitude of M_(w)=5.6 caused by the reactivation of the primary fault zone is modeled by simulating its transient rupture propagating radially outwards from a predefined hypocenter at a specified rupture speed,with the faulting dynamics controlled by a strength weakening law.We model the coseismic response of the off-fault fracture network subject to both static and dynamic triggering effects.We further diagnose the distribution of fracture hydro-mechanical properties(e.g.mechanical/hydraulic aperture,hydraulic transmissivity)before and after the earthquake in order to quantify earthquakeinduced hydraulic changes in the fracture network.It is found that earthquake-induced fracture transmissivity changes tend to follow a power-law decay with the distance to the earthquake fault.Our simulation results and insights obtained have important implications for the long-term performance assessment of nuclear waste repositories in fractured crystalline rocks.
