Heartbeat of the Sun from Principal Component Analysis and prediction of solar activity on a millenium timescale

yesWe derive two principal components (PCs) of temporal magnetic field variations over the solar cycles 21–24 from full disk magnetograms covering about 39% of data variance, with σ = 0.67. These PCs are attributed to two main magnetic waves travelling from the opposite hemispheres with close frequencies and increasing phase shift. Using symbolic regeression analysis we also derive mathematical formulae for these waves and calculate their summary curve which we show is linked to solar activity index. Extrapolation of the PCs backward for 800 years reveals the two 350-year grand cycles superimposed on 22 year-cycles with the features showing a remarkable resemblance to sunspot activity reported in the past including the Maunder and Dalton minimum. The summary curve calculated for the next millennium predicts further three grand cycles with the closest grand minimum occurring in the forthcoming cycles 26–27 with the two magnetic field waves separating into the opposite hemispheres leading to strongly reduced solar activity. These grand cycle variations are probed by α − Ω dynamo model with meridional circulation. Dynamo waves are found generated with close frequencies whose interaction leads to beating effects responsible for the grand cycles (350–400 years) superimposed on a standard 22 year cycle. This approach opens a new era in investigation and confident prediction of solar activity on a millenium timescale

Role of ligand spacer length of a tripodal amide on uranium(vi) and plutonium(iv) complexation: synthesis, solvent extraction, liquid membrane transport and theoretical studies

Liquid-liquid extraction of several actinide and lanthanide ions, viz., U(vi), Pu(iv), Am(iii) and Eu(iii) was investigated from nitric acid feed solutions employing N,N,N′,N′,N′′,N′′-hexa-n-octyl nitrilotripropamide (HONTP) in 90% n-dodecane + 10% isodecanol. The observed trend of metal ion extraction at 0.5 M HNO3 was Pu(iv) > U(vi) > Eu(iii) ∼ Am(iii). A high distribution ratio was observed for U(vi) at pH 2 using 0.08 M HONTP in 90% n-dodecane + 10% isodecanol. The back extraction study of Pu(iv) and U(vi) using 0.5 M HNO3 + 0.5 M oxalic acid and 1 M Na2CO3, respectively, showed highly efficient stripping (>97%) for both the metal ions from the loaded organic phase. Slope analysis suggested formation of a lower stoichiometry complex of Pu(iv) with HONTP at 3 M HNO3, whereas U(vi) formed 1 : 1 (ML) and 1 : 2 (ML2) species. Temperature variation studies on the extraction of the metal ions showed that complexation of U(vi) with HONTP was not favourable, based on entropy changes. A supported liquid membrane study showed very poor transport of U(vi) using 0.08 M HONTP in 90% n-dodecane + 10% isodecanol, whereas Pu(iv) exhibited significant transport through the membrane. Density functional theoretical (DFT) studies were carried out to corroborate the experimental observations. Comparison of the results with those of hexa-n-octyl nitrilotriacetamide (HONTA) revealed a considerable effect of the spacer length on the binding efficiency, selectivity, and complex stoichiometry

Clinicopathological Analysis and Multipronged Quantitative Proteomics Reveal Oxidative Stress and Cytoskeletal Proteins as Possible Markers for Severe Vivax Malaria

In Plasmodium vivax malaria, mechanisms that trigger transition from uncomplicated to fatal severe infections are obscure. In this multi-disciplinary study we have performed a comprehensive analysis of clinicopathological parameters and serum proteome profiles of vivax malaria patients with different severity levels of infection to investigate pathogenesis of severe malaria and identify surrogate markers of severity. Clinicopathological analysis and proteomics profiling has provided evidences for the modulation of diverse physiological pathways including oxidative stress, cytoskeletal regulation, lipid metabolism and complement cascades in severe malaria. Strikingly, unlike severe falciparum malaria the blood coagulation cascade was not found to be affected adversely in acute P. vivax infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive proteomics study, which identified some possible cues for severe P. vivax infection. Our results suggest that Superoxide dismutase, Vitronectin, Titin, Apolipoprotein E, Serum amyloid A, and Haptoglobin are potential predictive markers for malaria severity