Real time control of EC heating & current drive systems on TCV

The ability to control, in real time, the electron cyclotron heating & current drive systems for the control of MHD instabilities is particularly important for large tokamaks operating at high performance. Several algorithms have been developed and tested on TCV to explore possible control techniques, first in simple experiments to control the plasma current and elongation and subsequently in experiments to control the sawtooth instability and profile parameters. A summary of these experiments are presented in this paper together with the application of the break-in-slope technique as a possible real time calculation of the location of EC deposition

“Bit Standard”- Bitcoin between reality and risks of a “halfway-money”

This work provides an explanation of the market underlying the evolution due to modern technologies and technical advances, especially in transactions. In this regard, the authors specify the aspect related to the creation of virtual currencies like bitcoin that can circulate thanks to the Blockchain system through miners\u2019 work. The authors consider areas related to the warnings on the use and exchange of virtual currencies. The aim is to conceptualize in a graphical way the current operational transaction in bitcoin through the existing exchange platforms. The authors try to attest the fickleness of the disintermediation ideal founding Bitcoin. The analysis purposed could be interesting and useful to provide a kind of interpretation of the phenomenon and a general overview about Bitcoin system

Overview of progress in European medium sized tokamaks towards an integrated plasma-edge/wall solution

Integrating the plasma core performance with an edge and scrape-off layer (SOL) that leads to tolerable heat and particle loads on the wall is a major challenge. The new European medium size tokamak task force (EU-MST) coordinates research on ASDEX Upgrade (AUG), MAST and TCV. This multi-machine approach within EU-MST, covering a wide parameter range, is instrumental to progress in the field, as ITER and DEMO core/pedestal and SOL parameters are not achievable simultaneously in present day devices. A two prong approach is adopted. On the one hand, scenarios with tolerable transient heat and particle loads, including active edge localised mode (ELM) control are developed. On the other hand, divertor solutions including advanced magnetic configurations are studied. Considerable progress has been made on both approaches, in particular in the fields of: ELM control with resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP), small ELM regimes, detachment onset and control, as well as filamentary scrape-off-layer transport. For example full ELM suppression has now been achieved on AUG at low collisionality with n = 2 RMP maintaining good confinement HH(98,y2) 0.95. Advances have been made with respect to detachment onset and control. Studies in advanced divertor configurations (Snowflake, Super-X and X-point target divertor) shed new light on SOL physics. Cross field filamentary transport has been characterised in a wide parameter regime on AUG, MAST and TCV progressing the theoretical and experimental understanding crucial for predicting first wall loads in ITER and DEMO. Conditions in the SOL also play a crucial role for ELM stability and access to small ELM regimes.European Commission (EUROfusion 633053

A novel RNA polymerase III transcription factor fraction that is not required for template commitment.

Abstract We have identified and partially characterized a novel class III transcription factor fraction (TFIIIE) from yeast nuclear extracts. TFIIIE is functionally distinct from the standard yeast transcription factor fractions, TFIIIB and TFIIIC. It is also different from either of the TFIIIB subfractions, B' and B". TFIIIE is essential for specific transcription of both tRNA and 5 S RNA genes, its activity is sensitive to proteinase K, and it exhibits an apparent sedimentation coefficient of 4.0 S when analyzed on glycerol gradients. In the case of a tRNA gene, TFIIIE does not play a role in the formation of stable preinitiation complexes containing TFIIIB and TFIIIC. It is required for single as well as multiple rounds of transcription, however. Thus, TFIIIE is involved in the utilization of stable transcription complexes, but its action is not restricted to reinitiation events

STUDIO DELL’EFFETTO DI TRATTAMENTI TERMOMECCANICI SULLA MICROSTRUTTURA DI FILI NiTi A MEMORIA DI FORMA MEDIANTE MICROSCOPIA TEM

Il processo preparativo di componenti in lega NiTi a memoria di forma (SMA), per esempio fili, partendo da lingotto, richiede una lunga sequenza di trattamenti termomeccanici. E’ noto come lo stato di incrudimento del materiale, il processo di trafilatura e le numerose ricotture possano fortemente influenzare le dimensioni, la forma e la tessitura dei grani di NiTi, modificando la concentrazione di dislocazioni e di difettosità a bordo grano, inducendo la formazione di geminati o la precipitazione di numerosi composti stechiometrici e non. Le proprietà funzionali a memoria di forma di componenti in NiTi derivano dall’effettiva microstruttura della lega. Nel presente studio saranno indagati, mediante microscopia elettronica in trasmissione (TEM), gli effetti di alcuni trattamenti termomeccanici, a diversi stadi del processo, sulla microstruttura di fili NiTi. Saranno inoltre confrontate le microstrutture di fili cui sono state impartite le proprietà a memoria di forma secondo modalità differenti. Le informazioni sui cambiamenti microstrutturali e cristallografici associati a differenti strade di processo possono essere un utile aiuto nel miglioramento e nell’ottimizzazione delle proprietà funzionali del materiale, in vista delle sue possibili applicazioni in attuatori e altri sistemi intelligenti

Building Orientation and Heat Treatments Effect on the Pseudoelastic Properties of NiTi Produced by LPBF

NiTi dominates the market of shape memory materials due to its optimal combination of mechanical, functional, and biocompatibility properties, which enabled its use for several applications, in particular for the biomedical and the aerospace sectors. However, due to its poor machinability, NiTi is a challenging material from the manufacturing standpoint. Therefore, in the last years, researchers have focused on the production of NiTi components by additive manufacturing processes, which also enable the manufacturing of complex shape parts that cannot be produced with conventional methods. The aim of this study is to provide insights on the optimization of the functional performances of NiTi produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion, leveraging on the building orientation and post-processing heat treatments. Uniaxial mechanical tests have been performed in tension and compression, and the influence of heat treatments and building orientation on the mechanical behavior of pseudoelastic NiTi has been evaluated. Different heat treatment schedules have been evaluated, leading to transformation strains up to 2.7% in tension and 4.6% in compression. This study confirms that Laser Powder Bed Fusion is a promising additive manufacturing technology for the production of net-shape and near defect-free NiTi components, exhibiting remarkable functional properties