Identification of radiation treatment of wheat （Triticum aestivum. L）and rice （Oryza sativa. L） samples using thermoluminescence of contaminating minerals

Food irradiation is gaining popularity worldwide and this technology is important to improve quality and reduce the post harvest losses of food. Because of the rapid commercialization of irradiated foods throughout the world, compliance of different regulations relating to use of technology in different countries and demand of consumers for clear labelling of irradiated foods, there is need for the development of analytical methods to detect radiation treatment of food. Among several methods studied so far, thermoluminescence （TL） is an important method that can be used to find out the irradiation history of food that contain even a very minute amount of dust particles. In this study, the irradiated and unirradiated wheat and rice samples were analyzed using the TL method. The samples were purchased from the local market of Peshawar and irradiated to radiation doses of 0.5 and 1.0 kGy using Co-60 gamma irradiator at the Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture （NIFA）, Peshawar. The mineral contaminants were isolated by jet water, ultrasonic treatment, and density gradient. TL glow curves of the isolated minerals from irradiated and unirradiated samples were recorded between the temperature ranges of 50-500℃ using a TL reader. Generally, the glow curves for irradiated samples showed much higher TL intensities （TL1） than the unirradiated samples. The results were normalized by rerradiation of mineral samples to gamma-ray dose of 1.0 kGy followed by determination of the second glow curves （TL2）. The ratio of the area of first glow curve to that of second glow curve （TL1/TL2） was calculated for selected temperature intervals and compared with the recommended values for unirradiated and irradiated samples. Finally, the shapes of the glow curves for irradiated and unirradiated samples were also analyzed. On the basis of these results （comparison of TL-intensities, TL1/TL2 ratios and shapes of the glow curves）, all the irradiated and unirradiated samples of wheat and rice were unequivocally identified.     

Preparation of Zn/TiO2 powder and its photocatalytic performance for oxidation of P-nitrophenol

Zn-doped TiO2 catalysts were prepared using a sol-gel method and characterized by XPS,UV-Vis, BET, XRD in this study. Under the irradiation of simulant sunlight, the photocatalytic activity for the degradation of p-nitrophenol was studied too. After irradiation for 2.5 h, the degradation percentage of p-nitrophenol could rise to more than 80 %. The results showed that the spectrum absorption band edge of Zn/TiO2 powder does not broaden obviously comparing with pure TiO2 powder. Zinc exists as Zn （11）. When calcined at 973 K, there is a new phase as ZnTiO3 in Zn/TiO2 catalyst. The order of photocatalytic activity of Zn/TiO2 catalysts calcined at different temperatures for p-nitrophenol is 773 K 〉 673 K 〉 873 K 〉 573 K 〉 973 K and the photocatalytic activity of Zn/TiO2 catalyst calcined at 773 K is better than TiO2 catalysts heated at the same temperature, and outclasses that of commercial TiO2 catalyst. It also showed that the photocatalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol follows first-order kinetics under the irradiation of simulant sunlight.     

Current status of radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Radiotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer has been extensively explored in the past. Along with the comprehensive understanding of the biology of prostate cancer and rapid advances in terms of technology, the out- come of treatment for the patients with prostate cancer has improved. The authors review radiotherapy as the primary treatment for the disease, with particular emphasis on the technological advances from both the radiobiological and radiophysics aspects. Nonconventional fractionated irradiation like hyper- or hypo-fractionation has been imple- mented in the clinic, the final results still need to be confirmed in the future. Technological advances like IMRT, IGRT, in the last two decades have significantly improved the delivery of external radiotherapy to the prostate. This has re- sulted in an overall increase in the total dose that can be safely delivered to the prostate, which has led to modest im- provements in the biochemical outcome. However, establishing the standard therapy for prostate cancer remains con- troversial. It is hoped that the next decades will bring continued advances in the development of biologicals that will further improve current clinical outcomes.     

水平管内含空气蒸汽强制对流冷凝换热模型研究

为研究含空气蒸汽在水平管内强制对流冷凝换热特性,基于对传热传质过程的分析,建立了管内为环状流与波状流条件下的流动冷凝换热模型。从潜热、显热和液膜3个环节对整个换热过程进行建模,最终得到计算局部冷凝换热系数的理论关系式。模型预测结果与实验数据的对比表明,二者相对偏差在±20%以内,验证了该换热模型的准确性与适用性。通过进一步的研究发现：从换热管入口至出口,随着冷凝的进行,管内换热主要热阻由液膜热阻向气液界面的凝结热阻转变;主流气体对流换热过程基本可忽略。     

The preclinical pharmacological study of dopamine transporter imaging agent 18F-FP-β-CIT

The paper is to study pharmacologic characteristics of 18F-FP-β-CIT (18F-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β- carbomethoxy-3β- (4-iodophenyl)nortropane) as an imaging agent for dopamine transporter. The radiochemical purity of 18F-FP-β-CIT in aqueous solution was over 95% after standing at room temperature for 4h. Biodistribution displayed rapid uptake in rat brain (1.375 %ID/organ at 5min and 0.100 %ID/organ at 180 min) and the striatal uptake was 1.444,0.731, 0.397, 0.230 and 0.146 %ID/g at 5, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min, respectively. The values of striatum/cerebellum,striatum/frontal cortex and striatum / hippocampus in rat's brain at 30 min were 3.38, 2.17 and 2.40 respectively. The uptake in striatum can be blocked by β-CFT, suggesting that 18F-FP-β-CIT binds to DAT peculiarly. The compound was rapidly cleared from monkey's blood. The striatal uptake was bilaterally decreased in the left-sided lesioned PD rats, compared with normal control. Brain PET imaging studies in normal monkey showed that 18F-FP-β-CIT was concentrated in striatum. The test of undue toxicity showed that the dose received by mice was 1250 times as by human, which indicates that 18F-FP-β-CIT is very safe. So 18F-FP-β-CIT is a promising PET imaging agent for DAT with safety and validity.     

Web Services interface of SSRF archive data analysis system

Accelerator database stores various static parameters and real-time data of accelerator. SSRF (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility) adopts relational database to save the data. We developed a data retrieval system based on XML Web Services for accessing the archive data. It includes a bottom layer interface and an interface applicable for accelerator physics. Client samples exemplifying how to consume the interface are given. The users can browse, retrieve and plot data by the client samples. Also, we give a method to test its stability. The test result and performance are described.     

Investigations on landmine detection by BF3 detector

Experiments were carried out to investigate the possible use of neutron backscattering for the detection of polyethylene (PE) sample buried in the soil. In detection of landmine by neutrons, the neutron detector and its shield play an important role. In this paper, the effects of graphite, heavy water, polyethylene and boric acid moderators on the flux of back scattered neutrons were investigated. We have also experimentally verified the effect of BF3 detector shield and obtained good agreement with theory.     

PLASMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUTHOR INDEX TO VOLUME 16(2014)

正~~     

Radioactivity levels in soil of salt field area,Kelambakkam,Tamilnadu,India

Soil samples in and around salt field area have been analyzed for natural radioactivity concentration using gamma ray spectrometer.The activity concentration for ~(232)Th,~(238)U and ~(40)K are ranged from 27.88 to 45.27 Bq/kg, from BDL to 13.30 Bq/kg,and from 135.54 to 381.28 Bq/kg,respectively.The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with world average activity of soil.The average activity concentration of ~(232)Th in the present study is 1.19 times higher than world median value while the activity of ~(238)U and ~(40)K is found to be lower. The absorbed dose rates due to these radionuclides were calculated.The average absorbed gamma dose rate due to the presence of ~(232)Th,~(238)U and ~(40)K in soil samples is 36.99 nGy·h~(-1).These results indicate no radiological anomaly. The data presented in this study will serve as a base line survey for primordial radionuclides concentration in the study area.     

Preparation and properties of 117m Sn(IV)-TTHMP in in-vitro and in small animals

In this work,TTHMP was synthesized and labelled with 117m Sn.The preparation conditions,stability and lipophilicity of 117m Sn(IV)-TTHMP were investigated.Biodistribution of the complex in rabbits and mice was studied.It was found that the quantity of TTHMP and pH value of the prepararion solution had vital effects on the labeling yield of 117m Sn(IV)-TTHMP.It was also found that 117m Sn(IV)-TTHMP was hydrophilic and stable at room temperature and 37℃ in open air 117m Sn(IV)-TTHMP showed unexpectedly high bone uptake and bone-to-blood ratio in the animals.This made it potentially useful as an reagent for skeletal scintigraphy and radiotherapy of bone tumors.     

Assessment of radioactivity levels in some oil samples from the western desert, Egypt

Distributions of natural gamma-emitting radionuclides were determined in 93 oil samples collected from some petroleum fields in the western desert of Egypt. The radioisotope activities in the area under investigation lay in the range of (21 ± 4) to (38 ± 13) Bq?L-1 for 226Ra, (9 ± 2) to (15 ± 5) Bq?L-1 for 232Th, and (154 ± 28) to (303 ± 54) Bq?L-1 for 40K. The mean values were 27, 12, and 201 Bq?L-1, respectively. Among oils, variations in radionuclide ac- tivities could be on account of differences in TDS, HCO3, and Ba, with high or low pH. In this environment, oil prop- erties differently affected the mobilization of natural radionuclides. The range of 226Ra variation had been compared with available data from other countries. The calculated absorbed dose rate ranged from 22.33 to 32.66 nGy?h-1 in lo- cation (B) and (E) respectively, which was less than the accepted value.     

Non-FDG PET imaging of brain tumors

Due to relatively high uptake of glucose in the brain cortex, the use of FDG PET imaging is greatly limited in brain tumor imaging, especially for low-grade gliomas and some metastatic tumours. More and more tracers with higher specificity were developed lately for brain tumor imaging. There are 3 main types of non-FDG PET tracers： amino acid tracers, choline tracers and nucleic acid tracers. These tracers are now widely applied in many aspects of brain tumor imaging. This article summarized the general use of non-FDG PET in different aspects of brain tumor imaging.     

The role of AGFA high-energy CR in the calibration and quality control of multileaf collimators （MLC）

Linear accelerators equipped with multileaf collimators （MLC） are becoming more common and are widely used in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy （IMRT）. There is an imperative need to ensure the commissioning specification of the linear accelerators for the sake of quality assurance （QA） and quality control （QC）. This paper is aimed to investigate the role of AGFA high-energy CR （Computed Radiography） in calibrating dynamic multileaf collimators and evaluating the accuracy of the leaf position. The result shows that AGFA high-energy CR can easily and conveniently be used to calibrate MLC and verify its position. Hence, the application of AGFA high-energy CR is proved to be an accurate and time-saving method for routine MLC QC, especially when MLC calibration adjustments are required.     

Characteristics of pulsed photo-stimulated luminescence and thermoluminescence for the identification of gamma irradiated poultry eggs

Pulsed photo-stimulated luminescence (PPSL) is a simple screening method that can be employed qualitatively at the spot for the detection of eggs treated with ionizing radiation.Due to the variations in the results during storage,the eggs of ostrich,duck,hen,and quail were irradiated to doses of 0,1,2,and 3 kGy.Most of the samples were incorrectly identified during storage after four months of irradiation.Thermoluminescence (TL) technique was also tried by using egg shells in order to confirm the irradiation treatment in eggs.TL glow curves were recorded between the temperatures 50℃to 400℃at the rate of 5°/s for all the control and irradiated samples.On the basis of integrated areas of first glow curves (TL1),the glow curve ratios (TL1/TL2) and the shapes of maxima of TL1, the irradiation treatment of all the eggs was confirmed.Furthermore,the presence of calcite and aragonite minerals that cause the TL signal in the egg shells were studied using X-ray diffraction spectrometry.     

基于NPL-NMC系统的γ测量子系统的建模与优化

在军控核查中,核部件的质量、丰度、年龄属性需采用无损方法进行核查,NPL-NMC系统是一套利用中子多重性测量核部件质量属性的装置,为建立完善的属性测量系统,还需在NPL-NMC系统的基础上建立γ测量子系统。本文通过设计γ测量子系统在NPL-NMC系统上的布局及对中子屏蔽的优化,使系统能对铀部件的丰度、年龄属性进行测量。模拟计算结果表明,该γ测量子系统能很好地满足军控核查对铀部件丰度、年龄属性测量的要求。     

微型X射线管空气比释动能和能谱的测量

为研究微型X射线管的特性,通过电离室测量光管出射口30 cm远处的空气比释动能,使用高纯锗探测器分别测量了Ag过滤和Cu过滤下的X射线能谱。结果表明,空气比释动能随电流的增加有线性增加的趋势,能谱图明显的观察到银的两个特征X射线。完成了微型X射线管空气比释动能和能谱的测量方法以及实验测量的工作,为微型x射线管下辐射质的建立提够了条件基础。     

Improvement of carbon fiber surface properties using electron beam irradiation

Carbon fiber-reinforced advance composites have been used for structural applications,mainly on account of their mechanical properties.The main factor for a good mechanical performance of carbon fiber-reinforced com- posite is the interfacial interaction between its components,which are carbon fiber and polymeric matrix.The aim of this study is to improve the surface properties of the carbon fiber using ionizing radiation from an electron beam to obtain better adhesion properties in the resultant composite.EB radiation was applied on the carbon fiber itself before preparing test specimens for the mechanical tests.Experimental results showed that EB irradiation improved the ten- sile strength of carbon fiber samples.The maximum value in tensile strength was reached using doses of about 250 kGy.After breakage,the morphology aspect of the tensile specimens prepared with irradiated and non-irradiated car- bon fibers were evaluated.SEM micrographs showed modifications on the carbon fiber surface.     

Measurement system for SSRF pulsed magnets

This paper describes the magnetic field measurement system for pulsed magnets in SSRF.The system consists of magnetic probes,analog active integrator,oscilloscope,stepper motor and a controller.An application pro- gram based on LabVIEW has been developed as main control unit.After the magnetic field mapping of a septum magnet prototype,it is verified that the test results accord with the results of theoretical calculation and computer simulation.     

Gamma-ray attenuation technique for measuring void fraction in horizontal gas-liquid two-phase flow

The measurement of void fraction is of importance to the oil industry and chemical industry. In this article, the principle and mathematical method of determining the void fraction of horizontal gas-liquid flow by using a single-energy γ-ray system is described. The γ-ray source is the radioactive isotope of 241Am with γ-ray energy of 59.5 keV. The time-averaged value of the void fraction in a 50.0-mm i.d. transparent horizontal pipeline is measured under various combinations of the liquid flow and gas flow. It is found that increasing the gas flow rate at a fixed liquid flow rate would increase the void fraction. Test data are compared with the predictions of the correlations and a good agreement is found. The result shows that the designed γ-ray system can be used for measuring the void fraction in a horizontal gas-liquid two-phase flow with high accuracy.     

旁路阀调节对高温气冷堆闭式布雷顿循环瞬态特性影响研究

闭式布雷顿循环是第4代高温堆核能系统的关键技术之一,其典型的动态过程是旁路阀调节。为分析这一过程,建立了循环中关键部件的动态模型,其中压气机在径向平衡模型基础上耦合了对附面层发展的预测,兼顾了计算效率与准确性;换热部件模型基于双曲型守恒律方程,对工质的热物性和参数的快速变化有较好的适应性。在此基础上根据回路的质量守恒和压力平衡原则将各部件的模型耦合,建立了系统的动态模型。由于旁路阀调节是氦气透平发电系统主要的功率快速调节手段,瞬态效应较为显著,以模块式高温气冷堆（HTR-10GT）旁路阀开启后的过渡过程作为算例,分析了主要循环参数的响应特性,并通过分析,给出了降低输出功率的机制。计算结果表明：系统的容积惯性对旁路阀调节的响应速度影响较大,而阀门的开度则决定了系统在末态的输出功率;回热器的温度冲击现象可能发生在调节过程中,但可通过两旁路阀联动的方式缓解;反应堆出口温度变化幅度很小,因此反应堆模型的准确程度对结果基本无影响。