Retaliation of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. to caesium and strontium in hydroponics: effect on morpho-physiology and induction of enzymatic defence.

The habitation and environment are affected by the stable isotopes of caesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr), as well as by their radioactive isotopes. The current work gives insight on Alstonia scholaris' capacity to phytoextract stable caesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr), as well as the plant's ability to protect against the toxicity of both elements. Experiments with Cs [0-5 mM (CsCl)] and Sr [0-3 mM (SrCl2. 6H2O)] dosing in controlled light, temperature, and humidity condition in greenhouse for 21 days were undertaken. Cs and Sr accumulation in different plant parts was quantified with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) respectively. Hyper-accumulation capacity for Cs and Sr was estimated with indices like transfer factor (TF) and translocation factors (TrF). The uptake pattern of caesium in Alstonia scholaris is 5452.8-24,771.4 mg/kg DW (TF = 85.2-57.6) and in the case of Sr is 1307.4-8705.7 mg/kg DW (TF = 85.3-1.46). The findings demonstrated the plant's ability to transfer Cs and Sr to aboveground biomass on the basis of dry weight, with the majority of the metals being deposited in the shoot rather than the root portion of the plant. For Cs and Sr, with increasing concentration, the plants exhibited the enzymatic expression for defence against metal toxicity by free radicals compared to control. Field emission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (FESEM with EDS) was employed to assess the spatial distribution of Cs and Sr in plant leaf, indicating the accumulation of Cs, Sr, and their homologous components.

Gender differences in osteoporotic hip fractures in Sarawak General Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture pose a major public health problem in our ageing population, and particularly concerning is the increased morbidity and mortality associated with osteoporotic hip fractures. While overall diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis have improved, osteoporosis in men remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. We aim to describe the difference in clinical characteristics between elderly men and women with osteoporotic hip fractures in Sarawak General Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed with osteoporotic hip fracture admitted to Sarawak General Hospital from June 2019 to March 2021 were recruited, and demographic data and clinical features were obtained. RESULTS: There were 140 patients with osteoporotic hip fracture, and 40 were men (28.6%). The mean age for males was 74.1 ± 9.5 years, while the mean age for females was 77.4 ± 9.1 years (p=0.06). The types of fracture consisted of neck of femur=78, intertrochanteric=61 and subtrochanteric=1. More men were active smokers (15% vs 1%, p<0.001). There were 20 men with secondary osteoporosis (50%), while 13 women (13%) had secondary osteoporosis (p<0.001). The causes of secondary osteoporosis among the men were hypogonadism, COPD, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, renal disease, androgen deprivation therapy, thyroid disorder, prostate cancer and previous gastrectomy. There were two deaths among the men and four deaths among the women during the inpatient and 3 months follow-up period. There was no statistical significance between the mortality rates between male patients (5%) and female patients (4%) (p=0.55). CONCLUSION: There were more females with osteoporotic hip fractures, and there were significantly more males with secondary osteoporotic hip fractures.

Phytoremediation of 137Cs: factors and consequences in the environment.

Radionuclide contamination is a concerning threat due to unexpected nuclear disasters and authorized discharge of radioactive elements, both in the past and in present times. Use of atomic power for energy generation is associated with unresolved issues concerning storage of residues and contaminants. For example, the nuclear accidents in Chernobyl 1986 and Fukushima 2011 resulted in considerable deposition of cesium (Cs) in soil, along with other radionuclides. Among Cs radioactive variants, the anthropogenic radioisotope 137Cs (t½ = 30.16 years) is of serious environmental concern, owing to its rapid incorporation into biological systems and emission of ß and γ radiation during the decaying process. To remediate contaminated areas, mostly conventional techniques are applied that are not eco-friendly. Hence, an alternative green technology, i.e., phytoremediation, should in future be considered and implemented. This sustainable technology generates limited secondary waste and its objectives are to utilize hyper-accumulating plants to extract, stabilize, degrade, and filter the radionuclides. The review highlights plant mechanisms for up-taking radionuclides and influences of different environmental factors involved in the process, while considering its long-term effects.

Publisher Correction: The observation of vibrating pear-shapes in radon nuclei.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Overview of Zoonotic Diseases in Peri-Urban Areas and Introduction to the Special Issue.

Emerging zoonoses are the product of socio economic and anthropogenic environmental changes. As human societies continue to develop, pathogens from animal hosts have continued to spill over into our population However, Peri-urban ecosystems remain neglected in the country. With a subsequent increase in demand for food, there has been an expansion of formal and informal livestock-based food production sectors in these areas. The increasing close contact between animals and humans in both work and living environments creates hot spots in peri-urban areas, thereby increasing vulnerability to zoonotic disease transmission and other health hazards associated with food safety, water, and sanitation-related diseases. This paper explores the efforts made by different research bodies to reduce the prevalence of zoonotic diseases in peri-urban areas.

Evolution of Octupole Deformation in Radium Nuclei from Coulomb Excitation of Radioactive

There is sparse direct experimental evidence that atomic nuclei can exhibit stable "pear" shapes arising from strong octupole correlations. In order to investigate the nature of octupole collectivity in radium isotopes, electric octupole (E3) matrix elements have been determined for transitions in ^{222,228}Ra nuclei using the method of sub-barrier, multistep Coulomb excitation. Beams of the radioactive radium isotopes were provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The observed pattern of E3 matrix elements for different nuclear transitions is explained by describing ^{222}Ra as pear shaped with stable octupole deformation, while ^{228}Ra behaves like an octupole vibrator.

The observation of vibrating pear-shapes in radon nuclei.

There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we observed the low-lying quantum states in 224Rn and 226Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable conditions for the enhancement of a measurable atomic electric-dipole moment.

Is Exposure to Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship Associated with Initiation of Tobacco Use among Current Tobacco Users in Youth in India?

BACKGROUND: The rise in consumption of tobacco products among youth is a public health concern in India. Several studies have shown that advertisements promoting tobacco products influence decisions and behaviour of youth towards smoking. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain which method of Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) was more influential for initiating tobacco use in youth in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The secondary data of youth (15-24 years) from nationally representative Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in 2009-2010 was analyzed. Odds ratio and p-value were used to know the association between TAPS and initiation of use of tobacco products among youth. Logistic regression was used to determine the most significant means of TAPS altering the youth's behaviour towards tobacco products. RESULTS: Out of 13,383 youths, 1,982 (14.7%) used smokeless forms of tobacco and 860 (6.38%) used smoke forms. Logistic regression reveals that promotional activities mainly through cinemas (p<0.05) and providing free samples of tobacco products (p<=.001) were most influential means of initiating consumption of tobacco products among youth. CONCLUSIONS: The smoking in youth is associated with watching advertisements particularly in cinema and promotional activities like distribution of free samples, coupons and sales on the price of tobacco products. Stronger legislative measures should be enforced to curb promotional advertisements in cinemas and distribution of free samples.

Hindered Gamow-Teller decay to the odd-odd N=Z (62)Ga: absence of proton-neutron T=0 condensate in A=62.

Search for a new kind of superfluidity built on collective proton-neutron pairs with aligned spin is performed studying the Gamow-Teller decay of the T=1, J(π)=0+ ground state of (62)Ge into excited states of the odd-odd N=Z nucleus (62)Ga. The experiment is performed at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Shwerionenforshung with the (62)Ge ions selected by the fragment separator and implanted in a stack of Si-strip detectors, surrounded by the RISING Ge array. A half-life of T1/2=82.9(14) ms is measured for the (62)Ge ground state. Six excited states of (62)Ga, populated below 2.5 MeV through Gamow-Teller transitions, are identified. Individual Gamow-Teller transition strengths agree well with theoretical predictions of the interacting shell model and the quasiparticle random phase approximation. The absence of any sizable low-lying Gamow-Teller strength in the reported beta-decay experiment supports the hypothesis of a negligible role of coherent T=0 proton-neutron correlations in (62)Ga.

Coulomb excitation of 104Sn and the strength of the 100Sn shell closure.

A measurement of the reduced transition probability for the excitation of the ground state to the first 2+ state in 104Sn has been performed using relativistic Coulomb excitation at GSI. 104Sn is the lightest isotope in the Sn chain for which this quantity has been measured. The result is a key point in the discussion of the evolution of nuclear structure in the proximity of the doubly magic nucleus 100Sn. The value B(E2; 0+ → 2+) = 0.10(4) e2b2 is significantly lower than earlier results for 106Sn and heavier isotopes. The result is well reproduced by shell model predictions and therefore indicates a robust N = Z = 50 shell closure.

Evidence for a smooth onset of deformation in the neutron-rich Kr isotopes.

The neutron-rich nuclei 94,96Kr were studied via projectile Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. Level energies of the first excited 2(+) states and their absolute E2 transition strengths to the ground state are determined and discussed in the context of the E(2(1)(+)) and B(E2;2(1)(+)→0(1)(+)) systematics of the krypton chain. Contrary to previously published results no sudden onset of deformation is observed. This experimental result is supported by a new proton-neutron interacting boson model calculation based on the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach using the microscopic Gogny-D1M energy density functional.

16+ spin-gap isomer in 96Cd.

A ß-decaying high-spin isomer in (96)Cd, with a half-life T(1/2)=0.29(-0.10)(+0.11) s, has been established in a stopped beam rare isotope spectroscopic investigations at GSI (RISING) experiment. The nuclei were produced using the fragmentation of a primary beam of (124)Xe on a (9)Be target. From the half-life and the observed γ decays in the daughter nucleus, (96)Ag, we conclude that the ß-decaying state is the long predicted 16(+) "spin-gap" isomer. Shell-model calculations, using the Gross-Frenkel interaction and the πν(p(1/2),g(9/2)) model space, show that the isoscalar component of the neutron-proton interaction is essential to explain the origin of the isomer. Core excitations across the N=Z=50 gaps and the Gamow-Teller strength, B(GT) distributions have been studied via large-scale shell-model calculations using the πν(g,d,s) model space to compare with the experimental B(GT) value obtained from the half-life of the isomer.

Evidence for a spin-aligned neutron-proton paired phase from the level structure of (92)Pd.

Shell structure and magic numbers in atomic nuclei were generally explained by pioneering work that introduced a strong spin-orbit interaction to the nuclear shell model potential. However, knowledge of nuclear forces and the mechanisms governing the structure of nuclei, in particular far from stability, is still incomplete. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers (N = Z), enhanced correlations arise between neutrons and protons (two distinct types of fermions) that occupy orbitals with the same quantum numbers. Such correlations have been predicted to favour an unusual type of nuclear superfluidity, termed isoscalar neutron-proton pairing, in addition to normal isovector pairing. Despite many experimental efforts, these predictions have not been confirmed. Here we report the experimental observation of excited states in the N = Z = 46 nucleus (92)Pd. Gamma rays emitted following the (58)Ni((36)Ar,2n)(92)Pd fusion-evaporation reaction were identified using a combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution γ-ray, charged-particle and neutron detector systems. Our results reveal evidence for a spin-aligned, isoscalar neutron-proton coupling scheme, different from the previous prediction. We suggest that this coupling scheme replaces normal superfluidity (characterized by seniority coupling) in the ground and low-lying excited states of the heaviest N = Z nuclei. Such strong, isoscalar neutron-proton correlations would have a considerable impact on the nuclear level structure and possibly influence the dynamics of rapid proton capture in stellar nucleosynthesis.

Coherent contributions to isospin mixing in the mirror pair 67As and 67Se.

Isospin symmetry breaking has been investigated in mass A=67 mirror nuclei through the experimental determination of the E1 strengths of analog electromagnetic transitions. Lifetimes of excited states have been measured in (67)Se and (67)As with the centroid shift method. Through the comparison of the B(E1) strengths of the mirror 9/2(+)-->7/2(-) transitions, the isovector and the isoscalar components of the electromagnetic transition amplitude were extracted. The presence of a large isoscalar component provides evidence for coherent contributions to isospin mixing, probably involving the isovector giant monopole resonance.

Shell Erosion and Shape Coexistence in (16)43S27.

We report on the g-factor measurement of the first isomeric state in (16)43S27 [Ex=320.5(5) keV, T1/2=415(5) ns, and g=0.317(4)]. The 7/2- spin-parity of the isomer and the intruder nature of the ground state of the nucleus are experimentally established for the first time, providing direct and unambiguous evidence of the collapse of the N=28 shell closure in neutron-rich nuclei. The shell model, beyond the mean-field and semiempirical calculations, provides a very consistent description of this nucleus showing that a well deformed prolate and quasispherical states coexist at low energy.

Meconium aspiration syndrome remains a significant problem in the NICU: outcomes and treatment patterns in term neonates admitted for intensive care during a ten-year period.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the demographic and treatment characteristics of neonates (>or=37 weeks' estimated gestational age) who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a diagnosis of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) during the years 1997 to 2007. The goals in studying this group of neonates were to better estimate the magnitude of abnormal outcomes and to determine the proportion of these infants exposed to specific therapeutic interventions. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of an administrative de-identified data set. RESULT: A total of 415,772 neonates formed the starting data set and 162,075 (39%) were >or=37 weeks. Of the 162,075 term neonates, 7518 (1.8% of all neonates and 4.6% of term NICU admissions) had an admission diagnosis of MAS. In the 7518 neonates, the following outcomes were observed: 6124 (81.5%) were discharged home; 679 (9%) were acutely transferred to a higher level of intensive care; 416 (5.5%) were transferred to another clinical service within the hospital; 178 (2.4%) were transferred to another NICU for convalescent care and 88 (1.2%) died. There were 33 (0.4%) who did not have data on outcome at discharge. During the period between 2002 and 2005, acute transfer rates decreased (12.4 to 9%) and the reported rate for death remained relatively constant between 0.9 and 1.5%. There were 107 (1.4%) neonates who were treated (n=61) with, or transferred, for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (n=46). Three of the sixty-one neonates (4.9%) who were treated with ECMO died. CONCLUSION: Term neonates who are admitted with a diagnosis of MAS continue to represent a high-risk population with significant morbidity, and they often require intensive therapies.

40Ca(alpha, gamma)44Ti reaction in the energy regime of supernova nucleosynthesis.

The 44Ti(t1/2=59 yr) nuclide, an important signature of supernova nucleosynthesis, has recently been observed as live radioactivity by gamma-ray astronomy from the Cas A remnant. We investigate in the laboratory the major 44Ti production reaction 40Ca(alpha, gamma)44Ti (Ec.m. approximately 0.6-1.2 MeV/u by direct off-line counting of 44Ti nuclei. The yield, significantly higher than inferred from previous experiments, is analyzed in terms of a statistical model using microscopic nuclear inputs. The associated stellar rate has important astrophysical consequences, increasing the calculated supernova 44Ti yield by a factor approximately 2 over previous estimates and bringing it closer to Cas A observations.