Preparation, analysis, and application of coated glass targets for the Wendelstein 7-X laser blow-off system.

Coated glass targets are a key component of the Wendelstein 7-X laser blow-off system that is used for impurity transport studies. The preparation and analysis of these glass targets as well as their performance is examined in this paper. The glass targets have a high laser damage threshold and are coated via physical vapor deposition with µm thick films. In addition, nm-thin layers of Ti are used as an interface layer for improved ablation efficiency and reduced coating stress. Hence, the metallic or ceramic coating has a lateral homogeneity within 2% and contaminants less than 5%, being optimal for laser ablation processing. With this method, a short (few ms) and well defined pulse of impurities with about 1017 particles can be injected close to the last closed flux surface of Wendelstein 7-X. In particular, a significant amount of atoms with a velocity of about 1 km/s enters the plasma within 1 ms. The atoms are followed by a negligible concentration of slower clusters and macro-particles. This qualifies the use of the targets and applied laser settings for impurity transport studies with the laser blow-off system in Wendelstein 7-X.

Design, capabilities, and first results of the new laser blow-off system on Wendelstein 7-X.

We present a detailed overview and first results of the new laser blow-off system on the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X. The system allows impurity transport studies by the repetitive and controlled injection of different tracer ions into the plasma edge. A Nd:YAG laser is used to ablate a thin metal film, coated on a glass plate, with a repetition rate of up to 20 Hz. A remote-controlled adjustable optical system allows the variation of the laser spot diameter and enables the spot positioning to non-ablated areas on the target between laser pulses. During first experiments, clear spectral lines from higher ionization stages of the tracer ions have been observed in the X-ray to the extreme ultraviolet spectral range. The temporal behavior of the measured emission allows the estimate of transport properties, e.g., impurity transport times in the order of 100 ms. Although the strong injection of impurities is well detectable, the global plasma parameters are barely changed.

First results of the multi-purpose real-time processing video camera system on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator and implications for future devices.

A special video camera has been developed for the 10-camera overview video system of the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator considering multiple application needs and limitations resulting from this complex long-pulse superconducting stellarator experiment. The event detection intelligent camera (EDICAM) uses a special 1.3 Mpixel CMOS sensor with non-destructive read capability which enables fast monitoring of smaller Regions of Interest (ROIs) even during long exposures. The camera can perform simple data evaluation algorithms (minimum/maximum, mean comparison to levels) on the ROI data which can dynamically change the readout process and generate output signals. Multiple EDICAM cameras were operated in the first campaign of W7-X and capabilities were explored in the real environment. Data prove that the camera can be used for taking long exposure (10-100 ms) overview images of the plasma while sub-ms monitoring and even multi-camera correlated edge plasma turbulence measurements of smaller areas can be done in parallel. These latter revealed that filamentary turbulence structures extend between neighboring modules of the stellarator. Considerations emerging for future upgrades of this system and similar setups on future long-pulse fusion experiments such as ITER are discussed.

Overview of diagnostic performance and results for the first operation phase in Wendelstein 7-X (invited).

Wendelstein 7-X, a superconducting optimized stellarator built in Greifswald/Germany, started its first plasmas with the last closed flux surface (LCFS) defined by 5 uncooled graphite limiters in December 2015. At the end of the 10 weeks long experimental campaign (OP1.1) more than 20 independent diagnostic systems were in operation, allowing detailed studies of many interesting plasma phenomena. For example, fast neutral gas manometers supported by video cameras (including one fast-frame camera with frame rates of tens of kHz) as well as visible cameras with different interference filters, with field of views covering all ten half-modules of the stellarator, discovered a MARFE-like radiation zone on the inboard side of machine module 4. This structure is presumably triggered by an inadvertent plasma-wall interaction in module 4 resulting in a high impurity influx that terminates some discharges by radiation cooling. The main plasma parameters achieved in OP1.1 exceeded predicted values in discharges of a length reaching 6 s. Although OP1.1 is characterized by short pulses, many of the diagnostics are already designed for quasi-steady state operation of 30 min discharges heated at 10 MW of ECRH. An overview of diagnostic performance for OP1.1 is given, including some highlights from the physics campaigns.

Status of the diagnostics development for the first operation phase of the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X.

An overview of the diagnostics which are essential for the first operational phase of Wendelstein 7-X and the set of diagnostics expected to be ready for operation at this time are presented. The ongoing investigations of how to cope with high levels of stray Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) radiation in the ultraviolet (UV)/visible/infrared (IR) optical diagnostics are described.

Clindamycin release determined by high performance liquid chromatography from a novel low-cost local drug delivery system: a new potential treatment option for chronic osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis continues to be a severe problem worldwide, causing plenty of hospital admissions and entailing vast expenses. Previously, we developed a low-cost polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA)-sorbitol based capsule system for local long-term drug delivery. In the present study we aimed to test the in vitro release of clindamycin capsules by high performance liquid chromatography. By the end of the clinically relevant period (42 days), the capsules released 70-100% of their load. Furthermore, the release kinetics suggested that an effective antimicrobial concentration may be maintained within the target area. Our findings indicate that these newly developed capsules may be a versatile device for local clindamycin delivery by providing efficient release and reducing financial burdens.

Modified carpal box technique in the diagnosis of suspected scaphoid fractures.

PURPOSE: To establish and test the clinical efficacy of a new diagnostic algorithm with the extensive utilization of modified carpal box radiography (mX-CB) in the detection of scaphoid fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Initial and early follow-up radiographic evaluation of 146 suspected scaphoid fractures were carried out by mX-CB. Patients with unconfirmed diagnosis were referred to CT. Patients were followed for 1 year after injury. Sensitivity, specificity and interobserver agreement of reading mX-CB images were determined statistically. RESULTS: No non-union or avascular necrosis was seen at 1 year after the injury. 90% of the fractures were diagnosed by mX-CB, only 6.8% of the patients needed referral to CT. Sensitivity of mX-CB at initial presentation was 81.6%. Interobserver agreement was very high among evaluators of mX-CB images. CONCLUSION: Extensive utilization of mX-CB as primary and early follow-up investigation resulted in high initial diagnostic accuracy and low referral rate to a more expensive diagnostic modality.

[Metastasis in metastasis]. / Attét az áttétben.

Double metachron neoplasm was found in a 75 year-old man by the authors, myxoid chondrosarcoma as primer neoplasm of the right leg, and cecum adenocarcinoma. In the centre of myxoid chondrosarcoma's metastasis of the lung adenocarcinoma metastasis occurred. Metastasis in metastasis is a histological rarity.

[Capsaicin-induced mouse ear edema and its management]. / Kapszaicinnel elöidézett egérfül-ödéma és befolyásolása.

Oedema was induced in one ear of male mice of the CFLP strain with capsaicin solution (10 microliters/40 micrograms/ear). The development in time and the extent of the oedema were determined by the oedema-disk gravimetric technique. The maximum oedema was attained after 1 hour, and there was subsequently a gradual decrease. The extent of the mouse ear oedema induced in this way and measured after 60 minutes was inhibited to a statistically significant degree and in a dose-dependent manner by the antihistamine chloropyramine, the antihistamine-antiserotonin cyproheptadine, the non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent pyroxicam, the prostaglandin antagonist di-4-phloretin phosphate, and the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid. The method proved suitable for the detection and biologically quantitative determination of the state of desensitization induced with capsaicin.

Sensitive method for the determination of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha by gas chromatography with electron-capture and mass-fragmentographic detection.

A selective and sensitive quantitative method is described for the determination of the endogenous prostacyclin content of the aorta of rats, treated with GYKI-11679, a new hydrazone derivative with antihypertensive action. The thoracal aorta from three rats was excised and pooled, 1 h after treatment with 10 mg/kg of GY-KI-11679. The prostacyclin, transformed to 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha, was extracted. For gas chromatographic electron-capture detection (GC-ECD), 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha was converted into the O-methyloxime tris(trifluoroacetyl) hexafluoroisopropyl ester derivative. The GC-ECD properties, stability and mass-spectrometric characteristics of this new derivative allow the quantitative analysis of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha by using nor-PGF2 alpha as internal standard.

Synthesis and biological properties of 16(S)-amino-PGF2 alpha methyl ester.

A synthesis of 16-amino-derivatives of PGF2 alpha is reported. Introduction of an amino group into position 16 of PGF2 alpha has decreased the sensitivity of the compound to metabolic degradation. 16(S)-amino-PGF2 alpha methyl ester shows high abortifacient activity with reduced diarrhoeic side effect.

Prostaglandin profiles in nervous tissue and blood vessels of the brain of various animals.

The endogenous formation of prostaglandin (PG) D2, E2, F2 alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was determined in homogenates of mouse, rat, and rabbit brain, and of rat cerebral blood vessels, using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. In all species tested, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha could be identified in the brain homogenates, but was a minor component in relation to other PGs. In contrast 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was the most abundant PG in the blood vessels, being present in about 40-fold higher levels than in the brain tissue. PGD2 was the most abundant PG in rat and mouse brains, but was below detection limits in the analyzed blood vessels. These studies indicating differential metabolism of PG endoperoxides in nervous and vascular tissue, provide a biochemical basis for further studies on the role of the PGs in brain circulation and neuronal activity.

A novel method for the purification of 15-hydroxy-prostaglandin-dehydrogenase from swine lungs.

15-Hydroxy-prostaglandin-dehydrogenase was purified 3 to 5 fold and with almost 100% yield from swine lungs by a novel method of precipitation with Rivanol after which it was further purified (8-10 fold) by gel-filtration. The optimal stability parameters of the purified enzyme preparation were determined and the behaviour of PGDH in polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis was studied by local enzyme detection. The enzyme seems to be composed of subunits. KM values of PGDH with respect to NAD, PGE2 and PGF2alpha were found to be 0.27, 0.017 and 0.038 mM, respectively.

Distribution of prostaglandins E and F in different regions of the rat brain.

The regional distribution of prostaglandins E and F in 24 different areas of the rat brain was studied. For bioassay the rat uterine horn preparation was used. Prior to bioassay the samples were purified with organic solvents and in some cases by chromatography on silica as well. For measurement of PGF2 alpha content in certain areas a radioimmunoassay was used. Each region was found to contain prostaglandins but in uneven concentrations. Highest concentration, related to the protein content, was present in the median eminence, 57.6 ng PGE and 34.4 ng PGF per mg protein. Parietal cortex, olfactory tubercle, cerebellar cortex, caudate nucleus, substantia nigra, and paraventricular nucleus are also rich in prostaglandins. Low values were found in frontal cortex, thalamus, and septum. The distribution of prostaglandins throughout the areas examined do not show any direct correlation with that of transmitter substances. The uneven distribution can be attributed to differences in the endogenous biosynthetic capacity of each region.