Evaluation of a Novel Plasmid for Simultaneous Gene Electrotransfer-Mediated Silencing of CD105 and CD146 in Combination with Irradiation

Targeting tumor vasculature through specific endothelial cell markers represents a promising approach for cancer treatment. Here our aim was to construct an antibiotic resistance gene-free plasmid encoding shRNAs to simultaneously target two endothelial cell markers, CD105 and CD146, and to test its functionality and therapeutic potential in vitro when delivered by gene electrotransfer (GET) and combined with irradiation (IR). Functionality of the plasmid was evaluated by determining the silencing of the targeted genes using qRT-PCR. Antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects were determined by the cytotoxicity assay tube formation assay and wound healing assay in murine endothelial cells 2H-11. The functionality of the plasmid construct was also evaluated in malignant melanoma tumor cell line B16F10. Additionally, potential activation of immune response was measured by induction of DNA sensor STING and proinflammatory cytokines by qRT-PCR in endothelial cells 2H-11. We demonstrated that the plasmid construction was successful and can efficiently silence the expression of the two targeted genes. As a consequence of silencing, reduced migration rate and angiogenic potential was confirmed in 2H-11 endothelial cells. Furthermore, induction of DNA sensor STING and proinflammatory cytokines were determined, which could add to the therapeutic effectiveness when used in vivo. To conclude, we successfully constructed a novel plasmid DNA with two shRNAs, which holds a great promise for further in vivo testing.     

Energy conversion performances during biomass air gasification process under microwave irradiation

Biomass gasification technology under microwave irradiation is a new and novel method, and the energy conversion performances during the process play a guiding role in improving the energy conversion efficiencies and developing the gasification simulation models. In order to improve the energy utilization efficiency of microwave biomass gasification system, this study investigated and presented the energy conversion performances during biomass gasification process under microwave irradiation, and these were materialized through detailing (a) the energy conversion performance in the microwave heating stage, and (b) the energy conversion performance in the microwave assisted biomass gasification stage. Different forms of energies in the biomass microwave gasification process were calculated by the method given in this study based on the experimental data. The results showed that the useful energy (energy in silicon carbide (SiC), 18.73 kJ) accounted for 31.22% of the total energy input (electrical energy, 60.00 kJ) in the heating stage, and the useful energy (energy in the products, 758.55 kJ) accounted for 63.41% of the total energy input (electrical and biomass energy, 1196.28 kJ) in the gasification stage. During the whole biomass gasification process under microwave irradiation, the useful energy output (energy in the products, 758.55 kJ) accounted for 60.38% of the total energy input (electrical and biomass energy, 1256.28 kJ), and the energy in the gas (523.40 kJ) product played a dominate role in product energy (758.55 kJ). The energy loss mainly included the heat loss in the gas flow (89.20 kJ), magnetron loss (191.80 kJ) and microwave dissipation loss (198.00 kJ), which accounted for 7.10%, 15.27% and 15.76% of the total energy, respectively. The contents detailed in this study not only presented the energy conversion performances during microwave assisted gasification process but also supplied important data for developing gasification simulation models.     

Enhancement of the radiation resistance of cerium-containing fluorophosphate glasses through codoping with Sb2O3 and Bi2O3

The growing demand for radiation-resistant optical glasses for space and nuclear radiation applications has attracted significant research interest. However, radiation-resistant fluorophosphate glasses have been poorly studied. In this work, we report on the tailoring and performance of radiation-resistant fluorophosphate glasses that contained cerium through codoping with Sb₂O₃ and Bi₂O₃. The physical properties, optical properties, microstructure, and defects of fluorophosphate glasses were investigated using transmittance measurements, absorption measurements, as well as Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the radiation resistance of all codoped fluorophosphate glasses was better than the undoped cerium-containing fluorophosphate glasses after 10–250 krad(Si) irradiation. Especially in glasses doped with Bi₂O₃, the optical density increment at 385 nm was only 0.1482 after 250 krad(Si) irradiation. The CeO₂ prevented the development of phosphate-related oxygen hole center (POHC) defects, whereas further codoping with Bi₂O₃ suppressed the formation of oxygen hole center (OHC) and POEC defects, reducing the breaking of phosphate chains caused by CeO₂. Bi³⁺ is more likely than Sb³⁺ to change the valence, affecting the transition equilibrium of intrinsic defects and reducing the concentration of defects produced by irradiation. When codoping with Sb₂O₃ and Bi₂O₃, Bi₂O₃ does not enhance radiation resistance owing to the scission effect of Sb₂O₃ on the phosphate chain, which is not conducive to the radiation resistance of glasses. This indicates that the cerium-containing fluorophosphate glasses doped with Bi₂O₃ can effectively suppress the defects caused by irradiation and improve the radiation resistance of the glasses.     

Preparation,microstructure and ion-irradiation damage behavior of Al4SiC4-added SiC ceramics

Single-phase Al₄SiC₄ powder with a low neutron absorption cross section was synthesized and mixed with SiC powder to fabricate highly densified SiC ceramics by hot pressing. The densification of SiC ceramics was greatly improved by the decomposition of Al₄SiC₄ and the formation of aluminosilicate liquid phase during the sintering process. The resulting SiC ceramics were composed of fine equiaxed grains with an average grain size of 2.0 μm and exhibited excellent mechanical properties in terms of a high flexure strength of 593 ± 55 MPa and a fracture toughness of 6.9 ± 0.2 MPa m^1/2. Furthermore, the ion-irradiation damage in SiC ceramics was investigated by irradiating with 1.2 MeV Si⁵⁺ ions at 650 °C using a fluence of 1.1 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm², which corresponds to 6.3 displacements per atom (dpa). The evolution of the microstructure was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. The breaking of Si–C bonds and the segregation of C elements on the irradiated surface was revealed by XPS, whereas the formation of Si–Si and C–C homonuclear bonds within the Si–C network of SiC grains was detected by Raman spectroscopy.     

硼中子俘获治疗加速器ECR质子源电磁场仿真设计

电子回旋共振(ECR)质子源具有可给流强高、亮度高、可靠性高、使用频率高、易维护、小型化等优点，因而被硼中子俘获治疗(BNCT)装置的直线加速器所采用。本文利用CST软件对2.45 GHz ECR质子源进行优化设计。优化后ECR质子源的等离子体发生器腔体的尺寸为101.12 mm×45.00 mm，给出了脊波导耦合器的最优尺寸参数，使等离子体发生器腔体内电场强度提高为普通波导的4.5倍。通过Opera-3D对ECR质子源的引出电极结构进行了仿真计算，并给出了优化参数。另外，初步设计了质子源的线圈磁铁系统，优化了磁场分布。本文结果为质子源的研制提供了数据。     

中国抗中子辐照钢的抗辐照设计与验证

聚变堆等未来先进核能系统要求材料在强流高能中子辐照下长期保持良好的结构稳定性和机械性能。为适应未来先进核能技术发展的需要，中国科学院核能安全技术研究所•凤麟团队牵头研发了具有我国自主知识产权的中国抗中子辐照钢--CLAM钢。CLAM钢的设计考虑了未来核能清洁性的要求，以及苛刻服役环境中材料抗辐照、耐高温、耐腐蚀等性能要求。通过中子学计算分析设计了低活化成分范围，基于选择性纳米相析出进行了抗辐照、耐高温性能优化设计。针对材料的抗辐照性能，利用国内外中子、离子、电子及等离子体辐照设施开展了系列辐照考验研究，通过多角度表征辐照前后材料的微观结构和宏观性能，综合评估了材料的辐照性能，并与国际上同类材料在相近或相同条件下的辐照性能进行了对比分析，结果表明CLAM钢具有良好的抗辐照性能。     

ADS实验大厅中子防护工程技术研究

为了保障加速器驱动次临界系统(ADS)散裂靶与反应堆耦合特性及影响验证实验的顺利进行,以原子能院现有的临界实验装置为基础,对堆厅部分墙体进行屏蔽改造。建造由聚乙烯、镉、铅、钢以及混凝土等材料构成的屏蔽装置,以防止临界装置产生的射线外泄,使工作人员受到的照射保持在合理水平。通过MCNP模拟计算,完成了屏蔽结构的优化设计。基于槽钢支撑结构、铅屏蔽层、镉屏蔽层和聚乙烯屏蔽层等材料组成的组合屏蔽结构建立简化模型,采用ANSYS有限元分析程序计算分析得出各部分应力小于许用应力,稳定性符合要求。最后通过工程实践,完成对屏蔽性能理论计算结果的验证。     

可控中子及X射线源测井技术发展现状及趋势

随着核仪器技术的进步以及安全健康的工业发展需求，具有人工可控性的中子源及X射线源逐步在测井领域得到推广应用，为油气等矿产资源的勘探开发提供了关键技术手段。可控中子及X射线源测井技术是以中子发生器或X射线管产生的中子或X射线与地层物质作用，通过探测中子、伽马或X射线从而进行地层孔隙度、密度、油气饱和度和元素含量的测井技术。本文概述了可控中子及X射线源测井技术，回顾了其发展历程；介绍了可控中子及X射线测井技术在数值模拟、仪器研制及数据处理方法方面的研究现状及应用，并展望了可控中子及X射线源测井技术的发展前景，认为未来可控中子及X射线源测井技术可从以下三个方面开展研究：分析不同射线在能量、时间及空间的分布规律，开展探测理论基础研究；联合不同学科优势，开展多类型多模式的新型仪器研制；增强谱数据校正及解析方法研究，开展谱信息综合分析及应用。     

GaN中质子辐照损伤的分子动力学模拟研究

本文利用分子动力学方法研究了GaN在质子辐照下的损伤。对不同能量（1~10 keV）初级离位原子（PKA）引起的级联碰撞进行了研究，分析了点缺陷与PKA能量的关系、点缺陷随时间的演化规律、点缺陷的空间分布及点缺陷团簇的尺寸特征。研究结果表明，点缺陷的产生与PKA能量呈线性关系，不同类型的点缺陷随时间演化规律相似，点缺陷多产生在PKA径迹旁，点缺陷团簇多为孤立的点缺陷和小团簇。