Curvature Dependence of Gravitational-Wave Tests of General Relativity.

High-energy extensions to general relativity modify the Einstein-Hilbert action with higher-order curvature corrections and theory-specific coupling constants. The order of these corrections imprints a universal curvature dependence on observations while the coupling constant controls the deviation strength. In this Letter, we leverage the theory-independent expectation that modifications to the action of a given order in spacetime curvature (Riemann tensor and contractions) lead to observational deviations that scale with the system length scale to a corresponding power.

Mass Acquisition of Dirac Fermions in Bi_{4}I_{4} by Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking.

Massive Dirac fermions, which are essential for realizing novel topological phenomena, are expected to be generated from massless Dirac fermions by breaking the related symmetry, such as time-reversal symmetry in topological insulators or crystal symmetry in topological crystalline insulators. Here, we report scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies of α-Bi_{4}I_{4}, which reveals the realization of massive Dirac fermions in the (100) surface states without breaking the time-reversal symmetry. Combined with first-principles calculations, our experimental results indicate that the spontaneous symmetry breaking engenders two nondegenerate edge states at the opposite sides of monolayer Bi_{4}I_{4} after the structural phase transition, imparting mass to the Dirac fermions after taking the interlayer coupling into account.

Bootstrap Principle for the Spectrum and Scattering of Strings.

We show that the Veneziano amplitude of string theory is the unique solution to an analytically solvable bootstrap problem. Uniqueness follows from two assumptions: faster than power-law falloff in high-energy scattering and the existence of some infinite sequence in momentum transfer at which higher-spin exchanges cancel. The string amplitude-including the mass spectrum-is an output of this bootstrap.

Constraining Light QCD Axions with Isolated Neutron Star Cooling.

The existence of light QCD axions, whose mass depends on an additional free parameter, can lead to a new ground state of matter, where the sourced axion field reduces the nucleon effective mass. The presence of the axion field has structural consequences, in particular, it results in a thinner (or even prevents its existence) heat-blanketing envelope, significantly altering the cooling patterns of neutron stars. We exploit the anomalous cooling behavior to constrain previously uncharted regions of the axion parameter space by comparing model predictions with existing data from isolated neutron stars.

Measurement of CP Violation Observables in D^{+}→K^{-}K^{+}π^{+} Decays.

A search for violation of the charge-parity (CP) symmetry in the D^{+}→K^{-}K^{+}π^{+} decay is presented, with proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4  fb^{-1}, collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the LHCb detector. A novel model-independent technique is used to compare the D^{+} and D^{-} phase-space distributions, with instrumental asymmetries subtracted using the D_{s}^{+}→K^{-}K^{+}π^{+} decay as a control channel.

Resonant Conversion of Wave Dark Matter in the Ionosphere.

We consider resonant wavelike dark matter conversion into low-frequency radio waves in the Earth's ionosphere. Resonant conversion occurs when the dark matter mass and the plasma frequency coincide, defining a range m_{DM}∼10^{-9}-10^{-8}  eV where this approach is best suited. Owing to the nonrelativistic nature of dark matter and the typical variational scale of the Earth's ionosphere, the standard linearized approach to computing dark matter conversion is not suitable.

Condensation and Synchronization in Aligning Chiral Active Matter.

We show that spontaneous density segregation in dense systems of aligning circle swimmers is a condensation phenomenon at odds with the phase separation scenarios usually observed in two-dimensional active matter. The condensates, which take the form of vortices or rotating polar packets, can absorb a finite fraction of the particles in the system, and keep a finite or slowly growing size as their mass increases. Our results are obtained both at particle and continuous levels.

Proteo-SAFARI: An R Application for Identification of Fragment Ions in Top-Down MS/MS Spectra of Proteins.

Proteo-SAFARI is a shiny application for fragment assignment by relative isotopes, an R-based software application designed for identification of protein fragment ions directly in the / domain. This program provides an open-source, user-friendly application for identification of fragment ions from a candidate protein sequence with support for custom covalent modifications and various visualizations of identified fragments. Additionally, Proteo-SAFARI includes a nonnegative least-squares fitting approach to determine the contributions of various hydrogen shifted fragment ions ( + 1, + 1, - 1, - 2) observed in UVPD mass spectra which exhibit overlapping isotopic distributions.

Hepatitis B virus hijacks MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 complex to form its minichromosome.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can significantly increase the incidence of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and there is no curative treatment. The persistence of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is the major obstacle of antiviral treatments. cccDNA is formed through repairing viral partially double-stranded relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA) by varies host factors.

Multi-modal comparison of molecular programs driving nurse cell death and clearance in Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis.

The death and clearance of nurse cells is a consequential milestone in Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis. In preparation for oviposition, the germline-derived nurse cells bequeath to the developing oocyte all their cytoplasmic contents and undergo programmed cell death. The death of the nurse cells is controlled non-autonomously and is precipitated by epithelial follicle cells of somatic origin acquiring a squamous morphology and acidifying the nurse cells externally.

Lessons learned from cross-sectoral collaboration to protect migrant farmworkers during COVID-19 in Spain.

In Spain, the agricultural sector relies heavily on migrant workers, especially during seasonal seasons. However, these workers face significant challenges related to precarious working conditions and structural vulnerability, which have become more acute since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This descriptive qualitative study was based on 87 personal interviews with health and social professionals from sectors such as NGOs, social services, trade unions, local institutions, and health services to promote compliance with these measures in four Spanish regions.

Supramolecular Entrapping and Extraction of Selenate, Molybdate and Tungstate Ions from Water by Nanojars.

The supramolecular binding exclusively by H-bonds of SeO, MoO and WO ions to form nanojars of the formula [EO⊂{-Cu(μ-OH)(μ-pz)}] (; E = Se, Mo, W; = 28-34; pz = pyrazolate) was studied in solution by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, variable temperature, paramagnetic H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy, and in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. These large anions allow for the observation of a record nanojar size, (E = Mo, W). Six crystal structures are described of nanojars of varying sizes with either SeO, MoO or WO entrapped ions, including the first example of a cocrystal of two different nanojars in crystallographically unique positions, and .

12″ Wafer-Scale Mass-Manufactured Metal-Insulator-Metal Reflective Metaholograms by Nanotransfer Printing.

The unique characteristics of metasurfaces to precisely control the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light within a thin, flat footprint make them a promising replacement for bulky optical components. However, fabrication methods of conventional metasurfaces have suffered from low throughput and high costs, limiting scalability and practical application. To address these challenges, an advanced fabrication technique is developed by combining deep-ultraviolet argon fluoride photolithography with wafer-scale nanotransfer printing to facilitate the scalable fabrication of metal-insulator-metal structures.

Prediction of Retention Indices in LC-HRMS for Enhanced Structural Identification of Organic Micropollutants in Water: Selectivity-Based Filtration.

Addressing the global challenge of ensuring access to safe drinking water, especially in developing countries, demands cost-effective, eco-friendly, and readily available technologies. The persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation potential of organic pollutants arising from various human activities pose substantial hurdles. While high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) is a widely utilized technique for identifying pollutants in water, the multitude of structures for a single elemental composition complicates structural identification.

Exploratory analysis of gait mechanics in farmers.

Farmers may be at a higher risk of developing hip osteoarthritis (OA) due to the high demands of their occupation. To the authors' knowledge, the gait patterns of farmers that may be associated with hip joint degeneration have yet to be analyzed. Therefore, this study compares gait mechanics between farmers and non-farmers (controls).

Investigation of Natural Dyes and Taxonomic Identification of Fibers Used in Chancay Textiles by Vibrational Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry.

Textiles provide a valuable source of information regarding past cultures and their artistic practices. Understanding ancient textiles requires identifying the raw materials used, since the origin of dyes and fibers may be from plants or animals, with the specific species used varying based on geography, trade routes and cultural significance. A selection of nine Chancay textile fragments attributed to 800-1200 CE were studied with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) to identify the chemical compounds in extracts of natural dyes used to create green, blue, red, yellow and black colors.

NIST Mass Spectral Libraries in the Context of the Circular Economy of Plastics.

The Mass Spectrometry Data Center (MSDC) has recently started improving existing libraries and creating new ones for identifying and analyzing plastics-related compounds (PRC) and materials (PRM) as part of the NIST circular economy program. PRC are small molecules of dissimilar chemical nature; hence, to increase coverage, we have used three types of ionizations: EI, ESI, and APCI. PRM are solids that include polymers, polymer mixtures, and commercial plastics, so we have used pyrolysis-gas chromatography (py-GC-MS) to create a new searchable library.

Effects of Temperature Fluctuations on Surface Mobility of Atomic Steps and Oxidation Dynamics in High-Temperature Alloys.

In contrast to the traditional perspective that thermal fluctuations are insignificant in surface dynamics, here we report their influence on surface reaction dynamics. Using real-time low-energy electron microscopy imaging of NiAl(100) under both vacuum and O atmospheres, we demonstrate that transient temperature variations substantially alter the direction of atom diffusion between the surface and bulk, leading to markedly different oxidation outcomes. During heating, substantial outward diffusion of atoms from the bulk to the surface results in step growth.

Properties characterization and microstructural analysis of alkali-activated solid waste-based materials with sawdust and wastewater integration.

Construction materials are significantly exposed to ecological hazards due to the presence of hazardous chemical constituents found in industrial and agricultural solid wastes. This study aims to investigate the use of sawdust particles (SDPs) and sawdust wastewater (SDW) in alkali-activated composites (AACs) made from a mixture of different silicon-aluminum-based solid wastes (slag powder-SP, red mud-RM, fly ash-FA, and carbide slag-CS). The study examines the impact of SDP content, treated duration of SDPs, and SDW content on both fresh and hardened properties of the AACs, including electrical conductivity, fluidity, density, flexural and compressive strengths, and drying shrinkage.

Cracking susceptibility of full-sibs of a cross of a cracking tolerant and cracking susceptible sweet cherry: Relation to cuticle characteristics, microcracking and calcium.

Rain cracking compromises quality and quantity of sweet cherries worldwide. Cracking susceptibility differs among genotypes. The objective was to (1) phenotype the progeny of a cross between a tolerant and a susceptible sweet cherry cultivar for cuticle mass per unit area, strain release on cuticle isolation, cuticular microcracking and calcium/dry mass ratio and (2) relate these characteristics to cracking susceptibilities evaluated in laboratory immersion assays and published multiyear field observations.

A propofol binding site in the voltage sensor domain mediates inhibition of HCN1 channel activity.

Hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) ion channels are members of the cyclic nucleotide-binding family and are crucial for regulating cellular automaticity in many excitable cells. HCN channel activation contributes to pain perception, and propofol, a widely used anesthetic, acts as an analgesic by inhibiting the voltage-dependent activity of HCN channels. However, the molecular determinants of propofol action on HCN channels remain unknown.

Clinical outcomes and anti-inflammatory mechanisms predict maximum heart rate improvement after physical activity training in individuals with psychiatric disorders and comorbid obesity.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive validity and discriminatory ability of clinical outcomes, inflammatory activity, oxidative and vascular damage, and metabolic mechanisms for detecting significant improve maximum heart rate after physical activity training in individuals with psychiatric disorders and obesity comorbid using a longitudinal design and transdiagnostic perspective.

Methods: Patients with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and, schizophrenia and with comorbid obesity (n = 29) were assigned to a 12-week structured physical exercise program. Peripheral blood biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, vascular mechanisms, and metabolic activity, as well as neurocognitive and functional performance were assessed twice, before and after intervention.

Social media-based Health Education plus Exercise Program (SHEEP) to improve muscle function among young-old adults with possible sarcopenia in the community: A feasibility study protocol.

Background: Despite the comparatively high prevalence of possible sarcopenia among young-old adults in the community, there is currently no available and effective social media-based intervention to increase the awareness and change the behavior of the target population to prevent sarcopenia. Using co-design methodology, we developed a multicomponent intervention strategy of health education and exercise for sarcopenia prevention utilizing the TikTok platform.

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the social media-based intervention to enhance muscle function in community-dwelling young-old adults with possible sarcopenia.

"Stabilization" of Amorphous Ketoprofen in Thin Films.

It has been shown that depositing ketoprofen as thin films on glass substrates has a stabilizing effect on the amorphous state of ketoprofen. Polyethylene glycol ( = 6000 g/mol) was mixed with ketoprofen in a wide range of concentrations. Amorphous thin films were prepared by spin coating and subjected to storage conditions with different levels of relative humidity.

Weeds and agro by-products for sustainable farming of edible field cricket, Gryllus madagascarensis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).

Gryllus madagascarensis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is a cricket species that shows promise to mitigate food insecurity and malnutrition. But whether this species will accept low- to no-cost weeds and agro by-products as feed, and how these feeds affect its performance, remains unknown. This study assessed the acceptability of 66 weed species and agro by-products (derived from a single plant species) by adult G.