The Evolving Sigmoid: Evidence for Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Corona Before, During, and After CMES

It is generally accepted that the energy that drives coronal mass ejections (CMEs) is magnetic in origin. Sheared and twisted coronal fields can store free magnetic energy which ultimately is released in the CME. We explore the possibility of the specific magnetic configuration of a magnetic flux rope of field lines that twist about an axial field line. The flux rope model predicts coronal observables, including heating along forward or inverse S-shaped, or sigmoid, topological surfaces. Therefore, studying the observed evolution of such sigmoids prior to, during, and after the CME gives us crucial insight into the physics of coronal storage and release of magnetic energy. In particular, we consider (1) soft-X-ray sigmoids, both transient and persistent; (2) The formation of a current sheet and cusp-shaped post-flare loops below the CME; (3) Reappearance of sigmoids after CMEs; (4) Partially erupting filaments; (5) Magnetic cloud observations of filament material.     

DNA fragmentation by charged particle tracks.

High-LET (linear energy transfer) charged particles induce DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) in a non-random fashion in mammalian cells. The clustering of DSB, probably determined by track structure as well as chromatin conformation, results in an excess of small- and intermediate-sized DNA fragments. DNA fragmentation in normal human fibroblasts (GM5758) was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis after irradiation with photons (60Co) or 125 keV/micrometers nitrogen ions. Compared to conventional DSB analysis, i.e. assays only measuring the fraction of DNA smaller than a single threshold, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for DSB induction increased with 100%. Further, the size distribution of DNA fragments showed a significant dependence on radiation quality, with an excess of fragments up to 1 Mbp. Irradiation of naked genomic DNA without histone proteins increased the DSB yields 25 and 13 times for photons and nitrogen ions, respectively. The results suggest possible roles of both track structure and chromatin organization in the distribution of DNA double-strand breaks along the chromosome.     

High temperature effect on microflora of radish root-inhabited zone and nutrient solutions for radish growth.

The effect of high temperatures (35 and 45 degrees C) on microflora of the root zone of radish plants grown in phytotron was evaluated by the response of microorganisms from 9 indicator groups. Phytotron air temperature elevated to 35 degrees C for 20 hours caused no significant changes in qualitative and quantitative composition of the root microflora in experimental plants. By the end of the experiment, the species diversity of microflora had changed. The amount of phytopathogenic microorganisms decreased which can be interpreted as more stable co-existence of microflora with plants. The numbers of microbes from other indicator groups was in dynamic equilibrium. The plants' condition did not deteriorate either. Exposure to the temperature of 45 degrees C for 7 hours have been found to change the numbers and species diversity in the radish root zone microflora. The microorganisms were observed to increase their total numbers at the expense of certain indicator groups. Bacteria increased spore forms at the stage of spores. Colon bacillus bacteria of increased their numbers by the end of experiment by an order. By the end of experiment the roots of experiment plants had microscopic fungi from Mucor, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Cladosporium genera. The observed changes in the microbial complex seem to be associated with the changes of root emissions and general deterioration of the plants' condition. It is suggested that the response of the microorganisms can be indicative of the condition of plants under investigation.     

Issues of exploration: human health and wellbeing during a mission to Mars.

Today, the tools are in our hands to enable us to travel away from our home planet and become citizens of the solar system. Even now, we are seriously beginning to develop the robust infrastructure that will make the 21st century the Century of Space Travel. But this bold step must be taken with due concern for the health, safety and wellbeing of future space explorers. Our long experience with space biomedical research convinces us that, if we are to deal effectively with the medical and biomedical issues of exploration, then dramatic and bold steps are also necessary in this field. We can no longer treat the human body as if it were composed of muscles, bones, heart and brain acting independently. Instead, we must lead the effort to develop a fully integrated view of the body, with all parts connected and fully interacting in a realistic way. This paper will present the status of current (2000) plans by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute to initiate research in this area of integrative physiology and medicine. Specifically, three example projects are discussed as potential stepping stones towards the ultimate goal of producing a digital human. These projects relate to developing a functional model of the human musculoskeletal system and the heart.     

Mechanisms of generation and dynamics of HF and LF emissions in the experiments with electron beams injected into the earth’s ionosphere

Mechanisms of generation and dynamics of HF and LF emissions related to an electron beam injection from a spacecraft into the ionosphere are studied. The choice of the source and region of emission is substantiated. The plasma current neutralizing the spacecraft charge and the region of spatial charge in the vicinity of the spacecraft are chosen. Mechanisms of the generation of HF and LF emissions are proposed and their characteristics are determined. For the considered ranges of emission, the explanation of the facts related to the difficulties in interpretation of the amplitude value observed experimentally and the behavior of its envelope are presented. It is shown that the results obtained in this work agree well with the data of the conducted experiments.     

Modeling large solar flares

The basic ideas to model the large solar flares are reviewed and illustrated. Some fundamental properties of potential and non-potential fields in the solar atmosphere are recalled. In particular, we consider a classification of the non-potential fields or, more exactly, related electric currents, including reconnecting current layers. The so-called ‘rainbow reconnection’ model is presented with its properties and predictions. This model allows us to understand main features of large flares in terms of reconnection. We assume that in the two-ribbon flares, like the Bastille-day flare, the magnetic separatrices are involved in a large-scale shear photospheric flow in the presence of reconnecting current layers generated by a converging flow.     

Analysis of the Cyclotron Facility calibration and aircraft dosimetry results from the LIULIN-3M instrument.

The LIULIN-3M instrument is a further development of the LIULIN dosimeter-radiometer, used on the MIR spacestation during the 1988-1994 time period. The LIULIN-3M is designed for continuous monitoring of the radiation environment during the BION-12 satellite flight in 1999. A semiconductor detector with 1 mm thickness and cm2 area is contained in the instrument. Pulse high analysis technique is used to determine the energy losses in the detector. The final data from the instrument are the flux and the dose rate for the exposure time and 256 channels of absorbed dose spectra based on the assumption that the particle flux is normal to the detector. The LIULIN-3M instrument was calibrated by proton fluxes with different energies at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility in June 1997 and had been used for radiation measurements during commercial aircraft flights. The calibration procedure and some flight results are presented in this paper.     

Attractive forces inside a thin nonuniform meteor ring

Attractive forces inside a thin nonuniform meteor ring are found and their features are revealed.     

Super-elite plasma rings and the orbits of planets and satellites isomorphic to the orbits of electrons in the Bohr’s model of the hydrogen atom

This paper continues the series of papers [1–5] and generalizes the previous results to a proto-ring of magnetized plasma whose density decreases in the radial direction. The problem of quantization of the sector and orbital velocities, and of the radii and periods of revolution of elite plasma rings is considered. A new concept of super-elite rings is introduced. Their isomorphism with the orbits of the planets and planetary satellites in the Solar System is proved. This isomorphism also extends to the orbits of electrons in the Bohr’s model of the hydrogen atom.     

Preferred frequencies for SETI observations

SETI observational programs conducted over the last two decades, and most of those planned for the near future, have concentrated on searching for signals at microwave frequencies. Considerations of signal-to-noise ratio at the receiving end indicate that this is the correct approach if the broadcasting society is not concerned with directionality and transmits into a fairly large solid angle. However, if that society desires to transmit only a highly directional beacon, then it is not now possible, given our lack of knowledge of advanced space technology, to predict reliably whether microwave or infrared wavelengths are to be preferred in an optimum search program. Given the realities of current terrestrial technology, either the centimeter or millimeter domain is to be preferred to the infrared, independent of considerations of directionality. In any event, there does not appear to be any cosmically unique (“magic”) frequency at which to conduct SETI.