ABSTRACT
The non-intrusive density measurement of the thin plasma produced by a mini-helicon space thruster (HPH.com project) is a challenge, due to the broad density range (between 10(16) m(-3) and 10(19) m(-3)) and the small size of the plasma source (2 cm of diameter). A microwave interferometer has been developed for this purpose. Due to the small size of plasma, the probing beam wavelength must be small (λ = 4 mm), thus a very high sensitivity interferometer is required in order to observe the lower density values. A low noise digital phase detector with a phase noise of 0.02° has been used, corresponding to a density of 0.5 × 10(16) m(-3).
ABSTRACT
In the present study, the side effects of d-Penicillamine therapy in 54 patients with rheumatoid arthritis are analyzed. The therapeutic efficacy of the drug is emphasized; but in the meantime, the necessity is also stressed that the choice of this antirheumatic agent must imply the knowledge of the possible complications caused by its use and of the clinical features and laboratory data which would be useful for their early detection.