Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel

The existence and character of low-angular momentum quasi-bound states in 21 F was probed using a (p,n) reaction. Using an active target detector, the capture excitation function for 20 O + 1 H was measured for the first time. Near the barrier, the capture cross section manifests an oscillatory behavior with broad peaks ∼ 50-100 keV wide. The presence of these peaks reflects the existence of one or more low-angular-momentum states in the quasi-bound regime. One-channel coupled channel (CC) calculations, which account only for the ground state density distributions of the colliding nuclei, show reasonable agreement with the excitation function. However, they overpredict the experimental cross section at the lowest energies measured and fail to reproduce the experimentally observed oscillations. Inclusion of the first excited 2 + state in 20 O in R-matrix (CC) calculations does produce an oscillatory behavior that roughly reproduces the observed oscillations both in magnitude and position. This result suggests that the quasi-bound state in 21 F may share the vibrational character of the 2 + state in 20 O and possibly be coupled to it.

Purpose: Genetic classification may advance precision medicine in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), but existing tools like LymphGen (LG) are limited by complexity, incomplete classification, and do not incorporate non-genetic features that impact disease biology and therapeutic outcomes. To address these limitations, we developed LymphGen-sig (LGsig), a gene expression-based platform that classifies all DLBCLs and harmonizes both genetic and non-genetic dimensions of the disease. Methods: LGsig was built on the distinct subtype-specific gene expression signature of each LG class using paired genomic and transcriptomic data (NCI/BCCA; n=764). Model development was restricted to DLBCLs classified into MCD, BN2, EZB, or ST2. Gene features were selected by differential gene expression, with 294 genes being optimal for classification using a nearest shrunken centroid classifier. LGsig classifications were designated MCDsig, BN2sig, ST2sig, and EZBsig. The final model was applied to RNAseq from archival samples from the POLARIX trial (n=678) to assess outcomes after polatuzumab vedotin-R-CHP (pola-R-CHP) or R-CHOP for each LGsig subtype. Results: LGsig accurately identified LG subtypes using transcriptional data alone, and extended assignments to all previously LG-unclassified cases. Importantly, LG-unclassified DLBCLs reassigned by LGsig, mirrored the transcriptional and clinical features of their corresponding LG counterparts, supporting their reclassification. Additionally, LGsig reassigned LG A53 DLBCLs, characterized by aneuploidy and TP53 alterations, into more biologically and therapeutically-relevant LGsig clusters. Lastly, LGsig improved the performance of LG as a biomarker in the POLARIX study, by identifying distinct DLBCL subtypes exhibiting a survival benefit with pola-R-CHP over R-CHOP in both LG-classified and LG-unclassified cases. Conclusion: LGsig expands molecular classification beyond current genetic classifiers in DLBCL by integrating both genetic and transcriptional dimensions of the disease to better inform subtype-specific therapeutic strategies.

La transizione energetica richiede strumenti sempre più precisi per orientare le decisioni, ma spesso i risultati della modellizzazione rimangono lontani dalla pratica. In Piemonte è stato sperimentato un approccio innovativo, che ha permesso a ricercatori e funzionari pubblici di lavorare insieme e trasformare i modelli energetici in scenari concreti e attuabili. Grazie al modello EPLANopt (sviluppato da Eurac partendo da EnergyPLAN), sono stati sviluppati scenari di decarbonizzazione del sistema energetico piemontese al 2030, 2040 e 2050. Lo studio ha considerato tutti i principali settori energetici (elettricità, riscaldamento, trasporti e industria) e ha valutato diverse tecnologie (fotovoltaico, eolico, idrogeno, accumulo, efficienza). L’analisi territoriale tramite strumenti GIS ha permesso di mappare il potenziale delle fonti rinnovabili, rispettando vincoli ambientali e paesaggistici. Il dialogo continuo con la Regione ha reso gli scenari più realistici e aderenti alle priorità locali. Tra le azioni chiave emerse: l’espansione del fotovoltaico su tetto, regole dedicate per l’agrivoltaico, il risanamento energetico degli edifici, lo sviluppo di sistemi di accumulo e flessibilità, la decarbonizzazione dell’industria e il sostegno alle filiere locali. Questo approccio dimostra che, quando ricerca e istituzioni collaborano in modo strutturato, è possibile costruire strategie di decarbonizzazione attuabili, capaci di guidare la transizione verso un futuro a basse emissioni.

Low-temperature detectors, such as Magnetic Micro-calorimeters (MMCs), exhibit several characteristics that make them strong candidates for primary activity standardization of various radionuclides. As a relatively new technique, however, many aspects of MMC-based measurements still require validation. For this purpose, 241Am was selected to conduct an intercomparison of activity measurements between MMCs and other well-established conventional methods. The alpha-particle emitter 241Am is well-suited to such comparisons, as it can be standardized with low uncertainty using a variety of techniques, including defined solid angle counting, coincidence counting, ionization chambers, and liquid scintillation counting (LSC). A key challenge in this context is the preparation of sources compatible with both MMCs and traditional standardization methods. An 241Am source was prepared by electro-precipitation in a specially designed geometry compatible with both multi-channel MMC spectrometry and conventional methods. This source was measured by four metrology institutes - LNE-LNHB, CIEMAT, CHUV, and PTB - using different primary methods. Subsequently, the original source was divided into 21 secondary sources, which were integrated into 11 absorbers of a multi-channel MMC spectrometer for the final activity determination. Activity measurements using MMCs will be presented, along with the results of the intercomparison between different laboratories and techniques. The reported uncertainties are relatively high, in the range of a few percent, due to the rather low activity of the source and a potential loss of activity during the exercise. However, this first intercomparison provides insights and opportunities for improvement, which will be implemented in the future.

There are very few radioactive environmental reference materials (RM) traceable to the International System of Units. Existing radioactive RMs for environmental samples that can be measured by mass spectrometry are even more limited and their characterisation does not always include relevant parameters such as isotopic ratios. This paper focuses on the development of two environmentally relevant candidate RMs, one liquid and one solid, which could be used for routine quality control measurements. The liquid RM was prepared by spiking seawater sampled from the North Sea, and therefore the matrix is representative of a real environmental sample, while the solid RM was prepared using a synthetic approach by spiking a mixture of silica precursors before a sol-gel reaction. The homogeneity, between-bottles and within-bottles, of both RMs was assessed using gamma-ray spectrometry and mass spectrometry. For the liquid RM, the variation among sub-samples was due mainly to the within-bottle variance, and was lower than 1%, for all the radionuclides tested. For the solid RM, the 241Am content measured with gamma-ray spectrometry revealed a statistically significant variation between-bottles, but was lower than 1%. The 238U and 239Pu contents, measured by mass spectrometry, showed higher measurement variability (∼5%), with the main contribution coming from within the bottles.

With the recent return of extraterrestrial material from the Chang'E 5 and Chang'E 6 missions, and the upcoming Mars Sample Return mission, it is essential to develop optimised methodologies for their analysis. These samples are rare and valuable, typically consisting of low-mass, fine-powdered regolith with very low natural radioactivity. This work, carried out at the Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (LNE-LNHB), presents an adapted gamma-ray spectrometry methodology to determine the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in extraterrestrial samples, with a particular focus on understanding the mobility of in planetary regoliths and atmospheres/exospheres. A bespoke sample holder was designed to minimise gamma-ray self attenuation, particularly in the low energy range, while providing the gas-tightness and inert handling conditions necessary to preserve pristine extraterrestrial material. In addition, a high-purity germanium gamma spectrometer with an active anti-coincidence veto was optimised to increase detection efficiency, with a particular focus on the 46.54keV emission of . To validate this methodology, a Martian regolith analog (JSC Mars-1) was analysed immediately after enclosure, with a total measurement time of 36.25 days. This approach allowed for precise quantification of radionuclides in extraterrestrial samples, overcoming the challenges posed by their low mass, precious and difficult-to-handle nature. The measured specific activities (activity per unit mass of material) with expanded uncertainties (k=2) for , , , , and were 28.6 ± 5.7Bqkg-1, 19.8 ± 3.6Bqkg-1, 15.4 ± 2.5Bqkg-1, 0.13 ± 0.03Bqkg-1, 146 ± 12Bqkg-1, respectively, compatible with reported data on much larger sample masses. These results demonstrate the capability of this optimised methodology to aid in the radiological characterization of extraterrestrial materials while ensuring minimal sample usage.