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Magnetic switchbacks are reversals (deflection angle θ _B > 90°) in the radial magnetic field B _r , accompanied by proton bulk flow v _p enhancement. The switchback generation mechanism(s) is still debated, though switchback evolution is linked to coronal heating. In this study, we provide an exhaustive investigation of magnetic fluctuations in the first 14 Parker Solar Probe encounters. Our results show (1) enhanced magnetic fluctuations ( θ _B ≤ 90°) and (2) clear absence of B _r reversals θ _B > 90° in sub-Alfvénic solar corona. It is concluded that switchbacks are either generated locally in super-Alfvénic solar wind (in situ) or that a subpopulation of magnetic fluctuations generated in sub-Alfvénic solar corona (ex situ) evolves into switchbacks once in super-Alfvénic solar wind flow. In other words, in situ mechanisms are necessary for switchback formation. It is then hypothesized that interchange reconnection in sub-Alfvénic solar corona can provide both the necessary ex situ trigger and in situ evolution mechanisms for switchback formation, though other trigger mechanisms cannot be ruled out.

The Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT) mission will aim at making major discoveries on the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of heliospheric structures that drive space weather. The focus will be on Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections (ICMEs) that originate from massive expulsions of plasma and magnetic flux from the solar corona. They cause the largest geomagnetic storms and solar energetic particle events, threatening to endanger life and disrupt technology on Earth and in space. A big current problem, both regarding fundamental solar-terrestrial physics and space weather, is that we do not yet understand spatial characteristics and temporal evolution of ICMEs and that the existing remote-sensing and in-situ observatories are not suited for resolving multi-layered and evolutionary structures in these massive storm drivers. Here, we propose a groundbreaking mission concept study using solar sail technology that, for the first time, will make continuous, in-situ multi-point observations along the Sun-Earth line beyond the Lagrange point L1 (sub-L1). This unique position, in combination with L1 assets, will allow distinguishing between local and global processes, spatial characteristics, temporal evolution, and particle energization mechanisms related to ICMEs. In addition, measurements of the magnetic field in earthbound ICMEs and their sub-structures from the SWIFT location will double the current forecasting lead-times from L1. This concept also paves the way for missions with increasingly longer forecasting lead-times, addressing NASA and NOAA’s space weather goals, as set forth by the Decadal Survey. The objective of this communication is to inform the community of the ongoing effort, including plans to further develop the mission concept, supported by the Heliophysics Flight Opportunities Studies (HFOS) program under NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES).

Magnetosheath jets are regions of high dynamic pressure, which can traverse from the bow shock towards the magnetopause. Recent modelling efforts, limited to a single jet and a single set of upstream conditions, have provided the first estimations about how the jet parameters behave as a function of position within the magnetosheath. Here we expand the earlier results by doing the first statistical investigation of the jet dimensions and parameters as a function of their lifetime within the magnetosheath. To verify the simulation behaviour, we first identify jets from Magnetosphere Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft data (6142 in total) and confirm the Vlasiator jet general behaviour using statistics of 924 simulated individual jets. We find that the jets in the simulation are in quantitative agreement with the observations, confirming earlier findings related to jets using Vlasiator. The jet density, dynamic pressure, and magnetic field intensity show a sharp jump at the bow shock, which decreases towards the magnetopause. The jets appear compressive and cooler than the magnetosheath at the bow shock, while during their propagation towards the magnetopause they thermalise. Further, the shape of the jets flatten as they progress through the magnetosheath. They are able to maintain their flow velocity and direction within the magnetosheath flow, and they end up preferentially to the side of the magnetosheath behind the quasi-parallel shock. Finally, we find that Vlasiator jets during low solar wind Alfvén Mach number MA are shorter in duration, smaller in their extent, and weaker in terms of dynamic pressure and magnetic field intensity as compared to the jets during high MA.

The foreshock is a region of space upstream of the Earth's bow shock extending along the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). It is permeated by shock-reflected ions and electrons, low-frequency waves, and various plasma transients. We investigate the extent of the He2+ foreshock using Vlasiator, a global hybrid-Vlasov simulation. We perform the first numerical global survey of the helium foreshock and interpret some historical foreshock observations in a global context. The foreshock edge is populated by both proton and helium field-aligned beams, with the proton foreshock extending slightly further into the solar wind than the helium foreshock and both extending well beyond the ultra-low frequency (ULF) wave foreshock. We compare our simulation results with Magnetosphere Multiscale (MMS) Hot Plasma Composition Analyzer (HPCA) measurements, showing how the gradient of suprathermal ion densities at the foreshock crossing can vary between events. Our analysis suggests that the IMF cone angle and the associated shock obliquity gradient can play a role in explaining this differing behaviour. We also investigate wave–ion interactions with wavelet analysis and show that the dynamics and heating of He2+ must result from proton-driven ULF waves. Enhancements in ion agyrotropy are found in relation to, for example, the ion foreshock boundary, the ULF foreshock boundary, and specular reflection of ions at the bow shock. We show that specular reflection can describe many of the foreshock ion velocity distribution function (VDF) enhancements. Wave–wave interactions deep in the foreshock cause de-coherence of wavefronts, allowing He2+ to be scattered less than protons.

The present study set out to develop and validate a parenting styles questionnaire based on Glasser’s choice theory. The design of this quantitative research was correlational. The statistical population of the study was comprised of all parents of 7- to 18-year-old students in District 6 of Tehran in 2018. The drawn sample (N= 360) was selected by random multi-stage cluster sampling method. At first, the constructs of parenting styles based on Glasser’ s choice theory (1998) were extracted via extensive literature review. Then, 87 measurable items were defined for these constructs. In the next step, the face validity as well as content validity of these items were established and the inappropriate items were deleted. As a result, a total number of 46 items remained. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for the purpose of obtaining construct validity which resulted in a questionnaire comprising 40 items. This questionnaire is comprised of two types of constructive and destructive subscales. The first 21 items are related to the constructive style and the next 19 items are connected with the destructive style. The internal consistency of questionnaire was established by Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (0.89, 0.87, and 0.81 for the constructive and destructive styles and the total scale, respectively). Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that constructive and authoritative parenting styles both comprise elements which are expected to be more beneficial for the development and well-being of children as opposed to destructive and authoritarian parenting styles.

Bladder cancer is the most common urinary tract neoplasm, affecting many people annually. Current diagnostic and surveillance methods for bladder cancer are frequently invasive and lack sensitivity and specificity. This study aimed to develop an accurate and non-invasive urine-based gene expression assay, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), homeobox A13 (HOXA13), and polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), to diagnose non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) at stages Ta and T1. The samples were acquired from 62 patients with NMIBC, 31 control individuals, and 31 patients with non-cancerous genitourinary tract diseases. The expression levels of three relevant genes were determined using quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the data for these genes were computed. Our results showed that PLK1, HOXA13, and FGFR3 expressions of genes were significantly elevated in patients compared to the control groups (p = 0.0001; p = 0.039). The sensitivity and specificity for the FGFR3 gene were 55% and 76%, respectively (p = 0.39). These parameters for HOXA13 were 100% and 93% (p = 0.0001) and for PLK1 were 100% and 86% (p = 0.0001) for diagnosing and monitoring NMIBC. HOXA13 and PLK 1 exhibited adequate specificity and sensitivity for diagnosis. The results of this research showed that despite the higher expression of these genes in urine, only HOXA13 and PLK1 had sufficient and proper specificity and sensitivity, so the urinary expression of these two genes can be used in future studies for diagnosis and monitoring in cancer bladder., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato . In Central Iran, no molecular information is available on CE in humans. Therefore, in this study, we identified the genotyping of hydatid cysts obtained from patients with CE in central Iran using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( cox 1) gene. Patients and Methods: Hydatid cysts were obtained from 19 patients referred to Shahid Sadoughi, Mojibian, and Mortaz Hospitals, Yazd, Iran from 2018 to 2020. Informed consent was obtained from all included patients. After DNA extraction, amplification was done using cox 1 gene. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA7. Results: Of the 19 patients, 11 (57.9%) were male and eight (42.1%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 35.645 ± 2.55 years old. Regarding cyst location, of eight isolates from lung, six and two belonged to G1 and G6, respectively; and all liver cysts were G1 genotype. The spleen and neck cysts had G1 and G6 genotypes, respectively (p > 0.05). All cysts with a diameter in the range of 5-10 cm (n = 9) and large cysts (>10 cm; n = 5) were identified as G1 (p = 0.002). The maximum likelihood tree topology demonstrated the maximum similarity of G1 among Iran and worldwide (99%-100% likelihood). Conclusions: Based on our results, it seems that the sheep-dog cycle in the infection of humans by Echinococcus granulosus in this study area has the most important role compared with the other cycles such as the camel-dog one.

The Vlasiator hybrid-Vlasov code was developed to investigate global magnetospheric dynamics at ion-kinetic scales. Here we focus on the role of magnetic reconnection in the formation and evolution of magnetic islands at the low-latitude magnetopause, under southward interplanetary magnetic field conditions. The simulation results indicate that (1) the magnetic reconnection ion kinetics, including the Earthward pointing Larmor electric field on the magnetospheric side of an X-point and anisotropic ion distributions, are well-captured by Vlasiator, thus enabling the study of reconnection-driven magnetic island evolution processes, (2) magnetic islands evolve due to continuous reconnection at adjacent X-points, "coalescence" which refers to the merging of neighboring islands to create a larger island, "erosion" during which an island loses magnetic flux due to reconnection, and "division" which involves the splitting of an island into smaller islands, and (3) continuous reconnection at adjacent X-points is the dominant source of magnetic flux and plasma to the outer layers of magnetic islands resulting in cross-sectional growth rates up to + 0.3 R E 2 /min. The simulation results are compared to the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) measurements of a chain of ion-scale flux transfer events (FTEs) sandwiched between two dominant X-lines. The MMS measurements similarly reveal (1) anisotropic ion populations and (2) normalized reconnection rate ~0.18, in agreement with theory and the Vlasiator predictions. Based on the simulation results and the MMS measurements, it is estimated that the observed ion-scale FTEs may grow Earth-sized within ~10 min, which is comparable to the average transport time for FTEs formed in the subsolar region to the high-latitude magnetopause. Future simulations shall revisit reconnection-driven island evolution processes with improved spatial resolutions., (©2020. The Authors.)

Adenosarcoma is a rare tumour which usually originates from endometrium. This paper presents a 69-year-old woman with adenosarcoma of uterus and a history of breast cancer and 10 years tamoxifen therapy.

α-fetoprotein (AFP) producing adenocarcinoma of endometrium is a rare tumour. It is mostly high grade and has poor prognosis. Lung metastases are common. In this article, the authors present a case of a 57-year-old woman with AFP producing adenocarcinoma of endometrium and history of bilateral metachronous breast cancer, with lung, subcutaneous and brain metastases.