[en] Across the world, about thirty countries are generating power from nuclear energy, but adopting different strategies to deal with high-level radioactive waste (HLW) produced during the process. A brief comparative analysis of four countries, namely, Finland, Germany, China, and India, is conducted in order to understand the key geopolitical, technical, and social factors that drive these different strategies. There are significant differences in their preparedness related to planning and implementing a final disposal facility for the HLW in deep geological repositories. The research explores the extent of public awareness and acceptance of the nuclear waste management strategies in these four countries. Of special interest is the scope of public participation in the decision-making process related to repository site-selection, and the safety assurances of the proposed HLW disposal techniques. The analysis finally delves into the subject of protracted timelines of the ongoing HLW management projects and the associated challenges.

No abstract available

[en] The recent conditional FDA approval of Aducanumab (Adu) for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the continued discussions around that decision have increased interest in immunotherapy for AD and other brain diseases. Reliable techniques for brain imaging of antibodies may guide decision-making in the future but needs further development. In this study, we used ${}^{89}$Zr-immuno-PET to evaluate the targeting and distribution of a bispecific brain-shuttle IgG based on Adu with transferrin receptor protein-1 (TfR1) shuttling mechanism, mAbAdu-scFab8D3, designated Adu-8D3, as a candidate theranostic for AD. We also validated the ${}^{89}$Zr-immuno-PET platform as an enabling technology for developing new antibody-based theranostics for brain disorders. Adu, Adu-8D3, and the non-binding control construct B12-8D3 were modified with DFO*-NCS and radiolabeled with ${}^{89}$Zr. APP/PS1 mice were injected with ${}^{89}$Zr-labeled mAbs and imaged on days 3 and 7 by positron emission tomography (PET). Ex vivo biodistribution was performed on day 7, and ex vivo autoradiography and immunofluorescence staining were done on brain tissue to validate the PET imaging results and target engagement with amyloid-β plaques. Additionally, [${}^{89}$Zr]Zr-DFO*-Adu-8D3 was evaluated in 3, 7, and 10-month-old APP/PS1 mice to test its potential in early stage disease. A 7-fold higher brain uptake was observed for [${}^{89}$Zr]Zr-DFO*-Adu-8D3 compared to [${}^{89}$Zr]Zr-DFO*-Adu and a 2.7-fold higher uptake compared to [${}^{89}$Zr]Zr-DFO*-B12-8D3 on day 7. Autoradiography and immunofluorescence of [${}^{89}$Zr]Zr-DFO*-Adu-8D3 showed co-localization with amyloid plaques, which was not the case with the Adu and B12-8D3 conjugates. [${}^{89}$Zr]Zr-DFO*-Adu-8D3 was able to detect low plaque load in 3-month-old APP/PS1 mice. ${}^{89}$Zr-DFO*-immuno-PET revealed high and specific uptake of the bispecific Adu-8D3 in the brain and can be used for the early detection of A β plaque pathology. Here, we demonstrate that ${}^{89}$Zr-DFO*-immuno-PET can be used to visualize and quantify brain uptake of mAbs and contribute to the evaluation of biological therapeutics for brain diseases.