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A real-time processing system for the two-color CO2 laser interferometer on the JT-60SA has been developed for density feedback control. The system has a novel feature that can detect fringe jumps due to off-normal events, such as loss detection due to displacement of the beam axis and changes in the laser wavelengths. Because a phase change due to the JT-60SA plasma is smaller than π/2, corresponding to the line-integral electron density NL of ∼ 6 × 1 0 19 m−2 in a short interval of 500 ns, the threshold of the fringe jump detection is decided to be π/2. Hence, off-normal events can be detected from a fringe jump, leading to the abort of the real-time feedback control. In the density feedback control of the JT-60SA plasma, the system is employed as a density monitor, with NL being successfully controlled at 16.8% ± 6.6% lower than the reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis var. natto on the susceptibility of the model host, Caenorhabditis elegans, to bacterial infection. Methods and Results: Caenorhabditiselegans worms were fed with a standard food consisting of Escherichia coli OP50 strain (control) or B. subtilis (natto) during their larval stage. The worms were then infected with pathogenic bacteria. We analyzed their survival time and RNA sequencing‐based transcriptome. Upon infection with Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, the survival time of B. subtilis (natto)‐fed worms was longer than that of the control. Transcriptome analyses showed upregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and defense response to gram‐positive bacteria in B. subtilis (natto)‐fed worms. Conclusions: Bacillus subtilis (natto) conferred an increased resistance of C. elegans to gram‐positive bacteria. Our findings provided insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying B. subtilis (natto)‐regulated host immunity and emphasized its probiotic properties for preventing and alleviating infections caused by gram‐positive bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that B. subtilis (natto) confers specific resistance against gram‐positive bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new, practical method of simulating the behavior of arcs driven by magnetic force in a gas. This simulation method is very useful in designing electric devices using magnetically driven arc technique. First, we describe the arc model. In this model, the arc is assumed to be a chain of small rigid cylindrical current elements. Each element receives Lorentz's force from the magnetic field and a fluid drag force from the surrounding gas. Owing to the similarity between an arc and a rigid column, the drag force of the arc is expressed by that of the column. The element moves with the velocity determined by these forces. Consequently, we can obtain the behavior and the shape of the whole arc. Finally, simulation example is shown.

An incoherent Thomson scattering diagnostic will be installed in the JT-60SA tokamak to measure electron temperature and electron density profiles. The target radial spatial resolution is 25 mm with 46 spatial channels. The accuracy in electron temperature and density is a few percent at ne = 7.5 × 1019 m−3, which is the expected value in the plasma core. This paper presents the designs of collection optics, fibers with their alignment system, and polychromators. The collection optics overcomes unique issues for superconducting fusion devices, i.e., limited design space, high-temperature measurements, and harsh radiation condition. When in several years the more performing plasma will generate intense nuclear radiation, the lens materials of the optics can be replaced by radiation resistant glasses without major changes in the lens holder. It will prevent transmission degradation and keep stable measurement accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines electron and ion currents collected at the metal shield and floating shield to study the behavior of high-current vacuum arcs. Behavior of the arcs with the active anode; Property of vacuum arc on small copper electrodes; Difference between the maximum value and the value at the arc-current crest.

A tangential viewing phase contrast imaging system is being designed for the JT-60SA tokamak to investigate microturbulence. In order to obtain localized information on the turbulence, a spatialfiltering technique is applied, based on magnetic shearing. The tangential viewing geometry enhances the radial localization. The probing laser beam is injected tangentially and traverses the entire plasma region including both low and high field sides. The spatial resolution for an Internal Transport Barrier discharge is estimated at 30%-70% of the minor radius at k = 5 cm-1, which is the typical expected wave number of ion scale turbulence such as ion temperature gradient/trapped electron mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnification of a polarization angle with Littrow layout gratings has been developed. High magnification with a factor of 7.7 using two gratings in Littrow layout was experimentally proved. The magnification range was investigated by calculation at a wavelength of 10.6 µm. The method can be applied for a high magnification factor >30. Larger groove numbers and smaller blaze angles are suitable for the large magnification. Statistical fluctuation of the diffracted polarization angle is compared with that of the incident polarization angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the design of a compact grism-pair stretcher for a near-infrared noncollinear optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) system. The grisms are produced by bonding a grating to a prism using a resin. The stretcher is capable of controlling a bandwidth of over 300 nm, which is suitable for parametric amplification of few-cycle pulses. After amplification, pulses can be compressed by the dispersion of optical glass, and the residual group-delay can be compensated with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 14-channel grating polychromator for the purpose of measuring the electron cyclotron emission (ECE) spectrum has been developed and installed on the large helical device (LHD). The grating polychromator has a Czerny–Turner setup. The main advantage of the grating polychromator is that it has a broad spectral range. Hence, it can be utilized at different magnetic field strengths. Changing the angle or replacing the grating can do this. Gratings with a grid constant of d=2.3, 3, and 5 mm and a blaze angle of 20° can be applied and the scattered spectrum is directed to 14-liquid He cooled InSb detectors. Standard operation is performed with d=3 mm, f[sup range]=148–105 GHz. This is second harmonic ECE for B=2.75 T. Each channel has a spectral resolution of Δf (full width at half maximum)=2.6 GHz or f/Δf=60 at f=150 GHz. The properties of the instrument and first experimental results of LHD ECE will be described in this article. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether coronary stenting limits myocardial injury and preserves left ventricular function.Design and Setting: Prospective multicentre case-control study of primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with and without stenting, performed in seven cardiovascular centres.Subjects and Methods: 45 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated with successful primary stenting (Stent group) and did not have restenosis were paired with 45 matched control subjects with acute myocardial infarction treated by successful primary PTCA without stenting, also with no restenosis (POBA group).Results: In comparison with the POBA group, the Stent group-especially those patients with a left anterior descending coronary artery lesion-had a smaller hypokinesis area (mean (SD): 15. 1 (20.0) v 34.4 (24.3) chords), reduced hypokinesis area/risk area (25.2 (31.9)% v 58.8 (40.1)%), and a larger ejection fraction (63.3 (10.2)% v 51.7 (11.7)%) evaluated by quantitative left ventriculography using the centerline method. In the Stent group, the correlation between risk area and hypokinesis area was significantly shifted downward. Multiple logistic regression analysis on infarct size limitation (hypokinesis area/risk area < 50%) identified preinfarction angina in all subjects and preinfarction angina and stenting in patients with left anterior descending coronary artery lesions as explanatory factors.Conclusions: Primary PTCA using a coronary stent is effective in preventing myocardial injury and restoring left ventricular function in patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although cardiac sympathetic nerve dysfunction is related to poor clinical outcome, a critical sympathetic dysfunction level for predicting cardiac death is still unclear. The current study was designed to investigate which indices derived from metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging have prognostic value compared with clinical and cardiac function variables, and to determine the threshold of cardiac MIBG activity for identifying patients likely to suffer cardiac death in both failing and nonfailing hearts.Methods and Results: Myocardial I-123-MIBG activity was quantified as a heart-to-mediastinum ratio in 414 consecutive patients, 173 (42%) of whom had symptomatic heart failure. After cardiac function measurements, patients were followed up with an end-point of cardiac or noncardiac death. During a mean follow-up period of 22 months, 37 cardiac deaths occurred: 23 resulted from heart failure, 9 were sudden cardiac deaths, and 5 were fatal myocardial infarctions. Multivariate analysis using the Wald chi2 and the Cox proportional hazard model revealed that late heart-to-mediastinum ratio, the use of nitrates, early heart-to-mediastinum ratio, and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent predictors of cardiac death; late heart-to-mediastinum ratio, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, the presence of previous myocardial infarction, and age were independent predictors of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Late heart-to-mediastinum ratio was the most powerful predictor of overall cardiac death among the variables. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that a late heart-to-mediastinum ratio of 1.74 or less, age greater than 60 years, the presence of myocardial infarction, and NYHA functional class 3 or 4 strongly indicated poor clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the more powerful incremental prognostic values were obtained by using MIBG imaging in combination with conventional clinical variables.Conclusions: Impaired cardiac sympathetic innervation assessed by MIBG activity has the greatest potential for predicting cardiac death and may be useful for identifying a threshold level for selecting patients at risk for death by heart failure, sudden cardiac death, and fatal myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the cardioprotective effect of rapid coronary reperfusion, the effects of spontaneous recanalization on myocardial viability and metabolism are unknown. We studied whether preinfarction angina affords cardioprotection when spontaneous coronary reperfusion occurred in acute infarct patients. Myocardial tomographies with thallium and I-123-labeled-beta-methyl-p-iodophenyl penta-decanoic acid (BMIPP) were performed in 27 acute myocardial infarct patients treated medically: 15 patients had preexisting angina before infarction (group A) and 12 did not (group B). Thallium and BMIPP abnormalities and regional function were quantified by a polar map and contrast ventriculography, respectively. There was no significant difference between thallium and BMIPP in the severity index in groups A and B (89 +/- 97 vs. 85 +/- 68, 97 +/- 28 vs. 95 +/- 27, respectively), and no significant difference between the groups in the thallium or BMIPP severity index. The ratio of the thallium severity index to that of BMIPP and the regional wall-motion abnormality index were identical in groups A and B. Both patient groups were divided into 2 subgroups based on the presence or absence of spontaneous coronary reperfusion: subgroups A1 and A2, and subgroups B1 and B2, respectively. There were no significant differences among the 4 subgroups in severity indexes for both tracers, the thallium/BMIPP ratio, or the asynergy score. The BMIPP severity index correlated significantly with that of thallium in all subgroups, but no significant difference between the regression lines was found. It is therefore unlikely that spontaneous coronary recanalization affords beneficial effects through preservation of myocardial viability in an ischemia-related zone, suggesting that the cardioprotective effect of preinfarction angina is a limited phenomenon in patients undergoing rapid coronary reperfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mechanical arcless dc circuit breaker is proposed and has been constructed. A rectifying device is used to block the reverse current of the breaker, allowing the breaker to open under zero current condition created by the discharge of a commutation circuit. A diode and a saturable reactor are used as the rectifying device, with a leakage current of ∼1 and ∼10 A, respectively. The duration of mechanical motion is about 20 ms, and its jitter is 2 ms, which is too long to make an economical system using a commutation capacitor. In order to avoid the dead time, the commutation circuit is started after the breaker kicks in and the final jitter is reduced to 20 μs. Arcless current interruption is achieved at 10 kA and 9.1 kV. Since a strong arc plasma is not generated between the contacts, a long lifetime of the breaker can be expected and a disconnecting switch can be used instead of a circuit breaker, reducing the size of the switch. These characteristics of the new breaker can be expanded for many applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method to magnify a small polarization angle with brazed gratings has been developed. In the method, difference in diffraction efficiency for S and P polarization components is used. The magnification dependence on the incident angle can be small by arranging the grating in Littrow layout. A magnification with a factor ~2.7 has been demonstrated for a 10.6 µmCO2 laser beam as expected from a calculation. The method is applicable in many polarimetry fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of conventional permanent magnet quadrupoles is used to focus a 2.4 MeV laser-driven proton beam at a 1 Hz repetition rate. The magnetic field strengths are 55 and 60 T/m for the first and second quadrupoles, respectively. The proton beam is focused to a spot with a size of less than ∼3×8 mm2 at a distance of 650 mm from the source. This result is in good agreement with the Monte Carlo particle trajectory simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron cyclotron emission (ECE) can be used to determine the electron temperature profile in magnetized plasmas. The complex structure of the magnetic field configuration in the Large Helical Device (LHD) [M. Fujiwara et al., J. Fusion Energy 15, 7 (1996)] complicates the analysis of the ECE spectrum. The magnetic field is a nonmonotonous function of the radius and has a very large shear. The effects of the magnetic-field shear on the polarization of the ECE spectrum have been numerically and experimentally analyzed. For a high enough density (n[sub e]>1.0x10[sup 19] m[sup -3]) the polarization is found to rotate with the sheared magnetic field, yielding only a negligible mode conversion. Experiments on the polarization have been carried out at LHD. X-mode emission was detected under a specific angle, in agreement with the numerical predictions. The elliptically polarized ECE emission showed a very strong O-mode component (70% of X-mode), that can be attributed to the effect of wall reflections. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]