[en] To better understand the issues about the surface movements in the coal mining region Lugau-Oelsnitz, Germany, small-scale numerical models are firstly utilized for verifications via analytical solutions, to explore the simulation schemes, and for parameter sensitivity analysis. 1D rock column numerical models shows that simulated surface movements are consistent with analytical solutions. The investigations via 2.5D profile numerical models also show that uplift is linear related to water level rise under confined mine water conditions, while a quadratic function is valid for unconfined mine water. Geodetic survey in the Lugau-Oelsnitz district shows that at the end of the active mining period (1844 to 1971), general subsidence is about 5 - 10 m, with a maximum of 17 m in the southern mining area. General uplift velocity after abandoned mine flooding between 1972 and 2014 is about 0.5 - 2.0 mm/year. Based on numerical simulation results, predicted general uplift velocity vary between 0.5 - 3.0 mm/year, while maximum uplift position is moving toward south.

[en] Silica glass is one of the most important materials in optical and electronic applications. We have investigated the wet etching characteristics of silica glass in a buffered hydrofluoric acid (BHF) solution after a thermal treatment with a CW CO₂ laser. The etch rate at the center of the treated region is found to increase by approximately 100% compared to the untreated glass. This shows that the fast thermal cycle experienced by glass as a result of the laser processing changes microstructure, as characterized by an increase in fictive temperature. Thermally manipulating the microstructure of silica glass with a laser may prove to be an important new fabrication technique for integrated optics

[en] Photosensitivity in cis-poly(phenylacetylene) (cis-PPA) films prepared with rare-earth coordination catalysts can be greatly improved by the irradiation with electron beams. Irradiation energy is a key factor for obtaining high photosensitivity. The potential discharge rate and difference between the initial and residual potential under an IR-lamp exposure increase with increasing energy from 1.3 to 1.8 MeV. Photosensitivity in cis-PPA remains almost constant if the irradiation flux is more than the critical flux (1 x 10 e cm^-1). The irradiation effect for electron beams is strongly dependent on the microstructure of PPA and irradiation atmosphere. The dependence of the photosensitivity of the irradiated cis-PPA films on their storage time and temperature has been investigated. The characterization results of the irradiated cis-PPA have been described. A mechanism by which electron beams induce high photosensitivity in cis-PPA is proposed. (author)

[en] The sampling process of Configuration Path Integral Monte Carlo was simplified. Non-interacting oscillator and uniform electron gas were simulated by the corresponding code. Energy distributions of both Fermi systems match well with Fermi-Dirac distribution. Momentum distributions of uniform electron gas under different temperatures and densities also match well with Fermi-Dirac distribution. The research on the two Fermi systems indicates that Configuration Path Integral Monte Carlo shows great potential for solving Fermi sign problem. We present an alternative for Fermi sign problem. And did some remarkable work on uniform electron gas, which lays a foundation for further study for warm-dense matter. (authors)

[en] Coral reefs maintain extraordinary biodiversity and provide protection from tsunamis and storm surge, but inshore coral reef health is degrading in many regions due to deteriorating water quality. Deconvolving natural and anthropogenic changes to water quality is hampered by the lack of long term, dated water quality data but such records are required for forward modelling of reef health to aid their management. Reef corals provide an excellent archive of high resolution geochemical (trace element) proxies that can span hundreds of years and potentially provide records used through the Holocene. Hence, geochemical proxies in corals hold great promise for understanding changes in ancient water quality that can inform broader oceanographic and climatic changes in a given region. This article reviews and highlights the use of coral-based trace metal archives, including metal transported from rivers to the ocean, incorporation of trace metals into coral skeletons and the current ‘state of the art’ in utilizing coral trace metal proxies as tools for monitoring various types of local and regional source-specific pollution (river discharge, land use changes, dredging and dumping, mining, oil spills, antifouling paints, atmospheric sources, sewage). The three most commonly used coral trace element proxies (i.e., Ba/Ca, Mn/Ca, and Y/Ca) are closely associated with river runoff in the Great Barrier Reef, but considerable uncertainty remains regarding their complex biogeochemical cycling and controlling mechanisms. However, coral-based water quality reconstructions have suffered from a lack of understanding of so-called vital effects and early marine diagenesis. The main challenge is to identify and eliminate the influence of extraneous local factors in order to allow accurate water quality reconstructions and to develop alternate proxies to monitor water pollution. Rare earth elements have great potential as they are self-referencing and reflect basic terrestrial input. - Highlights: • Coral skeleton is an excellent archive of metal proxies to monitor water quality. • Uncertainty remains regarding complex cycling and control mechanisms of proxies. • Water quality reconstruction is hindered by vital effects and diagenesis. • Identification and elimination of external factors is the major challenge. • Rare earth elements have great promise for water quality monitoring.

[en] Leakage-rate is one of the most important acceptance criteria in the containment test. The weight of volume for the leakeage measurement probe can affect the leakage-rate result. Using the optimization path and analyzing the distribution of temperature and humidity in the containment during CTT test, this paper presents a new method for the calculation of the probe volume used in the calculation of leakage-rate in containment test. At last, this paper calculates the leakage-rate with new volume admeasurement, which is close to the result of EDF. (authors)

[en] Free radical formation in ⁹⁰Sr-⁹⁰Y β irradiated D- and L-alanine is studied by ESR spectroscopy. To calibrate the probable differences in the size of ESR tubes, the different densities of alanine and the incidental different impurities, samples are firstly irradiated with ⁶⁰Co γ rays. Then the D- and L- alanine samples are irradiated with ⁹⁰Sr-⁹⁰Y source at 77 K. Soon after irradiation, ESR measurement is performed on each sample. The average ratio H_β+γ/H_γ of D- alanine is 0.147 higher than that of L- alanine, indicating that more free radicals are induced in D- alanine by β irradiation. Irradiation at 77 K is capable of diminishing the effect of thermal movement on the polarization of β electrons and freezing the free radical formation. The experiments show the stereoselective interaction of β electrons with D- and L- amino acids, and so supports the Vester-ulbricht hypothesis

[en] The author describes feasibility study on the scheme of disposing spent guide tubes at Daya Bay nuclear power plant, including scheme selection, packing cask design, disposal operation and technological process, budget estimation and safety evaluation. The research results show that the new scheme is feasible on technology, and reasonable on budget. If the scheme is adopted to dispose the spent guide tubes at Daya Bay nuclear power station, it can not only save large funds, but also accumulate experience on disposing non-compressible low and intermediate level solid radioactive wastes produced at nuclear power station for the country

[en] The electron beam welding (EBW) of 304 stainless steel to QCr0.8 copper alloy with or without copper filler wire was studied in detail. The temperature fields and magnitude and distribution of stress fields in the joints during the welding process were numerically simulated using finite element method. The temperature cycles and residual stresses were also experimentally measured by thermometric and hole-drilling methods, respectively. The accuracy of the modeling procedure was verified by the good agreement between the calculated results and experimental data. The temperature distribution in the joint was found to be asymmetric along the center of weld. In particular, the temperature in the copper alloy plate is much higher than that in the 304 SS plate owing to the great difference in thermal conductivity between the two materials. The peak three-dimensional residual stresses all appeared at the interface between the copper and steel in the two different joints. Furthermore, the weld was subjected to tensile stress. The longitudinal residual stress, generally the most harmful to the integrity of the structure among the stress components in EBW with filler wire (EBFW), was 53 MPa lower than that of autogenous EBW (AEBW), and the through-thickness residual stress was 12 MPa lower. The transverse residual stress of EBFW was 44 MPa higher than that of AEBW. However, analysis of the von Mises stress showed that the EBFW process effectively reduced the extent of the high residual stress region in the weld location and the magnitude of the residual stresses in the copper side compared with those of the AEBW joint. - Highlights: • Copper and steel was welded by electron beam welding with copper filler wire. • The copper wire fed into gap can reduce the peak value of residual stress. • The peak value of longitudinal stress can be reduced 53 MPa by the filler wire. • The range of nov Mises stress in the weld could be reduced by the wire

[en] Objective: To investigate the role of HP1α in DNA repair induced by ionizing radiation. Methods: Inhibition of HP1α and HR24L by antisense RNA, respectively and combinative was used to observe the sensitivity of cells to ionizing radiation, and coimmuoprecipitation was performed to find HP1α-containing HR24L complex. Results: Inhibition of HP1α expression had no obvious effect on radiation sensitivity of cells. Significantly, double inhibition of both HP1α and HR24L led to increased sensitivity of cells to ionizing radiation than single inhibition of HR24L. In addition, HP1α was found to coprecipitated with HR24L after DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation with 20 Gy γ-rays. Conclusion: HP1α participates in the formation of HR24L complex that is involved in DNA damage repair, thus contributing to the radiation sensiivity of cells. (authors)