The design of the optical Thomson scattering diagnostic for the National Ignition Facility.

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a 192 laser beam facility designed to support the Stockpile Stewardship, High Energy Density and Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) programs. We report on the design of an Optical Thomson Scattering (OTS) diagnostic that has the potential to transform the community's understanding of NIF hohlraum physics by providing first principle, local, time-resolved measurements of under-dense plasma conditions. The system design allows operation with different probe laser wavelengths by manual selection of the appropriate beam splitter and gratings before the shot. A deep-UV probe beam (λ0-210 nm) will be used to optimize the scattered signal for plasma densities of 5 × 1020 electrons/cm3 while a 3ω probe will be used for experiments investigating lower density plasmas of 1 × 1019 electrons/cm3. We report the phase I design of a two phase design strategy. Phase I includes the OTS telescope, spectrometer, and streak camera; these will be used to assess the background levels at NIF. Phase II will include the design and installation of a probe laser.

Differential MMP-9 activity in CD34⁺progenitor cell-derived foam cells from diabetic and normoglycemic patients.

BACKGROUND: Upon coincubation with platelet aggregates, CD34(+) progenitor cells have the potential to differentiate into foam cells. There is evidence that progenitor cells from diabetic and nondiabetic patients have different properties, which may affect the patients' prognosis. In this study we investigated an in vitro model of foam cell formation based on patient-derived CD34(+) progenitor cells. We analyzed the growth characteristics as well as the M-CSF-release and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) synthesis from CD34(+) progenitor cell-derived foam cells originating from diabetic and nondiabetic patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bone marrow samples were obtained from 38 patients who were elected for thoracic surgery. CD34(+) progenitor cells from diabetic and nondiabetic patients were isolated and incubated with platelets from healthy volunteers. Foam cell formation was confirmed by immunostaining (CD68) and quantified by light microscopy. Whereas the absolute number of foam cells was not affected, the negative slope in the growth curve was seen significantly later in the diabetic group. In supernatants derived from"diabetic" CD34(+) progenitor cells, MMP-9 was significantly enhanced, whereas MMP-2 activity or M-CSF-release was not affected significantly. CONCLUSION: In a coculture model of CD34(+) progenitor cells with platelets, we show for the first time that"diabetic" CD34(+) progenitor cells exhibit functional differences in their differentiation to foam cells concerning growth characteristics and release of MMP-9.

Investigation on exceptional fuel CRUD samples by using radioactivity ratios of cobalt isotopes.

Elemental analysis and radioactivity measurements were carried out for fuel CRUD samples obtained from a nuclear power plant. Comparisons were made for the relationship between (58)Co radioactivity and Ni content and for the radioactivity ratios of (58)Co to (60)Co of the samples. We found a peculiar radioactivity relationship from one of the samples and were able to further evaluate this based on its unique fuel exchange history. This analysis can be useful to enhance the data credibility of CRUD samples.

Residual platelet activity is increased in clopidogrel- and ASA-treated patients with coronary stenting for acute coronary syndromes compared with stable coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate residual platelet activity in a consecutive cohort of patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy after coronary stent implantation DESIGN: Prospective single-centre cohort study. SETTING: University hospital in Germany. PATIENTS: 480 patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (n = 221 (46%) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS; n = 259 (54%) stable angina) were studied. Platelet activity was measured by collagen- (5 microg/ml) and adenosine diphosphate- (ADP; 20 micromol/l) induced platelet aggregation to assess post-treatment activity in patients treated with acetylsalicylic acid (500 mg bolus intravenously followed by 100 mg once a day) and clopidogrel (600 mg loading dose followed by 75 mg once a day) MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Increased residual platelet activity (IRPA) was defined if platelet aggregation was in the upper tertile of values in the patient collective. Association of epidemiological factors with IRPA was evaluated in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: IRPA-ADP was found in 53 patients (11.0%) and IRPA-collagen in 42 patients (8.8%). ACS was associated with IRPA independently from other factors (for IRPA-collagen: odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2 to 4.5, p<0.05; for IRPA-ADP: OR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.3 to 4.4, p<0.01; for IRPA-ADP/collagen: OR = 4.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 16.9, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that ACS is independently associated with IRPA despite conventional antiplatelet therapy. Further studies are warranted to demonstrate the effects of intensified antiplatelet therapy for patients with acute coronary events.