Sequential radioanalytical method for the determination of U and Th isotopes, <Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra and <Superscript>210</Superscript>Po using alpha spectrometry in samples of the Brazilian phosphate industry

The phosphate rocks used for the production of phosphate fertilizers present in their composition radionuclides of the U and Th series. During the chemical attack, the radionuclides are distributed to final products and phosphogypsum. A sequential radiochemical procedure was implemented to determine the content of radionuclides alpha emitters in samples of fertilizers and phosphogypsum produced in Brazil. The results obtained show that the levels of radioactivity present in the fertilizers are of the same order of magnitude on those found in the phosphogypsum, reaching values up to 1158 and 457 Bq kg⁻¹, for the U and Th series, respectively.     

Chemical composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus silvestris</Emphasis> essential oil from contaminated areas

The chemical composition of Pinus silvestris essential oil from contaminated areas was studied. An apparent effect of radionuclides and toxic elements on the biosynthesis of terpenoids in common pine essential oil was found. Increasing contamination apparently increased the content of sesquiterpenes and O-containing substances and decreased the content of monoterpenes in the essential oil. The contents of α-pinene, camphene, and limonene increased and those of 3-carene, terpinolene, and β-pinene decreased in the monoterpene fraction. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 47–49, January–February, 2007.     

Oncogene mRNA imaging with 99mTc-chelator-PNA-peptides

[^99mTc]PNA-peptide conjugates capable of binding to IGF1 receptors will be synthesized. Specificity of their uptake and hybridization to mRNA in normal epithelial human cells compared to human breast cancer cells will be studied.     

Soil and sediment sample analysis for the sequential determination of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides

A new sequential method for the determination of both natural (U, Th) and anthropogenic (Sr, Cs, Pu, Am) radionuclides has been developed for application to soil and sediment samples. The procedure was optimised using a reference sediment (IAEA-368) and reference soils (IAEA-375 and IAEA-326). Reference materials were first digested using acids (leaching), ‘total’ acids on hot plate, and acids in microwave in order to compare the different digestion technique. Then, the separation and purification were made by anion exchange resin and selective extraction chromatography: transuranic (TRU) and strontium (SR) resins. Natural and anthropogenic alpha radionuclides were separated by uranium and tetravalent actinide (UTEVA) resin, considering different acid elution medium. Finally, alpha and gamma semiconductor spectrometer and liquid scintillation spectrometer were used to measure radionuclide activities. The results obtained for strontium-90, cesium-137, thorium-232, uranium-238, plutonium-239+240 and americium-241 isotopes by the proposed method for the reference materials provided excellent agreement with the recommended values and good chemical recoveries. Plutonium isotopes in alpha spectrometry planchet deposits could be also analysed by ICPMS.     

放射性核素标记单克隆抗体的化学研究进展

研究用放射性核素标记单克隆抗体作为肿瘤的导向药物,是核药物化学领域的研究热点.本文从化学角度介绍了单克隆抗体标记技术发展的概况,包括核素的选择,标记的方法,抗体的偶联修饰以及提高肿瘤/正常组织比的方法。     

Statistical relationship between activity concentrations of radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K,and 137Cs and geological formations in surface soil of Jordan

An extensive study was conducted to determine the activity concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs in soil samples of each governate of Jordan. A total of 370 samples have been measured using a high-purity germanium detector. The activity concentration for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs has mean values of 42?±?3, 23?±?3, 309?±?21, and 3.7?±?0.9 Bq kg^–1, respectively. The highest mean activity concentration for ²²⁶Ra was found to be 138?±?4 Bq kg^–1 in the Alkarak governate. In the Ajloun and Jarash governates, the highest mean activity concentration was 35?±?3 Bq kg^–1 for ²³²Th, and 14.2?±?1.9 Bq kg^–1 for ¹³⁷Cs, respectively. Geological influence on the activity concentrations was investigated using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent samples. The ANOVA results indicate that there are strong significant differences between the activity concentrations of ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs based on geological formations the radionuclides occur. The main contribution to gamma dose rate was due to ²²⁶Ra activity concentration. Radium equivalent and external hazard index are associated with a mean value of 98 Bq kg^–1, and 0.266, respectively.     

The astrophysical environment of the solar birthplace

Our Sun, like all stars, formed within a cold molecular cloud. Astronomical observations and theory provide considerable detail into this process. Yet cosmochemical observations of short-lived radionuclides in primitive meteorites, in particular ⁶⁰Fe, provide unequivocal evidence that the early solar system inherited fresh nucleosynthetic material from the core of a hot, massive star, almost certainly ejected in a supernova explosion. I give a short introduction to the fields of star formation and meteoritics and discuss how the reconciliation of their disparate clues to our origin places strong constraints on the environment of the solar birthplace. Direct injection of supernova ejecta into a protoplanetary disc or a dense molecular core is unlikely since their small sizes require placement unusually close to the massive star. Lower density molecular cloud clumps can capture more ejecta but the radionuclides decay during the slow gravitational collapse. The most likely scenario is on the largest scales via the formation of enriched molecular clouds at the intersection of colliding supernova bubbles in spiral arms.     

Modeling species transport by concentrated brine in aggregated porous media

Basic equations governing the transport of species by concentrated brine flowing through an aggregated porous medium are developed. Some simple examples are solved numerically. The medium is considered to be composed of porous rock aggregates separated by ‘macropores’ through which the brine flows and transport of salt and low-concentration species takes place. The aggregates contain dead-end pores, cracks, and stationary pockets collectively called ‘micropores’. The micropore space does not contribute to the flow, but it serves as a storage for salt and species. Adsorption of fluid species takes place at internal surface of aggregates where it is assumed that a linear equilibrium isotherm describes the process. The effects of high salt concentrations are accounted for in the brine density relation, the viscosity relation, Darcy's and Fick's laws, and the rate of mass transfer between macropores and micropores. Mass balance equations, supplemented by extended forms of Darcy's and Fick's laws, are employed to arrive at two sets of equations. One set consists of seven coupled equations for the salt mass fraction and fluid density in macropores, salt mass fraction in micropores, fluid velocity vector, and the fluid pressure. The other set consists of two coupled equations to be solved for the mass fractions of low-concentration species in micropores and macropores. Based on these equations, a mathematical model called TORISM is developed. Using this model, the potential significance of modifications to Darcy's Law are demonstrated.     

Radiotracers for Bone Marrow Infection Imaging

Introduction: Radiotracers are widely used in medical imaging, using techniques of gamma-camera imaging (scintigraphy and SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET). In bone marrow infection, there is no single routine test available that can detect infection with sufficiently high diagnostic accuracy. Here, we review radiotracers used for imaging of bone marrow infection, also known as osteomyelitis, with a focus on why these molecules are relevant for the task, based on their physiological uptake mechanisms. The review comprises [⁶⁷Ga]Ga-citrate, radiolabelled leukocytes, radiolabelled nanocolloids (bone marrow) and radiolabelled phosphonates (bone structure), and [¹⁸F]FDG as established radiotracers for bone marrow infection imaging. Tracers that are under development or testing for this purpose include [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-citrate, [¹⁸F]FDG, [¹⁸F]FDS and other non-glucose sugar analogues, [¹⁵O]water, [¹¹C]methionine, [¹¹C]donepezil, [^99mTc]Tc-IL-8, [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-Siglec-9, phage-display selected peptides, and the antimicrobial peptide [^99mTc]Tc-UBI_29-41 or [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-NOTA-UBI_29-41. Conclusion: Molecular radiotracers allow studies of physiological processes such as infection. None of the reviewed molecules are ideal for the imaging of infections, whether bone marrow or otherwise, but each can give information about a separate aspect such as physiology or biochemistry. Knowledge of uptake mechanisms, pitfalls, and challenges is useful in both the use and development of medically relevant radioactive tracers.