Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN)
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Heterogeneous intratumor irradiation: a new partner for immunotherapy
No full textInternational audienceWe recently demonstrated that a heterogeneous tumor irradiation strategy, combining high-dose and low-dose radiotherapy (RT) within the same tumor volume, can synergize with immunotherapy in mice.Our findings indicate that heterogeneous RT doses may promote the spatial diversification of the antitumor immune response. Spatial fractionation of the RT dose has the potential to enhance the therapeutic index of RT/IO combinations, particularly in scenarios where irradiating the entire tumor volume is unfeasible or excessively harmful to the patient.</p
The system of radiological protection and the UN sustainable development goals
No full textInternational audienceIn 2015 the United Nations issued 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing a wide range of global social, economic, and environmental challenges. The main goal of this paper is to provide an understanding of how the current System of Radiological Protection relates to these SDGs. In the first part it is proposed that the current System of Radiological Protection is implicitly linked to sustainable development. This is substantiated by analysing the features of the current System as set out by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in its publications.In the second part it is proposed that sustainability should be considered and more explicitly addressed in the next ICRP general recommendations, as part of the currently ongoing review and revision of the current System. A few examples are given of how this could be realised, and it is proposed that this issue should be discussed and developed together with the international community interested in radiological protection
Premiers pas vers la mise en production de la caractérisation probabiliste des déchets radioactifs
No full textInternational audienceWe present the findings of the probabilistic radiological characterization exercise conducted within the EU project MICADO ''Measurement and Instrumentation for Cleaning and Decommissioning Operations". A Bayesian inversion approach that accounts for uncertainty in the measurement efficiencies is used to interpret combinations of (i) segmented gamma scanning (SGS) spectrometry, (ii) passive neutron coincidence counting (PNCC) and (iii) active neutron interrogation (AN), in a fully virtual experiment. The considered Bayesian approach treats uncertainty in the measurement efficiencies by doing multilinear interpolation between reference efficiencies representing potential ''end-member" waste matrices with respect to both composition and density, with the end-member proportions being jointly inferred with the other unknowns. The performance of the approach in terms of efficiency and accuracy is explored for two virtual case studies of increasing complexity, that are based on common, real waste packages. The used Bayesian approach appears to be fast and rather accurate for the first considered waste package. With respect to the second waste package which has a substantially more complex and heterogeneous matrix structure, some biases are noticed in the derived posterior mass distributions of the nuclides of interest. We thus discuss possible causes and solutions for these discrepancies. In addition, we devise an R package that wraps the probabilistic models in an HTTP API so that the user can send HTTP requests to a remote server that runs the computations and returns the obtained results. This should allow using the approach in a production environment
Leveraging multi-omics data integration in the study of Chornobyl tree frogs
No full textInternational audienceWhen the effects of a pollutant on an organism are studied from various angles, namely different molecular levels, the information carried by the data as a whole can be more than the sum of its parts. Combining multi-omics datasets into a holistic analysis can increase statistical power, counterbalancing the limited number of individuals, and provide more comprehensive and interpretable results [1,2]. Here, we are interested in the effects of chronic exposure to low-dose radiation on the wildlife in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). Studied as a sentinel species, tree frog Hyla orientalis populations were sampled in 2018 inside the CEZ and in neighboring non-contaminated areas. To assess ecological risks, several studies have already been conducted to evaluate the potential effects of radiation exposure on the phenotype and molecular changes [3,4]. Single-omics analysis performed on the transcriptome and proteome separately have both identified exposure-specific molecular signatures, with notable alteration in the gene expression of specific pathways such as energy metabolism [3, proteomics study in press]. Given the wealth of information collected over the course of this project, we sought to carry out an analysis that integrates the different omics datasets. In all high-throughput bioinformatics studies, careful pre-processing is crucial before performing any downstream analysis. We focus on mitigating confounding factors - such as the effect of the collection site on gene expression - and handling missing data in the proteomics dataset. We discuss the multi-omics integration methods employed and the results obtained, with the aim of providing new insights into the biological effects of chronic radiation exposure on Chornobyl tree frogs
Visages fardés de rouge : usages et provenances des matières colorantes sur les stèles anthropomorphes provençales Néolithiques
No full textInternational audienceL’objectif de cette recherche est d’interroger les matières colorantes des stèles néolithiques provençales gravées et/ou colorées. On y questionnera la diversité de ces matières et leurs provenances en regard de leurs usages sociaux et culturels. L’un des enjeux de cette thèse consiste notamment à interroger la présence de cinabre sur les stèles, une matière colorante singulière qui pourrait avoir circulé sur de longues distances et qui pourrait avoir été réservée à la sphère funéraire. Y aurait-il eu des matières rares, réservées aux défunts sur les stèles ? D’où provient le cinabre utilisé pour la mise en couleur ici de corps de pierre, en Espagne des corps des défunts ? Toutefois, si de récentes études semblent étayer l’usage funéraire du cinabre en Espagne à partir du matériel issu des sépultures collectives (ossements et objets), cette problématique n’a jamais (i) mobilisé les stèles qui sont de véritables corps de pierre ; (ii) été envisagée pour les vestiges de France méridional
Fiber-coupled nuclearized raman probe for remote gas monitoring in nuclear containment: proof-of-concept for H2-risk management of design and beyond-design accidents
No full textInternational audienceDuring the course of a severe accident (SA) in a Light Water Reactor (LWR), large amounts of hydrogen (H2) gas are likely to be generated and released into the containment during core degradation, potentially raising a combustion hazard. Additional burnable gases (H2 and CO) may be released into the containment volume in case of Molten Corium/Concrete Interaction (MCCI). Within the extension period of the MITHYGENE Project, CEA LIST, IRSN and ARCYS have designed, assembled and tested a fiber-coupled nuclearized gas prototype probe, based on optical Raman technology, and complying with the specifications of a severe accident. This monitoring technique conveys many decisive advantages such as chemical-selective, distributed and local gas measurement (cm3). It aims at providing in situ accurate information on gas mixture (H2, O2, N2, steam, CO, CO2) in quasi real-time and in several locations inside the containment and the annulus. Compared to the previous Raman probe developed within the first period of the MITHYGENE Project, this new Raman probe is more efficient and includes improved functionalities such as polarization-diversity Raman measurements and anti-fogging anti-aerosol device with the aim to prevent both water condensation and aerosol deposition. Two algorithms are evaluated to compensate for Cerenkov perturbations (background subtraction and polarization correction). We describe experimental qualifications performed in the NC2V gas cell (CNRS-ICARE) and in the IRMA irradiation cell (IRSN).The MITHYGENE Project ends up with a proof-of-concept of Raman probe dedicated to H2/MCCI-risk management. The Technological Readiness Level (TRL) of the prototype probe is between 5 and 6
Using a surrogate model for the detection of defective PWR fuel rods
No full textInternational audienceTimely and accurate detection of defective fuel rods is critical as the release of radioactive fission products from defective fuels can lead to primary circuit contamination and radiation exposure. Due to the complexity of the physical phenomena, models for fault diagnosis can be difficult to construct and recently data driven surrogate models have being increasingly used to detect and characterize defective fuel rods: they make use of a computational database to learn from and make predictions about new unknown data. In this paper, we present a method for the elaboration of an anomaly detector based on neural networks, taking into account the fact that physical computation can be CPU intensive and thus overcome this issue. A physical model for fission products release and coolant activity calculation was built and used to generate a surrogate activity model that enables the generation of a bigger database in small amount of CPU times. Then using this bigger computational database, a recurrent autoencoder was trained for anomaly detection. The network classifies the defect status with 100% accuracy and a good time precision. A sensitivity analysis with lower activity increase at defect onset and addition of noise was conducted in order to better understand the limits of this method. Such methods can be useful for operators of the existing as well as future reactors to make timely predictions of defective fuel rods and avoid operational and economic setbacks for power plants
SITUATION IN UKRAINE How the war in Ukraine has affected the radioecology field of research
No full textInternational audienceThe presentation focuses on the profound impact of the war in Ukraine on the field of radioecology, particularly concerning the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). The conflict has caused significant disruptions, including restricted access to critical research sites, damage to infrastructures, and the halting of long-term studies essential for understanding chronic low-dose radiation effects. Military activities have also resulted in radionuclide redistribution, increased radiation levels, and secondary contamination due to intensified forest fires and explosions. These disruptions have invalidated previous environmental risk assessments and shifted research priorities toward addressing military-driven radiological risks and gaps in emergency response. The war highlights the need for enhanced resilience in monitoring systems, support for displaced researchers, and adaptive strategies to ensure the continuation of essential research. Initiatives like rebuilding research capacity, fostering international collaboration, and developing post-conflict environmental risk assessments are critical to addressing the long-term impacts on radioecology. This presentation aligns with ERPW 2024’s special session on Ukraine by addressing these challenges and proposing actionable strategies to mitigate the conflict’s effects on the scientific community
Strategic Research Agenda a tool for structuring research efforts and sharing priorities
No full textInternational audienceThe presentation by Rodolphe Gilbin at the EPRI-NEA Joint Workshop highlighted the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the European Radioecology ALLIANCE, a network of 32 members across 18 countries dedicated to advancing radioecological research. The SRA serves as a framework for defining long-term priorities, enhancing education, and fostering collaboration in radiation protection research. Key objectives include maintaining a skilled workforce through education and mobility initiatives, optimizing the use of infrastructures, and addressing research challenges such as understanding radiation effects across biological levels, multi-stressor interactions, and ecosystem dynamics. These efforts aim to build confidence in radiation protection, respond to societal concerns, and adapt research to emerging challenges like new nuclear technologies and climate change. The SRA aligns with the goals of the OECD-NEA workshop by emphasizing coordinated, hypothesis-driven research and integrating advanced technologies to deepen our understanding of low-dose radiation effects
