The continuous utilization of nuclear energy has led to the accumulation of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) containing uranium, transuranium, and fission products (FPs). Reprocessing and pyrochemical methods have shown the potential for SNF reuse, thereby reducing its environmental impact. Voloxidation, a pivotal step in SNF recycling, involves thermal treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere to enhance the reactivity. During voloxidation, Se-79, which is a FP with a long half-life, is released as SeO2 under oxidizing conditions, necessitating technologies to capture it. CaO pellets (CPs) were prepared to capture gaseous SeO2. The effects of operating conditions on SeO2 capture performance were investigated. The CP reacts strongly with SeO2 to form CaSeO3, exhibiting a high adsorption capacity of 17.5 mol kg􀀀 1 and >99 % efficiency at 700 ◦C. The mechanical strength and thermal stability assessments indicate suitability for practical applications. Depending on the flow rate, the CP required for SeO2 capture was estimated when processing 1 t of SNF, thereby contributing to the design of effective SeO2 capture systems for safe and sustainable nuclear waste management

• Book : 57(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.1-8
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The disposal of radioactive waste within the UK is managed through a comprehensive regulatory framework.This framework requires radioactive waste to be sufficiently well characterized to ensure its disposal is compliant with the regulations and the acceptance criteria for any receiving facility. This is the responsibility of both the waste consignor and the receiving facility.Characterization of solid radioactive waste is extremely challenging. This is due to the wastes exhibiting a high degree of heterogeneity which leads to significant uncertainty. Understanding the total uncertainty requires combining the uncertainties associated with numerous stages of the characterization process.Experience suggests that whilst uncertainties are included in waste characterization, approaches are variable in quality. This makes it challenging to present an appropriate level of confidence in the waste characterization and the subsequent decisions made to stakeholders.This paper introduces the concept and principles of uncertainty and uncertainty management in waste characterization, summarizing challenges, and gaps in the current approach. It recommends a solution is sought to address shortfalls in the understanding of uncertainty; identify sources of uncertainty across the whole characterization lifecycle; and agree how specialists might combine these uncertainties and communicate them to stakeholders.

• Book : 57(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.1-7
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In this work, a new Time Domain Random Walk (TDRW) algorithm is proposed to estimate the tracer distribution profile within the rock matrix. The development of the new algorithm stems from the statistical properties of the analytical solution to a single fracture-matrix system, in which the particle position at a certain time is calculated and recorded. With the position of each particle determined, the resulting distribution will then provide an estimate of the tracer distribution profile directly. In addition, the newly developed algorithm can readily be extended to a case of more complicated fracture-matrix system, in which an arbitrary injection boundary condition may also be used. To verify the accuracy and applicability of the new algorithm, three benchmark simulations are made, in which the results of different approaches are found to be identical. Nevertheless, the new algorithm has a higher computational efficiency, due to its lower calculation demand.

• Book : 57(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.1-10
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The observation-based analysis of drought development in the Uttar Pradesh region in India showed that, despite the area being relatively large, agricultural drought exhibits high spatial variability. However, the lack of net radiation data hinders the capacity to provide reliable estimates of evapotranspiration (ET), affecting the assessment of drought occurrence since its propagation across the hydrological system becomes very sensitive to the estimation of ET. The most prominent precipitation deficits occur during the monsoon season (June to October), showing that changes in the large-scale circulation are responsible for the impact of severe drought. El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulates the variability of drought with a warm phase favoring drought development with the strongest influence between August and October. The climate change projections under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios suggest the intensification of drought events in the Uttar Pradesh region in the mid-century, with the Chambal River of the Ganges River basin being the most affected area in terms of precipitation and temperature. The projected scenarios correspond to an increase of 1.7°C for mean temperature, and 3.5°C for minimum and maximum temperature in the 2050 horizon, and a decrease of 400 to 800 mm for annual precipitation was projected under both RCPs.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are versatile organisms that catalyze the conversion of a wide range of carbon sources into biomolecules of great industrial interest. In this study, we exploited the ability of Gluconobacter spp. to synthesize levans. Among the isolated strains, Gluconobacter cerinus UELBM11 produced approximately 14.0 g L-1 of levan under non-optimized conditions. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses confirmed that levan obtained from G. cerinus UELBM11 consisted of a β-(2→6)-D-fructose backbone with some β-(2→1) ramifications. The average molecular weight (Mw) of the purified levan was 8.78 × 105 Da. Thermogravimetric/differential thermogravimetric (TGA/DTG) analysis indicated high thermal stability, with the maximum decomposition rate observed at 227.44 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a microporous morphology, and the antioxidant activity assays demonstrated that levan had a high scavenging capacity of 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and hydroxyl radicals. Therefore, it has been demonstrated the levan produced by G. cerinus UELBM11 is a promising natural antioxidant and, owing to its microporosity and excellent thermal properties and stability, is a potential candidate as an additive in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food products.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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ABSTRACTMitochondria play a fundamental role in energy metabolism, particularly in high‐energy‐demand tissues such as skeletal muscle. Understanding the proteomic composition of mitochondria in these cells is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying muscle physiology and pathology. However, effective isolation of mitochondria from primary human skeletal muscle cells has been challenging due to the complex cellular architecture and the propensity for contamination with other organelles. Here, we compared four different methods to isolate mitochondria from primary human skeletal myoblasts regarding total protein yield, mitochondrial enrichment capacity and purity of the isolated fraction. We presented a modified method that combines differential centrifugation with a hypotonic swelling step and a subsequent purification process to minimise cellular contamination. We validated our method by demonstrating its ability to obtain highly pure mitochondrial fractions, as confirmed by Western Blot with mitochondrial, cytosolic and nuclear markers. We demonstrated that proteomic analysis can be performed with isolated mitochondria. Our approach provides a valuable tool for investigating mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis and function in the context of skeletal muscle biology in health and disease. This methodological advancement opens new avenues for mitochondrial research and its implications in myopathies, sarcopenia, cachexia and metabolic disorders.

• Book : 29(2)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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