Public Effective Dose Assessment Using Gross Alpha and Beta Radioactivity Levels of Tap Drinking Water in the District of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

In order to assess public effective dose due to gross alpha and beta in water, 43 tap water samples were collected from different areas in the District of Abidjan. Using the low background Gas-less Automatic Alpha/Beta counting system (Canberra iMaticTM) for analysis, the gross alpha and beta concentrations found varied from 0.001 ± 0.002 to 0.063 ± 0.050 Bq/l with an average of 0.013 ± 0.012 Bq/l and from 0.067 ± 0.080 to 0.320 ± 0.120 Bq/l with an average of 0.174 ± 0.076 Bq/l, respectively in samples. The public effective dose assessment showed values of dose to ingestion of alpha and beta emitter radionuclides lower than the recommended value of dose for drinking water 0.1 mSv/y, except in 30% of the samples. These results show the need for additional studies to be conducted in order to clarify the hazardousness of these water samples. However, this study still remains important because it has provided necessary data for future tap water quality monitoring studies in the District of Abidjan.

Two-proton radioactivity from excited states of proton-rich nuclei within Coulomb and Proximity Potential Model

In the present work,we extend the Coulomb and Proximity Potential Model(CPPM)to study two-proton(2p)radioactivity from excited states while the proximity potential is chosen as AW95 proposed by Aage Withner in 1995.Demonstration reveals that the theoretical results acquired by CPPM exhibit a high level of consistency with prior theoretical models such as the unified fission model(UFM),generalized liquid-drop model(GLDM)and effective liquid-drop model(ELDM).Furthermore,within the CPPM,we predicted the half-lives of potential 2p radioactive nuclei for which experimental data are currently unavailable.The predicted results were then assessed,compared with UFM,ELDM and GLDM models,and examined in detail.

Systematic study on the proton radioactivity of spherical proton emitters

In this study, based on a two-potential approach, we systematically investigated the proton radioactivity half-lives of spherical proton emitters with 69≤Z≤81 from the ground and/or isomeric state, choosing the nuclear potential to be a modified Woods–Saxon potential that contains the isospin effect of the daughter nucleus. It was found that the calculated half-lives could reproduce the experimental data well. Furthermore, we extended this model to predict the half-lives of 17 protonemitting candidates whose radioactivity is energetically allowed or observed but not yet quantified in NUBASE2020. For comparison, the unified fission model, Coulomb potential and proximity potential model, universal decay law for proton emission, and new Geiger–Nuttall law were also used. All the predicted results are consistent with each other.

Systematic study of proton radioactivity half‑lives

In the present study,on the basis of the screened electrostatic effect of the Coulomb potential,we propose an improved Gamow model within the centrifugal potential in which there are only two adjustable parameters,i.e.,the screened parameters t and g,which represent the combined effect of the interaction potential and reduced mass of the emitted proton-daughter nucleus on the half-life of proton radioactivity in the overlapping region.Using this model,we systematically calculated the proton radioactivity half-lives of 31 spherical nuclei and 13 deformed nuclei and obtained corresponding root-mean-square deviations of 0.274 and 0.367,respectively.The relationship between the proton radioactivity half-life of 177Tlm and the corresponding angular momentum l removed by the emitted proton is also discussed.In addition,we used the proposed model to predict the proton radioactivity half-lives of 18 nuclei whose proton radioactivity is energetically allowed or observed but not yet quantified in NUBASE2020.For comparison,we used the universal decay law of proton radioactivity proposed by Qi et al.(Phys Rev C 85:011303,2012.https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysR evC.85.011303),and the new Geiger–Nuttall law of proton radioactivity proposed by Chen et al.(Eur Phys J 55:214,2019.https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2019-12927-7).

Spatiotemporal changes of gross primary productivity and its response to drought in the Mongolian Plateau under climate change

Gross primary productivity(GPP)of vegetation is an important constituent of the terrestrial carbon sinks and is significantly influenced by drought.Understanding the impact of droughts on different types of vegetation GPP provides insight into the spatiotemporal variation of terrestrial carbon sinks,aiding efforts to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change.In this study,we utilized the precipitation and temperature data from the Climatic Research Unit,the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index(SPEI),the standardized precipitation index(SPI),and the simulated vegetation GPP using the eddy covariance-light use efficiency(EC-LUE)model to analyze the spatiotemporal change of GPP and its response to different drought indices in the Mongolian Plateau during 1982-2018.The main findings indicated that vegetation GPP decreased in 50.53% of the plateau,mainly in its northern and northeastern parts,while it increased in the remaining 49.47%area.Specifically,meadow steppe(78.92%)and deciduous forest(79.46%)witnessed a significant decrease in vegetation GPP,while alpine steppe(75.08%),cropland(76.27%),and sandy vegetation(87.88%)recovered well.Warming aridification areas accounted for 71.39% of the affected areas,while 28.53% of the areas underwent severe aridification,mainly located in the south and central regions.Notably,the warming aridification areas of desert steppe(92.68%)and sandy vegetation(90.24%)were significant.Climate warming was found to amplify the sensitivity of coniferous forest,deciduous forest,meadow steppe,and alpine steppe GPP to drought.Additionally,the drought sensitivity of vegetation GPP in the Mongolian Plateau gradually decreased as altitude increased.The cumulative effect of drought on vegetation GPP persisted for 3.00-8.00 months.The findings of this study will improve the understanding of how drought influences vegetation in arid and semi-arid areas.

基于Gross情绪调节理论的心理护理对耐药结核病患者心理应激、治疗依从性及生活质量的影响

目的:探讨基于Gross情绪调节理论的心理护理对耐药结核病(DR-TB)患者心理应激水平、治疗依从性及生活质量的影响。方法:使用随机数表法将2022年1—12月在我院就诊的80例DR-TB患者分为对照组(n=40)和观察组(n=40)。对照组给予常规护理,观察组给予在常规护理基础上基于Gross情绪调节理论的心理护理。比较两组心理应激水平、治疗依从性及生活质量。结果:干预后,两组BDI、BAI评分均下降,且观察组BDI、BAI评分均低于对照组(P<0.05);观察组MMAS-8评分高于对照组(P<0.05);干预后,两组QLI-TB评分均上升,且观察组QLI-TB评分高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:基于Gross情绪调节理论的心理护理能有效改善DR-TB患者焦虑、抑郁情绪,对提高患者治疗依从性及生活质量有较大意义。

Possibility of reaching the predicted center of the“island of stability”via the radioactive beam-induced fusion reactions

Based on the dinuclear system model,the synthesis of the predicted double-magic nuclei^(298)Fl and 304120 was investigated via neutron-rich radioactive beam-induced fusion reactions.The reaction^(58)Ca+^(244)Pu is predicted to be favorable for producing^(298)Fl with a maximal ER cross section of 0.301 pb.Investigations of the entrance channel effect reveal that the^(244)Pu target is more promising for synthesizing^(298)Fl than the neutron-rich targets^(248)Cm and^(249)Bk,because of the influence of the Coulomb barrier.For the synthesis of 304120,the maximal ER cross section of 0.046 fb emerges in the reaction^(58)V+^(249)Bk,indicating the need for further advancements in both experimental facilities and reaction mechanisms.

The gross α and β radioactivity levels of drinking water source in one oil industrial city in northeast China

Objective:To investigate the grossαandβradioactivity levels of drinking water source in the city,the largest oil field production base in northeast China,in order to ensure the safety of drinking water and public health.Methods:The water samples from three drinking water sources were collected and tested in the dry and wet season,respectively.The grossαradioactivity was measured by standard curve method,grossβwas measured by thin sample method.Results:Totally 184 samples were collected from the three sampling areas in dry and wet season respectively.The average values of grossαandβradioactivity levels in the drinking water source area were(0.24±0.09)and(0.30±0.17)Bq/L respectively.The average activity concentration of grossαand grossβin the dry season was(0.23±0.09)and(0.29±0.18)Bq/L,respectively.The grossαandβradioactivity levels gradually decreased from the intake to the end of the reservoir of drinking water source areas.Conclusions:The grossαandβradioactivity levels and distribution of drinking water source areas in this city were all lower than the drinking water limit issued by China and the reference level recommended by the World Health Organization.The radioactivity of water body of the drinking water source was within the normal background level.

Effect of VOJTA Therapy on Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Objective: To investigate the effect of VOJTA therapy on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: The 86 children with cerebral palsy were all from the First People’s Hospital of Jingzhou City from January 2023-December 2023, and were divided into the control group and the study group with 43 cases according to the principle of voluntariness. Results: In terms of total effective rate of treatment, the gross motor function scale-88 (GMFM-88) was used to evaluate the effective rate before and after treatment, and the effective rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant, and the scores of gross motor items of GMFM-88 were better than those of the control group after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusion: The application of VOJTA therapy in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy can not only promote the rehabilitation of gross motor function, but also help to improve the treatment effect, and the earlier the treatment, the better.

Effect of drying cracks on swelling and self-healing of bentonite-sand blocks used as engineered barriers for radioactive waste disposal

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the healing of drying cracks in air-dried bentonite-sand blocks after hydration and swelling in groundwater,providing justifications to simplify the protection of blocks prior to installation in a high-level radioactive waste repository.Synthetic groundwater was prepared to represent the geochemistry of Beishan groundwater,and was used to hydrate the blocks during the swelling pressure and swelling strain measurements,as Beishan is the most promising site for China's repository.Healing of the surface cracks was recorded by photography,and healing of the internal cracks was visualized by CT images and hydraulic conductivity of air-dried blocks.The results indicate that the maximum swelling pressure and swelling strain are primarily affected by the geochemistry of Beishan groundwater,but not affected by the drying cracks.The maximum swelling pressure and swelling strain of air-dried blocks are comparable to or even higher than the pressure and strain of fresh blocks.The maximum swelling pressure measured in strong(i.e.high ion strength)Beishan groundwater was 44%of the pressure measured in deionized(DI)water,and the maximum swelling strain was reduced to 23%of the strain measured in DI water.Nevertheless,the remained swelling of the blocks hydrated in strong Beishan groundwater was sufficient to heal the surface and internal drying cracks,as demonstrated by the pictures of surface cracks and CT images.The hydraulic conductivity of the air-dried block permeated with strong groundwater was comparable(3.7×higher)to the hydraulic conductivity of the fresh block,indicating the self-healing of drying cracks after hydration and swelling in groundwater.A simplified method of protecting the block with plastic wraps before installation is recommended,since the remained swelling of the block hydrated in Beishan groundwater is sufficient to heal the drying cracks.

Gross Alpha and Beta Activities and Related Lifetime Risks Assessment Due to Ingestion of Drinking Water from Different Sources in the District of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Drinking good quality water is essential for better health. It is therefore essential to assess the radiological quality of all water consumed in the District of Abidjan in order to prevent related hazards. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the risk of cancer due to the ingestion of alpha and beta emitting radionuclides in the different types of water consumed in the region. A total of 63 water samples with 43 tap water samples, 5 bottled mineral water and 15 sachet water samples was collected and taken to GAEC laboratory for analysis. The low background Gas-less Automatic Alpha/Beta counting system (Canberra iMaticTM) was used to determine alpha and beta activity concentrations. Activity concentrations of both gross alpha and gross beta obtained in water sample were respectively lower than the WHO recommended limits of 0.1 Bq/l and 1 Bq/l. Also, the annual effective dose and total equivalent effective dose found in mineral bottled water samples were higher than in other types of water. The assessment of radiological lifetime risk has shown values of cancer risk due to ingestion alpha and beta emitters lower than recommended limit. These results indicate that there is no health hazard associated to consumption of water in the District of Abidjan.

Safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney patients with gross hematuria: Six case reports

BACKGROUND To retrospectively report the safety and efficacy of renal transcatheter arterial embolization for treating autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease(ADPKD)patients with gross hematuria.CASE SUMMARY The purpose of this study is to retrospectively report the safety and efficacy of renal transcatheter arterial embolization for treating ADPKD patients with gross hematuria.Materials and methods:During the period from January 2018 to December 2019,renal transcatheter arterial embolization was carried out on 6 patients with polycystic kidneys and gross hematuria.Renal arteriography was performed first,and then we determined the location of the hemorrhage and performed embolization under digital subtraction angiography monitoring.Improvements in routine blood test results,routine urine test results,urine color and postoperative reactions were observed and analyzed.Results:Renal transcatheter arterial embolization was successfully conducted in 6 patients.The indices of 5 patients and the color of gross hematuria improved after surgery compared with before surgery.No severe complication reactions occurred.CONCLUSION For autosomal dominant polycystic kidney syndrome patients with gross hematuria,transcatheter arterial embolization was safe and effective.

Application of radioactive iodine-125 microparticles in hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein embolus

BACKGROUND Radioactive iodine-125(125I)microparticle therapy is a new type of internal radiation therapy that has shown unique advantages in the treatment of malignant tumors,especially hepatocellular carcinoma.Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma frequently experience portal vein embolism,which exacerbates the difficulty and complexity of treatment.125I particles,used in local radiotherapy,can directly act on tumor tissue and reduce damage to surrounding healthy tissue.Through retrospective analysis,this study discussed the efficacy and safety of radioactive 125I particles in portal vein embolization patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in order to provide more powerful evidence supporting clinical treatment.AIM To investigate the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with portal vein 125I particle implantation in the treatment of primary liver cancer patients with portal vein tumor thrombus and its influence on liver function.METHODS The clinical data of 96 patients with primary liver cancer combined with portal vein tumor thrombus admitted to our hospital between January 2020 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Fifty-two patients received treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and implantation of 125I particles in the portal vein(combination group),while 44 patients received treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone(control group).The therapeutic effects on tumor lesions,primary liver cancer,and portal vein tumor embolisms were compared between the two groups.Changes in relevant laboratory indexes before and after treatment were evaluated.The t test was used to compare the measurement data between the two groups,and the χ^(2) test was used to compare the counting data between groups.RESULTS The tumor lesion response rate in the combination group(59.62%vs 38.64%)and the response rate of patients with primary liver cancer complicated with portal vein tumor thrombus(80.77%vs 59.09%)were significantly greater than those in the control group(χ^(2)=4.196,5.421;P=0.041,0.020).At 8 wk after surgery,the serum alpha-fetoprotein,portal vein main diameter,and platelet of the combined group were significantly lower than those of the control group,and the serum alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and total bilirubin were significantly greater than those of the control group(t=3.891,3.291,2.330,3.729,3.582,4.126;P<0.05).The serum aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,and total bilirubin levels of the two groups were significantly greater than those of the same group 8 wk after surgery(P<0.05),and the peripheral blood platelet,alphafetoprotein,and main portal vein diameter were significantly less than those of the same group before surgery(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In patients with primary liver cancer and a thrombus in the portal vein,transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus portal vein 125I implantation is more effective than transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone.However,during treatment it is crucial to pay attention to liver function injury caused by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

一个高效求解含时Gross-Pitaevskii方程的算法

Gross-Pitaevskii方程广泛应用于玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体(Bose-Einstein condensate,BEC)的动力学研究,然而这个方程通常很难解析求解.因此发展相应的高精度数值求解方法非常重要.发展了结合算符劈裂法、Crank-Nicolson算法和四阶精度Numerov算法的高效求解Gross-Pitaevskii方程的新数值计算方法.通过数值计算可以表明,与传统的四阶精度的五点差分法相比,所提出的算法具有高效和消耗内存小的优点.

数值求解耦合Gross-Pitaevskii方程组基态解的离散归一化梯度流方法

本文提出了一种求解磁场项为常数的耦合Gross-Pitaevskii方程组基态解的数值方法.基于单组分近似理论,本文将方程组的能量函数等价为单组分的能量泛函,然后基于降阶后的能量表达式提出了离散归一化梯度流数值方法.数值算例表明,该方法高效且可靠.

Recent progress in two-proton radioactivity

During the last few decades,rare isotope beam facilities have provided unique data for studying the properties of nuclides located far from the beta-stability line.Such nuclei are often accompanied by exotic structures and radioactive modes,which represent the forefront of nuclear research.Among them,two-proton(2p)radioactivity is a rare decay mode found in a few highly proton-rich isotopes.The 2p decay lifetimes and properties of emitted protons hold invaluable information regarding the nuclear structures in the presence of a low-lying proton continuum;as such,they have attracted considerable research attention.In this review,we present some of the recent experimental and theoretical progress regarding the 2p decay,including technical innovations for measuring nucleon-nucleon correlations and developments in the models that connect their structural aspects with their decay properties.This impressive progress should play a significant role in elucidating the mechanism of these exotic decays,probing the corresponding components inside nuclei,and providing deep insights into the open quantum nature of dripline systems.

Petrology, geochemistry, radioactivity, and M–W type rare earth element tetrads of El Sela altered granites, south eastern desert,Egypt

The southern part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt—about 30 km southwest of Abu-Ramad city—is mainly covered by ophiolitic rocks(Sul Hamed), island arc assemblage, younger granites(muscovite granites of Qash Amer and two mica granites of El Sela), and various acidic and basic dikes. Field, petrological, and geochemical studies indicate that the El Sela shear zone has been subject to hydrothermal and supergene alteration such as kaolinization, albitization, sericitization, and hematitization. It is invaded by quartz ENE–WSW veins associated with hydrothermal alteration accompanied by radioactive mineralization. The investigated younger granitic rocks had very low contents of compatible elements, such as Cr, Ni,and Co; and high contents of incompatible elements, such as Zr, and large ion lithophiles, such as Sr, especially in the El Sela shear zone. Major oxide and trace element analyses revealed calc-alkaline affinity and peraluminous character.These highly differentiated granitic rocks' lower Zr/Hf and higher Y/Ho than the normal ratio are consistent with hydrothermal alteration. Most samples had rare earth element(REE)-patterns with an M-type tetrad effect in the first and fourth segments and a W-type tetrad in the third segment. The average ∑REE in the studied granites was lower than the world granite average; the ratio of light to heavy REEs greater. The main radioactive, uranium-bearing, and uraniferous Fe and Mn minerals are uranothorite,autunite, uranophane and autunite as compounds, kasolite,columbite, xenotime, uranophane-bearing zircon and jarosite, silver-bearing pyrite, hematite, and autunite-bearing pyrolusite.

Natural Radioactivity Measurement and Assessment of Radiological Hazards in Some Building Materials Used in Bangladesh

The radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in 24 samples of natural and manufactured building materials commonly used in Bangladesh were measured using HPGe gamma ray spectrometer. The results in the present study were compared with the world average and also with the reported data available in literature. The radium equivalent activity, the absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, external and internal hazard indices, gamma index, alpha index, annual gonadal dose equivalent and excess lifetime cancer risk were also evaluated to assess the potential radiation hazards associated with these building materials. All samples under investigation were found to be within the recommended safety limit and do not pose any significant radiation hazards. This study can be used as a reference for more extensive studies of the same subject in future.

Removal of Radioactivity from Sediment Mud and Soil and Use for Cultivation of Safe Vegetables in Fukushima, and Removal of Toxic Metals Using Photosynthetic Bacteria

The immobilized photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter shpaeroides SSI (SSI), cultured on porous 2 cm ceramic beads, effectively removed and recovered 20 mg/L of non-radioactive Cs (almost 100%) and Sr (≌50%), after 3 - 5 days of aerobic treatment. Toxic and heavy metals such as Hg, Cr, Pb and As were also removed, almost 100%, after 6days of aerobic treatment. A practical method of removal of radioactivity of 10 - 30 μSv/h, caused mainly by radioactive Cs released from the accident at the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on 11th March 2011, from sediment mud and soil in Fukushima, Japan, was also carried out. Using immobilized SSI beads, more than 90% and 42% - 73% of radioactive Cs was removed and recovered from sediment mud and soil, respectively, after 3 - 14 days of aerobic treatment in an outdoor 60 L vessel. The weight and mass of the harvested beads could be reduced by more than 97% after desiccation. This technology of removal and recovery had therefore, considerable advantages over other technologies that demanded very large storage facilities in Fukushima. After removal of radioactivity from polluted soil, vegetables like Komatsuna (Turrip leaves) and Chingensai (Green pakchoi) were cultivated on remediated soil. Safe vegetables grown on these treated soils showed a radioactivity content lower than the recommended limit for edible foods in Japan, i.e. less than <100 Bq/kg. Treatment by SSI beads, therefore, appeared to be a compact and suitable technology that could make significant contributions towards agricultural recovery in radioactively polluted areas of Fukushima.

Evaluation of Natural Radioactivity in Marine Sand Deposits from Offshore China

Natural radioactivity is very important for the assessment of the marine sand property and usability. By using gamma spectrometry, the concentration of the natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K have been measured in marine sand deposits from Liaodong Bay (LDB), North Yellow Sea (NYS), Zhoushan area (ZS), Taiwan Shoal (TS) and Pearl River Mouth (PR), offshore China, which are potential marine sand mining areas. The radiation activity equivalent (Raeq), indoor gamma absorbed dose rate (DR), annual effective dose (HR), alpha index (Ia), gamma index (Ig), external radiation hazard index (Hex), internal radiation hazard index (Hin), representative level index (RLI), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) and annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) associated with the natural radionuclides are calculated to assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in the marine sands offshore China. From the analysis, it is found that these marine sands are safe for the constructions. The Pearson correlation coefficient reveals that the 226Ra distribution in the marine sands offshore China is controlled by the variation of the 40K concentration. Principal component analysis (PCA) yields a two-component representation of the entire data from the marine sands, wherein 98.22% of the total variance is explained. Our results provide good baseline data to expand the database of radioactivity of building materials in China and all over the world.