Solar Energetic Particle Events in the 23rd Solar Cycle: Interplanetary Magnetic Field Configuration and Statistical Relationship with Flares and CMEs

We study the influence of the large-scale interplanetary magnetic field configuration on the solar energetic particles (SEPs) as detected at different satellites near Earth and on the correlation of their peak intensities with the parent solar activity. We selected SEP events associated with X and M-class flares at western longitudes, in order to ensure good magnetic connection to Earth. These events were classified into two categories according to the global interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) configuration present during the SEP propagation to 1AU: standard solar wind or interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). Our analysis shows that around 20% of all particle events are detected when the spacecraft is immersed in an ICME. The correlation of the peak particle intensity with the projected speed of the SEP-associated coronal mass ejection is similar in the two IMF categories of proton and electron events, $\approx 0.6$. The SEP events within ICMEs show stronger correlation between the peak proton intensity and the soft X-ray flux of the associated solar flare, with correlation coefficient $r=\,$0.67$\pm$0.13, compared to the SEP events propagating in the standard solar wind, $r=\,$0.36$\pm$0.13. The difference is more pronounced for near-relativistic electrons. The main reason for the different correlation behavior seems to be the larger spread of the flare longitude in the SEP sample detected in the solar wind as compared to SEP events within ICMEs. We discuss to which extent observational bias, different physical processes (particle injection, transport, etc.), and the IMF configuration can influence the relationship between SEPs and coronal activity.Comment: http://adsabs.harvard.edu.ezproxy.obspm.fr/abs/2013SoPh..282..579

On the Unitarity of D=9,10,11 Conformal Supersymmetry

We consider the unitarity of D=9,10,11 conformal supersymmetry using the recently established classification of the UIRs of the superalgebras osp(1|2n,R).Comment: 7 pages, LATEX2e{czjphys} (amsmath,amssymb); v3: important corrections, Plenary talk by VKD at the XIII Colloquium "Quantum Groups and Integrable Systems", Prague, 17-19.6.2004; to appear in Czech. J. Phys.; v4: small corrections to coincide with journal versio

Radio signatures of solar energetic particles during the 23rd solar cycle

We present the association rates between solar energetic particles (SEPs) and the radio emission signatures in the corona and IP space during the entire solar cycle 23. We selected SEPs associated with X and M-class flares from the visible solar hemisphere. All SEP events are also accompanied by coronal mass ejections. Here, we focus on the correlation between the SEP events and the appearance of radio type II, III and IV bursts on dynamic spectra. For this we used the available radio data from ground-based stations and the Wind/WAVES spacecraft. The associations are presented separately for SEP events accompanying activity in the eastern and western solar hemisphere. We find the highest association rate of SEP events to be with type III bursts, followed by types II and IV. Whereas for types III and IV no longitudinal dependence is noticed, these is a tendency for a higher SEP-association rate with type II bursts in the eastern hemisphere. A comparison with reports from previous studies is briefly discussed.Comment: http://adsabs.harvard.edu.ezproxy.obspm.fr/abs/2013CEAB...37..541

Сравнительное исследование травматических повреждений в ано-генитальной области у мужчин и женщин жертв сексуального насилия

Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Deontology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, Conferinţa Știinţifică Internaţională ”Probleme actuale ale morfologiei” dedicată сentenarului profesorului B.Z. Perlin, Chişinău, 20-22 septembrie 2012Abstract Sexual violence is a problem in every civilised country. It often has health, psychological, social, and judicial consequences, and its early discovery and examination are of major importance. The aim of the present study was to assess the findings of potential sexual trauma in the anogenital area procured during examinations of subjects who have claimed to have been the victims of sexual violence, and to make a comparison between the findings in female and male subjects. A total of 192 records of male subjects and 3139 female subjects that had claimed to be victims of sexual abuse were reviewed. The described cases were processed per the documentary method and statistically in Excel. Conclusions: 1. Ecchymoses in the anal area as a result of sexual violence were found twice as frequently in men, 20.57%, than in women – 9.94%. 2. Fissures (tearing of the mucosa in the anal area) as a consequence of sexual violence are more frequently observed in women – 66.46% than in men, 52.34%. Сексуальное насилие является проблемой любой нормы права. Это часто имеет медицинских, психологических, социальных и правовых последствий и раннего выявления и диагностики является существенным. Целью данного исследования было оценить результаты возможных травм в ано-генитальной области, в результате чего отзывы людей сказали, что они стали жертвами сексуального насилия и сравнить результаты в женских особей, чтобы у человека мужчин. Обработанно было 192 случаев мужчин и 3139 случаев женского лица заявили, что они являются жертвами сексуального насилия. Все случаи описанные в переработанном документальных и статистических методов в Excel. Выводы: 1. Синяки в анальной области, в результате сексуального насилия встречаются в два раза больше у мужчин - 20,57%, чем для женщин - 9,94%. 2. Крекинг (разрыв подкладка в области анального отверстия) в результате сексуального насилия, чаще встречается у женщин - 66,46 процента, по сравнению с 52,34% мужчин

Statistical Evidence for Contributions of Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections to Major Solar Energetic Particle Events

Solar energetic particle (SEP) events are related to flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). This work is a new investigation of statistical relationships between SEP peak intensities - deka-MeV protons and near-relativistic electrons - and characteristic quantities of the associated solar activity. We consider the speed of the CME and quantities describing the flare-related energy release: peak flux and fluence of soft X-ray (SXR) emission, fluence of microwave emission. The sample comprises 38 SEP events associated with strong SXR bursts (classes M and X) in the western solar hemisphere between 1997 and 2006, and where the flare-related particle acceleration is accompanied by radio bursts indicating electron escape to the interplanetary space. The main distinction of the present statistical analysis from earlier work is that besides the classical Pearson correlation coefficient the partial correlation coefficients are calculated in order to disentangle the effects of correlations between the solar parameters themselves. The classical correlation analysis shows the usual picture of correlations with broad scatter between SEP peak intensities and the different parameters of solar activity, and strong correlations between the solar activity parameters themselves. The partial correlation analysis shows that the only parameters that affect significantly the SEP intensity are the CME speed and the SXR fluence. The SXR peak flux and the microwave fluence have no additional contribution. We conclude that these findings bring statistical evidence that both flare acceleration and CME shock acceleration contribute to the deka-MeV proton and near-relativistic electron populations in large SEP events.Comment: The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11207-014-0628-

Comparison of 30 THz impulsive burst time development to microwaves, H-alpha, EUV, and GOES soft X-rays

The recent discovery of impulsive solar burst emission in the 30 THz band is raising new interpretation challenges. One event associated with a GOES M2 class flare has been observed simultaneously in microwaves, H-alpha, EUV, and soft X-ray bands. Although these new observations confirm some features found in the two prior known events, they exhibit time profile structure discrepancies between 30 THz, microwaves, and hard X-rays (as inferred from the Neupert effect). These results suggest a more complex relationship between 30 THz emission and radiation produced at other wavelength ranges. The multiple frequency emissions in the impulsive phase are likely to be produced at a common flaring site lower in the chromosphere. The 30 THz burst emission may be either part of a nonthermal radiation mechanism or due to the rapid thermal response to a beam of high-energy particles bombarding the dense solar atmosphere.Comment: accepted to Astronomy and Astrophysic

Single-Cell Analysis Uncovers Osteoblast Factor Growth Differentiation Factor 10 as Mediator of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Modulation Associated with Plaque Rupture in Human Carotid Artery Disease

(1) Background: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) undergo a complex phenotypic switch in response to atherosclerosis environmental triggers, contributing to atherosclerosis disease progression. However, the complex heterogeneity of VSMCs and how VSMC dediffer-entiation affects human carotid artery disease (CAD) risk has not been clearly established. (2) Method: A single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of CD45 12 cells derived from the atherosclerotic aorta of Apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe 12/ 12) mice on a normal cholesterol diet (NCD) or a high cholesterol diet (HCD), respecting the site-specific predisposition to atherosclerosis was performed. Growth Differentiation Factor 10 (GDF10) role in VSMCs phenotypic switch was investigated via flow cytometry, immunofluorescence in human atherosclerotic plaques. (3) Results: scRNAseq analysis revealed the transcriptomic profile of seven clusters, five of which showed disease-relevant gene signature of VSMC macrophagic calcific phenotype, VSMC mesenchymal chondrogenic phenotype, VSMC inflammatory and fibro-phenotype and VSMC inflammatory phenotype. Osteoblast factor GDF10 involved in ossification and osteoblast differentiation emerged as a hallmark of VSMCs undergoing phenotypic switch. Under hypercholesteremia, GDF10 triggered VSMC osteogenic switch in vitro. The abundance of GDF10 expressing osteogenic-like VSMCs cells was linked to the occurrence of carotid artery disease (CAD) events. (4) Conclusions: Taken together, these results provide evidence about GDF10-mediated VSMC osteogenic switch, with a likely detrimental role in atherosclerotic plaque stability

NLRP3 inflammasome activation controls vascular smooth muscle cells phenotypic switch in atherosclerosis

Background: Monocytes and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome orchestrate lipid-driven amplification of vascular inflammation promoting the disruption of the fibrous cap. The components of the NLRP3 inflammasome are expressed in macrophages and foam cells within human carotid atherosclerotic plaques and VSMCs in hypertension. Whether monocytes and NLRP3 inflammasome activation are direct triggers of VSMC phenotypic switch and plaque disruption need to be investigated. (2) Methods: The direct effect of oxLDL-activated monocytes in VSMCs co-cultured system was demonstrated via flow cytometry, qPCR, ELISA, caspase 1, and pyroptosis assay. Aortic roots of VSMCs lineage tracing mice fed normal or high cholesterol diet and human atherosclerotic plaques were used for immunofluorescence quantification of NLRP3 inflammasome activation/VSMCs phenotypic switch. (3) Results: OxLDL-activated monocytes reduced \u3b1-SMA, SM22\u3b1, Oct-4, and upregulation of KLF-4 and macrophage markers MAC2, F4/80 and CD68 expression as well as caspase 1 activation, IL-1\u3b2 secretion, and pyroptosis in VSMCs. Increased caspase 1 and IL-1\u3b2 in phenotypically modified VSMCs was detected in the aortic roots of VSMCs lineage tracing mice fed high cholesterol diet and in human atherosclerotic plaques from carotid artery disease patients who experienced a stroke. (4) Conclusions: Taken together, these results provide evidence that monocyte promote VSMC phenotypic switch through VSMC NLRP3 inflammasome activation with a likely detrimental role in atherosclerotic plaque stability in human atherosclerosis

webPIPSA: a web server for the comparison of protein interaction properties

Protein molecular interaction fields are key determinants of protein functionality. PIPSA (Protein Interaction Property Similarity Analysis) is a procedure to compare and analyze protein molecular interaction fields, such as the electrostatic potential. PIPSA may assist in protein functional assignment, classification of proteins, the comparison of binding properties and the estimation of enzyme kinetic parameters. webPIPSA is a web server that enables the use of PIPSA to compare and analyze protein electrostatic potentials. While PIPSA can be run with downloadable software (see http://projects.eml.org/mcm/software/pipsa), webPIPSA extends and simplifies a PIPSA run. This allows non-expert users to perform PIPSA for their protein datasets. With input protein coordinates, the superposition of protein structures, as well as the computation and analysis of electrostatic potentials, is automated. The results are provided as electrostatic similarity matrices from an all-pairwise comparison of the proteins which can be subjected to clustering and visualized as epograms (tree-like diagrams showing electrostatic potential differences) or heat maps. webPIPSA is freely available at: http://pipsa.eml.org