[en] HTR in China: • 1980s, Fundamental Research, Co-operation with Germany • 1990-2003, HTR-10 Test Reactor, 10MWth • 2003-2017, HTR-PM (High Temperature Reactor- Pebble-bed Module), full scale demonstration plant, 2×250MWth, 200MWe, HTR-PM Fuel: • INET demo production facility, 100,000/a, 2010/10 • Irradiation test of fuels, Petten, The Netherland, • From 2012/09/08/ to 2014/12/30 • 351 EFPD • Commercial fuel plant, 300,000/a, Baotou, CNNC fuel plant • 2013/03/ started construction • 2016/03/ finished plant installation and commission • 2016/08/ started production • 2017/07/ 200,000 fuel pebbles finished. HTR-PM Components: • Reactor Pressure Vessels, on site • Metallic reactor internals, on site • Full Scope Simulator, on site • Distributed Control System, on site • Reactor Protection System, on site • Control Rods Driving Mechanisms, in schedule • Small Absorber Sphere Systems, in schedule • Helium Circulators, in schedule • Fuel Handling System, in schedule • Steam Generator, Vessel and 38 assemblies finished, in final installation. HTR-PM Next Step: Role of HTR-PM in China • Supplement to PWRs, Especially to replace Coal-fired Power Plant in popular region • Co-generation of steam and electricity, hydrogen production • Technology Innovation

[en] Objective: To explore the applying value of the diagnosis of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and 3D ¹H-MR spectroscopy (MRS) in prostate cancer (PC). Methods: Thirty-two cases with PC and 64 cases with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) which were confirmed with biopsy-proven, operation and follow-up, and 29 healthy volunteers underwent the examinations of DCE-MRI, DWI and MRS. The signal intensity, ADC value, and Cho/Cit ratio and (Cho + Cr)/Cit ratio were measured respectively on the lesions of PC and BPH, normal prostatic peripheral zone (PZ) and normal prostatic central gland (CG) of DCE-MRI, DWI and MRS. The results were statistically treated with ANOVA. Results: The lesions showed obvious enhancement in the early phase of DCE-MRI and washed out in late phase in 18 of 22 cases with PC, who underwent the examination of DCE-MRI. The enhancement was obvious in early and strengthened gradually, and then went to decrease in late phase after peak value on the lesions in 38 of 40 cases with BPH. The signal intensities from different time and different lesions and tissues were treated statistically and the results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) between PZ, PC and BPH in different time except 0 s and 120 s between PC and BPH (P> 0.05). The lesions were shown lower signal intensity on ADC map in 26 cases with PC, who were examined with DWI and the average ADC value was (104.23±26.15) x 10^-5 mm²/s. The average ADC Value of the lesions of 43 cases with BPH was (175.21±64.86) x 10^-5 mm²/s. The statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between PC, BPH and CG except between PZ and BPH. Average Cho/Cit ratio and average (Cho + Cr)/Cit ratio of the lesions of PC were 2.26±0.91 and 2.85±1.01 respectively in 17 cases with PC, who were performed with MRS. The average Cho/Cit ratio and average (Cho + Cr)/Cit ratio were 0.46±0.23 and 0.57±0.20 respectively in 35 cases with BPH. After the statistical analyzing, the results presented that there were significant differences between PC, BPH and normal prostatic tissues except between PZ and CG. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of DCE-MRI, DWI and MRS were all more than 70% in displaying PC. Furthermore, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of DCE-MRI, DWI and MRS had increased to 87.50%, 94.74% and 92. 59% respectively with the combining use of this three examination methods. Conclusions: DCE-MRI, DWI and MRS could present the specific findings in the diagnosis of PC. The combining application of the three examination methods will further increase the accurate diagnosis of PC. (authors)

[en] Highlights: • Nanoplastics are visible in gastric and other tissues of mice after treatment. • Nanoplastics entering GES-1 cells rely on endocytosis and macropinocytosis. • Nanoplastics regulate endocytosis through RhoA/F-actin signaling pathway. • Internalized nanoplastics produce cytotoxicity to GES-1 cells. With the widespread use of plastics and nanotechnology products, nanoplastics (NPs) have become a potential threat to human health. It is of great practical significance to study and evaluate the distribution of NPs in mice as mammal models and their entry, transport, and cytotoxicity in human cell lines. In this study, we detected the tissue distribution of fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in mice and assessed their endocytosis, transport pathways, and cytotoxic effects in GES-1 cells. We found that PS-NPs were clearly visible in gastric, intestine, and liver tissues of mice and in GES-1 cells treated with PS-NPs. Entry of PS-NPs into GES-1 cells decreased with the inhibition of caveolae-mediated endocytosis (nystatin), clathrin-mediated endocytosis (chlorpromazine HCl), micropinocytosis (ethyl-isopropyl amiloride), RhoA (CCG-1423), and F-actin polymerization (lantrunculin A). Rac1 inhibitors (NSC 23766) had no significant effect on PS-NPs entering GES-1 cells. F-actin levels significantly decreased in CCG-1423-pretreated GES-1 cells exposed to PS-NPs. GES-1 cell ultrastructural features indicated that internalized PS-NPs can be encapsulated in vesicles, autophagosomes, lysosomes, and lysosomal residues. RhoA, F-actin, RAB7, and LAMP1 levels in PS-NPs-treated GES-1 cells were remarkably up-regulated and the Rab5 level was significantly down-regulated compared to levels in untreated cells. PS-NPs treatment decreased cell proliferation rates and increased cell apoptosis. The formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes and levels of LC3II increased with the length of PS-NPs treatment. The results indicated that cells regulated endocytosis in response to PS-NPs through the RhoA/F-actin signaling pathway and internalized PS-NPs in the cytoplasm, autophagosomes, or lysosomes produced cytotoxicity. These results illustrate the potential threat of NPs pollution to human health.

[en] Highlights: • High density copper nanowires were deposited into TNTAs by a novel electrochemical based method. • The novel core-shell Cu NWs-TNTAs composite film shows both analogue and digital resistive switching properties. • The digital resistive switching ratio is more than 40 after 1000 I–V sweeps and remains more than 20 after 10000 cycles. -- Abstract: Electrochemical nanomaterial-based resistive switching devices (memristors) have recently attracted significant research interest because of their low cost and potential applications in nonvolatile data storage and artificial neural networks. In this paper, we report an electrochemical method to produce a novel memristor based on copper nanowire-titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (TNTAs), a core-shell composite material. TNTAs are fabricated using a cheap and effective electrochemical anodization method, and high-density copper nanowires are synthesized via excess-electrodeposition with a novel peeling-off strategy. This novel memristor shows both analogue and digital resistive switching properties by controlling the electroforming process. The R_off/R_on ratio of the digital memristor remains greater than 40 during 1000 consecutive I–V sweeps. The device shows good endurance over 10⁴ pulse cycles, with an R_off/R_on ratio greater than 20. Furthermore, the data retention time can be maintained at least for 10⁴ s. The outstanding digital resistive switching performance can be attributed to the numerous parallel copper nanowire nanoelectrodes inside the film.

[en] Compared to periodic crystals, quasicrystals have higher point group symmetry and are more favorable in achieving complete band-gaps. In this report, a top-cut prism interferometer is designed to fabricate ten-fold photonic quasicrystalline structures. By optimizing the exposing conditions and material characteristics, appropriate quasicrystals have been obtained in the SU8 photoresist films. Atomic Force Microscopy and laser diffraction are used to characterize the fabricated structures. The measurement results show the consistence between the theoretical design and experiments. This will provide guidance for the large-area and fast production of ten-fold quasicrystalline structures with high quality

[en] This study investigated the synergy in the co-pyrolysis of cellulose and polyethylene (PE) over HZSM-5 and the mechanism of the catalytic co-pyrolysis. PE, cellulose, cellulose/PE, cellulose/PE/HZSM-5 were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis and Py-GC/MS experiments at 650 °C to obtain the distribution of products, respectively. The results of Py-GC/MS experiments showed that the products quality of co-pyrolysis of PE and cellulose is improved over HZSM-5. The mechanism of catalytic co-pyrolysis was mainly the radical reaction and Diels–Alder reaction. The catalytic effect of HZSM-5 was mainly to promote the Diels–Alder reaction to produce more aromatic hydrocarbons. According to the density functional theory, the mechanism of this catalytic co-pyrolysis was verified, and the proposed reaction paths were verified to make the co-pyrolysis process more clear.

[en] Methane storage in multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is studied at ambient temperature and pressures of 0-10.5 MPa, with a quantity of 80 g samples that were synthesized by nano-agglomerate fluidized-bed reactors (NAFBR). The volume of methane released by MWNTs was measured by volumetric method. We study the effects of purification and the pretreatments on methane storage. Results show that mixed acid treatment, alkali treatment, and mechanical shearing can obviously enhance gas uptake while high-temperature treatment can only slightly reduce it. For properly pretreated samples, an optimal 11.7% of mass storage capacity was achieved at room temperature and the pressure of 10.5 MPa, indicating that CNTs is a potential material for methane uptake

[en] Highlights: • Friction stir welded 7055-T4 alloy exhibits higher tensile properties than T6 alloy. • Friction stir welded 7055-T4 alloy exhibits more uniform hardness distribution. • Some regions in heat affected zone have higher hardness than base metal in T4-joint. • Effect of initial temper on precipitate evolution in different zones is discussed. AA 7055-T6 and AA 7055-T4 aluminium alloy sheets were friction stir welded to investigate the impact of initial base metal temper on microstructure, hardness and tensile properties of the joints. In the joint of alloy in T6 temper (T6-joint), the hardness of the weld zone is lower than that of base metal; in the joint of alloy in T4 temper (T4-joint), however, some regions in the heat affected zone exhibit higher hardness than base metal. The weld nugget zone in T6-joint exhibits slightly lower hardness compared with that in T4-joint. The hardness minima is slightly higher in T4-joint than in T6-joint. T4-joint exhibits higher yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation compared with T6-joint. Based on microstructure examination by transmission electron microscopy, the impact of initial precipitate state on precipitation behavior in the weld nugget zone, thermo-mechanically affected zone and heat affected zone during friction stir welding and mechanical properties of the joints is discussed.

[en] Highlights: • Water cooling improves tensile properties of friction stir welded 7055 Al alloy. • Water cooling results in smaller grains and second phase in nugget zone. • Water cooling results in finer second phase in thermos-mechanically affected zone. • Water cooling results in finer second phase in heat affected zone. • Fracture surface is flat for air-cooled joint but zig-zag for water-cooled one. - Abstract: The microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 7055 aluminium alloy under air cooling and water cooling were investigated by means of hardness and tensile testing, optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Water cooling results in reduced softening in the weld zone and therefore higher tensile strength compared to air cooling. Fracture generally occurs within the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ) on the retreating side in joints welded under air cooling but shifts towards the TMAZ and nugget zone (NZ) in the joints welded under water cooling. The fracture surfaces are generally flat for the air-cooled joint, but exhibits a zig-zag feature for the water-cooled joint. The mechanical behaviour of the weld has been discussed in light of the change in grain structure and precipitation in the NZ, TMAZ and HAZ caused by cooling conditions.

[en] In this paper, we propose an inverse method for full gravity gradient tensor data in the spherical coordinate system. As opposed to the traditional gravity inversion in the Cartesian coordinate system, our proposed method takes the curvature of the Earth, the Moon, or other planets into account, using tesseroid bodies to produce gravity gradient effects in forward modeling. We used both synthetic and observed datasets to test the stability and validity of the proposed method. Our results using synthetic gravity data show that our new method predicts the depth of the density anomalous body efficiently and accurately. Using observed gravity data for the Mare Smythii area on the moon, the density distribution of the crust in this area reveals its geological structure. These results validate the proposed method and potential application for large area data inversion of planetary geological structures. .