How would additional protons be added to an element using nuclear means?

Protons can be added to an element through bombardment of the element with alpha particles. Alpha particles, remnants of radioactive decay of heavy elements, are a combination of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. In 1919, Rutherford succeeded in producing the isotope O-17 by bombarding N-14 with alpha particles. Transmuting N-14 into O-17 (1 proton + 2 neutrons added) requires that one proton from the alpha particle also be released. See the link below for additional information:

http://science.jrank.org/pages/249/Alpha-Particle....

it's called nuclear fusion and it occurs when you have highly compressed hydrogen atoms because they smash together and create a larger nucleus.