Angular correlation of the two gamma rays produced in the thermal neutron capture on gadolinium-155 and gadolinium-157

The ANNRI-Gd collaboration studied in detail the single $\gamma$-ray spectrum produced from the thermal neutron capture on $^{155}$Gd and $^{157}$Gd in our previous publications. Gadolinium targets were exposed to a neutron beam provided by the Japan Spallation Neutron Source (JSNS) in J-PARC, Japan. In the present analysis, one new additional coaxial germanium crystal was used in the analysis in combination with the fourteen germanium crystals in the cluster detectors to study the angular correlation of the two $\gamma$ rays emitted in the same neutron capture. We present for the first time angular correlation functions for two $\gamma$ rays produced during the electromagnetic cascade transitions in the (n, $\gamma$) reactions on $^{\rm 155}$Gd and $^{\rm 157}$Gd. As expected, we observe the mild angular correlations for the strong, but rare transitions from the resonance state to the two energy levels of known spin-parities. Contrariwise, we observe negligibly small angular correlations for arbitrary pairs of two $\gamma$ rays produced in the majority of cascade transitions from the resonance state to the dense continuum states.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figure

Gamma Ray Spectra from Thermal Neutron Capture on Gadolinium-155 and Natural Gadolinium

Abstract Natural gadolinium is widely used for its excellent thermal neutron capture cross section, because of its two major isotopes: $^{\rm 155}$Gd and $^{\rm 157}$Gd. We measured the $\gamma$-ray spectra produced from the thermal neutron capture on targets comprising a natural gadolinium film and enriched $^{\rm 155}$Gd (in Gd$_{2}$O$_{3}$ powder) in the energy range from 0.11 MeV to 8.0 MeV, using the ANNRI germanium spectrometer at MLF, J-PARC. The freshly analyzed data of the $^{\rm 155}$Gd($n, \gamma$) reaction are used to improve our previously developed model (ANNRI-Gd model) for the $^{\rm 157}$Gd($n, \gamma$) reaction [K. Hagiwara et al. [ANNRI-Gd Collaboration], Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2019, 023D01 (2019)], and its performance confirmed with the independent data from the $^{\rm nat}$Gd($n, \gamma$) reaction. This article completes the development of an efficient Monte Carlo model required to simulate and analyze particle interactions involving the thermal neutron captures on gadolinium in any relevant future experiments

Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Yellow and Purple Passion Fruit Genotypes Cultivated in Ecuador

Seed is a fundamental tool to carry out breeding processes and for the propagation of the crops; however, seed propagation generally has low and irregular germination. Passion fruit (Passiflora) species are economically important for Ecuador, which is the main exporter of passion fruit concentrate in Latin America. Ecuadorian farmers propagate new plants by seeds to establish new passion fruit orchards or to extend their cultivated area. The objective of this research was to determine the differences in germination and seedling development with the application of priming methods in five genotypes of passion fruit belonging to three different taxa that are of commercial use in Ecuador. The genotypes used were: INIAP 2009 and P10 (P. edulis f. flavicarpa), Gulupa (P. edulis f. edulis), and local germplasms POR1 (P. edulis f. flavicarpa) and PICH1 (P. maliformis). The priming methods were: water (control), hydrogen peroxide at 15%, potassium nitrate at 1%, PEG 6000 at −1.2 MPa, and gibberellic acid at 500 ppm. The results showed that there was a genotype-response depending on the priming method. Nevertheless, Polietilenoglicol (PEG 6000) could be considered as a promising method to encourage seed germination and promote seedling growth in the Passiflora species. More research regarding the use of this compound has to be carried out in order to determine in depth the physiological processes related to its functions to improve seed germination as well as production of vigorous seedlings

Are the rates of hypertension and diabetes higher in people from lower socioeconomic status in Bangladesh? Results from a nationally representative survey.

A well-established belief regarding inequalities in health around the world is that hypertension and diabetes are higher in groups of lower socioeconomic status. We examined whether rates of hypertension, diabetes, and the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes are higher in people from a lower socioeconomic status than in those from a higher socioeconomic status in Bangladesh.We investigated a nationally representative dataset from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey with objective measures for hypertension and diabetes. A wealth index was constructed from data on household assets using principal components analysis. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were performed to test the associations between wealth level, hypertension and diabetes.People from the highest wealth quintile were significantly more likely to have hypertension (Adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-2.25), diabetes (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.21-2.71), and the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.05-4.49) than people from the lowest wealth quintile. The odds of having hypertension, diabetes, and their coexistence were higher for older people, women, people who engaged in less physical labor, and people who were overweight and obese.Wealthier people, particularly people from the fourth and highest wealth quintiles, should be careful to avoid unhealthy lifestyles to prevent hypertension and diabetes. Health policy makers and planners are urged to target wealthier strata in terms of hypertension and diabetes initiatives while paying special attention to older people, women, people who engage in less physical labor, and individuals who are overweight

Pulp Mineral Content of Passion Fruit Germplasm Grown in Ecuador and Its Relationship with Fruit Quality Traits

There are several species of passion fruit grown in South America. However, there is a lack of information about the mineral content in their pulp. Thus, the objective of the present research was to determine the mineral content in the pulp of different germplasms of passion fruit [Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (INIAP 2009 and P10), P. alata (Sweet passion fruit), P. edulis f. edulis (Gulupa) and Passiflora sp. (Criollo POR1 and Criollo PICH1)] grown in Ecuador and to determine their relationship with relevant fruit quality traits. The results showed that high Mg content was associated with less peel thickness, soluble solids was negatively related to K and B content, and vitamin C was negatively related to S content. INIAP 2009 had high titratable acidity and fruit weight but low N and Na; P10 showed the highest contents of N, K, Na, Mn and fruit weight but less P, Mg, and Fe; sweet passion fruit showed high S, Zn, Cu, soluble solids, and peel thickness but low K, Ca, B, and titratable acidity; Gulupa had high Mg, B, and Zn but low S, Fe, and Mn; Criollo POR1 showed high N and Fe but low Zn; and Criollo PICH1 showed high P, Ca, Mg, and Cu but low soluble solids and peel thickness. These results provide additional information on passion fruit germplasm grown in Ecuador and constitutes a reference for further breeding programs