Nonlinear dynamics of beta induced Alfv\'en eigenmode driven by energetic particles

Nonlinear saturation of beta induced Alfv\'en eigenmode, driven by slowing down energetic particles via transit resonance, is investigated by the nonlinear hybrid magnetohyrodynamic gyro-kinetic code (XHMGC). Saturation is characterized by frequency chirping and symmetry breaking between co- and counter-passing particles, which can be understood as the the evidence of resonance-detuning. The scaling of the saturation amplitude with the growth rate is also demonstrated to be consistent with radial resonance detuning due to the radial non-uniformity and mode structure

Stage 1-biomarkers of kidney injury in dogs undergoing constant rate infusion of hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4

In veterinary medicine, investigations relating the effects of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) on renal function report contrasting results. This study aimed to assess the changes in the selected biomarkers of kidney injury in dogs after the administration of HES 130/0.4 as a constant rate infusion (CRI) for 24 h. Ten adult client-owned dogs with hypoalbuminemia (albumin < 2 g/dL) and ongoing fluid losses were included. Enrolled dogs received intravenous fluid therapy with crystalloids and a CRI of HES 130/0.4 at a dose of 2 mL/kg/h for 24 h. Serum creatinine (sCr), fractional excretion (FE) of electrolytes, urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPC), urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UAC), SDS-page, and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) were measured at the baseline before HES infusion, and after 24 h (T24) and 48 h (T48) from the baseline. No statistically significant difference was found between the baseline value vs. T24 and the baseline vs. T48 for sCr, UAC, UPC, FE of sodium, chloride and calcium, and uNGAL. A significant increase in FEK (p = 0.04) was noticed between the baseline and T48. In this study sample of hypoalbuminemic dogs, HES 130/0.4 at the dose and rate of infusion applied did not cause any significant changes in the investigated biomarkers of kidney injury

The Insulation of HVDC Extruded Cable System Joints. Part 1: Review of Materials, Design and Testing Procedures

This position paper by the DEIS HVDC Cable Systems Technical Committee provides a review of existing diagnostic electrical and dielectric techniques for testing the insulation of polymeric extruded HVDC cable joints in the present Part 1. Here, the state of the art on the insulation of HVDC extruded cable system joints is covered with reference to types, design and testing techniques. This helps to identify routine tests as the first target for the onset of new testing procedures, AC-PD measurements as the readily-available measurement from manufacturers' practices for quality control of the insulation of accessories during routine tests and VHF/UHF wireless sensors as the best tool for performing such measurements on joints in the noisy factory environment. Thereby, a novel protocol for the measurement of partial discharges using AC voltages and VHF/UHF sensors, for quality control during routine tests on such joints, is derived in the next Part 2. This protocol is the main novelty of this investigation

The Insulation of HVDC Extruded Cable System Joints. Part 2: Proposal of a New AC Voltage PD Measurement Protocol for Quality Control during Routine Tests

The review of materials, design and testing of joints for HVDC extruded cable systems provided in previous Part 1 paved the way to this Part 2 position paper by the DEIS HVDC Cable Systems Technical Committee, whose aim is to remedy the scarcity of existing standardized tests on joints. After a sound analysis, here routine tests are identified as the first practical target for the onset of new testing procedures, AC-PD measurements as the readily-available measurement from manufacturers’ experience for quality control of joints during routine tests and VHF/UHF wireless sensors as the best tool for such measurements in the noisy environment of factories. Thereby, a novel protocol for PD measurement using AC voltages and VHF/UHF electromagnetic sensors, for quality control during routine tests on HVDC extruded joints, is proposed

Insight into ultrasound-mediated reactive oxygen species generation by various metal-porphyrin complexes

Ultrasound is used to trigger the cytotoxicity of chemical compounds, known as sonosensitisers, in an approach called sonodynamic therapy (SDT), which is under investigation herein. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed as the main biological occurrence that leads to the cytotoxic effects, which are achieved via the synergistic action of two components: the energy-absorbing sonosensitiser and ultrasound (US), which are both harmless per se. Despite some promising results, a lack of investigation into the mechanisms behind US sonosensitiser-mediated ROS generation has prevented SDT from reaching its full potential. The aim of this work is to investigate the US-responsiveness of a variety of metal-porphyrin complexes, free-base porphyrin and Fe(III), Zn(II) and Pd(II) porphyrin, by analyzing their ROS generation under US exposure and related bio-effects. All experiments were also carried out under light exposure and the results were used as references. Our results show that porphyrin ultrasound-responsiveness depends on the metal ion present, with Zn(II) and Pd(II) porphyrin being the most efficient in generating singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals. ROS production efficiency is lower after ultrasound exposure than after light exposure, because of the various physico-chemical mechanisms involved in sensitiser activation. US and porphyrin-mediated ROS generation is oxygen-dependent and the activation of porphyrin by US appears to be more compatible with sonoluminescence-based photo-activation rather than a radical path process that occurs via the homolytic bond rupture of water. Notably, the cytotoxicity results reported herein, which are mirrored by ex-cellulo data, confirm that the type of ROS generation achieved by the US activation of intracellular porphyrins is pivotal to the effectiveness of cancer cell killing

Emulsion sheet doublets as interface trackers for the OPERA experiment

New methods for efficient and unambiguous interconnection between electronic counters and target units based on nuclear photographic emulsion films have been developed. The application to the OPERA experiment, that aims at detecting oscillations between mu neutrino and tau neutrino in the CNGS neutrino beam, is reported in this paper. In order to reduce background due to latent tracks collected before installation in the detector, on-site large-scale treatments of the emulsions ("refreshing") have been applied. Changeable Sheet (CSd) packages, each made of a doublet of emulsion films, have been designed, assembled and coupled to the OPERA target units ("ECC bricks"). A device has been built to print X-ray spots for accurate interconnection both within the CSd and between the CSd and the related ECC brick. Sample emulsion films have been extensively scanned with state-of-the-art automated optical microscopes. Efficient track-matching and powerful background rejection have been achieved in tests with electronically tagged penetrating muons. Further improvement of in-doublet film alignment was obtained by matching the pattern of low-energy electron tracks. The commissioning of the overall OPERA alignment procedure is in progress.Comment: 19 pages, 19 figure

The detection of neutrino interactions in the emulsion/lead target of the OPERA experiment

The OPERA neutrino detector in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS) was designed to perform the first detection of neutrino oscillations in appearance mode through the study of $\nu_\mu\to\nu_\tau$ oscillations. The apparatus consists of an emulsion/lead target complemented by electronic detectors and it is placed in the high energy long-baseline CERN to LNGS beam (CNGS) 730 km away from the neutrino source. Runs with CNGS neutrinos were successfully carried out in 2007 and 2008 with the detector fully operational with its related facilities for the emulsion handling and analysis. After a brief description of the beam and of the experimental setup we report on the collection, reconstruction and analysis procedures of first samples of neutrino interaction events

First events from the CNGS neutrino beam detected in the OPERA experiment

The OPERA neutrino detector at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS) was designed to perform the first detection of neutrino oscillations in appearance mode, through the study of nu_mu to nu_tau oscillations. The apparatus consists of a lead/emulsion-film target complemented by electronic detectors. It is placed in the high-energy, long-baseline CERN to LNGS beam (CNGS) 730 km away from the neutrino source. In August 2006 a first run with CNGS neutrinos was successfully conducted. A first sample of neutrino events was collected, statistically consistent with the integrated beam intensity. After a brief description of the beam and of the various sub-detectors, we report on the achievement of this milestone, presenting the first data and some analysis results.Comment: Submitted to the New Journal of Physic

Feasibility of Space Charge Measurements on HVDC Cable Joints

This review article aims at illustrating the starting of the activities carried out by the Study Group from the viewpoint of the assessment of the state of the art in the measurement of SC in HVDC extruded cable system joints

European Red List of Trees

The European Red List is a review of the status of European species according to IUCN regional Red Listing guidelines. It identifies those species that are threatened with extinction at the regional level – in order that appropriate conservation action can be taken to improve their status. This publication summarises results for all Europe’s native species of tree (454 species), of which 265 species (over 58%) are endemic to continental Europe, with 56% (252 species) endemic to the 28 EU Member States. Of these, 168 (42%) of the species are threatened with extinction at the European level, however, for 57 species (nearly 13%) there was insufficient information to assign a conservation status, and are therefore classified as Data Deficient, and in need of further research. The main threat to tree species in Europe has been identified as invasive or problematic species, impacting 38% of tree species, followed by deforestation and wood harvesting, and urban development (both affecting 20% of tree species). For threatened species, livestock farming, land abandonment, changes in forest and woodland management, and other ecosystem modifications such as fire are the major threats, impacting the survival of trees.Peer reviewe