Characterization of sealed radioactive sources: uncertainty analysis to improve detection methods

A radioactive ¹³⁷Cs source has been analyzed for the radioactive parent ¹³⁷Cs and stable decay daughter ¹³⁷Ba. The ratio of the daughter to parent atoms is used to estimate the date when Cs was purified prior to source encapsulation (an “age” since purification). The isotopes were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after chemical separation. In addition, Ba was analyzed by isotope dilution ICP-MS (ID-ICP-MS). A detailed error analysis of the mass spectrometric work has been undertaken to identify areas of improvement, as well as quantifying the effect the errors have on the “age” determined. This paper reports an uncertainty analysis to identifying areas of improvement and alternative techniques that may reduce the uncertainties. In particular, work on isotope dilution using ICP-MS for the “age” determination of sealed sources is presented. The results will be compared to the original work done using external standards to calibrate the ICP-MS instrument.     

Statistics of complex levels of random matrices for decaying systems

We present analytical and numerical results for the level density of a certain class of random non-Hermitian matrices =H+i. The conservative partH belongs to the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble while the damping piece is quadratic in Gaussian random numbers and may describe the decay of resonances through various channels. In the limit of a large matrix dimension the level density assumes a surprisingly simple dependence on the relative strength of the damping and the number of channels. Moreover, we identify situations with cubic repulsion between the complex eigenvalues of , to within a logarithmic correction.     

The sphericalp-spin interaction spin glass model: the statics

The static properties of the sphericalp-spin interaction spin glass model are calculated using the replica method. It is shown that within the Parisi scheme the most general solution is the one-step replica symmetry breaking. The transition from the replica symmetric solution to the replica replica symmetry broken one is either continuous or discontinuous inq ₁–q₀ depending on the strength of the external magnetic field. The model can be solved explicitly for anyp at any temperature and magnetic field. Below the transition we find an infinite number of metastable states.     

A characterization of the Bondi-Metzner-Sachs group

The BMS group can be realized as the group of diffeomorphisms preserving a certain geometrical structure on the Manifold×$ ² . This structure is equivalent to that of the angles and nullangles of (future or past) null infinity for asymptotically flat spacetimes.The essential ideas and results of this communication are implicit in Penrose's article [4] on relativistic symmetry groups. The authors nevertheless feel that it is useful to present a somewhat more detailed and formalized discussion of these matters here.Supported, in part, by a NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship.     

Development and validation of an HPLC method for quantitation of BA‐TPQ,a novel iminoquinone anticancer agent,and an initial pharmacokinetic study in mice

We herein describe the development and validation of an HPLC method for the quantitation of 7‐(benzylamino)‐1,3,4,8‐tetrahydropyrrolo [4,3,2‐de]quinolin‐8(1H)‐one (BA‐TPQ), a newly synthesized iminoquinone anticancer agent. BA‐TPQ was extracted from plasma and tissue samples by first precipitating proteins with acetonitrile followed by a liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. Chromatographic separation was carried out using a gradient flow rate on a Zorbax SB C₁₈ column, and the effluent was monitored by UV detection at 346 nm. The method was found to be precise, accurate, and specific, with a linear range of 3.91–1955.0 ng/mL in plasma, 19.55–1955.0 ng/mL in spleen, brain, and liver homogenates and 19.55–3910.0 ng/mL in heart, lung and kidney homogenates. The method was stable under all relevant conditions. Using this method, we also carried out an initial study determining plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of BA‐TPQ in mice following intravenous administration. In summary, this simple and sensitive HPLC method can be used in future preclinical and clinical studies of BA‐TPQ.     

Tandem mass spectrometric sequence characterization of synthetic thymidine-rich oligonucleotides

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) can provide direct and accurate sequence characterization of synthetic oligonucleotide drugs, including modified oligonucleotides. Multiple factors can affect oligonucleotide MS/MS sequencing, including the intrinsic properties of oligonucleotides (i.e., nucleotide composition and structural modifications) and instrument parameters associated with the ion activation for fragmentation. In this study, MS/MS sequencing of a thymidine (T)-rich and phosphorothioate (PS)-modified DNA oligonucleotide was investigated using two fragmentation techniques: trap-type collision-induced dissociation (“CID”) and beam-type CID also termed as higher-energy collisional dissociation (“HCD”), preceded by a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) separation. A low to moderate charge state (−4), which predominated under the optimized HILIC-MS conditions, was selected as the precursor ion for MS/MS analysis. Comparison of the two distinctive ion activation mechanisms on the same precursor demonstrated that HCD was superior to CID in promoting higher sequence coverage and analytical sensitivity in sequence elucidation of T-rich DNA oligonucleotides. Specifically, HCD provided more sequence-defining fragments with higher fragment intensities than CID. Furthermore, the direct comparison between unmodified and PS-modified DNA oligonucleotides demonstrated a loss of MS/MS fragmentation efficiency by PS modification in both CID and HCD approaches, and a resultant reduction in sequence coverage. The deficiency in PS DNA sequence coverage observed with single collision energy HCD, however, was partially recovered by applying HCD with multiple collision energies. Collectively, this work demonstrated that HCD is advantageous to MS/MS sequencing of T-rich PS-modified DNA oligonucleotides.     

Exponents for -stable ideals

Let be a simple algebraic group over the complex numbers containing a Borel subgroup . Given a -stable ideal in the nilradical of the Lie algebra of , we define natural numbers which we call ideal exponents. We then propose two conjectures where these exponents arise, proving these conjectures in types and some other types.

When , we recover the usual exponents of by Kostant (1959), and one of our conjectures reduces to a well-known factorization of the Poincaré polynomial of the Weyl group. The other conjecture reduces to a well-known result of Arnold-Brieskorn on the factorization of the characteristic polynomial of the corresponding Coxeter hyperplane arrangement.