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This work suggests applying chamfering treatment to the plasma generator of the empty electrode structure. Enhancing the electrodes' physical structure can significantly improve plasma characteristics without requiring intricate control systems. Experiments have shown that changes in the electrode's shape can lead to changes in the formation of the atmospheric pressure plasma jet. Specifically, our observations indicate that an increase in the chamfer radius leads to an increase in the ignition voltage and a greater density of reactive species inside the jet. We developed a multi-channel equivalent circuit model to describe the discharge process of a plasma jet. Then, using the mixed layer theory, we investigated the effect of the chamfer radius on the plasma jet. Our findings suggest that chamfering increases the effective discharge area, resulting in more discharge channels in the model. This leads to a higher density of reactive species. Additionally, chamfering improves the mixing of helium and air, increasing the concentration of N 2 and O 2. This consumes some of the avalanche electrons and raises the ignition voltages, ultimately enhancing the chemical reactivity of the plasma jet. This work provides new ideas for the optimization strategy of atmospheric pressure plasma radiation devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal, spectral, and angular characteristics of the x-ray emissions (photons with energies within 5–1000 keV) are exhaustively investigated during the discharge formation at voltages up to 1 MV in approximately 55 cm air gaps. The temporal correlations between the x-ray emissions and discharge voltage and current waveforms are established. The evolution of the discharge plasma structures developing in the time periods of the x-ray generation is traced with a nanosecond resolution. Based on statistical data, theoretical analysis, and estimates the regularities in the x-ray emission characteristics are revealed together with their relationship with the ionization processes occurring in the gas-discharge medium. On the basis of the obtained experimental data, the probable x-ray generation mechanisms are discussed. The findings can provide a deeper understanding of the physics behind the sources of hard x rays arising during the development of laboratory and atmospheric discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of discharge parameters on the discharge process and plasma transport characteristics of a coaxial gun in the gas-prefilled mode are studied. The plasma optical intensity and ejection velocity are measured by photodiodes, the optical emission spectrum is taken by a spectroscopic system, and the plasma evolution in the transport process is captured by a high-speed camera. The plasma acceleration characteristics under different discharge parameters show that the velocity and electron density of the ejection plasma are mainly determined by the pre-filled pressure and discharge current, which is consistent with the snowplow model. The kinetic energy of ejection plasma can be significantly increased by reducing the outer loop inductance, which is conducive to increasing the energy utilization efficiency. The time-varying images of plasma radiation and the plasma density at different transport locations illuminate the transmission characteristics of coaxial gun discharge plasma. The results show that the snowplow effect continues to play a role in the plasma transport process, and the plasma accumulation is induced by the combination of shock wave compression. The current-driven magneto hydrodynamics instability occurs during the transport process, and the luminous signal of the plasma current sheet oscillates periodically. In addition, the plasma impact effect is obvious and the gas retarding effect is enhanced with the increase in the gas pressure. These results give us a more comprehensive view of the coaxial gun discharge process and plasma transport and provide a certain reference for optimizing the parameters selection and physical design of coaxial gun discharge plasma characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Number density of plasma-generated atoms or molecules is an important parameter for both fundamental research and applications. It can be measured in a straightforward manner, using vacuum-ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, which is mainly possible in laboratory conditions as it may require bulky equipment, such as lasers. By contrast, optical actinometry is an alternative approach that only uses spontaneous emission from the plasma. This technique relies on the so-called corona excitation and uses emission line ratios between the gases with unknown and known concentrations (called actinometer in the last case). As a result of using line ratios, the additional density calibration is not required if the excitation cross sections are known. This study discusses Ar-based actinometry in low-pressure (roughly < 1 kPa) plasma discharges with an emphasis on multiple line ratios. The work is particularly focused on the method's applicability, the choice of Ar cross sections, and potential error sources. The influence of the additional excitation mechanisms is analyzed based on both experiments and modeling. The optical transitions for F, O, H, N, and P atoms along with expressions for their number density are presented, not requiring high optical resolution for measurements. For the sake of method validation, it is shown that in low-pressure radiofrequency discharges, a nearly excellent agreement between the actinometry data and the calibrated measurements can be achieved by careful selection of optical transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In thin film deposition, Ar/SiH4 mixtures are widely used to make polysilicon (poly-Si) and hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-SiH) layers. Despite extensive research conducted on this mixture, little research has focused on the variations in plasma properties, radicals, and ions that occur during plasma discharge in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) equipment compared to capacitive coupled plasma equipment. In this paper, we investigate the properties of the plasma generated through mathematical modeling of Ar/SiH4 inductive coupled plasma discharge by using the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) obtained by solving the Boltzmann equation. We closely examine the variation in plasma properties and the correlation of plasma variables by controlling the radio frequency power and gas pressure during the process conditions. The Boltzmann equation was computed by assuming the two-term approximation, resulting in a Druyvesteyn-like EEDF due to the high-pressure conditions. To validate the simulation model, the 2D simulation results were compared with probe measurements performed in a two-turn ICP chamber. The results demonstrated encouraging agreement with the measured data. This research not only enhances our comprehension of the discharge characteristics but also establishes a framework for optimizing the discharge conditions to enhance the process and effectively regulate external variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition and ion energy distributions of the main ion species of an ion beam were recorded and analyzed. The RF-type broad beam ion source was operated with a mixture of CHF 3 and O 2. A plasma bridge neutralizer operating with Ar was employed for ion beam neutralization. The data were collected with an energy-selective mass spectrometer (ESMS). The mass spectrum showed numerous ion species, beginning with ionized molecules, dissociation products of the process gases and products from reactions with background gas and the plasma discharge vessel, and the extraction system. For a quantification of the ion beam composition, the mass dependent transmission functions for two ESMS were determined. The ion energy distributions show that, in comparison to operation with inert gases, there are additional slower ions present. These ions can be related to dissociation processes outside of the ion beam source. As a result of their typically lower etching yield, these slower ions affect the etching behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition and ion energy distributions of the main ion species of an ion beam were recorded and analyzed. The RF-type broad beam ion source was operated with a mixture of CHF 3 and O 2. A plasma bridge neutralizer operating with Ar was employed for ion beam neutralization. The data were collected with an energy-selective mass spectrometer (ESMS). The mass spectrum showed numerous ion species, beginning with ionized molecules, dissociation products of the process gases and products from reactions with background gas and the plasma discharge vessel, and the extraction system. For a quantification of the ion beam composition, the mass dependent transmission functions for two ESMS were determined. The ion energy distributions show that, in comparison to operation with inert gases, there are additional slower ions present. These ions can be related to dissociation processes outside of the ion beam source. As a result of their typically lower etching yield, these slower ions affect the etching behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topology of the applied magnetic field is an important design aspect of Hall thrusters. For modern Hall thrusters, the magnetic field topology most often features curved lines with a concave (negative) curvature upstream of the field's peak and a convex (positive) curvature downstream. Additionally, the advent of the magnetic shielding technique has resulted in Hall thruster designs with non-conventional field topologies that exhibit high degrees of concavity upstream of the field's peak. In this article, a detailed study is carried out on the effects that the magnetic field curvature has on the plasma discharge in a 2D configuration representative of a Hall thruster's radial–azimuthal cross section. The analyses are performed for discharges of three propellants of high applied interest: xenon, krypton, and argon. For each propellant, high-fidelity electrostatic reduced-order particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations are performed with various degrees of positive and negative curvatures of the magnetic field. Corresponding 1D radial PIC simulations are also performed for xenon to compare the observations against the 2D results. Most notably, it is observed that the instability spectra in the positive-curvature cases are mostly dominated by electron cyclotron drift instability, whereas the modified two stream instability is dominant in the negative-curvature cases. The distributions of electron and ion temperatures, in particular, as well as the contribution of various mechanisms to electrons' cross-field transport show notable variations between the positive and negative curvature values. Finally, the field curvature is observed to majorly influence the ion beam divergence along the radial and azimuthal coordinates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of bacteria and viruses in water has caused many large-scale water disease outbreaks. Cold atmospheric plasma has received much attention as an emerging non-thermal purification technology capable of eliminating micro-organisms, non-ferrous fuels, and heavy metals from water. In this study, a novel gas–liquid diaphragm discharge device that generates air plasma driven by a sinusoidal AC power supply was designed, and its sterilizing effect was investigated. First, the concentrations of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the diaphragm discharge were characterized, and the physicochemical properties of activated water were explored. Next, experiments on the inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were carried out using the device. Finally, pond sewage was treated with the device, and the diversity of micro-organisms in the water was analyzed using 16S rRNA assays to further investigate its applicability. The results showed that the species and quantities of micro-organisms in the water significantly reduced after discharge treatment, with the most significant changes occurring in the Bacillus and Firmicutes species. Thus, this study provides an alternative method for microbial inactivation in sewage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the use of wearable smart devices has significantly increased; however, sweat can corrode the outer-layer films, thereby decreasing their transmittance, conductivity, and overall functionality. In this study, fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) films for wearable smart devices were prepared via magnetron sputtering. The effects and mechanism of O2 gas flow in plasma on the properties of the fabricated films were investigated. Minor changes were observed in the film morphologies, with the preferred orientations shifting from polar (101) to nonpolar (110) and standard positions. As the O2 flow rate increased from 0 to 2 sccm, the transmittance of the film within the visible spectrum increased from 83% to 89%, with sheet resistance values in the order of 102–106 Ω sq−1. Following immersion in an acidic sweat solution, the film without O2 peeled off, whereas several corrosion pits were observed in the films with 1 or 2 sccm O2. Conversely, following immersion in an alkaline sweat solution, several pits were observed in the films without O2, while the other films exhibited excellent corrosion resistance. The transmittance of the films immersed in different solutions did not significantly differ. Notably, the sheet resistances of the films treated with 1 sccm O2 met the industrial requirement of 3000 Ω. Moreover, the coexistence of polar and nonpolar planes provided transparency and conductive stability to the FTO films treated with 1 sccm O2. Our study aimed to not only enhance the transmittance and sweat-corrosion resistance but maintain the conductivity of the outer screen layer of a wearable smart electronic device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transpolar arcs (TPAs) are often cusp‐aligned. Especially when multiple TPAs appear simultaneously, they join at the auroral signature of the cusp. Here we investigate the dayside connection point of TPAs using Defense Meteorological Satellite Program measurements and identify three cases where the tip of the TPA ends in a localized brightening. One is a typical cusp spot with a TPA attached. The cusp appears just poleward of the oval with a near circular shape. In the second case, multiple cusp spots are observed over a 3 MLT wide region, each connected to a TPA. In the third case, the brightening at the tip of a TPA is identified as high‐latitude dayside aurora (HiLDA). Cusp aurora appears between the HiLDA and the duskside oval. Plasma flows and particle characteristics indicate a lobe origin of the HiLDA. Our results indicate a more complicated connection between TPAs and dayside aurora than previously anticipated. Plain Language Summary: Transpolar arcs are large‐scale auroral structures that span the polar cap, often connecting the nightside with the dayside part of the auroral oval. In case multiple transpolar arcs appear simultaneously in one hemisphere, they typically join at an auroral intensification on the dayside, which is believed to be the auroral signature of the magnetospheric cusp. In this study, we investigate the dayside region where transpolar arcs connect to auroral intensifications with the help of particle data and semi‐global auroral images from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's four satellites (F16, F17, F18, F19) in those cases where the satellites pass right through that region. In this study, we focus on three distinctly different cases. The first two differ in shape, but coincide with cusp aurora, as indicated by strong proton precipitation. The third case consists of arcs connected with a HiLDA (High Latitude Dayside Aurora), which by definition consists of a monoenergetic electron population and a lack of ions. We show for the first time a TPA located in the middle of the polar cap, where the tip of the arc connects with a HiLDA. Key Points: We present three distinct cases of bright dayside oval connection points of transpolar arcs, using DMSP particle data and plasma flowsThe arc connection point is in case I a typical cusp spot, in case II two cusp spots each connected to an arc, and in case III a HiLDAWe show that not only oval‐aligned arcs but also transpolar arcs in the middle of the polar cap can be attached to HiLDA [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work improves a phenomenological plasma-assisted combustion model by integrating the spatiotemporal distribution of plasma power density, thereby considering the evolution of plasma streamers in the modeling, and subsequently, better predicting the ignition kernel evolution. The improved phenomenological model is validated against experiments representing the plasma discharge and post-discharge ignition kernel evolution. Specifically, the new model demonstrates a more accurate prediction of ultrafast gas heating and O2 dissociation during the plasma discharge, compared to the original model. In addition, the new model is found to closely match the experimental pressure wave and heated channel profiles post-discharge without the need for tuning the energy deposition (unlike the original model), highlighting its accuracy of post-discharge ignition kernel dynamics. The improved phenomenological model is then employed to investigate ignition kernel evolution for a stoichiometric methane-air discharge across various discharge gap configurations. Simulations reveal a non-uniform temperature and streamer distribution progressing from the electrode tips toward the center, contrasting uniform cylindrical discharges previously described in the original model. Streamer propagation is observed to be faster for larger gaps when maintained at the same average electric field for different discharge gaps. The tendency of smaller gaps to produce detached toroidal ignition kernels is observed, while larger gaps promote cylindrical and attached ignition kernels. Interactions between successive ignition kernels from consecutive discharges varied significantly, with the smallest gap (1 mm) promoting the quenching of the preceding ignition kernel due to the initial kernel–kernel separation. The intermediate gap (2 mm) promotes detached kernel growth. In contrast, in the largest gap (4 mm), kernels consistently combine and expand attached to electrodes. The impact of homogeneous isotropic turbulence is also explored, showing the persistence of ignition kernels early on but eventually quenching due to enhanced radical and heat losses with pronounced turbulence intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a computational algorithm based on a diffuse interface approach to study the design of bioartificial organ scaffold architectures. These scaffolds, composed of poroelastic hydrogels housing transplanted cells, are linked to the patient's blood circulation via an anastomosis graft. Before entering the scaffold, the blood flow passes through a filter, and the resulting filtered blood plasma transports oxygen and nutrients to sustain the viability of transplanted cells over the long term. A key issue in maintaining cell viability is the design of ultrafiltrate channels within the hydrogel scaffold to facilitate advection-enhanced oxygen supply ensuring oxygen levels remain above a critical threshold to prevent hypoxia. In this manuscript, we develop a computational algorithm to analyze the plasma flow and oxygen concentration within hydrogels featuring various channel geometries. Our objective is to identify the optimal hydrogel channel architecture that sustains oxygen concentration throughout the scaffold above the critical hypoxic threshold. The computational algorithm we introduce here employs a diffuse interface approach to solve a multi-physics problem. The corresponding model couples the time-dependent Stokes equations, governing blood plasma flow through the channel network, with the time-dependent Biot equations, characterizing Darcy velocity, pressure, and displacement within the poroelastic hydrogel containing the transplanted cells. Subsequently, the calculated plasma velocity is utilized to determine oxygen concentration within the scaffold using a diffuse interface advection-reaction-diffusion model. Our investigation yields a scaffold architecture featuring a hexagonal network geometry that meets the desired oxygen concentration criteria. Unlike classical sharp interface approaches, the diffuse interface approach we employ is particularly adept at addressing problems with intricate interface geometries, such as those encountered in bioartificial organ scaffold design. This study is significant because recent developments in hydrogel fabrication make it now possible to control hydrogel rheology and utilize computational results to generate optimized scaffold architectures. Author summary: Bioartificial organ is an engineered device made of living cells and a biocompatible scaffold that can be implanted or integrated into a human body to replace a natural organ, or to augment a specific organ function. The biocompatible scaffold serves as the structural foundation, embedding cells and growth factors to form substitute tissue. A key challenge in bioartificial organ design is ensuring the long-term survival of transplanted cells. Specifically, a critical challenge is creating a hydrogel architecture with ultrafiltrate channels that act as pathways to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cells, supporting their sustained viability. In this work, we developed a mathematical and computational framework to investigate optimal hydrogel architecture and oxygen supply to transplanted cells. Our findings show that a hexagonal channel architecture significantly outperforms both the commonly used vertical channels and branching channel designs, providing a substantial increase in oxygen delivery to the cells. In the hexagonal architecture, oxygen concentration remains above the critical threshold for hypoxia throughout the scaffold, which is not achieved with other designs. This is particularly important given recent advances in hydrogel fabrication, allowing for precise control of hydrogel elasticity and rheology, making these results valuable for developing improved scaffold designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work presents the process of designing a plasma reactor with a gliding arc discharge. The topic discussed is motivated by the large and still modern application potential of non-thermal plasma in the processing of gas mixtures and plasmachemical treatment with the afterglow product. The process of designing a completely new plasma reactor with 10 arc-shaped electrodes is described. In the design process, the author relies on experience with existing sliding discharge reactors at the Lublin University of Technology. The design process is carried out using the modern Autodesk Inventor solid modeler environment. Partial elements of the plasma reactor were designed and assembled into an assembly. The whole work is complemented by the presentation of selected, more important physical parameters of these parts. A special part is devoted to presenting a realistic render of reactor body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internal kink mode is one of the crucial factors affecting the stability of magnetically confined fusion devices. This paper explores the key features influencing the growth rate of internal kink modes using machine learning techniques such as Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGboost), Permutation, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). We conduct an in-depth analysis of the significant physical mechanisms by which these key features impact the growth rate of internal kink modes. Numerical simulation data were used to train high-precision machine learning models, namely Random Forest and XGBoost, which achieved coefficients of determination values of 95.07% and 94.57%, respectively, demonstrating their capability to accurately predict the growth rate of internal kink modes. Based on these models, key feature analysis was systematically performed with Permutation and SHAP methods. The results indicate that resistance, pressure at the magnetic axis, viscosity, and plasma rotation are the primary features influencing the growth rate of internal kink modes. Specifically, resistance affects the evolution of internal kink modes by altering current distribution and magnetic field structure; pressure at the magnetic axis impacts the driving force of internal kink modes through the pressure gradient directly related to plasma stability; viscosity modifies the dynamic behavior of internal kink modes by regulating plasma flow; and plasma rotation introduces additional shear forces, affecting the stability and growth rate of internal kink modes. This paper describes the mechanisms by which these four key features influence the growth rate of internal kink modes, providing essential theoretical insights into the behavior of internal kink modes in magnetically confined fusion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron firehose instabilities can be excited at dipolarization fronts and in the magnetic reconnection outflow in the terrestrial magnetotail, but their occurrence rate in the plasma sheet is unclear. Here, we investigate the characteristics of electron firehose unstable conditions in the magnetotail plasma sheet based on observations of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. We find an Alfvénic magnetic field fluctuation accompanied by a strong field-aligned current during a flapping motion. This fluctuation occurs where the local plasma is electron firehose unstable, indicating that the electron firehose instability in the plasma sheet can occur in the region besides dipolarization fronts and magnetic reconnection outflow. We statistically find that the local plasma near the neutral sheet has a small probability with the maximum value <1.4% to be electron firehose unstable, which mainly occurs in the central plasma sheet with BXY/BL < 0.3. The maximum probability of Tef > 0 (electron firehose unstable condition) is ∼1.36% (1.32%) at BXY/BL ≈ 0.05 (0.15) during fast (non-fast) flows. During fast flows, the plasma near the neutral sheet tends to have a higher probability of Tef > 0 when the local VT is larger. During non-fast flows, the plasma near the neutral sheet tends to have a higher probability of Tef > 0 when Te is larger. The probability of Tef > 0 shows a dawn-dusk asymmetry during fast flows and non-fast flows. In addition, the probability of Tef > 0 during fast flows tends to be larger when the ambient BZ is weak, which shows opposite characteristics during non-fast flows. These findings help to assess the importance of the role of electron firehose instabilities in the magnetotail plasma sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The use of millimeter quartz tubes to generate non‐thermal plasma in contact with liquid is widely applied in medicine, such as the effective disinfection of catheter tubes and tooth cavities. Here, the effects of tube diameter and gas flow rate on discharge dynamics and reactive species characteristics of nanosecond pulse needle‐water discharge are studied using an ICCD camera and optical emission spectra. The discharge diffusion is increased significantly by an appropriate combination of tube diameter and gas flow rate. Besides, the discharge intensity, emission spectra intensities of reactive species, gas temperature, and electron density increase with the increase of quartz tube diameter and gas flow rate, which contributes to enhance the production of OH and H2O2 species in aqueous samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To investigate the biological reactivity of plasma‐activated water (PAW), we prepared PAW using atmospheric air spark discharge over water at 4°C and 25°C, with Escherichia Coli (E. coli) as the microbial model. The biological reactivity of PAW at 25°C decreased rapidly by 3.32 Logs within 20 s of storage. At 4°C, PAW showed high reactivity within 20–30 s of storage but decreased by 3.50 Logs between 30 and 60 s. Our analysis revealed that PAW reactivity is dependent on short‐lived peroxynitrite (ONOOH), formed through H2O2 and HNO2 under acidic conditions. ONOOH actively reacts with amino acid functional groups, as measured by high‐resolution LC‐MS, likely contributing to the rapid inactivation of E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly robust ceramics materials are promising materials for applications in the automobile, aerospace, and ceramic cutting tool industries. However, conventional ceramics are typically brittle, which limits their suitability for advanced applications. In this study, with zeolite imidazolium salt skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) as a carbon source, discharge plasma sintering is used to create carbon nanonetworks derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in situ on the grain boundaries of zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramic. ZTA exhibits maximum bending strength (719 ± 20.5 MPa) and fracture toughness (7.91 ± 0.7 MPa m1/2) at MOF concentrations of 1.0 wt% and 2.0 wt%, respectively, which are 1.37 and 1.88 times higher than that of the unmodified sample. This demonstrates that the MOF-derived carbon nanonetworks significantly improve the mechanical properties of the ceramic. The finite element analysis results indicate that the carbon nanonetworks can effectively disperse the stress inside the material and transfer the concentrated stress from the internal defects to the two-phase grain boundary on the surface of the sample, thereby contributing to strengthening and toughening. Overall, this work validates that the in situ production of carbon nanonetworks from MOFs is an effective strategy to enhance the mechanical properties of ZTA ceramics. Moreover, it offers new approaches for reinforcing and toughening other ceramic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracellular AA regulate milk protein synthesis within the mammary gland by modifying mammary plasma flow (MPF) and AA transporter activity. Amino acid transporters catalyze translocation using Na+ gradient, substrate gradient (uniporters), and exchange mechanisms; further, they exhibit specificity for individual AA or groups of AA with similar side-chain properties within each transport system. Nonessential AA are actively transported through Na+-dependent transporters and, thus, are often used as intracellular currencies for EAA transport through exchange transporters. Therefore, it was hypothesized that individual EAA supplementation would compete with other EAA for shared transporters, and supplementation with Ala, Gln, and Gly would stimulate EAA transport through exchange transporters. Ten primiparous lactating dairy cows were divided into 2 groups based on milk production and were randomly assigned to treatment sequences within 2 balanced 5 × 5 Latin squares by group. Period length was 14 d. Treatments were 9-d jugular infusions of (1) saline; (2) 34.5 g of Val per day; (3) a ratio of 32.7 g of Ala to 40 g of Gln to 26.7 g of Gly per day (AQG); (4) 43 g of Lys per day; or (5) 33.5 g of Ile per day. All cows were fed a common base diet formulated to contain 15.0% CP. Infusions of Ile, Lys, or AQG did not affect milk protein or milk production; however, Val infusion decreased both. The effects of Val infusion on milk protein production appeared to be partially driven by decreased DMI. The decline in milk protein percentage indicated that milk lactose production was also affected. Additionally, Val infusion increased MPF efficiency (MPF/milk; L/L) by approximately 44%. Infusion of Val tended to decrease or decreased mammary net uptakes of Lys, Leu, Met, and total AA. Infusion of Ile tended to increase its mammary net uptakes but did not affect any other AA. Infusions of Lys and AQG did not affect any mammary net uptakes. Infusion of Val tended to decrease Phe and total NEAA mammary clearance rates. Infusion with AQG stimulated Tyr clearance rates and tended to decline system N mammary clearance rates. Ratios of branched-chain AA mammary uptake to milk protein output (U:O) did not differ from 1 for Val-infused cows, which indicated that little intramammary catabolism was occurring. Additionally, the average NEAA U:O in response to all treatments except Val was 0.70, but Val-infused cows had NEAA U:O that averaged 0.09, indicating increased synthesis within the glands. The effects of Val on mammary net clearance rates of multiple EAA support the incorporation of AA limitations in ration optimizers to prevent AA imbalances. It is possible that oversupplementation of EAA other than Val may also decrease DMI and mammary activity. Identifying efficiency apexes for each of the EAA will allow more precise diet formulation and supplementation, leading to improved production efficiency. The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low-intensity training with blood flow restriction (BFR) training could induce endurance adaptations, its impact on myocardial markers is still unclear compared to training without BFR. Consequently, the influence of low-intensity interval exercise with and without BFR and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on cardiac troponin was determined in this study. Methods: Twelve physically active males between 18 and 26 years volunteered as participants. The participants completed 3 exercise tests in random order, which included 40% VO2max low-intensity cycling without BFR (group L), 40% VO2max low-intensity cycling with BFR set at 60% limb occlusion pressure (LOP) (group B), and 80% VO2max high-intensity cycling without BFR (group H). Participant muscle oxygen, blood flow, oxygen uptake, heart rate (HR), perceived exertion (RPE) rating, and pain levels were determined before and after exercise, after cuff inflation, and pre- and post-each exercise. Moreover, before each protocol, immediately after the exercises, and 3-4 hours after each exercise, elbow vein blood samples were collected to evaluate lactate (LA) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (cTnT). Results: Increased LA was recorded after exercise by the individuals in group H, which was more significant than in group B. Moreover, group B documented a more significant LA increment than group L (P < .05). The peak cTnT of groups B and H after exercise was significantly higher (P < .05). Furthermore, the increase was more significant than the values recorded by group L (P < .05). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that low-intensity interval exercise combined with BFR could cause cTnT elevations compared to training without BFR. The increase was similar to HIIE protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the effects of granulation with a complex geometry of a magnetic carpet on the genesis of waves and plasma flows in a quiet-region of the solar atmosphere. Our aim is to perform numerical experiments on the self-generated and self-evolving solar granulation in a magnetic carpet representing the parts of the large-scale magnetized solar atmosphere, where waves and flows are basic inherent physical processes occurring continuously. We perform numerical experiments with the use of the joanna code which solves non-ideal and non-adiabatic two-fluid equations for ions + electrons and neutrals treated as two separate fluids. In these experiments, we assume that the plasma is hydrogen, and initially described by magnetohydrostatic equilibrium which is accompanied with a magnetic carpet. Parametric studies with different values of magnetic field show that its higher values result in larger magnitudes of ion-neutral velocity drift, thus ensuring larger heating and plasma flows. The present model addresses that in the highly dynamic solar chromosphere, waves, heating and plasma flows may collectively couple different layers of the solar atmosphere, and this entire process crucially depends on the local plasma and magnetic field properties. We suggest that waves and flows are the natural response of the granulation process in the quiet-Sun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) is an essential process for microstructure fabrication of difficult-to-machine materials. Currently, there are various kinds of ECDM, and plasma-assisted electrochemical machining (PA-ECM) is a new and promising ECDM proposed in recent years. However, the differences between electrolytic plasma discharge and conventional spark discharge are unclear. Therefore, this study aims to systematically explain the evolvement mechanism and characteristics of these two kinds of discharge. From the phenomenology, the electrolytic plasma discharge is saffron color determined by electrolyte and wrapped at the entire immersion surface of the tool electrode, while the spark discharge is white color and only excited at the end of the tool electrode. Electrolytic plasma discharge is generated preferentially to spark discharge and easily transforms to spark discharge in high electric field strength such as large applied voltage or small inter-electrode gap. The discharge energy and emission spectrum of spark discharge are more significant than that of electrolytic plasma discharge. Especially, the electrolytic plasma discharge does not cause any tool electrode wear due to the low discharge energy (discharge current of about 0.5 A), and the resulted surface of the workpiece is smooth. On the contrary, the spark discharge energy is high (discharge current about 9 A), which causes noticeable tool electrode wear and leaves discharge craters and thermal damage on the workpiece surface. Considering the obvious flushing effect of bubble flow during plasma ignition, PA-ECM is an ideal method for functional surface micro-dimple array fabrication without using tube central spray and workpiece mask. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuFe 2 O 4 cubic copper ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by a new plasma method, the advantage of which is the short duration of processing and cost-effectiveness. To select optimal synthesis conditions, central compositional rotatable experimental planning was used. Using the methods of X-ray phase analysis, vibration magnetometry, electron microscopy, and UV spectroscopy, the sizes of crystallites, the intensity of peaks in X-ray diffraction patterns, dislocation density, saturation magnetization, coercive force, and the degree of degradation of 4-nitrophenol were determined. To study the effect of pH on the composition of the resulting copper ferrites, cyclic voltammetry was used. The kinetics of the ferritization process under the influence of a plasma discharge has also been studied. A mechanism for ferritization in the Cu2+-Fe2+-SO 4 2--OH- system has been proposed. It was found that single-phase nanodispersed powders of cubic copper ferrites with a saturation magnetization Ms 78–93 Emu/g can be obtained by plasma treatment at 300 s and pH 12. Copper ferrite with an admixture of Cu 2 O is formed at pH = 8. The maximum values of the coercive force correspond to regimes in which the minimum dislocation density is observed. The saturation magnetization depends on the crystallite size. The crystallite size of the resulting powders is in the range of 225–500 A. The results showed that the processing time is the parameter that has the greatest impact on the structural and magnetic characteristics of copper ferrite; the pH of the reaction medium affects them to a lesser extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a novel ignition approach, nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharge (NRPD)-based non-thermal plasma offers significant benefits such as low energy consumption, and lean operating conditions. However, there is no investigation conducted on the early flame kernel formation and development induced by non-thermal plasma. Therefore, in this paper, experiments of conventional spark and non-thermal plasma ignition systems in constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) are conducted under gasoline engine relevant conditions: wide initial ambient pressures (6.5, 8.3, 11.3 bar), a range of equivalence ratios (0.7–1.0), EGR rates (10−25%), and cross flow speeds (0–30 m/s). The discharge energy of non-thermal plasma is of around 210 mJ, while a single spark event can generate energy from 65 mJ to 83 mJ depending on ambient conditions. A consecutive spark strategy is adopted to guarantee comparable total input energy to non-thermal plasma. The ignition delay and combustion phase obtained from the chamber pressure history are calculated. In the meanwhile, flame kernel radius, flame propagation rate, and flame front length ratio via schlieren images are quantified and analyzed. Results showed that the flame initiated by non-thermal plasma can maintain a robust flame kernel and propagates fast. Under high-speed cross flow and high EGR rate conditions, non-thermal plasma can maintain a robust flame kernel at early stage supporting the initial flame kernel to survive and improve its ignition probability. Considering the effects of the EGR ratio and high-speed cross flow on flame kernel development, non-thermal plasma ignition can efficiently enhance the flame propagation and ignition probability. It is also concluded that non-thermal plasma can successfully ignite under lean (equivalence ratio between 0.7–1.0), high-diluted mixture (25% EGR), and high-speed cross flow of 30 m/s within the range of current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-fluid plasma flow equations describe the flow of ions and electrons with different densities, velocities, and pressures. We consider the ideal plasma flow i.e. we ignore viscous, resistive and collision effects. The resulting system of equations has flux consisting of three independent components, one for ions, one for electrons, and a linear Maxwell’s equation flux for the electromagnetic fields. The coupling of these components is via source terms. In this article, we present conservative second-order finite difference schemes that ensure the consistent evolution of the divergence constraints on the electric and magnetic fields. The key idea is to design a numerical solver for Maxwell’s equations using the multidimensional Riemann solver at the vertices, ensuring discrete divergence constraints; for the fluid parts, we use an entropy-stable discretization. The proposed schemes are co-located, second-order accurate, entropy stable, and ensure divergence-free evolution of the magnetic field. We use explicit and IMplicit–EXplicit (IMEX) schemes for time discretizations. To demonstrate the accuracy, stability, and divergence constraint-preserving ability of the proposed schemes, we present several test cases in one and two dimensions. We also compare the numerical results with those obtained from schemes with no divergence cleaning and those employing perfectly hyperbolic Maxwell (PHM) equations-based divergence cleaning methods for Maxwell’s equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A process of CO2 decomposition in dielectric barrier discharge reactor using mesoporous CeO2-NiO catalysts was studied. Mesoporous materials of MCM-41, SBA-15 and MCF types were used in this study to investigate the influence of the material structure on CO2 decomposition efficiency. The obtained catalysts were characterized by physico-chemical methods: low temperature N2 adsorption, X-Ray diffraction and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy. CO2 conversion, CO yield and CO selectivity as well as energy efficiency and specific energy input were calculated. The comparison of process efficiency was conducted with that in the absence of any catalyst (plasma-only reactor). It was shown that in the presence of Ce-based catalysts, the conversion of CO2 (from 11 to 19%) and CO yield rise significantly, while CeNi samples show minor performance in CO2 plasma-catalytic dissociation. Porous characteristics affected the performance of CO2 decomposition. Using wide-porous MCF-type material as a support, it was possible to achieve the highest conversion due to enhanced CO2 adsorption in pores and subsequent plasma-catalytic decomposition. The combination of mesoporous silica material as a support and a CeO2 as an active component is promising for the plasma-catalytic CO2 splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Bioplastics offer biodegradability and reduced environmental impact but often use nondegradable synthetic dyes. This study introduces a novel application of glow discharge plasma (GDP) technology to modify cassava starch‐based bioplastic sheets, specifically optimizing conditions to enhance their hydrophilicity and adhesion for natural dyes. This research systematically tailors plasma treatment parameters to maximize the interaction between bioplastics and eco‐friendly natural dyes. Optimal conditions, identified as 30 W for 3 min using oxygen, air, and nitrogen plasma treatments, demonstrate significant advancement in sustainable material development. Analyses (ATR‐FTIR, EDX, XPS) showed increased concentration of polar functional groups and oxygen content, with FE‐SEM and water contact angle measurements revealing improved surface roughness and wettability, respectively. Oxygen plasma treatment yielded the highest hydrophilicity and crystallinity of the polymer. Tensile tests indicated increased strength and decreased elongation. UV‐Vis spectroscopy confirmed enhanced dye retention and reduced leaching. This study demonstrates GDP's potential to incorporate eco‐friendly natural dyes into bioplastics, thereby contributing to the development of more sustainable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interchange instability is known to drive fast radial transport of electrons and ions in Jupiter's inner and middle magnetosphere. In this study, we conduct a statistical survey to evaluate the properties of energetic particles and plasma waves during interchange events using Juno data from 2016 to 2023. We present representative examples of interchange events followed by a statistical analysis of the spatial distribution, duration and spatial extent. Our survey indicates that interchange instability is predominant at M‐shells from 6 to 26, peaking near 17 with an average duration of minutes and a corresponding M‐shell width of <∼0.05. During interchange events, the associated plasma waves, such as whistler‐mode, Z‐mode, and electron cyclotron harmonic waves exhibit a distinct preferential location. These findings provide valuable insights into particle transport and the source region of plasma waves in the Jovian magnetosphere, as well as in other magnetized planets within and beyond our solar system. Plain Language Summary: The radial transport of plasma around a magnetized planet is crucial for understanding the underlying magnetospheric dynamics. Jupiter's magnetospheric dynamics are primarily dominated by the rapid rotation and plasma source from Io. This rapid rotation drives the interchange instability, where hot, low‐density plasma is moved toward the inner magnetosphere. During this process, the inward moving flux tube builds up magnetic pressure, potentially leading to the trapping of particles alongside plasma waves. In this study, we present several typical examples of interchange events, and conduct a statistical analysis to explore their spatial distribution, duration and spatial extent, as well as the typical features of the associated plasma waves. This survey provides insights into mass transport, the source of these plasma waves in Jupiter's magnetosphere, with potential implications for other magnetized planets within and beyond our solar system. Key Points: Our statistical survey indicates that interchange events occur over L (or M)‐shells ∼6–26 at Jupiter with a peak occurrence rate at M ∼ 17During interchange events, various types of plasma waves are intensified, each exhibiting a distinct preferential locationThe duration and the corresponding spatial extent of interchange events are analyzed for multiple events [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on plasma observations from Juno's Joviana Auroral Distributions Experiment instrument and forward modeling, we investigate the dawn‐dusk asymmetries within Jupiter's magnetosphere between 10 and 40 RJ ${\mathrm{R}}_{J}$. On the dawnside, the flux tubes are depleted characterized by low density and near rigid‐corotation velocity, with a low temperature and thin plasma sheet. On the duskside, the flux tubes are assimilated characterized by high density and sub‐corotation velocity, with a hotter and thicker plasma sheet. Super‐corotating hot inflows originating from reconnection events are identified in the pre‐dawn sector. These observations are consistent with the Vasyliūnas cycle, suggesting it operates in a region closer to Jupiter than previous studies suggested. Outflows are locally coupled with swept‐back magnetic fields and are frequently observed near midnight. Inflows are locally coupled with swept‐forward fields with higher temperatures. The discernible temperature difference between inflows and outflows reveals their distinct origins. Plasma beta increases with radial distance, suggesting increased instabilities at larger distances. Plain Language Summary: Jupiter's magnetosphere is internally driven by plasma originating from its moons, particularly Io. As the plasma corotates around Jupiter and is transported outward, the force balance breaks with stretched magnetic field and pinched off plasma blobs, resulting in local time asymmetry. For the first time, this asymmetry is validated within 40 Jupiter radii using plasma observations from the Juno mission. Compared to the duskside, the dawnside plasma exhibits lower density, higher temperature, and larger corotational velocity (even exceeds rigid corotation sometimes). These results indicate distinct origins for inflows and outflows. This study brings us a step forward in our understanding of the dynamics of Jupiter's magnetosphere and provides a data set for comparison with simulations. Key Points: The dawn‐dusk asymmetry between 10 and 40 RJ is modulated by the Vasyliūnas cycle, featuring super‐corotating flows in the pre‐dawn sectorThe flux tubes are depleted and accelerated on the dawnside, while they are dense and sub‐corotational on the dusksideThe temperature difference between inflows and outflows suggests physically distinct origins [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bacillus cereus group represents a serious risk in powdered and amylaceous foodstuffs. Cold plasma (the fourth state of matter) is emerging as an alternative effective nonthermal technology for pasteurizing a wide range of matrices in solid, liquid, and powder form. The present study aims to evaluate the mechanisms involved in Bacillus cereus inactivation via cold plasma, focusing on (i) the technology's ability to generate damage in cells (at the morphological and molecular levels) and (ii) studying the effectiveness of cold plasma in biofilm mitigation through the direct effect and inhibition of the biofilm-forming capacity of sublethally damaged cells post-treatment. Dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (DBD-CP) technology was used to inactivate B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, and B. mycoides under plasma power settings of 100, 200, and 300 W and treatment times ranging from 1 to 10 min. Inactivation levels were achieved in 2–7 log10 cycles under the studied conditions. Percentages of sublethally damaged cells were observed in a range of 45–98%, specifically at treatment times below 7 min. The sublethally damaged cells showed poration, erosion, and loss of integrity at the superficial level. At the molecular level, proteins and DNA leakage were also observed for B. cereus but were minimal for B. mycoides. Biofilms formed by B. cereus were progressively disintegrated under the DBD-CP treatment. The greater the CP treatment intensity, the greater the tearing of the bacteria's biofilm network. Additionally, cells sublethally damaged by DBD-CP were evaluated in terms of their biofilm-forming capacity. Significant losses in the damaged cells' biofilm network density and aggregation capacity were observed when B. cereus was recovered after inactivation at 300 W for 7.5 min, compared with the untreated cells. These results provide new insights into the future of tailored DBD-CP design conditions for both the inactivation and biofilm reduction capacity of B. cereus sensu lato species, demonstrating the effectiveness of cold plasma and the risks associated with sublethal damage generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this research, animal samples were subjected to skin rejuvenation using the floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge plasma device. Plasma processing was performed on the dorsal area of the rat's neck, covering a surface area of 18 cm2. Biometric assessments, encompassing measurements of skin surface evaporation, moisture content, melanin and erythema levels, as well as skin firmness and elasticity, were conducted before treatment initiation, immediately posttreatment, at the 4th and the 10th week during the follow‐up period. Physical examinations were employed to investigate and record the active species generated by plasma as well as the temperature of the skin surface. The skin ultrasound device was utilized to assess the density and thickness of both the epidermis and dermis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wettability of droplets on a dielectric surface can be enhanced by an external electrical signal. Previous research has suggested that such a change in surface wettability is caused by the Maxwell stress concentrated on the three-phase contact line (TPL) of the droplet. Here, we demonstrate that this electromechanical effect cannot fully explain the complex process of droplet contact angle variation. The discharge plasma near the TPL is found to have a significant influence on the contact angle variation. When combined with the Maxwell stress, the plasma discharge can significantly enhance wetting, termed as plasma-enhanced electrowetting-on-dielectrics (PE-EWOD). The conditions for the plasma generation are described, and a phase-like diagram is used to clarify the relationship between PE-EWOD, EWOD, and electrolysis, which is helpful for an adequate control of the wettability through voltage. These findings have important implications for controlling droplet motion in numerous applications, including micro/nano manufacturing, optics, biomedicine, heat dissipation, and electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma turbulence plays a key role in space and astrophysical plasma systems, enabling the energy of magnetic fields and plasma flows to be transported to particle kinetic scales at which the turbulence dissipates and heats the plasma. Identifying the physical mechanisms responsible for the dissipation of the turbulent energy is a critical step in developing the predictive capability for the turbulent heating needed by global models. In this work, spacecraft measurements of the electromagnetic fields and ion velocity distributions by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission are used to generate velocity-space signatures that identify ion cyclotron damping in Earth's turbulent magnetosheath, in agreement with analytical modeling. Furthermore, the rate of ion energization is directly quantified and combined with a previous analysis of the electron energization to identify the dominant channels of turbulent dissipation and determine the partitioning of energy among species in this interval. Most space plasmas are in turbulent state and turbulence plays an essential role in transferring energy from large to small scales. Here, the authors show direct measurements of ion cyclotron damping in the Earth's turbulent magnetosheath plasma and the resulting ion and electron energization rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnostics based on using the contactless emission spectroscopy method are discussed and measurements results in experiments with helicon plasma at an experimental device used for studies of the plasma processes in a helicon discharge are presented. Argon and helium were the working gases. The radial distribution of the electron temperature was measured as well as the radial distributions of the atom and ion temperatures in different cross sections of the plasma flow, and the temperature cross sections along the installation axis. The plasma ionization coefficient was calculated, and its dependence on the electron temperature was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the ignition and ablation of a propellant by plasma produced during the electrical explosion of aluminum wires. An experimental platform is established to investigate the mechanism underlying this process. Al wires of different diameters and single-base, double-base, and triple-base propellants are considered. The electrical explosion products of the Al wires and the ablated propellant are analyzed in detail. The results show that during the explosions, the peak voltage of a 0.1 mm-diameter Al wire is the highest and that of a 0.5 mm-diameter wire is the lowest. The discharge voltages are basically the same after the metal vapor is broken down and formed into a plasma discharge channel. The peak of the particle diameter distribution of the explosion products of a 0.1 mm-diameter wire is at about 25 nm, that of a 0.2 mm-diameter wire is around 35 nm, and that of a 0.5 mm-diameter wire is around 50 nm. The ablation effect of a single-base propellant consists mainly of thermal ablation by plasma and impact ablation by particles. The ablation of a double-base propellant is mainly thermal ablation, and the ablation of a triple-base propellant is mainly thermal ablation dominated by particle impacts. The thermal decomposition temperatures of different propellant components have a significant influence on the ablation process. These results have a wide range of applications, such as in the design of plasma generators and energetic materials in electrothermal chemical guns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial–temporal discharge behavior of an AC argon plasma jet tilted at non-perpendicular incidence angles (60°, 45°, and 30°) interacting with an ungrounded metal, water, and glass plate placed on the jet propagation track was studied by the fast-imaging technique. The conductivity of surface and incidence angles plays an essential role in the discharge current and dynamic process of the plasma jet. The nearly consistent time delay between subsequent breakdowns occurred four times for metal and two times for glass treatments. The mean luminous intensity of the plasma in one discharge cycle at the discharge area between ground electrode and target surface region for the water and glass case decreased by 39.5% and 20.5% when the incidence angle decreased from 60° to 30°, respectively. In particular, the incidence angle and gas flow rate notably impacted the spatial extension behavior created on the glass surface but had no significant difference in discharge characteristic of plasma jet with metal case. In addition, two equivalent circuit models were developed based on the simulation of the micro-discharges and the geometry of the "plasma jet–substrate" system, respectively. These results will obtain further insight into the underlying mechanisms of plasma-target interaction and facilitate the designing of appropriate jet for environmental and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research proposes a new technique for measuring the energy characteristics (losses of energy in the spark gap, related to light radiation, ionization, excitation, and heating of the working gas during the development of plasma; discharge power) of two-electrode gas dischargers in the subnanosecond range. The work examines the voltage waveforms across the discharge gas gap and the discharge current waveform obtained by the reflectometry method in the subnanosecond range. To do this, the traditional technique for measuring such characteristics was modified. This allows us to restore the back edge of the voltage pulse across the discharge gap at the breakdown delay and the breakdown stages, which is usually lost in the subnanosecond range when measuring such waveforms. For modification, calculated data on the ionization frequency were used. This allows us to replace the plasma of the discharge gap with a constant resistor in those sections of the voltage waveform where the characteristic ionization time is more than an order of magnitude longer than the duration of the voltage pulse applied to the gap. The waveforms of the voltage across the discharge gap and the discharge current obtained in this way allowed us to calculate the power dynamics and total energy introduced into the gas discharge plasma. These parameters are important both for calculating the efficiency of gas switches and for other applications of gas discharge plasma, in particular laser pumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gyrokinetic simulation of the toroidal rotation of plasma with a stochastic magnetic field perturbation is carried out. The simulation results suggest that the stochastic magnetic perturbation drives the plasma to toroidally rotate through the ambipolar radial electric field E r established on the timescale of electron transit time. It is found that this spontaneous flow driven on the timescale less than an ion–ion collision time is the parallel return flow of the E r × B drift. The ion–ion collisional effect further changes the parallel return flow to the toroidal rigid-body flow after a few ion–ion collision times. This simulation result is consistent with the toroidal rigid-body rotation observed in tokamak experiments with a stochastic layer induced by the externally applied resonant magnetic perturbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion–ion collisions play a crucial role in determining transport coefficients in the atmosphere of Earth. This study investigated collision integrals for N+(3P)–N+(3P,1D), O+(4S)–O+(4S, 2D), and O+(4S)–N+(3P, 1D) interactions based on the classical approach and real potentials in the temperature range of 1000–50 000 K. Accurate potential energy curves (PECs) are calculated by state-averaged complete active space self-consistent field and internally contracted multireference configuration interaction methods, employing the aug-cc-pwCV5Z-DK basis set with reasonable extrapolation. Moreover, this study considered the diabatic path to construct the PEC when the avoided crossings occur since the diabatic path is easier to follow. PECs for N+(3P)–N+(1D), O+(4S)–O+(2D), and O+(4S)–N+(1D) interactions and collision integrals based on the high-quality ab initio points for these interactions are investigated for the first time. This work aims to provide reliable data for predicting the transport properties for modeling the air plasma flow field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analytical model of high-speed flows has been developed for the channel of quasi-stationary plasma accelerator used to create powerful electric jet plasma engine of new generation. The model of two-dimensional axisymmetric flows is based on the stationary equations of two-fluid magnetohydrodynamics for the ideal plasma and the smoothly varying channel approximation. The new approach to organizing flows using non-equipotential electrodes is associated with the electron current-transport regime, which ensures slipping of the heavy ion component of the plasma along anode and cathode. As a result of studying transonic flows in the profiled channel, the potential distributions along non-equipotential electrodes, as well as the integral characteristics of the flow, including mass flux and thrust, were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classifying and monitoring the L-, H-mode, and plasma-free state are essential for the stable operational control of tokamaks. Edge reflectometry measures plasma density profiles, but the large volume of data and complexity in reconstruction pose significant challenges. There is a need for efficient methods to analyze complex reflectometer data in real-time, which can be addressed using advanced computational techniques. Here, we show that machine learning (ML) techniques can classify discharge states using raw signal data from an edge reflectometer installed on the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research. The deep convolutional neural network models achieved classification accuracy of up to 99% when using 2D spectrogram inputs, demonstrating a significant improvement over 1D raw signal inputs. Additionally, the variational autoencoder model effectively clustered the discharge states in the latent space without any label information, further validating the model's capability to classify discharge states. These results suggest that the ML model can effectively handle the complexity of reflectometer data and accurately classify plasma discharge states. This approach not only facilitates real-time diagnosis but also reduces the need for manual data processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high stability and less maintenance, the radio frequency (RF) driven ion source is preferred for the neutral beam injection (NBI) system. In a popular design of the RF ion source for NBI application, a Faraday shield (FS) is installed inside the RF plasma driver to protect the discharge tube. However, the FS also brings some drawbacks, such as lowering the RF power transfer and increasing the processing difficulty. A prototype of the RF plasma driver without FS and with mature manufacturing technology has been developed by using a water-cooled discharge tube. After basic testing, this prototype was further tested under the RF plasma discharge experiments in views of high power, long pulse, and long term. The reliability and its plasma characteristics were the focus of these experiments, also for the hidden issues. The results show that the prototype could generate stable and high-density plasma without any damage or sputtering mark. An RF plasma discharge of 50 kW and 20 s has been achieved. The expected frequency tuning was equally effective on the prototype. Moreover, compared to the RF plasma driver with FS, the prototype could produce higher electron density in the extraction region under the same RF power. Of course, some of the shortcomings of the prototype have also been exposed in the experiments and will be improved in subsequent experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To exceed the power density limit of conventional CHON energetic materials (carbon, hydroxide, and nitrogen based energetic materials), we utilize electrical wire explosions, which generate plasma that drives energetic materials and produces coupling effects. An electrochemically coupled experimental setup and a measurement diagnosis system are used to investigate the energy release characteristics of the explosion of an electrical wire coupled with energetic materials. At ordinary temperature and atmospheric pressure in an air environment, the electrical explosion of an aluminum wire coupled with HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) can be divided into four distinct stages: phase transition, current pause, plasma discharge, and loop oscillation discharge. The plasma discharge phase generates over 63% of the deposition energy. Images captured by a framing camera indicate that the expansion velocity of the energetic materials is significantly smaller than the expansion velocity of the metal wire at 3.92 μs. At 5.92 μs, the energetic materials in the metal plasma expand under the action of detonation, and their expansion velocity rapidly exceeds that of the metal wire. At 10.92 μs, coupling of the electrical explosion and chemical explosion energies is achieved. When the charging voltage is increased by 5 kV, the current pause time is reduced by 37.2%, and the expansion process of the electrochemically coupled explosion products is faster, effectively improving the deposition energy velocity. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for improving the energy release efficiency of high-energy materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, we report on the synthesis of a polynitrogen material from a potassium azide precursor using nanosecond-pulsed spark discharge plasma in liquid nitrogen. The polynitrogen material was characterized using Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and identified as K2N6, with planar N6 rings and K- ions that have P6/mmm symmetry. An analysis of the mechanism behind such a transformation shows the importance of direct plasma–chemical effects in polymerization, while the crystal structure changes are believed to be due to plasma-emitted radiation in the ultraviolet range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), known as the 'cancer' of cucurbits, is a seed‐borne disease of melons caused by Acidovorax citrulli. Traditional chemical treatments for BFB are ineffective and adversely affect the environment. Using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) nanosecond‐pulsed plasma technology, melon seeds were treated to promote germination and growth and to control BFB. RESULTS: Based on the evaluation parameters of seed germination, seedling growth, leaf yellowing and bacterial infection after seed plasma treatments, 9 min at 20 kV was selected as the optimal plasma discharge parameter. In this study, seedling growth was significantly improved after treating melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using this discharge parameter. The number of first true leaves measured on the eighth day was 2.3 times higher and the disease index was reduced by 60.5% compared to the control group. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared measurements show that plasma treatments penetrate the seed coat and denature polysaccharides and proteins in the seed kernel, affecting their growth and sterilization properties. CONCLUSION: Pre‐sowing treatment of melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using nanosecond‐pulsed plasma technology can effectively control seedling BFB disease and promote melon seedling growth by optimizing DBD parameters. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, gas–liquid discharge plasma excited by nanosecond pulsed voltage is used to efficiently remove tiamulin (TIA) from water. The discharge produces a large number of reactive species (H2O2, OH radicals, NO3−, etc.) that can attack the TIA molecules. The effects of peak pulse voltage, initial TIA concentration, gas composition, and the addition of ferrous sulfate and persulfate on TIA removal were mainly investigated. The results showed that the oxygen plasma could approach 100% removal within 30 min of treatment time. The addition of the catalyst increased the TIA removal efficiency by approximately 15% during the 10‐min discharge treatment time. The toxicity of 12 intermediates was analyzed and the degradation mechanism of TIA was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation and dynamics of vertical dust chains in the radio frequency discharge plasma sheath have been investigated. The spatiotemporal evolution diagram allows the visualization of the dust chain formation process as well as the oscillation phenomenon. A clear stratification was observed, and spatially nonuniform self‐organizing behavior of the dust chains, such as fractures and reconnections, was also observed, showing that the lower layers of the large‐grained chains are less restricted, softer, and more prone to rearrangement. The spatial distribution characteristics of the charged particles in the sheath and the modified two‐particle model, which takes into account the interparticle attraction, partially explain the mechanisms of the fracture and reorganization behavior of the dust chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrodynamic instability of a magnetized, self-gravitating rotating anisotropic plasma is analyzed in the collisionless approximation and considering the heat flux vector based on the modified Chu–Goldberger–Low equations. A dispersion relation is obtained, on the basis of which simplified cases of propagation of low-amplitude disturbance waves and the derivation of modified criteria for hydrodynamic instability are discussed. Using the obtained dispersion relation, three simple cases are treated when the disturbance wave propagates across, along, and obliquely to the magnetic field vector. It is shown that the anisotropy of pressure and heat flow not only changes the classical criterion of the Jeans instability, but also leads to the appearance of new wave modes and causes the appearance of new unstable domains. It has been found that the presence of uniform rotation of the plasma reduces the critical wave number and has a stabilizing effect on the criterion of gravitational instability when the disturbance wave propagates transversely, without having an effect in the case of longitudinal propagation. These results are important for developing evolutionary magnetohydrodynamic models of astrophysical collisionless plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wastewater problem is becoming an increasingly significant environmental issue affecting various aspects of human activities. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in water through certain physicochemical processes, which can oxidise or degrade various organic and chemical compounds, offers an effective purification method. The main advantage of these methods is the elimination of chemical reagents. The aim of this work is to investigate the possibility of regulating the ROS content in water by altering the characteristics of the plasma discharge that occurs under hydrodynamic cavitation in the water flow. The ROS concentration was determined using the permanganate oxidation titration technique. It was found that the content of various reactive oxygen species in water after treatment can be controlled by varying the power of the electrical pulses applied. Additionally, this study obtained the dependence of the ROS concentration in treated water samples on storage time, with results indicating that sonoplasma treatment has a prolonged effect on the antibacterial properties of water. The analysis of water samples using a biological test culture of Salmonella typhimurium revealed the bacteriostatic properties of the water for at least 48 h after sonoplasma discharge treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]