Influence of correlated collisions on Stark-broadened lines in plasmas

International audienceAn investigation of spectral line broadening in plasmas is carried out within a kinetic-theory approach, based on the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon (BBGKY) hierarchy. The model employs a resummation procedure to account for correlated emitter-perturber collisions. Applications to hydrogen lines indicate that such collisions strongly affect the width and the shape in the core region. This argument is supported by comparisons to numerical simulations. It is also shown that the usual collision operator models, based on a binary description of emitter-perturber collisions, can be extremely inaccurate. The present model, in a better agreement with numerical simulations, is suggested as an extension suitable for the design of fast and accurate numerical routines for plasma diagnostics

Divergence of the Stark collision operator at large impact parameters in plasma spectroscopy models

International audienceThe divergence that occurs at large impact parameters in Stark collision operators is examined for low-density hydrogen plasmas. In a previous work [Rosato, Capes, and Stamm, Phys. Rev. E \textbf{86}, 046407 (2012)], we showed that the correlations between a radiating atom and the charged particles surrounding it affect the mean evolution of the atom, resulting in a mitigation of the Stark broadening near the line center. In this work, we examine the physical mechanism underlying this mitigation with an approach inspired from the standard semi-classical impact model. Our approach accounts for the atom-perturber correlations in a simple fashion, through a cut-off at large impact parameters, and embraces the impact model in the weakly coupled plasma limit. Comparisons with numerical simulations are performed and indicate a good agreement

Ideal Coulomb plasma approximation in line shape models: problematic issues

International audienceIn weakly coupled plasmas, it is common to describe the microfield using a Debye model. We examine here an “artificial” ideal one-component plasma with an infinite Debye length, which has been used for the test of line shape codes. We show that the infinite Debye length assumption can lead to a misinterpretation of numerical simulations results, in particular regarding the convergence of calculations. Our discussion is done within an analytical collision operator model developed for hydrogen line shapes in near-impact regimes. When properly employed, this model can serve as a reference for testing the convergence of simulations

Experimental study of the recombination of a drifting low temperature plasma in the divertor simulator Mistral-B

In a new divertor simulator, an ultra-cold (Te<1 eV) high density recombining magnetized laboratory plasma is studied using probes, spectroscopic measurements, and ultra-fast imaging of spontaneous emission. The Mistral-B device consists in a linear high density magnetized plasma column. The ionizing electrons originate from a large cathode array located in the fringing field of the solenoid. The ionizing electrons are focused in a 3 cm diameter hole at the entrance of the solenoid. The typical plasma density on the axis is close to 2.10^18 m-3. The collector is segmented into two plates and a transverse electric field is applied through a potential difference between the plates. The Lorentz force induces the ejection of a very-low temperature plasma jet in the limiter shadow. The characteristic convection time and decay lengths have been obtained with an ultra-fast camera. The study of the atomic physics of the recombining plasma allows to understand the measured decay time and to explain the emission spectra.Comment: 12th International Congress on Plasma Physics, 25-29 October 2004, Nice (France

Phosphat-Mobilisierung durch Haupt- und Zwischenfrüchte nach Düngung von weicherdigem Rohphosphat im ökologischen Landbau

Obwohl die agronomische Wirksamkeit von weicherdigem Rohphosphat gering ist, wird weicherdiges Rohphosphat im organischen Landbau gedüngt. Das Ziel des Projektes war es in Feld- und Gefäßversuchen in einer Fruchtfolge 2002/2003 und 2003/2004 zu prüfen, ob weicherdiges Rohphosphat von phosphataneignungseffizienten Pflanzen (Weißlupine und Ackerbohne) für phosphataneignungsineffiziente Pflanzen (Spinat und Mais) mobilisiert wird. Es zeigte sich, dass die P-Aufnahme von Spinat in einer Fruchtfolge mit Weißlupine und Ackerbohne höher war als in einer Fruchtfolge mit Sommerweizen. In Gefäßversuchen führte die Applikation von neuem Thomasphosphat (CaHPO4) zu einer höher Phosphataufnahme der Pflanzen als Rohphosphat

Accuracy of impact broadening models in low-density magnetized hydrogen plasmas

International audienceThe impact approximation used in the modelling of Stark profiles is examined when a magnetic field is present. Motivated by tokamak plasma spectroscopy, we calculate line shapes and $S$-matrix elements for the first Lyman lines of hydrogen with two models proposed for retaining simultaneously Stark and Zeeman effects in the impact limit. An evaluation of the accuracy of the two approaches is made with the help of a numerical simulation

Rohphosphatmobilisierung von Sommerweizen, Weißlupine und Ackerbohne in einer Fruchtfolge

In organic farming rock phosphate is used as a mineral P fertilizer, although the agronomic efficiency is limted. The objective of this study was to investigate in field and pot experiments the mobilization of rock phosphate by P-efficient plants (white lupin and faba bean) and the P availability for P-inefficient plants (spinach and maize) during a crop rotation in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. The P uptake of spinach was higher in a crop rotation with white lupin and faba bean than in a crop rotation with summer wheat. In pot experiments the application of new basic slag phosphate (CaHPO4) resulted to a higher P uptake of the plants than rock phosphate

The FKBP5 polymorphism rs1360780 influences the effect of an algorithm-based antidepressant treatment and is associated with remission in patients with major depression

Objective: The FKBP5-gene influences the HPA-system by modulating the sensitivity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The polymorphism rs1360780 has been associated with response in studies with heterogeneous antidepressant treatment. In contrast, several antidepressant studies with standardized antidepressant treatment could not detect this effect. We therefore compared patients with standardized vs naturalistic antidepressant treatment to (a) investigate a possible interaction between FKBP5-genotype and treatment mode and (b) replicate the effect of the FKBP5-genotype on antidepressant treatment outcome. Methods: A total of 298 major depressive disorder (MDD) inpatients from the multicentred German project and the Zurich Algorithm Project were genotyped for their FKBP5 status. Patients were treated as usual (n=127) or according to a standardized algorithm (n=171). Main outcome criteria was remission (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-21<10). Results: We detected an interaction of treatment as usual (TAU) treatment and C-allele with the worst outcome for patients combining those two factors (HR=0.46;p=0.000). Even though C-allele patients did better when treated in the structured, stepwise treatment algorithm (SSTR) group, we still could confirm the influence of the FKBP5-genotype in the whole sample (HR=0.52;p=0.01). Conclusions: This is the first study to show an interaction between a genetic polymorphism and treatment mode. Patients with the C-allele of the rs1360780 polymorphism seem to benefit from a standardized antidepressant treatment

Treatment response of lithium augmentation in geriatric compared to non-geriatric patients with treatment-resistant depression

BACKGROUND Lithium augmentation (LA) of antidepressants is an effective strategy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Nevertheless, it is rarely used in geriatric patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate treatment response of LA in geriatric compared to non-geriatric patients. METHOD In a prospective multicenter cohort study, severity of depression was measured weekly in 167 patients with unipolar depression (nage≥65years = 22; nage<65years = 145) at baseline and over at least four weeks of LA. RESULTS Geriatric patients showed a significantly better response to LA compared to non-geriatric patients (Hazard Ratio = 1.91; p = 0.04). LIMITATIONS An important limitation of our study is the lack of a control group of LA and the missing evaluation of side effects in both groups. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study investigating the efficacy of LA for TRD in geriatric compared to non-geriatric patients. Our data suggest that LA is an effective treatment option in geriatric patients that clinicians might consider more frequently and earlier on in the course of treatment

Multimodal control of neck muscles for vestibular mediated head oscillation damping during walking: a pilot study

Abstract Purpose It is still in question whether head oscillation damping during walking forms a part of the vestibular function. The anatomical pathway from the vestibular system to the neck muscles via the medial vestibulospinal tract (MVST) is well known but there is a lack of knowledge of the exact influence and modulation of each other in daily life activities. Methods (I) We fixed a head–neck unit of a human cadaver specimen in a steal frame to determine the required pitch-torque for a horizontal head position. The mean value of the acquired pitch-torque was 0.54 Nm. (II) On a motorized treadmill we acquired kinematic data of the head, the sternum and both feet by wireless 3D IMUs for seven asymptomatic volunteers. Subsequently three randomized task conditions were performed. Condition 1 was walking without any irritation. Condition 2 imitated a sacculus irritation using a standardized cVEMP signal. The third condition used an electric neck muscle-irritation (TENS). The data were analyzed by the simulation environment software OpenSim 4.0. Results 8 neck muscle pairs were identified. By performing three different conditions we observed some highly significant deviations of the neck muscle peak torques. Analysing Euler angles, we found during walking a LARP and RALP head pendulum, which also was strongly perturbated. Conclusion Particularly the pitch-down head oscillation damping is the most challenging one for neck muscles, especially under biomechanical concerns. Mainly via MVST motor activity of neck muscles  might be modulated by vestibular motor signals. Two simultaneous proprioceptor effects might optimize head oscillation damping. One might be a proprioceptive feedback loop to the vestibular nucleus. Another might trigger the cervicocollic reflex (CCR)