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Paper sheets represent one of the infection risk sources inside educational and administrative institutions under biological pandemics. So, the present study aimed to validate the efficiency of gamma radiation or dry heat techniques to sterilize contaminated paper sheets with different indicator pathogens while retaining their structure. The results showed that gamma radiation at 6, 12, or 24 kGy can successfully kill Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi, and fungi such as Candida albicans. Moreover, dry heating at 100 °C for 60 min, 150 °C for 30 min, or 200 °C for 15 min can be successful in paper decontamination of all tested species. Surprisingly, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs proved that gamma radiation at 6 kGy, dry heat at 100 °C for 60 min or 150 °C for 30 min or 200 °C for 15 min, is suitable for paper sheet sterilization while maintaining their structure. Ultimately, dry heat is a simple, effective, fast, safe, and inexpensive technique for paper sterilization. It may be used as a precautionary step inside educational institutions, especially during written examination periods, to ensure a safe life for academic members during biological pandemics such as COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel green fabrication approach is being proposed based on radiation assisted modification of Whatman filter paper 1 (WFP) for development of Acid Free-Paper based Analytical Devices (A f -PADs). A f -PADs exude immense potential as handy tools for on-site detection of toxic pollutants such as, Cr(VI), boron, etc., which have established detection protocols involving acid mediated colorimetric reactions that necessitate external acid addition. The proposed A f -PAD fabrication protocol asserts its novelty through elimination of external acid addition step, making the detection process safer and simpler. To achieve this, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was grafted onto WFP via a single step, room temperature process of gamma radiation induced simultaneous irradiation grafting, introducing acidic -COOH groups in the paper thereon. Grafting parameters namely, absorbed dose and concentrations of monomer, homopolymer inhibitor and acid were optimized. The -COOH groups incorporated in PAA-grafted-WFP (PAA- g -WFP) provide localized acidic conditions for colorimetric reactions between pollutants and their sensing agents, anchored on the PAA- g -WFP. A f -PADs loaded with 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (DPC) have been ably demonstrated for visual detection and quantitative estimation of Cr(VI) in water samples using RGB image analysis, with LOD value of 1.2 mg.L−1 and a measurement range comparable to that of commercially available PADs based Cr(VI) visual detection kits. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma radiations are known to bring about radiolysis of myriad compounds / dyes which is used to measure of the energy of the incident radiation on the system. The use of various dye solutions for chemical dosimetry is reported in literature. Various thin film dosimeters, semi-conductor dosimeters are also reported and widely used. Similarly ? - dose quantification using paper or polymer impregnated with dyes has also been reported. In the present study, decolouration due to gamma radiation of various dye impregnated papers viz. Gentian Violet (GV), Malachite Blue (MB), Malachite Green (MG), Brilliant Yellow (BY) and Congo Red (CR) has been investigated using device independent colour parameters. The colour analysis was done by standard procedures of Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage CIE. Color has mind dependency so to eliminate the errors in determination colour parameters are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of ionizing radiations for the preservation of cultural heritage (CH) has been recently demonstrated. Although these processes present many advantages with respect to the traditional methods, physico-chemical modifications induced by radiation (namely side effects) represent a concern for CH restorers, archivists and librarians. The present work is focused on the study of the effect of gamma irradiation parameters on the main features of paper. In particular, total absorbed doses up to 10 kGy (commonly suggested for preservation treatments) have been applied, with dose rates ranging from 3 to 10 kGy/h. Different experimental techniques (FTIR, EPR, viscosity and colorimetric analysis) have been used to study the side effects occurrence. The results indicate that the fine-tuning of irradiation condition allow to minimize the unwanted changes, induced by radiation in the treated paper samples. • Gamma radiation at absorbed doses common for preservation of cultural heritage (up to 10 kGy). • Side effects evaluation with several experimental techniques (FTIR, EPR, DP, colorimetric analysis). • Studies were performed at different dose rate values. • Irradiation parameters optimization to minimize the side effects. • Gamma rays represent a suitable and reliable tool for bio-deteriogens elimination purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we use paramagnetic defects induced by gamma radiation in some modern paper samples to determine their main dosimetric properties in the decontamination dose range (0.5–10 kGy) of ancient papers. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of photo paper, cigarette paper, white paper napkin (napkin), cash register receipt, straw paper and white photocopy paper recorded before and after irradiation with gamma rays were reported. Photo paper, cigarette paper and napkin samples displayed the radiation-induced cellulose-like ESR signals well known from the literature on cellulose-containing foods. Cash register receipt, straw paper, and white photocopy paper are another set of samples where different ESR spectra were recorded. The ESR signals of these three paper samples were shown to originate from carbonate mineral filler grains. Inorganic mineral fillers are commonly used in paper manufacturing. The dose-response curves associated with the radiation-induced sharp ESR signals originating from the CaCO 3 filler of the cash register receipt (g = 2.0027), the straw paper (g = 1.9995), and the white photocopy paper (g = 1.9996) were found to follow a single exponential saturation function. Despite the observed decreases with time in the signal intensities of cash register receipt and white photocopy paper, detectable ESR signals were obtained even 100 days after irradiation for them and straw paper. The radiation-induced free radicals responsible for the ESR spectrum of straw paper were more stable than those of cash register receipt and white photocopy paper. The results indicate that free radicals induced in mineral CaCO 3 filler grains incorporated within papers have the potential to be used for application to retrospective ESR dosimetry in the range of 0.5–10 kGy. • Radiation-induced ESR signals were examined in six types of modern papers. • Cellulose-like and calcite filler origin signals were observed in the papers. • ESR signals originating from calcite filler increased exponentially in the range 0.5–10 kGy. • The fading behaviors of the signals were investigated depending on the dose. • Common modern papers were tested as potential retrospective ESR dosimeters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial introducing a special issue on recent advances in gamma-ray astrophysics and future perspectives. It focuses on cosmic sources of extra-galactic origin, particularly active galactic nuclei (AGN). The editorial provides an overview of AGNs and their characteristics, and mentions specific papers in the special issue that review non-thermal mechanisms in high-energy peaked BL Lacs, compare methods to estimate jet power in AGNs, discuss the achievements of the MAGIC Telescopes in studying AGNs, and provide an in-depth review of various types of gamma-ray transients. It also mentions upcoming gamma-ray telescopes and space missions dedicated to studying gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The papers highlight the ongoing advancements in gamma-ray astrophysics and astro-particle physics. [Extracted from the article]

Overpressure is always considered as a severe problem in the oil industry. Besides creating life risks through serious accidents while drilling, failure to correctly identify high-pressure intervals causes a significant increase in costs and prolongs the drilling process. Kazhdumi Formation in the Abadan Plain is considered as a high-pressure formation in several wells. Various reasons can cause overpressure problem. Hydrocarbon generation is one cause of abnormal pressure in source rocks. Understanding hydrocarbon generation potential can be a helpful approach since the Kazhdumi Formation is considered as a probable source rock in this area. In this paper, in order to better understand the problem of abnormal pressure in Kazhdumi Formation, geochemical concepts and tools have been applied. To that way, 1D petroleum system modeling of five wells was done, and the thermal maturity level of Kazhdumi Formation was determined and then, compared with drilling records. The results indicate that in wells where this formation has sufficient organic matter and has reached an early mature level, there is an abnormal pressure problem. Otherwise, this formation does not show abnormal pressure. Also, geochemical data are not available in all drilled wells, which makes impossible the assessing of hydrocarbon generation role. Therefore, petrophysical well logs (sonic (DT), neutron (NPHI), density (RHOB), spectral gamma ray (SGR), and resistivity (RES)) as well as 137 sets of geochemical data belonging to 13 wells from 7 oilfields in the Abadan Plain were used to predict geochemical indicators. Using artificial neural networks, geochemical data of a well in Abadan Plain were predicted. This selected well has a high-pressure problem in Kazhdumi Formation, but no geochemical data are available in this well. The results of predicted geochemical data show that the high-pressure phenomenon in this well may also be due to hydrocarbon generation. The precise understanding of the abnormal pressure, resulting from hydrocarbons generation, requires comprehensive studies and a full investigation of the studied area. However, the results of this paper help to predict approximately the behavior of the source rocks before drilling. Acquiring this overview will aid in reducing drilling hazards and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fukui et al. quantified the hadronic and leptonic gamma-rays in the young TeV gamma-ray shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) RX J1713.7-3946 (RX J1713), and demonstrated that gamma rays are a combination of hadronic and leptonic gamma-ray components with a ratio of ∼6: 4 in gamma-ray counts N g. This discovery, which adopted a new methodology of multi-linear gamma-ray decomposition, was the first quantification of the two gamma-ray components. In the present work, we applied the same methodology to another TeV gamma-ray shell-type SNR RX J0852.0-4622 (RXJ0852) in 3D space characterized by (the interstellar proton column density N p)-(the nonthermal X-ray count N x)-[ N g], and quantified the hadronic and leptonic gamma-ray components as having a ratio of ∼5:5 in N g. The present work adopted the fitting of two/three flat planes in 3D space instead of a single flat plane, which allowed suppression of the fitting errors. This quantification indicates that hadronic and leptonic gamma-rays are of the same order of magnitude in these two core-collapse SNRs, verifying the significant hadronic gamma-ray components. We argue that the target interstellar protons, in particular their spatial distribution, are essential in any attempts to identify the type of particles responsible for gamma-ray emission. The present results confirm that cosmic-ray (CR) energy ≲100 TeV is compatible with a scheme in which SNRs are the dominant source of these Galactic CRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the forefront of advanced material technology, radiation-induced hydrogels present a promising avenue for innovation across various sectors, utilizing gamma radiation, electron beam radiation, and UV radiation. Through the unique synthesis process involving radiation exposure, these hydrogels exhibit exceptional properties that make them highly versatile and valuable for a multitude of applications. This paper focuses on the intricacies of the synthesis methods employed in creating these radiation-induced hydrogels, shedding light on their structural characteristics and functional benefits. In particular, the paper analyzes the diverse utility of these hydrogels in biomedicine and agriculture, showcasing their potential for applications such as targeted drug delivery, injury recovery, and even environmental engineering solutions. By analyzing current research trends and highlighting potential future directions, this review aims to underscore the transformative impact that radiation-induced hydrogels could have on various industries and the advancement of biomedical and agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suitability of F1 progeny insect larvae of the irradiated male parent, Spodoptera litura (Fabr.) for infective juveniles (IJs) of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), Steinernema thermophilum was assessed to comprehend the feasibility of combining EPNs with nuclear pest control tactic. As compared to the control, the IJs induced faster host mortality with reduced proliferation in F1 host larvae. IJs derived from F1 host larvae exhibited almost similar proliferation capacity on normal hosts as in control. Further, the molecular basis of EPNs induced mortality in F1 host larvae was evaluated. Dual stress of EPN infection and irradiation induced downregulation of the relative mRNA expression of antimicrobial genes and upregulated expression of antioxidative genes. A pronounced effect of EPNs in association with irradiation stress was apparent on host mortality. Radiation induced sterile F1 insect larvae of S. litura acted as a reasonably suitable host for EPNs and also provided the environment for developing viable EPNs for their potential use as biocontrol agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex syndrome with somatic symptoms connected to the operational state of muscles. Although radiotherapy is a cornerstone in cancer treatment, it is implicated in the aggravation of FM. Lately, formulation of medicines in nano-forms become of great prominence due to their prospective applications in medicine. So, this study aimed to assess possible therapeutic benefits of formulating pregabalin in a nono-form (N-PG) for managing FM during exposure to gamma radiation., Methods: Gamma rays administered in fractionated doses (2 Gy/day) to male rats after one hour of s.c. injection of reserpine (1 mL/kg per day) to induce FM, then treated with single daily dose of (30 mg/kg, p.o.) PG or N-PG for ten successive days. Rats were subjected to behavioral tests, then sacrificed to obtain serum and gastrocnemius muscles., Results: N-PG significantly antagonized reserpine-induced FM as proved by; the immobility and performance times in forced swim and rotarod performance tests, respectively were restored near to the normal time, serum IL-8 and MCP-1 chemokines were nearby the normal levels, mitigated oxidative stress through increasing total thiol, Sirt3, CAT enzyme and decreasing COX-1, inhibition of inflammation via IL-1β and MIF significant reduction, it possessed anti-apoptotic effect verified by decreasing PARP-1 and increasing Bcl-X L , gastrocnemius muscles had minimal fibrosis levels as seen after Masson trichrome staining. Histopathological results were coincidence with biochemical inspection., Conclusion: This study identifies N-PG as a novel drug that could be of a value in the management of FM particularly in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The primary emphasis of this study was on the innovative and scientifically valuable hydrothermal synthesis of MIL-101(Co) as a metal-organic framework (MOF) material. Subsequently, the CuFe 2 O 4 was incorporated into the MOF by a reduction-precipitation technique. The SrTiO 3 /CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co) composite was synthesized by using hydrothermal in situ growth process. The XRD and FESEM investigations of the SrTiO 3 /CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co) composite definitively verified its crystalline structure and proved its production with exact shape and dimensions. The data indicated that Candida albicans displayed the greatest vulnerability to all three produced materials, with reported Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of 500 µg mL -1 for MIL-101(Co). The CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co) compound, when produced, exhibits MIC values of 200 µg mL -1 . Additionally, the combination of CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co) with SrTiO 3 , shows MIC values of 50 µg mL -1 . The results also indicated that the MIC values for MIL-101(Co), and CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co) against S. aureus were 100 µg mL -1 . Ultimately, SrTiO 3 /CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co) exhibited identical MIC values of 50 µg mL -1 against S. aureus. The concentration of the bacterial protein was increased by adding MIL-101(Co), CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co), and SrTiO 3 /CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co). The antibacterial capabilities of the SrTiO 3 /CuFe 2 O 4 /MIL-101(Co) were increased after being subjected to gamma doses of 100.0 kGy. This process paves a ways for manufacturing innovation in near future., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

One of the major demands in gamma spectrometry of environmental samples is the accurate determination of activity concentration of present radionuclides (naturally occurring and those of artificial origin), due to the fact they are commonly of relatively low content. Thus, all these measurements have in common that the detection limit, in the spectral region of interest should be as low as possible. For this reason, the construction of a good passive, as well as active shield requires a detailed knowledge of the origin of the background events in the absence of an environmental sample. In addition, an analysis of the impact on detection limits due to the presence of the sample itself is also important. Also, the knowledge of the statistical basics for low-level counting is helpful to enable the best choice of detector characteristics (relative efficiency, peak to Compton ratio, resolution), measuring time, and required level of precaution against the different background contributions. In this paper, the background spectra of several gamma spectroscopy systems (with passive and active veto shields) are analyzed and discussed, regarding their capabilities for measurements of environmental samples. Furthermore, various environmental samples are analyzed by low-level gamma spectrometry, including the sample measurements in the presence of an active veto shield against cosmic-ray muons. The disturbance of radioactive equilibrium between members of radioactive series in the samples is commented on, together with the possibility of use of certain gamma lines (including their interference and the corresponding intensities) for radionuclide activities determination., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive malignant tumor of the central nervous system, is mainly treated with radiotherapy. However, since irradiation may lead to the acquisition of migration ability by cancer cells, thereby promoting tumor metastasis and invasion, it is important to understand the mechanism of cell migration enhancement in order to prevent recurrence of GBM. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a pattern recognition receptor activated by high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). In this study, we found that RAGE plays a role in the enhancement of cell migration by γ-irradiation in human GBM A172 cells. γ-Irradiation induced actin remodeling, a marker of motility acquisition, and enhancement of cell migration in A172 cells. Both phenotypes were suppressed by specific inhibitors of RAGE (FPS-ZM1 and TTP488) or by knockdown of RAGE. The HMGB1 inhibitor ethyl pyruvate similarly suppressed γ-irradiation-induced enhancement of cell migration. In addition, γ-irradiation-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 was suppressed by RAGE inhibitors, and a STAT3 inhibitor suppressed γ-irradiation-induced enhancement of cell migration, indicating that STAT3 is involved in the migration enhancement downstream of RAGE. Our results suggest that HMGB1-RAGE-STAT3 signaling is involved in radiation-induced enhancement of GBM cell migration, and may contribute to GBM recurrence by promoting metastasis and invasion., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This work responds to the growing global demand for food, which requires improvements in agricultural production and sustainable management of natural resources. The focus is on soil erosion as a critical element in preserving agricultural productivity. From this perspective, the levels of radionuclides and chemical elements present in the soil, quantified through Gamma-Rays Spectrometry (GRS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), were used to investigate soil redistribution over time. 27 soil samples ranging from 0 to 30 cm in depth were collected in an agricultural plot located in southern Brazil. Quantitative analysis indicated high mean concentrations of Fe (161 ± 7 gkg -1 ), Al (110 ± 17 gkg -1 ), Ca (2.6 ± 0.5 gkg -1 ), Mn (2.4 ± 0.3 gkg -1 ) and K (543 ± 165 mgkg -1 ) in comparison with the other detected elements. The quantification of 137 Cs provided a mean inventory of 27 ± 17 Bqm -2 . Using the proportional model, an estimated gross erosion rate of 28.2 tonha -1 year -1 and a net soil deposition of 6.6 tonha -1 year -1 were calculated. Therefore, a net soil loss of 21.6 tonha -1 year -1 was experienced within the agricultural plot studied. The data set combination of both techniques with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed correlations between the variables studied and the soil erosion dynamics. The PCA showed a tendency to separate the samples according to their sampling depth. Moreover, 137 Cs behavior in soil proved to be similar to the behavior of elements found in fertilizers, like K. On the other hand, the individual influence of 137 Cs was not enough to cause significant changes in the samples distribution in the scores plot, highlighting EDXRF as a promising technique to complement soil erosion studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The application of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to mosquito control is based on the systematic release of large numbers of adult males that have been previously sterilized by irradiation. Ionizing radiation doses inducing full sterility also cause somatic damages that reduce the capacity of the treated males to compete with wild males. The optimal dose inducing high levels of male sterility and minimal impact on competitiveness can be assessed by establishing a dose-response curve. Sub-sterile males are, to a variable degree, still fertile and might be able to transmit to the progeny and following generation(s) sub-lethal random mutations resulting from irradiation. To investigate this, we treated Ae. albopictus male pupae with a sub-sterilizing (2-4 % of egg hatching) dose of gamma rays and explored expressed mutated genes in treated males and their progeny using RNA-seq. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were called using two independent pipelines. Only SNPs common to both pipelines (less than 5 % of the total SNPs predicted) were considered reliable and were annotated to genes. Over 600 genes with mutations likely induced by irradiation were found in the treated Ae. albopictus males. A part of the genes found mutated in irradiated males were also found in (and therefore probably passed on to) males of the F1 and F2 progeny, indicating that genetic variations induced by irradiation may be transmitted along generations. The mutated genes in irradiated males did not seem to significantly affect biological processes, except in one case (i.e., oxidative phosphorylation). Only in four cases (i.e., oxidative phosphorylation, UDP-glucose metabolic process, proton transmembrane transport and riboflavin metabolism) we found biological processes to be significantly affected by mutated genes that were likely transmitted to the male progeny. Our results suggest that random mutations induced by a sub-sterilizing dose of gamma ray in Ae. albopictus male pupae and transmitted to the male progeny of the irradiated mosquitoes do not affect biological processes potentially harmful, from a public-health point of view., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Buiding data-driven models using machine learning methods has gradually become a common approach for studying reservoir parameters. Among these methods, deep learning methods are highly effective. From the perspective of multi-task learning, this paper uses six types of logging data—acoustic logging (AC), gamma ray (GR), compensated neutron porosity (CNL), density (DEN), deep and shallow lateral resistivity (LLD) and shallow lateral resistivity (LLS) —that are inputs and three reservoir parameters that are outputs to build a porosity saturation permeability network (PSP-Net) that can predict porosity, saturation, and permeability values simultaneously. These logging data are obtained from 108 training wells in a medium-low permeability oilfield block in the western district of China. PSP-Net method adopts a serial structure to realize transfer learning of reservoir-parameter characteristics. Compared with other existing methods at the stage of academic exploration to simulating industrial applications, the proposed method overcomes the disadvantages inherent in single-task learning reservoir-parameter prediction models, including easily overfitting and heavy model-training workload. Additionally, the proposed method demonstrates good anti-overfitting and generalization capabilities, integrating professional knowledge and experience. In 37 test wells, compared with the existing method, the proposed method exhibited an average error reduction of 10.44%, 27.79%, and 28.83% from porosity, saturation, permeability calculation. The prediction and actual permeabilities are within one order of magnitude. The training on PSP-Net are simpler and more convenient than other single-task learning methods discussed in this paper. Furthermore, the findings of this paper can help in the re-examination of old oilfield wells and the completion of logging data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA damage response (DDR), a complex network of cellular pathways that cooperate to sense and repair DNA lesions, is regulated by several mechanisms, including microRNAs. As small, single-stranded RNA molecules, miRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate their target genes by mRNA cleavage or translation inhibition. Knowledge regarding miRNAs influence on DDR-associated genes is still scanty in plants. In this work, an in silico analysis was performed to identify putative miRNAs that could target DDR sensors, signal transducers and effector genes in wheat. Selected putative miRNA-gene pairs were tested in an experimental system where seeds from two wheat mutant lines were irradiated with 50 Gy and 300 Gy gamma(γ)-rays. To evaluate the effect of the treatments on wheat germination, phenotypic and molecular (DNA damage, ROS accumulation, gene/miRNA expression profile) analyses have been carried out. The results showed that in dry seeds ROS accumulated immediately after irradiation and decayed soon after while the negative impact on seedling growth was supported by enhanced accumulation of DNA damage. When a qRT-PCR analysis was performed, the selected miRNAs and DDR-related genes were differentially modulated by the γ-rays treatments in a dose-, time- and genotype-dependent manner. A significant negative correlation was observed between the expression of tae-miR5086 and the RAD50 gene, involved in double-strand break sensing and homologous recombination repair, one of the main processes that repairs DNA breaks induced by γ-rays. The results hereby reported can be relevant for wheat breeding programs and screening of the radiation response and tolerance of novel wheat varieties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the safety and efficacy of 3D-printed polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) scaffolds for patient-specific cranioplasty surgeries, employing liquid deposition modeling (LDM) technology. This research is pioneering as it explores the impact of gamma radiation on PCL/HA scaffolds and utilizes printing ink with the highest content of HA known in the composite. The mechanical, morphological, and macromolecular stability of the gamma-sterilized scaffolds were verified before implantation. Subsequent research involving animal subjects was conducted to explore the effects of sterilized implants. Eventually, three clinical cases were selected for the implantation studies as part of a phase 1 non-randomized open-label clinical trial. It was shown that a 25 kGy gamma-ray dose for sterilizing the printed implants did not alter the required geometrical precision of the printed implants. The implants exhibited well-distributed HA and strength comparable to cancellous bone. Gamma radiation reduced hydrophobicity and water uptake capacity without inducing pyrogenic or inflammatory responses. Personalized PCL/HA substitutes successfully treated various craniomaxillofacial defects, including trauma-induced facial asymmetry and congenital deformities. HA nanoparticles in the ink stimulated significant osteoconductive responses within three months of implantation. Moreover, the results revealed that while larger implants may exhibit a slower bone formation response in comparison to smaller implants, they generally had an acceptable rate and volume of bone formation. This clinical trial suggests the application of a sterilized PCL/HA composite for craniomaxillofacial surgery is safe and could be considered as a substitute for autologous bone., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on the aquatic environment. We used three wild fish species to compare phenotypic responses with a fish model such as Danio rerio. We focused on embryonic development, a sensitive life stage to stressors like ionizing radiation, to evaluate the effects of exposure to 0.5 and 5 mGy h -1 on Arctic char, trout and stickleback embryos from fertilization to free-swimming larvae. Irradiation did not cause mortality but induced an acceleration of hatching in the three species. These new data on wild species, obtained under comparable irradiation conditions, did not go against the threshold values for the protection of freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, irradiation caused inter-specific sublethal effects, such as an increase in non-eyed egg proportion in Arctic char, an increase in the incubation period in trout and an acceleration of larval mortality in stickleback. The consequences of these early effects on the adult stage remain to be studied., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: SIMON reports financial support was provided by Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety. None If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This research forms a part of the comprehensive Indian Environmental Radiation Monitoring Network program, focusing on the continuous measurement of absorbed dose rate in outdoor air due to natural gamma radiation (cosmic and terrestrial) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Over the course of a decade (2013-2023), data were collected from 41 monitoring locations in the city using permanently field-installed Geiger-Mueller detector-based environmental radiation monitors. This paper presents an analysis of the extensive long-term monitoring results. The mean absorbed gamma dose rate in outdoor air across the monitoring locations ranged from 84 ± 9 to 156 ± 4 nGy.h-1, with a calculated mean value of 124 ± 15 nGy.h-1. The estimated mean annual effective dose due to outdoor natural gamma radiation varied from 0.10 ± 0.01 to 0.19 ± 0.01 mSv.y-1, with an overall mean of 0.15 ± 0.02 mSv.y-1., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

This paper reports the results of gamma irradiation experiments and whole genome sequencing (WGS) performed on vegetative cells of two radiation resistant bacterial strains, Metabacillus halosaccharovorans (VITHBRA001) and Bacillus paralicheniformis (VITHBRA024) (D10 values 2.32 kGy and 1.42 kGy, respectively), inhabiting the top-ranking high background radiation area (HBRA) of Chavara-Neendakara placer deposit (Kerala, India). The present investigation has been carried out in the context that information on strategies of bacteria having mid-range resistance for gamma radiation is inadequate. WGS, annotation, COG and KEGG analyses and manual curation of genes helped us address the possible pathways involved in the major domains of radiation resistance, involving recombination repair, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair and mismatch repair, and the antioxidant genes, which the candidate could activate to survive under ionizing radiation. Additionally, with the help of these data, we could compare the candidate strains with that of the extremely radiation resistant model bacterium Deinococccus radiodurans, so as to find the commonalities existing in their strategies of resistance on the one hand, and also the rationale behind the difference in D10, on the other. Genomic analysis of VITHBRA001 and VITHBRA024 has further helped us ascertain the difference in capability of radiation resistance between the two strains. Significantly, the genes such as uvsE (NER), frnE (protein protection), ppk1 and ppx (non-enzymatic metabolite production) and those for carotenoid biosynthesis, are endogenous to VITHBRA001, but absent in VITHBRA024, which could explain the former's better radiation resistance. Further, this is the first-time study performed on any bacterial population inhabiting an HBRA. This study also brings forward the two species whose radiation resistance has not been reported thus far, and add to the knowledge on radiation resistant capabilities of the phylum Firmicutes which are abundantly observed in extreme environment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Pal et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Introduction . The positioning of γ ray interactions in positron emission tomography (PET) detectors is commonly made through the evaluation of the Anger logic flood histograms. machine learning techniques, leveraging features extracted from signal waveform, have demonstrated successful applications in addressing various challenges in PET instrumentation. Aim . This paper evaluates the use of artificial neural networks (NN) for γ ray interaction positioning in pixelated scintillators coupled to a multiplexed array of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM). Methods . An array of 16 Cerium doped Lutetium-based (LYSO) crystal pixels (cross-section 2 × 2 mm 2 ) coupled to 16 SiPM (S13360-1350) were used for the experimental setup. Data from each of the 16 LYSO pixels was recorded, a total of 160000 events. The detectors were irradiated by 511 keV annihilation γ rays from a Sodium-22 ( 22 Na) source. Another LYSO crystal was used for electronic collimation. Features extracted from the signal waveform were used to train the model. Two models were tested: i) single multiple-class neural network (mcNN), with 16 possible outputs followed by a softmax and ii) 16 binary classification neural networks (bNN), each one specialized in identifying events occurred in each position. Results . Both NN models showed a mean positioning accuracy above 85% on the evaluation dataset, although the mcNN is faster to train. Discussion The method's accuracy is affected by the introduction of misclassified events that interacted in the neighbour's crystals and were misclassified during the dataset acquisition. Electronic collimation reduces this effect, however results could be improved using a more complex acquisition setup, such as a light-sharing configuration. Conclusions The methods comparison showed that mcNN and bNN can surpass the Anger logic, showing the feasibility of using these models in positioning procedures of future multiplexed detector systems in a linear configuration., (Creative Commons Attribution license.)

The design of prompt-gamma detectors necessitates numerous Monte Carlo simulations to precisely develop and optimize the detection stages in proton therapy. Alongside the advancement of MC simulations, various variance reduction methods have been explored to speed-up calculations. Among these techniques, track-length estimators are interesting scoring methods for achieving both speed and accuracy in Monte Carlo simulations of rare events. This paper introduces an extension of the GATE vpgTLE module that incorporates the prompt-gamma emission time, which is tagged from the proton tracking, enhancing its utility for studies focused on detector design and optimization that rely on time measurements. The results obtained from a clinical radiotherapy plan are presented. We demonstrate that the new vpgTLE tally with time tagging is accurate, except for certain prompt-gamma lines corresponding to long mean-life nuclei., (© 2024 Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.)

Aqueous solutions of alginate (4 %) with or without hydrogen peroxide (0-2 % H 2 O 2 ) were irradiated under a gamma Co-60 source. The effect of dose rate on the radiation scission yield (Gs) of resulting irradiated alginate was determined. At the dose of 20 kGy, the G(s) value of irradiated alginate decreased with the increase dose rate, suggesting that the irradiation at a suitable dose rate could further improve the radiation chemical yield of degradation. For the alginate irradiated at the same dose rate, G(s) value increased with the increase of H 2 O 2 concentration. Average molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity index (PI) of irradiated alginate rapidly decreased with the increase in dose and further decreased by addition of H 2 O 2 . The oligoalginate with Mw ~ 9800 g/mol was obtained by radiation degradation of 4 % alginate solution containing 2 % H 2 O 2 at dose of 20 kGy. Radiation scission of glycoside bonds and formation of carbonyl groups (C=O) were indicated in UV and FTIR spectra of irradiated alginate. Peanut seedlings were fertilized with alginate and oligoalginate solutions, and the results showed that all growth parameters of the treated plants were better than those of the control. Furthermore, the oligoalginate prepared by gamma irradiation can be applied as a plant growth promoter for agriculture production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A complete simulation chain for the laser-based generation of a microfocus-size gamma ray beam of multi-MeV energy range able to produce radiographic images has been developed. The major interactions needed to obtain such a beam are treated individually. Particle-in-cell is used to study the generation of the electron beam through laser wake-field acceleration (LWFA), and Geant4 is employed for the Bremsstrahlung photon emission and for testing the imaging capabilities of the generated gamma beam. The paper presents detailed discussions about the implementation of each simulation, along with the results obtained. The structure of the article walks through the LWFA of up to 100 MeV electron beam, followed by its attenuation through a tantalum foil generating a 300 μ m spot size photon beam, later used for imaging of a thick lead test-object, assessing a 100 μ m resolution, and confirming the simulated imaging setup suitability for non-destructive testing applications of thick high-density objects. An analysis of the quality control parameters for the generated image along with discussions of possible improvements is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the application of Steiner's most-frequent-value (MFV) statistical method in sensor data analysis. The MFV is introduced as a powerful tool to identify the most-common value in a dataset, even when data points are scattered, unlike traditional mode calculations. Furthermore, the paper underscores the MFV method's versatility in estimating environmental gamma background blue (the natural level of gamma radiation present in the environment, typically originating from natural sources such as rocks, soil, and cosmic rays), making it useful in scenarios where traditional statistical methods are challenging. It presents the MFV approach as a reliable technique for characterizing ambient radiation levels around large-scale experiments, such as the DEAP-3600 dark matter detector. Using the MFV alongside passive sensors such as thermoluminescent detectors and employing a bootstrapping approach, this study showcases its effectiveness in evaluating background radiation and its aptness for estimating confidence intervals. In summary, this paper underscores the importance of the MFV and bootstrapping as valuable statistical tools in various scientific fields that involve the analysis of sensor data. These tools help in estimating the most-common values and make data analysis easier, especially in complex situations, where we need to be reasonably confident about our estimated ranges. Our calculations based on MFV statistics and bootstrapping indicate that the ambient radiation level in Cube Hall at SNOLAB is 35.19 μ Gy for 1342 h of exposure, with an uncertainty range of + 3.41 to − 3.59 μ Gy, corresponding to a 68.27% confidence level. In the vicinity of the DEAP-3600 water shielding, the ambient radiation level is approximately 34.80 μ Gy, with an uncertainty range of + 3.58 to − 3.48 μ Gy, also at a 68.27% confidence level. These findings offer crucial guidance for experimental design at SNOLAB, especially in the context of dark matter research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural food commodities are highly susceptible to contamination by fungi and mycotoxins, which cause great economic losses and threaten public health. New technologies such as gamma ray irradiation, ultraviolet radiation, electron beam irradiation, microwave irradiation, pulsed light, pulsed electric fields, plasma, ozone, etc. can solve the problem of fungal and mycotoxin contamination which cannot be effectively solved by traditional food processing methods. This paper summarizes recent advancements in emerging food decontamination technologies used to control various fungi and their associated toxin contamination in food. It discusses the problems and challenges faced by the various methods currently used to control mycotoxins, looks forward to the new trends in the development of mycotoxin degradation methods in the future food industry, and proposes new research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels made from conductive organic materials have gained significant interest in recent years due to their wide range of uses, such as electrical conductors, freezing resistors, biosensors, actuators, biomedical engineering materials, drug carrier, artificial organs, flexible electronics, battery solar cells, soft robotics, and self-healers. Nevertheless, the insufficient level of effectiveness in electroconductive hydrogels serves as a driving force for researchers to intensify their endeavors in this domain. This article provides a concise overview of the recent advancements in creating self-healing single- or multi-network (double or triple) conductive hydrogels (CHs) using a range of natural and synthetic polymers and monomers. We deliberated on the efficacy, benefits, and drawbacks of several conductive hydrogels. This paper emphasizes the use of natural polymers and innovative 3D printing CHs-based technology to create self-healing conductive gels for flexible electronics. In conclusion, advantages and disadvantages have been noted, and some potential opportunities for self-healing single- or multi-network hydrogels have been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the second quantum revolution, the ability to manipulate quantum systems is already used for various techniques and a growing number of technology demonstrators, mostly with low energy photons. In this frame, our intention is to extend quantum technologies to gamma photons. Our aim is to take advantage of resources brought by entanglement with higher energy particles, particularly electron-positron annihilation quanta. Tools for low frequency quantum experiments are not suitable for penetrant radiation, consequently we need to use effects typical to the keV-MeV energy range instead. High energy photon protocols would include fundamental properties testing, industrial imaging, quantum random number generators, quantum simulators, military applications and improvement of already existing medical procedures. In this paper we review some important steps in the study of annihilation photon correlations, we point out the experimental differences and necessities with respect to the energy increase in quantum photonic experiments and we describe the design of a quantum gamma device we propose for experiments meant to prove feasibility of gamma ray based protocols. The perspective behind our project is to evidence the possibility to communicate via entangled quanta through media which are not transparent for low energy photons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, optical fibers have found extensive use in special environments, including high-energy radiation scenarios like nuclear explosion diagnostics and reactor monitoring. However, radiation exposure, such as X-rays, gamma rays, and neutrons, can compromise fiber safety and reliability. Consequently, researchers worldwide are focusing on radiation-resistant fiber optic technology. This paper examines optical fiber radiation damage mechanisms, encompassing ionization damage, displacement damage, and defect centers. It also surveys the current research on radiation-resistant fiber optic design, including doping and manufacturing process improvements. Ultimately, it summarizes the effectiveness of various approaches and forecasts the future of radiation-resistant optical fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufactured (AM) foams in the context of high-power laser–matter interaction have emerged as a topic of significant interest. Printed foam targets provide a highly controlled environment for laser interaction and permit a high degree of versatility in terms of average density, spatial structure, and materials. These features are of great value to a variety of applications, including inertial confinement fusion and generation of intense x-rays and gamma rays. This paper describes an approach to the design and fabrication of AM foams for laser–plasma interaction experiments, including the selection of cellular structure, optimization of mechanical properties using a finite element approach, and foam printing on dielectric and conducting substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Since it launched on 22 March 2021, the 1U-sized CubeSat GRBAlpha operates and collects scientific data on high-energy transients, making it the smallest astrophysical space observatory to date. GRBAlpha is an in-orbit demonstration of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) detector concept suitably small to fit into a standard 1U volume. As was demonstrated in a companion paper, GRBAlpha adds significant value to the scientific community with accurate characterization of bright GRBs, including the recent outstanding event of GRB 221009A. Methods. The GRB detector is a 75 × 75 × 5 mm CsI(Tl) scintillator wrapped in a reflective foil (ESR) read out by an array of SiPM detectors, multi-pixel photon counters by Hamamatsu, driven by two separate redundant units. To further protect the scintillator block from sunlight and protect the SiPM detectors from particle radiation, we applied a multi-layer structure of Tedlar wrapping, anodized aluminium casing, and a lead-alloy shielding on one edge of the assembly. The setup allows observations of gamma radiation within the energy range of 70–890 keV with an energy resolution of ~30%. Results. Here, we summarize the system design of the GRBAlpha mission, including the electronics and software components of the detector, some aspects of the platform, and the current semi-autonomous operations. In addition, details are given about the raw data products and telemetry in order to encourage the community to expand the receiver network for our initiatives with GRBAlpha and related experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar flare intensity is strongly dependent on the phase in the solar cycle, the structure and dynamics of the magnetic field near sunspots, and also on occasional solar coronal mass ejections. In this paper we study some of the solar flares detected by the stratospheric balloon borne experiments of Indian Centre for Space Physics. We also observe a gamma-ray burst which is believed to be originated from sudden energy release in gamma rays. In the hard X-ray region of 10 − 100 keV, we present and analyze data from various classes of solar flares and a gamma-ray burst. Because of natural constraints present in balloon borne experiments we receive data up to about a height of ∼ 42 km. The Earth's residual atmosphere at this height absorbs the lower energy part of the spectrum. Moreover, the background radiation (mainly secondary cosmic rays) introduces noise. We show how we circumvent these limitations and create the accurate light curves and the spectra of a few solar flares and a gamma-ray burst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of crystallization of silicon oxide at low temperatures is a topical issue for the electronics of the future. Organosilicon oligomers and polymers are "ideal" sources for obtaining ultrapure silicon ceramics and silicon nanoparticles. This paper presents the results of the synthesis of highly dispersed silicon-carbon powder from an organohydrosiloxane oligomer and the method for increasing its crystallinity at low temperatures. The diffraction pattern of the resulting powder corresponds to the amorphous–crystalline state of the components in this material, as evidenced by two intense and broadened amorphous halos in the region of Bragg angles 2θ = 7–11° and 18–25°. The resulting silicon–carbon powder was subjected to electron irradiation (E = 10 MeV; D = 106–107 Gy). This paper presents the data on the changes in powder properties via IR-Fourier spectroscopy, X-ray phase analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Irradiation with fast electrons with an absorbed dose of 106 Gy leads to a slight crystallization of the amorphous SiO2 phase. An increase in the absorbed dose of fast electrons from D = 106 to D = 107 Gy leads to the opposite effect. An amorphization of silica is observed. This study showed the possibility of the crystallization of a silicon–carbon powder without a significant increase in temperature, acting only with electron irradiation. It is necessary to continue further research on expanding the boundaries of the optimal doses of absorbed radiation from fast electrons in order to achieve the maximum effect of the crystallization of silicon–carbon powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an analysis of observations of the Crab Nebula gamma-ray source with the first two atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes of the TAIGA (Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic ray physics and Gamma Astronomy) astrophysical complex in the stereo mode of observations. The article analyzed observational data from 2020 to 2021. Over 36 hours of observations, a signal was obtained at a statistical significance level of 5 and a spectrum of gamma rays was plotted in the energy range from 2 to 70 TeV. The paper describes a technique for gamma–hadron separation and reconstruction of detected gamma-rays energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gamma radiation environment is one of the harshest operating environments for image acquisition systems, and the captured images are heavily noisy. In this paper, we improve the multi-frame difference method for the characteristics of noise and add an edge detection algorithm to segment the noise region and extract the noise quantization information. A Gaussian mixture model of the gamma radiation noise is then established by performing a specific statistical analysis of the amplitude and quantity information of the noise. The established model is combined with the random walk algorithm to generate noise and achieve the prediction of image noise under different accumulated doses. Evaluated by objective similarity matching, there is no significant difference between the predicted image noise and the actual noise in subjective perception. The ratio of similarity-matched images in the sample from the predicted noise to the actual noise reaches 0.908. To further illustrate the spillover effect of this research, in the discussion session, we used the predicted image noise as the training set input to a deep residual network for denoising. The network model was able to achieve a good denoising effect. The results show that the prediction method proposed in this paper can accomplish the prediction of gamma radiation image noise, which is beneficial to the elimination of image noise in this environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a collection of featured articles in the field of optoelectronics. Optoelectronics involves the study and development of electronic devices that emit or detect light, including gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, infrared radiation, and visible light. The articles cover a range of topics, including a new passive optical network system, performance evaluation of a PET scanner, the design of a high-Q perfect absorber, the evolution of bioamplifiers, optical chaos communication, threshold voltage shift in OFETs, near-infrared CMOS image sensors, interface functionalization in perovskite solar cells, and the visualization of halide segregation in perovskite materials. These articles provide valuable insights and advancements in the field of optoelectronics. [Extracted from the article]

This study investigates the effects of increasing PbO concentration on the Al2O3–PbO–B2O3–SiO2 glasses' physical, mechanical and gamma ray shielding properties. PbO addition leads to higher density and molar mass, making the glass denser. However, molar volume decreases, indicating a more compact structure. Interatomic distances and ion concentration change, strengthening atomic interactions. Oxygen molar volume increases, but packing density drops with more PbO, impacting the glass lattice. Optical basicity rises, suggesting improved electron transport and optical behavior. Electronegativity decreases, and electronic polarizability increases with higher PbO content, rendering the glass more electron-donating and sensitive to external electric fields.This study investigates glass mechanical properties using the Makishima–Mackenzie model. As PbO concentration rises, elastic moduli consistently decrease, signifying increased flexibility in glass structures. The mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) of the chosen glasses were evaluated in the 0.284–1.333 MeV energy range. It was found that increased PbO content leads to a corresponding MAC enhancement. The MAC values at 0.284 MeV were 0.297 and 0.349 cm2/g, while at 0.511 MeV they varied between 0.124 and 0.135 cm2/g. It was found that Glass Pb47.5 sample, which contains a higher amount of PbO compared to the other glasses, had the highest MAC at all energies. The results showed that the PbO has a notable impact on the MAC and thus on the radiation attenuation performance at lower energy. Moreover, increased glass density led to a corresponding LAC increase, which at 0.284 MeV increased from 1.269 cm−1 for Pb32.5 to 1.898 cm−1 for Pb47.5. According to the LAC results, one simple means of enhancing the glasses' radiation shielding properties is utilizing a high PbO percentage. This paper aims to illuminate silicate glasses' radiation shielding abilities. The paper will investigate the efficiency under specific conditions, like high-energy radiation. Moreover, it will explore innovative methods to enhance their shielding competence, concreting the way for a better yet effective radiation shielding approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural rubber is an important industrial material derived from caoutchouc trees (Hevea Brasiliensis). By chemical composition, it is a polymer material that is mostly cis-1,4-polyisoprene. It falls into the category of elastomers, which enables its wide usage due to its specific characteristics. Polymer materials include plastic, rubber, and glue and are the most important technical materials. Rubbers are used in the production of conveyor belts, shock absorbers, coatings, fenders, engines, and device parts. They are also used in composite materials such as threads, particles, and matrix materials. By analyzing the properties of natural rubber, the subject of the research is defined, i.e., the characterization of natural rubber samples and their connection with macroscopic properties. In accordance with the subject of the research, in this paper, tests are carried out on samples of natural rubber, which are obtained in the form of thin films from latex and cross-linked by gamma radiation. A total dose of 300 kGy is applied to the samples in the state of uniaxial deformation. In this sense, a hypothesis is put forward that involves examining the influence of radiation dose on the morphology of natural rubber samples using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). The investigation aims to emphasize the importance of the method in acquiring a comprehensive characterization of the material samples, which are used both in maritime areas and in other fields of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of vibrations on the position of the target in the interaction chamber of the ELI-NP facility represents an important element in any experiment with gamma beam rays. Also, several detection systems are provided around the interaction chamber for tracking the nuclear reactions that occur inside the interaction chamber. They are fixed with very high precision in relation to the interaction chamber. In addition to tracking the gamma ray beam, it must to know with great precision the position of the sample holder and of these detectors placed in laboratory. The precision required for a gamma-ray experiment is determined by the size of the studied material. If there is enough target material, then the precision is not important, but if we have a very small amount of material, then precision becomes significant. For a common experiment, accuracy is considered satisfactory for a value of 2µm. The paper analyzes the influence of anthropogenic and natural vibrations on the position of the target, located at the end of a guide beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effects of proton and gamma irradiation on reach-through single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) are investigated. The I–V characteristics, gain and spectral response of SPAD devices under proton and gamma irradiation were measured at different proton energies and irradiation bias conditions. Comparison experiments of proton and gamma irradiation were performed in the radiation environment of geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) with two different radiation shielding designs at the same total ionizing dose (TID). The results show that after 30 MeV and 60 MeV proton irradiation, the leakage current and gain increase, while the spectral response decreases slightly. The leakage current degradation is more severe under the "ON"-bias condition compared to the "OFF"-bias condition, and it is more sensitive to the displacement radiation damage caused by protons compared to gamma rays under the same TID. Further analysis reveals that the non-elastic and elastic cross-section of protons in silicon is 1.05 × 105 times greater than that of gamma rays. This results in SPAD devices being more sensitive to displacement radiation damage than ionizing radiation damage. Under the designed shielding conditions, the leakage current, gain and spectral response parameters of SPADs do not show significant performance degradation in the orbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NUSES is a pathfinder satellite project hosting two detectors: Ziré and Terzina. Ziré focuses on the study of protons and electrons below 250 MeV and MeV gamma rays. Terzina is dedicated to the detection of Cherenkov light produced by ultra-high-energy cosmic rays above 100 PeV and ultra-high-energy Earth-skimming neutrinos in the atmosphere, ensuring a large exposure. This work mainly concerns the description of the Cherenkov camera, composed of SiPMs, for the Terzina telescope. To increase the data-taking period, the NUSES orbit will be Sun-synchronous (with a height of about 550 km), thus allowing Terzina to always point toward the dark side of the Earth's limb. The Sun-synchronous orbit requires small distances to the poles, and as a consequence, we expect an elevated dose to be received by the SiPMs. Background rates due to the dose accumulated by the SiPM would become a dominant contribution during the last two years of the NUSES mission. In this paper, we illustrate the measured effect of irradiance on SiPM photosensors with a variable-intensity beam of 50 MeV protons up to a 30 Gy total integrated dose. We also show the results of an initial study conducted without considering the contribution of solar wind protons and with an initial geometry with Geant4. The considered geometry included an entrance lens as one of the options in the initial design of the telescope. We characterize the SiPM output signal shape with different μ-cell sizes. We describe the developed parametric SiPM simulation, which is a part of the full Terzina simulation chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Italian Space Agency plays a key role in the fulfillment of space missions, contributing to the scientific, technological and economic progress in Italy. The agency accomplishes space experiments by collaborating with scientific and industrial entities, supporting them in the realization of new projects able to achieve, over the last two decades, unprecedented results and obtention of fundamental information on the birth and evolution of the universe. The paper describes a selection of X-ray technologies developed by the synergy between the Italian Space Agency and its principal collaborators which contributed to the main scientific results achieved over the years, together with the latest advances addressed to the next astrophysics missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]