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The SOLPS‐ITER3.0.8 code with new Grad‐Zhdanov module was applied for predictive modeling of tritium plasma and deuterium‐tritium mixture in tokamak JET. The moderate power scenario of shot JPN #85278 modeled earlier for deuterium plasma was taken as a starting point. Effect of puffing increase, which was applied in experiment, on divertor conditions and inter‐ELM tungsten sputtering for both working gases and on isotope separation in their mixture is analyzed. Both for attached and for semi‐detached outer targets, the tritium plasma shows moderate increase in SOL width compared to deuterium one. The tungsten sputtering at the outer target in the inter‐ELM period for tritium is an order of magnitude bigger than that for deuterium. The D–T separation in the D–T mixture is moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ITER Pre‐Fusion Power Operation 1 (PFPO‐1) phase low‐power plasmas are simulated with the SOLEDGE3X‐EIRENE code, a multi‐fluid edge plasma solver that can describe plasma conditions up to the machine's first wall, including a kinetic description of neutrals. Here, SOLEDGE3X is used in 2D mean‐field mode. A throughput scan is performed, reproducing a similar scan from the ITER SOLPS simulations database. The physics assumptions for these simulations are presented, in particular the plasma–neutral interaction model where molecule charge‐exchange and ion‐molecule elastic collisions have newly been added. Challenges encountered in such up‐to‐the‐wall simulations are discussed, along with remaining open questions. Results are presented with two foci: on targets, and on the rest of the first wall. On targets, conditions transition from attached to partially detached as expected, and toroidally symmetric heat fluxes (i.e. without 3D effects) remain below 5 MW/m2, within the divertor design limits. An increase in the parallel heat flux decay length λq with throughput is also observed. On the rest of the first wall, increasing puff rate does not only spread power deposited on the target but also increases heat load on the first wall. These fluxes remain however small (<100 kW/m2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ERO2.0 is a recently developed Monte‐Carlo code for modelling global erosion and redeposition in fusion devices. We report here on the code's application to ITER for studying the erosion of the beryllium (Be) first wall armour under burning plasma steady state diverted conditions. An important goal of the study is to provide synthetic signals for the design of two key diagnostics: the main chamber visible spectroscopy and the laser in‐vessel viewing systems. The simulations are performed using toroidally symmetric plasma backgrounds obtained by combining SOLPS simulations extended to the wall using the OSM‐EIRENE‐DIVIMP edge code package. These are then further combined with a shadowing model using magnetic field line tracing to provide a three‐dimensional correction for the flux patterns. The resulting plasma wetted area, which amounts to ∼10% of the total first wall area, is in excellent agreement with shadowing calculations obtained with the SMITER field line tracing code. The simulations reveal that the main Be erosion zones are located in regions intersected by the secondary separatrix, in particular the upper Be panels, which are close to the secondary X‐point. For the particular high‐density Q = 10 background plasma case studied here, ∼80% of the eroded Be is found to re‐deposit on main chamber surfaces. The rest migrates in almost equal parts to the inner and outer divertor and is deposited close to the strike lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valproate, an anticonvulsant drug used to treat bipolar disorder, was studied for its ability to promote neurogenesis from embryonic rat cortical or striatal primordial stem cells. Six days of valproate exposure increased by up to fivefold the number and percentage of tubulinβ III-immunopositive neurons, increased neurite outgrowth, and decreased by fivefold the number of astrocytes without changing the number of cells. Valproate also promoted neuronal differentiation in human fetal forebrain stem cell cultures. The neurogenic effects of valproate on rat stem cells exceeded those obtained with the neurotrophins brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) or NT-3, and slightly exceeded the effects obtained with another mood stabilizer, lithium. No effect was observed with carbamazepine. Most of the newly formed neurons were GABAergic, as shown by 10-fold increases in neurons that immunostained for GABA and the GABA-synthesizing enzyme GAD65/67. Double immunostaining for bromodeoxyuridine and tubulinβ III showed that valproate increased by four- to fivefold the proliferation of neuronal progenitors derived from rat stem cells and increased cyclin D2 expression. Valproate also regulated the expression of survival genes, Bad and Bcl-2, at different times of treatment. The expression of prostaglandin E synthase, analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, was increased by ninefold as early as 6 h into treatment by valproate. The enhancement of GABAergic neuron numbers, neurite outgrowth, and phenotypic expression via increases in the neuronal differentiation of neural stem cell may contribute to the therapeutic effects of valproate in the treatment of bipolar disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]