Heavy-ion conformal irradiation in the shallow-seated tumor therapy terminal at HIRFL

Basic research related to heavy-ion cancer therapy has been done at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences since 1995. Now a plan of clinical trial with heavy ions has been launched at IMP. First, superficially placed tumor treatment with heavy ions is expected in the therapy terminal at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL), where carbon ion beams with energy up to 100 MeV/u can be supplied. The shallow-seated tumor therapy terminal at HIRFL is equipped with a passive beam delivery system including two orthogonal dipole magnets, which continuously scan pencil beams laterally and generate a broad and uniform irradiation field, a motor-driven energy degrader and a multi-leaf collimator. Two different types of range modulator, ripple filter and ridge filter with which Guassian-shaped physical dose and uniform biological effective dose Bragg peaks can be shaped for therapeutic ion beams respectively, have been designed and manufactured. Therefore, two-dimensional and three-dimensional conformal irradiations to tumors can be performed with the passive beam delivery system at the earlier therapy terminal. Both the conformal irradiation methods have been verified experimentally and carbon-ion conformal irradiations to patients with superficially placed tumors have been carried out at HIRFL since November 2006.

Slow isocharged sequence ions with helium collisions: Projectile core dependence

The collisions of the isocharged sequence ions of q=6 (C6+, N6+, O6+, F6+, Ne6+, Ar6+, and Ca6+), q=7 (F7+, Ne7+, S7+, Ar7+, and Ca7+), q=8 (F8+, Ne8+, Ar8+, and Ca8+), q=9 (F9+, Ne9+, Si9+, S9+, Ar9+, and Ca9+) and q=11 (Si11+, Ar11+, and Ca11+) with helium at the same velocities were investigated. The cross-section ratios of the double-electron transfer (DET) to the single-electron capture (SEC) sigma(DET)/sigma(SEC) and the true double-electron capture (TDC) to the double-electron transfer sigma(TDC)/sigma(DET) were measured. It shows that for different ions in an isocharged sequence, the experimental cross-section ratio sigma(DET)/sigma(SEC) varies by a factor of 3. The results confirm that the projectile core is another dominant factor besides the charge state and the collision velocity in slow (0.35-0.49v(0); v(0) denotes the Bohr velocity) highly charged ions (HCIs) with helium collisions. The experimental cross-section ratio sigma(DET)/sigma(SEC) is compared with the extended classical over-barrier model (ECBM) [A. Barany , Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B 9, 397 (1985)], the molecular Coulombic barrier model (MCBM) [A. Niehaus, J. Phys. B 19, 2925 (1986)], and the semiempirical scaling laws (SSL) [N. Selberg , Phys. Rev. A 54, 4127 (1996)]. It also shows that the projectile core properties affect the initial capture probabilities as well as the subsequent relaxation of the projectiles. The experimental cross-section ratio sigma(TDC)/sigma(DET) for those lower isocharged sequences is dramatically affected by the projectile core structure, while for those sufficiently highly isocharged sequences, the autoionization always dominates, hence the cross-section ratio sigma(TDC)/sigma(DET) is always small.

Capability verification of the beam delivery system in the superficially-placed tumor therapy terminal at HIRFL

The passive beam delivery system in the superficially-placed tumor therapy terminal at Heavy Ion Researc h Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL), which includes two orthogonal dipole magnets as scanning system, a motor-driven energy degrader as range-shifter, series of ridge filters as range modulator and a multileaf collimator, is introduced in detail. The capacities of its important components and the whole system have been verified experimentally. The tests of the ridge filter for extending Bragg peak and the range shifter for energy adjustment show both work well. To examine the passive beam delivery system, a beam shaping experiment were carried out, simulating a three-dimensional (3D) conformal irradiation to a tumor. The encouraging experimental result confirms that 3D layer-stacking conformal irradiation can be performed by means of the passive system. The validation of the beam delivery system establishes a substantial basis for upcoming clinical trial for superficially-placed tumors with heavy ions in the therapy terminal at HIRFL.

Physical property measurement of therapeutic carbon ion beam in the shallow-seated tumor therapy terminal at HIRFL

For the first time the physical properties of therapeutic carbon-ion beam supplied by, the shallow-seated tumor therapy terminal at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL) are measured. For a 80.55MeV/u C-12 ion beam delivered to the therapy terminal, the homogeneity of irradiation fields is 73.48%, when the beam intensity varied in the range of 0.001-0.1nA (i.e. 1 X 10(6) - 1 X 10(8) particles per second). The stability of the beam intensity within a few minutes is estimated to be 80.87%. The depth-dose distribution of the beam at the isocenter of the therapy facility is measured, and the position of the high-dose Bragg peak is found to be located at the water-equivalent depth of 13.866mm. Based on the relationship between beam energy and Bragg peak position, the corresponding beam energy at the isocenter of the therapy terminal is evaluated to be 71.71MeV/u for the original 80.55MeV/u C-12 ion beam, which consisted basically with calculation. The readout of the previously-used air-free ionization chamber regarding absorbed dose is calibrated as well in this experiment. The results indicate that the performance of the therapy facility should be optimized further to meet the requirements of clinical trial.

Study of n=2, Delta n=0 transition of Be-, B-, C-, N- and O-like sequence in the beam-foil spectrum of titanium

The foil-excited the spectrum of highly stripped titanium ions between 12-40 nm has been studied. Titanium ions of 80 and 120 MeV were provided by the HI-13 tandem accelerator at the China Institute of Atomic Energy. GIM-957 XUV-VUV monochromator was refocused to get highly-resolved spectra. Our experimental results and the published spectral data of laser-produced plasma show agreement in nearly all cases within +/- 0.03 nm. The spectra contained some weak or strong lines previously unclassified. These spectral lines mainly belong to 2s2p(2) for TiXVIII, 2p(3) for TiXVIII, 2s2p(3) for TiXVII, 2p(6)4p for Ti XII and 2p(6)3d for Ti XII transitions.

CSR外靶实验终端中CsI(Tl)晶体的测试；Test of CsI(Tl) Crystal at External Target Experimental Terminal of Cooling Storage Ring

为测量重离子加速器冷却储存环(HIRFL-CSR)的外靶实验终端上不同能量的γ射线,一种用于探测γ射线的高能量分辨的探测装置正在中国科学院近代物理研究所建设,该探测器由中国科学院近代物理研究所自行生长的铊激活的碘化铯CsI(Tl)晶体组成。与日本Hamamatsu公司生产的S8664-1010型雪崩光二极管(APD)耦合,测试其光输出的非均匀性和能量分辨,从测试结果给出了所需CsI(Tl)晶体合格的标准。目前已完成该γ探测球计划的六分之一,所提供的晶体合格率达94%以上。

Influence of core property on multi-electron process in slow collisions of isocharged sequence ions with neon

Influence of core property on multi-electron process in the collisions of q = 6-9 and 11 isocharged sequence ions with Ne is investigated in the keV/u region The cross-section ratios of double-, triple-, quadruple- and total multi-electron processes to the single electron capture process as well as the partial ratios of different reaction channels to the relevant multi-electron process are measured by using position-sensitive and time-of-flight techniques The experimental data are compared with the theoretical predictions including the extended classical over-barrier model, the molecular Columbic barrier model and the semi-empirical scaling law Results show a core effect on multi-electron process of isocharge ions colliding with Neon, which is consistent with the results of Helium we obtained previously

A DFT study on isomorphously substituted MCM-22 zeolite

The density functional theory has been used to study the isomorphously substituted MCM-22 zeolite for the first time. The effect of the basis sets on the calculation results is discussed in details. Data of several index properties for characterizing the relative acidity of T-MCM-22 (T = B, Al, Ga, and Fe), including proton affinity, bond length and bond angle, OH stretching frequency, and charge on the acidic proton, show that the acidity of T-MCM-22 increases in the sequence of B-MCM-22 < Fe-MCM-22 < Ga-MCM-22 < Al-MCM-22. After making a correction, the calculated OH stretching frequencies for Al-MCM-22 and Fe-MCM-22 show a reasonable agreement with the experimental data. On the basis of an equilibrium structure of the B-MCM-22 zeolite, the effect of the B element in the synthesis of the Ti-MCM-22 is also discussed. The adding of the B element during the synthesis of the Ti-MCM-22 can decrease greatly the Ti substitution energy because of the forming of a structure quite similar to the terminal silanol group. The results can provide some constructively information for zeolite synthesis.

Highly enantioselective resolution of terminal epoxides with cross-linked polymeric salen-Co(III) complexes

Crosslinked polymeric salen-Co(III) complexes derived from a novel dialdehyde and a trialdehyde were synthesized and employed in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of terminal epoxides. Up to 99%, ee were obtained with only 0.16-0.02 mol%,, of catalyst (based on catalytic unit). (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genomic organization, nucleotide sequence analysis of the core histone genes cluster in Chlamys farreri and molecular evolution assessment of the H2A and H2B

This work represents the nucleotide sequence of the core histone gene cluster from scallop Chlamys farreri. The tandemly repeated unit of 5671 bp containing a copy of the four core histone genes H4, H2B, H2A and H3 was amplified and identified by the techniques of homology cloning and genomic DNA walking. All the histone genes in the cluster had the structures in their 3' flanking region which related to the evolution of histone gene expression patterns throughout the cell cycle, including two different termination signals, the hairpin structure and at least one AATAAA polyadenylation signal. In their 5' region, the transcription initiation sites with a conserved sequence of 5'-PyATTCPu-3' known as the CAP site were present in all genes except to H2B, generally 37-45 bp upstream of the start code. Canonical TATA and CAAT boxes were identified only in certain histone genes. In the case of the promoters of H2B and H2A genes, there was a 5'-GATCC-3' element, which had been found to be essential to start transcription at the appropriate site. After this element, in the promoter of H2B, there was another sequence, 5'-GGATCGAAACGTTC-3', which was similar to the consensus sequence of 5'-GGAATAAACGTATTC-3' corresponding to the H2B-specific promoter element. The presence of enhancer sequences (5'-TGATATATG-3') was identified from the H4 and H3 genes, matching perfectly with the consensus sequence defined for histone genes. There were several slightly more complex repetitive DNA in the intergene regions. The presence of the series of conserved sequences and reiterated sequences was consistent with the view that mollusc histone gene cluster arose by duplicating of an ancestral precursor histone gene, the birth-and-death evolution model with strong purifying selection enabled the histone cluster less variation and more conserved function. Meanwhile, the H2A and the H2B were demonstrated to be potential good marks for phylogenetic analysis. All the results will be contributed to the characterization of repeating histone gene families in molluscs.

Effect of block sequence and block length on the stimuli-responsive behavior of polyampholyte brushes: hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction as the driving force for surface rearrangement

Diblock polyampholyte brushes with different block sequences (Si/SiO2/poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly (2-vinylpyridine) (PAA-b-P2VP) brushes and Si/SiO2/P2VP-b-PAA brushes) and different block lengths were synthesized by sequent surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The PAA block was obtained through hydrolysis from the corresponding poly(tert-butyl acrylate). The polyampholyte brushes demonstrated unique pH-responsive behavior. In the intermediate pH region, the brushes exhibited a less hydrophilic wetting behavior and a rougher surface morphology due to the formation of polyelectrolyte complex through electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged blocks. In the low pH and high pH regions, the rearrangement of polyampholyte brushes showed great dependence on the block sequence and block length. The polyampholyte brushes with P2VP-b-PAA sequence underwent rearrangement during alternative treatment by acidic aqueous solution (low pH value) and basic aqueous solution (high pH value).

7-Amino actinomycin D bound to single-stranded hairpin DNA enhanced by loop sequence-dependent luminescent Eu3+ and Tb3+ binding

Lanthanide Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions have been widely used in luminescent resonance energy transfer (LRET) for bioassays to study metal binding microenvironments. We report here that Eu3+ or Tb3+ can increase the binding affinity of antitumor antibiotic drug agent, 7-amino actinomycin D (7AACTD), binding to 5'-GT/TG-5' or 5'-GA/AG-5' mismatched stem region of the single-stranded hairpin DNA. Further studies indicate that the effect of Eu3+ or Tb3+ on 7AACTD binding is related to DNA loop sequence. Our results will provide new insights into how metal ions can enhance antitumor agents binding to their targets.