Overview and evaluation of different nuclear level density models for the 123I radionuclide production

The 123I radionuclide (T1/2 = 13.22 h, β+ = 100) is one of the most potent gamma emitters for nuclear medicine. In this study, the cyclotron production of this radionuclide via different nuclear reactions namely, the 121Sb(α,2n), 122Te(d,n), 123Te(p,n), 124Te(p,2n), 124Xe(p,2n), 127I(p,5n) and 127I(d,6n) were investigated. The effect of the various phenomenological nuclear level density models such as Fermi gas model (FGM), Back-shifted Fermi gas model (BSFGM), Generalized superfluid model (GSM) and Enhanced generalized superfluid model (EGSM) moreover, the three microscopic level density models were evaluated for predicting of cross sections and production yield predictions. The SRIM code was used to obtain the target thickness. The 123I excitation function of reactions were calculated by using of the TALYS-1.8, EMPIRE-3.2 nuclear codes and with data which taken from TENDL-2015 database, and finally the theoretical calculations were compared with reported experimental measurements in which taken from EXFOR database. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

Overview and evaluation of different nuclear level density models for the 123I radionuclide production

The 123I radionuclide (T1/2 = 13.22 h, β+ = 100) is one of the most potent gamma emitters for nuclear medicine. In this study, the cyclotron production of this radionuclide via different nuclear reactions namely, the 121Sb(α,2n), 122Te(d,n), 123Te(p,n), 124Te(p,2n), 124Xe(p,2n), 127I(p,5n) and 127I(d,6n) were investigated. The effect of the various phenomenological nuclear level density models such as Fermi gas model (FGM), Back-shifted Fermi gas model (BSFGM), Generalized superfluid model (GSM) and Enhanced generalized superfluid model (EGSM) moreover, the three microscopic level density models were evaluated for predicting of cross sections and production yield predictions. The SRIM code was used to obtain the target thickness. The 123I excitation function of reactions were calculated by using of the TALYS-1.8, EMPIRE-3.2 nuclear codes and with data which taken from TENDL-2015 database, and finally the theoretical calculations were compared with reported experimental measurements in which taken from EXFOR database. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

Political Economy of Reforming Formal Banking Institutions in Iran after 1979 Revolution

Endogenous institutional reforms can be analyzed within the framework of political economy. This article focuses on institutional reforms in banking industry. The most important formal institution of banking system, which is regulation and supervision of banks, is carried out in Iran by its Central Bank and the Council of Money and Credit. In this article, the reforms in formal banking institutions in both de jure and de facto arrangements in the period after the 1979 revolution are analyzed. The main question of this article is that how the idea of North and others (2006 and 2009) on limited-access and open-access social order can apply only to the banking industry? Historical evidence and statistical analysis show that the institutional arrangement and enforcement characteristics of banking system in Iran is consistent with features of limited-access order. Especially in 1990s, although private banking was prohibited in Iran, but elites of the dominant coalition, achieved rent by establishing informal banks. These conditions resulted in increasing competition between members of dominant coalition and this led to amending the rules of entry in early 2000 in which private banks were allowed to be established formally. These newly established private banks had ties to another group of the dominant coalition. Then, numerous laws and regulations were adopted to improve supervision of banking activities. In late 2000, the interests of non-formal banks were damaged, and therefore, they tried to continue their activities in formal ways. Overall, the evidence suggests that the Iranian banking institutions still have features of natural state (limited-access order), but there has been a transition from the basic natural state before 2000s to some features of mature natural state

The effect of lavender aromatherapy on the pain severity of primary dysmenorrhea: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial.

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is the most common complaint in adolescents and adult young women that disturbs their daily life performance.Aim: The current study investigated the effect of lavender aromatherapy on pain severity in primary dysmenorrhea.Subjects and Methods: This triple‑blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 200 students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Subjects were allocated randomly into intervention (lavender) and control (placebo) groups. The researcher assistant asked the participants to smell the lavender in the first 3 days of menstruation, 30 min in a day in two menstrual cycles. Control group was also administered placebo (diluted milk) to be used as lavender in treatment group. Pain severity was scored by visual analog scale in the first 3 days of menstruation before intervention and 2 months after intervention. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and independent and paired samples t‑tests.Results: There was a significant difference in average pain severity between treatment and control groups after intervention. However, students in the treatment group reported significantly less pain severity 2 months after intervention (P < 0.01).Conclusion: Using lavender aromatherapy for 2 months may be effective in decreasing the pain severity of primary dysmenorrhea.Keywords: Aromatherapy, Lavender, Menstruation, Pain, Primary dysmenorrhe

201 Tl production through light charged-particle induced reactions on Tl and Hg isotopes: theoretical and simulation approaches

Investigation of the significant 201 Tl diagnostic radionuclide production via protons and deuterons induced reactions by using the 203 Tl, 201 Hg and 202 Hg isotope targets is the main goal of this study. The effect of three phenomenological and microscopic level density models utilizing the TALYS-1.8 code along with TENDL-2017 data were applied to excitation functions evaluations. Furthermore, simulation code was used for the above production processes. Subsequently the prediction of the production yield in each reaction was done. Finally, the comparison between EXFOR database experimental data and the theoretical and simulation-based calculations was implemented. © 2018, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary

Effect of lavender aromatherapy on menopause hot flushing: A crossover randomized clinical trial

Background: Flushing is generally considered to be the primary symptom of menopause and is typically the most common complaint in menopausal women. Although flushing poses no danger to a woman's health, it decreases the quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lavender aromatherapy on menopause flushing. Methods: This double-blinded crossover clinical trial included 100 menopausal women 45–55 years of age who were referred to various health centers in Ardabil, Iran in 2013–2014. Samples were blocked randomly and divided into two intervention (lavender) and control (diluted milk) groups. Lavender aroma was smelled for 20 minutes twice a day, over a 12-week period. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, and flushing numbers were duly recorded. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) using the Chi-square and t test. Results: The results of our investigation showed that both groups had no significant difference according to demographic characteristics (p > 0.05). Additionally, the flushing number significantly decreased in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study indicated that the use of lavender aromatherapy reduced menopause flushing. Given the impact of stress on flushing and the undesirable effects of menopause symptoms on the quality of life, it would appear that this simple, noninvasive, safe, and effective method can be used by menopausal women with noticeable benefits

Investigation of the thermal performance of natTe target for 124I production in the RARS cyclotron

Regarding the low thermal conductivity of natTe element, the provision of an effective cooling system is one of the critical issues in cyclotron targetry to prevent melting of target matter during the irradiation to 124I production via natTe(p,xn) 124I reaction. Heat transfer on Te target and efficiency of cooling fluid in the solid target system have been simulated based on a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) code for the thermal behavior of the target during the irradiation and under different beam currents, coolant flow rates, substrate matters and target geometry. The results on the routinely used solid target in Radiation Application Research School (RARS) cyclotron showed that in a 3 m/s coolant flow rate, by using a fined-cooling system and a nickel substrate coated on copper backing plate, the irradiation beam current can be raised up to 180 lA without any risk of melting. The cooling flow rates greater than 3 m/s do not noticeably improve the heat dispersion of target layer. As expected, a linear increase was observed for the temperature and temperature gradient of plates in the beam currents of 100 - 300 lA

Nuclear model calculations on the production of auger electron emitter 111In: As a theranostic radionuclide

The main goal of this study is the production investigation of the 111In as a diagnostic and mighty radionuclide in nuclear medicine especially in the Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) technique. Excitation functions based on four main phenomenological level density models were evaluated for the induced reactions; namely, 109Ag(α,2n), 110Cd(d,n),111Cd(p,n),112Cd(p,2n),natCd(p,xn) and natCd(d,xn) using the TALYS-1.8 and EMPIRE-3.2 nuclear codes. Furthermore, simulation code was used for the mentioned processes and, also, the 111In production yield predictions in each reaction were done. Finally, in order to certify the above calculation outcomes, a comparison with the existing data which were taken from EXFOR database was implemented. © 2020 Elsevier Lt