Inner southern magnetosphere observation of Mercury via SERENA ion sensors in BepiColombo mission.

Mercury's southern inner magnetosphere is an unexplored region as it was not observed by earlier space missions. In October 2021, BepiColombo mission has passed through this region during its first Mercury flyby. Here, we describe the observations of SERENA ion sensors nearby and inside Mercury's magnetosphere. An intermittent high-energy signal, possibly due to an interplanetary magnetic flux rope, has been observed downstream Mercury, together with low energy solar wind. Low energy ions, possibly due to satellite outgassing, were detected outside the magnetosphere. The dayside magnetopause and bow-shock crossing were much closer to the planet than expected, signature of a highly eroded magnetosphere. Different ion populations have been observed inside the magnetosphere, like low latitude boundary layer at magnetopause inbound and partial ring current at dawn close to the planet. These observations are important for understanding the weak magnetosphere behavior so close to the Sun, revealing details never reached before.

Observational evidence of ring current in the magnetosphere of Mercury.

The magnetic gradient and curvature drift of energetic ions can form a longitudinal electric current around a planet known as the ring current, that has been observed in the intrinsic magnetospheres of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. However, there is still a lack of observational evidence of ring current in Mercury's magnetosphere, which has a significantly weaker dipole magnetic field. Under such conditions, charged particles are thought to be efficiently lost through magnetopause shadowing and/or directly impact the planetary surface. Here, we present the observational evidence of Mercury's ring current by analysing particle measurements from MErcury Surface, Space Environment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft. The ring current is bifurcated because of the dayside off-equatorial magnetic minima. Test-particle simulation with Mercury's dynamic magnetospheric magnetic field model (KT17 model) validates this morphology. The ring current energy exceeds [Formula: see text] J during active times, indicating that magnetic storms may also occur on Mercury.

SERENA: Particle Instrument Suite for Determining the Sun-Mercury Interaction from BepiColombo.

The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury will provide simultaneous measurements from two spacecraft, offering an unprecedented opportunity to investigate magnetospheric and exospheric particle dynamics at Mercury as well as their interactions with solar wind, solar radiation, and interplanetary dust. The particle instrument suite SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances) is flying in space on-board the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and is the only instrument for ion and neutral particle detection aboard the MPO. It comprises four independent sensors: ELENA for neutral particle flow detection, Strofio for neutral gas detection, PICAM for planetary ions observations, and MIPA, mostly for solar wind ion measurements. SERENA is managed by a System Control Unit located inside the ELENA box. In the present paper the scientific goals of this suite are described, and then the four units are detailed, as well as their major features and calibration results. Finally, the SERENA operational activities are shown during the orbital path around Mercury, with also some reference to the activities planned during the long cruise phase.

Sex and psychiatric comorbidity correlates of the premonitory urge for tic scale in youth with persistent tic disorders.

The premonitory urge for tics scale (PUTS) is a common self-report measure of premonitory sensations preceding tics. The present study aimed to examine the internal consistency and concurrent validity of the PUTS by sex and psychiatric comorbidity status; and explored interactions between sex and psychiatric comorbidity in predicting premonitory urge and tic symptom severity. Seventy-four youth and young adults with persistent tic disorders completed the PUTS, while their parents completed the parent tic questionnaire (PTQ) and a demographic measure. Independent samples t-tests revealed no significant sex differences in PUTS items or total score. The PUTS total score also did not significantly differ between participants with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) comorbidity. Internal consistency did not significantly differ between females (α = 0.85) and males (α = 0.75), and those with comorbid ADHD and/or OCD (α = 0.83) relative to those without (α = 0.69). With respect to concurrent validity, the PUTS total was significantly correlated with PTQ tic frequency, intensity, number, and severity for males but not for females. Among those with ADHD and/or OCD, the PUTS total score was correlated significantly and strongly with tic number and moderately with tic intensity. Interactions between sex and psychiatric comorbidity performed using 2 × 2 analysis of variance did not significantly predict the PUTS total or PTQ subscale scores. Findings suggest sex and comorbidity status may influence premonitory urge expression. Results have implications for understanding and measurement of the premonitory urge.

Thermal stability of kudzu root (Pueraria Radix) isoflavones as additives to beef patties.

Kudzu root, Pueraria radix, extracts are a rich source of isoflavones. This study investigates the thermal stability of Pueraria radix extracts as a natural nutraceutical supplement in beef patties. The extract contained puerarin, diadzin, genistin, ononin, daidzein, glycitein, calycosin, genistein, formononetin and biochanin A; however, puerarin, daidzein and glycitein were the main components. The isoflavones concentrations in the spiked beef patties with kudzu root extracts were unaffected by cooking.

Potential pitfalls in the work-up and diagnosis of choanal atresia.

To increase an awareness of the developmental anatomy of the nasal cavity as it applies to the radiologic work-up of choanal atresia and frontoethmoidal cephaloceles, we report two cases that demonstrate potentially serious imaging pitfalls. Two neonates with nasopharyngeal obstruction were imaged with CT and MR. Both patients had surgically proved bilateral bony choanal atresia. In addition to choanal atresia, CT showed a radiolucent, or nonossified cribriform plate and mucoid secretions within the nasal fossa, adjacent to the cribriform plate, which approximated the attenuation of brain parenchyma. In one of the patients, a preoperative diagnosis of nasopharyngeal encephalocele resulted in surgical exploration. At surgery, however, the cartilaginous cribriform plate was found to be intact.

Dracula. Disorders of the self and borderline personality organization.

It has been proposed that Bram Stoker's novel Dracula can best be understood as a dramatic, hyperbolic, and fantastic expression of themes consistent with contemporary psychoanalytic conceptions of borderline personality disorder organization. Such an understanding may, in turn, shed further light on the nature of the intrapsychic world and experiences of borderline patients. Excerpts from the novel can be used to support the conceptualization of recent contributions to object relations theory and the understanding of borderline personality organization. It is uncanny how consistent Dracula's characteristics are to the generally seen complaints of patients suffering from this disorder.

Progressive neonatal airway obstruction secondary to cervical thymic cyst.

Cervical thymic cysts are extremely unusual neoplasms that only rarely produce signs and symptoms of upper airway tract compromise. Less than 7% of patients initially have dyspnea or hoarseness. We report the first known case of progressive neonatal airway obstruction secondary to a rapidly enlarging cervical thymic cyst. Because one half of these benign tumors may demonstrate mediastinal extension, computed axial tomography or B-mode ultrasonography or both is recommended prior to surgical excision. Review of the literature confirms that the majority are successfully removed via a transcervical approach without recurrence.

The surgical management of recalcitrant malignant external otitis.

Aggressive medical management and surgical debridement is curative in most cases of malignant external otitis. Recently, four patients with this condition were treated at the University of California, San Francisco, who did not respond to conventional therapy. In each case, appropriate intravenous antibiotics, diabetic management, and extensive excision of involved tissue failed to eradicate the infection. Progression of the disease was evidenced by any one of the following: 1. Persistence of granulation tissue in the external auditory canal, 2. Development of cranial neuropathies during treatment, 3. Other signs or symptoms of active infection for more than two weeks after institution of therapy. Any one of these criteria was considered an indication for more radical surgical intervention. In three patients, the operative procedure consisted of a subtotal temporal bone resection to gain access to the primary focus of infection and provide adequate drainage. The common finding in each case was an abscess cavity in the soft tissues at the base of the skull. A description of the clinical course and surgical management of malignant external otitis forms the basis of this communication.