On the mechanisms governing gas penetration into a tokamak plasma during a massive gas injection

A new 1D radial fluid code, IMAGINE, is used to simulate the penetration of gas into a tokamak plasma during a massive gas injection (MGI). The main result is that the gas is in general strongly braked as it reaches the plasma, due to mechanisms related to charge exchange and (to a smaller extent) recombination. As a result, only a fraction of the gas penetrates into the plasma. Also, a shock wave is created in the gas which propagates away from the plasma, braking and compressing the incoming gas. Simulation results are quantitatively consistent, at least in terms of orders of magnitude, with experimental data for a D 2 MGI into a JET Ohmic plasma. Simulations of MGI into the background plasma surrounding a runaway electron beam show that if the background electron density is too high, the gas may not penetrate, suggesting a possible explanation for the recent results of Reux et al in JET (2015 Nucl. Fusion 55 093013)

Drug use by elderly inpatients of a philanthropic hospital

The high incidence of chronic diseases in the elderly leads to increased intermittent drug therapies. The presence of concomitant diseases and prescriptions made out by various health professionals facilitate the practice of polypharmacy, the emergence of iatrogenic diseases, and therapeutic regimens that are inconvenient for patients. The present study was carried out among elderly patients hospitalized at the Hospital Care Foundation of Paraiba, Campina Grande, with the objectives of studying the consumption of drugs by these patients, noting the possible adverse drug reactions (ADR), drug interactions and the presence of high-risk drugs prescribed to this age group. The study had a descriptive and cross-sectional quantitative design and involved a sample of 65 patients accompanied by the Pharmacovigilance Centre of the hospital, from August 2009 to July 2010. Over 90% of the patients were on polypharmacy, and the possible ADR found were related to the gastrointestinal tract where the most frequent interactions were with cardiovascular drugs. Within the context of pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacists can contribute by improving the quality of life of patients and preventing unnecessary expense with erroneous and poorly evaluated treatments.<br>A elevada incidência de doenças crônicas na terceira idade induz ao aumento de terapias medicamentosas intermitentes. A presença de patologias concomitantes e prescrições elaboradas por diversos profissionais de saúde facilitam a prática da polifarmácia, surgimento de doenças iatrogênicas e esquemas terapêuticos pouco cômodos para o paciente. O estudo foi realizado junto aos pacientes idosos internados no Hospital da Fundação Assistencial da Paraíba (FAP), Campina Grande, com objetivo de estudar o consumo de medicamentos por estes pacientes, observando as possíveis reações adversas a medicamentos (RAM), interações medicamentosas apresentadas e a presença de medicamentos de alto risco prescritos para este grupo etário. A pesquisa foi descritiva e transversal, com abordagem quantitativa, constituída por uma amostra de 65 pacientes, acompanhados através do Centro de Farmacovigilância do hospital, no período de agosto de 2009 a julho de 2010. Mais de 90% dos pacientes estavam sob polifarmácia, as possíveis RAM encontradas estavam mais relacionadas ao trato gastrintestinal e as interações foram mais frequentes com os medicamentos de ação cardiovascular. Dentro do contexto da farmacoepidemiologia, o profissional farmacêutico pode contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos pacientes e evitar gastos desnecessários devido à terapêuticas errôneas e mal avaliadas

Overview of JET results

Since the last IAEA conference, the scientific programme of JET has focused on the qualification of the integrated operating scenarios for ITER and on physics issues essential for the consolidation of design choices and the efficient exploitation of ITER. Particular attention has been given to the characterization of the edge plasma, pedestal energy and edge localized modes (ELMs), and their impact on plasma facing components (PFCs). Various ELM mitigation techniques have been assessed for all ITER operating scenarios using active methods such as resonant magnetic field perturbation, rapid variation of the radial field and pellet pacing. In particular, the amplitude and frequency of type I ELMs have been actively controlled over a wide parameter range (q95 = 3-4.8, βN ≥ 3.0) by adjusting the amplitude of the n = 1 external perturbation field induced by error field correction coils. The study of disruption induced heat loads on PFCs has taken advantage of a new wide-angle viewing infrared system and a fast bolometer to provide a detailed account of time, localization and form of the energy deposition. Specific ITER-relevant studies have used the unique JET capability of varying the toroidal field (TF) ripple from its normal low value δBT = 0.08% up to δBT = 1% to study the effect of TF ripple on high confinement-mode plasmas. The results suggest that δBT < 0.5% is required on ITER to maintain adequate confinement to allow QDT = 10 at full field. Physics issues of direct relevance to ITER include heat and toroidal momentum transport, with experiments using power modulation to decouple power input and torque to achieve first experimental evidence of inward momentum pinch in JET and determine the threshold for ion temperature gradient driven modes. Within the longer term JET programme in support of ITER, activities aiming at the modification of the JET first wall and divertor and the upgrade of the neutral beam and plasma control systems are being conducted. The procurement of all components will be completed by 2009 with the shutdown for the installation of the beryllium wall and tungsten divertor extending from summer 2009 to summer 2010