A novel experimental approach to characterize neutron fields at high- and low-energy particle accelerators.

The characterization of particle accelerator induced neutron fields is challenging but fundamental for research and industrial activities, including radiation protection, neutron metrology, developments of neutron detectors for nuclear and high-energy physics, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, and studies of neutron damage on materials and electronic components. This work reports on the study of a novel approach to the experimental characterization of neutron spectra at two complex accelerator environments, namely the CERF, a high-energy mixed reference field at CERN in Geneva, and the Bern medical cyclotron laboratory, a facility used for multi-disciplinary research activities, and for commercial radioisotope production for nuclear medicine. Measurements were performed through an innovative active neutron spectrometer called DIAMON, a device developed to provide in real time neutron energy spectra without the need of guess distributions. The intercomparison of DIAMON measurements with reference data, Monte Carlo simulations, and with the well-established neutron monitor Berthold LB 6411, has been found to be highly satisfactory in all conditions. It was demonstrated that DIAMON is an almost unique device able to characterize neutron fields induced by hadrons at 120 GeV/c as well as by protons at 18 MeV colliding with different materials. The accurate measurement of neutron spectra at medical cyclotrons during routine radionuclide production for nuclear medicine applications is of paramount importance for the facility decommissioning. The findings of this work are the basis for establishing a methodology for producing controlled proton-induced neutron beams with medical cyclotrons

The 1,2,3-triazole ring as a bioisostere in medicinal chemistry

1,2,3-Triazole is a well-known scaffold that has a widespread occurrence in different compounds characterized by several bioactivities, such as antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor effects. Moreover, the structural features of 1,2,3-triazole enable it to mimic different functional groups, justifying its wide use as a bioisostere for the synthesis of new active molecules. Here, we provide an overview of the 1,2,3-triazole ring as a bioisostere for the design of drug analogs, highlighting relevant recent examples

Real-Time SER measurements of CMOS Bulk 40 nm and 65 nm SRAMs combined with neutron spectrometry at the JET Tokamak during D-D and D-T plasma operation

International audienceWe performed SER characterization of decananometer SRAMs combined with neutron spectrometry in the deuterium-tritium-fueled JET tokamak, demonstrating the impact of machine operation on the reliability of electronics in conditions approaching those of future fusion reactors

Renal involvement in sarcoidosis: histological patterns and prognosis, an Italian survey

Granulomatous interstitial nephritis in sarcoidosis (sGIN) is generally clinically silent, but in <1% causes acute kidney injury (AKI)