Publications Repository - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

The technical evolution of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for mineral exploration advances rapidly. Recent sensor developments and improved UAS performance open new fields for research and applications in geological and geophysical exploration among others. In this study, we introduce an integrated acquisition and processing strategy for drone-borne multi-sensor surveys combining optical remote sensing and magnetic data. We deploy both fixed-wing and multicopter UAS to characterise an outcrop of the Otanmäki Fe-Ti-V deposit in central Finland. The lithology consists mainly of gabbro intrusions hosting ore bodies of magnetite-ilmenite. Large areas of the outcrop are covered by lichen and low vegetation. We use two drone-borne multi- and hyperspectral cameras operating in the visible to near-infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to identify dominant geological features and the extents of ore bodies via iron-indicating proxy minerals. We apply band ratios, unsupervised and supervised image classifications on the spectral data, from which we can map surficial iron-bearing zones. We use two setups with three-axis fluxgate magnetometers deployed both by a fixed-wing and a multi-copter UAS to measure the magnetic field at various flight altitudes (15 m, 40 m, 65 m). The total magnetic intensity (TMI) computed from the individual components is used for further interpretation of ore distribution. We compare to traditional magnetic ground-based survey data to evaluate the UAS-based results. The measured anomalies and spectral data are validated and assigned to the outcropping geology and ore mineralisation by performing surface spectroscopy, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), magnetic susceptibility and traditional geologic mapping. Locations of mineral zones and magnetic anomalies correlate with the established geologic map. The integrated survey strategy allowed a straightforward mapping of ore occurrences. We highlight the efficiency, spatial resolution and reliability of UAS surveys. Acquisition time of magnetic UAS surveying surpassed ground surveying by factor of twenty with a comparable resolution. The proposed workflow possibly facilitates surveying particularly in areas with complicated terrain and of limited accessibility, but highlights the remaining challenges in UAS mapping.

Europium is used to replace toxic lead in metal halide perovskite nanocrystals. They are synthesized by injecting cesium oleate in a solution of europium (II) bromide at an experimentally determined optimum temperature of 130°C. The obtained CsEuBr3 NCs exhibit bright blue emission at 413 nm (FWHM: 30 nm) with a room temperature photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of 39%. The emission originates from the Laporte allowed 4f7 – 4f65d1 transition of Eu2+ and shows a PL decay time of 263 ns. Under optimized synthesis conditions long-term stability of the optical properties without any sign of oxidation to Eu3+ is achieved, making the fully inorganic lead-free CsEuBr3 NCs promising deep blue emitters for optoelectronics.

We present a study devoted to a detailed description of modulated rotating waves (MRW) in the magnetised spherical Couette system. The set-up consists of a liquid metal confined between two differentially rotating spheres and subjected to an axially applied magnetic field. When the magnetic field strength is varied, several branches of MRW are obtained by means of three-dimensional direct numerical simulations. The MRW originate from parent branches of rotating waves and are classified according to Rand’s (Arch Ration Mech Anal 79:1–37, 1982) and Coughling and Marcus (J Fluid Mech 234:1–18, 1992) theoretical description. We have found relatively large intervals of multistability of MRW at low magnetic field, corresponding to the radial jet instability known from previous studies. However, at larger magnetic field, corresponding to the return flow regime, the stability intervals of MRW are very narrow and thus they are unlikely to be found without detailed knowledge of their bifurcation point. A careful analysis of the spatio-temporal symmetries of the most energetic modes involved in the different classes of MRW will allow in the future a comparison with the HEDGEHOG experiment, a magnetised spherical Couette device hosted at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf.

A new systematic approach for estimating the section and column efficiencies based on flow profiles and vapor−liquid equilibrium (VLE) characteristics of binary mixtures exclusively for each tray is proposed. A novel iterative technique for approximating the slope of the VLE curve and the tray efficiency is also developed. For demonstrating the predictive capabilities of the new approach, two case studies are formulated in this work - one with a theoretical column processing selected binary mixtures at total reflux, and the other involving an industrial column whose performance data are acquired from the literature. An in-depth analysis of theoretical column study reveals the superiority of the new approach over the most applied method. In the case study of industrial column, the new approach predicts the section efficiency accurately, unlike the efficiency underestimation from the most applied method. Such an approach would allow a priori calculation of the section and column efficiencies in the tray and column design phase.

In the context of a comprehensive campaign for the characterisation of transmutation fuels for next generation nuclear reactors, the melting behaviour of mixed uranium-americium dioxides has been experimentally studied for the first time by laser heating, for Am concentrations up to 70 mol. % under different types of atmospheres. Extensive post-melting material characterisations were then performed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The melting temperatures observed for the various compositions follow a markedly different trend depending on the experimental atmosphere. Uranium-rich samples melt at temperatures significantly lower (around 2700 K) when they are laser-heated in a strongly oxidizing atmosphere compressed air at (0.300 ± 0.005) MPa, compared to the melting points (beyond 3000 K) registered for the same compositions in an inert environment (pressurised Ar). This behaviour has been interpreted on the basis of the strong oxidation of such samples in air, leading to lower-melting temperatures. Thus, the melting temperature trend observed in air is characterized, in the purely pseudo-binary dioxide plane, by an apparent maximum melting temperature around 2850 K for 0.3 < x(AmO2) < 0.5. The melting points measured under inert atmosphere uniformly decrease with increasing americium content, displaying an approximately ideal solution behaviour if a melting point around 2386 K is assumed for pure AmO2. In reality, it will be shown that the (U, Am)-oxide system can only be rigorously described in the ternary U-Am-O phase diagram, rather than the UO2-AmO2 pseudo-binary, due to the aforementioned over-oxidation effect in air. Indeed, general departures from the oxygen stoichiometry (Oxygen/Metal ratios ≠ 2.0) have been highlighted by the X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). Finally, to help interpret the experimental results, thermodynamic computations based on the CALPHAD method will be presented.

Many correlations have been developed to predict the hydrodynamics of bubble columns. Often, these studies are performed for incomparable systems in terms of column and sparger dimensions as well as physical fluid properties. In this work, a different approach is proposed comprising interrelated correlations for liquid velocity, gas holdup and bubble size. The correlations are developed on the basis of complementary experiments with non-invasive measurement techniques, namely, Ultrafast X-ray Computed Tomography (UXCT) and Radioactive Particle Tracking (RPT). The experimental setup consists of a bubble column equipped with a needle sparger. The developed correlations consider sparger dimensions, operating conditions and bubble size. The bubble size is applied as the characteristic length in the Reynolds and the Eötvös numbers, which are utilized for the gas holdup and liquid velocity correlations. In comparison with previous approaches, the developed correlations show better agreement with experimental data from this study as well as from the literature.

The nanoscience field often produces results more mystifying than any other discipline. It has been argued that changes of the plutonium dioxide (PuO2) particle size from bulk to nano can have a drastic effect on PuO2 properties. Here we report a full characterization of PuO2 nanoparticles (NPs) at the atomic level, explore their stability and probe their local and electronic structure. The particles were synthesized from precursors with different oxidation states (Pu III, IV and V) under various environmentally and waste storage relevant conditions (pH 8 and pH 12). We demonstrate that well dispersed, crystalline NPs with a size of ~2.5 nm in diameter are always formed in spite of diverse chemical conditions. Identical crystal structures and the presence of only Pu(IV) oxidation state in all NPs indicate that their fundamental properties, rather than being fancy and exotic, are identical to those of the bulk PuO2.

We report here experimental evidence that the formation of PuO2 nanoparticles from oxidized Pu(VI) under environmentally relevant conditions proceeds through the formation of an intermediate Pu(V) solid phase, similar to NH4PuO2CO3, which is stable over a period of several months. State-of-the-art experiments at Pu M4 and L3 absorption edges combined with theoretical calculations unambiguously allowed us to determine the oxidation state and the local structure of this intermediate phase

Herein, a multi-technique study was performed to reveal the elemental speciation and microphase composition in altered granitic rock collected from the Krunkelbach Valley uranium (U) deposit area near an abandoned U mine, Black Forest, Southern Germany. The former Krunkelbach U mine with 1–2 km surrounding area represents a unique natural analogue site with the rich accumulation of secondary U minerals suitable for radionuclide migration studies from a spent nuclear fuel (SNF) repository. Based on a micro-technique analysis using several synchrotron-based techniques such as X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and laboratory-based scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, the complex mineral assemblage was identified. While on the surface of granite, heavily altered metazeunerite–metatorbernite (Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2−x(PO4)x·8H2O) microcrystals were found together with diluted coatings similar to cuprosklodowskite (Cu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2·6H2O), in the cavities of the rock predominantly well-preserved microcrystals close to metatorbernite (Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8H2O) were identified. The Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2−x(PO4)x·8H2O species exhibit uneven morphology and varies in its elemental composition, depending on the microcrystal part ranging from well-preserved to heavily altered on a scale of ∼200 μm. The microcrystal phase alteration could be presumably attributed to the microcrystal morphology, variations in chemical composition, and geochemical conditions at the site. The occurrence of uranyl-arsenate-phosphate and uranyl-silicate mineralisation on the surface of the same rock indicates the signatures of different geochemical conditions that took place after the oxidative weathering of the primary U- and arsenic (As)-bearing ores. The relevance of uranyl minerals to SNF storage and the potential role of uranyl-arsenate mineral species in the mobilization of U and As into the environment is discussed.

The NeNa and the MgAl cycles play a fundamental role in the nucleosynthesis of asymptotic giant branch stars undergoing hot bottom burning. The 23Na (p , γ)24Mg reaction links these two cycles and a precise determination of its rate is required to correctly estimate the contribution of these stars to the chemical evolution of various isotopes of Na, Mg and Al. At temperatures of 50 ≲ T ≲ 110MK, narrow resonances at Ep = 140 and 251keV are the main contributors to the reaction rate, in addition to the direct capture that dominates in the lower part of the temperature range. We present new measurements of the strengths of these resonances at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA). We have used two complementary detection approaches: high efficiency with a 4π BGO detector for the 140 keV resonance, and high resolution with a HPGe detector for the 251 keV resonance. Thanks to the reduced cosmic ray background of LUNA, we were able to determine the resonance strength of the 251 keV resonance as ωγ = 482 (82) μeV and observed new gamma ray transitions for the decay of the corresponding state in 24Mg at Ex = 11931keV. With the highly efficient BGO detector, we observed a signal for the 140 keV resonance for the first time in a direct measurement, resulting in a strength of ωγ140 = 1.46-0.53+0.58 neV (68% CL). Our measurement reduces the uncertainty of the 23Na (p , γ)24Mg reaction rate in the temperature range from 0.05 to 0.1 GK to at most -35%+50% at 0.07 GK. Accordingly, our results imply a significant reduction of the uncertainties in the nucleosynthesis calculations.

The attachment of solid particles to the surface of immersed gas bubbles plays a fundamental role in surface science, and hence plays key roles in various engineering fields ranging from industrial separation processes to the fabrication of functional materials. However, detailed investigation from a microscopic view on how a single particle attaches to a bubble surface and how the particle properties affect the attachment behavior has been so far scarcely addressed. Here, we observed the attachment of a single particle to a bubble surface using a high-speed camera and systematically investigated the effects of the wettability and shape of particles. We found that hydrophobic particles abruptly “jumped into” the bubble while sliding down the bubble surface to eventually satisfy their static contact angles, the behavior of which induced a much stronger attachment to the bubble surface. Interestingly, the determinant factor for the attachment efficiency of spherical particles was not the wettability of the spherical particles but the location of the initial collision with the bubble surface. In contrast, the attachment efficiency of anisotropically-shaped particles was found to increase with the hydrophobicity caused by a larger contact area to the bubble surface. Last but not least, a simple formulation is suggested to recover the contact angle based on the jump-in.

In this talk we will review and detail the current status of EHD ion sources, also commonly referred as Liquid Metal Ion Sources, their development perspectives and their ever present expanding applicative domains. We will review the roots of this technology born in the early 70’s, deriving from space propulsion research, when physicists applied EHD phenomena onto liquid metal meniscus to create high brightness ion sources. Since then the LMIS qualities based on a remarkable brightness, excellent emission stabilities (current emission and emitting area invariance), ease of operation, lifespan and compactness small size were at the origin of the focused ion beam (FIB).
As a deeply involved team in the pursuing quest aiming at investigating the full applied potential of the direct-write Focused Ion Beams technology since the mid-80’s, we will analyze and comment the never interrupted major effort invested around the world aiming at developing alternative ion sources. As a complement to the development of high current sources or atomic-sized emitters, we will show that high performance Liquid Metal Ion Sources and Liquid Metal Alloys Ion Sources exhibit definitive advantages at the prototyping level.
We will analyze, quantify and describe the potential gains still to be expected from the widely used gallium LMIS and other alloy ion sources, that add a large number of ion species and patterning schemes.
In conclusion we will summarize our vision on the future of FIB technology based on electro-Hydro Dynamically (EHD) driven emitters operating in the cone-jet mode, both in terms of performances, versatility and on the science frontiers these might help to push. My presentation will be an attempt to provide an overview on this FIB continuous evolution and future capabilities.

Nanofabrication requirements for FIB technologies are specifically demanding in terms of patterning resolution, stability and the support of new processing techniques. Additionally, the type of ion defines the nature of the interaction mechanism with the sample and thus has significant consequences on the resulting nanostructures [1]. Therefore, we have extended the technology towards the stable delivery of multiple ion species selectable into a nanometer scale focused ion beam by employing a liquid metal alloy ion source (LMAIS) [2]. This LMAIS provides single and multiple charged mon- as well as polyatomic ion species of different masses, resulting in significantly different interaction mechanisms. Nearly half of the elements of the periodic table are thus made available in the FIB technology as a result of continuous research in this area [3]. This range of ion species with different mass or charge can be beneficial for various nanofabrication applications. Recent developments could make these sources to an alternative technology feasible for nanopatterning challenges. In this contribution, the operation principle, the preparation and testing process as well as prospective domains for modern FIB applications will be presented. As an example we will introduce the GaBiLi LMAIS. It enables high resolution imaging with light Li ions and sample modification with Ga or heavy polyatomic Bi clusters, all coming from one ion source. For sub-10 nm focused ion beam nanofabrication and microscopy, the GaBiLi-FIB or the AuSiGe-FIB could benefit of providing additional ion species in a mass separated FIB without changing the ion source.

[1] L. Bruchhaus, P. Mazarov, L. Bischoff, J. Gierak, A. D. Wieck, and H. Hövel, Comparison of technologies for nano device prototyping with a special focus on ion beams: A review, Appl. Phys. Rev. 4, 011302 (2017).
[2] L. Bischoff, P. Mazarov, L. Bruchhaus, and J. Gierak, Liquid Metal Alloy Ion Sources – An Alternative for Focused Ion Beam Technology, Appl. Phys. Rev. 3 (2016) 021101.
[3] J. Gierak, P. Mazarov, L. Bruchhaus, R. Jede, L. Bischoff, Review of electrohydrodynamical ion sources and their applications to focused ion beam technology, JVSTB 36 (2018).
[4] W. Pilz, N. Klingner, L. Bischoff, P. Mazarov, and S. Bauerdick, Lithium ion beams from liquid metal alloy ion sources, JVSTB 37(2), Mar/Apr (2019).

Focused Ion Beam (FIB) processing has been developed into a well established and still promising technique for direct patterning and proto-typing on the nm scale, high resolution imaging or high resolution ion lithography1. Exploring the Liquid Metal Alloy Ion Sources (LMAIS) potential represents a promising alternative to expand the global FIB application fields. Thanks to this, nearly half of the elements of the periodic table are made available in the FIB technology as a result of continuous research in this area during the last fifty years2. Recent developments could make these sources to an alternative technology feasible for nanopatterning challenges.
Concerning ion beam resolution and minimization of unwanted damage, light ions like He or Li are preferred candidates. Liquid metal alloy ion sources (LMAIS) with a life time of more than 1000 µAh on the basis of Ga35Bi60Li5 and Sn95Li5 alloys were developed, characterized and finally applied in a commercial mass-separated VELION FIB-SEM system (Raith GmbH) 3. In the case of Li ions from the mass separated FIB a lateral resolution of 5.6 nm could be obtained in first experiments and the sputter yield was determined to 0.4 for 35 keV Li ions on Au. For reference, the helium ion microscope (HIM) has a lateral resolution of about 0.5 nm and 1.8 nm, for He and Ne respectively, He has a sputter yield of 0.14. For sub-10 nm focused ion beam nanofabrication and microscopy, the GaBiLi-FIB or the SnLi-FIB could therefore be considered alternatives to the HIM with the benefit of providing additional ion species in a mass separated FIB without changing the ion source.
In this contribution the operation principle, the preparation and testing process as well as prospective domains for modern FIB applications will be presented1,5. As an example we will introduce a GaBiLi LMAIS in detail. It enables high resolution imaging with light Li ions and sample modification with Ga or heavy polyatomic Bi clusters, all coming from one ion source. Moreover we will discuss the main properties of a modern LMAIS like long life-time, high brightness and stable ion current. The physical basics and experimental results of LMAIS, their physical properties (I-V characteristics, energy spread) and questions of the preparation technology using elementary as well as binary and ternary alloys as source material will be covered.

1 L. Bruchhaus et al. Appl. Phys. Rev. 4, 011302 (2017).
2 L. Bischoff et al. Appl. Phys. Rev. 3, 021101 (2016).
3 W. Pilz et al. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 37, 021802 (2019).
4 G. Hlawacek et al. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 32, 020801 (2014).
5 J. Gierak et al. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 36, 06J101(2018).

Introduction:

Although rapidly growing, proton therapy is a limited resource, which is not available to all the patients who may benefit from it. In this study, we investigate if combined proton-photon treatments, in which some fractions are delivered with protons and the rest with photons, improve on single-modality treatments. Combined treatment can be motivated by the consideration that, on the convex part of the NTCP curve, the first proton fractions are the most beneficial. We assume a situation of limited proton slot availability and develop methods to distribute those limited slots over a patient cohort optimally in order to optimize the benefit of proton therapy at a population level.
Material and Methods:
We consider a cohort of 45 head and neck cancer patients for which IMRT and IMPT plans were previously created [1]. NTCP models for relevant side effects (e.g. xerostomia) were used to calculate the NTCP values for all the plans. We investigate a 30 fraction simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) scheme (1.8 Gy to the PTV, 2.3 Gy to the GTV) and a sequential boost (SEQ) scheme with a 25 fraction base plan (2 Gy to the PTV) and a 10 fraction boost plan (2 Gy to the GTV). Under the assumption that, due to limited resources, only a small percentage of the total number of fractions can be delivered with protons, an integer programming algorithm was applied to determine the optimal number of proton fractions per patient that minimizes the total number of expected complications over the patient cohort.
Results:
Figure 1a shows the NTCP values for xerostomia in the IMRT and IMPT plans for the SIB scheme for all patients. Figures 1b shows the optimal allocation of proton slots for the situation where 20% of all fractions are delivered with protons. The patients with the highest ∆NTCP value (IMRT-IMPT) receive the largest number of proton fractions. The average xerostomia NTCP value from all 45 patients for the SIB scheme for combined treatment equals 13.0%. For the single-modality treatment, where the 20% of patients with the highest ∆NTCP are selected for proton therapy, the average NTCP equals 13.2%. For the SEQ scheme, the average NTCP values for xerostomia equal 13.6% and 14.2% for the combined and the single-modality treatment, respectively. Figure 1c shows the corresponding proton slot allocation for the SEQ scheme, indicating that only 3 patients receive proton slots for the boost plan whereas most proton slots are used for base plans. To achieve an average NTCP of 14.2%, combined treatment would require only 265 (16.8%) proton fractions instead of 315 (20%). Similar results were obtained for NTCP models for dysphagia and aspiration.
Conclusion:
Combined proton-photon treatments with optimized allocation of proton slots increase the benefit of proton therapy on the population level compared to single-modality treatments with optimal proton patient selection. However, the benefit is small for the SIB scheme. A larger benefit is observed for the sequential boost scheme, where combined treatments can exploit that some patients benefit from proton boost plans and others from proton base plans.

Computer simulations have had a profound impact on the design and understanding of past and present plasma-based particle acceleration experiments, and will be a key component for turning plasma-based accelerators from a promising technology into a mainstream scientific tool.

Das Gesamtziel des Vorhabens war die Verbesserung der methodischen experimentellen Basis für die Weiterentwicklung von CFD-Codes zur Berechnung dreidimensionaler zweiphasiger Strömungsvorgänge, wie sie im Kühlkreislauf von Kernkraftwerken auftreten. Es ordnet sich damit in das strategische Ziel der Reaktorsicherheitsforschung ein, wobei die nachhaltige Verbesserung der experimentellen Basis zur Validierung von CFD-Modellen für die Berechnung sicherheitsrelevanter Strömungsvorgänge in Kernkraftwerken im Fokus stand. Die erzielten Ergebnisse der experimentellen Studien liefern zudem wertvolle Grundlagenkenntnisse zu Zweiphasenströmungen sowie Validierungsdaten für zukünftige Weiterentwicklungen von CFD-Codes.
Wesentliche Bestandteile aktueller CFD-Code-Weiterentwicklung, speziell für den Reaktorkreislauf, sind die Turbulenzmodellierung und Zweiphasenströmungen. Hierfür werden räumlich und zeitlich hochaufgelöste experimentelle Validierungsdaten benötigt. In diesem Vorhaben wurden dafür zwei moderne Messverfahren für die Charakterisierung von zweiphasigen Strömungen eingesetzt. Mit diesen wurden die Phasenverteilung und Gasphasendynamik, sowie Flüssigphasengeschwindigkeit und Turbulenz in ausgewählten generischen Experimenten untersucht.
Weiterhin wurden in diesem Vorhaben ausgewählte experimentelle Ergebnisse mit CFD-Vorausrechnungen verglichen. Die zweiphasige Strömungssimulation wurde mit dem verfügbaren Simulationswerkzeug ANSYS-CFX durchgeführt, um für diesen Anwendungsfall bereits verfügbare Standardmodelle auf ihre Anwendbarkeit zu prüfen.

Gas-liquid two-phase flow modelling is of highest relevance in nuclear safety analyses. This concerns e.g. the modelling of steam-water two-phase flow and heat transfer in the reactor core, the steam generators, the containment and the spent fuel pool under accident conditions. Prediction of flow conditions by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools is of particular interest for supporting safety assessments. However, achieving physically correct simulations is quite challenging due to the complexity of the flow, which includes turbulence, highly deformable gas-liquid interfaces and heat, mass and momentum transfer across the interfaces. Today, two-phase flow models contain a large number of empirical correlations and closure models, which are derived from experimental data. The role of thermal hydraulics experiments nowadays still lies in the creation of such data but moreover they are also needed for model validation.
This contribution describes an experimental study of a generic three-dimensional two phase flow, which should serve as a future benchmark experiment for CFD code validation. The experiments were conducted at the Transient Two-Phase Flow (TOPFLOW) facility at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden – Rossendorf (HZDR) and are a continuation of earlier studies, which were performed using a moveable flow obstacle and the wire-mesh sensor technique. Although these investigations already provided very good data for a generic two-phase flow, the intrusiveness of both sensor and obstacle motion unit lead to some non-idealities with respect to the fully undisturbed flow. With a new imaging technique, ultrafast electron beam X-ray tomography, we are now able to perform investigations fully non-intrusively and to study the gas phase dynamics with high temporal and spatial resolution in two planes simultaneously. Furthermore, the previous studies did not provide measurement data of liquid velocities, which are required for CFD code validation. Thus, for this study ultrafast X-ray tomography and hot-film anemometry was used in combination to extend the available experimental database. This paper presents selected results of this experimental study.

In vielen industriellen Prozessen und Apparaten treten Mehrphasenströmungen auf. Dies sind häufig Flüssigkeits-Gas-Strömungen, beispielsweise in der Kraftwerkstechnik, in Wärmetauschern, chemischen Reaktoren und Trennapparaten oder in Ölfördersystemen. Ein großes Ziel ist die Berechnung solcher Strömungen mittels computergestützter Simulationswerkzeuge (CFD Codes) zur Unterstützung der Auslegung, zur Optimierung, aber auch zur Sicherheitsbewertung. Die komplexe Physik von Zweiphasenströmungen erschwert dieses Vorhaben im Vergleich zu einphasigen Strömungen erheblich. Grund dafür ist die Komplexität der Transportprozesse über stark verformbare und sich verändernde Phasengrenzflächen in mehreren Zeit- und Längenskalen. Zudem werden durch anlagentechnische Komponenten, wie beispielsweise Krümmer, Ventile, T-Stücke oder querschnittsverändernde Einbauten, ausgeprägte dreidimensionale Strömungsfelder erzeugt, welche von aktuellen CFD-Codes nur sehr stark eingeschränkt berechnet werden können.
Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der experimentellen Untersuchung von generischen dreidimensionalen Zweiphasenströmungen. Mit Hilfe neuartiger experimenteller Methoden wurde eine Datenbasis für die nachhaltige Validierung und Weiterentwicklung von CFD-Codes, speziell für dreidimensionale Strömungseffekte, generiert.

Modelling gas-liquid two-phase flow is a topic of constant relevance in nuclear thermal hydraulics. Gas-disperse two-phase flows occur in e.g. fuel elements in the reactor core, in pipes and components during pressure loss, sudden reflooding or other events. Due to the deformable gas-liquid interface and the complexity of heat, mass and momentum transfer across the interface, gas-liquid two-phase flow is very difficult to model and simulate. On the device scale it is common to use Euler/Euler multi-fluid approaches for CFD simulations, which require a good number of empirical correlations as closure models. Such models are commonly derived from experiments. Validation of the correctness of predictive simulations then also requires experiments, which must be simplified to a degree to allow provision of CFD-grade experimental data but complex enough to resemble real flow situations. The latter calls especially for investigations on flow fields in more complex three-dimensional domains, which are prototypical for e.g. bends, valves, T-junctions and rod bundles.

Semiconducting donor−acceptor copolymers are considered to be a promising material class for solution-coated, large-scale organic electronic applications. A large number of works have shown that the best-performing organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are obtained on low-surface-energy substrates. The meniscus instabilities that occur when coating on such surfaces considerably limit the effective deposition speeds. This represents a limiting factor for the upscaling of device fabrication for mass production, an issue that needs to be addressed if organic electronic devices are ever to become commercially relevant. In this work, we present a method to increase the accessible window of coating speeds for the solution shearing of donor−acceptor semiconductor polymers for the fabrication of OFETs. By incorporating a piezo crystal that is capable of producing high-frequency vibrations into the coating head, we are able to mitigate contact line instabilities due to the depinning of the contact line, thereby suppressing the commonly encountered “stick-and-slip” phenomenon.

In the present work, we perform a systematic investigation on p-type codoping in (Ga,Mn)As. Through gradually increasing Zn doping concentration, the hole concentration increases, which should theoretically lead to an increase of the Curie temperature (TC) according to the p-d Zener model. Unexpectedly, although the film keeps its epitaxial structure, both TC and the magnetization decrease. The samples present a phase transition from ferromagnetism to paramagnetism upon increasing hole concentration. In the intermediate regime, we observe a signature of antiferromagnetism. By using channeling Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and particle-induced x-ray emission, the substitutional Mn atoms are observed to shift to interstitial sites, while more Zn atoms occupy Ga sites, which explains the observed behavior. This is also consistent with first-principles calculations, showing that the complex of substitutional Zn and interstitial Mn has the lowest formation energy.

The relevant interaction energies for astrophysical radiative capture reactions are very low, much below the repulsive Coulomb barrier. This leads to low cross sections, low counting rates in γ-ray detectors, and therefore the need to perform such experiments at ion accelerators placed in underground settings, shielded from cosmic rays. Here, the feasibility of such experiments in the new shallow-underground accelerator laboratory in tunnels VIII and IX of the Felsenkeller site in Dresden, Germany, is evaluated. To this end, the no-beam background in three diff erent types of germanium detectors, i.e. a Euroball/Miniball triple cluster and two large monolithic detectors, is measured over periods of 26-66 days. The cosmic-ray induced background is found to be reduced by a factor of 500-2400, by the combined eff ects of, first, the 140 meters water equivalent overburden attenuating the cosmic muon flux by a factor of 40, and second, scintillation veto detectors gating out most of the remaining muon-induced eff ects. The new background data are compared to spectra taken with the same detectors at the Earth’s surface and at other underground sites. Subsequently, the beam intensity from the cesium sputter ion source installed in Felsenkeller has been studied over periods of several hours. Based on the background and beam intensity data reported here, for the example of the 12 C(α,γ) 16 O reaction it is shown that highly sensitive experiments will be possible.

Carbon monoxide has been demonstrated to exhibit several beneficial effects on biological targets (anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-apoptotic effects, causes vasodilation, etc.).[1] Consequently, the development of CO releasing molecules (CORMs) that allows a controlled release of CO under physiological conditions has therefore become a major field of scientific and medical interest.[2] Considerable research interest has been drawn on light-activated CORMs (photoCORMs) which only release CO upon radiation with certain wavelengths. However, despite a large number of photoCORMs reported, relatively little information is available on the precise mechanism of CO release from most photoCORMs and even less compounds have been tested as anti-cancer agents in cells so far. Herein, we report the synthesis of ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes functionalized with (fluorescent) bidentate pyridyl (1) and tridentate diquinolyl ligands (2) and investigate the mechanism of CO release in aqueous media (before and after light-activation). The photo-induced CO release kinetics of the Ru(II) photoCORMs, as well as in vitro studies in cancerous and healthy cell lines will be presented [3].

References
[1] R. Motterlini, L. E. Otterbein, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 9 (2010) 728-743.
[2] U. Schatzschneider, Br. J. Pharmacol. 172 (2015) 1638-1650.
[3] M. Kubeil, R. R. Vernooij, C. Kubeil, B. R. Wood, B. Graham, H. Stephan, L. Spiccia, Inorg. Chem.
56 (2017) 5941-5952.
[4] M. Kubeil, T. Joshi, B. R. Wood, H. Stephan, ChemistryOpen (2019) accepted.

Not only since Chernobyl and Fukushima is it well known that fungi can accumulate large amounts of heavy metals and radionuclides. Although there are many publications describing this phenomenon and naming transfer factors, almost nothing is known about the underlying molecular processes being responsible for the binding, uptake and accumulation in the cell or even transport inside the organism for elements like uranium, americium and other heavy radio-metals. However, knowing this is crucial if one wants to understand the influence of fungi on the migration behavior of radionuclides in the environment. It is all the more important to know the underlying biochemical processes and to know how environmental influences affect the radionuclide-cell interaction, if one considers using these extraordinary properties to biologically immobilize radionuclides in contaminated soil or even to remove radionuclides from it. As part of the BioVeStRa project, various fungi have been studied to determine their potential for precautionary radiation protection and the remediation of contaminated soils. Therefore, two fungi were selected based on published transfer factor and a known rapid growth on complex media, namely Schizophyllum commune and Leucoagaricus naucinus. Additionally, two further fungi metabolically related to S. commune or L. naucinus were included also in the studies to determine if similar fungi behave similarly or not. To study the fungi, a combination of growth and binding experiments, mass spectrometry, fluorescence spectroscopy and electron microscopy was used. In summary, it can be stated, that S. commune is not only the most robust fungus that prevails even in the test field against autochthonic soil microbes and fungi, but also shows the highest accumulation rates for uranium and europium, the latter as a substitute for trivalent actinides such as americium. Furthermore, it could be shown that fungi behave very differently depending on the investigated elements.

This article features the evolution of carbon nanotubes as functional material in nano and microelectromechanical systems. Introducing materials morphologies for the CNTs in a homologue series (single CNTs - bundles, fibers, yarns - networks and thin films), different concepts for mechanical sensors based on the intrinsic and extrinsic properties of the CNT material are introduced (piezoresistive effect, strain-induced band bending, charge tunneling).
In a rigorous theoretical treatment, the limits of the achievable sensor performance (i.e., gauge factor) are derived and discussed in the context of applications. A careful literature survey shows that highest sensitivity is reached for devices exploiting the intrinsic transport properties of single CNTs. For reliability tests of such sensor systems made from nanomaterials and classical MEMS, a specimen-centered approach is introduced to give viable insights into the structure-property relationships and failure modes.

Hybrid van-der-Waals heterostructures of two-dimensional nanomaterials are a vibrant field of study: The (weak) electronic interaction between two layers is often reasonably described by a perturbation of the physical effects of the isolated layers, such as electrostatic doping and increased screening of intralayer excitons. However, it turns out that this picture of the weak interaction is not exhaustive in terms of all optical properties: the formation of bound excitons from electrons of one layer and holes from the other layer yields the formation of interlayer excitons. These mixed states are measured experimentally by photoluminescence and photocurrents and predicted by theory. Examples are of MoS2 or MoSe2 on WSe2, MoS2 or GaSe due to type-II band alignment [1-3].
The conditions for the formation of interlayer excitons are elucidated from a first-principles point of view. For this, first-principles studies of a minimal test system of MoS2 on GaSe is conducted [1].
This work envisions to predict the interlayer states as a function of the heterostack in order to specifically tailor efficient photon absorption.

Nowadays, it is general consensus that the cholinergic transmission system in brain is heavily involved in the development, progress and therapy of certain neurodegenerative diseases. In particular cholinergic presynaptic components such as the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) or the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) are considered to be affected by early changes in neuropathological processes as observed e.g. in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The VAChT is a transmembrane protein located at synaptic vesicles and responsible for the transport and storage of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) into the vesicles. Therefore, the VAChT is regarded as a potential target for neuroimaging of cholinergic alterations with positron emission tomography. To date, the development of PET radioligands for this transporter is based on a single known lead compound named vesamicol. A challenge was arising due to the finding that vesamicol also binds to the sigma receptors which are partly co-localized with the VAChT in several cholinergic brain regions. In the last three decades a multitude of structural diverse vesamicol analogs have been designed resulting in a considerable number of 11C- and 18F-labeled PET as well as a few 123/125I-labeled SPECT tracers which were mainly preclinically evaluated. However, only very few of them had the potential for translation to human studies. Therefore, a routinely used VAChT PET imaging could not be established in the clinics so far. However, just recently published studies using the potent candidate [18F]FEOBV in patients with neuropathologies are very promising and probably a breakthrough within this field.
This review addresses the efforts in ligand design and PET radioligand developments for the VAChT with a special view on the difficulties arising from the lead compound vesamicol and its low selectivity.

Large single crystals of GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (space group Cm) were grown by the Czochralski method. Dielectric, piezoelectric and elastic coefficients at room temperature as well as specific heat capacity, thermal expansion and cation disorder were studied employing a variety of methods including resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dilatometry and X-ray diffraction techniques. The electromechanical parameters (4 dielectric, 10 piezoelectric and 13 elastic stiffness coefficients) obtained on different samples are in excellent agreement indicating high internal consistency of our approach, whereas the values reported in literature differ significantly. The elastic behaviour of GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ resembles the one of structurally related fluorapatite, i.e. the elastic anisotropy is relatively small and the longitudinal effect of the deviations from Cauchy-relations exhibit a pronounced minimum along the direction of the dominating chains of cation polyhedra. GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ exhibits a maximum longitudinal piezoelectric effect of 7.67 × 10−12 CN−10, a value in the order of that of langasite-type materials. Significant changes of the calcium/gadolinium distribution on the 3 independent cation sites accompanied by characteristic anomalies of heat capacity and thermal expansion suggest processes of nonconvergent cation ordering above about 900 K in GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃.

Monocarboxylate transporters 1 and 4 (MCT1 and MCT4) are involved in tumour development and progression. Their level of expression is particularly upregulated in glycolytic cancer cells and accordingly MCTs are considered as promising drug targets for treatment of a variety of human cancers. The non-invasive imaging of these transporters in cancer patients via positron emission tomography (PET) is regarded to be valuable for the monitoring of therapeutic effects of MCT inhibitors. Recently, we developed the first 18F-radiolabelled MCT1/MCT4 inhibitor [18F]FACH and reported on a two-step one-pot radiosynthesis procedure. We herein describe now a unique one-step radiosynthesis of this radiotracer which is based on the approach of using a methylsulfonate (mesylate) precursor bearing an unprotected carboxylic acid function. With the new procedure unexpected high radiochemical yields of 43 ± 8% at the end of the radiosynthesis could be obtained in a strongly reduced total synthesis time. Moreover, the radiosynthesis was successfully transferred to a TRACERlab FX2 N synthesis module ready for future preclinical applications of [18F]FACH.

The determination of long-lived radionuclides by means of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is usually outstandingly successful when an interdisciplinary team comes together. The “heart” of AMS research is of course an accelerator equipped with sophisticated ion sources, analytical tools and detectors run by experienced and ambitious physicists [e.g. 1-3]. Setting-up and further developing AMS systems is one of the most interesting and challenging topics. The reputation to be reached here is the greatest uniqueness of analysis possible, lowest detection levels, and/or most reliable data world-wide.
For sure, another primary pillar of AMS research is based on the questions addressed within fundamental and applied research. “How have supernovae explosions influenced Earth, our solar system and beyond?” [e.g. 4] or “How does the Earth’s surface and environment respond to earthquakes, climate change and anthropogenic influences?” [e.g. 5] are just two examples of high-quality studies.
However, somehow in-between there are groups of hidden figures like people developing software for data analysis or performing the required chemical sample preparation for AMS. These often unacknowledged individuals do crucial work for the overall outcome of the studies.
Chemists can spend weeks and months trying (and failing) on sample preparation before they find a “safe way” and start the actual work on the most valuable sample material, repeat all over again the same “recipe” for hundreds of samples, or train non-chemists the secrets of their successful recipes. Nevertheless, interdisciplinary AMS work can also be very exciting for a chemist: touching (and destroying) samples from outer space, the deep ocean or (currently) frozen places like Antarctica is quite thrilling. But at the end of the day, the whole AMS chemist’s work can be described as “reducing the sample matrix, other impurities and especially isobars to a level the AMS machine can handle while enriching the radionuclide of interest”.
Starting materials for applications such as astrophysical research can be “orders of magnitude” different: a neutron-irradiated sample of 1 g tungsten powder [6], over 40 g of clay-rich material from the Cretaceous–Tertiary (K-T) boundary, 100 g of ultra-pure sodium iodide, or 500 kg of snow from Antarctica [4] can cause totally different and sometimes unexpected problems in the chemistry lab. In general, smaller samples are not always easier to handle for example if they are chemically rather resistant or reactive. The cream of the crop of failure and success in a few AMS chemistry labs will be presented.

[1] P. Steier et al., Int. J. Mass Spectr. 444, 116175 (2019).
[2] G. Rugel et al., Nucl. Instr. Meth. B 370, 94 (2016).
[3] D. Koll et al., Nucl. Instr. Meth. B 438, 180 (2019).
[4] D. Koll et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 072701 (2019) and this meeting.
[5] W. Schwanghart et al., Science 351, 147 (2016).
[6] M. Martschini et al., this meeting.

There is emerging interests to the role of lanthanides as cofactor in XoxF-type methanol dehydrogenase (MHD). Here, classical molecular dynamics simulations combined with fragment molecular orbital calculations were employed to rationalize enzymatic activities of MHD (both XoxF- and MxaF- types) carrying different lanthanides. In XoxF–type MDH, lanthanide binding to cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone was found to switch from tridentate to unidentate fashion as it switches from lighter to heavier lanthanide. This fact possibly plays crucial role to the enzymatic activity exclusive to XoxF–type MDH incorporating lighter lanthanides.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown impressive therapeutic potential. Due to the lack of direct control mechanisms, therapy-related adverse reactions including cytokine release- and tumor lysis syndrome can even become life-threatening. In case of target antigen expression on non-malignant cells, CAR T cells can also attack healthy tissues. To overcome such side effects, we have established a modular CAR platform termed UniCAR: UniCAR T cells per se are inert as they recognize a peptide epitope (UniCAR epitope) that is not accessible on the surface of living cells. Bifunctional adapter molecules termed target modules (TM) can cross-link UniCAR T cells with target cells. In the absence of TMs, UniCAR T cells automatically turn off. Until now, all UniCAR TMs were constructed by fusion of the UniCAR epitope to an antibody domain. To open up the wide field of low-molecular weight compounds for retargeting of UniCAR T cells to tumor cells, and to follow in parallel the progress of UniCAR T cell therapy by PET imaging we challenged the idea to convert a PET tracer into a UniCAR-TM. For proof of concept, we selected the clinically used PET tracer PSMA-11, which binds to the prostate-specific membrane antigen overexpressed in prostate carcinoma. Here we show that fusion of the UniCAR epitope to PSMA-11 results in a low-molecular weight theranostic compound that can be used for both retargeting of UniCAR T cells to tumor cells, and for non-invasive PET imaging and thus represents a member of a novel class of theranostics.

For the final storage of radioactive waste in a deep geological formation rock salt is a potential host rock. Indigenous microorganisms and its interactions with radionuclides have to be considered for the safety performance of the repository in terms of a worst case scenario, where radionuclides are potentially released from the storage site.
The kinetics of uranium bioassociation onto cells of the extreme halophilic archaeon Halobacterium noricense DSM 15987 and the moderate halophilic bacterium Brachybacterium sp. G1 were investigated in detail in batch experiments. For the understanding on a molecular level, a combination of spectroscopic, microscopic and molecular biological methods was used.

design of tailor-made bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs) for radioactive transition metals in view of nuclear medical applications as well as acquisition of reliable information about the biodistribution of different materials represents an intensive and rapidly developing field of research [1]. In this context, the tridentate macrocycle 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN) is of special interest since it forms stable complexes with transition metal ions particularly with Cu(II) [2]. Further, the introduction of donor groups, such as pyridyl units, on the TACN scaffold, significantly enhances the thermodynamic stability as well as the kinetic inertness of the Cu(II) complexes formed. Furthermore, the ligand structure offers various possibilities to introduce biological vectors and suitable linkers for tuning the lipophilicity, overall charge and aqueous solubility of the final bioconjugates. For example, TACN ligands with two pyridylmethyl side-arms (DMPTACN derivatives) rapidly chelate copper(II) radionuclides under ambient conditions and the resulting complexes show high in vivo stability. One such derivative, 2-[4,7-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononan-1-yl]acetic acid (DMPTACN-COOH), containing two coordinating picoline groups, not only exhibits excellent in vivo stability after 64Cu radiolabeling, but also allows for direct attachment of vector molecules as well as easy introduction of bioconjugatable functionalities (e.g., maleimide, isothiocyanate) via the carboxylate pendant. This makes DMPTACN-COOH and its derivatives promising BFCAs for radiocopper (DMPTACN-based BFCAs), facilitating the preparation of radiolabeled targeting molecules and bio(nano)materials.
Examples of target-specific peptides and bio(nano)materials equipped with DMPTACN ligands for labeling with 64Cu as an ideal positron emitter are discussed. This enables tumor imaging and the biodistribution of the materials to be studied over a period of days via positron emission tomography (PET).

[1] E. Boros, A. B. Packard, Chem. Rev. 119 (2019) 870-901.
[2] T. Joshi, M. Kubeil, A. Nsubuga, G. Singh, G. Gasser, H. Stephan, ChemPlusChem 83 (2018) 554-564.

Abstract :

The transistor pathway predicts an evolution from lateral MOSFETs via FinFETs to vertical nanowire gate-all-around FETs (vNW GAA-FET). Aiming at low-power electronics we replace the channel of the vNW GAA-FET by a SiO2 layer with an embedded Si Quantum Dot (QD), thus manufacturing a Single Electron Transistor (SET). To achieve room temperature (RT) operation of the vNW GAA-SET, Si QDs of ~3 nm diameter and tunneling distances of < 1 nm have to be manufactured. This is far beyond the present possibilities of lithography.
The challenge of such tiny structures has been solved in the framework of our European project IONS4SET [1] by means of a controlled self-organization and self-alignment process. Nanopillars with diameters down to ~20nm have been fabricated from Si/SiO2/Si layer stacks by Electron Beam Lithography and Reactive Ion Etching (RIE), a further diameter reduction to ~10nm has been achieved by sacrificial plasma oxidation. Before RIE the SiO2 layer is transferred to SiOx by Si+ ion beam mixing, which allows a controlled self-organization of a Si QD during thermally activated phase separation using RTA. During phase separation the Si QD becomes also self-aligned with respect of the upper and lower Si, thus forming the tunnel distances of ~1nm.
[1] This work has received funding from the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 688072 (www.ions4set.eu).

Abstract :

The transistor pathway predicts an evolution from lateral MOSFETs via FinFETs to vertical nanowire gate-all-around FETs (vNW GAA-FET). Our European project IONS4SET [1] goes a step further: Aiming at low-power electronics, the principle of operation of transistors will be changed from field effects to single electron tunneling via a Si quantum dot (QD) in SiO2. Room temperature (RT) operation of Single Electron Transistors (SETs) requires Si QDs of ~3 nm and tunneling distances of < 1 nm. The SiO2 with the embedded Si QD has to be ~ 5nm thick. To fabricate vNW GAA-SETs, Si nanopillars with ~5nm SiO2 have to be fabricated by Electron Beam Lithography and Reactive Ion Etching (RIE).
Here we report on a dramatic SiO2 thickness reduction in the Si/SiO2/Si layer stack by RIE of nanopillars. It is strongly pillar diameter dependent: In 100 nm pillars the thickness remains almost unchanged, but for < 20nm it shrinks from 8nm to ~3nm as shown by Energy-Filtered Transmission Electron Beam Microscopy (EFTEM). Modeling, computer simulation and dedicated experiments reveal that it is due to a huge number of electric breakdowns during RIE. A breakdown forms a SiOx filament which emits O in SiO2. Each O atom of the SiO2 becomes many times an O interstitial, which in most cases recombines with an O vacancy. Depending on diameter, some O will emanate from the edge of the SiO2 disk leading to the dramatic oxide thinning.
[1] This work has received funding from the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 688072 (www.ions4set.eu).

Background
Neurocognitive function of adult patients with brain tumours may deteriorate after radiotherapy. Proton beam therapy (PBT) reduces the volume of irradiated healthy brain tissue and could potentially preserve neurocognition and quality of life (QoL). As present data are still limited, the impact of clinical factors and dosimetric parameters on neurocognitive function and QoL during recurrence-free follow-up after PBT is investigated.

Methods
The current study includes 62 brain tumour patients treated with PBT between 2015 and 2017. Neurocognition and QoL were assessed at baseline and every 3 months after PBT using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test together with EORTC-QLQ-C30 and BN20 questionnaires, respectively. Objective and self-reported measures of neurocognitive functions were correlated. During two years of follow-up, the impact of clinical co-factors as well as dosimetric parameters of several brain structures were analysed using a mixed-model approach.

Results
At baseline, mean MoCA total score was 24.8/30 and self-reported cognitive function was 68.9/100. Both remained stable over time. Patients with impaired neurocognition on the MoCA test reported significantly lower global health status, cognitive, physical and role function as well as more fatigue, pain, headache and communication deficits compared to normal performing patients. For most follow-up time points, the majority of MoCA subitems correlated significantly to QoL items regarding neurocognition. Slight deterioration of the MoCA score was associated with tumours located in the left hemisphere and with an increase in relative volume of the anterior cerebellum that received doses of 30 to 40 Gy(RBE).

Conclusion
Self-reported and objectively measured neurocognition and most other QoL domains remained largely stable over time during recurrence-free follow-up for brain tumour patients treated with PBT.
The association between reduced cognitive function and irradiated volume of the anterior cerebellum requires validation in larger studies and comparison to patients treated with photon therapy.

We present room-temperature coherent control of high-dimensional quantum bits, the so-called qudits, associated with vacancy-related spins in silicon carbide enriched with nuclear spin-free isotopes. In addition to the excitation of a spectrally narrow qudit mode at the pump frequency, several other modes are excited in the electron spin resonance spectra whose relative positions depend on the external magnetic field.

We demonstrated coherent manipulation of spin qudit modes in isotopically purified SiC at room temperature. We also developed a theory describing the excitation and detection of these modes in inhomgeneously broadened systems and showed that qudits are characterized by multiple relaxation times. These findings can lead to dipole-coupled networks, unconditional electron-nuclear spin registers and spectral selection of highly coherent individual spins, particularly in nanocrystals. Our results hence open new possibilities to improve the sensitivity of quantum sensors and execute nontrivial quantum protocols in dense spin ensembles.

We have thoroughly investigated the irradiation impact on the room-temperature spin coherence properties of silicon vacancies in SiC. We have measured the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin coherence time depending on the irradiation particle (electron, neutron and proton), irradiation fluence and irradiation energy.

Irradiation-induced lattice defects in silicon carbide (SiC) have already exceeded their previous reputation as purely performance-inhibiting. With their remarkable quantum properties, such as long room-temperature spin coherence and the possibility of downscaling to single-photon source level, they have proven to be promising candidates for a multitude of quantum information applications. One of the most crucial parameters of any quantum system is how long its quantum coherence can be preserved. By using the pulsed optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) technique, we investigate the spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) and spin coherence time (T2) of silicon vacancies in 4H-SiC created by neutron, electron and proton irradiation in a broad range of fluences. We also examine the effect of irradiation energy and sample annealing. We establish a robustness of the T1 time against all types of irradiation and reveal a universal scaling of the T2 time with the emitter density. Our results can be used to optimize the coherence properties of silicon vacancy qubits in SiC for specific tasks.

Our contribution to the BraTS 2019 challenge consisted of a deep learning based approach for segmentation of brain tumours from MR images using cross validation ensembles of 2D-UNet models. Furthermore, different approaches for the prediction of patient survival time using clinical as well as imaging features were investigated.
A simple linear regression model using patient age and tumour volumes outperformed more elaborate approaches like convolutional neural networks or Radiomic-based analysis with an accuracy of 0.55 on the validation set.

Biomaterials coated with artificial extracellular matrices (aECM) are intended to support the healing of critical size bone defects. This pilot study investigated (i) the feasibility of dual tracer PET/CT imaging for functional characterization of biomaterial-assisted bone healing in a rat femoral defect model and (ii) the bone healing ability of polycaprolactone-co-lactide (PCL) scaffolds, coated with various aECM consisting of collagen type I (Col) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as chondroitin sulfate (CS) or polysulfated hyaluronan (sHA3). [18F]FDG and [18F]fluoride PET 4 and 8 weeks after implantation of aECM-coated PCL scaffolds, which provide an in vivo measure of cellular activation and bone mineralization, respectively, combined with CT imaging (in vivo/ex vivo) and histologic/immunohistochemical investigations (ex vivo) showed that coating with CS in particular is beneficial for bone healing. The possible involvement of COX-2 and TGase 2, key enzymes of inflammation and ECM remodeling, in these processes offers starting points for targeted adjuvant therapy in the course of various bone healing phases. Our investigations show the feasibility of the selected dual tracer approach for PET/CT imaging. In principle, this approach can be extended by further PET tracers for the functional characterization of physiological processes such as hypoxia/reperfusion or selected molecular players.

ELBE is a compact, accelerator-driven photon and particle source. Since 2001 it is operated as a user facility, providing more than 5500 hours of beam time each year. The electron accelerator is based on four superconducting 9-cell TESLA cavities that are driven in full CW operation to accelerate an average current of 1 mA up to beam energies of 40 MeV. The first part of the talk will summarize our experiences of operating TESLA cavities in CW. In detail, this includes their performance and attempts to improve it, as well as investigations on limitations. Additionally, we will discuss several issues that are related to the high average RF as well as beam power and we will present appropriate measures to protect the machine. In this regard, a resonant ring for RF component tests up to 100 kW was set up. The second part of the talk will focus on the development and operation of our SRF guns that are designed to produce short bunches with high charges and repetition rates of 1 MHz and beyond. Recently, SRF gun II was successfully transferred into routine user operation and delivers now more than 200 pC at 100 kHz to the experiment. First convincing results will be presented.

The present study reports the mutual effect of heater surface wettability, roughness and bulk liquid velocity on the bubble dynamics and departure in nucleate boiling. Boiling experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure with degassed-deionized water at low subcooling (1.9 ± 0.25 K) for vertically oriented stainless steel heaters. Self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coating and wet-etching technique were used to alter the heater surface wettability and roughness. Liquid contact angle hysteresis ("θ" _"hys" ) and root mean square roughness (Sq) of the heater surfaces were adjusted between "42.32° "≤ "θ" _"hys" ≤ "68.56°" and roughness "0.01" µm≤"Sq"≤"0.549" µm. High resolution optical shadowgraphy has been used to record the bubble life cycle. Experimental results show that higher bulk liquid velocity yields smaller bubble departure diameters for all heater surface characteristics. Bubble departure diameters are greater for low wetting surfaces. The bubble growth rate and departure diameter were found maximum for an intermediate surface roughness Sq between 0.108 and 0.218 m. The corresponding roughness height is referred to as the ‘optimal roughness height’ in this study. Eventually, a bubble departure criterion was derived from the expressions of forces which act on a nucleating bubble throughout its growth cycle. 90% of the departing bubbles satisfy the bubble departure criterion with ± 25% deviation.

Self-assembly of magnetic colloidal particles in solution has succesfully been simulated by hard- or soft-sphere models with a set of embedded magnetic point dipoles, and the position and orientation of each dipole are adapted to mimic the magnetization distribution. The present study introduces a conceptually simpler approach for magnetically capped colloidal particles, which replaces the set of dipoles by the magnetization distribution of a single conductive loop. Only two parameters are required to characterize the magnetization distribution: the diameter of the loop and its radial off-center shift within the sphere. This approach reflects the radial symmetry and the spatial extension of the magnetic cap. In the far-field and in the limit of very small loops the model exactly reproduces the magnetization distribution and the particle arrangements obtained with the single, radially shifted dipole model. For larger loop radii additional stable assembly patterns are obtained, which occur in experiments, but can not be simulated with a single shifted dipole model.

For a long time, the mining and minerals processing communities have developed process models based on the bulk chemical compositions of ores and processing products. Recently, the emergence of the geometallurgy field and the advent of new characterization techniques have shifted the focus to mineralogical composition and certain particle-based properties (e.g. mineral liberation). Automated mineralogy systems based on scanning electron microscope platforms, such as the Mineral Liberation Analyzer or TIMA-X, were essential for this advance. They are capable of producing large data sets with detailed information on the sizes, shapes and compositions of individual ore particles in a sample.
Methodologies that use this particle-based information to model the outcomes of a specific processing unit or an entire operation are summarized as “particle tracking”. This is a useful diagnostic technique for mineral separation processes. However, limitations in the statistical methods applied in existing approaches mean that users are required to summarize considerably the information contained in the particle datasets by pre-selecting explanatory variables (expert input) and binning particles. This means that a distinct recipe, including specific assumptions, is required for each new case. It also makes the resultant models liable to human bias.
This work describes a new method for particle tracking that combines automated mineralogy data with machine learning to automate the variable selection process and eliminate the need for particle binning. In doing so, it maximizes the utilization of detailed particle data, minimizes the effects of human input, and provides the flexibility to assess different cases with minimal prior adjustments. Its utility is demonstrated using data from both a flotation and a magnetic separation units of an operating niobium mine. In both cases, the method is able to accurately predict the mineralogical compositions of the concentrate and tailings streams. It clearly has the potential to be extended as a diagnostic tool for the optimization and operation of processing plants.

Spin-based electronics has evolved into a major field of research that broadly encompasses different classes of materials, magnetic systems, and devices. This review describes recent advances in spintronics that have the potential to impact key areas of information technology and microelectronics. We identify four main axes of research: nonvolatile memories, magnetic sensors, microwave devices, and beyond-CMOS logic. We discuss state-of-the-art developments in these areas as well as opportunities and challenges that will have to be met, both at the device and system level, in order to integrate novel spintronic functionalities and materials in mainstream microelectronic platforms.

This talk summarizes the new insight accumulated in the work package 3 of the European Horizon 2020 project SOTERIA on the effects of materials heterogeneities on microstructure and mechanical properties at the irradiated state.

To explore the stability of gallium arsenide (GaAs) photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSSs) with avalanche multiplication mechanism, an interdigitated electrodestructure is presented at 1-kHz excitation by a femtosecond laser. The influences of optical excitation and bias electric field on switching characteristics are investigated. The transient current density and the distribution of electric field are demonstrated by the Monte Carlo simulation. The repetitive switching indicates that the avalanche multiplication mechanism could persist stably at 1-kHz repetition rate operation with this specific electrode structure.

A single sheet of Si nanoclusters with an average diameter of about 2 nm has been formed in a 30 nm Si / 7 nm SiO2 / Si layer stack by 50 and 60 keV Si+ ion-beam mixing at room temperature and fluences between 8.51015 and 2.61016 ions/cm2, and subsequent thermal annealing at a temperature above 1000°C. Computer modelling of the process is accomplished by TRIDYN dynamic ballistic simulation of ion mixing and subsequent lattice kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of the phase decomposition of sub-stoichiometric silicon oxide into Si nanoclusters in a SiO2 matrix. The simulation algorithms are briefly described with special emphasis on the choice of governing parameters for the present system. In comparison to the experimental results it is concluded that the predicted ion mixing profiles overestimate the interface broadening. This discrepancy is attributed to the neglect of chemical driving forces in connection with thermal-spike induced diffusion, which tends to re-constitute the Si/SiO2 interfaces. With a corresponding correction and a suitable number of Monte Carlo steps, the experimentally obtained areal densities and average diameters of the nanoclusters are successfully reproduced.

In this paper, the results of ATHLET-CD simulations of an SBO accident for a German Siemens KWU type PWR are reported. The developed model is used in a series of calculations to evaluate SBO coping time provided by a set of countermeasures relevant to the defense-in-depth Level 4. The analysed accident management measures cover a sequence of the bleed and feed procedures, starting/ending with secondary/primary side depressurization followed by the feeding of SGs in the passive (AMM-1) or active (AMM-2) mode and coolant injection from hydro-accumulators (HA) to the primary system (AMM-3).
A sequential implementation of the first two measures with almost equal efficiency (AMM-1 and AMM-2) delays the core degradation onset (CDO) by 21.5 hours compared to the case without AMMs, extending SBO coping time to 24 hours. This time window can be further extended (more than twice) through sequential feeding of a single SG from the four emergency feedwater tanks of the plant. The third measure (AMM-3) is significantly inferior to AMM-1 and/or AMM-2 in contributing to the coping time, since it delays CDO by less than 1 hour.

The current preclinical and clinical findings demonstrate that, in addition to the conventional clinical and pathological indicators that have a prognostic value in radiation oncology, the number of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their inherent radioresistance are important Parameters for local control after radiotherapy. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of CSC radioresistance attributable to DNA repair mechanisms and the development of CSC-targeted therapies for Tumor radiosensitization. We also discuss the current challenges in preclinical and translational CSC research including the high inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity, plasticity of CSCs, and microenvironment-stimulated tumor cell reprogramming.

Background: Tumour mutational burden (TMB) estimated from whole exome sequencing or comprehensive gene panels has previously been established as predictive factor of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
Its predictive value for the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiation (cCRTX), a potential combination partner of ICI, remains unknown.
Methods: The accuracy of TMB estimation by an in-house 327-gene panel was established in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) data set. Interference of TMB with outcome after cCRTX was determined in a multicentre cohort of patients with locally advanced HNSCC uniformly treated with cCRTX. Targeted next-generation sequencing was successfully applied in 101 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pretreatment tumour samples. In a subset of cases (n = 40), tumour RNA was used for immune-related gene expression profiling by the nanoString platform. TMB was correlated with TP53 genotype, human papilloma virus (HPV) status, immune expression signatures and survival parameters. Results were validated in the TCGA HNSCC cohort.
Results: A high accuracy of TMB estimation by the 327-gene panel was established. High TMB was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of TP53 mutations and immune gene expression patterns unrelated to T cell-inflamed gene expression profiles. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly reduced overall survival in the patient group with high TMB (hazard ratio for death: 1.79, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-3.14; P = 0.042) which remained significant after correcting for confounding factors in the multivariate model. The prognostic value of TMB was confirmed in the TCGA HNSCC cohort.
Conclusion: High TMB identifies HNSCC patients with poor outcome after cCRTX who might preferentially benefit from CRTX-ICI combinations.

We measured specific activities of the long-lived cosmogenic radionuclides ⁶⁰Fe in 28 and ⁵³Mn in 41 iron meteorites. Accelerator mass spectrometry was applied at the 14-MV Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility at ANU Canberra for all samples but two which were measured at the Maier-Leibnitz Laboratory, Munich. For the large iron meteorite Twannberg (IIG) we measured six samples for ⁵³Mn. This work doubles the number of existing individual ⁶⁰Fe data and quadruples the number of iron meteorites studied for ⁶⁰Fe. We also significantly extended the entire ⁵³Mn database for iron meteorites. The ⁵³Mn data for the iron meteorite Twannberg vary by more than a factor of 30, indicating a significant shielding dependency. In addition, we performed new model calculations for the production of ⁶⁰Fe and ⁵³Mn in iron meteorites. While the new model is based on the same particle spectra as the earlier model, we no longer use experimental cross sections but instead use cross sections that were calculated using the latest version of the nuclear model code INCL. The new model predictions differ substantially from results obtained with the previous model: Predictions for the ⁶⁰Fe activity concentrations are about a factor of two higher and for ⁵³Mn they are ~30% lower compared to the earlier model, which gives a better agreement with experimental data.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Despite advances in the treatment management, locally advanced disease has a poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50%. The growth of HNSCC is maintained by a population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) which possess unlimited self-renewal potential and induce tumor regrowth if not completely eliminated by therapy. The population of CSCs is not only a promising target for tumor treatment, but also an important biomarker to identify the patients at risk for therapeutic failure and disease progression.
This review aims to provide an overview of the recent pre-clinical and clinical studies on the biology and potential therapeutic implications of HNSCC stem cells.

Barite precipitation in fractures and nanopores within a shale sample is analysed in situ, in 3D, and over time. Diffusion of barium and sulphate from opposite sides of the sample creates a supersaturated zone where barium sulphate crystals precipitate. Time-lapse synchrotron-based computed tomography was used to track the growth of precipitates over time, even within the shale’s matrix where the nanopores are much smaller than the resolution of the technique. We observed that the kinetics of precipitation is limited by the type and size of the confinement where crystals are growing, i.e., nanopores and fractures. This has a major impact on the ion transport at the growth front, which determines the extent of precipitation within wider fractures (fast and localised precipitation), thinner fractures (non-localised and slowing precipitation) and nanopores (precipitation spread as a front moving at an approximately constant velocity of 10 ± 3 µm/h). A general sequence of events during precipitation in rocks containing pores and fractures of different sizes is proposed and its possible implications to earth sciences and subsurface engineering, e.g., fracking and mineral sequestration, are discussed.

One of the biggest challenges with water in the mining industry is the need for water management systems that consider production-related issues when the quality of process water is subject to variations. Part of the work required to tackle this challenge is the development of simulation platforms that correlates the quality of the process water to the processing plant performance. In this paper, the application of a previously developed simulation-based approach to include the impact of process water chemistry on the performance of a flotation plant is presented. The water chemistry-dependent plant simulation is then used to investigate the implementation of a water-saving strategy to reduce fresh water requirements without impairing process performance, thus demonstrating the applicability of the previously developed approach for the simulation of large scale industrial plants.

Through a series of in-house routines of R, an open source programming language for statistical computing, statistical analysis is applied to automated process mineralogy data in order to describe the performance of an industrial scheelite rougher flotation bank. These routines allow: 1) exploring all particles properties over residence time, not only particle size or surface liberation but also mineral association and a wealth of other particle properties, 2) to free the user from the limitations of the menu-driven built-in mineralogy software or spreadsheets, for calculation, data plotting or predictive model fitting, in particular for the parallel analysis of several streams; and 3) a more flexible manipulation of the data, both class and particle wise, for instance allowing for data mining across streams.

In an illustration case study, these functions are used to show the separation efficiency shift over residence time and over particle size; to indicate which associated minerals have a greater influence on the flotation of scheelite; to determine which gangue minerals are more impacted by entrainment; and finally to link said entrainment to particle shape. In general, the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology intends to use such a programming platform on automated mineralogy data as a routine to understand processes better, as a potential diagnostic tool for process troubleshooting, and also for predictive model building within the frame of geometallurgy.

The spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) effect arises from spin-transfer processes across the interface between a spin Hall active metal and an insulating magnet. While the SMR response of ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic insulators has been studied extensively, the SMR of a paramagnetic spin ensemble is not well established. Thus, we investigate herein the magnetoresistive response of the as-deposited yttrium iron garnet/platinum thin film bilayers as a function of the orientation and the amplitude of an externally applied magnetic field. Structural and magnetic characterization shows no evidence for the crystalline order or spontaneous magnetization in the yttrium iron garnet layer. Nevertheless, we observe a clear magnetoresistance response with a dependence on the magnetic field orientation characteristic for the SMR. We propose two models for the origin of the SMR response in paramagnetic insulator/platinum heterostructures. The first model describes the SMR of an ensemble of noninteracting paramagnetic moments, while the second model describes the magnetoresistance arising by considering the total net moment. Interestingly, our experimental data are consistently described by the net moment picture, in contrast to the situation in compensated ferrimagnets or antiferromagnets.

Strengths of M1 transitions depopulating high-lying 1+ states and of subsequent transitions in cascades populating the first excited state were determined on the basis of large-scale shell-model calculations for the nuclide 54Fe. The results reveal that the spectra of primary M1 transitions from 1+ states only as well as the subsequent cascade M1 transitions show an enhancement of strength toward small energy, similar to that found for a huge number of transitions between states of a wide spin range as observed in light-ion induced reactions. This allows in principle the study of low-energy M1 strength using photon scattering. Based on these results, intensities of M1 transitions under experimental conditions are estimated.

We report that the lattice constant of Dy₂Ge_2−xSi_xO₇ (x = 0, 0.02, 0.08, 0.125) can be systematically reduced by substituting the nonmagnetic germanium ion in the cubic pyrochlore oxide with silicon. A multianvil high-pressure synthesis was performed up to 16 GPa and 1100 °C to obtain polycrystalline samples in a solid-state reaction. Measurements of magnetization, ac susceptibility, and heat capacity reveal the typical signatures of a spin-ice phase. From the temperature shift of the peaks, observed in the temperature-dependent heat capacity, we deduce an increase in the strength of the exchange interaction. In conclusion, the reduced lattice constant leads to a changed ratio of the competing exchange and dipolar interaction. This puts the new spin-ice compounds closer towards the phase boundary of a short-range spin-ice arrangement and antiferromagnetic long-range order consistent with an observed reduction in the energy scale of monopole excitations.

Magnetic materials with a non-collinear and non-coplanar arrangement of magnetic moments hosting a nonzero scalar spin-chirality exhibit unique magnetic and spin-dependent electronic transport properties. The spin chirality often occurs in materials where competing exchange interactions lead to geometrical frustrations between magnetic moments and to a strong coupling between the crystal lattice and the magnetic structure. These characteristics are particularly strong in Mn-based antiperovskites where the interactions and chirality can be tuned by substitutional modifications of the crystalline lattice. This study presents evidence for the formation of two unequal chiral spin states in magnetically ordered Mn_3.338Ni_0.651N antiperovskite based on density functional theory calculations and supported by magnetization measurements after cooling in a magnetic field. The existence of two scalar spin-chiralities of opposite sign and different magnitude is demonstrated by a vertical shift of the magnetic-field dependent magnetization and Hall effect at low fields and from an asymmetrical magnetoresistivity when the applied magnetic field is oriented parallel or antiparallel to the direction of the cooling field. This opens up the possibility of manipulating the spin chirality for potential use in the emerging field of chiral spintronics.

Acoustic signatures of the single-site quadrupolar Kondo effect in Y_0.966Pr_0.034Ir₂Zn₂₀ are presented. The elastic constant (C₁₁ − C₁₂)/2, corresponding to the Γ₃(E)-symmetry electric-quadrupolar response, reveals a logarithmic temperature dependence of the quadrupolar susceptibility in the low-magnetic-field region below ∼0.3 K. Furthermore, the Curie-type divergence of the elastic constant down to ∼1 K indicates that the Pr ions in this diluted system have a non-Kramers ground-state doublet. These observations evidence the single-site quadrupolar Kondo effect, as previously suggested based on specific-heat and electrical-resistivity data.

We report the magnetic phase diagram of single-crystalline LiFePO₄ in magnetic fields up to 58 T and present a detailed study of magnetoelastic coupling by means of high-resolution capacitance dilatometry. Large anomalies at T_N in the thermal-expansion coefficient α imply pronounced magnetoelastic coupling. Quantitative analysis yields the magnetic Grüneisen parameter γ_mag = 6.7(5) × 10⁻⁷ mol/J. The positive hydrostatic pressure dependence dT_N/dp = 1.46(11) K/GPa is dominated by uniaxial effects along the a axis. Failure of Grüneisen scaling below ≈40K, i.e., below the peak temperature in the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient [7], implies several competing degrees of freedom. A broad and strongly magnetic field dependent anomaly in α in this temperature regime highlights the relevance of structure changes. Upon application of the magnetic field B||b axis, a pronounced jump in the magnetization implies spin reorientation at B_SF = 32 T as well as a precursing phase at 29 T and T = 1.5K. In a two-sublattice mean-field model, the saturation field B_sat,b = 64(2) T enables assessing the effective antiferromagnetic exchange interaction J_af = 2.68(5)meV as well as anisotropies D_b = −0.53(4)meV and D_c = 0.44(8)meV.

For fusion to be realized as a safe, sustainable source of power, new structural materials need to be developed which can withstand high temperatures and the unique fusion radiation environment. An attractive aspect of fusion is that no long-lived radioactive wastes will be produced, but to achieve this structural materials must comprise reduced activation elements. Compositionally complex alloys (CCAs) (also called high entropy alloys, HEAs) are promising candidates for use in extreme environments, including fusion, but few reported to date have low activation. To address these material challenges, we have produced novel, reduced activation, HEAs by arc-melting, and investigated their thermal stability, and radiation damage resistance using 5 MeV Au²⁺ ion implantation. Whilst the alloys were designed to form single phase BCC, using room temperature and non-ambient in situ X-ray diffraction we have revealed the thermodynamically stable structure of these alloys is in fact a sigma phase. We propose that a BCC phase is formed in these alloys, but at high temperatures (>1000°C). A BCC phase was also formed during heavy ion implantation, which we propose to be due to the rapid heating and cooling that occurs during the thermal spike, effectively freezing in the BCC phase produced by an implantation induced phase transformation. The BCC phase was found to have high hardness and a degree of ductility, making these new alloys attractive in the development of reduced activation HEAs for nuclear applications.

Neoproterozoic iron formations are exposed in the Wadi Hamama area (Egypt) in the northwestern part of the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Mafic and felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of an intra-oceanic island-arc setting host multiple, thin iron-formation units. Major element compositions of the iron formation confirm a low detrital input, whereas the rare-earth elements and Y data suggest deposition related to an influx of low-temperature hydrothermal fluids. Unlike most Neoproterozoic banded iron formations, but similar to other iron-formation occurrences from the Arabian–Nubian Shield, the Nd isotopic compositions of the Wadi Hamama iron formations are predominantly mantle-like. SIMS U–Pb zircon ages of the host volcaniclastic units indicate that the age of iron-formation deposition is ca. 695 Ma, which is within the Sturtian epoch that is presumed to be a glacial event of global extent. Nevertheless, there is no robust evidence of any influence of Sturtian glaciation in the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Our results rather suggest that the iron formations in the area may have formed as low-temperature exhalites on the floor of an island-arc basin. The iron formations were deposited during periods of volcanic quiescence, with metals having been derived during low-temperature pervasive hydrothermal alteration of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks exposed at the seafloor–seawater interface. Precipitation took place due to mixing of metal-bearing hydrothermal fluids and cold, oxygenated seawater. There is no need to invoke possible effects of global glaciation to explain the origin of the Sturtian-aged iron formations in the shield. Our study thus suggests that not all Neoproterozoic iron formations are necessarily linked to glacial events as the Hamama deposit represents a non-Rapitan exhalative iron formation.

High temperature nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation (HT-NPIII) method was used to treat the internal walls of small diameter metal tubes made of SS304 and of Ti6-Al4-V (TAV). Using a lid in one side of the tubes was essential to reach high temperatures of 700-900 °C, necessary for high thermal diffusion of nitrogen in Ti alloy samples placed inside the metal tubes for monitoring the HT-NPIII process. The used metal tubes also reached such high temperatures. New phases of TiN and Ti2N were successfully attained in the TAV samples with the treated layer thickness of more than 1.3 μm for all the tested cases. For tubes made of SS304, HT-NPIII treatments resulted in redeposition of FeN thick layers with high hardness on the surfaces of the internal walls of the tubes and on the monitoring samples. Obtaining such HT-NPIII conditions in these small metallic tubes was possible by achieving high plasma density through hollow cathode discharges inside those tubes. These results were compared to the ones obtained on the nitrogen implantation treatments of TAV samples in moderate to high temperatures carried out previously in the laboratory which indicated the superior performance of the presently reported method of surface modification.

To identify a potent and selective σ2 receptor ligand appropriate for development as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, several fluorinated analogues of the spirocyclic lead compounds trans- and cis-6 (N-(2,4-dimethylbenzyl)-3-methoxy-3,4-dihydrospiro[[2]benzopyran-1,1′-cyclohexan]-4′-amine) were designed. In multistep syntheses, a fluorine atom was introduced directly or as a 2-fluoroethoxy moiety on the 2-benzopyran scaffold, on the dimethylbenzylamino moiety, or on the central amino moiety. The σ1 and σ2 receptor affinity was determined in receptor binding studies with radioligands. With respect to σ2 affinity and σ2/σ1 selectivity, cis-N-(2,4-dimethylbenzyl)-5-fluoro-3-methoxy-3,4-dihydrospiro[[2]benzopyran-1,1′-cyclohexan]-4′-amine (cis-15 c, Ki(σ2)=51 nm) and cis-N-[4-(fluoromethyl)-2-methylbenzyl]-3-methoxy-3,4-dihydrospiro[[2]benzopyran-1,1′-cyclohexan]-4′-amine (cis-28 e, Ki(σ2)=57 nm) are the most promising ligands. The combination of both structural elements in one molecule, cis-N-[4-(fluoromethyl)-2-methylbenzyl]-5-fluoro-3-methoxy-3,4-dihydrospiro[[2]benzopyran-1,1′-cyclohexan]-4′-amine (cis-28 c: Ki(σ2)=874 nm), resulted in decreased σ2 and σ1 affinity. Methylation of secondary amines led to three tertiary methylamines with moderate affinity for both σ receptor subtypes.

Der Vortrag dient der Weiterbildung von Lehrkräften und gibt Einblicke in die Endlager-Problematik von hoch-radioaktiven Abfällen. Im speziellen soll hier die Relevanz von Mikroorganismen dargestellt und erleutert werden.

The heavy‐ion storage ring CRYRING@ESR has recently been installed and commissioned at GSI as one of the first installations of the upcoming Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR). It is designed to store highly charged ions in the energy range between 300 keV/u and about 10 MeV/u. It will incorporate a gas‐jet target providing high‐density jets of, among other gases, hydrogen and helium. This will allow to study alpha‐capture reaction rates of astrophysical interest in the energy range of the Gamow window for core‐collapse supernovae. Special interest comes from the long‐lived radio‐isotope 44Ti (t1/2 = 58.9 years), which is supposed to be produced in the alpha‐rich freeze‐out during such an event. The nucleosynthesis of this isotope is of great interest, as the amount of material produced can be estimated by direct observation in remnants of recent supernovae. The disagreements between the observations and the estimations from astrophysical models show the need of more experimental data for the production and consumption reactions in the energy range of a core‐collapse supernova. In this article, we will describe the proposed method of injecting beams of 44Ti into CRYRING@ESR and performing the actual reaction rate measurements.

Zur Zeit werden in Deutschland noch 7 Kernkraftwerke zur Stromerzeugung betrieben. Bis 2022 soll das letzte Kernkraftwerk abgeschaltet werden – Deutschlands Ausstieg aus der Atomkraft. Der Atomausstieg ist ein wichtiger Schritt für die Energiewende, nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern in vielen Ländern Europas. Ziel ist eine langfristige und vollständige Umstellung auf erneuerbare Energien wie z. B. Wasserkraft, Sonnen- und Windenergie.
Der Ausstieg aus der Kernenergie bringt auch einige Konsequenzen mit sich, für welche wir Verantwortung übernehmen müssen. Eine der größten Herausforderungen ist dabei die sichere und langfristige Lagerung des Atommülls. Allein in Deutschland entstanden im Jahr 2015 15 Tonnen an abgebrannten Brennelementen. Dieser Atommüll ist hoch radioaktiv und wird erst nach einer Dauer von etwa 200.000 bis 500.000 Jahren als „ungefährlich“ eingestuft. Das Endlager für die Brennelemente muss also über diesen langen Zeitraum stabil und sicher sein. Weltweit hat sich hierbei das Konzept einer tiefen-geologischen Lagerung – etwa 500 m bis 1000 m unter der Erde – durchgesetzt. Hierbei soll ein Multi-Barrieren-Konzept Anwendung finden, welches aus folgenden Elementen bestehen wird:

1) technische Barriere – Metall-Behälter, welcher die Brennelemente beherbergt (Gusseisen, Stahl, oder Kupfer)
2) geo-technische Barriere – Puffer- und Abdichtungsmaterial (Bentonit oder Salzgrus)
3) geologische Barriere – Wirtsgestein (Steinsalz, Granit oder Tongestein)

In Deutschland starten wir von einer „weißen Landkarte“. Die unterschiedlichen Materialien und Gesteine werden momentan auf ihre Eignung für das Endlager in Deutschland untersucht. Viele verschiedene Fachdisziplinen sind dafür relevant: Geologie, Mineralogie, (Radio-)Chemie, Physik, Mathematik, Materialwissenschaften, Architektur – um hier nur einige zu nennen. Interessanterweise spielt auch die Biologie bei der Planung des Endlagers eine Rolle. Lebewesen können auf verschiedene Art und Weise mit den hier verwendeten Materialien – sogar mit dem Atommüll selbst – interagieren. Zu den hauptsächlich hier betrachteten Lebewesen zählen Pflanzen, Pilze und Mikroorganismen (Bakterien, Archaeen). Mikroorganismen sind ubiquitär auf dem Planeten Erde verbreitet und werden auch im Endlager für Atommüll anwesend sein. Bedingt durch ihren Stoffwechsel, welcher sich von dem des Menschen zum Teil stark unterscheidet, sind Mikroorganismen in der Lage, Materialien und deren Eigenschaften zu verändern. Da die Lagerung des Atommülls sicher und langfristig sein muss, ist es wichtig zu erforschen, inwiefern Mikroorganismen hierfür genutzte Barriere-Materialien verändern und deren Eigenschaften beeinflussen können. Im ungünstigsten Fall könnte dadurch die langfristige Sicherheit des Endlagers stark reduziert werden.

Der Vortrag gibt einen Einblick in die faszinierende Welt der Mikroorganismen und zeigt zugleich deren Relevanz für die sichere und langfristige Lagerung des Atommülls.

Levyne is a natural zeolite Ca2.53Na0.72K0.23(Al6.26Si11.8O36)·17.58H2O with LEV framework type. The structure can be described by a sequence of single six-membered rings (S6R) and double six-membered rings (D6R) stacked along the c axis with AABCCABBCAA sequence [1,2]. This sequence originates columns along [001] of [496583] polyhedra (levyne cages) alternating with [4662] polyhedra (double six-rings). Two-dimensionally interconnected channels (free diameters 3.6 × 4.8 Å) confined by eight-membered rings run perpendicular to [001]. In this study we investigated the crystal structure and thermal stability of a Ag-exchanged levyne by using a multimethodological approach.

The magnetization dynamics of individual Fe-filled multiwall carbon-nanotubes (FeCNT), grown by chemical vapor deposition, are investigated by microresonator ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and Brillouin light scattering (BLS) microscopy and corroborated by micromagnetic simulations. Up to now, only static magnetometry measurements are available. They suggest that the FeCNTs consist of a single-crystalline Fe nanowire throughout the length. The number and structure of the FMR lines and the abrupt decay of the spin-wave transport seen in BLS indicate, however that the Fe filling is not a single straight piece along the length. Therefore a stepwise cutting procedure was applied in order to investigate the evolution of the ferromagnetic resonance lines as a function of the nanowire length. Our results show that the FeCNT is indeed not homogeneous along the full length but is built from 300-400 nm long single-crystalline segments. These segments consist of magnetically high quality Fe nanowires with almost the bulk values of Fe and with a similar small damping in relation to thin films, promoting the FeCNTs as appealing candidates for spin-wave transport in magnonic applications.

Photo-induced reaction cross section data are of importance for a variety of current or emerging applications, such as radiation shielding design and radiation transport analyses, calculations of absorbed dose in the human body during radiotherapy, physics and technology of fission reactors (influence of photo-reactions on neutron balance) and fusion reactors (plasma diagnostics and shielding), activation analyses, safeguards and inspection technologies, nuclear waste transmutation, medical isotope production and astrophysical applications. To address these data needs the IAEA Photonuclear Data library was produced in 2000, containing evaluated photo-induced cross sections and neutron spectra for 164 nuclides which were deemed relevant for the applications. Since the release of the IAEA Photonuclear Data Library however, new experimental data as well as new methods to assess the reliability of experimental cross sections have become available. Theoretical models and input parameters used to evaluate photo-induced reactions have improved significantly over the years. In addition, new measurements of partial photoneutron cross sections using mono-energetic photon beams and advanced neutron detection systems have been performed allowing for the validation of the evaluations and assessments of the experimental data. Furthermore, technological advances have led to the construction of new and more powerful gamma-beam facilities, therefore new data needs are emerging.
We report our coordinated efforts to address these data needs and present the results of the new evaluations of more than 200 nuclides included in the new updated IAEA Photonuclear Data Library, where the photon energy goes up to 200 MeV. We discuss the new assessment method and make recommendations to the user community in cases where the experimental data are discrepant and the assessments disagree. In addition, in the absence of experimental data, we present model predictions for photo-induced reaction cross section on nuclides of potential interest to medical radioisotope production.

By superimposing a magnetic field during electrodeposition of metals, alloys or composite coatings, the surface structure and the deposition rates could be changed. We used conical shaped copper electrodes coated with a thin layer of gold to study the effects of the magnetic field on mass transport during electrodeposition. The setup involves a metallic cone working as cathode, a platinum wire above as counterelectrode and a magnet below the cone.
In this case buoyancy force dominates the mass transport near the tip because the current density is high and the magnetic field is weak. On the other hand, in the region away from the tip and near the cone surface, the electric field is normal to the surface and has a component perpendicular to the magnetic field, where the Lorentz force dominates. In this work we measure in detail the convection of the electrolyte near the electrode during the electrodeposition process by particle tracking which is useful to understand how the deposition rate varies along the surface of the cone.

Copper electrodeposition on a conically shaped copper or iron electrode was studied under the influence of a vertical magnetic field. Numerical simulations were conducted to provide understanding of the interaction between the magnetic forces and the buoyancy force involved in the deposition process. The secondary flow caused by the Lorentz force is directed downward towards the cone, which is counteracted by the buoyancy force as the cathode is placed at the bottom of the electrochemical cell. For the iron cone, the magnetic gradient force can perceptibly enhance the local downward flow and is thus supporting conical growth, which indicates potential benefits of using magnetic fields in electrodeposition processes.

Mixing in a microfluidic environment is challenging due to the laminarity of flow. The idea of the present study is to apply a magnetic force to a stratified channel flow. Due to the different magnetic susceptibilities of the liquid layers, mixing might be triggered. The magnetic gradient force is generated simply by the application of permanent magnets. Fig. 1 shows the channel setup with two entries and two outflows. The upper entry is fed with water, whereas the lower entry is fed with 0.1 M HoCl3 solution. On top of the front part, the magnets are applied. Different flow rates and magnet configurations were studied. The degree of mixing is measured by determining the concentration of HoCl3 in the upper outlet by a spectrophotometer measuring the absorbance at a specific wavelength. Additional Micro-PIV measurements are performed to resolve the related flow pattern in detail. Numerical simulations are performed to complement the investigation.

lectrolytic gas evolution is a fundamental phenomenon occurring in a large number of industrial applications. Near the electrode, bubble growth is understood to appear due to mass flux of dissolved gas across the bubble interface from a supersaturated electrolyte. Because of related thermal, electrical or solutal effects, a gradient of the surface tension along the interface may exist. The resulting shear stress would cause convection at the interface (Marangoni effect), which may affect the mass transfer across the interface during growth and also the departure of the gas bubble. This Marangoni effect was unveilled only recently in an experimental study [1]. The present work aims to investigate the origin of the effect in more detail. Numerical simulations are performed including only the thermal Marangoni effect near a hydrogen gas bubble growing electrochemically at a microelectrode in an acidic electrolyte. The simulation results are compared with experimental data of the near-bubble convection obtained by Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) and by temperature measurements. The comparison allows to conclude on a strong thermocapillary effect at the microelectrode [2]. The related force on the bubble is found to retard the release of the bubble.

[1] X. Yang et al, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 20: 11542-11548. 2018.
[2] J. Massing et al., Electrochim. Acta. 2019. IN PRESS

Unexplained neutron flux fluctuation patterns observed in some reactors were recently investigated by various European institutions. The time-domain code DYN3D is one of the tools used for simulating these fluctuations. Though, the applicability of time-domain codes for modelling small stationary fluctuations remains a discussed question. Aiming at a confirmation that these codes may be applied for neutron noise calculations, two special cases of neutron flux oscillations have been simulated with DYN3D and with CORE SIM, the latter one being validated for the context here. The comparison between the results of these two codes is the subject of this paper. This study demonstrates that time- and frequency-dependent calculations can give qualitatively equivalent results but substantial quantitative deviations may occur. Nevertheless, DYN3D may be considered as qualified for neutron-noise calculations as the deviations are smaller than 20 %. The optimization of the DYN3D setup is a matter of future research.

This study assesses the feasibility of using external neutron and gamma flux measurements to detect the state of spent fuel assemblies inside a sealed cask. Several Monte-Carlo simulations were performed to evaluate the neutron and gamma flux distribution outside the sidewall of a cask with all intact fuel assemblies and a cask with one damaged fuel assembly, mimicking a fuel assembly with expanded rods and fuel relocation. The evaluation was performed for different positions of the damaged fuel assembly and different storage times. The results show that in case the damaged fuel assembly is located near the inner wall of the cask, it can be detected by both of the radiation modes. The detection of the inner damaged fuel assemblies, however, can be feasible only by the external neutron flux.

Presentation at Mu2e Simulation WG meting August 1, 2019

We report an improved reversibility of magnetostriction and inverse magnetocaloric effect (MCE) for the magnetic shape-memory Heusler alloy Ni_1.8Mn_1.8In_0.4. We show that the magnetostriction and MCE crucially depends on the geometrical compatibility of the austenite and martensite phases. Detailed information on the compatibility of both phases has been obtained from the transformation matrix calculated from x-ray diffraction data. The uniqueness of the lattice parameters results in an improved reversibility of the magnetostriction and the MCE. In the thermal hysteresis region of the martensitic transformation, the maximum relative length change is 0.3% and the adiabatic temperature change Δ_ad ≈ −10 K in pulsed magnetic fields. Our results reveal that the approach of geometric compatibility will allow one to design materials with reversible magnetostriction and reversible inverse MCE at a first-order magnetostructural phase transition in shape-memory Heusler alloys.

The phase transitions and magnetization processes in the antiferromagnetic compounds Fe_0.5TiS_2−ySe_y [FeTi₂(S,Se)₄] with an ordered layered crystal structure of the CrS₄ type have been studied by using x-ray diffraction, measurements of the specific heat, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, and the magnetization in steady and pulsed magnetic fields together with calculations within the Ising model accounting the magnetoelastic interactions. The change from the spin-flip to spin-flop type phase transition and a monotonic growth of the critical transition field from ∼50 kOe at y = 0 up to 470 kOe at y = 2 has been observed with the Se for S substitution in antiferromagnetic (AFM) compounds Fe_0.5TiS_2−ySe_y. In the selenium-poor compounds (y < 0.5), the field-induced AFM-FM phase transition at low temperatures is accompanied by ultrasharp changes in the magnetization and magnetoresistance and by huge magnetic hysteresis. The presence of remnant magnetoresistance in these compounds after the application of a magnetic field indicates the formation of a metastable field-induced FM state. Despite an AFM ground state, the Fe_0.5TiS_2−ySe_y compounds with y < 0.5 after application of a magnetic field behave at low temperatures as high-anisotropic Ising-type ferromagnets with the coercive field H_c up to ∼60 kOe. It has been shown, that magnetoelastic interactions may be responsible for the formation of the metastable field-induced high-coercive FM state in the Ising-type antiferromagnets.

Fundamental characteristics of rare-earth (R) – iron intermetallics R₂Fe₁₄B are highly sensitive to the atomic substitutions and interstitial absorption of light elements. We studied a combined influence of the substitutions in the rare-earth sublattice and hydrogen absorption on the magnetization behavior in magnetic fields up to 60 T Er₂Fe₁₄B and Tm₂Fe₁₄B ferrimagnets chosen for the study showed that the substitution of Nd for Er or Tm increases the saturation magnetization as a result of ferromagnetic ordering of Nd and Fe moments. Under sufficiently high magnetic fields the magnetic moments rotate and the field-induced ferromagnetic state may be observed. The field at which a transition occurs is related to the strength of the inter-sublattice exchange interaction. The role of hydrogen is primarily to weaken the inter-sublattice ferrimagnetic coupling so that the reorientation becomes achievable at the available magnetic field strength (in hydrides Tm₂Fe₁₄BH_5.5 and (Tm_0.5Nd_0.5)₂Fe₁₄BH_5.5). We analyze the volume dependence of the R–Fe magnetic interaction in R₂Fe₁₄B and compare it with other R–Fe compounds.

The multi-barrier deep geological repository system is currently considered as one of the safest option for the disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. Indigenous microorganisms of bentonites, may affect the structure and stability of these clays through Fe-containing minerals biotransformation and radionuclides mobilization.
The present work aimed to investigate the behavior of bentonite and its bacterial community in the case of a uranium leakage from the waste containers. Hence, bentonite microcosms were amended with uranyl nitrate (U) and glycerol-2-phosphate (G2P) and incubated aerobically for 6 months. Next generation 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the bacterial populations of all treated microcosms were dominated by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, accounting for >50% of the community. Additionally, G2P and nitrate had a remarkable effect on the bacterial diversity of bentonites by the enrichment of bacteria involved in the nitrogen and carbon biogeochemical cycles (e.g. Azotobacter). A significant presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria such as Desulfonauticus and Desulfomicrobium were detected in the U-treated microcosms. The actinobacteria Amycolatopsis was enriched in G2P‑uranium amended bentonites. High Annular Angle Dark-Field Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses showed the capacity of Amycolatopsis and a bentonite consortium formed by Bradyrhizobium-Rhizobium and Pseudomonas to precipitate U as U phosphate mineral phases, probably due to the phosphatase activity. The different amendments did not affect the mineralogy of the bentonite pointing to a high structural stability. These results would help to predict the impact of microbial processes on the biogeochemical cycles of elements (N and U) within the bentonite barrier under repository relevant conditions and to determine the changes in the microbial community induced by a uranium release.

Life in water-filled bedrock fissures in the continental deep biosphere is broadly constrained by energy and nutrient availability. Although these communities are alive, robust studies comparing active populations and metabolic processes across deep aquifers are lacking. This study analyzed three oligotrophic Fennoscandian Shield groundwaters, two “modern marine” waters that are replenished with organic carbon from the Baltic Sea and are likely less than 20 years old (171.3 and 415.4m below sea level) and an extremely oligotrophic “thoroughly mixed” water (448.8m below sea level) of unknown age that is composed of very old saline and marine waters. Cells were captured either using a sampling device that rapidly fixed RNA under in situ conditions or by filtering flowing groundwater over an extended period before fixation. Comparison of metatranscriptomes between the methods showed statistically similar transcript profiles for the respective water types, and they were analyzed as biological replicates. Study of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA confirmed active populations from all three domains of life, with many potentially novel unclassified populations present. Statistically supported differences between communities included heterotrophic sulfate-reducing bacteria in the modern marine water at 171.3m below sea level that has a higher organic carbon content than do largely autotrophic populations in the H2- and CO2-fed thoroughly mixed water. While this modern marine water had signatures of methanogenesis, syntrophic populations were predominantly in the thoroughly mixed water. The study provides a first statistical evaluation of differences in the active microbial communities in groundwaters differentially fed by organic carbon or “geogases.”
IMPORTANCE
Despite being separated from the photosynthesis-driven surface by both distance and time, the deep biosphere is an important driver for the earth’s carbon and energy cycles. However, due to the difficulties in gaining access and low cell numbers, robust statistical omics studies have not been carried out, and this limits the conclusions that can be drawn. This study benchmarks the use of two separate sampling systems and demonstrates that they provide statistically similar RNA transcript profiles, importantly validating several previously published studies. The generated data are analyzed to identify statistically valid differences in active microbial community members and metabolic processes. The results highlight contrasting taxa and growth strategies in the modern marine waters that are influenced by recent infiltration of Baltic Sea water versus the hydrogen- and carbon dioxide-fed, extremely oligotrophic, thoroughly mixed water.

We report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a new series of benzylpiperazine derivatives as selective σ1 receptor ligands. All seven ligands possessed low nanomolar affinity for σ1 receptors (Ki(σ1) = 0.31-4.19 nM) and high subtype selectivity (Ki(σ2)/Ki(σ1) = 50-2448). The fluoroethoxy analogues also exhibited high selectivity toward the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (Ki(VAChT)/Ki(σ1) = 99-18252). The corresponding radiotracers [18F]13, [18F]14, and [18F]16 with high selectivity (Ki(σ2)/Ki(σ1) > 100, Ki(VAChT)/Ki(σ1) > 1000) were prepared in 42% to 55% radiochemical yields (corrected for decay), greater than 99% radiochemical purity (RCP), and molar activity of about 120 GBq/μmol at the end of synthesis (EOS). All three radiotracers showed high initial brain uptake in mouse (8.37-11.48% ID/g at 2 min), which was not affected by pretreatment with cyclosporine A, suggesting that they are not substrates for permeability-glycoprotein (P-gp). Pretreatment with SA4503 or haloperidol resulted in significantly reduced brain uptake (35%-62% decrease at 30 min). In particular, [18F]16 displayed high brain-to-blood ratios and high in vivo metabolic stability. Although it may not be an optimal neuroimaging agent because of its slow kinetics in the mouse brain, [18F]16 can serve as a lead compound for further structural modifications to explore new potential radiotracers for σ1 receptors.

SLC3A2/CD98hc (solute carrier family 3 member 2) and its light chain subunits constitute the heterodimeric transmembrane complexes that mediate amino acid transport and regulate MTOR and macroautophagy/autophagy. Despite the proven tumorigenic role of SLC3A2 in a number of cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), the link between SLC3A2, autophagy regulation and tumor radioresistance remained elusive. In a recently published study we demonstrated that low levels of SLC3A2 and SLC7A5/LAT1 protein expression significantly correlate with good clinical prognosis in locally advanced HNSCC treated with primary radiochemotherapy. The SLC3A2-deficient HNSCC cells show a higher radiosensitivity and increased autophagy levels. We found that autophagy activation is a tumor survival strategy to overcome nutrient stress by lack of SLC3A2 and to withstand radiation-mediated cell damage. Inhibition of the autophagy activation in SLC3A2 knockout HNSCC cells by knockdown of ATG5 expression or treatment with bafilomycin A1 results in radiosensitivity. Consequently, the expression levels of ATG5 correlates with overall survival in HNSCC patients, and autophagy inhibition in combination with SLC3A2-targeted therapy can be a promising strategy for HNSCC radiosensitization. Abbreviations: CD98hc: CD98 heavy chain CSC cancer stem cells; EAA: essential amino acids; GSH: glutathione; MTOR: mammalian target of rapamycin; HNSCC: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; RCTx: primary radiochemotherapy; PORT-C: postoperative radiochemotherapy; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SLC3A2: solute carrier family 3 member 2; TCA cycle: tricarboxylic acid cycle.

Objectives
Severe internal carotid-artery stenosis (ICAS) is a major public health issue, as it accounts for approximately 10% of all strokes.1 Despite several studies,2–5 mechanisms of related haemodynamic impairments are still not well understood, which limits the currently insufficient treatment guidelines6. To improve diagnostic significance, we propose a multimodal-MRI protocol to better characterise haemodynamic impairments in asymptomatic ICAS. Since perfusion impairments arise first in the highly variableborder zones7 between perfusion territories,8 we hypothesize to be most sensitive to ICAS-impairments within subject’s individual watershed areas (iWSAs)7.

Methods
Fifty-nine participants (29 asymptomatic, unilateral ICAS-patients, age = 70.1 ± 4.8y and 30 age-matched HC, age = 70.3 ± 7.3y) underwent MRI on a Philips 3T Ingenia with written informed consent. Imaging yielded maps of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR)9 by breathhold-fMRI;10 cerebral blood flow (CBF) by pCASL;11 relative oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF) by multiparametric-quantitative BOLD (mq-BOLD);12 relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), capillary transit-time heterogeneity (CTH), and oxygen extraction capacity (OEC) by parametric modeling13 of dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) data14 (Fig.1C-H). Based on DSC-derived time-to-peak (TTP) maps, iWSAs were defined for each participant (Fig.1A).7 Mean haemodynamic parameter values within each hemisphere were compared between ICAS-patients vs. HC and inside vs. outside iWSAs (Fig.1B) within GM and WM.

Results
We found statistically significant lateralisation of CBF, CVR, rCBV, CTH and OEC for ICAS-patients, whereas no significant rOEF lateralisation was found (Fig.1I). Inside iWSAs, lateralisation was significantly enhanced for CBF and CVR (t-test, p < 0.05), with a strong trend for rCBV. Overall, lateralisation was stronger within WM than GM (Fig.1I). Contrary, OEC and CTH were indeed lateralised, but comparable inside vs. outside iWSAs (Fig.1I). For HC, all parameters were symmetrical between hemispheres (data not shown).

Discussion
The multimodal MRI-protocol is sensitive to haemodynamic impairments in unilateral-ICAS. Specificity was affirmed by symmetrical HC results. As hypothesized, impairments of CBF, CVR and rCBV were stronger within iWSAs (Fig.1I). Pronounced effects in WM-iWSA fit with the different blood supply in GM/WM. Ipsilaterally decreased CBF agrees with recent studies.2 Decreased CVR, along with increased rCBV, indicates chronic vasodilation.15 Consistent with current literature,2 no rOEF lateralisation was found on group level. Observed ΔCBF vs. ΔrOEF mismatch could imply variable oxygen diffusivity16– potentially moderated by CTH17,18. Increased CTH in ICAS agrees with previous studies.18 Interestingly, we found CTH and OEC lateralisation independent of iWSA-locations, which coincides with previous CTH and Tmax comparisons.19,20 This indicates different CTH and TTP sensitivities to macrovascular effects and microcapillary flow heterogeneity.18

Conclusion
We successfully analyzed haemodynamic impairments in unilateral-ICAS and found lateralisation in accordance with current literature. Application of iWSA confirmed increased sensitivity to CBF, CVR and rCBV changes. Interestingly, CTH and OEC increases are independent of iWSA-locations.

Objectives
Accounting for approximately 10% of all strokes,1 severe internal carotid-artery stenosis (ICAS) is a major public health issue. The average 2-year mortality after the invasive treatment is very high with 32%,2 which creates the need for non-invasive methods to support treatment decisions and evaluate treatment efficacy.3,4 A highly promising biomarker of vascular health is cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR),3,4 however, commonly employed methods are either invasive acetazolamide injections or complicated gas applications.3-8 We therefore used an easily-applicable breath-hold fMRI (BH-fMRI) scheme for CVR measurements. To maximize sensitivity and ensure specificity, we evaluated CVR within global watershed areas (gWSAs) in ICAS-patients before and after treatment and in healthy controls (HC).9

Methods
Thirty-three participants (16 asymptomatic, unilateral ICAS-patients, age = 71.4 ± 5.8 y and 17 HC, age = 70.8 ± 5.3 y) underwent MRI on a 3 T Philips Ingenia with written informed consent. All participants were scanned twice, patients before and at least three months after treatment (by stenting or endarterectomy), HC with a similar follow-up delay. The BOLD-based BH-fMRI scheme comprised five breath-holds of 15 s, each. CVR-maps were calculated by data-driven analysis10 (Fig.1B,C). Artefact-affected CVR-maps were excluded based on visual ratings (CP,SK,JG). To investigate the role of chronic vasolidation,5 dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI was additionally acquired in both scans to calculate relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) maps11. Lateralization between hemispheres was calculated in MNI-space by mean parameter-values within GM of gWSAs for each participant (Fig.1A). ICAS-patients were evaluated within hemispheres ipsilateral and contralateral to the stenosis.

Results
Exemplary data of an ICAS-patient shows impaired CVR before treatment, which improves after treatment (see arrows in Fig.1B,C). On group level, CVR is significantly decreased in the ipsilateral hemisphere before treatment (Fig.1D, p = 0.0038). After treatment, CVR lateralization was significantly reduced (p = 0.0495) towards more symmetrical values between hemispheres (p = 0.25). Similarly, rCBV was ipsilaterally increased in ICAS before treatment and more symmetrical after treatment (data not shown). HC data was symmetrical between hemispheres at all scans (Fig.1E, p > 0.60).

Discussion
As hypothesized, BH-fMRI based evaluation of CVR lateralization within gWSAs was sensitive to subtle impairments in asymptomatic ICAS without compromising its specificity, as affirmed by symmetrical HC results (Fig.1E). Decreased CVR along with increased rCBV before treatment is associated with chronic vasodilation.5 Consistent with current literature, CVR recovery was detected after ICAS-treatment,4-8 demonstrating improved haemodynamic status. Compared to more accurate CVR-measurements with CO2 application and end-tidal gas analysis,3,12 breath-holds remain a viable alternative being much more tolerable and easily applicable at low costs within clinically feasible scan times.

Uranium (U) measurements in water, soil, and food related to gold mining activities in populated areas in Gauteng Province, South Africa, suggest the possibility of exposure levels that may lead to adverse health consequences, including cancer. Theoretical considerations on pathways of human uptake of significant exposures are plausible, but few data on directly measured human exposure are available. A cross-sectional study was conducted using human measurements to compare U levels with other settings around the globe (based on literature review), to explore potential exposure variability within the province, and to test the feasibility of recruiting subjects partially coming from vulnerable and difficult-to-reach populations. Wards of potentially high (HE) and low exposure (LE) were identified. Composite hair samples representing the respective local populations were collected from regular customers of selected barber shops over a period of 1–2 months. A total of 70 U concentrations were determined in 27 composite samples from 1332 individuals. U concentrations ranged from 31 μg/kg to 2524 μg/kg, with an arithmetic mean of 192 μg/kg (standard deviation, 310 μg/kg) and a median of 122 μg/kg. Although HE wards collectively showed higher U levels than LE wards (184 vs 134 μg/kg), differences were smaller than expected. In conclusion, detected U levels were higher than those from most other surveys of the general public. The barber-based approach was an efficient hair collection approach. Composite hair samples are not recommended, due to technical challenges in measuring U, and individual hair samples are needed in follow-up studies to determine predictors of exposure.

In this paper, we report on the phase selectivity in Cr and N co-doped TiO2 (TiO2:Cr,N) sputtered films by means of interface engineering. In particular, monolithic TiO2:Cr,N films produced by continuous growth conditions result in the formation of a mixed-phase oxide with dominant rutile character. On the contrary, modulated growth by starting with a single-phase anatase TiO2:N buffer layer, can be used to imprint the anatase structure to a subsequent TiO2:Cr,N layer. The robustness of the process with respect to the growth conditions has also been investigated, especially regarding the maximum Cr content (<5 at.%) for single-phase anatase formation. Furthermore, post-deposition flash-lamp-annealing (FLA) in modulated coatings was used to improve the as-grown anatase TiO2:Cr,N phase, as well as to induce dopant activation (N substitutional sites) and diffusion. In this way, Cr can be distributed through the whole film thickness from an initial modulated architecture while preserving the structural phase. Hence, the combination of interface engineering and millisecond-range-FLA opens new opportunities for tailoring the structure of TiO2-based functional materials.

In this work, we report on the impedance of p-n junction-based Si biochips with gold ring top electrodes and unstructured platinum bottom electrodes which allows for counting target biomaterial in a liquid-filled ring top electrode region. The systematic experiments on p-n junction-based Si biochips fabricated by two different sets of implantation parameters (i.e. biochips PS5 and BS5) are studied, and the comparable significant change of impedance characteristics in the biochips in dependence on the number of bacteria suspension, i.e., Lysinibacillus sphaericus JG-A12, in Deionized water with an optical density at 600 nm from OD600 = 4–16 in the electrode ring region is demonstrated. Furthermore, with the help of the newly developed two-phase electrode structure, the modeled capacitance and resistance parameters of the electrical equivalent circuit describing the p-n junction-based biochips depend linearly on the number of bacteria in the ring top electrode region, which successfully proves the potential performance of p-n junction-based Si biochips in observing the bacterial suspension. The proposed p-n junction-based biochips reveal perspective applications in medicine and biology for diagnosis, monitoring, management, and treatment of diseases.

Update on FLUKA geometry modeling

Update on the FLUKA simulation for the Mu2e experiment