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DOE OSTI2017

White Paper on Nuclear Data Needs and Capabilities for Basic Science

Reliable nuclear structure and reaction data represent the fundamental building blocks of nuclear physics and astrophysics research, and are also of importance in many applications. There is a continuous demand for high-quality updates of the main nuclear physics databases via the prompt compilation and evaluation of the latest experimental and theoretical results. The nuclear physics research community benefits greatly from comprehensive, systematic and up-to-date reviews of the experimentally determined nuclear properties and observables, as well as from the ability to rapidly access these data in user-friendly forms. Such credible databases also act as a bridge between science, technology, and society by making the results of basic nuclear physics research available to a broad audience of users, and hence expand the societal utilization of nuclear science. Compilation and evaluation of nuclear data has deep roots in the history of nuclear science research, as outlined in Appendix 1. They have an enormous impact on many areas of science and applications, as illustrated in Figure 2 for the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) database. The present workshop concentrated on the needs of the basic nuclear science community for data and capabilities. The main role of this community is to generate and use data in order to understand the basic nuclear forces and interactions that are responsible for the existence and the properties of all nuclides and, as a consequence, to gain knowledge about the origins, evolution and structure of the universe. Thus, the experiments designed to measure a wealth of nuclear properties towards these fundamental scientific goals are typically performed from within this community.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI1995

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 36, No. 2, July-December 1995]

Nuclear Safety is a journal that covers significant issues in the field of nuclear safety. Its primary scope is safety in the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power reactors worldwide and the research and analysis activities that promote this goal, but it also encompasses the safety aspects of the entire nuclear fuel cycle, including fuel fabrication, spent-fuel processing and handling, and nuclear waste disposal, the handling of fissionable materials and radioisotopes, and the environmental effects of all these activities. Table of Contents for this issue follows. THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT: 195 The Chornobyl Accident Revisited, Part III: Chernobyl Source Term Release Dynamics and Reconstruction of Events During the Active Phase, A. R. Sich; GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: 218 Second ANS Workshop on the Safety of Soviet-Designed Nuclear Power Plants, R. A. Bari; 234 Elements of a Nuclear Criticality Safety Program, C. M. Hopper; 243 Rickover, Excellence, and Criticality Safety Programs, R. E. Wilson; ACCIDENT ANALYSIS: 249 Transient Analysis of the PIUS Advanced Reactor Design with the TRAC-PF1/MOD2 Code, B. E. Boyack, J. L Steiner, S. C. Harmony, H. J. Stumpf, and J. F. Lime; 278 The Hierarchy-By-Interval Approach to Identifying Important Models that Need Improvement in Severe-Accident Simulation Codes, T. J. Heames, M. Khatib-Rahbar, J. E. Kelly, R. P. Jenks-Johnson, and Y.-S. Chen; 290 RELAP5/MOD3 Code Coupling Model, R. P. Martin; 299 Missiles Caused by Severe Pressurized-Water Reactor Accidents, R. Krieg; DESIGN FEATURES: 310 Validation of COMMIX with Westinghouse AP-600 PCCS Test Data, J. G. Sun, T. H. Chien, J. Ding, and W T. Sha; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: 321 Spent Nuclear Fuel Characterization for a Bounding Reference Assembly for the Receiving Basin for Off-Site Fuel, S. D. Kahook, R. L. Garrett, L. R. Canas, and M J. Beckum; OPERATING EXPERIENCES: 332 Reactor Shutdown Experience, Compiled by J. W. Cletcher; U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INFORMATION AND ANALYSES: 335 Reactor Coolant System Blowdown at Wolf Creek on September 17, 1994, J. V. Kauffman and S. L. Israel; RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: 344 Reports, Standards, and Safety Guides, D. S. Oueener; 349 Proposed Rule Changes as of June 30, 1995; ANNOUNCEMENTS: 320 Symposium on Acceptability of Risk From Radiation—Application to Manned Space Flight; 320 24th DOE/NRC Nuclear Air Cleaning and Treatment Conference; 361 Radiation Biology and Radiation Protection— Modern Developments and Tendencies in Radiation Biology; 362 1997 IEEE Sixth Conference on Human Factors and Power Plants; 354 The Authors; 360 Reviewers of Nuclear Safety, Vol. 36.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Development of an In-Situ Method for Cable Condition Monitoring in Nuclear Power Plants (SBIR Phase IIB Final Report)

This is the final report of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project that Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (AMS) has conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) over a seven-and-a-half year period (February 2013 through April 2020 with the awards of Phase I, Phase II and Phase IIB projects). The goal of the project was to design, develop, validate, and demonstrate a technique for in-situ testing of cable insulation polymers that will identify, locate, and provide the degree of aging for cables commonly used in nuclear power plants. During the Phase I project, AMS established that the frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) technique can successfully identify and measure cable insulation degradation that can be trended with aging. In Phase II, AMS performed extensive cable aging studies to correlate FDR measurements with other laboratory condition monitoring techniques and developed aging condition categories to quantify the severity of insulation degradation. In Phase IIB, the project expanded the research to include a wider variety of cable polymers that are used in the commercial nuclear power industry. This work also involved developing acceptance criteria to objectively assess age-related cable degradation while sharing the results of this research with industry, academia, and national laboratories to advance the state of the art in cable aging management technologies. The products developed under this research project provide the nuclear industry with an effective condition monitoring tool to support safe and long-term plant operation. Throughout the project, collaborations and support were received from a variety of industry organizations and individuals including DOE National Laboratories as well as nuclear plant utilities and several other industry experts and cable manufacturers. Contributions from these organizations included the donation of new cables, naturally aged cables, and research collaboration. The validation and commercialization of the products of this project were achieved through opportunities to test and demonstrate the technologies’ capabilities on-site at nuclear power generation and research facilities as well as in the laboratory alongside industry peers and cable testing service companies. The research resulted in a technology that can be used to identify, locate, and quantify age-related degradation in several types of cable polymers. This included developing software and hardware as well as the methodology for using the FDR technique to assess age-related degradation of installed cables. The technology developed under this project can provide nuclear plant management, engineers, and technicians with an in-situ electrical test method to determine if in-service cables need to be replaced, monitored on a periodic basis, or show no evidence of significant age-related degradation that may require action. Near the end of this Phase IIB project, the FDR product was sold to a nuclear power utility in South Korea. This sale of a dedicated aging assessment tool is the beginning of a comprehensive contract with the expectation of twelve (12) units sold to that country. Additionally, the FDR technology has been sold to several industry organizations including a nuclear research institute and the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. This technology is also being leased by other nuclear industry service companies for incorporation into aging management programs. The cable testing technology that was developed under this project was also integrated into a comprehensive cable aging assessment service that is being offered to the nuclear industry at the request of U.S. nuclear utilities and is currently part of onsite testing services provided by AMS.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2018

Brexit, Euratom and Nuclear Liabilities - 18643

The outcome of the UK referendum on withdrawal from the European Union has resulted in a UK government decision that the UK must withdraw from Euratom. As at the date of the Waste Management Symposia, half of the 2-year programme for agreeing the terms of exit and putting in place replacement arrangements will have passed. If no agreement is reached by 29 March 2019 and no extension of that deadline is agreed the UK will automatically exit Euratom on that date. Aside from potential trade tariffs, Euratom exit will create binary questions on acceptability of nuclear trade and collaboration with the UK, reflecting current reliance on the UK's status as a Euratom member in establishing and implementing acceptable safeguarding requirements, ensuring inclusion of the UK within the scope of existing Euratom nuclear cooperation agreements, and as a basis for current UK bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements. This in turn risks disruption of international nuclear cooperation and trade, including provision of resources and know-how in support of the UK waste and decommissioning effort and international movement of waste for treatment. The paper will consider the current status of negotiations for UK withdrawal from Euratom, development of replacement safeguarding arrangements and replacement of international nuclear cooperation agreements essential to future nuclear cooperation and trade with the UK, taking into account: - the current and future legal basis of UK safeguarding obligations, including potential changes to the UK's Voluntary Offer Safeguards Agreement under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and likely acceptability of replacement arrangements to key nuclear trading partners; - practical arrangements for meeting those obligations post Euratom reliance via independent safeguarding arrangements; and - the need for and challenges in replacement of the UK's current reliance on its status as a Euratom member in taking the benefit of the existing US / Euratom s123 Agreement and other Euratom nuclear cooperation agreements. The paper will also provide a brief update on recent developments in international nuclear liabilities. The last 2 years have seen significant changes, with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation finally entering into force on 15 April 2015 and significant progress towards ratification of the 2004 Protocols to the Paris and Brussels Conventions. These changes are to be welcomed as beneficial to international cooperation, but also bring changes to liabilities risks associated with international movement of nuclear materials. Despite clear advances nuclear liabilities risks remain a significant consideration in negotiation of international nuclear contracts, recognising beneficial changes as well as on-going areas of risk and uncertainty. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2019

Nuclear Crisis Communication in an Era of Fake News and Media Overload - 19414

Over the past several decades, the nuclear industry has worked diligently to improve the security and safety aspects of their technology, but it has failed to meet the challenge of the public's negative perception. Studies have shown that nuclear energy and nuclear waste evoke fear among the general populace because people see risks as immediate, unknown, uncontrollable, and potentially catastrophic. To some extent, negative public perception challenges for the nuclear industry are primarily a consequence of its own inability to communicate the benefits of nuclear science effectively with the lay public. While effective and trustworthy communication cannot guarantee success, it helps shape public opinion, and for a routinely misperceived project like a nuclear facility, that is paramount. Fukushima was the first nuclear accident to occur in the world where citizens have access to 24/7 news channels and the ability to respond in a real-time manner through social media outlets. Following the Fukushima accident, social media sites were filled with information regarding nuclear energy that were based more on mass rumor and even paranoia than facts. More locally, we have seen this trend following what was a minor external radiation release event at the WIPP in February 14, 2014. Many online news sources were flooded with anti-nuke stories aimed at pushing a fear of radiation, such as inferring an increase in cancer rates among the public from this minor incident; which was exactly the opposite of what was true. Today, when the public gets its news from social media and online sources, people are faced with rapidly changing and contrasting interpretations of the same story, depending on when they accessed the latest news. They are also increasingly vulnerable to fake news, including disinformation deliberately planted and cultivated by the anti-nuclear movement. Public reactions following these nuclear events reinforced the value of effective communication in maintaining the high level of transparency necessary for long-term, local acceptance and support for nuclear facilities. A lack of trustworthy communication leaves a vacuum that can be quickly filled by rumors and fake information. When dealing with a nuclear crisis, failure to recognize the rapidly changing and contrasting media framing, or believing fake news could have very real and catastrophic consequences. Trusted organizations must swiftly take charge and guide the way in which the crisis is framed to keep the public adequately and accurately informed. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2017

Computer Security for I and C Systems at Nuclear Facilities - 116

Cyber-attacks on Instrumentation and Control (I and C) systems may jeopardize the safety and security of nuclear facilities by contributing to sabotage or aiding in the unauthorized removal of nuclear material. The effects of cyber-attacks on I and C systems important to safety to safety may result in a wide range of consequences, such as a temporary loss of process control or unacceptable radiological consequences. Public awareness of cyber-attacks that affect I and C systems may also undermine confidence in the safety and security of nuclear facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recognizes the need for the guidance on the protection of I and C systems that provide safety, security, or auxiliary functions at nuclear facilities from cyber-attacks. To meet this need, The IAEA has developed a new Nuclear Security Series publication with the provisional title Computer Security of Instrumentation and Control Systems at Nuclear Facilities which builds upon and expands the guidance published in Nuclear Security Series No. 17 Computer Security at Nuclear Facilities (2011) . This publication will be formally released in 2017 as Technical Guidance and will be the second international consensus publication dedicated to Computer Security at Nuclear Facilities. It was developed in parallel with the new IAEA Nuclear Safety publications providing recommendations on I and C systems at research reactors (RR) and nuclear power plants (NPP) . The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of this publication and its application. The paper will also discuss its relation to other IAEA Nuclear Security Series (NSS) publications on computer security. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI1996

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 37, No. 2, April-June 1996]

05 NUCLEAR FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2016

Enhancement of Nuclear Engineering Technology Degree with a Web-Based PWR Simulator

Reactor plant simulators are used in the nuclear industry for initial and continuous training of reactor operators and senior reactor operators. The use of the generic pressurized water reactor (GPWR) plant simulator is valuable for the nuclear industry as it will ensure graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology (BSNET) program will be better trained employees for the nuclear industry and address forecasted workforce shortages in the nuclear industry. By adopting simulation for education, a proven teaching and training method applied extensively in the plant environment, work quality among entrants to the nuclear power workforce will be improved, elevating performance in the field. This includes a positive influence on safety which is paramount to retaining public support of this clean energy source. Much of the research on the use of simulations within courses has argued that simulations are good tools to help students learn key concepts, terminology, and theories within courses. The GPWR simulator provides an opportunity for nuclear engineering technology students to improve their understanding of theoretical concepts associated with nuclear power plants. This hands-on experience will ensure graduates of the BSNET program will be better trained employees for the nuclear industry and address forecasted workforce shortages in the nuclear industry by providing a real-world experience in plant operations. The GPWR simulator will be utilized in five nuclear courses to begin, while providing opportunities for future expansion of the curriculum. All students graduating with a BSNET degree will interact with the simulator, experience better preparing them for further simulator training provided throughout the industry for licensure of operators. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Characterization of amino acid residues within the N-terminal region of Ubc9 that play a role in Ubc9 nuclear localization

As the sole E2 enzyme for SUMOylation, Ubc9 is predominantly nuclear. However, the underlying mechanisms of Ubc9 nuclear localization are still not well understood. Here we show that RNAi-depletion of Imp13, an importin known to mediate Ubc9 nuclear import, reduces both Ubc9 nuclear accumulation and global SUMOylation. Furthermore, Ubc9-R13A or Ubc9-H20D mutation previously shown to interrupt the interaction of Ubc9 with nucleus-enriched SUMOs reduces the nuclear enrichment of Ubc9, suggesting that the interaction of Ubc9 with the nuclear SUMOs may enhance Ubc9 nuclear retention. Moreover, Ubc9-R17E mutation, which is known to disrupt the interaction of Ubc9 with both SUMOs and Imp13, causes a greater decrease in Ubc9 nuclear accumulation than Ubc9-R13A or Ubc9-H20D mutation. Lastly, Ubc9-K74A/S89D mutations that perturb the interaction of Ubc9 with nucleus-enriched SUMOylation-consensus motifs has no effect on Ubc9 nuclear localization. Altogether, our results have elucidated that the amino acid residues within the N-terminal region of Ubc9 play a pivotal role in regulation of Ubc9 nuclear localization. - Highlights: • Imp13-mediated nuclear import of Ubc9 is critical for global SUMOylation. • Ubc9 mutations disrupting Ubc9-SUMO interaction decrease Ubc9 nuclear accumulation. • N-terminal amino acid residues of Ubc9 are critical for Ubc9 nuclear enrichment.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2014

Nuclear envelope breakdown induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 involves the activity of viral fusion proteins

Herpesvirus infection reorganizes components of the nuclear lamina usually without loss of integrity of the nuclear membranes. We report that wild-type HSV infection can cause dissolution of the nuclear envelope in transformed mouse embryonic fibroblasts that do not express torsinA. Nuclear envelope breakdown is accompanied by an eight-fold inhibition of virus replication. Breakdown of the membrane is much more limited during infection with viruses that lack the gB and gH genes, suggesting that breakdown involves factors that promote fusion at the nuclear membrane. Nuclear envelope breakdown is also inhibited during infection with virus that does not express UL34, but is enhanced when the US3 gene is deleted, suggesting that envelope breakdown may be enhanced by nuclear lamina disruption. Nuclear envelope breakdown cannot compensate for deletion of the UL34 gene suggesting that mixing of nuclear and cytoplasmic contents is insufficient to bypass loss of the normal nuclear egress pathway. - Highlights: • We show that wild-type HSV can induce breakdown of the nuclear envelope in a specific cell system. • The viral fusion proteins gB and gH are required for induction of nuclear envelope breakdown. • Nuclear envelope breakdown cannot compensate for deletion of the HSV UL34 gene.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2017

High-content image informatics of the structural nuclear protein NuMA parses trajectories for stem/progenitor cell lineages and oncogenic transformation

Stem and progenitor cells that exhibit significant regenerative potential and critical roles in cancer initiation and progression remain difficult to characterize. Cell fates are determined by reciprocal signaling between the cell microenvironment and the nucleus; hence parameters derived from nuclear remodeling are ideal candidates for stem/progenitor cell characterization. Here we applied high-content, single cell analysis of nuclear shape and organization to examine stem and progenitor cells destined to distinct differentiation endpoints, yet undistinguishable by conventional methods. Nuclear descriptors defined through image informatics classified mesenchymal stem cells poised to either adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation, and oligodendrocyte precursors isolated from different regions of the brain and destined to distinct astrocyte subtypes. Nuclear descriptors also revealed early changes in stem cells after chemical oncogenesis, allowing the identification of a class of cancer-mitigating biomaterials. To capture the metrology of nuclear changes, we developed a simple and quantitative “imaging-derived” parsing index, which reflects the dynamic evolution of the high-dimensional space of nuclear organizational features. A comparative analysis of parsing outcomes via either nuclear shape or textural metrics of the nuclear structural protein NuMA indicates the nuclear shape alone is a weak phenotypic predictor. In contrast, variations in the NuMA organization parsed emergent cell phenotypes and discerned emergent stages of stem cell transformation, supporting a prognosticating role for this protein in the outcomes of nuclear functions. - Highlights: • High-content analysis of nuclear shape and organization classify stem and progenitor cells poised for distinct lineages. • Early oncogenic changes in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are also detected with nuclear descriptors. • A new class of cancer-mitigating biomaterials was identified based on image informatics. • Textural metrics of the nuclear structural protein NuMA are sufficient to parse emergent cell phenotypes.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2018

Mechanism responsible for inhibitory effect of indirubin 3′-oxime on anticancer agent-induced YB-1 nuclear translocation in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Highlights: • YB-1 nuclear translocation is dependent on the cellular mRNA level. • Indirubin 3′-oxime hinders interaction between YB-1 and transportin-1. • Indirubin 3′-oxime does not inhibit nuclear import of YB-NLS-binding proteins. • Indirubin 3′-oxime does not inhibit nuclear import of transportin-1 and its cargos. • Indirubin 3′-oxime acts on YB-1 specifically and inhibits its nuclear translocation. YB-1 nuclear translocation/accumulation caused by anticancer agents leads to malignant transformation. Nuclear import of YB-1 requires a nuclear localization signal (YB-NLS). Previously, we identified five nucleocytoplasmic-shuttling proteins as YB-NLS binding proteins, and showed that they co-accumulate in the nucleus with YB-1 in response to treatment with actinomycin D. In addition, another group reported that transportin-1 is the molecule responsible for YB-1 nuclear translocation, binding to a region (PY-NLS) consistent with the YB-NLS. Recently, we found that indirubin 3′-oxime inhibits the nuclear localization of YB-1 in HepG2 cells and increases their sensitivity to actinomycin D. Here, we found that YB-1 nuclear translocation is dependent on the cellular mRNA level and that indirubin 3′-oxime inhibits the interaction between YB-1 and transportin-1. Interestingly, in cells showing inhibition of actinomycin D-induced YB-1 nuclear translocation by the compound, the YB-NLS-binding proteins as well as transportin-1 and its cargos were imported to the nucleus. Furthermore, the compound inhibited nuclear localization of the GFP-conjugated full-length YB-1 but not that of GFP-conjugated YB-NLS. These results indicate that indirubin 3′-oxime is a specific inhibitor of anticancer agent-induced YB-1 nuclear translocation, interacting with YB-1 itself in a region other than the YB-NLS/PY-NLS. This compound would increase the efficacy of cancer therapy.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI1996

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 37, No. 3, July-September 1996]

05 NUCLEAR FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2018

Public Views on Nuclear Facility Siting and Radioactive Waste Management in the United States: Methodology and Response Reference Report for the 2017 Energy and Environment Survey

This report presents the questions and responses to a nationwide survey of U.S. residents taken May 2017. The focus of the 2017 survey is public perceptions on (1) nuclear energy and new nuclear technology, such as small modular reactors; (2) the risks and benefits of nuclear energy; (3) different options for managing spent nuclear fuel (SNF); and (4) the role of individuals, organizations and elected officials in locating SNF facilities. Highlights of survey results related to nuclear energy found the U.S. public (1) wants nuclear energy to continue to contribute 20% of total electrical power produced for the next 20 years; (2) is more supportive of adding new reactors at existing sites than at new sites; and (3) is more supportive of small modular reactors than traditional reactors. Highlights related to risks and benefits of nuclear energy include (1) the public believes that terrorist attacks are the greatest threat and that energy independence is the greatest benefit; (2) 56% of the public believes that nuclear power has both high benefit and high risk; (3) the 2011 accident at the Fukushima nuclear facility continues to negatively influence the perceived benefits and risks of nuclear energy except for those who perceive nuclear power as low risk and high benefit; (4) building new reactors is supported by those who perceive nuclear power as low risk and high benefit, and opposed by those who perceive it as high risk and low benefit. Highlights related to SNF management options include (1) support remains higher for permanent disposal than either consolidated interim storage or continued on-site storage; (2) support for private initiatives for interim storage in New Mexico and Texas are higher than generic storage and disposal options; (3) the general public is more likely to increase support if a majority of the local and state residents support an SNF facility. Highlights related to the role of individuals, organizations, and elected officials include (1) 54% of the public agrees that if an SNF facility is deemed safe by regulators, political considerations should not derail the location; (2) 47% of the US public agrees that non-governmental organizations should be able to provide input to locating an SNF facility; (3) 36% of the public believes that the federal government should lead siting of an SNF facility while 25% believes private companies should lead; (4) 81% of the public believes local residents and farmers/ranchers should have a say in the final decision on locating a SNF facility and 56% believe that they should have veto power; and (5) only 27% of the public believes the state governor should have a say and veto power.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2021

A Review of Nuclear Forensics: 2016-2020

The study of nuclear forensics harkens back to the Manhattan Project-era, when scientists first started to analyze the debris from the 1945 Trinity test. Political turmoil stemming from the Cold War and the rehabilitation of Germany following WWII has led to new challenges in international security involving nuclear proliferation. Nuclear materials have, on occasion, been lost, misplaced, or stolen from former Soviet countries, and illicit materials have been interdicted all over the world. The National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center (NTNFC) was established in 2006, and has been at the forefront of drive to advance nuclear forensic capabilities in the United States. The ultimate goal of nuclear forensics is to examine nuclear and other radioactive materials using analytical techniques to determine origin and history of the material, particularly in the context of law enforcement investigations. Nuclear forensics can be divided into two parts: predetonation and post-detonation. Pre-detonation forensics, as the name implies, is the investigation of a nuclear material or weapon that has not been detonated or involved in an explosion, whereas postdetonation forensics is the study of activation or fission products in debris or the environment following the use of a nuclear or radiological dispersal device (RDD). Both parts require a number of analytical chemical and radiochemical techniques to determine identification of the material. Many advancements in analytical techniques, including rapidity, sample size, and forensic signatures have been made in recent years. The analytical methods that can be used in a nuclear forensic investigation, such as mass spectrometry and gamma spectroscopy, have been described in detail in previous reviews, including Straub et.al, and will not be explained here. This review will discuss recent publications (from 2016 to present) describing advancements of techniques such as radiochronometry, morphology, development of novel reference materials, and inter-laboratory collaborations for both pre- and post-detonation nuclear forensics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2024

Proceedings for the Workshop on Applied Nuclear Data Activities 2024

The Workshop for Applied Nuclear Data Activities (WANDA) is designed to increase communication among nuclear data (ND) users in multidisciplinary federal programs, ND producers, ND funders, and other ND experts. It also presents an opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas as well as introduce ND gaps identified by federal programs to ND experts and ND capabilities to the various federal ND users. WANDA 2024 included five technical sessions, three of which focused on Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)—FES Fusion Neutronics, FES Tritium Production, and FES Material Damage—and two stand-alone sessions—Isotopes and Targetry for Nuclear Data and Uncertainty Quantification. The FES sessions successfully brought new voices to the WANDA discussions, expanding the application space in which nuclear data are critical. FES programs need accurate nuclear data with realistic uncertainty quantification to properly estimate, for example, shielding, activation, tritium production, helium production, structural material integrity, and superconducting magnet operation. This includes a variety of projectile (neutrons, photons, charged particles) and target atoms. One of the action items common to all the FES sessions was a need to perform sensitivity studies to identify the prioritization of nuclear data needs. The Isotopes and Targetry session highlighted the many capabilities available to produce high-quality targets for nuclear data measurements, including 3D printing with spherical powders, combustion synthesis coupled with spin coating & electrospraying, inkjet printing, and isotopic doping. These new methods open doors for more accurate measurement, but it was also stressed that sample characterization following any method of fabrication is of the highest importance to accurately interpret nuclear data measurement results that used that sample. The Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) session was broken into two categories: nuclear data uncertainty quantification and the use of that uncertainty quantification. Thematic to the UQ session was the loss of information when going from nuclear data measurement, to evaluation, to evaluated file, and finally to neutron transport calculations. Current evaluated ND libraries typically only contain covariances, which assume that the probability distributions are Gaussian. Beyond being a simplified assumption for many evaluations, this can lead to negative values on many observables when attempting to sample the covariance. The covariance format, however, is very efficient in that a simple set of linear equations can transform uncertainty from parameters or cross sections to the application of interest. Focused collaboration is needed between nuclear data evaluators and nuclear data users to ensure that needs are being met.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Connecting Nuclear Security to International Frameworks on Gender and Security

The international community is slowly beginning to recognize the intersections between the law and policy on international security – particularly arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament – and the body of human rights law that addresses gender equality. Notably absent from this discussion is the field of nuclear security. Despite its historical underpinnings as an inherently domestic activity, nuclear security is thoroughly grounded in international treaty law. Yet, nuclear security is often overlooked in the international security context and has not been well situated with international instruments that address gender equality. We argue that gender equality in nuclear security should be understood as an important component of broader efforts to achieve equal opportunities for women in work and critical to ensuring women are included in conflict prevention efforts. Linking nuclear security to broader international efforts to increase gender equality in security and conflict prevention will provide a clearer structure and framework for gender equality initiatives in the nuclear security field. This is critically important given that estimates indicate that women comprise only twenty percent of the nuclear security workforce. Moreover, situating nuclear security in a broader international legal framework will simultaneously help states meet their gender equality commitments emanating from other instruments. This paper will first analyze the relationship between nuclear security and broader international security efforts, in particular arms control treaties and non-proliferation regimes. It will then survey the relevant international and regional frameworks for gender equality, particularly those that have applicability in the security context. This paper will next explore the relationship between nuclear security and these frameworks on gender. We find that some instruments provide support for gender equality initiatives in nuclear security because of their mandate to states to provide structural gender equality, and others are particularly relevant where they call for women's participation in conflict prevention. This paper concludes with recommendations to states that are concerned about the underrepresentation of women in nuclear security.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

DOE OSTI2015

Contributions of the SCK.CEN Academy to education and training in nuclear science and technology

Thanks to its thorough experience in the field of nuclear science and technology, its innovative research and the availability of large and unique nuclear installations, SCK.CEN is not only a renowned nuclear research institution, but also an important partner for nuclear education and training in Belgium as well as at international level. Within the SCK.CEN Academy, more than 60 years of nuclear expertise and experience gained from our different research projects is collected and transferred. In the interest of maintaining a competent workforce in industry, Healthcare, research, and policy, and of transferring nuclear knowledge and skills to the next generations, the SCK.CEN Academy takes it as its mission to: - provide guidance for students and early-stage researchers; - organize academic courses and customized training for professionals; - offer policy support with regard to education and training matters; - care for critical-intellectual capacities for society. Specifically in the domain of nuclear instrumentation the SCK.CEN Academy provides an opportunity to students at Bachelor, Master and PhD level to make use of the SCK.CEN infrastructure to support their thesis research or to perform an internship with the aim to improve and extend their knowledge and skills in a specific research or technical domain. Further, they can contribute to new findings in the field of nuclear instrumentation. The students are guided by our scientists, engineers and technicians who have years of experience in the relevant field. In addition, the SCK.CEN Academy contributes to traditional university education programs and delivers courses in several nuclear topics such as dosimetry. We also coordinate the Belgian Nuclear higher Engineering Network (BNEN), a one year (60 ECTS) master-after-master specialization in nuclear engineering in which 6 Belgian universities and SCK.CEN are involved. Beyond the contributions to academic education, we also provide several customized training programs tailored to the needs of the learners in terms of content, duration, level, language, location, etc. Complementary to the theoretical classes, ample attention is given to practical sessions and technical visits are foreseen which enable trainees to enrich and illustrate their acquired knowledge with the practice of real-life situations. In this poster presentation an overview will be given of the activities in the domains described above. Moreover it will be shown how these initiatives are embedded in the most recent European approaches to nuclear education and training via collaboration in several EU projects and networks. (authors)

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗