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Induced plasma nonuniformities and wave vector cascade in the strong wave-plasma interaction

The interaction of finite amplitude electrostatic waves with an unmagnetized electron-ion plasma is studied by means of a one-dimensional kinetic code that solves the Vlasov equations for the plasma species coupled with the Poisson equation for the self-consistent electric field. An external force acts upon the charged particles, in the form of the sum of several counterpropagating electrostatic waves, characterized by a unique frequency and a broad wave-vector spectrum, which form a standing wave pattern. The interplay between several nonlinear aspects of the interaction, such as the wavebreaking, the particle trapping, the electron heating, the production of ion beams, and the principal role of the wave-induced plasma density nonuniformities as the trigger of the above processes are investigated.

Journal Article↗

Spectral condensation of turbulence in plasmas and fluids and its role in low-to-high phase transitions in toroidal plasma.

Transitions from turbulence to order are studied experimentally in thin fluid layers and in magnetically confined toroidal plasma. It is shown that turbulence self-organizes through the mechanism of spectral condensation in both systems. The spectral redistribution of the turbulent energy leads to the reduction in the turbulence level, generation of coherent flow, reduction in the particle diffusion, and increase in the system's energy. The higher-order state in the plasma is sustained via the non-local spectral coupling of the linearly unstable spectral range to the large-scale mean flow. Spectral condensation of turbulence is discussed in terms of its role in the low-to-high confinement transitions in toroidal plasma which show similarity with phase transitions.

Journal Article↗

Experimental investigations of plasma perturbation in Thomson scattering applied to thermal plasma diagnostics.

Time and space resolved measurements of Thomson scattering of 532 nm , 6 ns laser pulses were performed on argon thermal discharge plasma with electron temperature T(e)>10,000 K and electron density 8 x 10(22) m(-3)< n(e)<2 x 10(23) m(-3). From these measurements, variations of the electron density and temperature across the laser beam and their evolution during the laser pulse were determined. While the electron density is augmented by no more than a few percent the electron temperature is significantly increased along the axis of the laser beam due to laser heating. It is also shown that the higher initial electron density, the more disturbed is the plasma. The initial "undisturbed" electron density was derived by studying the spatial variations of n(e) within the laser beam. On the other hand, the initial electron temperature was determined by studying the temporal evolution of T(e) during the laser pulse and then by extrapolating the results to the origin of the pulse. Despite strong and nonlinear plasma heating by the Thomson scattered laser light, our study yields temperatures close to those obtained by modeling and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements.

Journal Article↗

Subharmonic resonances in plasmas: exponential and superexponential growth of driven relativistic plasma waves

Subharmonic resonant beat-wave excitation of nonlinear relativistic plasma waves is studied analytically and in particle-in-cell simulations. We find that if the frequency separation of the lasers, Deltaomega, is 2omega(p) or 3omega(p) ( omega(p) is the plasma frequency), then plasma waves are still excited at omega(p) but they grow exponentially or superexponentially rather than secularly. Both of these subharmonic resonant instabilities saturate due to relativistic detuning. The analytical growth rates and saturation levels agree with the simulation results.

Journal Article↗

Chaotic dynamics of coupled transverse-longitudinal plasma oscillations in magnetized plasmas.

The propagation of intense electromagnetic waves in cold magnetized plasma is tackled through a relativistic hydrodynamic approach. The analysis of coupled transverse-longitudinal plasma oscillations is performed for traveling plane waves. When these waves propagate perpendicularly to a static magnetic field, the model is describable in terms of a nonlinear dynamical system with 2 degrees of freedom. A constant of motion is obtained and the powerful classical mechanics methods can be used. A new class of solutions, i.e., the chaotic solutions, is discovered by the Poincaré surface of sections. As a result, coupled transverse-longitudinal plasma oscillations become aperiodically modulated.

Journal Article↗

Experimental evidence of plasma-induced incoherence of an intense laser beam propagating in an underdense plasma.

Time dependent large angular spreading and spectral broadening of an intense randomized laser beam propagating in an underdense, well-characterized plasma is measured. The two features are correlated and increase with laser intensity or plasma density. This spatial and temporal incoherence imposed upon the beam via the coupling with the plasma is interpreted, in agreement with recent numerical simulations, as due to the interplay between dynamical filamentation and strongly driven stimulated Brillouin forward scattering.

Journal Article↗

Observation of terahertz emission from a laser-plasma accelerated electron bunch crossing a plasma-vacuum boundary.

Coherent radiation in the 0.3-3 THz range has been generated from femtosecond electron bunches at a plasma-vacuum boundary via transition radiation. The bunches produced by a laser-plasma accelerator contained 1.5 nC of charge. The THz energy per pulse within a limited 30 mrad collection angle was 3-5 nJ and scaled quadratically with bunch charge, consistent with coherent emission. Modeling indicates that this broadband source produces about 0.3 microJ per pulse within a 100 mrad angle, and that increasing the transverse plasma size and electron beam energy could provide more than 100 microJ/pulse.

Journal Article↗

Apparent thermalization due to plasma instabilities in the quark-gluon plasma.

Hydrodynamical modeling of heavy-ion collisions at RHIC suggests that the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) "thermalizes" in a remarkably short time scale, about 0.6 fm/c. We argue that this should be viewed as indicating fast isotropization, but not necessarily complete thermalization, of the nonequilibrium QGP. Non-Abelian plasma instabilities can drive local isotropization of an anisotropic QGP on a time scale which is faster than ordinary perturbative scattering processes. As a result, we argue that theoretical expectations based on weak-coupling analysis are not necessarily in conflict with hydrodynamic modeling of the early part of RHIC collisions, provided one recognizes the key role of non-Abelian plasma instabilities.

Journal Article↗

Estimation of plasma insulin from plasma glucose.

Two plasma insulin estimators are derived and evaluated in this paper. The estimators use continuously monitored plasma glucose, and they are based on a simple mathematical model of glucose-insulin metabolism. The first estimator (Estimator 1) was obtained from the glucose subsystem of the simplified model, which includes plasma glucose and interstitial insulin compartments. The second estimator (Estimator 2) was developed from the insulin kinetics subsystem of the simplified model. The performances of the estimators were compared using computer simulations and data from clinical intravenous glucose tolerance test procedures and from animal experiments.

Animals↗

Changes in blood pressure, plasma catecholamines and plasma renin activity during and after treatment with tiamenidine and clonidine.

1 Tiamenidine (Hoe 440) is an imidazoline with blood pressure lowering properties. Its pharmacology resembles that of clonidine. 2 The effect of both drugs on blood pressure, plasma noradrenaline (NA), plasma adrenaline (Ad), urinary catecholamines and plasma renin activity (PRA) was assessed in four previously untreated male hypertensive patients in a cross over study. 3 The maximum daily dose of tiamenidine was 3 mg. The maximum daily dose of clonidine was 450 micrograms. 4 During treatment, blood pressure, systolic and diastolic, supine and erect, fell on average between 12 and 15%. Levels of NA, Ad, PRA were reduced during treatment. 5 During withdrawal of either drug there was rebound of blood pressure and NA, Ad, PRA, overshooting baseline levels. 6 The withdrawal effects caused by clonidine were similar for tiamenidine.

Adult↗

The effects of a single dose of dilevalol on [3H]-noradrenaline plasma kinetics and plasma lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.

1. A single oral dose of dilevalol (200 mg or 400 mg) or placebo was administered to 15 normal male volunteers in a double-blind, random order crossover study. 2. Dilevalol had no significant effect on supine blood pressures or heart rates, but caused a significant fall in systolic blood pressure 1 and 30 min following standing, and attenuated the rise in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate that accompanies standing. 3. Dilevalol caused a dose dependent increase in plasma noradrenaline levels from arterialized blood which was due to an increase in noradrenaline spillover with no change in clearance. 4. Dilevalol increased plasma levels of the noradrenaline metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol (DHPG) (which is formed in sympathetic nerves following neuronal uptake of noradrenaline), indicating that the increase in noradrenaline spillover was not due to the blockade of neuronal uptake. 5. Acute dilevalol administration had no effect on total plasma cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol levels.

Adult↗

In vitro remodelling of plasma lipoproteins in whole plasma by lipoprotein lipase in primary and secondary hypertriglyceridaemia.

In patients with familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (FLPL-d) and glycogen storage disease type I (GSD-I), hypertriglyceridaemia (1445 +/- 247 and 1082 +/- 312 mg dl-1, n = 5 per group) was associated primarily with reduced extrahepatic lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity (0.33 +/- 0.33 and 1.69 +/- 0.38 mumol FFA ml-1 h-1) when compared with controls (4.83 +/- 0.90). Hypercholesterolaemia was characterized by elevated LDL cholesterol (191 +/- 30 and 344 +/- 34 vs. 115 +/- 5 mg dl-1 in controls P less than 0.01) and low HDL cholesterol (12 +/- 2 and 22 +/- 2 vs. 56 +/- 3 in controls, P less than 0.001). In order to ascertain the role of LPL in the interconversion and remodelling of lipoproteins in these disorders, we analysed lipid and lipoprotein profiles before and following in vitro incubation of patient plasma with purified milk LPL (EC 3.1.1.34) for 6 h at 37 degrees C. The efficiency of exogenous LPL in vitro was demonstrated by the extent of hydrolysis of chylomicrons and of VLDL-TG in both groups. Concomitant with the disappearance of TG-rich lipoprotein particles, a consistent per cent increment of IDL (99.2 +/- 30.8 and 43.9 +/- 70.5), LDL (152.8 +/- 36.2 and 137.0 +/- 36.1) and of HDL2 (144.8 +/- 29.4 and 99.8 +/- 18.7) was observed in both groups of patients. The enhancement of the latter fractions contrasted with the decline of HDL3 mass concentration (25.4 +/- 7.7 and 51.4 +/- 5.8%), suggesting that a major shift of HDL3----HDL2 occurs following in vitro lipolysis by LDL. Simultaneous compositional and morphological changes of individual lipoprotein particles were noted, confirming the dynamic movement and exchange of neutral lipids and proteins. Specificity of LPL results was demonstrated by experiments in which incubation of the whole plasma at 37 degrees C without exogenous lipolytic enzyme did not cause any substantial changes. The present study, therefore, demonstrates a correction of the major lipoprotein abnormalities associated with FLPL-d and GSD-I by exogenous LPL. No substantial difference was noted between primary (FLPL-d) and secondary (GSD-I) hyperlipidaemias. These studies allow us to conclude that a simple in vitro system, utilizing an exogenous source of LPL and plasma from patients, may serve as a suitable model for the study of the metabolic relationships of lipoproteins. However, in view of the fact that the extent of lipolysis achieved in vitro did not differ between FLPL-d and GSD-I, it may not be able to separate primary from secondary hyperlipaemias.

Adolescent↗

Interactions of plasma gelsolin with actin. Isolation and characterization of binary and ternary plasma-gelsolin-actin complexes.

We have studied the interactions between plasma gelsolin and actin: firstly the complex formation between both proteins, secondly the effects of gelsolin and its complexes on G-actin polymerization and F-actin fragmentation. Complex formation has been studied by high-performance gel permeation chromatography; plasma gelsolin alone elutes at an Mr of about 77000 and a Stokes radius of 3.7 nm; complex formation occurs in the presence of Ca2+: by chromatography in the presence of EGTA, a binary complex is obtained with an Mr of 134000 and a Stokes radius of 4.7 nm; and by chromatography in the presence of Ca2+, a ternary complex is obtained with an Mr of 173000 and a Stokes radius of 5.2 nm. The binary complex is EGTA-stable. In relation to this stability of the binary complex, the depolymerizing function of gelsolin is not reversed upon chelation of Ca2+. The effects of plasma gelsolin and its complexes on both G-actin polymerization and F-actin fragmentation, and their Ca2+ dependence have been examined by viscometry and electron microscopy. The main conclusions of these studies are the following: the fast processes are the formation of ternary complex, which acts as a heteronucleus for G-actin polymerization, and the severing function of gelsolin, these fast processes are Ca2+-dependent; the slow processes are related to the capping ability of gelsolin or its complexes and are Ca2+-independent.

Actins↗

Plasma endotoxin concentration and endotoxin binding capacity of plasma acute phase proteins in cirrhotics with variceal bleeding: an analysis by new methods.

Plasma endotoxin levels in 12 cirrhotics with bleeding from oesophageal varices and 50 cirrhotics without bleeding were measured by the chromogenic assay after the pretreatment of sample by perchloric acid (HClO4) and triethylamine. Endotoxin in cirrhotics with bleeding from varices was significantly higher than those without bleeding. In patients with bleeding, endotoxin increased for 3 days after the bleeding, first in the supernatant fraction and then in the precipitate fraction by HClO4 treatment. Peak plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin were observed 3 days after the bleeding. Alpha 1-antitrypsin gradually increased for 14 days. Transferrin did not markedly change. The endotoxin-binding capacity of transferrin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein increased immediately after bleeding and thereafter decreased, but that of alpha 1-antitrypsin tended to increase in the recovery period. In summary, the plasma endotoxin concentration and endotoxin-binding capacity of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and transferrin were shown to have increased after bleeding from varices by this new method. There may be a close relationship between endotoxaemia and acute phase reaction in this situation.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Improvement of schizophrenic symptoms and changes in plasma HVA concentrations, plasma anti-D2 and anti-5-HT2 receptor activities with clozapine.

In order to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the clinical efficacy of clozapine, 200 mg/day of clozapine was added to the drug regimens of 19 patients with chronic, anti-psychotic-resistant schizophrenia, and the plasma homovanillic acid (HVA), clozapine concentrations, anti-dopamine D2 and anti-serotonin 5-HT2 receptor activities were measured. After 28 days, six patients showed an improvement of more than 20% over baseline Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores. Mean plasma HVA concentrations and anti-D2 receptor activities did not change significantly in the entire group or in the six patients showing improvement. However, anti-5-HT2 receptor activities increased significantly in all 19 patients. Changes in BPRS scores did not correlate significantly with changes in plasma HVA or with changes in clozapine concentrations, or with anti-D2 and anti-5-HT2 receptor activities.

Adult↗

Calculation of 51Cr-EDTA clearance in children from the activity in one plasma sample by transformation of the biexponential plasma time-activity curve into a monoexponential with identical integral area below the time-activity curve.

The relation between 51Cr-EDTA clearance and plasma 51Cr-activity in children was analysed introducing the functions s(t) and g(t) for transformation of the biexponential plasma time-activity curve to a monoexponential with identical area below the time-activity curve. The theory of s(t) and g(t) were discussed and the variation of g(t) with time was determined empirically. The functions s(t) and g(t) were used to derive a formula for the calculation of 51Cr-EDTA clearance in children from one single plasma sample (ClST) withdrawn between 90 and 150 min after the injection. ClST and 51Cr-EDTA clearance calculated by means of a standard method were almost identical (r = 0.991). It is concluded that the formula may prove useful for calculation of 51Cr-EDTA clearance in children.

Adolescent↗

Thiopentone and buthalitone: the relationship between depth of anaesthesia, plasma concentration and plasma protein binding.

For 24 hr. after intravenous administration of buthalitone or thiopentone, plasma concentrations in young human subjects have been followed. Buthalitone was distributed to the tissues more rapidly but was metabolized at a slower rate than thiopentone. The relationships between these findings and differences in plasma protein binding and oil/water partition coefficients were studied. It is suggested that some of the differences observed in potency between the substances is a reflection of differences in their modes of distribution. No relationship was found between speed of recovery from anaesthesia and plasma barbiturate concentrations.

Analgesia↗

Plasma lactoferrin measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Measurements on adult and infant plasma.

The lactoferrin content of human plasma has been measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In cord blood the level was 0.02-0.3 mg/l, corresponding to 3-44 X 10-(10) mol/l lactoferrin; in plasma 5 d post partum the level had not changed. In adults the level was 0.02-0.2 in 29 out of 30 plasma samples and above 1 mg/l in 1 sample. Similar results were obtained with EDTA, citrate or heparin as anti-coagulant.

Adult↗