A generalized approach to x-ray data modeling for high-energy-density plasma experiments.

Accurate understanding of x-ray diagnostics is crucial for both interpreting high-energy-density experiments and testing simulations through quantitative comparisons. X-ray diagnostic models are complex. Past treatments of individual x-ray diagnostics on a case-by-case basis have hindered universal diagnostic understanding. Here, we derive a general formula for modeling the absolute response of non-focusing x-ray diagnostics, such as x-ray imagers, one-dimensional space-resolved spectrometers, and x-ray power diagnostics. The present model is useful for both data modeling and data processing. It naturally accounts for the x-ray crystal broadening. The new model verifies that standard approaches for a crystal response can be good approximations, but they can underestimate the total reflectivity and overestimate spectral resolving power by more than a factor of 2 in some cases near reflectivity edge features. We also find that a frequently used, simplified-crystal-response approximation for processing spectral data can introduce an absolute error of more than an order of magnitude and the relative spectral radiance error of a factor of 3. The present model is derived with straightforward geometric arguments. It is more general and is recommended for developing a unified picture and providing consistent treatment over multiple x-ray diagnostics. Such consistency is crucial for reliable multi-objective data analyses.

Density measurements for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) opacity platform.

The Opacity Platform on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has been developed to measure opacities at varying densities and temperatures relevant to the solar interior and thermal cooling rates in white dwarf stars. The typical temperatures reached at NIF range between 150 and 210 eV, which allow these measurements to be performed experimentally. The captured opacities are crucial to validating radiation-hydrodynamic models that are used in astrophysics. The NIF opacity platform has a unique new capability that allows in situ measurement of the sample expansion. The sample expansion data are used to better understand the plasma conditions in our experiments by inferring the sample density throughout the duration of the laser drive. We present the details of the density measurement technique, data analysis, and recent results for Fe and MgO.

Development and integration of photonic Doppler velocimetry as a diagnostic for radiation driven experiments on the Z-machine.

Plasma density measurements are key to a wide variety of high-energy-density (HED) and laboratory astrophysics experiments. We present a creative application of photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV) from which time- and spatially resolved electron density measurements can be made. PDV has been implemented for the first time in close proximity, ∼6 cm, to the high-intensity radiation flux produced by a z-pinch dynamic hohlraum on the Z-machine. Multiple PDV probes were incorporated into the photoionized gas cell platform. Two probes, spaced 4 mm apart, were used to assess plasma density and uniformity in the central region of the gas cell during the formation of the plasma. Electron density time histories with subnanosecond resolution were extracted from PDV measurements taken from the gas cells fielded with neon at 15 Torr. As well, a null shot with no gas fill in the cell was fielded. A major achievement was the low noise high-quality measurements made in the harsh environment produced by the mega-joules of x-ray energy emitted at the collapse of the z-pinch implosion. To evaluate time dependent radiation induced effects in the fiber optic system, two PDV noise probes were included on either side of the gas cell. The success of this alternative use of PDV demonstrates that it is a reliable, precise, and affordable new electron density diagnostic for radiation driven experiments and more generally HED experiments.

Observation of ionization trends in a laboratory photoionized plasma experiment at Z.

We report experimental and modeling results for the charge state distribution of laboratory photoionized neon plasmas in the first systematic study over nearly an order of magnitude range of ionization parameter ξ∝F/N_{e}. The range of ξ is achieved by flexibility in the experimental platform to adjust either the x-ray drive flux F at the sample or the electron number density N_{e} or both. Experimental measurements of photoionized plasma conditions over such a range of parameters enable a stringent test of atomic kinetics models used within codes that are applied to photoionized plasmas in the laboratory and astrophysics. From experimental transmission data, ion areal densities are extracted by spectroscopic analysis that is independent of atomic kinetics modeling. The measurements reveal the net result of the competition between photon-driven ionization and electron-driven recombination atomic processes as a function of ξ as it affects the charge state distribution. Results from radiation-hydrodynamics modeling calculations with detailed inline atomic kinetics modeling are compared with the experimental results. There is good agreement in the mean charge and overall qualitative similarities in the trends observed with ξ but significant quantitative differences in the fractional populations of individual ions.

X-ray heating and electron temperature of laboratory photoionized plasmas.

We discuss the experimental and modeling results for the x-ray heating and temperature of laboratory photoionized plasmas. A method is used to extract the electron temperature based on the analysis of transmission spectroscopy data that is independent of atomic kinetics modeling. The results emphasized the critical role of x-ray heating and radiation cooling in determining the energy balance of the plasma. They also demonstrated the dramatic impact of photoexcitation on excited-state populations, line emissivity, and radiation cooling. Modeling calculations performed with astrophysical codes significantly overestimated the measured temperature.

Maternal smoking and preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between maternal smoking and preeclampsia and whether this association differs between primiparous and multiparous women. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based, retrospective, cohort study of 58,216 singleton pregnancies from northern and central Alberta, Canada, between 1995 and 1997. Multivariate logistic regression was used to control for maternal alcohol consumption, drug dependence, maternal age, maternal weight, prior intrauterine growth restriction and other confounders. RESULTS: Maternal smoking was associated with a significantly reduced overall risk of preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: .61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .50-.75; P < .01). Stratified analyses showed that in primiparous pregnancies, maternal smoking was associated with a significantly decreased risk (aOR: .63; 95% CI: .50-.80; P < .01); in multiparous women, maternal smoking was not associated with a statistically significant decreased risk of preeclampsia (aOR: 0.72; 95% CI: .51-1.02; P > .05). CONCLUSION: Maternal smoking is protective against preeclampsia. Understanding the underlying biologic mechanisms of this protective effect may advance our knowledge of the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Crohn's disease, pregnancy, and birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: Although there is general agreement that conception should be avoided when Crohn's disease is active, many questions remain unanswered for the woman with Crohn's disease in remission who becomes pregnant. METHODS: Sixty-five charts of women with Crohn's disease quiescent at the start of pregnancy were identified between January 1993 and December 1997. Each pregnancy was matched to a healthy control pregnancy by date, age, parity, smoking status, and gestational age +/- 1 wk, and comparisons were carried out using matched analyses. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of maternal height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), in addition to the matched variables. The incidence of pregnancy complications was similar for most of the complications examined, whereas the incidence of poor maternal weight gain differed significantly between the groups (17/65 vs 2/65, p < 0.001). Flare-up of the Crohn's disease was seen in 13/65 (20%) of pregnancies. The greatest differences in neonatal outcomes were in terms of birth weight (3150+/-80 g vs 3500+/-60 g) and birth weight percentile (36.7%+/-.6% vs 57.5%+/-3.4%). Overall, there were 16 (24.6%) small for gestational age (SGA) births in the Crohn's group, compared with only one (1.5%) in the control group (p = 0.0007). Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors predictive of SGA births in the Crohn's group. Ileal Crohn's disease was a statistically significant predictor (p = 0.035), whereas previous bowel resection trended toward statistical significance (p = 0.065). CONCLUSIONS: In view of the risk of low birth weight, all women with Crohn's disease who become pregnant should be followed carefully during the pregnancy, particularly those who have ileal disease or who have previously undergone bowel resection. Furthermore, smoking cessation needs to be aggressively pursued in these patients.

Tonometry to estimate intestinal perfusion in newborn piglets.

AIM: To determine the correlation between gastric intramucosal pH and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) flow in newborn piglets. METHODS: Fourteen newborn piglets were randomly assigned to either a control or to an epinephrine group which received 0,1,2,4,0 microg/kg/min of epinephrine for 60 minutes, each dose. Gastric tonometry was performed, SMA flow was measured, and intramucosal pH and the ratio of tonometer pCO(2) over arterial pCO(2) (rCO(2)) were calculated. RESULTS: Intramucosal pH decreased over time in both groups, but tended to be lower in the epinephrine group. With increasing dose of epinephrine, SMA flow decreased; this in turn increased rCO(2) (p = 0.04) with a tendency to decrease intramucosal pH (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Gastric tonometry may be useful in human neonates to evaluate gut ischaemia.

Intrapericardial teratoma causing nonimmune hydrops fetalis and pericardial tamponade: a case report.

A case of fetal anasarca secondary to an intrapericardial teratoma is reported. The clinical, echocardiographic, and histologic features are described, along with a review of intrapericardial lesions.

Renal liposarcoma.

A liposarcoma arose in the kidney of a 52-year-old man. After 13 years, it recurred, was resected, and recurred again. The second recurrence was inoperable.

Dietary fat and immune function. II. Effects on immune complex nephritis in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice.

(NZB x NZW)F1 mice initiated on fat restriction at weanling were significantly protected from the development of immune complex glomerulonephritis. Whereas the mice on high-fat intake demonstrated immune depositions both in capillary walls and mesangial areas in a diffuse granular pattern, those on a low-fat diet with caloric content similar to the high-fat diets exhibited mesangial confinement of the depositions of immunoglobulins, complement, and retroviral gp70. In association with these divergent patterns of immune deposition, the mice on high-fat diets had evidence of extensive diffuse cellular proliferation, wire loop lesion, and sclerosis in the glomeruli. In contrast, most of the mice on the low-fat diet showed only mesangial cell and matrix proliferations. In addition, the group of mice fed high saturated fat showed more severe glomerular pathology as compared to those fed high unsaturated fat. Paradoxically, levels of circulating immune complexes (as measured by the polyethylene glycol precipitation technique) in the high saturated fat group were low and did not correlate with the findings by light and immunofluorescence microscopy. These findings suggest that dietary fat restriction can serve as either a prophylactic or effective therapeutic approach to murine lupus nephritis.

Inhibition of humoral immunity in vivo by monoclonal antibody to L3T4: studies with soluble antigens in intact mice.

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) to the mouse "helper" T cell antigen L3T4 inhibits the T cell response to class II major histocompatibility antigens on antigen-presenting cells in vitro and in thymectomized mice. To examine the effect of MAb to L3T4 on humoral immunity in euthymic mice, we treated BALB/c mice with 1 mg of anti-L3T4 i.p. at the time of immunization with either bovine serum albumin (BSA) or chicken egg ovalbumin (OA) in complete Freund's adjuvant. Administration of MAb to L3T4 selectively depleted greater than 90% of L3T4+ cells from the blood, spleen, and lymph nodes, but it had little effect on thymocytes. Mice treated with anti-L3T4 were unable to generate an IgG response to either BSA or OA. Treatment with anti-L3T4 also prevented the antigen-specific IgM response to these antigens, although it did not prevent nonspecific stimulation of IgM anti-BSA and anti-OA antibodies induced by adjuvant in the absence of antigen. Humoral immunity was inhibited even when treatment was delayed until 48 hr after immunization. These findings indicate that T cell help for humoral immunity can be abrogated in intact mice by MAb to L3T4.