Plasma–wall interaction studies within the EUROfusion consortium : progress on plasma-facing components development and qualification

The provision of a particle and power exhaust solution which is compatible with first-wall components and edge-plasma conditions is a key area of present-day fusion research and mandatory for a successful o peration of ITER and DEMO. The work package plasma-facing components (WP PFC) within the European fusion programme complements with laboratory experiments, i.e. in linear plasma devices, electron and ion beam loading f acilities, the studies performed in toroidally confined magnetic devices, such as JET, ASDEX Upgrade, WEST etc. The connection of both groups is done via common physics and engineering studies, including the qualificat ion and specification of plasma-facing components, and by modelling codes that simulate edge-plasma conditions and the plasma–material interaction as well as the study of fundamental processes. WP PFC addresses these c ritical points in order to ensure reliable and efficient use of conventional, solid PFCs in ITER (Be and W) and DEMO (W and steel) with respect to heat-load capabilities (transient and steady-state heat and particle lo ads), lifetime estimates (erosion, material mixing and surface morphology), and safety aspects (fuel retention, fuel removal, material migration and dust formation) particularly for quasi-steady-state conditions. Alter native scenarios and concepts (liquid Sn or Li as PFCs) for DEMO are developed and tested in the event that the conventional solution turns out to not be functional. Here, we present an overview of the activities with an emphasis on a few key results: (i) the observed synergistic effects in particle and heat loading of ITER-grade W with the available set of exposition devices on material properties such as roughness, ductility and m icrostructure; (ii) the progress in understanding of fuel retention, diffusion and outgassing in different W-based materials, including the impact of damage and impurities like N; and (iii), the preferential sputtering of Fe in EUROFER steel providing an in situ W surface and a potential first-wall solution for DEMO.Peer reviewe

Regulation of cellular sterol homeostasis by the oxygen responsive noncoding RNA lincNORS

We hereby provide the initial portrait of lincNORS, a spliced lincRNA generated by the MIR193BHG locus, entirely distinct from the previously described miR-193b-365a tandem. While inducible by low O2 in a variety of cells and associated with hypoxia in vivo, our studies show that lincNORS is subject to multiple regulatory inputs, including estrogen signals. Biochemically, this lincRNA fine-tunes cellular sterol/steroid biosynthesis by repressing the expression of multiple pathway components. Mechanistically, the function of lincNORS requires the presence of RALY, an RNA-binding protein recently found to be implicated in cholesterol homeostasis. We also noticed the proximity between this locus and naturally occurring genetic variations highly significant for sterol/steroid-related phenotypes, in particular the age of sexual maturation. An integrative analysis of these variants provided a more formal link between these phenotypes and lincNORS, further strengthening the case for its biological relevance

Plasma-wall interaction studies within the EUROfusion consortium: Progress on plasma-facing components development and qualification

This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2014-2018 under grant agreement No 633053. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.The provision of a particle and power exhaust solution which is compatible with first-wall components and edge-plasma conditions is a key area of present-day fusion research and mandatory for a successful operation of ITER and DEMO. The work package plasma-facing components (WP PFC) within the European fusion programme complements with laboratory experiments, i.e. in linear plasma devices, electron and ion beam loading facilities, the studies performed in toroidally confined magnetic devices, such as JET, ASDEX Upgrade, WEST etc. The connection of both groups is done via common physics and engineering studies, including the qualification and specification of plasma-facing components, and by modelling codes that simulate edge-plasma conditions and the plasma-material interaction as well as the study of fundamental processes. WP PFC addresses these critical points in order to ensure reliable and efficient use of conventional, solid PFCs in ITER (Be and W) and DEMO (W and steel) with respect to heat-load capabilities (transient and steady-state heat and particle loads), lifetime estimates (erosion, material mixing and surface morphology), and safety aspects (fuel retention, fuel removal, material migration and dust formation) particularly for quasi-steady-state conditions. Alternative scenarios and concepts (liquid Sn or Li as PFCs) for DEMO are developed and tested in the event that the conventional solution turns out to not be functional. Here, we present an overview of the activities with an emphasis on a few key results: (i) the observed synergistic effects in particle and heat loading of ITER-grade W with the available set of exposition devices on material properties such as roughness, ductility and microstructure; (ii) the progress in understanding of fuel retention, diffusion and outgassing in different W-based materials, including the impact of damage and impurities like N; and (iii), the preferential sputtering of Fe in EUROFER steel providing an in situ W surface and a potential first-wall solution for DEMO.European Commission; Consortium for Ocean Leadership 633053; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART

Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in monocytes/macrophages is blocked by liposomal delivery of Gi-protein inhibitor

Monica Madalina Tucureanu,1,* Daniela Rebleanu,1,* Cristina Ana Constantinescu,1,2 Mariana Deleanu,3,4 Geanina Voicu,1 Elena Butoi,1 Manuela Calin,1 Ileana Manduteanu1 1Department of Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Nicolae Simionescu Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology, Bucharest, Romania; 2Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest, Romania; 3Department of Lipidomics, Nicolae Simionescu Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology, Bucharest, Romania; 4Faculty of Biotechnologies, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest, Romania *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is widely recognized as a potent activator of monocytes/macrophages, and its effects include an altered production of key mediators, such as inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The involvement of Gi protein in mediating LPS effects has been demonstrated in murine macrophages and various cell types of human origin. Purpose: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the potential of a Gi-protein inhibitor encapsulated in liposomes in reducing the inflammatory effects induced by LPS in monocytes/macrophages. Materials and methods: Guanosine 5´-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GOT), a guanosine diphosphate analog that completely inhibits G-protein activation by guanosine triphosphate and its analogs, was encapsulated into liposomes and tested for anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-activated THP1 monocytes or THP1-derived macrophages. The viability of monocytes/macrophages after incubation with different concentrations of free GOT or liposome-encapsulated GOT was assessed by MTT assay. MAPK activation and production of IL1β, TNFα, IL6, and MCP1 were assessed in LPS-activated monocytes/macrophages in the presence or absence of free or encapsulated GOT. In addition, the effect of free or liposome-encapsulated GOT on LPS-stimulated monocyte adhesion to activated endothelium and on monocyte chemotaxis was evaluated. Results: We report here that GOT-loaded liposomes inhibited activation of MAPK and blocked the production of the cytokines IL1β, TNFα, IL6, and MCP1 induced by LPS in monocytes and macrophages. Moreover, GOT encapsulated in liposomes reduced monocyte adhesion and chemotaxis. All demonstrated events were in contrast with free GOT, which showed reduced or no effect on monocyte/macrophage activation with LPS. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential of liposomal GOT in blocking LPS proinflammatory effects in monocytes/macrophages. Keywords: guanosine 5´-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GOT), MAPK activation, cytokine, monocyte adhesion, chemotaxi

Deuterium as a Cleaning Gas for ITER First Mirrors: Experimental Study on Beryllium Deposits from Laboratory and JET-ILW

Cleaning techniques for metallic first mirrors are needed in more than 20 optical diagnostic systems from ITER to avoid reflectivity losses. Plasma sputtering is considered as one of the most promising techniques to remove deposits coming from the main wall (mainly beryllium and tungsten). Previous plasma cleaning studies were conducted on mirrors contaminated with beryllium and tungsten where argon and/or helium were employed as process gas, demonstrating removal of contamination and recovery of optical properties. Still, both above-mentioned process gases have a non-negligible sputtering yield on mirrors. In this work, we explored the possibility to use a sputter gas having a small impact on mirrors while being efficient on Be deposits, e.g. deuterium. Two sputtering regimes were studied, on laboratory deposits as well as on mirrors exposed in JET-ILW, namely physical sputtering (220 eV ion energy) and chemically assisted physical sputtering (60 eV ion energy) using capacitively coupled plasma with radio frequency. The removal of Be and mixed Be/W contaminants, as well as the recovery of reflectivity, was achieved when deuterium was employed at 220 eV while cleaning at 60 eV was only fully efficient on laboratory beryllium deposits. On mirrors exposed in JET-ILW, the situation is more complex due to the presence of tungsten in the contaminant film, leading to the formation of a tungsten enriched surface that is not easily sputtered, especially at 60 eV