[en] In the application of some polymers as track detectors, the attention should be paid to the fact that the track recording properties of these polymers are changed under the influence of certain parameters, such as the electromagnetic radiations and environmental conditions. In this work the etching effects of ⁶⁰Co gamma irradiated CR-39 polycarbonate have been studied. For deeper study of the structural changes in CR-39, the FTIR and UV-visible spectra have been analyzed. The FTIR spectra shows considerable changes due to the gamma exposure. The contribution of degradation mechanism is discussed

[en] LR-115 plastic track detector has been used to study radon diffusion through some building materials, viz. cement, soil, marble chips, sand and lime as well as air. Diffusion constant and diffusion length is calculated for all these materials

[en] Fission track technique has been used to estimate uranium concentration in the samples of soil, rock and plants collected from some areas of Bilaspur, Mandi and Kulu districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. Uranium concentration in soil samples has been found to vary from 2.16 to 22.50 ppm., in rock samples from 1.41 to 10.34 ppm and in plants from 0.55 to 2.73 ppm. The anomalous uranium values have been obtained in soil, rock and plant samples from Thagan Nala region of Kulu district

[en] Fission track technique has been used to estimate Uranium concentration in water samples belonging to some areas of Bilaspur, Mandi and Kulu districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. The samples are collected from springs and streams falling in river Bias. Uranium concentration has been found to vary from 0.07 to 4.65 ppb with a mean value of 0.72 ppb. Spring water samples from Gamrolla (Distt. Bilaspur) and Jashni (Distt. Kulu) have yielded comparatively higher Uranium values

[en] The LR-115 type-II plastic track detector has been used for measuring the indoor radon levels in the dwellings of some villages of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. In Punjab, the villages surveyed are Rampura Phul, Lehra Mahabat and Pitho (villages in Bathinda district), and Amritsar city. The average indoor radon levels in these areas are found to vary from 64 to 152 Bq/m³, which are quite within the safe limits recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (Ann. ICRP 23(2)). The indoor radon levels have also been measured in the dwellings of Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. The villages surveyed in this area are Nukhel, Badarn, Galore-Khas, Har-Upper, Tikker Brahamana and Awah-Lower where radon concentration has been found to vary from 261 to 724 Bq/m³. These values are higher than the recommended limit

[en] The effect of infrared radiation on the etching characteristics of CR-39 plastic track recorder has been studied. CR-39, which is commonly employed in cosmic rays studies is found to be affected by IR radiations. The changes in the bulk etch rate, in the track etch rate and in etching efficiency due to infrared radiation exposure of CR-39 are discussed on the basis of scission and cross linking during infrared exposure

[en] CR-39 dosimeters are becoming popular in the field of solid state nuclear track detectors due to their low cost and high degree of reproducibility. Various workers have tried to use these detectors to study the low-LET ionizing radiations (i.e. UV, X-rays, electrons and gamma rays). A study has been made on the UV-VIS spectra and etching characteristics of CR-39 plastics irradiated with 150 W infrared radiation lamp for different times ranging from 0 to 24 h. The effects include the changes in bulk etch rate and sensitivity along with the improvements in absorbance of CR-39 plastic track detector

[en] Radium, thorium and potassium analysis have been made in soil samples collected from some villages of Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh, India using gamma ray spectrometry. The work has been undertaken keeping in view the health hazard effects of these radioelements in the environment. The results for radium activity are also compared using track etch technique employing radon alpha method developed by Somogyi (Technical reports series no. 310, vol. 1, IAEA, Vienna, 1990, p. 229). The measurements have been taken using 5''x4'' NaI(Tl) detector. The gamma ray lines of 1.46, 1.76 and 2.62 MeV were employed for potassium, radium and thorium analysis. The results for radium content in soil obtained by gamma ray spectrometry agrees with that determined by the track etch technique. The radium activity in soil samples of Hamirpur district is found to be within the safe limits

No abstract available

[en] Purpose: To determine whether the quality of ionizing radiation is critical for activation of a radiation-specific DNA binding protein. Methods and Materials: We have previously shown that after exposing Epstein Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cells to ionizing radiation, a specific DNA binding factor appears in the nucleus apparently as a result of translocation from the cytoplasm. This protein binds to a number of different genomic sequences and a consensus motif has been identified. Because the protein was not activated by UV light, it was of interest whether high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation was capable of activation. Results: We describe here the activation of a specific DNA binding protein by high LET neutron radiation. The protein binds a region adjacent to and overlapping with the distal repeat within a 179 base-pair fragment of the well-characterized Simian Virus (SV40) bidirectional promoter/enhancer element. The appearance of the DNA binding activity was dose dependent and reached a maximum level by 90 min postirradiation. A reduction in DNA binding activity was evident at later times after irradiation. Conclusions: The specific nature of this response and the rapidity of activation may indicate a pivotal role for this protein in repair or in some other aspect of the cellular response to radiation damage