r group is developing an ultra-compact neutron source based on inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion device for various applications at Kyoto University. This IEC device is configured from a titanium anode and a molybdenum cathode with diameters of 17 and 6 cm, respectively. A high-intensity neutron source operated in a stable pulse shape is mandatory to increase the system’s reliability. Applying a higher voltage is a straightforward way to increase the neutron yield from the system. However, a contradiction between the increase of the applied voltage and the reduction of the system size limits such a proposal. A three-stage feedthrough system is employed in the developed compact IEC to address this contradiction. A feedback control system was developed and applied to the input and output parameters, such as the applied voltage and the neutron yield, to increase its stability in long-term operation. Characterization of the developed system was performed by scanning the neutron yield as a function of applied voltage and cathode current. To date, a maximum neutron yield of 9.2 × 10⁷n·s^–1 at 6.4 kW (80 kV and 80 mA) has been obtained. A study of the feasibility of using the IEC system for neutron radiography was performed. Preliminary analysis of the resulting images showed there was good contrast between the sample and the background. The results suggest that optimization of the experimental parameters is needed to perform higher accuracy neutron radiography.

A discharge-type fusion neutron source generates neutrons by fusion reactions of hydrogen isotope atoms. In order to operate the fusion device based on the deuterium–tritium (D–T) fusion reaction, the tritium inventory is required to be decreased. In the present work, a self-sufficient system was installed into the fusion device for reducing the amount of hydrogen isotope fuel gas. The fuel gas was supplied and recovered with an intermetallic compound ZrCo in a sealed chamber in this system. A deuterium–deuterium operation was maintained for more than 60 min with stable discharge voltages, and the temperature of the ZrCo bed was changed to improve the neutron production rate. Factors that influenced the pressure inside the chamber were determined and optimized. Gas analysis using a quadrupole mass spectrometer indicates a dilution of the deuterium fuel was caused by hydrogen isotope exchange …

Understanding the permeation behavior of tritium from a pebble bed breeding blanket is essential for establishing a self-sufficient fuel cycle in a nuclear fusion reactor. It is known that double corrosion layers forms on reduced activation ferritic-martensitic (RAFM) steel surface by a gas release from a ceramic breeder material; however, its effect on hydrogen permeation behavior has not been elucidated. Herein, in-situ measurement of hydrogen permeation through an F82H RAFM wall of a ceramic breeder pebble bed was performed under H₂-added sweep gas conditions. The corrosion layer formed on the F82H sample had a dense microstructure, which reduced hydrogen permeation flux at least by one order of magnitude. The permeation reduction factors were 20–50 at the water-coolant temperature of a blanket. A self-repairing ability is expected for the surface oxide layer as the corrosion occurs spontaneously …

Nowadays heterocyclic compounds containing pyrimidine scaffold attract the interest of many organic chemists due to their strong biological activity, so herein we present the synthesis of new polycyclic compounds starting from 4-chloro-9-phenyl-N-(p-tolyl)pyrimido[5',4':4,5]thieno[3,2-d][1,2,3]triazin-7-amine (1) which allowed to react with hydrazine hydrate to give hydrazinyl triazine compound (2) which subjected to some ring closure reactions using various reagents represented in triethyl orthoformate, acetyl acetone, and carbon disulfide to give compounds (3–5), respectively. Also, when the hydrazinyl compound was allowed to react with acetophenone, ethoxymethylene ethylcyano acetate, and diethyl malonate gave the derivatives (9–11), respectively. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were confirmed using spectral analysis techniques as well as elemental analysis. Besides, four new …

Heterocyclic compounds play an important role in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry, especially compounds containing hybrid bioactive moieties. So in continuation of our work, We focused mainly here on design, synthesis, and transformations of novel bio-active molecules bearing thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine moiety which can be used as antibacterial and antifungal drugs after some modifications. The starting compound 2-chloromethyl-3H-7-p-tolylamino-4-oxo-9-phenyl-pyrimido[4',5':4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine (1) which was prepared according to literature, was converted into many other derivatives bearing different functional groups to make a comparable study of their antimicrobial activity. The chemical constructions of all obtained compounds were well elucidated by the means of their analytical and spectral analyses (TLC, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and MS). The title compounds have been chosen and screened 

A modality to high tunability and sensing performance of one-dimensional (1D) topological photonic crystal (PC) heterostructure is realized based on a new mechanism through 1D topological PC. With inserting a defect aqueous layer as a sandwich between two 1D PCs, the transmittance gradually decreases with the increasing thickness of the defect layer. When the two layers of the topological heterostructure interface are replaced by the defect layer, the tunability, all sensing capabilities have been improved and the principle of topology is preserved. A topologically protected edge state is formed at the heterostructure interface with a highly localized electric field. For glucose sensing, high sensitivity S = 603.753 nm/RIU is obtained at the low detection limit of about DL = 1.22×10^(-4) RIU with high-quality factor Q = 2.33×10^4 and a high figure of merit FOM = 8147.814 RIU^(-1). Besides, the transmittance can be …

The rainbow trapping effect has attracted gathering attention due to its potential application in data processing, energy storage, and light-matter interaction enhancement. The interest has increased recently with the advent of topological photonic crystals (PCs), as the topological PC affords a robust platform for nanophotonic devices. We proposed a chirped one-dimensional (1D) PC as a sandwiched trapped between two1D topological PCs to realize two topological edge states (TESs) for topological protection and trap the formed rainbow. Through graded the thickness of dielectric layers of the chirped 1D PC, light of different wavelengths components localizes and stores at different spatial positions leading to rainbow trapping formation. Unidirectional rainbow trapping can be observed by progressively increasing the thicknesses of the chirped PC. Nonetheless, changing increasingly one of its thicknesses and solidifying the other leads to bidirectional rainbow trapping. Achieving bidirectional rainbow trapping will reduce the footprint of nanophotonic devices in the future. This work brings inspiration to the realization of the rainbow trapping effect and provides a way to design topological nanophotonic devices.

Although, the 4-NP effects on fish’s reproductive hormones was assessed in several studies using adults’ models; however, the effect of this endocrine disruptor on immature fish’s reproductive hormones was not addressed commonly. This study aimed to study the reproductive toxicity and recovery associated with 4-nonylphenol exposure in juvenile African catfish (Clarias garepinus) using some hormones (17β‐estradiol (E2), Testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)) and gonads histology as biomarkers. Toxic effects of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) has been studied in many anmails models but still there is limited knowledge about the dose-dependent damage caused by 4-NP exposure in juvenile Clarias gariepinus. Healthy juvenile C. gariepinus categorized into four groups (n=3/ group; three replicates in each group). The first group was the control, and the other three groups were subjected to 4-NP concentrations as 0.1 mg/L, 0.2 mg/L, and 0.3 mg/L, respectively for 15 days, then were left for a recovery period of another 15 days. The reproductive hormones of C. gariepinus exposed to 4-NP for 15 days exhibited significant variations between treatments and the control (P < 0.05) were evident in E2 and T values, whereas FSH, LH, total protein and lipid peroxidation values showed non-significant difference among all groups. Such situation referred to the fact that the 15-day recovery period was insufficient to remove the impacts of 4-NP doses in concern. The trend of dose-dependent increase/decrease was recorded for T, E2, FSH, and LH. The histopathological alterations of 4-NP-treated in gonads tissues were recorded in juvenile of C. gariepinus reflecting their sensitivity to 4-NP-estrogenic like effects. Overall, our results investigate that recovery has improved the reproductive toxicity caused by 4-nonylphenol in juvenile of C. garepinus. Significant variations between the treated groups and the control group (P < 0.05) were evident in all parameters except for the Hb, MCV, MCH and MCHC. The parameters exhibiting significance decreased with such increased doses. Apoptotic frequency in erythrocytes and brain cells increased significantly with increased 4-NP exposure, indicating that 4-NP caused cytotoxic effects, such as apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. However, these cellular alterations greatly decreased after the 15-day recovery period.