60 research outputs found
The properties of horizontal magnetic elements in quiet solar intranetwork
Using the data observed by the Solar Optical Telescope/Spectro-Polarimeter
aboard the Hinode satellite, the horizontal and vertical fields are derived
from the wavelength-integrated measures of Zeeman-induced linear and circular
polarizations. The quiet intranetwork regions are pervaded by horizontal
magnetic elements. We categorize the horizontal intranetwork magnetic elements
into two types: one is the non-isolated element which is accompanied by the
vertical magnetic elements during its evolution; another is the isolated
element which is not accompanied by the vertical magnetic elements. We identify
446 horizontal intranetwork magnetic elements, among them 87 elements are
isolated and 359 are non-isolated. Quantitative measurements reveal that the
isolated elements have relatively weaker horizontal magnetic fields, almost
equal size, and shorter lifetime comparing with the non-isolated elements. Most
non-isolated horizontal intranetwork magnetic elements are identified to
associate with the emergence of Omega-shaped flux loops. A few non-isolated
elements seem to indicate scenarios of submergence of Omega loops or emergence
of U-like loops. There is a positive correlation between the lifetime and the
size for both the isolated and non-isolated HIFs. It is also found that there
is also positive correlation between the lifetime and the magnetic flux density
for non-isolated HIFs, but no correlation for isolated HIFs. Even though the
horizontal elements show lower magnetic flux density, they could carry the
total magnetic flux in the order of magnitude close to 10^25 Mx to the solar
surface each day.Comment: 10 figures, 25 pages. ApJ, in pres
Effects of Hydrogenized Water on Intracellular Biomarkers for Antioxidants, Glucose Uptake, Insulin Signaling and SIRT 1 and Telomerase Activity
Abstract Hydrogen has been shown in several clinical trials to be completely safe without adverse events and there are no warnings in the literature of its toxicity or adverse effects during long-term exposure. Molecular hydrogen has proven useful and convenient as a novel antioxidant and modifier of gene expression in many conditions where oxidative stress and changes in gene expression result in cellular damage. Our intracellular biomarker studies have shown that a hydrogenized water drink formula containing 2.6 ppm dissolved hydrogen was able to penetrate cellular membranes and function as an antioxidant in human liver cells (HePG2) utilizing the Cellular Antioxidant Assay (CAA). This assay uses the protection of a florescent probe as a marker for cellular damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as peroxyl radical, and compares this to the known antioxidant standard, Quercetin. Using this system oxidative damage was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. One ml of hydrogenized water was found to possess antioxidant capacity equivalent to 0.05 µmole of quercetin. When examined in a human colon cell line (Caco-2 cells), hydrogenized water demonstrated a dose-and time-dependent permeability inhibition of an intracellular fluorescent glucose derivative (2-NBDG), indicating decreased glucose uptake. In another study, the impact of hydrogenized water on Akt phosphorylation (Ser473), a biomarker for insulin signaling, was monitored in human skeletal muscle cells. The hydrogenized water treatment markedly elevated the level of phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-aging effects of hydrogenized water were examined utilizing SIRT1 expression as a biomarker of aging in human umbilical cells (HUVECs). Hydrogenized water increased dose-dependent SIRT1 gene expression. Hydrogenized water also increased telomerase activity (an anti-aging biomarker in HUVEC cells) up to 148% when cells were treated with media containing 25% hydrogenized water formula. Increased telomerase activity caused by hydrogenized water may be able to protect telomeres from degradation, suggesting the possible use of hydrogenized water in therapeutic interventions of age-related diseases. These studies show that commercial hydrogenized water improved the levels or activities of a few intracellular biomarkers specific for antioxidant activity, glucose uptake, insulin signaling and SIRT 1 and telomerase activities. Industrial Relevance: The molecular hydrogen used in this study indicates that certain commercial sources of hydrogenized water can provide similar antioxidant and gene expression modifications seen in other sources of molecular hydrogen. The biomarkers evaluated here lend well to hydrogenized water's biological activity relating to health conditions and aging
Solar Intranetwork Magnetic Elements: bipolar flux appearance
The current study aims to quantify characteristic features of bipolar flux
appearance of solar intranetwork (IN) magnetic elements. To attack such a
problem, we use the Narrow-band Filter Imager (NFI) magnetograms from the Solar
Optical Telescope (SOT) on board \emph{Hinode}; these data are from quiet and
an enhanced network areas. Cluster emergence of mixed polarities and IN
ephemeral regions (ERs) are the most conspicuous forms of bipolar flux
appearance within the network. Each of the clusters is characterized by a few
well-developed ERs that are partially or fully co-aligned in magnetic axis
orientation. On average, the sampled IN ERs have total maximum unsigned flux of
several 10^{17} Mx, separation of 3-4 arcsec, and a lifetime of 10-15 minutes.
The smallest IN ERs have a maximum unsigned flux of several 10^{16} Mx,
separations less than 1 arcsec, and lifetimes as short as 5 minutes. Most IN
ERs exhibit a rotation of their magnetic axis of more than 10 degrees during
flux emergence. Peculiar flux appearance, e.g., bipole shrinkage followed by
growth or the reverse, is not unusual. A few examples show repeated
shrinkage-growth or growth-shrinkage, like magnetic floats in the dynamic
photosphere. The observed bipolar behavior seems to carry rich information on
magneto-convection in the sub-photospheric layer.Comment: 26 pages, 14 figure
Solar Ring Mission: Building a Panorama of the Sun and Inner-heliosphere
Solar Ring (SOR) is a proposed space science mission to monitor and study the
Sun and inner heliosphere from a full 360{\deg} perspective in the ecliptic
plane. It will deploy three 120{\deg}-separated spacecraft on the 1-AU orbit.
The first spacecraft, S1, locates 30{\deg} upstream of the Earth, the second,
S2, 90{\deg} downstream, and the third, S3, completes the configuration. This
design with necessary science instruments, e.g., the Doppler-velocity and
vector magnetic field imager, wide-angle coronagraph, and in-situ instruments,
will allow us to establish many unprecedented capabilities: (1) provide
simultaneous Doppler-velocity observations of the whole solar surface to
understand the deep interior, (2) provide vector magnetograms of the whole
photosphere - the inner boundary of the solar atmosphere and heliosphere, (3)
provide the information of the whole lifetime evolution of solar featured
structures, and (4) provide the whole view of solar transients and space
weather in the inner heliosphere. With these capabilities, Solar Ring mission
aims to address outstanding questions about the origin of solar cycle, the
origin of solar eruptions and the origin of extreme space weather events. The
successful accomplishment of the mission will construct a panorama of the Sun
and inner-heliosphere, and therefore advance our understanding of the star and
the space environment that holds our life.Comment: 41 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, to be published in Advances in Space
Researc
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