The Beishan underground research laboratory for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in China:Planning, site selection,site characterization and in situ tests

With the rapid development of nuclear power in China, the disposal of high-level radioactive waste（HLW） has become an important issue for nuclear safety and environmental protection. Deep geological disposal is internationally accepted as a feasible and safe way to dispose of HLW, and underground research laboratories（URLs） play an important and multi-faceted role in the development of HLW repositories. This paper introduces the overall planning and the latest progress for China＇s URL. On the basis of the proposed strategy to build an area-specific URL in combination with a comprehensive evaluation of the site selection results obtained during the last 33 years, the Xinchang site in the Beishan area,located in Gansu Province of northwestern China, has been selected as the final site for China＇s first URL built in granite. In the process of characterizing the Xinchang URL site, a series of investigations,including borehole drilling,geological mapping, geophysical surveying,hydraulic testing and in situ stress measurements, has been conducted. The investigation results indicate that the geological,hydrogeological, engineering geological and geochemical conditions of the Xinchang site are very suitable for URL construction. Meanwhile, to validate and develop construction technologies for the Beishan URL, the Beishan exploration tunnel（BET）, which is a 50-m-deep facility in the Jiujing sub-area, has been constructed and several in situ tests, such as drill-and-blast tests, characterization of the excavation damaged zone（EDZ）, and long-term deformation monitoring of surrounding rocks, have been performed in the BET. The methodologies and technologies established in the BET will serve for URL construction.According to the achievements of the characterization of the URL site, a preliminary design of the URL with a maximum depth of 560 m is proposed and necessary in situ tests in the URL are planned.

Excavation of underground research laboratory ramp in granite using tunnel boring machine: Feasibility study

Underground research laboratory(URL)plays an important role in safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste(HLW).At present,the Xinchang site,located in Gansu Province of China,has been selected as the final site for China’s first URL,named Beishan URL.For this,a preliminary design of the Beishan URL has been proposed,including one spiral ramp,three shafts and two experimental levels.With advantages of fast advancing and limited disturbance to surrounding rock mass,the tunnel boring machine(TBM)method could be one of the excavation methods considered for the URL ramp.This paper introduces the feasibility study on using TBM to excavation of the Beishan URL ramp.The technical challenges for using TBM in Beishan URL are identified on the base of geological condition and specific layout of the spiral ramp.Then,the technical feasibility study on the specific issues,i.e.extremely hard rock mass,high abrasiveness,TBM operation,muck transportation,water drainage and material transportation,is investigated.This study demonstrates that TBM technology is a feasible method for the Beishan URL excavation.The results can also provide a reference for the design and construction of HLW disposal engineering in similar geological conditions.2020 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics,Chinese Academy of Sciences.Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

On area-specific underground research laboratory for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in China

Underground research laboratories （URLs）, including ＂generic URLs＂ and ＂site-specific URLs＂, are un- derground facilities in which characterisation, testing, technology development, and/or demonstration activities are carried out in support of the development of geological repositories for high-level radioactive waste （HLW） disposal. In addition to the generic URL and site-specific URL, a concept of ＂areaspecific URL＂, or the third type of URL, is proposed in this paper. It is referred to as the facility that is built at a site within an area that is considered as a potential area for HLW repository or built at a place near the future repository site, and may be regarded as a precursor to the development of a repository at the site. It acts as a ＂generic URL＂, but also acts as a ＂site-specific URL＂ to some extent. Considering the current situation in China, the most suitable option is to build an ＂area-specific URL＂ in Beishan area, the first priority region for China＇s high-level waste repository. With this strategy, the goal to build China＇s URL by 2020 mav be achieved, but the time left is limited.

KAERI underground research laboratory: Overview of in-situ experiments

Social concerns regarding the safety of high-level radioactive waste have increased with growing public awareness of environmental issues and nuclear power.The performance assessment of deep geological disposal systems is crucial to reduce the uncertainties associated with high-level radioactive waste disposal and enhance the overall public confidence in nuclear safety.Accordingly,the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute(KAERI)has undertaken various studies on the development of a deep geological disposal system for high-level waste and disposal safety evaluation.The KAERI Underground Research Tunnel(KURT),South Korea's only underground research laboratory dedicated to radioactive waste disposal,was constructed in 2006 and expanded in 2015.Since its construction,numerous in-situ experiments have been conducted and are currently underway in the KURT.The KURT plays a significant role in assessing the feasibility,safety,stability and appropriateness of a deep geological disposal system in South Korea and also provides an opportunity to revitalize industrial-academic-scientific cooperation between related institutions.This report summarizes two key in-situ experiments and international joint research conducted between 2007 and 2017 to assess the performance of the engineered and natural barriers of the KURT.The research experiences from the in-situ tests conducted at the KURT will provide crucial information on the safety and feasibility validation of the deep geological disposal system and will be an important contributor to the success of the Korean high-level radioactive waste disposal program in the future.

Numerical simulations for describing generation of excavation damaged zone: Important case study at Horonobe underground research laboratory

The aim of the present research was to establish a case study for the prediction of the unknown EDZ(Excavation Damaged Zone)distribution using a numerical analysis calibrated by replicating the trends in the EDZ observed from one of the representative underground research fields in Japan(Horonobe URL).In this study,a 2D numerical analysis using a damage model,which can determine rock deformation and fracturing simultaneously,is presented.It was calibrated to reproduce the excavation of the gallery at the Horonobe URL at a depth of 350 m.Simulated results show an excellent agreement with the extent of the measured EDZ and capture the failure modes of EDZ fractures suggested by the in-situ observations.Finally,the calibrated numerical analysis was used to realistically estimate the EDZ formation for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste(HLW)under the same environment as that of the above-mentioned galley at the Horonobe URL.Consequently,it was shown that the tensile/shear hybrid fractures dominantly constituted the EDZ and propagated to a maximum extent of about 0.3 m from the cavity wall during the cavity excavation for the HLW disposal.Overall,the calibrated numerical analysis and resulting estimations,targeted for the environment at the depth of 350 m at the Horonobe URL,where mudstone is located,should be useful for predicting the trends in the EDZ distribution expected in the implementation of HLW disposal projects under deep geological conditions,such as those that exist in Japan,which are dominated by sedimentary rocks,including mudstone。

In vitro laboratory infection research in orthopaedics:Why,when,and how

The musculoskeletal system involves multiple tissues which are constantly exposed to being exposed to various biological and mechanical stimuli.As such,isolating and studying a particular system from a complex human clinical environment is not always a realistic expectation.On top of that,recruitment limitations,in addition to the nature of orthopaedic interventions and their associated cost,sometimes preclude consideration of human trials to answer a clinical question.Therefore,in this mini review,we sought to rationalize the rapid evolution of biomedical research at a basic scientific level and explain why the perception of orthopaedic conditions has fundamentally changed over the last decades.In more detail,we highlight that the number of orthopaedic in vitro publications has soared since 1990.Last but not least,we elaborated on the minimum requirements for conducting a scientifically sound infection-related laboratory experiment to offer valuable information to clinical practitioners.We also explained the rationale behind implementing molecular biology techniques,ex vivo experiments,and artificial intelligence in this type of laboratory research.

Tier-based approach to establish a culture of biosafety at a medical microbiology research laboratory in Egypt

Microbiology Research Laboratory(MRL)is a biosafety level-2(BSL-2)research laboratory located at the main campus of Faculty of Medicine,Ain Shams University(ASU)in Cairo.With the objective of strengthening the departmental capacities of biosafety,a series of activities were carried out between October 2019,and January 2020 to raise awareness,along with instilling standard biosafety practices and procedures among laboratory staff including non-health professions.MRL staff were categorized according to their biosafety knowledge into three tiers:tier(1):with zero to minimal knowledge,tier(2):with basic knowledge,tier(3):with satisfactory knowledge.Tier based activities were designed to align with their job responsibilities.Results:44 selected laboratory staff were trained on biosafety practices:12 from tier(1),19 from tier(2)and 13 constituted tier(3).Through regular follow-ups,the impact of the implemnted training plan was reflected on the practices and knowledge of all laboratory staff.Knowledge among health professions has increased by 60%.Furthermore,6 staff members have granted a biosafety certification by International Federation of Biosafety Association(IFBSA).Conclusion:establishing a culture of biosafety within microbiology research laboratories is integral to safe research practices.Together with developing local and national biosafety regulations and policies will ensure research advancement without compromising public health or environmental safety.

Three-dimensional stress variation characteristics in deep hard rock of CJPL-Ⅱ project based on in-situ monitoring

In deep hard rock excavation, stress plays a pivotal role in inducing stress-controlled failure. While the impact of excavation-induced stress disturbance on rock failure and tunnel stability has undergone comprehensive examination through laboratory tests and numerical simulations, its validation through insitu stress tests remains unexplored. This study analyzes the three-dimensional stress changes in the surrounding rock at various depths, monitored during the excavation of B2 Lab in China Jinping Underground Laboratory Phase Ⅱ(CJPL-Ⅱ). The investigation delves into the three-dimensional stress variation characteristics in deep hard rock, encompassing stress components and principal stress. The results indicate changes in both the magnitude and direction of the principal stress during tunnel excavation. To quantitatively describe the degree of stress disturbance, a series of stress evaluation indexes are established based on the distances between stress tensors, including the stress disturbance index(SDI), the principal stress magnitude disturbance index(SDIm), and the principal stress direction disturbance index(SDId). The SDI indicates the greatest stress disturbance in the surrounding rock is 4.5 m from the tunnel wall in B2 Lab. SDIm shows that the principal stress magnitude disturbance peaks at2.5 m from the tunnel wall. SDId reveals that the largest change in principal stress direction does not necessarily occur near the tunnel wall but at a specific depth from it. The established relationship between SDI and the depth of the excavation damaged zone(EDZ) can serve as a criterion for determining the depth of the EDZ in deep hard rock engineering. Additionally, it provides a reference for future construction and support considerations.

Exploring the frontiers of deep underground sciences and engineering—China Yunlong Lake Laboratory is striving to be the best

This paper introduces the establishment of deep underground infrastructure for science and engineering research.First,the representative deep underground research laboratories and facilities in the world and their functions were summarized and reviewed.Then,the plan and service target of China Yulong Lake Laboratory were proposed for the storage of resources and energy,as well as the sealing of hazardous waste in deep underground space.On this basis,this paper reveals how the facility addresses its key scientific issue on“The law of fluid matter migration in deep underground space”and engineering significance.Finally,the construction progress of the facility components was demonstrated in details.As is hoped,this paper would provide useful reference to the deep underground research community;meanwhile,international collaboration on deep underground research is highly welcome.

Contribution of the Advanced Research Laboratories at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) to SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Ghana

In March 2020, the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 were reported in Accra, Ghana. These initial cases were diagnosed at the Advanced Research Laboratories (ARL) of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana. The ARL which hitherto was used for routine clinical research in viral, bacteria and immunological studies has since been the facility of choice for testing for all suspected cases of COVID-19 submitted from across Ghana and beyond. The success of testing at the ARL hinged on the availability of several laboratory spaces furnished with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and working aids. During the “peak season” where overwhelming numbers of clinical specimens were received, the ARL processed and got results for close to four thousand samples daily. After general disinfection and re-bagging into smaller numbers, at the entrance of the ARL, the samples are taken to a central receiving laboratory, where they are received and entered in a database with accompanying case investigation forms. All samples that are successfully sorted and matched are sent to general laboratories for nucleic acid extraction and then referred to the Instrumentation laboratory for real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). When the RT-PCRs were completed, results were analysed and transmitted via email and/or local network to the data reporting office. The data managers then reported results to the investigators and the Ghana Health Service (GHS). Additionally, the ARL provided a next-generation Genome Sequencing platform in partnership with the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens at the University of Ghana, which was essential in reporting the genome data of the circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Ghana. Conclusively, it is worth noting, that the NMIMR fulfilled its mandate of supporting the country with specialized diagnostics through the judicious use of the ARL for SARS-CoV-2 testing, from sample receipt to data reporting. The ARL facility and the research faculty have trained and continue to train budding laboratories on biosafety, biosecurity, best practices and testing protocols. It is obvious that the success story of SARS-CoV-2 testing in Ghana, cannot be complete without the mention of the ARL at NMIMR.

Progress on rock mechanics research of Beishan granite for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in China

The mechanical behavior of host rock for a deep geological repository of high-level radioactive waste plays a key role in ensuring the isolation function of host rock as a natural barrier under the multi-field coupling environment.For a better understanding of granite in China's Beishan pre-selected area for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste,a series of investigations were carried out on in-situ stress field of rock mass at depth,strength and deformation characteristics of rocks under different stress and temperature conditions,and rock boreability and adaptability to Tunnel Boring Machine(TBM)technology.The results indicate that Beishan granite shows typical characteristics as a hard and brittle rock with a quite low permeability,and it is favorable to geological disposal.Meanwhile,a new rock mass suitability evaluation system was proposed,and the rock mass mainly composed of Beishan granite was proven to be suitable for geological disposal.Besides,the constructability of Beishan granite at engineering scale was tested and verified through field tests in the Beishan Exploration Tunnel(BET).Here,we summarize the main outcomes of rock mechanics research on Beishan granite in the past years and introduced the current progress of Beishan underground research laboratory(URL)for geological disposal.

Meuse/Haute-Marne centre:next steps towards a deep disposal facility

This paper presents the main results obtained during a decade of scientific activities in the Meuse/Haute-Marne Underground Research Laboratory （URL） located on the eastern boundary of the Paris Basin, in the Callovo-Oxfordian clay rock formation. The URL was built in the framework of ANDRA＇s research program into the feasibility of a reversible deep geological disposal of high-level and intermediate-level long-lived radioactive （HL, ILLL） waste. Its underground drifts have been used to study a 160-million-year old clay layer. The 2006 Planning Act adopted this disposal concept as the reference solution for the long-term management of HL and ILLL radioactive waste. Today, research is continuing into the design and sitting of the disposal facility which could be commissioned by 2025 if its license is granted in 2016. Through these programs, the laboratory will help ANDRA develop a concrete approach with a view to proposing suitable architectures and management methods for a deep disposal facility, to allow by 2016 the decision for the start of the construction of the shafts and drifts of the new disposal facility.

Evaluation of the immunochromatographic strip test for the rapid diagnosis of antenatal syphilis in women in Eldoret,Kenya

Objective： This study compared the performance of the immunochromatographic strip （ICS） to the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory （VDRL） test and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay （TPHA） at a primary health care setting. Methods： The study group was comprised of 150 females randomly drawn from a population of pregnant women attending their first antenatal visit or follow-up visits at West Maternity Hospital in Eldoret Kenya, but without a previous syphilis test during that pregnancy. On-site VDRL, ICS and TPHA tests were performed and immediate treatment provided where appropriate. The performance of the three tests was compared, Results： The sero-prevalence of syphilis as determined by the VDRL test was 3%. There was no significant difference between the ICS and the VDRL test （P 〉 0.05）. The sensitivity and specificity of the ICS test were 80% and 98.6% respectively, while the negative predictive value （NPV） and positive predictive value （PPV） were both 100%. On the other hand, the sensitivity and specificity of the VDRL test were 66.7% and 99.3%, while the NPV and PPV were 80% and 98.6% respectively. The Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay was used as a reference test and had sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV of 100%. Conclusion： The diagnostic accuracy of the ICS compared favorably with theVDRL gold standard. The use of the ICS in Kenya can improve the diagnosis of syphilis in health facilities both with and without laboratories and allow community health care workers to make a rapid diagnosis of the disease, and consequently make immediate therapeutic decisions.

Laboratory research on mechanism of satellite infrared anomaly

People have studied the electro-magnetic radiation of rock under pressure.This ishelpful to study on satellite thermal infrared temperature increase. Based on the researcheson the atmospheric gases anomalies and near-surface atmospheric electric anomaly beforethe earthquake, we have proposed a mechanism for interpreting the satellite thermalinfrared temperature increase. That is, before an earthquake, the gases such as CH4 andCO2 released into the atmosphere are under the influence of electric field and solar radia-tion and cause the temperature to increase in the atmosphere. We have done experiments inlaboratory to verify this supposition.

State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine(Macao University of Science and Technology)

The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine （Macao University of Science and Technology） was formally established on January 25, 2011 upon approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. It is so far the only State Key Laboratory （SKL） specifically in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） over the country. It is also the joined-laboratory partner of the State Key Laboratory of Natural and Bimnimetic Drugs at the Peking University.

State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine(Macao University of Science and Technology)

The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine （Macao University of Science and Technology） was formally established on January 25, 2011 upon approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. It is so far the only State Key Laboratory （SKL） specifically in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） over the country. It is also the jothed-laboratory partner of the State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs at the Peking University.

Research on sound velocity measurement in a laboratory for large elastic materials

A measurement scheme carried out in a tank is designed to obtain the compressionaland shear-wave velocities of a large elastic material.A hydrophone is used to receive the high frequency acoustic signals which penetrate the tested material,in order to determine the transmission time from the source to the hydrophone,the transmission time is also calculated according to the ray acoustic theory in layered media.A cost function is built based on the measured and the calculated transmission time,then the compressional- and shear-wave velocities can be obtained using the optimization algorithm.Compared with the traditional measurement scheme,this approach can not only get the 2 kinds of sound velocities in the tested material at the same time,but also keep the integrality of the tested material.With the proposed measurement system,the uncertainty of measurement results is less than 3.5%.

Laboratory information management system for biosafety laboratory:Safety and efficiency

Laboratory information management system(LIMS)has been widely used to facilitate laboratory activities.However,the current LIMSs do not contain functions to improve the safety of laboratory work,which is the major concern of biosafety laboratories(BSLs).With tons of biosafety information that need to be managed and an increasing number of biosafety-related research projects under way,it is worthy of expanding the current framework of LIMS and building a system that is more suitable for BSL usage.Such a system should carefully trade off between the safety and efficiency of regular lab activities,allowing the laboratory staff to conduct their research as free as possible while ensuring their and the environment’s safety.In order to achieve this goal,the information on the research contents,laboratory personnel,experimental materials and experimental equipment need to be well collected and fully utilized by a centralized system and its databases.