Fabrication, defect chemistry and microstructure of Mn-doped UO.

Mn-doped UO is under consideration for use as an accident tolerant nuclear fuel. We detail the synthesis of Mn-doped UO prepared via a wet co-precipitation method, which was refined to improve the yield of incorporated Mn. To verify the Mn-doped UO defect chemistry, X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Mn K-edge was performed, in addition to X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high-energy resolved fluorescence detection X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy at the U M-edge.

Cr solid solution in UO evidenced by advanced spectroscopy.

Advanced Cr-doped UO fuels are essential for driving safe and efficient generation of nuclear energy. Although widely deployed, little is known about their fundamental chemistry, which is a critical gap for development of new fuel materials and radioactive waste management strategies. Utilising an original approach, we directly evidence the chemistry of CrO-doped UO.

Cell commitment and gene expression in the axolotl embryo.

In the axolotl embryo the somitic mesoderm passes through a reversible and then an irreversible phase of commitment with respect to its later differentiation into muscle. We show that the commencement of alpha-actin synthesis and the first appearance of thin myofilaments occur at the the same developmental stage as the transition between these phases. In intact embryos beta-and gamma-actin are made at all stages of development and in all tissues.