Magnetopause Reconnection as Influenced by the Dipole Tilt Under Southward IMF Conditions: Hybrid Simulation and MMS Observation

Using a three‐dimensional (3‐D) global‐scale hybrid code, the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) reconnection event around 02:13 UT on 18 November 2015, highlighted in the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) Dayside Kinetic Challenge, is simulated, in which the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) points southward and the geomagnetic field has a −27° dipole tilt angle. Strong southward plasma jets are found near the magnetopause as a result of the dayside reconnection. Our results indicate that the subsolar magnetopause reconnection X line shifts from the subsolar point toward the Northern Hemisphere due to the effect of the tilted geomagnetic dipole angle, consistent with the MMS observation. Subsequently, the reconnection X lines or sites and reconnection flux ropes above the equator propagate northward along the magnetopause. The formation and global distribution of the X lines and the structure of the magnetopause reconnection are investigated in detail with the simulation. Mirror mode waves are also found in the middle of the magnetosheath downstream of the quasi‐perpendicular shock where the plasma properties are consistent with the mirror instability condition. As a special outcome of the GEM challenge event, the spatial and temporal variations in reconnection, the electromagnetic power spectra, and the associated D‐shaped ion velocity distributions in the simulated reconnection event are compared with the MMS observation.Key PointsSubsolar magnetopause X lines shift toward the Northern Hemisphere due to the effect of the negative tilted geomagnetic dipole angleThe hybrid simulation magnetic fields and plasma date match MMS3 observations well during the magnetopause crossingMirror mode waves appear in the middle of the magnetosheath downstream of the quasi‐perpendicular shockPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162687/2/jgra55909_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162687/1/jgra55909.pd

Electroacupuncture at LI11 promotes jejunal motility via the parasympathetic pathway

Background: Gastrointestinal motility disorder has been demonstrated to be regulated by acupuncture treatment. The mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture stimulation of abdominal and lower limb acupoints on gastrointestinal motility have been thoroughly studied; however, the physiology underlying the effects of acupuncture on the forelimbs to mediate gastrointestinal motility requires further exploration. The aim of this study was to determine whether electroacupuncture (EA) at LI11 promotes jejunal motility, whether the parasympathetic pathway participates in this effect, and if so, which somatic afferent nerve fibres are involved.Methods: A manometric balloon was used to observe jejunal motility. The effects and mechanisms of EA at LI11 were explored in male Sprague-Dawley rats with or without drug administration (propranolol, clenbuterol, acetylcholine, and atropine) and with or without vagotomy. Three types of male mice (β1β2 receptor-knockout [β1β2 −/−] mice, M2M3 receptor-knockout [M2M3 −/−] mice and wild-type [WT] mice) were also studied by using different EA intensities (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mA). A total of 72 rats and 56 mice were included in the study.Results: EA at LI11 increased the contractile amplitude of jejunal motility in the majority of both rats and mice. However, EA at LI11 did not enhance jejunal motility in rats administered atropine, rats that underwent vagotomy, and M2M3 −‍‍/− mice (at all intensities). In WT mice, EA at LI11 significantly increased jejunal motility at all intensities except 1 mA, and a plateau was reached at intensities greater than 4 mA.Conclusion: Our results suggest that EA at LI11 promotes jejunal motility primarily by exciting the parasympathetic pathway, and that Aδ-fibres and C-fibres may play important roles in the process

A Rapid Recognition of Impassable Terrain for Mobile Robots with Low Cost Range Finder Based on Hypotheses Testing Theory

We propose a game theoretic non-cooperative algorithm to optimize the induced outage probability in an uplink cellular interference limited wireless Rayleigh and Nakagami fading channels. We achieve this target by maximizing the certainty equivalent margin (CEM). We derive a closed-form formula of the outage probability in Nakagami flat-fading channels, then we show that minimizing the induced outage fading probability for both Rayleigh and Nakagami channels is equivalent to maxi- mizing CEM. We present a non-cooperative power control algorithm using the game theory framework. Through this non-cooperative game, we argue that the best de- cision in such an environment is for all users to transmit at the minimum power in their corresponding strategy profiles. This finding considerably simplifies the imple- mentation of the proposed game

Global hybrid simulations of soft X-ray emissions in the Earth’s magnetosheath

Earth’s magnetopause is a thin boundary separating the shocked solar wind plasma from the magnetospheric plasmas, and it is also the boundary of the solar wind energy transport to the magnetosphere. Soft X-ray imaging allows investigation of the large-scale magnetopause by providing a two-dimensional (2-D) global view from a satellite. By performing 3-D global hybrid-particle-in-cell (hybrid-PIC) simulations, we obtain soft X-ray images of Earth’s magnetopause under different solar wind conditions, such as different plasma densities and directions of the southward interplanetary magnetic field. In all cases, magnetic reconnection occurs at low latitude magnetopause. The soft X-ray images observed by a hypothetical satellite are shown, with all of the following identified: the boundary of the magnetopause, the cusps, and the magnetosheath. Local X-ray emissivity in the magnetosheath is characterized by large amplitude fluctuations (up to 160%); however, the maximum line-of-sight-integrated X-ray intensity matches the tangent directions of the magnetopause well, indicating that these fluctuations have limited impact on identifying the magnetopause boundary in the X-ray images. Moreover, the magnetopause boundary can be identified using multiple viewing geometries. We also find that solar wind conditions have little effect on the magnetopause identification. The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission will provide X-ray images of the magnetopause for the first time, and our global hybrid-PIC simulation results can help better understand the 2-D X-ray images of the magnetopause from a 3-D perspective, with particle kinetic effects considered

Childhood Sexual Abuse and the Development of Recurrent Major Depression in Chinese Women

Background Our prior study in Han Chinese women has shown that women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are at increased risk for developing major depression (MD). Would this relationship be found in our whole data set? Method Three levels of CSA (non-genital, genital, and intercourse) were assessed by self-report in two groups of Han Chinese women: 6017 clinically ascertained with recurrent MD and 5983 matched controls. Diagnostic and other risk factor information was assessed at personal interview. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression. Results We confirmed earlier results by replicating prior analyses in 3,950 new recurrent MD cases. There were no significant differences between the two data sets. Any form of CSA was significantly associated with recurrent MD (OR 4.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) [3.19–5.24]). This association strengthened with increasing CSA severity: non-genital (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.58–3.15), genital (OR 5.24, 95% CI 3.52–8.15) and intercourse (OR 10.65, 95% CI 5.56–23.71). Among the depressed women, those with CSA had an earlier age of onset, longer depressive episodes. Recurrent MD patients those with CSA had an increased risk for dysthymia (OR 1.60, 95%CI 1.11–2.27) and phobia (OR 1.41, 95%CI 1.09–1.80). Any form of CSA was significantly associated with suicidal ideation or attempt (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.20–1.89) and feelings of worthlessness or guilt (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.02–2.02). Intercourse (OR 3.47, 95%CI 1.66–8.22), use of force and threats (OR 1.95, 95%CI 1.05–3.82) and how strongly the victims were affected at the time (OR 1.39, 95%CI 1.20–1.64) were significantly associated with recurrent MD

Associations of Educational Attainment, Occupation, Social Class and Major Depressive Disorder among Han Chinese Women

Background The prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is higher in those with low levels of educational attainment, the unemployed and those with low social status. However the extent to which these factors cause MDD is unclear. Most of the available data comes from studies in developed countries, and these findings may not extrapolate to developing countries. Examining the relationship between MDD and socio economic status in China is likely to add to the debate because of the radical economic and social changes occurring in China over the last 30 years. Principal findings We report results from 3,639 Chinese women with recurrent MDD and 3,800 controls. Highly significant odds ratios (ORs) were observed between MDD and full time employment (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.25–0.46, logP = 78), social status (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.77–0.87, logP = 13.3) and education attainment (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.86–0.90, logP = 6.8). We found a monotonic relationship between increasing age and increasing levels of educational attainment. Those with only primary school education have significantly more episodes of MDD (mean 6.5, P-value = 0.009) and have a clinically more severe disorder, while those with higher educational attainment are likely to manifest more comorbid anxiety disorders. Conclusions In China lower socioeconomic position is associated with increased rates of MDD, as it is elsewhere in the world. Significantly more episodes of MDD occur among those with lower educational attainment (rather than longer episodes of disease), consistent with the hypothesis that the lower socioeconomic position increases the likelihood of developing MDD. The phenomenology of MDD varies according to the degree of educational attainment: higher educational attainment not only appears to protect against MDD but alters its presentation, to a more anxious phenotype