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Mitsuyasu, Yusuke*; Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Okutsu, Kenichi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Yamashita, Takuma*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; et al.
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 199(14), p.1620 - 1625, 2023/09
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.01(Environmental Sciences)We have been conducting dose assessments for Japanese macaques captured in Fukushima to reveal radiobiological effects on the low-dose expose animals. To accurately determine the external exposure dose, it is desirable to examine the analysis of the CO
radical intensity. We examined ESR spectra of teeth of 10 macaques captured in Fukushima by two spectrum-decomposition algorithms.
Okutsu, Kenichi*; Yamashita, Takuma*; Kino, Yasushi*; Miyashita, Konan*; Yasuda, Kazuhiro*; Oka, Toshitaka; Okada, Shinji*; Sato, Motoyasu*
JJAP Conference Proceedings (Internet), 9, p.011003_1 - 011003_7, 2023/00
Muon catalyzed fusion (
CF) is a cyclic reaction where a negatively charged muon itself acts like a catalyst of nuclear fusion between hydrogen isotopes. In the CF reaction, muon transfer from deuteron to triton and muonic molecular formation are rate-limiting processes. In this work, we have investigated the role of resonance states of muonic molecule in the CF which affects the muonic deuterium atom population. Solving simultaneous rate equations numerically by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method, we determined the muonic molecular formation rate so that the number of fusion events reproduces a latest experimental result. It is revealed that the resonance states play a role to enhance the fusion rate by accelerating the de-excitation of the muonic atoms.
Mitsuyasu, Yusuke*; Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Okutsu, Kenichi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Yamashita, Takuma*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; et al.
KEK Proceedings 2022-2, p.120 - 125, 2022/11
We investigate the effect of sample's anisotropy and measurement condition to obtain the higher reproducibility for the shape of the ESR spectrum and the intensity of CO radical.
Ishikawa, Ryoya*; Suzuki, Masatoshi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Endo, Satoru*; Nakajima, Hiroo*; Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Shinoda, Hisashi*; et al.
KEK Proceedings 2022-2, p.61 - 66, 2022/11
The balance between oxidative stress and antioxidant activity, which is a defense mechanism against oxidative stress, was investigated in the liver and bladder of wild Japanese macaques captured in Fukushima Prefecture. No significant induction of oxidative stress by exposure to environmental radionuclides after the Fukushima nuclear accident was observed, suggesting that the stress defense mechanism of the organism is activated in some organs.
Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Osaka, Ken*; Sasaki, Keiichi*; et al.
Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 63(4), p.609 - 614, 2022/07
Times Cited Count：1 Percentile：27.14(Biology)Electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry is one of the most powerful tools for radiation dose reconstruction. The detection limit of this technique using human teeth is reported to be 56 mGy or 67 mGy; however, the absorbed dose of Fukushima residents after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident was estimated to be lower than this detection limit. Our aim is to assess the absorbed radiation dose of children in Fukushima Prefecture after the accident; therefore, it is important to estimate the detection limit for their teeth. The detection limit for enamel of deciduous teeth of Japanese children separated by the mechanical method is estimated to be 115.0 mGy. The density separation method can effectively separate enamel from third molars of Japanese people. As we have collected thousands of teeth from children in Fukushima, the present technique may be useful to examine their external absorbed dose after the FNPP accident.
Mitsuyasu, Yusuke*; Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Kino, Yasushi*; Okutsu, Kenichi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Yamashita, Takuma*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; et al.
KEK Proceedings 2021-2, p.91 - 96, 2021/12
We examined whether the ESR dose estimation method could be applied to wild Japanese macaque. In this work, we investigated the enamel preparation protocol and the analytical method of the ESR spectra.
Okutsu, Kenichi*; Yamashita, Takuma*; Kino, Yasushi*; Nakashima, Ryota*; Miyashita, Konan*; Yasuda, Kazuhiro*; Okada, Shinji*; Sato, Motoyasu*; Oka, Toshitaka; Kawamura, Naritoshi*; et al.
Fusion Engineering and Design, 170, p.112712_1 - 112712_4, 2021/09
Times Cited Count：3 Percentile：45.99(Nuclear Science & Technology)A muonic molecule which consists of two hydrogen isotope nuclei (deuteron (d) or tritium (t)) and a muon decays immediately via nuclear fusion and the muon will be released as a recycling muon, and start to find another hydrogen isotope nucleus. The reaction cycle continues until the muon ends up its lifetime of 2.2 s. Since the muon does not participate in the nuclear reaction, the reaction is so called a muon catalyzed fusion (CF). The recycling muon has a particular kinetic energy (KE) of the muon molecular orbital when the nuclear reaction occurs. Since the KE is based on the unified atom limit where distance between two nuclei is zero. A precise few-body calculation estimating KE distribution (KED) is also in progress, which could be compared with the experimental results. In the present work, we observed recycling muons after CF reaction.
Yamashita, Takuma*; Okutsu, Kenichi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Nakashima, Ryota*; Miyashita, Konan*; Yasuda, Kazuhiro*; Okada, Shinji*; Sato, Motoyasu*; Oka, Toshitaka; Kawamura, Naritoshi*; et al.
Fusion Engineering and Design, 169, p.112580_1 - 112580_5, 2021/08
Times Cited Count：3 Percentile：45.99(Nuclear Science & Technology)A muon () having 207 times larger mass of electron and the same charge as the electron has been known to catalyze a nuclear fusion between deuteron (d) and triton (t). These two nuclei are bound by and form a muonic hydrogen molecular ion, dt. Due to the short inter-nuclear distance of dt, the nuclear fusion, d +t
+ n + 17.6 MeV, occurs inside the molecule. This reaction is called muon catalyzed fusion (CF). Recently, the interest on CF is renewed from the viewpoint of applications, such as a source of high-resolution muon beam and mono-energetic neutron beam. In this work, we report a time evolution calculation of CF in a two-layered hydrogen isotope target.
Okumura, Takuma*; Azuma, Toshiyuki*; Bennet, D. A.*; Caradonna, P.*; Chiu, I.-H.*; Doriese, W. B.*; Durkin, M. S.*; Fowler, J. W.*; Gard, J. D.*; Hashimoto, Tadashi; et al.
IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 31(5), p.2101704_1 - 2101704_4, 2021/08
Times Cited Count：1 Percentile：11.15(Engineering, Electrical & Electronic)A superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter is an ideal X-ray detector for experiments at accelerator facilities because of good energy resolution and high efficiency. To study the performance of the TES detector with a high-intensity pulsed charged-particle beam, we measured X-ray spectra with a pulsed muon beam at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) in Japan. We found substantial temporal shifts of the X-ray energy correlated with the arrival time of the pulsed muon beam, which was reasonably explained by pulse pileup due to the incidence of energetic particles from the initial pulsed beam.
Sr in cattle bone and tooth samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometryKoarai, Kazuma; Matsueda, Makoto; Aoki, Jo; Yanagisawa, Kayo*; Terashima, Motoki; Fujiwara, Kenso; Kino, Yasushi*; Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; et al.
Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 36(8), p.1678 - 1682, 2021/08
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：55.72(Chemistry, Analytical)Rapid analysis of Sr in bone and tooth samples of cattle were achieved by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) coupled with mass shift and solid phase extraction techniques. Limit of detection (LOD) in the ICP-MS measurement of 0.1 g samples was lower than that of the radioactivity measurement. Analytical time of the ICP-MS method was reduced from 20 days to 11 hours, compared with the radiometric method. Therefore, the ICP-MS method can be rapid and useful procedure of Sr in small bone and tooth samples derived from terrestrial animals.
X raysOkumura, Takuma*; Azuma, Toshiyuki*; Bennet, D. A.*; Caradonna, P.*; Chiu, I. H.*; Doriese, W. B.*; Durkin, M. S.*; Fowler, J. W.*; Gard, J. D.*; Hashimoto, Tadashi; et al.
Physical Review Letters, 127(5), p.053001_1 - 053001_7, 2021/07
Times Cited Count：13 Percentile：79.44(Physics, Multidisciplinary)We observed electronic X rays emitted from muonic iron atoms using a superconducting transition-edge-type sensor microcalorimeter. The energy resolution of 5.2 eV in FWHM allowed us to observe the asymmetric broad profile of the electronic characteristic 
and 
X rays together with the hypersatellite X rays around 6 keV. This signature reflects the time-dependent screening of the nuclear charge by the negative muon and the 
-shell electrons, accompanied by electron side-feeding. Assisted by a simulation, this data clearly reveals the electronic - and -shell hole production and their temporal evolution during the muon cascade process.
Takahashi, Atsushi*; Chiba, Mirei*; Tanahara, Akira*; Aida, Jun*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Murakami, Shinobu*; Koarai, Kazuma; Ono, Takumi*; Oka, Toshitaka; et al.
Scientific Reports (Internet), 11(1), p.10355_1 - 10355_11, 2021/05
Times Cited Count：6 Percentile：41.49(Multidisciplinary Sciences)
)Komatsu, Kazuki*; Iwasaki, Tsugumi*; Murata, Kosuke*; Yamashiro, Hideaki*; Goh, V. S. T.*; Nakayama, Ryo*; Fujishima, Yohei*; Ono, Takumi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; et al.
Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 56(3), p.484 - 497, 2021/03
Times Cited Count：9 Percentile：87.04(Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science)We have established an archive system of livestock and wild animals from the surrounding ex-evacuation zone. Wildlife within the alert zone have been exposed to low-dose-rate (LDR) radiation for a long and continuous time. In this study, we analysed the morphological characteristics of the testes and in vitro fertilization (IVF) capacity of cryopreserved sperm of raccoons from the ex-evacuation zone of the FDNPP accident. This study revealed that the chronic and LDR radiation exposure associated with the FDNPP accident had no adverse effect on the reproductive characteristics and functions of male raccoons.
Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Mitsuyasu, Yusuke*; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Osaka, Ken*; et al.
Radiation Measurements, 134, p.106315_1 - 106315_4, 2020/06
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：53.85(Nuclear Science & Technology)The relationship between the CO
radical intensity and the absorbed dose (dose response curve) of tooth enamel of Japanese macaque was observed by electron spin resonance and the detection limit of our system was estimated to be 33.5 mGy, which is comparable to the detection limit for human molar teeth. Using the dose response curve, external exposure dose for seven wild Japanese macaques captured in Fukushima prefecture were examined. The results suggest that the external exposure dose for the wild Japanese macaques were ranged between 45 mGy to 300 mGy.
Oka, Toshitaka; Yokoya, Akinari*; Fujii, Kentaro*; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*
no journal, ,
The physicochemical processes of DNA by the K-shell photoabsorption of N and O atoms are unclear. To investigate those processes involved in DNA damage induction by irradiation, we developed an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer installed in a synchrotron soft X-ray beamline BL23SU in SPring-8 and measured unstable intermediate species induced by selective inner-shell ionisation or excitation and subsequent Auger relaxation of particular atoms in pyrimidine DNA-bases. The EPR intensities for cytosine around the N and O K-edges were similar to the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra for around both K-edges, but the EPR intensities were 
2 times larger than the XANES spectra. The EPR intensities for pyrimidine DNA-bases seem to change with the substituent of the pyrimidine ring; maybe due to the substituent effect of the pyrimidine ring. In addition, the peak-to-peak line width of the EPR signals were also different by changing the substituent.
Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Ono, Takumi*; Tamaki, Hiroaki*; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; et al.
no journal, ,
Releases of the radioactive materials from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident result in an ionization exposure to people and animals, the precise dosimetry is required. To estimate the external dose due to the accident, we utilize electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy which is a powerful tool for the dosimetry of external dose. The detection limit of this technique was 146 mGy, so that we have to improve the detection limit for the precise dosimetry. In this work, we developed a novel enamel-dentine separation technique and improved the detection limit down to 43 mGy, and estimated the external dose for Japanese macaque and Procyon lotor collected in Fukushima prefecture.
Koarai, Kazuma; Matsueda, Makoto; Fujiwara, Kenso; Ono, Takumi*; Kino, Yasushi*; Oka, Toshitaka; Okutsu, Kenichi*; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; et al.
no journal, ,
We have investigated incorporation of Sr and 
Cs in teeth of cattle and otoliths of fish. Specific activity of Sr in the dentin tissue was higher than that in the enamel tissue. The result shows change of Sr incorporation in cattle even within a tooth. Concentrations of stable Sr and Cs were 94 ppm and 3 ppb. Distributions of stable Sr and Cs were uniform in the otolith of fish. If distribution of Sr and Cs in the otolith was measured, change of Sr and Cs incorporation into the fish would be found. These findings suggest that distribution patterns of Sr and Cs in the environment could be estimated from distribution of the radionuclides in the tooth and otolith.
Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Mitsuyasu, Yusuke*; Ono, Takumi*; Tamaki, Hiroaki*; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; et al.
no journal, ,
Release of the radioactive materials from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident results in a long-term low dose rate ionization exposure to wild animals. The biological effects of the wild animal do not show a clear correlation with the external dose, which is estimated from the external dose rate of the captured point of the animal, a precise external dose estimation using ESR and tooth enamel is required instead of using the external dose rate. In this work, we attempted to estimate the external dose of wild Japanese macaque and Procyon lotor captured in the high dose rate area.
Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Mitsuyasu, Yusuke*; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Osaka, Ken*; et al.
no journal, ,
Due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the exposure dose estimation for human is examined by the whole body counter or by the Fukushima Health Management Survey, however, the precise estimated dose cannot obtained by such methods. We applied electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry for the external dose estimation using tooth enamel of human/animal. As we reported last year, we improved the detection limit of ESR dosimetry down to 43 mGy. We used this improved ESR dosimetry system and attempted to estimate the external dose of wild Japanese macaque capture in Fukushima prefecture, however, the metal component which may obstruct the ESR measurement was observed, so that we cannot estimate the external dose. In this work, we investigated how to remove such metal components, obtain the clear ESR spectrum, and estimate the external dose.
Oka, Toshitaka; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*
no journal, ,
Polyethylene is widely used for an insulator and a covering material in nuclear plants. it degrades with irradiation or oxidation during long-term usage, the evaluation of the degradation is important for the safety of the facility. Electron-beam was irradiated high density polyethylene (HDPE). Chemical structure was examined by micro-FT-IR, gel fraction measurement, and electron spin resonance, nanostructure was examined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), periodically. Ortho-Positronium (o-Ps) intensity shows the linear relationship between the gel fraction, the relationship shifts toward the smaller o-Ps intensity and lower gel fraction with elapsed time, suggesting that HDPE degrade even after 3 years from the irradiation due to the long-term oxidative degradation. The obtained results shows that PALS can monitor the structural change induced by the irradiation, non-destructively.
