Definitions and outcome measures for mucous membrane pemphigoid: Recommendations of an international panel of experts

Mucous membrane pemphigoid encompasses a group of autoimmune bullous diseases with a similar phenotype characterized by subepithelial blisters, erosions, and scarring of mucous membranes, skin, or both. Although knowledge about autoimmune bullous disease is increasing, there is often a lack of clear definitions of disease, outcome measures, and therapeutic end points. With clearer definitions and outcome measures, it is possible to directly compare the results and data from various studies using meta-analyses. This consensus statement provides accurate and reproducible definitions for disease extent, activity, outcome measures, end points, and therapeutic response for mucous membrane pemphigoid and proposes a disease extent score, the Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid Disease Area Index

Feasibility study of a local active correction system of magnetic field errors in RFX-mod

In magnetic confinement fusion devices, close-fitting structures surrounding the plasma are needed to slow down the growth rate of MHD unstable modes to time scales accessible to real time feedback control systems. However, error fields are generated as the response of the passive structures to the dynamic equilibrium field configuration, due to the presence of the cuts needed to allow the penetration of electric and magnetic fields. Considerable improvements have been achieved in RFX-mod after starting operation of the active MHD control system, allowing the successful simultaneous feedback control of a wide spectrum of MHD instabilities. In this paper, a feasibility study of a new local active correction system of magnetic field errors is presented, together with a comparison of three different configurations of the passive structure cuts

Feasibility study of a local active correction system of magnetic field errors in RFX-mod

In magnetic confinement fusion devices, close-fitting structures surrounding the plasma are needed to slow down the growth rate of MHD unstable modes to time scales accessible to real time feedback control systems. However, error fields are generated as the response of the passive structures to the dynamic equilibrium field configuration, due to the presence of the cuts needed to allow the penetration of electric and magnetic fields. Considerable improvements have been achieved in RFX-mod after starting operation of the active MHD control system, allowing the successful simultaneous feedback control of a wide spectrum of MHD instabilities. In this paper, a feasibility study of a new local active correction system of magnetic field errors is presented, together with a comparison of three different configurations of the passive structure cuts

Design of the Local Control Coils at the equatorial gap of the RFX machine

The paper describes a method for the identification of the plasma shape in a toroidal device for the fusion experiments based on magnetic confinement. The method, developed for the RFX machine, makes use of the magnetic measurements and takes into account the electromagnetic effects of a conductive vacuum vessel and of a stabilizing shell. These effects are quite important in \u201cfast\u201d machines such as the RFPs of the present generatio

Electromagnetic analyses for the dynamic control of RFX equilibrium with a new shell

The experiments proposed with active MHD mode control in RFX require the installation of new saddle coils and the substitution of the present thick stabilizing shell with a much thinner one. In this framework, the dynamic behaviour of plasma, shell and poloidal field circuit has been simulated to verify the operating scenarios of the modified machine, the dynamic control of plasma axisymmetric equilibrium and on the gas ionisation conditions, also based on the past operation experience. The results have given indications and constraints for the design of a layout, which assures the existence of an operating region compatible with both plasma active position control and gas ionisation

Production, operations and supply chain management

This volume offers an extensive coverage of the issues discussed, selected based on the programs of Operations and Supply Chain Management taught in Management and Engineering faculties, ranging from the basics of the field to the most recent approaches and solutions, among which it is worthwhile mentioning the following: - Analysis of production systems - Operations and supply chain strategy decision making - Performance measurement - Problem setting and solving in the operations management - Production planning and inventory control - Production Scheduling, Just in Time and Theory of Constraints - Lean management - Procurement and vendor management - Supply chain management - Operations data management and Information systems - Digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0

Design developments for the ITER in-Vessel equilibrium pick-up Coils and Halo current Sensors

The ITER magnetic diagnostics must provide essential information for plasma diagnostic purposes and for the machine control. The sensors will be installed in a hostile environment characterized by severe neutron irradiation and heat loads, which can reduce the sensor lifetime and also generate undesired DC signals, which might compromise the accuracy of the measurements obtained by time-integration. The paper is focused on the design development and optimisation of the in-vessel tangential pick-up coils and blanket halo sensors. The work is aimed at achieving the required measurement precision in spite of the thermal effect due to the neutron irradiation. Within the limits of several tight engineering constraints, a new concept of magnetic pick-up coil has been developed. A winding made of a ceramic-coated conductor (instead of a mineral insulated cables) and "impregnated" with ceramic filler is proposed. Similar issues are also related to the halo sensor design

The design of 192 saddle coils for RFX

The paper presents the various aspects of the new set of 192 saddle coils (SC), designed for the active control of MHD plasma modes in the RFX experiment. The choices necessary to fulfil the electromagnetic specifications and the geometrical constraints of the system are described. The methods and results of thermal, electrodynamic and mechanical analyses carried out for the proper design of the coils are also reported. The technological solutions proposed for the construction, presently in progress, are illustrated

Evaluation of electrodynamic forces on the passive components of the new RFX load assembly

This paper deals with the design of a new system developed for the stabilization and the active control of the magnetic configuration of RFX. The system consists of a conductive shell and a set of saddle coils closely fitting the plasma region, supported by a stainless steel toroidal structure. These new components are intended for replacing the present shell, keeping the existing vacuum vessel, the poloidal field coils and the toroidal field coils unchanged. The paper presents the electromagnetic analyses, performed by means of 2D integral formulation and 3D finite element codes, which provided basic inputs for the design of the new passive components and for the mechanical assessment of the existing ones, in the new foreseen operating conditions

Modeling of the magnetic field errors of RFX-mod upgrade

After several years of successful RFX-mod operations, both in RFP and Tokamak configurations, an upgrade of the machine has been conceived. In particular, the vacuum vessel might be removed with the aim of improving passive MHD control and enabling plasma rotation at higher currents. In this paper, a detailed analysis of the new magnetic front-end is presented, with particular emphasis on the computation of the magnetic field errors generated at the poloidal gaps during transient phases of the discharge. At this purpose, a non-linear MHD equilibrium code, MAXFEA, has been used to provide the input data for the 3D electromagnetic analyses in the time domain carried out with the CAFE code. \ua9 2017 Elsevier B.V