Current drive at plasma densities required for thermonuclear reactors

Progress in thermonuclear fusion energy research based on deuterium plasmas magnetically confined in toroidal tokamak devices requires the development of efficient current drive methods. Previous experiments have shown that plasma current can be driven effectively by externally launched radio frequency power coupled to lower hybrid plasma waves. However, at the high plasma densities required for fusion power plants, the coupled radio frequency power does not penetrate into the plasma core, possibly because of strong wave interactions with the plasma edge. Here we show experiments performed on FTU (Frascati Tokamak Upgrade) based on theoretical predictions that nonlinear interactions diminish when the peripheral plasma electron temperature is high, allowing significant wave penetration at high density. The results show that the coupled radio frequency power can penetrate into high-density plasmas due to weaker plasma edge effects, thus extending the effective range of lower hybrid current drive towards the domain relevant for fusion reactors

Corrigendum: Current drive at plasma densities required for thermonuclear reactors

Nature Communications 1: Article number: 55 (2010); Published: 10 August 2010; Updated:19 September 2013. In Fig. 3 of this Article, the colours of the blue and green curves were accidentally interchanged while the manuscript was being revised. In addition, the x axis labels on Fig. 4 should have read 'Frequency (MHz)'

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Endothelial progenitors from the peripheral blood of patients with classic Kaposi’s sarcoma are persistently infected by KSHV

Accumulating evidence indicates that tumor angiogenesis is supported by the mobilization and incorporation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), highly proliferative precursors of bone marrow origin. Our recent demonstration that EPCs are increased in the peripheral blood of patients with Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), together with the intrinsic biologic properties of these cells, strongly suggests that EPCs could be involved in the pathogenesis of KS. The fact that the characteristic spindle cells share many markers with vascular endothelial cells and are thought to be of endothelial origin further supports this hypothesis. A possible scenario may be that EPCs may act as preferential KSHV reservoirs and, whether infected, may home to permissive sites and propagate to produce KS lesions. Novel insights into the state of KSHV infection of EPCs could greatly improve the comprehension of KS pathogenesis. Therefore, we investigated KSHV infection of ex-vivo cultured late-EPCs that, among other cell populations with endothelial features, contribute more directly to neovascularization and might represent a major source of endothelial progenitors in vivo. We found that late-EPCs from KS patients harbor KSHV DNA and retain the virus after multiple passages. Lytic phase induction or hypoxia could amplify the virus in cells and supernatants, indicating that late-EPCs support KSHV productive replication. EPCs appear therefore to represent potential virus reservoirs and putative precursors of KS spindle cells. The biological mechanisms that govern the infection of EPC by KSHV are currently under investigation

Strengthening the Evidence-Based Approach to Guiding Effective Influenza Vaccination Policies

none10The availability of several effective and safe vaccines enables health systems to counteract annual influenza epidemics. However, the criteria of appropriateness and sustainability require that each citizen should receive the right vaccine. The value of each vaccine can be assessed within well-known frameworks, such as the Health Technology Assessment (HTA), a step that is fundamental to the process of allocating resources to vaccination strategies. The paper describes how HTA has been incorporated as an evidence-based tool to support the definition of Italian vaccination strategies, reports the results of the HTA report on the most recently available influenza vaccine in Italy (cell-based quadrivalent vaccine (QIVc)-Flucelvax® Tetra) and elaborates on current and future recommendations in the field of influenza vaccination. Recommendations issued by the Italian Ministry of Health foster the appropriate use of influenza vaccines from 2018-2019 onwards. Evidence of the value of newly available vaccines will hopefully support future decisions and promote the appropriate use of these vaccines on the basis of the characteristics of the target population. However, the success of influenza vaccination will also depend on citizens' empowerment and engagement in the decision-making process.noneCalabrò, Giovanna Elisa; Specchia, Maria Lucia; Boccalini, Sara; Panatto, Donatella; Rizzo, Caterina; Merler, Stefano; Ferriero, Anna Maria; Di Pietro, Maria Luisa; Bonanni, Paolo; de Waure, ChiaraCalabrò, Giovanna Elisa; Specchia, Maria Lucia; Boccalini, Sara; Panatto, Donatella; Rizzo, Caterina; Merler, Stefano; Ferriero, Anna Maria; Di Pietro, Maria Luisa; Bonanni, Paolo; de Waure, Chiar