MHD waveguide in the outer magnetosphere and mechanisms of its excitation

The geomagnetic field and plasma inhomogeneities in the outer equatorial part of the magnetosphere are responsible for the existence of the channel with low Alfven speeds, which extends from the nose to the far flanks of the magnetosphere, both in the morning and evening sectors. This channel serves as a waveguide in the fast magnetosonic waves. Travelling along the waveguide (i.e., in the azimuthal direction), an eigenmode undergoes evolution. Parameters of the waveguide vary along the way of the wave propagation and the eigenmode “adapts” to these parameters. Conditions of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability change due to the variation of the solar wind speed along the magnetopause. Conditions of the penetration of solar wind hydromagnetic waves into the magnetosphere change due to the same variation. The wave penetration process turns to the overreflection regime, which sharply amplifies the pump level of the magnetospheric waveguide. The fast mode propagating along the waveguide is accompanied by the Alfven resonance deep within the magnetosphere. Oscillation energy dissipation takes place in the vicinity of the Alfven resonance. Along the magnetic field lines, the Alfven resonance is a standing Alfven wave; thus it reaches the ionosphere and the Earth’s surface. At the same time, no fast waveguide modes localized in the low Alfven speed channel can be observed on the Earth. Waveguide oscillations evolution is investigated in this paper both analytically and numerically taking into account all of the aforementioned factors as the oscilla-tions propagate from the nose to the tail of the magnetosphere. Spectral composition and spatial structure of the oscillations are found. The theory allows for a description of Pc3 and Pc5 pulsations – the most important magnetospheric pulsations. As such it follows that Pc3 are localized on the dayside of the magnetosphere, whereas Pc 5 are localized in the dawn-dusk sectors – in full agreement with the observations.

Contribution of Efflux Pumps, Porins, and β-Lactamases to Multidrug Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii

ABSTRACTWe investigated the mechanisms of resistance to carbapenems, aminoglycosides, glycylcyclines, tetracyclines, and quinolones in 90 multiresistant clinical strains ofAcinetobacter baumanniiisolated from two genetically unrelatedA. baumanniiclones: clone PFGE-ROC-1 (53 strains producing the OXA-58 β-lactamase enzyme and 18 strains with the OXA-24 β-lactamase) and clone PFGE-HUI-1 (19 strains susceptible to carbapenems). We used real-time reverse transcriptase PCR to correlate antimicrobial resistance (MICs) with expression of genes encoding chromosomal β-lactamases (AmpC and OXA-51), porins (OmpA, CarO, Omp33, Dcap-like, OprB, Omp25, OprC, OprD, and OmpW), and proteins integral to six efflux systems (AdeABC, AdeIJK, AdeFGH, CraA, AbeM, and AmvA). Overexpression of the AdeABC system (level of expression relative to that byA. baumanniiATCC 17978, 30- to 45-fold) was significantly associated with resistance to tigecycline, minocycline, and gentamicin and other biological functions. However, hyperexpression of the AdeIJK efflux pump (level of expression relative to that byA. baumanniiATCC 17978, 8- to 10-fold) was significantly associated only with resistance to tigecycline and minocycline (to which the TetB efflux system also contributed). TetB and TetA(39) efflux pumps were detected in clinical strains and were associated with resistance to tetracyclines and doxycycline. The absence of the AdeABC system and the lack of expression of other mechanisms suggest that tigecycline-resistant strains of the PFGE-HUI-1 clone may be associated with a novel resistance-nodulation-cell efflux pump (decreased MICs in the presence of the inhibitor Phe-Arg β-naphthylamide dihydrochloride) and the TetA(39) system.

Twin-beams Statistics for Strong Pumping

Twin-beams generated by non degenerate optical parametric oscillators exhibit squeezing in the inten­ sity difference. Here we report intensity noise correlation and single beam spectra for pump power up to 14 times the threshold value. The degree of correlation of the two beams is practically independent of pump level. The single beam spectra confirm presence of relaxation oscillation.