Radiation Protection Institute

The need for natural biocontrol agents has intensified due to the rising environmental impacts of synthetic insecticides and the increasing resistance of key agricultural pests, including the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). The aim of the current study was to determine the time and effectiveness profile of CORNTRA, a novel maize-derived β-32 Ribosome-Inactivating Protein (RIP) biopesticide. Through solvent extraction and ammonium sulfate precipitation, a concentrated RIP stock was formulated with 5% ethanol and tested against 2nd–4th instar larvae. Bioassays revealed that CORNTRA achieved a 100.00% mean corrected mortality, numerically exceeding the 83.33% mortality of the 0.5% chlorpyrifos benchmark. One-way ANOVA confirmed significant treatment effects (F (2, 6) = 31.00, p = 0.0007), while Tukey’s HSD indicated no significant difference in lethal efficacy between CORNTRA and the synthetic control (p = 0.4736), showing their near-equal performance. Crucially, CORNTRA also demonstrated a significantly faster onset of action (F (2,6) = 61.00, p = 0.0001) in comparison to the synthetic control, greatly outperforming it (p = 0.0064). Overall, CORNTRA showed a superior performance profile, combining rapid activity with high efficacy, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and effective biopesticide for the control of S. frugiperda.

Convolution and deconvolution (inverse convolution operation) are mathematical methods used for processing signals and images, and can be applied in different areas of knowledge, such as Astronomy, Geology, Mathematics and Medicine. The present paper aimed to verify or even demonstrate the relevance and analyze, through the management of scientific knowledge, the study of mathematical methods in different areas of knowledge and, in particular, in research in nuclear energy field through a survey in the Bank of Theses and Dissertations (BTD) of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). A bibliometric research of a quantitative nature was carried out. It is understood that, although few studies were found in the nuclear area, the use of the deconvolution process is evolving, considering its importance for spectrometry analyses, mainly for Metrology, an activity that is extremely relevant for the country.

In the context of armed aggression against Ukraine, the need to create an extensive network of rehabilitation centers for those injured and in need of medical and psychological support has increased. Such institutions combine the functions of medical buildings, dormitories, and social adaptation centers. There is a steady negative trend towards an increase in the number of fires in public buildings, in particular in healthcare facilities and rehabilitation centers. It has been established that the frequency of fires in rehabilitation facilities has an increasing trend. The increase in the number of patients due to the war leads to a more intensive use of electrical and heating systems. In conditions of energy instability, additional energy sources are actively used - generators, batteries, heating devices, which significantly increases the risk of fire. Some buildings do not meet modern fire safety requirements due to outdated structures and an imperfect fire protection system. The increase in the number of fires leads to an increase in the level of individual and collective fire risk, especially given the limited evacuation possibilities of low-mobility population groups. This requires improving fire risk assessment methods and developing a comprehensive fire safety management system for rehabilitation centers. The improved approach proposed in the article involves integrating the probability of death or injury into the calculation of individual fire risk, which makes the assessment more adapted to real-world conditions. The increase in the number and consequences of fires not only increases the relevance of developing integrated fire safety management systems in rehabilitation centers, but also requires a transition to a risk-oriented model with an emphasis on preventive measures, modernization of fire protection systems, and development of evacuation algorithms. A feature of the functioning of such facilities is the presence of a large number of people with limited mobility, the use of special medical equipment and placement in outdated buildings that were designed without taking into account modern fire safety requirements. Therefore, factors of increased fire risk are: the use of old buildings, limited possibilities for evacuating patients, high density of people in wards, threats associated with the possibility of damage to buildings during massive shelling. However, there are practically no comprehensive studies dedicated specifically to rehabilitation centers. The issue of providing modern fire protection systems also remains problematic. Some rehabilitation centers are located in buildings that were not originally intended for medical use, or in outdated buildings that lack automatic fire extinguishing systems, smoke extraction, and proper evacuation exits. In conditions of war and massive shelling, external damage to buildings has become an additional risk factor, which increases the risk of fire and complicates timely evacuation. Thus, the scientific and practical problem is the need to develop a methodology for assessing fire risks, adapted specifically for rehabilitation centers. Such a methodology should take into account the characteristics of patients, the density of people, evacuation restrictions, architectural and planning direction, as well as the level of technical support for fire-fighting systems. Its implementation will allow forming an adequate risk management strategy, increasing the safety of patients and staff, and ensuring compliance with modern standards of a risk-oriented approach

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) represent a new class of nanomaterials that, due to their optical, electronic, and chemical properties, have gained attention for various applications in industry, health, and the environment. However, the understanding of their dynamics and behavior in different environmental compartments is still in its early stages, requiring further research, although recent studies have already highlighted their potential for the remediation of polluted environments. While knowledge about the behavior of radionuclides in soils has advanced, research on semi-arid soils remains limited, both nationally and internationally. To address some of these gaps, this study determined the distribution coefficient (Kd) values for 137Cs and 60Co in some soils from the Brazilian semiarid region (Latossolo and Argissolo, respectively Ferralsol and Acrisol in the FAO classification), considering variations in pH and the presence or absence of GQDs. The obtained Kd values for 137Cs and 60Co showed different responses of the soils to the radionuclides, pH variations, and/or the presence of GQDs. The geometric mean of 137Cs Kd values to the studied soils were 510 mL g-1 in the Acrisol and 1730 mL g-1 in the Ferralsol, differing from the generic values found in the literature, which are often used as standard in radioecological models due to the lack of regional data. The geometric mean for 60Co Kd values were 791 mL g-1 in the Acrisol and 395 mL g-1 in the Ferralsol, also diverging from the generic literature values. These results highlight the responses of certain Brazilian soils to the introduction of exogenous materials and the need to obtain specific Kd values for semi-arid soils, aiming to improve environmental protection strategies.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Task Group 120 (TG120) is developing ICRP recommendations for radiological protection for a wide range of radiation accidents and malicious events, complementing those given in ICRP Publication 146 (2020) for large nuclear accidents. The scope includes accidents involving criticalities, operating faults, and fires and explosions in nuclear facilities, inadvertent damage to sealed radiation sources, as well as malicious events, such as sabotage of nuclear facilities or materials, use of radiological dispersal devices, the contamination of food and drinking water supplies, and the deployment of nuclear weapons. A template has been designed to collate relevant information on a wide range of case studies and hypothetical malicious scenarios to ensure that the recommendations developed are broadly applicable and comprehensive. For all scenarios, a graded approach to protection is being taken, accepting that specific guidance may be required for some distinctive aspects, for example, protection during times of armed conflict. This paper provides an overview of the scenarios and scope of the work of TG120, including some of the radiological and non-radiological impacts of radiation emergencies, along the response and recovery timeline.

The article examines the issues of maintaining the proper level of the educational process in the conditions of martial law through the involvement of innovative and information technologies.A theoretical study of the scientific achievements of foreign and domestic scientists on optimization and modernization of methods and techniques for conducting practical classes in online and offline learning conditions was conducted.An analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of teaching aids and innovative technologies, the use of which during classes, improves the quality of students' acquisition of practical skills.It is emphasized that education has absorbed and adapted learning technologies over a long period of time.However, what distinguishes the digital era from all previous eras is the rapid pace of technological development and immersion in technological activities in everyday life.Thus, it is fair to note the tremendous impact of the Internet on education as a paradigm shift, at least in terms of learning technologies.Pedagogical innovations, in a narrow sense, are aimed at overcoming the crisis in education by improving the quality of the educational process, giving the educational process a personally oriented, humanistic character, and in a broad sense -at the formation of a harmoniously developed, innovatively thinking and socially adapted person, capable of mastering

In a world where information has a high speed of propagation and is present in the most diverse media, it is essential to follow the news in order to keep the population informed about the actions taken, the real risks and the consequences of an alleged nuclear accident. Effective public communication is understood to encourage the implementation of appropriate protective actions by people at risk and reassure individuals who are not directly at risk, reducing rumors and fears. Thus, the Strategic Communication Planning (SCP) acquires high relevance in a context of panic control, disseminating the correct procedures that will directly contribute to the coordination of the nuclear emergency. In this sense, this work aims to present the steps of a SCP in the case of a nuclear emergency at the Almirante Álvaro Alberto Nuclear Power Plant. In this case, the SCP is divided into the Risk Management and Accident Management phases, being prepared in order to unite the legislation in force in the country with international agreements, technical standards and civil defense doctrines. It is understood that the SCP makes it possible to efficiently build communication channels with the public, as well as to provide authorities with strategies to disseminate information, creating performance indices to evaluate these strategies in relation to the stakeholders in the communication process, because only with a Implemented SCP will make it possible to create a continuous improvement in the information feedback processes with an increase in the quality of communications

ЗМЕНШЕННЯ РИЗИКУ УРАЖЕННЯ НАСЕЛЕННЯ УКРАЇНИ У РАЗІ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ХІМІЧНОЇ ЗБРОЇАнотація.Від початку повномасштабного нападу російської федерації на Україну існує постійна загроза