Whole-body counter surveys of over 2700 babies and small children in and around Fukushima Prefecture 33 to 49 months after the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident

BABYSCAN, a whole-body counter (WBC) for small children was developed in 2013, and units have been installed at three hospitals in Fukushima Prefecture. Between December, 2013 and March, 2015, 2707 children between the ages of 0 and 11 have been scanned, and none had detectable levels of radioactive cesium. The minimum detectable activities (MDAs) for ¹³⁷Cs were ≤3.5 Bq kg⁻¹ for ages 0–1, decreasing to ≤2 Bq kg⁻¹ for ages 10–11. Including the ¹³⁴Cs contribution, these translate to a maximum committed effective dose of ∼16 µSv y⁻¹ even for newborn babies, and therefore the internal exposure risks can be considered negligibly small.Analysis of the questionnaire filled out by the parents of the scanned children regarding their families’ food and water consumption revealed that the majority of children residing in the town of Miharu regularly consume local or home-grown rice and vegetables, while in Minamisoma, a majority avoid tap water and produce from Fukushima. The data show, however, no correlation between consumption of locally produced food and water and the children’s body burdens.     

Statistical Inference for Ergodic Algorithmic Model (EAM), Applied to Hydrophobic Hydration Processes

The thermodynamic properties of hydrophobic hydration processes can be represented in probability space by a Dual-Structure Partition Function {DS-PF} = {M-PF} · {T-PF}, which is the product of a Motive Partition Function {M-PF} multiplied by a Thermal Partition Function {T-PF}. By development of {DS-PF}, parabolic binding potential functions α) RlnK_dual = (−ΔG°_dual/T) ={f(1/T)*g(T)} and β) RTlnK_dual = (−ΔG°_dual) = {f(T)*g(lnT)} have been calculated. The resulting binding functions are “convoluted” functions dependent on the reciprocal interactions between the primary function f(1/T) or f(T) with the secondary function g(T) or g(lnT), respectively. The binding potential functions carry the essential thermodynamic information elements of each system. The analysis of the binding potential functions experimentally determined at different temperatures by means of the Thermal Equivalent Dilution (TED) principle has made possible the evaluation, for each compound, of the pseudo-stoichiometric coefficient ±ξ_w, from the curvature of the binding potential functions. The positive value indicates convex binding functions (Class A), whereas the negative value indicates concave binding function (Class B). All the information elements concern sets of compounds that are very different from one set to another, in molecular dimension, in chemical function, and in aggregation state. Notwithstanding the differences between, surprising equal unitary values of niche (cavity) formation in Class A <Δh_for>_A = −22.7 ± 0.7 kJ·mol⁻¹ ·ξ_w⁻¹ sets with standard deviation σ = ±3.1% and <Δs_for>_A = −445 ± 3J·K⁻¹·mol⁻¹·ξ_w⁻¹J·K⁻¹·mol⁻¹·ξ_w⁻¹ with standard deviation σ = ±0.7%. Other surprising similarities have been found, demonstrating that all the data analyzed belong to the same normal statistical population. The Ergodic Algorithmic Model (EAM) has been applied to the analysis of important classes of reactions, such as thermal and chemical denaturation, denaturation of proteins, iceberg formation or reduction, hydrophobic bonding, and null thermal free energy. The statistical analysis of errors has shown that EAM has a general validity, well beyond the limits of our experiments. Specifically, the properties of hydrophobic hydration processes as biphasic systems generating convoluted binding potential functions, with water as the implicit solvent, hold for all biochemical and biological solutions, on the ground that they also are necessarily diluted solutions, statistically validated.     

Calculation of solar radiation atmospheric absorption with different H2O spectral line data banks

A comparison of the atmospheric absorption calculated with different data banks of water vapour absorption lines is made. The HITRAN database, Barber-Tennyson line list (BT2), calculation of Partridge and Schwenke (PS) are considered. The contribution of H₂O lines, absent in HITRAN, to the atmospheric transmission, calculated with 10 cm⁻¹ spectral resolution in the 10 000-20 000 cm⁻¹ spectral region is up to 1.5% for a vertical path and 4% for a solar zenith angle of 70 deg. The highest difference is observed in the 940 nm band. The incoming fluxes of solar radiation, measured by a rotating solar spectroradiometer, were modeled with BT2 and HITRAN database. The difference between measured and calculated fluxes does not exceed the instrumental uncertainties.     

Configurational Entropy Relaxation of Silica Glass—Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Vitreous silica was modelled using molecular dynamics (MD). The glass structure was transferred into an undirected graph and decomposed into disjoint structural units that were ideally mixed to calculate the configurational entropy. The Debye relaxation model was suggested to simulate the evolution of entropy during the cooling of the system. It was found that the relaxation of the configurational entropy of MD corresponds to the effective cooling rate of 6.3 × 10⁶ Ks⁻¹ and its extrapolation to 0.33 Ks⁻¹ mimics the glass transition with T_g; close to the experimental value. Debye relaxation correctly describes the observed MD evolution of configurational entropy and explains the existence of freezing-in temperature and the shape of the curve in the transition region.     

Laser damage of silicon solar cells with different surface states

An experimental study of the damage of Si solar cells due to Q-switched ruby laser radiation has been made. Four kinds of specimen with different surface states were used in order to examine how the damage depends on the surface state: (a) chemically etched to a mirror finish, (b) mechanically polished by a 0.5 m Al₂O₃ powder, (c) chemically etched, but rough, (d) coated with SiO on the (c) surface. The threshold power densities, at which a change in the photo-current occurs, were for the specimens (a) to (d) respectively 60 MW cm^–2, 20 MW cm^–2, 30 MW cm^–2 and 9 MW cm^–2. Attenuations of the photo-current of the specimens, a, c and d were observed over the whole range of wavelength 500 to 1000 nm. For the b cell, however, increase of the photo-current was observed mainly in the short wavelength region.     

Doppler-limited dye laser excitation spectroscopy of DNO: Predissociation of DNO

The cw dye laser excitation spectrum of the (110)-(000) and (021)-(000) vibronic bands of the system of DNO was observed between 16530 and 16860 cm⁻¹ with Doppler-limited resolution. A rotational analysis of the two bands gave values for the rotational constants and centrifugal distortion constants. DNO was produced by the pyrolysis method and more than 1200 lines were observed in the two bands. A total of 1112 of these lines could be assigned to 9 and 11 subbands of the (110)-(000) and (021)-(000) bands, respectively. The molecular constants determined reproduce the observed transition frequencies with an average deviation of 0.011 and 0.008 cm⁻¹, respectively. Extensive perturbations in the excited state were found in most of the subbands. “Extra” lines were observed in connection with several of these perturbations. Accurate determination of the dissociation energy has been obtained; D₀ = 17010 ± 10 cm⁻¹.     

Nanostructured solar cell based on solution processed Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles and vertically aligned ZnO nanorod array

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) has attracted intensive interest for application in photovoltaic technology due to its excellent semiconductor properties. We report a nanostructured CZTS solar cell which was fabricated by infiltrating of CZTS nanoparticles into CdS coated ZnO nanorod arrays. The well aligned ZnO nanorods facilitate the efficient infiltration of CZTS nanoparticles. A hole transport layer was deposited to facilitate the transport of holes. The nanostructured CZTS solar cell demonstrated a remarkably high short‐circuit current density (11.0 mA/cm²). As a result, a power conversion efficiency of 2.8% was obtained. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Information Dark Energy Can Resolve the Hubble Tension and Is Falsifiable by Experiment

We consider the role information energy can play as a source of dark energy. Firstly, we note that if stars and structure had not formed in the universe, elemental bits of information describing the attributes of particles would have exhibited properties similar to the cosmological constant. The Landauer equivalent energy of such elemental bits would be defined in form and value identical to the characteristic energy of the cosmological constant. However, with the formation of stars and structure, stellar heated gas and dust now provide the dominant contribution to information energy with the characteristics of a dynamic, transitional, dark energy. At low redshift, z < ~1.35, this dark energy emulates the cosmological constant with a near-constant energy density, w = −1.03 ± 0.05, and an energy total similar to the mc² of the universe’s ∼10⁵³ kg of baryons. At earlier times, z > ~1.35, information energy was phantom, differing from the cosmological constant, Λ, with a CPL parameter difference of ∆w_o = −0.03 ± 0.05 and ∆w_a = −0.79 ± 0.08, values sufficient to account for the H₀ tension. Information dark energy agrees with most phenomena as well as Λ, while exhibiting characteristics that resolve many tensions and problems of ΛCDM: the cosmological constant problem; the cosmological coincidence problem; the H₀ tension, and the σ₈ tension. As this proposed dark energy source is not usually considered, we identify the expected signature in H(a) that will enable the role of information dark energy to be falsified by experimental observation.     

Antineutrino science by KamLAND

KamLAND measured the $\bar{\nu }$_e’s flux from distant nuclear reactors, and found fewer events than expected from standard assumptions about $\bar{\nu }$_e propagation at the 99.998% confidence level (C.L.). The observed energy spectrum disagrees with the expected spectral shape at 99.6% C.L., and prefers the distortion from neutrino oscillation effects. A two-flavor oscillation analysis of the data from KamLAND and solar neutrino experiments with CPT invariance, yields Δm2=7.9−0.5+0.6×10−5 eV² and tan2θ=0.40−0.07+0.10. All solutions to the solar neutrino problem except for the large mixing angle (LMA) region are excluded. KamLAND succeeded in detecting geoneutrinos produced by the decays of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th within the Earth. The total observed number of 4.5 to 54.2, assuming a Th/U mass concentration ratio of 3.9 is consistent with 19 predicted by geophysical models. This detection allows better estimation of the abundances and distributions of radioactive elements in the Earth, and of the Earth’s overall heat budget.     

Molecule-solid interaction: Electronic states of anthracene-9-carboxylic acid adsorbed on the surface of TiO2

Electronic excited states of athracene-9-carboxylic acid chemisorbed on the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles were investigated by means of the electroabsorption (Stark effect) spectroscopy at low temperature. In addition to a fraction of molecules adsorbed with no significant spectral changes, two forms absorbing at lowered energy (25,600 cm⁻¹ and 24,900 cm⁻¹) were observed, that exhibit a large increase in the excited-minus-ground state dipole moments, 2.7 D and 9.5 D, respectively, as well as changed molecular polarizabilities. The dipole moments are interpreted as indicators of partial charge-transfer character of the excited state, corresponding to the optical electron transfer from the adsorbate onto TiO₂ concomitantly with the photon absorption. Consequences of these observations are shortly discussed in the context of the electron transfer process in dye-sensitized solar cells.     

Hybrid solar cells using nanorod zinc oxide electrodes and perylene monoimide–monoanhydride dyes

Hybrid solar cells have been fabricated using perylene monoimide–monoanhydride dyes with nanorod zinc oxide electrodes as electron transporting layers. We have investigated the influence of the spacer alkyl chain length of perylene monoimide–monoanhydride (PMIMA) dyes on the device performance in hybrid solar cells using nanorod zinc oxide electrodes. Nanorod zinc oxide electrodes with 50–150 nm of diameter were synthesized in the presence of PEG400 by using microwave heating method. We observed that the dyes with longer and brunched alkyl chains exhibit higher efficiencies in hybrid solar cells. We report the highest efficiency obtained with zinc oxide nanorods under standard conditions for perylene monoimide–monoanhydride derivative with PMIMA_1 that performs 400 mV open circuit voltage, 2.81 mA/cm² short-circuit current and 0.59% overall conversion efficiency.     

Method for measuring integrated sensitivity of solar cells and multielement photoconverters using an X-Y scanner

We describe a method for automated measurement of the integrated sensitivity of solar cells (SCs) and multielement photoconverters (MPCs) using an experimental apparatus including a Pentium III personal computer (PC), an HP-34401A digital multimeter (DM), a stabilized radiation source (SRS), a controllable focusing system, an X-Y positioning device based on CD-RW optical disk storage devices. The method provides high accuracy in measuring the size of photosensitive areas of the solar cells and multielement photoconverters and inhomogeneities in their active regions, which makes it possible to correct the production process in the development stage and during fabrication of test prototypes for the solar cells and multielement photoconverters. The radiation power from the stabilized radiation source was ≤1 W; the ranges of the scanning steps along the X, Y coordinates were 10–100 μm, the range of the transverse cross sectional diameters of the focused radiation beam was 10–100 μm, the measurable photocurrents were 10⁻⁹ A to 2 A; scanning rate along the X, Y coordinates, ≤100 mm/sec; relative mean-square error (RMSE) for measurement of the integrated sensitivity of the solar cells, 0.2 ≤ γS _int ≤ 0.9% in the ranges of measurable photocurrents 1 mA ≤ I_ph ≤ 750 mA and areas 0.1 ≤ A ≤ 25 cm² for number of measurements equal to ≤ 2· 10⁵; instability of the radiation power (luminosity) ≤ 0.08% for 1 h or ≤ 0.4% for 8 h continuous operation; stabilized power range for the stabilized radiation source, 10⁻²–10² W. The software was written in Delphi 7.0. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 5, pp. 670–675, September–October, 2006.     

Side-pumped continuous-wave Cr:Nd:YAG ceramic solar laser

To clarify the advantages of Cr:Nd:YAG ceramics rods in solar-pumped lasers, a fused silica light guide with rectangular cross-section is coupled to a compound V-shaped cavity within which a 7 mm diameter 0.1 at.% Cr:1.0 at.% Nd:YAG ceramic rod is uniformly pumped. The highly concentrated solar radiation at the focal spot of a 2 m diameter stationary parabolic mirror is transformed into a uniform pump radiation by the light guide. Efficient pump light absorption is achieved by pumping uniformly the ceramic rod within the V-shaped cavity. Optimum pumping parameters and solar laser output powers are found through ZEMAX^© non-sequential ray-tracing and LASCAD^© laser cavity analysis codes. 33.6 W continuous-wave laser power is measured, corresponding to 1.32 times enhancement over our previous results with a 4 mm diameter Nd:YAG single-crystal rod. High slope efficiency of 2.6 % is also registered. The solar laser output performances of both the ceramic and the single-crystal rods are finally compared, revealing the relative advantage of the Cr:Nd:YAG rod in conversion efficiency. Low scattering coefficient of 0.0018 cm^?1 is deduced for the ceramic rod. Heat load is considered as a key factor affecting the ceramic laser output performance.     

Visible,near-infrared and infrared optical properties of silica aerogels

Silica aerogel is an excellent thermal insulation material with a low thermal conductivity and a high porosity and has attracted great concern in applications. This paper was to experimentally investigate the optical properties of optically thick silica aerogel in the visible, near-infrared and infrared spectrum region. The fiber-loaded silica aerogel sample was prepared through sol–gel technique and supercritical drying process. Silica fibers were added into the aerogel during the preparation procedure to strength the skeleton of aerogel. As a comparison with the fiber-load silica aerogel, a silica fiber composite sample with the same chemical component and different physical structure was also prepared. A simplified two-flux model neglecting the boundary effect was used to describe the radiation propagation characteristics inside the samples. The spectral normal-hemispherical reflectances, transmittances, and normal emittances of silica aerogel and silica fiber samples were measured and compared in the wavelengths of 0.38–15 μm. Then the spectral optical constants of samples were determined using the experimental data. The spectral absorption and scattering coefficients of silica aerogel were within (0.01 cm⁻¹, 31.0 cm⁻¹) and (1.4 cm⁻¹, 25.8 cm⁻¹). The results showed that the spectrum region where the scattering coefficient is low usually corresponds to a high absorption coefficient. In addition, the total radiation properties of samples were predicted at high temperatures. The analysis of optical properties of silica aerogel is necessary to provide valuable data in applications.     

Competition of N-passivation and Te-passivation in hydrogenation of Te-doped (Ga,In)(N,As)

(Ga,In)(N,As) lattice matched to GaAs with a band gap of 1 eV is employed as active material in high-efficiency III–V solar cells. Te-doped Ga_0.934In_0.066N_0.023As_0.977 layers were grown by metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy on (1 0 0) GaAs. The samples were highly doped n-type with carrier concentrations ranging from about 10¹⁷–10¹⁹ cm⁻³. Pieces of the samples were hydrogenated with H-doses of 10¹⁸ ion/cm². The optical and electrical properties of the samples before and after hydrogenation were studied by low-temperature photoluminescence and magnetotransport. In undoped samples hydrogen is known to form N–H complexes which strongly reduce the local perturbation of the lattice due to nitrogen and thus reverse the N-induced global changes of the band structure. Combined analysis of photoluminescence and transport measurements on Te-doped samples, however, indicates a competition between N–H formation and passivation of the Te donor favoring the latter. Hardly any band structure changes due to hydrogenation are observed in these Te-doped samples, instead a strong reduction of the free-carrier concentration is observed after hydrogenation.     

Experimental investigation on the structural,dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of La doped ZnO nanoparticles and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells

Pure and lanthanum (La) doped ZnO nanorods were synthesized via co-precipitation method. The structure and morphology of as grown ZnO and La-ZnO nanoparticles were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. The values of remnant polarization and coercive field were found to be 0.027 μC/cm² and 1.33 kV/cm, respectively, for as grown La-ZnO nanostructures. High Curie temperature (276 °C) for doped ZnO was observed in dielectric study. Piezoelectric coefficient at room temperature was found to be 101.30 pm/V. I-V characteristics were studied for both pure and doped ZnO nanoparticles. Photo-anodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were made using ZnO and La-ZnO nanorods. The conversion efficiency and short circuit current density of La-ZnO nanorods based DSSC were 0.36% and 1.31 mA/cm², respectively, which were found to be largely enhanced when compared with that of pure ZnO based DSSC (0.20% and 0.94 mA/cm²).     

Integration of Phase Change Material in the Design of Solar Concentrator-Based Water Heating System

Indonesia has been blessed with excellent solar heat distribution, which can be used as renewable energy to heat water. Various technologies have been developed to utilize these inexhaustible thermodynamic resources, in the form of photons arrays, converted into concentrated heat for daily use, i.e., solar water heater. This renewable-based water heating system can provide significant energy efficiency, benefit the environment, and reduce energy use costs. This experimental study attempts to harvest the energy from the sun using a cylindrical through collector (CTC) type solar concentrator. The CTC was made of the solar reflective film (SRF) affixed to concentrator collector surfaces which was then mounted on an adjustable angle frame of the concentrator collector support. The heat generated from the concentrator was stored in water, and phase change material is embedded in the system to retain the heat longer. The research was carried out in Langsa City, Aceh, Indonesia. The results showed that water heaters using CTC systems could produce 16 L of hot water retained at 40–60 °C for four hours. With the addition of beeswax, the water temperature of the same capacity can be maintained at 40–60 °C for around 5 h. This technology demonstrated an excellent result that produces as much as 60 L of water per day, increasing solar thermal energy efficiency. This technology presented a great potential for replication or even for further development on an industrial scale.     

Fourier Transform Spectroscopy of theYΣ–XΠiTransition of CuO

TheY²Σ⁺–X²Π_inear-infrared electronic transition of CuO was observed at high resolution for the first time. The spectrum was recorded with the Fourier transform spectrometer associated with the McMath–Pierce Solar Telescope at Kitt Peak. The excited CuO molecules were produced in a low pressure copper hollow cathode sputter with a slow flow of oxygen. Constants for theY²Σ⁺states of CuO are:T₀= 7715.47765(54) cm⁻¹,B= 0.4735780(28) cm⁻¹,D= 0.822(12) × 10⁻⁶cm⁻¹,H= 0.46(10) × 10⁻¹⁰cm⁻¹, γ = −0.089587(42) cm⁻¹, γ_D= 0.1272(79) × 10⁻⁶cm⁻¹,b_F= 0.12347(22) cm⁻¹, andc= 0.0550(74) cm⁻¹. ImprovedX²Π_iconstants are also presented.     

JF1/B6F1 Ngly1−/− mouse as an isogenic animal model of NGLY1 deficiency

N-Glycanase 1 (NGLY1) deficiency is a congenital disorder caused by mutations in the NGLY1 gene. Because systemic Ngly1^−/− mice with a C57BL/6 (B6) background are embryonically lethal, studies on the mechanism of NGLY1 deficiency using mice have been problematic. In this study, B6-Ngly1^−/+ mice were crossed with Japanese wild mice-originated Japanese fancy mouse 1 (JF1) mice to produce viable F₂ Ngly1^−/− mice from (JF1×B6)F₁ Ngly1^−/+ mice. Systemic Ngly1^−/− mice with a JF1 mouse background were also embryonically lethal. Hybrid F1 Ngly1^−/− (JF1/B6F1) mice, however, showed developmental delay and motor dysfunction, similar to that in human patients. JF1/B6F1 Ngly1^−/− mice showed increased levels of plasma and urinary aspartylglycosamine, a potential biomarker for NGLY1 deficiency. JF1/B6F1 Ngly1^−/− mice are a useful isogenic animal model for the preclinical testing of therapeutic options and understanding the precise pathogenic mechanisms responsible for NGLY1 deficiency.     

Very longwavelength lowpass interference filters

The extension of metallic mesh interference filter techniques to wavelengths longer than 2000 m is discussed. The problems associated with design considerations and removal of leaks is considered in some detail. Successful filters were produced with edges at 6.3 cm^–1 and 4.3 cm^–1. When used in series and with a specific optical system, good rejection of unwanted radiation was achieved.