[en] Highlights: • Improvement of subgroup resonance code SUGAR is undertaken to increase efficiency. • Resonant nuclides are grouped for complex isotope compositions. • An in-house matrix MOC solver is employed to replace the AutoMOC solver. • These techniques speed 5–32 without any loss of accuracy or geometric flexibility. - Abstract: Due to its accuracy and geometric flexibility, the subgroup method is becoming a more and more attractive resonance calculation approach dedicated to obtaining resonance group macroscopic cross sections from multi-group libraries. In order to increase the efficiency of our subgroup code SUGAR, this paper contributes to the development of the code from four aspects. Firstly, subgroup parameters were proved to be problem-independent and the number of subgroups can be chosen automatically. This motivated us to produce a new multi-group library. Secondly, what subgroup method really needs is the relative subgroup flux within each multi-group instead of the relative multi-group flux between different groups. Thus, it is unnecessary to iteratively calculate in the whole energy range if the connections between different energy ranges can be approximated by a simple method. Thirdly, for problems with complex isotope compositions, resonant nuclides could be grouped according to their resonance characteristics. By this grouping, computational effort could be significantly reduced since nominal resonant nuclides turn out to be these nuclide groups rather than the actual nuclides. Finally, considering that most of the computational effort is spent on solving the subgroup neutron transport equation, an in-house matrix MOC solver is employed to replace the AutoMOC solver. In this way, the higher speed of the matrix MOC solver can be fully utilized by our subgroup code. To verify these theories and to prove the improvements, a series of benchmark problems were solved. It is demonstrated by these numerical results that these techniques can accelerate the code SUGAR by a factor of 5–32 with respect to overall computations without losing accuracy and geometric flexibility. It was also found that the more complex the resonant nuclide composition is, the sharper the acceleration effect appears to be

[en] The bi-component ZnO/ZnCo₂O₄ nanocomposites are prepared via a facile and scalable synthesis method by controlling the ratio of Zn to Co in the synthesis stage. The ZnO/ZnCo₂O₄ nanocomposites built from the interconnecting porous nanosheets possess loose porous nanostructures with abundant open space and electroactive surface sites. When evaluated as an anode material for lithium ion batteries, the ZnO/ZnCo₂O₄ nanocomposite electrode exhibits high capacity, good cycling stability (1086 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹ after 80 cycles and 847 mAh g⁻¹ at 500 mA g⁻¹ after 200 cycles), and excellent rate capability (∼538 mAh g⁻¹ at 3200 mA g⁻¹), which is superior to most of the previously-reported ZnO-based or ZnCo₂O₄-based electrode materials. The superior electrochemical performances of the ZnO/ZnCo₂O₄ nanocomposites are attributed to the loose porous structure, which can buffer the volume expansion and increase the contact area between the electrode and electrolyte. Moreover, a strong synergistic effect between the Zn and Co occurs during the lithiation/delithiation process, where the Zn and Co are acting as mutually beneficial matrix ions to effectively alleviate the large mechanical stress caused by the severe volume change, and thus bring about high and stable capacity.

[en] The paper firstly proposes a coupling resonance method in which subgroup method is employed in the serried peak energy region, and wavelet expansion method is employed in single peak energy region. The original subgroup model and wavelet expansion model are improved and coupled through the calculation of scattering source from subgroup to wavelet expansion, so that the self-shielding cross section in the whole energy region can be calculated accurately. To verify these theories and to prove the improvements, a PWR cell benchmark problem is calculated. It is demonstrated that, compared with other traditional multi-group resonance methods and continuous energy resonance method, this coupling resonance method has the ability to accurately calculate the whole energy region's self-shielding cross section while Keeping enough efficiency and finally has an ability to offer the accurate self-shielding parameters for latter transport, calculation. (authors)

[en] Graphical abstract: Display Omitted -- Abstract: One-dimensional porous anhydrous cobalt oxalate nanorods are prepared via a facile water-controlled coprecipitate method followed by thermal annealing treatment under N_2 at 300 °C. The nanorods are characterized by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. When evaluated as an anode material for lithium ion batteries, the nanorods exhibit high reversible specific capacity and excellent cycling stability (924 mA h g"−"1 at 50 mA g"−"1 after 100 cycles and 709 mA h g"−"1 at 200 mA g"−"1 after 220 cycles). This remarkable electrochemical performance is attributed to the one-dimensional porous nanostructure that can provide large electrode/electrolyte contact area and short lithium-ion diffusion pathway, meanwhile reduce the volume expansion during the repeated discharge/charge process

[en] The technology of measurement for radiation has been more and more mature recently, OSL dosimeter and TSL dosimeter has been available commercially. In this paper, the mechanism of exoelectron emission, materials used for TSEE and OSEE dosimeters are introduced. Meanwhile, Based on the current state, the advantage of EED and the application of EED are also introduced. (authors)

[en] A multi-group data module and a subgroup resonance calculation code were designed for Neutronics Evaluation Comprehensive Package based on subgroup method in this paper. A self-advanced 2D transport module called matrix MOC was employed as solver in subgroup resonance calculation module. Finally, a series of resonance benchmarks were calculated by MCNP and subgroup code respectively, and the k_i_n_f and macro cross section of "2"3"5U and "2"3"8U by MCNP and subgroup code were compared. The results show that the subgroup code has enough accuracy and adaptability for arbitrary geometries and it's suitable for 2D arbitrary resonance calculation. (authors)

[en] Objective: To explore the value of Gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) in diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods: 32 patients with 45 pathologically confirmed papillary thyroid carcinoma nodules underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced thyroid GSI. The iodine concentrations and slopes of the spectral curves of the lesions were calculated and correlated with pathology. Results: The tumors had significantly (P < 0.05) lower iodine concentrations and absolute values of the slopes of spectral curves in the unenhanced (5.77 ± 4.23 pg/ml, -0.53 ± 0.26), arterial(10.42 ± 5.78 pg/ml, -0.84 ± 0.52), and venous (18.27 ± 5.09 pg/ml, -1.24 ± 0.30) phases than that of benign nodules and normal tissues. Of 32 patients, 23 had lymph node metastasis with spectrum curves identical to the primary tumors in 18. Conclusion: GSI is valuable in accurate diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. (authors)

[en] The magnetic order and dynamical properties of spin-frustrated magnet Dy_2−xYb_xTi₂O₇ single crystals have been studied by dc and ac susceptibility measurements. It is found that the substitution of the Dy³⁺ by the Yb³⁺ in Dy₂Ti₂O₇ relaxes ferromagnetic coupling. In low Yb³⁺ doping samples, a spin freezing peak at T_f (T_f<3 K) and a single-ion effect peak T_s associated with Dy³⁺ are observed. With increasing Yb³⁺ doping, a new peak marked by T^⁎ associated with Yb³⁺ appears. We suggest that T^⁎ originates from the thermally activated spin fluctuations of Yb³⁺. It is also found that the relaxation process for T_s becomes both thermally activated and quantum tunneled in x≥1.0 samples. The low-temperature dynamical behaviors of Dy_2−xYb_xTi₂O₇ are dominated by the Dy–Yb spin interactions and the altered crystalline electric field. Moreover, crystal field-phonon coupling may contribute to the spin dynamic properties. - Highlights: • With increasing Yb³⁺ doping, a new peak marked by T* associated with Yb³⁺ appears. • The relaxation process for T_s associated with Dy³⁺ becomes both thermally activated and quantum tunneled in x≥1.0 samples. • The low-temperature dynamical behavior is closely associated with the Dy–Yb spin interactions and the altered crystalline electric field

[en] Highlights: • Hierarchical mesoporous Cu_xCo_3_-_xO_4 nanosheets array was directly grown on conductive substrates. • Hierarchical mesoporous Cu_xCo_3_-_xO_4 nanosheets array was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. • Cu_xCo_3_-_xO_4 nanosheets exhibit very high initial discharge capacity. • Cu_xCo_3_-_xO_4 nanosheets have good rate performance. - Abstract: Hierarchical mesoporous Cu_xCo_3_-_xO_4 nanosheets have been directly grown on Ti foil by a facile hydrothermal method and a subsequent annealing treatment. The rich porosity of the sample heated at 600 °C (CCO-600) shows excellent electrochemical performance when as anode for Li-ion batteries. It exhibits very high initial discharge capacity of 1300 mAh g"−"1 at 300 mA g"−"1 (1C=1100 mA g"−"1) and achieves reversible charge capacity as high as 335 mAh g"−"1 at the current density of 50 C. More importantly, when altering the current density back to 0.1 C, the charge capacity could be recovered to 1045 mAh g"−"1.Such high rate capability indicates that this hierarchical mesoporous Cu_xCo_3_-_xO_4 nanosheets material has great potential in lithium ion batteries

[en] Recently, U. Das and B. Mukhopadhyay proposed that the Chandrasekhar limit of a white dwarf could reach a new high level (2.58M⊙) if a superstrong magnetic field were considered (Das U and Mukhopadhyay B 2013 Phys. Rev. Lett. 110 071102), where the structure of the strongly magnetized white dwarf (SMWD) is calculated in the framework of Newtonian theory (NT). As the SMWD has a far smaller size, in contrast with the usual expectation, we found that there is an obvious general relativistic effect (GRE) in the SMWD. For example, for the SMWD with a one Landau level system, the super-Chandrasekhar mass limit in general relativity (GR) is approximately 16.5% lower than that in NT. More interestingly, the maximal mass of the white dwarf will be first increased when the magnetic field strength keeps on increasing and reaches the maximal value M = 2.48M⊙ with B_D = 391.5. Then if we further increase the magnetic fields, surprisingly, the maximal mass of the white dwarf will decrease when one takes the GRE into account. (geophysics, astronomy, and astrophysics)