The damping width of giant dipole resonances of cold and hot nuclei: a macroscopic model

A phenomenological macroscopic model of the Giant Dipole Resonance (GDR) damping width of cold- and hot-nuclei with ground-state spherical and near-spherical shapes is developed. The model is based on a generalized Fermi Liquid model which takes into account the nuclear surface dynamics. The temperature dependence of the GDR damping width is accounted for in terms of surface- and volume-components. Parameter-free expressions for the damping width and the effective deformation are obtained. The model is validated with GDR measurements of the following nuclides, $^{39,40}$K, $^{42}$Ca, $^{45}$Sc, $^{59,63}$Cu, $^{109-120}$Sn,$^{147}$Eu, $^{194}$Hg, and $^{208}$Pb, and is compared with the predictions of other models.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Broad structures in γ-ray multiplicity gated p and α spectra in low energy 12C+93Nb and 16O+89Y reactions

Gamma ray multiplicity gated proton spectra have been measured in the reactions 12C+93Nb at E(12C)= 40 and 45.5 MeV and 16O+89Y at E(16O)= 51 and 54 MeV populating the CN 105 Ag at EX between 35 and 40 MeV. Broad structures are seen in all spectra at high gamma ray multiplicities. The present data, along with those from our earlier work on the former reaction at E(12C)= 42.5 MeV, establish the compound nuclear origin of the structures. The data can be explained by incorporating a localised enhancement of nuclear level density in the excitation energy and angular momentum space. Multiplicity gated Îś spectra have also been measured in the same reaction at E(12C)= 37.5 – 45 MeV. Broad structures seen in these spectra seem to have contribution from other reaction mechanisms also

20 Years of fish immunotoxicology – what we know and where we are

<p>Despite frequent field observations of impaired immune response and increased disease incidence in contaminant-exposed wildlife populations, immunotoxic effects are rarely considered in ecotoxicological risk assessment. The aim of this study was to review the literature on immunotoxic effects of chemicals in fish to quantitatively evaluate (i) which experimental approaches were used to assess immunotoxic effects, (ii) whether immune markers exist to screen for potential immunotoxic activities of chemicals, and (iii) how predictive those parameters are for adverse alterations of fish immunocompetence and disease resistance. A total of 241 publications on fish immunotoxicity were quantitatively analyzed. The main conclusions included: (i) To date, fish immunotoxicology focused mainly on innate immune responses and immunosuppressive effects. (ii) In numerous studies, the experimental conditions are poorly documented, as for instance age or sex of the fish or the rationale for the selected exposure conditions is often missing. (iii) Although a broad variety of parameters were used to assess immunotoxicity, the rationale for the choice of measured parameters was often not given, remaining unclear how they link to the suspected immunotoxic mode of action of the chemicals. (iv) At the current state of knowledge, it is impossible to identify a set of immune parameters that could reliably screen for immunotoxic potentials of chemicals. (v) Similarly, in fish immunotoxicology there is insufficient understanding of how and when chemical-induced modulations of molecular/cellular immune changes relate to adverse alterations of fish immunocompetence, although this would be crucial to include immunotoxicity in ecotoxicological risk assessment.</p

Fission time-scale from the measurement of pre-scission light particles and γ\gamma-ray multiplicities

International audienc

Relative concentrations of haemostatic factors and cytokines in solvent/detergent-treated and fresh-frozen plasma

BACKGROUND: /st> Indications, efficacy, and safety of plasma products are highly debated. We compared the concentrations of haemostatic proteins and cytokines in solvent/detergent-treated plasma (SDP) and fresh-frozen plasma (FFP). METHODS: /st> Concentrations of the following parameters were measured in 25 SDP and FFP samples: fibrinogen (FBG), factor (F) II, F V, F VII, F VIII, F IX, F X, F XIII, von Willebrand factor (vWF), D-Dimers, ADAMTS-13 protease, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. RESULTS: /st> Mean FBG concentrations in SDP and FFP were similar, but in FFP, the range was larger than in SDP (P<0.01). Mean F II, F VII, F VIII, F IX, and F XIII levels did not differ significantly. Higher concentrations of F V (P<0.01), F X (P<0.05), vWF (P<0.01), and ADAMTS-13 (P<0.01) were found in FFP. With the exception of F VIII and F IX, the range of concentrations for all of these factors was smaller (P<0.05) in SDP than in FFP. Concentrations of TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-10 (all P<0.01) were higher in FFP than in SDP, again with a higher variability and thus larger ranges (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: /st> Coagulation factor content is similar for SDP and FFP, with notable exceptions of less F V, vWF, and ADAMTS-13 in SDP. Cytokine concentrations (TNFα, IL-8, and IL-10) were significantly higher in FFP. The clinical relevance of these findings needs to be established in outcome studie