Study on the optimal incident proton energy of ^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT)is recognized as a precise binary targeted radiotherapy technique that effectively eliminates tumors through the^(10)B(n,α)^(7)Li nuclear reaction.Among various neutron sources,accelerator-based sources have emerged as particularly promising for BNCT applications.The^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be reaction is highly regarded as a potential neutron source for BNCT,owing to its low threshold energy for the reaction,significant neutron yield,appropriate average neutron energy,and additional benefits.This study utilized Monte Carlo simulations to model the physical interactions within a lithium target subjected to proton bombardment,including neutron moderation by an MgF_(2)moderator and subsequent BNCT dose analysis using a Snyder head phantom.The study focused on calculating the yields of epithermal neutrons for various incident proton energies,finding an optimal energy at 2.7 MeV.Furthermore,the Snyder head phantom was employed in dose simulations to validate the effectiveness of this specific incident energy when utilizing a^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be neutron source for BNCT purposes.

Gross nitrogen transformations and N2O emission sources in sandy loam and silt loam soils

The soil type is a key factor influencing N(nitrogen)cycling in soil;however,gross N transformations and N_(2)O emission sources are still poorly understood.In this study,a laboratory 15N tracing experiment was carried out at 60%WHC(water holding capacity)and 25℃to evaluate the gross N transformation rates and N_(2)O emission pathways in sandy loam and silt loam soils in a semi-arid region of Heilongjiang Province,China.The results showed that the gross rates of N mineralization,immobilization,and nitrification were 3.60,1.90,and 5.63 mg N/(kg·d)in silt loam soil,respectively,which were 3.62,4.26,and 3.13 times those in sandy loam soil,respectively.The ratios of the gross nitrification rate to the ammonium immobilization rate(n/ia)in sandy loam soil and silt loam soil were all higher than 1.00,whereas the n/ia in sandy loam soil(4.36)was significantly higher than that in silt loam soil(3.08).This result indicated that the ability of sandy loam soil to release and conserve the available N was relatively poor in comparison with silt loam soil,and the relatively strong nitrification rate compared to the immobilization rate may lead to N loss through NO_(3)–leaching.Under aerobic conditions,both nitrification and denitrification made contributions to N_(2)O emissions.Nitrification was the dominant pathway leading to N_(2)O production in soils and was responsible for 82.0%of the total emitted N_(2)O in sandy loam soil,which was significantly higher than that in silt loam soil(71.7%).However,the average contribution of denitrification to total N_(2)O production in sandy loam soil was 17.9%,which was significantly lower than that in silt loam soil(28.3%).These results are valuable for developing reasonable fertilization management and proposing effective greenhouse gas mitigation strategies in different soil types in semiarid regions.

Nitrogen source and fate of typical orchard with gentle slope in semi-arid areas

Excessive nitrogen (N) exports caused by human activities are one of the main reasons for the numerous environmental problems in agricultural production. Orchards, as an essential part of agricultural production, play a crucial role in rural economic development and ecological environment construction. Understanding the migration pathways of N in orchards is significant for the scientific management of orchards and the reduction of environmental pollution. In this research, the source and fate of N in a typical orchard in Beijing were quantitatively analyzed. N management strategies were proposed in combination with agricultural production habits. The total N input into the orchard was 487.19 kg/hm^(2)·a, of which 85.44%, 10.99%, 3.30% and 0.27% of N input were from fertilizer application, atmospheric deposition, biological N fixation and pesticide, respectively. A large amount of N fertilizer application was the primary source of N input in the orchard. For the N fate, the N surplus in the soil could reach up to 68.40% of total N inputs, and only 20.16% were absorbed and utilized by plants. The amount of N losses through ammonia volatilization, runoff and sediment, nitrification and denitrification accounted for 10.68%, 0.39% and 0.37%, respectively. N input in the orchard mainly remained in soil, while N loss was mainly through ammonia volatilization. There were 176.72, 99.00, and 57.52 kg/hm^(2)·a N surplus in 0-40 cm, 40-80 cm, and over 80 cm soil layers, respectively. To deal with the N accumulation on the soil surface and the migration of N from the soil surface to the deep layer of orchards, reducing N fertilizer application, substituting circular furrow for the whole orchard fertilization, adjusting irrigation schedule by reducing the amount of single irrigation, increasing the frequency of irrigation to three times in the normal year, and adopting efficient water-saving irrigation technology are realizable methods.

Parasitic source resistance at different temperatures for AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors

The parasitic source resistance（RS） of AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors（HFETs） is studied in the temperature range 300–500 K. By using the measured RSand both capacitance–voltage（C–V） and current–voltage（I–V） characteristics for the fabricated device at 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 K, it is found that the polarization Coulomb field（PCF） scattering exhibits a significant impact on RSat the above-mentioned different temperatures. Furthermore, in the AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFETs, the interaction between the additional positive polarization charges underneath the gate contact and the additional negative polarization charges near the source Ohmic contact, which is related to the PCF scattering, is verified during the variable-temperature study of RS.

The contribution of microorganisms and metazoans to mineral nutrition in bromeliads

Aims One critical challenge for plants is to maintain an adequate nutrient supply under fluctuating environmental conditions.This is particularly true for epiphytic species that have limited or no access to the pedosphere and often live in harsh climates.Bromeliads have evolved key innovations such as epiphytism,water-absorbing leaf trichomes,tank habit and Crassulacean acid metabolism(CAM)photosynthesis that enable them to survive under various environmental conditions.Bromeliads encompass diverse ecological types that live on different substrates(they can be terrestrial,epilithic or epiphytic)and vary in their ability to retain water(they can be tank-forming or tankless)and photosynthetic pathway(i.e.C3 or CAM).In this review,we outline the nutritional modes and specializations that enable bromeliads to thrive in a wide range of nutrient-poor(mostly nitrogen-depleted)environments.Important FindingsBromeliads have evolved a great diversity of morphologies and functional adaptations leading to the existence of numerous nutritional modes.Focusing on species that have absorptive foliar trichomes,we review evidence that bromeliads have evolved multi-faceted nutritional strategies to respond to fluctuations in the supply of natural nitrogen(N).These plants have developed mutualistic associations with many different and functionally diverse terrestrial and aquatic microorganisms and metazoans that contribute substantially to their mineral nutrition and,thus,their fitness and survival.Bacterial and fungal microbiota-assisted N provisioning,protocarnivory,digestive mutualisms and myrmecotrophic pathways are the main strategies used by bromeliads to acquire nitrogen.The combination of different nutritional pathways in bromeliads represents an important adaptation enabling them to exploit nutrient-poor habitats.Nonetheless,as has been shown for several other vascular plants,multiple partners are involved in nutrient acquisition indicating that there have been convergent adaptations to nutrient scarcity.Finally,we point out some gaps in the current knowledge of bromeliad nutrition that offer fascinating research opportunities.

Erratum:Measurement of(n,α)and(n,2n)reaction cross sections at a neutron energy of 14.92±0.02 MeV for potassium and copper with uncertainty propagation,[A.Gandhi,Aman Sharma,Rebecca Pachuau et al.,Chin.Phys.C 46,014002(2022)]

Experimentally measured neutron activation cross sections are presented for the^(65)Cu(n,α)^(62m)Cu,^(41)K(n,α)^(38)Cl,and^(65)Cu(n,2n)^(64)Cu reactions with detailed uncertainty propagation.The neutron cross sections were measured at an incident energy of 14.92±0.02 MeV,and the neutrons were based on the t(d,n)αfusion reaction.The^(27)Al(n,α)^(24)Na reaction was used as a reference reaction for the normalization of the neutron flux.The pre-calibrated lead-shielded HPGe detector was used to detect the residues'γ-ray spectra.The data from the measured cross sections are compared to the previously measured cross sections from the EXFOR database,theoretically calculated cross sections using the TALYS and EMPIRE codes,and evaluated nuclear data.

Measurement of(n,α)and(n,2n)reaction cross sections at a neutron energy of 14.92±0.02 MeV for potassium and copper with uncertainty propagation

Experimentally measured neutron activation cross sections are presented for the ^(65)Cu(n,0)^(62m)Cu,^(41) K(n,a)^(38C)l,and ^(65)Cu(n.2n)^(64)Cu reactions with detailed uncertainty propagation.The neutron cross secions were measured at an incident energy of 14.92±0.02 MeV,and the neutrons were based on the(d,n)a fusion reaction.The ^(27) Al(n,a)^(24)Na reaction was used as a reference reaction for the normalization of the neutron flux.The pre-calib-rated lead-shielded HPGe detector was used to detect the residues'γ-ray spetra.The data from the measured cross sections are compared to the previously measured cross sections from the EXFOR database,theoretically calculated cross sections using the TALYS and EMPIRE codes,and evaluated nuclear data.

Systematic study of the(n,2n)reaction cross section for^(121)Sb and^(123)Sb isotopes

The cross sections of the^(121)Sb(n,2n)^(120)Sb^(m) and ^(123)Sb(n,2n)^(122)Sb reactions were measured at 12.50,15.79 and 18.87 MeV neutron energies relative to the standard ^(27)Al(n,α)^(24)Na monitor reaction using neutron activation and offline γ-ray spectrometry.Irradiation of the samples was performed at the BARC-TIFR Pelletron Linac Facility,Mumbai,India.The quasi-monoenergetic neutrons were generated via the ^(7)Li(p,n)reaction.Statistical model calculations were performed by nuclear reaction codes TALYS(ver.1.9)and EMPIRE(ver.3.2.2)using various input parameters and nuclear level density models.The cross sections of the ground and the isomeric state as well as the isomeric cross section ratio were studied theoretically from reaction threshold to 26 MeV energies.The effect of pre-equilibrium emission is also discussed in detail using different theoretical models.The present measured cross sections were discussed and compared with the reported experimental data and evaluation data of the JEFF-3.3,ENDF/B-VIII.0,JENDL/AD-2017 and TENDL-2019 libraries.A detailed analysis of the uncertainties in the measured cross section data was performed using the covariance analysis method.Furthermore,a systematic study of the(n,2n)reaction cross section for^(121)Sb and^(123)Sb isotopes was also performed within 14-15 MeV neutron energies using various systematic formulae.This work helps to overcome discrepancies in Sb data and illustrate a better understanding of pre-equilibrium emission in the(n,2n)reaction channel.