Fundamental and applied studies of helium ingrowth and aging in plutonium

This is the final report of a two-year, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The purpose of this project was to develop new capabilities to assess the nucleation and growth of helium-associated defects in aged plutonium metal. This effort involved both fundamental and applied models to assist in predicting the transport and kinetics of helium in the metal lattice as well as ab initio calculations of the disposition of gallium in the fcc plutonium lattice and its resulting effects on phase stability. Experimentally this project aimed to establish experimental capabilities crucial to the prediction of helium effects in metals, such as transmission electron microscopy, thermal helium effusion, and the development of a laser-driven mini-flyer for understanding the role of helium and associated defects on shock response of plutonium surrogates

On the inverse problem for Channell collisionless plasma equilibria

Vlasov–Maxwell equilibria are described by the self-consistent solutions of the time-independent Maxwell equations for the real-space dynamics of electromagnetic fields and the Vlasov equation for the phase-space dynamics of particle distribution functions (DFs) in a collisionless plasma. These two systems (macroscopic and microscopic) are coupled via the source terms in Maxwell’s equations, which are sums of velocity-space ‘moment’ integrals of the particle DF. This paper considers a particular subset of solutions of the broad plasma physics problem: ‘the inverse problem for collisionless equilibria’ (IPCE), viz. ‘given information regarding the macroscopic configuration of a collisionless plasma equilibrium, what self-consistent equilibrium DFs exist?’ We introduce the constants of motion approach to IPCE using the assumptions of a ‘modified Maxwellian’ DF, and a strictly neutral and spatially one-dimensional plasma, and this is consistent with ‘Channell’s method’ (Channell, 1976, Exact Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria with sheared magnetic fields. Phys. Fluids, 19, 1541–1545). In such circumstances, IPCE formally reduces to the inversion of Weierstrass transformations (Bilodeau, 1962, The Weierstrass transform and Hermite polynomials. Duke Math. J., 29, 293–308). These are the same transformations that feature in the initial value problem for the heat/diffusion equation. We discuss the various mathematical conditions that a candidate solution of IPCE must satisfy. One method that can be used to invert the Weierstrass transform is expansions in Hermite polynomials. Building on the results of Allanson et al. (2016, From one-dimensional fields to Vlasov equilibria: Theory and application of Hermite polynomials. Journal of Plasma Physics, 82, 905820306, http://doi:10.1017/S0022377816000519), we establish under what circumstances a solution obtained by these means converges and allows velocity moments of all orders. Ever since the seminal work by Bernstein et al. (1957, Exact nonlinear plasma oscillations. Phys. Rev., 108, 546–550) on ‘stationary’ electrostatic plasma waves, the necessary quality of non-negativity has been noted as a feature that any candidate solution of IPCE will not a priori satisfy. We discuss this problem in the context of Channell equilibria, for magnetized plasmas

Expression of ECM proteins fibulin-1 and -2 in acute and chronic liver disease and in cultured rat liver cells

Fibulin-2 has previously been considered as a marker to distinguish rat liver myofibroblasts from hepatic stellate cells. The function of other fibulins in acute or chronic liver damage has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the expression of fibulin-1 and -2 in models of rat liver injury and in human liver cirrhosis. Their cellular sources have also been investigated. In normal rat liver, fibulin-1 and -2 were both mainly present in the portal field. Fibulin-1-coding transcripts were detected in total RNA of normal rat liver, whereas fibulin-2 mRNA was only detected by sensitive, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In acute liver injury, the expression of fibulin-1 was significantly increased (17.23-fold after 48 h), whereas that of fibulin-2 was not modified. The expression of both fibulin-1 and -2 was increased in experimental rat liver cirrhosis (19.16- and 26.47-fold, respectively). At the cellular level, fibulin-1 was detectable in hepatocytes, “activated” hepatic stellate cells, and liver myofibroblasts (2.71-, 122.65-, and 469.48-fold over the expression in normal rat liver), whereas fibulin-2 was restricted to liver myofibroblasts and was regulated by transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) in 2-day-old hepatocyte cultures and in liver myofibroblasts. Thus, fibulin-1 and -2 respond differentially to single and repeated damaging noxae, and their expression is differently present in liver cells. Expression of the fibulin-2 gene is regulated by TGF-β1 in liver myofibroblasts

Extracellular vesicles and their nucleic acids for biomarker discovery

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogenous population of vesicles originate from cells. EVs are found in different biofluids and carry different macromolecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, providing a snap shot of the parental cells at the time of release. EVs have the ability to transfer molecular cargoes to other cells and can initiate different physiological and pathological processes. Mounting lines of evidence demonstrated that EVs' cargo and machinery is affected in disease states, positioning EVs as potential sources for the discovery of novel biomarkers. In this review, we demonstrate a conceptual overview of the EV field with particular focus on their nucleic acid cargoes. Current knowledge of EV subtypes, nucleic acid cargo and pathophysiological roles are outlined, with emphasis placed on advantages against competing analytes. We review the utility of EVs and their nucleic acid cargoes as biomarkers and critically assess the newly available advances in the field of EV biomarkers and high throughput technologies. Challenges to achieving the diagnostic potential of EVs, including sample handling, EV isolation, methodological considerations, and bioassay reproducibility are discussed. Future implementation of ‘omics-based technologies and integration of systems biology approaches for the development of EV-based biomarkers and personalized medicine are also considered

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018):a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (“MISEV”) guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these “MISEV2014” guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points

Towards a new image processing system at Wendelstein 7-X: From spatial calibration to characterization of thermal events

Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) is the most advanced fusion experiment in the stellarator line and is aimed at proving that the stellarator concept is suitable for a fusion reactor. One of the most important issues for fusion reactors is the monitoring of plasma facing components when exposed to very high heat loads, through the use of visible and infrared (IR) cameras. In this paper, a new image processing system for the analysis of the strike lines on the inboard limiters from the first W7-X experimental campaign is presented. This system builds a model of the IR cameras through the use of spatial calibration techniques, helping to characterize the strike lines by using the information given by real spatial coordinates of each pixel. The characterization of the strike lines is made in terms of position, size, and shape, after projecting the camera image in a 2D grid which tries to preserve the curvilinear surface distances between points. The description of the strike-line shape is made by means of the Fourier Descriptors

Forward modeling of collective Thomson scattering for Wendelstein 7-X plasmas: Electrostatic approximation

In this paper, we present a method for numerical computation of collective Thomson scattering (CTS). We developed a forward model, eCTS, in the electrostatic approximation and benchmarked it against a full electromagnetic model. Differences between the electrostatic and the electromagnetic models are discussed. The sensitivity of the results to the ion temperature and the plasma composition is demonstrated. We integrated the model into the Bayesian data analysis framework Minerva and used it for the analysis of noisy synthetic data sets produced by a full electromagnetic model. It is shown that eCTS can be used for the inference of the bulk ion temperature. The model has been used to infer the bulk ion temperature from the first CTS measurements on Wendelstein 7-X