Lifetime measurements in 131Sb at LOHENGRIN Bottoni, S.; Gamba, E. R.; De Gregorio, G. ...
Journal of physics. Conference series,
09/2023, Letnik:
2586, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The neutron-rich 131Sb nucleus was studied at Institut Laue-Langevin, with the LOHENGRIN spectrometer, via neutron-induced fission of 235U and lifetime measurements using LaBr3(Ce) detectors. The ...lifetimes of the 11/21+ and 19/21+ states were measured with the generalized centroid difference and the decay slope methods, yielding T½=3(2) ps and T½=1347(171) ps, respectively. The measured value for the 11/21+ is at the limit of the fast-timing technique. The level scheme of 131Sb and the decay properties of the 11/21+ state were described by realistic shell-model calculations, which reproduce well both the experimental spin and energy sequences of 131Sb and the measured B(E2; 11/21+→7/21+) value, pointing to an almost pure 2+(130Sn) ⊗ πg7/2, core-proton coupled configuration for the 11/21+ state.
g factor of the 12+K-isomer in 174W Rocchini, M.; Nannini, A.; Benzoni, G. ...
The European physical journal. A, Hadrons and nuclei,
2020/11, Letnik:
56, Številka:
11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The
g
factor of the
12
+
K
-isomer in
174
W has been measured by means of the time-differential perturbed angular distribution technique as
g
(
12
+
)
=
+
0.304
(
11
)
. In addition, the half-life of ...the isomer has been remeasured as
T
1
/
2
(
12
+
)
=
124
(
8
)
ns, in agreement with the literature value and confirming the anomalous hindrance
F
of the
E
2 transition to the
10
+
level of the ground state band with respect to the
γ
-tunnelling model prediction. The measured
g
factor has been compared with estimates based on experimental
g
factors from odd-mass isotopes in the same mass region and with Nilsson model calculations. The results establish unique features of the
12
+
K
-isomer in
174
W, which can possess a non-pure intrinsic configuration and/or can be characterised by values of the intrinsic quadrupole moment
Q
0
and the rotational
g
factor
g
R
significantly different with respect to the majority of
K
-isomers at mass
A
≈
180
.
In many countries, computed radiography (CR) systems represent the majority of equipment used in digital mammography. This study presents a method for optimizing image quality and dose in CR ...mammography of patients with breast thicknesses between 45 and 75 mm. Initially, clinical images of 67 patients (group 1) were analyzed by three experienced radiologists, reporting about anatomical structures, noise and contrast in low and high pixel value areas, and image sharpness and contrast. Exposure parameters (kV, mAs and target/filter combination) used in the examinations of these patients were reproduced to determine the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and mean glandular dose (MGD). The parameters were also used to radiograph a CDMAM (version 3.4) phantom (Artinis Medical Systems, The Netherlands) for image threshold contrast evaluation. After that, different breast thicknesses were simulated with polymethylmethacrylate layers and various sets of exposure parameters were used in order to determine optimal radiographic parameters. For each simulated breast thickness, optimal beam quality was defined as giving a target CNR to reach the threshold contrast of CDMAM images for acceptable MGD. These results were used for adjustments in the automatic exposure control (AEC) by the maintenance team. Using optimized exposure parameters, clinical images of 63 patients (group 2) were evaluated as described above. Threshold contrast, CNR and MGD for such exposure parameters were also determined. Results showed that the proposed optimization method was effective for all breast thicknesses studied in phantoms. The best result was found for breasts of 75 mm. While in group 1 there was no detection of the 0.1 mm critical diameter detail with threshold contrast below 23%, after the optimization, detection occurred in 47.6% of the images. There was also an average MGD reduction of 7.5%. The clinical image quality criteria were attended in 91.7% for all breast thicknesses evaluated in both patient groups. Finally, this study also concluded that the use of the AEC of the x-ray unit based on the constant dose to the detector may bring some difficulties to CR systems to operate under optimal conditions. More studies must be performed, so that the compatibility between systems and optimization methodologies can be evaluated, as well as this optimization method. Most methods are developed for phantoms, so comparative studies including clinical images must be developed.
The results of an in vivo study on the "ratio method" used in electronic foramen locators (EFL) are presented. EFLs are becoming widely used in the determination of the working length (WL) during the ...root canal treatment. The WL is the distance from a coronal reference point to the point at which canal preparation and filling should terminate. The "ratio method" was assessed by many clinicians with the aim of determining its ability to locate the apical foramen (AF). Nevertheless, in vivo studies to assess the method itself and to explain why the "ratio method" is able to locate the apical foramen and is unable to determine intermediate distances were not published so far.
A developed apparatus applies an electrical current signal with constant amplitude of 10 μARMS through the endodontic file within the root canal. The applied current signal is composed by summing six sine waves, from 250 Hz to 8 kHz. Data were acquired with the endodontic file tip at 7 different positions within root canals. In the frequency domain the quotients between the amplitude of a reference frequency and the amplitudes of the other frequencies components were calculated. Twenty one root canals were analyzed in vivo, during the endodontic treatment of twelve teeth of different patients, with age between 20 to 55 years.
For the range of frequencies used in the commercial EFLs and for distances ranging from -3 mm to -1 mm of the AF, the impedance of the root canal is mainly resistive. However, when the file tip gets closer to AF, the root canal electrical impedance starts to change from a mainly resistive to a complex impedance. This change in the measured root canal impedance starts when the file tip is near -1.0 mm from the AF, getting stronger as the file tip gets closer to the AF. This change in the impedance behavior affects the ratio (quotient) of the impedance measured at different frequencies. Through graphic analysis it is demonstrated why EFLs based on the ratio method are unable to accurately measure any distances between - 3.0 and -0.5 mm from the apical foramen. The only reliable measurement is the 0 mm distance, which is when the file tip is at the AF.
The electrical impedance values of 21 root canals were in vivo studied. The results confirm the ability of EFLs that are based on the ratio method to accurately locate the AF position and explain why they are unable to determine the file tip position along the root canal.
Aims: This study was carried out to determine the survival time of Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesuis, Aujeszky's Disease virus and Blue Eye Disease virus in ensilages based on the solid ...fraction of pig faeces. Methods and Results: The four micro-organisms were inoculated into microsilos based on the solid fraction of pig faeces, sorghum and molasses. They were left for 0, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days, after which the state of each microsilo was evaluated, and isolation of the inoculated agents was attempted. The four inoculated agents were isolated only on day 0 of ensilage. The viral agents were identified through the cytopathic effect and fluorescence. Conclusions, Significance and Impact of the Study: It is concluded that ensilages based on the solid fraction of pig faeces appear to reduce the risk of the transmission of the agents inoculated in this study and help to reduce the environmental impact by using the solid in animal feed.
Knowledge of the influence of the human skull on the electrical current (d.c.) distribution within the brain tissue could prove useful in measuring impedance changes inside the human head. These ...changes can be related to physiological functions. The studies presented in this paper examine the current density distribution in a simple phantom consisting of a saline filled tank (to simulate scalp and brain) and a ring made of dental grade plaster of Paris (to simulate the human skull). Images of the distribution of the d.c. density of the phantom with and without the plaster of Paris ring were produced using a magnetic resonance imaging technique. These images indicate that the skull is likely to produce a more uniform d.c. density within the brain.
Treatment of background in γ-γ fast-timing measurements Gamba, E.R.; Bruce, A.M.; Rudigier, M.
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
06/2019, Letnik:
928
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Background characterisation in γ-γ fast-timing measurements is of essential importance when lifetimes of the order of tens of picoseconds are being measured. In this work, the nature, composition and ...behaviour of the timing background is extensively discussed and an adaptation of the background subtraction method used in Eγ-Eγ-Eγ cubes to the case of Eγ-Eγ-ΔT cubes, is presented. This is applied to 252Cf fission data, showing very low peak-to-background ratios (less than 0.5), collected using a hybrid array made of 51 HPGe detectors from Gammasphere and 25 LaBr3(Ce) scintillators. Two different procedures are suggested: the “Interpolation” approach and the “Three Samples” approach. Both were used to measure the lifetime of the 2+ state in 110Ru, and gave τ = 483(38) ps and τ = 445(34) ps, respectively, both within one standard deviation of the literature value of τl = 462(29) ps. The 2+ state in 114Pd was also measured using the three samples approach and the lifetime obtained was τ = 104(12) ps, consistent with the literature lifetime of τl = 118(20) ps.
Images of the electrical current distribution in an intact piglet head, measured by MRI, are presented for the first time. Remarkable differences in the distribution of the electrical current between ...live and post mortem studies are found. After death, there is a decrease of 62% in the current reaching the brain, compared with the situation in the living animal. This reduction is associated with the increase in the brain impedance after death, which agrees with previous in vivo studies.
Increased mortality due to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with renal and/or cardiovascular dysfunction. Dipeptidyl dipeptidase-4 inhibitors (iDPP-4s) may exert cardioprotective ...effects through their pleiotropic actions via glucagon-like peptide 1-dependent mechanisms. In this study, the pharmacological profile of a new iDPP-4 (LASSBio-2124) was investigated in rats with cardiac and renal dysfunction induced by T2DM.
T2DM was induced in rats by 2 weeks of a high-fat diet followed by intravenous injection of streptozotocin. Metabolic disturbance and cardiac, vascular, and renal dysfunction were analyzed in the experimental groups.
Sitagliptin and LASSBio-2124 administration after T2DM induction reduced elevated glucose levels to 319.8 ± 13.2 and 279.7 ± 17.8 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.05). LASSBio-2124 also lowered the cholesterol and triglyceride levels from 76.8 ± 8.0 to 42.7 ± 3.2 mg/dL and from 229.7 ± 25.4 to 100.7 ± 17.1 mg/dL, in diabetic rats. Sitagliptin and LASSBio-2124 reversed the reduction of the plasma insulin level. LASSBio-2124 recovered the increased urinary flow in diabetic animals and reduced 24-h proteinuria from 23.7 ± 1.5 to 13.3 ± 2.8 mg (p < 0.05). It also reduced systolic and diastolic left-ventricular dysfunction in hearts from diabetic rats.
The effects of LASSBio-2124 were superior to those of sitagliptin in the cardiovascular systems of T2DM rats. This new prototype showed promise for the avoidance of comorbidities in a T2DM experimental model, and thus may constitute an innovative therapeutic agent for the treatment of these conditions in the clinical field in future.