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  Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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  First astatine-labeled compound shipped in the U.S.
  The Department of Energy’s National Isotope Development Center (NIDC) on March 31 announced the successful long-distance shipment in the United States of a biologically active compound labeled with the medical radioisotope astatine-211 (At-211). Because previous shipments have included only the “bare” isotope, the NIDC has described the development as “unleashing medical innovation.”
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Several preliminary conceptual designs of nuclear thermal rocket reactor cores are presented that use tin-bonded monolithic ceramic [mononitride (UN), monocarbide (UC), and uranium dioxide (UO₂)] fuel plates or pins with molybdenum-tungsten alloy clad. Neutron moderation is provided by a block of Be metal or composite materials using metal hydrides such as ZrH_1.6 or YH_1.6 with different matrices (MgO or Be). Mainly high-assay low-enriched uranium is considered, but highly enriched uranium is also assessed for a few configurations. Nominal core thermal power is 300 MW corresponding to about 66 kN (15 klbf) of thrust, and with minimal modifications, 500 MW may be possible (25 klbf of thrust). Depending on the configurations, the amount of ²³⁵U needed for criticality is 30 to 90 kg, and reactor weight is 2.5 to 3.8 tonnes.