Observed Electron Density Research Articles

Appraising protein conformational changes by resampling time-resolved serial x-ray crystallography data.

With the development of serial crystallography at both x-ray free electron laser and synchrotron radiation sources, time-resolved x-ray crystallography is increasingly being applied to study conformational changes in macromolecules. A successful time-resolved serial crystallography study requires the growth of microcrystals, a mechanism for synchronized and homogeneous excitation of the reaction of interest within microcrystals, and tools for structural interpretation. Here, we utilize time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography data collected from microcrystals of bacteriorhodopsin to compare results from partial occupancy structural refinement and refinement against extrapolated data. We illustrate the domain wherein the amplitude of refined conformational changes is inversely proportional to the activated state occupancy. We illustrate how resampling strategies allow coordinate uncertainty to be estimated and demonstrate that these two approaches to structural refinement agree within coordinate errors. We illustrate how singular value decomposition of a set of difference Fourier electron density maps calculated from resampled data can minimize phase bias in these maps, and we quantify residual densities for transient water molecules by analyzing difference Fourier and Polder omit maps from resampled data. We suggest that these tools may assist others in judging the confidence with which observed electron density differences may be interpreted as functionally important conformational changes.

Thermospheric Exospheric Temperature and Composition Responses on 15 January 2022 Tonga Volcanic Eruption Based on the Ionosonde Observations

AbstractWe report thermospheric exospheric temperature and composition responses on the 15 January 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption. The temperature and composition profiles are inversed from three ionosonde (MHJ45, EG931, FF051) observed electron density profiles (∼150–200 km) using our new method (Li, Ren, et al., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ja030988). The retrieved exospheric temperatures all showed obvious eruption‐induced perturbations, with maximum disturbance magnitude of ∼200 K at MHJ45 and ∼100 K at EG931 and FF051. The temperature variations were related to eruption‐excited thermospheric waves and their propagation with different speeds. While column ∑O/N2 had no evident changes similar to temperatures, which were basically consistent with GOLD observations. In comparison, higher thermospheric O/N2 has larger eruption‐related changes, maybe due to the exponential increase of thermospheric wave amplitudes with height. The application of our inversion method, combined with continuous observations and global coverage of ionosonde data, provide a possibility to further investigate thermospheric responses to different geophysical conditions.

A Missing Piece of the E‐Region Puzzle: High‐Resolution Photoionization Cross Sections and Solar Irradiances in Models

AbstractMost ionospheric models cannot sufficiently reproduce the observed electron density profiles in the E‐region ionosphere, since they usually underestimate electron densities and do not match the profile shape. Mitigation of these issues is often addressed by increasing the solar soft X‐ray flux which is ineffective for resolving data‐model discrepancies. We show that low‐resolution cross sections and solar spectral irradiances fail to preserve structure within the data, which considerably impacts radiative processes in the E‐region, and are largely responsible for the discrepancies between observations and simulations. To resolve data‐model inconsistencies, we utilize new high‐resolution (0.001 nm) atomic oxygen (O) and molecular nitrogen (N2) cross sections and solar spectral irradiances, which contain autoionization and narrow rotational lines that allow solar photons to reach lower altitudes and increase the photoelectron flux. This work improves upon Meier et al. (2007, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006gl028484) by additionally incorporating high‐resolution N2 photoionization and photoabsorption cross sections in model calculations. Model results with the new inputs show increased O+ production rates of over 500%, larger than those of Meier et al. (2007, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006gl028484) and total ion production rates of over 125%, while production rates decrease by ∼15% in the E‐region in comparison to the results obtained using the cross section compilation from Conway (1988, https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA193866.pdf). Low‐resolution molecular oxygen (O2) cross sections from the Conway compilation are utilized for all input cases and indicate that is a dominant contributor to the total ion production rate in the E‐region. Specifically, the photoionization contributed from longer wavelengths is a main contributor at ∼120 km.

A Cacophony of Echoes from Daily Monitoring of the Crab Pulsar at Jodrell Bank

Using archival data from the 42-foot telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory, we produce daily stacks of aligned giant pulses for the Crab pulsar, to study changes to the daily profiles between 2012 April and 2016 December. From these, we identify echoes, where intervening material away from the line of sight causes pulsed emission to be redirected toward the observer, with delay corresponding to the increased distance of travel, resulting in additional profile components. These observations show that such echoes may be far more common than implied by the previous rate of detections. All the observed echoes are consistent with approaching zero delay at their closest approach to the normal giant pulse emission. This indicates that the structures responsible for producing these events must be highly anisotropic, with typical lengths greater than ∼4 au, typical widths on the sky of ∼0.1 au, and typical depths of ∼5 au, given the previously observed electron densities of the nebular filaments, on the order of 1000 cm−3. This suggests that these inhomogeneities are likely to be offshoot substructure from the larger nebular filaments of the Crab nebula.

Structural mechanism of Escherichia coli cyanase.

Cyanase plays a vital role in the detoxification of cyanate and supplies a continuous nitrogen source for soil microbes by converting cyanate to ammonia and carbon dioxide in a bicarbonate-dependent reaction. The structures of cyanase complexed with dianion inhibitors, in conjunction with biochemical studies, suggest putative binding sites for substrates. However, the substrate-recognition and reaction mechanisms of cyanase remain unclear. Here, crystal structures of cyanase from Escherichia coli were determined in the native form and in complexes with cyanate, bicarbonate and intermediates at 1.5-1.9 Å resolution using synchrotron X-rays and an X-ray free-electron laser. Cyanate and bicarbonate interact with the highly conserved Arg96, Ser122 and Ala123 in the active site. In the presence of a mixture of cyanate and bicarbonate, three different electron densities for intermediates were observed in the cyanase structures. Moreover, the observed electron density could explain the dynamics of the substrate or product. In addition to conformational changes in the substrate-binding pocket, dynamic movement of Leu151 was observed, which functions as a gate for the passage of substrates or products. These findings provide a structural mechanism for the substrate-binding and reaction process of cyanase.

Generation of Post Sunset E Region Electron Density Stratifications at the Magnetic Equator: An Analysis Using In Situ Measurements and Theoretical Estimations

AbstractMeasurements of electron density/irregularities and ion drift velocity/neutral wind were undertaken with Electron Density and Neutral Wind (ENWi) payload on‐board an RH300 flight on 6 April 2018 as part of the Sounding Rocket Experiment (SOUREX1). The presence of a clearly structured ENWi measured electron density profile is an interesting feature observed on this day. Concurrently electron density/irregularities are measured by a Langmuir probe payload which confirmed the presence of stratifications in electron density. The neutral wind measurements by ENWi also reveal a structured pattern. The hodograph analysis of the neutral wind components reveals clockwise rotation indicating downward phase propagation characteristics associated with the gravity waves. Analysis of the requisite ion convergence at the magnetic equator for occurrence of electron density stratifications using the observed electron density structures during the post sunset hours in relation to the ion convergence due to gravity wave winds is performed according to earlier theoretical simulations. This analysis reveals that conditions favoring the formation of stratification related ion convergence are present therein. Thus the present study for first time uses actual measurements of neutral winds and electron densities from same instrument to demonstrate the role of gravity wave induced winds in producing ion convergence at the magnetic equatorial region Trivandrum in the post sunset hours.

Dynamic correlations and possible diffusion pathway in the superionic conductor Cu2-xSe.

The superionic conductor Cu2-xSe has regained interest as a thermoelectric material owing to its low thermal conductivity, suggested to arise from a liquid-like Cu substructure, and the material has been coined a phonon-liquid electron-crystal. Using high-quality three-dimensional X-ray scattering data measured up to large scattering vectors, accurate analysis of both the average crystal structure as well as the local correlations is carried out to shed light on the Cu movements. The Cu ions show large vibrations with extreme anharmonicity and mainly move within a tetrahedron-shaped volume in the structure. From the analysis of weak features in the observed electron density, the possible diffusion pathway of Cu is identified, and it is clear from its low density that jumps between sites are infrequent compared with the time the Cu ions spend vibrating around each site. These findings support the conclusions drawn from recent quasi-elastic neutron scattering data, casting doubt on the phonon-liquid picture. Although there is diffusion of Cu ions in the structure, making it a superionic conductor, the jumps are infrequent and probably not the origin of the low thermal conductivity. From three-dimensional difference pair distribution function analysis of the diffuse scattering data, strongly correlated movements are identified, showing atomic motions which conserve interatomic distances at the cost of large changes in angles.

Analysis of Electron Precipitation and Ionospheric Density Enhancements Due To Hiss Using Incoherent Scatter Radar and Arase Observations

AbstractPlasmaspheric hiss can cause energetic electron precipitation from the magnetosphere to the Earth's upper atmosphere and affect the ionospheric electron density profiles. In this study, we use Arase satellite measurements in the dayside plasmasphere to model the electron precipitation and the resultant ionospheric response, and compare the results to the electron density measured by the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR). We analyzed two close conjunction events between Arase and PFISR at L ∼ 6 in the afternoon sector, when Arase was in the outer plasmasphere and traveled into the plasmaspheric plumes. Modest or strong hiss waves were observed with amplitudes higher than 50 pT during both events. Quasilinear modeling suggests that the hiss waves could cause intense electron precipitation ranging from several keV to several hundred keV energies. The electron density profiles at 60–90 km modeled by the Boulder Electron Radiation to Ionization (BERI) model suggest significant electron density enhancements due to the precipitating electrons. PFISR simultaneously observed electron density enhancements during both events, and provided evidence for the electron precipitation at altitudes down to <70 km. The temporal modulation of hiss caused the modulated density profiles in BERI modeling, but was not evident in PFISR observations. The modeled altitude profiles of the perturbed electron density overall agree with PFISR observation. At altitudes below 75 km, the modeled electron densities are lower than the observation, suggesting additional high energy electron precipitation possibly due to low frequency (<50 Hz) waves or hiss wave powers ducted to high latitudes.

Interferometric Study of Ionospheric Plasma Irregularities in Regions of Phase Scintillations and HF Backscatter.

We investigate the nature of small‐scale irregularities observed in the cusp by the Twin Rockets to Investigate Cusp Electrodynamics‐2 (TRICE‐2) in regions of enhanced phase scintillations and high‐frequency coherent radar backscatter. We take advantage of the fact that the irregularities were detected by spatially separated probes, and present an interferometric analysis of both the observed electron density and electric field fluctuations. We provide evidence that fluctuations spanning a few decameters to about a meter have low phase velocity in the plasma reference frame and are nondispersive, confirming that decameter‐scale irregularities follow the E × B velocity. Furthermore, we show that these “spatial” structures are intermittent and prominent outside of regions with strongest precipitation. The observations are then discussed in the context of possible mechanisms for irregularity creation.

Types of pulsating aurora: comparison of model and EISCAT electron density observations

Abstract. Energetic particle precipitation associated with pulsating aurora (PsA) can reach down to lower mesospheric altitudes and deplete ozone. It is well documented that pulsating aurora is a common phenomenon during substorm recovery phases. This indicates that using magnetic indices to model the chemistry induced by PsA electrons could underestimate the energy deposition in the atmosphere. Integrating satellite measurements of precipitating electrons in models is considered to be an alternative way to account for such an underestimation. One way to do this is to test and validate the existing ion chemistry models using integrated measurements from satellite and ground-based observations. By using satellite measurements, an average or typical spectrum of PsA electrons can be constructed and used as an input in models to study the effects of the energetic electrons in the atmosphere. In this study, we compare electron densities from the EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter scientific radar system) radars with auroral ion chemistry and the energetics model by using pulsating aurora spectra derived from the Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) as an energy input for the model. We found a good agreement between the model and EISCAT electron densities in the region dominated by patchy pulsating aurora. However, the magnitude of the observed electron densities suggests a significant difference in the flux of precipitating electrons for different pulsating aurora types (structures) observed.

Simulation of transport in the FT-2 tokamak up to the electron scale with GENE

Prior experimental work on the FT-2 tokamak has observed electron density fluctuations at electron Larmor radius scales using the enhanced scattering (ES) diagnostic (Gusakov et al 2006 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 48 A371–6, Gurchenko and Gusakov 2010 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 52 124035). Gyrokinetic GENE simulations of conditions at the upper hybrid resonance layer probed by the ES diagnostic show the presence of the anticipated turbulence from the electron temperature gradient (ETG) driven instability in linear and nonlinear simulations. Ion-scale turbulence is responsible for majority of the transport via trapped electron modes, while impurities act to merge the spectrum of the ion and the electron scale instabilities into a continuum. The linear spectrum at electron scales is characterized by maximal growth rate at a significant ballooning angle θ 0, and at ion scales the turbulence is broad in the ballooning angle distribution. The neoclassical shearing rate obtained from GENE breaks symmetry in nonlinear simulations of ETG turbulence, which manifests itself as an asymmetric turbulence spectrum. The electron density fluctuation spectrum obtained with GENE corresponds well to the ES measurement at electron scales, as do the fluxes obtained from the ion-scale simulations.

Crystal structure of acetylxylan esterase from Caldanaerobacter subterraneus subsp. tengcongensis.

The acetylxylan esterases (AXEs) classified into carbohydrate esterase family 4 (CE4) are metalloenzymes that catalyze the deacetylation of acetylated carbohydrates. AXE from Caldanaerobacter subterraneus subsp. tengcongensis (TTE0866), which belongs to CE4, is composed of three parts: a signal sequence (residues 1-22), an N-terminal region (NTR; residues 23-135) and a catalytic domain (residues 136-324). TTE0866 catalyzes the deacetylation of highly substituted cellulose acetate and is expected to be useful for industrial applications in the reuse of resources. In this study, the crystal structure of TTE0866 (residues 23-324) was successfully determined. The crystal diffracted to 1.9 Å resolution and belonged to space group I212121. The catalytic domain (residues 136-321) exhibited a (β/α)7-barrel topology. However, electron density was not observed for the NTR (residues 23-135). The crystal packing revealed the presence of an intermolecular space without observable electron density, indicating that the NTR occupies this space without a defined conformation or was truncated during the crystallization process. Although the active-site conformation of TTE0866 was found to be highly similar to those of other CE4 enzymes, the orientation of its Trp264 side chain near the active site was clearly distinct. The unique orientation of the Trp264 side chain formed a different-shaped cavity within TTE0866, which may contribute to its reactivity towards highly substituted cellulose acetate.

Re‐Analysis of the Cassini RPWS/LP Data in Titan's Ionosphere: 1. Detection of Several Electron Populations

AbstractCurrent models of Titan's ionosphere have difficulties in explaining the observed electron density and/or temperature. In order to get new insights, we re‐analyzed the data taken in the ionosphere of Titan by the Cassini Langmuir probe (LP), part of the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument. This is the first of two papers that present the new analysis method (current paper) and statistics on the whole data set. We suggest that between two and four electron populations are necessary to fit the data. Each population is defined by a potential, an electron density and an electron temperature and is easily visualized by a distinct peak in the second derivative of the electron current, which is physically related to the electron energy distribution function (Druyvesteyn method). The detected populations vary with solar illumination and altitude. We suggest that the four electron populations are due to photo‐ionization, magnetospheric particles, dusty plasma and electron emission from the probe boom, respectively.

The ionosphere of Mars from solar minimum to solar maximum: Dayside electron densities from MAVEN and Mars Global Surveyor radio occultations

Conditions in the ionosphere of Mars vary from solar minimum to solar maximum due to changes in the ionizing solar irradiance. Although changes in the main ionospheric layers, namely the M2 layer and the lower M1 layer, over the solar cycle have been well-characterized by previous work, corresponding changes in the upper regions of the photochemical ionosphere (∼140–200 km) have not. Here we investigate those changes using ionospheric electron density profiles acquired at solar zenith angles of 70°–90° under solar minimum conditions by the MAVEN Radio Occultation Science Experiment (ROSE) and under solar maximum conditions by a similar radio occultation experiment on Mars Global Surveyor. Due to the increase in ionizing irradiance from solar minimum to solar maximum, we expect that densities at all altitudes will increase from solar minimum to solar maximum. Due to the eccentricity of Mars’s orbit, observed electron density profiles must be adjusted to a common Mars–Sun distance to highlight solar cycle effects. This process involves increasing observed electron density values by a factor proportional to the Mars–Sun distance, which mitigates for variations in incident irradiance, and expressing altitude relative to the main ionospheric peak, which mitigates for variations in heating and expansion of the neutral thermosphere.We find that the scale height of the upper regions of the photochemical ionosphere is remarkably constant between solar minimum and solar maximum, whereas the corresponding neutral temperature increases by 50%. Yet these two quantities are thought to be proportional. Electron density values in the upper regions of the photochemical ionosphere and peak electron density values increase similarly from solar minimum to solar maximum.

The explicit role of electron exchange in the hydrogen bonded molecular complexes.

We applied a set of advanced bonding descriptors to establish the hidden electron density features and binding energy characteristics of intermolecular DH∙∙∙A hydrogen bonds (OH∙∙∙O, NH∙∙∙O and SH∙∙∙O) in 150 isolated and solvated molecular complexes. The exchange-correlation and Pauli potentials as well as corresponding local one-electron forces allowed us to explicitly ascertain how electron exchange defines the bonding picture in the proximity of the H-bond critical point. The electron density features of DH∙∙∙A interaction are governed by alterations in the electron localization in the H-bond region displaying itself in the exchange hole. At that, they do not depend on the variations in the exchange hole mobility. The electrostatic interaction mainly defines the energy of H-bonds of different types, whereas the strengthening/weakening of H-bonds in complexes with varying substituents depends on the barrier height of the exchange potential near the bond critical point. Energy variations between H-bonds in isolated and solvated systems are also caused the electron exchange peculiarities as follows from the corresponding potential and the interacting quantum atom analyses complemented by electron delocalization index calculations. Our approach is based on the bonding descriptors associated with the characteristics of the observable electron density and can be recommended for in-depth studies of non-covalent bonding.

Response of Mars's Topside Ionosphere to Changing Solar Activity and Comparisons to Venus

AbstractStudying how planetary ionospheres respond to changes in solar irradiance can inform our understanding of how planetary atmospheres have reacted to our changing Sun over the course of solar system history. The response of Mars's main ionospheric peak to changing solar irradiance has been well‐studied. Less well understood are the altitudes above the main peak. We use radio occultation observations by Mars Global Surveyor and ground‐based solar radio flux measurements to quantify the response of Mars's electron densities to changing solar irradiance at these altitudes. This analysis shows that the electron densities respond modestly at and just above the main peak, with the response increasing above or below the peak. We use a one‐dimensional photochemical equilibrium model to reproduce the observed electron densities and investigate the influence of minor ions, changing electron temperatures, and changing neutral densities and composition on the resultant electron density. We find that the neutral atmosphere is primarily responsible for the observed behavior. We also make comparisons to Venus, which shows a more dramatic increase in its ionospheric response as a function of altitude. We show that while the ionospheric responses of Mars and Venus as a function of altitude are markedly different, recasting the analysis in terms of number of scale heights above the main peak brings the two planets into closer agreement, especially at the main peak. The agreement is worse at higher altitudes and this is attributed to Venus's larger proportion of atomic oxygen.

Controlling the plasma electron number density of copper metal using NIR picosecond laser-induced plasma spectroscopy

In this paper, we investigate a new method to control the plasma electron number density of copper metal using a near-infrared (NIR) picosecond Nd:YAG laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIPS) technique. The applied laser parameters are as follows; laser pulse energy and intensity varied from 29.2 to 59.4 mJ ± 3% and from 6.01×1010 to 12.35×1010 W/cm2 ± 5%, respectively, for a single pulse at 170 ps pulse duration, and beam diameter about 0.5 ± 0.1 mm. By considering the Stark broadening of a specific spectral line, electron density can be calculated using a neutral copper line at 521.8 nm, assuming the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) condition. The observed electron density values were 1.09×1016, 2.24×1016, 3.60×1016, and 4.75×1016 cm–3 for the laser pulse energies 29.2, 41, 52.4, and 59.4 mJ, respectively. The plasma electron density values are increased with the increase in laser pulse energy. Such findings were interpreted due to an increase in the mass ablation rates with laser pulse energy. The obtained results explore the ability to control the plasma electron density by controlling the picosecond pulse energy. These results can contribute to the development of plasma technologies and their applications in many fields.

The 1.3-Å resolution structure of bovine cytochrome c oxidase suggests a dimerization mechanism

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) in the respiratory chain catalyzes oxygen reduction by coupling electron and proton transfer through the enzyme and proton pumping across the membrane. Although the functional unit of CcO is monomeric, mitochondrial CcO forms a monomer and a dimer, as well as a supercomplex with respiratory complexes I and III. A recent study showed that dimeric CcO has lower activity than monomeric CcO and proposed that dimeric CcO is a standby form for enzymatic activation in the mitochondrial membrane. Other studies have suggested that the dimerization is dependent on specifically arranged lipid molecules, peptide segments, and post-translationally modified amino acid residues. To re-examine the structural basis of dimerization, we improved the resolution of the crystallographic structure to 1.3 Å by optimizing the method for cryoprotectant soaking. The observed electron density map revealed many weakly bound detergent and lipid molecules at the interface of the dimer. The dimer interface also contained hydrogen bonds with tightly bound cholate molecules, hydrophobic interactions between the transmembrane helices, and a Met–Met interaction between the extramembrane regions. These results imply that binding of physiological ligands structurally similar to cholate could trigger dimerization in the mitochondrial membrane and that non-specifically bound lipid molecules at the transmembrane surface between monomers support the stabilization of the dimer. The weak interactions involving the transmembrane helices and extramembrane regions may play a role in positioning each monomer at the correct orientation in the dimer.

Vanadium-induced coloration in grossite (CaAl4O7) and hibonite (CaAl12O19)

AbstractHigh concentrations of vanadium cause very unusual coloration in hibonite (purple) and grossite (light violet) crystals in an exotic mineral assemblage from Sierra de Comechingones (Argentina). In the hibonite (CaAl12O19) structure vanadium ions, in various valence states (divalent, trivalent, and tetravalent), may be distributed over five crystallographic sites with coordinations corresponding to different polyhedra, namely, three unequal octahedra [M1 (D3d), M4 (C3ν), and M5 (Cs)], one M3 tetrahedron (C3ν), and one unusual fivefold-coordinated trigonal bipyramid M2 (D3h). Possible locations of vanadium ions in grossite (CaAl4O7) are limited to two crystallographically distinct sites (T1 and T2, both C1) in tetrahedral coordination.The combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy techniques aided by chemical analyses has yielded details on the nature of the vanadium-induced color in both hibonite and grossite crystals. In hibonite, both M4 face-sharing octahedral and M2 trigonal bipyramid sites of the R-block are partially occupied by V3+. Strongly polarized bands recorded at relatively low energies in optical absorption spectra indicate that V2+ is located at the M4 octahedral site of the hibonite R-block. Chemical analyses coupled with an accurate determination of the electron densities at structural sites in hibonite suggest that the vanadium ions occupy about 10 and 5% of the M4 and M2 sites, respectively. For grossite, polarized optical absorption spectra reveal no indications of V2+; all observed absorption bands can be assigned to V3+ in tetrahedral coordination. Although not evident by the observed electron densities at the T sites of grossite (due to the low-V content), longer bond distances, and a higher degree of polyhedral distortion suggest that V3+ is located at the T2 site.

A model for plasma–neutral fluid interaction and its application to a study of CT formation in a magnetized Marshall gun

A model for plasma/neutral fluid interaction was developed and included in the implementation of non-linear MHD equations to a new code framework. The source rates of ion, electron, and neutral fluid momentum and energy due to ionization and recombination are derived using a simple method that enables the determination of the volumetric rate of thermal energy transfer from electrons to photons and neutral particles in the radiative recombination reaction. This quantity cannot be evaluated with the standard formal procedure of taking moments of the relevant collision operator and has been neglected in other studies. The plasma/neutral fluid interaction model was applied to study compact torus (CT) formation in the Super-Magnetized Ring Test (SMRT) and Spherical Compact Toroid (SPECTOR) magnetized Marshall guns, enabling clarification of the mechanisms behind the significant increases in CT electron density that are routinely observed well after formation on the SPECTOR experiment. Neutral gas, which remains concentrated below the gas valves after CT formation, diffuses up the gun barrel to the CT containment region where it is ionized, leading to the observed electron density increases. This understanding helps account for the exceptionally significant increase in temperature and the markedly reduced density, observed during the electrode edge biasing experiment conducted on SPECTOR. It is thought that edge fueling impediment, a consequence of a biasing-induced transport barrier, is largely responsible for the observed temperature increase and density decrease.