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Despite routine detection of coseismic acoustic‐gravity waves (AGWs) in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) total electron content (TEC) observations, models of the earthquake‐atmosphere‐ionosphere dynamics, essential for validating data‐driven studies, remain limited. We present the results of three‐dimensional numerical simulations encompassing the entire coupling from Earth's interior to the ionosphere during the Mw ${M}_{w}$ 7.8 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. Incorporating the impact of data/model uncertainties in estimating the ionospheric state, the results show a good agreement between observed and simulated slant TEC (sTEC) signals, assessed through a set of metrics. The signals exhibit intricate waveforms, resulting from the integrated nature of TEC and phase cancellation effects, emphasizing the significance of direct signal comparisons along realistic line‐of‐sight paths. By comparing simulation results initialized with kinematic and dynamic source models, the study demonstrates the quantifiable sensitivity of sTEC to AGW source specifications, pointing to their utility in the analysis of coupled dynamics. Plain Language Summary: Earthquakes launch acoustic‐gravity waves (AGWs) into the atmosphere, spanning periods from seconds to minutes, that can reach the ionosphere at ∼ ${\sim} $100–400 km altitude. The majority of AGW detections in the ionosphere are performed with the use of GNSS signals collected with ground‐based receivers that nowadays comprehensively cover seismically active regions. However, the modeling of earthquake‐atmosphere‐ionosphere processes together, essential for validating and supporting data‐driven studies, remains rare. We present the outcomes of three‐dimensional numerical modeling of interconnected processes, spanning from Earth's interior to the ionosphere. We conducted a case study focused on the 2016 Mw ${M}_{w}$ 7.8 earthquake in New Zealand, renowned for its complexity and comprehensive observations of coseismic AGWs recorded with GNSS signals. Our results demonstrate a high level of accuracy of simulated GNSS signals, also revealing the high sensitivity to the chosen earthquake model and the complexity of resulting ionospheric signals, highlighting the necessity of attributing realistic geometries of GNSS TEC observations. The findings highlight the potential for using GNSS signals to investigate coseismic AGWs to infer characteristics of earthquakes. Key Points: Acoustic‐gravity wave‐driven slant total electron content (sTEC) signals are analyzed in terms of amplitude, waveform, and onset timeIntricate sTEC signal waveforms result from ionospheric fluctuations measured along lines‐of‐sight between satellites and receiversHigh sensitivity of sTEC signals to acoustic‐gravity wave source specification provides additional basis for earthquake characterization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heliotropes are passive solar hot-air balloons that are capable of achieving nearly level flight within the lower stratosphere for several hours. These inexpensive flight platforms enable stratospheric sensing with high cadence enabled by the low cost to manufacture, but their performance has not yet been assessed systematically. During July–September of 2021, 29 heliotropes were successfully launched from Oklahoma and achieved float altitude as part of the Balloon-based Acoustic Seismology Study (BASS). All of the heliotrope envelopes were nearly identical with only minor variations to the flight line throughout the campaign. Flight data collected during this campaign comprise a large sample to characterize the typical heliotrope flight behavior during launch, ascent, float, and descent. Each flight stage is characterized, dependence on various parameters is quantified, and a discussion of nominal and anomalous flights is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heliotropes are passive solar hot air balloons that are capable of achieving nearly level flight within the lower stratosphere for several hours. These inexpensive flight platforms enable stratospheric sensing with high-cadence enabled by the low cost to manufacture, but their performance has not yet been assessed systematically. During July to September of 2021, 29 heliotropes were successfully launched from Oklahoma and achieved float altitude as part of the Balloon-based Acoustic Seismology Study (BASS). All of the heliotrope envelopes were nearly identical with only minor variations to the flight line throughout the campaign. Flight data collected during this campaign comprise a large sample to characterize the typical heliotrope flight behavior during launch, ascent, float, and descent. Each flight stage is characterized, dependence on various parameters is quantified, and a discussion of nominal and anomalous flights is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the nèidān training regimen advocated by Niú Jīnbǎo 牛金寶 (Xuánjīn 玄金 [Mysterious Gold]; 1915–1988), an influential modern lay Daoist practitioner. Niú was a senior disciple and formal lineage-successor of Zhào Bìchén 趙避塵 (Shùnyī 順一 [Accordant Unity]; 1860–1942), author of the influential Xìngmìng fǎjué míngzhǐ 性命法訣明指 (Illuminating Pointers to the Methods and Instructions of Innate Nature and Life-Destiny). Zhào is best known as the founder of Qiānfēng pài 千峰派 (Thousand Peaks Lineage), a sub-lineage of the Wǔ-Liǔ 伍柳 sub-lineage of the Lóngmén 龍門 (Dragon Gate) lineage of Quánzhēn 全真 (Complete Perfection) Daoism. In this study, I begin with a discussion of Qiānfēng pài, including an overview of nèidān training according to the Xìngmìng fǎjué míngzhǐ. I then explore the life of Niú Jīnbǎo and his lineage connection to Zhào. This is followed by a summary of Niú's "Jiǔbù gōngfǎ" 九步功法 (Methods in Nine Stages). The core of the study is a bilingual, annotated Chinese-English translation of Niú's major composition, namely, thirteen poems on Daoist internal alchemy. 本文探討具有影響力的現代道教居士牛金寶（玄金；1915–1988）倡導的內丹修煉。牛金寶是趙避塵（順一；1860–1942）的高級弟子和正式繼承人。趙避塵出名的主要緣故應是他為千峰派的祖師與《性命法訣明旨》的作者。千峰派是道教全真道龍門派的伍柳派的一個支派。在這項研究中，作者首先討論千峰派，包括根據《性命法訣明指》的內丹修煉作法。然後又探索牛金寶的生平和他與趙避塵的聯繫，接下來提供牛氏九步功法的總結。本研究的核心乃牛金寶的道教內丹十三詩的漢英翻譯與註釋。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals teach each other. For humans open to trans-species and inter-species dialogue and interaction, animal-others offer important insights into, invocations of and models for diverse and alternative modes of perceiving, experiencing, relating, and being. They in turn challenge anthropocentric conceptions of consciousness and offer glimpses of and perhaps inspiration for increased awareness and presence. Might the current academic vogue of "equity, diversity, and inclusion" (EDI; or whichever order you prefer) even extend to "non-human" animals? Might this also represent one essential key to the human aspiration for freedom, wellness, and justice? The present article explores the topic of "religion and animals" through the complementary dimension of "contemplation". Developing a fusion of Animal Studies, Contemplative Studies, Daoist Studies, and Religious Studies, I explore the topic with particular consideration of the indigenous Chinese religion of Daoism with a comparative and cross-cultural sensibility. I draw specific attention to the varieties of Daoist animal engagement, including animal companionship and becoming/being animal. Theologically speaking, this involves recognition of the reality of the Dao (sacred) manifesting through each and every being, and the possibility of inter/trans-species communication, relationality, and even identification. In the process, I suggest that "animal contemplation", a form of contemplative practice and contemplative experience that places "the animal question" at the center and explores the possibility (actuality) of "shared animality", not only offers important opportunities for becoming fully human (animal), but also represents one viable contribution to resolving impending (ongoing) ecological collapse, or at least the all-too-real possibility of a world without butterflies, bees, and birdsong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mw8.3 Illapel earthquake on 16 September 2015 induced ionospheric disturbances detected by Global Positioning System ground‐based total electron content (TEC) observations, which display much stronger TEC perturbations above the northern region of the epicenter than above the southern region. To investigate the cause of the asymmetry, we extend the Wave Perturbation—Global Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Model from using a point source representing the epicentral crustal movement to using an extended source including the ground motion caused by propagating seismic waves. The modeling results reveal that on average, 31% of the north‐south asymmetry in the TEC perturbation magnitude is caused by the different ground motion strengths northward and southward of the epicenter, while the remaining 69% is attributed to the background ionospheric state including the magnetic field. In particular, the spatial variation of the background electron density and the magnetic field inclination angle contributes comparably to the north‐south asymmetry. Plain Language Summary: Ground shakings during the 16 September 2015 Illapel M8.3 Earthquake caused disturbances in the atmosphere hundreds of kilometers above the epicentral region. The atmospheric disturbances were much stronger northward of the epicenter than southward of the epicenter. To find out what caused the north‐south asymmetry in the atmospheric disturbances, we further develop and utilize a model to simulate the atmospheric disturbances caused by the earthquake. The new model development takes into account the different ground motion characteristics along different directions of the epicenter. We find that the north‐south asymmetry in the atmospheric disturbances is primarily caused by the background atmosphere condition including the geomagnetic field inclination, as well as caused by the stronger ground motions in the north of the epicenter than in the south of the epicenter. Key Points: We extend the earthquake‐ionosphere coupling model Wave Perturbation‐Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (WP‐GITM) to include seismic‐wave‐induced ground motionsWP‐GITM reproduces the observed north‐south asymmetry of co‐seismic ionospheric disturbances during the 2015 Illapel earthquakeThe north‐south asymmetry is caused by the ground motion (31%) and the background ionosphere including the magnetic field (69%) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assess the detection of the August 4, 2020 chemical explosion in Beirut, Lebanon (33°N, 35°E). We use ionospheric total electron content (TEC) observations from a regional network of ground‐based Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to study the ionospheric variability and wave perturbations generated by the Beirut explosion. Our analysis reveals that the induced wave structures arrived in the ionosphere 10 ± 2 min after the explosion, which is a strong indication of acoustic gravity wave activity. These wave structures are characterized with ΔTEC of 0.06 TECU moving at ∼750 m/s in south‐east direction away from the explosion epicenter. The continuous wavelet analysis we applied shows a dominant wave periodicity of 1.5–2.5 min (6.78–11 mHz) in the ionosphere. Furthermore, we use measurements from ERA‐interim analysis to establish the ambient neutral atmospheric conditions before the Beirut explosion event. Finally, the observed ionospheric wave perturbations appear to be in good agreement with the expected arrival of acoustic gravity waves generated following the explosion. Key Points: Detection and characterization of ionospheric perturbations generated by the 2020 Beirut explosionSignatures of acoustic gravity wave activity generated by the event are observedLower and upper atmospheric coupling due to anthropogenic explosion is investigated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme temperature and pressure conditions on the surface of Venus present formidable technological challenges against performing ground‐based seismology. Efficient coupling between the Venusian atmosphere and the solid planet theoretically allows the study of seismically generated acoustic waves using balloons in the upper atmosphere, where conditions are far more clement. However, earthquake detection from a balloon has never been demonstrated. We present the first detection of an earthquake from a balloon‐borne microbarometer near Ridgecrest, CA in July 2019 and include a detailed analysis of the dependence of seismic infrasound, as measured from a balloon on earthquake source parameters, topography, and crustal and atmospheric structure. Our comprehensive analysis of seismo‐acoustic phenomenology demonstrates that seismic activity is detectable from a high‐altitude platform on Earth, and that Rayleigh wave‐induced infrasound can be used to constrain subsurface velocities, paving the way for the detection and characterization of such signals on Venus. Plain Language Summary: The interior structure of Venus remains unknown due to lack of in situ seismic observations. Adverse temperature and pressure conditions on the Venusian surface limit the lifetimes of landers to a few hours, which poses a technological challenge against performing ground‐based seismology to detect venusquakes. Seismic energy on Venus, as on Earth, can be transmitted into the atmosphere through mechanical coupling and propagate as low‐frequency sound (infrasound). Infrasound from earthquakes travels long distances and has been detected from ground‐based stations. This mechanism may allow the detection of seismically generated pressure disturbances on Venus using balloons, enabling remote seismology from its upper atmosphere, where temperature and pressure conditions are far more clement and longer mission lifetimes are likely. However, the feasibility of such a technique has yet to be established through the detection of ground motion following an earthquake using a freely floating balloon. We demonstrate the first detection of an earthquake from a high‐altitude balloon. We explore the dependence of the pressure signal seen by the balloon on parameters such as the magnitude, focal mechanism, location of the earthquake, surface topography, and atmospheric structure. We also show how the signal recorded at the balloon can be used to study the subsurface. Key Points: First detection of a natural earthquake using balloon‐borne infrasound dataRayleigh wave‐induced infrasound dispersion characteristics provide constraints on subsurface velocitiesShallow waveguides, focal mechanism, and subwavelength topographic changes control infrasound amplitude and dispersion by weak earthquakes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is used in seismology to study the ground displacements as well as to monitor the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) perturbations following seismic events. The aim of this work is to combine these two observations in one real-time method based on the Total Variometric Approach (TVA) to include the GNSS real-time data stream in future warning systems and tsunami genesis estimation observing both, ground motion and TEC. Our TVA couples together the Variometric Approach for Displacement Analysis Stand-alone Engine (VADASE) with the Variometric Approach for Real-Time Ionosphere Observation (VARION) algorithms. We apply the TVA to the Mw 8.3 Illapel earthquake, that occurred in Chile on September 16, 2015, and we demonstrate the coherence of the earthquake ground shaking and the TEC perturbation by using the same GNSS data stream in a real-time scenario. Nominally, we also highlight a stronger kinetic energy released in the north of the epicenter and visible in both, the ground motion and the TEC perturbation detect at 30 s and around 9.5 min after the rupture respectively. The high spatial resolution of ionospheric TEC measurement seems to match with the extent of the seismic source. The GNSS data stream by TVA of both the ground and ionospheric measurement opens today new perspectives to real-time warning systems for tsunami genesis estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physics-based Data Assimilation (DA) has been shown to be a powerful technique for specifying and predicting space weather. However, it is also known that different data assimilation models simulating the same geophysical event can display different space weather features even if the same data are assimilated. In this study, we used our Multimodel Ensemble Prediction System (MEPS) of DA models to elucidate the similarities and differences in the individual DA model reconstructions of the mid-low latitude ionosphere when the same data are assimilated. Ensemble model averages were also obtained. For this ensemble modeling study, we selected the quiet/storm period of 16 and 17 March 2013 (equinox, solar medium). Five data assimilation models and one physics-based model were used to produce an ensemble mean output for Total Electron Content (TEC), ionospheric peak density (NmF2), and ionospheric peak height (hmF2) for latitudes less than 60° and all longitudes. The data assimilated included ground-based Global Positioning Satellite TEC and topside plasma densities near 800 km altitude derived from the COSMIC (Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate) satellites. Both a simple average and a weighted average of the models were used in the ensemble averaging in order to determine if there was an improvement of the ensemble averages over the individual models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-altitude monitoring of low-frequency acoustic waves (infrasound) on Earth has regained prominence in recent years, primarily driven by improvements in light-weight sensor technology and advances in scientific ballooning techniques. Balloon-borne infrasound monitoring is also being proposed as a remote sensing technique for planetary exploration. Contrary to ground-based infrasound monitoring, the infrasound noise background in the stratosphere as measured by a balloon remains uncharacterized and the efficacy of wind noise mitigation filters has not been investigated. In this study, an analysis of pressure data collected using infrasound microbarometers during the flight of a long-duration zero pressure balloon is presented. A dramatic reduction of background noise in the stratosphere is demonstrated and it is shown that wind noise mitigation filters are not effective at reducing wind noise under these conditions. Results from this study demonstrate stratospheric balloons as a low-noise platform for infrasound monitoring and motivate the development of improved noise mitigation tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard meteorological balloons can deliver small scientific payloads to the stratosphere for a few tens of minutes, but achieving multihour level flight in this region is more difficult. We have developed a solarpowered hot-air balloon named the heliotrope that can maintain a nearly constant altitude in the upper troposphere-lower stratosphere as long as the sun is above the horizon. It can accommodate scientific payloads ranging from hundreds of grams to several kilograms. The balloon can achieve float altitudes exceeding 24 km and fly for days in the Arctic summer, although sunset provides a convenient flight termination mechanism at lower latitudes. Two people can build an envelope in about 3.5 h, and the materials cost about $30. The low cost and simplicity of the heliotrope enables a class of missions that is generally out of reach of institutions lacking specialized balloon expertise. Here, we discuss the design history, construction techniques, trajectory characteristics, and flight prediction of the heliotrope balloon. We conclude with a discussion of the physics of solar hot-air balloon flight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near‐ and far‐field ionospheric responses to atmospheric acoustic and gravity waves (AGWs) generated by surface displacements during the 2015 Nepal Mw7.8 Gorkha earthquake are simulated. Realistic surface displacements driven by the earthquake are calculated in three‐dimensional forward seismic waves propagation simulation, based on kinematic slip model. They are used to excite AGWs at ground level in the direct numerical simulation of three‐dimensional nonlinear compressible Navier‐Stokes equations with neutral atmosphere model, which is coupled with a two‐dimensional nonlinear multifluid electrodynamic ionospheric model. The importance of incorporating earthquake rupture kinematics for the simulation of realistic coseismic ionospheric disturbances (CIDs) is demonstrated and the possibility of describing faulting mechanisms and surface deformations based on ionospheric observations is discussed in details. Simulation results at the near‐epicentral region are comparable with total electron content (TEC) observations in periods (∼3.3 and ∼6‐10 min for acoustic and gravity waves, respectively), propagation velocities (∼0.92 km/s for acoustic waves) and amplitudes (up to ∼2 TECu). Simulated far‐field CIDs correspond to long‐period (∼4 mHz) Rayleigh waves (RWs), propagating with the same phase velocity of ∼4 km/s. The characteristics of modeled RW‐related ionospheric disturbances differ from previously‐reported observations based on TEC data; possible reasons for these differences are discussed. Key Points: Seismically generated AGW dynamics from ground to exobase are simulated based on realistic spatial and temporal surface displacementsSimulation results of near‐epicentral ionospheric responses to AGWs are consistent with observations in amplitudes, periods, and speedsResults identify challenges and opportunities for faulting mechanism characterization based on ionospheric observations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismology on Venus has long eluded planetary scientists due to extreme temperature and pressure conditions on its surface, which most electronics cannot withstand for mission durations required for ground-based seismic studies. We show that infrasonic (low-frequency) pressure fluctuations, generated as a result of ground motion, produced by an artificial seismic source known as a seismic hammer, and recorded using sensitive microbarometers deployed on a tethered balloon, are able to replicate the frequency content of ground motion. We also show that weak, artificial seismic activity thus produced may be geolocated by using multiple airborne barometers. The success of this technique paves the way for balloon-based aero-seismology, leading to a potentially revolutionary method to perform seismic studies from a remote airborne station on the earth and solar system objects with substantial atmospheres such as Venus and Titan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review observations on the coupling between Earth's surface disturbances and the upper atmosphere. In particular, we focus on the upper atmospheric responses to atmospheric acoustic‐gravity waves generated during impulsive surface disturbance events including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and explosions. We review the theoretical background for the generation and propagation of atmospheric acoustic‐gravity waves from surface disturbance events as well as of the ionospheric plasma response to such acoustic‐gravity waves. We review a variety of observational techniques that have been successfully utilized to detect upper atmospheric perturbations induced by surface disturbances and summarize the state‐of‐the‐art knowledge on the coupling processes learnt from these observations. Finally, we touch on some most recent advances in the field and propose directions for future research. Plain Language Summary: Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and chemical and nuclear explosions on or under the ground create sudden and violent motions of the ground or ocean surface. While ground shakings during some massive earthquakes can be felt by people who live thousands of kilometers away from the epicenters, the shakings can also be detected from the atmosphere hundreds of kilometers above the ground (upper atmosphere). Similarly, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and explosions can have footprints in the upper atmosphere as well. These footprints have been successfully detected by a variety of observational techniques. This paper reviews the observational results and the current understanding of the physical mechanisms behind the coupling between the ground/ocean and the upper atmosphere. In addition, future research directions are proposed in order to address the open questions. Key Points: The upper atmosphere can respond to Earth's surface disturbances via acoustic‐gravity wavesThe responses have been detected by a variety of remote sensing and in situ observationsOutstanding questions remain to understand the surface‐upper atmosphere coupling processes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daoism, especially classical Daoism, is often constructed as a 'philosophy,' 'set of ideas,' or 'system of thought.' This is particularly the case in studies of Chinese philosophy and comparative philosophy. The present article draws attention to the central importance of clarity and stillness (qingjing 清靜) as a Daoist form of meditative practice, contemplative experience, and way of being. Examining historical precedents in classical Daoism, the article gives particular attention to the Tang dynasty (618-907) 'Clarity-and-Stillness Literature,' specifically the eighth-century Qingjing jing 清靜經 (Scripture on Clarity and Stillness; DZ 620). In the process, one finds that qingjing is one of the major connective strands throughout the Daoist tradition, a connective strand that reveals the central importance of embodied, experiential, and applied dimensions of human being from a Daoist perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To numerically simulate earthquake‐induced ionospheric disturbances, we extend the Wave Perturbation‐Global Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Model, which was originally developed for tsunami‐ionosphere coupling via gravity waves, to the case of earthquake‐ionosphere coupling via acoustic‐gravity waves. The new Wave Perturbation‐Global Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Model represents epicentral crustal movements by a point source specified with the ground motion data from seismic measurements. The model then solves for the neutral atmospheric perturbations generated by spherical acoustic‐gravity waves and the resulting ionospheric plasma perturbations over the epicentral area. We apply the model to simulate the near‐field ionospheric disturbances during two major earthquake events: the 2011 Tohoku‐Oki, Japan, and the 2015 Illapel, Chile, events. To validate the results, we extract receiver‐to‐satellite total electron content perturbations from the simulations and compare them to the corresponding slant total electron content perturbations from Global Positioning System observations. We find good agreement on magnitudes and arrival times between the simulations and observations. Key Points: We have developed a novel earthquake‐ionosphere coupling model based on a state‐of‐the‐art upper atmospheric modelThe model is capable of simulating ionospheric signatures induced by epicentral crustal movementsModel validation with two earthquake events shows reasonable agreement with observations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-frequency geodesy is here intended as the capability of retrieving information relevant to geodesy and geophysics at high frequency through geodetic measurements and methodologies. In particular, this short review work focuses on two aspects: fast ground motions, as those due to earthquakes, and fast ionospheric total electron content (TEC) disturbances, as those caused by tsunamis. This information can be retrieved, even in real time, from Global Navigation Satellite System observations collected at high rate (equal or higher than 1 Hz), and can significantly support geohazard understanding contributing in seismic moment estimation and tsunami early warning. Here, the real-time possibilities of the new variometric approach for high-frequency geodesy are summarized: the fundamental idea is to directly focus on the quantities of interest, which are “variations” (of positions, of ionospheric TEC) and can be properly estimated in real time. The work moves “from ground to ionosphere”: with respect to the ground, the more consolidated application of the variometric approach to GNSS seismology (VADASE) is presented, up to the latest developments; with respect to the ionosphere, the brand new application named VARION for TEC disturbances computation is described, and the first results of the application to the Illapel, Chile earthquake (USGS M=8.3, 16 September 2015, 22:54:32 UTC) are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the International GNSS Service (IGS), several IGS Ionosphere Associated Analysis Centers have developed different techniques to provide global ionospheric maps (GIMs) of vertical total electron content (VTEC) since 1998. In this paper we present a comparison of the performances of all the GIMs created in the frame of IGS. Indeed we compare the classical ones (for the ionospheric analysis centers CODE, ESA/ESOC, JPL and UPC) with the new ones (NRCAN, CAS, WHU). To assess the quality of them in fair and completely independent ways, two assessment methods are used: a direct comparison to altimeter data (VTEC-altimeter) and to the difference of slant total electron content (STEC) observed in independent ground reference stations (dSTEC-GPS). The main conclusion of this study, performed during one solar cycle, is the consistency of the results between so many different GIM techniques and implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted an experiment in Pahrump, Nevada, in June 2017, where artificial seismic signals were created using a seismic hammer, and the possibility of detecting them from their acoustic signature was examined. In this work, we analyze the pressure signals recorded by highly sensitive barometers deployed on the ground and on tethers suspended from balloons. Our signal processing results show that wind noise experienced by a barometer on a free-flying balloon is lower compared to one on a moored balloon. This has never been experimentally demonstrated in the lower troposphere. While seismoacoustic signals were not recorded on the hot air balloon platform owing to operational challenges, we demonstrate the detection of seismoacoustic signals on our moored balloon platform. Our results have important implications for performing seismology in harsh surface environments such as Venus through atmospheric remote sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We revisit three complex superstorms of 19-20 November 2003, 7-8 November 2004, and 9-11 November 2004 to analyze ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) effects driven by different solar wind structures associated with complex interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and their upstream sheaths. The efficiency of the solar wind-magnetosphere connection throughout the storms is estimated by coupling functions. The daytime IT responses to the complex driving are characterized by combining and collocating (where possible) measurements of several physical parameters (total electron content or TEC, thermospheric infrared nitric oxide emission, and composition ratio) from multiple satellite platforms and ground-based measurements. A variety of metrics are utilized to examine global IT phenomena at ~1 h timescales. The role of direct driving of IT dynamics by solar wind structures and the role of IT preconditioning in these storms, which feature complex unusual TEC responses, are examined and contrasted. Furthermore, IT responses to ICME magnetic clouds and upstream sheaths are separately characterized. We identify IT feedback effects that can be important for long-lasting strong storms. The role of the interplanetary magnetic field By component on ionospheric convection may not be well captured by existing coupling functions. Mechanisms of thermospheric overdamping and consequential ionospheric feedback need to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents electron number density profiles derived from high-resolution Global Positioning System (GPS) radio occultation (RO) observations performed using the Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe payload on the high inclination CAScade, Smallsat and IOnospheric Polar Explorer (CASSIOPE) spacecraft. We have developed and applied a novel inverse Abel transform algorithm on high rate RO total electron content measurements performed along GPS to CASSIOPE radio links to recover electron density profiles. The high-resolution density profiles inferred from the CASSIOPE RO are (1) in very good agreement with density profiles estimated from ionosonde data, measured over stations nearby to the latitude and longitude of the RO tangent points; (2) in good agreement with density profiles inferred from GPS RO measured by the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC); and (3) in general agreement with density profiles estimated using the International Reference Ionosphere climatological model. Using both CASSIOPE and COSMIC RO observations, we identify, for the first time, that there exist differences in the characteristics of the electron number density profiles retrieved over landmasses and oceans. The density profiles over oceans exhibit widespread values and scale heights compared to density profiles over landmasses. We provide an explanation for the ocean-landmass discrepancy in terms of the unique wave coupling mechanisms operating over oceans and landmasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides two short responses to Kathleen M. Fisher's essay 'Look Before You Leap: Reconsidering Contemplative Pedagogy,' published in this issue of the journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community pharmacies play an important role in the process of ensuring public health. Pharmacists provide pharmaceutical care that includes acquiring, storing, preparing, reviewing and dispensing medicines, medical devices and dietary food to the inhabitants; providing them with information and advice; acquiring, storing and dispensing additional assortment; carrying out physical and biochemical testing for primary prevention and monitoring of drug efficacy and safety. At present, there are constant changes which have direct or potential and often negative impact on community pharmacies. For providing affordable and good quality pharmaceutical care, it is important to continuously monitor and analyse the developments in the financial data in community pharmacy business management. The data file from 2009-2014 on financial performance of selected community pharmacies were obtained from the Register of Financial Statements at Ministry of Finance Slovak Republic. A group of 194 community pharmacies were selected that represented more than 10 percent of all pharmacies. The selection criteria respected the territorial division of the Slovak Republic on districts, the size of municipalities (cities and villages) and location (at or near health centres, shopping centres, housing estates, etc.). The evaluation parameters were gross profit, net profit, revenue from sales of goods and services, operating expenses, total assets, inventory, short-term receivables, total receivables, financial assets, owner's equity, total liabilities, current liabilities and their characteristics (25th, 50th, 75th percentile, minimum, maximum, mean). The financial parameters obtained and their characteristics presented the basic information on the management of community pharmacies. The data also provided information for further assessment on factors that might have an impact on their value and direction of evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ketoconazole has been widely used as a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A (CYP3A) inhibitor in drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies. However, the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended limiting the use of ketoconazole to cases in which no alternative therapies exist, and the European Medicines Agency has recommended the suspension of its marketing authorizations because of the potential for serious safety concerns. In this review, the Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development's Clinical Pharmacology Leadership Group (CPLG) provides a compelling rationale for the use of itraconazole as a replacement for ketoconazole in clinical DDI studies and provides recommendations on the best practices for the use of itraconazole in such studies. Various factors considered in the recommendations include the choice of itraconazole dosage form, administration in the fasted or fed state, the dose and duration of itraconazole administration, the timing of substrate and itraconazole coadministration, and measurement of itraconazole and metabolite plasma concentrations, among others. The CPLG's recommendations are based on careful review of available literature and internal industry experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have explored the use of COSMIC data to provide valuable scientific information on the ionospheric impacts of energetic particle precipitation during geomagnetic storms. Ionospheric electron density in the E region, and hence ionospheric conductivity, is significantly altered by precipitating particles from the magnetosphere. This has global impacts on the thermosphere-ionosphere because of the important role of conductivity on high-latitude Joule heating. Two high-speed stream (HSS) and two coronal mass ejection (CME) storms are examined with the COSMIC data. We find clear correlation between geomagnetic activity and electron density retrievals from COSMIC. At nighttime local times, the number of profiles with maximum electron densities in the E layer (below 200 km altitude) is well correlated with geomagnetic activity. We interpret this to mean that electron density increases due to precipitation are captured by the COSMIC profiles. These "E-layer-dominant ionosphere" (ELDI) profiles have geomagnetic latitudes that are consistent with climatological models of the auroral location. For the two HSS storms that occurred in May of 2011 and 2012, a strong hemispheric asymmetry is observed, with nearly all the ELDI profiles found in the Southern, less sunlit, Hemisphere. Stronger aurora and precipitation have been observed before in winter hemispheres, but the degree of asymmetry deserves further study. For the two CME storms, occurring in July and November of 2012, large increases in the number of ELDI profiles are found starting in the storm's main phase but continuing for several days into the recovery phase. Analysis of the COSMIC profiles was extended to all local times for the July 2012 CME storm by relaxing the ELDI criterion and instead visually inspecting all profiles above 50- magnetic latitude for signatures of precipitation in the E region. For 9 days during the July 2012 period, we find a signature of precipitation occurs nearly uniformly in local time, although the magnitude of electron density increase may vary with local time. The latitudinal extent of the precipitation layers is generally consistent with auroral climatology. However, after the storm main phase on 14 July 2012 the precipitation tended to be somewhat more equatorward than the climatology (by about 5-10° latitude) and equatorward of the auroral boundary data acquired from the SSUSI sensor onboard the F18 DMSP satellite. We conclude that, if analyzed appropriately, high-latitude COSMIC profiles have the potential to contribute to our understanding of MI coupling processes and extend and improve existing models of the auroral region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have explored the use of COSMIC data to provide valuable scientific information on the ionospheric impacts of energetic particle precipitation during geomagnetic storms. Ionospheric electron density in the E region, and hence ionospheric conductivity, is significantly altered by precipitating particles from the magnetosphere. This has global impacts on the thermosphere-ionosphere because of the important role of conductivity on high latitude Joule heating. Two high-speed stream (HSS) and two coronal mass ejection (CME) storms are examined with the COSMIC data. We find clear correlation between geomagnetic activity and electron density retrievals from COSMIC. At night 10 time local times, the number of profiles with maximum electron densities in the E layer (below 200 km altitude) is well correlated with geomagnetic activity. We interpret this to mean that electron density increases due to precipitation are captured by the COSMIC profiles. These "E layer dominant ionosphere" (ELDI) profiles have geomagnetic latitudes that are consistent with climatological models of the auroral location. For the two HSS storms, that occurred in May of 2011 and 2012, a strong hemispheric asymmetry is observed, with nearly all the ELDI profiles found in the southern, less sunlit, hemisphere. Stronger aurora and precipitation have been observed before in winter hemispheres, but the degree of asymmetry deserves further study. For the two CME storms, occurring in July and November of 2012, large increases in the number of ELDI profiles are found starting in the storm's main phase but continuing for several days into the recovery phase. Analysis of the COSMIC profiles was extended to all local times for the July 2012 CME storm by relaxing the ELDI criterion and instead visually inspecting all profiles above 50° magnetic latitude for signatures of precipitation in the E region. For nine days during the July 2012 period, we find a signature of precipitation occurs nearly uniformly in local time, although the magnitude of electron density increase may vary with local time. The latitudinal extent of the precipitation layers is generally consistent with auroral climatology. However, after the storm main phase on 14 July 2012, the precipitation tended to be somewhat more equator ward than predicted by the climatology (by about 5-10° latitude). We conclude that, if analyzed appropriately, high latitude COSMIC profiles have the potential to contribute to our understanding of MI coupling processes and extend and improve existing models of the auroral region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACE1 is a key protease controlling the formation of amyloid β, a peptide hypothesized to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, the development of potent and selective inhibitors of BACE1 has been a focus of many drug discovery efforts in academia and industry. Herein, we report the nonclinical and early clinical development of LY2886721, a BACE1 active site inhibitor that reached phase 2 clinical trials in AD. LY2886721 has high selectivity against key off-target proteases, which efficiently translates in vitro activity into robust in vivo amyloid β lowering in nonclinical animal models. Similar potent and persistent amyloid β lowering was observed in plasma and lumbar CSF when single and multiple doses of LY2886721 were administered to healthy human subjects. Collectively, these data add support for BACE1 inhibition as an effective means of amyloid lowering and as an attractive target for potential disease modification therapy in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the first detailed historical study of the life, teachings, and practices of Sun Buer (1119-83), the only female member of the so-called Seven Perfected of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) Daoism. Drawing upon the earliest hagiographical accounts, this study provides an accurate picture of the historical Sun, with particular attention to her personal life and social location in the early Quanzhen movement. It includes complete annotated translations of the only extant writings reasonably attributed to Sun Buer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Clevidipine is a rapidly-acting intravenous dihydropyridine antihypertensive acting via calcium channel blockade. This was a randomized, single-blind, parallel-design study of a 72-h continuous clevidipine infusion. Method: Doses of 2, 4, 8, or 16.0 mg/h or placebo were evaluated in 61 subjects with mild to moderate essential hypertension. IV clevidipine or placebo was initiated at 2.0 mg/h and force-titrated in doubling increments every 3 min to target dose, then maintained for 72 h. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured during infusion, and for 4, 6 and 8 h after termination of infusion, although oral therapy could be restarted at 4 h. Clevidipine blood levels were obtained during infusion and for 1 hour after termination. Results: Rapid onset of drug effect occurred at all clevidipine dose levels, with consistent pharmacokinetics and rapid offset after 72-h infusion. No evidence of tolerance to the clevidipine drug effect was observed at any dose level over the 72-h infusion. No evidence of rebound hypertension was found for either 4 or 6 h after termination of the clevidipine infusion. At 8 h following cessation of clevidipine, blood pressure was not significantly higher than at baseline. Placebo-treated subjects had blood pressures lower than baseline at 8 h following infusion termination; hence, placebo-adjusted blood pressures tended to be slightly higher than baseline. Conclusion: This study supports the use of up to 72 h of IV clevidipine therapy for the management of blood pressure, with consistent pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics and context insensitive half-life across the dose ranges evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]