Magnetospheric and Plasma Science with Cassini-Huygens

Magnetospheric and plasma science studies at Saturn offer a unique opportunity to explore in-depth two types of magnetospheres. These are an `induced' magnetosphere generated by the interaction of Titan with the surrounding plasma flow and Saturn's `intrinsic' magnetosphere, the magnetic cavity Saturn's planetary magnetic field creates inside the solar wind flow. These two objects will be explored using the most advanced and diverse package of instruments for the analysis of plasmas, energetic particles and fields ever flown to a planet. These instruments will make it possible to address and solve a series of key scientific questions concerning the interaction of these two magnetospheres with their environment.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43757/1/11214_2004_Article_5106942.pd

Characteristics of active-region sources of solar wind near solar maximum

Previous studies of the source regions of solar wind sampled by ACE and Ulysses showed that some solar wind originates from open magnetic flux rooted in active regions. These solar wind sources were labeled active-region sources when the open flux was from a strong field region with no corresponding coronal hole in the NSO He 10830 Å synoptic coronal-hole maps. Here, we present a detailed investigation of several of these active-region sources using ACE and Ulysses solar wind data, potential field models of the corona, and solar imaging data. We find that the solar wind from these active-region sources has distinct signatures, e.g., it generally has a higher oxygen charge state than wind associated with helium-10830 Å coronal-hole sources, indicating a hotter source region, consistent with the active region source interpretation. We compare the magnetic topology of the open field lines of these active-region sources with images of the hot corona to search for corresponding features in EUV and soft X-ray images. In most, but not all, cases, a dark area is seen in the EUV and soft X-ray image as for familiar coronal-hole sources. However, in one case no dark area was evident in the soft X-ray images: the magnetic model showed a double dipole coronal structure consistent with the images, both indicating that the footpoints of the open field lines, rooted deep within the active region, lay near the separatrix between loops connecting to two different opposite polarity regions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43722/1/11207_2004_Article_1105.pd

Loss of Gli3 enhances the viability of embryonic telencephalic cells in vitro

The transcription factor Gli3 is important for brain and limb development. Mice homozygous for a mutation in Gli3 (Gli3(Xt/Xt)) have severe abnormalities of telencephalic development and previous studies have suggested that aberrant cell death may contribute to the Gli3(Xt/Xt) phenotype. We demonstrate that telencephalic cells from embryonic Gli3(Xt/Xt) embryos survive better and are more resistant to death induced by cytosine arabinoside, a nucleoside analogue that induces death in neuronal progenitors and neurons, than are control counterparts in vitro. Culture medium conditioned by Gli3(Xt/Xt) cells is more effective at enhancing the viability of control telencephalic cells than medium conditioned by control cells, indicating that Gli3(Xt/Xt) cells release a factor or factors which enhance telencephalic cell viability. Gli3(Xt/Xt) cells are also more sensitive to released factors present in conditioned media. These data suggest that Gli3 plays both cell-autonomous and cell-nonautonomous roles in mediating telencephalic cell viability