On-line rapid purification of [13N]N2 gas for visualization of nitrogen fixation and translocation in nodulated soybean.

Accurate analysis of N fixation in leguminous crops requires determination of N utilization within an intact plant; however, most approaches require tissue disassembly. We developed a simple and rapid technique to generate high-purity and high-yield [13N]N2 gas and obtained real-time images of N fixation in an intact soybean plant. The purification efficiency was ∼81.6% after decay correction. Our method provides accurate signals of N fixation and allows free changes to the tracer gas composition to suit different experimental designs.

Practical experience and challenges in the operation of medical cyclotron.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to share 10 years of operational experience of medical cyclotron and to provide working knowledge on the same. This experience has helped us gain working knowledge on cyclotron operation with practical points, which may help in improving F yield, minimizing the breakdown time, and help in the prevention of the occurrence of unusual events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our facility has a self-shielded radioisotope delivery system eclipse 111 medical cyclotron with an 11 MeV proton beam in use for the past 10 years to produce positron emitters - namely, F, N, and F-2 gas - for PET imaging. During F production, we have followed a set protocol comprising the following: monitoring target pressure, rinsing the target with O water just immediately after bombardment, ion source feedback, radiofrequency (RF) feedback, and recording any unusual events that occurred during the operation. Besides this, enrichment of O water, target volume, target current, energy of the beam, variation in argon pressure on the target, bombardment duration, target status (new or old target or total number of previous bombardments on the same target), status of the delivery lines from target to the radiochemistry module (old or new) were also recorded. RESULTS: Rinsing with O water immediately after bombardment increases the life of the target and delivery line. The frequent problems encountered were with the ion source, RF, and target foil rupture. These problems were solved by rebuilding the ion source, changing the fuse of RF, and rebuilding the target. CONCLUSION: F yield can be increased by rinsing with O water immediately after bombardment. The effect of target leak - that is, rupture of vacuum window - can be avoided by immediate stoppage of bombardment.

Method for the Determination of ¹5N Incorporation Percentage in Labeled Peptides and Proteins.

Use of labeled (15)N proteins and peptides as internal standards in isotope-dilution mass spectrometry for the quantification of proteins has been increasing and is now accepted as a gold standard for this analysis. As a necessary reagent in this process, stable heavy isotope-labeled internal standards must be rigorously characterized in a number of ways including identity, concentration, purity, and structure. Additionally, the degree of the incorporation of the heavy isotope is a critical feature to consider. For proteins that are (15)N labeled, the percentage of incorporation is a valid measurement used to assess the fitness-to-purpose of the material. This measurement should be objective, repeatable, and based on empirical analysis. One means of assigning this value is to compare a mass spectrum of the isotopic profile of a peptide against a series of theoretical profiles containing different enrichment rates. This comparison can be made using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r) to find the best match between the empirical and theoretical profiles. Theoretical profiles can be generated using probability multinomial analysis but are computationally intensive and require the use of computers for practical use. The method described in this chapter describes the development and use of a computer program to calculate the percentage of (15)N enrichment of a labeled internal standard. Additionally, methods will be described for the empirical determination of an isotopic profile using a variety of mass spectrometry techniques.

Production of 13N by 12C(d,n)13N reaction in a medium energy plasma focus.

This paper explores the production of (13)N by bombardment of a carbon target by high energy deuterons in a medium energy plasma focus. A set of experiments in the energy range of 2.7-3.1kJ and initial pressure of 200-700Pa, with three or five shots in each experiment, was performed. A HPGe detector was used for gamma spectroscopy, and 511keV photons emitted by positron annihilation were utilized to measure the (13)N radioactivity. The highest activity of (13)N in these experiments was 14Bq which was acquired after five shots at a pressure of 450Pa and a 3.1kJ stored energy. Calculations based on thick target yield showed that at least 1.9×10(9) deuterons with energies higher than 330keV were ejected from the pinch region.

Efficient system for the preparation of [13N]labeled nitrosamines.

In the present Letter, a fast and reproducible method for the synthesis of N-[(13)N]nitrosamines is reported. The labeling strategy is based on trapping [(13)N]NO2- in an anion exchange resin. The reaction with secondary amines in the presence of Ph(3)P and Br(2) led to the formation of the desired nitrosamines in short reaction times (2 min) with excellent radiochemical conversion (>45%). Final radiotracers were obtained after purification in good radiochemical yields (>30%, decay corrected). Radiochemical purity was above 99% in all cases.