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In the present study, an ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) method was employed to investigate the effect of electronic excitation on the micro-structural evolution of 3C-SiC, TiC, and ZrC. The AIMD results demonstrated that electron excitation induces a crystalline-to-amorphous phase transition in all carbide compounds. The determined threshold electronic excitation concentration for 3C-SiC, TiC, and ZrC at 300 K is 4.06%, 5.28%, and 4.26%, respectively. The mean square displacement of C atoms is larger than those of Si, Zr, and Ti atoms, which results from the smaller atomic mass of the C atom. These results indicate that the structural amorphization of 3C-SiC, TiC, and ZrC is primarily attributed to the displacement of C atoms. It is noted that amorphization induced by electronic excitation represents a solid–solid transition rather than a solid–liquid transition. It is further verified that the ⟨ Si − C ⟩ bond is a covalent characteristic, whereas the ⟨ Ti − C ⟩ or ⟨ Zr − C ⟩ bond is a mixture of ionic, metallic, and covalent characteristics, which may lead to different radiation tolerances of carbide compounds. The present results suggest that electronic excitation may contribute to the structural amorphization of carbides under low- or medium-energy electron and ion irradiation, and advance the fundamental comprehension of the radiation resistances of carbide compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-frequency (LF) noise measurements are compared for Schottky-gate AlGaN/GaN heterostructure planar and fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs) as functions of gate voltage and measuring temperature. The noise of each device type is consistent with a carrier number fluctuation model. Similar effective defect-energy Eo distributions are derived for each of the two device architectures from measurements of excess drain-voltage noise-power spectral density vs temperature from 80 to 380 K. Defect- and/or impurity-related peaks are observed in the inferred energy distributions for Eo < 0.2 eV, Eo ≈ 0.45 eV, and Eo > 0.6 eV. Significant contributions to the LF noise are inferred for nitrogen vacancies and ON and FeGa impurity complexes. Ga dangling bonds at fin interfaces with gate metal are likely candidates for enhanced noise observed in FinFETs, relative to planar devices. Reducing the concentrations of these defects and impurity complexes should reduce the LF noise and enhance the performance, reliability, and radiation tolerance of GaN-based high electron mobility transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer is frequently treated with radiotherapy. Unfortunately, aggressive radioresistant relapses can arise, and the molecular underpinnings of radioresistance are unknown. Modern clinical radiotherapy is evolving to deliver higher doses of radiation in fewer fractions (hypofractionation). We therefore analyzed genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data to characterize prostate cancer radioresistance in cells treated with both conventionally fractionated and hypofractionated radiotherapy. Independent of fractionation schedule, resistance to radiotherapy involved massive genomic instability and abrogation of DNA mismatch repair. Specific prostate cancer driver genes were modulated at the RNA and protein levels, with distinct protein subcellular responses to radiotherapy. Conventional fractionation led to a far more aggressive biomolecular response than hypofractionation. Testing preclinical candidates identified in cell lines, we revealed POLQ (DNA Polymerase Theta) as a radiosensitizer. POLQ-modulated radioresistance in model systems and was predictive of it in large patient cohorts. The molecular response to radiation is highly multimodal and sheds light on prostate cancer lethality.SignificanceRadiation is standard of care in prostate cancer. Yet, we have little understanding of its failure. We demonstrate a new paradigm that radioresistance is fractionation specific and identified POLQ as a radioresistance modulator.

We evaluated whether veterans with Gulf War illness (VGWI) report greater ionizing radiation adverse effects (RadAEs) than controls; whether radiation-sensitivity is tied to reported chemical-sensitivity; and whether environmental exposures are apparent risk factors for reported RadAEs (rRadAEs). 81 participants (41 VGWI, 40 controls) rated exposure to, and rRadAEs from, four radiation types. The relations of RadAE-propensity (defined as the ratio of rRadAEs to summed radiation exposures) to Gulf War illness (GWI) presence and severity, and to reported chemical-sensitivity were assessed. Ordinal logistic regression evaluated exposure prediction of RadAE-propensity in the full sample, in VGWI, and stratified by age and chemical-sensitivity. RadAE-propensity was increased in VGWI (vs. controls) and related to GWI severity (p

Organic semiconductor‐based sensors are a unique class of wearable x‐ray detectors, as the response from their carbon‐based composition can mimic the response of the human body to radiation. A thin (260 nm) flexible P3HT: o‐IDTBR‐based organic sensor, deposited onto a conductive Kapton substrate is demonstrated, can provide precise and artifact‐free dosimetry under synchrotron x‐rays with sensitivities of (1958 ± 31)pCGy−1cm−2 without bias. The sensor is capable of accurately resolving multiple 50 µm‐wide x‐rays with a full‐width‐half‐max of (51.6 ± 1.9)µm for a range of energies (47–87.5)keV and dose‐rates (0.21–0.45)kGy s−1. Organic sensors fabricated with plastic polyethylene substrates exhibit unreliable x‐ray responses and broadening of the full‐width‐half‐max. Simulations reveal that x‐ray induced electrostatic charge generated from the polyethylene causes a reverse polarity of the signal. X‐ray charge mapping shows the effective area sensitized with the polyethylene device extends twice the length of the pixel area, while sensors with Kapton substrates closely match the expected active area. Radiation tolerance of P3HT:o‐IDTBR devices maintain 85.4% of the initial x‐ray sensitivity after 10 kGy with similar radiation tolerances to amorphous silicon. This study confirms the unsuitability of polyethylene substrates for flexible radiation detectors, providing the first evidence of the quantitative and spatial resolution limitations created by the generation of radiation‐induced charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early evaluation of radiation sensitivity in lung cancer patients can facilitate the transition to personalized treatment strategies. To this end, we assessed the capability of 89Zr-anti-γH2AX-TAT microPET imaging in determining the radiosensitivity of lung cancer xenograft models. We prepared and conducted quality control on 89Zr-anti-γH2AX-TAT. The radiosensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer cells (H460) and adenocarcinoma cells (A549) was analyzed through clonogenic survival experiments. Additionally, the role of γH2AX as a biomarker for radiosensitivity was validated by quantifying γH2AX foci via fluorescence staining. Subsequently, the H460 and A549 xenograft mouse models were subjected to irradiation, followed by 89Zr-anti-γH2AX-TAT microPET imaging. Concurrently, we performed immunofluorescence staining for γH2AX in tumor tissues to establish a correlation between the uptake of 89Zr-anti-γH2AX-TAT and γH2AX expression. Results: The surviving fraction 2 Gy (SF2) values of H460 and A549 indicating that A549 adenocarcinoma has higher radiosensitivity. The cell immunofluorescence experiment showed that the repair of γH2AX foci in H460 cells after irradiation was significantly higher than that in A549 cells, which also confirmed that A549 has higher radiosensitivity. The microPET imaging results showed the uptake of 89Zr-anti-γH2AX-TAT in the tumor of the A549 models after radiotherapy was higher than H460 models. The immunofluorescence staining of tumor tissue confirmed that the expression level of γH2AX was higher and the correlation with microPET imaging uptake was good. Conclusion: 89Zr-anti-γH2AX-TAT allows PET imaging of radiosensitivity in lung cancer xenograft models, and is expected to become an early evaluation method for lung cancer radiosensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are low‐temperature processable hybrid semiconductor materials with exceptional performances that are revolutionizing the field of optoelectronic devices. Despite their great potential, commercial deployment is hindered by MHPs lack of stability and durability, mainly attributed to ion migration and chemical interactions with the electrodes. To address these issues, 2D layered MHPs are investigated as possible device interlayers or active material substitutes. Here, the 2D perovskite (PEA)2PbBr4 is considered that is recently discussed as promising candidate for X‐ray direct detection. While the increased resilience of (PEA)2PbBr4 radiation detectors has already been reported, the physical mechanisms responsible for such improvement compared to 3D perovskites are not still fully understood. To unravel the charge transport process in (PEA)2PbBr4 crystals thought to underly the device better performance, an investigation technique is adapted previously used on highly resistive inorganic semiconductors, called photo induced current transient spectroscopy (PICTS). It is demonstrated that PICTS can reliably detect three trap states (T1, T2, and T3), and that their evolution upon X‐ray exposure can explain (PEA)2PbBr4 superior radiation tolerance and reduced aging effects. Overall, the results provide essential insights into the electrical characteristics of 2D perovskites and their potential application as reliable direct X‐ray detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultra‐high dose rate irradiation (≥40 Gy/s, FLASH) has been shown to reduce normal tissue toxicity, while maintaining tumor control compared to conventional dose‐rate radiotherapy. The radiolytic oxygen (O2) depletion (ROD) resulting from FLASH has been proposed to explain the normal tissue protection effect; however, in vivo experiments have not confirmed that FLASH induced global tissue hypoxia. Nonetheless, the experiments reported are based on volume‐averaged measurement, which have inherent limitations in detecting microscopic phenomena, including the potential preservation of stem cells niches due to local FLASH‐induced O2 depletion. Computational modeling offers a complementary approach to understand the ROD caused by FLASH at the microscopic level. Purpose: We developed a comprehensive model to describe the spatial and temporal dynamics of O2 consumption and transport in response to irradiation in vivo. The change of oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) was used to quantify and investigate the FLASH effect as a function of physiological and radiation parameters at microscopic scale. Methods: We considered time‐dependent O2 supply and consumption in a 3D cylindrical geometry, incorporating blood flow linking the O2 concentration ([O2]) in the capillary to that within the tissue through the Hill equation, radial and axial diffusion of O2, metabolic and zero‐order radiolytic O2 consumption, and a pulsed radiation structure. Time‐evolved distributions of [O2] were obtained by numerically solving perfusion‐diffusion equations. The model enables the computation of dynamic O2 distribution and the relative change of OER (δROD) under various physiological and radiation conditions in vivo. Results: Initial [O2] level and the subsequent changes during irradiation determined δROD distribution, which strongly depends on physiological parameters, i.e., intercapillary spacing, ultimately determining the tissue area with enhanced radioresistance. We observed that the δROD/FLASH effect is affected by and sensitive to the interplay effect among physiological and radiation parameters. It renders that the FLASH effect can be tissue environment dependent. The saturation of FLASH normal tissue protection upon dose and dose rate was shown. Beyond ∼60 Gy/s, no significant decrease in radiosensitivity within tissue region was observed. In turn, for a given dose rate, the change of radiosensitivity became saturated after a certain dose level. Pulse structures with the same dose and instantaneous dose rate but with different delivery times were shown to have distinguishable δROD thus tissue sparing, suggesting the average dose rate could be a metric assessing the FLASH effect and demonstrating the capability of our model to support experimental findings. Conclusion: On a macroscopic scale, the modeling results align with the experimental findings in terms of dose and dose rate thresholds, and it also indicates that pulse structure can vary the FLASH effect. At the microscopic level, this model enables us to examine the spatially resolved FLASH effect based on physiological and irradiation parameters. Our model thus provides a complementary approach to experimental methods for understanding the underlying mechanism of FLASH radiotherapy. Our results show that physiological conditions can potentially determine the FLASH efficacy in tissue protection. The FLASH effect may be observed under optimal combination of physiological parameters, not limited to radiation conditions alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconate pyrochlores have been extensively studied as candidate waste forms for the immobilization of actinide wastes due to their flexible crystal chemistry, excellent structural stability, and exceptional radiation tolerance. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of compounds Eu2Zr2–xO7–2x (x = 0–1, step = 0.125) using a co‐precipitation route to form solid solutions between the two end members, Eu2Zr2O7 pyrochlore and Eu2ZrO5 defect fluorite. It is important to understand the pyrochlore to defect fluorite transformation as a function of Zr/Ln molar ratio. The structural investigation by x‐ray diffraction has shown the increasing cation disorder and corresponding structural transitions from the ordered pyrochlore to disordered pyrochlore, then to defect fluorite. While diffuse reflectance spectroscopy provides similar optical absorption features reflecting the presence of Eu(III) ion, Raman spectroscopy has revealed more details on the phase transition and short‐range structures. This work highlights the structural flexibility in zirconate materials as potential nuclear waste forms for the immobilization of actinide‐rich waste streams, especially suitable for the separated minor actinides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine appendicular osteosarcoma (OSCA) is a highly aggressive cancer, constituting 85% of all bone tumors in dogs, predominantly affecting larger breeds and exhibiting a high metastatic rate. This disease also shares many genomic similarities with human osteosarcomas, making it an ideal comparative model for treatment discovery. In this study, we characterized the radiobiological properties of several OSCA cell lines when subjected to spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) and chemotherapy. Specifically, we focused on lower (peak) doses from SFRT ranging from 1 to 10 Gy. These canine OSCA cell lines serve as useful models for osteosarcoma research that can be utilized to find translational treatments for both canine and human patients. This study reaffirms established clinical wisdom regarding the notoriously radioresistant profile of osteosarcomas but additionally offers compelling evidence supporting SFRT as a promising treatment option that could be used in conjunction with other cytotoxic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives: Radioresistance is a common problem in the treatment of many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous studies have shown that circROBO1 is highly expressed in HCC tissues and acts as a cancer promoter to accelerate the malignant progression of HCC. However, the role and mechanism of circROBO1 in HCC radioresistance remain unclear. Materials and Methods: CircROBO1, microRNA (miR)-136-5p and RAD21 expression levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell function and radioresistance were evaluated by colony formation assay, cell counting kit 8 assay, EdU assay and flow cytometry. Protein expression was determined using western blot analysis. RNA interaction was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. In vivo experiments were performed by constructing mice xenograft models. Results: CircROBO1 was highly expressed in HCC, and its knockdown inhibited HCC cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis to enhance cell radiosensitivity. On the mechanism, circROBO1 could serve as miR-136-5p sponge to positively regulate RAD21. MiR-136-5p inhibitor or RAD21 overexpression reversed the regulation of circROBO1 knockdown on the radiosensitivity of HCC cells. Also, circROBO1 interference improved the radiosensitivity of HCC tumors in vivo. Conclusions: CircROBO1 might be a promising target for treating HCC radioresistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sensitivity to ionizing radiation differs between individuals, but there is a limited understanding of the biological mechanisms that account for these variations. One example of such mechanisms are the mutations in the ATM (mutated ataxia telangiectasia) gene, that cause the rare recessively inherited disease Ataxia telangiectasia (AT). Hallmark features include chromosomal instability and increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR). Objectives: To deepen the molecular understanding of radiosensitivity and to identify potential new markers to predict it, human ATM-mutated and proficient cells were compared on a proteomic level. Design: In this study, we analyzed 3 cell lines from AT patients, with varying radiosensitivity, and 2 cell lines from healthy volunteers, 24 hours and 72 hours post-10 Gy irradiation Methods: We used label-free mass spectrometry to identify differences in signaling pathways after irradiation in normal and radiosensitive individuals. Cell viability was initially determined by water soluble tetrazolium (WST) assay and DNA damage response was analyzed with 53BP1 repair foci formation along with KRAB-associated protein 1 (KAP1) phosphorylation. Results: Proteomic analysis identified 4028 proteins, which were used in subsequent in silico pathway enrichment analysis to predict affected biological pathways post-IR. In AT cells, networks were heterogeneous at both time points with no common pathway identified. Mitotic cell cycle progress was the most prominent pathway altered after IR in cells from healthy donors. In particular, components of the chromosome passenger complex (INCENP and CDCA8) were significantly downregulated after 72 hours. This could also be verified at the mRNA level. Conclusion: Altogether, the most striking result was that proteins forming the chromosome passenger complex were downregulated after radiation exposure in healthy normosensitive control cells, but not in radiosensitive ATM-deficient cells. Thus, mitosis-associated proteins form an interesting compound to gain insights into the development and prediction of radiosensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tardigrades are captivating organisms known for their resilience in extreme environments, including ultra-high-dose radiation, but the underlying mechanisms of this resilience remain largely unknown. Using genome, transcriptome, and proteome analysis of Hypsibius henanensis sp. nov., we explored the molecular basis contributing to radiotolerance in this organism. A putatively horizontally transferred gene, DOPA dioxygenase 1 (DODA1), responds to radiation and confers radiotolerance by synthesizing betalains--a type of plant pigment with free radical-scavenging properties. A tardigrade-specific radiation-induced disordered protein, TRID1, facilitates DNA damage repair through a mechanism involving phase separation. Two mitochondrial respiratory chain complex assembly proteins, BCS1 and NDUFB8, accumulate to accelerate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) regeneration for poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) and subsequent poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1)-mediated DNA damage repair. These three observations expand our understanding of mechanisms of tardigrade radiotolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel low‐cost, double‐node upset (DNU) tolerant latch aiming at nourishing the lack of these devices in the state of the art was presented, especially featuring high reliability while maintaining a low‐cost profile. The proposed latch is based on a low‐cost single event double‐node upset tolerant latch and also provides self‐recoverability against double‐node‐upsets. The latch uses clock‐controlled DICE (Dual‐interlocked storage cell) cell and CE(C‐Elements) cell to tolerate double‐node‐upsets fully. The Simulation waveforms and analysis results show that the proposed latch can maintain the correct output in any case of DNU. In addition, under the premise of high radiation tolerance, the minimum improvement of the area‐power‐delay product (APDP) of the proposed low‐power double‐node‐upsets hardened latch (LPDHL) is 16.60%, compared with the latest DNU tolerant latch on the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiosensitivity to low and medium doses of X-ray radiation and the ability to induce a radiation adaptive response (RAR) of lymphocytes during in vitro irradiation of peripheral blood of patients with cancer were studied. The criterion for cytogenetic damage was the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in cytochalasin-blocked binucleate lymphocytes in culture. It was found that the spontaneous level of cytogenetic damage in the lymphocytes of patients was 2.6 times higher than in healthy volunteers, and there was also significant interindividual variability in values compared to the control cohort. There were no differences in mean values for radiosensitivity to low and medium doses of X-ray between the study groups. There was no correlation between the spontaneous level of MN in lymphocytes and the radiosensitivity of individuals in both groups. RAR was induced with the same frequency and to the same extent in lymphocytes from both patients and healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a low survival rate and limited treatment options. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is considered beneficial to improve tumor control, but the low drug bioavailability at tumor site and the low radiation tolerance of surrounding healthy organs greatly limits its effectiveness. Lipiodol, a natural drug carrier used in clinical transarterial chemoembolization, has shown potential as a radiosensitizer due to its high Z element iodine composition. Thus, this study aims to repurpose lipiodol as a sensitizer to simultaneously enhance chemo- and radiotherapy for PDAC. To this end, a stable lipiodol emulsion (IOE) loaded with gemcitabine is designed using clinically approved surfactants. At in vivo level, IOE demonstrates better radiotherapeutic effect than existing nanoradiosensitizers and enhanced drug bioavailability over free drug, leading to significant tumor inhibition and improved survival rates under concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. This may due to the sustained drug release, homogenous spatial distribution, and long-term retention ability of IOE in solid PDAC tumor. Furthermore, to better understand the functioning mechanism of drug-loaded IOE, in vitro study is conducted to reveal the ROS- and DNA damage-related therapeutic pathways. Lastly, a comprehensive toxicity assessment also proves the good biocompatibility and safety of as-prepared IOE. This study offers a clinically feasible sensitizer for simultaneous chemoradiotherapy and holds potential for other types of cancer treatment in clinics. [Display omitted] • Lipiodol emulsion (IOE) functions as a simultaneous radiochemosensitizer for PDAC. • IOE increases drug bioavailability, retentivity and diffusion in solid tumor. • Oxidative stress and DNA damage-based therapeutic mechanism is verified. • IOE possesses good biosafety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy alloys(HEAs)have attracted considerable attention from the research community as a pioneering alloy design paradigm over the past two decades. They have fundamentally challenged traditional design paradigms and exhibited exceptional mechanical properties and functional characteristics, thereby positioning themselves as promising candidates for significant engineering applications in the future. Recent advancements have unveiled several alloy systems that demonstrate exceptional performance across diverse metrics, including low-temperature fracture toughness, high-temperature strength, impact resistance, radiation tolerance, and fatigue resistance. These qualities render HEAs highly attractive materials for research with substantial application potential in critical domains such as deep space exploration, deep-sea investigations, low-temperature superconductivity, and advanced nuclear energy technologies. This paper will briefly introduce the concept and classification of HEAs, and review the experimental progress of HEAs under various extreme conditions such as extremely low temperatures, high-speed impacts, and high nuclear radiation. We also summarize the strategies for enhancing the strength and toughness of HEAs, and extract the deformation mechanisms and physical and chemical properties of HEAs under different extreme loads. It is foreseeable that the main development direction of HEAs will be to form microscopic fluctuations in chemical composition and construct multi-scalestructural ordering efficiently through fine adjustment of the selection and proportion of alloying elements and optimization of heat treatment processes. For comprehensive studies on HEAs subjected to extreme loads, it is essential to explore their microscopic deformation mechanisms further while proposing innovative strategies designed to address inherent trade-offs between strength and toughness. The integration of state-of-the-art simulation techniques combined with advanced characterization methods will be crucial for improving research efficiency while providing insights into microstructural behavior. Additionally, tailored optimization approaches should be implemented for distinct advantageous systems and phase structures, particularly those capable of activating dislocation movements, twinning, phase transformations and incorporating novel processing methodologies such as additive manufacturing. Finally, conducting more realistic simulation experiments that closely replicate extreme environments along with generating relevant engineering data are vital steps toward accelerating the practical application of HEAs in challenging settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella) causes large losses to global crop production. Conventional insecticides are losing effectiveness due to resistance. Consequently, there is a growing interest in sustainable control methods like entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in Integrated Pest Management. However, the field efficacy of fungi varies due to environmental influences. In this study, a group of 50 Beauveria strains sourced from different locations were characterized by genotype and phenotype with respect to their conidial production, temperature and UV‐B radiation tolerance, and virulence against DBM. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct species: Beauveria bassiana (84%) and B. pseudobassiana (16%). Most strains showed optimal growth between 25 °C and 28 °C, with germination severely affected at 10 °C and 33 °C. Notably, 44% displayed high resistance to UV‐B radiation (5.94 kJ m−2), with germination rates between 60.9% and 88.1%. Geographical origin showed no correlation with temperature or UV radiation tolerance. In virulence experiments, 52% of strains caused mortality rates exceeding 80% in DBM second instars at 7 days after exposure to a 4 mL conidial suspension (107 conidia/mL). CONCLUSION: Survival under environmental conditions is crucial for EPF‐based commercial products against DBM. Results suggest strain tolerance to environmental stressors is more tied to specific micro‐climatic factors than geographical origin. Each strain exhibited unique characteristics; for example, the most virulent strain (#29) was highly UV‐sensitive. Therefore, characterizing diverse strains provides essential genotypic and phenotypic insights, which are fundamental for understanding their role as biocontrol agents while facilitating efficient biopesticide product development and uptake. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of the high wear resistance and mechanical strength of W with the high thermal conductivity of Cu makes the Cu/W system an attractive candidate material for heat sinks in plasma experiments and for radiation tolerance applications. However, the resulting mechanical properties of multilayers and coatings strongly depend on the microstructure of the layers. In this work, the mechanical properties of Cu/W nanomultilayers with different densities of internal interfaces are systematically investigated for two opposite in-plane stress states and critically discussed in comparison with the literature. Atomistic simulations with the state-of-the-art neural network potential are used to explain the experimental findings of Young's modulus and hardness. The results suggest that the microstructure, specifically the excess free volume associated with porosity and interface disorder interconnected with the stress state, has a great impact on the mechanical properties, notably Young's modulus of Cu/W nanomultilayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chalcogenide thin films that undergo reversible phase changes show promise for use in next-generation nanophotonics, microelectronics, and other emerging technologies. One of the many studied compounds, Ge2Sb2Te5, has demonstrated several useful properties and performance characteristics. However, the efficacy of benchmark Ge2Sb2Te5 is restricted by amorphous phase thermal stability below ∼150 °C, limiting its potential use in high-temperature applications. In response, previous studies have added a fourth species (e.g., C) to sputter-deposited Ge2Sb2Te5, demonstrating improved thermal stability. Our current research confirms reported thermal stability enhancements and assesses the effects of carbon on crystalline phase radiation response. Through in situ transmission electron microscope irradiation studies, we examine the effect of C addition on the amorphization behavior of initially cubic and trigonal polycrystalline films irradiated using 2.8 MeV Au to various doses up to 1 × 1015 cm−2. It was found that increased C content reduces radiation tolerance of both cubic and trigonal phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Drosophila suzukii is a pest native to Southeast Asia that causes significant economic losses to soft fruit crops. Phytosanitary irradiation is a promising treatment for D. suzukii hosts; yet an internationally recognized irradiation protocol is lacking. To fulfil specific requirements for proposing an irradiation treatment for D. suzukii, naturally infested blueberries and cherries containing a total of 37,489 late pupae were irradiated with a maximum absorbed dose of 80 Gy. Infested hosts containing a total of 9578 late pupae were considered unirradiated controls. Prevention of egg laying by females that emerged from treated pupae was considered the treatment endpoint. The fecundity and egg viability of females that emerged from treated pupae mated with their siblings were evaluated using blueberries. While females from unirradiated pupae laid a total of 43,142 eggs, no egg was laid by females that emerged from irradiated pupae. In addition, 1-day-old adults were irradiated with nominal doses of 20 and 72 Gy to evaluate whether egg laying could be prevented in flies emerging before the irradiation treatment. Females irradiated with 72 Gy laid eggs that did not hatch. Our findings suggest the minimum absorbed dose of 80 Gy as a phytosanitary irradiation treatment against D. suzukii and may support its inclusion as a treatment option in the annex of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 28 (ISPM 28).

In memory semiconductors such as a static random access memory (SRAM), a common problem is soft errors under radiation environment. These soft errors cause bit flips, which are referred to as single event upsets (SEUs). Some radiation-hardened SRAM cells such as a Quatro SRAM, we-Quatro SRAM, and DICE SRAM cells have been reported for years. However, these designs have the disadvantage of taking up more area than a conventional 6T SRAM cell. Thus, we propose a radiation-hardened SRAM cell design that we named capacitor-static random access memory (C-SRAM) without area overhead. The C-SRAM is formed by simply adding a capacitor to the conventional 6T SRAM. It was designed to mitigate the radiation effect using the conservation law of electrical charge. Moreover, it has the same cell size as the conventional 6T SRAM cell. Its static noise margins (SNMs), which are indicators of operational stability, are equal to the conventional 6T SRAM values of 530 mV, 220 mV, and 860 mV in hold, read, and write modes, respectively. The results of the SEU simulation test showed that it had 4.761 times better flipping tolerance than the conventional 6T SRAM with a charge value of 247.494 fC. In addition, irradiation experiments also confirmed that the C-SRAM cell was more tolerant than the 6T SRAM cell. The conventional 6T SRAM and C-SRAM were fabricated using a standard 0.18 μm CMOS process.

Drosophila suzukii is a pest native to Southeast Asia that causes significant economic losses to soft fruit crops. Phytosanitary irradiation is a promising treatment for D. suzukii hosts; yet an internationally recognized irradiation protocol is lacking. To fulfil specific requirements for proposing an irradiation treatment for D. suzukii, naturally infested blueberries and cherries containing a total of 37,489 late pupae were irradiated with a maximum absorbed dose of 80 Gy. Infested hosts containing a total of 9578 late pupae were considered unirradiated controls. Prevention of egg laying by females that emerged from treated pupae was considered the treatment endpoint. The fecundity and egg viability of females that emerged from treated pupae mated with their siblings were evaluated using blueberries. While females from unirradiated pupae laid a total of 43,142 eggs, no egg was laid by females that emerged from irradiated pupae. In addition, 1-day-old adults were irradiated with nominal doses of 20 and 72 Gy to evaluate whether egg laying could be prevented in flies emerging before the irradiation treatment. Females irradiated with 72 Gy laid eggs that did not hatch. Our findings suggest the minimum absorbed dose of 80 Gy as a phytosanitary irradiation treatment against D. suzukii and may support its inclusion as a treatment option in the annex of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 28 (ISPM 28). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total ionizing dose effect of Mg-doped p-GaN gate stack have been investigated in this Letter on the whole gate voltage swing arranging from −1.3 to +1.5V. Additionally, two distinct kinds of mechanisms of trap effects have been extracted, which are response to in turns three phases of mechanism, voltage-controlled, coexist of voltage/current-controlled and current-controlled. It indicates that the fast traps are located at p-GaN/AlGaN interface (ET is about 0.295–0.333 eV), while the slow traps are located at AlGaN/GaN interface (ET is about 0.393–0.485 eV). They both have increasing trap density and broader range under γ-ray radiation. When the applied gate voltage rises to about 1 V, the effects of slow trap states are significantly weakened. However, the fast trap states barely change. Finally, the complete transition into current-controlled mode is observed at 1.5 V. What is more, p-GaN/AlGaN interface traps are further extracted near the gate turn-on voltage under γ-ray irradiation rather than the voltage-controlled mechanism of weak accumulation at the threshold voltage. Under the 600 krad γ-ray irradiation, the holes trap at p-GaN/AlGaN interface is identified with the trap activation energy ET at about 0.28–0.3 eV and trap density of about 4 × 1012 cm−2 eV−1. The increase in trap induces the reduction of gate current. In summary, this work can further our understanding of radiation tolerance and trapping effects of p-GaN gate high-electron mobility transistors for power switches, especially in regard to forward conduction status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of entomopathogenic fungi (EF) is a promising alternative for the control of Rhipicephalus microplus, an important tick affecting cattle globally. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet irradiation (UV) exposure on the percentage of conidia germination and number of colony-forming units of eight strains of Metarhizium anisopliae (MaV55, MaV35, MaV31, MaV25, MaV13, Ma08, MaV05, and MaV02). The UV (UV-A and UV-A+B) irradiation was carried out with an ultraviolet radiation emission lamp. The conidia of each strain were exposed to the UV irradiation treatments for 3 h. MaV25, MaV08, MaV05, MaV13, and MaV31 showed higher tolerance to UV-A radiation exposure, as assessed by conidia germination. UV-A+B radiation decreased the germination percentage of all the M. anisopliae strains. The eight evaluated strains showed good tolerance to UV-A radiation, as assessed by the development of colony-forming units (CFU). UV-A+B radiation did not significantly affect (p > 0.05) the count of the CFU of six of the M. anisopliae strains evaluated (MaV35, MaV13, MaV08, MaV05, MaV31, and MaV02). The novel findings of the UV-tolerant M. anisopliae strains may potentially improve the effectiveness of EF under environmental conditions. Integral research under real tropical conditions is advised to evaluate the effectiveness of the EF strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, revolutionary improvements in the properties of certain FCC metals have been achieved by increasing the proportion of twin-related, highly symmetric grain boundaries. Various thermomechanical routes of grain boundary engineering (GBE) processing have been employed to enhance the fraction of low ΣCSL grain boundaries, thereby improving the radiation tolerance of many polycrystalline materials. This improvement is due to symmetric twin boundaries acting as effective sinks for defects caused by radiation, thus enhancing the material's performance. In this study, the LPBF AlSi10Mg alloy was post-processed via the KOBO extrusion method. Subsequently, the samples were subjected to irradiation with Ar+ ions at an ion fluence of 5 × 1017 cm−2. The microstructures of the samples were thoroughly investigated using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM). The results showed that KOBO processing led to the formation of an ultrafine-grained microstructure with a mean grain size of 0.8 µm. Moreover, it was revealed that the microstructure of the KOBO-processed sample exhibited an increased fraction of low-ΣCSL boundaries. Specifically, the fraction of Σ11 boundaries increased from approximately 2% to 8%. Post-irradiation microstructural analysis revealed improved radiation tolerance in the KOBO-processed sample, indicating a beneficial influence of the increased grain boundary fraction and low-ΣCSL boundary fraction on the irradiation resistance of the AlSi10Mg alloy. This research provides valuable insights for the development of customized microstructures with enhanced radiation tolerance, which has significant implications for the advancement of materials in nuclear and aerospace applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal cancer (ESCA) is one of the most fatal gastrointestinal cancers worldwide. ESCA is often diagnosed in its middle or late stages since the first symptoms are not identifiable. The use of radiotherapy, either alone or in conjunction with surgical intervention and chemotherapy, is essential to achieve a positive prognosis. Radiotherapy is an essential component of treatment for ESCA. Autophagy, a prevalent biological phenomenon, has a twofold impact on the incidence, progression, and treatment response of malignant tumors. This review explores the intricate mechanisms by which autophagy modulates radiation sensitivity in ESCA, including its effects on DNA repair, oxidative stress responses, and apoptosis. We provide a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in the modulation of autophagy, focusing on the use of autophagy inhibitors and inducers to enhance radiotherapy efficacy. We discuss how autophagy inhibitors such as chloroquine and 3-methyladenine can overcome radiation resistance by blocking autophagic processes, while autophagy inducers like rapamycin can sensitize cancer cells to radiotherapy-induced cell death. Additionally, we examine the potential therapeutic benefits of combining autophagy regulation with existing treatment modalities, offering new strategies to improve patient outcomes. This review highlights the critical role of autophagy in ESCA and underscores the promise of autophagy-targeted therapies in enhancing the effectiveness of radiotherapy, thereby providing a novel avenue for overcoming treatment resistance and improving prognosis in ESCA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong gene flow from outcrossing relatives tends to blur species boundaries, while divergent ecological selection can counteract gene flow. To better understand how these two forces affect the maintenance of species boundaries, we focused on a species complex including a rare species, maple-leaf oak (Quercus acerifolia), which is found in only four disjunct ridges in Arkansas. Its limited range and geographic proximity to co-occurring close relatives create the possibility for genetic swamping. In this study, we gathered genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) from 190 samples of Q. acerifolia and three of its close relatives, Q. shumardii , Q. buckleyi , and Q. rubra. We found that Q. shumardii and Q. acerifolia are reciprocally monophyletic with low support, suggesting incomplete lineage sorting, introgression between Q. shumardii and Q. acerifolia , or both. Analyses that model allele distributions demonstrate that admixture contributes strongly to this pattern. Populations of Q. acerifolia experience gene flow from Q. shumardii and Q. rubra , but we found evidence that divergent selection is likely maintaining species boundaries: 1) ex situ collections of Q. acerifolia have a higher proportion of hybrids compared to the mature trees of the wild populations, suggesting ecological selection against hybrids at the seed/seedling stage; 2) ecological traits co-vary with genomic composition; and 3) Q. acerifolia shows genetic differentiation at loci hypothesized to influence tolerance of radiation, drought, and high temperature. Our findings strongly suggest that in maple-leaf oak, selection results in higher divergence at regions of the genome despite gene flow from close relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Monte Carlo simulation was used to assess the performance of a collimated hollow X-ray microbeam for subcellular cytoplasm irradiation. A high-Z coaxial collimation structure with an inner core for nucleus shielding was investigated. Two key performances, the extraction efficiency (cytoplasm dose per unit incident fluence) and the dose contrast (cytoplasm-to-nucleus dose ratio), were evaluated regarding the influences of the material, geometry and physical arrangements of the collimator, target dish and incident beam source. Simulation results demonstrate that a gold coaxial structure with a practical collimation geometry of a 1-mm length, 10-μm inner diameter and 200-μm outer diameter, with the top exit closely attached (with a minimized air gap) to the bottom of a cell dish with a 3-μm thick Mylar film is recommended for cytoplasm irradiation of adherent mammalian cells. For a synchrotron source in the energy range < 10 keV, a dose contrast of approximately 100 can be achieved. For a bremsstrahlung source <30-kV tube voltage, a dose contrast of approximately 50–100 can still be achieved. General principles are summarized with further explanations of the performance of the hollow X-ray microbeam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While ferroptosis shows promise in anti-cancer strategy, the molecular mechanisms behind this process remain poorly understood. Our research aims to highlight the regulation of radiotherapy-induced ferroptosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via the NRF2/PHKG2 axis-mediated mechanism. To identify ferroptosis-associated genes associated with radioresistance in NSCLC, this study employed high-throughput transcriptome sequencing and Lasso risk regression analysis. Clinical samples were analyzed to confirm PHKG2 expression changes before and after radiotherapy. The study further examined ferritinophagy-related factors, intracellular iron levels, mitochondrial function, and ferroptosis in NSCLC cells undergoing radiation exposure to explore the effect of PHKG2 on radiosensitivity or radioresistance. The research also demonstrated the transcriptional inhibition of PHKG2 by NRF2 and created in situ transplantation tumor models of NSCLC to examine the role of NRF2/PHKG2 axis in NSCLC radiosensitivity and resistance in vivo. The Lasso risk regression model that incorporated ferroptosis-associated genes effectively predicted the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. Radiotherapy-sensitive tissues exhibited an increased expression of PHKG2. Overexpression of PHKG2 led to elevated intracellular iron levels by promoting ferritinophagy and increased mitochondrial stress-dependent ferroptosis induced by radiotherapy. PHKG2 transcription repression was achieved through NRF2. The FAGs-Lasso risk regression model can accurately predict the prognosis of NSCLC patients. Targeting Nrf2 upregulates the expression of PHKG2 and reverses radiotherapy resistance in NSCLC by promoting iron autophagy and inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby increasing radiotherapy sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the fascinating field of high-performance nanoscale metallic multilayer composites, focusing on their magnetic, optical, and radiation tolerance properties, as well as their thermal and electrical properties. In general, nanoscale metallic multilayer composites have a wide range of outstanding properties, which differ greatly from those observed in monolithic films. Their exceptional properties are primarily due to the large number of interfaces and nanoscale layer thicknesses. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and experimental data, this paper highlights the remarkable performance enhancements achieved by the precise control of layer thicknesses and interfaces in these composites. Furthermore, it will discuss the underlying mechanisms responsible for their exceptional properties and provide insights into future research directions in this rapidly evolving field. Many studies have investigated these materials, focusing on their magnetic, mechanical, optical, or radiation-tolerance properties. This paper summarizes the findings in each area, including a description of the general attributes, the adopted synthesis methods, and the most common characterization techniques used. The paper also covers related experimental data, as well as existing and promising applications. The paper also covers other phenomena of interest, such as thermal stability studies, self-propagating reactions, and the progression from nanomultilayers to amorphous and/or crystalline alloys. Finally, the paper discusses challenges and future perspectives relating to nanomaterials. Overall, this paper is a valuable resource for researchers and engineers interested in harnessing the full potential of nanoscale metallic multilayer composites for advanced technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring efficient and low‐toxicity radiosensitizers to break through the bottleneck of radiation tolerance, immunosuppression and poor prognosis remains one of the critical developmental challenges in radiotherapy. Nanoheterojunctions, due to their unique physicochemical properties, have demonstrated excellent radiosensitization effects in radiation energy deposition and in lifting tumor radiotherapy inhibition. Herein, they doped selenium (Se) into prussian blue (PB) to construct a nano‐heterojunction (Se@PB), which could promote the increase of Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio and conversion of Se to a high valence state with Se introduction. The Fe2+‐Se‐Fe3+ electron transfer chain accelerates the rate of electron transfer on the surface of the nanoparticles, which in turn endows it with efficient X‐ray energy transfer and electron transport capability, and enhances radiotherapy physical sensitivity. Furthermore, Se@PB induces glutathione (GSH) depletion and Fe2+ accumulation through pro‐Fenton reaction, thereby disturbs the redox balance in tumor cells and enhances biochemical sensitivity of radiotherapy. As an excellent radiosensitizer, Se@PB effectively enhances X‐ray induced mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage, thereby promotes cell apoptosis and synergistic cervical cancer radiotherapy. This study elucidates the radiosensitization mechanism of Se‐doped nanoheterojunction from the perspective of the electron transfer chain and biochemistry reaction, which provides an efficient and low‐toxic strategy in radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is planning a Space photovoltaics Demonstration eXperiment (SDX) to reveal the tolerance to the space environment of the next-generation solar cells. One of the next-generation solar cells mounted on SDX is a perovskite solar cell (PSC), which is cost-effective and has the potential for high specific power and radiation tolerance. It is necessary to clarify the long-term stability to analyze the characteristics of PSCs in orbit because SDX will be stored for months before and after launch. Therefore, we conducted three storage tests (in air, nitrogen, and low pressure) using encapsulated PSCs. Their performance was evaluated by Light I–V, Dark I–V, and EQE measurements. As a result, almost no degradation was observed at EOL (after 400 days) under all storage conditions. We found that the encapsulated PSCs mounted on SDX are highly stable. We also found that the slight degradation of P max within 4 % was due to an increase in series resistance. • The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is developing perovskite solar cells for use in space. • Perovskite solar cells have an issue with long-term stability; it is still unknown how stable they are in orbit in the subject mission. • We researched the long-term stability (in air, nitrogen, and low pressure) and degradation trend of perovskite solar cells in space. • We found they have high stability after 400 days of storage even though in air, and can be applied to our mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first mirror is the front-end optic component that reflects light emitted from the plasma to the diagnostic system in fusion plasmas. Silicon carbide (SiC), known for its relatively high mechanical strength and radiation tolerance, has been selected as the substrate material for the first mirror in the ITER divertor vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrometer. To measure the reflectivity of the ellipse cylindrical SiC mirror to be manufactured, a device for reflectivity measurement in the VUV wavelength range was developed. First, the reflectivity of a sample SiC mirror (15 mm diameter × 10 mm thick) was measured across the ITER-required incidence angles, and the results are reported in this study. A hollow cathode lamp with helium gas was used as the VUV light source in the wavelength range of 23–60 nm, and a dedicated VUV spectrometer to select specific wavelengths was developed. The spectrometer utilized laminar-type replica diffraction gratings (Shimadzu 30-006) and two back-illuminated charge-coupled devices (BI-CCD, Andor DO 940P-BEN) for the grating and detector, respectively. A cropping technique with aperture was employed to precisely localize the VUV light's reflection onto the SiC mirror surface. The experimentally measured reflectivity values of SiC at the required incidence angles of VUV light were compared with theoretically calculated reflectivity curves. The oxidation layer (SiO2) formed on the SiC surface and the incidence angle of VUV light to the BI-CCD chip (E2V) would be the factors affecting the accuracy of the reflectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-satellites, which are following the CubeSat standard have established for demanding industrial and scientific applications with critical requirements on reliability and radiation tolerance. The employment of commercial off-the-shelf components enables a state-of-the-art performance but requires extensive testing to avoid and mitigate malefunctions due to the space environment. The CubeSat mission CLIMB is representative for future missions with a complex payload, a high power budget and a harsh radiation exposure. For this reason, a comprehensive irradiation study of its on-board-computer was done. The total ionizing dose damage of 50 krad was evaluated at a 60 Co source. As a consequence of this test, specific components were exchanged before performing single event effect studies at the synchrotron accelerator MedAustron. A board-level test revealed that the majority of effects concern the central micro controller wherefore was followed by a component-level test. Those irradiation tests make use of a pencil beam to map the device under test, which provides additional information to localize effects - by the timestamp - at the expense of an increased irradiation time compared to a homogeneous exposure. In this paper, we summarize the major findings of the test campaign and mitigation means and present a procedure for single event effect studies at medical accelerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the development of the remote elemental analysis method in a radiation environment based on the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), the radiation effects on the laser oscillation properties of the single crystal (SC) Nd:YAG microchip laser (MCL) were investigated and compared with those of ceramic Nd:YAG MCL. The laser oscillation properties were measured under gamma ray irradiation as a function of dose rate. The effects on the SC MCL properties were very small compared to those on the ceramics, indicating minimal radiation effects on the LIBS signal when using SC MCL. Pulse energy and oscillating build-up time (BUT) were measured for cumulative dose exceeding 1400 kGy. The pulse energy remained stable under irradiation. The BUT also remained stable, demonstrating negligible optical loss accumulation that could affect laser properties even at the demonstrated cumulative dose. The results indicate that the effects of dose rate and cumulative dose on SC MCL laser properties are minimal. The SC MCL was then integrated into the LIBS system, and the gadolinium signal was successfully measured at a dose rate of 5 kGy/hr. These findings highlight the radiation tolerance of SC MCL for remote LIBS applications in harsh radiation environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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PRMT5 is a widely expressed arginine methyltransferase that regulates processes involved in tumor cell proliferation and survival. In the study described here, we investigated whether PRMT5 provides a target for tumor radiosensitization. Knockdown of PRMT5 using siRNA enhanced the radiosensitivity of a panel of cell lines corresponding to tumor types typically treated with radiotherapy. To extend these studies to an experimental therapeutic setting, the PRMT5 inhibitor LLY-283 was used. Exposure of the tumor cell lines to LLY-283 decreased PRMT5 activity and enhanced their radiosensitivity. This increase in radiosensitivity was accompanied by an inhibition of DNA double-strand break repair as determined by γH2AX foci and neutral comet analyses. For a normal fibroblast cell line, although LLY-283 reduced PRMT5 activity, it had no effect on their radiosensitivity. Transcriptome analysis of U251 cells showed that LLY-283 treatment reduced the expression of genes and altered the mRNA splicing pattern of genes involved in the DNA damage response. Subcutaneous xenografts were then used to evaluate the in vivo response to LLY-283 and radiation. Treatment of mice with LLY-283 decreased tumor PRMT5 activity and significantly enhanced the radiation-induced growth delay. These results suggest that PRMT5 is a tumor selective target for radiosensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy (RT) treatment is an important strategy for the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Local recurrence amongst patients with late-stage NSCLC remains a challenge. The loss of PTEN has been associated with radio-resistance. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of RT combined with ataxia telangiectasia-mutated Rad3-related (ATR) inhibition using Ceralasertib in phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-depleted NSCLC cells and to assess early inflammatory responses indicative of radiation pneumonitis (RP) after combined-modality treatment. Small hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfections were used to generate H460 and A549 PTEN-depleted models. Ceralasertib was evaluated as a single agent and in combination with RT in vitro and in vivo. Histological staining was used to assess immune cell infiltration in pneumonitis-prone C3H/NeJ mice. Here, we report that the inhibition of ATR in combination with RT caused a significant reduction in PTEN-depleted NSCLC cells, with delayed DNA repair and reduced cell viability, as shown by an increase in cells in Sub G1. Combination treatment in vivo significantly inhibited H460 PTEN-depleted tumour growth in comparison to H460 non-targeting PTEN-expressing (NT) cell-line-derived xenografts (CDXs). Additionally, there was no significant increase in infiltrating macrophages or neutrophils except at 4 weeks, whereby combination treatment significantly increased macrophage levels relative to RT alone. Overall, our study demonstrates that ceralasertib and RT combined preferentially sensitises PTEN-depleted NSCLC models in vitro and in vivo, with no impact on early inflammatory response indicative of RP. These findings provide a rationale for evaluating ATR inhibition in combination with RT in NSCLC patients with PTEN mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the heavy-ion irradiation responses of MgO-Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 (M-NZO) composite ceramics used for inert matrix fuel were experimentally investigated. And the micro and macro radiation damage of M-NZO samples was systemically unveiled after 5 MeV Xe20+ irradiation and quantified by two exposure units, displacements per atom (dpa) and phonons per atom (ppa). The newly ppa represent the number of phonon modes available in the radiated material, which are high relative to thermal properties and the resulting morphological fragmentation after irradiation. In detail, MgO phase mostly retains its pristine structure without extensive amorphization irradiated at high dpa values, meanwhile, Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 phase also presents satisfactory radiation resistance through the distinctive order-disorder structural transformations that alleviate radiation-induced strain. Besides, MgO grains with lower ppa value dissipate ions energy more efficiently than Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 , and exhibit higher radiation tolerance at macroscopic morphological scale. Overall, M-NZO composite ceramics have good radiation tolerance under heavy-ion bombardment, in which the lower ppa value and higher thermal conductivity of MgO make itself possess superior resistance to irradiation-induced damage than Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the radiation tolerance and electrical behavior of gallium nitride (GaN) based devices are important for the next generation of high-power and high-voltage electronics that may be subjected to harsh environments such as nuclear reactor and fusion facilities, particle accelerators, and post-denotation environments. In this work, we study the behavior of Ga-polar and N-polar GaN Schottky diodes before and after exposure to fast and thermal + fast neutrons. Temperature-dependent current–voltage (I–V) and circular transmission line method (CTLM) measurements were used to study the electrical characteristics. A strong reduction in reverse leakage current and an increase in differential resistance in forward bias were observed after neutron irradiation. Thermionic emission (TE), Frenkel–Poole (FP) emission, and Fowler–Nordheim (FN) tunneling models were used to explain the forward and reverse I–V characteristics pre- and post-irradiation. The study confirms that Ga-polar and N-polar GaN Schottky diodes exhibit different electrical responses to fast and thermal neutron irradiations. The reverse bias characteristics of N-polar diodes are less affected after the fast neutron irradiation compared to Ga-polar diodes, while in the forward bias region, the electrical behavior after fast and thermal neutron irradiations is similar in Ga-polar and N-polar diodes. The results indicate that the role of orientation should be considered in the design of GaN-based radiation-tolerant electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-thin solar cells are of significant interest for use in space due to their intrinsic radiation tolerance, which may allow them to be used in particularly harsh radiation environments, where thicker cells would degrade rapidly and enable reduction in cover glass thickness to reduce launch mass. In this study, devices with an 80 nm GaAs absorber layer were irradiated with 3 MeV protons. It is shown that integrated light management in these ultra-thin devices offers enhanced efficiency, in addition to extended lifetime through radiation resilience. Time-resolved cathodoluminescence is employed to map the introduction of radiation-induced defects with increasing proton fluence and characterize a decrease in carrier lifetime from 198 ± 5 ps pre-radiation to 6.2 ± 0.6 ps, after irradiation to 2 × 10 14 c m − 2 fluence. Despite the substantial reduction in carrier lifetime, short-circuit current does not degrade up to a proton fluence of 1 × 10 15 cm − 2 , beyond which a collapse in short-circuit current is observed. This exposure correlates with the point at which the carrier lifetime, extrapolated from cathodoluminescence, becomes comparable to the transit time for carriers to cross the ultra-thin device. Variation in current–voltage behavior with carrier lifetime and fluence shows that the recombination statistics are similar to those of a Shockley–Read–Hall single deep-level trap model, but that bimolecular recombination does not fully describe the observed behavior. An implication of these highly radiation tolerant cells for space power systems is shown to offer significant savings in cover glass mass, compared with a thicker cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localized residual stress and elastic strain concentrations in microelectronic devices often affect the electronic performance, resistance to thermomechanical damage, and, likely, radiation tolerance. A primary challenge for the characterization of these concentrations is that they exist over sub- μ m length-scales, precluding their characterization by more traditional residual stress measurement techniques. Here, we demonstrate the use of synchrotron x-ray-based differential aperture x-ray microscopy (DAXM) as a viable, non-destructive means to characterize these stress and strain concentrations in a depth-resolved manner. DAXM is used to map two-dimensional strain fields between the source and the drain in a gallium nitride (GaN) layer within high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with sub- μ m spatial resolution. Strain fields at various positions in both pristine and irradiated HEMT specimens are presented in addition to a preliminary stress analysis to estimate the distribution of various stress components within the GaN layer. γ -irradiation is found to significantly reduce the lattice plane spacing in the GaN along the sample normal direction, which is attributed to radiation damage in transistor components bonded to the GaN during irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioblastoma are highly malignant type of primary brain tumors. Treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) generally involves surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the development of tumoral chemo- and radioresistance induces complexities in clinical practice. Multiple signaling pathways are known to be involved in radiation-induced cell survival. However, the role of alpha-thalassemia X-linked mutant retardation syndrome (ATRX), a chromatin remodeling protein, in GBM radioresistance remains unclear. Methods: In the present study, the ATRX mutation rate in patients with glioma was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, while its expression analyzed using bioinformatics. Datasets were also obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus, and ATRX expression levels following irradiation of GBM were determined. The effects of ATRX on radiosensitivity were investigated using a knockdown assays. Results: The present study demonstrated that the ATRX mutation rate in patients with GBM was significantly lower than that in patients with low-grade glioma, and that patients harboring an ATRX mutation exhibited a prolonged survival, compared with to those harboring the wild-type gene. Single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrated that ATRX counts increased 2 days after irradiation, with ATRX expression levels also increasing in U-251MG radioresistant cells. Moreover, the results of in vitro irradiation assays revealed that ATRX expression was increased in U-251MG cells, while ATRX knockdown was associated with increased levels of radiosensitivity. Conclusions: High ATRX expression levels in primary GBM may contribute to high levels of radioresistance. Thus ATRX is a potential target for overcoming the radioresistance in GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gomphrena pulchella, commonly known as the button flower, stands as an exotic ornamental species celebrated for its beauty in landscaping, fencing, and potted displays. Gamma irradiation-induced mutation has emerged as a promising strategy for induced-mutant breeding. Nonetheless, the application of gamma radiation on G. pulchella remain limited. This study aimed to determine the optimal effective dose by radio sensitivity test and evaluate the effects of radiations on G. pulchella cutting. The cuttings of G. pulchella were irradiated using acute gamma at 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 Gy. Each treatment consisted of 35 cuttings. The irradiated cuttings were then planted into a perlite medium and after 60 days, the number of survived cuttings, the number of new leaves and shoots, the length of new shoots and days to flower bud emergence were measured. The survival rate of cuttings decreased as the dose of radiation increased. The highest mean survival rate was 97% obtained from the non-irradiated cuttings (0 Gy) followed by 89% from 10 Gy, 94% from 20 Gy, 69% from 40 Gy, 54% from 60 Gy and 31% from 80 Gy and only 9% survival at 100 Gy. Higher radiation rates also decreased the leaves and shoot numbers, shoot length and fluorescent emergence. Based on the survival rate graph, the lethal dose 50% (LD50) value was 59 Gy. The results revealed that gamma irradiation had various effects on the growth of G. pulchella including vegetative and flower development. The value of LD50 will be used to determine the optimal effective dose for further radiation-induced mutation in G. pulchella research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artemis deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a combined immunodeficiency with increased cellular radiosensitivity. In this review, the clinical and genetic characteristics of 15 patients with DCLRE1C variants are presented. Methods: The demographic, clinical, immunologic, and genetic characteristics of patients with confirmed DCLRE1C variants diagnosed between 2013 and 2023 were collected retrospectively. Three patients were evaluated for radiosensitivity by the Comet assay, compared with age‐ and sex‐matched healthy control. Results: Seven patients who had severe infections in the first 6 months of life were diagnosed with T‐B‐NK+ SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency). Among them, four individuals underwent transplantation, and one of those died due to post‐transplant complications in early life. Eight patients had hypomorphic variants. Half of them were awaiting a suitable donor, while the other half had already undergone transplantation. The majority of patients were born into a consanguineous family (93.3%). Most patients had recurrent sinopulmonary infections (73.3%), and one patient had no other infection than an acute respiratory infection before diagnosis. Two patients (13.3%) had autoimmunity in the form of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Growth retardation was observed in only one patient (6.6%), and no malignancy was detected in the surviving 11 patients during the median (IQR) of 21.5 (12–45) months of follow‐up. Three patients who had novel variants exhibited increased radiosensitivity and compromised DNA repair, providing a potential vulnerability to malignant transformation. Conclusion: Early diagnosis, radiation avoidance, and careful preparation for transplantation contribute to minimizing complications, enhancing life expectancy, and improving the patient's quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous interfacial complexions are particularly resistant to radiation damage and have been primarily studied in alloys with good glass-forming ability, yet recent reports suggest that these features can form even in immiscible alloys such as Cu-Ta under irradiation. In this study, the mechanisms of damage production and annihilation due to primary knock-on atom collisions are investigated for amorphous interphase and grain boundaries in a Cu-Ta alloy using atomistic simulations. Amorphous complexions, in particular amorphous interphase complexions that separate Cu and Ta grains, result in less residual defect damage than their ordered counterparts. Stemming from the nanophase chemical separation in this alloy, the amorphous complexions exhibit a highly heterogeneous distribution of atomic excess volume, as compared to a good glass former like Cu-Zr. Complexion thickness, a tunable structural descriptor, plays a vital role in damage resistance. Thicker interfacial films are more damage-tolerant because they alter the defect production rate due to differences in intrinsic displacement threshold energies during the collision cascade. Overall, the findings of this work highlight the importance of interfacial engineering in enhancing the properties of materials operating in radiation-prone environments and the promise of amorphous complexions as particularly radiation damage-tolerant microstructural features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This narrative review aimed to compile and summarize clinically relevant literature in radiation therapy and to discuss the potential in radioresistant and radiosensitive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods and Materials: Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were retrieved using combined key words such as "radiotherapy" and "head and neck cancer." Search strings additionally queried were "radioresistant," "radiosensitive," "head and neck region," "squamous cell carcinoma," in combination with Boolean operators 'AND' and 'OR.' Subsequently, the resulting publications were included for review of the full text. Results: Radiotherapeutic responses currently in clinical observation referred to HNSCC scoping were selected into this review. The compiled mechanisms were then detailed concerning on the clinical significance, biological characteristics, and molecular function. Conclusions: Brachytherapy or/and external-beam radiotherapy are crucial for treating HNSCC especially the early stage patients, but in some patients with locally advanced tumors, their outcome with radiation therapy is poor due to obvious radioresistance. The curative effects mainly depend on the response to radiation therapy so an updated review is needed to optimize further applications in HNSCC radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aims to identify the mechanisms involved in regulating the response of Rhodoendron Chrysanthum Pall. (R.chrysanthum) leaves to UV-B exposure; phosphorylated proteomics and metabolomics for phenolic acids and plant hormones were integrated in this study. The results showed that UV-B stress resulted in the accumulation of salicylic acid and the decrease of auxin, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, cytokinin and gibberellin in R.chrysanthum. The phosphorylated proteins that changed in plant hormone signal transduction pathway and phenolic acid biosynthesis pathway were screened by comprehensive metabonomics and phosphorylated proteomics. In order to construct the regulatory network of R.chrysanthum leaves under UV-B stress, the relationship between plant hormones and phenolic acid compounds was analyzed. It provides a rationale for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of radiation tolerance in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]