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Gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd2O2S: GOS) has a large absorption cross-section for thermal neutrons and a mass density similar to that of iron used for shielding against X and γ-ray radiation. During GOS scintillator production process, its waste is also generated. If GOS waste can be used as an effective shielding material, it is worthwhile as beneficial use of the waste. We developed a novel radiation-shielding material using GOS waste. The developed shielding material can shield X, γ-rays and thermal neutrons more efficiently than conventional shielding materials and emit visible light due to leaked radiation when the shielding material is damaged, which subsequently be used to check the integrity of shielding using visible light. In this study, two types of shields, concrete and mortar with GOS as the aggregate and epoxy resin with GOS were prototyped and tested for radiation transmission. Results indicate that GOS shielding has a 10% higher shielding ability for X and γ-rays than heavy concrete with iron as aggregate. Additionally, the same shielding effect for thermal neutrons was attained at 1/10 the thickness of heavy concrete. Thus, using GOS waste is not only cost effective but also contributes to a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the temporal and spectral variability properties of the high-redshift blazar B3 1343+451 utilizing Fermi-LAT data from 2008 to 2022 in the energy range of 0.1–300 GeV. We identify six major flares with many substructures and analyze their temporal and spectral properties in detail. The fastest rise and decay timescales are found to be 4.8 ± 0.48 h and 5.28 ± 0.72 h, respectively. The size of the emission region is constrained to be R ∼ 5.18 × 10 15 –1.56 × 10 16 cm with the typical Doppler factors of δ ∼ 10–30. Most of the peaks from the flares exhibit a symmetric temporal profile within the error bars, implying that the rise and decay timescales are dominated by the disturbances caused by dense plasma blobs passing through the standing shock front in the jet region. We also find that four flares are better fitted with a log-parabolic distribution, while two flares are better fitted with a power-law distribution. Our results indicate that the emission regions vary from one flare to another, which is consistent with earlier results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, a feasibility of γ radiation detection using complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors with a neural network algorithm to extract the γ rays interacted pixels has been investigated. The responses characteristics of the CMOS imaging sensor to γ-ray is studied by placed in a γ fields produced by standard60Co or137Cs isotope sources. The supported preview frame rate of the CMOS image sensor is 25 fps, establishing the functional relationship between the gray level histograms and the dose rate through the neural network, the high energy γ-ray from60Co and137Cs source radiation dose rate in µSv/h level can be detected using the CMOS imaging sensor. The results show that the proposed method can effectively identify the number of photon particles which detected by the radiation monitoring system based on CMOS image sensor, and infer that the CMOS imaging sensor with a radiation signal extraction algorithm can be used as a dose warner for radiation protection purpose.

Multi-messenger observations and theories of astrophysical objects are rapidly becoming a critical research area in the astrophysics scientific community. In particular, point-like objects such as BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects, flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), and blazar candidates of uncertain type (BCUs) are of distinct interest to researchers studying the synchrotron, Compton, neutrino, and cosmic ray emissions sourced from compact objects. Notably, there is also much interest in the correlation between multi-frequency observations of blazars and neutrino surveys on source demographics. In this review, we look at such multi-frequency and multi-physics correlations of the radio, X-ray, and γ-ray fluxes of different classes of blazars from a collection of survey catalogs. This multi-physics survey of blazars shows that there are characteristic cross- correlations in the spectra of blazars when considering their multi-frequency and multi-messenger emission. In addition, a review of cosmic ray and neutrino emissions from blazars and their characteristics is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer‐based radiation shielding materials are receiving more and more interests due to their desirable advantages in lightweight and maneuverability. Herein, we employ polypropylene (PP) as the matrix to construct γ‐ray shielding composites through the embedment of PbO particles with a wet reaction melt blending method. From the changes in dynamic rheological behaviors and fracture surface of PP/PbO composite, it can be found that the gradient addition of PbO particles facilitates the formation of heterogeneous network structure with, and high PbO content may make the composites undergo a “liquid–solid” transition. Rheological temperature and time scanning show that both PbO content and heterogeneous network structure greatly contribute to the storage modulus (G') and thermal stability. The γ‐ray (137Cs) shielding tests manifest that BPP/PbO‐4 has the best shielding performance, whose thicknesses of half value layer (HVL) and tenth value layer (TVL) are 0.32 and 1.05 cm, respectively, obviously smaller than those shielding materials ever reported. The analyses on effective atomic number (Zeff) and effective electron density (NE) reveal that the good shielding performance of BPP/PbO‐4 benefits from its proper content and dispersion of PbO particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work novelty is to develop a new γ-ray shielding material based on the cheap coating polyester sealer reinforced by ferric oxide. The morphology of the newly fabricated polyester-based composites as well as the elemental chemical composition were investigated utilizing the scanning electron microscope and energy-Dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Furthermore, the γ-ray shielding properties were simulated utilizing the Monte Carlo simulation and the results were affirmed using the experimental measurements. The obtained data depicts that the substitution of 50 wt% polyester by Fe2O3 compounds enhances the linear attenuation coefficient from 0.218 cm−1 to 0.553 cm−1 (at 0.059 MeV), from 0.091 cm−1 to 0.108 cm−1 (at 0.662 MeV), and from 0.067 cm−1 to 0.079 cm−1 (at 1.252 MeV). The enhancement in the linear attenuation coefficient values enhances the radiation protection efficiency accompanied by a reduction in the half-value thickness and the transmission factor of the fabricated composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-messenger observations and theories of astrophysical objects are rapidly becoming a critical research area in the astrophysics scientific community. In particular, point-like objects such as BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects, flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), and blazar candidates of uncertain type (BCUs) are of distinct interest to researchers studying the synchrotron, Compton, neutrino, and cosmic ray emissions sourced from compact objects. Notably, there is also much interest in the correlation between multi-frequency observations of blazars and neutrino surveys on source demographics. In this review, we look at such multi-frequency and multi-physics correlations of the radio, X-ray, and γ-ray fluxes of different classes of blazars from a collection of survey catalogs. This multi-physics survey of blazars shows that there are characteristic cross-correlations in the spectra of blazars when considering their multi-frequency and multi-messenger emission. In addition, a review of cosmic ray and neutrino emissions from blazars and their characteristics is presented.

We study the temporal and spectral variability properties of the high-redshift blazar B3 1343+451 utilizing Fermi-LAT data from 2008 to 2022 in the energy range of 0.1–300 GeV. We identify six major flares with many substructures and analyze their temporal and spectral properties in detail. The fastest rise and decay timescales are found to be 4.8 ± 0.48 h and 5.28 ± 0.72 h, respectively. The size of the emission region is constrained to be R ∼ 5.18 × 1015–1.56 × 1016 cm with the typical Doppler factors of δ ∼ 10–30. Most of the peaks from the flares exhibit a symmetric temporal profile within the error bars, implying that the rise and decay timescales are dominated by the disturbances caused by dense plasma blobs passing through the standing shock front in the jet region. We also find that four flares are better fitted with a log-parabolic distribution, while two flares are better fitted with a power-law distribution. Our results indicate that the emission regions vary from one flare to another, which is consistent with earlier results.

Vascular endothelial cells serve as barriers between blood components and subendothelial tissue and regulate the blood coagulation-fibrinolytic system. Ionizing radiation is a common physical stimulant that induces a bystander effect whereby irradiated cells influence neighboring cells through signalings, including purinergic receptor signaling, activated by adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine as secondary soluble factors. Human vascular endothelial EA.hy926 cells were cultured and irradiated with γ-rays or treated with ATP, ADP, or adenosine under non-toxic conditions. RNA-seq, gene ontology, and hierarchical clustering analyses were performed. The transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes in vascular endothelial cells after γ-ray irradiations suggests that the change of gene expression by γ-irradiation is mediated by ATP and ADP. In addition, the expression and activity of the proteins related to blood coagulation and fibrinolysis systems appear to be secondarily regulated by ATP and ADP in vascular endothelial cells after exposure to γ-irradiation. Although it is unclear whether the changes of the gene expression related to blood coagulation and fibrinolysis systems by γ-irradiation affected the increased hemorrhagic tendency through the exposure to γ-irradiation or the negative feedback to the activated blood coagulation system, the present data indicate that toxicity associated with γ-irradiation involves the dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells related to the blood coagulation-fibrinolytic system, which is mediated by the signalings, including purinergic receptor signaling, activated by ATP and ADP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the radiation damage and radiation reinforcement of the control and sensing systems of nuclear robots. Radiation experiments were conducted on key electronic devices to study their radiation resistance, and a shielding structure for radiation reinforcement was designed to meet the radiation resistance performance requirements of the system. The results show that at doses exceeding 1300 Gy, Hall sensors, pressure transducers, and temperature transducers exhibit radiation damage. At doses exceeding 170 Gy, transformers and controllers also show radiation damage. Lithium batteries remain largely unaffected, but packs experience voltage decline. When using Pb and W as shielding materials for Super MC simulation, it was found that at a thickness of 15 mm, the shielding efficiency of the controller and transformer under Pb shielding increased by approximately 84.99% and 52.00%, respectively, compared to 92.23% and 74.47% under W, which had the best shielding effect benefits. By adopting radiation-resistant shielding reinforcement, we can effectively improve the radiation resistance of the controller and transformer. This is crucial for ensuring the reliable operation of nuclear robots in high-radiation environments and providing important data and theoretical support for the development of related technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyapatites have been investigated since past six decades as laser host materials. Because of their important roles in bone and teeth, these have been subjects of recent investigations. Gallium and titanium have great potential for decreasing the depletion of calcium and reducing osteoporosis. The electrical properties and polarity play important roles in regeneration of the bones. We observed growth of grains in selenium‐doped gallium and titanium containing silicate hydroxyapatites. Observed morphology showed non‐facetted microstructures and it helped in achieving larger grains. For the material processed for the period of longer than 70 h, we did not observe any difference in the dielectric constant and resistivity of the selenium‐doped materials. For irradiating the materials, a Cs‐137 γ‐radiation with 5 µm curie dose was used up to 100 h. We observed that the dielectric constant and resistivity at different frequencies ranging from 100 to 100 000 Hz were affected by the high energy radiation. However, bias voltage in the range of 50–1 000 mV did no alter the dielectric constant or resistivity. This indicated that the breakdown of the material did not occur for this bias range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene aerogels (GAs) are of significant interest in the scientific community due to their unique attributes, including a three-dimensional porous structure, exceptional specific surface area, and remarkable chemical stability. Researchers have made notable breakthroughs in aerogel preparation, focusing on aspects like porous structures and chemical stability. This review explores product morphologies and properties developed between 2011 and 2023, particularly examining applications of graphene aerogels with amine or alcohol radical scavengers. It offers a roadmap for researchers, suggesting possibilities for radiation-based preparation and indicating broader applications. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of aerogels and expand the potential applications of graphene aerogels across various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The γ-rays are widely and abundantly present in strong nuclear radiation environments, and when they act on the camera equipment used to obtain environmental visual information on nuclear robots, radiation effects will occur, which will degrade the performance of the camera system, reduce the imaging quality, and even cause catastrophic consequences. Color reducibility is an important index for evaluating the imaging quality of color camera, but its degradation mechanism in a nuclear radiation environment is still unclear. In this paper, the γ-ray irradiation experiments of CMOS cameras were carried out to analyse the degradation law of the camera’s color reducibility with cumulative irradiation and reveal the degradation mechanism of the color information of the CMOS camera under γ-ray irradiation. The results show that the spectral response of CMOS image sensor (CIS) and the spectral transmittance of lens after irradiation affect the values of a* and b* in the LAB color model. While the full well capacity (FWC) of CIS and transmittance of lens affect the value of L* in the LAB color model, thus increase color difference and reduce brightness, the combined effect of color difference and brightness degradation will reduce the color reducibility of CMOS cameras. Therefore, the degradation of the color information of the CMOS camera after γ-ray irradiation mainly comes from the changes in the FWC and spectral response of CIS, and the spectral transmittance of lens.

Background: Aedes aegypti is a vector that transmits various viral diseases, including dengue and Zika. The radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) has a limited effect on mosquito control because of the difficulty in irradiating males without reducing their mating competitiveness. In this study, the insect sex pheromone heptacosane was applied to Ae. aegypti males to investigate whether it could enhance the mating competitiveness of irradiated males. Methods: Heptacosane was smeared on the abdomens of Ae. aegypti males that were allowed to mate with untreated virgin females. The insemination rate was used to assess the attractiveness of heptacosane-treated males to females. The pupae were irradiated with different doses of X-rays and γ-rays, and the emergence, survival time, egg number, and hatch rate were detected to find the optimal dose of X-ray and γ-ray radiation. The males irradiated at the optimal dose were smeared with heptacosane, released in different ratios with untreated males, and mated with females. The effect of heptacosane on the mating competitiveness of irradiated mosquitoes was then evaluated by the hatch rate, induced sterility, and mating competitiveness index. Results: Applying heptacosane to Ae. aegypti males significantly increased the insemination rate of females by 20%. Pupal radiation did not affect egg number but significantly reduced survival time and hatch rate. The emergence of the pupae was not affected by X-ray radiation but was affected by γ-ray radiation. Pupae exposed to 60 Gy X-rays and 40 Gy γ-rays were selected for subsequent experiments. After 60 Gy X-ray irradiation or 40 Gy γ-ray irradiation, the average hatch rate was less than 0.1%, and the average survival time was more than 15 days. Moreover, at the same release ratio, the hatch rate of the irradiated group perfumed with heptacosane was lower than that of the group without heptacosane. Conversely, the male sterility and male mating competitiveness index were significantly increased due to the use of heptacosane. Conclusions: The sex pheromone heptacosane enhanced the interaction between Ae. aegypti males and females. Perfuming males irradiated by X-rays or γ-rays with heptacosane led to a significant increase in mating competitiveness. This study provided a new idea for improving the application effect of SIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature can cause serious damage to building structures, so it is important in order to re-evaluate the residual properties of radiation shielding concrete (RSC) exposed to elevated temperatures for ensuring security of medical, industrial and defense building structures. Thus, the deterioration of the mechanical, γ-ray shielding properties and acoustic emission characteristics of barite concrete (BC) and magnetite concrete (MC) exposed to elevated temperatures were studied. Research indicated that the performance of aggregates played a crucial role in the thermal stability, residual physical and mechanical properties of concrete exposed to elevated temperatures. BC was subjected from bursting and even spalling at 300 °C, while its physical and mechanical properties deteriorated drastically. However, MC still had favorable integrity and relatively high residual mechanical properties at 800 °C. The maximum deterioration temperature of BC exposed to elevated temperatures occurred at about 300 °C, while that of MC occurred at 450–600 °C. The degradation of the γ-ray shielding properties of RSC exposed to elevated temperatures was significantly lower than its mechanical properties.

In contaminated sites, remediation measures mostly depend on previous high-resolution site characterization (HRSC) results. In the case of industrial sites, where there is a high pollution risk for groundwater, many hydrogeological models are often achieved using stratigraphy results of geological drilling after the monitoring network design. This approach is only sometimes possible when contaminant back diffusion from small low-permeability lenses and layers occurs within a high-permeability aquifer. This framework needs a significant resolution that can be obtained by coupling preliminary stratigraphic data with specific in situ activities. Results from these additional investigations may help to locate low-permeability layers and, consequently, to identify the most vulnerable areas towards which groundwater management must be deepened. The use of gamma rays in combination with the analysis of the pluviometric and hydrometric data and together with the time series of the concentrations of a given analyte can provide indispensable support for site characterization, the development of numerical groundwater contamination models and remediation procedures when back diffusion occurs. In this study, within an industrial site in the province of Benevento (Italy), based on stratigraphy, a 3D hydrogeological model has been set up and coupled with results of natural gamma radioactivity logs to detect the release of Chromium VI from low-permeability lenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agriculturae Slovenica is the property of Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We explored γ -ray mean lifetimes of transitions 2 + → 0 + state suggested by earlier researchers such as Grodzins [Phys. Lett. 2 (1962)], Bohr and Mettelson [Mat. Fys. Medd. Dan. Vid. Selsk 27 (1953) 1], Wang's formula [Chin. J. Phys. 18 (1980) 151], and best global fit formulae [Phys. Rev. C 37 (1988) 805], equations accessible in the literature for nuclei ranging from 1 2 8 Ce to 2 5 2 Fm. Also, as compared to other equations accessible in the literature, the standard deviation observed utilizing Grodzins formula with regard to experiments was lower. We also forecasted γ -ray mean lifetimes of transitions 2 + → 0 + state and B (E 2) -values for nuclei ranging from 1 2 2 Ce to 2 5 6 Fm. Around 136 even–even nuclei's mean lifetimes and B (E 2) -values are predicted which are helpful in the Coulomb fission process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to break the genetic linkage of current island cotton varieties, enrich the genetic background of island cotton, and induce more valuable mutations in island cotton, and accelerate the research process of island cotton breeding, in this experiment, 137Cs- γ ray radiation and ethyl methane sulfonate(EMS) treatment were applied to mutagenize the excellent island cotton varieties Xinhai 45, Xinhai 57, Xinhai 58, Xinhai 59, H39012, and H163，and the mutagenic effects of physical and chemical mutagenic methods on island cotton were analyzed. The results showed that 137Cs- γ ray radiation treatment and ethyl methane sulfonate treatment significantly reduced the emergence rate by 29.40 and 27.03 percentage points, respectively, and significantly reduced the seedling rate by 43.36 and 35.08 percentage points, respectively, compared with the conventional control. In terms of yield traits, compared with ethyl methane sulfonate treatment, 137Cs- γray radiation treatment significantly reduced seed cotton weight, lint cotton weight, single boll weight, and lint percentage by 3.66,4.37,0.27 g and 1.83 percentage points, respectively, showing a stronger inhibitory effect. In terms of fiber quality traits, the upper half average length, uniformity index, breaking strength and spinning uniformity index of the 137Cs- γ ray radiation treatment and the ethyl methane sulfonate treatment were slightly higher than those of the conventional control, but the overall change was not significant. The reflectivity was 1.43 percentage points and 0.77 percentage points lower than that of the conventional control, and the yellowness was 0.48 and 0.53 higher than that of the conventional control. In summary, 137Cs- γ ray radiation treatment and ethyl methanesulfonate treatment showed an overall inhibitory effect on the six island cotton varieties compared with the conventional control, and the inhibitory effect of 137Cs-γ ray radiation treatment was greater than that of ethyl methanesulfonate treatment, the difference was more significant in yield especially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Aedes aegypti is a vector that transmits various viral diseases, including dengue and Zika. The radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) has a limited effect on mosquito control because of the difficulty in irradiating males without reducing their mating competitiveness. In this study, the insect sex pheromone heptacosane was applied to Ae. aegypti males to investigate whether it could enhance the mating competitiveness of irradiated males. Methods Heptacosane was smeared on the abdomens of Ae. aegypti males that were allowed to mate with untreated virgin females. The insemination rate was used to assess the attractiveness of heptacosane-treated males to females. The pupae were irradiated with different doses of X-rays and γ-rays, and the emergence, survival time, egg number, and hatch rate were detected to find the optimal dose of X-ray and γ-ray radiation. The males irradiated at the optimal dose were smeared with heptacosane, released in different ratios with untreated males, and mated with females. The effect of heptacosane on the mating competitiveness of irradiated mosquitoes was then evaluated by the hatch rate, induced sterility, and mating competitiveness index. Results Applying heptacosane to Ae. aegypti males significantly increased the insemination rate of females by 20%. Pupal radiation did not affect egg number but significantly reduced survival time and hatch rate. The emergence of the pupae was not affected by X-ray radiation but was affected by γ-ray radiation. Pupae exposed to 60 Gy X-rays and 40 Gy γ-rays were selected for subsequent experiments. After 60 Gy X-ray irradiation or 40 Gy γ-ray irradiation, the average hatch rate was less than 0.1%, and the average survival time was more than 15 days. Moreover, at the same release ratio, the hatch rate of the irradiated group perfumed with heptacosane was lower than that of the group without heptacosane. Conversely, the male sterility and male mating competitiveness index were significantly increased due to the use of heptacosane. Conclusions The sex pheromone heptacosane enhanced the interaction between Ae. aegypti males and females. Perfuming males irradiated by X-rays or γ-rays with heptacosane led to a significant increase in mating competitiveness. This study provided a new idea for improving the application effect of SIT. Graphical Abstract

In this study, self-doping defects were introduced to optimize the interlayer spacing and pore structure of hard carbon by γ-ray irradiation. The effects of the absorbed dose on the interlayer spacing, internal defects, and disordered structure of hard carbon were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and isothermal nitrogen adsorption/desorption. The electrochemical properties were investigated using the constant current charge-discharge. The results showed that the surface crystallinity and disordered structure of hard carbon increased with the absorbed dose. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of hard carbon were clearly improved. At a dose of 140 kGy, hard carbon presented a high specific surface area of 425.343 m2/g and provided a sodium storage capacity of 300 mAh/g at 30 mA/g; the high current density capacity remained at 195 mAh/g at 1 A/g, suggesting that the electrode capacity increased three-fold. Excellent stability was also maintained during high-rate charge-discharge. This work provides new approaches and ideas for the design of advanced nanomaterials and defect engineering applications in the field of energy storage.

Objective To investigate the inactivation function of 25Gy X-ray irradiation on apheresis platelets’ lymphocytes and its effect on the quantity of apheresis platelets(AP). Methods Twenty healthy voluntary AP donors from January to May 2021 in our center were selected, and 2 bags of AP were donated by each of them. The APs were divided into two groups to undergo X-ray and γ-ray irradiation for 10 min. Lymphocytes were separated from AP samples, before and after irradiation, by lymphocyte separation solution to analyze and compare the effect of X-ray and γ-ray on lymphocyte proliferation. The CD41b, CD62p, blood routine and pH of APs before and 1-day/3-day after irradiation were detected. SPSS statistical software was used to analyze and compare the differences between groups by independent sample t-test. Results After 25Gy X-ray and γ-ray irradiation, the inhibition rates of lymphocytes were (98.034±1.778)% and (97.882±1.915)%, respectively.Compared with the γ irradiation group, the difference of Plt, PDW, MPV, P-LCR, PCT, pH, CD41b and CD62p between 1-day and 3-day group after 25Gy X-ray irradiation showed not statistically significance (P>0.05). Conclusion 25Gy X-ray irradiation can effectively inactivate lymphocytes in APs, and the radiation effect was equivalent with γ-ray; at the same time, there was no significant influence on the quantity of APs.

Plant height is one of the most important agronomic traits that affects yield in wheat, owing to that the utilization of dwarf or semi-dwarf genes is closely associated with lodging resistance. In this study, we identified a semi-dwarf mutant, jg0030, induced by γ-ray mutagenesis of the wheat variety 'Jing411' (wild type). Compared with the 'Jing411', plant height of the jg0030 mutant was reduced by 7%-18% in two years' field experiments, and the plants showed no changes in yield-related traits. Treatment with gibberellic acid (GA) suggested that jg0030 is a GA-sensitive mutant. Analysis of the frequency distribution of plant height in 297 F3 families derived from crossing jg0030 with the 'Jing411' indicated that the semi-dwarf phenotype is controlled by a major gene. Using the wheat 660K SNP array-based Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA) and the exome capture sequencing-BSA assay, the dwarf gene was mapped on the long arm of chromosome 2B. We developed a set of KASP markers and mapped the dwarf gene to a region between marker PH1 and PH7. This region encompassed a genetic distance of 55.21 cM, corresponding to a physical distance of 98.3 Mb. The results of our study provide a new genetic resource and linked markers for wheat improvement in molecular breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we report a general method for the synthesis of 3D graphene/Fe3O4 NPs aerogels (GA-Fe3O4-EDA) with high porosity and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are stably loaded on a graphene substrate, representing several-fold improvements compared to the chemical method in the literature. Graphene/Fe3O4 NPs aerogels with a continuous network are fabricated via γ-ray irradiation method induced reduction of Graphene oxide/Fe3O4 in EDA/H2O mixed solution. There is no doubt that they possess stronger magnetism with the increase of Fe3O4 content. According to the above characteristics of GA-Fe3O4-EDA, the composites can be used for aqueous-organic phase separation and adsorption of magnetic substances. This work paves the way for aqueous phase purification and magnetic material adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-phase of Li3PO4 was synthesized at room temperature using chemical Co-precipitation technique, and the γ-phase was obtained by annealing the β-Li3PO4 material at 450 °C. The crystallinity and phase transformation (β → γ) were confirmed by the PXRD study of Li3PO4. SEM and FTIR characterization were used to examine the morphology and chemical groups respectively. Both samples β-Li3PO4 and γ-Li3PO4 were exposed to γ-ray at 100 Gy. ML study of irradiated samples was carried out and observed sufficient high ML intensity. When β-Li3PO4 is annealed at 400 °C, its maximum ML intensity is observed, whereas γ-Li3PO4 is annealed at 800 °C. Among of these γ-Li3PO4 is more sensitive to γ-ray exposure and shows higher intensity of ML signal. On the basis of their dosimetric characteristics, Li3PO4 phosphor can be used as MLD for passive radiation dosimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The input transistors (JFETs) of feedback resistor-less charge sensitive preamplifiers (CSPs), for photon and charged particle counting radiation spectrometers, that use semiconductors as their detectors, are operated in an unusual forward biased mode; consequently, manufacturer datasheets cannot necessarily be relied upon, as they do not specify the characteristics of the JFETs when they are operated with the gate-to-source junction forward biased. This experimental study, in which 165 2N4416 and 2N4416A NJ26 silicon junction field effect transistors (JFETs) were electrically characterised at ambient laboratory temperature, focused on the JFETs' performances in the context of their use as input transistors of feedback resistor-less charge sensitive preamplifiers (CSPs). The experimental study found evidence which supports much of the common practice of the skilled CSP designer but which had not been documented with results in the open literature until now. This includes, inter alia, that: the 2N4416 performs better than the 2N4416A; not all transistors even of the same type have comparable performance when operated in forward bias mode; only a small proportion of 2N4416 and 2N4416A transistors are of desirable performance characteristics for CSPs; and, individual screening of each candidate JFET is required if an optimally performing CSP is to be produced – even when using JFETs of the same type from the same batch. The methodology and analysis documented here will also be useful to researchers developing new wide bandgap semiconductor JFETs for high temperature tolerant and radiation-hard CSPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New K 2 WO 4 -containing potassium-iron-phosphate glasses were synthesized and examined. Specifically, we studied a glass composition consisting of 20K 2 O-(20-Y) Fe 2 O 3 -YK 2 WO 4 –60P 2 O 5 (where Y = 0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0 mol%). Various characterizations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), density, and radiation-calculated shielding parameters were investigated. The XRD analyses confirmed the glassy nature of the synthesized material. The K 2 WO 4 /Fe 2 O 3 replacement led to an increase in the density of glass and aided in the formation of non-bridging oxygen atoms. Q1 groups are the predominant structural elements within the phosphate network and decrease the rigidity and compactness of glass structures. Investigation of the thermal parameters revealed that an increase in K 2 WO 4 content led to a decrease in the transition and crystallization temperatures, accompanied by a decrease in the glass's stability. Whereas, the values of the phosphate/oxygen (O/P) molar ratio and the change in heat capacity (ΔCp) were increased. The capacity of using the prepared W0–W20 glasses as γ-ray shields has been evaluated using Phy-X/PSD software in the photon energy range of 0.015–15 MeV. Results showed that the mass-(MAC) and linear-(LAC) absorption coefficients of samples possessed the following trends: W0 (MAC, LAC) < W5 (MAC, LAC) < W10 (MAC, LAC) < W15 (MAC, LAC) < W20 (MAC, LAC). The lowest half-value layer (HVL) values were verified by the W20 sample. Therefore, the suggested compositions can be used as superior γ-ray shields compared to some concrete materials. • New K 2 O–Fe 2 O 3 –K 2 WO 4 –P 2 O 5 glasses were successfully prepared. • FTIR spectroscopy of the prepared glasses was performed. • Tg varied from 420 °C to 320 °C and Tc from 563 °C to 403 °C. • Sample W20 possessed the highest MAC and lowest HVL. • Suggested glass can be applied in medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposite films were prepared from Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymers and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using the casting technique. The resulting PVA/CMC/MWCNTs nanocomposite films have been incorporated with various concentrations of the Zn 0.9 Ni 0.1 S nanoparticles. The γ-ray radiation shielding capabilities of the films were discussed in details for various gamma sources using the Phy-X/PSD software in the energy range (0.015–15 MeV). The linear (LAC) and mass (MAC) attenuation parameters, the half-value layer (HVL), the tenth value layer (TVL), the effective atomic number (Z eff) were determined. The γ-ray buildup factors, were also determined for different penetration depths in the range (0.5–40 MFP). Results showed that, the shielding parameters are greatly affected by the density of the samples and the PVA/CMC/MWCNTs samples have the highest shielding ability in the energy region ranges (0.015–0.2 MeV) and (5–15 Mev). The structural and chemical characteristics of the films and the nanoparticles were examined using X-ray diffraction technique. The films elemental composition and morphology were discussed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques, respectively. The linear and nonlinear optical properties, including the extinction coefficient (K), the energy gap (E g), the refractive index (n), the dielectric parameters, nonlinear susceptibilities(χ (1) , χ (3) ) and nonlinear refractive index (n 2), were discussed by UV–Vis spectroscopy's absorbance and transmittance spectra. A reduction in E g values from 4.55 eV to 4.5 eV and 4.41 eV for films doped with 1 wt% and 3 wt% of Zn 0.9 Ni 0.1 S. The uniform distribution of the added nanoparticles at 5 wt% has been confirmed. The energy dispersion parameters confirmed a higher probability of electronic transitions at low energy due to the intermolecular modifications. • A semicrystalline nature of both undoped and doped blends has been confirmed by XRD analysis. • The effect of the nanoparticles concentrations on the optical and structural parameters of the samples has been studied. • The variations in the energy gap values under the effect of added nanoparticles have been confirmed. • The γ-ray shielding capability of the prepared nanocomposite films has been studied in details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene aerogels (GAs) are of significant interest in the scientific community due to their unique attributes, including a three-dimensional porous structure, exceptional specific surface area, and remarkable chemical stability. Researchers have made notable breakthroughs in aerogel preparation, focusing on aspects like porous structures and chemical stability. This review explores product morphologies and properties developed between 2011 and 2023, particularly examining applications of graphene aerogels with amine or alcohol radical scavengers. It offers a roadmap for researchers, suggesting possibilities for radiation-based preparation and indicating broader applications. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of aerogels and expand the potential applications of graphene aerogels across various fields.

The copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) with a hydrophilic monomer is an effective way to prepare hydrophilic polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based functional materials. In this study, γ-ray radiation-induced copolymerization of AN and 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was carried out. The chemical structure, molecular weight, thermal properties, and hydrophilicity of the synthesized copolymers were characterized. The γ-ray radiation could initiate the copolymerization of AN and 4-VP in DMSO at room temperature (0~35 ℃). The monomer conversion reached above 90% at the absorbed dose of 25 kGy, but the molecular weight of the copolymer depended on the dose rate. When the absorbed dose was 30 kGy, a P(AN-co-4-VP) random copolymer solution with a viscosity of 250 Pa⸱s was obtained directly after the monomer solution was irradiated by γ-rays at a lower dose rate of 11 Gy/min. The P(AN-co-4-VP) copolymer had a weight-average molecular weight of 1.34×105, and the relative content of AN and 4-VP units in the copolymer chains was identical to the feed ratio of AN and the 4-VP comonomer. When the dose rate exceeded 20 Gy/min, molecular weight of the synthesized copolymer decreased remarkably. Thermal properties of the P(AN-co-4-VP) random copolymer with the relative molar ratio of 4-VP to AN of 2% were generally the same as those of the PAN homopolymer. The 4-VP units in the polymer chains did not participate in the ring formation or crosslinking reaction of the side ‒C≡N groups. However, the water contact angle of the P(AN-co-4-VP) random copolymer decreased gradually with increase in 4-VP content, indicating that the introduction of 4-VP units can improve the hydrophilicity of the copolymers. This study provides a new idea for the hydrophilic modification of PAN as well as proves that DMSO solutions with a high mass fraction (>20%) of the homo- or copolymer of AN can be obtained directly via radiation-induced solution polymerization, thus expanding the potential applications of the high-energy radiation technique in the field of solution polymerization of AN.

The γ-ray irradiation method has been successfully used to prepare Fe3O4-Doped Graphene Aerogels(GA-Fe3O4-ethanol) in Ethanol-H2O solution. Electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques show that the graphene oxide was successfully reduced and showed a porous structure while Fe3O4 Nanoparticles are stably loaded on graphene. The material showed good adsorption stability in the process of repeatedly absorbing the organic solvent. At the same time, in the process of adsorbing organic solvents, it was noticed that the material has a certain elasticity in the organic phase, which is rarely seen in many other aerogel materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the improved gamma radiation attenuation ability of six composite shields prepared using high density polyethylene (HDP) reinforced Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , and PbO. The radioactive source 226Ra was used at different γ-ray energies (0.295, 0.352, 0.609, 1.12, and 1.747 MeV) and the transmitted γ-radiation from the studied shields was detected via a NaI(Tl) detector. The proposed shields' μ , MFP , HVL , TF , RPE , and d Pb values were determined as a function of γ-ray energy. The experimental results were compared with those calculated using the XMuDat computer program. The measured values of all parameters were consistent with the theoretical results. It was demonstrated that the gamma radiation attenuation capacity of Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , and PbO can be significantly enhanced via HDP reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our approach, using Delsa™ Nano submicron particle size dynamic light scattering analyzer, atomic force microscope, scanning electron microscope, and thermo-gravimetric analyzer, we investigated the self-assembly behavior of block copolymer polystyrene polybutadiene (PS-b-PB) in selective solvent, 2-butanone, as well as the effect of irradiation crosslinking that resulted in the immobilization of micelles. Since the selective solvent, 2-butanone, is the soluble solvent of PS segment and insoluble solvent of polybutadiene (Pb) segment, under suitable conditions, PS-b-PB could form monodisperse "core-shell" nano-micelles microstructure. The experimental results showed that under suitable conditions, PS-b-PB could form monodisperse nano-micelles with different core-shell components in selective solvent, and the size of micelles could be adjusted by controlling the mass fraction of PS-b-PB in the solvent. The micelle solution of 2-butanone/PS-b-PB block polymer system was further irradiated by γ-ray irradiation without oxygen, and the results showed that the micelles had a certain improvement in the micro-morphology and thermodynamic stability. The reason is that the crosslinking reaction of PB chain in the micelles induced by γ-ray irradiation is immobilized, and the cured micelles are no longer affected by ultrasonic vibration, solvent dilution, and volatilization. This study provided a new approach and method for the preparation of polymer nano-micelles.

Ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/illite‐smectite interstratified clay minerals (ISIC) composites were irradiated by γ‐ray in air and N2 at 75 kGy. The abrasion‐resistance of composites were studied via a ring‐on‐ring friction tester under dry friction conditions. Compared with virgin UHMWPE, the friction coefficient and wear rate of UHMWPE filled with 0.5 wt% ISIC powders and irradiated by γ‐ray in N2 could be further reduced by near 3.1% and 88.0%, respectively. The worn surfaces of the UHMWPE/ISIC composites irradiated in N2 were relatively smooth after dry friction. The composites exhibited relatively high wear resistance. ISIC powders can play the role of heterogeneous nucleation and induce the crystallization of UHMWPE, thereby improving the abrasion‐resistance. The linear molecular chain of UHMWPE was transformed into a three‐dimensional crosslinked structure after irradiation, which can effectively enhance the plastic deformation resistance and then improve the tribological properties. The results show that low filling amount of ISIC powders and γ‐ray irradiation in N2 are effective strategies to improve abrasion resistance of UHMWPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess the influence of various physical factors on the outcome of transarterial chemoembolization combined with γ-ray hypofractionated radiation therapy (TACE-γHRT) for unresectable huge (≥10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (UH-HCC) patients. Materials & methods: A total of 162 UH-HCC patients with different tumor locations treated with TACE-γHRT and a retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the impacts of selected physical parameters on clinical outcomes. Results: The selected physical factors influenced the clinical outcomes significantly. No adverse events exceeding grade 3 were observed in the enrolled patients. Conclusion: Higher P 70 and marginal dose, smaller tumor size and tumor location of neither skin nor gastrointestinal tracts involved were independent predictors for better overall survival and progression free survival.

Intramolecular crosslinking of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was observed to have occurred when the PVDF homogeneous solution was subject to γ-ray irradiation, which was confirmed by characterization of PVDF before and after irradiation via FTIR, the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), viscosity measurement and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). This constitutes a contrast to the frequent occurrence of intermolecular crosslinking that takes place when PVDF is irradiated in a solid state. Such a finding increases our understanding of the radiation effects of polymers. Based on the experimental results, a possible crosslinking mechanism is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serpentinites are metamorphic rocks that are widely applied as aggregates in the production of radiation-shielding concrete. Different varieties of massive serpentinite mountains located in Egypt exist without real investment. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the radiation shielding efficacy of three varieties of serpentinite rocks from different geological perspectives: mineralogical, geochemical, and morphological characteristics. X-ray diffraction, transmitted-light microscopy, and thermal analysis were required to characterize their mineralogical composition, while X-ray fluorescence was necessary to investigate their geochemical features. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was used to detect their morphological characteristics. On the other hand, the PuBe source and stilbene detector were employed for the experimental determination of fast neutrons and γ-ray attenuations, which were conducted at energy ranges of 0.8–11 and 0.4–8.3 MeV, respectively. Based on the mineralogical, geochemical, and morphological characteristics of these rocks, the radiation attenuation capacity of lizardite > antigorite > chrysotile. However, these serpentinites can be applied as a natural alternative to some radiation-shielding concrete in radiotherapy centers and other counterpart facilities.

The temporal response of CdZnTe (CZT) detector to $\gamma $ -ray is experimentally studied in this article. Infrared (IR) illumination is utilized to improve the performance of CZT detector. The results show that with no IR illumination operated on the CZT detector, the output signal of the CZT detector appears as a short overshoot process (sharp peak) at the beginning of stable $\gamma $ -ray irradiation. After the sharp peak, a decay process follows, and finally, a stable output of CZT detector is achieved. IR illumination can eliminate the instability of CZT detector under $\gamma $ -ray irradiation, such as the output overshoot of detector (sharp peak) during the transition state. With the increase of IR illumination intensity, the sharp peak disappears gradually and the temporal response of CZT detector follows the intensity of $\gamma $ -ray irradiation without transition state. The fitting time constant of the sharp peak is in good consistency with the typical detrapping lifetime on the order of seconds. The stable current of CZT $\gamma $ -ray detector can be improved by 8.2% due to IR illumination, which can also be explained by the prefilling effects of IR illumination on the defect level. The sharp peak in the temporal response of CZT detector is probably caused by the deep level, related to the Te antisite-related deep donors. The current uncertainty of CZT $\gamma $ -ray detector under IR illumination is smaller than 1.4%, which is small enough to be ignored. The flux rate response of CZT detector can also be improved by IR illumination. This study will provide significant supports for the further application of CZT material in radiation measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of γ-ray-reduced graphene oxide samples (GRGOs) were compared with those of hydrazine hydrate-reduced graphene oxide (HRGO). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, electrometry, and cyclic voltammetry were carried out to verify the reduction process, structural changes, and defects of the samples, as well as to measure their thermal, electrical, and electrochemical properties. Irradiation with γ-rays distorted the structure of GRGOs and generated massive defects through the extensive formation of new smaller sp2-hybridized domains compared with those of HRGO. The thermal stability of GRGOs was higher than that of HRGO, indicating the highly efficient removal of thermally-labile oxygen species by γ-rays. RRGO prepared at 80 kGy showed a pseudocapacitive behavior comparable with the electrical double-layer capacitance behavior of HRGO. Interestingly, the specific capacitance of GRGO was enhanced by nearly three times compared with that of HRGO. These results reflect the advantages of radiation reduction in energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiation emitted from the beam aperture of the boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) system includes not only neutrons with a wide energy range but also γ -ray, which is an undesirable dose for patients. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the γ -ray dose appropriately. Several methods have been proposed to evaluate the γ -ray dose in a neutron field. However, eliminating the influence of neutrons is challenging, and developing a more versatile and highly accurate measurement method is desired. We aimed to validate the γ -ray dose measurement method in a neutron field combining a commercial thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) named Mg 2 SiO 4 : Tb (TLD-MSO-S) and 6LiF sintered capsule for quality assurance. As a characteristic evaluation, the variation in sensitivity between TLD rods and dose linearity was determined using a medical linear accelerator. Furthermore, the perturbation and contribution of neutron dose were determined by Monte Carlo simulation, and measurements were performed at the accelerator-based BNCT system. We have found that γ -ray dose can be evaluated with an accuracy of and within ±7% between calculated and measured values and ±7% of reproducibility. • The method of γ -ray dose evaluation combining Mg 2 SiO 4 : Tb (TLD-MSO-S) and 6LiF sintered capsule in the neutron field was presented. • The factors used for γ -ray dose evaluation were determined by calibration using linear accelerator and MCNP calculations, and then verified in the neutron irradiation field. • The measured γ -ray dose can be evaluated with an accuracy of and within ±7% between calculation results and ±7% of reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional method of cloning formation is used to study the radiation effect of nuclear physics rays on hepatoma cells, and the results obtained are not reliable. Therefore, a new method of studying the radiation effect of nuclear physics rays on hepatoma cells is proposed. PCC method is used to study the radiation effect of γ-rays on hepatoma cells. Radiation effects of X-rays on hepatoma cells were studied by radionuclide formation assay, neutral comet electrophoresis and γH2AX focal detection. The results showed that the survival curves of HepG2 hepatoma cells irradiated by γ-rays were well fitted by linear squares. There was a linear relationship between the survival rate and irradiation dose of HepG2 hepatoma cells irradiated by γ-rays. HepG2 hepatoma cells showed strong tolerance to X-ray irradiation, and the positive rate of γH2AX cells reached 100% in each dose group only 0.5 h after X-ray irradiation.

Radiation-induced "grafting to" method was reported for the first time to modify multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with good solution processibility through covalently grafting polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) onto MWNTs' side walls under γ-ray irradiation at room temperature. FT-IR, 1H NMR, XPS, TEM, Raman and TG results demonstrated that PVA chains were successfully grafted onto MWNTs, which exhibited excellent dispersibility and stability in aqueous solution. Furthermore, CNTs-based composite membranes were facilely constructed by depositing the modified MWNTs on cellulose acetate (CA) microporous membranes with the assistance of vacuum, which showed great hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity. The obtained composite membranes were used to separate dodecane-in-water emulsions through a cross-flow mode, and exhibited high filtration flux (∼1660 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) and oil-rejection (>99.1%). Moreover, high water flux recovery (>86.5%) and almost constant filtration flux were also obtained after five cycles filtration of engine oil-in-water emulsion through the obtained composite membranes, while the bare CA membrane was completely fouled without any flux. This work shows a facile and effective solution process to modify nanocarbon materials and construct functional carbon-based membranes for diverse applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The center of the Galaxy is one of the prime targets in the search for a signal of annihilating (or decaying) dark matter. If such a signal were to be detected, it would shed light on one of the biggest mysteries in physics today: What is dark matter? Fundamental properties of the particle nature of dark matter, such as its mass, annihilation cross section, and annihilation final states, could be measured for the first time. Several experiments have searched for such a signal, and some have measured excesses that are compatible with it. A long-standing and compelling excess is observed in γ-rays by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi–LAT). This excess is consistent with a dark matter particle with a mass of approximately 50 (up to ∼200) GeV annihilating with a velocity-averaged cross section of ∼10−26 cm3 s−1. Although a dark matter origin of the excess remains viable, other interpretations are possible. In particular, there is some evidence that the excess is produced by a population of unresolved point sources of γ-rays—for example, millisecond pulsars. In this article, I review the current status of the observation of the Fermi–LAT Galactic center excess, the possible interpretations of the excess, the evidence and counterevidence for each, and the prospects for resolving its origin with future measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]