Estimate of radiation damage to low-level electronics of the RF system in the LHC cavities arising from beam gas collisions.

Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to estimate the radiation damage induced by high-energy hadrons in the digital electronics of the RF low-level systems in the LHC cavities. High-energy hadrons are generated when the proton beams interact with the residual gas. The contributions from various elements-vacuum chambers, cryogenic cavities, wideband pickups and cryomodule beam tubes-have been considered individually, with each contribution depending on the gas composition and density. The probability of displacement damage and single event effects (mainly single event upsets) is derived for the LHC start-up conditions.

Conformational properties of DNA after exposure to gamma rays and neutrons.

DNA aqueous solutions were irradiated with 0-40 Gy of 60Co gamma rays and 0-1.5 Gy of (Pu-Be) neutrons. Thermal transition spectrophotometry (TTS) was used to trace the changes in the DNA conformation at the above doses. Previous results using the perturbed angular correlation (PAC) method were used to complement to the current analysis. The TTS and PAC methods are two different approaches to the study of the effects of radiation on DNA. Both showed that neutrons are more effective than gamma rays in inducing DNA damage. The TTS method showed that neutrons are 11 +/- 5 times more efficient than gamma rays, while the PAC method had shown this value to be 34 +/- 4. From the current study we deduced that the radiation damage to DNA is not a spontaneous effect but rather is an ensemble of damaging events that occur asynchronously. Any single method selected for the study of such damages can concentrate on only a part of the damage, leading to over- or underestimation of the relative effectiveness of the neutrons.

Changes in DNA flexibility after irradiation with gamma rays and neutrons studied with the perturbed angular correlation method.

Neutron and gamma irradiation of buffered solutions of calf thymus DNA resulted in changes in the dynamics of the macromolecule. In the low-dose region (0.8-10 cGy of 239Pu-Be neutrons and 0.34-3 Gy of 60Co gamma rays), the flexibility of DNA decreased as indicated by slower rotation of the molecules. Neutrons appeared to be approximately 35 times more effective than 60Co gamma rays. The rotational correlation time, tau C, was measured using the perturbed angular correlation (PAC) method. Its variation appears to follow a linear-exponential behavior. An attempt is made to formulate this behavior as a function of the energy deposited on the macromolecule (radiation dose), the average threshold energy (dose) required to form new lesions, and the available population of intact DNA sites.

Radiosensitivity of V79 cells after alpha particle radiation at low doses.

Low dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS) of V79 cells was demonstrated after irradiation with gamma rays and 4He2+ ions of various linear energy transfer (LET) values (58.9, 79.3 and 101.7 keV.micron-1). In parallel, the cytogenetic analysis showed an LET dependence of aberrations at a dose of 1 Gy, while the observed chromatid fragments appeared to vary with the number of 4He2+ ions traversing the cell nucleus. The results of both studies are correlated so as to achieve a better understanding of the so-called induced radioresistance. The cell mechanism of radioresistance appears to be induced after a certain amount of energy is deposited in the cell nucleus. This amount depends both on the radiation quality as well as the number of particles traversing the cell, inducing chromosome alterations and chromatid damage.

Low-dose hypersensitivity of V79 cells under exposure to gamma-rays and 4He ions of different energies: survival and chromosome aberrations.

PURPOSE: To examine the low-dose sensitivity of V79 cells under exposure to gamma-rays and 4He ions of different energies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell survival and cytogenetic analysis using the Giemsa technique were studied following irradiation to doses of 0-3 Gy at the INFN-LNL facilities. RESULTS: Low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS) of V79 was demonstrated after irradiation with gamma-rays and alpha-particles of various linear energy transfers (LET) (58.9, 79.3 and 101.7 keV microm(-1)). Cytogenetic analysis showed an LET dependence of aberrations at a dose of 1Gy; the frequency of chromatid fragments appeared to vary with the number of alpha-particles traversing the cell nucleus. The results of both studies fit together to give a better understanding of so-called 'induced radioresistance' phenomenon. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of induced cellular radioresistance appears to be initiated after a certain amount of energy is deposited in the cell nucleus. This amount depends on both radiation quality and the number of particles traversing the cell.

Probing irradiated DNA with the perturbed angular correlation method.

The technique of perturbed angular correlations of gamma rays has been used to study the effects of radiation on DNA molecules. The samples are buffered solutions of calf thymus DNA exposed to various doses (0-80 Gy) of gamma rays. Indium-111 is used as a probe. Rotational correlation times, tau(c), a parameter measuring the flexibility of a macromolecule, are obtained that show a dependence on radiation dose.

[The limits of root planing in the furcation area. A mathematical comparison of the radii of curvature on the root surfaces and on the curettes]. / Grenzen der Wurzelglättung im Furkationsbereich. Ein mathematischer Vergleich der Krümmungsradien an den Wurzeloberflächen und den Küretten.

In order to draw some conclusions about the furcation region accessibility for periodontal instruments and their cleaning effect, the curvature radii of the root faces of 31 lower molars were mathematically determined and compared with the curvature radii of the working end of normally available curettes. From the results of this work it can be seen, that the Gracey curettes have an essential greater curvature radius as the curvature radius of the root faces. On the other site the special curettes for root planing in the furcation region have a smaller curvature radius as that of the root faces. Using the instruments included in this study, it is not possible to achieve an optimal root planing.