Cavity Pressure Acceleration (CPA) is a technique for accelerating dense plasma streams by utilizing laser-generated plasma pressure within a spatially confined region. This approach has been proposed as an alternative to the classical ablative acceleration of plasma. Initially, the primary goal of this approach was to create a dense plasma stream (a theoretical macroparticle delivering energy/momentum) suitable for experiments related to Impact Fast Ignition. In recent experimental sessions, we used targets equipped with cavities lined with deuterated polyethylene ([Formula: see text]) foils and powder. These targets were irradiated with a [Formula: see text] PALS sub-kilojoule, low-contrast laser beam ([Formula: see text]), focused to an intensity of [Formula: see text] within a [Formula: see text] pulse. The scheme has proven to be highly efficient in converting laser energy into high-energy interaction products, such as high-density plasma streams and protons. We observed neutron yields among the highest achieved to date in Deuterium-Deuterium laser-induced experiments, even when compared to facilities with lasers operating at significantly higher energies and intensities. 1D hydrodynamic code used to simulate plasma parameters in the targets confirmed the high potential of the method, regardless of the driving laser wavelength.

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• Journal Article MeSH

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the expression profile of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β-1-3) to assess the progression of L/S spine degenerative disease. The study group consisted of 113 lumbosacral (L/S) intervertebral disc (IVD) degenerative disease patients from whom IVDs were collected during a microdiscectomy, whereas the control group consisted of 81 participants from whom IVDs were collected during a forensic autopsy or organ harvesting. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to exclude degenerative changes in the IVDs collected from the control group. The molecular analysis consisted of reverse-transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, and an immunohistochemical analysis (IHC). In degenerated IVDs, we noted an overexpression of all TGF-β-1-3 mRNA isoforms with the largest changes observed for TGF-β3 isoforms (fold change (FC) = 19.52 ± 2.87) and the smallest for TGF-β2 (FC = 2.26 ± 0.16). Changes in the transcriptional activity of TGF-β-1-3 were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Significantly higher concentrations of TGF-β1 (2797 ± 132 pg/mL vs. 276 ± 19 pg/mL; p < 0.05), TGF-β2 (1918 ± 176 pg/mL vs. 159 ± 17 pg/mL; p < 0.05), and TGF-β3 (2573 ± 102 pg/mL vs. 152 ± 11 pg/mL) were observed in degenerative IVDs compared with the control samples. Determining the concentration profiles of TGF-β1-3 appears to be a promising monitoring tool for the progression of degenerative disease as well as for evaluating its treatment or developing new treatment strategies with molecular targets.

• Keywords
• intervertebral disc, intervertebral disc degeneration, transforming growth factor beta,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH