Determination of elemental impurities of Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Lead and Palladium content in Testosterone propionate by using ICP-MS

The aim of the present work is to develop and establish a validated analytical method for the determination of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and palladium content in testosterone propionate by using inductive coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Samples were analyzed after a preparation of sample solution by dissolving in suitable solvents of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated hydrochloric acid. In the present method, RF power of 1550 watts, RF matching is 1.80 V, nebulizer flow of 0.10 rps and plasma view at spectrum mode were used. Octopole conditions are He flow is on, He flow rate is 4.3 mL/min and energy discrimination is 3.0 V were used. Significant savings in sample volumes, reagents, analysis cost and time are realized. Arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and palladium are primary concerned due to their high toxicity and potential contaminants should be limited in testosterone propionate and the developed method was validated according to ICH and USP guidelines. The correlation coefficient, recovery rate, LOD and LOQ reached the acceptable limits. The validated method was selective, sensitive, rapid and capable of the determination of elemental impurities of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and palladium content in bulk drugs.

IDeF-X HD: A CMOS ASIC for the Readout of Cd(Zn)Te Detectors for Space-Borne Applications

IDeF-X HD is a 32-channel analog front-end with self-triggering capability optimized for the readout of [Formula: see text] pixels CdTe or CdZnTe pixelated detectors to build a low power micro-gamma camera. IDeF-X HD has been designed in the standard AMS CMOS 0.35[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m process technology. Its power consumption is 800[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]W per channel. The energy range of the ASIC can be extended to 1.1[Formula: see text]MeV thanks to the in-channel adjustable gain stage. When no detector is connected to the chip and without input current, a 33 electrons rms ENC level is achieved after shaping with 10.7[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s peaking time. Spectroscopy measurements have been performed with CdTe Schottky detectors. We measured an energy resolution of 4.2[Formula: see text]keV FWHM at 667[Formula: see text]keV ([Formula: see text]Cs) on a single-pixel configuration. Meanwhile, we also measured 562[Formula: see text]eV and 666[Formula: see text]eV FWHM at 14[Formula: see text]keV and 60[Formula: see text]keV, respectively ([Formula: see text]Am) with a 256 small pixel array and a low detection threshold of 1.2[Formula: see text]keV. Since IDeF-X HD is intended for space-borne applications in astrophysics, we evaluated its radiation tolerance and its sensitivity to single event effects. We demonstrated that the ASIC remained fully functional without significant degradation of its performances after 200 krad and that no single event latch-up was detected putting the linear energy transfer threshold above 110[Formula: see text]MeV/(mg/cm2). Good noise performance and radiation tolerance make the chip well suited for X-rays energy discrimination and high energy resolution. The chip is space qualified and flies on board of the solar orbiter ESA mission launched in 2020.

Determination and uncertainty analysis of inorganic arsenic in rice by UHPLC-ICPMS

The present study arose from the need of to determine inorganic arsenic (iAs) at low levels in rice. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ICPMS) using Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) mode to eliminate spectral interferences was used for analysis of iAs. Sample preparation involves extraction of inorganic arsenic (sum of As3+ and As5+) with water by heating at 90 °C for 5 min in water bath. Separation is accomplished with a reversed-phase ion pack column using a gradient chromatographic method followed by ICPMS analysis within 5 min. The method was validated in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 836/2011 and performance characteristics were verified. Acceptable values were obtained for specificity, repeatability (HorRatr < 0.6), within-lab reproducibility (HorRatR < 0.3) with recovery 80-90%, limit of quantification (0.02 mg/kg), fitness-for-purpose and trueness (using CRM); thus, the method can be considered for official control purposes.

Computational evaluation of a novel beta radiation probe design using integrated circuits

Researchers at Texas A&M University (TAMU) have designed the radiation integrated circuit (RIC) for deployment as a new radiation detection system. Most integrated circuits are susceptible to radiation-induced failures, and decades of research have gone into solving this problem. Research at TAMU has led to a novel integrated circuit design that utilizes both radiation-hardened areas (RHAs) and radiation-sensitive areas (RSAs) to take advantage of these failures. The RSAs are susceptible to charged particle interactions, allowing the RIC to detect alpha and beta particles. However, beta particles are more penetrating compared to alpha particles, resulting in a lower interaction probability for beta particles incident on a bare RIC. In any material, the higher the beta energy, the deeper the beta particle can penetrate; therefore, the use of a wedge-shaped attenuator for beta particle detection not only increases interaction probability, but also provides the capability to perform maximum beta energy discrimination in the field. The objective of this research was to optimize the design of the RIC. Monte Carlo N-particle radiation transport code (MCNP) simulations assessed the beta particle detection and maximum energy discrimination performance of plate glass, borosilicate (Pyrex®) glass, acrylic (Lucite®), and natural rubber attenuators. In this proof-of-concept analysis, natural rubber was observed to be the optimal attenuating material for the beta probe with respect to maximum energy discrimination capability and weight, but all materials considered proved to be good candidates. The results of this study are promising and indicate the potential to achieve maximum beta particle energy discrimination of 50 keV using a wedged, natural rubber attenuator on the RIC.

Analog Pulse Shape Discrimination Based on Time Duration and Pulse Height

Pulse shape discrimination is a name of a group of techniques used to detect and distinguish between different types of radiation interactions. Analog pulse shape discrimination methods can be more suitable than digital methods, for high-speed scintillators both from rate and power consumption perspectives. Common analog discrimination methods are based on pulse-height and pulse-energy discrimination techniques. Other techniques rely on the time difference in the pulse width such as the ZeroCrossing methods. Neither of the above combine both amplitude and time methods. We present a novel analog pulse shape discrimination topology that combines both height and time domain. The topology is based on discrimination according to the pulse duration in time combined with compensation function of the pulse height. Amplitude of the pulse is used as a restraining factor. Subsequently, our topology correctly identifies fast pulses that are prolonged in time due to their high amplitude. The topology yields superior discrimination capabilities, under degraded light collection conditions, with an uncertainty gap smaller than 1 ns in pulse width. The ability to control both the time and the amplitude parameters individually, provides tailored adjustment for various detectors and pulse shape discrimination applications.

Discrimination of Aluminum from Silicon by Electron Crystallography with the JUNGFRAU Detector

The crystal structure of a chemical compound serves several purposes: its coordinates represent three-dimensional information about the connectivity between the atoms; it is the only technique that determines the absolute configuration of chiral molecules; it enables determining structure–function relations; and crystallographic data at atomic resolution distinguish between element types and serve as a confirmation of synthesis protocols. Here, we collected electron diffraction data from albite and from a Linde Type A (LTA) type zeolite. Both compounds are aluminosilicates with well-defined silicon and aluminum crystallographic sites. Data were recorded with the “adJUstiNg Gain detector FoR the Aramis User station” (JUNGFRAU detector) and we made use of its capability of energy discrimination to suppress noise. For both compounds, crystallographic refinement distinguishes correctly between silicon and aluminum, even though these elements have very similar electron scattering factors. These results highlight the quality of the electron diffraction data and the reliability of the models for chemical interpretation. Further development in this direction will provide enormous opportunities for structure–function studies by diffraction.

The expansion of TRIAC to TRIACII code for track measurements from SSNT detectors

The expansion of TRIAC to TRIACII code will be described. Both codes have been developed for recognition and parameters measurements of particles’ tracks from images of Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors. While the first program considers the tracks as circles, TRIACII code, using image analysis tools, counts the number of tracks and depending on the current working mode classifies them according to their radii (Mode I- circular tracks) or their axis (Mode II- elliptical tracks), their mean intensity value (brightness) and their orientation. Hough transform techniques are used for the estimation of tracks’ number and their parameters which are able to give results even for overlapping tracks. The new program has been used for radon’s progeny behavior and alpha particles’ energy discrimination.