Neutron activation analysis of iodine in soil

A simple pre-irradiation procedure for the separation of iodine from soil has been developed. A soil sample was heated in a quartz tube for 15 min at about 900 °C. The evaporated iodine was collected in activated charcoal, which was produced from phenol resin with low impurities. The charcoal, with sorbed iodine, was irradiated by neutrons and the¹²⁸I produced was measured. A successful elimination of the background radioactivity due to the matrix elements was possible with this separation procedure. The detection limit by this method for soil samples was about 0.1 mg/kg (dry). The method has been applied to analyze selected soil samples.     

Affine scaling algorithm fails for semidefinite programming

In this paper, we introduce an affine scaling algorithm for semidefinite programming (SDP), and give an example of a semidefinite program such that the affine scaling algorithm converges to a non-optimal point. Both our program and its dual have interior feasible solutions and unique optimal solutions which satisfy strict complementarity, and they are non-degenerate everywhere.     

Second-order necessary optimality conditions for domain optimization problems of the Neumann type

In this paper, we treat a domain optimization problem in which the boundary-value problem is a Neumann problem. In the case where the domain is in a three-dimensional Euclidean space, the first-order and the second-order necessary conditions which the optimal domain must satisfy are derived under a constraint which is the generalization of the requisite of constant volume.Portions of this paper were presented at the 13th IFIP Conference on System Modelling and Optimization, Tokyo, Japan, 1987.     

Tumor cell detection method using complement-mediated cytolytic reaction and imaging sensor system

A novel tumor-detection system consisting of complementmediated cytolytic reaction and an image processing system was developed for the simple and rapid determination of tumor cells. The present system consists of a CCD image sensor, image memory board, personal computer, and microscope. When monoclonal antibody 3C4, which is specific to the guinea pig hepatoma L-10, was added to cell suspension, only L-10 cytolysis occurred. Cytolysis caused a decrease in brightness of the cells observed by phase-contrast microscopy. The phase contrast image of the cells before cytolysis was converted to a digitalized signal and stored in computer memory. After cytolysis, a brightness threshold above that of lysed cells was subtracted from the digitalized signal and compared to the signal stored before reaction. L-10 cells in mixed cell suspension were determined specifically by the system. Measurement time was only 2 sec and overall time, including reaction time, was approximately 30 min. Since this method does not require a cell washing process, automation of the whole system is possible.     

Determination of129I and127I in environmental samples by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

In order to assess the levels and behavior of¹²⁹I (half-life: 1.6×10⁷ y) and¹²⁷I (stable) in the environment, we have developed analytical procedures involving neutron activation analysis (NAA). Environmental samples collected around Tokaimura, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, have been analyzed using this method. Ranges of¹²⁹I and¹²⁷I concentrations in surface soil were 0.9–180 mBq kg^–1 and 1–60 mg kg^–1, respectively. Higher¹²⁹I concentrations were found in soil samples collected from coniferous forests, suggesting a contribution from tree canopies in the deposition of this nuclide. Most of the¹²⁹I in soil, was found to be retained in the first 10 cm. The¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratios in wheat fields were lower than those in rice paddy fields.A soil sample collected by IAEA from an area contaminated by the Chemobyl accident was also determined. The¹²⁹I concentration and the¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratio were 1.6 mBq kg^–1 and 1.7×10^–7, respectively. The¹²⁹I level in this sample was higher than the values obtained in areas far from nuclear facilities in Japan. It was suggested that the analysis of¹²⁹I in soils in the Chernobyl area may be useful in evaluating the¹³¹I levels at the time of the accident.Analyses of¹²⁹I and¹²⁷I by ICP-MS in water samples were also made. The analytical speed of this method was very high, i.e., 3 minutes for a sample. However, there is a sensitivity limitation for¹²⁹I detection due to interference from¹²⁹Xe with the¹²⁹I peak. The detection limits for¹²⁹I and¹²⁷I in water samples were about 0.5 mBq ml^–1 and 0.1 ng ml^–1, respectively.     

Neutron activation analysis of iodine-129 and iodine-127 in environmental samples

The possibilities of reactor induced (n, p) reactions as a tool for neutron activation analysis of titanium in geological samples are discussed. The interference of calcium and scandium is experimentally evaluated. Results for Ti, Ca and Sc in GSP-1 and PCC-1 standard rocks are presented. On the basis of the experimental values, it is concluded that the⁴⁷Ti(n, p)⁴⁷Sc reaction is the most favourable for titanium determination.     

Syntheses of fluorine-containing fused polycyclic compounds: photo-cycloaddition of indene to cyclic fluoro-olefins and some reactions concerning the adducts

Acetophenone photo-sensitized addition of indene to cyclic fluoro-olefins (1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene-1, 1,2-dichlorotetrafluorocyclobutene-1 and hexafluorocyclobutene) gave the corresponding cycloadducts in satisfactory yields. The cycloadducts obtained predominantly had exo configuration.Some reactions such as reduction, oxidation, dechlorination and halogenation, of the cycloadducts were also studied.     

First example of chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes as catalysts for kinetic resolution

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes, which are derived from C2-symmetric 1,3-bis(1-arylethyl)imidazolium salts, catalyze enantioselective acylation of racemic secondary alcohols.     

Synthesis of 4,6-disubstituted 2-methylpyridines and their 3-carboxamides

A new one-pot synthesis of title compounds by the reactions of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with β-aminocrotononitrile in the presence of sodium hydroxide is described.