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Premise The sooty molds are a globally distributed ecological group of ascomycetes with epiphyllous, saprotrophic habit, comprising several phylogenetically distant taxa (i.e., members of the classes Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes). Their fossil record extends almost continuously back to the early Cretaceous; however, they are hypothesized to have originated in the early Mesozoic. Here, we describe new specimens of sooty molds associated with conifer leaves from Jurassic hot spring deposits of Patagonia, Argentina. Methods Thin sections of chert samples from the La Matilde Formation, Deseado Massif (Santa Cruz, Argentina) were observed using light microscopy. Results The fungi occur on the surface and axils of leafy twigs with podocarpaceous affinities, forming dense subicula comprised by opaque moniliform hyphae. Additionally, several asexual and sexual reproductive structures are observed. On the basis of vegetative (i.e., dense subicula composed of moniliform hyphae; hyphae composed of opaque cells deeply constricted at the septa) and reproductive characters (i.e., poroconidial and sympodioconidial asexual stages and diverse spores), two morphotypes were identified with affinities within lineages of the subphylum Pezizomycotina that encompass the ecological group of sooty molds, and a third morphotype was within the phylum Ascomycota. Conclusions This finding extends the fossil record of sooty molds to the Jurassic and their geographic fossil range to the South American continent. In particular, their association with podocarpaceous conifers is shown to be ancient, dating back to the Jurassic. This new record provides an additional reference point on the diversity of interactions that characterized Jurassic forests in Patagonia.

In this chapter, we reflect on earlier sections of the book that address core theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches in the study of political participation, and consider the notion that the so-called quantitative–qualitative divide in this academic field is neither inevitable nor to be preferred. Taking as a starting point that it is possible to construct a bridge between quantitative and qualitative methodologies, we consider the potential value to be gained by adopting mixed methods approaches when studying how people choose to engage in politics. Such mixed methods approaches to research are flexible and pragmatic, reflecting the nature of the questions to be studied as well as the context in which such a project is to be conducted. Drawing upon a range of examples from the field, we address matters of ontology, epistemology, and methodology, as well as different methodological movements, before focusing on the purposes, forms, and sequences of the mixed methods approach (such as concurrent, transformative, and sequential mixed methods).

The analysis of the current ramp-down phase of JET plasmas has revealed the occurrence of additional magnetic oscillations in pulses characterized by large magnetic islands. The frequencies of these oscillations range from 5 to 20 kHz , being well below the toroidal gap in the Alfvén continuum and of the same order as the low-frequency gap opened by plasma compressibility. The additional oscillations only appear when the magnetic island width exceeds a critical threshold, suggesting that the oscillations could tap their energy from the tearing mode (TM) by a non-linear coupling mechanism. A possible role of fast ions in the excitation process can be excluded, being the pulse phase considered in the observations characterized by very low additional heating. The calculation of the coupled Alfvén–acoustic continuum in toroidal geometry suggests the possibility of beta-induced Alfvén eigenmodes (BAEs) rather than beta-induced Alfvén–acoustic eigenmodes. As a main novelty compared to previous work, the analysis of the electron temperature profiles from electron cyclotron emission has shown the simultaneous presence of magnetic islands on different rational surfaces in pulses with multiple magnetic oscillations in the low-frequency gap of the Alfvén continuum. This observation supports the hypothesis of different BAE with toroidal mode number n = 1 associated with different magnetic islands. As another novelty, the observation of magnetic oscillations with n = 2 in the BAE range is reported for the first time in this work. Some pulses, characterized by slowly rotating magnetic islands, exhibit additional oscillations with n = 0, likely associated with geodesic acoustic modes (GAMs), and a cross-spectral bicoherence analysis has confirmed a non-linear interaction between TM, BAE and GAM, with the novelty of the observation of multiple triplets (twin BAEs plus GAM), due to the simultaneous presence of several magnetic islands in the plasma.

Premise of research. Despite the ecological significance of arbuscular mycorrhizae in modern terrestrial ecosystems, knowledge about their evolution based on the fossil record is still scarce, especially concerning the case of root nodules harboring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as in some extant gymnosperms and angiosperms. Exceptionally preserved conifer nodular roots were found in the Jurassic fossil-bearing chert deposits of the Deseado Massif (Santa Cruz, Argentina), raising the possibility of studying them in association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The aim of this study is to describe the plant organs and their fungal partners and to discuss the ecological significance of the interactions observed, particularly with respect to their occurrence in the hot spring settings. Methodology. Thin sections of chert samples from the Cañadón Nahuel locality of the La Matilde Formation, Deseado Massif (Santa Cruz, Argentina) were observed using light microscopy. Pivotal results. The cortex of the nodules is occupied by several glomeromycotan fungal structures. The structures occur in a specific zone of the cortex—toward its center—and include intracellular hyphal coils and arbuscules. Glomoid spores and coenocytic hyphae possibly penetrating the epidermal cells are also described and analyzed. Conclusions. The root nodules have affinities with the Araucariales, representing the oldest record of such structures for this conifer clade. This is also the first record of nodules harboring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for the Jurassic; it extends our knowledge of the fossil record for this particular type of fungal association. Fil: Nunes, Cristina Isabel. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: García Massini, Juan Leandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; Argentina Fil: Escapa, Ignacio Hernán. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Guido, Diego Martin. Instituto de Recursos Minerales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Recursos Minerales. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Recursos Minerales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Campbell, Kathleen. University of Auckland; Nueva Zelanda

Background: Frailty is a biological syndrome that causes adverse events in the health of older adults. However, the Clinical Frailty Scale has not yet been culturally adapted and validated into Brazilian Portuguese language. Objectives: Our aim was to translate, reproduce and validate the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) for the Brazilian Portuguese language. Design: An observational cross-sectional study with senior patients was conducted between Jan 2018 and Nov 2018. Setting and Participants: Volunteers aged >60 and living in Brazil. The translation and cultural adaptation of the CFS into the Portuguese language, the principles and good practices were followed. Measurements: To conduct the validation and determine the reproducibility of an inter-observer evaluation, the patients answered the scale questions in Portuguese on two occasions, delivered by two separate examiners and separated by a 10-minute interval, on their first visit; the 36-item Short Form Survey quality-of-life questionnaire (SF-36) was also applied. Seven days later, a second visit was undertaken to perform an intra-observer reproducibility assessment. Results: A total of 66 older individuals were enrolled (72 ± 8 years), the majority of which did not present frailty (63.6%) and reported a low physical limitation level in the SF-36. The CFS showed a significant correlation with the SF-36 quality-of-life questionnaire (r= −0.663; p

New protocols are constantly being tested in the search for complete disinfection of root canals without the undesirable effects of sodium hypochlorite. This study evaluated the antimicrobial effect of ozonated water and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with so

This article investigates the triggering of ELMs on JET by injection of frozen pellets of isotopes of Hydrogen. A method is established to determine the probability that a specific pellet triggers a particular ELM. This method allows clear distinction between pellet-ELM pairs that are very likely to represent triggering events and pairs that are very unlikely to represent such an event. Based on this, the pellet parameters that are most likely to affect the ability of pellets to trigger ELMs have been investigated. It has been found that the injection location is very important, with injection from the vertical high field side showing a much higher triggering efficiency than low field side (LFS) injection. The dependence on parameters such as pellet speed and size and the time since the last ELM is also seen to be much stronger for LFS injection. Finally, the paper illustrates how improvements to the pellet injection system by streamlining the pellet flight lines and slightly increasing the pellet size has resulted in a significantly improved ability to deliver pellets to the plasma and trigger ELMs.

Healthy dieting and the practice of physical activities are deemed fundamental for the adequate growth, development and maintenance of health in young people. This project takes into account these priority areas and is directed towards the educational community, giving a voice to the students through projects such as "Ambassadors of Health" and "E-P@articipate". With "Learn to Eat and Get a Move On" a transversal involvement between community partners, projects and disciplinary areas was achieved, namely through the projects "Mediterranean Diet", "Geodesic Greenhouse" and physical education, with activities being developed in the areas of diet, health and environment. In the greenhouse, aromatic seeds were planted to highlight their importance in a diet, as well as a way to reduce or replace salt.

Background and aim Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are submitted to multiple transfusions in order to increase the oxygen capacity of the blood, decrease blood viscosity, and suppress the sickling of the cells. Multiply transfused patients with SCD represent significant risk of acquiring parenterally transmitted infections. The analysis of the virome profile of high-risk multiply transfused patients with SCD can reveal the presence of parenterally transmitted viruses and therefore be used an indirect approach for evaluation of blood transfusion safety. Materials and methods Blood samples were collected from 45 patients with SCD receiving multiple transfusions and analyzed by metagenomic analyses. The samples were assembled in pools f which were submitted to nucleic acids extraction and sequencing by Illumina NextSeq 550 equipment. For bioinformatic analysis, we used a specific in-house developed pipeline specialized in identification of emerging viruses. Results The virome composition of SCD patients revealed the presence of commensal viruses represented by anelloviruses and Human Pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1, GB virus C). Contaminant viral sequences belonging to human lentiviruses (rev, env genes), cytomegalovirus and murine leukemia virus were also identified and are attributed to vectors used in the laboratory practice. No novel or unsuspected pathogenic viruses were identified. Conclusion This study evaluates for the first time the virome of multiply transfused patients with SCD. Exclusively genetic material of commensal viruses was annotated. Therefore, we believe that viral metagenomics applied in patients with high risk for acquiring parenterally transmitted infections can serve as a direct indicator for evaluation of transfusion safety.

A control-oriented approach, based on real-time equilibrium reconstruction, has been developed to monitor power fluxes to ITER plasma-facing components (PFC). The model describes the deposited heat flux as a poloidal flux function with two main input parameters: the power exhausted across the plasma boundary and the scrape-off layer heat flux width. A module containing weighting factors accounts for the real PFC 3D geometry. These factors are obtained using a new sophisticated GUI interface, SMITER, hosting a magnetic field line tracing code permitting the import and appropriate meshing of full PFC CAD descriptions. This new methodology has been used to examine two critically important first wall (FW) power loading issues for ITER: the start-up phase at low current and power, but requiring direct contact with the inboard wall, and the case of an upward plasma shift in a diverted configuration under high power, high current H-mode burning plasma conditions, which imposes very high power loads on the upper chamber FW panels.

Objective To determine the predictors of early, intermediate and late biochemical recurrence (BR) following minimally invasive radical prostatectomy in patients with localized prostate cancer (PC). Material and methods We included 6195 patients with cT1-3N0M0 prostate cancer treated using radical laparoscopic prostatectomy (RLP) and radical robot-assisted prostatectomy at our institution between 2000 and 2016. None of the patients underwent adjuvant therapy. BR is defined as PSA levels ≥0.2 ng/dL. The time to BR is divided into terciles to identify the variables associated with early ( 36 months) recurrence. We employed logistic regression models to determine the risk factors associated with each interval. Results We identified 1148 (18.3%) patients with BR. The median time to BR was 24 months (IQR, 0.98–53.18). The multivariate analysis showed that preoperative PSA levels, lymph node invasion, positive margins and RLP are associated with early recurrence (p ≤ 0.029 for all). Laparoscopic surgery was the only predictor of intermediate recurrence (p = 0.001). The predictors of late recurrence included a pathological Gleason score ≥7, stage ≥pT3, positive margins and RLP (p ≤ 0.02 for all). Conclusions The patients with high-risk prostate cancer can develop late recurrence and require long-term follow-up. Identifying patients with higher PSA levels and lymph node invasion has an important predictive role in the first year after surgery. The association between RLP and BR warrants further assessment.

The ITER plasma control system (PCS) has successfully completed its final design for the first plasma (FP) and engineering operations (EOs) phase and plant system commissioning has begun as ITER prepares for this first operation phase. Commissioning of the essential plant systems will continue as each plant system is completed and made ready for operation. Tokamak assembly has begun with the base and lower cylinder of the cryostat and the lower most poloidal field (PF) coil installed in the tokamak pit. The first vacuum vessel (VV) sector and accompanying two toroidal field (TF) coils are being prepared for transfer to the pit. Once the tokamak is assembled, the cryostat top lid is closed and pump down begins, this will start approximately one year of integrated commissioning (IC) to prepare all of the relevant plant systems for FP operation. After a scheduled one month of plasma operation with the goal of achieving a plasma current > 100 kA for at least 100 ms, there will be about six months of EO to complete commissioning of the superconducting central solenoid, PF, and TF magnet systems to full current, without plasma, to complete this initial ITER operation phase. The PCS final design for FP will be described as well as the IC sequence of the main plant systems required for this operations phase. The plans for the FP operation campaign will be described, including specific challenges present on ITER due to large VV eddy currents, issues associated with electron cyclotron heating (ECH) assist, neutral pressure and impurities. This will be followed by the EO phase to commission full current operation of the superconducting magnets, possibly including plasma operation at full TF of 5.3 T to have improved conditions both for Ohmic plasma initiation and ECH absorption.

A new genus and species, Austrocupressinoxylon barcinense, based on remains of cupressaceous wood is described for the Lower Cretaceous of central Patagonia, Argentina. The studied specimens are silicified fragments of picnoxylic and homoxylic wood that exhibit a combination of characters not previously reported, therefore a new genus is erected. The characters are: 1- growth ring boundaries distinct, 2- transition from earlywood to latewood gradual, 3- axial parenchyma diffuse,4- radial tracheid pitting predominantly abietinean,5- cross-field pitting cupressoid, arranged in both cupressoid and araucarioid patterns, 6- rays uniseriate heterocellular, 7- end and horizontal walls of ray parenchyma cells smooth or slightly nodular, and 8- ray tracheids with smooth walls. The cross-field pitting patterns and the presence of ray tracheids are two traits of particular interest in the context of systematic affinities. The fragments were collected from two stumps found in life position attached to each other by a main root, consequently, the disposition of the stumps suggests a case of clonal growth by root suckering. This is the second report of such mechanisms in the fossil records worldwide and the first one for South America., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

Er3+-doped zinc tellurite glass and glass-ceramic are prepared by simple melt-quenching technique and subsequent heat-treatments at two defined crystallization temperatures. The heat-treated sample at 460 °C converts to an opaque glass-ceramic with the formation of mainly Zn2Te3O8 and TeO2 crystalline phases. There is no peak observed corresponding to the ZnTeO3 phase. The effective bandwidth of the near-infrared emission band of Er3+ ions at around 1.5 μm increases from 65 nm to 89 nm after exposing the sample to heat-treatment owing to the formation of different symmetry sites around Er3+ ions. The lifetime of this band decreases from 2.49 to 1.72 ms. The upconversion emission bands in ceramized sample show a red-shift, while the green to red upconversion intensity ratio decreases from 3 to 0.6, respectively, for glass and glass-ceramic samples. The mechanism behind this observation is discussed by possible energy transfer between Er3+ ions in the crystalline phase.

Glasses and glass-ceramics based on SiO2 have attracted a large attention. In this work, the thermal properties and crystallization kinetics of Si–Al–Zn–K–Ti glasses are investigated. Based on the thermal parameters derived from the differential scanning calorimetry technique ran upon various heating rates, the characteristic glass transition temperature, onset crystallization temperature and crystallization temperature were extracted. The crystallization peaks are carefully investigated by Kissinger, Ozawa and modified-Kissinger methods. Avrami index and the dimensionality of the crystal growth vary from 2 to 4 at the same time that crystallization activation energy decrease from 177.80 kJ/mol to 145.40 kJ/mol in Ozawa method and the thermal stability reaches to 177.20 ΔC° by doping with 0.5 wt% of CeO2 and 0.5 wt% of Eu2O3, both in excess. Our results confirm the role of rare earth ions in the crystallization kinetics, as well as improvement in the glass thermal stability.

An angiospermous wood from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) of the Cerro Barcino Formation, Chubut Group, central Patagonia, Argentina, is described. Its estimated minimum diameter is 40 cm and it is significant as the oldest known angiosperm wood for South America. It has indistinct growth ring boundaries, vessels solitary and in radial multiples, simple perforation plates, alternate intervessel pits, vessel-ray parenchyma pits oval to horizontally elongated, heterocellular rays, non-septate fibres, axial parenchyma absent, and abundant tyloses. Because this Albian wood has non-septate fibres we assign it to Carlquistoxylon, even though it has a general combination of characters similar to that of Paraphyllanthoxylon, which has septate fibres. The number of vessels per radial multiple, vessel tangential diameter and frequency, vessel-ray parenchyma pitting, and absence of axial parenchyma distinguish the fossil described here from the only previously known species of Carlquistoxylon: Carlquistoxylon nacimientense; therefore, a new species is erected. Because of the close similarities between this new specimen and Paraphyllanthoxylon species, comparisons with all the species included in both genera are provided. Systematic affinities for this wood are discussed considering previous discussions for both Paraphyllanthoxylon and Carlquistoxylon affinities. As the oldest described angiosperm wood in South America to date, this specimen provides critical information on the diversity and growth habit of Cretaceous angiosperms from the Southern Hemisphere. Fil: Nunes, Cristina Isabel. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Pujana, Roberto Roman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Escapa, Ignacio Hernán. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Gandolfo, Maria Alejandra. Cornell University; Estados Unidos Fil: Cúneo, Néstor Rubén. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

The International Tokamak Physics Activity topical group on integrated operational scenarios has compiled a database of stationary H-mode discharges at q(95) similar to 3 from AUG, C-Mod, DIII-D, J ...

Background and Purpose Both cannabinoid CB1 and adenosine A2A receptors (CB1 receptors and A2A receptors) control synaptic transmission at corticostriatal synapses, with great therapeutic importance for neurological and psychiatric disorders. A postsynaptic CB1−A2A receptor interaction has already been elucidated, but the presynaptic A2A receptor-mediated control of presynaptic neuromodulation by CB1 receptors remains to be defined. Because the corticostriatal terminals provide the major input to the basal ganglia, understanding the interactive nature of converging neuromodulation on them will provide us with novel powerful tools to understand the physiology of corticostriatal synaptic transmission and interpret changes associated with pathological conditions.

To determine the predictors of early, intermediate and late biochemical recurrence (BR) following minimally invasive radical prostatectomy in patients with localised prostate cancer (PC).We included 6195 patients with cT1-3N0M0 prostate cancer treated using radical laparoscopic prostatectomy (RLP) and radical robot-assisted prostatectomy at our institution between 2000 and 2016. None of the patients underwent adjuvant therapy. BR is defined as PSA levels ≥0.2 ng/dL. The time to BR is divided into terciles to identify the variables associated with early (12 months), intermediate (12-36 months) and late (36 months) recurrence. We employed logistic regression models to determine the risk factors associated with each interval.We identified 1148 (18.3%) patients with BR. The median time to BR was 24 months (IQR, 0.98-53.18). The multivariate analysis showed that preoperative PSA levels, lymph node invasion, positive margins and RLP are associated with early recurrence (P≤.029 for all). Laparoscopic surgery was the only predictor of intermediate recurrence (P=.001). The predictors of late recurrence included a pathological Gleason score ≥7, stage ≥pT3, positive margins and RLP (P≤.02 for all).The patients with high-risk prostate cancer can develop late recurrence and require long-term follow-up. Identifying patients with higher PSA levels and lymph node invasion has an important predictive role in the first year after surgery. The association between RLP and BR warrants further assessment.

Flow cytometry is often used for viability and vitality assessment in bacteria and yeasts. However, its application to the study of fungal spore development is uncommon, probably due to the difficulties in successfully staining these cells. In the current study, we used flow cytometry for the first time to assess the effects of a disinfection treatment on the survival, growth and metabolic activity of fungal spores (Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger) submitted to gamma radiation (0–15 kGy). The Forward and Side-Scatter parameters of the cytometer were used to assess the differences in size and complexity of particles. Furthermore, two fluorescent dyes were used: Propidium Iodide to assess the membrane integrity and spore viability, in a culture-independent procedure; and Dihydroethidium to measure the changes in metabolic activity of irradiated spores in their first 10 h of growth in a liquid culture medium. Our results support that flow cytometry is a valuable tool in assessing different biological parameters and biocide effects, as it allowed accurate determination of the viability, growth and metabolic activity of gamma-irradiated spores. The fluorescence of Propidium Iodide was 5–7× more intense in unviable spores. The Dihydroethidium fluorescence increase was associated with faster growth. Control and low radiation doses allowed the germination and growth of spores, while higher doses led to growth inhibition and lower fluorescence.

Parchment documents are part of our cultural heritage and, as historical artifacts that they are, should be preserved. The aim of this study was to validate an appropriate methodology to characterize the bioburden of parchment documents, and to assess the growth and gamma radiation inactivation patterns of the microbiota present in that material. Another goal was to estimate the minimum gamma radiation dose ( D min ) to be applied for the decontamination of parchment as an alternative treatment to the current toxic chemical and non-chemical decontamination methods. Two bioburden assessment methodologies were evaluated: the Swab Method (SM) and the Destructive Method (DM). The recovery efficiency of each method was estimated by artificial contamination, using a Cladosporium cladosporioides spore suspension. The parchment samples' microbiota was typified using morphological methods and the fungal isolates were identified by ITS-DNA sequencing. The inactivation pattern was assessed using the DM after exposure to different gamma radiation doses, and using C. cladosporioides as reference. Based on the applied methodology, parchment samples presented bioburden values lower than 5×10 3 CFU/cm 2 for total microbiota, and lower than 10 CFU/cm 2 for fungal propagules. The results suggest no evident inactivation trend for the natural parchment microbiota, especially regarding the fungal community. A minimum gamma radiation dose ( D min ) of 5 kGy is proposed for the decontamination treatment of parchment. Determining the minimal decontamination dose in parchment is essential for a correct application of gamma radiation as an alternative decontamination treatment for this type of documents avoiding the toxicity and the degradation promoted by the traditional chemical and non-chemical treatments.

Understanding the structure of indoor airborne microbial communities could be useful in optimizing conservation and disinfection procedures in archive repositories, preventing the biodeterioration of stored collections. In this study we characterized the microbial air community inside the Archive of the University of Coimbra, by identifying different fungal and bacterial organisms retrieved from air samples. The microbial contamination was determined using conventional culture methods, and the isolates were typified using morphological techniques. Results indicated a low microbial air contamination (107 ± 12 CFU/m3), particularly regarding fungal propagules (6 ± 1 CFU/m3). Fungal isolates were identified using ITS-DNA sequencing. Among fungal isolates, Penicillium was the most frequent genus, and Penicillium griseofulvum was the predominant species. Simpson diversity index (1-D) was applied to phenotypic and genotypic results. Total phenotypic diversity varied from 0.4 to 0.8 and regarding fungal species, the diversity was higher than 0.5. These results were compared with previous analyses of the Archive's air, suggesting that short-term changes in atmospheric conditions may influence the indoor air microbial community structure.

Parchments are important documents that give testimony for History; therefore these materials should be respected and preserved. Considering incremental biodeterioration problems that have to be faced daily, the Archive of the University of Coimbra (AUC) is involved in different scientific projects in order to evaluate and determine new methods for document decontamination and preservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate gamma radiation effects on the colour and texture of the AUC parchment documents. The assessment of these effects was used to estimate the maximum gamma radiation dose ( D max ) that could guarantee parchment documents′ decontamination treatment, without significant alteration of their physical properties. Parchment samples were exposed to gamma radiation doses ranging from 10 to 30 kGy. The texture and colour of samples were assessed before and after the irradiation procedure, using a texture analyser and an electronic colorimeter. Hardness and springiness were determined based on texture spectra. Lightness (L⁎), Chroma (C), greenness vs. redness (a*) and yellowness vs. blueness (b*) values were obtained from colorimetric measures. Results indicate no significant effects of gamma radiation on the texture and colour of parchment for the studied doses.

Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) in the hydrogen minority scheme provides central ion heating and acts favorably on the core tungsten transport. Full wave modeling shows that, at medium power level (4MW), after collisional redistribution, the ratio of power transferred to the electrons in the core (r/a

The purpose of this study was to identify the variation of heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and technical actions between 2 soccer small-sided games (SSGs; 3 × 3 and 4 × 4) in 3 game type constraints (when playing only offense [OFF], playing only defense [DEF], and both situations [GAME]). Sixteen high-level young male players were analyzed (age 15.75 ± 0.45 years; height 172.4 ± 4.83 cm; body mass 64.5 ± 6.44 kg; HRmax199.1 ± 9.08 b·min(-1); and 8.06 ± 1.98 years of soccer practice). All tasks were performed in 4 periods of 4 minutes interspersed with 2 minutes of active recovery. The HR was measured continuously and then analyzed by the time spent into 4 training zones according to individual %HRmax (zone 175%; zone 2 75-84.9%; zone 3 85-89.9%; and zone 4 ≥90%). Results identified that players were most frequently in zones 2 and 3. The 3 × 3 SSGs elicited higher HR and RPE and the most intense situation was GAME. Despite the known higher frequencies from technical actions in SSGs with fewer players, player effectiveness in 3 × 3 and 4 × 4 was identical. The use of GAME, OFF, and DEF game type constraints should be carefully planned. Using the 3 × 3 format seems more adequate when aiming for aerobic performance optimal effects; however, DEF situations should only be used to promote aerobic recovery effects. The inclusion of an additional player in SSGs had different interactions in game type constraints, and only GAME presented adequate intensity.

A precise geometric method is used to calculate the power deposition on the future JET ITER-Like Wall beryllium tiles with particular emphasis on the internal edge loads. If over-heated surfaces are identified, these can be modified before the machining or failing that actively monitored during operations. This paper presents the methodology applied to the assessment of the main chamber beryllium limiters. The detailed analysis of one limiter is described. The conclusion of this study is that operation will not be limited by edges exposed to plasma convective loads.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da infusão de erva-mate sobre o perfil metabólico em ratos alimentados com dietas hiperlipídicas. Foram estudados 36 ratos, linhagem Wistar, machos adultos, divididos em seis grupos (n=6): controle água; controle mate; hipercolesterolêmico água + banha; hipercolesterolêmico mate + banha; hipercolesterolêmico água + gordura vegetal hidrogenada e hipercolesterolêmico mate + gordura vegetal hidrogenada. Os animais foram acomodados individualmente em gaiolas metabólicas de aço inoxidável, com temperatura ambiente de 22ºC + 2ºC e fotoperíodo de 12 horas (claro/escuro). Durante as 5 semanas do estudo, os grupos hipercolesterolêmicos receberam 1% de colesterol sintético e 10% de gordura vegetal hidrogenada ou saturada adicionados à dieta controle. Na 3ª semana iniciou-se o tratamento com a infusão de erva mate. Não se observou no presente estudo efeito signifi cativo e abrangente da erva-mate sobre todos os parâmetros avaliados. Entretanto, verifi cou-se tendência de menor ganho de peso e redução dos parâmetros de glicemia, peso de fígado e transaminases, além de aumento de HDL-colesterol na presença de dieta com gordura saturada nos animais tratados com erva mate. Tais resultados são promissores e sugerem que novos estudos investiguem o possível efeito protetor da Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. sobre o perfil metabólico.

The detection of Alfven cascades is of great importance for the development of advanced plasma scenarios with reversed magnetic shear on the JET tokamak, since they allow the determination of the minimum of the safety factor and provide valuable information on the modes that may redistribute fast ions via resonant interaction. X-mode reflectometry is particularly powerful for this diagnosis since the time-frequency evolution, the mode amplitude and the radial localization of these Alfven eigenmodes (AEs) can be simultaneously obtained. This paper reports on the first successful localized measurements of AEs achieved with the recently upgraded X-mode reflectometry diagnostic on JET.

The saltatory pattern, characterized by wide and rapid oscillations of the fetal heart rate (FHR), remains a controversial entity. The authors sought to evaluate whether it could be associated with an adverse fetal outcome.The authors report a case series of four saltatory patterns occurring in the last 30 minutes before birth in association with cord artery metabolic acidosis, obtained from three large databases of internally acquired FHR tracings. The distinctive characteristics of this pattern were evaluated with the aid of a computer system.All cases were recorded in uneventful pregnancies, with normal birthweight singletons, born vaginally at term. The saltatory pattern lasted between 23 and 44 minutes, exhibited a mean oscillatory amplitude of 45.9 to 80.0 beats per minute (bpm) and a frequency between four and eight cycles per minute.A saltatory pattern exceeding 20 minutes can be associated with the occurrence of fetal metabolic acidosis.

We present the pedestal structure, as determined from the high-resolution Thomson scattering measurements, for a database of low and high triangularity (????0.22?0.39) 2.5?MA, type I ELMy H-mode JET plasmas after the installation of the new ITER-like wall (JET-ILW). The database explores the effect of increasing deuterium fuelling and nitrogen seeding with a view to explain the observed changes in performance (edge and global). The low triangularity JET-ILW plasmas show no significant change in performance and pedestal structure with increasing gas dosing. These results are in good agreement with EPED1 predictions. At high triangularity, for pure deuterium fuelled JET-ILW plasmas, there is a 20?30% reduction in global performance and pressure pedestal height in comparison to JET-C plasmas. This reduction in performance is primarily due to a degradation of the temperature pedestal height. The global performance and pressure pedestal height of JET-ILW plasmas can be partially recovered to that of JET-C plasmas with additional nitrogen seeding (Giroud et al 2013 Nucl. Fusion 53 113025). This observed improvement in performance is predominately due to a significant increase in density pedestal height as well as a small increase in the temperature pedestal height. A key result with increasing deuterium fuelling for JET-ILW plasmas is there is no improvement in pressure pedestal height however the pedestal still widens which is inconsistent with the scaling. Furthermore, a key result with increasing nitrogen seeding is the pressure pedestal widening is due to an increase in the temperature pedestal width whilst the density pedestal shows no clear trend. The comparison of EPED1 predictions with the measurements at high triangularity is complex as, for example, for pure deuterium fuelled plasmas there is very good agreement for the pedestal height but not the width. In addition, current EPED1 runs under-predict the pedestal height and width at high nitrogen seeding for JET-ILW plasmas however further work is required to determine the significance of these deviations. Understanding these deviations is essential as provides an insight to the physical mechanisms governing the pedestal structure and edge performance.

During the initial operation of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), it is envisaged that activation will be minimized by using hydrogen (H) plasmas where the reference ion ...

This report summarizes Type I edge localized mode (ELM) dynamics measurements from a number of tokamaks, including ASDEX-Upgrade, DIII-D, JET, JT-60U and MAST, with the goal of providing guidance and insight for the development of ELM simulation and modelling. Several transport mechanisms are conjectured to be responsible for ELM transport, including convective transport due to filamentary structures ejected from the pedestal, parallel transport due to edge ergodization or magnetic reconnection and turbulent transport driven by the high edge gradients when the radial electric field shear is suppressed. The experimental observations are assessed for their validation, or conflict, with these ELM transport conjectures.

The scaling of the edge transport barrier (ETB) that sustains H-mode plasmas is crucial for the performance of next step tokamaks. At ASDEX Upgrade, the suite of edge diagnostics has been significantly improved to address this issue. High spatial resolution profiles of most of the key edge plasma parameters necessary to determine the magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) stability are now available. New high temporal resolution measurements give clear indications of the nonlinear evolution of the ELM crash. The correlation lengths of edge turbulence have been shown to be correlated with the edge radial electric field shear using a new correlation Doppler reflectometer system. The measured pressure gradient in the ETB is found to be consistent with ideal MHD stability limits, both for Type I and II ELMs. In addition, the edge electron temperature and density gradient lengths are found to be strongly correlated, leaving only the ETB width as a free parameter. In ASDEX Upgrade, the ETB width does not vary significantly over the entire H-mode edge database. Modelling of the transport of comparison discharges in hydrogen and deuterium shows that the expected mass effect on neutral penetration is largely compensated by more efficient heating of deuterium neutrals but requires a transport barrier in both the energy and particle channels in order to reproduce the measured edge temperature and density profiles.

An integrated radiative high performance scenario has been established at ASDEX Upgrade based on simultaneous feedback control of the average divertor neutral particle and power flux in combination with a high, pellet induced frequency of edge localized modes (ELMs). This approach is fully compatible with the present tungsten wall coating covering about 65% of the plasma facing components and is intended for application in the envisaged full-tungsten experiment. In these experiments, divertor recycling and effective divertor temperature (derived from thermoelectric currents) were tuned by acting on fuel gas puff and argon injection rates. The ELM frequency (f(ELM)) was kept high by repetitive injection of small cryogenic deuterium pellets to avoid the radiative instabilities seen at low f(ELM) and high radiated power, and to control the ELM energy. No confinement loss is observed in this radiative type-I ELMy scenario with relatively flat density profiles. In contrast, similar type-III ELM scenarios achieved in hydrogen show a confinement loss of 25% as compared to the type-I phase. In parallel to pellets, alternative ELM trigger techniques have been investigated as well. Fast vertical plasma oscillations are able to synchronize the ELM frequency to values higher and lower than the intrinsic f(ELM), but remain to be tested in the integrated scenario. Supersonic gas injection showed better fuelling efficiencies than usual gas puffing but instantaneous ELM release has not been achieved. A particular experimental challenge for AUG conditions is to obtain a high pace making frequency, to establish scalings of confinement and energy loss as a function of controlled ELM frequency.

This paper characterizes the density profile dynamics during edge localized modes (ELMs), using high temporal and spatial resolution reflectometry, with main emphasis on the dynamics of type I ELMs. Qualitatively, the density profile dynamics of both type I and type III ELM ASDEX Upgrade tokamak discharges shows the same characteristic behaviour. The analysis of the behaviour of the density at the plasma edge allows the identification of three phases of the ELM event: precursor, collapse and recovery phases. For the three phases, the effect of ELMs is analysed both on the high-field side (HFS) and the low-field side (LFS) of the plasma at the ASDEX Upgrade. Asymmetries of the ELM event when comparing the HFS and LFS are found. The ELM event is associated with a sudden loss of particles from the main plasma (inside the last closed flux surface) to the scrape-off layer and then to the divertor. For type I ELMs the relative particle losses (to the pedestal particle content), assuming poloidal symmetry, was found to be of ~10% using LFS measurements and of ~5% using the HFS measurements. The type I ELM affected depths are about ~25% and ~15% of the plasma minor radius for the LFS and HFS profiles mapped to the outer midplane, respectively.

In ASDEX Upgrade, experimental efforts aim to establish pace making and mitigation of type-I edge localized modes (ELMs) in high confinement mode (H-mode) discharges. Injection of small size cryogenic deuterium pellets (~(1.4?mm)2 ? 0.2?mm ? 2.5 ? 1019?D) at rates up to 83?Hz imposed persisting ELM control without significant fuelling, enabling for investigations well inside the type-I ELM regime. The approach turned out to meet all required operational features. ELM pace making was realized with the driving frequency ranging from 1 to 2.8 times the intrinsic ELM frequency, the upper boundary set by hardware limits. ELM frequency enhancement by pellet pace making causes much less confinement reduction than by engineering means like heating, gas bleeding or plasma shaping. Confinement reduction is observed in contrast to the typical for engineering parameters. Matched discharges showed triggered ELMs ameliorated with respect to intrinsic counterparts while their frequency was increased. No significant differences were found in the ELM dynamics with the available spatial and temporal resolution. By breaking the close correlation of ELM frequency and plasma parameters, pace making allows the establishment of fELM as a free parameter giving enhanced operational headroom for tailoring H-mode scenarios with acceptable ELMs. Use was made of the pellet pace making tool in several successful applications in different scenarios. It seems that further reduction of the pellet mass could be possible, eventually resulting in less confinement reduction as well.

Toroidicity-induced Alfv?n eigenmodes (TAEs) are destabilized in ASDEX Upgrade using ion cyclotron resonant heating (ICRH). Unstable TAEs are observed in the magnetic probes, reflectometer and soft x-ray cameras when the ICRH power exceeds PICRH > 2.5?MW in both conventional and advanced scenarios. The most unstable TAEs have toroidal mode numbers n = 3, 4, 5, 6, and experiments with reversed currents and magnetic fields have shown that the TAEs propagate in the co-current direction, i.e. in the ion diamagnetic drift direction, confirming that these modes are destabilized by the ICRH-produced energetic ions. The characterization of the TAE instability in ASDEX Upgrade is reported, focusing on the identification of the toroidal, poloidal and radial mode structures. The data are compared with the ideal magnetohydrodynamic model.

Injection of cryogenic deuterium pellets has been successfully applied in ASDEX Upgrade for external edge localized mode (ELM) frequency control in type-I ELMy H-mode discharge scenarios. A pellet velocity of 560 m s−1 and a size of about 6 × 1019 D-atoms was selected for technical reasons, although even lower masses were found sufficient to trigger ELMs. A moderate repetition rate close to 20 Hz was chosen to avoid over-fuelling of the core plasma. Pellet sequences of up to 4 s duration were injected into discharges close to the L–H threshold, intrinsically developing large compound ELMs at a rate of 3 Hz. With pellet injection, these large ELMs were completely replaced by smaller type-I ELMs at the much higher pellet frequency, accompanied by a slight increase of density and even of stored energy. This external ELM control could be repeatedly switched on and off by just interrupting the pellet train. ELMs were triggered in less than 200 µs after pellet arrival at the plasma edge, at which time only a fraction of the pellet has been ablated, forming a rather localized, three-dimensional plasmoid, which drives the edge unstable well before the deposited mass is spread toroidally. The pellet controlled case has also been compared with a discharge at a somewhat lower density, but with otherwise rather similar data, developing spontaneous 20 Hz type-I ELMs. Despite the different trigger mechanisms, the general ELM features turn out to be qualitatively similar, possibly because of the similarity of the two cases in terms of ELM relevant parameters. The scaling with background plasma, heating power, pellet launch parameters, etc over a larger range still remains to be investigated.

ELM-free H-mode plasmas with stationary plasma density and radiation level are obtained in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak with large clearance between the last closed flux surface and the wall, and neutral beam injection in a toroidal direction opposite to that of the plasma current. This behaviour is accompanied by a characteristic narrow-band magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) oscillation with clear harmonics up to n = 11 visible. This mode is localized in the plasma edge region. Conditions and properties of the stationary ELM-free phases and the edge MHD oscillation closely resemble that of the `quiescent H-mode' and the `edge harmonic oscillation' found in the DIII-D tokamak (Burrell K H et al 2002 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 44 A253). In addition, high-frequency MHD oscillations are found with an amplitude correlated with fluctuations of the divertor Dα intensity, suggesting a possible relevance of these modes for particle transport.