86 research outputs found
Excitation of kinetic Alfvén turbulence by MHD waves and energization of space plasmas
International audienceThere is abundant observational evidence that the energization of plasma particles in space is correlated with an enhanced activity of large-scale MHD waves. Since these waves cannot interact with particles, we need to find ways for these MHD waves to transport energy in the dissipation range formed by small-scale or high-frequency waves, which are able to interact with particles. In this paper we consider the dissipation range formed by the kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) which are very short- wavelengths across the magnetic field irrespectively of their frequency. We study a nonlocal nonlinear mechanism for the excitation of KAWs by MHD waves via resonant decay AW(FW)?KAW1+KAW2, where the MHD wave can be either an Alfvén wave (AW), or a fast magneto-acoustic wave (FW). The resonant decay thus provides a non-local energy transport from large scales directly in the dissipation range. The decay is efficient at low amplitudes of the magnetic field in the MHD waves, B/B0~10-2. In turn, KAWs are very efficient in the energy exchange with plasma particles, providing plasma heating and acceleration in a variety of space plasmas. An anisotropic energy deposition in the field-aligned degree of freedom for the electrons, and in the cross-field degrees of freedom for the ions, is typical for KAWs. A few relevant examples are discussed concerning nonlinear excitation of KAWs by the MHD wave flux and consequent plasma energization in the solar corona and terrestrial magnetosphere
Farley-Buneman Instability in the Solar Chromosphere
The Farley-Buneman instability is studied in the partially ionized plasma of
the solar chromosphere taking into account the finite magnetization of the ions
and Coulomb collisions. We obtain the threshold value for the relative velocity
between ions and electrons necessary for the instability to develop. It is
shown that Coulomb collisions play a destabilizing role in the sense that they
enable the instability even in the regions where the ion magnetization is
greater than unity. By applying these results to chromospheric conditions, we
show that the Farley-Buneman instability can not be responsible for the
quasi-steady heating of the solar chromosphere. However, in the presence of
strong cross-field currents it can produce small-scale, m, density
irregularities in the solar chromosphere. These irregularities can cause
scintillations of radio waves with similar wave lengths and provide a tool for
remote chromospheric sensing
Charge carrier injection into insulating media: single-particle versus mean-field approach
Self-consistent, mean-field description of charge injection into a dielectric
medium is modified to account for discreteness of charge carriers. The improved
scheme includes both the Schottky barrier lowering due to the individual image
charge and the barrier change due to the field penetration into the injecting
electrode that ensures validity of the model at both high and low injection
rates including the barrier dominated and the space-charge dominated regimes.
Comparison of the theory with experiment on an unipolar ITO/PPV/Au-device is
presented.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures; revised version accepted to PR
Distinct mechanisms of signal processing by lamina I spino-parabrachial neurons
Lamina I spino-parabrachial neurons (SPNs) receive peripheral nociceptive input, process it and transmit to the supraspinal centres. Although responses of SPNs to cutaneous receptive field stimulations have been intensively studied, the mechanisms of signal processing in these neurons are poorly understood. Therefore, we used an ex-vivo spinal cord preparation to examine synaptic and cellular mechanisms determining specific input-output characteristics of the neurons. The vast majority of the SPNs received a few direct nociceptive C-fiber inputs and generated one spike in response to saturating afferent stimulation, thus functioning as simple transducers of painful stimulus. However, 69% of afferent stimulation-induced action potentials in the entire SPN population originated from a small fraction (19%) of high-output neurons. These neurons received a larger number of direct Ad- and C-fiber inputs, generated intrinsic bursts and efficiently integrated a local network activity via NMDA-receptor-dependent mechanisms. The high-output SPNs amplified and integrated the nociceptive input gradually encoding its intensity into the number of generated spikes. Thus, different mechanisms of signal processing allow lamina I SPNs to play distinct roles in nociception.The authors thank Mr. Andrew Dromaretsky for the technical assistance. P.B. was supported by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU), grant NASU # 0116U004470, grant NASU#67/15-Đ. N.V. was supported by the NASU Biotechnology and NASU-KNU grants; NIH 1R01NS113189-01. B.V.S. was supported by the FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by the FCT project PTDC/NEU-NMC/1259/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016588
Redox-Driven Transformation of a Discrete Molecular Cage into an Infinite 3D Coordination Polymer
Two M12L6 redoxâactive selfâassembled cages constructed from an electronârich ligand based on the extended tetrathiafulvalene framework (exTTF) and metal complexes with a linear geometry (PdII and AgI) are depicted. Remarkably, based on a combination of specific structural and electronic features, the polycationic selfâassembled AgI coordination cage undergoes a supramolecular transformation upon oxidation into a threeâdimensional coordination polymer, that is characterized by Xâray crystallography. This redoxâcontrolled change of the molecular organization results from the drastic conformational modifications accompanying oxidation of the exTTF moiety
A self-assembled M2L4 cage incorporating electron-rich 9-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)fluorene units
An electron-rich redox-active M2L4 cage is depicted. The cage is constructed through coordination driven self-assembly of a 9-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)fluorene bis-pyridyl ligand in the presence of the Pd(BF4)2(CH3CN)4 complex. The corresponding discrete structure has been fully characterized in the solution as well in the solid state (crystal structure), showing notably that each of the four ligands surrounding the cavity can be reversibly oxidized upon a one electron process
Stable, synthetic analogs of diadenosine tetraphosphate inhibit rat and human P2X3 receptors and inflammatory pain
© 2016, © The Author(s) 2016.Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that ATP-gated P2X3 receptors (P2X3Rs) are implicated in chronic pain. We address the possibility that stable, synthetic analogs of diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) might induce antinociceptive effects by inhibiting P2X3Rs in peripheral sensory neurons. Results: The effects of two stable, synthetic Ap4A analogs (AppNHppA and AppCH2ppA) are studied firstly in vitro on HEK293 cells expressing recombinant rat P2XRs (P2X2Rs, P2X3Rs, P2X4Rs, and P2X7Rs) and then using native rat brain cells (cultured trigeminal, nodose, or dorsal root ganglion neurons). Thereafter, the action of these stable, synthetic Ap4A analogs on inflammatory pain and thermal hyperalgesia is studied through the measurement of antinociceptive effects in formalin and Hargreaves plantar tests in rats in vivo. In vitro inhibition of rat P2X3Rs (not P2X2Rs, P2X4Rs nor P2X7Rs) is shown to take place mediated by high-affinity desensitization (at low concentrations; IC50 values 100â250 nM) giving way to only weak partial agonism at much higher concentrations (EC50 values â„ 10 ”M). Similar inhibitory activity is observed with human recombinant P2X3Rs. The inhibitory effects of AppNHppA on nodose, dorsal root, and trigeminal neuron whole cell currents suggest that stable, synthetic Ap4A analogs inhibit homomeric P2X3Rs in preference to heteromeric P2X2/3Rs. Both Ap4A analogs mediate clear inhibition of pain responses in both in vivo inflammation models. Conclusions: Stable, synthetic Ap4A analogs (AppNHppA and AppCH2ppA) being weak partial agonist provoke potent high-affinity desensitization-mediated inhibition of homomeric P2X3Rs at low concentrations. Therefore, both analogs demonstrate clear potential as potent analgesic agents for use in the management of chronic pain associated with heightened P2X3R activation
Constructing an index of physical fitness age for Japanese elderly based on 7-year longitudinal data: sex differences in estimated physical fitness age
A standardized method for assessing the physical fitness of elderly adults has not yet been established. In this study, we developed an index of physical fitness age (fitness age score, FAS) for older Japanese adults and investigated sex differences based on the estimated FAS. Healthy elderly adults (52 men, 70 women) who underwent physical fitness tests once yearly for 7Â years between 2002 and 2008 were included in this study. The age of the participants at the beginning of this study ranged from 60.0 to 83.0Â years. The physical fitness tests consisted of 13 items to measure balance, agility, flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance. Three criteria were used to evaluate fitness markers of aging: (1) significant cross-sectional correlation with age; (2) significant longitudinal change with age consistent with the cross-sectional correlation; and (3) significant stability of individual differences. We developed an equation to assess individual FAS values using the first principal component derived from principal component analysis. Five candidate fitness markers of aging (10-m walking time, functional reach, one leg stand with eyes open, vertical jump and grip strength) were selected from the 13 physical fitness tests. Individual FAS was predicted from these five fitness markers using a principal component model. Individual FAS showed high longitudinal stability for age-related changes. This investigation of the longitudinal changes of individual FAS revealed that women had relatively lower physical fitness compared with men, but their rate of physical fitness aging was slower than that of men
Self-consistent Coronal Heating and Solar Wind Acceleration from Anisotropic Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence
We present a series of models for the plasma properties along open magnetic
flux tubes rooted in solar coronal holes, streamers, and active regions. These
models represent the first self-consistent solutions that combine: (1)
chromospheric heating driven by an empirically guided acoustic wave spectrum,
(2) coronal heating from Alfven waves that have been partially reflected, then
damped by anisotropic turbulent cascade, and (3) solar wind acceleration from
gradients of gas pressure, acoustic wave pressure, and Alfven wave pressure.
The only input parameters are the photospheric lower boundary conditions for
the waves and the radial dependence of the background magnetic field along the
flux tube. For a single choice for the photospheric wave properties, our models
produce a realistic range of slow and fast solar wind conditions by varying
only the coronal magnetic field. Specifically, a 2D model of coronal holes and
streamers at solar minimum reproduces the latitudinal bifurcation of slow and
fast streams seen by Ulysses. The radial gradient of the Alfven speed affects
where the waves are reflected and damped, and thus whether energy is deposited
below or above the Parker critical point. As predicted by earlier studies, a
larger coronal ``expansion factor'' gives rise to a slower and denser wind,
higher temperature at the coronal base, less intense Alfven waves at 1 AU, and
correlative trends for commonly measured ratios of ion charge states and
FIP-sensitive abundances that are in general agreement with observations. These
models offer supporting evidence for the idea that coronal heating and solar
wind acceleration (in open magnetic flux tubes) can occur as a result of wave
dissipation and turbulent cascade. (abridged abstract)Comment: 32 pages (emulateapj style), 18 figures, ApJ Supplement, in press (v.
171, August 2007
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