Search for double beta decay of 136^{136}Ce and 138^{138}Ce with HPGe gamma detector

Search for double $\beta$ decay of $^{136}$Ce and $^{138}$Ce was realized with 732 g of deeply purified cerium oxide sample measured over 1900 h with the help of an ultra-low background HPGe $\gamma$ detector with a volume of 465 cm$^3$ at the STELLA facility of the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN (Italy). New improved half-life limits on double beta processes in the cerium isotopes were set at the level of $\lim T_{1/2}\sim 10^{17}-10^{18}$~yr; many of them are even two orders of magnitude larger than the best previous results.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables; version accepted for publication on Nucl. Phys.

New limits on 2ε2\varepsilon, εβ+\varepsilon\beta^+ and 2β+2\beta^+ decay of 136^{136}Ce and 138^{138}Ce with deeply purified cerium sample

A search for double electron capture ($2\varepsilon$), electron capture with positron emission ($\varepsilon\beta^+$), and double positron emission $2\beta^+$) in $^{136}$Ce and $^{138}$Ce was realized with a 465 cm$^3$ ultra-low background HP Ge $\gamma$ spectrometer over 2299 h at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory. A 627 g sample of cerium oxide deeply purified by liquid-liquid extraction method was used as a source of $\gamma$ quanta expected in double $\beta$ decay of the cerium isotopes. New improved half-life limits were set on different modes and channels of double $\beta$ decay of $^{136}$Ce and $^{138}$Ce at the level of $T_{1/2}>10^{17}-10^{18}$ yr.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 2 table

First test of an enriched 116^{116}CdWO4_4 scintillating bolometer for neutrinoless double-beta-decay searches

For the first time, a cadmium tungstate crystal scintillator enriched in $^{116}$Cd has been succesfully tested as a scintillating bolometer. The measurement was performed above ground at a temperature of 18 mK. The crystal mass was 34.5 g and the enrichment level ~82 %. Despite a substantial pile-up effect due to above-ground operation, the detector demonstrated a high energy resolution (2-7 keV FWHM in 0.2-2.6 MeV $\gamma$ energy range), a powerful particle identification capability and a high level of internal radiopurity. These results prove that cadmium tungstate is an extremely promising detector material for a next-generation neutrinoless double-beta decay bolometric experiment, like that proposed in the CUPID project (CUORE Upgrade with Particle IDentification)

GISTECHNOLOGY FOR THE MONITORING OF SHARKA DISEASE IN THE ODESSA REGION

Plant virus causes many important plant diseases and are responsible for huge losses in crop production and quality in all parts of the world, and consequently, agronomists and plant pathologists have devoted considerable effort toward controlling virus diseases. One the most important virus on many Prunus species, causing great economic losses is Plum pox virus (PPV),casual agent of Sharka disease. Since its discovery, Sharka has been considered as a calamity in stone orchards. The virus has been detected in almost every country where any significant commercial stone fruit cultivation occurs [1]. The virus is entered into the list of regulated pests common in Ukraine. In Ukraine, the total area of PPV spread totals 4013,2764 ha. In Odessa region, 18.5 ha districts are in PPV quarantine. Six hotbeds of PPV infection totalling 28 hectares were found in Odessa region. For the first time in Odessa region, PPV was found on cherry trees. Peach and plum trees are hit equally. In this study, we use geographic information systems technology to identify potential locations in a Odessa region for controlling the spread of Plum pox virus. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to employ GIS technology for controlling plant diseases in Ukraine. Provided it is properly maintained, the geospatial data, and the ability to generate detailed maps with it, is key to the success of PPV containment. Information management will be a key to improving for controlling the spread of Plum pox virus

First search for double-beta decay of 184Os and 192Os

A search for double-beta decay of osmium has been realized for the first time with the help of an ultra-low background HPGe gamma detector at the underground Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN (Italy). After 2741 h of data taking with a 173 g ultra-pure osmium sample limits on double-beta processes in 184Os have been established at the level of T_{1/2} about 10^{14}-10^{17} yr. Possible resonant double-electron captures in 184Os were searched for with a sensitivity T_{1/2} about 10^{16} yr. A half-life limit T_{1/2} > 5.3 10^{19} yr was set for the double-beta decay of 192Os to the first excited level of 192Pt. The radiopurity of the osmium sample has been investigated and radionuclides 137Cs, 185Os and 207Bi were detected in the sample, while activities of 40K, 60Co, 226Ra and 232Th were limited at the mBq/kg level.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 2 table

Search for 2\beta\ decays of 96Ru and 104Ru by ultra-low background HPGe gamma spectrometry at LNGS: final results

An experiment to search for double beta decay processes in 96Ru and 104Ru, which are accompanied by gamma rays, has been realized in the underground Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the I.N.F.N. (Italy). Ruthenium samples with masses of about (0.5-0.7) kg were measured with the help of ultra-low background high purity Ge gamma ray spectrometry. After 2162 h of data taking the samples were deeply purified to reduce the internal contamination of 40K. The last part of the data has been accumulated over 5479 h. New improved half life limits on 2\beta+/\epsilon \beta+/2\epsilon\ processes in 96Ru have been established on the level of 10^{20} yr, in particular for decays to the ground state of 96Mo: T1/2(2\nu 2\beta+) > 1.4 10^{20} yr, T1/2(2\nu \epsilon\beta+) > 8.0 10^{19} yr and T1/2(0\nu 2K) > 1.0 10^{21} yr (all limits are at 90% C.L.). The resonant neutrinoless double electron captures to the 2700.2 keV and 2712.7 keV excited states of 96Mo are restricted as: T1/2(0\nu KL) > 2.0 10^{20} yr and T1/2(0\nu 2L) > 3.6 10^{20} yr, respectively. Various two neutrino and neutrinoless 2\beta\ half lives of 96Ru have been estimated in the framework of the QRPA approach. In addition, the T1/2 limit for 0\nu 2\beta- transitions of 104Ru to the first excited state of 104Pd has been set as > 6.5 10^{20} yr.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables; version accepted for publication on Phys. Rev.

Improvement of radiopurity level of enriched 116^{116}CdWO4_4 and ZnWO4_4 crystal scintillators by recrystallization

As low as possible radioactive contamination of a detector plays a crucial role to improve sensitivity of a double beta decay experiment. The radioactive contamination of a sample of $^{116}$CdWO$_4$ crystal scintillator by thorium was reduced by a factor $\approx 10$, down to the level 0.01 mBq/kg ($^{228}$Th), by exploiting the recrystallization procedure. The total alpha activity of uranium and thorium daughters was reduced by a factor $\approx 3$, down to 1.6 mBq/kg. No change in the specific activity (the total $\alpha$ activity and $^{228}$Th) was observed in a sample of ZnWO$_4$ crystal produced by recrystallization after removing $\approx 0.4$ mm surface layer of the crystal.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures and 2 table

Long Term Effects of Chernobyl Contamination on DNA Repair Function and Plant Resistance to Different Biotic and Abiotic Stress Factors

Thirty years after the Chernobyl explosion we still lack information regarding the genetic effects of radionuclide contamination on the plant population. For example, are plants adapting to the low dose of chronic ionising irradiation and showing improved resistance to radiation damage? Are they coping with changing/increased pathogenicity of fungi and viruses in the Chernobyl exclusion (ChE) zone? Are plant populations rapidly accumulating mutational load and should we expect rapid micro-evolutionary changes in plants in the Chernobyl area? This review will try to summarise the current knowledge on these aspects of plant genetics and ecology and draw conclusions on the importance of further studies in the area around Chernobyl

Проблеми пізньої діагностики первинного гіперпаратиреозу

The aim of the work: to study the timeliness and quality of diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in the region, to identify deficiencies and to develop measures to improve the diagnostic algorithm.Materials and Methods. A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 64 patients operated on the basis of the Kryvyi Rih Clinical Hospital on PHPT was conducted. The anamnesis and clinical manifestations of the disease, results of additional examinations (ultrasound, laboratory blood and urine tests, X-ray data of the bone carcass), results of surgical treatment were analyzed.Results and Discussion. The paper presents a retrospective analysis of diagnostic efficacy in 64 patients operated for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Malosymptomatic or asymptomatic forms of PHPT were detected in 32.9 % of patients with thyroid gland pathology (thyroid gland). In 43 (67.1 %) patients with visceropathic clinical manifestations of PHPT, its presence was established with additional targeted screening, which was more often conducted in the hospital departments of a clinical hospital during their hospitalization due to complications of the disease. Surgical treatment of PHPT in most cases is performed in manifested its forms, when the formation of invalidating complications. The most frequent manifestations of PHPT are mixed forms with the predominance of bone marrow and kidney lesions. The clinical cases of patients with a delayed diagnosis of manifested forms of PHPT are presented. It is noted that the reason for this provision is the low level of primary link doctors’ knowledge and adjacent specialties in the questions of PHPT diagnostics.Цель работы: изучить своевременность и качество диагностики первичного гиперпаратиреоза (ПГПТ) в регионе, определить недостатки и разработать меры улучшения диагностического алгоритма.Материалы и методы. Проведен ретроспективный анализ медицинской документации 64 пациентов, перенесших операцию на базе клинической больницы Кривого Рога по поводу ПГПТ. Проанализированы анамнез и клинические проявления заболевания, результаты дополнительных обследований (УЗИ, лабораторные исследования крови и мочи, рентгенологические данные костного каркаса), результаты хирургического лечения.Результаты исследований и их обсуждение. В работе представлен ретроспективный анализ эффективности диагностики у 64 пациентов оперированных по поводу первичного гиперпаратиреоза. У 32,9 % пациентов с патологией щитовидной железы (ЩЖ) выявлено малосимптомные или бессимптомные формы ПГПТ. У 67,1 % пациентов с висцеропатическими клиническими проявлениями ПГПТ его наличие установлено при дополнительном целенаправленном обследовании, которое чаще проводилось в стационарных отделениях клинической больницы при их госпитализации по поводу осложнений заболевания. Хирургическое лечение ПГПТ в большинстве случаев выполняется при манифестных его формах, когда формируются инвалидизирующие осложнения. Наиболее частыми манифестными проявлениями ПГПТ являются смешанные формы с преобладанием поражений костного каркаса и почек. Приведены клинические случаи пациентов с запоздалой диагностикой манифестных форм ПГПТ. Отмечено, что причиной такого положения является низкий уровень осведомленности врачей первичного звена и смежных специальностей в вопросах диагностики ПГПТ.Мета роботи: вивчити своєчасність і якість діагностики первинного гіперпаратиреозу (ПГПТ) у регіоні, визначити недоліки та розробити заходи покращення діагностичного алгоритму.Матеріали і методи. Проведено ретроспективний аналіз медичної документації 64 пацієнтів, прооперованих на базі клінічної лікарні Кривого Рогу з приводу ПГПТ. Проаналізовано анамнез та клінічні прояви захворювання, результати додаткових обстежень (УЗД, лабораторні дослідження крові і сечі, рентгенологічні данні кісткового каркасу), результати хірургічного лікування.Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. У роботі представлено ретроспективний аналіз ефективності діагностики у 64 пацієнтів оперованих з приводу первинного гіперпаратиреозу. У 32,9 % пацієнтів із патологією щитоподібної залози (ЩЗ) виявлено малосимптомні або безсимптомні форми ПГПТ. У 43 (67,1 %) пацієнтів із вісцеропатичними клінічними проявами ПГПТ його наявність встановлено при додатковому цілеспрямованому обстеженні, яке частіше проводилось у стаціонарних відділеннях клінічної лікарні при їх госпіталізації з приводу ускладнень захворювання. Хірургічне лікування ПГПТ у більшості випадків виконують при його маніфестних формах, коли формуються інвалідизуючі ускладнення. Найчастіше маніфестними проявами ПГПТ є змішані форми з перевагою уражень кісткового каркасу та нирок. Наведено клінічні випадки пацієнтів із запізнілою діагностикою маніфестних форм ПГПТ. Причиною такого стану є низький рівень обізнаності лікарів первинної ланки та суміжних спеціальностей в питаннях діагностики ПГПТ

Solving the woolly mammoth conundrum: amino acid 15N-enrichment suggests a distinct forage or habitat

Understanding woolly mammoth ecology is key to understanding Pleistocene community dynamics and evaluating the roles of human hunting and climate change in late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions. Previous isotopic studies of mammoths’ diet and physiology have been hampered by the ‘mammoth conundrum’: woolly mammoths have anomalously high collagen δ15N values, which are more similar to coeval carnivores than herbivores and which could imply a distinct diet and (or) habitat, or a physiological adaptation. We analyzed individual amino acids from collagen of adult woolly mammoths and coeval species and discovered greater  15N enrichment in source amino acids of woolly mammoths than in most other herbivores or carnivores. Woolly mammoths consumed an isotopically distinct food source, reflective of extreme aridity, dung fertilization and (or) plant selection. This dietary signal suggests that woolly mammoths occupied a distinct habitat or forage niche relative to other Pleistocene herbivores