An embedded electron current layer observed at the edge of the plasma sheet in the Earth’s magnetotail

The formation of an embedded electron current sheet within the magnetotail plasma sheet has been poorly understood.In this article,we present an electron current layer detected at the edge of the magnetotail plasma sheet.The ions were demagnetized inside the electron current layer,but the electrons were still frozen in with the magnetic field line.Thus,this decoupling of ions and electrons gave rise to a strong Hall electric field,which could be the reason for the formation of the embedded thin current layer.The magnetized electrons,the absence of the nongyrotropic electron distribution,and negligible energy dissipation in the layer indicate that magnetic reconnection had not been triggered within the embedded thin current layer.The highly asymmetric plasma on the two sides of the current layer and low magnetic shear across it could suppress magnetic reconnection.The observations indicate that the embedded electric current layer,probably generated by the Hall electric field,even down to electron scale,is not a sufficient condition for magnetic reconnection.

Leveraging ROTI map derived from Indonesian GNSS receiver network for advancing study of Equatorial Plasma Bubble in Southeast/East Asia

This paper highlights the crucial role of Indonesia’s GNSS receiver network in advancing Equatorial Plasma Bubble(EPB)studies in Southeast and East Asia,as ionospheric irregularities within EPB can disrupt GNSS signals and degrade positioning accuracy.Managed by the Indonesian Geospatial Information Agency(BIG),the Indonesia Continuously Operating Reference Station(Ina-CORS)network comprises over 300 GNSS receivers spanning equatorial to southern low-latitude regions.Ina-CORS is uniquely situated to monitor EPB generation,zonal drift,and dissipation across Southeast Asia.We provide a practical tool for EPB research,by sharing two-dimensional rate of Total Electron Content(TEC)change index(ROTI)derived from this network.We generate ROTI maps with a 10-minute resolution,and samples from May 2024 are publicly available for further scientific research.Two preliminary findings from the ROTI maps of Ina-CORS are noteworthy.First,the Ina-CORS ROTI maps reveal that the irregularities within a broader EPB structure persist longer,increasing the potential for these irregularities to migrate farther eastward.Second,we demonstrate that combined ROTI maps from Ina-CORS and GNSS receivers in East Asia and Australia can be used to monitor the development of ionospheric irregularities in Southeast and East Asia.We have demonstrated the combined ROTI maps to capture the development of ionospheric irregularities in the Southeast/East Asian sector during the G5 Geomagnetic Storm on May 11,2024.We observed simultaneous ionospheric irregularities in Japan and Australia,respectively propagating northwestward and southwestward,before midnight,whereas Southeast Asia’s equatorial and low-latitude regions exhibited irregularities post-midnight.By sharing ROTI maps from Indonesia and integrating them with regional GNSS networks,researchers can conduct comprehensive EPB studies,enhancing the understanding of EPB behavior across Southeast and East Asia and contributing significantly to ionospheric research.

Statistical analysis on the validity of the cold plasma approximation for chorus waves based on Van Allen Probe observations and their effects on radiation belt electrons

Theoretical analysis has demonstrated that the dispersion relation of chorus waves plays an essential role in the resonant interaction and energy transformation between the waves and magnetospheric electrons.Previous quantitative analyses often simplified the chorus dispersion relation by using the cold plasma assumption.However,the applicability of the cold plasma assumption is doubtful,especially during geomagnetic disturbances.We here present a systematic statistical analysis on the validity of the cold plasma dispersion relation of chorus waves based on observations from the Van Allen Probes over the period from 2012 to 2018.The statistical results show that the observed magnetic field intensities deviate substantially from those calculated from the cold plasma dispersion relation and that they become more pronounced with an increase in geomagnetic activity or a decrease in background plasma density.The region with large deviations is mainly concentrated in the nightside and expands in both the radial and azimuthal directions as the geomagnetic activity increases or the background plasma density decreases.In addition,the bounce-averaged electron scattering rates are computed by using the observed and cold plasma dispersion relation of chorus waves.Compared with usage of the cold plasma dispersion relation,usage of the observed dispersion relation considerably lowers the minimum resonant energy of electrons and lowers the scattering rates of electrons above tens of kiloelectronvolts but enhances those below.Furthermore,these differences are more pronounced with the enhancement of geomagnetic activity or the decrease in background plasma density.

Storage time affects the level and diagnostic efficacy of plasma biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases

Several promising plasma biomarker proteins,such as amyloid-β(Aβ),tau,neurofilament light chain,and glial fibrillary acidic protein,are widely used for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.However,little is known about the long-term stability of these biomarker proteins in plasma samples stored at-80°C.We aimed to explore how storage time would affect the diagnostic accuracy of these biomarkers using a large cohort.Plasma samples from 229 cognitively unimpaired individuals,encompassing healthy controls and those experiencing subjective cognitive decline,as well as 99 patients with cognitive impairment,comprising those with mild cognitive impairment and dementia,were acquired from the Sino Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Decline project.These samples were stored at-80°C for up to 6 years before being used in this study.Our results showed that plasma levels of Aβ42,Aβ40,neurofilament light chain,and glial fibrillary acidic protein were not significantly correlated with sample storage time.However,the level of total tau showed a negative correlation with sample storage time.Notably,in individuals without cognitive impairment,plasma levels of total protein and tau phosphorylated protein threonine 181(p-tau181)also showed a negative correlation with sample storage time.This was not observed in individuals with cognitive impairment.Consequently,we speculate that the diagnostic accuracy of plasma p-tau181 and the p-tau181 to total tau ratio may be influenced by sample storage time.Therefore,caution is advised when using these plasma biomarkers for the identification of neurodegenerative diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease.Furthermore,in cohort studies,it is important to consider the impact of storage time on the overall results.

Platelet rich plasma and anterior cruciate ligament repair:A new frontier,or a short term adjunct

Platelet rich plasma(PRP)is an autologous blood product rich in platelets,showing promise in reducing inflammation and accelerating healing.While extensively utilized in plastic surgery,dermatology,and osteoarthritis treatment,its application in anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)injuries is limited.This article examines PRP's potential in ACL reconstruction(ACLR),exploring its history,current usage,controversies and future directions.PRP has demonstrated significant early benefits in ligamentisation and vascularisation post-ACLR,though its long-term efficacy is inconsistent.Studies suggest that PRP may serve as both an adjunct therapy in ACLR to enhance initial healing and reduce postoperative complications,and as a non-surgical alternative for small ACL tears.Despite these promising findings,outcome variability necessitates further high-quality research to optimize PRP formulations and determine its most effective applications.The exploration of PRP as a treatment modality in ACLR offers promising but varied outcomes.PRP holds considerable promise as both an adjunct and alternative to traditional ACLR.This article underscores the need for targeted research to fully realize PRP's therapeutic potential in ACL treatment,aiming to inform future studies and clinical practices.By understanding PRP's mechanisms of efficacy and identifying the most beneficial patient populations,PRP could significantly impact orthopaedics and sports medicine,improving recovery pathways and patient outcomes.

基于OD-LTP的振动条件下串联型故障电弧检测方法研究

当三相异步电动机发生机械振动时,主回路中接触不良的电气接触点在振动作用下会产生串联型故障电弧,进而影响电路安全甚至引发电气火灾。而振动条件会加剧了故障电弧信号的复杂性,因此本文以回路电流信号为研究对象,提出了一种振动条件下的高实时性串联型故障电弧检测方法。首先通过构建滑动记忆矩阵对实验电流数据进行动态保存,其次通过正交方向改进局部三值化模式(orthogonality direction local ternary pattern,OD-LTP)提取滑动记忆矩阵的纹理特征,最终将统计的OD-LTP图像的灰度分布直方图幅值作为特征向量,通过基于沙猫群优化(sand cat swarm optimization,SCSO)的支持向量机(support vector machine,SVM)建立振动串联型故障电弧检测模型。本文通过对比不同矩阵参数,得到最佳的滑动记忆矩阵尺寸,最终所提方法对故障电弧识别的准确率达到99.2%。通过对不同工况、不同特征提取方法对比分析,表明本文提出方法不仅适用于不同工况运行的工业电机变频器系统,其相对于其他特征提取方法也具有较高的实时性。

Plasma‐oxidized 2D MXenes subnanochannel membrane for high‐performance osmotic energy conversion

Nanofluidic channels inspired by electric eels open a new era of efficient harvesting of clean blue osmotic energy from salinity gradients.Limited by less charge and weak ion selectivity of the raw material itself,energy conversion through nanofluidic channels is still facing considerable challenges.Here,a facile and efficient strategy to enhance osmotic energy harvesting based on drastically increasing surface charge density of MXenes subnanochannels via oxygen plasma is proposed.This plasma could break Ti–C bonds in the MXenes subnanochannels and effectively facilitate the formation of more Ti–O,C═O,O–OH,and rutile with a stronger negative charge and work function,which leads the surface potential of MXenes membrane to increase from 205 to 430 mV.This significant rise of surface charge endows the MXenes membrane with high cation selectivity,which could make the output power density of the MXenes membrane increase by 248.2%,reaching a high value of 5.92Wm^(−2) in the artificial sea‐river water system.Furthermore,with the assistance of low‐quality heat at 50℃,the osmotic power is enhanced to an ultrahigh value of 9.68Wm^(−2),which outperforms those of the state‐of‐the‐art two‐dimensional(2D)nanochannel membranes.This exciting breakthrough demonstrates the enormous potential of the facile plasma‐treated 2D membranes for osmotic energy harvesting.

Spark Plasma Sintering of Mg-based Alloys:Microstructure,Mechanical Properties,Corrosion Behavior,and Tribological Performance

Within the past ten years,spark plasma sintering(SPS)has become an increasingly popular process for Mg manufacturing.In the SPS process,interparticle diffusion of compressed particles is rapidly achieved due to the concept of Joule heating.Compared to traditional and additive manufacturing(AM)techniques,SPS gives unique control of the structural and microstructural features of Mg components.By doing so,their mechanical,tribological,and corrosion properties can be tailored.Although great advancements in this field have been made,these pieces of knowledge are scattered and have not been contextualized into a single work.The motivation of this work is to address this scientific gap and to provide a groundwork for understanding the basics of SPS manufacturing for Mg.To do so,the existing body of SPS Mg literature was first surveyed,with a focus on their structural formation and degradation mechanisms.It was found that successful Mg SPS fabrication highly depended on the processing temperature,particle size,and particle crystallinity.The addition of metal and ceramic composites also affected their microstructural features due to the Zener pinning effect.In degradative environments,their performance depends on their structural features and whether they have secondary phased composites.In industrial applications,SPS'd Mg was found to have great potential in biomedical,hydrogen storage,battery,automotive,and recycling sectors.The prospects to advance the field include using Mg as a doping agent for crystallite size refinement and using bulk metallic Mg-based glass powders for amorphous SPS components.Despite these findings,the interactions of multi-composites on the processing-structure-property relationships of SPS Mg is not well understood.In total,this work will provide a useful direction in the SPS field and serve as a milestone for future Mg-based SPS manufacturing.

Spark plasma sintering of tungsten-based WTaVCr refractory high entropy alloys for nuclear fusion applications

W-based WTaVCr refractory high entropy alloys (RHEA) may be novel and promising candidate materials for plasma facing components in the first wall and diverter in fusion reactors. This alloy has been developed by a powder metallurgy process combining mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The SPSed samples contained two phases, in which the matrix is RHEA with a body-centered cubic structure, while the oxide phase was most likely Ta2VO6through a combined analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD),energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The higher oxygen affinity of Ta and V may explain the preferential formation of their oxide phases based on thermodynamic calculations. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) revealed an average grain size of 6.2μm. WTaVCr RHEA showed a peak compressive strength of 2997 MPa at room temperature and much higher micro-and nano-hardness than W and other W-based RHEAs in the literature. Their high Rockwell hardness can be retained to at least 1000°C.

Plasma-assisted aerogel interface engineering enables uniform Zn^(2+)flux and fast desolvation kinetics toward zinc metal batteries

The poor reversibility of Zn anodes induced by dendrite growth,surface passivation,and corrosion,severely hinders the practical applicability of Zn metal batteries.To address these issues,a plasmaassisted aerogel(PAG)interface engineering was proposed as efficient ion transport modulator that can simultaneously regulate uniform Zn^(2+)flux and desolvation behavior during battery operation.The PAG with ordered mesopores acted as an ion sieve to homogenize Zn deposition and accelerate Zn^(2+)flux,which is favorable for corrosion resistance and dendrite suppression.Importantly,the plasma-assisted aerogel with abundant hydrophilic groups can facilitate the desolvation kinetics of Zn^(2+)due to the multiple hydrogen-bonding interaction with the activated water molecules,thus accelerating the Zn^(2+)migration kinetics.Consequently,the Zn/Zn cell assembled with PAG-modified separator demonstrates stable plating and stripping behavior(over 1400 h at 1 mA cm^(-2))and high Coulombic efficiency(99.8%at1 mA cm^(-2)after 1100 cycles),and the Zn‖MnO_(2)full cell shows excellent long-term cycling stability and maintains a high capacity of 154.9 mA h g^(-1)after 1000 cycles at 1 A g^(-1).This study provides a feasible approach for the large-scale fabrication of aerogel functionalized separators to realize ultra-stable Zn metal batteries.

Plasma induced dynamic coupling of microscopic factors to collaboratively promote EM losses coupling of transition metal dichalcogenide absorbers

Plasma as the fourth state of matter has attracted great attention for material surface modification,which could induce changes in material microscopic factors,such as defects,phase transitions,crystallinity,and so on.However,the interactions among those microscopic factors and regulation mechanism of macroscopic properties have rarely been investigated.Two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenide with tunable structure and phase is one of the most promising electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorbers,which provides a favorable platform for systematically studying the dynamic coupling of its microscopic factors.Herein,we constructed a NaBH_(4) solution-assisted Ar plasma method to modify the 2H-MoS_(2)and 1T-WS_(2)for exploring the regulation mechanism of microscopic factors.For MoS_(2)and WS_(2),NaBH_(4) solution-assisted Ar plasma treatment behaves with different effects on dielectric responses,realizing dynamic coupling of material microscopic factors to collaboratively promote EM losses coupling.Consequently,the MS-D3-0.5(MoS_(2),3 kV voltage,0.5 mol L^(-1)NaBH_(4) solution)displays an optimum effective absorption bandwidth of 8.01 GHz,which is 319.4%more than that of MS-raw sample.This study not only reveals the novel mechanism of plasma induced dynamic coupling of microscopic factors for EMW dissipation,but also presents a new method of plasma-dominated surface modification to optimize the EMW absorption performance.

牡丹非特异性脂质转移蛋白基因PsLTP的生物信息学分析

[目的]了解牡丹非特异性脂质转移蛋白基因LTP的基因特征及其编码蛋白的生物学特性,探索其生物功能。[方法]运用Blast、ORF-Finder、ProtParam、SignalP 4.1、ProtScale和TMHMM 2.0 Server等生物信息学软件,分析牡丹nsLTP基因序列及其编码蛋白的基本理化性质、信号肽、磷酸化位点、保守结构域等,并运用DANMAN、MEGA软件进行多序列比对和系统发育树构建。[结果]牡丹nsLTP基因(NCBI登录号为:JZ840269.1)序列全长为685 bp,开放阅读框长为354 bp,编码蛋白包含117个氨基酸,理论等电点为8.93,为不稳定性蛋白。牡丹nsLTP蛋白为疏水性蛋白,含有信号肽但不含跨膜结构域,NetPho Server预测其含有8个丝氨酸和3个酪氨酸磷酸化位点及5个苏氨酸磷酸化位点。PsnsLTP蛋白具有植物LTP蛋白典型结构,即4个α-螺旋,4对二硫键,1个可结合和容纳脂质分子的疏水结构。多序列比对及系统发育树分析显示,PsLTP蛋白与绒毛烟草LTP蛋白(XP_009608993.1)的相识度62.7%,且进化树聚为同一小分支,遗传距离较近。[结论]通过对牡丹nsLTP基因特性及蛋白结构研究,系统性研究了牡丹nsLTP基因的生物信息学特性,为牡丹抗病抗逆功能基因的研究提供了依据,也为其他植物nsLTP基因研究提供了参考。

不同宽长比的柔性LTPS TFT的电应力可靠性

为了研究不同宽长比的柔性低温多晶硅薄膜晶体管(LTPS TFT)的电应力可靠性,测试了器件的I-V特性,以表征器件在强电场直流应力下由于自热效应和热载流子效应带来的电学性能退化。通过瞬态电流法表征了器件在强电场直流应力下的时间常数谱,并对其产生的新陷阱进行定位,分析了产生陷阱的内在机理。结果表明,在相同的强电场直流应力下宽长比为3/2.5的器件,其电学参数变化最大,自热效应以及热载流子效应带来的影响也最大。自热效应导致器件性能退化的主要原因是较大的栅源电压导致Si/SiO2界面处和栅氧化层中的陷阱增多,而热载流子效应导致器件性能退化的主要原因则是由于较大的漏源电压使得漏极晶界陷阱态密度急剧升高。

Study of plasma parameters of coaxial plasma source using triple Langmuir probe and Faraday cup diagnostics

Coaxial plasma guns are a type of plasma source that produces plasma which propagates radially and axially controlled by the shape of the ground electrode, which has attracted much interest in several applications. In this work, a 120° opening angle of CPG nozzle is used as a plasma gun configuration that operates at the energy of 150 J. The ionization of polyethylene insulator between the electrodes of the gun produces a cloud of hydrogen and carbon plasma.The triple Langmuir probe and Faraday cup are used to measure plasma density and plasma temperature. These methods are used to measure the on-axis and off-axis plasma divergence of the coaxial plasma gun. The peak values of ion densities measured at a distance of 25 mm on-axis from the plasma gun are(1.6±0.5)×10^(19)m^(-3)and(2.8±0.6)×10^(19)m^(-3)for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively and the peak temperature is 3.02±0.5 eV. The mean propagation velocity of plasma is calculated using the transit times of plasma at different distances from the plasma gun and is found to be 4.54±0.25 cm/μs and 1.81±0.18 cm/μs for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively. The Debye radius is obtained from the measured experimental data that satisfies the thin sheath approximation. The shot-to-shot stability of plasma parameters facilitates the use of plasma guns in laboratory experiments. These types of plasma sources can be used in many applications like plasma opening switches, plasma devices, and as plasma sources.

Effects of external parameters on plasma characteristics and uniformity in a dual cylindrical inductively coupled plasma

The dual cylindrical inductively coupled plasma source,compared to the conventional structure of inductively coupled plasma source,can significantly improve the uniformity of plasma.It has an enhanced potential for application in processes,such as etching and ashing.A uniform plasma can be obtained by allowing the remote plasma from the upper chamber modulate the main plasma generated in the lower chamber.In this study,a fluid model was employed to investigate a dual cylindrical inductively coupled Ar/O_(2)discharge.The effects of external parameters on electron density,electron temperature,O atomic density,and plasma uniformity in the main chamber were studied,and the reasons were analyzed.The results of this study show that remote power can control the plasma uniformity and increase the plasma density in the main chamber.As the remote power increased,plasma uniformity improved initially and then deteriorated.The main power affected the plasma density at the edge of the main chamber and can modulate the plasma density in the main chamber.The gas pressure affected both the uniformity and density of the plasma.As the gas pressure increased,the plasma uniformity deteriorated,but the free radical density improved.

The multi-peak point phenomenon of broadband microwave reflection caused by inhomogeneous plasma

During spacecraft re-entry,the challenge of measuring plasma sheath parameters directly contributes to difficulties in addressing communication blackout.In this work,we have discovered a phenomenon of multiple peaks in reflection data caused by the inhomogeneous plasma.Simulation results show that the multi-peak points fade away as the characteristic frequency is approached,resembling a series of gradually decreasing peaks.The positions and quantities of these points are positively correlated with electron density,yet they show no relation to collision frequency.This phenomenon is of significant reference value for future studies on the spatial distribution of plasmas,particularly for using microwave reflection signals in diagnosing the plasma sheath.

Final results of the first phase of the PROTO-SPHERA experiment: obtainment of the full current stable screw pinch and first evidences of the jet + torus combined plasma configuration

In astrophysics, the boundary conditions for plasma phenomena are provided by nature and the astronomer faces the problem of understanding them from a variety of observations [Hester J J et al 1996 Astrophys. J. 456 225], on the other hand, in laboratory plasma experiments the electromagnetic boundary conditions become a major problem in the set-up of the machine that produces the plasma, an issue that has to be investigated step by step and to be modified and adapted with great patience, in particular in the case of an innovative plasma confinement experiment. The PROTO-SPHERA machine [Alladio F et al 2006 Nucl. Fusion 46 S613] is a magnetic confinement experiment, that emulates in the laboratory the jet + torus plasma configurations often observed in astrophysics: an inner magnetized jet of plasma centered on the(approximate) axis of symmetry and surrounded by a magnetized plasma torus orthogonal to this jet. The PROTO-SPHERA plasma is simply connected, i.e., no metal current conducting rod is linked to the plasma torus, while instead it is the inner magnetized plasma jet(in the following always called the plasma centerpost) that is linked to the torus. It is mandatory that no spurious plasma current path modifies the optimal shape of the plasma centerpost. Moreover, as the plasma torus is produced and sustained, in absence of any applied inductive electric field, by the inner plasma centerpost through magnetic reconnections [Taylor J B and Turner M F 1989 Nucl.Fusion 29 219], it is required as well that spurious current paths do not surround the torus on its outboard, in order not to lower the efficiency of the magnetic reconnections that maintain the plasma torus at the expense of the plasma centerpost. Boundary conditions have been corrected,up to the point that the first sustainment in steady state has been achieved for the combined plasma.

Experimental confirmation of the linear relation between plasma current and external vertical magnetic field in EXL-50 spherical torus energetic electron plasmas

A three-fluid equilibrium plasma with bulk plasma and energetic electrons has been observed on the Xuanlong-50(EXL-50) spherical torus, where the energetic electrons play a crucial role in sustaining the plasma current and pressure. In this study, the equilibrium of a multi-fluid plasma was investigated by analyzing the relationship between the external vertical magnetic field(B_(V)),plasma current(I_(p)), the poloidal ratio(β_(p)) and the Shafranov formula. Remarkably, our research demonstrates some validity of the Shafranov formula in the presence of multi-fluid plasma in EXL-50 spherical torus. This finding holds significant importance for future reactors as it allows for differentiation between alpha particles and background plasma. The study of multi-fluid plasma provides a significant reference value for the equilibrium reconstruction of burning plasma involving alpha particles.

Effect of matrix thermal properties on laser-induced plasma

The matrix thermal properties have an important impact on laser-induced plasma,as the thermal effect dominates the interaction between ns-pulsed laser and matter,especially in metals.We used a series of pure metals and aluminum alloys to measure plasma temperature and electron density through laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy,in order to investigate the effect of matrix thermal properties on laser-induced plasma.In pure metals,a significant negative linear correlation was observed between the matrix thermal storage coefficient and plasma temperature,while a weak correlation was observed with electron density.The results indicate that metals with low thermal conductivity or specific heat capacity require less laser energy for thermal diffusion or melting and evaporation,resulting in higher ablation rates and higher plasma temperatures.However,considering ionization energy,thermal effects may be a secondary factor affecting electron density.The experiment of aluminum alloy further confirms the influence of thermal conductivity on plasma temperature and its mechanism explanation.

Tunable energy spectrum betatron x-ray sources in a plasma wakefield

X-ray sources with tunable energy spectra have a wide range of applications in different scenarios due to their different penetration depths.However,existing x-ray sources face difficulties in terms of energy regulation.In this paper,we present a scheme for tuning the energy spectrum of a betatron x-ray generated from a relativistic electron bunch oscillating in a plasma wakefield.The center energy of the x-ray source can be tuned from several keV to several hundred keV by changing the plasma density,thereby extending the control range by an order of magnitude.At different central energies,the brightness of the betatron radiation is in the range of 3.7×10^(22)to 5.5×10^(22)photons/(0.1%BW·s·mm^(2)·mrad^(2))and the photon divergence angle is about 2 mrad.This high-brightness,energy-controlled betatron source could pave the way to a wide range of applications requiring photons of specific energy,such as phase-contrast imaging in medicine,non-destructive testing and material analysis in industry,and imaging in nuclear physics.