Excitation of extraordinary modes inside the source of Saturn's kilometric radiation

The electron cyclotron maser instability (ECMI) of extraordinary mode waves was investigated with the parameters observed in Saturn's kilometric radiation (SKR) sources. Previous studies employed simplified dispersion relations, and did not consider the excitation of the relativistic (R) mode. This mode is introduced by considering the relativistic effect in plasmas consisting of both cold and hot electrons. Using particle-in-cell simulations, we investigated the excitation of R and X modes based on the measured data. Using the reported value of the density ratio of energetic to total electrons $n_e/n_0=24\%$, the most unstable mode is the R mode. The escaping X-mode emissions are amplified only if the energetic electrons are dominant with $n_e/n_0 \ge 90\%$. For these cases, only the X mode is excited and the R mode disappears due to its strong coupling. The results are well in line with the linear kinetic theory of ECMI. The properties of both the R and X modes are consistent with the observed SKR emissions. This raises questions about the nature of the measured electric field fluctuations within ``presumed'' SKR sources. The study provides new insights into the ECMI process relevant to SKR emission mechanisms

Dust observations with antenna measurements and its prospects for observations with Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter

The electric and magnetic field instrument suite FIELDS on board the NASA Parker Solar Probe and the radio and plasma waves instrument RPW on the ESA Solar Orbiter mission that explore the inner heliosphere are sensitive to signals generated by dust impacts. Dust impacts have been observed using electric field antennas on spacecraft since the 1980s and the method was recently used with a number of space missions to derive dust fluxes. Here, we consider the details of dust impacts, subsequent development of the impact generated plasma and how it produces the measured signals. We describe empirical approaches to characterise the signals and compare these in a qualitative discussion of laboratory simulations to predict signal shapes for spacecraft measurements in the inner solar system. While the amount of charge production from a dust impact will be higher near the Sun than observed in the interplanetary medium before, the amplitude of pulses is determined by the recovery behaviour that is different near the Sun since it varies with the plasma environment

A Phos-Tag-Based Approach Reveals the Extent of Physiological Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Cellular response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress or unfolded protein response (UPR) is a key defense mechanism associated with many human diseases. Despite its basic and clinical importance, the extent of ER stress inflicted by physiological and pathophysiological conditions remains difficult to quantitate, posing a huge obstacle that has hindered our further understanding of physiological UPR and its future therapeutic potential. Here we have optimized a Phos-tag-based system to detect the activation status of two proximal UPR sensors at the ER membrane. This method allowed for a quantitative assessment of the level of stress in the ER. Our data revealed quantitatively the extent of tissue-specific basal ER stress as well as ER stress caused by the accumulation of misfolded proteins and the fasting-refeeding cycle. Our study may pave the foundation for future studies on physiological UPR, aid in the diagnosis of ER-associated diseases and improve and facilitate therapeutic strategies targeting UPR in vivo

Two types of mirror mode waves in the Kronian magnetosheath

A mirror mode wave is a fundamental magnetic structure in the planetary space environment that is persistently compressed by solar wind, especially in the magnetosheath. Mirror modes have been widely identified in the magnetosheaths of the Earth and other planets in the solar system, yet the understanding of mirror mode waves on extraterrestrial planets is not as comprehensive as that on the Earth. Using magnetic field data collected by the Cassini spacecraft, we found peak and dip types according to the magnetic morphology (i.e., structures with higher or lower magnetic strengths than the background field). Moreover, mirror mode waves and electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves were found one after the other, implying that the two wave modes may evolve into one another in the Kronian magnetosheath. The results indicate that many fundamental plasma processes associated with the mirror mode structure exist in the Kronian magnetosheath. The energy conversion in Saturn’s magnetosheath may provide key insights that will aid in understanding giant planetary magnetospheric processes

Nanomaterials with Glucose Oxidase-Mimicking Activity for Biomedical Applications

Glucose oxidase (GOD) is an oxidoreductase that catalyzes the aerobic oxidation of glucose into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and gluconic acid, which has been widely used in industrial raw materials production, biosensors and cancer treatment. However, natural GOD bears intrinsic disadvantages, such as poor stability and a complex purification process, which undoubtedly restricts its biomedical applications. Fortunately, several artificial nanomaterials have been recently discovered with a GOD-like activity and their catalytic efficiency toward glucose oxidation can be finely optimized for diverse biomedical applications in biosensing and disease treatments. In view of the notable progress of GOD-mimicking nanozymes, this review systematically summarizes the representative GOD-mimicking nanomaterials for the first time and depicts their proposed catalytic mechanisms. We then introduce the efficient modulation strategy to improve the catalytic activity of existing GOD-mimicking nanomaterials. Finally, the potential biomedical applications in glucose detection, DNA bioanalysis and cancer treatment are highlighted. We believe that the development of nanomaterials with a GOD-like activity will expand the application range of GOD-based systems and lead to new opportunities of GOD-mimicking nanomaterials for various biomedical applications

Determination of Organophosphorus Esters in Fall Protection Equipment by Accelerated Solvent Extraction and Solid-Phase Extraction Coupled with LC-MS/MS Detection

An analysis method was established to determine 14 organophosphorus ester (OPE) flame retardants in fall protection equipment by combining accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The ASE parameters were optimized as follows: static extraction with acetonitrile at 80°C for 5 min for two cycles. The combined extract was purified with the ENVI-18 cartridge before further analysis. A HILIC column was used to separate the OPEs using an acetonitrile/water mixture as the mobile phase with the detection by the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, which was operated under the positive mode. Under optimized conditions, the limit of detection for the target OPEs ranged in 0.015–1.33 ng/g, with a spike recovery of 71.6%–114% and a relative standard deviation of 0.8%–11.2%. The developed method was used to analyze OPEs in fall protection equipment (safety helmets and ropes), where OPEs were all detectable. Safety ropes displayed a higher concentration of OPEs than ones in safety helmets, with the pollutants being mainly triphenyl phosphate, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), tri(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, and tri-n-butyl phosphate in the range of 11.07 ng/g‒815.53 ng/g. The EHDPP was the dominant compound in safety helmets with the concentration from 26.84 to 95.29 ng/g, while the other OPEs in safety helmets were lower than 5.136 ng/g. The potential health and environmental risks of these fall protection equipment during their use and disposal call for further attention

Rotational Modulation of the High Frequency Limit of Saturn Kilometric Radiation

International audienceThe high frequency limit (HFL) of the Saturnian Kilometric Radiation (SKR) can probe the deepest SKR sources, closest to Saturn's ionosphere. In this study, we determined and analysed the SKR HFL throughout the entire Cassini Saturn orbital tour. The maximum frequency of the northern SKR, whose distribution peaks at ~ 625 kHz, is shifted by +100 to +200 kHz from the distribution of southern SKR HFL, consistent with the magnetic field offset toward the northern hemisphere at Saturn. The uniformly observed SKR HFL in the vicinity of Saturn suggests a broad extent and beaming of the SKR source. When the observer is confined to certain locations, the rotational modulation of the SKR HFL is clearly observed. This modulation feature of the SKR HFL is statistically established and analysed in this study. The modulation of HFL is best observed at mid-latitudes between 10° and 40° and at almost all local times. We perform a simulation that suggests that the modulation of HFL requires the superposition of a “clock” like and a rotating source behaviour. By comparing the derived HFL modulation using different longitudes with variable and fixed rotation periods, we can exclude the existence of a magnetic anomaly that was proposed in a previous study based on the Voyager data. The calculation of the least-square periodogram confirms that the modulation observed in HFL is similar to the ones previously detected at Saturn

Statistical Study on Spatial Distribution and Polarization of Saturn Narrowband Emissions

International audienceThe spatial distribution and polarization of Saturn narrowband (NB) emissions have been studied by using Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Sciences data and goniopolarimetric data obtained through an inversion algorithm with a preset source located at the center of Saturn. From 2004 January 1 to 2017 September 12, NB emissions were selected automatically by a computer program and rechecked manually. The spatial distribution shows a preference for high latitude and intensity peaks in the region within 6 Saturn radii (R s) for both 5 and 20 kHz NB emissions. 5 kHz NB emissions also show a local time preference roughly in the 18:00−22:00 sector. The Enceladus plasma torus makes it difficult for NB emissions to propagate to the low latitude regions outside the plasma torus. The extent of the low latitude regions where 5 and 20 kHz NB emissions were never observed is consistent with the corresponding plasma torus density contour in the meridional plane. 20 kHz NB emissions show a high circular polarization while 5 kHz NB emissions are less circularly polarized with | | < V 0.6 for majority of the cases. And cases of 5 kHz NB emissions with high circular polarization are more frequently observed at high latitude especially at the northern and southern edges of the Enceladus plasma torus

Extraction Methods Affect the Structure of Goji (Lycium barbarum) Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are considered to be the most important active substances in Goji. However, the structure of polysaccharides varies according to the extraction methods applied, and the solution used to prepare Goji polysaccharides (LBPs) were limited. Thus, it is important to clarify the connection between extraction methods and structure of Goji polysaccharide. In view of the complex composition of cell wall polysaccharides and the various forms of interaction, different extraction methods will release different parts of the cell wall. The present study compared the effects of different extraction methods, which have been used to prepare different types of plant cell wall polysaccharides based on various sources, on the structure of cell-wall polysaccharides from Goji, by the single separate use of hot water, hydrochloric acid (0.4%) and sodium hydroxide (0.6%), at both high and low temperatures. Meanwhile, in order to explore the limitations of single extraction, sequential extraction methods were applied. Structural analysis including monosaccharide analysis, GPC-MALLS, AFM and 1H-NMR suggested the persistence of more extensively branched rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) domains in the procedures involving low-temperature-alkali, while procedures prepared by high-temperature-acid contains more homogalacturonan (HG) regions and results in the removal of a substantial part of the side chain, specifically the arabinan. A kind of acidic heteropolysaccharide was obtained by hot water extraction. SEC-MALLS and AFM confirmed large-size polymers with branched morphologies in alkali-extracted polysaccharides. Our results provide new insight into the extraction of Goji polysaccharides, which differ from the hot water extraction used by traditional Chinese medicine