ABSTRACT
Strontium-90 is a radionuclide found in high concentrations in nuclear reactor waste and nuclear fallout from reactor accidents and atomic bomb explosions. In the 1950s, little was known regarding the health consequences of strontium-90 internalization. To assess the health effects of strontium-90 ingestion in infancy through adolescence, the Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Energy funded large-scale beagle studies at the University of California-Davis. Conducted from 1956 to 1989, the strontium-90 ingestion study followed roughly 460 beagles throughout their lifespans after they were exposed to strontium-90 in utero (through feeding of the mother) and fed strontium-90 feed at varying doses from weaning to age 540 days. The extensive medical data and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were transferred from UC Davis to the National Radiobiology Archive in 1992 and subsequently to the Northwestern University Radiobiology Archive in 2010. Here, we summarize the design of the strontium-90 ingestion study and give an overview of its most frequent recorded findings. As shown before, radiation-associated neoplasias (osteosarcoma, myeloproliferative syndrome and select squamous cell carcinomas) were almost exclusively observed in the highest dose groups, while the incidence of neoplasias most frequent in controls decreased as dose increased. The occurrence of congestive heart failure in each dose group, not previously assessed by UC Davis researchers, showed a non-significant increase between the controls and lower dose groups that may have been significant had sample sizes been larger. Detailed secondary analyses of these data and samples may uncover health endpoints that were not evaluated by the team that conducted the study.
ABSTRACT
Space-based quantum networks provide a means for near-term long-distance transmission of quantum information. This article analyzed the performance of a downlink quantum network between a low-Earth-orbit satellite and an observatory operating in less-than-ideal atmospheric conditions. The effects from fog, haze, and a nuclear disturbed environment on the long-range distribution of quantum states were investigated. A density matrix that estimates the quantum state by capturing the effects from increased signal loss and elevated background noise to estimate the state fidelity of the transmitted quantum state was developed. It was found that the nuclear disturbed environment and other atmospheric effects have a degrading effect on the quantum state. These environments impede the ability to perform quantum communications for the duration of the effects. In the case of the nuclear disturbed environment, the nuclear effects subside quickly, and network performance should return to normal by the next satellite pass.
ABSTRACT
This paper investigates the effects of a nuclear-disturbed environment on the transmission of electromagnetic (EM) waves through the atmosphere. An atmospheric nuclear detonation can produce heightened free electron densities in the surrounding atmosphere that can disrupt EM waves that propagate through the disturbed region. Radiation transport models simulated the ionization and free electron densities created in the atmosphere from a 1 MT detonation at heights of burst of 5 km, 25 km, and 75 km. Recombination rates for the free electrons in the atmosphere were applied, from previous work in the literature, to determine the nuclear-induced electron densities as a function of time and space after the detonation. A ray-tracing algorithm was applied to determine the refraction and reflection of waves propagating in the different nuclear-disturbed environments. The simulation results show that the free electron plasma created from an atmospheric nuclear detonation depend on the height of burst of the weapon, the weapon yield, and the time after detonation. Detonations at higher altitudes produce higher free electron densities for greater durations and over larger ranges. The larger the free electron densities, the greater the impact on EM wavelengths in regards to refraction, reflection, and absorption in the atmosphere. An analysis of modern infrastructure and the effects of nuclear-disturbed atmospheres on different signal wavelengths and systems is discussed.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This review is focused on radium and radionuclides in its decay chain in honor of Marie Curie, who discovered this element. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conglomerated current knowledge regarding radium and its history predating our present understanding of this radionuclide. RESULTS: An overview of the properties of radium and its dose assessment is shown followed by discussions about both the negative detrimental and positive therapeutic applications of radium with this history and its evolution reflecting current innovations in medical science. CONCLUSIONS: We hope to remind all those who are interested in the progress of science about the vagaries of the process of scientific discovery. In addition, we raise the interesting question of whether Marie Curie's initial success was in part possible due to her tight alignment with her husband Pierre Curie who pushed the work along.
Subject(s)
Radiology , Radium , Female , France , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Humans , Radiology/historyABSTRACT
This manuscript investigates the potential effect of a nuclear-disturbed atmospheric environment on the signal attenuation of a ground/satellite transmitter/receiver system for both classical optical and quantum communications applications. Attenuation of a signal transmitted through the rising nuclear cloud and the subsequently transported debris is modeled climatologically for surface-level detonations of 10 kt, 100 kt, and 1 Mt. Attenuation statistics were collected as a function of time after detonation. These loss terms were compared to normal loss sources such as clouds, smoke from fires, and clear sky operation. Finally, the loss was related to the degradation of transmitted entanglement derived from Bayesian mean estimation.
ABSTRACT
Diatomaceous earth is found in various locations around the planet. It is caused by the deposited exoskeleton material formed by the death of large concentrated populations of diatoms. The exoskeleton is effectively pure silicate and as such becomes a prospective material for retrospective dosimetry and dating. This work investigated the thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence properties of commercially obtained diatomaceous earth. The material was not found to have useful dosimetric properties with conventional TL methodologies but did provide large dose estimates using the Single Aliquot Regeneration technique on some subset samples. These findings for organic silicate did suggest some mechanisms explaining the sensitization process in geological silicate materials utilized in dosimetry and dating. Electron paramagnetic resonance was identified as a potential future method for evaluating this material as it revealed unique signal components not found in igneous or commercially produced silicates.
