Decay properties of the new isotopes 172Hg and 173Hg

The α decays of the two neutron-deficient nuclei 172Hg and 173Hg were observed for the first time using the 78Kr(96Ru,2n) and 80Kr(96Ru,3n) reactions, respectively. The reaction products were dispersed according to their mass-to-charge state ratios in the Argonne Fragment Mass Analyzer and implanted in a double-sided silicon strip detector, where their subsequent decays were studied using spatial and time correlations between implants and decays. A half-life of 250(+350-90) μs and an energy of 7350(12) keV were deduced for the α decay of 172Hg. In 173Hg the half-life was measured to be 0.93(+0.57-0.26) ms and the corresponding energy is 7211(11) keV. In addition, the half-life and energy of the α decay of 174Hg were measured more precisely. The reduced widths deduced for these Hg isotopes indicate that the observed decays correspond to unhindered Δl = 0 transitions. The α-decay Q values are compared with the values calculated using mass tables by Möller and Nix, and by Liran and Zeldes. The latter mass tables show better agreement with the data

In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of Pt isotopes located at the proton drip line

In-beam g rays have been observed in the neutron-deficient isotopes 170,171,172Pt using the recoil-decay tagging technique. The yrast transition sequence proposed for 172Pt indicates that the 01 bandhead of the deformed intruder band is situated about 900 keV above the weakly deformed ground state, i.e., its excitation energy has risen by about 300 keV compared to 174Pt. The measured energy of the 21 !01 transition in 170Pt supports an even larger increase in the excitation energy of the intruder configuration with the departure from the middle of the 82–126 major neutron shell. Furthermore, a band with transition energies almost identical to those found in 172Pt has been assigned to 171Pt and was interpreted as corresponding to a rotationally aligned i13/2 neutron orbital coupled to the core excitations

2020 WSES guidelines for the detection and management of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy.

Bile duct injury (BDI) is a dangerous complication of cholecystectomy, with significant postoperative sequelae for the patient in terms of morbidity, mortality, and long-term quality of life. BDIs have an estimated incidence of 0.4-1.5%, but considering the number of cholecystectomies performed worldwide, mostly by laparoscopy, surgeons must be prepared to manage this surgical challenge. Most BDIs are recognized either during the procedure or in the immediate postoperative period. However, some BDIs may be discovered later during the postoperative period, and this may translate to delayed or inappropriate treatments. Providing a specific diagnosis and a precise description of the BDI will expedite the decision-making process and increase the chance of treatment success. Subsequently, the choice and timing of the appropriate reconstructive strategy have a critical role in long-term prognosis. Currently, a wide spectrum of multidisciplinary interventions with different degrees of invasiveness is indicated for BDI management. These World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines have been produced following an exhaustive review of the current literature and an international expert panel discussion with the aim of providing evidence-based recommendations to facilitate and standardize the detection and management of BDIs during cholecystectomy. In particular, the 2020 WSES guidelines cover the following key aspects: (1) strategies to minimize the risk of BDI during cholecystectomy; (2) BDI rates in general surgery units and review of surgical practice; (3) how to classify, stage, and report BDI once detected; (4) how to manage an intraoperatively detected BDI; (5) indications for antibiotic treatment; (6) indications for clinical, biochemical, and imaging investigations for suspected BDI; and (7) how to manage a postoperatively detected BDI

The {alpha}-decay properties of {sup 181}Pb

Following the production of {sup 181}Pb in {sup 92}Mo irradiations of {sup 90}Zr the isotope`s {alpha}-decay energy was measured to be 7065 (20) keV. This E{sub {alpha}} agrees with one previously published value for {sup 181}Pb but not with another

Self strangulation. An uncommon but not unprecedented suicide method

The authors report two cases of self- strangulation in which the investigators had inizially suspected homicide but eventualy deemed the cases to be suicide. Self - strangulation may be mistaken for homicide because it is wudely believed to be impossible to carry out this act without assistanc

[Formula Presented]-decay properties of [Formula Presented]Po and the identification of [Formula Presented]Po

The [Formula Presented]-decay properties of [Formula Presented]Po were investigated through the use of a fragment mass analyzer in conjunction with a double-sided Si strip detector. The isotope was produced via the [Formula Presented] reaction, and its [Formula Presented]-decay energy and [Formula Presented] were measured as 7529(10) keV and [Formula Presented] ms, respectively. The resulting reduced width is nearly identical to that of the [Formula Presented] isotopes. This is believed to result from significant mixing between the ground state [Formula Presented] and the low-lying [Formula Presented] intruder state in the Po parent. The result provides further evidence for shape coexistence in the light Po isotopes. In addition, [Formula Presented] was unambiguously identified, and the [Formula Presented]-decay branch was determined experimentally for the first time. © 1997 The American Physical Society

Behavior of Intruder Based States in Light Bi and Tl Isotopes: The Study of ¹⁸⁷Bi Alpha Decay

The excitation energies of the single-particle normal and intruder levels in both `83T1 and 187Bi were measured for the first time via the ct decay of 187Bi produced in the 97Mo(92Mo,pn) 187Bi reaction. The previously unobserved 187Bi ground state (kw) to 183T1 ground state (s1/2) a transition was identified establishing the 187Bi intruder state excitation energy to be 112(21) keV, 70 keV less than that of the same level in 189Bi

[Formula Presented]-decay rates of [Formula Presented] and the [Formula Presented] shell closure

The proton-rich isotopes [Formula Presented], and [Formula Presented] were produced in [Formula Presented] bombardments of [Formula Presented], and [Formula Presented], respectively, and their [Formula Presented]-decay properties were investigated with the use of a fragment mass analyzer and a double-sided Si strip detector. These data yielded unambiguous identifications of [Formula Presented] and [Formula Presented] and half-lives for all three Pb nuclei that are more precise than previously available values. An examination of [Formula Presented] reduced widths in the Pb mass region leads to the conclusion that the [Formula Presented] shell gap is greatly reduced for neutron numbers midway between 82 and 126. Available mass data, manifested in [Formula Presented] values and two-proton separation energies of even-even nuclei with the same neutron numbers, support this conclusion. © 1999 The American Physical Society