Electron energy-loss spectroscopy of anomalous plutonium behavior in nuclear waste materials

Plutonium-enriched layer has been observed in corroded spent uranium oxide fuel (CSNF). These Pu-enriched regions were examined with analytical transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). The enriched region also contained U, Am, Ru, Zr, but only minor enrichment of rare earth elements. The Pu, possibly as Pu(V) according to EELS measurements, was dispersed within re-precipitated uranium oxide (identified as U3O8) nano-crystals between U(VI) secondary phases and the CSNF surface. The U, Pu, and Am enrichment was observed in the corrosion products with tests on different nuclear fuels. This may have implications for the long-term behavior of CSNF under storage in a geologic waste repository. Furthermore, there may be an increased potential for the generation of Pu-bearing colloids from this type of weathered CSNF.     

Utilizing Experiment and Theory to Evaluate Rhodamine B ethylenediamine as a Fluorescent Sensor for G-type Nerve Agents

Nerve gas mimic binding with Rhodamine B ethylenediamine (1) was studied in organic media. Binding of the nerve gas mimic, diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP), with the probe generated a non-fluorescent intermediate and a fluorescent product. Fluorescent and non-fluorescent products generated were identified using mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations were also used to investigate the electronic structure of the fluorescent probe in the ground and lowest lying π?→?π* singlet excited state. Though good agreement between theory and experiment can be obtained for the intense peak in the experimental spectrum using non-hybrid functionals, care must be taken when modelling these complexes due to the appearance of an n?→?π* transition that is too low in energy and appears to fall in the shoulders of the π?→?π* transitions.

     

Dodecagonal quasicrystalline morphology in a poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene-b-ethylene oxide) tetrablock terpolymer

A dodecagonal quasicrystalline (QC) morphology is identified in a poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene-b-ethylene oxide) (SISO) tetrablock terpolymer based on evidence provided by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small-angle X-ray scattering, and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy measurements. The QC state occurs at temperatures between those associated with simple hexagonal order (HEX) and the σ-phase (P4(2)/mnm), T(HEX) < T(QC) < T(σ) < T(ODT), where T(ODT) is the order-disorder transition temperature. All three morphologies are formed from spherical domains containing an O core surrounded by a shell of S that screens unfavorable segment-segment interactions with an I-rich matrix. TEM analysis reveals a QC morphology with 12-fold rotational symmetry but devoid of long-range translational order, along with locally coordinated structures consistent with dodecagonal quasicrystalline approximants. The SISO molecular architecture decouples control over the domain shape and interdomain interactions, leading to a multiplicity of packing symmetries.     

Isolation of (CO)1- and (CO2)1- radical complexes of rare earths via Ln(NR2)3/K reduction and [K2(18-crown-6)2]2+ oligomerization

Deep-blue solutions of Y(2+) formed from Y(NR(2))(3) (R = SiMe(3)) and excess potassium in the presence of 18-crown-6 at -45 °C under vacuum in diethyl ether react with CO at -78 °C to form colorless crystals of the (CO)(1-) radical complex, {[(R(2)N)(3)Y(μ-CO)(2)][K(2)(18-crown-6)(2)]}(n), 1. The polymeric structure contains trigonal bipyramidal [(R(2)N)(3)Y(μ-CO)(2)](2-) units with axial (CO)(1-) ligands linked by [K(2)(18-crown-6)(2)](2+) dications. Byproducts such as the ynediolate, [(R(2)N)(3)Y](2)(μ-OC≡CO){[K(18-crown-6)](2)(18-crown-6)}, 2, in which two (CO)(1-) anions are coupled to form (OC≡CO)(2-), and the insertion/rearrangement product, {(R(2)N)(2)Y[OC(═CH(2))Si(Me(2))NSiMe(3)]}[K(18-crown-6)], 3, are common in these reactions that give variable results depending on the specific reaction conditions. The CO reduction in the presence of THF forms a solvated variant of 2, the ynediolate [(R(2)N)(3)Y](2)(μ-OC≡CO)[K(18-crown-6)(THF)(2)](2), 2a. CO(2) reacts analogously with Y(2+) to form the (CO(2))(1-) radical complex, {[(R(2)N)(3)Y(μ-CO(2))(2)][K(2)(18-crown-6)(2)]}(n), 4, that has a structure similar to that of 1. Analogous (CO)(1-) and (OC≡CO)(2-) complexes of lutetium were isolated using Lu(NR(2))(3)/K/18-crown-6: {[(R(2)N)(3)Lu(μ-CO)(2)][K(2)(18-crown-6)(2)]}(n), 5, [(R(2)N)(3)Lu](2)(μ-OC≡CO){[K(18-crown-6)](2)(18-crown-6)}, 6, and [(R(2)N)(3)Lu](2)(μ-OC≡CO)[K(18-crown-6)(Et(2)O)(2)](2), 6a.     

Implantation of undifferentiated and pre-differentiated human neural stem cells in the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease

Background

The expression pattern and function of miRNAs in the rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy have not been well defined. Profiling miRNA expression in the rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy and investigating the function of specific miRNAs in epilepsy offers the prospect of a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of epilepsy.

Methods

The lithium-pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus model and the temporal lobe epilepsy model were established in Sprague?CDawley rats. Samples were analysed to detect deregulated miRNAs in the hippocampal temporal lobe, and several of these deregulated miRNAs were confirmed by qPCR. The expression of the pro-apoptotic miR-34a was detected at 1?day, 7?days and 2?weeks post-status epilepticus and at 2?months after temporal lobe epilepsy. The antagomir of miR-34a was then utilised. The expression of miR-34a after targeting and the expression change of activated caspase-3 protein were examined. The effects of altering the expression of miR-34a and activated caspase-3 protein on neuronal survival and neuronal death or apoptosis post-status epilepticus were assessed.

Results

The miRNA microarray detected 9 up-regulated miRNAs (miR-146a, -211, -203, -210, -152, -31, -23a, -34a, -27a) and 15 down-regulated miRNAs (miR-138*, -301a, -136, -153, -19a, -135b, -325-5p, -380, -190, -542-3p, -33, -144, -542-5p, -543, -296*). Some of the deregulated miRNAs (miR-146a, miR-210, miR-27a, miR-135b and miR-33) were confirmed using qPCR. Furthermore, an increase in expression of the pro-apoptotic miR-34a was demonstrated in the post-status epilepticus rat hippocampus. miR-34a was significantly up-regulated at 1?day, 7?days and 2?weeks post-status epilepticus and at 2?months after temporal lobe epilepsy. Experiments with the miR-34a antagomir revealed that targeting miR-34a led to an inhibition of activated caspase-3 protein expression, which may contribute to increased neuronal survival and reduced neuronal death or apoptosis.

Conclusions

Our study showed the expression profile of miRNAs in the hippocampus in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy and an increase in the expression of the pro-apoptotic miR-34a in post-status epilepticus rats. The results show that miR-34a is up-regulated during seizure-induced neuronal death or apoptosis, and targeting miR-34a is neuroprotective and is associated with an inhibition of an increase in activated caspase-3 protein.     

Dimethylamine borane dehydrogenation chemistry: syntheses, X-ray and neutron diffraction studies of 18-electron aminoborane and 14-electron aminoboryl complexes

The reactions of Me(2)NH·BH(3) with cationic Rh(III) and Ir(III) complexes have been shown to generate the 18-electron aminoborane adduct [Ir(IMes)(2)(H)(2){κ(2)-H(2)BNMe(2))](+) and the remarkable 14-electron aminoboryl complex [Rh(IMes)(2)(H)-{B(H)NMe(2))](+). Neutron diffraction studies have been used for the first time to define H-atom locations in metal complexes of this type formed under catalytic conditions.     

Use of thermal imaging to characterize laser light reflection from thermoplastics as a function of thickness,laser incidence angle and surface roughness

Laser light reflection during the laser transmission welding (LTW) of thermoplastics has the potential to overheat and/or cause unintentional welding of adjacent features of the part being welded. For this reason, and in order to assess how much light is being absorbed by the transparent part (after measurement of the light transmitted through the transparent part), it is important to be able to quantify the magnitude and distribution of reflected light. The magnitude and distribution of the reflected light depends on the total laser input power as well as its distribution, the laser incidence angle (angle between the normal to the transparent part surface and the laser beam), the laser light polarization as well as the surface and optical properties of the transparent part. A novel technique based on thermal imaging of the reflected light was previously developed by the authors. It is used in this study to characterize the magnitude and distribution of reflected light from thermoplastics as a function of thickness (1–3.1 mm), laser incidence angle (20–40°) and surface roughness (0.04–1.04 μm). Results from reflection tests on nearly polished nylon 6 (surface roughness between 0.04 and 0.05 μm) have shown that, for the various thicknesses tested (1–3.1 mm), the total reflection was larger than the specular top surface reflection predicted via the Fresnel relation. From these observations, it is conjectured that, in addition to top surface reflection, the bulk and/or bottom surface also contribute to the total reflection. The results also showed that reflection decreased slightly with increasing thickness. As expected, for the p-polarized light used in this study, the reflection decreased with increasing angle of incidence for the range of angles studied. It was also found that when the surface roughness was close to zero and when it was close to the wavelength of the input laser beam (i.e. 940 nm), the reflectance values were close and reached a minimum between these two roughness values.     

Wavelength dependence of the suppressed ionization of molecules in strong laser fields

We study ionization of molecules by an intense laser field over a broad wavelength regime, ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 μm experimentally and from 0.6 to 10 μm theoretically. A reaction microscope is combined with an optical parametric amplifier to achieve ionization yields in the near-infrared wavelength regime. Calculations are done using the strong-field S-matrix theory and agreement is found between experiment and theory, showing that ionization of many molecules is suppressed compared to the ionization of atoms with identical ionization potentials at near-infrared wavelengths at around 0.8 μm, but not at longest wavelengths (10 μm). This is due to interference effects in the electron emission that are effective at low photoelectron energies but tend to average out at higher energies. We observe the transition between suppression and nonsuppression of molecular ionization in the near-infrared wavelength regime (1-5 μm).     

Oil in Louisiana's estuarine environments: A development model

Coastal erosion, accelerated by sea level rise, and subsidence are major Louisiana issues. With current sea-level-rise projections, coupled with the state's eroding barrier islands and coastal wetlands, the region's estuarine environments are in jeopardy of being lost, redefined, or permanently altered. As the coast erodes, Louisiana is endangered of losing valuable wetland's habitat. In addition, if the barrier islands disappear, the region's wetland-oriented oil and gas wells and associated infrastructure will be at risk to open Gulf conditions. If this should occur, each well, pipeline, and storage battery represents a potential environmental catastrophe.     

Controlled Fabrication of Cd-Bi Nanoparticles via Sonochemical Method

IntroductionMetal or alloy nanoparticles,because of their con-spicuous physicochemical properties,have been widelyapplied to various fields such as electronics,catalysis,magnetism,and corrosion-resistant materialsfields[1—4].It has been estimated that the particle sizeand the properties of nanoparticles depend strongly onthe specific method of fabrication and the applied ex-periment conditions,which makes the controlled syn-thesis of nanomaterials become an increasingly activeand important ar…