Unraveling different influences of the fraction of the tetragonal phase in oxide films on the corrosion resistance of Zr alloys from the phase transition mechanism.

The mechanism of Sn and Nb influence on the fraction of tetragonal ZrO in oxide films on Zr alloys and their influence mechanism on corrosion resistance of Zr alloys, despite decades of research, are ambiguous due to the lack of kinetic knowledge of phase evolution of ZrO with doping. Using stochastic surface walking and density functional theory calculations, we investigate the influence of Nb and Sn on the stability of tetragonal (t) and monoclinic (m) ZrO, and t-m phase transition in oxide films. We found that though Nb and Sn result in similar apparent variation trends in the t-phase fraction in oxide films, their influences on t-m phase transition differ significantly, which is the underlying origin of different influences of the t-phase fraction in oxide films on the corrosion resistance of Zr alloys with Sn and Nb alloying.

Correction: Helium-induced damage in USi by first-principles studies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1RA04031F.].

Helium-induced damage in USi by first-principles studies.

Uranium silicide USi has been explored as an advanced nuclear fuel component for light water reactor to enhance the accident tolerance. In this paper, in order to understand the fuel performance of USi, the primary point defects, secondary point defects, and the dissolution of He gas were studied by first-principles methods. Compared with U atoms and another type of Si atoms, Si atoms far from intrinsic Si vacancies are more likely to form point defects, implying that Si vacancies are prone to form separate single vacancies rather than vacancy clusters in the initial stage.

First-Principles Calculations to Investigate the Influence of Irradiation Defects on the Swelling Behavior of Fe-13Cr Alloys.

Ferritic/martensitic (F/M) steels whose matrix is Fe-Cr are important candidate materials for fuel cladding of fast reactors, and they have excellent irradiation-swelling resistance. However, the mechanism of irradiation-swelling of F/M steels is still unclear. We use a first-principles method to reveal the influence of irradiation defects, i.

Consistently low prevalence of syphilis among female sex workers in Jinan, China: findings from two consecutive respondent driven sampling surveys.

Background: Routine surveillance using convenient sampling found low prevalence of HIV and syphilis among female sex workers in China. Two consecutive surveys using respondent driven sampling were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to examine the prevalence of HIV and syphilis among female sex workers in Jinan, China.

Methods: A face-to-face interview was conducted to collect demographic, behavioral and service utilization information using a structured questionnaire.

Predictors of consistent condom use based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model among female sex workers in Jinan, China.

Background: Female commercial sex workers (FSWs) are at high risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in China. This study was designed to examine the predictors of condom use with clients during vaginal intercourse among FSWs based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model and to describe the relationships between IMB model constructs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jinan of Shandong Province, from May to October, 2009.