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Background and Aims Patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) pose multiple risk factors that may increase the risk of death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Currently, evidence of incidence, management, and prognosis of COVID-19 in this population are scarce. Method Between May and December 2020, we followed two RRT populations that have the same tertiary hospital in Southern Brazil as its reference hospital for transplantation. Firstly, we monitored eight affiliated dialysis clinics keeping track of COVID-19 incidence and fatality rate in dialysis patients and those on the kidney transplant waiting list. In the same period, we also monitor COVID-19 incidence and mortality among our prevalent population of kidney transplant recipients. Results We evaluated 1049 patients in RRT in the dialysis centers. COVID-19 occurred in 89 of such patients (8.5%), and 31 died from such condition (35.8% death rate). Fifteen patients (5.45%), among 275 on the kidney transplant waiting list, contracted the virus, with one death (6.6%). Within our prevalent population of 1348 kidney transplant recipients, 113 were diagnosed with COVID19 (incidence: 8.4%), and 17 of them died (mortality rate: 15%). Finally, the number of kidney transplants decreased by 60.4% compared with the same period in the previous year. Conclusion COVID-19 determined a substantial impact on RRT. A high frequency of chronic dialysis patients expired from the disease. The impact on the patients on the transplant waiting list seems to be less pronounced probably due to their better health conditions. The fatality rate in kidney transplant recipients is elevated and probably mostly related to comorbidities. Brazil is currently entering the second wave of the disease and it is crucial to find and provide means to protect such vulnerable populations.

Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) is a biomaterial produced in several biomedical applications, in addition to having biocompatibility and osteoconductive capacity. Biodegradable polymers of natural or synthetic origin such as chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) have been used for tissue engineering applications because they have the properties of the native organic phase of bone tissue. Thus, the objective of this study was to obtain ceramic tapes based on TCP, chitosan, and PVA through the tape casting method. The viscosity data for all suspensions were ideal for the chosen processing. The thermogravimetric curves showed similar profiles, and it was possible to observe that a greater total mass loss occurred with the increase in the chitosan content. XRD reflections related to the β-TCP phase of the orthorhombic structure were found, showing no phase transformation. SEM analysis showed degrees of roughness on the film surfaces with little influence from the increase in chitosan content. Resumo O fosfato tricálcico (TCP) é um biomaterial que está sendo produzido em diversas aplicações biomédicas, além de sua biocompatibilidade e capacidade osteocondutora. Polímeros biodegradáveis de origem natural ou sintética, como quitosana e poli(álcool vinílico) (PVA), vêm sendo utilizados para aplicações de engenharia de tecidos por apresentarem as propriedades da fase orgânica nativa do tecido ósseo. Desse modo, o objetivo deste trabalho foi a obtenção de filmes finos cerâmicos baseados em TCP, quitosana e PVA através do método de tape casting. Dados de viscosidade para todas as suspensões mostraram-se ideais para o processamento escolhido. As curvas termogravimétricas demonstraram perfis semelhantes e foi possível observar que com o aumento do teor de quitosana ocorreu maior perda de massa total. Reflexões de DRX relacionadas à fase β-TCP de estrutura ortorrômbica foram encontradas, evidenciando que não houve transformação de fases. A análise de MEV revelou graus de rugosidade nas superfícies dos filmes com pouca influência do aumento do conteúdo de quitosana.

A comparison between the Zn-Ni, Zn-Ni-Fe and Zn-Ni-Co coatings was performed in this study. The co-deposition process was obtained by electrodeposition on ASTM A624 steel using sulphate baths in acid media and low current density. The characterization of the coatings by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP OES), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Anodic Linear Sweep Voltammetry (ALSV) allowed a detailed analysis of the phases formed and its amounts in the coatings, which enabled to verify the influence of the Fe and Co co-deposited separately with Zn/Ni. The co-deposits showed different characteristics in relation to the deposition efficiency and film thickness, in addition of the topography and surface roughness, which were measured by a confocal optical microscope and of the hardness determined by an ultra-microhardness tester. Finally, the corrosion tests analyzed by open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) determined the corrosion characteristics of each co-deposit in saline solution. Results showed that Zn-Ni-Co was superior to the others co-deposits in relation to the deposit efficiency and corrosion protection, in contrast, the Zn-Ni-Fe coating showed uniformity and the greater compaction of the surface grains, resulting in lower roughness and higher hardness between the co-deposits studied.

Industrial development, intensive agriculture and fast urbanization have caused the metal contents of soils to increase to many times the allowable limits. To assess this impact on urban and rural soils, we quantified the Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn contents of 258 soil samples from the Recife metropolitan region (RMR). The objectives of the study were to estimate the probability of ecological risk, to determine the spatial pattern of the metals’ accumulation in the soil and to identify potential sources for the metals using a multivariate geostatistical approach. Mean concentrations of Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd in soils were 65.2, 17.9, 16.5, 12.8, 6.3 and 1.5 mg kg−1, respectively. The results demonstrated that the Cd was anthropogenic in origin, the Cr and Ni were lithogenic (natural) in origin and the Cu, Pb and Zn were mixed in origin. Cd contaminated 91% of the samples; the median content of Cd (1.4 mg kg−1) was three times the quality reference value for soil. The Cd contents of sugarcane fields exceeded the allowable limit (3.0 mg kg−1) for agricultural areas. The spatial variability of the metals in the RMR showed that metallurgy, cement production, vehicle exhaust and vehicular traffic were the main sources of metals in urban areas, while phosphate-based fertilizers were the main sources in rural areas. More than 80% of the metropolitan region surveyed in the study was at moderate to high ecological risk.

This study investigated the efficiency of an organic tannin polymer alone or amended with polyacrylamide to harvest Chlorella vulgaris biomass grown in a laboratory-scale photobioreactor treating swine wastewater digestate. The effect of biomass concentration, tannin (TAN) dosages and changes in pH were evaluated in jar test experiments. Among the TAN concentrations tested (11, 22, 44, 89, 178 mg L−1), 11 mg L−1 showed the highest biomass recovery (97%). The highest coagulation/ flocculation efficiencies were obtained at pH 5 to 7. Flocculation efficiency improved from 50 to 97% concomitant with the increasing biomass concentrations from 45 to 165 mg L−1, respectively. Recovery efficiencies above 95% were achieved with the same TAN dosage (11 mg L−1) irrespective of the concentration of organic carbon present (75 to 300 mg TOC L−1). Overall, the results suggest that TAN could become an interesting alternative choice of non-toxic organic polymer for harvesting Chlorella sp. from organic-rich wastewater.

Biogas production from anaerobic biodegradation of livestock waste is a potential source of renewable energy. In addition to methane, biodegradation of this high-strength waste also produces sulfide that must be removed in order to prevent costly corrosive impacts on infrastructure. In this work, an anaerobic, phototrophic microbial community enriched from the native population in a swine waste lagoon was evaluated for its potential to remove sulfide from swine waste biogas. Batch experiments with the consortium attained removal efficiencies greater than 97% for sulfide concentrations above 1200 ppm. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the dominant population was most closely related to the isolate Azospirillum strain C5 (similarity index of 99%). Photomicrograph of the enriched consortium revealed the presence of cells with intracellular globules resembling sulfur storage. The enrichment of Azospirillum-like and the concomitant sulfide consumption suggest that this microorganism played an important role in sulfide removal in the bioreactor.

This work evaluated N dynamics that occurs over time within swine slurry composting piles. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyzes were conducted to estimate concentrations of bacteria community harboring specific catabolic nitrifying-ammonium monooxygenase (amoA), and denitrifying nitrate- (narG), nitrite- (nirS and nirG), nitric oxide- (norB) and nitrous oxide reductases (nosZ) genes. NH3-N, N2O-N, N2-N emissions represented 15.4 ± 1.9%, 5.4 ± 0.9%, and 79.1 ± 2.0% of the total nitrogen losses, respectively. Among the genes tested, temporal distribution of narG, nirS, and nosZ concentration correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with the estimated N2 emissions. Denitrifying catabolic gene ratio (cnorB + qnorB)/ nosZ P 100 was indicative of N2O emission potential from the compost pile. Considering our current empirical limitations to accurately measure N2 emissions from swine slurry composting at field scale the use of these catabolic genes could represent a promising monitoring tool to aid minimize our uncertainties on biological N mass balances in these systems. 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

For direct drive inertial confinement fusion, a capsule is imploded by directly illuminating the surface with laser light. Beam smoothing and uniformity of illumination affect the seeding of instabilities at the ablation front. We have developed a technique for studying the imprint of a laser beam on a thin foil using an x-ray laser as an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) backlighter. We use multilayer XUV optics to relay the x-ray laser onto the directly driven foil, and then to image the foil modulation onto a charged coupled device camera. This technique allows us to measure small fractional variations in the foil thickness. We have measured the modulation due to imprint from a low intensity 0.35 mu m drive beam incident on a 3 mu m Si foil using an yttrium x-ray laser on Nova. We present results from a similar technique to measure the imprinted modulation due to a low intensity 0.53 mu m drive beam incident on a 2 mu m Al foil using a germanium x-ray laser at the Vulcan facility. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.

Minimally invasive probe and optical biopsy system based on optical spectra recording and analysis seem to be a promising tool for early diagnostics of breast cancer. Light scattering and absorption spectra are generated continuously as far as the needle-like probe with one emitting and several collecting optical fibers penetrates through the tissues toward to the suspicious area. That allows analyzing not only the state of local site, but also the structure of tissues along the needle trace. The suggested method has the advantages of automated on-line diagnosing and minimal tissue destruction and in parallel with the conventional diagnostic procedures provides the ground for decision-making. 165 medical trials were completed in Nizhny Novgorod Regional Oncology Centre, Russia. Independent diagnoses were the results of fine biopsy and histology. Application of wavelet expansion and clasterization techniques for spectra analysis revealed several main spectral types for malignant and benign tumors. Automatic classification algorithm demonstrated specificity ∼90% and sensitivity ∼91%. Large amount of information, fuzziness in criteria and data noisiness make neural networks to be an attractive analytic tool. The model based on three-layer perceptron was tested over the sample of 29 ‘cancer’ and 29 ‘non-cancer’ cases and demonstrated total separation.

Objetivou-se avaliar a interação entre salinidade e o uso de biofertilizante bovino sobre a condutividade elétrica do solo, crescimento inicial, trocas gasosas e teores de elementos minerais no feijão-de-corda. O experimento foi conduzido em ambiente protegido do Departamento de Ciências dos Solos - UFC. A semeadura foi feita em vasos, utilizando-se, como substrato, um Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo. O experimento obedeceu a um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2, referente a cinco níveis de sais da água de irrigação e dois de biofertilizante bovino. O aumento dos níveis salinos da água de irrigação inibiu o crescimento inicial das plantas, sendo menos afetado no solo com o biofertilizante. O aumento da salinidade da água aliado à aplicação do biofertilizante, resultou no aumento da salinidade do solo. O aumento do teor salino da água de irrigação provocou redução nas trocas gasosas, mas em menor proporção nas plantas desenvolvidas nos tratamentos com o biofertilizante. A extração dos elementos essenciais e de sódio obedeceu a seguinte ordem: Ca > K > Na > P. A aplicação de biofertilizante bovino foi eficiente ao aumentar os teores de P na planta e de aumentar os totais extraídos de K, P e Ca, independente no nível de salinidade aplicado. Entretanto, os efeitos benéficos da aplicação de biofertilizante bovino sobre o crescimento, trocas gasosas e extração de nutrientes, são menos expressivos nos maiores níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação.

Objetivou-se avaliar a interação entre salinidade e o uso de biofertilizante bovino sobre a condutividade elétrica do solo, crescimento inicial, trocas gasosas e teores de elementos minerais no feijão-de-corda. O experimento foi conduzido em ambiente protegido do Departamento de Ciências dos Solos - UFC. A semeadura foi feita em vasos, utilizando-se, como substrato, um Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo. O experimento obedeceu a um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2, referente a cinco níveis de sais da água de irrigação e dois de biofertilizante bovino. O aumento dos níveis salinos da água de irrigação inibiu o crescimento inicial das plantas, sendo menos afetado no solo com o biofertilizante. O aumento da salinidade da água aliado à aplicação do biofertilizante, resultou no aumento da salinidade do solo. O aumento do teor salino da água de irrigação provocou redução nas trocas gasosas, mas em menor proporção nas plantas desenvolvidas nos tratamentos com o biofertilizante. A extração dos elementos essenciais e de sódio obedeceu a seguinte ordem: Ca > K > Na > P. A aplicação de biofertilizante bovino foi eficiente ao aumentar os teores de P na planta e de aumentar os totais extraídos de K, P e Ca, independente no nível de salinidade aplicado. Entretanto, os efeitos benéficos da aplicação de biofertilizante bovino sobre o crescimento, trocas gasosas e extração de nutrientes, são menos expressivos nos maiores níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação.The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between salinity levels of the water and the use of biofertilizer soil electrical conductivity of soil, initial growth, gas exchange and mineral content in cowpea plants. The experiment was performed conducted under greenhouse of the Department of Soil Science - UFC. The sowing of seeds was done in pots, using as a substrate Alfissol and two plants per pot. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 5 x 2 factorial, with 5 levels of salts and 2 levels of biofertilizer. The increase in salinity levels of irrigation water inhibited the initial growth of the plant, being less affected in the presence of biofertilizer. The high salinity combined with application of biofertilizer caused an increase in soil salinity. Increasing salinity of irrigation water caused reduction in gas exchange, being less affected by the presence of biofertilizer. The extraction of essential elements and sodium followed the order: Ca> K> Na> P. The application of biofertilizer was effective to increase the P concentration in plant and increase the total extracted K, Ca and P, regardless of salinity level applied. However, the beneficial effects of application of biofertilizer on growth, gas exchange and nutrient uptake, were less significant in the highest levels of irrigation water salinity.

The effect of HgI2 crystal encapsulation using different polymer resins, with the intent of avoiding the oxidation of the crystal surface, was evaluated in this work. The crystal was purified and grown by the physical vapor transport (PVT) technique modified. Systematic measurements were carried out for evaluating the stoichiometry, structure orientation, surface morphology and impurity of the crystal grown. The purer region of the crystal grown was selected to be prepared as a radiation detector, applying water-based conductive ink contacts and copper wire on the crystal surfaces. After that, the crystal was encapsulated with a polymeric resin which insulates atmospheric gases, aiming to improve the stability of the HgI2 detector. Four resins were used for crystal encapslation and the performance of the detector depended on the composition of the resins used. Among the four resins studied to evaluate the influence of encapsulation on the performance of crystals, as a radiation detector, the best result of resistivity and energy spectrum was obtained for the resin #3 (50% - 100% of Methylacetate and 5% - 10% of n-butylacetate). The encapsulation of crystals with polymer resins, performed with the intent of avoiding the oxidation of the crystal surface, did not compromise the measurements and were fully capable of detecting the presence of gamma radiation. The stability of the encapsulated HgI2 crystal detector was of up to 78 hs, while the stability found for HgI2 detector no encapsulated was in order 3 ~4 hs.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos do uso de água salina em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento de plantas de feijão-de-corda sobre a eficiência de utilização de água e de nutrientes. O experimento foi conduzido no campo e obedeceu ao delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos empregados foram: T1 - água de poço com condutividade elétrica (CEa) de 0,8 dS m-1 durante todo o ciclo; T2 - água salina (CEa de 5,0 dS m-1) durante todo o ciclo; T3, T4 e T5 - água salina de 0 a 22 dias após o plantio (DAP), de 23 a 42 DAP e de 43 a 62 DAP, respectivamente. As plantas dos tratamentos T3, T4 e T5 foram irrigadas com água de poço nas demais fases do ciclo. Aos 8; 23; 43 e 63 DAP, as plantas foram colhidas e determinaram-se a matéria seca total e de grãos, a eficiência no uso da água, considerando a produção de matéria seca total (EUA P) e a produção de grãos (EUA GR), e a eficiência de utilização de nutrientes (K, Ca, N, P, Fe, Cu, Zn e Mn). A aplicação de água salina durante todo o ciclo (T2) reduziu a EUA P e a EUA GR, enquanto a aplicação de água na fase inicial do ciclo (T3) reduziu a EUA GR e a eficiência de utilização da maioria dos nutrientes. Por outro lado, a irrigação com água salina dos 23 aos 42 DAP (T4) e dos 43 aos 62 DAP (T5) não afetou as eficiências nos usos de água e de nutrientes.The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of the saline water applied at different development stages of cowpea plants, on water and nutrient use efficiency. The experiment was set up in the field, during the dry season. A completely randomized block design, with five treatments and five repetitions was adopted. The treatments studied were: T1 - (groundwater with electrical conductivity (ECw) of 0.8 dS m-1) during the whole crop cycle; T2 - saline water (ECw = 5.0 dS m-1) during the whole crop cycle; T3, T4 and T5 - saline water from 0 to 22 days after sowing (DAS), from 23 to 42 DAS and from 43 to 62 DAS, respectively. The plants of T3, T4 and T5 were irrigated with groundwater in the remaining stages of the crop cycle. At 8, 23, 43 and 63 DAS the plants were harvested and the total dry mass and grain yield were measured. The water use efficiency was estimated by using total dry mass production (WUE P) and grain yield (WUE GR), as well as the nutrients use efficiency - NUE, (K, Ca, N, P, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn). The application of saline water during whole the crop cycle (T2) reduced WUE P and WUE GR, while the use of saline water during the germination and initial plant development (T3) caused reduction in WUE GR and in the NUE for most of the analyzed nutrients. Irrigation with saline water from 23 to 42 DAS (T4) and from 43 to 62 DAS (T5) did not affect water and nutrient use efficiencies.

Industrial wastewaters are often contaminated by heavy metals, which can be very hazardous even at low concentrations. Several techniques for removing heavy metal ions have been used over the last century but their cost has usually been high, leading to the study of adsorption as a very promising, low-cost and simple process for metal removal in the last years. This study aims to investigate adsorption of mixed Cu 2+ and Zn 2+ ions on chemically treated Fluidgel clay, an alternative adsorbent, regarding kinetics and equilibrium aspects. Kinetic studies have shown a saturation time of the adsorbent of about 30 minutes. Kinetic curves were predicted by pseudofirst order and intraparticle diffusion models, while Langmuir and Langmuir-Freundlich bicomponent models have been adjusted to equilibrium data obtained at 293 K, 313 K and 333 K. Metal removal reached 75.8% for copper and 62.9% for zinc.

The optical reflectance of a strong shock front in water increases continuously with pressure above 100 GPa and saturates at ∼45% reflectance above 250 GPa. This is the first evidence of electronic conduction in high pressure water. In addition, the water Hugoniot equation of state up to 790 GPa (7.9 Mbar) is determined from shock velocity measurements made by detecting the Doppler shift of reflected light. From a fit to the reflectance data we find that an electronic mobility gap ∼2.5 eV controls thermal activation of electronic carriers at pressures in the range of 100–150 GPa. This suggests that electronic conduction contributes significantly to the total conductivity along the Neptune isentrope above 150 GPa.

Pesticides are used in large amounts in agriculture and the evaluation of their toxic effects is of major concern to public and environmental health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the genotoxic potential of a commercial formulation of the fungicide mancozeb by the micronucleus test in bone marrow and the comet assay in total blood of Wistar rats. Adult male Wistar rats were treated with a solution of mancozeb at a concentration of 40 mg/kg/day, administered intraperitoneally for 18 consecutive days, and compared to a control group. The results indicate that mancozeb induced significantly higher DNA damage as detected by the comet assay and increased the frequency of micronuclei. The results show that mancozeb is genotoxic and may adversely affect the DNA integrity of exposed organisms.

We present experimental work exploring displacement and velocity interferometry as high spatial and temporal resolution diagnostics for measuring target preheat and the speed, planarity, and steadiness of a shock wave. A chirped pulse reflectometry experiment is also proposed as a frequency domain alternative for shock speed measurements. These techniques fill a need for high-precision diagnostics to derive accurate laboratory-based equation-of-state data at shock wave-driven pressures directly relevant to astrophysical systems. The performance of these optical laser probe techniques may exceed conventional passive techniques such as temporally streaked recording of optical emission upon shock breakout or side-on streaked X-ray radiography. Results from Nova laser and high-intensity ultrashort pulse experiments are presented.

A high-intensity laser was used to shock compress liquid deuterium to pressures between 0.22 and 3.4 megabars (Mbar). Shock density, pressure, and temperature were determined using a variety of experimental techniques and diagnostics. This pressure regime spans the transformation of deuterium from an insulating molecular fluid to an atomic metallic fluid. Data reveal a significant increase in compressibility and a temperature inflection near 1 Mbar, both indicative of such a transition. Single-wavelength reflectivity measurements of the shock front demonstrated that deuterium shocked above {approx}0.5 Mbar is indeed metallic. (c) 2000 The American Astronomical Society.

A laser self-focused channel formation into overdense plasmas was observed using a soft x-ray laser probe system with a grid image refractometry (GIR) technique. 1.053 {mu}m laser light with a 100 ps pulse duration was focused onto a preformed plasma at an intensity of 2x10{sup 17} W /cm{sup 2} . Cross sections of the channel were obtained which show a 30 {mu}m diameter in overdense plasmas. The channel width in the overdense region was kept narrow as a result of self-focusing. Conically diverging density ridges were also observed along the channel, indicating a Mach cone created by a shock wave due to the supersonic propagation of the channel front. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.

A high-intensity laser was used to shock-compress liquid deuterium to pressures from 22 to 340 gigapascals. In this regime deuterium is predicted to transform from an insulating molecular fluid to an atomic metallic fluid. Shock densities and pressures, determined by radiography, revealed an increase in compressibility near 100 gigapascals indicative of such a transition. Velocity interferometry measurements, obtained by reflecting a laser probe directly off the shock front in flight, demonstrated that deuterium shocked above 55 gigapascals has an electrical conductivity characteristic of a liquid metal and independently confirmed the radiography.

Ultrashort laser pulse ablation removes material with low-energy fluence required and minimal collateral damage. The ultimate usefulness of this technology for biomedical application depends, in part, on characterization of the physical conditions attained, and determination of the zone of shockwave and heat-affected material in particular tissues. Detailed numerical modeling of the relevant physics (deposition, plasma formation, shockwave generation and propagation, thermal conduction) are providing this information. A wide range of time scales is involved, ranging from picosecond for energy deposition and peak pressure and temperature, to nanosecond for development of shockwave, to microsecond for macroscopic thermophysical response.

An optical feedback system for controlled precise tissue ablation is discussed. Our setup includes an ultrashort pulse laser (USPL), and a diagnostic system utilizing analysis of either tissue fluorescence or plasma emission luminescence. Current research is focused on discriminating hard and soft tissues such as bone and spinal cord during spinal surgery using either technique. Our experimental observations exhibit considerable spectroscopic contrast between hard and soft tissue, and both techniques offer promise for a practical diagnostic system.

In direct drive inertial confinement fusion, the residual speckle pattern remaining after beam smoothing plays an important role in the seeding of instabilities at the ablation front. An x-ray laser is used as an extreme ultraviolet backlighter to characterize the imprinted modulation in thin foils for smoothing by random phase plate and by spectral dispersion for both 0.35 and 0.53 mu m irradiation, and by induced spatial incoherence for 0.53 mu m irradiation. Measurements of the imprinted modulation due to a single optical mode generated by two beam interference, and modification of the imprint with a superposed smooth irradiation to study time dependence of the imprinting process are demonstrated. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.

The understanding of the collision and subsequent interaction of counter-streaming high-density plasmas is important for the design of indirectly-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) hohlraums. We have employed a soft x-ray Mach-Zehnder interferometer, using a Ne- like Y x-ray laser at 155 {angstrom} as the probe source, to study interpenetration and stagnation of two colliding plasmas. We observed a peaked density profile at the symmetry axis with a wide stagnation region with width of order 100 {mu}m. We compare the measured density profile with density profiles calculated by the radiation hydrodynamic code LASNEX and a multi-specie fluid code which allows for interpenetration. The measured density profile falls in between the calculated profiles using collisionless and fluid approximations. By using different target materials and irradiation configurations, we can vary the collisionality of the plasma. We hope to use the soft x-ray laser interferometry as a mechanism to validate and benchmark our numerical codes used for the design and analysis of high-energy- density physics experiments.

We present results of the first measurements of density, shock speed, and particle speed in liquid deuterium compressed by laser-generated shock waves to pressures from 25 to 210Gpa (0.25 to 2.1Mbar). The data show a significant increase in D{sub 2} compressibility above 50Gpa compared to a widely used equation of state model. The data strongly suggest a thermal molecular dissociation transition of the diatomic fluid into a monatomic phase. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

X-ray lasers (XRLs) have experimental average gains that are significantly less than calculated values and a persistently low level of spatial coherence. An XRL has been used both as an injected signal to a short XRL amplifier and as an interferometer beam to measure two-dimensional local gain and density profiles of the XRL plasma with a resolution near 1 micrometer. The measured local gain is in agreement with atomic models but is unexpectedly spatially inhomogeneous. This inhomogeneity is responsible for the low level of spatial coherence observed and helps explain the disparity between observed and simulated gains.

We measured the conversion efficiency of laser pulse energy into keV x rays from a variety of solid planar targets and a Xe gas puff target irradiated using a high average power Nd:glass slab laser capable of delivering 13 ns full width at half‐maximum pulses at up to 20 J at 1.053 μm and 12 J at 0.53 μm. Targets were chosen to optimize emission in the 10–15 A wavelength band, including L‐shell emission from materials with atomic numbers in the range Z=24–30 and M‐shell emission from Xe (Z=54). With 1.053 μm a maximum conversion of 11% into 2π sr was measured from solid Xe targets. At 0.527 μm efficiencies of 12%–18%/(2π sr) were measured for all of the solid targets in the same wavelength band. The x‐ray conversion efficiency from the Xe gas puff target was considerably lower, at about 3%/(2π sr) when irradiated with 1.053 μm.

We have developed compact collisional-radiative models to describe the ionization balance and excitation mechanisms in neon-like selenium x-ray laser plasmas. These models can be used for calculations of the ionization dynamics, detailed emission spectra, and gain coefficients. Careful attention has been paid to indirect processes such as dielectronic recombination, excitation-autoionization, and resonant excitation. We discuss the importance of different atomic processes and model approximations in the ionization balance and gain calculations. These results will be compared to experimental measurements and to previous calculations.

We demonstrate cross-sectional birefringence- and polarization-independent backscatter imaging of laser-induced thermal damage in porcine myocardium in vitro, using a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system. We compare the generated images with histological sections of the tissue and demonstrate that birefringence is a more sensitive indicator of thermal damage than is backscattered light. Loss of birefringence in thermally damaged regions is quantified and shown to have significant contrast with undamaged sections of the tissue. A detailed theoretical analysis of the birefringence measurements is provided, including a calculation of the systematic errors associated with background noise, system imperfections, and tissue dichroism.

Spatial filters are essential components for maintaining high beam quality in high-energy pulsed laser systems. The long-duration (21 ns) high-energy pulses envisioned for future inertial-confinement fusion drive systems, such as the U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF), are likely to lead to increased plasma generation and closure effects within the pinholes in the spatial filters. The design goal for the pinhole spatial filter for the NIF design is to remove small-angle scatter in the beam to as little as a ?100-murad divergence. It is uncertain whether this design requirement can be met with a conventional pinhole design. We propose a new pinhole architecture that addresses these issues by incorporating features intended to reduce the rate of plasma generation. Initial experiments with this design have verified its performance improvement relative to a conventional pinhole design.

We have developed a prototype optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for the imaging of hard and soft tissue in the oral cavity. High-resolution images of in vitro porcine periodontal tissues have been obtained with this system. The images clearly show the enamel-cementum and the gingiva-tooth interfaces, indicating OCT is a potentially useful technique for diagnosis of periodontal diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first application of OCT for imaging biologic hard tissue.

Two 11.7-m 3 experimental controlled release systems (ECRS), packed with sandy model aquifer material and amended with tetrachloroethene (PCE) dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source zone, were operated in parallel with identical flow regimes and electron donor amendments. Hydrogen Releasing Compound (Regenesis Bioremediation Products, Inc., San Clemente, California), and later dissolved lactate, served as electron donors to promote dechlorination. One ECRS was bioaugmented with an anaerobic dechlorinating consortium directly into the source zone, and the other served as a control (biostimulated only) to determine the benefits of bioaugmentation. The presence of halorespiring bacteria in the aquifer matrix before bioaugmentation, shown by nested polymerase chain reaction with phylogenetic primers, suggests that dechlorinating catabolic potential may be somewhat widespread. Results obtained corroborate that source zone reductive dechlorination of PCE is possible at near field scale and that a system bioaugmented with a competent halorespiring consortium can enhance DNAPL dissolution and dechlorination processes at significantly greater rates than in a system that is biostimulated only.

The use femtosecond pulses for materials processing results in very precise cutting and drilling with high efficiency. Energy deposited in the electrons is not coupled into the bulk during the pulse, resulting in negligible shock or thermal loading to adjacent areas.

The X-ray laser is being used at LLNL as a tool for measuring the behaviors of hot dense plasmas. In particular, we have used the 155 /spl Aring/ Yttrium laser to study transient plasmas by both radiography and Moire deflectometry. These techniques have been used to probe plasma at electron densities exceeding 10/sup 22/ cm/sup -3/. The short pulse of this X-ray laser probe has made it possible to directly image ion densities in directly driven thin foils to an accuracy of 1-2 /spl mu/m. In addition, we are constructing an X-ray laser interferometer using multilayer beamsplitters. If successful, this will lead to /spl mu/m spatial resolution measurements of electron densities in plasmas.

This paper describes our theoretical, numerical, and experimental development of short-pulse-duration, high brightness, and enhanced coherence X-ray lasers (XRLs) as sources suitable for applications as imaging diagnostics for laser plasmas.

The second order nonlinear optical properties and orientation of collagen fibers were measured simultaneously using polarization modulation and phase sensitive detection.