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Pulsed discharge nozzles (PDNs) have been successfully used for decades to produce rotationally cold (Trot ∼ 20 K) radicals and ions of astrophysical interest and to characterize these species spectroscopically. In this work, an evolution of the PDN, the piezostack pulsed discharge nozzle (P2DN), is used for the first time to investigate the characteristics of the still poorly understood supersonic plasma expansion. The P2DN allows for a better control of the reservoir pressure of which an accurate measurement is required to characterize the plasma expansion. This new source, thus, gives the opportunity to further optimize the plasma conditions and extend its use to new target species. The spatial distribution of an argon plasma and the effect of the supersonic flow for different pressures are studied by combining a two-dimensional extended fluid model (extFM) and a direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. The combined simulation is validated with experimental results obtained through emission spectroscopy associated with a group-code collisional-radiative model to retrieve the plasma parameters. The validated numerical approach (DSMC-extFM) allows for an accurate characterization of the plasma structure in our typical experimental conditions (a reservoir pressure ranging from 90 to 905 mbar). Thus, this simulation will be used in future studies to improve the plasma conditions to favor the synthesis of (transient) hydrocarbon species as found in space, by seeding the argon gas with a suitable precursor, such as acetylene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma technology is based on a simple physical principle. When more energy enters the gas, it ionizes and becomes the fourth state of matter, the energy-dense plasma. The studies carried out within the scope of this study were designed to create microchannels on lamellar glass using an improved redesign of the current plasma arc device, which is the main subject of the paper. The created microchannel is examined at the microscale. Experimental analysis was conducted considering the effect of plasma on the effect of microchannel quality. We performed an experimental design study to determine the optimal parameter levels for improving microchannel quality. The predicted results have been validated with the experimental results. An experimental design study provides useful results, such as information about the distance between the probes, pulse duration, and material temperature, which enhances the channel dimensions. The improved device can be utilized effectively to establish microchannel processing in practice. [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 programme to design plasma scenarios for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), a reactor concept aiming at net electricity production, seeks to exploit the inherent advantages of the spherical tokamak (ST) while making conservative assumptions about plasma performance. This approach is motivated by the large gap between present-day STs and future burning plasmas based on this concept. It is concluded that plasma exhaust in such a device is most likely to be manageable in a double null (DN) configuration, and that high core performance is favoured by positive triangularity (PT) plasmas with an elevated central safety factor. Based on a full technical and physics assessment of external heating and current drive (CD) systems, it was decided that the external CD is provided most effectively by microwaves. Operation with active resistive wall mode (RWM) stabilization as well as high elongation is needed for the most compact solution. The gap between existing devices and STEP is most pronounced in the area of core transport, owing to high normalized plasma pressure in the latter which changes qualitatively the nature of the turbulence controlling transport. Plugging this gap will require dedicated experiments, particularly on high-performance STs, and the development of reduced models that faithfully represent turbulent transport at high normalized pressure. Plasma scenarios in STEP will also need to be such that edge localized modes (ELMs) either do not occur or are small enough to be compatible with material lifetime limits. The high current needed for a power plant-relevant plasma leads to the unavoidable generation of high runaway electron beam current during a disruption, where novel mitigation techniques may be needed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Delivering Fusion Energy – The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of spectroscopic measurements of plasma in a linear simulator of a plasma-beam installation (PBI) for conducting materials science research. For the first time, non-contact optical diagnostic methods were employed to measure the plasma parameters in the PBI. These measurements were allowed for the clarification of the PBI plasma parameters and the identification of transition zones in different operational modes. Analysis of the plasma emission spectrum enabled the identification of impurity spectral lines and the estimation of key plasma parameters under varying experimental conditions. The spectra were recorded using two optical spectrometers covering a wavelength range of 200–800 nm. The experimental conditions varied in terms of electron beam accelerating voltage (1–5 kV), working gas pressure (1–6 mTorr), and target bias voltage (from −500 to −100 V). The Boltzmann plot method and Stark broadening of the Balmer lines were used to estimate electron temperature and density. Based on the obtained spectroscopic data, the electron density and the electron temperature were determined. The methods described in this study are applicable to linear plasma devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plasma device has been created to study dynamic plasma coupling in an E × B-drifting magnetized plasma. The E × B magnetized plasma device is a 1.2 m diameter by 2 m long cylindrical chamber with two sets of Helmholtz coils in a mirror configuration. A steady-state axial hollow cathode source injects a plasma discharge in electrical contact with a floating conductor at a range that forms a unique axisymmetric equipotential surface or Virtual Cathode Lightsaber (VCL). The VCL generates two plasma populations streaming relative to one another providing a suitable environment for the investigation of dynamic plasma coupling. The plasma density, radial electric field, and plasma rotational velocity outside the VCL are shown to be influenced by the current–voltage relationship of the cathode and applied magnetic field strength. A basic characterization of the device and plasma environment is presented with an emphasis on diagnostics systems and the analytical techniques utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of plasma parameters at the wafer plane is important because it significantly affects the processing results, yield enhancement, and device integrity of plasma processing. Various plasma diagnostic sensors, including those embedded in a chamber wall and on-wafer sensors, such as flat-cutoff sensors, have been developed for plasma measurements. However, to measure the plasma density on the wafer surface in real-time when processing plasma with bias power, such as in the semiconductor etching process, one must analyze the transmission spectrum of the flat-cutoff sensor in an environment with bias power applied. In this study, the transmission-spectrum and measured plasma-density characteristics of an electrode-embedded flat-cutoff sensor are analyzed via electromagnetic simulations and experiments under applied bias power. Our findings indicate that the flat-cutoff sensor accurately measures the plasma density, which is equivalent to the input plasma density under low bias power. Conversely, under high bias power, the plasma density measured by the sensor is lower than the input plasma density. Also, a thick-sheath layer is formed owing to the high bias power, which may complicate the measurement of plasma parameters using the flat-cutoff sensor. Plasma diagnostics using a flat-cutoff sensor in thick-sheath environments can be achieved by optimizing the flat-cutoff sensor structure. Our findings can enhance the analysis of plasma parameters on-wafer surfaces in processing environments with bias power applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes an affordable plasma device that utilizes a parallel-plate dielectric barrier discharge geometry with a metallic mesh electrode, featuring a straightforward 3D-printed design. Powered by a high-voltage supply adapted from a cosmetic plasma device, it operates on atmospheric air, eliminating the need for gas flux. Surface modification of polyethylene treated with this device was characterized and showed that the elemental composition after 15 min of plasma treatment decreased the amount of C to ~80 at% due to the insertion of O (~15 at%). Tested against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, the device achieved a reduction of over 99% in microbial load with exposure times ranging from 1 to 10 min. Simultaneously, the Vero cell viability remained consistently high, namely between 91% and 96% across exposure times. These results highlight this device's potential for the surface modification of materials and various infection-related applications, boasting affordability and facilitating effective antimicrobial interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a currently a lack of large-area plasma sterilization devices that can intelligently identify the shape of a wound for automatic sterilization. For this reason, in this work, a plasma sterilization device with wound-edge recognition was developed using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and a high-performance image-processing platform to realize intelligent and precise sterilization of wounds. SOLIDWORKS was used to design the mechanical structure of the device, and it was manufactured using 3D printing. The device used an improvement of the traditional Sobel detection algorithm, which extends the detection of edges in only the x and y directions to eight directions (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 315°), completing the wound-edge detection by adaptive thresholding. The device can be controlled according to different shapes of sterilization area to adjust the positioning of a single plasma-jet tube in the horizontal plane for two-dimensional movement; the distance between the plasma-jet tube and the surface of the object to be sterilized can be also adjusted in the vertical direction. In this way, motors are used to move the plasma jet and achieve automatic, efficient, and accurate plasma sterilization. It was found that a good sterilization effect could be achieved at both the culture-medium level and the biological-tissue level. The ideal sterilization parameters at the culture-medium level were a speed of 2 mm/s and a flow rate of 0.6 slm, while at the biological-tissue level, these values were 1 mm/s and 0.6 slm, respectively. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: • Image processing combining eight-direction Sobel edge detection and a median-filtering adaptive threshold was used for wound-edge recognition. • A device with x, y, and z degrees of freedom was designed and 3D printed. • An FPGA-based sterilization platform combining edge-recognition detection, a three-degree-of-freedom kinematic device, and a plasma injector was built to precisely sterilize wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this transformative study, machine learning (ML) and t‐distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t‐SNE) are employed to interpret intricate patterns in colorimetric images of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP)‐treated water. The focus is on CAP's therapeutic potential, particularly its ability to generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that play a crucial role in antimicrobial activity. RGB, HSV, LAB, YCrCb, and grayscale color spaces are extracted from the colorimetric expression of oxidative stress induced by RONS, and these features are used for unsupervised ML, employing density‐based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN). The DBSCAN model's performance is evaluated using homogeneity, completeness, and adjusted rand index with a predictive data distribution graph. The best results are achieved with 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine–potassium iodide colorimetric assay solution immediately after plasma treatment, with values of 0.894, 0.996, and 0.826. t‐SNE is further conducted for the best‐case scenario to evaluate the clustering efficacy and find the best combination of features to better present the results. Correspondingly, t‐SNE enhances clustering efficacy and adeptly handles challenging points. The approach pioneers dynamic and comprehensive solutions, showcasing ML's precision and t‐SNE's transformative visualization. Through this innovative fusion, complex relationships are unraveled, marking a paradigm shift in biomedical analytical methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray pulses (full width at half maximum ∼ 90 ns, dose rate ∼ 107 Gy s−1) were used to irradiate the monolayer of peripheral blood mononucleated cells using the PF-2kJ kilojoule plasma focus device. Four different exposure conditions were evaluated using 5, 10, 20, and 40 pulses, with the mean dose measured by TLD-100 being 0.12 ± 0.02 mGy, 0.14 ± 0.03 mGy, 0.22 ± 0.06 mGy, and 0.47 ± 0.09 mGy, respectively. Cytogenetic analysis showed an increase in all types of chromosomal aberrations following exposure to x-ray pulses. The distribution of dicentrics and centric rings was overdispersed after 5, 10, 20, and 40 pulses. Additionally, after 20 and 40 pulses, the presence of tricentric chromosomes is detected. Chromosome aberration frequencies found in this study were always higher than the estimated frequencies of chromosome aberrations using published dose–effect curves for conventional radiation sources. The overdispersion observed, the elevated maximum relative biological effectiveness (RBEM) and the presence of tricentric chromosomes at the relatively low doses of exposure (<0.5 Gy) seem to indicate that low doses of pulsed x-rays of low energy show similar biological effects as those observed for high-LET radiation. X-ray pulses emitted by PF-2kJ were found to be more efficient in inducing chromosome aberrations, even more than α particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-throughput, plasma-based, mass separation techniques of nuclear waste are still an active research topic due to the theoretical and practical complexity of processing such waste. The nuclear waste can be separated according to its masses by plasma centrifugation technique. Because of this, the present research has been performed by setting up $ \vec{E} \times \vec{B} $ E→×B→ rotation in cold cylindrical plasma surrounded by an ideally conducting homogenous shell inside a plasma centrifuge device. The results obtained are useful in analyzing the magneto-rotational instability (MRI) and trajectories of the plasma particles which are beneficial for improving the throughput and separation factor of the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an experimental investigation of an argon plasma jet. It examines a commercial argon plasma jet device's physical, chemical, and biological impacts, comparing findings against global standards. The study focuses on electrical features ensuring safety for patients and consumers, finding all leakage current values within established standards. Chemical analysis of emitted gases shows no detectable levels of harmful compounds near treated skin. Optical emission spectroscopy reveals bioactive compounds within the plasma jet. UV radiation emission remains within safety thresholds. Hyperspectral imaging shows temporary increases in skin characteristics posttreatment, reverting to baseline over time. Overall, the study demonstrates the safety and potential of the argon plasma jet in skin treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic theory of the asymptotic expansion of the magnetohydrostatics (MHS) equilibrium in the distance from the magnetic axis is developed to include arbitrary smooth currents near the magnetic axis. Compared with the vacuum and the force-free system, an additional magnetic differential equation must be solved to obtain the pressure-driven currents. It is shown that there exist variables in which the rest of the MHS system closely mimics the vacuum system. Thus, a unified treatment of MHS fields is possible. The mathematical structure of the near-axis expansions to arbitrary order is examined carefully to show that the double-periodicity of physical quantities in a toroidal domain can be satisfied order by order. The essential role played by the leading-order Birkhoff–Gustavson normal form in solving the magnetic differential equations is highlighted. Several explicit examples of vacuum, force-free and MHS equilibrium in different geometries are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents experimental results from the SMOLA device, which was built in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics for the verification of the helical mirror confinement idea. This concept involves active control of axial losses from the confinement zone in an open magnetic trap through the use of multiple mirrors that move in the plasma frame of reference. The discussed experiments focused on determining the cumulative effect of a helical mirror system in combination with a short segment of a stronger magnetic field. Combination of these two methods of axial flow suppression results in higher efficiency compared with each method individually. Different combinations of the mirrors were tested. The most effective flow suppression was observed if the short mirror was placed between the confinement region and the helical mirror. In this configuration, an effective mirror ratio of $R_{{\rm eff}} = 32.6\pm 7.8$ was achieved, along with a more than three-fold increase in plasma density within the confinement region. The possibility of a cumulative effect of different types of magnetic mirrors offers a way to improve the confinement performance of the reactor-grade mirror confinement devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New plasma applications in advanced fields, such as fundamental nuclear fusion research, require high-density, large-diameter plasma with a strong and non-uniform magnetic field. A helicon plasma (HP) source using a flat-type antenna is expected to be one of the promising methods for such applications. In this study, we developed an HP source with a two-turn flat-loop antenna connected to a 30 kW radio frequency power supply in the Compact Test Plasma device. In the argon plasma generation experiment with various magnetic fields, HP generation was observed for the first time in this device. The electron density was calculated from the dispersion relation with the magnetic field strength at 45 cm from the antenna surface, assuming a fundamental radial mode and an azimuthal mode of $m=0$. The electron density expected from the experimental result was approximately in the same range as the calculation result by a factor of 2.3 to 3.5. In addition, the magnetic field strength and shape around the antenna are important factors in the plasma properties. This plasma source has been installed in the pilot GAMMA PDX-SC, which is under development for nuclear plasma research, and it contributes to the study of the HP generation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document titled "Preface to the Proceedings of 19th International Workshop on Plasma Edge Theory in Fusion Devices" provides a list of participants and committees involved in the workshop held in Hefei, China. The workshop, organized by the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, showcased the latest advances in fusion plasma edge theory. It had 93 participants from research organizations in Europe, Russia, USA, Japan, and China. The workshop featured presentations on various devices and topics related to plasma edge theory, and the manuscripts in the document provide a comprehensive overview of the field. The next workshop is scheduled to take place in Brussels in 2025. [Extracted from the article]

In order to simulate hydrogen (H) plasma in the linear plasma device NAGDIS‐II, we have modified the fluid code LINDA‐NU to allow the simultaneous calculation of multiple ion species consisting of hydrogen atomic ions (H+$$ {\mathrm{H}}^{+} $$) and molecular ions (H2+,H3+$$ {\mathrm{H}}_2^{+},{\mathrm{H}}_3^{+} $$). In this simulation, H and H2$$ {\mathrm{H}}_2 $$ neutrals are assumed to be uniformly distributed in space in order to obtain initial qualitative results. The fraction of H3+$$ {\mathrm{H}}_3^{+} $$ ions increases as the H2$$ {\mathrm{H}}_2 $$ molecular density increases, and the recombination process between H3+$$ {\mathrm{H}}_3^{+} $$ and electrons is observed to reduce the particle flux to the target plate. With an increase in H density, the electron density increases due to the decrease in ion flow velocity due to the change exchange process, and the electron temperature decreases to less than 1 eV, leading to the detached plasma formation attributed to the electron‐ion recombination process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A linear plasma device (LPD) module has been developed under the BOUT++ framework to simulate plasma transport in the MPS‐LD. However, previously, the LPD module used a simplistic neutral particle model that only includes particle density and velocity, which prevents the full understanding of the plasma‐neutrals interactions. In this work, we further optimize the neutral model by using a more complete neutral fluid model containing the continuity equation, momentum equation, and energy equation. The reactions such as charge exchange, excitation, and radiation collisions are included. Since the neutral particle source is mainly provided by particle recycling from the target, a particle recycling model is employed, which includes both fast reflection and slow thermal release. The upgraded LPD module is applied to simulate the argon (Ar) discharge experiment of MPS‐LD, and the benchmark against experiment measurement and SOLPS‐ITER simulation results are presented. Good agreements are obtained, showing the validation of the upgraded module. After that, the impact of particle recycling on Ar plasma is investigated. It is found that a higher recycling coefficient (R) promotes the achievement of high‐density plasma at the target. The recycled Ar atoms change target plasma pressure as well as plasma‐neutral collisions, which both contribute to plasma momentum loss, thus promoting the rollover of ion flux to the target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-melanocytic benign skin tumours encompass a diverse group of lesions, classified based on their cellular origin, such as epidermal, vascular, fibrous, neural, muscle, and adnexal tumours. Though they often reveal solitary lesions, multiple skin tumours focus on genodermatoses. Each syndrome exhibits distinct clinical characteristics and potential complications, including cutaneous and extra-cutaneous malignancies, some of which are potentially life-threatening. Diagnosing genetic syndromes is complex and requires numerous histopathological and immunohistochemistry tests due to similarities between the adnexal tumours and basal cell carcinoma upon pathology. Methods: To illustrate the clinical practice, we conducted a retrospective case study that included eleven patients with genodermatoses referred to a tertiary dermatology clinic from September 2018 to April 2024. We have also conducted a research study on available treatment modalities in this setting. Results: Five patients with excellent aesthetic results were treated using a recently approved FDA plasma device. After searching SCOPUS and PubMed database records, we assessed 96 original articles to present current knowledge regarding the dermato-surgical approach. Conclusions: Multiple skin tumours, especially on the face, may significantly affect patients' quality of life and have psychological consequences. An appropriate treatment selection tailored to the patient's needs should be provided. There is no standardised treatment for multiple benign tumours in genodermatoses, and selected methods with varying efficacy are employed. We presented the utility of a new plasma device in these settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damages induced on the tungsten surface at two different operating conditions of a kilojoule plasma focus device are studied. In one condition, the tungsten samples were exposed to axial plasma shocks that are formed after pinch disruption, and in the other condition, the pinch phenomenon was absent or weak. Melting, craters, and cracking on the surfaces were observed in both cases. In the former case, the charged particle beams and post-pinch material ejection will play a role in impacting the surface; however, in the latter case those phenomena will have small contributions because of the absence or weak formation of the pinch. A damage factor of ∼ 10 9 W m−2 s0.5 was estimated at a distance of 3 cm from the pinch exit using the method given in Akel et al. [J. Fusion Energy 35, 694–701 (2016)] and Klimov et al. [J. Nucl. Mater. 390, 721–726 (2009)] for the former case. The present work suggests that at pressures lower than the pinch-occurring pressure, only axial plasma shock effects on the targeted surface can be studied and that they can be separated from the effects produced by the charged particle beams mixed with axial plasma shocks in the case of pinch occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the filamentary structure of the pinched column in a smaller plasma focus device filled with deuterium. The deflections were observed using schlieren and differential interferometry techniques. The observed filaments have a transverse diameter of 40–200 μm, which could be interpreted based on the electric current hypothesis as local concentrations of electric current. The evolution of filaments was compared with global structures recorded by extra ultraviolet frames. These results provide a basis for considering the possibility of a filamentary composition of the poloidal current in compact structures. The model of filaments with a helical shape of electrical current may be able to explain the central narrow and dense cord in the axis of the column, the different lifetimes of the structures, and the submillimeter sources of fast electrons and ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic plasma propulsion is generated by the linear plasma propulsion (LPP) apparatus. The LPP device is upgraded to operate and simulate at a maximum energy of 5.4 kJ. The cathode's cylindrical upper portion is changed into a hemispherical shape as part of the upgrading process to boost the current sheath (CS) acceleration. According to the model, the CS moves in the z-direction with a linear velocity while moving in the θ-direction with an angular velocity. When the plasma is squeezed and compressed, it is driven through the extension tube. The model describes the CS motion, its characteristics, and the propelled plasma using four phases: an axial, an angular radial, a reflected, and an expansion phases. The simulated Ith and experimental Iex current signals were compared to prove the validity of the model assumption, where the values of Ith and Iex were 89.7 and 88 kA, respectively. According to the results, as the motion angle increases in the angular radial phase, the CS compresses, elongates, and is forced into the extension tube. The results showed that the peaks of both plasma inductance, velocity, temperature, and propelled plasma length were 36.3 nH, 6.36 cm/μs, 6.72 eV, and 3.22 cm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of experiments using controlled, skin depth-sized plasma pressure filaments in close proximity have been carried out in a large linear magnetized plasma device. Two- and three-filament configurations have been used to determine the scale of cross field nonlinear interaction. When the filaments are separated by a distance of approximately five times the size of a single filament or less, a significant transfer of charge and energy occurs, leading to the generation of inter-filament electric fields. This has the effect of rotating the filaments and influencing the merging dynamics. Nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations using seeded filaments confirm the presence of unstable drift-Alfvén modes driven by the steep electron temperature gradient. When the filaments are within a few collisionless electron skin depths (separations twice the size of a single filament), the unstable perturbations drive the convective mixing of the density and temperature and rearrange the gradients such that they maximize in the region surrounding the filament bundle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Most forms of Mercury (Hg) in soil have significant destructive effect on ecosystems and food safety because of enormous toxicity. The existing treatment methods have drawbacks such as high energy consumption, complex operation, long remediation cycle, and secondary pollution. Therefore, this study aims to develop a governance method with low energy consumption, simple operation, short execution cycle, and no secondary pollution. Methods: A new system was set up to remove leachable Hg2+ from soil and its performance was evaluated. The system consisted of photochemical vapor generator (PVG, for Hg2+ removal), dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) trapping reactor (for collection of removed Hg0). In the presence of organic acids, leachable Hg2+ was converted to gaseous Hg0 by UV irradiation in the PVG, and transported to the DBD trap by air for collection of the removed Hg2+. Soil samples in PVG were taken into glass tubes at specific time and then added aqua regia, analyzed using ICP-MS after digested in a boiling water bath. The performance of DBD trap was analyzed by connecting with ICP-MS. Results: This study achieved the removal of leachable Hg2+ from soil under the UV excitation, the subsequent conversion of escaped gaseous Hg0 to solid and enrichment in DBD trap. The factors affecting the efficiencies of photochemical reaction, transport and collection were carefully investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the removal efficiency of 2.00 mg L−1 leachable Hg2+ in soil reached 95.0% within 1 h. Even in the presence of 15 interfering ions separately containing 50 mg L−1, good remediation effects can still be achieved. The capture rate of gaseous Hg0 by DBD trap is close to 100%. The system can achieve Hg pollution control in 10 types of soil, demonstrating great promotion value. Conclusions: This system utilizes PVG theory and DBD low-temperature plasma device to construct a safe, green, simple, and inexpensive method for removing leachable Hg2+ from soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8‐Octamethylcyclotetrasilazane (OTMSD), a cyclic silazane precursor, is deposited via atmospheric pressure plasma onto a substrate. The resulting coating exhibits a dual surface roughness, contributing to a significant reduction of surface wettability. Notably, the coating exhibits superhydrophobic characteristics, proven by a water contact angle of approximately 170°, hysteresis angle below 10°, very low tilting angle (<10°), and droplet‐bouncing effect. Importantly, this superhydrophobicity is achieved using OTMSD as fluorine‐free precursor with low reactivity to water. Furthermore, the deposition process is carried out using a commercially available plasma device highlighting its practicality and scalability for large‐scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study explores the potential of a novel microwave plasma source for enhancing wound healing in BALB-C mouse models. Chronic wounds, particularly in diabetic individuals, present significant challenges due to impaired regenerative capacity. Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) has emerged as a promising approach, offering diverse therapeutic benefits. However, its specific efficacy in the context of diabetic wounds remains underexplored. We developed and characterized a microwave plasma source optimized for wound treatment, inducing acute wounds and treating them with CAP in a controlled experimental setup. The treated group exhibited accelerated wound closure compared to controls, suggesting CAP's potential to enhance the healing process. Our findings underscore CAP's multifaceted impact on the wound healing cascade, highlighting its ability to promote angiogenesis, modulate inflammatory responses, and exhibit antimicrobial properties. These results position CAP as a promising intervention in acute wound management, paving the way for further exploration of its therapeutic potential in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to apply a portable pulsed cold air plasma jet (PP-CAPJ) device in onychomycosis treatment and investigate its effect and mechanism of action. Based on the characteristics of onychomycosis, we selected Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) for our experiments and explored the inactivation ability of the PP-CAPJ on T. rubrum that grew in nails. We found that the PP-CAPJ could effectively kill T. rubrum in the nails, and for T. rubrum in 1.5 mm thick nails, 300 spark discharges could kill almost all the fungi. The fungicidal mechanism is mainly due to the ability of shock waves from the PP-CAPJ to impose pressure on the nail and destroy the cell membrane of T. rubrum. This work has therefore demonstrated the use of an effective and noninvasive approach for the treatment of onychomycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model of strongly ionized plasma dynamics in a slightly inclined magnetic field with ions, unmagnetized with respect to ion–ion collisions, typical for detached regimes, is presented. It is demonstrated that far from the material surface, the parallel dynamics remains almost the same as in the magnetized plasma. In the wall vicinity, parallel plasma motion is transformed into perpendicular classical diffusion originating from electron–ion collisions, forming a diffusive layer. At a distance of few ion gyroradii from the material surface, a collisional magnetic presheath is formed, where ions move toward the surface with the velocity of the order of the sound speed, in spite of the fact that an ion exhibits many collisions before reaching the surface. For typical inclination angles of magnetic field of the order of few degrees, the electrostatic potential in the diffusive layer and in the presheath deviates considerably from the Boltzmann potential for electrons, which is typical for collisionless magnetic presheath. Moreover, the normal electric field in some regions is directed away from the surface, which is important for impurities to interact with the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma discharges under atmospheric pressure are applicable for modifying the electrical properties of dielectric surfaces. The aim of the plasma discharge treatment of such surfaces is to design a procedure so that its characteristic parameters improve the resulting levels of the breakdown electrical strength Eb when tested under pulsed or alternating electrical voltages. In this research, a set of functional experiments performed by using plasma in samples of two types of materials (thermoset, thermoplastic) were processed and evaluated, and the resulting effect of the magnitude of the breakdown electrical voltage, electrical intensity, and electrical conductivity of the surface were compared. A slit plasma chamber, previously described and parameterized, was employed to treat the surface of the dielectric samples. The surface structure was modified via plasma discharge without precursors, and methodologies were developed to evaluate these modifications with respect to the change in the electrical strength parameters of the insulator surface. Subsequently, the surface strength of the affected and unaffected samples was measured and evaluated as a function of exposure time, and the stability of the modification was assessed. The first methodical test showed that plasma discharge without precursors improved the long-term surface electrical strength of the dielectric surface. The test and its parameters were carried out with respect to feasibility in an industrial environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, researchers have developed a variety of new analytical and clinical diagnostic devices. These devices are predominantly based on microfluidic technologies, where biological samples can be processed and manipulated for the collection and detection of important biomolecules. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the most commonly used material in the fabrication of these microfluidic devices. However, it has a hydrophobic nature (contact angle with water of 110°), leading to poor wetting behavior and issues related to the mixing of fluids, difficulties in obtaining uniform coatings, and reduced efficiency in processes such as plasma separation and molecule detection (protein adsorption). This work aimed to consider the fabrication aspects of PDMS microfluidic devices for biological applications, such as surface modification methods. Therefore, we studied and characterized two methods for obtaining hydrophilic PDMS surfaces: surface modification by bulk mixture and the surface immersion method. To modify the PDMS surface properties, three different surfactants were used in both methods (Pluronic® F127, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyethylene oxide (PEO)) at different percentages. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements were performed to evaluate the surface wettability. Additionally, capillary flow studies were performed with microchannel molds, which were produced using stereolithography combined with PDMS double casting and replica molding procedures. A PDMS microfluidic device for blood plasma separation was also fabricated by soft lithography with PDMS modified by PEO surfactant at 2.5% (v/v), which proved to be the best method for making the PDMS hydrophilic, as the WCA was lower than 50° for several days without compromising the PDMS's optical properties. Thus, this study indicates that PDMS surface modification shows great potential for enhancing blood plasma separation efficiency in microfluidic devices, as it facilitates fluid flow, reduces cell aggregations and the trapping of air bubbles, and achieves higher levels of sample purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique field-reversed configuration (FRC) experiment is presently being assembled at the Plasma Technology Research Institute, KFE. It is a compact small-scale FRC device, which uses a set of radio frequency (RF) antennas to produce an internal E  × B that drives the electrons for current-drive, in which E is the electric field and B is the magnetic field. This is very similar to the rotating magnetic field (RMF) current-drive, where the horizontal and vertical antennas are driven 90° out of phase. For this device, the RF antennas are arranged differently than the RMF. The RF antennas, being two separate sets, are positioned inside the vacuum chamber. Each set consists of 8 coils, for a total of 16 coils, where 80~100 kHz sine and cosine waveform currents are applied. One set of coils generates a radial B -field, while the other set provides an E -field in the z -direction. As the phase changes, the E and B fields are switched by these two sets. Nevertheless, E  × B propagates in the same θ -direction so that this allows the electrons to rotate around the circumference of the device. The FRC device will test wave heating by launching 2.45 GHz microwaves. Also, passive stabilizers are positioned at each end to provide extra stability while preventing tilt instability. The experiment is expected to produce its first plasma in 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many stellarator coil design problems are plagued by multiple minima, where the locally optimal coil sets can sometimes vary substantially in performance. As a result, solving a coil design problem a single time with a local optimization algorithm is usually insufficient and better optima likely do exist. To address this problem, we propose a global optimization algorithm for the design of stellarator coils and outline how to apply box constraints to the physical positions of the coils. The algorithm has a global exploration phase that searches for interesting regions of design space and is followed by three local optimization algorithms that search in these interesting regions (a 'global-to-local' approach). The first local algorithm (phase I), following the globalization phase, is based on near-axis expansions and finds stellarator coils that optimize for quasisymmetry in the neighbourhood of a magnetic axis. The second local algorithm (phase II) takes these coil sets and optimizes them for nested flux surfaces and quasisymmetry on a toroidal volume. The final local algorithm (phase III) polishes these configurations for an accurate approximation of quasisymmetry. Using our global algorithm, we study the trade-off between coil length, aspect ratio, rotational transform and quality of quasi-axisymmetry. The database of stellarators, which comprises approximately 200 000 coil sets, is available online and is called QUASR, for 'quasi-symmetric stellarator repository'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive a diamagnetic resistive fluid model (DRF) and develop an associated two-dimensional fluid simulation code (DRF-2D) to explore the dynamics of resistive drift modes within the plasmas of the Zheda Plasma Experiment Device (ZPED). The validation of the linear dispersion relation for the DRF-2D code revealed a harmonious agreement between analytical theory and linear numerical simulations. Leveraging plasma parameters obtained from the ZPED experiments, we conducted a comprehensive series of nonlinear simulations using the DRF-2D code. Our simulations successfully replicate the nonlinear trends in turbulent fluctuations and transport observed in the ZPED experiments, particularly demonstrating a remarkably accurate alignment of the turning point in the magnetic field. Notably, the DRF model sheds light on the observed frequency sign reversal from the electron diamagnetic direction to the ion diamagnetic direction in the ZPED experiments. This is demonstrated through well-matched turning points in the confining magnetic field between the nonlinear simulations and ZPED experiments. The fidelity of our model in capturing these phenomena underscores its efficacy in providing valuable insights and predictive capabilities for the intricate dynamics observed in the ZPED plasmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detached plasma formation is a way to reduce the heat load on the wall in magnetic fusion devices. This study proposes a novel analysis technique consisting of the conditional averaging, sliding window, and tomography to reveal the spatiotemporal behavior of the rotating radial ejection event of detached plasma, which further contributes to local heat load reduction. The used equipment is a high-speed camera and an electrostatic probe located at the periphery of the linear plasma device NAGDIS-II. By applying this method, four-dimensional (4D) behavior of the emission structure along time (1D) and space perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field (3D) was clarified; a rotating distorted structure appears as a precursor, which is then scraped and transported radially and axially. The proposed method is widely applicable to short-term rigid-body rotating structures, especially in linear plasmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, nanoparticles of neodymium oxide deposited on NaX zeolite powder were fabricated using a 3.5 kJ Mather-type plasma focus device. The NaX zeolite samples were exposed to the 10, 15, and 20 shot numbers of the plasma focus device at a distance of 14 cm from the anode tip and 0 angular positions concerning the anode axis. Parent NaX zeolite and NaX:Nd composites with different Nd2O3 percent weights were characterized using various techniques such as; XRF, XRD, SEM, FT‒IR, and UV‒vis. It is found from the XRD analysis that the structure of the NaX zeolite is not affected by the shots of the plasma focus device, but the crystallinity of the zeolite is changed slightly after increasing the device shots. It was also found from TF-IR spectra that the amount of Nd2O3 in the samples increases with the increase of the shot number. The SEM analysis revealed an irregular distribution of prose on the surface of the deposited zeolite. It was also deduced from the results that variations in amount of can have significant effects on the degree of the crystallinity and optical characteristics of the synthesized composite including refractive index, band gap energy, dielectric constant, and absorption coefficients. The finding results can be used to enhance the structural characteristics and optical properties of fabricated nano-clusters deposited on porous materials such as zeolite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Solar cells are of growing importance as a renewable energy source, and cuprite (Cu2O) stands out as a promising material due to its cost-effectiveness, abundance, and appealing optoelectronic characteristics. This research uses diverse analytical methods to adjust the influence of the number of plasma focus shots on Cu2O films' crystal structure, morphology, and optoelectronic attributes. X-ray diffraction revealed that both Cu2O and CuO films exhibited a polycrystalline nature with cubic (111), (110), and (200) orientations. Morphological analysis unveiled that film surface characteristics were impacted by the number of shots, leading to the formation of smaller Cu2O grains as the number of shots increased. The transmittance spectra of Cu2O thin films displayed remarkable optical transparency, approximately 80%. The optical bandgap of the films was determined to be 2.57 eV, decreasing to 2.08 eV with an increase in the number of shots, aligning well with values reported for photovoltaic absorber layers. Optoelectronic properties, including optical and electrical conductivities, optical mobility, optical carrier concentrations, refraction loss, optical resistivity, plasmon, and damping frequencies, were computed. The results underscore the significant impact of the number of plasma focus shots and hold great promise for enhancing the performance of Cu2O-based solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the effects of surface modification of titanium (Ti) implants by low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma treatment on wound healing and cell attachment for biological sealing in peri-implant soft tissue. Methods: Hydrophilization to a Ti disk using a handheld low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma device was evaluated by a contact angle test and compared with an untreated group. In in vivo experiments, plasma-treated pure Ti implants using a handheld plasma device (experimental group: PL) and untreated implants (control group: Cont) were placed into the rat upper molar socket, and samples were harvested at 3, 7 and 14 days after surgery. Histological evaluation was performed to assess biological sealing, collagen- and cell adhesion-related gene expression by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, collagen fiber detection by Picrosirius Red staining, and immunohistochemistry for integrins. Results: In in vivo experiments, increased width of the peri-implant connective tissue (PICT) and suppression of epithelial down growth was observed in PL compared with Cont. In addition, high gene expression of types I and XII collagen at 7 days and acceleration of collagen maturation was recognized in PL. Strong immunoreaction of integrin α2, α5, and β1 was observed at the implant contact area of PICT in PL. Conclusions: The handheld low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma device provided hydrophilicity on the Ti surface and maintained the width of the contact area of PICT to the implant surface as a result of accelerated collagen maturation and fibroblast adhesion, compared to no plasma application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on a report at the 2nd International Fusion Plasma Conference & 13th International Conference on Open Magnetic Systems for Plasma Confinement (iFPC & OS 2023), August 21–25, 2023, Busan, Korea and provides a brief overview of the status of work at the Budker Institute on the study of hot plasma confinement in open-type magnetic traps with a linear axisymmetric configuration. The main attention is paid to key problems: magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) stability in regimes with extremely high relative pressure, longitudinal electronic thermal conductivity, stability with respect to the development of kinetic modes and transverse transport. This paper provides an overview of the methods we are developing to address these problems, the experimental and theoretical results achieved and plans for future development. The last section of the article provides brief information about the preliminary design of the gas-dynamic multiple-mirror trap device, the development of which has been completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of the local-ionization-induced neutral depletion on the thrust imparted by the magnetic nozzle plasma thruster is discussed by simply considering reduction of the neutral density due to the ionization in the thruster model combining the global source model and the one-dimensional magnetic nozzle model. When increasing the rf power, it is shown that the increase rate of the plasma density is reduced, while the electron temperature continues to increase due to a decrease in the neutral density. Since the major components of the thrust are originated from the electron pressures in the source and in the magnetic nozzle, the increase in the electron temperature contributes to the increase in the thrust in addition to the gradual density increase by the rf power. The model qualitatively predicts the reduction of the thruster efficiency by the neutral depletion for the high-power condition, compared with the constant neutral density model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new magnetic mirror machine named KAIMIR (KAIST mirror) has been designed and constructed at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to study mirror plasma physics and simulate the boundary regions of magnetic fusion plasmas such as in a tokamak. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the characteristics and initial experimental results of KAIMIR. The cylindrical vacuum chamber has a length of 2.48 m and a diameter of 0.5 m and consists of three sub-chambers, namely the source, centre and expander chambers. A magnetic mirror configuration is achieved by electromagnetic coils with a maximum magnetic field strength of 0.4 T at the mirror nozzles and 0.1 T at the centre. The source plasma is generated by a plasma washer gun installed in the source chamber with a pulse forming network system. The typical discharge time is ~12 ms with a ~6 ms (1–7 ms) steady period. Initial results show that the on-axis electron density at the centre is 1019–20 m−3 and the electron temperature is 4–7 eV. Two parameters were varied in this initial phase, the source power and the mirror ratio, which is the ratio of highest to lowest magnetic field strength in the mirror-confined region. We observed that the increase of the electron density was mitigated for a source power above 0.2 MW. It was also found that the electron density increases almost linearly with the mirror ratio. Accordingly, the stored electron energy was also linearly proportional to the mirror ratio, similar to the scaling of the gas dynamic trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first applications of the quasioptical (QO) code PARADE (PAraxial RAy DEscription) for modeling the electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostic. Geometrical optics (GO) has been exploited to predict the ECE intensity received by an antenna, but is not sufficient since GO drops the information lying on the transverse cross section of the antenna sensitivity. Hence, we studied a QO model of ECE measurement based on the PARADE code. By introducing a weighting operator W ˆ , induced by the envelope profile of a wave beam virtually injected from an ECE receiving antenna, an integral equation, formally identical to the conventional GO model, is newly derived from the wave-action conservation law. A QO ECE prediction module −E3 is also newly developed, is applied to the JT-60SA tokamak, and shows that radiation temperature is corrected from conventional GO prediction. The −E3 module and the PARADE code are applicable to any fusion plasma devices. By using this ECE prediction package, more realistic calculations of radiation temperature are expected by taking the actual structure of an ECE receiving antenna and plasma parameters as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histones are basic proteins with an isoelectric point around 11. It has been shown that the level of plasma circulating histones increases significantly during sepsis, and circulating free histones are associated with sepsis severity and mortality. It was found that the median plasma total free histone concentration of sepsis ICU non-survivors is higher compared to survivors. Therefore, histone concentration can serve as a prognostic indicator and there is a need for a simple, low-cost, and rapid method for measuring histone levels. In this work, we have developed a microfluidic device containing an isoelectric membrane made of dehydrated agarose gel of a specific pH embedded in a porous membrane for isoelectric trapping of histones rapidly. Although isoelectric gates have been used for trapping proteins before, they have to be introduced at the time of the experiment. Here, we show that isoelectric gates formed by gels loaded in a scaffold can be integrated directly into the fabrication process flow, dehydrated for storage, and rehydrated during the experiment and still function effectively to achieve isoelectric trapping. A low-cost and rapid microfabrication technique, xurography, was used for agarose integration and device fabrication. The integrated device was tested with samples containing buffered histone, histone in the presence of high-concentration bovine serum albumin (BSA), and histone spiked in blood plasma. The results show that the device can be used to distinguish between survivors and non-survivors of sepsis in less than 10 min, making it suitable as a point-of-care device for sepsis prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the outbreaks of viral diseases have urgently demanded effective virus disinfection techniques. Among them, the use of cold atmospheric‐pressure plasma (CAP) is one of the most promising approaches. CAP generates electric fields, charged particles, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and ultraviolet. CAP can effectively inactivate various viruses in a short period, whether they are on surfaces, in water, or in aerosols, without significantly raising the substrate temperature. This review highlights that the simultaneous action of physical and chemical means is the key mechanism of CAP in virus inactivation. It systematically summarizes the characteristics of plasma devices suitable for different application scenarios and further points out the opportunities and challenges faced by plasma virus inactivation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plasma fusion devices, the selection of shielding materials is one of the challenges for plasma diagnostic and control systems under high radiation levels during long operation times. This study presents the effect of shielding materials on neutron flux for a radiated power and soft x-ray core intensity measurement system for a DEMOnstration power plant. A calculation model of neutron shielding was used to investigate the neutron shielding performance of borides and carbides for a large distance from plasma to the diagnostic system. The neutron fluxes were characterized for three points close to the measurement system location. The related neutronic calculations were performed with an ADVANTG hybrid code to obtain neutron flux distribution and attenuation rate depending on the thickness of shielding materials. The results indicate that B4C, W2B5, and WB4 are the most effective options to serve as shielding material due to the effect of boron on neutron shielding effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to study turbulent transport for laboratory plasmas in toroidal devices by gyrokinetic analyses. Linear analysis is performed to clarify the dominant mode for tokamak plasmas. The dissipative trapped electron mode (d-TEM) and the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode are predicted using the Sugama collision model operator [Sugama et al., Phys. Plasmas 16, 112503 (2009)]. Nonlinear gyrokinetic analysis is used to quantify turbulent transport. The nonlinear simulation results show the levels of particle and energy transport, where the d-TEM and ITG mode are unstable. The effect of zonal flows is studied by the linear and nonlinear simulation results. The results of the analysis are compared when two types of model collision operator, which are the Sugama and Lenard–Bernstein [Phys. Rev. 112, 1456 (1958)] collision model operators, are used. In this study, the simulation results using the Sugama collision operator show a stronger effect of the zonal flows on the turbulent transport than those using the Lenard–Bernstein collision operator, as predicted by the linear simulation result such as the zonal flow decay time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrostatic particle flux is measured in the presence of obliquely propagating quasi-longitudinal (QL) whistler turbulence ( ω c i < ω L H ≈ ω < ω c e ) in the large-volume plasma device (LVPD). The QL whistler is observed with frequency band between 40 and 100 kHz, and the characteristic wave numbers k ∥ ≪ k ⊥ are excited by the reflected energetic electrons via loss cone (localised mirror type magnetic geometry) formation in the presence of a transverse magnetic field [ B EEF (x ̂) ] of electron energy filter and axial magnetic field of LVPD [ B o (z ̂) ]. The effect of mirror strength on radial particle flux is explored by changing the B EEF as this variation changes the excited QL-whistler turbulence. We observed that the increase in QL-whistler turbulence level, the radial particle transport, i.e., the radial particle flux subsides, is accompanied by particle flux direction reversal from radially inward to outward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gliding arc discharge (GAD) plasma device has been developed and tested. Possible applications areas for GAD plasma could be microalgae suspension treatments and the creation of plasma-activated water. To understand its behavior, the influence of the input power on the electrical characteristics of the generated GAD plasma was investigated using an oscilloscope. The waveforms of the voltage and current of GAD plasma are presented. The duration of the discharge time and the evolution of the arc during discharge were determined and investigated. It was revealed that the increase in the output voltage prolonged the duration of the arc discharge. The composition of the air plasma was investigated using a flame-emission spectrometer and acousto-optic emission spectrometer. It was revealed that the main species in the emission spectra of the GAD air plasma were N2, N2+, N+, NO, and O species. Furthermore, the increase in the input power enhanced the ionization degree of the air plasma and increased the intensities of the emission lines associated with N2+, NO, and O species. An increase in the conductivity of the BG-11 medium was observed. Physicochemical analyses of the plasma-activated BG-11 medium indicated an increase in the concentration of nitrite and nitrate ions and hydrogen peroxide with an enhancement of the voltage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare the effects of an innovative plasma surface treatment device that does not need a gas supply for titanium disks with two different surface topographies: the prototypical machined surface (MAC) and one of the most diffused roughened ones (SL) obtained through grit blasting and acid etching. A total of 200-MAC and 200-SL titanium disks were used. Each group of disks was divided into four sub-groups of 40 samples each that were subjected to five different tests. Among these, 150-MAC and 150-SL were considered the test group, and they were treated with plasma for 15, 30, and 60 s after being removed from the sterile packaging. On the other hand, 50-MAC and 50-SL were considered the control group, and they were only removed from sterile plastic vials. The samples were analyzed to evaluate the capability of the plasma treatment in influencing protein adsorption, cell adhesion, proliferation, and microbial growth on the test group disks when compared to the untreated disks. Protein adsorption was significantly enhanced after 20 min of plasma treatment for 15 and 30 s on the MAC and SL disks. Plasma treatment for 15 and 30 s significantly increased the level of adhesion in both treated samples after 30 min. Furthermore, the MAC samples showed a significant increase in cell adhesion 4 h after plasma treatment for 15 s. The SEM analysis highlighted that, on the treated samples (especially on the MAC disks), the cells with a polygonal and flat shape prevailed, while the fusiform- and globular-shaped cells were rare. The encouraging results obtained further confirm the effectiveness of plasma treatments on cell adhesion and fibroblast activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]