The initial development plans for the six reactor designs, soon after the release of Generation IV International Forum (GIF) TRM in 2002, were characterized by high ambition [1]. Specifically, the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) and very-high temperature reactor (VHTR) gained significant attention and were expected to reach the validation stage by the 2020s, with commercial viability projected for the 2030s. However, these projections have been unrealized because of various factors. The development of reactor designs by the GIF was supposed to be influenced by events such as the 2008 global financial crisis, 2011 Fukushima accident [2, 3], discovery of extensive shale oil reserves in the United States, and overly ambitious technological targets. Consequently, the momentum for VHTR development reduced significantly. In this context, the aims of this study were to compare and analyze the development progress of the six Gen IV reactor designs over the past 20 years, based on the GIF roadmaps published in 2002 and 2014. The primary focus was to examine the prospects for the reactor designs in relation to spent nuclear fuel burning in conjunction with small modular reactor (SMR), including molten salt reactor (MSR), which is expected to have spent nuclear fuel management potential.

This article presents the crucial role played by the French underground research laboratory (URL) in initiating the deep geological repository project Cigéo. In January 2023, Andra finalized the license application for the initial construction of Cigéo. Depending on Government’s decision, the construction of Cigéo may be authorized around 2027. Cigéo is the result of a National program, launched in 1991, aiming to safely manage high-level and intermediate level long-lived radioactive wastes. This National program is based on four principles: 1) excellent science and technical knowledge, 2) safety and security as primary goals for waste management, 3) high requirements for environment protection, 4) transparent and openpublic exchanges preceding the democratic decisions and orientations by the Parliament. The research and development (R&D) activities carried out in the URL supported the design and the safety demonstration of the Cigéo project. Moreover, running the URL has provided an opportunity to gain practical experience with regard to the security of underground operations, assessment of environmental impacts, and involvement of the public in the preparation of decisions. The practices implemented have helped gradually build confidence in the Cigéo project.

To the extent that luxury products and services become more easily accessible, luxury brand marketers must make luxury even more exclusive by making the consumer feel special and unique. Art lends itself willingly to this mission, because its accessibility is complex and its comprehensibility difficult. From an in-depth analysis of the practices of the major worldwide brands in the luxury industry we identified that four main types of collaboration between a luxury brand and art exist, which are Business collaboration, Patronage, Foundations and Artistic mentoring. The underlying mechanisms of these modes of connection between art and luxury brands are presented. A model is presented which allows assessing the relevance of each of the ‘art to luxury brand’ binding modes, in accordance with the brand time perspective and the intensity of its engagement.

Our objective is to explore the nature, the risks and the advantages of emerging countries’ companies branding approaches and to identify factors associated with the successful transfer of information from these brands to the consumer. The research is a conceptual one which proposes an analytical modelisation of brand equity issues in emerging countries’ companies.A comparative analysis of the four strategic branding concepts for emerging countries’ companies when expanding abroad is performed. The four strategic branding intents can be classified according to the motives and benefits as well as the predominant styles of expansion displayed by emerging countries’ companies when internationalizing.

Premixes treated with a binder, such as in the FLOMET process, exhibit better flow, reduced dusting and segregation and improved productivity and part consistency compared to conventional premixes. The binder treatment is highly suitable for high performance P/M applications which often require premixes containing very fine alloying additives and excellent die filling characteristics. With this process, various binders and lubricants can be utilized in order to make premixes with unique properties. In this paper, the characteristics and performances of bonded premixes are reported.