Measurements of energy spectra of relativistic electrons and gamma-rays from avalanches developed in the thunderous atmosphere with Aragats Solar Neutron Telescope

Aragats solar neutron telescope (ASNT) is a unique instrument allowing to measure the energy spectra of electrons accelerated and multiplied in the strong electric fields of the atmosphere. We describe the instrument setup, its operation condition, software, and hardware triggers. We present energy spectra of a very large thunderstorm ground enhancement (TGE) event observed on 6 October 2021. The detector response function, algorithm to recover energy spectra from the energy release histograms also are presented. The spectra recovery procedure is verified by simulation of the response function of the SEVAN detector, operating nearby ASNT. SEVAN is a stacked 3 layered detector, interlayered by lead filters registering both charged and neutral species of cosmic rays. The simulated and measured count rates of all 3 layers of the SEVAN detector show good agreement within 20%

Combating Gender-Biased Sex Selection in Armenia

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Increased levels of circulating Annexin A5 in Familial Mediterranean fever

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Familial Mediterranean fever is a genetic autoinflammatory disease most commonly affecting the ethnic groups originating from around the Mediterranean Sea. Apoptosis plays an important role in down-regulation of the inflammatory response by reducing the lifespan of activated immunocompetent cells. Thus, increased apoptosis may be associated with pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the present study we determined the serum levels of apoptotic marker, Annexin A5, in familial Mediterranean fever patients, within an attack and attack-free, in comparison to healthy subjects and assessed the influence of colchicine treatment on this parameter. In addition, in all study subjects serum levels of C-reactive protein and interleukine-1β, and the total leukocyte count were also determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results demonstrated that pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever is characterized by the increased levels of circulating Annexin A5, which is higher in patients within the attack and which associate with the increased levels of C-reactive protein and interleukine-1β and total leukocyte count.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results obtained indicate elevated rates of apoptosis of subpopulations of leukocytes involved in autoinflammation and recurrent episodes of fever in familial Mediterranean fever. It was also revealed that regular colchicine treatment sufficiently decreases the rate of apoptosis in familial Mediterranean fever patients by affecting the intensity of autoinflammatory reactions.</p

The horizontal profile of the atmospheric electric fields as measured during thunderstorms by the network of NaI spectrometers located on the slopes of Mt. Aragats

The International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), find out more paper The horizontal profile of the atmospheric electric fields as measured during thunderstorms by the network of NaI spectrometers located on the slopes of Mt. Aragats A. Chilingarian1, G. Hovsepyan1, T. Karapetyan1, L. Kozliner1, S. Chilingaryan1, D. Pokhsraryan1 and B. Sargsyan1 Published 6 October 2022 • © 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd and Sissa Medialab Journal of Instrumentation, Volume 17, October 2022 Citation A. Chilingarian et al 2022 JINST 17 P10011 DOI 10.1088/1748-0221/17/10/P10011 Download Article PDF References 21 Total downloads Article has an altmetric score of 1 Turn on MathJax Get permission to re-use this article Share this article Share this content via email Share on Facebook (opens new window) Share on Twitter (opens new window) Share on Mendeley (opens new window) Article information Abstract The shape and evolution of the energy spectra of the thunderstorm ground enhancement (TGE) electrons and gamma rays shed light on the origin of TGEs, on the relationship between modification of the cosmic ray electron energy spectra (MOS) and relativistic runaway electron avalanche (RREA) processes, on the energy of the seed electrons, and on the strength and elongation of an atmospheric electric field. The network of large NaI spectrometers on slopes of Mt. Aragats 24/7 monitored secondary particle fluxes from 2013 until now, highly contributed to the understanding of the ways how RREAs are developed in the atmosphere. In 2022 we enlarge the NaI network with 2 remote detectors located at altitudes 2000 and 1700 m, and 13 and 16 km apart from the Aragats station to investigate the horizontal profile of the atmospheric electric field. We found, that the previously estimated values of the regions in the atmosphere, where RREA emerges, were highly underestimated. In the present report, we describe the NaI particle detector\u27s network and present the first results of the experiment demonstrating that the particle fluxes from the atmospheric electron accelerators can cover large areas on the earth\u27s (up to tens of km$^{2}$)

Multi-messenger observations of thunderstorm-related bursts of cosmic rays

We present the facilities of the Aragats Space Environmental Center in Armenia used during multi-year observations of the thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs) and corresponding environmental parameters. We analyze the characteristics of the scintillation detectors, operated on Aragats, and describe the coordinated detection of TGEs by the network of scintillation detectors, field meters, and environmental parameters. By using a fast synchronized data acquisition system we reveal correlations of the multivariate data on time scales from second to nanosecond which allow us to gain insight into the TGE and lightning origin and their interrelations

Regulation of Transfer of 137cs by Polymeric Sorbents for Grow Ecologically Sound Biomass

Soil contamination with radiocesium has a long-term radiological impact due to its long physical half-life (30.1 years for 137Cs and 2 years for 134Cs) and its high biological availability. 137Cs causes the largest concerns because of its deleterious effect on agriculture and stock farming, and, thus, human life for decades. One of the important aspects of the problem of contaminated soils remediation is understand of protective actions aimed at the reduction of biological migration of radionuclides in soil-plant system. The most effective way to bind radionuclides is the use of selective sorbents. The proposed research mainly aims to achieve control on transfer of 137Cs in a system growing media–plant due to counter ions variation in the polymeric sorbents. As the research object, Japanese basil-Perilla frutescens was chosen. Productivity of plants depending on the presence (control-without presence of polymer) and type of polymer material, as well as content of 137Cs in plant material has been determined. The character of different polymers influences on the 137Cs migration in growing media–plant system as well as accumulation in the plants has been cleared up

Thunderstorm ground enhancements: Multivariate analysis of 12 years of observations

We present a survey of more than a half-thousand thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs, fluxes of electrons, and gamma rays associated with thunderstorms) registered in 2008–2022 at Aragats space environmental center (ASEC). We analyze correlations between various measured parameters characterizing TGEs measured on Aragats. Two special cases of TGE events are considered: one, terminated by nearby lightning flashes, and another one—with a sufficiently large ratio of electrons to gamma rays. On the basis of the analysis, we summarize the most important results obtained during 12 years of TGE study, which include the following statements: (i) TGEs originated from multiple relativistic runaway electron avalanches starting with seed electrons from the ambient population of cosmic rays, which enter an extended region of the electric field with strength exceeding the critical value; (ii) quite frequently, TGEs occur prior to lightning flashes and are terminated by them; (iii) the energy spectra of avalanche electrons observed on Aragats indicate that the strong electric field region can extend very low above the ground covering a large area on the earth’s surface

АNALYSIS OF THE EXPRESSION LEVEL OF T-CELL GENES AND OXIDATIVE PROCESSES IN STROKE

The level of expression of genes of transcription factors (GATA-3, TBX21, IL-2PG), and changing  of oxidative processes in ischemic stroke were studied.It was found that activation of Th2 cells (increase in the expression of transcription factor GATA-3) is observed in stroke,   and suppression of Th1 cells (a decrease in the expression of IL-2 and its receptors, as well as the TBX21 gene).  Increasing the expression of transcription factor GATA-3 in stroke patients underlies the increase in production in these patients of Th2-cytokines.    A comparative analysis of protein oxidation in blood plasma revealed an increase in the intensity of oxidative modification of proteins in stroke patients.  Investigation of glutathione content, activity of glutathione peroxidase enzymes, glutathione reductase in erythrocytes in stroke revealed a decrease in the content of glutathione and glutathione reductase and an increase in the activity of glutathione peroxidase.The findings may be useful for a better understanding of the mechanisms of stroke