The ^4He trimer as an Efimov system

We review the results obtained in the last four decades which demonstrate the Efimov nature of the $^4$He three-atomic system.Comment: Review article for a special issue of the Few-Body Systems journal devoted to Efimov physic

Estimation of uranium and cobalt-60 distribution coefficients and uranium-235 enrichment at the Combustion Engineering Company site in Windsor, Connecticut

Site-specific distribution coefficients for uranium isotopes and cobalt-60 (Co-60) and the fraction of uranium-235 (U-235) enrichment by mass were estimated for environmental samples collected from the Combustion Engineering Company site in Windsor, CT. This site has been identified for remedial action under the US Department of Energy`s (DOE) Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. The authority of DOE at the Combustion Engineering site is limited to (1) Building 3; (2) other activities or areas associated exclusively with Building 3 (such as sewer lines); or (3) contamination that is exclusively highly enriched uranium. In this study, 16 samples were collected from the Combustion Engineering site, including 8 soil, 4 sediment, 3 water, and 1 water plus sludge sample. These samples were analyzed for isotopic uranium by alpha spectrometry and for Co-60 by gamma spectrometry. The site-specific distribution coefficient for each isotope was estimated as the ratio of extractable radionuclide activity in the solid phase to the activity in the contact solution following a 19-day equilibration. The uranium activity measurements indicate that uranium-234 (U-234) and uranium-238 (U-238) were in secular equilibrium in two soil samples and that soil and sediment samples collected from other sampling locations had higher U-234 activity than U-238 activity in both the solid and solution phases. The site-specific distribution coefficient (Kd) ranged from 82 to 44,600 mL/g for U-238 and from 102 to 65,900 mL/g for U-234. Calculation of U-235 enrichment by mass indicated that four soil samples had values greater than 0.20; these values were 0.37, 0.38, 0.46, and 0.68. Cobalt-60 activity was detected in only three sediment samples. The measured Co-60 activity in the solid phase ranged from 0.15 to 0.45 pCi/g and that in the water phase of all three samples combined was 4 pCi/L. The Kd value for Co-60 in the site brook sediment was calculated to be 70 mL/g

Phytochemical analysis and authenticity control of commercial essential oils and absolutes of Rosa damascena Mill. by GC-MS, GC-FID and GC/C-IRMS

The essential oil of Rosa damascenaMill. is known for its fine perfumery application, use in cosmetic preparations and for several pharmacological activities. Due to its high value, it can be easily adulterated with flavors or cheaper oils.In this study we considered 24 commercial samples of R. damascena essential oil and absolute of different geographic origin. GC-MS and GC-FID techniques were applied for the phytochemical analysis of the samples. EA-IRMS (Elemental Analyser-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry) and GC/C(Combustion)-IRMS were used to determine the δ13C composition of bulk samples and of some specific components.Citronellol (28.7-55.3%), geraniol (13.5-27.3%) and nonadecane (2.6-18.9%) were the main constituents of Bulgarian and Turkish essential oils. The samples from Iran were characterized by a high level of aliphatic hydrocarbons (nonadecane: 3.7-23.2%), while in the Turkish absolute rose and in the oils from Morocco and Ukraine phenylethyl alcohol was the main constituent (47.6-75.4%).The δ13C values of bulk samples were in the range between -29 and -26.9‰, typical for C3 plants. For most of the analyzed compounds in the essential oils and absolutes, the δ13C values were in the usual range for natural aromatic substances from C3 plants, except for geranyl acetate, which displayed higher values (up to -18‰). These unusual δ13C values could be justified by the addition of a natural cheaper oil from a C4 plant (Cymbopogon martinii, palmarosa). A synthetic origin was moreover postulated for geranyl acetate in the absolute from Ukraine.The results indicated that GC/C-IRMS, in combination with GC-MS and GC-FID, represents an effective and reliable tool for the authenticity control of R. damascena essential oi

Heavy element radionuclides (Pu, Np, U) and {sup 137}Cs in soils collected from the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and other sites in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming

The isotopic composition of Pu in soils on and near the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) has been determined in order to apportion the sources of the Pu into those derived from stratospheric fallout, regional fallout from the Nevada Test Site (NTS), and facilities on the INEEL site. Soils collected offsite in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming were collected to further characterize NTS fallout in the region. In addition, measurements of {sup 237}Np and {sup 137}Cs were used to further identify the source of the Pu from airborne emissions at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) or fugitive releases from the Subsurface Disposal Area (SDA) in the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC). There is convincing evidence from this study that {sup 241}Am, in excess of that expected from weapons-grade Pu, constituted a part of the buried waste at the SDA that has subsequently been released to the environment. Measurements of {sup 236}U in waters from the Snake River Plain aquifer and a soil core near the ICPP suggest that this radionuclide may be a unique interrogator of airborne releases from the ICPP. Neptunium-237 and {sup 238}Pu activities in INEEL soils suggest that airborne releases of Pu from the ICPP, over its operating history, may have recently been overestimated

Gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry, flame ionization detection and elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometry for characterizing and detecting the authenticity of commercial essential oils of Rosa damascena Mill.

RATIONALE: The essential oil of Rosa damascena Mill. is known for its fine perfumery application, use in cosmetic preparations and for several pharmacological activities. Due to its high value, it can be easily adulterated with flavors or cheaper oils. This study is aimed at a detailed phytochemical characterization of commercial samples of R. damascena essential oil and at their authenticity assessment. METHODS: Nineteen commercial samples of R. damascena essential oil of different geographic origin and an additional authentic one, directly extracted by hydro-distillation from fresh flowers, were considered. GC/MS and GC/FID techniques were applied for the phytochemical analysis of the samples. EA/IRMS (Elemental Analyzer/Isotope RatioMass Spectrometry) and GC/C (Combustion)/IRMS were used to determine the d13C composition of bulk samples and of some specific components. RESULTS: Citronellol (28.7–55.3%), geraniol (13.5–27.3%) and nonadecane (2.6–18.9%) were themain constituents of Bulgarian and Turkish essential oils, while those from Iran were characterized by a high level of aliphatic hydrocarbons (nonadecane: 3.7–23.2%). The d13C values of bulk samples were between -28.1 and -26.9%, typical for C3 plants. The d13C values of specific components were in the usual range for natural aromatic substances from C3 plants, except for geranyl acetate, which displayed higher values (up to -18%). These unusual d13Cvalues were explained by the addition of a natural cheaper oil from a C4 plant (Cymbopogon martinii, palmarosa), which was found to occur in most of the essential oils. CONCLUSION: GC/C/IRMS, in combination with GC/MS and GC/FID, can be considered as an effective and reliable tool for the authenticity control of R. damascena essential oil