We discuss various aspects of the spontaneous generation of magnetic fields in a Langmuir plasma. We first of all show that the correct general expression for the ponderomotive force leads to the solenoidal current responsible for the magnetic-field generation. We derive the ponderomotive-force expression and also the magnetic-field generation equations from a two-time-scale two-fluid description. We also use a kinetic approach to derive the magnetic-field generation equations. We discuss the stability of monochromatic Langmuir waves and show that they are subject to both the ordinary modulational instability and to a magneto-modulational instability. We show that the coupled nonlinear equations describing the electric field strength amplitude, the plasma density, and the self-generated magnetic field can, under certain conditions, be reduced to a generalized cubic nonlinear Schrodinger equation. We finally show, by using a virial theorem, that the self-generated magnetic field does not stabilize the wave collapse.

A tripolar vortex, three aligned vortices with alternate signs of polarity of rotation, has been observed in a plasma for the first time. The tripolar vortex always appears with a deep density depression in the neutral particles, and the rotation direction of each vortex is opposite to that of the E×B rotation due to the ambipolar electric field. It is shown that a net momentum transfer during the charge-exchange interaction produces an effective force acting on the ions. The present experiment shows that this effective force may dominate the ambipolar-electric field and drive the anti-E×B vortical motion of ions.

The cut-off of the Alfvén wave, caused by plasma collisions with neutrals in multi-component partially ionized plasmas, is discussed. Full multi-component theory is used, and similarities and differences regarding the classic magnetohydrodynamic theory are presented. It is shown that the cut-off in partially ionized plasma in principle may remain the same as predicted in classic magnetohydrodynamic works, although multi-component theory also yields some essential differences. Due to electric field, the ion motion is intrinsically two-dimensional and this results in additional forced oscillations of neutrals. One new small parameter, containing the ion inertial length, appears in the multi-component theory. This new small parameter is missing in the magnetohydrodynamic description, and it turns out that for some parameters it may be greater than the ions-to-neutrals density ratio which is the only small parameter in the magnetohydrodynamic description. Due to this the Alfvén wave behavior can become much different as compared to classic magnetohydrodynamic results. It is shown also that in plasmas with unmagnetized ions, Alfvén waves cannot be excited. This by all means applies to the solar photosphere where the ion collision frequency may be far above the ion gyro-frequency.

BackgroundRegulatory T cells (Tregs) play a role in the suppression of inflammation in autoimmune diseases, and lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) was reported as a marker of interleukin (IL)-10-producing Tregs. We aimed to clarify the function of human IL-10-producing CD4+CD25−LAG3+ T cells (LAG3+ Tregs) and their association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsLAG3+ Tregs of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured with B cells and follicular helper T cells to examine antibody suppression effects. The frequency of LAG3+ Tregs was evaluated in peripheral blood samples from 101 healthy donors and 85 patients with RA. In patients treated with abatacept, PBMC samples were analyzed before and after treatment. Naive CD4+ T cells were sorted and cultured in the presence of abatacept, followed by flow cytometric analysis and function assays.ResultsLAG3+ Tregs produced high amounts of IL-10 and interferon-γ, and they suppressed B-cell antibody production more strongly than CD25+ Tregs. Cell-to-cell contact was required for the suppressive function of LAG3+ Tregs. The frequency of LAG3+ Tregs was lower in patients with RA, especially those with higher Clinical Disease Activity Index scores. LAG3+ Tregs significantly increased after 6 months of abatacept treatment, whereas CD25+ Tregs generally decreased. Abatacept treatment in vitro conferred LAG3 and EGR2 expression on naive CD4+ T cells, and abatacept-treated CD4+ T cells exhibited suppressive activity.ConclusionsIL-10-producing LAG3+ Tregs are associated with the immunopathology and therapeutic response in RA. LAG3+ Tregs may participate in a mechanism for the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects of targeted therapy for costimulation.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-017-1309-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A theory of spiral structure formation has been formulated to show that spiral structures are rather basic entities in magnetized rotating plasmas subjected to various kind of instabilities such as collisional drift wave instability, flute mode instability due to centrifugal force, and Kelvin-Hehnhotz instability.