YOU’RE MINE (Arranged Marriage of the Two Genius)

6. BRILLIANT MINDS

At the Tokyo Academy, the bell rang symbolizes that the class will start so, all students rushed inside the campus. Kyoko and Natsumi were in one class together taking up the history subject that was written on the sign above the board. A bunch of girls and boys were whispering and chit-chatting around including Natsumi who is talking to the girl behind her while Kyoko at the side is quietly listening to the music with her iPod and earphone. The door opened and their teacher arrived that everyone moved to their proper seats immediately. Kyoko also removed the earphones and sat straight then, a guy stood up straight above them all.

“Good morning, Mr. Shinji,” The guy greeted and the whole class repeated it including Kyoko.

Mr. Shinji faced the students. "Good morning, everyone. So where were we the last time?" he asked flipping his book. "Yes, in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended World War II for good. However, Nagasaki did more damage and was more tragic,” he started lecturing while everyone was not seemed listening.

“That's inconclusive,” A girl interrupted.

Mr. Shinji and the whole class turned to the girl who talked apart from Kyoko.

“What did you say, Ms. Naomi?" Mr. Shinji asked.

“I said, that's inconclusive. Nagasaki's reports aren't as conclusive as Hiroshima's. Nagasaki could only report 40,000-75,000. And then there's the aftermath, people were dying of radiation, burns, and cancers after the bombs. Nagasaki's rate of death only increased to an estimated 80,000 when Hiroshima spiked to 90,000- 166,000. So technically, Hiroshima did more damage. Can you be more precise? Because all of us know that already. I've heard that several times since when I was in 4th grade. I know everything that happened and so far, your story was not accurate, ” directed wickedly.

“Then, do you know when and where the first atomic bomb blasted?" Kyoko butted in and she got all the attention of the whole class. She is looking at the girl named Naomi. “And who was the person behind all of it?"

Naomi gave Kyoko a smirk. "Of course, I know. The first atomic bomb blasted was on July 16, 1945, in New Mexico. The person behind of all of it was..." She pauses to think. "General Le...Lester Grovie,” she hesitantly said.

“You're correct that the first atomic bomb blast was on July 16, 1945, in a remote area of New Mexico during the predawn hours. That early morning darkness the incredible destructive powers of the atom were first unleashed and what had been merely theoretical became reality. The test was the culmination of three years' planning and development within the super-secret Manhattan project headed by General Leslie R. GROVES,” she stated.

Naomi anyway looked away embarrassingly when she said the name.

“While Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer directed the scientific team headquartered at Los Alamos, New Mexico. An isolated corner of the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range located 230 miles south of Los Alamos was selected for the test that was given the code-name 'Trinity'. Even before the bomb was tested, a secret bomb was secretly dispatched to the Pacific for an attack on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Just after General Groves left, announcement began to be broadcast of the interval remaining before the blast. As the time interval grew smaller and changed from minutes to seconds, the tension increased by leaps and bounds. Atomic fission would no longer broaden in the cloisters of the theoretical physicists' dreams. Then, Dr. Kistiakowsky, the impulsive Russian but an American and a Harvard professor threw his arms around Dr. Oppenheimer and embraced him with shouts of glee. All the pent-up emotions were released in those minutes and all seemed to sense immediately that the explosion had exceeded the most optimistic expectations and wildest hopes of the scientists. All seemed to feel that they had been present at the birthday of a new age which is 'The Age of Atomic Energy'. As to the present war, there was a feeling that no matter what else might happen, we now had the means to ensure its speedy conclusion and save thousands of people's lives. Now, do you happen to know that story as well?" she asked Naomi.

While everyone gaped at the information she just told. Naomi opened her mouth but then, she closed it because she hasn't heard that story yet and she doesn't have anything to say on the counter.

“I don't know that story,” A petite girl spoke at the back of Naomi.

“Based on your expression I can tell that you don't know that story yet," Kyoko said eyeing Naomi in dull. "I've heard that whole story when I was in preschool. I guess you didn't pay much attention to your teacher."

“You..." Naomi raised her chin arrogantly diverting the attention to Mr. Shinji. “Mr. Shinji, do you know that?"

“Um..." Mr. Shinji gulped nervously as all of the eyes are on him. "I don't know that,” he mumbled inside of his brain.

“Of course, he did. Tell us more Sir about how they prepared,” Kyoko acknowledged.

“Um...Yeah." Mr. Shinji produced a weak smile. "Preparations for the test included the building of a steel tower that wouldn't suspend the bomb one hundred feet above the ground. Many were apprehensive..." He continued the lecture.

While Naomi glanced to Kyoko that her fists are quivering in rage because she was embarrassed in front of their whole class. Kyoko anyways has her eyes in front impassively. Thereafter, Natsumi and Kyoko were walking outside of the campus.

“You know what, until now I am thinking of the story you told this morning about the atomic bomb," Natsumi questioned.

“The Age of Atomic Energy," Kyoko answered coolly.

“Right." Natsumi smiled. "I don't know the story behind of atomic bomb and I just knew it today. Wow. Really, wow." She was astonished.

“Your service is here. I'm going,” Kyoko said leaving Natsumi alone.

Kyoki is walking in the subway tranquility with earphones in her ears when a group of students blocked her way. It's Naomi's group.

“Where are you going, b***h?" Naomi spoke highly. "After you embarrassed me in front of the whole class a while ago, do you think I'm just going to let you?" She chuckles. "No way. You have to deal with me first before you leave, b***h!" she said angrily.

“Naomi, I don't think it's a good idea. Don't you know who is she? She's a genius and she has a black belt in judo, karate, and jujitsu. We shouldn't step in her way,” A girl with nerdy eyeglasses whispered at the back of Naomi.

“And Naomi, you started it, remember? You shouldn't interrupt Mr. Shinji a while ago when he was talking then, you wouldn't get embarrassed yourself,” Another girl spoke.

“Shut up, both of you!" Naomi removed her friend's hands off of her while glaring at Kyoko. "So what if she's a genius? And who cares if she knows everything. The thing here is she embarrassed me in front of the whole class. That's ashamed for me and I'm not going to leave not until I get her apology,” she arrogantly said then, she faced Kyoko. "You shouldn't mess with me because no one messes with me. You're a genius? Then, I'm the fighter. I don't let one person gets in my way. Let's see who will stand out. After this, you will be going to buy a face to the dog because no one will recognize you as a genius anymore."

Then, Naomi runs towards Kyoko angrily giving Kyoko a solid punch but that's when she hit the cold air because Kyoko c****d her head to the left while Naomi became angrier that she threw a lot of punches including kicks. But still, she can't hit her Kyoko.

“That's enough Naomi! You can't win to a genius!" A girl shouted from Naomi's back nervously.

“She's just a genius and not a fighter! Nerds are freak!" Naomi yelled back throwing another punch at Kyoko.

And that's when Kyoko grabbed Naomi's fist with her right hand. The eyes of Naomi widened in surprise and also her friends at the back. Naomi threw another punch with her left fist but Kyoko grabbed it again with her right hand that is holding the right fist, Naomi. Kyoko unplugged the left earphone with the use of her left hand then sent Naomi an icy stare.

“Don't give me that look!" Naomi shouted.

And then, she tried to release from Kyoko's grip but she(Kyoko) didn't let Naomi go but rather, tightened it more that a groan escaped from Naomi's throat.

“You're ruining my music,” All Kyoko said in a cold tone.

Naomi grunted more when Kyoko tightened it and that's where Naomi's friends at the back rescued her. They pulled Naomi out of Kyoko's grasp and left immediately. Kyoko then put the earplug again and continued walking. Meantime, Yuki got home and his mother Jen welcomed him.

“Son, you have visitors. They are four scientists,” Jen mentioned.

Yuki went to the living area to meet the visitors and the four scientists stood up when they saw him.

“Mr. Francisco."

“Dr. Masaki," Yuki said and took the four hands for a handshake.

“Mr. Francisco, I'm sorry if we will disturb you for a while but we have something to discuss with you privately. This is Dr. Yu, Dr. Tan, and Dr. Ma. They are from the Nuclear Medicine Institution from China,” Dr. Masaki recited pointing his co-scientists.

“What is it that you want to discuss privately?" Yuki inquired.

“Something about the new formula,” Dr. Masaki answered.

Eventually, Yuki brought the four scientists to his laboratory sanctuary.

“Feel yourself at home. I got all the types of equipment that we can use to the formula you are looking for,” Yuki told.

“You see Mr. Francisco; this new formula is kind of dangerous,” Dr. Yu spoke.

“I see." Yuki took a seat.

“They are my co-partners of discovering new and very useful things, including Dr. Masaki,” Dr. Yu explained. "These new formulas need a lot of experiments and I need your help, Mr. Francisco. I know you can help us with this." He gave Yuki an earnest eye.

Yuki stared back at Dr. Yu. "Let's work on it." Then, he stood up.

Minutes later, Yuki and the other four scientists were sitting while looking at Dr. Yu who is standing in front of the whiteboard.

“I'm going to explain first Mr. Francisco what we are going to do, how we will do it, and why,” Dr. Yu said looking directly at Yuki who is sitting at the side. "We have five types of radioactive decay. The Alpha decay, beta minus or nega-" he said while writing it down to the board

When Yuki interrupted. “Negatron decay, Positron decay, Electron capture decay, and Isometric transition. Let’s not waste time. Your point?"

The four scientists looked to Yuki surprisingly.

“Oh, yeah. Apologies, I forgot I am talking to a genius." Dr. Yu lowered his head respectfully at Yuki. "Anyway, the quantity of radioactive material expressed as the number of radioactive atoms undergoing nuclear transformation per unit of time. The activity." He continued writing down the mathematical equation of activity which is (A=dN/dt). “Since the disintegration rate or activity of the sample is proportional to the number of unstable nuclei this also varies exponentially with time namely, as where Ao is the original activity times to e, the base of the natural logarithm which is equivalent to 2.718, to the exponent of negative lambda, the radioactive decay constant that is dependent on the radioactive being measured times the elapsed time. Also, the time which half of the atoms of particular radioactive substance disintegrate to another nuclear form."

“Half-life," Yuki commented that his arms were across his chest while listening.

“Yes. Where T 1/2 is equivalent to 0.693 and lambda that is equal to 1n 2/lambda,” Dr. Yu said writing it down to the board. "Now, this is when our main product will set. The uranium."

“By the use of Nuclear Fission, splitting of an atomic nucleus into two smaller nuclei will be possible,” Dr. Ma added standing to his seat and went to the board too. "Some unstable or radioactive nuclei fission spontaneously while other nuclei need an input of energy to overcome the nuclear binding forces. This energy is often provided by the absorption of neutrons."

“Neutrons are produced by the fission of uranium in a nuclear reaction. If your isotope is radioactive material then you can activate it. Just like cobalt 60. The atomic mass number of cobalt is 59 and when you added one neutron, it will become radioactive. That's why it is called Neutron Activation,” Yuki clarified.

“Uranium 235 is the most widely used fissionable material,” Dr. Tan mentioned from his seat.

“99.3% and 0.7% of the elemental uranium exists in nature as Uranium 238 and Uranium 235 respectively,” Dr. Masaki joined in a discussion.

“Uranium 235 has a high fission probability, thus its concentration in Uranium ore is enriched to 3-5% to make the nuclear fuel used in the reactor,” Yuki.

“Indeed. When the Uranium 235 nuclear captures a neutron, the resulting nucleus; U 236, is extremely unstable and breaks apart is fission into two smaller fragments called fission fragments,” Dr. Yu.

“Uranium 235 plus nuclei 0 become Uranium 236." Dr. Ma computed in the board.

“And U 236 plus n1 become molybdenum 99 plus Sn134 plus 3n0 is equal to...." Dr. Yu computed.

“236," Yuki answered indolently.

“Yes, 236." Dr. Yu wrote the answer.

“The fission of Uranium creates fission nuclei having a wide range of mass numbers. More than 200 radionuclides with mass numbers 70 and 160 are produced by the fission process." Dr. Tan.

“A generator is a system that provides radionuclides by radioactive decay. This system usually produced a relatively short half-life, the daughter. The development of generators made it easier and more practical for many hospitals to perform radionuclide imaging in sites distant from a reactor or cyclotron. The widely useful generator is the Molybdenum to Technetium generator. Technetium which has an element of 43 that is not present in nature and represented by an empty box in the chemical periodical table before its discovery in 1937 by Segre, is the most ideal radioisotope for nuclear medicine imaging. The characteristics of Technetium 99 are what makes it ideal,” Yuki simplified.

While the four scientists left their mouths open just listening to him.

“Tell me, what seems to be a problem about it?"

“We came all the way here Mr. Francisco to formulate a new radiopharmaceutical to make tumors and other diseases cure. Using Technetium 99 and with your help, we can save millions of people's lives,” Dr. Ma replied.

“Excuse me.” Jen entered with a stroller of food.

All five of them turned to her who is smiling at them.

“While you are discussing things that I don't understand, why don't you eat? Sugars will surely help you more to think of better ideas. Full your stomachs and your brains will be full." She then distributed the trays to each of them.

“I'll eat later. Thank you, Mom,” Yuki acknowledged.

The four scientists said their thanks to her too and she left then, Yuki started to talk again while she peeked out from the corner to eavesdrop on them.

“It decays by isometric transitions and emits a single major gamma-ray without particulate emission, thus the radiation dose is minimized. The gamma-ray of 140-kilo electron volt is in the optimal energy range for external detection. Gammas with lower energies would undergo more scattering and attenuation processes before emerging from the body for external detection by gamma cameras, whereas gammas with higher energies would have longer ranges but higher probability of escaping detection by zipping through the detector without interacting,” Yuki elucidated.

“All I could hear is gamma. What is gamma?" Jen questioned.

“A variety of compounds with different target organs have been developed that can be labeled by Technetium radiopharmaceuticals can be prepared from commercially available kits and the six hours half-life of Technetium is sufficiently matched to most imaging applications,” Yuki discussed.

“I don't understand what they are talking about. So, they are here because they need my son's help. They traveled all the way here just to talk to him,” she awed astonishingly. "That's what I called effort. My son is really intelligent. I need to leave this place before my very own brain explodes here. They are using a foreign language and I can't understand a single word."

She then left the laboratory with a stroller. Afterward, the five of them were wearing white gowns. Yuki is working in the microscope looking into the specimen while Dr. Yu and Dr. Masaki are computing. Dr. Ma and Dr. Tan anyways were facing the computer.

“The biological properties of the radiopharmaceuticals determine its localization and fate after administration,” Dr. Masaki mumbled.

“And some radiopharmaceuticals localize because of the radionuclide's elemental state like inert gases of ventilation scanning in Xenon 133 or ionic state of thyroid uptake of Iodide123,” Dr. Yu responded.

“If we will go to compare sodium iodide 123 versus Technetium 99m Pertechnetate or TcO4 then..." Dr. Masaki pauses to think.

“What could happen?" Dr. Yu questioned.

“The thyroid can be imaged at 20 minutes with Technetium 99m Pertechnetate but until 4 to 6 hours with Iodide 123 Sodium Iodide," Yuki answered while focusing on his work on to microscope.

Dr. Masaki and Dr. Yu stared at each other after Yuki spoke and their eyes widened.

“He's correct,” Dr. Yu said amusingly.

“We should write it down,” Dr. Masaki told and wrote it quickly.

Whilzt, Yuki is examining the changes to the specimen.

“Got it," Yuki uttered then, he stretched his back. "Look what I've found," he announced.

“What did you find?" Dr. Tan stood and approached Yuki.

“What is it?" Dr. Yu asked.

The four scientists looked at the microscope one by one.

“What is this?" Dr. Masaki inquired looking at the specimen.

“That is Technetium 99m. Red blood cells DI. I injected a Technetium 99m through the red blood cells,” Yuki explained.

And the four pairs of eyes bored at him and he took that signal to continue.

“Blood pool imaging including cardiac first pass and gated equilibrium imaging and detection of sites of Gastrointestinal bleeding. Heat damaged RBC are used for diagnosis and splenosis and accessory spleen. In vitro cell labeling; administered within 30 minutes labeling efficiency in 95%. Administered with large needle suchlike 19 to 21 gauge." He interpreted.

“How did you do it?" Dr. Ma curiously asked.

“With the use of Cell Sequestration. Once it is reinjected, the spleen's ability to recognize and remove the damage RBC is evaluated. The spleen can help the immune system, absorb the dead RBC and it is a graveyard of the RBC. This procedure allows for the evaluation of both splenic morphology and function,” Yuki explicated.

“This is fantastic!" Dr. Yu shouted triumphantly. "We discovered a new form! Congratulations, Mr. Francisco. I owe you." He pulled Yuki's hand for a handshake. "I knew that you could help us with this. Thank you a lot. This will surely help a lot of millions of people's lives."

“Yes, this is wonderful. A totally a piece of work." Dr. Tan started smiling and shaking Yuki's hand too.

“Thank you, Mr. Francisco, for helping us,” Dr. Masaki mentioned feeling please while shaking Yuki's hand.

“It's a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Francisco,” Dr. Ma commented shaking the hand of Yuki.

“Don't mention it," Yuki responded to all of them without an expression.

It's already mid of night when the four scientists left the house of Francisco and Yuki went to his bed quietly. Jero anyways checked the door and his son to his room.

“It's good to know that my son can get to his sleep now,” he mumbled and closed the door.

So, Jero got back to his room with his wife and they sleep peacefully.

To be continued...