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International audience; Excited states of the rubidium isotopes$_{37}^{87, 89, 91}$Rb have been studied at the INFN Legnaro National Laboratory. Measurements of the $\gamma$ -ray decay of fragments produced in binary grazing reactions resulting from the interaction of a beam of 530 MeV$^{96}$Zr ions with a$^{124}$Sn target have been complemented by studies of the $\gamma$ -ray decay of fission fragments produced in the interaction of a beam of 230 MeV$^{36}$S ions with a thick$^{176}$Yb target. The structure of the yrast states of$_{37}^{87, 89, 91}$Rb has been discussed within the context of spherical shell-model and cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations.

Several new bands have been identified in 130Ba, among which there is one with band-head spin 8+. Its properties are in agreement with the Fermi-aligned \nu h11/2^2 , 7/2+[523] \otimes 9/2-[514] Nilsson configuration. This is the first observation of a two-quasiparticle t-band in the A=130 mass region. The t-band is fed by a dipole band involving two additional h11/2 protons. The odd-spin partners of the proton and neutron S-bands and the ground-state band at high spins are also newly identified. The observed bands are discussed using several theoretical models, which strongly suggest the coexistence of prolate and oblate shapes polarized by rotation aligned two-proton and two-neutron configurations, as well as prolate collective rotations around axes with different orientations. With the new results, 130Ba presents one of the best and most complete sets of collective excitations that a gamma-soft nucleus can manifest at medium and high spins, revealing a diversity of shapes and rotations for the nuclei in the A = 130 mass region., Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures

A new device, the GALILEO plunger, has been developed for lifetime measurement studies using the GALILEO γ -ray detector array at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL) in Legnaro, Italy. This plunger device holds two stretched metal foils in the beam path for the use of the recoil distance Doppler-shift technique in order to measure lifetimes of nuclear excited states in the range of 1 ps to 1 ns. The compact design allows one to combine different auxiliary detectors with the plunger device inside the target chamber and takes care of high γ -ray transparency. The design and control of the device are presented in this paper, together with lifetimes of excited states in 180Pt measured within the first in-beam commissioning run.

Background: A large randomized study has shown the value of temporary ovarian suppression during the administration of chemotherapy in the treatment of high risk estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC) (Pagani et al. N Engl J Med 2014). In another study ovarian suppression added to chemotherapy appeared to protect ovarian function (Moore et al. N Engl J Med 2014) and improve the expected outcome of estrogen receptor negative (ER-) BC. Nevertheless, both these studies have a median follow-up time limited to 68 months and 49 months, respectively. Here we present the data of a large non randomized phase II study of adjuvant ovarian suppression in ER+ and ER- breast cancer with a median follow-up of 120 months (range 90-220 months). The primary end point was the ovarian function preservation rate, secondary end points were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Methods: Between 06-1997 and 06-2007, 200 premenopausal, high risk early BC patients entered the study. All patients received the LH-RH analogue before starting chemotherapy. Breast conserving and radical surgery were performed in 74% and 26% of patients, respectively. Systemic therapy was tailored to the biological characteristics of each patient, and followed by radiation therapy and hormonal therapy in ER+ tumors. Results: The median patient's age was 43 years (range 26-45). The mean number of positive axillary nodes was 3.2 (range 1-25). Seventy-one % of patients were ER+ and/or progesterone receptor positive (PGR+), 29% were ER - and PGR-. The median KI-67 was 30% (range 15% -100%). Twenty-one % of patients were c-ErbB-2 positive. After a median follow up of 120 months (range 90-220), normal menses returned in 90% of patients younger than 40 years and in 56% of patients older than 40 years. The 10 and 15-year DFS rate were 85.5% and 71%, respectively, while the 10 and 15-year OS rate were 91%, and 71%, respectively. The standard pattern of toxicity of chemotherapy was observed. Hot flashes and G1 osteopenia occurring after LH-RH analogue administration were temporary and subsided after the cessation of therapy. Conclusions: LH-RH administration, concurrent with chemotherapy is tolerable and effective. Five full term pregnancies were documented. A favourable impact on the expected DFS and OS was observed. ER- patients had late new primaries, but no recurrence after 5 years, while ER+ patients had disease recurrence even after 13 years. Citation Format: Recchia F, Candeloro G, Rosselli M, Bratta M, Rea S. 10-year follow-up of adjuvant ovarian suppression in high risk premenopausal breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-15-06.

In this work we present the architecture and results of a fully digital Front End Electronics (FEE) read out system developed for the GALILEO array. The FEE system, developed in collaboration with the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) collaboration, is composed of three main blocks: preamplifiers, digitizers and preprocessing electronics. The slow control system contains a custom Linux driver, a dynamic library and a server implementing network services. The digital processing of the data from the GALILEO germanium detectors has demonstrated the capability to achieve an energy resolution of 1.53 per mil at an energy of 1.33 MeV., Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, preprint version of IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science paper submitted for the 19th IEEE Real Time Conference

Detailed information on isomeric states in A ≈ 135 nuclei is exploited to benchmark shell-model calculations in the region northwest of doubly-magic nucleus 132Sn. The N = 79 isotones 133Xe and 135Ba are studied after multinucleon transfer (MNT) in the 136Xe + 208Pb reaction employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy and in a pulsed-beam experiment at the FN tandem accelerator of the University of Cologne, Germany utilizing a 9Be+130Te fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 40 MeV. Isomeric states are identified via delayed γ-ray spectroscopy. Hitherto tentative excitation energy, spin, and parity assignments of the 2107-keV Jπ = 23/2+ isomer in 133Xe are confirmed and a half-life of T1/2 = 8.64(13) ms is measured. The 2388-keV state in 135Ba is identified as a Jπ = 23/2+ isomer with a half-life of 1.06(4) ms. The new results show a smooth onset of isomeric Jπ = 23/2+ states along the N = 79 isotones and close a gap in the high-spin systematics towards the recently investigated Jπ = 23/2+ isomer in 139Nd. The resulting systematics of M2 reduced transition probabilities is discussed within the framework of the nuclear shell model. Latest large-scale shell-model calculations employing the SN100PN, GCN50:82, SN100-KTH, and a realistic effective interaction reproduce the experimental findings generally well and give insight into the structure of the isomers.

Lifetime measurements of excited states of the light N = 52 isotones 88 Kr , 86 Se , and 84 Ge have been performed, using the recoil distance Doppler shift method and VAMOS and AGATA spectrometers for particle identification and gamma spectroscopy, respectively. The reduced electric quadrupole transition probabilities B ( E 2 ; 2 + → 0 + ) and B ( E 2 ; 4 + → 2 + ) were obtained for the first time for the hard-to-reach 84 Ge . While the B ( E 2 ; 2 + → 0 + ) values of 88 Kr , 86 Se saturate the maximum quadrupole collectivity offered by the natural valence ( 3 s , 2 d , 1 g 7 / 2 , 1 h 11 / 2 ) space of an inert 78 Ni core, the value obtained for 84 Ge largely exceeds it, suggesting that shape coexistence phenomena, previously reported at N ≲ 49 , extend beyond N = 50 . The onset of collectivity at Z = 32 is understood as due to a pseudo-SU(3) organization of the proton single-particle sequence reflecting a clear manifestation of pseudospin symmetry. It is realized that the latter provides actually reliable guidance for understanding the observed proton and neutron single particle structure in the whole medium-mass region, from Ni to Sn, pointing towards the important role of the isovector-vector ρ field in shell-structure evolution.

The lifetimes of the first excited 2^{+}, 4^{+}, and 6^{+} states in ^{98}Zr were measured with the recoil-distance Doppler shift method in an experiment performed at GANIL. Excited states in ^{98}Zr were populated using the fission reaction between a 6.2 MeV/u ^{238}U beam and a ^{9}Be target. The γ rays were detected with the EXOGAM array in correlation with the fission fragments identified by mass and atomic number in the VAMOS++ spectrometer. Our result shows a very small B(E2;2_{1}^{+}→0_{1}^{+}) value in ^{98}Zr, thereby confirming the very sudden onset of collectivity at N=60. The experimental results are compared to large-scale Monte Carlo shell model and beyond-mean-field calculations. The present results indicate the coexistence of two additional deformed shapes in this nucleus along with the spherical ground state.

International audience; Reduced quadrupole transition probabilities for low-lying transitions in neutron-rich N = 52 isotones 88Kr and 86Se were investigated with a recoil distance Doppler shift (RDDS) experiment. The experiment was performed at GANIL (Caen, France) using the Orsay Universal Plunger System (OUPS) for the RDDS technique and the AGATA array for the γ-ray detection coupled to the VAMOS++ magnetic spectrometer for an event-by-event particle identification. In 88Kr, the lifetimes of seven levels were determined and in 86Se, the lifetimes of five levels were determined. The deduced B(E2; 2+ 1 → 0 + 1 ) are compared with mean-field and shellmodel calculations.

Energy differences between analogue states in the T=1/2 Mg23-Na23 mirror nuclei have been measured along the rotational yrast bands. This allows us to search for effects arising from isospin-symmetry-breaking interactions (ISB) and/or shape changes. Data are interpreted in the shell model framework following the method successfully applied to nuclei in the f7/2 shell. It is shown that the introduction of a schematic ISB interaction of the same type of that used in the f7/2 shell is needed to reproduce the data. An alternative novel description, applied here for the first time, relies on the use of an effective interaction deduced from a realistic charge-dependent chiral nucleon-nucleon potential. This analysis provides two important results: (i) The mirror energy differences give direct insight into the nuclear skin; (ii) the skin changes along the rotational bands are strongly correlated with the difference between the neutron and proton occupations of the s1/2 "halo" orbit.

The transitional nucleus 131Xe is investigated after multinucleon transfer (MNT) in the 136Xe+208Pb and 136Xe+238U reactions employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy and as an elusive reaction product in the fusion-evaporation reaction 124Sn(11B,p3n) 131Xe employing the HORUS γ-ray array coupled to a double-sided silicon strip detector (DSSSD) at the University of Cologne, Germany. The level scheme of 131Xe is extended to 5 MeV. A pronounced backbending is observed at ~ω ≈ 0.4 MeV along the negative-parity one-quasiparticle νh11/2(α = −1/2) band. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z = 54 isotopes and the N = 77 isotones. Large-scale shell-model calculations (LSSM) employing the PQM130, SN100PN, GCN50:82, SN100-KTH and a realistic effective interaction reproduce the experimental findings and provide guidance to elucidate the structure of the high-spin states. Further calculations in 129−132Xe provide insight into the changing nuclear structure along the Xe chain towards the N = 82 shell closure. Proton occupancy in the π 0h11/2 orbital is found to be decisive for the description of the observed backbending phenomenon.

Excited states in mirror nuclei 31S and 31P were populated in the 1n and 1p exit channels, respectively, of the reaction 20Ne + 12C. The beam of 20Ne, with an energy of 33 MeV, was delivered for the first time by the Piave-Alpi accelerator of the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. Angular correlations of coincident pairs and Doppler-shift attenuation lifetime measurements in 31S and 31P were performed using the multidetector array GASP in conjunction with the EUCLIDES charged particle detector. A comparison of the determined B(E1) strengths of the analog mirror 7/2- → 5/2+ transitions indicates the presence of a violation of isospin symmetry.

Transition probabilities of intermediate-spin yrast and non-yrast excitations in 80, 82Se were investigated in a recoil distance Doppler-shift (RDDS) experiment performed at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The Cologne Plunger device for deep inelastic scattering was used for the RDDS technique and was combined with the AGATA Demonstrator array for the γ-ray detection and coupled to the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer for an event-by-event particle identification. In 80Se, the level lifetimes of the yrast (6+1) and (8+1) states and of a non-yrast band feeding the yrast 4+1 state are determined. A spin and parity assignment of the head of this sideband is discussed based on the experimental results and supported by large-scale shell-model calculations. In 82Se, the level lifetimes of the yrast 6+1 state and the yrare 4+2 state and lifetime limits of the yrast (10+1) state and of the 5−1 state are determined. Although the experimental results contain large uncertainties, they are interpreted with care in terms of large-scale shell-model calculations using the effective interactions JUN45 and jj44b. The excited states' wave functions are investigated and discussed with respect to the role of the neutron g9/2 orbital.

A Coulomb-excitation experiment to study electromagnetic properties of Ca42 was performed using a 170-MeV calcium beam from the TANDEM XPU facility at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. γ rays from excited states in Ca42 were measured with the AGATA spectrometer. The magnitudes and relative signs of ten E2 matrix elements coupling six low-lying states in Ca42, including the diagonal E2 matrix elements of 21+ and 22+ states, were determined using the least-squares code gosia. The obtained set of reduced E2 matrix elements was analyzed using the quadrupole sum rule method and yielded overall quadrupole deformation for 01,2+ and 21,2+ states, as well as triaxiality for 01,2+ states, establishing the coexistence of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca42. The experimental results were compared with the state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model and beyond-mean-field calculations, which reproduce well the general picture of shape coexistence in Ca42.

The $g$ factor of the 56 ns half-life isomeric state in $^{128}\mathrm{Cs}$ has been measured using the time-differential perturbed angular distribution method. This state is the bandhead of the positive-parity chiral rotational band, which emerges when an unpaired proton, an unpaired neutron hole, and an even-even core are coupled such that their angular momentum vectors are aplanar (chiral configuration). $g$-factor measurements can give important information on the relative orientation of the three angular momentum vectors. The measured $g$ factor $g=+0.59(1)$ shows that there is an important contribution of the core rotation in the total angular momentum of the isomeric state. Moreover, a quantitative theoretical analysis supports the conclusion that the three angular momentum vectors lie almost in one plane, which suggests that the chiral configuration in $^{128}\mathrm{Cs}$ demonstrated in previous works by characteristic patterns of electromagnetic transitions appears only above some value of the total nuclear spin.

Lifetimes of high-spin states have been measured in the semi-magic (N= 50) nucleus 94Ru. Excited states in 94Ru were populated in the 58Ni(40Ca, 4p)94Ru* fusion-evaporation reaction at the Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds (GANIL) accelerator complex. DSAM lifetime analysis was performed on the Doppler broadened line shapes in energy spectra obtained from ?-rays emitted while the residual nuclei were slowing down in a thick 6mg/cm^2 metallic 58Ni target. In total eight excited-state lifetimes in the angular momentum range I= (13 - 20) ? have been measured, five of which were determined for the first time. The corresponding B(M1) and B(E2) reduced transition strengths are discussed within the framework of large-scale shell model calculations to study the contribution of different particle-hole configurations, in particular for analyzing contributions from core-excited configurations. © 2018, SIF, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature., National Brain Research Centre Vetenskapsrådet Göran Gustafssons Stiftelse för Naturvetenskaplig och Medicinsk Forskning Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Science and Technology Facilities Council, We thank the operators of the GANIL cyclotrons for providing the beam, their cooperation and technical support. We would also like to thank the EXOGAM, DIAMANT and Neutron Wall Collaborations. This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council under Grant Nos. 621-2014-5558, 621-2012-3805, and 621-2013-4323 and the Göran Gustafsson foundation, the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University Project No. 47886 and 48101, the UK STFC under grant number ST/L005727/1, the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under grant FPA2014-52823-C2-1-P and the program Severo Ochoa (SEV-2014-0398), the Polish National Research Centre contracts no. 2013/08/M/ST2 /00257 (LEA COPIGAL) and 2016/22/M/ST2/00269, the Scientific and Technological Council of Turkey (Proj. no. 114F473). BMN, IK, ZD and JT acknowledge the financial support of GINOP-2.3.3-15-2016-00034. IK was supported by National Research, Development and Innovation Office NK-FIH, contract number PD 124717. The computations were performed on resources provided by the Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC) at PDC, KTH, Stockholm.

An in-beam test of two pixel-type silicon detectors of the TRACE detector project has been performed at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (Italy). The aim was to investigate the lowest kinetic energy values at which isotopic identification of heavy-ion reactions products with mass $ A\sim 10$ is possible, by using a single-layer silicon detector. Two separate read-out chains, analog and digital, were used, and the Pulse Shape Analysis technique was employed to obtain the particle identification matrices for the digitally processed data. The results confirmed the high capability of the Pulse Shape Analysis method which can be used for light ion identification, with performances similar to the analog approach. Separation in both charge and mass was obtained for Li and Be isotopes, however, the presence of a significant background from alpha particles severely limited the data analysis in the lower energy region. Due to this effect, the identification of the light products (7, 6Li isotopes) could be possible down to $ \sim 24.5$ MeV only, while the 9, 7Be isotopes were separable down to $ \sim 29$ MeV. This gives the value of $ < 4$ MeV/nucleon as the lowest kinetic energy for light products identification by using the pixel-type detectors of the TRACE project, in the present experimental conditions.

Lifetimes of excited states in 107Tc, 109Rh, 111Rh, and 113Rh were measured at GANIL using the Recoil-Distance Doppler Shift method. The neutron-rich nuclei were produced in fission reactions in inverse kinematics with a 238U beam impinging on a 9Be target. Fission fragments were identified event-by-event in the ray-tracing spectrometer VAMOS++ and correlated with prompt $\gamma$ rays observed around the target position with the EXOGAM Ge detector array. Several lifetimes were obtained for states in the positive-parity yrast bands in the four nuclei and compared to triaxial particle-rotor calculations. The results clarify the configuration for the strongest positive-parity band in 107Tc and suggest a gradual increase of triaxial deformation with atomic number Z, reaching almost maximum triaxiality for the neutron-rich Rh nuclei.

Single-neutron states in the Z=30, N=49isotope 79Zn have been populated using the 78Zn(d,p)79Zn transfer reaction at REX-ISOLDE, CERN. The experimental setup allowed the combined detection of protons ejected in the reaction, and of γrays emitted by 79Zn. The analysis reveals that the lowest excited states populated in the reaction lie at approximately 1MeV of excitation, and involve neutron orbits above the N=50shell gap. From the analysis of γ-ray data and of proton angular distributions, characteristic of the amount of angular momentum transferred, a5/2+configuration was assigned to a state at 983keV. Comparison with large-scale-shell-model calculations supports a robust neutron N=50shell-closure for 78Ni. These data constitute an important step towards the understanding of the magicity of 78Ni and of the structure of nuclei in the region. publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Single-neutron orbits near 78Ni: Spectroscopy of the isotope 79Zn journaltitle: Physics Letters B articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2014.12.006 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. ispartof: Physics Letters B vol:740 pages:298-302 status: published

Background: While the $N=50$ shell-gap evolution towards $^{78}\mathrm{Ni}$ is presently in the focus of nuclear structure research, experimental information on the neutron effective single-particle energy sequence above the $^{78}\mathrm{Ni}$ core remain scarce. Direct nucleon-exchange reactions are indeed difficult with presently available post-accelerated radioactive-ion beams (especially for high orbital-momentum orbitals) in this exotic region.Purpose: In this study we probe the evolution of the $\ensuremath{\nu}1{g}_{7/2}$ effective single-particle energy which is a key to understanding the possible evolution of the spin-orbit splitting due to the proton-neutron interaction in the $^{78}\mathrm{Ni}$ region. To achieve this goal, a method based on lifetime measurements is used for the first time. The obtained lifetimes of the $7/{2}_{1}^{+}$ states in $^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$ and $^{85}\mathrm{Se}$ are used to investigate the $\ensuremath{\nu}1{g}_{7/2}$ evolution.Method: Yrast and near-yrast states in the light $N=51$ isotones $^{85}\mathrm{Se}$ and $^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$ were populated via multinucleon transfer reactions, using a $^{82}\mathrm{Se}$ beam and a $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ target at the LNL tandem-ALPI facility. The prompt $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays were detected by the AGATA Demonstrator and particle identification was performed using the PRISMA spectrometer. Lifetime measurements were performed by using the Cologne plunger device for deep inelastic reactions and the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift technique.Results: We obtain ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{(7/{2}_{1}^{+})}=0.{4}_{\ensuremath{-}0.4}^{+1.6}$ ps for $^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$. In the case of $^{85}\mathrm{Se}$ an upper limit of 3(2) ps is obtained for the ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{7/{2}_{1}^{+}}$ value.Conclusion: For $^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$, the measured $(7/{2}_{1}^{+})$ lifetime is consistent with a core-coupled ${2}^{+}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\ensuremath{\nu}2{d}_{5/2}$ configuration for this state. This result is consistent with that obtained by direct reaction, which validates our method. For $^{85}\mathrm{Se}$, the measured $7/{2}_{1}^{+}$ lifetime limit indicates a very small contribution of the $\ensuremath{\nu}1{g}_{7/2}$ configuration to the wave function of this state.

Author(s): Vogt, A; Siciliano, M; Birkenbach, B; Reiter, P; Hadynska-Klȩk, K; Wheldon, C; Valiente-Dobon, JJ; Teruya, E; Yoshinaga, N; Arnswald, K; Bazzacco, D; Blazhev, A; Bracco, A; Bruyneel, B; Chakrawarthy, RS; Chapman, R; Cline, D; Corradi, L; Crespi, FCL; Cromaz, M; De Angelis, G; Eberth, J; Fallon, P; Farnea, E; Fioretto, E; Fransen, C; Freeman, SJ; Fu, B; Gadea, A; Gelletly, W; Giaz, A; Gorgen, A; Gottardo, A; Hayes, AB; Hess, H; Hetzenegger, R; Hirsch, R; Hua, H; John, PR; Jolie, J; Jungclaus, A; Karayonchev, V; Kaya, L; Korten, W; Lee, IY; Leoni, S; Liang, X; Lunardi, S; MacChiavelli, AO; Menegazzo, R; Mengoni, D; Michelagnoli, C; Mijatovic, T; Montagnoli, G; Montanari, D; Muller-Gatermann, C; Napoli, D; Pearson, CJ; Podolyak, Z; Pollarolo, G; Pullia, A; Queiser, M; Recchia, F; Regan, PH; Regis, JM; Saed-Samii, N; Sahin, E; Scarlassara, F; Seidlitz, M; Siebeck, B; Sletten, G; Smith, JF; Soderstrom, PA; Stefanini, AM; Stezowski, O; Szilner, S; Szpak, B; Teng, R; Ur, C; Warner, DD; Wolf, K; Wu, CY; Zell, KO | Abstract: The transitional nuclei Xe132 and Xe133 are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusion-evaporation reactions. Both nuclei are populated (i) in Xe136+Pb208 MNT reactions employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, (ii) in the Xe136+Pt198 MNT reaction employing the GAMMASPHERE spectrometer in combination with the gas-detector array CHICO, and (iii) as an evaporation residue after a Te130(α,xn)Xe134-xn fusion-evaporation reaction employing the HORUS γ-ray array at the University of Cologne. The high-spin level schemes are considerably extended above the Jπ=(7-) and (10+) isomers in Xe132 and above the 11/2- isomer in Xe133. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z=54 as well as the N=78 and N=79 chains. Furthermore, evidence is found for a long-lived (T1/2â‰1μs) isomer in Xe133 which closes a gap along the N=79 isotones. Shell-model calculations employing the SN100PN and PQM130 effective interactions reproduce the experimental findings and provide guidance to the interpretation of the observed high-spin features.

The structure of the S33 nucleus was investigated in the Mg24(N14,αp) fusion-evaporation reaction using a 40-MeV N14 beam. The level scheme was extended up to an excitation energy of 11.7 MeV and spin 19/2+. Lifetimes of the intermediate- and high-spin states have been investigated by the Doppler shift attenuation method. Data were compared with different shell-model calculations where effective interactions involving two main shells, the sd and the fp, are used.

Many properties of the atomic nucleus, such as vibrations, rotations and incompressibility, can be interpreted as due to a two component quantum liquid of protons and neutrons. Electron scattering measurements on stable nuclei demonstrate that their central densities are saturated, as for liquid drops. In exotic nuclei near the limits of mass and charge, with large imbalances in their proton and neutron numbers, the possibility of a depleted central density, or a 'bubble' structure, has been discussed in a recurrent manner since the 1970s. Here we report first experimental evidence that points to a depletion of the central density of protons in the short-lived nucleus 34Si. The proton-to-neutron density asymmetry in 34Si offers the possibility to place constraints on the density and isospin dependence of the spin--orbit force-on which nuclear models have disagreed for decades-and on its stabilizing effect towards limits of nuclear existence., 6 pages, 3 figures

The $\beta$ decay of the odd-odd nucleus $^{70}$Br has been investigated with the BigRIPS and EURICA setups at the Radioactive Ion Beam Factory (RIBF) of the RIKEN Nishina Center. The $T=0$ ($J^{\pi}=9^+$) and $T=1$ ($J^{\pi}=0^+$) isomers have both been produced in in-flight fragmentation of $^{78}$Kr with ratios of 41.6(8)\% and 58.4(8)\%, respectively. A half-life of $t_{1/2}=2157^{+53}_{-49}$ ms has been measured for the $J^{\pi}=9^+$ isomer from $\gamma$-ray time decay analysis. Based on this result, we provide a new value of the half-life for the $J^{\pi}=0^+$ ground state of $^{70}$Br, $t_{1/2}=78.42\pm0.51$ ms, which is slightly more precise, and in excellent agreement, with the best measurement reported hitherto in the literature. For this decay, we provide the first estimate of the total branching fraction decaying through the $2^+_1$ state in the daughter nucleus $^{70}$Se, $R(2^+_1)=1.3\pm1.1\%$. We also report four new low-intensity $\gamma$-ray transitions at 661, 1103, 1561, and 1749 keV following the $\beta$ decay of the $J^{\pi}=9^+$ isomer. Based on their coincidence relationships, we tentatively propose two new excited states at 3945 and 4752 keV in $^{70}$Se with most probable spins and parities of $J^{\pi}=(6^+)$ and $(8^+)$, respectively. The observed structure is interpreted with the help of shell-model calculations, which predict a complex interplay between oblate and prolate configurations at low excitation energies.

The neutron-rich nucleus \nucleus{200}{Pt} is investigated via in-beam \gamma-ray spectroscopy in order to study the shape evolution in the neutron-rich platinum isotopes towards the N = 126 shell closure. The two-neutron transfer reaction \nucleus{198}{Pt}(\nucleus{82}{Se}, \nucleus{80}{Se})\nucleus{200}{Pt} is used to populate excited states of \nucleus{200}{Pt}. The Advanced Gamma Ray Tracking Array (AGATA) demonstrator coupled with the PRISMA spectrometer detects \gamma rays coincident with the \nucleus{80}{Se} recoils, the binary partner of \nucleus{200}{Pt}. The binary partner method is applied to extract the \gamma-ray transitions and build the level scheme of \nucleus{200}{Pt}. The level at 1884\,keV reported by Yates et. al [Phys. Rev. C 37, 1889] was confirmed to be at 1882.1\,keV and assigned as the (6^+_1) state. An additional \gamma ray was found and it presumably de-excites the (8^+_1) state. The results are compared with state-of-the-art beyond mean-field calculations, performed for the even-even \nucleus{190-204}{Pt} isotopes, revealing that \nucleus{200}{Pt} marks the transition from the \gamma-unstable behaviour of lighter Pt nuclei towards a more spherical one when approaching the N=126 shell closure.

The calcium isotopes have emerged as a critical testing ground for new microscopically derived shell-model interactions, and a great deal of experimental and theoretical focus has been directed toward this region. We investigate the relative spectroscopic strengths associated with 1f7/2 neutron hole states in Ca47,49 following one-neutron knockout reactions from Ca48,50. The observed reduction of strength populating the 7/21- state in Ca49, as compared to Ca47, is inconsistent with shell-model calculations using both phenomenological interactions such as GXPF1, and interactions derived from microscopically based two- and three-nucleon forces. The result suggests a fragmentation of the l=3 strength to higher-lying states as suggested by the microscopic calculations, but the observed magnitude of the reduction is not reproduced in any shell-model description.

The low-lying energy levels of proton-rich Cu56 have been extracted using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with the state-of-the-art γ-ray tracking array GRETINA in conjunction with the S800 spectrograph at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. Excited states in Cu56 serve as resonances in the Ni55(p,γ)Cu56 reaction, which is a part of the rp process in type-I x-ray bursts. To resolve existing ambiguities in the reaction Q value, a more localized isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME) fit is used, resulting in Q=639±82 keV. We derive the first experimentally constrained thermonuclear reaction rate for Ni55(p,γ)Cu56. We find that, with this new rate, the rp process may bypass the Ni56 waiting point via the Ni55(p,γ) reaction for typical x-ray burst conditions with a branching of up to ∼40%. We also identify additional nuclear physics uncertainties that need to be addressed before drawing final conclusions about the rp-process reaction flow in the Ni56 region.

International audience; Neutron-rich isotopes are an important source of new information on nuclear physics. Specifically, the spin-isospin components in the nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction, e.g., the proton-neutron tensor force, are expected to modify shell structure in exotic nuclei. These potential changes in the intrinsic shell structure are of fundamental interest. The study of the excitation energy of states corresponding to specific configurations in even-even isotopes, together with the single-particle character of the first excited states of odd-A, neutron-rich Ni isotopes, probes the evolution of the neutron orbitals around the Fermi surface as a function of the neutron number a step forward in the understanding of the region and the nature of the NN interaction at large N/Z ratios. In an experiment carried out at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory [1], new spectroscopic information was obtained for 68Ni and the distribution of single-particle strengths in 67,69Ni was characterized by means of single-neutron knockout from 68,70Ni secondary beams. The spectroscopic strengths, deduced from the measured partial cross sections to the individual states tagged by their de-exciting gamma rays, is used to identify and quantify configurations that involve neutron excitations across the N = 40 harmonic oscillator shell closure. The de-excitation γ rays were measured with the GRETINA tracking array [2]. The results challenge the validity of the most current shell-model Hamiltonians and effective interactions, highlighting shortcomings that cannot yet be explained. These results suggest that our understanding of the low-energy states in such nuclei is not complete and requires further investigation.

The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) has been installed at the GANIL facility, Caen-France. This setup exploits the stable and radioactive heavy-ions beams delivered by the cyclotron accelerator complex of GANIL. Additionally, it benefits from a large palette of ancillary detectors and spectrometers to address in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of exotic nuclei. The set-up has been designed to couple AGATA with a magnetic spectrometer, charged-particle and neutron detectors, scintillators for the detection of high-energy γ rays and other devices such as a plunger to measure nuclear lifetimes. In this paper, the design and the mechanical characteristics of the set-up are described. Based on simulations, expected performances of the AGATA l π array are presented. Title in WoS: Conceptual design of the AGATA 1 pi array at GANIL

Prompt γ-ray spectroscopy of the neutron-rich $^{96}$Kr, produced in transfer- and fusion-induced fission reactions, has been performed using the combination of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array and the VAMOS++ spectrometer. A second excited state, assigned to $J^π$ = $4^+$, is observed for the first time, and a previously reported level energy of the first 2+ excited state is confirmed. The measured energy ratio R4/2 = E($4^+$)/E($2^+$) = 2.12(1) indicates that this nucleus does not show a well-developed collectivity contrary to that seen in heavier N = 60 isotones. This new measurement highlights an abrupt transition of the degree of collectivity as a function of the proton number at Z = 36, of similar amplitude to that observed at N = 60 at higher Z values. A possible reason for this abrupt transition could be related to the insufficient proton excitations in the g9/2, d5/2, and s1/2 orbitals to generate strong quadrupole correlations or to the coexistence of competing different shapes. An unexpected continuous decrease of R4/2 as a function of the neutron number up to N = 60 is also evidenced. This measurement establishes the Kr isotopic chain as the low-Z boundary of the island of deformation for N = 60 isotones. A comparison with available theoretical predictions using different beyond mean-field approaches shows that these models fail to reproduce the abrupt transitions at N = 60 and Z = 36.

The high-spin structures of the N = 81 isotones 135Xe and 137Ba are investigated after multinucleontransfer (MNT) and fusion-evaporation reactions. Both nuclei are populated in (i) 136Xe+238U and (ii) 136Xe+208Pb MNT reactions employing the high-resolution Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, (iii), in the 136Xe+198Pt MNT reaction employing the -ray array GAMMASPHERE in combination with the gas detector array Chico, and (iv) via a 11B+130Te fusion-evaporation reaction. The high-spin level schemes of 135Xe and 137Ba are considerably extended to higher energies. The 2058-keV (19=2 ) state in 135Xe is identified as an isomer, completing the systematics for the N = 81 isotones. Its half-life is measured to be 8.6(10) ns, corresponding to a transition probability of B(E2; 19=2 ! 15=2 ) = 0:539(69) W.u. Latest shell model calculations considering 132Sn as a closed core reproduce the experimental findings and provide guidance to the interpretation of the new levels. The experimentally deduced reduced quadrupole transition probabilities of the isomeric states are compared to shell-model predictions.

M. Klintefjord et al. -- 11 pags., 8 figs., 1 tab. -- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 4.0

Previous experiments observed a 4^{+} state in the N=28 nucleus ^{44}S and suggested that this state may exhibit a hindered E2-decay rate, inconsistent with being a member of the collective ground state band. We populate this state via two-proton knockout from a beam of exotic ^{46}Ar projectiles and measure its lifetime using the recoil distance method with the GRETINA γ-ray spectrometer. The result, 76(14)_{stat}(20)_{syst} ps, implies a hindered transition of B(E2;4^{+}→2_{1}^{+})=0.61(19) single-particle or Weisskopf units strength and supports the interpretation of the 4^{+} state as a K=4 isomer, the first example of a high-K isomer in a nucleus of such low mass.

The isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR) $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ decay was measured in the compound nuclei $^{80}\mathrm{Zr}$ and $^{81}\mathrm{Rb}$ at an excitation energy of ${E}^{*}=54$ MeV. The fusion reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ at ${E}_{\mathrm{beam}}=136$ MeV was used to form the compound nucleus $^{80}\mathrm{Zr}$, while the reaction $^{37}\mathrm{Cl}+^{44}\mathrm{Ca}$ at ${E}_{\mathrm{beam}}=95$ MeV was used to form the compound nucleus $^{81}\mathrm{Rb}$ at the same excitation energy. The IVGDR parameters extracted from the analysis were compared with the ones found at higher excitation energy (${E}^{*}=83$ MeV). The comparison allows one to observe two different nuclear mechanisms: (i) the IVGDR intrinsic width remains constant with the excitation energy in the nucleus $^{81}\mathrm{Rb}$; (ii) the isospin-violating spreading width (i.e., Coulomb spreading width) remains constant with the excitation energy in the nucleus $^{80}\mathrm{Zr}$. The experimental setup used for the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray detection was composed by the AGATA demonstrator array coupled to the large-volume ${\mathrm{LaBr}}_{3}$:Ce detectors of the ${\mathrm{HECTOR}}^{+}$ array.

International audience; Lifetimes of excited states in ${}^{99}$Y , ${}^{101}$Y, ${}^{101}$Nb, ${}^{103}$Nb, and ${}^{105}$Nb were measured in an experiment using the recoil distance Doppler shift method at GANIL (Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds). The neutron-richnuclei were produced in fission reactions between a ${}^{238}$U beam and a ${}^9$Be target. Prompt γ rays were measuredwith the EXOGAM array and correlated with fission fragments that were identified in mass and atomic numberwith the VAMOS$\ {++}$ spectrometer. The measured lifetimes, together with branching ratios, provide $\it B(M1)$ and$\it B(E2)$ values for the strongly coupled rotational bands built on the [422]5/2$^+$ ground state in the Y and Nb nucleiwith neutron number N $\geq$ 60. The comparison of the experimental results with triaxial particle-rotor calculationsprovides information about the evolution of the nuclear shape in this mass region.

Prompt γ-ray spectroscopy of the neutron-rich ^{96}Kr, produced in transfer- and fusion-induced fission reactions, has been performed using the combination of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array and the VAMOS++ spectrometer. A second excited state, assigned to J^{π}=4^{+}, is observed for the first time, and a previously reported level energy of the first 2^{+} excited state is confirmed. The measured energy ratio R_{4/2}=E(4^{+})/E(2^{+})=2.12(1) indicates that this nucleus does not show a well-developed collectivity contrary to that seen in heavier N=60 isotones. This new measurement highlights an abrupt transition of the degree of collectivity as a function of the proton number at Z=36, of similar amplitude to that observed at N=60 at higher Z values. A possible reason for this abrupt transition could be related to the insufficient proton excitations in the g_{9/2}, d_{5/2}, and s_{1/2} orbitals to generate strong quadrupole correlations or to the coexistence of competing different shapes. An unexpected continuous decrease of R_{4/2} as a function of the neutron number up to N=60 is also evidenced. This measurement establishes the Kr isotopic chain as the low-Z boundary of the island of deformation for N=60 isotones. A comparison with available theoretical predictions using different beyond mean-field approaches shows that these models fail to reproduce the abrupt transitions at N=60 and Z=36.

D. Ralet et al. -- 11 pags., 10 figs., 3 tabs., Background: In the neutron-rich A≈100 mass region, rapid shape changes as a function of nucleon number as well as coexistence of prolate, oblate, and triaxial shapes are predicted by various theoretical models. Lifetime measurements of excited levels in the molybdenum isotopes allow the determination of transitional quadrupole moments, which in turn provides structural information regarding the predicted shape change. Purpose: The present paper reports on the experimental setup, the method that allowed one to measure the lifetimes of excited states in even-even molybdenum isotopes from mass A=100 up to mass A=108, and the results that were obtained. Method: The isotopes of interest were populated by secondary knock-out reaction of neutron-rich nuclei separated and identified by the GSI fragment separator at relativistic beam energies and detected by the sensitive PreSPEC-AGATA experimental setup. The latter included the Lund-York-Cologne calorimeter for identification, tracking, and velocity measurement of ejectiles, and AGATA, an array of position sensitive segmented HPGe detectors, used to determine the interaction positions of the γ ray enabling a precise Doppler correction. The lifetimes were determined with a relativistic version of the Doppler-shift-attenuation method using the systematic shift of the energy after Doppler correction of a γ-ray transition with a known energy. This relativistic Doppler-shift-attenuation method allowed the determination of mean lifetimes from 2 to 250 ps. Results: Even-even molybdenum isotopes from mass A=100 to A=108 were studied. The decays of the low-lying states in the ground-state band were observed. In particular, two mean lifetimes were measured for the first time: τ=29.7-9.1+11.3 ps for the 4+ state of Mo108 and τ=3.2-0.7+0.7 ps for the 6+ state of Mo102. Conclusions: The reduced transition strengths B(E2), calculated from lifetimes measured in this experiment, compared to beyond-mean-field calculations, indicate a gradual shape transition in the chain of molybdenum isotopes when going from A=100 to A=108 with a maximum reached at N=64. The transition probabilities decrease for Mo108 which may be related to its well-pronounced triaxial shape indicated by the calculations., This work was supported by the BMBF under Grants No. 05P09RDFN4, No. 05P12RDFN8, and No. 05P12PKFNE and by the LOEWE center HIC for FAIR. Part of this work was supported by the P2IO excellence center. This work was also supported by the European Community FP7–Capacities, ENSAR Contract No. 262010, by the Swedish Research Council under Contracts No. 2010-147, No. 2010-3694, No. 2011-5253, No. 2011-6127, and No. 2014-5558, by the IN2P3- GSI No. 02-42 collaboration, by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and by MINECO, Spain, under Grant No. FPA2014-57196-C5, and Generalitat Valenciana, Spain, under Grant No. PROMETEOII/2014/019

© 2016 Elsevier B.V. The γ-ray tracking array GRETINA was coupled to the S800 magnetic spectrometer for spectroscopy with fast beams of rare isotopes at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory on the campus of Michigan State University. We describe the technical details of this powerful setup and report on GRETINA's performance achieved with source and in-beam measurements. The γ-ray multiplicity encountered in experiments with fast beams is usually low, allowing for a simplified and efficient treatment of the data in the γ-ray analysis in terms of Doppler reconstruction and spectral quality. The results reported in this work were obtained from GRETINA consisting of 8 detector modules hosting four high-purity germanium crystals each. Currently, GRETINA consists of 10 detector modules.

International audience; A new segmented particle detector, SPIDER, has been designed to be used as an ancillary device with the GALILEO γ-ray spectrometer, as well as with other multi-detector γ-ray arrays that will be available at LNL in the future (e.g. AGATA). To commission the SPIDER-GALILEO experimental setup, a multi-step Coulomb excitation experiment was carried out with a 240 MeV beam of (66)Zn produced by the Tandem-XTU accelerator at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The measured particle and γ-ray spectra are compared with the results of detailed GEANT4 simulations which used the Coulomb excitation cross sections, estimated with the computer code GOSIA, as an input. The preliminary results indicate that precise transition probabilities will be obtained which are essential for solving discrepancies reported in the literature for this nucleus.

L. Pellegri et al. ; 5 pags. ; 6 figs. ; open access article under the CC BY license. Funded by SCOAP3, © 2014 The Authors. The γ decay from the high-lying states of 124Sn was measured using the inelastic scattering of 17O at 340 MeV. The emitted γ rays were detected with high resolution with the AGATA demonstrator array and the scattered ions were detected in two segmented δE-E silicon telescopes. The angular distribution was measured both for the γ rays and the scattered 17O ions. An accumulation of E1 strength below the particle threshold was found and compared with previous data obtained with (γ, γ') and (α, α'γ) reactions. The present results of elastic scattering, and excitation of E2 and E1 states were analysed using the DWBA approach. From this comprehensive description the isoscalar component of the 1- excited states was extracted. The obtained values are based on the comparison of the data with DWBA calculations including a form factor deduced using a microscopic transition density., Grant No. 2011/03/B/ST2/01894; (iii) the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at MSU; (iv) the US NSF Grant PHY-1204486; and the German BMBF under Grant 06KY9136.

The low-energy excitation level schemes of the neutron-rich $^{38--42}\mathrm{S}$ isotopes are investigated via in-beam $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectroscopy following the fragmentation of $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ and $^{46}\mathrm{Ar}$ projectiles on a $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ target at intermediate beam energies. Information on $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidences complemented by comparisons to shell-model calculations were used to construct level schemes for these neutron-rich nuclei. The experimental data are discussed in the context of large-scale shell-model calculations with the SDPF-MU effective interaction in the $sd\text{\ensuremath{-}}pf$ shell. For the even-mass S isotopes, the evolution of the yrast sequence is explored as well as a peculiar change in decay pattern of the second ${2}^{+}$ states at $N=26$. For the odd-mass $^{41}\mathrm{S}$, a level scheme is presented that seems complete below 2.2 MeV and consistent with the predictions by the SDPF-MU shell-model Hamiltonian; this is a remarkable benchmark given the rapid shell and shape evolution at play in the S isotopes as the broken-down $N=28$ magic number is approached. Furthermore, the population of excited final states in projectile fragmentation is discussed.

© 2019 Jagellonian University. All Rights Reserved. The breaking of isospin symmetry caused by the Coulomb interaction can be measured by the study of E1 γ decay. The Isovector Giant Dipole Resonance (IVGDR) was measured in 60 Zn and 62 Zn at two different excitation energies E ∗ = 47 MeV and E ∗ = 58 MeV with the goal of deducing the isospin mixing term. A fusion–evaporation reaction, with a beam of 32 S and a target of 28 Si, was used to produce 60 Zn. We also produced the compound nucleus 62 Zn using the reaction 32 S + 30 Si. This last reaction is required because, for the produced nucleus, the statistical model analysis is much less sensitive to the isospin mixing, and this allows to extract the GDR parameters and use them for isospin mixing sensitive reaction populating neighboring nucleus with N = Z. The experimental setup was composed of GALILEO array (germanium detectors) coupled to the large-volume LaBr 3 :Ce detectors for the γ-rays measuring and by two ancillary arrays, EUCLIDES and the Neutron Wall for the detection of particles and neutrons, respectively. An overview on the ongoing analysis and on preliminary results is presented. ispartof: ACTA PHYSICA POLONICA B vol:50 issue:3 pages:481-486 ispartof: location:POLAND, Zakopane status: published

Our understanding of the evolution of the shell structure in nuclei far from stability is based on the study of some key nuclei. Nuclei at or next to double shell closures play a special role in this. Presently, a lot of discussion is concentrated on the neutron-rich calcium isotopes, which provide a rich testing ground for various nuclear models with several traditional and new magic numbers. 60 Ca is now almost within reach with the most advanced radioactive beam facilities. In order to investigate the evolution of the shell gap at N = 40, the configuration of states in the odd–even titanium isotopes up to N = 37 ( 59 Ti) have been studied. In order to experimentally access the shell gap at N = 40, it is nowadays within the reach of the most advanced facility the investigation of neutron hole configuration states in odd–even titanium isotopes up to N = 37, in the 59 Ti nucleus. Such states correspond to relatively simple configurations that constitute a challenging testing ground for effective nuclear interactions. The new data obtained in our experiment allows to place the present predictions concerning the shell closure at N = 40 in the calcium region on a more solid ground.

Background: E2 plays a key role in human reproduction and in premenopausal BC growth through the induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the expansion of T-Regulatory cells (T-Regs). In addition, few clinical data exist on long-term outcome of high-risk N+ premenopausal BC treated with E2 deprivation, by luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH). We hypothesized that E2 suppression, following diagnosis of N+ BC in young premenopausal patients, could decrease VEGF and T-Regs and, therefore, could reduce the recurrence rate. Primary endpoint of this study was the evaluation of T-Regs and VEGF of premenopausal patients with high-risk N+, estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and negative (ER-) early BC, treated with an LH-RH analogue. Secondary endpoints were the 10 and 15-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. Methods: Between 06-1997 and 06-2007, 200 premenopausal high risk early BC patients were entered into the study. Before starting chemotherapy, the LH-RH analogue was administered, 3.75 mg every 28 days for 1 year to the first 64 patients. The same monthly dose was given, for 2 years, to 36 patients. Having observed a decrease of 31% in the recurrence rate for the longer administration of LH-RH analogue, we gave the 11.25 mg dose every 84 days, for 5 years, to the remaining 100 patients. Breast conserving and radical surgery were performed in 74% and 26% of patients, respectively. Systemic therapy was tailored to the biological characteristics of each patient and followed by radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy in ER+ tumors. Results: Median patient's age was 43 years (range 26-45). Mean number of positive axillary nodes was 3.2 (range 1-25). 71% of patients were ER+ and/or progesterone receptor (PGR+), 29% were ER - and PGR-. Median KI-67 was 30% (range 15% -100%). 21% of patients were c-ErbB-2 positive and 11 of them were treated with trastuzumab for 1 year. After a median follow up of 102 months (range 60-180), a statistically significant decrease of VEGF and T-Regs was observed, both in ER+ (P Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P6-09-06.

Position sensitive highly segmented germanium detectors constitute the state-of-the-art of the technology employed for γ - spectroscopy studies. The operation of large spectrometers composed of tens to hundreds of such detectors demands enormous amounts of computing power for the digital treatment of the signals. The use of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) has been evaluated as a cost-effective solution to meet such requirements. Different implementations and the hardware constraints limiting the performance of the system are examined.

The distribution of single-particle strength in 67,69Ni was characterized with one-neutron knockout reactions from intermediate-energy 68,70Ni secondary beams, selectively populating neutron-hole configurations at N = 39 and 41, respectively. The spectroscopic strengths deduced from the measured partial cross sections to the individual final states, as tagged by their γ-ray decays, are used to identify and quantify neutron configurations in the wave functions. While 69Ni compares well to shell-model predictions, the results for 67Ni challenge the validity of current effective shell-model Hamiltonians by revealing discrepancies that cannot be explained so far. These results suggest that our understanding of the low-lying states in the neutron-rich, semi-magic Ni isotopes may be incomplete and requires further investigation on both the experimental and theoretical sides.

International audience; Note from publisher: This article contains the abstract only.

The quadrupole transition rate for the 41+→21+ transition of Ni58 was determined from an application of the recoil distance method with the Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking In-beam Nuclear Array (GRETINA). The present result of the B(E2;41+→21+) was found to be 50-6+11e2fm4, which is about three times smaller than the literature value, indicating substantially less collectivity than previously believed. Shell model calculations performed with the GXPF1A effective interaction agree with the present data and the validity of the standard effective charges in understanding collectivity in the nickel isotopes is discussed.

Zakopane Conference on Nuclear Physics - Extremes of the Nuclear Landscape -- AUG 28-SEP 04, 2016 -- Zakopane, POLAND, WOS: 000398717500011, Mirror energy differences (MED) are a direct consequence of isospin symmetry breaking. Moreover, the study of MED has proved to give valuable information of several nuclear structure properties. We present the results of an experiment performed in GANIL to study the MED in mirror nuclei Mg-23-Na-23 up to high spin. The experimental values are compared with state-of-the-art shell model calculations. This permits to enlighten several nuclear structure properties, such as the way in which the nucleons alignment proceeds, the radius variation with J, the role of the spin-orbit interaction and the importance of isospin symmetry breaking terms of nuclear origin.