Observations of the Current Sheet Heating in X-ray during a Solar Flare

In the solar corona, magnetic reconnection occurs due to the finite resistivity of the plasma. At the same time, resistivity leads to ohmic heating. Therefore, the reconnecting current sheet should heat the surrounding plasma. This paper presents experimental evidence of such plasma heating caused by magnetic reconnection. We observed the effect during a C1.4 solar flare on 16 February 2003 at the active region NOAA 10278, near the solar limb. Thanks to such a location, we successfully identified all the principal elements of the flare: the flare arcade, the fluxrope, and, most importantly, the presumed position of the current sheet. By analyzing the monochromatic X-ray images of the Sun obtained by the CORONAS-F/SPIRIT instrument in the Mg XII 8.42 A spectral line, we detected a high-temperature ($T \geq$ 4 MK) emission at the predicted location of the current sheet. The high-temperature emission appeared during the CME impulsive acceleration phase. We believe that this additionally confirms that the plasma heating around the current sheet and magnetic reconnection inside the current sheet are strongly connected

The NASA NEESPI Data Portal: Products, Information, and Services

Studies have indicated that land cover and use changes in Northern Eurasia influence global climate system. However, the procedures are not fully understood and it is challenging to understand the interactions between the land changes in this region and the global climate. Having integrated data collections form multiple disciplines are important for studies of climate and environmental changes. Remote sensed and model data are particularly important die to sparse in situ measurements in many Eurasia regions especially in Siberia. The NASA GES DISC (Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center) NEESPI data portal has generated infrastructure to provide satellite remote sensing and numerical model data for atmospheric, land surface, and cryosphere. Data searching, subsetting, and downloading functions are available. ONe useful tool is the Web-based online data analysis and visualization system, Giovanni (Goddard Interactive Online Visualization ANd aNalysis Infrastructure), which allows scientists to assess easily the state and dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems in Northern Eurasia and their interactions with global climate system. Recently, we have created a metadata database prototype to expand the NASA NEESPI data portal for providing a venue for NEESPI scientists fo find the desired data easily and leveraging data sharing within NEESPI projects. The database provides product level information. The desired data can be found through navigation and free text search and narrowed down by filtering with a number of constraints. In addition, we have developed a Web Map Service (WMS) prototype to allow access data and images from difference data resources

KONTROLA WENTYLACJI NOWEJ BEZPIECZNEJ POWŁOKI CZARNOBYLSKIEJ ELEKTROWNI JĄDROWEJ OPARTA NA ROZMYTYCH SIECIACH NEURONOWYCH

The accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) in Ukraine in 1986 became one of the largest technological disasters in human history. During the accident cleanup, a special protective structure called the Shelter Object was built to isolate the destroyed reactor from the environment. However, the planned operational lifespan of the Shelter Object was only 30 years. Therefore, with the assistance of the international community, a new protective structure called the New Safe Confinement (NSC) was constructed and put into operation in 2019. The NSC is a large and complex system that relies on a significant number of various tools and subsystems to function. Due to temperature fluctuations and the influence of wind, hydraulic processes occur within the NSC, which can lead to the release of radioactive aerosols into the environment. The personnel of the NSC prevents these leaks, including through ventilation management. Considering the long planned operational term of the NSC, the development and improvement of information technologies for its process automation is a relevant task. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for managing the ventilation system of the NSC based on neuro-fuzzy networks. An investigation of the current state of ventilation control in the NSC has been conducted, and automation tools for the process have been proposed. Using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and statistical data on the NSC's operation, neuro-fuzzy models have been formed, which allows to calculate the expenses of the ventilation system using the Takagi-Sugeno method. The verification of the proposed approaches on a test data sample demonstrated sufficiently high accuracy of the calculations, confirming the potential practical utility in decision-making regarding NSC’s ventilation management. The results of this paper can be useful in the development of digital twins of the NSC for process management and personnel training.Awaria w Czarnobylskiej Elektrowni Jądrowej (ChNPP), która miała miejsce w Ukrainie w 1986 roku, stała się jedną z największych katastrof technologicznych w historii ludzkości. Podczas likwidacji awarii zbudowano specjalną strukturę ochronną – Obiekt "Ukrycie", mającą na celu izolację zniszczonego reaktora od otoczenia. Jednak planowany okres eksploatacji sarkofagu "Ukrycie" wynosił tylko 30 lat, dlatego przy wsparciu społeczności międzynarodowej zbudowano nową strukturę ochronną – "Nowa Bezpieczna Powłoka" (NSC), która została oddana do użytku w 2019 roku. NSC jest dużym i skomplikowanym systemem, którego funkcjonowanie zapewnia znaczna liczba różnych narzędzi i podsystemów. Ze względu na zmienne temperatury i wpływ wiatru, w NSC zachodzą procesy hydrauliczne, które mogą prowadzić do uwolnienia promieniotwórczych aerozoli do otoczenia. Personel NSC zapobiega tym wyciekom, między innymi poprzez zarządzanie wentylacją. W związku z długim planowanym okresem eksploatacji NSC, istotnym zadaniem jest rozwój i doskonalenie technologii informatycznych dla automatyzacji procesów. Celem pracy jest opracowanie metody zarządzania systemem wentylacji NSC opartej na rozmytych sieciach neuronowych. Przeprowadzono badania istniejącego stanu rozwiązywania problemów zarządzania wentylacją NSC oraz wybrano narzędzia do automatyzacji procesu. Za pomocą adaptacyjnego systemu wnioskowania neuro-rozmytego (ANFIS) i danych statystycznych dotyczących funkcjonowania NSC, stworzono modele neuro-rozmyte, które pozwalają na kalkulację kosztów systemu wentylacyjnego metodą Takagi-Sugeno. Weryfikacja zaproponowanych podejść na próbce kontrolnej danych wykazała wystarczająco wysoką dokładność obliczeń, co potwierdza możliwość ich praktycznego zastosowania w procesie podejmowania decyzji dotyczących zarządzania wentylacją NSC. Wyniki pracy mogą być również przydatne przy tworzeniu cyfrowe bliźniaków NSC w celu zarządzania procesami i szkolenia personelu

Using the NASA NEESPI Portal Data to Study Land, Climate, and Socio-Economic Changes in Northern Eurasia

A large number of fires detected in July of 2003 - a nearly 200-time increase in fire detections compared to other years during 2001-2006. despite the summer monsoon suppression of large fire occurrence. Traditional vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) included in operational fire danger assessment provide little information on the fuel state in this ecosystem pre- or post-fire. No considerable differences in surface temperature and soil moisture in July were observed between the catastrophic year of 2003 and the two subsequent years of low summer fire occurrence of 2004 and 2005. However, the temporal analysis indicates that dry spring conditions in 2003 (detected through low soil moisture measurements in April and May) may have led to a stressed vegetative state and created conditions conducive to catastrophic fire occurrence

Діагностика, прогнозування та корекція мікроелементозів у системі мати-плацента-плід-новонароджений у разі перинатальної патології

Об’єкт дослідження.Перинатальна патологія (гіпоксично-ішемічне та геморагічне ураження ЦНС). Вміст мікроелементів у системі мати – плацента-плід у разі гіпоксично-ішемічного ураженням ЦНС.Вміст та баланс мікроелементів у сироватці, еритроцитах та сечі у новонароджених різного терміну гестації з перинатальною патологією. Мета роботи: підвищити ефективність ранньої діагностики та прогнозу формування мікроелементного дисбалансуу новонароджених із перинатальною патологією на підставі визначення показників вмісту і балансу мікроелементів у біологічних середовищах та клініко-параклінічних критеріїв. Задачі дослідження: Вивчити особливості мікроелементного забезпечення у доношених та недоношених новонароджених різного терміну гестації з перинатальним ураженням центральної нервової системи внаслідок перенесеного при народженні дистресу плода та асфіксії.Вивчити вміст мікроелементів шляхом дослідження їх у біосередовищах (сироватці, еритроцитах крові) вагітних жінок, що народили дітей із гіпоксично-ішемічним ураженням ЦНС, дослідити роль плаценти в мікроелементному забезпеченні плода у разі гіпоксично-ішемічного ураження ЦНС

Systemic therapy of inflammatory breast cancer with type 2 diabetes mellitus – Prevention of high risk of radiation-induced progression of tumor tissue cancer

Introduction. Cancer mortality in diabetic patients has been reported to increase moderately compared to non-diabetic patients. The aim of the study aimed to assess the findings and identify radiotherapy's role in the comprehensive care of diabetic IBC patients with various hyperglycemia correction strategies. Methods. Patients with diabetes have shown a higher risk of radiation-induced cancer progression for tumor tissue, especially for inflammatory form. For 7 patients, to continue systematic chemotherapy with a scheme change (consecutive anthracyclines-taxanes, 2-week interval) and insulin with individual scheme for hyperglycemia correction on the basis of glycemic control – 1st group, the other (7 patients) – 2nd group, was given radiotherapy to the breast gland and lymphatic drainage ways. 45–50 Grey was prescribed for 25-28 fractions (per 1.8-2.0 Grey), 46–50 Grey in 23-25 fractions were used for zones of regional metastasis and for hyperglycemia correction metformin 2000 mg/day PO divided q8-12hr with meal on the basis of glycemic control. Results. Assessed were the number of patients who qualified for surgery and overall survival for 24 months. 2nd group showed a superior response following resistance to prior systemic treatment. Thus, 5 (71.41%) of the 7 patients exhibited a consistent response – complete or partial regression. There were only 2 individuals (28.61%) who responded to treatment among the patients who maintained chemotherapy. Conclusions. Breast cancer of the aggressive IBC variety requires multidisciplinary treatment from breast surgery, medical, and radiation oncology. Patients with diabetes appear to experience more side effects from radiation therapy than patients without the disease. Hyperglycemia, higher total RT doses, and radiosensitizers are a few techniques that can improve the impact of RT on local-regional management. Local-regional control rates for IBC are increasing with an individual patient strategy. Metformin also improves insulin resistance and has anticancer benefits

Differential Impact of EGFR-Targeted Therapies on Hypoxia Responses: Implications for Treatment Sensitivity in Triple-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

In solid tumors, such as breast cancer, cells are exposed to hypoxia. Cancer cells adapt their metabolism by activating hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) that promote the transcription of genes involved in processes such as cell survival, drug resistance and metastasis. HIF-1 is also induced in an oxygen-independent manner through the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK). Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of invasive breast cancer characterized by negative expression of hormonal and HER2 receptors, and this subtype generally overexpresses EGFR. Sensitivity to three EGFR inhibitors (cetuximab, gefitinib and lapatinib, an HER2/EGFR-TK inhibitor) was evaluated in a metastatic TNBC cell model (MDA-MB-231), and the impact of these drugs on the activity and stability of HIF was assessed.MDA-MB-231 cells were genetically modified to stably express an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) induced by hypoxia; the Ca9-GFP cell model reports HIF activity, whereas GFP-P564 reports HIF stability. The reporter signal was monitored by flow cytometry. HIF-1 DNA-binding activity, cell migration and viability were also evaluated in response to EGFR inhibitors. Cell fluorescence signals strongly increased under hypoxic conditions (> 30-fold). Cetuximab and lapatinib did not affect the signal induced by hypoxia, whereas gefitinib sharply reduced its intensity in both cell models and also diminished HIF-1 alpha levels and HIF-1 DNA-binding activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. This gefitinib feature was associated with its ability to inhibit MDA-MB-231 cell migration and to induce cell mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Cetuximab and lapatinib had no effect on cell migration or cell viability.Resistance to cetuximab and lapatinib and sensitivity to gefitinib were associated with their ability to modulate HIF activity and stability. In conclusion, downregulation of HIF-1 through EGFR signaling seems to be required for the induction of a positive response to EGFR-targeted therapies in TNBC

KORTES Mission for Solar Activity Monitoring Onboard International Space Station

peer reviewedWe present a description of the recent advances in the development of the KORTES assembly—the first solar oriented mission designed for the Russian segment of the International Space Station. KORTES consists of several imaging and spectroscopic instruments collectively covering a wide spectral range extending from extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths to X-rays. The EUV telescopes inside KORTES will trace the origin and dynamics of various solar phenomena, e.g., flares, CMEs, eruptions etc. EUV spectra provided by grazing-incidence spectroheliographs will enable precise DEM-diagnostics during these events. The monochromatic X-ray imager will observe the formation of hot plasma in active regions and outside them. The SolpeX module inside KORTES will offer an opportunity to measure fluxes, Doppler shifts and polarization of soft X-ray emission both in lines and continuum. SolpeX observations will contribute to studies of particle beams and chromospheric evaporation. The instrumentation of KORTES will employ a variety of novel multilayer and crystal optics. The deployment of KORTES is planned for 2024

The ladder-shaped polyether toxin gambierol anchors the gating machinery of Kv3.1 channels in the resting state

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) and sodium (Nav) channels are key determinants of cellular excitability and serve as targets of neurotoxins. Most marine ciguatoxins potentiate Nav channels and cause ciguatera seafood poisoning. Several ciguatoxins have also been shown to affect Kv channels, and we showed previously that the ladder-shaped polyether toxin gambierol is a potent Kv channel inhibitor. Most likely, gambierol acts via a lipid-exposed binding site, located outside the K(+) permeation pathway. However, the mechanism by which gambierol inhibits Kv channels remained unknown. Using gating and ionic current analysis to investigate how gambierol affected S6 gate opening and voltage-sensing domain (VSD) movements, we show that the resting (closed) channel conformation forms the high-affinity state for gambierol. The voltage dependence of activation was shifted by >120 mV in the depolarizing direction, precluding channel opening in the physiological voltage range. The (early) transitions between the resting and the open state were monitored with gating currents, and provided evidence that strong depolarizations allowed VSD movement up to the activated-not-open state. However, for transition to the fully open (ion-conducting) state, the toxin first needed to dissociate. These dissociation kinetics were markedly accelerated in the activated-not-open state, presumably because this state displayed a much lower affinity for gambierol. A tetrameric concatemer with only one high-affinity binding site still displayed high toxin sensitivity, suggesting that interaction with a single binding site prevented the concerted step required for channel opening. We propose a mechanism whereby gambierol anchors the channel’s gating machinery in the resting state, requiring more work from the VSD to open the channel. This mechanism is quite different from the action of classical gating modifier peptides (e.g., hanatoxin). Therefore, polyether toxins open new opportunities in structure–function relationship studies in Kv channels and in drug design to modulate channel function

Діагностика, прогнозування та корекція мікроелементозів у системі мати-плацента-плід-новонароджений у разі перинатальної патології

Об’єкт дослідження.Перинатальна патологія (гіпоксично-ішемічне та геморагічне ураження ЦНС). Вміст мікроелементів у системі мати – плацента-плід у разі гіпоксично-ішемічного ураженням ЦНС.Вміст та баланс мікроелементів у сироватці, еритроцитах та сечі у новонароджених різного терміну гестації з перинатальною патологією. Мета роботи: підвищити ефективність ранньої діагностики та прогнозу формування мікроелементного дисбалансуу новонароджених із перинатальною патологією на підставі визначення показників вмісту і балансу мікроелементів у біологічних середовищах та клініко-параклінічних критеріїв. Задачі дослідження: Вивчити особливості мікроелементного забезпечення у доношених та недоношених новонароджених різного терміну гестації з перинатальним ураженням центральної нервової системи внаслідок перенесеного при народженні дистресу плода та асфіксії.Вивчити вміст мікроелементів шляхом дослідження їх у біосередовищах (сироватці, еритроцитах крові) вагітних жінок, що народили дітей із гіпоксично-ішемічним ураженням ЦНС, дослідити роль плаценти в мікроелементному забезпеченні плода у разі гіпоксично-ішемічного ураження ЦНС