Midlatitude postsunset plasma bubbles observed over Europe during intense storms in April 2000 and 2001

Plasma bubbles are prevalent features of the equatorial/low-latitude ionosphere which are seldom observed at middle and high latitudes. Understanding the influence of geomagnetic storms on plasma bubbles' migration to higher latitudes is an important space weather topic, since a geomagnetic storm is an important phenomenon of space weather. This paper reports on the first observations of postsunset/evening midlatitude plasma bubbles in the European sector during the main phase of severe storms (Dst=-200 nT) on 6 April 2000 and 11 April 2001. Plasma depletions observed in Global Navigation Satellite System total electron content measurements are confirmed with those observed from in situ Defense Meteorological Satellite Program ion density measurements. The results show that the plasma bubbles were migrating north at virtual speeds of 400 m/s and on each of the storm days they extended as far north as ~42° (geographic latitude). It is estimated that the plasma bubbles may have grown to a maximum apex height of approximately 4000 km. During the time of bubble occurrence, the evening midlatitude plasma was enhanced and the equatorial ionization anomaly extended to European midlatitudes. In addition, evidence of the upward plasma motion was found in ionosonde hmF2 and h'F measurements, while the interplanetary electric field Ey was enhanced. This was found to suggest that the possible mechanism for the enhancement of midlatitude plasma and subsequent midlatitude plasma bubbles occurrence was the eastward penetration electric field associated with Bz southward turning.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Storm Time Global Observations of Largeâ Scale TIDs From Groundâ Based and In Situ Satellite Measurements

This paper discusses the ionosphere’s response to the largest storm of solar cycle 24 during 16â 18 March 2015. We have used the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) total electron content data to study largeâ scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) over the American, African, and Asian regions. Equatorward largeâ scale TIDs propagated and crossed the equator to the other side of the hemisphere especially over the American and Asian sectors. Poleward TIDs with velocities in the range â 400â 700 m/s have been observed during local daytime over the American and African sectors with origin from around the geomagnetic equator. Our investigation over the American sector shows that poleward TIDs may have been launched by increased Lorentz coupling as a result of penetrating electric field during the southward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field, Bz. We have observed increase in SWARM satellite electron density (Ne) at the same time when equatorward largeâ scale TIDs are visible over the Europeanâ African sector. The altitude Ne profiles from ionosonde observations show a possible link that stormâ induced TIDs may have influenced the plasma distribution in the topside ionosphere at SWARM satellite altitude.Key PointsIncreased SWARM in situ electron density toward high latitudes in presence of equatorward largeâ scale TIDsEvidence of equatorward TIDs in influencing altitudinal plasma distribution to the topside ionospherePossibility of poleward TIDs launched from the geomagnetic equatorial region with comparable velocity values in both hemispheresPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142539/1/jgra53978_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142539/2/jgra53978.pd

Multi-instrument observations of large-scale atmospheric gravity waves/traveling ionospheric disturbances associated with enhanced auroral activity over Svalbard

This study reports on observations of large-scale atmospheric gravity waves/traveling ionospheric disturbances (AGWs/TIDs) using Global Positioning System (GPS) total electron content (TEC) and Fabry–Perot Interferometer’s (FPI’s) intensity of oxygen red line emission at 630 nm measurements over Svalbard on the night of 6 January 2014. TEC large-scale TIDs have primary periods ranging between 29 and 65 min and propagate at a mean horizontal velocity of ~749–761 m/s with azimuth of ~345–347° (which corresponds to poleward propagation direction). On the other hand, FPI large-scale AGWs have larger periods of ~42–142 min. These large-scale AGWs/TIDs were linked to enhanced auroral activity identified from co-located all-sky camera and IMAGE magnetometers. Similar periods, speed and poleward propagation were found for the all-sky camera (~60–97 min and ~823 m/s) and the IMAGE magnetometers (~32–53 min and ~708 m/s) observations. Joule heating or/and particle precipitation as a result of auroral energy injection were identified as likely generation mechanisms for these disturbances. © 2018 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Multi-instrument observations of large-scale atmospheric gravity waves/traveling ionospheric disturbances associated with enhanced auroral activity over Svalbard

This study reports on observations of large-scale atmospheric gravity waves/traveling ionospheric disturbances (AGWs/TIDs) using Global Positioning System (GPS) total electron content (TEC) and Fabry-Perot Interferometer’s (FPI’s) intensity of oxygen red line emission at 630 nm measurements over Svalbard on the night of 6 January 2014. TEC large-scale TIDs have primary periods ranging between 29 and 65 minutes and propagate at a mean horizontal velocity of ∼749–761 m/s with azimuth of ∼345°–347° (which corresponds to poleward propagation direction). On the other hand, FPI large-scale AGWs have larger periods of ∼42–142 minutes. These large-scale AGWs/TIDs were linked to enhanced auroral activity identified from co-located all-sky camera and IMAGE magnetometers. Similar periods, speed and poleward propagation were found for the all-sky camera (∼60–97 minutes and ∼823 m/s) and the IMAGE magnetometers (∼32–53 minutes and ∼708 m/s) observations. Joule heating or/and particle precipitation as a result of auroral energy injection were identified as likely generation mechanisms for these disturbances

Convergent genetic and expression data implicate immunity in Alzheimer's disease

Background Late–onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is heritable with 20 genes showing genome wide association in the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project (IGAP). To identify the biology underlying the disease we extended these genetic data in a pathway analysis. Methods The ALIGATOR and GSEA algorithms were used in the IGAP data to identify associated functional pathways and correlated gene expression networks in human brain. Results ALIGATOR identified an excess of curated biological pathways showing enrichment of association. Enriched areas of biology included the immune response (p = 3.27×10-12 after multiple testing correction for pathways), regulation of endocytosis (p = 1.31×10-11), cholesterol transport (p = 2.96 × 10-9) and proteasome-ubiquitin activity (p = 1.34×10-6). Correlated gene expression analysis identified four significant network modules, all related to the immune response (corrected p 0.002 – 0.05). Conclusions The immune response, regulation of endocytosis, cholesterol transport and protein ubiquitination represent prime targets for AD therapeutics

Rare coding variants in PLCG2, ABI3, and TREM2 implicate microglial-mediated innate immunity in Alzheimer's disease

We identified rare coding variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in a 3-stage case-control study of 85,133 subjects. In stage 1, 34,174 samples were genotyped using a whole-exome microarray. In stage 2, we tested associated variants (P<1×10-4) in 35,962 independent samples using de novo genotyping and imputed genotypes. In stage 3, an additional 14,997 samples were used to test the most significant stage 2 associations (P<5×10-8) using imputed genotypes. We observed 3 novel genome-wide significant (GWS) AD associated non-synonymous variants; a protective variant in PLCG2 (rs72824905/p.P522R, P=5.38×10-10, OR=0.68, MAFcases=0.0059, MAFcontrols=0.0093), a risk variant in ABI3 (rs616338/p.S209F, P=4.56×10-10, OR=1.43, MAFcases=0.011, MAFcontrols=0.008), and a novel GWS variant in TREM2 (rs143332484/p.R62H, P=1.55×10-14, OR=1.67, MAFcases=0.0143, MAFcontrols=0.0089), a known AD susceptibility gene. These protein-coding changes are in genes highly expressed in microglia and highlight an immune-related protein-protein interaction network enriched for previously identified AD risk genes. These genetic findings provide additional evidence that the microglia-mediated innate immune response contributes directly to AD development

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Identifying the research, advocacy, policy and implementation needs for the prevention and management of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection in low- and middle-income countries

Introduction: The high burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in young children disproportionately occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The PROUD (Preventing RespiratOry syncytial virUs in unDerdeveloped countries) Taskforce of 24 RSV worldwide experts assessed key needs for RSV prevention in LMICs, including vaccine and newer preventive measures. Methods: A global, survey-based study was undertaken in 2021. An online questionnaire was developed following three meetings of the Taskforce panellists wherein factors related to RSV infection, its prevention and management were identified using iterative questioning. Each factor was scored, by non-panellists interested in RSV, on a scale of zero (very-low-relevance) to 100 (very-high-relevance) within two scenarios: (1) Current and (2) Future expectations for RSV management. Results: Ninety questionnaires were completed: 70 by respondents (71.4% physicians; 27.1% researchers/scientists) from 16 LMICs and 20 from nine high-income (HI) countries (90.0% physicians; 5.0% researchers/scientists), as a reference group. Within LMICs, RSV awareness was perceived to be low, and management was not prioritised. Of the 100 factors scored, those related to improved diagnosis particularly access to affordable point-of-care diagnostics, disease burden data generation, clinical and general education, prompt access to new interventions, and engagement with policymakers/payers were identified of paramount importance. There was a strong need for clinical education and local data generation in the lowest economies, whereas upper-middle income countries were more closely aligned with HI countries in terms of current RSV service provision. Conclusion: Seven key actions for improving RSV prevention and management in LMICs are proposed

Counter-Electrojet Occurrence as Observed From C/NOFS Satellite and Ground-Based Magnetometer Data Over the African and American Sectors

An analysis of the counter-electrojet occurrence (CEJ) during 2008-2014 is presented for the African and American sectors based on local daytime (0700-1700 LT) observations from the Communications and Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) vertical ion plasma drift (equivalent to vertical Eà B at an altitude of about 400 km) and ground-based magnetometers. Using quiet time (Kp- 3) data, differences and/or similarities between the two data sets with reference to local time and seasonal dependence are established. For the first time, it is shown that C/NOFS satellite data are consistent with magnetometer observations in identifying CEJ occurrences during all seasons. However, C/NOFS satellite data show higher CEJ occurrence rate for almost all seasons. With respect to local time, C/NOFS satellite observes more CEJ events than magnetometer observations by average of about 20% and 40% over the American and African sectors, respectively, despite both data sets showing similar trends in CEJ identification. Therefore, when a space weather event occurs, it is important to first establish the original variability nature and/or magnitude of the eastward electric field in equatorial regions before attributing the resulting changes to solar wind-magnetosphere and ionosphere coupling processes since CEJ events can be present even during quiet conditions.Key PointsA statistical trend of CEJ events using C/NOFS satellite vertical ion plasma drift and magnetometer observations has been establishedBoth C/NOFS satellite and magnetometer data show higher CEJ occurrence rate over the African sector than the American sectorC/NOFS satellite data exhibit more CEJ events than magnetometer data by average of 20% (40%) over the American (African) sectorPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151259/1/swe20897.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151259/2/swe20897_am.pd