Production of zirconium-88 via proton irradiation of metallic yttrium and preparation of target for neutron transmission measurements at DICER.

A process for the production of tens to hundreds of GBq amounts of zirconium-88 (Zr) using proton beams on yttrium was developed. For this purpose, yttrium metal targets (≈20 g) were irradiated in a ~16 to 34 MeV proton beam at a beam current of 100-200 µA at the Los Alamos Isotope Production Facility (IPF). The Zr radionuclide was produced and separated from the yttrium targets using hydroxamate resin with an elution yield of 94(5)% (1σ).

Abrupt change in radiation-width distribution for 147Sm neutron resonances.

We obtained the total radiation widths of s-wave resonances through an R-matrix analysis of (147)Sm(n,γ) cross sections. Distributions of these widths differ markedly for resonances below and above E(n)=300 eV, which is in stark contrast to long-established theory. We show that this change, as well as a similar change in the neutron-width distribution reported previously, is reflected in abrupt increases in both the average (147)Sm(n,γ) cross section and fluctuations about the average near 300 eV.

149Sm(n,α)146Nd cross sections in the MeV region.

We have measured the (149)Sm(n,α)(146)Nd cross section at 4.5, 5.0, 5.

Anomalous fluctuations of s-wave reduced neutron widths of 192,194Pt resonances.

We obtained an unprecedentedly large number of s-wave neutron widths through R-matrix analysis of neutron cross-section measurements on enriched Pt samples. Careful analysis of these data rejects the validity of the Porter-Thomas distribution with a statistical significance of at least 99.997%.

Cross section measurement for the (95)Mo(n, alpha)(92)Zr reaction at 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0MeV.

Measurements of cross sections of the (95)Mo(n, alpha)(92)Zr reaction at E(n)=4.0, 5.0 and 6.

Neutron cross section measurements at ORELA for improved nuclear data and their application.

To support the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program, the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator (ORELA) has been used to measure the total and capture neutron cross sections of several nuclides in the energy range from 100 eV to -600 keV. Concerns about the use of existing cross section data in nuclear criticality calculations have been a prime motivator for the new cross-section measurements. Our new capture cross sections of aluminium, silicon, chlorine, fluorine and potassium in the energy range from 100 eV to 600 keV are substantially different from the cross sections in evaluated nuclear data files of ENDF/B-VI and JENDL-3.

Near-infrared reflectance model for the rapid prediction of total fat in cereal foods.

AOAC method 996.01, used in cereal foods to determine total fat as defined by the U.S.

Evaluation of induced color changes in chicken breast meat during simulation of pink color defect.

The objective of the study was to establish a pink threshold and simulate the pink defect in cooked chicken breast meat with treatment combinations that would induce significant changes in the color of raw and cooked meat. The subjective pink threshold used in judging pink discoloration was established at a* = 3.8.

Histamine in cat foods: survey and comparison of methodologies.

Histamine concentrations were determined in semi-moist and moist cat foods which listed fish or fish solubles as one of the ingredients using the AOAC fluorometic method and a TLC procedure. Percent recovery was 73% for the AOAC and 96% for the TLC procedure, although the coefficient of variation was lower for AOAC procedure. Moist cat foods contained an average of 11 ppm histamine while semi-moist cat foods had 23 ppm histamine.

Effect of Salt Concentration and Incubation Temperature on Formation of Histamine, Phenethylamine, Tryptamine and Tyramine During Miso Fermentation.

Two factors, salt concentration and incubation temperature, were examined for their effect on the formation of histamine, phenethylamine, tryptamine and tyramine during miso (soybean paste) fermentation. Misos containing 5 and 10% NaCl were prepared and incubated at 25 and 35°C. The effect of each factor was determined from the chemical and microbiological changes in the misos during fermentation.

Influence of Temperature and Water Activity on Aflatoxin Production by Aspergillus flavus in Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) Seeds and Meal.

Experiments were done to determine the influence of temperature (21, 30 and 37°C) and a (0.76 to 0.98) on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus on cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) seeds, meal and meal supplemented with onion.

Hygroscopic Characteristics of Peanut Components and Their Influence on Growth and Aflatoxin Production by Aspergillus parasiticus.

Sound inshell runner-type peanuts, manually damaged inshell peanuts, shells, sound kernels, deskinned kernels and skins were stored in separate flasks under an atmospheric relative humidity of 100% at 28°C. After 5 d, water was adsorbed at levels of 1.2, 1.

Abnormal concentrations of B vitamins and amino acids in plasma and B vitamins in bile of rabbits with aflatoxicosis.

The dosages of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) required to produce significant changes in concentrations of B vitamins in plasma and bile and of amino acids in plasma of rabbits were determined. Folate increased by 98% in plasma, whereas concentration of thiamine, vitamin B6, and biotin decreased by more than 50%. In bile, choline and biotin increased 14- and 18-fold, respectively, whereas folate and niacin decreased by more than 50%.

Abnormal concentrations of B vitamins and amino acids in plasma, bile, and liver of chicks with aflatoxicosis.

Graded levels of aflatoxin fed to broiler chickens for 3 weeks decreased the levels of most B vitamins in plasma, bile, and liver and decreased all free and hydrolyzed amino acids from peptides in plasma. The levels of thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, and choline decreased by more than 60% in bile; vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, and choline decreased by more than 49% in plasma; thiamine, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, choline, folate, and niacin decreased by more than 19% in liver; and only bile and plasma levels of folate increased (78 and 12%, respectively) with a dietary level of 5 microgram of aflatoxin per g of feed. Plasma levels of cystine and cysteine, methionine, threonine, serine, and aspartic acid decreased by more than 37%, whereas valine, lysine, leucine, histidine, hydroxyproline, and alanine decreased by more than 9% with 2.