High Energy Solar Particle Events and their Associated Coronal Mass Ejections

Intense solar energetic particle (SEP) events data, associated with ground level enhancements (GLEs), occurred during 1989 to 2006 have been obtained from the spectrometers on board GOES spacecraft in the energy range 10-100 MeV. The interplanetary effects of these events and their associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have been provided by the LASCO/SOHO coronagraph images in the field of view of 2-30 {\rsun} and the interplanetary scintillation images from the Ooty Radio Telescope in the heliocentric distance range of $\sim$40-250 R$_\odot$. The comparison between the radial evolution of the CME and its associated particle spectrum shows that the spectrum is soft at the onset of the particle event. A flat spectrum is observed at the peak of the particle event and the spectrum becomes steeper as the CME moves farther out into the inner heliosphere. However, the magnitude of change in spectral slopes differs from one CME to the other, suggesting the difference in energy available within the CME to drive the shock. The spectral index evolution as a function of initial speed of the CME at different parts of the particle profile has also been compared. The result shows that the change in particle flux with time is rather quick for the high-energy portion of the spectrum than that of the low-energy part, which makes the steepening of the energy spectrum with time/distance from the Sun. It indicates that the acceleration of particles by a CME-driven shock may be efficient at low energies ($\leq$30 MeV) and the efficiency of the shock decreases gradually towards the high-energy side of the spectrum.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 1 table; Submitted to Advances in Geosciences (Solar-Terrestrial Sciences

Interplanetary Consequences of a Large CME

We analyze a coronal mass ejection (CME) which resulted from an intense flare in active region AR486 on November 4, 2003. The CME propagation and speed are studied with interplanetary scintillation images, near-Earth space mission data, and Ulysses measurements. Together, these diverse diagnostics suggest that the internal magnetic energy of the CME determines its interplanetary consequences.Comment: 5 pages, 9 figures, To appear in "Magnetic Coupling between the Interior and the Atmosphere of the Sun", eds. S.S. Hasan and R.J. Rutten, Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin, 200

Factors Influencing Drug Adherence among Different Patient Populations in India

Drug adherence is an important problem faced worldwide by patients of all age groups. This article aims to address the factors hindering patient adherence to a proper medication regime. Numerous studies have demonstrated that complex dosing schedules and polypharmacy along with financial constraints are the main problems faced by patients. The problems also tend to vary among different patient populations such as diabetics, hypertensives, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients, posing different challenges in each of the chronic diseases. Multifactorial solutions are needed to improve medication adherence including efforts to improve a patient’s understanding of medication benefits, trust in their doctor and health system, and improving the physician’s recognition and understanding of patients’ beliefs, fears, and values to achieve increased medication adherence

From the Sun to the Earth: The 13 May 2005 Coronal Mass Ejection

We report the results of a multi-instrument, multi-technique, coordinated study of the solar eruptive event of 13 May 2005. We discuss the resultant Earth-directed (halo) coronal mass ejection (CME), and the effects on the terrestrial space environment and upper Earth atmosphere. The interplanetary CME (ICME) impacted the Earth's magnetosphere and caused the most-intense geomagnetic storm of 2005 with a Disturbed Storm Time (Dst) index reaching -263 nT at its peak. The terrestrial environment responded to the storm on a global scale. We have combined observations and measurements from coronal and interplanetary remote-sensing instruments, interplanetary and near-Earth in-situ measurements, remote-sensing observations and in-situ measurements of the terrestrial magnetosphere and ionosphere, along with coronal and heliospheric modelling. These analyses are used to trace the origin, development, propagation, terrestrial impact, and subsequent consequences of this event to obtain the most comprehensive view of a geo-effective solar eruption to date. This particular event is also part of a NASA-sponsored Living With a Star (LWS) study and an on-going US NSF-sponsored Solar, Heliospheric, and INterplanetary Environment (SHINE) community investigation. © 2010 The Author(s)