Sigmoids as precursors of solar eruptions

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) appear to originate preferentially in regions of the Sun's corona that are sigmoidal, i.e., have sinuous S or reverse-S shapes. Yohkoh solar X-ray images have been studied before and after a modest number of Earth-directed (halo) CMEs. These images tend to show sigmoidal shapes before the eruptions and arcades, cusps, and transient coronal holes after. Using such structures as proxies, it has been shown that there is a relationship between sigmoidal shape and tendency to erupt. Regions in the Sun's corona appear sigmoidal because their magnetic fields are twisted. Some of this twist may originate deep inside the Sun. However, it is significantly modulated by the Coriolis force and turbulent convection as this flux buoys up through the Sun's convection zone. As the result of these phenomena, and perhaps subsequent magnetic reconnection, magnetic flux ropes form. These flux ropes manifest themselves as sigmoids in the corona. Although there are fundamental reasons to expect such flux ropes to be unstable, the physics is not as simple as might first appear, and there exist various explanations for instability. Many gaps need to be filled in before the relationship between sigmoids and CMEs is well enough understood to be a useful predictive tool     

Relation between the Superconducting Transition Temperature and the Axial Ratio in R Ni 2 B 2 C ( R =Y,Ho, Er,Tm, Lu) Under High Pressure

The effect of pressure on the lattice parameters of R Ni 2 B 2 C ( R = Y, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu) has been measured in order to investigate the relation of T C to axial ratio c/a in the tetragonal lattice or the cohesive properties of these materials. The large anisotropies are observed in the lattice compression curves especially for R =Ho and Tm; the c -axis is more compressible than the a -axis. On the other hand, the anisotropy in the lattice compression is found to be relatively small for R =Y and Lu. The close relation between T C and c/a is pointed out particularly for R =Ho.     

The two basic linear time Planarity algorithms: Are they the same?

We compare the two most widely known planarity testing algorithms, the one due to Hoperoft and Tarjan, and the other to Lempel. Even, and Cederbaum. These two algorithms are generally viewed as very different approaches to the problems of planarity testing and graph embedding. In this paper, however, by utilizing previously unnoticed freedoms of choice in the order in which the operations of the Hoperoft-Tarjan algorithm can be performed, we create a variation of this algorithm which, in terms of the order in which vertices are processed, is indistinguishable on all planar graph inputs from the Lempel -Even-Cederbaum algorithm. This allows one to create hybridized algorithms which, when interpreted as embedding algorithms, combine all of the features of both procedures.     

A sequential sorting network analogous to the batcher merge

We present a network of delay log₂N, whose comparators have only log₂N different lengths with maximum length N/2. This network is log-sequential in that it will sort N data items when they are passed through it log₂Ntimes. The design, which is related to the Batcher odd-even merge, is distinctly different from the first known example of a log-delay log-sequential network, due to Dowd, Perl, Rudolf, and Saks. It is quite probably the best possible sorting network.     

μSR studies of borocarbides

The muon‐spin‐relaxation technique has been utilized to characterize the magnetic properties of the borocarbide compounds RNi₂B₂C ( R=\,Tm, Er, Ho and Dy), which exhibit coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism. Some general features of their magnetic ground‐state and unusual results obtained in the Ho, Tm and Dy systems are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Magnetic structures and crystal field in the heavy electron materials YbAgGe and YbPtIn

We have examined the magnetic properties of the heavy electron compounds YbAgGe and YbPtIn by ¹⁷⁰Yb M?ssbauer spectroscopy down to 0.1 K, and the crystal field properties of YbAgGe by Perturbed Angular Correlations (PAC) measurements up to 900 K. In YbAgGe, we show that each of the two magnetically ordered phases below 0.8 K involves a specific incommensurate modulation of the Yb moment. An analysis of existing low temperature specific heat data suggests the persistence of fluctuations of the correlated Yb spins down to 0.1 K. The PAC data allow to discriminate among proposed Yb³⁺ crystal field level schemes. In YbPtIn, we show that the low temperature magnetic order phase has an antiferro-para structure, where zero moment Yb ions coexist with large moment ones, and that a 90° moment reorientation occurs at 1.4 K.     

Effect on topical 5-methoxypsoralen on tumorigenesis induced in albino and pigmented hairless mouse skin by UV irradiation

A new line of the Skh:HRII hairless pigmented mouse (black juvenile coat) is described which has been selectively bred for the capacity to respond consistently to simulated solar UV radiation with a continuous and strong tan. This mouse demonstrates a degree of protection from chronic UV-induced tumorigenesis when compared with the Skh:HRI hairless albino mouse, and has been used here to study the effect of induced melanogenesis on phototumorigenesis. Mice were irradiated for 10 weeks with incremental doses of simulated solar UV radiation (UVA + B) from a fluorescent tube source which induced tumours in 100% of albino mice and 93% of black mice by 200 days (minimally oedemal), or with 60% of this dose (sub-oedemal) which induced tumours in 85% of albino mice and 65% of black mice. Mice were also exposed to the UVA component of these radiation sources, obtained by window glass filtration. The effect of topical 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) was examined, at either 0.003% with minimally oedemal UVA + B or its UVA component alone, or at 0.01% with sub-oedemal UVA + B or its UVA component alone, in both albino and black mice. The 5-MOP concentrations were selected as the maximum concentration which did not increase the erythema and oedema responses after a single exposure to minimally oedemal or sub-oedemal UVA + B. At 200 days, the tumorigenic response to sub-oedemal UVA + B was significantly increased by topical 5-MOP, to 100% in albinos and 93% in black mice. In contrast, tumorigenesis in response to minimally oedemal UVA + B was unaffected by topical 5-MOP. The UVA component alone of either irradiation regime was not tumorigenic under these conditions. When combined with topical 5-MOP, the UVA of minimally oedemal UVA + B became moderately tumorigenic, and resulted in a tumour incidence of 23% in albinos and 14.5% in black mice. However, the UVA component of sub-oedemal UVA + B, when combined with topical 5-MOP, was highly tumorigenic specifically in albino mice, inducing tumours in 93% of albino mice but in only 27% of black mice. Tan intensity resulting from minimally oedemal UVA + B was not enhanced by topical 5-MOP, and its UVA component combined with 5-MOP resulted in only a minimal tan. However, the tan intensity resulting from sub-oedemal UVA + B with topical 5-MOP was strongly increased, although its UVA component combined with 5-MOP did not produce a perceptible tan.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

ESI‐MS/MS of expanded porphyrins: a look into their structure and aromaticity

Electrospray mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry was used to investigate the gas‐phase properties of protonated expanded porphyrins, in order to correlate those with their structure and conformation. We have selected five expanded meso‐pentafluorophenyl porphyrins, respectively, a pair of oxidized/reduced fused pentaphyrins (22 and 24 π electrons), a pair of oxidized/reduced regular hexaphyrins (26 and 28 π electrons) and a regular doubly N‐fused hexaphyrin (28 π electrons). The gas‐phase behavior of the protonated species of oxidized and reduced expanded porphyrins is different. The oxidized species (aromatic Hückel systems) fragment more extensively, mainly by the loss of two HF molecules. The reduced species (Möbius aromatic or Möbius‐like aromatic systems) fragment less than their oxidized counterparts because of their increased flexibility. The protonated regular doubly fused hexaphyrin (non‐aromatic Hückel system) shows the least fragmentation even at higher collision energies. In general, cyclization through losses of HF molecules decreases from the aromatic Hückel systems to Möbius aromatic or Möbius‐like aromatic systems to non‐aromatic Hückel systems and is related to an increase in conformational distortion. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Specific heat and anisotropic superconducting and normal-state magnetization of HoNi2B2C

The magnetization of single-crystal HoNi₂B₂C has been measured as a function of applied field (H) and temperature in order to probe the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism in this complex layered system. The normal-state magnetic susceptibility of HoNi₂B₂C is highly anisotropic with a Curie-Weiss-like temperature dependence for H applied perpendicular to the c-axis and with a much weaker temperature dependence for H applied parallel to the c-axis, indicating that the Ho⁺³ magnetic moments lie predominately in the tetragonal a−b plane below 20 K. High-field magnetization (2000 Oe), low-field magnetization (20 Oe) and zero-field specific heat all give an antiferromagnetic ordering temperature of T_N=5.0 K. Remarkably, in 20 Oe applied field both superconductivity (T_c=8.0 K) and antiferromagnetism (T_N=5.0 K) clearly make themselves manifest in the magnetization data. From these magnetization data a phase diagram in the H−T plane was constructed for both directions of applied field. This phase diagram shows a non-monotonic temperature dependence of H_c2 with a deep minimum at T_N=5 K. The high-field magnetization data for H applied perpendicular to the c-axis also reveal a cascade of three phase transitions for T < 5 K and H < 15 000 Oe, contributing to the rich H versus T phase diagram for HoNi₂B₂C at low temperatures.