Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Half lives”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7

Nuclear Structure and Decay Data for A=165 Isobars

Experimental nuclear spectroscopic data are compiled and evaluated for 18 known nuclides of mass 165 (Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt). Detailed information is presented for each reaction and decay experiment. Combining all the available data, recommended values are provided for energies, spins and parities, and half-lives of levels, with energies, branching ratios and multipolarities of γ radiations, and characteristics of β and α radiations in radioactive decays. 165 Dy, 165 Ho, 165 Er, 165 Tm, 165 Yb, 165 Lu and 165 Hf are among the most extensively studied nuclides via decay and high-spin gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements, followed by limited data for 165 Tb, 165 Ta, 165 W, 165 Re, and 165 Os. No excited states have yet been identified in 165 Sm, 165 Gd, and 165 Pt, while for 165 Eu and 165 Ir, information is available for only the g.s. and an isomer, but with no γ rays. As a result, this work supersedes earlier evaluation of A=165 nuclides by 2006Ja09.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Energy Levels of Light Nuclei A=13

Experimental nuclear spectroscopic data are evaluated for the 7 known nuclides of mass 13 (Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F). Detailed information is compiled and presented for each reaction and decay experiment. The results are combined and used to provide a set of recommended values that include level energies, spins and parities, half-lives of levels, decay branching ratios, and other nuclear properties. Furthermore, this work supersedes the earlier work by Fay Ajzenberg-Selove (1990Aj01) published in Nuclear Physics A 523 (1991) 1. Earlier reviews were published in (1986Aj01, 1981Aj01, 1976Aj04, 1970Aj04, 1959Aj76).

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Nuclear Structure and Decay Data for A=35 Isobars

Here, this work presents a comprehensive and critical evaluation of experimental nuclear spectroscopic data from reactions and decays for all 11 known nuclides with mass number 35 (Ne, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar, K, Ca). Recommended values are produced for level energies, spins and parities, half-lives, and radiation properties including energies, branching ratios, and multipolarities of γ rays, as well as characteristics of β radiation decays, based on a rigorous assessment of all available experimental data. Discrepancies among existing results are carefully addressed. This work supersedes earlier full evaluations of A=35 published by 2011Ch48, 1990En08 (also 1998En04 update) and 1978En02.

Sun, Lijie [Michigan State University, East Lansin↗

Nuclear Structure and Decay Data for A=220 Isobars

Here, this work presents a comprehensive and critical evaluation of experimental nuclear spectroscopic data from reactions and decays for all 11 known nuclides with mass number A=220 (Pb, Bi, Po, At, Rn, Fr, Ra, Ac, Th, Pa, and Np). Recommended values are produced for level energies, spins and parities, half-lives, and radiation properties including energies, branching ratios, and multipolarities of γ rays, as well as characteristics of β and α radiation decays, based on all available experimental data. This work supersedes previous A=220 evaluations: 2011Br05, 1997Ar04, 1986Ma45, 1976El04.

Chen, J. [Michigan State University, East Lansing,↗

Development of a rapid-transit system for precision nuclear physics measurements

A Rapid Belt-driven Irradiated Target Transfer System, named RABITTS, was developed for use at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory. This system allows for cyclic activation with neutron or photon beams, and measurement of reaction products using γ-ray spectroscopy. Both a 1 meter and 10 meter transfer system have been developed with transit times as low as 0.4 and 1.0 seconds, respectively. The systems are deployed at the tandem accelerator laboratory for use with monoenergetic neutron beams, and at the High-Intensity γ-ray Source facility for activation using photon beams. A detailed characterization of the systems’ performance and sensitivity is presented. In order to produce the highest accuracy cross-section data, a model for calculating corrections to cyclic activation with variable beam flux is developed and presented. We have commissioned these systems by measuring 197m Au, where we report a measured half-life of 7.73 ± 0.05 s and a 197 Au(n, n') 197m Au isomer production cross of 628 ± 28 mb at neutron energy E n = 2.0 MeV. In addition, we measured 90m Zr, where we report a measured half-life of 799.7 ± 8.0 ms and a 90 Zr(n, n') 90m Zr isomer production cross of 180 ± 12 mb at E n = 4.6 MeV. Furthermore, these measured half-lives are in excellent agreement with the evaluated values and the cross-section measurements are performed at previously unmeasured incident neutron energies.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Enhancing the mass resolving power of FRIB’s proposed high-voltage MR-ToF mass separator and spectrometer: Addressing non-ideal conditions

Multi-reflection time-of-flight mass separators and spectrometers (MR-ToF MSs) are indispensable tools at radioactive ion beam (RIB) facilities. These electrostatic ion beam traps act as highly selective mass separators and high-precision mass spectrometers for rare and exotic nuclei. When well-tuned and designed to minimize higher-order flight-time aberrations, state-of-the-art MR-ToF MSs approach, and slightly exceed, mass resolving powers of m/Δm = 10 6 . Achieving m/Δm ≥ 3 ⋅ 10 6 would provide the ability to resolve > 90 % of all known isomeric states with half-lives above 10 ms. However, the ability to mass separate in all practical setups is limited by non-ideal conditions which place such resolving powers out of reach. Here, to this end, we present a simulated analysis of these conditions in the newly proposed high-voltage MR-ToF MS for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). It is expected to store ions at 30 keV beam energy and increase ion throughput by two orders of magnitude compared to current devices. Existing efforts to mitigate the effects of non-ideal conditions employed for current MR-ToF devices storing ions at < 3 keV beam energy will already enable mass resolving powers approaching 10 6 for FRIB’s high-voltage MR-ToF device. Simulations of newly proposed mitigation strategies show that even mass resolving powers approaching 10 7 might become feasible.

Electrostatic ion beam traps↗

Radioarsenic: A promising theragnostic candidate for nuclear medicine

Molecular imaging is a non-invasive process that enable the visualization, characterization, and quantitation of biological processes at the molecular and cellular level. With the emergence of theragnostic agents to diagnose and treat disease for personalized medicine there is a growing need for matched pairs of isotopes. Matched pairs offer the unique opportunity to obtain patient specific information from SPECT or PET diagnostic studies to quantitate in vivo function or receptor density to inform and tailor therapeutic treatment. There are several isotopes of arsenic that have emissions suitable for either or both diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy. Their half-lives are long enough to pair them with peptides and antibodies which take longer to reach maximum uptake to facilitate improved patient pharmacokinetics and dosimetry then can be obtained with shorter lived radionuclides. Arsenic-72 even offers availability from a generator that can be shipped to remote sites and thus enhances availability. Arsenic has a long history as a diagnostic agent, but until recently has suffered from limited availability, lack of suitable chelators, and concerns about toxicity have inhibited its use in nuclear medicine. However, new production methods and novel chelators are coming online and the use of radioarsenic in the pico and nanomolar scale is well below the limits associated with toxicity. This manuscript will review the production routes, separation chemistry, radiolabeling techniques and in vitro/in vivo studies of three medically relevant isotopes of arsenic (arsenic-74, arsenic-72, and arsenic-77).

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Reactions of hydrazine with the amidogen radical and atomic hydrogen

The rate coefficient k 1 for NH 2 + N 2 H 4 was measured to be (5.4 ± 0.4) × 10 –14 cm 3 molecule –1 s –1 at 296 K. NH 2 was generated by pulsed laser photolysis of NH 3 at 193 nm, and monitored as a function of time by pulsed laser-induced fluorescence excited at 570.3 nm under pseudo-first order conditions in the presence of excess N 2 H 4 in an Ar bath gas. This reaction was also investigated computationally, with geometries and scaled frequencies obtained with M06-2X/6-311+G(2df,2p) theory, and single-point energies from CCSD(T)-F12b/cc-pVTZ-F12 theory, plus a term to correct approximately for electron correlation through CCSDT(Q). Three connected transition states are involved and rate constants were obtained via Multistructural Improved Canonical Variational Transition State Theory with Small Curvature Tunneling. Combination of experiment and theory leads to a recommended rate coefficient for hydrogen abstraction of k 1 = 6.3 × 10 –23 T 3.44 exp(+289 K/T) cm 3 molecule –1 s –1 . The minor channel for H + N 2 H 4 forming NH 2 + NH 3 was characterized computationally as well, to yield 5.0 × 10 –19 T 2.07 exp(-4032 K/T) cm 3 molecule –1 s –1 . Finally, these results are compared to several discordant prior estimates, and are employed in an overall mechanism to compare with measurements of half-lives of hydrazine in a shock tube.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ruthenium speciation and distribution in the environment: A review

Here, the review focuses on speciation and migration of anthropogenic ruthenium (Ru) originated from nuclear industry releases and presents updated information regarding Ru in the environment. It provides analysis of the main pathways of Ru species distribution in the aqueous and terrestrial environment, starting from its natural occurrence, generation and release from anthropogenic sources, predominant speciation, and ending with bioaccumulation, which can be directly or indirectly related to human health. Literature sources belonging to the post-Chernobyl time frame were preferentially considered, in which Ru-103 and Ru-106 are the major fission isotopes studied due to their traceability in the environment and their relatively long half-lives.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗

Force-Modulated C–C Reductive Elimination from Nickel Bis(polyfluorophenyl) Complexes

We have analyzed the rate of C(sp 2 )–C(sp 2 ) reductive elimination from nickel(II) bis(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) complex-es (P–P)Ni(2,4,6-C 6 H 2 F 3 ) 2 containing either MeOBiPhep (3a) or macrocyclic bisphosphine ligand (3b-3e) as a func-tion of force applied to the biaryl backbone of these ligands through intramolecular tension generated by a molecular force probe. Nickel complexes 3 were isolated in 22-60% yield from reaction of bisphosphine with the bis(tetrahydrofuranyl) complex (THF) 2 Ni(2,4,6-C 6 H 2 F 3 ) 2 followed by chromatography. Thermolysis of complexes 3 in C 6 D 6 at 68 °C leads to first-order decay through > 3 half-lives to form 2,2',4,4',6,6'-hexaflurorobiphenyl as the exclusive fluorine-containing product in ≥93% yield. Whereas compressive forces up to –65 pN have no significant effect on the rate of reductive elimination, extension forces increase the rate of reductive elimination by a factor of three over a ~230 pN range of restoring forces relative to the strain-free MeOBiphep complex. Furthermore, the rate response of reductive elimination from nickel(II) bis(trifluorophenyl) complexes as a function of extension force is similar to the previously reported 2.8-fold increase in the rate of reductive elimination from platinum diaryl complexes (P–P)Pt(4-C 6 H 4 NMe 2 ) 2 over the same range of forces

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Anti-Pdc1p Nanobody as a Genetically Encoded Inhibitor of Ethanol Production Enables Dual Transcriptional and Post-translational Controls of Yeast Fermentations

Microbial fermentation provides a sustainable method of producing valuable chemicals. Adding dynamic control to fermentations can significantly improve titers, but most systems rely on transcriptional controls of metabolic enzymes, leaving existing intracellular enzymes unregulated. This limits the ability of transcriptional controls to switch off metabolic pathways, especially when metabolic enzymes have long half-lives. We developed a two-layer transcriptional/post-translational control system for yeast fermentations. Specifically, the system uses blue light to transcriptionally activate the major pyruvate decarboxylase PDC1, required for cell growth and concomitant ethanol production. Switching to darkness transcriptionally inactivates PDC1 and instead activates the anti-Pdc1p nanobody, NbJRI, to act as a genetically encoded inhibitor of Pdc1p accumulated during the growth phase. This dual transcriptional/post-translational control improves the production of 2,3-BDO and citramalate by up to 100 and 92% compared to using transcriptional controls alone in dynamic two-phase fermentations. Furthermore, this study establishes the NbJRI nanobody as an effective genetically encoded inhibitor of Pdc1p that can enhance the production of pyruvate-derived chemicals.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Global protein turnover quantification in Escherichia coli reveals cytoplasmic recycling under nitrogen limitation

Protein turnover is critical for proteostasis, but turnover quantification is challenging, and even in well-studied E. coli, proteome-wide measurements remain scarce. Here, we quantify the turnover rates of ~3200 E. coli proteins under 13 conditions by combining heavy isotope labeling with complement reporter ion quantification and find that cytoplasmic proteins are recycled when nitrogen is limited. We use knockout experiments to assign substrates to the known cytoplasmic ATP-dependent proteases. Surprisingly, none of these proteases are responsible for the observed cytoplasmic protein degradation in nitrogen limitation, suggesting that a major proteolysis pathway in E. coli remains to be discovered. Lastly, we show that protein degradation rates are generally independent of cell division rates. Thus, we present broadly applicable technology for protein turnover measurements and provide a rich resource for protein half-lives and protease substrates in E. coli, complementary to genomics data, that will allow researchers to study the control of proteostasis.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Predicting synthetic mRNA stability using massively parallel kinetic measurements, biophysical modeling, and machine learning

Abstract mRNA degradation is a central process that affects all gene expression levels, though it remains challenging to predict the stability of a mRNA from its sequence, due to the many coupled interactions that control degradation rate. Here, we carried out massively parallel kinetic decay measurements on over 50,000 bacterial mRNAs, using a learn-by-design approach to develop and validate a predictive sequence-to-function model of mRNA stability. mRNAs were designed to systematically vary translation rates, secondary structures, sequence compositions, G-quadruplexes, i-motifs, and RppH activity, resulting in mRNA half-lives from about 20 seconds to 20 minutes. We combined biophysical models and machine learning to develop steady-state and kinetic decay models of mRNA stability with high accuracy and generalizability, utilizing transcription rate models to identify mRNA isoforms and translation rate models to calculate ribosome protection. Overall, the developed model quantifies the key interactions that collectively control mRNA stability in bacterial operons and predicts how changing mRNA sequence alters mRNA stability, which is important when studying and engineering bacterial genetic systems.

Cetnar, Daniel P.↗

Neutralization titer biomarker for antibody-mediated prevention of HIV-1 acquisition

The Antibody Mediated Prevention trials showed that the broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) VRC01 prevented acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) sensitive to VRC01. Using AMP trial data, here we show that the predicted serum neutralization 80% inhibitory dilution titer (PT 80 ) biomarker—which quantifies the neutralization potency of antibodies in an individual’s serum against an HIV-1 isolate—can be used to predict HIV-1 prevention efficacy. Similar to the results of nonhuman primate studies, an average PT 80 of 200 (meaning a bnAb concentration 200-fold higher than that required to reduce infection by 80% in vitro) against a population of probable exposing viruses was estimated to be required for 90% prevention efficacy against acquisition of these viruses. Based on this result, we suggest that the goal of sustained PT 80 <200 against 90% of circulating viruses can be achieved by promising bnAb regimens engineered for long half-lives. We propose the PT 80 biomarker as a surrogate endpoint for evaluatinon of bnAb regimens, and as a tool for benchmarking candidate bnAb-inducing vaccines.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

First on-line detection of radioactive fission isotopes produced by laser-accelerated protons

Abstract The on-going developments in laser acceleration of protons and light ions, as well as the production of strong bursts of neutrons and multi- $$\hbox {MeV}$$ MeV photons by secondary processes now provide a basis for novel high-flux nuclear physics experiments. While the maximum energy of protons resulting from Target Normal Sheath Acceleration is presently still limited to around $$100 \, \hbox {MeV}$$ 100 MeV , the generated proton peak flux within the short laser-accelerated bunches can already today exceed the values achievable at the most advanced conventional accelerators by orders of magnitude. This paper consists of two parts covering the scientific motivation and relevance of such experiments and a first proof-of-principle demonstration. In the presented experiment pulses of $$200 \, \hbox {J}$$ 200 J at $$\approx \, 500 \, \hbox {fs}$$ ≈ 500 fs duration from the PHELIX laser produced more than $$10^{12}$$ 10 12 protons with energies above $$15 \, \hbox {MeV}$$ 15 MeV in a bunch of sub-nanosecond duration. They were used to induce fission in foil targets made of natural uranium. To make use of the nonpareil flux, these targets have to be very close to the laser acceleration source, since the particle density within the bunch is strongly affected by Coulomb explosion and the velocity differences between ions of different energy. The main challenge for nuclear detection with high-purity germanium detectors is given by the strong electromagnetic pulse caused by the laser-matter interaction close to the laser acceleration source. This was mitigated by utilizing fast transport of the fission products by a gas flow to a carbon filter, where the $$\upgamma$$ γ -rays were registered. The identified nuclides include those that have half-lives down to $$39 \, \hbox {s}$$ 39 s . These results demonstrate the capability to produce, extract, and detect short-lived reaction products under the demanding experimental condition imposed by the high-power laser interaction. The approach promotes research towards relevant nuclear astrophysical studies at conditions currently only accessible at nuclear high energy density laser facilities.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Harvesting krypton isotopes from the off-gas of an irradiated water target to generate 76Br and 77Br

Abstract A flowing-water target was irradiated with a 150 MeV/nucleon beam of 78 Kr at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory to produce 77 Kr and 76 Kr. Real-time gamma-imaging measurements revealed the mass transport of the krypton radioisotopes through the target-water processing, or “isotope harvesting”, system. The production rates were determined to be 2.7(1) × 10 –4 nuclei of 76 Kr and 1.18(6) × 10 –2 nuclei of 77 Kr formed per incident 78 Kr ion. Utilizing an off-gas processing line as part of the isotope harvesting system, a total of 7.2(1) MBq of 76 Kr and 19.1(6) MBq of 77 Kr were collected in cold traps. Through the decay, the daughter radionuclides 76 Br and 77 Br were generated and removed from the traps with an average efficiency of 77 ± 12%. Due to the differences in half-lives of 76 Kr and 77 Kr, it was possible to isolate a pure sample of 76 Br with 99.9% radionuclidic purity. The successful collection of krypton radioisotopes to generate 76 Br and 77 Br demonstrates the feasibility of gas-phase isotope harvesting from irradiated accelerator cooling-water. Larger-scale collections are planned for collecting by-product radionuclides from the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Fission Product Yield Modeling and Evaluation

Although independent and cumulative fission product yields have been a part of evaluated libraries for decades, there have been few updates over the years. The fission product yield sub-library in the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library is still largely based on the evaluation of England and Rider from the mid-90’s, with only more recent updates to the energy dependence of 239 Pu below 2 MeV and fixes to isomeric states and missing fission products. Over the past several years, there have been a wealth of new measurements of independent and cumulative fission product yields, particularly those with short half-lives, and there have been significant improvements in the modeling of prompt and delayed fission observables. Here, we describe recent progress in the improvement of fission product yield calculations, using the BeoH code and the underlying Hauser Fesh-bach Fission Fragment Decay (HF 3 D) model, developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. We will describe our recent calculations for consistent prompt and delayed fission observables for major and minor actinides, including new work investigating isomeric ratios. We will detail the ongoing evaluation process for energy-dependent fission product yields from thermal up to 20 MeV incident neutron energy and some validation work that has been performed for these new fission product yield calculations. Additionally, we will discuss future perspectives of this work, highlighting the need for additional data.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Structural basis for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin targeting of claudins at tight junctions in mammalian gut

The bacterium Clostridium perfringens causes severe, sometimes lethal gastrointestinal disorders in humans, including enteritis and enterotoxemia. Type F strains produce an enterotoxin (CpE) that causes the third most common foodborne illness in the United States. CpE induces gut breakdown by disrupting barriers at cell–cell contacts called tight junctions (TJs), which are formed and maintained by claudins. Targeted binding of CpE to specific claudins, encoded by its C-terminal domain (cCpE), loosens TJ barriers to trigger molecular leaks between cells. Cytotoxicity results from claudin-bound CpE complexes forming pores in cell membranes. In mammalian tissues, ~24 claudins govern TJ barriers—but the basis for CpE’s selective targeting of claudins in the gut was undetermined. We report the structure of human claudin-4 in complex with cCpE, which reveals that enterotoxin targets a motif conserved in receptive claudins and how the motif imparts high-affinity CpE binding to these but not other subtypes. The structural basis of CpE targeting is supported by binding affinities, kinetics, and half-lives of claudin–enterotoxin complexes and by the cytotoxic effects of CpE on claudin-expressing cells. By correlating the binding residence times of claudin–CpE complexes we determined to claudin expression patterns in the gut, we uncover that the primary CpE receptors differ in mice and humans due to sequence changes in the target motif. These findings provide the molecular and structural element CpE employs for subtype-specific targeting of claudins during pathogenicity of C. perfringens in the gut and a framework for new strategies to treat CpE-based illnesses in domesticated mammals and humans.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗