Slow and fast micro-field components in warm and dense hydrogen plasmas

The aim of this work is the investigation of the statistical properties of local electric fields in an ion-electron two component plasmas for coupled conditions. The stochastic fields at a charged or at a neutral point in plasmas involve both slow and fast fluctuation characteristics. The statistical study of these local fields based on a direct time average is done for the first time. For warm and dense plasma conditions, typically $N_{e}\approx 10^{18}cm^{-3}$, $$, well controlled molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of neutral hydrogen, protons and electrons have been carried out. Relying on these \textit{ab initio} MD calculations this work focuses on an analysis of the concepts of statistically independent slow and fast local field components, based on the consideration of a time averaged electric field. Large differences are found between the results of these MD simulations and corresponding standard results based on static screened fields. The effects discussed are of importance for physical phenomena connected with stochastic electric field fluctuations, e.g., for spectral line broadening in dense plasmas.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

An all-endo Approach to Complete Ureteral Duplications Complicated by Ureterocele and/or Vesicoureteral Reflux: Feasibility, Limitations, and Results

Purpose. Totally endoscopic management (all-endo) of patients with a duplicated renal system (DS) associated with severe vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or obstructive ureterocele (UC) is an attractive alternative to traditional open procedures. The authors discuss feasibility and results of an all-endo approach on a consecutive series of patients. Methods. From 1999 to 2009, all patients with a complete DS associated with UC and/or VUR were proposed for primary all-endo approach. UC puncture was performed using a 3 Fr Bugbee electrode. Deflux (dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer) injection was administered for VUR. The need for secondary surgery was evaluated on followup. Results. Of the 62 patients recruited, 46 were treated using a primary all-endo approach and 16 patients received no treatment. Of the 46 treated patients with 56 affected renal units, 32 (97%) UCs collapsed following puncture and 29 (63%) VURs were resolved or downgraded. Secondary VUR occurred in 13 (39%) renal units. Secondary surgery was performed on 23 (41%) renal units. Conclusion. The all-endo approach for VUR in DS is an effective therapeutic option. UC collapse was achieved by puncture in most of the patients; secondary VUR was the main complication in a small group of extravesical UC

Molecular dynamics simulation for modeling plasma spectroscopy

The ion-electron coupling properties for a ion impurity in an electron gas and for a two component plasma are carried out on the basis of a regularized electron-ion potential removing the short-range Coulomb divergence. This work is largely motivated by the study of radiator dipole relaxation in plasmas which makes a real link between models and experiments. Current radiative property models for plasmas include single electron collisions neglecting charge-charge correlations within the classical quasi-particle approach commonly used in this field. The dipole relaxation simulation based on electron-ion molecular dynamics proposed here will provide means to benchmark and improve model developments. Benefiting from a detailed study of a single ion imbedded in an electron plasma, the challenging two-component ion-electron molecular dynamics simulations are proven accurate. They open new possibilities to obtain reference lineshape data.Comment: submitted for publication in the proceedings of the International Conference on Strongly Coupled Coulomb Systems, Journal of Physics

WORKING GROUP ON NEPHROPS SURVEYS (WGNEPS ; outputs from 2020)

The Working Group on Nephrops Surveys (WGNEPS) is the international coordination group for Nephrops underwater television and trawl surveys within ICES. This report summarizes the na-tional contributions on the results of the surveys conducted in 2020 together with time series covering all survey years, problems encountered, data quality checks and technological improve-ments as well as the planning for survey activities for 2021.ICE

The epidemiology of malignant mesothelioma in women: Gender differences and modalities of asbestos exposure

INTRODUCTION: The epidemiology of gender differences for mesothelioma incidence has been rarely discussed in national case lists. In Italy an epidemiological surveillance system (ReNaM) is working by the means of a national register. METHODS: Incident malignant mesothelioma (MM) cases in the period 1993 to 2012 were retrieved from ReNaM. Gender ratio by age class, period of diagnosis, diagnostic certainty, morphology and modalities of asbestos exposure has been analysed using exact tests for proportion. Economic activity sectors, jobs and territorial distribution of mesothelioma cases in women have been described and discussed. To perform international comparative analyses, the gender ratio of mesothelioma deaths was calculated by country from the WHO database and the correlation with the mortality rates estimated. RESULTS: In the period of study a case list of 21 463 MMs has been registered and the modalities of asbestos exposure have been investigated for 16 458 (76.7%) of them. The gender ratio (F/M) was 0.38 and 0.70 (0.14 and 0.30 for occupationally exposed subjects only) for pleural and peritoneal cases respectively. Occupational exposures for female MM cases occurred in the chemical and plastic industry, and mainly in the non-asbestos textile sector. Gender ratio proved to be inversely correlated with mortality rate among countries. CONCLUSIONS: The consistent proportion of mesothelioma cases in women in Italy is mainly due to the relevant role of non-occupational asbestos exposures and the historical presence of the female workforce in several industrial settings. Enhancing the awareness of mesothelioma aetiology in women could support the effectiveness of welfare system and prevention policies

Experiments on hot and dense laser-produced plasmas

Plasmas generated by irradiating targets with {approx}20 kJ of laser energy are routinely created in inertial confinement fusion research. X-ray spectroscopy provides one of the few methods for diagnosing the electron temperature and electron density. For example, electron densities approaching 10{sup 24} cm{sup -3} have been diagnosed by spectral linewidths. However, the accuracy of the spectroscopic diagnostics depends on the population kinetics, the radiative transfer, and the line shape calculations. Analysis for the complex line transitions has recently been improved and accelerated by the use of a database where detailed calculations can be accessed rapidly and interactively. Examples of data from Xe and Ar doped targets demonstrate the current analytic methods. First we will illustrate complications that arise from the presence of a multitude of underlying spectral lines. Then, we will consider the Ar He-like 1s{sup 2}({sup 1}S{sub 0}) - 1s3p({sup 1}P{sub 0}) transition where ion dynamic effects may affect the profile. Here, the plasma conditions are such that the static ion microfield approximation is no longer valid; therefore in addition to the width, the details of the line shape can be used to provide additional information. We will compare the data to simulations and discuss the possible pitfalls involved in demonstrating the effect of ion dynamics on lineshapes

Epidemiological patterns of asbestos exposure and spatial clusters of incident cases of malignant mesothelioma from the Italian national registry

Abstract BACKGROUND: Previous ecological spatial studies of malignant mesothelioma cases, mostly based on mortality data, lack reliable data on individual exposure to asbestos, thus failing to assess the contribution of different occupational and environmental sources in the determination of risk excess in specific areas. This study aims to identify territorial clusters of malignant mesothelioma through a Bayesian spatial analysis and to characterize them by the integrated use of asbestos exposure information retrieved from the Italian national mesothelioma registry (ReNaM). METHODS: In the period 1993 to 2008, 15,322 incident cases of all-site malignant mesothelioma were recorded and 11,852 occupational, residential and familial histories were obtained by individual interviews. Observed cases were assigned to the municipality of residence at the time of diagnosis and compared to those expected based on the age-specific rates of the respective geographical area. A spatial cluster analysis was performed for each area applying a Bayesian hierarchical model. Information about modalities and economic sectors of asbestos exposure was analyzed for each cluster. RESULTS: Thirty-two clusters of malignant mesothelioma were identified and characterized using the exposure data. Asbestos cement manufacturing industries and shipbuilding and repair facilities represented the main sources of asbestos exposure, but a major contribution to asbestos exposure was also provided by sectors with no direct use of asbestos, such as non-asbestos textile industries, metal engineering and construction. A high proportion of cases with environmental exposure was found in clusters where asbestos cement plants were located or a natural source of asbestos (or asbestos-like) fibers was identifiable. Differences in type and sources of exposure can also explain the varying percentage of cases occurring in women among clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates shared exposure patterns in territorial clusters of malignant mesothelioma due to single or multiple industrial sources, with major implications for public health policies, health surveillance, compensation procedures and site remediation programs