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In a world shattered by radiation fallout, teenaged Orion and her climbing partner Dram, in exchange for freedom, mine terrifying tunnels for a precious element that keeps humans safe from radiation poisoning, but disturbing revelations force Orion to question everything she knows.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment; however, its therapeutic efficacy is often compromised by both intrinsic and acquired resistance in CRC cells. This study employed small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology to elucidate the functional roles of BAMBI, GADD34, NFKBIA, and NFKBID in CRC cell lines SW480 and HCT116. We assessed their impact on key cellular processes and radiation sensitivity. Gene silencing of all four target genes significantly suppressed CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, siRNA-mediated knockdown enhanced radiation sensitivity, as evidenced by a substantial increase in apoptosis and a marked reduction in cell viability compared with controls. These findings suggest that BAMBI, GADD34, NFKBIA, and NFKBID serve as critical regulators of CRC progression and radiation resistance. Overall, this study provides a mechanistic foundation for further exploration into the pathways underlying radiation resistance and underscores the potential for developing personalized radiotherapy strategies guided by molecular profiling.

Microenvironment, such as hypoxia common to cancer, plays a critical role in the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) program, which is a major route of cancer metastasis and confers γ‐radiation resistance to cells. Herein, we showed that transgelin 2 (TAGLN2), an actin‐binding protein, is significantly induced in hypoxic lung cancer cells and that Snail1 is simultaneously increased, which induces EMT by downregulating E‐cadherin expression. Forced TAGLN2 expression induced severe cell death; however, a small population of cells surviving after forced TAGLN2 overexpression showed γ‐radiation resistance, which might promote tumor relapse and recurrence. These surviving cells showed high metastatic activity with an increase of EMT markers including Snail1. In these cells, TAGLN2 activated the insulin‐like growth factor 1 receptor β (IGF1Rβ)/PI3K/AKT pathway by recruitment of focal adhesion kinase to the IGF1R signaling complex. Activation of the IGF1Rβ/PI3K/AKT pathway also induced inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), which is involved in Snail1 stabilization. Therefore, both the IGF1Rβ inhibitor (AG1024) and the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) or AKT inactivation with MK2206 lower the cellular level of Snail1. Involvement of GSK3β was also confirmed by treatment with lithium chloride, the inducer of GSK3β phosphorylation, or MG132, the 26S proteasomal inhibitor, which also stabilized Snail1. In conclusion, the present study provides important evidence that hypoxia‐inducible TAGLN2 is involved in the selection of cancer cells with enhanced EMT properties to overcome the detrimental environment of cancer cells. Hypoxia‐inducible TAGLN2 is involved in enhanced EMT properties to overcome the detrimental environment of cancer cells. Under hypoxic conditions, TAGLN2 was significantly induced, and the cellular level of Snail1, which induces EMT by downregulating E‐cadherin expression, was also increased.

Background Major depression and type 2 diabetes often co-occur. Novel treatment strategies for depression in type 2 diabetes patients are warranted, as depression in type 2 diabetes patients is associated with poor prognosis and treatment results. Major depression and concurrent sleep disorders have been related to disturbances of the biological clock. The biological clock is also involved in regulation of glucose metabolism by modulating peripheral insulin sensitivity. Light therapy has been shown to be an effective antidepressant that ‘resets’ the biological clock. We here describe the protocol of a study that evaluates the hypothesis that light therapy improves mood as well as insulin sensitivity in patients with a major depressive episode and type 2 diabetes. Methods/design This study is a randomised, double-blind, parallel-arm trial in 98 participants with type 2 diabetes and a major depressive episode, according to DSM-IV criteria. We will assess whether light therapy improves depressive symptoms and insulin sensitivity, our primary outcome measures, and additionally investigate whether these effects are mediated by restoration of the circadian rhythmicity, as measured by sleep and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. Participants will be randomly allocated to a bright white-yellowish light condition or dim green light condition. Participants will undergo light therapy for half an hour every morning for 4 weeks at home. At several time points, namely before the start of light therapy, during light therapy, after completion of 4 weeks of light therapy and after 4 weeks follow-up, several psychometrical, psychophysiological and glucometabolic measures will be performed. Discussion If light therapy effectively improves mood and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes patients with a major depressive episode, light therapy may be a valuable patient friendly addition to the currently available treatment strategies. Additionally, if our data support the role of restoration of circadian rhythmicity, such an observation may guide further development of chronobiological treatment strategies in this patient population. Trial registration The Netherlands Trial Register (NTR) NTR4942 . Registered 13 January 2015.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) represents a major obstacle to successful chemotherapy and, due to overlapping defense mechanisms, such as enhanced DNA repair and the evasion of apoptosis, can also be associated with radioresistance. In this study, we investigated whether MDR breast cancer cells (MCF-7/CMF) exhibit reduced susceptibility to radiation-induced DNA fragmentation compared to their non-resistant parental counterpart (MCF-7). Using a nucleosome-based ELISA, we quantified the chromatin fragmentation in MCF-7 and MCF-7/CMF cells following their exposure to four radiopharmaceuticals: [99mTc]pertechnetate, [131I]NaI (sodium iodide), [125I]NaI, and the DNA-incorporating compound [125I]iododeoxyuridine ([125I]IdU). Each radioactive preparation was assessed across a range of activity concentrations, using a two-way ANOVA. For [99mTc]pertechnetate and [131I]NaI, significantly higher DNA fragmentation was observed in the sensitive cell line, whereas [125I]NaI showed no significant difference between the two phenotypes. In contrast to the other radiopharmaceuticals, [125I]IdU induced greater fragmentation in resistant cells. This finding was supported by the statistical analysis (a 63.7% increase) and visualized in the corresponding dose–response plots. These results highlight the critical role of the intranuclear enrichment of Auger emitters and support further development of radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with this principle. Our data suggest that radiotoxicity is governed not by linear energy transfer (LET) alone, but, fundamentally, by the spatial proximity of the radionuclide to the DNA. Targeting tumor cell DNA with precision radiotherapeutics may, therefore, offer a rational strategy to overcome MDR in breast cancer.

In the past, the main research and use of scintillators in extreme environments were mainly limited to high energy physics and the well-logging industry, but their applications are now expanding to reactor monitoring systems, marine and space exploration, nuclear fusion, radiation therapy, etc. In this article, we review and summarize single-crystal inorganic scintillator candidates that can be applied to radiation detection in extreme environments. Crucial scintillation properties to consider for use in extreme environments are temperature dependence and radiation resistance, along with scintillators’ susceptibility to moisture and mechanical shock. Therefore, we report on performance change, with a focus on radiation resistance and temperature dependence, and the availability of inorganic scintillator for extreme environments—high radiation, temperature, humidity and vibration—according to their applications. In addition, theoretical explanations for temperature dependence and radiation resistance are also provided.

Photosynthetic pigments are an integral and vital part of all photosynthetic machinery and are present in different types and abundances throughout the photosynthetic apparatus. Chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycobilins are the prime photosynthetic pigments which facilitate efficient light absorption in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. The chlorophyll family plays a vital role in light harvesting by absorbing light at different wavelengths and allowing photosynthetic organisms to adapt to different environments, either in the long-term or during transient changes in light. Carotenoids play diverse roles in photosynthesis, including light capture and as crucial antioxidants to reduce photodamage and photoinhibition. In the marine habitat, phycobilins capture a wide spectrum of light and have allowed cyanobacteria and red algae to colonise deep waters where other frequencies of light are attenuated by the water column. In this review, we discuss the potential strategies that photosynthetic pigments provide, coupled with development of molecular biological techniques, to improve crop yields through enhanced light harvesting, increased photoprotection and improved photosynthetic efficiency.

Refractory high entropy alloys have broad application prospects due to their excellent comprehensive properties in high temperature environments, and they have been widely implemented in many complex working conditions. According to the latest research reports, the preparation technology of bulk and coating refractory high entropy alloys are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of each preparation technology are analyzed. In addition, the properties of refractory high entropy alloys, such as mechanical properties, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, and radiation resistance are reviewed. The existing scientific problems of refractory high entropy alloys, at present, are put forward, which provide reference for the development and application of refractory high entropy alloys in the future, especially for plasma-facing materials in nuclear fusion reactors.

Sunscreen use has increased in recent years, as sunscreen products minimize the damaging effects of solar radiation. Active ingredients called ultraviolet (UV) filters or UV agents, either organic or inorganic, responsible for defending skin tissue against harmful UV rays, are incorporated in sunscreen formulations. UV agents have a serious impact on many members of bio communities, and they are transferred to the environment either directly or indirectly. Many organic UV filters are found to be accumulated in marine environments because of high values of the octanol/water partition coefficient. However, due to the fact that UV agents are not stable in water, unwanted by-products may be formed. Experimental studies or field observations have shown that organic UV filters tend to bioaccumulate in various aquatic animals, such as corals, algae, arthropods, mollusks, echinoderms, marine vertebrates. This review was conducted in order to understand the effects of UV agents on both the environment and marine biota. In vivo and in vitro studies of UV filters show a wide range of adverse effects on the environment and exposed organisms. Coral bleaching receives considerable attention, but the scientific data identify potential toxicities of endocrine, neurologic, neoplastic and developmental pathways. However, more controlled environmental studies and long-term human use data are limited. Several jurisdictions have prohibited specific UV filters, but this does not adequately address the dichotomy of the benefits of photoprotection vs lack of eco-friendly, safe, and approved alternatives.

Historically, alloy development with better radiation performance has been focused on traditional alloys with one or two principal element(s) and minor alloying elements, where enhanced radiation resistance depends on microstructural or nanoscale features to mitigate displacement damage. In sharp contrast to traditional alloys, recent advances of single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys (SP-CSAs) have opened up new frontiers in materials research. In these alloys, a random arrangement of multiple elemental species on a crystalline lattice results in disordered local chemical environments and unique site-to-site lattice distortions. Based on closely integrated computational and experimental studies using a novel set of SP-CSAs in a face-centered cubic structure, we have explicitly demonstrated that increasing chemical disorder can lead to a substantial reduction in electron mean free paths, as well as electrical and thermal conductivity, which results in slower heat dissipation in SP-CSAs. The chemical disorder also has a significant impact on defect evolution under ion irradiation. Considerable improvement in radiation resistance is observed with increasing chemical disorder at electronic and atomic levels. The insights into defect dynamics may provide a basis for understanding elemental effects on evolution of radiation damage in irradiated materials and may inspire new design principles of radiation-tolerant structural alloys for advanced energy systems.