Third-party punishers do not compete to be chosen as partners in an experimental game

Third-party punishment is thought to act as an honest signal of cooperative intent and such signals might escalate when competing to be chosen as a partner. Here, we investigate whether partner choice competition prompts escalating investment in third-party punishment. We also consider the case of signalling via helpful acts to provide a direct test of the relative strength of the two types of signals. Individuals invested more in third-party helping than third-party punishment and invested more in both signals when observed compared to when investments would be unseen. We found no clear effect of partner choice (over and above mere observation) on investments in either punishment or helping. Third-parties who invested more than a partner were preferentially chosen for a subsequent Trust Game although the preference to interact with the higher investor was more pronounced in the help than in the punishment condition. Third-parties who invested more were entrusted with more money and investments in third-party punishment or helping reliably signalled trustworthiness. Individuals who did not invest in third-party helping were more likely to be untrustworthy than those who did not invest in third-party punishment. This supports the conception of punishment as a more ambiguous signal of cooperative intent compared to help

Depressão e fragilidade na velhice: uma revisão narrativa das publicações de 2008-2018

This article reports a narrative review of the literature on the relationships between depression and frailty in the elderly. We selected 28 articles retrieved from the LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed and SciELO databases published in the last decade (2008-2018). The literature review revealed the predominance of screening measures for depression and the conceptual model of the frailty phenotype. Variations in the associations between the two conditions mediated by variables related to gender, physical, cognitive and socioemotional aspects, biological markers, use of antidepressants and risk of mortality were observed. The findings corroborate the combined impact of the two syndromes, which promote greater health decline, vulnerability and a high-risk profile. Although considered distinct syndromes, depression and frailty are strongly associated. There is a lack of national data on the combined effect of the phenomena in the Brazilian elderly population23COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESsem informaçãoEste artigo apresenta uma revisão narrativa da literatura sobre as relações entre depressão e fragilidade em idosos. Foram selecionados 28 artigos derivados da consulta às bases de dados LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed e SciELO, publicados na última década (2008-2018). A análise da literatura evidenciou o predomínio de medidas de rastreio para depressão e do modelo conceitual do fenótipo de fragilidade. Observou-se a variação das associações entre as condições na presença de variáveis relativas: ao sexo, à funcionalidade física, cognitiva e aos aspectos socioemocionais, marcadores biológicos, uso de antidepressivos e risco de mortalidade. Os achados corroboram o impacto combinado das duas síndromes, que refletem maiores prejuízos para a saúde, maior vulnerabilidade e um perfil de alto risco. Embora consideradas síndromes distintas, estão fortemente associadas. Ressalta-se a escassez de dados nacionais que retratem o efeito combinado dos fenômenos na população idosa brasileir

Fusion Technology Activities at JET in Support of the ITER Program

AbstrAct Among the technological activities performed at JET in support of the scientific objectives of both JET and ITER, a significant effort is devoted to the investigation of the erosion, transport and deposition of wall materials, and of their fuel retention properties. With the analysis of wall tiles retrieved in the 2010 shutdown, the full characterization of the previous JET carbon wall is obtained. In order to confirm the expectations on properties of the new ITER-Like Wall (ILW) installed in 2011, a large number of marker tiles and profiled tiles have been prepared and installed both in the main wall and in the divertor. These will be retrieved from the vessel during a short shutdown at the end of 2012 and analysed. The major changes introduced by the new ILW materials in JET required also a new nuclear characterization of the machine. Neutronics measurements have been performed to obtain the neutron/g-ray field changes inside and outside the JET machine. The experimental data are also used to validate neutronics codes used in ITER design. A new calibration of neutron detectors, scheduled in the 2012 shutdown and adopting the same procedure as in ITER, has been prepared based on extensive neutronics calculations. IntroductIon The JET research program includes technological activities in support of the scientific objectives of both JET and ITER. To this purpose, in 2010-11 the JET machine has undergone a major change to replace the previous carbon wall with a new ITER-Like Wall (ILW) making use of beryllium and tungsten in plasma facing components The erosion/deposition of wall materials in JET is characterized by net erosion on the main chamber wall and outer divertor, and migration of eroded material mainly to the inner divertor. During the 2009-10 shutdown phase, dust was collected from JET vessel [2] and several removed tiles were selected for analysis of deposits and surface. In this paper, first results of analyses on tiles exposed in 2007-2009 are presented. Considering also all previous results of erosion and deposition studies, a full characterization of the C wall in JET will be derived for comparison with the new ILW. Presently, one of the major objectives of the JET program is the investigation of the wall material transport, erosion/deposition and the fuel retention properties in the ILW. It is expected from laboratory experiments that the main mechanism for the fuel retention in the ILW is co-deposition in Be-layers. Implantation is the main mechanism for the retention in W, but it is expected to play a negligible role in comparison with the Be co-deposition. In order to confirm these expectations, and the results obtained during first ILW plasmas from gas balance method The major changes introduced by the new ILW materials in JET required also a new nuclear characterization of the machine. Neutronics analyses have been performed to calculate the neutron/gray field changes inside and outside the machine, the material activation and the shutdown doserat

The preparation of the Shutdown Dose Rate experiment for the next JET Deuterium-Tritium campaign

The assessment of the Shutdown Dose Rate (SDR) due to neutron activation is a major safety issue for fusion devices and in the last decade several benchmark experiments have been conducted at JET during Deuterium-Deuterium experiments for the validation of the numerical tools used in ITER nuclear analyses. The future Deuterium-Tritium campaign at JET (DTE2) will provide a unique opportunity to validate the codes under ITER-relevant conditions through the comparison between numerical predictions and measured quantities (C/E). For this purpose, a novel SDR experiment, described in the present work, is in preparation in the frame of the WPJET3-NEXP subproject within EUROfusion Consortium. The experimental setup has been accurately designed to reduce measurement uncertainties; spherical air-vented ionization chambers (ICs) will be used for on-line ex-vessel decay gamma dose measurements during JET shutdown following DT operations and activation foils have been selected for measuring the neutron fluence near ICs during operations. Active dosimeters (based on ICs) have been calibrated over a broad energy range (from about 30 keV to 1.3 MeV) with X and gamma reference beam qualities. Neutron irradiation tests confirmed the capability of active dosimeters of performing on-line decay gamma dose rate measurements, to follow gamma dose decay at the end of neutron irradiation as well as insignificant activation of the ICs

14 MeV calibration of JET neutron detectors-phase 1: calibration and characterization of the neutron source

In view of the planned DT operations at JET, a calibration of the JET neutron monitors at 14 MeV neutron energy is needed using a 14 MeV neutron generator deployed inside the vacuum vessel by the JET remote handling system. The target accuracy of this calibration is ±10% as also required by ITER, where a precise neutron yield measurement is important, e.g. for tritium accountancy. To achieve this accuracy, the 14 MeV neutron generator selected as the calibration source has been fully characterised and calibrated prior to the in-vessel calibration of the JET monitors. This paper describes the measurements performed using different types of neutron detectors, spectrometers, calibrated long counters and activation foils which allowed us to obtain the neutron emission rate and the anisotropy of the neutron generator, i.e. the neutron flux and energy spectrum dependence on emission angle, and to derive the absolute emission rate in 4π sr. The use of high resolution diamond spectrometers made it possible to resolve the complex features of the neutron energy spectra resulting from the mixed D/T beam ions reacting with the D/T nuclei present in the neutron generator target. As the neutron generator is not a stable neutron source, several monitoring detectors were attached to it by means of an ad hoc mechanical structure to continuously monitor the neutron emission rate during the in-vessel calibration. These monitoring detectors, two diamond diodes and activation foils, have been calibrated in terms of neutrons/counts within ±5% total uncertainty. A neutron source routine has been developed, able to produce the neutron spectra resulting from all possible reactions occurring with the D/T ions in the beam impinging on the Ti D/T target. The neutron energy spectra calculated by combining the source routine with a MCNP model of the neutron generator have been validated by the measurements. These numerical tools will be key in analysing the results from the in-vessel calibration and to derive the response of the JET neutron detectors to DT plasma neutrons starting from the response to the generator neutrons, and taking into account all the calibration circumstances.EURATOM 63305

The in vivo effect of chelidonine on the stem cell system of planarians

The presence of adult pluripotent stem cells and the amazing regenerative capabilities make planarian flatworms an extraordinary experimental model to assess in vivo the effects of substances of both natural and synthetic origin on stem cell dynamics. This study focuses on the effects of chelidonine, an alkaloid obtained from Chelidonium majus. The expression levels of molecular markers specific for stem or differentiated cells were compared in chelidonine-treated and control planarians. The use of these markers demonstrates that chelidonine produces in vivo a significant anti-proliferative effect on planarian stem cells in a dosedependent fashion. In response to chelidonine treatment mitotic abnormalities were also observed and the number of cells able to proceed to anaphase/telophase appeared significantly reduced with respect to the controls. Our results support the possibility that chelidonine acts on cell cycle progression by inhibition of tubulin polymerization. These studies provide a basis for preclinical evaluation in vivo of the effects of chelidonine on physiologically proliferating stem cells

Mixed n–γ fields dosimetry at low doses by means of different solid state dosimeters

Abstract A Mock-up of the inboard shield of the ITER International nuclear fusion reactor was realized at the Frascati Neutron Generator (FNG) at ENEA Frascati with the scope to measure the nuclear heating (total dose) in the superconducting coils. High sensitivity MCP-6 and MCP-7 dosimeters were used to measure the low

Neutron cameras for ITER

Neutron cameras with horizontal and vertical views have been designed for ITER, based on systems used on JET and TFTR. The cameras consist of fan-shaped arrays of collimated flight tubes, with suitably chosen detectors situated outside the biological shield. The sight lines view the ITER plasma through slots in the shield blanket and penetrate the vacuum vessel, cryostat, and biological shield through stainless steel windows. This paper analyzes the expected performance of several neutron camera arrangements for ITER. In addition to the reference designs, the authors examine proposed compact cameras, in which neutron fluxes are inferred from {sup 16}N decay gammas in dedicated flowing water loops, and conventional cameras with fewer sight lines and more limited fields of view than in the reference designs. It is shown that the spatial sampling provided by the reference designs is sufficient to satisfy target measurement requirements and that some reduction in field of view may be permissible. The accuracy of measurements with {sup 16}N-based compact cameras is not yet established, and they fail to satisfy requirements for parameter range and time resolution by large margins

Planarians as a model to assess in vivo the role of matrix metalloproteinase genes during homeostasis and regeneration

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are major executors of extracellular matrix remodeling and, consequently, play key roles in the response of cells to their microenvironment. The experimentally accessible stem cell population and the robust regenerative capabilities of planarians offer an ideal model to study how modulation of the proteolytic system in the extracellular environment affects cell behavior in vivo. Genome-wide identification of Schmidtea mediterranea MMPs reveals that planarians possess four mmp-like genes. Two of them (mmp1 and mmp2) are strongly expressed in a subset of secretory cells and encode putative matrilysins. The other genes (mt-mmpA and mt-mmpB) are widely expressed in postmitotic cells and appear structurally related to membrane-type MMPs. These genes are conserved in the planarian Dugesia japonica. Here we explore the role of the planarian mmp genes by RNA interference (RNAi) during tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Our analyses identify essential functions for two of them. Following inhibition of mmp1 planarians display dramatic disruption of tissues architecture and significant decrease in cell death. These results suggest that mmp1 controls tissue turnover, modulating survival of postmitotic cells. Unexpectedly, the ability to regenerate is unaffected by mmp1(RNAi). Silencing of mt-mmpA alters tissue integrity and delays blastema growth, without affecting proliferation of stem cells. Our data support the possibility that the activity of this protease modulates cell migration and regulates anoikis, with a consequent pivotal role in tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Our data provide evidence of the involvement of specific MMPs in tissue homeostasis and regeneration and demonstrate that the behavior of planarian stem cells is critically dependent on the microenvironment surrounding these cells. Studying MMPs function in the planarian model provides evidence on how individual proteases work in vivo in adult tissues. These results have high potential to generate significant information for development of regenerative and anti cancer therapies