Overview of progress in European medium sized tokamaks towards an integrated plasma-edge/wall solution

Integrating the plasma core performance with an edge and scrape-off layer (SOL) that leads to tolerable heat and particle loads on the wall is a major challenge. The new European medium size tokamak task force (EU-MST) coordinates research on ASDEX Upgrade (AUG), MAST and TCV. This multi-machine approach within EU-MST, covering a wide parameter range, is instrumental to progress in the field, as ITER and DEMO core/pedestal and SOL parameters are not achievable simultaneously in present day devices. A two prong approach is adopted. On the one hand, scenarios with tolerable transient heat and particle loads, including active edge localised mode (ELM) control are developed. On the other hand, divertor solutions including advanced magnetic configurations are studied. Considerable progress has been made on both approaches, in particular in the fields of: ELM control with resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP), small ELM regimes, detachment onset and control, as well as filamentary scrape-off-layer transport. For example full ELM suppression has now been achieved on AUG at low collisionality with n  =  2 RMP maintaining good confinement ${{H}_{\text{H}\left(98,\text{y}2\right)}}\approx 0.95$ . Advances have been made with respect to detachment onset and control. Studies in advanced divertor configurations (Snowflake, Super-X and X-point target divertor) shed new light on SOL physics. Cross field filamentary transport has been characterised in a wide parameter regime on AUG, MAST and TCV progressing the theoretical and experimental understanding crucial for predicting first wall loads in ITER and DEMO. Conditions in the SOL also play a crucial role for ELM stability and access to small ELM regimes

Real-time plasma state monitoring and supervisory control on TCV

In ITER and DEMO, various control objectives related to plasma control must be simultaneously achieved by the plasma control system (PCS), in both normal operation as well as off-normal conditions. The PCS must act on off-normal events and deviations from the target scenario, since certain sequences (chains) of events can precede disruptions. It is important that these decisions are made while maintaining a coherent prioritization between the real-time control tasks to ensure high-performance operation. In this paper, a generic architecture for task-based integrated plasma control is proposed. The architecture is characterized by the separation of state estimation, event detection, decisions and task execution among different algorithms, with standardized signal interfaces. Central to the architecture are a plasma state monitor and supervisory controller. In the plasma state monitor, discrete events in the continuous-valued plasma state are modeled using finite state machines. This provides a high-level representation of the plasma state. The supervisory controller coordinates the execution of multiple plasma control tasks by assigning task priorities, based on the finite states of the plasma and the pulse schedule. These algorithms were implemented on the TCV digital control system and integrated with actuator resource management and existing state estimation algorithms and controllers. The plasma state monitor on TCV can track a multitude of plasma events, related to plasma current, rotating and locked neoclassical tearing modes, and position displacements. In TCV experiments on simultaneous control of plasma pressure, safety factor profile and NTMs using electron cyclotron heating (ECH) and current drive (ECCD), the supervisory controller assigns priorities to the relevant control tasks. The tasks are then executed by feedback controllers and actuator allocation management. This work forms a significant step forward in the ongoing integration of control capabilities in experiments on TCV, in support of tokamak reactor operation

Structural insights into TRPV2 activation by small molecules.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) is involved in many critical physiological and pathophysiological processes, making it a promising drug target. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of rat TRPV2 in lipid nanodiscs activated by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) and propose a TRPV2-specific 2-ABP binding site at the interface of S5 of one monomer and the S4-S5 linker of the adjacent monomer. In silico docking and electrophysiological studies confirm the key role of His521 and Arg539 in 2-APB activation of TRPV2. Additionally, electrophysiological experiments show that the combination of 2-APB and cannabidiol has a synergetic effect on TRPV2 activation, and cryo-EM structures demonstrate that both drugs were able to bind simultaneously. Together, our cryo-EM structures represent multiple functional states of the channel, providing a native picture of TRPV2 activation by small molecules and a structural framework for the development of TRPV2-specific activators

Bacteria-produced ferric exopolysaccharide nanoparticles as iron delivery system for truffles (Tuber borchii)

Iron exopolysaccharide nanoparticles were biogenerated duringferric citrate fermentation by Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614. Before investigating their effects on Tuber borchii (Bianchetto^ truffle) mycelium growth and morphology, they were tested on human K562 cell line and Lentinula edodes pure culture and shown to be non-toxic. Using these nanoparticles as iron supplement, the truffles showed extremely efficient iron uptake of over 300 times that of a commercial product. This avoided morphological changes in T. borchii due to lack of iron during growth and, with optimum nanoparticle dosage, increased growth without cell wall disruption or alteration of protoplasmatic hyphal content, the nuclei, mitochondria, and rough endoplasmic reticula being preserved. No significant modifications in gene expression were observed. These advantages derive from the completely different mechanism of iron delivery to mycelia compared to commercial iron supplements. The present data, in fact, show the nanoparticles attached to the cell wall, then penetrating it non-destructively without damage to cell membrane, mitochondria, chromatin, or ribosome. Low dosage significantly improved mycelium growth, without affecting hyphal mor- phology. Increases in hyphal diameter and septal distance indicated a healthier state of the mycelia compared to those grown in the absence of iron or with a commercial iron supplement. These positive effects were confirmed by measuring fungal biomass as mycelium dry weight, total protein, and ergosterol content. This Bgreen^ method for biogenerating iron exopolysaccharide nanoparticles offers many advantages, including significant economic savings, without toxic effects on the ectomycorrhizal fungus, opening the possibility of using them as iron supplements in truffle plantations

Measurement of charged particle spectra in minimum-bias events from proton-proton collisions at root s =13 TeV

Pseudorapidity, transverse momentum, and multiplicity distributions are measured in the pseudorapidity range vertical bar eta vertical bar 0.5 GeV in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of root s = 13 TeV. Measurements are presented in three different event categories. The most inclusive of the categories corresponds to an inelastic pp data set, while the other two categories are exclusive subsets of the inelastic sample that are either enhanced or depleted in single diffractive dissociation events. The measurements are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo event generators used to describe high-energy hadronic interactions in collider and cosmic-ray physics.Peer reviewe

Clinical and Serological Features in Latin American IgG4-Related Disease Patients Differ According to Sex, Ethnicity, and Clinical Phenotype

Background/Objective Data on IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) come almost exclusively from cohorts from Asia, Europe, and North America. We conducted this study to describe the clinical presentation, phenotype distribution, and association with sex, ethnicity, and serological markers in a large cohort of Latin American patients with IgG4-RD. Methods We performed a multicenter medical records review study including 184 Latin American IgG4-RD patients. We assigned patients to clinical phenotypes: group 1 (pancreato-hepato-biliary), group 2 (retroperitoneal/aortic), group 3 (head and neck-limited), group 4 (Mikulicz/systemic), and group 5 (undefined). We focused the analysis on how sex, ethnicity, and clinical phenotype may influence the clinical and serological presentation. Results The mean age was 50.8 ± 15 years. Men and women were equally affected (52.2% vs 48.8%). Fifty-four patients (29.3%) were assigned to group 1, 21 (11.4%) to group 2, 57 (30.9%) to group 3, 32 (17.4%) to group 4, and 20 (10.8%) to group 5. Male sex was associated with biliary tract (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-8.26), kidney (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.28-9.25), and retroperitoneal involvement (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.45-20). Amerindian patients presented more frequently with atopy history and gallbladder involvement. Group 3 had a female predominance. Conclusions Latin American patients with IgG4-RD were younger, and men and women were equally affected compared with White and Asian cohorts. They belonged more commonly to group 1 and group 3. Retroperitoneal and aortic involvement was infrequent. Clinical and serological features differed according to sex, ethnicity, and clinical phenotype.Fil: Martín-Nares, Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. Department of Immunology and Rheumatology; MéxicoFil: Baenas, Diego Federico. Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Cuellar Gutiérrez, María Carolina. Hospital Del Salvador. Departamento de Medicina Interna. Servicio de Reumatología; ChileFil: Hernández-Molina, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. Department of Immunology and Rheumatology; MéxicoFil: Ortiz, Alberto Christian. Hospital José María Cullen. Sección de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Neira, Oscar. Universidad de Chile. Hospital Del Salvador. Sección Reumatología; ChileFil: Neira, Oscar. Clínica Alemana de Santiago-Universidad Del Desarrollo. Unidad Reumatología; ChileFil: Gutiérrez, Miguel A. Universidad de Valparaíso. Hospital Naval Almirante Nef. Departamento de Reumatologia; ChileFil: Calvo, Romina. Hospital José María Cullen. Sección de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Saad, Emanuel José. Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba. Departamento de Clínica Médica; ArgentinaFil: Elgueta Pinochet, Sergio. Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile. Sección Reumatología. Departamento de Medicina; ChileFil: Gallo, Jesica. Hospital Central de Reconquista. Sección de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Herrera Moya, Alejandra. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología; ChileFil: Mansilla Aravena, Bellanides Agustina. Hospital Clínico Magallanes; ArgentinaFil: Crespo Espíndola, María Elena. Hospital Señor Del Milagro; ArgentinaFil: Cairoli, Ernesto. Hospital Evangélico. Unidad de Enfermedades Autoinmunes; BrasilFil: Cairoli, Ernesto. Centro Asistencial Del Sindicato Médico Del Uruguay. Unidad de Enfermedades Autoinmunes; UruguayFil: Cairoli, Ernesto. Institut Pasteur. Laboratorio de Inmunorregulación e Inflamación; UruguayFil: Bertoli, Ana María. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Córdoba, Mercedes. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Wurmann Kiblisky, Pamela. Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile.Fil: Basualdo Arancibia, Washington Javier. Departamento de Medicina. Sección Reumatología; ChileFil: Badilla Piñeiro, María Natalia. Hospital Del Salvador, Universidad de Chile. Sección Reumatología; ChileFil: Gobbi, Carla Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Hospital Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Berbotto, Guillermo Ariel. Sanatorio Británico. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Pisoni, Cecilia N. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas Norberto Quirno. Sección Reumatología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Juárez, Vicente. Hospital Señor Del Milagro; ArgentinaFil: Cosatti, Micaela Ana. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas Norberto Quirno. Sección Reumatología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Aste, Nora María. Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Airoldi, Carla. Hospital Provincial. Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Llanos, Carolina. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Vergara Melian, Cristian Fabián. Hospital San Martin de Quillota; ChileFil: Vergara Melian, Cristian Fabián. Clinica Ciudad Del Mar; ChileFil: Erlij Opazo, Daniel. Universidad de Chile. Hospital Del Salvador. Departamento de Medicina Oriente; ChileFil: Goecke, Annelise. Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile. Departamento de Medicina. Servicio de Reumatología; ChileFil: Pastenes Montaño, Paula Andrea. Hospital Carlos Van Buren. Servicio de Medicina. Departamento de Reumatología; ChileFil: Tate, Patricio. Organización Médica de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Pirola, Juan Pablo. Sanatorio Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Stange Núñez, Lilith. Clínica Ciudad Del Mar. Centro de Artritis Reumatoide; ChileFil: Burgos, Paula I. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología; ChileFil: Mezzano Robinson, María Verónica. Hospital Del Salvador. Clínica Las Condes; ChileFil: Michalland H, Susana. Universidad de Chile. Hospital Del Salvador. Sección Reumatología; ChileFil: Silva Labra, Francisco. Hospital Padre Hurtado. Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana-Universidad Del Desarrollo; ChileFil: Labarca Solar, Cristián Humberto. Hospital Padre Hurtado. Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana-Universidad Del Desarrollo; ChileFil: Lencina, María Verónica. Hospital Señor Del Milagro; ArgentinaFil: Izquierdo Loaiza, Jorge Hernán. Clínica de Occidente S.A. Grupo de Reumatología; ColombiaFil: Del Castillo Gil, David Julián. Clínica de Occidente S.A. Grupo de Reumatología; ColombiaFil: Caeiro, Francisco. Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba. Servicio de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Paira, Sergio. Hospital José María Cullen. Sección de Reumatología; Argentin