Coatings with xenogenic materials, made of detonation nanodiamonds, provide additional strength and increase elasticity. A functionally developed surface of nanodiamonds makes it possible to apply antibiotics. Previous experiments show the stability of such coatings; however, studies on stability in the bloodstream and calcification of the material in natural conditions have yet to be conducted. Tritium-labeled nanodiamonds (negative and positive) were obtained by the tritium activation method and used to develop coatings for a pork aorta to analyze their stability in a pig\'s bloodstream using a radiotracer technique. A chitosan layer was applied from a solution of carbonic acid under high-pressure conditions to prevent calcification. The obtained materials were used to prepare a porcine conduit, which was surgically stitched inside the pig\'s aorta for four months. The aorta samples, including nanodiamond-coated and control samples, were analyzed for nanodiamond content and calcium, using the radiotracer and ICP-AES methods. A histological analysis of the materials was also performed. The obtained coatings illustrate a high in vivo stability and low levels of calcification for all types of nanodiamonds. Even though we did not use additional antibiotics in this case, the development of infection was not observed for negatively charged nanodiamonds, opening up prospects for their use in developing coatings.

The effects of tritium at low doses and low dose rates have received increasing attention due to recent developments in fusion energy and the associated risks of tritium releases into the environment. Mitochondria have been identified as a potential candidate for studying the effects of low-dose/low-dose-rate radiation, with extensive experimental results obtained using X-ray irradiation. In this study, irradiation experiments were conducted on normal B-lymphoblastoid cells using HTO at varying doses. When compared to X-ray irradiation, no significant differences in cell viability induced by different doses were observed. However, the results of ATP levels showed a significant difference between the irradiated sample at a dose of 500 mGy by tritium beta-rays and the sham-irradiated sample, while the levels obtained with X-ray irradiation were almost identical to the sham-irradiated sample. In contrast, ATP levels for both tritium beta-rays and X-rays at a dose of 1.0 Gy showed minimal differences compared to the sham-irradiated sample. Furthermore, distinct effects at 500 mGy were also confirmed in both ROS levels and apoptosis results obtained through tritium beta-ray irradiation. This suggests that mitochondria might be a potential sensitive target for investigating the effects of tritium beta-ray irradiation.

This article presents research findings on 3H in abiotic environmental compartments, specifically, the \'water-soil-air\' system. All of the research areas are located within the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS): the perimeter of the \'Degelen\' site, the riverside zone of the Shagan river and the \'background\' area-the southeastern part of the STS (SEP). As research progressed, numerical values of 3H and its species were revealed in various environmental compartments. The presence of 3H was registered not only in underground nuclear test locations but also in the \'background\' area-SEP. Maximum 3H tritium concentrations in the water were detected at the \'Degelen\' site (up to 57000±5000 Bq/kg) and the Shagan riv (up to 61500±6000 Bq/kg), in the air of the \'Degelen\' site (up to 56±11 Bq/m3), in the soil of the \'Degelen\' site (up to 5170±500 Bq/kg) and the Shagan riv (4100±400 Bq/kg) in the free water, at SEP (up to 1710±170 Bq/kg) in the organic constituent. Based upon all of the findings, 3H was found to be readily distributed in abiotic environmental compartments depending on certain conditions. Research suggests that water plays a key role in 3H migration processes in the natural system of interest. The second most but equally important constituent is soil and microorganisms of plant and animal origin living there. These assumptions are indirectly proven by research findings that show the HTO and HT air concentration dynamics depending on the sampling location.

L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is the main treatment for Parkinson\'s disease (PD) but with long term administration, motor complications such as dyskinesia are induced. Glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibition was shown to produce an anti-dyskinetic effect in parkinsonian rats and primates, coupled with an improvement in the anti-parkinsonian action of L-DOPA. The expression of GlyT1 in the brain in the dyskinetic state remains to be investigated. Here, we quantified the levels of GlyT1 across different brain regions using [3H]-NFPS in the presence of Org-25,935. Brain sections were chosen from sham-lesioned rats, L-DOPA-naïve 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats and 6-OHDA-lesioned rats exhibiting mild or severe abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs). [3H]-NFPS binding decreased in the ipsilateral and contralateral thalamus, by 28% and 41%, in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats with severe AIMs compared to sham-lesioned animals (P < 0.01 and 0.001). [3H]-NFPS binding increased by 21% in the ipsilateral substantia nigra of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats with severe AIMs compared to 6-OHDA-lesioned rats with mild AIMs (P < 0.05). [3H]-NFPS binding was lower by 19% in the contralateral primary motor cortex and by 20% in the contralateral subthalamic nucleus of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats with mild AIMs animals compared to rats with severe AIMs (both P < 0.05). The severity of AIMs scores positively correlated with [3H]-NFPS binding in the ipsilateral substantia nigra (P < 0.05), ipsilateral entopeduncular nucleus (P < 0.05) and contralateral primary motor cortex (P < 0.05). These data provide an anatomical basis to explain the efficacy of GlyT1 inhibitors in dyskinesia in PD.

The article presents the results of a study of groundwater contaminated with tritium in the vicinity of the \'Atomic Lake\' - a crater filled with water as a result of a thermonuclear explosion on the territory of the former Semipalatinsk test site. This crater was created as part of an experimental thermonuclear explosion in 1965 with the aim of creating an artificial reservoir in arid areas. The study was carried out to identify the source of groundwater contamination near the crater formed from a thermonuclear test. There were two possible factors of pollution: the influence of contaminated water from the crater on the groundwater of the adjacent area, or groundwater polluting the water in the crater. It was necessary to find out the source of groundwater contamination and its connection with the water in the funnel. For this purpose, a study of the geological and lithological conditions of the territory adjacent to the funnel was carried out, which was carried out using drilling operations and hydrological measurements. Drilling work made it possible to study the depth of distribution of groundwater, hydrological work made it possible to determine the conditions of distribution of groundwater, as well as to take samples of groundwater. The assessment of the degree of groundwater contamination was carried out through water sampling and laboratory analysis. As a result, it was established that the geological and lithological conditions of the area limit the flow of contaminated groundwater to the water in the crater - the \'Atomic Lake\'. Despite the fact that the waters in the crater from a thermonuclear explosion and the groundwater of the adjacent territory are contaminated with the radionuclide tritium, they have different sources of contamination and are not interconnected. Radionuclide analysis of groundwater showed that increased concentrations of tritium with a specific activity of up to 95 000 Bq/l are found in groundwater near the river bed. Shagan and this is due to the influence of the flow of groundwater coming from other parts of the landfill.

Several therapeutics and biomarkers that target Alzheimer\'s disease (AD) are under development. Our clinical positron emission tomography (PET) research programs are interested in six radiopharmaceuticals to image patients with AD and related dementias, specifically [11C]UCB-J and [18F]SynVesT-1 for synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A as a marker of synaptic density, two vesicular acetylcholine transporter PET radiotracers: [18F]FEOBV and [18F]VAT, as well as the transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory protein (TARP)-γ8 tracer, [18F]JNJ-64511070, and the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) M4 tracer [11C]MK-6884. The goal of this study was to compare all six radiotracers (labeled with tritium or 18F) by measuring their density variability in pathologically diagnosed cases of AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal healthy volunteer (NHV) human brains, using thin-section in vitro autoradiography (ARG). Region of interest analysis was used to quantify radioligand binding density and determine whether the radioligands provide a signal-to-noise ratio optimal for showing changes in binding. Our preliminary study confirmed that all six radiotracers show specific binding in MCI and AD. An expected decrease in their respective target density in human AD hippocampus tissues compared to NHV was observed with [3H]UCB-J, [3H]SynVesT-1, [3H]JNJ-64511070, and [3H]MK-6884. This preliminary study will be used to guide human PET imaging of SV2A, TARP-γ8 and the mAChR M4 subtype for imaging in AD and related dementias.

Online monitoring is a key challenge for the continued development of molten salt reactor (MSR) technology. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has previously been demonstrated to be a viable tool for monitoring aerosolized species and noble gases in real time, but the ability to discern varying isotopes in these streams has not yet been investigated for MSR applications. Tritium will form in MSRs from ternary fission and from (n,α)-reactions occurring in lithium-containing salts. This study compares three spectrometers of varying resolutions and types for measuring hydrogen isotope shifts in LIBS spectra of wetted filter paper. For each spectrometer, multivariate models were built (i.e., principal component regression, partial least squares regression, and multivariate curve resolution) to quantify the isotope ratio. The top models were then modified and corrected to apply the models to aerosol samples with varying isotope ratios. This novel calibration strategy offers an 82% reduction in volume of the calibration samples needed and is a more viable pathway for calibrating deployable LIBS systems. Lastly, this calibration model was compared with an all-aerosol trained model for monitoring hydrogen isotopes during a real-time test where the protium/deuterium ratio, along with representative salt species (i.e., lithium, sodium, and potassium) were adjusted dynamically. Results of this test validated the predictive capabilities of the transferred model and highlighted the capabilities of LIBS for real-time monitoring of MSR effluent streams.

As a part of the decontamination process after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident of 2011, 1.32 million tonnes of tritium-containing water will be discharged from the power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Although radiobiological impacts of the treated water discharge on the public and the environment were reported to be minimal, Tomioka and Okuma locals expressed unease regarding the long-term recovery of their towns, which are economically dependent on the agricultural, fishery, and tourism sectors. This study presents thoughts, perceptions and concerns of Tomioka and Okuma locals regarding the discharge of FDNPP-treated water containing tritium into the Pacific Ocean to facilitate a more inclusive decision-making process that respects local stakeholder interests.
Conducted from November to December 2022, surveys were mailed to current residents and evacuees aged 20 years or older registered with the town councils.
Out of 1268 included responses, 71.5% were from those > 65 years. 65.6% were unemployed, 76.2% routinely visited hospitals, and 85.5% did not live with children. 61% did not want to return to Okuma/Tomioka. Anxiety about radiation-related health effects (38.7%), consuming food produced in Okuma/Tomioka (48.0%) and genetic effects (45.3%) were low. >50% reported poor physical and mental health. 40% were acceptive, 31.4% were unsure, and 29.7% objected to the discharge plans. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that, compared to acceptive responders, those who objected were more likely to be female, unemployed, and have anxiety about radiation-related genetic effects and poor mental health. Unsure responders were similarly more likely to be female, anxious about radiation-related genetic effects and have poor mental health.
The poor mental health of the locals, connected to high levels of risk perception and anxiety about the loss of economic opportunities related to the discharge plans, must be addressed. The 30-year discharge process could handicap local industries and hamper post-disaster socioeconomic recovery due to the circulation of false rumours among consumers. These results highlight the need to actively involve residents in the towns\' recovery process to address local concerns. The focus should be on the judicious combination of transparent science with the human aspect of recovery and narratives highlighting dialogues between local stakeholders and experts to enable the locals and the general public to make informed decisions about their protection and future.

An idealized design of a silicon betavoltaic battery with a tritium source is considered, in which a thin layer of tritiated silicon is sandwiched between two intrinsic silicon slabs of equal width, and the excess charge carriers are collected by thin interdigitated n+ and p+ electrodes. The opposite sides of the device are covered with a reflecting coating to trap the photons produced in radiative recombination events. Due to photon recycling, radiative recombination is almost ineffective, so the Auger mechanism dominates. An analytical expression for the current-voltage curve is obtained, from which the main characteristics of the cell, namely, the open-circuit voltage, the fill factor, and the betaconversion efficiency, are found. The analytical results are shown to agree with the numerical ones with better than 0.1% accuracy. The optimal half-thickness of this device is found to be around 1.5 μm. The maximal efficiency increases logarithmically with the surface activity of the beta-source and has the representative value of 12.07% at 0.1 mCi/cm2 and 14.13% at 10 mCi/cm2.