Proposal of a Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion Reactor Intended for a Large Power Plant

This article looks for the necessary conditions to use Deuterium-Deuterium (D-D) fusion for a large power plant. At the moment, for nearly all the projects (JET, ITER…) only the Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) fuel is considered for a power plant. However, as shown in this article, even if a D-D reactor would be necessarily much bigger than a D-T reactor due to the much weaker fusion reactivity of the D-D fusion compared to the D-T fusion, a D-D reactor size would remain under an acceptable size. Indeed, a D-D power plant would be necessarily large and powerful, i.e. the net electric power would be equal to a minimum of 1.2 GWe and preferably above 10 GWe. A D-D reactor would be less complex than a D-T reactor as it is not necessary to obtain Tritium from the reactor itself. It is proposed the same type of reactor yet proposed by the author in a previous article, i.e. a Stellarator “racetrack” magnetic loop. The working of this reactor is continuous. It is reminded that the Deuterium is relatively abundant on the sea water, and so it constitutes an almost inexhaustible source of energy. Thanks to secondary fusions (D-T and D-He3) which both occur at an appreciable level above 100 keV, plasma can stabilize around such high equilibrium energy (i.e. between 100 and 150 keV). The mechanical gain (Q) of such reactor increases with the internal pipe radius, up to 4.5 m. A radius of 4.5 m permits a mechanical gain (Q) of about 17 which thanks to a modern thermo-dynamical conversion would lead to convert about 21% of the thermal power issued from the D-D reactor in a net electric power of 20 GWe. The goal of the article is to create a physical model of the D-D reactor so as to estimate this one without the need of a simulator and finally to estimate the dimensions, power and yield of such D-D reactor for different net electrical powers. The difficulties of the modeling of such reactor are listed in this article and would certainly be applicable to a future D-He3 reactor, if any.

Erratum to “Proposal of a Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion Reactor Intended for a Large Power Plant” [World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology Vol.14 No.1 2024]

The original online version of this article (Lindecker, P. (2024) Proposal of a Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion Reactor Intended for a Large Power Plant. World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 14, 1-58. https://doi.org/10.4236/wjnst.2024.141001) unfortunately contains mistakes.

Impact of Fluorescent Light Energy on the Quality of Life of Dogs with Dermatologic Disease and Their Owners

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is a term used to evaluate general well-being, and it is defined as ‘the degree to which an individual enjoys his or her life. Within the realm of medicine, the evaluation of QoL frequently involves examining how disease exerts a detrimental impact, diminishing the enjoyment and fulfilment experienced by the individual. Dermatological diseases have been found to exert a substantial negative influence on the QoL of dogs and their owners due to nuisance and stress related to the disease but also due to the caregiver burden. In the management of bacterial skin infections, topical therapy is commonly administered alongside systemic antibiotics. Nonetheless, the protracted duration of treatment and difficulties in ensuring owner compliance can introduce a significant caregiver burden, potentially exacerbating the challenges associated with these conditions. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact on the quality of life (QoL) of dogs with dermatologic diseases after fluorescent light energy (FLE) treatment. Methods: The study was an open, prospective, multicentric clinical trial that included dogs with various dermatological conditions. The dogs received FLE treatment once weekly until the clinical resolution was achieved. Owners completed a validated questionnaire to assess the QoL of their dogs before and after therapy. Results: Thirty-five dogs with deep pyoderma, interdigital furunculosis, pyotraumatic dermatitis, wounds and perianal fistulas were included. All dogs received two sessions of fluorescent light energy once a week. Median treatment duration was 9 weeks for perianal fistula, 7 weeks for interdigital furunculosis, 5 weeks for deep pyoderma, 3 weeks for wounds and 1.5 weeks for pyotraumatic dermatitis. Complete remission was noted in 86% of dogs, and 14% showed an improvement but partial remission. The majority of owners reported a positive impact on their dogs’ QoL after therapy, and 74% of the dogs showed at least a 50% reduction in QoL scores. Conclusion: Fluorescent light energy has been shown to exert beneficial effects on the healing of dermatological diseases and the quality of life (QoL) in dogs and their owners, whether used as a standalone treatment or in combination with standard care therapies. Additionally, it was well-tolerated by the dogs. This study emphasizes the significance of considering both the owner’s and dog’s QoL when evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of dermatological treatments.

Obesity leads to higher risk of sperm DNA damage in infertile patients

There has been a growing interest over the past few years in the impact of male nutrition on fertility. Infertility has been linked to male overweight or obesity, and conventional semen parameter values seem to be altered in case of high body mass index （BMI）. A few studies assessing the impact of BMI on sperm DNA integrity have been published, but they did not lead to a strong consensus. Our objective was to explore further the relationship between sperm DNA integrity and BMI, through a 3-year multicentre study. Three hundred and thirty male partners in subfertile couples were included. Using the terminal uridine nick-end labelling （TUNEL） assay, we observed an increased rate of sDerm DNA damage in obese men （odds ratio （95% confidence interval）： 2.5 （1.2-5.1））.

Proposal of a Solar Thermal Power Plant at Low Temperature Using Solar Thermal Collectors

To this day, only two types of solar power plants have been proposed and built: high temperature thermal solar one and photovoltaic one. It is here proposed a new type of solar thermal plant using glass-top flat surface solar collectors, so working at low temperature (i.e., below 100°C). This power plant is aimed at warm countries, i.e., the ones mainly located between -40° and 40° latitude, having available space along their coast. This land based plant, to install on the seashore, is technologically similar to the one used for OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion). This plant, apart from supplying electricity with a much better thermodynamic efficiency than OTEC plants, has the main advantage of providing desalinated water for drinking and irrigation. This plant is designed to generate electricity (and desalinated water) night and day and all year round, by means of hot water storage, with just a variation of the power delivered depending on the season.

Progressive Thermalization Fusion Reactor Able to Produce Nuclear Fusions at Higher Mechanical Gain

In the standard fusion reactors, mainly tokamaks, the mechanical gain obtained is below 1. On the other hand, there are colliding beam fusion reactors, for which, the not neutral plasma and the space charge limit the number of fusions to a very small number. Consequently, the mechanical gain is extremely low. The proposed reactor is also a colliding beam fusion reactor, configured in Stellarator, using directed beams. D+/T+ ions are injected in opposition, with electrons, at high speeds, so as to form a neutral beam. All these particles turn in a magnetic loop in form of figure of “0” (“racetrack”). The plasma is initially non-thermal but, as expected, rapidly becomes thermal, so all states between non-thermal and thermal exist in this reactor. The main advantage of this reactor is that this plasma after having been brought up near to the optimum conditions for fusion (around 68 keV), is then maintained in this state, thanks to low energy non-thermal ions (≤15 keV). So the energetic cost is low and the mechanical gain (Q) is high (>>1). The goal of this article is to study a different type of fusion reactor, its advantages (no net plasma current inside this reactor, so no disruptive instabilities and consequently a continuous working, a relatively simple way to control the reactor thanks to the particles injectors), and its drawbacks, using a simulator tool. The finding results are valuable for possible future fusion reactors able to generate massive energy in a cleaner and safer way than fission reactors.

Application of High-Throughput Sequencing: Discovery of Informative SNPs to Subtype <i>Bacillus anthracis</i>

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common and abundant genetic variation found in the genome of any living species, from bacteria to humans. In bacterial genotyping, these evolutionarily stable point mutations represent important DNA markers that can be used to elucidate deep phylogenetic relationships among worldwide strains, but also to discriminate closely related strains. With the advent of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, affordable solutions are now available to get access to the complete genome sequence of an organism. Sequencing efforts of an increasing number of strains provide an unprecedented opportunity to create comprehensive species phylogenies. In this study, a comparative analysis of 161 genomes of Bacillus anthracis has being conducted to discover new informative SNPs that further resolves B. anthracis SNP-based phylogenetic tree. Nine previously unpublished SNPs that define major groups or sub-groups within the B. anthracis species were selected and developed into SNP discriminative assays. We report here a cost-effective high-resolution melting-based genotyping method for the screening of 27 canonical SNPs that includes these new diagnostic markers. The present assays are useful to rapidly assign an isolate to one sub-lineages or sub-groups and determine its phylogenetic placement on the B. anthracis substructure population.

Entomophagy and Public Health: A Review of Microbiological Hazards

The world population’s constant increase and the continuous need to ensure food safety and security are among the major challenges to be faced in the next 30 years. In addition, human diet is evolving with a decreased inclusion of proteins from animal sources. In this context, consumption of insects by humans (entomophagy) could be an alternative solution to the intake of protein derived from conventional livestock, due to the lower environmental impact of insect rearing compared to traditional farming. Furthermore, various insect species have promising nutritional profiles regarding both macro and micronutrients. Nowadays, it is recognized that about 2 billion people consume insects at a worldwide scale, with more than 2000 different species to have been reported. Since the beginning of the 2000s, mass rearing of insects for human consumption has been developing all over the world. Nevertheless edible insects are foodstuffs of animal origin and are usually consumed in their entirety, including the digestive tract, meaning that they may contain biological agents with hazardous potential (e.g. bacteria, parasites, viruses, prions, yeasts, molds, mycotoxins, histamine, and antibiotic resistance genes) and they must undergo a thorough analysis. Therefore, establishing the synthesis of the current knowledge on entomophagy and the related biological hazards is the main purpose of this review.

Distribution and Relationships of Seven Trace Elements （Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn） in Freshwater Fish from Five French Fishing Areas

The concentrations of seven essential trace elements in 149 freshwater fish from eight fish species （European eel, bream, common carp, European catfish, roach, perch, pike and pikeperch） from five different French fishing areas from contaminated and control sites were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave digestion under pressure. Differences in the concentration of elements in the muscles of these species were examined and the mean levels were compared for each species with previous French and European studies. The condition factor and the differences between the control and contaminated sites and between predatory and non-predatory groups, with respect to the concentration of these elements, were also studied.

Double Blinded,Randomized and Controlled Comparative Study Evaluating the Cleaning Activity of Two Ear Cleaners in Client-Owned Dogs with Spontaneous Otitis Externa

Ear cleaning is a therapeutic component in the management of otitis externa in dogs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vivo efficacy and safety of a new ear cleanser, Sonotix? against EpiOtic? Advanced for the management of canine otitis externa. Eighteen clients owned dogs with a diagnosis of erythemato-ceruminous or purulent otitis externa were prospectively included and randomized to two treatment group: EpiOtic? Advanced and Sonotix?. Cytology and video-otoscopic examination (erythema, amount of cerumen and thickness and surface of ear canal covered by cerumen) of all affected ears were done at D0, both before (T0) and 30 minutes (T0 + 30 min) after ear cleaning. Then an ear medication was applied (Aurizon?, Vetoquinol). Owners were instructed to clean affected ears daily and apply the ear medication 30 minutes later for 5 days (D1-D5). Dogs were seen again at D6 for cytology and video-otoscopic examination. At T0, no significant differences were found between both ear cleansers groups regarding macroscopic and microscopic scorings. At T0 + 30 min and D6 cytological and video-otoscopic scores were significantly decreased (Wilcoxon test;p < 0.01) compared to baseline in both groups. However, the cleaning activity of Sonotix? was statistically superior to Epiotic? as evidenced by the median global scores of video-otoscopic examination at T0 + 30 min (Mann Whitney Test, p < 0.01). Effective ear cleaning is an essential part of any treatment scheme because it favours the contact between the ointment and the lining ear epidermis and speeds resolution by the removal of cerumen, microbial organisms and cellular debris. In our study, the important reductions in yeast, cocci, and rod-shaped organism counts were demonstrated in smears at T0 + 30 min and D6 in both groups. Video-otoscopic examination performed 30 minutes after ear cleaning suggests that Sonotix? seems to be more effective in removing cerumen than EpiOtic? Advanced.

Molecular and Serological Epidemiology of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in North Region of Cameroon

The serological prevalence of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) among the cattle population in the North region of Cameroon was determined using ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays) serological tests for structural as well as non-structural proteins. In these cattle, FMDV RNA was identified, amplified, sequenced and the sequences were used to construct a phylogenetic tree. A sedentary cattle population randomly selected from six veterinary centres in the North region was sampled twice, six months apart. High prevalence of FMDV antibody was recorded in the first (402/466 (85.84%)) and second (358/411 (86.90%)) sampling periods. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in prevalence of FMDV antibody between the two sampling periods. Goudali and Peulh breeds of cattle and animals of three to five years old were the most infected with FMDV and mostly in the months of May and August. A seroprevalence of 100% (n = 14) of FMDV against serotypes A and O was observed in sera from convalescent animals in the study area. FMDV antigen detection ELISA showed a prevalence of 18/37 (48.65%) for serotypes SAT1 (8.1%), SAT2 (35.1%), A (10.8%) and O (2.7%) among the clinically infected animals. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in prevalence of FMDV RNA between the sampling periods. A prevalence of FMDV RNA (17.5% (n = 120) and 16.7% (n = 240)) was observed among the sedentary animals that were sampled four to five months apart. FMDV RNA prevalence of 28/37 (75.6%) among clinically infected animals was also observed, thus confirming all the 12 outbreaks investigated. Sequence analysis of VP1 coding gene of the SAT2 serotype showed that it was homologous to the Libyan isolates (that caused epidemics in northern Africa in 2012) and also clustered with the serotypes isolated from both Nigeria and Sudan in 2007.

Narrative overview of animal and human brucellosis in Morocco: intensification of livestock production as a driver for emergence?

Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonoses in the world caused by several species of the genus Brucella.The disease,eradicated in many developed countries,is a re-emerging neglected zoonosis endemic in several zones especially in the Mediterranean region,impacting on human health and livestock production.A One Health approach could address brucellosis control in Morocco but scarcity of reliable epidemiological data,as well as underreporting,hinders the implementation of sustainable control strategies.Surveillance and control policies implemented by the Moroccan government in domestic animals(cattle and small ruminants)in the last few decades are assessed for disease impact.This study considers the origins of animal brucellosis in Morocco and the potential for emergence of brucellosis during a shift from extensive to intensive livestock production.

HACD1,a regulator of membrane composition and fluidity,promotes myoblast fusion and skeletal muscle growth

The reduced diameter of skeletal myofibres is a hallmark of several congenital myopathies,yet the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain elusive.In this study,we investigate the role of HACD1/PTPLA,which is involved in the elongation of the very long chain fatty acids,in muscle fibre formation.In humans and dogs,HACD1 deficiency leads to a congenital myopathy with fibre size disproportion associated with a generalized muscleweakness.Throughanalysis of HACD1-deficient Labradors,Hacd1-knockout mice,and Hacd1-deficient myoblasts,we provide evidence that HACD1 promotes myoblast fusion during muscle development and regeneration.We further demonstrate that in normal differentiating myoblasts,expression of the catalytically active HACD1 isoform,which is encoded by a muscle-enriched splice variant,yields decreased lysophosphatidylcholine content,a potent inhibitor of myoblast fusion,and increased concentrations of≥C18 and monounsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids.These lipid modifications correlate with a reduction in plasma membrane rigidity.In conclusion,we propose that fusion impairment constitutes a novel,non-exclusive pathological mechanism operating in congenital myopathies and reveal that HACD1 is a key regulator of a lipid-dependent muscle fibre growth mechanism.

Monitoring and factors affecting levels of airborne and water bromoform in chlorinated seawater swimming pools

Water and air quality of eight seawater swimming pools using chlorine disinfection was measured during four sampling campaigns, spread on one full-year, and in four thalassotherapy centers located in Southeast of France. Concentrations of trihalomethanes（THMs） in air and in water as well as concentrations of parameters, including nonpurgeable organic carbon（NPOC）, free residual chlorine（Cl_f）, pH, Kjeldhal Nitrogen（KN）, salinity,conductivity, bromide ions and, water and air temperature, were measured. Water and air samples were collected in triplicates morning — at the opening of the pools —, noon and night — at the closing of the pools —, in summer and winter. Data analysis was performed by Principal Component Analysis（PCA） and rotated component matrix, from both data quality and other parameters such as TOC, aromaticity（UV_（254））, pH, hygrometry, and free residual chlorine（Cl_f）. This statistical analysis demonstrates a high correlation between TOC, Cl_fand UV_（254） and THM levels found in air and water, particularly for the major ones（CHBr_3in water：300.0 μg/L mean, 1029.0 μg/L maximum; CHBr_3 in air： 266.1 μg/m^3 mean,1600.0 μg/m^3 maximum, and CHClBr_2 in water： 18.9 μg/L mean, 81.0 μg/L maximum;CHClBr_2 in air： 13.6 μg/m^3 mean, 150.0 μg/m^3maximum）. These high levels of bromoform（CHBr_3） are particularly worrisome in such health institutions, even these levels do not exceed the Permissible Exposure Limit（PEL） of 5 mg/m^3 as an 8 hour time-weighted average currently fixed by various administrations, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration（OSHA）.

Time till death affects spider mobility and web-building behavior during web construction in an orb-web spider

It is well known that age influences organism mobility. This was demonstrated in vertebrates （such as mammals and birds） but has been less studied in invertebrates with the exception of Drosophila and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we studied the influence of age on the mobility of the orb-weaving spider Zygiella x-notata during web construction. The orb-web is a good model because it has a characteristic geometrical structure and video tracking can be used to easily follow the spider＇s movements during web building. We investigated the influence of age （specifically chronological age, life span, and time till death） on different parameters of spider mobility during the construction of the capture spiral （distance traveled, duration of construction, spider velocity, spider movement, and spider inactivity） with a generalized linear model （GLM） procedure adjusted for the spider mass. The re- sults showed that neither chronological age, nor life span affected the mobility parameters. However, when the time till death decreased, there was a decrease in the distance traveled, the duration of the construction of the capture spiral, and the spider movement. The spider velocity and the time of inactivity were not affected. These results could be correlated with a decrease in the length of the silky thread deposited for the construction of the capture spiral. Spiders with a shorter time till death built smaller web using less silk. Thus, our study suggests strongly that time till death affects spider mobility during web construction but not the chronological age and thus may be a good indicator of senescence.

“Candidatus anaplasma camelii”in onehumped camels(Camelus dromedarius)in Morocco:a novel and emerging Anaplasma species?

Background:There has been a growing interest in camel anaplasmosis due to its recent emergence in this reservoir species and concerns for its zoonotic potential.The epidemiology of anaplasmosis in camels therefore remains poorly understood mostly because camels belong to marginalised poor and often transhumant populations whose interests are largely neglected.Most studies of anaplasmosis in camels have relied on microscopy and serology for diagnosis and only three studies,undertaken in Tunisia,Saudia Arabia and China,have used molecular diagnostics.The present work characterises Anaplasmataceae strains circulating in the Camelus dromedarius reservoir in Morocco using PCR.Methods:Camels(n=106)were randomly sampled from 6 regions representing different agro-ecological areas in southern Morocco.Whole blood was collected and screened using PCR methods targeting the gene groEL.Anaplasmataceae strains were characterised by sequence analysis of the gene groEL.Results:A total of 39.62%(42/106)camels screened were positive for Anaplasmataceae spp.GenBank BLAST analysis of five positive sequenced samples revealed that all strains were 100%identical to“Candidatus Anaplasma camelii”.Phylogenetic investigation and genetic characterisation of the aligned segment(650 bp)of the gene groEL confirmed high similarity with A.platys.Conclusion:This study demonstrates the circulation of a previously unidentified species of the genus Anaplasma in Morocco which is genetically close to the agent causing canine anaplasmosis but whose main reservoir is thought to be Camelus dromedarius.Trial registration number:This study is not a clinical trial and therefore a trial registration number does not apply.

Global parasite and Rattus rodent invasions: The consequences for rodent-borne diseases

We summarize the current knowledge on parasitism-related invasion processes of the globally invasive Rattus lineages,originating from Asia,and how these invasions have impacted the local epidemiology of rodent-borne diseases.Parasites play an important role in the invasion processes and successes of their hosts through multiple biological mechanisms such as“parasite release,”“immunocompetence advantage,”“biotic resistance”and“novel weapon.”Parasites may also greatly increase the impact of invasions by spillover of parasites and other pathogens,introduced with invasive hosts,into new hosts,potentially leading to novel emerging diseases.Another potential impact is the ability of the invader to amplify local parasites by spillback.In both cases,local fauna and humans may be exposed to new health risks,which may decrease biodiversity and potentially cause increases in human morbidity and mortality.Here we review the current knowledge on these processes and propose some research priorities.