Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Pierre Montay-Gruel, Stephanie Corde, Jean A. Laissue, Magdalena Bazalova-Carter
Summary: Ultra-high-dose rate FLASH radiotherapy has shown to reduce normal tissue toxicities significantly while remaining efficacious in treating tumors. Despite the majority of radiation therapy treatments being delivered using X-rays, there is limited preclinical data on ultra-high-dose rate X-ray irradiation. This review focuses on methods for generating ultra-high-dose rate X-rays, their effects on biological tissues, and the potential for developing FLASH-RT with X-rays.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hang Yu, Yungang Liu
Summary: Bisphenol compounds are significant environmental pollutants and disruptors of the endocrine system. This study suggests that combined and extended exposure to these compounds can enhance their genotoxicity, specifically promoting the formation of aneuploid chromosomes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Islam El Gamal, Jean Dessureault, Malcolm R. R. McEwen
Summary: This study aims to determine absorbed dose to water accurately by using a novel aluminum-based calorimeter, which can reduce the errors in determining absolute dose rate that current conventional detectors cannot achieve. The results show that the performance of the calorimeter is stable and the uncertainties in each correction factor are less than or equal to 0.5%, allowing for the determination of absorbed dose to water with an uncertainty on the order of 1%.
Article
Physics, Applied
V Senthilkumaran, D. Bailie, K. Behm, J. Warwick, G. M. Samarin, A. Maksimchuk, J. Nees, A. G. R. Thomas, G. Sarri, K. Krushelnick, A. E. Hussein
Summary: This study focuses on the generation and propagation of focused gamma beams using laser wakefield accelerator technology. Experimental results and Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the capacity of this technique and its potential applications in medical imaging and laboratory astrophysics experiments.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Koji Nagano, Hiromasa Nakatsuka, Soichiro Morisaki, Tomohiro Fujita, Yuta Michimura, Ippei Obata
Summary: The study revisited a scheme for searching for axion dark matter using transmission ports in optical linear cavities, showing that the effect of axion dark matter on the phase of photons traveling an odd number of times in the cavity is not cancelled out. It also improved sensitivity in the low-mass range by taking into account the stochastic nature of the axion field and the availability of two detection ports in the gravitational wave detectors. The sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling was estimated to reach around 3 x 10(-12) GeV-1 for ground-based gravitational wave detectors like Advanced LIGO with 1-year observation, below an axion mass of 10(-15) eV, surpassing the limit achieved by the CERN Axion Solar Telescope.
Article
Cell Biology
Tomoki Yagai, Tingting Yan, Yuhong Luo, Shogo Takahashi, Daisuke Aibara, Donghwan Kim, Chad N. Brocker, Moshe Levi, Hozumi Motohashi, Frank J. Gonzalez
Summary: This study reveals the regulatory axis of let-7-RNF8-RXRα in modulating hepatic lipid catabolism.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monique Engelbrecht, Roya Ndimba, Maryna de Kock, Xanthene Miles, Shankari Nair, Randall Fisher, Peter du Plessis, Julie Bolcaen, Matthys Hendrik Botha, Elbie Zwanepoel, Simon Sioen, Ans Baeyens, Jaime Nieto-Camero, Evan de Kock, Charlot Vandevoorde
Summary: The study showed that HSPCs exhibit higher DNA damage induction after neutron irradiation, leading to increased apoptosis rate and levels of cytogenetic damage, which contribute to a higher risk of leukemogenesis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Veronika Mladenova, Emil Mladenov, Michael Scholz, Martin Stuschke, George Iliakis
Summary: The utilization of high linear-energy-transfer (LET) ionizing radiation modalities is rapidly growing globally, with potential for cancer therapy but also increased health risks in space missions. Understanding the biological effects of high-LET IR is essential for improving therapy and human protection during space travel. High-LET IR induces complex DNA double-strand breaks, leading to enhanced cell killing and potential utility for ATR inhibitors in high-LET radiation therapy.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Brandon M. Roach, Steven Rossland, Kenny C. Y. Ng, Kerstin Perez, John F. Beacom, Brian W. Grefenstette, Shunsaku Horiuchi, Roman Krivonos, Daniel R. Wik
Summary: We present two complementary NuSTAR x-ray searches for keV-scale dark matter decaying to monoenergetic photons in the Milky Way halo. Finding no evidence of anomalous x-ray lines using either method, we set limits on the active-sterile mixing angle and sterile-neutrino masses. The first key result is that we strongly disfavor a 7-keV sterile neutrino decaying into a 3.5-keV photon, and the second is that we derive leading limits on sterile neutrinos with masses 15-18 keV and 25-40 keV, reaching or extending below the big bang nucleosynthesis limit. In combination with previous results, the parameter space for the neutrino minimal standard model is now nearly closed.
Article
Polymer Science
Myeong Seong Yoon, Hui Min Jang, Kyung Tae Kwon
Summary: Currently, protective clothing used in clinical field helps reduce radiation exposure, but lead in it can cause lead poisoning. Therefore, researchers are developing lead-free radiation shielding materials. Experimental results show that a shielding material made of tungsten filament has a higher shielding rate than existing tools, indicating its potential to replace lead as the most effective protective material in the clinical field.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vasiliki Karzi, Eren Ozcagli, Manolis N. Tzatzarakis, Elena Vakonaki, Irene Fragkiadoulaki, Aikaterini Kalliantasi, Christina Chalkiadaki, Athanasios Alegakis, Polychronis Stivaktakis, Aikaterini Karzi, Antonios Makrigiannakis, Anca Oana Docea, Daniela Calina, Aristidis Tsatsakis
Summary: Exposure to combined endocrine disruptors can cause DNA damage, as observed in this study using comet and micronuclei assays. The highest level of damage was found in the group exposed to a high-dose mixture of substances, particularly glyphosate. The micronuclei assay results were moderately correlated with exposure period, and all exposure groups showed an increasing trend in micronuclei counts over time.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Ellina Macaeva, Kevin Tabury, Arlette Michaux, Ann Janssen, Nicole Averbeck, Marjan Moreels, Winnok H. De Vos, Sarah Baatout, Roel Quintens
Summary: Both particle and photon irradiation induce similar transcriptional pathways, with variations in amplitude and timing. However, specific responses unique to each radiation type were also observed, such as enrichment of immune response gene sets in upregulated genes following heavy ion irradiation. Additionally, gene signatures may serve as a sensitive indicator of individual DNA damage repair capacity.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jianchao Xu, Tibo Zhao, Jieqiong Wu, Bo Diao
Summary: This study investigates the fatigue life of reference reinforced concrete (RC) beams and the residual fatigue life of RC beams after pre-fatigue loading and chloride exposure. It is found that fatigue behaviors significantly degrade when the pre-fatigue cycles range from 1% to 30% of the reference fatigue life, with more obvious degradations observed when the cycles reach 10% of the reference fatigue life. The fatigue life of corroded and uncorroded beams can be modeled using the two-parameter Weibull distribution, and a reliability assessment method is proposed to determine the minimum safety fatigue life of RC structures with chloride exposure.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jie-Shuang Wang, Brian Reville, Yosuke Mizuno, Frank M. Rieger, Felix A. Aharonian
Summary: X-ray observations of kiloparsec-scale extragalactic jets indicate a synchrotron origin and the short cooling times of emitting electrons require a distributed electron acceleration. In this study, 3D relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations are performed to investigate the formation of a spine-sheath structure and turbulence development in a relativistic jet propagating into a static cocoon. The results show that a sheath is generated on the interface of the spine and the cocoon due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, and turbulence develops with Kolmogorov scaling in both the spine and the sheath.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ziyue Yu, Changzhou Yan, Donghua Qiu, Xin Zhang, Ce Wen, Sijun Dong
Summary: Microplastics have the ability to carry antibiotics, and this study aimed to investigate their combined eco-toxicology. Zebrafish were exposed to different sized polystyrene plastics and oxytetracycline (OTC) for 30 days. The results showed that smaller plastic particles led to increased OTC accumulation in the liver, and both microplastics and OTC caused severe liver damage. The study also identified significant changes in biomarkers and gene expression profiles, particularly in the steroid biosynthesis pathway.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Magdalena Plodowska, Milagrosa Lopez-Riego, Pamela Akuwudike, Daniel Sobota, Mateusz Filipek, Mariusz Klosowski, Urszula Kazmierczak, Beata Brzozowska, Agnieszka Baliga, Halina Lisowska, Janusz Braziewicz, Pawel Olko, Lovisa Lundholm, Andrzej Wojcik
Summary: The report discusses the uncertainties surrounding health effects from low doses of ionizing radiation and the need for more research in this area. It also highlights the importance of education and training for future radiation researchers and regulators. The report describes small and cost-effective gamma and alpha sources that can be used in university laboratories to stimulate research and training activities in the low dose field.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Aldona Kubala-Kukus, Dariusz Banas, Janusz Braziewicz, Ilona Stabrawa, Stanislaw Gozdz
Summary: In this study, TXRF analysis was used to determine element concentrations in lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and plasma from healthy donors. The results showed differences in element concentrations between male and female groups, as well as among different blood components. The application of TXRF method allowed for simultaneous determination of various elements, providing valuable reference values for element concentration in blood components.
APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Pavel Kundrat, Jana Marikova-Kubkova, Iva Herichova, Pavla Tomanova, Marketa Petrova, Josef Tecl, Petr Kozlovcev, Kristyna Kotkova, Anna Fialova, Jan Kubancak, Jan Valek, Ivo Svetlik, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova
Summary: The Southern Corridor of the bishopric district is the earliest Romanesque remains in the 3rd Courtyard of Prague Castle. It likely originated from the 11th to 12th century based on historical context. Radiocarbon dating of charcoals found in its mortars supports the previous age estimate and suggests ongoing building activity at the site until at least the 14th to 16th century.
JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Pavel Kundrat, Marketa Petrova, Tomas Krofta, Vaclav Suchy, Vojtech Valasek, David John, Petr Kozlovcev, Kristyna Kotkova, Anna Fialova, Jan Valek, Ivo Svetlik, Pavel P. Povinec
Summary: Radiocarbon dating of materials from a medieval castle revealed different ages of charcoals and wood, emphasizing the importance of collecting a large enough sample set.
NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION B-BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vojtech Valasek, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Jitka Kufnerova, Mihaly Molnar, Ivo Svetlik
Summary: Elephants are facing extinction due to poaching for ivory. Radiocarbon dating is used to determine the age of ivory, but as the resolution is decreasing, alternative methods need to be explored. This study analyzes the growth rate of a whole elephant tusk by using radiocarbon dating on longitudinally and transversely obtained samples.
RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David John, Pavel Kundrat, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Mihaly Molnar, Ivo Svetlik
Summary: The carbon cycle is receiving increasing attention, particularly in relation to climate change. Mathematical modeling can help assess the sizes and fluxes of different compartments in the carbon cycle and provide predictions for future CO2 concentrations.
RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pavel Kundrat, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Anna Jelinek Michaelidesova, Oldrich Zahradnicek, Irina Danilova, Vaclav Stepan, Zuzana Jamborova, Marie Davidkova
Summary: This article discusses the advantages of proton radiotherapy for cancer treatment and the enhancement of dose distribution by boron. The underlying mechanism and roles of boron in enhancing the effectiveness of proton irradiation are still debated, and this ongoing research project aims to elucidate this mechanism using a multiscale approach.
RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Tomas Krofta, Vojtech Valasek, Vaclav Suchy, Pavel Kundrat, Pavel Simek, Petr Kozlovcev, Kristyna Kotkova, Anna Fialova, Pavel P. Povinec, Jan Valek, Ivo Svetlik
Summary: This study used organic inclusions in lime binders to radiocarbon date two Czech castles. The results showed that some charcoals were 50-100 years older than the construction dates of the castles, which may be attributed to the age of wood used for lime burning.
RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zuzana Jamborova, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Anna Jelinek Michaelidesova, Oldrich Zahradnicek, Irina Danilova, Egor Ukraintsev, Pavel Kundrat, Vaclav Stepan, Marie Davidkova
Summary: Boron derivatives hold great potential in cancer diagnostics and treatment. This study examines the modulation effects of two borocaptate compounds on radiation-induced DNA damage. The results indicate that the boron derivatives, acting as antioxidants, significantly reduce DNA single strand breakage in the absence of cellular repair mechanisms.
RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria P. Souli, Zacharenia Nikitaki, Monika Puchalska, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Ellas Spyratou, Panagiotis Kote, Efstathios P. Efstathopoulos, Megumi Hada, Alexandros G. Georgakilas, Lembit Sihver
Summary: This study investigates the complex DNA damage induced by proton treatment and the role of Linear Energy Transfer (LET) and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in DNA fragmentation. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis and DNA fragmentation using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) were used to measure the damage and the results revealed the determining role of LET and ROS in DNA fragmentation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Pavel Kundrat, Tomas Krofta, Vaclav Suchy, Marketa Petrova, Nikola Pravdikova, David John, Petr Kozlovcec, Kristyna Kotkova, Anna Fialova, Jan Valek, Ivo Svetlik, Pavel P. Povinec
Summary: Ratin small letter y with Acute Zmburk Castle is a significant medieval castle in Bohemia, known since 1250 AD. The assumption that its North tower was built between 1260-1300 AD was tested by examining the surface layers of mortar for charcoal suitable for radiocarbon dating. 10 charcoals, likely originating from wood used for lime burning, were found. The results of radiocarbon dating using accelerator mass spectrometry confirmed the historical estimation, with a single post-1287 sample suggesting a refined building date of 1287-1300 AD.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vojtech Valasek, Marketa Petrova, Ivo Svetlik, Veronika Brychova, Jan Kubancak, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova
Summary: The history of radiocarbon dating is marked by several important milestones, including its discovery, the revision of basic principles, the discovery of accelerator mass spectrometry, and anthropogenic influences. The current capabilities of the method are showcased through two forensic applications in the areas of crime against humans and endangered species.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Veronika Brychova, Lucie Davidova, Ivo Svetlik, Katena Pachnerova Brabcova, Marketa Petrova, Gabriela Florescu
Summary: Compound-specific radiocarbon analysis has been crucial in radiocarbon dating methodology since the advancement of modern analytical instrumentation. This review aims to introduce the molecular-specific radiocarbon dating approach and showcase its successful applications in dating samples that were previously considered undatable due to heterogeneity or secondary contamination.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Pavla Tomanova, Ivo Svetlik, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Petr Kocar, Rene Kysely
Summary: An archaeological excavation in U Kasaren St. in Prague Castle area in 2020 revealed a medieval settlement with different types of houses, pyrotechnical features, and unspecified pits. The excavation also found evidence of fire events and traces of viniculture. The radiocarbon dating of various materials helped to determine the chronology of the site.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jan Kucera, Jan Kamenik, Vladimir Havranek, Ivana Krausova, Ivo Svetlik, Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova, Marek Fikrle, David Chvatil
Summary: This article reports on five case studies exploring the use of neutron and photon activation analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, ion beam analysis, and accelerator mass spectrometry in the elemental characterization and dating of cultural heritage objects. These techniques have proven to be valuable in revealing the provenance, manufacturing methods and time, and verifying various hypotheses or legends related to the artifacts.
