Langmuir probe electronics upgrade on the tokamak à configuration variable.

A detailed description of the Langmuir probe electronics upgrade for TCV (Tokamak à Configuration Variable) is presented. The number of amplifiers and corresponding electronics has been increased from 48 to 120 in order to simultaneously connect all of the 114 Langmuir probes currently mounted in the TCV divertor and main-wall tiles. Another set of 108 amplifiers is ready to be installed in order to connect 80 new probes, built in the frame of the TCV divertor upgrade. Technical details of the amplifier circuitry are discussed as well as improvements over the first generation of amplifiers developed at SPC (formerly CRPP) in 1993/1994 and over the second generation developed in 2012/2013. While the new amplifiers have been operated successfully for over a year, it was found that their silicon power transistors can be damaged during some off-normal plasma events. Possible solutions are discussed.

V-band Doppler backscattering diagnostic in the TCV tokamak.

A variable configuration V-band heterodyne Doppler back-scattering diagnostic has been recently made operational in the tokamak à configuration variable. This article describes the hardware setup options, flexible quasi-optical launcher antenna, data-analysis techniques, and first data. The diagnostic uses a fast arbitrary waveform generator as the main oscillator and commercial vector network analyzer extension modules as the main mm-wave hardware. It allows sweepable single or multi-frequency operation. A flexible quasi-optical launcher antenna allows 3D poloidal (10°-58°) and toroidal (-180° to 180°) steering of the beam with 0.2° accuracy. A pair of fast HE11 miter-bend polarizers allow flexible coupling to either O or X mode and programmable polarization changes during the shot. These have been used to measure the magnetic-field pitch angle in the edge of the plasma by monitoring the backscattered signal power. Ray-tracing simulations reveal an available k⊥ range between 3 and 16 cm-1 with a resolution of 2-4 cm-1. Perpendicular rotation velocity estimates compare well against ExB plasma poloidal rotation estimates from charge exchange recombination spectroscopy.

Microbial Toluene Removal in Hypoxic Model Constructed Wetlands Occurs Predominantly via the Ring Monooxygenation Pathway.

In the present study, microbial toluene degradation in controlled constructed wetland model systems, planted fixed-bed reactors (PFRs), was queried with DNA-based methods in combination with stable isotope fractionation analysis and characterization of toluene-degrading microbial isolates. Two PFR replicates were operated with toluene as the sole external carbon and electron source for 2 years. The bulk redox conditions in these systems were hypoxic to anoxic. The autochthonous bacterial communities, as analyzed by Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, were mainly comprised of the families Xanthomonadaceae, Comamonadaceae, and Burkholderiaceae, plus Rhodospirillaceae in one of the PFR replicates. DNA microarray analyses of the catabolic potentials for aromatic compound degradation suggested the presence of the ring monooxygenation pathway in both systems, as well as the anaerobic toluene pathway in the PFR replicate with a high abundance of Rhodospirillaceae. The presence of catabolic genes encoding the ring monooxygenation pathway was verified by quantitative PCR analysis, utilizing the obtained toluene-degrading isolates as references. Stable isotope fractionation analysis showed low-level of carbon fractionation and only minimal hydrogen fractionation in both PFRs, which matches the fractionation signatures of monooxygenation and dioxygenation. In combination with the results of the DNA-based analyses, this suggests that toluene degradation occurs predominantly via ring monooxygenation in the PFRs.

Steady-state fully noninductive current driven by electron cyclotron waves in a magnetically confined plasma

A steady-state, fully noninductive plasma current has been sustained for the first time in a tokamak using electron cyclotron current drive only. In this discharge, 123 kA of current have been sustained for the entire gyrotron pulse duration of 2 s. Careful distribution across the plasma minor radius of the power deposited from three 0. 5-MW gyrotrons was essential for reaching steady-state conditions. With central current drive, up to 153 kA of current have been fully replaced transiently for 100 ms. The noninductive scenario is confirmed by the ability to recharge the Ohmic transformer. The dependence of the current drive efficiency on the minor radius is also demonstrated.

Pharmacological differentiation of pre- and post-junctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

It is now recognized that two post-junctional alpha-adrenoceptors mediate vascular constriction. The vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors seem to be particularly sensitive to circulating catecholamine levels, in contrast to the alpha 1-adrenoceptors, which are activated primarily by neuronally released norepinephrine. Most alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists do not discriminate between the pre-junctional neuroinhibitory alpha 2-adrenoceptor and the post-junctional vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptor. However, we have synthesized and characterized a compound (SK&F 104078: 6-chloro-9-[(3-methyl-2-butenyl)oxy]-3-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3- benzazepine) which is a potent antagonist at post-junctional vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors in vitro but has no effect at pre-junctional neuroinhibitory alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The post-junctional selectivity of SK&F 104078 has been confirmed by in vivo studies determining pre- and post-junctional alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist activity in the pithed rat. The ability to selectively block post-junctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors offers a novel approach to antihypertensive therapy, since the vasoconstrictor effects of circulating catecholamines can be attenuated without influencing the feedback control of transmitter release operating via pre-junctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors, and excess sympathoadrenal tone can be reduced without affecting normal neurovascular transmission.

4-[2-(Di-n-propylamino)ethyl]-2(3H)-indolone: a prejunctional dopamine receptor agonist.

4-[2-(Di-n-propylamino)ethyl]-2(3H)-indolone (1c) (SK&F 101468) is a potent and selective prejunctional dopamine receptor agonist. It caused a dose-related inhibition of the constrictor response to electrical stimulation in the isolated perfused rabbit ear artery (EC50 = 100 nM), and this response was antagonized by (S)-sulpiride (KB = 7 nM). Compound 1c did not stimulate or block dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase and did not produce stimulation of the central nervous system in rats. It was prepared from (2-methyl-3-nitrophenyl)acetic acid in a multistep sequence based on the Reissert indole synthesis.

5,6-Diaryl-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles: a new class of immunoregulatory antiinflammatory agents.

A series of substituted 5,6-diaryl-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles were synthesized and evaluated in the rat adjuvant-induced arthritis and mouse oxazolone-induced contact sensitivity assays to determine the potential of these compounds for use as immunoregulatory antiinflammatory agents. This class of compounds was derived by combining salient structural features of the antiinflammatory agent flumizole and the immunoregulatory drug levamisole. Unlike the latter two, a number of compounds in the target series were found to possess the desired combination of activities. Exploration of structure-activity relationships in the adjuvant-induced arthritic rat assay revealed that optimal potency was exhibited by symmetrically substituted 5,6-diaryl compounds having one of the following alkyl heteroatom or halogen functions at the para position: methoxy, ethoxy, methylthio, N-ethyl-N-methylamino, fluoro, or chloro. Scrambling of these two substituent classes to yield the asymmetrically substituted 5,6-diaryl compounds resulted in potent activity only with the 5-alkyl heteroatom, 6-halo-substituted regioisomers. However in the oxazolone-induced contact sensitivity assay, no consistent relationship of variation in activity with structural change was apparent. The initial target compound 5,6-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (1) was compared with its progenitors in additional models of inflammation and immunoregulation.

N-[2-hydroxy-5-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]phenyl]methanesulfonamide. A potent agonist which releases intracellular calcium by activation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

N-[2-Hydroxy-5-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]phenyl]methanesulfonamide (SK&F 102652) has been prepared and characterized pharmacologically. It is a potent agonist with an EC50 of 25 nM at alpha 1-adrenoceptors as determined in the isolated perfused rabbit ear artery. On the presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors of the guinea pig atrium it was considerably weaker, demonstrating an EC50 for inhibition of neurotransmission of 1200 nM and thus an overall alpha 1/alpha 2 selectivity ratio of greater than or equal to 48. In the vascular smooth muscle of the canine saphenous vein an EC100 concentration of this agonist in the presence of zero external Ca2+ induced 37.9 +/- 1.4% of the maximal contractile response due to this agent while the endogenous ligand norepinephrine evoked only 14.5 +/- 0.4% of the maximum. In the presence of low (1 microM) external calcium, this agent produced 78.3 +/- 5.3% of maximum while norepinephrine gave 45.3 +/- 7.4%. This agent produces alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated contraction primarily by release of intracellular Ca2+ and should provide a useful tool for characterizing alpha 1-receptor subtypes.

Gastric antisecretory 9H-xanthen-9-amines.

A series of 9H-xanthen-9-amines possessing a wide variety of nitrogen substituents at C-9 was prepared for evaluation of gastric antisecretory activity. These substituents included the acetamidine, imidate, pyrimidine, thiazoline, quinuclidine, 2-hydrazinopyridine, aminopiperidine, aminoalkylimidazole, and aminoalkylpyridine moieties. The majority of compounds in this series inhibited gastric acid secretion when tested orally in the pylorus-ligated rat. Potency was increased by intraduodenal administration and diminished by incubation with gastric juice, suggesting partial degradation of the compounds in the gastric environment. A representative example, 3-(9H-xanthen-9-ylamino)-1-ethylpiperidine, exhibited similar activity in dogs, although no free compound could be detected in the blood. It is therefore hypothesized that this compound is either rapidly bound to tissue and/or metabolized to an active species.

Imidodisulfamides. 2. Substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinylsulfonic imides as antagonists of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis.

As part of a study of the influence of structural modifications of N',N'-bis(aralkyl)imidodisulfamides on their ability to selectively antagonize SRS-A activity, a few conformationally constrained structures were examined. Among these derivatives having a conformationally restricted alkylene side chain, substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinylsulfonic imides produced optimum SRS-A antagonist activity and selectivity. These compounds were tested for antagonism of partially purified SRS-A induced contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum. In this series of tetrahydroisoquinolines, the effect of aromatic ring substitution, as well as substitution and variation of the size of the heterocyclic ring on SRS-A antagonist activity and selectivity, was studied.

Imidodisulfamides. 1. A novel class of antagonists of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis.

A series of N',N"-bis(aryl)- and N',N"-(aralkyl)imidodisulfamides was prepared and evaluated as antagonists of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) induced contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum. Some of these compounds, notably N',N"-bis(4-phenylbutyl)-, N',N"-bis[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-, and N',N"-bis[2-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl]imidodisulfamides (16, 22, and 26), were moderately potent and selective antagonists of SRS-A. The influence of lipophilic (pi) and electronic (sigma) factors on SRS-A antagonist activity appears to be of considerable importance to the derivation of potent and selective SRS-A antagonists.

Treatment of cystinosis with cysteamine. A pilot study determining dose and form of application.

A pilot study with cysteamine treatment was performed in three children with the nephropathic form of cystinosis. Two children underwent renal transplantation shortly before treatment. The aim of the study was to find a practicable form of application and a corresponding effective dose. Cysteamine in gelatine capsules together with 0.2% silicic acid as a dessicator turned out to be the most acceptable galenic form, compared to sirup or suppositories. Among three dosage regimens, the dosage of 50 mg/kg/day is effective as judged by the leucocyte cystine content, even if given in only three doses per day. No side effects of the cysteamine treatment (even at a dose of 90 mg/kg/day) were noted. Whether this treatment is preventing progression of disease will have to be examined either in transplanted patients by measuring non-renal parameters or in very young infants with cystinosis whose kidneys are not damaged yet.

Properties and regulation of adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase from suspension cultures ofNicotiana sylvestris.

The properties and the regulation of adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase extracted from cell suspension cultures ofNicotiana sylvestris was investigated. Optimal adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase activity was obtained from the cells by extraction with 0.1 M tris-HCl, pH8.0, containing 2 M MgSO4 and 10 mM dithioerythritol. The K m for adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate in the sulfotransferase reaction was about 11 µM. Adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate in concentrations above 50 µM were inhibitory. The extratable adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase activity decreased during cultivation with sulfate as the sole sulfur source, but after about 3 days it reached a constant level (50 to 100 nmol activated sulfate transferred h(-1) mg(-1) protein) which was maintained for at least 24 h. Addition of 0.5 mM cysteine to the culture medium decreased the extractable adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase activity and blocked growth completely. With 0.1 mM cysteine an enzyme level of about 10% of the initial value was reached within 6 to 12 h without significant inhibition of growth. The added cysteine was absorbed rapidly and after 24 h cysteine could no longer be detected in the medium. Before the cysteine was completely depleted, the activity of adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase started to increase, reaching ultimately a level which was comparable to the initial value.

Synthesis of Paramecium surface proteins. I. Puromycin insensitive amino acid incorporation.

The synthesis of a surface protein has been studied in Paramecium through double-labeling experiments using [(14)C]- and [(3)H]leucine-labeled bacteria as the source of radioactive amino acid. Over a 4-5 h incubation period, the turnover rate was found to be higher than that of overall cell protein. In addition, the initial label is apparently utilized during the chase period, being incorporated into protein via a puromycin insensitive pathway.