A new beamline for laser spin-polarization at ISOLDE

A beamline dedicated to the production of laser-polarized radioactive beams has been constructed at ISOLDE, CERN. We present here different simulations leading to the design and construction of the setup, as well as technical details of the full setup and examples of the achieved polarizations for several radioisotopes. Beamline simulations show a good transmission through the entire line, in agreement with observations. Simulations of the induced nuclear spin-polarization as a function of atom-laser interaction length are presented for $^{26,28}$Na, [1] and for $^{35}$Ar, which is studied in this work. Adiabatic spin rotation of the spin-polarized ensemble of atoms, and how this influences the observed nuclear ensemble polarization, are also performed for the same nuclei. For $^{35}$Ar, we show that multiple-frequency pumping enhances the ensemble polarization by a factor 1.85, in agreement with predictions from a rate equations model. [1] J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys./174408400

Magnetic moments of short-lived nuclei with part-per-million accuracy: Towards novel applications of β\beta-detected NMR in physics, chemistry and biology

We determine for the first time the magnetic dipole moment of a short-lived nucleus with part-per-million (ppm) accuracy. To achieve this two orders of magnitude improvement over previous studies, we implement a number of innovations into our $\beta$-detected Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ($\beta$-NMR) setup at ISOLDE/CERN. Using liquid samples as hosts we obtain narrow, sub-kHz linewidth, resonances, while a simultaneous in-situ $^1$H NMR measurement allows us to calibrate and stabilize the magnetic field to ppm precision, thus eliminating the need for additional $\beta$-NMR reference measurements. Furthermore, we use ab initio calculations of NMR shielding constants to improve the accuracy of the reference magnetic moment, thus removing a large systematic error. We demonstrate the potential of this combined approach with the 1.1 s half-life radioactive nucleus $^{26}$Na, which is relevant for biochemical studies. Our technique can be readily extended to other isotopic chains, providing accurate magnetic moments for many short-lived nuclei. Furthermore, we discuss how our approach can open the path towards a wide range of applications of the ultra-sensitive $\beta$-NMR in physics, chemistry, and biology.Comment: re-submitte

An advertising campaign for Teens Healthquarters

Young individuals of today are so preoccupied with attaining the expectations from others that they tend to regard their health as their least concern. More so, being financially limited hinders them from availing themselves of health care services. They feel that the services being offered by present hospitals and clinics are inadequate to their needs. The Teens Healthquarters (THQ), a program of Foundation for Adolescent Development (FAD), provides services targeting the youth. The program is an extensive and holistic approach to adolescent sexuality, reproductive health and development, combined with information-giving and education, value formation, spiritual aspect, counseling, referral, and medical services. THQ has four sites in Dasmarinas, Cavite Sta. Rosa, Laguna Tarlac and Baguio City. With regard to competition, THQ does not have primary competitors. On the other hand, secondary competitors include public hospitals and barangay health centers, private hospitals and specialized health clinics, school clinics and guidance counseling departments. Awareness is a major problem of the Program, thus the need for advertising. There is a need for a thematic campaign that will build the total image of THQ and at the same time a localized effort for each THQ site to support the over-all campaign. The Big Idea for the campaign is For Youth Only. This advertising campaign for THQ has a budget of P2,000,000 and can still be stretched to P2,300,000. The media vehicles to be used consist of radio commercial and print as for the traditional advertising while street signs, streamers, posters, flyers, comport ads, stickers, brochures and direct mail are for the non-traditional. There are also other creative and marketing recommendations, which serve as extension and support for the traditional and non-traditional advertising

The effect of tremor on disability assessment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

Tremor in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is common, often unresponsive to treatment, and may contribute to disability. We aim to investigate whether tremor is associated with disability as measured in daily practice and clinical trials, independent of other impairments. We included 76 CIDP patients in this cross-sectional study. We assessed tremor with the Tremor Research Group essential tremor rating assessment scale (TETRAS) and the Fahn?Tolosa?Marin clinical rating scale (FTM). Disability was measured with the inflammatory Rasch-built overall disability scale (I-RODS) and the adjusted Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment disability scale (INCAT-DS, categorized separately in arm score, or total score). Impairments including strength, sensory impairment, and fatigue were measured using specific impairment scales. We tested whether ?the presence of a clinically relevant tremor? (based on TETRAS and FTM) or ?tremor severity? (FTM part B sum score) was associated with disability scores (I-RODS, INCAT-DS total score, and INCAT-DS arm score), independent of the impairment scores, using multivariate regression. Both ?the presence of a clinically relevant tremor? and ?tremor severity? were significantly associated with disability measured by the INCAT-DS (arm score and total score), but not the I-RODS, independent of strength, sensory impairment, and fatigue. The explained variances were low. Clinically relevant tremor can (partly) explain disability in CIDP, as measured with the INCAT-DS, independent of muscle strength, sensory deficits, and fatigue. To assess disease activity in CIDP patients with tremor, both impairment and disability outcomes should be assessed, as disability is caused partly by tremor while the effect of immunotherapy on tremor seems limited

The effect of tremor on disability assessment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tremor in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is common, often unresponsive to treatment, and may contribute to disability. We aim to investigate whether tremor is associated with disability as measured in daily practice and clinical trials, independent of other impairments. METHODS: We included 76 CIDP patients in this cross-sectional study. We assessed tremor with the Tremor Research Group essential tremor rating assessment scale (TETRAS) and Fahn-Tolosa-Marin clinical rating scale (FTM). Disability was measured with the inflammatory Rasch-built overall disability scale (I-RODS) and the adjusted Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment disability scale (INCAT-DS, categorized separately in arm score, or total score). Impairments including strength, sensory impairment and fatigue were measured using specific impairment scales. We tested whether 'the presence of a clinically relevant tremor' (based on TETRAS and FTM) or 'tremor severity' (FTM part B sumscore) was associated with disability scores (I-RODS, INCAT-DS total score, and INCAT-DS arm score), independent of the impairment scores, using multivariate regression. RESULTS: Both 'the presence of a clinically relevant tremor' and 'tremor severity' were significantly associated with disability measured by the INCAT-DS (arm score and total score), but not the I-RODS, independent of strength, sensory impairment and fatigue. The explained variances were low. INTERPRETATION: Clinically relevant tremor can (partly) explain disability in CIDP, as measured with the INCAT-DS, independent of muscle strength, sensory deficits, and fatigue. To assess disease activity in CIDP patients with tremor, both impairment and disability outcomes should be assessed, as disability is caused partly by tremor while the effect of immunotherapy on tremor seems limited. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

New laser polarization line at the ISOLDE facility

Following a growing interest in spin-polarized beams of radioactive ions, a new laser spin-polarization setup has been installed at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. The setup is located at the VITO beamline which aims to bring together several experimental techniques using polarized ions allowing for studies in nuclear physics, fundamental interactions, material and life sciences. Intensive design work, which took place in 2016, allowed the installation of the first stage of the polarization line. With this experimental setup, the ion beam can be neutralized, polarized and implanted into a solid sample inside an electromagnet which also hosts ß-detectors, where the degree of nuclear spin polarization can be measured. In autumn 2016 the setup was commissioned using short-lived ²⁶Na and ²⁸Na beams which were polarized in the D2 line from their atomic ground state. The previously observed degrees of ß asymmetry were reproduced and thus the beamline is now ready for the first physics experiments with spin-polarized radioactive beams

The ^68mCu/⁶⁸Cu isotope as a new probe for hyperfine studies: The nuclear moments

Time Differential Perturbed Angular Correlation of γ-rays (TDPAC) experiments were performed for the first time in the decay of 68mCu (6-, 721 keV, 3.75 min) produced at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. Due to the short half-life of the source isotope, the measurements were carried out online. The intermediate state (2+, 84.1 keV, 7.84 ns) offers the unique opportunity to study the electromagnetic fields acting at a copper probe in condensed matter via hyperfine interactions. The present work allowed determination of the nuclear moments for this state. The electric quadrupole moment |Q(2+, 84.1 keV)| = 0.110(3) b was obtained from an experiment performed in Cu2O and the magnetic dipole moment |µ| = 2.857(6) µN from measurements in cobalt and nickel foils. The results are discussed in the framework of shell model calculations and the additivity rule for nuclear moments with respect to the robustness of the N = 40 sub-shell

High-accuracy liquid-sample β-NMR setup at ISOLDE

Recently there has been an increased interest to apply the sensitive $\beta$-decay asymmetry detected nuclear magnetic resonance ($\beta$-NMR) technique to biological studies. A liquid-sample $\beta$-NMR setup was build at ISOLDE to allow such investigations and to use the resolution gain of liquid-state NMR in nuclear physics. As part of this setup a magnetic field locking system, a set of printed circuit board shimming coils, a sample exchange system, a set of compact $\beta$-detectors and a custom experimental vacuum chamber were developed. The main magnetic field was stabilized down to the ppm level by the locking system while allowing the direct determination of the absolute magnetic field. The homogeneity of the magnetic field was improved to $\leq$~5~ppm over the sample volume by the shimming coils. Time spent on changing samples was reduced by a factor of five by the liquid sample exchange system. During experiments it was possible to continuously observe the liquid sample thanks to the custom chamber and compact $\beta$-detectors. The absolute field determination allows for a novel way to reference $\beta$-NMR measurements, removing the need for time consuming reference measurements. The improved accuracy and resolution resulting from these innovations allows the study of the distribution of nuclear magnetization and (bio)chemicals using high-accuracy liquid-sample $\beta$-NMR

The Cu-68m/Cu-68 isotope as a new probe for hyperfine studies: The nuclear moments

Time Differential Perturbed Angular Correlation of gamma-rays (TDPAC) experiments were performed for the first time in the decay of Cu-68m (6(-), 721 keV, 3.75 min) produced at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. Due to the short half-life of the source isotope, the measurements were carried out online. The intermediate state (2(+), 84.1 keV, 7.84 ns) offers the unique opportunity to study the electromagnetic fields acting at a copper probe in condensed matter via hyperfine interactions. The present work allowed determination of the nuclear moments for this state. The electric quadrupole moment vertical bar Q(2(+), 84.1 keV)vertical bar = 0.110(3) b was obtained from an experiment performed in Cu2O and the magnetic dipole moment vertical bar mu vertical bar = 2.857(6) mu(N) from measurements in cobalt and nickel foils. The results are discussed in the framework of shell model calculations and the additivity rule for nuclear moments with respect to the robustness of the N = 40 sub-shell. Copyright (C) EPLA, 201

Direct observation of Mg²⁺ complexes in ionic liquid solutions by ³¹Mg β-NMR spectroscopy

NMR spectra of Mg2+ ions in ionic liquids were recorded using a highly sensitive variant of NMR spectroscopy known as β-NMR. The β-NMR spectra of MgCl2 in EMIM-Ac and EMIM-DCA compare favourably with conventional NMR, and exhibit linewidths of ∼3 ppm, allowing for discrimination of species with oxygen and nitrogen coordination