Measurement of electromagnetic waves from runaway electrons

Electromagnetic waves emitted during a tokamak discharge can be partially ascribed to coupling with plasma waves. In particular, in the presence of runaway electrons, the electromagnetic waves deliver information, otherwise inaccessible, about kinetic instabilities excited by the fast particles. Experiments aimed at studying radio frequency emissions from runaway electron scenarios during different stages of plasma discharge have been carried out at the Frascati Tokamak Upgrade. Frequencies in the range of lower hybrid and whistler waves have been explored, in the presence of relativistic electrons with different energies, ranging from a few to tens of MeV. A pronounced sensitivity of the radio frequency measurements in detecting driven instabilities is observed, providing the possibility to exploit this kind of technique as a monitor of the instability processes and for studies of the fast electron activity. In particular, in this work, we propose a simplified analysis of the frequency scaling of a specific family of kinetic instabilities arising at the lower hybrid frequency range during the current ramp-up stage. The study is performed with respect to the density profile and the wave vector coupling conditions and is aimed at obtaining a rough estimate of the most likely radial location of the interaction between the runaway electron beam and plasma waves at the emission times of the observed signals.

First Intrashot Observation of Runaway-Electron-Driven Instabilities at the Lower-Hybrid Frequency Range under ITER-Relevant Plasma-Wave Dispersion Conditions

Kinetic instabilities driven by runaway electrons (REs) have recently received attention in the fusion community as a means to control and diagnose REs in a tokamak. Experiments aimed at studying such kinetic instabilities have been performed at the Frascati Tokamak Upgrade (FTU), where different families of waves have been identified, from wide-band bursting emissions to quasi-monochromatic waves and sharp lines, in the presence of REs with energies from a few to tens of MeV. A specific family of waves with intense kinetic drive was directly observed for the first time, during both the early Ohmic plasma start-up and the current ramp-up. A clear wave frequency scaling with respect to the electron density was demonstrated. This scaling, with the complementary analysis of signals observed at different magnetic fields, allowed the identification of these instabilities as lower-hybrid waves. The relevant analysis shown in this Letter is based on a continuous intrashot detection of the RE-driven wave, which is reported for the first time for this kind of instability. We demonstrated that unstable waves are excited already at the very beginning of a tokamak discharge, opening the way to new possible research on the exploitation of this kind of measurement for monitoring seed REs formation at the early plasma stage, while most diagnostics still have limited capabilities. The conditions for plasma wave dispersion at the early phase of the FTU discharge are very similar to the ones expected during the ITER start-up, when analogous instabilities might, hence, come to light, in case of formation of suprathermal populations.

Psycho-social characteristics in patients with discopathy: Quality of Life, coping strategy and mood state

The pathologies of the musculoskeletal apparatus are the most common cause of chronic diseases, with a huge impact on people and society. Scientific literature has discovered how experiencing chronic pain directly affects peoples' well-being, lifestyle, social relationships and can also cause psychological distress. The present study aims to investigate pain experience in patients with hernias or protrusions of the cervical and lumbosacral tract on a sample of 120 patients, recruited from patients of Poliambulatorio Oberdan, medical centre in Brescia (Italy) specialized in physical rehabilitation and CT-guided oxygen ozone therapy. In a bio-psychosocial perspective, the research aimed to investigate how the perception of pain, the mood state associated with it, the coping strategies adopted and the quality of life differ according to each patient's gender and to the more or less prolonged use of pain medication. The data were collected by means of medical and psychological anamnestic interviews and self-report tests (WHOQOL-BREF, COPE-NVI, POMS). The quantitative analysis, carried out through SPSS 25 (2017) software, showed how functional impairment of one's autonomy (walking, driving) affects mood states. In particular, the female sample expressed a more deflected mood, despite the greater use of relational and/or transcendent support (coping strategies) compared to men. The study suggests that the greater impairment of the moods of women can be attributed both to the caregiving role they play, which often results in a greater fatigue and difficulties in redefining this role following the algic condition, and more general differences in the expression of suffering, which, on a cultural level, sees men emotionally coerced. The analysis also shows how taking pain medication for a long period of time has a negative impact on the quality of life. The results suggest that the patients treated with analgesic therapy tend to adopt avoidant coping styles, which usually escalate into postponement of the time when dealing with a stressful situation and, if used in the long run, may lead to worsening health condition.

Enhanced recovery pathways in colorectal surgery: a consensus paper by the Associazione Chirurghi Ospedalieri Italiani (ACOI) and the PeriOperative Italian Society (POIS)

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway is a multi-disciplinary, patient-centered protocol relying on the implementation of the best evidence-based perioperative practice. In the field of colorectal surgery, the application of ERAS programs is associated with up to 50% reduction of morbidity rates and up to 2.5 days reduction of postoperative hospital stay. However, widespread adoption of ERAS pathways is still yet to come, mainly because of the lack of proper information and communication. Purpose of this paper is to support the diffusion of ERAS pathways through a critical review of the existing evidence by members of the two national societies dealing with ERAS pathways in Italy, the PeriOperative Italian Society (POIS) and the Associazione Italiana Chirurghi Ospedalieri (ACOI), showing the results of a consensus development conference held at Matera, Italy, during the national ACOI Congress on June 10, 2019.

Radio-frequency current drive for thermonuclear fusion reactors

Principal research on energy from thermonuclear fusion uses Deuterium-Tritium plasmas magnetically trapped in toroidal devices. As major scientific problem for an economic (i.e., really feasible) reactor, we must understand how to lead strongly heated plasmas to sustain a high fusion gain while large fraction of current is self-produced via the presence of strong pressure gradient. To suppress turbulent eddies that impair thermal insulation and pressure tight of the plasma, current drive (CD) is necessary. However, tools envisaged so far in ITER (International Thermonuclear Experiment Rector) are unable accomplishing this task that requires efficiently and flexibly matching the natural current profiles of plasma. Consequently, viability of a thermonuclear reactor should be problematic. Multi-megawatt radio-frequency (RF) power coupled to plasma would produce the necessary CD, but modelling results based on previous understanding found difficult the extrapolation of this CD concept to reactor conditions of high temperature plasma, and greater flexibility of method would also be required. Here we present new model results based on standard quasilinear (QL) theory that allow establish conditions to drive efficiently and flexibly the RF-driven current at large radii of the plasma column, as necessary for the goal of a reactor.

Inhibition of aflatoxin B1 production by verbascoside and other olive polyphenols

In this study, the effects of pure olive phenolic compounds and olive mill wastewater (OMWW) (after membrane filtration treatments) on Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production, were investigated. Five OMWWs coming from Greek (Lianolia, Koroneiki and Asprolia) and Italian (Cellina di Nardò and Coratina) olive oil cultivars, opportunely filtered using a membrane system, were added at two concentrations (5 and 15%) to growth medium, in order to evaluate their effect on A. flavus growth and AFB1 production. The OMWW fractions treatment, after 6 days of incubation, did not inhibit the fungal growth rate, but at 15% concentration significantly reduced the AFB1 production (ranging from 88 to 100%). A similar approach was used for caffeic acid, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and verbascoside, the major pure phenolic compounds identified in OMWW fractions. They were evaluated at increasing doses (10, 50 and 100 µg/ml) following both AFB1 production and fungal growth. At the highest concentration (100 µg/ml) all pure compounds showed a reduction of about 99% of AFB1 production without any influence on fungal growth. This is the first time in which OMWWs and their main phenolics were used in the treatments against AFB1 production. The results obtained could provide possible new strategies for preventing AFB1 food contamination using olive polyphenols and OMWW fractions with anti-aflatoxigenic effect, and permitting to harness in a sustainable way an olive oil by-product.

308 VERBASCOSIDE TREATMENT DURING IN VITRO MATURATION IMPROVES THE EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT OF PREPUBERTAL OVINE OOCYTES

Verbascoside (VB), a bioactive polyphenol from olive mill wastewater with known antioxidant activity, was shown to act as a pro-oxidant molecule, by impairing energy/redox status and embryo developmental competence of prepubertal ovine oocytes when added at micromolar concentrations in a continuative 24-h in vitro maturation (IVM) exposure protocol (1). The aim of the present study was to determine whether a lower (nanomolar) VB concentration and a shorter exposure time (2 v. 24 h) during IVM may improve the maturation rates of prepubertal ovine oocytes and their subsequent embryonic development in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes derived from the ovaries of slaughtered 1-mo-old prepubertal sheep oocytes underwent IVM in TCM 199 with 10% oestrus sheep serum, 0.1 IU mL–1 of FSH/LH, and 100 µM cysteamine, in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C for 24 h. Based on our previous results (Dell'Aquila et al. 2014 Biomed. Res. Int. 2014, 878062), VB was added in the IVM medium at 1.03 nM, and 2 incubation times (24 and 2 h) were tested. In the 2-h exposure group, after 2 h of exposure to VB, oocytes were washed and cultured up to 24 h without VB. A group of oocytes were cultured in absence of VB, as controls. Matured oocytes were fertilized with frozen-thawed ram semen in SOF medium for 22 h and zygotes were cultured in vitro for 8 days. Metaphase II (MII) cleavage and blastocyst rates were analysed by Chi-squared test. Embryo quality was evaluated by staining and total cell count of the blastocyst and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied. Differences were considered to be significant when P < 0.05. Compared to controls, VB treatment at the concentration of 1.03 nM and 24 h of exposure had no effect on MII rates (196/268, 73% v. 226/323, 70% MII/cultured oocytes; P > 0.05). However, this treatment allowed to obtain significantly higher rates of cleaved embryos/MII oocytes (156/196, 80% v. 165/226, 73%; respectively; P < 0.05), blastocyst yield/cleaved embryos (59/156, 38% v. 45/165, 27%, respectively; P < 0.05), and total blastocyst cell numbers (108.62 ± 19.87 v. 89.61 ± 26.32, respectively; P < 0.05) compared to control oocytes. The VB treatment at the same concentration but for 2 h induced only significantly higher cleavage rate (196/210, 93% v. 165/226, 73%; P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that VB treatment at 1.03 nM during 24 h of IVM exerted a positive effect on in vitro embryo development of prepubertal ovine oocytes by increasing the blastocyst yield and their quality. The hypothesis that VB at nanomolar concentrations may improve cumulus-oocyte energy/redox status is under investigation.The authors acknowledge support by the Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (LR 7, Agosto 2007, no. 7, CRP-17602). The authors thank Dr D. Bebbere and L. Falchi, Dept. Veterinary Medicine, Sassari, for statistical analysis.

A note on the application of the Prigogine theorem to rotation of tokamak-plasmas in absence of external torques

Rotation of tokamak-plasmas, not at the mechanical equilibrium, is investigated using the Prigogine thermodynamic theorem. This theorem establishes that, for systems confined in rectangular boxes, the global motion of the system with barycentric velocity does not contribute to dissipation. This result, suitably applied to toroidally confined plasmas, suggests that the global barycentric rotations of the plasma, in the toroidal and poloidal directions, are pure reversible processes. In case of negligible viscosity and by supposing the validity of the balance equation for the internal forces, we show that the plasma, even not in the mechanical equilibrium, may freely rotate in the toroidal direction with an angular frequency, which may be higher than the neoclassical estimation. In addition, its toroidal rotation may cause the plasma to rotate globally in the poloidal direction at a speed faster than the expression found by the neoclassical theory. The eventual configuration is attained when the toroidal and poloidal angular frequencies reaches the values that minimize dissipation. The physical interpretation able to explain the reason why some layers of plasma may freely rotate in one direction while, at the same time, others may freely rotate in the opposite direction, is also provided. Invariance properties, herein studied, suggest that the dynamic phase equation might be of the second order in time. We then conclude that a deep and exhaustive study of the invariance properties of the dynamical and thermodynamic equations is the most correct and appropriate way for understanding the triggering mechanism leading to intrinsic plasma-rotation in toroidal magnetic configurations.

Family of probability distributions derived from maximal entropy principle with scale invariant restrictions

Using statistical thermodynamics, we derive a general expression of the stationary probability distribution for thermodynamic systems driven out of equilibrium by several thermodynamic forces. The local equilibrium is defined by imposing the minimum entropy production and the maximum entropy principle under the scale invariance restrictions. The obtained probability distribution presents a singularity that has immediate physical interpretation in terms of the intermittency models. The derived reference probability distribution function is interpreted as time and ensemble average of the real physical one. A generic family of stochastic processes describing noise-driven intermittency, where the stationary density distribution coincides exactly with the one resulted from entropy maximization, is presented.

Soluble ST2 is regulated by p75 neurotrophin receptor and predicts mortality in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia

OBJECTIVE

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) contributes to diabetes mellitus-induced defective postischemic neovascularization. The interleukin-33 receptor ST2 is expressed as transmembrane (ST2L) and soluble (sST2) isoforms. Here, we studied the following: (1) the impact of p75(NTR) in the healing of ischemic and diabetic calf wounds; (2) the link between p75(NTR) and ST2; and (3) circulating sST2 levels in critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Diabetes mellitus was induced in p75(NTR) knockout (p75KO) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates by streptozotocin. Diabetic and nondiabetic p75KO and WT mice received left limb ischemia induction and a full-thickness wound on the ipsilateral calf. Diabetes mellitus impaired wound closure and angiogenesis and increased ST2 expression in WT, but not in p75KO wounds. In cultured endothelial cells, p75(NTR) promoted ST2 (both isoforms) expression through p38(MAPK)/activating transcription factor 2 pathway activation. Next, sST2 was measured in the serum of patients with CLI undergoing either revascularization or limb amputation and in the 2 nondiabetic groups (with CLI or nonischemic individuals). Serum sST2 increased in diabetic patients with CLI and was directly associated with higher mortality at 1 year from revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

p75(NTR) inhibits the healing of ischemic lower limb wounds in diabetes mellitus and promotes ST2 expression. Circulating sST2 predicts mortality in diabetic CLI patients.

High resolution fast wave reflectometry: JET design and implications for ITER

The measurement of the fuel mixture remains a very difficult task in thermonuclear plasmas, where the hydrogen isotopes are fully stripped and do not emit line radiation. On the other hand, direct determination of the ion species mix will be essential in the reactor to keep the mixture close to 50/50 and maximize the fusion output. In this paper, the design of fast wave reflectometry for JET is reviewed to show the potential of such a method in the perspective of ITER. The main design elements of the antenna and the detection system, based on vectorial measurements, are reported. The main challenges to such a diagnostic, mainly the intrinsic ion cyclotron emission from the plasma and the extensive use of ion cyclotron radiofrequencies as additional heating, are addressed in detail. The overall design indicates that the proposed system would be able to provide a measurement of the fuel ratio with spatial resolution in the range of few centimeters and temporal resolution in the range of 1 ms in the vast majority of JET scenarios.

Modeling of a lower-hybrid current drive by including spectral broadening induced by parametric instability in tokamak plasmas

By incorporating parametric instabilities of lower hybrid (LH) waves into a ray-tracing Fokker-Planck code, accurate simulations of the LH deposition profiles are provided, which are useful for interpreting the long-lasting internal transport barriers (ITBs) sustained by lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) on JET (Joint European Torus). Utilizing the new model, the simulation of the q-profile evolution results in agreement with that provided by the motional Stark effect reconstructed equilibria. Low magnetic shear (s approximately equal to 0) is produced by LHCD in a layer close to the ITB radial foot.

Role of endogenous flavonoids in resistance mechanism of Vigna to aphids

Cultivated and wild species of the genus Vigna were screened for their flavonoid content. Flavonoid HPLC analyses clearly showed that cultivated lines of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) are very similar from a qualitative point of view, always showing three flavonoid aglycons: quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin. In addition, a positive relationship between resistance/susceptibility characteristics against aphids and flavonoid glycoside content of cowpea lines was found. The resistant lines showed a flavonoid content higher than that of susceptible ones. In vitro bioassays proved that, among endogenous flavonoids, quercetin and isorhamnetin possess a good inhibitory aphid reproduction rate. Flavonoid HPLC analyses of wild Vigna species supported evidence for the existence of different flavonoid chemotypes in some species of section Vigna. There are kaempferol chemotypes, kaempferol being the main aglycon detected, quercetin chemotypes, containing quercetin glycosides only, and two isorhamnetin chemotypes. When the resistance characteristics to aphids in different chemotypes of the same species were tested, it became evident that quercetin or isorhamnetin chemotypes showed a higher level of resistance compared to kaempferol chemotypes in the same species, thus demonstrating a direct involvement of quercetin or isorhamnetin in the resistance mechanism. These results can provide useful information for further studies on gene expression of resistance factors.

Dynamics of tearing modes during strong electron cyclotron heating on the FTU tokamak

The localized electron cyclotron resonance heating power that can suppress sawteeth reconnection often drives m = 2 tearing modes in a tokamak operating at constant current. The dynamics of mode onset and coupled mode evolution is described in detail and compared with a nonlinear theoretical model that identifies the effects of mode coupling, finite inertia of the rotating islands, and wall braking.

Nuclear bodies are usual constituents in tissues of hibernating dormice

In previous studies we demonstrated in several tissues of the hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius that during hibernation cell nuclei contain particular structural constituents absent in euthermia. In the present study we examine the same tissues in euthermic and hibernating individuals of the edible dormouse Glis glis in order to investigate possible modifications of nuclear structural constituents occurring during hibernation in this species. Edible dormice were captured in the wild and maintained in an external animal house. Samples of liver, pancreas, brown adipose tissue and adrenal cortex were taken from three hibernating and three euthermic animals and processed for resin embedding. Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies were carried out on cell nuclei of these tissues. The most evident feature of cell nuclei of hibernating dormice was the presence of several nuclear bodies, namely fibro-granular material, amorphous bodies, coiled bodies, perichromatin granule-like granules and nucleoplasmic fibrils, the distribution of which was peculiar to each tissue. No one of these constituents was detectable during euthermia. Immunocytochemical analyses revealed that they contain some splicing factors. Apart from some differences, maybe due to the different characteristics of lethargy, the nuclear bodies found in edible dormice were morphologically and immunocytochemically similar to those previously described in the same tissues of hazel dormice. They therefore seem to be strictly correlated to the hibernating state. If they represent storage and/or assembly sites of splicing factors to be rapidly used upon arousal, they could represent a usual structural feature in cells of hibernating species.

Ultrastructural, morphometrical and immunocytochemical analyses of the exocrine pancreas in a hibernating dormouse

Pancreatic acinar cells of euthermic, hibernating and arousing individuals of the hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius (Gliridae) have been observed at the electron-microscopic level and analysed by means of ultrastructural morphometry and immunocytochemistry in order to investigate possible fine structural changes of cellular components during periods of strikingly different degrees of metabolic activity. During hibernation, the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) flatten assuming a parallel pattern, the Golgi apparatus is extremely reduced and the mitochondria contain many electron-dense particles. The cell nuclei appear irregularly shaped, with deep indentations containing small zymogen granules. They also contain abundant coiled bodies and unusual constituents, such as amorphous bodies and dense granular bodies. Large numbers of zymogen granules occur in all animals. However, the acinar lumina are open and filled with zymogen only in euthermic animals, whereas, in hibernating and arousing individuals, they appear to be closed. Morphometrical analyses indicate that, in pancreatic acinar cells, nuclei and zymogen granules significantly decrease in size from euthermia to hibernation, probably reflecting a drastic decrease of metabolic activities, mainly protein synthesis and processing. In all the studied animals, immunocytochemistry with specific antibodies has revealed an increasing gradient in alpha-amylase content along the RER-Golgi-zymogen granule pathway, reflecting the protein concentration along the secretory pathway. Moreover, during deep hibernation, significantly larger amounts of alpha-amylase accumulate in RER and zymogen granules in comparison to the other seasonal phases analysed. Upon arousal, all cytoplasmic and nuclear constituents restore their euthermic aspect and all morphometrical and immunocytochemical parameters exhibit the euthermic values, thereby indicating a rapid resumption of metabolic activities.

Ultrastructural characterization and biochemical profile of human gross cystic breast disease

Human gross cystic breast disease is a benign condition affecting about 7-10% of adult women occurring with the highest incidence in the premenopausal decade. Although breast cysts do not represent a preneoplastic condition per se, several studies indicate an increased breast cancer risk in women affected by this pathology. In this report we study 115 breast cystic fluid samples obtained by needle-aspiration from women with gross cystic breast disease. The samples were analysed biochemically and the cells contained therein were observed at the electron microscope. According to their biochemical profiles, the cysts were subdivided into three types: Type I, showing a Na/K ratio < 0.5 and a typical protein content; Type II, showing a Na/K ratio >10 and a protein content quite similar to plasma; Type III, showing a Na/K ratio between 1 and 7 and an intermediate protein content. The electron microscopic examination demonstrated that Type I cystic fluid cells exhibit morphological features typical of actively synthesising and secreting cells, while the characteristics of Type II cells indicate a low metabolic activity. Type III cells have characteristics typical of both Type I and Type II cells, thereby confirming the intermediate nature of this cyst type. We hypothesise that these cyst types could represent different developmental stages of a structural evolution pathway, during which the biosynthetically active 'apocrine stage' would be the key step to cell neoplastic transformation.

Identification of a 105 kilodalton Cryptococcus neoformans mannoprotein involved in human cell-mediated immune response

In the present study, using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot techniques, the patterns of proteins extracted from C. neoformans yeast cells were analysed. A major 105 kilodalton (kDa) antigen that binds to Concanavalin A and cross-reacts with anti-mannan antibodies was identified. The 105 kDa mannoprotein, highly expressed in the acapsular mutant of C. neoformans with respect to the encapsulated strain, is involved in the lymphoproliferative response of T lymphocytes to Cryptococcus-sensitized monocytes.