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DOE OSTI2015

Mueller-matrix mapping of biological tissues in differential diagnosis of optical anisotropy mechanisms of protein networks

We report a model of Mueller-matrix description of optical anisotropy of protein networks in biological tissues with allowance for the linear birefringence and dichroism. The model is used to construct the reconstruction algorithms of coordinate distributions of phase shifts and the linear dichroism coefficient. In the statistical analysis of such distributions, we have found the objective criteria of differentiation between benign and malignant tissues of the female reproductive system. From the standpoint of evidence-based medicine, we have determined the operating characteristics (sensitivity, specificity and accuracy) of the Mueller-matrix reconstruction method of optical anisotropy parameters and demonstrated its effectiveness in the differentiation of benign and malignant tumours. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2017

Development of known-fate survival monitoring techniques for juvenile wild pigs (Sus scrofa)

ContextWild pigs are an invasive species linked to numerous negative impacts on natural and anthropogenic ecosystems in many regions of the world. Robust estimates of juvenile wild pig survival are needed to improve population dynamics models to facilitate management of this economically and ecologically important invasive species. Despite this critical knowledge gap, to date no successful known-fate study of wild piglet survival (<5 months of age) has been conducted, due to a lack of appropriate method for this species.AimsTo aid in locating and tagging neonates, we piloted the use of vaginal implant transmitters (VITs) in adult wild pigs and evaluated average retention times of stud ear-tag transmitters, clip ear-tag transmitters, sutured and epoxied transmitters, harness transmitters, and surgically implanted transmitters to monitor known-fate survival of piglets.MethodsWe captured pregnant female pigs and implanted them with VITs. We tagged subsequently located neonates and piglets captured in traps with the aforementioned transmitters and monitored them to determine retention times and feasibility of each method.Key resultsVITs were effectively used to determine the location and time of wild pig parturition, allowing counting and tagging of neonate wild pigs. Stud ear-tag and abdominal implant transmitters were well retained by piglets weighing ≥3kg, in contrast to the other tested transmitters.ConclusionsStud ear-tag and abdominal implant transmitters allowed known-fate monitoring of juvenile wild pigs, although, of these, stud ear-tag transmitters may be more practical as they do not require field surgery on piglets. Due to their relatively large size, the stud ear tag transmitters were infeasible for monitoring of true neonates (~1kg); however, this application method may be suitable for neonates upon development of lighter-weight transmitters. The other transmitter attachment methods we tested were ineffective for monitoring of piglet survival, due to poor retention of transmitters.ImplicationsThe techniques piloted in this study will facilitate research into the reproductive ecology of wild pigs and known-fate studies of piglet mortality to aid in population modelling and evaluation of cause-specific mortality and factors affecting survival of these often-invasive animals.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗

DOE OSTI2018

Life history variation is maintained by fitness trade-offs and negative frequency-dependent selection

Significance Many populations and species have different strategies for maximizing reproductive success in changing environments. For example, some species of plants reproduce only once in their lifetime (annuals), whereas others can reproduce over multiple years (perennials). Such variation can also occur in fishes, and we examine how this variation in life history strategies is maintained in a Pacific salmonid species ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). We find that fish that successfully migrate between the ocean and their freshwater spawning grounds multiple times (repeat spawners) have more than twice the lifetime reproductive success of fish that only spawn once (single spawners). We also find a striking pattern of negative frequency-dependent selection in which older, larger females have higher lifetime fitness when they are less abundant.

Christie, Mark R.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Allosteric inhibition of the IZUMO1–JUNO fertilization complex by the naturally occurring antisperm antibody OBF13

Sperm IZUMO1 binds to egg JUNO, and this interaction is essential for mammalian fertilization. Isolated from a female mouse immunized with syngeneic sperm, the antisperm antibody OBF13 recognizes IZUMO1 and inhibits murine fertilization. How OBF13 interferes with sperm–egg interactions was unknown. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structure of IZUMO1 in complex with OBF13. OBF13 binds to the apex of the four-helix domain of IZUMO1, distant from the JUNO-binding site. Our crystal structure of OBF13-bound IZUMO1 resembles apo-IZUMO1 and differs from the structure of IZUMO1 in complex with JUNO. We identify that OBF13 carries a low level of somatic hypermutation, and through deep mutational scanning, we engineer an affinity-enhanced OBF13 variant. This OBF13 variant single-chain fragment variable decreases the apparent affinity of IZUMO1 for membrane-bound murine JUNO and blocks the binding of acrosome-reacted sperm to eggs, thereby preventing fertilization. We propose allostery between the OBF13 epitope and the JUNO-binding site. OBF13 inhibits a conformational change in IZUMO1, preventing fusion-competent sperm from adhering to murine eggs during fertilization. Surprisingly, murine IZUMO1 binds to hamster JUNO with an affinity ~20-fold higher than to murine JUNO. The decreased affinity caused by OBF13 of murine IZUMO1 for hamster JUNO is sufficient for murine sperm to bind to and fuse with hamster eggs. Our studies provide a structural and mechanistic framework for species-specific, allosteric inhibition of IZUMO1 by a naturally occurring antisperm antibody and offer insights into the development of immunocontraceptives.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

DOE OSTI2017

A mosquito hemolymph odorant-binding protein family member specifically binds juvenile hormone

Juvenile hormone (JH) is a key regulator of insect development and reproduction. In adult mosquitoes, it is essential for maturation of the ovary and normal male reproductive behavior, but how JH distribution and activity is regulated after secretion is unclear. Here, we report a new type of specific JH-binding protein, given the name mosquito juvenile hormone-binding protein (mJHBP), which circulates in the hemolymph of pupal and adult Aedes aegypti males and females. mJHBP is a member of the odorant-binding protein (OBP) family, and orthologs are present in the genomes of Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles mosquito species. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, we show that mJHBP specifically binds JH II and JH III but not eicosanoids or JH derivatives. mJHBP was crystallized in the presence of JH III and found to have a double OBP domain structure reminiscent of salivary “long” D7 proteins of mosquitoes. We observed that a single JH III molecule is contained in the N-terminal domain binding pocket that is closed in an apparent conformational change by a C-terminal domain-derived α-helix. The electron density for the ligand indicated a high occupancy of the natural 10R enantiomer of JH III. Of note, mJHBP is structurally unrelated to hemolymph JHBP from lepidopteran insects. A low level of expression of mJHBP in Ae. aegypti larvae suggests that it is primarily active during the adult stage where it could potentially influence the effects of JH on egg development, mating behavior, feeding, or other processes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2013

Survival and Traits of Reconditioned Kelt Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Yakima River, Washington

Abstract We evaluated the traits and survival to release of reconditioned kelt steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Yakima River (Washington State, USA). From 2001 to 2011, we captured a total of 9,738 downstream-migrating kelts at an irrigation diversion facility, an average about 27% of each annual wild steelhead return. Captured kelts were reared for 4.5–10 months in an artificial environment, treated for diseases and parasites, and fed both krill and pellets. Surviving reconditioned fish were released into the Yakima River during the peak of the upstream migration of prespawn steelhead. Reconditioned steelhead kelts were predominantly (>92%) female. Annual survival to release ranged from 20% to 62% and averaged 38% over the course of the study, the surviving reconditioned kelts showing increases in FL, weight, and Fulton's K condition factor compared with their preconditioning status. Kelts in good condition and those with bright coloration at the time of collection were more likely to survive than those of poorer status at collection. Postrelease timing of upstream migration by reconditioned kelts was spread over several months and correlated well with the run timing of prespawn migrants upstream. The empirical results we observed demonstrate the potential for kelt reconditioning to provide recovery benefits for repeat spawning imperiled wild populations in highly developed river systems. Received July 17, 2012; accepted March 15, 2013

Hatch, Douglas R.↗

DOE OSTI2014

Loss of Genetic Integrity in Hatchery Steelhead Produced by Juvenile-Based Broodstock and Wild Integration: Conflicts in Production and Conservation Goals

Abstract We examined whether a supplementation program for steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in southwestern Washington could produce hatchery fish that contained genetic characteristics of the endemic population from which it was derived and simultaneously meet a production goal. Hatchery fish were produced for three consecutive years by using broodstock comprised of endemic juveniles that were caught in the wild and raised to maturity, and then the program transitioned to an integrated broodstock comprised of wild and hatchery adults that returned to spawn. Importantly, some auxiliary conservation-based husbandry protocols were attempted (i.e., pairwise mating between males and females) but not always completed due to insufficient broodstock and conflict between production and conservation goals. The hatchery met production goals in 6 of 9 years, but wild-type genetic integrity of hatchery fish was degraded every year. Specifically, we analyzed 10 microsatellites and observed a 60% reduction in the effective number of breeders in the hatchery (harmonic mean of hatchery, Nb = 45, compared with the wild, Nb = 111). Hatchery fish consequently displayed reduced genetic diversity and large temporal genetic divergence compared with wild counterparts. To ensure the benefit of conservation-based husbandry, spawning protocols should be based on scientific theory and be practical within the physical and biological constraints of the system. Finally, if conservation issues are considered to be the most important issue for hatchery propagation, then production goals may need to be forfeited. Received November 8, 2013; accepted February 19, 2014

Bingham, Daniel M.↗

DOE OSTI2023

An interpretable machine learning framework to understand bikeshare demand before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City

In recent years, bikesharing systems have become increasingly popular as affordable and sustainable micromobility solutions. Advanced mathematical models such as machine learning are required to generate good forecasts for bikeshare demand. Here, this study proposes a machine learning modeling framework to estimate hourly demand in a large-scale bikesharing system. Two Extreme Gradient Boosting models were developed: one using data from before the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) and the other using data from during the pandemic (March 2020 to February 2021). Furthermore, a model interpretation framework based on SHapley Additive exPlanations was implemented. Based on the relative importance of the explanatory variables considered in this study, share of female users and hour of day were the two most important explanatory variables in both models. However, the month variable had higher importance in the pandemic model than in the pre-pandemic model.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Mortality among workers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1943–2017

During World War II (WWII), the Manhattan Engineering District established a secret laboratory in the mountains of northern New Mexico. The mission was to design, construct and test the first atomic weapon, nicknamed ‘The Gadget’ that was detonated at the TRINITY site in Alamogordo, NM. After WWII, nuclear weapons research continued, and the laboratory became the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The mortality experience of 26,328 workers first employed between 1943 and 1980 at LANL was determined through 2017. Included were 6157 contract workers employed by the ZIA Company. Organ dose estimates for each worker considered all sources of exposure, notably photons, neutrons, tritium, 238Pu and 239Pu. Vital status determination included searches within the National Death Index, Social Security Administration and New Mexico State Mortality Files. Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) and Cox regression models were used in the analyses. Most workers (55%) were hired before 1960, 38% had a college degree, 25% were female, 81% white, 13% Hispanic and 60% had died. Vital status was complete, with only 0.1% lost to follow-up. The mean dose to the lung for the 17,053 workers monitored for radiation was 28.6 weighted-mGy (maximum 16.8 weighted-Gy) assuming a Dose Weighting Factor of 20 for alpha particle dose to lung. The Excess Relative Risk (ERR) at 100 weighted-mGy was 0.01 (95%CI -0.02, 0.03; n = 839) for lung cancer. The ERR at 100 mGy was -0.43 (95%CI -1.11, 0.24; n = 160) for leukemia other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), -0.06 (95%CI -0.16, 0.04; n = 3043) for ischemic heart disease (IHD), and 0.29 (95%CI 0.02, 0.55; n = 106) for esophageal cancer. Among the 6499 workers with measurable intakes of plutonium, an increase in bone cancer (SMR 2.44; 95%CI 0.98, 5.03; n = 7) was related to dose. The SMR for berylliosis was significantly high, based on 4 deaths. SMRs for Hispanic workers were significantly high for cancers of the stomach and liver, cirrhosis of the liver, nonmalignant kidney disease and diabetes, but the excesses were not related to radiation dose. There was little evidence that radiation increased the risk of lung cancer or leukemia. Esophageal cancer was associated with radiation, and plutonium intakes were linked to an increase of bone cancer. IHD was not associated with radiation dose. More precise evaluations will await the pooled analysis of workers with similar exposures such as at Rocky Flats, Savannah River and Hanford.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗

DOE OSTI2015

A Synthesis of Findings from an Integrated Hatchery Program after Three Generations of Spawning in the Natural Environment

Abstract The Cle Elum Supplementation and Research Facility in the Yakima River basin, Washington, is an integrated spring Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha hatchery program designed to test whether artificial propagation can increase natural production and harvest opportunities while keeping ecological and genetic impacts within acceptable limits. Only natural-origin (naturally spawned) fish are used for hatchery broodstock. Spawning, incubation, and early rearing occur at a central facility; presmolts are transferred for final rearing, acclimation, and volitional release at sites adjacent to natural spawning areas, where returning adults can spawn with natural-origin fish. The first wild broodstock were collected in 1997, and age-4 adults have returned to the Yakima River since 2001. An unsupplemented population in the adjacent Naches River watershed provides a reference for evaluating environmental influences. The program has been comprehensively monitored from its inception. A synthesis of findings, many already published, is as follows: supplementation increased the harvest, redd counts, and spatial distribution of spawners; natural-origin returns were maintained; straying to nontarget systems was negligible; natural-origin females had slightly higher breeding success (production of surviving fry) in an artificial spawning channel, while the behavior and breeding success of natural- and hatchery-origin males were similar; hatchery-origin fish showed differences in morphometric and life history traits; high rates of hatchery age-2 (minijack) production were reported, but the observed proportions of out-migrating juvenile and adult (ages 4 and 5) returning males were comparable for hatchery- and natural-origin fish; hatchery smolts did not affect the levels of pathogens in natural smolts; and the ecological interactions attributed to the program were within adopted guidelines. Continued study is required to assess the long-term impacts on natural production and productivity.

Fast, David E.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Mechanical loading prediction through accelerometry data during walking and running

ABSTRACT Currently, there is no way to assess mechanical loading variables such as peak ground reaction forces (pGRF) and peak loading rate (pLR) in clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to develop accelerometry‐based equations to predict both pGRF and pLR during walking and running. One hundred and thirty one subjects (79 females; 76.9 ± 19.6 kg) walked and ran at different speeds (2–14 km·h −1 ) on a force plate–instrumented treadmill while wearing accelerometers at their ankle, lower back and hip. Regression equations were developed to predict pGRF and pLR from accelerometry data. Leave‐one‐out cross‐validation was used to calculate prediction accuracy and Bland–Altman plots. Our pGRF prediction equation was compared with a reference equation previously published. Body mass and peak acceleration were included for pGRF prediction and body mass and peak acceleration rate for pLR prediction. All pGRF equation coefficients of determination were above 0.96, and a good agreement between actual and predicted pGRF was observed, with a mean absolute percent error (MAPE) below 7.3%. Accuracy indices from our equations were better than previously developed equations. All pLR prediction equations presented a lower accuracy compared to those developed to predict pGRF. Walking and running pGRF can be predicted with high accuracy by accelerometry‐based equations, representing an easy way to determine mechanical loading in free‐living conditions. The pLR prediction equations yielded a somewhat lower prediction accuracy compared with the pGRF equations.

Veras, Lucas↗

DOE OSTI2021

Using personal monitoring data to derive organ doses for medical radiation workers in the Million Person Study—considerations regarding NCRP Commentary no. 30

The study of low dose and low-dose rate exposure is of central importance in understanding the possible range of health effects from prolonged exposures to radiation. The One Million Person Study of Radiation Workers and Veterans (MPS) of low-dose health effects was designed to evaluate radiation risks among healthy American workers and veterans. The MPS is evaluating low-dose and dose-rate effects, intakes of radioactive elements, cancer and non-cancer outcomes, as well as differences in risks between women and men. Medical radiation workers make up a large group of individuals occupationally exposed to low doses of radiation from external x-ray/gamma exposures. For the MPS, about 100 000 United States medical radiation workers have been selected for study. The approach to the complex dosimetry circumstances for such workers over three to four decades of occupation were initially and broadly described in National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report No. 178. NCRP Commentary No. 30 provides more detail and describes an optimum approach for using personal monitoring data to estimate lung and other organ doses applicable to the cohort and provides specific precautions/considerations applicable to the dosimetry of medical radiation worker organ doses for use in epidemiologic studies. The use of protective aprons creates dosimetric complexity. It is recommended that dose values from dosimeters worn over a protective apron be reduced by a factor of 20 for estimating mean organ doses to tissues located in the torso and that 15% of the marrow should be assumed to remain unshielded for exposure scenarios when aprons are worn. Conversion coefficients relating personal dose equivalent, H p (10) in mSv, to mean absorbed doses to organs and tissues, D T in mGy, for females and males for six exposure scenarios have been determined and presented for use in the MPS. This Memorandum summarises several key points in NCRP Commentary No. 30.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗

DOE OSTI2023

Reconstructed lung doses for the million person study cohort of 26,650 Tennessee Eastman corporation workers employed between 1942 and 1947

Abstract Tennessee Eastman Corporation workers were exposed to uranium dust resulting in high-linear energy transfer (LET) irradiation to lung tissue. In this work, radiation lung doses were reconstructed for 26 650 men and women working at the plant between 1942 and 1947. Site air monitoring data of uranium concentrations and payroll records were used to determine the daily inhaled activities and annualized lung doses. Variations in the activity median aerodynamic diameter of the uranium dust, the solubility of particulate matter in the lungs and the sex-specific breathing rate were investigated as part of a sensitivity analysis. Male and female mean lung doses of 18.9 and 32.7 mGy, respectively, from high-LET alpha irradiation, and there was general agreement with evaluations from previously published epidemiological studies. Annual lung dose estimates and sensitivity analysis for the 26 650 workers in the TEC cohort have been archived on the United States Department of Energy Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Specific absorbed fractions for a revised series of the UF/NCI pediatric reference phantoms: internal photon sources

Assessment of radiation absorbed dose to internal organs of the body from the intake of radionuclides, or in the medical setting through the injection of radiopharmaceuticals, is generally performed based upon reference biokinetic models or patient imaging data, respectively. Biokinetic models estimate the time course of activity localized to source organs. The time-integration of these organ activity profiles are then scaled by the radionuclide S-value, which defines the absorbed dose to a target tissue per nuclear transformation in various source tissues. S-values are computed using established nuclear decay information (particle energies and yields), and a parameter termed the specific absorbed fraction (SAF). The SAF is the ratio of the absorbed fraction—fraction of particle energy emitted in the source tissue that is deposited in the target tissue—and the target organ mass. While values of the SAF may be computed using patient-specific or individual-specific anatomic models, they have been more widely available through the use of computational reference phantoms. In this study, we report on an extensive series of photon SAFs computed in a revised series of the University of Florida and the National Cancer Institute pediatric reference phantoms which have been modified to conform to the specifications embodied in the ICRP reference adult phantoms of Publication 110 (e.g. organs modeled, organ ID numbers, blood contribution to elemental compositions). Following phantom anatomical revisions, photon radiation transport simulations were performed using MCNPX v2.7 in each of the ten phantoms of the series—male and female newborn, 1 year old, 5 year old, 10 year old, and 15 year old—for 60 different tissues serving as source and/or target regions. A total of 25 photon energies were considered from 10 keV to 10 MeV along a logarithm energy grid. Detailed analyses were conducted of the relative statistical errors in the Monte Carlo target tissue energy deposition tallies at low photon energies and over all energies for source–target combinations at large intra-organ separation distances. Based on these analyses, various data smoothing algorithms were employed, including multi-point weighted data smoothing, and log–log interpolation at low energies (1 keV and 5 keV) using limiting SAF values based upon target organ mass to bound the interpolation interval. The final dataset is provided in a series of ten electronic supplemental files in MS Excel format. Finally, the results of this study were further used as the basis for assessing the radiative component of internal electron source SAFs as described in our companion paper (Schwarz et al 2021) for this same pediatric phantom series.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Specific absorbed fractions for a revised series of the UF/NCI pediatric reference phantoms: internal electron sources

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Real-time breath analysis towards a healthy human breath profile

Abstract The direct analysis of molecules contained within human breath has had significant implications for clinical and diagnostic applications in recent decades. However, attempts to compare one study to another or to reproduce previous work are hampered by: variability between sampling methodologies, human phenotypic variability, complex interactions between compounds within breath, and confounding signals from comorbidities. Towards this end, we have endeavored to create an averaged healthy human ‘profile’ against which follow-on studies might be compared. Through the use of direct secondary electrospray ionization combined with a high-resolution mass spectrometry and in-house bioinformatics pipeline, we seek to curate an average healthy human profile for breath and use this model to distinguish differences inter- and intra-day for human volunteers. Breath samples were significantly different in PERMANOVA analysis and ANOSIM analysis based on Time of Day, Participant ID, Date of Sample, Sex of Participant, and Age of Participant ( p < 0.001). Optimal binning analysis identify strong associations between specific features and variables. These include 227 breath features identified as unique identifiers for 28 of the 31 participants. Four signals were identified to be strongly associated with female participants and one with male participants. A total of 37 signals were identified to be strongly associated with the time-of-day samples were taken. Threshold indicator taxa analysis indicated a shift in significant breath features across the age gradient of participants with peak disruption of breath metabolites occurring at around age 32. Forty-eight features were identified after filtering from which a healthy human breath profile for all participants was created.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

The lifetime risk and impact of vitiligo across sociodemographic groups: a UK population-based cohort study

Abstract Background Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by depigmented patches of skin, which can have significant psychological impacts. Objectives To estimate the lifetime incidence of vitiligo, overall, by ethnicity and across other sociodemographic subgroups, and to investigate the impacts of vitiligo on mental health, work and healthcare utilization. Methods Incident cases of vitiligo were identified in the Optimum Patient Care Database of primary care records in the UK between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2020. The lifetime incidence of vitiligo was estimated at age 80 years using modified time-to-event models with age as the timescale, overall and stratified by ethnicity, sex and deprivation. Depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, healthcare utilization and work-related outcomes were assessed in the 2 years after vitiligo diagnosis and compared with matched controls without vitiligo. The study protocol for this retrospective observational study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06097494). Results In total, 9460 adults and children were newly diagnosed with vitiligo during the study period. The overall cumulative lifetime incidence was 0.92% at 80 years of age [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90–0.94]. Cumulative incidence was similar in female (0.94%, 95% CI 0.92–0.97) and male patients (0.89%, 95% CI 0.86–0.92). There were substantial differences in lifetime incidence across ethnic groups, listed by Office for National Statistics criteria [Asian 3.58% (95% CI 3.38–3.78); Black 2.18% (95% CI 1.85–2.50); Mixed/multiple 2.03% (95% CI 1.58–2.47); Other 1.05% (95% CI 0.94–1.17); and White 0.73% (95% CI 0.71–0.76)]. Compared with matched controls, people with vitiligo had an increased risk of depression [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.15]; anxiety (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.30); depression or anxiety (aOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03–1.17); and sleep disturbance [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.15, 95% CI 1.02–1.31]. People with vitiligo also had a greater number of primary care encounters (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.29, 95% CI 1.26–1.32) and a greater risk of time off work (aHR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06–1.24). There was little evidence of disparities in vitiligo-related impacts across ethnic subgroups. Conclusions Clinicians should be aware of the markedly increased incidence of vitiligo in people belonging to Asian, Black, Mixed/multiple and Other groups. The negative impact of vitiligo on mental health, work and healthcare utilization highlights the importance of monitoring people with vitiligo to identify those who need additional support.

Eleftheriadou, Viktoria↗

DOE OSTI2025

Eight decades of research on the long-term health effects of radiation in atomic bomb survivors and their offspring

Abstract This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Over the past eight decades, large-scale cohort studies of atomic bomb survivors and their offspring conducted by the Radiation Effects Research Foundation and its predecessor, the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, have provided critical insights into the long-term health effects of radiation exposure. Key findings include early identification of radiation-associated leukemia, as well as excess risks of all solid cancers combined, and most individual cancer sites. Observed radiation dose–response relationships have generally followed a linear-quadratic model for leukemia and a linear model for all solid cancers. Recent findings indicating possible upward curvature in the dose–response for all solid cancers may reflect underlying heterogeneity in factors related to individual cancer sites and should be explored further. Generally, younger age at exposure, lower attained age, and female sex appear to show greater radiation sensitivity for all solid cancers combined but results differ by individual cancer site. Recent studies have also identified potential radiation-related excesses for non-cancer diseases such as cataracts, various circulatory diseases, and others. Studies of heritable effects on the offspring of exposed atomic bomb survivors, in contrast, have shown no elevated risk to date in offspring from parental radiation exposure, either at the molecular or disease level. With the cooperation of the atomic bomb survivors and their families, Radiation Effects Research Foundation’s research will continue to play a crucial role in informing the health of survivors, their families, and global radiation protection in the decades to come.

Oncology↗