•North Atlantic fish oils often have high levels of LCMUFA and modest omega-3 levels.•Here we present a Cetoleic Rich Oil (CRO) as an alternative to conventional oils.•CRO increases the omega-3 index ...greater than expected.•CRO improves the redness of skin in a clinical study.•CRO may benefit skin inflammation and skin health.
Objective: The objective of the study was to provide preliminary data on the effect of a long chain monounsaturated oil rich in cetoleic acid on the omega-3 index, a validated measure of EPA and DHA in blood cells, as well as a potential effect of the oil on skin quality.
Design: Two intervention studies were performed, each as double blinded, placebo controlled, randomised nutritional trials. The CetoIndex study (N = 55) measured omega-3 index using a blood spot collection kit (Omegaquant). The Optihud study (N = 28) measured skin quality parameters in healthy women using the VISIA system. The cetoleic-rich-oil (CRO) was an oil derived from North Atlantic fish with a predominance of long chain mono-unsaturated fatty acids including cetoleic acid (C22:1 n-11) and gondoic acid (C20:1 n-9).
Results: In a placebo-controlled study, the omega-3 index in healthy volunteers was increased similar to that seen with an oil with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. In a separate placebo-controlled study, the CRO reduced erythema in skin, which is a marker of inflammation.
Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that the use of a CRO increases the omega-3 index more than expected from the levels of EPA and DHA in the oil. The CRO may potentially have benefits on skin inflammation.
Summary: Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are commonly taken as dietary supplements for a range of health benefits. Other marine fatty acids may also provide health benefits and it is of interest to understand their activity. Long chain mono-unsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFA) have shown biological activity in studies of metabolic health in animal models. Here, we report two intervention studies using a fish oil with a high LCMUFA content where cetoleic acid is the predominant fatty acid (Cetoleic rich oil: CRO). In CetoIndex, a placebo-controlled study in 55 healthy volunteers, the omega-3 index increased similarly to that seen with an oil containing higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. In Optihud, a placebo-controlled study in 28 female volunteers, the CRO reduced erythema in skin, which is a marker of inflammation. The results of this pilot study support the use of a CRO for increasing the omega-3 index with potential benefits on skin inflammation.
Terahertz scanning tunneling microscopy (THz-STM) has enabled studies of ultrafast dynamics in materials down to the atomic scale. However, despite recent advances, more work is needed to better ...understand and quantify the subpicosecond THz pulse-induced tunnel currents and corresponding THz-STM images of nanoscale features on surfaces. Here, we perform THz-STM on a metal surface and fully characterize the observed THz pulse-induced tunnel current and nanoscale imaging at atomic steps and defects using a Bardeen tunneling model in a three-dimensional (3D) tip geometry. We show that the measured steady-state STM current-voltage curves can be used in our model to accurately map the observed ultrafast THz-induced tunnel currents and calibrate the magnitude of the near-field peak transient THz voltage bias in the tunnel junction. Peak THz voltage bias transients greater than 10 V across the STM junction are achieved leading to field emission of subpicosecond tunnel currents with current densities exceeding 109 A/cm2 in THz-STM imaging of a Cu(111) surface. Our results establish an important benchmark for future studies in THz-STM by quantifying the ultrafast THz-induced currents and bias voltages in the tunnel junction and providing a 3D tunneling model for understanding and accurately simulating THz-STM images of nanoscale features on metal surfaces.
The Advanced Rare Isotope Laboratory (ARIEL) is currently under construction at TRIUMF. ARIEL's mission is to supply existing experiments with more diverse and more intense radioactive ion beams ...(RIB) produced via the Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) method. The drivers inducing the nuclear reactions at ARIEL include a 500 MeV proton beam from the main cyclotron as well as a 35 MeV electron beam with the intent of simultaneous operation using two separate additional target stations. The generated RIB will be made available to experiments in condensed matter and subatomic physics as well as practical applications such as medical isotopes for life sciences research.
This work details the various simulations performed using the Monte Carlo (MC) particle transport and interaction code FLUKA. The code was systematically employed to predict prompt and residual radiation levels to characterize the radiation fields generated via the irradiation of various types of targets. An iterative combined development process between CAD-based engineering of the shielding envelope, nuclear physics optimization of the target system and particle tracing simulations was established.
Preliminary simulation studies resulted in the selection of shielding materials and respective thicknesses with the goal of maximizing attenuation while mitigating residual activation. The results provide clear operational constraints and aid in determination of expected dose rates outside of shielding in high occupancy areas. A series of optimization steps followed the preliminary work, testing various parameters including beam power, target material and shielding configurations. These results were evaluated considering technical feasibility, safety, and economic impacts on ARIEL construction and eventual operation.
Although the project, in its infancy, is expected to proceed through stages of increasing complexity, the shielding and radiation transport modeling completed to date helps to define and validate nominal operation and failure scenario procedures for all future project stages.
•Present stage of the ARIEL facility compact shielding design at TRIUMF.•Monte Carlo FLUKA simulations for shielding optimization and validation.•Dosimetry assessment of the ARIEL facility using FLUKA.
Hydrogels based on marine natural biopolymers have extensive possibilities for application in regenerative medicine, being best fit from safety and toxicity point of view, inexpensive and ...commercially available materials for 3D tissue scaffold development. In this study a peptide fraction from the temperate sea cucumber species Parastichopus tremulus has been characterized by de novo sequencing. ORAC antioxidant activity of 0,35 ± 0,05 TE/μg protein; IC50 of 22% and capacity to self-assemble into transparent hydrogel under physiological conditions have been experimentally determined. 926 MALDI-TOF peptide sequences were identified to belong to four protein types on basis of homology with Apostichopus japonicus and sea urchin proteins – major yolk protein, non-skeletal actin, collagen, and cluster BSL78-belonging. The surface hydrophobicity, gelation, and cytotoxicity of the P. tremulus peptides were studied and 13 peptide sequences from the collagen group were predicted in silico to have auto-assembly capacity.
In vitro activity guided, size exclusion- based isolation of antioxidant peptides from sea cucumber protein hydrolysate and their physicochemical and bioinformatic characterization. Display omitted
•A peptide fraction from sea cucumber Parastichopus tremulus was sequenced de novo.•926 sequences were identified by homology with A. japonicus and sea urchin proteins.•FR5 had ORAC antioxidant activity 0,35 ± 0,05 TE/μg protein and IC50 of 22%.•FR5 self-assembled into transparent hydrogel under physiological conditions.•13 collagen peptides were predicted in silico to have auto-assembly capacity.
The concept of “Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture” (IMTA) is considered one of several strategies to increase biomass production from the sea by combined culture of different organisms, such as ...low-level trophic macroalgae, profiting from and reducing the environmental impact of fish farming. However, due to lack of data and scientific evidence, appropriate food regulations are lacking for IMTA to guide the production of macroalgae and their application as food products. Macroalgae are reported to be nutritious and to have valuable bioactivities including antioxidative activity. Besides valuable compounds, macroalgae can also contain elements with unwanted effects such as allergens. Thus, there is a growing concern from the food industry and food safety authorities regarding the potential occurrence of contaminating marine allergens in seaweed food products. As seaweed is produced in the ocean, allergens of marine species, such as crustaceans, molluscs or even fish might find their way into the production line and these hazards must be monitored to evaluate the risk for allergenic incidents and the need for appropriate labelling for future food products. To date, there is little data in this aspect on seaweed production in IMTA systems, where especially the occurrence of contaminating allergens could be increased due to close contact with cohabitant species. Hence, the occurrence of marine food allergens (fish parvalbumin, mollusc and crustacean tropomyosins), as well as total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity have here been assessed in S. latissima produced in three different locations in 2020 in the vicinity of salmonids farms in Norway. We confirm the presence of phenolic compounds and antioxidative activity in S. latissima, produced in IMTA systems, in a similar range for all assessed locations and comparable to previous studies. Of the tested allergens, only crustacean tropomyosin could be detected in all locations of this study up to 1 mg/kg dry weight, however not representing a critical level for consumption.
•IMTA-produced macroalgae S. latissima for food needs to be well characterized.•Antioxidative activity of up to 1665 μmol TE/g dry weight was detected.•Crustacean allergens (0.5–1 mg/kg) were detected at all tested IMTA locations.•Cod parvalbumin, corresponding to 44.2 mg/kg cod, was detected at one location.•None of the tested marine allergens established a risk for consumption.
Impact study of beam losses in TRIUMF’s BL4N proton cave and ARIEL tunnel Augusto, R.S.; Trudel, A.; Mildenberger, J. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
April 2023, 2023-04-00, Letnik:
1049
Journal Article
Recenzirano
As part of the ARIEL project, currently under construction at TRIUMF, a new proton beam line will be installed to transport up to 100 µA of nominal beam energy 480 MeV protons from the main cyclotron ...extraction port to an isotope separator on-line (ISOL) proton target station. This new beam line, approximately 80 m long, designated beam line 4-North (BL4N), will connect the cyclotron to the ARIEL facility via a tunnel. The proton beam line is designed for beam losses lower than 1 nAm−1 and will feature a collimator to remove the beam halo produced by large-angle scattering in the cyclotron extraction foil.
The tunnel will be shared with an electron beam line with its own specific requirements for beam loss mitigation and machine protection, leading to another ISOL electron target station. The electron beam is generated by an e-linac with capacity for 500 kW beam power operation, but is ultimately expected to operate at 100 kW with losses not exceeding 20 nAm−1. After an initial stage of operation at 25 MeV the beam energy will be upgraded to 50 MeV.
In this work, the effect of the beam losses, both chronic and catastrophic, in the tunnel and adjacent areas were studied. The FLUKA particle transport and interaction code was employed to estimate the impact of the combined proton and electron beam losses to the shielding, including as well the reflection of radiation from the target stations into the tunnel during ARIEL operation. This analysis resulted into a better assessment of the damage to equipment in the tunnel and the impact on maintenance due to activation of elements of the beam line. Maximum credible accidental scenarios were also detailed to validate the shielding configuration and the safety systems location.
The Advanced Rare IsotopE Laboratory (ARIEL) facility, dedicated to Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) production via the Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) technique, is currently under construction at ...TRIUMF. The facility is to host dual target stations that will operate simultaneously, including a 500 MeV proton beam from the main TRIUMF cyclotron and a 50 MeV electron beam from an Electron Linear Accelerator (e-linac). The proton target station will operate a symbiotic medical target in series with the ISOL target.
The ARIEL facility features a compact shielding envelope and as a result its optimization relied extensively on simulations generated using the Monte Carlo particle transport and interaction code FLUKA. Dose rate maps were produced of prompt radiation associated with beam losses and expected normal operations. Maps of transient fields were also generated considering radiation sources requiring transport within the facility which include radioactive waste generated in the course of normal operations. Activation studies were also conducted to estimate the amount of residual radioactivity contained in shielding materials at the time of decommissioning. Simulation results are primarily used to inform the ongoing design and construction of ARIEL; at present, the entirety of the proposed facility shielding has been validated by FLUKA simulation data. The specification of shielding geometry and the selection of materials relied extensively on engineering support through verification of CAD models and material sampling to optimize solutions for design simplicity and economy. Normal operation and failure scenarios were both evaluated, with optimized shielding materials and thicknesses selected considering the nature of the radiation fields present and their impact on room occupancy. Finally, a decommissioning plan has been defined based on the anticipated ARIEL lifetime, the characterization of structural activation, and a general disposal strategy.
While ARIEL is still under construction and significant progress has been made, the ongoing radiation modelling has enabled validation of the current shielding design for nominal operation. Moreover, the systematic studies performed were paramount in defining the optimal strategies to adopt from target storage to that for decommissioning of the facility.
•Proposed shielding design for full-scale operation of the TRIUMF-ARIEL facility.•FLUKA simulation to optimize dosimetry performance in a radioactive ion beam facility.•Activation studies for decommission and validation of the target storage & disposal strategy.
In this article, I critically evaluate the positions of Professors Jeremy Waldron and W.J. Waluchow on the right-based merits of entrenched constitutions and strong judicial review. I support ...Waluchow in arguing that (i) prohibitions on the constitutional entrenchment of rights and resultant prohibitions of strong judicial review may be only superficially fair or democratic, since fair procedure alone can neither eliminate pre-existing inequalities nor ultimately take the autonomy vital to self-governance seriously (whether individual or collective). Secondly, (ii) if deep dissensus fails to exist on all substantive matters of rights, the constitutional entrenchment of rights combined with strong judicial review can indeed be achieved fairly. I then propose that (iii) the anti-constitutionalist concern about being governed by the ‘dead hand of the past’ is self-refuting, for the alternative is simply another constraint on autonomy. While this is largely consistent with Waluchow's position vis-à-vis Waldron's majoritarianism, I end by expressing serious concerns regarding whether the common law (and the ‘constitutional morality’ that Waluchow claims can be derived from it) can act as a sufficiently robust basis for the protection of liberal and egalitarian rights.
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