Disentangling of incomplete fusion dynamics at low energies ≈ 4-6 MeV/A

An experiment has been performed for the measurements of forward recoil range distributions (FRRDs) of evaporation residues (ERs) using 16O beam on the target 148Nd to explore the incomplete fusion (ICF) dynamics at low projectile energy ≈ 4-6 MeV/A. In the present work, FRRDs of ERs 159,158Er(xn), 160g,159Ho(pxn), 157,155Dy(αxn) and 155Tb(αpxn) have been measured. The measured FRRDs of ERs have been compared with their theoretical mean ranges, calculated using code SRIM. These present results obtained from FRRDs measurements show that full and partial linear momentum transfer components are involved. This indicates that the ERs populated through α-emission channels are not only produced via complete fusion, but also through incomplete fusion dynamics. The present analysis indicates that the incomplete fusion contribution increases with projectile energy. This increment in incomplete fusion contribution is due to the increase in breakup probability of projectile 16O into 12C + 4He/ α with projectile energy

Disentangling of incomplete fusion dynamics at low energies ≈ 4-6 MeV/A

371-375An experiment has been performed for the measurements of forward recoil range distributions (FRRDs) of evaporation residues (ERs) using 16O beam on the target 148Nd to explore the incomplete fusion (ICF) dynamics at low projectile energy ≈ 4-6 MeV/A. In the present work, FRRDs of ERs 159,158Er(xn), 160g,159Ho(pxn), 157,155Dy(αxn) and 155Tb(αpxn) have been measured. The measured FRRDs of ERs have been compared with their theoretical mean ranges, calculated using code SRIM. These present results obtained from FRRDs measurements show that full and partial linear momentum transfer components are involved. This indicates that the ERs populated through α-emission channels are not only produced via complete fusion, but also through incomplete fusion dynamics. The present analysis indicates that the incomplete fusion contribution increases with projectile energy. This increment in incomplete fusion contribution is due to the increase in breakup probability of projectile 16O into 12C + 4He/ α with projectile energy

Effect of projectile breakup in the system 19F + 154Sm

386-391An attempt was made to understand the role of various entrance channel parameters on incomplete fusion dynamics by the measurements of excitation functions of evaporation residues populated via complete and incomplete fusion dynamics in the system 19F + 154Sm at projectile energy ≈ 4-6 MeV/A. The stacked foil activation technique followed by offline gamma ray spectrometry was employed in these measurements. The measured excitation functions of various evaporation residues populated have been analyzed within the framework of statistical model code PACE-4. It has been observed that the measured excitation functions of xn and pxn emission channels agree well with the theoretical predictions of PACE-4. On the other hand, the measured excitation functions of α-emission channels have been found significantly enhanced over their theoretical predictions. This enhancement may be attributed to the incomplete fusion of the projectile 19F as the calculations for incomplete fusion are not included in statistical model calculations. The incomplete fusion fraction has been deduced from the present measurements. Further, a systematic study has also been performed, which shows that the incomplete fusion increases significantly with entrance channel mass asymmetry at low projectile energy, differently for different projectiles

Effect of projectile breakup in the system 19F + 154Sm

An attempt was made to understand the role of various entrance channel parameters on incomplete fusion dynamics by the measurements of excitation functions of evaporation residues populated via complete and incomplete fusion dynamics in the system 19F + 154Sm at projectile energy ≈ 4-6 MeV/A. The stacked foil activation technique followed by offline gamma ray spectrometry was employed in these measurements. The measured excitation functions of various evaporation residues populated have been analyzed within the framework of statistical model code PACE-4. It has been observed that the measured excitation functions of xn and pxn emission channels agree well with the theoretical predictions of PACE-4. On the other hand, the measured excitation functions of α-emission channels have been found significantly enhanced over their theoretical predictions. This enhancement may be attributed to the incomplete fusion of the projectile 19F as the calculations for incomplete fusion are not included in statistical model calculations. The incomplete fusion fraction has been deduced from the present measurements. Further, a systematic study has also been performed, which shows that the incomplete fusion increases significantly with entrance channel mass asymmetry at low projectile energy, differently for different projectiles

Quasi-elastic scattering measurements of the 28Si + 142Nd system at back-angle

The barrier distribution of a system can be extracted from excitation function data obtained either through fusion reaction or through quasi-elastic scattering measurement. In the present work, the quasi-elastic excitation function has precisely been measured at back angle for the 28Si + 142Nd system at energies around the Coulomb barrier and the corresponding experimental barrier distribution has been extracted. The experimental data has been interpreted in the frame work of the coupled channel calculations which include couplings to different possible modes of excitations of the interacting target-projectile combination. The possible effect of the nature of projectile excitations on the derived barrier distribution has been presented

Quasi-elastic scattering measurements of the 28Si + 142Nd system at back-angle

409-414The barrier distribution of a system can be extracted from excitation function data obtained either through fusion reaction or through quasi-elastic scattering measurement. In the present work, the quasi-elastic excitation function has precisely been measured at back angle for the 28Si + 142Nd system at energies around the Coulomb barrier and the corresponding experimental barrier distribution has been extracted. The experimental data has been interpreted in the frame work of the coupled channel calculations which include couplings to different possible modes of excitations of the interacting target-projectile combination. The possible effect of the nature of projectile excitations on the derived barrier distribution has been presented

Treatment of persistent organic pollutants in wastewater using hydrodynamic cavitation in synergy with advanced oxidation process

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are very tenacious wastewater contaminants. The consequences of their existence have been acknowledged for negatively affecting the ecosystem with specific impact upon endocrine disruption and hormonal diseases in humans. Their recalcitrance and circumvention of nearly all the known wastewater treatment procedures are also well documented. The reported successes of POPs treatment using various advanced technologies are not without setbacks such as low degradation efficiency, generation of toxic intermediates, massive sludge production, and high energy expenditure and operational cost. However, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have recently recorded successes in the treatment of POPs in wastewater. AOPs are technologies which involve the generation of OH radicals for the purpose of oxidising recalcitrant organic contaminants to their inert end products. This review provides information on the existence of POPs and their effects on humans. Besides, the merits and demerits of various advanced treatment technologies as well as the synergistic efficiency of combined AOPs in the treatment of wastewater containing POPs was reported. A concise review of recently published studies on successful treatment of POPs in wastewater using hydrodynamic cavitation technology in combination with other advanced oxidation processes is presented with the highlight of direction for future research focus

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Fusion incompleteness in 14N + 169Tm system: Measurement of recoil range distributions

562-565To understand the incomplete fusion reaction dynamics and its dependency on various entrance channel parameters, an experiment using the forward recoil range technique was performed for the 14N + 169Tm system at projectile energy ≈ 83 MeV. The recoil-catcher activation technique followed by off-line γ-spectrometry was employed. Experimentally measured forward recoil range distributions of evaporation residues indicates the occurence of incomplete fusion channels in addition to complete fusion. Full and partial linear momentum transfer components have been observed. The experimentally measured ranges of the evaporation residues formed due to the transfer of complete and/or partial momentum by projectile in the thin Al catchers were compared with the SRIM code. The observed incomplete fusion events can be explained on the basis of the breakup of the projectile viz. 14N → 8Be and/or 4He, where 8Be and/or 4He fuses with 169Tm target and transfers the partial linear momentum to the target nucleus. The present data clearly indicates that the evaporation residues were not only populated through complete fusion, but incomplete fusion also plays an important role at low projectile energy

A Novel Anticancer Agent, 8-Methoxypyrimido4 `,5 `: 4,5]thieno(2,3-b) Quinoline-4(3H)-One Induces Neuro 2a Neuroblastoma Cell Death through p53-Dependent, Caspase-Dependent and Independent Apoptotic Pathways

Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer in infants and fourth most common cancer in children. Despite recent advances in cancer treatments, the prognosis of stage-IV neuroblastoma patients continues to be dismal which warrant new pharmacotherapy. A novel tetracyclic condensed quinoline compound, 8-methoxypyrimido 4 `,5 `: 4,5] thieno(2,3-b) quinoline-4(3H)-one (MPTQ) is a structural analogue of an anticancer drug ellipticine and has been reported to posses anticancer property. Study on MPTQ on neuroblastoma cells is very limited and mechanisms related to its cytotoxicity on neuroblastoma cells are completely unknown. Here, we evaluated the anticancer property of MPTQ on mouse neuro 2a and human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and investigated the mechanisms underlying MPTQ-mediated neuro 2a cell death. MPTQ-mediated neuro 2a and SH-SY5Y cell deaths were found to be dose and time dependent. Moreover, MPTQ induced cell death reached approximately 99.8% and 90% in neuro 2a and SH-SY5Y cells respectively. Nuclear oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation and Terminal dUTP Nick End Labelling assays indicated MPTQ-mediated neuro 2a cell death involved apoptosis. MPTQ-mediated apoptosis is associated with increased phosphorylation of p53 at Ser15 and Ser20 which correlates with the hyperphosphorylation of Ataxia-Telangiectasia mutated protein (ATM). Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated the increased level of Bax protein in MPTQ treated neuro 2a cells. MPTQ-mediated apoptosis is also associated with increased activation of caspase-9, -3 and -7 but not caspase-2 and -8. Furthermore, increased level of caspase-3 and cleaved Poly ( ADP Ribose) polymerase were observed in the nucleus of MPTQ treated neuro 2a cells, suggesting the involvement of caspase-dependent intrinsic but not extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Increased nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducing factor suggests additional involvement of caspase-independent apoptosis pathway in MPTQ treated neuro 2a cells. Collectively, MPTQ-induced neuro 2a cell death is mediated by ATM and p53 activation, and Bax-mediated activation of caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mitochondrial apoptosis pathways