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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 307 records · Page 17

Genetic Correlation with the DNA Repair Assay in Mice Exposed to High-LET

We hypothesize that DNA damage induced by high local energy deposition, occurring when cells are traversed by high-LET (Linear Energy Transfer) particles, can be experimentally modeled by exposing cells to high doses of low-LET. In this work, we validate such hypothesis by characterizing and correlating the time dependence of 53BP1 radiation-induced foci (RIF) for various doses and LET across 72 primary skin fibroblast from mice. This genetically diverse population allows us to understand how genetic may modulate the dose and LET relationship. The cohort was made on average from 3 males and 3 females belonging to 15 different strains of mice with various genetic backgrounds, including the collaborative cross (CC) genetic model (10 strains) and 5 reference mice strains. Cells were exposed to two fluences of three HZE (High Atomic Energy) particles (Si 350 megaelectronvolts per nucleon, Ar 350 megaelectronvolts per nucleon and Fe 600 megaelectronvolts per nucleon) and to 0.1, 1 and 4 grays from a 160 kilovolt X-ray. Individual radiation sensitivity was investigated by high throughput measurements of DNA repair kinetics for different doses of each radiation type. The 53BP1 RIF dose response to high-LET particles showed a linear dependency that matched the expected number of tracks per cell, clearly illustrating the fact that close-by DNA double strand breaks along tracks cluster within one single RIF. By comparing the slope of the high-LET dose curve to the expected number of tracks per cell we computed the number of remaining unrepaired tracks as a function of time post-irradiation. Results show that the percentage of unrepaired track over a 48 hours follow-up is higher as the LET increases across all strains. We also observe a strong correlation between the high dose repair kinetics following exposure to 160 kilovolts X-ray and the repair kinetics of high-LET tracks, with higher correlation with higher LET. At the in-vivo level for the 10-CC strains, we observe that drops in the number of T-cells and B-cells found in the blood of mice 24 hours after exposure to 0.1 gray of 320 kilovolts X-ray correlate well with slower DNA repair kinetics in skin cells exposed to X-ray. Overall, our results suggest that repair kinetics found in skin is a surrogate marker for in-vivo radiation sensitivity in other tissue, such as blood cells, and that such response is modulated by genetic variability.

cosmic radiation↗

A Standard RNA Sequencing Assay for Space Biology

Given the limited opportunities for biological experimentation in space, it is often desirable to compare results across experiments to gain additional insights into the effects of spaceflight on biological systems. However, this approach is made difficult by a multitude of confounding factors including differences in strain, hardware configuration, and sample processing. To help harmonize datasets, the NASA GeneLab Project has developed consistent sample and data processing protocols for the generation of raw and processed RNA-sequencing data from various mouse tissues. We will present these and discuss how they can be used to make novel discoveries from these precious samples.

Galazka, Jonathan↗

Heterogeneity effects on nondestructive assay measurements of enrichment in UF 6 cylinders

A set of measurements were performed using multiple mechanically cooled HPGe detectors at six positions around a cylinder uranium hexafluoride to assess if matrix inhomogeneity is detectible and effects the determined apparent uranium enrichment. These measurements were performed on nine 30B cylinders of uranium hexafluoride. Six of the cylinders appeared to be homogeneous and had similar apparent measured uranium enrichment, as calculated by the FRAM software, at all positions. However, three cylinders appeared to have local inhomogeneity based on the observed results. This was manifested as very low apparent enrichments, often <10% of the declared enrichment, on select positions. The side with a low apparent enrichment shows elevated daughter isotope activity (e.g., elevated 1001 keV and 766 keV peak count rate) and slightly reduced 235 U activity (lower 185.7 keV count rate). We hypothesize that these heterogenous cylinders may have experienced asymmetric solar heating, which caused volatile UF 6 to sublime preferentially away from the warmed side. A similar phenomenon was observed at a second facility where dose rate measurements confirm that the “low-enriched side” of cylinders show elevated gamma ray dose rates, likely from the removal of UF 6 attenuation and concentration of daughter-products. Care should be taken during uranium enrichment verification when applying methods that include gamma-rays associated with daughter nuclides to the determination of uranium enrichment on cylinders that are stored in sunlight and have asymmetric dose readings around the cylinder.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

High-Assay Low Enriched Uranium Pyroprocessing and Electrometallurgical Treatment at the Fuel Conditioning Facility

Fuel Conditioning Facility (FCF) fulfills part of INL’s mission by reprocessing irradiated sodium-bonded fuel from the EBR-ll reactor and participates in research to further explore the fuel cycle for recovery of fuel from a variety of current reactors in use today. The fuel cycle of a nuclear reactor under the current non-proliferation act, leaves unused fuel in the spent fuel rods. The rods are safely stored until their fuel can be recovered. ? Fuel recovery from the EBR-II fuel pins has several steps to separate the uranium from the salts. The pyroprocessing technology involves high - temperatures, chemical and electrochemical methods for separating the unused uranium from the salts, fission products, and used fuel. The recovered uranium is then remixed and formed into ingots or Regulus with an enrichment of < 20% U-235. This final product is a source to fuel current nuclear reactors as well as research and development for future nuclear reactors

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

High Assay Low Enriched Uranium - A material in demand and the supply efforts underway

The presentation briefly describes the HALEU demand, sources of supply, & work underway @ INL to meet some of the demand. It highlights HALEU recovery from EBR-II, process enhancements including recasting via multi tier drip cast crucible method to produce reduced dose and reduced physical size uranium ingots referred to as regulus. Includes additional polishing, to improve applicability to meeting HALEU needs and briefly touches on innovative recycling concepts under development (i.e. Zircex). HALEU enables reactors of reduced size, provides for increased fuel efficiency and longer core life, all of which contribute to less waste generation. Supplying HALEU from recycled material has the potential for further reductions in waste generation through via reductions in SNF disposition.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Methods for cytotoxic chemotherapy-based predictive assays

The invention relates to methods, systems and kits for determining therapeutic effectiveness or toxicity of cancer-treating compounds that incorporate into or bind to DNA. In particular, the invention is directed to methods, systems and kits for predicting a patient's treatment outcome after administration of a microdose of therapeutic composition to the patient. The methods provides physicians with a diagnostic tool to segregate cancer patients into differential populations that have a higher or lower chance of responding to a particular therapeutic treatment.

Henderson, Paul↗