Spatial Distribution Research Articles

Rice, lamb and tuna. Food processing and acquiring strategies in the medieval harbour city of Qalhât (Oman): Bioarchaeological evidence from the twin houses' building (B94)

The rise of the kingdom of Hormuz during the 13th–15th c. CE led to the development of harbour cities such as Qalhât (Sultanate of Oman), considered as the kingdom's second capital. However, although some textual sources are available, a lack of bioarchaeological analysis means that the food-processing activities and subsistence strategies set up to feed this urban population are still largely unknown. Multi-proxy analyses, including zoological, ichthyological, and botanical, have therefore been undertaken on the twin house building (B94) at the site of Qalhât. Cross-referencing these data allowed for the identification of several food processing activities and the function of some rooms due to their spatial distribution. In addition, these data give new insights into fishing practices (intensively exploited pelagic zone) and the composition and management of agropastoral systems (in the form of oasis date palm gardens, using a combination of crops, weeds and livestock), as well as food acquiring strategies that relied on the importation of plant products via the long-distance maritime trade networks of the western Indian Ocean. The study of building (B94) has provided major data to understand the way of life of the inhabitants of this region for this period, still too little studied.

Accurate quantification of dislocation loops in complex functional alloys enabled by deep learning image analysis

In-depth statistics of individual defects observed during transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments are essential for the thorough characterization of materials. In this study, we aim to quantitatively characterize the population of dislocation loops in ion-irradiated CrFeMnNi alloys. To this end, we propose an efficient guideline to prepare TEM micrographs dataset for deep learning analysis, adapted for accurate characterization of microstructures produced by thousands of overlapping defects, a very common situation in TEM images, unfeasible by previous existing methods. To reduce human effort, we annotate only a few images and complement the database through a two-step process: initially, singular value decomposition to normalize image background, followed by a controlled data augmentation. The performed analysis provides precise quantitative information about the number of loops of different types, as well as their spatial distribution, their size, and the inter-object distances. These characteristics provide insights into the nucleation, mobility, and growth of dislocation loops, as well as the elastic anisotropy of the material. Our results emphasize how accurate analysis of complex microstructures can provide insights into the physical properties of materials and open up many perspectives for attaining quantitative information on materials properties based solely on their image analysis.

Cell Population-resolved Multi-Omics Atlas of the Developing Lung.

The lung is a vital organ that undergoes extensive morphological and functional changes during postnatal development. To disambiguate how different cell populations contribute to organ development, we performed proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of four sorted cell populations from the lung of human subjects aged 0 to 8 years-old with a focus on early life. The cell populations analyzed included epithelial, endothelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells. Our results revealed distinct molecular signatures for each of the sorted cell populations that enable the description of molecular shifts occurring in these populations during post-natal development. We confirmed that the proteome of the different cell populations was distinct regardless of age and identified functions specific to each population. We identified a series of cell population protein markers, including those located at the cell surface, that show differential expression and distribution on RNA in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence imaging. We validated the spatial distribution of AT1 and endothelial cell surface markers. Temporal analyses of the proteomes of the four populations revealed processes modulated during postnatal development and clarified the findings obtained from whole tissue proteome studies. Finally, the proteome was compared to a transcriptomics survey performed on the same lung samples to evaluate processes under post-transcriptional control.

Dilation framing camera with the dual-pulse excitation technique

In an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) ultrafast diagnostic system that is based on electron beam time-dilation, an ultrafast electrical pulse is used to excite a microstrip photocathode (PC), which generates a varying PC voltage to obtain a photoelectron velocity that varies with emission time. The photoelectron beam achieves time-dilation through the drift process and is then detected by a time-resolved sensor, thereby increasing the temporal resolution of the diagnostic system. A pulse time-dilation diagnostic system is simulated, while the sensor is a gated microchannel plate (MCP) detector with a temporal resolution of 100 ps and an excitation pulse on a PC with a slope of 3 V/ps; the diagnostic system achieves a temporal resolution of 11.12 ps. However, the excitation pulse creates a voltage difference across the PC. A voltage difference of 900 V can be acquired for a PC length of 60 mm, which yields a nonuniform spatial resolution ranging from 30.4 µm to approximately 3000 µm. Furthermore, the voltage difference across the PC also limits the frame size to 2.2 mm along the pulse propagation direction according to the simulation results. To achieve a uniform spatial resolution and a larger frame size, a dual-pulse excitation technique on a PC is presented, which is the technique to symmetrically apply voltage pulses at both ends of the PC microstrip. The theoretical results show that this technique will improve the uniformity of the PC voltage spatial distribution. When the PC pulse slope is 3 V/ps and the dual-pulse excitation technique is employed, the diagnostic system has a temporal resolution of 5.91 ps and a uniform spatial resolution of 30.4 µm. Furthermore, the frame size along the pulse propagation direction is improved to the effective length of the microstrip PC.

Application of GIS for Monitoring Firefly Population Abundance (Pteroptyx tener) and the Influence of Abiotic Factors

This study focuses on the <i>Pteroptyx tener</i> species in the Sepetang River, Malaysia, aiming to evaluate the firefly’s abundance and explore its correlation with various biotic and abiotic parameters. The study was conducted over six months, from November 2021 to April 2022, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) software to apply hotspot mapping and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) analysis to elucidate the spatial distribution of firefly populations. A total of 111,615 individuals were recorded, with a particular focus on this firefly species’ presence on their display trees. Hotspot analysis showed that Station 6, located at the mouth of a river with dense mangroves, hosted 55,723 fireflies (50.01%). In contrast, Stations 9 and 10, near ponds and shrimp settlements, recorded 517–723 fireflies (0.65% and 0.46%). Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) unveiled a statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.88, p < 0.05) between wind speed and the abundance of firefly populations within the Sepetang River. However, no statistically significant correlation (p > 0.05) was found between firefly abundance and various other abiotic parameters, including relative humidity (RH), air temperature, tide level, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and water clarity. Thus, the results revealed the preference for fireflies due to the availability of vegetation, wind speed and minimal disturbance in this area. In conclusion, this study’s information significantly adds to our understanding of these interesting insects and their complicated relationships in nature. It underscores the importance of preserving their habitats and ecosystems.

Spatial transcriptomics analysis identifies therapeutic targets in diffuse high-grade gliomas

IntroductionDiffuse high-grade gliomas are the most common malignant adult neuroepithelial tumors in humans and a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The advancement of high throughput transcriptome sequencing technology enables rapid and comprehensive acquisition of transcriptome data from target cells or tissues. This technology aids researchers in understanding and identifying critical therapeutic targets for the prognosis and treatment of diffuse high-grade glioma.MethodsSpatial transcriptomics was conducted on two cases of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild-type diffuse high-grade glioma (Glio-IDH-wt) and two cases of IDH-mutant diffuse high-grade glioma (Glio-IDH-mut). Gene set enrichment analysis and clustering analysis were employed to pinpoint differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the progression of diffuse high-grade gliomas. The spatial distribution of DEGs in the spatially defined regions of human glioma tissues was overlaid in the t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) plots.ResultsWe identified a total of 10,693 DEGs, with 5,677 upregulated and 5,016 downregulated, in spatially defined regions of diffuse high-grade gliomas. Specifically, SPP1, IGFBP2, CALD1, and TMSB4X exhibited high expression in carcinoma regions of both Glio-IDH-wt and Glio-IDH-mut, and 3 upregulated DEGs (SMOC1, APOE, and HIPK2) and 4 upregulated DEGs (PPP1CB, UBA52, S100A6, and CTSB) were only identified in tumor regions of Glio-IDH-wt and Glio-IDH-mut, respectively. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses revealed that upregulated DEGs were closely related to PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, virus infection, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Importantly, the expression of these DEGs was validated using GEPIA databases. Furthermore, the study identified spatial expression patterns of key regulatory genes, including those involved in protein post-translational modification and RNA binding protein-encoding genes, with spatially defined regions of diffuse high-grade glioma.DiscussionSpatial transcriptome analysis is one of the breakthroughs in the field of medical biotechnology as this can map the analytes such as RNA information in their physical location in tissue sections. Our findings illuminate previously unexplored spatial expression profiles of key biomarkers in diffuse high-grade glioma, offering novel insight for the development of therapeutic strategies in glioma.

Seasonal Variations of PM2.5 Pollution in the Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration, China

During the development of the Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration (CCUA) in China, PM2.5 pollution severely threatened public health, presenting a significant environmental challenge. This study employs a novel spatial interpolation method known as High Accuracy Surface Modeling (HASM), along with the geographical detector method, local and regional contributions calculation model, and the Hybrid Single–Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model to analyze the seasonal spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentrations and their anthropogenic driving factors from 2014 to 2023. The transport pathway and potential sources of seasonal PM2.5 concentrations were also examined. The results showed the following: (1) HASM was identified as the most suitable interpolation method for monitoring PM2.5 concentrations in the CCUA; (2) The PM2.5 concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend across all seasons, with the highest values in winter and the lowest in summer. Spatially, the concentrations showed a pattern of being higher in the southwest and lower in the southeast; (3) Industrial soot (dust) emissions (ISEs) and industry structure (IS) were the most important anthropogenic driving factors influencing PM2.5 pollution; (4) The border area between the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and western Sichuan province in China significantly contribute to PM2.5 pollution in the CCUA, especially during winter.

A new technique mapping submerged beachrocks using low-altitude UAV photogrammetry, the Altınova region, northern coast of the Sea of Marmara (NW Türkiye)

High-resolution aerial imagery captured from low altitudes enables the detailed reconstruction of the geomorphological features of submerged beachrocks and the quantification of their topographic complexity. These coastal deposits serve as vital indicators for estimating past sea-level positions and deformation, contributing to our understanding of climate and tectonic processes across various temporal and spatial scales. This study focuses on submerged beachrocks identified in the nearshore coastal area of Tekirdağ city (Altınova), and the existing knowledge regarding such geological formations is limited.Situated in the tectonically active western Marmara region, the coastal zone of The Tekirdağ-Altınova is influenced by the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), which has significantly shaped the coastline over time. Utilizing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data, we successfully isolated submerged beachrocks from other coastal deposits, identifying them at depths of 2 m below current sea level and extending approximately 5 km along the coast. This identification was facilitated by integrating high-resolution aerial imagery with morphological analysis techniques, specifically employing structure-from-motion photogrammetry to generate a dense point cloud for bathymetric mapping.The utilization of cost-effective UAV imagery facilitated the efficient monitoring of beachrocks. Geographic information systems (GIS) and the TerraceM application were employed to analyze the high-resolution bathymetry data (with a 5 cm resolution), enabling the precise estimation of shoreline angles and associated errors. These shoreline angles, which correspond to the past sea levels high stand, were mapped using swath profiles oriented perpendicular to the isobaths. Our findings reveal that the majority of submerged beachrocks exhibit shoreline angles between ∼ −0.7 m and −1.1 m. This study presents innovative methodologies for mapping the height and spatial distribution of beachrocks, as well as for reliably estimating reliable uplift rates in the nearshore area of Tekirdağ-Altınova.

Spatial distribution of groundwater quality and risk indices evaluation via consumption

Groundwater is a valuable source for drinking and irrigation use and is the primary concern of developing countries. Therefore, the current study investigated groundwater in the Mirpur District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, for drinking and irrigation purposes. Groundwater was sampled from the Jatlan, Mirpur, and Dadyal towns of studied district and analyzed for physicochemical parameters. Groundwater results revealed that the WHO's upper limits were not surpassed for physiochemical parameters, except for pH value (11.7% samples). Groundwater was evaluated for various quality and risk indices. Based on the water quality index (WQI), groundwater was categorized as excellent to good for drinking use. For irrigation uses, 11.7% of Mirpur and 5.8% of Dadyal water were unsuitable, and the rest was found in the good category as evaluated by sodium adsorption ratio and sodium hazards. The groundwater was classified as calcium sulfate (CaSO4), and mixed types and hydrogeochemistry were predominantly influenced by surrounding rock weathering. The groundwater showed a maximum level of hazard quotient of 0.20 ± 0.05 via fluoride intake in the Dadyal town. Based on studied parameters and risk indices, groundwater is recommended for drinking, domestic, and agricultural purposes.

Global burden of soil-transmitted helminth infections, 1990–2021

BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections can cause a significant disease burden. It is estimated that 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with STHs, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to assess the distribution of the global burden and trend of STH infections from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe retrieved data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021 on the age-standardized rates (ASRs) of prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of STH infections for all age groups in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. The ASRs of prevalence and DALYs by age, gender, and socio-demographic index (SDI) were calculated to quantify the spatial distribution and temporal trend. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between ASR and SDI.ResultsIn 2021, there were an estimated 642.72 million cases and 1.38 million DALYs caused by STH infections worldwide. The age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) of STH infections was 8429.89 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 7697.23, 9362.18 ] per 100,000 population globally. The ASPR of STH infections varied across 21 geographic regions in 2021, being mainly prevalent in most African and Latin American locations. The prevalence was higher in the groups of 5–19 years, especially the group of 5–9 years with the ASPR of 16,263 (95% UI: 14,877.06, 18,003.49) and ASR of DALYs of 40.69 (95% UI: 25.98, 60.91) per 100,000. The ASPR of STH infections showed an obvious decreasing trend worldwide (estimated annual percent change = − 4.03, 95% confidence interval: − 4.13, − 3.93) with variations in different species infections during the study years. At the regional level, the ASR of STH infections prevalence (r = − 0.8807, P < 0.0001) and DALYs (r = − 0.9069, P < 0.0001) were negatively correlated with SDI .ConclusionsSTH infections remain a public health problem in 2021, particularly in regions such as the middle parts of Africa and Americas, and in the 5–19 age populations. The reduction in the rate of prevalence and the loss of DALYs are negatively correlated with the increase in SDI. Enhancing political commitment, providing accurate preventive chemotherapy, and advancing techniques for surveillance and mapping systems are essential to achieve the target of ending STH infections as a public health problem by 2030.Graphical

Analysis of ecological environment quality heterogeneity across different landform types in Myanmar and its driving forces

Ecological Environmental Quality (EEQ) assessment is a crucial method for understanding regional ecological conditions and identifying ecological problems. Understanding how EEQ responds to various natural and anthropogenic factors under different landform conditions is extremely important to improve the accuracy and usefulness of the assessment. Landforms, as a key natural geographic element, influence not only the spatial distribution of EEQ, but also the nature and intensity of human activities. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how different landform types affect the ecological environment. In this paper, we quantitatively assessed the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of EEQ in Myanmar based on the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) model, and used Geodetector to reveal the driving mechanisms of EEQ in terms of the whole region and specific landform types. The results showed that: (1) The overall EEQ in Myanmar showed a fluctuating downward trend from 2000 to 2020, and the spatial heterogeneity is obvious. The plains and hills had poor EEQ, while the mountains, highlands and most of the northern regions have better EEQ. (2) The EEQ of different landform types differed significantly. The EEQ was best in middle relief mountains and poorer in plains and high relief mountains. (3) Land use, human footprint and net primary productivity (NPP) were the main factors affecting EEQ in Myanmar, and there are significant spatial and temporal dynamic interactions between different factors. (4) There were significant differences in the factors affecting EEQ between landform types. For example, EEQ in plains, hills, low relief mountains, and middle relief mountains was influenced by a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. In contrast, upland mountain areas were mainly influenced by natural factors alone. As the degree of landform fluctuation increases, the influence of each factor generally showed a downward trend. This study reveals the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of Myanmar’s EEQ, key driving factors, and differential response mechanisms of ecological environment evolution under different landform types, and provides a scientific basis for formulating ecosystem protection and restoration strategies based on local conditions.

Longitudinal distributions of CO2-fixing bacteria in forest soils and their potential associations with soil multifunctionality

Autotrophic microorganisms can fix carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic carbon (C), potentially offering a natural mechanism to mitigate global climate change. Forest soils, recognized as vast and critical C repositories with significant microbial CO2 fixation rates, remain understudied, particularly regarding the spatial variations of autotrophic bacteria and their relationship to soil functions in arid regions. In this study, we systematically investigated soil multifunctionality, along with the spatial distribution of autotrophic bacterial communities identified by the RubisCO cbbL and cbbM genes, and the driving factors across a longitudinal gradient in the Loess Plateau forest soils. The investigation spanned an ∼850 km west-east transect with precipitation below 600 mm. The alpha diversity of cbbL-containing bacteria, as measured by the Chao1 index, was correlated with climatic variables such as precipitation and elevation instead of local soil characteristics. In contrast, the alpha diversity of cbbM-containing bacteria was associated with soil properties. The community composition of autotrophic bacteria, based on cbbL and cbbM genes, showed greater similarity in soils from the eastern Loess Plateau and was distinct from those in the western region. The cbbL- and cbbM-containing generalist taxa were subject to differential selection and promotion between the eastern and western regions. Temperature, soil pH and spatial variables were key drivers influencing the community composition of cbbL- and cbbM-containing bacteria. The diversity and communities of soil autotrophic bacteria significantly affected soil multifunctionality. The study demonstrates that soil autotrophic bacteria in forest soils are intricately connected to climatic conditions, soil pH and spatial factors, significantly impacting soil multifunctionality. These insights provide evidence that can be instrumental in predicting and potentially enhancing the functional capacity of forest ecosystems in the Loess Plateau.

Comparison between carrier transport property and crystal quality of TlBr semiconductors

Thallium bromide (TlBr) semiconductor detectors are being developed as promising candidates for high-detection-efficiency, high-energy-resolution, and room-temperature gamma-ray spectrometers. This study presents methods for evaluating TlBr crystal quality and carrier transport characteristics using neutron Bragg-dip imaging and the time-of-flight method for pulsed-laser-induced carriers, respectively. Neutron Bragg-dip imaging effectively determines the crystal orientation distribution, revealing crystal imperfections and grain boundaries. Time-of-flight measurements provide a spatial distribution of carrier mobility. In this study, two samples obtained from both the upstream and downstream region in the crystal ingot were evaluated. Although both samples show similar crystal quality, the upstream sample showed high carrier mobility across all areas, whereas the downstream sample exhibits low mobility in some areas. These findings suggest that, at least within the range of carrier mobility currently obtained, the effect of crystal integrity on carrier mobility is less significant than that of impurities. In conclusion, combining neutron Bragg-dip imaging with carrier mobility measurements offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating and improving TlBr detectors.

Time Series Data Provide Insights into the Evolution and Abundance of One of the Most Abundant Viruses in the Marine Virosphere: The Uncultured Pelagiphages vSAG 37-F6

Viruses play a pivotal role in ecosystems by influencing biochemical cycles and impacting the structure and evolution of their host cells. The widespread pelagiphages infect Pelagibacter spp., the most abundant marine microbe on Earth, and thus play a significant role in carbon transformation through the viral shunt. Among these viruses, the uncultured lytic pelagiphage vSAG 37-F6, uncovered by single-virus genomics, is likely the most numerous virus in the ocean. While previous research has delved into the diversity and spatial distribution of vSAG 37-F6, there is still a gap in understanding its temporal dynamics, hindering our insight into its ecological impact. We explored the temporal dynamics of vSAG 37-F6, assessing periodic fluctuations in abundance and evolutionary patterns using long- and short-term data series. In the long-term series (7 years), metagenomics showed negative selection acting on all viral genes, with a highly conserved overall diversity over time composed of a pool of yearly emergent, highly similar novel strains that exhibited a seasonal abundance pattern with two peaks during winter and fall and a decrease in months with higher UV radiation. Most non-synonymous polymorphisms occurred in structural viral proteins located in regions with low conformational restrictions, suggesting that many of the viral genes of this population are highly purified over its evolution. At the fine-scale resolution (24 h time series), combining digital PCR and metagenomics, we identified two peaks of cellular infection for the targeted vSAG 37-F6 viral strain (up to approximately 103 copies/ng of prokaryotic DNA), one before sunrise and the second shortly after midday. Considering the high number of co-occurring strains of this microdiverse virus, the abundance values at the species or genus level could be orders of magnitudes higher. These findings represent a significant advancement in understanding the dynamics of the potentially most abundant oceanic virus, providing valuable insights into ecologically relevant marine viruses.

Summer evapotranspiration-cloud feedbacks in land-atmosphere interactions over Europe

AbstractLand-atmosphere (L-A) feedbacks are important for understanding regional climate functioning. However, the accurate quantification of feedback strength is challenging due to complex, nonlinear interactions and varying background atmospheric conditions. In particular, the role of cloud water in the terrestrial water cycle is often ignored or simplified in previous L-A feedback studies, which overlook the relationship between evapotranspiration (ET) and cloud water (TQC). This study diagnoses the interactions between $$\:ET$$, $$\:TQC$$ and its dynamics ($$\:\varDelta\:TQC/\varDelta\:t$$) under different atmospheric conditions by conducting correlation and a novel scaling analysis, based on a coupled regional climate model simulation. Contrasting correlation relationships between $$\:ET$$, $$\:TQC$$ and $$\:\varDelta\:TQC/\varDelta\:t$$ were identified, indicating the positive feedback between $$\:ET$$ and the dynamics in cloud water. Two types of positive scaling relationships between $$\:ET$$ and $$\:\varDelta\:TQC/\varDelta\:t$$ were identified by K-means clustering. The analysis shows a contrasting north-south distribution of the scaling relationship that is similar to the spatial distribution of energy-limited and water-limited $$\:ET$$ regimes, highlighting the role of ET regimes in modulating the $$\:ET$$ - $$\:\varDelta\:TQC/\varDelta\:t$$ scaling relationships. Moreover, the feedback strength and scaling relationship are affected by atmospheric moisture flux dynamics, providing remote moisture sources and altering dry/wet conditions. Our results highlight the role of cloud water in the atmospheric part of the L-A process chain and reveal the effect of different atmospheric conditions on L-A interactions based on the new analysis framework.

Studying Chinese immigrants’ spatial distribution in the Raleigh–Durham area by linking survey and commercial data using romanized names

Abstract Many population surveys do not provide information on respondents’ residential addresses, instead offering coarse geographies like zip code or higher aggregations. However, fine resolution geography can be beneficial for characterizing neighbourhoods, especially for relatively rare populations such as immigrants. One way to obtain such information is to link survey records to records in auxiliary databases that include residential addresses by matching on variables common to both files. We present an approach based on probabilistic record linkage that enables matching survey participants in the Chinese Immigrants in Raleigh–Durham Study to records from InfoUSA, an information provider of residential records. The two files use different Chinese name romanization practices, which we address through a novel and generalizable strategy for constructing records’ pairwise comparison vectors for romanized names. Using a fully Bayesian record linkage model, we characterize the geospatial distribution of Chinese immigrants in the Raleigh–Durham area of North Carolina.

Discovering Subsolar Metallicity Brown Dwarf Candidates in the Small Magellanic Cloud

We present the discovery of the first rich population of brown dwarf candidates (cBD) at subsolar metallicity, observed by JWST outside the Milky Way (MW) in the young SMC star cluster NGC 602. Located in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) “wing,” in a very low-density environment (1.3 cm−3) and at subsolar metallicity, NGC 602 is very young, with an age of 2–3 Myr. The low stellar density in this star cluster together with JWST NIRCam images in eight filters allowed us to individually resolve and derive accurate photometric measurements for 64 candidate BDs with masses ranging from 0.05 to 0.08 M ⊙ or 50 to 84 M Jup, according to brown dwarf (BD) evolutionary models. This is the first detection of a young BD population outside the MW. Their spatial distribution indicates that they appear colocated with the pre-main-sequence stars. Although further detailed work is required to quantitatively derive the initial mass function and confirm the true nature of the cBD, this discovery is particularly relevant in the effort to refine our understanding of the subsolar mass function at very low metallicities and young ages.

Disentangling thermal birefringence and strain in the all-optical switching of ferroelectric polarization

Recent works have demonstrated that the optical excitation of crystalline materials with intense narrow-band infrared pulses, tailored to match the frequencies at which the crystal’s permittivity approaches close to zero, can drive a permanent reversal of magnetic and ferroelectric ordering. However, the physical mechanism that microscopically underpins this effect remains unclear, as well as the precise role of laser-induced heating and macroscopic strains. Here, we explore how infrared pulses can simultaneously give rise to strong temperature-dependent birefringence and strain in ferroelectric barium titanate. We develop a model of these two coexisting effects, allowing us to use polarization microscopy to disentangle them through their spatial distributions, temporal evolutions and spectral dependencies. We experimentally observe strain-induced patterns that are an order of magnitude larger than that which can be accounted for by laser-induced heating alone, suggesting that non-thermal effects must also play a role. Our results reveal the distinct fingerprints of heat- and strain-induced birefringence, shedding new light on the process of all-optical switching of order parameters in the epsilon-near-zero regime.

S0-dependent bio-reduction for antimonate detoxification from wastewater by an autotrophic bioreactor with internal recirculation.

Elemental sulfur (S0) autotrophic reduction is a promising approach for antimonate [Sb(V)] removal from water; however, it is hard to achieve effective removal of total antimony (TSb). This study established internal recirculation in an S0 autotrophic bioreactor (SABIR) to enhance TSb removal from Sb(V)-contaminated water. Complete Sb(V) reduction (10mg/L) with bare residual Sb(III) (< 0.26mg/L) was achieved at hydraulic retention time (HRT) = 8h. Shortening HRT adversely affected the removal efficiencies of Sb(V) and TSb; meanwhile, an increased reflux ratio was conducive to Sb(V) and TSb removal at the same HRT. Sulfur disproportionation occurred in the SABIR and was the primary source for SO42- generation and alkalinity consumption. The alkalinity consumption decreased with the shortening HRT and increased with an increased reflux ratio at the same HRT. The generated SO42- was significantly higher (50-100 times) than the theoretical value for Sb(V) reduction. Coefficient of variation (CV), first-order kinetic models, and osmolality analyses showed that internal recirculation did not significantly affect the stability of SABIR but contributed to enhancing TSb removal by increasing mass transfer and reflowing generated sulfide back to the SABIR. SEM-EDS, Raman spectroscopy, XRD and XPS analyses identified that the precipitates in the SABIR were Sb2S3 and Sb-S compounds. In addition, high-throughput sequencing analysis revealed the microbial community structure's temporal and spatial distribution in the SABIR. Dominant genera, including unclassified-Proteobacteria (18.72-38.99%), Thiomonas (0.94-4.87%) and Desulfitobacterium (1.18-2.75%) might be responsible for Sb(V) bio-reduction and removal. This study provides a strategy to remove Sb from water effectively and supports the theoretical basis for the practical application of the SABIR in Sb(V)-contaminated wastewater.

Precipitation Retrieval from FY-3G/MWRI-RM Based on SMOTE-LGBM

Using the FY-3G/MWRI-RM observations, this paper proposes a precipitation retrieval method that combines the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique with Light Gradient Boosting Machine (SMOTE-LGBM) and analyzes the impact of MWRI-RM channel settings on precipitation retrieval. The SMOTE-LGBM-based model consists of two LGBM models for precipitation identification and estimation, respectively. The SMOTE method is used to address the imbalance between precipitation and non-precipitation samples. Using the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for the Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) product as a reference, we validate the retrieved precipitation by the SMOTE-LGBM-based model with an independent testing dataset. The critical success indexes are 0.483 and 0.526, and the Pearson correlation coefficients are 0.611 and 0.645 for the ocean and land regions, respectively. The spatial distributions of the retrieved and IMERG accumulated precipitation in the testing dataset are similar. In addition, we visualize and analyze the cases of Meiyu and two typhoons. The results indicate that the SMOTE-LGBM-based model effectively represents the spatial distribution characteristics of precipitation and achieves high agreement with IMERG precipitation products. Overall, the SMOTE-LGBM-based model successfully retrieves precipitation from MWRI-RM and provides accurate precipitation products for FY-3G/MWRI-RM for the first time.