Early evolution of electron cyclotron driven current during suppression of tearing modes in a circular tokamak

When electron cyclotron (EC) driven current is first applied to the inside of a magnetic island, the current spreads throughout the island and after a short period achieves a steady level. Using a two equation fluid model for the EC current that allows us to examine this early evolution in detail, we analyze high-resolution simulations of a 2/1 classical tearing mode in a low-beta large aspect-ratio circular tokamak. These simulations use a nonlinear 3D reduced-MHD fluid model and the JOREK code. During the initial period where the EC driven current grows and spreads throughout the magnetic island, it is not a function of the magnetic flux. However, once it has reached a steady-state, it should be a flux function. We demonstrate numerically that if sufficiently resolved toroidally, the steady-state EC driven current becomes approximately a flux function. We discuss the physics of this early period of EC evolution and its impact on the size of the magnetic island.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

On the Mechanics Underlying the Reservoir-Excess Separation in Systemic Arteries and their Implications for Pulse Wave Analysis

Several works have separated the pressure waveform p in systemic arteries into reservoir pr and excess pexc components, p = pr + pexc, to improve pulse wave analysis, using windkessel models to calculate the reservoir pressure. However, the mechanics underlying this separation and the physical meaning of pr and pexc have not yet been established. They are studied here using the time-domain, inviscid and linear one-dimensional (1-D) equations of blood flow in elastic vessels. Solution of these equations in a distributed model of the 55 larger human arteries shows that pr calculated using a two-element windkessel model is space-independent and well approximated by the compliance-weighted space-average pressure of the arterial network. When arterial junctions are well-matched for the propagation of forward-travelling waves, pr calculated using a three-element windkessel model is space-dependent in systole and early diastole and is made of all the reflected waves originated at the terminal (peripheral) reflection sites, whereas pexc is the sum of the rest of the waves, which are obtained by propagating the left ventricular flow ejection without any peripheral reflection. In addition, new definitions of the reservoir and excess pressures from simultaneous pressure and flow measurements at an arbitrary location are proposed here. They provide valuable information for pulse wave analysis and overcome the limitations of the current two- and three-element windkessel models to calculate pr

Multi-machine benchmark of the self-consistent 1D scrape-off layer model DIV1D from stagnation point to target with SOLPS-ITER

This paper extends a 1D dynamic physics-based model of the scrape-off layer (SOL) plasma, DIV1D, to include the core SOL and possibly a second target. The extended model is benchmarked on 1D mapped SOLPS-ITER simulations to find input settings for DIV1D that allow it to describe SOL plasmas from upstream to target—calibrating it on a scenario and device basis. The benchmark shows a quantitative match between DIV1D and 1D mapped SOLPS-ITER profiles for the heat flux, electron temperature, and electron density within roughly 50% on: (1) the Tokamak Configuration Variable (TCV) for a gas puff scan; (2) a single SOLPS-ITER simulation of the Upgraded Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak; and (3) the Upgraded Axially Symmetric Divertor EXperiment in Garching Tokamak (AUG) for a simultaneous scan in heating power and gas puff. Once calibrated, DIV1D self-consistently describes dependencies of the SOL solution on core fluxes and external neutral gas densities for a density scan on TCV whereas a varying SOL width is used in DIV1D for AUG to match a simultaneous change in power and density. The ability to calibrate DIV1D on a scenario and device basis is enabled by accounting for cross field transport with an effective flux expansion factor and by allowing neutrals to be exchanged between SOL and adjacent domains.</p

Modeling the Instantaneous Pressure–Volume Relation of the Left Ventricle: A Comparison of Six Models

Simulations are useful to study the heart’s ability to generate flow and the interaction between contractility and loading conditions. The left ventricular pressure–volume (PV) relation has been shown to be nonlinear, but it is unknown whether a linear model is accurate enough for simulations. Six models were fitted to the PV-data measured in five sheep and the estimated parameters were used to simulate PV-loops. Simulated and measured PV-loops were compared with the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and the Hamming distance, a measure for geometric shape similarity. The compared models were: a time-varying elastance model with fixed volume intercept (LinFix); a time-varying elastance model with varying volume intercept (LinFree); a Langewouter’s pressure-dependent elasticity model (Langew); a sigmoidal model (Sigm); a time-varying elastance model with a systolic flow-dependent resistance (Shroff) and a model with a linear systolic and an exponential diastolic relation (Burkh). Overall, the best model is LinFree (lowest AIC), closely followed by Langew. The remaining models rank: Sigm, Shroff, LinFix and Burkh. If only the shape of the PV-loops is important, all models perform nearly identically (Hamming distance between 20 and 23%). For realistic simulation of the instantaneous PV-relation a linear model suffices

Analysis of the Emails From the Dutch Web-Based Intervention “Alcohol de Baas”:Assessment of Early Indications of Drop-Out in an Online Alcohol Abuse Intervention

Nowadays, traditional forms of psychotherapy are increasingly complemented by online interactions between client and counselor. In (some) web-based psychotherapeutic interventions, meetings are exclusively online through asynchronous messages. As the active ingredients of therapy are included in the exchange of several emails, this verbal exchange contains a wealth of information about the psychotherapeutic change process. Unfortunately, drop-out-related issues are exacerbated online. We employed several machine learning models to find (early) signs of drop-out in the email data from the “Alcohol de Baas” intervention by Tactus. Our analyses indicate that the email texts contain information about drop-out, but as drop-out is a multidimensional construct, it remains a complex task to accurately predict who will drop out. Nevertheless, by taking this approach, we present insight into the possibilities of working with email data and present some preliminary findings (which stress the importance of a good working alliance between client and counselor, distinguish between formal and informal language, and highlight the importance of Tactus' internet forum)

Bacterieziekten in de bloemisterij

In de bloemisterij kunnen een flink aantal bacterieziekten voorkomen, veroorzaakt door verschillende bacteriën. Ziekteverwekkende bacteriën kunnen een grote variatie aan symptomen laten zien, waaronder natrot, kankers, bladvlekken en dwerggroei. Uit bronnenonderzoek blijkt dat in de kasteelt van paprika bacteriën (Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum) in al het water op de kwekerij aanwezig kunnen zijn en ook goed kunnen overleven in grond en op oppervlakten. Daarnaast is deze bacterie aangetoond op fruitvliegjes in het gewas. In de buitenteelt van Prunus zijn ziekteverwekkende bacteriën (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni en Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum) aangetoond op onkruidspuitkappen, laarzen, snoeischaren, het doek van het containerveld en buiten- én binnenzijde van beregeningsystemen. Ook op vliegen op vangplaten tussen besmette Prunusplanten zijn deze bacteriën gevonden. Visuele diagnostiek van bacterieziekten is erg lastig. De symptomen lijken erg op elkaar en kunnen snel worden verward met bladvlekkenziekten veroorzaakt door schimmels. In de meeste gevallen wordt de bacterie uit het aangetaste weefsel geïsoleerd. Voor het op naam brengen wordt altijd een serologische (ELISA) of PCR (DNA-)techniek gebruikt. Het is daarvoor echter wel noodzakelijk dat men beschikt over een positieve controle van de op naam te brengen soort. Als men niet weet om welke soort het zou kunnen gaan wordt DNA-sequencing toegepast, om de bacterie op naam te brengen. Bovengenoemde technieken worden zowel bij Naktuinbouw als bij Wageningen UR toegepast. In Sedum is onderzocht of latente besmettingen met Erwinia betrouwbaar zijn aan te tonen. Hiervoor is, onder andere, gebruikt gemaakt van een door PRI ontwikkelde methode waarmee het plantmateriaal onder vacuüm wordt gebracht. Erwinia’s vermeerderen wel goed uit bij een lage zuurstofconcentratie terwijl veel andere bacteriën dan afsterven. Uit dit onderzoek blijkt dat er bij de vacuümmethode niet meer infecties aangetoond worden dan bij (‘klassieke’) verrijking van plantenextracten in een groeimedium. Bij Sedum en Phlox is het effect van een warmwaterbehandeling om plantmateriaal vrij te maken van bacteriebesmetting onderzocht. Het onderzoek is uitgevoerd met stekken van Sedum, waarvan onbekend was of de stekken besmet waren met Dickeya dianthicola en/of Pectobacterium spp. En planten van Phlox, die besmet waren met woekerziek. Na twee dagen voorwarmte zijn twee warmwaterbehandelingen uitgevoerd (30 minuten bij 47°C en 15 min. Bij 50°C. De sedumplanten in de proef waren niet of nauwelijks besmet met Dickeya dianthicola en Pectobacterium spp. waardoor er geen conclusies getrokken kunnen worden over de effectiviteit van de geteste warmwaterbehandelingen. De warmwaterbehandelingen veroorzaakten aan het begin van de groei lichte schade (bladschade, groeivertraging). Al snel waren deze effecten in het gewas niet meer zichtbaar. Bij Phlox bleken beide warmwaterbehandelingen niet effectief tegen woekerziek en gaven veel schade (uitval en afname aantal stelen per plant). Er zijn verschillende stoffen bekend die het afweermechanisme van de plant stimuleren waardoor de plant weerbaarder wordt tegen ziekten en plagen (elicitors). Elicitors zijn met name voor beheersing van bacterieziekten interessant, omdat antibiotica (bacteriedodende middelen) geen toelating kennen voor gewassen. Deze geïnduceerde weerstand is niet specifiek en kan een effect hebben op zowel schimmels, bacteriën en virussen. Elicitors hebben geen direct effect op de bacterie, waardoor geen resistentie kan ontstaan. Het tijdstip van toediening is echter vaak kritischer dan bij toepassing van gangbare (chemische) gewasbeschermingsmiddelen, en bescherming wordt vaak pas enige tijd na toediening verkregen. Voor de beheersing van bacterieziekten op de bedrijven is een lijst met hygiënemaatregelen opgesteld. Deze maatregelen zijn ook kort samengevat in 10 geboden

Creative reminiscence as an early intervention for depression: results of a pilot project.

Reminiscence may help in resolving conflicts from the past and making up the balance of one’s life. Life-review may be further enhanced by the creative expression of memories in stories, poems or drawings. In this way people are encouraged to create and discover metaphors, images and stories that symbolically represent the subjective and inner meaning of their lives. In this article, a new intervention, which combines reminiscence and creative expression aimed at early treatment of depression, is described. A pilot project showed that the intervention Searching for the meaning in life may generate small-sized effects in reducing depression. Additionally, it appears to generate effects of medium size in enhancing mastery. Several possible ways to improve the effectiveness of the intervention are described