Publications Repository - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

High data quality is characterized by good accuracy of measurement results but equally important by a good estimation of data uncertainty (JCGM 100:2008). Using a good estimate of the uncertainty for data analysis might significantly change the data interpretation: Ignoring or underestimating uncertainties projects too high confidence into the measurand values, while overestimation of uncertainties could blur relevant information in the data. The information carried by the data can be exploited best, if the measurement result would be reported as original (not rounded) number accompanied by the values of the measurement uncertainty (Eggen, et al. 2019). This requires methods to calculate or estimate uncertainties for each analytical datum. Including uncertainties as separate values into the data interpretation is especially important if the data set has individual uncertainties, i.e., every data point has a its ‘own’ uncertainty.

Earth scientists need a method of estimating individual uncertainties based on a few multiple measurements. This method should consider the sample materials' characteristics for which the uncertainty should be assessed, e.g. range of potential measurand values, variability in sample material and heterogeneities. It should also allow to model several sources of uncertainties to account for the multi-step measurement procedure. And last but not least, the method should remain affordable and practical, e.g. the method should also be applicable if samples are send to external laboratories.

In this contribution, we present a method to quantify individual uncertainties with respect to the analyte level (Ellison and Williams 2012)[Annex E.5], including uncertainty model component which allows to model Poisson type error, e.g. due to heterogeneities which are typical for samples in the geosciences. Case studies and examples in data science languages are presented to facilitate the implementation.

Daucus carota suspension cells showed a high affinity towards Eu(III) and U(VI) based on a single-step bioassociation process with an equilibrium after 48 to 72 h. Cells responded with an increased metabolic activity towards heavy metal stress. Luminescence spectroscopy pointed to multiple species for both heavy metals in the culture media, providing initial hints of their interaction with cells and released metabolites. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we could prove that malate, as an released metabolite in the culture medium, was found to complex with U. Luminescence spectroscopy also showed that Eu(III)-EDTA species are interacting with the cells. Furthermore, Eu(III) and U(VI) coordination is dominated by phosphate groups provided by the cells. We found that Ca ion channels of D. carota cells were involved in the uptake of U(VI), which led to a bioprecipitation of U(VI) in the vacuole of the cells, most probably as uranyl(VI) phosphates along with an intracellular sorption of U(VI) on biomembranes by lipid structures. Eu(III) could be found locally concentrated in the cell wall and in the cytoplasm with a co-localization with phosphorous and oxygen.

It has long been proposed that phase-separated compartments can provide a basis for the formation of cellular precursors in prebiotic environments. However, we know very little about the properties of coacervates formed from simple peptides, their compatibility with ribozymes or their functional significance. Here we assess the conditions under which functional ribozymes form coacervates with simple peptides. We find coacervation to be most robust when transitioning from long homopeptides to shorter, more pre-biologically plausible heteropeptides. We mechanistically show that these RNA–peptide coacervates display peptide-dependent material properties and cofactor concentrations. We find that the interspacing of cationic and neutral amino acids increases RNA mobility, and we use isothermal calorimetry to reveal sequence-dependent Mg2+ partitioning, two critical factors that together enable ribozyme activity. Our results establish how peptides of limited length, homogeneity and charge density facilitate the compartmentalization of active ribozymes into non-gelating, magnesium-rich coacervates, a scenario that could be applicable to cellular precursors with peptide-dependent functional phenotypes.

In Southern Africa, cosmogenic nuclides have been used during the past two decades in determining the denudation rates, exposure dates, and burial dates of surfaces, soils, and deposits. That work has focused on the Great Escarpment in the semi-arid to arid western segment in Namibia and the humid south and southeast segments in South Africa (Makhubela et al., 2021a). We present the first cosmogenic beryllium-10 (10Be) denudation rates and uranium-thorium-helium ((U,Th)-He) dates in the very humid eastern segment of the Great escarpment in South Africa (Makhubela et al., 2021b). The 10Be denudation rates were obtained from river sediments and bedrock outcrops (2.7 – 14.1 m/Ma and 1.8 – 24 m/Ma, respectively), and they are similar in range to the values determined from the other segments of the Great Escarpment. These denudation rates are positively correlated with mean annual precipitation above 800 mm/yr, but the similarity of the denudation rates across the segments of the escarpment with different climates suggests that topography is the main driver of denudation. The (U,Th)-He dates were determined on pedogenic goethite concretions in oxisols at Graskop near the escarpment edge, using a new approach that incorporates helium data into U/Th disequilibrium dating. The ages range from 0.85 Ma to 1.05 Ma, documenting a long soil residence time. They coincide with the Mid-Pleistocene Transition and appear to indicate the last period of intensive chemical weathering on the eastern escarpment, when the climate of the region changed from wet to dry conditions whichthat lasted for ca. 600 kyr before the present humidification (Caley et al., 2018). Our results demonstrate that the combination of cosmogenic nuclides and U-series offer a novel way of dating and quantifying Earth surface processes in the context of past climate changes.
Caley, T., et al., 2018. Nature, 560, 76-79.
Makhubela, T. V., et al., 2021a. South African Geographical Journal, 103(1), 99-118.
Makhubela, T. V., et al., 2021b. Chemical Geology, 580, 120368.

Concepts for the safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste in deep geological formations to ensure isolation from the biosphere are based on a multi-barrier system. Cementitious materials are one component of the geotechnical barrier, used as backfill material, for borehole sealing and to enforce the mechanical stability of tunnels. Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), the principal binding phase of conventional concrete, is known to provide a high sorption capacity for trivalent to hexavalent actinides [1-3]. In modern concretes, Al-containing compounds such as blast furnace slag or fly ash are added, leading to formation of calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (C-A-S-H). To systematically study the influence of Al on both the structure of C-A-S-H phases and their U(VI) retention properties in comparison to C-S-H phases, three series of samples were synthesized in the absence and presence of U(VI). They comprise samples with Ca/Si molar ratios of 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6, representing different alteration stages of concrete, and increasing Al/Si molar ratios of 0, 0.06 and 0.18 within each series. Furthermore, the impact of temperature (25°C, 100°C, 200°C) on the structure of C-A-S-H phases and on the U(VI) retention mechanism was studied. Structural characteristics of the cementitious phases were obtained from powder X-ray diffraction as well as ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Al tetrahedra were identified to occupy bridging positions of the Si chain and cross-linking positions. Enhanced temperatures were found to increase the crystallinity of the material with the appearance of neoformed crystalline phases. U(VI) luminescence spectroscopy was applied to characterize the U(VI) binding. Several U(VI) species (surface-sorbed or C-A-S-H interlayer absorbed) are forming in different amounts, depending on the composition of the C-A-S-H phases.
Finally, to study the stability (or reversibility) of the U(VI) retention by the C-A-S-H phases in the presence of (i) high ionic strength pore waters and (ii) organics originally present as admixtures in cement-based materials, leaching experiments were conducted. In these experiments, simulated pore waters of complex solution composition and solutions containing gluconate as a representative of organic ligands that may be present under repository conditions, respectively, were used. The leaching experiments were conducted over extended timescales of up to 6 months. The results showed a high retention of U(VI) in the C-A-S-H phases under both abovementioned solution conditions. In conclusion, the immobilization of U(VI) by cementitious material via sorption and/or incorporation processes has important positive implications for limiting uranium migration during geological disposal of radioactive waste.

Children with high-risk SHH/TP53-mut and Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) have a 5-year overall survival of only 40 %. Innovative approaches to enhance survival while preventing adverse effects are urgently needed. We investigated an innovative therapy approach combining irradiation (RT), decitabine (DEC), and abacavir (ABC) in a patient-derived orthotopic SHH/TP53-mut and Group 3 MB mouse model. MB-bearing mice were treated with DEC, ABC and RT. Mouse survival, tumor growth (BLI, MRT) tumor histology (H/E), proliferation (Ki-67), and endothelial (CD31) staining were analyzed. Gene expression was examined by microarray and RT-PCR (Ki-67, VEGF, CD31, CD15, CD133, nestin, CD68, IBA). The RT/DEC/ABC therapy inhibited tumor growth and enhanced mouse survival. Ki-67 decreased in SHH/TP53-mut MBs after RT, DEC, RT/ABC, and RT/DEC/ABC therapy. CD31 was higher in
SHH/TP53-mut compared to Group 3 MBs and decreased after RT/DEC/ABC. Microarray analyses showed a therapy-induced downregulation of cell cycle genes. By RT-PCR, no therapy-induced effect on stem cell fraction or immune cell invasion/activation could be shown. We showed for the first time that RT/DEC/ABC therapy improves survival of ortothopic SHH/TP53-mut and Group 3 MB-bearing mice without inducing adverse effects suggesting the potential for an adjuvant application of this multimodal therapy approach in the human clinic.

Radionuclides released from nuclear accidents can be widely distributed and even enter the human food chain. If ingested, they interact with the fluids from the digestive system and can cause necrosis or carcinogenesis of human cells. To remove these radionuclides, decorporation agents are used. Clinical approved decorporation agents like ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) that are used against heavy metal poisoning show low oral activity.[1] Therefore, the focus of this work is set on EDTA and DTPA related compound ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Europium(III) is used as a non-radioactive analogue for trivalent actinides like americium and curium. The overall goal of the study is to expand the knowledge of processes underlying the interactions of radionuclides in the human digestive system in the presence of decorporation agents on a molecular level. To derive thermodynamic parameters, the Eu-EGTA-system is investigated at different physiological relevant pH values and molar ratios, using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS), NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Between pH 3 and 9 a very stable complex with a Eu(III)-EGTA-ratio of 1:1 is observed and comprehensively characterised from the ligands and metals perspective. Our knowledge on the speciation of Eu(III) in artificial biofluids of the human digestive system is now extended by the impact of EGTA on the speciation to measure the suitability of EGTA as possible decorporation agent for usage in radiation protection.[2] This work is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under grant number 02NUK057A and part of the joint project RADEKOR.

[1] P. W. Durbin, Health Phys. 2008, 95, 465.
[2] C. Wilke, A. Barkleit, T. Stumpf, A. Ikeda-Ohno, J. Inorg. Biochem. 2017, 175, 248.

We develop a software system for the spatial, temporal, and strategic optimization of the use of tests for SARS-COV-2. We have built an operational data store (ODS) using PostgreSQL to continuously consolidate datasets from multiple data sources, perform collaborative work, facilitate high performance data analysis, and trace changes. The ODS has been built to store the COVID-19 data from Germany, Czechia, and other areas. We have built the schema of metadata which is capable of orderly storing the data from those regions, and is scalable to the entire world. Next, the ODS is populated using batch Extract, Transfer, and Load (ETL) jobs and SQL queries are created which reduce the need for pre-processing data. The data can then support forecasting using a version-controlled Arima and Holt Winter model and other analyses to support decision making. The jobs run at a weekly interval and plan to upgrade to a daily interval. The results are finally displayed as a web app at https://www.where2test.de.

Safety of nuclear waste repositories in crystalline host rocks depends on realistic predictions of radionuclide migration in undisturbed geologies beyond the geotechnical barrier. There, the fluid migration paths will be - in absence of large scale connectivities like fissures, fault systems and joints - along weakzones like microcracks, alterations and grain boundaries. The retention potential of crystalline rocks is thus not only controlled by its modal mineralogy but also by the (heterogeneous) distribution of mineral grains, e.g. by contact area of different mineral surfaces to migration paths. Until now, reactive transport models assume homogeneous and isotropic distribution of minerals in the host rock. Including the spatial correlation of transport and mineralogy, especially the modal mineralogy along fluid migration paths, would significantly improve the estimation of radionuclide retention potential.
Modelling the microstructures is subject to uncertainties. Such uncertainties can be derived by estimating this spatial co-occurances from measured microstructures. The workflow requires spatially distributed data from analytical methods, which a) provide information about mineral composition including voids and b) allow to detect migrations paths and the mineral surface types with related areas. Here, information from gneissic samples is used to train a structure simulation model. The resulting variability of "accessible" mineral surfaces then allows to derive (by geochemical speciation codes) the variability of contaminant distribution coefficients based on sorption data and pore water composition. Finally, the spatial geological predictions are applied in reactive transport models to calculate the uncertainty of the radionuclide retention within a representative rock volume. In this contribution, we present a workflow from (real) samples to microstructure aware retention models, and discuss challenges of input data uncertainties, how they affect the total uncertainty of the model, and whether these models can be used for upscaling.

Nanopillars of ZnO were implanted with Au-400 keV ions at various ion fluences from 1 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻² to 1 × 10¹⁶ cm⁻² and subsequently annealed at 750 °C for 15 min in order to reduce the implantation damage and to support Au nanoparticle (NP) aggregation. It was found that implantation-induced effects and thermal effects influence the Au NP coalescence as well as the quality of the ZnO nanopillars. Rutherford Back-Scattering spectrometry (RBS) showed the broader Au-depth profiles than it was theoretically predicted, but the Au-concentration maximum agrees well with prediction taking into account the effective ZnO layer density. The implantation at the higher fluences induced the morphology modification of the nanopillar layer evidenced by RBS and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An indirect evidence of this effect was given by optical ellipsometry due to gradual refractive index changes in the ZnO nanopillars with the increased Au-ion fluence. Optical characterization of the Au-implanted and annealed nanopillars performed by means of photoluminescence (PL) and diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) evidenced the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) activity of the embedded Au NPs. The SPR-enhanced scattering and PL emission observed in the spectral range 500–650 nm are ascribed to Au NPs or more complex Au-clusters. In addition, the ellipsometry measurements of extinction coefficient are found to corroborate well results from DRS, both indicating increase of SPR effect with the increase of Au-ion fluence and after the post-annealing.

In case radionuclides (RN) enter the food chain and are incorporated by humans, they pose a possible health risk due to their radio- and chemotoxicity. Therefore, it is necessary to know the biokinetic processes as well as the speciation of the RN after ingestion in order to develop and improve specific methods for their decorporation. When RN are ingested orally, they first come into contact and interact with the biofluids of the digestive tract. However, for most actinides, little is known to date about their speciation and biochemical behavior in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the interactions of hexavalent uranium in the digestive steps and respective biofluids in the stomach (saliva and gastric juice) and small intestine (pancreatic juice and bile fluid). The combination of these two segments was also considered. Biofluids and digestive steps were artificially simulated based on human physiology. The chemical speciation of uranium was investigated using cryogenic time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (cryo-TRLFS) at 153 K. The results were compared with thermodynamic modeling.
The TRLFS experiments show that uranium is predominantly complexed with inorganic ligands, mainly carbonate and to a smaller extent phosphate, as confirmed by thermodynamic modeling. For the organic ligands, only some proteins, e.g. prancreatin, are involved in the speciation to a small extent. Based on this knowledge, specific decorporation agents can be developed and their influence on uranium speciation can be observed using cryo-TRLFS.

This research project examines the relationship between organizational culture and business-
IT alignment. With the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digitalization, this relationship is
changing. IT and its management tend to evolve from a service provider to a value creator. The
research question is about typical management culture characteristics and their contributions to
the strategic alignment to the business of the IT departments, teams, and solution providers.
For answering the research question, this study juxtaposes two four-quadrants models. First,
it applies Cameron and Quinn’s (2011) Competing Values Framework for examining organiza-
tional culture. This model attributes culture to the four types of clan culture, adhocracy culture,
market culture, and hierarchy culture with the dimensions of flexibility vs. stability and an in-
ternal vs. external focus. Similarly, Henderson and Venkatraman’s (1993) Strategic Alignment
Model differs four perspectives for business-IT alignment with the dimensions of functional inte-
gration into IT or business and the strategic fit, i.e., the internal vs. external orientation. These
strategic alignment perspectives and their performance criteria equal a cost center, an investment
center, a profit center, and a service center.
In a survey, respondents had to divide 100 points between four options. For example, the
dominant IT management culture type: is it a clan, adhocracy, market, or hierarchy? The
corresponding ipsative scales originate from the Competing Values Framework and result in
compositional data. After eliminating missing values and imputing zeroes, the analysis calculated
a linear model with the ilr-transformed variables in R with the package compositions. Converting
ilr coefficients into the clr space revealed a variance-/covariance-matrix with the weights of IT
management culture and its alignment as the mapping of clan culture to cost center at 0.05,
adhocracy culture to investment center at 0.13, market culture to profit center at 0.17 and
hierarchy culture to service center at 0.19.

The interfacial mechanism of uranyl electroreduction at Au-electrodes in HCl solutions was discussed on the light of systematic studies of cyclovoltammetry, normal pulse voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy and published electroanalytical research. Voltammetric waves were numerically deconvoluted on the basis of a reaction model consisting of a first masscontrolled, quasi-reversible first electron transfer and a subsequent reduction of interfacial U(V) intermediate species with adsorption of generated U(IV) products. The dependence of the kinetic parameters on [HCl] indicates an electron transfer following an inner-sphere type mechanism assisted by electrosorption of chloride ligands. The interfacial accumulation of chloride exerts a strong electrostatic repulsion of complexed uranyl and a consequent edged drop of electron transfer rates at [HCl] ∼ 0.5 mol l-1. The electron transfer steps are followed by a chemical desorption reaction of the unstable tetravalent uranyl in U(H2O)94+ species. It is shown that the numerical reproduction of voltammetric waves suits as a method for calculating kinetic parameters in multi-steps electrochemical reactions.

New materials showing specific magnetic and/or electrooptic properties incorporate critical raw materials such as Rare Earth Elements (REE). Due to their very specific technological application, it is necessary to separate the REE from each other and enrich them. The optimization of physico-chemical conditions for the design of effective extraction and recycling processes of REE relies on accurate and reliable thermodynamic data. However, no consolidated and internationally recognized Thermodynamic Database (TDB) is currently available for REE.

Several reviews and reports [1-5] on the aqueous chemistry/geochemistry of europium were published, but had several drawbacks, for example:

→ insufficient transparency about the selection procedure,
→ lack of systematic screening to gather primary literature sources,
→ too high reliance on the analogy with trivalent actinides,
→ for weak complexes such as chloride and nitrate, changes in the activity coefficients due to the replacement of up to 100 % of the background electrolyte anion by Cl− or NO3− was either completely overlooked or, if recognized, not handled properly,
→ too high reliance on the charge analogy for the estimation of missing ion interaction coefficients when the Specific ion Interaction theory (SIT) was applied.

This study aims at significantly improving the situation by carefully addressing all aforementioned issues in order to provide a reliable, robust, and internally consistent TDB for europium. All available primary literature sources for Eu(III) complexation constants and solubility products for the OH−, Cl−, NO3−, PO43−, SO42−, and CO32− inorganic ligands were thoroughly evaluated. This allowed deriving a recommended set of thermodynamic data at infinite dilution and 25 °C using the SIT. Results concerning the chloride, sulfate, and phosphate ligands will be presented [6].

[1] P.L. Brown, C. Ekberg, Hydrolysis of Metal Ions. Vol. 1, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2016.
[2] W. Hummel, et al., Nagra/PSI Chemical Thermodynamic Data Base 01/01, Technical Report 02-16, 2002.
[3] J.A. Rard, Chemical Reviews, 85(6) (1985) 555-582.
[4] K. Spahiu, J. Bruno, A selected thermodynamic database for REE to be used in HLNW performance assessment exercises, SKB Technical Report, 1995.
[5] S.A. Wood, Chemical Geology, 82(1-2) (1990) 159-186.
[6] N. Jordan et al., Coordination Chemistry Review (2022) (under revision).

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins mediates resistance to radio- and chemotherapy by activating integrin signal-
ing. In addition, mutual and cooperative interactions between integrin and growth factor receptor signaling contribute to
the cellular radiation response. Here, we investigate to which extend the crosstalk between β1 integrins and growth factor
receptor signaling determines the cellular radiation response of fibroblasts by assessing clonogenic survival and cell cycling.
By utilizing growth factor signaling competent and either β1 integrin wildtype GD25β1A fibroblasts or β1 integrin mutant,
signaling incompetent GD25β1B fibroblasts, we show basal clonogenic survival to depend on growth factor receptor but not
integrin signaling. Our data further suggest the cooperation between β1 integrins and growth factor receptors to be critical
for enhancing the radiation-induced G2/M cell cycle block leading to improved clonogenic radiation survival. By pharmaco-
logical inhibition of EGFR and PI3K, we additionally show that the essential contribution of EGFR signaling to radiogenic
G2/M cell cycle arrest depends on the co-activation of the β1 integrin signaling axis, but occurs independent of PI3K. Taken
together, elucidation of the signaling circuitry underlying the EGFR/β1 integrin crosstalk may support the development of
advanced molecular targeted therapies for radiation oncology.

This book chapter covers all aspects of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy observing actinides and nuclei in actinide-containing compounds with this spectroscopic technique.

Presentation at MU2E-II Workshop (virtual), February 22, 2022

Mining and processing involves a lot of decision making, on capacity
building, mine scheduling, blending, process parameters, and
contracted sales. Traditionally stochastic mine planning and
predictive Geometallurgy use stochastic knowledge provided e.g. by
conditional geostatistical simulations of the conditional
distributions of ore properties to infere optimal decisions through
stochastic optimization. Stochastic knowledge is however no fixed
fact, but can rather increase by later aquisition of information,
automatically as a direct consequence of the operation itself, and
optionally through additional exploration.

The contribution shows with simple and easy to comprehend sand box
examples how and why such future knowledge and even the option to
obtain future knowledge already changes, what is an optimal decision
even before this knowledge is obtained. In case of optional knowledge,
the decision to obtain it and when, becomes an integral part of the
decision problem. This radically changes what algorithms can be
feasibly used to compute optimal decissions. Straight forward
stochastic optimization is not yet computationally feasible, for
situations with increasing knowledge. The state of the art for models
using increasing information is to use reinforcement learning based
heuristics.

This contribution explores the idea of making a stochastic
optimizating possible by exploiting certain structures of the mining
related increasing knowledge optimization problem. Possible speedup
are based on 1) inequality relations in stochastic optimization
allowing for advanced branch and bound techniques, 2) exploiting the
fact that certain values are equivalent in different branches which
simplifies comparisions and precomputation, and 3) explicit
computation of conditional expectations in a partial separation of the
processing optimization and the scheduling optimization.

When assessing the safety of a nuclear waste repository, the interactions of dissolved long-lived radionuclides, such as the actinide neptunium, with corrosion products in the near-field of the repository are crucial processes that have to be taken into account. Zirconia (ZrO₂), the main corrosion product of the zircaloy cladding material of nuclear fuel rods, constitutes a first barrier against the release of radionuclides into the environment.
A multimethod approach was pursued to gain a thorough understanding of the Np(V) sorption processes on the water−zirconia interface. For the macroscopic description of the Np(V)−ZrO₂ system, pH-dependent batch sorption experiments (varying ionic strength, Np(V) concentration, and the solid-to-liquid ratio) as well as a sorption isotherm experiment at pH 6 were conducted. The uptake of Np(V) was pH-dependent, with an increased sorption starting from pH 3 and being at a maximum at pH 6 and above. The Np(V) sorption was independent of ionic strength, hinting to the presence of Np(V) inner-sphere complexes on the zirconia surface. This was supported by zeta potential measurements in the presence of neptunium, where a shift to higher pH values of the isoelectric point of the neat ZrO₂ was observed. The Np(V) sorption edge was shifted towards lower pH values with increasing solid-to-liquid ratio, indicating the presence of different kinds of sorption sites, which was also deduced from the shape of the sorption isotherm.
Molecular information of the surface species were obtained by Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (EXAFS) and in situ Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) revealing the predominant formation of inner-sphere Np(V) surface complexes. A short Np−Zr distance derived from EXAFS spectra suggested the presence of Np(V) bidentate complexes at the zirconia surface.
Reliable information about the number and denticity of surface species obtained by macroscopic and molecular spectroscopic investigations potentially facilitate modeling approaches such as surface complexation modeling (SCM) that in turn will contribute to a more profound prediction of the environmental behavior of neptunium.

Increased reactivity of radiation-damaged quartz in the alkaline pore water of concrete and its role in radionuclide transport is a subject that is becoming increasingly important as nuclear power plants (NPPs) around the world reach end-of-life. Quartz contributes more than half the weight of most concretes and up to 40 % of the total radioactive waste volume associated with the dismantling of an NPP.

The gamma-emitting radionuclides are the major contributors to the radiation dose rate in the concrete biological shield in the intermediate term after NPP shut-down. The appreciable activity and associated half-lives of these radionuclides pose a problem not only during the safe dismantling of NPPs, but also in terms of processing the concrete to reduce the active waste volume for final disposal in a repository.

While thermal neutrons are captured by atomic nuclei according to their thermal neutron cross-sections, fast neutrons undergo collision cascades, which cause defects in the structure of materials. The concentration of defects accumulates as a function of neutron energy and fluence. The high covalency and the density of Si-O bonds in tectosilicates, primarily quartz, followed by feldspars, makes these minerals very susceptible to radiation damage.

In this study, two inactive concrete powder samples were placed inside an instrumentation channel passing through the first biological shielding of an operating German NPP, respectively for a half- and a full fuel cycle. Using a plant-specific 3D-reactor model in conjunction with Monte Carlo neutron transport calculations, neutron fluences at the sample positions and the resulting gamma activities are calculated. We compare the measured and calculated activities of the gamma-emitting radionuclides

Synchrotron X-ray powder diffractometry was used to examine structural changes on sub-nanoscale. The local structure of the silicate aggregate minerals was investigated by solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy using 27Al and 29Si as probes.

With this work we wish to gain insights into the potential for alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in radiation-damaged concrete and the role this plays in the transport or sorption of radionuclides either present in situ via neutron activation or ex situ due to transport of leaked reactor cooling water.

Der Vortrag gibt einen Überblick über mikrobielle Prozesse in einem Endlager für hoch-radioaktiven Müll

Darstellung und Presentation von Daten innerhalb des UMB-II Projektes

Background and purpose
Continuing recent experiments at the research electron accelerator ELBE at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf the influence of beam pulse time structure on the Flash effect should be investigated in a zebrafish embryo model.
Materials and methods
The pulse structures of an isochronous and a synchrocyclotron were mimicked at ELBE with mean dose rates of 287 Gy/s and 177 Gy/s and pulse dose rates of 106 Gy/s and 109 Gy/s, respectively; and a macro pulsing for the latter. For comparison, a maximum (mean dose rate 2.5 x 105 Gy/s, pulse dose rate ~109 Gy/s) and a reference (mean dose rate of ~8 Gy/min) regime were applied. Radiation induced changes were assessed in zebrafish embryos over four days post irradiation.
Results
A significant protecting Flash effect with a clear dependence on mean dose rate was revealed for almost all endpoints and all electron pulse regimes relative to the reference. The macro pulse dependent prolongation of treatment time of the synchrotron-like regime reduce the protecting effect compared to the maximum regime delivered at same pulse but higher mean dose rate. The protecting Flash effect of the cyclotron-like regime was confirmed at a clinical isochronous proton cyclotron comparing the effects induced by 300 Gy/s relative to conventional proton beam delivery.
Conclusion
The mean dose rate or treatment time are more important than pulse dose rate for the extent of the normal tissue protecting Flash effect.

Studying matter under extreme conditions using density functional theory (DFT) is computationally expensive, since the degrees of freedom and consequently the configurational space grows rapidly with increasing temperature and pressure. Therefore, the use of DFT for such simulations is limited to fairly small simulation cells and time scales. Machine learning-based interatomic potentials (ML-IAP) provide access to much larger spatial and temporal domains, thus enabling the discovery of new and exotic magnetic materials. A majority of existing descriptors required to construct ML-IAPs neglect the spin degrees of freedom. Here, we present our preliminary ideas/workflows to construct "spin-aware" ML-IAP using the SNAP[1] descriptors and the coupled spin-molecular dynamics framework implemented in LAMMPS [2]. This modeling capability will complement upcoming experiments to magneto-structural properties in shock- compressed or laser-driven samples at elevated temperatures and pressures exposed to strong, pulsed magnetic fields, which are planned at photon sources such as within the HIBEF consortium at the European XFEL.

Fe-Cr alloys constitute the model systems for the investigation of radiation damage effects in ferritic-martensitic steels which are candidate structural materials for fusion reactors. In the current study Fe-10at%Cr alloy films of 70 nm thickness were irradiated by 490 keV Fe+ ions at 300 °C at doses ranging from 0.5 up to 20 displacements per atom (dpa). The Fe+ ion energy chosen corresponds to the energy of primary Fe(Cr) knock-on atoms from 14 MeV neutrons. The irradiation effects were investigated employing X-ray diffraction and X-ray and polarized neutron reflectivity. The irradiation produced dose dependent: a) lattice constant increase, b) grain size growth and c) Cr depletion in the matrix. These changes occur largely up to 4 dpa and afterwards the system attains a dynamic equilibrium.

We explore the temporal evolution of pre-Andean Cordilleran arcs in central and northwestern Argentina and northern Chile (27°-34°S) with a focus on the geochemical characteristics of the episodic magmatism and the relationship with crustal thickness. A compilation of ca. 5000 U-Pb bedrock and detrital zircon ages, with ages from 600 to 130 Ma, reveals seven temporal magmatic accretions with main peaks at ~526 Ma (Pampean); ~471 Ma (Famatinian); ~340 and ~305 Ma (Early Gondwanan); ~253 and ~221 Ma (Gondwanan); and ~ 160 Ma (Early Andean). We show that most of the magmatic episodes were developed in 30-50 km thick crust. Magmatism experienced fractional crystallization (r = 0) combined with variable degrees of assimilation (r > 0) that mostly did not exceed 30% crust. We conclude that increasing crustal thickness not only promotes more extensive differentiation by fractionation but also establishes conditions near host rock solidi at shallow crustal levels promoting further contamination in magmas.

Magnonics addresses the physical properties of spin waves and utilizes them for data processing. Scalability down to atomic dimensions, operation in the GHz-to-THz frequency range, utilization of nonlinear and nonreciprocal phenomena, and compatibility with CMOS are just a few of many advantages offered by magnons. Although magnonics is still primarily positioned in the academic domain, the scientific and technological challenges of the field are being extensively investigated, and many proof-of-concept prototypes have already been realized in laboratories. This roadmap is a product of the collective work of many authors that covers versatile spin-wave computing approaches, conceptual building blocks, and underlying physical phenomena. In particular, the roadmap discusses the computation operations with Boolean digital data, unconventional approaches like neuromorphic computing, and the progress towards magnon-based quantum computing. The article is organized as a collection of sub-sections grouped into seven large thematic sections. Each sub-section is prepared by one or a group of authors and concludes with a brief description of current challenges and the outlook of further development for each research direction.

During the sump recirculation phase after a postulated LOCA in PWR, the coolant in the reactor sump is recirculated to the reactor core by residual-heat removal pumps as part of the emergency core cooling system. Long-term contact of the boric acid containing coolant with hot-dip galvanized containment internals (e.g. grating treads) is assumed to cause corrosion of corresponding materials with the consequence of rising concentrations of dissolved zinc in coolant. As it was shown in previous research projects, subsequently formed zinc borates may precipitate within hot spots of the reactor core in the late phase of the LOCA causing thermal hydraulic effects. In PWR, ion exchange columns are installed as part of the coolant cleaning system, having potential to be used to remove dissolved zinc ions.
For evaluation of such approach, lab scale investigations with ion exchange resins to remove dissolved zinc ions from the coolant are carried out under typical conditions of the post LOCA phase (sump recirculation). The usability of the coolant cleaning system for this purpose was proven successfully. The further aim is to model the zinc removal process by the coolant cleaning system by means of data of the ion exchange capacity of different ion exchange resins and kinetic data for the zinc removal under LOCA conditions.

The investigations are carried out as joint research project of Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, TU Dresden, and Hochschule Zittau/Goerlitz. The goal is to build up a database for extensions of thermo-hydraulic simulation tools by the project partner GRS.

Hexavalent uranium is of considerable importance in the actinide field, and its characterization, consequently, of fundamental concern. The application of High-Energy-Resolution Fluorescence-Detected X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (HERFD XANES) spectroscopy at the M4 edge of actinides probes the 5f electronic structure with augmented resolution compared to conventional XANES and is gaining great popularity. If, from one side, the extreme sensitivity of M4 HERFD XANES to actinides’ oxidation state is well-established [1], its sensitivity to the local environment has been less extensively explored [2,3]. The partially filled 5f subshell makes intra-atomic electron interactions the primary force shaping the spectrum, and simulations treating multi-electronic effects can only approximately account for the local environment.
In these regards, U6+, with its empty 5f shell, is a fortunate exceptional case. Simulation approaches based on the one-electron approximation can then be applied, and the dependence on the local environment be carefully investigated. We recently reported a detailed investigation where experimental and simulated M4 HERFD XANES are obtained on a set of U6+ compounds with different local environments [4]. The coordination of U6+ represented by the set of samples comprises an almost perfect UO6 octahedral bipyramid (Sr3UO6), two UO6 featuring the uranyl ion (Cs2UO2Cl4 and SrUO4), and a UO8 distorted hexagonal bipyramid (CaUO4).
Experimental M4 HERFD are shown in Figure 1. The spectral shape has a similar structure, made of three or four peaks of decreasing intensity. At the same time, it presents significant differences indicating the substantial impact on the spectral shape of the local environment. We simulated the set of U6+ compounds with the DFT-based code FDMNES [5]. The good agreement between theory and experiment, see Fig. 1, makes it reasonable to have a closer look at the underlying f-density of states and to assign spectral features to specific f-orbitals.
Simulations allow to rationalize how the local coordination of U6+ affects the M4 HERFD XANES and demonstrate its high sensitivity to the local environment. Simulations based on crystal field theory were also performed. Their comparison to FDMNES results will be discussed.

We use transient absorption spectroscopy with circularly polarized x-rays to detect laser-
excited hole states below the Fermi level and compare their dynamics with that of unoc-
cupied states above the Fermi level in ferromagnetic [Co/Pd] multilayers. While below
the Fermi level an instantaneous and significantly stronger demagnetization is observed,
above the Fermi level the demagnetization is delayed by 35 ± 10 fs. This provides a direct
visualization of how ultrafast demagnetization proceeds via initial spin-flip scattering of
laser-excited holes to the subsequent formation of spin waves

Many biomarkers including neurotransmitters are found in external body fluids, such as sweat or saliva, but at lower titration levels than they are present in blood. Efficient detection of such biomarkers thus requires, on the one hand, to use techniques offering high sensitivity, and, on the other hand, to use a miniaturized format to carry out diagnostics in a minimally invasive way. Here, we present the hybrid integration of bottom-up silicon-nanowire Schottky-junction FETs (SiNW SJ-FETs) with complementary-metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) readout and amplification electronics to establish a robust biosensing platform with 32 x 32 aptasensor measurement sites at a 100 µm pitch. The applied hetero-junctions yield a selective biomolecular detection down to femtomolar concentrations. Selective and multi-site detection of dopamine is demonstrated at an outstanding sensitivity of ~ 1 V/fM. The integrated platform offers great potential for detecting biomarkers at high dilution levels and could be applied, for example, to diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases or monitoring therapy progress based on patient samples, such as tear liquid, saliva, or eccrine sweat.

Ion beam induced mixing (IBM) can be used for making protecting coating layers at room temperature. We have studied the production of tungsten-carbide, having high strength and low friction, by IBM since this material is also a candidate for protective coatings. WC rich layers have been produced by irradiating C/W multilayer of various structures (with individual layer thicknesses from 10 to 20 nm) by noble gases using medium energy projectiles. The resulting alterations of the samples have been measured by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) depth-profiling. TRIDYN simulations, with some parametrization, were applied to determine the elemental in-depth distribution after IBM; the compound formation was calculated by a simple model. The calculated and measured depth profiles were compared and excellent agreement has been found for a rich dataset differing in layer structures, projectiles, ion fluences and energies. The good agreement in a wide parameter range validates our procedure and allows the design of the WC-rich layers and also enables the significant decrease of the experimental work.

By performing a swarm-intelligent global structure search combined with first-principles calculations, a stable twodimensional (2D) AlB3 heterostructure with directed, covalent Al-B bonds forms due to a nearly perfect lattice match between 2D borophene and the Al(111) surface. The AlB3 heterosheet with the P6mm space group is composed of a planar Al(111) layer and a corrugated borophene layer, where the in-plane coordinates of Al covalently link with the corrugated B atoms. The resulting structure shows a similar interlayer interaction energy to that of the Al(111) surface layer to the bulk and high mechanical and thermal stability, possesses multiple Dirac points in the Brillouin zone with a remarkably high Fermi velocity of 1.09 × 106 m s-1, which is comparable to that of graphene. Detailed analysis of the electronic structure employing the electron localisation function and topological analysis of the electron density confirm the covalent Al-B bond with high electron localisation between the Al and B centres and with only little interatomic charge transfer. The combination of
borophene with metal monolayers in 2D heterostructures opens the door to a rich chemistry with potentially unprecedented properties.

A broken interfacial inversion symmetry in ultrathin ferromagnet/heavy metal (FM/HM) bilayers is generally believed to be a prerequisite for accommodating Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and for stabilizing chiral spin textures. By contrast, we present an approach for engineering both the sign and amplitude of DMI in relatively thick films without involving interfacial asymmetry, which is achieved through incorporating the composition gradient-induced bulk magnetic asymmetry (BMA) combined with strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC). The pivotal roles of BMA and SOC are theoretically examined based on the three-site Fert-Lévy model and the first principles calculations. Experimentally, both the sign and amplitude of DMI in films with controllable composition gradients along the growth direction, in the presence/absence of SOC are studied by using a Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy. Our results suggest that the appreciable value of DMI (±0.15 mJ/m2) could be established through combining BMA and SOC into relatively thick films. It is expected that our findings may help to further understand chiral magnetism and to design novel non-collinear spin textures.

Angularly resolved X-ray scattering measurements from fs-laser heated hydrogen have been
used to determine the equilibration of electron and ion temperatures in the warm dense matter
regime. The relaxation of rapidly heated cryogenic hydrogen is visualized using 5.5 keV X-ray
pulses from the Linac Coherent Light (LCLS) source in a 1 Hz repetition rate pump-probe setting.
We demonstrate that the electron-ion energy transfer is faster than quasi-classical Landau-Spitzer
models that use ad hoc cutoffs in the Coulomb logarithm.

Objective: Reliable radionuclide production-yield data are a prerequisite for positron-emission-1
tomography (PET) based in-vivo proton treatment verification. In this context, activation data acquired2
at two different treatment facilities with different imaging systems were analyzed to provide3
experimentally determined radionuclide yields in thick targets and were compared with each other to4
investigate the impact of the respective imaging technique.5
Approach: Homogeneous thick targets (PMMA, gelatine, and graphite) were irradiated with mono-6
energetic proton pencil-beams at two distinct energies. Material activation was measured (i) in-beam7
during and after beam delivery with a double-head prototype PET camera and (ii) offline shortly after8
beam delivery with a commercial full-ring PET/CT scanner. Integral as well as depth-resolved +-9
emitter yields were determined for the dominant positron-emitting radionuclides 11C, 15O, 13N and (in-10
beam only) 10C. In-beam data were used to investigate the qualitative impact of different monitoring11
time schemes on activity depth profiles and their quantitative impact on count rates and total activity.12
Main results: Production yields measured with the in-beam camera were comparable to or higher13
compared to respective offline results. Depth profiles of radionuclide-specific yields obtained from the14
double-head camera showed qualitative differences to data acquired with the full-ring camera with a15
more convex profile shape. Considerable impact of the imaging timing scheme on the activity profile16
was observed for gelatine only with a range variation of up to 3.5 mm. Evaluation of the coincidence17
rate and the total number of observed events in the considered workflows confirmed a strongly18
decreasing rate in targets with a large oxygen fraction.19
Significance: The observed quantitative and qualitative differences between the datasets underline20
the importance of a thorough system commissioning. Due to the lack of reliable cross-section data, in-21
house phantom measurements are still considered a gold standard for careful characterization of the22
system response and to ensure a reliable beam range verification

-- Anisotropy
DNS data of disperse bubbly flows in a vertical channel are used to study scale-dependent anisotropy for flows dominated by bubble-induced turbulence. We developed a new method, based on an extension of the barycentric map approach, that allows to quantify and visualize the anisotropy and componentiality of the flow at any scale. Using this we found that the bubbles significantly enhance anisotropy in the flow at all scales compared with the unladen case, and that for some bubble cases, very strong anisotropy persists down to the smallest scales of the flow. The strongest anisotropy observed was for the cases involving small bubbles.

-- intermittency
We experimentally explore the properties of bubble-laden turbulent flow at different scales, considering how the bubbles effect the extreme events of the flow. To this end, high-resolution Particle Shadow Velocimetry measurements are carried out in a bubble column in which the flow generated by a homogeneous distributed bubble swarm rising in water for two different bubble diameters (2.7 mm & 3.9 mm) and moderate gas volume fractions (0.26% - 1.31%). We considered the intermittency quantified by the normalized probability density functions of the longitudinal velocity increments. The results reveal that extreme values in the velocity increments become more probable with decreasing Reynolds number, the opposite of the behavior in single-phase turbulence. We visualize those extreme events and find that regions of intense small-scale velocity increments occur near the turbulent/non-turbulent interface at the boundary of the bubble wake.

Due to the “German Energiewende”, all nuclear power plants (NPPs) in Germany will have been shut down by the end of 2022. Consequently, a safe, economical, and efficient dismantling of the NPPs will be an important challenge for the next decades. This includes to progress with methods for optimal planning and implementation of decommissioning.
Several studies have been conducted to develop a standardized method for evaluating the specific and temporal progression of the activation in the reactor components, near-reactor concrete, and construction elements based on the reactor's power history. This will serve as an early non-destructive tool for the radiological characterization of the NPP's components. Such essential knowledge can significantly minimize the radioactive waste and the radiation exposure of the operating personnel during the NPP's decommissioning.
The studies considered two strategies. In the first one, the radionuclide inventory in the material of an NPP already under dismantling was investigated. Among others, Co-60 and C-14 in steel samples from the reactor pressure vessel and Eu-152 and Ba-133 in concrete drill cores from biological shielding were determined. In the second strategy, the neutron flux in NPPs still under operation was determined with activation monitors (small metal foils, e.g., In, Sn, Zn). The experimental data from both strategies were compared with results from Monte-Carlo simulations.
This work is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under grant numbers 15S9412 (WERREBA) and 15S9409A (EMPRADO) and is carried out in cooperation with PreussenElektra GmbH and EWN Greifswald GmbH.

In case radionuclides (RN) enter the food chain and are incorporated by humans, they pose a possible health risk due to their radio- and chemotoxicity. To precisely assess the health risk after oral incorporation of RN with food and beverages and to apply effective decontamination methods, it is mandatory to understand the processes of RN biokinetics on both cellular and molecular scale. Within the joint research project “Speciation and transfer of radionuclides in the human organism especially taking into account decorporation agents (RADEKOR)”, quantitative excretion analysis and biokinetic modeling of orally incorporated RN are performed. Additionally, these macroscopic investigations are combined with molecular speciation studies of RN in artificial fluids of the alimentary tract of humans and cytotoxicity studies with respective human and rat cell lines both in the absence and presence of decorporation agents. Aim of the project is to expand the knowledge of processes underlying RN interactions within the human alimentary tract on a cellular and molecular scale to establish a precise biokinetic model as well as to contribute to the development and improvement of nuclide specific decontamination methods.
This joint project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (grant number 02NUK057). The funding period is from July 2020 to December 2023 and cooperation partners are: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Leibniz-Universität Hannover (LUH), VKTA - Radiation Protection, Analytics & Disposal (VKTA), and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

The increasing application of positron emission tomography (PET) in nuclear medicine has stimulated the extensive development of a multitude of novel and versatile techniques to introduce fluorine-18 especially for the radiolabelling of biologically or pharmacology active molecules. Taking into consideration that the introduction of fluorine-18 (t_1/2 = 109.8 min) mostly proceeds under harsh conditions, radiolabelling of such molecules represents a challenge and is of enormous interest. Ideally, it should proceed in a regioselective manner under mild physiological conditions, in an acceptable time span, with high yields and high specific activities. Special attention has been drawn to 2-fluoroethyl and 3-fluoropropyl groups, respectively, which are often the active site of radiofluorinated compounds. Precursors containing an ammonium leaving group which consists of a strained azetidinium or aziridinium moiety can help to overcome these obstacles leading to a mild introduction of [¹⁸F]fluoride with high radiochemical yields.

This communication is one of the first attempts to assess CeO2 nanoparticles as a nanoplatform for radiopharmaceuticals with radionuclides. The process of functionalization using a bifunctional azacrown ligand is described, and the resulting conjugates are characterized by IR and Raman spectroscopy. Their complexes with 207Bi show a high stability in medically relevant media, thus encouraging the further study of these conjugates in vivo as potential combined radiopharmaceuticals

Advanced Cr-doped UO2 fuels are essential for driving safe and efficient generation of nuclear energy. Although widely deployed, little is known about their fundamental chemistry, which is a critical gap for development of new fuel materials and radioactive waste management strategies. Utilising an original approach, we directly evidence the chemistry of Cr(3+)2O3–doped U(4+)O2. Advanced high-flux, high-spectral purity X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), corroborated by diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high energy resolved fluorescence detection-XAS, is used to establish that Cr2+ directly substitutes for U4+, accompanied by U5+ and oxygen vacancy charge compensation. Extension of the analysis to heat-treated simulant nuclear fuel reveals a mixed Cr2+/3+ oxidation state, with Cr in more than one physical form, explaining the substantial discrepancies that exist in the literature. Successful demonstration of this analytical advance, and the scientific underpinning it provides, opens opportunities for an expansion in the range of dopants utilised in advanced UO2 fuels.

Earlier studies demonstrated that graphene oxide (GO)
with large number of defects is favorable for the sorption of
radionuclides. Here we report oxidation treatment which converts high
surface area activated reduced graphene oxide (arGO) into a 3D
analogue of defect-rich GO (dGO). Oxidation of arGO using
ammonium persulfate results in oxidation corresponding to carbon to
oxygen ratio C/O=3.3, similar to the oxidation state of graphene oxide
while preserving high BET surface area of about 880 m2/g. Analysis
of surface oxidized arGO shows high abundance of oxygen functional
groups very similar to dGO and hydrophilic properties. The “3D
graphene oxide” showed high sorption capacity for U(VI) removal in
an extraordinary broad interval of pH. Notably, the surface oxidized
carbon material has a rigid 3D structure with micropores accessible
for penetration of radionuclide ions. Therefore, the bulk “3D GO” can
be used as a sorbent directly without dispersing, the step required for
GO to make its surface area accessible for pollutants

One of the main tasks for today’s researchers in order to ensure the supply of critical raw materials is the efficient recovery and recycling of secondary resources. Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) are the key technology to electrify transport, which is one of the multiple measures proposed to prevent global warming. Therefore, the recycling of spent LIBs is of great interest and unvoidable. A major challenge in spent LIBs recycling, is the beneficiation of fine powder resulting from the battery crushing, so-called “black mass”, which contains the valuable lithium metal oxides (from the cathode) and the critical graphite (from the anode). One promising way to separate the graphitic material from the lithium metal oxides is through froth flotation, which separates the particles according to their differences in wettability.
In order to improve the separation process, one must first have a proper understanding of the particle properties. In particular, the lithium metal oxides are rather declared as hydrophilic and should therefore be easily separated from the hydrophobic graphite. Nevertheless, many studies report on their recovery into the froth product, along with the graphite, thus lowering its grade, which is most probably due to the residual hydrophobic binder that causes a change in their wettability.
In this study, different battery materials, including fresh lithium metal oxides and graphite, as well as real spent materials from LIBs were used. The particles were analysed for their wettability and wetting ability using optical contour analysis, inverse gas chromatography, particle attachment to bubbles, analytical particle solvent extraction as well as the Washburn method. These results are set into context with flotation tests and shed light on the particle wettability and its effect on the flotation separation efficiency, as well as the difficulties that arise when it comes to the recycling of spent LIBs.

Metal nanoparticles grafted within inert and porous wide-area supports are emerging as recyclable, sustainable catalysts for modern industry applications. Here, we develop gold nanoparticle-anchored supported catalysts by utilizing the natural metal binding and reductive potential of natural eggshell. Variable hand-recyclable wide-area catalysts between ~(80±7) and (0.5±0.1) cm2 are generated by varying the support dimensions. The catalyst possesses high-porosity (17.1 Å) and stability against high-temperatures (300°C), polar and non-polar solvents, electrolytes, acids and bases, facilitating compatible ultra-efficient catalysis. As validated by large-volume (2.8 liters) sewage-dye detoxification, gram-scale hydrogenation of nitroarenes and synthesis of propargylamine. Moreover, persistent-recyclability, monitoring of reaction kinetics and product intermediates are possible due to retrievability and interchangeability of the catalyst. Finally, the bio-nature of support permits ~76.9% recovery of noble gold simply by immersing in royal solution. Our naturally-created, low-cost, scalable, hand-recyclable and resilient supported mega-catalyst dwarfs most challenges for large-scale metal-based heterogeneous catalysis.

In ‘‘Joint EANM/SNMMI/ESTRO Practice Recommendations for the Use of 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT External Beam Radiation Treatment Planning in Lung Cancer V1.0” clinical indications for PET-CT in (non-)small cell lung cancer are highlighted and selective nodal irradiation is discussed. Additionally, concepts about target definition, target delineation and treatment evaluation are reviewed.

These are notes of lectures on spinning particles and the worldline formalism originally given by Olindo Corradini and Christian Schubert at the School on spinning Particles in Quantum Field Theory: Worldline Formalism, HigherSpins, and Conformal Geometry, held at Morelia, Mexico, from November 19 through November 23, 2012. The lectures were addressed to graduate-level students with a background in relativistic quantum mechanics and at least a rudimentary knowledge of field theory. They have since been up-dated to include a further set of lecture notes on tree level processes from a worldline perspective based on a mini-course by James P. Edwards at the Instituto de Fisica y Matematicas in Morelia, Mexico given to graduatesand visiting professors during July 2017 and in various later classes, com-plemented by a series of three lectures titled New techniques for amplitude calculation in QED given by Naser Ahmadiniaz at the Center for Relativistic Laser Science (CoReLS), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), November 2015, Gwangju, South Korea and as an invited lecturer at the Helmholtz International Summer School (HISS) - Dubna International Advanced School of Theoretical Physics (DIAS-TH): “Quantum Field Theory at the Limits: from strong Fields to Heavy Quarks”, July-August 2019, Dubna, Russia. These additional notes complete the picture of first quantised techniques and bring the worldline description up to date.

Mesozoic hydrothermal systems host the majority of Europe's fluorspar and barite resources as well as significant amounts
of metals such as Ag, Co, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu. Their genetic link to extensional tectonics in conjunction with the opening of
the North Atlantic has long been suspected, but their spatial and temporal relation to the tectonic evolution of Europe has
remained enigmatic. A thorough evaluation of available geochronological data for fluorite-barite-Pb-Zn, native-metalarsenide-
carbonate and MVT-type mineralization in Continental Europe and North Africa reveals a distinct, as yet
unrecognized, time-space relationship between the distribution of hydrothermal mineral systems and the tectonic evolution
of the Tethys-Atlantic-Caribbean rift system. The observed time-space relationship and ore-forming mechanisms are
evaluated to constrain the underlying driving force for hydrothermal mineralization in the context of the geodynamic evolution
of the European lithosphere. Based on this assessment we propose the first continental-scale model for the genesis of
Mesozoic hydrothermal ore deposits associated to the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea.

The recent upgrade of the Rossendorf Beamline at ESRF allows simultaneous collection of diffraction and spectroscopy (XRF and XANES). A 6-circle Huber diffractometer (XRD-1) with Eulerian cradle geometry is used for high-resolution powder diffraction and surface diffraction. The powder diffraction module uses an Eiger CdTe 500k detector, the surface diffraction module is equipped with a Pilatus Si 100k detector. PXRD data suitable for Rietveld refinement can be collected between 10 and 31 keV in an 2θ angular range of 0-65°. The Bragg reflexes in PXRD are extracted by radial integration using a modified pyFAI code. Diffraction measurements can be combined with XRF and XAS spectroscopy using a single-element Si drift detector (Vortex X90 CUBE, 1mm SDD, 25 mm Be window) with a FalconX1 processor.

The second diffractometer (XRD-2) consists of a heavy optical bench with an exchangeable goniometer and a Pilatus3 X 2M detector. It is used for single crystal diffraction and in situ or operando powder diffraction. Devices for non-ambient sample conditions are a hot-air blower (RT-1100K), a heating chamber (RT-1470K), and a LN2 cryostream (90-400K). This diffractometer is controlled with the Pylatus software. The single crystal data extraction is performed with CrysAlisPro. The Si drift detector can be placed in different positions to combine diffraction with XRF and XAS measurements.

Correcting for anomalous dispersion is part of any refinement of an X-ray
diffraction crystal structure determination. The procedure takes the inelastic
scattering in the diffraction experiment into account. This X-ray absorption effect
is specific to each chemical compound and is particularly sensitive to radiation
energies in the region of the absorption edges of the elements in the compound.
Therefore, the widely used tabulated values for these corrections can only be
approximations as they are based on calculations for isolated atoms. Features of
the unique spatial and electronic environment that are directly related to the
anomalous dispersion are ignored, although these can be observed spectroscopically.
This significantly affects the fit between the crystallographic model and
the measured intensities when the excitation wavelength in an X-ray diffraction
experiment is close to an element’s absorption edge. Herein, we report on
synchrotron multi-wavelength single-crystal X-ray diffraction, as well as X-ray
absorption spectroscopy experiments which we performed on the molecular
compound Mo(CO)6 at energies around the molybdenum K edge. The dispersive
(f 0) and absorptive (f 00) terms of the anomalous dispersion can be refined as
independent parameters in the full-matrix least-squares refinement. This procedure
has been implemented as a new feature in the well-established OLEX2 software
suite. These refined parameters are in good agreement with the independently
recorded X-ray absorption spectrum. The resulting crystallographic models show
significant improvement compared to those employing tabulated values.

Sensitivity of ⁴¹Ca measurements at the 6 MV AMS system at HZDR, DREAMS, using calcium fluoride (CaF₂) targets, is mainly limited by 2 factors: the total efficiency of the measurements; and the fraction of ions of its isobar ⁴¹K which mimic the signal of ⁴¹Ca in the gas ionization chamber detector.
The addition of lead fluoride (PbF₂) to the target mixture has been proven to boost the production of different (MFₙ)- ions. At DREAMS, changing the previously used mixture of CaF₂+Ag (1:4 w/w) by CaF₂+Ag+PbF₂ (1:4:4 w/w), ionization efficiency is increased from ∼0.15% to ∼0.45%.
The ⁴¹K suppression by the detector can also be improved, even without changes in the instrumentation itself. With an optimized analysis of the 4-dimensional signals from the gas ionization chamber detector, the suppression factor can be increased, at least, a factor 2: from 2 × 10⁴ to 4 × 10⁴.
The reported changes improve the total efficiency of ⁴¹Ca detection as well as the suppression of the ⁴¹K isobar and lead to a ⁴¹Ca/⁴⁰Ca sensitivity of 2-3 × 10⁻¹⁵ with an overall efficiency of ∼0.03%.

Objectives: An upregulation of cannabinoid receptors type 2 (CB2) has been reported in association with inflammation processes, traumatic brain injury, neurodegeneration and cancer.[1] The activation of CB2 leads to an anti-inflammatory action. Therefore, the non-invasive assessment of the CB2 availability with PET could improve the decision-making for CB2-directed therapies. We developed a series of fluorinated naphthyridine-2-one-carboxamides as CB2 ligands, of which [18F]LU14[2] and [18F]LU13 were radiosynthesized and biologically evaluated.
Methods: The two radioligands [18F]LU14[2] and [18F]LU13 were developed starting from appropriate precursor compounds.The fraction of radiometabolites was quantified in isolated plasma and brain samples at 30 min p.i. The CB2 binding affinities selectivities (expressed and determined from KD and Ki values of both radioligands were determined in vitro. PET studies were performed to evaluate the radioligand uptake into the brains of rats overexpressing the hCB2(D80N) in the right striatum[3].
Results: Favourable properties where achieved for [18F]LU14, which could be further improved for [18F]LU13 (AM, affinity, selectivity and metabolic stability). In rats bearing the local overexpression of the hCB2 a target-specific and reversible uptake for both radioligands was demonstrated. [18F]LU14 reached a TAC peak SUV of 3.3 ± 0.6 at 7.4 ± 2.8 min p.i., and the SUVr (target region–to–cerebellum) was stable between 6.6 and 7.0 after 30 min p.i. For [18F]LU13 a stable SUV of 3.6 ± 0.9 after 26 min p.i. was reached and a close to linearly increasing SUVr (target region–to–cerebellum) up to 8.8 ± 4.3 at 60 min p.i. was determined (slope = 0.15 SUV/min; R² =.0.8).
Conclusion: [18F]LU14 and [18F]LU13 showed an excellent ability to image the CB2 receptors in vivo. Additionally, [18F]LU14 revealed a faster washout from the non-target regions in the brain, compared to [18F]LU13.
References: [1] Stasiulewicz et al. IJMS, 2020, 21, 2778; [2] Teodoro et al. IJMS, 2021, 22, 15; [3] Attili et al. BJP, 2019, 176, 1481

The dynamics of radial A + B → C reaction fronts can be affected by buoyancy-driven convection. Motivated by recent advances in reaction-diffusion-advection (RDA) systems theory, we investigated experimentally a radial A + B → C RDA system under modulated gravity, using a Hele-Shaw cell setup onboard a parabolic flight. We evaluated characteristic properties of the RDA models, such as the temporal evolution of the total amount of product C, the width and position of the reaction front and compared them with theoretical predictions. During increased gravity, we observed an increase in the total amount of product C, formed and the front width, compared to the corresponding normal-gravity experiments, caused by the stronger buoyancy-driven convection in the former case. Finally, we report on experiments performed entirely in absence of gravity, eliminating buoyancy-driven convection. Despite the short observation time, comparison with ground experiments showed the effect of buoyant convection on radial RDA fronts, enhancing mixing and increasing product generation.

Guest editors Juliane Simmchen, Larysa Baraban, and Wei Wang introduce the topics covered in this special collection covering the synthesis, applications, and dynamics of active colloids.

Ten new organs at risk (OARs) were recently introduced in the updated European Particle Therapy Network neurological contouring atlas. Despite the use of the illustrated atlas and descriptive text, interindividual contouring variations may persist. To further facilitate the contouring of these OARs, educational films were developed and published on www.cancerdata.org.

Recently, a number of clinical studies have explored links between possible Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) elevations and patient toxicities and/or image changes following proton therapy. Our objective was to perform a systematic review of such studies. We applied a "Problem [RBE], Intervention [Protons], Population [Patients], Outcome [Side effect]” search strategy to the PubMed database. From our search, we retrieved studies which: (a) performed novel voxel-wise analyses of patient effects versus dose and LET (n= 13), and (b) compared image changes between proton and photon cohorts with regard to proton RBE (n=9). For each retrieved study, we extracted data regarding: primary tumour type; size of patient cohort; type of image change studied; image-registration method (deformable or rigid); LET calculation method, and statistical methodology. We compared and contrasted their methods in order to discuss the weight of clinical evidence for variable proton RBE. We concluded that clinical evidence for variable proton RBE remains statistically weak at present. Our principal recommendation is that proton centres and clinical trial teams collaborate to standardize follow-up protocols and statistical analysis methods, so that larger patient cohorts can ultimately be considered for RBE analyses.

Temperature-dependent reflectivity studies on the non-magnetic kagome metal RbV₃Sb₅ in a broad energy range (50 cm$^{-1}$ - 20000 cm$^{-1}$, equivalent to 6 meV - 2.5 eV) down to 10 K are reported. Below T_CDW=102 K, the optical spectra demonstrate a prominent spectral-weight transfer from low to higher energies as the fingerprint of the charge-density wave (CDW) formation with the opening of a partial gap. A detailed analysis reveals two energy scales of, respectively, ~800 cm$^{-1}$ (100 meV) and 360 cm$^{-1}$ (45 meV), the latter appearing below 50 K only. Additionally, two modes at, respectively, 160 cm$^{-1}$ (20 meV) and 430 cm$^{-1}$ (53 meV) can be traced both above and below T_CDW. They show strong anomalies already above T_CDW with a further renormalization across the transition, suggesting the importance of the electron-phonon coupling in RbV₃Sb₅ in both normal and CDW states. While the 160 cm$^{-1}$mode can be attributed to the E_1u phonon, the 430 cm$^{-1}$ mode could not be reproduced in our phonon calculations. The antiresonance nature of this mode suggests a nontrivial electron-phonon coupling in RbV₃Sb₅. A distinct localization peak observed at all temperatures signals damped electron dynamics, whereas the reduced Drude spectral weight manifests moderate deviations from the band picture in RbV₃Sb₅.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) has been introduced as a concept in cancer treatment to generate high local concentrations of anticancer therapeutics and overcome the limited diffusional distribution, e.g., in the brain. RNA interference provides interesting therapeutic options to fight cancer cells but requires nanoparticulate (NP) carriers with a size below 100 nm as well as a low zeta potential for CED application. In this study, we investigated calcium phosphate NPs (CaP-NPs) as siRNA carriers for CED application. Since CaP-NPs tend to aggregate, we introduced a new terpolymer (o14PEGMA(1:1:2.5) NH3) for stabilization of CaP-NPs intended for delivery of siRNA to brain cancer cells. This small terpolymer provides PEG chains for steric stabilization, and a fat alcohol to improve interfacial activity, as well as maleic anhydrides that allow for both labeling and high affinity to Ca(II) in the hydrolyzed state. In a systematic approach, we varied the Ca/P ratio as well as the terpolymer concentration and successfully stabilized NPs with the desired properties. Labeling
of the terpolymer with the fluorescent dye Cy5 revealed the terpolymer’s high affinity to CaP. Importantly, we also determined a high efficiency of siRNA binding to the NPs that caused very effective survivin siRNA silencing in F98 rat brain cancer cells. Cytotoxicity investigations with a standard cell line resulted in minor and transient effects; no adverse effects were observed in organotypic brain slice cultures. However, more specific cytotoxicity investigations are required. This study provides a systematic and mechanistic analysis characterizing the effects of the first oligomer of a new class of stabilizers for siRNA-loaded CaP-NPs.

The geochemical variations of magmas across and along supra-subduction zones (SSZ) have been commonly attributed to profound changes in the phase and chemical compositions of the mantle source and subduction-derived melt and fluid fluxes, as well as the physical parameters (e.g. depth, temperature, oxygen fugacity etc) of slab dehydration, mineral breakdown and melting. Here we test the variability of the Late Quaternary primitive magmas in the southern and northern parts of the meridionally oriented Eastern Volcanic Belt (EVB) of Kamchatka, with a slab depth varying from 60 to 160 km. Eight high-Mg (Mg# > 60 mol%) basalts were characterized for major, trace and platinum-group element (PGE) abundances, as well as the compositions of olivine phenocrysts and olivine-hosted spinel inclusions. The basalts in our study are geochemically typical of SSZ magmas and contain similar liquidus assemblages of forsteritic olivine (Mg# 78–92 mol%), low-Ti Cr-spinel and clinopyroxene. Although the absolute abundances of major and trace elements, and their ratios, in the basalts fluctuate to some extent, the observed variability cannot be correlated with any of considered parameters in the geometry of the Kamchatka SSZ and conditions of melting. This unexpected result led to the evaluation of the platinumgroup element (PGE) systematics against the lithophile and chalcophile trace element geochemistry and the compositions of phenocrysts. Total whole-rock PGE content varies from 2.3 to 11.7 ppb, whereas the normalized PGE concentration patterns are typical for supra-subduction zones magmas and broadly similar in all studied samples. They are enriched in Rh, Pd and Pt relative to mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) and have nearly identical concentrations of Ir-group PGE. The only parameter that correlates well with PGE contents is the average Mg# of olivine phenocrysts from 84 to 90.3 mol%. This is interpreted to result from minor cryptic fractionation of sulfide melt, together with primitive olivine, in low-to-mid crustal conditions. Negative Ru anomalies on chondrite-normalized diagrams correspond to the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratios in spinel (a proxy for magma redox conditions), which reflects a replacement of monosulfide solid solution by laurite in the mantle wedge during oxidation.

Radiomics analyses commonly apply imaging features of different complexity for the prediction of the endpoint of interest. However, the prognostic value of each feature class is generally unclear. Furthermore, many radiomics models lack independent external validation that is decisive for their clinical application. Therefore, in this manuscript we present two complementary studies. In our modelling study, we developed and validated different radiomics signatures for outcome prediction after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) based on computed tomography (CT) and T2-weighted (T2w) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging datasets of 4 independent institutions (training: 122, validation 68 patients). We compared different feature classes extracted from the gross tumour volume for the prognosis of tumour response and freedom from distant metastases (FFDM): morphological and first order (MFO) features, second order texture (SOT) features, and Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) transformed intensity features. Analyses were performed for CT and MRI separately and combined. Model performance was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) and the concordance index (CI) for tumour response and FFDM, respectively. Overall, intensity features of LoG transformed CT and MR imaging combined with clinical T stage (cT) showed the best performance for tumour response prediction, while SOT features showed good performance for FFDM in independent validation (AUC = 0.70, CI = 0.69). In our external validation study, we aimed to validate previously published radiomics signatures on our multicentre cohort. We identified relevant publications on comparable patient datasets through a literature search and applied the reported radiomics models to our dataset. Only one of the identified studies could be validated, indicating an overall lack of reproducibility and the need of further standardization of radiomics before clinical application.

The interactions of long-lived actinides, such as the transuranium element neptunium, with corrosion products in the near-field of a repository are important processes that have to be considered when assessing the safety of a nuclear waste repository. As a main corrosion product of the zircaloy cladding material of spent nuclear fuel rods, zirconia (ZrO₂) constitutes a first possible barrier against the release of radionuclides.
To gain a detailed understanding of the surface processes in the Np(V)−zirconia system, a comprehensive, multi-method approach was applied. The Np(V)−ZrO₂ system has been studied on the macroscopic level by conducting pH-dependent batch sorption experiments under varying conditions (ionic strength, Np(V) concentration, and solid-to-liquid ratio (m/V)). In addition, a Np(V) sorption isotherm at pH 6 was collected. The results revealed that Np(V) sorption onto ZrO₂ was affected by pH, Np(V) concentration, and solid-to-liquid ratio. Uptake of Np(V) increased with pH, starting around pH 3 with maximum sorption reached from pH 6. The shift of the sorption edge towards lower pH with increase of the m/V ratio points to the presence of different kinds of sorption sites. This is supported by the Np(V) sorption isotherm results, where the shape suggests strong and weak binding sites. Furthermore, Np(V) uptake was found to be independent of ionic strength and zeta potential measurements revealed a shift towards higher pH values of the isoelectric point of the neat ZrO₂ in the presence of Np(V). Hence, the formation of Np(V) inner-sphere surface complexes is indicated.
Molecular information about the surface species were obtained by Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (EXAFS) and in situ Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy, revealing the predominant formation of inner-sphere Np(V) surface complexes. A short Np−Zr distance derived from EXAFS suggests the presence of Np(V) bidentate inner-sphere complexes on the ZrO₂ surface.
These information obtained on a macroscopic and a molecular level can be used to restrict the number of surface species as well as their denticity in a surface complexation model. The thermodynamic surface complexation parameters of the Np(V)−zirconia system derived in this study will help to make more reliable predictions about the fate of Np(V) in the environment.

The single ion properties of the zig-zag chain compound SrTm₂O₄ have been investigated using heat capacity, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, inelastic neutron scattering, and polarized muon spectroscopy. Two crystal field models are employed to estimate the single ion properties; a Density Function Theory based model and an effective charge model based on the Hutchings point charge model. The latter describes our experimental results well. This model estimates an easy-axis anisotropy for one of the Tm³⁺ sites and an easyplane anisotropy for the second site. It also predicts a mixed ground state with dominating 𝐽 = 0 characteristics for both sites. Additionally, muon spin rotation/relaxation (𝜇⁺SR) spectra reveal oscillations, typically a sign of long-range magnetic order. However, the temperature dependence of the precession frequency and the relaxation rates indicate that the system is in an extended critical regime and the observed relaxation is actually dynamic.

In the present contribution, we demonstrate the application of a hybrid CFD approach, which allows for simulating dispersed phases as well as resolved interfaces within an Eulerian framework, for the flow on distillation trays for the first time. The morphology adaptive multi-field two-fluid model is exemplified for a generic tray setup with a single trapezoid fixed valve. Instead of fully resolving its geometry in the computational grid, we emulate the gas inlets by implementing local mass and momentum sources. Different source term implementations are tested and compared: continuous gas vs. dispersed gas sources and steady vs. dynamic sources. The simulation results are verified with experimental data from a lab-scale test rig with air-water flow. Local phase fractions were measured using a conductivity sensor array. The comparison of simulated and experimental results reveals that the relevant time-averaged and transient flow characteristics can be predicted satisfactorily when choosing proper source term implementations.

Particle agglomeration and breakage through pipe bends in turbulent flows are important for a wide range of industries and applications. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is presented where the population balance equation (PBE) is applied to track the particle size distribution for a periodic turbulent pipe flow with 180◦ bends with a fluid Reynolds number in the range 15, 000 < Ref < 35, 000 and for three different pipe bend radii of rB = 1dh, rB = 1.5dh and rB = 2.5dh. The critical parameters in the Eulerian framework are analysed and suitable parameters are chosen to describe the agglomeration of soot-like particles suspended in water based on an experimentally obtained particle size distribution. The experimental particle size distribution of flocculated
soot particles was measured using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 at the outlet of a static flocculator with a bend radius of rb = 1.5D. It is concluded that for the particle properties applied, the particle Sauter mean diameter converges to a constant value independent of the pipe bend radius when the fluid Reynolds number exceeds Ref = 30, 000. The agglomeration and breakage kernels for solid particles in a turbulent fluid flow are implemented in the open-source CFD library by the OpenFOAM Foundation.

More than 96% of steel in the world is produced via the method of continuous casting. The flow condition in the mould, where the initial solidification occurs, has a significant impact on the quality of steel products. It is important to have timely, and perhaps automated, control of the flow during casting. This work presents a new concept of using contactless inductive flow tomography (CIFT) as a sensor for a novel controller, which alters the strength of an electromagnetic brake (EMBr) of ruler type based on the reconstructed flow structure in the mould. The method was developed for the small-scale Liquid Metal Model for Continuous Casting (mini-LIMMCAST) facility available at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. As an example of an undesired flow condition, clogging of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) was modelled by partly closing one of the side ports of the SEN; in combination with an active EMBr, the jet penetrates deeper into the mould than when the EMBr is switched off. Corresponding flow patterns are detected by extracting the impingement position of the jets at the narrow faces of the mould from the CIFT reconstruction. The controller is designed to detect to undesired flow condition and switch off the EMBr. The temporal resolution of CIFT is 0.5 s.

Beginning with results for the leading-twist two-particle distribution amplitudes of π- and K-mesons, each of which exhibits dilation driven by the mechanism responsible for the emergence of hadronic mass, we develop parameter-free predictions for the pointwise behaviour of all π and K distribution functions (DFs), including glue and sea. The large-x behaviour of each DF meets expectations based on quantum chromodynamics; the valence-quark distributions match extractions from available data, including the pion case when threshold resummation effects are included; and at ζ5=5.2GeV, the scale of existing measurements, the light-front momentum of these hadrons is shared as follows: ⟨xvalence⟩π=0.41(4), ⟨xglue⟩π=0.45(2), ⟨xsea⟩π=0.14(2); and ⟨xvalence⟩K=0.42(3), ⟨xglue⟩K=0.44(2), ⟨xsea⟩K=0.14(2). The kaon’s glue and sea distributions are similar to those in the pion, although the inclusion of mass-dependent splitting functions introduces some differences on the valence-quark domain. This study should stimulate improved analyses of existing data and motivate new experiments sensitive to all π and K DFs. With little known empirically about the structure of the Standard Model’s (pseudo-) Nambu-Goldstone modes and analyses of existing, limited data being controversial, it is likely that new generation experiments at upgraded and anticipated facilities will provide the information needed to resolve the puzzles and complete the picture of these complex bound states.

Nanoscale coherent imaging has emerged as an indispensable modality, allowing to surpass the resolution limit given by classical imaging optics. At the same time, attosecond science has experienced enormous progress and has revealed the ultrafast dynamics in complex materials. Combining attosecond temporal resolution of pump-probe experiments with nanometer spatial resolution would allow studying ultrafast dynamics on the smallest spatio-temporal scales but has not been demonstrated yet. To date, the large bandwidth of attosecond pulses poses a major challenge to high-resolution coherent imaging. Here, we present broadband holography-enhanced coherent imaging, which enables the combination of high-resolution coherent imaging with a large spectral bandwidth. By implementing our method at a high harmonic source, we demonstrate a spatial resolution of 34 nm in combination with a spectral bandwidth of 5.5 eV at a central photon energy of 92 eV. The method is single-shot capable and retrieves the spectrum from the measured diffraction pattern.

With discovery of the Higgs boson, science has located the source for ≲2% of the mass of visible matter. The focus of attention can now shift to the search for the origin of the remaining ≳98%. The instruments at work here must be capable of simultaneously generating the 1 GeV mass-scale associated with the nucleon and ensuring that this mass-scale is completely hidden in the chiral-limit pion. This hunt for an understanding of the emergence of hadronic mass (EHM) has actually been underway for many years. What is changing are the impacts of QCD-related theory, through the elucidation of clear signals for EHM in hadron observables, and the ability of modern and planned experimental facilities to access these observables. These developments are exemplified in a discussion of the evolving understanding of pion and kaon parton distributions.

A Poincaré-covariant quark+diquark Faddeev equation is used to compute nucleon elastic form factors on 0≤Q2≤18m2N (mN is the nucleon mass) and elucidate their role as probes of emergent hadronic mass in the Standard Model. The calculations expose features of the form factors that can be tested in new generation experiments at existing facilities, e.g. a zero in GpE/GpM; a maximum in GnE/GnM; and a zero in the proton's d-quark Dirac form factor, Fd1. Additionally, examination of the associated light-front-transverse number and anomalous magnetisation densities reveals, inter alia: a marked excess of valence u-quarks in the neighbourhood of the proton's centre of transverse momentum; and that the valence d-quark is markedly more active magnetically than either of the valence u-quarks. The calculations and analysis also reveal other aspects of nucleon structure that could be tested with a high-luminosity accelerator capable of delivering higher beam energies than are currently available.

Beginning with precise data on the ratio of structure functions in deep inelastic scattering (DIS) from 3He and 3H, collected on the domain 0.19≤xB≤0.83, where xB is the Bjorken scaling variable, we employ a robust method for extrapolating such data to arrive at a model-independent result for the xB=1 value of the ratio of neutron and proton structure functions. Combining this with information obtained in analyses of DIS from nuclei, corrected for target-structure dependence, we arrive at a prediction for the proton's valence-quark ratio: dv/uv|xB→1=0.230(57). Requiring consistency with this result presents a challenge to many descriptions of proton structure.

Using a procedure based on interpolation via continued fractions supplemented by statistical sampling, we analyze proton magnetic form factor data obtained via electron+proton scattering on Q2∈[0.027,0.55] GeV2 with the goal of determining the proton magnetic radius. The approach avoids assumptions about the function form used for data interpolation and ensuing extrapolation onto Q2≃0 for extraction of the form factor slope. In this way, we find Tm=0.817(27) fm. Regarding the difference between proton electric and magnetic radii calculated in this way, extant data are seen to be compatible with the possibility that the slopes of the proton Dirac and Pauli form factors, F1,2(Q2), are not truly independent observables; to wit, the difference F′1(0)−F′2(0)/κp=[1+κp]/[4m2p], viz., the proton Foldy term.

With the aim of extracting the pion charge radius, we analyse extant precise pion+electron elastic scattering data on Q2∈[0.015,0.144]GeV2 using a method based on interpolation via continued fractions augmented by statistical sampling. The scheme avoids any assumptions on the form of function used for the representation of data and subsequent extrapolation onto Q2≃0. Combining results obtained from the two available data sets, we obtain rπ=0.640(7)fm, a value 2.4σ below today's commonly quoted average. The tension may be relieved by collection and similar analysis of new precise data that densely cover a domain which reaches well below Q2=0.015GeV2. Considering available kaon+electron elastic scattering data sets, our analysis reveals that they contain insufficient information to extract an objective result for the charged-kaon radius, rK. New data with much improved precision, low-Q2 reach and coverage are necessary before a sound result for rK can be recorded.

We present a novel method for extracting the proton radius from elastic electron-proton (ep) scattering data. The approach is based on interpolation via continued fractions augmented by statistical sampling and avoids any assumptions on the form of function used for the representation of data and subsequent
extrapolation onto Q2 ≃ 0. Applying the method to extant modern ep datasets, we find that all results are mutually consistent and, combining them, we arrive at rp = 0.847(8) fm. This result compares favorably with values obtained from contemporary measurements of the Lamb shift in muonic hydrogen, transitions
in electronic hydrogen, and muonic deuterium spectroscopy.

Childlessness or infertility among couples has become a global health concern. Due to the rise in infertility, couples are looking for medical supports to attain reproduction. This paper deals with diagnosing infertility among men and the major factor in diagnosing infertility among men is the Sperm Morphology Analysis (SMA). In this manuscript, we explore establishing deep learning frameworks to automate the classification problem in the fertilization of sperm cells. We investigate the performance of multiple state-of-the-art deep neural networks on the MHSMA dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that the deep learning-based framework outperforms human experts on sperm classification in terms of accuracy, throughput and reliability. We further analyse the sperm cell data by visualizing the feature activations of the deep learning models, providing a new perspective to understand the data. Finally, a comprehensive analysis is also demonstrated on the experimental results obtained and attributing them to pertinent reasons.

We discover a correspondence between the free field and the interacting states. This correspondence is firstly given from the fact that the free propagator can be converted into a tower of propagators for massive states, when expanded with the Hermite function basis. The equivalence of propagators reveals that in this particular case the duality can naturally be regarded as the equivalence of one theory on the plane wave basis to the other on the Hermite function basis. More generally, the Hermite function basis provides an alternative quantization process with the creation/annihilation operators that correspond directly to the interacting fields. Moreover, the Hermite function basis defines an exact way of dimensional reduction. As an illustration, we apply this basis on 3+1 dimensional Yang-Mills theory with three dimensional space being reduced through the Hermite function basis, and if with only the lowest order Hermite function, the equivalent action becomes the Banks-Fischler-Shenker-Susskind (BFSS) matrix model.

Vorstellung des Strahlenschutzes und der Strahlenschutzstruktur am HZDR. Es wird die Strahlenschutzpraxis im Institut für radiopharmazeutische Krebsforschung erläutert und aktuelle Projekte wie die Beantragung von Freigabewerten und das Alpha-Projekt aus Strahlenschutzsicht erläutert.

We investigate whether and how the quantum Zeno effect, i.e., the inhibition of quantum evolution by frequent measurements, can be employed to isolate a quantum dot from its surrounding electron reservoir. In contrast to the often studied case of tunneling between discrete levels, we consider the tunnelling of an electron from a continuum reservoir to a discrete level in the dot. Realizing the quantum Zeno effect in this scenario can be much harder because the measurements should be repeated before the wave packet of the hole left behind in the reservoir moves away from the vicinity of the dot. Thus, the required repetition rate could be lowered by having a flat band (with a slow group velocity) in resonance with the dot or a sufficiently small Fermi velocity or a strong external magnetic field.

In view of the coherent properties of a large number of atoms, Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) have a high potential for sensing applications. Several proposals have been put forward to use collective excitations such as phonons in BECs for quantum-enhanced sensing in quantum metrology. However, the associated highly nonclassical states tend to be very vulnerable to decoherence. In this article, we investigate the effect of decoherence due to the omnipresent process of three-body loss in BECs.We find strong restrictions for a wide range of parameters, and we discuss possibilities to limit these restrictions.

The presentation highlights the research data repository of the HZDR RODARE.
In the first part Maik Fiedler gives an overview of the current use of the repository, shows features and statistics on the development and embeds the system in the publication economy of the HZDR.
In the second part the update upgrade from Rodare to an InvenioRDM-based RODARE-RDM is introduced with the technical background and conditions by Oliver Knodel. Furthermore, the concept for the integration of Rodare into the HELIPORT data management system HELIPORT is presented.

We report radiocarbon dates obtained from on-shore marine and near-shore terrestrial deposits near Yzerfontein, on the West Coast of South Africa. These include Late Pleistocene shell concretions from the southern end of 16 Mile Beach and a marine shell deposit inland of the coastal Rooipan; mid-Holocene coastal pan deposits exposed by modern storm erosion of the sandy 16 Mile Beach; and four Holocene storm beach deposits on a rocky shore to the south. We interpret the results in terms of local geomorphology constraints on sea-level fluctuations. The eastern margin of Rooipan is a >40 ka elevated beach deposit in a dune cordon that separates it from the adjacent Yzerfonteinpan. Both pans have gypsum deposits up to 2 m thick formed by repeated marine overwash. Saline pan deposits that are exposed intermittently on the beach are mid-Holocene and indicate a former westward extension of Rooipan. This is in contrast to storm beaches dating 9 000–3 000 cal BP at higher elevations on a rocky platform further south. This suggests that a dune barrier existed seaward of the present shoreline near Rooipan at this time. The coastal changes described here show that deposition and erosion can be affected significantly by the local palaeo-geomorphology and cannot be ascribed solely to sea-level change.

Background: The Editorial Board of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry releases a biyearly highlight commentary to update the readership on trends in the field of radiopharmaceutical development.
Results: This commentary of highlights has resulted in 23 different topics selected by each member of the Editorial Board addressing a variety of aspects ranging from novel radiochemistry to first in man application of novel radiopharmaceuticals and also a contribution in relation to MRI-agents is included.
Conclusion: Trends in (radio)chemistry and radiopharmacy are highlighted demonstrating the progress in the research field being the scope of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry.

In light of Germany's exploration of clay formations as potential hosts for deep geological repositories (DGR), and the most likely use of bentonite as a buffer material, copper or carbon steel/cast iron would be the most appropriate container material [1]. The surface of the metal containers is a subject to anaerobic corrosion and microbially influenced corrosion in a DGR. The interactions at the metal/bentonite interface can determine the performance of such a multi barrier system [2].
This study investigates the microbial processes that can occur at the interface between metal container and bentonite, and evaluates the effects of the microbial communities naturally occurring in bentonite may have on the corrosion of the nuclear waste
container.
Microcosm experiments as described in [3] were performed with Calcigel bentonite. The microcosms, containing GGG40 cast iron coupons, artificial Opalinus Clay porewater and bentonite, were incubated in N2-atmosphere at 37 °C. Some of the microcosms were supplemented with sodium lactate to stimulate microbial activity. After the incubation period the content of the microcosms was investigated by various geochemical analysis, DNA isolation and amplification for microbial community analysis, SEM-EDX and RAMAN spectroscopy to characterize the surface structure of the cast iron coupons. Geochemical investigation of the samples showed a slight
lactate consumption. Surface analysis of the coupons with SEM confirmed a corrosion ofr the coupons incubated with Calcigel bentonite, as well as crystalline structures covering the coupons to some extent. The cast iron coupons incubated with bentonite including naturally occurring microorganisms showed a faster corrosion than control samples with sterilized bentonite. To get a better overview about the ongoing microbial processes, microbial diversity analysis and incubations for a longer time-frame are currently still under investigation.

References
1. Nieder-Westerman, G.H., et al. 2013, Radioactive Waste Management and Contaminated Site Clean-Up, 462-488.
2. Kaufhold, S., et al. 2020, ACS Earth Space Chem. 4, 5, 711–721.
3. Matschiavelli, N. et al., 2019, Environ. Sci. Technol., 53, 17, 10514–10524

In order to improve the understanding of counter-current two-phase flows and to validate new physical
models, CFD simulations of 1/3rd scale model of the hot leg of a German Konvoi PWR with rectangular
cross section was performed. Selected counter-current flow limitation (CCFL) experiments at the Helmholtz–
Zentrum Dresden–Rossendorf (HZDR) were calculated with ANSYS CFX 12.1 using the multi-fluid
Euler–Euler modeling approach. The transient calculations were carried out using a gas/liquid inhomogeneous
multiphase flow model coupled with a k-x turbulence model for each phase. In the simulation, the
surface drag was approached by a new correlation inside the Algebraic Interfacial Area Density (AIAD)
model. The AIAD model allows the detection of the morphological form of the two phase flow and the
corresponding switching via a blending function of each correlation from one object pair to another.
As a result this model can distinguish between bubbles, droplets and the free surface using the local
liquid phase volume fraction value. A comparison with the high-speed video observations shows a good
qualitative agreement. The results indicated that quantitative agreement of the CCFL characteristics
between calculation and experimental data was obtained. The goal is to provide an easy usable AIAD
framework for all Code users, with the possibility of the implementation of their own correlations.

Introduction
Prompt-gamma-based range verification has been clinically implemented using either prompt-gamma-imaging (PGI) or prompt-gamma-spectroscopy (PGS). Here, two proton therapy centers, currently investigating the clinical benefit of PGI and PGS, collaborated to systematically compare the two techniques in a set of benchmark experiments under equalized conditions.

Materials&Methods
The same anthropomorphic head phantom (CIRS, USA) was used for treatment planning, beam delivery and PG monitoring in both centers. Two pencil-beam-scanning fields (1GyE) targeting a brain lesion were optimized on a Dual-energy-CT using the same spot positions and energies in both centers, enabling spot-wise comparison. The horizontal short-range field was clinically realistic. The long-range, oblique field served as stress test. Absolute range verification accuracy against a blinded ground truth (SPR map) for both fields as well as the capability to detect relative range shifts, introduced by plastic slabs (2 and 5mm) on half of the short-range field, was assessed.

Results (µ±σ)
The absolute accuracy of PGI and PGS were (-0.5±0.8)mm or (2.4±0.8)mm for the short-range and (2.4±1.9)mm or (1.3±1.5)mm for the long-range field, respectively. Relative range shifts were detected with (2.0±0.9)mm or (4.2±0.8)mm accuracy for PGI, and (1.8±0.5)mm or (4.8±0.4)mm for PGS. Both systems show a performance worthy of clinical application for the detection of range deviations. Future improvements of their sensitivity are ongoing.

Conclusion
For the first time, two independent PG range verification systems utilizing different PG information have been successfully benchmarked under equalized conditions in two proton therapy centers. This marks an important milestone for translational research on proton treatment verification.

We have constructed an unprecedented MOF platform that accommodates a range of 5f-block metal ions (Th⁴⁺, U⁴⁺, Np⁴⁺, Pu⁴⁺) as the primary building block. The isoreticular actinide metal-organic frameworks (An-MOFs) exhibit periodic trends in the 12-coordinate metal environment, ligand configuration, and resulting ultramicroporosity. It holds potential in distinguishing neighboring tetravalent actinides. The metal ionic radius, carboxylate bite angle, anthracene plane twisting, inter-ligand interac-tions, and countercation templating collectively determine an interplay between solvation, modulation, and complexation, re-sulting in a coordination saturation of the central actinide while lanthanide counterparts are stabilized by the formation of a dimer-based motif. Quantum chemical calculations indicate that this large coordination number is only feasible in the high-symmetry environment provided by the An-MOFs. This category of MOFs not only demonstrates autoluminescence (4.16 ×10⁴ counts per second per gram) but also portends a wide-bandgap (2.84 eV) semiconducting property with implications for a multitude of applications such as hard radiation detection.

The oxidation of chromium in air at 700 °C was investigated with a focus on point defect behavior and transport during oxide layer growth. A comprehensive set of characterization techniques targeted characteristics of chromium oxide microstructure and chemical composition analysis. TEM showed that the oxide was thicker with longer oxidation times and that, for the thicker oxides, voids formed at the metal/oxide interface. PAS revealed that the longer the oxidation time, there was an overall reduction in vacancy-type defects, though chromium monovacancies were not found in either case. EIS found that the longer oxidized material was more electrochemically stable and that, while all oxides displayed p-type character, the thicker oxide had an overall lower charge carrier density. Together, the results suggest anion oxygen interstitials and chromium vacancy cluster complexes drive transport in an oxidizing environment at this temperature, providing invaluable insight into the mechanisms that regulate corrosion.

Knowing the temperature distribution within the conducting walls of various multilayer-type materials is crucial for a better understanding of heat-transfer processes. This applies to many engineering fields, good examples being photovoltaics and microelectronics. In this work, we present a novel fluorescence technique that makes possible the non-invasive imaging of local temperature distributions within a transparent, temperature-sensitive, co-doped Er:GPF1Yb0.5Er glass-ceramic with micrometer spatial resolution. The thermal imaging was performed with a high-resolution, fluorescence microscopy system, measuring different focal planes along the z-axis. This ultimately enabled a precise axial reconstruction of the temperature distribution across a 500-µm-thick glass-ceramic sample. The experimental measurements showed excellent agreement with computer-modeled heat simulations and suggest that the technique could be adopted for the spatial analyses of local thermal processes within optically transparent materials. For instance, the technique could be used to measure the temperature distribution of intermediate, transparent layers of novel ultra-high-efficiency solar cells at the micron and sub-micron levels.

The nature of the Fermi surface observed in the recently discovered family of unconventional insulators starting with SmB₆ is a subject of intense inquiry. Here we shed light on this question by accessing quantum oscillations in the high magnetic field-induced metallic regime above ≈47 T in YbB₁₂, which we compare with the unconventional insulating regime. In the field-induced metallic regime, we find prominent quantum oscillations in the electrical resistivity characterised by multiple frequencies and heavy effective masses. The close similarity in Lifshitz-Kosevich low-temperature growth of quantum oscillation amplitude in insulating YbB₁₂ to field-induced metallic YbB₁₂, points to an origin of quantum oscillations in insulating YbB₁₂ from in-gap neutral low energy excitations. Higher frequency Fermi surface sheets of heavy quasiparticle effective mass emerge in the field-induced metallic regime of YbB₁₂ in addition to multiple heavy Fermi surface sheets observed in both insulating and metallic regimes. f-electron hybridisation is thus observed to persist from the unconventional insulating to the field-induced metallic regime of YbB₁₂, in contrast to the unhybridised conduction electron Fermi surface observed in unconventional insulating SmB₆. Our findings thus require an alternative model for YbB₁₂, of neutral in-gap low energy excitations, wherein the f-electron hybridisation is retained.

The talk shows the work carried out at Institute of Resource Ecology in the last four years in the frame of Tc immobilization by Fe(II)-minerals and the future perspectives for collaboration between Freie Universität Berlin.

The Institute of Resource Ecology (IRE) is one of the eight institutes of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden–Rossendorf (HZDR). Our research activities are mainly integrated into the program “Nuclear Waste Management, Safety and Radiation Research (NUSAFE)” of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and focus on the topics “Safety of Nuclear Waste Disposal” and “Safety Research for Nuclear Reactors”. The program NUSAFE, and therefore all work which is done at IRE, belong to the research field “Energy” of the HGF.
IRE conducts applied basic research to protect humans and the environment from the effects of radioactive radiation.
For this purpose, we develop molecular process understand-ing using state-of-the-art methods of microscopy, spectroscopy, diffraction, numerical simulation, theoretical chemistry and systems biology. We implement this in a cross-institutional research environment at the HZDR. Our active interdisciplinarity combines radiochemistry, geosciences and biosciences as well as materials science and reactor physics.
We provide knowledge that is applied in particular to reactor and repository safety as well as in radioecology.
We achieve this goal with a unique infrastructure comprising chemical and biological laboratories as well as hot cells in corresponding radiation and biology safety laboratories in Dresden, Leipzig and Grenoble. In Grenoble, at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the institute operates a beamline with four experimental stations for continuously advanced X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction of radio-active samples, which is also available to external users.

TRPC6, the sixth member of the family of canonical transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, contributes to a variety of physiological processes and human pathologies. This study extends the knowledge on the newly developed TRPC6 blocker SH045 with respect to its main target organs beyond the description of plasma kinetics. According to the concentration-time course in mice plasma, SH045 is available in pharmacological effective plasma concentrations up to 24 h after administration of 20 mg/kg BW (i.v.) and up to the 5-fold of its IC50 until 6 hours, orally. The short plasma half-life and rather low oral bioavailability are contrasted by its high potency. Dosage limits were not worked out, but absence of safety concerns for 20 mg/kg BW supports further dose exploration. The disposition of SH045 is described. In particular, a high extravascular distribution, most prominent in lung, and a considerable renal elimination of SH045 were observed. SH045 is substrate of CYP3A4 and CYP2A6. Hydroxylated and glucuronidated metabolites were identified under optimized LC-MS/MS conditions. The results guide a reasonable selection of dose and application route of SH045 for target-directed preclinical studies in vivo with one of the rare high potent and subtype-selective TRPC6 inhibitors available.

Target audience: Audience interested in image-guided radiation therapy, innovative use-cases for MRI and experimental hardware developments.

Purpose: The physical integration of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with proton therapy (PT) into an MR-integrated PT (MRiPT) system is expected to improve the targeting accuracy of PT [1]. However, a successful integration has so far only been achieved in a proof-of-concept study [2], which demonstrated that in-beam MR imaging during proton beam irradiation at a fixed PT beamline is feasible. The purpose of this study was to develop a prototype system combining a low-field MRI scanner with a proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) beamline to enable a first in-human MRiPT treatment. This contribution presents first results of the installation and commissioning of the MRiPT system where the positioning reproducibility, magnet shimming performance and image quality were analyzed.

Methods: The setup consists of an open C-shaped 0.32 T MRI scanner (MRJ3300, ASG Superconductors SpA, Genoa, Italy) positioned in close proximity of the nozzle of a horizontal proton PBS beamline (Figure 1). The MRI scanner, which utilizes a permanent magnet, was encased in a custom-designed compact aluminum Faraday cage. At the location of the beam exit window of the nozzle, a beam entrance opening was incorporated in the wall of the RF cage, which was sealed by a thin (40 µm) aluminum foil to combine high RF attenuation and small lateral spreading of the traversing proton beam. The scanner and RF cage were mounted on top of an air-cushion-based transport platform, allowing the assembly to be accurately positioned in the beam path exiting the nozzle. The maneuvering of the assembly into treatment position was thereby visually guided based on room lasers that intersect at the natural beam isocenter and project onto the outer wall of the cage. The magnet was shimmed in treatment position close to ferromagnetic components of the nozzle where field homogeneity was measured using a magnetic field camera (MFC3045, Metrolab Technology SA, Geneva, Switzerland). During commissioning the MR image quality was assessed both quantitatively and quantitatively using the ACR Small MRI Phantom [3] and images of a healthy volunteer’s extremities acquired in coronal and transversal directions using various scan protocols (T1w SE, T2w TSE, T2w STIR, T1w 3D GE), respectively.

Results: The positioning accuracy and precision of the mobile in-beam MRI system was below 1 mm. A peak-to-peak B0 field homogeneity of 43 ppm over a 25 cm diameter spherical volume (DSV) around the MR magnetic isocenter was achieved during magnet shimming. Phantom imaging revealed a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of >80 and a geometric distortion of <1 mm over a 10 cm DSV around the magnetic isocenter. The quality of the MR images was deemed clinically useful for structural imaging and promising for the localization and monitoring of extremity soft-tissue tumors.

Discussion: Tumor visualization capabilities should be further investigated in patients with malignant soft-tissue tumors. A full workflow for patient positioning and irradiation is currently under development, including the development of accurate methods for PT treatment planning and dose verification that take into account the presence of the MR magnetic fields during dose delivery.

Conclusion: A 0.32 T in-beam MRI scanner was successfully installed and commissioned in front of a horizontal proton PBS beamline in preparation for the development of a first clinical prototype MRiPT system. Further developments in patient positioning, dosimetry and treatment planning are indispensable before a first in-human irradiation can be safely performed.

References:

[1] A. Hoffmann et al. 2020 Radiat. Oncol.
[2] S. Schellhammer et al. 2018 Phys. Med. Biol.
[3] Small Phantom Guide 4/17/18. American College of Radiology

Given its sensitivity to anatomical variations, proton therapy is expected to benefit strongly from reliable on-line treatment verification. As a light-weight, collimator-free technique that can be easily integrated into existing systems, Prompt Gamma-Ray Timing is a promising candidate for this purpose. The development of such a system is challenging, as the proton range delivered in the patient needs to be reconstructed with high accuracy from the temporal distribution of a very limited number of gamma-rays. So far, this reconstruction has been based on the mean and standard deviation of the distribution, but the accuracy of this method was found to be insufficient. We therefore developed multivariate statistical models based on additional histogram characteristics to improve proton range reconstruction.

Prompt Gamma-Ray Timing distributions acquired during pencil beam irradiation of an acrylic glass phantom with air cavities of different thicknesses were analysed. Relevant histogram features were chosen using forward selection and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) from a feature assortment based on recommendations of the Image Biomarker Standardisation Initiative. Candidate models were defined by multivariate linear regression and evaluated based on their coefficient of determination R2 and root mean square error RMSE on an independent dataset.

The newly developed models showed a strongly improved predictive power (R2 > 0.6) compared to the previously used models (R2 < 0.1). These results demonstrate that elaborate statistical modelling is a valuable tool to enhance the Prompt Gamma-Ray Timing method and increase its potential to be used for proton treatment verification.

Plasmonic modes in metal structures are of great interest for optical applications. While metals such as Au and Ag are highly suitable for such applications at visible wavelengths, their high Drude losses limit their usefulness at mid-infrared wavelengths. Highly n-doped Ge1−ySny alloys are interesting possible alternative materials for plasmonic applications in this wavelength range. Here, we investigate the use of highly n-doped Ge1−ySny films grown directly on Si by molecular beam epitaxy with varying Sn-content from 0% up to 7.6% for plasmonic grating structures. We compare plasma wavelengths and relaxation times obtained from electrical and optical characterization. While theoretical considerations indicate that the decreasing effective mass with increasing Sn content in Ge1−ySny films could improve performance for plasmonic applications, our optical characterization results show that the utilization of Ge1−ySny films grown directly on Si is only beneficial if material quality can be improved.

With the ongoing digitalization of industry, imaging sensors are becoming increasingly im-portant for industrial process control. In addition to direct imaging techniques such as those provided by video or infrared cameras, tomographic sensors are of interest in the process indus-try where harsh process conditions and opaque fluids require non-intrusive and non-optical sensing techniques. Because most tomographic sensors rely on complex and often time-multiplexed excitation and measurement schemes and require computationally intensive image reconstruction, their application in the control of highly dynamic processes is often hindered. This article provides an overview of the current state of the art in fast process tomography and its potential for use in industry.