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The possibilities of using modern ab initio approaches to describe various cluster and decay characteristics of light nuclei and nuclear reactions induced by their collisions, the limits of these possibilities and prospects for expanding these boundaries are discussed. The quality of the description of the spectra of nuclear energy levels, the probabilities of emission of nucleons and clusters by resonant states, the amplitudes of the reduced decay widths of these states and the asymptotic normalization coefficients of bound states are analyzed. It is demonstrated that the results of ab initio calculations of the above characteristics can in many cases be useful for describing and predicting cross-sections for resonant nuclear reactions and analyzing the results of their measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the hydrogen‐bond geometry in six two‐component solid systems composed of quinoline and chloro‐nitrobenzoic acids. New X‐ray diffraction studies were conducted using both the conventional independent‐atom model and the more recent Hirshfeld atom‐refinement method, with the latter providing precise hydrogen‐atom positions. The systems can be divided into salts (the hydrogen atom transferred to the quinoline nitrogen), cocrystals (the hydrogen atom retained by the acid), and intermediate structures. Solid‐state NMR experiments corroborated the X‐ray diffraction‐derived H−N distances. DFT calculations, using five functionals including hybrid B3LYP and PBE0, showed varying energy profiles for the hydrogen bonds, with notable differences across functionals. These calculations revealed different preferences for salt or cocrystal structures, depending on the functional used. Path‐integral molecular dynamics simulations incorporating nuclear quantum effects demonstrated significant hydrogen‐atom delocalization, forming a hydrogen‐bond continuum, and provided average N−H distances in excellent agreement with experimental results. This comprehensive experimental and theoretical approach highlights the complexity of multicomponent solids. The study emphasizes that the classification into salts or cocrystals is frequently inadequate, as the hydrogen atom is often significantly delocalized in the hydrogen bond. This insight is crucial for understanding and predicting the behavior of such systems in pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of application of the Cluster Channels Orthogonal Functions Method in combination with the R-matrix theory for calculating the cross-sections of the reactions induced by 6Li + 2H collisions are presented. As part of this work, first, very high lying resonances that have a decisive influence on the cross-sections of these reactions were identified. Second, for the first time in the framework of a theoretical study of nuclear reactions, to the cross-sections of all binary reactions pass through one and the same compound nucleus were computed using a consistent unified theoretical approach. The yield of sequential tripartition reactions is also a subject of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β decay has played a key role in studies of shape coexistence throughout the nuclear chart. This has been mainly due to the sensitivity in γ -ray and conversion electron spectroscopy that can be achieved following the population of excited states by β decay. In some regions, the spectroscopic studies using β decay have been the first to suggest the presence of shape coexistence; in others, they have reinforced the suggestion and provided important spectroscopic data. The present work reviews some of the key regions, with a prime focus on the neutron-rich side of the valley of stability, where β -decay measurements have played an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review is given of precision measurements of hyperfine constants and nuclear g-factors measured with ions confined in ion traps. The nuclear physics observables which can be extracted from these types of measurements are discussed. The feasibility of future nuclear structure studies using precision atomic spectroscopy of trapped radioactive atoms, produced with accelerator-driven approaches, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental methodologies of γ -ray detection and spectroscopy are widely used in nuclear astrophysics research that typically centers on the measurement of cross sections of reactions constituting the network of stellar nucleosynthesis. This article identifies the key factors of such endeavors and analyzes their impact on the aspired objectives. Such perspectives are known to be taken into cognizance while planning a facility for nuclear astrophysics research as well as in defining a research programme therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-ceramic composite electrolytes enable safe implementation of Li metal batteries with potentially transformative energy density. Nevertheless, the formation of Li-dendrites and its complex interplay with the Li-metal solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) remain a substantial obstacle which is poorly understood. Here we tackle this issue by a combination of solid-state NMR spectroscopy and Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) which boosts NMR interfacial sensitivity through polarization transfer from the metal conduction electrons. We achieve detailed molecular-level insight into dendrites formation and propagation within the composites and determine the composition and properties of their SEI. We find that the dendrite's quantity and growth path depend on the ceramic content and correlated with battery's lifetime. We show that the enhancement of Li resonances in the SEI occurs through Li/Li+ charge transfer in Overhauser DNP, allowing us to correlate DNP enhancements and Li transport and directly determine the SEI lithium permeability. These findings have promising implications for SEI design and dendrites management which are essential for the realization of Li metal batteries. Using advanced solid state NMR techniques, authors reveal how ceramics particles in composite solid electrolytes control lithium dendrites growth in lithium-metal batteries as well as determine the composition and conductivity of the metal SEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence supports associations between polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and psychosis. However, polyunsaturated fatty acid trajectories in the general population have not been characterized, and associations with psychosis spectrum outcomes in early adulthood are unknown. Plasma omega-6 to omega-3 ratio and DHA (expressed as percentage of total fatty acids) were measured by nuclear magnetic spectroscopy at 7, 15, 17, and 24 years of age in participants of ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children). Curvilinear growth mixture modeling evaluated body mass index–adjusted trajectories of both measures. Outcomes were assessed at 24 years. Psychotic experiences (PEs), at-risk mental state status, psychotic disorder, and number of PEs were assessed using the Psychosis-Like Symptoms interview (n = 3635; 2247 [61.8%] female). Negative symptoms score was measured using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (n = 3484; 2161 [62.0%] female). Associations were adjusted for sex, ethnicity, parental social class, and cumulative smoking and alcohol use. Relative to stable average, the persistently high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio trajectory was associated with increased odds of PEs and psychotic disorder, but attenuated on adjustment for covariates (PEs adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.63, 95% CI = 0.92-2.89; psychotic disorder aOR = 1.69, 95% CI = 0.71-4.07). This was also the case for persistently low DHA (PEs aOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.84-2.37; psychotic disorder aOR = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.49-2.67). Following adjustment, persistently high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio was associated with increased number of PEs (β = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.05-0.78) and negative symptoms score (β = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.14-0.72), as was persistently low DHA (number of PEs β = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.14-0.76; negative symptoms β = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.12-0.58). Optimization of polyunsaturated fatty acid status during development warrants further investigation in relation to psychotic symptoms in early adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable predictors of long-term all-cause mortality are needed for middle-aged and older populations. Previous metabolomics mortality studies have limitations: a low number of participants and metabolites measured, measurements mainly using nuclear magnetic spectroscopy, and the use only of conventional statistical methods. To overcome these challenges, we applied liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and measured >1000 metabolites in the METSIM study including 10,197 men. We applied the machine learning approach together with conventional statistical methods to identify metabolites associated with all-cause mortality. The three independent machine learning methods (logistic regression, XGBoost, and Welch's t-test) identified 32 metabolites having the most impactful associations with all-cause mortality (25 increasing and 7 decreasing the risk). From these metabolites, 20 were novel and encompassed various metabolic pathways, impacting the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, endocrine, and central nervous systems. In the Cox regression analyses (hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals), clinical and laboratory risk factors increased the risk of all-cause mortality by 1.76 (1.60–1.94), the 25 metabolites by 1.89 (1.68–2.12), and clinical and laboratory risk factors combined with the 25 metabolites by 2.00 (1.81–2.22). In our study, the main causes of death were cancers (28%) and cardiovascular diseases (25%). We did not identify any metabolites associated with cancer but found 13 metabolites associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Our study reports several novel metabolites associated with an increased risk of mortality and shows that these 25 metabolites improved the prediction of all-cause mortality beyond and above clinical and laboratory measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic particles dispersed in the polymer matrix can enhance the strength of polymers. In this paper, 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH560) and 2-Amino-1,3-propanediol were used to surface modify Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) to prepare modified Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), denoted as ZrO2-g. The modified ZrO2-g was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic hydrogen (1HNMR) spectroscopy, and the results showed that the modification was successful. Then the PBAT/ZrO2-g composites were synthesized by grafting ZrO2-g into poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) molecular chain segments using in situ copolymerization. The results showed that ZrO2-g acted as a nucleating agent and improved the crystallinity of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). The rheological behavior analysis showed that the composite viscosity, storage modulus and loss modulus of PBAT/ZrO2-g composites were improved compared to PBAT. The ZrO2-g content had a significant effect on the tensile properties of the composites, and the composites had the highest tensile strength and elongation at break when the ZrO2-g content was 1% wt, reaching 23.27 MPa and 888.89%, respectively, which were increased by 60% and 38%, respectively, compared with PBAT. When the content of ZrO2-g exceeds 1.5 wt%, aggregation phenomenon occurs, which rather reduces the performance of the composites. Meanwhile, the thermal stability of the composites decreases with the increase of ZrO2-g incorporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma ray spectrometry is a well-established non-invasive and highly effective geophysical technique utilized for uranium exploration and resource assessment. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the principles, methodologies, and applications of gamma ray spectrometry for uranium exploration. Description of the underlying physics, instrumentation, data processing techniques and recent advancements in the field are also presented. It is followed with a case study highlighting successful application in uranium prospecting, emphasizing the technique's significance in modern exploration practices. The article concludes with prospects and potential research directions to further enhance the efficiency and accuracy of gamma ray spectrometry in uranium exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioreduction of spin labels and polarizing agents (generally stable radicals) has been an obstacle limiting the in‐cell applications of pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). In this work, we have demonstrated that two semiquinone methide radicals (OXQM⋅ and CTQM⋅) can be easily produced from the trityl‐based quinone methides (OXQM and CTQM) via reduction by various reducing agents including biothiols and ascorbate under anaerobic conditions. Both radicals have relatively low pKa's and exhibit EPR single line signals at physiological pH. Moreover, the bioreduction of OXQM in three cell lysates enables quantitative generation of OXQM⋅ which was most likely mediated by flavoenzymes. Importantly, the resulting OXQM⋅ exhibited extremely high stability in the E.coli lysate under anaerobic conditions with 76‐ and 14.3‐fold slower decay kinetics as compared to the trityl OX063 and a gem‐diethyl pyrrolidine nitroxide, respectively. Intracellular delivery of OXQM into HeLa cells was also achieved by covalent conjugation with a cell‐permeable peptide as evidenced by the stable intracellular EPR signal from the OXQM⋅ moiety. Owing to extremely high resistance of OXQM⋅ towards bioreduction, OXQM and its derivatives show great application potential in in‐cell EPR and in‐cell DNP studies for various cells which can endure short‐term anoxic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review applications of various nuclear resonance techniques for high-pressure experiments within the nearly 30-year-long operation of the Nuclear Resonance beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). Starting from a short introduction to the relevant techniques, we discuss the corresponding experimental setups, involved X-ray optics, and examples of applications. In addition, we emphasize the benefits of conducting high-pressure experiments in combination with other extreme conditions and introduce new focusing capabilities for extreme-pressure studies. Finally, we provide a short review of utilized detector systems, electronics, and available packages for data treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data analysis techniques can be powerful tools for rapidly analyzing data and extracting information that can be used in a latent space for categorizing observations between classes of data. Machine learning models that exploit learned data relationships can address a variety of nuclear nonproliferation challenges like the detection and tracking of shielded radiological material transfers. The high resource cost of manually labeling radiation spectra is a hindrance to the rapid analysis of data collected from persistent monitoring and to the adoption of supervised machine learning methods that require large volumes of curated training data. Instead, contrastive self-supervised learning on unlabeled spectra can enhance models that are built on limited labeled radiation datasets. This work demonstrates that contrastive machine learning is an effective technique for leveraging unlabeled data in detecting and characterizing nuclear material transfers demonstrated on radiation measurements collected at an Oak Ridge National Laboratory testbed, where sodium iodide detectors measure gamma radiation emitted by material transfers between the High Flux Isotope Reactor and the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center. Label-invariant data augmentations tailored for gamma radiation detection physics are used on unlabeled spectra to contrastively train an encoder, learning a complex, embedded state space with self-supervision. A linear classifier is then trained on a limited set of labeled data to distinguish transfer spectra between byproducts and tracked nuclear material using representations from the contrastively trained encoder. The optimized hyperparameter model achieves a balanced accuracy score of 80.30%. Any given model—that is, a trained encoder and classifier—shows preferential treatment for specific subclasses of transfer types. Regardless of the classifier complexity, a supervised classifier using contrastively trained representations achieves higher accuracy than using spectra when trained and tested on limited labeled data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the ab initio scheme developed by the authors for calculating the asymptotic characteristics of decay channels of nuclear states—the method of orthogonal functions of cluster channels—an approach has been created that makes it possible to directly implement the results of ab initio calculations of -nucleon wave functions, as well as the partial decay widths of resonant states of compound nucleus obtained through their use, into calculations of cross sections for resonance nuclear reactions. Both calculated and reliably measured resonance energies can be employed in these calculations. Using the examples of such a theoretical analysis of the reaction cross sections for He and He, the efficiency of this approach and the wide prospects of its use in nuclear spectroscopy are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β decay has played a key role in studies of shape coexistence throughout the nuclear chart. This has been mainly due to the sensitivity in γ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy that can be achieved following the population of excited states by β decay. In some regions, the spectroscopic studies using β decay have been the first to suggest the presence of shape coexistence; in others, they have reinforced the suggestion and provided important spectroscopic data. The present work reviews some of the key regions, with a prime focus on the neutron-rich side of the valley of stability, where β-decay measurements have played an important role.

The intensive investigation of chemical components from the culture broth of the bacterium Saccharomonospora sp. CNQ-490 has yielded four new natural products, lodopyridones D − G (1 − 4) along with the previously reported compounds, lodopyridones A − C (5 − 7) and cotteslosin A (8). The planar structures of the lodopyridones D − G (1 − 4) were elucidated by interpreting the mass spectrometry, ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR) data, as well as comparing NMR data with those of the lodopyridones A − C (5 − 7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense attosecond light sources are required for investigating ultrafast electron dynamics, such as that in molecules and atoms, etc. However, so far the achievable photon energy remains at the keV level, thereby limiting their range of applications. For instance, probing intranuclear dynamics requires photon energies in the gamma-ray regime. We propose here a scheme for generating intense attosecond gamma-ray pulses by irradiating a thin solid-density foil with intense vortex laser. In the interaction, the laser driven-foil electrons are differentially accelerated within a quarter-wave field and become highly bunched. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that they can efficiently (with ∼ 30 % energy conversion efficiency) radiate ultrashort ( ∼ 400 as), high-flux ( > 10 10 photons per pulse), and ultrabrilliant (up to 1027 photons s−1 mm−2 mrad−2 per 0.1% BW at 1 MeV photon energy) gamma rays. With an x-ray driving laser, the scheme can even produce isolated bright sub-attosecond gamma-ray pulses that are useful for time-resolved nuclear spectroscopy and many other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and premalignant disorders (PMDs) are becoming common in India as the use of tobacco in different forms is increasing from a young age, and the prevalence of this disease is becoming more common in middle age. Identifying disease at earlier stages is an important measure for limiting disease incidence and improving patient prognosis. The micronuclei count can be a valid biomarker for screening suspected patients and can be helpful in educating patients about the discontinuation of treatment, diagnosing the disease in its early stages and planning a treatment for a better prognosis. Different stains that are nuclear specific can be used to identify micronuclei. The aim was to establish diagnostic efficacy of various staining techniques in OSCC and potentially malignant disorders on oral brush cytology smears with observation of micronuclei as a valid biomarker for evaluation of the disease. Material and methods. Exfoliative cytology was done with oral brush and smears are obtained from 25 oral squamous cell carcinoma, 25 leukoplakia, 25 lichen planus, 25 oral sub mucous fibrosis patients and 15 samples with no disease. Each smear was stained with five different stains Papanicolaou (PAP), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), toluidine blue, Leishman and Giemsa (LG) cocktail and Feulgen and observed for staining efficacy of micronuclei and cellular structures. Results. The best stain to observe DNA content as micronuclei is Feulgen which gives clear and crisp details of micronuclei without giving any false count as it is nuclear specific stain. PAP can be the second choice stain. Micronuclei count is definitely increased in OSCC and PMDs compared to samples without disease confirming its use as biomarker. Conclusion. Micronuclei count in oral brush cytology smears is a valid biomarker for evaluation of premalignant disorders and OSCC and can be used for detection of disease in individuals and for screening purposes of large populations at risk. Feulgen stain is best to study DNA content as micronuclei, on the other hand PAP can be used in large sampling investigations where there is lack of armamentarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilities equipped with two major types of isotope separators—Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) and in-flight separators—have produced many types of unstable nuclei and have provided opportunities to study their exotic properties successfully. Gas-cell systems have been developed for both types of radioactive-ion (RI) facilities, enabling the performance of a great variety of nuclear-spectroscopic measurements by compensating for their respective disadvantages in the production and purification of the RI beams. Although many nuclear-spectroscopic studies have been performed in both types of RI facilities by applying 238 U target (ISOL) or 238 U beam (in-flight), two major unexplored regions remain on the nuclear chart located in the regions of the refractory elements in the vicinity of Z = 73–78 and N = 126 and in the actinide elements. Because it is hard or almost impossible to produce the neutron-rich nuclei, which require specific nuclear reactions for the productions, in these unexplored regions. To access these regions and perform nuclear spectroscopy there, the KEK Isotope Separation System (KISS)—an argon-gas-cell-based laser ion source—has been developed and operated. The gas-cell system at the KISS facility is dedicated to multinucleon transfer (MNT) reactions for producing heavy, neutron-rich nuclei in the unexplored regions. Here, we introduce some of the experimental results and discuss a plan to upgrade the facility to promote further nuclear spectroscopy of the nuclei in the unexplored regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new data storage solutions is crucial for emerging digital technologies. Recently, all-optical magnetic switching has been achieved in dielectrics, proving to be faster than traditional methods. Despite this, single-molecule magnets (SMMs), which are an important class of magnetic materials due to their nanometre size, remain underexplored for ultrafast photomagnetic switching. Herein, we report femtosecond time-resolved K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (TR-XAS) on a Mn(III)-based trinuclear SMM. Exploiting the elemental specificity of XAS, we directly track nuclear dynamics around the metal ions and show that the ultrafast dynamics upon excitation of a crystal-field transition are dominated by a magnetically active Jahn-Teller mode. Our results, supported by simulations, reveal minute bond length changes from 0.01 to 0.05 Å demonstrating the sensitivity of the method. These geometrical changes are discussed in terms of magneto-structural relationships and consequently our results illustrate the importance of TR-XAS for the emerging area of ultrafast molecular magnetism. The authors use femtosecond K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy to follow nuclear motion in a manganese-based tri-nuclear single-molecule magnet, and resolve changes in bond lengths on the order of hundreds of ångströms and on sub-picosecond timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance (MR) acquisitions of the torso are frequently affected by respiratory motion with detrimental effects on signal quality. The motion of organs inside the body is typically decoupled from surface motion and is best captured using rapid MR imaging (MRI). We propose a pipeline for prospective motion correction of the target organ using MR image navigators providing absolute motion estimates in millimeters. Our method is designed to feature multi-nuclear interleaving for non-proton MR acquisitions and to tolerate local transmit coils with inhomogeneous field and sensitivity distributions. OpenCV object tracking was introduced for rapid estimation of in-plane displacements in 2D MR images. A full three-dimensional translation vector was derived by combining displacements from slices of multiple and arbitrary orientations. The pipeline was implemented on 3 T and 7 T MR scanners and tested in phantoms and volunteers. Fast motion handling was achieved with low-resolution 2D MR image navigators and direct implementation of OpenCV into the MR scanner's reconstruction pipeline. Motion-phantom measurements demonstrate high tracking precision and accuracy with minor processing latency. The feasibility of the pipeline for reliable in-vivo motion extraction was shown on heart and kidney data. Organ motion was manually assessed by independent operators to quantify tracking performance. Object tracking performed convincingly on 7774 navigator images from phantom scans and different organs in volunteers. In particular the kernelized correlation filter (KCF) achieved similar accuracy (74%) as scored from inter-operator comparison (82%) while processing at a rate of over 100 frames per second. We conclude that fast 2D MR navigator images and computer vision object tracking can be used for accurate and rapid prospective motion correction. This and the modular structure of the pipeline allows for the proposed method to be used in imaging of moving organs and in challenging applications like cardiac magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nu-Ball2 experimental campaign at the ALTO facility in France involved the use of a hybrid gamma-ray spectrometer to perform measurements related to nuclear fission and neutron-rich nuclei. The spectrometer consisted of different types of detectors, including high-resolution clover Germanium detectors and Bismuth Germinate Oxide (BGO) anti-Compton shields. The campaign aimed to better understand the fission process and study the nuclei produced as a result. The setup allowed for flexibility in coupling different detectors and utilized a fully digital data acquisition system. The campaign resulted in a large amount of data and involved international collaboration. [Extracted from the article]

This study focuses on synthesizing an injectable hydrogel (IH) using Moringa oleifera gum (MOG) with multi‐aldehyde groups (MOG‐CHO) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) through a Schiff base reaction at 37 °C. The study includes the optimal concentration of the oxidizing agent to achieve the best content of aldehydes in Moringa oleifera gum. Furthermore, the best oxidized Moringa oleifera gum decides the least gelation time. The physical properties of the optimized IH (IH‐3‐7) are assessed, including color, gel content, porosity, load‐bearing capacity, syringeability, and self‐healing capability. Structural characterization is performed using Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (1H NMR), while scanning electron microscope (SEM) and rheometer are used to analyze surface morphology and rheological properties. IH‐3‐7 exhibits a porous structure with 35 % porosity and interconnected holes of 1.45 to 4 μm diameter. Higher swelling at pH 5.5 is shown by swelling ratio test conducted in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 and pH 5.5. Ciprofloxacin HCl (Cipro) is loaded into IH for release assays, revealing pH‐dependent drug release. In vitro, cytotoxicity assessments on L‐929 fibroblast cell lines show IH′s biocompatibility. Hydrolytic degradation of IH in PBS at pH 7.4 is also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prompt gamma rays of terbium emitted after (n,nʹγ) inelastic scattering reactions induced by irradiation of a terbium(III) hexahydrate (TbCl3·6H2O) sample with a beam of fission neutrons were investigated with the instrument FaNGaS (Fast Neutron-induced Gamma-ray Spectrometry) at an angle of 90° between neutron beam and detector. At sample position, the fast-neutron flux was 1.13 × 108 cm−2 s−1 and the neutron beam has an average energy of 2.30 MeV. We identified 124 prompt gamma lines from the 159Tb(n,nʹγ)159Tb reaction. Presence of prompt gamma rays from oxygen and chlorine was used for a concise verification of recently published results. Relative gamma-ray intensities, effective cross sections and fast-neutron spectrum-averaged partial production cross sections of the gamma lines are given including comparisons with available literature data. We found a reasonable agreement and the multitude of unreported lines adds decisive value to nuclear spectroscopy. Additionally, we estimated the detection limit of terbium as 1 mg for a counting time of 12 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray spectroscopy is an effective technique for radioactive material characterization, routine inventory verification, nuclear safeguards, health physics, and source search scenarios. Gamma-ray spectrometers typically cannot be operated in the immediate vicinity of nuclear reactors due to their high flux fields and their resulting inability to resolve individual pulses. Low-power reactor facilities offer the possibility to study reactor gamma-ray fields, a domain of experiments hitherto poorly explored. In this work, we present gamma-ray spectroscopy experiments performed with various detectors in two reactors: The EPFL zero-power research reactor CROCUS, and the neutron beam facility at the Ohio State University Research Reactor (OSURR). We employed inorganic scintillators (CeBr3), organic scintillators (trans-stilbene and organic glass), and high-purity germanium semiconductors (HPGe) to cover a range of typical—and new—instruments used in gamma-ray spectroscopy. The aim of this study is to provide a guideline for reactor users regarding detector performance, observed responses, and therefore available information in the reactor photon fields up to 2 MeV. The results indicate several future prospects, such as the online (at criticality) monitoring of fission products (like Xe, I, and La), dual-particle sensitive experiments, and code validation opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this publication, the potential non-gadolinium magnetic resonant imaging agent—nanoparticulate K2Mn[Fe(CN)6]—its comparison sample KFe[Co(CN)6], as well as their reference samples were measured and analyzed using Mn, Co and Fe L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (L XAS). From the information obtained, we conclude that K2Mn[Fe (CN)6] has a high spin (hs)-Mn(II) and a low spin (ls)-Fe(II), while KFe[Co(CN)6] has an hs-Fe(II) and an ls-Co(III). In these Prussian blue (PB) analog structures, the L XAS analysis also led to the conclusion that the hs-Mn(II) in K2Mn[Fe(CN)6] or the hs-Fe(II) in KFe[Co(CN)6] bonds to the N in the [M(CN)6]4−/3− ions (where M = Fe(II) or Co(III)), while the ls-Fe(II) in K2Mn[Fe(CN)6] or the ls-Co(III) in KFe[Co(CN)6] bonds to the C in the [M(CN)6]4−/3− ion, suggesting the complexed metalloligand [Mn(II) or Fe(II)] occupies the N-bound site in PB. Then, nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) was used to confirm the results from the L XAS measurements: the Mn(II), Eu(III), Gd(III), Fe(II) cations complexed by [M(CN)6]n−-metalloligand all take the N-bound site in PB-like structures. Our NRVS studies also prove that iron in the K2Mn[Fe(CN)6] compound has a 2+ oxidation state and is surrounded by the C donor atoms in the [M(CN)6]n− ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To detect and track structural changes in atomic nuclei, the systematic study of nuclear levels with firm spin-parity assignments is important. While linear polarization measurements have been applied to determine the electromagnetic character of gamma-ray transitions, the applicable range is strongly limited due to the low efficiency of the detection system. The multi-layer Cadmium-Telluride (CdTe) Compton camera can be a state-of-the-art gamma-ray polarimeter for nuclear spectroscopy with the high position sensitivity and the detection efficiency. We demonstrated the capability to operate this detector as a reliable gamma-ray polarimeter by using polarized 847-keV gamma rays produced by the 56 Fe ( p , p ′ γ ) reaction. By combining the experimental data and simulated calculations, the modulation curve for the gamma ray was successfully obtained. A remarkably high polarization sensitivity was achieved, compatible with a reasonable detection efficiency. Based on the obtained results, a possible future gamma-ray polarimetery is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sub-nanometer amplitudes of the samples vibrated with high frequencies were measured by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy using a nuclear Bragg monochromator and focusing optics. The Mössbauer spectra of the vibrated single-line absorber showed comb-like absorption peaks, and the amplitudes of the absorbers were determined by the sideband intensities. We used the stainless-steel foil glued on the quartz crystal or the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film as samples. The mean value and the variance of the amplitude in sub-nanometer order were obtained for the irradiated area of 100 μm diameter in the sample. We could obtain the sub-nanometer amplitude with almost zero variance, using the 57Fe synchrotron Mössbauer source and focusing optics for the PVDF film. The resonant absorber vibrated with high frequency and amplitude without variance is useful for the control of gamma rays. This work will advance X-ray quantum optics and quantum technology applications using a single gamma photon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Deazaflavins are analogs of naturally occurring flavin cofactors. They serve as substitutes for natural flavin cofactors to investigate and modify the reaction pathways of flavoproteins. Demethylated 5-deazaflavins are potential candidates for artificial cofactors, allowing us to fine-tune the reaction kinetics and absorption characteristics of flavoproteins. In this contribution, demethylated 5-deazariboflavin radicals are investigated (1) to assess the influence of the methyl groups on the electronic structure of the 5-deazaflavin radical and (2) to explore their photophysical properties with regard to their potential as artificial cofactors. We determined the proton hyperfine structure of demethylated 5-deazariboflavins using photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) spectroscopy, as well as density functional theory (DFT). To provide context, we compare our findings to a study of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) derivatives. We found a significant influence of the methylation pattern on the absorption properties, as well as on the proton hyperfine coupling ratios of the xylene moiety, which appears to be solvent-dependent. This effect is enhanced by the replacement of N5 by C5-H in 5-deazaflavin derivatives compared to their respective flavin counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrofurazone usage in food‐producing animals is prohibited in most countries, including the United States. Regulatory agencies regularly monitor its use in domestic, export/import animals' food products by measuring the semicarbazide (SEM) metabolite as a biomarker of nitrofurazone exposure. However, the use of SEM is controversial because it is also produced in food naturally and thus gives false positive results. A cyano‐metabolite, 4‐cyano‐2‐oxobutyraldehyde semicarbazone (COBS), is proposed as an alternate specific marker of nitrofurazone to distinguish nitrofurazone from treated or untreated animals. A synthetic method was developed to produce COBS via metallic hydrogenation of nitrofurazone. The product was isolated and characterized by one‐ and two‐dimensional nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR) experiments, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), and mass spectrometry. The developed synthetic procedure was further extended to synthesize isotopically labeled 4‐[13C]‐cyano‐2‐oxo‐ [2, 3, 4‐13C3]‐butyraldehyde semicarbazone. Labeled COBS is useful as an internal standard for its quantification in food‐producing animals. Thus, the developed method provides a possibility for its commercial synthesis to procure COBS. This is the first synthesis of the alternate specific marker metabolite of nitrofurazone for possible usage in regulatory analysis to solve a real‐world problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of measurement methodologies to detect and monitor nuclear-relevant materials remains a consistent and significant interest across the nuclear energy, nonproliferation, safeguards, and forensics communities. Optical spectroscopy of laser-produced plasmas is becoming an increasingly popular diagnostic technique to measure radiological and nuclear materials in the field without sample preparation, where current capabilities encompass the standoff, isotopically resolved and phase-identifiable (e.g., UO and UO 2) detection of elements across the periodic table. These methods rely on the process of laser ablation (LA), where a high-powered pulsed laser is used to excite a sample (solid, liquid, or gas) into a luminous microplasma that rapidly undergoes de-excitation through the emission of electromagnetic radiation, which serves as a spectroscopic fingerprint for that sample. This review focuses on LA plasmas and spectroscopy for nuclear applications, covering topics from the wide-area environmental sampling and atmospheric sensing of radionuclides to recent implementations of multivariate machine learning methods that work to enable the real-time analysis of spectrochemical measurements with an emphasis on fundamental research and development activities over the past two decades. Background on the physical breakdown mechanisms and interactions of matter with nanosecond and ultrafast laser pulses that lead to the generation of laser-produced microplasmas is provided, followed by a description of the transient spatiotemporal plasma conditions that control the behavior of spectroscopic signatures recorded by analytical methods in atomic and molecular spectroscopy. High-temperature chemical and thermodynamic processes governing reactive LA plasmas are also examined alongside investigations into the condensation pathways of the plasma, which are believed to serve as chemical surrogates for fallout particles formed in nuclear fireballs. Laser-supported absorption waves and laser-induced shockwaves that accompany LA plasmas are also discussed, which could provide insights into atmospheric ionization phenomena from strong shocks following nuclear detonations. Furthermore, the standoff detection of trace radioactive aerosols and fission gases is reviewed in the context of monitoring atmospheric radiation plumes and off-gas streams of molten salt reactors. Finally, concluding remarks will present future outlooks on the role of LA plasma spectroscopy in the nuclear community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a charged particle spectrometer with an aluminum range filter attached to a CR-39 detector that does not need a calibration curve of energy versus track diameter. A californium (Cf-252) radioactive source with an activity of 160 Bq was used to irradiate groups 1, 2, and 3 of CR-39 detectors, each of five samples, at alpha energies of 2.7, 3.86, and 5.11 MeV. Different alpha energies were achieved by changing the source–detector distance. Two aluminum range filters of thicknesses 17 and 11 μ m were used in conjunction with CR-39 detectors to separate alpha particles according to their energy. The thickness of the filter was determined by the SRIM 2013 version. The tracks in group 1 (bare CR-39) are for alpha particles with energies of 2.7, 3.86, and 5.11 MeV, while the tracks in group 2 (CR39 + 11 μ m filter) are for alpha particles with energies of 3.86 and 5.11 MeV. Alpha particles with an energy of 2.7 MeV are blocked by the 11- μ m Al filter. The filter in group 3 (17 μ m ) blocked alpha particles with energies of 2.7 and 3.86 MeV and allowed the alpha particles of 5.11 MeV to pass and produce tracks. Therefore, the average number of tracks in group 3 is for 5.11 MeV alpha particles. The tracks for alpha particles of energy 3.86 MeV can be found by subtracting the tracks in group 3 from those in group 2. The difference between the average number of tracks in groups 1 and 2 is for alpha particles with an energy of 2.7 MeV. The present method could determine the tracks from each different alpha energy without using the calibration curve of energy versus track diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas-phase electronic spectra of H $ {}_2 $ 2 O@C $ {}_{60}^+ $ 60 + and D $ {}_2 $ 2 O@C $ {}_{60}^+ $ 60 + are presented. These data were obtained by one-photon dissociation of weakly bound helium complexes synthesised in a 3 K ion trap. Measurements were recorded in the vicinity of the $ {}^{2}{\rm A}_{g}{\rm, }^{2}{\rm B}_{g}\,\leftarrow \,X\,^{2}{\rm A}_{u} $ 2 A g , 2 B g ← X 2 A u electronic transitions of the C $ {}_{60}^+ $ 60 + cage. Two-colour hole burning experiments enabled nuclear spin isomer pure data to be obtained. The spectra are rich in structure with many absorptions attributed to internal excitation of the encapsulated molecule accompanying the C $ {}_{60}^{+} $ 60 + electronic transition. The experimental data are complemented with density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP functional and 6-31++G** basis set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas-phase electronic spectra of H $ {}_2 $ 2 O@C $ {}_{60}^+ $ 60 + and D $ {}_2 $ 2 O@C $ {}_{60}^+ $ 60 + are presented. These data were obtained by one-photon dissociation of weakly bound helium complexes synthesised in a 3 K ion trap. Measurements were recorded in the vicinity of the $ {}^{2}{\rm A}_{g}{\rm, }^{2}{\rm B}_{g}\,\leftarrow \,X\,^{2}{\rm A}_{u} $ 2 A g , 2 B g ← X 2 A u electronic transitions of the C $ {}_{60}^+ $ 60 + cage. Two-colour hole burning experiments enabled nuclear spin isomer pure data to be obtained. The spectra are rich in structure with many absorptions attributed to internal excitation of the encapsulated molecule accompanying the C $ {}_{60}^{+} $ 60 + electronic transition. The experimental data are complemented with density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP functional and 6-31++G** basis set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims at reveal the enhanced effect of ultrasound on heat pump drying (HPD) process. Carrot was used as experimental material to determine its water removal, conversion and distribution during ultrasound-enhanced HPD. Carrots were dried at HPD temperatures of 40, 50, 60 °C and ultrasound powers of 0, 40, 80 W. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low-field nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (LF-NMR) were applied to analyze the moisture distribution conditions status and moisture migration of carrot under 5 different drying conditions. The results showed that it displayed apparent strengthening effect by applying contact ultrasound (CU) during HPD, and higher temperature and CU power could obviously promote dehydration process. The SEM results revealed that the intensification effect of ultrasound and the increase of temperature could cause the improvement of micropores' number inside carrot slices, which was conducive to the migration of internal moisture. LF-NMR analysis illustrated that the largest content of free water was removed first in CU-HPD process and the removal speed was accelerated with the increasing of drying temperature and ultrasound power. The immobilized water rose first and then fell, while the bound water hardly changed. Magnetic resonance imaging results could visually demonstrate the change and migration of water inside carrot slices, and CU had a strengthening effect on HPD, but this intensifying effect reduced significantly with the propagation of ultrasound in carrot slices. Therefore, CU application during HPD could achieve positive effect on water migration and moisture removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

De-excitation gamma-ray lines, produced by nuclei colliding with protons, provide information about astrophysical environments where particles have kinetic energies of 10–100 MeV per nucleon. In general, such environments can be categorized into two types: the interaction between non-thermal MeV cosmic rays and ambient gas, and the other is thermal plasma with a temperature above a few MeV. In this paper, we focus on the latter type and investigate the production of de-excitation gamma-ray lines in very hot thermal plasma, especially the dependence of the line profile on the plasma temperature. We have calculated the line profile of prompt gamma rays from 12C and 16O and found that when nuclei have a higher temperature than protons, gamma-ray line profiles can have a complex shape unique to each nucleus species. This is caused by anisotropic gamma-ray emission in the nucleus rest frame. We propose that the spectroscopy of nuclear de-excitation gamma-ray lines may enable to probe energy distribution in very hot astrophysical plasmas. This diagnostics can be a new and powerful technique to investigate the physical state of a two-temperature accretion flows onto a black hole, especially the energy distributions of the protons and nuclei, which are difficult to access for any other diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent (or bolus) feeding regimens in critically ill patients have been of increasing interest to clinicians and scientists. Changes in amino acid, fat and carbohydrate metabolites over time might yet deliver other benefits (e.g. modulation of the circadian rhythm and sleep, and impacts on ghrelin secretion, insulin resistance and autophagy). We set out to characterise these changes in metabolite concentration. The Intermittent versus Continuous Feeding in Critically Ill paitents study (NCT02358512) was an eight-centre single-blinded randomised controlled trial. Patients were randomised to received a continuous (control arm) or intermittent (6x/day, intervention arm) enteral feeding regimen. Blood samples were taken on trial days 1, 7 and 10 immediately before and 30 min after intermittent feeds, and at equivalent timepoints in the control arm. A pre-planned targeted metabolomic analysis was performend using Nuclear Resonance Spectroscopy. Five hundred and ninety four samples were analysed from 75 patients. A total of 24 amino acid-, 19 lipid based-, and 44 small molecule metabolite features. Across the main two axes of variation (40–60% and 6–8% of variance), no broad patterns distinguished between intermittent or continuous feeding arms, across intra-day sampling times or over the 10 days from initial ICU admission. Logfold decreases in abundance were seen in metabolites related to amino acids (Glutamine − 0.682; Alanine − 0.594), ketone body metabolism (Acetone − 0.64; 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid − 0.632; Acetonacetic Acid − 0.586), fatty acid (carnitine − 0.509) and carbohydrate metabolism (Maltose − 0.510; Citric Acid − 0.485). 2–3 Butanediol, a by-product of sugar-fermenting microbial metabolism also decreased (− 0.489). No correlation was seen with change in quadriceps muscle mass for any of the 20 metabolites varying with time (all p > 0.05). Increasing severity of organ failure was related to increasing ketone body metabolism (3 Hydroxybutyric Acid-1 and − 3; p = 0.056 and p = 0.014), carnitine deficiency (p = 0.002) and alanine abundancy (p − 0.005). A 6-times a day intermittent feeding regimen did not alter metabolite patterns across time compared to continuous feeding in critically ill patients, either within a 24 h period or across 10 days of intervention. Future research on intermittent feeding regimens should focus on clinical process benefits, or extended gut rest and fasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal diffusion of Ge implanted into SiO2 films growth on a Si substrate has been studied by nuclear analyses and μ-Raman spectroscopy with and without the presence of co-implanted 30Si and 29Si barriers, each located from both sides of the Ge implanted distribution. Combination of Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and Resonant nuclear reaction analysis shows that, under thermal activation at 1100°C, implanted Ge diffuses differently toward the sample surface and the SiO2/Si interface due to the occurrence of Ge outgassing effects, as well as the non-homogenous distributions of the implanted ion species and the defects they have generated inside SiO2. A maximum local atom concentration of co-implanted silicon as low as ∼1.6 at. % is found to completely block the germanium diffusion in both directions, leading to the formation of Ge nanocrystals and Si/Ge aggregates evidenced by μ-Raman spectroscopy. In addition to highlighting the role of Si excess on the Ge trapping mechanism, such a result makes the nominal silicon oxide stoichiometry and composition two crucial parameters to stabilize Ge during high temperature annealing, which explains the strong discrepancies reported for the Ge thermal diffusion coefficient in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogenation of TiO2 enhances its visible photoabsorption, leading to efficient photocatalytic activity. However, the role of hydrogen has not been fully understood. The anatase TiO2(101) surface treated by hydrogen ion irradiation at 500 eV was investigated by photoemission spectroscopy and nuclear reaction analysis. Hydrogen irradiation induces an in-gap state 1–1.6 eV below the Fermi level and a downward band bending of 0.27 eV. The H depth profile at 300 K shows a surface peak with an H amount of (2.9 ± 0.3) × 1015 cm−2 with little concentration in a deeper region. At 200 K, on the other hand, the H depth profile shows a maximum at about 1 nm below the surface corresponding to an H amount of (6.1 ± 0.3) × 1015 cm−2 along with a broad distribution extending to 50 nm at an average concentration of 0.8 at. %. These results show that H diffusion in anatase TiO2 is much faster than in rutile TiO2 [Y. Ohashi, J. Phys. Chem. C 123, 10319–10324 (2019)]. The H diffusion coefficient at 200 K is determined to be 2.7 ± 0.1 × 10−13 m2 s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atomic masses of isotopes of elements beyond fermium, which can presently only be produced online via fusion-evaporation reactions, have until recently been determined only from α decay chains reaching nuclides with known atomic masses. Especially in the case of lower-yield nuclides, for which the sufficiently detailed nuclear spectroscopy required to fully determine the nuclear structure is not possible, such indirect mass determinations may suffer systematic errors. For many superheavy nuclides, their decay chains end in spontaneous fission or in β -decay prior to reaching nuclides of known mass. To address this dearth of accurate atomic masses, we have developed a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph that can make use of decay-correlations to accurately and precisely determine atomic masses for the very low-yield superheavy nuclides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we discuss recent advancements in the study of clustering phenomena occurring in light nuclei, and their influence on nuclear structure, dynamics, and astrophysics. In the introduction, we outline the historical steps leading to the concept of α -clusterization in nuclei and provide a comprehensive description of the evolution of nuclear models capable to describe clustering aspects in nuclear systems and of the main experiments and discoveries leading to the development of this research field. We also describe some spectroscopic techniques that are used to establish the clustered nature of a given nuclear state. Some relevant experimental and theoretical findings recently reported both in experimental and theoretical works are discussed in the text. We put emphasis on recent achievements and remaining problems in the description of the structure of light isotopes, from helium to neon, including both self- and non-self-conjugate nuclei. Particular attention to the implication in the nuclear astrophysics context and to clustering effects in the dynamics of nuclear reactions is pursued all along the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of pectin-mediated HAP Nanoparticle (pHAP) and Hydroxyapatite/Pectin Nanocomposite (HAP/P Composite) utilizing carrot pomace pectin as a template to support greener technologies was the focus of this research. To produce a regulated crystallinity, pectin is extracted from carrot pomace. Spectral techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to find out the chemical behavior of the compound, proton-1 nuclear resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR) to identify the H and C atoms that were in the extricated pectin. FTIR, SEM, and XRD were used to assess the crystallinity, shape, and purity of the HAP nanoparticles. A protein denaturation assay and a proteinase inhibition assay were used to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of pectin-mediated HAP nanoparticles and Hydroxyapatite/Pectin Nanocomposite. According to the results, the pectin-mediated HAP nanoparticles generated in the presence of an optimal pectin concentration are pure, spherical, low crystalline, and discrete particles with a reduced size. Furthermore, it has antimicrobial properties. According to this study, the HAP nanoparticles incorporated utilizing pectin as a green template can operate as a useful biomaterial for biomedical purposes. MTT Assay and ALP Activity were performed on pHAP and HAP/Pectin Nanocomposites. When compared to pectin-mediated hydroxyapatite, the experimental results demonstrated that HAP/Pectin Nanocomposites have higher cell survival and bone mineralization. As a result, the HAP/Pectin Nanocomposites could be useful in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MC-3 species was induced using 5 mM SP-3 and GSH in equimolar concentration in deuterated acetonitrile/phosphate buffered saline (PBS, 1X, pH 7.4) (1:1 v/v)Figure S19.13C NMR of GSH-stabilized MC-3. The MC-2 species was induced using 15 mM SP-2 and GSH in equimolar concentration in deuterated acetonitrile/phosphate buffered saline (PBS, 1X, pH 7.4) (1:1 v/v)Figure S10.13C NMR of GSH-stabilized MC-2. Investigating the interaction between merocyanine and glutathione through a comprehensive NMR analysis of three GSH-stabilized merocyanine species Comprehensive NMR characterization of GSH-stabilized merocyanines could aid in the identification of stereochemistry of the GSH-stabilized merocyanine species and may help in providing improved understanding of the sensing mechanism of these photoswitches for GSH. [Extracted from the article]

Owing to their multiple applications, lithium ferrites are relevant materials for several emerging technologies. For instance, LiFeO 2 has been spotted as an alternative cathode material in Li-ion batteries, while LiFe 5 O 8 is the lowest damping ferrite, holding promise in the field of spintronics. The Li-content in lithium ferrites has been shown to greatly affect the physical properties, and in turn, the performance of functional devices based on these materials. Despite this, lithium content is rarely accurately quantified, as a result of the low number of electrons in Li hindering its identification by means of routine materials characterization methods. In the present work, magnetic lithium ferrite powders with Li:Fe ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 1:5 have been synthesized, successfully obtaining phase-pure materials (LiFeO 2 and LiFe 5 O 8), as well as a controlled mixture of both phases. The powders have been compacted and subsequently sintered by thermal treatment (T max = 1100 °C) to fabricate dense pellets which preserve the original Li:Fe ratios. Li-content on both powders and pellets has been determined by two independent methods: (i) Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy combined with nuclear reaction analysis and (ii) Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data. With good agreement between both techniques, it has been confirmed that the Li:Fe ratios employed in the synthesis are maintained in the sintered ceramics. The same conclusion is drawn from spatially-resolved confocal Raman microscopy experiments on regions of a few microns. Field emission scanning electron microscopy has evidenced the substantial grain growth taking place during the sintering process – mean particle sizes rise from ≈ 600 nm in the powders up to 3.8(6) µm for dense LiFeO 2 and 10(2) µm for LiFe 5 O 8 ceramics. Additionally, microstructural analysis has revealed trapped pores inside the grains of the sintered ceramics, suggesting that grain boundary mobility is governed by surface diffusion. Vibrating sample magnetometry on the ceramic samples has confirmed the expected soft ferrimagnetic behavior of LiFe 5 O 8 (with M s = 61.5(1) Am2/kg) and the paramagnetic character of LiFeO 2 at room temperature. A density of 92.7(6)% is measured for the ceramics, ensuring the mechanical integrity required for both their direct utilization in bulk shape and their use as targets for thin-film deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is based on the idea of exploiting the confinement properties of a plasma trap [[6]], to be built at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (INFN), Catania, in order to investigate, for the first time, the beta decay properties of selected radioisotopes in physical conditions resembling those of a nucleosynthesis environment. Plasma heating will be achieved through the interaction of the plasma electrons with electromagnetic waves in the range of 18 ÷ 21 GHz emitted by three microwave generators with about 6 kW of total power injected in the plasma [[7]]. Status and Perspectives of the PANDORA Experiment: Investigating -Decays in Magnetized Plasmas In most cases, for low neutron densities environments, the beta decay is significantly faster than neutron capture and therefore only neutron-rich nuclei close to the beta stability valley are populated via a complex sequence of neutron captures and beta decays. [Extracted from the article]

The OEDO-SHARAQ system is the world's first beamline characterized by the energy-degrading of RI beams. The system also has high performance on high-resolution nuclear spectroscopy with RI beams. A minor update of the system, performed in 2021, provided multifaceted improvements to the system in both effective energy-degrading and high-resolution spectroscopy with RI beams. We report here the achievements of the renewed OEDO-SHARAQ system and the experimental studies performed recently. Additionally we compactly introduce perspectives about upcoming physics programs. • OEDO-SHARAQ system provide multifaceted experimental opportunities with radioactive isotope beams. • Discovery of the four-neutron state revised the significance of physics in multi-neutron systems. • Mass measurements using OEDO-SHARAQ explore the shell evolutions towards the dripline nuclei. • Reaction measurements using OEDO-SHARAQ address neutron captures in explosive nucleosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of biodiesel from renewable resources has immense potential as a sustainable and cost-effective energy alternative. In this work, a reusable –SO3H functionalized heterogeneous catalyst that has a total acid density of 2.06 mmol/g was prepared from walnut (Juglans regia) shell powder by low-temperature hydrothermal carbonization (WNS-SO3H). Walnut shell (WNS) contains more lignin (50.3%), which shows great resistance toward moisture. The prepared catalyst was employed for the effective conversion of oleic acid to methyl oleate by a microwave-assisted esterification reaction. The EDS analysis revealed the significant presence of sulfur (4.76 wt%), oxygen (51.24 wt%), and carbon (44 wt%) content. The results of the XPS analysis confirm the bonding of C–S, C–C, C=C, C–O, and C=O. Meanwhile, the presence of –SO3H (the responsible factor for the esterification of oleic acid) was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Under the optimized conditions (9 wt% catalyst loading, 1:16 oleic acid to methanol molar ratio, 60 min reaction time, and 85 °C temperature), the conversion of oleic acid to biodiesel was found to be 99.01 ± 0.3%. The obtained methyl oleate was characterized by employing 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic spectroscopy. The conversion yield and chemical composition of methyl oleate were confirmed by gas chromatography analysis. In conclusion, it can be a sustainable catalyst because the catalyst preparation controls the agro-waste, a great conversion is achieved due to the high lignin content, and the catalyst was reusable for five effective reaction cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray transition edge sensors (TESs) are intensively studied not only to measure isotopic composition of nuclear materials but to monitor transuranic radionuclides inside the human body. We have recently proposed a thick-trilayer membrane as an alternative to silicon-nitride (Si x N y ) single-layer ones. It consists of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), Si x N y , and SiO 2 layers. Their total thickness is 6.9 μ m and exhibits almost the same thermal conductance as conventional Si x N y ones with 1- μ m thickness. The thick-trilayer membrane is expected to have better mechanical strength against implementing heavy-bulk absorbers. In this paper, the gamma-ray TES with the thick-trilayer membrane is used to carry out the spectroscopy for the nuclear radiation source. Neptunium-237 and its decay product Protactinium-233 emit 86.5 and 86.6-keV lines, respectively, and they are clearly resolved by four pixels with the full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) resolution of ( 43.7 ± 0.9 ) eV. Furthermore, their intensity ratio agrees with the radioactive equilibrium between the two nuclides. Our experimental results predict that a vast array of pixel formats will reduce the statistical uncertainty in less measuring time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]