Ion Temperature Measurements on the HL-2A Tokamak using a Retarding Field Analyser

World energy demands are increasing while the ability to generate that energy currently requires relying on non-renewable, and increasingly unsustainable, sources. If this trend is going to be curbed, either the energy demands will have to be limited, or new methods of sustainable energy need to be found. The former option is beyond the scope of this research so focus here is on new energy sources. Nuclear fusion is a possible option due to the output energy possible and the ease of access to fuel. Radioactive byproducts are also very limited. The tokamak uses magnetic fields to achieve fusion conditions and is one of the leading contenders for a working fusion reactor. The topic of this research is the construction of a probe used on the tokamak to measure ion temperature in the edge region of the plasma. A model was also constructed to aid in the interpretation of experimental data. The probe itself was constructed, along with the electrical circuits required for its operation, in Hefei, China, and was mounted on a reciprocating drive on the HL-2A tokamak in Chengdu, China. Reciprocation allowed for the construction of an ion temperature profile. A profile was constructed showing the evolution of temperature throughout a single shot. However, due to some noise constraints on the data, another profile was constructed averaging several shots together. This increased the quality of the temperature data at the expense of seeing how temperature changes over single shots. To address some issues related to this probe, an improved probe was designed and constructed. It is currently being used on the superconducting EAST tokamak in Hefei, China

Fractal-based autonomous partial discharge pattern recognition method for MV motors

On-line partial discharge (PD) monitoring is being increasingly adopted to improve the asset management and maintenance of medium-voltage (MV) motors. This study presents a novel method for autonomous analysis and classification of motor PD patterns in situations where a phase-reference voltage waveform is not available. The main contributions include a polar PD (PPD) pattern and a fractal theory-based autonomous PD recognition method. PPD pattern that is applied to convert the traditional phase-resolved PD pattern into a circular form addresses the lack of phase information in on-line PD monitoring system. The fractal theory is then presented in detail to address the task of discrimination of 6 kinds of single source and 15 kinds of multi-source PD patterns related to motors, as outlined in IEC 60034. The classification of known and unknown defects is calculated by a method known as centre score. Validation of the proposed method is demonstrated using data from laboratory experiments on three typical PD geometries. This study also discusses the application of the proposed techniques with 24 sets of on-site PD measurement data from 4 motors in 2 nuclear power stations. The results show that the proposed method performs effectively in recognising not only the single-source PD but also multi-source PDs

Short-Term Thermal Acclimation Modifies the Metabolic Condition of the Coral Holobiont

The nutritional symbiosis between coral hosts and photosynthetic dinoflagellates is fundamental to the functioning of coral reefs. Rising seawater temperatures destabilize this relationship, resulting in drastic declines in world-wide coral cover. Thermal history is thought to play an important role in shaping a coral\u27s response to subsequent thermal stress. Here, we exposed Pocillopora damicornis to two thermal acclimation regimes (ambient vs. warm) and compared the effect that acclimation had on the coral holobiont\u27s response to a subsequent seven day heat stress event. We conducted daily physiological measurements at the holobiont level (gross photosynthesis, respiration, host protein content, symbiont density and chlorophyll content) throughout the heating event, as well as cellular-level imaging of 13C-bicarbonate and 15N-nitrate assimilation (using NanoSIMS) at the end of the heat stress event. Thermal acclimation history had a negligible effect on the measurements conducted at the holobiont level during the heat stress event. No differences were observed in the O2-budget between ambient and warm-acclimated corals and only small fluctuations in host protein, symbiont density and chlorophyll content were detected. In contrast, this lack of differential response, was not mirrored at the cellular level. Warm-acclimated corals had substantially higher 13C enrichment in the host gastrodermis and lipid bodies, but significantly lower 15N-nitrate assimilation in the symbionts and the host tissue layers, relative to the ambient-acclimated corals. We discuss potential reasons for the disconnect that occurred between symbiont bicarbonate and nitrate assimilation (in the absence of photosynthetic breakdown) in the warm-acclimated corals. We suggest this represents either a shift in nitrogen utilization, or supply limitation by the host. Our findings raise several interesting hypotheses regarding the role that nitrogen metabolism plays in thermal stress, which will warrant further investigation if we are to understand the acclimatization capacity of the coral holobiont

The consumption of protein-rich foods in older adults: An exploratory focus group study

Objective: Many older adults consume inadequate protein for their needs. This study explored the factors associated with the consumption of high-protein foods in older adults. Methods: Participants over the age of 65 years (n = 28) took part in 1 of 4 focus group discussions on meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and pulses. Discussions were audio taped, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Numerous and various reasons for the consumption and non-consumption of high-protein foods were reported. Many of these reasons result from reductions in chemosensory, dental and physical abilities, and changes in living situation in the older population, and have impact specifically on high-protein foods because of their often hard, perishable and need-to-be-cooked nature, and high cost. Conclusions and Implications: Further work is required to establish the importance of each of thesereasons in relation to protein intakes, to prioritize those of likely greatest impact for increasing intakes. © 2013 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior

HLA-matched platelet transfusions are effective only in refractory patients with positive HLA antibody screening

BACKGROUND Recipients of platelet transfusions with 1-hour corrected count increments (1hCCIs) of 7.5 or less on two subsequent platelet transfusions with random platelets may benefit from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched platelet concentrates. We aimed to quantify the efficacy of HLA-matched platelets concentrates expressed in 1hCCIs. METHODS We performed a cohort study among consecutive refractory patients who received HLA-matched platelet concentrates in the Netherlands between 1994 and 2017. We performed mixed-model linear regression comparing 1hCCIs after HLA split-antigen-matched transfusions with 1hCCIs after HLA-mismatched transfusions, adjusted for within-patient correlations. A donor-to-patient match was categorized as a split-match if all donor HLA-A and -B antigens were present in the patient as well; that is, donor and patient were HLA identical or compatible. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients with positive or negative HLA antibody screens. Finally, the additional effect of ABO mismatches on 1hCCIs was investigated. RESULTS The 1hCCI after an HLA-matched transfusion was 14.09 (95% reference interval, 1.13-29.89). This was 1.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-3.15) higher than 1hCCI after HLA-mismatched transfusions. In patients with negative HLA antibody screening tests, HLA matching did not affect 1hCCIs. Conditional on HLA matching, 1hCCIs decreased by 3.70 (95% CI, -5.22 to -2.18) with major ABO mismatches. CONCLUSION Matched platelet concentrates yielded maximal 1hCCIs, whereas mismatched transfusions still resulted in adequate increments. There is no indication for HLA-matched platelets in patients with negative antibody screens

Test of CPT Symmetry and Quantum Mechanics with Experimental data from CPLEAR

We use fits to recent published CPLEAR data on neutral kaon decays to $\pi^+\pi^-$ and $\pi e\nu$ to constrain the CPT--violation parameters appearing in a formulation of the neutral kaon system as an open quantum-mechanical system. The obtained upper limits of the CPT--violation parameters are approaching the range suggested by certain ideas concerning quantum gravity.Comment: 9 pages of uuencoded postscript (includes 3 figures

Priority setting in primary health care - dilemmas and opportunities: a focus group study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Swedish health care authorities use three key criteria to produce national guidelines for local priority setting: severity of the health condition, expected patient benefit, and cost-effectiveness of medical intervention. Priority setting in primary health care (PHC) has significant implications for health costs and outcomes in the health care system. Nevertheless, these guidelines have been implemented to a very limited degree in PHC. The objective of the study was to qualitatively assess how general practitioners (GPs) and nurses perceive the application of the three key priority-setting criteria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Focus groups were held with GPs and nurses at primary health care centres, where the staff had a short period of experience in using the criteria for prioritising in their daily work.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The staff found the three key priority-setting criteria (severity, patient benefit, and cost-effectiveness) to be valuable for priority setting in PHC. However, when the criteria were applied in PHC, three additional dimensions were identified: 1) viewpoint (medical or patient's), 2) timeframe (now or later), and 3) evidence level (group or individual).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The three key priority-setting criteria were useful. Considering the three additional dimensions might enhance implementation of national guidelines in PHC and is probably a prerequisite for the criteria to be useful in priority setting for individual patients.</p