Utilizing genomic signatures to gain insights into the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 through Machine and Deep Learning techniques.

The global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, originating in Wuhan, China, has had profound consequences on both health and the economy. Traditional alignment-based phylogenetic tree methods for tracking epidemic dynamics demand substantial computational power due to the growing number of sequenced strains. Consequently, there is a pressing need for an alignment-free approach to characterize these strains and monitor the dynamics of various variants.

The European intercomparison of in-vivo monitoring laboratories: the EIVIC-2020 project.

The EIVIC project was launched in 2020, and the main goal was the organisation of a European intercomparison of in-vivo monitoring laboratories dealing with direct measurements of gamma-emitting radionuclides incorporated into the body of exposed workers. This project was organised jointly by members of EURADOS Working Group 7 on internal dosimetry (WG7), the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS, Germany) and the Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute (IRSN, France). The objective was to assess the implementation of individual-monitoring requirements in EU Member States on the basis of in-vivo measurements and to gain insight into the performance of in-vivo measurements using whole-body counters.

Impact of medical radionuclide discharges on people and the environment.

We present a novel methodology to dynamically calculate dose rates to people and wildlife from hospital-released radionuclides reaching the environment through water treatment plants (WTPs), using the biokinetic model D-DAT for aquatic wildlife, applied to F, I, I, Sm, Tc and Tl. We have also developed a method to calculate doses to WTP workers and to farmers from agricultural practices. This proof-of-concept study simulates a generic source term of radionuclide levels in the Belgian Molse Nete River during the year 2018, chosen because the river flow was very low during that year, which constitutes a very conservative, bounding case.

A global perspective on bacterial diversity in the terrestrial deep subsurface.

While recent efforts to catalogue Earth's microbial diversity have focused upon surface and marine habitats, 12-20 % of Earth's biomass is suggested to exist in the terrestrial deep subsurface, compared to ~1.8 % in the deep subseafloor. Metagenomic studies of the terrestrial deep subsurface have yielded a trove of divergent and functionally important microbiomes from a range of localities.

A radioecological model with moisture-dependent K: Application to I and Se natural release to a grassland.

A radioecological model previously developed to simulate chlorine cycling in a Scots pine forest was modified to examine the effect of soil hydrochemical conditions on the fate of I and Se released to a grassland through natural discharge of contaminated groundwater. To this end, the constant solid-liquid distribution coefficient (K) in the original model was replaced by a parametric equation to estimate I and Se K values from soil saturation - as a proxy for soil redox potential - and a set of K values determined experimentally under oxic and anoxic conditions. Additionally, the multi-compartment Scots pine tree module was replaced by a two-compartment module to represent I and Se cycling in grass.

Joint EURADOS WG9-WG11 rem-counter intercomparison in a Mevion S250i proton therapy facility with Hyperscan pulsed synchrocyclotron.

Objective Proton therapy is gaining popularity because of the improved dose delivery over conventional radiation therapy. The secondary dose to healthy tissues is dominated by secondary neutrons. Commercial rem-counters are valuable instruments for the on-line assessment of neutron ambient dose equivalent (H*(10)).

Genetic Responses of Metabolically Active Strain PCC 8005 Exposed to γ-Radiation during Its Lifecycle.

Two morphotypes of the cyanobacterial   (formerly sp.) strain PCC 8005, denoted as P2 (straight trichomes) and P6 (helical trichomes), were subjected to chronic gamma radiation from spent nuclear fuel (SNF) rods at a dose rate of ca. 80 Gy·h for one mass doubling period (approximately 3 days) under continuous light with photoautotrophic metabolism fully active.

Lessons being learned from the Covid-19 pandemic for radiological emergencies and vice versa: report from expert discussions.

In order to examine what lessons radiological emergency management may offer for the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, and vice versa, a series of three online webinars were conducted with leading experts, scholars and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines essential for emergency management and long-term risk governance. The first webinar debated the lessons we are learning from the Covid-19 pandemic for radiological risk communication, the second explored issues around longer-term outcomes of a crisis and how to balance these with short-term actions whilst the third focused on the key challenges of the 'transition phase', using lessons learned from the Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima Daichii (2011) accidents. This paper reviews the discussions and provides valuable lessons for the radiation protection community.

Direct Meta-Analyses Reveal Unexpected Microbial Life in the Highly Radioactive Water of an Operating Nuclear Reactor Core.

The pools of nuclear reactor facilities constitute harsh environments for life, bathed with ionizing radiation, filled with demineralized water and containing toxic radioactive elements. The very few studies published to date have explored water pools used to store spent nuclear fuels. Due to access restrictions and strong handling constraints related to the high radioactivity level, nothing is presently known about life in water pools that directly cool nuclear cores.

Radioisotopes demonstrate changes in global atmospheric circulation possibly caused by global warming.

In this paper, we present a new method to study global atmospheric processes and their changes during the last decade. A cosmogenic radionuclide measured at ground-level, beryllium-7, is utilized as a proxy to study atmospheric dynamics. Beryllium-7 has two advantages: First, this radionuclide, primarily created in the lower stratosphere, attaches to aerosols that are transported downwards to the troposphere and travel around the globe with the general atmospheric circulation.

Modulation of VEGF Expression and Oxidative Stress Response by Iodine Deficiency in Irradiated Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Breast Cells.

Breast cancer remains a major concern and its physiopathology is influenced by iodine deficiency (ID) and radiation exposure. Since radiation and ID can separately induce oxidative stress (OS) and microvascular responses in breast, their combination could additively increase these responses. Therefore, ID was induced in MCF7 and MCF12A breast cell lines by medium change.

Suppressor of Gamma Response 1 Modulates the DNA Damage Response and Oxidative Stress Response in Leaves of Cadmium-Exposed .

Cadmium (Cd) exposure causes an oxidative challenge and inhibits cell cycle progression, ultimately impacting plant growth. Stress-induced effects on the cell cycle are often a consequence of activation of the DNA damage response (DDR). The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of the transcription factor SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RESPONSE 1 (SOG1) and three downstream cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors of the SIAMESE-RELATED (SMR) family in the Cd-induced DDR and oxidative challenge in leaves of .

Connexin43 Hemichannel Targeting With TAT-Gap19 Alleviates Radiation-Induced Endothelial Cell Damage.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates an excess risk of late occurring cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerosis, after thoracic cancer radiotherapy. Ionizing radiation (IR) induces cellular effects which may induce endothelial cell dysfunction, an early marker for atherosclerosis. In addition, intercellular communication through channels composed of transmembrane connexin proteins (Cxs), i.

Cellular dosimetry of [Lu]Lu-DOTA-[Tyr]octreotate radionuclide therapy: the impact of modeling assumptions on the correlation with in vitro cytotoxicity.

Background: Survival and linear-quadratic model fitting parameters implemented in treatment planning for targeted radionuclide therapy depend on accurate cellular dosimetry. Therefore, we have built a refined cellular dosimetry model for [Lu]Lu-DOTA-[Tyr]octreotate (Lu-DOTATATE) in vitro experiments, accounting for specific cell morphologies and sub-cellular radioactivity distributions.

Methods: Time activity curves were measured and modeled for medium, membrane-bound, and internalized activity fractions over 6 days.

Growth of DSM17938 Under Two Simulated Microgravity Systems: Changes in Reuterin Production, Gastrointestinal Passage Resistance, and Stress Genes Expression Response.

Extreme factors such as space microgravity, radiation, and magnetic field differ from those that occur on Earth. Microgravity may induce and select some microorganisms for physiological, metabolic, and/or genetic variations. This study was conducted to determine the effects of simulated microgravity conditions on the metabolism and gene expression of the probiotic bacterium DSM17938.

PaSiT: a novel approach based on short-oligonucleotide frequencies for efficient bacterial identification and typing.

Motivation: One of the most widespread methods used in taxonomy studies to distinguish between strains or taxa is the calculation of average nucleotide identity. It requires a computationally expensive alignment step and is therefore not suitable for large-scale comparisons. Short oligonucleotide-based methods do offer a faster alternative but at the expense of accuracy.

Is internet a missed opportunity? Evaluating radon websites from a stakeholder engagement perspective.

Exposure to indoor radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is one of the main causes of lung cancer worldwide. Although radon tests are easily accessible in most countries, and protective actions are effective and relatively easy to apply, the levels of radon testing and subsequent home remediation remain lower than aimed for. Public engagement, particularly through internet, may contribute to addressing this value-action gap.

Targeting the Hedgehog pathway in combination with X‑ray or carbon ion radiation decreases migration of MCF‑7 breast cancer cells.

The use of carbon ion therapy for cancer treatment is becoming more widespread due to the advantages of carbon ions compared with X‑rays. Breast cancer patients may benefit from these advantages, as the surrounding healthy tissues receive a lower dose, and the increased biological effectiveness of carbon ions can better control radioresistant cancer cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is linked to the development and progression of breast cancer, as well as to resistance to X‑irradiation and the migratory capacity of cancer cells.

Reactivation of Microbial Strains and Synthetic Communities After a Spaceflight to the International Space Station: Corroborating the Feasibility of Essential Conversions in the MELiSSA Loop.

To sustain human deep space exploration or extra-terrestrial settlements where no resupply from the Earth or other planets is possible, technologies for food production, water, air, and waste recovery need to be developed. The Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA) is such a Regenerative Life Support System (RLSS) and it builds on several bacterial bioprocesses. However, alterations in gravity, temperature, and radiation associated with the space environment can affect survival and functionality of the microorganisms.

Food Supplements to Mitigate Detrimental Effects of Pelvic Radiotherapy.

Pelvic radiotherapy has been frequently reported to cause acute and late onset gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the underlying mechanisms of pelvic radiation-induced GI toxicity are poorly understood, they are known to involve a complex interplay between all cell types comprising the intestinal wall. Furthermore, increasing evidence states that the human gut microbiome plays a role in the development of radiation-induced health damaging effects.

Fungi and Mycotoxins in Space-A Review.

Fungi are not only present on Earth but colonize spacecraft and space stations as well. This review provides an extensive overview of the large and diverse group of fungal species that have been found in space, as well as those corresponding detection methods used and the existing and potential future prevention and control strategies. Many of the identified fungal species in space, such as and sp.

Maintenance of Near Normal Bone Mass and Architecture in Lethally Irradiated Female Mice following Adoptive Transfer with as few as 750 Purified Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Total-body irradiation (TBI) followed by transfer of bone marrow cells from donors is routinely performed in immunology research and can be used to manipulate differentiation and/or function of bone cells. However, exposure to high-dose radiation can result in irreversible osteopenia, and transfer of heterogeneous cell populations can complicate interpretation of results. The goal of this research was to establish an approach for reconstituting bone marrow using small numbers of purified donor-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) without negatively affecting bone metabolism.

How to predict seasonal weather and monsoons with radionuclide monitoring.

Monsoon in India is of particular importance for the $2 trillion economy, highly dependent on agriculture. Monsoon rains water two-thirds of India's harvest. However, the monsoon season also causes large-scale flooding, resulting in loss of human life and economic damage estimated around $7 billion annually.