First-principles study of point defects in U3Si2: effects on the mechanical and electronic properties.

In recent years, U3Si2 has been proposed as an alternative nuclear fuel material to uranium dioxide (UO2) because of its intrinsically high uranium density and thermal conductivity. However, the operation environment in the nuclear reactor is complex and extreme, such as in-pile neutron irradiation, and thus it is necessary to explore the radiation response behavior of U3Si2 and the physical properties of its damaged states. In the present study, first-principles calculations based on density functional theory were carried out to investigate the mechanical and electronic properties of defective U3Si2. Our results showed that the defect stability in U3Si2, except its interstitial defects, is dependent on its chemical environment. When vacancy, antisite or interstitial defects are introduced into U3Si2, its elastic modulus are decreased and its ductility is enhanced. Although the presence of defects in U3Si2 does not change its metallic nature and the electron distribution in its Fermi level, their effect on the partial chemical bonding interaction is significant. This study suggests that under a radiation environment, the created defects in U3Si2 remarkably affect its mechanical and electronic properties.

Can audience involvement stimulate visit intention in Chinese Kung Fu? Using a serial multiple mediation model to explore film tourism.

The popularity of film and television causes audiences to flock to the location of filming, and thus film tourism is widely been used as an efficient tool in destination branding and marketing. Accordingly, this study takes Chinese Kung Fu film and television as an example, using the method of regression model to study audience involvement, cognitive destination image, tourists' anticipated experiences, and visit intention into an overall framework. Findings illustrate a significant positive correlation among these four factors. Specifically, cognitive destination image and tourists' anticipated experiences have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between audience involvement and visit intention. This study provides three suggestions for the development of film tourism, namely maximizing the marketing effect, strengthening the unity of film and images of destinations, and making full use of modern marketing tools.

First-principles study of the stability and migration of Xe and Cs in U3Si.

In the past several years, the U3Si has been suggested as an alternative nuclear fuel for light water reactors due to its high uranium density and outstanding thermal conductivity. In order to gain fundamental insights into the behavior of fission products in U3Si, the trapping and migration behaviors of the fission products Xe and Cs in U3Si are investigated using density functional theory calculations in this work. UnderU-rich and Si-rich conditions, both the Xe and Cs atoms prefer to substitute for Si andUatoms, respectively. Besides, both Xe and Cs tend to migrate through the vacancy-mechanism. It is noticeable that Xe diffuses faster and forms Xe bubbles more easily than Cs, which is mainly caused by the weaker interaction between Xe and its surrounding atoms.