Distribution of137Cs,40K,238U and232Th in soils from Northern Venezuela

More than one hundred undisturbed soil samples from Northern Venezuela and the islands of Margarita and Los Roques have been analyzed for¹³⁷Cs,⁴⁰K,²³⁸U and²³²Th by -ray spectroscopy. The specimens were taken from between 5–10 cm below the earth's surface. Thus, they are valid not only for the¹³⁷Cs deposition studies but also for the estimation of the natural -ray dose from primordial radionuclides that form the terrestrial component. The concentration of⁴⁰K was directly determined from its 1461 keV -ray, while those of¹³⁷Cs,²³⁸U and²³²Th were performed using a -ray from one of their daughter radionuclides: the 661 keV -ray of^137mBa for¹³⁷Cs, the 1760 keV -ray of²¹⁴Bi for²³⁸U and the 2620 keV -ray of²⁰⁸Tl for²³²Th. Finally, the concentration values were compared with those of global estimates.     

A new improved expression for gamma-ray detection efficiency of Ge(Li) detectors

In the present paper, a new improved expression for -ray detection efficiency of Ge(Li) detectors, ⁰ , is given. It is represented as a continuous function of x (viz. E ^–1) with a maximum and decreases very rapidly to a small positive value as -ray energy, E, drops to 40 keV or lower, but slowly as E rises to 1.7 MeV or higher. Since it can well represent the whole physical process of the -ray detection, this expression may be one of the simplest and most precise representations, for ⁰ at the present time.     

The predictive accuracy for estimating infinite dilution activity coefficients by γ∞-based UNIFAC

The predictive accuracy for estimating infinite dilution activity coefficients by a modification of the UNIFAC method wherein the group interaction parameters were based on only data (referred to as -based UNIFAC) has been studied. Estimates and measured values were compared for six prototypical solutes in a series of homologous n-alkanes, l-alcohols and alkanenitrile solvents. Despite the fact that the interaction parameters were derived using only data, this approach still gave serious errors due to several inherent problems in the original UNIFAC model. Its performance is sometimes even poorer than that of the original UNIFAC method. For example for nitromethane in alcohols and p-dioxane in nitriles values predicted by the -based UNIFAC are essentially zero. The large errors for these systems are most likely due to inaccurate interaction parameters in the -based UNIFAC method.     

Environmental importance of the107Ag(n,γ)108Agm reaction in nuclear power reactors,and new 327-1327-1327-1and Iγ measurements

127-year¹⁰⁸Ag^m is an (n,) activation product of¹⁰⁷Ag and is produced in nuclear power reactors. Due to the wide range of reported values for the o ⁰ cross section of the¹⁰⁷Ag(n,)¹⁰⁸Ag^m reaction new measurements were made—resulting in a o ⁰ value of 0.477±0.033 barn, and an I value of 0.80±0.15 barn. The environmental importance of the¹¹⁰Ag^m and¹⁰⁸Ag^m radionuclides is discussed.     

A new detection method of99Tc by nuclear excitation

A new nuclear excitation process,⁹⁹Tc (, )^99mTc reaction, was applied for the first time to radioactivation analysis of technetium. Bremsstrahlung irradiation of⁹⁹Tc samples gave the reaction product^99mTc which emits -ray measurable with ease by a semiconductor detector. The production rate of^99mTc per g⁹⁹Tc was linearly correlated with the flux of bremsstrahlung. The detection limit of⁹⁹Tc was estimated to be nanogram order (0.63 Bq⁹⁹Tc) under the optimum irradiation condition. Possible interference by¹⁰⁰Ru(, p)^99mTc reaction was also studied, which could be discriminated from the (, ) reaction by simultaneously occurring⁹⁸Ru (, p)⁹⁷Ru reaction.     

Effect of ageing atmospheres on the changes in surface free energies of oxygen plasma-treated polyethylene films

The changes in the surface properties of oxygen plasma-treated polyethylene films during ageing in various atmospheres (water, dry nitrogen gas, and hexane) were studied from the viewpoint of the interaction of the surface functional groups formed on the films and the ageing media. The XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and the SSIMS (static secondary ion mass spectrometry) spectra indicated the formation of polar groups containing oxygen such as C=O on the film surface. The changes in the critical surface tension (_C) of the film with ageing time were largely affected by the ageing atmospheres: the _C value of the film aged in water increased, and those of the films aged in nitrogen gas and hexane decreased with an increase in ageing time. These different tendencies among the ageing media could be understood reasonably with examining the surface free energy ratios (the total energy, _S ^tot , the dispersion force component, _S ^d / _S ^tot , the polar component, _S ^p / _S ^tot , the hydrogen bonding component, _S ^h / _S ^tot ) of the films. The ageing in water of which _L is large gave the films with higher _S ^p / _S ^tot values, suggeting that the overturn and/or the orientation of the polar groups toward the water phase occurred so as to minimize the discrepancy of the surface free energy between the polymer surface and water. On the other hand, the ageing in nitrogen gas and hexane media of which _L are small gave the films with lower _S ^p / _S ^tot and _S ^h / _S ^tot values, suggesting the overturn and/or the orientation of the polar groups into the bulk polymer.     

α,β-Butenolides

,-Dibromo--('-carbethoxyacetony)-^,-butenolide (I) reacts with amines in diethyl ether solution to give -bromo-amino--('-carbethoxyacetony)-^,-butenolides. Compounds n are converted to -bromo-amino--('-carbethoxyacetony)-^,-butenolides on reaction with amines. The corresponding arylhydrazones (VI and VII) are obtained by the reaction of I and II with p-nitro- and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazines. Compound I reacts with phenylhydrazine to give furopyridazine VIII.See [1] for communication IV.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 867–871, July, 1972.     

Artifact (α, x) Reaction Gamma-Ray Peaks Reported as 241Am Decay Gamma-Rays; Comments to the Paper by Abdulrahman Abdul-Hadi, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 231 (1998) 147

Review of a recent paper reporting the -ray energies and intensities associated with the decay of ²⁴¹Am has resulted in the conclusion that some of the rays were misidentified. The misidentified -rays are not associated with the decay of ²⁴¹Am, but rather are prompt -rays from alpha-induced reactions.     

Microcalorimetric Evaluation of Precipitation in Cu–2Be–0.2Mg

Beryllium precipitation from the Cu-rich matrix in a Cu–2 mass% Be–0.2 mass% Mg alloy homogenized and quenched from 1073 K was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC traces showed two main exothermic effects, A and B, each comprising two subeffects: A₁ and A₂ , and B₁ and B₂ respectively. Effects A₁ and A₂ correspond to the precipitation of GP zones and subsequent overlapping and independent precipitation of the phase. Only at very low heating rates can be inherited from GP zones. Effects B₁ and B₂ correspond to heat evolved during transitions to the states with and phases, respectively. Heat effect A can be quantitatively described in terms of solid solubilities before and after precipitation, and of the precipitation heats of the phases involved. The heat content of the combined GP zone/ phase precipitation effect was proportional to the number of beryllium atoms precipitated, yielding an average value of 21 kJ mol^–1 beryllium for beryllium precipitation. It was shown that the phase arises from the combined transition from states with GP zones and phases, whereas arises from the transition of states with and phases. The apparent activation energies associated with GP zones and , and phases are 1.16±0.08, 1.18±0.07, 1.37±0.08 and 1.74±0.09 eV, respectively. These values are discussed in terms of the mobility of dissolved atoms related to the concentrations of excess vacancies and solute-vacancy complexes, and the direction of plate-like precipitate growth (either normal or perpendicular to the plate). It is inferred that the main roles of magnesium are to decrease the amount and rate of GP formation, to enhance the volume fraction of and to suppress the discontinuous precipitation of .This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fluorescent Molecular Sensing System Based on Tri-Pyrenes-Labeled γ-Cyclodextrin at the Hetero Rim

Fluorescent active host labeled at the upper and lower rims of -cyclodextrin, namely, mono-3^A-deoxy-3^A-pyrenebutylamido-6^X,Y-O-bis-pyrenebutylate-mono-altro--cyclodextrin (-3) has been synthesized as a chemosensor for steroidal guests using fluorescence spectra change upon a guest addition. The -3 shows monomer and excimer fluorescence, which results in an increase of the intensity of monomer and decrease of excimer fluorescence with a host–guest binding in the cyclodextrin cavity. The extent of monomer and excimer fluorescence variations of -3 was used as an indication for the sensing ability for the guests examined. The guest-induced fluorescence changes were measured for 10^–7 M solutions of -3. The sensing parameters (I_ex/I⁰_ex and I_mon/I⁰_mono) were used to describe the sensing ability of -3. The values of I_ex/I⁰_ex describe that -3 shows less selectivity for guests than that of mono-3^A-deoxy-3^A-pyrenebutylamido-6^X-O-mono-pyrenebutylate-mono-altro--cyclodextrin (-2), and the values of I_mon/I⁰_mono show that -3 shows higher sensitivity and selectivity than that of -2.     

188Os Low Excited Levels

The -ray spectra of ¹⁸⁸Re decay have been studied by using a compton-suppressed spectrometer and a three parameters --T list coincidence system. Six -rays at 557, 810, 1463, 1867, 1936 and 2022 keV and three levels at 1443, 1936 and 2022 keV are confirmed again. Eight new -rays at 309.60±0.04, 826.90±0.02, 979.29±0.08, 1086.13±0.03, 1103.7±0.4, 1828.2±0.1, 1842.5±0.2, 1982.5±0.2 keV have been identified, three new levels at 309.60, 1828.2 and 1982.5 keV are assigned. The ^–-decay branching ratio is deduced.     

Triazole derivatives as analytical reagents. Part V. Analytical studies of β-resorcylazomercaptotriazole (METRIAREZ-β) and γ-resorcylazomercaptotriazole (METRIAREZ-γ) acids

METRIAREZ- and -, two new derivatives of 5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole with - and -resorcylic acids have been synthesized and their physicochemical and chelating properties determined. With metal ions havingp andd electrons they form water-soluble coloured chelates at L M molar ratios of 1 1 with Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ( and ), Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ () and Cd²⁺, In³⁺ and Bi³⁺ () and 2 1 with Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ( and ) and Zn²⁺ (). The chelates are non-extractable by organic solvents. The stability constants of these complexes, as well as their spectrophotometric sensitivity and extinction coefficients were determined. Iron and zinc in multivitamin tablets were determined spectrophotometrically using the ligands.     

Transfer activity coefficient of the proton in water-pyridine mixtures. A comparison of some extrathermodynamic assumptions

Various water-pyridine mixtures have been selected in order to compare several of the most popular extrathermodynamic assumptions involved in the determination of the transfer activity coefficient of the proton, _t(H⁺). Two techniques have been utilized for this purpose: voltammetry [study of the ferrocene, ferricyanide, or thallium(1) systems] and potentiometry at equilibrium (emf measurements of various galvanic cells, including liquid junctions and hydrogen electrode or silver electrode as a test electrode). The assumptions have been classified into various groups [e.g., _t(Z^p+)=_t(Z^q+) or _t(X^–)=_t(Y⁺)], and the values of _t(H⁺) have been experimentally determined in each case. The results vary depending upon the basic assumption (several pH units); less important differences (e.g., 0.5 pH unit) occur within a given group, and this may be assigned to the nature of the reference species chosen. A simple model of solvation has been also examined; the application of the law of mass action to the corresponding equilibrium provides results close to the _t(X^–) =_t(Y⁺)type of assumptions which ultimately leads to most self-consistent results.     

Viscoelastic behavior of linear polyethylene and of paraffin mixtures

Summary The complex shear modulus of a linear polyethylene (Marlex 50), of which samples were either crystallized from the melt at various temperatures or precipitated from a dilute xylene solution, has been measured as a function of temperature at fixed frequencies between 10⁵ and 10^–1 c/s. The three relaxation regions, , can be distinguished, and activation energies are determined from the relaxation map. The-process shows a frequency-temperature characteristic which has been divided into three parts _I, _II, _III. Further experimental evidence for the kink model, proposed in an earlier paper (reference 4) is taken from the investigation of suitable paraffin mixtures. Measurements on six n-alkane systems, each consisting of an even n-paraffin mixed with a few percent of a paraffin with a chain longer by two C-atoms, are reported.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die TemperaturabhÄngigkeit des komplexen Schubmoduls eines linearen PolyÄthylens (Marlex 50) bei festen Frequenzen zwischen 10^–1 und 10⁵ Hz untersucht, wozu die Proben entweder aus der Schmelze bei verschiedenen Temperaturen kristallisiert oder aus verdünnter Xylollösung bei 80 C gefÄllt, in Methanol ausgewaschen und gepre\t worden waren. Drei Dispersionsgebiete, , können unterschieden werden. Die/max-1/T- Charakteristik des -Relaxations-prozesses wird in drei Bereiche _I, _II, _III unterteilt. Aktivierungsenergien werden aus geradlinigen Kurvenstücken dieser Charakteristiken bestimmt.Eine erneute experimentelle Stütze für das in einer früheren Arbeit (4) vorgeschlagene Kinkenmodell stellen Messungen an 6 weiteren n-Paraffin-Mischungssystemen dar, wobei die KettenlÄngen der Mischungspartner sich jeweils um zwei CH₂-Gruppen unterscheiden.

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Parts of this paper were read at the 4th International Congress on Rheology, Providence R. I., 1963.     

Synthesis of two regiospecific isomers of monotosyl-γ-cyclodextrin

Tosylation of -cyclodextrin in an aqueous alkaline solution gave two regiospecific isomers (2-monotosyl--cyclodextrin(1) and 6-monotosyl--cyclodextrin(2)), that could recognize and catalyze small sized guest molecules; 2-monotosyl--CD recognized small sized guest molecules more effectively than did 6-monotosyl--CD.     

Synthese des α,γ- und β,γ-Bipyridyls

Zusammenfassung P. Krumholz ¹⁵ hat kürzlich beim Vergleich physikochemischer Meßwerte erkannt, daß der als ,-Bipyridyl aufgefaßten Base die Formel des ,-Bipyridyls zuzuschreiben ist. Zur Prüfung dieser Frage und zur Kenntnis des wahren ,-Bipyridyls wurden die beiden Verbindungen auf eindeutigem Wege synthetisiert und ihre Konstanten mit denen der altbekannten Isomeren verglichen.Herrn Prof. Dr.F. Wessely zum 60. Geburtstag in alter Verbundenheit gewidmet.     

The role of induced secondary radiation in in situ sorption studies using β-, γ-emitting radionuclides

This article is focused on the effect of -induced radiation in in situ sorption measurements of⁶⁰Co (emitting -and -radiation). The results presented show that the intensity of solution background is primarily due to the -induced radiation (possibly caused by photoeffect and Compton-scattering) and does not change during cobalt accumulation. Experiments were carried out with a pure -emitting isotope (⁹⁹Tc) in order to elaborate a method for the separation of the intensities originating from -and -induced radiations. Various methods of evaluation of sorption measurements are discussed. The extension of the method to application of different radioactive nuclides is considered.     

95Tc and96Tc production by (γ, xn) reactions

The⁹⁹Tc (, 3n)⁹⁶Tc and⁹⁹Tc (, 4n)⁹⁵Tc reactions were studied by irradiation of target⁹⁹Tc with bremsstrahlung from the linear electron accelerator of Tohoku University, up to 50 MeV -energy. The resulting⁹⁶Tc (4.3 d) and⁹⁵Tc (20 h) activities were determined by -spectrometry. The -flux was monitored by the⁹⁹Tc (, )^99mTc reaction. Metallic copper and gold foils were used as additional flux monitors in front of and behind the samples. Their measured radioactivity was utilized for normalizing bremsstrahlung flux calculations, in order to determine reaction cross sections. Cross sections were also determined theoretically, performing calculations in the framework of a neutron cascade evaporation model. Above the (, 3n) and (, 4n) threshold energies the neutron emission channel was supposed to be the only open channel for deexcitation following photoabsorption. The preeguilibrium contribution was considered negligible. The experimental results obtained for the integrated cross section at 30 and 50 MeV fit reasonably well the calculated curves.