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- Testa, D., et al.
(author)
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LTCC magnetic sensors at EPFL and TCV: Lessons learnt for ITER
- 2019
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In: Fusion Engineering and Design. - : Elsevier BV. - 0920-3796. ; 146, s. 1553-1558
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Innovative 3D high-frequency magnetic sensors have been designed and manufactured in-house for installation on the Tokamak a Configuration Variable (TCV), and are currently routinely operational. These sensors combine the Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) and the thick-film technologies, and are in various aspects similar to the majority of the inductive magnetic sensors currently being procured for ITER (290 out of 505 are LTCC-1D). The TCV LTCC-3D magnetic sensors provide measurements in the frequency range up to 1MHz of the perturbations to the toroidal (quasi-parallel: delta B-TOR(similar to)delta B-PAR), vertical (quasi-poloidal: delta B-V(ER)similar to delta B-PO(L)), and radial (delta B-RAD) magnetic field components, the latter being generally different from the component normal to the Last Closed Flux-Surface (delta B-NOR). The LTCC-3D delta B-RAD measurements improve significantly on the corresponding data with the saddle loops, which are mounted onto the wall and have a bandwidth of (similar to)3 kHz (due to the wall penetration time). The LTCC-3D delta B-TOR measurements (not previously available in TCV) provide evidence that certain MHD modes have a finite delta B-P(AR) at the LCFS, as recently calculated for pressure-driven instabilities. The LTCC-3D delta B-PO(L) measurements allow to cross-check the data obtained with the Mirnov coils, and led to the identification of large EM noise pick-up for the Mirnov DAQ. The LTCC-3D data for delta B-POL agree with those obtained with the Mirnov sensors in the frequency range where the respective data acquisition overlap, routinely up to 125kHz, and up to 250kHz in some discharges, when the EM noise pick-up on the Mirnov DAQ is removed. Finally, we look at what lessons can be learnt from our work for the forthcoming procurement, installation and operation of the LTCC-1D sensors in ITER.
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| 2. |
- Fornander, Louise, 1984, et al.
(author)
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Visualizing the Nonhomogeneous Structure of RAD51 Filaments Using Nanofluidic Channels
- 2016
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In: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 32:33, s. 8403-8412
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- RAD51 is the key component of the homologous recombination pathway in eukaryotic cells and performs its task by forming filaments on DNA. In this study we investigate the physical properties of RAD51 filaments formed on DNA using nanofluidic channels and fluorescence microscopy. Contrary to the bacterial ortholog RecA, RAD51 forms inhomogeneous filaments on long DNA in vitro, consisting of several protein patches. We demonstrate that a permanent "kink" in the filament is formed where two patches meet if the stretch of naked DNA between the patches is short. The kinks are readily seen in the present microscopy approach but would be hard to identify using conventional single DNA molecule techniques where the DNA is more stretched. We also demonstrate that protein patches separated by longer stretches of bare DNA roll up on each other and this is visualized as transiently overlapping filaments. RAD51 filaments can be formed at several different conditions, varying the cation (Mg2+ or Ca2+), the DNA substrate (single-stranded or double-stranded), and the RAD51 concentration during filament nucleation, and we compare the properties of the different filaments formed. The results provide important information regarding the physical properties of RAD51 filaments but also demonstrate that nanofluidic channels are perfectly suited to study protein-DNA complexes.
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| 3. |
- Labeix, P, et al.
(author)
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Resistance Training of Inspiratory Muscles After Coronary Artery Disease May Improve Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation: RICAOS Study
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in physiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-042X. ; 13, s. 846532-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects 5% of the adult population and its prevalence is up to 13 times higher in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. However, OSA in this population is less symptomatic, leading to lower adherence to positive airway pressure (CPAP). While oropharyngeal exercise showed a significant decrease in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in patients with moderate OSA, there have been no studies testing the impact of specific inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for these patients. The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of IMT on AHI reduction in CAD patients with moderate OSA.MethodsWe included patients with CAD involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program and presenting an AHI between 15 and 30. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 allocation to a control group (CTL – classic training) or an IMT group (classic training + IMT). IMT consisted in 60 deep inspirations a day, 6 days a week, into a resistive load device set at 70% of the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP). After 6 weeks, we compared AHI, neck circumference, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index, and quality of life with the 12-item Short Form Survey before and after rehabilitation.ResultsWe studied 45 patient (60 ± 9 y, BMI = 27 ± 6 kg.m−2). The IMT group (n = 22) significantly improved MIP ( p < 0.05) and had a significant decrease in AHI by 25% (−6.5 ± 9.5, p = 0.02). In the CTL group (n = 23), AHI decreased only by 3.5% (−0.7 ± 13.1; p = 0.29). Between groups, we found a significant improvement in MIP ( p = 0.003) and neck circumference ( p = 0.01) in favor of the IMT group. However, we did not find any significant improvement of AHI in the IMT group compared to CTL ( p = 0.09).ConclusionA specific IMT during cardiac rehabilitation contributes to reduce significantly AHI in CAD patients with moderate OSA. Magnitude of the decrease in OSA severity could be enhanced according to implementation of specific IMT in this population.
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