Galactic cosmic rays (CRs) inside the heliosphere are affected by solar modulation. To investigate this phenomenon and its underlying physical mechanisms, we have performed a data-driven analysis of ...the temporal dependence of the CR proton flux over the solar cycle. The modulation effect was modeled by means of stochastic simulations of cosmic particles in the heliosphere. The model was constrained using measurements of CR protons made by AMS-02 and PAMELA experiments on a monthly basis from 2006 to 2017. With a global statistical analysis of these data, we have determined the key model parameters governing CR diffusion, its dependence on the particle rigidity, and its evolution over the solar cycle. Our results span over epochs of solar minimum and solar maximum, as well as epochs with magnetic reversal and opposite polarities. Along with the evolution of the CR transport parameters, we study their relationship with solar activity proxies and interplanetary parameters. We find that the rigidity dependence of the parallel mean free path of CR diffusion shows a remarkable time dependence, indicating a long-term variability in the interplanetary turbulence that interchanges across different regimes over the solar cycle. The evolution of the diffusion parameters shows a delayed correlation with solar activity proxies, reflecting the dynamics of the heliospheric plasma, and distinct dependencies for opposite states of magnetic polarity, reflecting the influence of charge-sign-dependent drift in the CR modulation.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
After six years of continuous observations in space, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment has released new data on the temporal evolution of the proton and helium fluxes in cosmic rays. These ...data revealed that the ratio between proton and helium fluxes at the same value of rigidity R=p/Z (momentum/charge ratio) is not constant at R≲3 GV. In particular, the ratio is found to decrease steadily during the descending phase of Solar Cycle 24 toward the next minimum. We show that such a behavior is a remarkable signature of the β×λ(R) dependence in the diffusion of cosmic rays in heliosphere, where β is their adimensional speed and λ(R) is their mean free path, a universal function of rigidity for all nuclei. This dependence is responsible for distinctive charge or mass dependent effects in the time-dependent modulation of low-rigidity particles.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) represent an exciting cell source for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal and differentiation capacities. The majority of current PSC ...protocols rely on 2D cultures and soluble factors to guide differentiation; however, many other environmental signals are beginning to be explored using biomaterial platforms. Biomaterials offer new opportunities to engineer the stem cell niches and 3D environments for exploring biophysical and immobilized signaling cues to further our control over stem cell fate. Here, we review the biomaterial platforms that have been engineered to control PSC fate. We explore how altering immobilized biochemical cues and biophysical cues such as dimensionality, stiffness, and topography can enhance our control over stem cell fates. Finally, we highlight biomaterial culture systems that assist in the translation of PSC technologies for clinical applications.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The objectives were to evaluate the effects of increasing metal micronutrient concentrations and silicon (Si) concentrations on plant growth and susceptibility to Pythium root rot with hydroponically ...grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa). In the first experiment, lettuce was grown in hydroponic solutions with metal micronutrients iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) supplied at either 0, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg∙L−1. A standard commercial hydroponic solution was also included as a control, with metal micronutrients supplied at 2 Fe, 1 Mn, 0.5 Cu, and 0.5 Zn mg∙L−1. In the second experiment, hydroponic lettuce was grown with Si at 0, 7, 14, 28, and 56 mg∙L−1. Hydroponic treatment solutions for both experiments were either dosed with Pythium myriotylum (Pythium treatment) at 1.80 × 104 oospores per L or deionized water as a non-Pythium control. Data were collected on leaf SPAD chlorophyll content, shoot height and width, total plant fresh mass, and root disease severity. Increasing the Cu concentration in solution decreased Pythium disease severity but reduced lettuce growth and yield. Increasing the concentration of the other metal micronutrients also tended to reduce lettuce growth but had no significant influence on root disease. Supplementing the hydroponic solution with Si had no effect on Pythium root disease severity and slightly decreased lettuce growth at 56 mg∙L−1 Si. Results of this study suggest that the management of micronutrients and Si nutrition is not an effective strategy and, at best, a risky strategy for controlling Pythium in hydroponic lettuce. Growers would likely benefit from maintaining metal micronutrient and Si concentrations within the ranges of (in mg∙L−1) 0.5 to 5.5 for Fe, 0.1 to 2.0 for Mn, 0.1 to 0.6 for Cu, 0.1 to 0.6 for Zn, and 0 to 28 for Si for many hydroponic crops. Supplementing Si has the potential to negatively influence plant growth and quality for certain plant species, and testing is necessary to evaluate phytotoxicity risks prior to implementing in commercial practice. Overall, successful mitigation of root rot pathogens in commercial hydroponic production requires the combination of proper sanitation, best management and cultural practices, appropriate hydroponic system design, and the implementation of a water treatment system with proper design and a multi-barrier approach.
Managing nutrients in recirculating solutions can be challenging in hydroponic production, and poor management practices can rapidly result in root zone nutrient imbalances in reduced yield. Using ...mass balance principles to formulate hydroponic replenishment solutions is a proposed strategy to reduce nutrient imbalances and the need to periodically replace the hydroponic solution. Objectives were to (1) formulate species-specific nutrient replenishment solutions for arugula (Eruca sativa L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) using mass balance principles and (2) evaluate the effects of using these replenishment solutions on plant growth and root zone nutrients over time. In the first experiment, arugula and basil tissues were analyzed over 42 d for macronutrient concentrations which were used to custom formulate species-specific replenishment solutions for both species. In the second experiment, nutrients were resupplied for hydroponic arugula and basil over time using either the species-specific or a standard commercial hydroponic replenishment solution. Species-specific replenishment solutions resulted in decreased solution EC and concentrations of most macronutrients over time for both species. In contrast, replenishment with the standard hydroponic solution resulted in increased solution EC and concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and sulfate and decreased nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Replenishment treatment had no effect on yield for arugula and basil; however, results suggested root zone imbalances may have still occurred eventually for both treatments and species. Species-specific replenishment solutions would be most effective in scenarios where solutions could be formulated for a specific crop, mixed using high-quality irrigation water, and where environmental conditions are controlled and stable, such as indoor farming systems. This study highlighted several practical challenges and considerations regarding the formulation of hydroponic solutions using mass balance.
Penetrating particle ANalyzer (PAN) Wu, X.; Ambrosi, G.; Azzarello, P. ...
Advances in space research,
04/2019, Volume:
63, Issue:
8
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
PAN is a scientific instrument suitable for deep space and interplanetary missions. It can precisely measure and monitor the flux, composition, and direction of highly penetrating particles ...(>∼100 MeV/nucleon) in deep space, over at least one full solar cycle (11 years). The science program of PAN is multi- and cross-disciplinary, covering cosmic ray physics, solar physics, space weather and space travel. PAN will fill an observation gap of galactic cosmic rays in the GeV region, and provide precise information of the spectrum, composition and emission time of energetic particle originated from the Sun. The precise measurement and monitoring of the energetic particles is also a unique contribution to space weather studies. PAN will map the flux and composition of penetrating particles, which cannot be shielded effectively, precisely and continuously, providing valuable input for the assessment of the related health risk, and for the development of an adequate mitigation strategy. PAN has the potential to become a standard on-board instrument for deep space human travel.
PAN is based on the proven detection principle of a magnetic spectrometer, but with novel layout and detection concept. It will adopt advanced particle detection technologies and industrial processes optimized for deep space application. The device will require limited mass (20 kg) and power (20 W) budget. Dipole magnet sectors built from high field permanent magnet Halbach arrays, instrumented in a modular fashion with high resolution silicon strip detectors, allow to reach an energy resolution better than 10% for nuclei from H to Fe at 1 GeV/n. The charge of the particle, from 1 (proton) to 26 (Iron), can be determined by scintillating detectors and silicon strip detectors, with readout ASICs of large dynamic range. Silicon pixel detectors used in a low power setting will maintain the detection capabilities for even the strongest solar events. A fast scintillator with silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) readout will provide timing information to determine the entering direction of the particle, as well as a high rate particle counter. Low noise, low power and high density ASIC will be developed to satisfy the stringent requirement of the position resolution and the power consumption of the tracker.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A thorough understanding of solar effects on the galactic cosmic rays is relevant both to infer the local interstellar spectrum characteristics and to investigate the dynamics of charged particles in ...the heliosphere. We present a newly developed numerical modulation model to study the transport of galactic protons in the heliosphere. The model was applied to the 27-day averaged galactic proton flux recently released by the PAMELA and AMS02 experiments, covering an extended time period from mid-2006 to mid-2017.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Drought events are predicted to increase in the future. Evaluating the response of herbicide-resistant and -susceptible weed ecotypes to progressive drought can provide insights into whether ...resistance traits affect the fitness of resistant weed populations. Two experiments were conducted in the greenhouse between January and May 2021 to evaluate drought tolerance differences between Palmer amaranth accessions resistant to S-metolachlor or glyphosate and their susceptible counterparts. The accessions used were S-metolachlor-resistant (17TUN-A), a susceptible standard (09CRW-A), and glyphosate-resistant (22–165 EPSPS copies) and glyphosate-susceptible (3–10 EPSPS copies) plants from accession 16CRW-D. Daily transpiration of each plant was measured. The daily transpiration rate was converted to normalized transpiration ratio (NTR) using a double-normalization procedure. The daily soil water content was expressed as a fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW). The threshold FTSW (FTSWcr), after which NTR decreases linearly, was estimated using a two-segment linear regression analysis. The data showed differences between S-metolachlor-resistant and -susceptible accessions (p ≤ 0.05). The FTSW remaining in the soil at the breakpoint for the S-metolachlor-susceptible accession (09CRW-A) was 0.17 ± 0.007. The FTSW remaining in the soil at the breakpoint for the S-metolachlor-resistant accession (17TUN-A) was 0.23 ± 0.004. The FTSW remaining in the soil at the breakpoint for the glyphosate-resistant and glyphosate-susceptible plants (16CRW-D) was 0.25 ± 0.007 and 0.25 ± 0.008, respectively. Although the mechanism endowing resistance to S-metolachlor might have contributed to increased drought tolerance, follow-up experiments are needed in order to verify this finding. Increased EPSPS copy numbers did not improve the drought tolerance of Palmer amaranth. As droughts are predicted to increase in frequency and severity, these results suggest that S-metolachlor-resistant and glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth populations will not be at a competitive disadvantage compared to susceptible genotypes. Alternative and diverse management strategies will be required for effective Palmer amaranth control, regardless of herbicide resistance status.
Infiltrative growth is a major cause of high lethality of malignant brain tumors such as glioblastoma (GBM). We show here that GBM cells upregulate guidance receptor Plexin-B2 to gain invasiveness. ...Deletion of Plexin-B2 in GBM stem cells limited tumor spread and shifted invasion paths from axon fiber tracts to perivascular routes. On a cellular level, Plexin-B2 adjusts cell adhesiveness, migratory responses to different matrix stiffness, and actomyosin dynamics, thus empowering GBM cells to leave stiff tumor bulk and infiltrate softer brain parenchyma. Correspondingly, gene signatures affected by Plexin-B2 were associated with locomotor regulation, matrix interactions, and cellular biomechanics. On a molecular level, the intracellular Ras-GAP domain contributed to Plexin-B2 function, while the signaling relationship with downstream effectors Rap1/2 appeared variable between GBM stem cell lines, reflecting intertumoral heterogeneity. Our studies establish Plexin-B2 as a modulator of cell biomechanics that is usurped by GBM cells to gain invasiveness.
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