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).

Understanding nitrogen removal mechanisms of microbial fuel cells with different air-cathodes: pathways and microbial community analysis.

Single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cells (SA-MFCs) are an aeration-free, energy-positive technology for nitrogen removal, which is critical for environmental protection. However, existing studies on nitrogen removal mechanisms in SA-MFCs are conflicting, hindering further development. Focusing on removal mechanisms, this study comprehensively investigated three potential nitrogen removal pathways (ammonia volatilisation, electrochemical oxidation and biological conversion) using both conventional hand-made and 3D-printed air cathodes.

Asymmetric Stress Engineering of Dense Dislocations in Brittle Superconductors for Strong Vortex Pinning.

Large lossless currents in high-temperature superconductors (HTS) critically rely on dense defects with suitable size and dimensionality to pin vortices, with dislocations being particularly effective due to their 1D geometry to interact extensively with vortex lines. However, in non-metallic compounds such as HTS with rigid lattices, conventional deformation methods typically lead to catastrophic fracture rather than dislocation-mediated plasticity, making it a persistent challenge to introduce dislocations at high density. Here, an asymmetric stress field strategy is proposed using extrusion to directly nucleate a high density of dislocations in HTS by activating shear-driven lattice slip and twisting under superimposed hydrostatic compression.

The effect of aging in thin films in the picosecond sonar experiment.

This work describes a previously overlooked source of measurement drift in picosecond acoustics experiments and demonstrates a solution for ensuring long-term measurement reliability. Picosecond acoustics is a well-suited non-destructive characterization technique used for determining film thickness, elastic properties, and interface quality in multilayer systems. We reveal that significant changes in measured signals develop over time in thin-film stacks studied by picosecond sonar.

Low-temperature plasma mutagenesis breeding of Chlorella sorokiniana mutant strains for efficient carbon sequestration.

In this study, low-temperature plasma was used to achieve mutagenesis of Chlorella sorokiniana and two mutants with good traits were successfully obtained after several rounds of screening. The results showed that the biomass of the mutants was increased by 15.31% and 19.

A novel discharge control method for megawatt-level NNBI RF ion sources.

High-power efficient coupling and high-density negative ion beam extraction are critical challenges urgently requiring solutions for the Radio Frequency (RF) driven Negative ion based Neutral Beam Injection (NNBI) systems. To improve the power transfer efficiency of the RF ion source power supply and simultaneously simplify the design of the NNBI filter magnetic field, this paper proposes a novel discharge control method for NNBI RF ion sources. The design scheme of the RF ion source inverter power supply is analyzed.

The forewing-hindwing coupling of a black cicada Cryptotympana atrata (Hemiptera: Cicadidae): Functional morphology and kinematics.

The wing structures and flapping dynamics of insects are diverse, which have important bionic implications for aircraft design. The black cicada, Cryptotympana atrata, which is a morphologically 4-winged insect, while its fore- and hindwings are coupled during flight. The functional morphology and kinematics in insects with coupled forewings-hindwings are still unclear.

Decontaminant activity of volume dielectric barrier discharge against Fusarium spp. on barley seeds.

Barley is one of the basic inputs for the European malting and brewing industry. Fusarium diseases can cause significant losses in grain yield and affect crop and beer quality, leading also to contamination by mycotoxins. The aim of the work was to evaluate efficacy of volume dielectric barrier discharge under different treatment conditions and exposure times and to get benchmarks for decontamination using direct plasma treatment of seeds while preserving seed germinability.

Design and analysis of a high-precision uniform field scanning micro-motion platform for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging.

To meet the scanning requirements for ultra-high magnetic field strength (≥7 T) and high uniformity within Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment, this paper presents the design and implementation of a fully automated five-axis micro-positioning platform with a positioning accuracy of 50 μm. The platform enables full-area magnetic field measurement inside MRI devices via high-precision automatic scanning, providing data assurance for the precise current loading of the homogeneous field system. A systematic design of the motion actuator, probe fine-tuning mechanism, and probe rod of the micro-motion platform is described, utilizing 3D modeling software.

Separation of bidispersed microspheres in dusty plasma ratchet experiments.

It is demonstrated experimentally that the effective separation of bidispersed microspheres (dust particles) in the underdamped and strongly coupled regime is realized using a designed dusty plasma ratchet. Experimental findings reveal that these dust particles can undergo directional transport at varying speeds, even moving in opposite directions depending on the discharge conditions, enabling successful particle separation. Numerical simulations of the plasma environment surrounding the dust particles are performed using fluid simulations of the capacitively coupled discharge of Argon.

Magnetoelastic softening in cold-sprayed polycrystalline nickel studied by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy.

Cold-sprayed metallic deposits are additively manufactured materials containing high levels of compressive residual stress. Here, we show that the presence and intensity of this stress can be analyzed using laser-ultrasonics, provided that the sprayed material is ferromagnetic and magnetostrictive, as in the case of pure nickel. Contactless resonant ultrasound spectroscopy is used to monitor the evolution of shear modulus and internal friction parameter of two polycrystalline Ni deposits with temperature over the Curie point, which enables a direct assessment of the strength of magnetoelastic softening that is known to be strongly stress-dependent.

Effects of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics on the DEP degradation mechanisms initiated by •OH and SO• in aquatic environments.

Microplastics (MPs), as emerging contaminants, are widely distributed in aquatic environments and influence the transformation and ultimate outcome of organic pollutants through adsorption and interfacial effects. This study systematically explored the degradation mechanisms of diethyl phthalate (DEP) initiated by hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and sulfate radicals (SO•⁻), with a focus on how polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics affect these processes. Density functional theory (DFT) computations were employed to identify the transformation pathways of DEP in the presence of both radicals, and transition state theory (TST) combined with diffusion-controlled rate corrections was further applied to calculate reaction rate constants.

Metabolic Control for High-Efficiency Ectoine Synthesis in Engineered .

Ectoine is a pivotal natural osmoprotectant that functions as a compatible solute through osmoregulation, enabling microorganisms to thrive in extreme environments such as high salinity. To meet market demands, this study focuses on optimizing its production process. We initially engineered the gene cluster from via 5'-UTR modification, establishing a functional ectoine biosynthesis pathway in .

Ensuring the structural integrity of tokamak fusion power plants: challenges, progress and pathway.

Structural integrity for fusion is an integrated multi-disciplinary subject spanning the science of materials, technology, engineering, health monitoring and simulation methods and algorithms for scrutinizing the assurance of reliable fusion reactor performance from the whole plant design phase through operation to decommissioning. Structural integrity is essential for maintaining high standards of public, environmental and investment protection and maximizing economic benefits. While fusion shares many of the structural integrity challenges faced by other industries, it also presents unique complexities.

High efficiency of laser energy conversion with cavity pressure acceleration.

Cavity Pressure Acceleration (CPA) is a technique for accelerating dense plasma streams by utilizing laser-generated plasma pressure within a spatially confined region. This approach has been proposed as an alternative to the classical ablative acceleration of plasma. Initially, the primary goal of this approach was to create a dense plasma stream (a theoretical macroparticle delivering energy/momentum) suitable for experiments related to Impact Fast Ignition.

X-ray tomographic measurement and modeling for inferring tungsten impurity distribution in WEST plasmas: A review.

Since the advent of tungsten walls in ITER, the problem of precisely reconstructing the distribution of tungsten (W) concentration in the plasma has become all the more relevant. Among the different possible approaches, those using x-ray measurements seem particularly promising. Indeed, essential plasma parameters can be inferred from x-ray line-integrated measurements such as magnetic equilibrium, electron temperature, concentration of impurities, and their spatial distribution after tomographic inversion.

Multimodular Metabolic Engineering Strategy Enables High-Efficiency Synthesis of Lacto--fucopentaose I in Engineered .

Lacto--fucopentaose I (LNFP I), a fucosylated neutral human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) with diverse biological functions, was biosynthesized through metabolic engineering in BL21star (DE3). A pathway was constructed by chromosomal integration of three key enzymes: (β-1,3--acetylglucosaminyltransferase), (β-1,3-galactosyltransferase), and (UDP-galactose-4-epimerase), generating a plasmid-free strain that achieved a lacto--tetraose (LNT) titer of 109.80 g/L in a 5 L bioreactor, the highest yield reported to date.

Exploring the operational limits of poloidal and helical arrays of Mirnov coils in stellarators by means of a synthetic diagnostic.

A synthetic Mirnov coil array diagnostic for non-axisymmetric magnetic configurations is presented and used to study the capabilities of the poloidal array of single-axis coils and the two helical arrays of tri-axial coils installed in the TJ-II stellarator. This tool integrates the plasma currents induced by Alfvén-like perturbations of the electric potential inside the plasma and provides the induced magnetic field oscillations anywhere outside of it. The simulated signals can then be analyzed in the same manner as the experimental ones, and a scan on the radial position and width of the potential perturbation is conducted to find the limiting values that produce identifiable signals.

A more accurate passive shimming design method for high field MRI.

Linear programming is usually adopted in passive shimming design for MRI. Its main method is to optimize the thickness of the shims, whereas for high field MRI, the thickness of the shims arranged on the internal rail track is larger due to higher field deviation. In addition, the design error resulting from it cannot be ignored.

Reconstruction of Tokamak Plasma Emissivity Distribution by Approximation with Basis Functions.

The present study focuses on the development of a diagnostic system for measuring radiated power and core soft X-ray intensity emissions with the goal of detecting a broad spectrum of photon energies emitted from the central plasma region of the DEMO tokamak. The principal objective of the diagnostic apparatus is to deliver a comprehensive characterization of the radiation emitted by the plasma, with a particular focus on estimating the radiated power from the core region. This measurement is essential for determining and monitoring the power crossing the separatrix, which is a critical parameter controlling overall plasma performance.

Divertor shaping with neutral baffling as a solution to the tokamak power exhaust challenge.

Exhausting power from the hot fusion core to the plasma-facing components is one fusion energy's biggest challenges. The MAST Upgrade tokamak uniquely integrates strong containment of neutrals within the exhaust area (divertor) with extreme divertor shaping capability. By systematically altering the divertor shape, this study shows the strongest evidence to date to our knowledge that long-legged divertors with a high magnetic field gradient (total flux expansion) deliver key power exhaust benefits without adversely impacting the hot fusion core.

Enhanced terahertz emission from the wakefield of CO_{2}-laser-created plasma.

High-field terahertz (THz) pulse generation is investigated through the interaction of an intense single-color CO_{2} laser pulse with helium (He) gas targets. Employing particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, this study reveals a substantial enhancement in THz generation efficiency, even with a single-color laser pulse interacting with gas targets in the self-modulated-laser-wakefield (SMLWF) regime. Our study demonstrates that in the presence of photoionization, a synergistic interplay of laser self-modulation, self-focusing, and local pump depletion leads to the generation of robust THz pulses polarized parallel to the laser electric field.

Identification and Methods of Influencing the Oxidation States of Mn and Ce in Silicate Glasses.

Non-hygroscopic borosilicate glasses containing Ce and Mn ions were prepared using the conventional melt-quenching method. The electrochemical equilibrium of the Ce and Mn oxidation states has a significant effect on the energy levels and luminescence of both elements. Consequently, the oxidation states in the glasses were analyzed using a combination of XPS, EPR, and absorption spectroscopy.

Advanced Simulation of ITER Core X-ray Crystal Spectroscopy.

X-Ray Simulation Analysis (XRSA) is an analytical ray-tracing mixed code developed specifically for the ITER Core X-Ray Crystal Spectroscopy (XRCS-Core) diagnostic, which employs a dual-reflection configuration incorporating multiple pre-reflectors made of Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) and spherically curved analyzing crystals. The ITER XRCS-Core is designed for high spectral resolution measurement in specific wavelength ranges, including narrow bands around 1.354 Å for W64+, 2.

Efficient remediation and synchronous recovery of uranium by phosphate-functionalized magnetic carbon-based flow electrode capacitive deionization.

Through the design of flow electrodes, flow electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) enables the efficient remediation of uranium-contaminated water to meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards (uranium ≤ 30 ppb), while concurrently facilitating the recovery of uranium from the flow electrode slurry. In this work, the phosphate-functionalized magnetic carbon-based flow electrode (OMPAC) was synthesized by simply co-precipitation and oxygen plasma treatment. The enhanced conductivity of OMPAC accelerated the efficient remediation of surface water contaminated with multiple nuclides, due to the improved charge-transfer capability facilitated by the introduced magnetic particles (Fe, FeO, FeC) and heteroatoms (O, P).