Main restrictions in the synthesis of new superheavy elements: quasifission or/and fusion-fission

The synthesis of superheavy elements stimulates the effort to study the peculiarities of the complete fusion with massive nuclei and to improve theoretical models in order to extract knowledge about reaction mechanism in heavy ion collisions at low energies. We compare the theoretical results of the compound nucleus (CN) formation and evaporation residue (ER) cross sections obtained for the $^{48}$Ca+$^{248}$Cm and $^{58}$Fe+$^{232}$Th reactions leading to the formation of the isotopes A=296 and A=290, respectively, of the new superheavy element Lv (Z=116). The ER cross sections, which can be measured directly, are determined by the complete fusion and survival probabilities of the heated and rotating compound nucleus. That probabilities can not be measured unambiguously but the knowledge about them is important to study the formation mechanism of the observed products. For this aim, the $^{48}$Ca+$^{249}$Cf and $^{64}$Ni+$^{232}$Th reactions have been considered too. The use of the mass values of superheavy nuclei calculated in the framework of the macroscopic-microscopic model by Warsaw group leads to smaller ER cross section for all of the reactions (excluding the $^{64}$Ni+$^{232}$Th reaction) in comparison with the case of using the masses calculated by Peter M\"oller {\it et al}.Comment: 26 pages and 15 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1109.201

Aloe arborescens Extract Protects IMR-32 Cells against Alzheimer Amyloid Beta Peptide via Inhibition of Radical Peroxide Production.

Aloe arborescens is commonly used as a pharmaceutical ingredient for its effect in burn treatment and ability to increase skin wound healing properties. Besides, it is well known to have beneficial phytotherapeutic, anticancer, and radio-protective properties. In this study, we first provided evidence that A. arborescens extract protects IMR32, a neuroblastoma human cellular line, from toxicity induced by beta amyloid, the peptide responsible for Alzheimer's disease. In particular, pretreatment with A. arborescens maintains an elevated cell viability and exerts a protective effect on mitochondrial functionality, as evidenced by oxygen consumption experiments. The protective mechanism exerted by A. arborescens seems be related to lowering of oxidative potential of the cells, as demonstrated by the ROS measurement compared with the results obtained in the presence of amyloid beta (1–42) peptide alone. Based on these preliminary observations we suggest that use of A. arborescens extract could be developed as agents for the management of AD

Peculiarities of Nuclear Fusion in Synthesis of Superheavy Elements

The small probabilities of synthesis of new superheavy elements at GSI (Darmstadt, Germany), Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Dubna, Russia), and RIKEN (Wako, Japan) during the last decade stimulate the experimental and theoretical studies of the nuclear reaction mechanism. 1– 4 In preparation of these experiments, the main aim is to reach maximum cross sections of the yield of evaporation residues (ER) as a result of the de-excitation of the heated compound nucleus which is formed in complete fusion of the projectile and target nuclei. Because the ER excitation function in the synthesis of superheavy elements has very narrow width for "cold fusion" reactions (5–10 MeV) with 208 Pb and 209 Bi targets 5 and the width of the "hot fusion" reactions with 48 Ca projectile on actinide ta

ULTRASONOGRAFIA TRANSRETAL PARA DETERMINAÇÃO DE GESTAÇÃO PRECOCE EM BORREGAS DA RAÇA SARDA

Serial transrectal ultrasound examinations were performed to determine the earliest day at which pregnancy could be detected after mating, as well as to determine the practicability of the method at normal flock management conditions without previous fasting and water restriction. Transrectal ultrasound was carried out daily from day 12th to 25th and once on day 35th after breeding in Sarda breed yearling ewe lambs. The feasibility of the method was evaluated in terms of necessity or not to remove rectal feces during examinations, adequacy to perform examination due to rectal conditions (gases, edema, etc.), adequacy to visualize uterine and ovarian structures and to make accurate pregnancy diagnosis based on uterine findings. The experiment showed that transrectal ultrasound examinations can be suitably used for early pregnancy diagnosis in yearling ewe lambs, without the necessity of previous fasting, lifting the abdomen up and restraining the animals in recumbent position. The transrectal ultrasound method showed to be practicable during daily management of the flock, in terms of animal feeding, watering and staff availability.Exames ultrasonográficos transretais em série foram realizados para determinar o primeiro dia no qual a gestação poderia ser diagnosticada após acasalamento e para determinar a praticidade do uso do método, em condições normais de manejo dos animais sem prévio jejum e restrição de água. A ultrasonografia transretal foi feita diariamente desde o 12º até o 25º dias e uma vez no 35º dia após acasalamento, em borregas de um ano de idade da raça sarda. Os parâmetros utilizados para verificar a praticidade do método foram a necessidade ou não de remover as fezes do reto durante os exames, a possibilidade de fazer o exame devido às condições retais (gases, edema, etc.), a possibilidade de visualizar estruturas uterinas e ovarianas, e a possibilidade de fazer acurado diagnóstico de gestação com base em achados uterinos. O experimento mostrou que  o exame ultrasonográfico transretal  pode ser usado com sucesso no diagnóstico precoce da gestação em borregas de 1 ano de idade, sem a necessidade de prévio jejum alimentar, sem  elevação do abdômen durante o exame e sem a necessidade de manter as borregas em decúbito dorsal. Verificou-se que o método é prático e pode ser utilizado  durante o manejo diário do rebanho, em termos de alimentação e de disponibilidade de pessoal auxiliar

RELAP5 simulation of two-phase flow experiments in vertical helical tubes

In the framework of the studies concerning the thermalfluid dynamic phenomena in helicoidal pipes of the innovative nuclear reactor IRIS steam generators, the Department of Nuclear Engineering of the University of Palermo in collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino Department of Energetics has been engaged in a work aimed to adapt, by implementing new suitable models, RELAP5/mod3.2.2β code to simulate the thermalfluid-dynamics and geometries such as the ones involved in helicoidal pipes. In fact this code is based on one-dimensional thermal-hydraulic relationships and presents limitations to model complicated geometry such as helicoidal pipes. Therefore the code was improved with additional correlations that are valid for two-phase flow and allow to overcome the drawbacks. The validation work of the models that were added is based on the experimental data carried out at the Politecnico di Torino Department of Energetics. In this paper it will be shown that the so modified RELAP5 code allows to represent adequately the experimental data

SAPERO: a new tool for safety analyses in advanced radiotherapy

Improving safety standards in advanced radiotherapy technologies, where historical experience is not sufficient due to innovation aspects, raises the need to perform studies using new tools that follow a holistic view of the process chain. Such studies are useful to identify additional critical elements compared to safety analyses carried out by classic tools. In this field, SAPERO (La SicurezzA del PazientE: tecniche avanzate ed innovative per la valutazione del rischio di eventi indesiderati all’interno del percorso assistenziale nel settore RadioterapicO) is a new assessment tool that allows to use integrated of Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA); Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA); Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA); Human Error Assessment Reduction Technique (HEART). The methodological approaches have been suitably modified to address their operating in the medical sector under study. Some improvements have concerned the application of the fuzzy theory in FMECA and the use of a linguistic approach in HEART. In this paper, SAPERO application on a case study related to treatment procedures in helical tomotherapy performed at the radiotherapy department of ARNAS Civico hospital, Italy, is described. The results have allowed to provide suggestions aimed to improve the examined process

Tranexamic acid in open aortic aneurysm surgery: a randomised clinical trial

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