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[Display omitted] • Ammonia borane as an innovative material proton-boron fusion. • Extensive characterization of targets using morphological and chemical techniques. • Practical and facile synthesis and industrial viability. Nuclear fusion reactions involving protons and boron-11 nuclei are sparking increasing interest thanks to advancements in high-intensity, short-pulse laser technology. This type of reaction holds potential for a wide array of applications, from controlled nuclear fusion to radiobiology and cancer therapy. In line with this motivation, solid ammonia borane samples were developed as target material for proton-boron (pB) nuclear fusion. Following synthesis and shaping, these samples were tested for the first time in a laser-plasma pB fusion experiment. An investigation campaign focusing on surface chemical/physical analysis was carried out to characterize such samples in terms of composition of B and H, precursors of the pB fusion nuclear reaction, thus having a key impact on the yield of the generated nuclear products, i.e., alpha particles. A follow-up experiment used an 8 J, 800 fs laser pulse with an intensity of 2 × 1019 W cm−2 to irradiate the targets, generating ∼ 108 alpha particles per steradian. The alpha particle energy range (2–6 MeV) and normalized yield per laser energy of up to (6 × 107 J/sr) are comparable with the best previous alpha particle yields found in literature. These results pave the way for a yet unexplored category of pB fusion targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that cancer cells are heterogeneous in nature and very distinct from their normal counterparts. Commonly these cancer cells possess different and complementary metabolic profile, microenvironment and adopting behaviors to generate more ATPs to fulfill the requirement of high energy that is further utilized in the production of proteins and other essentials required for cell survival, growth, and proliferation. These differences create many challenges in cancer treatments. On the contrary, such situations of metabolic differences between cancer and normal cells may be expected a promising strategy for treatment purpose. In this article, we focus on the molecular determinants of oncogene-specific sub-organelles such as potential metabolites of mitochondria (reactive oxygen species, apoptotic proteins, cytochrome c, caspase 9, caspase 3, etc.), endoplasmic reticulum (unfolded protein response, PKR-like ER kinase, C/EBP homologous protein, etc.), nucleus (nucleolar phosphoprotein, nuclear pore complex, nuclear localization signal), lysosome (microenvironment, etc.) and plasma membrane phospholipids, etc. that might be exploited for the targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs for therapeutic benefits. This review will help to understand the various targets of subcellular organelles at molecular levels. In the future, this molecular level understanding may be combined with the genomic profile of cancer for the development of the molecularly guided or personalized therapeutics for complete eradication of cancer. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Solid targets for nuclear measurements that use α -particle beams commonly experience a form of degradation known as blistering. The effect can prevent the use of solid targets for high intensity α -particle experiments, often necessitating complex gas target systems. To combat this problem, three different blister resistant target backings were designed for use in direct reaction measurements with high intensity α -particle beams. The blister resistant target designs utilize gas diffusive properties of fused silica, sintered metal, and porous evaporated metal. Each target was implanted with 22Ne ions and bombarded with α -particle beam to test blister resistance. Targets were characterized and monitored using the 22Ne(p , γ)23Na reaction to determine the degradation of implanted material, and compare them to typical implanted noble gas targets. We find that all targets studied exhibit resistance to blistering, with the porous evaporated metal targets displaying the least amount of target material degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study about the preparation, by electrospinning, of uranium carbide fibers with nanometric grain size. Viscous solutions of cellulose acetate and uranyl salts (acetate, acetylacetonate, and formate) on acetic acid and 2,4-pentanedione, adjusted to three different polymer concentrations, 10, 12.5, and 15 weight %, were used for electrospinning. Good quality precursor fibers were obtained from solutions with a 15% cellulose acetate concentration, the best ones being produced from the uranyl acetate solution. As-spun precursor fibers were then decomposed by slow heating until 823 K under argon, resulting in a mixture of nano-grained UO2 and C fibers. A last carboreduction was then carried out under vacuum at 2073 K for 2 h. The final material displayed UC2−y as the major phase, with grain sizes in the 4 nm–10 nm range. UO2+x was still present in moderate concentrations (~30 vol.%). This is due to uncomplete carboreduction that can be explained by the fiber morphology, limiting the effective contact between C and UO2 grains.

A series of enriched gadolinium (Gd, Z = 64) targets was prepared using the molecular plating process for nuclear physics experiments at the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University. After irradiation with 48 Ca and 45 Sc projectiles at center-of-target energies of E cot = 3.8–4.7 MeV/u, the molecular films displayed visible discoloration. The morphology of the films was examined and compared to the intact target surface. The thin films underwent a heavy-ion beam-induced density change as identified by scanning electron microscopy and α-particle energy loss measurements. The films became thinner and more homogenous, with the transformation occurring early on in the irradiation. This transformation is best described as a crystalline-to-amorphous phase transition induced by atomic displacement and destruction of structural order of the original film. The chemical composition of the thin films was surveyed using energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, with the results confirming the complex chemistry of the molecular films previously noted in other publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin isotopically enriched 156 , 158 Gd target foils of thickness between ≈ 100– 150 μ g /cm2 have been fabricated. The target foils were prepared on carbon backing to provide extra support using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique. The fabricated target foils have been used to study the dynamics of heavy-ion induced fusion reactions using the Heavy Ion Reaction Analyser (HIRA) facility at IUAC New-Delhi, India. Due to the high melting point, the e-gun method was adopted to deposition carbon and gadolinium. During fabrication, the challenges were (i) minimal isotopic material, (ii) selection of the parting agent, and (iii) the floating process for separating the gadolinium film from the glass slides. In view of this, the first several attempts have been made with natural gadolinium oxide material to optimize specific parameters. Finally, using only ≈ 38 mg isotopically enriched material for each isotope, eight 156Gd and twenty 158Gd targets were prepared successfully. The nobleness of this work is that the gadolinium material was in oxide form, which provides extra stability to the fabricated targets even in the atmospheric environment. Further, various characterization techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), and Rutherford Back-scattering Spectroscopy (RBS), have been explored to investigate surface morphology, elemental purity, chemical composition, and thickness of the target foils. The characterizations and analysis of experimental data manifested that no such impurities were present in the fabricated target foils. Essentially, it has been observed that the fabricated thin 156 , 158 Gd target foils survived against the heavy-ion ( 28 , 30 Si) irradiation throughout the online fusion experiment. • Fabrication of thin isotopically enriched 156,158Gd foils. • 156,158Gd target preparation for nuclear reaction studies. • Physical vapor deposition of gadolinium oxides. • Characterization of fabricated 156,158Gd foils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotopically pure molybdenum targets are essential in various nuclear science measurements. For studies of cross sections of capture reactions on molybdenum, uniform targets with areal densities of hundreds of μ g/cm 2 are desired. Mechanical rolling of enriched metal pieces or vacuum sputtering methods used in previous studies to prepare molybdenum targets are challenging and involve labor- and time-intensive processes. Therefore, reliable and straightforward methods to produce molybdenum targets are crucial. We have developed a new double-step method to produce targets meeting these needs. The first step consists of evaporating isotopically enriched MoO 3 onto gold backings. The second step involves the reduction of the oxide layer in a 5% H 2 -Ar environment to obtain molybdenum targets. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), a scanning electron microscope/focused ion beam milling, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the targets. These methods show that the targets exhibit a uniform coverage of Mo over the gold backings. However, significant volume shrinkage occurring during the reduction of MoO 3 creates a porous Mo layer where the gold diffuses due to the high processing temperatures, resulting in mixed Mo–Au layers. • Isotopically pure Mo targets were prepared on gold backings. • Target preparation include vacuum evaporation and hydrogen reduction steps. • The characteristics of targets were investigated by XRD, XRF, SEM/FIB/EDS methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype of lung cancer today.With the discovery of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements, and effective targeted therapy, personalized medicine has become a reality for patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Here, we review potential additional targets and novel therapies of interest in lung adenocarcinoma including targets within the cell surface (receptor tyrosine kinases EGFR, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, RET, ROS1, mesenchymal-epidermal transition, TRK), targets in intracellular signal transduction (ALK, RAS-RAF-MEK, PI3K-AKT-PTEN, WNT), nuclear targets such as poly-ADP ribose polymerase, heat shock protein 90, and histone deacetylase, and selected pathways in the tumor environment. With the evolving ability to identify specific molecular aberrations in patient tumors in routine practice, our ability to further personalize therapy in lung adenocarcinoma is rapidly expanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the high beam power densities envisaged in advanced nuclear targets, liquid metal-operated free surface targets are conceived as one feasible option. There, the free surface is formed by an adequately shaped upstream located nozzle. Target boundary conditions necessitate a detailed knowledge on the turbulent flow in contraction nozzles in order to identify turbulence models accurately predicting experimental findings within the velocity range of interest for nuclear target and hence can then act as design optimisation tools. In this context, a combined experimental and numerical study is conducted on the basis of the turbulent flow in the contraction nozzle of the Super-FRS target. Two aspects determining the turbulent flow in the nozzle have been investigated. The first is a potential relaminarisation of the boundary layer caused by the acceleration within the contraction and the second is a development of the secondary flows due to the pressure gradient in the rectangular shaped ducts cross-section. Regarding the three different turbulence models investigated here only the V2F model exhibited the capability to predict the relaminarisation of the turbulent boundary layer both qualitatively and quantitatively. All turbulence models are able to predict the development of secondary flows induced by pressure gradients in transverse direction with an acceptable accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotopically enriched targets of 64,68Zn were prepared for heavy ion fusion and multi-nucleon transfer reactions. In view of the fragility of the targets under the ion current and during characterization, multiple targets of each isotope were required. Thin films of 64,68Zn isotopes were fabricated via vapor deposition in the target laboratory at Inter-University Accelerator Center (IUAC), New Delhi. Multiple targets of 64,68Zn in the thickness range 150 μ g/cm2–300 μ g/cm2, were synthesized on a carbon backing of 10 μ g/cm2 using only 30 mg amount of available enriched material for each isotope. The use of a pin source and carbon foils as substrate allowed the fabrication of Zn targets without employing previously suggested methods of substrate cooling and forced condensation for thin film fabrication of volatile elements. The deposition results have been estimated quantitatively. The thickness measurement of the targets was carried out using the α particle energy loss technique and Rutherford Back Scattering (RBS) method. The elemental composition of the targets was examined using RBS and Dispersive Wavelength X-ray Fluorescence (DWXRF) to investigate the contamination. Morphological analysis of the films was performed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to study homogeneity and the impact of ion bombardment on the targets. • Thin film fabrication of Zn is difficult due to its low vapor pressure. • Use of a pin source provides needful vapor pressure for condensation of Zn vapors. • Use of carbon foils as substrate provides consistent deposition of Zn vapors. • Effect of ion irradiation on thin film is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study about the preparation, by electrospinning, of uranium carbide fibers with nanometric grain size. Viscous solutions of cellulose acetate and uranyl salts (acetate, acetylacetonate, and formate) on acetic acid and 2,4-pentanedione, adjusted to three different polymer concentrations, 10, 12.5, and 15 weight %, were used for electrospinning. Good quality precursor fibers were obtained from solutions with a 15% cellulose acetate concentration, the best ones being produced from the uranyl acetate solution. As-spun precursor fibers were then decomposed by slow heating until 823 K under argon, resulting in a mixture of nano-grained UO2 and C fibers. A last carboreduction was then carried out under vacuum at 2073 K for 2 h. The final material displayed UC2−y as the major phase, with grain sizes in the 4 nm–10 nm range. UO2+x was still present in moderate concentrations (~30 vol.%). This is due to uncomplete carboreduction that can be explained by the fiber morphology, limiting the effective contact between C and UO2 grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]