On the mechanisms governing gas penetration into a tokamak plasma during a massive gas injection

A new 1D radial fluid code, IMAGINE, is used to simulate the penetration of gas into a tokamak plasma during a massive gas injection (MGI). The main result is that the gas is in general strongly braked as it reaches the plasma, due to mechanisms related to charge exchange and (to a smaller extent) recombination. As a result, only a fraction of the gas penetrates into the plasma. Also, a shock wave is created in the gas which propagates away from the plasma, braking and compressing the incoming gas. Simulation results are quantitatively consistent, at least in terms of orders of magnitude, with experimental data for a D 2 MGI into a JET Ohmic plasma. Simulations of MGI into the background plasma surrounding a runaway electron beam show that if the background electron density is too high, the gas may not penetrate, suggesting a possible explanation for the recent results of Reux et al in JET (2015 Nucl. Fusion 55 093013)

Reassessing the effect of colour on attitude and behavioural intentions in promotional activities: The moderating role of mood and involvement

The present research examines the effect of background colour on attitude and behavioural intentions in various promotional activities taking into consideration the moderating role of mood and involvement. Three experiments reflecting different promotional activities (window display, consumer trade show, guerrilla marketing) were conducted for this purpose. Overall, findings indicate that cool background colours, in contrast to warm colours, induce more positive attitudes and behavioural intentions mainly in positive mood, and low involvement conditions. Implications are also discussed

Mutations in ZMYND10, a Gene Essential for Proper Axonemal Assembly of Inner and Outer Dynein Arms in Humans and Flies, Cause Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a ciliopathy characterized by airway disease, infertility, and laterality defects, often caused by dual loss of the inner dynein arms (IDAs) and outer dynein arms (ODAs), which power cilia and flagella beating. Using whole-exome and candidate-gene Sanger resequencing in PCD-affected families afflicted with combined IDA and ODA defects, we found that 6/38 (16%) carried biallelic mutations in the conserved zinc-finger gene BLU (ZMYND10). ZMYND10 mutations conferred dynein-arm loss seen at the ultrastructural and immunofluorescence level and complete cilia immotility, except in hypomorphic p.Val16Gly (c.47T>G) homozygote individuals, whose cilia retained a stiff and slowed beat. In mice, Zmynd10 mRNA is restricted to regions containing motile cilia. In a Drosophila model of PCD, Zmynd10 is exclusively expressed in cells with motile cilia: chordotonal sensory neurons and sperm. In these cells, P-element-mediated gene silencing caused IDA and ODA defects, proprioception deficits, and sterility due to immotile sperm. Drosophila Zmynd10 with an equivalent c.47T>G (p.Val16Gly) missense change rescued mutant male sterility less than the wild-type did. Tagged Drosophila ZMYND10 is localized primarily to the cytoplasm, and human ZMYND10 interacts with LRRC6, another cytoplasmically localized protein altered in PCD. Using a fly model of PCD, we conclude that ZMYND10 is a cytoplasmic protein required for IDA and ODA assembly and that its variants cause ciliary dysmotility and PCD with laterality defects

Ponderosa pine of the Willamette Valley, Western Oregon

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is an overlooked component of the historical vegetation in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon, USA. Pollen, historical, and field data show that ponderosa pine has been a component of both lowland/floodplain and upland/foothill vegetation. In the latter, it was an important constituent of the savanna and open oak woodland vegetation that was widespread in the early 1800s. Much of the historical range of ponderosa pine has been converted to other land uses, such as agriculture, or changed by ecological succession to a closed forest dominated primarily by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Efforts to understand past Willamette Valley vegetation or to restore historical ecosystems in the Valley should recognize the important ecological position once held by ponderosa pine

Ponderosa pine of the Willamette Valley, Western Oregon

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is an overlooked component of the historical vegetation in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon, USA. Pollen, historical, and field data show that ponderosa pine has been a component of both lowland/floodplain and upland/foothill vegetation. In the latter, it was an important constituent of the savanna and open oak woodland vegetation that was widespread in the early 1800s. Much of the historical range of ponderosa pine has been converted to other land uses, such as agriculture, or changed by ecological succession to a closed forest dominated primarily by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Efforts to understand past Willamette Valley vegetation or to restore historical ecosystems in the Valley should recognize the important ecological position once held by ponderosa pine.Hibbs et al "Ponderosa pine of the Willamette Valley, Western Oregon." Northwest Science. 2002; 76(1): 80-8