  The structural evolution of the heavy nuclei, with Z > 82, is investigated by
looking at the differential variation of the two-neutron separation energies.
It indicates, by non-monotonous behavior at certain neutron numbers, structure
phenomena such as major shell (N = 126) and deformed subshell (N = 152)
closures. Another interesting effect is observed at N ~ 142, which is very well
correlated with a previously observed, intriguing behavior of quantities
measured in alpha decay, such as relative branching ratios and hindrance
factors of excited states from the ground state band of deformed nuclei in this
region. Corroboration of the existing experimental data indicates another
possible deformed subshell closure.
