Three-dimensional Reconstruction of Coronal Mass Ejections by CORAR Technique through Different Stereoscopic Angle of STEREO Twin Spacecraft

Recently, we developed the Correlation-Aided Reconstruction (CORAR) method to reconstruct solar wind inhomogeneous structures, or transients, using dual-view white-light images (Li et al. 2020; Li et al. 2018). This method is proved to be useful for studying the morphological and dynamical properties of transients like blobs and coronal mass ejection (CME), but the accuracy of reconstruction may be affected by the separation angle between the two spacecraft (Lyu et al. 2020). Based on the dual-view CME events from the Heliospheric Imager CME Join Catalogue (HIJoinCAT) in the HELCATS (Heliospheric Cataloguing, Analysis and Techniques Service) project, we study the quality of the CME reconstruction by the CORAR method under different STEREO stereoscopic angles. We find that when the separation angle of spacecraft is around 150{\deg}, most CME events can be well reconstructed. If the collinear effect is considered, the optimal separation angle should locate between 120{\deg} and 150{\deg}. Compared with the CME direction given in the Heliospheric Imager Geometrical Catalogue (HIGeoCAT) from HELCATS, the CME parameters obtained by the CORAR method are reasonable. However, the CORAR-obtained directions have deviations towards the meridian plane in longitude, and towards the equatorial plane in latitude. An empirical formula is proposed to correct these deviations. This study provides the basis for the spacecraft configuration of our recently proposed Solar Ring mission concept (Wang et al. 2020b).Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure

On-chip Spectrometer Formed by a Multi-stage Structure

With apparent size and weight advantages, on-chip spectrometer could be a good choice for the spectrum analysis application which has been widely used in numerous areas such as optical network performance monitoring, materials analysis and medical research. In order to realize the broadband and the high resolution simultaneously, we propose a new on-chip spectrometer structure, which is a two-stage structure. The coarse wavelength division is realized by the cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers, which is the first stage of the spectrometer. The output of the Mach-Zehnder interferometers are further dispersed by the second stage structure, which can be realized either by arrayed waveguide gratings or by digital Fourier transform spectrometer structure. We further implemented the thermo-optic modulation for the arrayed waveguide gratings to achieve a higher spectral resolution. The output channel wavelengths of the spectrometer are modulated by the embedded heater to obtain the first order derivative spectra of the input optical signal to obtain a 2nm resolution. With respect to the computer simulation and device characterization results, the 400nm spectral range and the nanoscale resolution have been demonstrated

First Characterization of Sphingomyeline Phosphodiesterase Expression in the Bumblebee, Bombus lantschouensis

  The bumblebee (Bombus lantschouensis Vogt) is an important pollinator of wild plants. Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase (SMPD) is a hydrolase that plays a major role in sphingolipid metabolism reactions. We report the preparation and characterization of a polyclonal antibody for bumblebee SMPD. We then use the polyclonal antiserum to detect the SMPD protein at different development stages and in different tissues. Our results showed that a 1228bp fragment homologous with the B. terrestris SMPD gene was successfully amplified. The molecular weight of the fusion protein was about 70 kDa by SDS-PAGE. An effective polyclonal antibody against SMPD was also obtained from mice and found to have a higher specificity for bumblebee SMPD. Western blotting detection showed that SMPD was expressed at a high level in queen ovaries, although expression was lower in the midgut and venom gland. SMPD expression decreased from the egg stage until the pdd stage. We interpret our results as showing that the development of an effective polyclonal antiserum for the SMPD protein of a bumblebee, which provides a tool for exploring the function of the SMPD gene. In addition, the work has confirmed that SMPD should be considered as an important enzyme during bumblebee egg and larval stages

Unraveling the Thermodynamic Enigma between Fast and Slow Coronal Mass Ejections

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are the most energetic expulsions of magnetized plasma from the Sun that play a crucial role in space weather dynamics. This study investigates the diverse kinematics and thermodynamic evolution of two CMEs (CME1: 2011 September 24 and CME2: 2018 August 20) at coronal heights where thermodynamic measurements are limited. The peak 3D propagation speed of CME1 is high (1,885 km/s) with two-phase expansion (rapid and nearly constant), while the peak 3D propagation speed of CME2 is slow (420 km/s) with only a gradual expansion. We estimate the distance-dependent variations in the polytropic index, heating rate, temperature, and internal forces implementing the revised FRIS model, taking inputs of 3D kinematics estimated from the GCS model. We find CME1 exhibiting heat-release during its early-rapid acceleration decrease and jumps to the heat-absorption state during its constant acceleration phase. In contrast to CME1, CME2 shows a gradual transition from the near-adiabatic to the heat-absorption state during its gradually increasing acceleration. Our analysis reveals that although both CMEs show differential heating, they experience heat-absorption during their later propagation phases, approaching the isothermal state. The faster CME1 achieves an adiabatic state followed by an isothermal state at smaller distances from the Sun than the slower CME2. We also find that the expansion of CMEs is primarily influenced by centrifugal and thermal pressure forces, with the Lorentz force impeding expansion. Multi-wavelength observations of flux-ropes at source regions support the FRIS model-derived findings at initially observed lower coronal heights.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ

Mesenchymal Stem Cell in the Intervertebral Disc

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is a major spinal disorder that causes back pain. Nucleus pulposus (NP) in the central of IVD dehydrates and become more fibrous in the IVD degeneration. NP cells undergo apoptosis with the degeneration of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. To replenish the NP cells and core ECM, bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) have been highlighted in the regeneration of IVD degeneration. BMSCs differentiate into NP-like cells with the secretion of ECM components, which may not only replenish the number of NP cells but also stimulate NP reconstruction. This further maintains tissue homeostasis. Up to date, the disc progenitor cells (DPCs) have been identified with the characteristics of multidifferentiation and stem cell phenotype. These cells are involved in the IVD diseases and show regenerative potentials. However, the differences between the BMSCs and DPCs remain elusive, in particular, the cellular connection in vivo. As such, this chapter will discuss the findings of the two cell types and propose a novel concept in the understanding of the biology of IVD

Molecular cloning and expression profiles of MnSOD and CAT genes from the turbot <em>Scophthalmus maximus</em>

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT) could eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintain the reduction-oxidation balance in cells. This study aimed to investigate their functions in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) response to the *Vibro anguillarum* challenge. SmMnSOD, the full-length liver cDNA of MnSOD from *S. maximus*, was cloned by fast amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Sequencing of nucleotides indicated that the SmMnSOD cDNA was 1267 base pairs with a 684-base-pair open reading frame, encoding a 228 amino acid protein with 28 amino acid residues. The SmMnSOD sequence contains MnSOD signatures (DVWEHAYY) and probable N-glycosylation sites (NVT, NHT, and NLS). The deduced sequence of SmMnSOD revealed sequence homology between 85.3% and 92.9% with those of other species. A phylogenetic study found that SmMnSOD clustered with other fish MnSOD, indicating that SmMnSOD was a member of the MnSOD family. The SmMnSOD transcript was discovered by qRT-PCR in the gill, stomach, head-kidney, muscle, liver, intestine, and heart of *S. maximus*, with the highest expression in the liver. Upon intervention by *V. anguillarum*, the liver and head kidney transcript levels of SmMnSOD were up-regulated at 12 and 48 h, whereas the temporal expression profiles of the CAT transcript increased at 6 and 24 h. As the pathogenic bacterial stress processing was prolonged to 72 h, the liver and head kidney transcript levels of SmMnSOD and CAT decreased gradually. Thus, SmMnSOD was triggered and may be related to *S. maximus*' immunological responses against *V. anguillarum*