Structural transformation of zinc in metakaolin-based potassium-geopolymer as revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Prihutami, P.*; Toda, Kanako*; Chaerun, R. I.; Oya, Yusuke*; Kikuchi, Ryosuke*; Otake, Tsubasa*; Sato, Tsutomu*; Saito, Takumi*

Applied Clay Science, 292, p.108330_1 - 108330_9, 2026/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2026.108330

Limited understanding of zinc (Zn) immobilization in altered geopolymers limits prediction of waste-form durability. This study examined the local structure and retention mechanism of Zn in a metakaolin-based potassium geopolymer by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Zn-bearing samples were prepared from metakaolin, zinc chloride (ZnCl) solution, potassium silicate, and potassium hydroxide, cured at 40C and 25C for 48 h, and leached in deionized water for up to 90 days. Zn release was only 0.14%, with limited Al, Si, and Cl release. The main geopolymer framework was preserved after leaching. XAS showed that Zn was initially tetrahedrally coordinated with oxygen and linked to Si or Al tetrahedra. After leaching, Zn changed to octahedral coordination and formed a brucite-like Al-bearing co-precipitate, indicating strong Zn retention despite local structural alteration.

Microstructural evolution and mechanical hardening of Cr-coated MDA cladding under high-dose Fe ion irradiation

Mohamad, A. B.; Chen, J.*; Ioka, Ikuo*; Suzuki, Eriko; Kondo, Keietsu; Abe, Yosuke; Yamashita, Shinichiro; Okubo, Nariaki; Nemoto, Yoshiyuki; Okada, Yuji*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 625, p.156513_1 - 156513_9, 2026/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2026.156513

On-going R&D program at JAEA on the Advanced Technology Fuels; An Update on the Cr-coated Zry cladding research

Mohamad, A. B.; Yamashita, Shinichiro; Nemoto, Yoshiyuki; Abe, Yosuke; Pham, V. H.; Ioka, Ikuo; Soma, Yasutaka; Ishijima, Yasuhiro; Sato, Tomonori; Rizaal, M.; et al.

Proceedings of TopFuel 2025; Nuclear Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (Internet), 8 Pages, 2025/10

https://www.ans.org/pubs/proceedings/issue-3431/

Development of a bio-based adhesive by polymerization of Boc-protected vinyl catechol derived from caffeic acid

Tanizaki, Shiho*; Kubo, Tomohiro*; Bito, Yosuke*; Mori, Shigeki*; Aoki, Hiroyuki; Sato, Kotaro*

RSC Sustainability (Internet), 3(4), p.1714 - 1720, 2025/04

https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00629A

Overview of PHITS Ver.3.34 with particular focus on track-structure calculation

Ogawa, Tatsuhiko; Hirata, Yuho; Matsuya, Yusuke; Kai, Takeshi; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Iwamoto, Yosuke; Hashimoto, Shintaro; Furuta, Takuya; Abe, Shinichiro; Matsuda, Norihiro; et al.

EPJ Nuclear Sciences & Technologies (Internet), 10, p.13_1 - 13_8, 2024/11

https://doi.org/10.1051/epjn/2024012

The latest updates on PHITS, a versatile radiation transport code, focusing specifically on track-structure models are presented. Track structure calculations are methods used to simulate the movement of charged particles while explicitly considering each atomic reaction. Initially developed for radiation biology, these calculation methods aimed to analyze the radiation-induced damage to DNA and chromosomes. Several track-structure calculation models, including PHITS-ETS, PHITS-ETS for Si, PHITS-KURBUC, ETSART, and ITSART, have been developed and implemented to PHITS. These models allow users to study the behavior of various particles at the nano-scale across a wide range of materials. Furthermore, potential applications of track-structure calculations have also been proposed so far. This collection of track-structure calculation models, which encompasses diverse conditions, opens up new avenues for research in the field of radiation effects.

In-situ X-ray imaging of the breakup dynamics of current-carrying molten metal jets during arc discharge

Sato, Yuriko*; Shobu, Takahisa; Tominaga, Aki; Sano, Tomokazu*; Ogino, Yosuke*

Communications Materials (Internet), 5, p.147_1 - 147_9, 2024/08

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-024-00586-1

The flow dynamics of current-carrying molten metal jet breakup during arc discharge serves as mass and heat sources in wire-arc-based metal deposition processes, thereby optimizing the resultant product quality. However, the spatiotemporal flow interaction between the molten metal jet and the surrounding arc plasma remains unclear. Here, using in-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging, we simultaneously track surface deformation and internal flow in molten aluminum jets during argon arc discharge. We reveal that modulating the magnitude and path of the arc discharge current can accelerate the jet velocity by 200 300% beyond its initial injection speed, thereby facilitating significant jet elongation. Our results provide consistent evidence that the jet flow dynamics are predominantly governed by the interaction between the arc discharge current and its coaxial self-induced magnetic field. This study establishes a framework at the intersection of fluid dynamics and electromagnetism, contributing to optimized control and precision in wire-arc-based applications.

Cell-cycle dependence on the biological effects of boron neutron capture therapy and its modification by polyvinyl alcohol

Matsuya, Yusuke; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Kusumoto, Tamon*; Yachi, Yoshie*; Seino, Ryosuke*; Miwa, Misako*; Ishikawa, Masayori*; Matsuyama, Shigeo*; Fukunaga, Hisanori*

Scientific Reports (Internet), 14, p.16696_1 - 16696_14, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67041-6

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a unique radiotherapy to selectively eradicate tumor cells using boron compounds (e.g., 4-borono-L-phenylalanine [BPA]) that are heterogeneously taken up at the cellular level. However, the impacts of tempo-spatial heterogenicity on cell killing remain unclear. With the technical combination of radiation track detector, cell cycle analysis, and biophysical simulations, we demonstrated the cell cycle-dependent heterogenicity of BPA uptake and following biological impacts of B(n, )Li reactions in HeLa cells expressing Fluorescent Ubiquitination-based Cell Cycle Indicators (FUCCI), as well as its modification effects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). As a result, we revealed that the intracellular BPA concentration in the S/G2/M phase was higher than that in the G1/S phase and that PVA modified the cell cycle dependence. Further, these findings lead to the development of the first BPA-PVA-based model for predicting BNCT treatment effects. These outcomes may contribute to more precision of therapeutic efficacy, when BNCT is combined with PVA and/or cell cycle-specific anticancer agents.

Recent improvements of the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System; PHITS version 3.33

Sato, Tatsuhiko; Iwamoto, Yosuke; Hashimoto, Shintaro; Ogawa, Tatsuhiko; Furuta, Takuya; Abe, Shinichiro; Kai, Takeshi; Matsuya, Yusuke; Matsuda, Norihiro; Hirata, Yuho; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 61(1), p.127 - 135, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2275736

The Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) is a general-purpose Monte Carlo radiation transport code that can simulate the behavior of most particle species with energies up to 1 TeV (per nucleon for ions). Its new version, PHITS3.31, was recently developed and released to the public. In the new version, the compatibility with high-energy nuclear data libraries and the algorithm of the track-structure modes have been improved. In this paper, we summarize the upgraded features of PHITS3.31 with respect to the physics models, utility functions, and application software introduced since the release of PHITS3.02 in 2017.

Intruder configurations in Ne at the transition into the island of inversion; Detailed structure study of Ne

Wang, H.*; Yasuda, Masahiro*; Kondo, Yosuke*; Nakamura, Takashi*; Tostevin, J. A.*; Ogata, Kazuyuki*; Otsuka, Takaharu*; Poves, A.*; Shimizu, Noritaka*; Yoshida, Kazuki; et al.

Physics Letters B, 843, p.138038_1 - 138038_9, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2023.138038

Detailed -ray spectroscopy of the exotic neon isotope Ne has been performed using the one-neutron removal reaction from Ne. Based on an analysis of parallel momentum distributions, a level scheme with spin-parity assignments has been constructed for Ne and the negative-parity states are identified for the first time. The measured partial cross sections and momentum distributions reveal a significant intruder p-wave strength providing evidence of the breakdown of the N = 20 and N = 28 shell gaps. Only a weak, possible f-wave strength was observed to bound final states. Large-scale shell-model calculations with different effective interactions do not reproduce the large p-wave and small f-wave strength observed experimentally, indicating an ongoing challenge for a complete theoretical description of the transition into the island of inversion along the Ne isotopic chain.

Difference in expansion and dehydration behaviors between NH- and K-montmorillonite

Kawakita, Ryohei; Saito, Akito*; Sakuma, Hiroshi*; Anraku, Sohtaro; Kikuchi, Ryosuke*; Otake, Tsubasa*; Sato, Tsutomu*

Applied Clay Science, 231, p.106722_1 - 106722_7, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2022.106722