Nuclear Charge Radius of

Collinear laser spectroscopy was performed on the isomer of the aluminium isotope ^{26m}Al. The measured isotope shift to ^{27}Al in the 3s^{2}3p ^{2}P_{3/2}^{○}→3s^{2}4s ^{2}S_{1/2} atomic transition enabled the first experimental determination of the nuclear charge radius of ^{26m}Al, resulting in R_{c}=3.130(15) fm. This differs by 4.5 standard deviations from the extrapolated value used to calculate the isospin-symmetry breaking corrections in the superallowed ß decay of ^{26m}Al. Its corrected Ft value, important for the estimation of V_{ud} in the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix, is thus shifted by 1 standard deviation to 3071.4(1.0) s.

Nuclear Charge Radii of the Nickel Isotopes

Collinear laser spectroscopy is performed on the nickel isotopes ^{58-68,70}Ni, using a time-resolved photon counting system. From the measured isotope shifts, nuclear charge radii R_{c} are extracted and compared to theoretical results. Three ab initio approaches all employ, among others, the chiral interaction NNLO_{sat}, which allows an assessment of their accuracy. We find agreement with experiment in differential radii δ⟨r_{c}^{2}⟩ for all employed ab initio methods and interactions, while the absolute radii are consistent with data only for NNLO_{sat}. Within nuclear density functional theory, the Skyrme functional SV-min matches experiment more closely than the Fayans functional Fy(Δr,HFB).

Charge Radius of the Short-Lived

We present the first laser spectroscopic measurement of the neutron-rich nucleus ^{68}Ni at the N=40 subshell closure and extract its nuclear charge radius. Since this is the only short-lived isotope for which the dipole polarizability α_{D} has been measured, the combination of these observables provides a benchmark for nuclear structure theory. We compare them to novel coupled-cluster calculations based on different chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions, for which a strong correlation between the charge radius and dipole polarizability is observed, similar to the stable nucleus ^{48}Ca. Three-particle-three-hole correlations in coupled-cluster theory substantially improve the description of the experimental data, which allows to constrain the neutron radius and neutron skin of ^{68}Ni.

Laser Spectroscopy of Neutron-Rich Tin Isotopes: A Discontinuity in Charge Radii across the N=82 Shell Closure.

The change in mean-square nuclear charge radii δ⟨r^{2}⟩ along the even-A tin isotopic chain ^{108-134}Sn has been investigated by means of collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE/CERN using the atomic transitions 5p^{2} ^{1}S_{0}→5p6 s^{1}P_{1} and 5p^{2} ^{3}P_{0}→5p6s ^{3}P_{1}. With the determination of the charge radius of ^{134}Sn and corrected values for some of the neutron-rich isotopes, the evolution of the charge radii across the N=82 shell closure is established. A clear kink at the doubly magic ^{132}Sn is revealed, similar to what has been observed at N=82 in other isotopic chains with larger proton numbers, and at the N=126 shell closure in doubly magic ^{208}Pb. While most standard nuclear density functional calculations struggle with a consistent explanation of these discontinuities, we demonstrate that a recently developed Fayans energy density functional provides a coherent description of the kinks at both doubly magic nuclei, ^{132}Sn and ^{208}Pb, without sacrificing the overall performance. A multiple correlation analysis leads to the conclusion that both kinks are related to pairing and surface effects.

Publisher's Note: Isomer Shift and Magnetic Moment of the Long-Lived 1/2

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.182502.

Isomer Shift and Magnetic Moment of the Long-Lived 1/2

Collinear laser spectroscopy is performed on the _{30}^{79}Zn_{49} isotope at ISOLDE-CERN. The existence of a long-lived isomer with a few hundred milliseconds half-life is confirmed, and the nuclear spins and moments of the ground and isomeric states in ^{79}Zn as well as the isomer shift are measured. From the observed hyperfine structures, spins I=9/2 and I=1/2 are firmly assigned to the ground and isomeric states. The magnetic moment µ (^{79}Zn)=-1.1866(10)µ_{N}, confirms the spin-parity 9/2^{+} with a νg_{9/2}^{-1} shell-model configuration, in excellent agreement with the prediction from large scale shell-model theories. The magnetic moment µ (^{79m}Zn)=-1.0180(12)µ_{N} supports a positive parity for the isomer, with a wave function dominated by a 2h-1p neutron excitation across the N=50 shell gap. The large isomer shift reveals an increase of the intruder isomer mean square charge radius with respect to that of the ground state, δ⟨r_{c}^{2}⟩^{79,79m}=+0.204(6) fm^{2}, providing first evidence of shape coexistence.

Use of a Continuous Wave Laser and Pockels Cell for Sensitive High-Resolution Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy.

New technical developments have led to a 2 orders of magnitude improvement of the resolution of the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN, without sacrificing the high efficiency of the CRIS technique. Experimental linewidths of 20(1) MHz were obtained on radioactive beams of francium, allowing us for the first time to determine the electric quadrupole moment of the short lived [t_{1/2}=22.0(5) ms] ^{219}Fr Q_{s}=-1.21(2) eb, which would not have been possible without the advantages offered by the new method. This method relies on a continuous-wave laser and an external Pockels cell to produce narrow-band light pulses, required to reach the high resolution in two-step resonance ionization. Exotic nuclei produced at rates of a few hundred ions/s can now be studied with high resolution, allowing detailed studies of the anchor points for nuclear theories.

Proton-neutron pairing correlations in the self-conjugate nucleus (38)K probed via a direct measurement of the isomer shift.

A marked difference in the nuclear charge radius was observed between the I^{π}=3^{+} ground state and the I^{π}=0^{+} isomer of ^{38}K and is qualitatively explained using an intuitive picture of proton-neutron pairing. In a high-precision measurement of the isomer shift using bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy at CERN-ISOLDE, a change in the mean-square charge radius of ⟨r_{c}^{2}⟩(^{38}K^{m})-⟨r_{c}^{2}⟩(^{38}K^{g})=0.100(6) fm^{2} was obtained. This is an order of magnitude more accurate than the result of a previous indirect measurement from which it was concluded that both long-lived states in ^{38}K have similar charge radii. Our observation leads to a substantially different understanding since the difference in charge radius is, moreover, opposite in sign to previously reported theoretical predictions. It is demonstrated that the observed isomer shift can be reproduced by large-scale shell-model calculations including proton and neutron excitations across the N,Z=20 shell gaps, confirming the significance of cross-shell correlations in the region of ^{40}Ca.

Collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy of neutron-deficient francium isotopes.

The magnetic moments and isotope shifts of the neutron-deficient francium isotopes (202-205)Fr were measured at ISOLDE-CERN with use of collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy. A production-to-detection efficiency of 1% was measured for (202)Fr. The background from nonresonant and collisional ionization was maintained below one ion in 10(5) beam particles. Through a comparison of the measured charge radii with predictions from the spherical droplet model, it is concluded that the ground-state wave function remains spherical down to (205)Fr, with a departure observed in (203)Fr (N=116).

Spins and magnetic moments of 49K and 51K: establishing the 1/2+ and 3/2+ level ordering beyond N = 28.

The ground-state spins and magnetic moments of (49,51)K have been measured using bunched-beam high-resolution collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE CERN. For 49K a ground-state spin I = 1/2 was firmly established. The observed hyperfine structure of 51K requires a spin I > 1/2 and strongly suggests I = 3/2. From its magnetic moment µ(51K) = +0.5129(22)µ(N) a spin-parity I(π) = 3/2+ with a dominant π1d(3/2)(-1) hole configuration was deduced. This establishes for the first time the reinversion of the single-particle levels and illustrates the prominent role of the residual monopole interaction for single-particle levels and shell evolution.

Mutation of the repeat number of the HPRTB locus and structure of rare intermediate alleles.

During routine paternity testing a mutation of a paternal allele at the HPRTB locus was observed. The opportunity was taken to analyse this mutation at a molecular level. The repeat sequence is flanked by an imperfect repeat sequence and this region could be involved in the mutation mechanism. For this reason, we also examined the structure of "intermediate" alleles. Sequencing confirmed the insertion of a perfect repeat motif and revealed a deletion of a dinucleotide some 50 nucleotides downstream from the repeat sequence for the intermediate alleles. It is likely that these intermediate alleles are rare biallelic deletion polymorphisms and are probably not involved in the mutation or variation mechanism of this locus.

Detection of SV40 like viral DNA and viral antigens in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

This study investigated the presence of simian vacuolating virus 40 (SV40) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in malignant pleural mesothelioma, non-neoplastic mesothelium and pleural carcinoma metastasis and correlated these data with immunohistochemistry for SV40 viral antigens. The novel Primed In Situ (PRINS) method was applied to detect the presence of SV40 DNA in situ in tissue sections of malignant mesothelioma (n = 25), non-neoplastic mesothelium (n = 30) and pleural carcinoma metastasis (n = 30). Immunohistochemistry with an SV40-specific antibody was applied for detection of the SV40 viral antigen in the same material. SV40 DNA and expression of one of the viral proteins (small t-antigen) was found in approximately 60% of the investigated mesothelioma cases in contrast to non-neoplastic mesothelium and carcinoma metastasis that were negative for both SV40 DNA and SV40 viral antigens. These results suggest that simian vacuolating virus 40 deoxyribonucleic acid may be biologically active as there was also immunoreactivity for simian vacuolating virus 40 viral antigen in those cases positive for simian vacuolating virus 40 deoxyribonucleic acid with the primed in situ reaction. Simian vacuolating virus 40 viral deoxyribonucleic acid and antigens may be potential markers for neoplastic mesothelium that may prove useful in the rather difficult histopathological differential diagnosis between malignant mesothelioma and reactive mesothelium or pleural carcinoma.

Allele frequencies of nine STR systems in the Flemish population and application in parentage testing.

In order to apply a set of nine STR loci in parentage testing, we performed a population genetic study on a sample of the Flemish population. Genotypes for HUMHPRTB, HUMFABP, HUMCD4, HUMCSF1PO, HUMTH01, HUMPLA2A, HUMPLA2A1, HUMF13A01, HUMCYAR04 and HUMLIPOL were determined using three triplex PCR reactions and silver staining. Allele frequencies showed no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency distribution agreed well with other Caucasian populations but three intermediate fragments, not previously found in Caucasians, were observed. We then resolved a series of 151 parentage disputes of which 103 were exclusions. In six cases, evidence for exclusion was obtained by only one informative STR locus out of eight for male children or out of nine for female children. These exclusions were confirmed with additional polymorphic markers. In one case of inclusion, a paternal allele expanded with one repeat unit of HUMHPRTB. This observation illustrates that STRs do not differ from other genetic systems in the fact that more than one excluding locus is required before exclusion is demonstrated.

Localized amyloid tumour of the duodenum : a case report.

Amyloid tumours in the gastrointestinal tract are rare. A case is presented of a localized amyloid tumour in the duodenum, which was removed by loop resection during ERCP.

Cisapride in the management of chronic functional dyspepsia: a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The effects of cisapride, a nondopaminolytic motility-enhancing agent, were studied in 56 patients with chronic functional dyspepsia; all had symptoms suggestive of delayed gastric emptying. The patients received 4 mg or 8 mg of cisapride or placebo orally three times daily for two successive three-week periods according to a randomized, double-blind, crossover study design. Although there was a high placebo response (55% showed good or excellent results), the global response to treatment was significantly (P = 0.024) in favor of cisapride (75% had good or excellent results). The drug was particularly superior to placebo (P = 0.03) in the improvement of a cluster of symptoms typical of postprandial discomfort, including early satiety and nausea. Side effects were minimal.