A lanthanum bromide detector of runaway electrons for TCV.

The safe control and dissipation of Runaway Electrons (REs) generated in tokamak plasmas is vital for the operation of future fusion reactors. Measuring the evolution of RE energy in tokamaks is important for understanding their generation, transport, and termination. A new gamma ray spectrometer using a 2″ × 2″ cylindrical, cerium doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3:Ce) scintillator coupled to a fast photomultiplier tube was developed for studying runaway electrons on the Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV).

Design and upgrades of the TCV fast ion loss detector.

The Tokamak à Configuration Variable has a unique Fast Ion Loss Detector (FILD) that allows the simultaneous measurement of co- and counter-current fast-ion losses in forward or reverse magnetic field. Recently, multiple novel upgrades have been implemented that further extended its capabilities. The optical system throughput was improved by adding anti-reflective coatings to the internal components, in direct view of the camera, and installing a low wavelength filter to reduce unwanted stray light.

Coincident shifts in riparian ground-active arthropod diversity and soil nutrients under an introduced symbiotic N2-fixing tree.

Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing plants such as Russian olive can significantly impact soil chemistry and invertebrate biodiversity in riparian ecosystems. Here, the effects of Russian olive on soil chemical properties and invertebrate communities in riparian zones of the southwestern United States were investigated. Russian olive stands were compared to native cottonwood stands and restoration sites by analyzing soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and moisture levels, and arthropod diversity and abundance.

Mercury Isotope Variability in Pyrenean Lake Sediments during the Late Holocene: Sources, Deposition, and Environmental Controls.

Atmospheric mercury (Hg) emissions represent a persistent global threat to ecosystems and human health. Stable Hg isotopes have emerged as powerful tools to trace historical pollution sources and reconstruct depositional pathways in natural archives. In this study, we present a 4000-year reconstruction of Hg isotopic composition from two Pyrenean lake sediment records (Lake Marboré and Lake Estanya) located along an altitudinal gradient and compare them with those of a nearby ombrotrophic peatland (Estibere mire).

Levels and determinants of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances in French pregnant women from the SEPAGES cohort.

Background: Identifying the primary determinants of exposure to contaminants such as poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is essential for establishing efficient regulations. We aimed to identify determinants of serum PFAS during pregnancy, a sensitive exposure window.

Methods: This study relied on 450 pregnant women enrolled in a French cohort from 2014 to 2017.