Plasma Feedback Control System for HL-2A Tokamak

As the limit of time and budget etc, the control system of HL-2A just could be operated in programmed discharge when HL-2A was checked and accepted in 2002. Recent years, many subsystem of HL-2A have been improved in functions and performances. And the demand for experiment of HL-2A is becoming more and more higher in plasma discharge parameters. So it＇s necessary to develop a plasma feedback control system （ FBCS ） which has enough functions and good stability and reliability to satisfy the demand of experiment on HL-2A.

Activation of hypothalamic gono-like neurons in female rats during estrus

In mammals, gonadal function is controlled by the activity of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons, which control the secretion of adenohypophyseal and gonadal hormones. However, there are a number of unanswered questions in relation to gonadal function. It is currently unknown how erotogenic stimulation of the genitals influences the subpopulation of hypothalamic medial preoptic area neurons, antidromically identified as projecting to the median eminence at different periods of the estrous cycle. Additionally, the distinctiveness of hypothalamic medial preoptic area neurons, with respect to methods of feedback control by exogenous hormones, is also unknown. In this study, spontaneous discharges from individual neurons encountered within the medial preoptic area, gono-like neurons, were recorded extracellularly using glass microelectrodes. To confirm the cellular and histochemical properties of the recording units, antidromic stimulation was performed using a side-by-side bipolar stimulating electrode placed into the median eminence, alongside microiontophoretic injections of the conventional tracer, horseradish peroxidase. In addition, further immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Results showed that elevated gono-neuron activity was accompanied by increased background activity and greater responses to erotogenic stimuli during estrus. Application of clitoral traction stimulation resulted in increased activation of the gono-like neurons. This neuronal activity was noticeably inhibited by β-estradiol administration. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed the presence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-reactive protein in hypothalamic cells in which electrophysiological recordings were taken. Thus, medial preoptic area neurons represent the subset of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons described from brain slices in vitro, and might serve as a useful physiological model to form the basis of future in vivo studies.

Simulated effects of interactions between ocean acidification,marine organism calcification, and organic carbon export on ocean carbon and oxygen cycles

Ocean acidification caused by oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide(CO_2) tends to suppress the calcification of some marine organisms. This reduced calcification then enhances surface ocean alkalinity and increases oceanic CO_2 uptake, a process that is termed calcification feedback. On the other hand, decreased calcification also reduces the export flux of calcium carbonate(Ca CO_3), potentially reducing Ca CO_3-bound organic carbon export flux and CO_2 uptake, a process that is termed ballast feedback. In this study, we incorporate a range of different parameterizations of the links between organic carbon export, calcification, and ocean acidification into an Earth system model, in order to quantify the long-term effects on oceanic CO_2 uptake that result from calcification and ballast feedbacks. We utilize an intensive CO_2 emission scenario to drive the model in which an estimated fossil fuel resource of 5000 Pg C is burnt out over the course of just a few centuries. Simulated results show that, in the absence of both calcification and ballast feedbacks, by year 3500, accumulated oceanic CO_2 uptake is2041 Pg C. Inclusion of calcification feedback alone increases the simulated uptake by 629 Pg C(31%), while the inclusion of both calcification and ballast feedbacks increase simulated uptake by 449–498 Pg C(22–24%), depending on the parameter values used in the ballast feedback scheme. These results indicate that ballast effect counteracts calcification effect in oceanic CO_2 uptake. Ballast effect causes more organic carbon to accumulate and decompose in the upper ocean, which in turn leads to decreased oxygen concentration in the upper ocean and increased oxygen at depths. By year 2600, the inclusion of ballast effect would decrease oxygen concentration by 11% at depth of ca. 200 m in tropics. Our study highlights the potentially critical effects of interactions between ocean acidification, marine organism calcification, and Ca CO3-bound organic carbon export on the ocean carbon and oxygen cycles.