125I Radioactive Particles Drive Protective Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Upregulating ATG9B

Background and Aims:125I radioactive particles implantation have demonstrated efficacy in eradicating hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,progressive resistance of HCC to 125I radioactive particles has limited its wide clinical application.Methods:We investigated the cellular responses to 125I radioactive particles treatment and autophagy-related 9B(ATG9B)silencing in HCC cell lines and Hep3B xenografted tumor model using Cell Counting Kit-8 reagent,western blotting,immunofluorescence,flow cytometry,transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry.Results:In this study,we demonstrated that 125I radioactive particles induced cell apoptosis and protective autophagy of HCC in vitro and in vivo.Inhibition of autophagy enhanced the radiosensitivity of HCC to 125I radioactive particles.Moreover,125I radioactive particles induced autophagy by upregulating ATG9B,with increased expression level of LC3B and decreased expression level of p62.Furthermore,ATG9B silencing downregulated LC3B expression and upregulated p62 expression and enhanced radiosensitivity of HCC to 125I radioactive particles in vitro and in vivo.Conclusions:Inhibition of ATG9B enhanced the antitumor effects of 125I particle radiation against HCC in vitro and in vivo.Our findings suggest that 125I particle radiation plus chloroquine or/and the ATG9B inhibitor may be a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Measurement of neutron and charged particle fluxes toward earthquake prediction

In this paper, we describe a possible method for predicting the earthquakes, which is based on simultaneous recording of the intensity of fluxes of neutrons and charged particles by detectors, commonly used in nuclear physics. These low-energy particles originate from radioactive nuclear processes in the Earth＇s crust. The variations in the particle flux intensity can be the precursor of the earth- quake. A description is given of an electronic installation that records the fluxes of charged particles in the radial direction, which are a possible response to the accumulated tectonic stresses in the Earth＇s crust. The obtained results showed an increase in the intensity of the fluxes for 10 or more hours before the occurrence of the earthquake. The previous version of the installation was able to indicate for the possibility of an earthquake （Maksudov et al. in Instrum Exp Tech 58：130-131, 2015）, but did not give information about the direction of the epicenter location. In this regard, the installation was modified by adding eight directional detectors. With the upgraded setup, we have received both the predictive signals, and signals determining the directions of the location of the forthcoming earthquake, starting 2-3 days before its origin.

Experimental and numerical investigation of liquid-solid binary fluidized beds： Radioactive particle tracking technique and dense discrete phase model simulations

Liquid-solid binary fluidized beds are widely used in many industries. However, the flow behavior of such beds is not well understood due to the lack of accurate experimental and numerical data. In the current study, the behavior of monodisperse and binary liquid-solid fluidized beds of the same density but dif- ferent sizes is investigated using radioactive particle tracking （RPT） technique and a dense discrete phase model （DDPM）. Experiments and simulations are performed in monodisperse fluidized beds containing two different sizes of glass beads （0.6 and I mm） and a binary fluidized bed of the same particles for vari- ous bed compositions. The results show that both RPT and DDPM can predict the mixing and segregation pattern in liquid-solid binary fluidized beds. The mean velocity predictions of DDPM are in good agree- ment with the experimental findings for both monodisperse and binary fluidized beds. However, the axial root mean square velocity predictions are only reasonable for bigger particles. Particle-particle interac- tions are found to be critical for predicting the flow behavior of solids in liquid-solid binary fluidized beds.

Study of various ground state decay mechanisms of Actinide nuclei

The special property of the actinide mass region is that nuclei belonging to this group are radioactive and undergo different ground state processes,such as alpha decay,cluster radioactivity(CR),heavy particle radioactivity(HPR),and spontaneous fission(SF).In this study,the probable radioactive decay modes of the heavy mass region(Z=89−102)are studied within the framework of the preformed cluster model(PCM).In the PCM,the radioactive decay modes are explored in terms of the preformation probability(P0)and penetration probability(P)at the turning point Ra,where the penetration of fragments is initiated[Ra=RT(touching state)+ΔR(neck length parameter)].First,the alpha decay half-lives are calculated for light and heavy nuclei,and Ra points are obtained by optimizing the neck length parameter.These Ra points are further employed to fix the Q-value dependent turning point(Ra(Q)).Then,using the(Ra(Q))relation,the decay half-lives are computed,and the calculated results are compared with the available theoretical and experimental data.The isotopical trend of P0 and P is studied with respect to the mass number of the parent and daughter nucleus,respectively.The CR and HPR channels are also explored,and a comparison of calculated data is conducted with the available literature.Comparative analysis of the fragmentation potential and preformation probability is carried out for alpha decay and SF.The mass distribution of the nuclei is studied as a function of fragment mass(A2)by considering the spherical and hot-compact deformation of the decaying fragments.Finally,the most probable fission fragments are identified using the fragmentation structure,and the corresponding fission fragment total kinetic energy of the identified fragments is calculated and compared with available data,wherever applicable.

The Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Interstitial 1-125 Seeds Implantation Combined with Chemotherapy and Chinese Medicine

Objective： To investigate the effects of brachytherapy with computed tomography-guided percutaneous radioactive 1-125 seeds interstitial implantation （ISI） synchronized chemotherapy and Chinese medicine （CM） for the treatment of advanced stage of non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods： Ninety patients diagnosed with NSCLC by biopsy were randomly assigned to three groups： the synchronized therapy group （A）, the chemotherapy plus CM-treated group （B）, and the chemotherapy-treated group （C）; a 2-month course of treatment was administered to them all. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated based on tumor size, tumor markers （carcinoembryonic, squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen, and cytokeratin 19 fragment）, clinical symptoms, and quality of life （QOL） in patients. Results： The total effective rates of Groups A to C were 83.33%, 46.67%, and 43.33%, respectively. The tumor markers were reduced obviously in Group A, showing significant difference compared with those in the other two groups. Additionally, QOL was elevated and cancer-related symptoms were alleviated more significant in Group A than those in Group C （all P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The synchronized therapy of 1-125 implantation with chemotherapy and CM was a safe therapeutic method and can be regarded as a new mode for treatment of advanced-stage NSCLC.

Ensuring adequate statistics in particle tracking experiments

Particle tracking techniques such as magnetic particle tracking,radioactive particle tracking and positron emission particle tracking are widely used in academia and industry to image the dynamics of particulate and multiphase systems.These techniques can provide detailed data concerning a range of important,whole-field quantities based only on the time-averaged dynamics of a small number of tracer particles.However,in order for this data to be reliable,the duration over which these time-averages are taken must be suitably long.Further,the‘minimum averaging time’required to produce good statistics depends sensitively on the system in question and,at present,cannot be determined a priori in advance of an experiment.In this paper,we take a step toward resolving this issue,using discrete element method simulations of a simple vibrofluidised granular bed to develop a series of scaling laws relating said minimum averaging time to a variety of key system variables.The scaling laws developed may be used by future experimentalists to predict the required averaging time for each given system during an experimental campaign,thus improving both the efficiency with which particle tracking techniques may be applied,and the reliability of the data produced thereby.

Agglomerate behavior in a recirculating fluidized bed with sheds： Effect of ring baffles

The radioactive particle tracking technique was used to study the effect of internal ring baffles on wet agglomerate motion inside a cold flow recirculating fluidized bed. The study found that using such a baffle on its own or above the regular sheds helps reduce the fouling of the stripper section by increasing the residence time that the agglomerates spend above the baffle, thereby reducing the release of the vapors below the baffles that cause fouling of the sheds. Adding down-comers, or flux tubes, to the ring baffles degrades the performance of the baffles, Reducing the length of the flux tubes, so that they do not reach the bottom of the baffle lip results in a further degradation in baffle performance.

Validation of CFD-DEM simulation of a liquid-solid fluidized bed by dynamic analysis of time series

Liquid-solid fluidized beds(LSFB)modeling validation is crucial for establishing design rules and monitor-ing tools.However,it generally relies on comparing global variables,which overlook dynamic features that influence reaction outputs.This work aims to implement time series analysis tools to compare Radioactive Particle Tracking data with a simulation consisting of Computational Fluid Dynamics cou-pled with Discrete-Element Method.Experiments have been performed in a pilot-scale LSFB of calcium alginate spheres fluidized with a calcium chloride solution.The Diks'test indicates that the simulation can capture the LSFB behavior.It also allows diagnosing flow regime transitions from the simulation.Trends of solid dispersion coefficients and mixing times predicted by the simulation are in good agreement with the experiments.