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Abstract For the first time using computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) and leveraging ultra-dense slant total electron content (STEC) measurements derived from two ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver networks in Japan, we have reconstructed the 3-D field-aligned structure of nighttime medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) with high spatiotemporal resolution. The CIT algorithm focuses on electron density perturbation components, allowing for the imaging of disturbances with small amplitudes and scales. Slant TECs used for CIT are setup to consist of two components: the background derived from IRI-2016 model and TEC perturbations obtained by subtracting a 30-min running average from observations. The resolution is set to 0.25º in latitude and longitude, 10 km in altitude, 30 s in time. Simulations were conducted to assess the performance of the CIT algorithm, revealing that this technique has good fidelity by accurately reconstructing more than 80% of the electron density perturbations. The focus is on the nighttime event of July 4, 2022, when data were accessible. The reconstruction results show that the MSTIDs initially form at lower altitudes and subsequently develop to exhibit large amplitudes and scales that extend to higher altitudes, characterized by a well-defined frontal structure with electrodynamic signatures. These results are consistent with theories and snippets of observational evidence regarding electromagnetic-influenced MSTIDs, hence affirming the effectiveness of the developed CIT technique in probing of the variations in the 3-D structure of ionospheric electron density. This is expected to contribute to a compressive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of ionospheric inhomogeneities. Graphical Abstract

Abstract To investigate solar activity dependence of the coupling between medium-scale traveling ionosphere disturbance (MSTID) and sporadic E (Es) layer, we analyzed the total electron content (TEC) obtained from a Japanese global positioning system (GPS) receivers and ionosonde at Kokubunji (35.7° N, 139.5° E) in Japan during the summer period of May–August from 1998 to 2019. To obtain perturbation TEC caused by MSTIDs, the detrended TEC is calculated by subtracting 1-h moving averages from the measured TEC for each pair of GPS satellite and receiver. The detrended TEC data are mapped on to the geographical coordinates to make detrended 2-D maps with spatial resolution of 0.15° × 0.15° in longitude and latitude. The MSTID activity is defined as a ratio of the standard deviation to the background TEC over Kokubunji in Japan. Day-to-day variations of the MSTID activity during summer nights was compared to Es layer parameters [critical frequency ( $${f}_{o}Es$$ f o E s ) and $${\Delta f}_{o-b}\equiv {f}_{o}Es-{f}_{b}E$$ Δ f o - b ≡ f o E s - f b E , where $${f}_{{\text{b}}}Es$$ f b E s is blanketing frequency] derived from ionosonde station at Kokubunji. We have found that the correlation coefficient between the MSTID activity and $${f}_{o}Es$$ f o E s ( $${\Delta f}_{o-b}$$ Δ f o - b ) between 1998 and 2019 is 0.5 3 (0.46) on average, suggesting that there is an electrodynamical coupling between the Es layer and F region could generate nighttime MSTIDs. We also have found that the correlation coefficient positively correlates with solar activity. This finding indicates that in the high solar activity conditions, when the growth rate of Perkins instability is relatively low, generation of the polarization electric fields in the $$Es$$ Es layer could play a more important role to grow MSTIDs than in the low solar activity conditions. Graphical Abstract

Interfacial damages (wear, delamination) and bone damage (remodeling, micro-cracks) can significantly affect the local bone deterioration and loosening of the acetabular cup. However, limited research has been conducted on both delamination and bone remodeling. This study aims to analyze the loosening behavior of an acetabular cup caused by the interaction of both interfacial damages and bone remodeling under different boundary conditions. A three-dimensional model of the acetabular cup was developed, and mechanically-induced remodeling behavior was implemented for the surrounding bone while the interfacial delamination between the cup and bone was modeled using the fracture mechanics approach. The delamination in the low initial bone mineral density (BMDs) cases encompasses almost the entire cup surface, which significantly affects the local bone remodeling process. The bone density near the top edge could be reduced to 20% in the lowest BMDs case which exaggerates the local strain accumulation and causes it to approach the micro-breaking limit. The loosening risk of the 45∘ fixation was reported in the low BMDs case which is a major limitation in conventional operation procedures for elderly patients. The interactive effect of the low BDMs, inclination angle, and loading amplitude can reduce the aseptic loosening life by half. This can be attributed to the amplified embedding of the acetabular cup caused by the delamination-induced reduction of the bone density. In future works, we aim to further consider anisotropic bone remodeling, microstructure of the bone, and delamination initiation behavior of surface coating.

Abstract On behalf of the journal, AGU, and the scientific community, the editors of Geophysical Research Letters would like to sincerely thank those who reviewed manuscripts for us in 2023. The hours reading and commenting on manuscripts not only improve the manuscripts, but also increase the scientific rigor of future research in the field. With the advent of AGU's data policy, many reviewers have also helped immensely to evaluate the accessibility and availability of data, and many have provided insightful comments that helped to improve the data presentation and quality. We greatly appreciate the assistance of the reviewers in advancing open science, which is a key objective of AGU's data policy. We particularly appreciate the timely reviews in light of the demands imposed by the rapid review process at Geophysical Research Letters. We received 4,512 submissions in 2023 and 5,112 reviewers contributed to their evaluation by providing 8,587 reviews in total. We deeply appreciate their contributions.

Abstract Electrodynamic coupling between the ionospheric E and F regions is widely recognized as the underlying mechanism for generating medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) during nighttime at midlatitudes. Recently, the double-thin-shell approach has proven to be a useful tool for studying the E–F coupling. By using total electron content (TEC) measurements, this approach enables the simultaneous reconstruction of electron density perturbations in both the E and F regions with broad and continuous coverage. However, the current reconstruction performance is limited when using only GPS-TEC measurements from GEONET, a dense network of ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers over Japan. The expansion of available data sources and the integration of multi-GNSS observation data are considered important to enhance the double-thin-shell model. Fortunately, SoftBank Corp., a Japanese telecommunications provider, has recently developed a dense independent GNSS observation network to improve positioning services. In this paper, we analyze the potential of the improved double-thin-shell approach and emphasize the importance of incorporating multi-GNSS observation data from both GEONET and SoftBank networks. The solvability analysis, simulation, and observation results collectively indicate a substantial improvement in the spatiotemporal resolution. Specifically, the longitudinal and latitudinal resolution is improved from 0.15° to 0.1° in the E region, and from 0.5° to 0.3° in the F region. The temporal resolution is also improved from 2 to 1 min. In addition, significant improvements have been achieved in the reconstruction performance, particularly for the E region under complex background conditions. Based on these assessments, we conclude that the incorporation of GEONET and SoftBank GNSS observation data holds significant potential for improving the double-thin-shell model and advancing our understanding of MSTIDs. Graphical abstract

Abstract The occurrence of equatorial spread F (ESF) has the potential to detrimentally impact space-based technological systems. This study investigates the utility of ionosondes in forecasting the incidence of post-sunset ESF in the zonal direction, utilizing observational data obtained from four ionosondes located near the magnetic Equator in Southeast Asia. Data were collected during the equinox seasons (March–April and September–October) between 2003 and 2020. To establish a relationship between the probability of post-sunset ESF occurrence and the evening vertical plasma drift (v), a logistic regression model was employed. Post-sunset ESF occurrence is defined as the presence of ESF during the time window between 19:00 and 21:00 LT, while v is derived from the average time derivative of virtual heights during the interval from 18:30 to 19:00 LT. Results indicate that the probability of post-sunset ESF occurrence approaches zero, signifying that ESF is unlikely to develop when v is negative. Conversely, when v exceeds 30 m/s, the probability of post-sunset ESF occurrence surpasses 0.87, indicating that ESF occurs almost invariably. The likelihood of post-sunset ESF occurrence reaches 1 when v equals or exceeds 40 m/s. Utilizing this model, the study determined that a single ionosonde positioned at the Equator can effectively forecast the incidence of post-sunset ESF up to a longitudinal distance of 30° from its location. The accuracy of ionosondes in predicting post-sunset ESF occurrence above their respective locations is approximately 0.80, with a 10% decrease in accuracy when forecasting ESF occurrence at longitudinal distances of 30°. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of the link between the evening vertical plasma drift and the manifestation of post-sunset ESF by leveraging ionosonde data. Furthermore, it provides valuable insights into the recommended coverage range of ionosondes for predicting post-sunset ESF occurrence in the zonal direction, which can be employed to fortify regional space weather services. Graphical Abstract

Abstract The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) undersea volcanic eruption that occurred at 04:15 UT on 15 January 2022 is one of the most explosive events in the modern era, and a vertical plume reached approximately 55 km, corresponding to a height of the lower mesosphere. The intense explosion and subsequent plume generated acoustic and atmospheric gravity waves detected by ground-based instruments worldwide. Because a global-scale atmospheric and ionospheric response to the large volcanic eruption has not yet been observed, it provides a unique opportunity to promote interdisciplinary studies of coupling processes in lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere with ground-based and satellite observations and modeling. Further, this event allows us to elucidate the propagation and occurrence features of traveling ionospheric disturbances, the generation of equatorial plasma bubbles, the cause of electron density holes around the volcano, and the magnetic conjugacy of magnetic field perturbations. The most notable point among these studies is that the medium-scale travelling traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) have magnetic conjugacy even in the daytime ionosphere and are generated by an external electric field, such as an E-region dynamo field, due to the motions of neutrals in the thermosphere. This advocates a new generation mechanism of MSTIDs other than the neutral oscillation associated with atmospheric gravity waves and electrified MSTIDs, which are frequently observed during daytime and nighttime, respectively. This paper reviews the recent studies of atmospheric and ionospheric disturbances after the HTHH volcanic eruption and summarizes what we know from this extreme event analysis. Further, we analyzed new datasets not shown in previous studies to give some new insights to understanding of some related phenomena. As a result, we also found that 4-min plasma flow oscillations caused by the acoustic resonance appeared with the amplitude of approximately 30 m/s in the northern hemisphere a few hours before the initial arrival of the air pressure waves. The propagation direction was westward, which is the same as that of the daytime MSTIDs with a magnetic conjugate feature. This result suggests that the 4-min oscillations are generated by an external electric field transmitted to the northern hemisphere along magnetic field lines. Graphical Abstract

Abstract The explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on 15 January 2022 generated atmospheric waves traveling around the Earth, which caused ionospheric disturbances on various spatio-temporal scales. A HF Doppler sounding system in Japan detected characteristic ionospheric disturbances showing periodic oscillations in the Doppler frequency with a period of ~ 4 min. In this study, such periodic oscillations were examined by comparing Doppler frequency data with Total Electron Content data obtained by Global Navigation Satellite System. The observed periodic oscillations in the Doppler frequency were characterized by a sawtooth or S-letter shaped variation, implying the passage of the traveling ionospheric disturbances through the reflection points of the HF Doppler sounding system. It was also found that the periodic oscillations occurred prior to the arrival of the tropospheric Lamb wave excited by the Tonga eruption. From the total electron content data, the traveling ionospheric disturbances causing the periodic oscillations were excited by the tropospheric Lamb waves at the conjugate point in the southern hemisphere, namely, the electric field perturbations due to the Lamb waves in the southern hemisphere mapped onto the sensing area of the HF Doppler sounding system in the northern hemisphere along the magnetic field lines. The periodic oscillations were observed only in the path between Chofu transmitter and Sarobetsu receiver, whose the radio propagation path is almost aligned in the north–south direction. This suggests that the traveling ionospheric disturbance has a structure elongating in the meridional direction. The variation in the Doppler frequency was reproduced by using a simple model of the propagation of the traveling ionospheric disturbances and the resultant motion of the reflection point. As a result, the vertical motion of the reflection point associated with the periodic oscillations was estimated to be about 1 km. It is known that 4-min period variations are sometimes observed in association with earthquakes, which is due to resonances of acoustic mode waves propagating between the ground and the lower ionosphere. Therefore, a similar resonance structure in the southern hemisphere is a plausible source of the traveling ionospheric disturbances detected in the northern hemisphere. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Equatorial plasma bubbles are a phenomenon of plasma density depletion with small-scale density irregularities, normally observed in the equatorial ionosphere. This phenomenon, which impacts satellite-based communications, was observed in the Asia-Pacific region after the largest-on-record January 15, 2022 eruption of the Tonga volcano. We used satellite and ground-based ionospheric observations to demonstrate that an air pressure wave triggered by the Tonga volcanic eruption could cause the emergence of an equatorial plasma bubble. The most prominent observation result shows a sudden increase of electron density and height of the ionosphere several ten minutes to hours before the initial arrival of the air pressure wave in the lower atmosphere. The propagation speed of ionospheric electron density variations was ~ 480–540 m/s, whose speed was higher than that of a Lamb wave (~315 m/s) in the troposphere. The electron density variations started larger in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. The fast response of the ionosphere could be caused by an instantaneous transmission of the electric field to the magnetic conjugate ionosphere along the magnetic field lines. After the ionospheric perturbations, electron density depletion appeared in the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere and extended at least up to ±25° in geomagnetic latitude.

ABSTRACTBacteria have developed various defense mechanisms against phages. Abortive infection (Abi), a bacterial defense mechanism, can be achieved through various means, including toxin-antitoxin systems, cyclic oligonucleotide-based antiphage signaling systems, and retrons. AbpA and AbpB (AbpAB) defend against many lytic phages harboring double-stranded DNA genomes in Escherichia coli; however, how AbpAB senses phage infection and inhibits its propagation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that AbpAB inhibited the growth of the φX174 lytic phage with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as well as the lysogenization and induction of the Sakai prophage 5 lysogenic phage. The AbpAB defense system limits T4 and φX174 phage propagation via Abi. AbpA contains a nuclease domain at its N-terminus, and AbpB has an ATP-dependent RNA helicase domain; both domains are required for phage defense. This system is activated by phage Gp32 binding to ssDNA and inhibits E. coli growth. Without phage infection, DNA replication inhibitors or defects in the DNA repair factors RecB and RecC activate this system. Therefore, the E. coli AbpAB defense system may sense DNA-protein complexes, including the phage-encoded ssDNA-binding protein or those formed by interrupting host DNA replication or repair.IMPORTANCEAlthough numerous phage defense systems have recently been discovered in bacteria, how these systems defend against phage propagation or sense phage infections remains unclear. The Escherichia coli AbpAB defense system targets several lytic and lysogenic phages harboring DNA genomes. A phage-encoded single-stranded DNA-binding protein, Gp32, activates this system similar to other phage defense systems such as Retron-Eco8, Hachiman, ShosTA, Nhi, and Hna. DNA replication inhibitors or defects in DNA repair factors activate the AbpAB system, even without phage infection. This is one of the few examples of activating phage defense systems without phage infection or proteins. The AbpAB defense system may be activated by sensing specific DNA-protein complexes.

Abstract The X-rays and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emitted during solar flares can rapidly change the physical composition of Earth’s ionosphere, causing space weather phenomena. It is important to develop an accurate understanding of solar flare emission spectra to understand how it affects the ionosphere. We reproduced the entire solar flare emission spectrum using an empirical model and physics-based model, and input it into the Earth’s atmospheric model, GAIA to calculate the total electron content (TEC) enhancement due to solar flare emission. We compared the statistics of nine solar flare events and calculated the TEC enhancements with the corresponding observed data. The model used in this study was able to estimate the TEC enhancement due to solar flare emission with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.9. The results of this study indicate that the TEC enhancement due to solar flare emission is determined by soft X-ray and EUV emission with wavelengths shorter than 35 nm. The TEC enhancement is found to be largely due to the change in the soft X-ray emission and EUV line emissions with wavelengths, such as Fe XVII 10.08 nm, Fe XIX 10.85 nm and He II 30.38 nm. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Relativistic electron precipitation (REP) from the Earth’s radiation belt plays an important role in mesospheric ozone loss as a connection between space weather and the climate system. However, the rapid (tens of minutes) destruction of mesospheric ozone directly caused by REP has remained poorly understood due to the difficulty of recognizing its location and duration. Here we show a compelling rapid correspondence between localized REP and ozone destruction during a specific auroral phenomenon, the called an isolated proton aurora (IPA). The IPA from the Earth’s radiation belt becomes an important spatial and temporal proxy of REP, distinct from other auroral phenomena, and allowing visualizing micro-ozone holes. We found ozone destruction of as much as 10–60% within 1.5 h of the initiation of IPA. Electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in the oxygen ion band observed as the driver of REP likely affect through resonance with mainly ultra-relativistic (> 2 mega-electron-volts) energy electrons. The rapid REP impact demonstrates its crucial role and direct effect on regulating the atmospheric chemical balance.

Abstract This study, for the first time, reports the geomagnetically conjugate structure of a plasma bubble extending to the mid-latitudes and the asymmetrical structure of the decay of the plasma bubble during a geomagnetic storm. We investigated the temporal and spatial variations of plasma bubbles in the Asian sector during a geomagnetic storm on March 1, 2013, using Global Navigation Satellite System-total electron content data with high spatiotemporal resolutions. The first important point of our data analysis results is that the plasma bubble extended from the equator to the mid-latitudes with geomagnetic conjugacy along the magnetic field lines. The total electron content data showed that the plasma bubbles appeared in the equatorial regions near 150° E after sunset during the main phase of the geomagnetic storm. From ionosonde data over both Japan and Australia, they suggest that a large eastward electric field existed in the Asian sector. Finally, the plasma bubbles extended up to the mid-latitudes (~ 43° geomagnetic latitude) in both hemispheres, maintaining geomagnetic conjugacy. The second point is that the mid-latitude plasma bubble disappeared 1–2 h earlier in the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere at close to midnight. In the northern hemisphere, the ionospheric virtual height decreased near midnight, followed by a rapid decrease in the total electron content and a rapid increase in the ionospheric virtual height. These results imply that the mid-latitude plasma bubble disappeared as the background plasma density decreased after midnight due to the recombination resulting from the descent of the F layer. Therefore, we can conclude that mid-latitude plasma bubbles can be asymmetric between the northern and southern hemispheres because of the rapid decay of plasma bubbles in one of the hemispheres. Graphical Abstract

This brief report examines the ground-based total electron content (TEC) in Asian sector during August–October 2019, covering the period of a stratosphere sudden warming (SSW) occurred in Antarctica. The analysis reveals pronounced ionospheric day-to-day variability with distinct periodicities. The most dominant and long-lasting periodicities are quasi-10 days and quasi 14-day during September and October, while a quasi 6-day also present in September. The 10-day and 6-day TEC oscillations were attributed by previous studies solely to the Antarctic SSW while assuming negligible geomagnetic effects. By comparing co-located ground mesospheric wind observations, along with the interplanetary electric field (IEF) and geomagnetic activity (Kp index), we demonstrate that the quasi 14-day oscillation is mainly driven by low-level geomagnetic activities, while quasi-6 days oscillation is driven by mesospheric wind changes during the SSW. The 10-day oscillation, on the other hand, is driven by both IEF and mesospheric wind in September, but by IEF in October. These results demonstrate that low-level geomagnetic activities traditionally classified as “quiet conditions” can induce significant day-to-day oscillations in TEC, and their impacts should not be ignored when studying meteorological (e.g., SSWs) impacts on the ionosphere.

Abstract To elucidate the characteristics of electromagnetic conjugacy of traveling ionospheric disturbances just after the 15 January 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption, we analyze Global Navigation Satellite System-total electron content data and ionospheric plasma velocity data obtained from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network Hokkaido pair of radars. Further, we use thermal infrared grid data with high spatial resolution observed by the Himawari 8 satellite to identify lower atmospheric disturbances associated with surface air pressure waves propagating as a Lamb mode. After 07:30 UT on 15 January, two distinct traveling ionospheric disturbances propagating in the westward direction appeared in the Japanese sector with the same structure as those at magnetically conjugate points in the Southern Hemisphere. Corresponding to these traveling ionospheric disturbances with their large amplitude of 0.5 – 1.1 × 1016 el/m2 observed in the Southern Hemisphere, the plasma flow direction in the F region changed from southward to northward. At this time, the magnetically conjugate points in the Southern Hemisphere were located in the sunlit region at a height of 105 km. The amplitude and period of the plasma flow variation are ~ 100–110 m/s and ~ 36–38 min, respectively. From the plasma flow perturbation, a zonal electric field is estimated as ~ 2.8–3.1 mV/m. Further, there is a phase difference of ~ 10–12 min between the total electron content and plasma flow perturbations. This result suggests that the external electric field variation generates the traveling ionospheric disturbances observed in both Southern and Northern Hemispheres. The origin of the external electric field is an E-region dynamo driven by the neutral wind oscillation associated with atmospheric acoustic waves and gravity waves. Finally, the electric field propagates to the F region and magnetically conjugate ionosphere along magnetic field lines with the local Alfven speed, which is much faster than that of Lamb mode waves. From these observational facts, it can be concluded that the E-region dynamo electric field produced in the sunlit Southern Hemisphere is a main cause of the two distinct traveling ionospheric disturbances appearing over Japan before the arrival of the air pressure disturbances. Graphical Abstract

Abstract A strong volcanic eruption caused a clear vertical acoustic resonance between the sea surface and the thermosphere. Its effects are observed as geomagnetic and GPS-TEC oscillations near the volcano and its geomagnetic conjugate area. The geomagnetic oscillations are observed at Apia and Honolulu geomagnetic observatories with amplitude of about 2 nT and 0.2 nT, respectively. The volcanic eruption started around 04:14 UT on January 15, 2022. The oscillations appeared at 04:21UT at Apia, Samoa, only about 7 min after the start of eruption. Because the distance between the volcano and Apia is about 841 km, it takes about 40 min for a sound wave to propagate from the volcano to Apia. Therefore, it is more plausible to assume that the magnetic oscillation observed at Apia about 7 min after the eruption is caused by the sound waves propagated vertically upward to the ionosphere and generated an electric current. The coherent appearance of geomagnetic oscillation at Honolulu located near the geomagnetic conjugate point of the volcano strongly support the idea that the ionospheric current generated over the volcano diverted as a field-aligned current which flew to the opposite hemisphere and caused the geomagnetic oscillation at Honolulu. The earliest start of GPS-TEC oscillation was around 04:15UT near the volcanic eruption, and it was around 04:20 UT at KOKV station in Hawaii. The time-lag of the TEC variations between Samoa and Hawaii obtained by a cross-correlation analysis is 4.5 min or 8.5 min. These time differences are much smaller than the travel time of the seismic waves from the volcano to Hawaii islands. Therefore, it is suggested that the electric field transmitted along geomagnetic field caused the TEC variation observed over Hawaii Islands. A sawtooth waveform of geomagnetic oscillation observed at Apia and Honolulu is analyzed and a possible generation mechanism is discussed. Graphical Abstract

Abstract We carried out a statistical analysis of the propagation characteristics of Es and Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) by combining data of HF Doppler (HFD) sounder and Total Electron Content (TEC) obtained from the GPS receivers of GEONET (GPS-TEC) for 4 years from 2014 to 2017. We made use of Es reflection data from the HFD receivers in Sugito, Saitama (36.0°N, 139.7°E), Fujisawa, Kanagawa (35.3°N, 139.5°E), and Sugadaira, Nagano (36.4°N, 138.3°E) in Japan. By using this triangle observation, we succeeded in deriving the horizontal speed and direction of the motion of Es. In addition, we estimated the phase velocity of MSTIDs observed in the simultaneously obtained maps of GPS-TEC with the same triangle observation procedure. The speeds of Es and MSTIDs were commonly less than 100 m/s in most cases and their propagation direction was predominantly southwestward. This result is consistent with the statistical characteristics of nighttime MSTIDs observed in the previous studies. More importantly, good correspondence between the propagation characteristics of the two phenomena at two different altitudes confirms that Es and MSTIDs move in tandem with each other, further suggesting that Es in the E region plays an important role in the generation and propagation of MSTIDs in the F region. Graphical Abstract

The density, porosity and compressive strength of white Portland cement (WPC) samples were evaluated to study their potential for use for bone implant applications. The effects of simulated body fluid (SBF) solution on the compressive strengths of WPC samples were also examined by immersing the sample in an SBF solution. The formation of bone-like apatite on the surface and in the internal structure of the WPC samples after immersion in an SBF solution was investigated. After 28 days of water curing, the compressive strength and porosity of the WPC samples were 51.88 MPa and 41.83%, respectively. The WPC samples tested after immersion in an SBF solution showed an improvement in compressive strength at approximately 13 percent, which is a good indicator for its use as a bone implant material. Bone-like apatite was apparently formed on the surfaces and in the internal structures of WPC samples after 28 days of immersion in an SBF solution. The thickness of the bone-like apatite forming was about 30 µm.

The study of ionospheric irregularities is important since many technological systems might be influenced by the ionosphere. In this work, we use data from the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receiver installed in Abuja, Nigeria, GPS Scintillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA) TEC data from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) data archive, and the geomagnetic data from the World Data Center (WDC) in Kyoto, Japan, to investigate the relationship between geomagnetic storm and ionospheric irregularity occurrences using the rate of change of total electron content (TEC) index (ROTI), with a validation using the S4 indices, during the peak of the 24th solar cycle. The occurrences of irregularities were investigated on day-to-day and seasonal bases. The nighttime ionospheric irregularities, which are attributed to ionospheric plasma irregularities in the equatorial ionospheric F-region, were found to be prevalent. To investigate the relationship between the strength of ionospheric irregularities (ROTI) and the geomagnetic storm (Dst), the periodogram power spectral density (PSD) and regression analysis were used. The results showed that there was no correlation, cc = 0.073, between the Dst and ROTI, implying that the strengths of ionospheric irregularities occurring during geomagnetic storms are not strictly decided by the magnitudes of the storms; this was also confirmed using the S4 index. The impact of geomagnetic storms caused enhanced development or inhibition of ionospheric irregularities. We observed that the bulk of the storms occurring during the period of this study is not associated with ionospheric irregularities. Finally, the investigation showed that the correlation between the ROTI and Dst observed during the coronal mass ejection (CME)-driven geomagnetic storms was higher than that during the corotating interaction region (CIR)-driven geomagnetic storms, during the peak of the 24th solar cycle. The results of this work confirm the findings by other researchers.

The use of waste or natural resources is an interesting approach to preparing adsorbent materials. Most adsorption materials are powder-based, making them impractical for a variety of applications. In this work, the natural kaolin clay and hydroxyapatite synthesized from biogenic waste were studied as defluoridation materials. The point of zero charge (pHPZC), the fluoride adsorption capability and the adsorption isotherm of calcined kaolin and mixed calcined kaolin/hydroxyapatite in both powdered and moulded forms were investigated. The hardness of the moulded (post-formed) samples was tested before and after in immersion in a fluoride solution. The maximum hardness was 15.8 kilo-pounds for the post-formed calcined kaolin sample. Sample hardness values slightly decreased after immersion in a fluoride solution due to the formation of micro-cracks. Most samples presented high pHPZC values, implying that these materials are suitable for the capture of fluoride anions. The adsorption properties varied with the ratio of calcined kaolin to hydroxyapatite. These properties for post-formed samples were different from those in powdered form. Post-formed samples showed higher fluoride adsorption. The maximum fluoride adsorption capacity and efficiency of the post-formed samples (calcined kaolin) at pH 3 were 1.74 F− mg/g and 87%, respectively. The sorption of fluoride of hydroxyapatite and mixed calcined kaolin/hydroxyapatite powders was found to have the form of the Langmuir isotherm, which indicates a monolayer adsorption on the adsorbent surface. Isotherms of calcined kaolin powder, post-formed calcined kaolin and mixed calcined kaolin/hydroxyapatite samples followed the Freundlich isotherm, which indicates multilayer adsorption on a heterogenous adsorbent surface.

Abstract We provide the first unbiased evidence for a higher-order topological Mott insulator in three dimensions by numerically exact quantum Monte Carlo simulations. This insulating phase is adiabatically connected to a third-order topological insulator in the noninteracting limit, which features gapless modes around the corners of the pyrochlore lattice and is characterized by a $${\mathbb {Z}}_{4}$$ Z 4 spin-Berry phase. The difference between the correlated and non-correlated topological phases is that in the former phase the gapless corner modes emerge only in spin excitations being Mott-like. We also show that the topological phase transition from the third-order topological Mott insulator to the usual Mott insulator occurs when the bulk spin gap solely closes.

The occurrence of post-sunset equatorial spread-F (ESF) could have detrimental effects on trans-ionospheric radio wave propagation used in modern communications systems. This problem calls for a simple but robust model that accurately predicts the occurrence of post-sunset ESF. Logistic regression was implemented to model the daily occurrence of post-sunset ESF as a function of the evening upward plasma drift (v). The use of logistic regression is formalized by y^=1/[1+exp(−z)], where y^ represents the probability of post-sunset ESF occurrence, and z is a linear function containing v. The value of v is derived from the vertical motion of the bottom side of the F-region in the evening equatorial ionosphere, which is observed by the ionosondes in Southeast Asia. Data points (938) of v and post-sunset ESF occurrence were collected in the equinox seasons from 2003 to 2016. The training set used 70% of the dataset to derive z and y^ and the remaining 30% was used to test the performance of y^. The expression z=−2.25+0.14v was obtained from the training set, and y^≥0.5 (v ≥ ~16.1 m/s) and y^<0.5 (v < ~16.1 m/s) represented the occurrence and non-occurrence of ESF, respectively, with an accuracy of ~0.8 and a true skill score (TSS) of ~0.6. Similarly, in the testing set, y^ shows an accuracy of ~0.8 and a TSS of ~0.6. Further analysis suggested that the performance of the z-function can be reliable in the daily F10.7 levels ranging from 60 to 140 solar flux units. The z-function implemented in the logistic regression (y^) found in this study is a novel technique to predict the post-sunset ESF occurrence. The performance consistency between the training set and the testing set concludes that the z-function and the y^ values of the proposed model could be a simple and robust mathematical model for daily nowcasting the occurrence or non-occurrence of post-sunset ESFs.

The toxin-antitoxin (TA) genetic modules control various bacterial events, such as plasmid maintenance, persister cell formation, and phage defense. They also exist in mobile genetic elements, including prophages; however, their physiological roles remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that hokW-sokW, a putative TA locus encoded in Sakai prophage 5 (Sp5) in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157: H7 Sakai strain, functions as a type I TA system. Bacterial growth assays showed that the antitoxic activity of sokW RNA against HokW toxin partially requires an endoribonuclease, RNase III, and an RNA chaperone, Hfq. We also demonstrated that hokW-sokW assists Sp5-mediated lysis of E. coli cells when prophage induction is promoted by the DNA-damaging agent mitomycin C (MMC). We found that MMC treatment diminished sokW RNA and increased both the expression level and inner membrane localization of HokW in a RecA-dependent manner. Remarkably, the number of released Sp5 phages decreased by half in the absence of hokW-sokW. These results suggest that hokW-sokW plays a novel role as a TA system that facilitates the release of Sp5 phage progeny through E. coli lysis.

Medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) are one of the ionospheric plasma density structures and are observable through 630-nm airglow images. Previous studies using airglow images at Tromso (69.6°N, 19.2°E; magnetic latitude: 66.7°N), Norway, reported high-latitude MSTIDs (here we call them as polar-type MSTIDs) whose propagation direction changes associated with auroral brightening and magnetic field disturbances. However, there has been little statistical analysis on the connection of MSTIDs occurring at high and middle latitudes. In this study, we statistically analyzed the MSTIDs observed by an airglow imager at Nyrola (62.3°N, 25.5°E; magnetic latitude: 59.4°N), Finland, which is located ~7° south of Tromso, corresponding to subauroral latitudes. The period analyzed was from 23 January 2017, to 30 September 2021. We found 11 cases of MSTIDs during this period. Eight cases were found to be the polar-type MSTIDs whose motion changes associated with auroral brightening and magnetic field disturbances. We found that 9 cases of MSTID show the low-latitude boundary at 61° ± 2°N for geographic latitude and 58° ± 2°N for magnetic latitude, indicating disconnection between high- and mid-latitude MSTIDs. We also derived occurrence probability, velocity, wavelength, period, wave front direction, and propagation direction of these MSTIDs. The occurrence probability of MSTIDs at Nyrola is 1.9%, which is much lower than those at high (Tromsoe, more than 50%) and middle (Japan, ~30%) latitudes. We discuss these MSTID characteristics at subauroral latitudes based on possible difference of generation mechanisms of nighttime MSTIDs at high and middle latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low latitude ionosphere and thermosphere are strongly disturbed during and shortly after geomagnetic storms. We use novel Jicamarca radar measurements, ACE satellite solar wind, and SuperMAG geomagnetic field observations to study the electrodynamic response of the equatorial ionosphere to the 23, 24 April 2023 geomagnetic storm. We also compare our data with results from previous experimental and modeling studies of equatorial storm-time electrodynamics. We show, for the first time, unusually large equatorial vertical and zonal plasma drift (zonal and meridional electric field) perturbations driven simultaneously by multi storm-time electric field mechanisms during both the storm main and recovery phases. These include daytime undershielding and overshielding prompt penetration electric fields driven by solar wind electric fields and dynamic pressure changes, substorms, as well as disturbance dynamo electric fields, which are not well reproduced by current empirical models. Our nighttime measurements, over an extended period of large and slowly decreasing southward IMF Bz, show very large, substorm-driven, vertical and zonal drift fluctuations superposed on large undershield driven upward and westward drifts up to about 01 LT, and the occurrence of equatorial spread F irregularities with very strong spatial and temporal structuring. These nighttime observations cannot be explained by present models of equatorial storm-time electrodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]