Alfvén eigenmode evolution computed with the VENUS and KINX codes for the ITER baseline scenario

A new application of the VENUS code is described, which computes alpha particle orbits in the perturbed electromagnetic fields and its resonant interaction with the toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAEs) for the ITER device. The ITER baseline scenario with Q = 10 and the plasma toroidal current of 15 МА is considered as the most important and relevant for the International Tokamak Physics Activity group on energetic particles (ITPA-EP). For this scenario, typical unstable ТАЕ-modes with the toroidal index n = 20 have been predicted that are localized in the plasma core near the surface with safety factor q = 1. The spatial structure of ballooning and antiballooning modes has been computed with the ideal MHD code KINX. The linear growth rates and the saturation levels taking into account the damping effects and the different mode frequencies have been calculated with the VENUS code for both ballooning and antiballooning TAE-modes.     

Laser spectroscopy measurements of the effective temperature of argon ions in the PNX-U plasma neutralizer

Laser spectroscopy measurements of the effective temperature of Ar¹⁺ ions in the PNX-U multipole trap, in which argon plasma is ionized and heated by microwaves under electron-cyclotron-resonance conditions, are performed using a narrow-band tunable dye laser. The absorption profile of the 611.5-nm line is examined. In a microwave power range of 5–50 kW, the observed behavior of the effective temperature of argon ions T_{i, eff} indicates an anomalous mechanism for ion heating. It is shown that certain information about the electron temperature can be deduced from measurements by the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique. The measurements performed also serve to test the laser technique and apparatus that is presently being developed for diagnosing additives to the ITER divertor plasma by the LIF method.     

Benchmarking of alternate theories for Stark broadening against experimental data from DIII-D diagnostics

Spectroscopy of high-n Balmer line transitions provides a means of measuring n _e and T _e in recombining plasmas [J. L. Terry et al., Phys. Plasmas 5, 1579 (1998)]. The relative intensities of Rydberg series lines near the ionization limit are a sensitive diagnostic of T _e , for T _e < 1.5 eV. Stark broadening of these same lines provides a measure of local n _e and, with less accuracy, of T _e . The accuracy of different theoretical models for Stark broadening [H.R. Griem, Spectral Line Broadening by Plasmas (Academic, New York, 1974); E. Oks, Stark Broadening of Hydrogen and Hydrogenlike Spectral Lines in Plasmas: The Physical Insight (Alpha Science International, Oxford, UK, 2006)] is evaluated by comparing values of n _e and T _e measured on DIII-D by divertor Thomson scattering (DTS) with those deduced from spectral profile analysis of Balmer series deuterium lines. In particular, the detailed dependence of line width on principal quantum number provides a sensitive metric for distinguishing which model best accords with experiment. Published in Russian in Fizika Plazmy, 2009, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 134–140. This text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Shortwave light filtration effect on spectral sensitivity of two shrimp populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. relicta</Emphasis> (Mysida)

Microspectrophotometric measurements of screening granules in Mysis relicta eyes showed that most of the granules have xanthommatin spectra (7n_max 455 nm) with selective absorption of blue light. We calculated spectral sensitivity of M.relicta eyes using screening granules absorption spectra and visual pigment absorption spectra. According to our computations the calculated spectral sensitivity curve appears to be in a good correspondence with the real spectral sensitivity.     

Determination of the plasma parameters in the PF-3 facility by the methods of X-ray spectroscopy

NeIX and NeX spectra emitted by the PF-3 high-current (2 MA) plasma focus facility are measured. A numerical model describing the spectral intensities of the emission of helium- and hydrogen-like neon ions from an optically thick plasma is proposed. The electron temperature T _e and electron density n _e in the plasma of the PF-3 facility are determined by comparing the calculated and measured emission spectra of neon.     

Unconventional ultraviolet sensitivity spectra of Ascalaphus (Insecta,Neuroptera)

The spectral sensitivity of 21 eye preparations of Ascalaphus (Libelluloides) macaronius (Insecta, Neuroptera) has been re-measured using an up-to-date spectral scan method. 1. Dorso-frontal and ventro-lateral eyes have different spectral characteristics with peaks of sensitivity at 329 ± 8 nm (n = 15) and 343 ± 4 nm (n = 5) (P = 0.002), respectively. 2. The absorbance of the visual pigment layer, K, determined from the shape of the spectral sensitivity curves is 1.3 ± 1.8(n = 15) for dorso-frontal eyes and – 1.0 ± 0.3(n = 5) for ventrolateral eyes, thus implying higher selfscreening in the dorso-frontal eyes and narrowing of the spectral sensitivity curves as regards to a template visual pigment in ventro-lateral eyes. 3. Plotting K versus spectral sensitivity peak wavelength _max revealed an inverse correlation between these variables with K = 42.5 – 0.126 _max at r = 0.88(n = 19). 4. Extracts of ommochromes and carotenoids (Figs. 4 to 6) do not allow to account for the above diversity of optical properties of the Ascalaphus eye (Fig. 7).Abbreviations SSC spectral sensitivity curve - DF dorso-frontal eye - UV ultraviolet - VL ventro-lateral eye     

Infrared and Raman study in the solid state of fully protected,monodispersed homooligopeptides of L-valine,L-isoleucine,and L-phenylalanine

An ir-absorption and Raman-scattering study, in the solid state, has been carried out on monodispersed, N- and C-protected homooligopeptides (number of residues, n, from 2 to 7) of L -valine, L -isoleucine, and L -phenylalanine. The amide I, II, III, V, and vNH regions have been examined. Some deuterated (ND) samples have been examined to complete the assignments. L -Phenylalanine dipeptide displays spectral characteristics compatible with the parallel β-structure; L -isoleucine and L -valine dipeptides are probably in a distorted structure. A mixture of parallel and antiparallel extended chains cannot be excluded for the peptides with n = 3. In the amide I region the spectra of peptides with n ≥ 4 show the existence of the β-conformation. The problem of chain orientation within the pleated-sheet structure is discussed on the basis of a recent theoretical treatment of vibrational interactions of the amide I mode.     

The direct determination of the enantiomers of ketorolac and parahydroxyketorolac in plasma and urine using enantioselective liquid chromatography on a human serum albumin-based chiral stationary phase

An enantioselective assay has been developed for the determination of the enantiomers of ketorolac and its metabolite p-hydroxyketorolac in plasma and urine. The analytical method utilizes a coupled achiral–chiral HPLC system where the initial separation of ketorolac from p-hydroxyketorolac and matrix interferences was achieved on a C₁₈-stationary phase and the enantioselective separations of the two target solutes were accomplished on a human serum albumin-based chiral stationary phase. The two columns were attached in sequence and the assay was carried out without the necessity of column-switching techniques. The method has been validated for use in pharmacokinetic and metabolic studies and represents the initial report of the determination of ketorolac and p-hydroxyketorolac enantiomers in urine. The results of the study indicate that after the administration of racemic ketorolac there was an enantioselective distribution of ketorolac enantiomers in plasma [(R)-ketorolac: (S)-ketorolac = 3.89 ± 0.93 (n = 6) and urine (R)-ketorolac: (S)-ketorolac = 1.26 ± 0.09 (n = 7)]. The mean ratio of the p-hydroxyketorolac enantiomers was 1.77 ± 0.46 (n = 7). Both ketorolac and p-hydroxyketorolac are glucuronized in the acyl carboxyl moiety and the results of this study indicate that this process is not enantiospecific. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Method for Enrichment of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides from Fresh Water

An inulinase was highly purified from the culture broth of Penicillium purpurogenum by chromatographies on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, Toyopearl HW-65, and Bio-Gel P-100. The enzyme was homogeneous by disc electrophoretic analysis. The molecular weight was 6.4 × 10⁴ by SDS-disc electrophoresis and gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-150. The isoelectric point was pH 3.6 by isoelectric focusing. The enzyme hydrolyzed inulin rapidly, but did not affect sucrose. By paper chromatography analysis, the major products from inulin were tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexa-saccharides. The substrate specificity of the enzyme on hydrolyses of fructo-oligosaccharides[1^F(1-β-d-fructofuranosyl)n sucrose (n = 1 to 6 and n (average of polymerization degree) = 8)] were examined. The Km values and relative maximum velocities for the hydrolyses of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides (GF_n, n = 2 to 7 and n = 9) were as follows: inulin, (DP = 35) 0.21 mM and 100; GF₉, 0.24 mM and 86.5; GF₇, 0.33 mM and 132; GF₆, 0.85 mM and 71.2; GF₅, 3.8 mM and 25.4; GF₄, 2.8 mM and 28.8; GF₃, (nystose) 16 mM and 0.8; GF₂ (1-kestose), 8.4 mM and 0.2. The molecular activities for the hydrolyses of fructo-oligosaccharides (GF_n, n = 2 to 6) were increased depending on the degree of polymerization of fructosyl residues, and were nearly constant if the polymerization degree was over seven. These results strongly suggested that the endo-type inulinase from Penicillium purpurogenum had a subsite structure consisting of at least seven subsites.     

Gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric determination of total homocysteine in human plasma by stable isotope dilution: method and clinical applications

The detection and quantitation of slight increases of plasma homocysteine levels is of growing interest. This has prompted us to develop a highly sensitive and accurate capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. The method proved to be highly sensitive (DL=0.17 μmol/l) with between- and within-run precision less than 6% and 7%, respectively. Reference values of plasma total homocysteine have been determined for men (n=39) and women (n=36), showing a significant difference (P=0.003) between gender. Preliminary results in cerebrovascular accidents and in venous thrombosis are presented.     

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin after off pump versus on pump coronary artery surgery

Abstract

Context: Cardiac surgery.

Objective: To compare plasma and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (P-/U-NGAL) in on-pump (n?=?43) versus off-pump (n?=?40) surgery.

Materials and methods: We obtained perioperative P-/U-NGAL and outcome data.

Results: P-/U-NGAL increased after surgery. P-NGAL was higher post-surgery in on pump patients (139 versus 67?µg L^?1; p?<?0.001), but not at 24?h. There were no differences in U-NGAL. Correlation between P-/U-NGAL and plasma creatinine was weak.

Discussion: P-NGAL acts like a neutrophil activation biomarker and U-NGAL like a tubular injury marker.

Conclusion: On-pump patients had greater neutrophil activation. On- versus off-pump surgery had similar impact on tubular cells.     

MHD limits in the T-15M tokamak

Abstrac The problem of plasma MHD stability in the T-15M tokamak is considered in realistic geometry. Stability of the external kink modes with the toroidal wavenumbers n=1, 2, and 3 is numerically investigated in equilibrium configurations similar to the systematically analyzed steady-state configurations with reversed shear in ITER. The stability limits in T-15M are found with and without account taken of the stabilizing influence of the first wall. The results of the calculations are used to compare T-15M with ITER. The stabilizing effect resulting from reducing the distance between the first wall and the plasma in T-15M is evaluated. __________ Translated from Fizika Plazmy, Vol. 29, No. 12, 2003, pp. 1088–1098. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2003 by Medvedev, Pustovitov.     

Plasma equilibrium in axisymmetric open divertor configurations

The equilibrium of a plasma with isotropic pressure in a periodic divertor configuration with a poloidal magnetic field is calculated. The issue of how the plasma equilibrium changes as the parameter β≡8πp/B ² increases is considered for a fairly representative class of pressure profiles p(ψ) (where ψ is the flux coordinate). It is shown that the plasma can be in equilibrium up to β values (in terms of the vacuum magnetic field at the divertor axis) on the order of unity.     

Spectral and statistical analysis of fluctuations in the SOL and diverted plasmas of the Uragan-3M torsatron

In the l = 3/m = 9 Uragan-3M (U3-M) torsatron (R ₀ = 1 m, ā ≈ 0.12 m, ι(ā)/2π ～ 0.3) with an open helical divertor and a plasma produced and heated by RF fields (ω ? ω_ci), studies of low frequency (5–100 kHz) density and potential fluctuations in the SOL plasma and in the diverted plasma flows (DPFs), have been carried out. It is shown, that in the SOL to more (less) distantly located points relative to the last closed magnetic surface, higher (lower) frequency fluctuations are inherent. Such a spectral splitting in two sub-ranges occurs in the DPFs too. A peculiarity of the spatial distribution of DPF fluctuation spectra is that lower frequency fluctuations dominate on the ion toroidal B × ?B drift side. During L-H-like transition in U-3M simultaneously with strong E _r shear formation, a suppression of lower frequency fluctuations and a decrease of local radial turbulent particle flux take place. Results are presented of investigation of plasma density fluctuations in SOL with the use of probability distribution function (PDF) analysis. Evaluations of skewness and kurtosis of fluctuations have been made. The analysis of I _s fluctuations in DPF have been carried out in a similar way.     

Dynamic light scattering from collagen solutions. I. Translational diffusion coefficient and aggregation effects

Solutions of native collagen extracted from rat tail tendons in neutral salt solution have been studied by dynamic light scattering. The spectra obtained are consistent with the presence in solution of both single rod-shaped collagen molecules and aggregates of molecules. No contribution to the spectrum has been detected at any scattering angle from rotational diffusion of single molecules, although a measurable broadening effect is expected at high angles. The translational diffusion coefficient D of single molecules, calculated from the broader spectral component, shows an anomalous dependence on collagen concentration with a maximum value of D_20,w = 8.6 ± 0.2 × 10^?12 m²/sec near the concentration 0.04% by weight. Above 0.05% D falls linearly with increasing concentration and takes the value D _20,w = 8.1 ± 0.2 × 10^?12 m²/sec at 0.064% collagen.     

The chain length dependence of the conformation for oligomers of L-lysine in aqueous solution: Optical rotatory dispersion studies

The optical rotatory dispersion of L -lysine oligopeptides (Lys_n, n = 2–22) in solution was measured in water and in 50% methanol. A gradual change with increasing chain length in the ORD curves of the oligomers was observed at pH 4. 3. Not even a chain of 22 residues had ORD identical with that of high molecular weight poly-L -lysine. A plot of the average molar residue rotation at 233 nm versus 1/n (where n is the chain length) resulted in a straight line with an intercept of ?1900, representing the internal residue rotation of a lysine residue in the random conformation, and a slope of +6200 representing the large end effect. At pH 11.9 a stright line is obtained up to n = 12 after which it deviates from the initial slope indicating onset of helicity. Extrapolation of the initially straight line to tire higher n's provided the necessary zero-helicity values for calculation of helicity. The highest oligolysine (n = 22) showed at pH 11. 9 13% helicity, which on adding methanol to 50% increased to about 50% helicity. It is shown that helix-coil data which are usually obtained from the temperature dependence of helicity can be obtained from the dependence of helicity on chain length applying the statistical theory. For the methanol-water system the cooperativity parameter v was calculated to be in the range 0.024–0.060, with corresponding equilibrium constants w of 1.32–1.43. The helical structure was calculated to be less stable in water than in methanol-water by about 250 calories per residue.     

DNA sequence-specific ligands: XIV. Synthesis of fluorescent biologically active dimeric bisbenzimidazoles DB(3, 4, 5, 7, 11)

Five fluorescent symmetrical dimeric bisbenzimidazoles DB(n) containing four 2,6-substituted benzimidazole cores and differing in the length of the oligomethylene linker between two bisbenzimidazole rings (n = 3, 4, 5, 7, 11) have been synthesized. The ability of the dimeric bisbenzimidazoles to form complexes with the double-stranded DNA has been shown by spectral methods. Upon binding to the double-stranded DNA, DB(n) are localized in the narrow groove. The data on the inhibition of the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a by DB(n) indicate that dimeric bisbenzimidazoles DB(3) and DB(11) site-specifically bind to the oligonucleotide duplex.     

Development of the concept of charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy for ITER

Charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy under ITER conditions is numerically simulated using the DINA code. The code allows one to calculate the attenuation of neutral beams in plasma, the intensity of atomic emission and emission from the ions produced by charge exchange with the neutral beam, and the intensity ratio between the emission related to charge exchange and the background continuum plasma emission. The cross sections for atom-ion interactions in plasma are calculated, and the excitation rates of spectral transitions in hydrogen-like impurity ions are determined. The measurement scheme and the main parameters of the spectrometer proposed for charge-exchange recombination diagnostics in ITER are described.     

Testing of the spectroscopic method for location of water microleakages in ITER at the L-2M stellarator

Results of testing of a possible method for location of water microleakages in the cooling system of the first wall and vacuum chamber of ITER are presented. The method consists in spectroscopic detection of the emission lines of atoms and ions of the Xe additive dissolved in water. These lines are excited when the water with dissolved Xe contacts the plasma. The high electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) power deposited in a relatively small plasma volume in the L-2M stellarator (P = 0.5 MW, V = 0.24 m³, and the specific heating power ??2 MW/m³) makes it possible to achieve plasma parameters close to those in the edge plasma of ITER for different operating modes, including the H-mode with an edge transport barrier. In test experiments, several lines of Xe ions were revealed suitable for detection of xenon in plasma with parameters close to those in the edge plasma of ITER at leakage rates at a level of ??10^?6 Pa m³ s^?1 and spatial resolution of ??0.5 cm.     

Insect cytochrome P-450

Summary Two approaches may be used to study the function of cytochrome P-450 in insects: (a) an evaluation of the spectral and catalytic properties of the hemoprotein while associated with microsomal membranes; (b) the solubilization, resolution and purification of the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system. The first approach has provided some understanding of the biochemical factors involved in the metabolism of a variety of compounds, including pesticides, drugs, hormones and many other xenobiotics. However, solubilization of the monooxygenase system allows the study of each of its components individually, providing a better insight on the sequence of events leading to the hydroxylation of a substrate, the type of intermediates formed, and the rate-limiting step(s). This report discusses studies carried out with the monooxygenase system associated with microsomal membranes, as well as procedures to solubilize and partially purify its components from housefly microsomes. The latter involves solubilization with either Triton X-100 or sodium cholate, followed by either ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephadex G-200, DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography or by-amino-n-octyl-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. These procedures have shown that two cytochrome P-450 species (P-450 and P-450_I) are present in microsomes isolated from a resistant housefly strain. Induction with either naphthalene or phenobarbital appears to increase cytochrome P-450_I preferentially.An invited article.