The innovative strategy of using nanoparticles in radiotherapy has become an exciting topic due to the possibility of simultaneously improving local efficiency of radiation in tumors and real-time monitoring of the delivered doses. Yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) nanoparticles (NPs) are used in material science to prepare phosphors for various applications including X-ray induced photodynamic therapy and in situ nano-dosimetry, but few available reports only addressed the effect induced in cells by combined exposure to different doses of superficial X-ray radiation and nanoparticles. Herein, we analyzed changes induced in melanoma cells by exposure to different doses of X-ray radiation and various concentrations of Y₂O₃ NPs. By evaluation of cell mitochondrial activity and production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), we estimated that 2, 4, and 6 Gy X-ray radiation doses are visibly altering the cells by inducing ROS production with increasing the dose while at 6 Gy the mitochondrial activity is also affected. Separately, high-concentrated solutions of 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL Y₂O₃ NPs were also found to affect the cells by inducing ROS production with the increase of concentration. Additionally, the colony-forming units assay evidenced a rather synergic effect of NPs and radiation. By adding the NPs to cells before irradiation, a decrease of the number of proliferating cell colonies was observed with increase of X-ray dose. DNA damage was evidenced by quantifying the γ-H2AX foci for cells treated with Y₂O₃ NPs and exposed to superficial X-ray radiation. Proteomic profile confirmed that a combined effect of 50 µg/mL Y₂O₃ NPs and 6 Gy X-ray dose induced mitochondria alterations and DNA changes in melanoma cells.

Laser Melting Deposition (LMD) is a metal printing technique that allows for the manufacturing of large objects by Directed Energy Deposition. Due to its versatility in variation of parameters, the possibility to use two or more materials, to create alloys in situ or produce multi-layer structures, LMD is still being scientifically researched and is still far from industrial maturity. The structural testing of obtained samples can be time consuming and solutions that can decrease the samples analysis time are constantly proposed in the scientific literature. In this manuscript we present a quality improvement study for obtaining defect-free bulk samples of Ti6Al4V under X-Ray Computed Tomography (XCT) by varying the hatch spacing and distance between planes. Based on information provided by XCT, the experimental conditions were changed until complete elimination of porosity. Information on the defects in the bulk of the samples by XCT was used for feedback during parameters tuning in view of complete removal of pores. The research time was reduced to days instead of weeks or months of samples preparation and analysis by destructive metallographic techniques.

Reduced activation ferritic and martensitic steel like EUROFER (9Cr-1W) are considered as potential structural materials for the first wall of the future next-generation DEMOnstration Power Station (DEMO) fusion reactor and as a reference material for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) test blanket module. The primary motivation of this work is to study the re-deposition of the main constituent materials of EUROFER, namely tungsten (W), iron (Fe), and chromium (Cr), in a DEMO type reactor by producing and analyzing complex W_xCr_yFe_1−x−y layers. The composite layers were produced in laboratory using the thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) method, and the morphology, crystalline structure, elemental composition, and mechanical properties were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF), and glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES), as well as nanoindentation and tribology measurements. The results show that the layer morphology is textured and is highly dependent on sample positioning during the deposition process. The formation of polycrystalline W_xCr_yFe_1−x−y was observed for all samples with the exception of the sample positioned closer to Fe anode during deposition. The crystalline grain size dimension varied between 10 and 20 nm. The composition and thickness of the layers were strongly influenced by the in-situ coating position, and the elemental depth profiles show a non-uniform distribution of Fe and Cr in the layers. The highest hardness was measured for the sample positioned near the Cr anode, 6.84 GPa, and the lowest was 4.84 GPa, measured for the sample positioned near the W anode. The tribology measurements showed an abrasive sliding wear behavior for most of the samples with a reduction of the friction coefficient with the increase of the normal load.

Radiation therapy (RT) is an essential component of curative cancer treatment. Technological advances in RT aim to make treatments more precise, efficient, and personalized. Recent FLASH-induced radiotherapeutic strategies employ ultra-high dose rate regimes to overcome toxicity of healthy tissues, maintaining similar efficacy in altering tumor progression with respect to conventional dose rate RT. These new approaches also require precise irradiation dose determination for an effective tumor treatment. It is essential now to explore the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of response to FLASH irradiation in order to propose appropriate radiotherapeutic treatments for chemo- or radioresistant cells, or, alternatively, combined radiotherapy with immune or chemotherapy strategies for deep-seated tumors. We will review, herein, the last innovative technological approaches in radiation treatments used in cancer radiotherapy, dosimetry challenges for FLASH RT, and in vitro cancer cell responses to different types of radiotherapeutic regimens. RT induced alterations in cellular and molecular structures (including proteome modifications) will be described, as well as biological events supporting the emergence of radioresistance. The impact of radiation on tumor microenvironment components will be explored, highlighting the activity switch of immune cell types. Lessons learned from research in different tumor biology areas will be shared with the readers, with emphasis on melanoma and ovarian cancer. We will highlight the differential response of tumor and normal cells exposed to unconventional FLASH irradiation sources. The review is proposing to assess the advantages of using specific cell culture models and to explore a fundamental understanding of FLASH-induced cell perturbations.

This study presents a multidisciplinary forensic experiment evaluating the destructive effects of household chemical agents on animal bone and soft tissue analogues, with a particular focus on traumatic lesion persistence and trace evidence detection. A total of 59 domestic pig rib fragments, subjected to standardized lesions inflicted with either an axe or a ceramic knife, were immersed in acidic, basic, and oxidizing solutions for over two months. Samples were monitored through macroscopic scoring, serological species identification, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. Results showed marked differences in tissue degradation depending on the chemical, with lesion persistence ranging from rapid obliteration to prolonged detectability. Axe-induced wounds generally remained visible longer than ceramic knife injuries, which tended to be erased earlier. XRF analysis revealed differential residue detection, with metallic traces persisting only under certain conditions, while serological testing demonstrated varying levels of protein preservation despite advanced tissue degradation. These findings underscore the forensic relevance of recognizing lesion persistence and chemical-specific degradation patterns, contributing to the assessment of chemical body disposal attempts and to the development of experimental training models for forensic practice.