Comment on "Geoeffectiveness of halo coronal mass ejections" by N. Gopalswamy, S. Yashiro, and S. Akiyama

Comment on paper: Gopalswamy, N., S. Yashiro, and S. Akiyama (2007), Geoeffectiveness of halo coronal mass ejections, J. Geophys. Res., 112, A06112, doi:10.1029/2006JA012149 Gopalswamy et al. [2007] studied the geoeffectiveness of halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on the basis of solar observations during 1996-2005 and found that the geoeffectiveness of 229 frontside halo CMEs was 71%. Recently for observations of 305 frontside halo CMEs during 1997-2003 the geoeffectiveness was found to be 40% [Kim et al., 2005]. Complex analysis of both solar and interplanetary measurements showed that the geoeffectiveness of frontside halo CMEs is likely to be about 50% [Yermolaev et al., 2005; Yermolaev and Yermolaev, 2006]. Gopalswamy et al. [2007] did not discuss possible causes of this difference and were limited only to the general words: "The reason for the conflicting results (geoeffectiveness of CMEs ranging from 35% to more than 80%) may be attributed to the different definition of halo CMEs and geoeffectiveness." So, here we shall present our point of view on high geoeffectivenees of CME obtained in paper by Gopalswamy et al. [2007]

Changes in glial gene expression in the prefrontal cortex in relation to major depressive disorder, suicide and psychotic features

BACKGROUND: To establish whether major depressive disorder (MDD), suicidal behaviors and psychotic features contribute to glial alterations in the human prefrontal cortex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared mRNA expression using real-time qPCR of 17 glia related genes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) between 24 patients with MDD and 12 well-matched controls without psychiatric or neurological diseases. The MDD group was subdivided into i) MDD who died of suicide (MDD-S) or natural causes (MDD-NS) and ii) MDD with or without psychotic features (MDD-P and MDD-NP). The results were followed up with confounder factor analysis. RESULTS: Astrocyte gene aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 L1 (ALDH1L1) showed an increased expression in the DLPFC of MDD-NS and the ACC of MDD-NP. S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) was upregulated in the DLPFC of MDD compared to the controls. Microglial markers CD11B and purinergic receptor 12 (P2RY12) both showed decreased expression in the ACC of MDD-NS. CD68 was increased in the DLPFC of MDD in both, MDD-S and MDD-P, compared to the controls. In addition, there was increased translocator protein (TSPO) expression in the DLPFC of MDD, especially MDD-NS. In the ACC, this gene had a lower expression in MDD-P than in MDD-NP. Myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA in the DLPFC increased in MDD, in relation to psychotic features, but not to suicide. LIMITATIONS: Sample volumes are relatively small. CONCLUSIONS: Different glial functions in MDD were related to specific brain area, suicide or psychotic features

INTEGRAL/XMM views on the MeV source GRO J1411-64

The COMPTEL unidentified source GRO J 1411-64 was observed by INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton in 2005. The Circinus Galaxy is the only source detected within the 4$\sigma$ location error of GRO J1411-64, but in here excluded as the possible counterpart. At soft X-rays, 22 reliable and statistically significant sources (likelihood $> 10$) were extracted and analyzed from XMM-Newton data. Only one of these sources, XMMU J141255.6 -635932, is spectrally compatible with GRO J1411-64 although the fact the soft X-ray observations do not cover the full extent of the COMPTEL source position uncertainty make an association hard to quantify and thus risky. At the best location of the source, detections at hard X-rays show only upper limits, which, together with MeV results obtained by COMPTEL suggest the existence of a peak in power output located somewhere between 300-700 keV for the so-called low state. Such a spectrum resembles those in blazars or microquasars, and might suggest at work by a similar scenario. However, an analysis using a microquasar model consisting on a magnetized conical jet filled with relativistic electrons, shows that it is hard to comply with all observational constrains. This fact and the non-detection at hard X-rays introduce an a-posteriori question mark upon the physical reality of this source, what is discussed here.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Science, as proceedings of "The Multi-Messenger Approach to High-Energy Gamma-Ray Sources", Barcelona, July 4-7, 2006, J. M. Paredes, O. Reimer, and D. F. Torres, editor

An Asymmetric Cone Model for Halo Coronal Mass Ejections

Due to projection effects, coronagraphic observations cannot uniquely determine parameters relevant to the geoeffectiveness of CMEs, such as the true propagation speed, width, or source location. The Cone Model for Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) has been studied in this respect and it could be used to obtain these parameters. There are evidences that some CMEs initiate from a flux-rope topology. It seems that these CMEs should be elongated along the flux-rope axis and the cross section of the cone base should be rather elliptical than circular. In the present paper we applied an asymmetric cone model to get the real space parameters of frontsided halo CMEs (HCMEs) recorded by SOHO/LASCO coronagraphs in 2002. The cone model parameters are generated through a fitting procedure to the projected speeds measured at different position angles on the plane of the sky. We consider models with the apex of the cone located at the center and surface of the Sun. The results are compared to the standard symmetric cone model

Evaluation of the Dynamic Characteristics of AZ91D Crankcase Covers and Boxes

Dynamic tests are performed on similarly structured crankcase covers and boxes made of AZ91D magnesium and A380 aluminum alloys. The real vibration and noise control effect of an AZ91D magnesium alloy is evaluated, based on the behavior of the integral frequency response function, which is derived from the measured surface vibrations of the crankcase cover under operating conditions. The results indicate that crankcase covers and boxes made of AZ91D magnesium and A380 aluminum alloys with the same geometry possess similar normal characteristics. Both materials are interchangeable. However, the stiffness of AZ91D crankcase covers and boxes is poor. It is also difficult to obtain good engineering vibration and noise effects in the real structure due to an AZ91D high damping capacity. At the same excitation and frequency response at different structure characteristics, the measurement analysis of time-domain response indicates that methods to strengthen the crankcase box stiffness, such as embedding a main bearing steel sleeve, is favorable for improving the dynamic characteristics of an AZ91D crankcase box.Динамические испытания проводили на картерных крышках и поддонах аналогичной конструкции, изготовленных из магниевого AZ91D и алюминиевого А380 сплавов. Оценен эффект от применения магниевого сплава AZ91D для контроля реальной вибрации и шума на основании характера интегральной частотной функции отклика, полученной по результатам измерения поверхностной вибрации картерной крышки в рабочем режиме. Результаты показывают, что картерные крышки и поддоны, изготовленные из магниевого AZ91D и алюминиевого А380 сплавов, с одинаковыми геометрическими параметрами имеют аналогичные нормальные характеристики. Оба материала взаимозаменяемы. Однако картерная крышка и поддон из сплава AZ91D обладают низкой жесткостью. Достичь нормального технического уровня вибрации и шума в реальной конструкции также затруднительно, поскольку сплав AZ91D обладает высокой демпфирующей способностью. При одинаковом возбуждении и частотной характеристике конструкции с различными параметрами анализ измерения временной области показывает, что методы увеличения жесткости картерного поддона, например вмонтирование главного стального подшипника скольжения, способствуют улучшению динамических характеристик картерного поддона из сплава AZ91D