Fictionalizing Nuclear Terrorism in US Nuclear Fiction: James Reich’s Bombshell

This paper studies the phenomenon of fictionalizing terrorism as a literary response to the violence paradigm within nuclear narrative from the perspective of nuclear awareness formation as a critical thinking product about the nuclear energy related issues within the Nuclear Anthropocene. Focusing on James Reich’s Bombshell (2013), the paper goes beyond literary critical analysis of exploring the ways of fictionalizing the sociopolitical and psychic motives and ideas behind an act of terrorism. The paper highlights the factual component of the literary figurations of terrorism and terrorist activities in nuclear fiction, which is regarded here not only as a factor of weakening the apocalyptic rhetoric of nuclear narrative by transforming its “fabulously textual” nature, but mainly as a trigger of shaping public awareness and knowledge management on nuclear history and nuclear industry with a view to considering the possible patters of nuclear terrorism within the contemporary nuclear agenda.

Nuclear terrorism: Assessment of the danger of Nuclear Power Plant air strikes

The article analyzes the problem of possible threats with the use of aircraft captured by terrorists or controlled unmanned aerial vehicles in relation to nuclear energy use facilities. In the context of preventing acts of nuclear terrorism, the urgent task is to protect nuclear facilities from deliberate attacks by civilian airliners operated by terrorists. On the basis of the materials of publications, the influence of external extreme loads acting on the design of nuclear power plants, their features during the fall of aircraft of different types is studied. As a conclusion, the author notes that improving the safety of nuclear power plants and other radiation-hazardous facilities, minimizing possible consequences from aircraft strikes are important areas in risk management and their protection from acts of nuclear terrorism by combining organizational measures to combat terrorism and nuclear security measures.

The Extent of Al-Qaeda’s Presence in Africa: Security Threats and Policy Implications to the U.S.

Following a period close to fifteen years of fighting the extremist terrorist group Al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the United States (US) is faced with diverse security threats from affiliates of Al Qaeda in Africa. This study explores the extent of Al Qaeda’s presence in Africa, security threat and policy implications to the US. A qualitative methodology through document analysis and informed by the interpretivist research paradigm was employed. With Al Qaeda’s continued growth, there could be nuclear terrorism, arms and drug trafficking among other threats. Policy recommendations are given for the United States of America.

The Particle Radiobiology of Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Key to Mitigating Radiation-Induced Tissue Toxicities in Cancer Treatment and Beyond?

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) comprise a heterogeneous population of multipotent stromal cells that have gained attention for the treatment of irradiation-induced normal tissue toxicities due to their regenerative abilities. As the vast majority of studies focused on the effects of MSCs for photon irradiation-induced toxicities, little is known about the regenerative abilities of MSCs for particle irradiation-induced tissue damage or the effects of particle irradiation on the stem cell characteristics of MSCs themselves. MSC-based therapies may help treat particle irradiation-related tissue lesions in the context of cancer radiotherapy. As the number of clinical proton therapy centers is increasing, there is a need to decidedly investigate MSC-based treatments for particle irradiation-induced sequelae. Furthermore, therapies with MSCs or MSC-derived exosomes may also become a useful tool for manned space exploration or after radiation accidents and nuclear terrorism. However, such treatments require an in-depth knowledge about the effects of particle radiation on MSCs and the effects of MSCs on particle radiation-injured tissues. Here, the existing body of evidence regarding the particle radiobiology of MSCs as well as regarding MSC-based treatments for some typical particle irradiation-induced toxicities is presented and critically discussed.