Local distribution of radioactivity in tree leaves contaminated by fallout of the radionuclides emitted from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

We analyzed fresh and dead leaves collected in forests in Fukushima after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, using autoradiography. Both fresh and dead leaves of Cryptomeria japonica were contaminated by radionuclides (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs). Contamination of the fresh leaves was possibly attributed to interception of radionuclides by tree canopies, whereas the dead leaves indicated the direct deposition of radionuclides by fallout and/or washout of radionuclides intercepted by tree canopies. Translocation of radiocesium from a contaminated branch to new leaves growing after the FDNPP accident was not clearly observed, although transfer of radiocesium from leaf parts to male flowers occurred. Fallen leaves of Quercus serrata, which started growing after the FDNPP accident, did not show radioactivity, indicating that significant amounts of translocation from other parts to new leaves did not occur. Fallen leaves of Q. serrata collected from a litter showed hot spots originating from direct fallout. Needles of Pinus densiflora were also contaminated by fallout. Leaching with pure water removed soluble fractions of radiocesium and hot particles from the surface of the contaminated leaves, but significant amounts of radioactivity remained. This means that foliar absorption occurred in both fresh and dead leaves. Further leaching experiments using surfactant and acetone could not remove the remaining radiocesium from the leaves. The leaching experiments indicate that radiocesium in the contaminated leaves is strongly fixed in leaf tissues and is not readily released unless leaf tissues are decomposed.     

Efficient Generation and Synthetic Applications of Alkyl-Substituted Siloxycarbenes: Suppression of Norrish-Type Fragmentations of Alkanoylsilanes by Triplet Energy Transfer

Acylsilanes have been known to undergo isomerization to siloxycarbenes under photoirradiation and the thus generated carbenes can be utilized for various synthetic reactions. But this carbene formation is not necessarily efficient with some alkanoylsilanes because Norrish-type fragmentations compete, which limit the synthetic utility of alkanoylsilanes as carbene precursors. In this study, generation of siloxycarbenes from alkanoylsilanes by visible-light-induced energy transfer was examined by using an Ir complex, [Ir{dF(CF₃)ppy}₂(dtbpy)]PF₆, and was successfully applied to the C−C coupling reactions with boronic esters or aldehydes. This methodology efficiently suppressed undesired Norrish-type reactions and broadened synthetic utility of alkanoylsilanes.     

The reaction γ +d → π+ + π− +p + n between 570 and 850 MeV andΔ ++ Δ − production

The reaction γ+d → π⁺+π^? +p + n has been measured in a kinematically complete way at incident photon energies from 570 to 850 MeV in steps of 40 MeV. From detailed comparison of measured data with results of event simulations, it is concluded that three different mechanisms, the quasi-free, double-delta and phase space productions, contribute to the reaction. Each of the cross sections corresponding to these mechanisms is determined separately.     

Observation of two-hole states at high excitation energy in (p,t) reactions

Bumps of two-hole states at high excitation energies were observed systematically in the triton spectra from (p, t) reactions with 52 MeV protons on nuclei in a broad range of masses. The cross sections of the bumps are almost equal for various targets with the same deep major shells. These cross sections vary discontinuously with variation of the corresponding deep major shell. About 20 to 50 % of the total expected strength is observed experimentally, if the bumps are assumed to arise from two-neutron pickup from the deep major shells. The centres of gravity of the bumps are located at excitation energies of about 7 to 9 MeV in all cases. On the other hand, the widths of the bumps change from about 3 MeV for ⁶⁶Zn to about 9 MeV for ²³⁰Th.     

Tungsten(0)- and rhenium(I)-catalyzed tandem cyclization of acetylenic dienol silyl ethers based on geminal carbo-functionalization of alkynes

Tungsten(0)- and rhenium(I)-catalyzed reactions of acetylenic dienol silyl ethers based on the concept of geminal carbo-functionalization of alkynes are reported. Treatment of 3-siloxy-1,3-diene-7-ynes with catalytic amounts of [W(CO)(6)] or [ReCl(CO)(5)] under photoirradiation conditions gives synthetically useful bicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives in good yields. Extremely high catalytic activity is noted for the rhenium(I) complex. The reaction has been extended to substrates containing a nitrogen atom in their tethers. In this case, two kinds of synthetically useful heterocyclic compounds-the 2-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives 9 and the monocyclic dihydropyrroles 10, with allenyl substituents-are obtained, and selective preparation of either product can be achieved through the use of an appropriate combination of the nitrogen substituent and the type of the rhenium(I) catalyst. The 2-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives 9 are obtained selectively by carrying out treatment of N-Ns derivatives in the presence of [ReCl(CO)(4)(PPh(3))], whereas the dihydropyrrole derivatives 10 are obtained by treatment of N-Mbs derivatives with [ReCl(CO)(5)]/AgSbF(6) . Finally, we have applied this geminal carbo-functionalization to one-carbon-elongated substrates containing N-Ts moieties in their tethers. Selective 5-exo cyclization is achieved in the presence of gold(I) or rhenium(I) catalysts, whereas 6-endo cyclization is observed on use of [W(CO)(6)].