Velocity-space sensitivity of the time-of-flight neutron spectrometer at JET

The velocity-space sensitivities of fast-ion diagnostics are often described by so-called weight functions. Recently, we formulated weight functions showing the velocity-space sensitivity of the often dominant beam-target part of neutron energy spectra. These weight functions for neutron emission spectrometry (NES) are independent of the particular NES diagnostic. Here we apply these NES weight functions to the time-of-flight spectrometer TOFOR at JET. By taking the instrumental response function of TOFOR into account, we calculate time-of-flight NES weight functions that enable us to directly determine the velocity-space sensitivity of a given part of a measured time-of-flight spectrum from TOFOR

Relationship of edge localized mode burst times with divertor flux loop signal phase in JET

A phase relationship is identified between sequential edge localized modes (ELMs) occurrence times in a set of H-mode tokamak plasmas to the voltage measured in full flux azimuthal loops in the divertor region. We focus on plasmas in the Joint European Torus where a steady H-mode is sustained over several seconds, during which ELMs are observed in the Be II emission at the divertor. The ELMs analysed arise from intrinsic ELMing, in that there is no deliberate intent to control the ELMing process by external means. We use ELM timings derived from the Be II signal to perform direct time domain analysis of the full flux loop VLD2 and VLD3 signals, which provide a high cadence global measurement proportional to the voltage induced by changes in poloidal magnetic flux. Specifically, we examine how the time interval between pairs of successive ELMs is linked to the time-evolving phase of the full flux loop signals. Each ELM produces a clear early pulse in the full flux loop signals, whose peak time is used to condition our analysis. The arrival time of the following ELM, relative to this pulse, is found to fall into one of two categories: (i) prompt ELMs, which are directly paced by the initial response seen in the flux loop signals; and (ii) all other ELMs, which occur after the initial response of the full flux loop signals has decayed in amplitude. The times at which ELMs in category (ii) occur, relative to the first ELM of the pair, are clustered at times when the instantaneous phase of the full flux loop signal is close to its value at the time of the first ELM

Fluorogenic substrates for the detection of microbial nitroreductases.

Aims: To synthesize and evaluate fluorogenic substrates for the detection of microbial nitroreductases. These substrates, all based on 7-nitrocoumarin, may be reduced to form fluorescent aminocoumarins. Methods and Results: Thirty pathogenic microbial strains, including both bacteria and yeasts, were examined for nitroreductase activity in a whole-cell assay. All strains readily reduced each of the seven substrates to generate fluorescence, suggesting the widespread presence of nitroreductase activity in pathogenic bacteria. Conclusions, Significance and Impact of the Study: These novel substrates facilitate the direct detection of nitroreductase activity and have potential as sensitive indicators of microbial growth

Trocas gasosas e balanço de carboidratos em plantas de cana-de-açúcar sob condições de estresses radiculares

Embora a resposta da fotossíntese de plantas de cana-de-açúcar a estresses ambientais seja conhecida, o acúmulo de fitomassa e a dinâmica de carboidratos de reserva diante da exposição simultânea ao frio e à seca são pouco conhecidos. Este trabalho objetiva investigar o efeito do déficit hídrico e da baixa temperatura radicular, isolados e simultaneamente, no genótipo de cana-de-açúcar IACSP94-2094, considerado tolerante à seca. Como hipótese, consideramos que este genótipo também é tolerante à baixa temperatura radicular, já que baixas temperaturas e déficit hídrico ocorrem simultaneamente no campo. A imposição da restrição hídrica de forma isolada ou simultaneamente à baixa temperatura radicular causou redução do potencial da água na folha e da assimilação de CO2, o que não foi observado nas plantas submetidas apenas à baixa temperatura do substrato. Os teores foliares de carboidratos não estruturais, de sacarose e de amido aumentaram nas plantas sob frio radicular. Nos tratamentos com déficit hídrico, apenas o teor de amido foliar diminuiu. Os estresses radiculares causaram aumento nos teores de açúcares solúveis totais e diminuição no teor de amido nas raízes. Como o acúmulo de fitomassa das plantas não foi afetado, mesmo com a restrição no crescimento radicular nos tratamentos com baixa temperatura do substrato, conclui-se que o genótipo de cana-de-açúcar IACSP94-2094 contém indícios de tolerância à baixa temperatura radicular. A manutenção do crescimento da planta deve estar associada à degradação das reservas de amido foliares e radiculares

Efeito de diferentes métodos de muda forçada sobre o desempenho de poedeiras comerciais Effect of different methods of molt induction on performance of commercial laying hens

Este experimento foi realizado para comparar o desempenho de poedeiras comerciais após serem submetidas a diferentes métodos de muda forçada. Noventa e seis poedeiras Hy Line brancas com 85 semanas de idade foram distribuídas em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos. Os tratamentos foram: T1 - método convencional constituído da retirada do alimento durante os 12 primeiros dias do experimento; T2 - dieta com alto teor de zinco; T3 - dieta com baixa energia fornecida em quantidade limitada (45 g/ave.dia); e T4 - dieta com baixa energia fornecida à vontade. Os dados de produção após a muda foram registrados durante cinco períodos de 28 dias. A porcentagem de postura (ave/dia) e a conversão alimentar (kg ração/kg ovo) foram melhores para as aves submetidas à muda por intermédio dos métodos convencional (T1), alto teor de Zn (T2) e dieta com baixa energia fornecida à vontade (T4) em relação às aves submetidas à dieta com baixa energia fornecida em quantidade diária limitada (T3). O peso do ovo foi mais alto para as aves dos tratamentos convencional (T1) e dieta com baixa energia à vontade (T4) em relação às aves alimentadas com dietas com alto teor de zinco (T2) ou com baixa energia fornecida em quantidade limitada (T3). Os métodos de muda usados não influíram no consumo de ração. O uso de dieta com baixa energia, quando fornecida à vontade, e dieta com alto teor de Zn, como métodos para indução de muda, resultou em desempenho similar ao obtido com o método convencional.<br>This experiment was carried out to compare the productive performance of commercial laying hens after being under different methods of induced molting. Ninety-six Hy-Line white laying hens, 85 weeks of age were allotted to a randomized block design with four treatments. The treatments were: T1 - the conventional method consisted of feed withdrawal during the 12 first days of the experiment; T2 - diet of high-zinc content; T3 - low-energy diet, fed limited daily portions (45 g per hen per day); T4 - low-energy diet fed ad libitum. The production data presented after the molt period were recorded during five 28-day periods. The egg-laying percentage (hen/day) and feed: egg ratio (kg feed/kg egg) were better for hens under the conventional treatment (T1), high zinc diet (T2) and low-energy diet ad libitum (T4) in comparison with low-energy diet in limited daily portions (T3). The egg weight was higher for hens under treatments conventional (T1) and low-energy diet ad libitum (T4) in relation to the ones under high zinc diet (T2) and low-energy diet in limited daily portion (T3). Feed intake was not affected by the used molting methods. The use of the low-energy diet when offered ad libitum and a high-zinc diet as an induction of molting methods produced similar performance to those obtained by conventional method