Search

The long-lived 60Fe (with a half-life of 2.62 Myr) is a crucial diagnostic of active nucleosynthesis in the Milky Way galaxy and in supernovae near the solar system. The neutron-capture reaction 59Fe(n, Îł)60Fe on 59Fe (half-life = 44.5 days) is the key reaction for the production of 60Fe in massive stars. This reaction cross section has been previously constrained by the Coulomb dissociation experiment, which offered partial constraint on the E 1 Îł -ray strength function but a negligible constraint on the M 1 and E 2 components. In this work, for the first time, we use the surrogate ratio method to experimentally determine the 59Fe(n, Îł)60Fe cross sections in which all the components are included. We derived a Maxwellian-averaged cross section of 27.5 ± 3.5 mb at kT = 30 keV and 13.4 ± 1.7 mb at kT = 90 keV, roughly 10%â€"20% higher than previous estimates. We analyzed the impact of our new reaction rates in nucleosynthesis models of massive stars and found that uncertainties in the production of 60Fe from the 59Fe(n, Îł)60Fe rate are at most 25%. We conclude that stellar physics uncertainties now play a major role in the accurate evaluation of the stellar production of 60Fe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HOLOS is the property of Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do norte - IFRN and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Spinal anesthesia is a common procedure performed in orthopedic surgery, and it is regarded as secure and safe. Although puncture-related complication of spinal anesthesia has a very low incidence, it would lead to dramatic neurological damage (tetra- or paraplegia). Early diagnosis and surgical decompression are mandatory to promote a better outcome. We present a case of acute spinal hematoma from T11 to L3, triggered by laborious anesthesia puncture after total knee arthroplasty. A prompt surgical decompression within few hours after diagnosis allowed rapid functional recovery and avoided permanent paraplegia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostasome-like vesicles ( PV) are components of the canine prostatic fluid during ejaculation and despite some enzymatic activities have been identified recently, their functions in the reproductive events in this species are still poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated at neutral or slightly alkaline pH, the effects of different concentrations of purified PV on sperm cell motility characteristics and the impact on the short- and long-term preservation of preserved semen maintained at room temperature. Two different experiments were performed. In the first experiment, purified PV were added at increasing concentration (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μL equivalent to 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 μg of protein, respectively) to aliquots of 100 μL of preserved semen maintained at 22 °C at the following time points: 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 min. Computer-assisted sperm motility characteristics and pH were assessed three times at each time points, for each sample and for every concentrations. In the second experiment, the purified PV were added with the same methods as described above but only at time 0. Sperm motility characteristics and pH were assessed over the time. This study showed how the addition of purified PV to preserved semen affects negatively ( p < 0.05) at neutral and alkaline pH, both total and progressive motility in a concentration depending manner. Furthermore, prostasome addition was demonstrated to change the quality of sperm movement which may represent a mechanism facilitating sperm cells attachment to the uterine epithelium and facilitating energy preservation before fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combination of a petawatt laser and nuclear physics techniques can crucially facilitate the measurement of exotic nuclei properties. With numerical simulations and laser-driven experiments we show prospects for the Laser-driven Exotic Nuclei extraction-acceleration method proposed in [M. Nishiuchi et al., Phys, Plasmas 22, 033107 (2015)]: a femtosecond petawatt laser, irradiating a target bombarded by an external ion beam, extracts from the target and accelerates to few GeV highly charged short-lived heavy exotic nuclei created in the target via nuclear reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a proof-of-principle measurement, the Maya active target detector was employed for a C( p, p) resonant elastic scattering experiment in inverse kinematics. The excitation energy region from 0 to 3MeV above the proton breakup threshold in N was investigated in a single measurement. By using the capability of the detector to localize the reaction vertex and record the tracks of the recoiling protons, data covering a large solid angle could be utilized, at the same time keeping an energy resolution comparable with that of direct-kinematics measurements. The excitation spectrum in N was fitted using the R-matrix formalism. The level parameters extracted are in good agreement with previous studies. The active target proved its potential for the study of resonant elastic scattering in inverse kinematics with radioactive beams, when detection efficiency is of primary importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost fully stripped Fe ions accelerated up to 0.9 GeV are demonstrated with a 200 TW femtosecond high-intensity laser irradiating a micron-thick Al foil with Fe impurity on the surface. An energetic low-emittance high-density beam of heavy ions with a large charge-to-mass ratio can be obtained, which is useful for many applications, such as a compact radio isotope source in combination with conventional technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present an exploratory experiment performed at REX-ISOLDE to investigate neutron-rich Sr, Y and Zr nuclei around mass A = 100 by cluster transfer reactions of radioactive 98Rb/98Sr beams on a 7Li target. The goal of the experiment is to test the potential of cluster-transfer mechanism to study the low-lying structure of neutron-rich nuclei, performing, as a first case, a γ-spectroscopy study of the structure in deformed nuclei beyond N = 60 populated, so far, only via ß decay and spontaneous fission experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents This study was carried out with the objectives to test the differences in the haemodynamic characteristics of the prostatic artery in normal and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-affected dogs using Doppler ultrasonography. In sixteen male German shepherd dogs, prostatic volume was detected and prostatic biopsy was performed. The prostatic artery blood flow parameters determined were as follows: peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), Resistive Index (RI) and Pulsatility Index. The power Doppler mode was used for colour flow mapping of the prostatic artery. In PW mode at marginal locations, the waveforms recorded showed a continuous pattern typical of the high-resistance vessels, while in subcapsular locations, the waveforms recorded were continuous characteristic of the low-resistance vessel. Peak systolic velocity and EDV in both locations were significantly higher in BPH group (p < 0.001) than normal group (p < 0.05). Pixel number in BPH group in both locations was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the normal group. This study shows that Doppler ultrasonography represents a valid and non-invasive method for the characterization of the blood flow in the prostatic artery in dogs affected with BPH. Moreover, statistically significant differences of blood flow velocities in prostatic artery in normal and BPH-affected dogs were detected. The RI was not able to differentiate normal dogs from dogs affected by BPH and therefore is not a parameter usable for diagnostic purposes, while Power Doppler could represent an additional diagnostic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents In six German Shepherds dogs, Gn RH agonist implants ( Deslorelin) were inserted subcutaneously one month after histological confirmation of benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH). Prostatic volume ( PV), characteristics of ejaculate, serum testosterone concentrations and Doppler parameters of prostatic and subcapsular arteries were detected at different time intervals, for 6 month. The prostatic volume showed a significantly reduction starting at day 37. The decrease in sperm concentration, motility and increase in morphological abnormal sperm were observed from day 22 to day 37, when it was no longer possible to obtain the ejaculate. The values of peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity in prostatic and subcapsular arteries showed from day 11 a gradual decrease, significant at day 22 until day 37 and reaching the lowest values at day 52 until the end of observation. The power Doppler pixel intensity of both arteries showed a gradual decrease from day 5 until day 52. In particular, a significant decrease was observed for both arteries from day 11. Testosterone serum concentration decreased to undetectable levels by day 11 until the end of the observations. All these Doppler parameters and testosterone values were positively correlated with the prostatic volume. Furthermore, testosterone values were positively correlated with peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity and pixel numbers. The use of implants containing Gn RH analogues, even in asymptomatic subjects, is effective for the control of BPH and the application of Doppler exam of prostatic blood flow represent an non-invasive tool for monitoring the response of medical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep inelastic reaction 48Ca+64Ni at 6 MeV/A has been studied using the CLARA-PRISMA setup. Angular distributions for pure elastic scattering and total cross-sections of the most relevant transfer channels have been measured. The experimental results are compared with predictions from a semiclassical model, showing good agreement for the presently analyzed few neutrons transfer channels. The &gamm;-decay of the most intense reaction products has also been studied, giving indications of the population of states with very short lifetimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large solid angle magnetic spectrometer PRISMA coupled to the γ array CLARA represents a significant step forward in the field of binary reactions at energies close to the Coulomb barrier. With this set-up extensive investigations have been carried out for nuclear structure and reaction dynamics. Via γ-particle coincidences it is now experimentally possible to measure the transfer strength to specific final states with high efficiency. In reactions with heavy ions, one can populate states of high angular momentum and, at the same, one can probe the population of specific nuclear levels via transfer of multiple pairs. Valuable information about the structure of those states can be then derived from the study of their decay modes. In the present paper aspects of these studies will be presented, focusing more closely on the reaction mechanism, in particular on the properties of quasielastic and deep-inelastic processes and on nucleon-nucleon correlations at energies far below the Coulomb barrier. We concentrated on (near) closed shell systems as they allow a better quantitative comparison between experiment and theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CLARA-PRISMA setup consisting of the array of Euroball Clover detectors CLARA, coupled to the LNL large acceptance magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, has been successfully working since spring 2004. Recently, new developments such as the ancillary device DANTE and the use of the differential plunger technique has improved the capabilities of the setup. Results of experiments studying the structure of neutron-rich nuclei together with the preliminary results on the commissioning of the ancillary detector array DANTE and of the plunger technique will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large variety of shapes may be observed in Sr and Zr nuclei of the A = 100 region when the number of neutrons increases from N = 58 to N = 64. The lighter isotopes are rather spherical. It is also well established that three shapes co-exist in the transitional odd-A, N = 59, Sr and Zr nuclei. For N > 59, strongly deformed axially symmetric bands are observed. Recently, a new isomer of half-life 1.4(2) µs was observed in 95Kr, the odd-odd 96Rb has been reinvestigated and a new high-spin isomer observed in the even-even 98Zr. These nuclei were studied by means of prompt γ-ray spectroscopy of the spontaneous fission of 248Cm using the EUROGAM 2 Ge array and/or measurements of µs isomers produced by fission of 239,241Pu with thermal neutrons at the ILL (Grenoble). To allow spectroscopic studies of isomeric states with lifetimes around 100 ns, across a broad range of medium-heavy neutron-rich nuclei, an experiment was performed at a neutron guide of the ILL using thermal-neutron-induced fission. Fission fragments were identified using a small spectrometer consisting of a section to measure time-of-flight and an ionization chamber. Isomeric rays emitted from complementary fragments were detected in an array of Ge detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the first excited state in 135Sb has been observed at the unexpectedly low excitation energy of only 282keV and interpreted as mainly d 5/2 proton coupled to the 134Sn core. Based on theoretical considerations it was suggested that its low excitation energy is related to a relative shift of the proton d 5/2 and g 7/2 orbits induced by the neutron excess. We have measured the lifetime of the 282keV state by the advanced time-delayed βγγ( t) method. The measured half-life, T 1/2 = 6.1(4)ns, yields exceptionally low limits of B( M1;5/21 +→7/21 +)≤3.0×10-4 μ 2 N and B( E2;5/21 +→7/21 +)≤54 e 2 fm 4. These strongly hindered M1 and slow E2 transition rates are similar to those for the transition de-populating the first excited state at 405keV in 211Bi. Results of shell model calculations with realistic interactions are presented. The M1 decay rate was found to be extremely sensistive both to the wave function and to the M1 effective operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. A possible relationship between haematological adverse reactions and clozapine (CLZ) metabolism rate was studied. Sixteen chronic schizophrenic outpatients (mean age 34.62 years +/-7.56 SD) were treated with CLZ, 75-600 mg/daily for 9 weeks. CLZ and norclozapine (NCLZ) plasma levels were determined weekly, contemporarily with blood cell counts. CLZ plasma levels ranged from 25 to 1270 ng/ml (mean 266.27 ng/ml +/-197.44 SD), while NCLZ plasma levels ranged from 25 to 1280 ng/ml (mean 169.0 ng/ml +/-127.94 SD). NCLZ/CLZ ratio ranged from 0.13 to 1.72 (mean 0.72 +/-0.28 SD). Leukocyte count ranged from 5.2 to 18.8 10[sup 9]/1 (mean 9.37 109/1+/-2.94 SD) and neutrophil count ranged from 1.8 to 13.4 10[sup 9]/1 (mean 5.73 +/-2.57 SD). No correlation was found between CLZ dosage and NCLZ plasma levels. Both CLZ and NCLZ plasma levels correlated positively with neutrophil count (CLZ: P: 0.001, r: 0.26; NCLZ: P: 0.01, r = 0.20). The correlation between NCLZ/CLZ plasma level ratio and neutrophil count was significantly negative (P: 0.002, r: 0.25). These preliminary data suggest that the NCLZ/CLZ ratio, as an index of CLZ metabolism, might be a possible risk factor associated with CLZ treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excited states of the rubidium isotopes 3787, 89, 91Rb have been studied at the INFN Legnaro National Laboratory. Measurements of the γ -ray decay of fragments produced in binary grazing reactions resulting from the interaction of a beam of 530 MeV 96Zr ions with a 124Sn target have been complemented by studies of the γ -ray decay of fission fragments produced in the interaction of a beam of 230 MeV 36S ions with a thick 176Yb target. The structure of the yrast states of 3787, 89, 91Rb has been discussed within the context of spherical shell-model and cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the first-excited state in 135Sb has been observed at the excitation energy of only 282keV and, due to its properties, interpreted as representing mainly a configuration of a d5/2 proton coupled to the 134Sn core. It was suggested that its low-excitation is due to a relative shift of the proton d5/2 and g7/2 orbits due to the neutron excess. With the aim to provide more spectroscopic information on this anomalously low-lying 5/2+ state, we have measured its lifetime by the Advanced Time-Delayed βγγ( t) method at the OSIRIS fission product mass separator at Studsvik. The preliminarily measured half-life, T1/2 = 6.0(7)ns, yields an exceptionally low B( M1;5/21+ → 7/21+) value of ≤2.9×10-4μ2N. The result is discussed in the framework of shell model calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]