The EAST research program aims to demonstrate steady-state long-pulse advanced high-performance H-mode operations with ITER-like poloidal configuration and RF-dominated heating schemes. Since last IAEA FEC, EAST has been upgraded with all ITER-relevant auxiliary heating and current drive systems, enabling the investigation of plasma profile control by coupling/integration of various combinations. By means of the 4.6 GHz and 2.45 GHz LHCD systems, H-mode can be obtained and maintained at relatively high density, even up to n e ~ 4.5 × 10 19 m-3 , where a current drive effect is still observed. Significant progress has been achieved on EAST, including: i). Demonstration of a steady-state scenario (fully non-inductive with V loop ~ 0.0V at high β P ~ 1.8 and high performance (H 98,y2 > 1.0) in upper single-null (ε ~ 1.6) configuration with the tungsten divertor; ii) Discovery of a stationary ELM-stable H-mode regime with 4.6 GHz LHCD; iii) achievement of ELM suppression in slowly-rotating H-mode plasma with the application of n = 1 and 2 RMPs.

To exploit a new collagen resource from the body wall of tropical sea cucumber, pepsin-solubilized collagen of Stichopus monotuberculatus (PSC-Sm) was isolated and characterized with UV-vis spectra, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), amino acid composition, enzyme-digested peptide maps, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), maximum transition temperature (Tm ), and solubilities. The maximum absorbance of PSC-Sm was exhibited at 218 nm in UV-vis spectra. The triple helical structure and activity of PSC-Sm could be indicated by FTIR. SDS-PAGE showed that the triple helix of PSC-Sm was formed as (α1 )3 by 3 α1 chain homologous with molecular weight of 137 kDa. The Tm of PSC-Sm and calf skin collagen (CSC) were 30.2 and 35.0 ºC, respectively, which consistent with the result of FTIR that CSC contained more stable triple-helix than PSC-Sm. Peptide maps were different between PSC-Sm and CSC, indicating the differences in their amino acid compositions and sequences. The maximum and minimum solubilities of PSC-Sm were observed at pH 2.0 and 4.0, respectively. A sharp decrease in solubility appeared when NaCl concentration was between 3% and 5%. These results showed that collagen from S. monotuberculatus had the type I collagen characteristics and good thermal stability, and therefore, it could be used as an alternative resource of collagen.

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