Monte-Carlo Simulations of Radiation-Induced Activation in a Fast-Neutron and Gamma- Based Cargo Inspection System

An air cargo inspection system combining two nuclear reaction based techniques, namely Fast-Neutron Resonance Radiography and Dual-Discrete-Energy Gamma Radiography is currently being developed. This system is expected to allow detection of standard and improvised explosives as well as special nuclear materials. An important aspect for the applicability of nuclear techniques in an airport inspection facility is the inventory and lifetimes of radioactive isotopes produced by the neutron and gamma radiation inside the cargo, as well as the dose delivered by these isotopes to people in contact with the cargo during and following the interrogation procedure. Using MCNPX and CINDER90 we have calculated the activation levels for several typical inspection scenarios. One example is the activation of various metal samples embedded in a cotton-filled container. To validate the simulation results, a benchmark experiment was performed, in which metal samples were activated by fast-neutrons in a water-filled glass jar. The induced activity was determined by analyzing the gamma spectra. Based on the calculated radioactive inventory in the container, the dose levels due to the induced gamma radiation were calculated at several distances from the container and in relevant time windows after the irradiation, in order to evaluate the radiation exposure of the cargo handling staff, air crew and passengers during flight. The possibility of remanent long-lived radioactive inventory after cargo is delivered to the client is also of concern and was evaluated.Comment: Proceedings of FNDA 201

Towards a More Complete and Accurate Experimental Nuclear Reaction Data Library (EXFOR): International Collaboration Between Nuclear Reaction Data Centres (NRDC)

The International Network of Nuclear Reaction Data Centres (NRDC) coordinated by the IAEA Nuclear Data Section (NDS) is successfully collaborating in the maintenance and development of the EXFOR library. As the scope of published data expands (e.g., to higher energy, to heavier projectile) to meet the needs from the frontier of sciences and applications, it becomes nowadays a hard and challenging task to maintain both completeness and accuracy of the whole EXFOR library. The paper describes evolution of the library with highlights on recent developments.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Analysis of Antibody and Cytokine Markers for Leprosy Nerve Damage and Reactions in the INFIR Cohort in India

Leprosy is one of the oldest known diseases. In spite of the established fact that it is least infectious and a completely curable disease, the social stigma associated with it still lingers in many countries and remains a major obstacle to self reporting and early treatment. The nerve damage that occurs in leprosy is the most serious aspect of this disease as nerve damage leads to progressive impairment and disability. It is important to identify markers of nerve damage so that preventive measures can be taken. This prospective cohort study was designed to look at the potential association of some serological markers with reactions and nerve function impairment. Three hundred and three newly diagnosed patients from north India were recruited for this study. The study attempts to reflect a model of nerve damage initiated by mycobacterial antigens and maintained by ongoing inflammation through cytokines such as Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha and perhaps extended by antibodies against nerve components

Present Status of Neutron-, Photo-induced and Spontaneous Fission Yields Experimental Data

Nuclear reaction data collection, evaluation and dissemination have been pioneered at the Brookhaven National Laboratory since the early 50s. These activities gained popularity worldwide, and around 1970 the experimental nuclear reaction data interchange or exchange format (EXFOR) was established. The original EXFOR compilation scope consisted only of neutron reactions and spontaneous fission data, while many other nuclear data sets were ignored. Due to the high cost of new experiments, it is very important to find and recover the previously disregarded data using scientific publications, data evaluations and nuclear databases comparisons. Fission yields play a very important role in applied and fundamental physics, and such data are essential in many applications. The comparative analysis of Nuclear Science References (NSR) and Experimental Nuclear Reaction (EXFOR) databases shows a large number of unaccounted experiments and provides a guide for the recovery of fission cross sections, yields and covariance data sets. The dedicated fission yields data compilation effort is currently underway in the Nuclear Reaction Data Centers (NRDC) network, and includes identification, compilation, storage and Web dissemination of the recovered data sets

Completeness of neutron-, photo-induced and spontaneous fission yields data

Nuclear data collection, evaluation and dissemination activities have been performed worldwide for many years. They are absolutely essential for the overall progress of science and technology to create the complete collections of experimental data sets and associated publications, and store these data in publicly accessible databases. Due to many historical and technological reasons not all published data have been identified and compiled. These "missing data" manifest themselves via scientific publications, data evaluations and nuclear databases comparisons. The detailed analysis of the Nuclear Science References (NSR) and the Experimental Nuclear Reaction (EXFOR) databases shows thousands of previously missed nuclear reaction experiments and creates a roadmap for the creation of complete data records for fission cross sections, yields and covariances. The National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) program for identification, compilation and storage of missing fission yields data sets is described, and recommendations for improving the databases completeness are given

Completeness of neutron-, photo-induced and spontaneous fission yields data

Nuclear data collection, evaluation and dissemination activities have been performed worldwide for many years. They are absolutely essential for the overall progress of science and technology to create the complete collections of experimental data sets and associated publications, and store these data in publicly accessible databases. Due to many historical and technological reasons not all published data have been identified and compiled. These "missing data" manifest themselves via scientific publications, data evaluations and nuclear databases comparisons. The detailed analysis of the Nuclear Science References (NSR) and the Experimental Nuclear Reaction (EXFOR) databases shows thousands of previously missed nuclear reaction experiments and creates a roadmap for the creation of complete data records for fission cross sections, yields and covariances. The National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) program for identification, compilation and storage of missing fission yields data sets is described, and recommendations for improving the databases completeness are given