123 research outputs found
Three-Dimensional Magnetic Reconnection
The importance of magnetic reconnection as an energy release mechanism in
many solar, stellar, magnetospheric and astrophysical phenomena has long been
recognised. Reconnection is the only mechanism by which magnetic fields can
globally restructure, enabling them to access a lower energy state. Over the
past decade, there have been some major advances in our understanding of
three-dimensional reconnection. In particular, the key characteristics of 3D
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) reconnection have been determined. For instance, 3D
reconnection (i) occurs with or without nulls, (ii) occurs continuously and
continually throughout a diffusion region and (iii) is driven by counter
rotating flows.
Furthermore, analysis of resistive 3D MHD magnetic experiments have revealed
some intriguing effects relating to where and how reconnection occurs. To
illustrate these new features, a series of constant-resistivity experiments,
involving the interaction of two opposite-polarity magnetic sources in an
overlying field, are considered. Such a simple interaction represents a typical
building block of the Sun's magnetic atmosphere. By following the evolution of
the magnetic topology, we are able to explain where, how and at what rate the
reconnection occurs. Remarkably there can be up to five energy release sites at
anyone time (compared to one in the potential case) and the duration of the
interaction increases (more than doubles) as the resistivity decreases (by a
factor of 16). The decreased resistivity also leads to a higher peak ohmic
dissipation and more energy being released in total, as a result of a greater
injection of Poynting flux.Comment: To appear in "Magnetic Coupling between the Interior and the
Atmosphere of the Sun", eds. S.S. Hasan and R.J. Rutten, Astrophysics and
Space Science Proceedings, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin, 200
In situ evidence for the structure of the magnetic null in a 3D reconnection event in the Earth's magnetotail
Magnetic reconnection is one of the most important processes in
astrophysical, space and laboratory plasmas. Identifying the structure around
the point at which the magnetic field lines break and subsequently reform,
known as the magnetic null point, is crucial to improving our understanding
reconnection. But owing to the inherently three-dimensional nature of this
process, magnetic nulls are only detectable through measurements obtained
simultaneously from at least four points in space. Using data collected by the
four spacecraft of the Cluster constellation as they traversed a diffusion
region in the Earth's magnetotail on 15 September, 2001, we report here the
first in situ evidence for the structure of an isolated magnetic null. The
results indicate that it has a positive-spiral structure whose spatial extent
is of the same order as the local ion inertial length scale, suggesting that
the Hall effect could play an important role in 3D reconnection dynamics.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
A method of determining where to target surveillance efforts in heterogeneous epidemiological systems
The spread of pathogens into new environments poses a considerable threat to human, animal, and plant health, and by extension, human and animal wellbeing, ecosystem function, and agricultural productivity, worldwide. Early detection through effective surveillance is a key strategy to reduce the risk of their establishment. Whilst it is well established that statistical and economic considerations are of vital importance when planning surveillance efforts, it is also important to consider epidemiological characteristics of the pathogen in question—including heterogeneities within the epidemiological system itself. One of the most pronounced realisations of this heterogeneity is seen in the case of vector-borne pathogens, which spread between ‘hosts’ and ‘vectors’—with each group possessing distinct epidemiological characteristics. As a result, an important question when planning surveillance for emerging vector-borne pathogens is where to place sampling resources in order to detect the pathogen as early as possible. We answer this question by developing a statistical function which describes the probability distributions of the prevalences of infection at first detection in both hosts and vectors. We also show how this method can be adapted in order to maximise the probability of early detection of an emerging pathogen within imposed sample size and/or cost constraints, and demonstrate its application using two simple models of vector-borne citrus pathogens. Under the assumption of a linear cost function, we find that sampling costs are generally minimised when either hosts or vectors, but not both, are sampled
X-Ray Spectroscopy of Stars
(abridged) Non-degenerate stars of essentially all spectral classes are soft
X-ray sources. Low-mass stars on the cooler part of the main sequence and their
pre-main sequence predecessors define the dominant stellar population in the
galaxy by number. Their X-ray spectra are reminiscent, in the broadest sense,
of X-ray spectra from the solar corona. X-ray emission from cool stars is
indeed ascribed to magnetically trapped hot gas analogous to the solar coronal
plasma. Coronal structure, its thermal stratification and geometric extent can
be interpreted based on various spectral diagnostics. New features have been
identified in pre-main sequence stars; some of these may be related to
accretion shocks on the stellar surface, fluorescence on circumstellar disks
due to X-ray irradiation, or shock heating in stellar outflows. Massive, hot
stars clearly dominate the interaction with the galactic interstellar medium:
they are the main sources of ionizing radiation, mechanical energy and chemical
enrichment in galaxies. High-energy emission permits to probe some of the most
important processes at work in these stars, and put constraints on their most
peculiar feature: the stellar wind. Here, we review recent advances in our
understanding of cool and hot stars through the study of X-ray spectra, in
particular high-resolution spectra now available from XMM-Newton and Chandra.
We address issues related to coronal structure, flares, the composition of
coronal plasma, X-ray production in accretion streams and outflows, X-rays from
single OB-type stars, massive binaries, magnetic hot objects and evolved WR
stars.Comment: accepted for Astron. Astrophys. Rev., 98 journal pages, 30 figures
(partly multiple); some corrections made after proof stag
Satellite Observations of Separator Line Geometry of Three-Dimensional Magnetic Reconnection
Detection of a separator line that connects magnetic nulls and the
determination of the dynamics and plasma environment of such a structure can
improve our understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) magnetic reconnection
process. However, this type of field and particle configuration has not been
directly observed in space plasmas. Here we report the identification of a pair
of nulls, the null-null line that connects them, and associated fans and spines
in the magnetotail of Earth using data from the four Cluster spacecraft. With
di and de designating the ion and electron inertial lengths, respectively, the
separation between the nulls is found to be ~0.7di and an associated
oscillation is identified as a lower hybrid wave with wavelength ~ de. This in
situ evidence of the full 3D reconnection geometry and associated dynamics
provides an important step toward to establishing an observational framework of
3D reconnection.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures and 1 tabl
The PLIN4 Variant rs8887 Modulates Obesity Related Phenotypes in Humans through Creation of a Novel miR-522 Seed Site
PLIN4 is a member of the PAT family of lipid storage droplet
(LSD) proteins. Associations between seven single nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs) at human PLIN4 with obesity related phenotypes were
investigated using meta-analysis followed by a determination if these phenotypes
are modulated by interactions between PLIN4 SNPs and dietary
PUFA. Samples consisted of subjects from two populations of European ancestry.
We demonstrated association of rs8887 with anthropometrics. Meta-analysis
demonstrated significant interactions between the rs8887 minor allele with PUFA
n3 modulating anthropometrics. rs884164 showed interaction with both n3 and n6
PUFA modulating anthropometric and lipid phenotypes. In silico
analysis of the PLIN4 3′UTR sequence surrounding the
rs8887 minor A allele predicted a seed site for the human microRNA-522
(miR-522), suggesting a functional mechanism. Our data showed that a PLIN4
3′UTR luciferase reporter carrying the A allele of rs8887 was reduced in
response to miR-522 mimics compared to the G allele. These results suggest
variation at the PLIN4 locus, and its interaction with PUFA as
a modulator of obesity related phenotypes, acts in part through creation of a
miR-522 regulatory site
Intrapopulation Variability Shaping Isotope Discrimination and Turnover: Experimental Evidence in Arctic Foxes
Tissue-specific stable isotope signatures can provide insights into the trophic ecology of consumers and their roles in food webs. Two parameters are central for making valid inferences based on stable isotopes, isotopic discrimination (difference in isotopic ratio between consumer and its diet) and turnover time (renewal process of molecules in a given tissue usually measured when half of the tissue composition has changed). We investigated simultaneously the effects of age, sex, and diet types on the variation of discrimination and half-life in nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C, respectively) in five tissues (blood cells, plasma, muscle, liver, nail, and hair) of a top predator, the arctic fox Vulpes lagopus. We fed 40 farmed foxes (equal numbers of adults and yearlings of both sexes) with diet capturing the range of resources used by their wild counterparts. We found that, for a single species, six tissues, and three diet types, the range of discrimination values can be almost as large as what is known at the scale of the whole mammalian or avian class. Discrimination varied depending on sex, age, tissue, and diet types, ranging from 0.3‰ to 5.3‰ (mean = 2.6‰) for δ15N and from 0.2‰ to 2.9‰ (mean = 0.9‰) for δ13C. We also found an impact of population structure on δ15N half-life in blood cells. Varying across individuals, δ15N half-life in plasma (6 to 10 days) was also shorter than for δ13C (14 to 22 days), though δ15N and δ13C half-lives are usually considered as equal. Overall, our multi-factorial experiment revealed that at least six levels of isotopic variations could co-occur in the same population. Our experimental analysis provides a framework for quantifying multiple sources of variation in isotopic discrimination and half-life that needs to be taken into account when designing and analysing ecological field studies
Massive Consumption of Gelatinous Plankton by Mediterranean Apex Predators
Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were used to test the hypothesis that stomach content analysis has systematically overlooked the consumption of gelatinous zooplankton by pelagic mesopredators and apex predators. The results strongly supported a major role of gelatinous plankton in the diet of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), spearfish (Tetrapturus belone) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the oceanic stage and ocean sunfish (Mola mola) also primarily relied on gelatinous zooplankton. In contrast, stable isotope ratios ruled out any relevant consumption of gelatinous plankton by bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), blue shark (Prionace glauca), leerfish (Lichia amia), bonito (Sarda sarda), striped dolphin (Stenella caerueloalba) and loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the neritic stage, all of which primarily relied on fish and squid. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) were confirmed as crustacean consumers. The ratios of stable isotopes in albacore (Thunnus alalunga), amberjack (Seriola dumerili), blue butterfish (Stromaeus fiatola), bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), dolphinfish (Coryphaena hyppurus), horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) were consistent with mixed diets revealed by stomach content analysis, including nekton and crustaceans, but the consumption of gelatinous plankton could not be ruled out completely. In conclusion, the jellyvorous guild in the Mediterranean integrates two specialists (ocean sunfish and loggerhead sea turtles in the oceanic stage) and several opportunists (bluefin tuna, little tunny, spearfish, swordfish and, perhaps, blue butterfish), most of them with shrinking populations due to overfishing
The Impact of Local Genome Sequence on Defining Heterochromatin Domains
Characterizing how genomic sequence interacts with trans-acting regulatory factors to implement a program of gene expression in eukaryotic organisms is critical to understanding genome function. One means by which patterns of gene expression are achieved is through the differential packaging of DNA into distinct types of chromatin. While chromatin state exerts a major influence on gene expression, the extent to which cis-acting DNA sequences contribute to the specification of chromatin state remains incompletely understood. To address this, we have used a fission yeast sequence element (L5), known to be sufficient to nucleate heterochromatin, to establish de novo heterochromatin domains in the Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome. The resulting heterochromatin domains were queried for the presence of H3K9 di-methylation and Swi6p, both hallmarks of heterochromatin, and for levels of gene expression. We describe a major effect of genomic sequences in determining the size and extent of such de novo heterochromatin domains. Heterochromatin spreading is antagonized by the presence of genes, in a manner that can occur independent of strength of transcription. Increasing the dosage of Swi6p results in increased heterochromatin proximal to the L5 element, but does not result in an expansion of the heterochromatin domain, suggesting that in this context genomic effects are dominant over trans effects. Finally, we show that the ratio of Swi6p to H3K9 di-methylation is sequence-dependent and correlates with the extent of gene repression. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the sequence content of a genomic region plays a significant role in shaping its response to encroaching heterochromatin and suggest a role of DNA sequence in specifying chromatin state
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