Role of the Delta Resonance in the Population of a Four-Nucleon State in the 56Fe to 54Fe Reaction at Relativistic Energies

The 54Fe nucleus was populated from a 56Fe beam impinging on a Be target with an energy of E/A=500MeV. The internal decay via γ-ray emission of the 10+ metastable state was observed. As the structure of this isomeric state has to involve at least four unpaired nucleons, it cannot be populated in a simple two-neutron removal reaction from the 56Fe ground state. The isomeric state was produced in the low-momentum (-energy) tail of the parallel momentum (energy) distribution of 54Fe, suggesting that it was populated via the decay of the Δ0 resonance into a proton. This process allows the population of four-nucleon states, such as the observed isomer. Therefore, it is concluded that the observation of this 10+ metastable state in 54Fe is a consequence of the quark structure of the nucleons

Horizontal force production and multi-segment foot kinematics during the acceleration phase of bend sprinting

This paper investigated horizontal force production, foot kinematics and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint push-off axis use during acceleration in bend (anti-clockwise) and straight-line sprinting. It was hypothesised that bend sprinting would cause the left step push-off to occur about the oblique axis, resulting in a decrease in propulsive force. Three-dimensional kinematic and ground reaction force data were collected from nine participants during sprinting on the bend (36.5 m radius) and straight. Anteroposterior force was reduced at 38-44% of stance during bend sprinting compared with the straight. This coincided with an increase in mediolateral force for the majority of the stance phase (3-96%) on the bend compared with the straight. In addition, a lower propulsive impulse was reported on the bend compared with the straight. Analysis of multi-segment foot kinematics provides insight into the possible mechanisms behind these changes in force production. Mean mediolateral centre of pressure position was more lateral in relation to the second metatarsal head in the left step on the bend compared with the straight, indicating the oblique axis was used for push-off at the MTP joint. Greater peak joint angles of the left foot were also reported, in particular, an increase in left step midfoot eversion and internal ankle rotation. It is possible these changes in joint kinematics are associated with the observed decrease in propulsive force. Therefore, practitioners should seek to strengthen muscles such as tibialis posterior in frontal and sagittal planes and ensure specificity of training which may aid in addressing these force reductions

Characterisation of a small electrode HPGe detector

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Small electrode HPGe detectors in an inverted coaxial geometry are increasingly in use in applications where both high efficiency and excellent energy resolution are required. The unusual electric field configuration of these detectors results in extremely long charge collection times compared to planar and coaxial devices. In this work we have characterised such a detector using gamma-ray coincidence measurements and optimised an electric field simulation to reproduce the positional variation of detector response. We show that, alongside accurate crystal geometry and applied electric potential, a temperature correction is crucial to correctly determining appropriate charge carrier mobility parameters. This work will help to guide the future development of HPGE detectors for applications including radioactive waste assay, radio-isotope dating, and fundamental nuclear physics

Characterisation of a CZT detector for dosimetry of molecular radiotherapy

A pixelated cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector has been characterised for the purpose of developing a quantitative single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for dosimetry of molecular radiotherapy (MRT). This is the aim of the Dosimetric Imaging with CZT (DEPICT) project, which is a collaboration between the University of Liverpool, The Royal Marsden Hospital, The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital, and the commercial partner Kromek. CZT is a direct band gap semiconductor with superior energy resolution and stopping power compared to scintillator detectors used in current SPECT systems. The inherent detector properties have been investigated and operational parameters such as bias voltage and peaking time have been selected to optimise the performance of the system. Good energy resolution is required to discriminate γ-rays that are scattered as they are emitted from the body and within the collimator, and high photon throughput is essential due to the high activities of isotopes administered in MRT. The system has an average measured electronic noise of 3.31 keV full width at half maximum (FWHM), determined through the use of an internal pulser. The energy response of the system was measured across the energy region of interest 59.5 keV to 364.5 keV and found to be linear. The reverse bias voltage and peaking time producing the optimum FWHM and maximum photon throughput were 600 V and 0.5 μs respectively. The average dead time of the system was measured as 4.84 μs and charge sharing was quantified to be 0.71 % at 59.5 keV . A pixel sensitivity calibration map was created and planar images of the medical imaging isotopes 99mTc and 123I were acquired by coupling the device to a prototype collimator, thereby demonstrating the suitability of the detector for the DEPICT project

High expression of focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)) in node-negative breast cancer is related to overexpression of HER-2/neu and activated Akt kinase but does not predict outcome

INTRODUCTION: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates multiple cellular processes including growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility and apoptosis. In breast carcinoma, FAK overexpression has been linked to cancer progression but the prognostic relevance remains unknown. In particular, with regard to lymph node-negative breast cancer it is important to identify high-risk patients who would benefit from further adjuvant therapy. METHODS: We analyzed 162 node-negative breast cancer cases to determine the prognostic relevance of FAK expression, and we investigated the relationship of FAK with major associated signaling pathways (HER2, Src, Akt and extracellular regulated kinases) by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. RESULTS: Elevated FAK expression did not predict patient outcome, in contrast to tumor grading (P = 0.005), Akt activation (P = 0.0383) and estrogen receptor status (P = 0.0033). Significant positive correlations were observed between elevated FAK expression and HER2 overexpression (P = 0.001), as well as phospho-Src Tyr-215 (P = 0.021) and phospho-Akt (P < 0.001), but not with phospho-ERK1/2 (P = 0.108). Western blot analysis showed a significant correlation of FAK Tyr-861 activation and HER2 overexpression (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemical detection of FAK expression is of no prognostic significance in node-negative breast cancer but provides evidence that HER2 is involved in tumor malignancy and metastatic ability of breast cancer through a novel signaling pathway participating FAK and Src

Nuclear structure of Au-181 studied via beta(+)/EC decay of Hg-181 at ISOLDE

The $\beta ^+$/EC decay of mass separated samples of $^{181}$Hg was studied employing the TATRA spectrometer at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. The decay scheme was constructed for the first time. A Broad Energy Germanium detector was used to achieve this by combination of high-gain $\gamma$-ray singles spectroscopy and $\gamma$–$\gamma$ coincidences. The systematics of excited states associated with the 1$h_{11/2}$ proton-hole configuration in odd-Au isotopes was extended

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of XR11576, an oral topoisomerase I and II inhibitor, administered on days 1–5 of a 3-weekly cycle in patients with advanced solid tumours

XR11576 is an oral topoisomerase I and II inhibitor. The objectives of this phase I study were to assess the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and to describe the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of XR11576 when administered orally on days 1-5 every 3 weeks to patients with advanced solid tumours. Patients were treated with escalating doses of XR11576 at doses ranging from 30

Phase II Clinical Trial With Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (CAELYX®/Doxil®) and Quality of Life Evaluation (EORTC QLQ-C30) in Adult Patients With Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A study of the Spanish Group for Research in Sarcomas (GEIS)

Background: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), a formulation with pharmacokinetic differences with respect to doxorubicin (DXR), might benefit patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) pretreated with DXR