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For PET radionuclides, the radioactivity of a sample can be conveniently measured by a dose calibrator. These devices depend on a "calibration setting number", but many recommended settings from manuals were interpolated based on standard sources of other radionuclide(s). We conducted HPGe gamma-ray spectroscopy, resulting in a reference for determining settings in two types of vessels containing one of several PET radionuclides. Our results reiterate the notion that in-house, experimental calibrations are recommended for different radionuclides and vessels., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

With the aid of in vivo whole-body counting of the rats (administered simultaneously with the radionuclides (82)Br and (24)Na) by high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry, we extended the applicability of our experimentally proved hypothesis that the biological half-life of bromide depends on the magnitude of sodium intake rather than on the intake of chloride, as was generally assumed. Variations in the biological half-life of bromide, as a substitute for sodium, were investigated in animals situated in very different physiological states, as regards their metabolic activity.

Excitation functions of the reactions (nat)Se(p,x)(75,76,77,82)Br, (76)Se(p,xn)(75,76)Br, (76)Se(p,x)(75)Se and (77)Se(p,xn)(76,77)Br were measured from their respective thresholds up to 40 MeV, with particular emphasis on data for the production of the medically important radionuclides (76)Br and (77)Br. The conventional stacked-foil technique was used. The samples were prepared by a sedimentation process. Irradiations were performed using the compact cyclotron CV 28 and the injector of COSY, both at the Research Centre Jülich. In order to validate the data, nuclear model calculations were performed using the code ALICE-IPPE which is based on the preequilibrium-evaporation model. Good agreement was found between the experimental and theoretical data, except in the high-energy region where the calculated data were somewhat higher. All the measured excitation curves were compared with the data available in the literature. From the experimental data the theoretical yields of all the investigated radionuclides were calculated and plotted as a function of proton energy. The calculated yield of (77)Br from the (nat)Se(p,x)(77)Br process over the energy range E(p)=25-->15 is 72.7 MBq/microAh and from the (77)Se(p,n)(77)Br reaction over E(p)=15-->6 MeV it is 86.2 MBq/microAh. The yield of (76)Br from the (76)Se(p,n)(76)Br reaction for E(p)=15-->8 is 360.1 MBq/microAh and from the (77)Se(p,2n)(76)Br reaction for E(p)=28-->18 MeV it is 879.2 MBq/microAh. The radionuclidic impurity levels are discussed.

Positron Emission Tomography of bromine-76 and yttrium-86 results in the detection of coincident events that are not strictly associated with annihilation photon pairs. Instead, these coincidences occur because prompt gamma rays emitted by these nuclides result in cascades of photons that are emitted within the timing window of the PET scanner. Pairs of detected photons from these cascades are not angularly correlated and therefore contain little information regarding the location of their source. Furthermore, these coincidences are not removed by correction procedures (e.g., randoms, scatter) routinely applied to PET data. If left uncorrected, the cascade coincidences will result in spurious apparent activity within the PET images. A correction, applied within projection space, that removes the cascade coincidence signal from septa-in (i.e., two-dimensional) datasets is proposed and tested on phantom data.

This study presents an optimal rapid epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA) technique, using a 1mm Cd filter in reactor neutron flux, to analyze 80Br and 128I in the roots, stems, and leaves of health food Angelica keiskei (AK). Various sample weights of lichen (IAEA-336) for each portion of AK, under various periods of irradiation and counting, were used to optimize the elemental analysis. Selecting the analytical conditions depends on the minimum detectable concentration (MDC), required sensitivities and the quantitative accuracy of Br and I elements. These findings imply that the MDCs of Br and I, measured under 10min activation and 5min counting followed by 10min decaying, using 350mg of lichen are ideal for elemental analysis. Moreover, each portions of AK were analyzed under optimal conditions. The elemental concentrations of Br, Cl, I, Mg, Mn and Na and their implications are discussed.

A worldwide monitoring system for radioactive aerosols is being implemented for verification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. These 80 stations will detect airborne radioactivity not only from nuclear explosions but also from other anthropogenic and natural sources. A prototype unit has been in operation since April 1996 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a very sensitive system and reports clear signals for natural radioactivity, including cosmogenic 7Be, and the decay products from soil exhalation of 220Rn (thoron). In addition, there have been frequent detections of anthropogenic nuclides, probably coming from three distinct facilities-a medical isotope production center, a major university hospital, and a particle accelerator laboratory--all between 1 and 2 km away from the monitoring station. This experience is discussed to sensitize health physicists to the potential uses of this publicly available information.

Three methods for extracellular water (ECW) estimation via analysis of the corrected bromine space (CBS) are presented. The methods are based on the application of stable bromine as an indicator and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). The content of stable bromine can be determined in samples of ulna vein blood and daily urine (the first method) as well as in microsamples of finger blood (the second method) and mixed non-stimulated saliva (the third method). The precision and accuracy of the methods were compared using the results of both repeated analysis and CBS estimation by different procedures including the routine method with 82Br as indicator. A device for XRF with a Si(Li) detector and 109Cd sources was developed for bromine determination in biological fluids.