[en] In this paper, we present a three-dimensional model for self-consistently modeling ion beam formation from plasma ion sources and transporting in low energy beam transport systems. A multi-section overlapped computational domain has been used to break the original transport system into a number of weakly coupled subsystems. Within each subsystem, macro-particle tracking is used to obtain the charge density distribution in this subdomain. The three-dimensional Poisson equation is solved within the subdomain after each particle tracking to obtain the self-consistent space-charge forces and the particle tracking is repeated until the solution converges. Two new Poisson solvers based on a combination of the spectral method and the finite difference multigrid method have been developed to solve the Poisson equation in cylindrical coordinates for the straight beam transport section and in Frenet-Serret coordinates for the bending magnet section. This model can have important application in design and optimization of the low energy beam line optics of the proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) front end

[en] The driver linac of the proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) requires a great variety of high intensity, high charge state ion beams. In order to design and to optimize the low energy beamline optics of the RIA front end,we have developed a new parallel three-dimensional model to simulate the low energy, multi-species ion beam formation and transport from the ECR ion source extraction region to the focal plane of the analyzing magnet. A multisection overlapped computational domain has been used to break the original transport system into a number of each subsystem, macro-particle tracking is used to obtain the charge density distribution in this subdomain. The three-dimensional Poisson equation is solved within the subdomain and particle tracking is repeated until the solution converges. Two new Poisson solvers based on a combination of the spectral method and the multigrid method have been developed to solve the Poisson equation in cylindrical coordinates for the beam extraction region and in the Frenet-Serret coordinates for the bending magnet region. Some test examples and initial applications will also be presented

[en] A radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the determination of antithrombin III (AT III) in man. The detection limit was 25 μg/dl. At III-RIA level and biological activity (anti-Xa) was significantly correlated (r = 0.737, P < 0.0001). Plasma levels in 36 healthy males (mean +- SD, 19.9 +- 2.5 mg/dl) and 21 healthy females (19.1 +- 2.4 mg/dl) were similiar. Serial AT III measurements in normal menstruating females showed lower levels during midcycle and higher concentrations during menstruation. In carcinomas, the AT III levels were lower than normal, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma. In cirrhosis of liver, the levels were markedly decreased and in some patients were below that found in congenital AT III deficiency. Patients with deep vein thrombosis and patients with heart valve replacement had lower levels than normal, while patients with cerebral vascular occlusion had normal levels. The possible use of AT III as a diagnostic tool of post-operative deep vein thrombosis was demonstrated in one patient after hysterectomy. The increased sensitivity, specificity and precision of this type of assay offer distinct advantages over existing methods of AT III estimation. (author)

[en] The determination of transuranic (TRU) content in nuclear wastes, reactor materials, process solutions, and various other matrices is required in support of material assessment, environmental restoration and waste processing activities. We have found that direct measurements of TRU is possible using passivated implanted planar silicon (PIPS) diode detectors. The performance and durability of the modern PIPS diodes enables direct detection of alpha particles, with retention of some spectral information, through small air gaps or under direct contact with liquid or solid samples. Direct assay of solutions and materials can provide rapid data solutions with high-levels or beta/gamma emitters in remote locations without human exposure or waste generation issues. Result are given on performance of PIPS detectors for the determination of TRUs in liquid and solid samples

[en] Accurate and precise population estimates of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) spawning in the mainstem Columbia River are needed to provide a basis for informed water allocation decisions, to determine the status of chum salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act, and to evaluate the contribution of the Duncan Creek re-introduction program to mainstem spawners. Currently, mark-recapture experiments using the Jolly-Seber model provide the only framework for this type of estimation. In 2002, a study was initiated to estimate mainstem Columbia River chum salmon populations using seining data collected while capturing broodstock as part of the Duncan Creek re-introduction. The five assumptions of the Jolly-Seber model were examined using hypothesis testing within a statistical framework, including goodness of fit tests and secondary experiments. We used POPAN 6, an integrated computer system for the analysis of capture-recapture data, to obtain maximum likelihood estimates of standard model parameters, derived estimates, and their precision. A more parsimonious final model was selected using Akaike Information Criteria. Final chum salmon escapement estimates and (standard error) from seining data for the Ives Island, Multnomah, and I-205 sites are 3,179 (150), 1,269 (216), and 3,468 (180), respectively. The Ives Island estimate is likely lower than the total escapement because only the largest two of four spawning sites were sampled. The accuracy and precision of these estimates would improve if seining was conducted twice per week instead of weekly, and by incorporating carcass recoveries into the analysis. Population estimates derived from seining mark-recapture data were compared to those obtained using the current mainstem Columbia River salmon escapement methodologies. The Jolly-Seber population estimate from carcass tagging in the Ives Island area was 4,232 adults with a standard error of 79. This population estimate appears reasonable and precise but batch marks and lack of secondary studies made it difficult to test Jolly-Seber assumptions, necessary for unbiased estimates. We recommend that individual tags be applied to carcasses to provide a statistical basis for goodness of fit tests and ultimately model selection. Secondary or double marks should be applied to assess tag loss and male and female chum salmon carcasses should be enumerated separately. Carcass tagging population estimates at the two other sites were biased low due to limited sampling. The Area-Under-the-Curve escapement estimates at all three sites were 36% to 76% of Jolly-Seber estimates. Area-Under-the Curve estimates are likely biased low because previous assumptions that observer efficiency is 100% and residence time is 10 days proved incorrect. If managers continue to rely on Area-Under-the-Curve to estimate mainstem Columbia River spawners, a methodology is provided to develop annual estimates of observer efficiency and residence time, and to incorporate uncertainty into the Area-Under-the-Curve escapement estimate

[en] The present study evaluated the feasibility of direct measurement of alpha emitting radionuclides in liquids using passivated ion implanted planar silicon (PIPS) diode detectors. The performance characteristics and durability of PIPS diode detectors enabled direct detection of alpha particles from liquid samples by placing the diode detectors in close proximity to the liquid sample. Factors affecting the efficiency and accuracy of direct detection of alpha-emitters in solution and interferences of beta/gamma emitters have been examined. Direct assay of liquid samples using PIPS diode detectors can enable rapid and straightforward detection methodologies suitable for process control applications

[en] This paper will present a survey of recent experimental results for the g1 and g2 spin structure functions. Over the past decade, these structure functions (and the virtual photon asymmetries A1 and A2) have been well-measured in the large-Q2 scaling region using inclusive polarized deep-inelastic scattering. New precision results from Jefferson Lab are now becoming available which cover kinematic regions that were previously poorly measured or completely unmeasured. Topics covered will include: recent experiments at Jefferson Lab which have made precise measurements of g1 in the resonance region for both proton and neutron to investigate the Q2 evolution of the GDH sum rule, a new measurement of A1 for the neutron in the large-x region where valence quark dynamics dominate, new precision results for g2 from Jefferson Lab, a review of the g1 results and NLO analyses in the scaling region for the SLAC, HERMES, and SMC data. Finally, a survey of results expected from several new experiments and longer-term experimental programs are discussed

[en] The BV Pulsera mobile X-ray system is used for biventricular pacemaker implantation in a surgical environment. It provides high-quality images of the moving structures, including the fine coronary leads, and can be used for long fluoroscopy runs without overheating. (orig.)

[en] Purpose: At therapeutically applied ionizing radiation (IR) doses of 0.5 to 5 Gy, a certain proportion of cells will undergoes radiation-induced death while a varied proportion of cells will survive and be able of furnishing adaptive responses. One of these adaptive responses has been experimentally and clinically described as repopulation. Despite description of this phenomenon more than 20 years ago, the mechanisms of this response have remained relatively unknown until modern experimental techniques have been applied to studies on cellular radiation responses. materials and Methods: Human mammary, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and squamous, A431, carcinoma cells (MCC and SCC), expressing epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGF-R) at widely varied levels, have been exposed under defined culture conditions to single and repeated IR at doses between 0.5 and 5 Gy. Cellular IR responses of activation and expression changes of growth regulatory genes and activation of signal transduction pathways were linked to IR-induced proliferation responses. Specifically, EGF-R activation and expression were assessed by levels of Tyr phosphorylation (Y^p) of the receptor protein and mRNA, respectively. Phospholipase (PL-C) activation was quantified by Y^p levels and production of inositol-triphosphate (IP₃), elevation of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ by video-intensified florescence microscopy after Fura-2 loading. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation was measured by a MBP receptor assay. The EGF-R and signal transduction activation events were correlated with a proliferation response of irradiated cells as quantified by MTT assay. Results: The cell lines tested showed an about 3-fold stimulation of EGF-R Y^p levels within 5 min of IR which was associated with a 2.5-fold upregulation of EGF-R after 24 hr. Repeated daily 2 Gy exposures of MCF-7 and MDA-cells resulted in up to 9-fold increases in EGF-R mRNA. EGF-R downstream signal transduction was evidenced by activation of the following components all within 5 min of IR exposure: PL-C activation with 2.5-fold elevation of IP₃ in MDA cells, concomitant induction of Ca²⁺ oscillations and up to 4-fold activation of MAP kinase. IP₃ production and MAP kinase activation could be inhibited by the specific EGF-R Y phosphorylation inhibitor PD153035 in MDA and/or A431 cells. The same drug inhibited Ca²⁺ oscillations of A431 but not of MDA cells, again, suggesting different responses in different cell types. The IR-induced MAP kinase activation was dependent on EGF-R activation, Ca²⁺ responses, and PL-C activation because the respective inhibitors PD153035, BAPTA, and U73122 eliminated MAP kinase activation. Importantly, using the same inhibitors, it was demonstrated that an IR-induced proliferation response in A431 cells was at least in part dependent upon activation of EGF-R and the Ca²⁺ response described above. Conclusions: IR doses in the 0.5 - 5 Gy range induce proliferation responses in human carcinoma cells and are the result of activation and expression changes of growth stimulatory genes and the activation of critical signal transduction pathways intimately linked to cellular growth control

[en] Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) exhibit unique magnetic properties that make them highly efficacious as MR imaging contrast agents and laboratory diagnostic tools. The complexity of SPION magnetic behavior and the multiple parameters affecting this behavior complicate attempts at fabricating particles suited for a particular purpose. A mathematical model of SPION magnetic properties derived from experimental relationships and first principles can be an effective design tool for predicting particle behavior before materials are fabricated. Here, a novel model of SPION magnetic properties is described, using particle size and applied magnetic field as the primary variable inputs. The model is capable of predicting particle susceptibility and non-linear particle magnetization as well as describing the vector magnetic field produced by a single particle in an applied field. Magnetization values produced by the model agree with recent experimental measurements of particle magnetizations. The model is used to predict the complex magnetic behavior of clustered magnetic particles in simulated in vivo environment; specifically, interactions between the clusters and water molecules. The model shows that larger particles exhibit more linear magnetic behavior and stronger magnetization and that clusters of smaller particles allow for more numerous SPION–water molecule interactions and more uniform cluster magnetizations.