Structure shielding of school and gymnasium buildings against fallout gamma radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

The radiation dose reduction factor represents a building's shielding capability against radiation in scenarios of potential nuclear accidents. Notably, the radiation dose reduction for school buildings and gymnasiums have not yet been determined, even though the building types are planned to be used as evaluation shelters in Japan. This study evaluated dose reduction factors in relation to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP).

Atmospheric concentrations of 7Be and 210Pb in weekly aerosols at Hirosaki, a heavy snowfall area in Japan.

To understand the regional properties of atmospheric 7Be and 210Pb concentrations at Hirosaki, aerosol samples were collected weekly for the investigation. Total suspended particles (TSP) concentration ranged from 0.14 to 1.

Assessment of air dose distribution in the vertical plane for better occupational exposure management.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection recommended a significant reduction of the equivalent dose limit for the eye lens. Reportedly, medical staff in charge of diagnostic imaging procedures may exceed the new dose limits for the eye lens. The use of dosimeters dedicated to the eye lens remains low, and dosimeters for the neck region were often used to assess eye lens doses.

Radiation dose estimation for indoor radon, thoron and their progenies using a stochastic method-a small-scale survey in Wuhan, China.

Passive radon monitors with CR-39s are widely used in major epidemiological surveys. However, the conventional CR-39 track density determining strategy makes it difficult to accurately estimate the concentration because of the heterogeneity of tracks on CR-39s. This study introduced a stochastic method, Latin hypercube sampling, to improve the track density determining strategy and provide the probability distribution of 222Rn concentration and equilibrium equivalent thoron concentration.

Effect of sampling face velocity on the ultrafine particle surface collection efficiency of a cellulose membrane filter and a cellulose-glass fiber filter for environmental airborne radioactivity monitoring.

Surface collection efficiency (SCE) of a cellulose membrane filter (CMF) and a cellulose-glass fiber filter used in environmental monitoring for alpha-emitting radionuclides from nuclear facilities and natural radioactivity sources was evaluated for particles in the size range of 0.03-0.1 μm at different levels of face velocity.

Tritium concentration in monthly precipitation in Okinawa and Kagoshima, southern Japan.

This study aimed at understanding the background concentration level of tritium in precipitation in southern Japan, where precipitation samples were collected monthly in 2022 in Okinawa and Kagoshima. Tritium concentration in monthly precipitation collected in Okinawa since 2014 ranged from 0.05 to 0.

Transparent X-ray Shielding Solutions with Various Metal Ions.

We fabricated transparent, Pb-free X-ray shielding materials using solvated ions in a polar solvent. Previous materials have been based on dispersions of metal-containing particles such as barium sulfate (BaSO) in a matrix. Comparisons of suspensions of metal-based particles and solutions of metal ions in a solvent enable better understanding of interactions such as reflection, scattering, and absorption between X-rays and substances.

Silencing of gene represses cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in human skin fibroblasts.

Estrogen‑related receptor (ERR) is an orphan nuclear receptor structurally akin to the estrogen receptor. ERR is expressed in tissues with active energy metabolism and regulates intracellular metabolic functions. Additionally, ERRs are known to be strongly expressed in the epidermis of skin tissue, but their functions are unknown.

Relationship among Childbirth, Onset of Lower Back Pain, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Female Patients with Lower Back Pain: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between childbirth and lower back pain and determine the health-related quality of life of female patients with lower back pain.

Methods: A total of 111 patients were divided into three groups: those who had given birth and developed lower back pain due to pregnancy, childbirth, or child-rearing movements (childbirth group, n=41), those who had given birth and developed lower back pain due to other causes (childbirth and other cause group, n=29), and those who were nulliparous (nulliparous group, n=41). A total of 22 physical therapists evaluated the patients during initial rehabilitation.

Thoron exposure in the radon-thoron prone area of the Adamawa Region, Cameroon.

The radon-prone area of the Adamawa region is characterized by high radon concentrations, where no low-risk area was observed. This study aims to investigate about indoor thoron concentration in this area, using RADUET detectors, thoron progeny monitors and DTPS/DRPS. The indoor thoron concentration ranged between 17 and 1000 Bq m, with an average of 131 Bq m.

Effect of preoperative physical activity on postoperative outcomes in esophageal cancer.

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the characteristics of preoperative physical activity and its impact on the postoperative period in patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 30 patients who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer, underwent surgery, and fulfilled their conditions. Preoperative physical activity was measured using the step count, and metabolic equivalents as the amount of physical activity.

Characteristics of sphingomyelin metabolism in the MCF7 and BT474 radiotherapy‑resistant HER2‑positive breast cancer cell lines.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally in terms of incidence. This cancer is classified into subtypes based on histological or immunological characteristics. HER2-positive cases account for 15-25% of breast cancer cases, and one of the first events in breast carcinogenesis is HER2 upregulation.

Effect of electrode attachment location for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pain relief in lumbar vertebral body fractures.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effect of the location of electrode attachment in transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain relief in patients with lumbar vertebral body fractures. [Participants and Methods] This study included 59 patients with lumbar vertebral body fractures, who were randomly assigned to receive transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to the lumbar region, lower limbs, or upper limbs, or no treatment, over a 4-week period. Pain, activities of daily living, and pain catastrophizing were assessed.

Exploring predictive molecules of acute adverse events in response to volumetric‑modulated arc therapy for prostate cancer using urinary metabolites.

Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a radiotherapy technique used to treat patients with localized prostate cancer, which is frequently associated with acute adverse events (AEs) that can affect subsequent treatment. Notably, the radiation dose of VMAT can be tailored to each patient. In the present study, a retrospective analysis was performed to predict acute AEs in response to a therapeutic high radiation dose rate based on urinary metabolomic molecules, which are easily collected as noninvasive biosamples.

Time-of-flight PET/CT suppresses CT based attenuation correction and scatter coincidence correction errors due to misalignment of the gastrointestinal tract.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the influence of changes in CT values on PET images, specifically focusing on errors in CT-based attenuation correction and scatter coincidence correction (CTAC/SC) caused by gastrointestinal gas. Furthermore, it aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of time-of-flight (TOF) PET in reducing CTAC/SC errors.

Methods: PET images were reconstructed using multiple CT images with varying CT values.

Effective dose assessment due to inhalation of Rn, Rn, and their progeny: highlighting the major contribution of thoron in a thoron-prone area in Cameroon.

To assess public exposure to radon, thoron, and their progeny, measurements were conducted in 50 dwellings within the bauxite-rich area of Fongo-Tongo in western Cameroon. Passive integrating radon-thoron discriminative detectors (specifically RADUET) were employed for radon and thoron measurements. Additionally, concentrations of short-lived radon and thoron progeny were estimated using Direct Radon Progeny Sensors (DRPSs) and Direct Thoron Progeny Sensors (DTPSs) based on LR-115 detectors.

Apple Pomace Extract Induces Cell Proliferation and Increases Type I Collagen and Hyaluronan Production in Human Skin Fibroblasts In Vitro.

Apple pomace is the residue left after apples are squeezed. The majority of pomace produced worldwide is produced by the apple manufacturing industry, however, most of the pomace produced by the industry is discarded. Apple pomace contains functional ingredients, such as polyphenols and triterpenoids, and exerts several beneficial effects on human health; however, studies on its cosmetic effects on the skin are lacking.

Blackcurrant extract promotes differentiation of MC3T3‑E1 pre‑osteoblasts.

Osteoporosis risk increases in menopausal individuals owing to the decrease in estrogen secretion. Blackcurrant extract (BCE) ameliorates osteoporosis; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Furthermore, although BCE has phytoestrogenic activity, its effects on osteoblasts are unknown.

Additive antitumor effect of arsenic trioxide with exposure to ionizing radiation to human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL‑60 cells.

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is expected to be a chemical drug with antitumor activity against acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a type of acute myeloid leukemia. In Japan, its antitumor effects were confirmed in clinical trials for APL, and it has been approved in various countries around the world. However, there have been no reports on ATO's antitumor effects on radioresistant leukemia cells, which can be developed during radiotherapy and in combination with therapeutic radiation beams.

Phase-separated super-enhancers confer an innate radioresistance on genomic DNA.

Recently, biomolecular condensates formed through liquid-liquid phase separation have been widely reported to regulate key intracellular processes involved in cell biology and pathogenesis. BRD4 is a nuclear protein instrumental to the establishment of phase-separated super-enhancers (SEs) to direct the transcription of important genes. We previously observed that protein droplets of BRD4 became hydrophobic as their size increase, implying an ability of SEs to limit the ionization of water molecules by irradiation.