Runaway Electron Measurements in the EAST Tokamak

An experimental study of runaway electrons in the EAST tokamak has been performed by a recently developed multi‐channel hard x‐ray diagnostics based on NaI(TL) scintillator detectors. It is found that in the current quench phase, the inductive loop voltage plays an important role in the generation of runaway electrons. And the avalanche mechanism was the main mechanism for runaway electrons after the disruptions. The distribution and transportation of runaway electrons were also investigated by multi‐channel hard x‐ray diagnostics. It is also found that the intensity of runaway electrons emission in the core plasma was much higher than those in the downside of the cross‐section, while the emission intensity of runaway electrons in the core plasma was almost the same. Calculated shrinking coefficient of runaway electrons emission after the plasma disruption was about 26 m/s according to the experimental data (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Observation of Runaway Electron Behaviour During Disruptions in LHCD Discharges in the HT‐7 Tokamak

Production of runaway electrons during disruptions has been observed in the HT‐7 Tokamak. The runaway current plateaus, which can carry part of the pre‐disruptive current, are observed in lower‐hybrid current drive (LHCD) limiter discharges. It is found that the runaway current can mitigate the disruptions effectively. We can use gas puffing to increase the line‐averaged density to restrain the runaway electrons and rebuild the plasmas after the disruptions. Detailed observations are presented on the runaway electrons generated following disruptions in the HT‐7 tokamak discharges. The results indicate that the magnetic oscillations play a significant role in the loss of runaway electrons in disruptions. There are two important preconditions to rebuild plasmas by runaway electrons after the disruptions. One of them are weak magnetic oscillations; another one are LHWs (lower‐hybrid waves) (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Differential Glycosite Profiling—A Versatile Method to Compare Membrane Glycoproteomes

Glycosylation is the most prevalent and varied form of post-translational protein modifications. Protein glycosylation regulates multiple cellular functions, including protein folding, cell adhesion, molecular trafficking and clearance, receptor activation, signal transduction, and endocytosis. In particular, membrane proteins are frequently highly glycosylated, which is both linked to physiological processes and of high relevance in various disease mechanisms. The cellular glycome is increasingly considered to be a therapeutic target. Here we describe a new strategy to compare membrane glycoproteomes, thereby identifying proteins with altered glycan structures and the respective glycosites. The workflow started with an optimized procedure for the digestion of membrane proteins followed by the lectin-based isolation of glycopeptides. Since alterations in the glycan part of a glycopeptide cause mass alterations, analytical size exclusion chromatography was applied to detect these mass shifts. N-glycosidase treatment combined with nanoUPLC-coupled mass spectrometry identified the altered glycoproteins and respective glycosites. The methodology was established using the colon cancer cell line CX1, which was treated with 2-deoxy-glucose—a modulator of N-glycosylation. The described methodology is not restricted to cell culture, as it can also be adapted to tissue samples or body fluids. Altogether, it is a useful module in various experimental settings that target glycan functions.     

On the simulation of the pivot bearing inside HDD

The pivot bearing is an important mechanical component in HDD. Several quasi-rigid (QR) body motion modes of the HDD are related to the stiffness of the pivot bearing such as the axial translation mode, the lateral translation mode and the rocking mode. In the shock simulation of the HDD, the pivot bearing is often simplified to identical theoretical models wherein the bearing is simulated with springs or beams. The overall axial stiffness and the radial stiffness of these models are often carefully checked and match well with the experimental values. However, how well these theoretical models represent the rotational stiffness of the bearing is still not fully understood. This is partly due to the difficulties in obtaining the experimental rotational stiffness of the pivot bearing. In this paper, three different theoretical models are examined for the simulation of the bearing. The rotational stiffness of these three theoretical models is derived analytically. The theoretical formulations are verified with the finite element analysis results.