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Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF) have emerged as a promising solution to improve safety during reactor accidents by enhancing fuel performance in light water reactors (LWRs). This paper investigates the performance of different ATF concepts, including Chromium-coated Zircaloy (CrZry), advanced steel (FeCrAl), and Silicon Carbide (SiC) as cladding materials, paired with Uranium Dioxide (UO 2 ), Uranium Silicide (U 3 Si 2 ), and Uranium Nitride (UN) fuels, under spectrum shift regulation conditions in a VVER-S reactor. Using the GETERA program, a series of calculations were conducted to compare multiplying factors and isotopic concentrations under spectrum-shifted conditions. The results demonstrate significant differences in fuel cycle characteristics and isotopic behavior, with SiC emerging as the optimal cladding material for maximizing neutron economy and minimizing parasitic absorption.

Yanick Crow, Sun Hur and colleagues show that gain-of-function mutations in IFIH1 cause a spectrum of neural and immunological phenotypes associated with enhanced interferon signaling. The mutations increase the affinity of IFIH1 for RNA, leading to immune upregulation and inflammatory disease. The type I interferon system is integral to human antiviral immunity. However, inappropriate stimulation or defective negative regulation of this system can lead to inflammatory disease. We sought to determine the molecular basis of genetically uncharacterized cases of the type I interferonopathy Aicardi-Goutières syndrome and of other undefined neurological and immunological phenotypes also demonstrating an upregulated type I interferon response. We found that heterozygous mutations in the cytosolic double-stranded RNA receptor gene IFIH1 (also called MDA5 ) cause a spectrum of neuroimmunological features consistently associated with an enhanced interferon state. Cellular and biochemical assays indicate that these mutations confer gain of function such that mutant IFIH1 binds RNA more avidly, leading to increased baseline and ligand-induced interferon signaling. Our results demonstrate that aberrant sensing of nucleic acids can cause immune upregulation.

This study resolves the apparent breakdown of the Korringa relation in disordered liquid metals by investigating Ga-based alloys (EGaIn and Galinstan). By integrating temperature-dependent Knight shifts (K) with longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation measurements, we demonstrate that deviations from classical behavior arise from neglecting transverse spin dephasing induced by structural and electronic disorder. While solid-state alloys follow the conventional Korringa law, the liquid phase exhibits significant discrepancies between T1 and T2 due to enhanced electron scattering and fluctuating hyperfine fields. By explicitly incorporating T2 into a modified framework, the proportionality between the Knight shift and nuclear relaxation is quantitatively restored. This establishes transverse relaxation as a critical parameter for describing nuclear spin dynamics in complex liquid metals, reinforcing NMR as a powerful local probe for optimizing next-generation liquid metal technologies.

For the first time, a composite from polycrystals of KH2PO4 (KDP) with a filler of cellulose nanoparticles (CNP) was prepared to investigate the influence of cellulose on domain-wall freezing and ferroelectricity of KDP. The extrapolation of experimental data using Vogel–Fulcher law demonstrated a higher temperature of domain-wall freezing in KDP/CNP composite in comparison with pure KDP. In addition, the impact of CNP led to the expansion of ferroelectric phase in KDP and the red-shift of relaxation frequencies. Besides, the deformation of P–E hysteresis loops with the increase in coercive field as well as the decrease in saturated and remnant polarization was also detected.Graphical abstract[Images not available. See PDF.]Synthesis of KDP/CNP composite

Transcription factors are proteins lying at the endpoint of signaling pathways that control the complex process of DNA transcription. Typically, they are structurally disordered in the inactive state, but in response to an external stimulus, like a suitable ligand, they change their conformation, thereby activating DNA transcription in a spatiotemporal fashion. The observed disorder or fuzziness is functionally beneficial because it can add adaptability, versatility, and reversibility to the interaction. In this context, mimetics of the basic region of the GCN4 transcription factor (Tf) and their interaction with dsDNA sequences would be suitable models to explore the concept of conformational fuzziness experimentally. Herein, we present the first example of a system that mimics the DNA sequence-specific recognition by the GCN4 Tf through the formation of a non- covalent tetra-component complex: peptide–azoβ-CyD(dimer)–peptide–DNA. The non-covalent complex is constructed on the one hand by a 30 amino acid peptide corresponding to the basic region of GCN4 and functionalized with an adamantane moiety, and on the other hand an allosteric receptor, the azoCyDdimer, that has an azobenzene linker connecting two β-cyclodextrin units. The azoCyDdimer responds to light stimulus, existing as two photo-states: the first thermodynamically stable with an E:Z isomer ratio of 95:5 and the second obtained after irradiation with ultraviolet light, resulting in a photostationary state with a 60:40 E:Z ratio. Through electrophoretic shift assays and circular dichroism spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the E isomer is responsible for dimerization and recognition. The formation of the non-covalent tetra component complex occurs in the presence of the GCN4 cognate dsDNA sequence (′5-..ATGA cg TCAT..-3′) but not with (′5-..ATGA c TCAT..-3′) that differs in only one spacing nucleotide. Thus, we demonstrated that the tetra-component complex is formed in a specific manner that depends on the geometry of the ligand, the peptide length, and the ds DNA sequence. We hypothesized that the mechanism of interaction is sequential, and it can be described by the polymorphism model of static fuzziness. We argue that chemically modified peptides of the GCN4 Tf are suitable minimalist experimental models to investigate conformational fuzziness in protein–DNA interactions.

Atomically thin two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have been regarded as ideal and promising nanomaterials that bring broad application prospects in extensive fields due to their ultrathin layered structure, unique electronic band structure, and multiple spatial phase configurations. TMDCs with different phase structures exhibit great diversities in physical and chemical properties. By regulating the phase structure, their properties would be modified to broaden the application fields. In this mini review, focusing on the most widely concerned molybdenum dichalcogenides (MoX2: X = S, Se, Te), we summarized their phase structures and corresponding electronic properties. Particularly, the mechanisms of phase transformation are explained, and the common methods of phase regulation or phase stabilization strategies are systematically reviewed and discussed. We hope the review could provide guidance for the phase regulation of molybdenum dichalcogenides nanomaterials, and further promote their real industrial applications.

Pin1 is a human peptidyl-prolyl cis–trans isomerase important for the regulation of phosphoproteins that are implicated in many diseases including cancer and Alzheimer’s. Further biophysical study of Pin1 will elucidate the importance of the two-domain system to regulate its own activity. Here, we report near-complete backbone and side-chain 1H, 13C and 15N NMR chemical shift assignments of full-length, apo Pin1 for the purpose of studying interdomain allostery and dynamics.

Intrinsically disordered proteins are found extensively in cell signaling pathways where they often are targets of posttranslational modifications e.g. phosphorylation. Such modifications can sometimes induce or disrupt secondary structure elements present in the modified protein. CD79a and CD79b are membrane-spanning, signal-transducing components of the B-cell receptor. The cytosolic domains of these proteins are intrinsically disordered and each has an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). When an antigen binds to the receptor, conserved tyrosines located in the ITAMs are phosphorylated which initiate further downstream signaling. Here we use NMR spectroscopy to examine the secondary structure propensity of the cytosolic domains of CD79a and CD79b in vitro before and after phosphorylation. The phosphorylation patterns are identified through analysis of changes of backbone chemical shifts found for the affected tyrosines and neighboring residues. The number of the phosphorylated sites is confirmed by mass spectrometry. The secondary structure propensities are calculated using the method of intrinsic referencing, where the reference random coil chemical shifts are measured for the same protein under denaturing conditions. Our analysis revealed that CD79a and CD79b both have an overall propensity for α-helical structure that is greatest in the C-terminal region of the ITAM. Phosphorylation of CD79a caused a decrease in helical propensity in the C-terminal ITAM region. For CD79b, the opposite was observed and phosphorylation resulted in an increase of helical propensity in the C-terminal part.

Wireless innovation depends on avoiding near-term spectrum scarcity, but a framework for accommodating new users in fields as diverse as driverless cars and wireless microphones must somehow reconcile the interference concerns of incumbent operators with an increasingly crowded spectrum environment. Because spectrum is scarce and highly valuable, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must strike the right balance between incentivizing the development of new technologies and protecting the rights of existing users. Fortunately, the FCC has already adopted such a framework, albeit in piecemeal fashion. Recent actions taken by the FCC to migrate old technologies into repackaged broadcast spectrum indicate a willingness to push for spectral efficiency and innovation even as the problem of harmful signal interference grows larger. The FCC's proposal to permit wireless operations in the guard bands of repackaged broadcast spectrum may represent a promising framework for addressing the issue of spectrum scarcity, but demanding efficiency may not work in every scenario.

This paper describes the SCERTS (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, Transactional Supports) model and demonstrates how music therapy supported its goals, during the - social partner level, for a three year old boy (Thomas) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) over the course of one year. The SCERTS model is a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach which was developed in America to enhance the communication and social-emotional abilities of individuals with ASD. Families are currently able to access the SCERTS model in the Wellington region through the Ministry of Education, Special Education; therefore it is increasingly important for New Zealand music therapists to understand how they can best work within this model. Individualised SCERTS goals were developed for Thomas and progress monitored during daily activities and recorded on log sheets. The log sheets were analysed to gain insight into the role of music therapy in stimulating the development of objectives. Thomas's mother and his speech and language therapist were interviewed to gain their perspective on the use of music therapy within this programme. An example of an interaction in a music therapy session was transcribed to further analyse how music therapy supported the goals. The data suggests that music therapy helped support the SCERTS goals in a number of ways for this case. Specifically, it appeared to assist and empower Thomas's parents by providing musical ideas and repertoire they could use to foster objectives and also modelling of transaction support goals. In this instance, music therapy could be used to address all of Thomas's SCERTS goals and appeared to provide multiple opportunities to practice them. It provided another setting to observe the attainment of goals and seemed to act as a catalyst for change during the process. The speech language therapist's feedback provided insight into the difficulties of implementing the SCERTS programme and the adaptations needed in a New Zealand context. This highlighted important information for New Zealand music therapists to be aware of when using this model. By the end of the year, Thomas had progressed from the - social partner stage to the - language partner stage of the SCERTS model.