Abstract

A comprehensive regulatory framework for fusion must consider the unique characteristics and challenges of fusion technology, including safety, environmental protection, waste management, export/import control, and nuclear liability. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has established safety standards and guidelines related to fusion, but more needs to be done to address the gaps in the existing legal frameworks. The article emphasizes the need for clear and predictable regulations to provide confidence for investors and promote the research, development, and deployment of this promising technology. Although significant progress has been made in recent years, commercial fusion power is still likely many years away from being a reality, but a legal framework is essential for its eventual success.

• Book : 11(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.012203
• Keyword :

Abstract

Molten salts are employed as the heat transfer fluid to carry the thermal energy from a solar receiver or a nuclear reactor for delivering to thermal storage systems or thermal power plants for power generation. For the startup operation, molten salts need to be pumped to flow into the pipes which may have lower temperature than the freezing point of molten salt due to the cold ambient temperature overnight or over the suspension of operation. Preventing the freezing of molten salt in cold pipes becomes a critical issue to the safe operation of a concentrating solar thermal power plant or a molten salt nuclear power plant. This study conducted a basic heat transfer analysis of the transient heat transfer from flowing molten salt to a cold pipe to determine the length from entrance to the onset of freezing of the fluid. From our modeling and analytical solution using method of characteristics, the correlation of the location of onset of freezing of molten salt with respect to the flow velocity, heat capacities of molten salt and pipes, dimension of the pipes, and the initial temperatures of salts and pipes, have been understood clearly. The modeling and computational tool can fundamentally help engineers to design a system to avoid freezing and clogging at cold startup when molten salt is applied as a heat transfer fluid.

• Book : 147(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.011002
• Keyword :

Abstract

Nuclear projects often produce and consume a large amount of knowledge. Capitalization on this knowledge constitutes a significant way to increase efficiency on subsequent projects for any stakeholder. In this study, modeling is used as a main approach to support this capitalization. It constitutes, through graphical layout, a more reliable and robust way to transfer information. Moreover, the use of an interconnected set of models enables organizations to break the silos between the disciplines. The approach proposed is based on the operational implementation of existing “on-the-shelf” elements to benefit from previous implementations. The presented example illustrates how, on a nuclear project, engineering processes have been modeled from knowledge of previous projects. These components are all interconnected to constitute a self-supporting set of models as a body of knowledge. The use of models as a main base for knowledge management and transfer has been initiated due to (i) increased traceability of design decisions and impact analysis required by ever-increasing safety requirements from 1980s, 1990s, and Fukushima accident for new nuclear and (ii) gradual departures of design teams and lifetime extension of existing power plants requiring efficient ways to pass down knowledge to newcomers. Additionally, transfer of knowledge from document-centric to model-centric has enabled securitization of interfaces (between organizations, between systems) due to more numerous stakeholders and reduction of rework and site works.

• Book : 11(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.012202
• Keyword :

• Book : 12(suppl1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page :
• Keyword :

• Book : 312()
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.122746
• Keyword :

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202503000-00031/figure1/v/2024-06-17T092413Z/r/image-tiff

Specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators including maresin 1 mediate resolution but the levels of these are reduced in Alzheimer’s disease brain, suggesting that they constitute a novel target for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease to prevent/stop inflammation and combat disease pathology. Therefore, it is important to clarify whether they counteract the expression of genes and proteins induced by amyloid-β. With this objective, we analyzed the relevance of human monocyte-derived microglia for in vitro modeling of neuroinflammation and its resolution in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and investigated the pro-resolving bioactivity of maresin 1 on amyloid-β42-induced Alzheimer’s disease-like inflammation. Analysis of RNA-sequencing data and secreted proteins in supernatants from the monocyte-derived microglia showed that the monocyte-derived microglia resembled Alzheimer’s disease-like neuroinflammation in human brain microglia after incubation with amyloid-β42. Maresin 1 restored homeostasis by down-regulating inflammatory pathway related gene expression induced by amyloid-β42 in monocyte-derived microglia, protection of maresin 1 against the effects of amyloid-β42 is mediated by a re-balancing of inflammatory transcriptional networks in which modulation of gene transcription in the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway plays a major part. We pinpointed molecular targets that are associated with both neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease and therapeutic targets by maresin 1. In conclusion, monocyte-derived microglia represent a relevant in vitro microglial model for studies on Alzheimer’s disease-like inflammation and drug response for individual patients. Maresin 1 ameliorates amyloid-β42-induced changes in several genes of importance in Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease.

• Book : 20(3)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.873-886
• Keyword :

In this study, the embryology of Centaurea kilaea Boiss., a species endemic to Türkiye, was examined using light microscopy. The anthers of C. kilaea are tetrasporangiate; the anther wall development is dicotyledonous; and the tapetum is amoeboid. The meiotic division of the microspore mother cells is regular, and when the pollen grains are thrown from the anthers, they are three-celled. The ovary of C. kilaea is inferior, bicarpellary, syncarpous, and unilocular, which is characteristic of the Asteraceae family. It carries only a single ovule with basal placentation. The ovule is anatropous, unitegmic, and tenuinucellate. The megaspore mother cell undergoes meiotic division, giving rise to a linear tetrad of megaspores. The chalazal megaspore remains functional, and the other three megaspores degenerate rapidly. The functional megaspore undergoes three mitotic divisions in succession. As a result, a Polygonum-type embryo sac, with eight nuclei and seven cells, is formed. The antipodal cells persist until the first divisions of the zygote. In the mature embryo sac stage, the integument consists of the endothelium, peri-endothelial region, parenchymatous cells, and outer epidermis, from the inside out. Endosperm development is initially free nuclear, becoming cellular in the globular embryo stage. Embryo development is of the asterad type. The mature seed does not contain endosperm, but the endothelium persists.

• Book : 84(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page :
• Keyword :

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202504000-00030/figure1/v/2024-07-06T104127Z/r/image-tiff

Our previous studies have reported that activation of the NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3)-inflammasome complex in ethanol-treated astrocytes and chronic alcohol-fed mice could be associated with neuroinflammation and brain damage. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) have been shown to restore the neuroinflammatory response, along with myelin and synaptic structural alterations in the prefrontal cortex, and alleviate cognitive and memory dysfunctions induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescent mice. Considering the therapeutic role of the molecules contained in mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles, the present study analyzed whether the administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles isolated from adipose tissue, which inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, was capable of reducing hippocampal neuroinflammation in adolescent mice treated with binge drinking. We demonstrated that the administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorated the activation of the hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome complex and other NLRs inflammasomes (e.g., pyrin domain-containing 1, caspase recruitment domain-containing 4, and absent in melanoma 2, as well as the alterations in inflammatory genes (interleukin-1β, interleukin-18, inducible nitric oxide synthase, nuclear factor-kappa B, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1) and miRNAs (miR-21a-5p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-141-5p) induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescent mice. Bioinformatic analysis further revealed the involvement of miR-21a-5p and miR-146a-5p with inflammatory target genes and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings provide novel evidence of the therapeutic potential of MSC-derived EVs to ameliorate the hippocampal neuroinflammatory response associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by binge drinking in adolescence.

• Book : 20(4)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.1153-1163
• Keyword :

Abstract

Robotic hands are an important tool for replacing humans in handling toxic or radioactive materials. However, these are usually highly expensive, and in many cases, once they are contaminated, they cannot be re-used. Some solutions cope with this challenge by 3D printing parts of a tendon-based hand. However, fabrication requires additional assembly steps. Therefore, a novice user may have difficulties fabricating a hand upon contamination of the previous one. We propose the Print-N-Grip (PNG) hand, which is a tendon-based underactuated mechanism able to adapt to the shape of objects. The hand is fabricated through one-shot 3D printing with no additional engineering effort and can accommodate a number of fingers as desired by the practitioner. Due to its low cost, the PNG hand can be easily detached from a universal base for disposing upon contamination and replaced by a newly printed one. In addition, the PNG hand is scalable such that one can effortlessly resize the computerized model and print. We present the design of the PNG hand along with experiments to show the capabilities and high durability of the hand.

• Book : 147(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.013301
• Keyword :

Continuous improvements in high-resolution infrared remote sensing imaging technology have led to important applications in various fields; however, the low filling rate of optical fiber and degradation of the focal ratio of the image end remain problems that restrict further development. The coupling technology of the microlens array and optical fiber bundle assembly is the key to solving these problems. In this work, we studied the coupling technology of microlens array and optical fiber bundle assembly. Specifically, six degrees-of-freedom coupling assembly and infrared radiation energy measurement subsystems were built, and based on this a high-precision mechanical alignment coupling efficiency measurement system was designed. After kinematic analysis, it was found that the maximum positioning error was within the allowable error range, making the system suitable for the requirements of precision assembly. Finally, the alignment coupling efficiency of the system was tested, and the results showed that the coupling efficiency reached 92.65%, which was only 6.01% lower than the assumed theoretical value and affirmed the feasibility of the system design for improving the performance of optical fiber image transmission systems.

• Book : 32(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.61-79
• Keyword :