Study of the expansion dynamics of the plasma of a thin aluminum foil under the action of soft X-ray emission

Results are presented from experiments on the irradiation of thin aluminum foils by an intense soft X-ray (SXR) source on the basis of the Z-pinch formed during the implosion of a tungsten wire array at the Angara-5-1 facility. The state of the foil target is examined by taking two-dimensional X-ray frames. The expansion velocity of the plasma formed under the action of pulsed SXR emission on the front (irradiated) and back sides of the foil and the glow intensity of aluminum plasma on the back side are found from the spatial distribution of the radiation intensity of the plasma of the irradiated foil. The time at which the foil plasma becomes transparent to Z-pinch radiation is determined from the increase in the intensity of transmitted SXR emission.     

Resonance microwave discharge as a source of UV radiation

Results are presented from theoretical and experimental studies of an optical radiation source based on a microwave discharge excited in an Ar + Hg mixture. The main attention is paid to the so-called “resonance” discharge operating at low pressures of the working gas (argon). It is shown that a decrease in the Ar pressure leads to significant increase in the Hg radiation intensity (including biologically active UV radiation) and considerable decrease in the intensity of argon emission lines. The intensity of discharge radiation is calculated in the framework of the collisional-radiative model. The results of calculation agree qualitatively with experimental data.     

Inactivation of Chinese hamster V79/4(AH1) and HeLa cells by 24 keV neutrons

Cell survival studies have been carried out with a filtered neutron beam providing a nearly pure, high intensity source of 24 keV neutrons. These suggest that 24 keV neutrons behave as high LET radiation. The RBE at 37 per cent survival was approximately 2.2 for V79 Chinese hamster cells while HeLa cells gave a value of 2.9.     

Self-absorption in spheres and cylinders of radioactive material

According to thereciprocity law, the total dose absorbed in a specimen irradiated by a point source can be inferred from the reciprocal situation, where the absorber is replaced by a source of the same shape and the radiation is measured at the position of the original point source. In this paper, for a spherical source of homogeneous radioactive material with absorption coefficient μ₁, we calculate the intensity of radiation (or flux) at a pointP, as well as the intensity which would be found at the same point if μ₁ were zero. The ratio between these two quantities is denoted byk. We assume throughout that absorption follows the simple exponential law. Self-absorption can also be characterized by the numberv, which is defined as the ratio between the total radiation current flowing through the surface of the source and the total current obtained if there were no absorption. For a homogeneous spherical source in a nonabsorbing medium it is shown that the quantityk becomes equal tov if the distance between the pointP and the center of the sphere is sufficiently large. This fact was used by W. K. Sinclair in estimating an absorption coefficient from his experimental results. We also derive an expression for the self-absorption ratio,v, of acylindrical source. In the limiting case of an infinitely long cylinder our result coincides with an equation previously found by S. Kushneriuk. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

热带次生林林窗干热季光照特征初步分析

利用西双版纳干热季 ( 3～ 4月 )次生林林窗光照观测资料 ,探讨了林窗光照的时空变化特征。结果表明 :由于天气现象 (雾 )、太阳高度和林窗树木的共同影响 ,使得林窗区域光照强度在时空上均存在明显的差异 ;上午光照强度的时间变化不明显 ,光强高值区在林窗西南侧边缘 ;中午受太阳辐射的影响 ,各测点光强均迅速上升 ,尤以林窗偏东侧林缘最为突出 ,实际林窗边缘的光强远远大于扩展林窗边缘 ;平均光强最大区域由林窗西南侧向东北侧林缘移动 ,而林窗偏西侧受树木遮蔽影响 ,光强虽有增加 ,但由于实际林窗边缘的高光强维持时间较短 ,平均光强较小 ,特别是偏西侧的扩展林窗边缘 ,遮蔽影响较大 ,各时刻的光强均不大 ,形成平均光强的低值区 ;使得中午林窗区域光照强度不对称性更加显著 ,光强水平梯度增大 ;下午由于太阳西进 ,林窗区域均受到树木遮蔽影响 ,光强降低 ,水平梯度变化趋于和缓。在西双版纳干热季作为林窗主要热力作用面之一的林窗地表面 ,在不同时段其最大光强的数值和出现区域以及高光强维持时期均存在较大差异 ;使得林窗区域的光强分布存在时间差异和空间不对称性 ,如此的光强分布势必造成林窗不同区域热力作用的不同 ,进而导致林窗区域热量传输和热量储存的不同 ,产生不同的热力效应。本研究结果?     

Optical radiation and the eyes with special emphasis on children

The Sun is the most abundant source of optical radiation for the child eye. New hand-held visible lasers are a threat to the child eye. Some scientific data suggest that near infrared radiation may cause cumulative damage in the ocular lens. The child eye usually is exposed to ambient solar radiation, gazing at the horizon. Ambient Sun ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure to the child is complex due to atmospheric scattering and strong dependence on background reflection. Solar exposure causes biological damage, only by photochemical mechanisms. UVR exposure to a child eye is mainly a threat to the anterior segment of the eye, but also age dependently to the retina. Above threshold exposure to UVR, for short delay onset of damage, causes a toxic reaction on the surface of the eye, snow blindness, and cataract. Sub-threshold daily exposure to UVR over decades is associated with several ocular surface pathologies and eye lid cancer. Visible radiation is a threat to the retina. A single above threshold exposure, for short delay onset of damage to the retina causes immediate photochemical Type II retinal damage, Sun blindness. A single exposure of the retina to a very high intensity laser beam may cause thermal or thermo-mechanical damage in the retina. In environments with high irradiance of optical radiation, the child eye should be protected. Legislation and public information is required for avoidance of damage from high intensity laser systems. More research is urgently needed to exclude the potential hazard of near infrared radiation.     

Synchronous flowering of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) induced by high solar radiation intensity

How tropical trees flower synchronously near the equator in the absence of significant day length variation or other meteorological cues has long been a puzzle. The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is used as a model to investigate this phenomenon. The annual cycle of solar radiation intensity is shown to correspond closely with the flowering of the rubber tree planted near the equator and in the subtropics. Unlike in temperate regions, where incoming solar radiation (insolation) is dependent on both day length and radiation intensity, insolation at the equator is due entirely to the latter. Insolation at the upper atmosphere peaks twice a year during the spring and autumn equinoxes, but the actual solar radiation that reaches the ground is attenuated to varying extents in different localities. The rubber tree shows one or two flowering seasons a year (with major and minor seasons in the latter) in accordance with the solar radiation intensity received. High solar radiation intensity, and in particular bright sunshine (as distinct from prolonged diffuse radiation), induces synchronous anthesis and blooming in Hevea around the time of the equinoxes. The same mechanism may be operational in other tropical tree species.     

Study of the radiation spectra of fast Z-pinches formed during the implosion of wire arrays in the Angara-5-1 facility

Results are presented from measurements of the radiation spectra of the Z-pinch tungsten plasma produced during the implosion of cylindrical wire arrays with a linear mass of 200?C400 ??g/cm and an initial diameter of 12?C20 mm at a current of ??3 MA in the experiments performed at the Angara-5-1 facility. The radiation spectra in the photon energy range of 50?C900 eV were recorded on a UF-4 X-ray film by using a spectrograph with a transmission grating. The radiation spectrum in the photon energy range of 1?C3 keV was recorded using a crystalline panoramic spectrograph. A curtain shutter was used to protect the transmission grating from fast microparticles produced due to the erosion of high-voltage electrodes. The total radiation yield was measured with a thermocouple calorimeter. It is shown that most of the tungsten plasma radiation energy is emitted in the photon energy range of 80?C300 eV. Measurements of the spectral intensity of pinch radiation with a spatial resolution along the pinch radius showed that the effective transverse diameter of the pinch did not exceed 2 mm, which agrees with independent current measurements of the pinch size. The results of measurements of the spectral intensity of pinch radiation were compared with calculations per-formed under the assumption of a stationary homogeneous plasma.     

X-ray small angle scattering of the human transferrin protein aggregates. A fractal study.

X-ray small angle scattering experiments, using a pin hole SAXS camera with Synchrotron radiation source, have been performed to study the conformational changes of lyophilized samples of Apo-, Mono-, and Diferric- human transferrin. We report the experimental evidence that the analysis of the scattered intensity through the fractal theory may give information on the particle size and its variation upon iron binding.     

UV-B辐射增强对芦苇光合生理及叶绿体超微结构的影响

在UV-B辐照增强条件下,研究不同辐照梯度对芦苇光合特性、光合色素含量及叶绿体超微结构的影响. 结果表明: 与自然光照相比,UV-B辐照增强显著降低芦苇叶片净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率,且随辐照强度增大,降低程度加剧,胞间CO₂浓度升高,光合效率显著降低;与自然光照相比,UV-B辐照增强显著降低芦苇叶片光合色素含量(包括叶绿素a、叶绿素b、总叶绿素和类胡萝卜素),且随辐照强度增大,降低程度加剧;UV-B辐射增强条件下,叶绿体超微结构遭到破坏,表现为叶绿体结构变形,类囊体片层排列稀疏紊乱、膨胀甚至模糊不清,并且UV-B辐射强度越大,损伤越大,高强度UV-B辐射对叶绿体超微结构的影响大于低强度辐射.     

烤烟叶片光合气体交换参数对滤减UV-B辐射强度的响应

以烤烟品种'K326'为试验材料,通过覆盖不同的透明薄膜滤减UV-B辐射处理方式,并应用多元统计的岭回归分析方法,研究了100%(CK)、75%(A)、50% (B)、35%(C)自然UV-B辐射处理下烤烟成熟初期叶片的光合气体交换参数与50 cm和150 cm高度UV-B辐射强度的关系.结果表明:对于净光合速率,不同高度的UV-B辐射对A、B、C处理的抑制强度都是A>C>B;3个处理的瞬时水分利用效率(WUE)受UV-B辐射抑制强度为B>C>A;在A、C处理条件下,影响烟叶净光合速率变化的主要是气孔因素,而B处理条件下却主要是非气孔因素.可见,'K326'烤烟叶片的光合气体交换参数对不同的UV-B辐射强度响应区间的敏感性存在一定的差异.     

Modelling the effects of changes in solar radiation on gross primary production in subtropical evergreen needle-leaf plantations

太阳辐射是陆地生态系统碳水循环的能量来源。太阳辐射的变化对植被吸收大气CO₂具有重要影响。该文通过辐射观测数据建立散射辐射比例与晴空指数的关系, 结合生态过程模型(BEPS)和通量观测数据, 模拟分析了太阳辐射变化对千烟洲常绿针叶林总初级生产力(GPP)的影响。研究结果表明: 千烟洲森林生态系统的阴叶对年GPP总量的贡献达67%, 太阳辐射变化对阴叶光合作用的影响决定了冠层GPP的变化; 太阳辐射强度和分布的年际差异导致年GPP对太阳辐射变化的响应不同, 2003、2004和2005年太阳辐射分别变化-5.44%、-1.83%和6.26%, 可使千烟洲生态系统当年GPP总量达到最大值; 在季节上, 太阳辐射的增加会导致5-6月GPP上升, 7-9月GPP下降, 使年GPP变化程度降低; 在天尺度上, 晴空指数在0.43时, 太阳辐射变化对GPP的影响最小。     

Effect of UV-B radiation on the growth and antioxidant enzymes of Antarctic sea ice microalgae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydomonas</Emphasis> sp. ICE-L

The effect of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on Antarctic phytoplankton has become an attractive ecological issue as a result of annual springtime ozone depletion. The effects of UV-B radiation on the growth and antioxidant enzymes were investigated using Antarctic sea ice microalgae Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L as the material in this study. The results demonstrated that UV-B radiation could notably inhibit the growth, especially at high UV-B radiation intensity (70 μW cm⁻²). Malondialdehyde and O₂ ^·− content in ICE-L increased rapidly in early days (1–3 days) exposed to UV-B radiation enhancement, then decreased rapidly. In the stress of UV-B radiation enhancement, the superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and Catalase activities of 1–4 days in ICE-L were obviously higher than those in the control, and their activities became higher at high UV-B radiation intensity (70 μW cm⁻²). These enzymes activity of 7 days would kept stable at low UV-B radiation intensity (35 μW cm⁻²), but kept high level at high UV-B radiation intensity (70 μW cm⁻²). However, the ascorbate peroxidase activity in ICE-L kept stable under the stress of UV-B radiation enhancement. The above experimental results indicated that the antioxidant enzyme system played an important role in the adaptation of Antarctic ice microalgae under the UV-B radiation change of Antarctic ecosystems.     

太阳辐射变化对亚热带人工常绿针叶林总初级生产力影响的模拟分析

太阳辐射是陆地生态系统碳水循环的能量来源。太阳辐射的变化对植被吸收大气CO₂具有重要影响。该文通过辐射观测数据建立散射辐射比例与晴空指数的关系, 结合生态过程模型(BEPS)和通量观测数据, 模拟分析了太阳辐射变化对千烟洲常绿针叶林总初级生产力(GPP)的影响。研究结果表明: 千烟洲森林生态系统的阴叶对年GPP总量的贡献达67%, 太阳辐射变化对阴叶光合作用的影响决定了冠层GPP的变化; 太阳辐射强度和分布的年际差异导致年GPP对太阳辐射变化的响应不同, 2003、2004和2005年太阳辐射分别变化-5.44%、-1.83%和6.26%, 可使千烟洲生态系统当年GPP总量达到最大值; 在季节上, 太阳辐射的增加会导致5-6月GPP上升, 7-9月GPP下降, 使年GPP变化程度降低; 在天尺度上, 晴空指数在0.43时, 太阳辐射变化对GPP的影响最小。     

Radiation safety requirements for cardiovascular brachytherapy

Cardiovascular brachytherapy, the use of high intensity radiation to inhibit the growth of neointimal tissue after coronary revascularization by either balloon angioplasty or other methods is being tested in a number of clinical trials to assess the efficacy of the treatment. This new use of radiation to aleviate the suffering of individuals with coronary artery disease has excited many interventionalists and has caused others to view the new technique with skepticism. There are a number of operational and safety concerns to face in incorporating this treatment modality into the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Delivering the radiation dose to the patient with a minimum of radiation exposure to both patient and operating personnel requires close attention to the physical characteristics of the radiation source as well as the administrative and regulatory requirements imposed on the facility by federal and state regulators. The insertion of the source into the proper artery and location is the task of the cardiologist in collaboration with the radiation oncologist. The determination of the appropriate radiation dose is the responsibility of the medical physicist. The safe handling of the radioisotope source is the responsibility of the radiation safety specialist. State and federal regulations dictate minimum requirements of safety in the handling of radioactive sources used in cardiovascular brachytherapy. These requirements involve close monitoring of the patient and operating personnel to insure that radiation exposures are minimized. They involve the restricted access of nonessential personnel to the cath lab during the treatment. The entrances to the cath lab must be monitored to prevent unauthorized entry. Operating personnel must be closely monitored to maintain radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). The patient must be monitored to insure that the source is implanted for the prescribed time and the patient's exposure is also ALARA consistent with the medical benefit expected. Public corridors must be monitored to prevent public exposures to the radiation emanating from the patient. The radiation exposure field around the patient during a typical gamma treatment presents what the regulators define as a high radiation area. This means that the exposure levels are in excess of 100 milli-rem (mrem) per hour at 30 cm from the patient. In fact, the exposure levels around the patient for a typical treatment are in the roentgens per hour range. The use of beta particle emitting radionuclides (Sr90/Y90 and P32) presents a much lower safety problem. But the use of radioactive materials in the cath lab still presents new safety concerns such as training, monitoring, record keeping, and public relations among the cath lab technologists.     

不同强度与持续时间UV-B辐射对麦长管蚜生长发育和繁殖的影响

【目的】探明高强度和低强度紫外辐射不同持续时间处理对麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae (Fabricius)生长发育和繁殖的影响, 以及强度与持续时间之间的交互作用。【方法】不同强度(0.20 mW/cm², 0.75 mW/cm²)、不同持续时间(3 h, 9 h和15 h)的UV-B处理后, 采用编制特定年龄生命表和测量麦长管蚜体重方法, 统计相对日均体重增长率(mean relative growth rate, MRGR)、生命表种群参数、繁殖参数以及存活率和繁殖率的变化。【结果】生命表数据表明, 在同一辐射持续时间下, 麦长管蚜种群内禀增长率r_m、净增殖率R₀、繁殖力F随紫外强度增加而显著(P<0.05)下降, 短时间内死亡率升高, 繁殖率降低; 在同一紫外强度下, 麦长管蚜的r_m, R₀和F也随处理时间延长而显著降低, 存活率下降最快时期提前, 繁殖率降低; 紫外强度和持续时间两因素的影响具有极显著(P<0.01)的交互作用, 但在短时间(3 h)、低强度(0.20 mW/cm²)的处理中, 麦蚜的r_m, R₀和F却高于无紫外辐射组（对照）。MRGR数据表明, 高强度(0.75 mW/cm²)、长时间(15 h)紫外辐射处理下麦长管蚜MRGR显著降低, 但低强度、相对短时间(3 h和9 h)紫外辐射处理下的MRGR间均无显著性差异。随辐射强度和持续时间增加, 发育为成蚜时有翅蚜所占比例增大。【结论】麦长管蚜的生长发育和繁殖受到紫外UV-B胁迫的影响, 且随着紫外强度和持续时间的不同而产生相应变化, 强度和持续时间影响具有交互效应。     

EPR study of the blood of animals during an acute radiation lesion

The intensity of the ESR signal of methemoglobin, Fe3+-transferrin, and Cu2+-ceruloplasmin in blood and spleen of mice exposed to 6 Gy radiation was shown to undergo considerable changes at early times of acute radiation sickness.     

Growth of Spirulina maxima on cow-manure wastes

Experiments were carried out on culturing the blue-green alga Spirulina maxima on raw cow-manure wastes in an outdoor pond. Improved growth was obtained at pH above 9.2 and temperature above 32°C, with half the radiation intensity required for other green algal species. A yield of 3 g/liter, in terms of total suspended matter, was achieved. The main advantage of this method is that S. maxima removes nutrients and thus serves as an alternative protein source.     

Methods for improving characteristics of laser source of ions

In this work we discuss three methods to improve characteristics of laser source of ions, namely: (i) effect of the angle of interaction of laser radiation with targets on the plasma ions characteristics, (ii) the effect of target composition on the plasma ions, and (iii) influence of the repetition rate of laser pulses on plasma parameters. Our study will be based on the analysis of mass-charge spectrum of laser-produced plasma ions for different intensity of laser radiation.     

Multiaberrant cell formation caused by exposure to internal densely-ionizing irradiation

The origin of multiaberrant cells (MACs) was studied by comparing the structure and intensity of chromosome damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of two groups of people: workers of Siberian Chemical Plant differing in the content of plutonium-239 in their bodies, and inhabitants of a non-polluted settlement (control group). Plutonium-239 is known to be a long-lived densely-ionizing source of alpha-radiation with high linear energy delivery; therefore, it has a stronger effect on cell hereditary structures than gamma-rays. In persons with the content of plutonium-239 higher than 13 nCu, the frequency of MAC was 0.105% which at least tenfold exceeds the spontaneous level. The chromosome-type aberrations that are usually induced by ionizing radiation predominated in MACs. Our results suggest that MAC formation may be caused by internal body irradiation with the incorporated sources of densely-ionizing radiation.