The development of adaptation strategies for crops under ever-changing climate conditions is a critically important food security issue. Studies of barley responses to ionising radiation showed that this evolutionarily ancient stress factor can be successfully used to identify molecular pathways involved in adaptation to a range of abiotic stressors. In order to identify potential molecular contributors to abiotic stress resilience, we examined the transcriptomic profiles of barley seedlings after exposure to γ-rays, electrons, and protons. A total of 553 unique differentially expressed genes with increased expression and 124 with decreased expression were detected. Among all types of radiation, the highest number of differentially expressed genes was observed in electron-irradiated samples (428 upregulated and 56 downregulated genes). Significant upregulation after exposure to the three types of radiation was shown by a set of ROS-responsive genes, genes involved in DNA repair, cell wall metabolism, auxin biosynthesis and signalling, as well as photosynthesis-related genes. Most of these genes are known to be involved in plant ROS-mediated responses to other abiotic stressors, especially with genotoxic components, such as heavy metals and drought. Ultimately, the modulation of molecular pathways of plant responses to ionising radiation may be a prospective tool for stress tolerance programmes.

Background and purpose: With the emergence of linear accelerators in radiotherapy, it becomes necessary to accurately select new dosing regimens. The purpose of this study was to assess the morphological changes of spermatogenesis after radiation exposure. Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were subjected to targeted ionizing radiation on a pulsed electron accelerator “NOVAC-11” with doses of 2, 8 and 12 Gy. Spermatogenesis was assessed a week later using light microscopy and immunohistochemical method (antibodies to Ki-67, Bcl-2, p53, Caspase 3). Results: A decrease in the number of normal germ cells was seen in all experimental groups, while radioresistant Sertoli and Leydig cells were barely affected. The most serious damage to the tubules and germ cells was observed in 8 and 12 Gy irradiation groups. IHC analysis of testes after irradiation showed a shift in the proliferative-apoptotic balance toward apoptosis of germ cells: a decrease in the expression levels of Ki-67 and Bcl-2, an increase in p53-positive and caspase 3-positive cells by the end of the experiment. Conclusion: Dose-dependent progressive pathomorphological changes in histoarchitectonics of the testes are traced, and a decrease in the number of germ cells is seen on the seventh day after irradiation with a pulsed electron accelerator “NOVAC-11”.

The relative biological efficiency of particle irradiation could be predicted with a wide variety of radiobiological models for various end-points. We validate the forecast of modified Microdosimetric Kinetic Model in vitro using combined data of reference Co-60 radiation and carbon ion plateau data for specific cell line to optimize the survival function in spread-out Bragg Peak obtained with an especially designed ridge filter. We used Geant4 Monte-Carlo software to simulate the fragment contribution along Bragg curve inside water phantom, open-source toolkit Survival to predict the expected linear-quadratic model parameters for each fragment, and in-house software to form the total survival curve in spread-out Bragg Peak. The irradiation was performed at U-70 synchrotron with an especially designed Aluminum ridge filter under the control of PTW and in-house ionization chambers. The cell clonogenic assay was conducted with the B14–150 cell line. The data analysis was accomplished using scipy and CERN ROOT. The clonogenic assay represents the survival in spread-out Bragg Peak at different points and qualitatively follows the modeled survival curve very well. The quantitative difference is within 3 σ , and the deviation might be explained by the uncertainties of physical modeling using Monte-Carlo methods. Overall, the obtained results are promising for further usage in radiobiological studies or carbon ion radiotherapy. Shaping the survival curve in the region of interest (i.e., spread-out Bragg Peak) is a comprehensive task that requires high-performance computing approaches. Nevertheless, the method’s potential application is related to the development of next-generation treatment planning systems for ion beams. This can open a wide range of improvements in patient treatment outcome, provide new optimized fractionation regimes or optimized dose delivery schemes, and serve as an entrance point to the translational science approach.

Deficiency of vitamins and a number of minerals inevitably leads to disturbances in metabolic processes and physiological functions and, as a consequence, to poor health, a decrease in the body’s defenses, and the development of vitamin deficiency diseases. Prevention of vitamin deficiency consists in ensuring full correspondence between human needs for vitamins and their intake with food. The entire set of vitamins necessary for a person can enter the body only if all food groups are used in the diet. Mechanization and automation of the labor process made work easier and reduced energy costs, however the work of firefighters-rescuers has become much more difficult, tense and dangerous. Rescue work is dangerous and requires trusting cooperation - a wrong decision or behavior can endanger the health and life of the rescuer himself, his team, and others. Based on the results of the work, a conclusion was made about the undoubted physiological and energy value of an instant granular drink based on concentrated curd whey and fruit and berry raw materials, as well as the need for its introduction into the diet of firefighters-rescuers, to ensure the normal course of life processes in the body, and mainly for prevention of vitamin deficiency.

Purpose: The study of mechanisms of plant responses to extreme conditions, particularly, microgravity and ionizing radiation, is crucial for space exploration. Modern space biology of plants focuses on increasing plant tolerance to harsh conditions of space environment. Given the limited access to the International Space Station, we designed and assembled the 3D clinostat for mimicking microgravity, which, in combination with proton irradiation, allows simulating space conditions. As a case study for testing the device, we studied the effect of clinostating on Arabidopsis thaliana accession originating from the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Materials and Methods: Using the combined clinostating and proton irradiation, we simulated the conditions of long-term space flight for Arabidopsis thaliana plants of the Chernobyl accession - progeny of chronically irradiated plants, grown from field-collected (Masa-0) and laboratory-cultivated (Masa-0-1) seeds, and for wild-type Col-8. The clinostating and irradiation of plants were also carried out separately. Plant responses were studied as photosynthetic and phenotypic endpoints of seedlings. Results and Conclusions: Parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence estimated immediately after exposure showed that Masa-0-1 plants were resistant to the simulated space conditions, while Masa-0 demonstrated modulation of non-photochemical fluorescence quenching. Proton irradiation generally inhibited photosynthesis of Masa-0, Masa-0-1, and Col-8 seedlings. The combined effect of irradiation and clinostating modulated the photosynthetic activity of Col-8 seedlings. The leaf area of seedlings did not change after exposure to simulated conditions. The 3D clinostat model and software are published along with this article for researchers interested in the field of space biology.

For the study 4 cats with unresectable oral squamous cell carcinoma were treated with combination of neutron and electron radiations