First Observation of Electron Scattering from Online-Produced Radioactive Target

We successfully performed electron scattering off unstable nuclei which were produced online from the photofission of uranium. The target ^{137}Cs ions were trapped with a new target-forming technique that makes a high-density stationary target from a small number of ions by confining them in an electron storage ring. After developments of target generation and transportation systems and the beam stacking method to increase the ion beam intensity up to approximately 2×10^{7} ions per pulse beam, an average luminosity of 0.9×10^{26}  cm^{-2} s^{-1} was achieved for ^{137}Cs. The obtained angular distribution of elastically scattered electrons is consistent with a calculation. This success marks the realization of the anticipated femtoscope which clarifies the structures of exotic and short-lived unstable nuclei.

On the adsorption and reactivity of element 114, flerovium

Flerovium (Fl, element 114) is the heaviest element chemically studied so far. To date, its interaction with gold was investigated in two gas-solid chromatography experiments, which reported two different types of interaction, however, each based on the level of a few registered atoms only. Whereas noble-gas-like properties were suggested from the first experiment, the second one pointed at a volatile-metal-like character. Here, we present further experimental data on adsorption studies of Fl on silicon oxide and gold surfaces, accounting for the inhomogeneous nature of the surface, as it was used in the experiment and analyzed as part of the reported studies. We confirm that Fl is highly volatile and the least reactive member of group 14. Our experimental observations suggest that Fl exhibits lower reactivity towards Au than the volatile metal Hg, but higher reactivity than the noble gas Rn.

Study of charged particle activation analysis (II): Determination of boron concentration in human blood samples

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a radiotherapy for the treatment of intractable cancer. In BNCT precise determination of ¹⁰B concentration in whole blood sample before neutron irradiation of the patient, as well as accurate neutron dosimetry, is crucial for control of the neutron irradiation time. For this purpose ICP-AES and neutron induced prompt γ-ray analysis are generally used. In Ibaraki Neutron Medical Research Center (iNMRC), an intense proton beam will be accelerated up to 8 MeV, which can also be used for Charged Particle Activation Analysis (CPAA). Thus, in this study, we apply the CPAA utilizing the proton beam to non-destructive and accurate determination of ¹⁰B concentration in whole blood sample. A CPAA experiment is performed by utilizing an 8 MeV proton beam from the tandem accelerator of Nuclear Science Research Institute in Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The 478 keV γ-ray of ⁷Be produced by the ¹⁰B(p, α)⁷Be reaction is used to quantify the ¹⁰B in human blood. The 478 keV γ-ray intensity is normalized by the intensities of the 847 keV and 1238 keV γ-rays of ⁵⁶Co originating from Fe in blood. The normalization methods were found to be linear in the range of 3.27 μg ¹⁰B/g to 322 μg ¹⁰B/g with correlation coefficients of better than 0.9999.

Spectroscopy of Pionic Atoms in ^{122}Sn(d,^{3}He) Reaction and Angular Dependence of the Formation Cross Sections

We observed the atomic 1s and 2p states of π^{-} bound to ^{121}Sn nuclei as distinct peak structures in the missing mass spectra of the ^{122}Sn(d,^{3}He) nuclear reaction. A very intense deuteron beam and a spectrometer with a large angular acceptance let us achieve a potential of discovery, which includes the capability of determining the angle-dependent cross sections with high statistics. The 2p state in a Sn nucleus was observed for the first time. The binding energies and widths of the pionic states are determined and found to be consistent with previous experimental results of other Sn isotopes. The spectrum is measured at finite reaction angles for the first time. The formation cross sections at the reaction angles between 0° and 2° are determined. The observed reaction-angle dependence of each state is reproduced by theoretical calculations. However, the quantitative comparison with our high-precision data reveals a significant discrepancy between the measured and calculated formation cross sections of the pionic 1s state.

Role of Multichance Fission in the Description of Fission-Fragment Mass Distributions at High Energies

Fission-fragment mass distributions were measured for ^{237-240}U, ^{239-242}Np, and ^{241-244}Pu populated in the excitation-energy range from 10 to 60 MeV by multinucleon transfer channels in the reaction ^{18}O+^{238}U at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency tandem facility. Among them, the data for ^{240}U and ^{240,241,242}Np were observed for the first time. It was found that the mass distributions for all the studied nuclides maintain a double-humped shape up to the highest measured energy in contrast to expectations of predominantly symmetric fission due to the washing out of nuclear shell effects. From a comparison with the dynamical calculation based on the fluctuation-dissipation model, this behavior of the mass distributions was unambiguously attributed to the effect of multichance fission.

First Elastic Electron Scattering from ^{132}Xe at the SCRIT Facility

The first elastic electron scattering has been successfully performed at the self-confining radioactive-isotope ion target (SCRIT) facility, the world's first electron scattering facility for SCRIT technique achieved high luminosity (over 10^{27}  cm^{-2} s^{-1}, sufficient for determining the nuclear shape) with only 10^{8} target ions. While ^{132}Xe used in this time as a target is a stable isotope, the charge density distribution was first extracted from the momentum transfer distributions of the scattered electrons by comparing the results with those calculated by a phase shift calculation.

Abnormal cell proliferation in the p75NTR-positive basal cell compartment of the esophageal epithelium during squamous carcinogenesis

The low affinity neurotrophin receptor p75NTR is known to be expressed in the mitotically quiescent basal layer (BL) of the normal esophageal epithelium. The aim of the present study was to detect oncogenic changes in the p75NTR-positive BL during esophageal squamous carcinogenesis. The normal epithelium (NE), low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGN), high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGN), and esophageal squamous carcinoma (SCC), in which invasion was limited to the muscularis mucosa, were obtained from surgically removed esophagi. The expression of p75NTR, the proliferation marker ki67, hTERT, p53, and p63 was examined immunohistochemically. The expression of p75NTR was detected in these tissues with average staining indexes (number of stained cells/100 nucleated cells; SI) of 1.00, 0.99, 0.81, and 0.73, respectively. The expression of ki67 in the BL significantly increased with the progression from LGN to HGN. The expression of hTERT and p53 significantly increased with the progression from NE to LGN, and then increased in a stepwise manner in HGN and SCC, with SI (hTERT/p53) of 0.10/0.11, 0.32/0.45, 0.50/0.72, and 0.65/0.61, respectively. The expression of p63 showed no significant difference among NE, LGN, HGN, and SCC, with SI of 0.82, 0.77, 0.85, and 0.87, respectively. A correlation was observed between the expression of ki67 and p53 (P = 0.005), while a negative correlation was found between p75NTR and hTERT (P = 0.01). Our results demonstrated that phenotypic changes from quiescent to active proliferation in the p75NTR-positive BL occurred during the progression from LGN to HGN. The altered expression of hTERT and p53 in the BL was detected in LGN, which suggested that additional oncogenic events that disrupt mitotic regulation in the p75NTR-positive quiescent BL may play a crucial role in malignant transformation. Further investigations using the isolation and tracing of p75NTR-positive cells in precancerous epithelia may provide us with a better understanding of squamous carcinogenesis.

Nuclear chemistry. Synthesis and detection of a seaborgium carbonyl complex

Experimental investigations of transactinoide elements provide benchmark results for chemical theory and probe the predictive power of trends in the periodic table. So far, in gas-phase chemical reactions, simple inorganic compounds with the transactinoide in its highest oxidation state have been synthesized. Single-atom production rates, short half-lives, and harsh experimental conditions limited the number of experimentally accessible compounds. We applied a gas-phase carbonylation technique previously tested on short-lived molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) isotopes to the preparation of a carbonyl complex of seaborgium, the 106th element. The volatile seaborgium complex showed the same volatility and reactivity with a silicon dioxide surface as those of the hexacarbonyl complexes of the lighter homologs Mo and W. Comparison of the product's adsorption enthalpy with theoretical predictions and data for the lighter congeners supported a Sg(CO)6 formulation.

Comprehensive data on ionising radiation from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in the town of Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture: The Misho Project

Data related to radioactivity released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident on 15 March 2011 gathered by residents of Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture, and by Tohoku University are presented. These data sets consist of (1) the earliest radiation monitoring by a Geiger counter in the town, (2) ratios of radioactivity between (132)Te and (137)Cs for a wide area between Fukushima and Tokyo, (3) radiation measurement of soil samples collected from 18 school grounds, and (4) external radiation exposure of 1400 students using OSL badges. By combining and analysing these various data sets, a curve for the cumulative total external exposure as a function of time, with 16 : 00 h on 15 March 2011 being time zero, is obtained. The average cumulative external dosage is estimated to be 10 mSv (σ = 4.2 mSv) over 10 years. In addition, the initiative that the residents of Miharu took in response to the FDNPP accident, which became known as The Misho Project (MP), is documented; in particular, the time at which the municipality instructed the immediate ingestion of iodine tablets by those under the age of 40, 13 : 00 h on 15 March 2011, is assessed.

Role of aquaporin-5 in gallbladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Aquaporins (AQPs) are important in controlling bile formation. However, the exact role in human gallbladder carcinogenesis has not yet been defined.

METHODS

AQP-5-expressing gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) cell lines (NOZ) were transfected with anti-AQP-5 small interfering RNA (siRNA). Growth, migration, invasion assay, and drug susceptibility tests were performed. Next, microRNA (miRNA) expression was analyzed by miRNA oligo chip (3D-Gene®). AQP-5 and AQP-5-related miRNA target gene expressions were also analyzed using tissue microarray (TMA) in 44 GBC samples.

RESULTS

Treatment with AQP-5 siRNA decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. On the other hand, those cells increased IC50 of gemcitabine. By performing miRNA assays, miR-29b, -200a, and -21 were shown to be highly overexpressed in cells treated with AQP-5 siRNA NOZ. When focusing on miR-21, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was found to be a target of miR-21. In the TMA, AQP-5/PTEN coexpression was significantly associated with the depth of invasion and MIB-1 index (p = 0.003, 0.010). Survival of patients with a high AQP-5/PTEN coexpression was longer than that of patients with a low coexpression (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Our result suggested that miR-21 and PTEN may contribute to the role of AQP-5 in GBC. AQP-5 and PTEN cascades are favorable biomarkers of GBC.

Raltegravir can be used safely in HIV-1-infected patients treated with warfarin

Drug co-administration often affects the patient response to warfarin through various mechanisms. We describe here five HIV-1-infected patients on treatment with warfarin in whom the use of raltegravir was associated with a favourable outcome.

Observation of the (Λ)(7)He hypernucleus by the (e, e'K+) reaction

An experiment with a newly developed high-resolution kaon spectrometer and a scattered electron spectrometer with a novel configuration was performed in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. The ground state of a neutron-rich hypernucleus, (Λ)(7)He, was observed for the first time with the (e, e'K+) reaction with an energy resolution of ~0.6 MeV. This resolution is the best reported to date for hypernuclear reaction spectroscopy. The (Λ)(7)He binding energy supplies the last missing information of the A = 7, T = 1 hypernuclear isotriplet, providing a new input for the charge symmetry breaking effect of the ΛN potential.

Female pseudohermaphroditism associated with maternal steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified of the ovary: a case report and literature review

Maternal virilization in pregnancy with or without fetal female pseudohermaphroditism has several etiologies. Of these, pregnancy luteoma is the most common cause of maternal virilization during pregnancy, and approximately 20 cases have been reported in recent years. Moreover, four cases of pregnancy luteomas with female pseudohermaphroditism have been reported. However, the extremely rare steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified (NOS), has been reported only once as a cause for maternal virilization. Herein, the authors report the first case of maternal virilization with female pseudohermaphroditism associated with steroid cell tumor-NOS along with the clinical course, pathological features, and a review of the literature.

Partial epilepsy and developmental delay in infant with ring chromosome 14

Ring chromosome 14 (r14) is clinically characterized by early-onset epilepsy, mental retardation, delayed speech, microcephaly, extremely mild facial dysmorphisms and ophthalmologic abnormalities. We report a case presenting with partial seizures and delayed development in infancy in which r14 was diagnosed based on chromosomal analysis. The patient was a girl with a normal family and delivery history. Afebrile generalized convulsions developed at age 9 months, and phenobarbital was started, but was changed to zonisamide due to impaired liver function. Chromosome analysis led to a diagnosis of 46, XX, r(14) (p11.2q32.3). At age 5 years, while under treatment with zonisamide and clobazam, epilepsy was characterized by multiple daily episodes of complex partial seizures. Although there are no consistent brain MRI or electroencephalogram findings, experienced pediatric neurologists can make a diagnosis based on facial dysmorphisms. When refractory epilepsy is encountered in infancy with developmental delay of unknown cause, chromosome analysis should be performed.

Influence of surgical insults for colorectal cancers on neuroendocrine and immune parameters

In surgery for colorectal cancer, a tendency of immune suppression was noted as seen in surgery for other types of gastro-intestinal cancer. This tendency was also found in the biological response, and it was related to the operative procedures and insults for rectal cancer. The degree of immunosuppression was milder in patients who underwent procedures that preserve the natural sphincter than in those who underwent colostomy. It is important for surgeons to avoid postoperative immunosuppression in order to prevent recurrence and improve prognosis. Given similar degrees of operative insult and stage of cancer, an operative procedure which causes as little immunosuppression as possible should be selected.

Sulfate complexation of element 104, Rf, in H2SO4/HNO3 mixed solution

The cation-exchange behavior of 261Rf (T 1/2= 78 s) produced in the 248Cm(18O, 5n) reaction was studied on a “one-atom-at-a-time” scale in 0.15–0.69 M H2SO4/HNO3 mixed solutions ([H+]=1.0 M) using an automated ion-exchange separation apparatus coupled with the detection system for alpha-spectroscopy (AIDA). It was found that adsorption probabilities ( decrease with an increase of [HSO4 −], showing a successive formation of Rf sulfate complexes. Rf exhibits a weaker complex formation tendency compared to the lighter homologues Zr and Hf. This is in good agreement with theoretical predictions including relativistic effects.

Emergence of raltegravir-resistant HIV-1 in the central nervous system

Integrase inhibitor-resistant HIV-1 was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid, but not in the plasma of a 42-year-old man with HIV encephalopathy treated with a raltegravir (RAL)-containing regimen. Raltegravir resistance may develop in the central nervous system when the virus is already multi-drug resistant because of different penetration into cerebrospinal fluid of individual antiretroviral agents.

The effect of Assertive Community Treatment in Japan

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program in a Japanese mental health service setting.

METHOD

This study was a randomized controlled trial. ACT was the intervention condition (n = 59), and the usual hospital-based rehabilitation program was the control condition (n = 59). Outcome indicators include in-patient days, psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, quality of life, and client satisfaction. The follow-up period was 12 months after the intervention.

RESULTS

We found a significant reduction of in-patient days for the ACT group demonstrated by t-test (t = 2.33, P = 0.02). However, the results of ancova did not show significant differences for in-patient days between the two groups (F = 1.85, P = 0.18). The depression score for Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for the ACT group was significantly lower than the control group at the 12-month follow-up assessment (F = 5.57, P = 0.03). According to the t-test, the ACT group had a higher client satisfaction than the control group (t = 2.08, P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We concluded that ACT had a positive influence, as evidenced by a reduction of in-patient days, lower depressive symptoms, and higher client satisfaction.

A High Speed Contact-Type Image Sensor using Amorphous Silicon Alloy Pin Diodes

A new A4-size contact-type image sensor with 8 elements per millimeter (1,728 elements) was developed by using amorphous silicon alloy pin photodiodes as the light receiving elements. The matrix switching method is employed for signal reading. This method can read the signals from all of the 1,728 photodiodes using a 54 (54-channel input) x 32 (32.channel output) matrix switching scheme. It is advantageous in that the required input and output external circuits can be simplified. To prevent signal crosstalk between the diodes in the matrix, amorphous silicon alloy pin diodes, which are made in the same process as the photodiodes for maintaining a low cost, are connected in series to each photodiode in reverse polarity as blocking diodes.

To achieve superior signal-to-noise ratio and response at the same time, amorphous silicon alloy pin diodes are optimized to satisfy both a high photo-to-dark ratio and a high rectification ratio. The image sensor can operate at up to 2 MHz signal reading clock, maintaining a signal-to-noise ratio of over 24 dB under 0. 1–1x sec exposure.

A comparison of two-dimensional techniques for converting magnetocardiogram maps into effective current source distributions

The aim of this study was to develop a method for converting the pseudo two-dimensional current given by a current-arrow map (CAM) into the physical current. The physical current distribution is obtained by the optimal solution in a least mean square sense with Tikhonov regularization (LMSTR). In the current dipole simulation, the current pattern differences (ΔJ) between the results of the CAM and the LMSTR with several regularization parameters (α = 10(-1)-10(-15)) are calculated. In magnetocardiographic (MCG) analysis, the depth (z(d)) of a reconstruction plane is chosen by using the coordinates of the sinus node, which is estimated from MCG signals at the early p-wave. The ΔJs at p-wave peaks, QRS-complex peaks, and T-wave peaks of MCG signals for healthy subjects are calculated. Furthermore, correlation coefficients and regression lines are also calculated from the current values of the CAM and the LMSTR during p-waves, QRS-complex, and T-waves of MCG signals. In the simulation, the ΔJs (α ≈ 10(-10)) had a minimal value. The ΔJs (α = 10(-10)) at p-wave peaks, QRS-complex peaks, and T-wave peaks of MCG signals for healthy subjects also had minimal value. The correlation coefficients of the current values given by the CAM and the LMSTR (α = 10(-10)) were greater than 0.9. Furthermore, slopes (y) of the regression lines are correlated with the depth (z(d)) (r = -0.93). Consequently, the CAM value can be transformed into the LMSTR current value by multiplying it by the slope (y) obtained from the depth (z(d)). In conclusion, the result given by the CAM can be converted into an effective physical current distribution by using the depth (z(d)).

Three-body nonmesonic weak decay of the (Lambda)12C hypernucleus

We have measured the branching ratio of the three-body process in the nonmesonic weak decay of Lambda12C to be 0.29+/-0.13. This result was obtained by reproducing the nucleon and the nucleon pair yields introducing a measured final state interaction. At the same time, we have determined the absolute decay widths, Gamma(n) and Gamma(p), along with Gamma2N, whose relative ratio has been a long-standing puzzle. Including the three-body process, we have successfully reproduced the nucleon energy distribution, the coincidence two-nucleon angular correlation, and the momentum sum distribution simultaneously.

Characteristics of two fission modes

Characteristics of nuclear deformation properties at scission of two fission modes, symmetric and asymmetric, are reviewed. Existence of two kinds of scission configurations associated with the symmetric and asymmetric fission modes is pointed out: elongated and compact configurations. Each symmetric and asymmetric scission property is discussed in terms of shape elongation evaluated from fragment total kinetic energy (TKE). Fragment deformation at scission is also discussed based on neutron multiplicity data. From the systematic study of the scission properties in a wide range of actinide fission, the bimodal fission observed in spontaneous fission (SF) of the heavy actinides is interpreted as the result of the presence of the two fission paths of the ordinary asymmetric mode and a strongly shell-influenced symmetric one. The correlation between the fragment shell structures and the asymmetric mass-yield curves is described.

Evidence for the formation of sodium hassate(VIII)

Hassium, element 108, was produced in the fusion reaction between26Mg and248Cm. The hassium recoils were oxidizedin-situto a highly volatile oxide, presumably HsO4, and were transported in a mixture of He and O2to a deposition and detection system. The latter consisted of 16 silicon PIN-photodiodes facing a layer of NaOH, which served, in the presence of a certain partial pressure of water in the transport gas, as reactive surface for the deposition of the volatile tetroxides. Six correlated α-decay chains of Hs were detected in the first 5 detectors centred around detection position 3. In analogy to OsO4, which forms Na2[OsO4(OH)2], an osmate(VIII), with aqueous NaOH, HsO4presumably was deposited as Na2[HsO4(OH)2], a hassate(VIII).

Extraction behavior of rutherfordium into tributylphosphate from hydrochloric acid

The extraction behavior of rutherfordium (Rf) into tributylphosphate (TBP) from hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been studied together with those of the lighter group-4 elements Zr and Hf. The extractability of261Rf,169Hf, and85Zr into TBP was investigated under identical conditions in 7.2–8.0 M HCl by on-line reversed-phase extraction chromatography. The percent extractions of Rf, Hf, and Zr into the TBP resin increase steeply with increasing HCl concentration, and the order of extraction is Zr > Hf ≈ Rf. By considering the order of chloride complexation among these elements, it is suggested that the stability of the TBP complex of Rf tetrachloride is lower than those of Zr and Hf.

Startup of transactinide chemistry in JAERI

The transactinide nuclides261Rf and262Db have been successfully produced in the248Cm(18O,5n) reaction at 99 MeV and in the248Cm(19F,5n) reaction at 100, 103, and 106 MeV, respectively, at the JAERI tandem accelerator. The on-line ion exchange experiments with an automated fast and repetitive liquid chromatography separation system were performed in the HNO3/HF system using Rf homologues89mZr and167,165Hf produced in the89Y(p,n) and152Gd(18O,xn) reactions, respectively. The radiotracers88Zr,175Hf, and234Th were also prepared and the distribution coefficients on ion exchange resins were measured systematically in 1-11 M HCl and 1-14 M HNO3with the batch method. It was found that anion exchange experiments of Rf in 8 M HNO3and 9 M HCl provided information useful to extract the ionic radius of Rf and to verify the influence of relativistic effects.