alpha-decay half-lives and Q(alpha) values of superheavy nuclei

The alpha-decay half-lives of recently synthesized superheavy nuclei (SHN) are investigated by employing a unified fission model (UFM) where a new method to calculate the assault frequency of alpha emission is used. The excellent agreement with the experimental data indicates the UFM is a useful tool to investigate these alpha decays. It is found that the alpha-decay half-lives become more and more insensitive to the Q(alpha) values as the atomic number increases on the whole, which is favorable for us to predict the half-lives of SHN. In addition, a formula is proposed to compute the Q(alpha) values for the nuclei with Z >= 92 and N >= 140 with a good accuracy, according to which the long-lived SHN should be neutron rich. Several weeks ago, two isotopes of a new element with atomic number Z = 117 were synthesized and their alpha-decay chains have been observed. The Q(alpha) formula is found to work well for these nuclei, confirming its predictive power. The experimental half-lives are well reproduced by employing the UFM with the experimental Q(alpha) values. This fact that the experimental half-lives are compatible with experimental Q(alpha) values supports the synthesis of a new element 117 and the experimental measurements to a certain extent.

Biosorption of uranium by chemically modified Rhodotorula glutinis

The present paper reports the biosorption of uranium onto chemically modified yeast cells, Rhodotorula glutinis, in order to study the role played by various functional groups in the cell wall. Esterification of the carboxyl groups and methylation of the amino groups present in the cells were carried out by methanol and formaldehyde treatment, respectively. The uranium sorption capacity increased 31% for the methanol-treated biomass and 11% for the formaldehyde-treated biomass at an initial uranium concentration of 140 mg/L The enhancement of uranium sorption capacity was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, with amino and carboxyl groups were determined to be the important functional groups involved in uranium binding. The biosorption isotherms of uranium onto the raw and chemically modified biomass were also investigated with varying uranium concentrations. Langmuir and Freundlich models were well able to explain the sorption equilibrium data with satisfactory correlation coefficients higher than 0.9. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Unified fission model for proton emission

The unified fission model (UFM) combining with the phenomenological assault frequency has been carried out to investigate the proton-radioactivity half-lives of spherical proton emitters. The results are in good agreement with the experimental data and other theoretical values, and newly observed spherical proton emitters have been analyzed. Finally, the effect of angular momentum transfer on half-life of proton emission has been discussed in detail and a formula can be used to describe this relationship.

MEASUREMENT OF TWO-PROTON CORRELATION FROM THE BREAK-UP OF Al-23

Experiments of Al-23 and Mg-22 radioactive beams bombarding a C-12 target at an energy of 60 similar to 70 A MeV have been performed at the projectile fragment separator beamline (RIPS) in the RIKEN Ring Cyclotron Facility to study the two-proton emission from Al-23 and Mg-22 excited states, respectively. The trajectorie of the decay products, namely Na-21 + p + p from Al-23 and Ne-20 + p + p from Mg-22, are clean identified. The relative momentum and opening angle between two protons in the rest frame of three body decay channels are obtained by relativistic-kinematics reconstruction. The results demonstrate that there are some di-proton emission components from He-2 cluster for the excited Al-23 and Mg-22.

MEASUREMENT OF THE PROTON-PROTON CORRELATION FUNCTION FROM THE BREAK-UP OF Mg-22 AND Ne-20

An experiment of Mg-22 and Ne-20 beams bombarding on a C-12 target at an energy of 60 similar to 70 A MeV has been performed at the RIKEN projectile fragment separator (RIPS)in the RIKEN Ring Cyclotron Facility to study the two-proton correlated emission from Mg-22 and Ne-20 excited states. The two-protons momentum correlation functions have been obtained for Mg-22 and Ne-20, respectively. The trajectories of the Mg-22 decayed products (Ne-20 + p + p) were also measured to get the angular correlations between the two protons in Center of Mass of decaying system by relativistic-kinematics reconstruction. The results exhibit that Mg-22 has the features of He-2 cluster decay mechanism.

环境样品的低水平放射性测量

环境样品中的低水平放射性测量在环境放射性现状调查和探矿中有广泛的应用。本论文对CSR环境水样品的放射性利用γ能谱方法进行了测量；对铀矿坑水样铀电沉积层用红外谱图和扫描电镜进行了表征，并且对其进行了α能谱测量；对便携式钾40探测器样机在不同条件下进行了测试。 CSR环境水样品经过采集，静置，预处理和封装，用高纯锗探测器在低本底大铅室内对水样品进行了测量，每个样品测量86400秒。标准源由中国原子能科学研究院提供，用相对比较的方法，给出样品中天然铀、钍、镭和钾的放射性活度。测量结果表明，CSR环境水样品中的放射性处于兰州地区本底水平，在样品中没有发现人工放射性核素。 对铀矿坑水样中的铀进行离子交换化学分离，在0.8M的硫酸铵溶液中进行电沉积，电流密度为0.6A cm-2,pH值为2.5；和同样条件下电沉积的硝酸铀酰进行对比，并对二者分别作了红外光谱、扫描电镜、元素分析以及α能谱测量，红外谱上铀酰离子的反对称伸缩振动峰在887cm-1附近，电沉积在不锈钢片上的铀主要以铀酰离子水合物的形式存在，电沉积层中铀化合物形式为UO2(OH)2•xNH3•yH2O或者UO2(OH)2-x•(ONH4)x•yH2O。扫描电镜照片显示电沉积层均匀，没有成团现象出现。α谱表明电沉积层中铀的同位素主要是238U和234U，相应的α能量峰分别为4198keV和4773keV。 对研制的40K探测器样机在屏蔽和未加屏蔽的条件下进行了测试，测量配制的40K标准源，绘出标准曲线，在同样的条件下测量未知钾含量的样品，根据峰面积计算40K的含量。研制的40K探测器样机基本满足样品中钾含量测量的需要，在野外测量时，在一定程度上受本底的影响

Positional distribution of fatty acids on the glycerol backbone during the biosynthesis of glycerolipids in Ectocarpus fasciculatus

The biosynthesis of glycolipids in E. fasciculatus was studied by C-14 label and chase. The fatty acids in sulphoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) were almost 16-carbon and 18-carbon ones. In addition to the two fatty acids, monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) contained 8.5 mol% and 31.0 mol% of eicosapentaenoic acid (20 : 5), respectively, and this fatty acid was usually distributed in the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone. When plants were incubated with [2-C-14] acetate, differences existed in the positional distribution of the labeled fatty acids in sn-1 and sn-2 among the three glycerolipids. In SQDG C-14-labeled fatty acids were distributed uniformly in the sn-1 and sn-2 positions. In DGDG, C-14-labeled fatty acids were mainly distributed in the sn-2 position. In MGDG, the radioactivity of fatty acids in sn-1 position was far greater than that in sn-2 position after a 30 min pulse label, and the difference in radioactivity between the two positions decreased rapidly. The above results indicated that differences in the positional distribution of C-14-labeled fatty acids between sn-1 and sn-2 positions might be related to 20 : 5 and the biosynthesis of DGDG. Our results also suggested that E. fasciculatus had the same DGDG biosynthetic pathway as that in higher plants and galactosyl transferase was selective for MGDC.

Element enrichment and U-series isotopic characteristics of the hydrothermal sulfides at Jade site in the Okinawa Trough

The geochemical and U-series isotopic characteristics of hydrothermal sulfide samples from the Jade site (127A degrees 04.5'E, 27A degrees 15'N, water depth 1300-1450 m) at Jade site in the Okinawa Trough were analyzed. In the hydrothermal sulfide samples bearing sulfate (samples HOK1 and HOK2), the LREEs are relatively enriched. All the hydrothermal sulfide samples except HOK1 belong to Zn-rich hydrothermal sulfide. In comparison with Zn-rich hydrothermal sulfides from other fields, the contents of Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd, Au and Hg are higher, the contents of Fe, Al, Cr, Co, Ni, Sr, Te, Cs, Ti and U lower, and the Pb-210 radioactivity ratios and Pb-210/Pb ratios very low. In the hydrothermal sulfide mainly composed of sphalerite, the correlations between rare elements Hf and U, and Hf and Mn as well as that between dispersive elements Ga and Zn, are strongly positive; also the contents of Au and Ag are related to Fe-sulfide, because the low temperature promotes enrichment of Au and Ag. Meanwhile, the positive correlations between Fe and Bi and between Zn and Cd are not affected by the change of mineral assemblage. Based on the Pb-210/Pb ratios of hydrothermal sulfide samples (3.99x10(-5)-5.42x10(-5)), their U isotopic composition (U-238 content 1.15-2.53 ppm, U-238 activity 1.07-1.87 dpm/g, U-234 activity 1.15-2.09 dpm/g and U-234/U-238 ratio 1.07-1.14) and their Th-232 and Th-230 contents are at base level, and the chronological age of hydrothermal sulfide at Jade site in the Okinawa Trough is between 200 and 2000 yr.

青岛市区辐射环境质量评价

安全环境是人类赖以生存的基础，天然放射性辐射环境是人类生存环境的重要组成部分，放射性物质存在于各类物质中，包括空气、水源和土壤等。放射性物质的辐射对环境的影响往往被人们所忽视，但又是最危险的环境影响因素。为了生存和健康不仅需要了解重金属和有机物污染，而且需要了解辐射污染。 天然放射性辐射环境与该区域内的地质环境密切相关。青岛地区燕山期岩浆活动频繁，形成了以钾长花岗岩和二长花岗岩为主的大规模侵入岩体，大多数母岩为富含铀、钍的花岗岩。本论文选择青岛地区做为放射性的研究区，该花岗岩地区与放射性核素的辐射强度的关系具有典型的代表性。 论文在大量密集测量地表岩石、土壤γ总量、土壤中238U、232Th 、40K放射性核素的含量基础上，分析了天然放射性辐射环境与该区域内的地质环境. 分析了环境中氡的来源及迁移机制，给出了氡的运移理论模型，指出了环境中氡的危害及其土壤中的分布与地质环境的关系。分别从内照射和外照射的角度，将土壤中238U (226Ra) 、232Th 、40K放射性核素的比活度、γ能量谱、环境中的氡浓度和直接测量空气中的吸收剂量率相结合，首次对青岛地区的辐射环境进行了研究和评价，可为奥运和青岛市长远发展提供科学保障。 结果表明研究区内土壤中的238U含量低于全国及世界平均值，土壤中232Th含量分别是全国和世界均值含量的1.1和1.5倍, 土壤中40K含量分别是全国和世界均值含量的2.43和2.44倍，因此空气中的吸收剂量率高于全国（81.5nGy•h-1）和世界（80 nGy•h-1）约1.2倍。通过能谱估算的空气吸收剂量率与实际测量值近似相等。研究区的年有效剂量为0.83 mSv，低于世界平均年有效外部照射的剂量限值1.0mSv，外照射指数和内照射指数均小于1，该区的等效镭浓度Raeq均值为197 Bq•kg-1，低于建议最大容许值370 Bq•kg-1，基于以上的各类指标均在世界均值或容许值范围内，可以认为该区的外照射水平属于安全辐射范畴。 222Rn浓度对人体内部照射具有举足轻重的地位，也是评价辐射环境质量的关键所在。本文采用经典的氡在空气中的扩散和对流的理论模式，通过研究区内的土壤中铀的含量推算出离地面1米高的空气中的氡的浓度，并且分析了土壤中的氡浓度与土壤中的放射性核素U、Th、K的含量的关系。研究区的土壤氡浓度总体平均值为5887Bq/m3，与全球土壤氡浓度的平均值7400 Bq/m3相比属于土壤氡浓度正常地区。由于青岛市区土壤覆盖层很薄,地表储气条件较差，造成土壤氡逸散。因此除区内土壤氡浓度几处偏高区以的其他区域，甚至断裂带上他和其他区域的土壤氡浓度也普遍偏低。通过计算可以得出青岛市区大气中氡浓度所导致的居民室外吸入氡子体所产生的年均人有效剂量估算结果是0.94mSv/a。这与联合国辐射防护委员会公布世界平均本底值1.2mSv/a相比,此值在正常范围内。 这个地区虽然大面积出露富含放射性物质的花岗岩，由花岗岩风化形成的土壤中放射性核素含量（钍、钾）也较高，但是因为铀含量不高，另外本区临海，一年四季的风速较大，因此本地区室外和室内空气中氡浓度不高。 综上可以得出结论：本区的辐射环境属于安全区域，适于人类生活。 本论文研究成果和创新点有：首次在大量密集测量的基础上，系统地对青岛地区的辐射环境进行了研究和评价；在数据采集方面，采用直接就地测量，跟其他调查方法比，采样密度大，数据量大。从研究方法方面，本文从外照射和内照射的角度，采用了多指标相结合的综合方式来评价本区的辐射环境质量，详实可信；引入GIS技术，和放射性评价相结合，较为系统深入地探讨了放射性核素和氡浓度的分布特征及其与岩性的关系。

Survey of the potential environmental and health impacts in the immediate aftermath of the coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee.

An investigation of the potential environmental and health impacts in the immediate aftermath of one of the largest coal ash spills in U.S. history at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston coal-burning power plant has revealed three major findings. First the surface release of coal ash with high levels of toxic elements (As = 75 mg/kg; Hg = 150 microg/kg) and radioactivity (226Ra + 228Ra = 8 pCi/g) to the environment has the potential to generate resuspended ambient fine particles (< 10 microm) containing these toxics into the atmosphere that may pose a health risk to local communities. Second, leaching of contaminants from the coal ash caused contamination of surface waters in areas of restricted water exchange, but only trace levels were found in the downstream Emory and Clinch Rivers due to river dilution. Third, the accumulation of Hg- and As-rich coal ash in river sediments has the potential to have an impact on the ecological system in the downstream rivers by fish poisoning and methylmercury formation in anaerobic river sediments.

D-Amino acid peptide residualizing agents bearing N-hydroxysuccinimido- and maleimido-functional groups and their application for trastuzumab radioiodination.

INTRODUCTION: Proteins that undergo receptor-mediated endocytosis are subject to lysosomal degradation, requiring radioiodination methods that minimize loss of radioactivity from tumor cells after this process occurs. To accomplish this, we developed the residualizing radioiodination agent N(ϵ)-(3-[(*)I]iodobenzoyl)-Lys(5)-N(α)-maleimido-Gly(1)-D-GEEEK (Mal-D-GEEEK-[(*)I]IB), which enhanced tumor uptake but also increased kidney activity and necessitates generation of sulfhydryl moieties on the protein. The purpose of the current study was to synthesize and evaluate a new D-amino acid based agent that might avoid these potential problems. METHODS: N(α)-(3-iodobenzoyl)-(5-succinimidyloxycarbonyl)-D-EEEG (NHS-IB-D-EEEG), which contains 3 D-glutamates to provide negative charge and a N-hydroxysuccinimide function to permit conjugation to unmodified proteins, and the corresponding tin precursor were produced by solid phase peptide synthesis and subsequent conjugation with appropriate reagents. Radioiodination of the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab using NHS-IB-D-EEEG and Mal-D-GEEEK-IB was compared. Paired-label internalization assays on BT474 breast carcinoma cells and biodistribution studies in athymic mice bearing BT474M1 xenografts were performed to evaluate the two radioiodinated D-peptide trastuzumab conjugates. RESULTS: NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG was produced in 53.8%±13.4% and conjugated to trastuzumab in 39.5%±7.6% yield. Paired-label internalization assays with trastuzumab-NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG and trastuzumab-Mal-D-GEEEK-[(125)I]IB demonstrated similar intracellular trapping for both conjugates at 1h ((131)I, 84.4%±6.1%; (125)I, 88.6%±5.2%) through 24h ((131)I, 60.7%±6.8%; (125)I, 64.9%±6.9%). In the biodistribution experiment, tumor uptake peaked at 48 h (trastuzumab-NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG, 29.8%±3.6%ID/g; trastuzumab-Mal-D-GEEEK-[(125)I]IB, 45.3%±5.3%ID/g) and was significantly higher for (125)I at all time points. In general, normal tissue levels were lower for trastuzumab-NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG, with the differences being greatest in kidneys ((131)I, 2.2%±0.4%ID/g; (125)I, 16.9%±2.8%ID/g at 144 h). CONCLUSION: NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG warrants further evaluation as a residualizing radioiodination agent for labeling internalizing antibodies/fragments, particularly for applications where excessive renal accumulation could be problematic.

Intracellular fate of bioresponsive poly(amidoamine)s in vitro and in vivo

Linear poly(amidoamine)s (PAAs) have been designed to exhibit minimal non-specific toxicity, display pH-dependent membrane lysis and deliver genes and toxins in vitro. The aim of this study was to measure PAA cellular uptake using ISA1-OG (and as a reference ISA23-OG) in B16F10 cells in vitro and, by subcellular fractionation, quantitate intracellular trafficking of (125)I-labelled ISA1-tyr in liver cells after intravenous (i.v.) administration to rats. The effect of time after administration (0.5-3h) and ISA1 dose (0.04-100mg/kg) on trafficking, and vesicle permeabilisation (N-acetyl-b-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) release from an isolated vesicular fraction) were also studied. ISA1-OG displayed approximately 60-fold greater B16F10 cell uptake than ISA23-OG. Passage of ISA1 along the liver cell endocytic pathway caused a transient decrease in vesicle buoyant density (also visible by TEM). Increasing ISA1 dose from 10mg/kg to 100mg/kg increased both radioactivity and NAG levels in the cytosolic fraction (5-10 fold) at 1h. Moreover, internalised ISA1 provoked NAG release from an isolated vesicular fraction in a dose-dependent manner. These results provide direct evidence, for the first time, of PAA permeabilisation of endocytic vesicular membranes in vivo, and they have important implications for potential efficacy/toxicity of such polymeric vectors.

The Application Of Radioisotopes In The Study Of Estuarine Sedimentary Processes

The spatial and temporal distributions of some radionuclides in effluents originating from the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) reprocessing plant at Windscale, which are released into the Irish Sea, have been studied in sediments at 16 sites in the salt marsh region near Newbiggin on the Esk estuary Cumbria, England. The concentration of non-conservative radionuclides in surface sediments of the area cannot be described by a single parameter, but there is a high correlation with organic C, Cu, Al and the Si : Al ratio with particle size. The preservation of the historical record of the BNFL effluents in the Esk sediments is dependent on the hydrology of the area, as it effects such processes as accretion, erosion and remixing. From the 106Ru and 210Po concentrations and the 137Cs : 134Cs ratio in the sediment profiles with depth, we have identified these processes. Sedimentation rates at sites of accretion vary between 0·5 and 3 cm year−1. However, at some sites they appear to be much higher, approximately 6 cm year−1 in the top 10 cm, but they are not consistent throughout the depth profiles. This may be a true reflection of variable accretion related to sediment type, or one which is influenced by surficial mixing. Some cores showed evidence of continuous accretion but no significant radioactivity was detected at depths below 35–40 cm, indicating an overall sedimentation rate of approximately 1·5 cm year−1 for the 25–30-year period since BNFL effluents first entered the Irish Sea.